Jason: It's Time For The Giants To Start Playing Like Champions
Years ago, the San Francisco Giants incorporated the slogan "Torture" in route to some of their World Series Championships. I am not sure this year has been exactly that, but it sure isn't far from it.
In a long baseball season, every team goes through it's ups and downs, but what the Giants are doing now is about as extreme as it gets. What exactly is the identity of the 2016 team? Are they the team that at one point looked like the best team in Major League Baseball? Are they the team that looked the worst since the All-Star break?
The numbers before the break showed a team that was finding it's way. San Francisco went an amazing 19-9 in one-run games before the mid-Summer classic. Since, the Giants have gone just 4-7. They have won only one series, split two four-game series and lost eight series. They have allowed 48 home runs in the second half and will begin play Tuesday one game behind the first place Dodgers.
Despite their recent troubles, the setup for the showdown in Los Angeles is good for the Giants. They send out Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Matt Moore. The Dodgers are still waiting on their ace Clayton Kershaw to recover so the time is now for the Giants to capitalize.
The Giants and Dodgers still play nine times in the final 38 games. Imagine if San Francisco could take as many as six or seven of those games? That would be hard for the Dodgers to make up and could give the Giants that wiggle room in the division right back.
The only other series remaining for the Giants against winning teams include two four-game sets - one against the Cubs and the other against the Cardinals. Everything else is against teams well below .500. Keep in mind, those are the exact kind of teams that the Giants have been losing to as of late.
Some things may finally be correcting themselves for Bruce Bochy's club. Jeff Samardzija has put together a couple of good outings as of late. The offense hasn't been stellar but 11 times this month they have scored five or more runs. If the bullpen can tighten up and the starters give them the much needed innings, the turnaround may be happening soon.
One other thing that might help would be their new additions. Adding Eduardo Nunez, Will Smith and Matt Moore at the deadline seemed like very solid moves. You could see where those pieces could fit right into this puzzle but unfortunately so far they haven't been great.
So, tonight begins a big stretch with their ace on the hill - Bumgarner can fix a lot of things and maybe he can be the catalyst to a Giants revival.
If good starting pitching, strong defense, solid bullpen work, and the lineup of hitters that makes contact all get going, then watch out. They are more than capable to find that groove, but as they have shown they can also be a team that frustrates its fans.
I say enjoy the final month-plus of the season and dive into all the feelings you get from Giants baseball.