The Big Sadowski

Ron Kroichick of the SF Chronicle has come up with a pretty good nickname for the new Giants fifth starter. Ryan Sadowski has now gone 13 innings without giving up a run and has a 2-0 record in the MLB. Meanwhile, Jonathan Sanchez was relegated to closing out the game in the 9th with a 13-run lead.

Orange and Black fireworks a day early

The Giants put up 13 runs in the first three innings tonight -- the first time they've scored that many runs in a game in two years, when they beat the Snakes, 13-0. That game featured Ryan Klesko's 5th homer of the year. It turned out to be the next to last homer of his 16-year career, which included 288 HRs.

Blame Zito, not Fred Lewis

Andrew Baggarly's game story for the San Jose Mercury-News is particularly curious for its intended effect to somehow blame tonight's 5-2 loss on Fred Lewis and his inability to catch a tailing flyball in the St. Louis twilight and then killing a potential rally in the 8th.

I didn't see the game, but Zito didn't get out of the 5th and was charged with all 5 runs. In other words, he pitched like the marginal MLBer he's become, a guy who requires perfect defense and plenty of good luck. Perhaps he would have gotten out of the 1st unscathed but again, but I'm skeptical. After all, this is Barry Zito we're talking about here, not Juan Marichal or Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum. What else, really, is there to say except that he's by far the highest paid player on the team -- eating up over 20% of the payroll -- and he's pitching like a marginal big leaguer. With the exception of Jason Schmidt, Zito's the single most overpaid player and poorest performer per dollar of any regular player.

As for Lewis, the larger qustion is why he's even on an MLB roster -- especially one that needs airtight defense and more offense. There may be a corner outfielder somewhere else in the MLB who's underperforming to the same extent, but I can't think of one right off the bat. Baggarly makes the point that John Bowker is raking in Fresno but then points out that Lewis is out of options so he'd have to be DFAd. My point is -- who cares about Fred Lewis' future? He can't cut it at the big league level. Why he's still getting any ABs at all reflects -- once again -- the startling ineptitude of both Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy.

Henry Shulman's game story for the SF Chronicle is better written, in that it makes the point that Zito threw 26 pitches before he managed to get an out in the first. He also points out that Lewis has been a "liability" in left all season.

DFA Howry, please

As if Brian Sabean pays any attention to Giants Win, but what a lousy signing Bobby Howry's turned out to be. He just lost another game in St. Louis in the bottom of the 10th, nullifying a great outing by Matt Cain. The Giants are wasting $2.75 million this year on Howry.

According to the Henry Shulman game story in the SF Chronicle, Pablo Sandoval tried to take the blame, which shows what a fine teammate he's already become. For his part, Howry acted like a diva, blaming the umpire, and then running off. I've lost patience with Howry and I'm skeptical that he'll bring much in a trade. He should be DFAd ASAP. Failing that, he should certainly not used in situations with the game on the line.

MC O'Conner at Raising (Matt) Cain nicely recaps the 2-1 loss, comparing it to a defensive soccer match where your team loses at the end.

Sign The Franchise now

John Perricone at Only Baseball Matters is urging the Giants front office to make it a top priority to sign Tim Lincecum to a long-term deal -- much as Tampa Bay did with Evan Longoria and the Cards did with Pujols. As usual, John's dispensing some solid common sense advice.

On a more whimsical note, Jeff Fletcher at Bay Bridge Baseball is staging a poll wondering whether the Giants should trade Lincecum for Albert Pujols.

Knucksie and the Big Unit

With Randy Johnson now 8-5, I began to wonder who has put together the best season for any pitcher who's 45 or older and thought Phil Niekro must be in contention. It turns out that he won 16 games as a 46-year-old in 1985 for the Yankees. Jamie Moyer picked up 16 last year at the age of 45. Here's the list of top single-season winners for pitchers who are 43 or older --

1. Jack Quinn 18 1928
2. Phil Niekro 17 1982
3. Jamie Moyer 16 2008
Phil Niekro 16 1984
Phil Niekro 16 1985
6. Jack Quinn 15 1927
7. Jamie Moyer 14 2007
8. Tommy John 13 1987
Nolan Ryan 13 1990
10. Satchel Paige 12 1952
Nolan Ryan 12 1990

Jack Quinn was 44 when he went 18-7 for the Philadelphia A's in 1928. He won 11 games in 1929 and nine in 1930 for the A's -- a team that won back to back World Series titles. The 1929 team is regarded as one of the best of all time.

No June swoon this year

The Giants have just finished the month by going 17-10, thanks to the Big Unit notching No. 303 tonight in St. Louis. They are now 8 games over .500 at 42-34 -- which projects out to 90-72. These guys are saving Brian Sabean's job.

Henry Shulman's game story for the SF Chronicle notes that the Giants led the league in fewest runs allowed with 98 and scored 20 more runs than that. Currently, they have the fifth fewest runs scored this season with 311 -- ahead of the Astros, Cubs, Padres and Royals.

And the Dodgers lost for the fifth time in seven games, hitting like the Giants often do as they managed only two hits and got shut out by Jason Marquis.

The Franchise's best game?

Henry Shulman's game story for the SF Chron makes that case as Tim Terrific breezes through the Cards in two hours, six minutes for a 2-hit shutout on 95 pitches.

What would have the night even better? How about a Dodger loss, which would have left the Orange and Black six games out? It didn't happen as the Rox -- a franchise nearly as evil as the Dodgers -- gave it up in the 13th inning. Randy Wolf and Russell Martin embarrassed themselves in the top of the 3rd when -- in a combination of arrogance and stupidity -- they began walking off the field even though there were only two outs.

The start of something magical?

The Dodgers gagged against the Mariners for their second straight loss and fourth in five games. They are still a sickening MLB-best 48-28 and seven games ahead of the Giants -- even without Manny. Maybe it's time for them to get unlucky, what with the Rox arriving.

The wrong guy in the wrong job

That would be Bruce Bochy. I'm still stunned at having a winnable game fumbled away by the manager on Saturday night by allowing an obviously gassed Zito to pitch to Prince Fielder. John Perricone at Only Baseball Matters spells it out (the boldface is mine) --

Bochy and Righetti foolishly allowed Zito to go out and fact the top of the order to the third time. And then, after two more walks, two walks in which it was obvious that Zito could not control where the ball was going, that he was gassed, he walked out to the mound and asked him if he wanted to continue; which begs the question, why bother managing at all? Why bother having someone who can see the big picture, someone who can help the players get the most out of their abilities, someone who can plan for the many points in a game where decisions can make or break a team; if, when the time comes, you have no idea what you are doing?

Welcome to the bigs, Ryan Sadowski

The Orange and Black have just shut out the Brewers, 7-0, in Sadowski's MLB debut. Unless the two teams make the playoffs, it's fortunately the last time that the Giants will visit Miller Park this year.

Nate Schierholtz may finally be in the starting lineup to stay. He went 4-for-5 in the cleanup slot. The Giants are now 40-34, which projects out to 88-74. Brew Crew announcer Bob Uecker noted last night, when the Giants were ahead 4-0, that the club hadn't managed to get its 40th win last year until after the All-Star break. The Franchise throttled the Cubs that day, 4-2, bringing the Giants' record to 40-55.

Like hitting on 16

The high that Giants fans were feeling after Wednesday's vic left the record at 39-32 is long gone.

The dozens of readers of this blog know that I'm not a fan of Bruce Bochy. He looked like a damn fool tonight, like a blackjack player ignoring the odds and hitting on 16 or a poker player drawing to fill an inside straight and getting burned for it.

The latest version of insanity in Milwaukee might have been avoided had Bochy pulled an obviously fading Zito in the 6th. The game story written by Andew Baggarly of the San Jose Merc-News notes that Zito gave up a 3-run homer to Prince Fielder after Zito had been running the bases. You've lucked out and gotten five shutout innings from a guy who's NOTORIOUS for losing command. The bullpen had Wednesday and Thursday off. What's so hard to figure out, Bochy?

Henry Shulman's story for the SF Chronicle shows that Shulman is thinking the same -- even pointing out that Zito has a tendency to fall apart late in games like a 1977 Chevette. What are you trying to prove by leaving him in to give up a three-run homer? Once that happened, the momentum obviously stayed in Milwaukee's favor. Why make it so easy for them, Bochy?

Ryan Sadowski in the Orange and Black

He's going to start tomorrow's game instead of Jonathan Sanchez, according to Henry Shulman of the SF Chronicle. It will be his MLB debut. He hasn't exactly blown them away in Fresno -- which should tell you what a disappointment Sanchez has been.