Cain and Bum Are the Key
With Cain going tonight and Bum going Saturday, both need to pitch deeeeeeep into these games with the *bullpen game* looming on Sunday. Personally, I wouldn’t mind at all if they brought Kickham back for the start (not sure what schedule he’s on) or even Loux. Turning to Chad Gaudin and saying “that’s my guy” is not a very comforting feeling. Plus, he’s done well in the role he’s had and I don’t really trust Ramon Ramirez or even Kontos to take over for one of these starters should they spit the bit by the 5th inning.
But worrying about Sunday’s game will take care of itself then. Miller and Wainwright have both been lights out this year. Our greatest chore seems to be figuring out how to hit them rather than who’s going to pitch for us after a starter goes down……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
In Cain and Bum I trust. I am hopeful the Giants will continue to get back on track. Yesterday’s game was a turning point . . . I hope.
New post on my blog. 🙂
Cain has shown improvement. He has still shown the propensity to have that horrendous first inning (his last outing I think he threw almost 40 pitches), but he did go 5 and got the win. I agree that both he and Bum need to go deep (at least 7). Hell, we need ALL of our starters to begin pitching into at least the 6th.
I am not crazy about Gaudin starting a game. Sure, he has done it in the past, but I would much rather have seen Kickham stay up for another turn, and keep Gaudin in his current role. From what I can tell (Fresno’s site) Kickham has not started a game since he was up earlier this week.
I am not panicking at all. Zona and the Rox lost yesterday…we’re 1.5 back and there is a ton of ball to play. I truly feel the team is MUCH better than what they have shown over the past couple of weeks. I am with the Clown who mentioned yesterday that he just wants to see them play good quality ball (see the ball, hit the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball, and pitch…and do it well).
The Giants seem to get up for the good teams, so maybe today is the day they start playing like the World Champion San Francisco Giants that we all know and love.
I think the pitching will get sorted out. My biggest concerns now (and to me, these MUST change if the team hopes to make/go deep in the playoffs) are the road record of 9-14 (I think you need to play near .500 ball on the road to be legit) and the starters’ ERA on the road (5.11) and WHIP of 1.51.
Overall ERA and WHIP, we trail Zona, the Rox, and even the Bums.
Real tough series.Cards pitching has been lights out,strike 1 on every batter.20-9 on the road speaks volumes to me.Now at home,Giants have to play solid ball in this series.
It’s my understanding that they can’t bring Kickham back unless there’s an injury.Of course, they shouldn’t have sent him down in the first place…I’ve heard the theory that they worried abut how he’d pitch against St. Louis, which is pretty funny considering the record of Gaudin as a starter.Adding to the puzzle is that the best guy to bail Gaudin out is Gaudin..
Even if Gaudin pitches well they’re making a temporary patch which hurts the bullpen while doing nothing toward developing a 5th starter. (there is absolutely no way to presume that Vogie will just take over the spot, or that he should)..
I know why Ramirez was brought up. But there’s no “extra bullpen support” if Gaudin is no longer in the bullpen.
As I understood it, Kick was sent down to bring up Ramirez for extra bullpen support
And Ramirez was required for extra BP support, because Gaudin was slated to start. If Kickham had stayed-up, and Gaudin remained in his BP role, I don’t think Ramirez would have been needed. I just didn’t like the move to have Kickham up for one fricking game, and then to option the kid back to Fresno. Would love to know the conversations between Boch and Sabes on that one…
well, Gaudin had to be used for 3 innings Tues because Kickham went just 2 1/3. So they did need Ramirez.
An extra reliever is not needed because one guy didn’t go deep. There were other relievers available and teams regularly call on a starter to “take one for the team” if it’s felt the bullpen needs a break.
BTW. if 54 appearances and 90 innings is too much for Gaudin they should have chosen a long guy who can handle it. The guy has pitched more innings than he’s used to in recent years, but they’re not excessive for his purported role.
Hey, take it up with Sabean and Bochy. I’m just reporting their reasoning, twin. Obviously they felt they needed another arm in the pen. I’m assuming that decision was reached after much discussion and weighing of the options.
Salty, I was responding to* your* assertion that they needed him. I’m hardly the only one who disagrees with the decision to send Kickham down. I know they talked about it- are you really saying that there’s no room to disagree?
BTW, I wanted Ramirez up and posted it before he came up. But not to replace a starter.
No twin, believe everyone is entitled to disagree. That’s the fun part!
Look, they are in a bind. No real good decision IMO. I was all in on Kickham too, but will defer to their judgment on this.
I understand their thinking, I always do. And I usually agree with their thinking. I don’t, in this case. As far needing another arm in the pen, they brought up a guy to provide another arm for 5 days. As of Sunday they don’t have another arm in the pen. They may think that’s wise allocation of available resources but it ain’t, IMO.
Congrats to Max Homa of Cal for winning the individual title at the NCAA golf championships being held in Georgia. That is a huge achievement. He won the 54 hole tourney by 3 shots at 9 under. He also won the Pac 12 individual title earlier this month in LA. Cal also won yesterday the NCAA title for stroke play by six shots, so now they head into the 8-team match play finals this weekend as the #1 team seed to win the overall NCAA team championship. http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/blogs/college-golf/2013/05/cals-homa-claims-ncaa-individu.html This individual title is meaningful — past winners include Hale Irwin, Ben Crenshaw, Jay Haas, Scott Simpson, Justin Leonard, Luke Donald, John Mahaffey, and some dudes named Jack and Phil and Tiger. The Cal squad set a modern era record of winning 11 college tournaments this season, so rightfully can be called the best college golf team ever, a slam dunk moniker if they win this weekend. Go Bears!…
Moving on, Pagan might have to go on the DL. Who do you bring up?
Kieschnick, Peguero, Perez?
If they DL Pagan, they could bring back Kickham to pitch in St. Louis because the 10 day rule before bringing him back up would be waived due to Pagan’s injury…
And maybe they already planned this out a few days ago when they sent Kickham Stye down.
you mean, “style”?
“I understand their thinking, I always do.”
Just wondering Twin – do you see any arrogance in that statement? if not, then why are you asking us this question . . . “Moving on, Pagan might have to go on the DL. Who do you bring up?
Kieschnick, Peguero, Perez?”
Not trying to start anything here, I am just wondering why you didn’t answer your own question first, with your reasoning? Instead, you’re asking us????? Interesting . . .
I don’t think it’s arrogance, I do understand their thinking, I imagine most of us do…it’s not hard to figger out after this many years. As to who to bring up, I’m asking what everyone ELSE thinks. I’ve already posted several times that I would like to see Perez.. BTW, you’re hardly a shrinking violet in stating your thoughts, either…
Anyway- who *is* your choice, if I may ask?.
I’m not certain – but Kieschnick is someone I would like to see up here. He has had a good season in Fresno and just this Wednesday, he homered twice and tied a career high with six RBIs.
I’ve always been a big fan of Kieschnick, I just think I’d like to see him when he’d play regularly. The reason I’ve talked about about Perez is that I think he’s a prospect for the role he’d be utilized in here.
Snarkk, it’s even more impressive when you realize that the Cal golf team gets no money from the school. They don’t even have a home course.
Yeah they’re using Chuck’s front lawn for practice.
Exactly. My understanding is they don’t even go to Tilden Park much anymore, which makes sense because the range area sucks. Apparently, they go to Metropolitan in Oakland a bit, but that sucks too. They’re pretty much vagabonding on various courses in the Bay Area that are nice enough to let them in to practice and have a private part of their range for coaching and practice sessions. The coach Steve Desimone is a wizard, to have such great players and success with no home course and practice facilities (like the Furd). UCLA’s home course is Bel Air, for kreissakes. And no support whatever from Sandy Barbour. All a testament to these kids’ skill and drive. They go to class, too, at a world class university, in between all that schedule and off-school practice hassle…
Wow. Josh Beckett might be forced to retire due to lingering numbness in his fingers.
Matt Kemp on the DL as well.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-kemp-20130531,0,6007559.story
Kemp has been no help on one of my FL teams, so no big loss, especially since I’ve managed to hold 1st place even without his help. Nevertheless, the “sell low” deal I had in mind for him is probably out the window, since he isn’t even worth a low end trade right now.
The bums sweetheart revenue-sharing deal with mlb, made as part of the McCourt BK settlement originally, also is in jeopardy. Instead of getting a big ($45 million) break, looks like the bums will have to pay full freight percentage on their huge new cable deal. $45 million per year is a pitcher or two for the bums, right? It’s nearly two payrolls for Houston, more than one for Miami, and nearly one for Tampa Bay. Tough times for the NYYs West.
Sniff……
I am laughing out loud
Beckett should be tested for thoracic outlet syndrome, which is what Lowry had and what was unfortunately misdiagnosed for him originally. I had/have it. Numbness in the arms and fingers is one symptom. They need to rule that out, the nerve specialist will likely give him an EMG test on his shoulder, arm and neck nerves (not fun, they poke you with electrified needles) to confirm or eliminate that from the diagnosis possibilities. If it is that, at best, an aggressive stretching regimen could remedy it and keep it at bay. If that doesn’t work, surgery is the alternative. It’s a pinching of the nerve bundle between the first rib and the collarbone…
Right. If Gaudin messes up as a starter, the ripples in the Cove for him and the team are radioactive. Mota, anyone?
Vomit anyone?
We could always go the shiny new Penny route.
I think Brad likes his new work…
Question – does anyone know if the Giants or any MLB club for that matter, gets flu shots? Seems like a pro active thing to do.
No clue. But, this is outside of the typical flu winter season. The shots work only for the flu strains projected to be going around the world for the season. This could be a rogue flu strain, and even if they had the shot everybody else takes, it might do no good. I assume that this is the respiratory flu, and not some garden variety stomach “flu”, on which the flu shots have no effect…
After reading a coupla articles on the flu going around the SF clubhouse, it’s unclear what this “flu” is. The writers don’t describe the symptoms for whatever reason. But, it comes on fast, and apparently leaves fairly fast, with lingering weakness. Sounds like a stomach flu virus to me, not influenza — kind of like those Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. My kids, when small, got that crud all the time at school. They’d come home, feel bad suddenly, and then puke their guts out for a few hours. Sleep overnight, and be better in the morning, or it would take another day, then be done. Very contagious. You gotta stay away from the sickies and wash your hands constantly. Hard to stay away from sickies when they’re all in a clubhouse…
blade, I get a flu shot every year. In fact, my firm gives free flu shots to everyone in the office who wants one. I’ve never had the flu after getting a shot, except this year. Some terrible weird-ass flu with stomach problems and muscle aches etc. tore through the office in May. I took a sick day off for the first time in 8 years.
Oh, and I’m in the Bay Area.
I NEVER get a flu shot.
Yeah, I get the shot every year. The two times I have missed (once in 2000 and again 6-7 years later) I was almost deathly sick. I don’t miss it anymore. Even when I got the flu in Istanbul this year, it wasn’t as full-blown as I’ve had it in years past. Perhaps a different strain, but I would like to believe that it might have been because I did get the shot and the flu I did catch wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Who knows (as snarkk pointed out).
There’s no more beautiful ballpark and setting than AT&T Park, but some of the camera shots in the Cubs/D-Backs game of Wrigley Park and the surroundings are quite nice. I haven’t been to Wrigley Park yet, but hope to go there someday.
Reading the Connie Mack book kind of makes a person wish they could use a time machine to go to Shibe Park for a game. Or Forbes Field. Or the Polo Grounds. Well, you get the idea.
Speaking of nostalgia, here’s a pretty cool lyric from R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe in the song “I Remember California.” I find the song interesting, because Stipe is from Georgia, and the song captures a certain feeling of nostalgia that a non-Californian would have for California, and Californians also can connect to the song in some ways.
I remember redwood trees, bumper cars and wolverines
The ocean’s Trident submarines
Lemons, limes and tangerines
I remember this
I remember traffic jams
Motor boys and girls with tans
Nearly was and almost rans
I remember this
History is made
History is made to seem unfair
I recall that you were there
Golden smile and shining hair
I recall it wasn’t fair
Recollect it wasn’t fair
Remembering it wasn’t fair outside
Low ebb, high tide
The lowest ebb and highest tide
A symbol wave I must confide
I guess we took us for a ride
I guess it’s just a gesture
I remember this defense
Progress fails pacific sense
All those sweet conspiracies
I remember all these things
I remember traffic jams
Motor boys and girls with tans
Nearly was and almost rans
I remember this, this
Low ebb, high tide
The lowest ebb and highest tide
I guess we took us for a ride
I guess it’s just a gesture
At the end of the continent
At the edge of the continent
At the end of the continent
At the edge of the continent
I got an email today, from wordpress, I think, congratulating me on subscribing to the Flap.
Huh?…
How snarky!
Don’t know about it. Just delete it
Bad news in Dodgerland. New ownership may have to fork over an extra $1 billion in Cable TV revenue sharing to MLB that they weren’t counting on forking over.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/05/29/dodgers-reportedly-reworking-tv-deal-with-time-warner-cable/
You’re showing glee again.
I like dangling prepositions when it involves the Doghairs…
A preposition to end a sentence is fine. The injunction against it, as well as against the split infinitive, derives from imposing Latin rules on English. That is a stooopid concept. Churchill, regarding the preposition, supposedly mocked, “That is more than up with which I can put.” Something like that.
It’s participles you don’t want to dangle, Snarkk, unless you’re a porn star. Excuse me, “starring in an adult film.” Well, even then . . .
Cal Bears men’s golf team just beat Arizona State 3-2 in today’s match play playoff in Georgia (five players on a team in match play, 5 head to head individual matches). Bears advance to the NCAA team semifinals tomorrow against Illinois…
1. Gregor Blanco (L) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Hunter Pence (R) RF
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
6. Andres Torres (S) LF
7. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
8. Joaquin Arias (R) 3B
9. Matt Cain (R) P
Damn, where’s Sandoval?
Last I saw there was no word on why he was out. He’s been sick and playing through it. But I haven’t seen what’s up.
Couldn’t find anything either.
Pablo with a sprained foot…out for the series.
And possibly a week.
But supposedly Pagan will be back by Sunday. He’s capable of getting as hot as anyone.
How/when did he injure his foot?…
Interesting opinion article about the “God Bless America” singing at ball games.
I don’t like it, it never used to be at ball games, as far as I remember the old days. All of a sudden, after 9/11, it showed up and morphed now into some requirement. We have the National Anthem, why more, and why with a religious connotation? Just like the government officials now talk about the “homeland”, which word was never in the modern lexicon in this country until the Bush administration post 9/11 used it. Somebody came up with that word, and I’ll bet it wasn’t accidental. Reminds me of the “Vaterland”…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-i-sit-out-god-bless-america/2013/05/31/32a16634-c952-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html
I agree. I’ve noted here before: specifically in baseball, the Yankees learned to milk it to their home-team advantage. Officer Rodriguez would sing it, and believe you me, if the Red Sox or Diamondbacks scored in the top half, the Yankees took forever wrapping themselves in the song. If they could’ve sung all the verses, they would.
I don’t even like the Star-Spangled Banner a horrible song.
And Tony Bennett’s I left My heart…..is too damn sappy and not in the spirit of SF.
Almost unsingable tune, and no one ever gets the words right. Who can blame ’em? I hardly know what a rampart is. My car today said it was 98 degrees, then it stabilized to 95. In wintry Syracuse.
That may be but I’m a sucker for the Bennett song. My book documents the Sob Effect on a sentimental ol’ sap like me.
“America the Beautiful” should be the Anthem. Short, EZ to sing, thoughts of country, beauty, resources, brotherhood. Not bombs and rockets and red glare to an English pub tune — for a war that nobody remembers why it happened, and essentially nothing materially changed because of it…
If any team needs a rain delay rest, I am assuming it is us. And it looks like it is today.
Well, it’s canceled. Split DH tomorrow. 10:15 A.M..PST first game.
Strangest thing, the Rangers and Dbacks had a SCHEDULED doubleheader the other day, maybe Monday. Granted, it was split, but when was the last time anyone had a scheduled DH? I liked DHs as a kid, especially the between-games banter of announcers. I guess I liked ’em because some other players got mixed in. I think the Mets’ Ralph Kiner, or maybe Bob Murphy, described a DH split of win one, lose one as something like “kissing your sister.” Today, that remark would get them in trouble. Q. When was the last scheduled consecutive doubleheader?
Damn, we’re still on the Kickham, Gaudin thing? OK, my take (in more detail). Kickham came up, they liked his stuff but instead of letting him sit on the bench, waiting for his next start they (the Giants) felt they needed an extra arm in the Pen now (as in, that night and/or the next few games). Why? Maybe someone has a dead arm, a twinge, the flu or maybe it just made Bochy feel more comfortable. I don’t know, but Boch, Rags and Sabes agreed. Did they have the same stats that have been mentioned here? I’d have to think yes, but they decided to go with Ramirez because they felt it was needed. If they feel the need to use Gaudin in a long relief role before Sunday, will they? Yes, Would he start Sunday? No. If that happened you’ll see another roster change (Ramirez goes down or Pagan goes DL, whatever). This is all about an emergency fill-in while Vogey is on the DL. Damn guys, this shit happens all the time. Sorry, but to me this is a no brainer. Kickham will be back this season, so I’m still confused about the hoopla.
You agree with rhe decision, others don’t. And there is logic behind both points of view. There are other ways it’s been handled,I doubt that you agree with everything just because “Boch, Rags and Sabes agreed”. And we don’t know if they all agreed anyway,They wouldn’t be telling us if there was disagreement.
Man, Oklahoma getting slammed again. I’m hoping that this is the media blowing this thing up for ratings but it sure does look dire for all those people stuck on the interstate.
A doubledip tomorrow could really eat up the Pen if the starters suck again. If Gaudin is off duty, that could be a problem. Kickham better be flown to STL and sit in the hotel just in case he’s needed for Sunday…
…and get a flu shot beforehand.
Nice…
Or a bowl of Menudo.
So who would they DL? Good chance they’d have to go with Loux if Gaudin had to pitch tomorrow.
Tornado warnings in St. Louis. Good thing they cancelled and got everybody out. Can you imagine a twister touching down and running through a ballpark? Sheezus…
Hey, Snarkk, I’m not much of a link clicker but I clicked on the essay by the Methodist minister posted at the Washington Post and suggested by you above. Best thing I’ve read in a while. Tweeted it up and crowed about it on FB. Thanks!
De nada. I post at the Post now more than on SFGate. The SF Chron/Gate has turned into a mess, a slight cut above the Enquirer for content, and probably not edited as well…
I happen to be wearing a LOSER Washington Post Style Invitational T-shirt I won. Started entering those contests in 1995 or so. Pulitzer Prize winner Gene Weingarten used to run it. Have been to two Loserpaloozas of the humor contest’s fans and participants.
Well, for 10 bucks a month we can watch Grizzly and San Jose games, I don’t know about Richmond games. I’m torn between one of those two or the Bum/Sherpa game.Or maybe all three?
I read Pawlie’s “Tipp Hill Litanies,” and highly recommend it. It’s beautifully written, and it taps into something we all feel about places that have special emotion for us. And it’s just real interesting to read about a place that I had never heard of, but by the end of the book felt that I knew it. Nicely done, Pawlie!
Zumie, I just saw this. I can’t thank you enough. I had not envisioned the book could have such resonance beyond the environs of Syracuse, or for those of some other connection. You made my day, if not week or month.
In need of some baseball tonight: Helton just hit a bomb to tie it in the 9th vs. the Bums.
I lived in various parts of tornado country when I was a kid. In N. Fla. one evening we surfed until dark on the Gulf Coast because the oncoming storm generated the best waves we’d ever seen. When we got out of the water lightning was striking the horizon. That night a tornado ripped through town. It completely destroyed a restaurant that had closed at 10 pm, but left intact the attached tavern, where people partied on, laughing at the noise outside. I guess the warning systems have become a bit more sophisticated since then.
Dayan Viciedo of the Sox got 3 ABs last night and saw a total of 6 pitches vs. Colon. Hit the last one pretty hard but Reddick ran it down in deep RF. Like Cespedes (0-4 with a K, now batting .223) he’s from Cuba, another island I guess you don’t walk off of. Sox pitcher ran out of gas in 8th, Colon didn’t.
Sox uni is back to being pretty cool—solid black with white stripe, number on right side of chest opposite logo. Cap looks the same, black with s-o-x in white on top. About the only interesting thing Fosse/Kuiper said all night concerned some of their past unis, including of course Bermuda shorts.