David,
Agree, first place by 5 or 6 games would be much better, and 5-6 runs per game would be a lot better than the 3.2 or whatever they average.. but if you don't know, the Giants' motto since last April/May is "Torture"
. We've grown to expect Timmy having to hold onto a 1-0 lead for 7/8 innings.. often having to be very creative to score that 1! It'll get old after a while, but after the beef-roided 90's and early 2000's, it's actually refreshing to see these types of games again.
BTW- our pitchers (Zito excepted) are beyond mentally tough. Matt Cain got no run support for 2 years, compiled I think a 15-30 W/L record with an ERA in the 3.50-3.60 range.. but he kept his head and has since been named an A.S. Bumgarner is this year's Cain, 2-8 with a 3.30ish ERA.. we'll see how he holds up, but if you've seen him regularly, you'd know he's a tough farm raised SOB too. I just can't wait to see these guys with a healthy offense!!
Obviously we'd love to score some more runs, normally string together nice 4-5 hit/inning rallys, but I really think (and think most Giant fans agree) we've benefited more often than not from managerial moves this past year +. We've also especially benefited from aggressive base running/coaching.. Flannery is one of the gutsiest but best gamblers as a 3rd base coach.
Re- Torres C.S. last night- As a baseball man yourself, you have to agree that you can never assume that Tejada would have skipped that same double over 3rd base had Torres still been on first. In that case, the pitcher's still in the stretch, pitches may be called differently, Tejada may have a slightly different approach, you never know. And re- SF hitters and HR's, the only real big swinger is P Burrell, but he's only starting 1-2 games a week now. Their 2010/2011 HR leader Aubrey Huff has one of the most level/line drive oriented swings around, and is focused on going gap to gap hitting some out in the process.
I think in the end.. as a team they just had one of WORST offenses to win a WS since Ed Walsh's White Sox beat the Cubs.. and this year with Posey/Sandoval out it's been even worse. We have NOOO business being above .500 let alone 1st place with the injuries they've, but it's been a really fun team to watch scrap. I CAN'T COMPLAIN!!!
(all debate in good natured tone BTW
)
-Ian