Giants Play Small Late to give Cain the Only Run Needed

The Giants won 1 to 0 yesterday on the back of a brilliant four hit complete game performance from Matt Cain. While Matt deserves an enormous amount of credit for even making the start while being ill (flu), the way the giants finally manufactured their one run was equally impressive.

When the eighth place hitter Steve Holms singled, immediately the giants called Velez out of the dugout to pinch run (for those of you that haven’t seen this kid run yet, tune in, your in for a real treat). Cain stayed in the game regardless of how late it was and the giants moved Velez up with a bunt. Dave Roberts then rewarded Cain with a single to score Velez.

The reason the run was so impressive was because the Giants have failed to sacrifice runners into position anymore than the Brewers a team that is loaded with power. The Giants are dead last in homeruns, and that really hasn’t surprised many people, so the question remains, why aren’t we bunting more? One answer is that the number eight hitter has been awful for the Giants this year (i.e. Bocock and Vizquel), leaving very few chances for the pitchers to bunt.

Another answer is that Bochy has yet to realize the Giants just need a run here or their to win games. Bunt throughout the lineup! Regardless of the money Aaron Rowand is making, there are times he should be asked to bunt! If the Giants are going to commit to small ball, it’s going to have to be as a team, not just at certain points in the lineup. The Giants didn’t make that decision on Wednesday and it nearly cost them the game as Rowand flied out to center with no outs and the tying run on first in the eighth.

No one in this lineup has proved worthy of not bunting with the exception of maybe Molina (and that has just as much to do with his awful speed it does his hitting). If small ball is going to win games then lets see it! Stop playing for the big inning “Boch,” it very rarely going to show up!