(Flickr/sjsharktank)

A week ago, I tackled the hitters. Now it’s the pitchers’ turn. For the pitching staff I’ll be guessing whether they’ll be UNDER or OVER their projected ERA+.

Matt Cain: 125 ERA+ in 2012, projected 121 ERA+ in 2013. What is there to say about Matt Cain? He’s the rock of the staff, the unquestioned team ace. He’s the Opening Day starter. He’s gotten better each of the last three seasons, and in 2012 posted a career high in strikeouts and a career low in walks. He’s never made fewer than 31 starts in any full season, or thrown less than 190 innings. I’ll confidently predict the OVER on his projection. » Continue reading “2013 Giants ZiPS Projections – Pitchers”

Brad Penny purchased from Triple-A Fresno and added to ML roster. Shane Loux placed on DL. Surkamp to 60-man DL. — Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) Thus begins the second era of the Brad Penny. It’s also interesting to note that Eric Surkamp is being placed on the 60 day (typo there, Pavs?) for something that was called a strain in the beginning.

(Thomas Hawk/flickr)

The official Giants twitter tweeted some disabled list updates today:

#SFGiants place Eric Surkamp, Dan Runzler and Freddy Sanchez all on DL, retroactive to 3/26. Ryan Vogelsong placed on DL, retro to 3/27

Alex Pavlovic reports that Mike Fontenot has been placed on release waivers:

The Giants placed Mike Fontenot on release waivers Friday, just before his contract was about to become fully guaranteed. The move saves the Giants about $787,000 and all but locks up a roster spot for fellow LSU grad and middle infielder Ryan Theriot.

I can just hear it now: “Starting at second base, Emmanuel Burriss!”

Oh, how great this season will be.

(Photo: {photonista} Rachel Hamrick/flickr)

(Thomas Hawk/flickr)

Andrew Baggarly reports that Buster Posey is considered to be ready to get behind the plate:

Buster Posey caught a spring-high seven innings on Monday, and when he returned to the dugout, manager Bruce Bochy had one question for him.

“How do you feel about catching tomorrow?”

Posey said he was up for it. That’s exactly what Bochy wanted to hear, since Tim Lincecum will be on the mound against the Los Angeles Angels — and the Giants’ projected opening-day battery still hasn’t teamed together this spring.

This is also what every Giants fan wants to hear at this point.

Now please take the bubble wrap for precautionary measures.

But then there’s the broken.

» Continue reading “Woody’s News Roundup Mar 27, 2012: More Giants Injuries”

On a temperate spring-like day in Arizona, Hector Sanchez smashed two home-runs — one each in the 6th and 8th innings — to help the San Francisco Giants beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6. Sanchez now has three homers in five spring training games.

Eric Surkamp started the game and pitched three innings. He exited with a 2-1 lead for the Giants. The left-hander allowed three hits, one run and had three strike-outs. Replacing Surkamp in the fourth was Brian Wilson who missed the end of the 2011 season with an elbow injury. This was Wilson’s first appearance in spring training. The right-hander looked impressive as he retired the side with nine pitches. It is reported that Wilson threw up to 94-MPH. Today’s outing by Wilson was reassuring.

The Giants had eleven hits to the Mariners’ ten. Right-fielder Gregor Blanco and second-baseman Emmanuel Burris each had two of the Giants’ hits. Pablo Sandoval, Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Hector Sanchez batted in San Francisco’s seven runs.

Catcher Buster Posey continued his long-awaited return. The 2010 Rookie Of The Year caught 52 pitches in four innings from both Surkamp and Wilson and went 0-2 at the plate.

The down side for the Giants on Sunday came on the defensive side. San Francisco committed three errors by Burris, Joaquin Arias, and Chris Stewart.

Seattle’s Hernandez Felix Hernandez, the 2010 Cy Young winner, took the loss.

An image on the jumbotron thanks Giants fans. Photo by John Pastor on Flickr.

And so the season as the reigning World Series Champions came to an end. With a 6-3 loss to the Rockies, the Giants ended their season on a bittersweet note.

What was once a promising season finished with injuries and optimism for next year.

“Together, We’re Giant” was the slogan this year. It was one that signified uniformity. However, the team probably didn’t expect that uniformity to go along with injuries. It began with Buster Posey’s tragic collision (the topic of which has been beaten to the ground since) and ended with Jeremy Affeldt’s freak hamburger patty injury. August was the month of doom — and down the team went, one by one, with a bizarre sequence.

» Continue reading “2011: That’s A Wrap”

In the final weekend of the regular season, the Giants look to face the division leading Diamondbacks one last time at Chase Field. In a three game series, the Giants will try to cut the D-backs’ lead. The Giants’ are only four games back in the Wild Card race.

Though it seems like the Giants are alive, their NL West elimination number is at 1. Their Wild Card number is at 3. These numbers don’t exactly inspire confidence in many.

It’s to the point where the same sentiment can be said over and over again: Let’s just hope the Giants don’t embarrass themselves in any horrible way.

Pitching matchups:
Friday, Sept. 23rd: Matt Cain (12-10, 2.86) vs. Joe Saunders (12-12, 3.66)
Saturday, Sept. 24th: Eric Surkamp (2-0, 2.95) vs. Ian Kennedy (20-4, 2.88)
Sunday, Sept. 25th: Tim Lincecum (13-13, 2.59) vs. Josh Collmenter (9-10, 3.42)

Rookie Brett Pill was the man on offense for the Giants against Colorado. He tripled…TWICE! In the sixth and eighth innings, the newcomer to the Big Leagues swung hard driving in a total of three runs for the night.

Another rookie, starting pitcher Eric Surkamp, singled in the second inning to put the first run on board for San Francisco. He tossed four and two-third innings giving up only one earned run.

Aubrey Huff and Carlos Beltran each drove in runs for the Giants as well.

Now that the G-men are collecting wins and putting tons of runs on the scoreboard, it leaves fans wondering where they stand in the playoff hunt.

Well, get your elementary math skills out and start counting: five, six, and seven.

Five games out of first place in the NL West and the NL Wildcard, six runs scored in Saturday’s game and seven straight wins for the Giants.

These numbers are all good.

The Diamondbacks lost, and with the G-men beating the Rockies 6-5 Saturday evening, they were able to get one game closer to the division leaders.

San Francisco plays Colorado again tomorrow, with the hopes of a four game sweep. They also close out the season with three games at home against the Rockies. If they can sweep them then too, and take all three games from Arizona, before hosting Colorado, the Giants will hopefully be in good shape.

The Giants’ Eric Surkamp made his third big-league start for the Giants, coming in to face the Padres with a record of 1-1, 3.27 ERA, and 1.36 WHIP. Surkamp pitched just 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 3 runs (only 2 earned), with no strikeouts (!), which was just enough for him to get the win as the Giants take the first game of the series 8-3.

Key to the Giants’ win was Carlos Beltran’s first inning two-run HR to right field over the arcade seats. That gave the Giants a lead they never relinquished.

The Giants scored another 2 runs in the 3rd, on a Cody Ross solo HR and an Aubrey Huff single that scored Jeff Keppinger (who are these guys and where were they a month ago?).

The Padres had the makings of a comeback in the 6th inning, when they managed to get eleventy hits with 2 outs, scoring two and threatening to score more off of Steve Edlefsen, who gave up 2 hits and a walk without recording an out. Dan Runzler came in to get the elusive third out, saving the Giants’ (and Edlefsen’s) bacon.

The Giants blew the game open in the 7th inning. Beginning modestly with Andres Torres sliding under Nick Hundley’s tag to score on Ross’ single and ending with Pablo Sandoval’s 3-run HR to left field, the Giants took a definitive 8-3 lead and held on to it for the final score.

The Padres made a little noise in the 8th, but an incredible Burriss-Crawford*-Huff double play ended the inning without allowing a Padre run.

*I don’t care if Brandon Crawford never gets another hit for the rest of the season – his defense alone is worth him being in the line-up every day.

Sergio Romo closed out the game spectacularly, pitching 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit and extending his current NL-leading scoreless streak to 17.1 innings.

And also: by winning tonight, the Giants guarantee winning the season series against the Padres (currently up 10-6 with two more to play). So there’s that.

And also also: it continues to suck to be Brandon Belt. Belt was taken out as part of a double switch in the 7th inning. I suppose the Giants could still be conserving Belt’s energy for winter Dominican ball.

Tomorrow: Cory Luebke (5-9, 3.28) faces Matt Cain (11-10, 2. 84).

What a difference two days make. On Sunday, disappointment and heartache lingered over San Francisco as the Giants dropped two out of three to the soaring, first-place Arizona Diamondbacks.

On Tuesday night, the gloom turned to jubilation as two September call-ups inspired the defending World Series champions to defeat the San Diego Padres 6-4. The Giants have won two games in-a-row and ensured themselves of a rare series victory.

To the surprise of many, the Giants announced on Tuesday that former Fresno Grizzlies outfielder Justin Christian and infielder Brett Pill would make the first starts of their careers against the Padres. The players, both popular in Fresno, have been productive in the clutch in AAA ball.

In his debut, Christian doubled, scored a run, and set down a sacrifice bunt. Pill slammed the first home run of his major-league career during his first at-bat. The rookie is the fourth Giant to accomplish that feat. His elegant swing — arms and bat extended — was reminiscent of Will Clark’s sublime batting mechanics. Together the ex-Grizzlies accounted for three of the Giants six runs.

San Francisco’s mid-season acquisition Carlos Beltran continued to impress with his offensive production. He went 3-4, walked, scored a run, and had three RBIs.

Giants rookie-pitcher Eric Surkamp (1-0, 3.27) pitched 5.0 innings for the win. He gave up three earned runs and five hits. He struck out two batters and walked one.

Bruce Bochy spoke to the media earlier in the day and said San Francisco’s personnel moves were not a sign the team has thrown in the towel. In fact, quite the contrary. The addition of both players is meant to propel the team to a strong finish in the division race.

The dark mood looming over the Giants might finally be lifting with the promise of an energized fight to the finish.