Trade Deadline Swaps
Mike Leake is no Carlos Beltran…but it’s smelling a little like 2011 up in here.
Believe it or not, without Buster Posey or Freddy Sanchez, at the trade deadline the Giants were in first place, 61-47, and in first place by 2 games over Arizona…but after picking up Carlos Beltran a few days before the deadline, the Giants got swept by Cincinnati, and lost 8 of 9 as Beltran went on the DL. They went 11-18 in August, and were 6 games back by the end of August.
(At least in 2013, at the trade deadline, the Giants were way out of it, in last place.)
Everyone had looked at August as a tough month for the Giants from the start, even before we’d knew the Cubs and Astros would be among playoff teams. And now, with August, the Giants have two key contributors on the DL, a third playing half-strength (and that’s me being kind to Angel Pagan), and a bullpen that’s suddenly very mortal. Not to mention guys coming off the DL who are still shaky, like Aoki and Cain.
This is still a team that can make the playoffs. Posey and Pence are doing what needs to be done, Duffy hasn’t let up at all, and Aoki’s starting to look like the Aoki of old.
But this team needs to find some new life, to make these weeks tolerable. Vogelsong did well, considering the situation. Osich will be part of the new Giants bullpen of next year, and may truly become a permanent part this year. (Boy, the bullpen of the future has a lot of promise in the minors). But this team can not let this stretch overwhelm them, not right now.
Still…I’m not looking forward to this week.
