Eric Stults - LA Times

I wasn’t quite sure what response I would get from my co-workers today with the Dodgers losing so bad to the Giants last night. I figured the loss would be rubbed in pretty good.

Ironically, it was pretty tame. It was an odd series. The Giants won the first game and I had all kinds of people rub it in, including sending me e-mail and facebook posts. Then the Dodgers won the second game and all was quiet(surprise..). Then today, quiet on the day that they had every right to boast.

The Giants don’t have a great team, but they have won at least the last 3 series and their pitching is coming around.   Lincecum is just a stud.  The Dodgers have an offense that doesn’t stop, but their pitching truly is the achilles heal. Last night was kind of like a bucket with a hole in it. It doesn’t matter how much water you put in, eventually it will leak out and you will lose.

To conclude this series I thought I include some of the conversations I did have with Giants fans over the series.

The first one happened after game 2. He’s a good Giants fan, but an even better baseball fan. He commented on just how good Manny is and how much he affects the other team. He really noticed just how well he hits to the other side, but how much he gets into the minds of pitchers. He noticed how Jonathan Sanchez blew down Furcal and Hudson, but then got lit up by Manny. He was just impressed by the quality of the player and how much an advantage the Dodgers have to have him. I couldn’t agree more.

Today I was talking with a Giants fan about last night’s game and how it seems that both teams have shaky bullpens.  He agreed somewhat, but thought the the Dodgers real problem was starting pitching.  Eric Stults gave up almost a run an inning and it caught up to him.  He was right.  The pitching is the issue and no matter how many runs you score, you have to hold the other team, or you lose.  Good wisdom even if he was a Giants fan.  Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts has a good perspective on potential changes to the pitching staff.  The bullpen may get better, but it isn’t guarenteed for starting pitching.

How about you, any comments from Giants fans about the series?

Randy Johson from SFgiants.com (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

So the Giants went out and got Randy Johnson.  I honestly thought he might end up a Dodger, but it doesn’t surprise me that the Giant’s went after him.  The real question up here is whether he was really brought in to help the team, or just to help sell tickets as he goes for 300 wins.  I think it’s a little of both, but it leans towards the latter.

Recently I heard on the local talk show station KNBR, The Razor, Ralph Barbieri talk about how he thought Johnson would be a great fit for the Giants.  A caller called in and said he didn’t want Johnson and that he would rather see the young guys get a chance.  Ralph asked him if he would rather “watch a young team up and coming, or watch Randy Johnson go for 300?”  It was a good question and the answer is obvious – see Randy for 300.

The Giants are coming around, but it’s obvious that part of this is to get the fans back to the ballpark for history.  At 8 mil a year, it seems a little high for Johnson given his last season, but given the ticket sales, I think it is a bargain.  He will be worth watching just like Greg Maddux was worth watching for the Dodgers.

I did talk with one Giant’s fan this week who thought the main reason for Johnson was to help develop Jonathan Sanchez with the Giants.  Basically Sanchez is the same type of pitcher as Johnson just a little smaller.  I think it’s a good perspective.  If Johson can get 5 wins and help the pups, he will be well worth the 8mil.

For the Dodgers – they can beat him…now they just get to beat the Giants at the same time.