Giants Week 19 Review

When this season began, I found myself some what torn. Being an Oakland A’s fan, part of me wanted the San Francisco Giants to lose every game. I didn’t want the Giants to be better than the A’s, but soon realized that was just wishful thinking.

Another part of me, the baseball fan, wanted to see Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain succeed. They are two of the best in the game today and deserve to at least pitch in the playoffs.

From day one, I have acknowledged that the Giants had a great pitching staff, but had big concerns with their lack of offense. My main position was, and still is, that pitching a lone is not enough to carry a team to the playoffs.

Baseball is not just about pitching. If it was, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito would all have World Series rings from their days with Oakland.

Yes, a great pitching staff helps, but it’s not everything. In order for a team to win, their offense has to score at least one run. It’s wishful thinking to assume that any starting pitcher can throw a shutout every time they take the mound.

An offense, also, needs to be able to over come defensive mistakes. This was a blinding light in the eyes for me, when Fred Lewis was in the starting lineup, daily, in left field.  Not only did he make physical and mental mistakes, but he was unable to get the key hits to score in runs.

Since Opening Day, the Giants have not shown me that they possess the balance a team needs to reach the second round of the playoffs. They lacked too much, in my opinion, to even be mentioned in the Wild card race.

I don’t blame the players for the imbalance, because they have played their hearts out each and every day.

I don’t think Bruce Bochy or the coaches have failed the fans to merit any bad words. In my mind, they have been able to get this team to out perform itself.

There is only one man who has failed the fans and the team. Brian Sabean.

Now, I know he improved the bullpen in the off season, but that is it. No offensive juggernaut, power or not. Did he really think Edgar Renteria was the answer?

I question his lack of hustle to get a solid batter to better the offense. He had a chance to better this team before July 31, but he waited to the last minute to make two trades, which to this point are both busts.

Freddy Sanchez was hurt when Sabean acquired him and has only played 16 games so far.

Ryan Garko is not helping, batting only .239 in 30 games.

Maybe, these two players will help next year, but not this year. The Colorado Rockies are just a better team. The trades were just too late and it’s Sabean’s fault.

He knew in June that he needed to get a better offensive second baseman but waited two months to get one. By then the Giants and Rockies were neck and neck in the Wild Card race.

At this point of the season, I don’t see the Giants over coming the four and a half games unless they win all six of the next six games, while the Rockies lose their next six. I doubt that will happen seeing how hot the Rockies are.

Like I said before, only well balanced teams go to the playoffs and the Giants are not one of them. Sorry, fans, but there will be no post season games played at AT&T Park this year.