PHILADELPHIABrandon Crawford has six major league homeruns. Two are grand slams. Two others are three-run shots. Hes got one of eachon this road trip.
I like to get my moneys worth, I guess, he said.
Note to all-you-can-eat buffets in the SoMa area: If atousled kid with beard stubble and piercing blue eyes walks through your door,do not seat him.
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RECAP: Baggs' Instant Replay -- Giants 7, Phillies 2
Crawford is having a road trip to remember, and now its theGiants turn to get greedy and fill the plate. Theyve already guaranteed noworse than a split on this road trip to Atlanta and Philadelphia, two of thetoughest places to play in the NL regardless of where the home clubs sit in thestandings. Now they can go after these next two games with house money and tryto make it a banner trip, beginning with Matt Cain against Cole Hamels onSaturday.
Tim Lincecum rushed up to Crawford at some point after theslam, reminding the young shortstop that his other one came in a Lincecum startat Milwaukee. Lincecum was just as grateful for the pair of highlight playsthat Crawford made, including a diving stop on Placido Polanco that used allthe meaning of full extension.
Incredible, Lincecum said. I gave him a golf clap.
San Francisco Giants
I feel hes just growing and hes a great competitor.
BAGGARLY: Lincecum refuses to be the wimpy kid against Phillies
How did Crawford view the play he made on Polanco?
Off the bat, I wanted it, he said. Thats basically how Iapproach every ground ball. I want to make a play on it.
As mentioned here a few weeks back, Giants officials nowacknowledge they made a mistake last season when they traded for OrlandoCabrera at the end of July and sent Crawford to the minor leagues. Although thetrade market can be unpredictable, they have no plans to supplant Crawford thistime around. They plan to ride it out with him, knowing how much his defensestabilizes the entire infield.
It helps that Crawford entered Fridays game with a .292average in his last 17 contests. And while he hasnt turned on many pitches,his 17 doubles are third on the club behind Buster Posey and Melky Cabrera. Sohe hasnt exactly been a singles swinger.
Now Crawford is implementing a few adjustments that allowhim to use his pull side.
Hes quieted down at the plate, Giants manager Bruce Bochysaid. He was overstriding a little and getting out in front, and consequently,was tying himself up a little bit.
Crawford followed up his slam in the sixth by collecting atwo-out, RBI single to right field in the eighth. He was very much aware ofhis .197 average with runners in scoring position that he carried into the game,as well as his .077 mark (3 for 39) with RISP and two outs.
So that last hit felt as good as the grand slam, he said.
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Crawford is sporting two gnarly, purplish nebula-lookingbruises on or above both knees, both sustained on foul tips in the last week.
Cutters, he said. All of them cutters.
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Ryan Theriot quietly had four hits, which deserves amention. Call it a quiet riot.
And Eli Whiteside contributed with an RBI double and a solideffort with Lincecum. I know it wasnt a popular decision to start him today,but give him credit for a solid start. There isnt a soul in the clubhouse whois unhappy to see Whiteside back among them.
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OK, so Im officially overexposed after my Jeopardy! appearance. But Ill leave you with one thought from todays episode:
If Matt LeBlanc ever stars in a silent movie, count me IN.