[Mick]

Odd stat of the day: when the score is 0-0 after three innings, the Giants are 16-8 this season.

Similar to when SF uses an opener (I believe they are 15-5).

Also, they are 5-45 when trailing after 8 innings. Unlike tonight, when they scored six in the ninth. 11 hits overall, Bailey, Estrada, Flores, Davis all had two hits. Slater had an uncharacteristically difficult time at the plate, striking out twice in three trips to the plate. Taylor Rogers got the win, he's 6-4. Incidentally, the twin Rogers brothers have ERAs of 2.52 and 2.54.

Slater swung and missed 8 straight times. Not sure I’ve seen that since Ron Herbel….

Since end of June he is 7-55.  Big time funk.  He will break out of it.  Hopefully soon.

I think the whole team is in a batting funk, and has been since the first third of the season. And I think part of the issue is that the SFG hitting philosophy is simple and effective, but our opponents pitching strategy to address the SFG hitting philosophy is fairly simple to design and effective in its execution.

See if this makes sense: the basic batting philosophy for SFGiants hitters is:

 - Swing solely at the pitches that the specific hitter can destroy
 - Look at a lot of pitches to get the starters out of the game
 - Try to get hits, and if the pitcher makes a great pitch and strikes you out, that's just the cost of doing batting business. 

In other words, the SFG hitting philosophy means that hitters don't protect the plate as much or as well as the hitters of a generation ago.

Assuming the basic SFG hitting philosophy is true, and other teams are aware if it, then the most logical response from the other team's pitchers/managers/pitching coaches would be to:

 - NEVER pitch to a specific SFG hitter's happy zone -- basically, avoid it at all costs. Ditto the kinds of pitches that the hitter likes; e.g., if Casey Schmitt can crush fastballs but can't really handle any off-speed pitches, then give him nothing but off-speed.

 - Mix up speeds and types of pitches more than usual.

 - If you miss, still try to hit the strike zone, but in the area where the hitter has the lowest odds of success.

In the most basic terms, our opponents have adjusted to our strategy, and our hitters have not counter-adjusted. Perhaps that's oversimplifying the case, but it seems to me that is what's happening.

[Mick]

Odd stat of the day: when the score is 0-0 after three innings, the Giants are 16-8 this season.

Similar to when SF uses an opener (I believe they are 15-5).

Also, they are 5-45 when trailing after 8 innings. Unlike tonight, when they scored six in the ninth. 11 hits overall, Bailey, Estrada, Flores, Davis all had two hits. Slater had an uncharacteristically difficult time at the plate, striking out twice in three trips to the plate. Taylor Rogers got the win, he's 6-4. Incidentally, the twin Rogers brothers have ERAs of 2.52 and 2.54.

Slater swung and missed 8 straight times. Not sure I’ve seen that since Ron Herbel….

Since end of June he is 7-55.  Big time funk.  He will break out of it.  Hopefully soon.

I think the whole team is in a batting funk, and has been since the first third of the season. And I think part of the issue is that the SFG hitting philosophy is simple and effective, but our opponents pitching strategy to address the SFG hitting philosophy is fairly simple to design and effective in its execution.

See if this makes sense: the basic batting philosophy for SFGiants hitters is:

 - Swing solely at the pitches that the specific hitter can destroy
 - Look at a lot of pitches to get the starters out of the game
 - Try to get hits, and if the pitcher makes a great pitch and strikes you out, that's just the cost of doing batting business. 

In other words, the SFG hitting philosophy means that hitters don't protect the plate as much or as well as the hitters of a generation ago.

Assuming the basic SFG hitting philosophy is true, and other teams are aware if it, then the most logical response from the other team's pitchers/managers/pitching coaches would be to:

 - NEVER pitch to a specific SFG hitter's happy zone -- basically, avoid it at all costs. Ditto the kinds of pitches that the hitter likes; e.g., if Casey Schmitt can crush fastballs but can't really handle any off-speed pitches, then give him nothing but off-speed.

 - Mix up speeds and types of pitches more than usual.

 - If you miss, still try to hit the strike zone, but in the area where the hitter has the lowest odds of success.

In the most basic terms, our opponents have adjusted to our strategy, and our hitters have not counter-adjusted. Perhaps that's oversimplifying the case, but it seems to me that is what's happening.