Wild Walk Off
Fun win. Ball bounced in the exact spots it needed to bounce in the bottom of the 9th inning. And despite Miller screwing up the call saying “and here comes Bailey! The ball game is over!” it was a fun end to a pretty exciting, tense game. Snell made it through his customary 5 as well but looked much better this time.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
“Made it through”… He faced 18 batters and allowed 1 hit/3 BBs 0 runs. Rest of rotation, near intact as its been in long time, has target mark to try and match that.
Mr. James is on quite roll at the yard with another walk off W.
James has really turned it around lately. Would like to see those stats…
I’m at the opposite end, on a 7-game losing streak starting with the Mets game we went to last year.
lol
Snell (who was on pitch limit) also picked a guy off 1b that goes in book as caught stealing. Giants 1 SB Jays 0. Giants 2 HRs Jays 1. Despite blown save by Walker (sliders ugh) winning formula.
Happy 44th birthday, Jesse Foppert. Went 8-9 in 2003 and never had another decision in his brief career. Traded to Seattle with Yorvit Torrealba in 2005 for Randy Winn and never pitched in majors again…
Foppert was starting pitcher in game I attended vs. Phils at the Vet late April ’03, hard-luck loser as Kevin Millwood threw a no-hitter for 1-0 win. Threw 6 IP allowing Ricky Ledee HR in 1st for lone run. Ledee also made great catch later in game (7th?) to save no-hitter.
Baggs said Wade Jr. was “…unavailable off bench because of knee soreness.” hmmnn
I think James had been on streak similar to Mac’s before this year. Wisely (and Fitz) had nice things to say about Ahmed on way out. Wisely in Baggs’ TA column:
“He was so good at taking us young guys under his wing and teaching us some of the under the radar things you don’t really see. He’s a great human being all the way around. It sucks to see him go.”
Carstie Clausen
8:14 AM
Will they be buyers rather than sellers? Uh Huh. Pitch count for Snell got a bit high after five, but with 1 whole hit given up and 3 free passes. Can we confidently shout out “HE’s BACK”? Sure looked that way last night and in his final start for the River Cats. Add another ace to our Bulldog All-Star (at last) and there’s a one-two punch capable of standing up to the toughest opponents. Harrison looked a bit rusty after his first return from the I.L. Not bad for a #3 though. Likely, in 25 he will be strutting his stuff. So there’s a couple of hanger’s on cluttering up the I.L. who have had fine track records. Could be that Cobb is back after the Break…Ray, however has gotten lit-up in low minors. So #5 is still up in the air. My surmise is that Hicks gets his five innings, as he still is a bit short on going long innings…stretching out.
Birdsong, to date, has been excellent on his first run through the lineup…three or maybe four I.P. So what’s to do? Simple enough: Hicks for five and Birdie for three. Doval for the closing act. The kid has the MiL background to be a high-end starter, as he matures. Possible that he could be the high level long-man twice through the rotation…provided he is eager for the double dip. Problem with the pipeline is this cosseting of starters, particularly in A pairing and even in AA. Those future starters do not get the experience of getting sufficiently stretched out.
So that’s how I see the rotation.
Bullpen is hard to assess. Even Ryan Walker got taken down with a couple of dink hits and then giving up a Dinger. Hjelle suffered the same fate…a poorly placed pitch did him in via the same manner. The Rogers bros are pretty solid..a move to the pen for Birdsong might jell the bullies in those mid-game situations, particularly in low-scoring, close games. Back in the 50’s and 60’s the STOPPER got more media coverage than the closer. That’s a fact and it could to a degree be coming back.
Lineup is still a work in progress. As progress goes, mainly due to injuries and such, Slater had dropped into the dead-wood category and was shipped of to the Reds for another potential reliever…Cincinnati even got some $$ to do the deal. So here’s the kick: Wilmer has been a Giants asset over the past few as a dangerous bat off the bench mostly. Theiro is experiencing what for him, and looking at last year’s fine outings, is a down year. He’s not toast, but Fitz and Wisely have done their chops in AAA, thrived there and are becoming regulars. So here’s a couple of guys in AAA who are racking up E.B. hits and champing at the bits. Perhaps an offensively challenged outfit like Seattle would gamble on Flores as a piece of the puzzle. The “injuries” to our two vets I see as having been shots across the bow…a signal signifying shit or get off the pot. We’ve got a couple guys in the minors, most particularly Villar, who have already had some MLB experience…and they look really hungry.
Lacking high draft picks over the past few and minus the #’s two and three for the upcoming extravaganza; the front office has mostly focused on pitchers in recent opportunities. From low A, clear up through AA; the pipeline is loaded with pitching. Giants still need that one extra offensive spark. Previously I’ve pointed to Jazz Chisholm and Luis Robert. Either of them could thrive in a team with improving pitching, along with a youth movement highlighted by that Hellcat from Puerto Rico, who seems capable of doing it all. Add his 8 Dingers for SacTown to his now thirteen in MLB and you got a total of 21 for the season…with 70 yet to play. Will the grand total hit or pass thirty? I’d be willing to bet on that. Ramos’ confidence level keeps going up and up…even facing quality pitching.
Still not completely sold on Soler batting leadoff. In my mind, he would be ideal in the six-hole, lengthening the lineup. But we still need that extra bat, featuring some zing, consistency and ability to hit with men on base. Long held position over the years on the Flap, my take on the five-hole is as the Enforcer.
Blow, Tradewinds, Blow. Sacrifice some pipeline pitching…not necessarily the best…to a team which is rebuilding and has low revenue streams. Toss in a veteran with some pre-paid sweetening…and get that one final piece for the offensive puzzle. There are seventy games to go and SF has showed some mettle in contending with a starting rotation which ultimately dipped to TWO just a short while ago. Bullpen will finally get some much needed rest.
Last posting my take was that Los Gigantes would show their determination if they could take five of nine from three of the toughest opponents in MLB. Though the MLB prognosticators did jump SF from 19th ALL the way up to #16…there are several teams still leading them which the Giants have beaten. Time for those “Superstars are the shit” prognosticators to show some respect…R E S P E C T for the Giants
. Those two close defeats by an excellent Cleveland team, were a teller…with just a bit of tinkering, following the return of the Co-Ace and the immanent reappearance of more help there and behind the plate…the Giants are prepped to make a run for it.
After suffering and surviving through the #1 Rotation injury list and the most bullpen innings pitched by any team in MLB…the Wonder-team of the Twenty-Teens may have another surprise up their sleeves. It should be entertaining. Their ninth inning comeback against Toronto can be taken as a sign of the times. Team spirit is rising. Two All-Stars this season…genuine respect by ’25.
The Pipeline has produced. The KidZ are O.K…and then some.
Nice win. This team is not afraid to come back late.
Ahmed, we hardly knew Ya. Him DFA’d is either another example of Farhan’s half-assed musical chairs approach with dumpster dive players, finally realizing he might as well just employ some youngster out there who might hit something once in a while, or it proves out that he was smart in dumping Craw because he knew SS was a crapshoot this year and did not want to DFA him in the middle of this season …
Current season shortstop WARs:
Craw: + .1
Ahmed: – .2
Second point well taken.
As for first…seems like plan was for SS to be Luciano’s job with Ahmed as backup and mentor. That obviously became untenable. iirc Fitz had fielding issues when first up everywhere they played him. Plus he got picked off and Melvin benched him for a week.
I think this is Melvin telling Z let’s roll with Fitz and Wisely at this point. Having superior IF D at 3b and 2b (Estrada on top of Baseball Savant 2b by wide margin) helps ground ball heavy pitching staff quite a bit, so I don’t think having Ahmed around was half assed. Fitz did blow one last night, stumbling and fumbling a ball before making errant throw for E 6. But it’s up to younger more athletic guys to show they can handle themselves at plate and in the field/on bases.
Not with Stix on the pen sitch. I’d rather see Hicks in the pen with Birdsong starting. Birdsong needs the reps going through major league starts. His time is now. Get seasoning for whatever playoff run there could be. Hicks should go back to his comfort zone in the pen.
The optimism is awesome, but I’m not crowning Oooh that Snell as the Cy winner yet. Show me some more.
But yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing Flores and Conforto get traded for pitching or prospects.
Miss ya like hell, Mag . . .
What a great looking yellow lab. When we knew we had to put our yellow lab down we were able to schedule it for a Sunday when the office was closed. That Saturday we declared it Woody day, I hand fed him bacon, we took him out to the wildlife refuge so he could sniff bears and wolves’ scents. On the way back we let him eat chocolate ice cream. That night he got to feast on raw hamburger. The next day the vet came out to the car and gave him the sleep shot. My wife and I carried him in for the kill shot, I just completely lost it. North Carolina has state run liquor stores that are closed on Sundays, and you can’t even buy a beer until ten. I forgot to bring along some airplane bottle snacks for the 25 mile ride home through the refuge. Brutal day, I feel your pain Charlie and we had time to get used to the idea. Take care man.
Loco- thanks for sharing that story. What a great way to send off a beloved family member. I was raised with dogs and have had to put down many of them. It’s heartbreaking. I always thought it would be easier with cats but it’s not.
chuck- that is really the only way to look at it. You gave her as much love that you could and I’m sure you got equal or better measure back. I feel for you.
Thanks Winder. It means a lot.
Thanks. Like I said, the suddenness is killing all of us. Esp my wife, and and my son who is nearby. We’d take walks all the time. She was seemingly perfectly healthy through all of Monday and for it to come crashing down like that was brutal.
At least with Jozie we did the same thing. We scheduled it because she was close to 15 and ready to go.
What I’m holding on to is the fact she had the best life possible for a dog. She got 1-2 walks a day and gave and received plenty of love every day.
Long may you run.
Not sure what the record is, but I do know the recent success has been marred by witnessing the 8-6 loss to the Angels.
So here’s the plan: finish within a game of 500 at the AS break, go 38-27 the rest of the way with several 4-3 type wins in place of the 5-4 losses. The starting pitching finally pulls its weight. It’s a stretch, but the bigger impediment is probably going to be that the Cards, Padres, and DBs all get their shit together.
Streaky Pads have lost 3 straight and fallen closer to the pack.
Up in Oregon last year . . .
I didn’t have any problem with getting Ahmed. He was a placeholder for Luciano. And they didn’t sign him to be anything more than that. Unlike LaStella, Conforto, and Haniger who were supposed to be stars. Didn’t work out. They moved on from Ahmed. Great. The Soler/Chapman signings were supposed to be big splashes, and they’ve been middling at best. Although Chapman’s defense is outstanding.
I’d LOVE to see Vladdy Jr at 1st base. Wade is Wade. Decent and injury prone. Wonder what he would cost. VGJR won his arbitration this year and is eligible for one more arb year before free agency.
I’m down with keeping the young ‘uns playing. Need to know this season who can play and who can’t, cuz this team isn’t a WS team. It could be a sneak-in WC team, but that’s it. So, play these dudes like Wisely, Fitzgerald, and MatRam. They have to settle though, on some SS at some point. You can’t play musical chairs at SS, the most important spot on the team defensively, next to catcher. Luciana is getting time at 2nd in SAC, which I think is not time well spent. He doesn’t seem quick enough to me for a 2nd baseman, plus that throw across the body on the DP is not something that comes easily. I say bite the bullet and put him in the OF — let him be a LFer. The guy can hit…
Kim could be available in off season. Opens up spot at 2b for others if Estrada continues to struggle at plate and with health.
Vladdy G is 25. Sick of the Wade/Chapman/Soler 30+ types. Get him and sign him.
It’s hard to build a team with all these goddamn 2 year opt-out deals. I understand getting role players to fill out your team, but the Giants are nothing BUT role players.
I also get they are trying to build from within, but all these moves are happening now, not last November. Slater should have been traded/dumped 6 months ago.
There was no real reason to not have Ramos in the starting lineup on opening day other than Slater being here. Even Luciano/Fitzgerald/Wisely. Ahmen was signed and all he did was block a younger player vying for a spot.
Sure, I get why they got Ahmed, but they’ve contradicted their offseason philosophy of using reconditioned parts instead of just throwing the newbies in there. Which they are doing now because the old guys are flailing.
If Ahmed catches that soft line drive on Sunday, the Giants are at 500 and he’s still on the team. It was a good add and dropping him might cost them more runs on defense than Wisely/Fitzgerald will add.
I was thinking the same as Stix about Birdsong. If and when Ray comes on board, maybe he can take over Hjelie’s role, with Lurch and The Submariner pitching the 8th, Walker pitching in high stress situations where you need a K, save situations when Doval is unavailable, the 9th or 10th in tie games.
If both Ray and Snell prove reliable, trade one of them for a first baseman with power.
Love Wilmer but he’s become a liability.
Maybe trade Soler, but not Conforto, whose actual value this year is higher than his perceived value.
Well, you contradict yourself with that first sentence. And there’s about a 0% chance Birdsong goes to the bullpen. He’s either sent down to keep starting or he starts here. Hicks is the choice to the pen by a country mile. Give-up-a-Jack-son will be jettisoned toot-sweet.
No I didn’t. Ahmed was signed before Chapman and while Luciano was slated to be the SS.
Wisely has made two errors in this inning alone. Fitzgerald made one last night.
Conforto has driven in two of the Giants runs. He’s worth more to the Giants than you perceive him to be or as a rental to another team.
We agree on Soler, though his contract isn’t that bad.
Both Soler and Conforto are nothing to build on for the future. Both are plus-30 and can’t stay on the field consistently. Or hit consistently.
Conforto’s a free agent after this year. What’s his actual value after the season ends? Zilch, zip, nada. Trade him for something. Now. Who would miss Soler? No one. He’s on a stupid 3-year deal. He stays mainly because Farhan doesn’t readily admit stupidity. I mean, La Stella sucked for 1.5 seasons before getting the heave-ho.
The rare guys that get 3-year deals from Farhan have all sucked Schweddy balls.
Slater batting 6th for the Reds tonight. How bad is your outfield farm system that you actually trade for Slater to fill a gap?
Reds were off season darlings to challenge for weak NL Central title. Instead they are 4 games under .500 and game ahead of last place Cubs. I get triples and steals are exciting, but how exciting is it when your team is about dead last NL in hitting?
For me it’s same with “playing the kids.” Sure it’s fun when they are doing OK but it is just as tiring for me to watch Casey Schmitt bat as it is anyone else.
As opposed to Slater and his anemic hitting and Ahmed with less? Soler providing little to nothing? The only thing saving Chapman is his defense. No one is shining offensively, but at least the young guys are doing things.
The old guys ain’t doing shit. So yeah, I’d rather watch Matos in the OF rather than Solar manning the DH and Slater getting hurt yet again. Fucking Luciano and Fitzgerald can DH until they get their defensive feet set. Wade should go. Flores as well. Yaz? Sure. He an stay as the Slater guy. Conforto? Trade him NOW.
The team playing better now at least has woken up Farhan to the reality of the situation. Eat the old. The kids are alright.
Pls. Wade should go? He was one of top guys in entire NL for getting on base before he went on IL (as he was last year), but he isn’t good enough to play for you. Getting on base does matter when it comes to scoring runs and not making outs.
watching the kids play is like watching JV basketball. sure every once in a while someone makes a play, the rest of the time it’s subpar play and lot of them will never make varsity, ever. But hey if that’s what you want to watch, there’s San Jose Eugene and Sacramento within driving distance. Luciano is struggling to hit in the Coast League ever since he got over hamstring. when he snaps out of whatever funk he is in he might get another shot–until then he’s fine where he is with Donovan Walton and the others.
Not if I can get Vlad Jr.
Sitting here working and crying . . .
great tribute. We put Carson down March 21st and I still have moments where I’m overcome with sadness that he’s gone. No more animals for me, ever. I can’t handle the death part
Friend of mine I’ve known for 40 plus years has lost Shepherd, Retriever, Rott, and 3 boston terriers over the years one of whom i used to call “querida” really fun animal. I used to walk and play with all of them and house sit for them when she traveled, wonderful pets all, and now she has 2 more. She’ll probably retire soon but I’m not close to newest pair and rarely visit any more. Getting another pet is very personal choice but something I have seen others do once they recover.
I’ve considered something like Winder’s plan. I’ll be 70 in 5 years. Indoor cats live to be about 20 years. It’s always about the numbers and probabilities for James, but solely in the interest of emotional health and well being.
Yeah, remember that. Really tough. We’ve had those labs going back to 2002.
Total head fuck. My niece has Bernease Mountain dogs. She’s had 2 set of 2. The first went at 6 years, and 8. The second set, 7 and 9 years.
She said ‘never again!’ and 6 months later . . .
Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps a great tribute for Maggie Unca!
It’s very hard times for sure along with your wife and grown kids, just remember she had a great life and will still be looking out for you all ways on walks and all the great adventures/ camping 🏕️, boating just laying on your laps and being beside you ! Take care Unca!
Speaking of minor league baseball, Sando is playing for Staten Island team in Independent League.
Looo! Go check him out. That would be awesome.
Staten Island may as well be Venezuela for a Brooklynite!
Hah!
The Panda at this stage just ain’t enough of an attraction to drag myself there, Chuck…
Luciano game logs for Sac from June 11 (after last game with SF May 29): 9-57 with 1 HR.
July so far 5-24 1 HR, leading off and playing SS in Salt Lake, K in first AB.
Bivens went final 2 scoreless innings last night as Cats won 6-2. Carson Seymour started going 6 innings 1 BB 6 hits 2 runs 3 Ks on 62 pitches.
Chapman swings at two way out of the zone and then watches a legit strike 3 and complains. Bad look.
Alright, Conforto comes through.
Thairo too!
Hell of a play by Webb tagging Varsho on that dribbler!
But Damm your close to your 1st A/S appearance, no time to get hurt now..
This interview is actually not lame.
Snell working some magic it’s turning into a Netflix documentary interview!
Nothing going on 2 outs Snell says we’re 2 out fighters and he manages 3 straight walks to keep K&K asking more questions.Snell so where should I eat? I like steak 🥩 oh House of Prime Rib K&K mentioned ( good choice a SF tradition since the 50’s) as it continues on “To the longest day movie, until finally they don’t even score on Chapman’s pop up but that sure was entertaining and probably the longest 3 out interview ever!!
House of Prime Rib? Epic Steak is LeBron’s place in SF, and, right by the Bay Bridge, it’s easily one of the great tourist location restaurants in the world. It’s expensive, but the food is far better than it needs to be. The patio just before a Giants game is an awesome place for a drink and whatever appetizers you get. They’re all great.
I always loved House of Meat, still go when I’m in town. Used to like Izzy’s and Alfred’s, but I haven’t been to either of them in years. Had steaks at John’s Grill and Original Joe’s a few years ago when I was in town, both were very good.
Heliot’s filled out a bit in 6 years…
https://www.knbr.com/2018/02/26/mlb-releases-list-of-giants-top-30-prospects/
BALCO Flaxseed Oil will do that to you.
Complete game for Webb tonight?
How about 5?
Fuck, this guy again.
This has got to be the most preposterous sequence since Elster hit those 3 bombs. My wife was worried other fans were going to text complaints about me last night and have us tossed after that utter POS hit the 3 run homer.
James not after tha 3 run bomb by Clement again..
Who the hell is this guy the second coming of Kevin Elster??
That is hilarious Kat, did not read your comment before my above post!
There’s also the horrible ugly as fuck goofball catcher duo that has tormented the Giants over both nights.
Conforto ties it up.
Comforto-ing through again!
Not an easy catch, but Heliot’s gotta make it and all K & K have to say is that Vlad shoulda been on third…
Agreed. Didn’t get all the way back for it. Not first one either.
Conforto tied it up but Webb couldn’t hold it.
They are hitting him like they know what’s coming.
Ramos sure has his share of issues at the wall on catchable balls.Say hey Mays can of corn , but nobody was better so with Ramos u take the bat over the glove and be happy..
Webb is getting rocked.
Deservedly so.
Wise-Ole.
Fuck. Matos plays deep as fuck and can’t get that? Missing Lee a lot. Park Matos in LF next year after we trade Conforto. Webb just hanging shit with 2 strikes last 2 innings.
Talk about putting a curse on ….
I’m blaming Justin Turner for this sudden explosion by Jays. Still nobody out.
Man, when they go bad they go all-in.
When the wheels fall off…
Wow. OF being lazy out there.
I guess the baseball gods frown on walk-off wild pitch wins.
There used to be a disease called “dropsy”…
Adding to the inning from Hjelle.
Wheels fell off fast for Webb, I’m wondering if that play at 1st jammed his shoulder some?
6 straight hits as Highway to Hjelle getting lit up too..
Jesus 2 bone heads this inning for Wisely hmmm SS doesn’t look like his forte.9-3 holy shit Jays are pounding the pitchers into submission..
Nice of the BJays to sign a beer league catcher. Who is that fat fuck?
Big Fly.
Chapman not making the Jays miss him.
Thought that last night, too. There were a lot of Jays fans there.
Sounds like the same tonight.
Instead of 8-6 with a sub-3 ERA, Webb will be 7-7 with a 3.47 ERA going into the All-Star game.
Vida Blue was 17-3/1.42 at ’71 all-star break…
If Webb had a good Start I could see him getting the nod to start the A/S game, not now.I’m thinking baseball executives wants more flash and Paul Skenes will start imo..
Hey there’s the Luke Jackoff we all love coming back to normal with another run allowed , should push that ERA back over 6.00??
Well God Bless America 🇺🇸 Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless inning to lower that stellar ERA down to 5.70!!
Ravens-Chiefs open season just 8 weeks from tomorrow night…
Back to back jacks!
And it all started with back to back jacks As the K&K team would say..
Watching the replays of the 5th just underscores again for me how random baseball can be. Webb dominating, then after a 218 hitter singles to right, Beer Belly Kirk hits a grounder just through the hole, and the 3 run bomb on a change up barely above the dirt to a 28 year old nobody hacker.