Twinfan
Last night I texted San Dawg that I get more than a little irritated if my can of Tinactin runs out….
I can’t even imagine if my home was destroyed in a fire…..
As most of you have probably heard, our Flap brethren Twinfan lost his home in the Valley Fire. He and his wife, as best I can tell, are staying in a shelter somewhere near Calistoga.
One day you’re living your life in your house dealing with day to day problems. The next day you have no house and no place to stay and everything you had is now gone. I just can’t even imagine what they’re going through.
Let’s hold them in our best thoughts and hopefully this some how works out for them.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I am going to try to locate the shelter in which Twin and Merna are staying, and hopefully connect with him to find out if there is anything that we can do to help ease the pain.
Good. I think Snarkk is working on more info from the journalist who quoted him in the article
I left a voicemail for the Red Cross. They are the ones coordinating the two shelters for those displaced by the Valley fire. There are two evacuation centers. One is the Kelseyville High School and the other is the Napa County Fairgrounds. In my message I told them I am trying to contact Michael Scott, and that he and his wife Merna lost their house in Middletown. I left my phone number, so hope to hear from them, and to find out a way in which I can contact Twin.
I am off to a meeting now, and will report back when I have more info.
Just saw this and no, I wasn’t aware. Speechless . . . Thoughts and prayers are with you and yours Michael.
my thoughts are with mike and merna. I friends mom lives up there and I found out this morning that she’s safe for now and the fire went south of her. tough stuff. wait until the Hayward fault lets go.
Well, here we are winding down another year. And while it looks like our boys will not repeat this year, they are not yet mathematically eliminated.
Bums start a series against the Bucs tonight. They are throwing Greinke, Kershaw, and Anderson in that order. GO BUCS!
With it winding down, and there being a faint glimmer of hope that we can catch the bumbinos, I wanted to share this video from 1997. My friend Mike and I were at the game…one of my all-time favorite moments from a Giants game…
And to get to this point, Shooter Beck worked out of a bases loaded jam…
GO GIANTS!
I just got a call back from the Red Cross. The woman gave me a couple of ways to try to find out more info on Twin. One is a web site called “Safe and Well.” This is a site where individuals self-post to let friends and loved-ones know their status.
To initiate a search, I need either a phone number or address. Do any of you have either of these pieces of information for Twin? If this does not work, I have another phone number she provided.
Don’t have Mike’s addy with me. maybe at home . . .
the only addy I ever had for him was a PO box. And that’s at home in the studio somewhere
This weekend will do a lot to determine the rest of the year. A sweep by us and 1 of 3 by them works for me.
We HAVE to do something like 12-4 and hope for help. Just saw the the Dogs are a 4 game series.
Let’s roll.
Update – I have called two Red Cross numbers, and also did a search on a web site called “Safe and Well” that was recommended by the Red Cross. I was able to Google Michael and find an address, PO Box, and a phone number, and used all in a search on Safe and Well. He has not posted anything on the site.
I just sent an email to Red Cross explaining all of this to them, and asking if they can verify that Michael is in a shelter, and if so, to contact him, and let him know that a number of folks on The Flap would like to hear from him. I provided my phone number. So, for now I have hit a dead-end until i get a response back from my email.
Maybe he’ll post something here on his own like he did yesterday.
I agree, Loo, and hope so. It would be nice to know if there is anything he and Merna need, or if he would be okay with someone starting a gofundme site, etc.
I think it would make sense that he would follow up. Money might not be the big issue…
This news is so unsettling. And it merely suggests how terribly unsettling it is for Twin and his loved ones. If you are reading this, Michael, we are with you. I am not adept at this, but perhaps something can be set up at Gofundme or some other site?
Wow, not good, prayers for you Mike and Merna. Like Chi posted CA is just one big fire hazard right now. I have a CHP friend who is working 12-16 hours a day up there. I can’t imagine what Fireman are going through. I saw a video yesterday where people were driving down there streets and roads with fire on both sides. Scary!!
Off topic, but I found this video very interesting about Tony Romo . . . Personally, it dispels what I thought about him (i.e., not being clutch).
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2569009-why-tony-romo-is-more-clutch-than-manning-rodgers-and-brady
That’s all well and good, but he still sucks monkey balls.
And I understand, per the monkeys, that he swallows, too.
I readily admit to liking The Monkees…
Tough crowd. lulz
Manning — both of ’em — Rodgers and Brady have won more playoff games in a single postseason than Romo (2) has his entire career.
Mac, that was not the point of the video. Besides, a QB is one person plus 21 other guys.
. . . and by the by, I don’t even like Romo.
You guys see this?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/dodgers-send-deadline-pickup-mat-latos-packing-after-just-five-starts-144029954.html
Down with signing him as a cheap free agent next season . . . umm, if he is cheap. Only 27, still has a good WHIP; and dollars to donuts, Righetti and our park can work miracles.
Flappers – I just spoke with Twin. Somehow, my message got through, and the folks at the shelter provided him with a phone on which to call me. He sounds great and is in really good spirits, all things considered. And I could hear Zeke in the background…Michael said Zeke was trying to swipe cupcakes off of peoples’ plates. Atta boy, Zeke!
Anyway, Twin, Merna, and Zeke are lacking for nothing right now, and are being well taken care of by the people at the shelter. He also said they have folks looking for places for them to stay in Middletown. The main part of Middletown (post office, bank, store, etc.) were spared, but with the exception of a house or two, all homes in the town were burnt to the ground, including Twin’s. From the video I saw on the news, it appeared the whole damned town had been wiped-out.
Michael says they do have home insurance, but he does not know the details yet of what it will cover (contents, structure replacement, etc.). He says they also are in good shape in regards to health insurance. And he said while they do not have a ton of money, they have enough on which to survive.
I told him there has been an outpouring of comments and offers to help from Flap Universe, and he appreciates all of those offers, but said he has no desire to accept anything at this point (he kiddingly said he will accept cash donations in excess of $1,000). He said he will find the details on how folks can contribute to the victims of the fire, and will post that, and that this would be his desire…for folks to contribute to that general fund to help the fire victims. He said he is also getting a lot of support and offers for help from folks on the Merc blog.
Twin really did sound in good spirits…this is amazing to me, especially coming from someone who has just lost almost everything.
I am happy that he and Merna (and Zeke) are in good health and spirits. It really made me feel much better just to talk to him.
If I hear anything else between now and when Michael chimes in, I will certainly pass that along.
I have a happy heart right now. Life is good. Be thankful for the blessings you have in your life, as the situation with Twin proves that it can all change on a dime.
Two Flaps Up for Twin!
Thanks for the excellent update Chi. 🙂
My pleasure. Was so good to hear from him.
Wow, great news Chi! Thank you for reaching out to him.
Thanks for being there for Twin and for all of us, Chi.
Craig – I have said it before, and will say it again…thank you for creating and maintaining this blog. I have met (some in person) some really great people through this blog, and get great joy out of talking baseball, and life with all of you. I truly appreciate this community and the interactions the blog allows. It is heartwarming to see the response here for one of ours during a time of need. Blessings to you all, and especially to Michael, Merna, and Zeke.
GO GIANTS!
Awesome, Chi. So glad to hear that news. If anyone can see the good side to all this, it’s Twin. Getting out alive is the reason to be happy and thankful. Stuff, no matter how important it seems to be, is just stuff. Easy to say, I know, and losing your house would be a monumental catastrophe, but the other side to that is that people (and pets) are the precious commodity, not the wood, brick or mementos.
Well said, Charlie. People (and the animals) matter…not their possessions.
Did I ever tell you about the time my sister burned our house to the ground?
Nope…missed that one, Charlie. True story? I damned near burned our house down one time while playing with gasoline and styrofoam in our garage. Luckily nothing caught on fire, but it sure scared the hell out of me. I also caught our back yard on fire one time. I was quite the pyro in my younger days. And I had some hellacious bonfires on my property (burning leaves and pine needles, etc.) when I lived in Camino (but none ever got out of control).
Great job, Chi. Very encouraging under the circumstances.
I hope Mickey the cat is ok, too…
Loo, Twin said that he made sure the cats were out of the house before they left. They were picked-up by a Sheriff’s patrol car to take them away, and the sheriff asked Twin if he had a dog. Twin said yes, and the sheriff said “go get him!” One of his first orders of business will be to go back by the property and look for his cats.
It really was amazing how good spirited he was considering the situation.
Chuck, my brother,when he was 5 (the evil prick) thought it would be cool to take my sister’s clothes into a field and burn them. So he did. To get even, my sister, who was 3, put his clothes in the middle of his room and lit them on fire. We lived in the highlands (San Mateo) and all the houses were glass and plywood. Tar& gravel roofs. Basically a giant match boxes.
My mom, who was pregnant with me, woke up to my sister screaming about a fire. By the time she got into my brother’s room, the walls and ceiling had caught fire. So she grabbed my sister and a couple photo albums and went outside to get help. I was told it took about 25 minutes for it to burn to the ground. She’ll never live that one down!
that’s pretty epic.
Our family reunions are anything but dull.
Chi— great job connecting with him. Can’t believe he’s in good spirits but he’s a tough SOB so that’s no surprise. Hopefully he gets online at some point and can check in again.
He said he would, Craig. Yeah…pretty amazing given what he has been through. We talked for about 15 minutes and there was a lot of laughing.
Welcome back Craw!
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Alejandro De Aza (L) LF
3. Matt Duffy (R) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
6. Marlon Byrd (R) RF
7. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
8. Kelby Tomlinson (R) 2B
9. Madison Bumgarner (R) P
Sweep the Snakes!
He’s sniffin’ that Willie Mac Award…
Great job getting through, Chi. Believe me, just knowing folks care, can mean a lot.
Four years ago we had a wildfire come within a mile of the little village I live in (the Pains Bay fire burnt probably about 45,000 acres in the Wildlife refuge I live next to). For months, my wife would go to work (when the smoke wasn’t too bad and vehicles could get through the flames) and I would stay with the animals in case we were forced to evacuate. Over those months we were able to get photos, documents, baseball cards and some drums and special things into a safe place. On advise from others we also took pictures of anything of value for insurance proof. A few months after the fire we got hit with a weird hurricane, Irene. It was only a category 1 or 2 by the time it hit us but it came up the Sound side and was slow (took almost 24 hours to get over us). The flood surge came in at over five feet and left us with about two feet of water damage on our first floor. Pretty much every thing on the first floor was fucked, still,if the fire had gotten us we would have lost everything. In my experience, there is an elation period when you realize you, your family and animals just survived. But when you start dealing with the insurance companies (those photos that were taken for the fire came in handy), the mortgage bank (fuck you, Wells Fargo), FEMA and the destruction itself, that elation can go downhill pretty fast. So hopefully those communication lines with Twin stay open and if there are any experts in fire Insurance, mortgage banking, contractor/construction in Flap land, hopefully you can lend a voice.
great post full of good info. Question: how long did this fire burn? Months? Who was trying to put it out? SpongeBob Squarepants?
lulz!
The Forestry service led, and Firefighters from all over the Country fought it (besides our own volunteers from around the County). We had to come back early from New Orleans so I guess it started around the end of April or the beginning of May. It was in the Alligator Wildlife refuge (water in the front of me and 150,000 acre of wildlife refuge on the sides and behind me) and it got into the peat we have around here which is under the soil I guess. So it would just keep sparking up and smoldering. Instead of jumping Highway 264 it went under in some spots. The smoke was bad enough that they complained about it all the way up in VA. There were some mornings that we couldn’t see the street from our front door. Although it was contained it was never really declared completely out until the hurricane hit in August.
Sorry, I didn’t mean for my post to be about me. I guess my point is, in my experience, the relief you feel after surviving something like Twin went through, can start to dissipate quickly after the realities of the destruction and the difficulties in dealing with the red tape come into play. So I hope the Flap can keep those communication lines open.
The fire down south (near Zumiee, I believe) has been burning for over two months. Unfortunately, that is not that out of the norm for some fires in CA this time of year.
Yes, great post. I will certainly try to stay in touch with Twin. Who knows, once things shake out, as you say, it may be a different story, and he may want some help.
Uribe with a big HR for the Mets. He could get the last laugh vs. the Dodgers in the playoffs.
I’m looking for a real breakout game for De Aza. He’s got so much more upside than Aoki…
he sucks. Aoki is way better when healthy. ALthough maybe this was just a *gold* post and I’m too tired to appreciate it.
Despite that first AB, I’m hoping he’s one of those guys that just blossoms as a Giant…
we all have our favorites. I was a huge Garko fan for way too long. #thefarm
We all loved Garko…
Anyone think Crawford would be even better if he dropped 10-15 lbs.?
His wife put on quite a few pounds after they had their kids and hasn’t lost it. I wonder if his is sympathy weight?
15 might be too much, but I think he could certainly lose 5-10.
what position would Bum convert to if he fucked his arm up? Corner outfielder? Assuming he’d still have a strong arm, he’s lead the league in putouts and top 10 in HR’s?
This guy might’ve been the greatest hitting pitcher ever and he just disappeared…
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/owingmi01.shtml#batting_standard::none
Awesome report on Oracle, Chi. The main thing is they got out alive, though losing your home has to be devastating. He’s been thru a lot, like Chuck said he’s a tough SOB, he’ll get thru this. You’re right about being thankful and U just never know what’s around the corner. I read an article the other day in the Wash Post about a 16 year old girl in Bethesda, MD who was on swim team etc and vibrant as hell. One day, she had pretty rough knee pain, goes to doctor, diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Dead in a month. I’m thinking of my Snarkettes and how unimaginable that would be. Enjoy the day, we’re not promised the next…
I’d like to see Mac Williamson get a few ABs this weekend…
He was born to win the Willie Mac Award…
Bum pitches out of it.
DeAza, imo, is hands down better player than Aoki. More pop, better OF and runs just as well—if not better than at least smarter. Aoki can get on base, but doesn’t pass the eye test. That 0-6 vs. LA in 14 inning game ended it for me.
I’m starting to think that in reality, Giants position players will not look much different: Pence Pagan Blanco Byrd and chose one other from 10 man list.
Duffy Craw Panik belt Kelby OOO (yeah I think he makes team next year)
Susac Posey.
I wonder if they’re still sold on Susac…
That has to be an error on DeAza….
De Aza’s really making my case for him tonight…
De Aza is underwhelming.
Hexed him right there I guess.
Still, byrd has to make team, and if it’s for $8 mil I’d say 5th guy is a kid they don’t have to pay much for.
The whole thing with Byrd is will he want to come back. I can’t see why not, but you never know. He may have some suitors, esp. in the AL to DH. Dude is a liability in the OF. Pence would have had the ball that went past Pagan, IMO.
If the Giants let Byrd’s contract kick in, my guess is he would be our starting LFer next year, with Blanco coming in for D in the later innings, and Mac Williamson at the ready.
Meanwhile the Dodgers are flexing their depth with Seager.
Not to rain on Bum’s parade, but really, he can’t hit a breaking ball well enough to ever be a hitter.
Fastball sure, but otherwise no. It was neat to see him foul off Chapman’s best, but if he were to play regularly most ABs would look just like that one.
We need to kick some ass on their bullpen next inning. This is bullshit. Where in the hell did the bats go…
Another wasted opp and couple bad ABs for Belt tonite.
Posey looked bad last AB too, but Belt has to make them pay if they are going to walk him there.
As someone said the other night, LA could clinch at ATT. Doesn’t bother me all that much in what has become a blowout of a pennant race…
I said it, and I don’t wanna see it…
I’ve moved around a lot, especially the past dozen or so years living over here in Asia, so I get the chance to “pare down” often enough. Sometimes I am torn about keeping something or another, and I think, well, would I really miss this if my house burned down? Makes it easier to part with things. But obviously spoken by someone who has never had his house burn down. Thoughts are with you, Michael….
Interesting to see if they hit for Bum, who’s definitely not going out for the 9th…
Okay, another reason I love baseball. The whole Bum IBB to Goldschmidt, that was great entertainment in my book.
Agree….right down to Goldschmidt’s goofy assed grin at the end…
FUCK!
What a fuckin’ catch – Parker showing some pop lately…
Hell of a catch.
I think Parker will get a good look in ST…have seen him in Sacramento…he does have some pop.
Oh well, Aza la vista, baby…
If you read the Affeldt article yesterday, he is clearly retiring after the season…
I will have to go back and read it. He has been good for the Giants, but I think he is at the end…glad to see that he feels the same. Must be a hard decision…
He’s hurting, has young kids and other shit going on. He pretty much announced his retirement.
Oh sure, I comment earlier to WillieD how Byrd is a liability in the OF, and he pulls a gem outta his ass. Nice run and catch by the old man…
You’re still right. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with them bringing back Byrd . . . but only as a backup. We need pitching and more pitching and one more stud outfielder to go with Hunter IMO.
Yes, and I think the bullpen needs a minor tune-up, too.
Doubt Kontos will ever duplicate this season.
Petit was almost invisible this year.
Wonder what they do with these two?
Not sure, but even with Strickland and Osich back next year, the BP will need some retooling…
Now batting: No One
Wearing Jeff Kent’s number, no less…
That is a disgrace…him wearing that number…
Come on Noonan
Or, sit down, No One.
The season…
Slowly….
Slips away…..
FUCK!
Crap.
Not certain Flavor is around, but were you surprised at how low the DFS scores were this evening? I had 2 entries in the FD $200K Fri MLB Super Rally and it was easy money – last winning position was 30.5. It usually is in the 40s at least.
What you talkin’ ’bout Willis…you know I don’t speak jive. JK…I have no clue with that fantasy stuff. I should take a look at some point….
I hope you do. Wilcojoe is playing and making money last I heard.
How many more times will they waste Bumgarner just so he can try to get to 20?
Let’s look at some fuckin’ kids already…
I am getting there, Loo. This piece of shit game really pushed me in that direction. It could have easily gone the other way, though…but same old shit…cannot get the key knock when they need it. Fucking frustrating…
By the by, despite De Aza’s error, I’m down with Loo on keeping him as a bench player.
I like him and I’d absolutely take him over Aoki, but he’s gotta pick it up, too or he can take a hike also…
De Aza will have to show a lot of consistency in the off-season with the Giants before I want him back. He has potential, and I want to like him, too, but he has got to put it all together.
I like Aoki, in between goofy outfield plays. I think he’s the main reason Blanco improved this year, in fact I know it, because Blanco said it himself…
Agree. Blanco is so unbelievably lucky career wise. Reminds me of El Presidente, i.e., making a career out of thin air.
Fact is the Doghairs have been playing lights out the last 20 games or so, admittedly against mostly crap competition from the bottom of the NLWest. They’ve put the pedal to the metal during the stretch run. Giants have been hurt by fair to poor play against the division this season — somebody pointed that out earlier today or maybe over the last few days. LA much better in the division. I don’t have to tip my cap, but facts is facts. The 2001 Dbacks rode the Big Unit and Shill to a WS title. Greinke and Kershaw up for the task?…
Yep…if the Giants had one or two more wins against each of the doormats in the NL West, it would be a different story. And if my aunt had balls…
And IMO, I don’t know WTF Bochy is doing pitching Bum 117 throws and 8 innings. The season’s done. 20 wins would be great, but so would a rested arm going into next season. If he’s not ahead at around 100 pitches, take him out. He’s only got about 14 guys in the Pen now…
A week ago everyone was lauding the olden days when starters went 300+.
And you want to shut down Bummie? He’s not even at 200.
It’s like my liver, Chuck.
It’s only got so many drinks left in it. So, I don’t waste it on drinking Bud Light.
Bum’s strong, but his arm only has so many pitches left in it. No need to waste it on a lost cause…
I think Cal has a shot to win at Texas today. And, by a good margin. Goff, if he plays the whole game, has a shot at carving up the Texas secondary with a really good receiving corps. We shall see…
agreed.
AZ is now 7-1 at ATT, which just cannot happen. On road vs. everyone else 28-36, over all record would be 13 games under .500. Pirates have now lost 4 in a row, so even good teams not helping Giants any.
D/A had a nice series vs. Reds, 3 hits 2 doubles 2 walks last game plus one PH AB. but I think bozo is right, if Byrd’s option kicks in and he stays one of the kids and Blanco will be back ups.
Belt might still be messed up, apparently, something I wondered about right after he took that knee to the head.
Amazing season of injuries continues.
Thanks, Chi, for that Twin update. I am always intrigued how people handle adversity — or success. Some do, some don’t. Twin and Merna and Zeke sound like solid people who live by gratitude. Believe me, I’m not “smallifying” their tragic loss, but it sounds as if they are transcending it. God Higher Power Universe Benevolence bless ’em. And thanks, Magnus, for this place.
I’d like to see someone try and take the ball out of Bum’s hands, myself.
I’m sure he is ready willing and able to take his last turns on mound/hacks at the plate with zero regard for personal stats.
More power to him. Finish strong and take no prisoners.
And . . . it’s over. Shut out in a MadBum start, Another starter goes down. Bochy managed top of the 9th like a playoff game using 3 different relievers, but, really, such maneuvers from this point forward are pointless.
Yeah Snarkk, my Horns have little chance against Cal today. Not sure how your guys are on both sides of the line but ours are atrocious. The only chance the Horns have is if the Freshman Heard is able to run thru Cal’s defense and can find a way to match Goff’s scoring. I think Cal wins by at least 10.
Cal lost games last year when they scored 50, mostly due to inexperienced secondary. Like to see if they can continue to run the ball and stop someone too.
big test for Furd today. No reason for Shaw not to open it up a bit with a senior QB and talented skill guys, but his style is just so annoying. He’ll probably have to score 28 to beat SC and Kessler. Seems to do great job of recruiting and then doesn’t make best use of what he has.
i hate David Shaw.
De Aza’s being given every chance to prove himself. Next season we might be comparing his numbers to Cespedes’ (likely to get 7/200 from someone) the way we compared Duffy to Sandoval this year. Not expecting the same results but De Aza could very well be the starting LF in 2016…
that would make me sad.
This is enjoyable:
http://sports.yahoo.com/video/scherzer-refuses-lifted-152804158.html
When I checked out the teams playing in the Rugby World Cup, I knew for a fact, an absolute fact, that each one of those players could kick my ass. Hell, even the Gatorade guy probably could.
fresh. new. thread.
It would be cool if the Giants scored in this series.