Results tagged ‘ Series Preview ’
#SFGiants vs. #Athletics Series Preview
Yoenis Cespedes and his Oakland teammates can’t wait to welcome another NL West opponent into their confines
There’s a lot of talk that the American League is absolutely killing it in this year’s interleague, but would you be able to tell from the Giants experiences in the past week? Well, yes, you would. Going 2-4 in Seattle and Anaheim was not what they had in mind heading into those series, and now they find themselves facing a pretty confident Oakland team that just swept a team that used to hold the best record in the MLB.
Friday, June 22nd: RHP Tim Lincecum vs. RHP Jarrod Parker
One sentence summary: Of his 14 starts, Timmy has allowed 3 or less four times (29%), but has struck out 5+ in all but two (oh and don’t be surprised if no one homers off of Parker).
Saturday, June 23rd: LHP Madison Bumgarner vs. RHP Tyson Ross
One sentence summary: This will be the Giants’ time to strike, as Ross is susceptible to getting roughed up and has not gone longer than 6.2 IP in a start this season.
Sunday, June 24th: RHP Matt Cain vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy
One sentence summary: Considered hilarious by many off the mound (I think his bio is awesome), McCarthy is to be taken serious on it, as he’s allowed more than 2 ER in his 12 starts only twice (as for Cain, it’s 4X in 13 starts).
Small Sample Sizes (Last 7 Days) and Season Stats
As one of the many that was excited about Belt in the offseason following the euphoria that was 2010, it’s nice to see him come through at the dish here in 2012, even if it is a bit of a slow start. A .470 wOBA with a 47.7% LD% in the last week are pretty encouraging despite 0 HR, and his .345 wOBA overall is only 4 points behind Buster Posey. Most days, I’d talk about Pablo Sandoval not pulling his weight (sorry) with the .270 wOBA in his L7 and the 12 game no-HR streak he has going, but Angel Pagan (.162 wOBA, -6 wRC+) and Gregor Blanco (.138 wOBA, -23 wRC+) have been scuffling pretty bad this past week. The 1 and 5 spots are pretty vital to a lineup’s success, I’d say, so if they’re going to occupy those spots, they gotta get back up to the above average wRC+ they’ve been used to posting this year.
Josh Reddick has 15 HR this year, but much like Gregor Blanco, has been weak in his L7 with a .136 wOBA (.357 overall) and 0 HR, but you know what’s interesting is two players on the A’s have worse wOBA than that: Brandon Inge (.119, .320 overall), and Kurt Suzuki (.087, .235 wOBA overall). All three of those Athletics have a BABIP and batting average in the last seven of worse than .100. You know they swept the Dodgers, so they’ve got to have some guys doing well: Jonny Gomes (.628, .368 overall, 1 HR L7), Coco Crisp (26% BB% + .457 wOBA compared to 10% + .269 overall), and Brandon Moss (2 HR, .400 wOBA alongside his 7 HR, .476 wOBA in 51 PA overall) are hitting pretty well. Gomes is more of a platoon guy though, so you probably won’t see him until tomorrow.
Series Prediction
My confidence in this team isn’t all that high right now, but when you have MadBum and Cainer going for you, you know they’re going to give you a chance to win. The only question is, how silenced will the Giants bats get against another American League team?
Friday: Athletics win (would really appreciate being wrong here, Timmy)
Saturday: Giants win (not a lot of variation in speed for Tyson could be what gets the Giants bats going)
Sunday: Giants win (the best game being saved for last)
