Sometimes In Life You Only Get One Shot. Don’t Blow it.
My shame is that I’ve never caught a baseball at a game. Not a home run. Not a foul ball. And not a ball tossed into the stands by a player…..
As we took over the Public House, many things were discussed. I made a bold claim: I flat out guaranteed that if a home run ball got hit in our direction I would catch it. I said, repeatedly, there is a 100% chance I would catch the ball. I also sent out a half joking warning to my fellow Flappers that they’d be wise to “get out of the way” if a ball came in our direction.
I was joking of course. Baseballs never come my way. What kind of luck is it to never have a baseball hit to you at a baseball game if you’ve been to hundreds of games? Anyway, I forget the inning, it was early in the game. I’m not even sure if it was our outfielder, it might have been Yaz. Warm ups ended and he turns to the crowd and lets loose a high arching, easy to catch ball in our direction. And that damn ball starts honing in on me. It got bigger and bigger, it looked the size of a beach ball. I could see the laces on this bitch. Oh my God this is really happening! I’m going to catch a ball at a game!!!!!!!
To my right was San Dawg. As I promised earlier, I jumped in front of him. I stretched out my right arm as far as it would go….the ball hit me square in the right hand!
…and bounced harmlessly to the ground. A little boy in front of us picked it up. I instantly threw my head in my stupid worthless hands and the weight of my failure sunk in immediately. I heard San Dawg loudly admonish me “Flavor, that was coming right to me!!!”
All I could do was shake my head and say over and over again “I can’t believe I dropped it…” As a self punishment I went and bought my fellow Flappers 4 beers ($60).
A few innings later Adam Jones tossed a ball at us. I was too despondent to even try for it and besides it was right to the dad of the boy who got the first ball. Effortlessly, he caught it and casually handed it to his other son. His family now had 2 balls. Two balls. One game.
This picture will haunt me for the rest of my days on this earth….
The Crew:
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
by the way, sorry about the twitter updates. I posted several pics while at the game but for some reason they never hit twitter. I’ll add some to the thread later today…
Loo, you won the $25 gift card, email me an address.
Last night was a blast. Great to catch up with everyone and see the Giants play a good game.
Yeah, Flav Kelly Leake’d me big time. I was watching that sucker right into my hands when Flav comes crashing into me like Ronnie Freaking Lott. I think he even had to go through Snarkk who I believe was to my immediate left at the time.
It was Yaz who threw it. And he was not real close to the wall, so I remember it being a pretty long toss.
Really good time though. Thanks to all who came out. Had a nightcap with Chuck and Snarkk at Pete’s after the game. Then walked down 3rd street all the way downtown and was surprised to see how hard it was to find a place to get some late-night grub along the way.
lulz, haunted by such a wonderful photo. As K&K would say, the balls ended up with the right fans. Those two kids will be Giants fans forever now. Their family will tell the story of that game forever.
It was awesome hanging out with Flappers again. I got to meet Willie for the first time, very cool!
All Flappers are very cool! Great guys.
The game was very good. Well-played, with lots of defensive gems by both teams. Adam Jones, too! 🙂 He made an outstanding running catch, and on another play made an awesome throw to third base on the fly from pretty deep right field. WAR needs to give this guy more love! 🙂
Baseball is very good on TV, but it’s better in person. TV can’t fully capture the sport.
Thanks, BF, for putting the Flapalooza together, and buying me some beverages. You hosted us, and made it all happen. Thanks for that. Thanks for this blog, and giving us all the opportunity to connect across the miles.
I feel very pumped up about Giants baseball again, in the midst of such a tough season for the team.
Yes, I share your frustration, Craig. Yas it was Yaz. Hundreds of games, yet I don’t even have the story to tell of a ball glancing off my hands.
Been close a bunch of times, most notably to me a Willie McCovey foul pop (old timer’s game in ’83) that would have been mine had it not barely ticked off the upper deck railing. A 1/4″ and it lands in my glove. Instead it landed 30′ away in foul territory.
Great night at the yard. I’d never sat up there in the arcade, and it was pretty cool. The spot was kinda close to where Sandog’s son Matt and my daughter caught Joe Panik’s home run in the 2012 playoffs.
2014 playoffs.
Great hanging out with you all before the game last night!
I was wrong about the location of my seat; it was in the lower level, all the way to the back by the bricks, where the media has their booths. I recognized Pavlovic and Crowley back there, but didn’t recognize other media. Some of them were ridiculously young-looking, and looked like they covering the game for their high school newspaper.
If anything this guarantees Posey’s spot in the lineup the rest of the season. If you watch Posey’s double closely, you’ll see us to the right by the notch in the RF wall.
I can hear Knute Rockne now. “Win one for the Flappers!!”
Yeah, that double was Posey’s hardest-hit ball in weeks.
Ha, you beat me to this one. A new twist on a familiar Flap joke, yes, Posey’s 3-hit game cements him in the 3/4 spot the rest of the way.
When Dickerson hit his homer I thought I caught Flapper Nation at the game but another group of dudes. Will look for the Posey replay…stat from the game that Posey has not a homer at home in over. ayear… very sad and what 18 ribs this whole year? His bat is a detriment and the wear and tear on his body from catching has to be having an affect. They should tell him to wrap it up and see if he can strengthen the hip enough playing 80% at first and maybe 10% behind the plate.
I can already turn off the Yankee-Six game…
Yankee-Sox…
The top of the 1st in London took almost a half-hour. Ah yes, a 4+-hour Yanks-Red Sox marathon is just the thing to market MLB overseas.
Ok now not over as Sox score three…shit-ass AL pitching…
When game started thought the mound looked low…make that a tie game…
This is the future of baseball. Did they fuck around with the mound???
Technically there is only a rule about maximum height of mounds, not minimal height. By rule, the mound could just be flat like softball, if teams ever wanted to do something that crazy.
First inning took 58 minutes. The Giants beat the Phillies in 51 minutes back in 1919…
I heard something about Posey’s drive might have clipped the green tin in RF this being a HR, but I didn’t see the game last night so I don’t know, any of you Flappers at the game could tell?are if it went to NY for review which is a death verdict for this team..
Kat, I think it was a legit double. I seem to have heard it like it did hit the tin, because it was just to our left as we faced the field. But, the vid shown on the big screen in the park definitely looked like it hit the brick wall on the fly, just below the tin. Could have been if it hits the wall that close to the tin that it makes the tin make noise anyway. Giants won, so nobody cared, except maybe Posey and his HOF chances…
Fine Flapalooza. Great to see the Flappers again and talk Giants, ball and life.
Thanks BF for organizing !
Dickerson’s blast sailed over our heads and to the left of our seats as you look at video of it flying out to the Cove. Bondsian, that ball was tagged.
If you pull up the game highlights on MLB’s website, you can catch a glimpse of our group. Run the “Dickerson’s Solo Home Run” vid on the link below. Stop it as soon as it hits the 8 seconds mark, and look for the Levi’s sign on the wall. As you view the screen, immediately left of that sign you’ll see a big dude in a Giants cream color uni — that’s BF. Just left of BF, you see Chuck with an orange Giants cap. I’m standing just in back of Chuck with black Giants cap and my back to camera in a dark windbreaker with red on the back, the big guy left of me standing up with arms outstretched in celebration over his head is Sandog. Willie is in the row below us. You can run the vid a bit and stop/start and catch a better look at the Flap representation in the 8-9 second window, still kinda fuzzy, like the Zapruder film. Good ending of this one, though.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-giants/2019/06/28/566510#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=566510
Luckily, there was no vid of BF’s shameful booting of Lil’ Yaz’ cookie thrown directly to us … 😉
Absolutely can see you guys.
Do you feel the spray from Dick’s homer out there?
Yup. Right to our faces. On the replay, you can see a good shot of me high fiving diggity with snarkk in the middle.
Good catch, BF, I missed that one. Ha ha.
Yep, at the 13-14 second mark, very bottom right of the screen that’s the Flap in celebration mode. Sandog and BF are high 5-ing with me in the middle of that (sporting the We Score We Win shirt and SF hat), and Chuck is just below with back to camera and multi-color SF hat, and Willie is just below and left with dark jacket and cap…
Chuck – I sent you an email at the last email address I have for you. Let me know if you got it…
I’d count the Cubs in on Bumgarner with the injury to Hamels…
Oh yeah I totally see the high 5,we score we win T-shirt awesome,& the cream color Giants jersey!
Real cool 😎getting TV time!!
Yanks now leading RSox 17-10 in London as they head into the 4th quarter…
Bummer we get musical chair wife beater Larry Baer back on Tuseday,they should move on from him, I’m sure their has to be other candidates to choose from.
If you read the details of Schulman’s story, Baer has been gelded of real power, he won’t directly supervise the ZMan. Or, it’s a smokescreen and Baer still has more than just PR power, since he’ll still attend MLB owners’ meetings. “Although Zaidi mostly has a free hand to shape the team, Baer will continue to have a voice in decisions involving on-field personnel at a critical juncture.” That sounds like Baer can still interfere to make baseball decisions based on non-baseball factors — like PR impact of moving players. IMO Giants ownership is tone deaf; they should just kick Baer upstairs so he can’t be seen or heard from anymore…
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/larry-baer-is-e2-80-98truly-sorry-e2-80-99-and-coming-back-to-the-giants-what-e2-80-99s-waiting-for-him/ar-AADCcG5
What is Bochy calling Dickerson?
The usual like “Dicky”?
“The Dick”?, or just “Dick”?…
I’d go with Richard.
1. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
2. Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Alex Dickerson (L) LF
5. Stephen Vogt (L) C
6. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
7. Kevin Pillar (R) CF
8. Joe Panik (L) 2B
9. Drew Pomeranz (R) P
Great story Craig! Worthy of getting my wife to read. I feel your pain. No ball for me either. One game at Angels stadium a screaming liner ( netting anyone?) came at me when we were 10 rows up just past 1st base dugout. Sinking fast it grazed the metal bars. I turned my face away and it hit me square in the ribs. hurt like fuck. Guy next to me grabbed it. The wife called me out and gave me shit. Never forget:(
Over the years I’ve gotten a few balls at minor league games, but never at a major league game.
Foul ball stories, beers and a win, sounds like a damn good time to me.
Stupendous picture up top! Everybody smiling.
Nice effect in black & white…
Zumiee reminds me of Robert Shaw in Jaws…
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.”
Oops, wrong movie…..
Quint..“There’s too many captains on this island.Ten thousand dollars for me by myself.For that, you get the head, the tail, the whole dammed thing.”
re: Adam Jones he also made a terrible throw to 3b that was wide of the mark by quite a lot and picked up and error for it. Also 0-5 at the plate, so not much WAR gained, lol/
too bad Anderson couldn’t finish 6th, giving up 2 out single to drive in a run and cut the lead. Bochy had to bring in Moronta for 1 out. Once Smith Watson and maybe Dyson dumped off, lot fewer reliable arms down there.
But he did make a nice play on bunt hit right back to him with man on 2b—fielded it cleanly looked runner back and got the out at 1b.
Ketel Marte impressed me with his glove and range at 2b, wow what a player. Sure hope Ramos makes it, Giants just are way too honkified as a team. There was a ball that dropped in btw Panik Yaz and Pillar for a hit and that was first words out of my mouth. SD asked if I meant someone more athletic might have made play, exactly what I was talking about.
Oh and uh, shout out to couple otherwise nicely dressed guys—layers for a night game that became rather stick like as it wore on.
NIte cap? wow good time had by all last night.
Panik, Yaz and Pillar: The Vanilla Triangle
ah gold as usual! Belt Craw Posey Longo Dick Austin Vogt…what’s wrong with this picture?
SD had great comeback too…when Giants do bring in someone like Span Cutch or Actionless Jackson, blog crucifies them.
highly doubt anyone at the Flap has crucified a black player because of their race. Denny for sure but he was banned long ago. If you get crucified here it’s nearly always because you suck,.
Hansen was popular.
We’re equal opportunity complainers…
i’m sure that’s not what SD meant, nor I.
Cutch had an OPS of .770 for SF (which hasn’t been duplicated by any of the white boys or Gorks brought in after him) and Span was no worse than league average hitter by time he left. Dumping off Span also ended up with Giants taking on Longo contract…how does that make you feel? Cutch after he left SF hit 5 bombs in a month for Yanks and had 10 with Phils this year when he got hurt. don’t think he liked playing RF or hitting here.
It is cold for night games here, as Bonds told K and K in the booth after he stopped playing.
Then theirs Fred Lewis, who just “SUCKED” when he had to wear a baseball glove…
Giants are free game of the day on MLBTV.com.
Time of Yankee-Red Sox game: 4:42
Jenkins column today open with note about Bart and Ramos taking part in Futures game July 7 on MLBnet.
Later he says, “Look around the game and you realize the validity of the Giants last place standing. they can’t come remotely close to matching the talent being unveiled by…” and he names off following:
Ronald Acuna and Albies
Juan Soto and Victor Robles
Yordan Alvarez
Tatis Jr.
Vlad Jr.
Oscar Mercado
Ketel Marte
Alex Verdugo
Eloy Jimenez
pattern here???
I’m old enough to remember time when Giants had so many black and latin OFers they didn’t have enough room for them all and eventually traded them off. and now it’s the vanilla triangle.
Leon Wagner for Don Blasingame.
Sure fleeced ’em on that one…
DFA Pom and bring up Suarez.
Pom is very similar to the non-2012 Zito.
His first pitch was a dead-on impression.
But what a recovery!
yes. Zum like dang near everyone else that had long ride back to homefront last night (way longer than I did) thx for putting Clint up there at 2:35 AM.
You’re welcome! 🙂
PomPom is a damn K machine lately.
https://gph.is/2gEVWBR
Amy G’s hit the wall harder than Aaron Rowand.
I blame her hair & makeup person…
The Rockies beat Kershaw. That’s a groovy thing.
Loo, I also thought that yesterday about Bum to Cubs after reading about Hamels. Good, throw another team into the mix. Weird, I’m not really watching any games these days, but had a dream last night in which Will Smith got hurt and that was that for him as trade material. Guess my subconscious is paying more attention than I thought, although I hope it’s wrong…
Great pic of the ‘Looza, hope ya’ll had a wonderful time.
I guess it’s still early, but I haven’t heard a good concrete rumor about either one of ’em…
As we watched game last night, Dback after Dback came up on the big vid screen in CField, with an OPS well north of .800. Giants– not so much…
What’s With Krukow’s voice tonight?
So excited 😆 the Flap showed up last he lost his voice over a win finally..
I gotta give Pom credit; it was a bit agonizing to watch, but he found a way to grind and Houdini his way through 5 innings without giving up a run. The D-Back didn’t have a lot of hard-hit balls against him. He was Zito 2012 tonight.
He’s an innings snacker…
lulz
He still sucks, especially on the road..
Great pif, Flav. Thank to your friend whose name I can’t remember. And thanks again for rounding up the Flappers for e great night of baseball and more. Life is chaotic, and nights like this are great for recharging the psychic batteries, and burn a few brain cells to boot. I haven’t closed a bar in ages, but Snarkk, Sandog, and I did that very thing by closing down Pete’s Tavern across the street.
Great to finally meet WillieDav in person. And great to catch up with everyone. Thanks again, Flav.
wow you guys really rang the bell last night, eh? I fell asleep on the train ride home. Glad we got to do that, fun time, thanks to Diggity for the idea.
You can’t go wrong with Diggity.
He has good instincts…
Love that Yaz!
Walk the motherfucker!
yes maybe it’s un/intentional
oh F the VT strikes again
Pillar’s gold glove days are over..
What in the wide world of sports happened out there?
Dyson nice 👍 play!!
Nice break for Dyson there.
Dyson has some Gearrin in him…
Yeah Same With Melonface, they get a guy on base and it turns into a twilight zone episode…
And then the blooper for the lead..
IS Dyson supposed to specialize in getting out lefties?
WTF???
Melonhead FTL!
Well, the usual Melanbust Mess…
Wow. That was horrible. Craw can’t hit or field these days.
Craw-ful…
Wheels. Wagon. Off.
Bad teams play badly…
Way to not stop the bleeding Boch? Wtf and ur still keeping his sorry ass in, unbelievable..
Gee, who could’ve seen this coming?
No Flappers there tonight to move the Giants energy vibe in the right direction.
And, Melanbust didn’t pitch last night…
Yeah you guys were so lucky not to have a melanoma nightmare last night..
Merry Christmas Slater.
Wow. That was nuts!
Austinsome catch!
Boom. We got us a game here in the 9th.
Or not.
Vogt!!
Wow Vogt launched that one!!
Very Vogt !…
Too bad we needed a grand slam to tie.
Vogt needs to be the starting catcher, simple as that…
Craw with the usual swing at the balls and watch the strikes.
Vogt with the rally-killing HR.
Didn’t Mays say that some times he liked to hit a double instead of a HR just to fire the team up?
It’s an interesting concept.
Just another teaser in the end.Dont use Melonoma they win.
Trying to imagine a playoff competitive Giants team with this guy still on the 25. That dog wouldn’t hunt…
One more season next year, and then he’s finally gone.
Same story for Smarj.