Happy Memorial Day!
Time for Inter-lame games. I don’t like it and find A’s games to be particularly boring. Plus, I think they might be better than us and that’s also irritating. Anyway, here’s the game time thread that so many of you covet. 🙂
San Diggity Dawg’s sister lives in the same building as The Panda–she snapped this photo of him today. This made up for him seeing him yesterday and failing to get a pic when he had the chance!) lol
No idea who the dude is with him.
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A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
In my inimitable best Homer Simpson text voice, “Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . New thread.” 🙂
John Shea writes today at SFGate Drumbeat briefly about Bartolo Colon, and marveling how well he’s been pitching at age 40. With nary a little mention of why he pitched so well last year. If you read the article with no knowledge of recent A’s baseball history, you’d be incredulous, too, what a guy, what a story! This is the kind of sportwriting that abetted a generation of steroid usage. Is there any journalistic integrity left in baseball sportswriting?…
Baggarly has done well on the steroid issues. He was the only writer with guts enough to report on Melky last year. His response to the vehement initial denial was gutsy, too, as was his rationale earlier this year for listing Barry B. on this HOF ballot. If we’d had a few more like him around 15-20 years ago, mlb would’ve been forced to face PED issues much earlier. Things might’ve developed more rationally. Some players certainly would’ve stayed away from the juice.
You answered my question, I agree with you. Baggarly would never have written such a little puff piece as Shea did. I assume if Baggarly wrote about Colon, he’d feel professionally bound to at least mention last year’s suspension, and the question marks that has to throw into any review of Colon’s good performance so far this year. And, BTW, I don’t read Baggs near as much as I used to when he was at the Merc. The CSNBayArea website is just something that is not on my radar very much, it’s an effort to think about it When I do get on it, the site just doesn’t turn my dials much, for whatever reason…
Best wishes to all on Memorial Day, and all it conveys.
Correct, Magnus. This constant inter-lame schedule is a drag.
Have we picked up Billy Buckner yet?
And, congratulations to Duke on a well deserved national championship in lacrosse. Man, they were overpowering against SU, especially at the faceoff. I never heard him before, but I now like the Duke coach, John Danowski: humble, honest, direct, decent.
Would anybody take these stats for Belt were he a Giant at 1B the next 9 years?
BA .273 OBP .369 SLG .438 OPS .807 HR 124
That’s JT’s career line with the Giants…
In my opinion, Belt can do much better than that. No, I would not be satisfied with those stats. I absolutely loved JT Snow . . . However, we got away with having a non-power hitting 1st baseman for one 5 letter reason,
B-O-N-D-S.
There are too many power hitting first baseman in MLB to accept the above stats that he projects 9 years into the future. Meh. In many ways, this is James Loney and we all know that the Bums got tired of his act.
This is not refuting what you say, just noting that Loney is having a fabulous year so far.
Yes, he is Twin. Actually, I was apprehensive about even mentioning Loney for that reason, as well as him being a perfect fit in LA before the Bums got rid of him. What I mean is that Ethier and Kemp supplied the power in LA, so Loney was quite useful due to his defense and outstanding BA. So, your post is noted as being absolutely accurate . . . In my opinion, Brandon is a potential super star – check out my posts prior to the last couple of weeks and I have always maintained that Brandon is capable of great things. In fact, I had him as a big, big surprise this year on our projections. Consequently, when I see those stats projected 9 years out, I think “big, big failure to live up to potential.”
Well, Belt is well ahead of where he was last year and he’s well ahead of what J.T. was up to in his second full year. I’m just not sure what has has soured you on Belt in the last couple weeks.
Not so much soured on Belt as much as I get tired of the criticism of Bruce Bochy’s handling of Belt. I think in one instance here, I heard that Belt’s body language (whatever the fuck that means) was less than positive. I am not able to see all the games, so others would be in a better position than I to determine that. However, how do you “read” body language? If it sounds like I am upset with Belt, than it’s my mistake for not being clear – Belt, to the best of my knowledge has never complained. If he has, then in my opinion, that is a major mistake (and somewhat understandable one for someone as young as him) on his part. He is in MLB, this is where the big boy pants are worn. Again, to the best of my knowledge, he hasn’t complained. So, in conclusion – my feeling is that if Bochy thinks he should sit, then he sits. I have always maintained that most managers, especially excellent ones like Bruce, are in the best position to evaluate the game and player situations. Arm chair QBs like myself get excited occasionally, but we rarely have all the information to make an informed decision or opinion on a player, as the manager is.
By the by, when I say criticism of Bochy. You are not one of those people I think has ever criticized him severely, if at all.
Well, I did criticize his handling of Belt early last year and I have feared that Brandon is always a minor slump away from benching. But there’s not really to much to complain about this year- he’s started 42 of 51 games and appeared in 7 more. So he’s on pace to start 134 games. With the reality now that Buster is going to continue to get 1B starts, that seems reasonable.
Actually, now I wonder why they bothered bringing Pill up.
The only thing I don’t like about inter-league is the contrived phony “geographical rivalry” games, the games this week. So, because Colorado doesn’t have a “natural” one, the MLB computer spits up Houston as their “geographical rivalry” this season. Is that going to be permanent? Colorado is going to get 4 “gimmee” games every year against Houston, while the Giants get 4 against a pretty good to good A’s team every season? The inequity of it stinks.
The Braves “geographical rivalry” team this season? Toronto. Yes, nothing says “geographical rivalry” like Atlanta and Toronto.
I suppose one might trace that connection back to the Underground Railroad, but I doubt that’s what mlb has iin mind.
Don’t Blue Jay fans have the “Tom-da-Hawk” bird of prey rally chant?
would put them two teams in the same ballpark
Rockies lose to Houston in 12 innings after blowing numerous opportunities . . . Oh yeah, another walk off win for the opposition. Epic. LMAO! 🙂
5 for 32 RISP in the last two games the Sherpas have played.
Kontos had staightened himself out after a bad first week, now he’s in danger of getting to enjoy the cuisine in Fresno. After Romo our top two RHers in the pen are now Machi and Gaudin. Who figgered that? Not me, This is a very fragile staff right now, top to bottom…
HR pace before today’s game:
Pagan 10
Scutaro 3
Panda 26
Buster 23
Pence 23
Belt 19
Torres 3
Blanco 0
Crawford 16
Pagan 10 Over
Scutaro 3 Over
Panda 26 Even
Buster 23 Over
Pence 23 Over
Belt 19 Even
Torres 3 Over
Blanco 0 Over
Crawford 16 Under
In my opinion
Sounds reasonable. I’d put Pagan even and Belt over as he’s said he likes the hot weather – heck. he didn’t hit his 6th last year until September 11.Other than that, I agree.
My guess on final HR total:
Pagan 10
Scutaro 5
Panda 26
Buster 25
Pence 25
Belt 24
Torres 9
Blanco 2
Crawford 13
That is so weird and ironic . . . I was thinking about going back and changing the Over on Pagan to Under or Even; and, yes, going Over on Belt. 🙂
Maybe the guy with Pablo is his diet specialist…
Snarkk, I hadn’t even noticed the photo (Did Flav just add it?). Anywho, from looking at this photo, Pablo looks in fantastic shape (seriously). In a baseball uniform, he doesn’t look as trim.
He does. Cool pic.
I’ve noticed before that Pablo looks fit in street clothes. My kid and I saw him walking outside the park last year and his shoulders and chest seemed huge but the gut that shows up in the uniform wasn’t there. Strange.
My sis took the photo. She and I saw him Saturday morning and she saw him again yesterday and took the pic. I was telling Flav the same thing–he looks to be in pretty good shape in person.
Ditto. Moreover, you two were in the best position to offer an opinion. Maybe this photo will help quiet the critics.
Blade, did Duke take over that lax game or what? I respect their coach Danowski. I like him. Apparently he told his team to take off their champion shirts and hats to shake hands with the losing team, SU. Classy.
I think I blinked after 7-6 Syracuse . . . Then all of a sudden, it was something like 13-7. I had no idea games could switch gears that quickly in Lacrosse.
He looks way better out of uniform and in a tee and jeans….
That sounds slightly gay, or gayish. But I’m fine with it.
Off subject (not unusual for me): I bought “Surrealistic Pillow” by Jefferson Airplane yesterday, for 6 bucks or so, at Barnes & Noble. I am listening to it right now. I am young again. One of the greatest albums ever by one of the truly great bands in their prime. I remember sitting in the third row at the Fillmore — the Fillmore East — circa 1968. Fecking A. Gracie Slick was singing “Somebody to Love” to me, and me alone. She was. Believe me. I. am. young. again. And Marty Balin and Grace Slick were awesome together as fierce and fiery lead singers. Years later, with Starship and all that shit, I had no interest.
“We built this city, we bulit this city…on rock and roll!” You aren’t feelin’ that tune, Pawlie? Ha, well, whatever, they got paid.
How wasted were you at that Fillmore show?
Yeah, that song is good, especially within the context of the SF Giants winning championships. 🙂
well, I liked it for like a minute in high school but it really did show the contrast of the *good* Jeff-Star and the *bad*
Well, yeah, I went back and did some Wiki research, and some of those songs were okay, but nothing to the abandon of the Airplane in its glory. Balin is feckin 71. He actually looked a bit like Charlie Manson. But those shows were electric. Yes, Magnus, we were wrecked and it was all that. Stoned City, hippie chix, paisley Nehru jackets, cutoffs, peasant blouses, no bras, weed, weed, and some more weed. Bill Graham introduced the acts. Joshua Light Show. Once the Airplane started with a film clip from the end of “King Kong” with the words “it was beauty killed the beast.” The stage had a large paper screen featuring silhouette line drawings of the band, like an album cover. You heard music starting. It was confusing. Then they fecking walked through the paper screen, ripping it. It was crazy. Who else there? Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, the Dead (at midnight!!!), Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Incredible String Band (actually at World Fair site across from Shea), Joe Cocker (same venue), Odetta (ditto), Tim Hardin, Tom Paxton (ditto, all these folkies weekend of Woodstock), Janis Joplin (Onondaga County War Memorial), Donovan (War Memorial), Stevie Wonder (ditto), Phil Ochs (Max’s Kansas City, preceded by Patti Smith, couldn’t stand her), Bob Dylan (Landmark Theater, Syr.), John Prine (ditto), Joni Mitchell (Cornell), John Fahey (SU), Leonard Cohen (Kingston, Ont.). The Beatles (August 1966, Shea Stadium). Okay. I got carried away. Went off there a little. Sorry. Showing my age, too.
Same deal with me. When they sold out with the Starship popular pap, Dragonfly and Octopus, I had no interest (although I attended one of their concerts at Winterland, where Papa John Creach and them brought down the house). Good times . . . I was a tweener and sort of missed the 60s concerts, including Jefferson Airplane. I would have loved to attend a Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Cream, Doors concert, but too young. 🙂
feels like an off day. So…I posted a vid of my fabulous daughter doing something spontaneous that she predicted she was going to do before she did it (I think her sheepish response showed that she was surprised a little herself)
Great! I love it.
That’s the best emotional reaction I’ve ever gotten out of you Nip, thanks.
I know. Is the account hacked?! LQTM.
Your proud father’s laugh is as good as her “trick” shot.
she’s a baller, she knocks down shots with ease. She dominated her bball league, she’s a rebounding machine, mostly because she’s just all-in on the direction of the ball.
We used to play H-O-R-S-E but she got bored with beating me. Now when one of us makes a shot you just get it back. I taught her to say *gimmie my change!* but she says it with such furious enthusiasm after she pours in 5 or 6 in a row it’s starting to feel like she’s mocking me…
Is that legal? Maybe she can help Bogut 😉
Some numbers from notable players at Fresno:
Peguero 112 AB .330 BA .364 OPB .820 OPS 3 HR 15 RBI
Kieschnick 168 AB .315 BA .383 OBP .967 OPS 6 HR 31 RBI
Brown 204 AB .216 BA .283 OBP .616 OPS 3 HR 23 RBI 5 for 10 SB
Perez 192 AB .313 BA .348 OBP .874 OPS 8 HR 30 RBI 10 for 11 SB
Tanaka 161 AB .317 BA .380 OBP .772 OPS 0 HR 17 RBI 14 for 18 SB
Dominguez 139 AB .273 BA .315 OBP .819 OPS 7 HR 21 RBI
Gillespie 130 AB .300 BA .395 OBP .847 OPS 5 HR 19 RBI
Hector 30 AB .267 BA .333 OBP .700 OPS 0 HR 2 RBI
Pitchers:
Heston 5-3 5.63 ERA 62.1 IP 80 H 24 BB 54 K 1.67 WHIP
RRamirez 2-1 3.46 ERA 26 IP 18 BB 31 K 1.19 WHIP
Hembree 1-0 3.68 ERA 22 IP 22 H 5 BB 25 K 1.23 WHP
Rosario has been optioned. To make room on the 40-man for Kickham, Surkamp has moved to the 60-day DL.
Ramirez is pitching better and better. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him soon if Kontos doesn’t turn it around.
Stunning how Brown has regressed the last two years. He’s hitting just .216 with over 50 strikeouts. He’s also stolen only 10 bases after stealing 53 two years ago. Sheesh, He hit .336 two years ago. What happened?
Even worse: He’s only got 5 SB- he’s been caught or picked off 5 times.
Ahh. Mis-read that.
Which makes him suck even more.
hit hit .336 in A-ball. Most of the pitchers who hang around there have 1 pitch, a decent fastball–if you’ve got more than that, they move you on. And anyone with talent can hit a decent fastball. He might figure it out, but dominating a-ball always comes with exceptions….
Well, one thing seems certain – no way, no how he joins the club in September playing this poorly.
Whatever happened to Tony Abreu? I thought he might possibly contribute once his injury was healed, but haven’t heard anything about him….
I think he’s still injured.
Or hanging out in a whirlpool collecting a check, who knows?
He’s finally playing,at Fresno. Was 0-3 today. 16 AB so far, 5 H 1 HR 2 RBI
Ah, thanks for the update. I still think he could turn into something useful…
Since I posted at 10:31 [my time] I’ve been at the Marty Balin website. Can’t stop myself. I didn’t realize — or forgot — he was knocked unconscious at the tragic Altamont concert.
Loved the Airplane as a youngster, but really got more into Hot Tuna and Jorma Kaukonen’s (sp?) career. Saw Hot Tuna numerous times, both electric (with Papa John) and acoustic, just Jorma and Jack Cassady playing base… and, perhaps reflective of the young and high times of those early days, I clearly don’t remember how to spell their names….
to sort of quote Robin Williams, “if you remember the sixties, you weren’t really part of it?”
back to baseball: how’s my boy Eugenio Velez? and where’s Darren Ford? I see Kevin Correia is 5-4 with the Twins.
You’re up late. What’s up? LOL . . . just kidding. Me? I’m outta here . . . ‘Nite all. 🙂
should be in bed #addictivepersonality
Velez is at Buffalo of the AAA International League
.269 BA .346 OBP .808 OPS 6 HR 17 RBI 7 for 8 SB. He’s mostly played LF, also 3B, 2B.
Darren Ford is at Indianapolis of the IL, Pittsburgh sytem.
.239 BA .330 OBP .660 OPS 1 HR 7 RBI 13 for 17 SB
AND I DON’T LOOK LIKE TIM FLANNERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
If you say so, Steve….. :-p
lqtm. Nite.
Dang. The Dbacks just tied the Rangers.
Paul, do you have “Quah”? The only Jefferson Airplane related thing I ever bought. Still throw it on every once in a great while.