Thursday, October 25, 2012

Bonded by failure, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum give Giants right stuff in Game 1 of World Series - Yahoo! Sports




So many Hollywood story lines to choose from, you wish this could have been the season-ender rather than a lid-lifter. But what a start!!

Panda walks with legends.
Zito -- and to a lesser extent Lincecum -- get their groove back.
Scutaro and Pagan continue their excellence at the top of the order.
Posey showing signs of coming back by grinding through a 2-4 night.
Belt can  make an 0-3 night look productive. Solid AB's.
Only Pence and Blanco appear lost with the bats right now and Blanco adds in with the defensive gems.
Crawford flashes solid leather and occasionally pops with the bat.

Still only one game, but a BIG game indeed. Assist to the Tigers pitching coach for inexplicably breaking Verlander's rhythm with that eye-opening mound visit. Even Verlander appeared startled and it seemed to momentarily get in his head.



The rest is history.


I liked the Game 2 match-up better from the get-go, Bummer  is a gamer and he has been through this "kink in his delivery phase" before. I was hoping to just press Verlander hard and have Zito pitch well enough to keep it close -- the moral victory angle -- but the Giants exceed expectations once again.

Let's see if they play as well from ahead as they do from behind. A 2-game lead will give the Tigers a very tough mountain to climb. A split in SF had to be the Tigers goal coming in and they can still get it. They know they will have a Verlander seeking vindication in Game 4 or 5, but this may shut down any "three starts by your stud and sneak another victory from somebody else" strategy. Verlander seemed a little out of sync all night, without the high 90's top end velocity. He just didn't seem able to put hitters away ('cept Hunter and Blanco).

THREE MORE LIKE THIS GUYS!!!

from Yahoo Sports:
Bonded by failure, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum give Giants right stuff in Game 1 of World Series - Yahoo! Sports:

And yet it was real, so obviously real because of their affinity for one another. Zito and Lincecum had endured so many low moments. Damned if they weren't going to appreciate one like this.

"It's great for us to be able to share that together," Lincecum said. " … We're just riding the good times and enjoying this."

It was a buddy movie with all of the necessary elements. There was the explosion (Justin Verlander: five earned runs), the sidekick (Pablo Sandoval: three home runs), the salty boss (Bruce Bochy: at his growling best) and the beauty (Gregor Blanco: two sliding catches). And then there were the stars, Zito and Lincecum, playing off one another harmoniously.

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Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.