Sun Rising High at 2:07pm Today
For me, this is another #noexpectations game. It’s much easier for me to admire what the Giants have done so far this post season than to expect them to continue doing it. After all, it’s almost unarguable that this is the worst of our playoff teams (comparing 2014 to 2010/2012). Our hitters stink and we have 1.5 reliable starting pitchers.
And yet here we are on the cusp of advancing to the NLCS. And we have the best starting pitcher in the playoffs going for us today.
It’s a day game, the wind will be blowing out a bit and it’s warm enough that the ball should be lubed up enough to leave the yard now and again.
Who will be today’s hero?
#TheHeartOfaGiant
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Flav,
I agree, no expectations…I’m taking it one game at a time and really have enjoyed the ride so far! Who would’ve thought our boys would be up 2-0…something magical happens in October to this team. This does feel a lot like 2010, in regards to my stress levels in game and post game exhaustion. It feels like that Atlanta series. Will be at work, while this is on and will listen and keep best I can…will DVR as well, in case we clinch, will be must see replay:).
Go Giants!!!
Retro move of the day: Raymond being first to make a post
🙂
Raymond – I was talking with a good friend the other day, and we both agreed that this natty nat series feels a whole lot like that Atlanta series. Interesting that others are feeling the parallels.
Excellent thread, and your expectations mirror mine, Flav. Not expecting anything, other than what this team does every game, and that is to go out and battle until the end. And really, what more can you ask for (rhetorical question).
And I love this line:
“And yet here we are on the cusp of advancing to the NLCS. And we have the best starting pitcher in the playoffs going for us today.”
Kershaw may be the best in the game, but when the ball is being played in October, give me Big Country ANY DAY.
I’ll be chasing the dots around the screen again (still in Phoenix working this audit). Hoping all the dots moving around the screen are SF Giant dots! (GRIN). I should get out of here in time to get back to the hotel and catch the end of the game. I believe it is on MLB TV, correct? That means I will have to wander over to the sports bar next door to my hotel.
GO GIANTS!
Sports-wise, Phoenix was very lucky for me, Chi. Back in 1994, I happened to be out there when the Rangers were playing the Devils in the semi-finals (that’s NHL hockey). They were down 3-2 facing elimination. I wandered into Dan Majerle’s Sports Bar and all the TVs were tuned to the NBA playoffs. Majerle was sitting at the bar and I went up to him and asked if he would help me out. Well, he personally set me up in my own corner with a stool and a TV and put the Rangers on for me. He also insisted that I down a shot of Jaegermeister with him (which I had never heard of at that time). Rangers won a historic game and went on to win their only Stanley Cup in the last 75 years. How cool was that of Majerle?
That is a cool-assed story, Loo. I follow hockey, too. Love it. And I have been to Majerle’s bar before. Cool place. So, what was your impression of Jager? Last time I drank that we were coming back from a Dodger-Giant game on the train (with a friend who lives in the Bay Area). We ended up doing shots with a Dodger fan. How fucking crazy is that…
Got trashed off my ass and had a killer hangover the next day. OUCH.
Great story Loo, except for the outcome of the game, haha.
Just finished reading the article in the Chron on Bumgarner. Now we know how he got the nickname, “country breakfast.”
That was a cool read. Nothing in that article surprises me. Let’s go Big Country!
I guess its better than Moons Over My Hammy.
Missing your starting CF and 1a pitcher? pffft. LF a void of suckitude? Meh. Juan Perez? smh. Let’s win this thing.
and don’t forget the parade of triple A players on the bench.
Parade of AAA players:
I suspect that Susac will be the 2nd catcher next year.
Panik, IMO, has locked-up 2nd base for the big club for the forseeable future.
I expect Duffy to report to ST next year with the distinct possiblity of being one of our utility guys (he won the AA batting title in Richmond this year).
well Panik is starting so I’m not counting him. But when your bench is Susac, Perez, Duffy, Arias and Duvall you are basically looking at a triple A bench……
Not arguing with ya, Flav. Just pointing out that those AAA players, by and large, are contributing, and as I said, I think most will make the big club next year.
Nice piece from Pav on the Giants system
http://tinyurl.com/mt6f62a
Good read, Micah. Thanks for sharing.
Good read. Before reading that, I was going to post how underrated our farm system must be in order to be where we are today, with who we have in place. But I think it has a lot more to do with Bochy and his ability to squeeze blood out of a turnip. Even Sabean didn’t think many of these kids were ready, which goes to show you how great a staff Bochy and company have become. I really do fret for the day he walks off into the sunset. Let’s hope that’s not for many, many years to come.
Agree, Wilco. Much is on Bochy and staff, but you have to give credit to the kids for stipping up to the plate (pun intended) in the heat of battle, in critical games.
Not mentioned in this piece and rarely lately because he has been injured since early Summer is Mac Williamson who was burning up the highly rated Eastern League pitching for the Flying Squirrels. He could be the in-house solution to the black hole which LF has become.
Possibly slated as the first highly rated OF candidate the team has developed in years, the big guy has slash power, hits for average and has a pretty decent turn of speed for a guy of his size. Likely he will start the season in AA or AAA. If Williamson does as well as he was back in April or May he could well join the home-growns by June.
Good call, Stix. I had forgot about Williamson. Would be cool as hell to see that kid thrive.
Enter stage left at any moment, with snarkk’s banter about not developing an OFer. Hey, OFer or not, it is pretty impressive what Sabes, Tidrow, and Evans have accomplished.
I get a chance later this week to see our young Cuban OFer, Daniel Carbonell at a couple of Arizona Fall League games. Flapper report on the scene forthcoming.
baha, that was exactly what I was thinking when I read that. Especially once outfielders were mentioned.
Yep. snarkk is like a Blue Tick Coonhound treeing a coon when it comes to him and SF’s inability to draft and groom a kick-ass OFer. Too funny.
I’d say we have 3 good starting pitchers, given the way Peavy and Huddy have performed so far. It does not matter that they are old, they’re also smart, crafty vets and they’re on a roll. In a relatively short 7 game series, I’d stack those guys up against any other team’s rotation. Throw in the G’s bullpen and things are looking pretty good. These guys truly are grinders. I’m not sure I knew exactly what that meant until the 18 inning affair.
I agree about not having expectations; anything more since the playoffs started feels like gravy. Stealing the 2 games in D.C. was astounding and totally unexpected by me. We win today and the 2 teams with the best records in baseball are syonara. Ya just never know in this crazy game.
We cannot overlook this post-season’s secret weapon: Use More O Petit. The winner of Game Two as the indefatigable longman is that rare guy who can start, go long, or come in for an inning or so and shut them down waaay more often than not.
And does Bochy look like a genius or what for deciding to go with 12 pitchers for this series?
Nobody is perfect, but does Bochy not look like a genius almost all of the time. I would take him hands-down over any manager in the game, regular season, post season…you name it.
so no television for MLB playoffs unless you have a subscription on top of all that you are already paying for cable/satellite? Wow. Sports fans must be cows to be milked. Maybe I will meet up with snarkk for a chardonnay and some barroom TV. I wonder if my MLB online will be blacked out too?
you probably need to hit a sports bar to watch it. I am bailing out of work at 2pm and making a beeline for The Dutch Goose…….
Good piece on Hunter Strickland from a Red Sox POV. Sounds like this Giants really have a good one here beyond the 100 mph heater: http://tinyurl.com/qzztjcx
Best written piece I have seen on this guy Mac . . . Thanks!
Another good read shared by FU. Thanks.
Damn, not only TJ surgery, but he had a rotator cuff repaired in the past, too.
Blade & Chi: What impressed me is that it appears Strickland’s got a sound work ethic and can quickly figure things out. That brings to mind Game 1 vs. Nats when he gave up HRs to two lefties, and a few here said he’ll need to work on that. Looks like that won’t be an issue with this guy.
Yep…agree on all counts. What little I have seen of the guy (and now read), I am really impressed. If he stays healthy and continues to perform, I see him battling for the closer role next year.
Agree MD – this guy puts in the work, doesn’t give in, and equally important, he sounds like he is intelligent and can make adjustments on the fly.
Somewhere in the chatter that I listened to the other day before Huddy’s game was the fact that Huddy was dealing with a hip injury for the better part of the season.
I can’t remember if I heard that or not, but Bochy said he’s feeling (and thus pitching) much better than when he was working through it.
The proof certainly seems to be in the pudding. Because all of a sudden, Bummie, Peavy and Huddy suddenly look pretty good.
As much as I’d like to see the GIants/Dodgers epic playoff matchup, sticking it to the Cards would seem to be easier. Jusdt have to wait and see if the Dogs implode under their expectations.
And see if the Giants can sweep the Icy Nats.
I agree, Charlie. Blade and I were kicking-around that topic the other day. I think we match-up better with the DeadBirds. But really, bring on any team. I just like the way our boys are playing right now.
It is 12:25am in HCM city. How many hours until game time? Need to decide if I am going to wake up for it.
Thanks . . . By the by, new post on my blog (but a downer post – on the Cambodian “Killing Fields”) . . .http://aroundtheworldwithblade.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/the-killing-fields/#more-5782
2:37 Pacific for first pitch
4 hours from now..get a nap in
Ahh . . . The 4 hours is the answer I needed. Thanks GH.
2:07
I am going the Bum as our hero. I can see Nats coming out super aggressive and hopefully uses that against them. Outside of one swing, our pitching has taken advantage of Harper’s over aggressiveness and really have taken taken apart their hitters. I say he goes 8 innings…
May happen GH. Likewise, the same could be said for Fister. In fact, these guys have faced off twice I believe and although Bum had the upper hand in both games, Fister wasn’t far behind in effectiveness. In fact, Fister was with the Tigers in one of the games and although I can’t recall the score – both pitchers were outstanding.
I don’t recall the final score, but do konw that Bum beat Fister in game 2 of the World Series against the tiggers. That was the game in which Fister got hit in the head by a line-drive, but stayed in the game to pitch.
Damn, forgot about Fister getting hit that game. I do remember Fister was every bit as tough as MadBum, and that the Giants had to scratch and claw just to get 1 run off him while the Tigers were kept scoreless when Fielder got thrown out at the plate. Maybe another tight one today?
I feel like we are either going to blow them out or they’re going to win. And we’ll probably be able to tell where the Nats are mentally within the first couple of innings. How bad do they want it? At this point, how bad do they want to just not be embarrassed by us?
Comcast sucks ballz. Can’t even see this game in the lineup to DVR and game time is 3 hours away.
that’s cause it’s only on mlb network.
I have the MLB package though. I’m probably just confused. Happens all the time. Either way Comcast sucks.
When the NFL plays a game on network TV (say ESPN or NFL Network) don’t they also air the game on a local affiliate in each teams home market? I don’t understand why MLB can’t do the same. My dad lives in Concord and only has basic cable, thus he won’t get Game 4 (hopefully there won’t be one) as he doesn’t get the MLB Network…Of course, he will be watching from his local brew pub regardless. Still that must suck for those in the Bay Area that don’t want to belly up to a bar for 3 hours or six plus in the case of Game 2.
No shit…this whole situation sucks. I went to the sports bar next to my hotel to catch the marathon the other day, but the place was so fucking loud with idiots watching the ASU game, I could only stand two innings and went back to the room and listened to the final five innings on the radio. I am looking forward to being home…come on Friday!
Who wouldn’t? Well, that’s the 30 years ago me talking . . .
At least when I get home (hopefully the Giants are still playing ball), I can catch the games regardless. Via Dish Network I have MLB, FoxSports, CSNBA…but it sure as fuck isn’t doing me an good here in Phoenix. Next purchase is a tablet, and figuring out how to watch my Dish channels on the tablet while traveling.
Interesting. Just saw that the Giants home record is the same as that of the natty nat’s road record…45-36.
I feel good about today’s game. We’re on a roll, we got The Undertaker on the hill, and they are coming off a devastating loss. What I don’t feel good about is throwing Vogy at these guys tomorrow (and I’M a big Vogy apologist) or getting back on an aeroplane bound for DC.
Let’s get this done TODAY.
Loo did a Jaeger shot with Dan Majerle, who hooked him up with a spot to watch some ice hockey! I love that!!
GO GIANTS!
“The Undertaker” takes the mound & buries the Nats in the ground.
Instead of K’s on the RF wall they should put coffins!!!
Giants roll 6-2!!
Coffins. Nice. That would be awesome.
“the Tigers were kept scoreless when Fielder got thrown out at the plate”
That was with no out, and unbelievably, the Tigers did the same thing at a crucial point in their series with the Orioles last week. The Tigers completely killed a rally by sending Cabrera, another slow runner, home in a no-out close-play situation. The Tiger fans must have been freaking out. How could the Tigers do that again?!
Well, DirecTV likes having the playoffs on TBS and FS1. The difference in price between the packages that get you or don’t get you those two channels is about $30 a month. That’s a whole lot of ‘ka-ching’ going on from fans that upgraded to get those two channels.
And DirecTV requires customers who make upgrades to keep the upgrades at least a month.
Let’s Roll!
Let’s Get it On!
Orange and Black Forever – GO GIANTS!!!
I pay quite a bit for my Dish package, but I have any damned sports channel under the sun, and at the end of the day, that works for me…dollars be damned. Now as I mentioned earlier, if I just had a tablet I could stream any of my home content to my tablet. Again…that is my next step.
That’s the pisser. I can’t get the MLB network over my iphone even though Comcast broadcasts about 80% of their channels over the iphone.
Game dots it is . . . *sigh*
Uh oh…Bum getting pissed at the ump already
Hey, he got through the 1st. Pitch pissed Bummie . . .
Got to get on Didge A Fister early.
MLB Network plays “Cold As Ice” as Bum walks off after Nats scoreless first…
Someone wake up the Shark . . .
He laid down a bunt?
His dot did…
His dot be illin’
Bumgarner starting strong. Put 3 coffins on the wall.
8 pitch inning? Sweeeeeeeeeet!
Sandoval probably saved by the sniper there.
Fuck, Crawford just missed that!
Bases juiced for Bumgarner. Oh, man.
Damn
Tight zone per MLB.tv tracking. Bumgarner a bit fired up over it but that last ab with Cabrera he was pouring them in there.
Let’s go black dots!
My buddy in china says the game is on there no problem. That’s hilarious
2 out rally time . . .
Nice inning there by Big Country. Let’s score some runs, boys!
Now these are true Giants fans…
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/giants-fans-put-wedding-reception-on-hold-during-18-inning-game/ar-BB7TaK3
What a brutal end to an inning. WTF is Belt doing trying to steal?
I’m at a bar watching this. The guy next to me just yelled “Aw Belt shouldn’t of looked!”
As in, he thinks he got thrown out because he looked to the plate half way to second base.
I’m doing a slow burn about what an idiotic comment that was but I didn’t say anything because I need to practice being around idiots and not killing them
What are you drinking?
I see idiots. Everywhere.
24 ounce Coors Light. No pumpkin.
I mean Belt is no three-toed sloth, but he isn’t exactly Bob Hayes, either. I just don’t get the steal attempt there with Belt. Don’t kill anyone, Flav. FU would be fucked without you.
Wtf is the point of the little diamond graphic with red dots on the top right of the screen? Is that suppose to indicate the defensive allignment? Seems pretty pointless to me.
Runners on base, perhaps?
I noticed that Saturday too. I think it is defensive alignment like you wrote. No pitch tracker but a bunch of red dots on the diamond. Lame.
Shittilly biscuits. Get a run!@
Was it a hit-and-run with Belt?
Not sure,Charlie…no way of telling with Lame Day…
I think so. Someone missed the sign.
Shit, you yer at the Goose. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting an idiot . . .
Got the meat coming up. Let’s go.
I need a drink. And it is probably an hour before I am outta this shit hole.
Yeah, I’m splitting early. My son just got out of school and he wants to watch it without knowing anything.
Wish I could bail early…working this lame-ass audit. Enjoy, Charlie.
There is a Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin with my name on it. And there are more good looking waitresses/bar tenders at this sports bar than you can shake a stick at.
Didn’t tell him it’s zippo, bottom of 6th.
Back from my daughter’s HS soccer game, it appeared headed for OT but the other team got a late goal to win it. Things might’ve been different if my daughter was the starting ‘keeper instead of the backup, not that I’m bitter or anything.
Shit, Bum in serious trouble here.
What the hell was Bum thinking?
I really don’t believe it.
That was a fucking disaster and now Pablo appears to be hurt.
WTF? Pablo is hurt? Fuck! I hate Game Day (Lame Day). I really need a drink, now.
He appears fine. He just had to make a big stretch to try and catch Bum’s errant throw.
In fact he just made a great play. sorry to scare ya, Chi.
Fuck
Finally a fucking out. Yeah, it was the pitcher, but WTH…I’ll take it.
Tony Bennett singing God Bless America.
Or trying to…
I like T Bennet and all but this is terrible.
Yeah, might have been better to play a recorded version from about twenty years ago.
I’m not certain, but I think he bisquited some of the words to the song.
Alright, get something going.
Rally Time! Come on Giants – Let’s Roll!
Fuck, great catch by Harper!
the mole on Harper’s left eye is distracting to me. Carry on.
I just woke up (6:19am) and turned on the hotel room television. I’m fairly certain this is the first time I have watched a baseball game in bed at dawn.
Well that shut us all up…
What a disastrous mistake….getting Ramos out at first would have let them walk Cabrera and then Fister would have been up. Even if they pinch hit for him, we would have a great chance to get a second out and Span up for a chance to get out of the inning…mother….
I wonder if he got any help from Posey on the play…
What a disastrous mistake….getting Ramos out at first would have let them walk Cabrera and then Fister would have been up. Even if they pinch hit for him, we would have a great chance to get a second out and Span up for a chance to get out of the inning…mother
Sorry for the glitch
Bad D up to bite the Giants today. That’s been a bugaboo this year…
I guess they were due for a loss in the playoffs.
Yep. Hard to win more than 10 games in a row, let alone playoff games…
Voggy going tomorrow, have to have a quick hook and all pitching hands on deck. Dunno if I’d throw Timmeh or not, that’s why Bochy gets the big bux…
I think Timmy is first in if anything goes wrong with Voggy. Tim at home is a much better alternative than I’m DC…
Eh, whatever. I drank beers in the afternoon while getting paid, you can’t put a price tag on that.
Go get em tomorrow. Or in Washington. As I said before the Pitt game, I’m fine playing on the road. The giants play like shit at home