Bum and Pete Frates
Just a very cool picture from last night. Bum is operating on a whole different social level these days. And he’s apparently using hair product now which I find hilarious on a lqtm-level…..
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A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I would give anything to see him host Saturday Night Live…
with you
um, which one…..
now that i think about it, Im with you with either one.
I meant Bum. I had to google the other guy. Didn’t know who he is.
He and Belt could both become yokel sex symbols with the right make overs.
New hair product, huh…. my infantile mind conjures that old grade school joke about “Why is your hair green?” and pictures Bum catching some of those snot rockets in his hand to smooth back his mane….
Reminds me of the movie Something About Mary.
His acceptance speech was really good.
I know Bumgarner is young and green but wearing a necktie is stupidity unlimited. I haven’t even worn one to funerals of close family members ~ though i do have a very nice ca late ’40’s turquoise, bear claws and silver bolo which gets the rare outing. A Canadian anthropologist once pointed out that you can tell who are the slaves in any given society. They are the ones obliged to wear the symbology around their throats.
It is all good. Bum has said that his favorite thing is to get up about an hour before dawn and go out by himself and feed his animals. And I doubt he is rocking a tie when he does it. This is the man’s FIRST suit, EVER. He looks pretty damned good, IMO.
And what else would you expect from a Canuck (re: neck wear)…
From what I read, Bum wore Levis to his wedding and this new suit he got for the award, is the first he has owned. Gotta love it.
Missed your “first suit” comment, John. I agree…
Losing Lester has an upside: Sabean now has Melk money to burn.
Gotta admit I did not know who the guy in the wheelchair was. He’s the guy behind the ice bucket challenge for ALS. Gotta give him major props for his efforts…
Bum acceptance speech (30 second commercial precedes).
Really good…
Very cool; thanks for posting it.
I don’t know if the Giants have reached the absolute zenith of what a MLB team can accomplish now in a 5 year period, in this modern day era of free agency. I hope not, since every year we look forward to a possible post season run. But, I’ll say this. After seeing this MadBum award deal, I’m trying to envision how much better a season could end than this one did. Catch a crazy wave of excellence, toughness, excitement and breaks through the entire playoffs. See a pennant winning walkoff, and the best performance by your stud starter in the post season since they started keeping records. Now, capped by this very meaningful award to your stud, from out of the blue. The bask-o-meter needle keeps heading higher and higher into the red zone of bask — the meter is starting to smoke…
Pete Frates is a true inspiration. You should watch this espn story on him if you don’t know the details of his journey
I’m tempted to be rattled by the Dodgers’ seismic makeover, but upon reflection feel that the Giants’ NOT drastically changing is a good thing. But still. A liitle TOO quiet on the Western front.
Looking forward to Kemp having a VERY good season next go round ~ especially vs his former team.
Likelier to have it v. SF, though.
Watched some of Cal vs. Wyoming last night to see Larry Nance Jr., whom I saw last year before he went down with injury. Looks good, best player on bad team (and Cal isn’t very good either) and wears #22 just like his dad. He has long way to go to match Dad’s skills and accomplishments.
Cespedes to Detroit for Porcello is what I think I just heard.
Are the Dodgers improving or not?
At the moment, they’ve gotten worse for 2015, IMO. We’ll see what other moves they make.
Am I the only one frustrated that the Giants are getting nothing done (and in fact have lost a major contributor)while all of the others are retooling?…There are so many holes to fill and yet the Giants are coming up empty!
No, not at all. I keep looking to see what the Giants are involved in and that big goose egg is starting to get frustrating. Maybe now that Bobby Evans isn’t talking to the media so much they might actually go sign some players.
Although I’m glad they aren’t making moves that don’t make sense just because othere teams are making moves
Sure Giants FO shares your frustation. What are you going to do? There have to be limits.
Credit them for going all in on Pablo and Lester.
Focus has been on those two, but it doesn’t mean they haven’t contacted other agents, looked to make a trade and scoured the bargain bin. They did get er…, what’s his name as possible 4h OF. 😉
So, with the Reds trading away one of their starters, I think that kills the idea someone mentioned about trading for Karate kick Cueto. I actually kinda liked that idea.
It’s awesome that Bum is getting his due. Seems like a real class guy
At the moment, the ’15 Dodger lineup would be something like
Crawford
Rollins
Kendrick
Puig
A-Gon
Uribe
Joc Pederson
Grandel
Pitcher
Anybody shaking in their boots over that?
The Dodgers will, of course, have strong starting pitching. But there’s a lot of age in certain parts of that batting order, and more potential drop-off. They’re really counting on Puig to have a major break-out season, and that’s not a certainty.
And even their starting pitching has some questions. McCarthy and Nicasio? That could fizzle. And one of these days, Kershaw will come back down to earth a bit (like he does in the playoffs.)
Greinke can opt out of his contract after the ’15 season.
Seeing news that SF has been talking to Santana as well as Shields. Who would you prefer of those two? They’re somewhat comparable but I would go with Shields.
From straight pitching, I would go with Santana. If the Giants go there, it will cost them a pick, though.
Yeah, they’re pretty comparable in stats and age. Both would benefit from the yard in SF. I’d go Shields because I think he’s slightly better. I don’t think the whole Big Game James nickname is going to work anymore though. How about get off the field Shields?
How does “Down in Flames, James” grab you?
Like a pinch on the neck from Mr. Spock!
Excellent thread, and thanks to snarkk for sharing the acceptance speech. Very cool.
I was reading Verducci’s piece the other day, and was amazed that Mad almost quit during his first spring. Wanted to hang it up and go home, and his mom set him straight. Thanks, Mom!
I am not tripping at all on the Giants lack of activity. You guys (FanSince59 and sarge) must forget how Sabean operates. I trust him and his crew to make the required changes to keep this team competitive.
The latest I have heard is that they are pursuing Santana, but the Twins are ready to offer four years, and I had heard the Giants wanted to go only three with him.
Have also read that the Giants will NOT pursue Scherzer, but will make a hard run at Shields. Yesterday it was reported that the Giants are also interested in both Upton and Gattis (nice play by GiantHead yesterday in talking these two as potential pieces).
Again, I am not fretting on the current lack of activity. Everyone just needs to take a chill pill, knock it back with a cocktail, and enjoy the bask.
From earlier posts, I too would love to see Bum host SNL.
Stickman, The wearing of a Tie. Someone wrote that the Tie was invented by a woman. who else would put a noose around a mans neck and make it a fashion statement.
I for one am perfectly content with the Giants sitting back and watching the chips fall, especially at it pertains to their only true competetion in the division, da bums. A ton of activity going on right now and a lot of these guys getting moved are pending free agents…Now, had we missed the playoffs, I would probably be calling for Sabean’s head right about now 😉
I’m put off by Shields postseason numbers.
Hope all y’all out west keep high and dry. Stay safe.
I am swimming with the ducks. and they are very happy
Hang in there Kevin.
Post season numbers are about as relevant as clutch hitting stats, i.e., over a long enough period of time, they reflect the player’s overall stats. Willie Mays had shitty post season numbers. With 600 PAs instead of 100, they wouldn’t be.
twins got Santana. I should care about all these players going elsewhere but I don’t…
Yep…just saw the Santana news. Not surprised. I had heard the Giants had no desire to go four years. I am with you Flav…I am confident that Sabes and crew will do a fine job of reloading our line-up.
Earvin Santana to the twines. 4/54 mil . . .
I don’t know why but I’m kinda bummed that the club is missing out on players. Maybe Shields can show some improvement with a move to the NL and AT&T park? Lowrie, paging Lowrie…
Bart was a mess getting into the city. 80% of the streetlights are out in the fi-di . . .
Yeah, I’m not too concerned at this point. These big deals are an anathema to the various teams for the most part. Unless Cain pulls out of his troubles, his deal will be seen as a shitty one.
I have hope that his floating bodies are gone and he pitches without pain and gets back to his old self.
That’s the thing that bothers me the most is just seeing players going to other teams. I guess Shields it is. It would have been cool to get Cespedes, but what would they have had to give up to get him? I imagine the price would have been pretty steep, considering what Detroit gave up.
Agree with you on the deals, chuck. The club is winning by losing on those players. I think Cain will be fine. The rest was probably the best thing for him.
The other teams have to make these deals, they didn’t have a World Champion roster to start with.
Neither do we. We just win them anyway…
That cracked me up, but so true.
Jon Heyman ✔ @JonHeymanCBS
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Marlins looking like a decent team, ON FECKING PAPER, as if that matters. I have to say, isn’t this the one of the wildest winter meetings in a while?
We have no trade chips. None.
Our best hope outside of the FA market is to take a contract off some cash-trapped, non-contender’s hands for some prospects.
If not now then in July.
Beltre, Colon, etc.
Actually, the Giants system is flush with young pitching prospects. So, a trade could be a possibility.
And if all else fails…you have this:
http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2014/12/10/13812/
Just say NO to old guys.
I’d bring in Dirrrrty for a look before that…
Oh well on Santana. I did not want to go past 3 years and maybe that is what Sabean and team thought as well, so Twins went the extra year. I am still not thrilled Shields. And it is not necessarily post-season record. I just don’t remember him having a ton of pop to his arm and think he would be meat in the NL.
If Santana got $54 mill, then don’t you all think Shields gets even more. Maybe waiting in a year from now and Zimmerman and Cueto becoming free agents is a better long term solution. I am not sold on David Price long term.
Sabean’s comment that trades to fill in 3B and LF are more likely seems apt at this point. I don’t see much better choices than Upton and Johnson in one deal. As feared, Boston could get a 3rd starter type for Cespedes and Porcello may be a little better than that.
I am down with Shields. I would have prefered Santana. Pop in his arm? Uh, there were a number of very successful pitchers who didn’t throw heat (think Greg Maddux).
With lifetime stats of 3.72/1.220 (ERA/WHIP) and the fact that he has thrown over 200 innings every year expect the year he broke in, I think he would be a decent addition. This all depends on length of contract and $$$ of course.
will be mor ein dollars and year than Santana. I say we hold and see if you can get Peavy back and let Lincecum and Pettit have a go at spring training for the 5th spot. I sm not opposed to giving Voggy minor league deal and if he makes the team as the 5th starter he can get a bonus clause of $5 mill.
Bobby Evans is out talking to the press again. I’m just going to assume that reports of the Giants finishing second for Shields are coming soon.
🙂
did he say anything about thinking he might not be presented a rose or that he thought roses would be on short supply during the Shields decision? That’s usually how I gauge our chances…..
Sabes sends Bobby Evans out when the announcement is that somebody left, or some FA just dissed the Giants. Sabes will come out and speak if somebody gets signed.
He’ll send up some white smoke first.
“Habemus Player”…
The Santana news at least means that the Melk money continues to be there.
G’s prefer to have another Lefty starter. Wonder what it would take to pry Hamels away?
All the chips we have. Probably not worth it for us.
It’s actually a little refreshing to see LA acting as if they have *a plan* instead of just throwing big money around. So much action on their part and yet, they can’t be done yet because as Zum said, they appear weaker now than before. Maybe the new blood will change that *chemistry* … 🙂 What matters is what the Giants do. They had and still have just 3 needs: new 3rd bagger, new LFer, and new frontline pitcher. Just 3. Hah. And I fully believe Sabes will ably fill those needs. Maybe soon, please, so we have something new to talk about here….
Absolutely agree with those 3 needs, those are the keys.
Sabes will make the usual Pen reload, with one or two arms from outside the org. I assume Romo is gone, Strickland replaces, if he can find a way to throw more sliders, fewer gopher balls…
I’m not sure why the Dodgers feel the need to so much tinkering. They won 90-some games last year and the NL West going away. The only reason they didn’t get out of the 1st round of the playoffs is because their All-World pitcher stunk it up in Game 1 and couldn’t keep another lead in Game 4. Yes, they could’ve hit better, but just about every playoff team goes through that. But if they want to tear some of it down and try to build it back up, that’s fine with me.
i.e., just three new frontline pitchers.
I like this quote from Richard Justice about the Giants so-far lack of activity in the off-season: “About the surest bet in baseball is that general manager Brian Sabean will make a couple of deals before Opening Day and that both will work out.” Hear hear. Or is it here here. Or there there.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/103869670/2014-mlb-winter-meetings-grades
Some interesting stats on LH vs RH batters and pitchers in MLB, based on 2012 season.
43% of MLB PAs were left handed. Yet, only 12% of men in the general population are left handed
http://www.sbnation.com/hot-corner/2013/6/25/4459894/baseball-questions-from-my-dad
So, why would a GM seek a LHP heavy starting staff, when the majority of MLB hitters are RH, and stats say the book is right — RH batters hit lefties better than they hit righties….
Frankly I think Pagan’s health will again be an issue they need to deal with. Even if they won w/o him, they can’t count on that same scenario working out again.
Pagan is not even close to being a make or break player, Chuck. His stats are all you need look at. The Pagan Salute has zero effect on whether the Giants win or lose.
Well the same is true for hitters. There are a lot more lefty (and switch) hitters in baseball than in the general populace.
Snarkk, agree on the lefty pitcher thing. Ok, having more than 1 lefty starter, not a bad idea, but for a brief while there, the Giants had Sanchez, Zito, and Bumgarner, which I thought played into the strengths of the opposing team: righty hitters at China Basin.
The question you raise about lefties, Snarkk, is one that’s occurred to me before — is there some major disparity between L/L and R/R match ups?
James, I understand your thought that Pagan’s stats “are all you need to look at”, but I don’t think they’re ALL you need to look at, as we’ve discussed before. He did seem to inject a certain amount of enthusiasm and spark at the top of the line-up, and enthusiasm has no statistic to measure it. However….. you’re also right that the Giants did just win another World Series without him, didn’t they… 🙂 At any rate, whether you like his stats or his intangibles, I do hope he stays rather healthy in 2015, it can’t hurt.
Paul, I have always *liked* Pagan and think that if he stays healthy all year long, it will help offset the loss of Pablo, which becomes more or less important depending on the off season moves (or non-moves).
Agree.
Just saw Macdog’s comment re Dodgers — agree 100%. Sign Romo and Rollins, keep Kemp and you have a 90+ win team easily. You enter the playoff crapshoot and who knows.
As it is, they will still very likely be strong contenders.
…hard to figure next year’s favorites. White Sox? Cubs? Marlins? Dodgers? (Ahem, Giants? I like when we stay under or above or beyond the radar.)
I dunno about Shields.
His delivery is slow. EZ to run on, looks like. Falls off to the left side a lot ike Timmeh. Didn’t impress me much against the Giants, and it’s not like they had a lineup that crushes people…
He’s basically another Matt Cain, albeit a couple years older. And he’s better than Santana.
If you mean he’s supposed to get 6 years at $120M with an elbow full o’ chips, then fuggedaboudit…
The real reason to mistrust Shields: he’s Rohand’s cousin . . . .
Keereist, James.
I thought you were joking, then I Wiki’d up, and boom. There it is.
Does that mean he makes 500 throws a day in the cage under the stadium?…
Ha, you completely missed one of my rare attempts at narrative on the Flap, a suspenseful encounter with their aunt at a wedding in Sonoma
My bad.
How is Auntie Rohand, anyway?
I’m not going to ask what she does 500X a day…
She seemingly texts her favorite, the one with a book to his name, about 500 times a day . . . she declined to speak of the other after I told her I was a big Giants fan. This was in late summer 2011.
Really, all ML pitchers suck except MadBum.
James, you’re drinking some Calvados made at an obscure monastery in Normandy or some shit like that, aren’t you? 😉
Close, I made a calvados vieux carre just last night.
Missed it by thaaat much.
Sounds refined.
Hopefully the bitters were top notch and you were wearing a smoking jacket.
I had Makers in a dirty glass with an ice cube that had slipped out of my hands onto the floor…
I used Makers instead of Rye for the bottle aged Manhattans I’m gifting the relatives with this Xmas. Of course, that’s because the rubes gave me multiple bottles of the stuff to begin with. It does make a fine Manhattan with Carpano. I think I’ll have the butler mix me one right now before I retire to my chambers for the evening.
I’m beginning to think there won’t be any free agents coming to SF, but rather that Sabes will get it done via trades. I’m ok with that, his trades have often (certainly not always, but often) been better than his FA signings.
I just looked up Grandal’s stats. Maybe another Gene Tenace. Pretty clever pick up by the new Paul DePodesta.
Hate the Bums, but moves were good. We tried hard to Panda 5/95. SD has Kemp at 5/70. Not bad in today’s market….Trades…LA frees up money and drastically improved their defense. Very SF like. I’m not shaking in my boots, but no one shakes at ours either. kershaw Greinke, Ryu sure promotes more shaking in boots than Mad bum, Cain, Hudson. I hope it fails spectacularly, but up the middle defense with peterson rollins kendrick grandal is very very good. They also have another $70 mil to throw at someone…
The Dodgers will be good. It’s for the best. They need new unis. Tired Dodger blue….yuck..