Tag Archives: Ryan Vogelsong

POSTGAME RECAP: Vogelsong breaks hand amid best outing; offense comes alive

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GiantsPod breaks Giants pitchers with bad ERAs. When Danny and I went to Fresno for a little Central Valley action in 2011, we saw Barry Zito take a bad spill off the mound and injure his foot. Now Ryan Vogelsong is broken. Worst of all, Vogey was having by far his best game of the season. One more inning of decent work would have given the right-hander just his second quality start in nine attempts. This is a guy who reeled off 16 straight such starts in 2012. All in all on Monday, Vogelsong gave up three hits and one walk, allowing zero runs to a team that many picked to make the World Series.

Vogelsong set the tone of the game early, keeping the ball around the plate and forcing a lot of weak contact. Without looking, the only dangerous contact was a warning track shot by Adam LaRoche that Angel Pagan “deftly” maneuvered to get. Vogey walked just one batter — relief pitcher Craig Stammen — on a day when the Nationals failed to get an extra-base hit. Coming into the game with a .292 OBP as a team, the Nationals have not produced at the plate all season. But Ryan Zimmerman had been red hot, batting .333/.429/.519 since returning from a hamstring injury May 3. Couple that with Bryce Harper having one of the best seasons EVER by a 20-year-old and at least Washington’s 3-4 punch looks imposing. Vogelsong faced them each twice, giving up just a single to Zim.

How much less concerned would we be if Vogelsong didn’t pitch his best game of the season tonight? What if this injury had occurred after he gave up five runs in two innings? I would hope the reaction would be the same, considering the lack of depth the Giants have in the rotation. The Giants’ only option on the 25-man roster is Chad Gaudin, who was last a full-time starter in 2007 with Oakland. Despite his gaudy numbers this season, there’s a reason that Gaudin has spent most of his season in the bullpen and spent the offseason looking for a job.

There are some candidates in the minor leagues who could be worth a look. In a bit of cruel irony, SI’s Jay Jaffe wrote about Vogey’s struggles earlier today. He cited scouts that praised Chris Heston and Mike Kickham, who both were said to be on pace to get a look some time in 2013. I think the Giants give Gaudin the first look, but will try to set up a more permanent move with whatever Grizzly looks the best.

Brandon Belt is a man, baby. After a rough start — he was batting .183/.227/.233 on April 21 — the Baby Giraffe has six home runs and an improved batting line. After four hits in five at-bats Monday, Belt sits at .261/.329/.449. Surely the Pill poppers have to be quieted, right? Belt is on pace for 20 home runs, which would be the most since Aubrey Huff improbably hit 26 in 2010. Ah, 2010. That’s why we’re all here. And 2012. And baseball.

UPDATE: Ryan Vogelsong injury: Broken right hand for Vogey

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SUPER DUPER UPDATE: Nicole Vogelsong, Ryan’s wife, tweeted that her husband’s pinky finger is broken in two places. Once above the joint and once below. He will have surgery tomorrow and be out six weeks. She is also replacing Dave Groeschner as the Giants trainer on their next road trip.

UPDATE: The Giants announced that Vogelsong’s right hand is fractured. This puts the Giants in a pretty rough situation. They will have to decide between organization guys like Yusmeiro Petit, Chris Heston, Boof Bonser or Mike Kickham. On the 25-man roster is Chad Gaudin, who has started 75 games in his 11 years in the big leagues. His lone full season as a starter came in 2007 when he started 34 games with Oakland, totaling a 4.42 ERA. 

In what had been his best start of the 2013 season, Ryan Vogelsong was injured during an at-bat in Monday’s game against the Nationals. On a poorly timed swing, a pitch from Craig Stammen appeared to deflect off of Vogey’s right hand. Bochy and trainer Dave Groeschner came out to take a look at the hand before immediately escorting the right-hander into the dugout. They have to Katzman & Sugden Attorneys at Law that will be very helpful for claiming the compensation for injuries and ensuring speedy recovery for the players.

Vogelsong was pitching his best game of the season, cruising through five innings without allowing a run. He walked just one batter on top of three hits, stranding two runners each in the third and fifth innings. The Giants No. 5 starter entered the game with an ERA of 8.06, but lowered that almost a full run with his five shutout innings.

Vogelsong received a standing ovation from a sympathetic and intelligent crowd. No word yet on how the Peas reacted.

Danny and I will be around for Bochy’s press conference after the game, where the injury (resembled as serious as the one being hurt in a truck accident in Wyoming) will be the number one question for the skipper. Follow us on Twitter @GiantsPod and @HammerheadT for live updates.

Episode 103: Thomas and Danny Speculate About the Giants and People Walking By

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Episode 103: Thomas and Danny Speculate About the Giants and People Walking By is out!

In the hundred-and-third episode, Thomas and Danny talk about Vogelsong’s struggles, Scutaro’s hot bat and clankmitt, the Brandons moving in opposite directions, and Blame Canada.

Click on the image below to find it on iTunes:  You can also find it on the RSS feed, or by clicking on the play button below. We look forward to your feedback, either by commenting here on the blog, emailing us at giantspod@gmail.com, or our Twitter feed. Go Giants!