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| If you can name this Padres reliever without looking it up, it's time for new hobbies. I need new hobbies. |
In Ryan Vogelsong’s last start
against the Padres, he threw 96 pitches in 3 innings, 99 of which were thrown
to Everth Cabrera. It was right in the midst of the slump that has plagued him over
the last 2 months. Vogelsong had to battle almost every pitch and grind out
every last ounce of energy he had just to get through 3 innings. This was the
same guy that was a walking quality start for the past 1.5 seasons. The same
guy that could pull 7 innings and less than 3 earned runs out of his back
pocket, while Barry Zito watched with wonder. He looked like a mortal, one that struggled to perform like an average big leaguer. That start against the Padres was
when we realized what Lehigh Valley IronPig fans had to deal with. You don't know pain until you're an IronPig fan. Giants fans started to question if the old Vogey was ever going to show up again.
Tonight, was refreshing. This was
Ryan Vogelsong at his best. Pinpoint command, and efficient work through 6
innings, with enough gas in the tank for 7 maybe 8 innings if he needed it.
Weak fly ball after weak tapper after weak fly ball after strikeout. Every possible
way to retire a hitter. He was dominant. He also gave up a home run to Chase Headley that just
landed in New York. But one mistake over 6 innings is nothing to lose sleep
over, especially against an MVP caliber player. This was the first real Ryan Vogelsong start since August 8th,
when he shutout the Cardinals.
If nothing else, this start
extended Vogelsong’s lead over Zito for the postseason rotation. It shouldn’t
really be a question. Barry Zito has been extra Barry Zito this season. He’s
had fantastic starts no doubt, but it would be silly to discount Vogelsong
after his name was tossed around in the Cy Young conversation for part of the
year, and he’s shown 1.5 seasons of top tier pitching.
*****
Pablo Sandoval is good again. More
to come on this groundbreaking study. With the usual caveat of not overreacting
to small sample sizes, it’s impossible to ignore the power surge that Sandoval
has shown, especially because it’s the type of power we have come to expect
from him. The good news is that usually when Sandoval comes out of a 2010 like
slump, he usually doesn’t revert back to what he was. I have no stats to back
that claim up, but I’m going to assume it’s true.
On a night where vintage Vogelsong showed, vintage Sandoval arrived as well. When Sandoval is going full Vlad,
yet still exerting patience at times, it’s a joy to watch. Here’s to hoping
there is more joy.
*****
Buster Posey won the Willie Mac
award and it was probably the easiest choice in the history of the award.
Again, I didn’t do any research to make that claim, but saying something is the
best ever is so fun! Plus, I usually don't like to doubt Buster Posey. Your karma gets pretty screwed when that happens.
To review for the 100th
time the sequence of events:
àBuster
Posey wins Rookie of the Year
à
Buster Posey ankle gets obliterated.
à
Buster Posey on crutches with ankle wrapped in thick cast
à
Buster Posey misses most of 2011 season
à
Giants employ Orlando Cabrera
à
Giants miss 2011 playoffs
à
Buster Posey ready for spring training, fans hope for duplicate of 2010
à
Buster Posey becomes favorite for 2012 MVP award
It’s a story that couldn't get better. Actually, the Giants should win the World Series. Yeah, that'd make a pretty swell story.
*****
The Giants clinch the division
with a win and a Dodger loss tomorrow. So that's pretty interesting.
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