Another Exciting Offer
This one was too good not to share. They have discounted membership fees to the Trump Executive Club. I wasn’t going to join at $45 but now that they’ve dropped the price to $35 I don’t think I can pass this up. I mean, come on, can you imagine all the perks that come with belonging to such an exclusive club?
Another thought on the Baggs thing: he’s engaged in all out damage control so that the team doesn’t blackball him again as they did a few years back–I honestly forget what set that off but Pagan and others refused to talk to him anymore.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
That certificate is beautiful. I wonder if they print specks of black ink on the back, to simulate Sharpie bleed-through.
I am going to be sad today.
Ennio Morriccone, dead in Italy at 91.
Composer of the epic score to “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, plus Once Upon A Time in the West, and countless other films, including Cinema Paradiso, probably my favorite film of all time.
The man was a musical genius…
Ah, but the positive part is the frequent longevity of those possessing creative genius. Both the great Pablos, Casals and Picassos, lived well into their mid-90’s, and if recall serves, remained productive right on through.
Yo-Yo Ma’s account is one of the best on twitter, imo. He obviously agrees on Morriccone and CP.
I’ve read a lot of tributes this morning. This one seemed spot on:
“#EnnioMorricone’s music is so unique, so beautiful, that it often feels like films were made in service of him rather than the other way around He made sounds that never should have worked together sing. He made us dream, and he’ll forever be part of the soundtrack of our lives.”
Like many, the first time I saw and heard the final scene of that film that YY Ma is playing, I cried.
I still do…
Without Morricone, this is 4 minutes of a guy running around.
With Morricone, it’s iconic …
The first 1:25 is some of Lars’ best drumming.
Off season signings of Pence and Sandoval as fan favs and inspirational guys seemed kind of phony at the time, as a sop to those upset about losing Bum and lack of adequate replacement. Kapler in defense of Sandoval yesterday said among other things he is “strong DH candidate.”
Unfortunately, no one in stands will be applauding either one and I don’t think Sandoval will be allowed to go through his elaborate pregame routines with everyone in dugout either. So it comes down to what can you do on the field and at bat…and is that enough to justify taking ABs and playing time away from someone else.
Yes, the re-upping of both those good memory guys was a bit of a stretch. One of them would have sufficed for the nostalgia buffs.
MLB botched getting the A’s Covid tests to the testing facility after they were taken Friday. Apparently all teams’ tests are being flown to the same testing facility in Salt Lake City. MLB missed the sending deadline on Friday, and inexplicably again on Saturday, so the results won’t be known until late today or tomorrow. After all this time for discussion and prep, how can MLB be that inept?…
Pence turned 37 in April. Fine season last year in warm weather (understatement) hitter friendly Arlington yard. Out of 83 games he got into only 23 saw him in OF and his season ended Aug 22. new swing, OK but in an old body baseball wise and now much less friendly yard.
Last season was final one (I think) where Sando’s contract was still being paid by BoSox and he hit well especially as PH and part time IF. Following the Baggs WeightGate tweet storm replies, there were definitely a few from pissed off Sox fans over the $95 mil spent on him. Plenty of internal options for what he does so let’s see if he makes first 30.
Saturday, one could understand — it being the zany Fourth and all–but Friday? Somebody’s gotta be responsible at least once in awhile.
I think it’s a good idea for the Giants to play the one year contract guys and vets who aren’t part of future plans, if one of those guys gets sick so what? The season is fucked anyway, so protect the future and just give the kids specialized training and give Pablo his hacks until he develops a hack.
F/G random notes column from yesterday mentions Jim Deshaies, alum of LeMoyne College ala Pawlie.
He holds what might become record for all time now as hitter with most ABs 373 without an extra base hit.
Played summer league ball in Oneonta NY with John Elway, who raked as a hitter there and was at time a top rated Yankee prospect though it was just part time summer gig that one year.
When I moved to North Carolina I knew nothing about the Cornhole game, In SF the term corn hole had a bit of a different meaning. So I completely cracked up after driving by a Hooters and seeing a sign that said “Join us for Cornhole Sundays”.
Whenever I see that commercial from that pillow guy and he speaks about his “patented fill” I always crack the fuck up…
A’s aren’t only team where MLB hasn’t gotten test results back as snarkk reported–there are a few others. Stros cancelled workouts today as they are in same boat.
Interesting that MLBTR closed comments on 2 stories written per testing issues…hmmnn suspect it’s politics that often take up majority of their blogger posts that become acrimonious and personal in hurry
Metaphor for what’s gone wrong in America. Saw story in NYT originally from Atlantic by an expat living in France re:” Do Americans understand how badly they’re doing?”
What’s the Baggs controversy? The fat Pablo Tweets, the Posey column at The Athletic or both?
Pablo stuff. If you follow along the @extra baggs twitter threads, he gets lot of grief in the “replies.”
btw you still hear fireworks last night/early morning?
quite a bit of fireworks going off the last few days – more than I remember in the past. probably a combination of no fireworks shows this year and months of shelter in place boredom imo.
66-1 odds on Giants winning the pennant…worth $20 bucks in my mind. Anything could happen this year…hell Joey Bart may be our starting catcher…
Also I put $50 on Sen. Tammy Duckworth at 12-1 to be Biden’s VP. That is free money for you all…take it to the bank!!!
So you’re telling me my $35 would be better spent on a Duckworth ticket at 12-1 than on joining the coveted Trump Executive Club?
Bigger return no???
that would give the birthers in the trump WH something to do during the campaign
Every DH at bats the Giants give Sandoval or Pence over Bart is insane.
I believe Kapler maybe too intense to manage today’s ballplayers. He seems too wound up for his own good. Hell, he even brushed off Jon Miller in the middle of a preseason game interview. I will give Kapler the benefit of the doubt for now, but to me he is on a short leash.
I believe the next manager of the Giants should be Posey. Yes, he is not done playing yet, but I don’t think he is letting on about how many times he has gotten his bell rung taking shots off of his mask (ala Mike Matheny). His hitting skills has greatly diminished. The Giants see that by drafting Bart and Bailey.
Posey’s maturity level and demeanor is off the charts. He is well respected by every player in baseball. His baseball knowledge is elite. Cather’s seem to make the best managers.
I hope Posey is interested in managing in the very near future and, if so, the Giants better lock him up before another team does so.
Posey would definitely get the respect card from the players and I think he could be a great manager someday. I’d like to see him do it at the minor league level first though. One concern I have is that he seems pretty wed to the way the game used to be played—I mean, he tries to hit the ball the other way nearly every at bat. Could he manage a team that relies on hitting bombs? Could he manage a team filled with shorty pitchers? I don’t know, let’s see if he can (down below)
Let Posey manage a minor league team first. Maybe he won’t want to, he’s rich. But, I’m concerned that he’s got the personality of a wet rag. Obviously he knows the game. But, I have doubts he has the inspirational skills to keep a team motivated as the head guy…
Actually I think Buster’s demeanor would be fine. Very in line with how Bochy coached. Even-keeled and no histrionics.
I ain’t sold at all on Mr. Kotter, and I said from the get-go he’s a stop-gap guy anyway, so it’ll be interesting to see if Buster can coax a couple more years out of his body. THe timing would be spot-on.
If Kapler doesn’t make it( and I hope he does) Could anyone see Pence as manager material? It might work or it might be a circus.
Good observation. Flav is likely correct on Buster managing at, say, San Jose, for starters. Bill, you are quite right on Giants needing to lock him up, long term. He does have the chops to run things–as he has already done as SF’s field general.
“so that the team doesn’t blackball him again as they did a few years back–I honestly forget what set that off but Pagan and others refused to talk to him anymore.”
I think it was when he reported on an altercation that happened between Romo and Dunston in the clubhouse. The players were angry that Baggs reported it, and they boycotted him. It probably cost Baggs his TV gig. He was seen as damaged goods.
In games, Romo could be seen with a big scratch on his face. The public never learned what the altercation was about.
It seemed like an odd pair to be fighting. Romo and Dunston.
That was BS then, and on the players. Baggs was doing his job.
This time, he was doing his job, too. But decide to either send the photo, or not, and go with the decision.
He shouldn’t have felt the need to blame the public for comments on a photo he should have known would open old wounds about Panda’s weight. I mean, that photo was so obvious that I zeroed in right away on his balloon belly — hard to miss…
Um, Posey age 33 as of this March has made $80 mil last 4 years, will collect $8mi more this year if he stays in, and is owed another $21 mil 2021. He’s undoubtedly set up pretty nicely with homes in East Bay, to 10 yr old twins and wife plus something in old country in Georgia.
Riding around in buses through what’s left of minor leagues seems highly doubtful.
My guess, giants decline 2022 option of $22 mil, give him $3 mil buyout and offer FO consulting gig/roving instructor if he wants to stay in. He could be real life experienced contrast to Ivy League analytic geeksquad taking over ML baseball.
“Ivy League analytic geek squad taking over ML baseball.” Great line. Wish it were mine. Bit long for a headline in this day and age, but you go back a century or so and it would run banner across the top of the sports pages.
RIP Charlie Daniels. This is from his long-haired country boy phase.
“Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out of the 2020 season on Monday due to increased concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.”
Mahomes signing 10 year deal – expected to be record breaker…
wonder how much guaranteed for Mahomes–maybe 5 at $200 mil? There are already 8 QBs making $30 mil+.
Watched entire playoff game btw. Seattle and GB, where GB (tremendous day for Davante Adams) got off to 21-3 lead and barely held off Wilson and co. 28-25. That was same day of Chiefs epic comeback vs. Titans, Aikman said one of most amazing games he’d ever seen.
Niners were so fortunate to have stopped Seattle inches from goal line and sent them on road.
I don’t think Posey would be interested in or good at managing.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Patrick Mahomes’ contract will be tied to a percentage of the salary cap.
By the end of a long-term deal, players can end up playing on a contract that is well below their true market value because the salary cap increased faster than their originally signed contract. It’s a problem that only would be magnified during Mahomes’ reported 12-year contract extension. Players and agents have asked for their pay to be tied to the salary cap before, but teams have not given in because they like certainty when it comes to roster building. Mahomes’ on-field play gives him unprecedented leverage, however, so the Chiefs may give into his demands. We should learn the fine details of the contract shortly, but Schefter reports it will be over $400 million in total.
If you look at current list of ML managers, other than Baker and Mattingly most are journeyman types if they’ve made it to ML level at all. Funny that Giants have had 3 pretty good ballplayers as mgrs in SF—Frank Robinson Dusty Baker Felipe Alou.
that’s a good point. And I don’t see it changing. GM’s want managers they can control. Buster probably doesn’t fit that mold.
Here’s #4:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darkal01.shtml
good one Loo. Dark was lot better hitter than I thought.
Bochy’s lifetime WAR of 2.3 doesn’t impress, huh?
10 year extension/$450 million for PH…
The man needs a big time pre-nup before he marries blondie…
What’s the guaranteed number?…
Big payday and comeback for Leigh Steinberg. He knows plenty of good lawyers.
Hey Willedav, I enjoy reading your posts, they are well thought out.
When Johnny Carson retired he would write jokes everyday and send them in to Jay Leno or David Letterman to use. On the occasion, Dave or Jay did use them Johnny would be paid $75. Carson’s wife said she never saw him as excited as when Jay or Dave read the joke during their monologue. Carson would exclaim., Hey that is my joke! And he was excited to get the $75 check in the mail. Carson was one of the richest men on the planet. Above anything else, he was a joke writer and a joke teller. That was his skill. That’s who he was.
Same with the Eagles or Rolling Stones and so on. They have all the money in the world. But they still like to perform. They like hangout out with their friends .They are musician’s. That’s who they are. That’s who they always will be to their dying days.
I taught and coached for 35 years. But I still sub on occasion and still coach every year. That’s what I know. That’s what I’m good at. I don’t do it for the money.
I grew up with and played ball with Lance Parrish. He is very rich but the last time I looked he was a batting coach or manager in the low minors.
Dan Patrick is very rich but he still is on the radio. That’s who he is. That’s what he loves to do. He says if has two days off at home, he goes stir crazy.
Dan Rather is 87, he still holds interviews on Axis TV. He is rich. But he is a journalist. That’s who he is. That’s what he loves to do.
I can go on on, but you can’t mow lawns everyday And your kids reach an age that they will be hanging out with their own friends.
If Posey loves the game, he will stay in it. They love being part of the game. They love being on the field, they love hanging out with their baseball buddies more than, yes, hanging out with their wives.
I wouldn’t see Posey managing in the minors. I would make him my bench coach in the majors and if he shows any aptitude at all, promote him to manager. And I think he has the perfect temperament to be a manager. To me the number one prerequisite to be a good coach or manager is: Are you a good leader? Posey is the perfect leader.
I guess my point was that if Posey shows any interest, whatsoever, in managing down the line, I don’t want him doing it in a Braves uniform or one of the Florida teams.
You may have a future here, Bill.
Need an agent?
oh thanks. Lot of very sharp and interesting people here that I’ve been fortunate enough to meet in person.
Patrick played college basketball, right, at East Tennesee St. maybe? It will be interesting to see if any of the Giants 3 in 5 guys go on to management careers in baseball once playing careers are over.
You do get to walk in clubhouse with 3 rings, instant cred.
Out of the 10 games against the Flodgers we have to play in SmelLA for 7 of those games…bullsheit…
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year contract is worth $503 million and includes $477 million in “guaranteed mechanisms.”
It’s still a 10-year extension, but the new numbers are far better for Mahomes than initially reported. It makes him the first American athlete to sign a contract worth a half billion dollars, and the reported “guarantees” went from $140 million to $477 million. The fine details of this will be confusing, likely containing options, rolling guarantees, and other fancy agent lingo. The bottom line is the quarterback market is finally catching up to a quarterback’s true on-field worth. Mahomes will be making $50 million annually for the next decade plus, a cool $15 million more than Russell Wilson. It’s certainly a gamble worth taking for the Chiefs, as Mahomes is on an unprecedented early-career trajectory.
Good luck if $477 million is really guaranteed.
Football is a tough game…
I could see Buster stepping right in. He wouldn’t need to learn the ropes toiling away in San Jose.
Hope Kat’s doing ok…
#flaplivesmatter
yeah. I think he was scheduled to go in and hopefully go home 6/30
Where the fuck do you put $500 million?
Someplace where it’ll grow?
yeah, in these troubled financial times that truly is an amazing contract.
Giants have a scheduled stretch of 16 games without an off day next month, 6 home and then 10 road, last 3 in Houston. I wonder how that opt-out provision works?
Anybody thinking of being a cutout fan?
We could all sit together…
Even in the mini-season, the Giants open on the road.
Yeah, Loo, shout out to AK, if you’re browsing, hope the surgery went ok…. I miss Flappers when they disappear.
hope all is well kat. see ya soon
How do you get 7 scheduled games at the Latrine v. only 3 at Oracle?…
oddness of schedule ensures every team will have something like this. Benefit for Giants would be hosting division rival for 7 of 10 not named LA, which by default would be a weaker team. Even over last few not so good years Giants have played LA pretty even iirc.
Hey one of the F/G guys thinks possible Tyler Anderson has “breakout” mini season of success for Giants.
over last 4 years Giants 35-41 vs.LA, .460 pct 2019 being worst at 7-12.