This season has been an awful one for the Giants. Saturday night in San Diego, I had a chance to watch Madison Bumgarner’s return to the mound coming back from a dirt bike injury in April. He pitched pretty well in the return, but a 5-3 walk off win for the Padres was so Giants.
Bumgarner allowed just four hits and walked two, but two of those hits left the park and were hit by players hitting .204 and .189. The bullpen allowed a walk off home run to former Giant Hector Sanchez, who was hitting .163.
It was a game that the Giants could have won, but too many times came up empty. The offense this year just hasn’t gotten the clutch when needed. Up 2-0 in the second, the Giants loaded the bases and their only all star, catcher Buster Posey flies out. The ball was a foot away from being a grand slam and a 6-0 lead. It was another excruciating loss.
The trade deadline is fast approaching and decisions will be made by every team. Should you buy, sell or stand pat. The Cubs made the first big move getting a starter. The Nationals patched up their bullpen getting two arms from the A’s. The Yankees fortified their squad in a big way and the DiamondBacks in free fall acquired a bat in J.D. Martinez from Detroit.
When the Giants contended the last six seasons, they made deadline deals, many helping them win three World Series. You waited for the announcement on pins and needles. Normally a team so far out of it would blow the team up, much like the White Sox are doing right now.
I just don’t see a lot of moves. Johnny Cueto might seem like someone who could be moved but his contract and his blisters make it seem less likely. Eduardo Nunez is a free agent at the end of the season and plays multiple positions. When healthy he is one of the few that has played well and might bring something return. Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and reliever Hunter Strickland have been rumored to being scouted by Houston and Tampa Bay.
Virtually everyone but Posey has underachieved. GM Bobby Evans is under the gun. He took over after the ’14 title and doesn’t have much to show. Can he pick up a piece that could be a help in 2018? He needs to find a big bat and get more consistent pitching. I don’t have a lot of confidence that this month is going be big for the Giants. They need way more from the outfield and need to decide if Brandon Belt is the answer at first. He could end up being moved. I will be surprised if a lot is done. I think the moves come in the off season.
The season has been awful….but atleast they didn’t waste $95 million on the Panda.
