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The San Francisco Giants enter Great American Ball Park to face the Reds tonight in the first of a 4 game series. While they enter fresh off a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies, they're hardly rolling into Cincinnati on a hot streak. Prior to their victory yesterday, the Giants had dropped 6 games in a row and 8 of their last 9, none of which could be described as having come against top competition (Marlins, Dodgers, Rockies). That stretch saw the Giants sink to 39-42 overall, putting them in 4th place in the NL West (albeit just 3 games back from the division leading Arizona Diamondbacks).
I thought it would be a good idea to interview McCovey Chronicles' own Grant Brisbee to get his insights into the current state of his beloved Giants and also to hear some of his thoughts about our own favorite team, the Cincinnati Reds. Grant was nice enough to fly me to San Francisco on the Baseball Nation private jet for the interview. Do us both a favor and don't mention it to Accounting.
Red Reporter - Who is the most GIF-able Red?
Grant Brisbee - Probably Tony Cingrani at this point, right? He's a hard-breather, and he looks like he's going to shoot a porcupine out of his nose before every pitch. Plus, he's a dreamy pitcher. He doesn't even have a Cy Young yet, but I would trade a two-time Cy Young winner for him. I can make some calls if you think the Reds would be interested.
RR - Who would win in an eating contest...Pablo Sandoval, or Jonathan Broxton?
GB - Sandoval is the kind of big that makes you picture him using a straw to eat fried chicken. Jonathan Broxton is the kind of big that makes you picture him silently mouth-breathing behind his dad, the owner of the small-town auto-repair shop explaining to you why the repairs are going to cost $3,000. He doesn't say a word the entire time you're in there.That's the kind of big Jonathan Broxton is, even if that doesn't make sense. So Sandoval.
GB - Nah. Even before you get to the age and position, you're exchanging a right-handed hitter for a left-handed hitter, which is a big deal in AT&T Park.
GB - They are playing like absolute jackasses. The starting pitching has been pretty okay, but the hitting and bullpen have been dreadful.
GB - It isn't! He's been a lot worse lately. Looking back at the Crawford frenzy from the first month is funny. Sample size was going through everyone's wallets the whole time. Why does this always mess us up? I don't know, man, but I'm as guilty as anyone.If he can even be average, though, he's one of the more valuable Giants. Hopefully he can get back to being at least decent.
GB - Huh. That's almost plausible. The Giants will need pitching, and they're both under contract for just one more season. I'm pretty sure the Giants are a little wary about a long-term deal for Pablo, too. Not sure why, other than the broken bones and weight.But, no, I'll keep Pablo around. The Giants have a tougher time finding hitters than they do pitchers, and maybe Sandoval will sign at a relative discount if his hitting doesn't pick up. I'd take that gamble.
GB -The pitching was awful, but the hitting was great. Then the hitting was awful, while the pitching was good. The difference between good and great in those two sentences is the four games under .500. It's been frustrating, to say the least.
GB - $5 million, Yankees. He'll have an erratic season next year on a much bigger one-year deal. Then the Yankees will sign him on the cheap, and he'll go back to being a Cy Young candidate.
GB - lol noBunch of Latos lovers, you are.