That's a pessimistic look at the series that begins tonight, as well as this six-game road trip. I'll stay positive and suggest that coming off a 5-2 homestand, including taking two of three from the Dodgers, says that our Giants are playing better baseball. As you note, the Braves are playing .500 baseball over the past two months, and while we are facing three good pitchers, I still believe we have a chance to win two of three in Atlanta. A 3-3 road trip against Atlanta and Cleveland would be acceptable, all things considered. Let's see how Birdsong, Hicks and Webb pitch, and how well our hitters can produce at Truist.
The Giants are bad at pitching (#25 in ERA, #28 Hits Allowed, #25 Runs Allowed) bc they are the stiffest pitchers on the planet. The Stride Angle is the max opening of the upper legs during the stride toward the plate. 8 studies have found that pitchers with stiff legs have more arm injuries. Robbie Ray and Blake Snell have both had two elbow surgeries each. Last year the Giants were #1 in injured players bc they are so stiff. Ray has a Stride Angle of 85 degrees, Snell 86 degrees, Birdsong 90 degrees, etc. while better pitchers like Yamamoto (who passed on signing with the Giants) 125 degrees and greats like Seaver and Maddux with 132 and 139 degrees. Position players are also stiff and slow, ranked #30 in stolen bases and #29 in DER. and #22 in team sprint speed. Microfiber Reduction will reverse Giants stiffness/slowness/poor pitching as it has for other players and teams, but the Giants are not interested. Stiff and Slow is their formula for winning--and they are going to stick with it.
That's a pessimistic look at the series that begins tonight, as well as this six-game road trip. I'll stay positive and suggest that coming off a 5-2 homestand, including taking two of three from the Dodgers, says that our Giants are playing better baseball. As you note, the Braves are playing .500 baseball over the past two months, and while we are facing three good pitchers, I still believe we have a chance to win two of three in Atlanta. A 3-3 road trip against Atlanta and Cleveland would be acceptable, all things considered. Let's see how Birdsong, Hicks and Webb pitch, and how well our hitters can produce at Truist.
"Which would, admittedly, mean they don’t have to pitch on the road."
Ahhh..... So that's the play!
The Giants are bad at pitching (#25 in ERA, #28 Hits Allowed, #25 Runs Allowed) bc they are the stiffest pitchers on the planet. The Stride Angle is the max opening of the upper legs during the stride toward the plate. 8 studies have found that pitchers with stiff legs have more arm injuries. Robbie Ray and Blake Snell have both had two elbow surgeries each. Last year the Giants were #1 in injured players bc they are so stiff. Ray has a Stride Angle of 85 degrees, Snell 86 degrees, Birdsong 90 degrees, etc. while better pitchers like Yamamoto (who passed on signing with the Giants) 125 degrees and greats like Seaver and Maddux with 132 and 139 degrees. Position players are also stiff and slow, ranked #30 in stolen bases and #29 in DER. and #22 in team sprint speed. Microfiber Reduction will reverse Giants stiffness/slowness/poor pitching as it has for other players and teams, but the Giants are not interested. Stiff and Slow is their formula for winning--and they are going to stick with it.