Finally, a Win for the New Blog….
Had we gone 0 and 3 I was going to delete the blog and start over. Awesome job by Cain to grind out last night’s win. Benjie and Rowand were skillfully and deftly placed in the line up. 🙂
We are facing another critical section of the schedule. We NEVER play the Pirates well and the idea of trying to bop toe to toe with Cinn in their joke yard isn’t appealing to me in the slightest….
You have spoken and I have listened. Bye Bye TU/TD…
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Only one game, but a big win. Heading out for a tough roadie after being swept would not have been good. Sure, it would have been a winning homestand at 5-4, but 6-3 with a win in pocket is a hell of a lot better.
I was hoping that Cain would get a chance for a CG, but WTF…a win is a win is a win.
I don’t know what the fuck it is about the Pirates…maybe they have some voodoo on the Giants that revolves around the whole signing of Bonds back in the day. Would be sweet to take 2 there, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Cincy is hotter-n-hell, and I agree…going toe-to-toe in their joke of a yard does not appeal. We can only hope the pitching is lights out.
It they do not skipping of turns, Wellemeyer pitches the middle game in Pittsburgh, and then would then would be set-up for the final game in Cincy. I don’t even want to think about that. Do they skip Wellemeyer with the off day?
When does big Pat get the call? And who goes down when he does (we know it is a matter of time…the team needs his bat off the bench). I guess Bowker (he has options) until the DeRosa situation gets sorted.
That feature was all thumbs.
The Pittsburgh jinx is over, now that we have Freddy Sanchez.
I am in…. Couldn’t belive someone already had decap…. strange…. Anyways great game from Cain. BF are you going to put the links on the side of the page again? I liked having all those in one place.
Bowker for Pat…. Whiteside for Renteria? Time to see some Posey behind the plate?
Crunch time for the Burrell callup. Saw this one coming. He may or may not be essential for the Pitsburgh series, but he’s a near must for Cincinnati. Giants would still be a bit lighter for power-threats in the bandbox, even with Burrell, but an edge in SP + Pat the Bat should be good for a split at Riverside. Dude has the capacity to bop three in one game in that playpen.
As for Pittsburgh: That’s the ‘who knows’ series. Much depends on whether Timmy, pitching game three, can get locked back in. If so, SF could win the series. A sweep in Pitt would be asking a bit much. But two in Pitt and two in Cincy would make for a winning roadtrip.
How good is the Giants pitching? Though currently 3rd in ERA, behind ‘where did they come from’ San Diego and expectedly tough St. Louis; Giants SPs are the toughest to hit. Whole staff is hard to hit. By far the fewest hits by a pitching staff sees SF with 371 safties given up vs. runner-up Dagos at 412. Not even pretending to beginning to be close.
But those starters and their Batting Average Against (BAA) is the envy of baseball. Although the amazing Ubaldo leads baseball with a BAA of .172 for the Rox, second and third lowest go to Drrrty just nine points below at .181 and Cain at .192. Eighth lowest BAA is Timmy at .211; 14th (hold your hats, gang) WELLEMEYER at .223 and 16th Zito with a .225. Think about those figures for a moment. Five of the top 16 SPs in the NL make up the SF rotation. There are 16 teams in the league = 80 SPs. Prorated to league-wide equality each team would have one starter in the top 16. The entire SF rotation is there!
Those bases on balls will kill you. Not even going to do any stats for that category, except for the fact that Giants pitchers are no longer the worst in Walks, which had been their tendency in recent years. But they are a long, long way from the top in that ultimate command and control category. Walks are the reason Giants pitchers are third in the league in ERA rather than #1. It’s kinda crazy. Example: Giving up only four hits in his sterling outing against the Rox last night, Matt the Horse gave up 3 BBs ~ TWO of them to the Rox pitcher. Go figure.
DeCap– that might be able to be arranged. I had hoped to add color/fonts/etc by now but the guy helping me with that has been sick–and I don’t take on HTML alone. I should be able to move it to the left, I’d like it moved over there too.
Thanks Flav…. New blog is cool good job.
Hey, check out the POTD text you cut and pasted into the box on the right, BF. (Nice woo hoo, FH. thanks.) You see the “(edit)” next to the time? YOUR access level includes the widget that hooks to that word. No one else’s does, I suspect. Would be nice if we could edit or delete our own posts. (heck, even sfgate has that feature now.)
Feels a lot better taking an off day after a good gutsy win. Cain didn’t have his very best stuff last night, but he’s tough. I think he is maturing into the elite starter we always hoped he would become. The future’s so bright . . . .
Road trip in the hitters parks is still all about pitching. SF didn’t get enough of it in AZ and they whacked the ball. Reds are getting much better pitching this year; but SF hitters can take the ball out of that yard, all of them.
I’m curious about what’s up with Nate…is he fucking hurt or not? Can he swing a bat well enough to do some damage? His arm was OK the other night….WTF? This was an excuse we heard here last year, he was going fine til he got hurt yadda yadda. He finished the year hitting like shit.
Now his BA has dropped 50 points, and he is hitting a soft .278, with 1 HR in 115 ABs.
I’m sorry, but the last thing SF needs is anothe injury prone player, esp for someone his age. Sure he runs well, has a good arm (that he doesn’t always put to the best use), and can spray the ball all over the field. But he’s not going to move Rowand to the pine if he can’t show more than this.
XOOT– yeah, that was the edit box i was talking about. It seems I’m the only one who has it. I will talk to support about that too.
Burrell hits as well here as about anywhere, 93 AB here, .312 BA 5 HR 18 RBI 1.010 OPS. About the same at Cincy- 89 AB .312 BA 5 HR 14 RBI 1.1015 OPS. At Pittsburgh .264 3 HR 13 RBI .784 OPS.
Twin, is there break down on his stats the newer stadiums in Pittsburgh and Cincy?
Just in case it was not obvious: When TF says he previously offered to sell me an HTPC, what he left out was that it was at cost. This means he contributes the labor to find and assemble high quality parts that kick ass on any OEM product, and makes no profit. That was in itself already quite generous . . . .
Agree stix, the BBs are bad news, and the team gives up way too many of them. Screw the team ERA…I wonder how many times a BB has resulted in not only a run, but a winning run for a team. Just guessing I would think it has cost the team a few wins.
SF Gate has the breakdown on how our bullpen has been lights out at home and mediocre on the road and that is what is killing us on the road…this pen has its work to do in Pitt and Cincy…
Back in the day, SF Chron used to post mlb stats on Sunday. Looking down the column I used to figure out “runs produced” , and the top hitters were usually above .300. Currently SF is led by Uribe and Huff in .260 range, Torres just under .250. Sando is down there with Rowand and Nate around .210, Molina .170, Prez .250, FS .280 (50 ABs).
Willie, how is it you calculate your version of “runs produced”? I thought that that stat was RBI plus runs scored minus HRs…
The Giants, in general, have seemed to struggle with the Eastern and Northeastern roadtrips over the years. For years, they always butchered that Montreal, New York, Philly roadtrip.
There’s really no reason they shouldn’t win at least 2 0f 3 from Pittsburgh, and yet….
“There’s really no reason they shouldn’t win at least 2 of 3 from Pittsburgh, and yet…”
Zumie – that would seem to have been true for a number of years now, but for some reason, it just doesn’t seem to work out that way.
I have absolutely nothing to add. But since my work can’t make up its mind whether I can get to the new Flap or not, I thought I’d just waste all of your time with this meaningless post while I have the chance. So, in conclusion, a couple cliches…
I hate off days!
Fuck the Pirates!
I thank you
Lets thiink some kind thoughts for the men in blue. Sure they make mistakes, who doesn’t? Still this latest fiasco with the Detroit perfect game was an issue just waiting to happen. Perhaps some good will come out of it if Selig will get off his behind and actually be decisive for a change.
Nipper – meaning you believe that MLB needs to use instant replay on out calls?
What do others here think about the missed call? How do you feel about using instant replay outside of its current use (fair/foul and HR calls)?
Personaly, I like the drama of not having instant replay despite sometimes being pissed when it goes against the Giants. And if it’s allowed under too many circumstances, we’re looking at 9 innings in 4 1/2-5 hours. That being said, if any missed call is as blatant or historically significant as to what happened to Gallaraga again, and it *will* happen but especially if it happens this season, it’ll be here. It’s just a matter of time
Twin, right…just divide by ABs: Pablo has 206 ABs, 25 runs 22 rbis minus 4HRs = 43 runs produced. Huff with 44, but in 30 fewer ABs; Uribe has 45 but 28 fewer ABs. I guess if you made it total plate appearances, the avg. would look different. I just used to do this off the top of my head looking at the Sunday offensive stats…FYI, Pujols has 59 runs produced in 198 ABs so he’s damn near .300.
Look- the reality is that there will at some point be instant replay in baseball, covering everything except balls and strikes. While it makes one sound like an old fashioned purist and a defender of all that is good, you’re spitting into the winds of change when you deny this. When the technology exists for us to look at these plays, it is there for the officials as well. It’s absurd that the only people who can’t utilize the technology are the ones who can make it right. It’s going to happen so no better time than now to get it going.
My suggestion had been one challenge per game with the ninth innning and extra inning replays called by the booth, as in football.
Agree with twin. If you have technology to make the game better, you have to utilize it. One challnege per game doesn’t slow anything down anymore than a manager aruging a call and getting tossed. With instant replay, some elections would probably be saved and umpires wouldn’t be such pompous assholes.
I have yet to see a logical argument against instant replay besides it “taking the human element out of the game”. And I think that is still a weak excuse.
I’m down with doing it like football. Maybe one challenge and you get one more if your first challenge is successful.
Just saw the “DeRosa Should Have One Of These Soon”. Funny. Katie looks to be okay, yes?
The “one challenge per game” idea looks very good in light of yesterday’s infamous bad call. But on a daily basis, it would be insufferable. Managers would use it to fuck with a pitcher’s rhythm or to buy time for a reliever to warm up. Games would drag out, lousy commerials would multiply. I’m dead set against IR. Agaiinst the DH, too, of course. And domes and turf. Protective armor. Long baggy pants. Flat brims askew. Expensive beer. Cell phones . . . . Etc.
I too think Twin’s idea works. One per game is manageable.
I was even considering something along the lines of what football does. You have 3 challenges per game (excluding extra innings). If you argue a call, it is reviewed, and you are wrong, it costs you an out. Probably too much. Again, I like Twin’s idea.
Wow, xoot…you sound like me…against IR (but, as Twin mentions…it will happen), ESPECIALLY the DH (fuck that aberation to what was already a perfect game), domes, turf, baggy pants…etc., etc., etc…
. . . Too many tatoos. Fan interference. Fox Sports. Bud Selig. The antitrust exemption. The . . . .
I thought Xoot’s “who wants another perfect game anyway” sentiment yesterday deserved POTD.
…middle relief, shaved heads, batters’ theme songs, Steinbrenner,
The instant replay is coming…any play at a base and down the line.
But they shoudl have a replay offciial sititng next to the announcer and let him have the authority to make any cal that is incorrect. No umps leaving the field and looking at a monitor. The guy in the booth decides the right call turns to the stadium announcer who announces the call. No managers getting limited on challenges or being bale to use it to gain a competitive advantage.
A video official would have taken 18 seconds yesterday to fix that call.
my eyesight is going…excuse the stupid frickin typos…
. . . Mt. Davis. Larry Baer. Churros. Sandy Alderson. November games . . . .
Managers, hitters, pitchers, et al slow down the game. IR is not going to slow down the game. 20 years ago the average game was about 2hr 45 min, todays game is 3 hr and 18 min. WTF. Anyway, the thing I don’t like about IR is the amount of time they give officials to review. Most plays are very easy to determine through IR. 2-3 mins tops to review. Lets say there are 4 camera angles, 30 -45 seconds each and you can’t get the call right???
I saw a short headline stating that Jose Canseco will be called to testify as a witness at the Roger Clemens perjury inquiry. Canseco, a character witness? Wait. Maybe he’ll be an expert witness . . . .
Hi– bad news on the “edit” feature. I’m the only one who can delete comments. I’m usually always near a computer or my phone so if you want something deleted just email me and do it ASAP.
I’ll leave the deleting of my posts to your discretion, Flav
and regarding instant replay, I would go with Twin’s idea of one challenge a game with booth reviews from the 9th inning on (including all extra innings) but ONLY if the replay guys were in a booth and they immediately ruled on it without needing to confer with the field umpires. Fuck huddling everyone up. Make the call from the booth and radio it down to the crew chief on the field. Done.
Well, if IR is introduced, it won’t be long (well in baseball years, 5-10) before they DO use machines to call balls and strikes.
That’s the natural progression here. In for an inch, in for a pound.
Although, seeing a guy take a bat to the mechanical home plate ump would be pretty fricking funny.
This thing working>?
My stupid gravatar didn;t work.
Since that was the last out of the game, what is the chance of a given team still having the challenge in the 1st place? I mean if they only get one challenge per game?
Ah, no big deal. Just have to get used to using the google “check” feature before I post. That should eliminate most of the tyypos.
One very cool thing is the ability to embed links. I think passing the cursor over the link gives a preview, too:
http://baseballinstinct.com/2009/04/18/finding-the-freak/
(hard to remember that Lincecum’s gone through some rough patches before)
But he wasn’t called out, Chuck. That was the mistake.
And a computerized balls/strikes system won’t be on the field, it’ll be done via lasers and guns and digital video feeds and an automated voice — you know, that airport voice — will declaim through the stadium PA system: STRIKE ONE. THE BATTER SWUNG. AND MISSED.
I think passing the cursor over the link gives a preview, too:
—-
Yup. Cool
Human error has been apart of games forever. Now it comes down to how much technology should be used in all of sports?? Once you start using it, that is the foot in the door. I won’t see it, my kids probably won’t see it but in a matter of time officials will be replaced. IMO. Prior to the Umps union throwing a hissy fit networks used a 3d graphic of the balls and strikes that are thrown. MLB uses it for their website. I don’t know how accurate it is. But for me it is just awfull how bad the plate umpire is, or can be.
The point being, Xoot, if there’s only one challenge per game, who will still have that challenge to change that last call?
The Associated Press is confirming that Selig won’t reverse the call. I guess the same thing happened to Milt Pappas back in the 70s. A good video here:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/37495724#37495724
I covered that ChuckleNutz: the ninth inning and extra innings are called in the booth, like football does for the last two minutes…
One challenge per game or one challenge per team per game? If there’s only one challenge per game, who gets to excercise it? If each team had one, then the team with an umpire-called perfect game as of two outs in the bottom of the 9th would still have its challenge. Hypothetically speaking.
GH – you asked earlier “Twin, is there break down on his stats the newer stadiums in Pittsburgh and Cincy?”
Go to:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burrepa01.shtml
Choose “Splits [+]” and “Career”
Scroll down to “Ballparks”
and it will list his stats for each ballpark (old and new, where appropriate).
I think Twin meant one challenge per team, per game.
Just wanted to weigh in here that Selig is a fucktard. What a royal bag of shit.
agreed Swickster. He had a chance to finally do something where the public might actually like the guy and all he did was further cement is status as a royal bag of shit fucktard……
I have never liked Selig either, but it would definitely be setting at least some sort of precedent if he did reverse it…… I don’t agree with most of Xoots list (I definitely like churros), but I proudly wore my knee high socks from Elementary school to the Adult Baseball leagues….
I am pretty sure I saved a Gravatar, but I never see it…. I thought signing up on wordpress took care of that…
i see it. could be your browser
Weird… I see everyone elses…. whatever… Does that make 30 the new 20 then? Main I wish I still felt 20…..
At least he got a corvette and Joyce seemed ligitamately sorry…. Wonder what the meathead umps like Angel H, and Joe W would have done…..
So “fucktard” is the new “fuckw*d?” Check. And what’s the deal with “40 is the new 30” shit? If that ain’t the biggest pile of horseshit. Tell that to my aching back.
I don’t know. I’ve just always been partial to “fucktard”. So much can be conveyed with that one simple word.
Love That.
I see it too. Your dog looks like he belongs to a guy who likes churros. That’s cool. My kids love em. I think I just hate hearing the sound of the vendors approaching because I know I’ll have to spend $10 on some deep fried starch and sugar instead of on that damned expensive beer.
Hahah…. that was two weeks ago…My puppy is already twice that size….. She is 9 weeks tomorrow…
True stadium churros suck especially for the price… Ok I reverse my thinking on that…Curros out from the staduim…… Beer, Pretzels, Peanuts, Hot Dogs are all I really need at the game….
I’m always loathe to pay $9 for a beer when that’s basically the cost of a sixer of Newcastle. I prefer to drink in the parking lot instead and bring a flask to maintain the buzz. But I’m a cheap-ass bastard, too. When the wife comes to games with me, I just assume I’ll spend at least $50 on food and drinks.
I’m with you on loathing $9 beers. I alwasy swill a few in the parking lot, and if early enough, maybe stop at Red’s or someplace else that has reasonably priced beer and have a few there, too. When that is all said and done, I can get by with only a couple of the overpirced ones. Decap – agree…hot dogs are a must…I always go with the Sheboygan Brat…that’s a tasty dog!
One per team per game plus the booth replays for 9th inning and extra innings- PLUS the ones that are already replayed… look, I’m not for replay as much as I acknowledge it’s coming. And it’s just ridiculous that replays can be used to ridicule and disparage the umpire but can’t be used to make it right. Frankly, if replay can’t be used to correct the miscall, I don’t think it should be shown at all.
“Frankly, if replay can’t be used to correct the miscall, I don’t think it should be shown at all.” I second that shit!
Kinda like how the home team always replays a great play for the home team, but just shows the next batter on the scoreboard when its a questionable call for the home team…… I hate that…. I want to see what happened…. There are seats behind home plate at petco that have flat screens hung high enough that they are not a distraction, but within viewing range for replay close/great plays…..
I hate replay…. but its going to happen…. hopefully it will be a lot faster in baseball than football and basketball because they don’t have to worry about time on the clock, ball placement etc…….
If you hate replay but know it’s coming anyway, how about slapping on the DH and let the NL conform to everyone else in baseball. Time for a change and lets get a newer, younger commishioner who will be ready to adopt the new technology now part of our modern world.
Baseball umps yell “TIME” and “PLAY.” Not “time out” and “time in.”
“Time” stops the flow of the game and lets mundane tick-tock reality control for a moment. When “time” governs, the ball is dead, runners wander around, trot over to chat with a coach, etc. When “play” takes over the ball is live; runners take careful leads, the batter’s in the box, the pitcher on the rubber, and balls and strikes and outs and innings measure progress.
99.9% of umpires calls occur when the ball is live. (Hell, a damned appeal requires a live ball.) IR will deaden the game, football- and basketballize it; let the mundane tick-tock clock govern far too much. IR will suck.
There goes Nipper again wanting others to join forces with him over on the dark side and adopt the DH. We don’t need no stinkin’ DH!
BTW, what’s the latest on Pat the Bat? Should we expect him in uniform along the Mohonglia tomorrow night?
Timmy can’t get Zito’s autograph: http://tinyurl.com/25z86wh
I followed Chi’s suggestion and took a look at Burrell’s splits. I’d say Burrell definitely should show up for the Cinn. games.
Here’s my two cents on instant replay. Hmmm, let’s see…I know, what’s the default answer about lineup changes? Oh yeah… Why not, it can’t fucking hurt!
Funny. I wasn’t able to get back in here for a while so I was trying to catch up. At first I didn’t notice the <<Older Comments thing so I thought Flav, as a prank, took me up on my earlier offer and deleted all my comments.
Signed,
Clubber