A Bogus Call Prevents A Sweep

Armando Galarraga's blown perfect game should have been enough reason for Major League Baseball to institute some format of instant replay. But baseball still chooses to operate in an archaic manner. Replay would have been plenty helpful today, as Phil Cuzzi botched a call at home plate that would have capped a thrilling comeback against Francisco Rodriguez, and given the Giants a four-game sweep of the Mets. Instead, the Giants lost in 10. Nonetheless, the Giants should be very proud of their game as of late, and should walk into Dodger Stadium brimming with confidence.

In the 6-1 stretch before the All-Star Break, the Giants survived their pedestrian starting pitching and won with surges of offense, feasting on the weak pitching staffs of the Brewers and Nationals. However, this past weekend, the Giants won with dominant starting pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting, the formula that they have to use to compete for a playoff spot. Lincecum, Zito, Cain, and Sanchez were all fantastic. Those four pitched a combined 31 innings, allowing 4 runs on 18 hits with 23 strikeouts. The most encouraging aspect of the starting pitching was that all four starters pounded the strike zone, and they issued only 5 walks. They must have heard Brian Sabean's message loud and clear. Sabean over the All-Star Break rightfully called out the starting pitching staff as not living up to expectations, citing their NL-leading walk totals. Despite the sporadic sparks from the offense, the Giants are going to live and die with their pitching.

From the offensive side, Buster Posey continued, as FP Santangelo put it, "to make a mockery of Major League Baseball." He now has a 12-game hit streak is for my money, the most complete hitter in the Giants lineup, at age 23. The homerun he hit Saturday night to right field was a thing of beauty. Not even some of the most notable right-handed hitters of the last 10 years have come even close to doing that at AT&T Park.

The best storyline on offense was the reemergence of Pablo Sandoval, who went 6-12 in the series with 3 doubles, 4 RBIs, and the key leadoff walk that sparked the rally against Francisco Rodriguez today. Sandoval seems to have discovered his swing from both the left and right sides, and Santangelo pointed out on the broadcasts that he's slowed his leg kick in order to have his hands in the hitting position earlier. The Giants, maybe unfairly, constructed their offense around Sandoval building on the season he had last year, but clearly, that has not worked out so far. But a reinvented Sandoval bodes well for the Giants in the 2nd half. The Giants need him, and he knows it.

Many fans have been clamoring for an extra bat for this lineup, and it's true that another solid hitter would be a welcome addition to this team. But the Giants' most pressing need is a reliable arm in the bullpen. While the starting pitching took a step forward this weekend, the bullpen, outside of Brian Wilson, is still shaky. Brian Sabean should devote most of his energy towards prying one of the available relievers (like Toronto's Scott Downs). For a team that's so reliant on pitching, the Giants need to have a solid bridge from the starters to Brian Wilson. Plus, assuming that Sandoval is back to his old self, a 3-4-5 of Huff, Posey, and Sandoval is not bad at all. Sure, it's not Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth, but with the Giants' pitching staff, it should be enough to make a deep run in August and September.

The Giants should not dwell on today's bogus loss. They need to capitalize on a downtrodden Dodgers team that just got swept by the Cardinals and exact revenge for the sweep that they received a few weeks ago. With Bumgarner, Lincecum, and Zito set to take the hill, the Giants have to take at least 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. BEAT LA!!!