Stalled Pennant Drive
This weekend sucked for Bay Area sports. I’m still doing a slow burn over that pathetic Niner game that was gift wrapped for the Bears. And after we took the first game of the series 9-0 I had dreams of a sweep. 17-0 was a quick wake up call and Kershaw is starting to piss me off. And what’s up with Puig sucking against every other team in the NL West except the Giants?
Gotta re-start the drive tonight in Arizona but I’m not gonna lie, I’ve got a bad feeling about this…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Yeah what a letdown. I could see them coming out flat and struggling against wily Mikey.
..wily miley that is.
Pagan played like he was out of it some, Sat and yesterday. Wonder if his back is acting up again.
One game at a time, baby. See what happens. Still 3 up in the race for the #1 WS spot…
Agree, snarkk. One at a time. But each game is so damned important at this juncture.
Loo – in reference to your question at the end of the last thread. No, I was not a history major. The reference to “Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor” was a John Belushi line from the Movie Animal House. Basically just saying that “this shit ain’t over YET!” Time to skin some snakes.
Yeah, I was saying the same thing to my son. Pagan looks like he’s nursing his back.
Got to jump on the snakes.
Chi, the Eliza Gilkyson concert in Berkeley was great. We had a really nice time in Berkeley, as we pretty much usually do.
Eliza played acoustic guitar, and sang great, and was accompanied by Nina Gerber playing some really great electric guitar to fill out the sound. Eliza’s new album is called “The Nocturne Diaries,” she said, because the songs were written in the middle of the night. She’s a terrific songwriter, but she’s not all that well known. I wish she was better known, but she seems to keep truckin’ on in her music career. We try to catch her show every time she comes to the Freight.
Great to hear the Avett Brothers are still an awesome show. We were very very impressed when we saw them in concert a few years ago, and had a great time. We’d like to see them again at some point.
For Flappers, October means Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Something reliable.
Yeah like I said on Chuck’s blog yesterday, The 49ers played to lose instead of win. That 2nd half was brutal to watch,with horseshit penalties and inept play calling(Roman) and just an overmatched secondary in the end, along with Kap telegraphing his throws,so a freakin Rookie Kyle Fuller picks his pocket “TWICE” is excusable!!!
Yeah just a bad sports weekend, at least the Giants got 1 win or they would have been 5 out with no chance at the division title.Need to skin a snake and get a win for sure.
“Inexcusable”
Zum – glad to hear you enjoyed the show. I will check-out Eliza’s music…always looking for something new and interesting.
If any of you like foreign movies, especially Italian ones (as do I), you must see “The Great Beauty,” directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Toni Servillo.
Grazie. I’ll look on Netaflix…
BLEEP the Niners! Giants sucked too. Damn the most important series of the year and they layed a massive shit. Overpaid players sucking massively.
Woof! Bleep! Edgy Nipper?
I imagine it gets hot in that van sometimes…
Be nice you guys. Save your venom for Maalox and other Dodger POS fans.
I’m having a vision of that “Massive Shit” the dinosaur deposited in Jurrasic Park right now Nipper..
Bochy needs to quit pulling his pud and just put Posey at 1b already and tell him to like it
now see that’s not a half bad post. It’s not half good, either. But post more shit like this and you won’t go into my spam filter all day long. We humans who live in society call this “learning.” Keep “learning”.
Flavor – Man of the people; scholar; teacher; philospher; and keeper of the Flap Gate.
Actually, that’s my opinion on Posey for next year, pretty much.
The stats don’t lie. He earns his monster contract far better at the plate when he’s not playing catcher. And, he’s not much better defensively, if at all, than Susac…
Blade– hope you’re doing good, I haven’t been to your blog yet but I’ll check it out tonight. Your posts are always so layered and complex, I want to be able to afford the correct amount of time needed, set the atmosphere with a beer and the game on in the background, and dig in……
Snarkk– it’s almost stupid how obvious it is to move Posey to 1b, right? If Belt still knows what his name is, he can go play LF when Morse leaves…..
Yeah, I don’t see Morse around next year. Too funky, too AL, too injury prone, getting too old, etc. Belt should be able to play LF way better than Morse. I’d be OK with Posey at 3rd and Belt at 1b, that would keep the defensive hit to a minimum. Panda will be gone, in that scenario…
I’m not opposed to Posey playing 3rd, I’d just prefer it be first base. Way harder to play 3rd just from the # of plays you have to make. I don’t care if Morse leaves, in fact I’d prefer it for all the reasons you listed. I don’t think the Giants let Pablo go mostly for the same reason they kept Timmy: He keeps ’em humming in the Dugout Store. And anyone who doesn’t believe this is fooling themselves. That would be a primary reason that they re-sign Panda.
But personally, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t care if we don’t have anyone in the system or if there aren’t any decent free agent options this winter. Fucking improvise. But giving Sandoval 5+ years is just an idiotic idea that will show the Giants have no long term plan at all.
Plug a “David Freese” in there till you draft a 3bagger or you sign a good free agent.
Thanks for the comment Flav . . . Tom, thank you for commenting at my blog. Off to the “Old Market,” then pool side this afternoon. Go Giants!
Panda hitting .195 for sept. Looking like his April. Giants have to be deeply torn…
Great effing news on Giants moving AAA to Sac. I’ll be on that bullet train for a game and a night in old Sac.
A few of you who earlier suspected something was up with Pagan were on the money as usual: Pagan a late scratch, Perez to lead off and play CF.
yup. UncaChuck and a couple other Flappers nailed that one.
I’ll join this discussion. I’d rather Posey play 3B than 1B. Let’s face it, if Sandoval can Posey can. Belt is GG caliber at 1B and it’s easier to find OF’s than IF’s….The main thing…I’d like Sandoval to go away.
2-2 Bumfks-rockettes
A little surprised at the tide turning against the Panda coming back next season. I’ll admit I’m torn somewhat. But, I am getting tired of his clown act swinging at absolute crap in a clutch situation, like this weekend when he swung at some crap way inside that HIT him. Come on, that stuff is getting old. I’m tending to think along with BF and that a LT contract with him in just dumb, other than for selling Panda garbage in the dugout stores. Hell, we had David Bell over at third in 2002 and went to the WS with him. So heck, Posey is leagues better player than Bell, and would be legit over there. Meanwhile, Panda supposedly hits well in Phoenix, so let’s see some of that tonight and the next few days…
would I take Panda for a year? Absolutely. But we all know that he’ll get 5 or more from someone else. And really, that would just be the lazy GM’s out to sign him to that many years. Does anyone really think Pablo is going to turn into a 100 million dollar player at any point in his career? I don’t. So don’t pay him like one. That’s the kind of shit the Angels do, let them overpay him….
I hadn’t give much thought to something you said earlier which is relevant to the discussion, i.e., your point about marketing playing a big part in these signings. Flappers want to win. Giants brass want to win, but it is more layered and money is a big, big part of the equation (I sometimes forget). Your point is spot on – they might give the MOFO $100 million because those Panda hats are flying off the shelves. Same deal with Lincecum – People love him. He is cute and adorable and a past hero. For all I know, that $35 million dollars I thought was flushed down the toilet WAS A BARGAIN. All things Timmy are flying off the shelves too.
Anyway, spot on Flavor.
Cabrera for Detroit is a prime example of why Panda is headed for the AL. The guy can barely walk around the bases, or field his position, but he’s playing at 1b and/or DH, and raking. I could see Panda at age 33 creaking around like that, weighing about 300 pounds, and DHing. And, not hitting as well as Cabrera does, though…
Seems as if Voggy can get out of the first frame without getting smoked, he’ll be OK for a while. Not looking good out of the gate…
Gotta love the line drive out double play thang…
First base to outfield is not a common transition. Usually, it’s the other way around.
Can you think of anyone that’s succeeded at it in a big way?
in his rookie season with the Giants, Dave Kingman played 20 games at first base. Boo yah. He played a fair amount of 1B in the early years of his career. But yeah, I see your point
I remember seeing Kingman at the Stick. The guy hit pop ups that had ice on ’em when they came down…
Not bad, Flav. At least you didn’t say Ishikawa. I haven’t come up with anyone yet…
Burrell played a lot of 1B as a rookie, then never again.
Jints tried to make an OF out of McCovey so he and Cepeda could play at the same time.
Didn’t work out very well.
I just don’t see Belt in the OF.
Belt just got activated. So I was wrong that he was going to miss the rest of the year. I think he missed about 5 weeks.
I’m hoping the Giants medicos are better at this concussion business than their usual Stooges approach to sports medicine. Their handling of Hector doesn’t give me a lot of trust…
Snarrk, its not the giants medicos…they are relying on outside expert opinion and testing.
the Giants medicos completely bungled this from the start. The fact that they let him play the day he got hit in the head should have gotten all of them fired….
I know they have that Pittsburgh doc on Belt’s case. But, like BF said, they let him play quickly after he got hit. And, they let Hector get exposed to multiple head shots within a short period of time before shutting him down…
Aaaaaand, on cue. Panda comes through with the hitting shoes in Phoenix…
Holy shit. Arias 20-44!
Blanco needs to just make some contact here to get Panda in.
Don’t swing out of your shoes…
Contact right at somebody, sheezus. I’ll drop my usual WTF didn’t he do a safety squeeze there, just to get a run in?…
Arias. zero homers no speed. low ave. Just as I’m typing how does this guy make our team he gets a hit…yay
Nice to see Panda hit a lefty…he’s at .201 RH this year…
look at the sausage fingers Kingman is rolling with.He’s probably hung like Secretariat.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/met-dave-kingman-lake-tahoe-article-1.325231
Wouldn’t doubt that. He was a major dick…
He must have crushed it cause Flannery held panda, and he sends everyone???
Sigh
I know Blanco has been better the last month. But, he just exasperates the crap outta me. I want him gone next season…
Trying to imagine being a young player on the Dbacks making some good coin in Phoenix. Team is dogmeat, out of it, you’ve got nothing to do all day before a night game, then after the usual loss at night, you’ve got a major metro at 80 degrees at your feet. Arizona is full of political nuts. But, hey, it’s got ASU nearby…
http://tinyurl.com/oy7o93m
I’ve been saying it for over a decade. The best business to get into is tattoo removal.
These chicks are gonna be so sorry…
Voggy is throwing some major hit me pitches belt high, and is getting away with it. Until right now, the pitcher got a knock. I’ve got fingers crossed…
If it comes down to it, I wonder at what point Bochy adjusts the rotation to have Bum set for the WC game.
How about now?
I’m an idiot, duh. MIggy Cabrera was an outfielder when he first came up.
Voggy – WTF was that 50′ pitch?…
Typical Voggy set up for disaster. Can’t get the guys out with 2 strikes. Really crossing fingers here…
Anyone else here thinking the worst there too?
Just a matter of time. He was throwing hit me crap for an inning and a half, and a guy with pop jacked one. Shoulda crossed my fingers, legs and thrown a sack of salt over my shoulder. He and Huddy got nothin’ much left right now…
That tears it. The Voggy book for the Giants should be closed at the end of this season. Seen too many chapters lately like this. Thanks, and good luck to you…
a dink hit, then a missed strike 3 check swing, then the gs…
I saw it coming and called it. He had no stuff. Straight as a string 88 mph fastball, a nothing slider, and throwing 50′ spike fastballs. Don’t need to see him next Spring…
Vogelsong: You stir my drink. Thanks a lot
Right now we got Bum, Peavy and Petit, in that order. That’s OK in a short series.
Voggy and Huddy can shag balls in the outfield…
The starting pitching was the question mark coming into the season, is the reason they won’t advance far in the playoffs, and should be Sabes’ only concern in the off season.
They only need to sign Peavy, then get 2 more starters from somewhere, and pay Huddy and Lincecum $29 million to tread water. Shouldn’t be too hard…
Hopefully Cain comes back strong and Lincecum turns into the 2012 Barry Zito…
And now the Dodgers have their cocks squarely up my ass.
Get Voggy out right now, keep it at 4. Giants could come back from 4 down…
Bochy will stick with Vogeldong until the game’s out of reach, even though he’s cock yanked by the D’bitches. Bullpen should be up right now.
Nice tag by Panik, he put the glove right down in front of the bag, the runner slid into it and an out…
No surprise.
LA giving the Rocks the first of what will likely be many beatdowns in the next 10 days…
Hey Kruk, Don’t knock the human rain delay( Gutierez) he gives all Flappers a chance for a pit stop and a refill of spirits between pitches!
If there is one player I wished the Giants would head hunt, it’s Pennington. He had one of the worst series ever against the Giants, and since then he has roasted them, even though he is barely a major leaguer — drill him!
Loo, I think rotation is set up so that Peavy and Bum would pitch final 2 games vs. SD.
If SF has a spot clinched, whatever it is, you could go Lincecum or TBD so that those 2 would be next in line, for the 1 game playoff WC, and first game of NLDS.
Worst case would be SF needs to win one of those, and Bum is unavailable for couple games.
Why not give skip Voggy a start and give Heston a try …
Joe Panik reminds me so much of Jonny Damon.Just a patience hitter that drops the barrel of the bat and sprays to all fields like Damon use to. won’t match Damon’s power, but will contend for a batting title someday IMO,
OK, so Morse should go..the guy with same numbers for OB and slugging as Pence. Tied with Sando for 3rd on team with 16 HRs.
And Sando, he of the .288 avg and near GG glove.
And Blanco, the guy with the same OB as…Pagan.
Y’all are killing me. Finding hitters anywhere these days is dang tough. Especially when you also are gonna need at least 1 SP and maybe 2. That’s an awful large shopping list.
The guy who needs to go is Lincecum. 2012 great post season out of the pen thought he had found something and all would be different. Simply put, after watching him for 2 more years, no. Has yet to prove pen is where he belongs either—pitching with guys on base vs. LA he gave up 3 straight hits. Out of the stretch, cannot hold runners on either. No longer an SP. He’s not *regaining* anything, and being around Peavy and Hudson hasn’t done a thing for him.
If they have unlimited dough, willie, sign em all up. Morse will want a multi year deal, so will Panda. Lots of cash. Giants aren’t going to pay it. Lincecum goes, OK — where? Offload to Seattle if they take half his salary?
Yes, if you are compelled to point at one reason they aren’t in first, Lincecum is way, way ahead of Blanco batting lead off, Romo giving it up to the Rockies etc. If he had pitched as shittily as Vogey, SF would be 2-4 games better right now.
Just great to see us outhitting AZ 10 to 9.
2015 FA outfielders. * means there’s an option.
Nobody on that list jumps out at me, anyway. Hey, if they got a Hairston, that means he can’t get a killer hit against us, right?…
Norichika Aoki
Emilio Bonifacio
Melky Cabrera
Nelson Cruz
Michael Cuddyer
Chris Denorfia
Jeff Francoeur
Jonny Gomes
Franklin Gutierrez
Tony Gwynn Jr.
Scott Hairston
Torii Hunter
Raul Ibanez
Reed Johnson
Ryan Lukwick *
Nick Markakis *
Darnell McDonald
Mike Morse
Colby Rasmus
Alex Rios *
Nate Schierholtz
Grady Sizemore
Seth Smith
Alfonso Soriano
Denard Span *
Ichiro Suzuki
Ryan Sweeney
Josh Willingham
Chris Young
Delmon Young
Me? I want Melky back. He was lights out most of this season. Last month or so, he has been nursing injuries and is currently on the DL.
You know when we’re starting Blanco,Arias &Perez ferchrissakes in September stretch run to a pennant/WC your team has major issues…
The only way Timmy goes is if we eat most of his $$$. Yeah, I think next year is a bit of a retool (rebuild) year. Not that they will crater without Panda and Pence, ,but this team is in desperate need of OFers not named Pence. Pagan is just not healthy enough, Blanco is Blanco. and Perez is not going to get anywhere above 4th OFer. Belt? Why not? He’s better there than Posey at 3rd.so I’d do that. Posey can play 1st well enough.
Affeldt, Lopez, Guttierez, scheist, I don;t know, We”ve got a lot of marginal stuff and guys I’m just getting tired of seeing. Then again. I’m catching a good buzz what with all this medicinal whiskey so I might not be making sense.
i felt great after the 9-0 win, but like Flav, felt a lull coming on afte rthe losses. Just got to get the next 2 and hope to pick up one on the dogs. And sweep in LA? Sure, it could happen.
Way to drive one, Crawfish….
Well, let’s get us a rally goin’ here…
Good on Susac to take that 3-2 pitch. He has impressed me more than Panik.
Right now, depending on other moves of course in the offseason, I’d hand him the keys to starting catcher next season…
Might as well. Belt is good enough in left, Same with Posey at 1st. Just have CF, 3b, and a couple SP spots to figger out.
Chances of winning division pretty slim now, the numbers just don’t work out well…
Need a lot of help from the Dogs to do that.
Snark..Not saying Gmen should get him but Cruz jumps out at me. MLB HR champ and possible AL MVP…For less maybe Hunter.
Ex Roider and who knows now? Doesn’t bother me, but probably not clean enough for the Giants…
I could give a rat’s ass if they are on PEDs, Bennies, Downers, or have a sugar craving. Similar to how I feel about Melky, I would take Cruz in a heartbeat. Hunter still can play (as he demonstrated this season) – I would welcome him as an upgrade too.
If Pagan is out with his back again, put in Gary Brown for a start. I’ve seen enough of Perez’ ABs. He’s at .177. Try somebody else, and Brown can flash the glove, too…
Giants are fading fast…….fading….fading…..and this wild card shit ……boo hiss! I hate the wild card. It makes me puke.
I think any Posey move would have to be gradual. He catches and plays 1b…kind of reverse 2010.
Ws makes a good point about Belt as GG 1b, but Posey looks better and better over there. I just don’t think he’s ready yet to go full time over there. I worry SF dumps Belt off to a hitters yard and he explodes 25 bombs.
Sure keeping things mostly intact will be expensive, but so are replacements for 3b and OF that are middle order bats. Alex Rios makes $12 mil, and he sucks. Bonifacio isn’t any better than Blanco. David Freese has sucked for 2 years, with as many HRs as Sando has this year…while playing in 2 hitters yards.
Maybe Sabes can rekindle those Zobrist talks, lol.
Lincecum salary is lost anyway, so paying someone to take him is addition by subtraction. Hudson only has so many effective innings, likely less next year than this. Let’s see how he gets through this year.
If you appreciate bobbled grounders on the infield, throws that skip down the rightfield line, and missed tags at the plate, well, two outta three ain’t bad…