Time For a Win

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on August 9, 2015

Losing 3 straight to the Cubs isn’t really the problem. It’s only 3 games. It’s HOW we are losing them. Basically, they are kicking our ass. Luck has not been beating us. They’ve been hitting better, they’ve been pitching better. The only thing we’ve been doing better is “Brandon Crawfording” them. He’s been brilliant, especially in the field. If it weren’t for him, the score differential would be much worse. They’ve scored first in every game. We’ve led for exactly one inning of one game (yesterday we led 2-1 in the 2nd inning, they jumped back ahead 3-2 the next inning).

So *Summer’s Warning Track* or whatever you want to call it has not started out well for us. There is no end to this any time soon. It’s going to be one tough series after another with very few days off. Our pitching is littered with question marks. Angel Pagan can barely still play baseball. We have several very good players and a team I trust implicitly in terms of chemistry, focus and experience.

The weather sucks in Chicago today, could take a while to get this one in…….

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Paul Sorensen said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:01 am

Yeah, big holes right now with injuries (Pagan, Panik) and shaky pitching, plus the tough August schedule everyone’s been talking about. The tough schedule doesn’t end on August 31st, either… there’s not a “comfortable” stretch of home series until Sept. 10th. If this team is going to make a run at 4 in 6, they’re going to do it on the road, against good teams, plugging holes as they go. It can be done: I think it was in 2010, the team kind of stumbled thru August and Bochy started talking wildcard, not division, by the end of August, with just September to play. Of course, San Diego choked with that 10-game losing streak in September. Giants might need that kind of help from someone again. Just get thru August within spittin’ distance and have an exciting September. Giddyup, boys….
unca_chuck said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:46 am

The Dodgers are in an iffy position themselves with their pitching and scoring, so I don’t think they run away with anything. We just can’t afford to fall back 3 or 4 more games. We get a shitload of division games in Seeptember so we just have to take care of bidness
blade3colorado said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:57 am

Peavy had his best start of the season against Atlanta (granted, a small sample size considering how little he has played this season). I was shocked he had 8 SOs in that game – not certain, but I think that’s the most he has had as a Gman. As has been the case with most recent games, the bullpen blew it for him.

Today, if he face plants; the bullpen face plants and fill in the blank(s) face plants . . . Well, let’s not go there. 🙂
Carstie Clausen said, on August 9, 2015 at 9:25 am

Going into the series i envisioned a split, with Heston and Leake as the likely winners. Well that didn’t happen for two reasons: Heston basically lost command and control and we saw Vogie rather than our newbie. My further thoughts were that Cain most likely would gain an “L” and Peavey could go either way. So we’re down to that 50-50 shot today.

With that magical synergy between Panik and Duffy missing half of its energy, the Duffster ain’t ;producing either. Add Pagan and his problems to the blend and no wonder the finely-tuned machine is stuttering and sputtering. Anybody keeping track of exactly how many games this season the entire lineup has been present and accounted for? Lack of solid depth has hurt this team badly. Waiver wire time.
alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 9:30 am

This road trip has been pretty much a “Faceplant”
Yeah we have the 2 Jakes going today, Peavy&Arrieta hoping for a good game and not another face plant..
BTW..Arrieta has a nice run of 7 straight quality starts, time to end that one hopefully…
alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 9:45 am

No Pagan hallelujah…
Aoki lF
BlancoCF
Duffy 3B
Posey C
Pence RF
Belt 1B
Crawford SS
OOO 2B
Peavy P
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 10:34 am

Chuck’s note about LA prompted me to look at their stats for the first time in a while. Rather than getting a big name, the Latos pick up looks a lot like a Sabes move, a complementary addition of someone who’s probably better than he appears on the face of it. Latos had very impressive numbers in Cincy before the injury, and his WHIP has still been ok this year. He’s as good a gamble as Mike Leake. They also have the two best starters in the NL, and another ok lefty in Anderson.

On the offensive side, AGon and Ethier have been their old dude versions of Panik and Duffy. It’s really too bad they have played so well.

I don’t see them running away from SF, either, but the SPs look as good as ever, even without Ryu.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 10:49 am

The team must be looking forward to returning home to this:

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/saunders/article/San-Francisco-s-summer-of-urine-and-6430084.php
Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:03 am

I don’t give a shit about how LA is doing or any other team. If we aren’t playing well, if we aren’t winning lots of games, it doesn’t matter how they are doing.
- alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:33 am
  
  Agree…
  The Monday off will help, but they need to get their shit together on this home stand coming up..
- James said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:48 am
  
  Sure, but if SF plays like shit for a while and the other team doesn’t, that could ruin everyone’s September. And I have tickets for 9/12, and plan to go to the 8/31 game in LA.
alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:30 am

Might not get many opportunities against Arrieta, they just wasted one.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:39 am

20 pitches. 2 batters. 1 out. That’s your giants replay.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:45 am

Looks like our starter’s on another 4-inning pace.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:46 am

Déjà vu.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:47 am

Mrs wisco: “bochy has to be so tired of this”. Peavy will be bear down to get through five. Just what the BP needs.
- ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:48 am
  
  Have to bear down. Not the other thing.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:51 am

Haven’t heard a peep about Lincecum in ages…
- zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:52 am
  
  Looks like they’re going to hide him on the DL until Sept.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:51 am

38 pitches, but only 1 run.
alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:52 am

brutal inning,how he only gave up one run is beyond me.
So 38 pitch inning..check
Not long for this game..check
Bullpen getting hammered again… check..
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:54 am

Unlike the other SF starters I’ve seen this series, Peavey deserved a better first inning. He didn’t throw 38 pitches because he was sucking.
- alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:01 pm
  
  jesus, now the pitcher almost goes yard for a triple, guess it’s the right move the Cubs batting their pitchers 8th..
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:54 am

Sad news: Frank Gifford passed away.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:56 am

Our pitcher: 12 pitches per out.
Their pitcher: 3.5 pitches per out
Sigh.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 11:59 am

Triple for the pitcher. Maybe it will start raining soon.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:03 pm

I like to follow what the Dodgers are doing pretty closely. The yin/yang of the rivalry is interesting and intense. Part of baseball’s ability to create novel-length storylines.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:04 pm

My daughter says Peavy looks like one of the characters from Walking Dead, which seems apropos.
Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Cubs look like they are in a whole other class than us. Yeah, it’s only three games, probably four … against the team we are trying to catch for the last and final playoff spot … and who cares what LA does? If we care little enough and they manage to suck worse than us we may wake up in first place … I doubt it,,but it could happen.
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Gas in the bullpen? How about a starter or two who can hit 95-6 like Arrieta. That would be a lot more useful.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:06 pm

I have a few friends that are Cubs fans, and they are letting me know what’s up.
- Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:13 pm
  
  ‘1908’ oughta settle that.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:14 pm

So much for Pagan’s day off.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:17 pm

We’re battling. Arrietta up to almost 4 pitches per out.
alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:17 pm

Man I hope Aoki will be alright, looked mostly square on the SF label, but a concussion could still result for sure,Jesus that’s all the Giants need now..
Carstie Clausen said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Irony or what? Aoki HBP, two on, then two line-outs. Baseball gods definitely not smiling on the Giants today. Vegas would have given some helluva odds on that combination of events folding out in one inning. Peavy will need to persevere…and persevere..and
- ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:28 pm
  
  Well he’s down to 8 pitches per out.
- alleykat69 said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:28 pm
  
  I think most of are pitching staff have been preserved past the expiration date Stix..
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Peavy better buzz somebody next inning…
- Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:35 pm
  
  And that might save a little on the pitch count.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 12:47 pm

Peavy is obligated to knock Arrieta on his ass.
Fuck the score.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 1:22 pm

This would be a great time to have a comeback win. Maybe pagan is the key?
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 1:32 pm

Loo, that columnist you referenced is pretty much lone one on Chron that is solid red state Fox News type.
Most of SF and surrounding counties pretty solid blue state demos so she stands out like sore thumb.
She rarely makes much sense to me, but today actually wasn’t bad, tho no one has been able to do much about homeless in SF for a long time. I doubt think cops she rode around with have much of a plan either.

I don’t live or visit there often so maybe to others that do it’s more noticeable. Traffic parking and how much it costs to live and eat there more of a concern.
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 1:56 pm

Watching Affeldt hit 92 on the radar gun, brought to mind this hypothetical: If you were forced to go into next season with Bum, Heston, Leake, Peavey, and Cain or the current bullpen (which doesn’t include Osich), which would you choose?
- zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:02 pm
  
  Bum is something that can be built upon. We go into next Spring Training with Bum one of the few sure things. There will be a lot of changes next season, no doubt. Maybe we get Greinke in the off-seaosn. I doubt it, but it would be hilarious to do that to the Dodgers.
  - James said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:07 pm
    
    Does that mean you’d choose the bullpen? 🙂
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:04 pm

The Yankees were shut-out two times in a row for the first time since 1999, the longest such streak in MLB history, according to MLB.com.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:06 pm

Pence “just” missed that. He was right on that pitch.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:12 pm

If the tying run is on base, Bochy has to send up Bum for Adrianza.
I bet he doesn’t…
- djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:18 pm
  
  I guess he can’t. They have no more infielders left.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:20 pm

And now it’s up to Adrianza, Maxwell and Pagan.
- Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:23 pm
  
  Or Sanchez.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Wow, what an unbelievably horrible AB by Sanchez.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Worst AB of the season by Hector…
- willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:26 pm
  
  Susac going to rehab game Tues–might have been his last.
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:25 pm

win or lose Peavy and pen giving hitters chance to stay in it.
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:35 pm

Often you have to give the opposing pitcher a lot of credit. Not this time.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:36 pm

Wow. That’s…..wow.
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:37 pm

Way to go down looking.
Lurker John said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:38 pm

Lovely series. Hector Sanchez with an utterly miserable AB. Fuck face umpiring didn’t help anything.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:41 pm

So, in the four games, the Giants led for one inning, total. One inning.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:48 pm

Taking that called third strike with the bases loaded was a painful reminder to the last pitch of the 2000 season, Bonds trhe batter, against the Mets. WHEN IT IS THAT CLOSE, PUT THE BAT ON THE BALL. Oh well, if you’re going to have an impotent series, you may as well end it impotently. Ugh.
- Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:03 pm
  
  I’m pretty sure that’s how Game 2 — the JT Snow game — ended, with Bonds taking strike 3 vs. Franco. I have no idea who made the last out of the series, and may not have had the stomach to even watch at that point, but maybe that’s how the season ended, too.
  - pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm
    
    in my memory, it was the last game….but too depressed to look it up…all right, I looked it up, you’re right, NLDS Game 2, strike 3 looking, Bonds, 10th inning. Memory is a tricky thing.
ewisco said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:48 pm

freaking brutal. pagan is near to worthless. it’s nice to see that they don’t roll over but they surely haven’t been able to close the deal. just an awful at bat by sanchez and what was pagan doing chatting up the girls in the on deck circle? the ump may have sucked but he was pretty consistently calling that a strike. you can’t just take it in that spot. foul it off and get another one. just three stupid at bats.
Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:48 pm

Pitchers sucking wind outta the gates … no clutch hitting … 0 for 11 risp, 11 LOB … says it all this game.
Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:51 pm

Giants post game saying “Peavy was excellent today” … Since when is 38 pitches in the first inning a mark of excellence? sure he settled down and the BP was decent but how much of these losses on this road trip are attributed to poor pitching?
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:52 pm

I had Pagan starting the ASG in late May…
- blade3colorado said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:58 pm
  
  Me too. To his credit, he’s playing hurt . . . Of course, that doesn’t get it done.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:52 pm

What’s that song they were singing at Wrigley after the game? (Oh, never mind.)
- zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:07 pm
  
  After a Giants victory at AT&T Park, the chorus of Blur’s “Song 2” is played, before getting to Tony Bennett.
- pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:17 pm
  
  My research says it may be ‘Go, Cubs, Go’ by the late, great Steve Goodman, though a Chi Tribune article in January said it is time for something new.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 2:58 pm

Next up: Astros, Nationals, Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers.
I would say that there’s a decent chance Bochy gets to start his off-season fishing earlier than last year.
- pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:01 pm
  
  Well, that’ll answer the proverbial “are you a man or a mouse” question. (Groucho Marx’s answer: “put a piece of cheese on the ground and find out.”)
Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:06 pm

I wouldn’t call an 8, 9 or 10 pitch at bat “stupid” … It is regrettable that Blanco took that last pitch but for he who is not exactly “clutch” I would say it was pretty decent, as was Pagan’s. Hector’s, however, was beyond retarted … just a total fucking waste … I would have rather seen Maxwell (I think he was still available).
- xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:20 pm
  
  he was available. anybody but hector. abh
unca_chuck said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:08 pm

Well, we are getting beat up at the worst possible time. This August may just be the death knell with 3 weeks left before September callups. Not that that will help immensely, but the pen is gasping and struggling and the starters are throwing way too many pitches.

Not throwing it in by any means, but the sheer number of days missed by our starters is killing us. Leake being the latest example.
James said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:12 pm

It’s far easier for me to watch a hitter take a final strike 3 on a pitch that was probably off the plate than it is to watch an AB like Hector’s.
- pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm
  
  I am so glad I missed it.
  - zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:30 pm
    
    It was like watching a parent pitch a wiffle ball to a 3 year-old.
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm

Other teams picked up guys like Parra and Zobrist, and we’ve got a one-legged guy out there. The Giants need to fix that in the off-season. Stop trying to rely on a Pagan comeback.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 3:21 pm

They must really hate 2014 World Champion outfielder Juan Perez. He’s not very good but I don’t think he’s been up all year – assuming they still have him somewhere. I remember him getting one huge hit…
- xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:26 pm
  
  game 5, after he learned his friend had killed himself and his wife in a dui car wreck, I think. The dent his LD left in the CF wall pad was very cool. You could see it from the stands behind home plate. Well, these ancient eyes could, so I assume most anyone else could.
  - djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:43 pm
    
    Right, Xoot. Any idea why he hasn’t gotten a look this year?
  - xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:39 pm
    
    no. His numbers at Sacramento aren’t great, but they aren’t horrible, he’s a great fielder, and, as you say, he’s succeeded before. Our Sactown correspondents might know more. Reminds me–anyone hear anything about Aoki-san? Hope to hell he didn’t suffer a concussion.
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:00 pm

End of season I guess Pagan has some kind of surgery, and maybe something close to what’s up will come out.
Even Bochy has admitted he’s not healthy.
Earlier in week Pagan said he wanted to play every day.
Bochy gave him 3 days off and had him out of LU today til Aoki got beaned.
Before season started I thought more he played better SF would be, but that’s just not true any more.
And he is owed $10 mil next year so see what Giants ultimate plan for OF is.
Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:01 pm

I had people up at the house this afternoon who are not baseball fans. I kept the tv on with no sound hoping to catch the end of the game but we all ended up outside. So I just now watched the abject ridiculous horror that unfolded a little while ago. Don’t have much to say other than I’m glad I didn’t have to watch that in real time……
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:03 pm

Astros btw are not same team on the road; currently 10 games under .500 and behind the A’s again this afternoon and about to lose to them for 3rd straight time.
Irish Kevin said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:04 pm

Well this was a fucked up weekend, I doubt anyone had the Cubs sweeping the Giants. I have not seen any updates on Susac, what is the story with him.
- Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:33 pm
  
  Well, au contraire monsieur … as I mentioned recently, my all star break prediction for July & Aug had the Giants face planting against all the crap teams and “running the table” against all the contenders …obviously, I was completely wrong on the former and will most likely continue to be completely wrong and therefore, by Pythagorean tricotomy … I am right on all accounts! … I’m am so wrong I am right!!!
mrsprtdude said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:14 pm

A sad Sigh is all I can muster….Ok Fuck! Better.
wilcojoe said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:14 pm

Accoring to Baggs, Wrigley Field has been evacuated due to bomb threat….geez, I know we sucked balls, but that’s no reason to blow the place up.
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:23 pm

Wow, Stros Colby Rasmus with a 3 run HR top 9th to put them ahead 4-3.
They do have some pop in that LU.
Hope Pirates can help SF out some more off the Braves guy Wood now starting for LA.
xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:28 pm

Houston just took the lead at the E Coli. That’s fine. Let them relax a bit tomorrow. I’ll bet they’re enjoying a full week in the Bay Area. I’d love to hear a few of them compare the two ball parks.
wilcojoe said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:34 pm

Gregerson is about to blow it once again against his former team.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:44 pm

I would never have guessed that Frank Gifford was older than Willie Mays…
- Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 4:53 pm
  
  I know next to nothing about Frank Gifford other than what I saw on MNF. ESPN just did a 15 min thing on his entire career. He could really move against all those other white guys he played against back in the 50’s……
- Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:00 pm
  
  Bednarik and Gifford gone in the same year.
- xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:20 pm
  
  A Fan’s Notes, by Frederick Exely. An autobiography disguised as a history of Frank Gifford’s career. Very strange but well regarded memoir. I have to admit that the description of Gifford getting his knee torn apart was memorable.
  - xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:24 pm
    
    From Wikipedia: “A Fan’s Notes is a sardonic account of mental illness, alcoholism, insulin shock therapy and electroconvulsive therapy, and the black hole of sports fandom.”
  - djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm
    
    Sounds like Thanksgiving Day with my family…
  - pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:40 pm
    
    Lots of Syracuse stuff from Exley; lived in Watertown. I either read that book or another of his thinly disguised bios. Memorable episode of my reading of him involved an adolescent character realizing his fellatio dream, only to be depressed by the whole bit.
  - xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:20 pm
    
    Lol Loo. I think I need to reconsider the way I discuss the Giants with my older son.
djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:09 pm

Nothing can top John Adams & Thomas Jefferson dying on the same day – July 4, 1826.
I bet Twitter crashed…
- zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:56 pm
  
  50 years after they both signed the Declaration of Independence.
Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm

Charlie Morton stinks.
snarkk said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:27 pm

I leave the country and they get swept by the friggin Cubs? WTF?…
- zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:36 pm
  
  Hey, they did lead one of the games for a whole inning.
- Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:10 pm
  
  first time since ’77. So, don’t leave the country anymore, ok?
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:35 pm

Another thing about Hector….he’s a catcher; you’d think he’d know what they’re thinking after he missed that first slider by two feet.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:44 pm

And all these years I thought Gifford was a QB. I liked the football Giants in those days. Gifford played with HOFer Andy Robustelli, who went to my church. I played baseball with his kids. True. I’d’ve never thought of him as being older than Mays. I read that Gifford figured his family moved 47 times before he graduated from HS; sometimes they ate dog food to get by.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:47 pm

Phils 16-5 since ASG, best in MLB, tho’ they couldn’t beat Greinke with Macdog cheering them on.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 6:52 pm

A postgame evacuation of Wrigley would seemingly be easy. Who’s there?
Carstie Clausen said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:12 pm

When all is said and done about this lamentable series, today’s fluff out with bases loaded and nobody out in the 9th just put icing on the cake Cain baked yesterday in celebration of the even year.
- pawliekokonuts said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:27 pm
  
  someone left that cake out in the rain and I just can’t take it [possibly worst song lyrics in history]
  - Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:47 pm
    
    “this cake is made of shit and all I wanna do is throw it in Yasiel Puig’s dumb face.” Can’t remember who wrote that one,or where I heard it, but I like it
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 7:58 pm

We have a Puig moment — and the Buccos have tied it!
xoot said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:09 pm

Jim Johnson is one sad ass punching bag tonight.
- unca_chuck said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:42 pm
  
  Yup, the fuckin’ A’s bailed in him after 3 weeks or some shit
Macdog said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:14 pm

Pirates pouring it on!
Flavor said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:17 pm

the Dodgers are a joke. 8 bazillon dollar payroll and they forgot to build a bullpen……
willedav said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:19 pm

epic meltdown by LA, best news all day.
- Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:31 pm
  
  Amen, Amen, Amen, AMEN!!!
zumiee said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:35 pm

This Dodger game is making me feel a little better. 🙂
Lisle Ellis said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:38 pm

gotta confess … If the Giants are gonna go down I’m hoping it will be either the Pirates or Cubs who have success in their stead … I’ve a soft it for both those towns … Chicago has suffered a long drought, as we all know … Pittsburgh is a city in which I’ve often thought about taking up residence. Great setting, wonderful people and vibrant arts and cultural scene.
- djloo27 said, on August 9, 2015 at 8:44 pm
  
  I guess it’s not just a bunch of steel mills anymore.
  Looks like they gave it a big bath or something…
  - blade3colorado said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:24 am
    
    You wouldn’t recognize it anymore. The river has been cleaned up. Steel mills are gone from the city limits, albeit corporate offices are still there (a good thing IMO). The region has shifted to high technology, robotics, health care, nuclear engineering, tourism, biomedical technology, finance, education and services. Also, as LE said – it now has a vibrant arts and cultural scene. In short, not your father’s Pittsburgh.
- willedav said, on August 10, 2015 at 8:01 am
  
  birthplace of one of my heroes, Art Blakey too. Pirates would be cool team to watch in playoffs.
  
  If SF can’t get in I could enjoy seeing Mets keep Nats out of it. No more Cards (or of course LA) in WS neither.
  
  Stros stay in town for 2 more. 23-34 on the road this season after dropping 3 of 4 to A’s….hmmn
  - Lisle Ellis said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:54 am
    
    And a favorite pianist … Amad Jamal.
snarkk said, on August 10, 2015 at 8:48 am

Btw, the pre game scene around the Bluejays stadium ( Rogers centre, looks like a warehouse from the outside) is pretty nice. Lots of bars, restaurants. Right downtown. Did not go to a game, other stuff to do. But fans seemed into it. Still in Quebec — I better get home soon to stop this losing streak. Sabean blew it by not getting bench/OF help with Pagan hurt and apparently near useless according to Flapper posts…
chipower9 said, on August 10, 2015 at 9:24 am

What a shit series. Craig was right in the lead-in to the thread…Cubbies were playing better in every facet of the game. Our boys had their chances in almost every game, but could not get that key knock.

On the flip-side, our pitchers just could not stay away from that critical inning (starters could not go deep, and the pen could not hold).

But I am not going to panic for now. We are missing some key pieces in Panik, Leake, and Susac (Hector just needs to go away).

Just need to get healthy, stay close, and get the key outs from our pitchers, and key knocks from our offense.

The Stros have a shitting road record…let’s add to that beginning tomorrow with a Gigante win!
ewisco said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:00 am

off day today?
- chipower9 said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:26 am
  
  Yep…thank goodness. I think they need a day to regroup and get back to playing winning ball.
chipower9 said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:27 am

Circle August 25-27…Cubbies come to town. It will be time to return the favor.
Flavor said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:29 am

Planning on a new thread after lunch, after I’ve put myself in a more + frame of mind.
- eddacker said, on August 10, 2015 at 11:00 am
  
  go stare at the BBOTD – instant positive vibe
eddacker said, on August 10, 2015 at 10:59 am

Has the thrill of 3 in 5 victories turned the Flapper Nation into yankmee fans? [incoherent simpletons prone to annoyingly criticize and disdain anything other than winning]

This team – the team that is so much a part of your soul – has been big-time-Timmy-Jim WINNERS and does it feel so powerfully good that the mere hint of losing makes us irrational idiots? Is it like flying high on the best cocaine with the hottest babe at the party and an erection harder than prison steel and nothing less will ever do again?

, “it is over before it’s over” just because a tired and injured road team runs into a hot-hot home team. Be amazed that the hot team is the cubbies. Not that your team struggles sometimes doing what it does.

Read this list and then say it’s all bad:

2014 We were in first place 10 games ahead of everyone the first week of June and down in second place the first week of July.

We were 3, 4 and 5 games out during August and at the end of September after being swept in SD AND losing 2 of 3 in LA we landed with the last WC position (6 games out) thanks to that stunning May.

Four months of “oh, shit” giants baseball from a team only a mother could love. But, were we done? HA!

Read this list and rejoice motherfuckers:

WC (1-0): San Francisco Giants over Pittsburgh Pirates
LDS (3-1): San Francisco Giants over Washington Nationals
NLCS (4-1): San Francisco Giants over St. Louis Cardinals
We lost 2 games!

And then in true SF Giants torture fashion in a series that could have gone either way didn’t.

WORLD SERIES (4-3): SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS OVER KANSAS CITY ROYALS

So let us remember rule 62 and absolutely enjoy the magical times we live in. The seemingly impossible coming together of baseball talent, both management and players (I leave the medical staff for another discussion) in a mystical, wondrous, delightful manner. Or as James would say in natural patterns and rational predictability.

Go Gigantes!
- blade3colorado said, on August 10, 2015 at 11:46 am
  
  Good post Ed.
  - Lisle Ellis said, on August 10, 2015 at 11:54 am
    
    I agreed … a most excellent observation Ed!
- zumiee said, on August 10, 2015 at 11:57 am
  
  Awesome post, Ed! You have me believing!
  A difference between this season and last, though, is that the Giants and Pirates were pretty much it for Wild Card contenders in the NL last year. Nobody else really challenged. There are more contenders this season for the Wild Card spots. I’m just sayin.’ 🙂
  But your points are well-taken! You have inspired us!
  - chipower9 said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:23 pm
    
    I am not sure that numbers (contending for a WS spot) are consequential. It is all about getting in and getting hot. At this point, I say screw the WC (well, put it in the hip pocket), and focus on winning the division. WTH…why not.
- dirtnrocksnomo said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:24 pm
  
  Fuckin-a right Ed.
unca_chuck said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Apropos of Gifford’s passing (I think it was WillieD who noted Chuck Bednarik passed this year as well), here’s the pic of Bednarik after he knocked Gifford unconscious and into retirement ( for a year anyway).

I’m sure Frank’s smiling have been released from being married to Kathie Lee . . .
pawliekokonuts said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:26 pm

Edddd, great post. And Loo’s rejoinder to xoot yesterday had me lqtm-ing aloud.
chipower9 said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:40 pm

One thing this roadie confirmed (and it is something about which most Flappers have been aware, and on which many have commented) is that the bench sucks. Before the trade deadline, upgrading the bench was listed as a top priority by many here (I was in that camp).

Getting healthy (as I mentioned earlier) will help, but I still think that Sabevans needs to do some type of waiver-wire (or dumpster dive) deal. This is why I was so adamant that they needed to make a run at Parra, etc.
pawliekokonuts said, on August 10, 2015 at 12:41 pm

So it turns out that eddddddaaacker is our own version of The Reverend Pence. I read his pep talk again. Epic. Classic. Vintage. Put it in the HOF of Flap Formulations. Thanks. I needed that, edddddddd!
Flavor said, on August 10, 2015 at 2:31 pm

νέο θέμα (in Greek)