Countdown to Scottsdale #38: Todd Wellemeyer, SP

I sing the song of Todd Wellemeyer, who did his college pitching for Bellarmine — related in name only to the alma mater of Pat Burrell, Kevin Frandsen, and yours truly — and joined the eventual World Series Champions to fill a very specific need: seat warmer. Madison Bumgarner had the inside track for the 5th Starter gig, but his Spring doldrums suggested he wasn't quite ready for prime time. So he got a few more months to mature in the Central Valley while Mr. Wellemeyer was busy posting one of the starkest home-road splits in recent baseball history (ERA: 2.97 home/10.07 road; OBA: .213 home/.323 road). Still, if you're gonna suck, it's best not to do it in front of the faithful. In that regard, this half-year rental was a smashing success. And when he eventually hit the turf with a sidelining injury, his timing could not have been more perfect for facilitating the emergence of #MadBum.

Thanks, Todd.

112 down. 50 to go.

Okay, everybody, time to take a step back from the cliff. It's one week, one road trip, six games, a very small sample size from which to deduce that the 2010 season has officially bit the big one. Please try to remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. Is it disturbing that the Giants' bats all tend to go cold at the same time? Yes. Is it frustrating that our pitching staff tends to wilt like a poppy in the heat and humidity of August's dog days? Yes. Is it discouraging that we had an opportunity to move into first place this weekend with a few more timely hits and yet fell flat? Yes. Don't I hate losing to the Braves as much as you do? Of course. But it was wrong for me to call the coroner in the first week of July, so I'm certainly not gonna join the doom-and-gloom brigade after one week in August. I don't know what causes the collective outbursts from our offense nor the requisite collective slumps. But is it too far fetched to think that, over time, a ballclub begins to function in a similar fashion to a group of women who see their menstrual cycles come into alignment while living under the same roof? It certainly puts a crimp on the whole winning ballgames thing when nobody can get a hit to save their life, but it is what it is, as they say, and I doubt we'll hear any bitching if everybody gets hot in September and October. As for the pitchers, there's not much you can do when you play your home games in the coldest winters ever experienced in the summertime and have to travel to places like Hot-lanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis around the time of year when those cities turn into oversized saunas. A little wilting is to be expected, but still, the starters were not the problem in this series... Okay, so maybe "Dirty" Sanchez could have been better... No, the real problem is what it's always been: situational hitting. You cannot — CAN NOT — go 1-for-31 with RISP over a four game series and expect a split. Hell, you shouldn't even expect to win a single game with that stat hanging off your utility belt. But again, this is something that's plagued the Orange and Black for years, and while we all wanted the July explosion to stick around a little longer, we've just been reminded that this is a hit-and-miss offense. When they hit, they crush. When they miss, you may as well be watching Matlock if you're looking for excitement. And before you start ripping Sabean or Bochy for not making a deal for a hitter, look at the market. Ludwick was the steal of the show, and even that deal took a third team and almost didn't happen. There was no instant offense on the market. If there was, it would've been had by hook or by crook. I agree with the brass. The right move wasn't there. And instead of risking the future on a rental who may not work out (ahem, Sidney Ponson, Shea Hillenbrand, Ryan Garko), the brass decided to have confidence in the hit-and-miss offense and push on through with a team built around pitching and defense and just enough hitting — exactly their game plan coming into the past two seasons. It's worked out so far. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and see how this plays out on October 3rd.

BTW...

> Looks like Gerald "Buster" Posey had a little trouble getting it up in front of the hometown crowd. Let's hope his bat springs back to life at the Cove, or we're in for a long couple of months...

> What the hell is wrong with Freddy Sanchez? Dude needs to pick it up. He's the only guy whose bat didn't heat up in July, but at the time, his ineptitude was obscured by production from everywhere else in the lineup. Good thing is, the guy knows it, and he pushes himself out there. Good attitude to see from a millionaire every now and again...

> As if we needed a reminder of why Todd Wellemeyer is no longer in the starting rotation. Question: Whose bright idea was it for him to make his return to the bump on a road trip?...

> Only once this season has "Dirty" posted consecutive quality starts — back in April. Looks like he'll be platooning for Team Hopey Changey from here on out. And Big Time Timmy Jim may suffer the same fate if he can't figure out his mess...

> It should not be surprising to anyone who follows the team that our bats went cold against Tim Hudson or Derek Lowe, both dyed-in-the-wool Giants Killers. I'll leave the stat crunching to others who do that better. This blog is for the fan take, and that's my take. Pfft.

103 down. 59 to go.

Got a few minutes between politico events here in the City by the Bay, so I plopped myself down at Philz and pulled out the ol' laptop to give you my one-word comment on yesterday's "contest". And that word, is "Meh." I'm not going to obsess over one game in a sport where you play 162 before it's all said and done, and you shouldn't either. Just look at it this way: The boys were saving all their hits for the ducking Fodgers. BTW: Squish, squish, no hitting streak record for Buster, but man is this kid a class act. Let's get back to thinking about winning. Damn right, BP! Speaking of which, did anyone else notice #MadBum entered the game 4 for his last 4 with a sub 1.50 ERA? Bonus question: When's the last time you thought of the name Todd Wellemeyer? War Panda for coming up huge with the doink that kept this from being the sixth no-hitter of the (not even two-thirds completed) season. I don't think a loss would slow down the Giants one bit. Getting no-no'd in their own yard? Yeah, that could do it. See you at the Cove tonight, my little droogies. Don't forget to follow along on the ol' Twitter thingie.

162-0

Welcome back to baseball, everybody!

Unless you've been hiding under a rock all week, you've seen our Giants break camp in fine form, dispatching the 'Stros with a series sweep in Houston and coming from behind in dramatic fashion to knock off the Bravos in yesterday's thrilling (and unnecessarily long) home opener. Los Gigantes are the only undefeated team left in the league, and they lead the West by a game.

When Edgar hit the tying tater, I was noshing at In-N-Out, halfway through a Double-Double, and tracking the game on my iPhone. The ScoreCenter update came through... "Na-na-na! Na-na-na!" And damned if I didn't raise my arms and do a little seat dance. I pumped my fist about three times before I remembered I was at In-N-Out, and no one else knew what the hell I was jazzed about. So I brought the theatrics down a bit and went back to eating my burger. But I knew we were gonna win that game.

So far, I have to say I'm impressed with the vibe of the club. Everyone in the dugout seems loose and upbeat, with the kind of swagger you normally see in teams like the BoSox or the Yanks, who go out there every day expecting to win. The offense is doing just enough to take advantage of the chances they get — but really, Panda... four double plays? And the pitching is, well, what we expected.

It's safe to say I'm optimistic. But then again, I have to be. I bought season tickets.

Which brings me to tonight. My first live game of the season. Four starters have ripped it up — yes, even Dirty Sanchez, despite the runs and the early exit. I get Todd Wellemeyer and then pray it doesn't rain on Sunday. Timmyday. Fair enough. And who knows? Maybe there's something to this fast start. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking. A bit of both? Likely.

As this is an election year, my day job will be consuming a lot of my time, and an unfortunate byproduct of that is less time for blogging. But since attention spans are dissipating across the board these days, this shouldn't be a problem for most of my avid readers, who would probably prefer I keep it short and sweet.

With that in mind, I invite you to become a fan of Under the Arcade on Facebook and follow me @ArcadeDreams on Twitter. I'll do a little live tweeting during the game tonight, and I promise it won't be RT of Baggarly.

See you at the Cove...