Taking The L Train
Cueto was awful. And this improbable season seems to be settling into something fairly predictable. Yaz is proving to be the MVP of the team. Without him, fairly rudderless.
If the season ended today they would have surpassed my expectations. And Kapler, after a horrendous beginning, has turned into something not really that noticeable—probably the best thing you can hope for in a good manager.
Kokonuts just sent me this pic of him and Dennis Z having lunch. He says afterwards they played catch. Am I imagining this or is Dennis Z the dude who always started his comments here by telling us he takes a shot of whiskey each morning before saluting the flag? Eh, that’s a lil’ different than how we roll out here in the am but I will always proudly salute a fellow Giants fan.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
This year has truly sucked but at least there was some baseball. To me the only bright spot for the Giants was their hitting. Their defense and pitching are terrible.
Phillies phall in Game 1, join the under .500 club.
Yeah, Kotter’s been fine considering what he he has to work with.
Same team, next year – more or less?
Then ’22 with no more Brandons, Cueto & Buster…
I disagree with Winder that this year truly sucked. The short season and DH sucked, but for me, this was the most entertaining year of Giants baseball in years. And at the end of the day, as a fan, I want to be fucking entertained. Yeah, they have areas in which to improve, but I went into this bastardized season with NO expectations, and this team exceeded my wildest expectations.
Like most of the pundits, I expected this team to be one of the worst. No way I thought they would be in the playoff conversation during the final week.
Agree with the comments on Kotter. He drove me nuts early in the year, but I think he was just trying to find out what the hell he had to work with.
Loo – agree…marginal changes for next year. 2022 is the year when things should change dramatically.
I can’t imagine a team with a murkier future than the 2022 Giants.
I’d say there are 3 certainties: Bart, Longoria and Yaz.
After that, what? A few minor league maybes?
2 dozen spots to fill!
Yes on the minor league maybes. We may see Ramos next year, and hopefully Luciano in ’22.
But lots of $$ off the books to go fishing for some FAs. Only 97 mil committed next year. That drops to 22 mil in 2022, so again, lots of money to play with come 2022.
No, it’s a few more minor league whities.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Winder is referring to the year in general.
Baseball? I thought 30 would be nigh unattainable. But here we are. In the vicinity at least. The fence change and the closing of the archways apparently made a big difference in the hitting. Or maybe it was just the Mariners.
I was referring to the year in general, too. For me, baseball, “the year,” is all about my team, and they exceeded any expectations I had big time. Most importantly for me…it was the most entertaining year the last few years.
Idk Loo, I’d say 2021 will be pretty murky. How much can you really put into the hitting numbers of Belt Crawford Ruf? Flores and Solano have some track record; both of course are defensive liabilities. Yaz and Dickerson, OK but Dubon as everyday CF? Oft injured Slater? So many guys are doing fine over 30-40 games–how does that translate to 162? Will the BC return to Earth—how will that make you feel over 6 months?
Not to mention pitching, especially for starters. Cueto as flav mentioned hasn’t had good season. Gausman and Smyly are FAs (Watson too iirc), Webb disappointing, Beede coming off surgery as is Moronta. Minor league SPs got zero done this season and will be back in minors next year, along with Mr. Bart Id say (and not bad idea as Snarkk mentioned before). Do you have set up guys (plural) to trust, let alone a closer?
Not to mention handling pitching hasn’t been Kapler’s strong suit though he is to be applauded for .500 record.
I just feel more work some of the young pitchers get, worse they are going to be. Using half dozen relievers to finish a game is OK for now, but unworkable over 6 month season.
Fangraphs had column on MVP of the NL, and Yaz numbers in comparison are eye opening. His defense drags down WAR, but his offense is right up there with Freeman Tatis Jr. and Machado et al.
Yaz should win the Willie Mac this year, hands down, IMO.Is there anyone else really in the conversation?
Other than Graveduggar, I don’t think so!
oh FUUUUUUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!
You guys are fucking killing me with the GraveDuggar shit. 😂
Chi- the reason i said this year sucked was because of the virus, all the fires, and the political climate. The baseball was one of the only bright spots. I really didn’t have any expectations on how the Giants would do. I liked the spirit of the team and they made it interesting for the most part.
Ah…swing and a miss by me. I totally misunderstood. Sorry about that. I agree on all counts.
Pandemic and all the shenanigans related to that. Fires. Not sure where you live, but I am in the Northern Ca Sierra Foothills. Fire country. And we usually get caught-up in the planned power outages. And the politics, too. So yes, it has SUCKED from that perspective.
But truly I have enjoyed the way this year’s squad has fought like hell. I especially love all the comeback wins, as that is something that has been foreign for this team for a while.
Anyway, all good brother. I am glad you showed-up….I like your comments. Where are you located?
Thanks. Mid-Willamette Valley, Albany Oregon. Lots of fires up here also. And, the virus is starting to hit our county a little bit harder recently.
Stay safe, brother….
Yeah I don’t see anybody else on the Giants more deserving Chi..
If they could give a special loser trophy out my vote would be Hunter &Pablo share the award with their uninspired play. Then again management should of known better then waste 2 roster spots..
I don’t know, if the last few years are any indication it’ll be someone not here next year. Given the year he’s had and the bump in arb $ he’ll want, I’m guessing Solano..
I could see that, Clown. Certainly would not be a total surprise.
Odd looking and unconfirmed lineup posted—vs. LHP Freeland, Yaz is in CF batting 3rd, Wilmet at DH Ruf in LF Longo batting 7th Bart 8th Dubon at SS.
Bum vs. Stros last Sunday: 5 innings 2 hits 1 BB 0 runs 7 Ks.
Slater in RF leading off…this looks really odd.
Did you know there really is an “L” train in NY, Flavor?
no, how could I know that I’ve never been to NY lol
Did you know there are pyramids in Egypt?
Do you know the N Judah?
No clue…
absolutely. I had no idea the Egyptian pyramids were as well known as the fucking L train in NY lol but that is great to know I’ve made a note about this…
Maybe not the best analogy…
L Taraval in SF?
Rode the N Judah from the Sunset to Soma.
You can ride the N from the ocean to the ballpark. My favorite though, was the 10 Townsend,
Lionel Simmons, small forward for Kings played college ball for LaSalle Explorers.
The Grave Duggar has inspired me this season. He’s my Flappy Mac Winner….
It really woulda made sense to resurrect him when Yaz went down…
“Flappy”. Yeah, that seems to fit his batting style.
😂
Question: With more money coming off the books and only Gausman a probable to return among our three F.A. pitchers–he likes SF–is there a free agent pitcher out there the Giants should pursue? Bauer tops the lot and will be in high demand. How has his arm held up over his career? Would it be worth it to go all in on the only ace on the board or is there a sleeper amongst the FA pitchers?
Realistically, much depends on whether the DA remains in the NL, so question #2 is would a team like Cleveland or maybe Cincinnati give up at least a #2 starter or an ace prospect for Solano? Way I see it for the rebuilding process the team’s #1 need is a reliable starter whose projectable ERA is 3.50 or lower and whose career may extend for a few seasons.
Any ideas?
Not really. I have not given it a lot of thought. But here’s the list, by position.
https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/league-info/potential-2020-free-agents/
Have seen the list, Chi. Thanks for responding. Was just wondering if anyone has thoroughly mined bp to have some angle on it. Perhaps when time allows (post-season) I’ll check out that site to get some insights.
The Big Dead Machine…
1. Austin Slater (R) DH
2. Wilmer Flores (R) 1B
3. Donovan Solano (R) 2B
4. Darin Ruf (R) LF
5. Evan Longoria (R) 3B
6. Mauricio Dubon (R) CF
7. Daniel Robertson (R) SS
8. Joey Bart (R) C
9. Luis Alexander Basabe (S) RF
Hah! The Little Engine that Couldn’t?
I hope Wilmet’s not worn down from over use…
You’re kidding. Right?
Robbie Robertson to carry the Weight tonight.
Just hope we don’t end up here . . .
There are things out there on the internet that just defy logic. Videos like this are akin to time travel. Never saw all these guys together as the Band, and this is just too fucking cool.
About 15+ years after everyone else, I am reading MONEYBALL. Truly enjoying it. I have so much respect for Michael Lewis. He makes non-fiction read like a novel, and all the research looks effortless. (The only other one of his I read was LIAR’S POKER in the Nineties.) MONEYBALL seems quaint, almost naive, in its depiction of sabermetrics. I imagine some of the tenets have changed, now that we have a tsunami of data. (Running a team now is like getting a glass of water from a fire hose with respect to data.) Haven’t seen the movie but I will.
I don’t have much enthusiasm for this WC race. A little. Not a lot.
the Blue Jays have a fat tub of shit catcher just like in Moneyball. Last name Kirk I think. He went 4/4 last night….
Son of Scott Hatteberg
I’m just glad Louie Baseball is still in the LU, however buried he may be on it…..
who he?
Luis Basabe…..his last name is literally 2 L’s and a little letter re-arrangement away from being BASEBALL! Fuck yeah!!!!!!
One of my old favorite Rangers was Pat Hickey…
Saturday, after having lunch with fellow Flapper Dennis Z and tossing the pill around (we are both 71) across the street from the restaurant in Hallstead PA (halfway for each of us), I turned right in Cortland and went north 11 miles on Route 13 to Truxton, NY, birthplace of John J. “Mugsy” McGraw. Have wanted to do for a long time. Pretty cool. There’s a modest but quietly impressive monument on the road as you enter, opposite the village’s lone gas station. Magnus has some pix. I can’t seem to post. My arm felt great the next day after we “had a catch” to use the local vernacular.
here ya go Loo, enjoy
Man, I hadn’t seen that in awhile! I can’t come up with anything nuttier…
The savage incident in the 1980 Tremont was pretty wacky…
he went on the OTHER SIDE of the starting gate pulled all the to the outside of the track. What was there, like 4 feet between the gate and the rail?????
Probably, Flavor.
Youtube’s got the head on view…
Did Spicer Cub win?
He lost the photo, Chuck…
phils lose second game on walk off 2 run bomb in 8th
Philly gets swept after a gut-punch extra-inning loss to the Nats in the nightcap.
I’ll let you guys follow the WC battle for me.
I can’t handle it…
dammit . . . it’s EXACTLY because of shit like Louie Baseball that should keep me from playing hookie here
Remember Odrisamer Despaigne of the San Diego Padres?
no, but that’s a name for the ages, like Rougned Odor or whatever it is
Do you recognize his significance?
C’mon Pawlie, you’re a word man!
you got me, Loo
He’s the only player in the history of sports who can spell the full name of his team using the letters in his own name. Try it!
luis beisbol is hitting .154. He’s 2 for 13, 4 BBs (OB .353) 5 Ks. If he wants to get out of 9 hole…
If . . . . if the Giants get into the playoffs, cue ‘You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,’ even year or not. I can’t recall a more forgettable crew of SPs. (Is that oxymoronic? Or merely redundant?)
Well, they’ve all shown flashes of decency to solidness. In a 3 game play-in, anything can happen.
Well that’s away to start a ballgame!
Slater tater bomb 💣!!!
See ya later. Signed: Slater with a tater.
Slymy throwing a ton of pitches. He better get a couple DPs to even this shit out.
Slymy. I like that.
I’m like Billy Beane in MONEYBALL this year. I don’t watch the games. (But I’m not in the weight room. You’ll never catch me in a gym. A strip club before that.)
If…if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.
TIme for Bart to jack one.
Fuck. He hasn’t even seen the warning track since week 1.
chuck- one of my favorites from one of the best albums ever
Best contribution Bart made that inning was to use up six pitches–meaning he didn’t swing at one of the first couple pitches and ground out or pop up. This pitcher seems to be one who must be worn down.
Belt’s never gotten the Willie Mac, maybe he’ll be the one.
I was wondering about Belt too, Mac.
So are we letting bets down if Joey Bart hits a HR this year?
I’ve already collected money from Duane Kuiper who says no way Jose ..
And just like that “Down goes Wasabi” with the ever popular hamstring pull..
who dat?
Luis Wasabe Basabe is a prospect we got from the Chi Sox for cash.
Gotcha. Does he embrace the aesthetic of wabi sabi? Imperfect, unfinished, impermanent?
Even though Flores has been sagging badly lately, at least he worked the count to seven pitches.
Happy birthday to one flap down Jeffrey Leonard. 65 today.
how is that even possible? Gawd.
Freeland at 60 pitches after 3–average of 20/IP. Smyly at 52 for 17 + per.
That’s the spirit Stix!
2-26 I did not know it was that ugly though..
Hey with Basabe going down, this could be my last chance
like Custard at Little Bighorn to get my boy Jaylin Davis up for the stretch run.
Ok I’m only dreaming cause the GraveDuggar will get the call first..
The Grave Duggar? Oh let’s hope so!!!!!!!
Over the last 15 games Longo has been shitty at the plate. BA is below the Mendoza Line during that span.
The last big hit Longoria had was in Baseball’s Starry Night.
epic
Yay Joey!
There you go! A Bart fart!
Wow! Hope for Bart. Evidently with him its double or nothing. Now if he could do the daily double, we could live with that.
Bart is getting closer to unloading.
Had this season* been a normal season, I was thinking no way next year’s team looks anything like this year’s. With the shortened season, not quite as sure anymore, but I’m still going to think no way next year’s team looks anything like this year’s. I’m thinking (or maybe just hoping) they’ll end up dumping some of the vets you all might think won’t be gone until 2022 (Longo and the Brandons). Maybe 2022 looks murky, but in a way, to me it looks clear and wide open. Tabula rasa and all that.
Longo, anyway and maybe Wilmet as well. Brandons? Robertson is looking better all the time. His preferred position is 3B. Might be worth a shot in the transitional year of ’22.
Saw that one coming. Obvious. Wilmet has been clueless lately. So Freeland walks the ever dangerous Slater and throws a down and dirty and Flores complies. SHIT!
Is Grave Duggar still at the Forbidden Zone or whatever the fuck they call it?
I’ve barely noticed that 3 batter rule.
I’d say the impact has been negligible.
Shit can it…
can’t see where it has shortened games or quickened pace.
DH seems to be the reason for longer games.
Oh boy. Joey can’t catch. In our games at least, it seems like every batter we pitch to gets 15 pitches.
he goes cahill
Well he makes it interesting
Cahill guts it out.
Cahill is like a junkyard dog when he throws.Reminds me of that pitcher Harris in Major League.
I’ve thrown everything I’ve got skipper, even the Vaseline ball is not working now..
Cahill looks like the guy who sold me my last set of tires.
Did he con you thinking those bald tires still had plenty of meat on them?
Bart is probably not even the *catcher of the future*… That would likely be Bailey, eventually. A couple more years of Posey and Bart, then Bailey takes over, Posey is gone, and Bart plays another position, if they can find one for him and if he’s worthy of it..
Don’t even remember him…. Hopefully the next Bailey will be more memorable….
When I was a kid, the players always looked so old to me on their cards. Looking at good ol’ Ed Bailey there, even though I’m old now, he still looks so old to me…
I remember Ed Bailey, he was on the Giants W/S team that faced the Yanks that ended in heartbreak.He carved out a nice long career, had some power too! 150 plus not bad for a catcher back then..
So true, Paul.
I remember thinking this guy looked like my grandpa…
Cahill might be worth hanging onto as a combination fireman and longman. He may not revive as a starter, but if the contract price is right, he might just have the “guts it out” as Bozo points out and a “junkyard dog” as per Kat.
Cahill must be an athlete. his gut is as big as mine but I bet he can still tie his shoes.
Robbie to the rescue!! Hell of a throw.
Great pic of Dennis and Pawlie!
Oh Danny boy that sure was a nice play!
Earns u a start in LF tomorrow why not?
Fuck.
This Pillar guy is pretty good.
Looks familiar was he ever a Giant?
Fucking Pillar….🙄
Doubled up.
Pinch-hit Dick bomb!
Dick Dick Dick 8=========>~~~~~~~
Speak softly and carry a big Dick!!!
The Dick got all of dat one.
Yes ma’am it’s an all meat Dick!
That Bart train is getting closer.
Dick ‘em!
Every so often Kapler’s intuition kicks in. It almost seemed counterintuitive to PH for Robertson, but when the manager gets a certain kinda hunch magic seems to happen. Now if he could only figure out when to pull a pitcher. Nice to see Dickerson be the first Giant to go double digits in dingers–particularly after his “rocky” start to this surrealistic season.
Yeah especially Webb, he’s taken more poundings then any other Giants starter for sure.,
Time for K & K to retire “the magic wandoo”…
Your post is 3 words too long for me…
lulz….
Yay Belt!
Yes!!