In basketball, the Princeton Offense Strategy is premised on playing good defense and complementing that with an offense that utilizes almost every second of the shot clock in order to limit the possessions of the opponent to force a low-scoring ...
In basketball, the Princeton Offense Strategy is premised on playing good defense and complementing that with an offense that utilizes almost every second of the shot clock in order to limit the possessions of the opponent to force a low-scoring ...
The 2012 version of the San Francisco Giants has shown some major flaws and is fighting to remain near the .500 level. Manager Bruce Bochy, who did such a wonderful job guiding the Giants to the 2010 World Series title, has his work cut out this ...
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Any baseball person will agree that teams look flat and exhausted when they don't hit, no matter what else they do well. That explains the malaise that has settled over AT&T Park like the thick fog that enveloped the...
Source: San Francisco Chronicle by Henry Schulman
Carlos Beltran had been traded twice by long-term employers, the Royals and Mets, and knew the relatively low-budget Astros could not afford him after he nearly carried them to a National League pennant in 2004. Thus,...
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Brian Wilson worked out on a stationary bike Wednesday at the Giants ' ballpark, the first real exercise doctors have allowed him to tackle since his Tommy John surgery April 19. I hope Wilson used some type of...
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Brian Wilson worked out on a stationary bike Wednesday at the Giants ' ballpark, the first real exercise doctors have allowed him to tackle since his Tommy John surgery April 19. I hope Wilson used some type of...
Source: CSN Bay Area
Melky Cabrera was scratched from the San Francisco lineup moments before the first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals, with what the team is calling a left toe injury. But Bruce Bochy said after the game that he expects his No. 3 hitter in the lineup Thursday.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Carlos Beltran doesn't like to miss games, and he may not have to for the time being.Source: Yahoo! Sports
ATLANTA (AP) Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 8-4 on Wednesday night, adding another win to their impressive May record.
Source: MLB.com by Jon Star
A battle of southpaws in Wednesday's series opener gives way to two of the National League's more prominent right-handers in Thursday's series finale as Adam Wainwright and Matt Cain share the mound.Source: CSN Bay Area
Madison Bumgarner had a chance at nine consecutive home wins Wednesday, but didn't get the run support he needed to keep the streak alive.Source: CSN Bay Area
There are a number of facets of the game that need improvement before the Giants take the league by storm, but Wednesday's loss intensified the magnifying glass that is already focused on one particular shortcoming.
Source: McCovey Chronicles by steve S
Source: San Francisco Chronicle by Henry Schulman
Carlos Beltran had been traded twice by long-term employers, the Royals and Mets, and knew the relatively low-budget Astros could not afford him after he nearly carried them to a National League pennant in 2004. Thus,...
Source: CSN Bay Area
Bruce Bochy tried hitting his pitcher eighth Wednesday and while it didn't lead to a win, it wasn't the worst idea when you consider his other options. Ray Ratto racks his brain for more potential solutions to the Giants' woes.Source: CSN Bay Area
Melky Cabrera was scratched from the San Francisco lineup moments before the first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals, with what the team is calling a left toe injury. But Bruce Bochy said after the game that he expects his No. 3 hitter in the lineup Thursday.Source: San Francisco Chronicle
For the first time in 17 seasons, the Giants hosted the St. Louis Cardinals with someone other than Tony La Russa managing the Redbirds. His spirit was there. It hypnotized Bruce Bochy into trying a favorite La Russa...
Source: McCovey Chronicles by Grant Brisbee
Everything you needed to know about this game can be explained through Madison Bumgarner hitting for himself in the bottom of the seventh inning, down by one. Is it the worst tactical decision of the night? Eh, whatever. But as something that had layers and layers of meaning, it'll do just fine. Here's what the non-move told you about the Giants:
Imbalanced roster
When the Giants play against a left-handed starter, anyone who could be considered a threat to left-handers is moved into the lineup. And by "anyone", I mean "Brett Pill." He is the threat against left-handed pitching.
It's not like Schierholtz, Huff, Belt, or Sanchez should be the big bat off the bench against a lefty. There isn't anything Bochy can
Source: Yahoo! Sports
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Jaime Garcia matched his career high with nine strikeouts, David Freese hit a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals gave manager Mike Matheny a victory against his old Giants team with a 4-1 win Wednesday night.Source: CSN Bay Area
Madison Bumgarner worked into the eighth inning, but left two runners on base that eventually scored, while Jamie Garcia allowed just one run in 7.1 innings and struck out nine Giants.Source: Inside Bay Area by <p class="bylinejb">By Alex Pavlovic<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:apavlovic@mercurynews.com'>apavlovic@mercurynews.com</a>
Cabrera latest starter to be hit with injurySource: MLB.com by Chris Haft
Madison Bumgarner's success at AT&T Park ran out Wednesday night as he and the Giants lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1.Source: CSN Bay Area
Melky Cabrera was scratched from the San Francisco lineup moments before the first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals, with what the team is calling a left toe injury. No immediate details were available.Source: MLB Trade Rumors by Zach Links
Links from around baseball as Wednesday becomes Thursday..
Source: MLB.com
Carlos Beltran, who finished last season with the Giants and now ranks among the National League's most productive hitters, expressed no ill feelings over the unceremonious end of his San Francisco tenure.Source: MLB.com
Giants right-hander Brian Wilson called himself ahead of schedule Wednesday in his recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery and insisted that he'll be ready to close out a Giants victory on Opening Day 2013.Source: MLB.com
Giants left fielder Melky Cabrera was scratched from Wednesday night's starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals with an injured left toe.Source: CSN Bay Area
Madison Bumgarner is on the mound with a chance to win his ninth straight start at home in the series opener against the Cardinals. Watch the game on CSN Bay Area and follow along with In-Game Live!Source: Yahoo! Sports
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Ever the optimist with his bold personality and bushy black beard, Giants closer Brian Wilson deemed himself ahead of schedule in his recovery from a second Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and insists he plans to be ready for opening day 2012.Source: MLB.com by Chris Haft
This should be an especially rousing Interleague season for the Giants. Their pair of Bay Bridge Series encounters against the Oakland A's always stirs up fans. And the Giants will confront Oakland's American League West counterparts, each inspiring a different, potentially intriguing backstory.Source: CSN Bay Area
Freddy Sanchez's shoulder rehab was set back when his back flared up. Bruce Bochy confirmed he had an injection Tuesday.Source: McCovey Chronicles by Grant Brisbee
Pitcher batting eighth, pitcher batting eighth, pitcher batting eighth ...
Gregor Blanco - RF
Charlie Culberson - 2B
Melky Cabrera - LF
Buster Posey - C
Angel Pagan - CF
Brett Pill - 1B
Brandon Crawford -SS
Madison Bumgarner -LHP
Emmanuel Burriss- 3B
Second baseman's gotta hit second. This lineup is 66.6 percent homegrown. I'm not going to round up for this one.
Current Series 2 game series vs Cardinals @ AT&T ParkSt. Louis Cardinals Viva El Birdos
@
Source: CSN Bay Area
Madison Bumgarner take the ball in the first of this two-game series. He's the first Giants pitcher to win eight straight home starts since Bob Knepper 1977-78. Can he make it nine in a row?Source: CSN Bay Area
Brian Wilson has a long time before he can pitch again. The down time is killing him, but there are few rehab landmarks on the horizon.Source: Yahoo! Sports
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) St. Louis Cardinals slugger Carlos Beltran is missing his third straight start with a sore right knee, though he and manager Mike Matheny believe he will avoid a stint on the disabled list.Source: Giants Splash Blog by hschulman@sfchronicle.com (Henry Schulman)
UPDATE: Manager Bruce Bochy’s explanation on hitting Madison Bumgarner eighth and Emmanuel Burriss ninth: “I’ve done this once before. The way it’s set up I did put Madison in the eighth spot. It gives you two leadoff hitters, like Tony (La Russa) talked about that. It’s not something I plan to do on a consistent [...]Source: CSN Bay Area
With a win Wednesday, Madison Bumgarner will have won nine straight home decisions, putting him in elite company. Get prepared for the two-game series with the defending World Champs with a photo gallery.Source: MLB Trade Rumors by Zach Links
Items out of the National League West..
Source: Giants Splash Blog by hschulman@sfchronicle.com (Henry Schulman)
In honor of former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who popularized the move, manager Bruce Bochy is batting Madison Bumgarner eighth tonight against lefty Jaime Garcia and Emmanuel Burriss ninth. OK, that’s not why he’s doing it. He’s doing it because Bumgarner is a better hitter right now. Bochy always said he’d be open to [...]Source: MLB Trade Rumors by Zach Links
Items out of the National League West..
Source: CSN Bay Area
Borrowing a page from the Tony LaRussa handbook on managing, Bruce Bochy is breaking with baseball tradition by batting his pitcher Madison Bumgarner ahead of Emmanuel Burriss Wednesday.Source: Giants Splash Blog by hschulman@sfchronicle.com (Henry Schulman)
The numbers are mind-boggling. Remember that June 21 game last year when Madison Bumgarner lasted one-third of an inning and gave up eight earnies to the Twins? Well, since that game he is 11-1 with a 1.79 ERA in at home. He has won his last eight starts and 10 of 11 at AT&T Park. [...]
Source: Bleacher Report
Pitching wins championships. But you have to score runs to win games.
The 2012 San Francisco Giants have arguably the deepest and best rotation in franchise history with three top-line pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain. Ryan Vogelsong and a revitalized Barry Zito are legitimate back of the rotation pitchers.
But as for the offense, sometimes the Giants are truly offensive. In 2011, fans expected the Giants to produce in similar fashion to the team that had career years in 2010. What they received was the team’s slogan made famous by Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, “Torture.”
Bruce Bochy pulled all of the right strings to bring the San Francisco Giants their first World Series Championship in 2010 since their move from New York. But the San Francisco Giants looked their age in 2011, had significant injuries, and scored only 570 runs all year, eclipsing only the dreadful Houston Astros by four runs as the second-worst offensive team in the National League.Â
So, the Giants started off 2012 by scoring at least four runs in their first eight games. Problem solved? Not so fast!
The Giants bats cooled off quickly, coupled with Aubrey Huff’s anxiety disorder and eventually a return trip to the DL for another hamate bone injury from Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval. A repeat of 2011 looked to be on its way.
The offensive woes are partially the blame of Bruce Bochy’s consistent lineup changes. Bochy likes veterans over younger players, but he has no choice this year as the Giants have gone to the youth movement on the fly. Bochy’s major problem is trying to get too many players involved.
There are very few regulars in the everyday lineup such as Buster Posey, Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and the newly appointed shortstop, Brandon Crawford. Joaquin Arias has played his way into the lineup, filling in primarily for the injured Sandoval, but he hasn’t distinguished himself yet from the rest of the pack of substitutes. That sets up for four or even five spots for the constant rotation.
Brandon Belt was supposed to be the next big thing for the Giants, but he hasn’t developed as expected because the Giants’ cautious handling of him. The shuttling back and forth to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate in Fresno last year and the now clogged rotation of Belt, Posey and Brett Pill at first base has led to the fan’s “Free Belt” movement. The Giants need to treat Belt like Brandon Crawford, who has struggled at the plate and on the field, but gets consistent starts every game at shortstop.
The only consistent producers in the lineup are Melky Cabrera (whom the Giants acquired for talented, but underwhelming Jonathan Sanchez—who pitched their first no-hitter since John Montefusco in 1976), Angel Pagan (who the Giants received in an offseason trade that involved fan-favorite Andres Torres and pitcher Ramon Ramirez) and franchise-pillar Buster Posey.
Bochy needs to stick with at least six regulars so he can get the consistent playing time for Belt at first base. The outfield will keep productive Cabrera, Pagan, and rotate Gregor Blanco and Brett Pill with a spot start from Nate Schierholtz. Second base is currently the weakest position in the lineup and it needs to be a rotation of Emmanuel Burriss, recently called up Charlie Culberson or whoever else they can find.
The strategy will keep the offense afloat and let the players develop at a more rapid pace. If the pitching continues to dominate other National League teams, the Giants will be right back in position to win another NL West title and possibly another World Series title in 2012.Â
Read more San Francisco Giants news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Bleacher Report
Pitching wins championships. But you have to score runs to win games.
The 2012 San Francisco Giants have arguably the deepest and best rotation in franchise history with three top-line pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, and Matt Cain. Ryan Vogelsong and a revitalized Barry Zito are legitimate back of the rotation pitchers.
But as for the offense, sometimes the Giants are truly offensive. In 2011, fans expected the Giants to produce in similar fashion to the team of 2010. What they received was the team’s slogan made famous by Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper.
“Torture.”
In 2010, Bruce Bochy pulled all of the right strings to bring the San Francisco Giants their first World Series Championship since their move from New York. But the Giants looked their age in 2011, had significant injuries, and scored only 570 runs all year, eclipsing only the dreadful Houston Astros by four runs as the second-worst offensive team in the National League.Â
So the Giants started off 2012 by scoring at least four runs in their first eight games. Problem solved? Not so fast.
The Giants bats cooled off quickly. Aubrey Huff’s anxiety disorder coupled with a return trip to the DL for Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval after another hamate bone injury, and a repeat of 2011 looked to be on its way.
The offensive woes can partially be blamed on Bochy’s consistent lineup changes. Bochy likes veterans over younger players, but he has no choice this year as the Giants have gone to the youth movement on the fly.
Bochy’s major problem is trying to get too many players involved.
There are very few regulars in the everyday lineup such as Buster Posey, Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and the newly appointed shortstop, Brandon Crawford.
Joaquin Arias has played his way into the lineup, filling in primarily for the injured Sandoval, but he hasn’t distinguished himself from the rest of the pack of substitutes. That sets up four or five spots in the constant rotation.
Brandon Belt was supposed to be the next big thing for the Giants, but he hasn’t developed as expected because the Giants’ cautious handling of him.
The shuttling back and forth to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate in Fresno last year and the now-clogged rotation of Belt, Posey, and Brett Pill at first base has led to the fan’s “Free Belt” movement. The Giants need to treat Belt like Brandon Crawford, who has struggled at the plate and on the field, but gets consistent starts every game at shortstop.
The only consistent producers in the lineup are Cabrera—who the Giants received for talented but underwhelming Jonathan Sanchez—franchise pillar Buster Posey and Angel Pagan, who the Giants received for fan-favorite Andres Torres and pitcher Ramon Ramirez in the offseason
Bochy needs to stick with at least six regulars so he can get the consistent playing time for Belt at first base. The outfield will keep Cabrera, Pagan and rotate Gregor Blanco and Pill with a spot start from Nate Schierholtz.
Second base is currently the weakest position in the lineup, and it needs to be a rotation of Emmanuel Burriss, recently called-up Charlie Culberson or whomever else they can find.
The strategy will keep the offense afloat and let the players develop at a more rapid pace. If the pitching continues to dominate other National League teams, the Giants will be right back in position to win another NL West title and possibly another World Series title in 2012.Â
Read more San Francisco Giants news on BleacherReport.com
Source: CSN Bay Area
The Giants bailed Tim Lincecum out of taking the loss, but Lincecum couldnt free himself from the pressure that comes with an out-of-character slump that continues to make the one-time ace look very mortal.Source: CSN Bay Area
None of the Giants three errors led to any unearned runs on Tuesday, but they still helped contribute to the 5-4 loss.Source: McCovey Chronicles by Grant Brisbee
The St. Louis Cardinals might be the most annoying franchise in baseball. The Yankees will always have a claim to that title. The Red Sox are too funny right now to be annoying. The Marlins are … wait, it's probably the Marlins.
But the Cardinals are still annoying. Good every damned year. Lose an ace, win the World Series. Lose the best hitter in baseball, keep the hitting ability in the divorce. Pitcher after pitcher after pitcher coming up with a surprise season, even after Dave Duncan is gone. They're the quiet guy in the cubicle next you, always seeming to finish their reports quicker than you, and always getting the majority of the praise in the company meeting. If you've ever said, "I want to pee in the Cardinals'
Source: Yahoo! Sports
On Tuesday, May 15, the Los Angeles Angels fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. The decision to let him go is a long time coming for the Angels. The only thing that surprises me is that Hatcher lasted this long.Source: Inside Bay Area by <p class="bylinejb">By Alex Pavlovic<br /></p><p class="bylineaffiliation"><a href='mailto:apavlovic@mercurynews.com'>apavlovic@mercurynews.com</a>
Team is making a habit of three-error games
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