Beating The Hell Out of Arizona
This was a pretty fun play to watch:
http://gfycat.com/AbsoluteWelltodoBlackpanther
Giants face Wade Miley tonight– a lefty I’ve never really been too impressed with but he does pop in now and again with effective appearances.
But tonight, we must crush him.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
See ya guys on the flip side (Seattle; Seoul; and then Siem Reap, Cambodia).
Hey man, your travels will wind up on round the world blog, right?
Enjoy!
Going to try to Willie.
safe travels my man. Stay out of trouble. Final standings: 9th place out of 34.5k. Not bad but still a little bit of a letdown.
You still kicked ass IMO. Awesome when you consider how many participated.
Happy flight, blade. It sounds like a great trip.
Thanks Micah!
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He could man our outfield in 5 years :).
…6’2 220/aleady . wow.
Dbax half game up on the rox to avoid finishing last. Honest, I think Sherps have a better core group and more potential. Just love to smash any LaRussa team. LA owns these guys, SF needs to as well.
I’m really hoping A’s miss out. For all his moves, Beane hasn’t been able to stop the bleeding, Melvin either. For all the run differential they have 2 more wins than the Giants. Last couple games have been lost to bottom feeders Astros and the White Sox. Gray and Kazmir running out of gas, pen meltdowns, offensive struggles, Samardz lost 4 of last 5, Lester outdueled. Just weren’t as good as everyone thought they were.
Petit tonight, and next turn would be Sunday vs. LA. Next 2 starts in that spot would both be vs. Pads, Tim’s fav match up. What would you do? Do you think Petit is ready for post season start?
I thought Beane made good moves. They just haven’t played well lately (obviously). I’ve held back with my friends that are A’s fans. Can’t say that they were able to when the Giants were losing.
He never fixed his crummy middle IF, and giving up Russell who might have filled in there soon could be a blow. I never thought Samardz was all that good. Lester will be expensive to keep, much more so than Cespedes would have been.
Injuries have hurt them, no doubt. Guys like Vogt and Crisp have had fine seasons, and losing them has made big difference. But earlier I thought they had number of guys playing over their head while Giants did not.
And yeah, A’s fans seem to delight in rubbing shit in Giants faces…one of them used to complain all the time about lack of WS flags at Stick/ATT. Looks like Beane will still be another year away from his first.
Siem Reap? I thought we were done with interleague play?
Safe travels, blade. Don’t wander into enemy territory.
I will try to be keep my head in all situations. 😉
Happy Trails, Blade. Saft travels…and don’t do anything that we wouldn’t do. Yeah, right…catch ya on the flip-side, brother.
Love all of ya flappers. Thanks all of you 🙂
Two of three is almost a must at this point. Bums with two more against Dago, then an off day, and then showdown #1 in our house (showdown #2 – Monday the 22nd through Wednesday the 24th, at the latrine.
Blade, you running off on us just before crunch time? Hoping what you do do is more fun for you. Happy trails, man. Just remember, in this day and age protection is perfection.
Safe travels, blade….
Giants have to get over that thing they have about not doing real well against LHPs. Tonight is a good time to stop that trend. Realistically, they really must sweep the sucky Snakes to keep this division thing within striking distance. Focus is on game to game, sure. But, 2 wins of 3 vs AZ would be just OK, and losing the series is just not acceptable. Doghairs are playing pretty well against suckage competition, so IMO we can’t expect much help at all from the NL West bottom feeders to beat LA and help out the Giants. Padres went down last night against Kershaw, hopefully they play tough the next 2 games and can take at least one from LA. Best hope is the Cubbies can take 3 of 4 from LA when they go back to Wrigley…
As we get down to the short hairs of the season, and it looks like the Giants have a good shot to at least get in the WC game, my dislike for this format grows. I know BF likes the one game do or die, but I’m old school. Baseball is not football. Baseball playoffs should not be decided on a one game basis. Too many variables, a funny hop, a passed ball, an error, one dominating pitcher for the day, etc. Injury or starting rotation situation could pit an inferior 2nd WC team’s only dominating pitcher against the #2 or #3 of a much better 1st seed WC team, and the result could be the inferior #2 WC seed team moves on only because of the one game starter matchup. Doesn’t make sense to me, it disrespects the value of the regular rseason. Deciding which team goes on in the playoffs based on one game after a long marathon of 162 games just doesn’t seem fair, in fact, it isn’t, to either team’s fanbase. And, for one fanbase to not even get one WC game at home is a slap in the face to their season long support and anticipation. These WC playoffs have to go to a 2 of 3 format, with the first two games split at the home of each team. Logistics be damned — this is the age of charter jets. The regular season can start 2 days earlier. I know it was for a pennant, but the 1962 SF v. LA playoff of 2 outta 3 is legendary. Nobody is going to remember very long these one and done WC games…
Me too. Shit, baseball already goes into winter, so why not play at least 3 out of 5?
I agree snarkk. There should never be a one game play-in. It should be three games.
Keep us in the loop, Blade. That last travelog was pretty cool . . .
I’d say have fun, but that’s already assured . . .
Will do. Waiting in Seattle right now. Some guy named Sherman is talking smack to me in the gate waiting area. 😉
Safe travels Blade!
You have my permission to smack that Sherman guy around, just avoid the elevator😼
LOL
Now that we’re a possibility for the WC, isn’t it the #1 WC team plays the winner of the one-game play-in?
home field advantage goes to #1…that’s all.
Oh shit. The next thing was, I thought they were going to change that to a best of 3 format.
Either that, or I’m losing it . . .
To me, it only makes sense that the 2 WC teams play a 2 outta 3 series. The progression is logical. WC playoff is best 2 of 3. Then, the WC winner plays the #1 division seed in the division series at best 3 of 5. Then, the two NLDS winners play in the NLCS at best 4 of 7. Neat and tidy and fair…
I hear you on the one and done after 162, but adding more playoff games also taxes the pitching staffs. The extra games just to get into final 4, and then you could still have a dozen games left still to win the pennant.
Makes it seem more like a war of attrition, like hockey playoffs.
“Submitted for your approval” — two fixes to your issue, willie. And, a good issue it is.
Raise playoff rosters to 27 or 28, so you have more arms if you need ’em.
Cut regular season down to 160 games or 158 or whatever. That won’t happen.
Without googling, any Flappers remember the source of the above quote? You older guys have a definite advantage. Hint: one of the greatest TV shows ever…
TZ
Here is something I agree with you snarkk….football is based on a game a week. Baseball is a series. 2 of 3 in the WC should be a must.
Prize goes to wswins — Rod Serling started every episode of Twilight Zone with that line — through his famous gritted teeth. What a great writer, great show. Died way too young…
Yeah, earlier in the thread I called for a 3 game WC play in series, but I see Willie’s point on the number of games. But worst case, only 2 additional games. I like the expansion of the rosters. Player’s association would love it…owner’s probably not.
I think the regular 25 man should be expanded in the NL to 27 anyway. Keep the DH at bay with that expansion. Gives a manager and GM room to maneuver when a Pen is pushed hard, or position guys go on DL. Plus, avoids players playing out of position and in dopey roles in xtra inning games, particularly late in season. How much extra would that cost owners — not much at MLB minimums — and likely less than a DH…
* In “football-ese”, this would be called a “trap series”- in between series’ against two tough opponents. This is just as important as either of them- the guys need to come out with fire in their bellies and Bochy needs to manage every game like it was World Series Game 7.
* Love the kids but this is the time for the playoff vets to lead the way. It’s a group that has done it before- from behind or ahead.
* Screw the wild card. The Middletown Mustangs can win a one game playoff. Beat the Bums for the West and watch Goober spit the bit against the Bucs…
* Who’s your pick to lead the way ? Pagan, Posey, Pence, Pablo? Other? I go with “all of the above”
* Strickland? Should be in the late inning mix now. Don’t want 95 though. Triple figures or sit down. 100 to 95 is like an 8.0 to a 5.9…
* I fed a wayward cat a few weeks ago-she invited her friends over. Now I’m feeding about 8 of them. The fuckers are starting to get picky, they gobble the wet food and turn their noses up at the kibble. So far I’m winning though- until they eat the kibble they don’t get fed again, So that’s what it’s come to- trying to out smart a bunch of freaking cats. Mickey is not amused but he’s being tolerant.
Zeke is hanging in, BTW. Bad hips, but it’s arthritis, not hip dysplasia. So it can be treated. Kinda funny- we walk alike.
Good post Mike.
You still at SeaTac? Which airline you ridin on to Seoul?
Korean. Now inn Seoul.
Thanks, Steve. Safe travels..
Who’s “Goober” — Kershaw? Agree with you on Strickland. Guy can throw hard cheese and has a hard slider, with command. I’d rather see him than Romo. I’d get Strickland in as many games as his arm and situations allow — get him into 6 or 8 games for experience at the MLB level before the pressure of a playoff game/series. Cordier flings hard cheese, but doesn’t know where it’s headed …
Yeah, that would be the idea. Maybe the first couple games in a “roogy” situation where they’re looking for a K. See how he handles it then give him the 7th or 8th inning. I’m not as down on Romo as some. He had the bad outing in Colorado and then gave up a solo shot against Miggy, one of 5 that the guy hit in a week. Before that Romo had had 14 straight scoreless appearances.
The thing with Romo for me is that even when he gets out of an inning, it looks tough. Hard outs. On the edge. James disagrees, but IMO his slider is nowhere near the consistent banana he used to throw sweeping across the zone. He’s not as good as in past years. I’m not guaranteeing it, but IMO it’s unlikely they’ll bring him back for 2015. Costs too much, some AL team will probably pay him a good check…
Yeah, I call Kershaw that instead of Opie. I’d love to see Cordier make it. If he could just get his BB rate down to 4.5 or so, they could live with it. His clock is ticking, though. Next year or maybe never.
On the way: Ray Black. I think I mentioned him before- said to be hardest thrower in the minors. Big injury history, 24 YO- they need to move him up fast. 37 games in Low-A and San Jose. 71 K in 35 IP. That’s scary good.
Ray Black, 6-5 and 225. Yeah, I guess averaging over 2Ks per inning should get some attention from the front office. Strickland’s about 6-4, too. Giants must be looking at the Cards that had those big flamethrowers in the Pen the last coupla years and getting in the mix for real “giant” Pen hurlers. In contrast, Romo looks so thin these days he looks like he could blow away with a strong gust…
Agree. Good post Mike. LMAO about the cats (and Mickey and Zeke).
Thanks, nice to see you guys.
great to see you twin keep posting
Hi WS, you keeping the crusty old fart side going? 😉
Not too much arguing on opinion twin… like dragnet, I try to just stick to the facts!
great to see you Twin. It’s not a September run without you.
[…] The rest of the article can be found here: THE San Francisco Giants Blog […]
Pirates look like they have a real shot at a #2 WC spot. I’m tellin’ ya, if the Giants get the #1 WC spot, I don’t want the Bucs, even at ATT. I just don’t like the Giants mojo against them, I’d rather see the Braves or Cards…
It’ll be interesting to see how Law recovers from his TJ surgery. If he comes back well, that’d be a possiblly great and young hard cheese throwing TJ repaired L-R combo with Strickland. Every time Affeldt goes out there now, I’m thinking “uh oh”…
Law is a righty, Snarkk. I think they like Okert as a LHer out of the pen. It would be nice to see new blood in the bullpen.
http://tinyurl.com/pzo6k2b
Crap, I thought he was a southpaw. Hopefully, Andrews replaced the correct elbow ligament…
Don’t know this Okert kid at all. Sheez, 33 IP at Richmond with 38Ks and 11 BBs, and 1.06 WHIP. Looks pretty good, though I’d like to see just a bit fewer BBs. I’m for getting the Pen younger next year — if they could offload Lopez and/or Affeldt, I would do it, but their deals are too rich, probably. They’ve seen better days…
Speaking of doing the correct body part, when they were prepping for my lung surgery they started to draw a circle on the upper right side of my chest. It was my upper *left* lobe coming out. I’m like, “uh, maybe not”. Nurse said not to worry, they’d check the charts (or whatever they check before they cut) …Alrighty then, I feel soooooooooo much better now..
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Joe Panik (L) 2B
3. Buster Posey (R) 1B
4. Hunter Pence (R) RF
5. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
6. Andrew Susac (R) C
7. Joaquin Arias (R) SS
8. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
9. Yusmeiro Petit (R) P
Cashner against Hernandez in LA tonight, might be a good chance to pick up a game.
I guess Arias in for Crawford due to Miley as LHP, though Craw hits better against LHPs. So, I don’t get it, unless he’s just resting Craw or Craw has done jack against Miley. Lurie said this past weekend that Crawford was sitting in a tub of ice or something, which meant he was hurt or sore, but no details. Other than he’s been fighting a sore throwing shoulder, but of course no details on that, either…
Can’t believe Jack Taschner and Norm Cash had a baby.
CNN devoting hours today to the NFL’s domestic abuse issues. Niners featured prominently because of their ill-advised decision to let MacDonald play on Sunday.
One analyst said it well: “The NFL has been tone-deaf on this issue.”
I’ve been against two Wild Card spots since the get-go, and there’s a chance the Giants will get the #1 Wild Card and have to play the stupid 1-game playoff. But the situation is what it is. The Dodgers aren’t going to lose many games against the NL West bottom-feeders, so the Giants have to go on a tear, and become a juggernaut if they hope to win the division. But the Giants just aren’t built these days for juggernautery. Cain and Lincecum were supposed to be about $40 million worth of help down the stretch. Others have to step it up and make it happen. It COULD happen. It’ll be darned interesting whatever happens.
IF the Giants can get into the divisional round of playoffs, then they have a decent chance to go deep.
Agree with all of that, zum. Gyros definitely “could” take the division, but Dodgers are going to have to crater a little against dogmeat competition — 6 left for LA against the Rockies isn’t promising. That’s why I’m hoping the Cubbies, like they did vs. the Pads down the 2010 stretch, will do the Giants a favor during the upcoming 4 against LA in Wrigley …
Which reminds me my 6:42 pm post yesterday was wrong. LA is not done with the Rockies. 2014 season series so far:
LA 9-4 vs. Rocks.
SF 9-10 vs. Rocks.
I remember the 2006 Tigers- went on to the WS but blew the division to the Twins on the last weekend of the regular season when the 100 loss Royals swept them *in* Detroit.
I think it’s great the Royals are in line for a playoff berth. Would love to see them get to the ALCS. A post-season w/out the Yanks and RSox will be a like a high colonic for the AL playoffs — a cleansing relief…
The 109 loss Mets almost did in the Cards on the last weekend of the wacky ’64 season…
How old are you, DJ?
He will not tell you Chuck and no pic too. BLEEP!
Yeah! BLEEP!
“But tonight, we must crush him”.
What is that — out of Conan the Barbarian?
http://tinyurl.com/pw2mh9v go to the video at 5 seconds in…
Arias has a habit of grounding out to third…
3-0 Pads, 2 run double by .120 hitting Cashner. Single by Spangenberg. Top of 2nd.
2 errors by Hanley.
5-zip Gyorko 2-run HR.
Hanley’s a FA for 2015, Uribe is under contract for $6.5M, but that’s a minor matter. Dodgers will probably make a run at Panda this offseason…
hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. They’ve been burned so many times by signing SF FA’s to huge deals. I wonder if they’d shy. But they’re the Art Dealers and all they’re doing is throwing hundies against the wall to see what sticks, what am I thinking.
They could have an infinite number of monkeys acting as the collective GM and still do as well…..
You guys might find this interesting…
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/93914144/mlb-clarifies-home-plate-collision-rule
Pitch count through two is 58-15. Miley has given up 5 hits and 4 walks. Fortunately for him the hits have all been singles, so he has weathered major damage. If the current pace somehow continues he will go four or maybe 5 innings.
I’m not a fan of 2 WC either, but if SF were the team chasing the 2nd spot would we be saying the same thing? Likely not…
That point is well taken, but I and a lot of other folks have always been against it being a 1-game playoff. If they’re going to have 2 Wild Cards, it should be a best of 3.
Was ’64 the year there was almost a 3 way tie for NL?
When Loo and James were discussing ’65 and Mays/Deron Johnson, I looked up who won, Dodgers.
That year both Koufax and Drysdale pitched over 300 innings, and Koufax K’d some ungodly amount (380 I think) Wills stole 90 bases, and while Dodgers O stats were near bottom of league, in just about every pitching category they were tops.
Claude Osteen lost 15 games, with an ERA under 3.00.
And no, the way SPs are these days (200 innings is now a lot), I don’t think extended playoffs would help the Giants or anyone else. Adding to rosters for position guys/extra pen is nice, but unless you have great depth at SPs, still would be a struggle.
In 62, Tommy Davis played the Deron Johnson part. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
Somebody will be talking some mierda in off season–Inciarte and Petit are from the same hometown, Maracaibo in Venezuela.
I’m fine with the best of 1 for the WC’s, It creates an instant *game 7* to kick off the playoffs and, frankly, I’ve never been a fan of the wild card. I’m a *win your division* guy and you get what you earn.
I see your point, but a case could be made that the divisions themselves are unfair. The Giants’ 103 wins in ’93 would have won the Eastern division, I’m sure (although I didn’t look it up.)
So, it’s an arbitrary thing, and that’s not totally fair. But then, my parents’ generation would say: “Life ain’t fair, kid, get used to it.”
I’ve never quite gotten used to it. 🙂
I propose 30 divisions.
The NFL is close with its 8 divisions. I still couldn’t say who all is in the NFC South or the AFC South.
Current NL batting leader is Justin Morneau with a .316. With his three for three tonight Joe Panik, had he sufficient ABs would be on top at an even .320.
They just showed a beautiful Asian woman in an orange Giants t-shirt. I think we just got a 5-second tutorial on why Blade is going to Asia for 4 months.
K & K are being harsh about Fig Newtons. I like Fig Newtons; I just had some yesterday. I don’t dig the fig seeds, that’s true. But overall, it’s a decent snack food, as far as snack foods go. It has an illusion of being somewhat healthier than a lot of other choices.
Bonne Maman fig jam is awesome. Fig newtons made without the crap Nabisco ingredients are pretty tasty, too.
Another Panik-y hit.
There goes Inciarte’s leverage.
Posey with the two cheapest RBIs of his career.
Nice to see the D-Backs bring their crappy play from L.A. last weekend up north.
Amen…
I wonder if Timmy’s thinking, “Not fair, there’s no Goldschmidt!”
Smokin’ Joe!
Sheezus, it’s Pagan 4 for 5, Panik 5 for 5, now at .323. With that top end production, Giants oughta have more than 5 runs, but hardly anybody else has a hit. Time for Posey to get a big knock…
73 pitches though 8 for Petit is pretty impressive. Madduxesque.
It’s the Dbacks, and they suck. But, nonetheless, stellar outing for Petit…
84 through 9. Wow.
Petit threw only 16 balls in a complete game, out of 86 total pitches. That’s damn amazing. Radio just said that’s the fewest pitches thrown in a complete 9 inning game in SF Giants history. Wow…
Chuck’s right. 84. Dang, that’s unreal at any level of pro ball…
that’s an incredible pitching performance…they said 26 of 29 first pitch strikes.
84 pitches. Incredible. When Petit is on, he’s as much a pleasure to watch as any of the Giants’ big-time studs during this run of success.
Pagan and Panik got 9 hits between them. Blanco had 2, Petit 1. Nobody else in the Giants LU got a hit. Buster had 2 RBIs with outs. 2 runs came in on bags loaded walks. Weird game…
Baggs tweet: “Looks like Joe Panik will be the first player to have five hits without a run scored or RBI since Adam Kennedy in 2009 for the A’s.:
He also says Petit, for the full game, did not ever go to a 3 ball count, and had only 3 two-ball counts …
Yup. Buster got lucky on the botched DP. he had a sac fly?
Yeah, a foul ball sac fly scoring Pagan…
Or, Zum, on why I’ve been living over here for 10 years now…. 🙂
LA scored one run in bottom 9th in the Latrine, now down 6-3 with two on. They are always friggin cockaroaches in the bottom of the 9th down there, hard to finish off. Come on Pads, stomp on ’em…
Done, Doghairs go down. Lead cut to 2 1/2 over the Giants…
S.D. beats L.A.!
Yep. Bums lose. Nice efficient win tonight. Petit was DEALING. And how about Joe and the Panik Attack (no, not the latest punk rock band)…dude was on fire tonight. One at a time. Make it a September to Remember. Let’s play some October baseball!
Still dark in the early a.m. of Wedneday in Cali, just getting dark here in the Far East on Wed. evening, but a couple of interesting stories keeping me entertained as I eat my noodles. End of a thread, this might go unread, but here ya go anyway while you sleep. Story #1, about how 3 (odd number) moves might continue the G’s even number year success (getting Hudson, Morse, and Peavy). Hmmm… taking the whole season into account, sure. “The kids” have actually helped more of late than Morse or Hudson, but Peavy’s recent addition was gold. Story #2, about how the A’s might become the 1st team ever to have the best record in baseball at the break and not make the playoffs. Their slump at this time seems pretty similar to the Giants’ slump earlier. Wow. Timing is everything, huh…
http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/9/9/6126763/giants-even-year-three-moves
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nbc-yahoo-sports/struggling-a-s-in-danger-of-making-wrong-kind-of-history-181931324.html