Friday’s Lineups and Pre-Gamer as Trade Bait Ricky Nolasco faces Champs

Do you want to talk about yesterday’s game? I don’t want to talk about yesterday’s game. Now that we have that settled, let’s talk about today’s game that will be nothing but ice cream and lollipops. Just hoping it’s not mint chocolate chip and black licorice because that would be just awful. The Marlins will toss this out into the field tonight:

June 4, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher

(47) delivers to the plate during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillis defeated the Marlins 7-3 in 11 innings. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

JCR is a good Marlins follow, by the way, if you’re looking for Marlins beat writers to hook on to. Another note, it would probably look pretty odd if the Marlins and Giants were both wearing their Orange jerseys on Orange Friday. But I digress. When you see Ricky Nolasco tonight and watch him pitch, this guide may give you a good idea for what to expect. Not 100% predictability, but at least you might not be as surprised sometimes: Boy, he really likes using that slider to righties and with two strikes to lefties, also. His pitches are pretty well divided to lefties, so you can understand why he can be tough. Nolasco also has been a name that’s floated around for fans to discuss, and he’s owed $12MM this year and will be a free agent after the season is over. The team that gets him will probably get a draft pick out of him since they’ll give him a qualifying offer. May I be one of the people to raise my hand and say that I am terrified of what Miami could demand and I realize you need to spend something to get something, but I am not a fan of this move were it to happen. Back to the lineups, here’s the Giants that will be out in Orange:  

Hector Sanchez hitting fifth. I don’t get it either, I really do not. It doesn’t bother me that he’s playing so he gets some time in while he’s on the 25-man, but when I think middle of the order bats out of the eight position players I see there, Hector is not the first name that jumps to my head. Anyway, I gave you Nolasco’s pitch usage, so it’s only fair I give you Timmy’s: 50% chance of a changeup to LHH with two strikes and 42% when he’s ahead. That is part of how he is a strikeout pitcher, but you don’t want to become too predictable. Wendy Thurm’s piece on Tim Lincecum is interesting and you should read it. I, personally, do not think the Giants can get what she says, but I agree that it’s an idea that has to be explored. Other notes from the beat writers around the Bay:  

  Just hoping Pablo’s rehab goes better than Angel Pagan‘s.

Slowly but surely, Crawford’s fingers are getting back into shape to play.

What a relief that Chad Gaudin didn’t break anything, as I feared the next start someone from Fresno might have to make.  

We’ll have a separate article on Angel Pagan once news gets out.

Eric Surkamp threw well for San Jose last night according to the box score. 4-5 starts until normal pitch count would put that at mid-July.

The lack of setbacks are what’s important here.

Once we have updates on Pagan, we’ll be sure we get them to you. Until then, the @SFGiants account is having a #SFGLive broadcast at 4:45PM to talk about their Junior Giants Stretch Drive, and the game starts at 7:15pm PST once again.