Appreciating What We Have
While most of you have probably forgotten him, I still watch the daily videos put out by the Angry Tiger Fan. Every day he churns one of those out. The vitriol varies but the exasperation is constant. The Tigers are a terrible baseball team run by fools and owned by clueless elite. Not only do they get killed every game but all the young players they have up are bad and the ones down below can’t be much or they would be able to bump the current sad sackers they run out there. And they just gave their GM an extension! Talk about no hope and you are talking about what the Tiger fan base is mired in.
So from that standpoint I feel fortunate to at least get to watch Giants games this year that are in the realm of competitive. There are players I enjoy watching like Pillar, Panda, The Dick and Smith. And we do have some pieces down below, percolating, coalescing. Legit prospects are on the way!
So I’m not sweating losses like last night’s in the slightest. Our men showed moxie and verve. If they had just thrown in the towel when The Conner Joe’s from Kokomo showed up on Opening Day that would have made for a long season….
Black Shoes today! Another reason to watch the game…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
If anyone questions the need for a robo-ump, last night’s game is the perfect demonstration. 3 or 4 clearly outside pitches were called strikes and at least two strikeouts and at least a couple below the strike zone as well…complete bullshit and time for a change…
If Bum can hold Brewers lineup to one unearned run in 5 innings in that yard, I don’t know what else a team like theirs would want. No question they are going to need more pitching to survive/thrive. Like SD though I don’t think in today’s game SPs like bum are getting big money over multi 3+ year deals any more. No one hardly even goes 7 innings/200 in a season and new mgrs. aren’t going to overwork SPs anymore.
Connor Joe was born in San Diego and grew up there, and quite likely has never been to Kokomo in his life.
he could have been conceived in Kokomo, nobody knows for sure….
hope Dickerson is OK for when Giants hit Colorado. Score last night there was 17-9, Reds winning.
I learned of Kokomo back in the 60’s when ABC had bowling on Saturday afternoons.
The great Don Johnson was born there.
Chris Schenkel loved to say Kokomo as much as possible…
A guy did “steal 1b” in Atlantic league game last night. Wild pitch early in count went to backstop, he took off and made it without a throw. According to yahoo, scored as FC. They are using electro umps to relay call to human behind plate for K zone and apparently Manfred is quite excited about this and vows to implement at other minor league levels. hmmnn
Decent piece re Zaidi’s opportunity to go over the top at the deadline.
https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-relievers-valuable-assets-at-trade-deadline
Belt back out there in LF, yikes
Belt in LF makes me sick…
ABs bothered me more than his D last night.
ah, keeps Sando in there. Dick has back spasms. Austin, who platoons vs. LHP isn’t much of LF either. Belt did make good throw and almost gunned down a guy at 2b last night. Hey Giants won WS with Ishi and Morse in LF, Burrell too. Maybe Belt makes up for it with some yardwork.
Belt’s throw was impressive but most of the time him and Crawford look like they should be in a row boat fishing somewhere…
different parts of vanilla triangle.
If Zaidi plays his cards right the Giants could have a legit Top 10 farm system going into next season. The next couple of weeks will be fun to watch for sure.
I think you’re gonna win the pool, WJ…
what do you think Houston has to do? AL top 7 very strong…how could they add pieces to be best of playoffs?
They absolutely need another front line starter to add behind Verlander and Cole. They also need one if not two reliable bullpen arms.
Here is my long shot trade proposal. Bum and Smith for Kyle Tucker, Corbin Martin and another upper level prospect. That would give the Stros some separation from the Yankees. Plus how cool would it be to see Bum beating the Dodgers for the title?
How’s that for our side?
Tucker was considered a Top 5 prospect in all of basbeball before last season. I think he had less than 100AB’s last season with the Astros and he looked completely overmatched. I think he has 24HR’s thus far in AAA and is batting around .275. With the emergence of Yordan Alvarez he has become an afterthought for Stros fans.
Corbin Martin a RHP is also a Top 100 prospect but he just underwent TJ surgery. If healthy I don’t think Houston would consider parting with him as he could be in the rotation right now. As is, I think he is expendable.
Jimmy Buffet’s Kokomo I still play at my local watering hole …
good for Longo. If they’re gonna give that side of field to you and pitcher goes away from his defense, take it.
Wilco good luck to Stros. Hope they get something done to increase their chances of winning it all again.
Awesome name and logo…
that will work. I’m digging Solano.
Wotus maybe not so much.
dare to dream?
Bailey got yanked before his start today and traded to the A’s so…..
Is Panik still considered the starting second sacker?…
Would be stunning…
The Angels were the only team I thought might be a possible dumping ground for Longo.
Upton would have to be part of it.
No chance…
Kuip forgot/missed the third out was the third out last inning. He’s been mailin’ it in for a while.
Where’s Jon Miller? He is very frequently “on assignment” for entire series. I wonder if his health is OK.
I predict major changes in the broadcast teams, radio and TV, next season…
Agreed. After reading that Jenkins interview with Kruk last week, I would be shocked if he returns next season. Kuip has no reason to hang around without his best friend.
hank had said before that his OPS had dropped 100 points in last month. Hitting leadoff doesn’t seem to be doing much for him either.
brewers twitter guy noted they have one swinging bunt hit since first inning. tweet back was “being mastered by Cy Beede.”
I’m not seeing any twitter chatter about Longoria…
it was probably nothing but I dared to dream
“Left foot discomfort”
Not sure about what Crawford was thinking there on that caught stealing with just one down. He’s not exactly Rickey Henderson out there…
yes.. Until Giants un honkify the team, they just shouldn’t do shit like this. they had chance to add to the lead and now Yelich bomb ties game up.
great,
Oh well.
For a minute I thought maybe there was a team out there dumbass enough to take him …
Does anyone think we’re developing 1 or 2 SPs for the long haul?
Can’t remember if D-Rod had a lot of believers last year.
I feel like he didn’t, but IDK…
We were all in on DRod. Couldn’t believe we were gifted someone like that. Thought the twins were bald faced goons. So yeah, I’m a little skeptical about these other guys but it’s at least nice to see.
Beede looks like he’s starting to get some mental toughness.
Giving up a dinger to Yelich is no badge of shame.
And, now the Butcher Boy play — great job!…
yeah Solano again.
oh what a play beede shoots one through the hole and Giants regain lead.
Beede shakin’ off dem istagram blues and really contributing today
Vogt early/Vogt often
what a great pick up. props to the Z on this one.
I love Vogt…
Vogt can’t throw out a turtle on the basepaths. But, he can hit, and that more than makes up for it.
Giants have to get at least one more run from a zero out, men on 2nd and 3rd situation…
make this chump throw a strike. Slater went fishing in the dirt. and there it is Albers walks in a run.
Wow. Walks in a run.
ZMan should walk into the Brewers GM office right now and say “I’ve got Pen guys, here’s my list of your minor league guys I want…”
Yaz 9th guy up this inning, with 1 out.
Milwaukee has a first-rate organist.
He played Katyusha during Yaz AB…
Waiting for him to play something from Upstairs at Eric’s
No idea what that is???
Solano is making Panik an afterthought and a definite trade target; and I have no clue who this guy is …
second hit this inning for Solano 8-2 Giants. Man Cousell’s pen sure having rough series.
IDK what’s with Kuiper these days.
On Pillar’s infield hit this past inning, Arcia gloved it heading full tilt towards the 3rd base line, all momentum there. He couldn’t make a throw to third for a force, the 3rd baseman was 15 feet off the bag. He couldn’t make a throw to 2nd or 1st since his momentum away wouldn’t allow it. The only play he had was try to throw home for a force. Kuiper said that was a “bad idea”, he had to get an out somewhere?…
A series like this is great evidence that Oracle Park needs an immediate facelift in the outfield walls. If the Giants played at Miller Park, they’d have what, 40+ more homers a season? 50? 60? And, the Giants hitters wouldn’t need pyschotherapy…
I agree that Solano should be starting at second or maybe even consider Slater who played there in the minors this year iirc but I don’t know why another org would give up anything for Panik(who sucks).
He’s making $3.85 MM on a one year deal.
FA after this season. If he signs somewhere else in the offseason, I don’t know if Giants get any compensatory pick, or even if, what quality it would be…
Since the club hates eating money I can see them retaining him through the season otherwise it’s more likely he’s DFA because he sucks. I doubt he gets anything more than a spring invite from any org in the league next year.
I wonder what’s happened to him? Not like he’s mid thirties, or has had huge injuries. Wonder if the concussion thing precipitated the slide…
Melanbust, coming in with runners in scoring position. Fingers and toes crossed here…
Whew !…
K for Melanbust…
wow 3 pitch see ya K from the M there with 2 guys on. Maybe Giants can package him into a deal and kick back some of the $$$.
That statue of Ueck is pretty cool from his “he missed the tag” seat. Is that what it is?
snarkk, re Panik-I think it’s a combination of over performance in previous years and the club overvaluing him.
Nice win, nice win.
Would take 3 earnies out of Beede for 7 frames any time…
Now onto that hellhole of Coors.
Doubleheader tomorrow. 95 degrees. Ball is going to be flying outta there.
Flemm said this season Coors is averaging about 14 total runs scored every game.
4 games in 3 days there in 90 degree heat; the pitching staff may need to be on IVs by Wednesday…
Series win in Brewtown!
Bart watch: not so hot
BA, OBP, SLG, OPS
.252; 302; .450; .753
Heliot Ramos: hotter
.296; 377; .493; .869
WTF is going on here!! I quit baseball and the Giants this year due to lack of interest. Quit DTV baseball that I’ve had since it started. Even quit, to no ones sorrow, posting on this site. Then a few wins here and a few there and last night I turned on channel 720 (DTV’s all games on one screen) and there were the Giants locked in another tight one with the well ranked Brewers. So I moved a stool in front of my 55 inch and watched the Giant game on a 14 INCH diagonal window!!! Drink and smoke in front of me and me on a stool about 20 inches from the screen. As I was contemplating my situation of watching baseball on a screen smaller than the one I used to watch on when Dizzy Dean and Buddy Blattner announced back when I was a kid, Then I leaned back in my rocking chair. On my way backwards I remembered I was sitting on a stool and not my normal rocking chair. Ass over teakettle.
Hit head but didn’t spill the drink or get my pipe wet.
Today I watched them close it out on my new favorite, Channel 720.
4or 5 games from .500 ball- -WTF!
You should at least stick around for the trade deadline, Seal.
They’ll always be in your blood…
Hilarious. But I have directv to and you could have watched the Giant feed today and Fox yday and Giant feed Friday…did not have to get stuck to just channel 720…
Seal, I’m partial to edibles and Woodford Reserve these days. About two years ago I sold a townhouse I owned near the intersection of Homestead and SS Road (De Anza these days) in Cupertino–15 minute walk from Apple’s new HQ. That neighborhood has changed a bit since you listened to ballgames on the radio there.
Stocking up. Got a bottle of Russell’s Reserve, and my backup Woodford. Shit I remember that area before they put the new freeway there by De Anza college.
Course, 85 has been there for 30 years!
I took a tour of Woodford while I was killing time in Lexington last month and got interested. It’s good. iirc Sealsman grew up in one of those few farmhouses that were out in the middle of the vast orchards in Cupertino and Santa Clara, back when I was in HS there. Lotta Carlo Rossi Red Mountain and Country Club malt liquor went under in those orchards. As a result, I’ve always liked the Beat Farmers, Riverside (it’s analogous, anyway).
Giants’ minor leagues’ stats so far this season:
SJose Giants High A :
40-53, last in the North of the CA League.
Overall, 7th out of 8 in the League, with the Angels team the only one worse.
Richmond Flying Squirrels AA Eastern League :
33-57, dead last (by 3 games in the loss column) in the entire 12 team League.
Sac River Cats in Northern Division of Pacific conference of PCL:
48-44, 1st in that Division. 3rd in the 8-team Pacific conference.
Let’s get some prospects onto these teams…
Excited Beede is getting better. Other than the potential trades he is the most interesting thing to watch the rest of the way. The fact they let him hit in the 7th was great. When was the last time anyone saw a starter bat in the 7th of a close game with a RISP??? Not just us but any team? Schuerzer maybe but no one else I can think of…
PS Glad he isn’t pitching at Coors. He will miss getting messed up by it just as he is hopefully starting to figure things out
Longoria.
Plantar fascitis.
Just as this guy starts getting warmed up…
Not the worst injury…couple weeks at most…
One good thing about Beede going as long as he did and Giants getting him a big lead is that Holland and M were able to finish it off so the other more effective guys could rest up.
Todays’ game in coors 10-9 Rox. Only 1 HR out of 23 hits by both teams combined, Rox have only used 3 pitchers though Sentzatela who started got hammered.
Last night tho—17-9 Reds, in a game Rox led 4-0 after 1 and 7-5 after 6. Reds hit 3 bombs and had 24 hits.
Rox used 6 different pitchers. Pen guys had 2 separate 5 run innings against them.
Late arriving!
Brewer announcers pointed out that not only is Crawford the oldest SS in the bigs at 32, he was also the last Giant to hit 20 homers (21 in 2015). With Longoria sidelined, we could be looking at a 4 year streak.
Almost impossible to do in this day and age. I wonder when that last happened…
I remember asking this same question last year.
I think Unca Chuck came up with some 80’s Cardinal teams…
Magic #31 and Boch back to. 500 as Giants manager…
That Wimbledon Men’s Final was pretty cool…
Fangraphs has us at 0.9% to make the post season so that’s probably the number to look at if you want to stay positive lqtm
that decimal fraction rises as slowly, as arduously, as WAR
We gained a half game:)
Don’t make me break out my Edwin Starr youtube videos. So, you’re saying there a chance?
Fuck, man. What if we play .700 ball till the break? We’d be a buck or 2 or maybe even 3 over .500. Which in the scheme of things in the parity-laden MLB is the place to be. Hate to be fucking optimistic but shit’s getting weird here in the Creek. The roller coaster of life is kicking my ass and I’m fighting back with skinks. We sight be buyers!
Longo down, but we get more Pablito. Plantar Fasciitis sucks.
Warriors returning 4 players next year from this year’s squad. Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Looney. Wow. The entire NBA is 180 deg. different from this season.
Still 8 teams to pass in the Wild Card, but July has been fun so far. The surge is still happening!
Zaidi on the hot seat, lulz.
I’ll say it again–out of those 8 how many are better than the Giants of right now? Padres AZ Cards Pirates Reds are a definite no. Brewers we just beat in their own yard. So if you want to doom it up and say we’re last forever and ain’t going anywhere, fine but we must be watching somebody different. that’s 9 out of 12, and not against the Orioles either.
I see your point. But the remaining schedule is a big challenge.
7 Cubs
7 Phils
6 Dodgers
3 Red Sox
4 Cardinals
4 A’s
are the ones I see as the toughest challenges.
Looks like 9-22 to me…
Last place in the NL West is guaranteed. I’ve said that since February.
Red Sox 3b coach sent a guy none of us would have sent. Easy out at home.
The math on this is correct. 1% is what it would take to pass 8 teams. There’s no way anyone here would or should advocate to chase a 1% pipe dream and buy instead of sell.
And hardcore intense number-crunching fans like us represent about 5% of the fan-base.
By “us” I mean all the Flappers and other fans who follow the Giants that closely and deeply.
That still didn’t quite come out right. I mean all the Flappers. Every Flapper on here brings great depth and insight.
I think it’s time for some Flap WAR ratings, Zumiee 🙂 😉 🙂
I struggle to stay above replacement level. 🙂
see that’s the rare occasion when you wish you had a thumb’s up option
Larry Baer is visualizing a packed house next home stand. He’s feeling it. He was away during the whole crappy part of the season.
First guy to ever serve 3 months for cross checking…
2 games tomorrow! That’s pretty darned cool.
A significant % of Giants fans are getting pumped about the Giants right now. That’s a tough thing for the brass to ignore.
Only if you think they care about the fans.
I am positive they don’t – in any sport…
Baez gives it up.
Dang, you guys are drinking some good stuff — Russell’s Reserve (made at Wild Turkey) and Woodford, and Xoot even toured Woodford. I did both last summer. Maybe we should do a Flapalooza in Cincy and then drive on down to Lexington and surrounds for a Bourbon, BBQ, and horse tour…
Now that would be something. Maybe connected to Keeneland season? I’d be staying at the Boone Tavern Inn, while in KY, but Uber would save my aged ass.
OMG their actually going to start Pomegranate on the road against Colorado! Guaranteed whip assing he will take.His line 5 innings maybe,95 pitches 8 hits 7runs throwin a hit batter and 3 walks.Well theirs always the second game chance for a split.
Sad when your playing your best ball that you automatically give up the 1st game in the series..
I think Bom-Bom gets DFA’ed right after the game unless he is spectacular.
Financial considerations…
We’re not the fucking A’s Loo. The Giants have $$$$$ and aren’t afraid to spend it–which I appreciate cuz that wasn’t always the case.
Didn’t stop them from stiffing their greatest lefty since Carl Hubbell…
So fucking stupid and shortsighted of them. Can’t defend em on that one.
The NL to me has 3-4 elite teams–Cubs LA ATL and WAS. the next tier is full of teams that are few games over or under .500—AZ SD Rox MIL STL PIT Cin PHil. After 90 games, that’s who they are and in many cases the Giants have won 2-3 less games total. I think that’s the group they belong to, not as a hopeless bottom feeder like the Tigers Flav mentioned. I’m not into buying and adding players for a big push; I’m content to see what they can do with what they have because it’s been fun to watch.
And any more success is gonna be more about pitching holding up than how many bombs they hit, especially if some of their best arms are dealt off for future benefits. Nothing wrong with bringing up young arms and giving them a taste of ML ball or in case of Suarez, another extended look.
Maybe I’m not paying close enough attention, but do any of our young(er) SP’s have a really good “out” pitch? I’m just not picking up on any exceptional stuff from the likes of Beede, Andersen, Suarez, D-Rod, etc…
Black Shoes Beede has a changpiece that is gonna bring MLB hitters to their knees!
Glad to hear that, Dog. I don’t know where BSB tops out on the gun, but I was never a big believer in the theory that your change has to be SO much slower than your fastball to be successful anyway. You either fool the hitter or you don’t. Also think the alternating batting order (LRLR etc.) is nonsense…
I didn’t get to see him pitch today, but his change up looks pretty nasty to me.
Loo, you would love it here in San Pedro. There is grit here. Its like the Coney Island of California.
I leave tomorrow.
Stan/Shell–that post was gold—get back on here on the regular plz.
Flav–nobody on here thinks the Giants should be buyers. Thats loco.
The only buying the Giants should do is buying out Pomeraz’s contract…
Who do you have in mind for taking his place Kat ??? Phil Nastu?
Perhaps some of the “ML ready” talent they’re supposedly gonna get for Bum and Smith…
LOL!!!
The Red Sox found several ways to mess up their chance that inning.
Now they have a tomato can pitching the 12th.
Holt on the mic, cracking jokes, oh then makes an error.