Rare Blow Out
Turn the page on that one.
Dubs are up against it here. They are so old…..and getting older. Only one day off. Meanwhile the young bucks in Minny have been resting and licking their chops. Shut down Edwards and they’ve got a shot. I’d start GP2 and just glue him to Edwards.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
well, after last night 3 of lower seeded road teams have won their first game of NBA conference semis. GS did it vs. Rockets too. I read a column in TA couple weeks ago about best guard/wing defenders in NBA and T Wolves had couple of them–J McD and NAW off bench. They also have old guy in starting lineup, 37 year old point guard M Conley. Ant’s tough but can be very erratic looking for his own shot.
Rough night for Birds. Sure D behind him sucked but he also gave up bomb to first guy he faced that extended deficit, and walked 2 guys . In a previous outing it took him 50 pitches to go 3 innings. At that rate he won’t last longer than Roupp. I’ve seen suggestions for SF to use piggyback approach with 2 guys scheduled in same game…just seems too weird for Melvin/Posey.
Cubs SS Dansby Swanson burned Giants last night going 3-4 with 2 doubles scored 2 drove in 2. He was hitting 8th and came in with .217 BA. Cubs signed him to big FA deal after his last season with ATL where he hit .277 with 28 HRs/96 rbis.
Last year in Chi he hit .242 with 16 HRs (lowest total since 2018) 66 rbis and .701 OPS. Cubs paid $28 mil for that year and for 2025, and owe him $110 mil for next 4 beyond. hmmnn
4 errors will never get it done. Chappie just flailing was odd to say the least. Birdland was due a bad one as well. I guess I’m glad all the fuckups came in one game.
Turn the page. Move on to today. Get the series.
Responding to bbaldy’s last post last night on Chapman — that’s not a bad thesis about his recent spate of errors.
Adames may end up as DH in the last half of his contract, or maybe 1b if Eldridge is a bust. Giants have to ID a successor SS candidate soon by draft or acquisition of a minors player. Maybe there is one in the Giants’ low minors — somebody educate me on that if they know.
BTW – WTF is going on with Bailey and his glove? Several commentators have mentioned this. It’s noticeable. Since early this season, he just drops a lot of pitches that are easy to catch. Or doesn’t catch them square in the pocket of the glove and they squirt away. I’m talking about strikes and near strikes. Not good for getting a called strike. It’s weird and a little concerning…
Chapman developed his deep, broad coverage approach with the A’s, back when Semien was still learning how to play SS. Adames may be easier to work with. But BB makes a good point. Platinum usually doesn’t clank like that.
Giants have 21 yr old SS/2b Diego Velasquez who is hitting .302 for them at Richmond AA. High OB with some speed.
Eldridge had good weekend there, 5-13 1 double. BA up to .316, OPS .869 in 38 ABs.
about as upbeat as it’s possible to be. Shorter is underrated. Imh op.
thoughts on Jaco BB? Amazing to me.
thanks, great tune. Love early Wayne Shorter Blue Note LPs and with Art Blakey. WR was fantastic and inventive group all around. Loved Zawinul from Cannonball Adderley days…Jaco was amazing, drummers and percussionists too.
mercy mercy mercy.
Jaco? Oh man! ‘I Could Write a Book’! Jaco’s emergence changed everything for electric bass players. The idea was already in the air. Other elec bassists (ie James Jamerson, Larry Graham) were pushing developments with instrument. Acoustic bass players (Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers, Scott LaFaro , Gary Peacock) had been evolving the instrument for some decades). With arrival of Jazz/Rock fusion in the 60’s stage was set for the elec bass to come to forefront of the music. Jazz, in itself, was never the popular genre that Rock was. The ability of the music to reach larger audiences via the Rock idiom also enhanced the evolution of the instrument. And Jaco was right there at the right time ready to share his phenomenal gifts with the world.
Just one more thought on the Jaco phenomena .. 40+ years ago there were maybe 5 players on the planet that could play the instrument with the technical ability and musical acuity of Jaco. Today, if you are auditioning to study at the Berklee School of Music, or some such institution, you need to be already playing at the level of Jaco to get in the door. Honestly, I’d probably fail that audition.
wow. Thx.
Not into jazz like you guys, but Stanley Clarke springs to mind as a guy who ventured from jazz into fusion/rock territory. Saw him w/Return to Forever, and years later w/ Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood as the New Barbarians.
Then again, Primus taking on King Crimson is something as well
Yes Unca, Stanley Clarke is a major player. A contemporary of Jaco’s (both born 1951 as was I — Stanley 6 mos older than me, Jaco, a month younger), Stanley was already formulating his brilliance when Jaco emerged. Both were huge influences on me and every other young bassist at the time. The guys I mentioned were the generation before us that cut a swath through music’s stylistic jungle.
Btw, Love Love LOVE! That King Crimson track. Never heard Claypool’s take on it, will check it out.
Jaco? I was just listening to Trio of Doom a bit yesterday.
I knew a bunch of hippies who were outraged when Joni Mitchell, Jaco and herbie h decided to introduce them to Mingus. Hilarious
Snarkk, in the Giants minor league pipeline, Josuar Gonzalez, is new, but already rated 2 or 3 in the Gmen’s system. He unequivocally is the highest-ranked shortstop prospect. Gonzalez, a 18-year-old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic, has been lauded as a “five-tool” prospect, with the potential to excel in all areas of the game. He signed with the Giants for $2,997,500 in January of 2025.
Obviously, it will be 3-5 years before he ascends to the MLB level. Outstanding NY Times article I read a few months ago about his signing. If you have a paywall, give me a shout and I will send the “remove” paywall version.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6066789/2025/01/17/sf-giants-josuar-gonzalez-analysis/
By the by snarkk, this article severely criticizes the Giants for being the WORST MLB team for signing international players. Ironically, they were the best back in the 60s.
As far as Bailey goes, he’s always been fair to poor at passed balls. His numbers are pretty awful. 17 passed balls in 2 years isn’t good.
So, how does he win a Gold Glove?
Throwing stealers out isn’t the only defensive move a C makes. “Framing” counts more than letting through a lot of passed balls?
When the robot-eye balls and strikes ump shows up next year or the year after, the catcher’s skill at “framing” won’t be a thing anymore..
Maybe Bailey’s excellence at “framing” generates his propensity to drop strikes and allow passed balls. As in, he moves the glove before he’s fully received the ball firmly in the pocket of the glove and squeezes it…
Come to think about it, maybe Bailey’s excellence at “framing” generates a lot of his passed balls and drops. He’s moving the glove into the edges of the strike zone before he actually has the ball in the glove and squeezing it, controlling it…
Sorry about the redundant posts. WordPress did not show the first one after many screen refreshes/reloads, so I thought it had been lost.
All I know is in 2023 he led the league in passed balls with 8 and last year he allowed 9.
Come the roboump that skill will no longer be required so I guess he should just focus on catching the thing.
Unc, Stanley Clarke was on bass (along with others including Jaco) for Al Dimeola’s 1976 LP Land of Midnight Sun, really enjoyable. Saw those 2 in RTF “No Mystery” Tour in Oakland at Paramount, fantastic. No Mystery is such a beautiful track. Always thought about putting lyrics to it. I also saw him live at Great Am in SF in band with George Duke though idk if they ever recorded together.
He could also fit into straight ahead jazz, on recording by Dexter Gordon 1972 “Tangerine.” Wonderful inventive player.
Right on Willedav!
I remember seeing Stanley Clarke around that time with Stan Getz. It was ‘straight ahead’ jazz but as mind blowing as anything I’d ever heard.
Bass, one of my many regrets is not having seen Les Claypool yet. The Lennon/Claypool delerium shows were a lot of early Pink Floyd and Crimson. He kinda reminds me of Frank appa in that he finds great musicians from any and every stripe. The Buckethead shows I woulda loved to see.
Saw Crimson a couple times in the Discipline/Beat era, and just saw the Beat tour w/Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and the drummer from Tool whose name I can’t remember.
Fanfuckingtastic shows.
We opened for Primus at the Filmore once and gotta say, besides his bass playing, Les is a really nice guy.
Very cool.
I’ll admit I thought the Dubs had a slim chance in that game 7 away game at Houston. Wrong; they got it done.
Now, Aaparently all the pundits are again picking the opposition –Minnesota to win in round 2.
For me, as long as Stef is playing, I’m not doubting the Dubs in this round. The guy has proved time and again that he’s got the “it” that makes the difference in playoff situations. He and Dray and Butler may all be over 35, but it takes 3 star players to win a title in the NBA. At least that’s what people say. And, these 3 know what it takes to get it done…
Bailey couldn’t put down the safety squeeze. Man. Sac fly saved his ass.
Ramos puts a ball in play and vamos a ver.
Bailey too, and also gets rbi sac fly.
Saw suggestion elsewhere that Bailey should just stop switch hitting and only concentrate on batting left. Giants can use Huff vs. LHP.
Hey! Some small ball runs. Looking good, I like it!
Hooligan Homer!
And Cubs say we’re play long ball as the lead is cut to 4-2..
wow nice stab by Lamonte and Verlander beats 23 year old LH speedster Crow-Armstrong to the bag.
In the 8th pitch of AB.
Helped make it a nice quick inning for JV.
100 on the black. Damn.
Nice Rodgers made short work with that.
A couple more runs would go a long way at making me feel comfortable.
Walker looks wild
Nice to start the inning with a walk.
Nice comeback
Oh fuck.
Jesus. Now Doval is looking better than this guy.
Send in the clowns. What the actual fuck?
I guess that didn’t really cost anything, but fuck fuck fuck fuck
Pass me the tequila and Maalox.
Torture 2.0.
Torture
Yeah, get him out of there.
Or not
WTF
Pfffffffffffffffffffft.
Looks like Camillo will be moving on up.
Verlander is never getting a win with the Giants.
yeah tonight sucked for him leaving with lead…again
Fuck! But I thought we were toast so at least were still playing
every pitch but his first from miller was good. But too much plate to start. Fuck.
Yeah, that first pitch was a “hit me” fastball right down the middle. WTF is he throwing that?
Well that sucks!!
Re verlander…Bullpen has been good all year except when he pitches. GRR
Might see harrison soon. We can’t have many guys left…
Verlander had his 3rd win snatched from his grasp.
Late Night time.
I guess LaMonte needs to reset his clock.
Wade, def: to move or proceed with difficulty or labor
Ghosted again in the 10th!!
Oh well. This one ain’t gonna work out. On to the Warriors.
Wow, he got out of it.
Great job by Miller. The blown save on a grounder up the middle. Strong work getting the last 2! Go Giants!!
Wade sucks!
Koss, what are ya thinking?
torpedo bat does the job.
SAFE!
I swear to Keereist we still have some of the stupidest, non-instinctual baserunners in the majors. Bailey saved the bacon afterwards to score the run. Criminy…
I will ALWAYS love a safety squeeze ! ….
Stef Curry out for rest of game with a hammy pull. Crap ! …
Giants blowing it open, Unca left too soon! 11-5
Honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen extra inning like this.
Pressly threw 26 pitches and didn’t get anyone out.
Pour it on!
raise your hand if you thought this is how the game would go?? :)))
Ramos having an inning.
From being one base away from losing it to blowing this one open with at least 9 runs — I think I need some bi-polar meds…
Now that was fun. Wish they had done that in the 9th.
whoosh Harrison with 97 heat. Great way to finish it off
Thats a Win.
And Harrison with a couple Ks to wrap it up. It’s a W!
And the Warriors up by 20 55-35 without Curry as Green hits 4 3’s now Buddy Buckets 2 straight,never count out the heart& grit of this team!!
Did I miss anything?
Kerr’s on glue with Spencer over JK.
Butker is passing way too much
I always like the words “And the fans are heading to the exits!” The team that was supposed to be gassed had more energy then a well rested team!Great to steal game1 99-88 they have beaten the T-Wolves 4 out of 5 now! Hopefully Steph gets back soon, but great effort holding it together without him..
All four NBA road teams won their game ones. First time that’s happened.
Butler looks kinda beat up. I’m sure he’ll get a lot of rest in game 2. They may not even play Steph.
No way Steph plays game 2. A baseball player would be on 10 day IL with a mild sprain. lets hope that’s all it is. Fun fact both NHL road teams won game one today too!
Yeah the Dubs did what they needed to do Steal Game 1 ,With you Sportsdude Curry won’t be playing till Saturday at the earliest (4days rest easily the call)..