The Pirates pick an opportune time to snap their ten game losing streak.

[madinmaryland]

A 5-0 shut-out of the SF Giants!!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2011/08/08/37213_recap.html

:evilgrin:

[Upton]

1. The Giants are suffering from the curse of Beltran..

though he didn't play last night (gee, what a surprise, an injury prone player who the Giants foolishly gave up their top pitching prospect for gets hurt), the Giants are now 3-9 since the Beltran acquisition. They were 60-44 beforehand. Team chemistry has been destroyed.

[Auggie]

2. Giants:

0-for-10 with RISP last night; 20-for-125 (.160) over the last 18 games.

:thumbsdown:

[Upton]

3. They've also scored 2 runs or less in 8 of 10 games..

how is that even possible for a ML team? I thought Cabrera and Rowand particularly distinguished themselves last night. On two successive occasions, they come up with two on and nobody out. Both times Cabrera fails to move the runners over and then Rowand does his thing by grounding into what should have been two straight DPs if not for a blown call at first..

I can understand Cabrera playing..right now, he's the best option at SS. Not so with Rowand, unless there is something wrong with Ross. Though they have a similar BA, Cody's OBP is 48 points higher, his SLG 23 points better..

[Auggie]

4. Missed the game last night...

Yes, I think Rowand's place is off the bench or as a late defensive replacement, but maybe he has better numbers against Morton or Ross needed a rest? Don't know...

I'd like to try Scheirholtz or Sandoval at first (if De Rosa is ready for third) with Scheirholtz/Ross in LF when Beltran returns (perhaps that wrist had been bothering him for some time)? Then remove Huff from the line-up for a while.

RISP - one wonders, briefly, if it's managing/hitting philosophy. Or other teams scouting our hitters better... and the Giants can't adapt.