Peavy
And now we turn our trembling eyes to The Illinois Area Code. One of the 40 percenters. I don’t see how this ends up anything other than awful tonight. Best chance for Peavy? They open the roof and an unexpected tornado hits. Game gets canceled. Here’s a link to the roof status if you’re into keeping tabs on that sort of thing:
http://stadiumroofstatus.com/stadiuminfo.php?stadium=5
I am in Sacramento all weekend for a volleyball tourney so I will check in with you guys when I can.
Advice for the game? Look away, this one could be hideous…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I think bats are waking up. Don’t forget Giants get 27 outs worth of ABs too and everyone likes hitting in AZ.
Giants half way to a payback on the Snakes.
Plus, Bochy let Smardz go 8 last night, Cueto went 7 night before and damn the pitch count which gets resounding vote from me. These guys were rolling, zero reason to take them out
So that means pen is fully rested and ready to take over whenever Peavy melts down, whether that’s early or by 5th/6th. Hey Bum gave up 4 to the Rox early and SF came back and won that one. I could see that happening again this weekend.
I think having the Big 3 consistently go deep in games and throw as well as they have bodes well for keeping the pen as fresh as possible, which of course was Sabe/Evans plan all along. Kontos should return by SD series and even if Bochy keeps the 13 arms reg LU is solid and playing well enough. And they get day off Monday before that series of 3 night games.
Giants have 6 games with Padres sandwiched around home series with Cubs. Then come 3 at Katmandu followed by 4 at the awful Braves before road trip ends at STL. That leaves lot of opportunity to fatten up on chump teams, which is what good teams do.
Saw that the Pads acquired Hector Sanchez off waivers and moved him up to ml roster over the weekend.
Hector’s got 2 rings from his 4 yrs of off/on time spent with Giants, right?
Only other guy on that team with even 1 would be Jon Jay from the Cards 2011 WS win over Rangers I think.
Always cool to see those pics on the right side of the Blog with the Rings; Hector might not ever have much of a career in baseball but he’ll always have those.
Btw thx again to Flav for not allowing ads here. Dang that’s such annoying feature of most sites. On F/G they place theirs right in the middle of content in a column you try to read. As you scroll down ad stays right there until you eliminate it Delete one, and like ghetto cockroaches immediately another one pops up.
ditto on the ads
In scrolling down to read stuff on other sites, it seems I’m constantly clicking onto an ad that’s at far right of the screen. Delete, continue to read, aarrggh! Get off my screen!
Jazz station I listen to is non-commercial (tho they do ask for $$ a few times a year to keep going), just a blessed relief…as is here, to enjoy content without money grabbing intrusions
Yesterday’s game, great win, so tidy, so complete. Earl Weaver baseball, baby: pitching, defense, and the 3-run homer…. that’ll win you a bunch of games.
Oh, and, Panik’s HR, one of the best at-bats I’ve seen this year. 3-0, green light from Yoda, anticipated fastball middle in, and executed.
The 40 percenters performance has distorted perceptions of other aspects of the team. The bullpen has been surprisingly good in a transitional year, yet it feels more shaky and untrustworthy than it should. I won’t go into the offense. Just imagine if Peavy and Cain’s ERAs were an acceptably bad 4.50 and as a result their combined records showed 4-6 or even 3-7. Other failings are accentuated in the midst of catastrophe, and despite recent upticks, there is no other way to describe the cumulative performance of the dud duo until now.
If he isn’t replaced, I’m still holding out hope that Peavy’s fastball picks up a couple of MPH later in the season, as has been his pattern for a few years now. There’s no logical reason for Cain not to be at least an average MLB pitcher at 90-91.
Excellent points James.
The floundering & failing of the backend has mitigated problems in other departments. We may even be able to point to Pain & Skeevy’s poor performances as the cause for the two viral hitting slumps. Massive pressure on the hitters to produce because they are always playing catch-up does not help guys relax at the plate. Fortunate we are that our other three SPs haven’t succumbed to the pressure yet. They must be feeling it from both ends: the lousy efforts of the 4 & 5 starters, and the hitting slumps squeezing them to be perfect. Luckily, other than a few hiccups which probably cost us a couple of games, the defense behind our most productive pitchers has risen to the occasion.
I should have said “lousy results” rather than “lousy efforts” … I think both are giving it their all and don’t like being in the position that they find themselves. Who would? I still contend that, although Mr Jake Peeve is a tenacious competitor, he doesn’t work much on baseball in the offseason and thus his perennial slow starts the past few seasons. I agree with James that he could pick up his performance later in the season .. can we, will we, wait that long?
I completely missed out on this controversial non-controversy:
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/the-final-word-on-kevin-brown/?_r=0
The Hall of Fame has been a joke for some time. There are guys just as deserving as Brown may be that aren’t in as well as many less deserving that are in. It’s just a media popularity contest with some other BS thrown in…
“Payback is a dish best served cold”
Just have a feeling the Giants were embarrassed as hell to be swept by the D-Snakes at home and is gonna return the favor for the 4 game sweep.Bats are heating up and the snakes are not.
Throw in excellent Defense all year long really and I’m optimistic of a good run coming up!!
thanks for the ad-comments. I have always said no to advertisers wanting to monetize the site. This has been and will always just be about Giants ball.
Infinite Thanks for that Flav!!!
The bargain deal the Mets got on Cespedes aggravates me. The infield looks set for quite awhile but the outfield will need a complete overhaul position by position in the next 3 years. Where are they gonna get these guys?
From the talk here it seems a homegrown crop won’t be happening anytime soon. I don’t know what the FA market looks like in the next few years but we are one of the wealthier teams. I suppose we may have a little bit of trade bait in Susac or .. Arroyo .. others?
Loo…Maybe from the Giants farm system, their always stocked with talented outfielders.
Do the Alou brothers have any great grandchildren?
Kat, I think that is what Loo is saying — and an often mention issue here — we don’t have much in the way of quality down on the farm. Currently, there is Parker & Williamson in Sac and unless they vastly improve, they won’t be the heir apparents to any starting OF positions. However, there is the youngster AA infielder, Christian Arroyo, that looks extremely interesting and the catcher Susac who was showing lots of potential before he was injured. The latter’s name has come up a lot in possible trade scenarios. The former may be just too good to let go even though we probably won’t have a real need for him in the near future.
Oh dear .. Did I just miss Kat’s sarcasm? ..
Colby Rasmus has on some seriously dooosh-baggy eyeblack.
Ortiz with the walk-off hit. Dude can still hit. Hall of Famer, I guess, though steroid rumors have hovered around him over the years.
Well tonight’s AZ uniforms aren’t so bad, although they still have that disturbing logo on the left sleeve.
Kelby is really looking like a keeper – or a trade piece with some value…
Do 3b coaches even give signs anymore to hitters?
The kid that was just up stepped out twice. Were they gonna give him the take sign or bunt vs. Peavy and his 8+ ERA?
No, hit away…like Owings and everyone else will.
Watching Peavy is just agony…
Like they used to say about voting in Chicago elections, giants better score early and often.
Shocked Peavy may get out of this.
DJLoo, the guy in mentioned this week that I would love to make a run at is Ozuna. He is 2-3 tonight against the Nats with 2 rbis and hitting .311 for the year with 6 Homers and 17 rbis….would be a nice #6 or #7 hitter in the lineup…
Hope he don’t figure it out til next week, but I’ve never seen Goldschmidt hit like this.
He’s in .220s and can’t hurt Peavy.
Give Peavy props. He’s pitching well . . . and at Snakeland. See if he can go beyond the Toronto “Peavy Quality Start” of 5 innings, 3 runs.
Fielding well too– that was nice grab of the pop up bunt.
Up to then Panik only had 3 GIDPs all year in 125 ABs. Now he’s got 5, 1 back of Posey, 2 lesss than Duffy.
Of course DB’s fans are saying “How the fuck are we losing to this washed up piece of shit?!?” 🙂
Dbacks have fans?
Based on this, you may have a point:
http://www.azsnakepit.com/2016/5/14/11675834/arizona-diamondbacks-game-preview-san-francisco-giants
It’s a GIDP epidemic!
What is up with all the uniform changes for the Snakes? Have those ladies got a different outfit for everyday of the week?
Just checking in on my ph. Peavy 6 strong? I know nothing.
It was looking like business as usual early on but it’s definitely his best outing so far .. But that’s not saying much .. 6inn, 5SO 2BB … Amazingly, zero HRs
Oh … And 3 … I repeat, THREE hits .. Wow!
Jeezuss .. The ball Weeks hit was like it was on a tee .. Game is being telecast on local network in the Central Valley .. a rare opportunity for me to actually see a game on Tv.
Span is 4 for 4. Only once has Panik been able to advance him.
For a guy who is supposed to be able to handle the bat and use all fields, that sucks.
Dunno what it is about him, but advancing runners not his strength.
and yes I do realize he has 2 bombs this series.
I just want him to move Span into scoring territory.
Who has been consistently good at doing that Wiledav? I cannot think of anyone .. Maybe Pagan .. Blanco?
That’s the when we get the conga line going, right? Far too little of that on a consistent basis this year.
I didn’t like that move having Peavy bunt in the top of the inning. Just use the PH. With a two run lead, and playing for one run in this ballpark, just isn’t the right move. I’m not second-guessing. I said it while it was happening, while I was driving.
And then Peavy botched the bunt anyway.
Yep Zum, I was wondering the same thing …I thought Boch was giving him a shot at the 7th.
He wanted to save a pinch-hitter, but I still think it was the wrong move. This ballpark is to live to play for one run in the 7th in that situation.
6 outs to go with a one run lead seems like an eternity.
“This ballpark is too live” I meant to say.
Yeah, I understood that.
The Cardinals are in the process of blowing their game with LA. The Cards this year are pretty mediocre. I don’t think they’re a playoff team this year.
Strickland, go away.
Fuckin Strychnine!
Man, the 40 percenters really needed that win.
A 2 years ago when Strickland was giving up bombs like batting practice, I said he should not make the team and most thought he would be the closer in 2 years. I stand by what I said. He is a one pitch wonder.
I don’t think there are many left on the Strickland-wagon.
Yeah, he gave it up there, but I actually think Strickland is getting better and I am starting to have a little bit of faith in him.
Loo, I will never be able to look at that logo the same way again.
Someone is still on the wagon! 🙂
Plenty of good seats available!
I was never in the group that said he would be the closer someday. I actually thought he would never pitch in the majors again after that postseason debacle, so I am pleasantly surprised he is even still around.
Good point.
Hey, I am on that wagon with SanDog. I have always been a Strickland guy, and I do still think he can be a solid closer.
What is up, FU? What an effing game. Just noticed about Gillaspie during his AB, that he goes total commando (no batting gloves). And the base hit. Let’s score one, and shut them down for the W!
Fucking Giants fans making some noise in AZ. Love it!
BOO YAH!
Fortunately, that pitch to Duffy was so far off the plate, he couldn’t hit into a DP. Bustah!!
WTG Buster.
FINALLY!! Buster Busts Out!!!
One of his best swings in a while. Used the middle of the field.
He got that hit cause I wasn’t watching
lqtm
There ya go Buster!
Talk about overdue and doing it. That warmer weather seems to be the annual ticket for the Georgia boy.
I have said for some time that I thought AZ might just be what the doctor ordered for our hitting/scoring woes. Close it!
Great play! Posey doing on both ends!
I’m confident the Lord has explained to Casilla that the stats on pitching 4 days in a row are not an affront to his masculinity.
I think Casilla is an athiest.
http://tinyurl.com/z3flwes
The evidence overwhelms the joke!
Ballgame! Fuck Yeah!
Hell of a game.
Strickland gets the win! 🙂
Fuck No!
Hey, I am pulling for Strickland, big time. I think he has some good stuff. If he can learn another pitch or two at which he can be proficient, he will be damned near unhitable.
Yeah Baby!
wow that’s f ing hot the kid Ks Lamb and it’s ova. This guy BA avg is .260. What is he hitting vs. every other team in the league besides Giants?
clutch 9th with Gillaspie Panik and Posey kills one for the GWRBI.
Out like a Lamb again to end it, extra sweet after that guy torched the Giants in SF.
Lead the Lamb to Slaughter!
Enos?
Ballgame!
Not been much in on Strick myself tho he did pretty well last year. His breaking ball is getting better. But he leaves his fastball up too much when he pitches away, imo. I haven’t seen him go hard in much either, so maybe he doesn’t have enough confidence to pitch that way yet. But that would seem to me to be unhittable if elevated.
I still don’t think it’s his arm that’s the issue, it’s north of there. Notice Posey came out to the mound and had something to say to him after that first single. Hope he’s listening.
I absolutely think it is all between the ears for Strickland. He has the goods physically. I agree…he has a problem with leaving the ball up, and more times than not, it bites him in the ass. Like I said earlier, if he can develop a second, and even a third pitch that he can throw effectively, he will be very tough.
Cain Big Matt match Jake? Inquiring minds wanna know. If he can pull it off tomorrow we’d have our vengeance for that massacre by the Bay last month. Could be both Peavy and Buster are slow starters in cool weather. If so, we could be looking pretty good in July and August.
true….and if Peavy and Cain end up with good seasons, tip of the cap to them and the Skipper
I would love to see Peavy (well, and Cain too) have great seasons. I have a lot of respect for Peavy, and I just like who he is. Would love to see him have a good year and retire with dignity. Ideally, helping us win Four in Seven.
Well, if you want to call .282 and .290 slow starts, then yeah, Buster does always start slow (those are his historical splits for April and March, lifetime. Splits for remaining months are all, lifetime, over .300.
Clutch stats he is lifetime .279 with 2 out, RISP. “Late and Close” he is .293. Tie game – .318.
Four game sweep would be justice for the sweep we experienced at home against these ass hats, mid-April.
I’m fine with Casilla. New paragraph. These wins are sweet. I thought Panik might uncork another bomb but Posey came through with the big hit. (Am I the only one who prefers Pence as cleanup?) Another new ‘graph. I just watched the replay of the Phillies’ win (keep an eye on that team). Man, it is hard to watch. Cespedes-type rocket throw from Phils LF Goeddel (not Eddie) nails guy at the plate, but in true Pete Rose fashion the Reds runner nearly KILLS catcher Cameron Rupp. And they had the balls to review it, as if the catcher was wrong. Scary movie.
I am not hung-up on where Pence hits in the LU. That actually is true with the entire team. I am good with the “Bochy Shuffle,” especially if they come out of AZ and get in another one of “those grooves” they were in earlier this year. They have the horse to do it, and I think they will.
In regards to some of the new rules regarding plays at bases, and the plate, not sure they are making the game any better, or safer.
Replay has altered the game. Most troubling to me is that an infielder can touch with his glove a runner who was off the base for a tenth of a micro-nanosecond and get an out call. Not common sense, not human in the sense of how the game is played, even if the “evidence” is indisputable.
As much as the Cubs are understandably America’s lovable underdogs, it’s going to be sweet to see us unplug and declaw their buzzsaw into cotton candy in the playoffs. #evenyearsmatter
Best post in a long while! POTD, IMO!
Four in Seven! Humm Baby – Let’s Do It Again!
Loo one “Jay Alou” is agent for Yasmany Thomas from Cuba. I think one of the daughters was one too.
Dunno if any of the siblings kids/grand kids (and Felipe had a couple big families I do believe) play ball in minors.
I still think the story of entire former Giants OF worth of Alous would make a great read.
I agree.
I third the motion.
I’ve been meaning to ask … anyone listen to the KNBR show on Sunday with Bill Laskey & Vida Blue? I catch it once in awhile. Sure seems like lately Vida’s current Giant knowledge is pretty thin … last week It sounded like he had really no idea who the players were that the callers or Laskey were referencing.
Vida is the worst. He knows nothing. He’s just a guy people have heard of and that’s why he has the job. But he brings zero to the table.
I’m glad you said it and not me … but having not heard much of him I always wondered if what I was perceiving was accurate .. last week was ridiculous how little he knew about the roster, the current situation with the team, or even the game he supposedly just listened to. And it seemed like Laskey kept acquiescing to him. The whole thing was an embarrassment.
I listened to the entire pre-game with them today while putting in a french drain. Blue was horrible, and almost always is….he sucks. 99% of the time he had no clue as to the topic, and would defer constantly to Laskey. Makes Lurie (who followed them) a true breath of fresh air in comparison…
Baseball is a funny game.
Dbacks sweep Gyros in SF, now SF about ready to sweep Dbacks in their crib…
It’s baseball…greatest game in the universe.
Was Peavy actually pretty good, or Dbacks just sucking right now with the bats? I can’t remember a series where Goldy was so lifeless at the plate for the Snakes…
Called it on my 11:12 post that the Giants were sweeping the D-Backs and I’m sticking to it Book it!
If this team is pulling out of the slump – our chant shall be:
Padres , Cubs
Padres , Rockies
repeat 3x
we score – we win
Peavy was good snarkk. I saw the Snakes broadcast, so I don’t know what K & K were saying . . . However, if I recall correctly, all of Peavy’s 5 SOs (maybe only 4) came with runners in scoring position. In my opinion, he could have gone 7 innings. Similarly, Buster was a stud as well. No righties have been able to touch Hudson in something like 25-30 at bats . . . Buster was the first. Good team victory and the negative connotation 40% nickname may become a misnomer, as Peavy and Cain pitched better than their #4 and #5 slots.
By the by, the West Division is the best and most competitive division in MLB. Only 4 games separate last (Padres) from 1st place. No division even close.
Competitive sure, but far cry from best.
Impressive first inning for Pain.
Ditto inning #2 … Hello, 4 SOs, no BB, no HRs?
Downtown Brown!
I’m thinking Brown has to be the DH when we play the AL teams.
Yep. I agree.
The only quirk to that idea is that, if Posey got injured early in the game, Brown would have to take over catching, and, by rule, the Giants lose the DH for the rest of the game. They would have a pitcher’s spot hitting 3rd or 4th for the rest of the game.
That rule is there so teams can’t do too much messing around with the DH during the game.
Brown tied with Posey in HRs…
hmmm … interesting.
It’s really sort of phenomenal how the Giants bats go perennially quiet when Pain pitches … and in particular, they never can hit this guy no matter who is pitching!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=cainma01&year=&t=p#rs
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz …..
lol
Here are Cain’s lifetime numbers re: run support, but the skinny of it is he has pitched in 86 games where there were 0-2 runs scored, and his record for those games is 12-74. He has pitched in 66 games in which there were 3-5 runs of support for him, and in those games he is 41-25. In games with 6+ runs of support he is 44-5. But EIGHTY SIX games in which he got 0-2 runs of support??!! Hence the term “Getting Cained.”
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=cainma01&year=Career&t=p
Yep … Good to know the facts & figures support my real time observations.
Here are the numbers for Bumgarner:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=bumgama01&year=Career&t=p
There’s really not much difference. Cain also pitched for some really crappy Giants teams early on.
True. Those first couple of years when Cain was one of the top pitchers in the game, the Giants sucked, especially at putting runs on the board.
Cain is looking great…at getting Cained, again.
That’s my BOY!
🙂
He rewarded your faith in him.
Power dribbler for Pence!
Damn…looked like Pence could have made 3rd, but WTF, no out, no sense in risking it…
Last time we faced DeLaRosa was in our April 18th, extra inning loss courtesy of Heston. Rubby was a reliever with an 8.44 era at that point. In his 10th inning appearance he struck out Williamson, Pagan, walked Span, and stuck out Panik.
That was then…this is now…fuck the dbags…
Fuck yeah, Crawdad!