In Game 2 versus SF. Had not hit well for 2+ games in the playoffs. Got owned last night by that weird looking pudgy little ginger. Could not have gone better for SF and key to opening the series. LA comes back tonight and Urias throttles SF. LA explodes for 4 in the 6th. Relievers kept the ball down and tremendous defensive plays by Trea Turner supported the cause. Joe Kelly gave up a walk and a couple dunk hits. Mookie betts did a 360 and launched a ball on the fly to nail Flores at 3rd. Then Will Smith with one swing gets the run back for LA in the 8th so back to a 5 run lead. Cody Bellinger unloaded with the bases loaded with a shot off the wall. Huge for a guy who has been the worst player in the NL this year but was a former MVP and ROY.
The entire tone of the game was set by Julio Urias. SF walked Pollack to get to him with two out in the 2nd and Urias lined a shot to right for a hit Totally set the tone for the whole game. This is one reason Urias is a legit candidate for the Cy Young. If it's including the best player to play pitcher, then for sure. If it's just the arm and ERA, maybe not.
The goal on the road in the playoffs is to steal a game. SO as good as that game 1 was for the Giants, it all goes away if LA can hold on here. So jump up and down. You beat Walker Buhler. That's hard to do. He pitched well. So your reward? Face Urias with a higher ERA and also a higher BA. Urias hits about 210. Has more hits and RBI than any P in MLB this year. Really makes a difference when you can help yourself with the bat. And he does. So yay for SF. Beat Buhler. Now lose to Urias. And get Sherzer on Monday. And then Buhler in Game 5. Beat Buhler twice in a row? Hats off if you can. This is what makes LA such a professional team. ANd the Giants are no slouch. Their GM, a Dodger, should be executive of the year. The components he has put together is the best put together team I have ever seen. I don't mean best team. I mean this team has every component you could ever want and the manager can plug in a solution on the mound or in the field for almost every situation. Really flexible. Zahidi learned well at the feet of Friedman.
Thanks. That's what I mean by best assembled. I don't think the Giants outside of Webb and that high ceiling young Hispanic reliever have an egd eon LA. You are right. But as a unit? As a team? Kapler can plug someone into anyone situation and has an answer for lefty, righty, defense oriented, offense oriented. And the pen is built on the concept of everyone being different and all guys coming from a different arm angle. Making them so hard because everyone is a different look. So each guy might not be great but because he is so different and the next guy the same it enables them to be greater than the sum of their parts. Team more than individuals. And for all that. The vision, the execution the assembly? Got to hand it to Zahidi
Your post aged well Board Boss.
Very. That was a great unit (for Giants) tonight.
Good post. Lots of truths.
Best ever assembled is an interesting take. Not agreeing but not fully disagreeing But it’s a high hurdle.
nor, admittedly, have I watched this Giants team a lot.
not sure they have any player (by position) better than Dodgers?
TRea, JT, Seager, Mookie, Muncy?
I don’t honestly think so.
don’t know their 3rd starter? but also tough to beat Dodgers big 3.
maybe they are better in relief??? Maybe??
they did win 107 and hold off the Dodgers. Hat tip.