Time to Play Ball!
I feel like I’m awakening from a bad dream. So excited for baseball again. I built 20 different fantasy line ups at 4am. I’ve cleared my schedule so that I actually get to watch the entire game this afternoon (those 4pm games are not easy to make).
Buster has had a long, long rest. God knows he needs his rest. Maybe he starts the “2nd half” raking. His OPS is at an alarmingly low .753. I’d like more from my 167 Million Dollar Man.
I wish we weren’t playing Miami. They are one of those teams that always seems to give us fits while the rest of the league wipes the plate with them.
But whatever, I’ll stop now. I’m starting to get negative and this is a day for positivity. Positively.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Yes, like you Flavor, I have been concentrating on my fantasy league 2nd half moves and machinations, e.g., I made a trade in one of my leagues. Ironically for Ben Zobrist, where I gave up Leonys Martin (I am leading the league in SBs, but needed a 2nd baseman because Phillips got injured). I also will be playing Fan Duel this evening in a couple of tournaments, while watching the Giants game (unless, I go to this concert tonight . . . meh). Let the second half begin! 🙂
Indeed, let the games begin. Also looking forward to Mr. Sabean turning trade rumors into something real. He’s worked some real magic in the past. The Beltran thing didn’t work out, and even though that one year also didn’t work out when he picked up Darwin, Hernandez, and … blanking on his name, another pitcher from the White Sox, I liked that trade, it was ballsy. Of course he shouldn’t do something just to *do something*, but I wouldn’t mind seeing another ballsy move, get the boys over this hump.
I am ready for some baseball and like that atrocity in Miami.
Well Fantasy Baseball, The Giants played June playes pretty much how my Flapp Fantasy teams would play all year long.
Dazed& Confused Kevin?
LMAO yes very
From Henry on SF Gate
You have traveled back in time to March 31, as the Giants and Diamondbacks were preparing to play the season opener. A basso profundo voice from the heavens, like the one in “Field of Dreams,” declares that the Giants will go into the All-Star break with a 52-43 record, one game behind the first-place Dodgers.
You smile and tell the voice, “Cool, I’ll take it.”
Not if they were 42 – 21 you wouldn’t.
WOO HOO! Let the games begin! I know we have beat that dead horse dead a couple of times, but the AS break was just too damned long. Yes, the Fish do seem to give us fits. Hopefully our boys can do something to turn the tides. Two of three would be sweet, and realistically, they should be able to do that. Given past history, a sweep would be tough.
Four in Philly to follow. The Phils are 5-5 in their last 10 and lost 2 coming into the break. I hope to see a 4-3 roadie, but I wouldn’t be totally bummed if they came back 3-4, as long as they are competitive in all of the games.
Paul – I agree. Sabes needs to make some moves, and I don’t think he’ll do it just to make some moves. He knows there are holes to fill, and I think he needs to hedge his bet on Pagan’s availability (goes back to needing someone who can play both 2nd and OF) AND lead off.
After this roadie we come home to face the fucking bums. That is going to be a big series, and it appears (as I mentioned on a previous thread) that the bambinos have stacked their rotation against us. They’ll be bringing their top 3 in the series:
Game 1: Lincecum vs. Greinke
Game 2: Vogelsong vs. Kershaw
Game 3: Cain vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Oh, and one more thing I had to mention. On MLB.com they are calling today “RE-Opening Day.” I’m sorry, but that’s just lame as hell.
True dat about Buster, Flav. He both needed the rest and needs to step it up. Funny how not ONE of the Giants leading bats has truly woken up and stayed awake this season. Panda has improved over his early season flubs ~ but he’s mostly a singles hitter in the process. Morse has gone the other way ~ started out on fire and has hit like an underinflated tire for weeks now. Pence is Pence, ups and downs but for sure balls to the walls all the way. Then the breakout season Belt was developing went down with the broken thumb as he was well on his way to a 30 HR season. And Pagan’s lost has slugged the team below the belt.
At least one guy has to wake up and go on a tear. That happens and the others should pick it up at least partially. My candidate is BB9 getting back on track. Hope he cuts lose starting this evening in Miami. Of course i’d be plenty happy with a breakthrough game by any of the nine (gotta include Bumgarner in the offensive equation).
Maybe all the road games coming up do not constitute a bad thing. Team’s been ATTed. Too much frustration after having transformed into a long-ball offense. Also its high past time to get rid of that jinxed phonebill name for da joint. Willie Mays Field all the way., He’s still with us, the greatest player ever to don spikes. What a tribute it should be! What a slap in the face to lingering racist attitudes. Ownership can afford it. This bunch is ricccchh. The public relations coup would more than make up for the ATT advertising revenue stream.
Stick – I would love to see the name change to the yard, but don’t hold your breath. They signed a contract with AT&T (50 mil over 24 years). I am not sure if that started when it was Pac Bell Park (2000), or if it kicked-in when the name actually changed from SBC Park to AT&T Park. Either way, unfortunately the name won’t change anytime soon.
Henry also mentions this guy as a possible pick up, he says:
Trade-wise, the Astros’ Jose Altuve would be a perfect fit, a second baseman who bats leadoff, but a 24-year-old with a very affordable contract who leads the majors with 130 hits would come at an astronomical price if he is available at all. Plus, Altuve would not solve the outfield issue.
Idiotic statement by HS. How is he a “perfect fit tradewise?” That implies that we have the bounty to acquire him which we most certainly do not. This, NOT a perfect fit, tradewise—far from it. If HS is just listing off guys who are good baseball players that’s fine, I’ll throw in Giancarlo Stanton and Andrew McCutchen too. Are they “perfect fits tradewise” too? LQTM.
Hey now don’t shoot the messenger!! ha ha I just copy and paste the BS that others write ha ha.
An OF of McCutchen, Stanton and Pence, now you’re talkin’.
Agreed. Altuve is the real deal and a great story in terms of how he made it to the bigs. Astros are no longer in sell mode. In fact, with a few offseason moves (assuming ownership is willing to drop some dime) the Astros could make some noise next year. I am just not convinced I trust their owner, quite yet. Luhnow has done a tremendous job since coming over from Saint Louis, but there are rumblings that he rubs many players the wrong way, as he is a major Sabermetrics guy and doesn’t look at the touchy feel side of the game. Springer is going to be an animal and Singleton will bang with the best of them. If they can develop some more young arms, they could be a threat for many years. Bo Porter is clueless as a manager. He will be gone next year. Rumor has it that Biggio will take over.
Flav is right. If Henry truly meant this as a potential trade, then he has his head buried so far up his ass he will never see the light of the sun again. I can’t believe a beat writer who knows the team as well as him would even throw something out there. This is the kind of shit you expect from numskulls who don’t know what the fuck they are talking about.
Agree with Stick, trip is good thing. Posey hasn’t hit well at home and a few others could benefit from games at friendlier confines. Giants have few guys who grew up in hotter climes like Belt Posey Pence bum cain plus all the Latin ballplayers. Panik’s a NY guy so he knows hot and sticky summers too.
Giants also made adjustment to rotation that will result in Lincecum pitching twice at home including vs. LA.
Love to see a W tonite to get 2nd half started punctuated by a Ted (et al) end of the thread post…and helped along by Cards lighting up Haren.
How things have changed—tweaking the rotation to get Lincecum vs Dawgs.
They will counter with Kershaw/Greinke/Ryu.
These next two weeks will decide whether Sabean will be buyer or we’re arguing who should be dumped for prospects. Agree about Fla. No good memories fishing.
If I were betting, I’d want juicy odds they are still right there after dawgs and Pirates leave town.
Salt – unless bums have tweaked their rotation coming out of the break, here is the match-ups for our series at home against the bumbinos:
Game 1: Lincecum vs. Greinke
Game 2: Vogelsong vs. Kershaw
Game 3: Cain vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu.
This is from Yahoo’s Daily Dose
“FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Mariners have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Rays regarding left-hander David Price and infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist.
No deal is considered imminent, but the Mariners have apparently stepped up their efforts to land Price and Zobrist after trade talks with the Phillies for Marlon Byrd have stalled. It’s unclear who the Rays would target in a deal with the Mariners, but one would assume that Taijuan Walker would be the centerpiece. Names like Brad Miller, Nick Franklin, Chris Taylor, and D.J. Peterson could also be in the mix. For what it’s worth, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman hears that the Mariners are more focused on Zobrist than Price and that Franklin’s name has come up frequently in talks. ”
Damn you Seattle, damn you.
they, like almost every team in baseball, have a lot more to offer as trade bait. It’s disappointing that Sabean has whiffed so spectacularly over the last few years in the draft……
If you’ve got 10 minutes, read this story about Darryl Strawberry. Talk about an about face, jeez
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/the-final-straw/
Very cool. I printed it out and will read it this evening. I have read a few thing about Straw over the past several years (about him getting his life headed in the right direction). It is cool to see him turning his life around. I remember him and Doc Gooden back in the days…both amazing talents who pissed it all away. Not sure the latest the Gooden.
This is the latest I found on Gooden. Another one who wasted it all away over booze and drugs. Pretty damned sad…dude was an amazing pitcher in his early days.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/doc-gooden-family-street-article-1.1423840
To me Belt has to have a Big 2nd half.
The problem is he’s never put a season totally together either cause of unfortunate injuries, illness coming out of Spring trainings, Bochy& Sabean’s asshole approaches to him doesn’t help either!
Yeah love to get Zobrist, been after him myself along with Blade, Chi, others.
Dude can rake, versatile player that can play anywhere, and once Scoots craters he has 2nd base locked down with Panik backup!
Besides the Flap needs another “Hot Babe” to watch and Zobrist’s wife is Smokin hot!!
Sabean’s guy is now officially available: https://twitter.com/CSNBaggs/status/490214332635283457
Hey, it’s barry4ever aka WBB aka Traveloguester aka Temescalito. What’s up, bro? Banned from sfgate brought you over here to troll it up in your finest South American gaucho pants? Cheers, Wayne-O!
Quasi-baseball-related, given that some books ARE about baseball….here’s some recent info and thoughts about the book industry from Gardner Dozois, a long-time book editor. I found it pretty interesting, and thought it could be of interest to some others here:
“Some commentators have been predicting for several years now that digital books, e-books, are going to drive physical print books into extinction, and although e-books continue to gain an increasing share of the market, the driving-print-books-into-extinction thing didn’t happen in 2013—and I don’t think it is going to happen. What seems to be happening instead is that we’re reaching some kind of equilibrium, where people who buy e-books continue to buy print books as well.
A study by PEW Research Center, released at the beginning of 2014, noted that half of American adults now own either a tablet or an e-reader, and even those who don’t own either a tablet or an e-reader sometimes read e-books on their cell phones or smartphones. The percentage of adults who have read an e-book in the past year has risen to 28 percent, up from 23 percent at the end of 2012, and 14 percent of adults have listened to an audiobook.
However, the study also says: “Though e-books are rising in popularity, print remains the foundation of Americans’ reading habits. Most people who read e-books also read print books, and just 4 percent of readers are ‘e-book only.’ Among adults who read at least one book in the past year, just 5 percent said they read an e-book in the last year without also reading a print book.”
The PEW Research study goes on to elaborate that “87 percent of e-book readers also read a print book in the past twelve months, and 29 percent listened to an audiobook. “Eighty-four percent of audiobook listeners also read a print book in the past year, and 56 percent also read an e-book.
“A majority of print readers read only in that format, although 35 percent of print book readers also read an e-book and 17 percent listened to an audiobook.
“Overall, about half (52 percent) of readers only read a print book, 4 percent only read an e-book, and just 2 percent only listened to an audiobook. Nine percent of readers said they read books in all three formats.”
So it seems fairly obvious to me that none of these formats is going to drive the others into extinction anytime soon. For the foreseeable future, most readers will buy books both in electronic and print forms during the year, choosing one format or the other depending on the circumstances, convenience, their needs of the moment, even their whim. There are strong indications that in some cases people will buy both e-book and print versions of the same book.
Far from killing literacy, as prophets back in the ’eighties and nineties were confidently assuring us that it was going to, the Internet and e-books may actually be enhancing it.”
Pence RF
Panik 2B
Posey C
Sandoval 3B
Morse LF
Belt 1B
Crawford SS
Blanco CF
Bumgarner LHP
Go Giants!
At least Blanco is down in the order.
I like the new name for Posey, the $167 Million Dollar Man, who is having a $1.67 season. For example, I am filling out my Fan Duel line up as we speak and here are all the catchers that are above Posey right now:
C
Victor Martinez
3.4 80 CLE@DET $4,600 Add
C
Jonathan Lucroy
2.8 88 MIL@WAS $3,700 Add
C
Evan GattisDL
2.7 63 PHI@ATL $3,700 Add
C
Devin Mesoraco
3.2 60 CIN@NYY $3,500 Add
C
Roberto Perez
9.8 1 CLE@DET $3,300 Add
C
Wilin Rosario
2 65 COL@PIT $3,300 Add
C
Derek Norris
2.3 70 BAL@OAK $3,100 Add
C
Geovany Soto
2 54 TEX@TOR $3,100 Add
C
Salvador Perez
2.2 85 KAN@BOS $3,100 Add
C
Robinson Chirinos
1.8 59 TEX@TOR $3,100 Add
C
Christian Vazquez
4.8 3 KAN@BOS $3,000 Add
C
Buster Posey
2.1 85 SFG@MIA $3,000 Add
In short, he has been putrid and he needs to get it going in the 2nd half (which by the by, is more like the last 1/3 of the season . . . In short, not much time to turn around his season, along with the Giants fortunes).
I’m not aware that .275, 10 HR, 46 in the middle of July is “putrid.” That seems overly harsh to me.
I totally agree we need more from him to make the playoffs.
The money for the contract will be best judged by the end of the contract. Posey has the signs of someone who will be a consistently dependable hitter for many years, with his batting approach. And it’s possible he’ll hit more MVP-ish in any given stretch of time.
Huh? Where are you getting your figures????? What time frame????
In his last 7 games, Posey has hit .123 (3 for 23), with 1 HR, and 5 RBI. Want more? In his last 15 games, he has hit .170 (8 for 47), with that lone HR, 2 runs, and 6 RBI.
Zum, maybe I am not aware of some new paradigm for evaluating $167 million dollars of ball player? 🙂
Blade – RE: your 2:20 post. All players, especially hitters and pitchers (and fielders too) go through streaks/slumps. I think Zumiee was simply pointing out that Posey’s stats to date (.275 with 10 big flies and 46 RBIs) is not putrid. And I would agree with that. Should we all expect more from him? You bet your sweet ass we should, but that really doesn’t make him putrid.
Speaking of streaks. What about the first month or so for Pence. His numbers were absolutely horrid. And Morse has really sucked ass of late. It happens. I think Posey will always be a streaky hitter. I also think that when it is all said and done, he will have a lifetime average around .300, and average 20+ HRs and 80+ HRs a year.
And your fantasy numbers don’t mean squat to me (I don’t play). Regardless of what your fantasy numbers say, Posey does need to step it up. Flip side…without his putridness, no way in hell the Giants have two WS banners flying in the park for 2010 and 2012.
Blade, how bummed are you gonna be if the Giants pass on your guy Zobrist and pick up the recently cast off Uggla? Sabes loves free guys. lqtm
Uggla would be some serious Francouer-type of dumpster diving.
perfect description. KNBR stiffs trying to sell it as a “Burrell” type of pick up. It’s far more Francour than Burrell…
Very bummed.
VERY VERY Bummed.
Totally Bummed!!
But that’s how Sabean always does it , “Dumpster Diving” or “Pingpong Goldfish at the local Carnival”
What’s Xavier Nady up to these days?
Eovaldi is an up and down young pitcher, with talent. He was very hot in the first half, but has cooled considerably. Buster is 1 for 5 against him lifetime; Hunter hits him well at 5 for 10, 1 HR and 5 RBI; Morse 2 for 3, with a HR and 3 RBI; and Pablo rakes agains this dude – 6 for 8, with 6 RBI.
Consequently, I think we will score more then 4 runs tonight.
Scoots gets 5 days off and still can’t go. Writing is on the wall here. Good-BYE mar-CO!
Oh, and the Giants are finally coming clean that Cain’s elbow is bugging him. So that explains pushing him back to the 5th starter and giving him 12 days off…..
You’re just a fountain of good news, Flav…
switching sports, Aldon Smith got 12 days jail sentence for his drunk driving and weapons conviction but he gets to serve it on a work program 1 day a week. Fucking “to be a pro athlete”–easiest life out there
Quite frankly, Uggla’s bat is so slow, that he couldn’t beat out the crippled Scoots or Panik in a fair competition for the 2nd base job. Don’t even get me started about his defense.
Concur. Panik HAS to be better than anything Uggla can give you, right?
Yeah, I would easily roll the dice with Panik at the position (if the choice is Uggla coming on board. Besides, the dude is a shit disturber, e.g., he got suspended before being sent to the minors).
As kids, we’d hear the umpire behind the plate bark, “PLAYBAW!” Like SpongeBob, I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready I’m ready.
UH OH
Andrew Baggarly @CSNBaggs 7m
I can confirm that Dan Uggla is under consideration for #SFGiants. He’s being talked about.
Unfrickingbelievable. Most SF bay area fans will only see the back of the baseball card and say, “Good job white suits.” This would be a disaster if he came on board.
Where’s James to say it’s the pitching? I’m hoping the break does a world of good. The problem is we have one guy at a time getting warm. Hot is not in their vocab at this point.
They need to get a few the top 6 guys going. The bottom 3 at this point are a wasteland of 000s.
Then again we got Bummie going tonight. He should be batting 7th.
By the by, Stanton is Bum’s Goldshit nemesis. He murders snot rocket with a .636 BA (7 for 11).
Chi, regarding your 2:47. He is putrid right now. Love the guy and yes, overall he is having a good year for all catchers not named Buster Posey. Without him, we go no where. This is my point. Not what he has done in April and May. I am talking about the 2nd half.
Shit, I love Pagan too, but quite frankly, he has been MIA the last two years and if he does not contribute this season (like starting in the next couple of weeks), I recommend that he be replaced. Same goes for any of the players. Sheesh, we’re not kids wearing Panda hats, if you don’t perform, go find another gig. 🙂
I’ll give you that, that he has been putrid of late. But I stand by my points that almost all players go through streaks, and I believe Posey to be very streaky. He is slumping right now, and yes, we need him to show us the other half of Buster Posey (the ROY, MVP Buster Posey).
And I agree…you can’t get it done and contribute, it is time to find someone who can. First two priorities for Sabean, IFer (who can play 2nd) and an OFer who can play CF, and either or both can hit at the top of the order. That is why I thought if they could get ONLY ONE guy, then Zobrist brings the most bang for your buck, IMO.
Concur completely Chi.
Of course he is. Fuggly that is. So, Scoots plays one game, gets a week off, and can’t go? Or am I reading too much into this?
Fuggly to the rescue!
UGHlalalala.
Matt Maiocco @MaioccoCSN 19s
And … RT @MikeGarafolo Eleven Mondays of work release for Aldon Smith magically ends one Monday before the Niners’ first MNF game at STL.
Fucking so totally rigged. There is no accountability here, just a bunch of backdoor deals. Aldon will never learn anything, he’s going to kill himself or someone else in the next year or two…….
more good news!
http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2014/07/18/no-marco-scutaro-in-sf-giants-second-half-opener/
in case you guys missed it, the Giants had their flight diverted to Vegas to get Raggs to a hospital. So, no Raggs trotting out to the mound tonight. Hopefully, it won’t be needed.
Uggs was so pissed off at his lack of playing time( which is well deserved I might add) he showed up just 30 min before game time in his last game, hence suspension and .Hasta-La Vista Baby!!
Dan Uggla can go fuck himself. He’s making 13 mil a year, he should show up everyday with fucking bells on. He’s hitting .162 this year. He hit .179 last year. That’s over 682 at bats. Fucking show up on time and collect your fucking paycheck you entitled fuck……
can you imagine being so out of touch with mainstream reality that you are making 13 mil a year but you aren’t playing so you’re gonna pout it out and show up late to a game? Fuck that. If I’m getting 13 mil a year and I suck and I’m not playing I’m going to be the best 13 million dollar cheerleader a baseball team has ever seen.
I’d bring Hicks back up before going with Uggla.
Ditto. Something smells fishy. Why would the Giants make two mistakes here: 1. Consider bringing a player on board who is clearly over the hill; and, 2. Compound the mistake by considering a player who is not only past his prime, but is a shit disturber? I’m wondering if the Giants are doing a “mis-direction” play by using the media (Baggs)? However, I have no idea why . . .
And good comparison with Francoeur, although at least Frenchy could still throw: I saw him nail a Phillie at home from LF last year that kept the game 1-0 and enabled the Giants to rally in the 9th to win it. I can’t think of anything useful that Uggla can do.
there’s no misdirection-play here. This is what Sabean does: he dumpster shops. He does it every year. And while he’s hit on a guy or two he fails more often then he wins with this type of move. And really, why is he dumpster-diving? This fucking team makes more money than almost any other team in the league.
Did you know some Dumpster-divers are called “freegans”? Ewwww. Some way to dine. Notice the cap D in Dumpster. It’s a brand name. But Macdog and some of the other editors here likely know that.
Kuip was on KNBR this morning complaining ad nauseum about their 10 hour plane ride. I thought, “how callous is this idiot to be complaining about a long plane ride the day after 300 people get shot out of the sky over the Ukraine?” It was just awful, I was embarrassed for him…….
Worse, this guy should be dropping to his knees nightly and thanking whomever he prays to (Buddha, JC, Mohammad or fill in the blank) for the 2nd career he lucked into after his shitty playing career was over.
No shit. Wake each day and be grateful for all the positive things you have in your life.
I have the vague, yet unsupported suspicion, that K&K, as well as many other sports announcers, live a life of late nights “in their cups.” Translation: we get to hear the dregs of their hangover follies. Again, no proof. Just a wild hunch.
I’m sure you are correct. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a clueless asshole and complain about a long plane ride while hundreds of people still lie dead in their seats in a fucking cornfield in Ukraine…..
I have always wondered who gets to sit in the first class section? Your typical wide body has approximately 30 first class seats. Assuiming you have the coaches, trainers, and announcers, that still should leave enough room for everyone to get their own row, but I know personally the extra legroom is paramount. I guess the drinks fly freely in both classes so that is a non-issue. Ten hours in a first class widebody is not what is used to be but still not a bad way to knock back a few drinks and catch some zzz’s.
Uggla isn’t even Hicks. Swings for the fences, low BA, a homer every now and then. A wooden fielder. Don’t want Uggla. Plus, he was suspended for a day before he was released. Bad in the clubhouse? The only thing I’d give him is a minor league contract and see how he responds.
Ah. Just saw the comments above. Yup.
No Pagan til August?
He’s done for the year.
WHAT?! That is dreadful. Awful. But not very surprising, either.
I am trying Promoted Tweets for WORLD SERIOUS. It’s a hybrid of crack cocaine, gambling, and day trading.
If Sabes signs Uggly to address the Giants needs, I am going to go looking for a very tall ledge….
Damn. I was in a very good mood when this day started. Looking forward to the 2nd half of baseball; good day in the stock market; and I have a buddy that is visiting in an hour or so . . . Then Flavor ruined it with all this “more good news” schtick. 😦
NO TO UGGLA NOW AND FOREVER!
Nip’s breaking out the cap lock so you KNOW he’s serious! lol
Who was the last Giant pitcher to start 2 consecutive games? Iron Man Joe McGinnity? I wonder if Marichal or Perry ever did the same thing coming out of the break. KInda doubt it…
Giants announcers talking about Giants fans cheering but Morse is from Florida. There are so few fans there I bet a bunch of them are off his friends/family pass list….
WTF was Belt complaining about? That was a perfect strike. 3-2 and he takes that? And then complains about it? This post all star part of the season is not starting off too well….
The Craw!
Was that a Get Smart reference?
Haha, always.
Crawfish, makes him pay.
Just what the Marlins want: MadBum leading off an inning.
2-out hittin’.
Much as i suspected Giants hitters are dining out, being a bit tired, as their offense is presently constituted, of home cookin. Nice thing is that both the power stroke (inhibited at ATT) and moving the line along are in tune tonight. Looks like they are solving Eovaldi too. The offense may not quite be what it was through June 8th, but it is hardly so miserable as it was from the 9th a ways into July. If the starting pitching maintains its recent pace we could have us a race.
Its one game, moonshine.
Well, when things have sucked as bad as they have since June 9th, one fucking game IS A BIG DEAL. I think most anyone would agree that is it important for the team to come out of the gate strong. Both six guns blazing strong. Tonight was a prime example…I’ll crow about this mother, one game or not.
Gutting the Fish.
Pablo tommahawks it out.
Dining out tonight looks like the tonic. Hitting on 6 cylinders already in the 5th. Eovaldi crushed. Both the Conga-Line and the Blasting Crew in full tempo. Pablo may be starting his contract run. Need to see some more games to make sure this isn’t just a flash in the pan, but could the team just have been lying in the weeds recently?
#outtathegate That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
Really good to see the bats out tonight. Good call, Steve, scoring “more than 4” off this guy…. 🙂 Is Pagan really out until August? Haven’t seen anything recently. If so…. that could cause Sabean to change direction in the trade market and look for an outfielder. Not sure who’s available or could help, but could be a route to take at this point. Hell, Philly picked up Sizemore, and he’s not doing all that bad for them so far. Zobrist does play the OF….. While Uggla plays the trouser flute…..
trouser flute…new one in my lexicon. sounds Brit.
Thanks 😉
Paul…unfortunately, it is true re: Pa-GONE. See the last paragraph of this…
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-notes-considering-uggla-scutaros-health-etc
This start almost as awesome as the first one.
On one of Bob Dylan’s albums, just before the song, someone says, “Is it rollin’, Bob?” Or something like that. It’s rollin’, baby; it’s rollin’. Roulez les bon temps, baby.
Laisser le bontemps roulez. From the early 60’s till a ways into the 70’s Dylan was rollin in the deep channel. He had almost a Whitmanesque pickup about him. Ain’t been the same since but once in awhile. Lately, he’s been more crafting and trying but Erato is no longer a-mused.
My French may be “rustee.” I like what Dylan did in his “Tempest” CD. A lot. Epic. “Tempest” itself has a biblical feel to it.
Curious, isn’t it, that Bumgarner’s BA is better than half the lineup in there for us.
One of Dylan’s tours was called the Rolling Thunder Revue. There’s a great live album from that tour.
The Giants are hopefully showing the beginnings of a post-All Star Game rolling thunder revue.
It’s 9:48pm in Florida and I’m counting 18 people in the screen shot behind home plate…..
Two-Trips was just out-smarting himself by starting Haren tonight.
Man, I hope that backfires completely and they get swept this weekend.
Nice and tidy .
Good start on the second half. Back to ten over .500. Just checked and noted the Cards up 3-0 after six. Nice. Lance Lynn?! Only LaBumbos making any noise so far tonight are their best pair, Puig and Hanley. Except for Gordon’s speed the rest of their L.U. doesn’t scare me very much. When our guys are on they are better at the plate.
Presumably Bumgarner was lifted with 80+ pitches after six IP simply to keep him fairly fresh and to air out the pen with no pressure. Ditto Posey Sanchez and Crawford Adrianza. Very nice to see Panik thriving in the 2-hole this evening. He is making a statement. Still think he’s a keeper. Betcha Sabes and Associates are close to that line of thinking too.
So if Pagan is out another bunch of while that means tight focus will be on a CF-capable guy. With hot competition from the Mariners it might take quite an investment to pry Zobrist loose from Tampax. Also good to see Machi reverting to form, retiring the side on 9 pitches including a K.
Nice summary Stick!
Very good. And you are right about Zobrist. I mentioned earlier that with Pa-GONE being a big question mark, that Sabe’s shopping list needs to include an IFer (who can play 2nd) and a CFer, and that at least one needs the ability to be productive at the top of the order. It’s really gotta happen for this season to go the way all Flappers really want to see it go (I am talking Three in Five good).
What I’ve learned about Cespedes is that he cannot catch the ball with his glove but once he gets it in his right hand, he’s deadly…….
Haven’t seen an arm like that in a long time.
Tim Kurkjian says . . .
“Will David Price get traded? A Rays source recently was succinct about this: If the Rays are in the division or wild-card race at the end of July, Price will stay. If not, Price will go. The asking price for Price is exceptionally high, and the Rays are not going to settle for anything less than getting exactly what they want. If they don’t get it, they can wait to deal him in the offseason or even at next year’s deadline. But the most they will ever get for him is right now because he can affect a pennant race this season and next. The problem is, so few teams have the prospects necessary to get him and the money to sign him long term. The Cardinals likely do. So do the Dodgers. And so do the Giants, maybe. The next 2½ weeks will be fascinating.”
“Maybe” what? We have the prospects? Or, we have the money? Or, we have both?
I think Heyman said M’s were after both Zo and Price. Of course he connects about as often as Hicks.
I’m hoping Bozo is right and SF lands them both, on the way to 95 Ws he predicted.
I’m not certain what Kurkjian means when he says we might be in the running for Price, especially with regard to prospects. Also, why no mention of the Mariners, when not only Heyman, but other national sports writers have said they are in the running for Price (as well as Zobrist)? Dunno what’s going on . . .
Blade – I agree. WTF is Kurkjan smoking? The Giants cupboard for prospects is pretty damned lean. No one has seen hide nor hair of old mother hubbard in some time. Seriously, Giants have the richest owner in ALL of baseball, but you would not know it the way the team is very smart and frugal in spending it (probably one of the reasons he is the richest dude in baseball). No way I see our boys being serious players for Price. But oh my, how I would love to be surprised.
And Rosenthal finishes off Bums 3-2. Haren in last 13 starts has ERA of 5.25, unable to finish the 5th tonite (3rd time in last 5 tweeted on cbs site) after 99 pitches and 2 run bomb by Holliday.
Gotta love it…35 Ws to go re: yesterday poll.
Back in 1st by .001 percentage points. lqtm.
Directly attributable to Flav’s emphasis on “positivity. Positively.”
Funny about earlier posts on Dylan, as Positively 4th Street was early hit on AM radio. I remember when Like A Rolling Stone came out, and the 45 single had both sides at 6 minutes each.
For my money, Hiway 61 his most enjoyable album, full of good tunes and title track might be his best ever.
Course, the late Johnny Winter tore that tune up too. Just watched video of his bottleneck live version recorded 10/16/92 at MSG 30th Anniversary Dylan concert celebration. Wow.
WD: At last! A non-Minnesotan, never lived in NYC in ’65 gets it. You are right on the money,dude. The title track on Hwy 61 is good, good, good. Tops, though, is Desolation Row. 42nd Street. Times Square scene in ’65 and just before that. Cutting edge cultural realities convergence. For my money that tune of verse is the premiere piece of lyrical poetry in the English language of the 20th Century ~ and i do happen to be big on Yeats and Eliot.
Dylan hadda been both tripping and channeling when he put that one together. Speeding too, i would secondhandedly imagine. Esoteric piece, though. To those not hip to that scene it is not a helluva lot more than an interesting concatenation of imagery.l
But it is still FIRST PLACE. No other team in the NL West can say that today. I’ll take it. That and tonight’s game is something on which to build.
Jimmy Fallon doing Bob Dylan doing the theme song from Charles in Charge is damn good stuff IMO. Not quite as good as Fallon doing Jim Morrision singing the theme from Reading Rainbow, but still damn good.
Saw him doing Neil Young the other night. If you dropped in without knowing, you would have sworn it was Neil Young.
Samarwhatchamafuck just gave up his 2nd HR tonight and Baltimore now leads, 4-2. Coupled with LostAgain losing, the baseball world axis is finally going back to normal . . . http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/9e/8d/0c/9e8d0cf3b508323791cd6465f69a1650.jpg
And then the Fucking A’s win in a walk-off…
Yeah, disappointed in the Orioles . . . but then I checked where one of my FL competition gave me 1 point (WHIP) because Britton blew the save. LOL.
Looks like the Pads are trading Street to the Angels, Damn, just when we finally had him figured out.
Angels are desperate for a closer. Traded for Grilli too (who had lost his job to Melancon).
And Zobrist hit a 2-run HR tonight.
Yeah, he’s red hot the last few weeks. The problem is that the price for him probably goes up.
They’ll wind up getting someone cheaper that no one expected.
Probably right, Loo. Let’s just hope that whoever it is, does their best reincarnation of Pat the Bat, or everybody’s favorite rodeo clown, Cody Ross.
test
So I have to fly down to Alhambra which is, for those not initiated, sort of around Pasadena/Glendale/Los Angeles that general dull, hot, no pedestrian part of Southern California. Started a new job on July 1st for the new San Francisco branch of an immensely Chinese bank and our little cast of 4 new employees were all sent down there for training to see how they does what it be what they does. One colleague, very cute, very cute but married so I’m being a gentleman, says, “Since we’re staying at the same place, might as well have dinner together” Me? “Uhm…yeah sure”. Now I”ve only seen this lady in business suits and such. She calls me at 8:00pm and say “When do you want to meet in the lobby?” I say “8:15” I figure that way I can sneak in a smoke before we meet. So I get in the elevator, go to the lobby. Whilst walking towards the exit I see the back of this totally hot Asian chick with..well, not actually Daisy Dukes but the shortest, shorty shorts I’ve seen since the last time I had a wet dream. So I’m being subtle while admiring this vision when she turns around and yes, you guessed it, it was my colleague.
Damn.
Anyways, we had a nice dinner and went back to the hotel and said “See ya tomorrow”
Now, in case you Flappers were wondering why I gave this long virginal Penthouse Letters preamble to this post, you see we both had the same SouthWest flight back to the Bay Area as well so we went to the airport together. The Burbank Bop Hope Airport. The Giants game was on bigscreen in a bar behind me at Gate A3 so I asked her if she wanted to watch and she said “No, I’m not really into baseball but you go ahead. I’ll just wait here”.
Long. Long. Loooooong pause.
Nope. I was the gentleman. I stayed with her. Plane was delayed an hour and a half so I missed the whole damn thing. And here’s the lovely part. We land in Oakland (because my new bank is too cheap to pay for SFO’s United flights) and she says “Since we were so delayed, my hubbies picking me up so he said he’s give you a ride to BART. At first he said he’d drive you home to San Francisco but I thought that was a bit much, right?”
Me? “Uhm…yeah sure”
So, I’m forced to see how the Giants did from the internet and…
9-1 THRASHING!!! MARLINS HOOK, LINEDRIVE AND SINKERBALL!!!! PABLO WORKING ON THAT CONTRACT!!!
Phew.
Goodnight, gentlemen (?)
Great story Ted. As you know, I love Asians. 🙂
As you know, so does I. One of the reasons I keep working for their banks
Right, Ted, along the lines of Steve’s comment: if your colleague is married, maybe you should ask her about her Asian friend… 🙂 Good to see you back here. Congrats and good luck with the new job. Which (Chinese) bank is it?
Wing Lung Bank, Ltd. Owned by a mainland China financial institution but started and headquartered in Hong Kong. They’re pretty big over there. Not Citi/Bank of America/Wells big but sort of Union Bank/First Republic Bank big. They’re trying to make a dent in the U.S. They opened this sort of satellite branch in Alhambra about 4 years ago but to limited capacity. As in, no cash or personal accounts, just big business account. Now they’ve expanded here in SF. But these aren’t Asian American Chinese. These are Chinese Chinese so it’s a little anal and stiff. But I get a lot of slack being the only guilo/bacoy in the bank. I don’t mean just the branch or in the U.S. I mean the whole bank. I’m the only token white. During the grand opening everyone kept taking my picture. Not because of my stunning good looks. It was more like “I’ve never seen one of these before.” “Does he smell funny to you?” “I thought they were taller than that.” “Do you think he has a sister?”
People still respect the sanctity of marriage.
Uhm…yeah sure.
Uhm…yeah sure
Way cool, Ted’s back…as opposed to Alhambra in July.
My sister lives 5 minutes away from Burbank Airport, over in No. Hollywood. Flew down there once for a weekend b-ball tournament late july at Pasadena CC and stayed at hotel near Santa Anita. Hot.
Btw, today July 19 marks anniversary of Juan Marichal’s debut in 1960, a one hitter vs. Phils (Clay Dalrymple light hitting C got only base knock as I recall)…awesome portent of things to come.