Matt Moore with Opportunity to Finally Silence Trade Doubters
Here we are, where Giants GM Brian Evans expected this team to be, locked in a battle for survival in the Division Series against the best regular season team in the National League. He has watched one major acquisition, Johnny Cueto , give everything that could be expected in a 1-0 ball game. He's seen another major addition, Jeff Samardzija , get knocked around for four runs in two innings. That included a two-run single from Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks , who had two RBI's the entire season.
Following an emotional game 3 in which postseason nuclear weapon Madison Bumgarner allowed a three-run shot to opposing hoss Jake Arrieta , the Giants live to see another day, as they outlasted the Cubs 6-5 in 13 innings. In another do or die game 4, the Giants will send midseason acquisition Matt Moore to the mound against John Lackey , winner of two World Series clinchers, and a seasoned veteran with no concept of backing down.
Moore's career postseason ERA sits at 4.41 over 16.1 innings, but that number is grossly inflated by the seven run drilling he took over 4.1 IP against the Red Sox in the 2013 ALDS. Toss out that stinker, and Moore has allowed just one earned run in 12 postseason innings. Once considered the future ace in Tampa Bay, Moore started two ALDS game 1's and came on in relief in two game 4s. While Lackey has the superior playoff pedigree, Moore found his stride in his last two starts of the season, going 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA while striking out 17 over 15.2 innings. He went 4-1 over his final five starts of the season, pitching well in each game aside from the six run shelling he took in LA on September 21st.
Matt Moore has had success in the postseason in the past, now he'll take the mound with the Giants season on the line in game 4.
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
So, does anybody remember the outrage many Giants fans expressed when Moore was acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Matt Duffy ? The malice was understandable, given the unique situation San Francisco's organization and it's fans have enjoyed over the last six seasons. The team has experienced continuity to a degree that's rare in any pro sport, and with it has come great success on the field. The Giants have built an unlikely dynasty on a foundation of home grown players, and Matt Duffy was as beloved as any. Many fans, including myself, marveled early in the season at the idea of Belt, Panik, Crawford and Duffy possibly filling the Giants infield until 2020.
Alas, major league baseball can't always be the fairy tale we want it to be. With the back end of the Giants rotation on shaky ground thanks to poor performance and injuries from Jake Peavy and Matt Cain , the front office needed to make a move, and when a 27 year-old, left-handed, former 17 game winner with a manageable contract became available, so did Matt Duffy. And if you put aside your allegiances to the affable, lanky California native and his famous feline, the move made sense. Duffy exceeded expectations in his first full big league season, but in 2016 became very much the average player he appeared to be in college and the minor leagues. Add the fact his Achilles injury turned out to be more serious than originally diagnosed, and Duffy would have had little to contribute to the Giants down the stretch.
It didn't help the Duffy separation anxiety when Moore stumbled out of the gate with San Francisco, losing three of his first four starts and posting an ERA near five. "We traded Duffy for THIS GUY?" was a trendy phrase among Giants faithful for much of August. Even after going 6-2 over his final eight starts, some are still not convinced the team made the right move, and that "the Curse of the Duffman" was behind the Giants second half struggles.
Tonight, Matt Moore has the opportunity to silence the doubters once and for all. It's simple really, all he has to do is out duel a pitcher who's thrown nearly 130 playoff innings with four different teams, and shut down one of the major's toughest line ups. Oh, and did I mention it will be in front of 42,000 raucous home fans?
Nothing to it!
A fast start by the Giants offense, backed by shutdown innings from Moore will be pivotal if San Francisco hopes to once again stave off elimination. Another come from behind victory is simply too much to ask from the baseball gods above. If Moore can find the dominance he displayed in the final regular season game against the Dodgers, "Duffy who?" may just be the latest trending phrase in the Bay Area. Torture round 4, here we go.
-AC
