Gladly Leaving Colorado and on to LA
Dirrrrty pitched a great game yesterday, he deserved that win. For some reason in Colorado, weird stuff happens. This is now 2 games in a row that Bochy will get second guessed for when he took his starter out. Had his pitch count been higher than the paltry *80* that he started the 8th inning with, I think he might have gone to the ‘pen. But Dirrrrty was dealin’, he didn’t walk a batter all game. I’ve got no problem with the way Bochy managed that series…..
On to LA and how the Hell does a 23 year old already have a deep resume of domination over us? Kershaw has thrown 50 innings in his career versus the Giants. His ERA is 1.07. Uh, he good. Tejada and Burrell actually have the best numbers off him (Tejada is hitting .417, Burrell .308 with a bomb. Torres actually has hit him better than Rowand so I hope we don’t see the Gamer out there in his place. Torres, despite his 0-5 yesterday, is essential to this puss-hitting line up right now……
The Flap Fantasy Baseball Standings
(Cries of foul play and collusion ring out on the message board! Is anarchy around the corner? Ah, but I am the commissioner and I have spoken, move on my friend it’s just a game, one that you are playing quite skillfully at the moment…. Dennis holds the top spot but I creep ever closer as FH’s bad day gets worse with a 4 point drop and a looming Edd waiting to catch her fall……..)
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Two pisser games in Colorado…no moaning, just move on to LA….go Sharks…
My buddy is moving to LA from norcal and gave me a stack of the converse basketball yearbooks from the 70s, where I got that note about Halicki playing college b-ball and avg 21 a game in last year. They have those small head shot pix of all the NBA and even ABA guys (while that league was still around, and where Rick Barry was in 72) plus the college guys on their all american teams.
Just to see all the fros and facial hair, fu manchus and big sideburns, is pretty funny. Phil Jackson looks like a homeless guy of today . Couple fave looks: clyde, doc J (wild fro), connie hawkins, bob mcadoo, and san jose st guy darnell hillman.
Baseball guy, Bake McBride.
I remember when Darnell Hillman had a cup of coffee with the Warriors toward the end of his career. I remember watching him throw down some pretty hellacious dunks in warm-ups.
Ho-Ho scored 21 a game in college? I missed that fun fact. Where did he play?
place called Monmouth college in jersey, in ’72.
Second guessing the manager is the nature of the beast I guess. The what have you done for me lately people, tend to forget the clinic Bochy put on last year.
Now if you want an example of bad managing all you have to do is look at my FL stats. On 4/15 I was in first with 103.5 points, now I’m in 9th with 75. In some places the locals would have me publicly flogged, waterboarded, drawn and quartered.
Yeah, but it wouldn’t be torture John.
Your right Blade. It wouldn’t be torture until the locals really got pissed off.
Exactly 🙂
Sounds good to me.
dumbfuck or not, Mattingly ordered his guys to back up Uribe and plunk a couple Giants last time we saw them. Didn’t he specifically go after Posey? Any carryover here? I don’t think the players forget that shit…do we owe them one?
G’s have enough to worry about without trying to settle petty shit like that. Posey can show em by banging a 3 run hr.
We still owe them for that fuck Padilla
true. I think last time LA got in the last lick (in a series of repeated beanings and brushbacks over Uribe), and then the umps warned both benches, and bochy was pissed because now SF couldn’t retaliate. I think barbs, whom we see tmw, was in on some of this too.
Probably be too obvious to start Mota with Cain warming in the pen 😉
I heard on KNBR, that Baggerly has posted the Giants might try Huff at 3rd.
Sure, why not? He hasn’t played there since ’08, but he couldn’t do any more damage over there.
Baggs also thinks Conor Gillaspie will be recalled today; buh-bye Ford.
Wanna bet? Remember Bob Brenly?
Just like Dennis changing his liquor. It still gets the job done. Burp!
so would Posey be at 1B? Which means whitey behind the plate? How does that help anything?
April Fool’s day was a month and a half ago, Kevin.
I can’t forget that, that is my birthday
You’re setting yourself up, my friend
Ted, I am 56, I don’t think you guys could come up with anything new. Maybe you could.
ha ha ha
I wouldn’t think of it, Kevin. Some of my favorite people are born on that day.
Including Lon Chaney
Any news on FSanchez, any predictions on how long they stay with Tejada??
Gillaspie? Rohlinger?
Fuck it. Bring Belt up. That would be the only reason to move Huff to 3rd . . .
BLEEP IT!
Kershaw has good stuff, but he’s also got a herky-jerk in the middle of his wind-up. A lefthander, with nasty stuff, with a herky-jerky delivery, who will walk people if you’re real patient at the plate. He’s all the things that give the Giants hitters trouble. You just have to out-pitch him to win. A 2-1 win would be the thing tonight.
Alright- if the Post of the Week is actually the Post of the Month, then call it the Post of the Month. I want truth in advertising! (grin)
The leash just about has to be really getting short on Mark DeRosa. Batting a lusty .171 just ain’t gonna hack it. My guess is that he may stick through the upcoming homestand to determine whether there still are a few drops of gas in the tank. If that doesn’t happen: Sayonara.
The problem is, with Posey out for ~ another month, who takes his spot? Rohlinger? Gillaspie? Burriss?
Punch, meet Judy . . .
I just read somewhere that Belt is batting .446 vs RH pitching and and a very weak .176 vs LH pitching. Is he ready??
Well, with half the lineup flirting with Mendoza, why not?
He can sit against lefties. BFD. It’s also just 18 AB, meaningless.
Wasn’t it about 18 ABs vs. lefties the last time we looked at his stats, a week or so back? 57 ABs vs. RHS, so far. Looks like he’s used to sitting against lefties. Wonder why he’s not getting more work in vs. lefties in Fresno?
I think the Huff goes to third talk was in the event Belt is brought back.
Huff to third would be accompanied by Belt’s recall…
Tejada is not curently in danger, boys…
DeRosa has a lot of rust. Too many months not playing. Too few ABs. Of course you guys demand instant results! Bochy should leave HUFF alone if possible.
Temptation to add a Belt-driven power assembly must be getting pretty strong in nearly every level of the Giants superstructure. Some current stats from Fresno: 29 hits in 75 A.B.’s for a .339 B.A. Of the hits 7 are doubles along with three Dingers. So the power show is barely over one in three hits. He has accounted for 35 runs, 17 scored and 18 driven in. His walk to strikeout ratio is phenomenal at 26-21. Where this leads is to a .529 OBP which is Bondsian. A .600 S.P., none too shabby, combines with that on base percentage to add up to an OPS of 1.129.
From his prior statements, here’s where Twin and i tend to part company. T.F. sees Brandon as a power-producing RBI man, which sooner or later he will be, i would agree. Were Belt’s Fresno power numbers to account for close to half of his hit total, i’d be fully on board with that scenario. But right now what we see is a player with an incredible talent for getting on base with singles and walks totaling 55, while his ‘official’ A.B.’s add to 75.
I got shot down earlier in the season for wanting to see Belt batting second. Until Panda returns, that still leaves a big gap in the middle of the L.U., unless, of course, Buster and Huffster start raking it. Combining Belt and Torres, though, in the leadoff pairing , chances are close to three outta four that one of them is going to be on base. Two guys with speed. Even singles and walks develop the constant threat of RISP. A constant barrage of ducks on the pond could awaken the middle of the order.
The need for someone to spark the Giants offense has been acute all season. Why not a dual ignition system? Torres got into a funk against Ubaldo yesterday. Perhaps Belt would have successfully worked him. It could have meant another run or two. Drrrrty might have been feeling more relaxed with the larger lead and not have thrown that ball away.
When Belt gets off the Fresnobus this time it’s probably for keeps. My take is that Bochy should bat him second. Panda returns and reverts to his early season form and we got us a lineup.
Bruce Jenkins is basically right about Bochy and Sanchez. Sending Jonathan out to start the 8th was mandatory; he had pitched brilliantly, his pitch count was low. Leaving him in after two sharp ground ball singles off of FBs that were a couple mph slower than FBs earlier in the game was still the right decision. The way Sanchez had been pitching made him the best guy to have out there at that moment. By leaving him in, Bochy told him that, told him that he was the best, at that moment. The fucked up play on the bunt is a separate deal. They’ll deal with it separately. (How often do you replace a pitcher to improve defense against one guy who you think is going to bunt? I suppose you could imagine it in the 9th inning, if Whitey Herzog were managing, but not in the 8th.;)) The important thing was Sanchez’s great pitching to that point. He fully deserved the respect Bochy gave him. Few more games like yesterday and Lincecum and Cain will be challenged to stay ahead of him in the starters’ ranking.
If DeRosa goes to the DL, Belt has to come up. That move might not occur for a while.
Actually, G’s could be reluctant to bring up Belt now because the offense IS so bad. When he does come up, he’ll feel enough pressure. He doesn’t need to feel he’s the answer to all their offensive woes.
uh oh, RT. Chuck and Ted can do an imitation Abbot and Costello routine all afternoon now, based on that logic.
Don’t they anyway?
So, RT, you’re saying don’t bring the kid up too early. It’s the old theory, if you bring him up prematurely, Belt buckles
touché — as to me, not RT.
DeRosa won’t get DLed, he’ll be cut loose.
The move of Huff to 3rd would entirely be based on bringing Belt up.
Cut DeRosa loose when they can put him on the shelf? Thy exquisite reason, dear chuckles?
Why bother, numbnuts? He’s dead weight. What will 15 days buy? Nothing. Burriss brings some speed to the table. DeRosa? Nothing. Put him on the 60-day, and he’s as good as gone anyway.
Need a acorecard?
I don’t think Belt will get the call up until Panda is back, that way Huff would become the starting left fielder. I think Belt is considered more of a long term solution and I think the Giants are probably thinking a short term fix right now (until Panda is back).
So what about bringing Pill up for a cup of coffee and put him at third? He’s played third a few times, hell they’ve been playing him some at second this year as well.
Aramis Ramirez…
Cesar Romero
Dezi Arnaz
Jose Ferrer
stay cleaver my friends
Sabean’s overdue for a blockbuster. Last year’s minor deals (Lopez, Ramirez, Burrell, Ross) were miraculous and cost next to nothing. When was the last time he actually traded someone off the ML roster? Matt Morris?
Looks like it’s Gillaspie up for now..
Not so fast. Tweet from Baggs: From Giants VP Bobby Evans: Conor Gillaspie sprained his ankle yesterday and is day2day. (Still, Giants are dangerously thin on IF.)
Get back to work on those trades, Loo.
he’s got some in house options, I don’t think a trade is necessary. We just need to get through another month of 3rd base before Pablo comes back. Belt could fix the LF spot long term. No need for a trade……
I think there is a need. Too much dead weight in general. Sabes must get creative and roll the dice. Who knows when we’ll have a chance to repeat again? There are probably 8 guys on the 25 man roster no one would miss if they were somehow disposed of. Addition by subtraction. Plenty of guys on other teams suck equally and might benefit from a change of scenery. He could also spend some money and pick up an unwanted contract. I’m sure they’re making tons of it.
Good post Loo . . . Tend to agree with the “dead weight” statement. My take though is that we re-evaluate during and up to the trade deadline. Right now, we are near 1st place and with Colorado’s problems, I suspect we will stay there or be in 1st place.
A few players (i.e., the dead weight) already know who they are and believe me, they’ve been “around the block” a few times where they understand that they’ll be released or traded if they don’t perform by the trade deadline. Couple that with Pablo and Belt joining the party, everything else (lack of runs) will take care of itself.
Bottom line – why panic when we are near the top of the division? Moreover, who would have thought that would be the case with the hitting issues we have? Dollars to donuts we will run away with the division after the All Star break and guess what? We may not even have to make a trade for that to happen (although I doubt it).
I think they may be worried about messing with the chemistry of the team. Yeah, they really need DeRosa the $12 million dollar cheerleader. One WS title in 56 years (52 according to Kuip) is no dynasty.
Until Pablo returns, there’s probably no real quick fix available. I know this is stating this obvious, but guys like Huff, Posey and Burrell have gotta start producing or the Giants will stay mired at the bottom of the NL runs list. Especially Buster. The fact that Dirrrrrrty has more doubles than the ROY has to be the mind-blowing stat of the season. Interesting, the Giants have scored only 7 less runs than the Dodgers in two fewer games, so the Bums haven’t exactly been burning it up on offense either.
Thank you Macdog (your last sentence).
Question – are we in a race for the division crown or leading the league in runs? Just wondering . . .
Dennis, you want to take this one?
LQTM as I await his answer.
Re-write that question in the form of a lopsided trade proposal and I’ll have someone else get back to ya.
Room B always wants wholesale shake ups, it’s what they do–doom and gloom. There are two or three kids who might be up, and still the possibility of a SS trade. That’s about it. It’s actually pretty significant and all they need, if that.
Twin’s dartboard is full of darts in ROOM B. Guys like their darts!
Forget leading the league. Just getting to 10th would suffice.
I mean, if they are intent on not hitting, they might as well get Buster some more down time. He’s getting beat up, plus he’s in a sophomore slump to boot.
Tsk…tsk…tsk and the world is warming too. Ouch!
Now they’re saying Gillaspie hurt his ankle. Both beat writers seem to blown this.
I think I found us a proven slugger who is clearly in great shape and appears to be a heckuva swell guy:
http://tinyurl.com/6v5gyd
Dave does look in pretty fair shape.
Trading for a shortstop. Who’s out there? Jose Reyes would be expensive and with the F.A. business looming, could be expensive and complicated. Of course he would bring a lot to the team. Other possibilities? No team which feels its a serious contender would consider trading their regular SS unless the return met a more pressing need ~immediately. So we can pretty much eliminate the #1 guys on the more competitive teams as SF does not have much along the lines of immediate returns who would not be cost prohibitive.
Chicago White Sox may be pretty well out of contention. Hard to tell for sure at this point, but if they are being realistic, they may be looking more at the long term now. Don’t know what he would cost but Alexei Ramirez is not at all a bad hitter for that position. He has some pop with 5 taters so far this season. His batting eye’s not bad, with 16 walks to 21 K’s. His lead stats are .263, .330 and .400. Giants have a couple of minor league starters, Zack Wheeler and Eric Surkamp, who are pretty sure prospects. Possibility.
J.J. Hardy of Baltimore has been boosted by a couple of Flappers. He’s a middle of the road hitter ~ nothing embarrassing. Have no idea of his defensive skills. Same for the rest of these guys, as i have yet to delve into a site which does good coverage of D. abilities. Orioles are a notch or two better than last year but have a number of needs.
Trading within the Division? Do the Snakes feel they really have a shot? Their #2 SS, who also plays in the OF, is Willie Bloomquist. My suspicion is that he is no more than an adequate defender at SS, but his speed is excellent and though he’s currently hitting over .300 his lifetime is .265. He would be no long-term solution, but considering their success with John Patterson, Arizona might be impressed by the Giants’ ability to develop relief pitchers.
Another Sanchez in the infield? Regular SS for Houston is a 29 year old from Puerto Rico with the frontname of Angel. Though the Stros are going nowhere fast, there’s yet another team which would have to be considerably tempted to part with their regular shortstop.
Possible sleeper in this set is 27 Y.O. Elliot Johnson of the Rays. His hitting stats go .260, .327, .420. With Reid Brignac as their main man at the position, Tampa Bay might part with him for prospects, possibly Brandon Crawford and one of Richmond’s several quality relievers.
“Reid Brignac as their main man at the position . . . ” Huh? Sorry Stix, but Reid is not their “main man” or anywhere close. In fact, he (Brignac) may be on the way out, and not Johnson. The St. Petersburg Times reports that Rays manager Joe Maddon said that he plans to play Elliot Johnson more at SS at the expense of Reid Brignac. Maddon said there wouldn’t be a straight platoon (Brignac swings lefty, Johnson is a switch-hitter) nor a set pattern. “I don’t want to be committed to that. You’re going to see more of Elliot. Let’s put it that way,” Maddon said. “I think he’s done a nice job.”
My take? Brignac has struggled since inheriting the starting job following the trade of Jason Bartlett, hitting .179 with one extra-base hit and a .212 on-base percentage. If anyone is on the way out/available from TP, it’s Brignac and who would want him?
How’s Brignac’s fielding? Would he go cheap? GH or somebody was pretty high on him last season when he was doing fairly well.
Stix, this site I like says this about his fielding . . .
arm Strength:
Brignac won’t wow anyone with Troy Tulowitzki-like arm strength, but there’s plenty there and his release is quick enough and very consistent. His throws from second on double plays have improved dramatically since 2006, right along with the rest of his defense.
Speed and Base running:
Brignac is not a burner, and isn’t likely to steal more than 10-15 bags a year in the big leagues. But he’s a smart baserunner with above-average speed.
Defensive Range, Reliability:
Brignac’s worked with Tampa minor league coach Manny Castillo and big-league infield coach (and former Mariners 3rd base coach) Dave Myers to shore up his present skills and polish up the raw versions.
After showing lateral range deficiencies in 2006, Brignac’s work has paid off and one scout called him the “best glove of the bigger, bat-oriented shortstops,” that includes Wood, Jason Donald, Chris Nelson and Todd Frazier.
He turns two at average or better levels and while he’s still not as sure-handed, so to speak, as he will be, it’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when he gets there. A Gold Glove is not out of the question, though he’s unlikely to make the flashy plays voters tend to be fooled by.
You got the Cliff notes version?
This Rowand vs the lefty shit can be summed up in two words: o-ver man-age.
Rowand cf, Sanchez 2b, Posey c, Burrell lf Ross rf, Huff 1b, Tejada ss, DeRosa 3b, Cain p
And to save you guys the effort, Gomez is only 2-12 vs Kershaw. So what do you do when you have a guy who’s only 2-12 vs the tough lefty? You replace him with Rowand who’s 1-11. Wile. E. Coyote. Super Genius.
Is that a veteran lineup or just plain old?
So Bochy is batting Huff in the six-hole. Do you spose he ever reads the Flap?
We’ll see Andres Gomez and/or Darren Ford, earlier rather than later, I suspect. And what’s worse — an injured Freddy, or Fontenot vs. Kershaw? I predict we will see. I also sense that Kershaw’s ready for a fall, however, no matter who the Giants send up there. Bochy is already tired of this losing streak. Dodger heads are gonna roll. . . .
The Gomez thing is done, skippy.
THIS is DeRosa’s break out game.
I hope.
If this was fantasy baseball the Giants could win 0 to -1 . . .
Having dropped to 5th place after my illustrious -5.5 showing yesterday, let’s hope the freefall stops there . . .
For the first time ever I’m benching a SP (De La Rosa vs Philly) tonight. Looking at where I stand in ERA and WHIP, I shoulda done it a long time ago.
It is a no brain er
Cain will be able
GIANTS over phalanges in the ravine tonight
I never thought of myself as looming, but FH is one of my biggest obstructions to a perfect 10
(insert gay-ass smiley face)
De La Rosa 0 ER, 4 hits and no walks in 7 innings. Way to go Dennis!
Well you know what that means for the guy I did start — Kershaw: 3I 8H 5ER 4W
You guys can thank me later.
Make it 1 ER, 5 H and no walks in 8 IP.
I’ll thank you now.
It’s the reverse kiss of death . . .
If DeRosa’s going to break out of the cold of a year plus of being on the shelf, he needs more than an icepick.
http://tinyurl.com/3lp34qk
Until Panda’s back, Giants don’t have good options on the L side of the infield if DeRosa continues his suckage with the bat, let alone his challenged range and glove. It’s near the point where I’d take Bocock at SS, put Tejada at 3rd. At least we’d have a guy that could pick it at SS. Whatever happened to Bocock, last I heard/saw he was in the Phills? system. Baer should have a special “ex shortstop night” gathering ASAP, have a tryout on the spot, and put the best one that can still walk onto the roster…
He is still in the Philly system, hitting .208 in AAA…
David Eckstein…….come on down!
Buster doesn’t have an EBH all of May, but Kruk says he’s “swinging a hot bat.”
OK, Kruk. If you say so.
laughed at that too
although I think it was Kuip who said it…..
Well, it’s pretty tough stretching those singles when you’ve got that, uh, well, you know..
still not sure why Boch is tossing in the towel on Torres v lefties. I know he’s 0 for 8 this year, and he didn’t hit them that well last year but he crushed them in 2009. And it’s not like Rowand has any success v Kershaw. Nice first pitch hack by RowRow, by the way. This LU should always have Torres in it whenever he’s healthy………
The aggressive approach vs Kershaw resulted in a seven pitch first. Ouch.
Cain beat Kershaw Aug 1, 2-0. The runs were driven in by… Renteria
Rent’s an SF icon, no surprise at all…….
I don’t think waiting around on Kershaw is the way to go. The deeper you get in the count, the more swords he has to slay you with. Guess right and attack. I guess they’ve just not guessed right before but I don’t think waiting will help…..
Both these big horses look to be in fine fettle tonight. Dare I say we’re gonna need to do the “little things” right tonight. No free 90 ft. Hit the cutoff man. Get the bunt down. If someone who like to take the other end of the spectrum and go yard tonight, well, that would work, too.
Whether its all-on assault or hanging out and making him work, Kershaw is at 18 pitches through two.
Nice to see the Phillies turn the tables on Colorado, leaving DeLaRosa with a very well pitched game and taking the loss.
after seeing that photo of the woman The Governator banged I think he needs to be tested for clinical insanity……
Yeah, a real bow wow.
Nice rack, though. Bag…Head?
And I mean head in both connatations
Wonder if hitters 1-8 aren’t a bit embarrassed after ol Cainer shows em how it’s done.
I don’t know what’s more shocking, scoring off of Kershaw or Patrick Marleau getting in a hockey fight?
Patrick hits about as hard as Buster.
Gerald must not get embarrassed easy. At least Rowand and Franchez showed their sense of shame and gave Kershaw a bit of an outing. Pretty weird when your starter tallies the first run of the game. Against Kershaw, we’ll take it. We’ll also take the upping of his pitch count to something more becoming of an habitue of the Latrine.
If you were a fan in LA, would you sit in traffic into the 4th inning to get into the game? No way in fucking hell I do that…..
Buster looked awful that AB..
BTW, confirmed that Fruckie was doing the dumbshit early bunting on his own. Bochy has now given him the red light.
Is this opposite field approach intentional or are they just swinging late?
———
Stixwiz has become obsessed with pitch counts…
Is this opposite field approach or are you just glad to see me
Is Jerry Lynch available to hit for Tejada?
what was this called last year? ground attack?
Miggy! The slugging % is light but the resolve is strong…….
when did Kershaw start doing that stupid ass Hideo Nomo “hands held up high” delivery????????
When he had sushi for the first time
Weird stretch, and he throws his FB flat and his curve hangs just a bit out of the stretch. At least tonight.
Belt will be in LA tomorrow night.
Why? Movie premeire?
and the De Rosa Era is finally over. Bummer for the guy, he’s worked hard even if the results weren’t there………
Injuries aren’t funny. But this guys been injured for about 3 years. Doesn’t anyone have any sense? This shit could effect him the rest of his life
I wish DeRosa well in retirement.
Who gets that RBI?
font.
Our head cheerleader goes down again….
Sis-boom-bye!
It’s hard to watch something like that. These guys give their bodies to this game. Their body is the game. To rehab like this, twice, and to have it just snap off like that without even a swing going down? I feel for the dude…….
Why do I suddenly feel like taking a dump?
OH…..Rowand’s batting
Well, they had to force the issue with DeRosa. It’s been forced. That was $12 miillion that just walked into the clubhouse and into retirement. Nice contract, Sabes…
Loo thinks it’s funny. Shame on you.
Gotta feel for DeRo, dude obviously wan determined to put that bug behind him. Although after watching him the last week and seeing the bases loaded up right now you also gotta hope the offense might be turning a corner.
How is that an error?
trail runners adv on the throw. Not really Kemp’s fault, but somebody has to get the E.
Typical Snarkkism…
On the one hand, it’s a bad deal for DeRosa. On the other, the multi-millions outta salve that more than little. By forcing the issue, the Giants can move on and get a player in here that’s 100% and can contribute, instead of a guy that was obviously done. This is the major leagues. They have a division to win…