Sweet Smell of Snell
Well Blake Snell, it was August 2nd. You picked a dramatic way for you to get your first win of the year. What a fun game to watch. It was either here or on Twitter (I can’t remember) where someone mentioned that was like the easiest no hitter of all time. You could literally see it coming all the way and I think the 9th inning took like 90 seconds. Good for him. And us, we deserve a little fun like that in the dog days of Summer. We’re still in this. I know no one wants to hear that but if we go 8-2 like I hoped there’s a chance we get some meaningful baseball in September especially with all those games vs the Pads and Snakes.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
One hot streak is all it takes. DBax were 51-50 after losing to Royals 10-4 July 22. Since then 8-1 to get to 59-51. Same thing with Padres. They were 50-50, .500 team after 100 games like DBax, and then went 9-1 before losing to Rox last night.
Kids last night-Fitz Schmitt and Luciano- scored all 3 runs Giants got and drove them in, 2 HRs and double. Turned out to be all they needed.
also, back2back shutouts for the first time in MLB since 2013. That’s wild.
First for Giants since 2002, Schmidt and Livan what I read from Shea.
2 hits and walk for Canha last night hitting behind Fitz at top of lineup. On base 6 times.
Addressing what Loo said yesterday, no hitters are a lot more common than a lot of people think. This is already the third in MLB this year and there’s no shortage of them in big league history. Perfectos are cooler and way more of an accomplishment, not to mention a lot rarer. But the Giants really need some good things to happen and keep happening and Snell’s no-no definitely qualifies. It’s been a rough year so far. Let’s see if this jump starts a hot streak. It’s not too late.
well that was our first one since 2015. And when Dirty threw his it was our first one since The Count. So excuse me if I get a little more excited about that win than a win where they give up some hits.
USA-PR men’s b-ball game kinda like playground ball. US has 64 at half in 20 minutes, like scoring 140s over full 48. PR (winless and already eliminated from advancing) getting theirs too. Jose Alvarado inspiration to all little guys.
Gleyber Torres is a fucking fool, as he may have caused the Yankees to lose last night. Moron stood in the box admiring a shot to left field, thinking he had an easy bomb. The ball bounced off the wall and instead of a double, he had to settle for a single. Then the asshole questions Boone for pulling him out of the LU for not hustling (granted, he apologized later for questioning Boone and moreover, for not hustling).
You really can’t address trade deadline stuff til some of prospects are older. Preller traded first round pick CJ Abrams away in Soto deal 2 years ago. Now he’s an AS with 3.5 WAR per B/R. Preller wound up signing X Bogaerts to play IF for 11 years $280 mil. They’ll be paying him til 2033, and he’s played only 61 games this year at age 31.
For every Doyle Alexander/John Smoltz deal, there are 10,000 ones where the minor leaguer never makes it.
Talk about watered down no-hitters it’s are last one by Chris Heston in 2015.
His only season of pitching any amounts of innings was the 177 innings in 2015 as he finished with 194 innings total in his career and a 13-13 wins.But like the NCAA song goes “For one shining moment” Chris Heston had his against the Mets on the road so props to him, might not of been very good, but u never can take away his are anyone’s else no hitter cause it’s still needs luck/good plays to get 27 outs..
Shit at one point yesterday the tigers pitchers gave up 9 hits in a row. NINE! I’ll take one dude pitching 9 straight innings without giving up a hit all day long. No hitters are fucking awesome. When they happen celebrate them.
Another Fox game this afternoon. tomorrow 9 AM Roku streaming only. F-in sucks.
Are you familiar with accessing Strikeout and other free, online streaming sports and movie services? If so, go to: https://strikeout.im/baseball
Basically, you need to recognize that you may have to close out numerous pop up screens and/or NEVER download any popup or window telling you to do so (likely malware). Easy to access games. Same deal with movie streaming sites like putlocker, 123Movies, Rido movies, etc., where you can watch movies that came out as recently as a month ago.
Thanks Blade.
Debbie Downer perspective: Simple math says Giants wild card chances unlikely. 4 game deficit not insurmountable but 6 teams ahead of them in standings and needing to leapfrog 4 of those is real challenge.
Happy Hippo perspective: Giants starting rotation finally rounding into form with Webb, Snell, Ray, Harrison, Birdsong & Hicks. Three of six with relatively fresh arms having pitched sparingly first four months of season. Everyday lineup infused with young talent (Ramos, Fitzgerald, Schmitt, Wisely) complimented by veterans seemingly finding renewed energy (Conforto, Canha, Chapman).
Next two months will tell whether Debbie Downer or Happy Hippo standing at end of season. But cold reality is that barring utter collapse (90+ loss season) Giant players with opt-out contracts will test free agent waters in offseason while Giant front office will remain unchanged. We all want meaningful baseball during September stretch drive but I fail to see where long-term direction and vision of senior management offers any semblance of real progress.
thing is, if you don’t like this years team, next years will be completely different.
and the 2026 team will be more different.
I do like “changing of guard” and gradual transition from older veteran lineup to younger more athletic roster. To me that’s biggest positive to 2024 season. My criticism is that most successful teams don’t undergo constant roster upheaval and turnover each season but instead have certain bedrocks in place and compliment that with one or two key offseason additions. What I haven’t seen past 6 years is ability to develop and sustain stable roster nor land occasional high-end talent through either free agency or trade.
Streameast has been solid for 4 years now. Minimal polyps at least on a Mac.
It has been my go to when I can’t see a game.
popups. Lol
Track and sprints always been most fun to watch for me at Olympics.
great couple innings I was able to watch and likely guarantees he opts out which is probably better long term for us.
Looking forward to watching rest of his starts. He’s allowed 2 runs in last 33 innings over 5 starts, and Giants have won 4 of them. Pitched well vs. Dodgers in only game they lost 3-2.
worry about 2024 when it comes.
We’re over halfway done.
Shit. No TV, Flemming is doing the radio broadcast, he’s such a jinx.
A near zero chance of winning.
A leadoff walk for the Reds after a 3 k’s in the top of the inning. I hope Flemming pulls a tongue muscle.
Got em!
Phew. Harrison to Bailey to Schmitt gets de la Cruz.
The guy they traded Stripling for has one less steal than him.
Impressive! Nailed that MOFO easily. Announcer was essentially saying that Bailey and De La Cruz are the best in the league at what they do.
That outside pitch Harry throws a lot worked just like a pitch-out, setting up Bailey nicely for the throw.
If anyone doesn’t know, the game is on Fox today.
thanks. Ritzo doing the radio and the stream syncs with the tv. Maybe they can pull this one out.
Hey, I like Snell, but seriously, a long in-game interview in the top of the second is annoying.
Agree Zum . . . Snell isn’t exactly a silver tongued devil (most ball players aren’t), coupled with them not cutting over to the game much while he’s yabbering on. They should can that stupid shit.
Hey Willie, I defer to Unca insofar as Streameast. I haven’t used it since last season and decided to try it this evening. Much, much better versus Strikeout. Both have popups initially, but SO has many more before you get the game without interruption. Anyway, try Streameast tomorrow. Shouldn’t be an issue getting on seamlessly.
There goes the no-hitter / shutout.
Well their goes are Consecutive innings of shutout pitching.Hey that wasn’t going to be substantial (Loo’s favorite wtf word) but it’s only 1Run for Harry.Another overused word well he only gave up a 1 run Homer? Wtf isn’t giving up no homers still better?
India hit the shit outta that one.
Friend called me when that happened John and I told him this Cincy dude did that and he asked me his name and I told him, “Never heard of the guy, but he hit it in the 2nd deck.” Did they say how far that went?
I’m not sure if the Fox guys mentioned it, Steve, it was a hell of a poke though.
Can’t say I didn’t see that coming.
Speaking of bombs. Sheesh.
Once again, Giants get to within one of .500 and shit the bed.
Yep after partying all night with the no hitter they came back with shaky hangovers..
3HR’s by Harry and one the killer 3 run bomb 💣
Well Conforto broke up Greene’s no no só their that.
BP today.
There goes another one. The bullpen should be completely rested.
Ha, beat me to it!
I’m not wild about Harry…
At least the bullpen should be well-rested.
Me too . . . good night all.
Holy crap! I have my ESPN Gamecast open and saw 30-40 seconds Cincy leading 6-0 before this guy went yard and I am wondering how ESPN got that score????? Duh, about a minute delay with the Streameast Fox broadcast. lqtm.
Yeah, you have to turn off notifications if you are going streameast.
Funny, even live shit takes a while. Buddy called me from a Carolina panthers game and the lag from NW TV was a good 10 seconds.
I’ve had lags on cable well over 30 seconds. I’ve gotten texts from friends at Ranger (hockey) games that seem unfathomable for awhile…
Carstie Clausen
10:22 AM (7 hours ago)
to me,
Blake Snell and the Rotation from Hell. Could it be? Catch that smell? Something utterly filthy. Fun to view the look on that lugubrious face, kinda like a three year old just having letting off a fabulous fart right there in the church pew. Same thing with the looks on those Reds hitters who had flailed away at those reeking curves concluding at their ankles. Instincts are to make faces when something stinks and they looked like dinks.
Can you imagine the grin on Zaidi’s face after last night…catching hell all over the commentariat for not swapping Snell for a heavy load of prospects. Betcha there was a gleam in his eyes as well.
Perhaps the most relieved individual on the team was our Webb-spinner. A whole lot of pressure to perform as the lone team ace fell off his shoulders once the finals were in and Snell remained…and locked in overdrive. So what does that guy with the bulldog look of total determination do? He grits his teeth, forgets about soured-out yesterdays in getting Cained waaaaay too much and bears down to complete a C.G. shutout. So here’s the shout-out: Aces? We got a pair…at least.
Rays of sunshine followed by raging despair? Could be, with those three dingers that the recent escapee from the I.L. gave up to the Rox…and in our sandbox! Wondering if that despair wasn’t something like “where the hell is my backup?” A pretty slack-up back-up on the part of Giants hitters. Recalling Lucky Lou Burdette with the then Milwaukee Braves. He’d give up a few runs, but the sangfroid stood. What with Hammering Hank, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock and the gang on HIS side; giving up a mere four runs was chicken feed for Burdette. Yeah, that was back in the days.
Today, the Giants offense has remained in a daze. The talent pool which has emerged from the pipeline has finally emerged…but it is still a hit and miss proposition. If it does jell in the next week or so, the battlecry will become “Viva los Gigantes!!!” Robbie Ray has got the stuff and the history. Defense has jumped up a degree with Chapman at the hot corner, the Schmitt/Wisely combo in mid-field and three good legs and arms in the O.F. So if Ray settles into a groove, it could be “three LaBumbos are out in the old ball-game.
Four Aces in a deck? Whoever is on-deck for the opponents has gotta look at that array, now featuring that Cali kid who was taken outta high-school in the draft a couple three years back. Harrison has been touted by many as an ace in the making. He’s made some strides in the past few weeks. Appears to be coming online. He no longer needs to prove that he belongs at his ripe old age, of what is it..23 or so? Built solid and so is his future. Strongman on the mound. In the presence of Webb, he’s honing down on his determination. From Snell he sees the oomph in a combination of power and finesse. Yes, outta school and being schooled by a pair of masters.
Rotation revolves and resolves with a little Birdsong. No tweets, just sweets. He shot through the pipeline like shit through a goose…and here he is. No big headlines in the baseball world…yet. If the current Kiddie-Corps has one singular shining star, it’s Hayden. Could he be just a flash in the pan? Maayyybe. He’s being schooled just like Harrison. If he can get “no hitter” outta his ego and simply get back down to business and stay there…we maybe got us one more ace than you get in a full deck of cards.
Bullpen games signaled the beat-up array our team faced right up to the Break. Presto-chango and that batch of bullies are feeling the relief, what with a pair of Aces-Deucy shutouts in proud succession. With a single minor exception since the Break, those tired arms are strengthening for a nice, long rest. Just so they don’t go bellyaching over having nothing to do…ahh, of some of the weird moves that Zaidi did make, one stood out in the departure of a disappointment back to Los Bravos…along with Soler. Six weeks from achieving Octogenarian status, my memory glands are sagging a bit. But what the hell, Atlanta is welcome to the guy.
Doval may be gradually recovering from those drawn-out multi-pitch innings. Trend continues and we got us a reliable closer. Walker is solid. Period. One reliever who was just about the only standout for the River Cats is back with the Big Boys once again. That youngsta from Louisiana, I seem to recall, looks to be a keeper. The Rogers Twins, one of whom actually pitched for the Twins, are a bunch better than average. Left-right combo outta the same womb at roughly the same time. Hjelle, the long-tall Norskie has had more ups than downs this season, where he finally has achieved sufficient seasoning in the PCL to do his part in the NLW, may finally come into his own. Without constantly being stuck in an overheated pressure-cooker; the relief-corps should be up to the task.
Pitching was best described as tatterdemalion during the first half. Cobb is elsewhere and Higgs may transfer to a three inning longman. He may or may not be happy with that retro situation, but baseball is baseball…you perform or your transform. Way it looks right now is that SF can stand up to teams like the Philthies and the RedSox staffs…an unimaginable scenario just a few weeks ago.
Offense? Pretty offensive in the lesser sense of the word…to date. Last night’s backup blasts for Snell by Schmitts and Fitz may be a herald of the times. Remember, Webb had one single dingle to work with a couple three nights back. Not much help from the guys with the sticks…Stix says it here, though…the current array of the offensive Kiddie-Korps looks to be the best I’ve seen in decades…the pipeline is producing…kudos to Zaidi along with the scouting and development people. We got us a catcher who’s got an arm to deal with thievery and a pitch-caller who was in full synch with Snell last night. Bailey can hit too. Cooled off lately, he kept the team from flailing and failing into full oblivion early on with his stick as well as wearing the “tools of ignorance”. “Late Night” has also been a major contributor at the dish early on and is a decent enough first-sacker. Wisely appears to be a fully adequate middle infielder and is sorta sneaky good with the stick…even occasional power. Schmitty was tearing up AAA pitching and may finally have matured into an up and coming power threat. Chapman, one of the few viable vets in the offense, remains key to the Keystone and tends a bit above average with a bat in his hands. Two L.H. bats in the outfield, Conforto and Yaz, are approximately okay as hitters vs R.H. pitchers and are more than adequate defensively. Ramos is pure stud, but has slowed a bit lately in the long grind of a full season. He’s earning his chops. Learning his lines. Never know when he’ll get that second burst of energy. Currently, hot and cold Matos is burins it up for SacTown. If he can keep it up, Zaidi will find room for the .22 comer.
Defensively still a work in progress, Lucky Luciano…might as well go with that tag…finally rediscovered his power-stroke in the PCL…quite recently. So he got the call. Another young-un, bursting with energy and potential talent. Replacing Soler in the DH slot may be sufficient to help him focus on the stick for this season, anyway. At his age, the dude has plenty of time to tighten up his glove.
Overall, the KidZ are okay…maybe better than that. Can that junior-league bunch get their act together as a well-oiled, mutually energizing teamwork display? I’m too young to remember the “Little Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff, as having been in second grade in ’51, when Bobby Thompson’s “Shot hit around the world”, stunned the Bums in the final call and pulled it off to take the NL Pennant.
Webb’s tough it out and Snell’s “Stinker” may have created the Magick Ointment. From a sinking bust, to shaking off the rust, the Rotation may have transformed into a handful of Aces. So can the offense go places with the Aces? That’s the 64 thousand dollar question. We’ll know in a few weeks. -stix
Lemme know when the cliff notes are out…
lol. He works on these too hard for me not to post them in their entirity.
tl/dr
You never read any Tolstoy?
Tol-stix?
Jesus. Getting Snelled.
Six weeks from 80??? Damn. And he’s rebuilding his little house in the wilderness.
Chapman with the inside the park assist (errors).
Conforto with a dinger, starting to close the gap.
Glad to see Greene leave the game.
“Pitching was best described as tatterdemalion during the first half.”
Stix went all “tatterdemalion” vocabulary word on our a##es.
Sent me straight to google…
I’m closing in on my 7th hour reading Stix’s post..
lol
Encarnacion gets one.
Hey, Mexican beer league represents!!! Making it a bit more interesting at least.
What’s the o/u on HRs given up by Rogers?
2?
Well Viva lá México! Jerar 1st HR as a Giants, 30 HR’s between Burrito league (19) 10 at Sac.. 6-3 one crack left you never know?
Chapman keeps it going.
423, that was loud.
No, the ball’s not juiced…
The park is.
They don’t call it the Great American Smallpark for nothing.
Here we go!!
Chapman adding to the drama with that HR!!
6-4 need another base runner on..
Can’t get to that elusive .500.
Oh well they battled back just to late to overcome 6-0 deficit..
Get ‘em tomorrow, as they continue their chase to get to .500..
Exactly.
gonna have to go 7-1 now
Hunter Strickland for the Halos just served up a grand slam to Mets’ JD Martinez, lol, how does this guy still have a job as an MLB pitcher?
I guess it’s no different than the real world where there are complete idiots having long careers doing a shitty job of whatever gets them paid…
Ask Luke Jackson.
Are Halos still ahead of A’s? They at least have an excuse as Fisher intentionally guts the team.