AT&T Turns the Lights Back On And New Food Awaits
Giants back in town tonight playing the A’s at AT&T. Timmy pitching to Buster. I’ll go ahead and pencil him in for 4 innings, 5ER, 6k’s, 4 bb’s….
The Giants will unveil several new theme’s at AT&T this year and I, for one, will be sampling all the edibles. There’s now going to be a Willie McCovey Grill that will feature pulled pork nachos. I’ll take two, please.
Two of San Francisco’s historic restaurants will also make their debut at AT&T in 2013: Lefty O’Doul’s Bar featuring their famous bloody mary’s and Original Joe’s burger which will be served at the Derby Grill.
Countless bobble head’s and other trinkets will be given away. My understanding is that there will be a Scutaro snow globe give away but that instead of snow it will be water that rains down upon Scutaro in his now-famous pose.
And in an effort to further distract the casual fan, the Giants have added several more mobile device and tablet charging stations. Yawn.
And of course there is Orange Sombrero Night which promises to be the Night of the Year not just at AT&T but probably for the entire city of San Francisco, too. Countless Flappers will descend upon the stadium wearing orange sombrero’s and dominating all areas they bestow their presence upon……
(ps, there are still over 5K tickets left for that game. We decided to have it be an “every flapper for himself” event and encourage anyone who wants to join us to buy tickets in the Club level. Besides being an awesome view, it’s a fluid area that will make it easy to meet and mingle. And if it turns out you can’t stand us you can always head back to your seat. š š š
Right now, it looks like 2 tickets in the club are going from $130 to $160 total.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
It’s clear and fairly warm here in Albuquerque. Wow, it’s flat here. Until you see the mountains…
We rolled in about 5 pm yesterday to our downtown hotel (pretty damn good), and after a coupla nasty good margaritas at the hotel bar, headed out. (Had a good convo with the bartender, he got married in Monterrey last year, his wife has been since agitating to move to California, he upgraded me to some good anejo from the well tequila). Walked around the old town just a bit, then headed for dinner to “Monica’s”, a bit of a dive New Mex restaurant not far away recommended on one of the restaurant lists and confirmed as really good by the 22 year old kid manning the hotel front desk (“oh yeah, Monica’s been there forever — really good”). The kid, BTW, said he was bummed but wasn’t surprised “his” UNMex Lobos lost in the first round of the NCAA, they were overseeded because the conference isn’t that good. Anyway, Monica’s turned out great — a nice dive with a good vibe, good waitress, and the couple next to us turned out to be great tourguides, all through dinner they gave us tips about where to go and where to eat here and up in Santa Fe — the people here have been great so far. Food was really good — chile relleno and a sweet chicken enchilada with some good, nicely hot green sauce, while Mrs. Snarkk had some red chile marinated beef that was tasty. On the way back into the hotel, met some guys obviously from a band checking in (had instruments). Turns out they are a blues band playing nearby tonight, the singer is an old African-American gent that used to be one of the “Imperials”, he’s the singer and a guitarist (he says that’s for show, his fingers don’t work well anymore!). They were cool Kats, so we’re going to go see ’em tonight. Trip going well so far…
BTW, from yesterday’s thread, the Giants are worth north of $760 million or whatever that number was…
Okay…when I dropped in earlier this morn, this thread wasn’t up, so here is a comment from the last thread (valuation of the Giants).
The previous thread was interesting, Flavor. Like Snarkk, I think the value of the Giants is probably higher than the reported 786 mil. You have the debt rolling-off for the ballpark in 2017 (not that far away), and you also have the Giant’s Mission Rock 1.6 “BILLION” (queue Doctor Evil video) development plan. Here is one of the many recent articles on that topic:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/development/2013/02/anchor-brewery-drops-giants-mission-rock-development
With buildings at Mission Rock ready for tenants around 2016 and the ballpark paid off in 2017, the Giants should have revenue streams out the wazoo. Hence, I think the team is probably worth today, more than that purported 786.
RE: the “ownership groups.” I don’t have strong feelings one way or another (groups vs. family-owned teams), as long as there is money to make the club competitive (and hopefully successful), I’m all good with it.
While we know that Charles Johnson is the big fish now, I’m not sure that Billy Bow Tie was ever the holder of the most shares in the team. He was the front-man (managing general partner), but I think the Burns family may have been the largest share-holders at that time. And again…it doesn’t matter as long as the revenue streams are there for the team to do what it needs to be competitive.
But what I am more interested in right now than all this financial bull is some baseball. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s Bay Bridge game, and the on Monday….it is opening day. And how fricking cool that we open against the Bums! A week from tomorrow…the home opener.
Any thoughts on who runs the pennant up the flag pole? I’m guessing it is Cain.
Sandoval would be good. He might lose 5 pounds on the run out and back. If he rode a beach cruiser out there that would be an awesome visual.
The Burns family did own the most. Bow Tie had a lot, but not the most. My understanding was they booted him from the partnership for whatever transgressions supposedly he committed. Under those conditions, normally you must get bought out of all your partner interests. At that point, the “partnership” must be valued, in order for the partner interest to be valued. So, the Giants know very well what the organization is worth…
After what Flav and xoot told me yesterday, I snooped around a bit. It does appear that Charles Johnson owns the highest percentage at an estimated 25%. It seems he bought some investors during the 94 strike and also bought some of Bow Tie’s when he was forced to sell. The Burns percentage was broken up between the daughters and Johnson bought some of those shares when the Burns ladies needed some cash for tax payments. Johnson only goes to a couple of games a year and hasn’t wanted anything to do with the baseball side of things.
All true, John. I posted yesterday (one of the recent threads) a piece (it was a Chronicle piece from last year) about Johnson. I thought it an interesting read. And I believe it stated that his first investment in the Giants was as a minority investor when Magowan was putting the initial investment team together to keep the Giants from moving to “NO WAY Tampa Bay.”
Magowan likewise had to sell most of his shares when Neukom took over as Managing General Partner. They must’ve reconfigured the way the partnership works when they neutered Neuk and installed Baer as the middleman. I remember posting something on sfgate about my mistrust of Baer when Neuk got the boot. Some commenter responded with a lot of energy, zealously defending Baer and recounting his entire history with the franchise (he helped keep the team in SF, single-handedly led the charge to build the park at China Basin, pushed for hiring Sabean, etc., etc.). I figured it was either a front office hack or a family member. never saw that commenter again. On the other hand, the Giants have continued to prosper in the post-Neuk world, so it’s beocme tough to trash Baer gratuitously. He does remind me of Larry Fine, however.
Here is the list of the Partners for the team (I think the Stadium partnership is a much smaller group), no percentages are included.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=sf
xoot – I’m sure Larry was the main point guy on the stadium. I went to a couple of the neighborhood meetings and he was the lead in the discussions for the Giants. But it seemed to me the guy doing most of the behind the scenes stuff for the initiative (not related to the politics) was Jack Bair who is now a SVP and the Giants General Counsel.
I’m quite certain the owners group would not have given Larry Baer the spotlight he clearly loves, along with the responsibility, unless he’d proven himself to them.
Cain to Posey to Scutaro? Panda should be in there . . .
I still think the flag should be raised by Tony Bennett.
I’d agree Cain is the pole sitter but along with Posey he may take a pass. But I suspect Romo would love the gig.
Could use more than one guy, try for the Iwo Jima look.
Well, when they ran the 2010 pennant up, it was passed along and all the players, trainers, coaches, staff, etc. passed it along…with Wilson jogging it across the outfield and ultimately, up the pole. I am sure the entire team is in on it again…but just thought Cain (longest tenured Giant…perfect game, etc.) would be the one to actually run it up the pole. I think this is as much Buster’s team as anyone’s, but he is so low key, I’m not sure I could see him having a prominent role…but could be wrong (he sure as hell is getting a lot of publicity – advertisements, magazine covers, etc.).
Those who plan to attend the Flapalooza (Orange Sombrero Night)…any “ballpark” ideas (pun intended) on where in the Club level you plan to sit? I think it would be cool if we all at least agree on either one of the baselines. There seem to be more (and better priced) tickets along the 3rd base line. Hell, there are 44 available in Section 232 beginning at $42. Anyway.. I will buy tix in the club along the 3rb baseline somewhere. As the date gets closer, we should designate a place to meet and greet.
Sure, I think shooting for 3rd baseline as Plan A is the way to go.
If I’m able to make it out West, I’ll be in section 212.
“a Scutaro snow globe give away” – I always thought they should have had a JT Snow globe day and instead of snow, a baseball that always landed in his mitt.
I did not see a Scutaro snow globe on the list of promotion give-aways. There is a Scutaro t-shirt day. The snow globe is a world champion parade snow globe (I want one of those bad boys).
or one going over the fence with Benitez gazing back at it.
I’m thinking about my predictions and maybe I’ll just go 20-80 for all the position players and hope to hit one.
My real pitcher picks:
Cain 16-8 2.95 1.15
MadBum 16-11 3.20 1.05
Timmy 13-10 3.60 1.30
Vogelsong 12-11 3.45 1.25
Zito 11-10 4.20 1.35
Romo 3-3 24-30 Saves 1.10
I’m for making Lasorda do the flag raising.
What’s the over under on Big Flavor’s consumption of pulled pork nachos in one sitting at the Willie McCovey Grill? The world needs to know.
In keeping with the baseball blog spirit I will go with 3 up. 3 down.
Man, that’s a tall order. I might have to train for that through the Summer. If I focus and do all my reps, it’s probably doable.
Over/under: 2.5
Sometimes a man has to draw a line- and if one is going to put Pulled Pork on anything it should be a bun.If fact, Pulled Pork has to go- my reasoning is not arguable, when it’s migrated to Martha Stewart it’s time for a new foodie fad š
Haven’t read him in a while, but picked up a Jack taylor mystery by Ken Bruen from 2010, “The Devil.” Cryptic is too nice a word, but he is really fun to read. The English stories he did were funny and brutal; the Irish ones mostly brutal.
Here’s one that is on page before main story starts, described as an Old Irish Blessing: “May you be in heaven a full half-hour before the Divil knows you’re dead.”
New blog post. Good night all š
I have to admit I have no idea what a pulled pork nacho is.
When exactly IS the Flappers’ Orange Sombrero night? Could I do it? Hop on a plane and embrace my peeps? Anything is possible, my friends.
September 7th. You fly, I buy (your game ticket).
Deal.
I’ll be with some folks at the 4/10 Rockies game. The only drag is I just missed two cool giveaways. 4/8 is magnet schedule day, and I LOVE magnet schedules. And 4/9 is the snow globe day.
I’ll get my 9/7 Flapalooza ticket. 3rd base line. Club level. Gotcha. Cool! Who doesn’t want an orange sombrero?!
I’ll also be at:
5/8- Phillies, 5/22- Nationals, 6/19- Padres, 7/10- Mets, 8/21- Red Sox, 9/11- Rockies
Got my tickets lined up last weekend and I’m planning to be at 6/19 and 9/11 games.
I probably won’t make the “snowglobe” game, but want one of those bad boys. Ebay…
Craig: I did BA, HR, RBI, OPS. Is that enough for the predictions?
Posey .310 23-95 .900
Belt .270 22-85 .820
Scutaro .265 7-50 .720
Crawford .255 8-55 .710
Sandoval .305 30- 100 .890
Blanco .250 4-35 .675
Torres .265 8-40 .770
Pagan .280 10-60 .780
Pence .275 23-80 .800
“Original Joeās” was a favorite when I lived in SF. And the burger was awesome, a real jaw cruncher, though. Funny that “New Joe’s” was older than “Original Joeās”. Then there was “Little Joe’s”, maybe my favorite of them all- but wait a minute, the Lamb Chops at “Marin Joe’s” were to die for..Loved the cooks at Little Joe’s-they ran the joint. A guy I used to drink with ordered the Sweetbreads saute *and* the Chicken Livers. He wanted them sauteed together. The cook goes ” Mix ’em on your effing plate “. Long story short- the cook ends up climbing over the counter, drinking pal ends up on the sidewalk. I enjoyed my lunch…
Always liked the “Hoss Burger”that Little Joe would have to cook Hoss or was that Hop Sing.
Oh wrong restaurant. Sorry had a Bonanza flashback…
At least someone’s still allowed to tell stories that end violently.
Sabean and Bochy extended through 2016, according to Henry S.
Little Joe’s was a great place, especially for lunch. They always had some good looking artsy types working as waitresses, dressing anyway they cared to. And Joe loved to keep the Giants day games going on a little tv by the counter.
You guys have my mouth watering for the veal at Westlake Joe’s..
I just learned about this after reading that Forbes story yesterday:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jackstuef/inside-the-major-league-baseball-tech-startup-that
Gotta hand it to the “Humm Baby” Roger Craig who was just on KNBR…
Tell Krukow, I just had a hole in one on my course in SD, 183 yards 7 iron!!!!
Freakin Roger Craig is 83 years old and pumping a 7 iron for an “ACE”.
Drinks at the 19th hole or on the Flap Nation Roger…
The Flap Nation will turnaround and send the drinking tab to Krukow later on for reimbursement.
Been to Westlake and Woodlake Joe’s (San Bruno and San Mateo) a million times. Used to live right across the street from Woodlake Joe’s. They had some of the oldest waitresses in the history of restuarants. And the de rigeuer (don;t know how the fuck to spellthat) piano bar . . . Walking into Westlake Joe’s is like walking on to the set of Goodfellas. Time warp city . . .
I love that place..
Big start for Timmy tonight, even given that it’s a pre-season game. Timmy wants to prove he’s going to be a dependable starter this season. But he’s a big “?” going into this season. Could be a starter all season, or may end up being a righthanded Affeldt-type in the bullpen before the season is over.
Sabes would have to get another starter at the deadline if that were the case, right zumiee?
I’m sure he will if he has to,
Sit the fuck down, Cespedes!
Am I the only one who thinks that’s huge news that Xoot put up at 5:32 PM?