‘Shoptawk’ with Daniel and Flavor
Here are the questions he asked me with my answers:
Daniel: What are your thoughts about the series so far? Are you content with the split?
Flavor: I am totally content with the split. We just needed one to have a realistic shot at taking the series. Now, playing at home is almost a negative for this reason: If our bats are silent, which is usual, the crowd gets quiet and there’s a lot more pressure on the hitters to perform. I’ve watched it happen for going on 2 years now. I would PREFER to play all of our games on the road.
Daniel: The Giants have seemed to score a lot of “fluky” runs this postseason. Is there a concern that the offense could be in trouble if they dry up or is the attitude they are doing well now, just imagine if the bats start going?
Flavor: The offense stinks (as I said before the series started). I don’t think anyone expect the bats to suddenly wake up. That’s why advancing will be such a longshot. It’s going to happen with outstanding pitching and fluky runs or it’s not happening.
Daniel: What should we as Cardinal fans expect out of Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong?
Flavor: They should expect both to pitch very well. The pitching staff is locked in. Huddy’s waited his whole life for this oopportunity and Voggy never turns in a bad playoff performance.
_____________
And my questions for him:
Flavor: What are your thoughts about the series so far? Are you content with the split?
Daniel: I don’t know if content is the word, but it’s a far sight better than what it could have been. I feel like the Cardinals could have taken the first game with a more Wainwright-like performance, but most everyone expected that this series would go at least 6 games and taking a game against Madison Bumgarner can be a huge task anyway. So, all in all, the split is fine.
Flavor: Aside from his game winning HR, Wong seems to make a lot of mistakes. Do Cards fans like him or do they find him too inconsistent?
Daniel: I don’t seem to hear a lot of a groundswell against Wong, for a number of reasons. One, he’s just a rookie and we know there’s going to be a learning curve. Two, he’s not holding anyone back. If Wong didn’t play during the year, it was Mark Ellis and Daniel Descalso, neither of which got the fan base excited. They’d much rather have Wong out there than anyone else. Plus, with two big postseason home runs, he’s built himself up a little baseball capital.
Flavor: What do you think the final score will be for today’s game? I’ll say 2-1 Giants
Daniel: That’s a reasonable prediction and while I think the Cardinals will win, I can’t imagine the scoring being much different. Maybe 3-1 if someone gets crazy. There’s already been a backlash over Mike Matheny using Randal Grichuk instead of Peter Bourjos, given Bourjos’s superior defensive capabilities, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes over. Plus the Cardinals don’t have Yadier Molina which will likely play a factor as well. If more than four runs are scored in total in this game, I’d be stunned.
Flavor: To an outsider, Yaddy seems to be comparable to Buster Posey in terms of his leadership and importance to the team. How devastating is it to not have him out there?
Daniel: It’s pretty rough, there’s no doubt about it. It’s good that Molina is still able to be with the team, to travel and be in the dugout to impart some wisdom and leadership. Not quite the same as having him behind the plate, though, especially when it comes to getting close calls. The Cards will miss him, definitely.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Pitcher name Choke?
will take it! that’s how you apply pressure to the opposing team, do the right things.
Exactly right. Make somebody make a play. Under this kind of pressure, S happens…
Wow! Giants just came in red ass
Red ass? We talking Ned Coletti here?
Kruk — “Blanco with the walk off bunt”…
I have a question for the Cards blog:
Why does your bullpen really suck????
GO GIANTS!
I’ll hand it to Perez.
Hitting .091, can’t get it done on the bunt, gets the hit.
Kuiper — says Perez was “one pitch away from being released”…
SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perez and Ishi…key hits. Huge walk by Craw. Go figure. Somehow they find a way.
That game felt like we were climbing Everest with Edmund Hilary.
And, no oxygen…
Being on the win side is incredible, but damn man.watching these three games has been insane, in a good way.
October continues.
Let’s go Giants.
What would this team do if it actually could hit on a regular basis?
Hey, this late inning craziness is no accident. The other teams make the mistakes, other than Bum’s bad throw in the Nats series
Craw with the clutch walk. Then Perez, really a AAA player, gets the clutch hit. And Blanco gets a really nice bunt down against a sidewinder, tough to bunt on — and the pitcher throws away the game. Play ball, and let the other guys choke it up. That’s baseball, and no excuses for it need be made…
It’s like letting the dealer break in blackjack…
Great analogy, Loo.
Great that they won in bottom 10th. Wasn’t looking forward to a Romo v. Adams match in the top 11th…
Right. And Wong.
If you don’t like these fingernail chewer games, you don’t like baseball…
Go figure: In three ABs, Perez has as many hits in the NLCS as Blanco, Panik, Posey, Pence and Belt, and two more than Craw.
Blanco should just bunt every damn time, and he’ll get on half the time with the Cards F ing up the plays…
Just woke up. Wow! It seems we won!!!!!!!!! WooHoo!
I don’t think Morse is starting any LF this series.
Ishi has it nailed down…
Doesn’t look like super-reliever Lincecum will be seeing any significant time either.
He’s been reduced to last guy out of the bullpen. But, in his defense, the Giants haven’t participated in any blow outs, probably the only way he’d see any action…..
Short leash for Vogelsong tomorrow with Petit so well rested and Bum on Thursday…
I was picking up Chinese food at Chef Chu’s when the Giants came to bat in the bottom of the 10th. There was almost no one in the restaurant except the people working there (it was like 4pm). Me and the bartender watched the game together, silently. He made a couple of quiet comments like “18 innings again” and “can’t bunt.” I just kinda nodded back at him.
Blanco hits his walk off bunt and he and I both start screaming, he more loudly than me. The hostess and a couple of waiters came over to see what was going on, he told them in Chinese, they started jumping around and screaming too so, when in Rome….
I would pay nearly any reasonable price to see a video of me (preferably in black and white with no sound) dancing around with and high fiving 5 Chinese restaurant workers who were all about 2 feet shorter than me……
Big Frav?
you know it!
And they were fresh out of pumpkin beer so I had a Coors light
Great song!
Great story. I am visualizing. The Giants fandom is wide and far…
Just watched the video of the winning run. They can’t always be majestic shots into the cove, a well played game of small ball is a thing of beauty unto itself. Great job by Perez holding it together and getting the clutch hit. And a very nice bunt down the third base line to move the runners over. Force the other team to make a play and good things can happen.
And here’s another point: Once Choate dropped down with that throw you knew he’d *goose* it. You might be able to pitch that way, but it’s a huge risk to throw a ball to first that way–totally in danger of it tailing on you.
Funny thing about this team. Pretty much been going on all year. They have this big explosion of runs early on and then can’t hit for shit the rest of the game. Doesn’t even seem to matter who the pitcher is. Weird pattern. Had a feeling from the beginning, though, that we’d win this one ~~unlike Sunday in St. Louis where intuition/precognition kept saying no way, Jose. Also had Kolten Wong dropping into my head several times even before Sunday’s game got underway. Precognition is the only thing that makes sense. Probably would shut down if i started betting, though.
Anyway, this bunch better start digging around in the bottom of the closet or wherever and see if they can find those old pairs of hitting shoes. Gonna need em before too long. Can’t win em all on pitching, defense and smoke n’ mirrors.
and now for the day’s DPFTSF (daily post from the spam filter). This one comes from a veteran spam filter resident, our good friend “ODB”:
Submitted on 2014/10/12 at 8:59 pm
Mother fucking cocksucking fa**ots. Romo: I hope you get fucked in the ass by an elephant cock.
Not Spam | History | Delete Permanently
Well, hope is a good thing…
Dude goes big, gotta give him that.
I have this habit/superstition of not being able to watch the intense moments sometimes so I split from work to get the little ones. I tuned in on the AM dial just as the bunt was getting thrown away and Crawford scored. So if you saw someone driving down El Camino punching the roof of their car and clapping wildly that may have been me.
Speaking of hitting shoes, I think it’s time for Pablo to dust off the homer boots and give em another go.
Speaking of Elephants, I just did a new post and albeit, I don’t have real elephants (much less elephant . . . uhh . . . weinies) in the post, there are a couple of statues of elephants. 🙂
http://aroundtheworldwithblade.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/phnom-penh-cambodia-bits-and-pieces/#more-5822
The 30-30 show on the earthquake Series just started on ESPN, at least here in the east.
Can’t wait for Bill Bathe’s homer!
Just turned it on. Some great footage. Roger Craig leaving the parking lot with his pick up bed full of passengers is pretty powerful stuff. Were those his family or just random fans?
Woke up about 3:15am, turned on the game just as the Giants were coming up to bat in the 1st. Most excellent to see that 4-spot. Watched just a couple of innings before falling back asleep (first day of work today at the new job, afterall). Woke up again at about 6:15am, oops, saw the score at 4-4 and the bottom of the 10th just starting with Crawford’s walk. Even more most excellent to watch them bring it home. I kind of liked my timing for this game, saw only the necessary action, like an internal TIVO ……
My internal clock is still on Denver time obviously. Ha.
The Nationals and Cards series have given me comfort in thinking that the Giants have discovered their “permanent” 2nd baseman (Panik) and left fielder (Isihi)…Panik was pretty well set, IMO, before October, but his performance to date, in my mind, has cemented his position. Scutaro, if he comes back at all, will be a nice backup along with Duffy….The hole that is so apparent is a good lead off hitter other than Pagan.I was hoping Brown would somehow come through, but that does not appear to be happening anytime soon…I think that the big money will be spent on Sandoval ( or Sabean will orchestrate a trade if they lose Panda) in the off season…i sure like Panik and Ishi as front line players!
Nice post . . . By all indications (here at the Flap), Ishi is doing well . . . Wish I could see the games. Sigh.
Once more tomorrow the Cards are under intense pressure. They get to face Mr. Intensity himself and then Thursday up comes the Undertaker. If the Giants can even pretend to begin to hit over these next couple days we got this one.
Peavy bent a bit more today than has been his wont, or is it wong, but did not break. He and Lackey each got equally about as far into the game and then it was Bully time both ways. So far it looks like these teams are a pretty even match overall. Pitching has been fairly close, while the Redburds have gone all longball while defensive edge so far has been all Giants.
Sure would be nice tomorrow for the Giants to shuck their modest ways and go off like they did today in the First. Once more we saw their habit through the summer of scoring readily in the early game and then kinda sitting on their laurels for a while (today it was a long while) while the opponent gradually creeps up. Where the eff is that killer instinct?
A blowout for the Giants would be most welcome. Be nice to see Timmy mount the mound again. Would also be nice to see SF up 3-1 and all set up for an appearance by the Undertaker.
If just one batter can go off on a hot streak a la Ross in the ’10 playoffs or Scutaro in ’12…..
Royals go up 3-0 in their series.
Royals haven’t lost a game in the playoffs yet this season.
Let em sweep. Overconfidence when they face the Giants?…
agree with Tom, let them sweep. If I recall, Detroit swept whoever they were playing in 2012, had to sit around for a week then couldn’t do shit once the series started.
Does Showalter always look like he’s been crying in the post game presser?
So what’s going on at the True Blue L.A. blog today?:
Pretty impressive inning by Choate
Faces the murderous trio of Crawford, Perez, And blanco, and loses.
by underdog on Oct 14, 2014 | 4:20 PM up reply
Choate the Goat
by koufaxrules on Oct 14, 2014 | 4:19 PM reply
As soon as Crawford walked to lead off the 10th, I left the TV. I knew the Giants had it won, the fucks.
by Rob88 on Oct 14, 2014 | 4:48 PM up reply
fuck
by Julio Nievas on Oct 14, 2014 | 4:19 PM reply
zum, keep those comin’. That’s some good, amusing stuff.
Giants leading the NLCS, the entire Dodger front office is in an upheaval — awesome time for Giants fans, and Doghair fans can do nothing but fume…
Excellent Dodger Dog Shit . . . Keep shoveling it here Zumiee. It always puts a smile on my face.
I third the motion. Love this stuff, zumiee. Keep it coming in, bro. Like Steve…this all puts a huge smile on my face.
Post game interview with Blanco was pretty cool.
He said on the walk off bunt, the pitcher was throwing pitches so low, he decided he’d crouch down to get low and bunt, not to put the bat down low…
Dodger blog:
“Raul Franklin 5 hours ago
Ok, so I was watching on gameday, and now I see that the Giants get anothr huge run on a fucked up play by the opposition.
How is this a thing that keeps happening?
It’s as though the Giants intimidate their opponents with their relentless mere existence.”
Me: That’s right. Fear our relentless mere existence!!
To me Pence seems real close to breaking out and Panik has been knocking the ball around but just right at people. I think those two will do something good tomorrow.
Watched the last few innings at a so-called sports bar. People must think I’m deranged. I am. Happily so. #SFGiantsfan Santiago Casilla is something. low-key, businesslike. We’d be lost without him. (Great POTD, BTW.)
We go 6 and 5, we’re World Champs…
Six more tortuous wins and we are parading down Market Street, again!
I have not gone back and looked at the comments. Wish I could have been in the mix when the boys won the game. 4 o’clock rolled around yesterday, and I had to bail from work (10th inning). I was on the motorcycle, so no radio going home. As soon as I got home I dashed in and fired-up the boob-tube (had the game recording), and watched the beauty of the bottom of the 10th unfold. This team just ceases to amaze me! What a win!
I have a good feeling about today. Vogey is usually a bulldog at home in the post season.
Let’s Roll!
Let’s Get it On!
Orange and Black Forever – GO GIANTS!!!
I remember reading that POTD as it was hot off of John’s fingers, and commented on it then. I must tip my cap again to the Clown. No clowning around there…GREAT POTD.
When Giant baseball meets Flap Universe, the possibilities are truly infinite!
2010 – 2012 – 20??
YES! YES! YES!
From the merc
‘Pablo Sandoval has reached safely in 21 straight postseason games, tying Barry Bonds’ franchise record.’
wow.
Gonna be hard for the front office NOT to give him a pretty good offer. Still thinking it should be $18-19M per for no more than three years, though.
3 years will never cut it, Stick. $18-$19M/per is on he border…
I agree. But unfortunately, I don’t think Pablo and his agent will take three, unless the option is sweet-assed player option. I think it take four and a team option, minimum.
And while I was hard-core “no way no how” bring him back for big coin (esp. a five year deal), I am starting to soften my stance. I just don’t know that they can compensate (his D at 3rd and his streaky-assed hitting).
From 1963-1986 they played a total of 4 post season games. That 21 figure alone is pretty stunning if you lived through that era.
Kinda funny to look how prescient Flav was in his comments at top of the thread…”fluky runs.”
Also doubt Cards fans feel good about where they are now despite the comeback. Gotta wonder why the loogy Choate was still in there after the walk with Martinez ready–Blanco owns the guy 3-6. If the bunt was just a successful sacrifice, would they have left him in there to pitch to Panik with Posey up next?
Nice read from Cards fan in Chron—remembers couple great outings by Vogs vs. Cards previously and realizes Bum is waiting in the wings.
new thread
I continue to believe now that these East Coast scribes and pundits think the Giants win by luck and are a lackluster team because they don’t see them play hardly at all. Giants MO during the champ years lately is to play these close games with pitching and defense, and win late on scratch out runs, or oppo misplays and miscues, or a combo of both. There has been some weirdness in these games, but not so far from the usual Giants methodology of winning as to be otherworldly. The import of the games just brightlights it. If these games happened in mid-July, we’d just be saying hey, that’s Giants baseball, a little more torture, and pretty much move onto the next game. I fail to see why a scratch out win by forcing the oppo to screw up a bunt play is any less worthy a win than the Yankees beating the Indians in some 9-7 marathon 4 1/2 hour 9 inning game with endless walks, 12 pitchers, and a couple of 3 run bombs…