:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67180444/1161580862.jpg.0.jpg)
Hello and happy Monday. Here’s hoping your day is better than the San Francisco Giants bullpen.
Welcome to Part 2 of a two-part series called Former Giant Had a Day.
Yesterday we examined Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Derek Holland, who gave up 4 home runs on the first 11 pitches of a game. Today’s series finale is much grimmer.
It’s the franchise legend Madison Bumgarner who had a day, as he’s had a few times this year. Bumgarner started the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, but he only lasted 2 innings, during which time he gave up 4 home runs.
It was hard to watch, or I imagine it was — I can’t in good faith say that I watched it.
Bumgarner’s tenure with the Diamondbacks is off to a very rocky start. The Diamondbacks have lost all four games he’s started, with MadBum taking the loss in three of those four. His velocity is down, his command is lessened, and his pitches simply don’t have the same movement they once did.
Here’s his season line: 17.1 innings, 20 hits, 7 walks, 4 hit batters, 7 home runs, 13 strikeouts, 18 earned runs.
Not fun.
Bumgarner is also apparently dealing with back spasms, which is either good news (could explain some of the troubles), or bad news (back issues are very troublesome), depending on your view.
Torey Lovullo said Madison Bumgarner left the game due to "back spasms in his mid-back." Lovullo said Bumgarner had been trying to gut it out.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 9, 2020
Either way...it’s tough to see happen.
Did Barry Bonds hit a home run today?
Of course.
August 10, 1998: Against the Chicago Cubs, Bonds hit a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning off of Kevin Tapani, scoring Marvin Benard and Ellis Burks. It gave the Giants a 4-1 lead, and J.T. Snow would make it back-to-back dingers, but they would lose 8-5. It was his 24th homer of the year.
August 10, 2004: Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 7th inning off of John Grabow. It tied the game 4-4, and A.J. Pierzynski would make it back-to-back home runs, but the Giants would lose 8-7. It was his 30th homer of the year.
August 10, 2007: Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning off of Matt Morris, scoring Rajai Davis. It gave the Giants a 3-1 lead, but they would lose 8-7. It was his 24th homer of the year, and number 758 in his career.
Old, random MCC article to read
Should the Giants even try to win the Wild Card Game? (Bryan Murphy and Grant Brisbee — Sept. 29, 2014)
Giants links
- Grant Brisbee on the Giants stressful win against Clayton Kershaw (The Athletic, subscription required)
- Kerry Crowley on the rarity of the Giants offensive explosion against Clayton Kershaw (Mercury News)
- Dalton Johnson on Farhan Zaidi getting creative with trades (NBC Sports Bay Area)
- Mark W. Sanchez on how bad Hunter Pence felt after missing the fly ball on Saturday (KNBR)
- Henry Schulman on how Sam Selman benefited from living with a Dodger (SF Chronicle)
- Ali Thanawalla on someone editing Austin Slater’s wikipedia to have it state that Clayton Kershaw is his son (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Have a terrific Monday, everyone.