National Beat Down Day
I’ll take Voggy and Cain, you take Strasburg and Scherzer. What kind of odds you give me that I go 2-0?
Nice, hot day here in the Bay. Get the ball up in the air and watch ‘er fly, high, HIGH.
After the first 2 games, it kinda feels like we’re playing with a little house money. Keep the pedal on the floor, there is no number of wins against the Nats and Williams that I would declare “too many.”
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Giants are hanging tough so far in this rough August schedule. Winning games with the OOO/Max duo in the lineup is amazing.
Pen has completely dominated Nats too, all of them including Affeldt. Osich looks like real deal to me.
Tell me Pagan makes any of the stellar plays by Blanco last night:
Diving grab.
Line drive doubles, plural.
Drag bunt for a hit.
Steal of 3b.
Head first slide to outside of plate to avoid tag and score.
I’m saying none of the above. Get Susac back up and throw Belt in LF if you need to, it’s a good LU.
Blanco has said that he has learned to stay within his game from Aoki and Panik. Maybe at long last he has learned to not try to hit it out of the park all the time and to spray singles and doubles to all fields when that’s what the pitcher serves him. The calming effect of staying within his game at the plate may also have had a positive effect on his baserunning, as he has fewer frustrations eating at him. All of the above keeps him a happy camper when he’s out in the field ~ and that too, to good effect.
At the level of skills-potential, El Tiburon Blanco may be our best possible leadoff man. Up till very recently he had not put it all together. Should Gregor maintain his current course we may be looking at one very high quality leadoff batter. A good leadoff man ~ think Ricky Henderson ~ can set the course for the entire offense. If Blanco can maintain on course he could be that essential weapon for the Giants.
Blanco had a great game, but I don’t see the need to take a poke at Pagan. The guy’s injured.
Zum you’re right he is hurt and likely has been for a long time, but when was the last time Pagan made plays like this, let alone in one game? And he’s been injured, one way or another, for what 3 seasons in a row now? I just don’t think he will ever regain the form I so enjoyed watching.
Good point. That came out crankier than I intended. 🙂
Hey! No Pagan pokes from me. Like i totally know he has been hurting, so he wasn’t even part of my discussion. It was all positive and all Blanco.
Gotta give Twin credit. He was pushing for Blanco over Pagan early in the season – well before Angel’s obvious injury riddled collapse…
Twin was pushing for Blanco the day they got Pagan.
lulz!
@LE—great story about playing and seeing Dewey Redman in his final days. Sad that many musicians health problems do them in, often due to lack of enough money to adequately deal with them.
James, I had Josh Redman’s first CD, which I lent to a gal I was trying to date who tended bar at local blues joint. We were supposed to go see him play but she got called in to work, and I’ve never ever seen him and that was end of me dating the gal too.
My pc freezes up sometimes on this site (Baggs blog too), dunno why. After Adrianza threw away the DP ball I was gonna blast him but didn’t bother to restart. I mean, there really is a reason no one has claimed this guy like Giants were so worried about after they put him on the waivers . Unlike Duffy he is incapable of making up for crummy defense like that with his bat.
And compared to other talking heads on pre and post game shows on csn (including the totally vapid Amy G) Flan is real deal, Pavs too.
I’ve always lived the White Shark. Without him, we’re minus two rings.
Loved, not lived. Oh well. Lived. Loved. Whatfuckinever.
Or it could’ve been ‘liked.’
#livedlovedfuckinever
It’s true. I figured we might get to Stras, but not MadMax. Never can tell. Of course, the corollary to all this is that we can lose to some no-name pitcher. The Gnats must be on the verge of looking in the rearview and bathroom mirrors and panicking. Adios, Insectivos!
Syracuse Chiefs, 11 straight wins. Go, Manny Burriss.
You know what Loo says about house money.
I just want to share two emails I got from Jim Commentucci, a former news / sports photographer who once had a chance to become a Dodgers team fotog. I sat with him and Hart Seely and Professor Jim at the game this week. What a blast. Witty, smart guys. Tucci has fled the Dodgers for the Red Sox. I am amazed at his baseball recall and stories. And cleverly funny as hell. He sent me this about 1971, which I had no memory of:
The 1971 NL West pennant race has always been of particular interest to me. It came at the cusp of my baseball awareness and featured a classic Sports Illustrated cover and article by, if memory serves, Ron Fimrite. LA was having a pretty mediocre season despite Willie Davis at his best and a 20-win effort out of nowhere from Al Downing. What the Dodgers had going for them more than that was that they beat the Giants in their last 8 meetings down the stretch. Including a game featuring a nasty brawl at Candlestick in their last series. It started with Bill Singer drilling Willie Mays in the ribs. Juan Marichal came back by nailing Bill Buckner. Buckner charged the mound, bat in hand. The ensuing dance was a good one, featuring Marichal making choking gestures toward the home plate umpire (Harry Windelstadt?) after getting tossed. I actually got a chance to talk to Buckner a little bit about it when he was hitting coach one year (1993, I recall) for the Chiefs. A decent guy, Buckner. Maybe not the most approachable, but decent just the same. The best though was in 1989 when I got to ask Marichal about the whole stretch run during an informal gathering of media and players at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown the Saturday before inductions. I asked him what he remembered about the 1971 pennant race between the Dodgers and Giants and all of the stupid fucking idiot punk ass patronize the know-nothing photographer sports writers chimed in to correct me “no, no (silly child!) you mean the 1962 pennant race.” But Juan knew. Juan stepped right up and corrected all of the stupid fucking idiot punk ass patronize the know-nothing photographer sports writers. He proceeded to tell a story (just for me now, afore-described writers having forfeited their inside, juicy stuff privileges.) In one of the last games, down in San Diego, Tito Fuentes made an error that cost San Fran the game and drew LA to within one game of first. Marichal told me (just me remember) that “Tito was crying so bad in front of his locker. He thought he lost the season.” The next day the Giants lost again, but down in Houston the 20-game winner Downing got lit up by the Astros and the Dodgers lost 11-0 to remain a game out. On the final day of the regular season both teams won and YourGiants earned the right to lose to Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
He added this follow-up correction when I told him I’d share his recollection:
I’d be happy to have you use or share whatever you need. If you’re going to do that, I had to check my recall. Using SF Giants 1971 schedule on Baseball Almanac (which can occupy me for hours on end), the only amendments are that Shag Crawford was the home plate umpire for the brawl at Candlestick. And the Tito Fuentes error was every bit as bad as Marichal described. It led to a Nate Colbert 3-run homer in the 10th inning at San Diego. But it was actually in the penultimate game, the same night Downing came down to earth (at Dodger Stadium). So LA and SF went into their final three games with the Dodgers trailing by a game. They each then won their first game, lost the second, and won the third. It was really a terrific race even though both teams had their own brutal stretches. (Giants at one point losing 11 of 12 in September. So I guess my recall was pretty good just the same. I would highly encourage you to go to SI Vault and find that story.
Awesome stuff, thanks!
’71 season was my first season as a Giants fan.
Too bad Marichal had to start Game #162. The playoffs could have been a different story. Maybe.
Although, all things considered, it seems sacred that Clemente had a stellar playoff run.
Fantastic, PK…
It’s kind of funny when Krukow tries to pump up Adrianza. “He likes the low pitch.” Yeah, Kruk, he just tears up the low pitch.
lulz!
Speaking of Krukow, total hypocrisy last night regarding batters being allowed to wear too much armor. He’s never once said anything about the armor Bonds wore.
Had the same thought, Zooms…
@willedav: Pleased that you enjoyed my Dewey tale. I always loved Ornette’s response when someone asked him what he thought of Joshua. He said, “Joshua is a good saxophonist but his father (Dewey) is a GREAT saxophonist!”
Also, enjoyed your reminiscing on the Expos. I attended quite a few games at the ‘Big O’ in Montreal back in the late 80’s. Most memorable was – it may actually be 26 years ago today – was being in the lower level stands, seated between home & first, when Dave Dravecky snapped his arm. I had looked away for a moment and suddenly heard this sickeningly horrific sound that is almost impossible to describe – kinda like a wet sapling breaking. I whipped my head around in time to see Dravecky crumpling on the mound with players and staff from both dugouts immediately charging out toward him. Knowing his history it took but a second to understand what had happened. Truly, a tragic moment.
wow. descriptive and a great post.
Nice job, Lisle. Were you you there for this moonshot? Dig the low-fives…
I guess every park has its own ground rules. In Houston if a ball hits the roof, it is a dead ball. It usually only happens a couple times a season and it usually occurs within the infield, usually in foul territory. I think it would be nearly impossible for a home run ball to hit the roof.
Wow Loo! That is an incredibly great clip! It sure brings back a lot of fond memories … but no, I wasn’t present for that game. The Big O was a ridiculously bad ballpark … a real toilet bowl of a sports facility. It was built for the 76 Summer Olympics and featured and ultra modern space age design that was, for the time, quite impressive looking. Yet practically, it was a disaster. The original retractable roof never worked and the decade later re-designed retractable roof (shown in the video) was intermittently functional, breaking down at the most inopportune times. The entire situation was a real fiasco … a true comedy of errors. The Big O (as in Olympic) stadium was know to the locals as the “Big Owe” … they spent millions! … millions they didn’t have …
That is quite a story. Whew. Somewhat similarly, I was at Citi Field in 2009 when Cain beaned David Wright. I too may’ve been looking away. But the sound was distinct. And shocking.
I believe we were looking at the same thing, Pawlie…
hahahahahahahaha she was HOT, Loo!
I was watching that game on TV. That was the game when Cain created a bit of controversy by doffing his cap to the NY crowd not long after beaning Wright when he was removed from the game. Cain later claimed there was a group of bigwig SF fans traveling with the team and he was acknowledging them for their support.
I was never quite sure about that whole deal.
Giants need to beat down the Gnats in these next two as well as in the first pair. GioGon will be a tough customer to face, but if El Tiburon Blanco continues his surge with continued assistance from the likes of Duffmeister and Belt, maybe we get this one. Do like our chances tomorrow with MadBum going for W. # 14.
Main reason we need this couple of games with the good home cookin is that the next 7 in St. Louis and Pittsburgh will be anything but a stroll in the park. If we can cop three of the seven i will be one happy camper. Getting Leake and Aoki should be a big help. Still likely to miss Panik for the roadie but he should be back in time to get us some extra traction with those tough first few games in September.
The ’61 Giants keep the conga line moving. Try counting how many times Dizzy Dean mispronounces Amalfitano. And check out the muscles on Mays…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An0FeHOkNs4
Pretty darn cool, Loo; thanks. Several thoughts: Dizzy Dean announced it as if he were on radio. Announcing has evolved. All the players look thinner, even catcher Ed Bailey. Even the coach at first, possibly Whitey Lockman. Crosley was a bandbox, tiny. The players yucking it up in the dugout was from another age, of innocence. Freddy Hutchinson walking out to the mound in the first: these days, the pitcher is gone if the mgr comes out. Mays and Cepeda had STRONG muscular arms. Cepeda is much bigger than Mays; Mays is not all that big of a guy, neither was Mantle. How about that two-strike bunt by Matty Alou with two outs to ignite the scoring!? Wow. Finally, the HOF should have way more of this sort of thing. Otherwise, you don’t really know what great players looked like when they played.
Great observation about how thin everyone looked … I noticed that too. In the earlier Expos video that Loo posted take a look at how skinny Straw looks … I mean, he looks near malnourished! Things sure have changed, have they not?
What a time it was growing up back in the late fifties early sixties … one of my earliest memories as a kid was boarding the city bus in Vancouver, Canada where I was raised. In those days, smoking was still allowed everywhere including public transit .. and practically everyone smoked! I remember the smell of the bus interior when the doors would open: leather & cigars! The bus seats were upholstered in a rich brown leather … wow, what a beautiful fragrance it was!
Yeah, he got it wrong about 3 times, then actually got it right 2 or 3 times, then got it wrong another couple of times.
What a great video. My 2 favorite lines:
“With TWO strikes on him friends and neighbors” (Referring to Matty Alou’s bunt)
“When good things happen, Schlitz is always on hand”
The first time I ever drank, I split a 6 pack of Schlitz Malt Liquor with Chris Wahl at my parent’s house in Woodland while they were out of town. We sat in the family room watching this new phenomenon called
“MTV.”
Are Philly Phanatics still Phissed about the Giants denying them another shot at the Ring in ’10? The guy who puts out Thegoodphight.com sure is. He rates the teams most likely to get Utley. He rates SF #6 of 6 because of his frustration at the Giants upsetting his beloveds. Of course, general management in Philly will more likely go for what they see to be the best prospect package from the 6 primary contenders and are not overly likely to be influenced by inter-team history.
Utley was 4 for 5 last night. He could be a nice pick-up for the Giants, if he’s willing to be a team player.
I got nothing but respect for Mr Utley, he has accomplished some amazing things as a player, including being a World Champion. Yet,bI doubt he will ever be a Giant.
I have a hunch that the reason we generally don’t see wholesale moves by Sabevans – and when changes are made they are small subtle and at times almost imperceptible – is because upstairs and the in the dugout, management knows how important clubhouse chemistry is. They believe it to be as, and at certain times, even more important than big ‘talent’. It may be better to stick with Airhead Triple-0-sauce as the reserve infielder than bring in a (fading?) star who might bring some immediate and impressive results but also might slowly poison (unintentionally & unwittingly?) a certain ambience that has taken a long time to foster.
I think it’s just a waiting game that depends on when Panik returns and what kind of shape he’ll be in.
I wouldn’t wait around – they should make that move ASAP…
Sabean and Beane took over as GMs in the Bay Area at essentially the same time. The PS records since then tell the main story. But in the after-roid era, the type of chemistry that now matters has been important to SF. The contrasts between the Giants and the a’s in the past six years (post-Bonds here, post-owners-who-give-a-shit-about the fans there) tell that story. A few other franchises develop their teams as well as the Giants, but I don’t think it’s common. The bums, e.g. We’re very lucky fans, imo.
McGoggles and Pinata start tonight.
Posey to first – Belt to left.
Belt is the only LF I’ve ever seen actually boot a ball. Those size 15s can get in the way when they have to cover the greensward. His swings are looking good, however. Thank the lard we have a CF.
Yeah, blanco is a fine OF who is having a career year at plate, at least so far.
Pagan deserves some props for trying to play through the injuries, but couple weeks ago he said he wanted to play everyday. Serious disconnect there btw what he thinks he can do and reality.
Hard to understand Giants and Bochy on this one, believing couple days off here and there would fix everything. By June when he hit .181 and OB took serious dive along with slugging (2 XBH in 94 ABs), they had to know he was messed up.
If he had arthro or whatever then, maybe he would be OK by now.
Excellent points. All I meant, however, is that Blanco’s fleet enough to cover some of Belt’s LF territory, if necessary. Pagan hasn’t been that sort of CF in a long long time.
Understand Xoot. Blanco had to cover CF last year playoffs for Ishi, not exactly a gazelle out there either.
when I look at the WS box scores Perez’s contribution in LF also is very clear. And of course there was that insurance blast to the wall in game 5. I just don’t understand why it took so long to bring him back this year. Stilll, I won’t be surprised to see him fill in later tonight. In the meantime, I would be pleased to see Belt stretch out and cover the ground.
Thx for the vids Loo. In the Giants dugout the Latin guy #15 walking away was Jose Pagan?
Sure was. He hit the first 2 homers of his career in one game. Unfortunately it was slightly overshadowed by Mays who happened to hit 4 that day:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN196104300.shtml
The Reds are throwing some not-awesome rookie starting pitchers out there. Tonight’s guy gives up an HR, then walks the next two guys. Classic deer in the headlights.
When the Giants defeated the Reds in the ’12 playoffs, the Giants actually killed the Reds as an MLB franchise.
The Phillies and Tigers, too.
very interesting take. I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s an interesting take I’ve never heard anyone have and there’s some evidence to support you.
Cincy lost the wild card game to Pittsburgh 1-0 in 2013.
lost in the haze….
I’m not in the city but the winds have blown in a bunch of smoke from the fires 100 miles away, not sure if that had anything to do with it……
When you’re a reverend, your sins are passed over in near silence, just like a bishop.
And now Peavey is trying to cover up.
Buddy Holly’s stepping up.
Peavy must not have it tonight. Two runs and 5 hits in a couple innings, including one of the latter by the opposing pitcher does not look good. This one may go down the big swirly unless the hitters can start getting to Gonzales pronto.
Missed the Desmond HR, but holy batman, has it landed yet?
The bat speed contact was 113 mph, the distance was 477 ft, that’s the big glove area..
uh oh, the size 15s stumble twice on one play
that Belt double fuck up has got to be fueling Peavy into homicide mode….
The hate has been driven from his heart.
serious question: have you ever been down on anything Belt has done or do you just non-stop jizz on the OPS?
There is no need for me to be down on him about anything because the sheer weight of public criticism has been as ridiculously large as his shoe size. But, yeah, I shout at the TV when he fucks up like everybody else.
good info, thanks for sharing.
Rave On Buddy
“low fly”–always love that description of a runner…..
Posted it before, but Buddy Holly sure knows how to cut the bases in stride. This guy could be a triples machine in the alley gap..
Gonzalez has to be burning inside walking Peavy..
classic Nat nonsense from the guys running the show.
God bless America!!
Is this a great country or what?
I could die a happy man right now.
🙂
you simply can’t run a team that wins if the people in charge of the players, players who are hot heads, are hot heads themselves. It just doesn’t work in today’s game. It’s too easy to get tossed in today’s game….
Guess McCatty’s burning up even more. Tossed by the ump for some really bad words.
And here goes Duffy clearing the bases!!!!
wtf is the “magic word”?
MOTHERFUCKER!
no, it’s cocksucker
According to Jim Bouton it’s motherfucker…
Jim Bouton obviously knows infinitely more about baseball than I’ll ever dream of knowing. So, wtf. Although times have changed a bit, so wtfk.
Well, it was 45 years ago. Maybe cocksucker’s passed it by.
You just gotta love it.
Kelby Hector and top of the order, not the big guys. Takes a whole team… I don’t think Nats have that figured out yet.
Mr. OPS with a ld base hit rbi and Williams, with 5 in and 0 out and minus his pitching coach, gets his pen going.
This guy makes 2 Trips look like Roger Craig.
5 spot and still no outs, loving the onslaught!
The nats’ starters haven’t much enjoyed the pitchers’ park at China Basin this week.
For those not in the Bay Area, the game is on Fox Sports 1. I just found it flipping thru the channels.
for those that don’t have cable the game is on KNBR or for a pittance our announcers are on mlb radio.
Ya know, willedav, KNBR is running a current promotional made by “the middle relievers” and listening to that group talk about who they are you can really understand the culture that permeates the last few years of Giants baseball.
And it is exactly what you said – a whole team effort. Even the least member of this team knows he is valuable and they all want to win. As a team. No matter who is the team ‘star of the day’ everyone in that clubhouse is a co-star.
Hey those size 15 shoes for Belt sure came in handy at the plate…
Ha! They sure did.
yes they did. lulz
Did they ever beat the shit out of Gonzalez?
Even the 2 outs made were smoked, great clutch hitting by all…
The SF on these uni’s is way too big. They look like pajama tops. Hideous.
Great Gio Gonzalez, Batman, but this sure ain’t your 2011 Giants. Time was, not so long ago, with the team down by two after 2 against one of the more successful pitchers in the league, we could pretty much hang it up for the evening. Batting around is sure some kinda way to get a bit of attention.
Been busy as hell at work with Mets game on in background, and I could hear Mets announcer say Nats leads Giants 2-0 a couple times. And now I just look — a freakin’ 6 spot in the 3rd!!!
Huge walk from Hector last inning. I did not see that coming.
Susac seems to be doing well in his rehab starts
Same with Peavy’s, that was a back breaker that setup the big inning..
Duffy’s on more juice than the city of Honolulu.
And I condone it!
Book em Duffy..
Another great swing by Posey!!
Odds on Moron Kelly sending Buster on a hit?
That’ll Be the Day!
KAT simultaneously killing the Utley deal and Adrianza’s future…
At least Nats will have the book on what not to throw him.
Fine with me Loo..
KAT….”Killing All Throwers”
A 3-bagger and a 2-bagger for Four Eyes!
I don’t mind the size of the SF logo, but I wish it and the player’s number were in orange. I’d also get rid of the striping around the neck and down the front.
“Book ’em Duffy,” was nicely done, Kat.
Thanks SanDog..
Get use to the pine 000, Cause their’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Buddy!
He actually hits the ball and his uni is dirty, which means he’s a ball player unlike you.
Pull him Now!!!
In that last shot of Sabean he looked like Jor-el in the Fortress of Solitude…
What is it with these guys? You give them a huge lead and they can’t give it back quick enough. Jesus Christ Peavy, throw strikes!
This guy is unbelievable. Get him the fuck out of there, Bochy.
Does Peavy shower before he reports back to Bellevue for the night?
Gold Loo..
So does Peavy have a fetish over the SF emblem? He’s sporting 3,the cap, his undershirt,and the jersey emblem,probably wearing SF underwear as well..
Give Jake a break. He’s done his duty. Good enough from the third through the 5th. How do you spell R E L I E F?
The seventh inning. Storied ground. Bumgarner and Heston talk about their battles in the seventh inning quietly, in private, describing the horrors and the triumphs in terms that spark vague memories in the minds of the other starters. The Seventh Inning.
Just don’t get why Bochy is so loyal to are 6 inning pitchers.
Peavy was clearly burnt toast with no butter on it..
Adrianza’s tattoos look like they were done with a Spirograph…
Carstie, the Giants had to use more of their bullpen last night then they should’ve had to, and Peavy had an even bigger 7 run lead tonight than Cain did last night. It was a perfect opportunity to give the bullpen a break, and he couldn’t do it. That’s for shit is what that is.
And someone please explain to me why Adrianza comes in for Tomlinson. After that pussy turn at second last night I’d option his ass right back to Sacto. Tomlinson is playing some inspired baseball right now. Leave him in there.
Damm right LJ,
I can’t explain why OOO is even on the team other then to fetch Boch a beverage..
Bloody clutch knock by Belt.
Never hear Bam-Bam get any credit.
Should he?
Why not, the Giants are one of the best offensive clubs in baseball this year. Across the board the regular lineup has a good approach at the plate.
Marichal looks pretty damn good. I never see Bob Gibson anywhere.
Wonder how he’s holding up…
Not good,he’s dead..ok my bad just kidding..
two Ks on the wall tonight, after 6. Last night, when Cain came out, the wall showed 3 Ks. I’m sure there are spread sheets available on fangraphs to explicate these starts. I’m sure they’re too sad to view. Yet the Giants win!
Love it Zoot … the 7th as “storied ground” … It would be even funnier if it wasnt such a potential tragedy! I think Heston had 6.1 earlier this week but other than Bum I think Leake in Texas was the only SP to get into the 7th but didn’t finish it … Peavy got through 7 when The Brewers where here, but that seems like a long time ago.
There is gonna be hell to pay for this consistent inability of our starters to go deeper than 5 innings.
And Lurker, I totally agree than Tomlinson should not have been replaced by Airhead 000 … Let the kid see how close he can get to the cycle, for one thing!
Bochy wanted to do a double switch. My preference would have been Lollis for Pence ~ who probably could have used a break the way he was hitting tonight.
Would have been the better option Stix I agree..
Speaking of doubles, still think Bochy was thinking about a double bourbon more then he was of taking Peavy out 2 batters to late,,
If you include Panik, right now SF has 7 starters with an OPS over 800. The clubhouse is a hall of mirrors for Mr. OPS.
I think I predicted last month that the Giants could have every position in the LU over .800 OPS for the first time in mlb history. But I didn’t check. I think the Angels had every player in the LU over .300 BA back in the 2000s, for one game. But 800 OPS, that’d be better.
Web gem right there.
Yikes!