Salami
Another day, another Buster grand slam. He’s hitting just enough of those to make him worthwhile. 🙂
Everyone ready to admit they were wrong about Voggy again?
Anyone? Bueller?
Heston vs Big Game (Regular Season) James.
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A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Good to get a W at home…such a rarity. I mentioned yesterday that the Giants went through a similar patch last year in June, and specifically, they lost 14 of 17 at home. Need to get a win today and win the series before the rox hit town.
What a sweet catch by Blanco last night. I still think he is the best defensive OFer on the club. And going 2-2 with a walk. Susac with two also (of only 6 hits…but when someone hits a grand salame…I guess you don’t need a ton of hits).
Belt and Pagan need to find their strokes again and start contributing to the offense. Pagan is an absolute black hole at the plate. I wonder, as others have, if he is 100%. I mean I want to win my bet against Irish Kev (Pagan playing in 100 games), but I want to see the dude light it up, too!
Go get ’em Ben Hur!
As Bochy said: Love the” GRANDSLAM”
Gotta agree with that!!
In the category of the famous chestnut “if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle”, a commenter here intoned ,when bitching about the offense, “if not for Buster’s slam…”
Bahaha…I use that one regularly “if my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle.” Yes, without the salami, it would have been a much more interesting contest. That’s baseball…
Vogs, like the present day composer in the quote from E. Varese that Frank Zappa used to put on his LPs, “refuses to die.” Hard to tell how much last night was him or Pads suckitude/giants D. But hey, he’s lowered the ERA to 4.05. Also ably assisted by Lopez Kontos Machi 3 hitless scoreless innings.
Speaking of Pads suckitude, Tues new mgr. Murph has Melvin the bad Upton leading off, last night it’s Kemp.
Wonder what else this guy has up his sleeve.
Susac seems to be rolling, which would be a great thing since others around him are experiencing their own June swoons. Belt was 5 for last 45 coming into last night, another 0-4. He’s hitting .140 on the season vs. LHP.
Too many called K’s for me; I wish he was more aggressive and less patient esp with shift on.
There’s a lot of open space out there.
Hey, Vogs did also shut-down the Mariners in Seattle…oh snap, they are like the worst hitting team in the AL…
Okay, so this is not a serious proposition…it is more to set a fire under Belt’s ass (seems to have worked on multiple occasions when he has slumped). Yeah, right.
This morning on KNBR they were pointing out Posey’s hitting splits between when he plays 1st and catches. What I found is slightly different that what was mentioned, but still, he hits almost 30 points higher for average (.280 vs. .308). His OBP is almost 40 points higher (.352 vs. .390), while SLG is marginally better at .450 vs. .462). OPS .802 vs. .851.
So, what the hell does it all mean?
Well, I have no confidence that Peavy will be able to contribute regularly, and while I have a better feeling about Cain, he is still a wildcard coming off the injuries, so there are no guarantees that he will come in and kick ass.
I think the team will need another top or middle of the rotation starter (someone better than the four-headed monster of Vogey, Hudson, Heston, and Timmy).
So, package Belt as part of a trade for an arm. Posey plays first most of the time and occasionally spells Susac behind the dish (Posey has gotten significantly better playing D at 1st (he picked a nice one out of the dirt last night, and regulary makes that play). You still have Ishi to play 1st if needed, and in a pinch (this is a real stretch, but it has happened), Arias can also play 1st.
.
In all seriousness, I think the team will have to pick-up a pitcher, and it will probably have to be via trade to truly get a quality arm. Not sure if there will be someone who fits the team’s need via the Sabean dumpster dive, and I am not sure that Sabean has yet trained Evans in the finer points of this strategy.
They would not be doing until they saw how Cain and Peavy fared and if they needed to ,it would be at deadline, not before. Earlier than that and it’s too expensive
IMO
I agree, Michael. I did not put any time parameters on a deal, but I do believe they will need to add an arm to make/go deep in the post-season. There has been some chatter of late that the Giants may be interested in an OFer, too (I think Shulman reported this) with the unknown status of both Pence and Aoki.
That’s more like it for the home nine. Buster is having one of his best production years so far, on a pace to drive well over a hundred runs and hit 25-30 homers. Vogey! Two in a row! Keep it up, boyo!
He will have to ramp it up a bit to reach his 2012 (best season) numbers, especially in regards to OBP and SLG:
2012:
.336, .408, .549, .957 with 24 HR and 103 RBI
2015, to date:
.287, .365, .458, .823 with 11 HR and 45 RBI. This does project to about 25 HRs and 105 RBI.
That .408 OBP is pretty phenomenal, as is .336 BA, but he still hasn’t really had one of his annual hot streaks where he carries the club for a couple of weeks, and the ball travels better in the warmer weather of summer. That pace could adjust accordingly. Hell, 25, 105 sounds pretty damn good to me. 🙂
Interested to see how Heston does second time vs. Pads, first one earlier last month was arguably his worst start: 11 hits in 5 IP, including a parade of six hits in a 5-run 3rd inning. Pads won’t have Myers and Gyorko, who each got a hit off Heston that game. I’m sure it’ll be a struggle vs. (RS) James, so Heston needs to bring it.
OPS+
1.Panik 137
2.Posey 135
3.Blanco 129
4. Belt 128
5.Crawford 128
6.Aoki 122
7.Duffy 118
8.Maxwell 82
9. Pagan 81
Belt’s may be 128, but it is sliding faster than the wife’s ability to spend your money…
No surprises with Pagan and Belt…I mentioned that both need to get it going.
Belt is still doing that really cold, really hot, really cold pattern of his. It’s quite frustrating.
Virginia’s winning of the CWS must’ve made one Javier Lopez very pleased. (Maybe y’all covered this last night / wee hours.)
I did not follow the CWS that closely this year, but a friend said that their path to the title was similar to the Giants path to winning the WS last year. And as he mentioned, they both wear orange.
It’d be very sweet if Susac evolves into a sweet-swinging slugger, or quasi-slugger. Is my guy Arias on the bubble? I for one am happy to see Ishi back. Belt needs to drink more caffeine.
I don’t see Arias going anywhere anytime soon, but this is his last year…I find it hard to believe they resign him.
Red Sox’s train wreck got worse: Pedroia on the 15 day DL with a hamstring pull.
Boston could be a seller, but who would you want? They look like they’re heading into Phillies territory.
…all of which may help my long-distance gf secure Fenway tix from her brother for us . . .
Very cool!
OFF-TOPIC (zum, NYT is talking about delta water battles as pitting Norcal vs. Socal, enviros vs. farmers, etc. etc. Have you seen their recent pieces?)
I haven’t. It’s definitely a topic of conversation. Also, the fact that it doesn’t seem So Cal is making the same level of sacrifice regarding front lawns, etc . Central Valley lawns are going yellow, with 2 days a week watering. I don’t know what the Bay Area is doing.
The water situation is a real mess in CA, and it will only get worse. Farmers are drilling into the aquifer to new record levels to get water. Some areas of CA are sinking a foot a year due to the drop in the aquifer. There is the constant battle of releasing water to protect the salmon run, and also to keep the salinity level of the Delta manageable. I will have to check out the NYT piece.
Gail and I have already removed our front lawn and put in native drought-tolerant plants on a drip system. The back yard is dying quickly. Next move will be to replace the existing lawn with fake grass.
And Zum is right…it appears that SoCal is doing less in regards to curtailing water use. I say cut the bastards off and let them build desalination plants.
but residential and municipal use throughout the state is apparently MINUSCULE compared to agri use, correct?
I have to admit, I don’t know the numbers on that.
Correct, Pawlie…ag is by far the biggest use of water…
I saw some stats the other day on the amount of water it takes to grow alfalfa in Southern California. Something like 20% of the state’s total water supply gets pumped to those big farms, the guy claimed. The thirsty alfalfa gets harvested, and then dried into hay, and (apparently) sold for less than the water was worth at regular prices (although there’s no real water “market,” so that’s another approx.). But the farmers have some sort of deal on cheap Colo River water, so they make money by evaporating that vast amount of H20 up into the desert air. Brilliant.
I wonder if they’re having regrets about the $100M they gave Panda. Ya think?
I think they’d gladly jetison Sandoval for Brock Holt.
Regarding Belt, it’s one thing to have a great eye at the plate, but it’s another thing to be up there splitting hairs. He’s a likable guy, but kind of frustrating, too.
I agree. Splitting hairs is just too tentative an approach for a power hitter. He might want to take a page from Willie Mays’s manual. At the Polo Grounds, whose dimensions, nearly begged a hitter to pull, Mays went the opposite way, shortened the field, went for base hits, when he slumped. It invariably worked, as I recall from the Hirsch bio.
A lot of my “trade Belt” dialogue is tongue-in-check, but there is certainly a serious part to it, too. He would be the piece that could return a decent SP….
Chi: As much as i admire Belt, i do get the feeling that he may be past simple disgust with ATT. I’m disgusted with the owners for going along with that corporate crap, but they are greedy fuckers so it’s just fine with them not to dump the phonebill and go with Willie Mays Field. So it could just be that BB9 is quietly plumping for a trade.
Houston? They are swamped with prospects, both outfielders and starters. Thing is, SF does not have to trade Belt. They could hold out for one helluva package. There is no clearly dominant team in the Junior League, unlike with StL in the NL. The Stros haven’t been to the dance since long before they switched leagues. They could be hungry enough to make quite an offer for a guy who might well be the next Dave Kingman in their venue.
With some financial considerations added, Philadelphia might get a bite on a Cole Hamels offering. Problem is, they might want to add Howard as well.
Wondering whether those who go in for intensive video if anyone would care to provide information on Belt’s numerous called third strikes. Obviously he is fooled on some of them. Yet i wonder, with his “great eye at the plate” (agreed) if he isn’t not infrequently victimized by umps either in need of new contacts or who feel that he (being a big, strong guy) shouldn’t be swinging at those pitches juuust outside the black.
I hear you, but it just keeps happening. Called strike three, look of disbelief on Belt’s face, slow walk back to the dugout.
Some of those pitches might be a couple of inches outside, but many look right on the paint. What’s he expecting from the umps? The Giants pitchers want those same calls.
Adrian Gonzales takes those outside pitches to left field, as has been suggested that Belt do, by WillieD and Pawlie.
Good to see Michael commenting . . . Agree about Ishi’s fielding (versus Belt); and, your comments about Pagan. Also, I am frustrated with Belt’s inconsistency. I like what Chi, LJ, and Willie said about him. In fact, Willie’s comment, “Belt was 5 for last 45 coming into last night, another 0-4. He’s hitting .140 on the season vs. LHP” is one reason I AVOID Belt entirely in DFS (especially against lefties). In fact, Belt should be platooned versus them, as that average is PATHETIC. With all the outstanding 1st baseman in MLB, his act is getting old. I doubt it happens during the season as Chi suggested, but Sabevans will seriously consider jettisoning his ass in the off season, if he doesn’t fullfil his promise IMO.
I’m in Missouri visiting relatives. I’ve worn my GMen gear a couple of times and no worries thus far. I like this State. Lots of rolling green hills, with a lot of trees. Driving through Kansas was quite a contrast . . . Flat as a billiard table (LOL . . . Hope none of my friends are from Kansas . . . Umm, I just might have offended them). Going to stay for my cousin’s baseball tournament on Saturday, then continue East toward parts unknown (maybe Tennessee).* He’s an outstanding 2nd baseman for his West Plains high school team. Very, very knowledgeable about the Cardinals of course, but also all MLB teams, including the Giants.
* I will be on the lookout for Loo . . . Hopefully, I will get a photo better then this one:
Good to see you post. I was wondering about you (saw your FB post that you were in Missouri). Growing up in Northeastern Oklahoma (also lots of trees and rolling hills), we would vacation regularly in Southwest Missouri. Tablerock Lake, etc. Very nice country.
Have never been to Tenneessee, but would love to visit Memphis and Beale Street to take in some blues. I have also heard that Nashville is cool, and have always wanted to see the Smokey Mountains. Happy Trails, Blade.
Ishi gets the start…
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Joe Panik (L) 2B
3. Matt Duffy (R) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
6. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
7. Gregor Blanco (L) RF
8. Travis Ishikawa (L) LF
9. Chris Heston (R) P
Well, pagans out of the 3 hole anyway.
Top 4 SF strike out leaders – hitting
Belt – 73 Ks, 233 AB
Craw – 57 Ks, 248 AB
Maxwell -, 43 Ks, 110 AB
Pagan – 42 Ks, 268 AB
Last three games Belt has 6Ks in 11 ABs
Fun Fact that doesn’t mean anything – Heston has thrown for 73 Strike Outs in 84 innings.
I thought Belt was striking out a bunch lately, but I really hadn’t realized that he was striking out that often for the season. 73 Ks in 67 games, maybe he does have a hole in that swing (just kidding, I think) or that good eye of his needs a corrective lens.
Listened to some of Kuiper on radio last night, and Zum’s right he is much more engaged.
Even alongside Flem (whom I can’t stand) he was telling funny story of his kid days getting marine buzzcuts every 6 weeks from his Dad.
Also, Kuip loves Duffy. And really his AB vs. Kennedy, fouling off couple fastballs and laying off the slop changeup (unlike others) to draw the walk to load the bags before Posey slam, was a big key to the night.
Guy really does battle up there and I’d leave him right where he is batting 3rd.
What’s behind him Posey Belt Craw, isn’t bad middle order either and Blanco is hitting very well right now.
He is also dang good OF who can play anywhere.
Until they figure out health issues of Aoki and Pence it’s pretty hard to do much except go with what they have.
Going forward tho, I’d anticipate some changes made. Max isn’t cutting it, and Belt and Ishi are below avg. OFs; Pagan at the plate is hard to watch too. Hope he can pull out of slump with some leadoff ABs..
If Belt is hitting that’s one thing, but if he isn’t…
Supposed to be mid-70s in SF (90 where I am south of there), about as nice a day for a summer in SF you’re going to get. Tomorrow too.
Could easily be a rare hitters yard today at ATT.
SF also has Sat/Sun day games vs. Sherps this weekend Hudson Lincecum Bum.
El Caballo Loco! First extra-base hit in 15 games…I knew he was struggling, but jeez. Keep it going Crazy Horse!
Panik attack!
Nice start. Pagan and Panik, back in business.
I was wondering if leading off might get Pagan going. Panik flashing speed with the sb…
No shields against Pagan Baby breaking outta his XBH schneid followed by a Panik attack.
Thank you very much. I will take credit for that “Belted” triple bagger. Every time I talk shit about Belt and mention that he should be traded, he usually heats-up. Let’s hope this poke was just an indication of more good things to come for BB9.
Belt rips a triple.
Crooked numbers are good…when they are on your side of the scoreboard. Good start against Not So Big Game During the Regular Season Shields.
Belt hammered that one too, 3 rockets already.
Shields one of those guys probably good to get to early.
Heston has bad habit of letting teams back into games after Giants get him a lead; Pads appear to be in hack mode too, which can be used against them.
No splash, but a very nice slash by BB9.
No Pence… Belt .164/.244/.288/.532, Pagan .179/.241/.192/.434…for June ..rotation in flux…..
yet, still just a game back and 1.5 back in the WC. Gotta feel fortunate about where they sit.
I am going to keep talking smack about Belt and how he should be traded. Always seems to get his ass going.
Changing players Chi,Yeah we can talk all the shit we want about McDP, and of course we do, but as much you polish a turd,it’s still a turd!!
Never tried my juju on McDP…and do not care to…I would just rather see him DFA’d.
2 Triples for Brandon Belt?
Who does he think he is, Willie McCovey against Robin Roberts in his major league debut?
Ben-Hur helping himself out.
And the line keeps moving.
Once again Brandon the Slasher Belt keys that Conga Line. Alleykat: I recall buying a Sporting News at a long gone pharmacy at Lake and Nicollet in Minneapolis, just a couple blocks where #24 played his last minor league games for the Millers. Reason i purchased the paper as a 14 y.o. kid was the account of McCoveys pair of triples. Wish i still had it.
Nice play, Joe.
Triple, triple, for the Giants.
“Keep them doggies rollin’, rawhide”
Heston is ON today. Looks like he’s gonna be a good one. Pads have seen him more than once now ~~ and he has seen them as well. Methinks we are looking at a decent #3 starter.
The White Shark is on the hunt.
Granted, four of yesterday’s six runs came compliments of Posey’s grand salami…but today, they have the hit line going…and going…and going. Let’s hope they keep it going against the sherpas, too!
Taylor-made double play.
Heston is dealin’ . . .
umm, except for that boo boo.
Crawdaddy with another 3 bagger!
Quadruple triples for us and one for them. Whatever virus BB9 picked up, it seems to be quite contagious
.
Affeldt is harshing my mellow today.
Anybody suppose that some team hungry \for an experienced BP southpaw would take Affeldt off our hands ~maybe as part of a package? His ERA coming into today’s immediate two doubles and a run was 4.37 and his WHIP stands at a skyrocketing 1.68. Both figures just took a jump. Maybe a change of scenery would do him some good ~ maybe as much as it would help the bullies.
Fucking Affeldt. Dude has sucked balls of late. Come on…put a foot on the friars’ throats and close this bitch out.
What tha? I leave for just a bit when its 7-0 now its 9-5? Shut these mother fuckers down.
Come on dammit…get out of this nightmare of an inning.
Romo cut down Upton and Middlebrooks masterfully. Then the LHs came to the plate.
And finally, another RH.
You have got to be kidding me. FUCK!
Is anyone watching this? Do those plays to Pagan look as bad as they sound?
K&K said Pagan had no chance.
Bullpen fiasco.
Good question Dirt. Un-real. Seven run leads down to a one run lead. The G-men better close this fucker out. No pressure, Casilla.
WTF???
It’s mostly on Affeldt. He was a big gas-can.
Duffman to the rescue!
With an actual positive contribution from McG!
Who?
WHOOP WHOOP!
Whew. WTG Buster.
Posey is heating up…six Giant hitters today with multi hit games.
That Pac Bell, sure is a hitters park, ain’t she?
😉
Make that SEVEN Giants with multi hits today! Way to go MudBug!
YES!
So is a five run lead safe with three whole outs to go?
Yet, another reason I have high blood pressure. Way to out slug em, Giants.
Jesus. Forgot to tape this one.
damn.
I got this one recorded Charlie…will have to check out some of the highlights…especially the Pagan plays on the balls hit to him.
Series win…bring on the sherpas.
Hitting at home. wouldja believe? Novel concept for this team. Hope it sticks. Giants are well and away the NL leader in base hits and just resumed their lead in triples. They are now no worse than 4th in runs scored, having just passed the laBumbos in that category. Their slugging percentage is still around 7th, but their OBP has popped back up to second. If this novel notion catches on, SF looks like one good hitting team. When Aoki and Pence return they could become lethal.
it really does help the hitters when it’s warm out here. Wind dies down. Nothing to knock balls down. I know they didn’t hit any bombs, and I didn’t hear the game, but 5 triples today? I’m guessing most of those bounced high off the wall in triples alley.
Curious to see how Cain will deal with the heat here … 104F in the shade in my backyard at present … Shouldn’t be much below 100 at game time … but it’s a dry heat … 🙂
WHEW! … no wonder I’m losing my mind this season … after the top of the 8th I was throwing in the towel and headin’ out the door to the methadone clinic – attention Kat & Loo;) … Duffman to the rescue! … Now, I’m off to my fav waterin’ hole to get sloshed which will be preceeded by a brief stop at the corner to re-up on my condiment of choice. Finally, a trip to the ballpark to watch Cain bring down his hammer on the Grizzlies. Yes, it IS Cain tonite, not Blach as I reported yesterday … Grizz website changed SP lineup this morning. Thanks again to Duffman for saving me from the horrors of sobriety. GO GIANTS!!!
Re-upping on the condiments….you’re going to fit in fine with this crew 🙂
Nice to have you on board the lunantic flap madness site Lisle.
I’ll tip back many a alcohol beverage with you my man!!
Off the Heroin now, but a few more Giggles DP, I might have to shoot up again!💉
Sure looked like Romo was DL bound when he hobbled off…
Ol’ Big Game got his ass handed to him today. Looks like Buster may be heating up for one of his extended hot streaks; 7 ribbies in 2 games, Craw and Pagan back off the schneid, Moses with 8 wins. Good day.
May have to retract my proclamation that Heston goes down when the $32 million SPs return next week.
Leaning now to some combo of phantom DL stints for Huddy, Petit, Affeldt and/or Romo. A trip to the pen for Timmy, and a possible trade or DFA for Machi.
Did I leave anything out?
Yeah, Huddy is the tricky one. How does Bochy take him out of the rotation, in the final year of his stellar career? Affeldt and Romo are definitely candidates for phantom injuries. Agree there’s a trade wind comin’ up though as Michael said, maybe closer to the deadline….
Agree on just about all of that. How can they even think of bumping Heston when he’s the only one other than MadBum who has a chance to get through 7 innings.
my guess is a trip to pen for Timmy at the very least.
Mark me down as officially concerned about Affeldt. Was it windy today? You’d think we were back with Stu Miller in the ASG. Loved watching Cheshire-cat Bochy on the postgame MLB highlight. Have yet to see Pagan’s impersonation of Pete Reiser.
If anyone can find a link to Pagan crashing into the wall, please do. Thanks.
Its from the SD feed, but here it is.
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/69622576/v197531883/sdsf-middlebrooks-hits-an-rbi-triple-to-center/?c_id=mlb
I could see the phantom injury for Huddy coming up. His age the Giants would rather have him fresher for the stretch/ playoff run with less strain on that old arm, no way they want him near 180 innings pitched in his farewell season..
I’m fairly amazed the union doesn’t squawk more on these para-quasi-semi-injuries. I guess if you’re still getting paid, no big.
Stu Miller not only gave up Mantle’s 500th career homer, he also gave up Hank Aaron’s 2nd career bomb about 13 years earlier…
is this all in your head?!