GMP said:
WalterSobchak said:
The Giants are feasting on an incredibly favorable schedule, as they should. So far they've played an astonishing number of their games against teams below .500 (35 out of 54, or 65%). Against .500 or better teams they're a below .500 team. Against the only team they've played with a better than .600 record (Padres) they're a .400 team (although an admittedly small sample size). Contrast this to the Padres who entering today find themselves a half game behind the Giants despite playing only 22 of 55 games (40%) against teams below .500. They're a winning team (.545) against .500 or better teams, and a .600 team head-to-head against the Giants. Setting aside common opponents the Giants have played the Marlins, Phillies, Reds, and now Angels (sans Trout) whereas the Padres have played the Brewers, Cardinals, Astros, and now Cubs. This is great news for Giants fans, as this was essentially the blueprint for their World Series winning years. It remains to be seen whether they can get hot again in the postseason and make a run, but the easy schedule should at least give them the chance.
Revisiting this less than one week later, to underscore my point that trying to draw broad conclusions like you did was foolish:
Since your post, the Padres got swept in 3 games by the Cubs (+.500) and then saved a four game series split with the Mets (+.500). The Giants then took 3 of 4 from those same Cubs (and narrowly missed a 4-game sweep).
The Giants are now 11-9 against +.500 teams. The Padres, meanwhile, are 17-19 (Dodgers are 13-16). The Giants have no record against +.600 teams by virtue of the fact they cannot play themselves - no other team in the NL is above .600.
The only broad conclusion I drew was that the Giants look to be in very good position to make the playoffs. The fact that you continue to take issue with that because I pointed out that they have an easy schedule only underscores your own insecurities. The Padres haven't had a day off since May 20th. In that time, they've played the Mariners (.492), @ Brewers (.559), @ Astros (.559), @ Cubs (.559), and Mets (.558). Three straight road series against winning teams, and another at home. No days off. They still have to play the Cubs again at home before they get another day off. 20 straight games, almost all against teams well above .500. Over that same stretch the Giants played the Dodgers (.576), @ Diamondbacks (.328), @ Dodgers (.576), Angels (.458), and Cubs (.559). So each series against a winning team was followed by one against a losing team. What's more, they had 2 days off during this stretch (May 24 and June 2), the latter one at home and not even a travel day right before they played -- you guessed it -- the Cubs. They get a third day off today to travel to Texas to play the juggernaut Rangers. So yeah, I'd say they should be winning more than the Padres over that stretch. And it doesn't look to change much. The Padres next 5 opponents are the aforementioned Cubs (.559), @ Mets (.559), @ Rockies (.400), Reds (.491), and Dodgers (.576). 3 winning teams out of 5. Meanwhile the Giants will play @ Rangers (.377), @ Nationals (.429), Diamondbacks (.328), Phillies (.483), and @ Angels (.458). No winning teams. So I'd expect the Giants to win more of those games too. Like I said, they have an easy schedule.