Phuckin’ Phillies @ The Big Phone
Another day, another W. This is what the Dubs season felt like. Wins piling on top of wins with the fans starting to become a little immune to how awesome a win is. We need to appreciate these now, there will be darker days ahead.
Tonight, the Phillies come to town and they stink. They can’t hit and their pitchers give up gobs of bombs. How will that translate into this weekend series? It’s baseball, anything can happen. I don’t think we’re as good as our record. It doesn’t make sense that we can lose some of our best players and we start winning MORE. But whatever, enjoy the ride. Peavy at home as been a pretty good ride. Peavy anywhere has been a surprising good thing.
Ranking our starters in terms of reliability you’d probably have to go Bum, Cueto, Peavy, Smarge and then Suarez who is just a cheaper version of Petit who, frankly, I’d still rather have on the team…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Largely because of the number of Rivercats currently in the starting lineup it is not likely that the team will become smug and complacent. These guys are hungry for a ring and they can just about smell it.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Phillies-Giants was a highlight of the season for me.
In NY, you could pick up WCAU 1210 well enough to follow the game.
I loved Harry Kalas. Not everybody did…
Yep, those were games I could get on the radio without needing to turn the dial with the precision of a surgeon. Harry Kalas was great, especially when paired with Richie Ashburn. I’ll probably tune into the Philly station tonight on my way home, although now it’s on FM.
My Giant fan dad couldn’t stand Kalas.
I don’t think Twin cared for him either – not sure…
Never heard him or of him. Does he still call games for the Phils? If so, I might have to log onto LameDay tonight, and pick the Phillies feed.
Chi: Kalas died about 5 years ago. Surprised you never heard of him. He did a lot of work for the NFL, too.
Maybe you’ll recognize the voice:
Thanks, Loo. I do recognize the voice…just do not recall the name.
Damn I thought the Dubs wad going to make some type of move to move up in the draft…some very odd picks but I think that is why t here are so many bad teams. Hopefully Durant makes a quick decision. I could see Pau Gasol as a bench option instead of Dirk…
Suarez looks OK, but there must be a reason the Angels and Rays org let him go – he’s been in the minors for going on 10 years. I didn’t understand and agree with letting Petit go when they did, and I still don’t. He’s doing well with the Nats. Supposedly it was a matter of money, but hell, paying him somewhat more wouldn’t break the bank. How much more could it have been? I think it was a mistake…
I think there was more to it. My suspicion is that there was some sort of falling out with management and they decided to part ways with him. For as serviceably as he pitched ,they used him pretty sparingly iirc.
Petit didn’t become fairly proficient until he was 28. Suarez is 26. He doesn’t walk a lot of batters, and he hits 93-94 mph regularly. I wouldn’t be surprised if he chugs along with some ok fifth starter numbers for a couple of years.
Then there was the wonder of Jean Machi . . . .
I heard Mean Jean is back in our system … maybe I missed it but I don’t think I saw anyone here mention that. I guess Machi’s ‘bumper pissing’ incident piqued the FO’s interest in him.
lulz!
This is little reworking of something I posted late at night a couple of days ago.
Logically, our current winning ways should continue. At least, through the upcoming month since we will only have 6 games against top tiered teams (RSox 2, Nats 4). But this is baseball, so who knows? Maybe, with a few more injuries we will really go on a tear? .. stranger things have happened, especially in this odd even year.
August & September should be much more challenging. Of our 9 remaining games with LA, only 3 are at home and all the games are either mid August or late in September. Both teams could be playing quite differently by then.
Besides the up and down Marlins, our strongest competitors in the last two months of the regular season will be the Nats, O’s, Mets, Cubs, and Cards. I like the notion that a .500 record from here on out should keep us in the running. I think that makes sense but just to be safe, if we can win the majority of our games against the weaker teams we will face in July, we should have a nice cushion by the end of the season. Go Giants!
Someone mentioned, I believe yesterday, that if our boys play .500 rest of the way, they will have 90 wins. With this weird-ass season, not sure 90 is enough…so Pedal to the Metal!
Yeah, you could be right that .500 only gives us 90 which wont be enough. So, we should definitely try to kick ass in July and take advantage of our schedule of facing mostly challenged teams.
We certainly are getting better than expected production from the scrubs (I think I did predict the McParker would not represent a huge drop off from Pence, but that was more because Pence is not an 861 OPS player and was due for a cold spell), but Panik and Posey still have some catching up to do. Still not entirely convinced Belt can maintain his numbers, especially after the recent flurry of Ks. Hope he has a good series this weekend.
All in all, it’s hard to see how this team does not play at least 500 the rest of the way.
.500 ball gets them to 91-71 on the season. Good for the Wild Card, probably. Continue at their pace and they go 102-60. Roughly split the difference and they are 97-65, just possibly good for top seeding in the playoffs. Beating up on the more challenged teams like they just did with the Bucs and they could afford to play a bit under .500 vs the tougher ones.
Important thing is for them to not lose focus and as i noted in my opening bid, those call-ups will play hungry. If they continue to get it done the team can take their good old time about bringing back the injured regulars as well as seeing that the ones still fully vertical will get plenty of rest.
Continued improvement by the MacPark duo and the yootful bullies might mean that the Giants can play it close to their vests come the post-Break swapping season. Good runs by the kiddiekorps could lead to other teams nuzzling up to SF with proposals. Not a bad scenario for success. Big difference from our situation just weeks ago.
Good stuff Stix!
Yeah, still think we’ll take OF/pen help should it come available. Even IF if Duffy proves to be a lingering problem.
Got to wonder if a relative bargain like the Braves Kelly Johnson is an option to fill in at 3rd. Pena will likely fade back to obscurity, but who knows? Duffy could easily be out til mid-August if not the rest of the year with his achilles problem.
The Pena/Gillaspie platoon had a good week. Hopefully they continue to be productive. Tomlinson should be back in a week or so, also.
Kelly Johnson was re-acquired by the Mets a couple of weeks ago, Chuck…
Awesome thread…I agree on all counts…down to, and including I would rather have Petit. But yeah, it is fucking crazy that we can lose the likes of Pence for a long stretch, and mix in injuries to other key players, and do BETTER than we did fully loaded. Yes…THAT is baseball. I am grateful for how our boys are playing, and no way we can get complacent. The bums continue to win games, too. Their fans (and the team, really), must be going crazy given how they have continued to put together strings of wins, yet lose ground to our beloved Giants.
I am going to enjoy the ride. It is a wonderful time to be a fan of the San Francisco Giants! GIDDY UP!
No shit, DJ? West Coast bias, I guess.
Tomlinson isn’t our 3rd baseman. I’m more worried about that. . .
I don’t mean to downplay Duffy, he’s the starter, and his defense has been excellent. But offensively, he’s had a rough ’16 so far. He’s had trouble with the shifts being used against him, and is still working on making adjustments. But he did seem hotter lately.
Well, I just don’t think Duffy’s coming back this season. Achillies’s’s are hard to come back from without a lot of rest and rehab.
Speaking of 3rd base, the Giants are ‘interested’ in trading for Yuniel Escobar of the Angels.
Saw him make an atrocious play behind Timmy last night which cost TL a run.
They would be getting him for his hitting. He’s a decent enough fielder.
A possible back-story to the Petit situation is interesting to ponder. Maybe nothing to it, but what if there was? Did he end up in the dog-house last year? The way they used him last season is kind of mystifying. Did he demand to be a starter at some point? I’d like to think he didn’t do that.
Speaking of Timmy…80-some pitches through 3 innings. That’s the old Timmy we know and DIDN’T love. I was pretty optimistic after his first start for the Angels. Now? Hmmmm….
The Dodgers DFAed Veneble today. Sports is a rough business.
With Puig back on their team, that’s less playing time for Thompson, who was playing pretty well. And almost no playing time for Van Slyke, who’s another pretty good player. The Dodgers are committed to Puig turning into an impact player this season, and that’s understandable.
Posey gets the night off for SF; and Blanco gets the start in rightfield, which is less than thrilling. One out of the Mac/Parker platoon needs to be in there everyday for a while. They had a real good week this past week.
First it was Brexit, then Trump got elected, and then this happened, and there was no more baseball:
Aoki optioned to AAA by Mariners. Ouch.
This Pirates pitcher throws a very high percentage of fastballs. He might need to mix the speeds of his pitches a little more.
Nice little fuck up by Puig…
Puig overthrows the cut-off man, and gives an extra base.
Marte in the lineup, but no Palanco. It looked like Palanco had a hitch in his giddy-up near the end of the game yesterday.
Mr. Machine makes it 3-0 Pirates…
4-0
He motored around the bases. 🙂
Balks in a run. (face-palm)
Taillon was the second guy taken in the 2010 draft, right after Harper, and right before Machado.
Taillon is not awesome.
McCutcheon is just lost these days.
The Pirates suck, but we knew that already.
Boy the pirates bullpen is the Pitts.
Vof course the dodgers bullies aint no angels either.
Bucs have 2 third baseman – Freese and Kang. If we need one, they should be sellers at the deadline…
Phils are bad, what you get when you go all play the kids. Hey they’re rebuilding but F/G had a column couple days ago showing they are pushing envelope to “historically bad” offensively.
Kev and I disagreed about playing the kids. but I’m with Zum 3:41–Mac/Park need to be in there.
I understand Giants way is to overpay for vets like Pagan, but his ceiling no way approaches theirs.
Great first month, May he hit .160 (5 for 31 no XBHs) and June 8 for 32 .250
, 7 rbis/4 on one swing. Is he healthy now or is this just all there is?
Unless SF medicos can somehow explode undetectable roids into the whirlpool, I’m out on him. He’s their 5th best OF.
Is he even going to be a major leaguer next season? I’m not convinced. But I think he can make a contribution the rest of the way for the ’16 season. He’s more of a slap-hitter now, but maybe he can connect just once in a while on a deep ball and keep the outfield from creeping too close in on him. Maybe.
Joyce has had a solid game subbing in tonight.
Peavy is used to pitching every Sunday.
I’m not optimistic about him tonight.
This is short rest for him at this point…
Good thing its Friday?
Ah. Never mind. I get you now. Just a little slow on the uptak .
that was Kruk’s feeling that I shared last week. It’s one of the few things I agree with him about (that, and all pitchers throwing anything at any time). Peavy’s arm needs more than normal rest to bounce back each start. We’ll see how he does tonight. Luckily he faces a shit hitting team…..
Pirates hang on for the win. It was a struggle, but they got it done. Their offense kept answering back.
that was some bad SP on both sides.
I used to pay attention to how the Phils were doing just because they were my Dad’s team. Now that he’s gone, not so much. I was surprised to see how well they were doing early this season: well over .500, within spitting distance of 1st place…. not sure how they were doing that then, and not sure why they suck now. This *should* be another team the G’s can take care of business against, but like someone said, it’s baseball…
Phils will always be part of one of my favorite moments of all time. And I think this is my favorite thread of all time:
https://oneflapdown77.com/2010/10/24/glory-today-but-destiny-awaits/
Yeah, Craig, one of my fav moments as well. I’ve told this story before, just happened to be visiting my parents when that happened, and there sat dear ol’ Dad in his recliner, just silently steaming after Ryan took that 3rd strike, forcing me to go outside and laugh at the sky so as not to upset Pops…..
It’s a great one! Running through the rain in celebration is awesome.
All of us couldn’t have imagined all the Giants glory that was to come.
Great thread…cannot believe I did not post. I remember, Gail and I were in Pleasanton for an agility competition with our dogs. We saw the game that night at some sports bar I found online. Place was packed with Giant fans. I remember talking to my daughter on the phone as B-Weezy struck-out Howard, and then dancing around the bar high-fiving Giant fans who I did not know. It was fucking pandemonium…one of the happiest moments in my life.
Good hustle, Slappy! 🙂
Already we’ve seen how this year’s Giants team is different from some other recent years. The seasons tend to run together in my increasingly less compartmentalized mind, was it 2014? 2013? last year?, but I seem to remember a couple of times when SF entered June in 1st place, sometimes around the same lead over LA as now, and then the June swoon hit and LA got hot at the same time, thus erasing the lead. This season, LA got hot, but without the Giants falling off, gained no ground. Definitely enjoying the ride so far. Past Giants teams, even in the championship years, never seemed to get that much credit of winning as a *team*, but that’s how they’re doing it now, and that bodes well. There will likely be a cooling off period or two come summer’s dog days, but that might be right around the time Sabevans is looking to strengthen the team for the stretch run. Just keep winning, baby….
Wait, craw, pagan, blanco, are 4,5and 6?
Great throw by brown btw
that was such an awesome play by Peavy. What a gamer. It’s so refreshing to see pro athletes going all out no matter how old they are, no matter how much money they’ve made in their career. Peavy epitomizes that….
Seems like Peavy is either hustling or getting hustled…
ha! SOLID GOLD AGAIN
I was hoping to see Tommy Joseph this series. He’s sick but I’m surprised he didn’t start tonight. Probably will get the start tomorrow. He’s fought hard to get to the big leagues and he’s hitting consistently.
down 2-1, feel like we are going to get to this dude soon.
Several Giants have lined out with ducks on the pond. Could be one of those nights.
Yes but lookt your 4,5 and 6 hitters this isn’t very dynamic at first, and even second or third glance.
I hate tapping at small screen . I’m old.
Another really nice outing by JP
Pagan, Span, and Blanco can’t ever be the starting outfield together. That shouldn’t happen. With one swing, Parker had potential to change the game.
Exactly. What was Bochy thinking? Park/Mac are the future. At least one of them should appear in every game ~ maybe even after Pence returns.
“there’s no Eflin way he wants to see that again….”
How long Kruk been waiting to use that one?
Is Posey hurt or just getting the night off?
Night off.
Nice work from Peavy tonight.
Real nice job by Peavy in the 7th. That change up he threw for the second out was nasty.
Well, i think it’s officially official now, Peavy has turned it all the way around. Which is why Bochy is manager and not those of us who were calling for JP’s head two months ago.
Has Brown officially made Susac trade bait?
They haven’t got much else to offer…
That play by the Phillies SS that “almost” got Brown at first is one Crawfish makes in his sleep. He practices the goddamn things.
Peavy getting Cained tonight. Giants need to T-off on the Phil’s bullpen and get Jake the win. He deserves it the way he has battled tonight and also the way he has fielded his position. I know a lot of Flappers have felt he is done, but the dude is still competing. I will always have fond memories of Peavy when he retires. OK…time to score some damned runs!
Elvis is in the house. Let’s knock his ass outta the house!
Good bunt.
Belted!
can’t believe that ball didn’t go out. Nice to break through, they’ve been threatening to all game.
I thought that was gone!
Any other yard it probably is, LJ.
This (late inning comebacks) is becoming a regular occurrence. Fuck yeah!
Krukow: he back spun that all the way to the wal .
Cool. He hasn’t used that one before.
I made it up . But you can just hear him.
He did use it earlier in the game. It’s a good call, but WAY overused by Kruk.
That ball sounded like a homer. *CRACK* Sweetest sound on earth.
Yes! Love that sound…that and a baseball popping a catcher’s mitt!
Damn…of the bat I though Craw had tattooed one!
Elvis has left the ballgame…
Yep…I said let’s knock his ass outta the house. Job complete.
I’m lovin’ this! Killing ’em with 2 outs.
Add on! Putting up them crooked numbers again! And I tell you guys…do not be surprised if Pagan is back next year (especially if he continues to be healthy). How does that vision make ya feel Irish K?
if he’s healthy why wouldn’t we want him back on a 1 year deal? It’s not like we have a bunch of stud OF’s blocking him.
I agree, Flav. El Caballo Loco!
You called it chi, Elvis has been knocked out of the house.
That happened quick.
Wasn’t the youngest son on the Brady Bunch named Edubray?
I’m pretty sure it was Greg, Peter and Edubray…
Not sure…I was too busy dreaming about boning Marcia…
Every boy of that era had the same dream…
“Double your pleasure, double your fun” with double-Belt, double-Belt, double-Belt runs. Too bad it wasn’t against the Cubs. Old Phil Wrigley would have been rolling in his grave over the take on the old Doublemint gum commercial.
Brings back childhood memories, Stix…my grandmother always chewed Doublemint. Grandmother on my dad’s side of the family (Fanny Mae – from Arkansas) dipped snuff!
Angel can just flat out hit. When he’s able bodied you can count on the hits coming. I would definitely want him back on a one-year deal. He’s been a great Giant.
Kevin – paging Irish Kevin. What says you about inking Crazy Horse to a one-year deal? lqtm…
Derek Lurch…er Law on the bump…let’s mow ’em down big boy…
We have a great infield! And Peavy is in line for the win!