Spring Training Results Mean Nothing Except When They Mean Something
As I’ve said before, I really only worry about the *bad* doing *good* not the other way around. If someone like Zito goes out and has a good spring it just gives Bochy, Zito the team, everyone, a false sense of what’s to come in the upcoming season. Normally, I wouldn’t care what Aubrey Huff hits in ST but Bochy is telling everyone that there is an open competition at first base. I think that the core of Giants management WANTS Huff to win that job. Besides the dough they’re paying him, Bochy and Sabean want their team to be as vet-laden as possible.
So I’m starting to wonder what Belt and Huff would have to hit the spring for the job to actually fall to Belt. Some would say, “well, Belt already won a starting job last spring, why couldn’t he win another?” Last spring he won the job because Ross was hurt, not because he tore up the spring. Belt hit .282 last spring……
As of today, Belt is hitting .389 and Huff is checking in at a ho hum .214. I thought something like .400 > .200 might do the trick and they’re just about there.
And as weak as our bench is I don’t think an unhappy Aubrey Huff would strengthen it at all. He’d be terrible coming off the bench both from a creaky physical side as well as a psychological “F-this” side. I also don’t think Belt would be too good coming off the bench, though probably better than Huff…..
So if it came down to batting average differential, what would it have to be for BOCHY to pull the trigger and go with Belt at first base?
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I still don’t think it’ll come down to ST numbers. I think Huff will be starting on opening day. If Belt goes north with the team then I think Nate will be the one on the bench. Which I think is the best role for the great one.
Where’s Willie D?
nip, my first move is to make coffe and then get on the net before work/workout. Flap always gets first look, tho usually i’ll just follow along after work as long as thread is interesting…unlike yesterday.
We debated over whether I’m mentally retarded or not; you didn’t find that interesting?
I think they both start, esp if they are at all worried about Posey’s bat. You have to think Huff could out perform Nate at the plate for 3 ABs a day, tho I doubt he gets very long to prove it. Yes, bochy likes the vets but he also likes mix/match and will give ABs to hotter hitters all around OF. Just hope it’s not more of who isn’t the suckiest like last year.
Cal is on shaky ground, but as of now the CBS bracket guy has them in (with AZ) as 12 seed. Monty is posturing with his “whattya gotta do?” stance, but a part of the answer is to beat teams better than stanford and colorado, who aren’t qualified to be in.
That’s also why I don’t think UW gets in by losing their last two games to the likes of UCLA and Oregon State. NIT could have a distinctly Pac-12 flavor (UW Oregon Colo and maybe the Furd) plus USF. Consolation prize, sure, but roy williams and UNC (and his 12 all americans) were there not so long ago.
What happened to “merit?” I guess I’m delusional (but old school) and believe you have to earn it and be worthy or deserving of being the starter. This reminds me of little league, e.g., the coach’s dufus son starting, despite, 3-4 other players being better than him. Also reminds me of my own experience in high school, where my asshole basketball coach had started someone ahead of me, even though I was cleaning his clock in “one on one” after/before practice daily . . . of course, I didn’t help my case by throwing the basketball at this guy’s face ala “dodge ball,” resulting in my suspension from practice for 2 days (LOL).
Anywho, in my mind, Huff sits if he can’t cut it in spring training and Belt outperforms him. Either that or fuck spring training . . . Like War, what’s it good for?
ST is a bit overrated. The numbers mean little for the vets.
Belt will start if Huff hit 50 poiints higher than HIM. Very likely they both start. Craig has been completely out of line on this from the beginning, mainly because he has no clue on Bochy.
I’ve been out of line? I’ll save this post.
You are the guy saying Belt will start in the OF and Nate will sit. Again, that is what I have said should happen all along so I’m not sure how I’m “out of line”. What I HAVE said is that despite thinking this is the best scenario I don’t happen to think it has a chance of happening unless Nate gets hurt (which is a fairly high possibility).
Again, if Belt starts in OF along with Melk and Pagan and Huff is at 1bag with Nate sliding to bench I will give you huge props for saying this is what’s going to happen. But this IS what I’ve said is the right thing to do all along. I just don’t think Bochy will pull the trigger on it…….
This about your claim- that Belt will sit unless he hits 50 points at least above Huff. Belt will start period. Whether it’s at 1st or LF is not relevant. As to Huff/Nate- it’s a different issue. The point is that Belt will be in the starting LU barring injury no matter what Huff does. And I see you’ve eliminated the possibility of voting for Belt to start regardless, another poll biased by your take.
I don’t think he’s going to start regardless. By the way, regardless of what? Based off your 8:41 post, you’re saying Belt will start if he hits .153 (since Huff is currently hitting .213). That makes a whole lotta sense….
Look, you’re on record as saying Belt will start: Period. I get it. I don’t share the same opinion. But if it comes to pass, especially if it means Nate goes to the bench because of it I’ll applaud that decision and your amazing insight into the genius that is Bochy…..
Nate starting is a different issue. I have NEVER said that Huff will start regardless. Right now Nate has done nothing to lose the position. If the season began today, Belt would be at 1st, Nate in RF, and Huff riding the pine. Belt at first will not change, Huff vs. Nate has a long way to go…
And Loo questioned how I would know that Dirty’s Dad flew up before the no-hitter to support his son in what was known to be a make or break start. Mr. Wiuse Ass askedv if I picked his dad p at the airport. Here’s my answer:
“Becasuse I know people. Try it, Loo. Rather than making light of their deaths..
This was known to be a make or break start for Dirty, and his Dad had never seen him start. So what’s your wise ass take? I don’t need to pick him up at the airport to know he flew up to be with his son at this crucial time for his boy.”
That is why I listen to you and do not pretend to know what people close to the action know.
Edd, that’s gold, baby. The masses don’t understand your true genius, but I do…….
What did the people close to the action say as to why his Dad flew up? Do you remember the circumstances of Dirty’s start? If you don’t, you SHOULD listen to me, Edd…amazing that his Dad flying up to support him draws any argument, love to know the fucking other reasons he might have had.
What’s really amazing is that after 5 years of this, you still have no idea when I’m just fuckin’ around with you.
But if I was serious, your response would be completely unacceptable to you had it come from anyone else.
it’s always quite clear to me, my friend. Twin, for whatever reason, doesn’t spot sarcasm or a joke too often. I’m not ragging on you Twin, it’s not always easy to catch in writing. But Loo is The Master at it.
Actually, *you* don’t Flavor, youi project that onto me.There was no reason to think Loo was anything but serious- and of course my explanation was the only plausible one as to why his Dad flew up to be with him. Or let’s have a poll!
Dirty’s Dad flew to SF because:
1. He knew Jonathon would pitch a no hitter
2. He was horny for some rough trade
3. To support his son in his time of trial
4. No reason, just the helluvit
and by the way, Twin:
I’m just going off what Bochy has FUCKING SAID. He’s said his starting OF is Pagan, Melk and Nate and that there is a first base *competition* going on between Belt and Huff. So cease and desist telling me that i have “no clue on Bochy”. Unless your take is that he’s a liar, and I i suppose if that’s the case you’re right, I didn’t have a clue about that……
You have no clue if you believe that what’s said at the opening of camp is gospel.
But here’s one of the many quotes from Bochy on Nate and RF:
“As for Schierholtz in right, “Right now, he’s the frontrunner. It’s his job to lose. He’s got to come in and do what we believe he can do and that’s to stay healthy and play well.”
So, if Nate, Huff and Belt all hit this Spring only 2 of them get to start. Who are the 2 you see (barring injuries to other players) starting?
I think if all three hit well it is a LOCK that Huff starts at first with Nate in right. Belt will then either be on the bench or in Fresno. Again, we don’t have to talk about this 1000 times today, one post in writing should be enough to look back on later…….
It’s clear that Bochy wants Huff and Nate to start. If they both hit, that’s who he’s going with. Now, let’s see if you have * a clue* about this with your prediction if all 3 hit well this spring…….
Managers often make conflicting statements. Bochy has said that the back up catcher spot is between Eli and Stewart. He has also said that Hector could force his way on.In 2010 Nate was given RF to lose- and lost it to Bowker before John gave it back- to Torres…so was he lying or did circumstances change things?
“Hey, I thought the job was mine, Boch?”
“You hit .099, pal.”
“Geez, I had to PERFORM??!!?”
(The preceding exchange was based on actual events, but no players are identified to protect their shaky reputations )
“He had somewhat of a breakout season last year. This is his time. We expect him to build on his performance from last year. He’s the starter (in right field) going in.” — Bochy, on Nate Schierholtz.
Now, granted, Bochy said this at fanfest but I don’t see anything that’s changed. And we know Cabrera and Pagan are starting.
Um, that only leaves one place left for Belt–first base. And if you think that Huff could “hit 50 pts higher” than Belt and Bochy would still go with Belt, you are fucking delusional……..
“Going in” means it’s his job to lose., NOT that it’s his job….
Pay attention this time on Belt: Belt is going to be in the opening day LU barring injury, PERIOD.
Neither quote by Bochy guarantees Nate the job- both just say, AGAIN-it’s his to lose..
By the way Fantasy Flappers:
I am going to TRY to get an email invite out at some point this weekend. There are a few people who say they just can’t do the live draft and I’m going to confirm that they can just set their preferences to auto-draft and then we can still hold the live draft.
Got a couple of new people this year to replace a couple of the drop outs.
Ferrethead, I hope you are well, you are missed by many………
Flav, is it possible to be deleted from the league, if we miss the draft? Personally, I doubt (but not certain) I will be able to attend the draft – that being the case, I would rather be deleted from the league, then have to play against other teams that have a significant advantage over me. This happened to me in FL football (actually, I was there, but the fucking online software wouldn’t work properly . . . another consideration you should take into account if you go life draft. It happens and fairly frequently).
“So, if Nate, Huff and Belt all hit this Spring only 2 of them get to start. Who are the 2 you see (barring injuries to other players) starting?”
Well, you’re presuming they all hit. Since Huff isn’t…
Anyway, I’ll go along with your flawed argument: in your scenario, Nate and Belt would start.
Where do you get that it’s “clear” that Bochy prefers Huff over Belt? Got another quote?
well, I’m sure you read this from a 2/18 Pav-Post:
ON HUFF, PILL AND BELT – IS HUFF FIRST IN LINE BECAUSE OF HIS CONTRACT?
“Not the contract. I think you have to look at what Huff has accomplished, his track record and what he did in 2010 for us”– Bochy
For starters, it will be because of the contract–at least to start with. Again, I think Huff would have to get destroyed by Belt this Spring for them to give the job to Belt on OD. Right now, from a batting average standpoint, I think it’s 50/50 whether he’s there yet. And of course, there is a long spring to go……
If Huff hits reasonably well this Spring, I think it would blow my mind if Belt got the nod at 1st base to start the season……
We’ve made our calls, well, I have- I say Belt is in the opening day LU ( or against the first RHer, they could sit him against Kershaw). Do you actually have a call? You need to be clear- the way you’ve set it up, you can claim to be right even if it is Belt.
That quote only shows that Huff was considered the front runner, not that Bochy has a preference regardless of performance.
OK, I’m out–got our last bball game of the season.
WillieD– I wish you could have gotten to see them play, they really came together this year. I’ve got a girl who’d never played before who was totally lost in the first few games of the season. Now, she is a tenacious defender, she’s almost painted on the girl she guards each game.
Anyway, thanks again for the tips, I used many of them in our practices……..
What has definite potential to be interesting is Blanco vs. Pagan. Don’t rule out Angel riding the pine. Not saying it’s likely-yet. But it’s something to watch.
if he hits like Torres did last year then yes, he will find himself riding the pine by probably late May, maybe early June…..
This idea the G’s want to be as “vet laden” as possible is no longer true. Quite the opposite in fact.
Crawford, Nate, Belt, added to Posey and Sandoval, with Melky and Pagan, gives them an entire lineup under 30 with the exception of F Sanchez. They are giving Hector a long look and would love it if Brown forces his way into the starting lineup next year. The days of watching a bunch of aging vets break down are over.
you are right, my main thread is incorrect. I was thinking mostly in terms of how this applies to Huff and I do think the brass wants Huff at first base this year….
Huff will start at 1B, unless he’s hurt. $11 million reasons why he’ll start the season there. Doesn’t mean he’ll end there, or survive past May there, if he craters at the plate. Sabean has dropped hints Belt has nothing to prove in the minors. I dunno, he’s still not near 1000 ABs in the pros. I just don’t see how Belt helps the team much or his skills if he sits on the bench and only gets 4-6 ABs a week, wherever they play him. Pill is a lock IMO. Need the RH bat…
Well, why don’t you put something on one of your calls? Huff may start but it won’t be at the expense of Belt. One could start in the OF. A couple weeks ago you said HSanchez had no chance, you are already changing your tune on that.
BTW, Baseball Prospectus picks SF to win the West, with the same record as last year-86-76, with the Snakes 3 back and Dodgers last.
And the best player should make the team, regardless of what side he hits from. Pill may make it, but Blanco would be the best choice…
J-Bone, you’re speaking the truth, which goes against everything that’s held dear here. In 2006, Alou’s last year, the average age of the Giants’ was 34 years. By last year it was 30. It looks to break the 30 mark this year. And who are the key players this year, those most important to success ? I think there was a thread on that: they are Sandoval, Posey, Lincecum, Cain, and Wilson…all home grown legit stars who Bochy has somehow figggered out a way to play.
So when Craig says Bochy wants it to be as vet laden as possible, who are these aging vets he wants in there regardless of production? No proof yet of even ONE. Huff definitely has a shot to start, but that could be in left or first. Belt could start at 1st, left, or ( as Pavlovic notes- RF)…this blog has become unduly influenced by Snarkk , whose cynicism has become the real basis for thought on the blog.
Anyway, good post, J-Bone..
Early yet, but SF to me looks better than an 86W team. They should definitely be scoring more this season, how could they be worse? Plus assume the pitching staff results will be similar, maybe a little worse, than last year. By the end of ST, barring major injuries and we see how the Posey and Franchez thin pans out, most here will probably be projecting 90+ wins…
Kuiper says Bochy said today that Belt still has a hole in his swing. OK, maybe he does. I still don’t get why Bochy seems to go out of his way to publicly denigrate Belt. I would get it if there is some kind of disciplinary issue with the kid, but I’ve never read anything about him that suggests that. Sounds like laying the groundwork for a possible ticket to Fresno. He’s still hitting .389 early on, compared to Huff not really in gear at all yet…
Brandon Crawford with a 2 out, 2 run oppo field double to left in the 2nd frame, now 5 for 12 so far, with 5 RBIs. Dare we dream of even .240 for this kid?…
Again, the Snarkk gets selective with the ST stats.
You’d rather he be 1 for 12?…
Crawford just hit an RBI triple. Want to doom on that, too?…
Not dooming. pal- just understandinng, as all inteligent observers do, that ST numbers are not significant…
The only player that we fans are still going to be force fed is Zito, which is just crap. It managment does not want to pay Zithead to come out of the BP? When really that is where he should be.
Belt did have trouble with pitches in on his hands, if he’s still having some trouble, Bochy is being helpful, not denigrating the guy.
He can be helpful, and should be, in private. With media, you build a young player up, not tear him down…
That’s not tearing down. I’d think that you, as a master of it, would know that.
Bochy has also been effusive in his praise of Belt. As usual, Snarkk is looking to create a false controversy, as he did with his claim that Pablo was out of shape….
I didn’t claim he was out of shape. The media did, and I commented on what they observed. Start your daily argument with somebody else, maybe Zumie. He seems to be up for them now. I’m out…
No,, the media reported he *was* in shape. I gave you Baggarly’s debunking of your bogus claim yesterday.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/giants-talk/post/EXTRAS-Sandovals-weight-isnt-a-hefty-iss?blockID=655362
There’s no argument at all- Belt will be a starter, Huff most likely will also start, Crawford won’t hit, and some idiot will be encouraged by Zito’s start. These are not arguments, they are locks…
Just as they were delighted with Bowker’s huge spring in 2010, and Huff’s last year… those two, among countless others, show how meaningless ST stats are…
Uh-Oh.. Whitey is up to .400, Snarkk expects a big big year from him
They’re not meaningless. They mean exactly what they are. No statistic of any kind guarantees or forecasts anything with any certainty. They just assign a numeric value to something that’s already happened.
this is the article Snarkk is probably referring to from March 8th (your was Feb 21st by the way)
http://deadspin.com/5889745/
they say Pablo went from 250 to 275. I read this last week and didn’t think twice about it. He’s already said that his off season program this year included less cardio and more weight lifting. If he has, in fact, gained 25 lbs since last year it looks like he’s carrying it fine and this time it’s muscle and not fat……
And that would not the article Snarkkles was referring to, he made his claim more than two weeks ago based on Bochy having some concern about Pablo’s conditioning. But Baggarly and Schulman both said Pablo looked good and so did Bochy. Snarkkles claimed that because Bochy voiced any concern at all that Sandoval had to be out of shape.
Gaining weight, as even Craig acknowledegs, is not the same as being out of shape…and unless Flavor is saying that the 25 pounds was gained after 2-21, the article I cited is and was relevant to his conditioning and completely debunks the lie that he was not in shape…
ST stats are meaningless as to whether they will carry over to the regular season. Or perhaps I should say that they are not a reliable indicator of regular season success or failure.. Does that work better for you, Loo?
Sir, yes sir!
Any old people kick today?
I was just referencing that the article I posted was more recently, not that he’d gained 25 lbs. If I thought it was interesting I would have referenced it b4 today
So are you actually up to saying that Snarkk might be wrong or does he have an exemption ? It definitely appears that the blog is weighted toward his viewpoint, as evidenced by the fact that your poll has no option for a vote that thinks Belt could win a job without destroying Huff statistically.
Everyone knows that the poll is completely biased to your POV, it would be refeshing if someone other than myself has the balls to say it.
of course he might be wrong. He’s wrong all the time, like all the rest of us. That doesn’t make his opinion any more or less valuable. I actually think he does a very good job stating an opinion without trying to start fights or target other bloggers. You sometimes reel him in to a fight over something, but as he has indicated, he tries to stay out of those as often as possible. Look man, it just takes too much energy to fight with the same guys over every single one of their posts, doesn’t it?
Let a few slip by without commenting on them, the world isn’t going to end or anything……..
That’s almost totally untrue- he lies about what I ‘ve posted, lies about what he’s posted, and intentionally does start shit with me- you are just oblivious to it because you agree with his toxic POV more often than not…
According to Lurie, Nate’s groin is fucked up. Classic. I’m sure this will linger like all his other injuries all season. Belt could get his 2nd starting ODay due to another guy being injured
Or Blanco could get it. I’ll leave the evening to others. I’ve given Zeke a poll:
Do you want your regular dinner, generic kibble with no nutritional value at all?
Or steak?
He says it’s a tough decision…
Marty Lurie doesn’t get paid enough. His callers are by far the dumbest collection of dunderheads I’ve ever seen. They know nothing. On 20 minute ride home I was regaled with the following ideas from three callers: 1) trade Posey or put him at 3rd
2) Trade Panda for Hanley Ramirez
3) Have a set rotation in LF and 1st base that has Belt, Huff, Melk, and Pagan each playing 4 out of 5 days. It also had something to do with Posey playing first base with Belt and Huff. It didn’t even add up.
4) Despite Lurie patiently explaining that you can’t carry 14 position players, this caller couldn’t be dissuaded: Gregor Blanco HAD to be on this team. He couldn’t figure out how to shave the position players down to 13 to make this happen nor did he care. He HAS to have Gregor on that plane to San Francisco……
By the way, that wasn’t me on the phone. But, GO Blanco.
Dude just didn’t have the sound of a clown in his voice. And I’ve seen pictures of you, didn’t sound like that dude either 🙂
by the way Twin, I know you think my polls suck and you’ve been nothing if not consistent since I started putting them up there. This poll is a compliment to the point of today’s thread: My belief is that if Belt makes the team and starts opening day it will be at first base. And I wanted to know everyone’s thoughts about what it would take to displace Huff to the bench. I used the simplest of metrics, their batting averages, to gather everyone’s opinion. But there is no hidden agenda with the poll, it’s just a quirky way to involve the bloggers with their opinion about what it would take for Belt to push Huff to the bench on Opening Day……
You seem to think he could start in the OF opening day and he very well might with Nate suffering yet another injury. I didn’t care to make that part of the thread since I don’t think, barring injury, that it’s going to happen. Feel free to Room B that topic though, no one is stopping you.
But the poll isn’t rigged in my favor or whatever you were suggesting. I think it’s clear from my poll what my prediction is: If Belt is to make the OD LU it will be at 1bag and not LF. I have no real prediction about it. I guess if pressed I feel that Belt would have to hit at least 100-150 points higher to displace Huff. But I’m not too attached to that range. Let’s just see how it all shakes out instead of arguing about, ok? I’m just trying to keep the threads flowing with topics and opinions that interest me and that MIGHT interest all of you, too………
I think the polls are fine. Like Twin, I would have preferred one more choice (the one he described in an earlier post today).
However, that being said, I (my opinion only) don’t think there needs to be a lot of angst about these polls and moreover, predictions for the Giants roster. Again, I have said this many times before (and Pawlie says it much better than I) – We’re all Giants fans and we all want the same thing – that our Giants do well this season. Making it personal is something I try to shy away from (I know how competitive I am and how much I think my opinion has value over everyone else (it doesn’t . . . :-)). In short, I have to pull the reins in occasionally here and bite my tongue.
One last comment related to the above and I think we all acknowledge this – Flav, you do a great job of coming up with topics day in and day out. Actually, a tremendous job and I am going to be sad when this blog ends. Not a big blogger, so that will probably end my contributions insofar as going to McCovey Chronicles, etc.. This is my home for Giants commentary. I go here first, before the Chronicle or the Mercury to get my news about the Giants. Just sayin’
thanks Blade. I said I would end it at Thread # 1000 and I’m still planning on doing so. I think I’m at 670 right now. This was actually my most enjoyable off season blogging. A lot of that had to do with the BBOTD and the BBOTDPOTD— that is just some incredibly funny stuff. And apparently others have found this blog interesting this off season because our daily hits are actually up in January and February over the previous off season and that’s trippy to me since we were coming off a WS win last year.
But I’m enjoying it, I’ve got the whole “serenity now, serenity now” thing flowin’. I’m excited about the year and about the blog. But nothing lasts forever, right? I’m big on anniversaries (I seem to remember that I switched the blog over to wordpress on the year anniversary of the blogger.com blog) and I like even numbers. 1000 seems like as good a number as any……….
Every other number is an even number, champ…
When the best option you give to someone who thinks Belt can win the first base job is that Belt outhit Huff by at least 50 points, it is definitely rigged to your POV, I don’t see how you possibly deny that. Because YOU, not Bochy or Sabean, is declaring that that’s the minimum that Belt must do to win the job. It’s fine that that’s your opinion,.but it’s not a poll. Unless this is:
How long will Crawford retain the SS position?
1. One Day
2. One Week
3. One Month
4. He will not it retain it at all, he will be optioned to Fresno
As you can see, there is no option for a commenter to voice the opinion that Crawford will win and keep the job. That is an example of me rigging the poll to my POV.
well I guess I thought it was common sense that if Belt outhit Huff by less than 50 spring training batting average points, he would not be displacing him to the bench. That just seems totally obvious to me but I don’t have a view into your secret window into Bochy’s soul……..
Actually, you claim to have just that…
So even though Belt is acknowledged to be better defensively, you say that that he could hit 30 points better and out homer Huff by 5 or 6 HRs, but it’s just common sense that Belt would have no shot.
So what’s your vote on Crawford?
Loo, great 2:29pm post! Brevity and insight, as always on target!
Blade I didn’t quite catch the drift of your fant base post. Are you saying you’d prefer an automatic draft? Or just that you would want to be removed if you weren’t able to do the live draft and it went auto for you? I really don’t give a shit one way or the other, this is my fun, free league and I will do whatever the owners want to do. New poll question? lol
Well, I want to be there for the draft and I saw a post or two a few weeks ago (I seem to recall) where you said it was on a Saturday or Sunday . . . Again, not certain about what exactly was posted. In any event, you also noted (and were quite correct per my experience) that if you aren’t there, you’re at a tremendous disadvantage. I did two football drafts – one where I was there, but the software fucked up for about half my picks and I ended up getting the auto-picks; and, then another draft, where I couldn’t attend . . . that team was auto-picked and it was amazing that I even made the playoffs (because practically none of the guys selected would have been my picks).
Anyway, yeah, I would rather be deleted from the league (if possible), should I be unable to attend. Can that be done? Yes, for our league, since it has always been done by auto-draft, I would prefer it be that way in the future. Only change I would make – is not to do what we did last year and give everyone a zillion innings to pitch. That threw out much of the day to day strategy of playing/making decisions on your roster. I hated it.
Thanks for letting me share on this . . . S
well, I guess I’d like to know the actual chances you have on making the draft. It’s undecided right now. It will probably be March 25th in the afternoon or very early evening. Probably takes 2 hours. but maybe less and certainly less if the auto-drafters can set it to just pick immediately and not wait till the entire minute is up.
The 2 or 3 owners who will go auto draft don’t give a shit so I don’t have to worry about them bailing. If you can’t do the draft I’d like you to bow out before the draft happens. I could let it go *auto* and then give the team to someone else at some point or just let it be a *dead* team all year but I don’t really want to do that…..
Thoughts?
I will try to send out the invites in the next hour or two……
I will try to be there and if something comes up, I WILL definitely let you know beforehand, so I am not a drag to the league. By the by, if you do decide to go auto draft for everyone vs. live draft, I am in all the way.
Thanks!
see? That is just fucking GOLD (baby). I think it’s a good thing I don’t hang out with Loo. He’d end up believing that he’s a lot funnier than he really is.
I was on a long drive today and got to enjoy Giants baseball on radio. Of course Miller is great, but Kuiper is pretty darned good on radio, too. In fact, I’d even venture to say that Kuiper is better on radio than Miller is on TV, if that makes any sense.
And as BF noted, the Lurie show had some bizarre moments. Among them are people who are drinking the Zito Kool-Aid again. Really. It’s like watching Charlie Brown still believe that Lucy will hold the football. The collective psyche of Giant fandom is trying to WILL a productive season out of Zito.
Btw- did you all see in the Chronicle that Zito has co-written a song for the new Eddie Murphy film? A different article said the movie is horrible and will likely bomb.
I’ve totally come around to appreciating the Giants broadcast crew. All of them. It’s just impossible to have a different opinion when you spend even a few innings listening to the mlb baseball package games.
I still think Kruk is a dope when it comes to MANY MANY of his claims, statements, beliefs etc… But in terms of listening to a game and having all of them make that experience better with their commentary, that’s just totally undeniable as far as I’m concerned……….
TV is not the best medium for baseball, never was. Kuiper and Miller are both top notch and radio is without doubt the benchmark in evaluating an announcer’s chops. I’d give that edge to Miller just for the voice but I can see why some would prefer Duane. Flemming is going to be good as soon as age catches up to him- I consider 50 to be minimum for a play by play guy….
Zumie are you the one with the info for the internet broadcasts? I think the guy who does the “pirate” broadcasts is named Koz or something similar. If you or whomever provided that info in the past sees this, share the wealth. Great site for all of us that live outside the bay area, but want to see a live feed. Thanks!
It’s not me, Blade. I live in the Calif. Central Valley and get the same radio and TV as the Bay Area EXCEPT Direct TV has decided that the Sac Kings are my local broadcast and not the Warriors. I’d have to upgrade my package (no jokes please) in order to get the Warriors, and frankly I’m not sure it’s worth it (grin). I pretty much have a basic Direct TV package with the big extra being the MLB package.
blade – the guys name is kostaz. He got bumped during the niner season so not sure if he is still on justin tv. He did say he had a facebook account so if he isn’t on the other site maybe he has something else going on.
Good luck man.
There’s a couple of big articles in the weekend USA Today about problems with college basketball. A lot of people are pretty disgusted with Caliperi’s Kentucky program. He’s more or less mastered how to succeed with “one and done,” although he hasn’t won a title yet. He’s getting talented players by embracing “one and done” with a gung ho attitude about it. Using it as his marketing approach to get players. Kinda REALLY goes against the spirit of what college sports is supposed to be.
And apparently there are folks within the NCAA who want to move the start of the college basketball games to January, to have less conflict with college football, which would make the end of the season tournament into April Madness instead of March Madness, thus messing up one of the coolest alliterations in sports. BUT even worse, would conflict with the start of the baseball regular season, a conflict baseball really doesn’t need. Baseball is also very concerned about revving up fan interest, hence the added Wild Card team. It’s gotten even more extremely competitive in the sports world in the quest for the fans’ dollars.
“30 Clubs in 30 Days” on MLB Network is doing the Giants at 10:00 PM eastern. Don’t know if that helps you out west.
It might be the only thing that can tear me away from a Partridge Family marathon…
LMFAO! Definitely no LQTM.
Thanks Loo . . . 8pm in Denver (2 hour time difference), so I am guessing 7pm on West Coast. Right now they are showing what looks to be a Spring Training game (Red Sox and Tampa Bay here), which might delay the Giants Program by a few minutes.
Looking forward to this program.
I swear, during the regular season, the east coast biasss makes it seem like either the Red Sox or the Yanks are playing the Rays every week…
No shit snarkk and it’s a frickin’ spring training game . . . sheesh!
Cool! Thanks.
Echoing Blade’s thoughts here, BF. Thanks for the consistent high level of threads you generate. I’m cool with your polls. They’re all good. Agree with you guys on the calls to Marty Lurie. Somebody wanted to trade Belt. Huh? Huff’s not here next year, might even be gone at halftime this season, and Belt could be the Giants 1B for the next decade. Yeah, let’s trade Belt for an unknown AA arm. Sweet…
Just thoughts generated by MLB channel . . . Bautista went yard twice today and Josh Johnson was Josh Johnson today too. Last year, I had Bautista and Johnson on my FL team. Bautista was gold and Johnson sucked wind (injured again) last year. That ruined my chance to take the league from Flav . . . I think I had Verlander and if I would have had a healthy Johnson, well who knows? Coulda, woulda, shouldas . . . Ha.
Well,the level of calls to Lurie can’t possibly be worse than the responses on the Mercury blog ( now called “Giants Extra”), can they? BTW, Steward says Nate just taking a day, he’s fine. Don’t know if true or not.
Flav, I get to read the “letters/comments” to the Denver Post version of your 4:16pm comment everyday regarding the Rockies, i.e., I doubt that anyone can find a more imbecilic bunch of baseball fans anywhere. Their ideas for what the Rockies should do to improve the roster are ignorant at best and moronic at worst. Absolutely, no understanding of baseball.
Reflecting about this for a moment . . . the same ignorance holds true for their ideas to improve the Broncos, e.g., keep starting Tebow. Ha.
OK< I sent out an invite for the league. It's espn and we are going auto draft. If you think you are invited and you didn't get an invite, think again. Ha, kidding. If you didn't get it send me an email, maybe I used an old address for you by accident……..
I didn’t get it. However, if you went sent out the invites through ESPN’s site, then maybe it just hasn’t arrived.
Regardless, blade3colorado@yahoo.com . . . where the 2012 FL Flap champ resides 🙂
There has to be a worst MLB broadcaster. And it’s…..Jerry Remy. The master of telling you what you’re watching on the replay, with no insight. All with a thick Family Guy northeast accent. “He ‘it the bawwl to shotstawp and giz thrown ahta foorst,”
Hey, where’s the subtitles?
May I be the first to say goodbye to Belt?
OK gather your stones and whatever projectiles you want to throw at me.
The Giants seem to be getting stacked up at both the catcher and 1B positions. If the Giants are all in on Posey, and they feel his numbers will work at 1B, he will be switching over probably by next year. So I have to think either Belt or Posey are traded by next year (Posey, if they don’t feel he can put up the numbers for a corner IF spot and Belt can). If the Giants think Posey has more of an upside then Belt, bye bye Brandon (who, at this time has better trade value than Buster).
I want to be clear on this, I’m not down on Belt but I do think he’ll be gone by next year.
Sure it’s possible- especialy with Sanchez and Joseph ready or almost ready, and Susac considered maybe better than any of them.It’s also totally possible that Posey never makes it all the way back. And Belt probably has better potential numbers as a first baseman than Buster. Posey is an All-Star type as a catcher-not as a first baseman, his numbers at first would be very average for the position…
“Posey is an All-Star type as a catcher-not as a first baseman, his numbers at first would be very average for the position…”
Agree Mike. First base is usually a power and good average position (always exceptions, e.g., Snow, Loney, Rose in later years), where the fielding and range may be great for the position, but poor for other positions, i.e., many good ones out there. Conversely, Posey is unique as a catcher – good game caller, fields his position well, throws out runners, hits for average and power. Not too many of those around (as you pointed out more succinctly than I).
Belt and Posey aren’t going anywhere. Posey is the clear fan favorite face of the franchise. Twin doesn’t like it cause he thinks that honor is supposed to go to the Team MVP or best player or whatever, but that’s the deal. Fans fucking love Buster Posey. So do the writers and the radio guys.The team loves Panda too as is evidenced by the 80 bazillion panda hats that get sold every minute.
But Buster is their guy. He’s the #1 pick, he’s got the sweet first name…..he’s white. Ha. Hey, Twin’s right, racism towards Panda is out there. I just don’t think it’s here…….
Anyway, the fact is, Buster is NOT going to put up numbers that are corner infielder worthy. He HAS to be a catcher to retain his worth. For my money, I don’t think it’s going to happen for him in terms of the expectations that the team and the fans have for him. I think there’s going to be this weird middle of the road thing with his career. Everyone is trying to protect him they’re gonna end up over protecting him. And when he does reluctantly move to first base it will become abundantly clear the he’s pretty average at that spot in terms of numbers…….
And to compare him to Pablo is ludicrous. In terms of just straight hitter production, Panda is going to blow him out of the water every year…..
Sandoval would have to win a league MVP to supplant Buster as The Chosen One. And then he’d have to keep producing at that level to keep that level of support…..
But the Giants are going to keep both since both are good, both make the team a shitload of money and both are under super team friendly deals……
I just think one of them (Panda) is going to have a huge career and I think the other (Posey) is going to keep the illusion of his greatness going for a while before it all comes crashing down. Of course by then he’ll have made 100 million dollars, but that’s all good on him, as far as I’m concerned………
Flav, like I said if the Giants are all in on Buster. He is not going to be the catcher in the future (IMO) and unless he takes up a glove for 2B or LF what else can you do with the guy? Sandoval has turned himself into an All Star 3B and you’re right, Panda can and probably will be an MVP (which will make him the face of the Giants without debate) so what do you do with Posey? Sanchez and Joseph aren’t ready this year but one or both will be and probably by next year. So where does Posey go if not 1B? Right now, Belt is the better trade value and I gotta think he is the expendable one.
Craig thinks he’s joking but Posey’s color is a huge reason he’s viewed as the “face” of the franchise. But even for white boys, it still eventually comes down to production. And Buster is is not even a lock to get back to anything more than an average catcher. Now I’ll get falsely accused of wishing that but I’m just giving you some dose of reality. Buster will be the face of the franchise only as long as he performs like it. We’re not Boston yet.
Buster is just not a given on any level anymore. It’s a crime that a punk like Cousins did this, but Posey could be anything from as good as returning to All-Star level… to out of baseball in a year…
I moved this comment to the front I want everyone to comment on it if they have an opinion…….
Actually, I think your position is well-thought out John (although, I am not certain I agree with it, it’s still as possible as many of the other hypotheses here). Good post.
Flav, the invite didn’t come through. But what the hell happened to the LIVE Draft? I was so looking forward to that night. I thought we were going to “weed out the pussies” like you said. I know Chuck already has been hit with the Weed Whacker, but there’s more pussy to be whacked.
C’mon. it’s 2 hrs. for one night that let’s everyone here who plays the role (and berates) Brian Sabean and GM on a yearly basis, to try and to it themselves.
Screw the auto draft. People should cut their own throat.
Pawlie, I wish you could stop working on your book long enough for more posts like that 7:05pmer.
Gold…
We have weeded out the pussies, I’ve put together 12 owners who will NOT bail. And it’s quite possible that ESPN just hasn’t sent it out to you yet, they are annoyingly bad at that. But we’ll see, maybe I didn’t hit the button right or something……
Auto draft is stupid and if more than 3 of you complain about it we can do the draft March 25th at 4pm (PST). It WOULD be a blast, there is nothing like a live draft, being on the clock, etc…..But we’ll see, time to adjust if it becomes the people’s will…….
Yeah, if you sent it via ESPN, it could take a day or more.
Oh that 7:05pm was Denny. See, it’s less funny to me now because I thought it was Pawlie and it was so out of character for him……
But it was you…
And it was still on the money. I hear you dude, but only 3 of the 11 are huge on the live draft thing. I’d do it in a heart beat, I just don’t want to have a vote…..
1. In Philly. At the Sheraton in Center City, as they call it. A babe in heels walked by, short skirt, nearly see-through top. When I was younger, I’d get aroused just typing this.
2. Philly always gives me good memories of being right downtown when our boys clinched in 2010. Today, as all the hot-shot kids were getting shit-faced downtown, we walked near the Misconduct Tavern. Is that a great name, or what? After seeing my daughter in the ballet, I’ll never forget this scene: it was maybe the fourth or fifth inning. They had a fecking TV on the sidewalk. Boisterous Philly fans [redundant, right?] cheering just as we walked by, threading a needle through the hostile crowd that did not know it was hostile to our interests. They were cheering because someone, maybe Uribe or Sandoval, not positive, hit into an inning-ending DP. “Shit!” I said, not audibly. We Giants fans had the last laugh, didn’t we.
3. Why the feck can’t Twin and MagnusFlavoris have knock-down, drag-out contretemps [contretempses??] over the Bikini Babes of the Day???
4. No live-draft email received.
5. Carry on.
answers:
1) try walking through the mall for an hour if you need some *material*
2) I think it’s rad that your daughter was in a ballet
3) Twin doesn’t do the BBOTD page— too low brow for him I’d guess…
4) you got the email? Excellent. If any of you don’t get it email me at bigfl…oh whatever you know the drill……..
5) Always do, my man……
by the way, ESPN is currently locking me out of the league I created. Stay tuned……
Lobby update. Chick w/ torqoise [howver you spell it] top and heels was sitting next to be. I was chuckling at a few of the BBOTD posts, hoping my guffaws would elicit a flirtatious conversation. I LQTMed the confusion over me and Denny. Not sure WHO should be offended, har har. Then I see these skyscraper guys walk through the lobby. The Harlem Globetrotters. I said to her, “The Harlem Globetrotters.” She says, “That’s my boyfriend.” I say to myself, “That 9-foot white guy?!” “Do you see them in Syracuse last week or so?” “No,” she said, as if I was a gnat. “I just see him every now and then.” No comment from me, not aloud. Then a shorter Globetrotter trots in. Maybe 6’2, who know? He looked like a fecking dwarf compared to the white dude. She hugs him. Salt’n’peppuh. Have a nice night, “girlfriend.”
#4 above: no, did NOT receive
wait, did you mean *the no live draft email* (as in auto draft) was received or that you didn’t receive an email?
no email received…but eveything is balky for me on the road, with odd servers [odd servers? see post above…hahahahaha
no lie, the white dude Harlem Globetrotter just walked by again. His name on the back of his goofy warmup jacket? Tiny. TINY. Naturally. This lobby is more fun by the minute, as my wife snores peacefully in the room.
See twin, as I said earlier, you haven’t the faintest clue when someone is joking or not. I was dead serious. Pujols was the *face of the franchise* because he was an MVP. Bonds, same thing. Lots of examples. But for Panda to be that face he’d have to play at the same level.
It’s definitely racist, at least if you context it in terms of Buster being it because he’s white and Panda not being it because he’s not.
And a big part of it IS the language thing. Posey fluidly whips out sound bites, snappy commercials, etc…
Panda speaks a 2nd language, something I never could get and I respect him for that. But that isn’t gonna win you “Face of the Franchise” in this game. To be The Big Money Maker you have to be able to get interviewed non stop and do the commercials. Selling Panda hats is the easy part since you don’t do anything other than hold the nickname. Honestly, I think the GIants love it this way—sell all the panda hats and have the white guys sell the other shit. Dead serious……
Well,, since you missed everything, I’d have to say you’re the one with no clue. Posey ain’t going to be the face of anything but “where is he now” posters if he doesn’t get back to an All-Star level…and shut the fuck up with your joking spiel, you are the most humorless person on this blog. Other than smoking Loo’s pole over some mildly cute one-liners, you don’t get humor on any level- most certainly not on an adult level…. A noted actor dies and Loo will try to “carry on”. Fucking hilarious…turns out you’ve never even heard of Gazzara. Trajedy will be when Carrot Top passes on, eh?
I’m the most humorless person on the blog? Ha, good one. How about a poll of who’s funnier you or me? I wouldn’t do it just because I don’t think you could handle losing by that much. You and Zeke can only vote once……
I’ve never heard of Gazarra. Yes, boo fucking hoo about that. I don’t spend a lot of time watching movies, I’m out doing shit and interacting with the 3-D world.
And Posey IS the face right now. And all you’re doing is agreeing with me by saying he “better get back to an all star level”. He’s the face because of all the other shit NOT production. Get it?
I’d say Tim’s the face.
I think Zito giving Pablo the nickname has hurt his chances more than anything at this point.
3. Actually, Twin just doesn’t find airbrushed, “enhanced”, fake women as sexy as teenagers do. And for some reason, many them appear as if they’re contemplating sitting on a fork…
well, you clearly don’t visit the page every day. There is a wide range of shit going on there…….
There are about a hundred reasons why I wouldn’t visit every day, not the least of which is I couldn’t even jack off with *you*r fist anymore, if I *did* find girls 45 years younger than I exciting. I do like them within a decade or two, you follow? Just took a peek at today’s trio and I’m sure they can find some boys their own age, fellas.
if anyone is jacking off to the page they can find another blog to go to. Yet ANOTHER example of why you don’t have a single humor bone in your entire body. It’s a place to say funny shit. Some of it is, some of it isn’t. But I’m glad you aren’t there, you’d just fuck it up with you attempt to attach a serious intent to it….
“if anyone is jacking off to the page they can find another blog to go to” Now THAT is funny.
Snarkk really had to rein it in.
Flav, what’s your feeling on Carl Crawford? Bounce back, or he’s going to repeat last year?
Personally, I’d think he’s be a steal in the 3rd rd.
Grab some pine, meat!
I have torn ligaments in both my wrists playing baseball. I didn’t have surgery, I just casted them both and moved on. I can still play softball but I play with wrist wraps……
Crawford isn’t on my draft list and so I can’t tell you off hand what exactly was wrong with his wrist. As I recall, it was just *pain* but it may have been more than that. I know he’s been dealing with it for a while……
One thing I know about wrist problems is that it can be devastating to playing baseball. They are totally unpredictable and the pain doesn’t match the task. Example: When my wrist is flaring (as it does a couple of times a year) I can still bench press 225 no problem. There’s a bit of discomfort, but that’s it. But if I try to pick up a piece of paper and grab it at the wrong angle it can shoot a pain into my wrist that could take me to my knees….And that’s why I wouldn’t mess around with Crawford, especially in the 3rd round…….
But Denny, to me, acquiring players, whether it’s through the draft, WW, trades, is about one single thing: value. And if you bet Crawford is healthy then scoring him in the 3rd or 4th round would be a steal. It’s all risk/reward……
As I said though, my personal experience with wrist probs precludes me from even considering Crawford……..
Thanks for that detailed and personal answer. I’ll definitively take that into my draft thinking.
One more question if you please…CarGo and/of HanRam? Like one, both or neither? Thanks.
Personally, I’m expecting bounce backs.
I prefer Cargo. I could see Hanley having a decent year but don’t expect him to meet round 2 expectations…….
“Face of the franchise” is an annoying, stupid contrivance. It gets attached to a player based on longevity and production. Nothing else.
meaningless media confection……
Loo will like this one: when I was in college, I was at LaGuardia, waiting to fly to Syracuse. A couple Knicks came by. Like a moron [just ask Magnus about autographs], I felt compelled to ask for an autograph, even though a. I hardly cared about the NBA [truer even now] and b. I was a Celts fan. I pulled out my checkbook. The guy laughed. “Whaddaya want me to do, sign your check?” He signed on the ledger area. Nate Bowman? Barnett? someone like that. Maybe Clyde too. Who knows. Who cares. Fecking A, there might be a party right here in the lobby. Shite, I didn’t know I just HAD TO BE TALL!
C’mon, Pawlie. Bowman towered over the sleepy-eyed Barnett. And Clyde was unmistakable,
had to be Barnett….everyone else would’ve avoided the nerdy college kid…now a flood of what we used to call STEWARDESSES yeehaw, room 1256 here I come!
dick barnett, fall back baby with that kick leg J? Man what a cool player, I’d a dug his auto graph. bowman was a back up C who didn’t last (or play) long, as I remember.
Call you wear a skirt that short in public? Are heels that gigantically blocky permitted for non-“working” girls? I should jump to my Twitter account, but discretion prevents that.
Are you gonna jerk off any time soon or is this gonna go on all night?
battery running out, so all done [call it a metaphor, Loo]
Tim’s hair is longer than ever. Wilson got skinny.
Loo, I wouldn’t touch either of them — fantasy speaking. I think the SF pitcher you want to have this year is the hick from North Carolina.
Barney Fife?
That’s hardly a scoop, DTD. Most experts consider Bumgarner the real #1 this year.
again, it all depends on the round you get him and his subsequent performance. He’s going 7=8 in most 12 team leagues. I’ll definitely have him on at least 1 or 2. I’ll target him in 6 since I think he’s gonna perform like a 3-4………
Personally I don’t think grown men should wear sweatpants in public. Not even the Harlem Globetrotters. BTW, I got our room on Priceline for $68 plus fees and taxes…a 3.5-star hotel…complete with stewardesses, hoopsters, and hook — I mean scantily clad fans.
I wear them because I have a hernia the size of a softball and it needs lots of room to swing. Strangely, women don’t find huge swinging hernias exciting.
Pawlie, I truly enjoy your use of haiku on Twitter. Always a pleasure.
smelling fresh cut grass
touching rawhide and red mud
throw the goddamn ball
Any NCAA picks here? I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched much college basketball this year. Shit. I really haven’t seen much if any at all. But that doesn’t preclude me from trying to pick a winner. Taking Kentucky would be like picking Secretariat at the 1/8 pole in the Belmont.
I’m betting Ron Turcotte falls off at the 1/16 pole. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!
Turcotte was paralyzed for life after a spill while riding a horse named Flag Of Leyte Gulf.
Is that supposed to be funny, Dennis? I don’t know because Flavoro says I don’t get the funny stuff. I’m sure the Turcotte line is fucking hilarious.
MLB Giants program is quite good . . . Per Bowa, Plesac and the other guy (name escapes me, but he is the host), Giants significantly upgraded their offense with Melky and Pagan, even referring to Freddy and Posey as essentially, new parts. Three switch hitters is another advantage at the top of the lineup which Bowa correctly points out will cause other managers to pull their hair out (especially in the late innings of games). Speed kills and the GMen will be stretching singles to doubles, doubles to triples . . . Outfield too will be enhanced with the speed. Bowa saying that Melky and Pagan can be switched not only as the lead off and 2nd hitter, but also in the outfield. Also, pointing out that Pagan – even though he has all the tools – occasionally day dreams in the outfield (main reason he had 10 errors last year). Pitching is a strength again, but everyone has to stay healthy, i.e., little or no reinforcements. Nevertheless, not too many teams have as strong a 1, 2, and 3 starters as we have. Bullpen outstanding and Hembree is in the wings, should Wilson falter, Bowa saying that he may join the club at some point this year. Gary Brown compared to Ellsbury . . . very high praise indeed.
What else?
Nice Scottsdale digs to play at. Oh, loved the Tim Flannery segment on bunting. Sign Cain quick Brian!!!!!! Bowa scouting report:
Rotation: 4 out of 5 points
Bullpen: 4 out of 5 points
Lineup: 3 out of 5 points
Defense: 3 out of 5 points
Plesac – Starting rotation is envy of NL, not named Phils. Predicts NL West Champions.
Bowa – Playoffs definitely.
Great program overall . . . Thanks for the scoop Loo.
No FL email. I’m in if invited.
I like Bochy because he’s not Roger Craig, but beating the 80-82 mark ain’t got nothing to do his managing. See 2007.
He’s plus 10 as a manager and experts do credit the manager for that – you’re no expert.
I understand that there are long term patterns, and that some managers are quantifiably better than others over time. But the suggestion that Bochy was responsible for a +6 differential is as dubious as it would be to blame him for 2007’s underperformance, or to suggest that in 2010 we somehow witnessed a slight decline in his managerial skills.