The San Francisco Giants have decided to shut down rookie starting pitcher Tim Lincecum for the season.  He started 24 games this season for the Giants and he was 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.  Lincecum threw 146.1 innings this season and he allowed 122 hits, walked 65 batters and whiffed 150.  Pat Misch has pitched in 17 games (3 starts) and he has worked 36 innings allowing 38 hits, walking 10 batters and whiffing 25.

Brian Wilson was supposed to battle Armando Benitez for the closer’s job at the start of the season but he injured himself in Spring Training.  It took him quite a while to rehab from the injury but he has been awesome this season for the Giants since his return.  He has pitched in 19 games this season for the Giants and he is 1-1 with 4 saves, a 0.98 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP.  In 18.1 innings, Wilson has allowed 10 hits, walked 6 batters and whiffed 11.  I look for him to beat out Brad Hennessey next season for the closer’s job as long as he can stay healthy.  The Giants are going to take a look at a lot of their young players the rest of the way.  They are currently 67-84 which had them in last place in the National League West, 17.5 games behind the D-Backs.

The Giants are going to finish in last place in the National League West as they are 66-79, 15.5 games behind the Diamondbacks.  But all is not lost as the Giants have found that rookie Tim Lincecum is the real deal.  Add him to Barry Zito, Noah Lowry and Matt Cain for 2008 and the Giants have the makings of a fine starting rotation.  The Giants will have to get younger in the starting lineup and get an arm or two for the bullpen but they won’t be down long.

Ray Durham has been awful the second half of the season.  In 48 games since the All-Star Break, Durham is 24 for 157 (.153 avg, .502 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 18 RBIs!  For the season, Durham has now played in 126 games and he is hitting .216 (.646 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 11 homers and 64 RBIs.  Watch Durham closely the next couple of weeks because the Giants would be nuts to re-sign him for 2008.

This baseball season for the San Francisco Giants didn’t go well for out fellow fans in SF. Some goals the Giants nead to achieve are getting young talented players. We need to build on out hitters, and let go such players as: Ray Durham, Randy Winn,etc. The Giants also have to work on their bullpen because they have blown good portion of our losses. What are you other Giants fans thinking about next season and beyond.

The Giants have shut Noah Lowry down for the season due to a strained left elbow.  Lowry bounced back from a subpar 2006 season to go 14-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 26 starts for the Giants this season.  He worked 156 innings this season and he allowed 155 hits, walked 87 batters and whiffed 87.  The Giants hope he will be ready for next season with just rest because they are counting on him.

The Giants have only had a couple of bright spots this season.  One was watching Barry Bonds become the all-time homerun king as he passed Hank Aaron and now has 761 career homers.  The other was watching their young pitching staff show how good they can be giving the Giants a bright future.  Barry Bonds has been the best hitter on the Giants this season as he is hitting .276 with 71 runs scored, 27 homers and 64 RBIs.  Bengie Molina is also having a good season for the Giants as he is hitting .280 with 15 homers and 73 RBIs.  OF Rajai Davis has been outstanding since arriving in San Francisco in the Matt Morris trade with the Pirates.  He has played in 32 games so far for the Giants and he is hitting .309 with 16 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.  Young starting pitcher Matt Cain should sue the offense for non-support.  He is 7-14 this season despite having a solid 3.83 ERA.  Noah Lowry has put a bad 2006 season in his rear view mirror as he is 14-8 with a 3.92 ERA this season for the Giants.  Rookie Tim Lincecum has also been outstanding in 21 starts this season for the Giants.  He is 7-4 with a 3.94 ERA.  Brad Hennessey has taken over as the closer on the Giants after they traded Armando Benitez to the Marlins.  Hennessey is 2-3 with 17 saves and a 3.02 ERA this season.