2013 All Star Game
As I watched ball after ball smash into the upper deck at Citi Field yesterday, it reminded me of the gag golf ball I had a few years ago. It’s slightly smaller than your normal golf ball and probably made of something different, too. Anyway, you wait for a nice long, open par 5 to come along. Then you unsuspectingly challenge your buddies to a long drive contest. Everyone agrees. They hit their nice, normal drives and I launch one about 375. Dumbfound and awe ensue. Relax, I don’t collect…….
I’m assuming the balls used last night were normal size but whatever technology goes into juicing a ball went into the balls used last night. We’re talking about batting practice pitches. It’s not like these guys were turning around 96 mph fastballs, which is what you would think would be necessary to have those balls rocket out of there, seeming to go faster at the moment just before they slammed into the stands……
And where is the *dislike* button on Chris Berman? There no more tired HR call than his “back, back, back” bullshit. And talk about a guy who doesn’t understand the moment. He gives the same enthusiastic call, like it was a game winning home run. Leave a little in the tank, Bermey, there’s gonna be another one of them in about 6 seconds…….
And my favorite anti-Berman moment was early in the first round, someone hit a high fly, Berman launches into his “this one is headed for (insert nearby city name)!!!!”…..and then the ball lands just short of the warning track……..
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I’ll be watching the all star game tonight for the first time in a few years because I literally have nothing else to do. Here are the rosters, sorry for the text size………
The AL looks to have a stronger starting LU but the NL has a better bench. Considering the pitching is about equal I’m going to say the NL pulls ahead mid to late game and wins this one. Hopefully not off Mariano. Having him finish the game with a save would be a most deserved way to honor his greatness and everything he has done for the game…….
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Finally, here’s a pic of our own Pawlie Kokonuts at Finnerty’s at his book signing. Amy G is getting a tight shot of him. I’m sure he’ll have a story about how he got her to take this and why she’s so up in his grill:
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Here’s the NL line-up including the DH, batting order, and SP:
Brandon Phillips 2B
Carlos Beltran RF
Joey Votto 1B
David Wright 3B
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Yadier Molina C
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Michael Cuddyer DH
Bryce Harper CF
Matt Harvey P
AL with batting order and SP:
Mike Trout LF
Robinson Cano 2B
Miguel Cabrera 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Jose Bautista RF
David Ortiz DH
Adam Jones CF
Joe Mauer C
J.J. Hardy SS
Max Scherzer P
I am usually not that big on the ASG, but like Flavor, WTF…I have nothing else going on and it is baseball.
Will be interesting to see if Big Country and Romo get in the mix, and how long Buster is behind the dish.
GO NL!
RE: Pawlie and having Amy G in his grill…I think it all comes down to “she wants his body!” (Looking forward to hearing the story.)
Curious if most of you have seen the rumors of the Tigers (and possibly other teams) being interested in Tim. I think I heard the Tiggers are offering 3 prospects. If true, what are your thoughts on this? If three top prospects (and that includes a back-end of the rotation guy, it is enticing).
But with all that Tim has done for, and meant to this franchise, I just don’t see it. Plus you couple that with the Giants needs for solid starters right now, and the fact that over his last 8 starts, Tim has a low 3.xx ERA.
I just don’t see it happening, nor do I want to see Tim’s time in SF end that way (mid-season trade).
The Cespedes story in the Chron about his family’s attempts to get to America after he signed with A’s was brutal. He is quite a story himself.
But you gotta wonder if 2013 is soph jinx or something more sinister. He is batting .225 with an OB of .293 and has 80 Ks in 300 ABs. Belt acutally has more XBHs than cespedes.
I bailed on Sf early sunday, and Cespedes in a tie game in 8th vs. boston led off with an IF hit and then was bunted to 2b. He then tried to steal 3b and got gunned down. Even Melvin next day said that wasn’t the plan.
I’ve seen him make mistakes in LF too, and that makes me wonder what type of coaching he got in cuba. In b-ball the stud athlete guys are often allowed to do whatever they want and as a result don’t make good decisions or take good shots because they think they can do anything.
By all reports Cespedes in batting practice hits tremendous shots, ala G Stanton. I wasn’t surprised he won the HR derby, but that’s not real baseball. He’s a good enough athlete to have played some CF for the A’s, but jury is still out on how good a player he’ll ultimately be, and if HR derby is as close as he gets to AS game.
I think the A’s haven’t given Cespedes the sort of support he needs to develop in the U.S. The team has only one other Latin American player on the 25–Bartolo Colon–and I don’t envision him counseling Cespedes on the fine points of baserunning and tracking LDs in the OF. Also, they tapped Ariel Prieto, a Cuban pitching coach in their minor league system, to translate and baby-sit Cespedes. Prieto’s mlb career was pretty weak; he’s most famous for deliberately pitching poorly as a kid in Cuba so the government would let him leave the country. Classic A’s penny-pinching bullshit. I realize other people on the team speak Spanish, but cultural fluency is important, too. I’m always impressed by the way the Latin American players on the Giants hang out and joke with each other during BP . . . . There’s a lot going on among them, constantly.
Nothing else to do? Flavor in desperate times? News at Noon on KTVU! Sum Ting Wong!
I thought the reporters covering Flavor are Hung Too Low and Peter Draggin…
OK, I’m gonna look at potential SF deals from opp pov—if you are going to dump Pence or Pablo or tim. what are you looking for in terms of prospects? Best athlete at any position? RH pop or speed guy for OF? Another C if Posey is to move somewhere?
Like it or not, I think 3b would be toughest spot to fill. If the replacements are Arias and Noonan or Abreu that would mean significant drop off in production. given state of Giants pitching woes, scoring less runs doesn’t seem like a good move.
And that would be my biggest concern–who replaces who you dump off? Remember 2011, when rent/uribe left and SF wound up with Tejada at SS? TL is a tough decision, but who would take his spot in rotation?
Gotta admit the MLBTR stuff is fun to read (along with blogger comments on same), even if a lot of it is pure creative writing.
Pence is probably the most desirable. Pablo is not having a good year and people see him and can’t get past the weight. Tim has turned a corner but I don’t know too many GM’s who get mesmerized by a no hitter and run off to try to acquire the pitcher. Plus, that pitch count is sure to scare off people. Pence has been slumping but he’s fantastic shape, he hits bombs and steals bases and I think most GM’s understand that if he was in a more hitter friendly park, he’d put up better numbers…….
Well, it is more than just the no-no for Tim. His last 8 starts his ERA is like 3.18. Still, when compounded with about a year and a half of sucktitude, AND what remains of his 22 mil, it could be a hard sell. But then again, supposedly “multiple” teams have inquired. I just don’t want to see his time in SF end via a mid-season trade.
he has been better for sure. But the no hitter seems to have jazzed up optimism and excitement about him again. Kuip, for instance, says he hasn’t seen that *swagger* from him in a year and a half.
And maybe it did something for his confidence, who knows.
But the remaining salary, plus an overall sub-par year, combined with the fact that the fan base would revolt if Sabean traded him mid season, all point to it not happening. And remember, the Giants make a lot of dough off Timmy merchandise……
Well, I already commented on Tim: “I just don’t see it happening, nor do I want to see Tim’s time in SF end that way (mid-season trade).”
Pablo presents the quandry you mention. I don’t think Dominguez (Fresno) is ready to make that jump (to the bigs). And while Pence has cooled of late, he still represents decent defense and it would be a hole to plug (offensive production).
“If” they sold: I think you have to get a SP in return and a good BP arm, at a minimum.
It’s a huge series with AZ coming out of the break. After that series the Giants will be anywhere from 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 games back of the snakes.
Tough call on Tim with the emotional attachment the fans have. Only happens IF the offer is real sweet and they are still floundering 8- 10 under. The good of the franchise going forward outweighs sentiment. Hate to see it end but he’s gone at the end of the year anyway….unless they could work out a one-two year extension now for a reasonable sum?
Saw this the other day.. Posey (#1 in mlb jersey sales) romo (16th) Pablo (20th).
It is not only emotional attachement, etc. If dealt, they would have a hole to fill in the rotaiton, and our rotation has not exactly been a strong point this year, to date.
I said they don’t do it unless they feel they are out of contention. Then it won’t matter who starts or who plays RF for that matter.
Way to go Pawlie!! Way to go, you are the man!
Agree Chi, Tiggers want to use Tim as a reliver as their back in of their BP has struggled. If they trade Porcello and some top prospects I might consider listening though in a Mega trade.
Problem is, from what I have read, the Tiggers are not especially deep in the prospect department. I just don’t want to see that deal (Tim traded) go down, to be honest with you.
my 2 cents worth, oops inflation $2 worth. Tim, keep him, he has not shown that he has lost it completely. Pablo, I just don’t know when/if his weight becomes a real problem. Wasn’t he on the DL last year? second year in a row? Pence is the last person I would trade unless the Giants get something really good in return. Like I said before, Right Field is no joy to play at ATT. we all have seen opposing RFer’s make errors out there. If you trade Pence who is going out there? and will they be good to go? The Giants D has already been questionable at times, do you really want to take a chance and put a mid season rookie out there? okay that was more than $2 worth sorry.
Like I’ve said in the past.
Package Pablo in a Mega trade for Bud Norris and “Matt”Dominquez not “Chris Dominguez..
We get a up and coming younger player who is only gonna get better in Dominiquez( good contract) and a decent under control contract in Norris.
Tubby can DH as well with Houston.Just a thought…
From the time Williams was traded 3b was a back hole of suckitude until Sandoval finally manned the position. I just don’t see trading him. I’m down with moving Pence, Scutaro, Torres (bag o balls? How about some trucks of garlic?) and Lincecum for the best exchange(s) that can be made. I really like Lincecum but as others have said we’ve seen the best that he had. The no-no was his parting gift. The final brush strokes of genius.
Good to see Pawlie getting love. I’m sure he worked in a Oneflapdown77 plug somehow. I’ve heard Amy G is better looking in person. I’ve always thought she was good looking in a librarian/teacher/girl next door kinda way. In this pic I can’t stop staring at her arse. Amy, if you read this. Sorry. I. Can’t. Stop.
I would add Lopez and Mijares to that list.
I’m as big a Timmeh fan is anyone, yet I would certainly entertain trade offers. If the Tigers are offering 3 top prospects, I’d ask for that and more. They can smell a WS win, their owner is old, not well, and wants to win a title yesterday before meeting his maker. I’m thinking of the future of the Giants. If the Sabestrust and the “Committee” decide they are NOT going to re-sign Tim, then there is no reason NOT to trade him and get as much as you can to re-stock the organization. It just makes sense. Especially if the team continues the slide or goes sideways for the next 10 days after the break. You could always re-sign him anyway, if he were willing, after he becomes a FA and gets a third ring with the Tigers. Stranger things have happened. I still say he ends up a Mariner next year. To me, his no-hitter is a godsend — it completes his career with the Giants, so we can let him go now, and it bumps his trade value…
I said the same thing the other day . . . Start getting sentimental about Timmy and this window of opportunity closes with finality. As I said earlier, his trade value will never be higher. Anyone delusional enough to think that a Cy Young award is in his future or even a near Cy Young year is around the corner, should see a therapist immediately.
Chose to believe the following:
A. Two dog shit putrid years; or,
B. One month of good pitching.
Either Sabes signs him to a reasonable 2-3 year contract (an incentive filled $11-14 million a year) or adios Tiny Tim in a trade.
Agree, Bria…er, Blade. 😉
LOL (as I take a bow).
It is definetly a crap shoot with trading Tim. 1 1/2 2 years of struggling. Now the no hitter. Makes claims that he has changed his approach to batters. So you trade him, he has made the change in his approach to hitters and he becomes the old Timmy for 3-5 years, he will only be 30 next June. Obviously if the Giants had given Zito only two year contract way back when he would have been gone. So you either trade Timmy when his value is high and he stay with his struggles or he becomes a great pitcher again. like I said a crap shoot with tim
Amazes me that Tim says he just started to study hitters and until recently was reluctant to change his approach.
Then you read about Bum (SJ Merc) who has religiously studied film and continuously made adjustments to get better …
ASG – starts at 1am on PPV only, I while I do watch my Giants late at night a little too much the ASG is a miss for me.
Too bad Chris Berman has turned into Chris Boring – I heard he was a Giants fan.
If the day ever comes where the club roles Tim out in a wheelchair I will still be clapping for him.
I hate to think the biggest thrills in the next fortnight will be waiting and hoping for that block buster trade magic; but it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it happened.
I’ve grown tired of his schtick, too. It’s fine to brand yourself but it all sounds contrived and stale now. it sounds flat and fat, doesn’t it?
OH, and WTG Pawlie, flappers everywhere are proud.
Has anyone had any further contact with twinfan?
i haven’t. I don’t think he’d mind me giving his email here:
michael.scott2@mchsi.com
that’s a dot in between his first and last name.
Last I heard from him (which I updated on a previous thread) was on Saturday when he replied to my email checking-in on him. He certainly appreciated my checking-in with him at that time.
I don’t know what happened, but I wish TF all the best.
Chico – he had a seizure, and has trouble with the computer. When I last heard from him on Saturday, he was unsure if he was going to the hospital, or not.
Well, here specifically is Twin’s response to my email (asking him how he is doing):
Thank you for checking in. I’m OK but it’s iffy on going to the hospital. Very rough few days.
Give the crew my heartfelt message, please.
“ You’re all FOS” Winking smile The winky face 😉 is optional.
Michael
Shit. . Thanks Chi – I appreciate the info. At least his sense of humor is standing tall. All my best to TF.
Still recovering from my little jaunt. I “coaxed’ Amy to talk to me and she quickly offered to do the web interview, shown being filmed. (Have not found it anywhere. Have any of you?) Afraid of being creepy but could not help myself, after the interview I sheepishly smiled and said, “You look even better in person.” She brightly smiled and said thanks. (Dieter, co-owner of Finnerty’s, assured me it was okay and would be considered a compliment.) She was affable and energetic. A while later, Larry Baer pops in and he’s the life of the party. I stayed at my book-signing table. but he soon walks by and comes up to me and says, “I read that book. We have it. I liked it.” He introduced me to his son, Josh, quiet, reserved. Melanie, the Necklace Lady from the trophy event, stayed with me on a stool most of the afternoon. Good company. She says to Larry: “I’ve got a Giants fan in the making” and shows him her belly. “I don’t know why I felt compelled to tell him I’m pregnant,” she later confessed. I asked Melanie, “Should I just go up and tell Larry I immediately lost the card he gave me in January?” “See how it evolves.” “I got it! I’ll give him a copy of ‘Baseball’s Starry Night’ and talk to him again. He’s in back.” Which is what I do. He says they are on vac. “You have room for the book? I can send it to you.” “No, that’s fine. What’s this about? Josh loves to read.” He looks at the cover. I explain. Game 162. 2011. I grab a pen and add Josh’s name to the inscription, which notes Finnerty’s and that it is the day after Timmy’s no-hitter. Baer has the politician’s genius for remembering names. “Paul, where do you live?” “Syracuse.” “Are you coming to San Francisco any time soon?” “Maybe. Maybe in September.” “Here, here’s my card. Let me know if you need anything.” “Thanks.” This time I keep the card. My friend Claudia said I should email him about getting the book in the Dugout Store, which was shot down earlier this year. Dennis Z. says the same. But be discreet. Earlier, when I expressed delight that the Yankees had lost. Mr. Laurence M. Baer, apparently — if I got it right — fresh from the game with his ASG cap and polo shirt and shorts, seemed wounded, even chagrined. Melanie and I surmised he likely watched the game not in the steamy stands but rather with the Yankees brass, in a suite. Hey, he’s probably closer to them than he is to me. Another thing I noted: he was watching the Giants getting blown out, as we all were. He was not giving a look or ranting as if it was ruining his day. Nor did I.
As one of the baseball TV pundits said today, this year’s All-Star Game marks a big transitional year in baseball. The stars of the sport are always transitioning somewhat, but this year seems more than usual. Lots of young new faces, as the sport renews itself yet again. Only the fans stay old. 🙂
Here’s a question NOBODY will ask on TV tonight: Because of all-the-time interleague play, isn’t the ASG more diminished than ever?
That, plus the MLB TV package, and all the highlights shows, and all the Fantasy leagues. We all see all of these players a lot. All the “mystery” of the other league is gone.
Having said that, I still watch it. It usually has a few cool moments here and there.
Most definitely Pawlie .. Never gonna see the likes of 4 HOF hitters batting in a row like the killer 4 of Mays,Aaron,McCovey and Clemente.
Now you get 4 one year All-stars batting in a row.
IF the Giants fall out of contention, and they start trading a few folks, it would be cool to see some of the guys get a chance to play on playoff teams in 2013.
BUT, hopefully the Giants stay in contention throughout, and make the playoffs. 🙂
Nice ass on her.
agreed. I think she’s had a couple of kids too.
Impressive!
Very cool Pawlie! I’ve been looking for your interview with Amy G, but have not found it yet. I did find a couple of others from FInnerty’s so hopefully it will be up before long.
Kokonuts– great story up above and nice job getting Baer’s card back. And the one thing I’d add about your comment regarding all star game*less*ness is that anyone who watches a lot of video at mlb.com has repeatedly seen all of these players thus taking out the mystery that the all star game used to offer. Throw fantasy baseball in there, and we know them almost as well as our own Giants players…….
LOL…Boch has Harper batting 9th.. after even being in the HR derby finals!
Way to stick it to em Skipper!!!
I had a slight change of mind about Harper last night. Not only was the *pitching dad* cool but at the end he went to find Cespedes and seemed to give him a genuine congrats and then he turned to Cano and he was clearly giving him some props but Cano wasn’t even looking at him even though he was shaking his hand. As Cano pulled away, Harper sat there for a second probably thinking he was going to get even a look from Cano and when he saw it wasn’t happening he quickly turned and bailed–kinda looked like I imagine myself looking after getting shot down by a hot chick at a junior high dance (back in the day)…….
Nice anecdote! I didn’t see any of it, but I’ve kind of dug Harper from the start and this reinforces it for me.
In our house, we thought it was Dad who told him to congratulate the winner. Plus my daughter thought Bryce was launching F-bombs when frustrated. “But he’s a Mormon,” I protested. “Look at his hair, though,” she replied. She had another theory: that the HRD would ironically expose someone, i.e. Cespedes, as a PED user.
Sheez, Pawlie, now that you have Baer’s card, it should be easy to get a huge discount on a suite at ATT for a future Flapalooza, right?… 😉
if I were only a good promoter
whether I go or not, I will tell him about the Flapperfest. Check that: I will leave a msg at his AT&T number [don’t have his mobile], to be screened by his ass’t amid the 5,669 daily messages
Kershaw was bemoaning the fact that he wasn’t starting the all star game by saying “this hurts” in response to a question about it. Later, when told that Bochy thinks that Harvey should have been the starter in ANY park, he goes “that’s his opinion”. I’m assuming Kershaw said that without looking at Harvey’s stats:
CK: 145.innings pitched, 97 hits allowed, 137k’s, 8 wins, 1.98 era, 0.91 WHIP.
MH: 130IP, 91 hits, 147K’s, 7 wins, 2.35 era, 0.92 WHIP.
On any reasonable measure, Harvey is a worthy all star game pitcher. Nothing Kershaw has done in the stats listed above suggests he’s had an obviously measurably better year. Throw in the fact that the game is in NY and the fact that Kershaw has *gotten* to face the Giants 3 times this year (thus padding those stats), and he can take his hurt feelings and suck it.
Hey, the whole broadcast was worth it just to hear Joe Buck say: “Manager of the 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants….Bruce Bochy!”
Always cool to remind America who won the World Series last season. 🙂
And, of course. the Giants were just about the whole All-Star game story last season, in the NL’s dominating 8-0 win. The game featured foreshadowing, as Sandoval got a big hit off Verlander, giving the Giants the homefield advantage in the World Series.
Amy G & Pawlie K — gotta love it! Entertaining report as always, Pawlie. Like SanDawg, I’ve also checked to see if there’s been any video of you, but there’s just the two so far of Amy interviewing a couple of Giants fans and Amy interviewing the Finnerty’s owners.
Yeah, the All-Star Game isn’t something I get cranked up about anymore, and can’t remember the last time I did. Probably the late 70s. Maybe I’m still traumatized by Atlee’s disastrous showing, and that was 30 years ago.
OK, the whole Mariano Rivera hype thing has reached beyond the gushy ick factor. I hope the NL wins 12-0, and Rivera pitches a meaningless mop-up inning.
Besides being the best closer of all time by a mile he has taken it upon himself to meet and greet and say goodbye to as many fans as he can in every city he goes to this year. If it’s “gushy” it’s because he’s leading the goodbye party. And what he’s doing is awesome for the fans
And the usual hype of the AL “sluggers,” even though the NL has won the last three All-Star games, and the last three World Series.
Ha! Cano drilled by a pitch in the knee. Has there ever been a beanball war in an All-Star game?
Surprised Corbin is being used this early.
I have my own thoughts about this AS game, but I’m not looking for an argument. I do, however, agree with everyone who has responded to the photo of Amy G’s ass in jeans. Oblique as the angle may be, the excellence of that ass is evident.
In the background, Pawlie, who seems to know how to respond to a camera, is in fine form too, of course. (Congrats, Pawlie.)
I’ve got this gm on in the background but I thought I just heard McCarver say that joe Torre has managed both the Giants and the A’s.
What did I mishear there?
He said that Torre has managed to be a giant ass.
I think what they said was that he grew up in NY a big Giant fan, but he has managed the Dodgers and the Yankees—the 2 teams he rooted against as a kid.
McCarver’s call on McCutcheon’s SB (sliding to the OF side) is without a doubt the best thing I have ever heard him say. The HD high powered digitial replay proved him right. I suspect the tech is so good now various assistants were able to replay the slide and just barely late tag within an instant and feed McCarver the line, just before they replayed the slomo.
Great story Pawlie! Pretty cool of Baer to say, “if you ever need anything…”
You might have to take him up on that.
Hey McCarver,stop having an orgasm over Brandon Phillips.That bare- hand DP was the only way they get Trout out.
Right. McCarver thinks he’s hotdogging. Looks like he was a pot smoker back in ’68.
O/U on this game was 8? Wow, the way pitching dominates these days, that looks like free money
They must’ve used up all the juiced balls last night. 😉
Panda’s not playing.
Oh fuck. Both those guys are dead slow runners. Stop jizzing all over that play.
98º in Boise today and now we got thunder, lightning, and rain.. . .
Posey time.
Nice job, Buck. Try to pay attention to the count.
Don’t try and cover your ass Buck..
Clearly you said swung on and missed for strike 2.When even Posey and the ump are walking away. Don’t say the scoreboard said only one strike Penis Face…
Has Leyland lost his mind? What the hell is Mariano doing out there in the 8th inning for an All-Star game in New York?
Thinking the same thing … Bring him in the 9th for the save and he gets the MVP…Fucking clueless move by Leland.
Leyland not leland
Well with all that jazz for Riveria’s entry.He better not get lit up…
Well, there’s the off chance the NL scores 5 this inning, and he doesn’t get the chance to pitch in the 9th
I don’t buy that… If the AL gets in a bind in the eight, THEN bring in Rivera to set the stage for a hold.
Well, that’s the reasoning.
Agree Wilco..
It’s freakin NY.His final act in the Bigs on the biggest stage besides the W/S.
He has to close it out.Fuckin Leyland is an idiot not to of seen that.
They aren’t going to bring Rivera in in a situation where he could possibly blow the game. He gets a clean start. I don’t give a shit, but I get the reasoning around it.
Oh dear. McCarver quoting Metallica. Pluck my ears from my head.
You know once Fielder gets motoring he is quicker then people think.Alot faster and slimmer to me then are Fatso Panda..
Like comparing a sloth to a slug.
Panda is not that slow. When I saw him as an AA player, a catcher, I was struck by how fast he was. I would suggest he is way faster than our current catcher.
Boring game. Yawn. Next . . .
Now Bochy can’t even beat the AL. It’s just not his year.
OK. Boys and girls, onto The Second Coming, ur, Second Half+. Redemption time for the Giants! I’m in good spirits about our boys after Twinfan emailed me this afternoon to say: “And listen- get off the ledge. They’re going to do this.”
Actually it should be Second Half-, shouldn’t it, because we’re past the 81-game mark, right?
I have only one thing to say…FUCK the Junior Circuit! (And the DH they rode in on!!!)
The DH is not perfect but it sure beats watching a pitcher try and hit something.
Anyone heading down to check out any of the Arizona series this weekend? I would be all over it, but we leave for Eureka Friday morn.
Well, two days of rest. I hope all the Giants are healing especially Bruce who, I hope, got a lot of good information from the people he talked to at the game.