Fear The Weird Beards……
After not being here since 2003, this is just all about kicking back and enjoying the moment–there”s some second guessing going on, but that’s mostly about the black dye job i did to my head about a half hour after that incredible game. Mental note: the next time I decide to dye my hair in an attempt to peripherally involve myself in something I’m not actually involved with, wait a day and then make the call…….
A few “congrats” to get out of the way:
Congrats to MacDog for winning the season end contest, sponsored by TWINFAN– and Twin, your generosity throughout the year was appreciated by all who participated though a little bit more by the 4 guys who won– off the top of my head that would be James, Stix, SAN DIGGITY DAWG, and Macdog. Did I leave anyone out? Seriously Michael, I appreciate you for everything you do.
Congrats to BLADE who won The Flap Fantasy Baseball league. He led for most of the year, withstood a run in Sept from me and GH (as well as a weird, 4 pt jump from TIZZLE who somehow took 2nd place yesterday) but ultimately took home the coveted first place broken Rich Aurilia bobblehead doll. Blade, I’ll hook up with you later this month to get a mailing address–Twin is much more diligent and responsible when it comes to shipping prizes so be patient…….
Congrats to ME for not shutting this place down. I’m an emotional person prone to impulsive decisions (see: my head) and while I don’t always enjoy getting up at 5am to load up all the bells and whistles that hypnotize you on a daily basis, the fact is I really love this place and look forward to interacting with all of you every day– you regulars are the best Giants fans in the virtual world……
And finally, congrats to all the *weird beards* who made all this happen. I can’t remember a season that gave us so many exciting games, interesting personalities and intriguing side stories. I am just so goddamn happy for guys like Aubry Huff who finally got to take part in all this. Buster Posey jumping up from the dish with a totally awkward completely genuine celebration–I think I looked the same way when my Little League team won the city World Series. Scrap heapers like Uribe and Burrell who have tasted a World Series win before but who might have thought deep down that they would never have a chance to taste it again. Finally getting his shot at 32 and turning himself into the team MVP–Andres Torres. How often does that happen? It’s a first. And then there’s Bochy– After the YEARS of crap and second guessing he’s taken from so many giants fans, I almost got tears in my eyes watching him come out of the dugout yesterday with his arms raised and that big goofy smile on his face–just as he doesn’t argue with the umps very well he could also work on his celebrations. But that was a moment of rare genuine happiness that the public got to see—-one we should all consider ourselves lucky to have gotten to share. And getting to do it against his former team, the one that basically showed him the door years ago, must have been equally satisfying. Bochy deserves our honor and respect for what he’s done with this team in 2010…….
Of course I want this World Series win. Who wouldn’t? But whatever goes down in the post season, whether it’s 3 and out or an ultimate win, the magic of this season will live with me forever. The 2010 Giants. Just as I typed that I got the chills…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
in a strange twist of fate, the two most popular days at the blog this year (ie, the most hits the site got) were Aug 13th (3,987 hits) and yesterday (3671 hits). August 13th was the Dirrrrty “guarantee” game vs the Padres……
Flav, thank you for sponsoring this site and particularly, for introducing me to Fantasy League baseball. John (his nom de plumes Bozo and Clowns R Us) sent me a congratulations message via the FB site this morning and I responded in kind, i.e.,
” Good Morning John,
Thank you for the kind words. I’ve never been in a fantasy league (of any kind) and this was absolutely a blast.
More important, it was a learning experience along the way. I learned 3 things – all from Flav and No Talent – veterans of Fantasy League:
1. Yash (No Talent) told me at the beginning of the season when I was languishing in 10th place, that you can only win if you are good in all hitting and pitching categories, with only one category under 6 points. Back then, my “Saves,” “Batting Average,” and “Steals” sucked wind and I made trades/pickups to shore these areas up. At the end of the season, my one category under 6 was ERA.
2. Flav answered my questions about “Scoring and FB Settings” and provided advice on particular players.
3. Like you, I ran out of pitching innings a couple of weeks ago (I saw this coming back in late July and “dialed back” my starting pitchers after confirming the aforementioned with Flav back in late July). This almost did me in, as Peter, Flav and (especially) Pat focused on pitching this last month.
Anywho, I hope we can do this again next year . . . All of you – Pat, Peter, Craig, Chi, Paul, Jean, Charlie, Kevin, Chuck, Yash, and the mysterious Amber (Wilco Joe), were great competitors!
Take care friend,
Steve
By the by, I am in the process of selling my mountain home and moving to a new condo, thus the absence from the Flap this last month. So much to do when you move :-)”
Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Steve, it was a blast. I hope your new condo has a special place for the coveted broken down Richie bobblehead.
Oh yeah – Definitely will have a special place for Rich . . . Tentatively, it looks like my address is under a bridge until such time I actually close on this condo. So, I’ll let Craig enjoy the bobblehead doll for a few more weeks.
Flav – That post of yours is Post of the Year in my opinion. It brought tears to my eyes while reading it. If anyone from OUR 2010 SF Giants reads that, they too, would tear up. Good job Craig, and thanks for this forum. Speaking for someone living 3,000 miles away, the Flap was/is an oasis.
Congrats to everyone for sticking through all this.
Thanks Flav for holding forth the Flap. May Oneflapdown77 last as longer than your hair dye. Seriously, this place can be a frustrating pain but mostly, it’s a haven for real Giants fans. We’re lucky you started this.
Thanks to twin for adding a little spice to the year with his contest sponsorship (BTW, Flav, I was lucky enough to win one of them as well) as well as his (with apologies to Scott Ostler) cheap shots, deep thoughts and bon mots.
Thanks to everyone for teaching me more about baseball than I’ve ever known and for making me either LQTM or LOL over and over on a daily basis.
Okay. Back to business.
Atlanta.
BRING IT!! GO GIANTS!!
One more big thanks to you, Ted, for ceding the HTPC prize Michael so generously made available.
My pleasure, James. Funny. The Giants make the post season and I’m making an Academy Award acceptance speech. Oh whaw…tana…siam
Blade, if you did not see my congrats last night, you played the season very well.
Great strategry in the last week of the season. Flav, you and I imploded at the end. This is the first time I have done a league rotisserie style, you have to draft completely differently.
Of course in my one yahoo head to head league for no money, I held on for a 5-4 win with a tie on rbis that allowed me a win. When money is on the line, I always lose!!!!
But my only suggestion is that we do a live draft next year. I think we as a group would enjoy the banter of a live draft…plus we must keep the no Dodger caveat…
GH, same thing I said to Yash (No Talent) below . . . Like Yash, you are a veteran of the Fantasy Leagues (also winning 9 trophies in Yahoo leagues since 2002) and a very good competitor. Let’s do it again next year!
Go Gigantes!
More congrats …
Blade, congrats on an awesome victory. I appreciate the props, although I wish I took my own advice. Once it became clear that I had no chance, I was pulling for you.
Thanks BF for creating and running the site. For some die-hards like myself, it means a lot to read through the entries and comments even if we don’t post. You deserve a heartfelt congrats for putting up with the crap, carving out a niche in the media and making a real presence in the Giants world.
The biggest congrats, of course, belongs to the beloved G-men. I wish I could detail how awesome I feel about every player, but I think everybody else has covered that pretty well. Baseball blogs are meant for a variety of emotions: love , hate and everything in between but I’ve got nothing but good vibes running through me after yesterday. This team and all its crazy characters have definitely surpassed the Bonds/Kent/Dusty teams and may have even taken over my boyhood team of Clark/Thompson/Mitchell and the gang.
Like BF says, whatever happens in the playoffs, this team will always live well in my memory. The way they made it happen is what baseball is all about.
Except for the fantasy baseball part, this is exaftly how I feel. I don’t post very often at all. But this blog is my home page and I read it and the comments every day. I want to thank BF for doing an outstanding job and not shutting this place down. This blog is my little oasis before I have to go to work and deal with a bunch of Army bs. Thank you to all who make this blog run.
Thank you Yash, much appreciated coming from you . . . I’ve reviewed your Yahoo Fantasy League profile a number of times and you’ve done quite well since 2001 (9 Yahoo “Trophies” for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in various sports). Actually, that doesn even cover it – I still recall you writing an eloquent email about the “demise” of Chipper Jones and how he was always a reliable FB player in the 90s – leading me to believe that you have been playing FB since before 2001 (and before PCs were the “vehicle” for playing these games). I learned quite a bit from how you, Peter (GH) and Flav set up your line-ups each day . . . Sort of chuckling, because Flav gave me the idea of selecting my line-up during my morning coffee.
When do we start talking playoff rosters? Can anyone find Barry Zito and Tonya Harding his ass????
For what it is worth, I would go Lincecum-Sanchez 1-2 at home unless Cain thought waiting till Sunday would be too much of a wait. I think Cain has the presence to pitch hopefully a clinching Game 3 in Atlanta.
Lincecum would be on perfectly normal rest if he had to go Game 4 next Monday. Then you have Sanchez lined up for Game 5 at home if it came to that…
If you go Lincecum in a Game 4, Cain is ready for Game 1 in Philly…
Yes, thanks again to twinfan for his incredible generosity. Winning a netbook (went all doomer in Aug), allowed me to simultaneously play along with some very knowledgeable baseball fanatics and watch the game. The GF hated being ignored, but the dog didn’t mind, as I yelled a lot less.
And BF, thanks! I don’t know how you managed, but you hung in there and provided a great forum. We are all indebted. We may not agree all the time, but that wouldn’t be any fun, now would it?
To the guys living miles away, I gotta say, you’re allegiance is inspiring. Keep wearing the orange and black.
Things to learn looking at the celebration pictures on SF Gate:
1) Posey is married??? What a dumb ass…
2) Uribe is pushing Giant Head on on child production, and
3) Huff’s son…get a god damn haircut…that was for you Dennis…
That should be June, not Aug.
Ditto, what those guys said.
Memorable season, great blog reading, year of great SF baseball.
Thanks, all.
I recall Twin using the phrase “warts and all” to describe last year team, and I think it applies here as well. For all the grief those here on blog experienced, btw Wellmeyer, GIDPs, Bautista, untimely lack of offense, et al, SF is in with a chance to win it all. And the Pads have the same seat as the Pirates, in front of TV for the playoffs.
Thx again to Flav for keeping this going…often reading and following this stuff becomes the high point of my day, whether I agree with all that is said or not. Been an incredibly enjoyable year, and in the words of one of Dizzy gillespie’s bebop anthems, there are “Things to Come”.
Congratulations to blade and macdog. I’m proud to say that I was within 13 runs of winning the end of the season contest.
I’m so glad that we finally get to see this pitching staff get its due in the playoffs! Things are lining up quite well for the Giants. The Braves are no pushover but they’re the best first round matchup we could have hoped for. Let’s get it on!
Oh yeah, and thanks a lot to you, Craig, for hosting a place where baseball is the primary topic of conversation.
Brian Wilson becomes more and more The Man. Did you all catch his interview where he said they wanted ther Braves to win yesterday so they could keep the Padres out of the playoffs??? Love it! F the Friars…so gald to see them completely out of it.
If Bochy does not win manager of the year, will be a complete rip off..
Flav, ditto as well to what all these clowns (even Bozo) are saying.
This place is such a blast. Esp compared to the cesspool the Splash had become. This year was even worse than last, and thankfully most of the Room A-ers (and some of us Room B-ers) had a place to post and vent not overrun by sub-moronic fuckwads . . .
Bleep!
GH, I think Bobby Cox gets the MOY emeritus award this year.
Or even Bud Black.
Bochy likely doesn’t get it because he had such a dominant pitching staff. \
IOW, if he DIDN’T win with that pitching staff, it was his fault.
Credit where it’s due. Bud Black did a hell of a job with a team full of no names and Gonzalez……… But not good enough
That’s my point, Sarge. Bochy had a lot more to work with than Black.
I don’t believe this, but it is the prevailing perception out there.
Bochy’s victory lap was ultra cool though . . . He looked like my old ’71 Skylark trying to get over the 92 hill.
I’m happy for Dennis.
Thanks, Nipper. And I’m happy that you’re happy. This team is making everybody happy.
Bozo’s POTD is right on the mark, we’re all happy. And that makes me pleased as Punch.
Bochy running around the field yesterday was a great moment. Managers take so much grief during the season especially during the losing streaks.
I’m still all abuzz and all a twitter from the excitement of last night. I just can’t come down from the “Giants High” myself. I’ll try for some quick shots this morning…
Flav, excellent topic piece today. I think I enjoyed it so much this morning because you summarized exactly how I feel. I’m so happy for the entire group, each and every one. Their joy makes me happy for them as much if not more than the thrill I’m feeling for myself from afar. Really happy for they guys and Bochy. Who, deserves tons more credit then we or anyone else gives him. Excellent job done by the skipper. I like to get my shots in on him and his lineups, but when it comes right down to it Bochy is tops. Terrific, terrific job by Bochy.
And Congrats to MacDog on his contest win. It really was lots of fun playing along with all you guys this in Twin’s (thanks once again for your kind generosity) contents through the year. As usual, my horse was lagging in the rear in every race. Shit, I think Chuck’s horse beat me in every Twin race—that’s bad!
What else…just another thank you to Flav for all the hard work he’s done to allow all of us “regs” of the orange and black to enjoy ourselves here on the Flap each and every day. It really is a blast to interact with the greatest and most loyal fans of the team we all love. And thanks to all of you other “regs” for doing your “thang” here on the Flap. We really have an eclectic group of fans that bring it all together. Jesus, I’m starting to sound a little too sappy…
Our lineup sucks! We have NONE chance with shitty crew. WTF is Bochy thinking starting Guillen in RF?
NO Whitey!
Chuck we will see. I am not a Bochy fan, but if I had a vote, I could not not give it to him…
Hey, Dennis, at least I was in the running for the last computer!! My other calls were way off the mark.
Again, thanks, Mike for the opportunity to win those. Didn’t quite make it, but like I said, I was close! The more contests, the closer I got . . .
I’m the Mike Singletary of prognostication . . .
Moral victory #1 . . .
Even if you ain’t a fan, GH, the job Bochy did was spectacular, given the hot-and-coldness of the hitters he was shuffling around, his handling of the pen, and the moves he made down the stretch. I think Cox gets it just because he’s retiring this year. Black ddoesn’t get it because they didn’t reach the playoffs. If Cox didn’t, he wouldn’t win it.
All you have to do is look at the Diodgers to see how to fuck up a bullpen. Torre overused his ‘hot’ guys to the detrement of the bullpen. It killed them in the end. Well, that, and the fact that Ethier and Kemp checked out in mid August.
I’d love to see Bochy win, I just don’t see it happening.
Flav: Thanx a billion bunches for creating and maintaining this labor of love, and labor it must be, getting up at some ungawdly hour and then returning to the blog time after time through the day and sometimes well past the final out of the game. You gotta put up with shit, like personality conflicts and occasional raids from Room C. creeps who barely belong on the Splash. Believe me, all that time and effort you have extended to this site is totally appreciated by myself and, i’m certain, by all the Flappers.
Twin: Thanx again for the Puter and your awesome generosity. Thanx also for reading the riot act from time to time and keeping us all on an even keel with your baseball insights and sense of the game.
Giants: Thanx team for the most delightful birthday present ever when you pounded the LaBumbos in grand style, eliminating them from even starting to begin to think about possibly even looking at the post-season and by establishing yourselves as a force to be reckoned with deep into October. Thank you Giants for one incredible season which turned even some of the deepest doomers into believers in inside magic and the orange and black dynamic of the Halloween Machine.
I was a bit torn this weekend. Celebrating 2+ days of great times with my nephew getting married, in between mild frustration at trying to get snippets of info about the games during all the festivities and comings and goings. Almost glad I missed most of the Friday and especially Saturday, of which I heard and saw nothing. Anyway, yesterday was a memorable day. After saying good bye to extended family and new acquaintances, we began listening to the game on the road heading back. Then, because they love the beach, we stopped in Carmel and let our kids go out for an hour to play in the sand on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Carmel Beach. I listened to the game on my walkman as I watched my young girls play and run and build sand castles. We spotted a small pod of three dolphins just off the break, which I considered a good omen. As the squad got ahead 2-0, we went to Pacific Grove to have a late lunch at a modest, but always great favorite, fish restaurant. It was getting late in the game, into the 7th, and I could not NOT listen to this game. So, all through this lunch, I had the my walkman headset on, listening off and on to that nail biting 7th and Tejada striking out, Posey’s home run, then the celebration of that fantastic 9th inning finish. I got stares from the other patrons; what kind of doofus listens to a walkman in a restaurant? But, fuck that, this is what you do if you’re a Giants fan. There was never a question I was going to see this through as it unfolded. I took turns giving the walkman to my girls so they could hear. In the ninth, I counted down the outs with my kids. One, two to go. Two, one to go. Strike out, we win!! High fives, even with my wife (she endures). All that glorious tension, excitement, expectation, anxiousness – released in the glow of that sweet accomplishment. New memories made, moments frozen in time for me and my kids, all spiced by the exploits of my team for life. And, BTW, the clam chowder, fried oysters, the seabass — never tasted better…
Thanks for your story, Snarkk. I felt like I sitting at the table with you and your kids listening to the game as well. Your account was so heartwarming that I even picked up the check.
mmmmmm. seabass.
Nice story
I’m proud of the organization for making Bumgarner wait one more start after he had that brouhaha with the ump in AAA. Joe Martinez got that start against Baltimore, and lost. But I think it was the right thing to do, even though it may have cost the Giants a game. In the long run, it sent a good message to Bumgarner and players throughout their minor leagues.
I was at Bumgarner’s first start, against Boston. He got roughed up a bit early, but settled down, and pitched well the rest of the way. There were a lot of Red Sox fans there that day, and they were a bit nervous about that game, until the Sox scored some more runs late against the bullpen, and then for the last couple of innings, the Sox fans were at their Sox-fan obnoxious worst. They really believe they are the cock-of-the-walk of the baseball world. It’s sweet knowing those fans’ team didn’t make the playoffs, and our team did.
you are so right on Red Sox fans around here…
Great story, snarkk. This place is the best. Thank you, Flav, for giving crazed way-out-of-the-area fans like me a place to share in the highs and lows of this incredible team along with other assorted lunatics. And when the Giants do what they did yesterday, it just doesn’t get much better than that. As I told Max yesterday upon winning the contest, we’re all winners today.
Now comes the excruciating wait until Thursday. But after 2,556 days since the Giants’ last playoff game, what’s another 3 days?
Been thinking about turning points this season. Watching one of the videos on the Giants’ web site brought up this date: May 29, the day the Giants signed Burrell to a minor-league contract and brought up Buster to the big club. I think that qualifies as pretty damn significiant.
I happened to be on a long drive early this morning, and did listen to the KNBR morning show, just to revel in the excitement. In the midst of the jubilation, they did find a few moments to absolutely shred Zito. What an interesting day for Zito that must have been yesterday, watching Sanchez be the hero, and do what Zito can’t do. Zito has to be the #5 starter next season, right? I don’t mind him as a #5, other than he’s vastly overpaid for the role.
It was a little sick watching Krukow kiss Zito’s ass in the locker room celebration, basically thanking him almost on his knees about how much Zito did for the team..really sickening to see the grovel.
What about, “Hey meat, what the fuck?”
Any Tonya Harding takers yet????
The contest: it’s your reward for a year of me. If you didn’t win, at least you had a shot…seriously, I wish I could afford to give one away for every game. I need to be busy and what I can do is limited. So while philanthropy may be the story I’m stickin’ to , it’s therapy, too. Congrats to all the winners, let me know when the time release virus kicks in. Detection is free, removal $499.95
Paypal required…
Just realized that paypal spelled backwards is lapyap.
My morning paper (BA News Group) already has the rotations set for the first three.
Game 1: Lowe vs Lincecum
Game 2: Hudson vs Cain
Game 3: Sanchez vs Hanson
I don’t know if they’re going on would it *should* be, but that sounds good to me.
BTW, anyone else still get an actual paper delivered to your place the morning?
I’m pretty sure Twin still does, he bitches about the stoopid kid throwing it in his bushes all the time. You better not be a cheap bastard and tip the poor lad come Christmas time. I give mine a little something and some Lotto tickets. It helps our California schools ya know.
Yeah, I still get the paper delivered. But the little bastard stopped delivering to my door. And he marks up the front page in red ink with my apartment number. So much for a souvenir.
I don’t have the patience to prove it but I’d swear a bunch of you guys were alluding as far back as May that this season would very likely go to the last series of the year. Good call (damn I’m in a good mood today)
BF, I second what others said above. Congrats and thanks to you for running this lunatic asylum this season. Flappers never cease to amaze with their various POVs, insights, writing talents, jokes, insults, anxieties, etc. You are the McMurphy of the Flap, and I mean that in the most complimentary way. Regardless of how we show it, we most assuredly share a love of baseball, and the Gmen in particular. Regardless of the playoff fate of the Giants, it has been a most memorable season here in the shared ether as well as at ATT…
I remember thinking, when you guys were all clamoring for Posey to get brought up: “Yeesh, he’s just one guy; what kind of difference could one guy make?” Well, I found out – in spades!!! I sure hope he gets some serious ROY consideration…
Thanks, Flav, for making my participation on the blog a condition of getting to participate in the fantasy league (Woo-hoo! Seventh place, baby!!!). The wild ride was so much more fun with all of you along!!!
Haw about a win-a-date with Ferrethead contest in the offseason?
Yes, every thing that everyone said I ditto, this is a great place to vent, agree, disagree, whatever, A heartfelt thank you to BF and Mike for all you do.
And Thank you Giants for giving everyone here a chance to cheer you on in the playoffs!! Go Giants
Funny, Baggs said Posey Wilson got it backwards, that the pitcher jumps into the catcher’s arms? But I immediately thought of the famous shot with Yogi. I guess it depends on who is bigger? Always seems incredibly spontaneous, I doubt they discuss it beforehand. I can’t see Buster jumping into little Tim’s arms or Heath Bell jumping into anyone’s arms.
That being said, the Uribe/Sandoval chest bump was a little risky
There will be an NLDS contest, BTW. Details later. But go ahead and get going with your picks: yes or no on winning the first round, tie breaker: total Giants runs ( keep in mind it could be 3 games,4, or 5) . Tie Breaker 2: total team HRs.
twinfan1@hotmail.com
It will be another HTPC, but just the unit, no monitor, speakers. It will have wireless key/mouse and Windows 7 or XP, your choice.
Any comments yet on the Starting Pitching, Tim, Matt, Jonathan. I like it. Some great pics over on the Chron.
Not to be negative, but if the Giants were down 2 game to 1, do you think they would come back with Timmy on 3 days rest? Does maybe the Rob Nen situation kind of hang over the Giants heads? Maybe that keeps Bumgarner off the playoff roster.
Props to these guys. http://tinyurl.com/2e45xz6
You have to congratulate the pitching coach where the staff has the lowest ERA in MLB. Nice job, Rags.
And Bochy. What can I say? I’ve busted on him all season. I think I was PO’d the most at him when he PR Whitey for Posey in that game in Denver that turned into that extra inning hair puller. But, through all year, he’s kept his head down and looked straight ahead, on mission, in a season with so many personnel changes and ups and downs it looks like my EKG. He did a fine job with managing this staff, certainly his best skill. He didn’t panic when the starters fell off the cliff in August, only to come back gangbusters since.
All right, enough props. He still hardly ever bunts when it’s called for. And, the moment he screws up game management in the POs, he’s back to Bonehead…
World Series odds are in:
Phils 3/2
Yanks 5/2
Rays 3-1
Giants 7-1
Twins 8-1
Rangers 10-1
Reds 12-1
Braves 12-1
We’re also -160/+130 to beat the Braves in the NLDS. Timmy -150 O/U 6 1/2 Game 1.
If we need a Game 4 starter, it better be Bumgarner, no Zitshit. Adding 5 or 6 more inning on Bum’s arm won’t do anything to his +30% thing or whatever. Pitch Farmer John.
Our lineup sucks. NO Whitey.
I’m not going to rant and rave about the LUs for the post season. The way I figure it, the key thing was to just get into the POs. The team played great down the stretch, pitching was beyond clutch, and they deserved it. Now, in the POs, it’s a damn crapshoot. Anybody can win, and anybody in the LU could turn out to be a hero or a goat in 5 and 7 games. Hell, even Rohand hit a homer on Friday night. Whoever they pick for the roster, whatever. The only one I just don’t see is Zito, even tho I have predicted predict they’ll put him on it. He’s shown time and again he’s just a mess out there. Even though I didn’t see it, I read where he was awful on Saturday, and walked in two guys. You can’t put that kind of crap out there in the POs, IMO. It’s just too important, regardless of what it might say to not have him on the roster….
I’m assuming that even if a guy is not on the postseason roster, he can still wear a uni and hang out in the dugout, like DeRosa. So, Bum can still be there, even if he’s not going to be pitching.
And if they do shut Bum down, Bochy needs to make a statement to the public explaining the reasoning. The average Joe-fan may not know the whole thing about number of innings for a rookie and all that.
I’m gonna have a problem with Guillen being on the PS roster. I’ll address that when and if it happens…..
I’d rather have Rowand on the PS roster than GUillen.
Twin mentioned this late last night, but I think it was the medication talking….I’m thinking (and hoping, kind of) Rowand makes the 25-man. He’s 11 for 23 .478 with ONLY 1 K and 3 walks vs Game 1 starter Lowe. Shit, Rowand is hitting .356 vs all potential Braves pitching.
Rowand in CF and Torres in RF to kick off the NLDS?
It would be great for the blogs and sports-talk radio. C’mon skipper, stir up pot.
Almost forgot; our lineup sucks and NO Whitey.
“I’d rather have Rowand on the PS roster than GUillen.” Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d read from anyone here.
Unfortunately, since Guillen still played in Game 162 despite not hitting worth a damn for way too long now, it’s likely he’ll be included on the NLDS roster.
The thing about Guillen is that he “looks” when he’s in the box that he’s about to smoke one 400′ into the left center bleachers. But, the result just hasn’t been with the expectation. As for Rohand vs. Guillen, the best I can do on that one is flip a coin. One of them will make it, one won’t…
What a helluva year! There is definitely something special about this team. So damned many good stories and great personalities. So much fun to watch grown men acting like little leaguers after the game yesterday.
Thanks Flav for keeping The Flap going and to Twin for the contests. You guys make this thing work and keep us all coming back for more (even after being called a fuckwad from time to time).
As for the roster, unfortunately, I have the feeling that both Zito and Guillen make it. Unless management is willing to eat Zito’s salary and cut him altogether, I just don’t see how that relationship works out over the next two years if he’s not included. Zito’s been embarrassed before (admittedly, by his own play), but how embarrassed would he be to be making $18M, while his team makes the postseason and he’s not even on the roster? He would definitely be a waste of a roster spot since he won’t be in the rotation and can’t handle the pressure of coming out of the pen, but I just don’t see him being left out. And for whatever the reason might be, Guillen still started yesterday despite the cold bat and no speed in RF. I hate to say it, but I think he makes it too.
Regardless, October baseball marches on for our Giants and it’s just great to be back!
Isn’t Zito signed for 3 more years?
Yes, plus a buyout in the 4th.
Total: $ 64,500,000.00
Shit that’s a lot of money still on the table, but what the hell do you do with him?
Zito must be left off the roster. There shouldn’t even be a debate.
——–
The TBS announcers for the SF-ATL series are Dick Stockton & Bob Brenly. I believe Stockton was the lead announcer at the first Olympic games in Greece (776 BC).
You’re right, Loo. Who could ever forget his riveting commentary during that first naked Greco-Roman wrestling match:
“Ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Άθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα: ἐγὼ δ’ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ’ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, οὕτω πιθανῶς ἔλεγον. Καίτοι ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν εἰρήκασιν. “
Brenly is good, cool. Stockton and his horrendous, nearly orange hair should be muzzled…
The 2005 Chicago White Sox (that Rowand was a part of) won the World Series. In the postseason, he had a .267 batting average with 8 runs and 6 doubles. He also walked 4 times and had 1 stolen base.
On May 11, 2006, in the first inning of a game versus the New York Mets, Rowand made a spectacular play by smashing into the center field fence of Citizens Bank Park face first at full speed in order to run down a deep fly ball off the bat of Xavier Nady with the bases loaded, that would otherwise have scored three runs. Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face. He underwent seven hours of surgery to repair the nose, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He returned to the starting lineup on May 27, 2006.
On July 10, 2007, Rowand was selected to the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco, for his first All-Star appearance. Same year, he earned his first Gold Glove Award for his outfield play that year, including 11 outfield assists and only 2 errors all season.
They don’t call him “Gamer” for nothing. IMHO, he unequivocally is on the post season roster.
Well, yeah, 2007 was a career year for Rowand. In all offensive stats (including nose hairs). That’s why the Giants signed him. And he’s been on a 3 year decline since then. In all offensive stats (excluding nose hairs).
But if it’s between him and Guillien, yeah I’d say he’s on the roster
The Giants team ERA of 3.36 is the lowest for any Major League team since 2003.
3.36? Not to bitch and moan (but I am) the day after we clinched, but with a 3.36 ERA we should have won 100+ games easy.
Our lineup sucks, and NO Whitey.
OK, the specs:
Thermaktake Lanbox Lite HTPC Case, 500W Power Supply
Biostar Socket AM3 Motherboard, W/ATI Radeon HD4250 Graphics Controller
8 USB2 Ports, HDMI Port
AMD Athlon Triple Core Processor 2.9 GHZ per core
4 GB DDR3 RAM
150GB Raptor 10,0000 RPM Hard Drive
External 1 Terabyte Hard Drive
DVDRW ( DVD and CD Burner)
Card Reader
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Windows 7 Ultimate or XP Pro
Dennis, the team’s run production if up 6% over last year, at 697 runs. Though in ranking, it’s up from 26th to 17th, a pretty good improvement. Atlanta is 13th at 738 runs and 3rd best in ERA. I thought SF would need to get to 4.5 per game to get to the playoffs, but that wasn’t needed with the great pitching. I’d say 92 wins is about right, maybe a little low, for that run production. Everything points to this Atlanta series as being tough and competitive…
Everyone is eligible again. If there’s a tie with a previous winner, new winner gets it. I’ll wait to send Flavor his gift, he’ll have a chance to win this first.
FWIW, Pythagoras had us at 94-68 for the year.
But what the hell does an old Greek know anyway? (no offense Ted).
This was the only element of my prediction I got right. Last year 88 wins was lucky; this year 92 is unlucky. Assuming that the off season signings had to at least give them production equivalent to last year’s, Burrell and Posey were the ones put them over the top. Those 2 and the fact that the pitching actually improved over last year, despite a 3.41 ERA from the ace.
That’s due to their all or nothing offense: 22-13 in blow outs (5 or more run spread)…
Flav-
Thanks again for inviting me to be a part of the league, definitely looking forward to it next year. I knew all along I had a chance to make up some ground late since I hadn’t burned my innings pitched, but ended up a bit short on offense for the title. Congrats, Blade!
Awesome year, and it’s so fitting that it comes down to the last day after the team blows two opportunities, including Sat when I took 40 work colleagues. Was awesome to be a part of that crowd but man if they could have closed it out it would have made my year!
Thanks everyone for your posts, which are so great to read even though I don’t post often anymore. I’ll try to get more involved during the playoff run. Go Giants!!
PS–I called 92 wins at the beginning of the year, and I’m going to say I nailed it COLD (copywrite Big Flavor, 2009)
Did anybody remember to buy Jed a Happy Meal?
Eh?
Jed, not Ted.
According to Jed, the rest of us are already Happy Mealers.
Ohhhh. I’m so used to seeing his name typed Jediot, I forgot who you were talking about
LQTM
Gotta believe the 3 days off will benefit our geezer lineup.
I’ll quote from the AP article regarding the firing of Pirates manager John Russell,
“He didn’t make the trades or strip the major league roster of so many proven players. In the end, John Russell’s resume will always include 299 losses in three seasons, and that was way too many, even for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
General manager Neal Huntington was retained despite making a succession of poor trades and questionable moves that have left the Pirates with one of the majors’ least-talented teams – a pattern that began long before either arrived in Pittsburgh. Russell’s first team in 2008 was competitive until midseason, when the franchise—eager to stockpile a talent-bereft farm system—began dealing away or cutting productive players such as Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson, Nate McLouth, Adam LaRoche, Matt Capps, John Grabow, Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan. Also traded was 2010 major league home run leader Jose Bautista during a two-year roster purge.”
Beautiful ball park, but imagine having to work for that franchise . . . or worse, being a fan.
Yeah, but their fans still have 3 WS titles in my lifetime, and you can probably sit behind the catcher for $ 12.50…
$27.00 DJ . . .
And, according to their own financial records outed by Deadspin.com, while losing their ass on the scoreboard, the Pirates have been making $ millions the last few years…
Did 3B ump Everett fess up postgame about his horrific call or did it just get buried in all the euphoria?
Still and all, why all the fucking time off?
As if I didn’t know. So TBS and Fox can set the schedule exactly how they want it.
Way to honor the integrity of the game, Bud . . . It used to be 2 days rest, and back to the action.
He gives bootlicking toadies a bad name . . .
Carping again? Bleep it!
Figuring the 25 for Atl…a * denotes who is locked on…
9 RP to choose from…Wilson*, Romo*, Ramirez*, Lopez*, Casilla*, Affeldt, Ray, Mota, Runzler
5 SP…Lincy*, Cain*, Dirty*, Bum, Zits
6 OF…Burrell*, Torres*, Guillen*, Ross*, Rowand*, Shitholtz
7 IF…Huff*, Franchez*, Uribe*, Sandoval*, Fontenot*, Ishi, Rent
2 C…Posey*, Eli*
20 Locks….5 more to come from the 9 remaining players.
Bumaffishitray.
I’m not getting involved in guessing the PS roster– if Rowand and Guillen are *locks* then I don’t think I’d be very good at guessing this *game*
fuck Guillen. He’s 1 for his last 21. He’s had ONE game where he recorded an RBI since Sept 16th (his 6 rbi game, the only game he helped us win since he got here). He’s slow, he plays way below average defense (though he’s got a strong arm if and when he ever gets to the ball) and he’s got a shitty attitude to boot— racing up to the plate when the crowd wanted to give Burrell the curtain call was me-first and bush league. Now, if the guy was Barry Bonds I’d overlook all that but he’s, uh, er….ummmm…NOT Barry Bonds.
I supported the pick up at the time and it wasn’t a total failure–he did win one game all by himself and he never did one of his patented implosions. But it wasn’t a pick up that really worked. Ross was much better. Play Cody every game, maybe Nate gets a shot or even Rowand. But no more Jose Guillen…….
Henry pretty much reflected my thoughts in his tweets today.
I think Affledt and Schierholtz ARE locks. I lean to Bum and Zits both making it, with Ray, Runzler, Mota all out. Then it’s Guillen OR Rowand, Ishi in, Rent out. Is that 25?
If you’re adjusting wsw’s 20 locks, yes
Isn’t the WS game #7, if it goes that far, supposed to around Nov 4? If the Twins go to the WS, it could be freekin 20 degrees and blowing snow at the new Target Field by the first of November. Insane…
When Barry Lamar brought his shit attitude to the shores of San Francisco I stayed a fan. I drifted away from the team for a few years. They fell off of my map all together as I spent a couple of years outside of the country. In 2008 I was back to watching the games and listening to Miller and his expert calls of the play by play action. Last year I was totally on board and following the club. The game yesterday truly brought me full circle as a fan. It was the most fun I have ever had at a ballgame. The crowd was pumped from the outset and The Giants delivered. That win was something else and this season has been amazing. What a journey this club has taken us all on and it ain’t over yet…
I’m giving thought to the “previous winner dilemma”- what I’m going to do if a previous winner wins is give that person a Best Buy gift certificate to add something to their system and award the HTPC to the second place winner. Sound fair?
And if the team advances, there will be more contests.
Nicely put Dirt, I never drifted from the team, but after the 2002 WS, Barry was definetly an Asshole, he knew he was never going to see another WS so it became all about Barry and the HR record. That is why this team is so special no one is trying to take the spot light. The press tries to give it to who ever, but I think this club is a TEAM with no I in it. What a great story when/if they win it all.
Go Giants!!
The hell with the sports analyst that say Philly is the team to beat!!
That’s all right. There’s some freedom in being the underdog. Just go out and play ball, have fun, play hard, and give it your best effort. As the cliche goes, just take it one game at a time, and lay it all out there on the line. There’s no doubt in my mind we can beat anybody out there, if things work out right. But I know a lot of wacky stuff can happen in the playoffs, so you just go for the ride, and see where it goes!
Magnus,
Eloquent post.
Thanks for that and this warm and cozy and brainy and irascible and smart and sassy fuckwad of a venue.
Life is worth living.
Some live large. We live Orange.
This season will always bring great memories. I do nevertheless admit to — what do I call it — greed. There is no denying, I want it all. Don’t want to settle for anything less. Yet. You are wise to underscore how grand a ride it’s been. And is. I mean, heck, in its own way yesterday DID feel like we won the World Series. (How would I know different? A jaded Yankees fan is, well, jaded.) And why not? Why not feel that way? It’s not settling for less — believe me — it is just fully tapping into Dalai Lama Buddha Jesus Krishna Dusty Rhodes Say Hey Orlando Marichal Polo Grounds Candlestick PacBell Joyous Magic. Undiluted.
It’s magic inside.
Inside me.
Inside us, dare I say.
And some part of this season’s magic — especially yesterday, but other parts of the highlight reel — will never leave me. And my tears for that are utterly unapologetic.
Pawwlie, nice POTD. I also loved your facebook post about how you became a giants fan.It’s almost worth re-posting here…….
here it is, from Facebook [limited character count and all]:
Living in Stamford, CT, sometime in the winter or spring of 1954-55, AFTER the Giants had won the World Series, a Series of which I have zero memories, I asked my older brother whom he liked as a team. “The Giants,” he said. I began a scrapbook, put a sticker of Willie Mays on my bureau. And here we are.
Big Flavor likes this….
FP just rattled off some Giant stats vs. Lowe. The most startling is Rowand 11-23 .478…