Playing Out The String
Yesterday’s interview on KNBR was fascinating. I advise you all to go listen to it. Farhan took a lot of blame for this year’s failure. He even said “we are going to look at everything.” Heading into year 6 that’s not the thing you want your visionary to be saying. And as Xoot and I have noted, he’s just blabbering away words that sound good that he thinks the boardroom will want to hear.
The only thing that can save Z at this point is if we have minor leaguers who can come up and actually play to their respectable ranking. He’s very likely going to get 1 more year to see if that can happen. I don’t mind if Kap comes back. You need your GM and manager on the same page and those 2 definitely are, at least, on that.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Outside of outlier year of 2021 when Posey recaptured his 2012 glory and Craw and Belt discovered the Fontain of Youth, it’s been a losing page. Let’s slog through this weekend and mercifully close out another disappointing season.
I don’t buy argument that because Giants we’re 75-71 two weeks ago we should view year as acceptable. We all commented throughout year on poor roster construction, failure to add missing pieces at trade deadline, overuse of bullpen, lack of punch in lineup, leaky defense, absence of speed, etc.
My biggest complaint is that five years into Farhan regime there’s doesn’t appear to be blueprint on how organization should proceed. It’s like William Bligh trying to steer Bounty around Cape Horn despite all indications it’s lost cause.
Feinstein just passed away. Legend. I said last off season that I was ok if this year was a year of judging our young talent and evaluation. Don’t think they let that play out and more dumpster diving than pure evaluation. I expect they get another year but I did not like the Kapler hiring in the first place so I have already mentally moved on from him. RIP Dianne.
I moved from Humboldt County to SF just after the Moscone assassination and Feinstein had become mayor. Weird and wild times. Yes, RIP Dianne.
I was surprised how close she came to being assassinated by Dan White, as he came into her office immediately after killing Moscone and Milk. Being friends with him is probably the only thing that saved her. Yes, RIP Dianne.
Responding to Paul and xoot . . .
Month Win/Loss Win% Run Differential
March 0-1 0% -5
April 11-15 42.3% -13
May 17-12 58.6% +21
June 18-8 69.2% +40
If I recall correctly, the Giants started on the road. Consequently, they had a poor record in the March and April time frame. However, they turned it around in May and really, got going in June, where the Giants were playing very outstanding baseball. At one point, I think they overtook the Bums for 1st place in the Division (correct me if I am wrong). Although not noted above, the Giants essentially played .500 ball in July (12-13 won/loss record). In August, they were 12-15; and the “wheels fell off the bus” in September, with a 8-17 record. The Giants are currently 25-24 against their NL West opponents. They also have a 44-34 record at home and 34-47 record on the road.
My conclusion as I noted last night is that this is mostly on the players. For example, we had 12 rookies playing, where one (Bailey) admitted he ran out of gas. I am fairly certain that all of the rookies were affected by the intensity and “grind” of the MLB season. Coupled with that, injuries, poor hitting, lack of starting pitching, poor defense, and base running skills (yes, we were slow) did us in. I will NOT blame Z, as he had a plan during the stove pipe season, that did not work out (e.g., Judge, Correa). Consequently, he had to implement Plan B so to speak. Same deal for Kapler, whom I think did an outstanding job, considering all the platooning he had to do, coupled with baby sitting an inordinate amount of rookies. I do agree with everyone, he will likely be the “fall guy.”
You should listen to the interview. He did mention the issue of culture at least three times. That is very telling
I did and particularly like what he said here:
“I was actually really happy to see his (Webb) comments,” Zaidi said on KNBR. “Not ‘happy’ is the right word. But I felt good about it because you want to feel like you have standards. And we haven’t met the standards of the San Francisco Giants for last two seasons. If he’s calling people out, people should feel called out. I should feel called out. Because I’m responsible for the team and the success of the team, and we haven’t been at the end of this year or last year where we want to be.”
“Zaidi described ranking last in steals as “a smoking gun.” As the rest of the league adapted to the new rules that incentivized stolen bases, San Francisco fell behind. Given that, Zaidi said SF will prioritize speed and athleticism this upcoming winter; he stated the same goal at the end of 2022.
Asked how else he might approach this upcoming offseason, Zaidi said the team’s goal will be locking in long-term contracts — either from within the organization or outside via signing or trade. That would be a departure from their current track record of mostly one-year or modified one-year deals with opt-out clauses.
“We’re going to focus on guys who have a chance to be here for a long time,” Zaidi said.
Changes, as Webb said, are afoot in one way or another.
“I think when (Webb) says ‘big changes,’ that can come in a lot of forms. We need to rethink how we’re thinking about players, how we’re putting together the roster. Our players need to think about the culture they’re fostering, our manager and coaching staff needs to think about the culture we have in our clubhouse. I think we need to rethink everything, so I’m glad he said that.”
Last in steals and worst in errors. Of course, it’s the players who don’t hit, steal, field or throw. But it’s Z who put the jumbled roster together. And it was Kap who ran Slater up to bat because he used to be a decent PH. Other examples, too many to mention.
Before 2021, I predicted a .500 season as the team looked then, on paper, but I also predicted that Z’s constant prestidigitation could change things dramatically. I was a hopeful fan. Webb stepped up to match Gausman, Buster took regular days off and his game revived, etc. Then last year the roster couldn’t execute the way the AI thought it should and the results were mediocre. This year began better, and for a while looked like 2021. We all marveled at the team’s resilience. But that pitching staff wasn’t built for the long haul and the fielders, hitters and runners weren’t either. The nose dive that began after the deadline and loudly crashed last week is all the more disappointing because it looked a bit like 2021 again until it plunged below 2022. So, maybe the calls for the heads of Z and Kap are emotionally amplified, but they’re basically rational.
In 2021, Posey was 18/54/.304 in 395 AB along with the many other things he does that may not show up on the stat sheet but it was still far from the numbers the young Posey put up…
Loo how’s your weather?
https://x.com/nyscanner/status/1707753192258228411?s=20
It fuckin sucks like everything else…
I’ll admit I haven’t trusted Zaidi from the get-go. Before he even proved himself, he had fans here saying he was going to do this or he was going to do that. Many thought he’d jettison the vets (the 4 Bore Core as they were named here), but he did what he said he would do, build around the vets, try to strengthen the Farm and stay competitive as late into the season as possible. He never said he was trying to build a championship club.
I softened my opinion of him during the 2021 season, which the “Bore Core” surprised everyone (including Zaidi) and made management look great. Didn’t think that would be a one and done, but it was.
What it seems Zaidi has been doing is a form of moneyball with a higher payroll and he failed at it. I’m convinced he was also trying to find the next Max Muncy, players that could platoon at different positions, but none that excelled at one. Again, he failed.
Kapler, besides being a prima donna, look at me, buy my tee shirt, type guy, rarely goes off script which makes his moves predictable to other teams. It was against his grain to let Cobb continue with his no hitter and he takes credit for doing what every manager would do in that situation. To me he comes off as a condescending robotic prick. He always seems to lay blame on “we”, rarely owning up. I can’t say I’ve liked all Giants managers, but this guy is probably the only one I wouldn’t want to have a beer with.
I say fire em both.
Based on what I’ve seen, Farhan will convince Greggie that Kapler needs to go.
Looks to me like a campaign to fire Kappler started a couple of weeks ago in the press. Stories dribbled out during the season about disgruntled players like Wood. But, the avalanche of bad press the past few weeks looks like some sort of concerted effort to fire his ass. Farhan’s interview all but tossing Kapp under the bus sounds like the deed is all but done, which I think reflects poorly on Farhan. He’s the guy that built this ship that has steered into the shoals. I go back to ownership. Whoever is running things in this ownership group, apparently the son of the right wing loon, along with Baer, has NEVER wanted to admit to a “rebuild”. So, you get this mix of dumpster dive temporary vets with mostly non-MLB quality farmhands…
Dying on a bar stool was never more appealing…
If I read the tweets correctly, Feinstein voted in the senate about one a.m. and then croaked shortly thereafter. Like John McCain getting out of his death bed to vote thumbs down on the right wing attempt to repeal Obama care. There’s a lot to dislike about the old war horses, but their commitment to the job is impressive.
“Croaked” 😂😂😂
Hope they use it in the obituary…
I see Toronto brought Brandon Belt back off the IL. His season obp and hr totals match Lamont, in far fewer games. He’s played 1B sparingly, less than 1/3 of his games, with one error (.995 f%). I hope he plays next month and plays well. He’s a good LH 1B/DH platoon guy with vlad jr.
BB9 just never had that one injury free monster year…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltbr01.shtml
AS season 2016 was good, but light on HRs. Otoh, he did have zero steals in four attempts.
Robby Thompson once did that in a single game…
Now that’s one I completely forgot. It’s almost as remarkable as Brenlys day at 3B.
Good to hear Frank Mirahmadi’s voice at Santa Anita.
Right, Snarkk. Hard to rebuild when you are signing guys to 2-year (with one-year opt-outs).
And there goes Gabe. No welcome back for him.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/gabe-kapler-fired-giants-dismiss-manager-after-four-years-san-francisco-made-playoffs-just-once/
Young John Sebastian had some real promise.
Horshack and Epstein are gone…
Only rtime I sw John Sebastian was when he opened for Steve Martin at the Berkeley Community Theater in 1978. The Let’s Get Small tour.
https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1707866272061423839?s=20
My son is pumped. We’re back to big names and no analytics bs, he thinks. He’ll calm down. I hope. He did just receive delivery of his bigcockbrock (all caps) custom niners jersey, so who knows.
Farhan is the driver. Not sure how this changes a thing. Post a pic of the jersey!
https://share.icloud.com/photos/03enoq34lG4BIHqIaSa1D4OIQ
Gabe gone.
Now what about Zed?
https://x.com/GrantBrisbee/status/1707869186427609310?s=20
First manager fired by Giants since Davenport?
Craig kinda got lost in the shuffle when the team was eventually bought by Pete Magowan.
Correct, Loo.
During the disastrous series in colorado, Slusser tweeted that before one game Kapler and Webb spent a long time walking around in CF by themselves, talking seriously. At the end, they shook hands.
This will solve our problems said no one ever . . . Sort of like putting a Band-Aid on a shot gun wound.
Or like extracting a bullet from a rifle wound. It’s a start.
Kapler continuing on also wouldn’t have solved our problems.
Did Farhan read my post??? Don’t let the door….just kidding. No dislike just think he was a bad hire from the beginning. I say get Joe Mason but think others here are not fans…
Joe Maddon…
Wonder if Posey would be interested. Since someone had to pay for this season I guess Kap was the most logical one.
i don’t get the point on canning him with 3 days to go. Just embarrass him? What’s the point? He worked hard to get the most he could get out of a pretty shitty line up. Seems like he deserved the chance to finish the year
Agreed. It’s performance. Odd performance, esp following Zed’s mea culpa confession. I feel like they’re trying to manipulate fans who are too jaded to be fooled by superfice now.
Zaidi presser links
https://x.com/KNBR/status/1707885464831811696?s=20
3:45pst
Sluss saying she’s heard Stephen Vogt as a potential candidate.
Wow. For three games? This is stranger than the Feinstein placeholder appointment.
of course nobody asked the most important question: if you’re going to be doing all this examining of where things went wrong and how to improve in the future, why can’t you do that with Kap? Boring questions, even more boring and typical answers from a guy who spins it like an all star.
That jersey is awesome, Xoot. Caught this on one of the games last year.
Yeah, it’s a thing.
Listened to the entire Z presser. Flav’s right, boring questions and to paraphrase Nikki Haley from the debate the other night, “. . . I feel a little bit dumber” after listening to this shit.
lol
I’ve advised him to sport the jersey judiciously.
Heh heh. That would go over great in Philly.
Yeah. I think east bay niner fans have easily grown in size and volume since the raiders left. But there’s always the chance you’ll bump into that one guy who keeps a Jack Tatum shrine in his apartment.
Seems pretty petty firing him with 3 games left. I think a lot of us said Kapler was a placeholder until all the rookies came up.
All one of them!
Farhan should just manage these last few games. Them he can fire himself.
Oooops. Meant for my blog.
Still remember pretty vividly the day Feinstein announced that Dan White had shot and killed Harvey Milk and George Moscone. Dan White got 7 years on the infamous Twinkie defense. He at least had the decency to shoot himself after getting out of prison.
I was today years old when I found out ol’ Danny boy went to (take it in the) Riordan.
lol, like Kap couldn’t have scribbled this out
https://x.com/mi_guardado/status/1707907436588486947?s=20
Rodon had quite the line tonight against one of the worst hitting teams in the league. 0.0 innings pitched, 6 hits, 8 ERs.
gotta give credit to Z too. Passing on Rodon was brilliant.
I bet Kapler just said I’m done with this BS team you built Z and asked out himself before his meeting with Z.One winning season under Farhan&Kapler and that was just a fluke cause the bore core had career years and Gausman &Webb and even Disco stepped up.Kap shouldn’t of been the only Scapegoat as Farhan should be fired as well picking up aging dumpster players cause he couldn’t draft enough quality players that are still wet behind the ears to help yet.
doubt it. Kap was all in. Those were his guys. You don’t ride or die with a team for 6 months and then bail out with 3 games to go. Unless you are Clifford Ray. Any old school Dubs fans remember that?
could read into a lot here about Kap
https://x.com/KNBR/status/1707931377013059662?s=20
No different than a lot of places I’ve worked…
Think the Giants effort this final weekend will prove anything?
The bums fans in northern Calif are a vast cackle of hyenas.
Thairo? Huh. OK if they say so.
Yesterday when I said “I think Kap is gone”, I really didn’t think it would happen today. I’m glad he’s gone, but yeah, agree, firing him with 3 games left in the season? That’s low. And unnecessary. In his presser, I thought Z looked fairly sheepish and uncomfortable. Maybe even squirrely. Gonna be an interesting offseason.
Outta here – Wilmer keeps on getting it on.
You’d think a guy with an odd delivery, a 95 mph two seamer, and a couple off speed pitches could make some sort of a mlb career.
We’ve gone from the first and probably all time best WS replay challenge, for a crucial, dazzlingly turned DP, to an IF foot challenge in a meaningless game, in less than ten years.
I think the Giants should let Brandon Crawford bring out the LU card for his final game as a Giant on Sunday..
Good idea, Kat. A great Giant, gonna miss him.
James, MacDog and I met up at Yankee Stadium for game 2 of the season.
Feels like 30 years ago…
Going to Metlife Sunday?
Not as of now.
Might change…
How low are you when you fire the manager with 2 games left in the season?
It could not wait until the day after the season ends ?
The wheels have come completely off.
WTF ?