Counting on SF

 Gotta hand it to the Giants. It's July and they're still in first, and the only real moment of potential danger for them has been...right now. They lost 4 in a row, one of which to the Diamondbacks, they're without Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria, the Dodgers are within lapping distance, and the All Star Break is coming. If there's ever a time for a team to run out of steam, it is now.

And yet...the Giants have 4 pitchers with 6 or more wins, two hitters over .300, and an All Star starter. I think they'll be alright.

Really, the best indication of the Giants' legs, in this season or the next, is Steven Duggar. After a few seasons of missed opportunities, Duggar finally made the most of a call-up this year and is gleefully hitting .321 with 25 RBIs in 54 games, and he's lifting the outfield in a season where Mike Yastrzemski's average has yet to really show up [he's hitting well, though]. Yes, this team still has Austin Slater, but less of him, despite leading the team in steals. Slater is looking more like a bench piece, like someone who was filling Duggar's seat before he got ready.

Also, he's 27, which is youthful for the Giants.

The Giants are also trying 25-year-old Sammy Long in the rotation, and he's been decent so far, but hasn't come anywhere near close to the four 30somethings there already. Gausman and Disco are having awesome years, and Cueto and Wood at least have sub-4 ERAs. Even LaMonte Wade, the bench guy that's been doing a lot for the Giants this year, is 27. So is Wilmer Flores, who's been in the league so long I just assumed he was over 30. 

But, despite not being the youngest team, they're still hanging tough with two of the giants of the league right now in that division. They still have Posey, Crawford, Solano and Ruf playing well for them. They still have Tyler Rogers as a tricky ninth piece. They still have so much mobility and flexibility, and are ready for another leg of the season if they need to really fight for 1st. 

I still don't know if they'll be hugging first when the season ends, but I'm seeing more promise from this team than I have in years.

Coming Tonight: Some big rookie that everyone's going wild about..

Giants in the Sty

(Music Pun Streak #10. Yes, I am going with a Sondheim pun. Try and stop me.)

The Giants just finished a series with the Yankees. It did not go well.

I think the difference is that the Yankees, even with an injured core, still have a strong youth movement ready to step in and fight. The Giants...don't really have that. They have one or two fledgling rookies, but most of the prospect haven't been promoted yet because there's no room. Most of the roster spots are being taken by 30 year olds.

Steven Duggar is a 25-year-old on a team of 30-year-olds, so it's no shock that he's the best hitter on the team right now. Even with his hits-leading numbers, he's still hitting .223. As is most of the rest of the team. Posey's close to .250, but even he's having a really human year. Even the bench reinforcements, like Gerardo Parra and Yangervis Solarte, are feeling uninspired.

And you'd think a rotation of Bumgarner-D-Rod-Holland-Shark-Pomeranz would be good, but...Samardzija has the lowest ERA, and it's at 3. Lots of inflated, home-run allowing guys among this bunch, which is kind of depressing to be honest. Hell, Will Smith and his 6 saves have the best WAR on the team, and this is a team that has Evan Longoria and Buster Posey on it.

I don't even know if this is a team that can shed some contracts at the deadline or anything. I don't know if this Giants team is anything north of a glum last place team. Not even a laughable one like the Marlins- this is a team that knows they should be better, and can't be.

They were in a World Series 5 years ago. And now they're here. I wish it were different.

Coming Tonight: Big. Frigging. Maple.