A Perfect Night of Baseball
This is unfolding nicely, isn’t it? Professional, inevitable comeback win last night. And how about Mike Quade? he’s got the Cubs playing for…..I dunno, but whatever it it that’s the reason he should be named their manager in the off season. The job he’s done keeping that team together and playing hard until the end is to be honored…..
Ian Kennedy going tonight? No prob, we’ll just throw Lincecum at ’em. As I said yesterday, a sweep of the d-backs would hardly surprise, in fact I expect it. San Diego is hitting the 16th pole staggering, on fumes, as I said they would do.
I’m not sure why anyone is sweating who we play in the playoffs. Philly doesn’t scare me at all, In fact I think we match up well with them………
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Mike Quadie deserves a fucking huge gift basket for being a baller and suiting his guys up to play hard.Rejiggering the rotation so the Padres would get his best 4 was pure class!He plays the games the right way till the end.
many of you know that my best friend since we were kids is a huge A’s fan–lots of bets over the years between us. This year we had a bet about the Giants win total and the O/U was 88. Here’s the email I got today, now THIS is how a man owns up to a bet (with money coming into my palpal account, of course):
Thomas to me
show details 7:02 AM (14 minutes ago)
The error of my ways in predicting the Giants would win fewer than 88 games this year could never have been made clear in a more impactful way than by the Giants winning their 89th game on my birthday. That’s not an accident. It was the baseball gods (who are apparently giants fans) smacking me in the face for my certainty that the Giants would fall short this year. What was most impressive was the way in which they exceeded 88 wins; nothing cheap, nothing easy, lots to overcome, requiring huge amounts of intestinal fortitude and “never say die” attitude. They had every right to quit and say “we just weren’t as good as ….” But they never did. I could not have been more wrong about the 2010 Giants, and you could not have been more right.
Nice for him to man-up…and yes…I was one of those who was in on the bet. Show me the money!
My comments about the Padres:
“They are who we thought they were! They are who we thought they were!”
Now that is how a brow-beaten A’s fan should respond.,..too bad there are not enough of those type of A’s fans.
I would still rather not play the Phillies first up in a short series. I think they are destined for the World Series with the starting pitching and hitting. But if we play a full 7 game series, we can get to their bullpen. I think winning one of the first two is a certainty.
I think winning two at home is very likely. We just need to set it up so Game 6 is Sanchez in Philly and Game 7 is Cain. I would expect Linceucm as Game 1 and Game 5 starter unless Timmy is pitching a potential Game 5 against Atlanta.
But first we need to destroy the Braves, which is who I expect we get.
Lincecum-Sanchez-Cain-Zito is how I would go with a rotation with Lincecum in a possible Game 5 at home.
I know it’s early to talk playoff rotation but my friends and I have been saying the same thing. Zito as number four with Bumgarner available for long relief would be nice. It would also mean that if they really needed a big game, they could skip Zito. Lincecum/Sanchez/Cain is simply devastating. I’d put that up against Halladay/Oswalt/Hamels any day.
If the Playoffs began today (Team with home advantage listed first)
AL: Rays vs Rangers….Twins vs Yankees
NL: Phillies vs Reds….Giants vs Braves
An impressive pennant-drive victory, featuring timely hitting — three RBI singles! — the usual solid pitching and even a little help from the ump in the 8th. Two steps closer to nailing it down. What a fun time to be a Giants fan.
And here in the East, the Yanks finally clinched a playoff spot. All season I’ve seen Yanks fans hang on every pitch like it’s Game 7 of the World Series, an imaginary Summer of Drama. For Yankees fans, there is no drama in a typical baseball season. That’s now 15 of the last 16 years they’ve made the playoffs. The Yanks in the postseason is as predictable as a New York cabbie honking his horn in the middle of Times Square.
Would it be great to root for a team that enjoys that much success? Of course. But being a fan of the Giants, or any other contending team, means soaking in the ups and downs and all-around craziness that a real pennant race entails, not really knowing whether that blown lead in the 8th will be the fatal blow or whether that walk-off HR will be the springboard for a big winning streak. I’m sure the Yanks held an appropriate celebration last night. But when the Giants finally end this six-year playoff drought, our champagne is going to taste pretty fucking sweet.
Saw on highlights last night Girardi being interviewed in the champagne spray about the Yankees season. He went on and on about having to overcome so much “adversity” in the season. $200 million payroll and you’ve got some “adversity”? Gag me. If the Giants get to the WS, I want the Yankees so that SF can give them a major beatdown …
Great post, Mac. Love it.
Hey does anyone think Brian Wilson is starting to look like a mohawked version of King Leonidas from the “300” movie which is pretty fucking badass.
Mac, being at the game last night, I can tell you fans are ready to explode. You’d think we’d clinched after SD final was posted and Wilson recorded the last strike. People can sense this is going to happen.
Fun time at the yard as always, but it helps to have great seats, great weather and a packed house with the division on the line. Sharing a high five with an 83 yr old woman celebrating her birthday, decked out in a full length orange coat was the caper. An inspiration to anyone. Leaving the park, there was just an incredible buzz. Tony Bennett never sounded so good.
Love it! How true! Rocking the Orange and Black feels pretty good now.
I do like moving Lincecum up…surprised they just dont just give Bum a skip to avoid any arm stress and just have Zito pitch Thursday, Cain Friday and if not clinched by that night then Sanchez Saturday and Lincecum if needed Sunday.
If we clinch by Friday and rest Sanchez and Lincecum, why push Bum’s arm further? Throw Pucetas and Sosa into the mix and see what they have….
“They are who we thought they were!”
You thought they would win 90 games?
Playoffs, Playoffs, who said anything about playoffs?? I just want to win the next game. That is the Giants attitude right now. Oh they know they are going, but they need to take care of business first!!
Alls I know is my 92 win prediction is looking pret-ty good right now. And what’s amazing about that is, I just pulled a number outta my ass.
Ted, what was your run total? Looks like they’re on pace for 703. I had 92 wins and 710 runs, so I’m gonna need them to really knock the ball around against AZ tonight or tomorrow…
Yeah, I had 714 runs so I need a little push as well
And the sad part of my 714 is I actually *did* do a calculation. I forget what exactly but it was 4 point something runs a game. Too many shutouts. Then again, I though those 10-13 run wins would average it out but juuuuuust not quite. Yet.
i had 94 so I think i’m coming up a little short. I did have them winning the division though.
Before we have the Gyros playing the Phils, let’s do the proverbial one game at a time dance. It ain’t over ’til it’s over. When BF’s number at the top right is 0, that’s when I’m celebrating. Not before. Gyros need this one tonite, and keep their heads down for the next one. Meanwhile, bless the Cubs and the children….
bless the Cubs and the children….
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Billy Mumy was in that, right?
Danger Will Robinson!…
Back when the Giants were out of it this season, my wife claimed that this was the year they would win the World Series. There have been several games this year where they were losing by a few runs and she would tell me they were going to win. Sure enough, every time she’s called it, she was correct. I’m not saying I believe her WS call but I am saying she’s had some good mojo going on all year.
I predicted it.
What?
…come on, Nipper, you know Babbler predicted it ~ or he soon will, and he’s never wrong!
Max, never. I had SD coming in last place this year. I had us winning the division with 89 games at the start of the year with the Rockies in second and then I had AZ third. But I nailed the Dodgers in 4th:)
I want an AZ sweep to get to my 93 win prediction for the contest…I think San Dog and I have 93 wins and 702 Runs, which is going to be real close…
I have 93, but the lads are going to have to start scoring like a hooker during fleet week to get to my 728 runs.
Snarkk, the Giants can do the one game at a time thing. We fans don’t have to do that at all. What we talk about has no relevance to the team’s chances. I summarily reject your request.
Swick, do whateverthehell you want. No prob. I started celebrating in game 6 2002 when Dusty took out Russ. I pinched myself thinking that I’d been a Giants fan too damn long to celebrate early, but I couldn’t help it, it looked like it was in the damn bag, a mortal lock with the relievers coming in and a late 5 run lead. I don’t need to say anything more about what happened. I’m in the one game at time mode for this week, and anything after…
I still blame my wife for game 6…she convinced me in her post pregnancy state to go out a get her some ice cream around the 5th inning. I tried to explain that it was bad luck to leave with a lead but that damn hen-pecking wife got me to do it.
And I of course said hell we have a 5 run lead, we have this in the bag…
We all blame your wife, GH
I’m not even counting on the Giants being in the playoffs yet. But I have been salivating at the rotation they can throw at teams since the beginning of last year. I’m a pessimist about the Giants by nature, so while I like this current team’s chances in theory, our recent playoff experience tells me that they’ll just get swept in the first round by whomever they play. That way, I won’t get too disappointed.
Win or lose, this has been a great year, though!
BF, your POTG is so appropriate. Wiki says Quade is a baseball lifer, he’s been in multiple organizations, 4 years as a player in the minors, never made it up. Has over a 1000 wins as manager in the minors all over the place, but no sniff at MLB manager, though he was interviewed for the Cubs job a few years back. Even coached with the A’s 2000-2002. Obviously, he’s got some class and a strong baseball sensibility of what’s right when it counts. I don’t know if the Cubs are playing well because of him, or just being out from under Lou. But, from the outside, he’s the type of guy I’d give a managing gig. He’s paid his dues, unlike LA handing the gig to Mattingly on a platter…
Kind of like the Niners did with Singletary.
Come on Dennis. Apples and oranges. This Quade dude never played in the bigs, has managed over 1000 minor league games the past 20+ years. He knows the gig. Sing was a star player, then a motivational speaker and pseudo preacher. He didn’t even get into pro coaching until the early 2000s, a glorified rah rah coach, never even a coordinator. He just doesn’t know how to do it…
snarkk, he was comparing Singletary to Mattingly
Don’t interrupt, I’m on a roll. Well then, if that’s DMD’s take, in the inimitable words of Emily Litella, “Never Mind”!…
Ted, she should be punished!
I thought we could take the Phillies last year because Hamels was not as good and Lidge was horrific, but they still made the WS thanks to Cliff Lee. Their rotation is so much better this year…
…and OUR rotation is so much better than last years’, too!!
Plus we have superior Gomez’s
Ghead: I’ve posted about 5 reminders for you to send me your pick for total team HRs ( a tie breaker for you and Sandog). Get it to me before tonight’s game or he would win by default.
twinfan1@hotmail.com
Nice position with five to go and Timmy on the mound this evening. Though i didn’t get into the most recent contest, having won the April one, my January prediction looks just slightly rosy: 94-68. They would need a full sweep of these next five. Go get em Giants!
Though i didn’t get into the most recent contest, having won the April one
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Considering its sequel just came out, how can you forget the WALL STREET mantra “Greed..for lack of a better word..is good”
A lot of people have thought the Giants would run the Pads down, Flavor…
as far as being afraid of the Phills, it’s simply that having the HF is pretty fucking obviously an advantage. I don’t fear any team but given the choice, HF against the Braves is the EZ pick.
AP game story on last nights Cubs v. Pads has Latos coming unglued in the dugout. http://tinyurl.com/2av5ol4 Not a good sign for the Pads…
Rockies tickets-waste of money
A watered-down beer-Dinger will steal it from you
Bag of peanuts-Dinger will steal it from your kid
Watching Tulo break his bat after striking out to eliminate the Rockies-Priceless
There are some things in life money can’t buy,but for everyone else,being a Rockies fan sucks ass.
Quote from Latos , courtesy of Henry:
“Baseball works in funny ways. The only way I could honestly put it is, we could be like the Giants and go and change our whole lineup, put guys with ‘San Francisco Giants’ across their jerseys. We didn’t. “We added two guys (Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick) We’ve been the same team all year. We haven’t just gone and grabbed guys from other teams.”
Wow. Sour grapes, Latos. Take it up w/yer management . . .
The other way to say that is: “We didn’t do enough to improve our hitting. We sat back while other teams got some needed bats for the stretch run.”
sounds like a concession to me…
“We could be like the Giants, and try to improve out team, or just sit back and watch them catch up to us.”
Yes, a much more honorable way to do things, Matt . . .
Most thought, including yours truly, that getting Ludwick was highway robbery.
219 AB .221 BA .647 OPS 5 HR 25 RBI
Tejada has been better but hardly a difference maker. By contrast, Sabean had the summer of his life..
Yeah, right Latos. Isn’t the goal to make it to the postseaon? But you’re right Matt. It’s just too bad you won’t be playing at this time next week.
Don’t sweat the Phillies? The pads have been giving us fits. It is only the character of this team that lets us believe.
Go Giants
Postgame show made a great point,our opening day lineup sucked.And this one is pretty damn good.Opening day LU…Rowand CF,Renteria SS,Sandoval 3B,Huff 1B,DeRosa LF,Molina C, Uribe 2B,Bowker RF
Now Torres CF,Sanchez 2B,Huff 1B,Posey C,Burrell LF,Guillen RF,Uribe SS,Sandoval 3B.
Best case scenario is to get the Reds at home in the first round, but it’s more likely to be the Braves now. Either would be fine with me, but I’d rather not get the Phillies in Philly, for no other reason that I have playoff tickets and would like to be at game 1.
for no other reason that I have playoff tickets and would like to be at game 1.
Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyaaaah Nyah
Damned straight.
Same Lineup: No reason to mess with success.
Torres CF
Fontenot 2B
Huff 1B
Posey C
Burrell LF
Guillen RF
Uribe SS
Sandoval 3B
Lincecum P
Of course, Latos is too young to be aware of the Padres giving McGriff away to the Braves in ’93.
—–
Watching the Ken Burns’ ’10th inning’ last night….I’d forgotten how close the Braves came to winning that series in ’96 against the Yankees.
Also the Series had some poignant Giants moments, including a small segment on being a Giants fan. That kind of came out of nowhere. I was not expecting to see that.
I read an interview with Ken Burns. He said he put a lot of emphasis on the Giants due to Barry Bonds influence, good or bad, on the era covered for the doc. How is it zum? I haven’t caught it yet.
It’s very good. And fairly sympathetic to Bonds. It did a big piece on how the ’98 season unfolded, and how the Sosa/McGwire homerun derby totally outstaged Barry becoming the first to hit 400 homers and steal 400 bases in a career. So Barry must have thought: “Well, if it’s majestic homeruns that get all the attention….”
Burns was criticized by some for being too sympathetic to Bonds. He explained he was neither defending nor accusing Bonds. Simply trying to understand him including his upbringing and early playing career under the shadows of Willie Mays and, of course, his own father
Well, Willie is a prick and his Dad was an abusive drunk, Barry probably turned out better than would be expected.
I think, for good reason, Bonds is a unifying theme of the two-part series. The story really starts just before the strike–just as the Giants DON’T go to Fla and sign Bonds. Bonds and Matt W. in 93 and 94 were huge. Then, after the strike, the roids and then back to Bonds, and roids Chapter II in part 2, I guess. I was flipping over to the documentary a bit last night, during commerical breaks and Krukow asides. . . . I like it. I thought the footage of Ken Caminiti at the start of the steroid section, with no heavy-handed comment, subtly set a somber tone.
GiantHead- last chance to Email your tie breaker.
For chrissake, GH, will you give Michael the fucking numbers??!!
It’s even starting to work *my* nerves
I’m curiouis how they decide who plays in the NLDS opening on the 6th as opposed to the one opening on the 7th? Open on the 6th, you get a day off on the 7th, allowing for a possible 3 man rotation.
I think it’s the team with the best record that get’s to start on the 6th.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp
Thoughts on the 0/u of 7 tonight? Not really interested in the -200 on the giants.
What’s the “-200 on the Ginats”?
Bet $200 to win 100. Conversely, if they were 200 it would be bet $10o to win $200. This concludes today’s gambling 101 course for the day
Thnak you, Professor Flav, UNLV
I would think so too, Bagger.
Might pick up another game on Cin as Dusty resting all his starters tonight.
Oh, didn’t see the link. That confirms it.
Well, tonight is sure Lincecum weather
Much cooler tonite at ATT. Should be around 72F degrees at game time. Good for Timmy, not so good for the Big Flies…
-200 on the Gyros? Vegas likes Timmy. I’d go under the 7…
Take the Money Line +110 and the OVER Final: Giants 6 Snakes 3 Dare I say it?
Dare. Dare.
Book it!
I think Gibson still has some Dodger blue in him, he pulled Kennedy after 4 innings and 80 pitches with a lead last time out. Saving him for the Giants?
Hell, he only played with them for 3 years. Although, granted, he won the MVP with them. What an odd MVP year that was. He numbers were just a bit above average. I guess leadership and other intangibles weighed in.
Or…there was a bribe
I don’t associate Gibson much with LA, he wasn’t there long enough for me to develop a typical Dodger dislike for him. Maybe an A’s fan would have more reason to do so … 🙂
Three years in LA can scar a man for a lifetme. Whatever, fucks. Still interesting that he pulled the dude with a 3 run lead after 4.
No need to be so pissy. Yet…
Twin, you got me curious about that Kennedy start. Here’s an explanation:
http://xr.com/cia2
Here we go. This could be the one which essentially nails it down. Timmy vs whomever. Pads with backs to wall facing a Cubs team invigorated by an interim manager who wants to take it to another level. Glad the Cubbies are in a different division and that our superior pitching made certain we took two of three from them in their playpen. Dagos right now have to be disappointed, dispirited and disillusioned. Perfect.
Good shot of that Magic Number getting reduced to three tonight and not a bad chance of it dropping clear down to two. Drama-wise, it would be kinda interesting to see a M.N. of One going into the weekend, with the Giants starting Zito, Cain and Sanchez against whomever the Pads can still get motivated to start at China Basin. Betcha under that scenario Zito will do all he can to be Zicasso that night to earn some of that big payoff he gets from the team.
Yeah, got called everything up to and beyond a cockeyed optimist for predicting a 94-68 season clear back in January. They would have to win all five remaining games to make that happen. So that would be a stretch. 92-70 looks almost probable. 93-69 could be the wrap. Either scenario and its almost certainly the Divisional Championship. That position was also part of my pre-season projection. If my memory glands are not sagging too much, i think Michael was on the same wavelength. Made some early season mentions of the Halloween Machine: Every tried and true (and believe me we HAVE been tried) Giants fan’s dream.
Timmy tonight. Let’s go get em. I’d like to see a majestic victory. Maybe nothing quite gargantuan, just Gigantic.
I’m a tad worried about Tim going on short rest tonight, plus he hasn’t really pitched well against the dbacks this yr–but, the dbacks line up is a joke again. Probab ly going under tonight but I’m not betting it.
It’s not short rest, it’s normal rest.
Mac, that link isn’t opening but whatever. Like much of what I post, it’s meant to generate some conversation. Instead,maybe we can discuss Snarkk’s take on the Burrell signing- that he was no upgrade on Bowker..
To sum: After trying to monitor just how many innings Kennedy could handle, he would only keep going further into games if he showed excellent command, efficiency and confidence. Kennedy couldn’t produce any of the three. Plus, he kept stepping off the mound and seemingly having communication problems with backup catcher John Hester.
Up 2 on Cinn now for HF.
Az minus Upton helps. Their lefties against Tim?
Drew .167
Johnson .222
Laroche .176
Kruk only calls the mound “the bump” when he’s discussing the LU just before the gm starts. But he does it every gm and it bugs the shit out of me.
Fuck drew….
I’m considering dying my hair black for the playoffs….
Hang ’em high…
I see upthread that someone talks about not enjoying this until its over. I think that how somebody reacts to his team being 2 games up with five to go, or being 5 runs up in the 7th to win the WS, is the essence of the doomer/polly mindset.
Hell, I remember the feeling in the first five games of that series, as the Giants put themselves in a position to win it all, I remember how it felt in fifth through the seventh as Giants built up that lead in game 6 against the Angels. It was a great feeling. It is a bummer that the feeling didn’t last, but it was great while it lasted, and I got all enjoyment I could out of that series. It beat the hell out of not getting that feeling at all.
It feels great to have a 2 game lead with five to go. It feels great that the Giants have a great pitching staff. Great, hell, they are flirting with being one of the historically great staffs. It feels great that they have a lineup that can do some banging. It feels great to have a legit ROY candidate behind the plate. I’ve enjoyed the shit out of this season. Could it all end tonight? Could Lincecum and Posey get injured? Could the Giants lose 5 in a row starting tonight? Yep.
But at least I will have enjoyed some of it. I feel sorry for doomers, who live with the stupid fantasy that only by constantly vigilant pessimism can they will their team to victory, and can only enjoy a game, or a season, when it is safely over.
Even as I write this, Lincecum gives up the homer, and falls behind batters. Whaddya think, did I jinx ’em? Some doomers, somewhere are gonna hafta concentrate extra hard to counteract the jinxing powers of my enjoyment of baseball. Get cracking!
derivative drivel…
Did Tim forget to warm up?
Closer the Giants get to the postseason, the more bitter Loo-igi gets.
Nevada, you’ve powered down too many tonight. Doomers? Head over to the Splash if you want to find that shit. This site is 100% Giant fan……..
Nice play be Font,keeping the ball in the infield saved a run.
There are a few doomers here. Don’t pretend otherwise.
I’ve had to talk several of you off the ledge, several times each.
Good eye, Guillen.
So is that a “KW” in my score book for Guillen?
Speak of the Devil, “Doomer Denny” checks in..
So the Giants’ goal … get him to 80 pitches? Or is Gibson a lying rat bastard Dodger-loving SOB?
I just liked typing that.
Hey there Flappers…I know…long time.
So Twin…I see you asking GH for HR numbers for a tie-breaker. Has it come down to that? I do remember (and have the email that I sent to you and Flavor on 7/15) that I predicted 91 victories and the Giants in the Post-season.
So, where do we find the predictions for earlier this year, Flavor?
And, as I have said since way long ago…the Los Gigantes will win the West.
There was mention by Twin of talking folks off the ledge earlier…fuck, I was trying to coax others to join me on the ledge (not that I am a doomer, or anything)…if anything, my ass is full-on Polly!
He never got me his tie breaker, I guess he didn’t want the prize. So he’s out. It’s unfair to Sandog now to let GH do a HR pick this late. If the dumbfuck was worried about what he’d get, he could have just thrown the HDrive away. With eveything, this system is worth almost a grand.
Tim’s doing great considering that he appears to have nothing. No velocity whatsoever tonight. Montero fanned on a BP fastball.
Well, 91 is a pretty good BP fastball.
Probably 88 on any other ML gun…
Timmy seems to have settled as the game progresses. Anyone got an alternative video connexion working? Slow on Yahoo.
Can you get ESPN2 on Pluto?
I’m watching on ESPN. Dreadful announcers. E.g., just said Mays missed a year in 1952. Not true. 1952 and 1953 or most of those two years. Anyway, I’m asking: when did the Chevron car in LF go away?
Timmy settling down. We can win this.
Great play by Fukudome of Cubs.
Sabean traded it for Wellemeyer during the Cash For Clunker program…
Nice to see ya back Chi…Can’t remember for sure.But did’t you have a wager with BF’s buddy The Boney One on his ridiculous thinking that the A’s would have more wins then the Giants?LOL
Yes I did, and I commented on Flavor’s comment. That A-lovin’ bitch owes me some fucking coin! Pay up, suckah!