Why is This a Big Deal?
Can anyone explain to me what the big deal is with 3 guys being named “Brandon” on the same team? Marty Lurie invites callers to “weigh in” on this stupid topic all the time. Callers like to debate the “odds” of this happening and I get a kick out of there being such a wide range of odds set by the callers on this chance encounter. Now Alex Pavlovic is writing a story about it at his blog today. I don’t get the interest. It’s not like they’re named “DickSucker” or something truly unique. I know lots of guys named “Brandon”. It’s a normal name sans controversy. Anyway, I don’t get it. Maybe these guys do:
__________________________
On to more important things. Colorado. The stadium the Sherpa’s built. Tonight two lefties face off, one of them good (ours) and one of them not very good (theirs). As usual in Colorado, I have no feel or idea for what’s in store. Predictions?
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Flavor, I have to mention this, since you have Marty Lurie in your opening monologue . . . My cousin, Greg had dinner with Marty Lurie last night. Snarkk, myself, and possibly Willie are going to the San Jose Giants game this Friday and my cuz knows this ball park (as well as the Phone Park and Candlestick Park) like the back of his hand. Specifically, I had questions about directions/access to the stadium, parking, a good place to meet friends, food, etc. He wrote this email to me:
“Hi Steve,
Sorry I couldn’t call you since I just got home from having dinner with Marty Lurie in SF at Original Joe’s.
I had answered a trivia question about a month ago for the chance to have dinner with Marty.
I ended up going with Steven, the guy who I coach with (you were my next choice if he couldn’t make it).
Dinner was held in a private room with about 15 of us telling SF Giant stories. Unfortunately, I/we will not be able to join you on Friday. (his daughter redacted) has softball practice from 5-7pm. Thanks for the invite!
How long are you in town for? I would definitely want to have you over for dinner or go to a ballgame before you leave.
Love,
Greg”
No, I don’t know if “Beer Can” was in attendance. Yes, I am pissed I didn’t get to go (especially, if the lovely “Beer Can” was in attendance).
that’s awesome! I’ve heard about that contest, they seem to run lots of trivia questions for it. Sounds like he had a great time.
Flav, I haven’t spoken with him yet, but I know he probably enjoyed it. He had dinner with Jeff Kent and other old timers about a month ago. My cuz has KNBR on speed dial for these contests. I would say 75-80% of his ball game tickets are via contests that he has won (and he plays just about all of them). One season, he won a contest to either Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe for a vacation. I also have to mention this, his daughter is a great softball player and I am hoping she gets a college scholarship (she’s that good) after she graduates high school.
It’s nice to know those contests aren’t rigged. I always wondered that
Just spoke to my cousin and yes, Beer Can was there. He agrees that she is hot! LOL.
That is an awesome story blade.
Thanks Dirt and Chi . . . Greg wanted to know the web URL of the Flap, so I know he appreciates the comments!
Cool-ass story…
That’s pretty cool Blade. Most of you probably remember the “Team KNBR” promo that they ran during the nineties. If you signed up, you were automatically entered into all kinds of contests. One morning during the Frank and Mike show, they called out my buddies name, in which he had ten minutes to call back and claim his prize. I woke him up (it was like 7am) and told him to call the number. Low and behold he won a trip for two to Atlantic City for a boxing match at Trump Plaza. We both were nineteen and had a blast on that trip. I can’t even remember the title fighters, one was a white guy who had won a gold in the Olympics in 94 I think…The previous year Pete Franklin called out my dad’s name and he ended up winning a baseball signed by the 1993 Giants. Though he got “flushed” by Pete when asked what he thought of the prize and my dad said he didn’t even know what he had just won 🙂
That is awesome WJ! I have never been to Atlantic city and I would love to visit, especially to see a boxing match. Cool story about your dad too!
good story.
Great story…and I do remember Pete flushing folks…”Flush the Bum!”
that is awesome! The only thing i ever won in one of those contests was a pair of tickets to see The Roots back in ’99 from kmel. Don’t think there are too many hip-hop flappers on here…..as far as the game is concerned, I predict another Zits shutout (insert gay ass smiley face)…btw hey guys
KMEL a hip hop station? Say it aint so!! It was a Rock station in the 60’s and 70’s.
Rox O has been great, with tulo and Blackmon at top of BA leaders with Morneau not far behind, and the Arenado kid had that long hit streak. Pagan, btw, is currently 8th at .321. Rosario usually hurts SF, but often gives it back with his D.
Loo brought up Nate without a bomb yet…if Tulowitzki (currently at .393) went on a Nate like 4-40 slump, he’d still be hitting over .300. He is also league leader with 13 HRs in 42 games, a pace that would mean 40 +. These numbers aren’t sustainable, so it’s about time SF got his slump started along with few others.
Blade, from Fair Oaks on 101 I’d take 87 exit for the Airport to 280 south. At that point on 280 you can stay to the right and hit 7th street exit which comes up right away. Take a right at 7th and you’re 5 minutes from the park. 280 is f-ed up that time of day and I’d avoid it if possible; 101 is too but you won’t be on it for long.
Thanks Willie. Just got off the phone with my cuz and he endorsed 280 as well. Question – Do you think I should back track to 85 from 101 and access 280?
Nah, 85 south sucks. I’d stay on 101 to the Hwy 87 SJ airport exit and from there I think it’s relatively smooth sailing.
Fantastic! What time do you and snarkk want to meet there? I’m easy as far as the time goes. My cuz said there is only one entrance into the stadium, so meet outside there before buying tickets? Parking is out beyond the outfield and he said it costs about $5. Let me know what works best for you guys . . .
Wow, that is very cool, Steve. You’re right, “Beer Can” would have provided a tall glass of Good Lookin’ but may’ve distracted the congregants, and they may have therefore committed a verbal faux pas or two, as Archie Bunker did when Sammy Davis Jr. came to his house (“would you like some sugar with that eye?”).
Pawlie, my cousin asked about you, e.g., spelling of your name and name of your books . . . I think you just rang up a couple of sales on 2 of your baseball books. Smiles.
Deep bow. How is he related to Aunt Mary, if at all?
Nephew to her. He lives in Santa Clara near Troy Tulowitski’s dad and is on a first name basis with him.
No, I am actually in the SF bay area (Sunnyvale). I am going to the SJ Giants minor league game with Willie and snarkk on Friday though. Pawlie, I wont return home until next Tuesday (so the Giants match up is out).
I should learn how to pay attention better.
Whatever we predict for the game tonight will be predictably unpredictable in a predictable way, give or take. Surprises will abound.
Heard on KNBR that Tulo is hitting .571 at Coors so far. Kruk semi-alleged that that kind of average is not possible this far into the season without getting the signs. Could be a cheating controversy now, instituted by Kruk. BTW blade, how far into the season before Tulo pulls a groin or something?…
I am praying this happens for tonight (albeit, I don’t wish permanent damage to anyone, especially a Fremont High alumnus).
Are you going to the game? I’ve said before, I’d not be opposed to a Flapalooza in Denver.
Tulo has openly panned on the Giants…him having “dislike” for them would be putting it mildly. I get it that he is a local guy, but if he has that much disdain for a local club (OUR Giants)…fuck him. I could give a shit less what happens to his sorry ass.
Wait, so you’re saying there are a bunch of players named Brandon on the big club? A good contest would be a caption for the pic in the lead. Thunder Cats Are Gooooo!?!?
Isn’t every other boy child now named Brandon?…
Rockies team BA is .299, second in NL is Miami with .263. How does one team hit 36 points higher than the second place team? Is there another humidor controversy brewing?…
Is there somewhere that breaks down there home BA vs their away BA? just wondering.
http://tinyurl.com/o6fk6m5
Click on the “select split” button to toggle home vs away stats…
Baseball reference site I think does Kevin. The disparity is unbelievable, e.g., as snarkk points out – Tulo is batting .571 at Coors . . . Away? He is batting .255. Meh. I get in arguments all the time with Sherpa fans who say the altitude has a minimal effect on stats. I usually respond, “What cave did you just exit from?” They are totally delusional about anything having to do with altitude.
By the by, Arenado and Rutledge (who doesn’t play much) are 2 of only a few players in Colorado that have better road stats then away. An anomaly.
It would be a joke if Helton made the Hall of Fame. I know he has some good road numbers, too. But still. There’s no way he didn’t benefit greatly from the thin air of the ballpark.
Tulo’s OPS at Coors is 1.705…
“Kruk semi-alleged that that kind of average is not possible this far into the season without getting the signs.”
Ah, Krukow and his sign-stealing obsession. Even Kuiper has started laughing about it during the broadcasts. Krukow is kind of intriguing in this regard. How much of his act is just an act? All this supposed insider knowledge about each umpire, that you never hear anyone in MLB talking about. Where does he get that information? Has he ever said? And his “so and so takes 3.4 seconds to get to second, and catcher so and so takes 1.3 seconds to throw to second.” Where does he get those numbers? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Kuiper chuckle about that a time or two.
—-
Regarding the humidor…..one of the many great moments of 2010 was when the Giants challenged the league on whether anyone was monitoring the Rockies’ use of the humidor, and it turns out the league had total egg on its face; no outside monitor was keeping a watch on what the Rockies were doing. Lincecum challenged it during a game, and the Giants challenged it after the game, and the Rockies suddenly had a league monitor. And “coincidentally” the Rockies’ went into a tailspin that they’ve only recently been coming out of.
It COULD have been a coincidence. But it just LOOKED bad.
There’s info out there on home plate ump impacts on games, in terms of home wins/losses, Ks, walks, etc. All for betting purposes, of course. On some home plate umps, there is an obvious prevalence for the home team to win, few have a prevalence of the away team winning. I’d like to see these stats near the end of the season. You’d hope that the stat would be around 50-50 home/away for every ump. http://www.statfox.com/mlb/umpiremain.asp http://www.sportsbookgurus.com/sports/mlb/umpire-statistics.html
zum, I don’t know, but wouldn’t be surprised that Fangraphs or some site somewhere has info on every pitchers average time from stretch move to plate to ball in catcher’s glove, and catchers’ average “unload” time to second on steals. They’ve got just about everything else these days…
It would be amusing to check Kruk’s evals of individual umps for consistency over the years.
I think I have seen Kruk with a stop watch in the booth from time to time so maybe he is doing his own timing on the pitch delivery. Who knows?
He could be timing how long it takes Kuip to chow down a Brat with kraut while broadcasting…
Is the league still monitoring the humidor, and which balls come out of there? If the league has gone lax on that, it’s a legitimate issue to be raised by other teams.
Rosario’s batting average is .417 (5-for-12) vs. Bumgarner since last season. Arenado is slugging .500 in 14 ABs against Bum since last season. Tulo also has a .500 slugging % in 12 ABs against Bum.
blade, the Thai army just declared martial law in Bangkok, and has taken over the city.
Any real impact on anything over there?…
Really? I hadn’t heard the latest . . . Paul was there before this latest clash and he indicated it wasn’t a big issue, especially in the tourist areas. However, this is different and I would imagine that tourists are staying away. That being said, I would love to hear Paul’s take on what is going on . . .
Has Nixon gotten us out of Cambodia yet?
Just my take, but I agree with Zumiee regarding the Humidor. I recall the incident where the Giants questioned it’s use and asked about whether it was being monitored. Sherpas were resentful of this (and embarrassed as Zum pointed out). Fuck them. I’ve always maintained that baseball shouldn’t be played there and if they are going to play there, then GET RID OF THAT FRICKIN’ CIGAR HOUSING.” In my opinion, drying out the baseballs is the same thing as a pitcher using a spitball.
I also agree that Todd Helton does NOT deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. His .287 away BA is run of the mill compared to his home .345 BA. Next . . . By the by Chi – Regarding Tulo, he HATES all teams that he competes against. Ironically, fans in Colorado – who are very laid back – dislike him for speaking his mind. Personally, I am sort of fiery too when it comes to competing (I will run over your grandmother if it means a score in football, basketball, baseball or tiddly winks), so I admire guys like him and Pedroia of the Red Sox. Same deal with Pence – I wish all players would show their appreciation of playing baseball by running out every fucking grounder to short or 2nd. Very few show that passion. Anywho, I like Tulo . . . except, as you said, when he is competing against the Giants.
I’ll tip my cap to his talent as a ball player, but it ends there for me with an emphatic FUCK YOU, TULO!
Blade mentioned Tulo’s stats (home/away) at 9:21. Here’s the breakdown home/away for the team:
Home: .352 / .396 / .585 / .981
Away: 251 / .299 / .411 / .711
So, in that same post, Blade mentions the Sherpa fans not seeing how the altitude can make a difference. I think these numbers shine just a “tad bit” of light on the topic (100 points lower in road average and OBP, almost 200 points lower in SLG, and almost 300 points lower in OPS. Yeah right…the altitude doesn’t play into it at all.
I would be curiuos to know the answer about whether or not the humidor is being monitored by someone other than a Sherpa lacky (I say, I say…there’s a rooster in my hen house)…
Rox are 15-6 at Coors, 2nd only to the Marlins for best home record in all of MLB. So yeah, when the Rox are feeling good about themselves — and they clearly are — there’s probably no tougher place to play. I’m always satisfied when the Giants escape that altitude-aided bandbox with one win. Strange, too, how the Giants, with the season a little more than a quarter of the way through, will have already made two visits each to Denver and L.A.
Cool stories from Blade and Wilco. Blade, if you’re ever coming all the way to Jersey, Cape May and Wildwood are much better options than A.C., unless you’re hell-bent on gambling and boxing. Although you could probably see a much better fight for free any weekend summer night in Wildwood.
Good info (especially about Wildwood . . . LOL). 🙂
As for the three Brandons: Better that than three Armandos.
Speaking of Brandons….great diving catch by Brandon Phillips yesterday to save the game for the Reds. Hamilton made a great diving catch in centerfield to save the game, also. With no Giants game yesterday, the MLB package delivered a good substitute game.
By the time the extra inning game was over, the ballpark had almost completely emptied out.
In the past, I’ve said that diving catches by good hitters generally aren’t worth it in the long run (a la Pagan’s injury), but obviously that’s a hard thing to think of at the time. The player is just thinking “I’ve got to make the play.” But, in general, players need to be wise about it. Blanco diving is different than Pagan diving.
Short video by Tim Kurkjian on Bochy’s big head: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10942009
🙂
That’s great.
New rock band…Big Head Bochy and the Bay City Bombers…
I’ve been reading Donna Tartt’s excellent novel “The Goldfinch.” Here’s another book to add to my baseball reading list. It was published this month:
http://www.baseballroundtable.com/book-review-1954-by-bill-madden-a-fun-and-thought-provoking-rear/
Whoever wrote the blurb for the book has the Cleveland Indians winning the 1954 world series. . .
Doh!
Winning tonight just got tougher. No Pagan and no Posey in the lineup. No word on what’s keeping Posey out of the lineup.
Yeast infection? I kid, I kid.
🙂
Frickin’ fantastic . . . I had a friend visit me from Sacramento and I wasn’t able to take advantage of this early red flag from Zumiee. Instead, I have Posey starting on 2 Fan Duel tournaments, so I’m screwed royally before the games have barely started.
Nerve irritation for Posey in his back. Day to day . . . Which means a month?
It’s all those swipe tags…
News on Posey, and also Hudson (says he is ready to go Thursday), plus the line-up…
http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2014/05/20/buster-posey-shelved-with-nerve-irritation-in-lower-back-hector-sanchez-catching-for-sf-giants/
Colvin Blanco and Sanchez vs Pagan Belt and Posey? No problem. Could see a big game from the scrubs.
Fortunately Morales is a Rh.
Umm . . . Last I checked Salty, he was a lefty.
As for the Brandon thing, yeah, no biggee, but I do think the double play bit of Brandon to Brandon to Brandon is kinda cool. As for the situation in Thailand, the Thai Army supports the anti-government Yellow Shirts, while the Bangkok Police support the current Red Shirts government. Seems like the Army is just deciding enough already with the protests, we’re going to shut them all down. You could visit Bangkok and walk around freely and would hardly notice. The key thing worth watching will be if this new martial law order is a precursor to the Army declaring another coup to oust the current gov’t… which would only bring the Red Shirts back out in full force, and that’s when it could get nasty. I’m glad I got there a few weekends ago. I think I’ll stay away until Fall, as these next few months could get testy again. Their political situation is completely fucked up. Too bad, I love the Thai people.
Not as cool as 3 outfielders named “DickSucker”…
Kinda puts the all Gary outfield to shame . . .
Although, at a previous job I did work with Bruce and Brenda Cobbledick.
So, the Giants are down to two guys on the bench (Arias and Adrianza). I’m sorry I jinxed it last week by mentioning after Belt’s thumb what would happen if any of the regulars go down? This better not be a barn burner game, else Bochy’s gonna run out of double switches pretty fast with only two bench dudes available. Bum should be on PH duty tonight…
More strangeness in the Dodger organization. One of the all-time dugout fights:
http://www.complex.com/sports/2014/05/miguel-olivo-bites-alexander-guerreros-ear
Olivo can say bye bye. Umm, let’s see – do we keep the one eared prospect or the 35 year old has been?
Yeah, definitely not a good career move for Olivo.
I believe firmly that there is no steroid or HGH use in the minor leagues…
Just what we all predicted: a pitchers’ duel. 🙂
Let’s go, Mets.
How many teams has Randy Wolf been on? 13? Some name, too.
just catching up on the game now. I’m fairly certain Belt would have done a better job than Morse on that bunt/throw to first base. Not certain, but pretty sure. #Morsecan’tplayfirstbase
MadBum may be the second most dangerous hitter in this lineup tonight. So far, nobody looks too dangerous…
Lakers got the 7th pick in the NBA draft, Cleveland got the first pick for the 3rd time in 4 years. Somebody must have mixed up the envelope to put in the freezer…
Or? Making it more attractive for LeBron to opt out and go back to Cleveland after this year’s finals? I just read that Cleveland had < 2% chance of getting the first pick this year…
My exact thoughts. By the by, did you and Willie see my earlier post at 8:47am about the game Friday?
Bum had the green light at 3-0 with guys on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Maybe Blanco can do something…
He DID do something! Clutch triple for Blanco and 2 RBIs…
Blanco comes through.
Eat that Tulo.
Pence with the speed and infield hit — nice RBI there…
The White Shark strikes!!!!
I like him, rooting for him.
I like him, I don’t like his .135 BA…
Tanaka Human; Losing to Cubs.
Waaa waaa waaa . . . Fuck Cuddyer.
The LH bat’s lead the way. Like I said earlier, good thing Morales is a Rhp. 😉
Well, hitting Tulo saved a coupla pitches to walk him…
Alright Bum.
So the Dodger problems hit AAA Albuquerque now, Miguel Olivo bit part of Alex Guerrero’s ear off. Wow.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Protest the frickin’ play dammit!
Unbelievable luck . . . At Coors Launching Pad, that type of inning typically turns into a 5 spot for the Sherpas. 🙂
I’m a pussy Berkeley left-winger, but I do love the fact that MadBum can stomp the shit out of anyone else.
Machi teasing the rest of the staff by stranding the runners *he* put on base.
They used to call that getting “lowbridged”
Hope Petit’s watching…
Colvin with a great at bat. Yes.
Colvin! Revenge of the ex-Sherpa!!!
All right, the Social Security eligible pitcher doesn’t get over on us . . . LOL
Colvin in the clutch!
Why didn’t Colvin get 3rd?
No shit. Tulo must have shown him his pay stub, while telling him who he was.
Close it out, Mr. Romo.
Buckle up….
Romoromoromo. Not a good start.
Fuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrk
2 inches…..
Mistake there.
Romo’s hanging shit…
Down and away
You gotta be kidding me.
You could see it coming.
Yup.
That about sums up my sports day.
You’re not the lone ranger Mac . . . Also, sums up my activity in the stock market today. Fuck!
My daughter’s HS softball team blew an 8-0 lead in the final inning and lost 10-8.
Damn . . . Sorry to hear that. How’s she doing?
She’s fine. Soccer’s her main sport anyway.
Well that sucked.
Kept willing him to throw it further outside. Nope. Bozo summed it up. That sucked
Don’t know why he even got near the strike zone. Ahhhhh fuck.
Three times he threw his slider in the strike zone and on numero 3, Arenado did not miss.
Well, there’s still time to watch an obscure, but satisfying, low budget 75 minute 1950’s flick before retiring tonight.
The Blob?
Not feeling good about Matty tomorrow. He’s hanging shit at sea level.
It rhymes:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043812/
85 minutes, actually.
Bochy might consider that Romo’s slider doesn’t slide much at 5280 feet. If you keep throwing frisbees in the zone, one of ’em is going to get hit. That last one was right over the plate middle in with a neon “hit-me” sign. I’d put Machi or Casilla in to close at this altitude…
I didn’t see that bottom 9th possible double play that Hicks apparently did not throw well to Crawford, so Crawford didn’t throw to first. Was that a doable DP, and Hicks botched it? If they make the DP, they win…
I didn’t think that Hicks could have gotten it to Craw any quicker, or quick enough to turn the DP…
Thanks Chi…