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Know Your Foe #6: The Reigning Champs Take On The Best In Baseball

By Andrew Martin Updated
Look, Madison, I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but...
Look, Madison, I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but...

San Francisco Giants (8-7, 2nd in the NL West to the 1st Place Colorado Rockies)

2010 Record vs Colorado: 9-9

Last Series vs Rockies: 9/24-9/26 (W 2-1 in Coors Field)

At this point in the season, the Rockies were already in free fall from contention, sitting at 82-71, 4.5 games behind the 87-67 Giants. While some among the Coors Faithful were still hoping for a 2007-esque Rockies resurgence, it was apparent the Rockies were nearly out of gas while the Giants were still fighting with the San Diego Padres for the division lead. Game 1 of the 3 game series featured Tim Lincecum vs Jhoulys Chacin, with Lincecum going 8, punching out 9, allowing 2 hits and no walks. Chacin went 7IP, striking out 8, walking 3, allowing 3 hits and a Pat Burrell home run. The most meaningful play for the Rockies was an Eric Young Jr single to RF that drove in Seth Smith from 3B.

Game 2 was a 10-9 shootout where the Rockies were able to do some damage to Barry Zito and then kill their bullpen 1 run at a time. This was the game where Troy Tulowitzki had a .966 WPA on the game - essentially meaning he WAS the win. Huston Street was pretty great over 2 innings of 1-hit ball to get himself the win.

Game 3 was a bit more cut and dry. Matt Cain pitched a complete game, striking out 8, allowing 2 runs, and the Rockies lost 2-4. You know, what we'd expect out of a Matt Cain matchup.

Last Series Results: W 2-1 @ Arizona, W 2-1 vs Los Angeles Dodgers

The player of note for me right now is Brandon Belt. After tearing up the minors and named the Opening Day 1B, it's looking like Belt might need some remedial time in AAA. He's batting .217/.321/.304 (.625 OPS) so far this season, and after an 0-for-4 day on Sunday with 2 punchouts, he's looking a bit lost. If you listen to this week's Purple Row Radio, Grant touches on that a bit - great strike zone recognition, lack o' results. SHOULD Belt be optioned to AAA Fresno, Cody Ross would be returned to the OF and it would get the Aubrey Huff 3-ring Circus out of the corner. I was personally looking forward to the circus.

But it's not all struggling prospects and cartoon fielding (although the cartoon fielding is a much larger issue than merely Huff), much as we'd hope for. Several guys are batting really well, namely most of their starting lineup and also Mark DeRosa. I'll post the matchups and batting stuff after the jump.

In the meantime, if you weren't painfully aware, McCovey Chronicles is the Giants' SBNation Blog. If you decide to visit...well, I'll let you figure it out.

Andres Torres

#56 / Center Field / San Francisco Giants

5-9

200

B

R

Jan 26, 1978

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2011 - Andres Torres 8 28 3 8 3 0 0 0 3 7 1 0 .286 .375 .393

Andres Torres was one of the overall best players for the Giants in 2010, posting a .268/.343/.479 batting line, stealing 26 bases, hitting 16 homers, and playing -according to UZR- absolutely elite CF defense (21.2 UZR). Torres graded out as a 6.0 fWAR player (4.4 bWAR), and was an absolute hero in the 2010 WS, posting a .984 OPS in the World Series. 

Torres was placed on the DL retroactive to April 10 with Achilles soreness. While I never wish injury on an opposing player, I won't say I'm going to shed a tear not having to deal with this guy in this series at Coors Field. Especially when he's getting on base even better than last season.

Speaking of the DL, Barry Zito just got sent to the DL for the first time in his career with a sprained foot. He's not pitching this series, but it's time to test the Giants' depth, as Ryan Vogelsong was promoted from AAA Fresno to take Zito's roster spot.

Folks, it's a tired bullpen. Let's wear them down.


Monday through Wednesday Expected Matchups

Monday, 6:40PM MT

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Esmil Rogers 2-0 4 2 0 0 0 0 13.0 11 4 4 0 5 9 2.77 1.23

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Tim Lincecum 1-1 3 3 0 0 0 0 19.1 14 5 4 1 4 22 1.86 .93

Tuesday, 6:40PM MT

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Ubaldo Jimenez 0-0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6.0 7 6 5 2 1 1 7.50 1.33

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Jonathan Sanchez 1-1 3 3 0 0 0 0 16.2 18 8 6 1 7 24 3.24 1.50

(This is the one we're supposed to win for sure)

Wednesday, 1:10PM MT

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Jorge De La Rosa 2-0 3 3 0 0 0 0 17.0 10 6 6 1 8 14 3.18 1.06

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Matt Cain 2-0 3 3 0 0 0 0 19.0 14 3 3 1 4 10 1.42 .95


Expected Lineup

Name Position HR R RBI SB BABIP AVG OBP SLG wOBA wRC+
Aaron Rowand CF 1 8 3 0 .433 .359 .375 .564 .394 141
Freddy Sanchez 2B 1 8 7 0 .349 .308 .390 .481 .373 127
Aubrey Huff RF 0 4 8 1 .302 .245 .293 .302 .272 63
Buster Posey C 2 6 9 2 .361 .306 .393 .429 .373 128
Pablo Sandoval 3B 3 5 9 0 .378 .347 .385 .551 .393 140
Pat Burrell LF 4 5 4 0 .200 .205 .340 .513 .373 127
Brandon Belt 1B 1 7 4 2 .257 .217 .321 .304 .300 81
Miguel Tejada SS 1 4 6 0 .240 .245 .286 .396 .283 70

The Bench

Name Position HR R RBI SB BABIP AVG OBP SLG wOBA wRC+
Eli Whiteside C 0 1 0 0 .250 .250 .250 .250 .223 32
Mark DeRosa UTIL 0 3 3 0 .545 .429 .467 .500 .429 163
Mike Fontenot IF 1 1 2 0 .125 .154 .214 .462 .289 74
Nate Schierholtz OF 0 1 0 0 .250 .222 .222 .333 .211 23
Darren Ford OF 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 -.504 -100

Closer

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2011 - Brian Wilson 0-0 6 0 0 0 4 1 4.2 5 5 5 0 3 6 9.64 1.71

 

San Francisco Giants Injuries

15-Day

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Santiago Casilla elbow 04/01/2011
Barry Zito foot 04/17/2011
Cody Ross calf 03/22/2011
Andres Torres achilles-tendon 04/10/2011

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