Off Day!
Any way you slice it, winning 4 series in a row is very very nice. Yanks coming to town. Did I hear this right, we are doing a Judge bobblehead game? Is that typical, that we do a bobblehead of an opposing player? Maybe I’ve got this wrong.
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A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Chuck commented yesterday re: sans Wade Jr. rbis go down. Good point–in order for a hitter to have rbis in first place, another hitter has to be on base.
Look at OB of yesterdays regulars–only Ramos is above league average
Top of order guys: Matos .270 Estrada .273. Fitz .300.
Matos 4-30 w 2 BBs. OPS vs. RHP .582 w .254 OB
Fitz 4-24 in May w 10 Ks 1 double
Giants currently sit 6 NL for runs and OB. See what happens minus Wade Jr. at top of lineup.
The two bobblehead giveaways that the Giants have listed are the Willie Mays Birmingham Black Barons Bobblehead and the LaMonte Wade Jr. 100th Splash Hit Bobblehead.
We swung through Birmingham on our way to New Orleans one year, so I could check out the Mays statue.
Awesome you got to see that. Unfortunate Wade Jr. will not be able to play in the Rickwood game; hopefully he can at least be there.
Yeah, you’d think he’d make the trip. Hicks’ll be there.
57 African American mlb players on opening day this year. Unless you count all of north central and south americas as americas.
It’s kind of weird that the statue is at Regions Field where the Barons currently play and not at Rickwood where the Black Barons played. But there is a brew pub across the street where you can hang (had to park in their delivery bay so I could take a photo of the statue).
Went to Mobile ALA for work a few years ago, and saw Hank Aaron stadium. Really bummed the only night I was available to see a game, it was rained out.
The Bay Bears no longer exist. They moved to Madison and became the Trash Pandas. Derp.
On the bobbleheads, I meant that for the Yanks series. There will be another one for Jung Hoo Lee later in the year. Wall not included.
Clever designing on LaMonte Wade Jr 100th Splash hit Bobblehead,it has an activator pump you press a button that will shoot up water spray from the back..
The Mays bobblehead sounds great.
Yeah I mentioned as well how huge a loss WadeJr is going to be.His clutch hits and now turning into a GG caliber 1B as well is so impressive to watch.The young ins are easily going to be exciting ,and Damm it’s a good thing-but there still going to struggle,but if their OB,Wade will uncannily knock them in.He’s turned into a very similar clutch hitter recently retired Michael Brantley.Though Wade got a latemont start to his career at 25 compared to Brantley at 22 who raked right away with Cleveland then AssWipesStros.Brantley still will be the better player due to longevity but both are great hitters and clutch in the big moments.Yeah Giants need Wade back( atleast a month😫) he’s the finely tuned engine when the others are running rough..
per Fangraphs, about only guy hitting as well as Conforto with Wade Jr. out is Patrick Bailey. Conforto has OPS of .821 w .490 slugging (Ramos is .431, Chapman .414) and he Ks at much lower rate than Ramos 20% vs. 30%. He’s about to go on rehab stint and Giants will need his bat in lineup. Hopefully more regular ABs can get Flores going.
It’s cool that Matos has 20 rbis already, in half as many ABs as Conforto and Yaz do, but ribbies are context driven stat. Other guys have to be on base for those to happen, so it’s not just about the guy driving in the runs.
Barry Bonds 2001 season where he hit 73 bombs, he drove in 137. Couple reasons for that were that Calvin Murray and Marvin Benard, below average OB chump hitters soon out of baseball, were at top of order. Plus that was Aurillia big year w 37 bombs driving guys in himself, obviously at least partially because no one wanted to walk guys in front of Bonds. Instead Bonds got 177 walks and Kent drove in 106 hitting behind him w 22 HRs.
By contrast Bonds next best rbi total was 129 in 1996 when he hit 42 HRs.
ML ribbie record that still stands is held by Cubs Hack Wilson, 191 in 1930 (“rabbit ball” spike year for offense) w 56 HRs, previous NL HR record that stood for long time. Cubs team BA that year was .309 and 4th NL lol.
Great baseball name. Right up there with Coco Crisp.
That ’96 season might’ve been Bonds’ best ever, after Williams went down with an injury, there was very little help for Bonds in the lineup.
High pockets Kelly definitely a cool baseball name as well , though it might be even better as a billiards 🎱 player..
He was a HOF player and a NY Giant who played in the 20’s-30’s .Local ties he was born in San Francisco buried in Burlingame.
Wonder if he’s called low pockets now at his burial site?
Remember Wayback, on the Splash, who said he had a great photo of Randy Kuntz hugging Dick Pole? Has he ever been here, under another name? Smart guy. Lived near LA, iirc.
Curious since Dick Pole was a pitcher and Kuntz was a position player it just seems perfect that Pole drills Kuntz hard..
I don’t think Wayback had that in a photo.
From the Athletic.
Over there on the bottom right: Blake Snell. Hitters swing harder against him than any other pitcher. His whiff rate (31.5 percent) is still in the 85th percentile, so hitters don’t square it up that often, but when they do, it goes far. When you change the parameters from “swings” to “contact,” his 11.5 percent barrel rate is the highest of his career. Same for his 12.8 hits per nine innings. That’s probably not a recipe for success.
if only we could bring multiple charges against Zaidi for criminal mishandling of rookies before a NY NY jury.
To convict, I’m guessing jurors wouldn’t have to agree on the specific charges — bringing up a player too soon, not bringing up a player soon enough, bringing up and sending down a player too frequently – just so long as they all found him guilty of at least one.
Hell, we’re writing the law. Good idea. Although becz each of those if charged alone could support a criminal conviction, constitutional law (6th & 14th ams, state const, too) may require unanimity.
anyone check Kevin Pillar ‘s OPS lately?
not missed.
he’s done. When Giants got him he had massive HR hot streak, then back to mediocre.
again, I think the Giants should send Luciano and his tight hammy to Sac to train as an everyday DH. Soler? Time may not help.
At this point, gotta hope 2021 is the template. Terrible first half, cranked it up late. To date, his only bad season at the plate with a significant number of PAs is 2022, and even then he was limited to 306.
I keep hoping. But that weakass swing toward a low slider way off the plate yesterday–I’d thought he’d moved past that.
otoh, I’ll never forget watching Matt Williams in the WS with Cleveland whiffing on similar pitches the way he did as a rookie in SF–yet his slash line was stellar.
Maybe a stupid question, but I think I missed something: seen a bunch of players on their HR trots make a hand gesture toward CF. Toward the camera? Toward fans? At first I thought they were flippin’ the bird, but looks like the “hang” hand sign. Just don’t remember seeing that before as a regular thing….
Another shortie for Rangers
Mets beat the Snakes!
Yeah w comeback W of their own. DBax now 25-31. f them.
And sadly the Panthers dominate the Rangers in the 3rd period 3-1 ..
And just like that Rangers make it 3-2 but not enough in the end..
Interesting column in TA as Baggs interviews farm director Kyle Haines. Lot of movement up and down chain as injuries at ML level (and elsewhere) cut into Sac and players had to be promoted from lower ranks. Seems they are still very cautious w pitch counts and innings for minor league pitchers.
fun fact: Ishi is hitting coach for Low A San Jose, helping Eldridge. Very cool.
I love it when the Athletic puts out current minor league data. There is so much stuff going on behind the scene.
Am I the only one who feels that the Giants have really F’d up this whole shortstop situation? How can a MLB team not have at least one serviceable, full time defensive SS identified and ready to go in the upper minors (AAA or AA)? This is the most important position on the field other than catcher. They bring in Ahmed for Craw, but if Ahmed gets hurt, then what? Well, now they are in that position. Luciano looks the part at the plate, but in the field, he’s looks like he’s about a season’s more in-game chances away at Sac from being defensively reliable. The physical errors are one thing, but it looks like he’s often confused as to what to do from a situational perspective. They had to have known that, and there’s been rumors of it before he even came up. So, now it’s a choice of dudes who really aren’t a great defensive choice — Wisely who hasn’t been a real SS much at all, and Fitzgerald with some experience there, but who has been in the minors and in SF used more as a utility position guy who hasn’t looked the SS part defensively at all. This appears to me a major failure of roster management in the minors…
There was nothing wrong with Casey Schmitt’s glove when he was playing SS after Ahmed got hurt. Problem was he hit .136 (3-22) and K’d a lot. He’s a good 3b too, but that spot is taken.
Schmitt is playing SS for RCs right now. Last update 2-4 2 rbis double and BB 5/28. Wisely and Fitz are serviceable at SS and have played other positions. dunno how many SS that can hit ML pitching you expect the organization to have, but 20 year old Diego Velasquez is hitting .279 with .776 OPS for Eugene High A after good season last year in San Jose
Schmitt was the odd-on 3rd base guy in the minor’s with the canon arm, before they stuck him in at SS as a try at MLB level after Villar flamed mentally at the plate, and far far before Chappie was even a gleam in Farhan’s off season eye…
The thing is, they had to know early last season at the latest that Craw was not going to be re-upped — and they’ve been caught flat footed by Ahmed’s injury at the SS position…
I just don’t think a guy like Joaquin Arias, who in 4 years with Giants had an OPS of .632, is going to be able to take up roster spot any more given pitching staffs of 13. No one who hits .228 at minor level is getting promoted regardless of how good the glove is.
Rather than a “fail” I think Giants are lucky to have as many options they do, including Estrada who has played there before but is gold glove level 2b. No idea what plan is for Luciano but he is still here, and SS is only position he’s played so far. See what happens this weekend.
Will Wilson, the Angel’s SS top pick a few years back that Farhan acquired in exchange for eating Zack Cozart’s $12 million deal, seems stuck at AA. His career SS fielding is at .957, which doesn’t seem that great, and his hitting so far is mixed: .237/.317/.409/.726. He’s 24 in July…
Giants draftee Crawford came up in 11 after a series of vets–Devi Cruz, the great Omar, and Renteria–succeeded Aurelia. Iirc, the team tried to sign a vet SS star before last season. Crawford was a rare homegrown SS. Aurelia was drafted by the Rangers, but finished his milb stint in the Giants org. Of course, you could reach back to Speier, I suppose. Bit before my time. I do well remember LeMaster.
Royce Clayton. Not to be forgotten.
Royce was my guy. Always thought he could/should be better than Barry Larkin.
Craw also made us forget the near unforgettable Brian Bocock…
Bocock is closer to the norm, I think. Thus the succession of vets. I forgot vet Uribe filling in for injured Renteria in 2010. I don’t think the earlier Uribe was homegrown.
I would take Jose Uribe now as SS in a heartbeat. Wiki says he came over to SF in the early 1985 Jack Clark trade with the Cards. Jose and Robby Thompson were an awesome defensive duo…
I’d take any previous SS with a good multi-year SF tenure. (LeMaster, no)
Hal Lanier played a lot of SS for late ’60 Jints. Mays nicknamed him “Maxie” cause he was a teammate of Hal’s dad Max in early ’50’s. Yes, I’ve told this story before…
Much beloved? His negative career WAR was six times better than Johnnie L’s.
Jose Uribe was Jose Gonzalez when he was traded to the Giants. He was the player to be named later in the trade. He changed his name and became the player to be named and renamed later . . .
And he was VERY much beloved.
yeah I recall his belovedness. Desperate to replace LeMaster, the Giants caught a nice break.
And as I said above, wonder how Correa might’ve ameliorated this current problem.
Best laid plans of mice and men and all that.
Luciano was supposed to be the guy and Ahmed the backup. Luciano’s fielding is proving to be a bit of a disaster so there’s that, and Schmitt is a great fielder but his noodle bat is the opposite. Even if he looks like Popeye.
Finding someone who can hit AND field is proving to be pretty hard but Wisely seems to be handling SS pretty well. I wouldn’t call it a fail, but they are running through their options and Wisely is the guy for now.
Right, and he credits help he got in Sac from damon Minor and others for adjusting his swing path. Seems like pretty good option so far in small sample size.
Yeah SS is dicey for sure until Ahmed comes back, he’s still solid with the glove even if his bat is not going to do much.Then again a platoon with Wisely with his bat makes it tolerable..
To me 1B is even more troublesome with Flores getting overused and his stats are way down and they have no LH bat cause you can’t consider Brooks a desperate move imo along if they say try a glove on at 1st Conforto lol 😂 And imo they can solve that problem easily if they gave Belt a call for both 1B&DH and his defense plus a major presence of a team player and respected by many on the team already they have nothing to lose.Just don’t get while Wade’s out atleast a month are longer..
mm I’d feel a lot better about Belt if he had gone to ST with someone. As is, it would take him a while to get back up to speed at minor league level, right? I realize 1b isn’t like other spots in the field but we’re talking about Belt here, who hasn’t played in 7-8 months. Might be able to find someone who is already playing ML ball if that’s what they wanted to do.
any update on tight hammy Luciano? Is he still in SF?
Yeah, wondered about that–IL? still up w big boys?
Luciano to IL, Schmitt back.
https://x.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1796668627674071279
LH Trenton Brooks at 1B tonight. BBref says he’s 5’10” tall. Very few HRs or xbase hits for Sac this year. .426 OB % though. Good power numbers in Vegas last year. Now he’s down at sea level.
The Trenton Thunder used to be a Yanks AA team, now they’re part of a collegiate league.
The Trenton Thunder used to be a Yanks AA team, now they’re in a collegiate league.
The Mets just tied up AZ by hitting their 2nd triple of the season. How is that possible?
It’s the Mets?
Sorry for double post.
well, it was a meaningful response, so….
I don’t mind an occasional double post as long it’s not from Stix!
I’m going to honor that with the LOL, POTD, it deserves, Kat.
Mets hammered DBax Jordan Montgomery for 6 earned runs (8 overall) and 9 hits in 4 innings. Lead 8-4 after 5.
Watching the DBs flail is immensely satisfying. They were a bullshit team that made the WS, a fraction as good as the 21 Giants. I hate their “young, athletic” roster more than the Dodgers.
Now down 10-5.
Gallen on the ILfor a while. hamstring strain, yesterday.
Reds got comeback 5-4 W over Cubs, who have lost 8 of 10 and are now 28-30. Elly went 0-4 w 3 Ks but threw out tying run at plate w 1 out on relay from OF bottom 9th.
Injury news:
https://x.com/ShaynaRubin/status/1796682034326524004
Slater started his aaa rehab assignment, I believe.
Snakes score 4 in 9th, including Joc 3R bomb, but fall short 10-9.
The D-Backs get credit for sweeping the Dodgers in the playoffs last year. It was appreciated.
SS Wisely woes.
Judge given a hit.
Baggs: “Just my opinion, but way too many errors aren’t called errors these days.”
Statcast era hit. How hard was that exit velo? Not an error. AI says so.
left a biiit too early there Thairo
I have an extensive background in college A/V. I’m noticing new camera panning in tonight’s game. Giants are leveling up their production values. Nice.
NBC broadcast network is involved. They sometimes are on Fridays. They used to be terrible. At the park, you could see some regular cameras covered and unused. I bet it’s justthe opposite now.
good insight, xoot!
soler should be batting8
another statcast AI hit?
More good baserunning by Chapman.
Dawned on me watching Stroman, I remember another player that wore # 0–OF Oddibe McDowell. Saw him play A’s w friends, for Texas and I said something about his name. He struck out and one of the daughters of friend I was with said, “oughta be on the bench.”
he might not have made it to the HOF but he should have with that rad name
Jesus. Nice pitch. Couldn’t have teed it up any better
Ramos keeps getting hosed in this LU batting 8th??
He’s their best besides Bailey with Wade out.
And now it’s Judgement Day! 3 run bomb 💣 as the Judge Rises…
I was hoping to see some closer level 98+ instead of a fat hanger.
Or split in the dirt
And now I have to listen to Yanks announcers suck Judge’s cock for the rest of the game.
I’ve been very into audiobooks the last couple of years, so I’ve lost total track of KNBR. I read in the SF Chronicle today that Mac of the Murph and Mac show has been let go due to budget cuts. As morning sports radio talk shows go, I considered that a good one. Sorry to hear Mac lost his job after 20 years. Of course the media landscape has changed a lot in the last 20 years, with so many more options for consumers. Satellite radio shows, podcasts, digital audiobooks, in addition to more music options. AM radio is probably hanging by a thread.
In 78, sailing slowly from Santa Cruz to Vancouver, a.m radio reached us after sunset, even way up north. The Giants were exciting that year, from the start. I forget what that change in the ionosphere is called. Legendary border radio and blues radio stations travelled that way. A.M’s nighttime reach is probably still valuable, though it may be all call in talk now.
I saw what you did there
Hicks’ throw to 1st was faster than the pitch to Judge.
and the laughs continue
Not good baserunning by Bailey.
I blame Soler for swinging at that 2-0 pitch.
I blame meltard for batting him 2 spots over Ramos.
hmmmmm. Maybe rethink throwing lazy sliders to the Jusge?
goddammit, Hicks is better than this.
Now I see why Hicks doesn’t pitch in the 6th.
Back in the old days there were so few games on TV, of course, that radio was the thing. In the early ’70s, I could have gone either way, Giants or A’s, but the Giants had the great Lon Simmons and the A’s had the terrible Monte Moore. No contest. I became a Giants fan! And I only had to wait 40 years for the Giants to win the World Series! (grin)
and the laughs continue
from the sublime to the dogshit. Little league stuff
If there was a third runner, he would’ve scored too…
Man that was some real ugly baseball right there.Figures it’s a Rodgers brother involved in the madness..
And the Taylor Bros. Traveling Circus has arrived.
It’s unfortunate that Matos isn’t half as smart as Luciano at the plate. His numbers continue to plummet.
He has to understand how not to give away ABs. Reaching out to flick at an outside pitch when the count is 1-0 is just getting himself out.
70s flick Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars is on TCM, that’s better baseball viewing than this crap .
Condaleeza Rice in the pregame activities just seemed like a bad omen.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=rA5fzdDB-dc&si=6M3MmzgJrLeynuC9
Oh yeah, I’m a huge Steve fan.
he said in an interview that Rice’s people wrote to him. As a classically trained pianist, Ms. Rice was amused by your song. Something like that.
Colin Powell had some regrets later, I don’t know if she ever did.
I doubt anyone from the bush admin had regrets. A fried of mine yelled at her on the Olympic Club golf course. Get outta that cart! You’re young enough to walk! Then he realized who she was.
I worked at Stanford for 2 years in early 2000’s in a communication role, had to work with the Provost sometimes on key issues. Rice had been provost before I joined; got to know the provost John Etchemendy a little, and he would smile and shake his head when mentioning Rice. “They called her the hatchet lady here.” In just 2 years, she turned Stanford from losing millions every year to a surplus of hundreds of millions. Hmmm……
Bailey doesn’t get doubled off on a flyout, that’s progress.
Rockies bring a little happiness to the night’s baseball.
Giants still haven’t learned not to let the other team’s best hitter beat em. It’s almost like they do it on purpose at least since Golschmidt…
it’s still bothering me. No reason at all to give Judge anything to hit in that spot, especially with Stanton getting a day off.
Bummer to lose. We will still win2/3 Book it!
We’ve playing very well of late, let’s get rolling again today.