Let’s Go Rory!
I am consumed with my coffee and Sunday at St. Andrews. Therefore, it’s Stix time. Settle in, you’re gonna be here a while….
| Carstie Clausen | Jul 16, 2022, 9:01 PM (8 hours ago) |  | |
| to me |
Flav: A few takes from this mini-streak.
The Big News
Maybe he’s channeling his inner Buster, but it is looking more and more that Joey Bart is finally stepping into his own shoes. He’s finally getting himself grounded, both as a hitter (in baby steps so far) and as a catcher. He managed Leone to throw his heat and a subsequent special K. That in the books ,he promptly threw a bullet to Longo who tagged out Davis who “misunderestimated” Bart’s arm. After that one-two D.P. Joey had a look of total confidence as he and Dominic performed a man-embrace, celebrating a winning combo.
Maybe Casali’s trip to the Injured List was somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Perhaps Bart had come to realize that, yes, Posey’s superlative inner management of the team added up to some big shoes to fit into. Again, it would appear that Bart is in the process of winning his spurs, to really mix a metaphor with those spikes and “tools of ignorance”. Donning his shin-guards after Friday night’s dinger, our catcher silently sent a message. Giants have desperately needed some pep pills as the season seemed to be getting away from them, what with all the floundering and flailing. When your catcher…cue Buster once again…begins to run the pitchers and solidifies the infield, the team develops a sound foundation.
Singles are important too and now that Joey has shown that he can power some taters, his learning process can ramp it up a notch or two by going the other way on balls he cannot successfully pull. Sometimes opposite field doubles can be the sweetest surprise a couple of baserunners can receive. Consistently hitting MLB pitching has been a long learning-curve for Bart. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit if when he’s stepping up to the dish with bat in hand, he’ll be striding rather than just meekly stepping. Keep an eye on his movements. In baseball, like all sports, self-confidence is a winner.
YazMaTaaz: That walkoff salami Friday night put a charge into the team and into the growingly bored and frustrated fan-base. Tonight’s magic was a bit difference. Most of us felt that lightning could never strike twice under identical circumstances. Well, it sure didn’t. But the magic still happened. Gustave’s balk while facing Yaz with three bags full brought in a winner. As the most keenly calibrated of all major sports, baseball also has this air of magical momentum and serendipitous surprises.
Vegas odds-makers could never have projected that almost anticlimactic finishing touch on the scoreboard.
Villar went 0 for 0 tonight, albeit while drawing three walks. Whether its his batting eye or some form of luck or maybe hocus-pocus, Villar has been drawing walks like the squeaks of a mouse draws cats. Check out his stats as a Giant. His OBP is waaay up in the high .300’s while he “sports” a B.A. in the 220’s. Interestingly, his hits include three X.B.’s, a double, a triple and a homer. I like him. Think he’s gonna stick. Versatile. That fits Zaidi’s pattern perfectly. A little early to be sure yet, but he may well become a fixture. Kapler keeps putting him on the lineup card.
Cobb outmatched his mound opponent tonight just like Burnes slightly overmatched Rodon. He was extremely economical in his pitch count. Efficient. One unearned run. With both the Alexes of the rotation apparently coming around after a few rougher outings, things are looking up for the starters. Also a positive that Rodon opted not to go through the travel and hoopla of the All-Star extravaganza. He’s been quite the opposite of Cobb’s performance tonight, as his pitch-count mounts and mounts. Though those strikeouts keep on keeping on, he ends up throwing a mass of pitches and is pretty challenged to go seven. Webb: After a sputtering start compared with last year’s pure magic, he’s getting back into his jut-jawed mastery.
Junis is back. Kapler will likely work him in a bit gradually. Maybe he goes long relief or more likely a three or four inning starter. A solid five man rotation provides a solid base for post-Break baseball.
Looking to be the strength of the team early on in the season, the bullpen has become an unmitigated mess. McGee is kaput. Gone. Rogers may be on the brink of riding off into the sunset on Silver. Then there’s the injuries and almost always, the inconsistencies. Even more needful than a Brandon Drury trade (not a bad idea at all) are a couple of reliable relievers, one as the Fireman and the other in set-up/closer roles.
The oft derided farm system contains a potential gem pitching now for Richmond after a very nice run for Eugene. Last time I checked his stats in those two upper-middle leagues they looked promising. ERA of 2.78. Eighteen hits over 27.2 I.P., one whole home run, seven bases on balls as against 38 special K’s, a BAA of .176 and a WHIP at a scintillating 0.90. What’s not to like.? Expect him wearing orange and black no later than September. Name of the exciting relief prospect is R.J. Dabovich. Nothing quite so comforting as a quality homegrown bulley.
Will the Giants win the Sunday matchup and take the series, or end up going 2-2 against a closely matched opponent? Remember “Big Mo”? Momentum. A Sunday banquet and I’ll go out on a limb and predict that the team has finally begun once again to feel it’s oats and will be a buyer rather than a seller over the next 2+ weeks.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Stix….never better!
Agreed Stix is on it. Pitching still most imp factor to me. When giants pitching is on they can beat anyone, including LA even as lineup struggles. Is there enough there, dunno. But that will be deciding factor. Picking up pen depth is not gonna be easy as that’s an issue for most contenders. Nice to see Leone close one out.
Yes to more Villar. No on Yermin who has had 1 good game to inflate stats and not much else and doesn’t help OF D, which has also been issue. Gonzalez is riding 0-fer streak and hasn’t done much since he’s returned, Wade Jr. either and I’d end 1b experiment.
Wade plays 1st base like there’s a land mine under it…
lulz.
Ruf has started to hit better in July, 9-32 with 3 bombs. Leave him in there at 1b til Wilmet is OK.
Always liked Len Elmore as commentator, no nonsense analysis.
Gonzalez 0-15 with 1 BB since coming off IL.
Btw I hope there aren’t any more 4:15 Saturday Fox games. You could see others beside Slater struggle to pick ball up and this happens even with 6:45 starts in summer. By the end hitters were in shadows looking out at P in sun. We really don’t need more of Karros and Piershitski.
Schedule shows no more home Saturday 4:15 games, but there are a couple on road at the Latrine 7/23 and Oakland 8/6.
Halfway through Rory’s up 2 but could be up 4 with better putting. The Norweigan only 2 back despite not getting it going at all. Both Cams still have a shot too.
Cam Smith on fire, now tied with Rory, who better step it up with the putter.
I had it battling out between McElroy&Smith In yesterday’s thread and it’s coming to fruition now.Cameron Smith is bringing it on with his awesome great putting game.Hovland is fading away like GraveDuggar trying to play baseball anymore.GD just demoted down to the chihuahua league for Texas after his sterling.176 avg and a shitload of K’s! Dude should just retire he’s embarrassing himself to continue on..
Now 5 straight birdies for the Aussie to take the lead!
Smith is the best putter on tour by far.Just amazing touch and feel with that stick..
He’s pretty damn good chipping too.
How do you sit through this?
Someone back me up out there!
Haha, as usual, he’s not wrong.
Crazy final round. Rory didn’t play that bad. The Camerons just blew past him.
Joe Dirt FTW!!!
1. Austin Slater (R) CF
2. Yermin Mercedes (R) DH
3. Wilmer Flores (R) 2B
4. Evan Longoria (R) 3B
5. Joc Pederson (L) LF
6. Thairo Estrada (R) SS
7. Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF
8. Joey Bart (R) C
9. LaMonte Wade Jr. (L) 1B
P: Logan Webb (R)
Cam Smith is just one hell of a clutch player, short game, putting best in the game, long drives , has it all going..
Props to the American Cam Young driving the green and nailing a eagle putt for second place.
Rory just couldn’t drop a putt 36 putts isn’t going to get it done.Smith 29 Putts that’s the difference..
Be helpful if Joc had another hot streak or two in him. 3-30, and month of July 5-38 with 2 doubles 0 bombs.
HR totals per month previously were 6 5 and 6.
He’s been invisible.
Complete collapse…
Slush says Brewers going with opener. Kinda odd not to see Ruf Villar or Gonzalez in there. Maybe later.
Brewers are starting a lefty, not sure why u wouldn’t stack more right hitters.Don’t need to start La mine field at 1st.Go with Ruf at 1st, Villar at 2B Flores DH..Kap going with Joc against a lefty, probably figures it’s just 1 AB against the lefty, then right handers, yeah that’s alright he needs to get it going, but he could be banged up as well.Only A/S for Giants and it’s in LA so I’m sure he wants to be in there, but I could see 1AB then pull him..
3 of 4 from the Brewers would be nice.
yikes that could have been serious damage right back at Webb.
3 rockets in a row by Brewers. Adames crushed hanging slider.
Kuip..After the Sac Fly by Flores:And the Giants lead 1-0?
How quickly he forgot about Adames HR geez getting the wine 🍷 starting early today
Like the old school uni’s even if it’s a cub instead of a seal! Like they mentioned the club got a great 1st year deal on them. so really they should be more valuable.Wonder how much they cost in the dugout store..
Yelich plays LF like Manny being Manny.
Need a 2-out balk here.
Lol 😆 right?
Yeah Yelich is just a shell of his former self now..
Fundamentals are beyond dead…
Big hit by Belt picking up Bart&Wade to get Yaz home..
Kap made the right move there batting Belt for Mercedes..
Joc sure needed that.
Time to stomp on ’em…
Like that!
3 doubles this month!
Wade in the water!
Yep new walk up music Deep Purple Wade in the Water!
Bart looks like he’s starting to figure out how to hit, at least get contact. Contact got him that infield hit — Wade doesn’t get that shot at a big dinger if Bart strikes out in front of him…
Feast or famine. Belt of the Sore Bore Core needs to loosen up and go on one of his tears..
Junis showing his rust after a long time off.
Big enough lead helps cause Rust never Sleeps right Neil Young?
I would have a righty and a lefty warming up.
Why not?
Hit the break on a little roll anyway. 3 of 4 from the 1st place Brew Crew is solid. Defense is still wobbly, but got to keep hitting.
Good way to go into the break. There may be hope yet.
Great sports day! Giants back on track with 3 in a row and 7/9. Golf was awesome. I was rooting for Rory too but Smith is clutch. The par on 17 was just sooo good. Rory always class. ” the 2 cam’s just outplayed me at the end”.
Smith won it , rather than someone losing it. Always the best way to end!
Still no fucking idea what movie that is, DJ.
We drafted 2 guys that didn’t play in 22?