Thursday’s Lineups and Pre-Gamer: Pill’s Got the Hot Bat, Francoeur in LF Due to White Flag Syndrome

The Giants broke their five game losing streak on Wednesday with a 9-2 win while seeing OF Roger Kieschnick debut with a nice 2-for-5, and one-half of the first base conversational lightning rod Brett Pill continue his multi-hit streak in the bigs. The lineup now goes up against three-time All Star LHP Cole Hamels. We knew going into today that manager Bruce Bochy would probably start more right-handed hitters than left-handed hitters, presumably putting the Giants in the best place to win. Let’s see what he rolled out today:

Tonight's #SFGiants lineup: Torres cf, Scutaro 2b, Sandoval 3b, Posey c, Pence rf, Pill 1b, Francoeur lf, Arias ss, Cain p
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 1, 2013

So if you’re scoring at home, that’s a switch hitter, right handed hitter, switch, RHH, RHH, RHH, RHH, RHH, Cain (RHH). Cole Hamels, against 150 left-handed hitters in 2013, has a .237/.295/.413 against with a .307 wOBA, and against 441 RHH has a .256/.320/.437 and a .327 wOBA against. A difference in performance, yes, extremely huge, no. I haven’t won two World Series rings, so I know my knowledge of the game and strategy of it will dwarf that of the manager. Want to do a fun exercise?

Player A: .213/.259/.263 and a .230 wOBA vs. LHP
Player B: .178/.283/.222 and a .230 wOBA vs. LHP

Wow, I thought that was going to be a lot more in favor of the player I wanted. It wasn’t. Player A is Jeff Francoeur and Player B is Gregor Blanco. Boy, the Giants are bad in LF. A little remarkable that Francoeur is so bad against LHP despite being a RHH. Still, since the Giants are so bad in LF, wouldn’t you want to see Kieschnick get more time? I can understand the platoon, but your options are not stellar, as you saw in the numbers. The Phillies will bring to the fans this line of nine:

Tonight's 7:05 #Phillies lineup at #SFGiants. Hamels vs Cain. CSN/1210WPHT/94WIP/MLB.tv pic.twitter.com/nfjKd3Xmgz
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 1, 2013

Jul 14, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (35) delivers to the plate during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

As @StuhlbargCSN reminds me, the last time Cole Hamels and Matt Cain faced each other, they both homered off each other.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) August 1, 2013

Since we’re so close to game time, I’m going to skip the pitcher scouting reports and cut straight to today’s other news and notes:

Another quality start for Clayton Blackburn: eight strong innings today with one ER allowed, 7 hits, 1 BB, 2 SO. Only 89 pitches.
— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) August 1, 2013

Blackburn has worked eight innings in back-to-back outings. Has a 1.59 ERA over his last five starts.
— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) August 1, 2013

Giants prospect in High-A San Jose Clayton Blackburn turning his stats in the right direction, maybe putting some things together (what really matters). As for Barry Zito news:

Bochy said Zito is avail tonight if they need an extra arm. He said "they're all live" & he would announce Sunday's starter after the gm.
— Amy Gutierrez (@amygmultimedia) August 1, 2013

Bochy will announce Sunday starter tomorrow. Sounds like Moscoso. Zito, Moscoso both available in relief today.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) August 1, 2013

For those wondering about Mike Kickham being a choice for Sunday:

Bochy happy for Kickham, who took a no-hitter into the 7th last night for Fresno. But he's not a candidate for Sunday.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) August 1, 2013

Ryan Vogelsong question:

No RT @acemanNCC1701: Will Vogelsong make a start with AAA Fresno?
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) August 1, 2013

Plans for the designated hitter this weekend:

Posey, Sandoval, Scutaro will DH this weekend. Bochy not sure about 1B: "You have a hot bat (Pill). That's just the reality."
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 1, 2013

We’re going to do this Belt vs. Pill drama all over again. Brandon Belt gets the days off when he’s doing well and when he’s not doing well, Brett Pill takes priority when his bat “gets hot” even when facing the LHP. Just tell us you love Pill more, Bochy.

Tarp's off the field. Clearing. RT @KimSherayko: will the rain be a problem tonight?
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) August 1, 2013

Good to see there are no problems with the weather, would be the last thing the Giants want to deal with on a travel day.

The Giants and Phillies will match up for the rubber match at 4:05PM PST. After the game, the Giants will head to Tampa Bay to begin a three-game series with the AL East contending Rays.

Schedule