Hey, Here's an Idea...

The Giants lost NLCS Game 3 to the Cardinals 3-1. They now are behind in the series 2-1. One narrative to describe last night's rain-soaked game is a familiar one: Matt Cain pitched amazing (a-Cain-zing?), but the offense couldn't push more than 1 run across, so he took the loss. Miraculously, this narrative has been pretty absent this year. So this game can serve as a reminder of how bad things used to be. You used to be this frustrated on the regular. It was like clockwork for much of 2008-2011. Of course, this was an NLCS playoff game, so your frustration should be multiplied by infinity, and looking for silver linings is pointless when their season is two losses away from being over. That's probably the more rational point of view.

Speaking of rational thoughts, the Cardinals have made it clear that they are not really pitching to Buster Posey in this series (see this article by Ray Ratto, who lays things out nicely). Considering the guy who hits behind Posey looks like the kid who bats last on his Little League team, it's a sound strategy. (Seriously, do you think the other Giants in the dugout--like the mean but competent kids in Little League--are encouraging Hunter Pence (or Under Pants*, as they probably call him) to lean over the plate to get hit, or to reach back when he swings to get catcher interference? Because right now a hit or a walk seems out of the question).

The Giants scored 1 run in Game 3, and had one good inning (produced by the bottom half of the order) in Game 1. Safe to say the Giants' offense has sputtered a bit in this series. That's in large part due to a lack of production from the middle of the order. And that's in large part due to how the Cardinals are pitching Posey. So how do you protect Posey? Allow me to propose this for line-up card:

Pagan
Posey
Scutaro
Sandoval
Rest of Line-up**

Yes, it's a complete panic move. After all, the Giants were good enough to have a million baserunners last night. They just spread them out over 7 innings, rather than bunch them together. (Sh)It happens. But instead of "panic move", why not call it a "counter-strategy"? The Cardinals aren't pitching to Posey. It's working. This would at least make them think, right? Plus, you're (nearly) maximizing your best hitter's chances for more total plate appearances.

Or we could just keep waiting for Pence to drive in his first run of the post-season because "he's our guy" and somehow "he's got a knack fro driving in runs" even though he possesses no knack at all for getting hits.

Your thoughts?



*Thanks for that one, Dad.

**I'm not sure what I'd do with the bottom half of the order. I'm not sure it matters. Maybe Sanchez will be in and Belt will be out. Maybe move Blanco or Crawford up, because they've been mixing in good at bats. The point of this is to try and get more production from the top/middle of the line-up.