first half wrap up
11 July 2007Here’s where the Giants stand offensively at the break, with their 2007 MLB rankings:
4.24 runs per game - 26th
.250 batting average - 26th
.320 on-base percentage - 25th
.385 slugging percentage - 28th
Now, taking a look at how bad this first half has been historically for the Giants… here are the same numbers compared to San Francisco teams before the All-Star break.
4.24 runs per game - fewest since 1994 (4.03)
.250 batting average - lowest since 1994 (.240)
.320 on-base percentage - lowest since 1995 (.320)
.385 slugging percentage - lowest since 1994 (.381)
All that being said, there are some nice surprises to mention for the Giants in ‘07. The bullpen, for example, has an ERA of 3.61, good enough for 8th in baseball. The ‘pen has also thrown just 234.2 innings in the first half. Only one team (White Sox) has used its ‘pen less. Nobody is claiming the 9th inning hasn’t been painful this year, because it certainly has… but the Giants bullpen is better, and more rested, than most teams in ‘07.
Noah Lowry has been another really pleasant surprise. Among left-handed ERA qualifiers, only four pitchers have a lower ERA than Lowry (3.35), and his seven wins at home are the most by any National League pitcher this season.
For all the negative things I can (and have) said about Brian Sabean’s moves over the last few seasons, I must give credit where credit is due. Bengie Molina has looked outstanding in a Giants uniform. In fact, only one Giants catcher in the last fifty seasons had more RBI at the all-star break than Molina (45)… Dick Dietz had 77 at the break in 1970.
But you can’t talk about the first half without mentioning all the close games (and heartbreaking losses). San Francisco has played in 48 games decided by two or fewer runs, and is just 19-29 in those games… and it feels like I’ve watched all 29 of those losses.