A Light Goes on in the Middle of a Dark Season
Kensuke Tanaka is fun to watch. His stolen base was impressive, he came into second base like a lightning bolt shot out of a cannon (whatever, that made sense to me when I typed it). And for those of you who watched the game, did you see that playful bow that Panda gave him over and over as he entered the dugout after scoring on Blanco’s hit? So far, he’s been exactly what this staid group has been lacking: Energy combined with a little levity. Not only is he performing but he’s having a positive effect on the entire chemistry of the team…..
The *Matt Cain is tipping his pitches* excuse is coming up again. The only way you buy into this half-baked theory is if you truly believe Bochy and Raggs are clueless. You would have to believe that all the other teams have picked up on this and yet Bochy and Raggs, who watch him pitch every start, don’t see it. The truth is, there could be lots of things that are contributing to this. He’s throwing less fastballs than he ever has in his career–just noting it, not saying that might be contributing to his poor season.
“Gurney Gaudin* (San Dawg’s nickname) pitches today. He could also be called *Grabbin’ Gaudin*. I agree with Diggity, I’m not buying the Renal failure excuse. Way too convenient of a diversion from what it appears to have been: him drunk off his ass in Vegas….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
New thread and I see your comment about Cain. I agree that the “tip off” theory is ridiculous. I read an interesting FL article about Cain (albeit, it had a couple of other players mentioned as well) and it will probably get lost on the “Anna Thread.” Anywho, this is my earlier post –
“Interesting column about Matt Cain by Scott Pianowski, an FL writer for Yahoo . . .
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fantasy-roto-arcade/closing-time-deep-league-streaming-cody-ransom-marlon-150743946.html”
Off to the gym . . . 🙂
Waking to just one win is nothing to get insane about; but for the next 12 hours I’ll imagine as the thousands of Giant fans at Petco Park , the fan who hung a banner proclaiming this would be the game one of the Giants turnaround, the Giants couple who gained the attention of the cameras ;. all this wishfully has some meaning to the2013 history of this team.The hole this team climbed out of in the regular 2010 season and 2012 post-season cannot be forgotten and my hope is those 25 guys today reflect on this and
believe their current demise isn’t insurmountable. I’m hanging on this and not willing to throw in the towel…
“Game One . . . And Counting.” I like it.
Tanaka’s combination of professionalism and enthusiasm is just great. This could turn into the best month of his life. I think the jokers on the team were seriously depressed before he arrived. Although for some reason I imagine a clubhouse scene–within earshot of Gaudin Romo gently cradles a baseball in each hand, gazes lovingly at them and murmurs, “I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry about them.”
Yeah, I like the energy Tanaka has brought to the team. Aurilia mentioned something to that effect about Japanese players bringing energy to teams.
I agreed with San’s comment last night re: Gaudin. I ain’t buying it. And as someone mentioned, it will be interesting to see how he is recieved when he takes the hill tonight (there are usually a lot of Giant fans at the Dago games).
up there with runners on T takes a whack at Marquis first pitch and lines it solidly right up the middle.
And yeah Sandoval’s little bow was way cool. Everyone in LU contributed, solid team effort.
But it all starts with SP, and bum was dominant, a lot of GB outs and Ks. He’s just solid right now. With that accent and his heritage he reminds me of Gaylord Perry, another rancher from his neck of the woods. Now all he needs is a country sinker.
Heard Miller talk on radio as first inning was ending about pads and HRs at *new* Petco. He said there had been 89 bombs hit there, but only 37 by SD and 52 by opposition–this was before Sandoval made it 53. Wonder how Pads pitching staff feels about that.
Interestingly enough, check out Mets (another team who moved in the fences) record this season–2 games over .500 after sweeping SF, but 10 games under at home. They are 17-27 at home, worst record in NL and only Stros are worse in all baseball. Just remember the other team gets to hit there too–file under be careful what you wish for I guess.
Let’s win won for the “Grooper” tonight!
Very nice!
Does that make any Gaudin followers on the road “Gropies?”
uh, Groper?? Grooper, isn’t that a fish?? ha ha
Cain tipping his pitches? How about Posey? When he first came up I seem to recall some problems with that.
For Gaudin’s walk up song, will the Pads play “Looking for love in all the wrong places”?
What was that Che Guevara quote “Better to die standing than to live on your knees”? Keep fighting Giants.
Tanaka’s hit for his first career RBI was indeed a rare treat: An actual professional AB from a Giants hitter, working the count to 2-0 with the bases full before slapping a single up the middle. Yes, he is injecting some life into a team badly in need of resuscitation, so keep rolling him out there.
The Pads could have a lot of fun with Gaudin tonight…Maybe as he takes the mound, they can put the scene from The Hangover on the jumbotron, “some guys just can’t handle Vegas.”
LMAO BOZO!!!!
How about a Phil Collins song…
“We have a gurney kind of love”
If I’m Zito, or one of the guys that play guitar, I’d be goofing with some songs in the locker room. Gurney kind of love is good, Looking for love in all the wrong ERs would be on the playlist. Or how about some Derek and the Dominos “Have you ever loved a woman, so much you tremble” with acute renal failure?
Kat there has to be a million of them.
So Cain is injured (bone spurs). Pfffft! What’s next????
He had bone chips or whatever 2 years ago Blade, or 18 months ago, or whenever that first came out. This is not new news, they said it was no biggie then…
Yeah, I know – Schulman said the same thing, but bone spurs move and the suspicion is that’s why Bochy is handling him with kid gloves.
Seems to me in the offseason they need to go in there for Cain and Pablo and clean out the chips, get it done. In today’s medicine, that can’t be too big of a deal, and they can heal up over the offseason. Chips floating around seems to my layman’s view as potentially causing more damage over time as opposed to getting them out of there…
Here’s an article about Puig’s douchebaggery by Bill Plaschke. Funny he doesn’t mention all the shit that went on between Puig and Romo this last week.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-plaschke-dodgers-20130711,0,2466228.column
The only thing that makes sense about Gaudin being in the hospital is the renal failure angle. Likely he was drunk off his ass, got dehydrated, and passed out or something. But then again, they should have a record of him checking in at the hospital, not trolling the waiting room looking for chicks to fondle. In other words (as someone already said) how the fuck do you end up at a hospital at 4:00 am and looking to hook up? Makes no sense. Unless the hospitals in Vegas have an all-night buffet and dancing girls.
I’m waiting to see blow-up dolls come flying out of the stands today. Anyone see Denorfia almost get hit by and orange thrown out of the stands?.
Mind boggling that Bumgarner has the last 4 wins of a Giants starter going back to June 22nd, when Zits won – per Schulman.
Bum has won 3 starts recently to stop separate 4 game losing streaks. That is a stat that is weird, cool, amazing, and depressing all at once…
Read this column snarkk and let me know what you think . . . http://www.overthemonster.com/2013/7/11/4514726/red-sox-trade-rumors-giants-javier-lopez-jose-mijares
Me? If I can get someone (prospects) for Lopez, I deal him ASAP. He is frickin’ 35 years old and although I am impressed with his Uber ground ball rate and only one HR allowed since 2011 – again, HE IS FRICKIN’ 35 YEARS OLD!!!!! Same deal with our loogy Mijares. Deal him for the right price.
Yeah, I’d deal either one of those guys for a hitting prospect or two. The article is out of the BoSox nation, so I’m laughing about how they’re thinking they might get one of them on the cheap. Why would Sabes give one of these guys up? Sabes would hold the BoSox up like a Bandit, or he should. Nobody should give the BoSox any break so they can make the finish line. I’d give up Lopez before Miijares. He’s basically a rental now anyway, to the Giants…
Sean O’Sullivan is being recalled by the Padres to start this evening against the Giants. The right-hander owns a 6.13 ERA in the majors and has posted “meh” numbers down at Triple-A Tucson this season (3.88 ERA, 7.9 K/9). Of course, he is facing the 2013 Giants, so this could be the launching pad to his “Cy Young” career. 🙂
Ugh. Giants always suck against no-name callups. Course, they’ve sucked against everybody the last two months. The Padres have been slightly worse than we’ve been, apparently, and that’s saying something. Petco is a nice place to see a game. The Tinfish restaurant right near the stadium is a cool, casual place with outside/inside seating to grab some fish tacos and brew before/after a game. Place was packed when I saw a game down there two years ago…
I hadn’t heard somebody is pushing the “tipping pitches” thing again. Dumb. So, the first few months this season basically the whole staff was tipping pitches? Because they were horrible. And, yes, it’s dumb because that would mean the whole coaching staff are idiots, which I don’t believe they are. I guess Zito has been tipping pitches since he signed his deal? That explains it. Except for that gem NLCS game in St. Louis last October, of course. I guess Rohand was tipping pitchers where to throw the ball to him to get him out — anywhere around the plate …
Tanaka’s no LT solution to anything, but he does bring energy and a needed vibe. That’s what Pagan brought, in addition to his on-field and on-base activities. His energy is sorely missed, IMO…
We need a nickname for Tanaka. EVEREADY???? KUNG-FU BUNNY???
Forget it.
“Forget It” is not a memorable nickname, now is it, Nip?
This team doesn’t deserve silly nicknames. The Panda hats should disappear. The glory years are over. We need new players. A new reality is needed.
The Pirates have traded Tim “How Are You, Franchez?” Alderson.
It just dawned on me: ANNA! Who loves ya, baby?!
New post on my blog regarding my recent trip to Canada and Jellysto . . . uhh, Yellowstone National Park.
http://aroundtheworldwithblade.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/british-columbia-canada-and-yellowstone-national-park-montana/
Jarred Cosart made his debut for the Astros tonight and took a no-hitter into the 7th vs. the Rays. He’s one of the prospects the Phillies traded to get Hunter Pence.
…which scares me, considering how we do against no-names.
Yeah he grew up and went to high school in the same suburb of Houston where I currently call home….Our babysitter dated him during H. S.
Amy G just retweeted me @kocakwords! #mybrushwithfame
OK is it just me, or do others think that Amy talks through her nose? And no, I’m not going to ask how she tweets, although #amygtweetsthruass would be my guess.
Clown, what, are you the star of “Mean Boys”?
Sorry Pawlie, the talking through the nose thing really bugs me.
“For Gaudin’s walk up song, will the Pads play “Looking for love in all the wrong places”?”
‘Twas then when the Horny Gurney Man
Came singing songs of love
or “Touch Me” by The Doors (Snarkk’s group)
good ones, James!
All in my demographic…
I just watched the KTVU clip about the newsreader giving the names of the “four Asiana pilots.” Holygodinheaven! I have to conclude that Tori Campbell just set a new standard of either naivete or stupidity, or both. That is beyond wow.
Where can I find that
http://blog.sfgate.com/matierandross/2013/07/12/1937/
KTVU news is a never-ending source of both basic local info and hilarious entertainment. It’s my go-to station here in the Bay Area.
Hey Flappers– I’m out of town and will be driving most of morning to Black Butte. If I don’t get a thread up before I leave in the morning maybe one of The Un-Stables could get a thread up?
I could come up with something but seriously would PREFER one of the other Un-Stables since I just posted recently. Anyone? Hullo?
That “double” down the line — isn’t Belt in the LU specifically because he makes those plays? Well, on the other hand, I don’t like Posey at 1B, at all. Both 1B and LF are problems. (A Tanaka/Francoeur platoon? That’s the plan this weekend. Just play Tanaka until he tanks, which I hope against reason is never.)
Well, Belt also has the second best offensive stats on the team. 1b is no more a problem than RF.
That’s not really true. Belt leads the starters in SOs, for example; hell, he leads the whole damn team. Sandoval has more RBIs (despite the foot-injury time on the DL and the rehab.) Spread out their entire lines, and Belt’s numbers don’t look so good. Consider that Bochy has put on the bench to avoid pitchers he’s unlikely to hit.
See the OWAR ratings here.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/stats/batting/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giants
Yes, it is really true. Sandoval has scored far fewer runs, has batted with more runners on, and strikeouts are irrelevant to run productivity. In any case, if you don’t believe that OBP and slugging % are the best indicators of offensive performance and hold that BA with RISP isn’t an incidental stat, then there really isn’t much to discuss.
Pence has played constantly, vs. all pitchers. He’s streaky. Belt has been both coddled and suppressed. His OWAR number is low. I assume the huge number of SOs is part of that fail. If you think OPS is the only measure under these circumstances, then you’re right. There’s nothing to discuss.
WAR is a cumulative stat, meaning Bochy’s decisions to bench Belt have reduced that figure. It also makes assumptions about what a 1B should produce relative to other position players. I prefer to stick to stats that measure performance that leads to the production of runs. Belt has the second best numbers on the team in that regard. There is no debate there.
Belt would probably have a better OPS if he had 20 fewer K’s. Assuming the same OPS, though, if he made more of his outs putting the ball in play instead of whiffing, it would make no difference to his productivity.
Kind of a strange stat for Brandon Belt’s career…
109 RBI’S. 109 Runs scored….Favorite movie all-time PT 109 priceless..
He was day dreaming of Anna . . . .
Is everyone too astonished to comment?
The hurky-jerky ump.
That’s a great example why dead-ball calls should never be reviewed. If the ump calls it foul, it’s foul. Especially if he’s compensating for interfering with the Giants trying to catch a pop up at 3B.
Gaudin gets out of it. I guess Hunter S. had it right, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”.
Great line. So *allegedly* apt.
Bozo, I can’t stand Amy’s voice either, it IS nasal. And annoying.
Hey, I just finished reading a book about life on the road and at local blues places by Mark Hummel, “Big Road blues: 12 bars on I-80” with fantastic stories about hotels and promoters and club owners from hell, alongside all the wonderful people and venues he had a chance to play. Good read, lot of familiar names and places.
It’s weird willie, Amy just makes me cringe although I know others like her. I will check out the book.
I know this is wrong on many levels but the KTVU error in reporting the alleged names of the Asiana pilots is well… Come on you’re going on the air to say the Captain’s name is Sum Ting Wong and the co-pilots are Wi Tu Lo and Ho Lee Fuk?
http://sfist.com/2013/07/12/ktvu_names_asiana_pilots_ho_lee_fuk.php
Sorry for the video, but really? Ho Lee Fuk?
I’ve followed Mark Hummel for decades. Funniest time I saw him was late one night in the 80s. I was alone, headed home after work, just stopped into the dive bar on San Pablo in El Cerrito where I knew his band was playing. He was best then at Little Walter covers; maybe he still is, but he has developed greatly over the years. Anyway, there was a beautiful woman in the crowd who responded to me when I struck up a conversation. We danced. At the break, we sat at her table and Hummel came over. Uh oh. As I say, she was beautiful, but she was dumb as a post. She didn’t know how to handle being the band leader’s babe. Hummel, who was a lot shorter than both me (yeah, sic) and the babe, obviously liked her a lot and he was determined to establish his domain. I didn’t really care. We talked for a while. Hummel described how he was struggling to get publicity, trying to get Tom Mazzolini to mention him on his KPFA program, etc. (These days, of course, Mazzolini can’t promote Hummel too much.) At an opportune moment, I said nice to meet you and went looking for other companionship. Hummel and his band were really good, every set. I think I’ll check out that book.
You ever read Robert Palmer, Deep Blues? My favorite.
CD of his you’d recommend? I haven’t bought much blues stuff in a long time–mostly if I do listen to it it’s the older chi style. I might have read the Palmer book, not sure. I do remember reading a couple by Guralnick.
I used to hit the great dive bar JJs which is about 10 minutes away from where I live now, but original owners sold it, prices went up at the door, better acts rarely there yada yada. Used to see great shows with Chris Cain for 5 or 10 at the door, great band and he worked his ass off.
Palmer was a very good writer. He also led a pretty cool hippie jazz folk art band to compete with the Brits, the Insect Trust. “Hoboken Saturday Night” is a minor classic worth tracking down, if you’re unfamiliar.
I’ve only heard Hummel’s recorded stuff on the radio/web, so I don’t know about his CDs. (I still prefer bookstores, especially used bookstores, to Amazon, et al. But I listen to a lot of music on line now.) In any event, if you like Chicago blues, you’ll like Hummel. As I say, I remember Little Walter being his foundation.
Since when did Padre home uniforms start looking like Giants home uniforms?…..
I watched Belt go 0 for 8, with 5 strikeouts in an extra-inning game. I don’t believe that Belt is the second best offensive player on the Giants. Sorry.
on the eye test, It would be scutaro for me. Love to watch the way he handles the bat, esp with runner on 1b.
I hope SF doesn’t let him go to someone else in a waiver or trade deal at deadline.
He also hit a 400 ft out to left center that would have been gone anywhere other than ATT, followed by another hard hit drive off of the best pitcher in the league right now that the CFer got a great jump on. Another kind of eye test . . . .
Belt should be belting xtra base hits regularly and making every tough play at 1B. He’s not doing either, consistently. I don’t understand it. The guy’s talent seems obvious when he does drive the ball or make the play.
It’s funny . . . Belt is my favorite player on the team right now, but I actually don’t see him becoming a star. He’s more of an Adam LaRoche type, whose numbers look less impressive than they are because of ATT and the fact that scoring is down across the league. He’s actually had an OPS over 800 in May, June, and now July, yet he’s thought of as a questionable contributor on a team with far bigger disappointments so far.
Fair enough. Lincecum’s my favorite player. (I don’t think any extant emoticon can gloss that.)
Another fine effort from el gropo.
I can put up the post for tomorrow if no one has volunteered for it.
I am watching both games – Giants and Padres on my PC; and, Sherpas and Bums on the big screen. By virtue of some sort of divine intervention, the mountain climbers have accrued a 3-0 lead over Kershaw and the Dodgers.
WTF…Bums and Sherpas on the big screen? Shouldn’t it be Giants/Pads???
Newsflash Chi – Until my coup over the State of Colorado’s communication system is successful, I am unfortunately forced to watch the local sports teams . . . In effect, they take precedence over my preference for the Giants, Warriors, and Niner broadcasts.
Marco, two out hitting.
And, Mr Posey picks up a couple.
Stauffer’s cooked.
so are the pads tonite. Giants starting to look more like what we saw late last year–good pitching, timely hitting.
I can’t remember the Giants scoring this many runs. For the 2013 Giants, a 3 run lead qualifies as a rout . . . 4 runs? We are in uncharted territory.
You have a bad memory, Steve. Giants have rallied from more than four down this year…just seems like eternities ago. 😉
Well, you can’t expect me to remember every detail of the Jurassic Period.
Sweet bunt.
The old RBI foot move by Craw.
Ho Lee Fuk! Tanaka outsmarted them.
And, yes, I know the basic differences between Korean and Japanese names (single v. multisyllabic words, etc.). I meant no offense.
I’ll bet it’s all just CJK to the rest of us, even Pawlie.
Yes but are you a newscaster at KTVU?
No biggie . . . If Tanaka isn’t going to pull some kung fu on Panda when he does the “Buddhist welcome/bow” bit, we shouldn’t be concerned either.
Bad ass heads-up play by Tanaka. Bahaha…
And Torres keeps the hits coming.
This is, without a doubt, the funnest game I’ve seen all year
Opened up that industrial-sized can of WHOOP-ASS. Boys (and all of us here) need a laugher!
5 fucking RBI’s for Posey with mainly singles!!
The man’s RISP is starting to look–logical
Anna sure knows how to throw a party. “More runs, Giants” as quoted by the Right Reverend Wi Tu Lo.
I just hope this doesn’t equate my sex life, where after I shoot my wad, I have to wait a few days to recover . . . umm, if you get my drift. 🙂
Get it. Not happy about it. But get it.
Fuck…that hurt!
Sandoval gets hit in the elbow according to Kroop or Kripe but he grabbed his dick. Wait a minute–wait a minute..my bad…he was just walking awkwardly
I thought he grabbed his ass…like he was unseating a wedgie.
Nice inning!
Yes! Between Anna and Tanaka…the Giants are looking like…well…like the Giants. That would be the twice in three years World Series Champion San Francisco Giants.
ted, as much as that made me laugh, the Enberg, Grant and Gywnn explanation of the humerus bone topped it (although, I don’t think they knew they were being funny).
hahahahaha
When was the last time the Giants batted-around (plus some)???
1937
Really? Damned…I thought it was ONLY 1953…
What the fuck do I know? I just threw that out there. Waiting for an arguement
Argument? You’ll have to wait for Twin to return…
Fricking Snakes won tonight. Sherpas still up 3 zip over the Bumbinos…top of the 9th.
Sorry. I’m not up on the cool baseball lingo. What’s a snake? What’s a Sherpa? And what’s a Bumbino?
Snakes – Arizona Diamondbacks
Sherpas (coined by Blade, maybe…) are the Rockies.
Bumbinos…as in Los Bumbinos…as is L.A. Dodgers…
All i can say is thank God for the Pods
What’s a Pod?
think peas, or pees if you’re in a commune.
Didn’t you see Invasion of the body snatchers?
Hedly
DAYAMN
That was a sweet inning
To paraphrase unca_chuck, yes, thank God the Padres are in our division
Rough night for the Dodgers. Kershaw loses, and Puig leaves in the middle of the game with hip pain, probably from one of the times he ran into a wall.
You see that story about his translator trying to pick up babes for Puig at the yard? I suspect he’s worn out his hips off the field.
I hadn’t seen that story. The Dodgers need to hire a better baby-sitter for him.
Glad to see Machi back. His demotion seemed almost peevish, after he gave up the 2 gopher balls. They were he first HRs he’d given up in 25 innings.
Yeah baby! Two of the three I predicted. Hell, if Zito can get in the W column tomorrow, our boys may just sweep into the AS break.
Can it be? Yes — a winning streak!
Chi, I answered your message at my blog.
NO Bears? WTF? You mean you didn’t see Yogi and Boo Boo?
No such luck Chi, albeit, we came close, but traffic jams ahead of is was a big “tell” that other people were seeing them, i.e., this is the biggest reason for traffic jams in the park – with mostly foreign tourists stopping in the middle of the road to do their “lookie see.” Oh, almost forgot, we stopped off the side of the road where some other tourists had seen a small baby black bear. Jeremy said he saw it, but I think he was just trying to make me envious. Ha. 😉
I shared Pawlie’s shared note from his Mets fan (in North Dakota) with my daughter’s boyfriend who is also a Mets fan. He’s a baseball guy (pitching coach for Sac State) and he thinks the Giants will win the West, too.
15-0.
Look, we all know this is ending soon but the ending part doesn’t matter to me anymore.
She’s a princess. She’s a wizard. She can cut some of your closing costs and just might smoke someone’s pole from the bar at the end of the night.
She does it all. Who among us can say that?
Now that we have a game to lift the spirits, let us life some spirits to Anna, queen of the desperate everywhere and Giant Goddess.
New thread posted.