No April Showers ‘Round Here

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on April 30, 2018

With but a final game to go in Big Bad April, I trust we can expect all of the hand wringing to be over when it comes to the schedule. I was never a *schedule hand wringer* because I worry more about the Giants playing the bad teams than the good ones. But by any measure, coming out of April at .500 (technically we’ll be +1 or -1) has to be considered a huge success considering the burden of angst many Flappers carried around to start the season.

We are winning because of our pitching and our power. The Giants are 4th in the NL in home runs. That is astounding coming off last year. I guess it has something to do with having some different hitters, too. And Belt has decided to start swinging the bat. Go back to his 4 strikeout game on April 9th and look at what he’s done since. He’s been crushing.

I’m not expecting smooth sailing ahead. But we didn’t bury ourselves in April and there is a lot to be positive about going forward. Stay healthy, get Bum back, we’ll be fine…..

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willedav said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:20 am

“Is Bochy doing a good job?” Hella good question. For a guy who had to run Beede out there twice I’d say so.
Seems to have less patience/quicker hook these days
Now that he’s got Slater Hanson (and Mac hopefully soon) in there plus Specs it will be interesting to see how he handles the LU. He’s thrown the young pitchers in there too, with mixed results.

So far so good. Pitching keeping most games close. Beating LA always great…like to see that success extend to Pads too.
YogiBarrister (@Yogi47951368) said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:24 am

Irrespective of the Giants perfectly average W-L record, this has been a thoroughly entertaining month of baseball.
Perhaps because I mostly listen to the games on the radio, and I’m doing an exhaustive deep dive into the decade, this season has a decidedly ’50s vibe, at least in the NL.
It’s a nice blend of pitching, power hitting, and defense so far. No young Willie Mays being called up (The Braves have him), but Mac The Oaf will do. Kelby Tomlinson is pure Fifties, so are the Posey/Panik twins, and Strickland. Crawford, McCutchen, and Bumgarner have ’50’s attitude if not the hairstyles. Blanco is the Venezuelan Whitey Lockman, Belt is Earl Torgeson, Longoria is Willie Jones.
Meet you down at the Hunter Pence sock hop.
Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:29 am

Taxi Driver really was a good movie. Despite the ending which i’ve gotten over. It has stood the test of time, 40 years later it’s still good. That’s the best test for a movie IMO
- gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:07 am
  
  You looking at me??? Harvey Keitel as the pimp classic..
- YogiBarrister (@Yogi47951368) said, on April 30, 2018 at 11:55 am
  
  Without repeating what I wrote last night: the fact I remember so much about Taxi Driver having only seen it once in a theater 42 years ago and once on DVD is a testament to its quality. I don’t particularly like it. Bickle is repellent, Iris and his friend at the taxi stand notwithstanding, the supporting characters aren’t very well written, in fact they mostly weren’t written at all. A lot of the dialogue was improvised. Yes, Harvey Keitel playing Harvey Keitel playing a pimp is amusing, great acting it is not.
  The ending as you say sucked balls, even the shootout wasn’t well composed.
  Of the eight movies Scoresese and DeNiro collaborated on, I think it’s only better than New York, New York. Depending on my mood though, I might prefer to watch that.
  - djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 1:13 pm
    
    You don’t love Easy Andy?
  - YogiBarrister (@Yogi47951368) said, on April 30, 2018 at 2:49 pm
    
    Yeah, That was a good scene.
    “If you’re dumb enough to put a round in the chamber”
    If observed by gun fetishists, that line could have balanced out some of the lives lost to the ones who think Bickle is a hero.
willedav said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:44 am

Pence will be a hurdle. He’s 1-8 in Sac. Just don’t think things will end well.
also notice Jackson has spent fair amount of time on bench lately.
- djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 1:22 pm
  
  I think Amy said he’s been playing RF there. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him back there with Cutch moving back to CF. Mac’s return and Jax performance will obviously figure heavily in those decisions.
  Just a bunch of speculation…
Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:48 am

Bellinger getting benched yesterday was also fantastic and we didn’t give that enough attention
- willedav said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:23 am
  
  lot of national attention. Fanbase doesn’t seem too impressed with either Bellinger (after last year WS flop) or Roberts and his pen mgmt. Bellinger kinda jogged into 2b and I’m sure thought he had bomb off the bat. Slater was way the f out there and ball took slow hop off the wall.
  
  At that point score was 4-0 but as Unc says it was bad look. Roberts also said things had been discussed before so it gives lie to kid’s take he always plays hard.
  Scoring from 3b lot easier. As others mentioned, are you doing all you can to help your team win?
- gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:09 am
  
  And Bellinger kind of showing up his manager by saying no one will tell him how to play…take that Dave Roberts…go Sharks!!!
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:55 am

Did Belanger really dog it out f the box? Plenty of guys have been ATTed that very way (Puig about 5x) but I like it. Roberts comes across as Mr Nice Guy, and I hope he. Stays below .500 but for a yong player that’s a bad look a close game
- Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:58 am
  
  i mean, Roberts didn’t bench him for blowing kisses at the ladies in the stands. Of course he dogged it, who doesn’t make it to third base on a hit like that?
- unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:16 am
  
  I thought I heard him say he stumbled out of the box. I didn’t see the play.
  - Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:18 am
    
    he went to a knee on the swing but popped right up and proceeded to lolly gag into second base.
  - Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:31 am
    
    Here’s the best clip of Bellinger doggin’ it, starts at about 29 seconds.
    
    https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-giants/2018/04/29/529821#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=529821
  - Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:34 am
    
    Dammit, wrong one. This is it:
    
    https://www.mlb.com/video/roberts-on-removing-bellinger/c-1991330883?tid=6479266
  - Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:36 am
    
    this is the link not the one Mac posted
    https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-giants/2018/04/29/529821#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=529821
  - djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:13 am
    
    I didn’t think it was all that bad by today’s standards…
dirtnrocksnomo said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:47 am

.500 with a chance to go a game over to close the month is feeling pretty good.
chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:17 am

With facing the bums 10 times in basically the first month, I said from the beginning, stay at or near .500 and that would be good. Here we are.

That series against dago still pisses me off, but plays right into Flav’s comment “I worry more about the Giants playing the bad teams than the good ones.” The friars always seem to play us tough. Kind of like the Fucking A’s.

Anyway, just win another series…
alleykat69 said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:21 am

I give Roberts all the props for jerking Bellinger for dogging it.Easy triple with his speed, he has talent start proving it more!
djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:31 am

An update on your Derby horse, Flavor…

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/227247/instilled-regard-solomini-put-in-final-derby-works
- Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 11:21 am
  
  Think hitting the super with him, not winning. He’ll be 40-1
- Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 11:22 am
  
  Also I have some very strong derby thoughts this year, sat morning let’s talk
  - djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 1:26 pm
    
    I don’t know about where you are, but in NY it might be the most buzzless Derby ever.
    Not a peep except among the hardcore everyday crowd – and even they seem indifferent.
    No strong opinions from me. One of those years when I’ll probably just land on someone.
gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:31 am

I thought 86 wins was wild card territory. Thought we would be in that range before Bum’s injury, then thought .500 was our likely range. So comimg out of April at .500 is a minor miracle. With so many games against the Fodgers, it is a major miracle we are ahead of them and Arizona maybbe real enough to run away woth the division.

But I dont think 86 wins is going to do it for the wild card. Many teams are playing much better than I had expected and may take 90 wins to be a wild card…Go Sharks!! Flav, you just need to attend a playoff game to change your whole perspective.. will be crazy tonight…
gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:31 am

I thought 86 wins was wild card territory. Thought we would be in that range before Bum’s injury, then thought .500 was our likely range. So comimg out of April at .500 is a minor miracle. With so many games against the Fodgers, it is a major miracle we are ahead of them and Arizona maybe real enough to run away with the division.

But I dont think 86 wins is going to do it for the wild card. Many teams are playing much better than I had expected and may take 90 wins to be a wild card…Go Sharks!! Flav, you just need to attend a playoff game to change your whole perspective.. will be crazy tonight…
- gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:32 am
  
  How did that post twice??? Sorry charlies…
xoot said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:42 am

The bums have a very poor success/talent ratio this year, aggravated by a couple of serious malcontents. And the long 2017 season and PS may have sapped both Kershaw and Jansen. LA may not revive from their April.

Hard to doom on the Giants, right now. We all understand what Bochy can do when he has good players to shuffle in and out and a decent pen. If I’d known in February that Bum, Smarge, Panik and Pence would all be on the DL in April, I’d have been down and out. The idea of Stricknine as closer would’ve increased the foreboding. But the way the team’s playing shows real promise.
dirtnrocksnomo said, on April 30, 2018 at 11:11 am

McCutchen has typically started slow and picked it up in May/June so hopefully his career trend continues. Don’t really know what to think of Crawford’s struggles but he has also tended to started slow.
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 11:46 am

Crawford is worrisome as hell. He hasn’t done shit all year but for 3 RBIs? .191?

Suckage.
- djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 1:08 pm
  
  He really is. Almost looks like he’s given up hope at the plate.
  At least the defense is still there, but the price is steep through 2021…
gianthead said, on April 30, 2018 at 1:49 pm

Do I have this right. Slater came up for Osich and if they call up Will Smith, does he take up Slater’s spot in the rotation? I am fearful they stick Pence in for Cheesy Mac as he does the concussion protocol.
dirtnrocksnomo said, on April 30, 2018 at 2:06 pm

I was watching some highlights from yesterday’s game and it seems like Gorkys should give Blanco his number back.
alleykat69 said, on April 30, 2018 at 2:31 pm

Get a clue on baseball Bellinger,When a 33 year old Gregor Blanco can dial it up in 11seconds for his triple, ( only Dee Gordon & Billy Hamilton faster) hustling out of the box you have no excuses..
- unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 3:31 pm
  
  And Blanco’s didn’t reach the wall . . .
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 2:37 pm

Right. The Dogs are easy. Our kryptonite has been the Pads for quite a while now.

Going tonight with Smarglebargle on the hill. Cool night so the balls should stay in the yard.

Wild rookie (Lauer) who got shelled his last outing. IOW, trouble in China Basin . . .
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 3:44 pm

Woh!
Seager to have Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow that was injured sometime last season. He is out for the rest of this season.
- zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 3:45 pm
  
  That explains his lack of HR pop this season.
- Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 3:51 pm
  
  Ouch.
- chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:16 pm
  
  Saw that this afternoon. Good for us and the NL West, but is kind of feel sorry for him. He’s a beast 2nd sacker…huge loss for the bumbinos….
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 3:56 pm

LF G. Hernandez (R)
RF A. McCutchen (R)
C Buster Posey (R)
3B Evan Longoria (R)
1B Brandon Belt (L)
CF Austin Jackson (R)
SS Kelby Tomlinson (R)
2B Alen Hanson (S)
P Jeff Samardzija (R)

There was a time when I would have called this a scrubini lineup, but I’m not sure anymore what’s a real lineup and what’s a scrubini lineup with these guys.
alleykat69 said, on April 30, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Dogpile medical staff just as bad as are’s.Seager played thru the W/S with the injury probably before. Tough one to swallow at such a young age.Wish him the best in his recovery..
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 4:04 pm

Manny Machado is out there for a trade. But the Dodger FO has been not willing to trade their top prospects over the last several years.
- zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 4:18 pm
  
  And, of course, Machado would just be a partial year rental.
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 5:52 pm

I’m not a fan of either team, especially Boston, but Sixers-Celtics: Now that’s the NBA playoffs.
- djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 6:01 pm
  
  How in the world did the Nets ever make the Finals 2 straight years?
  - Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 6:05 pm
    
    1) Jason Kidd; 2) The East wasn’t real tough those two seasons, although had Kidd been playing on two good knees in ’04, they might’ve beaten the Pistons, who then won the title.
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 5:54 pm

Pav: Panik had surgery today, out at least six weeks.
- chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:38 pm
  
  Could be worse…could be TJ surgery such as Seager….
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:20 pm

Tonight’s LU looks more than a little suspect.
Plus, facing some dude just up from AAA, as usual.
Belt’s been hotter n’ a pistol, and getting on base a ton.
So, Bochy has Cutch with an OBP underwater, batting 2nd.
They’ll probably score 6…
- Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:28 pm
  
  Hey, Cutch leads the team in walks!
  - chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:53 pm
    
    That is crazy…never would have guessed that one, Mac…
chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:21 pm

Shit! Watching Sharks hockey…switch over, and 1st and 3rd, one out. WTF. Why, always with the fucking Padres!???
- snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:23 pm
  
  Giants LU tonight is no better than the Pads…
chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:25 pm

Houdini…
chipower9 said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:31 pm

Someone mentioned McCutcheon typically starting slow. I hope so….
- Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:07 pm
  
  2 for 2 so far . . .
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:52 pm

Sparse crowd that’s for sure. Good to see us hitting the stiff.
Pasalon said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:57 pm

.
- Pasalon said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:57 pm
  
  Amy G giving an interview in the presigious ‘Nexus Gout Club’
  - Pasalon said, on April 30, 2018 at 7:58 pm
    
    I mean Lexus…
Flavor said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:08 pm

If the Giants win tonight, they will be in 2nd place in the NL West

— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) May 1, 2018
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:37 pm

Uh, new guy, that was dumb.
djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:47 pm

That was a neat little play…
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:48 pm

Samardzxxx throwing a bunch of cookies up there. Criminiy…
Lurker John said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:50 pm

We need some bloody runs.
dirtnrocksnomo said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:51 pm

Samardzija clearly still not right. Bochy was just praying He would make it through 5 there for a chance at the W.
Lurker John said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:52 pm

Fuck Posey.
Lurker John said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:52 pm

After one bad inning, yet another rookie nobody is dominating the Giants.
djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:55 pm

One or both shoulda tagged up…
- sandog said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:57 pm
  
  No shit. Just turned it on and can’t believe Cutch is still on second.
- willedav said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:58 pm
  
  yeah it was hit right at CF and wasn’t going out. Surprised me too Cutch wasn’t tagging up.
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 8:58 pm

Not getting a good feeling about this one.
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:00 pm

These guys are sleeping out here. Picked off. Stealing 3rd? WTF? Nobody takin bases?
sandog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:01 pm

ESPN article says Chris Taylor is now going to play short for LA. He’s one helluva athlete if he can pull that off, but seeing the way he plays CF I don’t doubt he can do it. I remember he was originally an infielder, but I thought he was more of a second basemen.
- djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:27 pm
  
  Mays played SS for 3 innings at Shea in the 23 inning game in ’64…
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:12 pm

Here we go again. This is fucking ridiculous. The Padres suck — S-U-C-K suck. If it weren’t for their dominance of the Giants, they’d still have single-digit wins along with the other handful of sucky MLB teams. It doesn’t matter a goddamn fuck that the Giants won 3 of 4 from the Dodgers if they can’t beat this shitbag team.
sandog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:12 pm

Good Lord, they are crushing everything he throws.
sandog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:14 pm

Hansen is a hot mess out there.
djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:15 pm

Nothing can fuck with you like a .500 team.
You never know what to believe…
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:20 pm

More trouble with the mighty Padres.
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Re Unca’s 9:00: After a walk with one out, 2 pitches, 2 outs, end of inning.
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:22 pm

If my AARP age eyes can see Samardzxxxx ‘s got nothin’,why can’t the Giants? Keereist. Put him back on the DL and sub in Suarez until further notice. The guy was throwing muffins up there into the kill zone.
Not to mention he looked like he last took some bunt practice in 2011…
- djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:24 pm
  
  Kruk did say in the first inning that his mechanics were out of whack – followed by the usual “it’s still Spring Training for him”…
  - snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:27 pm
    
    If he’s not ready, or still hurt, then why the F is he in there? He can barely get through 5, luckily without getting creamed…
  - djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:28 pm
    
    $$$$$$$$$$
  - snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:29 pm
    
    Yeah, that has to be it, sad to say…
  - zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:32 pm
    
    Yep, in the Giants world, if you’re getting paid a lot, you play. Get ready for some more Pence-time!
James said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:22 pm

Longoria had a chance to start a triple play. Since no one else said it . . . .
Lurker John said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:26 pm

Can’t handle 10-19 San Diego. A roadie sounds pretty good right about now. Nice choke job.
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:29 pm

Several teams have had Smarj and tried to fix him. Maybe it’s hopeless.
- snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:30 pm
  
  I was in a brew pub watching him. I didn’t catch any velo on his pitches, I was paying a little more attention to my pint of Pliny the Elder. Was he throwing 92+? I swear, some of those fastballs looked like macaroons…
  - unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:09 pm
    
    Moronta was throwing 95.
djloo27 said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:30 pm

Here comes the human lullaby.
Goodnight all…
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:31 pm

Why the fuck cantwebestthis team?
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:31 pm

Cold as fuck.
PaulinAsia Banh Bao said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:36 pm

Was trying to follow the game on MLB Gameday, but for the past 45 minutes, it’s showing 3-2 Giants, 5th inning. ESPN just showed me it’s 7th inning and Giants down by 2. How the hell did that happen? Seems Gameday got sick of showing a crap show…..
- Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:42 pm
  
  It’s the free game on MLB.com, if you have the stomach for it.
xoot said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:41 pm

It’s like they wanted to give the game away. So far, they have.
PaulinAsia Banh Bao said, on April 30, 2018 at 9:48 pm

Not always, but usually from afar without seeing the game, I can tell how it’s going just from Flap comments. For example, MacDog’s 9:12, if I redact all words except for the *swear words*, it goes “Fucking suck S-U-C-K suck sucky goddamn fuck shitbag.” Guess that’s all I really need to know, huh… 🙂
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:01 pm

D-Backs have hit a bunch of HRs vs. the Dodgers.
- zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:04 pm
  
  Taylor made an error at shortstop.
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:29 pm

I may have missed, why not PRun for Posey here?…
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:30 pm

I don’t get it, Posey is tying run at third, he can score on a wild pitch,why not PRun for him?…
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:35 pm

Comeback!!!
Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:36 pm

Hand us a win!
xoot said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:36 pm

Unbelievable! Do we already have more come from behind wins in April than in all of 2017? Seems like it.
PaulinAsia Banh Bao said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:37 pm

Yes, let’s give Mr. Hand a hand, thank you very much.
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:37 pm

They woke up!
Great comeback!
I said they’d score 6…
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:38 pm

I did not see that coming.
unca_chuck said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:39 pm

SITTING ON BART WTF happened?
- zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:41 pm
  
  Their closer walked a bunch of guys. Good ABs from the Giants. And two clutch hits. Longoria and Hundley.
- Macdog said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:42 pm
  
  Down 5-3 with 2 out and Slater on base: Posey walk, Longo bloop RBI single, Belt walk to load bases, Hundley pinch-hit 2-run single to win it.
  - zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:45 pm
YogiBarrister (@Yogi47951368) said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:42 pm
zumiee said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:43 pm
alleykat69 said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:45 pm

Hundley was so pumped with that game winning hit , the helmet toss, the water bath, out of breath with adrenaline talking to Amy G, then Still sprinting to the clubhouse afterwards,awesome baby!!
Sitting around for 3 hrs and jacking a 1st pitch 2 RBI’s yowzer..
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:50 pm

Snelten or Osich/Okert?
I’m takin’ the Opie-like motion…
xoot said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:55 pm

“Let’s be honest, we were out of pitching,” says Bochy, shaking his head.
snarkk said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:56 pm

Gyros end April 15-14.
Pretty damn good given all the drama…
- PaulinAsia Banh Bao said, on April 30, 2018 at 10:58 pm
  
  Indeed. And with some momentum heading into May.