Bay Area Sports Guy – Dodgers make Giants’ lineup look needy as trade deadline approaches

If the San Francisco Giants want to hold onto their first place lead in the NL West (a lead they now share with the Los Angeles Dodgers), they better re-evaluate what they’re doing with their lineup.

When the Dodgers were last here in late June they were shut out in all three games — in part because they were missing Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier wasn’t the same without Kemp.

Sunday’s series finale, the modern day equivalent of Sandy Koufax for LA was on the mound, reigning Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw. He rebounded after allowing 8 ER in 5.2 innings on Monday against the Cardinals, pitching a 5-hit shutout as the Dodgers won 4-0.

The Giants are getting runners to second base but stranding them there. They compounded the problem after Angel Pagan reached in the second inning. He was picked off trying to steal second on the first move by Kershaw. Marco Scutaro and Brandon Belt got consecutive hits but Brandon Crawford couldn’t deliver.

Gregor Blanco hit a single up the middle off Kershaw and clapped enthusiastically like he was Mike Schmidt hitting his 500th home run. Ryan Theriot lined out to second and Blanco gets thrown out trying to get back to first. Embarrassing.

It’s painfully obvious the Giants need another bat before the trade deadline, but Bruce Bochy said speculating about another trade would be a distraction to his players in the clubhouse.

Giants GM Brian Sabean says for now the best he can do is Scutaro? The last two games the Giants got a total of 10 hits and have not scored since the eighth inning on Friday night. That’s 20 scoreless innings.

For three games Giants fans were effectively silenced by the Dodgers, a team that has not only obtained the services of veteran third baseman Hanley Ramirez but also has a healthy and formidable lineup. With the return of Kemp and the consistency of Ethier, the middle of the Dodgers batting order is among the best in the National League.

Still plenty of baseball left, but let’s see and hear from Bochy and the players themselves for their reactions.

http://youtu.be/xBQlBY7tB38?hd=1

http://youtu.be/ivz0m-8vI08?hd=1

http://youtu.be/otX8We2_24E

16 comments

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Stan

Who's the drop dead gorgeous blond standing next to Bochy?..names,I need names people..

In the "Who'll catch Lincecum? video"

Gooselosgatos

Before everyone decides to trade our prospects, I offer the name Zach Wheeler. Now rated one of the top three players in all of minor league baseball and considered a number one dominant pitcher.

The worst decision Sabean made was to not re-sign Beltran. I think that after giving up Wheeler to get Beltran...Beltran's malingering issue's and not willing to play in some pain...I think Sabean proved he is human and just felt like he wanted no more of the guy. The Giants Beltran said, never made him an offer. And not keeping Keppinger was a lesser mistake.

devnull

Maybe not "worst decision", but certainly a bad one. Especially if Sabean didn't even make a try for him, like Beltran's camp says. In the running for "worst" in recent years is probably a multi-year contract for Huff, likewise for Rowand (the batting stance alone is worth an honorable mention) and of course the crazy humongous Zito contract which practically no one could possibly live up to.

SantaCruzSpike

Every time I start to think Sabean is a great GM he finds himself in a heap of shite like this. No money to to play with, no prospects to trade, miss out on Victorino...ridiculous. Scuturo is a HUGE upgrade to the bench but come on, he's not the leadoff guy or middle of the order bat we need. I hate to see this pitching staff wasted again.

The Giants can only go so long without Pablo. The first time,they were up to it..but this time,they haven't. Yoenis drives the A's and Pablo the Giants. Convergent evolution!.. (that's a hilarious joke if your a science type)

3rdKing

Huff/whiteside = losing record 5-6 since they returned. Bad old man juju Complete 180 from riding the youth to 1st Standard sabochy fail

Ryan Leong

Stan this isn't my blog, I appreciate the forum. I also vote Democrat!

Right on Ryan!..we might be rare in sports media,but we be the best!

TommyJ

I went today and I know the last two days there were two very good SP's for the "Doyers", but good lord they are anemic without Panda without that extra bat. The everyday lineup is better than 2010, but zero bench/clutch bats..ie Huff, Ross and Burrell are going to make this run limited unless they get at least one more veteran prescence bat (not named Beltran...choking dog last year).

Paperback Writer

Of course they need hitting, but having both Panda and Hector Sanchez out has to,be considered. Line-up: Pagan was hot,when he batted out of the 2- hole, put him qback there, have Blanco back in at lead off, but don't totally bury Sherholtz, they need him sometimes. I'd like this commented on: WTF was Baggerly doing printing a rumor - you know the one about Melkey and roids - TOTAlLLY IRESPONSIBLE AND UNPROFESSIONAL - oh and on the eve of the Dodger series. the Giants lost on their own, but that didn't help,the morale. I believe Baggerly was way out of bounds, sure you want a big story qnd scoop, but you wait on rumors, investigate, get 2 sources then ask for reaction from the subject for a response. What was unresponsible sports reporting? For $5. Answer: Baggerly.

paperback writer

OK, saw this today. It was the right thing to do, BUT can't take the timing of it back.