The Giants fought hard to win game one of this series. It took extra innings, a little help from a bad call and a grand slam swing by one of our weakest bats, but we won.
By contrast, the Dodgers beat our two best starters, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, handily, with explosive innings of accurate hitting and moments of raw power.
Last night they chased Webb from his start in the 5th when Logan walked two batters and gave up a single to load the bases with nobody out. Bob Melvin knew he didn’t have it after 97 pitches. The Dodgers then blew up José Butto.
Today, Robbie Ray was chased when he started the 5th by walking Mookie Betts, giving up a single to Teoscar Hernàndez, then a double to Freddie Freeman, scoring a run. It was only 3 – 1. But it was clear to BoMel that Ray didn’t have it after 98.
Joel Peguero, who got the win Friday night, came in and immediately walked Tommy Edman, gave up a two-run-scoring single to Michael Conforto, and was then charged with a disengagement violation, scoring Edman. 6 – 1 Champs.
It’s fair to say the Dodgers are a better team than the Giants. The Billionaire Bums are stacked with bats – Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, Turner, Teoscar, Muncy, Kim. They hit the ball where they aren’t. They play better defense than the Giants.
But as recently as August 24th, the Giants were three games under .500, fourth in the NL West with a less than 1% chance of making the postseason. After Friday night’s win that increased to 16.6%.
The Mets lost eight straight and we went 13 – 4. It was a perfect storm of temporary relevance that actually means we still have a shot …
(all together now)
It’s still mathematically possible.
But now it’s down to a 9.7% chance.
Getting beaten by the Dodgers is to be expected. But hoping to make the postseason isn’t insane.
We have three series against beatable teams – DBacks, Cards and Rockies – to counter the four remaining games against the Billionaire Bums.
It’s exciting to be at least this much in it. We are a better team than last year. Gerald Dempsey “Buster” Posey III and Zach Minasian have improved this team with significant moves.
Adames, Devers and Dom Smith were all good pickups. Moving Jordan Hicks, LaMonte Wade, Jr., Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers and Mike Yastrzemski will lead to improvements.
Those lamenting the loss of Yasztremski must be reminded the guy is old. People forget he spent 12 years bouncing around the minors before the Giants promoted him. He’ll be 36 next year.
These moves have strengthened the Giants batting, and prepared the ground for more aggressive moves this winter. Posey and Minasian are aggressive.
There are reasons to feel positive about this late-season run at the wildcard. There’s even a chance we improve to 2nd in the NL West by season’s end. That’d be cool.
Let’s Go Giants!
Beat everybody else and LA, snatch a wildcard and make the postseason!
Giants Baseball Corner 