One is All You Need
Jack Black told us that when discussing cock push ups. Also, a great man once told me “We score we win” and his wisdom came to pass once again last night. I think Snarkk brought up a good point last night about the weather. It’s been unseasonably cool this year and cold weather absolutely contributes to less offense. Of course, it’s not like we’re living in Yakutsk so a little more offense would be expected. But we are scoring more than the other team and that’s ALL that matters.
Smarge for the win today and then……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Fricking hilarious! One is all we need. Last night that is all the Dreadlocked Dominican needed. We Score. We Win!
one of my fav Kruk stories is from his Philly days. The O was struggling there was a team meeting called by mgr., he and pitching staff are sitting back waiting for hitters to bear brunt of it.
Instead, mgr. calls out SPs and says. “Hey they’re scuffling right now it’s up to you guys to pick them up til they get going again.”
Bruce Jenkins has long held that every playoff game is different.
Warriors better hope so and get ball moving and keep Thunder off the FT line. Reserves, esp bigs have to give them something, like in game 2. Thompson and Curry usually rebound from poor shooting night.
Nice to see SanDawg’s Raptors make things interesting; the have great backcourt (deRozan was a one and one USC guy iirc) and gave Warriors all they could handle. If for some reason Warriors cannot get past OKC, I absolutely do not want to see LeCoach and unwatchable Cavs in finals.
As for pointing fingers, um, if I were to try and point at all the dumb things Kings have done lately (coaches drafts trades owner FO), I’d run out of hands.
Fucking Cueto, man. Love this guy. Love that backspin he does with his body after releasing the ball, which actually does seem to move the ball…. tremendous.
Maybe someone will send Jake the Pick of Destiny so he can take his banjo on the road and save us the misery of more “quality” starts.
Good luck with that.
But he felt good for a whole inning that last game.
Yeah, the Dubs have gone cold in these playoffs for long stretches, but no drought was worse than the 2nd quarter.
When it goes bad, they can’t hit anything. Layups, 3s, mid-range jumpers, anything. Draymond, Steph, and Klay all went like 3-20 or some shit. Not tripping too hard, but Draymond has to channel his energy away from fucking with Adams and play HIS game. When they stand around, stop passing, and try to shoot their way out of the slump, it all goes south. Kerr can scream at them to move the ball, but a lot of times they end up in a pass-shoot deal.
It is rare to see the Warriors get run off the floor, and that can’t happen tonight. But the reason why they did is exactly why the Warriors run so many other teams off the floor. Missed shots turn into fast break points. When you are missing everything, it is hard to get back on D constantly.
Major kudos to Belt for literally sprinting around the bases last night and scoring easily from first on Pence’s dunker. He didn’t assume the ball would be caught. That’s how you run the bases.
And is Johnny Cueto a stud or what? He just goes out and takes care of business.
Agree. That is the shit you teach in Little League when there are two outs and the ball is put into play.
Love the Dreadlock Dandy.
Crawfish building a strong case for his second Gold Glove in a row. Mr. Pick-it.
Yeah, I was glad to see Belt going hard most of the way to score easy on that. He’s often knocked for his boneheaded base running, so that was nice. SD was in their doubles defense so Kemp had a lot of ground to cover, and didn’t.
And they’d better DL Pagan right away. No more of this day-to-day shit.
i can’s say i’m stressing about the hitting. in fact, love where we’re at. as i’ve said before, just stay around .500 until the break and don’t let anyone run away and hide. they’re more than accomplishing that. and then after the break, get hot, get in, get deep, a philosophy that has served me well.
Agree. I’ll take timely hits that win the game any day. Also, as a few people have noted here, OUR STATS ARE JUST FINE, e.g., stolen bases, runs, and triples. More important, we’ll probably get better in all categories.
Hey, I was going off a bit last night when they could not get a run across with RISP. I can DOOM with the best of them here, but more often than not, I am a Polly. I have said the same thing of late, Eric, that I am not tripping on (insert player’s name here) for scuffling a bit. 11 out of the last 12 are wins, and if they keep that shit up, I could give a flying fuck what Buster, Panik, Pence, or anyone else on the 25 is doing at the fucking plate. To quote the late Al Davis…Just Win Baby! LIFE IS GOOD!
I’ll also be the first to say that Span’s hitting will eventually disappear. he’s doing the same thing that the gamer did, which is moving his head vertically as the pitcher comes to the plate. you can get away with that when you’re young and your hands are incredibly fast, but eventually it catches up with you. it’s hard enough to hit a ball that’s moving in three (four if you include velocity?) dimensions without you adding to one of them.
Span’s hitting? … someone on this team is hitting? Whodathunkit?
Love the “vertical head movement” thing tho!
Hitting? You need HITTING to win baseball games? Whodathunkit, given the Giants record of late, and their struggles with RISP. Just fucking with ya, Lisle…I love what you bring to the table, brother. If I keep hounding you, just tell me to go fuck myself. 😉
Blade and Flav, the Giants have nothing on me when it comes to a lack of hitting. My DFS lineups are in a slumber of epic proportions.
Only been playing a week WJ and so far, so good (albeit, no big winners yet). Still processing the new rules at FD, as well as getting to know the MLB players again.
Yeah I was forced to move all my action to DraftKings once FD left Texas on May 1st. Other than being able to make lineup changes, I can’t say I am a big fan. I am convinced the overall level of competition at DK’s is far superior to FanDuel.
I try to limit myself to only one multi-entry tourney in each format (DK and FD) and that is only the $3 to $5 tourneys. The other 2-3 tourneys/cash games I am playing are either H2H, 50/50 or single entry.
I only do this for shit and giggles. The equity and commodity markets take up all my time in the morning and that’s where I am serious about making money.
Oh, one other thing – Flavor told me that he hasn’t listened or read any DFS experts in the last 2 years, albeit, he told me last season, he liked Head Chopper. lulz. Anywho, I think he’s doing his 20-30 LUs a day and doing well, so that’s all that matters. Good luck WJ going forward.
I do like Headchopper but not for daily analysis, at least not this year and as far back into last season as I can remember. He has very interesting takes on general industry news and he’s funny as hell on twitter
That’s probably a good strategy Blade. Regarding the DFS experts, I totally agree. Most of that is misdirection bullshit. Those guys are like the Jim Cramer’s of fantasy baseball. If they say avoid a pitcher “in all formats” that’s usually my signal to buy.
If they decide to bite the bullet on Pagan’s recurrence, here’s the latest on Parker: He’s scored 22 runs on 38 hits for a .281 BA. His XBH’s are incredibly skewed ~ all or nothing, it appears ~ 4 doubles, a triple and THIRTEEN dingers. He’s driven in 29 runs, indicating quite a few of his HR’s have been solos. OBP is at a nice .366, with 16 walks vs 42 SO’s. Slugging percentage is eyebrow raising at .615, making for an OPS of .981.
Recalling his power outbursts late last season the kid should get the full 15 days to determine whether he might be ready to Wally Pipp Pagan or if he face-plants in front of ML pitching. Start him in LF and probably bat him 7th.
Shane Victorino was recently released. Sabevans is probably suiting up for a dumpster dive as I type this.
I like the Flying Hawaiian.
I’m still bitter about 2010.
Our luck has returned. Remember last month, all those ‘one-bad-pitch losses’ & ‘unlucky bounces’? Now we are flush with good fortune. It won’t last, of course. Yet, all we need is to keep this going for another 10, 12 games or so and we will be close to matching early 2014 W/L territory.
A June Swoon is likely; a July Pie in the Sky is inevitable; a hateful August Blog Us (to death) is unavoidable … but a September to Remember will dispel any notion of a Sober October.
There … I tried to say something positive ….
Owwww! It hurts!!
Ichiro was mentioned on the Flap the other day…..the Marlins gave out a cool bobblehead recently: Ichiro with a number counter on the base of the bobblehead that can be used to keep track of his quest to 3,000 hits. A cool, fun idea.
http://www.stadiumgiveawayexchange.com/may-22-2016-miami-marlins-ichiro-suzuki-hit-counter-bobblehead/
I want one!
It’s a curious fact that Cain has a better era than Price … not by much but still better!
Imo, thing about Parker is he is not going to learn anything more in AAA where he can hit a zillion bombs.
It’s May and he’s already got a ton of HRs—what’s the point?
Bring him up, get him some game experience 3-4 times a week, and let him try and figure out ml pitching.
He has more pop than probably anyone beside Pence; he has to learn how to make more contact and lay off the bad pitches/off speed stuff in the dirt.
Yeah, all those pitches that determine if someone is going to stick in the majors, or be a Bowker. The backfoot slider, the low change-up, the curveball in the dirt, the cutter in on the hands. It’s tough hitting a baseball. But it would be a great opportunity for Parker. Like, here’s your chance, dude. You’ve waited your whole life for this opportunity.
Williamson’s chance passed, IMO. I think he’s someone you try to package in a trade.
Fuck that, just put him on e-bay…
Pagan must have an MRI machine in his den by now…
An article with more info about Vogey:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/179955528/ryan-vogelsong-on-dl-with-facial-factures
I’d bring up Ensign Parker due to Pence’s shaky hammy for depth. But I would go with Specs in LF right now. Dudes hitting .455 for the month so Boch should keep him while the bats hot..
Specs looked pretty shaky on the first play I saw him make on Sat. Ball got hit, clearly not hard and he ended up having to race in to catch it when it should have been a super routine fly ball.
If this is something already covered, then my apologies. Pagan has been DL’d and Parker is getting called up from the River Kitties.
Regarding VogelStrong – the last I heard (this from Jeremy Affeldt and Lopez, both who have been in touch with Nicole) is that he has a fractured orbital bone and also a broken nose, but Nicole said he will be fine, with time. She also said the Pirates were supposed to put out word today. Get well soon, Vogey! The man was 7-0 in post-season starts for our Giants in 2012 and 2014. For that alone, I will always be grateful, and he will always hold a spot near and dear. Pass me a chicken enchilada, please.
The thing that we all predicted with the most certainty was that Pagan would break down physically, and many of us predicted it would happen within a couple of months, and it has. This guy did many wonderful things for the Giants, but he’s not that guy anymore. He and Peavy are probably not major leaguers next season, so I don’t know how much they have to contribute to this season.
Today’s thread is very fitting- the Giants do play Tenacious D. 🙂
no idea what to expect from beloved Dubs tonight. I never in a million years thought the last game could unfold like that. Really want to see them bounce back, not down with the 73 if it’s just all gonna fall apart like this (with the world watching)
I don’t follow NBA but am aware of the Warriors successes these past couple of years and curious what is going on with them.
What is the problem with the team at present … injuries to key players? They seem to be playing in a kinda schizophrenic manner … does OKC have some sort of kryptonite they are using on them?
Yeah, the 73 game winning streak is “meh” without the hardware.
The Dodgers face a AA guy getting called up for his first major league start tonight. Now this is the type of thing that would cause the Giants hitters some issues, but I don’t know that it affects all other teams that way. The Dodgers’ offense does not conga-line well, but they do have some HR pop. The typical Dodger rally is: somebody gets a walk, then somebody hits an HR, and then they go scoreless a whole bunch of other innings. It’s not an offense built for the playoffs, but it can have its moments during the regular season.
Their pitching is Kershaw and Jansen and a bunch of question marks. Once again, not built well for the playoffs. There are mid-season trade possibilities, but I don’t know who’s going to be available. Sonny Gray is suddenly not a thrilling trade prospect to teams.
OKC looks to be the Dubs kryptonite. That was an ugly series of possessions.
… Didn’t see your post WJ when I posted above … Yeah, kryptonite was what came to my mind … but I don’t know anything about roundball.
Peavy has a couple more starts this month. The second, on the 31st vs not so hot Lanta, may be the most important one so far as the front office goes. Tomorrow vs Shields and the tremendous Pads offense all he has to do is go 5 or 6 without giving up more than 3 runs. Quality start, they like to call it. Shields, like Pomeranz last night is a good pitcher who is hurtin for run support and may well get his 3rd win vs five defeats. The Atlanta game, vs an extremely rebuilding team is one where they likely expect him to turn the corner a bit. If he doesn’t they might bite the bullet.
I went with Verlander with 3 of 5 LUs tonight in DFS. Dude has been money. Conversely, the guy you would think would be money, especially in cash games, Mr. Sale – has completely face planted (6 runs in less than 4 innings).
Verlander addendum: I am still amazed at the WS we won against his team. Frankly, I thought Verlander was through a couple of years ago, but last year and this year, he has pitched well, although his ERA was not reflecting how well he actually was pitching. In any event, he lowered it substantially this evening. The dude ended the eighth with a strikeout of Odubel Herrera, where he reached back to hit 97 mph to fan Herrera. Unfrickingbelievable.
Sweeping Detroit in ’12 made no sense on paper, but the Giants pitching was hot at the right time of the season. Two 2-0 victories in that series.
Dubs are looking like shut rushing passes and playing no defense. Too many turnovers already.
The Warriors aren’t bein patient
Another pitcher over promoted by the New York media, but is a big zero – Matt Harvey. He of the 6.08 ERA and big mouth agent, Scott Boras.
You do know he’s had Tommy John surgery?
This evening?
Seriously Mac, you are citing TJ surgery from October 2013? That’s hilarious if so.
How so?
How many bad performances does he get before the TJ excuse isn’t used anymore? Tonight was his 3rd straight ineffective start, allowing five runs and eight hits over five shitty innings. Harvey has given up 16 earned runs and 31 hits over his last three outings.
So, what does TJ surgery have to do with that? Especially after he pitched well in game 5 of the World Series last season?
Also, 3 of those 8 hits were bombs . . . tied a career high.
Uh-oh: “Harvey left the scene before reporters could get his take on the situation.”
I’m just suggesting he may never be the really fuckin’ good pitcher he was pre TJ,, when he was electric on the mound and provided the only real excitement at Citi Field. And he wasn’t a creation of the NY media, he was that ridiculously filthy. He’s been good to very good since until this season, so I’m not sure what’s going on.
OK, that I get . . . You would know better than I (living there). His mouthpiece, Boras, though – I definitely can’t stand. I think he does Harvey a disservice, e.g., when Boras strongly stated that Harvey’s physician wanted his innings capped at 180 and no postseason activity (made worse by Harvey at first agreeing with his agent). Big PR fiasco IMO.
Lots of theories – too many innings the year after TJ – looks out of shape – too much nightlife. But I wouldn’t say over promoted. When he was good he lived up to it. And he’s a loyal New York Ranger fan. What’s with all the East Coast paranoia out there? And I despise the Yanks and Mets, btw…
Loo, not just the West coast . . . Mountain zone is bombarded by ESPN and FOX constantly about East coast teams. It’s especially tiresome (and funny, ironic), when fill in the blank team face plants. Not just the Yankees, but also the Knicks, Giants, and Jets . . . Mets actually less so, until the last 2 seasons (probably because they were shitty.).
I believe you, Blade, but in the ’90’s I spent a lot of time in LA (which was loaded with transplanted New Yorkers) and I didn’t pick up on it…
I can’t take this officiating
Dubs playing shit defense. Flat awful.
An arm in leftfield! Great throw from Parker.
I’ve got Warriors game on at work over Giants on MLB Network since nothing’s gonna happen.
The shifting is out of control. It’s a whole new ballgame…
WTF? Parker bunting?
Parker out trying to bunt for a hit. I so give up on Giants minor league outfielders. HRs got him back to the majors, so he tries to bunt for a hit.
Wouldn’t Boch or one of the coaches say something about that to him? Or, maybe it was
Bochy’s decision?
Bochy wouldn’t have wanted him bunting in that situation.
The Warriors are being carried by Klay. 19 in the 3rd. But they can’t come back all the way.
Thank you for making the effort to type out “Warriors”, Chuck.
“Dubs” annoys me so much that I can’t wait for them to get bounced.
Platoon Tomlinson in leftfield.
Shoulda been Cespedes out there.
They’d be 41-6…
Loo, most Californians don’t even consider LA part of the State. Besides it is Lakers and Dodgers 24/7 there. Sort of a world unto itself.
SAFE!!!
Dubs dubs dubs. Curry tries to call time with 4 seconds left after getting tripped bringing the ball up. The refs let the clock run out.
One for Kelly…
Close one.
Blanco’s great slide overcame Kelly’s bad decision.
In my opinion. 🙂
I didnt see it … Not calling Kelly outc on the radio … Truly, another bad decision by Kelly?
Tonight’s rallying cry: Let’s get 2!
2 would be an embarrassment of riches. 🙂
On the KNBR pre game They were rattling off all the Giants poor offensive stats … Whooeeee, that was an impressive list … I lost track of most but one stuck out: tied for last with Pirates for poorest with risp
I’ll say it again. The ump should kindly hand our cleanup hitter his whisk broom so he can do a bit of cleaning up while at bat. Hoping for high temps in Colorado so the Georgia boy can warm it up a bit.
Duvall had another bomb this evening. Is he (technically) a part of the Bowker gang?
Yeah, even Bowker hit some HRs until the league got a book on him. And the book said “no fastballs. Bend everything.”
No, he is not but I would like to see an official membership list just for the record…
It’s a long list. It’s every Giants minor league outfielder of the last 25 years.
Me too, including alumni.
I think Flav, Chuck or Twin can best define the Bowker Gang…
Smarge is going to have to hurl a bunch of zeroes tonight.
This question is to Willie or anyone else who has religiously followed the Warriors all season long (I have only watched 2-3 games) . . .
So, honest answer, ok?
Did anyone see this coming? If so, give me your reasons why you knew this would happen? Last question – if the Warriors are bounced by the Thunder, does this mean the Warriors are all hype and the league will exploit what they are seeing next season? By the by, I have not seen any of their playoff games, including this series with the Thunder, so I have NO IDEA why they are losing.
Good question Blade. I too would like to hear a response.
I called Thunder in 7 before the series started but it looks like it’ll be 5. The Warriors do not match up well with this team, despite winning three of four in the regular season. OKC’s size and length give them fits.
I’ve also said recently that despite winning 73 games this year, the team did not play well the last month of the season and now into the playoffs. They’ve not been sharp, but their talent and depth has gotten them to this point. Their defense has been inconsistent and as everyone can see, their offense is completely out of whack.
The record is great, but my opinion is that they achieved it to the detriment of their chances in the playoffs, meaning they are fatigued. Injuries have also been a factor this year as have Kerr’s health issues.. Frankly, OKC is the “new” Golden State. Durant and Westbrook are virtually unstoppable when they’re on. Watching them carve up the Warriors is pretty good evidence of that.
They are athletic as hell and they have that size and length. They’re going to be tough to beat for as long as they keep this group together.
Good analysis LJ. Do you see the Thunder winning it all?
Maybe the Warriors are an odd year SF team…
Thank LJ … Very informative. It sure is tough to lose in this round after such an incredible season and Curry’s back to back MVP awards, that unanimous selection and the records he broke. It would have been a bitter pill to swallow losing in the final too, but this seems even worse .. but it ain’t over till it’s over. It does seem over though.
lulz
Until the past few days I had the Cavs winning it, and I hope they do if the W’s don’t stage a dramatic comeback, but now I’m not so sure. Toronto is asserting itself, though I think Cleveland still wins it. OKC is red hot, so it’s a toss-up for me now.
I’m not giving up on the W’s, it’s just hard to see them get thrashed multiple times. They picked a bad time to lose consecutive games for the first time.
I would love to hear thoughts on this, too. I have watched quite a bit of Warrior basketball this year. I don’t follow it as closely as WillieD and SanDiggity, though. I thought OKC would be tough, but no, I did not see this coming. The only immediate delta between OKC when the Warriors beat them in the regular season, and now, is that OKC has improved defensively, and is giving up something like eight points less per game. Plus, after four games now, I just think OKC has had better game plans (Kerr is getting out-coached a bit), and the Thunder just seem hungrier and to want it more.
With all that said, if there is ANY team that can rebound (pun intended) from a 3-1 deficit, it is this team. One game at a time. Every game is a true elimination game, now. Time to walk the walk…
Yeah Chi, just from me listening to Flappers here – I thought the Warriors were invincible. Apparently, not.
Don’t forget that it took an epic comeback and a 37 foot 3-pointer from Steph to beat OKC the last time GS was there. The other games were close as well.
Plenty of people had the Seahawks winning 3-4 Super Bowls after the Denver destruction.
How did that work out?
FUCK!
There’s 2!
Posey with an RBI double that goes against the narrative.
3!
Even better.
3 is crazy talk! 🙂
I feel faint ..
How about Parker “parks” one in the water.
For some reason, the baseball gods hate Giants minor league outfielders.
It sure seems that way.
Seems like a long time since we’ve seen Casillia … I’m not missing him.
Pitchcount’s gonna get Smarge.
Blade – great question at 8:35. I gave my spin, but would love to hear the opinions of WilieD, SanDog, Flav and any other hoop hounds out there.
Samardzija lost his command fast.
No surprise, the Reds are awful.
Zume called it, pitch count and putting a couple of guys on did Shark in. Damned good outing, though.
Osich had better get this out.
Whew!
Hell yes! Nice work by Osich!
Good play by Panik there. Not as routine as it looked.
Gregor still has the wheels.
Watch Peavy toss a gem tomorrow, and it will just procrastinate what we all know needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Totally agree.
He’s out!
Great relay and tag there.
What a relay and what a fuck up!
That’s one of the best plays in baseball, the laser relay throw to gun down a runner. Remember the one Marco Scutaro made to nail Fielder in the WS?
Oh yes.
How could I ever forget…
Two overturned calls, one at the plate and one at third, does not look good for this umpiring crew.
Some more Tenacious D!
With Blanco on first w no outs last inning, why not send him to steal, up by two runs ? If he makes it, you have a fast guy in specs to bunt him to third, where with one out , all sorts of shot can get him home. Bochy pisses me of with his frequent lack of balls to make something happen…
Yeah, they have really sucked under Bochy’s watch. (I am just fucking with you Tom.) lull