No Flaccid Bats Around Here
You’d think I’d be feeling negative about last night’s victory that was ripped away from us. Three errors including Sandoval’s idiotic final gaffe will always be a pretty huge stumbling block to securing the W. Voggy continues to pitch like he’s in the dire-est need of some solid Nicole action. Sadly, I fear it is a plastic free environment at Casa de Voggy…..
But the fact remains, we are hitting the baseball. And I’m not as down on Pink Slip as the rest of Giants Nation. I feel like our pitching is *ok* right now. So I feel like the team can sustain some shaking pitching every now and again. They can weather suspect defense.
Because I have confidence that they can score runs.
Thoughts?
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Great pictures in the last thread. The one of Crawford is priceless. An amazing moment captured and a great story with him ending up as the Giant’s SS.
I’m good with the improved offense angle since Pence and Panda have basically been useless so far on offense. If they get going, the team should be able to average 4 rpg this season. Based on one week of games, that is. But, the starting rotation looks like two studs and then trailer trash. Seriously. So far, 11th in the NL in ERA. Surprised it is that good…
mmm. it’s still pretty early yet. Crawford hit great for the first month or so last year, .300 with pop, before cratering. I love Pagan, but he’s not going to hit .440 like he is now; Posey is at .350 and Morse is also at .400. And Belt I doubt will lead the majors in HRs come September. Like Loo said last night, great to be front runner.
I thought they could score a lot more runs than last year, but our buddy Pythagoras would say there is also the other half of the equation: pitching and defense have to improve to limit runs against. And that’s 2 errors for Hicks already this week in a couple starts. Sloppy stuff by AZ too, even Parra dropped one he had bead on.
Disappointing to me that the scrub back ups like Campana and Pennington were the ones that did the most damage. Pennington got dumped off by Beane to AZ after batting .215 in 2012, and he has had a lot of comp at SS for AZ too and doesn’t play all that much. Good fielder but hit .242 for them last year with .618 OPS. Last night 3 hits 2 rbis singles off Petit steals 2b and scores the winning run.
Campana bounced around Cubs system, a speed guy puff hitter with a total of 12 XBHs in 375 ABs. Last night he’s credited with 4 hits including the dribbler Pablo f-ed up and the bloop GWRBI. Casilla gets a BS but deserved better fate.
I know some of you guys don’t like Papa and don’t trust him. Anyway, I heard him say on radio yesterday or the day before that according to his sources, Panda came in at 237 lbs or thereabouts after Camp Panda (after the 2010 WS win and before 2011 ST). After his training offseason before coming into ST now, he was in at around 251. I might be off a few pounds off on either of those numbers, but the point made was he came in significantly higher this offseason compared to the supervised workouts in AZ. For what it’s worth…
Snarkk, I’m not certain I am following your post regarding Panda’s weight, i.e., are you saying that he reported to spring training heavier than past years (despite reported training improvements and weight loss)?
Heavier reporting to this year’s ST after Camp Venezuela supervised by his brothers and whomever compared to reporting for 2011 ST after the 2010 post-World Series “Camp Panda” in Arizona supervised by the Giants…
14 pounds of muscle?
Campana in 2 yrs with cubs, 300 some ABs, high OPS of .607. Last year with AZ 1 triple 11 singles in 46 ABs…sounds like Manny Burriss numbers, another forgotten member of Bowker gang. Tho I don’t recall Manny getting 4 hits in a game for Giants, ever.
Shades of Bucky Dent I guess.
“FWIW”…coming out of Papa, I can tell you exactly what it’s worth, but I think you already know.
I don’t care what Sando weighs, and I don’t know what he weighed when hit .300 twice for an entire season, or how heavy he was when he hammered Verlander. And no one else here does either, least of all Greg Papa.
I do care how he plays and what he does to help the team. If he is in better shape and can maintain that, it should translate into better play, esp defensively. Last year he was a disappointment, along with a number of his teammates. Everyone seems to think he is slimmed down, tho I don’t know if that is just the company line.
But how well he plays will determine his value and whether he is worth keeping as far as I’m concerned, not a number on a scale.
I saw Campana play twice last year in Reno. I wasn’t impressed, and frankly I’m surprised he’s in the bigs. Tyler Skaggs on the other hand…..Impressed the hell out of me—even as he got shelled.
Do you think Aaron Gordon is coming out? MIght be there and a good fit for the Kings in the 7 slot where most likely they will pick.
…and amen to your comments about Pablo’s weight. I don’t care what he weighs either and I’ve been skeptical that getting in shape was all he needed to do get back on a path to superstardom. At least now we don’t have to endure scads of “Pablo is struggling—he needs to lay off the chile relenos” posts.
Maybe he is simply a guy who is going to be prone to slumps, but end up hitting 270 and driving in 80 runs from year to year–with occasional flashes of brilliance. And those are decent numbers. I’m even willing to overpay for those numbers cuz I love the vibe Pablo brings to the ballpark.
I just don’t want to pay Posey money for numbers like that.
Pablo’s throw last night was a major flub, but there are other players that could share some goat horns. Belt’s failure to get the runner in from 3rd with one out in the 8th inning, and Vogie’s failure to bunt two runners over earlier in the game come to mind. Part of being a good hitting team is also the situational hitting, and there were some breakdowns in that last night.
That loss last night still lingers this morning. But, hey, a new game tonight, and a chance to get rid of the yucky feeling.
Loo’s post about the “Deluxe Mobile” cracked me up. I had never heard of the Deluxe Mobile before. Pretty hilarious toy. A view into a different era:
The toy looks a little homemade, though. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed that Zumie. Amazing the way kids killed time back then.
I guess the toys say a lot about an era. One of my favorite toys as a kid was Major Matt Mason, a toy astronaut, so you know I was growing up in the ’60s.
Major Matt Mason was made of some kind of rubber, and had the cool wire articulation of arms and legs, and sometimes the wires would stick right out of his hands and feet and pierce your hands, in the great traidition of dangerous toys from those days.
The “toys” of today are electronic devices, so kids can sit like soulless zombies playing mind-numbing video games.
Major Matt Mason was an “old school” toy. The child’s imagination had to provide all the storyline and action sequences.
http://tinyurl.com/mfooogv
That one stung, last night. I will give Vogey credit for grit…I was truly surprised that he was in position for the W after watching his meltdowns in the 2nd and 3rd.
Zumie notes the blown opportunities for some good situational hitting. Hey, you win some and lose some there. Last night the Giants could not get it done. I would add Pablo’s inability to make up for his gaff, too.
But the error by Pablo burned my ass more than anything else. That was so fucking boneheaded. If he just eats the ball, the Snakes have the bases juiced but there is still two outs. Come on…that’s little league shit, there. He needs to be cognizant of the situation and act accordingly.
I was all over “sign Pable NOW” yesterday. This morning? Trade his ass for a bag of balls. (JK, of course.)
Let’s get healthy on the Sherpas for a few games starting tonight. Big Country gets the series started, and then we get to see if Cain can rebound.
Craig – where are the seats for the 25th? I am thinking of trying to get another so my son can join us.
Chi—they are in the club level far down the left field line. I’m guessing, but I want to say section 233.
Club level, section 233 seats 9-14
Thanks Dawg and Dirt – I found the email with all those details (Section 233, seats 9-14), but need to know the row. I may try to get my son a ticket if he wants to go.
Earlier this week I tried using the 3-d seat chart for the seats and wasn’t able to view this location. I don’t think there is a row in this location. Maybe Flavor can chime in.
tickets are at home so I can’t tell you the row till tonight
Thanks, Craig. Looking at StubHub, there are seats for $39 in Row H, so assuming this is the row. Shoot me a text or email later once you get home.
Maybe we can find the same usher again and with BF’s charms, can manage to hang out where we did at the Flapalooza…
Great hitting is exciting and sometimes even more. But we do have the old baseball adage about pitching and defense winning games. Vogie is struggling rather than economical like he was a couple years back. Five inning stints wear down the pen. Pablo may be a bit more sensitive than what we think of with jolly fat boys. Obviously the contract thing could be discombobulating him. One thing for sure is that he should not be hitting in the three slot. Bochy needs to start Arias at third for a game or two just to send a message.
To WillieD’s point: taking the first 10 games as a sample, the Giants are averaging 5.5 runs scored, 4.6 allowed. The latter figure looks to me like it’s closer to a realistic season long stat.
I also like Wilco’s bravura POTD, but my own perspective was tested last night as I bore witness to what turned into a bummer of an endurance test. I was also at the notorious Belt 5 K extra inning debacle last year . . . . I just don’t go to *that* many games a year . . . .
Morse hit a ball about as far as anybody can to the opposite field last night. It was awesome.
I can no longer stand seeing my typing fuck ups, and I refuse to proofread everything I bang out with my sorry 2 finger technique (never took that high school typing class, have never suffered carpal tunnel-like symptoms, either) — can you grant me editing privileges to my posts, BF?
yeah. I haven’t done that in a while, let me figure it out and you should see an email come your way. An invitation of sorts.
If SF allows 4.6 rpg for the season, we’re screwed…
Your “flaccid” in the hed may be the first time in history that adjective did not refer to a penis or its aptitude for performance. Did you know that “flak-sed” used to be considered the *proper* pronunciation and is still listed as a variant at Merriam-Webster? M-W has this oral/aural tool whereby the word is made audible. I wonder what my coffee-shop compatriots thought about hearing that one. (Fecking Giants kept me up way too late.)
Not as far east as Macdog and you, but I bailed at 12:05am mountain time.
Whew. That means I only browsed adult sites for 1.5 hours, if I retired at 3:30.
Don’t be modest Pawlie. I’m sure you went all-in instead of just browsing . . . .
And yeah, meeeethinks Pablo is brainfucking himself over this contract impasse. I wonder if he’s thinking of dumping his sleazeball agents. They don’t seem to be helping things along. And then you have him chatting up Borass.
I like the optimistic nature of this thread…Me thinks one of Pablo’s agents is his brother so….
Thoughts on the play by Morse in the OF last night. I read in one of the talking heads’ pieces that Morse “severly misplayed a ball.” This was the play in which he played the ball of the wall and fired it back into the infield to prevent a run from scoring. Cannot recall whose piece I was reading, but the point was that Perez or Blanco probably makes that play. I’m not sure I agree that either of those two track down that ball. But regardless, the point I had a problem with was the comment that Morse “let the ball go over his head.” I actually thought he did a pretty decent job of playing the ball.
Thoughts?
Well, he’s verrrrrrrrrrrrry slow going back on a given ball. My initial thought was Blanco would have gotten there. Shit, it I was Morse, I’d be cheating deep anyway.
In other words, he didn’t misplay it, he just doesn’t have the wheels to get back quickly enough.
Agree, Charlie. I think we all knew Morse didn’t have the wheels of Blanco or Perez going in. My point was the writer (may have been Hank) made it sound like he butchered the play big time. I beg to differ…given who he is, I thought he played it quite well. Giants didn’t sign his ass for his wheels…I liked his stick last night…that’s what they were looking for…
I really doubt Blanco or Perez makes that ketch, that ball was a smoking line drive one hop off the warning track.
Morse played it well with a one hand grab off the wall.
The only reason he was still in there was he was gonna get one more AB in the bottom of the 8th,otherwise they would have pulled him like they did in the 9 th.It was Panda’s error that did them in.
I agree, Kat….
He did not misplay the ball, which was smoked– we had the entire play in front of us in section 227. The ball was well over his head. Maybe the other OFers make the play, maybe not.
We Score we win!
We commit dumb errors we lose!
Panda’s was a brainfart, with the lead there, no chance to get a speedy runner,has to eat it like Chi said.
Baseball players really don’t need to be in great athletic condition. Think how little time that are actually in motion during the course of a game.
Yeah, those NFL nose guards are in such great shape…
Loo – there was a classic interview with Kruk many years ago. Can’t remember the woman’s name interviewing him. She was asking about his legendary appetite for food, and how he could maintain the athletic standards of a All Star first baseman. He answered “Lady, I’m not an athlete…I’m a ballplayer!”
If and when Scutaro and Affeldt return, the 2012 World Champs would be amazingly intact. Hudson for Zito the only major change that comes to mind.
Morse for Blanco, Perez, Torres and Cecil B. DeMille’s cast of thousands in left?
You’re right, Blade….although Vungo was a Met in 2012. We had the Melkman and Blanco.
Good catch on Torres. How soon I’ve forgotten the Melkman.
I have not always liked the way Affeldt has pitched and I’m tired if him getting hurt all the time, but he’s easily the coolest, most down to earth guy on the team.
He recounted the tale (on Knbr) of facing the Beer Batter last night in San Ho and it was just a fantastically told story by a pro ball player who “gets it”
i remember how well he spoke during a pregame ceremony for Brian Stow…
Nice to hear re Affeldt.
I’m down with the Morse/Jack Clark look-alike call. I also think he looks a bit like Damone from Fast Times.
“Did you call me a scalper!? I provide a service—and the service costs money.”
Look at you: member of the honor roll, assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater. I’m tellin’ ya, Rat, if this girl can’t smell your qualifications, then who needs her, right?
What’s taking so long for blame to be assigned on the rundown? Inquiring minds want to know.
I agree with the synopsis offered on the boob tube…Crawford butchered the run down. Throw should have gone to the plate…
Bumgarner’s beard looks like it was drawn on to his face by a cartoonist.
I see a bit of Ben Afleck circa that movie about smuggling diplomats out of the middle east in MadBum.
I didn’t see it, but I can appreciate the need to contrast his look with the well maintained beards of those Imams.
I have always said Bum reminds me of one of my favorite cartoon characters…Paw Rugg from the Hillbilly Bears…
Ha, I remember that, Chi. Probably an unconscious homage to your tribute on my part 🙂
Pablo may need to put on a few pounds to regain his strength.
Pablo couldn’t hit the broad side of a Dairy Queen…
Incredible stat care of the Rox announcers…There have been 40 big leaguers named Brandon since 2000…There were zero prior to 2000.
I wonder what name is second on that list. Tyler?
On the flip side, where have all the “Willies” gone?
Hicks needs to field his position better then he has.
He’s making me yearn for Chuck Hiller.
Fuck. If Goldy is Timmy’s nemisis, then Cargo is Bum’s (number 5).
I am ready to see both 2nd 3rd mixed-up a bit (Adrianza at 2nd and Arias some at 3rd)….
Just when you think you have two “solid” starters….
MudBug flexing some muscle….
That was crushed. Sheesh, only a 3 bagger. LOL.
Fuckin’ ballpark.
Very similar to Morse’s last night (he definitely thought his was gone)…
Fuck…Bum crushed that.
Damn, I thought Bum got all of it.
LQTM Loo…I love that yard…
Come on…it’s time for a rally…
The camera trails the situational hitting failure in the dugout . . . it weighs upon the young man, who thinks “if only my name were Willie!”
I am beat. Watching this game from my bedroom. That means “vipbox”. The Rockies announcers are horrible. Complete homers who give you nothing but cliches and info any baseball fan already knows. Not sure how these guys have jobs……..
De La Rosa about to crumble like a cheap suit. Come on Brandon – take advantage of the situation.
I knew it.
wow
Fuck yeah Bum!
Fuck yes
and this is after, I ,might add, these shitty Colorado announcers told us that when the pitching coach went out there and quietly whispered knowledge to delaRosa, he was all fixed and good to go. They patted themselves on the back after he got 2 outs and were like, “see, inning is gonna be over, it was all about the whisper job of the pitching coach (as opposed to talking normally to him on the mound).
They are speechless right now and I fucking love it.
This is the de facto blue print of how the Rockies lose games. I’ll enjoy the Denver Post tomorrow, especially the comments. LOL.
Who are these guys? Are these regular announcers? I never listen to Rockies games. They are fucking idiots.
Drew Goodman . . . http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=col
and George Frazier (a complete idiot IMO) . . . http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=col#george_frazier
Flav, this is their 1st string crew. They have been there about 10 years (at least) I think. They are homers to the max. All knowledgeable fans in Denver recognize how ludicrous they sound.
thanks for the info.
Once again, I embrace Kruk and Kuip, all their faults, everything they are and will be. And thank them for not being anything like these fucking tools.
WTF, I missed a MadBum slam dong?
my kid has my phone. I’m wondering if the “Bum Dong” text was set off?
I’m assuming the K/K team gave us the stats on Giants pitchers who have hit grand slams. Anyone feel like kicking that info down?
Only other one is Estes
(Courtesy of Kuip and Flem on the radio)
I predict the Giants win this one with a late field goal…13-10….
Per Wikipedia, before Bumgarner, Shawn Estes was the only pitcher in Giants franchise history to hit a grand slam home run (on May 24, 2000)…
Ah…didn’t see your post San…rare company (Gigante pitchers who have hit a grand salami)….
Yeah, I was sure there were gonna be more guys than that, but I guess I had that Tony Cloninger deal in the back of my head.
Felipe Alou played in that game, while his baby son Moises was being born.
Estes?
I had a bet with myself that it was The Caveman.
I was thinking Gaylord Perry
nice one.
My thoughts exactly…Don Robinson could hit…
Two pitchers in…ha ha just got a text that said “Shuck Dong”….the entire history of this franchise have hit grand slams? That almost begs my attention to looking at how hapless that stat is. How many times have Giants pitchers come up with the bases loaded since they came to SF? I’m almost afraid to look……
The real question is, what is the total % of HRs hit by SF pitchers that were grand slams. McCovey’s grand slams were about about 4% of his total. He’s 4th on the the all time GS list.
I’ll guess that SF pitchers have hit between 80-100 HRs over the years. If so, 2 grand slams is in line with the overall % of grand slams per HR for hitters in general. I’ll also bet their pitcher HR totals are similar to other NL teams.
Nope. Anyone can run into one.The staggering number of times a pitcher comes to the plate with the bases loaded, AND NEVER RUNS INTO ONE, is going to blow my mind. If I can find it. And I’m hitting the sack, I’ll fidle around with this tomorrow unless someone emails me the info before that…..
hmmm, I don’t think you’ll find anything anomalous.
I remember a game where Terry Mulholland ripped a long homer deep into the left field bleachers. He was getting shelled, but he got one back off his own bat—and it wasn’t a cheapie.
Sherpa announcers almost seemingly attributing the Giants lead to luck, e.g., Belt’s double on the chalk. Idiots. Then laughing about Hicks head almost being severed off by that pitch.
I dig the new alternate jerseys….well, have always loved the script lettering…
Me too!
Keep stranding these runners on3rd.
I’ve seen enough of Adrianza…Swap him with Abreu in Fresno.
We still have Abreu? Cool.
Trying to remember a game where I saw A G’s pitcher go deep and I’m drawing a complete blank.
Ah, so Estes and Bum were the only SF pitchers with a salami. Four others from NY, including Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons. Wonder if he was related to Fat Freddie from the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers? Hmmmm….No fooling…
Nice play by Stubbs.
Yeah, I wouldn’t argue with bringing up Abreu…he sucked in ST but maybe he has something…
Fucking Pablo needs to know when to eat the damned ball…WTF…
Fuck, that run is on Pablo.
And let’s hope the next one is NOT on Perez…
ANOTHER fucking bonehead mistake throwing to home…
Giants need to tighten their shit up re: the fundamentals…absolute bullshit…
Fucking heads up play!
A ha!
Sweet! Outstanding throw by Perez.
About time the Giants pulled out some good plays…need to see that shit on a more consistent basis…
Yeah, Pablito is playing his contract down to 5 digits.
Every ab but the hit Belt had ducks on the pond.
He may be losing his grip . . . .
I’m losing mine.
What’s this shit not scoring late lately?
If you separate Kuip from Kruk, I find Kuip a bit less annoying. Kind of reminds me of a couple of the guards on my JV basketball game. Whenever one of them missed practice, it was addition by subtraction big time.
GMen got a break on that call.
Giftie right there.