Bienvenue a la canicule!
ou, comme on dit en anglaise, welcome to the dog days. When I was growing up it always seemed to be June that was the death knell. The dreaded “June Swoon”. But for the last few years it seems like August presents the most problems. In 2009 they had a good August, 16-12, their second best month other than June (17-10). They had a 17 game stretch without a day off where they went 10-7. In 2010, they were only 13-15, their worst month of the year. Their longest stretch without a day off was 13, where they went 6-7. July (20-8) and September (18-8) were two of their best months and obviously lead to a satisfactory conclusion to the year. In 2011, they went 11-18, also their worst month. They were 17 games over .500 on 7/28 and had a 4.5 game lead on 7/20. By 8/9, that was all gone. July (15-11) and Sept (14-11) were good months (though June was the best at 17-11 and May not far behind at 16-12). But August killed them. Their long stretch came from 7/26-8/10, 16 games where they went 5-11 (3-7 in August). After that they had a 10 game stretch (4-6) and a 9 game stretch (4-5). All in all, some August’s to forget.
So what does this year look like? They play 29 games. 2 days off with a 15 game stretch that they are at the start of. They play 12 at home and 17 on the road. The hot, Midwest games are this weekend and next week at CO and STL. They also go to Houston (indoors?) and Chicago at the end of the month. My take is that they go: Mets (1-1 including last night, come on BZ!), @Col (2-1), @STL (1-3), COL (2-1), WSN (1-2), off, @SDP (2-1), @LAD (1-2), ATL (2-2), off, @HOU (2-1), and @CHC (1-1). So I think that’s fairly conservative 15-14 month.
I think the Dogs may go 16-12 (AZ, off, CHC, COL, off, @MIA, @PIT, @ATL, SFG, off, MIA, @COL, @ARZ) so we should still end up with a lead. Their longest stretch is 13 games, ending with the series with the Giants.
The DBacks have a brutal schedule. 14 at home, 16 away, with ONE day off from now until Sept 5 or so, including 1 doubleheader (at home vs. MIA). They play @PHI (3), @PIT (4), WSN (2), off, @STL (3), @HOU (3), MIA (5 w/DH), SDP (3), CIN (3), @LAD (4, 2 in Aug), @SFG (3, 0 in Aug). Couple this with last season’s post-season fatigue (remember the G’s in 2011), I think they fade.
So, the dog days begin. I have them with 15 wins and a 1 game lead at the end of it.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Nice thread. Yes, it is THAT time of the year. My predictions are fairly close to what you have laid-out. I think we split in St. Louis, take two from the Bums at the Latrine which translates to a 17-12 month. Maybe too optimistic…but I think they will pull it off.
It all starts today…another key game (they all are, especially this time of year) with Zito on the bump.
Pathetic game last night. It sucks ass when the play of the game is your CFer making a spectacular catch. I was so hoping for Pence to come to the plate with ducks on the pond (I think it was the 3rd inning), and he did, but proceeded to pop-out to the right side. He’ll find his groove, though.
the dogers and mets looked easy on paper last week, colorada, too. StL on the road and Wash at home not so easy. Now I have my doubts about the 3 in Chavez. the StL and dogers away games worry me the most so I will go 16-12 including last nights 2-1 loss. It can easily go 13-15 and that sucks.
What really worries me is they have no off days at home for the new guy to get some training/practise in the park’s right field.
I see you got it posted, good way for a one month view. as twin says, one game does not a statistic make.
Last night was an odd game, but not exactly the first time Sf has lost 2-1 games Cain started. Pence does get an 0-4, but they only got 3 hits the whole night so he had company. Dodgers got two in their game, including one by starter and loser Barney in his only trip to the plate. rest of the team? 1 for 28.
Not to revisit last night end of thread, but bloggers here disagree about all kinds of stuff, from what the LU should be to bullpen, who plays where in the OF/1b, who we should have targeted in a deal (or not), etc. That’s what makes it interesting, since most have cogent arguments and things they like/don’t like that stand out to them about a player. All of us in a room watching the game, you’d get quite a few opposing viewpoints.
There are only so many all stars but in baseball everyone with a bat in his hands or a glove has a chance to make a play, such as journeyman Blanco making a super catch last night to end a threat and keep SF in it. Look at some of our 2010 heroes—J sanchez to win the finale, uribe, ross the waiver guy, rent, freddy sanchez, huff. Heroes can come from anywhere, unlikelier the better…we’ll all remember arias and that last out stumble and throw for a long time.
Good thread. 15 wins and a 1 game lead at the end of it? Fuck. I’ll take it
There used to be some saying in the seventies about “swoon in June” for the giants. Yes, I stayed up. A very strange game. It didn’t bother me as much as I thought, i guess because of getting out of those bases-loaded jams. (Makes no sense, I know.) Ron Darling or Keith Hernandez — they sound the same to me — were brutal on Hensley. Said he should be sent to the minor. Agree. He got nothing. And plenty of it.
As I said last night, he’s only here because he was a prior bud of Bochy. Sometimes the opinions of outsiders throw cold water of truth in the face of the faithful, as needed. When Mota’s available, Hensley shouldn’t be…
Jesus Berger sure has a hard on for Nate.The cave must be a lonely place right now.As much as I wish Nate.well,he’s just gonna turn into a side in baseball laurels.Just another Travis Ishikawa bubble gum card.
the cave got a little noisy last night. I blame Dennis and his rolling liquor cabinet, nicely stocked though!
we all ended the night with a rousing sing-a-long to bring in the clowns/fuck you bozo.
😆
Cool post, Ewisco. Everybody strap on their seatbelts. This is shaping up to be a wild ride.
AZ schedule might look brutal, but they have climbed from what 8 games back to just 4. If they get hot this could become a 3 horse race!!
Become? I think it already is (and I don’t see the Snakes going away)…and they are only 2.5 back.
today’s Olympis report es brought to you by Oly, pride of Tumwater, Artesian’s best beer.
http://www.kelleyad.com/mktcasehist.htm
But first the agony of defeat. I play with a badminton club, so I am watching olympic play. Sayaka Sato, a 12th ranked 21 yo Japan singles player caught my attention. She led 15-11 in her first game against 5th ranked dane Tine Baun. She slid while trying a return and flexed her knee going to ground in pain. In badminton there are no injury time outs except between games and she was forced to carry on. She couldn’t and finally her coach called the match fearing worse injury. Sato began sobbing uncontrollably realising her Olymic dreams for this year were over. The Danish player came around the net to hold her in her arms, but Sayaka couldn’t stop crying in anguish. had she won she would have been in the Medals matches.
today’s (day 9) events with finals involved:
Finals in women’s gymnastics (watch the high bar and floor exercises if nothing else), Judo (the bigger people), archery, cycles move to the track from the road, shooting, rowing and everyone’s favorite ping pong.
weightlifting moves to the bigger people tomorrow but beach volleyball continues its amazing amount of matches all day today as they are still in the preliminary rounds.
I return control of this blog to baseball
go giants
thx ed…there was a yahoo sports story about Chinese diver medalist girl who had lost her grandparents and whose mother had cancer, all of which had been concealed from her. She was taken away to sport academy at age 6, and family admitted she is really only half theirs, half govt. The idea that any athlete would live in a college type environment with 30 thousand others of the same age such as is done here is quite different from how elite athletes are developed elsewhere.
Hey, it beats soldering chips to circuit boards for Apple for a dollar a day . . .
14 hours a day, 6 days a week . . .
BLEEP!
Thank you!
Olympia was my first beer! Good times. Good times.
Hey guys— I am still in Sun Valley and just checked last night’s thread. Too much of the same shit getting bantered around– nothing deletable but annoying nevertheless. Let’s leave *annoying* at the end of last night’s thread, ok? The repetitive stuff, that 4 or 5 of you perseverated on, is unnecessary…….
I”m ready for a good old-fashioned BF/Twin discussion about baseball only!
Perseverated on? I’m no Pawlie, but I *think* the preferred term is “persevered on.”
Regardless, I’m going to preserve some extra vodka for today’s game. Just to make sure…
It’s very simple, all the Giants have to do is win every series from now until November. Take two of three, three of four, three of five and four of seven. Do that, and we win the whole enchilada with guacamole and sour cream on top.
Move over “New Math,” we got clown calculations.
I better go grab my No. 2 pencil…
And a couple of ice cold cervezas to wash it all down!
What time do we lose to the Mets again today?
I just wanna make sure I have plenty of ice on hand…
Ice in your hand, rocks in your head . . .
You just ever have one of those feelings? I think our game today goes OVER 7 1/2.
Dennis…You can borrow.some ice from Idiot Pagan.Bochy was not happy with him.when he slammed his bat in the dugout bruising 2 fingers.
He will not be back next year.Book it!
Burriss to Frasno (he cleared waivers), Loux called up, Christian optioned, and as we all know, Whithead is back down, and Hector is activated from the DL to catch Zits today.
The bench is now better by a few notches.
A few big notches, actually.
Shocking that Burriss cleared waivers.
He needs to assess his career, time to maybe get into college coaching or scouting or something like that so that he can develop a solid baseball career path as a non-player, assuming he wants to stay around baseball. He never was a real MLB player, but was lucky to be in an organization with an extrremely weak bench off and on for near half a decade…
Huff DL’d, too…
Bochy’s a little worried about his relievers. 13 pitchers now.
Heading into Coors will do that…
Be it Coors, Miller or Budweiser. Repeat after me: Thou shall not EVER have 13 pitchers on thy roster.
Glory be…
It goes without saying, but it’s Dennis talking, so you know I’m gonna say it anyway…
13 pitchers on our roster? We’re beyond deserving to lose. It’s Mayan time.
The ridiculous notion that Hensley or anybody else is here because of being pals with Bochy is just that- ridiculous. Like quite a few guys in the pen, he’s had some struggles lately, but he’s about the 6 or 7th guy right now- and his record is totally respectable for a guy low on the totem pole. And my goodness, Whitey must feel just terrible- being Bochy’s best buddy and still getting waived twice.
Just out of curiosity, you like to quote “The Book” when it comes to lineups and who should bat where. What does “The Book” say about carrying 13 pitchers on your roster? You know goddamn well as I do, that’s a mortal sin. And having 12 is a cardinal sin. 11 pitchers is the correct number. Why doesn’t anyone else know that?
This isnt’ the 60’s Dennis
A) The pen has been getting lit up a bit lately
B) Coors field
I don’t give a shit if it’s 1874 and “That’s Hedley” Lamarr can sue her.
It’s wrong.
I just checked and “The Book” says that 13 pitchers is fine as long as one is replacing Justian Christian..
And that whole mentality of saying, “It’s Coors,” we better add another arm is pussification.
You’re all but saying your starters are going to get rocked. Best get some relief help. Fuck that.
Delighted that you have another routine. It helps disguise that you know absolutely nothing about yet another sport.But now that you’ve repeated this one a dozen times, time to work on yet another.
Ain’t it the truth.
Horseshit! You’re just reluctant to badger and criticize management like myself when they do sumthin’ STOOPID like carrying 13 pitchers on their roster. It’s wrong. You know it. I know it. Just say so.
You’ve made your point about the 13 pitchers, Dennis. You couldn’t be any clearer. And I’m all for schtick. Really. But when the schtick is so repetitious, the humor is completely gone, and then it’s just annoying and spamish, and Splash-like.
Fair enough, I’ll stop. I just want an honest answer from you and everyone else. I don’t care what the circumstances. 13 pitchers. Right or wrong?
Scutaro 3B, Theriot 2B, Cabrera LF, Pence RF, Sanchez C, Pagan CF, Belt 1B, Crawford SS, (Zito P)
I didn’t know they stacked shit that high.
Why? You sling this much shit every day.
No Buster at 1st. That should help the bench. If only for today . . .
I know dya game after a night game. Yadda yadda yadda . . .
BLEEP Yadda yadda yadda…..
With Sanchez back and Pence bringing legit pop Posey gets a true day off. Hopefully we see more of this.
!3 pitchers is temporary as it has been before. If we run out of piinch hitters, we have at least two pitchers who are probably better than Christian anyway.
Temporary is NOT an excuse. Be it one day, a week or a month. Carrying 13 pitchers is an asinine move and should be punished.
Still reeling from that 1:15am game. After thwarting the Mets 3 times with 0 outs and bases jammed, I feel we should at least earn a half W.
Despite all the bellyaching from a few, through equal parts luck and gutty play the Giants were close to pulling out a game that could have been 12-1.
Win today and it’s a series split. Go Giants!
Coors is almost like the wild and wooly days again- they score almost 6 runs per game at home and 3.6 on the road.
Carrying 13 pitchers on your roster is an egregious error. Write it down. Other things to write down…
Regarding our so-called ‘reluctance to badger the Giants management,’ Dennis….the thing is- you’re NOT badgering the management. You’re badgering US, your fellow-blog members. And like I said higher up in the thread (I don’t know if you saw it) I like schtick. I’m a big fan of schtick.But when the schtick is so repetitious that it’s not funny anymore, then it’s just annoying spam we have to scroll through.
I stopped. But I want an answer, right or wrong?
To be honest, I don’t know. I don’t know how often other teams do that in regards to Coors Field. Baseball games can get crazy in that field. It’s only a temporary move, anyway. Over-reaction by Sabean/Bochy to Coors Field? I don’t know, but they have a logic to what they’re doing, so I’m OK with the move.
it doesn’t bug me.
TF, I know you speak highly of Clover milk, I ordered myself some Clover butter. What should I expect?
It will clog your arteries, being extremely high in saturated fats. Clover butter tastes so good because it’s so bad for you- which is why I avoid it but, in your case, why the fuck not?
OK, I’m kidding- I use it in small amounts, I’m more fond of Olive Oil, even with good bread. But you can’t beat good buttered biscuits or a swirl of butter to finish a sauce…
Hey Dennis—I’m going to Del Mar Saturday. (“Where the Turf meets the Surf,” not “Where Lament meets Cement”—-that was gold by you btw)
I’m not a big horse player, but I do like to look at the Form and pretend I know what I’m doing. I just bet on longer shots to win and hope for the best.
Might you be able to suggest a few longshots at some point?
Bob’s got a grey 2yo first-timer running Saturday in the 5th at Dmr named Rolling Fog (by Posse out of Fog Dance) that’s been working well. Like most of Baffert horses are wont to do. Fog’s latest •28Jly Dmr 5f ft :58 4/5 H1/89 Bob worked him in company with his smashing 2yo filly that won easy first time out, Executiveprivilege. She’s going to be sumthin’ special. If Fog could keep up with her…
But you were asking for a price. Bob’s horse isn’t going to be a price. Let me look over the card tomorrow and see if I can find you one.
Anyone else a Neil diamond fan? I’m not his biggest fan, but I like some of his songs. I always liked “Sweet Caroline” and his “America.” I think of Neil, I think the Fourth of July. The only reason I brought him up is that I see that he’s coming to the HP Pavilion next week. Neil’s 71. That makes me feel even older…
Two walks and already 20 pitches for Zeets in the top of the first. His control is terrible so far.
Aaaaaand…hits the batter. Bases loaded on walks. At least Barry’s reliable at being unreliable.
So….any Olympics on right now?
We need to start a countdown clock on when Zito’s contract is up at the latest, effectively, say November 1 of next year. Assuming the obvious that they won’t pick up his option. This Zito bullshit is so, so tiresome — I’m not even going to comment on him anymore today, it’s all been said before…
Fuck, you’ve got to be kidding me. Melky? All we are going to do is fly out?
Not bad for a non-3rd baseman.
Nice throw, Hunter.
Wow. 2 out none on again. Fuck. This is an epic fail of a home stand. And Hairston will jack this.
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. These guys are pissing me off.
Reminiscent of when the Giants got Beltran and immediately couldn’t hit for shit.
They might need all 8 relievers today.
Looking like we’re gonna dump 3/4 at home to the Mets. Pretty sad.
And Belt gets a 2-out triple when we’re down by 5. Clutch, baby. Clutch.
Only a nincompoop trashes a guy for a triple.
Even with two out, there are many ways to score from third base.
When a guy who plays first base that has only 4 HRs in over 240 ABs and an OPS just above .700 as we hit August…I’d like to think of him as the “nincompoop.” Not I, said Frank the Cat.
There ya go- a strike out is way better than that un-clutch triple.
And to continue with that thought…being down by 5 and Crawford has the unmitigated gall and audacity to take a called third. Fuck his wife. Please.
Just a quick survey from my thought last night.
Will a Wild Card come out of the NL West. Yes or No? My answer?
For the love of Christ. Somebody give Torres his medicine. He’s fucking lost of the base paths.
He DESERVED to be out twice in this inning.
And of course he scores anyway. Who deserves to lose this game?
Looks like you’ve become the Soph of this blog.
I gave the blog a horse for Saturday. What have you contributed to the Flap?
If ya tell me to go “Work the walk,” then I’m going to ask you what time is your pizza party.
Then I’m going to remind you that your Raiders are horseshit. And believe you me, I know horseshit when I see it. Silver and Black = Horseshit.
3-7 homestand. Fuck. This. hard. Everyone scuffles at one point, but this roadie becomes pretty big. If we can’t beat up on the Rockies in these next couple weeks, we could be in 3rd place.
Almost worse than losing is having this become DMD’s blog. See ya later.
Before you go, can ya make me some Beef Wellington with au gratin potatoes and asparagus with Béarnaise sauce? Thanks. Just don’t be saucy with me…
The silver lining at least for me is that this ugly stretch reminds me of August 2010. But it IS ugly. I may hide for a few days.
Who knows how this plays out, but StL and Wash aren’t pushovers by any means.
Got to healthy up on Colo.
I followed this a bit on my phone and even that was hard to get through. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have had to watch any of it……
I gave up after the 2nd . . . Zits was 2 outs and 0-2 before giving up 4 runs. Same thing in the 2nd. Bye bye.
I know they are trying, but I’ve never seen so many blah ABs in my life.
Wait til they hit the heat of StL. Wet noodle time.
Could I please get an honest reply? Do any of you think a Wild Card will come out of the NL West?
Maybe. There’s 2 MONTHS of baseball left. Now shut the fuck up. You and Berger need to hold a circle jerk over who can beat off the most to their endless inane bullshit.
Yes, I think playing in one of the WC slots will be LA. I think Atlanta has the other. Who wins? Right now I like Atlanta. Mets in the East and Pirates, Cards in the Central will fold this month.
Now please put your damn quarter in the slot.
Ballgame over!
Halleluia.
Dennis still drinking!
You rolling on the floor?
I don’t know if my reply to San Dawg got Lost in the Fog (by Lost Soldier out of Cloud Break) or not, but my favorite trainer, Bob, has another live 2yo running for the first time Saturday at Del Mar…Rolling Fog. Good luck. Speaking of Lost in the Fog , did you know he’s the only other horse along with Silky Sullivan to be buried at GGF?
Speaking of Silky… Race fan or not. If you haven’t seen this video, take four minutes out of your life and give it a try. I guarantee your life will be enriched. You’ll feel better about yourself. You might even cry…
Dennis takes over! A new blog begins!
Please tell me you watched the Silky video. Otherwise you get no more beer here.
I get choked up each and every time I review it. I still don’t believe Silky won that race.
That’s not possible. Silky was in another zip code at the 3/8 pole.
I better watch it again…I think he might lose this time, and if he does, I’m gonna blame it on Bochy.
So much for Nate’s wish for more playing time…He didn’t even start tonight after homering and making the game saving catch in his Philly debut.
Lefty pitching? He’s going to get a lot of starts in Philly, they just ditched 2/3 of their starting OF.
And now, back to the Sun Valley Symphony. Enjoy your evening…
Ouch. Ol’ Charlie musta talked to Bochy. It’s a vast conspiracy to keep Nate down.
Agree with Pawlie…Darling and Hernandez sound exactly alike…To tie in with Ted’s thread the other night, Ron Darling had a small role in one of my favorite comedies, Shallow Hal.
I’m really enjoying the Lefty Gomez biography I’m reading. It’s co-authored by his daughter, so you know it’s not going to be too critical of him; still, she and the co-author give an unflinching look at Lefty’s youth, and his father who refused to believe his son had a good future in baseball. Lefty grew up in the San Pablo bay area, and then moved to Point Reyes, to play semi-pro ball. And his pitching abilities eventually got the attention of the San Francisco Seals, and from there…..it was the bright lights of NYC. To pay for his first good baseball glove, as a teenager, he got a summer job scraping the residual tar out of oil refinery tanks, breathing toxic fumes the whole way.
One of my brothers lives in San Rafael and used to teach at a Catholic school west of town. Somewhere out there is a field that either bears Lefty’s name or is a place where he used to play—probably both. I’ve driven by the place a few times over the years. He would probably love that book if he hasn’ t read it already. Did it come out recently?
I’m not super down with the symphony but I like to bring my daughter here to expose her to a little culture and class. She just jacked me for $20 and headed off to a candy store with her friends. So now I’m just a dude at a symphony and I’m feeling terribly uncomfortable right now. 🙂
Give ’em a rousing golf clap in between numbers and you should blend right in!
keep your eye out for potential bbotd material. sure it’s the symphony, but underneath their clothes, they’re naked!
“but underneath their clothes, they’re naked!”
Now that’s gold. Bravo ewisco.
Thanks for the tips Dennis. I’m not always able to post, but I’ll keep an eye on the blog in the next day and half to see if you come up any other ideas. 5/1 or higher is the way I like to roll!
Some people just have “serial” bad months. For me, I learned long ago to never make big life-changing decisions in January or July. Go figure. Maybe August is this team’s albatross, for whatever unexplainable reason. This time, though, I’m hopeful for a different outcome (.500 or even a slightly winning record, as others here posted). I’m actually glad they’re hitting the road at this time. They are decidedly not feeling the comforts of home lately, so might as well go figure some things out in some different time zones. Might be pleasantly surprised. I still say the team needs a consistent stable figure in the leadoff spot to set the rest of the lineup. I know Blanco’s numbers have declined, but really, he seems to be the best one for the job. Put him there and keep him there. I guess I’m still living off images of the outfielders’ end-of-game jump and bumps when Blanco was hot, Melky was turning it on, and even Pagan was doing ok, happy days. Team was winning. Get back to that, there’s no one else available to bat first. Scutaro-Theriot 1-2 does not spell playoffs. Hurry back, Pablo…
Regarding the post of the day, I’m starting to see a lot of Brandon Belt in Hunter Pence . . .
In fact, not to be dickish about it, but the Pablo injury can be directly laid at the feet of Brandon Belt and his not-so-hotness.
Well, to extend that, if Bochy hadn’t fucked around with the lineup and PUT Pablo at 1st, well . . .
you’re right, in the sense that he wouldn’t have been at first if not for Belt’s ineptitude, but you can’t blame the injury on that, you just can’t. It was just a random moment in time…..
Rotten homestand for sure.
SD, Lefty’s daughter actually started the book 25 or so years ago, but it didn’t get completed and published until this year. Lefty passed away in 1989. He was very much involved in the book project. A fair amount of the book is direct quotes and stories from Lefty. Lefty was very witty and some of his stories are laugh out-loud funny, but he was also very perceptive and thoughtful. Very intelligent, but not all that educated. As a teenager, he believed he was talented enough to be a pro ball player and that was that.
Cool. My brother says that field named for Lefty is in Fairfax. He was always wondering what connection he had to the Marin area, so he is interested in checking out the book and reading more about his time in Pt. Reyes.
YIKES! the flap called and they want their team back.