The Say Hey Kid!!!
Nope. This is not a thread about Willie Mays. But he came to mind right away, yes? Because it’s part of the “Language of Baseball”, today’s topic. I’ve refered to this before but today it’s a topic. As for last night’s game, another Cainsterpiece. The pen was a touch scary but I’m getting used to it. A little. Arias was poppin’ right off the bat (?) so confidence was high right away and there’s few things more heartening than a sweep of the Dodgers
Now back to the topic. First the Giants have a lot of great nicknames in their lexicon. Stretch, The Count, Will the Thrill, Jack the Ripper. Even today’s players: The Freak, Panda, et.al (although I’ve never really been crazy about “Panda”). And some nicknames that have died in shame and shall be spoken no more (Melkman). Even Big Flavor’s name of this blog is part of the “Language of Baseball”. Not a nickname per se but we all know immediately as of whom it refers. And yes, another guy with a great nickname.
But, again, nicknames are a only part of “The Language of Baseball”. Baseball terms and certain vernaculars that everyone around here simply assumes everyone else knows. But sometime we forget that not everyone can give you a knowing-dude-head-nod. If I were to say to my mom “The last time Mahatma Kane Jeeves came up for a cup of coffee, he went yard his first AB” she’d think he decided to sit outside at Starbucks. Al fresco.
Mendoza Line anyone? Walk-off homer? The battery? Cycle? Ducks on the pond? Infield fly rule? Can of corn? And just who is this Tommy John and why is everyone having his surgery?
And the plethora of stats. Used to just be RBIs and ERAs. Now it’s oWAR. dWAR. oRAR. OBP. SLG. IBB. waaWL. OPS. OB/GYN. My personal favorite, WHIP. There’s that charming sabermetric term NERD. I say let’s keep Robert Carradine out of this. His dad and older brother were the legends.
There’s all sorts of nutty terms that some of us take for granted but some are, like, *really* obscure. Pop quiz, hotshots. Who can tell me what a “Golden Sombrero” is without giggling?
Here’s a favorite of mine. “Pythagorean Expectation”. Makes me think that, yes, even dinosaurs needed happy endings.
Then there’s the sayings or catchphrases that we all know but some no longer count. “Curse of the Bambino”? “The House That Ruth Built”? Memorable but both null and void today. “The Boys of Summer”? A Don Henley song. However there’ve been some additions in recent years (“There’s no crying in baseball” or “That one had some hair on it”)
We all know the annoying “Tomahawk Chop” but did ya’ll know there’s a “Baltimore Chop”?
How about the “Hot Stove League”? That’s us Flappers. A group of jamolks who, between seasons, still can’t stop talking baseball.
“Sistema Peralta”? Something pawlie brought up earlier this year about handling a pitching staff kinda like they do during the All-Star Game. Basically, splitting nine innings between three pitchers, three innings each.
It’s a little nuts but it’s all part of the mystique. Any cool favorites I left out? Leave us know.
Be the first to give us a…”quality start”
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Hope Sergio enjoyed that. Still my choice for closer…
Yours but not his. He’s happier with a different role. Nevertheless, I agree. He’s the most qualified
ZITS??!!
Good rebound from Romo ( but stop NOW with those hangers )… and good effort from Zito.
In keeping with today’s thread: As one of the Mets announcers likes to say, “Put it in the books.”
Hey, I’m giving myself props for calling his turnaround to not being constantly on the hunt for strange.
Saved by the belle?
Worth millions? sure, but he’s got a longway to earn $126 mill.
Zito that is . . .
Still don’t trust him, Chuck. Tonight it looked like a turnaround – next time out could be a reach-around…
Without a thank you
“WE HAD ‘EM ALL THE WAY”
Yes we did.
I love the sound of Tony Bennett after a win. It’s the sound of…victory
Casilla will be back as closer, but he went 4 in the last 2, so . . . no not tonight.
Romo still scares the shit out of me as closer.
Who predicted 10 wins for Zito?? He battled through a wobbly first couple of innings that had Bochy pacing. I think he’ll be ok the rest of the year and they will keep him on the roster if they make it to the postseason. Might just be the long guy, but don’t think they will deny him a spot again.
Well, if he finishes strong after starting stong it will be wonderful- and also a first for him here..
I wonder how much the ballpark came into play in Bochy’s thought-process with the decision to go with Romo vs. Heyward, instead of Lopez vs. Ross. Bochy might have been thnking: OK, 3-run lead, 2-runners on, 1 out, alright, Heyward try to hit one out of this park to rightfield. Good luck with that.
I know not everybody puts a lot of stock in L/R splits, but it’s hard to ignore the .436 BA RHers have against Lopez.
I don;t know what Romo’s numbers are L/R, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear all the HRs he gives up com off righthanders. Which I think is why Bochy had him face the lefty to end it.
It’s hardly the only reason why- the .436 BAA by RHers against Lopez was obviously a major factor in the decidion also. But you are correct- all 4 Hrs against Romo this year have been by RH hiters.
4 game streak. Loverly.
Most likey Posey starting tommorow. tomorrow. tommorrow. tommorroww.
Some day…I’ll figure out how to spell that word.
Things are looking good.
Lad’s…I need a little sleep.
Goodnight, gentlemen (question mark)
This adversity be damned team has jelled.
And the pitching has really stepped up, lived up it to its reputation, and propelled this team forward.
Test