Tuesday’s Lineups and Pre-Gamer: Posey Out, Zito Road Start, Lineup Ugly
By Stuart Jones

The Philadelphia Phillies have lost eight games in a row. Taking a look at whom is starting this game for the Giants (Barry Zito, 9.39 ERA on the road), the way their lineup is constructed (Brett Pill, Jeff Francoeur, Guillermo Quiroz all in), and the Giants just got swept by the Cubs. Awful. Just awful. Speaking of awful:
New #SFGiants lineup: Torres cf, Scutaro 2b, Sandoval 3b, Pence rf, Francoeur lf, Pill 1b, Quiroz c, Crawford ss, Zito p
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 30, 2013
Your lineup stacked up against a lefty in John Lannan. I know it looks like a Spring Training lineup, but don’t worry, this counts as a regular season game and they’re tied with the Minnesota Twins in the standings for fifth-worst record (Giants get the tiebreaker due to win percentage). Buster Posey is sick today. Meanwhile, the Fightin’ Phils throw this out:
Tonight's 7:05 #Phillies lineup vs. #SFGiants. Lannan vs. Zito. CSN/1210WPHT/94WIP/MLB.tv pic.twitter.com/WJN2ylHAxS
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 30, 2013
Jul 8, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher John Lannan (27) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Young is in the lineup, and he nor the Phils think any deal is close, the only team sources have agreed on that he could be traded to, would be the Texas Rangers, as the team is closest to his family. Even if we don’t see Barry Zito for very long in today’s start, these are his pitches and how the opposition has fared against his repertoire in 2013:
A pretty high batting average against on all pitches, with a .511 slugging percentage against his slider, which is ludicrous. Want to know who has a .511 SLG? Jay Bruce and Buster Posey. Pretty encouraging to know when you throw your slider, you’re going to fare like pitchers have against Bruce and Posey in terms of SLG. As for Lannan and what he throws out there:
Now, a .561 SLG against on his four-seamer? That’s what Mike Trout has done in 2013, so hopefully the Giants can wake up their inner Trout when Lannan puts that four-seam grip on. Numbers suggest he’s a three pitch guy, and he uses that curveball and cutter sparingly enough that he catches the opposition off balance.
Other news and notes on the day starting with quotes on the White House visit:
Lincecum said he tried to duck down jokingly when Obama made a joke about his hair, "But it's kind of hard to hide from the president."
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 30, 2013
Andres Torres said he missed the White House visit yesterday because his back was sore after diving for a ball Sunday. It's better today.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 30, 2013
On Brian Wilson:
Cain said seeing Wilson in blue will be weird, but he's happy Wilson will be back pitching. #sfgiants
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 30, 2013
Bochy happy for Wilson. Weird to see him in blue? "That's not something I think about. Ask me that question when we're playing them, if...
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 30, 2013
Romo on Wilson: "I'm happy he's getting an opportunity ... To see him in another uniform is just seeing a friend playing baseball."
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 30, 2013
On the trade deadline:
Bruce Bochy said that he plans on both Tim Lincecum and Javier Lopez being with the Giants after the deadline as well
— Jim Bowden⭐️ (@JimBowdenGM) July 30, 2013
Bochy said he expects Pence to stay but he knows Sabean will do what's in best interests of the club.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 30, 2013
A side note, Marc Rzepcynski was traded to the Cleveland Indians, a speculated trade partner of the Giants for Javier Lopez. If they are unable to trade him, they will probably try to re-sign him in the off-season, no qualifying offer, of course.
On the promotion of Roger Kieschnick and Brett Pill:
Kieschnick slated to start tomorrow. #sfgiants.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 30, 2013
Bochy said Pill will play more than he has in the past; Kieschnick scheduled to play tomorrow, will get a chance to prove himself in LF.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 30, 2013
Bochy said Pill promotion not a reflection on Belt alone. Brass just wanted to shake up the offense and he's hit well in Fresno. #sfgiants.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 30, 2013
Because the Brett Pill experiment hasn’t gone long enough and Brandon Belt is in a slump.
An update on Ryan Vogelsong:
"Vogelsong will go to Richmond today or tomorrow up to 50-60 pitches..feels fine..his on his way..we miss him" - Bruce Bochy
— Jim Bowden⭐️ (@JimBowdenGM) July 30, 2013
The Giants and Phillies will square off at 4:05PM PST at Citizens Bank Park.