2 DHs, 1 Bay

 

So, from what I can gather, here's what the Giants are going for with Rafael Devers, at least until Chapman gets back. Either Devers gets DH, and Smith and Schmitt take the corners, or Devers takes first, Flores takes DH and Schmitt takes third, OR Devers takes third, Smith takes 1st and Flores DHs. I think the object is both to ensure Devers feels he's being valued for his flexibility rather than doing what the teams wants, and to ensure that Wilmer Flores doesn't have to play the infield. But I see the point of keeping both Devers and Flores in the lineup. Because Rafael Devers is one of the best hitters in the game so far, and because Wilmer Flores has 51 RBIs and is theoretically on the way to his first-ever 100 RBI season. 

That's been wild, by the way. Earlier this year, Flores was leading the league, for a week or so, in RBIs. He's come back down a little, evened out, but those 51 RBIs still look very good, and are the most of anyone on the team. After years of utility work in Queens, Flores has become a pure production guy, and has been an integral part of the last few Giants teams. I don't think getting Devers means he's not good at his job, it just means when you have an opportunity to get Rafael Devers, you take it and then move things around. Devers, at last, is someone the Giants can build a team around, more than Yaz or Chapman or Adames, and now they're heading after the Dodgers with a great year from a happier Devers, a Cy Young-contending comeback season from Robbie Ray, and the return of Justin Verlander.

I mean this sincerely when I say the things that the Giants have that are a little wonky or imperfect are part of their charm. Having 42-year-old Verlander out there, still yet to get a win [as I write this], but still giving it his all. Relying on guys like Flores and Dominic Smith and Tyler Rogers. The Dodgers may have all that money but it bought them like 9 guys who are hurt. Matt Chapman gets hurt for a couple weeks but that's it. Nobody else is so injured that it's wounded the team, at least not yet. And the sort of cobbled-together, dogeared roster this team has is very fun to watch, especially as an underdog. The Dodgers are expected to win, the Padres were expected to compete, but the Giants have gotten great years out of Heliot Ramos, Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee and Camilo Doval, and they don't seem to be done yet.

The one issue is that without Hicks and Harrison, the Giants suddenly need to rethink their rotation strategy. They're now forced to do Webb-Ray-Birdsong-Roupp-Verlander, and...I think this will work? Roupp has had some good starts but his ERA is teetering over 4. Birdsong is becoming a great MLB pitcher but is this the best time to be trying him out? Who's even the next-nearest option? Mason Black? Is that a good idea? They have to see if this works, and it's a very dire time to be testing out a new rotation, because if it doesn't work they slip past the Padres and lose the momentum. 

Having Devers is nice, but they need everybody to be on board and keep pounding away. I think it's possible, but we're gonna see how much they're willing to produce.

Coming Tonight: It's kinda nice he's kept the starting catching job after all these years I guess.