Tough Game
Weird, last night’s epic fail is bothering me more this morning than it did last night. It’s usually the reverse. All I’ve got in me is a “knowing *dude* nod”. But it’s not vertical, it’s horizontal. You want a few heaping servings of bad luck? Not only does our best hitter foul a ball off his foot but he hits a grounder to third that he has to run out as hard as he can! I’m sure the foot felt great after that…..
And now, with great irony, we turn to Dirrrrty to right this wayward ship. Only because I feel certain that he will fail today do I have hope that he will pitch masterfully. It’s upside-down day. And faced with nothing but more injuries, players healing slowly and wins being ripped away from us, there’s nothing else that can possibly happen except the impossible. I need my knowing dude nod to get vertical again…….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
A week vacation, not one game did I get to see, arrived home in the bottom of the first last night and I was riding high….that fucking ump who let Hinske step out and call time on a 3-2 pitch while Wilson was beginning his motion was total bullshit. Totally threw BW off. Walked Hinske and the rest is history….that would have been a huge victory to start this series with….
I think the same things that applied to wilson last night that Twin noted, not being able to get strikes with the cutter as opposed to other fastball, also apply to Sanchez. Because of the speed and movement, plus his breaking ball, he was really tough to hit 2009 and 10. That is not a throwaway stat, that mlb hitters over an entire season can’t hit more than .200 off him. He lowered his numbers in ERA, WHIP, and BA quite a bit over 2 years…you don’t do that to mlb hitters across the board for that long by being strictly a “head case.”
Command and confidence, game situation and the ump, add in all the intrigue. What’s working/what’s not? what is the hitters weakness, how do you set it up? How do you get ahead or come back from behind in the count? what is the ump giving you, inside or out, up or down? Throw strikes is great advice, sure…but there’s obviously good ones and bad ones.
Personally, I think lack of a vet catcher does make a difference in his case. I also think you can add in a hidden factor, which is lack of confidence in prez ability to make stops on his pitches. Sanchez is not any easier to catch than he is to hit, even if you know what is coming. If we can see how prez struggles to defend stuff from the couch, imagine how a pitcher feels 60 feet away, esp with guys on base.
I listened to the K/K guys this am go through each at bat from Wilson and it was less horrific than it felt last night. He had good velocity, he really was a strike away from winning that game. It’s a game of inches, right?
Even great closers fail at times.
Yeah, GH. That was totaal bullshit letting Hinkse step out that late. If I was Wilson, I woulda thrown heat at the ump. “Oooops! My bad!”
Does anyone remember Wilson throwing a more downward breaking slider? Seems like he only threw it for about a week in June.
Last night’s ninth was like that steer stumbling down the final chute at the slaughterhouse getting that conk with the sledgehammer. Wish it had been that quick, though. True though about closers. Sometimes even the best ones do not get the job done. Besides that timing interruption was Wilson back to par or was he still a bit off? No video here so i have no idea.
Bochy needs to take a strategic approach to Atlanta’s 21 Y.O. Panamanian starter Randall Delgado tonight. For starters, the top of the lineup should feature such patient hitters as he can amass. Mostly there already with Ross and Keppinger. Add Belt batting third with his excellent balls/strikes discrimination and give them all instructions to lay off anything but absolute fatties early in the count and see if the kid can be rattled starting out.
Chronicle writer stated that Beltran and Romo may both hit the D.L. Just what we needed right about now. Don’t think there’s a real speedster at Richmond who could get the call and Fresno and San Jose are too far away for a quick flight in and getting ready to start. My thought is that the other element which could upset a young, touted starter would be a speedster. Of course he would have to get on base to do that.
Well, Ford is in Richmond and Peguero too but one of the beat writers said it would be Burriss up. It’s not the kind of decision that’s based on geography. But I can see any of the 3, Manny is more versatile, however.
I missed the game working late, but my kids listened to the meltdown on the radio, and were a little bummed when I got home. We played catch. We talked about Buster Posey’s twins, about how great it was when the Giants won the World Series, and how shit happens sometimes. I explained that that there is nobody on the face of the earth more pissed off than Brian Wilson right now, so there is no point in us getting mad about the blown save too.
My son wants to either go into the Air Force and fly jets, or be a big league pitcher. He thinks Wilson is cool because of the Air Force scholarship he created, and because he goes out and pitches and lives with no fear. I am grateful that the Giants have guys like him and Posey, because a kid can learn a lot by seeing how their heroes deal with failure and bad breaks.
/Polly out.
Great post. One of the halfwits on Chuck’s blog told me to “man up” because I didn’t ike the Saint’s 7 and 8 man blitz packages on Friday. It sounds like your son knows about true “manning up”. It’s something most of us know all about: taking care of family, service to country, dealing with what life throws our way. In a sports setting, Panda showed this winter what it’s like to man up… and he’ll be a worthy successor to Vundo as this year’s Willie Mac winner…
I’m supposed to be the Wilson apologist, boys..putting his failure on a late time out call is a fucking joke. If that threw him off enough to be even partly responsible for the BS, he shouldn’t be the closer..
The numbers on velocity are always available at Gameday, a couple clicks away. So before I discussed his velocity, I checked on it so I could speak with some authority rather than just pull it out of my ass…
His problem is simple: 14 fast balls and 14 “slutters”. That’s at least twice as many slutters as he should be throwing…
Yeah, he was a pitch away from getting out of it. Also Cabrera had the slight double clutch on Costanza’s ball, But you all know the drill about walking guys. That’s what did him in…
No one said it threw him off, Mike. Just that it was after Wilson went into his windup. The ump made a stupid call there. If I’m Wilson, I throw it over blue’s head.
And yeah, last year was filled with epic losses like this one. The 14th inning clusterfuck to Colo being one that was going to do the team in . . .
“No one said it threw him off, Mike.”
Actually, Ghead said EXACTLY that, Chuckles…”Totally threw BW off. Walked Hinske and the rest is history”
OK, I didn’t say it . . .
Go Chuck.
quick shout out to sandawg: Milwaukee Bucks signed Sidney Moncrief as a coach. Man, I really dug this guy and the Bucks of Nelson in the 80s. His teams consistently won 50 plus games for 6 years, and played defense. Moncrief was a great defender and rebounder, alongside Paul Pressey, Marques J, big men Alton Lister and Bob Lanier and Harvey Catchings and later Terry Cummings, and shooters like Brian winters, Junior Bridgeman (cool player, deadeye shooter) and later super sixth man Ricky Pierce.
Never good enough to win it all, but fun to watch. They also had the young Mickey Johnson for a few years, exciting player who was here for a couple good seasons.
I saw Kareem and the Bucks lose to the Knicks at MSG 87-86 in ’72. They led 86-68 with about 5 minutes to go and got outscored 19-0 down the stretch. His old Bruin teammate, Lucious Allen who was about a 90% FT shooter missed a couple of huge ones near the end.
Yeah I can remember seeing Kareem play the Warriors in those days in Oaktown. Nate Thurmond used to really fuck with his skyhook and play him physically, and Kareem didn’t like it.
The Knicks of that era were pretty fun too…watched Clyde and Co. a few times in oaktown. One night W’s were blowing them out (!) and this group of guys were yelling, “we want mast we want mast.” They finally put Ed Mast in, and you could hear one of them go ,”I’m sorry Eddie.”
A memory like an elephant.
Nellie was a God in Wisconsin back in the day. His generosity towards the state’s farming community is legend.
Moo!
You forgot Paul Mokeski! I dug those teams too. I forgot Lanier ended up on the Bucks at the tail end of his career. Sports Illustrated cover with Moncrief rising for a 2 hand jam while playing at Arkansas is one my all time favorite covers.
Saw the Len Bias “30 for 30” the other day. Sad story, but some great highlights. They showed a play I remembered at North Carolina where he scored, then stole the inbound pass and without taking a dribble, rose up and threw down a nasty reverse dunk. Even my 13 year old was impressed and watched it several times.
Waaay early to be pushing the Panik button, but hey, the kid’s doing damned good at Salem-Keizer in the short-season NorthWest League. Picking 29th in the June draft, due to their high finish last season; the World Champs may have turned the corner a bit more on their position player draft picks with the selection of Joe Panik outta St. Johns. Currently, the SS. prospect is co-leader along with his team-mate Joe Murray who catches for S-K, of Giants MiL prospects, with a nifty .353 BA. The 20 Y.O. has scored 44 runs on 73 base-knocks, including 7 doubles, a pair of triples and and 5 taters, garnering a total of 45 RBIs. He must have a fine batting-eye as his BB-K ratio is a positive 22-20. A turn of speed is indicated with 11 swipes vs 3 C.S. Cumulatives include a .413 OBP, a .478 SP, for an OPS of .891. Very nice stats for a SS in any league.
Perhaps due for a cup of coffee at the end of the 2013 season, the Giants may see quite a bit of Joe Panik by 2014 should his trajectory maintain. Likely he’s full-time for Augusta in Low A next season, though if he continues to slap that horsehide around it would not surprise me if he plays for San Jose in High A by July or August. A very good hitting SS, who fields his position at least adequately well, is pure gold. From first appearances Panik looks like the real deal.
good one stix. Joe Panik sounds like nickname of a trigger happy brighton beach hoodlum.
The word on Panik is that he’ll most likely end up as a second baseman, as per Baseball America and others.
“He had labrum surgery after his freshman year, and he has difficulty with throws deep in the hole, but his hands work well. He profiles best as a bat-first second baseman, though he could play short in a pinch because of his instincts.”
Runzler up for Romo and Panda expected to play tonight. Could also mean no DL for Beltran.
They better go 8-4 minimum during that candy-ass 12 game stretch after the Atlanta series…
Loo is putting his foot down hard!
Off Topic: There’s a documentary on Netflix about the Chavez Ravine Story. I remember Twin commenting about this topic a few years ago. I think I’ll order it up.
Ross CF, Fontenot 2B, Sandoval 1B, Huff RF, Belt LF, Cabrera SS, Tejada 3B, Stewart C, J.Sanchez P
You read that right.
Huff RF again? We saw that … and saw that miserably. A few times, even!
Don’t know if it’s a Dali or a Warhol, but it’s a masterpiece.
Now Nate is out … fouled pitched off foot from yesterday, so says Shea
The Grokster and Keppinger injured.
Keppinger is getting an MRI on his wrist while Nate gets an x-ray on his foot.
Can you say, not our year?”
“Some days, yer the dog — — some days, yer the hydrant.” — MrB
“It’s a dog eat dog world, and I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.” –Norm Peterson.
when did kep hurt his wrist? swinging? And i assume nate fouled one off his foot? Boy, the grim reaper is swinging that scythe something fierce!
I think t hey started taking numbers at the bridge!
Shit. KNBR is already saying Nate broke his foot. FWIW, put Belt in RF and Huff in LF. (lineup switch)
And so they did (if your lineup switch was a suggestion rather than a statement).
“Can you say, not our year?” No, but it flows off your tongue quite easily..
Will just make it all the sweeter, Doomin’ Denster..
Wait, there’s more…Rowand is out with a strained intercostal (side) muscle. Giants bench is DeRosa and Stewart.
Can you say, “not our year?”
Carlos to the DL!
Rikkert Faneyte could bat cleanup on this team…
They have two guys on the bench snd you’re dissing the LU? Fucking moron..or should I say dumbfuck?
Whatever suits your 6 year-old mentality…
To be humorous, there needs to just a shred of truth- yeah: Sandoval, Huff, Belt… sure, Rikki would bat clean up…
Bowtie better let them use his corporate jet to ferry the Fresno team to Atlanta . . . I doubt Southwest will suffice this quick.
“The turkeys are hitting the pavement like bags of wet cement!” — Les Nessman
They’ve switched Belt to RF and Huff to LF…
Birthin’ Denny already reported that.
Well I guess I’ll just go jump in front of a subway train.
Wait for rush hour.
Pure gold, babe ! POTD!
Another of the staggeringly brilliant comedians we’re blessed with here.
Give the guy POTD and he’s still bitchin’…
OK- who will be the first with “Why no DeRosa?”
You just KNOW tonight’s game will go extras…
Extra Rolaid tablets.
Liquid diet?
So, Nate, Keppy, Panda, AND Rowand all got hurt yesterday?
Plus CarBel and Romo to the DL?
Shiot, I’ve heard of getting bit by the injury bug, but this is the injury locust cloud from hell . . .
And the trainer tore a hammie tending to them..
The bench just gets thinner and thinner. Now Schulman is out with a strained knee.
That’s what he gets for trying to kick his dog.
Holy Medical Center! This is getting freakin’ ridiculous.
The good news is Arizona goes against Halladay, who was supposed to pitch Sunday but got rained out.
Splashiots are insisting Belt is on the bench. They’d prayed so hard to bitch about that, they think it’s come true..
Did you ever get the feeliing the whole world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?
-George Gobel-
Injury updates at Baggarly’s blog
Did any of you catch that skewer job Tolbert did on dirrrry? That was borderline grounds for being suspended from his show (I thought)
1. Cody Ross (R) CF
2. Mike Fontenot (L) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 1B
4. Aubrey Huff (L) LF
5. Brandon Belt (L) RF
6. Orlando Cabrera (R) SS
7. Miguel Tejada (R) 3B
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Jonathan Sanchez (L) P
Read more: Lineups: Giants vs. Atlanta — Widespread changes
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story
Tolbert started out saying someone should go punch dirrrry in the chest to get him to show some emotion. He then called him mentally soft 3 times. That’s over the top. Flem did a good job refuting most of it
Yeah, that’s plain stupid, especially when you consider Sanchez said this last year, “We’re going to play San Diego, and we’re going to beat them three times. If we get to first place, we’re not going to look back.” Although they didn’t win 3 straight, it inspired his teammates and they eventually took it all . . . with Sanchez clinching the division on the last day no less.
Other accomplishments of note:
– On August 3, 2011 Sanchez tied Juan Marichal’s record when he struck out seven straight batters in a 10-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
– Also last year, Sanchez not only threw the first complete game and the first shutout of his career; he threw a no-hitter, becoming the first Giants’ pitcher to do so since John Montefusco no-hit the Atlanta Braves in 1976.
– In Game three of the 2010 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, Sanchez struck out eleven batters in a game the Giants won 3-2.
No emotion? Plain idiotic to imply anything of the sort. This guy cares . . . ALWAYS.
Pressure all on the Braves.
If they can’t beat this team tonite, they should be ashamed.
If DeRosa can’t break into the game somehow tonite when he and Eli essentially ARE the bench, then he has no business on the 25.
Tonite’s lineup is so screwy, wacky, and nutz, it just might work.
Or, they lose by 8…
If Dirrrty isn’t gonna get that pitch, might as well call it a night.
What a fucking throw by Stewart
Stewie pulled out the cannon there. Super throw…
Actually, you kinda want to hold back when you’ve only got two bench payers…
Congrats, though. The first “Where’s DeRosa?”
Just 4 you. Thought you’d like it…
Thanks, I knew you’d come through.
not sure if it’s been mentioned but 5 of our 8 position players are playing a position that they did not play last night……..
Thanks for the replay, guys.
Really, though, that hasn’t happened very much against the G’s . . .
Don’t give in to Freeman . . .
Yes it just was . . .
i know he’s playing first for the first time in a while, but Jesus Christ that was a dumbfuck play. Dirrrrty was still on the fucking mound when he fielded that!
Unbelievable.
Unfucking real.
Rains. Pours. Sanchez departs with ankle injury.
pretty amazing throw by Dirrrty on the play he hurt himself. This has gotten ridiculous……..
I have had a perfectly wonderful day before. And this one ain’t it.
Here’s a different way to look at this: It really isn’t that bad. We’ve lost a few offensive players but our offense sucks no matter who’s out there. Our O really isn’t that destroyed, unless Panda is just out there gutting it out. We lost our 8th inning set up guy but we have a great bullpen so someone can fill in there. And losing Dirrrrty? Ok, that hurts THIS game because he was pitching well, but had he pitched like shit Surkamp was getting called up ANYWAY to take his next start.
See? I can go Polly with the best of ’em. Tell me this post doesn’t make a little sense…….
Whatever you say BF.
I missed it but I thought Kruk said afterwards that Pablo couldn’t get back, he thought it was the injury. What really happened?
Seriously?
Yeah.
Bunt to Dirrty’s left but he fielded it with two feet still on the mound. Pablo had broken for it, for some unknown reason, and Kruk was correct, he couldn’t get back.
The first bunt, Pablo was out of position, but Sanchez fielded it w/o a prob. The 2nd bunt, Sanchez bobbled it and fell awkwardly on his left ankle while throwing out someone.
Medic!
check that, I just re-watched it. Dirrty had one foot still on the mound. Still, would Pablo have broken for that ball had he been playing 3rd and it was in the same spot only to Dirrrrty’s right? No chance.
Well, you’re absolutelty right then, he made a mistake.
Panda got down the line pretty quick…That’s a good sign….Never thought I would say I was excited to see a DP.
Christ. Does McCann ever make an out vs the Giants?
Uh, OK. Once in a while!
I don’t think Baggs likes me. I can’t get a post to stay up on his blog for more than a minute–and they are completely vanilla posts…..
MLB.com showing AZ-PHL game, but thank you, Kos!
Delgado is currently throwing a NO HITTER. That’s right, a NOOOOOOO MOTHERFUCKING HITTER!!!!!!!! I am certain some idiot Braves fan just spoke the same words and he has doomed Delgado……
I just love how Mota has so honorably and dutifully (and often) gone out there and righted the ship, or kept it from foundering. Very valuable.
Mota’s early entrances have been invaluable. It’s only happened a couple of times, so I guess you COULD put a value on it 🙂 But it’s still nice to have that weapon to call on when needed…..
Every time they pan to the crowd there are about 20 hot women on the screen. “Hotlanta” is appropriately nick named…..
Giants hitters look like they have a collective concussion.
With all the injuries, maybe they do…
Loo would love this telecast: no screen shots of babies or people eating food—just hot women with big tits.
not just Loo
this is rivaling a “Mall tit” day!
Can you imagine if the Giants had some dumb ass giant cow holding up a sign sitting somewhere in the stadium?
Right next to a giant fucking coke bottle
LOL! I hate both the glove and the Coke bottle.
Does Atlanta or the region have an ordinance prohibiting sellouts? You never see it there. Not even in the postseason.
The Dixie Oakland..
They might be feeing a bit shellshocked. Didn’t they look pretty bad the first game after Posey went down?
They might as well go ahead and make Mota the 5th starter.
If he were that kind of person (and he’s not), Mota could have been resentful. The Giants gave him a MINOR league contract, right? I don’t get that. Well, here he is.
I don’t know why he didn’t get a deal somewhere else. Considering the state of pitching in MLB and looking at how good he was last year, it’s almost incomprehensible…….