Jonathan Sanchez, fresh off the scrap heap, the rumor mill, and possibly the bullpen; took his spot start and just missed a perfect game. Between his 2-6 record, his Dad seeing him pitch live for the first time ever, and Lincecum’s near miss last night, that was some performance.
…. Among his many talents, Tim Lincecum also is a prophet. On Friday afternoon he said, “Someone might throw a no-hitter and it might not be the ace of the squad. It might be an unsung hero kind of guy. Anybody can do anything.”
A few hours later, anybody did something, and it was remarkable.
On a slightly cool but comfortable night for baseball at China Basin, Jonathan Sanchez pitched the Giants’ first no-hitter in 33 years, beating the San Diego Padres 8-0. Only a Juan Uribe error stood between Sanchez and a perfect game.
…. So good was Sanchez that he nearly threw the 16th perfect game in the history of modern baseball. He was five outs shy when Uribe muffed an eighth-inning chopper by Chase Headley and could not pick up the ball. Headley was the only Padre to reach base against Sanchez, who struck out 11 to set a career high.
UPDATE: Peter G (Peter Gammons?) mentioned that I called the no-hitter:
…. As one might expect from a team with so little offense, the Giants came within a hair’s breath of being no-hit today. Not for nothing, but this team is pretty much a no-hitter waiting to happen.
I’m assuming that was tongue-in-cheek. 
I am, however, on record as saying that Lincecum is a no-hitter waiting to happen. Not in writing, but out loud, with my loud mouth.
Nonetheless, this team is starting to seem a little bit special, or should I say, it seems that maybe, just maybe, this team is coming to be more than the sum of its parts. At this point, Sabean cannot trade Sanchez anymore –obviously– and perhaps he shouldn’t trade anyone.
Uribe puts a pretty good swing on it, Sandoval is a terrific hitter, Molina is back from the grave, Rowand is having a solid season…. Hmmmmm, let me look at something….
The Giants scored 118 runs in June, in 27 games. That’s 4.37 runs per game, better than the NL average, and almost a half run better than they had been scoring heading into June. In July, they’ve scored 43 runs in 9 games, that’s 4.7 runs per game. Another way of looking at it is to say the Giants are scoring 4.5 runs per game since the start of June, 161 runs in 36 games. During that span of 36 games, the pitchers have allowed 108 earned runs, 117 runs in total. That’s 2.75 runs per game. (read that sentence a few times) That’s an expected winning percentage of .721. (read that sentence a few times) A team scoring and allowing that many runs should have gone 25-11 since the start of June. They’ve been just a bit below that, 23-14 according to ESPN’s standings page, but that’s still an outstanding run of over .600 ball, for almost a quarter of a season.
They have the second best record in the NL, a two game lead in the Wild Card, have a league-leading 13(!) shutouts, twice as many as any other team. Perhaps they have found just enough offense. The defense is suspect, (although they seem to have committed a lot of errors recently, including the loss of the perfect game last night, in reality, they have only 46 this season, which is one of the lowest totals in the league); but since they are also leading all of baseball in strikeouts, their pitching makes up for a lot.
That’s the good.
Renteria moves so slow, he looks like he’s wearing a suit of armor. Uribe is a bit less than sure-handed. We still are at the bottom of baseball in home runs, Randy Johnson is still old, and Barry Zito is still expensive.
That’s the bad.
Not quite as much as there used to be, no?
24 Backtalkers
im starting to believe that this could indeed be a magical year
if this team can make it to the post season, with this pitching staff, anything is possible
Unc Joe & +mia,
Amen to the above…this is going to be a magical year.
I’ve been posting all year this is a special team in the works…even with the low run production. This team has good chemistry…and they believe they can win every game…and expect to. I realize most out there think this is just a home-town fan gone wild…but, you all need to watch the other teams to understand how good the Gigantes are. I also said you would see a different Sanchez if he got a second chance…granted it was the Pads…the worst hitting team on the planet. Rowands catch was a good and clutch as they get. Totally awesome…and beer was flying all over my house as he bounced off the wall with ball in glove. Gets a year long exemption out of the dog house.
Great game by Whiteside.
+mia is preparing for the “full Monty” on 24 Willie Mays plaza.
Like I keep posting…taking all comers who want to bet against the Gigantes making the playoffs. This team is for real.
Hopefully Sabean has taken Sanchez off the trading block…and will not mess with the continuity of this staff.
Not only did Pablo get robbed…but, of course they added another Philly(Werth) as well besides Victorino. Total scam. It’s cool…Pablo will just lead the league in hitting…and shove it up their ass.
Stay hot Gigantes.
Jonathan…Jonathan…Jonathan
+mia is preparing for the “full Monty” on 24 Willie Mays plaza.
I have full faith that Zito will find a way to pick me up on this Sunday.
+mia,
No worries…I’m not going to hold you to the moon shot. Need the sweep to keep the momentum going into Pittsburg.
10 over .500 and possibly 50 wins by the break. Got to keep believing.
I dont care that it’s getting healthy off sub-.500 clubs…at least we’re winning the games we should. I know most out there were looking for the June swoon…never happened…and are looking for a late summer/early fall collapse…not going to happen.
Pablo being left off the squad is fodder to kick the Phils and Jerry Manuels ass all the way back to the East Coast. Naming Werth as a replacement for Beltran after Victorino gets the nod…what a farce.
3rd leg of sweep tonight.
Stay hot Cain.
Good ol Zit-puck. He took the Giants out of the game early and often. Game was over before he recorded an out. Nine earned runs in 4.1 innings. This is the 10th game in 18 starts that the Giants have lost and his royal highness’ era is back to over 5.00. A more discouraging, disheartening, and demoralizing pitcher does not exist in Giants history.
Here’s an idea. Ship him back to Oakland. Pay all of his salary for the rest of his contract and throw in Randy Winn.
The man is a human losing streak and he spends his time talking to Giant in-house KNBR ass-smack Mychael Urban about his bar experiences.
He has to go. Now. Forever.
+mai,
Amen. Out of rotation to pen…and look for anyone willing to pick up any percentage of salary.
The time is now.
Winn outside of his outfield play has been a disappointment.
excuse me “+mia”
Winn VSL .115 .148 .127
Winn VSR .313 .448 .364
Torres VSL .407 .815 .484
Torres VSR .154 .308 .250
I hate to defend Randy Winn, but if we can just platoon him with Torres, we have a decent corner outfielder.
I don’t see why you hate to defend Winn. He’s been a very solid player for us the last few years. I like the idea of a platoon (Winn, Lewis, Schierholtz – though not as much as the other 2), but Torres isn’t that guy. Torres sucks. I’m happy he’s contributed what he has, but the guy has a career .602 OPS. Not to mention he’s been striking out at a higher rate this year than ever before. Basically, what he’s done so far has been a fluke and he’s extremely unlikely to continue producing at anywhere near an acceptable rate…
Stunned!
His stuff was wicked, evil, filthy, nasty. I know that was the Padres, but nobody was going to hit that stuff. I’ve never seen a guy strike out on a slider on a pitch he got hit with, and then kick the ball trying to run out of the box to end the eighth inning. 11 punchouts. No walks. Stronger and more confident at the end than at the beginning. One error on the manager for sitting Sandoval and moving over Uribe from second, just so he could get Frandsen in the game. Dumb shit. You just don’t mess with things when your guy is going like that. It cost a perfect game.
Don’t fuck with the baseball gods bochy!
But the baseball gawds were forgiving on Rowands, Jerry Rice-like, catch in the 9th on a ball that had at least 2, if not 4 bags written all over it. I didn’t realize a guy my age could come that far off the living room sofa that high and that fast and damn near go into cardiac arrest.
This coming on the heels of the double douching of Pablo Sandoval by Charlie Manual and the East Coast media. And while Shane Victorino was everywhere on tv and radio campaigning for a place on the roster of the annual Bud Selig “WINNER GETS HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE AND AN AUTOGRAPHED CALVIN COOLIDGE BOBBLE HEAD” paint drying exhibition, Pablo Sandoval was spending a few hours with some other Giants working with one of the Challenger Little Leagues in the Bay Area. And last night he hits a 3 run bomb out into territory in deeeeeeeeeeep centerfield that hitherto was reached only by Barry Bonds on any sort of a regular basis.
On some days and nights, the planets just seem to line up right, and make the baseball gods work overtime. Its been quite a few years, but last night the baseball world belonged to the Giants.
You called it first, John. “Not for nothing, but this team is pretty much a no-hitter waiting to happen.” June 7th, 2009. Take a bow. : )
(me bowing)
By the way, Peter G? Is this Peter Gammons?
tell me if im wrong, but wasnt that comment about the teams offense, and not their pitching?
or am i missing the tongue in cheek aspect of this discussion
I was thinking the same thing. I guess we’re not that smart?
I was at the game on Thursday, and I though that Timmy would be on one to throw a no-no. If you told me it would Jonathan Sanchez I would of laughed my head off. What a phenomenal game by Sanchez.
I guess that the Giants have a real dilemma about their rotation. Who do keep out of it? Sanchez for sure has earned a spot. Sadowski has earned some starts. Do you keep Johnson out a little longer after the break? I know that most teams would love to have this problem.
A great night to be sure. All of a sudden it was the 6th and he had a perfect game! We’re the 1985 Royals all over again; one hitter of note and great pitching. Who knows, but I’m hopeful. Nonetheless, let’s also remember that this season’s team is profiting from terrible play out of San Diego and Arizona. This, coupled with first half mediocrity out of the teams that were “supposed to” be good has us right in the Wild Card hunt. I hope Johnson’s arm isn’t too messed up.
Sandoval for Prez.
Not Peter Gammons, and yes, tongue-in-cheek. And I don’t by any means want to suggest anything unkind by it, but I do remember when I read those words in your blog (which I keep bookmarked and have enjoyed greatly for years) thinking your sentence was right, but you weren’t. I didn’t think it would be Sanchez either, but I definitely thought we were likelier to throw a no-hitter, quite possibly soon, than be no-hit.
And think how close we just came to back-to-back no-hitters!
if you guys peruse some of the national media, you will see many attempting to lessen the import of sanchez’ feat last nite
ok, so the friars have been decimated due to injury and trade (the giant killer hairston is now gone)
but no one else has no hit them…timmy came close, but no cigar
why does the national media hate the giants?
Unc Joe,
Screw the MSM and National media. It’s an East Coast bias…always has been…always will. Fitting that the worst professional franchise in all sports in in DC. They all deserve each other.
Less attention will allow us to play with less pressure…just as long as we all know and appreciate the Gigantes. That’s what matters most.
I was at the game and it was electric.
Took my boys to the game and at first I was bummed that we would be missing both Tim & Matt by a day on either side, but boy did it work out.
Now they’ll always be able to say that their first MLB game was a No Hitter.
I’ve been way down on Sabes (to the point of distancing myself from the team a little in general) and in the past the idea that “…perhaps he shouldn’t trade anyone” would drive me crazy. But I have to say that I agree, and I’m ready to believe.
Go Giants.
RANT
I don’t mind Barry Zito –- seems like he’s doing the best he can with the little ability he has left.
I don’t even mind the $126 million contract anymore –- I’ve had 2.5 years to get used to it, and it’s not my money.
No, what really fries me is listening to 2.5 years worth of happy-talk about how, any day now, Barry Zito will turn things around. Tell me how many times you’ve heard the following, either on KNBR or on the Giants’ TV broadcasts:
Year 1: “Barry’s having trouble adjusting to the pressure of the new contract – but when he settles down he’s gonna be good!”
Second half of Year 2: “Barry’s ERA after the All-Star break was only 4.60 – he’s gonna be good!”
This off-season: “He’s working out every day with Brian Wilson – he’s gonna be good!”
Early this season: “Barry’s fastball is up to 88 MPH – he’s gonna be good!”
After yesterday’s game: “Sure, Barry’s been inconsistent the first half, but if aside from a few rough outings he’s pitched good!”
The last one is my personal favorite. You might as well say “Sure, the Washington Nationals lost 65 games in the first half, but aside from those games they’re undefeated!”
So I’m curious: Why do so many people (seems to me) cling to the belief that Barry Zito will, any day now, turn into a good pitcher, when there isn’t the slightest evidence this will happen? Honestly I’m not making fun of anyone here, I really want to know. Seems to me that Giants fans had an easy time accepting that players like Marvin Bernard, and Matt Morris, and Armando Benitez, and lots of other stiffs that Sabean signed to big contracts, would never justify these contracts. I don’t remember people constructing all sorts of illogical arguments to explain why these guys would suddenly improve; the fans accepted that these were bad contracts, and that we should get the player off the team and move on. Why is it so hard for people to write Barry Zito off? All you Barry supporters out there: What is the psychology here?
I think you will find your answer in the following which was posted up a couple of weeks ago
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The Giants were not kidding when they said that Zito was going to be the new face of the franchise. As Bonds was given the run of his playing time (which his play and performance earned him) so has Zito been so empowered, as have dozens of other beneficiaries of multi-year, multi-million dollar contractual miscarriages over the years.
Just because he doesn’t sit in a recliner, doesn’t mean his $20 million superstar contract doesn’t let him get to call his own shots. That’s just the way Boras clients contracts work. Its that simple.
We don’t hear about the “special treatment” that Zito gets like we did with Bonds because Zito talks and walks and looks like the guys covering him. So, because he is a “nice guy”, they aren’t looking to put any edge on this situation. I get it. Really.
If I’m one of these msm hacks with a requirement for “access” under Baer’s sway, and know that the $126 million chicken-choking choad is going to be around until the second coming of Jesus Christ Superstar, and having just gone through 15 years of not-good-times with Sir Barry of Bonds, I can kind of understand why none of these guys wants to go after Zito on the record.
So when you see the deference with which Zito’s humiliating, embarrassing, infuriating and inevitable meltdowns are handled, don’t blame Bochy. This is on the Giants ownership and management group for capitulating to Boras as he yet again bends Giants fans over with his multi-year, multi-million strap-on breech loader…all in the misplaced hope that Milquetoast Barry would fill the empty seats left by the ouster of Bonds.
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Whether they realize it or not, most fans take their lead from msm. And that includes Giants Broadcasters Mike Krukow, who is the primary promulgator of those Zito idioms that you cite. Since Baer has strengthened his stranglehold on what gets said or written about the Giants, Krukow unfortunately has lost much of the candor for which he has been noted and endeared him to knowledgeable fans. Baer has emasculated him to a great extent and now Kruk has become little more than an apologist for Baer, Sabean, and Bochy.
I don’t need a single solitary statistic to tell me what I can see with my own eyes most times Zito takes the hill. An overcoached (mechanical, robotic, overly-compacted throwing motion) kid who under throws to his physique (87 mph fb at 6-4, 200lbs is akin to Tim Lincecum with a 73mph fastball), with the mental make up of Jeff Spicoli, and the location issues of a blind hooker in a fish market
He doesn’t help his cause with baseball folks when he completely refuses to acknowledge the problems he is causing when he utters stupid comments like this in the clubhouse after this, his most recent meltodown:
“It is what it is. I’m not going to keep reliving the past. You learn lessens, move on and keep grinding.”
He’s right you know. I think he needs to move on. To Oakland. To North Korea. Anywhere but here. And the only grinding he needs to do is on the mental nutmeg that gets sifted out of his brain out into public. The guy could not find a clue with a rake. He makes William Van Landingham seem like Christy Mathewson in comparison. A total embarrassment to the game it self, not just the Giants.
“the mental make up of Jeff Spicoli, and the location issues of a blind hooker in a fish market.”
This is some of the best writing ever. Period.
An interesting side note to Sanchez’s no-no. The photograph in the chronicle on Saturday showed Sanchez being hugged by Whiteside with Ishikawa on one side, Uribe and Frandsen on the other. No Renteria no Aurilia, no Molina, no Winn. Just the kids.