Friday, the Giants kick off a three-game series at home with the Atlanta Braves.
Probable pitchers, along with their ZiPS RoS projected FIPs...
Friday: Tommy Hanson (3.13) v. Madison Bumgarner (4.01)
Saturday: Tim Hudson (3.83) v. Tim Lincecum (2.54)
Sunday: Brandon Beachy (3.39) v. Jonathan Sanchez (3.66)
Peter of Capitol Avenue Club was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Braves to preview the series...
1. Last time the Giants faced Tommy Hanson, they did this to him. He seems to be having a solid season thus far, though I know you've mentioned that his fastball velocity is down. What should we expect from him on Friday?
I have no idea and I wish I could tell you something different. His velocity has been down and his command has been hit or miss. In the latter innings of his last start he started to rely on his breaking pitches more to compensate for the drop in fastball velocity and that worked for him, so hopefully we see his early-2010 velocity return or him continue to lean on the breaking stuff. Otherwise, expect lots of balls in play, and who knows if they'll find defenders or green space.
2. How different is this Braves team from the one the Giants faced in the NLDS last postseason? Better or worse?
A lot better. The Giants faced a Braves team devastated by injuries. Chipper Jones and Martin Prado were both unavailable, forcing the free-swinging Omar Infante and iron-gloved Brooks Conrad into regular duty. Jair Jurrjens was also unavailable for the series, though they went with Derek Lowe on three days rest in his stead which represents a negligible difference in quality.
In addition to the improved health of the squad, they also got better this offseason. They imported Dan Uggla, whose right-handed power balances their line-up and adds a reliable 30+ homer bat that they've been seeking for awhile. His defense is below-average, but the downgrade has been mitigated by improving in other areas. Martin Prado is a huge upgrade in LF and slick-fielding rookie Freddie Freeman is an excellent defensive first baseman. The starting staff is basically the same (plus Jurrjens) and the bullpen is basically the same as well when you consider that Billy Wagner missed most of the series and Takashi Saito was unavailable due to injury.
3. Freddie Freeman -- 2011 NL Rookie of the Year? Convince me.
Freeman has the skill set to contribute towards the bottom of a good Atlanta line-up and brings a nice glove to the table. I like him to win the NL Rookie of the Year award because his game plays directly into voters' hands. He doesn't have huge power or above-average patience, but he's a really good contact/line drive hitter and should hit for a high average. He'll probably spend the majority of the year hitting behind a bunch of players who are on base all the time, leading to a high RBI total. Since things like "on-base average" are generally ignored by the Luddite BBWAA voters, I figure the deficiencies in Freeman's game will be obscured by the magic beans he'll provide.
4. What are your thoughts on Fredi Gonzalez's managerial style? I don't imagine they're positive...
He's a baseball manager. They're pretty much all the same, no?
OK, so they're not all the same, but most of them do the same things that drive me up the wall: failing to understand the importance of the #2 spot in the line-up, displaying a propensity for giving away outs, leveraging relief aces incorrectly, et cetera. It irritates me that they do it, it irritates me even more that they're allowed to do it and justify it by saying vague, dumb, and often wrong things. I haven't been too pleased with Fredi's in-game management, though I was often displeased with Bobby's in-game management and I suspect the same would be true if Jim Leyland or Joe Torre or Bruce Bochy were at the helm. That's just what we have to deal with I guess.
5. Who takes the series -- Braves or Giants?
The Giants. The Braves have been playing some seriously awful baseball as of late and get the pleasure of facing two lefthanders--Madison Bumgarner and Jonathan Sanchez--against whom they have generally struggled, plus Tim Lincecum. Obviously these are two talented teams and I could see it going either way, but if I had to wager money I'd place my dollar on the Giants, as much as it pains me to say.
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Thanks again to Peter for participating. Be sure to visit Capitol Avenue Club throughout the season for Atlanta Braves analysis.
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