San Diego Looms
Now that we are done losing to pitiful Seattle we get our first true test of the season: 3 vs San Diego. I mostly want to just see us compete. If we get blown out 3 straight that will be a bad sign of things to come. We have 36 games vs these two vastly superior NL West teams. If we want to keep our win total in the 70s we need to figure out a way to compete in those games……
Agree, Flav. Disappointing series in Seattle. They should have won that opener…shoulda coulda woulda. Historically over the past several years (last year being an exception), we have done well on our splits with both SD and LA. Hope that is a trend the Gigantes can continue.
Zags vs Baylor tonight. Should be a good game (I hope). Just do not want to see a blow-out. Go Zags!
According to B/R, Giants do lead NL in HRs with 6.
As a team they are hitting .226.
Yaz 1-13 with a single.
Slater 1-12 3 Ks Saturday/7 Ks overall
Belt 1-7 also 3 Ks Saturday
Craw 1-11
Interesting to see how they do vs. 2 LHPs they will face, Morejon tonight and Snell Wed. As noted above3 of the struggling hitters vs. M’s hit LH. dubon was 1-6 in his first 2 games. And no more DH, 8 hitters and SP.
Wilmet btw, 3-9 with couple doubles.
Something else too–Posey caught both Gausman and Cueto in back to back games. This week that will be broken up by day off Thursday before Giants return home. So wonder if there will be an SP designated as Casalli’s guy to catch. Webb’s start of course, didn’t go so well. But he did work with DeSclafani in Cincy, no?
When is LaStella going to play, lol? Can’t this dude get a start against a lefty or is he just going to sit vs every one?
who would he replace?
He’s there big free agent signing and he never plays. He could replace pretty much anyone except longo who is hitting well
I haven’t checked to see if La Stella can hit lefties.
As long as Solano is here and continues to rake, you wouldn’t play LaStella ahead of him. He can’t play SS, and isn’t as good defensively at 1b as Belt, and they’ve got Flores to hit lefties. His career splits vs. LHP aren’t noticeably bad, but last season was–he hit .216 vs. .303 against RHP. All 5 HRs vs. RHP.
Guess would be if Solano were to get traded or hurt he takes over 2b. Plus there is always plantar issue with Longoria, who is also prone to slumps like most hitters.
Still think LaStella is solid backup. fwiw, Vosler hits LH too, right? Think they wanted someone with MLB experience to be bat off bench, with high OB.
Good take. At present LaStella constitutes an excellent insurance policy. Should Donniebarrels continue his assault on MLB pitchers there is a high possibility that some contender, either by injury, or simply in need of what the dude offers, will be in dire need of a high OBP second-baseman/#2 hitter. If that would be the case, come July, Giants will be in the enviable position of “considering” offers. There may be more than one in the case that Solano maintains his current course.
In La Stella’s splits, they are similar. Slight fall-off against lefties, but not significant.
I know he was hit in the shin or knee by a pitch about a week ago. It was listed as a knee contusion. Not sure if that is still keeping him out of the line-up, or not.
Lastella has three years to fit in.
Longer then Davis will ever get..
Davis is on a three year trip to baseball purgatory.
Takeaway from the Seattle series. There were two disparate breakdowns in games one and three. In the first instance, there was the ignoble bullpen meltdown. However in games two and three the relievers performed as per pre-season expectations.
Second situation was in a chilly, typically dank Seattle night game–on a Saturday night for chrissakes. Giants couldn’t hit for shit. Totally unexpected and out of character. Maybe there was a bad case of long-ball fever affecting most of the players. RISP was a disaster. Seems that the will to hit or cadge a BB just was not there. Also the effect of how the Mariners set up their array of arms and the fact that Giants hitters have traditionally had a tough time contending with newbies and/or guys they had never faced previously—even hurlers with mediocre or worse track-records.
Tonight they face the Dagos’ #5. It being their old nemesis over the past decade or so, the Giants should be up for the match-off. Seattle, early on was somewhat unreal. The Pads are one of their two prime adversaries. Maybe this series will see Yaz get his MaTaz back and just maybe, there will be ducks on the pond when one of the guys goes long.
DeSclafani has something to prove and so does the whole damn team.
LaStella only can play 1B/2B/3B. Longo&Barrels are raking the ball, no way Kotter takes this guys out of the lineup especially this early in the season with off days.Belt’s obviously struggling with no ST and his triple combination offseason of heel surgery, covid &mono throw in loss weight strength and just timing and he’s a mess so maybe LaStella can get a start at 1st are so with Flores who are both the primary backups ..
You see that Gov Abbott in Texas is boycotting today’s Rangers game, refusing the invitation to throw out the first pitch? Man. I didn’t expect the backlash to be so fierce.
Hah, I guess the Rangers will just have to give ol’ Nolan Ryan a call.
https://makeagif.com/i/ELcQUZ
It’s Texas. As long as the rich get richer, who needs electricity?
“No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride…and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well…maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.” ― Hunter S. Thompson
Yep, ya buys yer ticket and ya takes the ride. Argh.
Yeah, I don’t think microdosing is the way to go.
Macrodosing? I had never heard of thumbprinting till I joined a Grateful Dead facebook page.
Soon as they start selling shrooms in the shroom store I will probably partake. Probably have to eat a bowl of Wheaties before hand though.
I’m with ya on a shroom store, Winder.
I’ll have some of that, too
Georgia is such a f’d up state they shouldn’t even be one of the 50 states recognized. Man to be black living in that state your screwed. Yeah MLB did the right thing moving the A/S game to who no’s where yet ( how about SF again been 13 years?) but you know Golf and those stuck up assholes who run the Masters( with they’re good old boys still slave thoughts approach) will know way take the Masters away coming up and canceling it..
Hey, the USA fought a civil war to keep Georgia in the nation!
If nothing else that state is good for peanuts, peaches and music like “Rainy Night in Georgia” and “Georgia on My Mind” and weren’t the partially integrated Allman Brothers from Georgia?
Catchers too.
Best sushi I’ve had stateside was in Atlanta https://sushihayakawa.com/
The deep fried quail at another place almost made we want to move there.
Including Hawaii?
Just been there a couple of times for a few days each trip, and have largely cooked for ourselves. Fresh fish at the market, straight to the grill.
Longest for me was ten days one Xmas, with my sons. We had a grill at the beach side condo but never fired it up. Our surf guide knew all the good places.
Eat a Peach 🍑 was the classic Allman Brothers Album cover,after Duane Allman was killed on his motorcycle after colliding with a peach truck I believe..
Local San Mateo jazz station’s playing blues for a while, and boz scaggs cover of somebody loan me a dime is up. One of Duane Allman’s great studio performances. (Few years back, Boz also cut a fine version of Rainy Night in Georgia, too.) time to crank it up.
Akil Baddoo of the Tigers, kid who just hit a grand slam, has the best uni name in mlb this year. Imo. Would’ve been close if the Reds hadn’t cut Dee Strange-Gordon loose.
Slater CF
Solano 2B
Yaz RF
Longoria 3B
Flores 1B
Ruf LF
Posey C
Dubon SS
DeSclafani RHP.
Strange lineup. Getting his first hit Saturday night elevated Yaz to batting third. Ruf times in left, but Dubon is in his pre-selected spot, batting in front of the pitcher, while Austin is slated to lead off. Hope it works.
Bad D waiting to happen.
Jets trade Darnold to Panthers…
I think the Panthers made a great deal. I don’t know who the Jets backup QB is but they hopefully have someone competent to help break in the new guy.
I forgot Pillar signed with the Mets, he’s hitting leadoff in their long-awaited opener.
As ugly a misplay as you’ll ever see a CF make.
Loafed on and misjudged an easy fly ball…
-1.0
Not Pillar, the guy on the Phils…
I wouldn’t be so anxious to deal Solano at the break.
He’s more valuable to us than the scraps he’d likely bring in return.
Who remembers what we gave up for Scutaro?
i had to look it up to confirm, but I got this one right: Culberson
Nice!
Charlie 2.0
word. Yes Culbertson was all the Rox got for Scutaro. Loved to watch Scutaro hit, Solano too.
Scutaro had ice water in his veins. Every AB went to two strikes and then he started fouling pitches off. Good at hitting behind the runner too. Even with a broken finger–2013? Very good Giant.
SF stringing the Pats along till they crack. If they can get a 1 for Jimmy G I’ll be thrilled. I’m thinking they get Jones. They are hoping against hope he’s the next Big Ben.
I’m not thrilled myself, but they certainly have sifted miles of tape on these guys, and know better than us.
Then again, the Niners front office took Jim Drunkenfucker over Jake Plummer. A move I was very upset about.
Talk about out of the frying pan…after getting smoked 4 times in a row by Astros, A’s hosting Dodgers for 3 starting tonight.
Let’s hope the bats wake up.
Just, uh, in case Gonzaga doesn’t finish the job tonight, the lawyers and any others in the crowd who have their priorities straight understand that the Zags have already won the big prize:
https://tinyurl.com/3m6p4mwa
bottom feeding conference. Dem guys is mooks.
Apparently the big IP schools participate, NYU, Pritzker, UCB … maybe they sent the JV.
“Gonzaga argued against Brooklyn Law School, University of San Diego, University of Alabama, and Notre Dame during the virtual rounds.”
Fuck me. Univ. of San Diego?
Jim Harbaugh’s old stomping grounds. Go Toreroes!
Did harbaugh argue in mook court?
As mooks go, he’s a major mook.
well, that fantasy stuff never interested me
Yikes, Zags may in trouble.
Damn. Baylor on fire. Can’t miss that layup.
Zags look like the UCLA game killed them. They have to put Suggs back in.
In honor of Elgin Baylor?
Those Capital One commercials are just painful…
Baylor is absolutely tenacious far more aggressive on both sides of the ball.. Still I expect a run by Zags after things settle in more.
Giants can play the name-game too. Xoot cited Akil Baddoo as the coolest one out there and seconded his nomination for Dee Strange-Gordon.
Just claimed from Oakland’s wire was outfielder Skye Bolt (as in a bolt from the blue should he get more than his previous 10 MLB PA’s and actually drive one over the fence). Third place, at least for the 27 Y.O. who congratulated high school as a Holy Innocent. Reflect on a Skye Blue Holy Innocent for a moment. Almost mind-boggling.
A 4th round pick by the A’s in 2015, Blue (likely no close relation to Vida, who in turn was not likely related to the Reds’ Vada Pinson); performed at a fair to modestly good clip in 347 AAA plate appearances with a .265/.350/.459 record.
Skye Bolt is a great name.
Usain’s son?
Another missed layup.
And another turnover.
Not so fast . . .
A Giants-like 8th inning collapse for the Mets in their opener vs. Phils.
As SD’s bottom rung Lefty, Adrian Morejon, a 22 Y.O. rosy-cheeked Cuban, had a rough ERA for the Dagos last year, with a superlative k-bb ratio while giving up taters faster than the machines at Ore-Ida. As Morejon gives up verrrry few free passes, those SF hitters may need to get on base honestly, otherwise any long-balls hit by the Giants tonight are likely to be solo-shots—surrounded by rafts of strikeouts.
Baylor has to be shooting upwards of 70%.
Yaz out Craw in at game time
Wow. Zags only down 10.
First batter and Morejon throws nothing but 4-seam heaters. From a low of 97.2, Slater slapped one hard which came in at a velocity of 98.7. If he doesn’t break up the pattern, he should get tattooed a bit.
He hit some tough spots though
Like any good #2 batter, Donnie doesn’t barrel it this time but nips a tapper to the pitcher who cuts him down at first but advances Slater.
Both Wilmer and Longo were a bit overanxious to get at that heat, swinging away earlier in the count and did nothing more than fly out and spat a grounder for the 3rd. Wonder if they will learn a bit of patience against this guy. Not much yet for secondary pitches and his 4-seamers are of almost identical speeds.
After giving up that 5th pitch single to Cronenworth, Sclafani throws a good first inning as a Giant, mowing his way through a loaded lineup, including a first pitch flyout to Tatis and striking out .636 hitting Eric Hosmer.
Ruffie!
Ruf stuff!
Morejon flips changeups in mid-80’s. Three right over the plate and in the same pattern led to a pair of strikes and a foul. He tried that change, similarly patterned and Darin gave him a Ruf time over that one. Kid pitcher has a learning curve ahead of him. Hope he doesn’t adjust too much tonight.
this is just an incredible stat.
A Cain mutiny on the Mets?
Cain lacked run support but he never had no 2.07 ERA over the course of going on 4 seasons.
That was a mistake by Kotter not facing the pitcher instead Dumb!!!
Dodgers up7-0 in 3rd over in Oaktown. Man A’s SPs getting hammered.
What a DeStupid pitch that was with the pitcher on deck.
To me, untutored fan this year, it looks like Baylor and zag are playing almost exactly the same game plans, but Baylor has a lot more talent–quickness, speed, leap, etc. but lots of time to go.
Knicks announcer Mike Breen says “Still plenty of time” about 50 times a game.
Well if a big city pro can cop that crap, well , hell, so can we
That doesn’t look good for Tatis Jr either wrist are elbow could be blown out on that backswing..Best 2 him cause this would be a major setback..
He whines a lot
He’s whining in pain right now..
Longo gone!
Longoballo on 97 mph stinker.
Longo Bomb!! He has been incredibly locked in and showing opposite field going with it power..
Can’t figure out why SD manager bats Tatis in the 2-hole. That spot should belong to one of their two pests, Myers or Profar, preferably the former. Pressure on Tatis to produce might lessen a bit if he were to bat fifth.
It’s SOP now for teams to put their best hitter in the 2 spot. Mets announcer said last year was the first time #2 batters hit more HRs than #3 batters.
Kaplers purported plan this year was lastella one, Yaz two. In the olden days it was best hitter three. Remember when Bonds and Kent tried to strangle each other on camera one night over who should bat third? Good times.
Clanko.
Funny how the works, Kruk. When the inning starts there are 3 open bases. Might as well fill’em up with walks.
Wow
On his sixth pitch to Crone, D. grooves one right down the middle and SD’s leadoff man reaches on a ground single to center. He may need to be yanked as he was missing the zone a bit much in that AB.
88 MPH grooved right down the middle again and Machado hits the second consecutive ground single.
Gets Hosmer swinging on a high sinker. Overanxious slugger, I guess. Sclafani is no dummy, but there remain 2 on with 2 outs. Approaching 80 pitches now.
Did you see Posey yell at Disco after that mix up? Buster is in charge. Our Georgia peach.
Got to say nice comeback for descaffolding.
Nice pitching by Disco to get out of a jam..
Whew! Pham was not tastic this time. 86 pitches through 5 I.P. Though guilty of that passed-ball, Posey called some good shots. My guess is that with last season’s catchers, the Pads would have a lead by now.
The passed ball was on descaffolding.
Buster tried to go the other way on that pitch, but popped out to 1B. He’s not quite into his hitting groove just yet, but still calls a great game.
Good job by Disco, let’s see how the bullpen does..
Should be 2-0 if Kotter had a brain and walked the 8th place hitter and faced the pitcher instead!Just can’t figure out his stupid logic sometimes..
Wilmer can make a play now and then.
Fucking Slater
Yaz got scratched during BP. Now he’s ready to PH. Not like that whiner Tatis/
Xoot, yeah, that duo (Bonds/Kent) was probably one of the best 3-4 hitter combo in baseball. I’m not sure if I remember which worked better, Kent at 3 and Bonds 4 or the other way. Either way, seemed potent. I was trying to remember why they scuffled in the dugout that time. Seem to remember that Kent had been ragging on someone for a play in the infield, I think he was giving David Bell some shit, and Bonds stepped in and said shut the fuck up, asshole. Yeah, good times indeed.
That’s exactly right, I think. But that wasn’t all that was going on. They flipped the three / four slots starting the next game iirc.
And of course they tie it up.
Pitching sliders almost exclusively and at about the same speed, Whisler is definitely patterning them too much. The triple was smashed in the 4th of a very tight pattern. Similarly on Caratini’s SF
What’s up with this whizzler, why’s he out there pissing away ABs?
Just catching it on gameday, so didn’t see Crone’s ground single. Would a younger Crawford have snagged it?
He got there, messed up the transfer to his throwing hand.
Thanks James.
Also, the triple was a softly hit flyball that Slater should have been backing up Dubon on.
YazMaTaz at Laz.
Bombski!