Two more...

by Grant Brisbee on Apr 6, 2005 3:02 PM PDT in News

Two more thoughts from last afternoon's game:

Jason Ellison came in on a double-switch, replacing Michael Tucker. Fair enough, but when the top of the inning came around, Marquis Grissom was still in center. Does Felipe Alou not really know Grissom isn't the defender he once was, is Alou not familiar with Ellison, or is Alou just trying to not crush Grissom's confidence? Ellison, by all accounts, is a fantastic defender. Grissom, by most accounts, is still functional as a centerfielder, but not optimal.
Dusty Baker played scratch-the-veteran-behind-the-ears in the 2002 World Series, sending Kenny Lofton out to centerfield and DHing Tsuyoshi Shinjo. Shinjo's one positive attribute was his defense, and Lofton's one serious negative attribute was his declining defense. Still, Baker was scared either Lofton was going to go Norma Desmond on him, or that Lofton's hitting would suffer as a DH. Both scenarios were not worth the risk of putting a vastly inferior fielder in an important fielding position. If the Giants aren't going to sub Ellison in for Grissom at any point during the season, they should have just stuck with Dustan Mohr instead of reliving that Dustyism. It was just one game with Ellison in right, though, and it was probably just a fluke.
Is it just me, or does Scott Eyre have the biggest noticable difference on the Giants relief staff between his "on" games, and his "off" games? Some days, he's throwing 93 with good control, and able to consistently fool lefties with a sharp slider. Other days, he's, well, a Giants reliever with spotty control and ugly results.

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Ellison

I'm afraid that was no fluke yesterday, Grant. I've been wondering for awhile now where Ellison would play when he came in for defense late in a game. If egos are removed from the equation, he should play CF, Grissom would slide over to RF and Alou would either leave the game, or move to LF. But Grissom has never played RF for the Giants, nor has he played RF at Pac Bell/SBC/Mays Field, at least to my knowledge.

Knowing how important that is to Felipe (he said he wouldn't play Feliz there for just that reason) I don't see him doing that. If Ellison comes in to replace Grissom in CF, I think Grissom will leave the game entirely. If that's the case, either Bonds or Alou will likely stay in the game. I know that's not the best possible defense, but that's Felipe's way.

If you asked him, I think Felipe would say that the upgrade from Alou or Bonds to Ellison is greater than from Grissom to Ellison. I'd argue that CF is the most important OF position and that should be your priority.

"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f***ing amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Apr 6, 2005 4:47 PM PDT reply actions

Right field

Let's see what happens on the road. Right field in SF is difficult, so, to me at least, it's not a straightforward "put the best guy in center" decision.

by Marty on Apr 7, 2005 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

DH'ing Shinjo

I'm not a prototypical Dusty basher, but man... that was Dusty at his coddling worst. Using a defensive specialist as a DH in the World Series... ugh. Felipe generally seems less concerned about hurting feelings, but his use of Ellison (who played a lot more corner outfield during the Spring than I expected) is troubling so far.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Apr 7, 2005 11:55 AM PDT reply actions