No More Excuses; It’s Showdown Time

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on September 2, 2011

I’m not sure what I’m more surprised by, the fact that we are 6 games back of them or the fact that the D-backs have won 9 in a row. I remember when Stephen Drew went down. I thought they were done. Drew wasn’t having the greatest year but he was one of their leaders, if not their main leader. And it just never happened. They got BETTER after Drew went down. I look up and down that line up and I still see a bunch of free swingers hitting .230-something chumps. They’ve obviously got a stronger line up than we do. I was on a Little League team that won the PA City Championships that could probably outhit this current crew. Montero can hit and is an obvious upgrade over whatever the Hell that is that we trot out at catcher. But mostly, they’ve got a lot of guys who can run into one on any given swing. And we can go 6 games without someone running into one. That’s a huge difference when the pitching on both sides is so good. And while I don’t really fear any of their pitchers and feel like we have a better staff across the board, the fact is, the D-backs have put together a nice team ERA this year. It’s mid-pack in the NL but pretty much every pitcher on that staff has an ERA in the 2’s and 3’s. That’s solid and a huge difference from what they did last year…..

So I am going to remain hopeful that we sweep this series. I still say 2 out of 3 keeps us with a pulse since we have 3 more vs them late in the month. If they stumble a bit after leaving SF and we start winning again, that could be showdown time in Arizona. But that’s a long way off. Tonight is all that matters…..

And I want to ask you guys a favor: If tonight is the same old stuff let’s try not to direct the venom towards each other. Everyone single one of us is frustrated by the output of the team this year. It doesn’t make it any less frustrating to have the blog turn on itself. If we do suck tonight it really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone so prepare yourself for a “big league hang with ’em”. Keep your expectations low and your hope high, if that’s even possible. But I really hope we win tonight, if for nothing else to keep the Flap Party tomorrow evening a little more interesting, at least in terms of the outcome of the game. If we lose, it is highly likely that The Flap Party could turn into a Wake and the irony of that is just stunning to consider……

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stixwiz said, on September 2, 2011 at 8:58 pm

Cain’s finest, most efficient inning. He really needed that. Maybe the restoration of the two-run lead did the trick. Of course he had to set his own table. This one will be a battle of the BP’s pretty soon. If Matt can Horse his way through one more inning we may be looking good.
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:01 pm

It didn’t work, but that was a brilliant pr appearance by Torres…
- unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:08 pm
  
  He never ran though
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:07 pm

3 FCs for Huffster? Time to bring in Belt.
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:07 pm

I’m always surprised when whitey swings and makes contact. I’m a big contact rate guy and I’ve never checked whitey’s. No surprise, I don’t pay attention to contact rate guys who shouldn’t be in the league. Im gonna guess it’s 58%, the worst number I can think of. And I bet I’m high….
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:09 pm

Yeah, yer high . . .

sorry . . .
Macdog said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:11 pm

Man, they are scalding some shots right at these MFers. Uh-oh, Matty may be tiring here.
Macdog said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:12 pm

Or maybe not!
twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:15 pm

That *was* beautifully done. Both Pablo and Keppinger knew they had time and made solid, unrushed throws.
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:15 pm

Nice recovery by Matty there. . . .
stixwiz said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:16 pm

When Cain has a lead that Horse can be a real bull. Scuse the mixed metaphor, but think you know what i mean. It added up to something like a ten pitch inning ~ even with the BB.
blade3colorado said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:17 pm

Just finished my football draft and my eyes are cross-eyed/fatigued from looking at a monitor for two plus hours . . . Good news is that the Giants seem to be cruising to a victory (fingers crossed).
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:17 pm

And Matty starts another rally.
DJLoo said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Amy has me wondering if Panik is our SS next year. Speier was full-time as a 20 y.o. rookie…
zumie said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Ross having an actual ballgame!
Macdog said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm

It’s Ross time!
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Um. Love it. Flap party game is looking gy-nor-mous…
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Hey!!! Dudes are waking up . . .
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm

Anyone know where ‘dawg gets his tickets or money, food or shelter????
- unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:32 pm
  
  I’ve met him 3 times in the last couple years, and I’ve never remembered to ask. He gave my son a BP ball 3 years ago.
  
  It’s funny, the guys you meet who catch BP balls all the time then trade them for whatever swag is being given away, Then that shit goes on to ebay, The 4 guys I met last time had gym bags full of BP balls.
  
  Cain in the 8th. After that 1st, I thought he’d be out by 6.
stixwiz said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm

Commander Cody! Know what? For some weird reason this bunch is starting to remind me of a certain World Championship team.
- zumie said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:23 pm
  
  It would be nice to get Arizona feeling some pressure this weekend.
- DJLoo said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:30 pm
  
  Relax Stix, that’s the porkchops talking…
stixwiz said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Jeeze. You don’t spose Beltran suddenly likes being a Giant and may actually see the potential in this bunch and want a SF bid for 2012? Was calling for shutdown pitching and one of the players going on a tear. Four for four with a dinger and three RBI’s is kinda what we were hoping for from this guy. Couldn’t have happened at a better time.
DJLoo said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:28 pm

I’ll always have a soft spot for John Patterson…
twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:31 pm

Panik is actually thought to be second baseman eventually..unless Crawdaddy shows he can hit at all I’d put my bucks on Keppinger as 2012 SS…
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:34 pm

Wow. All I got to say.
twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:34 pm

I’ll tell ya what’s like last year- whenever Bochy makes a defensive subsitution, a brillant play is made.
- twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:37 pm
  
  Cody could have wiped his face out if his head drops, makes me shudder.
DJLoo said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:42 pm

Belt-meier?
PawlieKokonuts said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:51 pm

Yes I stayed up. Worth every minute.
James said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Ortmeier was a 26 year old with shitty stats in the minors. Belt swing at 2 pitches out of the striker zone in that last AB. He should pay attention Burrell.
- James said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:53 pm
  
  to Burrell
- twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:49 pm
  
  Ortmeier had far better numbers in 2007 in the MAJORS than Belt this year. That’s why I touted him as the first baseman in 2008. I was wrong but how many rookies have put up plus 800 OPS around these parts? I sure as hell hope Belt comes around but he’s not even Ort-Lite right now…
  - James said, on September 3, 2011 at 8:59 am
    
    Didn’t realize you had promoted Ortmeier, perhaps a controversy (Ortrod?) before my time. I think Belt has shown enough flashes to inspire some confidence that he’ll come around. But he does need to play his game, and it will involve stretches with a fair share of called third strikes.
DJLoo said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:54 pm

No shortage of POTG candidates…
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 9:57 pm

Beltran and his 4 for 4….
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:01 pm

Lucky 13th series, and they win the opener . . . Unjinxed . . .

You’re welcome.
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:02 pm

Hmmmm. Flap Party Grow-eth…..
Big flavor said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:09 pm

9 game win streak? Smoke some pole. What a great win. And the world’s eye casts a knowing nod upon The Flap Game tomorrow. I’m devastated by the magnitude of it all….
stixwiz said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:13 pm

It was so nice to go into my hot woodstove kitchen and load up the plate with a couple fresh garden spuds and then top it off with a smothered porkchop awash with tomato, basil, three varieties of pepper, zucchini, some garlic, a spot of paisano and a nice red onion. Took the loaded plate into the dining room and leisurely meandered through the deliciousness of it all with not a worry, fret or jitter in my mind. Eighth inning about to start. Nice relaxed sitdown meal, knowing the Giants finally got that laugher i called for earlier today. Sure nuff. Matt the Horse wins his eleventh. Casilla puts him down in the 9th and Giants fans can bask a bit once more. We’ve won two straight!

All mordant humor aside, this game was exactly what the doctor ordered. Right now the Snakes may be a bit rattled. After their nine-game streak got stranded deep in the Horse Latitudes, they are probably not looking forward to (1. facing a two-time Cy Young winner (2. running into a Beltran buzzsaw as the dude looks to be back on his game and (3. dealing with some restored magic in the World Champs as evidenced by Commander Cody’s deja vu all over again.

Giants were in a playoff mode tonight. The pair of carps is no longer poisoning the atmosphere. Thanks for the memories, guys, but see ya down the road. Giants are hungry once again. They been here before. Like last year in case folks don’t recall how they kinda snuck up on everybody, starting with a San Diego bunch where reality finally caught up to their bubble. One step at a time is what the situation calls for. We are still five games back with 24 to go. Timmy Tomorrow.
unca chuck said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:18 pm

Nitey nite. See y’all on the flip side.

Off to the beach . . .

Tip one back for me at the Flapp partay . . .
willieD said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:24 pm

nicely done..quite a few pitches scalded by SF tonite, HRs and the nearly HRs, and Cain battles through the early high pitch count to get through solid 8. Another ad for SF, how the SPs go longer and save wear and tear on the pen, esp at home.
It’s ON, brutha.
twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:53 pm

Kennedy is a legit ace, let’s hope they can get a couple early, Tonight was huge, tomorrow “huger”, then Sunday “hugest”
twinfan1 said, on September 2, 2011 at 10:57 pm

I’ve sort of skipped over the party…for real? Or a virtual party? Either way, enjoy yourselves. I’ll lift a 2%,..
- Flavor said, on September 3, 2011 at 6:09 am
  
  real. We’re meeting at a spot and watching the game on tv.