New York Sunday
Yesterday will be forever known as The Mac Williamson game. Along with Casilla, he deserves massive credit for killing that losing streak. I found out later that his family was in the stands. Very cool.
We still have Flap representation in New York today. San Dawg and son will be there today. Please take some final pics to bookend this trip…
Smarge vs Eovaldi today. The balls could fly far today….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Some here know I was also at the game. Hot as hell. Sat in the bleachers and watched Cueto and 6 relievers hold the line till that extra run could be manufactured. So often during the game I would ponder how different this game and the previous loss to the Yankees would have been if Joe, Matt and Hunter would have been there. Nothing against the replacements as they were doing a good job being good Giants; but with those gents off the DL, the Yankees would have been outclassed and subject to a beat down.
The high point was hearing the ‘lets go Giants’ from I say 6-7k Giant fans literally throughout the stadium as Strickland was taking care of the rest of the 12th.
Pitching and backup position players have got to hold the line till we get the DL cleared.
You freakin know LA is frantically trying to close the games behind during this time the Giants are hurting.
Just maybe they know at full strength the Giants will be no match for them…My opinion is that this win may just be the shot the Giants needed to ‘hold that line’…. So, LA might as well go for the wild card…
Go Giants!
(Time for my salute to the Giants and that shot of winning whiskey.)
Dennis Z gets us a W, good job and nice report. Stubhub had $10 tix for today’s game and even less for the bleachers, if Yankee Stadium wasn’t such a pain in the ass for me to get to, I would’ve gone in a proverbial New York minute.
speaking of Casilla he had a few more quotes for publication on being the closer of record (despite all the rumors of Giants going after big names) and a guy with 3 rings.
I like the guy but when Belt is going bad he is just awful to watch.
Surprised he and Craw haven’t found RF seats yet.
According to NY broadcast crew Giants 30 come from behind Wins are best in all Mlb. Only 24 all of last year.
I’m sure a big reason for that is the Giants never seem to score in the early innings. Looks like they’ll have to rally again today.
Didn’t take Smardji long.
First pitch j see? Gone. What is the rf? 260?
Just over 300 (310) per Loo. I think he said the old stadium had an even shorter right field of 296 feet.
that was a fucking pop up. What a joke.
Tha giants apparently lead the league in DH batting average
Cheap Yankee Stadium homer. Must’ve landed not too far from San Dawg and Trevor. They found some shade in the RF bleachers…
Why is it this team insists on being behind the 8 ball early almost every game?
A few observations about Yankee fans, Boston fans, etc.
1. Loo and I were sitting near a Yankee fan, who might have just been allowed beer privileges. He was a continuous tape loop of essentially, “Go Yankees” . . . No issues at all, as he was quite friendly, but nevertheless a true Yankee fanatic. I think Chi got into it with him (Chi’s intense) earlier before Chi switched seats. I was cracking up on some of the back and forth comments between this fan and Loo as well (who is very observant of everything around him). You had to be there. Also, I really enjoyed Loo and I discussing the world and my travels. Loo used the word, “insular” to describe himself, i.e., noting that he had rarely gone beyond the NY borders. Also, talked about his various occupations. Quite interesting and again, Loo doesn’t miss a beat – observant about everything . . . You have to keep up. However, no problem if you don’t, as it’s enjoyable to just enjoy his “riffs on life in general.” Clarification Loo if I am missing something here.
2. Earlier, Chi and I were sitting next to 3 other Yankee fans in back of us, and one of them attempted to take Chi’s empty souvenir soda cup and spit in it (he was chewing tobacco or something). Like I said, the dude was in the seat in back of Chi and Chi had gone to the ATM and restroom. Right before this dude spits into the cup, I said, “Hey, what the fuck are you doing? That’s my friend’s cup and he wants to keep it. Put it back . . .” He did, but made a few wise ass remarks about the Giants. Basically, I was “whatever” and just watched the game, recognizing that this is BS and no big thing. Chi got back and said, “Ready to go Steve, it’s the 5th inning and we’re meeting SD, Loo and Mac at their seats.” All of the aforementioned was unknown to Chi, until we left and I told him about it.
3. There was a promo on the big screen – which I commented about to Mac – where it made the Yankees seem like God’s gift to baseball. I guess when you’ve won 27 championships (again, this shit is emphasized all over the stadium), you can take liberty with the current truth – that they stink this season. Chime in Mac. Similarly, Yankee fans are much more vocal about their team being the best versus Boston fans, whom I found more kick back (albeit, the vast majority of Yankee fans are nice). Just a very different vibe from both. Hard to articulate, but it also extends to the two cities as well – Boston is chill and relaxed, while New York is intense, e.g., pedestrians walking fast and on a mission to who knows where???
4. The Bronx is a cool place and more chill than the rest of the boroughs in my opinion . . . Mostly black (some from the Caribbean and other nations too). In every instance where I had contact, they were quite nice and helpful. When I went back to the hotel to get the tickets, I was on the late afternoon commuter train and many were returning home from work. Same deal with children getting off from summer camp and other organized kids related outings. This one group that got on board, started singing and that was cool. My phone was dead, so I missed out on video taping it. Also, I had contact with two single moms who had approx. 3-4 kids each . . . Wow! Both ladies were well organized, reminding their kids to stay close and letting them know how many stops before they all had to get off. They also helped me regarding directions to Yankee Stadium. Amazing, positive, people! I did see a couple of instances, where beggars (possibly mentally ill) got on the train and started speaking out loud and preaching. Weird, but quite interesting. Obvious to me that they needed assistance, i.e., they rode the subway most of the day looking for handouts. Sad.
I have been to many of the great cities of the world and New York and Boston are two places where I felt really comfortable. No issues walking around and as with most places (I probably should say all), the people are friendly and helpful. That being said, they also have nuances that are all their own.
My favorite moment from that Yanks fan was, “Throw it to first, throw it to first!”
Yes, that was hilarious Mac. lulz
Stop making fun of my new best friend…
I think I used “insular” to describe Brooklyn people in general. I don’t think I ever used that word in my life before.
Recalling my summer of ’65 invested in the Village most every evening and the various people i met who as NY natives had never even been as far west as Jersey. Mindblowing.
Damn Stix, you were hangin’ in the Village in ’65!? .. how I would love to hear those stories.
Ahh, yes – I think you did on second thought. Thanks Loo.
And spot-on about the stadium: There’s no mistaking you’re at YANKEE Stadium, world titles and all. In contrast to that is the Mets’ Citi Field, where the first thing you see when you walk through the main entrance is a rotunda that celebrates, not 50-plus years of Mets baseball, but . . . Jackie Robinson.
Yeah Mac, per the Yankee perspective – they’re the masters of the universe . . . and until someone wins at least 20 or so championships, that’s their mind set going forward. Ha.
Blade, thanks again for your nice words about me and I really enjoyed hanging out with you. I’m just not able to lay it out and describe it like you guys can…
De nada Loo . . . By the by, I am seriously thinking about having my own place in Vietnam (OH OH). Anytime you want to visit, the room is free. Same offer goes for anyone else here as well. 🙂
Appreciate that, Blade.
l’ll run it by Soon-Yi and get back to you…
lulz
I saw a stat yesterday that surprised me. The Giants lead MLB with the most times a starting pitcher has made it 8 plus innings. That doesn’t surprise me as much as the number: 16 times. Pretty impressive for this day and age.
Mostly via Cueto.
The Giants radio crew had another weird stat y’day: something like, Cueto leads the majors in getting to 0-2 count, but also in losing it. I don’t know. Some twisted thing like that. And they threw in something from last year. Too confusing to recall.
Blade, Dennis:
Great, great descriptions. Deep bow.
Chi,
This is the sort of detail to put in your book.
Thanks!
That was not a cheapo.
Yeah, baby, Samardzija gettin’ ‘er done early. 1-7 roadie here were come.
At least those 2 Ancient Bombers did not get gifted with ducks on the pond. Time to dissolve Eovaldi and get that congaline rolling.
Did anyone else see that dugout encounter between Smarjklfwa & Rags? What do you think was being said? Rags looked like he was being firm.
SamaHRdzija
Brilliant!
took me a few secs….love it
Sort of surprised to see the lower ring so empty. Do NNY fans typically arrive late like dodger fan or are they just priced out?
Priced out and bored to death by this team…
Thanks, DJ. I figured you’d know. Those first class lazy boys behind home plate look pretty sweet. Pedicure included with the ticket?
Another reason I’ve heard is that some of those seats are empty because the fans are wining and dining in whatever exclusive club-type setup they paid big $$$ for.
As always, Mac is 100% right about that…
I thought I saw it mentioned here that Panik is probably having more than just post concussion issues. Interesting take over on mccovey chron about moving him. 100 games last year, 70 so far this year. I’m not opposed to it (depending on what you get back of course).
Lets get some fucking RUNS!!!!
Blade, great insider account of your trip. Those kinds of details add a lot of color to the events for those of us at home. Even though my family lived in south Jersey for 2 years while I was in high school, I’ve never been to N.Y. or Boston, both of which I’d like to visit someday. Just based on the New Yorkers I’ve met over the years, it is, imo, the most diverse cities in the world, and certainly the hub for all manner of human endeavors.
I was glad to read that the majority of fans and people in both cities are friendly and helpful. Things can get heated between fans of different teams, but, for the most part, baseball is the tie binds. Of the parks I’ve visited in my life, MLB or MiLB, I’ve always been able to find folks to chat about baseball with. Good stuff!
As for Chi, props for you for not taking any shit from the locals!
Thanks LJ!
A lot of empty seats at the yard today!
I think even the local and visiting Giant fans are a little gassed from the last 2 days…
Yeah, that heat is exhausting.
Pena’s big chance…
And the LOB Tour continues.
Pena has resumed form .. too bad .. I was hoping for a miracle ..at least he made him throw a lot if pitches.
Fuckity fuck. Smarge is doing well to keep it at 2 and we keep leaving turds in the bowl.
Why is it we cannot learn to FLUSH?
Sitting in a cool bar literally next to (check that, the bar stretches out over the “river”) a tiny river that separates Connecticut from Rhode Island in Westerly. Getting frustrated with this offensive performance…and it is “offensive” in every form. At least my belly is full with a late brunch:) come on Giants…get it in gear…
Lincecum just gave up a three run bomb to Altuve after first two batters reach in the first.
Whoops. Didn’t see your post WJ.
Altuve 3 run bomb off of Timmie.
Hate to say this, but I got a big stack against Lincecum today in DFS and it is paying off big thus far.
I took Altuve in the MLB Hit Streak contest, so I’m good for the day.
Valbuena just hit a bomb against him a second ago.
Oh man . . .
Ouch, Tim Tim.
Ouch, Tim Tim.
Ho hum…….
Am I imagining this? .. how many times this year have we seen this pattern: opponents get a couple of early runs, usually off dingers, we leave lots & lots of risp until the late innings when we come alive and win by one run .. now, it seems we cannot get that one run victory. Its as though there as been a minute shift that is just enough to turn the tables on us.
I think you’re on the money there, bb.
A few things have caught up to us – or maybe just the law of averages…
this might be it for Timmy….
Im hoping beyond hope that Timmy’s current issues are because he never got enough time to prepare … I know its a long shot but Im hoping he can hang in for another 2 or 3 starts and then at least be competitive .. right now he has moments of looking decent but they are too far & few between.
well Giants gave him a $35 mil tryout for 2 years of suckitude. At least they passed on this one.
anyone who believes one word from his old man is a moron.
It’s not about sticking a fork in him, he was done years ago.
Good post. Agree entirely.
Thanks to the Flappers and their great descriptions of the trip. I appreciate you all taking the time. I would echo the thought that in my trip to Yankee stadium almost everyone my wife and I met we nice gracious people even though I was geared up for the Giants. For someone who live in SoCal it was a great experience. Same for Boston this time!
those 2 phone addicted blondes behind home plate, in the expensive seats, look like they’d rather be shoe shopping.
So would I.
Lulz!
Samarge wearing this one. Fuck. Didn’t really deserve this but he’s glurking this one late.
yeah after the DP on great pickup by Pena bases clear thought he was out of it with a decent outing. Ugh.
Spamalot’s era climbing steadily .. now at 4.15
4.22
5.02
6.75
Just kidding 🙂
Not that it matters anyway, but the four straight rockets weren’t enough to get Smarjshitshow outta there, so they left him in for a fifth.
Altuve 2 bombs.
Agree with Flav . . . Put a fork in Timmy. Sad.
Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft.
Ok .. here we go .. we are gonna turn this mutherfukit around right here and Now! GO GIANTS .. for fucks sake!
Timmy should retire post haste. He hasn’t had a real fastball in what, four years? Five years? If he hasnt figured out how to pitch without it by now, it will never happen.
Let’s go, Cardinals! [tonight] #beatLA
If nothing else, this road trip should push the Giants to be very serious about making a major deal.
Seems they need more than a tweak…
I agree whole heartedly…whole road trip seems to me that they are just going through the motions…
Mac with the Belt-like baserunning.
Bah.
Mailed it in…
I think the Giants had a lead twice the entire road trip, both in extra innings: the Posey HR in San Diego, and yesterday’s win.
What is happening FU? Made it home last night around midnight. Serious shenanigans in Charlotte getting on the flight (I had a damned boarding pass printed at the airport, but still confusion). Luckily I got on.
I loved the trip Blade, Loo, Mac, SanD (and Trevor), and GiantH, but damned it felt good to sleep in MY BED. And it was cool as hell to pull into the driveway at midnight and hear my dogs bark their fool heads off!! Music to my ears.
Slow morning putzing in the garden and yard. Took my dog to play frisbee. Came home and cooked a killer omelet and had a bloody mary. Now if the fucking Giants could just sustain a conga line and knock-out the Yankees, the day would be complete!
Thanks again boys for the great times in Boston and NYC. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Loo – thanks again so much for making it. It was cool as hell to finally meet you. You are a righteous dude…don’t ever change.
I know I am delayed a few minutes in watching the game (got a late start on the recording) so going to post this and wait for the game to be over before I jump back on.
Make it a wonderful Sunday, boys.
The feeling’s mutual, Chi. You were a big part of a day that will always be a happy memory for me.
Middle of the 3rd got me outdoors where i belong rather than in this meltdown resumed. Cut up some branches from a deadfall willow with the 21″ swedesaw. Then off to the composter for sorting out stuff to topdress more of the gardens. Pulled a few weeds there. Also did a wee bit of chinking on a stone pathway through the terrace gardens abuilding.
Coming back in my take was the Giants would be down by 4-1. It was the top of the 9th with two outs and
Pagan on first, Belt at bat. So it ended up 5-2 and SamWhatAm once again has turned into
SamWhatWouldaCouldaShoulda while the offense continues to reek.
If home cookin with the Reds in town doesn’t provide a quick cure, October dreams may segue into fantasy. Or is it Fan T Assy?
When was Brad Penny on the Giants…2009? After reading Blade’s Boston-NY fan recap, reminded me of the game I took Jackson to in Philly and it was the first day Penny joined the Giants and think it was late August.
I typically, as mentioned before only wear my SF cap at road games, and unlike my own experience this week in Boston with great conversations with Red Sox fans and what Chia Blade and the out of towners experienced in NY, the Philly fans are not very friendly. I also commented in my post Fenway report that it seems to me that there are a lot of Giant bandwagoners that have surfaced after all these world series wins. When we were in Philly, we may have seen 4-5 Giant fans at the game…tops…
One a-hole leaned over the railing during Giants BP hurling insults at Penny and maybe just 10 feet from him, and again this was his first day in a Giant uniform, that I think if Penny was any closer to him he would have beaten this guy to a bloody pulp. There was this air of animosity that I’ve never seen from Giants players, I think a copule other Giants wanted to pop this guy.
I dont remember who it was standing closer to the a-hole but it was one of the older relievers just responded sarcastically with “That isnt very nice!” Don’t think I have ever seen such obnoxious behavior against an opposing player. Now what invective Giant fans have given to Fodgers and Lasorda is an entirely different thing. Best line I got off was directed at Broxton at a Nats game coming in from pre-game warm-ups was, “Hey Broxton stay away from the buffet table!” He was a walking fat ass at the time…still is I think.
If that’s the game that Penny pitched, I was one of the other 4-5 Giants fans there.
I wanna say this roadtrip may NOT be a sign that we are as putrid as we seem.
I think we are having synchronicity problems. A game we hit well, the pitching blows it .. and vice versa. Occasionally, those two areas are doing ok and we get sunk by the rare defensive orbas running gaff.
Got a 213 score going in Fan Duel . . . The big zero in my LU is Denard Span. Flavor might understand and have empathy. Sigh . . .
So far, Span has to be considered a bust. Season OBP at .328 for the leadoff guy? That is lame. No pop = SLG at .339. I see no reason to play him over Parker and Williamson other than the contract. Parker could probably play CF, Williamson has to be at a corner. I’m not sweating Williamson’s glove any more — he can improve that with more play and coaching. You can’t teach/learn power…
I wanna say this roadtrip may NOT be a sign that we are as putrid as we seem.
I think we are having synchronicity problems — we are a little out if wack. A game we hit well, the pitching blows it .. and vice versa. Occasionally, those two areas are doing ok and we then get sunk by the rare defensive or (more frequent) base running gaff. Out of synch.
Even with Belts slump, the emergence of Mac, and decent production from the subs, shows we are actually in better shape than we think.
If we go home and stomp the piss outta the Reds, my point will be proven. If we dont, I will concede we are in deep doo doo and something major needs to be done.
I hope we hang tough with the ‘big shake up’ concept at least until the end of this home stand.
Apologies for the weird incomplete dbl post .. bass player fingers typing on a tiny ‘dumb’ phone not a good combo for coherence .. that’s my excuse & Im sticking with it.
.125 team RISP for the entire roadie (9 for 72).
16 hits RISP over the last 122 (.131)
Hard to win games with that.
I think there is no longer a June swoon.
The swoon occurs whenever the Giants hit the inevitable summer long roadie back east that is in the middle of the heat. BF is onto something. They can’t seem to play worth a damn in hot weather…
Okay, I was watching the game on a delay, so for me, the game is finally over. I have told you all over the past week or so that this team needs some adversity (they faced a ton of it in ’10, ’12, and ’14u ), so bring it on.
Every team and players (think Belt) go through rough spells. I still think given the injuries, and inconsistencies of the bullpen, that this team is pretty damned good. If they can get healthy soon (or at least Panik and Pence), I think things will start looking up (yeah, I know…I know…I am almost always the optimist). I have not heard anything about DuffMan in a week or so, but they really must slow play that achilles. I heard this morning that Pence and Panik are basically ready…Giants just be very conservative to ensure they are good to go.
Oh well, wash that shit off and get ready for seven against the Reds and Natty Nats at home before another east coast swing. Bottom line, I am not sweating this.
Also looking forward to seeing what goes down before the deadline. You know Sabevans is going to be buying (or trying to buy).
I basically agree with everything you’ve said Chi. Yet, this problem with risp has been going on all season and it has been building momentum. And its mostly NOT a problem with the subs, its on the regulars. Our overall record seems to point to the fact that we are a weak offensive team but one with great overall SP, excellent defense in the field that is often times stymied by the pen & exacerbated by the lack of timely hitting (rarely are we making teams pay for their mistakes as they are us). However, since the AS break all these issues – stuff we found a way to surmount before the break – are getting the best of us now. I believe if Bum & JC superstar can keep it up, we will get back on track no matter what.
IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA
T Lincecum 1.1 7 8 8 2 0 3 50-26 8.70
Wow!
Brutal. Need some DL if the next one is like that…
YIKES!
Bobby Evans apparently admitted to Lurie that they blew it bringing Cain to pitch his first game back at Fenway. No kidding. Nobody was predicting that was going to be a good move, quite the opposite. And, the expected crap fest happened. Suarez could have started. Maybe result would be same, but who knows? That move with Cain, tells me the FO is not thinking very clearly on him. That contract is so huge, and its been such a bust for 2 1/2 years, I think they are going to keep dragging him out there until it is just too brutal to go on. It may never get that brutal, but bad enough that the squad will basically just lose almost every start, because this team can’t score enough to overcome his crapness…
If I’m Cain, I hang out with Peavy every minute I can. Say what you will about Peavy, but he knows how to pitch in the twilight of his career. He did last season and he’s doing it again this season. To me, Cain is getting close to = Lincecum.
I totally agree. Right now, I’d pitch Peavy in a playoff game over Cain. Not even a close call. Cain’s deal is now fully in Zito territory. He needs to pull out of the crapfest starts ASAP, otherwise I’d bring a young arm up and go with it. Totally unlike Giants to do that, but without pulling out of his nosedive, IMO that contract has no bearing at all anymore. He’s constantly hurt, and always “coming back”…
Yeah, i made note of that when the Break was over and the pitchers announced vs Dago and Boston. What occurred to me then certainly should have been obvious to professionals in the front office and on the field ~ here we got a RH flyball pitcher back from a long stint on the DL and still not geared in and they set him up to face perhaps the most dominant offense in MLB and in their Green Monster dominated playpen besides.
Might have been smarter off to have reversed the rotation, essentially, with Peavy, Cain and Smargie lined
up against SD and then Boston getting to look at Cueto and Bumgarner.
Gaylord Perry’s statue will be dedicated Aug 13. I’m not real thrilled about that. Whatever. I was around when he pitched for SF, he was very good, but he was traded out, and spent more than a second half his career elsewhere with many stops, doing more in that latter half than his SF time, including a Cy. I just never felt much fan love for the guy; if he hadn’t made the HOF somehow, there’s no statue and he’s remembered in the distance as a very good Giant. I’ve got more fanlove for Kirk Reuter, by far. He started 277 games for SF, Perry 283. Just 134 of Perry’s 314 career wins were for SF. And, Perry was more than a bit of a pain in the arse…
Chi and I were talking statues at the bar Friday. He loves Marichal’s the most I think. We were wondering if and when Bonds ever gets one and we agreed that Jeff Kent’s Giant career compares very favorably to Cepeda’s…
Not to be nitpicky but Gaylord has two Cys (one in each league). Had 314 wins and 3,534 Ks in his career (might be a reason he made the HOF). Out of 22 years in baseball, 10 of them were with the Giants and he’s in the Hall as a Giant. I don’t see why you don’t think he should have a statue.
My wife and I thought about coming out for that game but just couldn’t pull the trigger on a West Coast trip right now. He is sort of a neighbor of ours and we think he’s a pretty nice guy and not a pain at all.
well said
Very well said John. I love Kirk Reuter too, but Gaylord has been a good Giant (which snarkk acknowledged) and I think he is well deserving of a statue. Same deal with what Loo and Chi said about Bonds. Should have been approved already Giants brass.
Not saying Perry shouldn’t be in the HOF with his career, including the spitter nonsense. 314 wins gets you in, hands down. I just personally don’t feel much for the guy as a Giants fan. He enjoyed far more than half his career wins elsewhere, though SF was his longest one stop. Bonds is deserving, but apparently he’ll be lucky to get into the HOF in a decade or two through the back door. Meanwhile, he should get a statue without HOF status…
Piazza and Griffey into the HOF today. That’s fine, they’re deserving, with the HOF a given joke now. Piazza has the best all time OPS+ for MLB catchers at 141. Posey is next at 139. Bench is at 127 or so. The thing that is a joke is that Piazza had tons of ‘roid rumors, yet somehow he gets the writers’ golden handshake. Bonds gets the lump of coal, with a career resume that dwarfs Piazza’s. Griffey obviously belongs, he’s had no PEDs talk apparently — but, there’s obviously no guarantee he was always clean…
No arguing about what you just wrote.
I read an interesting article the other day about the new Dodger outfielder Andrew Toles who has been getting more playing time lately because of injuries to other guys. He was a college star and got drafted by the Rays; but had some behavioral issues and some anxiety issues, and was cut by the Rays two years ago. He was completely out of baseball last season, and worked at a gas station for a while. The Rays guy who drafted him, Friedman, works in the Dodgers front office now, and decided to give the guy another chance. They signed him to a Single A deal at the start of this season, and he progressed quickly through the minors and is now getting his shot with the big club. He basically looks like a younger, faster version of Span, beard and all. The Dodgers are probably very ready to deal Puig, anyway. Trayce Thompson’s season has cooled off. Ethier may not be back at all this season. His hairline leg fracture just isn’t healing very fast.
This was a dullard of a road trip — for the team, not our FlapRoadWarriors. I studiously avoided most of, not wanting to be the one who rubbernecks by a passing accident. Think of it, the Yankees took a series in which THEY were abysmal! Anyway, this distinctly reminds me of 2012: Pittsburgh, before ASG, hot as a steel furnace, bedraggled, worn, depleted, flat.
That year turned out more than merely okay.
(See, even Doomers can let optimism burst through.)
Insert DJ’s Jimmy Ray Hart rant. Which in totally behind. Perry? Liked him when he was here, and didn’t really care about him when he left. But I sure noticed his success. But if you are building statues, Will Clark and Robby Thompson seemed to mean more to the team in their time. Same with fricking Kevin Mtchell.
Perry had the Same career arc as Baby Bull, though. A lot of their success wasn’t here.
Everyone blows up at RISP hitting but I think that is cyclical, like winning one run games. Over a time period (month or two, year) you are going to have fluctuations and be better at it, or suck.
I don’t think Giants need a big deal. but if I did, I’d be more into 2b/3b replacement than pitching. And maybe that comes from minors, including Specs once he gets some ABs.
Second year in a row Panik has missed a lot of time and his numbers this year are nowhere near last year, just like Duffy. Neither of these guys seem like top of order hitters to me and I’d argue their replacements haven’t been that big drop off.
Panik had the back thing last year, and a bit this year, but this year he’s been out the most with the beaning and concussion. I wouldn’t say that indicates the guy is injury prone after only 1 1/2 seasons. I like him a lot, he’s got a flat swing and a very good batting eye, plus a pretty good glove. I think he’s a better player overall than Duffy, so if anybody were replaced, Duffy wouldn’t bother me. He’s good in the clubhouse, though, witness the Willie Mac award. Something to be said for that…
Cards bringing up a kid pitcher from AAA tonite vs LA, his first MLB start. On ESPN Sunday night game. If this were SF, we’d guess the kid would slay them, we know how they do against unknowns. LA? Probably they’ll smoke the kid…
Slightly off topic. I just saw this commercial on regular TV and I have to admit, I’m a little shocked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPsY2hrJylE
Pretty risque.
I mean, what can one say? Not much without risking ill repute. The topic would be totally off-limits years ago, even if it were more oblique. i give them credit, though. Pretty clever. (Not cleaver.) They came at it sideways and breezily. (Lots of innuendo here if you want it.) The NYT had an article a week or two ago saying mostly all women not ‘mature’ now trim. The headline noted that doctors are baffled. That was click-bait I did not succumb to. Come to think of it, Loo’s “slightly off topic” intro is very funny.
The first time I saw a shaved one up close it was startling.
I was always used to friggin’ hay field…
There is more action in that 30 seconds than the Giants entire roadie…
hahahahahaha … and more to activate the male RISP
The Dodgers faced a AAA call-up in the Nats series, too, earlier this week. They hammered that guy.
Yup. I can understand Giants not hitting well with 3 of their starters out. But, this team over a number of seasons seems prone to long stretches where literally the entire team can’t hit, including the guys with big paychecks. I don’t know if many other squads do that, maybe they do. Anyway, Belt is taking major abuse for his roadie implosion, but the entire team except Brown and Williamson did squat. Posey and Craw were right next to Belt in terms of non production — a ground out or pop out are as much an out as a called or swinging K. Craw had nary an RBI, like Belt. And, Belt was consistently the best hitter on the team next to Craw for the first half…
I still think Jeff Kent is the most underrated SF Giant of all time. I truely believe Kent had more to do with Bond’s success than steroids ever could. Of course, one could say the same about Kent benefiting from the presence of Bonds. In fact, I would rate him as the most important Giant hitter not named Bonds or Clark in the last 30 years. It’s a joke he is not in the HOF, let alone on the first ballot.
I always liked Kent. He produced. And, no excuses if he screwed up. The guy was a baller. His hitting stats dwarf Joe Morgan’s stats, Joe of the HOF crew that is into pulling up the ladder and leaving everybody else out of the HOF clubhouse…
He was tremendous He wore Candy Maldonado’s # 21 with great honor.
Guys they’ve given #21 to since:
Ruben Rivera
Carlos Valderrama
Eric Young
Tony Torcato
Jason Ellison
Alex Sanchez
Ryan Klesko
John Bowker
Freddy Sanchez
Nick Noonan
Tony Abreu
Conor Gillaspie
Standard camera shots of the young player’s nervous parents, family, and friends. So standard they’re a cliche now.
And he promptly gives up a single to Utley.
And a single to Seager.
And walks Turner.
And a grandslam to Gonzalez.
And a double to Kendrick.
And a 2-RBI single to Kazmir, the pitcher.
You’re right, Zum. I wish one of these dads was a foul-mouthed drunk…
His dad may get there before this is over.
I cannot disagree with Willedav that risp is cyclical but even though this team has had its cycles of positive production in the area, it has been outweighed by the negatives. I’m starting to believe that there is a psychological issue at play. We are not a dominant team offensively; we don’t have a lot of power. The hitters knowing that, begin to press when they are behind in the count and on the scoreboard. Generally, the results are not good.
I also agree with Snarkk that losing Panik & Duffy hasn’t been such a big deal. Their replacements have been more than adequate. Yet, when P & D are playing to their potential I think they are the prime instigators of the congaline — something we’ve seen far too little of this year. Whether we ever again see what they showed us last year is an arguable point. Who can say for sure?
For various reasons the most obvious thing for me personally, and maybe it’s just based in my doomer attitude, is that this team has been a house of cards waiting to topple. The fact that it has doesn’t make me feel righteous. I wish I was wrong, but I don’t think I am.
But it’s a weird year for sure. World beaters (sort of) for awhile, then suddenly looking like a bunch of amateurs. The hope I carry is in the realization that those 3 recent WS championship years were more than a little odd too in the way they unfolded. Maybe we have to take this low point as a sign of great things coming our way just over the horizon. Not an easy mantle to carry for a doomer like myself but an attitude I will do my best to foster.