When 7 Runs feels Like 77 Runs….
Now THAT was a ballgame. Of course, I wasn’t able to see it so I won’t comment on the details. But with Torres and Ross both going deep, with no one hitting the DL, Bumgarner’s stud outing in a very difficult place for visitors to play, I think that might have been our best overall game played this year. Again, if you saw it and had a different opinion than I do, I’m willing to share your opinion….
Hitting bombs, that’s gonna have to be the way it is for us if we want to score runs. We don’t have enough speed or enough OBP to manufacture runs. In fact, I think it is entirely more reasonable to expect the offense carries itself with power instead of “little ball.” That’s one reason why I think Panda and Belt (should he ever get off the bench for a few games in a row) could end up carrying us for long stretches this season. Neither is going to ever lead the league in HR’s (that’s for the Bruce’s and the Stanton’s of the league) but they will hit for a high enough average AND OPS to provide the big hits we need to score runs.
And I agree with Twin, the 6 spot would look awfully nice with Torres in it. Adios Pelota. You know that’s what he’s always wanted to be anyway, not a gnat at the top of a line up……
And for your daily dose of “Jose Reyes” talk, riddle me how in the hell this dude has a slugging % of .493 with ONE (1) home run. That’s pretty hard to do. The dude is a doubles and triples machine……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
The conundrum of “Hitting Bombs” is that our number one guy is on the DL and the guy tied with him, wont get many starts going forward, unless he starts to hit better than he has to date. The number two guy who I believe is tied with two others, is also on the DL. Moreover, with 5 jacks leading the way on this club and the MLB leader having 20, I’m fairly certain that timely hitting (something the Giants have done well) will continue to be the way they win games, along with outstanding pitching and defense . . . and the occasional jack sprinkled in.
And of course in my money fantasy league, after the weekend games in Milwaukee and sweltering heat in st. Louis, I sat andres…at least had two-homer Hunter in there…
Torres in the six hole and Reyes at top….mmmmmverrrryinteresting (said in German accent)….next year lineup?
1) Reyes – SS
2) Franchez – 2B
3) Panda – 3B
4) Posey – C
5) Huff – LF
6) Torres – CF
7) Belt – 1B
8) Nate\Ross – RF
I made the same mistake with Napoli GH – I went with the new guy (Carlos Santana . . . umm, not the one that has a band. Ha.) I picked up from IrishGiants . . . Of course, I got fucked by doing so . . . sigh.
I also had Torres sitting on my other team, a head-to-head league. Cost me 24 points. 😡
Shazbat
Not certain how many of you receive Baseball Prospective. They just came out with their “Top 100 MLB Prospects” and the Giants have two players on the list (Belt and Wheeler). Here are the Giants top prospects per BP:
Giants Top Prospects of 2011
1. Brandon Belt | 1b | Age – 23 | Grade – B+
2. Zack Wheeler | RHP | Age – 20 | Grade – B
3. Gary Brown | CF | Age – 22 | Grade – B-
4. Thomas Neal | LF | Age – 23 | Grade – C+
5. Jarrett Parker | CF | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
6. Chuckie Jones | OF | Age – 18 | Grade – C+
7. Mike Kickham | LHP | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
8. Francisco Peguero | CF | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
9. Jason Stoffel | RHP | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
10. Tommy Joseph | C | Age – 19 | Grade – C+
11. Heath Hembree | RHP | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
12. Jake Dunning | RHP | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
13. Ehire Adrianza | SS | Age – 21 | Grade – C+
14. Eric Surkamp | LHP | Age – 23 | Grade – C+
15. Jorge Bucardo | RHP | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
Wondering how we compare in the NL West? The first number is how many are in the Top 100 and the second number is the ranking within the Top 100:
NL West (16)
ARIZONA Diamonbacks (2) – 22, 57
COLORADO Rockies (4) – 18, 67, 92, 97
LOS ANGELES Dodgers (3) – 71, 86, 98
SAN DIEGO Padres (5) – 37, 59, 66, 100
SAN FRANCISCO Giants (2) – 21 (Belt), 61 (Wheeler)
Only two Gomez’s and neither named Sanchez? Maybe the Latin American free agents come in under the radar a bit, neither drafted nor rated in high school or college. Suddenly, they blast out in A ball? May be.
Think Gary Brown should be in there. But then I seem to recall BP also whiffed on Sandoval.
46 HRs hit yesterday in mlb.; second day in a row 20 hit in the AL.
Splits always fascinate me in looking at sf hitters….last year Huff hit only two less HRs at home than on the road out of his 26 total, tho his over all numbers for OPS were much higher away from ATT. Since he hit .264 at home and .315 on the road, figure bochy keeps him in there hoping he gets rolling soon, esp in a warm weather park.
Both Nate and Burrell are doing well vs. RHP, decent slugging and .850 OPS; Nate much better on the road, burrell at home. Neither can hit lefties, with Nate under the mendoza line, and every hit a single.
Might be part of what keeps Belt on the bench too…bochy isn’t sure what he brings vs. LHP, so he still has rowand in the mix for an occasional start.
Wasn’t it late last year that the Giants couldn’t score without hitting a HR? Now, at least on this road trip, they can’t seem to win without hitting a grand slam.
Entire month of August. In fact, they scored less runs/gm that month despite all the homers.
Hence my cries for them to stop hitting home runs.
I realize that Crawford has only started two games, but hey Flav you still want Burriss in there? on Crawford, Listening to KNBR this morning and Kuip claims all the SF coaches Giants and Fresno, believe he is/can be a great SS, his hitting is what has held him back.
Sure, but that’s what holds back everybody. If he can’t hit minor league pitching, you gotta wonder about life in mlb. They already have the prez solidly entrenched in the 8 spot. Fontentot ain’t gonna be on the DL forever.
burriss runs well and might be better offensively, but I swear every time I see him he fucks up a play in the IF. Not good.
Both K&K on KNBR this morning (different segments) and it’s all but sayonara for Tejada when Pablo comes back. “Crawford’s the everyday shortstop.” “I don’t look forward to watching Tejada’s at-bats.” They were downright honest and brutal. I love it.
Did they mentiion Rowand’s stellar ABs?
Never.
It is a little irksome that Gamer gets a fricking pass for his suckiness while others regularly take the brunt of their so-called honesty . . .
Chuck, a big salary, coupled with who provides the paychecks to K and K will allow all sorts of “forgiveness, silence, and looking the other way” type comments.
At .519 ops, Tejada’s represents a whole new level of suckiness
If this team is going to live on the HR, it’s going to be a long season. Unless Pablo turns into Stan the Man, and BB turns into BB, they ain’t going to be jacking all that many . . .
Could there really be something to where the team plays, weather and climate factors, which influences the performances of various players? In an interview after yesterday’s game, Bumgarner talked like he was in hawg heaven pitching in the heat and humiliated relatives of St. Louis. Reminded him of his No. Car., home, he said.
Giants, along with the Mariners, play most of their home games in air-conditioned comfort, where guys like Lincecum tend to thrive. However, like so many teams these days, the roster is studded with Latinos and Southerners. Point in consideration: Who hit the jacks yesterday? Currently, the team is playing .500 ball on the road (16-16, i believe). Way the roster is constituted may well be they will continue at a .500 pace on the road.
Win half your road games and 3/5th to 2/3rds of the home contests and you take a nice fat pot of marbles.
Maybe that helps to explain his home/ away splits.
RT: It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the muggy climate teams like Atlanta or St. Louis will pick up on Bumgarner’s heat-index and proffer a tempting offer. It would have to be incredibly tempting, as the barely drinking-age Undertaker is under team control for years to come and is likely to make incremental improvements as he continues to develop in mound maturity.
What Bumgarner represents to the team now is a stopper for those mid-summer road trips to towns with horrible climates. Recall how Timmy suffered in August last season. Dog daze. Under those conditions Madison may be the guy to hold the fort by stifling slumps.
You know, I don’t think Crawford’s minor league numbers are that bad. They seem to be a bit better than Robby Thompson’s 3 year minor league career and Robby seemed to do pretty well in the Majors. Not sure, but I doubt Robby was on any top 100 prospect lists either.
No clowning around. I think you’re onto something, Bozo. Matching Robby’s offensive skills would be pure serendipity for someone with Crawford’s glovework abilities . Interesting that he figured huge in the Milwaukee victory and significantly in the five-run rally against McClellan yesterday. This is a terribly small sample, but a nice indicator that maybe the kid will be an above average situational hitter even if his BA might be typically shortstop. WTF: He even stole a base yesterday. Kid is motivated to stick. Attitude is key to winning baseball, sometimes more so than talent. Consider Pete Rose.
Scouting and development people may have done a good job on Brandon. Crawford looking more and more like a keeper.
So far, on what i felt would be one of their toughest road-trips of the season, Giants are 2-2. Not bad for having just lost Posey and with Panda still missing in action. Just had a look at the schedule. Majority of home games in June, commencing with an even ten by the Bay on returning from St. Louis. Only trip in the upcoming month that could have some snags will be the one going to Wrigley and then on to Detroit. Then there’s another long stretch where the staying and going will not be against the more formidable squads.
Toughest roadie over the next couple months takes place in the last week of JULY, with appearances in Cincinnati and Philadelphia on the schedule. After the loss of Posey, winning that one game in Milwaukee looms large. Yesterday’s W. in St. Louis may not have been that big an outlier, considering that SF has more than a few guys who thrive in hot weather.
Snakes have been hot lately, but they are bound to cool off. They simply do not have the pitching for the long haul. The Division is weak. With the arrival of Vogelsong in the rotation, it can be said that we have the most dominant starters in the game and no fewer than five quality relievers. So the prognosis for June and July, with Panda’s return and possibly even with Bochy pushed into starting Belt on a semi-regular basis; looks good. SF should make hay over the mid-season, piling up a nice divisional lead.
Manny has had a screw up in virtually every game he’s played in the infield. He will not be the starting anything.. I hope he stays at all when Fontenot returns, he does bring a lot to the table- defense just isn’t one…
As far as SS when Pablo is back- Tejada wasn’t defending OR hitting. Why the fuck *wouldn’t* they go with Crawford?
OK, I’m down with the power hope. Get a grand slam, win the game. Giants are 2 for 2 with that strategy….
It’s obviously a strategy they practiced a lot in the spring. Say, Rowand has a hip contusion. Is that serious?
The Gamer is a continuous contusion…
Quirky fact from today’s boxscore:
St. Louis starting pitcher: 6-2, 3.88 ERA
MadBum: 2-6, 3.68 ERA
Doesn’t St. Louis lead the league in scoring?
Sadly funny quote from the Casey Anthony trial.
From a recorded phone conversation after she was arrested-
Casey: “All the police care about is finding my daughter.”
Today’s officially scheduled start time: 4:09pm. Not 4:05 or 4:10 or … no, this team is a well-oiled, lean, mean precision machine!
Itz a TV thing…
i HATE st. louis. have since the 80’s (late 70’s?) and that ridiculous turf and the stupid slap hitting and the amazingly obnoxious ozzie smith and his cold-cocking of will clark and the appropriately named, and forever damned, Bush stadium. the cards and their fans were always fiesty in there little shop of horrors but very meek when at the ‘stick. wonder why that would be? oh, they would have had 5000 fans dressed in black pounding their candy asses. The beauty of the flap is that it was born in St loo. those were two clubs that plain didn’t like each other. I forget who the base runner (might have been coleman) was but reggie smith was holding someone on at first and every time the guy dove back to the bag, smith put his knee into him applying the tag. pitcher kept throwing over too. dude took a pounding. and that asshole muldonado!!!! don’t get me started.
Candy Maldonado is the one that came to Clark’s rescue in that fight, ewisco. You might be thinking of Jose Okendo. The scourge of Altee Hammaker. . .
He did his Superman impression straight into Ozzie’s head. Fun stuff. I keep trying to find that on the internets, but I haven’t yet.
And, Reggie Smith did that to EVERYBODY . . .
Sorry Chuck, didn’t see your post before posting mine.
I saw Reggie do the knee thing with Steve Sax, but he may have also done it with a Card, it was funny as hell. The only redeeming factor (IMO) about Maldonado was he was the first guy (he was on first at the time) to nail Ozzie (or was it Oquendo?) after Will got hit, our First base coach, Dusty Baker was second. Highlights of the old stadium, beer vendors in the stands, great Brats, downtown, the Bowling Hall of Fame was across the street and Mitchell making the bare handed grab in left. The fans are nuts, but what the hell else are going to do in “Cow Town” (hey a One Flap Down ref.).
The Maldanado comment may have been a reference to some dismal defense in right field in the 1987 NLCS
I will always hate him for that slide non-catch.
Yeah, that’s the one I was specifically thinking about. But without anything to back it, just a sort of sense memory, I think there were a couple other “oops” in there as well
ok. so maybe he lost it in the lights. but then someone hits it to shallow right, the runner takes off from third and he airmails the cutoff and sends it 10 feet up the line. You’ve GOT to make one of those two plays. either catch the frigging ball or make the throw from SHALLOW right.
not that i’m bitter.
He didn’t lose it in the lights. He said his idol was Clemente and tried to catch the ball like Roberto. Not the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard. Was it Billy North that got busted for an once of cocaine on the front seat of his car, that said – well my window was open and I was driving through downtown Oakland? Now that was classic.
I asked for Belt at 1B and Burrell in LF. Bochy does read the Flap.
CF Torres
3B Tejada
2B Sanchez
LF Burrell
1B Belt
RF Ross
SS Crawford
C Whiteside
P Vogelsong
And before you guys chime in on how “well” my other lineup produced. I only do the scribbling. I can hit for these guys.
Both Belt and Crawford in the L.U. ? Praise Be! Huff needs a hopefully brief rest. Bochy had to cover his with Burrell at Cleanup, but who knows, if he’s apt to get his belted any time he’s at the plate, maybe he’ll get his ass in gear and provide a bit of pop ~ or at least one of his patented BB’s so Belt, Ross or Crawford can drive him in.
Dennis isn’t smart enough about baseball to be nailing the LUs without help. But if I’m wrong, why didn’t Doomin’ Denny ask out on Tejada and Whitey?
If you were nicer to me I might give you the number to Bruce Bochy’s Bat Phone. As it stands now, you’ll have to continue your role as the Joker. And as for not asking out on Tejada and NO Whitey? That must be my masochistic side talking. Nothing like enjoying the painful and tiresome at-bats from those two jokers. Hey, I found ya a couple of friends.
Pujols at 3B ? !
Always class and dignity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YlK4DlzNsc
I am almost ashamed to admit I could see myself being that foolish; actually, I’d attribute it to my inability to multitask. Notice how Mom is knitting away? In SF, the choice would be: spill my latte or go for the ball? hahahahaha
my boys always bring their glove. as do i.
Bochy saying Huff might even get another day off to clear his head; Huff saying he’d swing at the rosin bag now.
You sure? I heard he plays hackysack with that.
Crawford has played every game since he was up, except one against a LHer. Belt was slumping in Fresno, he’s only here because Travis was nursing the sore shoulder. He’s not playing everyday because they don’t want a repeat of his earlier stay-they’re being selective about when he plays.
I’m liking Crawford, huge. Twin your earlier post “As far as SS when Pablo is back- Tejada wasn’t defending OR hitting. Why the fuck *wouldn’t* they go with Crawford?” was so true. “Why the fuck wouldn’t they go with Crawford”.
Dude, I’m using that one.
The 2 goners set the table…
And Brandon Belt bussed the table…
Where’s Flav . . . I want to know if this is him (see link) and he has been masquerading as a white guy on the Flap:
http://www.billboard.com/news/flavor-flav-arrested-in-las-vegas-1005166322.story#/news/flavor-flav-arrested-in-las-vegas-1005166322.story
yeeah boyeeeee
Keep in mind, he does get the ladies.
So, as per James, Pat’s having a purdy decent evening..
Twin I hate to say it, but I’m still rooting for the rare lumbering bat-ox.
How about Freddy for team MVP so far?
Even with the missed time, it’s Andres. That’s as per Fangraphs and BP, not just Mikey
Pending tonight, how about Vogelsong for NL pitcher of the month?
I’m diggin’ Crawford.
Me too!
Hey, I know it’s been a very small sample size, but the kid looks pretty damn good up at the plate.
He really seems to have NO Whitey problem hitting the curve ball either.
NO Whitey, on the other hand….
On the other hand, that’s our starting catcher. And just think. He should get about another 77 starts behind the dish.
That can’t happen.
JA is due for a good outing.
Phew
Little Birdie that Could leaves with a lead. Barry who?
Sometimes a rare opportunity will bring out the very best in an athlete. Current case in point: Brandon Crawford. Part of it is a roll of the dice, of course. He scored that first tally after hitting into a force play. Sure beats the piss outta those GDP’s we got so used to with certain not to be named usual suspects.
Hunt n peck offense adds another run. They scored em on a couple relievers who have done pretty well this year. Encouraging outing by Affeldt.
The GIDP leaders are almost all very good hitters. You’d probably be happy to have a team with the leaders.
Lotta catchers-I’ve got Pujols, Pablo, Derek and Carlos Lee, Justin Upton, Yadier Molina, Tulo, Braun…
77 more starts for that guy behind dish. I hope your pharmacy is well stocked.
Might be a kinda sluggish team in more ways than one with that many catchers. Delighted with the outing by Affeldt. His best of the season, no question. TWO innings and NO damage.
NO Whitey and Rowand ABs back-to-back. There ought to be a law against that.
It was FAN-tastic. With the emphasis on “fan.”
Huff is still the main concern.
Must be the evening for sour relievers to go sweet. Take a look at the stats for the Amish farmer who just struck out the side. This one was really an outlier. Being from Arkansas he prolly likes the weather in St. Lou.
Fuck.
Frisbees are getting whacked.
Uh Oh Sergio…
Count it lucky it wasn’t hit out.
Card announcers second guessing Bochy…
If Fruckie throws the ball to Belt, he’s out. What a nightmare.
Freddy got to the ball and threw it to the circus standing at first, man you’re tough if you’re going to blame him on that play.
Fuck, fuck, fuck
Damn how much longer are the Giants going to put up with crap fielding an crap hitting! Maybe they should give Rowand a chance at 3rd, or even No Whitey!
Belt falls down and Fruckie throws to the wrong guy…I’m sure the second guessing is Lopez pitching to Craig. But following Craig was the LH Rasmus.
Yes, it was…
Cards are the best hitting team in the league. They finally found a weak link. Began with the frisbees and got extended via the infield. Bummer. Particularly for Vogelson. He outpitched Carpenter.
Now Belt is hurt as well? We have been literally Snake bit this year.
Well that sucked.
The Song Remains the Same.
Just 2ER in his last 32 2/3. We all should be singing his praises.
Just got home. What happened to Belt?
I had a feeling when Romo was announced, it wasn’t a good move. He is best used when used with limited visibility as he doesn’t throw hard and his breaking ball depends on location rather than a sharp break. That is, if he’s off with location with either pitch, he’s very vulnerable. All that said, he’s been effing brilliant this year.
On Tejada’s effort on the ball in bottom of the 8th, I think I saw what all of you have seen: he’s lost confidence in his ability to get to the ball and is reacting rather than attacking–unless that ball took a bad hop. I agree that once Panda is healthy, he’s likely gone.
Took a fastball in the wrist area
Bummer about Belt. Hope its no worse than day to day. Second-guessing is just that, but maybe Bochy wishes now he had led with Casilla rather than Romo. Tough choice in any event. Series split after tonight. Timmy tomorrow followed by Drrrrty. I still like our chances for nothing worse than a 2-2 split of the series. These two teams are pretty closely matched.
There is zero fucking way to second guess going with Romo. You have to be kidding. 16 IP 7 H 2 BB 28K.There was nothing to think about.
While you rock and drool this team will burn to ashes!!!
Belt going for X-rays on wrist. Bochy said he couldn’t throw. Not good.
As of tonight’s game, the season is officially one-third in the books, with a 29-25 record that projects to 87-75. A win, of course, would have made it 90-72. Toughest schedule is over. Next two months bring more home games and not as many hard competitors. Because of the loss of Posey i need to scale down my 100 win projection to something like 93. Panda replacing Tejada should make up the 6 game differential between 87-93 wins. Even at 87 we ought to still win the West. Come playoff time, the team which gets the best pitching usually wins.
A WAR of 6? Hmm . . . not certain anyone could be expected to be that big of a difference Stix.
Romo’s been super. Can’t complain about him. Ironic that it happened on a night when Affeldt finally looked good.
drove home listening to the game. had to make a couple of stops but game going smoothly. got home, had to feed dogs and vacuum and put some dishes in the dishwasher (thanks dear!). Game on and still going well. oh look, an insurance run! made myself a cocktail, sat down in my chair . . . all hell broke loose.
I HATE the cardinals.
Belt X-rays are negative. Bochy said he’ll miss a day or two. Thank Christ for that.
So much for Huff getting another day. Hope he gets it going tomorrow.
Wait a sec . . . Is this the same Christ that has a “H” middle initial or another one???
Romo has surprised me. He’s a solid set up guy. He didn’t have his stuff tonight but he usually goes out there with great shit. That’s all you can ask, no pitcher is perfect. We scored 3 runs tonight, when you score 3 runs your pitching needs to be damn near perfect…….
wife and boys off to a’s – yankees. house to myself. a door closes loudly. not slammed or anything, just distinctly closed. no wind to speak of. i hate that when it happens. dogs of no use. axe handle probably of no use either but comforting.
it’s probably to ghost of candy muldonado.
I hate the Cardinals as well but what happened to Romo…it just fucking happended! It happens! If any of you think Romo is a bad bullpen pitcher…you’re a fucking idiot. The guy’s gonna bring it next time.
IT FUCKING HAPENS
Marlins have it under control against the D-Backs. And Dodgers are taking care of the Rockies. Not much change in the division tonight.
Sorry for that spelling. But I needed that other P…somewhere else
I couldn’t summon up interest in the Heat/Mavericks game. I like the NBA, but I just couldn’t find a rooting interest in that game.
I kid you not- If I took over the A’s, the FIRST thing I do is get rid of their TV broadcasting crew and bring somebody anybody different in.
in their defence, though i’m not a huge fan either, i was watching the csnba broadcast and they had a question from a listener about the mendoza line. so they started talking about how it was named after the shortstop and then they started talking about other things named after players like “tommy john” surgery and then fosse said, “it’s a good thing they didn’t name it the george brett surgery after what happened to him in the post season”. I thought that was pretty funny.
Heard only snippets of game, mostly late, in the car. Just saw some highlights. I don’t have a problem bringing Romo in, he’s been generally nails, except Affeldt had been dealing, could they have kept him in to start the bottom 8th to face the LH hitter instead of Romo? Anyway, the only bone I would pick is Lopez has proved beyond a doubt previous to tonite that he is terrible against RH hitters. .333 BA against while LHers he is .147. I would not have let him face Craig or any RH batter right now except a pitcher, and he won’t see one of those. Save him for a key LH out, no righty batters whatever. As for Burrell and Tejada defense, ugh…