Split

08/09/2012

Giants 1 Cardinals 3

Dear 'birds,

It's always fun to have a stopper,

you know, that pitcher who thrives 

on the big game, who wills the team to win

in the midst of a losing streak. Or after 

a horrible loss.

Adam Wainwright took the mound today

and pitched the team to victory.  There was no 

trace of last night's defeat hanging over

this team. There was only confidence in their play

and, most of all, confidence in the man on the mound.

We scored three runs today on four hits. We scored no 

runs on four hits last night. We're heading to Philly 

after a successful home stand.  Here's hoping the offense

picks up and here's a wish for a weekend sweep.

Til Later

 

On Punishment

08/09/2012

Giants 15 Cardinals 0

Dear 'birds,

I think it is cruel and unusual punishment to relive last nights game-- to mention any detail of last night's blowout loss here.  So we won't.

OH, wait.  I'll say this:  Is it wrong that I probably would've joined those who booed Tyler Greene,  if I were at the game?  He failed to turn a double play with the bases loaded, letting his pitcher down. It's frustrating when a player always fails in high pressure situations.  He has failed to rise to the occasion too often, and Mozeliak was right to trade him today.  Tyler Greene is a hard worker and by all accounts a great teammate (unlike a certain player we traded last season).  Its hard to see someone who cared and always gave his best leave St. Louis.  I hope that he thrives in Houston.

Til Later

Twoday

08/07/2012

Giants  4 Cardinals 2

Dear 'birds,

Today there are two updates because I was too lazy

to post about Monday's game yesterday. Sorry.

I'll try not to let it happen again. Promise.

Seriously.

Five losses on the year for Lance Lynn. We 

couldn't come back from the three runs he gave

the Giants in the first.  I hate playing a whole game

on the losing side. I wished this team will start fighting

back more often when down early.

The worse part about yesterday's loss is that we failed 

to gain ground on Cincy and Pittsburgh.  But at least we 

gained a game on Cincy on Monday. For some reason,

the Brewers have beaten Cincy the past two games.

The best part about yesterday's game 

was the spectacular  defense. My favorite play 

was Carlos Beltran- Skip Schumaker gunning 

the ball to David Freese, who waited nonchalantly

and tagged out Melky Cabrera as he tried to stretch a double 

into a triple. Denied.

We've won the majority of our games recently,

we just need to keep our focus on winning as many games as we

can. And we need to improve our road record. It's awful.

There is enough time left in the season to pick up a game or two 

(hopefully three) weekly and be there at the end.

Til Later

We like to hit

08/06/2012

Giants 2 Cardinals 8

Dear Cards,

We like to hit and we don't care who

you are. So Matt Cain surrendered five runs

in five and two-thirds innings. Don't feel bad, Cain,

it is just what we do.

FSMidwest compared the Cardenales and Gigantes 

Monday night. They had the exact 

same records, but the Giants only had a plus 19  run differential

and the 'birds had a plus 110 run-differential. 

My question is why are our records the same when we

obviously score many more runs and our pitchers give up

a comparable amount of runs?

Til Later

Well, they had a bit of fun BEFORE the game

05/17/2012

Los Cardenales de San Luis 5 Los Gigantes de San Francisco 7

Birds,

I loved the bad tuxedos you all wore to the ballpark. (And apparently you all wore them  on the ride to Los Angeles! I am happy that "bad fashion" road trips are back again this year!) Look at Wainwright's kilt!

Photo courtesy of third baseman David Freese. The Cardinals also posted pictures of individual Cardinals on their Facebook fan page.  Some of the comments there are laugh-out-loud reckless.  I'm just going to say that we women Cardinal fans know and love our birds!

I have to post this.  Jaime Garcia in baby blue (courtesy of the Cardinals Facebook page). Do you see how... handsome he looks sans shirt?  

And David Freese just looks adorable in his Cat in the Hat hat (courtesy of his twitter page):

I wonder if this picture will change once @dfreese23 changes his profile picture?

Unfortunately, the game wasn't as awesome as the terrible tuxes.  It was, in fact, as ugly as the tuxes are tacky. The past week or so this team has made a habit of walking batters (nine today) and committing errors (three!).  In April the pitching was outstanding, perhaps a bit better than we should expect daily, but it shouldn't be as bad as it's been at times in May, either. The defense has no business being any worse than it was in April.  And in April the defense was outstanding.  No excuses out on the field, guys, play hard and play smart!

Pitching and Defense need to shape up because pitching and defense WINS BALLGAMES!!

'Til Later

P.S. I don't know whether I'll have internet access this weekend-- going out of town!  I hope to be able to post about Friday's game on Saturday, God willing.

"Happy Flight!" meter: 7/11

McCovey Cove

05/16/2012

Cardinals 4 Giants 1

Dear 'birds,

Game time temperature in the ballpark by the bay was in the 50s, but Mr. Freese's bat shook it's thaw and delivered three hits, including the game winning RBI.

Interesting David Freese home/road issue:

At home (15 games): .196 average/ .646 OPS/ 2 homers/ 10 RBI. And on the road (20 games): .346 average/ 1.021 OPS/ 6 homers/ 18 RBI.

The pitching last night was spectacular.  It was fun watching the young lefty starters (Jaime Garcia and San Francisco's  Madison Baumgartner) showcase their skills.  I am glad the Cardinal batters were able to break through, because it was definitely a clinic in pitching last night.

I know that the Giants have outstanding pitching, but has anyone ever wonder if their pitching is so good because the ballpark is so cold?  Maybe that's why their offense is so bad.  Perhaps it wouldn't be as bad if they didn't play in frigid temperatures half the time.

I guess I should look up some home/road splits for the Gigantes:

This season, Giants hitters, at home (18 games): .256 average/6 homers/52 runs scored. And on the road(19 games): .260/19 homers /82 runs scored .  No major difference in average, but a considerable difference in power, though.

This season, Giants pitchers, at home (18 games): 2.37 ERA/8 homers/51 runs against, 44 earned runs. And on the road (19 games): 4.32/15 homers/91 runs against, 78 earned runs. So, much worse on the road than at home. Oh, the benefits of playing 81 games in a pitcher's ballpark! Although, looking at other years, Giants pitchers were pretty much spectacular regardless of the setting.

'Til Later!