A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball

Just Because

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on February 23, 2022

No reason to keep that old thread going. Of course, there’s really no reason to start a new one, either. After all these years is there nothing left to discuss except tired takes on the Beatles and the posting of our wordle scores?

What have we become…..

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  1. Giant Head said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:38 am

    Well I got a good story for the Flap. Still in the Big Easy for a conference and my boss and I were having drinks at a swanky hotel bar edge of the Quarter near the Harrah’s and as we are walking out via the hotel lobby I look at this huge hulk of a man and realize it is just retired LSU football coach Ed Odgeron. I could not believe he was no swarmed. Was just him and a very young 29 year old lady. Ed apparently really enjoying retirement. Super nice spent couple minutes talking to us recommending his favorite steakhouse for dinner.

    • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:40 am

      all that guy does is fuck.

      • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:24 am

        I wouldn’t know him if he was fucking me…

      • Giant Head said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        Completely.

      • Giant Head said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        Just landed and the place is called get this Steakhouse

      • Giant Head said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:17 pm

        Pardon me The Steakhouse

      • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:47 pm

        GH, if it’s in the Quarter it’s probably Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse. Never ate there, but I did eat at his place on Canal called the Palace Cafe which was solid. If you are still interested in steak tomorrow (another meating), you might want to check out Charlie’s steakhouse, a great old school joint.

    • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:37 am

      Was the steakhouse Charlie’s by any chance?

  2. Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:39 am

  3. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:22 am

    Where do you guys stand on Metamucil?

    • paul sorensen said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:49 am

      I knew i was getting old when I started appreciating diarrhea as at least something….

    • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:57 am

      I imagine I’d prefer to sit when using Metamucil.

      • paul sorensen said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:59 am

        lulz

    • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 8:26 am

      wow haven’t heard that word in while. During 70s I worked in pharmacies while going to college and it was pretty good seller back then. Hey whatever works for your drug of choice.
      Antacids too, like gelusil which is also still around.
      I start on some med to lower cholesterol (as doc strongly advises after recent blood test) as of today. Friend of mine is big on oatmeal as nutritional aid in that dept (no sugar added, only spices) so we’ll see how that combo works.

      • Winder said, on February 23, 2022 at 8:32 am

        I love mine with real maple syrup and a glop of peanut butter.

      • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:07 pm

        Some years ago there was a big oat bran craze.
        Studies showed that people were significantly reducing their cholesterol by eating oat bran for breakfast.
        Then some wise guy explained that the improvement wasn’t really from eating oat bran – it was from not eating bacon, eggs, and hash browns…

    • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 9:56 am

      My buddy the Boney One swears by it

  4. xoot said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:01 am

    yoga twice per day
    to be sure I can still wipe
    my own aged ass

    • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:11 am

      kokonuts would love this one.

  5. willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:16 am

    Rutgers at Michigan tonight. Wolverines will have former St. Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli taking over as head coach. He’s been associate head coach there last 3 years.
    They have tough schedule beyond tonight, including games vs. ranked teams Ohio State Illinois and Iowa (new #25) and instate rival Michigan St. Iowa blew out Sparty last night at home and they are explosive scoring team led by potential league MVP Keegan Murray.

    • Macdog said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:27 am

      Michigan also down 2 players suspended from brawl, not sure if they’re starters or subs. Hoping RU can bounce back from loss at Purdue, that’s a tough place for the visitors.

    • Macdog said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:51 pm

      Sigh, major flop in Ann Arbor tonight.

      • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:55 pm

        Ah emotional everyone hates Coach edge to UM tonight.

    • Macdog said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      Yeah, I was worried about the coaching factor.

  6. snarkk said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:21 am

    I heard on KNBR an interview of Jason Stark.
    Apparently, he recently penned an article on the impact of defensive shifts on the game.
    In 2013, there were 6000 or so shifts. In 2021, there were 59,000.
    And, those were shifts counted only when the ball was put in play. Shifts that occurred when the batter struck out were not counted.
    The number of hits taken away is mind boggling.
    This has to change…

    • unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:58 am

      Or hitters simply have to adjust. Artificial rules are bogus to the extreme.

      • snarkk said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:28 pm

        They won’t adjust. They haven’t over the last decade, what’s going to change?
        Get rid of the shifts, or limit them somehow. Hitters should be rewarded for hitting the ball hard.
        I really don’t need to see 3rd basemen installed in right field throwing out some guy who hit a one hop rocket into mid right field…
        Stop the beer league defenses…

      • unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 4:22 pm

        Fuck ’em then. Rewarded for hitting the ball bard? What the fuck does that even mean?

        Move the fucking fences back. Or in. Or electrify them so outfielders can’t make plays at the wall.

        Start each inning with the bases loaded. Use hard-soft baseballs.

        Might as well go the Ayn Rand (or the Annie Wilkes) route and hobble the fucking outfielders.

    • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 12:32 pm

      It was in Athletic, and had some very interesting conclusions based on data used in AA ball where there were different versions tried. One was no IF allowed on OF, second one mandated 2 on each side of 2b.
      Part of what he said was, ground balls are still gonna usually be outs. Different LH viewed shift different ways. Some said SS playing behind 2b ruined them, others said it was rover in OF that took away line drive.

      Also said both MLB and union appear ready to OK some kinds of rules vs. shift.

    • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      The shift itself wouldn’t bother me if the shift was just outfielders in the outfield and/or infielders in the infield. It does bug me when an infielder becomes a rover and plays shallow outfield. In my opinion, 3 outfielders and 4 infielders should be the rule, otherwise it seems to mimic beer league softball.

  7. unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:59 am

    Teams used to shift on Ted Williams for fucks sake. Not much, but they tried. Didn’t stop him from hitting.

  8. James said, on February 23, 2022 at 12:26 pm

    Washlet toilets are a blessing unto the aging. Being forced to wipe your ass again almost ruins vacations, once you’ve made the switch at home.

    • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      “almost ruins vacations” lol

  9. willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 12:33 pm

    Norwegian Wood
    has nice melody for jazz
    when played properly

  10. unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    The biggest diff seems to me that the hit up the middle is the one being taken away the most in terms of how defenses play.

    Then the 2nd baseman in the OF.

    Denying the shift will do little to take away the issue for hits up the middle, but the rover shift would do something.

    I don’t know. The game is barely what it was when we were kids anyway. Might as well keep the IFers in the IF.

  11. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:22 pm

    The problem with the shift is that teams are shifting on guys like Joe Panik. And teams want their Joe Paniks of the world to still swing for HRs.
    Let’s just declare victory to the analytics people. They completely cracked the code of baseball. And then change the rules, limiting shifts. The other sports change the rules when the defenses become too dominant.

    • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm

      I remember teams started to shift on Matt Duffy with a fair amount of success before the Giants traded him.

  12. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:25 pm

    Talking about the Beatles never gets tired. 🙂

    • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      Did the Beatles ever shift their positions on stage, or was it always Paul – George – John (L-R) with Ringo in the rear?

      • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:02 pm

        Their stage presence was just electric wasn’t it? All that standing still must have been so exciting for the fans
        Pfffttt gimmie a Diamond Dave round house kick all day long

      • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:11 pm

        Enjoy!

  13. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:01 pm

    Are there any rules that restrict fielders from running around or doing something that could distract a hitter while the pitch is being delivered?

    • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:36 pm

      In little league me and my buddy whit crane (lead singer for ugly kid Joe if any of you know that band) had the bright idea of going to the plate and gyrating around wildly. Spinning bat behind our backs, hip thrusts etc. I’m sure I looked hilarious. I got walked on 4 pitches. Whit came up and did the exact same thing and the ump warned him that if we kept doing that he was gonna throw whoever did it out of the game. Lol

      • unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        They opened for Pretty Boy Floyd.

        I hate everything about you . . .

      • Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:04 pm

        yes. They have some other good songs too. All Whit wanted to do growing up was be a rock star and he did it

    • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      Once you start making rules about shift—IFs have right to charge plate vs. sac bunt and to move to cover 2b on steal, so how could you limit that?. Unless you tell middle IFs how close they can stand to 2b it will still be possible for them to cut off base hits up the middle, especially if they can move once pitch is thrown, no?

      • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 3:57 pm

        How about just limiting shifts when there are no base runners?
        Would that accomplish anything?

  14. snarkk said, on February 23, 2022 at 2:42 pm

    The NFL is way smarter than MLB.
    It changes rules all the time to make the game have more offense. If they don’t work, they have no problem changing the rule again.
    MLB can’t get out of it’s own way over these shifts. The game now is now just HRs, Ks, walks and would-be hits that are hit right at a shifted infield for another joyless, uninteresting out. Instead of fixing things like that to make the game more fun to watch, MLB and the players are busy jawing to the public about each other’s greed and obstinance. And one thing they agree on — universal DH — is something the majority of NL fans don’t want…

  17. unca_chuck said, on February 23, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    Wow. Michelle Kuiper passed away. Duane’s wife of 36 years.

    https://twitter.com/search?q=sf%20giants&src=typed_query

    • James said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:41 pm

      Pretty sad, especially in light of his health problems.

    • snarkk said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:44 pm

      Dang.
      I had not heard / seen that.
      Very sorry to hear it.
      And he’s been battling some kind of cancer.
      They just has a new granddaughter too, recently.
      Best wishes and condolences to Kuip and his family…

  18. Winder said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    The pitching is just to good for batters to adjust pretty sure every player has some kind of book on him. I think they should just outlaw shifts. Players can position themselves to pretty much cover most of the territory without moving players to other positions.

  19. James said, on February 23, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    “Part of what he said was, ground balls are still gonna usually be outs.” This is the key bit of data, along with the fact that BABIP wasn’t really affected by the shift. Ok, make the infielders play on the infield, so Brandon Belt gets a few more line drive singles. The shift has been another ridiculously overhyped and distorted “issue.” In politics or culture, conservatism always loses over time.

    • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      Yes. Went back and reread what conclusions Stark drew from data on rules against shift in AA ball.
      One was ground balls were still outs.
      Two was hit rate on balls in play barely changed.
      If you were looking for more singles, one observer said, “The rule is not going to accomplish that.”
      Also, what type of hitter was most happy about it? 3 outcome LHs. Why should they bother with singles anyway?

  20. Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:05 pm

    damn I didn’t even know Kuip’s wife was sick. Maybe she wasn’t, who knows? He’s really had a hard couple of years.

    • willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:10 pm

      yeah, sucks.

  21. willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:15 pm

    And let’s be real–Clark is as good a hitter as SF Giants have had in long history. Tony Gwynn and Ted Williams were easy HOF ins. Vast majority of hitters just don’t have that type of skill and now have to face multiple pen guys per game throwing “off speed” pitches in 90s and fastballs at 100.

  22. snarkk said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    If the shift doesn’t matter much, why do teams do it?
    From 6000 to 59,000 shifts from 2013 to 2021…

    • James said, on February 23, 2022 at 7:13 pm

      Because the game adjusts to better data and better athletes.

  23. willedav said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    Didn’t realize Feb 22 1933 was day Ernie K. Doe (nee Ernest Kador) was born. Passed in 2001.
    1961 #1 hit single, “Mother-In-Law” written by pianist on day(great solo in middle) it was recorded Allen Toussaint.
    Bennie Spellman did bass voice underneath on refrain. Next year he had 2 big hits of “Lipstick Traces” and “Fortune Teller” also written by Mr. Toussaint.

    • Bozo said, on February 23, 2022 at 8:32 pm

      Ernie K-Doe, the “Emperor of the Universe”.
      Kermit Ruffins bought K-Doe’s Mother In-Law lounge and keeps it swinging. Speaking of the great Allen Toussaint, New Orleans renamed Robert E Lee Boulevard to Allen Toussaint Boulevard, how awesome is that?

  24. Flavor said, on February 23, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    considering how many he threw, this is an incredible stat

    • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:34 pm

      Sorry, not buying it…

  25. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    DraftKings offering 13-1 on Ukraine…

  26. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:39 pm

    I saw that these three musicians passed away recently. The lead-singer of Procol Harum, the lead-singer of Screaming Trees, and one of the main guys in The Sadies, a really good under-appreciated band.

    • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      I think we’ve reached the point where we should only list people that are still alive…

      • zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:50 pm

        Yeah, I hear ya on that.

  27. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:41 pm

    Loo, yeah, it was usually Paul, George, and John, from left to right; but there were occasionally exceptions. For example, the earliest film footage of them, at the Cavern Club, has Paul in the middle; and the famous roof-top concert has John in the middle.

    • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:44 pm

      Excellent Zum.
      I’ve watched rooftop clips dozens of times and that never registered on me…

      • zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:45 pm

        You probably saw the news that the rooftop concert, with the new restored footage put together by Peter Jackson for the “Get Back” documentary, is being released as an IMAX movie.

  28. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:44 pm

    Speaking of the Beatles, Paul and Ringo are starting big tours pretty soon. Paul is playing places like Fenway Park and Camden Yards. Not bad for a 79 year old.

    • zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:47 pm

      Paul’s Bay Area venue will be the Oakland Arena.

  29. zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    I was in Walgreens yesterday, and heard a Beatles song playing on their music. It was a woman singing George’s “Here Comes The Sun.” I don’t know who the singer was, but it was nice.

    • djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:57 pm

      Probably the pharmacist…

  30. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Was there ever a band that put the drummer front and center?

    • zumiee said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:03 pm

      Hmmmm….can’t think of one off the top of my head. Rush was pretty close, but Peart’s drum-set couldn’t be said to be “front.”

    • Bozo said, on February 24, 2022 at 4:19 am

    • Bozo said, on February 24, 2022 at 4:28 am

      Being a singer and a drummer, Levon Helm always kept his kit mostly up front but stage left for both The Band and his band.

  31. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:31 pm

    My girl…

    • alleykat69 said, on February 24, 2022 at 10:05 am

      Karen Carpenter was the in the front of the band in the beginning playing drums which she was very good at, even getting raves from Buddy Rich among others.But it was her perfect pitch voice that moved her to front lady and imo one of the greatest voices of alltime.She played the drums mostly in studio and some tv specials early on but on tours mostly just on a mic 🎤 where her angelic voice shined thru up in front of the sold out crowds..
      Funny she always considered herself a drummer first and a singer second, either way she was great at both..

      • djloo27 said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:37 am

        Anyone who thinks Barbra Streisand is better than KC should be forced to watch tapes of Cory Gearrin pitching with runners on base…

      • snarkk said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:47 am

        Voice of an angel.
        Back then, nobody knew what to do with somebody suffering from anorexia.
        The Carpenters recorded with A&M records. I saw a one hour documentary once on Herb Alpert, who co-owned A&M during that time. When the interviewer started asking him about Karen Carpenter, he started in about what a great person she was and what great talent and what a tragedy, and then just locked up and started to tear up and couldn’t talk any more about her.
        There are of course tons out there, but three female pop voices I always come to top of my mind are Streisand, Whitney and Karen Carpenter. All different, all great. Mariah Carey is just a rung below, and if you listen to older stuff, Judy Garland was pretty good, too. Gaga has also quite a good voice, if you cut through the theatrics. Ronstadt is my favorite, she could sing the hell out of anything from Mexican canciones to Gilbert & Sullivan to standards to Tumblin’ Dice…

      • Irish Kevin said, on February 24, 2022 at 4:59 pm

        If she had not died I thing Amy Winehouse could have been in your list somewhere

  32. djloo27 said, on February 23, 2022 at 11:40 pm

    I’m gonna enjoy watching the Ukraine kick the living shit out of Putin.
    They’re better off with out our useless contribution.
    Biden’s about as helpful to them as George Spahn was to Manson’s victims.
    Nitey-nite!

  33. unca_chuck said, on February 24, 2022 at 7:36 am

    Sorry, Flav. If it wasn[t for music I’d lose my mind. This is a great great album. Their last one with Robin Trower.

  34. Bozo said, on February 24, 2022 at 8:40 am

    Here ya go Zum.

    • unca_chuck said, on February 24, 2022 at 9:17 am

      One of my faves.

    • djloo27 said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:34 am

      The wrong person drowned at Chappaquiddick…

  35. unca_chuck said, on February 24, 2022 at 9:18 am

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    • djloo27 said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:32 am

      This just hit me:
      They probably named it Wordle because it contains words that look like a waffle.
      Who’s sharper than me?

  36. alleykat69 said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:47 am

    Think baseball games are long?
    Would a game ever in if Corey Gearrin faced Mike Hargrove?

    • snarkk said, on February 24, 2022 at 11:49 am

      With the DH coming to the NL, get ready for long-ass NL games…

      • willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 2:18 pm

        ah I’d so much rather watch one more real hitter bat than Giants crummy pitchers. Easier on Kap to make pitching changes without having to double switch too.

      • James said, on February 24, 2022 at 2:22 pm

        Games were 3 minutes longer on average last year than in 2020, when the DH was universal.

      • snarkk said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:20 pm

        I’ll look so forward to replicas of those RedSox-Yanks 4 hour marathons…

  37. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    ESPN with some mid major love for college b-ball. USF hosts Gonzaga tonight (and Zags are at St. Mary’s Saturday), and also on ESPNU is matchup of top two teams in Ohio Valley League (1 bid only) btw Murray St and Belmont. Tomorrow is game from MAAC btw Manhattan and Maris (1 bid league too) and Ivy League game btw Harvard (coached by T Amaker) and Princeton, usually top 2 teams in 1 bid league.

    good to see and I hope once some of the one bid leagues start conference tourneys we get to see more of them.

  38. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 2:50 pm

    Giants top 5 pitchers of last season were 20 for 218. 10 of those hits were by Gausman, no longer with us.
    The others that batted during the season went 1-45.
    I’ll take watching Wilmet or anybody else for few more minutes a game, and lot more excitement.

  39. djloo27 said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:06 pm

    Speaking of no longer with us, here’s today’s obituary.
    Excellent player…

    • willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Oh no. Double O Soul out of Texas Southern, wow what a cool player.

    • unca_chuck said, on February 24, 2022 at 4:09 pm

      Damn. Smooth low key guy. Loved his game.

  40. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Feb 24 1978 Kevin Porter set then NBA record with 29 assists in game for NJ Nets. Started career with Washington and was part of 1975 team that made it to finals and lost to Warriors. 4 assist titles in NBA career.
    Still alive at age 71. and his son KP Jr is on Rockets. Attended USC for a year before entering draft (picked 30th) and played HS ball at Rainier Beach in Seattle where he was Mr. Basketball in State of Washington as senior.

  41. djloo27 said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:14 pm

    If you want Zumiee, I’ll pick you up at the airport.
    Flavor is already here…

    https://www.njarts.net/four-months-before-show-mccartney-is-already-in-end-zone-at-metlife-stadium/

    • Macdog said, on February 24, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      McCartney in MetLife end zone already the same amount as Saquon Barkley last season, and more than Kenny Golladay. Friend of mine who’s big McCartney — he’s seen him something like 37 times — no doubt already has tix for this.

  42. Irish Kevin said, on February 24, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    Duane Kuiper wife passed away, she was only 64, they have not given a cause of death

    • Flavor said, on February 24, 2022 at 5:09 pm

      well they said it was sudden. That doesn’t sound good. Feel so bad for Kuip, he’s dealt with so much the last 2 years.

  43. paul sorensen said, on February 24, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    I don’t know why, but I can’t stop watching this video (it’s a short one, if you haven’t seen it). I find it somewhat calming and peaceful. And a little funny. I occasionally still have flying dreams, which I love, maybe it’s about that.
    https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/02/04/parrot-steals-gopro-new-zealand-lon-orig-na.cnn

  44. paul sorensen said, on February 24, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    And now, the great Sally Kellerman, gone too…

  45. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 8:14 pm

    10 assists for Steph with 3 minutes left in first half. 11 points . Anfernee Simons looks really good, first time I’ve ever seen him. Blazers down 15.

  46. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    Warriors carving up overmatched Blazers, but best hair on floor belongs to#11 CJ Elleby.

  47. willedav said, on February 24, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    Memphis lost on road to T Wolves. Warriors do want to stay ahead of them while still short handed in front court.


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