Thursday!
A day off to reflect and travel….
With 3 games v the Pirates in the books, no one could rightfully claim we got swept because of bad luck. The Pirates, quite simply, were better than us in all facets of the game. And that’s not the most humbling thing to admit in June. This is basically the same Pirate team we took to the woodshed in the WC game last October. So perspective is a good thing right now.
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and tonight, Game 1. Still having trouble processing the Warriors being in the NBA Finals.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Wow, that was disappointing, but certainly forseeable based on SP match ups. Hudson did well enough, Vogs and Heston, no. Pirates SPs were tough and pen held onto leads.
Giants were (are) also overmatched in the OF. I doubted it when he said it, but Twin is right about Pagan–he is either hurt or in some kind of decline and not playing like a starting OF. Anchored by McCutchen, who was brilliant, Pirates OF with Harrison and Polanco looks much better than Giants.
It is still hard to get a read on what Giants really are—not as bad as they have played lately, but not as good as the team that had 8 game winning streak and won slugfests on the road but also shut teams like LA out at home either. Still seems they are a quality SP short and maybe one hitter too, and I’m not talking about Ishi or Duvall or Adrianza. Other than Blanco bench is unproductive.
What happened last year in one game playoff where Craw slammed door shut on Pittsburgh is pretty irrelevant to this season, now or later. NL Central is likely to have at least one WC team in, so losing games in June (or any other month) to them isn’t going to help standings.
…I’D RATHER lose by 10 runs, than to blow a lead in the 9th inning…
The team does seem to have a fragile side to it. That 5-2 lead turning into a 7-5 defeat by Atlanta seemed to have psychologically sent them into a loop. Had we held onto that one it is quite possible that the offense may have pulled out one of the games vs the pirates. Wondering how Yogi Berra would describe that situation.
Great thread and very good perspective. The Pirates are definitely a better team, right now. But we are only near the 1/3 point of the season, and a lot can happen (as we know from the past five years).
Have said it before and will say it again. This team is missing two SPs, and got their best player back only about two weeks ago. All said, I am pretty happy where this team sits right now, even with getting swept by the Bucs (hey, you have to tip your cap to them, as you said Flav, they outplayed our Giants in every facet of the game).
The SPs need to go deeper in the games, that is for sure. And the SPs not being able to hold a lead against Pittsburgh was frustrating.
Not tripping on any of it right now…bottom line…still a lot of ball to play.
The Golden State Warriors are four wins away from being champs. Let’s get it on!
We’re so used to winning championships that we’re getting casual about another visit to the White House! 🙂
That’s on Comcast today at 11:00 AM Pacific Time, I think.
And history repeats itself a bit- the Giants made their trip to the White House in ’12 after a disappointing sweep at home vs. the Cubs. It’d be nice to make the trip to the White House coming off a strong series. But, the Giants don’t roll that way. We Giants fans know that the Giants always have to do things the hard way.
A bad series, but the Giants still are only 2 games behind the Dodgers, and the Dodgers take on the Cardinals in a 4-game series. The Giants really need to rack up some wins vs. the Phillies.
It is still way early…
Crawfish’s error set the wheels in motion. Truth be told, I think the Pirates were also especially motivated for this series given what happened in the one game playoff. Fuck ’em.
I said this (in part) before the series started with Voggy, “Harrison is slugging .515 and hitting .311 (52-for-167) against other below average right-handers in the last two years; Polanco is batting .299 in his last 77 AB’s against below average right-handers like Vogelsong in the last two years; McCutchen is slugging .630 against other righties who rely heavily on the cutter (as does Vogelsong); Walker is slugging .688 and hitting .438 (7-for-16) against Vogelsong in their last 16 head-to-head PA’s; Marte is slugging .496 and hitting .311 (82-for-264) against other below average right-handers in the last two years; and Alvarez is slugging .556 and hitting .333 (6-for-18) against righties who rely heavily on the cutter like Vogelsong in the last two years.”
The Pirates pitchers have been excellent all season. The hitters were already heating up before this series began. You’ve heard of “trap” games? This was a trap series in my opinion. It doesn’t feel good to be taken to the woodshed, but sometimes it can act as a catalyst to wake up.
That being said, I haven’t sweated any of this season since it began, because along with a few others here – I believe it’s a long slog of a season and the team overall is playing excellent. Pitching is STILL a concern. We have one ace and 4 number 4/5s (again, my opinion). Still not certain about Cain, much, much less Peavy. I’m not making any judgments until those two get back . . . If they face plant, then yeah – Sabes needs to hit speed dial and get reinforcements for the stretch run. Now? I’m still in bask mode. 🙂
Nice research, Blade.
Awesome post, Blade. You and I are absolutely in-synch re: “It’s a long slog of a season…”
One word: Breathe…
Yeah, Chi, GO WARRIORS! Incredibly enough the east coast media is trying to paint LeBron as some kind of sympathetic character in this series. Poor, put-upon LeBron, only 2 NBA championships to his name. Boo Hoo!
I have no problem with LeBron. I do not watch a lot of hoops, but from what I have seen, the man handles himself with class and dignity, and IMO, he is the best talent in the league today. If it was not the Warriors in the finals, I would probably be pulling for Cleveland. But, guess what…the Warriors ARE in the final, so for now, fuck ’em and GO WARRIORS! Make the Bay Area proud!
When weak ass hitters like BOTH their catchers, Stewart& especially Mercer have big games you know your in trouble…
Mercer’s a shortstop, but your point is still valid.
Not a surprise to see warriors there, they have played like best team in league all year, esp at home.
West is full of a lot tougher teams than where Cavs are.
Keys imo are how 2 top players are defended. LBJ vs. Green, you have to keep him on perimeter. He is gonna get the superstar calls, so Green can’t blow up and get Ts or out of control. Ezeli played well last series and will have to do so again to help Bogut inside. If Barnes guards LBJ, again same thing–don’t let him get inside, but in that case I’d double him and make him pass the ball. Igs off bench should guard him well too, solo.
Curry is a real problem for Cavs, since Irving isn’t at full strength. If they choose to double him and make him a passer Steph has to avoid turnovers and keep ball moving quickly. By making Irving work on D end (not just popping 3s) he might wear down and be less of an O threat. Delly might be OK vs. Klay but Steph will eat him up.
Warriors have done OK vs. big teams in rebounds and scoring in paint, and Cavs will still be a challenge in that regard. But establishing a faster tempo should be to their advantage, along with winning the points off turnover stat. Depth should win out too, esp if Irving minutes are limited. I also think Kerr and his staff are another big advantage. Place should be rockin, nice showcase for franchise and city of Oaktown.
Good post, WillieD. Go Warriors!
Pagan’s in a slump, but the answer isn’t a lot more Blanco, in my opinion. Blanco’s playing pretty well because he’s not being used too much.
The back surgery seems to have sapped Pagan’s power. He still can be an effective player, going forward, as he was earlier this season. With Aoki taking the leadoff spot, and Pence back, there just isn’t anything for Pagan above the 6th or 7th slot.
Something curious about Aoki numbers (and I’m not gonna dog the guy today): if you look at B/R NL league leaders, he at or neat top in plate appearance, hits, singles, steals, and BA (.314), and OB is still very high.
Yet he has only scored 24 runs, third or 4th on team. blanco, in 100 less plate appearances, has scored 20.
Why?
Panik behind him has an OPS of .826, so it can’t be all him either, and Belt and Craw have been offensive leaders that are in top 10 of NL in a few categories.
I’m not ragging on obvious suspect here that hasn’t been mentioned, I’m just asking if Aoki is on base so often why he hasn’t scored much.
I think one of his biggest weaknesses is his baserunning. I don’t have the stats and am not going to dig them up, but I think his baserunning has lead to that lower number of runs scored. There really is not much else that I am aware of that it could be. If there is, someone please enlighten me.
And I wonder if there’s any way the Giants can ‘coach up’ Aoki regarding base-running. He’s made some mind-numbing gaffes all season. You’d think he could be taught something regarding that.
Horrid baserunning skills and situational awareness probably have something to do with that.
I like a lot about the guy, but he makes Frankie Carbone look like Malcom Gladwell.
That probably has about as good of a chance of happening as the Giants turning Blanco into a slap hitter who bunts regularly…
I had not read down before my last post above (on Aoki’s lack of run production). I agree…it is his poor baserunning skills, and as Sandog states…his situational awareness, or lack thereof. And I agree, at this stage in someone like his career, it is probably something you are not going to correct.
I guess another way to put it, the Pirates win in June and the Giants win in October.
Still, a five game losing streak is usually not the best way to start a road trip. No off day today either, the team will be spilling beers and hanging with the POTUS at the WH. Well, I guess that beats eating shredded beef with Cheez Whiz on it. I don’t think anyone has ever said, going to Philly to get healthy, but that sounds like what the Doctor ordered for the Giants.
I’m pulling hard for the Cavs, and not just because I can’t stand the Warriors. I’d love to see Cleveland finally win something and LeBron get rewarded for going home again. That being said, Curry continues to make it hard for me to dislike the guy–scratch golfer, great ESPN commercial, and enthusiastically attending the Giants game the other night in full gear. I wish the Cavs had Love available–I think we’d be looking at a great series if that were the case. As it stands now, I don’t think Cleveland can hang with the Warriors. GSW in 5.
Diggity– you’ve probably said it before, but why is it that you *can’t stand the Warriors*? Just cause you’re a Kings fan?
Good question. I like the Kings, too (live 25 minutes outside Sacto), but just because I am a Warriors fan, I do not hate on the Kings. Same with baseball (and I know not all feel this way), but I pull for the A’s whenever they are not playing the Giants. Just the way I roll…try to support all the NorCal teams.
Yes, because I am a Kings fan. I view the Warriors much in the same way I view the A’s as a Giants fan. They aren’t my backup team for when the Kings are having a bad season. They are my mortal enemy. (Although I don’t hate them as much as the Lakers)
I totally get where Chi and others are coming from with backing all Norcal teams by the way. That’s just not my jam.
All good Sandog…there are many like you. I have quite a few friends who are like you. I know Bozo is another who detests the A’s. It is all good…to each their own.
I thought this was a good read on a young arm down at San Jose, Keury Mella. I had not heard of the kid before, but sounds like he has been pretty impressive since being signed by the Giants…
http://tinyurl.com/qzbjvxl
Fun stuff, Chi. Thanx. Currently, i’d probably rate Mella below Beede, but possibly ahead of Crick, unless that guy can ever surmount his control problems. We may well see Beede in The Show by sometime next season as he just got promoted to Richmond. Maybe a cup of coffee for Mella in 9-16.
I’m a Kings fan, and I’ll be pulling for the Warriors, but I’m not fully emotionally invested in the series. But that might change when the ball is tossed by the ref at the beginning of the game today. I might find more emotion for it than I realize. And the city of Oakland could use something very positive. Although I noticed on ESPN one of the reporters was reporting from San Francisco for some reason. Maybe from his hotel, I guess.
I had a couple of people ask me in the past week why the Warriors are being called the Dubs. I just assumed it was pretty obvious. But I’m used to Univ. of Wash. being called U-Dub, so there’s that.
I have a friend who ardently believes Californians should always root for the California team no matter what. By his logic, I should root for the Dodgers if they make the World Series against, say, the Tigers or whoever.
That’s nuts. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t follow sports very closely.
We all have our ways. While I support all NorCal teams, I ardently detest (I am being nice here) all SoCal teams, and the only way I could “MAYBE” root for the bums would be if they were playing the Yank-Mees in the world series. I usually align along NL allegience when it comes down to NL-AL. I detest the AL and their panzy-assed brand of baseball. The DL is a bastardization of the game as it was intended to be played.
I’ll tell you, if Lebron can pull this off I will consider him the best ever. The Warriors are deep as fuck and the Cavs have, well, one guy. Kyrie is hurt, no Love. Who’s gonna beat us, fucking Iman Shumpert? Isn’t that David Bowie’s wife? There isn’t a single player on the Cav’s roster who scares me other than than him. So if he can throw that rag tag team on his back and beat a legitimate NBA finals team, then more power to him and I will hail him the king that he is………
It is an odd collection. Iman Shumpert wasn’t very good for Knicks and J.R. Smith has been selfish and out of control most of his career. Timofey Mozgov? I like Dellavedova a lot at St. Mary’s, but with Warriors motion offense and the screens they set for Thompson (plus the back cuts) he is gonna get worked over. And forget about staying with Steph, he’ll get posterized like another famous Cav, Craig Ehlo. Find me the gif, pls.
I’ll give LeBron credit for winning at Miami, but he also had Wade in his prime and a very good Bosh. It was a one on one game tho, hand the ball to someone and watch them dribble the shot clock down while everyone else stands around.
They used to do this end of games too, just boring, hard to watch and antithesis of Warriors ball movement and ball reversal from one side of floor to the other. If LeBron is reduced to doing that most of the time and trying to win it all by himself they are screwed.
fucking Iman Shumpert? Isn’t that David Bowie’s wife?
ha.
Dodgers blew a game last night in the 9th and didn’t use Jansen, even though he hasn’t pitched much this week. The message from the team after the game was pretty vague: “He wasn’t feeling well.” Maybe altitude-related, from playing in Colorado?
Yep. It happens. I would say that 1 of 3 people who visit me here – especially if they are out of shape cardio wise – will feel dehydrated and/or experience a low grade headache. As I have indicated before, any change in climate, e.g., humidity, altitude, cold, etc., will take a person two weeks minimally to acclimate fully. Athletes are less affected . . . except baseball players, as they usually aren’t into cardio activities insofar as keeping fit, as are football, soccer, and basketball players.
From an L.A. Times article:
The scene in the manager’s office after the game was particularly bizarre. A clearly irritated Mattingly didn’t want to talk about Jansen’s situation any more than Dodgers President Stan Kasten has wanted to talk about how the majority of Los Angeles still can’t watch the team on television.
Asked why Jansen didn’t pitch the ninth inning, Mattingly replied, “He wasn’t available.”
Was he sick or injured?
“He just wasn’t available,” Mattingly said.
Was Jansen unavailable from the time the game started? Or did his status change during the game?
“Really more during the game,” Mattingly said.
Something happened?
“He was not available,” Mattingly said.
Would Jansen be available today when the Dodgers open a four-game series at Dodger Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals?
“He was not available today,” Mattingly said.
Mattingly was asked again if Jansen’s absence was health-related?
“I really can’t,” he replied. “He was just unavailable tonight.”
Was there a privacy issue that would prevent Mattingly from discussing the situation?
“He was unavailable,” Mattingly said. “I don’t know who wants to talk about it. I’m not the one who’s going to talk about it, though. He was unavailable.”
Jansen said even less.
Returning from the showers, Jansen changed in front of his locker. He and a team spokesman whispered to each other, after which the spokesman said Jansen wouldn’t address reporters.
The spokesman later said Jansen hadn’t been traded or suspended.
Later in the night, ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe posted on his Twitter account: “Sending my prayers to #Dodgers and closer @kenleyjansen74.”
Sutcliffe was part of the broadcast team that covered the game.
Jansen has a history of heart problems. He experienced an irregular heartbeat while in Colorado in 2012 and had an operation before the start of the following season.
With Jansen unavailable, Mattingly used four relievers in a nightmarish ninth inning. The Dodgers entered the inning with a 6-4 lead, but Adam Liberatore, Yimi Garcia, J.P. Howell and Chris Hatcher combined to give up three runs.
This, IMO is a case of overzealous media. Fuck, can’t you just leave stuff alone after a while? If the manager says a player was not available, and also says he will not address it any further, the media should back the fuck off, IMO.
agree. it’s sports frerchrissakes. not a matter of national security.
Morse is joining the Giants at the White House today. That’s cool.
Flannery’s in the studio, not at the White House.
Monte Irvin and Mays are in the House.
Lincecum went on to Philadelphia to rest up for tomorrow’s game. Supposedly resting up. 🙂
Guess my post got lost in the transbay tube.
Dubs in 6. The warriors defense will stop everyone not named LBJ, and the transition offense will run away with shit. Love didn’t ompress me much but I didn’t see a lot of him. I saw the Dib/Cab game earlier this year, an Love was invisible. Granted Bron Bron was hurt but a very quiet 17 points. A lot in garbage time.
He did get 14 boards, but Bogut was rusty and only played 12, and Festus was out.
Glad to have Speights back. He’s the only scoring big guy we have.
A couple of quotes:
Flannery: “I voted for him; I love the guy.”
Obama: “It’s the Giants’ third championship in the last five years. I’ve been good luck for them!”
CSNBA has a series of photos of our boys at the White House. In regards to the final one (12th), did they clear the use of his number for Obama’s jersey with Stretch?
Surprised the Secret Service didn’t tackle Pence and get the President to his bunker ASAP.
Giants posted these photos, gotta love the Beast sporting the checked jacket.
https://www.facebook.com/Giants
Morse completed his ensemble by wearing dodger blue pajama bottoms with the plaid poncho. No shit. I saw a pic of him greeting one of the Giants outside.
It looked more like a plaid sport coat and Levis to me but you say it’s a plaid poncho and pajamas? Must be the Miami retiree style I guess.
I guess I get Timmeh headin onto Philly and skipping the White House due to the start tomorrow. Sort of. Still don’t get why Kruk and kuip skipped it. A third trip to the WH is a yawner now, or?…
Well, I know with the muscle disease that Krukow has, that he has trouble getting around, and Kuiper is his “right hand man,” and helps make sure he can get where he needs to go. Perhaps the trip to the White House was just too much. That is my guess.
Not sure if everyone saw this article from a while back. Great read about Krukow and Kuiper, Krukow’s disease, and their friendship.
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11617731/the-giant-friendship-san-francisco-giants-announcers-mike-krukow-duane-kuiper
Not sure who I want between Warriors-Cavs. As someone who grew up a Bullets fan, I should probably have it in for the Warriors. At least the Bullets exorcised that sweep by winning the title in ’78 and then getting back to the Finals as defending champs in ’79, something the Warriors couldn’t quite pull off.
But then in ’76, the Cavs beat the Bullets in the conference semis when Dick Snyder hit a late shot to win Game 7 in what’s known as the “Miracle at Richfield.” And as a Nets fan, the Cavs and/or LeBron have knocked out my team numerous times in the playoffs.
Tough choice, so I’ll just root for a competitive series and hope it turns out better than the conference finals, which were duds. And it’ll be good to see a title-starved fan base finally celebrate a championship.
If any of you haven’t seen much of JR Smith, be prepared to see some of the most bizarre shot attempts — and makes — since maybe World B. Free. A local Jersey guy with a bit of a troubled past, Smith is someone who can be an X-factor both ways: He can light it up as quickly as any player around or he can do something completely knuckle-headed and get himself suspended for a game.
Ditto on JR Smith . . . Played in Denver and he was an idiot on and off the court. However, as you alluded to – he is a very gifted athlete. He can make acrobatic stuffs with the best of them and he has a very good touch for 3 pointers.
Me? I wouldn’t be terribly disappointed in the Cavs taking this series. Excited that the Warriors are in it, but similar to the 49ers, I just haven’t been invested in them emotionally as I have been with the Giants. Probably because I have lived outside the SF area since the late 80s – coinciding with both teams (especially the Niners) past glory. I’ve always been a closet Indians fan (OH OH) and moreover; Cleveland takes shit unnecessarily for being second rate. Not true in my opinion, as I have a few friends from this city and they are very proud of their area. In any event, unlike most here – I think it will be a competitive series and I actually think the team is BETTER without Love. Team has come together and I’m hoping they can hang with the outstanding Warriors.
“Cleveland takes shit unnecessairly for being second rate.”
Come now…there MUST be a reason Cleveland is referred to as “Mistake by the Lake.” 😉
I enjoyed watching the live Comcast feed of the WH visit. It was a blast. A few points: where was Sabean? McCovey? Marichal? Cepeda? Perry? I thought Pagan, Blanco, Bumgarner were intense about it. (They were visible as Obama spoke.) The Prez clearly relished it. Great remarks by Baer (“it’s about stories…”). Monte Irvin looked more agile than Willie Mays. (Remarkably, my mom, 98, moves better than both of them.) Sadly, in my view, Mays seemed very fragile and frail. Seems to have slipped considerably since I stood mere feet from him in NY in January. Plus, he just did not seem very present. I love willie. I’d say his days are dwindling.
Sorry to hear that about Willie. I will always think of him and Bonds going up for the fly ball at the right field cyclone fence and Mays making the catch. That day at the ‘stick was one of my most memorable days at a ball park.
Were you THERE, Steve? I researched it for my book, tracked down the game and the hitter. Vs. the Reds. Bobby Tolan, I think.
Yes. I can’t remember the date, but it was early in the 1970 season. Also, I do believe it was a deep drive by Bobby Tolan. Mays was 39 years old at the time.
Yep. During the ring presentation ceremony Mays just seemed out of it. He just did not seem present in the moment, even when Baer leaned down and kissed him on his head. Sad…
I was a huge Dubs fan back in the 1970s, and the ’76 season was a heartbreaker. Won the pacific division, and fell short in game 7 at home. It was pretty much the same team as the champs the year before. After hitting on Keith Wilkes the year before, they drafted Gus Williams that year. They shot the lights out every night. They would have had a ton more points had they instituted there 3 point line a few years earlier.
It is going to be a grinder series…Dubs in 7….
Similar to Power Rankings, these “expert” opinions are probably good for lining your bird cage. However, I will give props to many of these guys watching the games day in and day out. What is surprising about these opinions are not that the Warriors are overwhelming favorites, but rather – how many of them think this series will go to 7 games. By the by, watch the video. A quick and dirty summary about this championship series and the small chance of Cleveland overcoming the Warriors.
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/13000122/nba-finals-predictions
Great job by that Asian young lady singing the Anthem.
One of the Houston sports talk hosts was just telling the story of the Warriors longest running season ticket holder. 72 year old guy has had 2 seats since 1975, a few rows behind Warriors bench. Hardly ever misses a game. Face value tickets of $800 each…The guy sold his tickets for tonight’s game for $8000. The guy said he couldn’t turn down that type of money. Can’t say I blame him, but it’s gotta be a bittersweet night for him watching from his recliner.
Oh, I don’t know Joe . . . I can think of 8000 reasons why he is smiling.
I like money. i need some more right now. But what’s the point of not being there, at the very time you should be there, above all other times? That $8,000 ain’t gonna make him happy, esp. now.
Nice block by Irving. Doesn’t look like his knee is bothering him.
Nope, especially after that steal and lay up.
After the 5 game skid, the team needed some loosening up. It may have happened with the trip to the White House, where Obama got on the “Hunter Pence sign” thing. Likely a good time was had by all and they should have doused that sour mood which had set in. Depending on the pitching matchups Philly could be a bit of a tonic for them.
Giants will miss Hamels and Haren, so that’s a start.
Ugh, meant Harang.
Only saw the last 5 minutes of the first half, but it looks like an entertaining game so far. And it seemed the refs were swallowing their whistles, something I hope continues for the rest of the series.
Have you changed your view of the refs yet?
It’s revealing to follow the game merely by Twitter comments. Then again, I mostly follow West Coast folks and vice versa, so it is skewed. #noTV #dontownaTV
I’m guessing you’re referring to the push-offs LeBron is getting away with.
It was a while ago now, but there was also the obvious guess on a foul based on who was shooting and by far how it missed.
If the guy decided to go to the game then it would have cost him $7,200.00 to attend.
He might say that he only paid $800.00 for the ticket but he would be wrong..
Pawlie, I answered you above regarding the Mays catch . . . I also found this:
“The most memorable catch Mays made in a San Francisco uniform might have been on April 11, 1970, when he and right fielder Bobby Bonds collided at Candlestick Park in pursuit of Bobby Tolan’s deep drive to right-center. Mays, one month shy of his 40th birthday, leaped above the cyclone fence and held onto the ball despite crashing into Bonds.
“That was a good one,” Mays said. “You didn’t see many great catches at Candlestick because the wind was so bad.”
These commercial breaks are so long, I almost forget what the score is.
They’re letting lebron get the ball down to deep – can’t let him get limitless baby hooks in the paint…
An Iggy jumper off the dribble can’t be the shot Warriors want this late in the game.
Overtime, of course.
When JR is taking more shots than LeBron in OT, that’s a good thing for the Warriors.
Why are they letting Irving walk on that knee?
Without Irving, Cavaliers have zero chance. Warriors in 4.
Missed first half but good game. LeBron killed them til Ig got on him and he had to settle for outside shots or pass off. Mozgov hurt them, esp on o boards.
GS with too much depth and balance. If Irving really is badly hurt that is unfortunate because what I saw he looked pretty good even if only 60 %. Yeah, without him, Bron could get 50 and they’d still lose.
Chuck, loved Gus Williams, what a cool player. Used to try and catch him every time Sonics came to town.
No idea why they let him go.
Fav Cav for me is #22 Larry Nance, who I think won the first slam dunk contest. His son is pretty good too, at that noted basketball outpost Wyoming Cowboys.
Blatt looks like he should be wearing 2500 year old military gear.
Mac, Bullets of old had some cool players, like powerful Gus Johnson, Earl Monroe when he first came in the league with that awesome spin move and fadeaway J, Cal’s own Phil Chenier, Bobby Dandridge and big Wes Unseld and his awesome outlet passes.
Was never a Celts fan, so I didn’t get into KC Jones coaching them.
Yeah, Bullets always losing to the Knicks in the playoffs, that’s probably why I started rooting for them. Gus was a little before I started watching hoops. Chenier, cool like Clyde. Unseld & Big E — what a frontcourt. Bobby D became an instant fave when he came to Bullets, no way they win the title without him. And the late CJ as well, so clutch off the bench as he was with the Warriors.
A visit to the White House and a half-game gained on the Bums. Not a bad day off.
Lebron is great. But, he took 38 field goal shots out of the team’s 94, or 40% of the total team’s shots taken. That’s a ton. Curry took 20 out of team 88, or 22.7% of the shots…
Damn. Crazy game. Speights was huge in his minutes. Dubs win on the line in OT. Another example IMO of the Cavs doubts good as they could and still coming up short.
Barnes though had the shot of the night. His 3 was the dagger. Bron Bron scores 44 and loses? Tough for the Cava to come back from, and no less the Irving knee injury.
Dubs bench did a great job in the 2nd quarter.
Dubs bench outscored Cavs bench 38-9…
Great game 1; very entertaining. Great for the NBA in general. Two teams that make a lot of cool athletic plays, and push the ball up the court. More turnovers than you usually see in a Finals, but both teams are loosey goosey with the ball, so it’s not a clear advantage for either side.
The Cardinals continue their ownage of the Dodgers. The Dodgers haven’t done well against good teams so far this season.
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I don’t remember seeing this exact quote before today, and I have no idea when it first appeared:
“I’m a professional and I know what I have to do,‘’ said Sandoval, listed as 5-11 and 255. “I know where I’ve failed and how I’ve grown up. If I had signed (with the Giants), I knew I would be under a (weight) regimen for five years, and I’m not going to be happy someplace where I’m under that kind of regimen, where I can’t be myself.’’
And how did Sandoval do today?
0 for 4, and made 2 errors in the Red Sox’s 8-4 loss. Sandoval is now batting .239 for the last place Red Sox.
More bad news for the Panda:
“Per FanGraphs, Sandoval has seen a big decline in his rate of hard-hit balls and a big increase in his rate of weakly hit balls. According to Baseball Savant, Sandoval this season ranks 158th in average batted-ball velocity among players with at least 50 balls in play. He checks in with an average velo off the bat of 88.05 — not a promising mark.”
Pandamonium in Baaahstin as his 9th inning error on a bunted ball thrown to him by the Sox’ catcher resulted in Minnesota scoring four in the inning and going on to win the game 8-4. The bunt was a huge surprise for everyone as it was laid down by Joe Mauer, of all people and likely totally unexpected, especially by Sandoval.
As a loyal Minnesotan i was delighted by the game, as i would presume was Twin. Minnesota is baseball’s surprise team so far this season, with a 32-24 record under the rookie management of St, Paulite Paul Molitor. It seems like a smoke and mirrors effort as their only truly premium performer is their closer Glen Perkins. But they just keep on a winning.