Every Division is Locked and Loaded for an Exciting Summer
Take a look at the standings, the LARGEST lead anyone has is 2.5 games (Twins > Detroit). You can see a dogfight in every division all Summer long with the NL West, potentially, being a 4 team fight to the death. I doubt that will happen though, once all the division games kick back up again…..
Forget trying to explain the Andres Torres Revelation. I’d like to put it out to you guys: Can you name another player who did nothing until he was 31 and then had 2 successive seasons with an OPS average almost touching .900? Torres isn’t quite there yet, he’s got to do it all year, but over the course of last yr and this yr he’s got 334 at bats with an OPS of .876 and .896, respectively. You could play him every day simply for his defense but what he’s doing at the top of the line up is astounding. And if we’re going to go with burrell and Huff in LF and RF (and why wouldn’t we) then Torres is MANDATORY in CF to keep our OF defense honest……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
To answer your question, Flav, I do not remember a player who kicked-in late the way that Torres has. How fun is this guy to watch? And I do like the line-up that has both Burrell and Huff in it. The OF with them at the corners is kinda scary, but what the hell, until it proves to be too much of a liability…ride that horse hard!
And for all those who were dogging FSanchez, and Sabes for making that deal, how does it all look now? If he stays healthy and continues to produce at his career numbers, I’m thinking he’s a fucking steal at 6 mil per.
Nice to see everyone contribute last night. While El Presidente and Huff-n-Puff were the only starters who did not get a hit, they contributed half of the 8 BBs (Eli 3, Huff 1). And Huff got an RBI off his BB! It was sweet to see the team kick some ass up and down the line-up, but I do realize it was against the O’s…perhaps the worst team in MLB.
Anyway, if Joe gives us a solid 6 and the offense comes out in flamethrower mode again, I like our chances today. And with Timmy due up tomorrow, a win today could set the team up for back-to-back sweeps.
I voted no one in the poll, but on second thoughts, I would probably vote Colorado.
Contest update: 9 wins, 65 runs, 15 bombs. Projects to: 19 wins, 135 runs, and 31 bombs.
Go Giants!
Damn Flav, I was just looking at Pawlie’s “Swinging Away.” WTF…Think you could have made the font any smaller? 😉
Hell, maybe Torres just needed a chance.
I voted Rockies, but the goddamn Dodgers always hang around like a bad rash and games against them are always a crapshoot. We knock them out, they knock us out. They worry me.
Exactly, but overpaid and overplayed Rowand was blocking Torres last year. Torres should have been the CF and leadoff man most of 2009.
I voted Colorado too Chi . . . They always seem to have a “run” in them. However, I actually think that the “potential” four team “Texas Barbed Wire” match to the death Flav alluded to is quite possible.
Yeah, the O’s suck wind, but a win is a win is a win. Go Giants!
Hey Chi . . . “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” is me tailing your ass in Fantasy League and no, I have no intention of complying with your “League Blast” to the rest of the Flap teams, i.e., “Kiss My Lumber, Bitches.” Too funny 😉
The G’s are swinging some hot bats right now, and everything seems to be coming together for them offensively. I like the pieces they have in place, and I also like that they are making hay against teams they should beat. The only thing that really needs to be shored up is the pen. Affeldt had a good outing last night, and maybe he can build on that.
They win tonight, the sweep is a done deal, IMO. Timmy wins tomorrow and he’s 7-2. I read some hack somewhere yesterday (Bleacher Report?) say he was having an off year. When did 7-2 become an off year?
Go Joe Martinez! Go Giants!!
“The G’s are swinging some hot bats right now, ” I’ll say so. Couldn’t believe the numbers in this morning’s box score.
Torres .302
Franchez .341
Huffster .300
Uribe .289
Pat .407
Buster .361
Panda .282
Whitey .284
Pablo is low man on last night’s starting lineup totem pole. And as funny as this sounds, that’s a good thing. When Panda is bringing up the rear at a “paltry” .282, life can’t be too bad. Go get’ em tonight Joe, and happy birthday Timmy!
Nice to see Sanchez get some run support and mow them down…that WP to Markakis must have freaked him out. How’d you like to stand in there vs. a guy who throws that hard and is capable of a pitch like that ?
Nice POTD…Montanez was a cool player, wish I’d heard some of those stories from Miller.
Reading a book on San Pedro de Macoris, “Eastern Stars” by M. Kulansky. Quite a number of teams have set up “Academy” type dorms where the kids are housed, fed, taught English and play ball. Age 16 is the make or break time, as that is when they are eligible to be signed and given a bonus. Sadly, a lot of these kids never make it out of the minors, are ill equipped to live in America, and have of course quit school forever. Even if they are in US illegally after being cut by a team, many never go back to Dominican Rep and stay in New York.
Baseball can be a brutal life, but I guess it beats the sugar mills, the other thing for which the town is famous besides SS. Funny thing is, the team from there never wins the D-R league, because it doesn’t have enough money to pay the big stars, plus big league teams limit the time these guys can play. Robinson Cano, 3rd generation, only is allowed to play 10 games in winter by Yanks, so his team sucks.
Torres being a sprinter and late to baseball is probably why he is still in top athletic shape even in his 30s while most baseball players have been playing since childhood and their bodies start going in their 30s. I think Torres may have 2-3 years in him to be a leadoff guy at the top of his game.
Didn’t Butler come to us a little later in his career as well and was fantastic leading off.
But with Torres and Dirty both from Puerto Rico and late starters to baseball, maybe our scouts should be scouring the island for non-baseball players to see if there are some natural athletes that can be molded…
I could see SF taking this easily. Rox pen is no better than SF, and Street is no Wilson. They don’t play well on the road, have some slumping regular hitters…Helton, Barmes, Iannetta. Not as scary as last year, imo.
I think LA is tougher, but unless they make a deal for some pitching, it won’t hold up, esp. considering how Torre shreds his pen. They don’t have much to give up in farm either, so makes it harder to acquire someone of value. Bet they wish they could re-think how they handled Garland, and 2B.
I’m not saying SF doesn’t have issues, just that with the best pitching, it gives them tremendous advantage, and ability to weather the storm of a pennant race. What would happen to the Splash if SF romped the division and Bochy got Mgr. of the Year?
After the Orioles, go on the road for the Jays and Stros, and then back home with Boston and the BUMS. Should be an interesting month. I hope Joe does really well tonight. I picked SD to give us greif through out the year.
I ended up voting for the damn dodgers. I still think that reality is about to catch up to the Padres. After April, I thought the Dodgers were done, but they beat up on the other weak NL team and have probably the better hitting than we do, and showed they coudl still be a factor.
The Doddgers have also played us tough in our own ballpark the last couple of years, so we need to show them in a couple of weeks that we can beat the snot out of them. I always said the Rockies pitching was weak after Jimenez, I dont think they hold up this year either.
To answer the ? of who else started at a late stage…The only one I can think of is Maury Wills…played SS for La Bumbos in the 60’s.
Torres and the 2010 Giants…WTFN
Apparently their is some “Magic” in the park.Hopefully the Giants have some hits left for Joe Martinez.
Which reminds me of the classic story of when the Montreal Expos were hosting the Doggers and Dennis Martinez was slated to face Ramon Martinez on a weekday afternoon.It was billed as a” businessman special’- A Two Martinez lunch.
Hmmmm- Martinez………..
Well I didn’t think Torres would be this hot and our starting CF, but back in March I did say the team had to keep him.
Bozo said…
As I said awhile back. When I look at this team on paper, I think hell yeah we could beat the Yankees in seven. And, other days I think, fuck me I’m rooting for the Orioles (or in Flavs example, the Indians). I also mentioned a few days ago that the defense was my biggest concern and that Torres had to make the team because he was the only OF who could play all fields. That leaves FLew, Bowker and Velez for the fifth slot. Lewis wants out, so he’s gone. Frandsen has done everything asked of him, but the attitude last year gets him a new address. If they keep Velez thinking he can fill in at second, well that’s a mistake. I think Ishi makes the team BECAUSE of defense (if he can figure out how to hit on the road, Huff is on the bench). Whatever young infielder makes the team is gone when Sanchez is back, so he’ll have to have options.
March 12, 2010 7:46 AM
Looks like I called the Orioles to be the shits and was right about the trades, but was so wrong on Ishi and Huff.
And no, I won’t be going through that process again to find something I said in the past. What a pain in the ass.
Blade –
Yeah, I see you back there…must be doing 130 to be coming up on my tail that quick! 😉
Bleacher Report on MLB power rankings…Giants creeping up the ladder…
http://tinyurl.com/249djt8
I must admit I was a big doubter of Andres Torres. That was before I heard stories of him hitting in the cage until 5:00am in the morning to work on his swing. The guy wants “it” so bad. The way he runs, backs up plays, swings the bat…all of it screams desire. I’m not sure how long he’ll last, but I will continue to enjoy watching every second of him play because he goes all out every play and isn’t some entitled prick like some players.
Anybody remember Lee Lacy? He was a Dodger prospect who never made it with them and I think may have been part of the DUsty Baker trade and didn’t make it in Atlanta either. Later on though, he did become a pretty solid player for the Pirates and maybe even another team. WHen I think of late bloomers, his name comes to mind.
God, I hated Dennis Martinez. He must have been 28-3 vs the Giants his career. He always seemed to throw 3 hit shutouts against the Giants.
Montanez, kinda like Bill Madlock. At the time, I thought, how did we get this guy? he’s real good. We got rid of him just in time for him to win a ring in Pittsburgh and a few batting titles.
Cal, that is just it, Torres looked around and thought WTF is management doing handing out these short term contracts to vets when I am in the minors, what am I not doing? So he goes out and amps it up, where as Velez looked at what was happening and just said fuck it!! IMO
It’s great to see the Giants getting some runs. They seem to be clicking right now. The Giants’ record against the NL West isn’t that great though. We need to win in San Diego. That place just seems to curse the Giants.
Matt Downs should take heart.
DeRosa was no overnight sensation. Still banging in AAA at 27 and not an everyday player till he was 31.
Even Freddy Sanchez didn’t crack a starting lineup till he was 27. At 26 was traded by Boston to Pitts, who promptly sent him to AAA. At 28, he was a batting champ.
Think it’s way too early to dismiss LA Colo or even SD. Lot of pitching avail at the deadline.
Yeah SJ, I always wondered if Bochy and/or Flannery took the team out for too many adult beverages while in their neck of the woods.
Actually I’m kidding. I imagine it burns both of those guys up that they have such a hard time down there.
SD’s young starteres won’t continue doing what they have down the stretch. Unless the Dodgers make a big trade, unlikely with the dissaray that was their front office, their pen burns out and they fade too. Col is who I worry about. Even though they’re behind the Giants now, they haven’t hit their stride yet. And as someone said above, they seem to always have that 18-2 streak in them.
Huff was no overnight sensation either. When he came up in Tampa he was a corner infielder behind Fred McGriff and Vinny Castilla. So he had to play some outfield and DH, which cast him as a utility guy. It has served him well in the Giants environment since he provides versatility which enables Bochy to have more options.
First: the argument that something just CAN’T happen because it hasn’t been done before is one of the lamest arguments, an argument that’s used when a person doesn’t HAVE an argument. We heard it yesterday. There are probably dozens of “firsts” in MLB everyday…
I voted that they’ll win easily, BTW.
FCI: Dennis Martinez was 7-7 against the Giants… never had a CG or a shut out. The mind, it’s a terrible thing to waste
*SD’s young starteres won’t continue doing what they have down the stretch.*
3bag, I’m going to disagree about Padres pitching, which I watch most days since I’m a San Diego resident. What the Pads have accomplished was unexpected by most, but not by me. And they have come this far without their top starter, Chris Young who made only one start before hitting the DL, and another key pitcher, Tim Stauffer, who gave up only 1 run in 18 innings before suffering an appendectomy. Stauffer can start or come out of the pen so if a young pitcher falters, there are other arms stock-piled to step in.
Today’s SD paper is suggesting the team will be a buyer for a bat in July if they can remain in the hunt. Sounds eerily similar to the Giants plight last season. I believe Garko is available.
SJ – We’ve had the discussion about needing to win against the NL West. I will repeat my take on this, and that is “yes, to some degree.” We do play each team 18 times, so that is 72 of your games out of the 162 (almost 45% of the games).
At the end of the day, wins, regardless of against who is what counts (ending up with more wins than any other team in the division). The Giants have completed a tad over 1/3 of their schedule and are 1/2 game behind two division foes. So, that “not great against the NL West record” hasn’t really bitten them in the ass.
But, as the season progresses, and if things remain tight, then yes…I think those divisional games are key, and it all gets started again end-of-month against the hated Bums.
Anothher point, SJ. If the Giants kick some ass against the rest of the NL West, then winning IN Dago becomes less important.
I hear yoiu Chi. The division record is not an issue right now, but when we only play 5 games outside the NL West in Sept/Oct, it will be very important down the stretch.
That’s what the locals are hoping, that other teams overlook the Padres. There is some inexperience, yes, but Bud Black is a hell of a manager. He has brought some Mike Scioscia to San Diego from his days as pitching coach for the Angels.
From yesterday (edited):
eddacker415 said, on June 14, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Which one of the Os pitchers is giving up 10 runs?
Pretty prophetic ed. It took two (Tillman and Mata) but still, awesome call, dude! Have another pork steak on me!
Conor Jackson traded to Oakland today for a young AAA pitcher.
I think Beane has realized that if he bails on his team midseason AGAIN, he won’t need food and drink vendors for the second half, they could just throw a potluck every day…
They’ll be smelling our fumes and eating our dust. Team is in takeoff mode right now. Even if their kid starter who beat the Evil Empire in his first ML start gets the best of Joe Martinez today, Baltimore will be lucky to nip one at China Basin. Likewise, if you check the batting stats, the Giants are beginning to edge the LaBumbos in some of the hitting categories. Rox have pitching issues and the Pads just won’t have the stamina to cruise through 162.
Here’s what Accuscore’s playoff predictions has to say about current developments, statistically: First off their headline shouts that SF picked up 26 percentage points in ONE WEEK in terms of playoff probability.
Accuscore is still playing it a bit conservatively, but here’s the statistical poop:
Percentage possibility for making the Playoffs:
-La 46.3
-SF 44.2
-Col 36.5
-SD 20.0
Chances of winning the Division:
-LA 33%
-SF 31%
-Col 24%
So for those of you who picked the LaBumbos to be the main opposition down the line, there is still some support for your position. But the Giants have just gotten their shit together while LA is starting to falter. Dodgers MUST trade for a Cliff Lee or some other top of the line starter. To do so they would virtually have to strip their farm system. So if they go the trade route to catch up with the Giants (my projection by late July) their strategy will be to make the deal at the last possible moment so SF cannot riposte with a balancing trade.
It is far easier to trade for a reliable reliever or two than a TOR starter. Giants have the spare parts on hand (Ishi, Bowker, Downs, Rohlinger, Molina, Wellemeyer) to land more than one reliable reliever. Imagine what a pair of no-nonsense relievers could do for this team. Unless there is a major injury or something similar, all the pieces appear to be in place right now except for uncertainty in the Pen. This team is firing on eleven of twelve cylinders right now.
Fumes and dust trailing behind the Halloween Machine, Baby.
The Babbler asked something on the Splash. Does anyone know the significance of the Giants’ colors being orange and black?
John McGraw’s favorite colors?
Thank you. Now it’s baseball again.
I do not know (the significance of the Giants’ colors being orange and black, or how it came to be), but am interested in finding out more…
No more Room B?
Nice to see Bochy moving Pablo around in the order. Anyone come across any articles about Rowand’s vacation schedul?
I found this on team colors. Notice 1933-1935 were the first years of black and orange. Then not until 1947 did they become the current (permanent?) colors.
But I will be damned if I can find out “why” orange and black are the colors.
New York Giants (1883 through 1957)
Franchise Colors
1947 through 1957: Black, Orange, White
1940 through 1946: Blue, Red, White
1936 through 1939: Blue, White
1933 through 1935: Black, Orange, White
1930 through 1932: Red, Black, White
1922 through 1929: Red, Navy, White
1921: Navy, White / Black, White
1919 through 1920: Navy, White / Maroon, White
1918: Navy, White, Red
1917: Navy, White / Violet, White
1913 through 1916: Violet, Black, White
1912: Black, White, Red
1911: Black, White, Navy
1910: Red, White / Brown, White
1909: Brown, White
1908: Navy, White / Black, White
1907: Blue, White
1905 through 1906: Blue, Black, White, Red
1904: Brown, White / Black, White, Red
1902 through 1903: Brown, White
1900 through 1901: Black, White, Blue
1883 through 1899: unknown
Alternate Uniform Colors
1904: White, Navy
Additional Logo Colors
1938: Orange, Blue
(1939 World’s Fair in New York City Logo)
I read yesterday that one of the main reasons that Bochy had Pablo down in the order was they were facing three RHers in a row. I believe I read somewhere that they will face all RHers on the upcoming road trip. If that is the case, do we see more of the same? I doubt it, but Bochy has already thrown me a curve or two (number of times he has had Burrell and Huff in the OF at the same time at home).
Nice research, Chi
Bochy has already thrown me a curve or two (number of times he has had Burrell and Huff in the OF at the same time at home).
————————-
Why is that throwing you a curve? Because of the apparent difficulty of playing right field?
“read yesterday that one of the main reasons that Bochy had Pablo down in the order was they were facing three RHers in a row.” Well, that makes zero sense then. He’s hitting over .300 with a mid-.800 OPS against RHers.
Ted –
The reason (curve) being that while in Cinci, Bochy said he didn’t forsee using that OF alignment often at home (due to our yard;s OF). And now to see them out there together on a number of occasions, it is just not something that I expected to see as frequently as we have (in SF). I am down with it, and as I said earlier, ride that horse hard until it becomes a liability.
I love this comment from Huff:
“If you don’t want to come here and play and hit for this pitching staff we have,” he said, “then you don’t want to win.”
I am ready right now to extend him and Uribe to a two-year extension each for $6 mill/year. Same amount what DeRosa and Franchez will be paid and gives them some insurance and will continue to spread a good message to the team.
I had the same thoughts, Twin. Will try to find the quote from Bochy. It was kind of puzzling.
Okay chi, thanks
Got to love the 49er insider blog. There’s been a raging debate for 3 days regarding illegal immigration. Apparently Lynch has just given up. No new threads for a while, and posts aren’t even getting deleted like they were. . .
Someone was singling me out for deletion, but that has stopped.
Chuck, do you mean Ramon Martinez?
DaddyO, the Padres may have some other pitchers that will be able to step in for potentially faltering current starters, but that is a big if. Plus their offense is truly pathetic, that is going to catch up to them as well. From what I can recall, the Dodgers still have a decent farm system and probably could swing a Roy Oswalt or Cliff Lee deal. That is why I think they may hang around in a race…
Dodgers have no fucking money. They don’t even have $ to sign a draftpick.
Chuck probably meant The Ramones or the Martinez County Jail. He’s seen each of those on more than one occasion.
The only thing I found 9so far) was concerning LH pitching:
Bochy also considered the presence of Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm. The switch-hitting Sandoval was batting .254 right-handed, compared with .291 left-handed. “I think it’s fair to say that if you look at the numbers and his swings, he’s not as comfortable from the right side right now,” Bochy said, adding that he talked to Sandoval and reminded him to try to be more judicious
Ted, did the Giants want to been known as the boys of Autumn? Or given the dates Chi provided, did they just want different colors than the NY Giants football team?
I’m going with the boys of Autumn, I like the sound of that.
That’s as good a theory as any, bozo
Yeah that totally make no sense for Bochy to move Panda down in the order against RH pitching,sense he rakes them the best.If anything he should give Panda a blow against lefties.Are maybe even let him just bat LH against lefties,since his RH hitting stroke and power is nothing compared to when he hits LH.
I voted Dodgers “just because” I should know better. Nothing ever seems to come easy with those assholes. That, and they’re still the current favorite to win the west.
LA 6/5
SF 2-1
COL 3-1
SD 3-1
ARZ 500-1
Cliff Lee is a free agent so my sense he is not going a potentially costly financial acquisition for the Dodgers, but who knows what they may do. But hard to say in June what shape they will be in 6 weeks…
Although I disagreed with moving Sandoval at all ( and still do) , unlike many I don’t bitch when Bochy’s line ups work. Going into today’s action, they lead the NL in June runs scored. He can bat Bengie lead off and I’ll just figger he knows what he’s doing.
Buster catching tonight, no? Think Rowand gets a start and replaces Bengie’s bat in the LU.
Torres-RF
Franchez-2B
Huff-1B
Uribe-SS
Pat-LF
Buster-C
Panda-3B
Rowand-CF
Joe-P
Has anyone read this Shit.
http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/lords-no-rings
Actually, fresh, that’s a fairly positive article. I mean, the fact that the SF Giants haven’t won a world series isn’t an insult. It’s a fact. Plus, it looks to have been written in 2008 because it mentions they came in last the previous season.
It was Monterey Co, Dennis, but who’s counting?
Dennis Martinez had a few good games vs the Giants. Maybe not as many as it seemed like, but . . .
Agreed Ted…. I thought it was very interesting… and not negative at all….. Telling in what long time fans have been through…..
From earlier, I agree with DaddyO’s assessment of the Padres… don’t count them out… as long as the owner doesn’t mandate a sell off they will be competitive done the stretch…. Just look at what they did down the stretch last year, with a much less competitive team….
Thanks for the link, Fresh. It does appear to be from 2008, as it says that opening day will mark their 50th anniversary.
Anyway, the only problem I have is that the jackass who wrote it obviously is not a true fan. Here is an bit from the article:
“As worried as we are about politics, wars, the environment, and our spiritual condition, we tend to be blasé about the fate of the Giants, reveling absentmindedly in the team’s glories, not dwelling on when they disappoint. After all, most of us who go to Giants games are essentially optimists and polymaths, transplants from elsewhere who have so many other activities to pursue that we stop to brood on sporting failures only when there’s a rare lull in the action.”
This guy obviously has not experienced this blog, or gotten to know too many hard-core Giants fans.
That is one part I don’t agree with… If he goes on any of the Giants Blogs he will see some of the most passionate (both positive and negative) fans of any fanbase. On Yahoo I check out the blogs of other teams when they play the Giants, and most of them can even compare to the Giants blog, and how much traffic and comments it gets.
For me it did well to show some insight to why many fans are so bitter at the owners/team/management…
Chi, that’s the part that made me mad. I’ve only been following this team since ’89, so I can’t say I’m a long suffering fan.
Unca C., Dennis Martinez is the classic TYPE of pitcher that has given the Giants fits for so many years. Great curveball pitchers fooling the Giants hackilicious hitters. This year is becoming one of the exceptions right in front of our eyes, though. It’s cool seeing the Giants drawing some walks.
Zum I agree, when I saw Panda’s stats during the A’s series where for one game he had 1 hit with 2 walks I knew he was on his way out of his slump.
Tonight’s lineup:
Torres CF
Sanchez 2B
Huff RF
Uribe SS
Burrell LF
Posey 1B
Sandoval 3B
Molina C
Martinez SP
Well, I guess if he figures Molina isn’t getting on anyway, it doesn’t much matter where he bats…
Dodgers to put RHP Billingsley on disabled list.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/06/15/sports/s160647D31.DTL
LOL LA….. doyers got no where to go but down…….
I don’t like the Celtics… but every bone in my body wants to see the Lakers lose tonight….
Pablo still in the 8 spot. I guess the time is right, huh, TF? I mean, last Friday, was the wrong time. You said don’t move him out of the 3:
“What I said is dead on fucking right: the correct time is when *I* say it is because I know better. Bochy is a smart manager but he’s bowing to public opinion fueled by the “brain dead caribbean” sentiment still prevalent.”
TF, 6/11/10, right after the LU announcement showed Pablo dropped to 8.