A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball

This is a good example of what dumb shit going on with how mlb pays its best players:

Really Astros? You gonna go all the way to arbitration with this stud over $750K? Pay this man his money….

I know they don’t play the same position but would you rather pay Correa a paltry 5 mil next year or Manny 25 to 30 mil?

Anyway, we don’t have problems like this. Zaidi is too busy deciding our outfield between this coveted group: Mike Gerber, Drew Ferguson, Steve Duggar, Mac Williamson, Austin Slater and Chris Shaw.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

It’s definitely tough to keep the remaining open arms of the Flap humming in the off season–even tougher when nothing is happening and baseball is basically colluding to force all these superstars to sign lower deals.

Calling it collusion is a little misguided although I’m sure I’d lose that argument in court. I think owners are just tired of paying absurd contracts to guys entering their 30s. It worked when everyone was on steroids but the days of a 37 year old pitcher dominating are pretty much over. Side note: it’s obviously not over in football where a 41 year old man can juice his brains out  and still go to the Super Bowl.

Anyway, they really need to address how free agency is done at the next CBA. I stand with the owners.  I, too, wouldn’t want to be forced into handing over 2-3 hundred million to a player who is going to suck for the last half of the deal…..

We needed a new thread if for no other reason than to get rid of that terrible headline…..

Magowan probably wasn’t our best owner. He never won it all. And he was, at best, just kind of an owner who looked the other way as the steroid era took over. But without him we wouldn’t have gotten the ballpark or won those 3 now dusty beauties.

So I guess you could argue he’s been our greatest owner. Ever.

Thank you Peter, we owe you everything.

Pro Bowl tomorrow. Let’s GO!!!!!!!!

I don’t think I’ve watched a Pro Bowl in 20 years or so. Back in 1987 I was in Hawaii with my mom, we were staying in the same hotel as the Pro Bowl guys. All I remember was an unending parade of hookers going up and down the elevator.

What are the Padres doing in on the Realmuto Stakes? I wish we were in on the Realmuto Stakes. Move Buster to first base, I have no idea who we would trade for him. We have no one to trade for him….

It’s really shocking how little anyone seems to care about Strickland truly and actually being gone. Many are even excited to see him go (myself included). But this is a guy who pitched in some very big moments for us. He’s got a ring. 19 saves. 14-14 record. There’s a pretty strong correlation between him and Casilla in terms of fan feelings on his exit. Strick had a 2.91 career ERA with the Giants. Hey, that’s pretty good. So why are we so happy he’s gone?

I apologize to Flap Nation for my *meh* response to the Pomeranz signing. All I said was “Whatever. Fine.” This is exactly the kind of move I want Zaidi to be making. They’re paying him squat and he won 17 games 2 years ago. Pac Bell Park and the NL West are huge improvements for his razor thin margin between success and failure. I don’t expect Zaidi to fix the absolute mess Sabean and Evans created overnight. So while we bide our time waiting the multiple years that will take to happen I am happy to watch anyone new play baseball for the Giants.
I’ll keep waving the *pom poms* if he keeps the *Pom* signings coming….

Now that we’ve all fully and completely gotten past the travesties of the last NFL weekend (haha, good luck getting past that one, New Orleans fans) we now move into….The Dead Zone. Nobody remembers an NBA game in February. NFL is in hype-mode for 2 weeks. Hockey is…..still going on? And baseball has never been slower. Although really, that should change. At some point you would have to think that Machado and Harper will sign this and play this season.

That means nothing to the Giants, of course. The quietest, lamest off season in this team’s history is upon us. Remember Sabean’s first off season? Wow! Bang! Bang!

Zaidi has chosen a path less traveled. This almost seems like a path untraveled.

Ugh, is this why everyone hates the Warriors? If Golden State kept doing this for 15 more freaking years, I can’t even imagine how much I’d hate them if I wasn’t a fan. I hate Tom Brady. The rest of the league should be embarrassed that they continue to let this old man saunter into the Super Bowl year after year….

You know, when I put out the call “for a nice first quarter sack that drives his dumbass into the ground” I was hoping it would come earlier than the middle of the 4th quarter. And when I said “Smash him” I was kinda hoping the 15 yard penalty they would take would be for a little more than the defender tapping him on the shoulder pad.

The protection the refs give Tom Brady is crazy. He’s probably pissed they didn’t issue a formal apology. Read this proclamation to the kingdom loudly in your best bad British accent:

“Dearest Most Excellent Majesty:

We sincerely apologize for allowing the plebeian from Kansas City to lay his soiled hand upon your chosen shoulder! If it happens again we shall guillotine him on the 50 yard line! No serf shall ever again lay hands on his highness!”

And before they called that bullshit shoulder tap penalty, the refs completely ruined the New Orleans game with the worst non-call for PI I think I’ve ever seen.

Here’s a way to fix all of this: Let penalties be reviewed, too. Same rules apply, if you challenge it and lose you lose a time out.

Both games yesterday were decided or severely impacted by referee incompetence. That just can’t continue to happen…..

Today is a great day to root for teams I normally don’t care about. The Chiefs are gonna spank Tom Brady’s dumbass all the way back to New England and Drew Brees is gonna knowing dude head nod the Rams back to LoserLand.

I’m not worried about the KC crowd, they will bring it. I’m a little worried about the weather since we just don’t know who’s frozen hands the iced ball is going to bounce off and I could see a defensive score being the difference in this game. Regardless, I have to assume the Chiefs aren’t going to stubbornly sit in zone all day the way the Chargers did and let Brady pick them apart. Personally, I am hoping for a nice early first Q sack that drives his dumbass into the ground. Take the 15 yard penalty but watch him not be comfortable for the rest of the game. Nobody benefits more from the peace and tranquility of a cocooned pocket like Tom Brady. Smash him to win. I don’t think this will be close, I’ll take KC 35 NE 21.

The Saints? I just think they’re better than LA and Brees is awesome. Easy guy to root for. Saints 37-Rams 20

The Wilderness Years are looking more like an Ice Age…

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Ok, point taken, but what happens when the ice age ends, my man? Eh? That’s a solid 10K years of heat warming your ass. Glass half full Loo, #4lyfe

Intriguing match ups in the NFL this Sunday. Sounds like ratings have been very good for the playoffs even with all these blowouts. What happened to all those country bumpkins who said they were quitting the NFL because of players protesting police brutality?

Anyway, we can talk NFL all weekend. Today is all about Zaidi and all the sweet, crisp moves he’s been making…..

Why is it important for Longo to hit 20 bombs this season? Because he is one of 2 current players on our team who has that power in him. Belt is the other. Please don’t say Posey. I don’t care if he’s healthy this year. That just might mean he CAN HIT A HOME RUN. His power days are long gone. Same with Crawford. And our outfield doesn’t have 20 bombs in it combined, even if you include the bench.

So if we’re going to avoid losing 100 games we need as many bombs as possible. Longo will lead the team in HR’s this year, assuming this is our team and no one else of consequence gets added.

Maybe Zaidi needs one of those big ass countdown clocks in his office. Who knows, maybe he has one? Our first spring training game is Feb 23rd at 12:10pm. I include the time because he’s going to need every second to fill out the rest of this team. Unless this is the team.

Our current outfield is Slater, Duggar and Shaw. Now, I don’t expect 2 of those guys to be our starting outfielders on opening day. So with 39 days (and 6 hours left) before our first actual game…..who the fuck is playing baseball for the Giants this year?

Is it really just THESE GUYS?

Hey, whattya know, there are *mystery teams* in on Machado and Harper.

Lol. I remember the days when the hot stove season had some interesting shit cooking up on it. Those days are long gone as *insiders* try to trick you into clicking on their bullshit with rumors about *mystery teams*.

Anyway, I don’t believe we are in on either of these guys. Nor should we be.

DJ LeMahieu is going to be the barometer for me going forward as it relates to Rockies leaving Colorado. I am predicting a very underwhelming time with the Yankees. These  guys are obviously aided by the moon they play on. You gotta think DJ has very little power as even with that bump he doesn’t hit many bombs. His career BA at home is .330, on the road .264. I am telling you, this guy is probably another Joe Panik with the bat.

We are going to find out……

Ok, NFL time!

Chiefs game: There will be snow. Not a ton, not a blizzard, but enough that I’m thinking these donkeys from the dome ain’t gonna like. I’m taking KC and giving the 5. Of course I would be happy to see Luck win, he’s my second favorite Cardinal QB of all time.

Dallas game: Something I hadn’t considered much till I started listening to the talking heads this week: The Rams offense isn’t as good without Cooper Kupp. And maybe I haven’t been giving the Dallas D enough credit. LA is no real advantage as a home stadium. Early in the week I was taking the Rams, now I am taking the Cowboys and the 7 points. They’re actually a decent $$$ line bet, too. (+260)

Patriot game: my dislike of Tom Brady aside, they’ll probably get it done tomorrow. I just don’t think the Chargers are very good. Also, I’m not a Rivers-guy. His passer rating has been pretty good this year but LA is really more of a running team now. Rivers has been game managing his part fine but for all these people calling for the *MVP* for the guy…slow down. He’s no MVP and I could care less if he gets a ring at some point in his career. Plus, he’s got too many fucking kids……Belichick with 2 weeks to prepare for a home game? NE -4, and I’m gritting my teeth over that one.

Philly game: I’m all about Foles magic. I’m taking the -8, I’m betting the money line at +320. No stats needed, just roll out Big Dick Nick and make it rain on yourself…..

I’m kind of surprised by A’s fans and this Kyler Murray thing. Shouldn’t they be used to players not wanting to play for them? Isn’t this SOP by now? I’m not going to find her twitter handle, she’s not worth it, but an A’s blogger named Jen Rainwater got fired from her affiliation with the A’s yesterday after she went on a long rant about wanted Murray to get critically injured. She also had some pretty terrible things to say about her fellow A’s fans.

When I texted my best friend (who is a huge A’s fan) about Murray choosing to enter the draft he went on an even longer rant than Jen did (although he didn’t wish harm on the kid). The Boney One is apparently convinced that Murray is actually on 5’8 and this will all come out in the combine and he’ll be screwed.

I couldn’t even muster a response to that.

Anyway, it makes perfect sense to me why this dude is trying football first especially if he’s a first round pick which many draft experts are predicting he is. Go get some $$$ in the bank, have the cameras on you from your first day, if it doesn’t work out go try baseball in a couple of years.

A’s fans need to chill. All that sewer water running through the stands at O.Co is stressing them out….

Brian Dozier wasn’t going to change the 2019 fortunes of the Giants but he just went to the Nats for 1 year, 9 million and I’m starting to get pissed off. It’s not cool to just write off entire seasons without even trying and that’s what it looks like SF is going to do. Again, I don’t expect us to be good this year but I would like to see the farm system get replenished and/or I’d like to see some *Muncy-like* pieces added to the current roster. Doing absolutely nothing is not something I can support.

What is this, like the 3rd year in a row where nothing happens in the off season? I’m not just talking about the Giants, who Loo deftly nailed cold as a 95 loss team this year. Nobody is doing anything. Collusion? Tough for me to feel sorry for anyone getting affected by a 200 million dollar deal instead of the *uncolluded* 300 million dollar deal they were seeking. We’ll see.

Until then we pass our time stories, other sports, trivia, and recipes.

The last band to tell us to *Wait, Wait*

Hunter Pence is playing ball in the DR right now (as you know) telling the press that he has “several major league offers.” It’s possible that he’s been felled by an island virus. Either that or his offers are all of the minor league variety. I’m wondering if one of them is from SF? Just as I’m typing that I’d guess *no* just because Zaidi could care less about Pence and, in fact, he appears to care less about signing anyone—outside of those Rule 5 guys and the other 3 fellas I couldn’t pick out of a line up…..

I’m sure Pence will huddle up with his wife and pick the minor league offer that allows them to take the best variety of outdoor social media pics—that has to put SF squarely in the lead, right?

Next weekend’s playoff games look tasty. Everyone will be on the home teams but those are some pretty big spreads and would any of you care to wager AGAINST *Foles Magic* right now? I’m trying to find a way to bet the Chargers on the ML and justify it in any way other than I hate Tom Brady. KC and the Rams will cover……

I was happy to see Seattle backdoor that cover last night. I am not betting actually money on any of these games and I had been on a bit of a streak going 3 for 3 (and a push) last Sun, then Pitt covering vs the Cardinal, then Indy winning outright…I was starting to kick myself for not betting any of these games. Anyway, back to losing that’s always a good reality check….

I just want to see offense today. I know Baltimore and Chicago D’s are considered formidable but I just don’t find football interesting with a bunch of 3 and outs and/or field goals kicked.

Back in the day it was fun watching a dominant defense because of all the licks they’d lay on their opponent. Now it’s just a bunch of defenders coming to a screeching halt with their arms extended hoping not to draw a penalty. It’s stupid….

The Dodgers have won the NL West 6 straight years. I did not know that. Do they have a ring ceremony for that before each opener? I think they do….

Anyway, we needed a new thread. NFL chatter?

Indy +2. Luck looks healthy again and while I like Watson a lot, gimmie Luck in a game like this. Points too? Sure, thanks.

Dallas -2.5. Seattle has been pretty gimmicky this year with all the running. My guess is that the Cowboys roll in this one….

Baltimore -2.5. Everyone is jizzing about Rivers getting a ring. Who cares? Baltimore D seems to be clicking right now, I’ll go with the Ravens giving 2.5

Philly money line. If I were betting it the ML is where I’d go with this. +220 is a little low for my tastes on a -6 spread for an NFL road playoff game but I really think Chicago is overrated and I believe in Foles magic.

Those are my picks. What are yours?

Tulo off the board, he goes to the Yankees. Kikuchi weirdly off the board to the Mariners. I thought they were rebuilding? Whatever, that dude seemed like a bit of a stab in the dark, not bummed we didn’t get him.

Of course, we’ve gotten nobody. I guess I’ll be *glass half full* and praise Zaidi’s utter lack of giving even a single shit about what the fans think. He’s going to do whatever he’s going to do at his own pace. I like having a GM who isn’t just going to make moves to make moves….

Having said that, how about some moves?