The fear that I always have is that when a young pitching staff is doing well on a team with no offense they might try and over do it knowing that even one run could be a killer. Still this is a much better start to the season than I expected and I will have to enjoy it while I can.

It's hard to imagine they'll be as good as the 2003 Dodgers, who had a bigger percentage of Win Shares from their pitching staff than any other team with a winning record (since 1900). If the Giants can get to a winning record (unlikely but not hopelessly out of the question), they might be in that conversation, though.

What's up with Sanchez? I think he's the only guy with two 10-K games this year?

I admit to having positive interest in the Giants this year, because of their pitching (ok, I don't care about Zito) and the chances some of their youngish hitters (Lewis, Velez, Bowker, etc.) are receiving. If there's justice, the Dbacks will finish first in the NL west and the Giants second.

If there's justice, the Dbacks will finish first in the NL west and the Giants second

how is that justice.
If there is Justice, San Diego gets the division, and Arizona and Colorado battle it out in a one game playoff .. .. in China.

That would be justice!

in China.

Racist.

Their Pythag record is 8-16. It's an impressive feat to be a team that's "on pace" to outperform their Pythags by 20 games en route to a 74-88 record.

Their Pythag record is 8-16. It's an impressive feat to be a team that's "on pace" to outperform their Pythags by 20 games en route to a 74-88 record.

This made me laugh.

The fear that I always have is that when a young pitching staff is doing well on a team with no offense they might try and over do it knowing that even one run could be a killer.

The thing is, Cain lived through all that last year and seems to be a better pitcher for it (although the elevated K and BB rates early on in this season are troubling). The Giants probably cost him about 10 wins last year, but he still took the ball everyday, didn't complain, and for the most part just pitched his game.

Plus, I really do think that Rags is one of the better (if not more underrated) pitching coaches in baseball because he has experienced being an ace starter, an ace reliever, as well as a journeyman.


the chances some of their youngish hitters (Lewis, Velez, Bowker, etc.) are receiving.

Lewis would be a fine 4th outfielder, but is miscast as an everyday LF and leadoff hitter.

Velez seems to make the most of his skills (namely speed), but he's a fringe utility player at best.

Bowker had a great 3 games--his first three games in the majors. He went 6 for 10 with 2 HR. Since that time, he has hit .152/.200/.273 in 33 AB. His true talent level is obviously somewhere in the middle: ZIPS says .254/.301/.365, which is well-below replacement level for a 1B. Basically, he's another Dan Ortmeier. Worse, because they seem to remain fascinated with Bowker, Sabean didn't acquire Dan Johnson, who actually could have been a decent bat in the lineup.

My fear is that by giving opportunities to older prospects with such limited upside is that Sabean will use this little misadventure to reinforce his belief that a team cannot win with young players. Rather than accept responsibility (it's his incompetence that has left SF so barren of quality young hitters), he'll return to his model of overpaying for mediocre veterans and the Giants will continue to flounder in perpetuity.

The Giants are on pace for 499 runs. When was the last time someone scored that few?

The Giants are on pace for 499 runs. When was the last time someone scored that few?

1972 - several teams - but that was a shortened season.

The 1971 Padres played 161 games and scored 486 runs.

I happened to mention to Levski this morning that Giants are probably 2 good hitters, (i.e.850 OPS or higher) away from being a real pain the neck. But looking a little closer, I probably overstated that. I also have no idea how the Giants could find or acquire those two good hitters without giving up too much pitching, thereby robbing from Peter to pay Paul.

I think 6-4-3 's concerns about Sabean deluding himself into thinking that he actually "gave youth a chance" are very real.

I have to admit to being really curious about what's up with Sanchez too. I mean, he's always been interesting in the way that all pitchers who will be awesome if they can only reign in those walks are interesting. But, in addition to that, he's also interesting because of the way the Giants have broken him in at the major league level. Out of the bullpen, and long relief, with 5 or 6 spot starts both years in the majors. Sanchez is no baby, and he hasn't exactly lit it up the last two years (ERA+: 91 & 75 WHIP: 1.55 & 1.63; but he did post K/9 rates of: 7.4 in 40 IP & 10.7 in 52 IP). But, this season he's still striking out a lot 36 in 28 IP, but his WHIP is only 1.18, and his ERA+ is 115, and he's looking like he might realize his promise. Of course, I understand the small sample size at play here. But I am curious to see how this will play out. He walk rate in the minors was 3.5, and if he could maintain that level, the Giants would be ecstatic. He's at a playing age of 25, and should be hitting his prime, whatever that might entail. Is this possibly a breakthrough?

Sanchez has some intriguing potential, but what's holding him back isn't just the high walk rate, it's the platoon split. The guy absolutely couldn't get righties out last year (912 OPS versus righties, compared to 621 OPS versus lefties). Unless he can figure out how to get right-handed hitters out, he's not going to last as a starter.

FWIW (it's only been five games), all of his extra-base hits and BB given up so far in 2008 have been against right-handed hitters.

I just hope the rumor of adding Noah Lowry to the starters and thereby making it a six-man rotation stays a rumor. If he's really healthy enough to pitch, they ought to just put Noah in AAA.

The talk on KNBR this week was that Zito is going to "develop" some sort of bogus injury that will allow him to spend some time on the DL and rehab assignment to see if he can get straightened out.

I think 6-4-3 's concerns about Sabean deluding himself into thinking that he actually "gave youth a chance" are very real.

True, and it is Sabean's fault that he has the "youth" he has. Bowker needs to play, however, because the alternatives are Aurilia and Ortmeier. Aurilia is absolutely done at this point and needs to be cut.

Lewis has earned his playing time, and while I would prefer a proper slugging corner OFer, Lewis has 276 PA of 112 OPS+ at this point, with speed to boot. Yeah, sample size, but so far Lewis is basically Raul Ibanez.

Velez would have a chance if he were a good defensive player, but he sucks.

There are just too many holes to fill, and some of these borderline "prospects" are going to have to pan out, so you have to play them.

Also, Magowan could fire Sabean.

Zito to the DL is a great idea.

Lowry needs to pitch, because some GM is going to view him as valuable. He is the best option for the Giants to trade, because he is still young, he is cheap, and he is due for a collapse, so trade him before then.

If any GM saw Lowry as valuable, he would have been traded in the offseason.

If any GM saw Lowry as valuable, he would have been traded in the offseason.

I don't know about that - having had offseason surgery?

Offseason? He pitched in Spring Training and then was diagnosed with the forearm problem. It was pretty much known all offseason that the Giants would be willing to part with him. Nobody took the opportunity between November and March.

so zito is going on the dl with a case of the sucks?

Offseason? He pitched in Spring Training and then was diagnosed with the forearm problem. It was pretty much known all offseason that the Giants would be willing to part with him. Nobody took the opportunity between November and March.

My bad, as he didn't have surgery for the elbow problem, but the elbow shut him down last season. I guess the point is that his arm problems started last year.

I don't think that Lowry's foreman problem this spring resulted from last year's elbow problems.

In any event, if he can demonstrate that he's healthy and solid #3/#4 starter, then the Giants might be able to trade him for something useful later this season. There's probably a better chance that some GM desperate for pitching will overpay for him at the deadline than in the off-season.