Baseball Lifer

The Giants were able to escape disaster, and salvage a split against the lowly Marlins, as well as a .500 road trip with a 4-1 win.

GAMEBALL:

Jakob Junis

This may seem like a tough choice, but it’s really an easy one; Jakob Junis gets the Gameball, hands motherfucking down. The Giants needed to have someone keep the Marlins to a minimum, and pitch deep in the game; and Junis did just that. He made a much-need great start, striking out eighth, and giving up just one run and two hits over six innings, which perfectly set the stage for a mostly-tenseless final three innings.

Another Farhan pickup, who we didn’t really know anything about, Junis has emerged, and has established himself as the Giants’ fifth starter. When Disco comes off the IL, it’s a no-doubter that Disco should be the unfortunate bumped out of the rotation.

TIP OF THE CAP:

Donnie Barrels 2.0: Top of the fourth, one out, Donovan Walton had the big hit of the game, which was the lone scoring event of the game for the Giants: a grand slam, a bomb to right, silencing the crowed—well a few fans…..maybe—and that put the Giants up 4-0.

Curt Casali: A nice 2-for-3 afternoon, and he laid off a pair of a couple of nice low sliders to load the bases for Donnie.

Dominic Leone: A nice 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.

Camilo Doval: Gave up a hit in the ninth, and got the save.

Kap: For using his closer in the ninth! Please do more of this!!!

Mets: The Metropolitans are handling LA and San Diego nicely. Keep up the good work!!!

Phillies: I was about to rip the Phils for firing Joe Girardi, because I saw it as a way to place blame, but lit a fire under them, as they swept the Angels over the weekend.

JOKER:

Angels

Their new City Connect set is alright, I guess, but what has happened to the Angels?

Well, I’ll tell you what happened: They played way over their heads for their insufferable and egotistic manager.

SMACK OF THE STICK:

Tyler Rogers: Tyler has been great, and I very much trust him late in the game, when he should always be pitching. However, we all know he has a mild case of Jonathan Sanchez Syndrome, and that kicked in on Sunday, following his unnecessary loss Saturday.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As bad as the Giants have played at times this season, there is going to come that time when the team is clicking on all cylinders again. I keep, and will keep trying to tell people that this is a lot simpler than you all think. The Giants have had key injuries, and the bullpen has struggled with inconsistent roles. There could be a bit of time before we see Belt and LaMonte again, but when they return, if mostly everyone else is healthy, and our bullpeners are given consistent roles, then we will click on all cylinders and win 93-97 games. Since the Giants will still be without Belt and LaMonte for a bit, Kap establishing consistent bullpen roles for his guys this week would be a great start.

The Giants are back home tonight for their longest homestand of the season. The schedule is getting a bit easier for the Giants, as this homestand will be bookended by three game sets against the Rockies and Royals. However, the Dodgers come to town this weekend; and if the Giants want to remain competitive for the National League West and make the Playoffs, they’re going to have to beat up on the bad teams.

I mentioned the Playoffs as well, because the Braves are getting hot, and are finally over .500, as they sit just two games back of the Giants for a Wild Card Spot. The Braves are the defending world champs, and they’re just getting They, as well as the Cardinals and Brewers are good teams, and none of them are going away any time soon. The West is already tough enough, as the Giants sit in third place, and five and a half games back of the Bums, but making the Playoffs is no guarantee, either.

It may be June 7, but this is a big home stand, and really, the first big stretch of games for the Giants this season. For the West, Giants have to go at the very least 5-1 against the Rockies and Royals, because I’m not counting on them winning this weekend’s series against the Trolley Dodgers.

NL West Standings:

Dodgers 35-19 —
Padres 33-22 2.5
GIANTS 29-24 5.5

NL Wild Card Standings:

1. Padres 33-22 +3.0
2. Cardinals 32-23 2.0
3. GIANTS 29-24 —
Braves 28-27 2.0

Stephen