When the San Francisco Giants are watching the playoffs on T.V this postseason, they will look back at the 7 games against the worst team in baseball in August. Right now the Giants have played 4 of those 7 games and stand at 1-3.
The term that was used was that the Houston Astros are out energizing the World Champions. Could not have said it any better myself. The Giants do not give up more then 3 runs often. It is amazing though that when that 3rd run is scored how the whole team sags. The San Francisco Giants are one of the worst offensive teams in baseball.
The entire team starts looking around when the score is only 1-2 or 0-2. The manager puts on hit and run, bunts or straight steals. Even if their is a runner on third with one out, the Giants have maybe one or two players that do not panic in this situation.
Look a 2 time CY Young award winner Tim Lincecum, just as an example of the teams offensive offense.
In Lincecums last 10 starts his ERA has gone down in every start. 3.14, 3.06, 2.99, 2.90, 2.78, 2.77, 2.69, 2.58, 2.53, 2.46. Earned runs in those 10 starts in order. 3, 1, 1, 1, 0, 2, 1, 0, 1, 1. Has gone 7 plus innings in each of those 10 starts. record of 6-4 in those 10 starts.
Overall 12-10 on the year with an ERA of 2.46, 2nd in the National League. With numbers like this Lincecum should be in the running for his 3rd CY Young in 4 years. With so little help from the World Champion Bats, he will not be in the discussion.
4 years in the league, 68-37 record and an ERA of 2.94. With little to no help from his offense and he still has one of the best 4 year records in baseball history. To start a career.
So do the Giants wake up in time to make a run at the Arizona Diamondbacks or does all their great pitching stay on vacation for the postseason? It will take 3 wins in a row to keep up with the streaking Diamondbacks. Arizona will face the San Diego Padres over the weekend. The Padres and Diamondbacks have been in the top 3 in scoring since the All-Star break. Take a good look at the OVERS in this series.
The division is Arizona's, all they have to do is split their remaining games and a 3 game lead will be more then enough. I believe whoever wins this division should have the manager of the year. Bruce because the Giants have had over 30 DL moves. Arizona because Kirk Gibson has turned the entire franchise around.
It is also a great time of year to find those teams trying while out of it and those teams on vacation already. Baltimore is still playing hard right now, along with Kansas City and Oakland. The Houston Astros, have a whole new team and they are playing very solid baseball right now. Minnesota has given up. Not because of their manager or players, but because of the expectations. There is not much energy coming out of Minnesota right now.
Toronto and the Chicago Cubs very little fight left and will not be spoiling any parties. The Colorado Rockies have been here before and have pulled off some great stuff in the past. They are out of it but do not feel that way.
The Mets at home are pathetic but on the road play their best baseball. That is something to look at down the stretch. Pittsburgh is a play against even though the group has not thrown in the towel. Pittsburgh is just not that good, next year they will be a little older and much wiser.
You will not have many plays down the stretch but the prices will be right. One thing that has become very clear. The Yankees will not win it all this year. Their starting pitching is so bad that they will not bully their way through the playoffs. Maybe a game or two, but no chance to get by.
Baseball 140-162 -.025 unit
Atlanta -150
Pittsburgh +150
Baltimore +145
Tampa Bay -130
Oakland +140
Angels +105
Have a great day
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