Snake Bit in AZ

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on July 3, 2016

I’m glad I didn’t have to watch that ending. I read somewhere that the bomb Strick-ny9 gave up was his first to a RH since last August. I don’t think you guys should be so quick to bury him. He’s one of the best relievers we have…..

Ahhhhhh, did my part in cleaning out the ElDo sportsbook with only the Rockies failing me. This morning while running several winning parlays through the machine, the teller coyly smiled and said “you did all these with me!!!” I gave her a weird look having never seen this woman before. But it turns out I had seen her, she was the teller from the day before when I made the bets. Had she had a better rack I bet I would have remembered her…..

Now it’s off to Cactus Pete’s where we will stay the night before a short drive to the July 4th parade in Hailey, Idaho. If you guys want old fashioned Summer Independence day fun, that is the place to be. I’m thankful my 13 year old still gets jazzed about this kind of stuff….

Later.

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Carstie Clausen said, on July 3, 2016 at 8:48 am

Bochy got bit in the balls by his matchup mania in that 8th inning. Both lefties now are mostly on the skids. Osich gave up that walk which set the 8th and Strickland entered without a clean slate. BigHead Bruce does need some help for that pen, though. First step might be to replace Osich with Tyler Rogers, currently doing a bang-up job closing for Richmond. Doubtful if he’s on the 40-man, so that might be what’s holding things back. Maybe time to sell off or trade Kyle Crick, the onetime phenom who has a near even record in BB’s and K’s. Perhaps some other organization can help him learn enough control to be useful.

It still may be essential, though, to go outside the pipeline this month and to land a reliable reliever, as Romo has not pitched particularly well in his Minor league assignments.
- giants54 said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:05 am
  
  Osich is still doing a loogy better than Javy. Just his 3rd walk against lhb where as Lopez has walked 7 in fewer ab’s. Still young, throws 97. It’s disappointing that he isn’t Affeldt, a guy effective against R&L.
willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:17 am

Stix always finds a gem in the system, and what I read on Baggs blog says there are more where they came from. Tough L last night but I do think with return of Romo next week that will help calm things down.
Injured position players like Specs and Pena should return soon, plus Cain and hopefully Panik. At that time the replacement guys will see lot less time on the field. Maybe even Pence by end of month.

Everyone is looking for pen help—even old guy Fernando Rodney got traded for. Cards dumped Rosenthal out of closer job. Papelblown is still on the Nats (tho on DL currently). I’m confident things will get sorted out btw Kontos and his buddies. Osich I worry about as he has to know he’s gotta come in and throw strikes right away.

But seriously after watching Mac and Parker (great AB in single off Ziegler) they are future of OF. And it appears there is plenty of homegrown pitching on the way which I absolutely would not dump off for some high priced aging vet pen guy, esp if he is FA.

Giants are likely to lose another 30 games or so and culprits will include blown save, starter that doesn’t have it, lack of RISP hitting, GIDPs or some such. There should be quite a lot fewer of those than most other teams.
wilcojoe said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:28 am

Flav, your second paragraph is one for the ages. Pure gold!
- djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:30 am
  
  I have no doubt Flav’s teller was looking for a gratuity…
  - Flavor said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:52 am
    
    i have a firm rule about that. If you didn’t fill out an IRS slip for me I don’t tip you. Being at the poker table is different— the dealer actually did something there. But to just run my tickets through the machine don’t get you duckets from Flavor.
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 9:30 am

Have fun Flav.
I’ll be working the parade in the Town of Duck tomorrow, which may rival the Haley Idaho parade for old fashion.
djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 10:27 am

Curtis Granderson has 14 HRS and just 23 RBIS.
I wonder if anyone ever hit 25 in a season and drove in less than 50…
- Carstie Clausen said, on July 3, 2016 at 10:31 am
  
  That pair of stats indicates that the Mets 7, 8 and nine hitters are not getting on base and just possibly, when they do, Curtis does not rise to the occasion.
  - djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 10:33 am
    
    Looks like the answer is no. Everything is just a click or two away…
    
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/10785
  - djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 10:44 am
    
    Right Stix, and he tends to hit ’em leading off the game. Now Mays’ 1965 season of 52/112 was more a function of the Giants never really having the classic “table setters” throughout much of his career…
bassbaldy said, on July 3, 2016 at 11:01 am

Oh Joy of Joys … Pecos League double header today! Tucson Saguaros vs Roswell Invaders.

It’s my wife’s birthday today and one of her gifts will be something she really likes: a Roswell Invaders cap!

This double header promises to be a highly contentious free-for-all. Not only are these the two winningest teams in the league who, I’m told, have had some hotly contended battles, the event is part of proclaimed Killer Termites Day here in Bisbee.

Local resident and internationally acclaimed comedian Doug Stanhope has played a central role in the promotion of the town through his fan base (The Killer Termites) who he rallied to help vote Bisbee as the #1 Historic Small Town in a recent USA Today poll. He as also helped pay for renovations to the old Warren Ballpark.

Stanhope’s presence at the game along with an irreverent horde of his syncophants (who will be consuming contraband condiments & cocktails in excess) will undoubtably unfold as a highly entertaining affair … much to the chagrin of some less boisterous others.
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 11:07 am
  
  Sounds awesome. Have a great time!
- Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:13 pm
  
  How can you not like a team named the Saguaros?
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 11:10 am

The Cubs are in the process of getting swept all four games in a series with the Mets. Talk about ownage.
unca_chuck said, on July 3, 2016 at 11:41 am

This may be the last one, Flav. The teen years are a different animal entirely.
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 11:51 am

Let’s take the rubber game lineup:

CF Blanco
2B Green
1B Posey
SS Crawford
RF Mac
C Brown
LF Parker
3B Tejada
P Suarez
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:09 pm
  
  Giants are going full Mac/Parker today. Could be fun.
- bassbaldy said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:29 pm
  
  Thanks Zum for your well wishes.
  
  Rumor has it there will be some other comedians of ill repute in the Stanhope cadre today … so, the whole affair could get quickly out of hand … which I am totally relishing the thought of.
  
  A couple of weeks ago the heckling of the umpires and opposing team reached incendiary levels rather quickly. At that game, Stanhope had supplied the sound system and had hijacked it by the 4th inning. The resulting tirade of invective coming over the loud speakers — as you can probably well imagine it was not conventional baseball announcing but rather a colorful running play by play commentary with special incisive focus on the umpiring (including improvised ads for the Wendlstadt School of Umpiring) — prompted the umpires to demand that the local baseball officials shut Stanhope down immediately and discontinue all announcing. Well, that only poured gasoline on an already raging fire … An undeterred Stanhope continued his assault from the first row of behind home plate.
  
  Sidebar … last week I noticed numerous posters placed in and about the ballpark advertising the Wendelstadt School of Umpiring (highly amusing) … I will see if I can find one today, take a photo of it and drop it in the Flap photo bucket — with Flav’s permission of course.
  
  Comedians relish heckling. Most have the ability to easily project their voices to the back of a large room. These guys don’t need microphones. And this particular group, although not inherently violent, are known to be unfazed by the prospect of a good bar room brawl.
  
  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:04 pm

Good line at McCovey Chronicle:
“The Giants need a LOOGY who’s actually a Lefty who can Get Out One Guy.”
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:11 pm

Somehow the Cubs getting their butts kicked today is making me feel better.
- Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:19 pm
  
  Ooof, Lester got shelled today.
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:14 pm

LOOGY?
- willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:17 pm
  
  see Zumie’s 12:04–it refers to lefty (pitcher) one out guy. the McChron guy is taking a shot at Lopez and Osich, commonly referred to as loogy.
  - Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:20 pm
    
    Thanks. I still say the blog should put out some kind of Guide to Flap Universe Acronyms. 😉
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:24 pm
    
    I like how some guy somewhere started using TOOTBLAN for baserunning gaffes. “Thrown Out On The Bases Like A Nincompoop.”
- Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:18 pm
  
  Lefty One-Out Guy.
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:16 pm

Blanco scratched with sore knee. New lineup:

3B Tejada
2B Green
LF Belt
1B Posey
SS Crawford
RF Williamson
C Brown
CF Parker
RHP Suarez.
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:18 pm
  
  Wow, last night I sort of called Parker in cf. Sort of.
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:19 pm
    
    If nothing else, that’s an outfield with some HR pop.
- willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:23 pm
  
  wow. looks like something out of a split squad ST game. Bochy’s getaway LUs do have a way of working out.
  At least Belt is back in there. Interesting to see Parker in CF.
  Supposedly this is Suarez last start– Romo might be activated tmw and Cain likely back next time they need another SP after the AS break, so Suarez back to Sac.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:16 pm

McCarthy makes his first start for the Dodgers after TJ surgery. Should be interesting. Maybe the Rockies wake up.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:27 pm

Wow! what a line up.
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:31 pm
  
  The bench today is almost non-existent.
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:29 pm

In NL this season, per Lurie the Giants Pen has given up 15 leads after the 6th frame, second worst to the Reds. Not sure whether the stat means a lot, but it doesn’t sound good. Sure bring up Romo. Maybe he’ll add some glue, but he hasn’t exactly been lights out in his rehabs. For the Konstant Klatter over the past few years about all the Giants minor league pitching depth, where the heqq is it? They end up using a scrap heap guy like Suarez out of another organization to supplant Cain, and Gearrin is also a scrap heap guy, and he’s their best Pen guy right now…
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:37 pm

If Bochy doesn’t use Lopez yesterday against Lamb, and I assume he was available since nobody has written otherwise that I’ve seen, then WTF is Lopez still in the Pen?…
bassbaldy said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:38 pm

Ugh .. I am a dummy … Apologies for the double post .. I put this in the wrong spot … Here it is again:

Thanks Zum for your well wishes.

Rumor has it there will be some other comedians of ill repute in the Stanhope cadre today … so, the whole affair could get quickly out of hand … which I am totally relishing the thought of.

A couple of weeks ago the heckling of the umpires and opposing team reached incendiary levels rather quickly. At that game, Stanhope had supplied the sound system and had hijacked it by the 4th inning. The resulting tirade of invective coming over the loud speakers — as you can probably well imagine it was not conventional baseball announcing but rather a colorful running play by play commentary with special incisive focus on the umpiring (including improvised ads for the Wendlstadt School of Umpiring) — prompted the umpires to demand that the local baseball officials shut Stanhope down immediately and discontinue all announcing. Well, that only poured gasoline on an already raging fire … An undeterred Stanhope continued his assault from the first row of behind home plate.

Sidebar … last week I noticed numerous posters placed in and about the ballpark advertising the Wendelstadt School of Umpiring (highly amusing) … I will see if I can find one today, take a photo of it and drop it in the Flap photo bucket — with Flav’s permission of course.

Comedians relish heckling. Most have the ability to easily project their voices to the back of a large room. These guys don’t need microphones. And this particular group, although not inherently violent, are known to be unfazed by the prospect of a good bar room brawl.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:41 pm

Why isn’t Parker batting in 7th behind Williamson for the R-L-R thing? Bochy doesn’t want two power guys up in a row? I would think Brown is more disciplined a hitter, and would be better suited for 8th…
wilcojoe said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:42 pm

Hey Lisle, not sure if you ever watched Curb Your Enthusiasim but in the season 5 finale, Larry David travels to Bisbee Arizona to meet his adopted parents.
- bassbaldy said, on July 3, 2016 at 12:55 pm
  
  Wow! I have watched the show but haven’t seen that episode. Thanks WJ! I will check it out
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 1:42 pm

Parker took the first pitch, a fastball down the middle for strike one. I don’t get that. A power hitter’s got to be ready to jump on a pitch like that.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 1:45 pm

The Rockies pitcher gives up an HR, hits the next batter, and then walks the batter after that. That’s some crappy pitching going on there.
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 1:49 pm
  
  And then walks the bases loaded.
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 1:51 pm
    
    And then walks in a run.
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 1:52 pm
    
    What a coward.
Carstie Clausen said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:07 pm

Posey lines out with runners on 1st and 2nd and only one out. That’s been another weird haunting of this team lately ~ lineouts with ducks on the pond.
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:07 pm

Good two out hitting by Mac.
- Carstie Clausen said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:09 pm
  
  Big Mac has begun to make his case with the dinger last night and now the single with the bases jammed, bringing in a pair. Perhaps he has matured enough as a hitter to realize that a 5 run homer isn’t always called for and sometimes a clean single does what’s needed. Congaline, baby.
  - Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:20 pm
    
    Hope so. I’ve been rooting for the guy, but after the night he had the other night in the field…
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:21 pm

Craw, Kevin Mitchelling that ball was pretty awesome.
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:27 pm

Belt is just a doubles machine.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:46 pm

Do you guys recall the size of bat you used in high school varsity or senior league baseball (i.e., the heaviest bat you used at around 17-18 years of age)? I used a 32 or 33 oz. bat. I know most ball players use lighter bats than that, maybe even a 31 oz. bat like what Williamson seemed to be using.*

* I should have added that this translated to a 32 in. or 33 in. length size for me, albeit, occasionally, I would use 34in.
- Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:18 pm
  
  I was the same, Blade. Usually a 32/33 and I had a preference for the thicker handle.
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:22 pm
    
    Cool John. I think I read somewhere that Barry used a 32 in. (and oz.) bat when he hit his 72 dingers. Amazed that Babe Ruth hit his bombs with a 50 oz. plus bat (maybe as heavy as 53 oz.).
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:48 pm

I just broke out some peanuts right before that Peanut Allergy game promo.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:52 pm

The Rockies have been out-scored 14-1 in their Dodger series so far.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:53 pm
  
  Yeah, they are pathetic.
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:55 pm
    
    Looks like you and your friend were right-on about the elevation adjustment. The Rockies look lost this weekend.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:56 pm
  
  More worried that they discover their comfort zone in San Francisco. Nevertheless, that’s pathetic that they are no help for us against the Bums.
  - zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 2:58 pm
    
    Yeah, it’s too bad that their SF series is after the LA series instead of before it.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:03 pm

Pfffttt! Timmy, Saurez, whomever . . . Goldty loves our pitching.
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:19 pm

Tough day at the plate for Craw, that HBP in the 3rd might be the biggest break in the game so far..
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:23 pm

Bullpen, here we go.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:25 pm

Damn, the sound of that . . . I thought it was gone. Nice play by Belt.
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:25 pm

Belt with the grab!
alleykat69 said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:26 pm

That was one hell of a catch by Belt!
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:26 pm

Kontos doesn’t seem like he has jack shit today.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:26 pm

I’m not sure Pagan would have caught the ball Belt just did.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:31 pm
  
  Just guessing here, but Belt might be the fastest player on the team Zum . . . Or, at least once he gets going. I do recall him having that tool when he first came up.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:29 pm

That’s better.
Macdog said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Nice reKovery.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:37 pm

Zum, dollars to donuts the Sherpas get rung up for more than 10 SOs today (they are at 9 right now). Friday they had 12 SOs (7 SOs in the first 14 ABs against Norris); and yesterday, they had 14 SOs. All of these imbeciles swing from their heels, which makes zero sense on the road, especially with the initial altitude adjustment. Amazing that their overall OBP is 2nd I think in the NL.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:41 pm
  
  Hilarious . . . Bums (Blanton) just struck out the side. Cha Ching! Up to 12 SOs.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:43 pm

How about Posey to left and Belt back at 1st? lulz
- Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:52 pm
  
  I’ve thought about that before, but I still think his best position for us is at Catcher.
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:56 pm
    
    Yeah, I was kidding (albeit, I still think the Giants need to preserve their investment and move him to 1st full time evenutally). He just looked ridiculous on that error and Belt looked so good on that grab earlier.
bassbaldy said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:49 pm

Final in game one from Warren Ballpark in Bisbee AZ: Roswell Invaders 5, Tucson Saguaros 1

Roswell struck early and often in this 7 inning match (league rule permits only 7 innings in dbl headers) and were unfazed by comedian Doug Stanhope’s attempt to distract and befuddle them by reading allowed (and I mean LOUD) from the Dale Carnegie classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:50 pm

That was a rocket.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:50 pm

BF said it well: “I hate bullpen guys.”
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 3:54 pm

Bochy’s given up on the two LOOGYs. Neither brought in to face Lamb.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:01 pm

It’s annoying how many called third strikes the Giants take from Ziegler.
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:03 pm

Well, at least this time the Pen only gave up a game tying dinger…
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:04 pm
  
  Progress!
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:04 pm

Rockies no help for us. Bums win and Sherps must have made a modern day record for SOs in a series, with another 15 added to their 14 and 12 totals for the previous 2 games.
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:06 pm

Call me a doomer, but I can’t find any reason why I should be optimistic about winning this game now, given the state of this Pen…
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:07 pm

Posey barely missed that.
djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:09 pm

28 K’s in 30 IP is not impressive nowadays for a reliever with Strickland’s velocity…
djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:13 pm

I’m once again being “Goldy-ed” to death by these fuckin’ AZ broadcasters.
Also had to put up with RJ’s torturous non-stop yakking for a couple of innings earlier…
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:14 pm

Batters hardly ever chase Strickland’s sliders out of the strikezone.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:15 pm

The ump blew strike three.
snarkk said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:16 pm

Bochy is trying everything. Two days in a row Lopez sits with Lamb blasting two dingers off right handers. Gearrin’s 3-2 pitch was an 84 mph slider that didn’t slide much, right over the plate just above knee high, with Brown set up somewhat outside. Like I said before, if Lopez is not hurt, WTF is he on this team if he’s not brought in to pitch to Lamb — he can’t be tired. If he’s hurt, DL him and bring somebody up…
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:21 pm
  
  Good point. There’s no purpose for Lopez if he isn’t being used in that situation.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:34 pm
  
  I can list 4.25 million reasons he might be on the bench. lulz.
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:35 pm
    
    Whoops! This year it is 5 million.
djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:31 pm

Sit down, Goldy!
djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:39 pm

Ramiro Scutaro!
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:54 pm

Horrible technique by Brown there, horrible. How does a guy even make it to the bigs with plays like that.
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 4:55 pm

Does Casilla ever have a 1-2-3 inning?
Bozo said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Just another Pepto and Tequila save.
- willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:16 pm
  
  POTD man.
blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Now come on Flappers, give Casilla credit . . . He came through. Entertaining game!
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:06 pm
  
  🙂
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:07 pm
    
    Love me some CE.
  - alleykat69 said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:15 pm
    
    Me too Blade!
    Clint… I can take the killing,muggings,rapist, pimps etc
    But watching you stuff your face eating that hotdog is disgusting!
    Why?? Nobody I mean Nobody puts ketchup on a hotdog!!!!
alleykat69 said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:03 pm

Casilla always gives me a ulcer, but it feels better after a win!!
Way to grind one out with the Mash unit Lu!!
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:06 pm
  
  Yeah, good point about MASH unit LU AK . . . We’ve won 3 of 4 with this rag tag bunch. Keep it going against the hapless mountain goats and I will be quite happy.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:16 pm

Most wins in MLB:
Giants: 52
Rangers:52
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:22 pm
  
  One more win and one more Rangers loss – we be the best in the MLB. Woo Hoo!
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:24 pm
    
    Maybe not . . . Forgot about the Cubs.
  - djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:37 pm
    
    Which is amazing because we ain’t that good…
  - blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:47 pm
    
    Well, we’re good in logging victories, but I get your drift Loo . . . We have been extremely fortunate with this MASH unit LU (nod to AK for that term).
alleykat69 said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:23 pm

Can any Flapper explain to me WTF is Addison Russell (.231ba??) starting the AS game and Brandon Crawford might not get in?? who’s just a stud ,and his arm is a cannon( best in the game imo) like the days of Shaun Dunston)Its a joke with Cub fans stuffing the boxes?? Zobrist another one over Daniel Murphy who leads the league in batting & hits another injustice…
- djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:45 pm
  
  In between “Goldys” one of the AZ announcers pointed out that Cub fans were sabotaging their own team by ruining their chance to rest for a few days…
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:46 pm
  
  Agree AK. At least Zobrist is decent, but Russell can’t even hold Brandon’s jockstrap. I wont be surprised if Brandon gets rooked. However, like Bozo said, I don’t want our players even playing in this sham of a game anyway. Too much risk of getting injured. IMO I hope all our players sit.
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 5:54 pm

Stuffing the ballot box, the Cubs are the darlings of baseball and the media is doing everything it can to perpetuate that perception. I’ve never seen a team who’s won so little get so much TV time.
- djloo27 said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:06 pm
  
  Mid-West bias…
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:06 pm

Yeah, with Addison voted in from ballot-stuffing, and Seager and Diaz (Cardinals) having such good seasons, Crawford could get ripped off on this.
Belt, too. Rizzo, Goldschmidt, and mabe Freeman taking spots.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:10 pm

It’s stupid, also, because, if you’re a Cubs fan, you want the NL to win! It affects the World Series. Seager starting ahead of Addison would improve the chances for an NL victory. And Crawford could make a contribution late in that game.
willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:24 pm

Cameron guy on F/G has his picks for NL, strictly on merit this year. Posey starts at C, Craw and Belt are both backups and Cueto and Bum as SPs. Gives a nice rundown, and feels NL team he picked is best of the best and far better than AL.

Hey, Osich Strick and Casilla 3 shutdown innings.
Btw, Pirates swept A’s and A’s broadcast team had props for Pirates pen which threw 10 shutout innings. 2 saves for Melancon, and I saw lefty Watson throwing gas today. That Arquimedes Caminero guy (hey I got your sliderule right here) was throwing 98+ Friday night with 2 no hit innings.
Pirates back to .500 but they play STL and Cubs for 7 this week. Currently sitting 7th or 8th for playoff teams–if they tank this week gotta wonder if they start selling off pieces
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:25 pm

At the end of the day, every hard-core Giants fan knows what we have in Crawfish and that’s enough. The all star games is a fucking political animal anyway, and a complete joke since Bud Selig worked his magic on it. There’s no way in hell an exhibition game should determine home field for the World Series. That alone makes it pathetic. Craw is appreciated by the fans, big time, his teammates, his peers and the Giants front office. With any luck the Cubs will go another 108 years without a title and they can watch S.F. hoist another WS flag while they piss into their beers.

The silver lining is that if he doesn’t get in, he’ll have 4 days to rest up for the stretch drive.
willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:27 pm

I’m not arguing with “we’re not that good” but right now Giants are better than anyone else.
When (if) they ever get healthy it’s gonna be even tougher to beat them.
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:28 pm

Once again, MLB has outdone itself on the butt-ugly scale with this year’s Independence Day caps. Each year is just a little bit nastier that the one before it.
willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:39 pm

Camera shot from CF at Giants game down there doesn’t show much crowd, but I coulda sworn I saw them doing the wave in 8th inning and I thought I saw same thing last night. The Wave, wtf?

Lisle I hope you’ll be OK down there in AZ. It’s one of those states where the voters/legislature get fired up and pass some dumb laws that immediately get overturned. Wasn’t it AZ that refused to make MLK day a Holiday?
- gianthead said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:57 pm
  
  sorry if I am double posting this..but the frickin Fodger fans were doing the wave Friday night..super lame…
Lurker John said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:45 pm

I don’t buy the we’re not that good idea at all. To win 52 games at this point in the season with all the significant injuries the team has suffered is significant and figurative neon sign blazing, “We ARE that good” in Giants orange. You don’t get lucky and win this many games or have a 6 week stretch like they’ve had.

Parker and Mac have settled down and had important contributions, Albert Suarez has quietly been very effective and was again today, Mr. Happy has chipped in offensively and done a serviceable job at third, even the guy we were ripping a few days ago has gotten it going, Tejada. Brandon Belt is finally living up to his talent.

The bullpen has been an issue, but they figure to get better, not worse, imo. O-shit has some of the nastiest stuff in baseball, he just has to learn how to harness it, Strickland’s melt down last night pissed a lot of us off, but SanDog was right, he’s been pretty good over the season. He just seriously needs to develop a second pitch that works.

Pence, Duffy, Panik, Romo, Cain, they’re all coming back shortly after the all star break and like I said yesterday, the seasoning the minor leaguers have gotten bodes well for the team moving into the stretch. They’ve settled down, found their sea legs and tasted some success. That deepens and strengthens the bench when the regulars get back and maybe provides the front office with some trade bait for a badly needed reliever.

I don’t think luck get you where the Giants are right now, because most of the luck they’ve had has been bad. They’re as good as any team in the NL and they’ve been there before. We all know how valuable that experience is. Good pitching, good defense and timely hitting make for a good team.

So, I think we are that good.
- blade3colorado said, on July 3, 2016 at 6:59 pm
  
  Good post LJ!
willedav said, on July 3, 2016 at 7:05 pm

I realize AZ is having awful season and loss of Greinke for any amount of time is a big blow, but boy can they hit.
Lamb is having a better season than Golds and they are both over .900 OPS. As a team they are 3rd in NL for BA, 3rd in slugging 4th in OPS and have hit 98 HRs.
Problem is, their pitching staff is 13th or worse in league for most stats including ERA even with Greinke and they have given up 97 bombs to opposition. That yard is really hitter friendly and with fast IF tough to defend. Segura isn’t Craw out there either.

Next weekend they get rematch at ATT, where they have played very well lately much to Giants chagrin. That play Golds made on Pagan (um 0 for AZ btw) last night was excellent and he’s destroyed Giants enough over the years with his bat, even at ATT.
- zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 8:06 pm
  
  Really bad series for Pagan. Maybe he’s hurt again.
zumiee said, on July 3, 2016 at 8:03 pm

There’s some morning baseball tomorrow: Nats/Brewers, 8:00 AM, Pacific Time, on the MLB Network.