Zito’s Law
It was in full effect last night, wasn’t it? Zito’s Law shut down the bats. For the first time in a while it just felt like nothing was going to happen, no one was going to step up. Posey looked horrendous at the plate, Same with Torres, Uribe, basically every single at bat after the Franchez HR. 14 left on base–that’s another theorem of Zito’s Law–tons of guys left on base…..
Cain v Garland tonight. I hate to go into San Diego with a line up full of cold bats but that’s what we’re doing. And the bats have been cold for a while, it’s been disguised a little because of the wins. We haven’t put two good hitting games together since I don’t remember when……
3 of 4 is totally doable. For either team……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Tough loss for Zito last night. He has had quite a few games where he’s gotten the Cain treatment this year.
I was thinking that lack of hitting had been disguised by wins too. I went and looked at hists per game since the turn of the month and its not.
9/1, 2-1 Win, 4 hits
9/3, 4-2 Loss, 2 Hits
9/4, 5-4 Win, 7 Hits
9/5, 3-0 Win, 6 Hits
9/6, 2-0 Win, 8 Hits
9/7, 6-3 Win, 9 Hits
9/8, 3-1 Loss, 1 Hit
Bobby V thinks they’ll take 3 of 4 in SD and now Flav agrees? Shit, that’s good enough for me. SF has the pitching to lock up SD’s parade of .250 hitters they just need to put some runs on the board. Sanchez is going to dominate tomorrow like he wanted to a month ago.
How about a sweep…
Zito reminds me of the Bill Walsh quote on Steve DeBerg, “just good enough to get you beat.”
What counts is the Giants took the series. If they continue with that, taking two of three, three of four and four of seven, all of the Giants will have some shiny new rings.
DIRT– when I look at that list the only game they really hit as a team was the 9/7 game. The 9/4 game was just too weird and too much of an aberration (4 solo HR’s in the last 3 innings???) to count for anything other than a 1-off. And even if you count that game they still haven’t put two games in a row together of a potent offense. Also, no double digit hit games in there. In fact, when did we last have one of those? Maybe the Reds home series?
Bottom line is we need at least a split in SD. If we lose three we are fucked forever (Frank Booth quote).
But losing three and falling four out with the Rockies right there I fear will take the mental fight out of this team.
We were basically fucked by the Dodgers…fucking bastards. Let’s take three out of four and come home and kick the living shit out of the Bastardos…
Flav, yeah the 9/4 game was a 1-off. Totally fucking awesome but the abberation. I thought the 9/1 game was a sort of a 1-off too. They didn’t to do shit against Jiminez but scratched out the W.
I’ll agree with you that the offense isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders but that has been the MO this season. Inconsistent.
Those hit totals are about what you would expect for wins from this club though. Its all bout the pitching and they’ve turned it up. If Sandoval could just get his act together on the road in SD this weekend. I wonder it Bochy will play him all 4 or not.
I think Bonehead should play Panda 2 of 4, let Uribe take 3rd the other two. I hate to say it, but Panda’s sucked all year on the road, why should he suddenly catch fire now just because it’s the Pads? Let his eye high fastball swing sit for a coupla games. I wouldn’t even PH him, he’s been horsebleep with RISP…
Well, here we are. I’ll probably get flamed for saying this, but this is the make or break series for the Giant’s season. Of course that won’t necessarily be the case if they split, but 3 of 4 for either team would be huge. It’s time for the Giants to step up and beat these jokers. They have their destiny in their own hands, and that’s all you can ask for. Time to get ‘er done.
Go Cain! Go Giants!!
Bozo, I just said that on the preevios threas. ZXito is the Steve DeBerg of the ratation.
It’s like the pressure’s off once he gives up the lead. Who knows? He sure doesn’t get run support, but you give him 4, he gives up 5. You give him 3 and he gives up 4. You give him 6, and he walks everyone in sight.
Jesus. Coffe!!! That 1st line looks like one of a thousand monkeys typing Shakespeare . . .
Yeah, a split is nearly essential. The Rox hopefully don’t get the sweep. They have AZ next at home, and that doesn’t bode well for the Giants. They look to win 3 of their next 4most likely. Thet are hotter than shit right now.
The Giants HAVE to play error free ball in SD. Too many of the earlier games, they made stupid errors to give SD extra outs. Got to get on the starters early and keep their pen out of it.
Wow, 47 – 92. That’s what a Pittsburgh fan is looking at this morning. 18 years of losing, now that would be tough.
Pittsburg is losing but I think I read somewhere that they are still making money.
18 years is horrible for those fans. Especially after the new stadium and all.
At least they’ve got the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has made a lot of money the last few years. Their private, i.e., real, financials got published on Deadspin, probably made more than a few Bucs’ fans heads spin, as well as got Uncle Bud’s knickers in a twist. That’s what happens when you hang on to rev sharing money, don’t pay players. Marlins similar, though they might have so far as committed fraud to get local government to fund their new yard. If I’m a Bucs season tix holder, I notify the club I’m not going to be one next year…
Last night there was at least 2 innings where someone was standing on 2nd with less than 2 outs. Terrible, last nights game was winnable. they cannot do that in SD!!
Zito deserved a better fate last night.The offense just sucked.However i really like the way that Gimp Guillen is swing the bat.Yeah i’ll probably get flamed for that as well.But 2 nights ago he was close to having a 3 HR night,2 off of the walls and one right to the fence,combined with 2 smoked hits last night,he goes in swinging a solid stick.Plus he’s hitting .474 9-19, 2 doubles.1 HR,6 RBI’s and only 1 K against Garland in those 19 AB’s.Guillen and Cain will cause the most pain tonight.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a Zito; and his number is 75
Book of Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 18 (Slightly Revised)
Ted, that is the second funniest thing I’ve read today. The first? Well, since you asked, the legal document filed in LA on Joe Francis.
Francis is described as a “convicted felon; child molester; jail-baiting pervert; pimp; sick bastard; sleaze-peddler; tax cheat; rapist; sleazehole; the epitome of a true misogynist, coked-out amoral direct marketer; violent thug; juvenile smut-peddler; sexual predator; one of the 50 most loathsome people in America; and the Douche of the Decade.”
Dang, I hate direct marketers more than Barry Beelzitoebub
How can you not like a guy who talks girls into showing their breasts so you can make a video about it??
Kevin – it just cracked me up that they described him as a direct marketer after calling him a sick bastard, sleazehole, Douche of the Decade. And, yes I do plan on adding sleazehole to my vocabulary.
I saw that one too. Joe Francis a doucehbag??? Sounds about right.
Also something about Paris smuggling some things in her…ahem “hilton”. Love that girl.
LQTM
Padres aren’t exactly tearing the cover off the ball either lately. They got better pitching vs. LA than during their losing streak, when their starters were getting hammered to the tune of over 5.00 ERA. Pitching and D, maybe a timely steal or one big whack from unlikely source…should be fun.
Hard for me to trust anything comes out of Bobby V’s mouth. If he gets hired to manage next year ahead of a Don Baylor or Willie Randolph, that would be sign a team is more interested in TV ratings than winning.
Huff is swinging a lot better and Franchez as well. I give Panda a start at third and he needs to produce.
Guillen may have the break out series this weekend. His swing is smoking right now. I think he has a huge chip on his shoulder and we did not have him when we ay
When we played the Padres last…
losing all 4 would probably fuck us but losing 3 wouldn’t be the end of the world. Don’t forget, Pads are going on a 10 gm road trip after our series……
Sorry, Flav. Losing 3 of 4 would be the end of the world. Just like if the 49ers lose to Seattle, the world shall end September 12, 2010. The Mayans will have been off by 2 years and 99 days. Still a pretty damn good guess if ya ask me.
Seattle is a must win!!
The good news, we’ve just endured the Zito start, and he won’t be starting in San Diego. We’ve got our 4 best going in SD.
Lose 3 of 4 and Colo is probably going to take over 2nd pl.
Hopefully Dusty’s boys can salvage one bleeping game today
I don’t know BF, lose 3 and the Giants are 5 or 6 back. That would make the rest of the season very tough. The last 3 games in SD could be meaningful or not. I think the Gmen have to at least split to stay in contention. I think there are some Giants who are pressing right now. If the lose 3, that would be even more pressure. IMO
4 actually.
I’ve been down on Cain lately, he seems to somehow give up a brain dead gopher ball at the wrong time. But, in Petco, a fly ball hurler is generally in good shape. I’m going with him putting in a good effort tonite, keeping it close, Torres gets loose a bit and the Giants break out with at least 4 runs to win….
Snarkk, I hear you on Sandoval’s suckititude and there’s no reason to believe that he’ll turn the corner but he’s that missing piece. Dude needs to step it up. Sf should air in some of Mama’s lasagna. Whatever it takes.
Mama’s lasagna?
It’s his favorite.
Venezuelan lasagna?…
I guess it’s possible in a vernacular sort of way. I’ve heard people describe moussaka as Greek lasagna
Oops. I meant non-vernacular
Doesn’t make sense to me either but it probably tastes good.
Tonight’s game is probably key to the series. Cain maintains focus and the Giants hit Garland like they used to in Arizona and the Dago lead is cut back to one game. It will be interesting to see whether Bochy does some shuffling of the LU. Doubt there will be much movement as he is a pretty conservative manager.
Throughout the game, the Baseball Gods were not smiling. All the wrong teams won ~ with the exception of the Twins and the Tigers over in the Junior Circuit. Damned Dodgers totally mailed against a rookie pitcher who was making his second start after being bombed by the Rox in his first go-round. And the only way the Reds hit Aaron Cook was with a Votto liner to the shin. Last night was New Moon. Maybe it was having a malefic influence.
Ted: Is feta, kasseri, or both used in moussaka? Ate some kasseri, alternating with almond butter last night on slices of zucchini bread. Good combination. Any kalamata olives used in the dish?
I’ve never had it with feta as it doesn’t melt smoothly. Believe it or not, it’s usually parmesan. And no olives. I know. Hard to believe for a Greek dish. But there’s always the salad
No feta. Don’t be a Malaka!
Is that like a mook?
Agree tonite’s game is huge. This is essentially a playoff game. Giants win, its down to 1, the Petco hex is dented, and pressure off them and onto the Pads. Pads win, Gyros are now back 3 and scrambling the rest of the series…
exactly right snarkk
Snarkk, did deadspin only release the Pirates docs or where there more teams? I’m guessing SF’s data wasn’t in there.
Marlins, Angels (LAA making good money despite high payroll; I think they showed a $20M distribution to ownership last year or year before), several others. I think 5 terams in all, so far, and Deadspin promised to release more teams, last time I looked at their site a while back. No SF yet — Baer is probably sweating bullets. I’d be shocked if SF’s somehow got pilfered and published. Yes, I would LUV to see those Gyro financials to see just how poor they really are…
I have heard that $20M number for LAA too. No doubt Baer is sweating the possibility of the numbers getting out there. I think we’re both in agreement on the front office running this major market team like a small market team so I don’t want to re-hash that but seeing those numbers would be interesting to say the least.
The Giants have a separate corporation set-up for the ballpark. I think they show the ballpark dept on the Baseball club side but I don’t think they show the revenue that the park generates (concessions, concerts, tractor pulls or whatever). So I imagine payment to ownership could be handled through that side of the house.
Reno nailed it. Pablito is in luck. Check out this recipe for “Pasticho”, I don’t think it will be served in Camp Panda in Scottsdale this winter, but in Mama’s kitchen, maybe.
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=374965
http://www.mundoandino.com/Venezuela/Pasticho
The Internet is incredible…
Zito pitched well last night, but as said above, just well enough to lose. The most aggrevating part of his start is that one of the runs he gave up was due to walking the two lead-off batters in the inning. Again, just enough to get the loss.
And the baseball gods weren’t smiling as evidenced by the ball that almost went to the backstop when Ford was on third. A very lucky play for the D-backs that it ticked off the catcher’s glove and stayed close to the plate.
Regardless of bothe scenarios above, leaving that many men on base (and in scoring position) is not going to do it. The bats need to wake up to get this done.
That dirt around hoem was like a bunker sand trap. That ball was not going anywhere…
I just put my neighbors on alert after reading these grim stats: G’s 3 of 13 at Petco going back to last yr and 3-11 in Cain starts vs SD going back to 07.
Either Giants / Cain are due, or make sure the the suicide hotline number is handy…
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255
Ask for Joanne, she’s very kind and understanding.
Buck the numbers!
Lasagne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasticho
Now I’m confused again. I though pastichio was Greek as well
Time for the Giants to break out the “Rally Thongs”. Strike a deal with Victoria Secrets and manufacture thousands of red thong bikini bottoms with the phrase “It’s Magic Inside” stitched right over the crotch.
Joe Bob Baer says Check It Out, at your local Giant Dugout store…
“Get The Fever. It’s Contagious”
Wait. What?
I got VD and Crabs at the Niner game?
G’s with much history and or success against Garland
Guillen 9/19 1hr
Pablo 6/9 1 hr
Huff 8/32, 2 hr
Our fantasy league just got a little tighter last night…Blade, feeling the heat from Flav and I yet????
Overall Points
Batting Pitching
Rank Team R HR RBI SB AVG W SV K ERA WHIP Total
1. Bladerunners 11 12 12 8.5 6.5 9 8 10.5 4 7 88.5
2. Flavor 10 10 6 10.5 6.5 7 9 9 11 8.5 87.5
3. Giant Head 12 7 11 10.5 9 5.5 11.5 5 8 5.5 85
4. Hillbilly Giants 5 8 10 2.5 10.5 11 3 10.5 10 11 81.5
5. Tizzle 8 11 7 6 2 8 7 6 12 12 79
6. NoTalent 7 6 5 8.5 3 10 11.5 12 3 5.5 71.5
7. Clowns R Us 6 5 9 2.5 5 12 5 7 9 8.5 69
8. Ferretball 3 3 3 12 1 4 10 8 7 10 61
9. Unca’s Army 9 9 8 5 12 1 2 2 2 2.5 52.5
10. PawliesPandas 4 2 4 4 4 5.5 6 4 6 4 43.5
11. Wilco Joe 1 1 1 7 10.5 2 1 3 5 2.5 34
12. IrishGiants 2 4 2 1 8 3 4 1 1 1 27
At least Rockies losing for once…
Anyone know about TV for the game tonight. For some reason the Padres/dodgers were on in DC last night
Dodger/Padres was on ESPN last night…
Huh? Isn’t it CSNBA?
just in terms of why the Padres/Dodgers game was on in DC last night, not for tonight’s game. Directv takes care of that…
5-0 Reds in the third. Very nice, but you can never trust an early lead in COL.
Jesus H. Christ, our hitting this month sucks. Have ya seen the numbers?
.189 .245 .352 .597 It’s a wonder how we won 5 of those 7 games. Oh, yeah, pitching helps.
But still, the fact remains: Hit the goddamn ball people! I’ll go with Ralph Kramden to bust out tonight.
Panda best see ball and then, ” Bang! Zoom! Straight to the Moon!” Otherwise, it’s Pow! Right in the kisser.
which makes me real nervous this series, especially how we have played in SD.
Padres played brilliant small ball last night. We need to keep them off the bases, score early…
I did not realize the Rockies finish the season with 4 games in St. Louis. The Cardinals need to stay in this NL Central race. Rockies also have the Padres next week at home.
A sweep is not out of the realm of possibility.
Doesn’t get much better than Ralph threatening Alice.:
I’m just thinking back a month, six weeks or so ago when quite a few of you were rooting for SD to beat LA.
One question. What the fuck were you thinking?
Just so you know, Denny, you are one of just 3 or 4 contestants who are currently in Room B. I’ve made a change in the rules and anyone in Room B at the end of the contest will not be eligible. I’ve simply decided not to award a great PC to a fucking moron.
Fucking Giambi! C’mon Reds!
WOW! from the greatest Giants game in a while to a lousy loss to the DBs
was our team thinking one game ahead of themselves?
This series, like it or not, is major and team Giants have shown character right now.
Tonight is no reason to think anything other than we have team to get it done.
Beat SD
Shit, do the DBacks make the area around home a mud pit EVERY game?
That was insane when Uribe (I think) hit a 95 MPH fastball into the ground, and the ball bounced like 8″. If not for the mud, Ford scores in the 9th . . .
Shit, I think it bounced 4 inches in the air and rolled 8 inches!!
Cargo’s up with the bases loaded and the Rox down by a run. Everyone think DP.
Yes. Good job guys. A DP it was!
Twin changing the contest rules and ruling me ineligible in midstream is totalitarian and Fascism at its finest.
I love it. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m secretly rooting for Chuck. Anyone who still clings to a dirty, oily and tattered Alex Smith jersey is OK in my book. That sumbitch better be on his toes (I hate that cliché) this Sunday vs Seattle and win the damn game.
In case you haven’t heard, Seattle is a MUST WIN ! ! !
I think I read that somewhere??
You are not ineligible yet, D. You’ll just have to monitor your idiocy.
Damn Rocks stole home for the lead.
Rockies win. Giants better come out swingin’ tonight.
When you steal home to get a win, you know you’re on freekin fire. Rocks are on their damn patented late season roll. Giants cannot stumble in Diego…
Little known fact; there was one more Commandment.
11. The Rockies Shall Not Lose in September.
Son of a bitch.
No Room B lineup tonight, gents. This shit is the Scarlet Letter. Go Giants!
Torres CF, F.Sanchez 2B, Huff 1B, Posey C, Guillen RF, Burrell LF, Sandoval 3B, Uribe SS, Cain P
Adulterers?
That is the best offensive lineup we have. Now it has to produce.
On the road, I think I’ll take Uribe at 3rd and egads, Rent, at SS. Rent takes way better ABs than Panda, and the Giants need all the baserunners they can get in this series…
Panda is 6 for 9 with a HR against Garland. Rent is 3 for 19. Bochy should be shot if he started anyone else but Pablo tonight.
Gulllen, BTW, is 9 for 19 with a HR and Huff has taken him deep twice in 32 AB. Those 3 have the best numbers.
Panda’s been swinging at crap the last few games. Terrible approach going on. Hang the vs. pitcher history for once. Rent is a pro, I’ll take him over Panda when the key is to get on base, or get a knock with RISP…
Gimme a break, Snarkk. If Bochy started Rent over Panda, you’d have blown a gasjet posting here.
Chuck, I’m freekin serious. Am I the only one sick of waiting for Panda to break out of this seasonlong horsehit hitting on the road? Enough is enough. He’s near the damn Mendoza line on the road. This is the critical series of the season. I hope he smokes the Pads pitching tonight, but it’ll be a damn shock the way he’s been swinging…
gasjet?
gasket . . .
Fuck it. Hit and win guys.
SD runs like bitches on the Giants. The G’s need to keep ’em off base, and play error-free ball.
No more dink, dunk, and lose . . .
And Torres needs to run on the Pads…
Snarkk can post that shit knowing that we will never how Rent wpuld have done. That’s the beauty of LU bashing. “The last few games”? Just two games ago Panda was one of the offensive heroes.
Bulldust. You rail against starting Whiteside, we’ll never know how Posey might have sucked behind the dish that game. Using your logic means hardly anybody makes any posts here, ‘cuz we’ll never know if most of that hypothetical crap we all talk about would have worked…
If Whitefuck was 6 for 9 against anybody in his entire life, you might have a point.
You’ll probably see Rent tomorrow. He’s NOT starting tonight so fucking drop it. Chucklefuck pulled himself out of Room B by callling you on your hypocritical bullshit. If Panda wasn’t starting tonioght you’d be all over it because of his record against Garland. The ONLY reason you’re still calling for Rent is because you didn’t know about Panda’s 6 for 9…
“Just two games ago Panda was one of the offensive heroes.”
Excuse me, it was Sunday. But he’s hitting over .300 with an OPS over .900 at Petco this year PLUS the record I cited against Garland. No brainer.
Bochy mulls tonight’s LU:
“Hmmm. RHer going. Panda hits RHers well. It’s Garland. He’s 6 for 9 against Garland. We’re at Petco. He’s hit .316 there this year, .908 OPS. Oh hell with it, I’ll go with Rent”
SD radio is all over the thought that anything but a 2-2 split is a huge disappoinment for the team on the losing side. The nice thing about small ball is that it plays well in pretty much any park (as opposed to long ball)… I wouldn’t rely on the Padres’ 10 game road trip to even anything out… especially since the have the best road record in the NL….
Not going tonight, but I will be there tomorrow and Saturday… and Sunday depending on the outcome of the first three….
What would prevent you from going Sunday? Losing the first 3? Please explain…
GO GIANTS!!!
Time to put up or shut up for the Giants.The rotation lines up perfectly(No Zitshit) no excuses,time to gut out some wins against the team that’s owned all season.Have to keep the little shits off base,Eckstein…Venable..Durango…Cabera NO Walks.Make them put the ball in play Cainer,they can’t beat you if they have to hit their way on.
Some interesting info from my blogticulator. This is based on commentary from Room B at the SfGate blogs:
All-Time Best SF Giant RFer:
1. Nate Schierholtz
2. Bobby Bonds
3. Jack Clark
All-Time Best 49er QB:
1. Joe Montana
2. Steve Young
3. Tie: John Brodie and Nate Davis
I voted for Steve Spurrier myself. He was my favorite Niner when I was about 6-years-old. He replaced Brodie and “wowed’em for about 5 games. I jumped on the bandwagon. Oops.
TF: I sure hope more than one of those 6 are at tonight’s game rooting for a Giant Win. Oh, hell, I hope 5 of them are!
No reason for it at all, but I think Torres breaks out of it tonight. Might even hit a leadoff bomb……
Congrats to Brandon Belt on being selected to all-minor league team as 1st basemen by Sporting News.
All-Time Best SF Giants 1B
1)Willie McCovey
2)Will Clark
3Tie:Brandon Belt and David Green
You forgot Ishi.
David Green has to be top 5 right>?
Anyone bet the Saints game tonight? I’m waiting till about mid-October after I’ve had a good chance to gather some data and read each club. Yeah, that ‘ll solve all my problems.
That said, I REALLY like future prez of the US and all around great guy Tom Brady and the Pats this week. Luckily for the pretty boy he was uninjured in that car crash this morning.
Did you see his car, it was all Bundchen up. [rim shot]
It needs to be said that I sympathize with the Snarkker’s LU plight: the fat Gomez or the lazy one?