Finish The First Half Strong
I have no real opinion on this upcoming series. When you look at their roster the Cardinals look like a team that should have a better-than sub .500 record. But what do I know, I looked at our roster in the Spring and thought we’d have a win total in the 60’s– we damn near got that by the all star break.
Maybe I can coax our friend Daniel into stopping by later today and giving us the low down on his team.
It looks like the dream is dead for my *Gausman starting the all star game* bet. He’s pitching today and that would line him up to pitch the last game before the break, too. Disappointing.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
best description I’ve heard yet
Yep. Generic blandness.
Spot on!
To access the Flap on my phone I have to use the WordPress website. Each day on the website page, for the heck of it, they re-post the links to a couple of random retro-posts from the Flap.
Today they reposted the link to BF’s epic goodbye letter to Zito. This post is BF Top 5 of all time, IMO. It’s a nice journey down memory lane, and the Flapper comments, too.
https://tinyurl.com/hszy2sn7
That’s funny. I honestly don’t remember hating him that much.
Hello, folks! I would love to tell you what was wrong with the Cardinals and what could be done to fix it. However, since the first answer is “everything”, the second becomes a little more problematic.
As Cardinal fans, we’re used to the sputtering and sporadic offense. We thought maybe that was behind us with Goldschmidt and Arenado in the lineup, but 1) they haven’t clicked at the same time for an extended period of time and 2) they can’t do it all. Tyler O’Neill has been what we thought he could be and Dylan Carlson is having a fine rookie year, but Paul DeJong took a step back (and was injured) and Molina, I love him, but his amazing April is overshadowing the numbers since.
What we aren’t used to is the pitching being terrible. Losing Jack Flaherty hurt (and he’ll be out until August) and we knew that the rotation even with him had questions, but we didn’t think they’d all be answered negatively. That and the bullpen being shaky outside of Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos (and, on most nights, Genesis Cabrera) has been a surprise.
The Cardinals lead the world in walks from their pitching staff. 20 times this year they’ve walked in a run and five times they’ve hit a batter with the bases loaded. That’s 6.7% of the total runs they’ve given up all year in that situation.
TL;DR: The Cardinals can only occasionally hit and the pitching is shaky. Get an early lead and they aren’t likely to come back. It’s an also-ran season for the Redbirds and I’m just hoping they can finish above .500.
Hey, Daniel! The Cardinals always bounce back. On the Flap before I’ve called them the zombie apocalypse team, and meant it as a complement. The Cardinals are like the relentless zombies in The Night of the Living Dead. A billion years from now, the Earth will be populated only by cockroaches and the Cardinals. Again, meant as a complement. The Cardinals are steady and relentless, year after year.
That’s fair, but even zombies take some time to regroup! (Note: I don’t know much about zombies, though we do call that runner on second in extras a zombie runner in my neck of the woods.)
The Cardinals have a lot of money coming off their roster after this year. They don’t necessarily have a lot of chips to trade for people at the deadline (nor many to sell, honestly) so I think this might wind up being a bridge year.
From a different Flap retro-post, in the comments section, this post from Ted gave me a shiver, given what’s happened in Florida recently.
“TedSpe on September 13, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Totally off subject but funny as hell.
I live in an apartment building. And I was told, after an inspection, that for whatever reason my toilet and shower/bathtub was causing leaks in the parking garage one floor under me, even though it had no affect on my apartment itself.
So, they made an appointment to replace my toilet and do some sealing on the shower/bathtub today.
Which they did.
I got home from work and lo and behold, a new toilet.
Plastic cover over the seat and inside this plastic cover…
an instruction booklet.”
Instructions could be helpful for one of these
https://tinyurl.com/8ysc75rm
That toilet looks kind of intimidating.
Overcoming bidet hesitancy is another American challenge.
I don’t see why Gausman can’t pitch Saturday and then be eligible to pitch in the A/S game they have a dayoff on Thursday giving him 4 days between the start on Saturday?
It wasn’t the culinary highlight, but someone did bring “Curt Casali’s Crazy Cornbread” to the bbq yesterday.
Hey Daniel. Any call ups or prospects you look forward to joining big club, this season or next?
Also, with $$ coming off books, what would your preference be for players to help team be more competitive?
Sorry I’m late getting to this. Matthew Liberatore, who came over in the Randy Arozarena trade, will be probably up in the second half sometime and he looks to be worth being excited about. I’d like to see them give him a little more time at AAA but the need for pitching is great. Offensively, Nolan Gorman has moved to AAA and is starting to play second instead of third, so it’s possible he’ll be up as well, though I think a 2022 debut for him is more likely.
It’s a good question regarding their off-season focus. I think they need at least one more consistent bat and probably a veteran pitcher to do what Adam Wainwright has been doing. There’s no guarantee he can do that again next year and he’s said he will either retire after ’21 or ’22, so they’ll need someone to share the load.
Glad I am not much of a gambler. I had the Cards taking their division hands down. I am trying to remember a Card’s team where the pitching was terrible. I can’t.
Here’s one for ya, Winder.
They must’ve been thrilled to go on strike…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1994.shtml
Quirky start time today, 3:05 Pacific Time.
3:00 in all time zones was a common start time in the days before electric lights in the ballparks.
Interesting article on the crackdown on sticky stuff, and resulting quick decline in the league’s spin rate, and bump up in contact rate.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/07/02/sticky-stuff-baseball-data/
It’s good to see this without any collective adjustments to offensive strategy. If the advantage pitchers have always enjoyed with the umps was also eliminated, we’d see a game a little more in line with the expectations of long time fans, sans further tweaking.
1. Austin Slater (R) CF
2. Thairo Estrada (R) LF
3. Wilmer Flores (R) 3B
4. Darin Ruf (R) 1B
5. Donovan Solano (R) 2B
6. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
7. Jaylin Davis (R) RF
8. Curt Casali (R) C
9. Kevin Gausman (L) P
Kat’s gonna be a nervous wreck today.
A little surprised to see Thairo in LF over Ruf whose at first.
Could’ve gone other ways with Wilmet in the line up.
We’ll see how it works out as Yaz gets day off and Buster maybe available off the bench.
Jay-Kat has no ABs to waste…
What happens if Casali gets a boo boo and has to come out of the game?
Is Buster’s thumb OK enough to play?
Will Buster sit out the AS game?
Projected full season wins, if Giants finish the rest of season at the:
1. Current win rate: 103
2. .500 rate: 93
iirc, Daniel implied this past Spring that we might see some good work from Brebbia, once he recuped. None of us expected a thing from him. He’s been active only a week or so, I think, but he has been solid out of the pen, so far. We need that.
I’d feel a bit more confident long term if he still had the high nineties he was featuring with the Cards, but reportedly the slider still sets him apart.
lulz. I think we’ve had this exchange before. Brebbia’s best avg was under 95 before his elbow started to go bad, it’s over 92 now. Let’s see how he stretches out.
Part of the upcoming CBA negotiation should be that the two sides explore a new sticky substance for pitchers for legal use that is available on the mound — something in between rosin and the Spider Tack? Agree on a plan to experiment in the minors for a season, then agree on one after use in a Spring Training season. Meanwhile rosin is it for legal substance, like it’s been historically. And, agree to limit defensive shifts…
Ohtani is the first player ever to be named an All Star as a pitcher and a hitter.
This guy is not a once in a generation player, he’s a once in a century player.
If MLB management flubs using this guy as the poster boy for the sport, then they are entirely hopeless…
Does he speak English?
Does it matter?…
Get a lively interpreter.
MLB will flub it, guaranteed.
life in used to be Pacific Coast League AAA: yesterday River Cats scored 14 runs on 19 hits and 8 walks—and yes, lost 15-14 at Vegas A’s. Frisbee gave up 2 bombs and 8 runs, Selman blew a save by walking 4 guys and giving up 3 runs in 1 inning. 105 degrees in Vegas, yeow.
good day for Ramos, 2-5 scored 3 drove in 3 and homered in 12-5 W for Richmond. 4 shutout innings for Hjelle, 2 hits 0 BBs 4 Ks. 43 pitches, 34 strikes.
Tromp up for C backup.
Sammy Long onto IL due to “back strain”…
Thanks Loo- I remember a few of those pitchers but yeah no one stood out. I guess I remember very little about 94. I do remember a lot of pissed off baseball fans due to the strike.
Thairo !
over Tauchman if one of them has to go.
Arenado came close.
wow Thairo denies Arenado.
Sure is nice to see those black caps again…
I don’t miss the hot pink and sapphire catchers gear
Cards uni is classic too. Pretty sharp for road one.
Over under on how many hits Cards get off Gausman?
Nice grab. I’m going with 2 and would not surprise me that’s over.
After 4 now? 0.5.
Kim is good looking pitcher. works very quickly, keeps ball down, on corners in and out. Giants might get to him, but haven’t done much so far.
cbssports.com gametracker has couple pics on twitter of Najee Harris from Antioch throwing out first pitch to Ms. Nakken.
Local legend, Bama grad, best of luck to him.
Nice play by Jay-Kat…
J-Kat making a spectacular catch and turns into 2outs!
Not the first time he’s turned a play into 2 outs today.
Damm Giants are flashing some serious leather today! Wilbuuurrr!
Dammit.
Arenado is such a pain in the ass.
Big cardinal fan neighbor responded to my congrats last winter over the Nolan signing by swearing and griping that he was sure StL would be too cheap to sign him long term. The guy hadn’t even put on a StL uni yet!
Duggar would’ve had that.
Ball is lot tougher to catch if you stop dead in tracks while chasing it.
Yeah that’s for sure Willied, if your going to run full out, why stop and decide, oh hell I’m not even going to put my glove up?
What the fuck?
I don’t get the third straight fastball there, either.
First base ump only missed it by two feet.
There getting so bad making obvious safe calls at 1st base it’s mind boggling..
Sucks to go from a no-hit bid to a 2-0 deficit for Gausman, but give this Kim dude some credit he has the Giants off-balance in there swings..
Jay-Kat injured?
Yes
Davis would of caught both Slater’s gaffes today..
Davis would’ve had that one.
Looks like another short shot for my boy Jaylin.
Coming up lame running out the grounder,Kotter will go the 10 day IL tomorrow book it!
I’m finding it harder to have my belief in him, with either the nagging injuries are a bat that doesn’t get enough reps are he hits just in bad luck and the average shows it..
I think Miller is mixed up about how a double switch works…
A Green Tin Roof HR for Dickerson!
Motherfucker almost interfered? Throw him in the bay.
We’re on the board!
To bad that fan didn’t bring a fiddle ,
then we could of called “Fiddler on a Hot Tin Roof”
Tromp looks like a NASA astronaut in that get up..
These boys battle to the end..
Can the Grave Duggar deliver?
Nope
Well, that sucked.
Bullshit. Yaz RF, Duggar CF, and then mix in the other guys in LF. Fuck this over engineered LU. It’s the second half. I have to admit Ruf played a decent 1B. But Wade has to start over there. 3B? 2B? Wilmer and Donnie Bobbles are hanging in. But Thairo deserves innings. With that much talent there’s no reason to be rigid. Tauchman and Dick????
Tauchman is a redundant player for the roster. I’d rather give Bishop from AAA a try this season at some point.
Kap said Davis has left hammy strain, MRI tomorrow.
Miller&Krukow look hideous in those orange bright orange hoodies and bright orange caps!
They look like 2 orange round cylinder push-up ice cream bars..
They’re trying to act like they think they’re cool, but they know those are terrible. The big G looks like the Gatoraid logo.
Miller and Kruk are good ‘company guys.’
“Gatorade,” I meant.
Dead on right, Zumiee.
I knew it had a familiar look…
Still can’t believe Slater gave up on that ball in CF and just watched it hit the wall. You know who would have caught that, or died trying? Pillar.
Yup, and Rowand…
Duffar
Davis lasted just a few games. That was quick.
Still in first!
Muncy made the last out, which is a nice bonus.
Think Z has anything cooking for the trade deadline?
oh yeah. All that dude does is fuck and dream up sweet trade offers.
150 shooting deaths in the U.S. over the 4th of July weekend. That’s insanity. Something has to change or we’ll all be wearing bullet-proof vests when we leave our homes.
newsflash: nothing is going to change
Well, I’m trying not to be pessimistic about it, but….
“Eight people were injured early Sunday morning in a shooting near a car wash in Fort Worth, Texas, after an argument between a group of men, according to a Fort Worth police news release.
One of the men left during the argument, returned with a gun and began firing “toward groups of people,” and multiple people returned gunfire, the release said. Most of the victims, who are in stable condition, are believed to be innocent bystanders, police said.”
Shootout at a car wash….
Best song ever about a car wash.
Was there more than one ?…
Good point.
And an NHL player was killed by errant fireworks.
what else bugged me was Gausman left down 2-0. giants eventually scored 3, but pen guys Littell and Sherfy gave up 4 hits 2 BBs 3 runs with 0 Ks in 2 innings against same guys Gausman dominated. Littell might get to rejoin his buddy Menez in Sac. Sherfy also gave up 2 hits 2 runs in his last outing when Giants blasted AZ.
Littell could reunite the band at AAA.
Canadiens stay alive!
C/H stay alive with OT win, make Tampa play another one.
Nike is a big fail on the All Star uniforms this year and the City Connect uniforms. MLB needs to utilize a different sportswear company next time. Nike is not infallible.
All Star jerseys available for purchase. Who’s going to get one? No one? Yeah, pretty much no one.
This is the shirt instead of jersey, but same logo.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of Lennon meeting McCartney, in 1957. John’s band, The Quarry Men, were playing an outdoor gig from the flatbed of a truck. Paul was in the audience. They met for a while that day and were pretty impressed with each other. Seven years later they were the biggest music stars in the world.
Gatorade unis and orange hat to be worn every Tuesday, yuck.
Btw Flav Kap said he did not rule out moving Gausman start up to Saturday
The other teams that are doing it are wearing some cruddy jerseys, too. Leave it to MLB to always blow this kind of thing. Or maybe that’s the effect they were going for: to confuse everybody, like Monty Python’s Confuse-A-Cat.
Or as Loo always says, to sell more crap.
They should make the crap more appealing. 🙂
I guess I am the only one who kinda likes the orange uni’s. It’s one of my favorite colors.
Maybe they’ll grow on me. 🙂
Like a fungus.
These ones are cool . . .
My first job was working at a car wash in San Mateo. That song of course came out during that time.
Not really into Orange Friday unis either, too close to Orioles color. These are much worse though, too bright (especially for the hat) and the “fog” idea comes off dumb. Krukow and Flemming looked ridiculous.
I dislike those unis, too.
From the get go, they’ve reminded me of beer league, and now with the defensive shifts, it’s complete…
Is this supposed to garner more fans? I get the merch aspect, but those are as stupid as could possibly be designed. I’m surprised they didn’t put the name Karl on them.
We wear these every weekend AND Tuesdays?
This looks more like some kind of punishment. Manfred is a fucking idiot.
just this weekend, then every Tuesday.
Yeah those Whitesox’s uni’s are bad ass with cool lettering pinstripes matching pants, I think it’s the best of the best that I’ve seen..
Generally even normal baseball fans can wear them, besides gangs, mobsters ,pimps, etc.
Oh for Zumie your be glad to know overall nationwide only 230 deaths over July 4th weekend, down from 314 last year a 26% less death drop.Still senseless violence but it’s the world we live in..
This year was better than last year? Wow. That’s mindboggling.
There are these things called “sideshows” now, that started in the Bay Area, but are happening in the Central Valley occasionally now. Huge chaotic gatherings of people and cars that are a big problem in the communities where they happen.
Sideshows? Never heard of em.
lulz.
Remember cruising First St.?
I must have missed it.
The real reason is selling merch, I suppose, but what is the supposed reason for these new uniforms?
Is it across all teams, they must do this by MLB order?
It seems MLB is trying to save my favorite sport by first destroying it…
In my opinion, MLB saw how the NBA has their specialty uniforms and wanted to copy that. But, of course, the NBA did it better.
MLB wants to be cooler. It’s become an obsession with MLB.
The Kings have a couple of different Sactown uniforms.
The Nike factor is a big part of it, too. The sports world believes that Nike are marketing geniuses.
It’s all about how much money can be gotten from fans.
Yeah, Snarkk, there are only like 7 teams doing this. IDGAF who they are I just know the Giants and White Sox are doing it. They got the cool ones, we got dogshit ones.
I’d have preferred something done in the Lithuanian Olympic b-ball style jerseys from 1994 (?) that were funded by the Grateful Dead.
So, Giants are one of only 7, huh?
I smell Larry Baer in this, although he’s supposed to be not directly in the loop anymore.
I love the Giants, but I don’t love the ownership, I don’t love the organization’s incessant milking of the fans for more $, the constant marketing hype. At least they’ve got the front office management in the right hands, to succeed in this new “modern” game run by statistics, such as it is.
I hope these new unis crater at the Dugout stores, and they get pulled. Blechhh…
oh yeah this has Baer dookie covered fingerprints all over it. funny thing, I used to tell sales reps that came into store marketing dept was lowest life form. My take was, as they were promoting some new signage or hangtags on mchdse., “your product sells itself” due to quality of how well it is designed and made.
and what product has more quality on field and dugout than 2021 giants? the other stuff is extraneous BS.
Many many years ago I lived in LA for short time and worked in an office building a couple of blocks away from the car wash that was the “Car Wash” in the movie. Then you could go to a Giants/Doghairs game at the Latrine and be a Giants fan without getting assaulted. I think the car wash was on the corner of Rampart and either Wilshire or 6th, somewhere around there, anyway. Wasn’t anything special, just a car wash, and a small one at that. I used to walk up to the original location Tommy’s burger (more like a Sloppy Joe) up on Rampart and Beverly. It’s still there, per Google Maps. For lunch, I’d get a double Tommy’s burger and a side of heartburn to go. After 2 years, I’d had enough of LA and moved back north to the Bay Area…
Come on, you all knew this was coming . . . This is the same deal as the “rural purge” of American television networks (in particular CBS, whom if you recall got the nickname, “Country Broadcast Network”). Television CEOs finally said screw the ratings and paid attention to advertising demographics which unequivocally indicated that most country rubes were cheap bastards and the real money was young urban and suburban viewers.
Same deal with baseball. Unfortunately, MLB leadership has made so many mistakes over the last 30-40 years, that it will be nearly impossible to attract the younger generation. That being said, it can be done, e.g., look at soccer . . . it is the most popular game in the world. I have zero clue how, as it puts me to sleep. Regardless, if that boring ass game can attract fans, baseball certainly can too . . . I just don’t think these stupid ass jerseys will be the catalyst.
At a “sideshow” in Oakland over the weekend:
“A massive sideshow involving 300 cars left one man with critical injuries after he was struck by a moving vehicle.”
In a Central Valley city a couple of months ago:
“A fire engine was surrounded and vandalized by a mob of people who had taken over an intersection for a car sideshow.
Video shows the fire engine with lights and siren activated slowly trying to move through the intersection. People run alongside the engine, climb on top and the side and start pulling off equipment, including the fire hose.”
I hadn’t heard that song in decades! Nice song.
The Niners are going to use their ‘94 jerseys this season. Those are cool. The numbers have a 3-D look.
Seems like forever that they last won a Super Bowl…
i never liked the black shading.
They might even go with the red and silver helmets.
That’s some serious old-school there.
Silver pants!