September Baseball!
September is just about upon us- and the cliche about playing meaningful games in September has now become routine for the last 4 years- after an unwelcome absence. We were upstarts in 2009- in fact, Flappers were about the only group anywhere- including all of those expert types- who picked that team to go anywhere.
Then in 2010, again this squad was dismissed by most- but then Sabean had the finest year of his baseball life and patched together the band of misfits were to become, in my words, “San Francisco heroes for their lifetimes-and beyond”
We all know that injuries ravaged the team last year and great doubt lingered over this year- would Buster be the same? Huff? How would the new guys perform? The Brandon fellas ? Wilson went down.. the Bums jumped to a huge early lead. Panda went down. Pitching not what it was. Timmy “4-Run” Lincecum…and my goodness- we’re ahead! How the hell did it happen? Yeah, Posey, of course. Melky before he checked out. Pagan. Others who I’m sure will be noted. But I put it on those under the radar dudes and the rooks. Arias, Theriot, Scutaro, Blanco, and the steady improvement from Belt and my AAA shortstop. More than even the 2010 team, I think this squad has been sparked by unexpected contributions.
Just addressing position players currently active, who are your favorites, or guys you expect to step up or down in the throat tightening melee that is September baseball with a pennant to be won or lost? Me? The August sleepers awaken- Pence and Sandoval lead the way.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I’d like it to be the Brandons, offensively as well as on D. Both made superior plays late last night to help preserve a W. Nice of Twin to acknowledge Craw–I think he’s made it clear he belongs, tho Arias and is hot bat are hard to ignore. Maybe Pablo could use a day off.
Loo said before the trip he hoped to see some pop out of Pence and he got it. I’d like to see same out of Belt. Kruk said if Belt played all year in MM he’d pop some into the crawford boxes in LF–why not now? He’s also got games in Wrigley vs. the crummy Cubs this weekend, plus a road trip week after next with 3 in AZ and 3 at Coors. Be nice if he wound up with 10 bombs.
I know it’s not a fair comparison, but watching Freddy Freeman whack 3 bombs out of ATT last week bugged me.
I also enjoy fact that these two are the anti-Bryce Harpers. Last night he threw his helmet down after a GIDP late in the game and got ejected as the helmet almost hit 1b ump. He admitted it was wrong and in a quote on cbssite said “I’ve been doing it my whole life.” WTF? He’s been playing ball as a kid for 10 yrs and never learned this is uncool? No coach ever sat his ass on the bench for a game afterward to get the message across you don’t act like a spoiled brat and embarrass yourself and your teammates (not to mention your parents) when things don’t go your way?
I think Davey Johnson had a nice short talk with him last night that it is time to start growing up..
Arias has sure come up with some big hits (and very nice plays in the field), of late. But generally, I agree with your comment about the “under the radar” guys. They have been huge this year, and I think it will take continued contributions from the likes of Blanco, Scuttaro, Crawford, Belt, and maybe even Peguero (and don’t forget Theriot – while he has played less lately, he had his stretches, too). But I think it a mix…while these guys need to continue to contribute…we need the “big guns”…those expected to bring it (Posey, Sandoval, Pence, Pagan, etc.), to step-up big down the stretch. It sure has all the makings for a fun ride this final month.
Good things to ponder. I can see Belt becoming a slugger, Hector or Arias coming up big, maybe even Timmy. Hard to say. Scutaro and Pagan will be scrappy. Theriot will have a role. Maybe Blanco will make another sensational catch. All I know is, this difficult question is better than any difficult question posed for a team all but eliminated. (I did not want to name any teams, for fear of a jinx.)
I think it’s gonna have to be whoever steps up and takes over LF– I’m over The White Shark. I’d give Peguero 2 more starts. After that doesn’t work I’d figure out how to get Arias in the LU everyday and that means Scutaro to LF.
Does Francour off the WW do anything for anyone? I think he got pulled back, I can’t recall though…
I’ve added some pics to the Flap Photo Bucket– I’ll go through my own and add more but keep the pics coming if you have them.
Bigflavor77@gmail.com
If Panda and Pence get on a roll this team will kick some serious ass (maybe I should change that to Series ass). But baseball in September and October seems to come down to the little guys doing something you just didn’t expect from that guy. Crawford, Scutaro with Arias and Theriot off the bench should add the additional spark. If Blanco finds what he lost, look out.
Pence gets hot and Pablo too watch out. With Posey and the little guys this club can really take this division. After that who knows? It’s better to be hot than good in the playoffs.
To steal the motto from 1986, “Humm Baby, you gotta like these kids”. It’s the younguns that will put the Giants in the postseason.
I saw Arias play in Spring Training this year and I really liked his makeup. Speed, strong arm, agile, and a good bat. He was one of my final picks to make the team, but lost out to Theriot.
Looks the Bums will be down two pitchers. Barbara might be done for the year and Kenley Jansen has heart issues. Sucks for you Smell A.
Hope everyone has a very good Labor Day weekend. Be safe, and it’s going to be a September to remember. Let’s Go GIANTS!!!
I have loved Arias ever since that stumble and the subsequent laser beam he threw to Belt to save the perfect game. He showed me a cannon with that throw. He’s long and athletic looking, I am going to bite on this teaser and say he keeps his hot streak going for the rest of the year…….
Hope you’re right.
The biggest surprise to me has been Joaquin Arias. He came in as a slick-fielding late inning guy, and was forced to start due to the myrial injuries and suckitude of the IFers. His August has been flat spectacular and COMPLETELY unexpected. Homers, triples, doubles, big hits, his stellar fielding. Even moreso that Scooter. I didn’t expect a lot out of a 36 year old journeyman, but he’s had nothing but solid ABs and clutch play. They both have overshadowed the contributions of Ryan The Riot, who himself had a nice couple months. Crawford has steadily improved from a near-disastrous start to the season. Belt? They’ve finally settled him in, the hope is he starts cranking more dingers. Lots of shots to the warning track.
Pence manages to keep driving in runs despite looking utterly lost sometimes. He’s a grinder, to say the least. To say the 4-5-6 spots need to produce is a given. It will be the likes of Scooter, Pagan, and Arias to keep the pressure on.
I am all for a feeding frenzy in the batting order. Maybe too many were sitting back and watching the MelkMan show. Now they see “a team” and the way Bruce and Brian like to build a team there are going to be several guys able to get sparking.
Pagan has done that lately. Posey has been in full swing in August. That leaves Belt, Pence and Pablo to smell blood and raise their game. Not something you _do_ by command, but by catching the fever from fellow players.
Saturday rosters expand, Whiteside, Nady and maybe Pill? give the coach more flexibility so maybe Hector or Theriot can make a move.
Personally, I see Pense getting hot off Angel and Buster then giving the fever to Belt.
No one, not even the beat writers, not even your trusty Prospect Watcher, thought of Arias as anything more than a warm body in camp this spring. He’s not really a prospect anyway- he was a minor league journeyman type. I don’t think Bochy even mentioned his name until midway through the exhibition games. Then we started seeing him out there when the guys who had a shot were playing. I don’t think I even looked up his numbers until then- not bad, not bad at all. Early on he was a revelation defensively at third when Pablo went down- and he hit acceptably, All in all, a pleasant surprise.But his August- wow. I’m a realist, welll, sort of- I know he won’t hit like this the rest of the way- but what we have is a a group that has shown all year that somebody, somebodies really, will step up when others falter. What August has proven more than anything else is that this is not just a Posey/Melky offense.
And even though he’s hardly “under the radar”, I can’t leave Crazy Horse out- more than anyone except Buster, he stepped it up, seemingly within minutes after Melky went down.I ate my crow on Angel long ago, but I’m happy to eat some more- you know, prepared correctly, it’s not half bad….
Crow sounds good to me.
Pagan is key as the lead off guy. He’s been either red hot or ice cold. Can he run warm, say about .280? Don’t think they can afford a .220 Sept. Pagan, Posey, Belt, Arias and Scutaro have all been swinging hot bats in Aug. Even Crawford has hit .290 and played superb D. Pence has had some key hits. It’s time for the Panda to return.
For anyone not in Houston the Giants game is free on MLB.com today.
Excellent thread Mike. I’ve been one of the “lone rangers” in regard to Pagan since he got here and “Crazy Horse” has overall, not disappointed. Along with a few others – Blanco, Melky, Belt – on the team, he has transformed the team from a “station to station” type club, with little or no power, into the “Go Go Giants.” OK, OK, that may be stretching things a bit, but the team isn’t boring like it was last year. 🙂
No idea where we would be without Posey, who does many things well. Personally, I think he has the most baseball smarts on this team and in his own quiet way, he’s the straw that stirs the drink.
By the by, all of you have made good points about all of your favorites, along with the newcomers, such as Pence . . . Absolutely no disagreement from what’s been noted here.
Speaking to the point about “Go-Go”, it really should be noted that the lack of power at home should not be a huge surprise- obviously we/they want more HRs from Panda and Belt, but in going after Melky and Pagan the team opted to go with speed and BA. Forgetting Melky’s suspension, would we have been better off pursuing RH HR bats instead? Could we have landed, say, Beltran and Willingham if we’d thrown a boatload of bucks at them? Would we be better ? Obviously hypothetical now, but worth thinking about once I get my Pizza Delivery Girl image search out of my head 😉
My favorite? I’m in a different kind of dimension — or dimentia — today:
When our team is in another’s house
And you and I watch from afar
Then Pence will drive the baseball
And Joaquin will be the star
This is the dawning of the Age of J. Arias
The Age of J. Arias
J. Arias!
J. Arias!
LOL. Good one Mac. 🙂
Dog, that is gold baby.
I have my Richmond Flying Squirells Report:
Sorry, went to Tuesday’s game, but played golf yesterday. We met Gary Brown, Brett Bochy and their leading starter Chris Heston, who actually pitched. My son got each of their autographs.
Gary Brown looks younger than his age. Looks more like 18 than his soon to be 24. He was only 1-4, but his first at-bat was a fairly routine grounder to second and he beat the throw. I dont think I have ever seen that before. He immediately got caught stealing second and scanning the box score, I think that was his 18th caught stealing, so he is obviously not doing something right. But their opponent was the National’s Double AA team and their catcher Solano was with the Nats earlier and was the one who hit a homer off Madison on the July 4th game (which I unfortuantely had to witness). So Solano is a MLB league arm and nailing Brown at second is probably what he will face in the big-leagues. So 18 caught stealing seems to be a lot to me.
Heston only gave up two runs and has an ERA just above 2, but he gave up some very long foul balls in a very spacious park. So it would have been worse elsewhere. I wonder how much his home-park has helped him this year and see what he does at AAA.
The one hitter who had a couple hard hits was their 3B named Mayora. But he is 27 and does not seem like he is young ebough to expect to ever be a big league presence…the shortstop Adrianza is the typical good glove-no bat skinny Latino-type of player. He was 1-3 with a solid single to right, but he is only hitting .224 for the season. I doubt he is a big-league starter.
Nice report, GHead.One of the more annoying stats is the “caught stealing” one because beng picked off is counted as a caught stealing. Maybe someone knows a site where they break it down. I think it would helpful to know if a guy is being thrown out a lot of if he’s getting Velezed…
I think that is an excellent point…
Yeah that high pct of Caught stealing stat is bothersome.Brown really needs to work with coaches with that.You have to be atleast seventy five pct or higher success rate or your not helping the team IMO.
Ironic that you mentioned that Twin, because it was just noted that Texas leads the league in runners being picked off . . . I was evaluating Murphy as a waiver wire pick up in my Yahoo FL league and they had this note:
“OF David Murphy was picked off first base in the third inning after becoming the first Ranger to reach base Tuesday. It was the 10th time a Ranger has been picked off this season. Texas leads the majors in that undistinguished category.”
My question mirrors your inquiry: Where or who is keeping this stat?
Now commenting on the actual topic d’jour…to me Scutaro has been a huge, huge surprise. Cant believe the level he is playing at and may be another notch in the Sabean strategy off going with a lower-cost veteran to fill in a role instead of getting up in a money-chase and multi-year deals for free agents.
I used to question that mentality and now I have learned better…is Scutaro a free agent?
The guy we need to step up if he is 100% is the Panda, especially before he hits the next buffet. He seems to be growing larger by the day. I think he is the key figure in September…
Does anyone have any clue how you track who has been put on waivers? We are pretty much at the end of the deadline of trying to pull someone off the waiver wire. If anyone can simply claim a hitter ahead of us to prevent him from going to us without any intention of making a trade for them, ala Scott Hairston (whom I dont really see as being worth it), I think that process is flawed. I think a claiming team has to be forced to take the player unless the waiving team decides on their own to pull him…
Francouer really seems to be the only viable difference maker that we could expect to claim off waivers…
Well, I hear Bonds is in great shape and if Clemens can do it??
The Jeff name has made its rounds here. I am assuming everyone has seen the rumours about Brian still looking. Harrison wouldn’t be much of an upgrade and I see no other likely suspects.
I like it just because we will be able to hear the Bums and the rest bitching from here. I and I was not a big Bonds fan but hey, why the hell not. I bet he can still splash it.
OH! Snap, Brian wants a right handed bat.
Then you get Manny Ramirez too and just platoon Bonds with him. The Dodgers are still paying Manny so double bonus if he hit a HR off of the them.
Yeah, I don’t expect much before the waiver deadline. On waiver deals, the team who owns the player has the control. When they put a player on waivers they can do one of three things:
1) Let the player (and contract) go to the claiming team
2) They can complete a trade with the claiming team
3) They can pull the player back from waivers.
The teams in the league from which the player is waived have priority. For example, if Torres is waived by the Mets, the NL teams (worst record first) has priority at claiming the player.
Pagan, A, CF
Scutaro, M, 2B
Sandoval, P, 3B
Posey, B, C
Pence, H, RF
Belt, B, 1B
Blanco, G, LF
Crawford, B, SS
Vogelsong, R, P
I like Blanco off the bench as he is defensively one of the better outfielders. Don’t know why he can’t hit but I like the way Francisco Peguero was swinging it and think he may deliver. I also like Belt after Posey then Pence because of the righty lefty thing and because I think Belt is a better hitter than Pence.
I sure hope I don’t regret this but I’m saying Bochy has been managing, finally, and he’s making the right moves. HIs handling of pitchers and defense as well as the platooning have enabled the team to excel. It’s hard to remind oneself how big defense has been, but we’re winning because of it. We’ve got some guys who run hot and cold and Bochy has the will this year to use his judgement and not worry about hurt feelings.
On another note, the comments from Zito about Posey’s game calling were interesting. Zito, the two-time Cy Guy admitting he wasn’t man enough to shrug off Pose’s calls, should have been the big message and not sure why he wanted that to go public, since it’s up to him to ask for a different pitch, but I wonder how related this is to the Posey issue with others? What say you guys about that and will it make a difference?
Mike’s 12:22pm . . .
No idea on the “ifs” Mike, but I thought we did well on the discount rack – so to speak – versus the “boatload of bucks” option. Even with Melky suspended, I don’t think we could have done much better for the outstanding time and performance he provided here.
Here is a “what if” – Let’s say the team goes all the way to the World Series, will you like this team as much or more that then the 2010 gang? Hard to say, but thinking about it right now, I would be unbelievably impressed with this team, if they survive the Wilson injury, Melky drug bust, Panda DL stint, Lincecum early season face plant, and the contributions Mike described as, “But I put it on those under the radar dudes and the rooks. Arias, Theriot, Scutaro, Blanco, and the steady improvement from Belt and my AAA shortstop.” Oh, let’s also not forget Zito’s impression of John Wayne coming to save the settler’s act either.
Yeah, that would be a tough choice on favorite all time Giant team. Regardless, GIVE ME A FRICKIN’ CHANCE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE THIS YEAR! GO GIANTS!
I don’t want to be part of the stable boys, but I wish I could edit my posts . . . Delete *it. 🙂
I’m not going to get into Zito much, or Lincecum, it’s too polarizing.
Crawford was the guy I said would make the team, he was soo nervous in the beginning there were a lot of doubters. But he came through it all. Pagan seems to have stepped up and I don’t see a let down coming just yet. I think Panda is trying too hard and that has caused him to revert to swing at everything mode. If he can get it going and take walks when they don’t give him anything to hit I think he will be key. I do wonder about Theriot though, will he be able to come off the bench and hit? I hope so.
I think Crawford takes himself a little too seriously and it seems to be hurting his offense. He should stop trying to hit grand slams and stick to thinking left field and not worry about his image. Watching him fiddling with his beard during a close game said a lot about his mindset. Pagan will get cold and hot but seems to have learned a lot. So great having a legit leadoff man but Panda looks huge and I think has some psychological issues and may have been troubled by his run in with the law. Not good, and he looks in terrible shape and injury prone. You can’t keep your legs in shape when you’re carrying that much excess weight.
I agree on Theriot who needs at bats to stay hot, like most guys. It was weird how he got benched when Scutaro showed up, because I don’t believe Theriot was hitting poorly so not sure how that worked but you know it’s bothering Theriot. Not that Scutaro should sit now though. He has made a huge difference and more than just his batting.
It’s a pretty tough sell to argue that Scutaro shouldn’t have been starting right away. If he pushed a pretty good player to the bench, that’s a good thing. Theriot is a vet and used to being a reserve- he should be ready to step in and perform right away if called on- that’s why he’s here to begin with.
Krukow and Kuiper are always going on about Pablo busting buttons or some such crap about his impatience- based on a full season, he’d walk about 50 tiimes this year. We have far “better” hackers than Panda..
It’s pretty incredible to see the A’s with the same record as we do at this point in the season. i think that their yourg SP arms are going to tire out in Sept but who knows? No one thought they’d be fighting it out for the WC this season……
Not sure what it says about the AL with the A’s doing so well. It sure says a lot about Beane and his trading capabilities. I wonder if Sabean and he have mended fences? We sure could use a couple of their bats which they seem to pull out of thin air.
Nothing to do with the topic, but I have to give props to two teams that were MIA for . . . umm, it seems like a 100 years. 🙂
First team you all know about – the Pirates. They are playing outstanding baseball compared to past years. Sheesh, past decades. They have a 70-60 record. Yeah, they are in 3rd place, 9 games out in the Central Division, but only 1 game behind in the wild card race, albeit, in front of the hated Bums by a half game. That would be sweet if the Pirates somehow made the post season and the Dodgers were left out.
The 2nd team I am even more impressed with – the Baltimore Orioles. They play in the vaunted American League East Division and have a 72-58 record – good for 3rd place, 3 games behind the Yankmees (Thank you for that name Chi). If the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs as a wild card team. Nice.
I would love to see both these teams in the playoffs, along with our Giants.
*our vs. out.
what’s up with you and the need to spell check your final posts? 🙂
An idea that has finally come Flav . . . or not. 🙂
Not certain I need glasses or God heard my prayers, the post was miraculously edited. Hallelujah! The Lord has risen. 🙂
How do you put the orioles ahead of the A’s?
They have a pretty low payroll, too (84 mil v the A’s at 54). I’d put them in the same boat for what they’ve done this season.
What do you mean? These are teams I AM IMPRESSED WITH. The A’s have consistently tasted success through the years. As recently as 2010, they were .500 as a team. From 1999 through 2006, they had an outstanding above .500 record in each of those years.
Conversely, the Orioles and Pirates have not tasted success in decades. In fact, they have been the dregs of their respective league for that period of time. No idea what you are talking about Robbie.
Robbie, I wasn’t trying to be difficult or ornery with you . . . I have never liked the A’s, although I grudgingly admire their business model. In short, whatever you think about the A’s, Billy Beane has a plan . . . More than what could be said about the Orioles and Pirates for many years.
That being said, I have been a closet Pirates and Orioles fan for quite some time and it has been exasperating to me that the Pirates and Orioles have been saddled by poor ownership for what seems like forever. Couple that with the Pirates and Orioles making money, despite having little or no incentive to compete (i.e., both teams receiving league tv money, along with gate receipts/local television, etc.). Anywho, yeah, I guess the A’s are amazing for competing against the Rangers and Angels, but I could give a rat’s ass. 🙂
The A’s have a better record than the Orioles, and the third in the AL now and I can’t recall anyone thinking they’d amount to a hill of refrieds. I have to believe they are the biggest surprise in baseball.
Oh and I agree with the owners and Beane thing plus as someone mentioned yesterday going to the Coliseum is the worst experience in baseball maybe. The guys who are between the lines are actually fun to watch though which in baseball is a miracle to see. I love the way a bunch of guys sort of grew together and made the A’s enjoyable. I didn’t like them when I had a free box there in the late eighties because of my job but I know what you mean sling.
My pleasure (YankMees)… 😉
Frankly, I’m impressed with the A’s as well. Despite Beane, Wolffe, and Co’s desire to make the team as shitty as possible, they somehow cobbled together a team that is kicking some serious ass. Don’t know if they are even getting fans to show up at this point, but hats off to the players.
But yeah, the point is well-taken. The Pirates haven’t been relevant since the Bobby Bo’s patrolled their outfield in 1993.
And there hasn’t been much from the Orioles since Cal Ripken was there.
That’s the hilariioius/pathetic part- Beanie had no intention of fielding a good team, Having happy fans in Oakland just mucks things up.
“Watching him fiddling with his beard during a close game said a lot about his mindset.”
In my opinion, it says nothing about his mindset. Baseball is a nerve-wracking game for the players. They all have their own little particular twitches and compulsions out there. Baseball players are out there on their own individual islands, in front of the crowd, plus the TV audience, with an opportunity to embarrass themselves on any given play. The baseball players don’t do as much scratching as they used to do. I think that’s a product of the looser-fitting uniforms. It got pretty bad in the ’70s and ’80s. I knew of people that didn’t like to watch baseball because of all the “spittin’ and scratchin'” going on. There’s still a lot of disgusting spitting, but at least the tobacco spewing is gone, I guess, more or less.
Well, there IS snot-rocket-boy . . .
Yeah, with close-ups on the big-screen, with HD….(grin)
That’s the trade-off with baseball on TV- we get everything close-up, the good and the bad. (grin)
That whole HD thing is not something to mess around with. I didn’t catch the women’s vollyball but in HD it must have brought out the wankers.
I’m going to guess that when some people were applauding at home, it was the sound of one hand clapping.
Zumie, everyone knows the scratching stopped because of Costanza’s suggestion to switch from polyester to cotton uniforms. 🙂
That was so funny. There is a George Costanza in every crowd.
Someone needs to warn Hector Sanchez though. Catchers have always got something leaking. Yogi Berra was the worst. He was always picking some orifice and back in those days people were a lot more polite. I wouldn’t say Crawford, whom I like, gets it just for his beard grooming last night, but he does seem to let things get to him and I hope he gets past that.
He looked like he was mad at Blanco when they collided the other night. BTW did you see Bochy glare at Casilla as he walked off after being pulled last night?. Casilla wouldn’t look at Bochy when he handed him the ball and might have muttered something as he walked to the dugout. I had the Houston broadcast,…
Casilla is a bit of a prima donna and It’s good that Bochy lets these guys know they have to bury their ego if they want to play for him. I think it’s about time. Bochy has changed this approach and these guys are just big kids who need to get their butt chafed when they think only of themselves. As long as he is even handed, no one can bark.
To satisfy everyone’s fascination of athletes spitting, here is SI’s spitting gallery . . . Ugh.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1102/athletes.who.spit/content.1.html
I only heard about Zito’s post game comments re: Buster off of KNBR second hand, but they made it out to sound like Zito was not even hiding the fact he had issues with Posey. If he does, plus there is something obviously going on between Posey and Tim, then that sounds to me to be a significant issue …
Was there something besides his comments about pitch selection? If not, Zito is a vet, even more than most pitchers, what to throw is ultimately on him, which he acknowledges while putting in a dig at Posey at the same time.I don’t know what’s up, either. Frankly, I’d buy that *both* Barry and Tim are the problem more than Buster . In Tim’s case, he’s kinda had a lot of success with Tim, in Barry’s case, it’s not like he’s had a whole lot with anybody since he got here.
Zito said he was unhappy Posey called for a change up which wasn’t working for him. The thing is, if it wasn’t working for him, he’s the veteran. Why in hell is he throwing a pitch he isn’t comfortable with throwing? I think Posey is just different than Zito and Lincecum but they aren’t able to let him know that so they make it an issue. If it’s a player’s issue, and since both of them should be able to say, here’s what I expect from you and do it this way or fuck off. Posey is a Georgia boy and they can be a pain in the ass if they think they have all the answers but he’s a kid for crissake. LIncecum and Zito both are just big kids.
It’s fucking absurd for Zito of Tim to have a problem with pitching to Posey. If they aren’t committed to the pitch he calls then SHAKE HIM OFF and throw the one you want. It’s a total puss move to suggest Posey has anything to do with failed pitch selection IF, in fact, THE PITCHER WANTS TO THROW SOMETHING ELSE…….
Didn’t see all the posts on this, seems most agree- Barry, Tim- shut up and pitch..
I’ve got no issues with that POV. The pitchers did well, real well, last year with the backups catching. So, if a coupla starters have some sort of issues with Posey now, or vice versa, well, straighten it out, whatever it is, and pitch the dang ball…
Yeah lt really is incredible what the A’s have done.Especially since the break.Hey i don’t even mine if they make the playoffs,but i sure don’t want.them to end up with a better record then the Giants,Cause i don’t want to hear from BF’s bro,The Boney One fuckin gloating!
Agree. By the by, is there still a bet going on with regard to their records (Giants and A’s)?
No doubt. FUUUUUUCK The Boney One (at least when it comes to this) 🙂
This must be the Giants stupid game.
Lots of good posts here about Michael’s thread, who will “stand up and be counted” in September. I tend to agree it might not be any one player shouldering the team but rather yet another little collection of quasi-misfits all contributing.. although Pablo is needed to get back to form again. Just do your jobs, gentlemen. I’m thinking more that the starters need to do their jobs. Voggie seems to have lost that laser focus he had before, and Tim and Zito are what they are. It would be most helpful if Voggie gets his game back and Tim rewinds the clock a year or two… this team will win or lose based on its starters; the offense can “do enough” in a good start but doesn’t have the firepower to overcome a bad one. Although again, I still say, the Giants just need to “get there”, preferably winning the division to avoid a horrible one-game “playoff”. Once there, the team can do some damage in the post-season.
Okay Bochy, where is the hook? If he doesn’t yank Vogey, he’s just wrong, and I don’t give a crap about the bullpen.
Robbie, when you can say you don’t give a crap about the pen, *that* is just wrong.
Ditto
Why tbe hook there Robbie? Blew through 6 relievers last night.Voggy came through and they scored 3,it was the right call by Boch leaving him in.
New ballgame.Real nice rally! This is our game now!
Now-having scored 3 to get back in it, definitely it’s time to get Vogie out of there before /if he can give it back.
Meaning now it’s quick hook time.
Ahh o think Vogs is extra pissed right now.He.will give them 2 more innings then Boch will PH
Oh yeah.
Buster’s due
Oh yeah X 2
Make the mudderfu**ers pay!
man, now the stros double switch the guy out. what a wild inning.
Sweet
Showed HP no respect basically intentionally walking the go ahead run into scoring position.
OK perfect time (or not) for something new–Blanco makes last out and comes out the game. Hector at C, Posey to 3b, Pablo to LF. P bats in blanco’s spot so he can go 2 innings or so.
Holy Crap! Arias has turned into Jim Ray Hart.
and Jupiter aligns with Mars…
Joaquin!
OK, Arias whacks one…unlike what I thought at start of year, SF has too many IF and obviously now no one to play LF. someone has to move so arias and scutaro and crawford and pablo can all play at the same time. I’m not into Posey playing anywhere else besides C…Pablo can not be a worse OF than Burrell, and he’s already being subbed for late inning D anyway.
Boch is still waiting for that perfect moment to put Whitey in LF.
Fucking Arias, I’ve wanted him on the bench but he keeps proving me wrong. way to go kid.
Mystic crystal revelation…
Yeah Loo, it’s like peyote in a jersey.
Arias,ho hum just another HR,#1 hitter in the month of August ,24 hits in 56 AB’s 3 HR’s,triples,doubles.He’s like Roy Hobbs when Robert Duvall (sportswriter) said anything they throw he hits,doubles,triples,HR’s amazing.
Pruitt’s hit was my favorite Giant memory before 2010…
Together we’re GIANT!
And a friendly reminder to relax responsibly this weekend.
We’ll see, but I’d be surprised if Nady wasn’t the next guy to give LF a shot, as soon the rosters expand.Gregor isn’t even getting full swimgs anymore.
As he promptly whacks one solidly to RF..
Blanco should bring back the old drag bunt. But a solid base hit works for me.
Yeah he sucks.
I’d really like to get an estimate from W-Joe on the number of fans still left in the 7th right now. It can’t be more than 500.
The new owners must be so stoked.
Wonder how much an Astros-A’s game will draw next year?
There was more Soldiers milling around in the Alamo,then their are fans at Minute Maid Park.
That’s the emptiest park I’ve ever heard on TV.
yeah, it reminds me of a game in Syracuse this year; you could count the crowd; you could hear the players yelling to each other
or have seen.
How soon y’all forget the weeknight games at the Stick.
Nip–that is a fuckin’ direct opinion, something we don’t often see from you, and…..I agree!
As Warner Wolfe says, let’s go to the videotape. Compare Hunter Pence’s all-out abandon rounding third heading to the plate. Safe. Then watch Brandon Belt watching right field and reading a magazine. Out.
I don’t get that. Belt is pretty fast and typically a good runner. Maybe he was thinking of his four hits.
Huh? He was out by 10 feet. Are you suggesting he was thrown out because he turned his head?
I am suggesting two things: 1) even if you look to be presumably out by 10 feet, you keep going; the throw still has to great and the catcher has to hold on 2) that’s not how to run the bases, looking into right field.
Perhaps there is some measure of how much his self absorbed distraction slowed his progress. If only there were multiple cameras on every player, for every play – imagine the collective outrage!
what’s been the nature of Nady’s injuries? Except for long ago with Pirates/Yanks when he had couple good years, he’s never been much of a power guy. He has played 1b too as I recall. Ho hum.
I think Nady has a bad wrist. Can’t be good when you get replaced by Mark DeRosa.
They signed him to a minor league contract and after a slow start he’s hitting well. He’ll be up…
Speaking of new owners BF.Im sure you guys/gals heard of the sale of the Padres for just a mere 800M.
And that Phil Mickleson has a piece of tbe action.Now i know his golf game has been in the dumpster lately,but taking on a pct of the lowly Padres WTF is he thinking?
A sweep of any MLB team is tough, good win and on to Chicago.
A most satisfying way to bid adios to the Houston Astros as an NL rival. The Astrodome was always a tough place to play, but I’d bet the Giants have won at Enron/Minute Maid more often than not, so this series will be missed. I do feel a little sorry for ‘Stros fans: their team stinks, and after 50 years in the NL, they have to watch the AL and the abomination that is the DH.
Missed the Belt base running fuck up. That’s been standard for him lately. But fuck it, I’ll take this and gladly ask for more. We went through months with this cat walking or striking out and a season’s worth of almost no bombs at all (ie, he hasn’t kicked it into HR trot gear too often). I can forgive him for some in-hit base running fuck ups. He hasn’t had to run and think too much this year. It’s like watching a doe learn to walk for the first time; or a baby elephant or whatever the fuck his nickname is………..
There was no fuck up, unless you want to fault Flannery.
He slowed down and looked into rightfield and sped up again. Whatever chance he had of making it a close play disappeared.
James is correct.
Scully sounds like he’s conceding the division…
He realized he’s broadcasting for the L.A. Garkos.
Is he going to re-retire?
It wasn’t easy, but you gotta love the sweep. My high school started back up this week, so I’ve been working late and didn’t catch much of the games. Today, a kid earned the first referral of the year. The box for “Inappropriate Language” was checked off and the referral simply listed the exact words the student used in class, which were………”her grandma caught us fucking.” I thought was an awesome first referral and it will go into my “keeper” collection of referrals.
James, when you coming to SD? pkrahling@hotmail.com
The D-Backs just turned a really cool double-play against L.A.
Nice slide-show at SF Gate today about the history of Seals Stadium.
http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/08/30/seals-stadium-san-franciscos-first-great-ballpark/#7109-1
I’ve been reading “1861,” by Adam Goodheart. As we all know, Abner Doubleday didn’t invent baseball; that was a myth. But Doubleday did fire the first shot for the Union in the Civil War. It was a cannon shot fired after the Confederacy fired their cannons at Fort Sumter.
Speaking of Belt and baserunning, he’s probably lost 4 or 5 RBIs just this month because they’re holding Buster back on the basepaths. And something they should seriously consider is putting Buster in the 3 and using Belt between Panda in the 4 and Pence in the six.
I remember Belt’s last 4 hit game. He got thrown out at 2nd and 3rd that game. Going for the cycle.
Yes, those were his mistakes- tonight’s was Flannery’s. I remember the one in particular where he thought he had a HR and didn’t bust it straight out of the box, becoming the 223rd Giant to do that..
Besides, since Kuiper called it a HR isn’t it official? 😉
Belt is rounding into shape as a solid 1bman, with JT-like defensive skills. I think his power will come next year and the year after, like most players as they get a bit older, more experienced. He has the pop to hit 20-25, for sure. Will he do that as a Giant is the question. He just needed to play on a regular basis, get more and more ABs that he didn’t get at AA and AAA levels, which is what he’s getting now. He now has 1175 total ABs in the pros, about 60/40 minors to MLB at bats. Don’t most MLB execs and scouts say a player generally needs a minimum of 1000 pro ABs to get their sea legs?…
The ‘Stros Sweep was most delicious, but what was really tasty about it was two of the wins were comebacks, one late, and one from 4 down. Even though against a dogmeat, downtrodden squad, that is good practice for the playoff pysche, should that happen. Arias should play LF for a few games, see what happens. His bat will cool, but right now, ride with it. Pence looks like he’s heating up a bit, dat’s good. The only neg I see from this game is Vogy, thats three games in a row he’s looked shaky. Tired arm? He can’t seem to put guys away, though he did right the ship pretty much the last coupla innings…
If Nady comes up, will they bring him up on a flyer before Sept 1 to qualify him for the POs? They’d have to make room on the 40 man to do that, I believe…
Yes, they’d have to move someone off the 40 man or thry could move someone to the 60-day DL. Plenty of options for both.
4 1/2.
Wow- that got dicey in the 9th, but the D-Backs hold on for the W.
Giants up 5 in the loss column. Very very cool.
4.5 . . .
Is that more than 4 1/2? 😉
As I said before, Giants aren’t only team struggling to score runs at home, as Dbax (who’d lost 6 in a row)
shut out Dodgers 2-0 behind Kennedy. Putz (!) with the save, Kershaw tough luck L, and what follows behind him in the rotation isn’t near as good.
Time to romp the cubs (who lost for 80th time today) and put a little distance btw us and second place. If the cubs went 30-2 the rest of the season, they would still finish under .500.
All I care about is 0-3 these next few days.
Apparently Mitt (Mitt?) Romney is our Republican candidate for President of this good ol’ U S of A
Just thought I’d let ya’ll know
My penis just got smaller
I hate it when that happens.
And why does Paul Ryan have a little widow’s peak thang going