Getting Beaten By the Much Better Team
Well, that was one that ran true to form, yes? Without Pagan and Sandoval and with literally no one above replacement-level to play DH, the Giants were set up to get destroyed last night. And with Sonny Gray taking the ball tonight, expect another beat d0wn.
Someone on KNBR mentioned this morning that the Giants should skip the DH and just let Bumgarner hit. If you compare Bum’s OPS to the OPS of his replacement-level teammates, it seems on the surface like a good idea. But once you go without a DH you must go without the entire game. And I don’t think anyone wants or needs to see the likes of Casilla busting ass down the first base line again.
I said this at the beginning of the season: the Giants look great this year; as long as not a single player gets injured. Last night, without Pagan and Sandoval, you have a line up stacked with shit. And a line up like that isn’t just a target for a stud team like the A’s to feast on— The Cubs would take us out to the woodshed, too.
_____________________
I’ll give Sabean credit, at least he’s honest. We’ve always joked about wondering whether or not other GM’s even have Sabean’s phone number. Now Sabean is confirming that they do not, in fact, return his phone calls. When Kawakami asked Sabean if he was in on the Sa-marg talks, he replied “We contacted them in the middle of the month and they gave us the impression on 2 or 3 occasions that they’d get back to us. Which they didn’t.”
Ouch. So Sabes and his people can get as far as Theo’s secretary before getting stonewalled. Frankly, it bums me out to find this out……..
I didn’t catch the game last night so I am spared the sorrow this morning. I liked Kawakami’s piece. The ‘no one is untouchable’ comment was interesting. Including Morse in the long range plan of FAs basically tells me Sandoval is gone so may as well move him for something. With his own personal version of MoneyBall that no other GM in the league appears to buy into, Sabean really has no leverage to make a deal so the club as it exists is what it is.
Hard to say that a team 9 games over .500 is bad and I wouldn’t necessarily go that far but the club just doesn’t pass the eye test for me.
Well, we all got to see what a good team can do with speed and small ball. A base hit on a bunt, I have not seen that from a Giant since the Bret Butler days. Sad that is not part of the Giants play. Giants are pretty much a swing away ball club. I agree that not having Sandoval is a big hit to the line up. I am not convinced that without Pagan the Giants can’t win.
Oh and I know what the stats say, but I just don’t see Pagan as a savior of sorts. Every year that Pagan misses games shows what a glaring weakness the Giants farm system is.
Kevin – it is not just Pagan, but whenever ANY starter goes down, it highlights how bare the cupboards are on the farm.
That said, I don’t see Pagan as a “savior,” but outside of Pence, he is the only viable lead-off candidate on the team. And James will be all over this, but I will stick to my guns on this one forever. Pagan DOES seem to provide a spark that no other guy on the team provides. He is SORELY missed on this club…and that is fact.
Steve – I bailed after it hit 5-0 last night. I had no idea that the game was on local TV. I was watching the CSN Bay Area feed, and as Zum mentioned, since the A’s were the home team, I was listening to their announcers. Should have made the same call as John and said fuck this…not watching.
I agree Craig – this team has no margin for injuries (testament to how thoroughly shitty the bench really is), and the loss of Pagan, Pablo, etc. magnifies this.
My thoughts on the team – I don’t think they are as bad as they have been since the nosedive started (I think the three blown saves against the Sherpasbwas the beginning of it all), but they were playing way over their heads in April and May. The true team rests somewhere between that team who had the best record in baseball for two months, and the worthless POS that we saw last night.
I still think if they can get Pagan healthy (really, all of the starters) that they can play some good ball.
One thing for certain, and last night’s game just cemented this for me, the A’s have a DAMNED GOOD club.
This morning on the Murph and Mac show KNBR commented the 3 bench guys Hicks, Arias and Adrianza all batting under .200. Yep one hell of a bench!!
Really? What fucking rock have the geniuses Murph and Mac been hiding under??? We’ve been talking about the sucktitude of this bench for months on The Flap.
Without getting into a debate about Blanco ( I won’t), some moron on Pav’s blog thought that Gregor should try to emulate Arias’ approach,, he wasn’t kidding.
That is funny as hell, Twin. Arias collected his FIRST extra base hit of the year the other day (someone – maybe snarkk had to let me know that he hit ONE). Sigh….
*Monday is funny day. It’s my only funny day. So today you just get my usual incisive and spot-on remarks..
* Good game last night. Clutch performances, thrilling comebacks, everything one might ask for in a rousing Gin Rummy game.
*On that other contest:
*Good to see J.C.’s ERA go down
* Arias raised his average to .183. It’s unclear if that’s a good thing.
*The umpires- all 87 close calls and borderline strikes went the A’s way. That’s my honest and unbiased opinion
* I HATE HATE the Dodgers and the A’s. How much do I hate them? More than Kale Chips and Vlad the Impaler
* Crawford made two really really dumb, stupid ,bonehead decisions last night . But that’s OK, he’s a cool looking dude
* I was kidding about hating the A’s and Bums. That would be silly and juvenile. BTW, have you ever read “Dr. Dan the Bandage Man”? It’s really neat-o..
* Finally, I do these quick hits on the fly, so give me credit for sucking quickly..uh, let me rephrase that..
Sucking hardly?
Bleh. Games like these made me look forward to football season. Not much to glean out of this game other than every tiny mistake on our part leads to a run. Or three. While we get our hits all nicely spread out over the course of the game as to cause as little impact as possible.
Look, Bochy is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with his lineups, but as you know, at the end of the day, if he just stays the course it’s like the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is what is…
Agreed. The re-arranging of chairs is about the best he can do, given the hand he’s been dealt, and barring infusion of new talent. Although he should try something creative once in a while to change the over and over insanity aspect of it. He did send some runners and hit/run tries last night. Not that it did much good…
Having said that, going forward, they can only play one game at a time…
Worst part of the all this is having to listen to deification of Beane and A’s.
Not going into long post about why I don’t buy either, but I will say this: Up to a month ago all Giants fans were in bask mode and pretty convinced SF was headed in right direction. Despite sub par starts from a few vets Giants were doing all the little things right and clicking on all cylinders, having whipped up on likes of Dodgers Braves and Cards on the road while building best record in the NL.
We’ll see how long A’s are able to sustain their good stretch and if it ultimately turns into post season success…something that obviously would be news to Beane and his org.
that was excellent!!
Sabean seems to have his own kind of operating system. Sometimes it works magic, as we’ve seen and enjoyed the fruits of it. Other times, it seems his O/S has completely crashed while other GMs are dashing around making plays. He is who he is, and we alternately suffer for it or live in knowing-dude head-nod land. But it kind of pisses me off that he *seemed* to indicate he learned his lesson last year, not strengthening the bench enough to overcome Pagan’s absence most of last season. *Seemed* to. Here we are, deja vu all over again, and the bench actually seems worse than last year. Right. Bench players are not the weakest link, not the most important thing, etc. But when at least one, and often two, key starters are out, the team seems to face plant a bit, and the bench is surely a part of that. I’m also thinking, maybe it’s just harder than it seems to line up a good bench. So, fuck the bench. The starters need to do their jobs; and someone new might be needed if the current starters ain’t getting it done. Personally… I’m looking forward to see what Sabes does in the next 3 weeks and beyond.
Yeah, I don’t know where I read it or heard it, but Blanco stated that he was not prepared for being a starter last year. But this year he was ready if called upon to be a starter. Good job Gregor.
He may have “been ready” to be a starter, but Blanco is not, nor IMNSHO will he ever be, a starter (well, a quality one, anyway). I like the dude’s energy, but really…he is a 4th or 5th OFer. Expecting him to be in there every day AND to lead-off was a joke.
Someone mentioned the Giants lineup as stacked with shit. I concur.
The A’s are the same as the Dodgers. All this wind up their skirts is peachy (and nauseating), but neither have done anything in the past 25 years.
Until that changes, they are still on the outside looking in. Doesn’t mean shit to the Giants, but at least we can hang on to that.
And not that this team is out of it, but holy shit, the hitting is atrocious these days. 4 shutouts in the last 8 games? IT’S THE HITTING. They can’t seem to get the team all healthy at the same time.
Well, Sabean has to bear the brunt for the state of things going forward. And it don’t look puurty.
Since bowtie, the emphasis has been on developing within so they could remain competitive every year.
I’m repeating myself, but the problem is the drafts of late haven’t produced much. It screws them two ways; no reinforcements and no quality trade bait. So it will be tough to remake this team without streeeeetching that budget…..
Giants have played the worst ball in MLB for the past month+. Nobody’s worse. The A’s pushers on the FM sports station here this morning were actually feeling sorry for Bochy to have to push that lineup out there. My first thought was that’s condescending. Then, after a bit, I thought that it was pretty accurate. The lineup is bad. As others above said, and before ad nauseum, the woes of the farm system are starting to tell. When starters are hurt, there’s virtually no help from this bench. A team is not just the core top 4 or 5 guys that are the meat of the lineup. It’s the bottom 3, too. Hicks, Arias, Blanco, Hector, come on now. That’s AAAA material in the hitting dept. And, Panik is trying, but the guy hasn’t been up long enough to know where the payroll office is. Crawford for some reason has just hit the wall against RHBs. Maybe he’s just tired. The supposed big hitters making the big coin have also laid down. Anyway, until they show some signs of coming out of this, I don’t see this improving to a .550 club or so without Pagan back. Sad to say, and hard to explain, but the evidence is there that he’s absolutely critical to this club hitting…
I would expect some moves by Sabean. Some players have to go, get new ones in here to jump start this mess. HIcks DFA. Why is he here? Sure, get Scutaro up for moral support, if nothing else. Panda should be traded, get some very good prospects in exchange to juice the system. I don’t see him as a LT renewal at the high price he will command to one or more idiotic teams, so deal him now for talent. It will hurt, but not for long. Waiting for Pagan to get better with a bad disk may be like waiting for Godot, so make moves regardless…
Snarkk, unless they’re out of it in 3 weeks they won’t be trading Panda. I’m sure you know that.
I don’t know that. They could be out of it in three weeks, or at least out of it in Sabes’ mind. Or not. Regardless, to me it makes the most sense. Posey goes to third, which is where he should be anyway and will be eventually. They get prospects they desperately need. Some AL team is going to pay him a lot of money in the offseason with a 4+ year deal. And the Giants won’t match, so they end up with a compensatory 1st round pick, which in present value is worth near nada, IMO. I think that bad scenario is very possible. So I would work now to avoid it. Either sign him before the deadline, or trade him. Sabean traded Matt Williams and weathered the S-storm, so he can trade Panda…
Are you saying they would trade Panda even if they were *in* it at the deadline? No fucking way. Have a nice day.
I’m not saying Sabes would, or will. I’m saying that if Panda’s not signed by then, Sabes should, and I would…
As for the Pen, it’s shaky. Have they tired already? Lopez seems MIA. Looking at the replay, Gutierrez comes in and first pitch throws a hit me fastball right down the middle above the knees — crushed for a double. Huh? Is that the pitch plan?…
First two months they were clicking on all cylinders. So, they have proven that they CAN play very good baseball. As I said earlier…I think they were overachieving that first two months…that and almost all of the breaks were going their way. Now? They cannot hit (esp. clutch hits W/RISP), field, throw and pitch worth a shit in the conifines of one game.
I still think they are better than they have shown the last month. If they get healthy I still think they have it in them to make some noise. If Sabes makes some moves, I don’t expect anything earth-shattering (like acquiring the likes of a Samardja or Price)…they just don’t have the trade pieces (empty cupboard in the minors) and the boys who control the purse strings are probably hesitant to throw a ton of money at the current product.
I am SO tired of this shit (and yes…the last month has been SHIT), and am ready to see these guys at least play some sound fundamental ball. IS THAT REALLY ASKING TOO MUCH?
Chi, to me the key is that they’ve stopped hitting HRs. Dead. Cold. Stop. The Saturday comeback win in Diego they had home runs, the Sunday win not. They don’t have the hitters, it appears, that can consistently string together hits in a row game after game to drive in several runs in an inning without a dinger in there somewhere. Remember that when they were hot, a ton of the runs were scored with with 2 down, and that can’t continue all year. They are mostly aggressive hitters that don’t take pitches, take walks, or work hard to build up a rally inning. So, they make virtually every opposing starter look like Cy Young. Contrast that to the A’s who really work the pitcher, then pounce on the mistake pitch. I don’t know why the HRs were so heavy early on, I don’t know why they’ve left. Hicks was an aberration apparently. The bottom and bench hitters are essentially hitting .250 or worse with bad OBPs, so if an inning has started nicely ahead of them, chances are they kill it before the inning can get rolling to score 2 or 3, let alone 4 or 5. Getting a run in from 2nd with nobody out is a minor miracle these days…
That’s really the difference in their philosophies right? Beane values and demands walks at the lower levels as the players come through their system. Walks can result in runs even when bats go cold. Sabean values swinging and “doing damage.” Walks? Not so much. Bats go cold. Runs are nonexistent.
Yep…you are pretty much dead-on in your synopsis. We all knew the unworldly numbers with RISP could not go on, and sure as hell, they did not. I am trying to stay positive and cautiously optimistic, as I do believe they can make a run when they get healthy. Time will tell and for now, I am not searching out any ledges…
Getting a runner TO 2nd with 0 outs is a major miracle.
That, too…
I guess Prince Fielder’s neck is getting better . . . http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/bodyfielderqa/texas-rangers-prince-fielder-takes-all-espn-magazine-body-issue
Don’t know where all this doom BS is going but…the A’s I saw last night couldn’t touch Vogs. They were 0-8 with RISP when he left, and I watched him K Donaldson and Moss, their 2 top middle order guys. Vs. Moss I think Posey called 3 consecutive high hard ones and he couldn’t do anything with them.. VOGS, I remind you.
This time last week they were getting their asses handed to them by Detroit. Their closer gave up the walk off salami to that noted HOFer Rajai Davis. Then Porcello (or Scherzer?) threw I think the first shutout of his career against them. Ultimately 3 Game Sweep, Tigers.
Let me ask this: what part of the team would you fix first? At the point you assume the season is over (now or later) and Sabes is in full sale mode, what do you want for say Sandoval and Cain, plus Morse and whomever? What is the most pressing need?
Yeah, Voggy was always in trouble, but got out of it mostly. His usual MO. I don’t see a big problem with the pitching, especially starters, right now. Unless somebody in the rotation goes down for any length of time, then it’s trouble — Petit would have to cover, he’s hit and miss. Pen looks shaky, but might right itself. I’ve got no confidence in Romo, he needs a DL stint to get his elbow and/or mind right.
The major issue is the non-scoring. Can’t score, can’t win. I don’t know if this can be fixed during the season — kinda like changing tires while going 65 mph on the freeway. For Panda, I’d want (1) a starting OFer with speed and decent OBP to leadoff if Pagan is done for the year, or a very good AA starting pitcher prospect; plus (2) a very good to top AA OFer prospect, and (3) if you could get a throw in middle infielder or 3rd baseman from A ball, great. Too much? Maybe not if the other team thinks they can sign him to a deal after the rental.
I wouldn’t trade Cain or Morse. Cain’s deal is too big, wouldn’t get much for him, IMO. Nobody but Petit to take his place. Morse doesn’t have a lot of trade value IMO, he’s a FA at the end of the year anyway so if they don’t want to renew him for a LT deal, no biggie…
Twin and Snarkk, I think they could trade Panda for some talent. I remember when the Giants trade Matt Williams. Everyone was in an uproar over that. But it was the right move. So yeah I don’t think Panda is untouchable.
If they can’t get Sandoval for something close to the Pence deal, which I don’t think they can, they should move him for all they can get. I don’t know about Posey at 3b but maybe buy low on SD’s Hudley in the off season.
With Panda’s injury history and weight issues, it’s inconceivable to me that Baer and company will pay Panda $90M over 5 years. They already lowballed him with that 3 year offer and his agent spit on it. His performance so far this season should not give them warm fuzzies to jack the offer up to Pence territory. Is he a good 3d baseman? Yes, good to very good when healthy. Is he an elite player? No. Career .294/.347/.470/.816. Where’s the power? 100 HRs to now, beginning late 2008 = 5+ years. Career: 1 HR every 29 ABs. OK, but not great for 3d base. His situational ABs and hacking are maddening sometimes, but that’s who he is. We keep waiting for him to get back to the super 2009 Panda, and it doesn’t happen. I have no problem cutting him lose to start replenishing young talent in the organization…
We agree for the most part. I think he’ll get far more than 5 @ $90M and I would rather see SF offer Morse in the short term and hold onto Belt long term. Use some of that money not going to Sandoval for more starting pitching.
I like it, Dirt.
4 of 5 SF starters are getting old arms, and there’s no sure fire replacements in the minors. FA pitchers require big cash now. Unlikely Sabes can steal another Huddy for a 2 year deal at “only” $23M…
Writing in MB as DH for the last two games v. the Athletics is a bold suggestion indeed, considering those games will be played under NL rules.
Theo Epstein probably still hates Sabes from when Theo’s days with the Pads, and/or he’s still pissed at Boch for not beating the Yamks in the WS. Or more likely, the Cubs had already scouted the Giants and wanted to do their shopping at a different store.
It sounds like folks are jumping on the GH, Blow up the Team, bandwagon. OK, trade Pablo. His contract would make him more of a rental to the team making the trade, at best you’d get a Zack Wheeler type. Not bad, but hardly stocking the farm and if you’re going with Arias the rest of the year, well you just waved the white flag. So back to GH’s plan in trading about half the team to stock the farm, well it just seems to me that you just waved the white flag not only for this year but for years to come. Is that what folks want?
If you really want to stock the farm and maybe not complain about the team for the next 3 years, you gotta trade Bum (I wouldn’t do it) or Posey (If Florida would go for it, I would do it). Really, offering up possible rentals or guys on the DL won’t get you much (IMO).
If an AL team traded for Panda, and I think that is where he’d go, they’d work out a LT deal for him most likely, and have that in place or at least a framework of it along with the trade. That would be the way for SF to get the most talent in exchange…
Yes it would, but sign and trade deals seem to be somewhat rare these days. But yes, that would get the most back, although I still don’t think it would be enough for throwing in the towel.
Sorry, Bozo. I was unclear, I didn’t mean the Giants would sign him, then trade. The trade would go down with Panda’s agent and the other team having basically the LT contract framed out that he would sign once the trade was completed. That stuff happens, they can avoid whatever tampering BS might be out there, since the Giants wouldn’t put up a fuss about that…
No snarkk, I think I was the one unclear. I guess I meant a trade and sign deal, which still seem rare to me when a player turns down an offer from his current team. Panda has what 7 years ML time with the Giants? Does he have a say on the trade? As an example, would he want to go to Toronto? I don’t know man. in my eyes we are a CFer that can get on consistently, away from the playoffs (that and maybe a utility infielder).
As Blade points out below, I think we have some players we can trade at the end of the year, supplemented with FAs I think we can make a run for the next couple of years. Maybe that’s where we really disagree.
I am not a big proponent of “blowing up the team and stocking the farm.” We all know that most minor league talent is a crapshoot. So, you blow up your team for the next couple of years (potentially) to get what “may be” major league talent. Sorry, but I don’t want to watch a shit team for the next several years while I hope that the minor leaguers that they dealt for make the team a contender. Plus, that has not been Sabean’s MO, so I just don’t see them going down that path.
To me, it looks like 2015 and onward for a while will be a crapshoot anyway. IMO only Belt, Bum, Pence, and Posey are untouchable. Pagan stays, nobody will want his bulging disk. Nobody coming up from the minors has been ID’d as a position player that will make it. The bench sucks. Voggy probably gone. Huddy, Cain, Timmy all with arm mileage, and it’s iffy at best to get starter replacements from below (Crick, Blackburn?). Panda maybe/likely gone in the offseason, and if he leaves, only a pick for an unknown college kid as compensation. Morse a FA wanting a multi year deal. Too early now to see if they should do that. 2nd base an unknown still, unless Sabes trades now to get one. I don’t think all that’s dooming, it’s real. They’ll need to fill holes with costly FAs because of the farm suckage. Fortunately, they have the revenue to do it…
Germans blitz Brazil 7-1 to go to the WCup final.
Worst WCup loss ever by Brazil.
Can the Germans swing bats?…
Making the internet rounds–
Meanwhile, in a German pub:
Franz: “Whoa, did you hear? We scored seven goals against Brazil!”
Gerd: “Nein!”
Franz: “Nah. Just seven.”…
CF Blanco
RF Pence
1B Belt
C Posey
3B Sandoval
DH Morse
LF Colvin
2B Panik
SS Crawford.
Maybe they should hold MadBum’s start another day so they can get his bat in the lineup.
Chi isn’t going to like the leadoff spot.
Why not leave Pence in leadoff? So far, he’s done well there.
The same thing over and over comes to mind…
Gmen TOP 10 PROSPECTS – Up, Neutral or Down based upon most recent results (in my opinion)
1. Kyle Crick, rhp – Up (back to back good starts w/10 shutout innings. Nice.)
2. Edwin Escobar, lhp Down (July 4th, he got roasted for 6 runs and 10 hits. ERA of 5.31. Pfffttt!).
3. Chris Stratton, rhp Down (Disaster outing on July 4th, giving up 7 runs. College was no advantage to him)
4. Adalberto Mejia, lhp Down (Opposition is raking against him at .301 rate. Ouch!)
5. Mac Williamson, of Down . . . Maybe a neutral if I was kind (TJ surgery, but he was doing well before injury, which is hopeful)
6. Christian Arroyo, ss Up (Beginning to rake in Low A ball)
7. Heath Hembree, rhp – Down (hit rate is too high; WHIP sucks as well)
8. Ty Blach, lhp – Up (although he allowed 4 runs in his last start. SO rate is “Meh”)
9. Joe Panik, 2b – Up (with big club getting comfy last few games)
10. Clayton Blackburn, rhp – Up (Excellent July 4th outing)
Just my take, but I look at these guys as just trading chips. Always have. Only exceptions are those prospects that have CAN”T MISS written all over them, e.g., Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, etc. Consequently, I never have an issue with Sabes using these guys as trade fodder.
Blow the team up? Hilarious. Way too soon for that and besides, “blowing up” denotes wholesale changes, which I don’t necessarily see happening (in mid-season anyway). I will say it again, the team has to show Sabes it’s not a walking collective zombie or he wont help out. Why should he? As I have always maintained, that’s like putting a silver saddle on a jack ass – it’s still a jack ass. Conversely, if the team shows a pulse in the next few weeks before the trade deadline, then he will try to put a deal together. By the by, when teams don’t return his phone calls and/or they don’t dicker with him, it’s because they look at our farm system and laugh. It has nothing to do with his ability as a trade negotiator. You don’t have the longest tenure in MLB by being a doofus when trading. Want examples? Then go talk to the Pittsburgh GM or a couple of others he has fleeced. Sabes knows what he is doing IMO.
We’ll agree to disagree blade, on the trade thing. You know I think he needs to deal regardless of where they are in two weeks, looking to next season. But, I do agree w/you on other GMs. They know what’s in the Giants system. Unless they have targeted a specific guy for some reason, why should they have much interest in negotiation? Does anybody want Gary Brown when the Giants don’t even seem to want him?…
Great job on the analysis, Blade. But I think a big asterik needs to be put next to Stratton, though. His career has been derailed with a head injury from a line-drive. I guess we have no way of knowing how that affects his career longterm. It was a fluke thing. Hit during batting practice I think, while he was shagging balls or something, a couple of years ago.
Hopefully he eventually is able to be all that his firstround draft status promised.
Thanks. Again, this is based upon most current results. Nothing is set in stone. This is where these guys are now (in my opinion).
Second that, blade. Good info summary on the minor leaguers.
We get more info on this blog from Flappers than from the friggin’ beat writers. Seriously…
A tale of two benches: the Giants could still have a lead over the Dodgers if they weren’t losing the “bench wars” so badly to the Dodgers. The Giants have nothing close to what the Dodgers have gotten from Van Slyke and Turner so far this season. The Dodgers lost Uribe for over a month, and all Turner did was step in and play great defense and hit .300. Van Slyke has 8 HRs and an OBP over .400. And these are not high-priced guys. Their expensive bench guy got part of his ear bitten off and hasn’t played much. Turner’s been out now for a while, but Uribe is back, and that’s all you would hope out of a bench guy: fill in well until the starter’s back.
As others have mentioned, Sabean rolled the dice with a crappy bench, and it’s come back to bite the Giants. He had to scramble to get Colvin, who’s had a few good moments, although not much lately.
Agree wholeheartedly. I would add that Gordon was nothing more then a reserve/utility player at the beginning of the season. He obviously surprised the Dodgers and has performed admirably, where he now starts most games.
Good points, zum.
Appropos of the bench, I’ll guess Hicks gets DFA’d if/when Scutaro comes up …
One of the Flappers mentioned moving Pence to centerfield, and why not. Have Colvin and Morse as the corner outfielders. It loses a little defense, but it does accomplish getting Blanco out of the regular starting lineup, which would be a really great thing.
I think Willie said that and I agree. Pence has the weirdest throwing motion; strangest way to catch the ball ; and most eccentric batting stance/approach I have ever seen . . . but he always gets results. No idea how he does it, but you can’t argue with success.
Could it hurt? Probably not. I don’t understand anymore the concept of Blanco. Let alone as leadoff. As a supposed speed guy, what is he doing at the plate — is there ever any plan? Three years, he still rarely tries to bunt for hits. Crisp showed him how to do it last night, and CoCo has way more pop…
Blanco’s hopeless in regard to figuring out how to use his speed at the plate. Putting him back in the lead-off is just mind-numbing robotic managing by Bochy, and Bochy’s a much better manager than that. So, I don’t get it either.
Totally agree.
Oracle’s 9:53 today applies…
He was kidding, snarkk…
I read it again, Loo. Eh, maybe he was. I dunno. Whatever way he meant it, I agree with the words…
Interesting early game: Tigers/Verlander vs. Dodgers/Ryu.
Dodgers already up 2-0. No help from Verlander today, it looks like.
Verlander has “Lincecum Ebola Disease,” which hopefully Timmy is recovering from, albeit, it can be fatal. 🙂
At least Verlander’s got Kate Upton for consolation.
Don’t know what Timmy’s got going these days on that front…
Shit, he probably has a half dozen BBOTDs lined up after each game, going, “Pick me Timmy! Pick me!”
Well, as long as they’re at least 18, good on Timmy. He’s been smart enough to keep unmarried while those bi-weekly checks for $750K or whatever keep rolling in…
Complete stupidity for anyone to get married while playing MLB, with the possible exception of Belt. lqtm.
I believe he’s moved on from this one…
Very, very nice.
3-0, and Verlander is getting boos from many in the Detroit crowd. Man, how a player’s fortunes can change.
Uribe goes Jazz Hands, 2-run HR, Dodgers up 5-0.
Verlander: 30 pitches in the first inning.
Appropos of not much:
The Washington State recreational marijuana law is now operating. There are several licensed sales operations in the Seattle area already up and running, though it’s been reported the supplies may initially be limited. Timmy is not going to the AS Game, so it’s very possible he’ll head home to Seattle for the break. He’s got a lot of friends up there. Hmmm…
File this under – Great Plays By Assholes . . . Puig just made an unbelievable assist throw on Tori Hunter’s deep fly to right center.
He’s got a habit of doing S like that. Did you see the one last week in Denver, blade?
He misplayed (took a step or two in towards the infield first) a liner to right, then ran back and caught up to it and made a diving catch headed towards the fence. Then, popped up and threw a “seed” as Kruk says to third to get the Rockies guy who was on second trying to tag and advance to third on the sac fly.
He’s a tool with tools…
Sorry, making a salad. No, I didn’t. Shit, the Tigers came back all the way (missed it all while cutting veggies up . . . LOL).
been outta town so long I didn’t realize that the last 2 games of this series are going to be played in SF. Maybe that’s always how they do the BBseries but it’s now what I recall in past series. So it looks like this will be the last game where the A’s get to “AL” us behind the woodshed.
Problem is, when we get to SF we’re probably still fucked. But we’ll see.
Yeah, it’s not like the Giants have been nails at ATT the last month…
The Giants have left no cock unsucked these past few weeks.
I’m bummed I just switched out the POTD, this one was gold. maybe after this game if we go shit ourselves again.
It was inspired by your occasional pole smoking references…
most jokes here emanate from that deep dark place.
It’s encouraging to know that Ryu is face planting against the Tigers. He hasn’t given up 5 runs since going against the Rockies.
I’m continuing to be irritated by the Giants trying to get 9 innings out of Scoots. WTF is the point of that? He’s not going to be able to do it regularly. Take advantage of the ONE thing this guy has left: elite contact rate. Put his ass on the bench and you have infinitely upgraded your RH pinch hitter
Great point. His defense was degraded last year. How good can it be now? So, put him in for 7 innings for what? So he can have less range than Panik and then aggravate his back getting creamed on a double play? Get him here for PH duties, cheerleading and showing Panik the ropes…
Tigers are busting this game open against the Bums, 8-5, bases loaded, no one out.
love it. And getting Ryu on the road is unusual. But I likey
Flav, what do you think of this kid, Carlos Martinez that plays for St. Louis? I have him pitching in a daily tournament and am thinking about picking him up in FL as well.
Another guy I love is JD Martinez (who used to play for Houston), Dude has made the difference in FL for me, i.e., I went from last place to 1st, largely due to him. He plays an entirely different game from when he was in Houston. Shit, dude just tripled in the Bums/Tigers game.
love JD– hes figured it out. Or has gone on the right cycle, whatever.
Martinez is not on my radar for a lot of reasons.
Well, he just went off my “radar” as well – got lit up for 4 runs in 5 innings. Ha.
Tanaka-San got lit up for 5 runs tonight.
Nice of leadoff man Blanco to take 3 called strikes to open the game. Sheezus…
Well, Gyros have three strikeouts in their first four ABs to start the game. How promising…
Christsakes. These umps work for the A’s? Seems every borderline call goes their way.
those were some high/low strikes but you have to swing the bat, too. Sonny Gray is not the guy to get deep into a count with,,,,,
Verlander gave up 5 in the first inning to the Dodgers, and the Tigers said: alright, we’ll just rap out 20 hits and score 14. (grin)
Panik didn’t see a curveball like that very often at AAA. If you can throw a curve like that, you’re probably not staying at AAA all that long.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand another wasted opportunity
Jesus. When you get rung up the 1st time, swing. Crap, that was 6″ low.
Bochy’s gonna get tossed by the 4th. There’s your Giants replay.
Someone has to beat up the gatorade bucket’
The score is tied but I feel like we’re down by 3.
Posey should do what Pierzynski did – “Hey ump, can I get a ball you can see.” Pierzynski got kicked out of the game, but what a great line.
According to the book “Ball Four” – Seattle Pilot manager Joe Schultz was ejected for taking off his eyeglasses and trying to hand them to the home plate umpire during a heated argument…
Loo, do you remember the part in Ball Four, where Shultz said this during bunting practice, “Boys, bunting is like jacking off. Once you learn how you never forget.”
Sure do, Blade. Great line…
Fucking eh! Go into the stands Hunter and cold cock one of those bastards.
Told my son that the bloop would lead to a run. Bingo.
Yay. Ball game Good night.
Shit play by Blanco there as well.
Wow. Everyone knew he was going and stilll he makes it. Fuck the Giants. If we score tonight, I guess that’s a victory,
I hate baseball. Fuck this 2 bloops and they score 3.
And look at that, we’re down by 3.
This strike zone is massive. Sometimes
Like I said. Sometimes. Right down the middle is a ball. 6″ off the dirt is a strike.
DId everyone give up?
Yay. We suck all time. Bummie doesn’t back up. And the beat goes on. 42-21 was fucking 10 years ago.
Bochy has to get tossed.
If Bochy gets himself tossed, that’s just quitting, too, IMO. Bochy needs to stay out there and own this.
I don;t follow. He’s got to do something to get these guys motivated.
Glaring at the ump ain;t cutting it.
This is actually worse than the episode of “Under the Dome” last night, and that had an attack of killer caterpillars.
I;m surprised Bummie didn’t get tossed walking off the field.
Well, someone needs to get tossed. Shit, go all in and get suspended, COLD COCK A FAN I’M TELLIN’ YA!!!!!
I nominate the drum guy, the horn guy, or the bell ringing dumbshit.
You read my mind.
safe, but they’ll keep the call.
LOL Randy Winn. He said: “The Giants need to stay with their game-plan.”
Because nothing has been clearer in the last month than the fact that the Giants hitters approach each game with a highly thought-out and researched game-plan.
Game plan? Is this something similar to what is written on the back of a cocktail napkin?
Get a double and strand him.
Great sign. Getting a hit every 2 innings. At least I don;t have to listen to the A’s announcers,
It’s almost the 6th inning . . . ODB will probably stop by to entertain us.
Did Crawford hit that pitch after it bounced???
No, he missed it both times. It’s fucking Bugs Bunny time.
Wasn’t Sonny Gray a mobster in Donnie Brasco?
5 hits, 4 runs for the A’s
5 hits, 0 runs for the Giants.
Where’d the guys who were wearing the giants uniforms in April and May go?.
Down the same drain as my NY Rangers and my hot streak at Belmont…
Ruben Rivera could start on this team…
Rivera Ruben could too.
That’s nice. I’m a happy little girl.
Chico Rivera could start . . .
What’ll this be, 6 shut-outs in 17 games or something like that. Are these the Tokyo Giants?
Slip slidin’ away . . .
About time. Way to go Colvin! Utility player showing the inept starters how to do it.
I like my mommy’s hugs.
Crawfish is absolutely lost.
A home run?
No Shut out!!!!! All the Giants stealing money should chip in and buy Colvin a decent hoe who won’t spill a drop.
The Giants should just whip out their checkbooks and pay the A’s to service them — or I will do the servicing myself…
Why don’t you go to the Dumbeat and blow your wad there?
Or the fucking Splash? That’s a wasteland that suits you perfectly.
In this modern world, life goes on..
Looka at me! I’m as happy as a little girrl!!!!
Bringing in the gas can . . .
In the immortal words of Chris Cornell of Soundgarden fame.
I can’t get any lower, but still I feel I’m sinking.
Angel Hernandez has got to be one of the more clueless umps out there. Like he’s the star of the show. Hernandez is marching toward Machi to get in his face, Buster gets in his way, so Hernandez yells at Posey? What a fucking tool.
I’ve been drinking white wine instead of listening to this game.
Did the Giants score yet?…
Pathetic.
I guess that means 6-1, blade.
They could have just mailed these losses in, and stayed in SF…
Yep. By the by, another of the pitchers some advocated around here, Nolasco, went on the DL today. Pfffttt! So glad we didn’t get that guy (along with Arroyo).
Who says it’s too early to blow this sucka up?…
I’m hoping those guys wswins was talking about earlier show up again. Whomever these “body snatchers” are, they definitely have to go.
The one run tonight means the squad is averaging something like 1.7 runs per game over the last 10. I’m guessing, but given the white wine level, it’s still pretty dang close. You’re not going to win many games with that RPG average. Did I mention the Giants suck? Onto ATT and the home field advantage? G’nite Flappers…
G’nite all . . . Sweet nightmares!