Back in the Day
Today in 1988, Baltimore lost their 21st game in a row. Here is the SI cover that week. I miss the simplicity of those older covers. Nowadays it seems like it’s just shit superimposed on other shit. Fake.
We are going to have trouble in NY, I’m not looking forward to this trip.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Fuck the Mets. The boys are hammering shit. They’ll keep it up (bring the Viagra).
The Mets are kind of the 2010 Giants. Tough nut to crack.
Giants should consider putting Zumiee on the payroll as like “assistant to the traveling secretary” or something like that. Send him to every game, win every damn game.
I’d love that job! 🙂
If only they had given Cal Ripken Jr. a day off …
The NY trip will be interesting. The Giants typically do well against power pitchers but that NY staff is dominating. The Cain/deGrom match-up on Saturday is going to be….painful errr awesome.
Interesting digs in last night’s thread at our local Baseball Jesus Posey. To follow on James’ link, here’s an interest piece on his chances for the hall.
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb-news/4703352-buster-posey-still-isnt-a-probable-hall-of-famer
Game One, in which Peavy goes up against Matz, who has struggled so far, may be our best shot. I agree that #2 looks like a mismatch. Rubber game features a pair of aces, the Carolina Cattleman vs the Danish Dominator. That one could turn on one single play.
Blade, If you’re still in Sunnyvale tomorrow and have time, let’s try for lunch. I sent you a text.
I shouldn’t enter into a discussion about Posey, because I have been accused before (and rightfully so) of being a Posey apologist. And, admittedly, the guy can hardly do any wrong in my book. It’s like he’s my son. The love-child I had with Nina Gordon of the band Veruca Salt.
I don’t know, zum. Seems like he’s kinda inconsistent. Hey, nice job with Nina Gordon!
Back when Posey was playing for San Jose in Single A, I attended one of their games, and I told the people that I was with to watch this Buster Posey guy, he’s something special and he’s going to take the Giants to high places, and they were kinda looking at me like, ‘yeah, sure, whatever. These are Single A guys. Who can know?’ (None of them knew that Posey had won an award for college player of the year, and that he was a Giants’ first round draft pick.). Well, later in the game, Posey hit an HR over the centerfield fence, and they all thought I was the Amazing Kreskin. And then when the Giants won the World Series in 2010, they thought I was baseball Einstein. It still gives me a little chuckle thinking about that San Jose HR.
Gyros generally do Ok back at the Mets. Agree with Dirt, Giants are Ok against flamethrowers. It’s the slip throwers they have trouble with. I wouldn’t be surprised if they take 2 of 3, they seem to hit better on the road anyway…
Slop throwers…
Buenos noches flappers. I just saw this video and I thought it was quite interesting, perhaps you guys might asay well.
And it usually helps to post the link
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153575483887551&id=509717550
Not certain why Sarge, but the link indicates it is unavailable.
By the by, 11am tomorrow . . . Eric (Ewisco) and I are having lunch at the Firehouse Grill on 111 S. Murphy, downtown Sunnyvale. Come one, come all. Eric will probably be dressed like a businessman and I will be sporting the “poverty” SE Asian look, i.e., cargo pants, black Tshirt, Keens water sandals, white beard – yeah, I said fuck it and I’m letting it grow, a hat (which my Mom, Aunt Francis, and Chi says makes me look like a bum).
Perhaps because most catchers are somewhat one dimensional athletes (slow, plodding) I’ve never really had a favorite catcher, with one exception – Manny Sanguillen. Sanguillen was a fast baserunner for a catcher and was a good defensive player with a strong throwing arm. Yeah, Bench overshadowed him (and everyone else), but Sanguillén was considered one of the best catchers in Major League baseball in the early 1970s. He didn’t have Bench’s power hitting ability, but Sanguillen hit for a higher batting average. He was an integral member of the Pirates teams that won three consecutive National League Eastern Division pennants between 1970 and 1972, and a World Series victory in 1971.
I like Buster, but for my money – Panik is the man and I also like Duffy as well. I never thought about it before WilcoJoe mentioned it, but I also believe that Panik will have better stats at the end of his career versus Posey.
That being said, I do have a favorite “catcher manager” and his name is Bruce Bochy. Ironic, because when he first came on the scene in San Diego, I definitely wasn’t impressed with his sloooooooooow speech pattern.
Also, few people know this story . . . “Sanguillen was a close friend of his teammate Roberto Clemente. In 1972, Sanguillen, who had been playing winter baseball with the San Juan Senators, spoke to Clemente about accompanying him on a relief mission to Nicaragua. Sanguillen missed the plane because he had misplaced his car keys; he was devastated when he learned that the plane had crashed, killing Clemente. Against the advice of Pirates General Manager Joe Brown, Sanguillen insisted on helping to recover the bodies of those who died in the crash. The sight of many sharks swimming in the water did not stop Sanguillen. As Pirates teammate Steve Blass told The Sporting News, “Manny dove from dawn till midnight.” So focused on his task was he that he missed the January 4th memorial service attended by his Pirate teammates.”
I’ve read this and it’s pretty amazing if it’s true.
Kinda like Merle Haggard and Buddy Holly playing rochambeau to get the last seat on the plane. Merle lost.
Oops. It was Waylon Jennings.
Unfortunately, the only remnant found of Clemente was a single sock that had been in his suitcase, according to the biography by Maraniss.
Excellent book, btw.
Panik > Buster? I’m not a big Buster fan but let’s see Panik win an MVP first before we talk about that I don’t think we are ever going to be talking about that.
I was a Gary Carter fan. Im with you on Panik & Duffy .. probably my two favorite Giants.
Jose Fernandez isn’t too good anymore. The Dodgers are roughing him up.
That didnt take long for him to fall from grace. Ive heard that hes a bit of an arrogant prick … maybe a good struggle will straighten him out, he certainly does seem to have big talent
After the Tommy John, his control doesn’t seem all that great. The stuff is alright. Maybe he’ll get sharper as the season goes on.
Maeda is due for some bad breaks: some bloops and dinks.
Lets hope!
Orioles Davis, Trumbo & Machado on pace for 40+ hrs .. whew! I still covet a big hammer .. I know, I know, im being petty, small minded .. but I still want one .. waaaaaaahhhhhh, I want one mommy!
Fernandez has been Houdini tonight, getting out of dire trouble.
Maeda’s ERA is 0.59 at the moment. That’s pretty ridiculous.
Holy shit. Scully sounds like he’s 199 years old.
Damn.
The Stanton swing? He was right on that hanging pitch and just missed it.
yup.
There’s some luck involved in baseball, and Maeda’s had some good luck so far this season. That has to turn a little at some point.
Buster is by far the best catcher SF has ever had, and will be one of the all time greats barring major injuries. I’m not a big fan because he seems likely to turn into another Jim Bunning.
Did anyone catch my Twin Fan “Fat Ass” tribute?
He likes to call him pear-shaped, too. 🙂
I did! I get Jim Bunning and Jim Maloney mixed up.
Maloney’s a little more simpatico — hey, turns out he was a Golden Bear for a brief time!
I remember when we were all set at catcher with Dick Dietz. . .
Sorry for reminiscing, DJ . . .
Fucking Puig stands there. The ball would have been fair if it fell. He hit the damn thing a mile straight up. I guess Roberts is just happy he wasn’t in the dugout by the time it was caught.
Someone has to hit Merda
Wow. That was low.
Dee feeling good about that. Merda’s 101 was his highest pitch count.
Clutch hit from Gordon.
Maeda’s ERA now 1.13.
Yeah, baby! Balk!
Gordon again!
A 4-spot put up on Maeda; that’s very cool.
Nice 3-2 pitch to Seager.
Way to be, Chase!
Utley with the gaffe; couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Did Vin really say “Eight, oucho”?
5-2! Stanton is a beast.
Man, Stanton makes ballparks look tiny.
Alright zumiee, now you can say it.
The Fish sweep! I predicted it last night. 🙂
Yeah, you saw it coming!
🙂
A much nicer prediction than mine last week, same format too .. I prematurely said Arizona would sweep us, then realized, & it was pointed out to me, we had 4 agsinst them.
We’re tied for first-place, mother-truckers!
Holy just in the nick of time:
Marlins 2B Dee Gordon suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances, effective immediately.
Wow!
I wonder how long it will take the trolls to jump on insinuations that Bonds presence has something to do with Gordon’s ped use?
Looks like I missed all the excitement, Yay fish!
This is the link for the video I tried to post earlier
http://www.businessinsider.com/science-major-league-fastball-brain-reaction-time-2016-4
I’m late but why all the Buster hate? MVP and 3 time WS champ. This guy is potentially (I know a long way to go) a hall of famer. Man what a tough crowd..
I certainly dont feel that Im hating on Buster. He is, without doubt, the best catcher in the league, currently. I do want to see more offensive production from him.
He is paid as a top tier player and I think it is fair to ask him to earn a large portion of that $ by way of more clutch hitting & overall timely offensive production. He’s not going to be a big power guy & thats ok by me.
Simply, I want to see him develop into a smarter hitter than he is, a tougher out than he is, especially when we have guys on base.
We have the Reverend as our spiritual leader and id like to see Buster as our inspirational leader .. a supremely naturally gifted baseball player that develops that rare ability to lead by example, can put the entire team on his back, when needed, and run rampant.
Look at the top tier guys, whether they are pitchers or hitters, they are the players the team can lean on most times when the need arises. There are a few exceptions .. eg. Kershaws puzzling Oct issues.
Anyway, I dont feel lm being unreasonable and overly critical of Buster. Yet, I do want a little more out of him, and I think that, as the most naturally gifted Giant, he is capable of giving a little more than we are getting and capable of producing with more consistency than we are seeing.a
Steve, I’m wearing levi’s, tennis shoes and a light blue button-down shirt. hardly businessy. it would be cool if anyone (BF?) could join us.