SB Nation - Justin Miller

Monday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:57:28 -0000

More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP

J.J. Hardy will most likely be traded this offseason, but no matter what Buster Olney says, he's almost certainly not going to be non-tendered.

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Some things to read while getting new cufflinks.

So, with the World Series possibly one day away from being over, we're quickly closing in on hot stove season. Let's start today's rumor roundup with J.J. Hardy. Buster Olney thinks the Brewers could non-tender Hardy, but Al and I both agree that the concept is sheer lunacy. The logic behind it (as cited on MLB Trade Rumors) is beyond flawed:

Olney writes that the Red Sox inquired about Hardy at the deadline, but balked when the Brewers asked for excellent prospects in return. Olney wonders if this is a sign of things to come, and if no market for Hardy develops, would the Brewers be better off non-tendering the former All-Star?

So let me get this straight: The Brewers turned down an offer from the Red Sox because it wasn't enough. If nothing else develops, instead of returning to the Red Sox and asking for the same offer, Olney thinks the Brewers could let Hardy walk for free? On what planet does that make sense?

Roguejim also has a look at Hardy's trade value, and MLB Trade Rumors has a look at other shortstops that could be available via trade.

Elsewhere on the (hypothetical) market, we have Mat Gamel. MLB Trade Rumors has him listed among third basemen who could be on the move this offseason. The Nashville Sounds' website has an article from Baseball America with Gamel's reaction to a tough season offensively.

Until Jarrod Washburn either becomes a Brewer or signs somewhere else, his name is most likely going to keep coming up. Keep Turning Up the Heat! has a look at Washburn's recent performance and would accept a one year deal for him, but also notes that the 2010 Brewers are probably in trouble if Washburn is their biggest acquisition.

Meanwhile, Mike Cameron's name continues to come up in connection to other teams: The Cub Reporter has a look at Cameron as a potential fit in Wrigley in 2010, but doesn't think the two sides are a match.

As they suggested they would, the Brewers have found another job in the organization for former interim pitching coach Chris Bosio. He'll serve as the team's advance scout next season (FanShot).

Jonathan Lucroy is off to a hot start in the AFL, as he hit his second home run on Friday. Tom H. also got a positive review from a scout who recently saw Lucroy play for Peoria. Lucroy is probably a candidate to represent the Brewers when rosters are announced later today for the Rising Stars Game, which will be played on Saturday and broadcast live on MLB Network.

For more on Lucroy, the rest of the Brewers in the AFL and Alcides Escobar's season debut weekend in Venezuela, be sure to check out today's Fall/Winter League Update.

Elsewhere in the minors, I may have committed a Twitter foul. Yesterday afternoon I made a joke about the somewhat unexciting nature of Eric Arnett's recent Twitter activity, and today his account has been removed. Hopefully I'm not responsible for that. Meanwhile, Seth McClung has a picture of his daughter's Halloween costume.

Yet again, we have less-than-encouraging news about the depth of prospects in the Brewer organization, at least defensively: Alex Pedicini of The Hardball Times has the top four minor leaguers at each position, ranked by Total Zone, and there's not a single Brewer prospect among the 28 players listed.

Around baseball:

Astros: Declined their option for 2010 on Doug Brocail, and re-signed Geoff Blum to a one year deal worth $1.5 million.
Giants: Re-signed Freddy Sanchez to a two year deal worth $12 million, and declined their 2010 option on Noah Lowry. They also removed pitchers Justin Miller and Kelvin Pichardo from the 40-man roster. Miller is expected to become a free agent.
Indians: Removed pitchers Mike Gosling and Scott Lewis and infielder Niuman Romero from their 40-man roster.

Did Robin Yount use a corked bat? A game used Robin Yount bat with cork in it is up for auction, leading to discussion regarding the possibility. There's also a strong possibility the bat was corked sometime after it left Yount's possession. I'm reluctant to believe Yount corked the bat, for a simple reason: If Yount knew the bat was corked, he most likely also knew that someone would be able to figure out it had been tampered with. Why, then, would he ever give that bat away? That's like giving your autograph on the back of a steroid prescription.

Could John Maine be a reclamation candidate for Rick Peterson in 2010? Amazin' Avenue suggests he's a candidate to be non-tendered, but concludes the Mets should bring him back.

Baseball Analysts has an interesting look at pitchers' velocity and how it changes as the season goes along, broken down by several demographics. Most of the data isn't exceptionally surprising, but the difference in pitch speed between April and the rest of the season is pretty striking. (h/t Beyond the Box Score)

I'll admit it: I'm having a hard time getting excited for or paying much attention to the World Series. I have yet to sit through an entire game, and I've fallen asleep before the end of both games 3 and 4. Yet somehow, I don't feel as bad now that I know that Jon Heyman caught writers playing Scrabble and solitaire on their computers during Game 3.

Among the five candidates (Lopes, Royster, Yost, Sveum and Macha), I think you can make a solid case that Jerry Royster was easily the worst Brewer manager of the 2000's, even among a pretty bad field of contenders. With that said, his stuff apparently works in Korea, where he has led the Lotte Giants to back-to-back postseason appearances and signed a $600,000 contract extension over the weekend.

If you're hanging around the site tomorrow afternoon, you may notice some minor changes in the site as part of the visual refresh of the SB Nation platform. The changes will be minor, but will also be step one in a project to improve the load time of sites, which should be good news for everyone.

On this day in 1974, the Brewers acquired Hank Aaron from Atlanta for outfielder Dave May and minor league pitcher Roger Alexander. Aaron would go on to hit .232/.326/.360 in his final two seasons as a Brewer, make the 1975 All Star team and hit 22 home runs.

Happy birthday today to:

Taylor Green, 2009 Huntsville Star and current Brewer representative in the Arizona Fall League, who turns 23.
2007-09 Nashville Sound Lindsay Gulin, who turns 33.
Paul Ridgon, who made 27 starts as a 2000-2001 Brewer after coming over from the Indians in the Bob Wickman-Richie Sexson deal, and turns 34.
Paul Hartzell who appeared in four games for the '84 Brewers and turns 56.

Oh, and the Phoenix Desert Dogs ate mac and cheese after Friday's AFL contest. I don't know if they used this recipe.

Drink up.

Rockies 6, Giants 4: Ryan Spilborghs hits walkoff grand slam in the 14th

Russ Oates — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:12:53 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Ryan Spilborghs, man of the hour. We spilly you, man!

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I don't believe what I just saw!

Forget whatever you thought about home plate umpire Angel Campos. Forget what you said after Adam Eaton gave up three runs in the top of the 14th.

Remember the bottom of the 14th inning. Dexter Fowler walks after hitting a ball off his knee. Barmes makes his usual out. Chris Iannetta remains dreamy by coming in with a pinch-hit single. Troy Tulowitzki walks. Bases loaded for the pitcher Adam Eaton. Surely this was going to end the game. But with Justin Miller in, anything can happen--and it did. Eaton didn't swing the bat. Walk, RBI. 4-2. Bases loaded for Ryan Spilborghs; Merkin Valdez comes in.

RYAN SPILBORGHS HITS A WALKOFF GRAND SLAM!

via www.fangraphs.com

That's a beautiful image.

I love this team, and all of you!

71 - 54

Games Back: 3.0

Streak: Won 3

Games Left: 37

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Rockies 14, Giants 11: Offense explodes in roller coaster win

Poseidon's Fist — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:40:15 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Ian Stewart ties the game with a big fly.

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The Rockies overcame their biggest deficit of the season to win tonight, but you wouldn't suspect it by the final score. That's what outscoring your opponent 13-3 over the last 36 outs will do.

Dexter Fowler gave Colorado a lead by tripling and scoring on a Todd Helton single in the first. An early lead usually bodes well for the Rockies. They lead the majors in win percentage when scoring first. However, it looked early like the Rockies might lose in spite of scoring first for consecutive nights.

Jorge de la Rosa gave up 6 runs in the first four innings, including home runs to Nate Schierholtz and Ryan Garko as well as Joe Martinez' first two career hits. Until Saturday night, the Rockies had not overcome a deficit of greater than four runs, and they seemed to be having trouble with Giants' starter Joe Martinez.

FINAL - 8.22.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco Giants	0	3	2	1	0	0	0	3	2	11	12	1
Colorado Rockies	1	0	0	2	0	7	4	0	X	14	15	1
WP: Jorge De La Rosa (12 - 8) LP: Justin Miller (2 - 2)

COMPLETE COVERAGE >

But man, is it ever good to have Troy Tulowitzki after he had the flu for, what, it was only one day? They say as Tulo goes, so do the Rockies, and it seemed so in this one. Looking at a five run deficit with just two hits in the first three innings, Troy Tulowitzki laced a leadoff single in the fourth. The Rockies went on to score twice. Looking at a three run deficit, Troy Tulowitzki laced a leadoff single in the sixth. The Rockies then scored seven times. Coincidence? Maybe. But I saw an offense than needed a jump start and Tulo sparked both big innings.

The 7-run 6th inning turned the game around. The Rockies went from having a 15% chance of winning to 90% in that frame alone, and Colorado even gave an out away in the inning be getting in an ill-advised rundown.

In the inning, Tulo singled, Brad Hawpe singled and Ian Stewart hit his 19th home run to tie it. Yorvit Torrealba singled, Seth Smith hit a walk-off triple, Carlos Gonzalez singled, Dexter Fowler tripled, and Todd Helton hit his 12th home run.

The offensive onslaught continued in the seventh inning, when the Rockies batted around for the second straight inning, highlighted by four walks and two singles. The comeback occurred just in time to not only get Jorge de la Rosa (12-8, 4.76) off the hook, but the Rockies also gifted him his 12th win and 10th in 11 starts. The lefty had a devil's line, allowing six runs on six hits in six innings.

Box Score

69 - 54

NL West: 4.5 GB

WC: 2 Gm Lead

Streak: Won 1

Pyth W-L: 70-53

2008: 54-69

2007: 63-60

Notes

The 14 runs were the most the Rockies have scored all season. The last time they reached 14 was September 25, 2008 against the Giants at AT&T Park.
Colorado has outscored opponents 95-40 in the sixth inning on the season.
Todd Helton hit his first home run in exactly a month. His last bomb was July 22 against Scott Schoeneweis of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ian Stewart's home run was his first in 20 days - his last was August 2 in Cincinnati off Bronson Arroyo.
Ryan Garko hit his first and second home run of the year with the Giants.
The Rockies batted around in both the 6th and 7th innings.
Clint Barmes leads NL second basemen in extra base hits (hat tip to befizzle). Yes, more than Chase Utley. He didn't have an XBH in the game, however, he did steal two bases. His 11 on the season are 5th among NL second-sackers.
Matt Daley gave up back to back home runs to Ryan Garko and Aaron Rowand. He has now allowed 5 runs in his last 1.2 IP after throwing 13.2 straight scoreless innings.
Justin Miller and Merkin Valdez combined to allow 8 runs on 6 hits and 5 walks while only getting 4 outs.
Dexter Fowler extended his streak of reaching base to seven plate appearances with a walk and triple. He then popped out on a bunt, then tripled and walked again. He has now reached base in 8 of 9 PA's.
Every spot in the Rockies' order had at least one hit, and only spots #1 (Gonzalez), #3 (Helton, who had a HR), and #8 (Torrealba, 2 R, BB) failed to get at least two. Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs each had RBI pinch hits from the 9-hole.
The Rockies won despite giving up 5 home runs. I don't have a clue the last time that happened.
Matt Herges made his first appearance as a Rockie this year, allowing two runs on a Pablo Sandoval home run. Huston Street came on to close the game but was not credited with the save.
Los Angeles won behind rookie knuckelballer Charlie Haeger, meaning the Rockies remain 4.5 games behind the Dodgers.

Join after the jump for the fangraph and the row call.

Comment of the Night

You're kidding me.

by befizzle on Aug 22, 2009 8:06 PM MDT

WPA Heroes:
Ian Stewart (.241) - 2-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI
Seth Smith (.210) - 1-for-1, PH 3B, R, RBI
Brad Hawpe (.169) - 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, K
Dexter Fowler (.153) - 2-for-3, 2 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Troy Tulowitzki (.066) - 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB

WPA Zeroes:
Jorge de la Rosa (-.358) - 6.0 IP, 6 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HR. 0-for-2
Carlos Gonzalez (-.053) - 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K

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Randy Johnson leaves game with apparent left shoulder injury

Matt Buggenhagen — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:38:45 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

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Associated Press-

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants' left-handed starter Randy Johnson left Sunday's game against theHouston Astros with an apparent left shoulder injury after committing a throwing error in the top of the fourth inning.

Johnson took an awkward swing against Roy Oswalt in striking out in the bottom of the third and grabbed his shoulder as he walked back to the dugout.

Johnson, who has 303 career victories, gave up solo home runs to Hunter Pence and Jason Michaels, and then threw the ball down the right field line on Oswalt's soft grounder back to the mound.

Trainers raced to the mound after the play, examined Johnson and made the decision to end his stint. Justin Miller took over with two outs in the fourth.

Never good to lose pitching ever, especially as we approach the second half of the season. Johnson has been pleasantly surprising this year for the Giants, and his loss should have an impact. We'll have to see what the prognosis is, but if you saw the video he seemed to be in considerable pain.

For more detailed information on this story follow along at McCovey Chronicles.

For more MLB Daily Dish follow us on twitter at twitter.com/mlbdailydish

Washington Nationals Break Six-Game Losing Streak, Beat San Francisco Giants 10-5 In DC.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:11:26 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

6 months ago: Washington Nationals' Cristian Guzman (15) high-fives Alberto Gonzalez (12) and Adam Dunn (44) after he scored on a Ryan Zimmerman double as San Francisco Giants catcher Bengie Molina stands in front of the plate during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 2, 2009 in Washington. The Nationals won 10-6. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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HEADLINES:

RON VILL0.00NE IS MY HER0.00!!!

Brought on in the seventh inning with a man on third and one out in a 5-4 ballgame that saw the Washington Nationals trailing the visiting San Francisco Giants, and in danger of losing their seventh straight game, DC lefty Ron Vill0.00ne proceeded to strike out the next two batters, Randy Winn and Bengie Molina, to leave Aaron Rowand, who'd doubled off Julian Tavarez to lead off the frame and moved to third on a groundout...stranded...by Mr. Perfect, Ron Vill0.00ne who gets the win (W, 3-0, 0.00 in 14.2 IP), after one more inning on the mound when his work allows the Nationals to mount a comeback with a six-run eighth.

• Don't Walk Dunn, Dukes Is Back...

Josh Bard started the eighth inning with a single to center off San Francisco reliever Bob Howry. Anderson Hernandez followed with his third hit of the night, and the visiting Giants' slim one-run lead was officially in jeopardy. Cristian Guzman singles, 5-5 ballgame. Alberto "The General" Gonzalez hits the fourth straight single, scoring Bard's-pinch-runner Wil Nieves from second and moving Anderson Hernandez to third, 6-5 DC takes the lead. Howry's replaced by Merkin Valdez, who gets Nick Johnson to K looking. Fooled by a slider. Ryan Zimmerman, who was just 1 for his last 19, doubles to the right center gap to score two to put Washington ahead 8-5. Merkin Valdez gives Adam Dunn the intentionals, which in recent weeks might have meant Austin Kearns or Josh Willingham were coming up, but Elijah "Super" Dukes is back, and he tears into a 1-0 slider for an RBI single to center. Zimmerman scores, 9-5 DC. Pinch runner Wil Nieves hits a sac fly to right, Dunn tags and scores. 10-5 DC.

• Let's just ignore the fact that "Wild" Joel Hanrahan gave up a run in the ninth, shall we?

• Rise of The Bard. The Fall of Flores.

In addition to hitting his first HR of the season in the second, which was only the second home run that San Francisco starter Tim Lincecum has surrendered all season, DC catcher Josh Bard scored the winning run by proxy in the eighth, and finished the night 3 for 4 with his sixth RBI. Bard and Wil Nieves are going to be counted on the rest of the way unless someone rises up from the system like "Disgruntled" Luke Montz, because, as the Washington Nationals announced and MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported this afternoon in an article entitled, "Shoulder could end Flores' season", Jesus Flores has suffered a "stress fracture inside his right shoulder", which will put him out for "a minimum of three months" according to "Acting" DC GM Mike Rizzo, who's quoted in Mr. Ladson's article stating that:

"'It's a bad day for the organization. It's not a devastating injury. It's going to take time to heal. Once it heals, we should have him at 100 percent.'"

• 49 and 50.

Error #49 - Josh Bard, (E - 1). - Men on second and third after Fred Lewis and Juan Uribe single in succession and one out later are sac'd over by Giants' pitcher Tim Lincecum. DC starter Craig Stammen uncorks a 3-1 curve to Aaron Rowand that hits the dirt and gets by Bard, but that's a WP, not the error, Fred Lewis comes home, and Bard tosses wildly over the covering pitcher's head and toward the first base dugout, E, Uribe comes around to score from second on the wild pitch-walk-error combo, Rowand takes second.

Error #50 - Cristian Guzman, (E - 7). - Bottom of the sixth, Pablo Sandoval leads off for the Giants with a broken bat grounder that saw the sawed off barrel shoot out toward right while the ball went up the middle to the short side of second, Cristian Guzman gets to it, reaches down, and comes up empty. Sandoval scores one out later on Juan Uribe's RBI double.

Miss The Game, The DC Faithful Were Watching.

Nationals win, 10-6 final.

For The Completists, Complete Game Report (currently unedited) After The Jump...

Nationals now 14-36.

San Francisco Giants At Washington Nationals. Game 50 or 51 of 162.

Did new Nationals' pitching coach Steve McCatty tell him to throw that? A 1-1 change from DC righty Craig Stammen acts more like a BP fastball, and Aaron Rowand treats it as such, homering to left to lead off the game. 1-0 Giants. Stammen gets squeezed a bit on a 2-2 pitch that’s arguably low, but Edgar Renteria flies out to deep center on a full-count fastball. Craig Stammen kicks the dirt at his feet for a moment before firing low again with a 2-2 fastball to Randy Winn, who ends up doubling to left center just out of Willie Harris’ reach. A groundout to third from Bengie Molina and a high pop to center from Pablo Sandoval and Stammen’s out with minimal damage...Tim Lincecum gets Cristian Guzman looking at a fastball Guzman thinks is low. Nick "Two-Spot" Johnson hits a trademark single to left center. NJ™. Ryan Zimmerman walks with one down and the Donkey’s up. Adam Dunn almost gets one, but it falls into right. Elijah Dukes swings over a 1-2 bender inside. 1-0 Giants after one.

Adam Dunn charges in behind Cristian Guzman to catch the first out off Fred Lewis’ bat. Ryan Zimmerman robs Juan Uribe, picking a one-hopper and firing to first, in time. Emmanuel Burriss flies out to Dunn in left, Stammen retires the Giants in order....Lincecum throws a 93 mph full-count fastball to Willie Harris that’s popped out to left. Josh Bard hits only the second HR Lincecum’s allowed in '09, taking a fastball inside to straight left, 1-1 ballgame. Craig Stammen pops up on a bunt out a foot in front of home when Bengie Molina pops up to catch it. Anderson Hernandez singles and then steals second with Cristian Guzman at bat. Guzman grounds out to second.

Tim Lincecum slices an arching liner out to left. Aaron Rowand only gets as far as short with a groundout Guzman handles. Edgar Renteria grounds to Guzman again and again Guzman throws to first to end the frame...Nick Johnson takes a swing at an 0-2 change in the dirt, and has to run it out after K’ing. Ryan Zimmerman grounds a 2-0 pitch to Burress at second. Adam Dunn goes the other way with a fastball outside and doubles to the left center wall. Elijah Dukes grounds to Uribe, who has it go under his glove, Dunn scores. 2-1 DC. Willie Harris K's to end the third.

Randy Winn grounds out to Guzman. Bengie Molina K’s swinging for a change in the dirt. Pablo Sandoval flies out to Dunn in left, and Craig Stammen’s mowing down Giants...Two-strike curve/change outside from Lincecum gets Bard looking. Anderson "Elvis" Hernandez goes the other way with a line drive single to left. Craig Stammen K’s trying to bunt with two strikes. Cristian Guzman patiently takes a free pass. Nick Johnson goes inside out to left, Fred Lewis has it...

...And Fred Lewis singles to center on a curve from Stammen. Juan Uribe singles on a hop in front of Dunn in left. Emmanuel Burriss flies out to Willie Harris in center. Craig Stammen tosses softly to first to get Lincecum on the sac. Second and third, Josh Bard misses a curve from Stammen with Aaron Rowand up, and it bounces away, Bard recovers and tosses it, over Stammens head, Lewis scores, Uribe scores as they chase down the ball, 3-2 Giants, Rowand, who walked on the pitch takes second on the errant toss. Edgar Renteria singles, Rowand to third, and Randy Winn goes back up the middle with an RBI single that scores Rowand, 4-2 Giants. Stammen gets a flyout to center to end the inning...Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to start the fifth. Adam Dunn pops out to the infield. Elijah Dukes chases a 2-2 curve out of the zone...

A broken bat sails toward second on Pablo Sandoval’s grounder to short, Guzman blows it, error No. 50 on the Nationals. Fred Lewis flies unproductively to Willie Harris in center. Pablo Sandoval scores from first on a line drive to left from Uribe that dies in the corner as Dunn awaits the bounce, 5-2 Giants. Cristian Guzman steps back to catch Emmanuel Burris' pop out. Cristian Guzman throws out the pitcher...Willie Harris lines a double to right that rolls into the corner. Bard dumps a single into left, Harris takes third. First and third for Anderson Hernandez. Hernandez grounds into what should be a DP, but Renteria throws it away after stepping on first, Harris scores, 5-3 Giants. Stammen out for PH Ronnie Belliard, Hernandez steals third, and scores when Belliard flies to right, sac fly, 5-4 San Fran. Cristian Guzman grounds out to end the sixth.

Aaron Rowand doubles off Julian Tavarez to start the seventh. Edgar Renteria moves Rowand over with a groundout to second. Tavarez out so Ron Villone can face Randy Winn, who’ll bat from the right. Ron Villone throws a low two-strike fastball outside by Randy Winn. Rowand still at third. Ron Vill0.00ne gets Bengie Molina to chase strike three out of the zone!! Vill0.00ne remains perfect...Nick Johnson pops out foul of third and it curves back in to Uribe. Ryan Zimmerman lines to left for a single in front of Adam Dunn. Jeremy Affeldt on to face Dunn. Lefty vs Lefty. Adam Dunn’s way out in front of a two-strike curve. Elijah Dukes up, Zimmerman takes second on a pitch in the dirt that gets by Molina. Another wild pitch, and Zimmerman takes third. Bob Howry on for Affeldt against Austin Kearns, who hits for Willie Harris. Kearns sends a dribbler to third, Uribe guns Kearns at first.

Ron VILL0.00ne gets a fly ball to left from Pablo Sandoval. Zimmerman throws out Fred Lewis after backhanding a hot shot and firing to first!!! Ground ball to second, and Hernandez throws out Uribe!! VILL0.00NE LIVES!!...Josh Bard singles to center off Howry to start the Nationals’ eighth.Wil Nieves runs for Bard. Anderson Hernandez singles Nieves over to second. Pinch hitter Alberto Gonzalez tries to bunt twice, but fouls them off, so he swings away and singles to center, Nieves scores, tied at 5-5!!! Cristian Guzman vs Merkin Valdez, Guzman gets a single under second, and into right, Hernandez scores the go-ahead run, 6-5 DC. Nick Johnson gets called out on a two-strike curve. Ryan Zimmerman lines to right center and into the gap, two runs score, 8-5 DC!!! Dunn gets the intentionals, and Elijah Dukes makes them pay, a new pitcher makes no difference, Dukes doubles off Giants’ righty Justin Miller, 9-5 DC. Austin Kearns gets the intentionals to bring Wil Nieves to the plate. Nieves hits one to deep right, Winn catches, Dunn tags and scores, 10-5 DC. Anderson Hernandez grounds out to end the eighth. Wait for it...

"Wild" Joel Hanrahan vs Emmanuel Burriss. Burriss reaches on a single back to the mound and off Hanrahan’s outstretched glove. Nate Schierholz pops out foul of third. Aaron Rowand singles to right, Burriss scores. 10-6. Edgar Renteria pops out to Zimmerman for out No. 2. Randy Winn doubles to right, Rowand to third. Bengie Molina pops out to second, Hanrahan ends it!! Nationals win, 10-6 final.

Nationals now 14-36.

Giants and Rockies - Take 2

Poseidon's Fist — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:39:41 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Insert your own caption here

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Let's focus on the future shall we? If I dwell on last night any more, my head asplode for sure.

The Giants are in town for the first time in 2009. They have only played two games since we last saw them, so there's no a lot new to say. Frisco just finished a split with the Cubs at Wrigley, which means they have gone six straight series without losing one. Their 11-7 record over that stretch isn't otherworldly, but I'd take some series wins.

San Francisco Giants (13-12, W1, 2nd)

Wednesday-Thursday : 2-game series at Coors Field

The 13 runs the Giants have scored in the five games since the last Giants profile haven't changed a whole lot. They are still dead last in runs scored. Their wOBA dropped four slots to 29th. Get the picture? Bad offense. Couple that with a dominant Rockies staff of late (1.96 ERA since Friday), and well...things look good on paper.

Despite being one of two teams (Arizona) that has yet to reach 100 runs, the Gnats have hung in with their pitching staff. They are the only team still in double-figures for runs allowed, ranking them #1 overall.

The Giants are just 3-8 away from AT&T Park, with two of those wins coming at Arizona and one at Chicago yesterday.

Probable Pitchers:

Tonight, 6:40 MDT

The rematch:

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Randy Johnson	2-2	4.50	1.27	30	13

Randy Johnson has won every start he has made against the Rockies (not in his career, though it may seem like it) since September 22, 2004. And he allowed just one run in 7 IP in getting outdueled by Shawn Estes. He is 19-7 with a 2.23 ERA in his career against the Rox, but Johnson has yet to string two good starts together in 2009.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Ubaldo Jimenez	1-4	6.58	1.81	24	19

Ubaldo's numbers don't look pretty, but they still make him one of the top six valuable starters in the pitching-rich division. He allowed 3 runs in 7 innings last Friday in decidedly a step forward. That actually raised his career ERA vs the Giants to 2.65, so maybe Ubaldo can tame the the Giants again.

Thursday, May 7, 1:10 MDT

The rematch, part deux:

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Matt Cain	2-1	3.09	1.41	21	14

Sure, Matt Cain's ERA looks good, but quite frankly, that's lucky. His FIP is actually 5.21 - that's 68% higher. His K- rate and HR rate (thanks to the Rox Saturday) are higher than any year in his career...and his BABIP against is lower than his career numbers. All of that means he has been barely as valuable as Franklin Morales in terms of RAR.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Jason Marquis	4-1	3.31	1.19	17	12

Jason for Cy Young! Well maybe not, but he has been very impressive. He has pitched 7+ IP and given up 3 or less runs in four of five starts. He is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA at Coors this year. But also note his FIP is a full run higher as well, and his BABIP against is sitting at 22 points below his career best.

Pablo Sandoval (7-for-18, 1 HR), Emmanuel Burriss (8-for-17) and Edgar Renteria (8-for-24) have been hitting well in the past week. Justin Miller has pitched four scoreless innings since his callup Friday.

Aaron Rowand (2-for-23) has been ice cold the past week, and Randy Winn (3-for-13), Travis Ishikawa (2-for-13) and Fred Lewis (4-for-19) haven't been much better.

Relief pitcher Joe Martinez was placed on the 15 day DL last Friday after a concussion and was replaced by Justin Miller.

Poll

How does this "dual" play out?

Win - Avoid 1-run games and we're golden (10-8)

32 votes

Lose - but don't worry, we'll figure out how to outscore them still, somehow

18 votes

Draw - you win some, you lose some

22 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation - Justin Miller

Monday's Frosty Mug

Rockies 6, Giants 4: Ryan Spilborghs hits walkoff grand slam in the 14th

RYAN SPILBORGHS HITS A WALKOFF GRAND SLAM!

Rockies 14, Giants 11: Offense explodes in roller coaster win

Notes

Comment of the Night

You're kidding me. by befizzle on Aug 22, 2009 8:06 PM MDT

You're kidding me.

Row Call

Randy Johnson leaves game with apparent left shoulder injury

Washington Nationals Break Six-Game Losing Streak, Beat San Francisco Giants 10-5 In DC.

Giants and Rockies - Take 2

San Francisco Giants (13-12, W1, 2nd)

Wednesday-Thursday : 2-game series at Coors Field

Probable Pitchers:

How does this "dual" play out?

Win - Avoid 1-run games and we're golden (10-8)

Lose - but don't worry, we'll figure out how to outscore them still, somehow

Draw - you win some, you lose some

You're kidding me.

by befizzle on Aug 22, 2009 8:06 PM MDT