Winning Time
Tyler Chatwood is beatable if we are patient with him. He has an unseemly 41/40 SO/bb ratio. Seriously, how can you start games and walk that many dudes? Anyway, if Blach can *five* his way through this game I like our chances.
My buddy asked me last night “Isn’t it less satisfying to beat the Rockets without Chris Paul?” And I was like “uh, no, are you an idiot?” Tough luck for them but winnings championships is a long journey that is always worth it no matter how you get there. It’s so hard to get to the top of the mountain. I don’t have any idea what will happen tomorrow night but it’s Game 7 and there isn’t a more fun moment in sports. I can’t decide who I want to win tonight. On one hand I’d like to see Boston stick it to Lebron and watch Cleveland fans weep in unison on twitter. On the other hand, the Cavs would be a cakewalk in the Finals.
At some point James has to slow down. He HAS to. Dude is a machine. He’s better than Jordan the same way Brady is better than Montana.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
So few minor leaguers end up with a career in the majors. The number is less than 5%. It’s a staggering reality.
So pitchers in the minors get used to batters swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, then they get called up to the majors, and major league hitters aren’t fooled as much. It has to be a shock to most pitchers. What now? Guys like Beede ask what now? They have to come into the strike zone more than they’ve ever had to their whole lives and they get rocked.
weaklings
Ouch.
Mac is going to change that!
‘The same’ was as in failing in the biggest moments.
GS has been playing without a starter for 3 games now. In Igs place is Looney and they go deep into bench for guys like Cook Young and Bell. They aren’t playing 5 on 4—put your best 5 out there and see what happens.
Looney has become at least decent defender and rebounder despite zero O skills. Sadly he is best of their recent draft picks. McCaw is not an NBA player and Bell has very limited skill set, which does not include being able to switch out and guard smaller players. Jones spent another year in G-League alongside Boucher.
This is not good.
Celts have allowed Cle to get this far, not good sign but hopefully send them packing today.
Lets not bring up the Brady debate again. Montana will always be the king of the mountain ⛰ stomping his feet on Brady’s hands as he tries to get to the top..
You lose 3 SB’s your less then a average Joe..
Or the Jordan one. No way Mike lets KD walk into a game clinching 3 right in his face, ever.
Ditto AK. I am too worn out from the last time arguing this BS. lulz
Blach still has best ERA/FIP of the 5, and lowest HR rate. So far he’s only given up 4 in 57 innings. As a team SF has still given up 2 fewer bombs than they have hit.
Fox announcers sounded pretty impressed with them by end of game. 2 games out of first place still!
And health of some valuable contributors about to improve to where they can join/rejoin team.
If this is true, Pence may be gone from the Giants in 6 days. I hope the Giants grow a sack and make the right decision.
https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hunter_pence_could_be_on_the_out_with_san_francisco/s1_13237_26505560?mb_edition=20180527
I’ll be stunned if it happens. I just don’t see it happening.
I’d be stunned if they ate $12 million without at least taking a last look at him. He can’t be much worse than the field of flops they trot out there on a daily basis. Plus, he’s a pretty historic and beloved Giant…
McCutcheon’s monthly splits from 2017:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=mccutan01&year=2017&t=b#half::none
Longoria (8 errors!) has been no more productive, despite the 8 HRs, and is the less likely of the two to improve over the season.
NL offense is down a lot this year, so they’re both actually turning in disappointing, but ok performances so far.
Pitchers are adjusting to launch-angle baseball.
I haven’t checked it yet, but it seems like the high strike is being called a lot more this year. 95 MPH across the letters is tough.
Agree James. I cited his 8 errors last week. Not impressed with either acquisition.
Still holding out hope that McC has a couple of good months. The two Brandons are not going to maintain their numbers over the entire season. Others need to to get hot.
So, if we go with those splits as predictive, Cutch will just go wild in June and July, crash and burn in August, and get back on track in September. At least he’s not on a 5 year deal like Longoria…
Longoria only has 2 homers in May.
Looks like another horrific contract.
He also just doesn’t look right in a Giant uniform…
Romo gives up 3 runs in 1/3 inning in his latest start. Enough already.
seriously, this is so stupid.
It really is…
Should be interesting here tomorrow night when the Flap morphs into DubHub.
Could be the defining game of Harden’s career…
I can’t imagine Pence not getting called back up and having one last shot with the Giants. If not, why are they wasting everyone’s time, especially Pence’s, by playing him in Sac and likely taking away playing time from their OF prospects when they could’ve just let him go already?
he developed a new swing, a swing that should have absolutely no impact on his play, that they will want to see at mlb level. Cutting him loose now is just some guy writing an article making stuff up trying to get people to re-tweet his bullshit.
That super-imposed strike zone box during live play is really annoying the fuck out of me.
It should only be used on replays. Is it being done this way on every team’s telecasts now?
No, some have it to the right side of the screen. I want to say Houston’s telecast did that, but it might have been Philly.
Post of the day…”Uh no. Are you an idiot?”
To his “buddy” no less…
Pence will be back.
That contract is a siren’s song to Giants management.
They’ll want to see whether his new uppercut means anything.
Meanwhile, out in the field, he’s no better than Mac, and his arm stinks.
Somebody will go on mystery injury DL so he can come up for at least 10 days for either a miraculous return or a swan song and coffee farewell…
They should let Minaj chill for 10 days on the phantom DL – put Cutch back in CF and Underpants in right when he’s called up. At least they’ll be back in defensive positions that they’re comfortable playing even if they aren’t any good at it anymore.
lulz!
Since he was brought up recently, for the Rays, Arroyo has 15 ABs with splits:
.333/.444/.467
Here’s a more detailed post by Alex Pavlovic of what’s going on with Pence . . .
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/future-air-hunter-pence-making-most-rehab-assignment
Yeah, Pavlovic is the writer of the original story. He would, in theory, have one or more sources in the Giants organization.
Cubs fans don’t think we saw this regarding Craw’s bomb . . . Dumb tradition.
Everybody knows they’re keeping the real home run balls, so what’s the point of throwing the fake ones? It really is pretty silly.
Never got in to weird lines of grass designs on fields. The A’s one today is just dumb.
Some think it’s cool. My mom does. I have a theory that some of my mom’s baseball enjoyment is seeing the well-manicured lawns the players play on.
I find those patterns distracting, especially today’s.
Watching the A’s, and listening to ‘Ray and the other K.’
lqtm
And Dallas Braden from his cubbyhole somewhere in the stadium.
Braden isn’t bad and at least brings some energy to the other lifeless ones.
Btw, Harvey through 5/3 runs.
Yeah, Braden has grown on me.
Rocks hit couple bombs and scored 3 in 1st, haven’t scored since though they’ve had RISP. Last inning he K’d Arenado looking with 95 heat.
Wolters singled and then after pitching change scored Rox 4th run charged to Harvey who couldn’t finish 6th.
Does the definition of a quality start begin and end right at the 6 inning mark?
If you pitch 6 innings and give up 3 runs, then pitch the 7th and give up 3 more is it still a quality start?
I guess so…
no. You can’t give up more than 3 runs in the start AND you have to go at least 6.
It’s strange – I knew that and then I started thinking about it and it doesn’t make sense.
So you can pitch 8 perfect innings and give up a grand slam in the 9th and it’s not a QS.
Doesn’t seem fair…
Buster is on pace for 7 bombs this season. You guys sure he’s worth all that dough?
He hit a 410 foot out the other day. The home ballpark does cost him a few.
Do you think he’s a “sure-fire” HOF-er like the announcer said yesterday?
He’s basically having Munson’s career which was in decline at the time of his death.
Even with the sympathy vote, I don’t think Munson was anywhere close to getting in…
Loo I’d say so. Posey has been a much better hitter overall and has been best D catcher of his era. Now if he falls off as drastically as Munson did last 2 seasons of his career, I could see questions around him. I doubt that happens though.
I do think at some point he could move to 1b where his power numbers might increase a bit.
very interested to see Pablo play 2nd tonight. Remember when Huff went the wrong way when he was playing there? Said it was instinct? Then turned out he was having panic attacks. I don’t know what that was all about…..
He wrote a book about his issues, but I don’t think any of us read it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1944903178/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527458220&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=aubrey+huff#
“Baseball Junkie uses brutal honesty, humor, and first-person narration to draw an intimate portrait of life in the big leagues. Aubrey bares all, taking the reader inside the complex life and mind of a man as he balances victories with the crippling demons of addiction, divorce, anxiety, depression, and feelings of inferiority. It inspires each of us to seek more than what this world has to offer. To rise above mediocrity and achieve our true potential while staying focused on what really matters when the fame and excitement of the game fade with the sunset.”
Huff is incredibly dumb. Read up on some of his political beliefs if you can stomach it.
i couldn’t come up with a way to root for the Cavs tonight, even with them being the easier road in the finals. I just hate Clev fans too much to ever root for their team.
I will appreciate a Lebron monster game if it should come to pass. He’s just incredible what he can do, basically all by himself, at his age……
A’s closer hits 99 on his fastball, and just mows through the D-Backs in the 9th.
Time of game: 2 hours, 38 minutes.
A’s are 28-25 now.
look at this shit. Craw is literally teaching him how to do this. This can’t end well.
I’m impressed with how good his feet move. Maybe it’s perception, but I think Craw is just telling him how he likes to receive the ball and showing him a quicker way to get it to him (“push” “shove” versus Pablo’s underhand toss).
That being said, he’s never played the position in an MLB, nor likely a minor league game. Regardless, he’s an athlete and Boch commented on how well he moves, so they’re trying this probably to get another bat in against a righty. Kelby = a good utility guy – is no starter, as his stats show. I’m looking forward to seeing Pablo play.
Y Grandal over last 2+ seasons has twice as many HRs as Posey. Should he be making twice as much? Is he twice the player? Should their salaries be reversed?
I’ve decided I no longer care how much any player makes. Club owners, as in case of Giants, are billionaires and have ever increasing share of profits that is unlikely to change in near future. Contracts are negotiated and signed in good faith by players and bean counters on the other side.
I do care how a player performs which is why I would have waived Pence last year and would do it again, now.
Alou bio is fabulous read. His take on what happened during Giants days as a player is terrific.
I’ll look for that. My local library is great at getting new books.
Willie, did any part of the book mention the pollution (mostly lead, but plenty of other chemicals) in the town where he grew up, Bajos de Haina? Apparently, it is one of the most polluted places on earth. Pure Earth Institute names it 3rd worst polluted area, after Dzerzhinsk, Russia, and Chernobyl, Ukraine,
http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/12/haina-a-dominican-city-famous-only-for-its-pollution/
No. He had extremely “humble” beginnings in life, small (15 x 15) house with uneven cement floor and dirt floor kitchen. He had uncle in the Army who he stayed with for awhile in Santo Domingo.
truth
15 years ago TODAY. Jon Miller is a San Francisco treasure.
That is fucking hilarious Flavor. For whatever reason, I don’t recall this play.
That Miller call was on the radio side, iirc.
back in those days I had only broadcast ND TV (limited the kids’ tube time) and we used to listen to night games on the radio. I’m sure we heard Miller make that call.
I thought Sandoval at 2b was an emergency situation deal but his in the LU tonight? I think he’ll handle the regular plays fine but don’t expect any DP to be turned. What’s the deal he gets 3abs and Tomlinson replaces him? Can’t say Bochy’s not thinking outside the box. I guess.
he’s just trying to get another bat in the LU who can hit this guy. And if anyone can pull this off it’s Panda. If it doesn’t work, Bochy can eat it. I like the move.
Really is turning into a novelty act with Panda this year,3B,1B,Pitcher, now 2nd are you kidding me on this one? should be entertaining though.So what’s up on him not catching? Which is more a natural position for him..
Twinner would have loved this shit. He loved him some Panda, madly.
WTF? Russell can’t throw out Sando?
2 hopper to SS I don’t get it.
He was too casual about the play.
MTO baby line drive base hit to RF yaha
ESPN flashing bombs across bottom of screen today. I counted 30 earlier (45 yesterday) on 119 runs scored, avg. 8.5 per 14 games.
Twin used to say Giants needed 4.3 to win. Last night I think announcers said Giants had 22-5 record scoring 4 or more and were awful when they didn’t.
they are 0-24 (I think) this year except for those two 1-0 wins right off the bat. Marty Lurie gave me that stat on the radio today I didn’t have time to confirm it
Blach wasting little time in coughing up a run. God I hope this guy isn’t the future of our pitching staff.
Strange ricochet.
The nouveau riche Cubs fans are out in force tonight. Blach with nothing so far.
That was right there, Contreras, sit your ass down.
Blach has a whole lot of nothing tonight.
Is posey hurt?
Sore hip.
God Blach sucks.
Man, Blach didn’t field any of those.
I think the last one would have been routine out if it hadn’t hit off his glove. but yeah stonefingers inning saved by nice running grab by MTO.
Idiot broadcaster acts like Mac isn’t capable of that play.
Ha!
I kind of like Vasgersian.
Blach, Stratton, Suarez…alll these guys are just guys, man. None of them were shit in the minor leagues, none were ever national prospects. We just have to hope for the best and hope doesn’t get you shit in baseball.
Frickin’ Chatwood is dangerous.
Classic Giants. Bases loaded, nobody out, zero runs in.
Even more classic, the last out would’ve resulted in a run if either of the previous two batters had hit it. Nope.
That’s a spot where Longoria needed to make a statement.
The Cubs batters just have to be salivating at the prospect of facing this lollipopper.
Trade Panik. HAHAHAHA . . .
There’s several spots throughout any ESPN broadcast when the game is literally of tertiary concern. The might show you some, they might not. We’d all much rather listen to A-Rod do an interview, or hear softballer extraordinaire Mendoza wax knowledgeable about the game of baseball. It’s really great.
it’s amazing that someone who makes a shitload of money has decided those interviews are a good decision
Good observation LJ and I agree someone in the ESPN hierarchy has made a conscious decision that the MLB product isn’t sufficiently interesting and/or compelling, where they’ve added these interviews (along with 3 broadcasters, two of them providing so called “color”).
Exactlyt Blade. The game itself is not enough, ESPN has concluded.
When Cutch comes up who among us wouldn’t prefer to have GorkHead batting instead. That is a stunning turn of favor in just one baseball season
Blach, go away.
For a guy who has to have good control to have any chance, Blach is remarkably inconsistent in that regard.
Blach is so lucky (so far) that the Cubs have been hapless all season in these situations.
Talk about Jekyll and Hyde, I give you Ty Blach.
pitched himself into it and then out of it.
Cavs right there at the half.
How many LOB btw both teams in 3 innings so far?
That was some Houdini act by Blach. Gets himself in trouble with 3 straight walks to start the inning, then makes quality pitches,go figure
Another single on warm night in Windy. Past time for somebody to launch one, esp with all these guys on.
bochy said 8 LOB in first 3.arrggh
Pablo’s a nothing hitter from the right side.
Blach, please please go away.
And…..most of Giants Nation flips over to the basketball game.
BOOM! LOL
Well now one more batter for Blach might have been a better scenario..
You didn’t like the reliever with the 5.92 ERA coming in?
I guess I wasn’t thinking that through.
Pick your poison: lousy starter or lousy reliever.
Celts playing some dumb b-ball. Up 4 at half they have 10 points in 9 minutes. Down 3.
Time to pull the lousy reliever..
Cutch sucks!!!
Can of corn 🌽 you corn holer!!
The good news is that his contract is only this season. Meanwhile, Longo is with us for 5 (including this season). Oy vey!
He’s been awful in every way.
Zumie was right early in the season when he called McCutchen, Longoria and Jackson “the 3 duds”…
That touched Cutch’s glove and he whiffed (just like his at bats).
When it comes to him, I am prophetic.
You predicted well!
🙂
Celtic epic choke job tonight.
And the Celtics lay an egg.