There was a time, not that long ago, when the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen would lock down a lead in the late innings like it was the easiest thing in the world. A one-run lead heading into the ninth would be nearly a foregone conclusion. You could write it down as a win on your scorecard without a second thought.
It’s pretty much the opposite right now. A one-run lead going into the bullpen? Well, that will just never hold. It doesn’t matter who gets the ball in the ninth inning. Santiago Casilla, Hunter Strickland, Javier Lopez, Derek Law, they just can’t get the final three outs.