I like it when the Giants win in Colorado. A couple of thoughts on tonight’s 8-1 win against the Rockies.
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* Tim Linecum really pitched an excellent game. Forget the fact that he lost the no-hitter and the shutout in the 7th, he cruised for most of the night, keeping the Rockies’ hitters painfully off balance. The slider, a developing pitch for Lincecum, totaled 8 swinging strikes out of 38 pitches. Keep in mind, that’s using MLBAM’s pitch ID’s, so your mileage may vary. But, as Rory wrote last week, Lincecum’s slider is a really nice weapon to add to his arsenal. Lincecum ended the game with 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 10 SO.
* Nate Schierholtz hit the longest home run that I’ve ever seen at Coors. That statement isn’t hyperbole, either. After watching Bonds hit for years in Coors, I’ve seen a lot of long home runs. Nate’s blast in the 1st inning landed a few rows back in the upper deck. With Ross returning from the DL – and Rowand’s BABIP fueled resurgence – Nate will most likely head back to the bench as the 5th OF. He should still provide solid defense and, hopefully like tonight, the occasional mammoth tater.
* If you would have told me that Pablo would walk 3 times in a game – a game in Coors Field – I would have called you a liar. Sandoval’s 3 walk game ties a career high.
* Freddy Sanchez continued his hot start to 2011. Sanchez went 2-5 with a 2B and a HR. Over his first 62 at-bats, Sanchez is batting .306/.377/.516. His updated (not including tonight’s game) ZiPS projection pegs him at .281/.331/.398 which isn’t bad at all for a second baseman with solid to very good defense.
* Pat Burrell went 1-3 with a 3-run HR in the first inning. Pat Burrell’s “projected” batting line courtesy of ESPN? 152 G, 91 H, 51 HR, 71 RBI, 71 BB, 182 SO
* Vogelsong made his return to the Giants tonight, pitching 1.1 innings looking mostly OK. Vogelsong worked his FB around 91 mph and mixed in a couple of sliders.
Great way to start the series against the Rockies. Coors Field still terrifies me, but I’ll take an 8-1 drubbing of the Rockies anytime. Tomorrow the Giants get Ubadlo Jimenez, so runs could come at a premium.
