Observations from the Philly Bleachers
by sven406 on May 6, 2008 7:38 AM PDT
23 comments
Sunday was my first time at a Philadelphia sporting event since moving to the east coast, and I wore my Giants gear despite a nagging fear that I might end up dead in a gutter somewhere by the fifth inning. Turns out they weren't as bad as Dodgers fans (especially the Dodgers fans that dug up red outfits for the '02 World Series) -- I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised. A few thoughts on the game from the nosebleed section:
- Phillies fans think the Giants are in last place, and no matter how many times you tell them that's just not true, this assumption does not change. To be fair, this roster out-performing Colorado & San Diego does defy logic, so I'll assume that the bleacher bums were merely making predictions for how the season will turn out.
- Two guys in the row in front of us seemed to think that Rowand is worth the money we are paying him, although that might have been the $8 beers talking. I also saw a guy wearing a t-shirt declaring "Aaron Rowand ran into a fence for me".
- When our starting lineup was announced, I couldn't help but notice that Tim Lincecum had the best batting average of the bunch.
- Those of you who watched the game on TV may have had a better look at this, but it certainly appeared to me that defensive hustle is not a requirement to be a Gamer. Velez may burn up the basepaths, but did he even try to get in front of the routine ground ball that ended the game? Haven't seen a replay, but from the bleachers it looked more like lack of effort than lack of skill (though perhaps it was a combination of the two).
- I have never seen fewer visiting team jerseys at a baseball game, but I did see one poor bastard sporting a Zito shirt. It took every ounce of compassion I could muster not to join the locals in mocking him. Only six more years...
- On an unrelated note, what place does Lincecum get in the Cy Young voting if he finishes the season with a losing record and a sub-2.00 ERA?
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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How long is a piece of string?
Depends on the win totals and ERA of Webb, Sheets and a few others.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
by S.F. Giangst on May 6, 2008 8:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He won't have a losing record
He may have 15 no-decisions, but he’ll end up with a winning record. That can’t happen if you don’t give up runs. See, that has been Cain’s problem the past couple years. If you give up one or two runs you’re going to get the loss. C’mon, Matty, get your act together!
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on May 6, 2008 8:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
good point
I’ll amend my prediction: 30 starts, 7-5 record, 1.84 ERA
Brandon Webb: 21-4, 3.23 ERA, Cy Young
Baywatching - daily news & commentary on all things Niners, Giants, Warriors, and Cardinal
by sven406 on May 6, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow!
With his 4-1 start, Tim should wind up better than 7-5. Something like 11-5 might be closer—although given the uncertainties, your 7-5 could also be correct.
I think Tim will have slightly more than 30 starts. Right now he is on schedule for 33. And while I am Tim’s greatest supporter here, I wouldn’t predict a 1.84 ERA for him this season. Not that I don’t think he CAN pitch that well—just that I don’t expect him to do so this year.
Tim’s strand rate counting only earned runs is over 90%. He might wind up the season at around 80% or even a bit higher, but 90% is REALLY pushing it. Eight of Tim’s 51 ground balls induced this season have turned into double plays. While that level isn’t nearly as outrageous as Tim’s Earned Run strand percentage, it too is likely to decline—given that it is about three times as high as his rate last year (which I felt was a bit low for Tim).
Batters won’t continue their .350+ BABIP against Tim, so they won’t get as many hits. But nor will he likely continue to yield home runs on just 2.7% of the fly balls hit against him—particularly when that is only a third the percentage he yielded last season.
My point last year was that Tim pitched better than his ERA indicated. My point this season is that he hasn’t pitched as well as his Bob Gibson-like 1.43 ERA would show.
If Tim’s ERA winds up within a full run of your projected figure, he will have had a tremendous sophomore season. And despite the Giants’ horrendous hitting, he likely would wind up with a better record than 7-5. Tim went 7-4 last season, and this year he is both pitching and hitting/bunting better. The defense and hitting supporting him isn’t as good, but the bullpen would seem to be.
If Tim’s ERA truly WERE only 1.84 this season, I think he would wind up something akin to 14-5. I am expecting an ERA more in the 2.50-2.75 level, accompanied by a record more in line with 11-5. I have more confidence in the ERA level than in the won-loss record.
by sharksrog on May 6, 2008 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do think Rowand’s been worth his contract so far. He’s a pretty damn good ballplayer, when healthy. And so far this year, he’s been more or less healthy (broken ribs aside.)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on May 6, 2008 8:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
if he’d stop being a GAMER by sliding on or taking a hit with his broken ribs, he’d get healthy.
However, gamers don’t allow themselves to heal.
Ryan Paul: Two four-letter words are better than one.
by The Enchanter on May 6, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chuck Norris
is afraid of Aaron Rowand.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
by S.F. Giangst on May 6, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't get me wrong
I like Rowand, but it still depresses me that he went from being the Phillies’ 4th best player to being the centerpiece of our lineup. That and the fact that he’s going on 31 and will be over the hill by the time the Giants finish rebuilding. Obviously, though, his contract is a bargain compared to what we’re paying the former Cy Young winner collecting dust in our bullpen.
www.sfbaywatching.com - daily news & commentary on all things Niners, Giants, Warriors, and Cardinal
by sven406 on May 6, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I agree and I still don’t think he was the sort of player this Giants team needed to add. But he’s a pretty good ballplayer and he seems likable enough, so I’m enjoying having him on the team.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on May 6, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rowand does seem to be a guy who will lead by example, though, and that is important. Especially on a young team. Getting in Velez’s face, and letting him know that he’s here to play ball is a good thing. Kinda makes ya miss Shawon Dunston, don’t it?
by tyrannoman on May 6, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, no.
It is a good thing…but it would take a lot more than that to make me miss Dunston.
All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK then,
how about Jason Christenson? Do you miss him?
by tyrannoman on May 6, 2008 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aaron's batting average will likely drop a lot
Aaron Rowand’s .330 batting average has been based on a BABIP over .400. That holds true for Freddie Lewis’ .324, as well. I think Aaron will cut down on his strikeouts as he becomes healthier, but I still expect his average to drop by close to 50 points. Freddie’s could fall even further.
by sharksrog on May 6, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting observation on Velez’ effort on the last play. Anyone get to see a reply and able to comment?
by allfrank on May 6, 2008 12:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
when i saw it on espn afterwards it did look like he was moving slow, like he thought it was routine or soemthing
by Azmanz on May 6, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The professional term is “lollygagging”
by xanthan on May 6, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya know what that makes you??
Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.
by delorean on May 6, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think
I think Eugenio just misjudged the ball. He should have made more of an effort to get in front of the ball, but it appeared his read wasn’t spot-on.
by sharksrog on May 6, 2008 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
How is this excusable, even for a rookie? Can one say he needs time to learn/adjust to Citizen’s Bank Park? He played 4 innings in the field Friday, 10 on Sat and 9 on Sunday. Or is it just, as it looked, poor effort? Jesus, that is unbelievable, all these years to get to the show, you finally get there, JUST TO COAST?
by allfrank on May 6, 2008 10:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoa
i was at the sat. night game in the mezz. It was a mini giants section with a dude with a Bonds jersey and another guy with a giants hat, and myself. Phillies fans are basically idiots
Somethings ive learned:
-everyone wears a jersey EVERYONE
and..
-awful hecklers:this one guy behind me said (to a giants fan leaving to get food in the top 10) REAL FANS DONT LEAVE!!!!!!!!!1 HAHAHHAHA
Keep the Watson
by czechwonder on May 7, 2008 12:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
contd
i look around at the ballpark and 3/4 of the fans are gone haha
Keep the Watson
by czechwonder on May 7, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lincecum
I don’t believe I would be concerned about young Lincecum competing for a Cy Young Award. He would have to have a winning record and that is not going to happen with a minor league lineup on the field behind him…a nice April W-L record notwithstanding. And judging from the way he is being handled. High pitch counts. High number of high-stress innings. A mechanically sound, but tissue-intensive delivery, and a tendency by Mr. Bochy to over extend anybody who is effective on the mound, it is not unlikely that Lincecum is going to end up on the Disabled list prior to season’s end.
by Barney Wood on May 8, 2008 9:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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