San Francisco Giants Fans Losing Faith in Santiago Casilla

By Vince Cestone | Aug 15, 2016

Aug 18, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) celebrates after closing out the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Giants defeated the Cardinals 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s a sight all too familiar to San Francisco Giants fans–a Santiago Casilla blown save. The struggles continued for the closer Sunday afternoon, as his 0-1 hanging curveball to Jonathan Schoop sailed over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Despite getting the tying run to second in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants couldn’t cash in.

Although Casilla hadn’t been scored upon in his previous eight innings pitched, Giants fans are fed up with the overall performance.

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“So I just seen a clip of the home run derby…….. is it bad that I automatically assumed Casilla was the one pitching before I noticed it was the derby??!!……..,” Jared Willhite wrote in the Kruk & Kuip Facebook group.

Others hinted it may be time for a change in the closer’s role.

“Bruce should refund my money for today’s game. Casilla is no longer lights out and we are in a pennant race! A MLB team should never in this day and age lose up 6 runs after 7,NEVER!” Marguerite Devaurs also wrote on the Kruk & Kuip group.

The Twitterverse also wasn’t too kind to the 36-year-old relief pitcher.

"Why does Casilla get all the blame?" Because big league closers aren't supposed to give up 3 runs.
— JC’s Jinxed Clippers (@bridgetbaseball) August 15, 2016

But Giants Manager Bruce Bochy is sticking with Casilla, who had converted 15 of 16 saves before Sunday’s debacle.

Casilla has pitched consecutive days but just one pitch Saturday. Bochy said if he needs closer tonight, it's Casilla.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) August 15, 2016

“I like to look at the body of work and what he’s been doing recently and it’s been really, really good — really good,” Bochy told CSN Bay Area. “That I think is the best way to look at it. You want to stay away from making too many moves but at the same time you have to occasionally. But this bullpen has shown how good it can be.”

A candidate to replace Casilla as closer is Derek Law, who is 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA this season. He has a WHIP of just 0.920 and has struck out 43 batters in 45.2 innings pitched.

Next: Giants Stunned in Halloween Series Finale

If you feel a change is necessary, who do you think should replace Casilla as closer? Let us know in the comments section below.

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