The Dodgers and Giants currently hold the top two spots in the NL West standings. Before the two teams battle it out in Northern California, I caught up with Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles to talk about the Giants' start to the 2014 regular season.
DAVID LAUTERBACH: What's the first thought that comes to your mind when describing San Francisco's start?
GRANT BRISBEE: Baseball. I mean, they've had some luck, some bad luck, some players doing better than expected, some players doing worse ... it's just baseball, which is as vague a description as possible. That's the point. Last year, the Rockies were going ape, and people had to think about them on purpose. April's weird, but so is baseball.
DL: Have you noticed a big difference between this year's Pablo Sandoval and the last couple years based on his weight change?
GB: In the field, sure. He's getting to balls he wasn't reaching when he was at his fluffiest. At the plate, the results aren't there yet, but he hasn't looked awful in an especially Sandoval way, swinging at pitches that bounce on the roof of the dugout, so I still have hope. He's just in a funk.
DL: How has Tim Hudson adapted to the change in scenery and what impact has he had on the team?
GB: He's not Barry Zito. That's all the impact we wanted, and we're thrilled to get it.
DL: The Giants haven't suffered nearly as many injuries as the rest if the division. But if they were to, what position would be the worst to suffer an injury?
GB: Going to go out on a limb and say ... catcher? Probably catcher. But they don't have a lot of depth anywhere, really, as evidenced by the Marco Scutaro injury. They're starting Brandon Hicks at second most days, and that's going to stop working for them eventually.
DL: In the first series between the two teams, San Francisco won 2 of 3. What contributed to that?
GB: Scoring more runs than they allowed. One replay being clear evidence of a call that should be overturned, and one replay being too close to call. Dingers and bloops, bloops and dingers.
DL: Did you expect the Giants' offense to be as good as it has been at times this season?
GB: Maybe not league-leading good, especially with Scutaro out, but close enough to the top third of the league to contend. They have a surprisingly deep lineup when everyone's healthy and hitting to their potential.
DL: Series prediction?
GB: Clayton Kershaw pitches a one-hit shutout on 93 pitches.