by
Greek Giant
Sir Laurence Baer, CEO, President and Viceroy of the San Francisco Giants just published an open letter to Giants Nation. I think it’s worth a read so I am reprinting parts of it and providing you with a link to the full text here. Sir Laurence is a damn good writer.. or one of his staff is.. I like to think he wrote it. What I find most interesting in it is the honesty. He is not sugar-coating the season’s final loss or the need for a closer and some bullpen help.
Did you know that Conor Gillaspie lead the Giants with a slick .421 batting average and six RBIs in the postseason? Wow… Here is a bit more on Mr. October:
There was Conor Gillaspie emerging as yet another example of the Giants summoning surprise performances from players up and down the lineup. With the team battling for a Wild Card berth, Conor dove into a photographer’s well, flipped over a television camera and popped up with the foul ball in his glove. He was our hottest hitter during the final week of the regular season and batted .421 with six RBI during the postseason. Against the Mets in the Wild Card game, he broke the 0-0 tie in the ninth with a three-run homer to win the game. He came through again with a two-run triple off Aroldis Chapman on the way to winning Game 3 against the Cubs.
Here is a nice mention of Ty Blach:
There was rookie Ty Blach making a strong case for a spot in the 2017 rotation. He pitched eight shutout innings against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in that final weekend and was an inspiration to us all. Then — stepping into the frying pan of Monday’s tense Game 3 – he coolly threw two scoreless innings to earn the win in the 13th inning.
Here is my favorite line:
In short, we will pursue every opportunity and commit the necessary resources to field the best possible team to get back to the playoffs in 2017.
Last post I suggested that the Giants need a latent, late developing hitter in their lineup.
Maybe Conor Gillaspie is the guy !!!
Imagine the cloud of suspicion if hit .300 with 18 HRs next year? Who cares?
I’m headed down to Paso Robles today to meet with Hope Family Wines….one of their products is inspired by the Nobel worthy writings of Scout:
Troublemaker
Hope is a beautiful word. Let’s hope Conor becomes the Giants’ Murphy/Turner overdrive!
Espero que tenga un buen dia, hermano.
In this case, it’s a family name, but I hear ya!
Hey!! Dude you still here???
I will be passing through Kettleman City twice today. First pass should be at about 10:30, and return pass at about 11:45.
If you are going that route which you should be, or maybe not, then I’ll buy you a Starbucks mochachinno, Bapah cold press delight!
Well, you know what to do, hit me up here, I’ll look for it. Otherwise, look for someone standing on the corner in Kettleman in a menacing clown costume.
You’re gonna beat me…Beauty has to get ready, you see….and that will put me in Kettleman City at about 1PM at the earliest…let me know if you get delayed and are around. (We might make Deer jealous)
OK. Don’t want to make beauty nervous about meeting up some weirdo on the Internet either.
She has heard about this scout from the foothills…she asked if the foothills have eyes
Drinking wine is about the only thing to do in Paso Robles.
How do we get one of these hitters? Anybody in mind?
No freaking idea. But Conor could bloom into something similar to what was seen down the stretch. How about Posey if he played more 1b?
congrats to bobby d on his nobel win
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_JjFeeYOLs
Righteous
Can someone explain to me what happen to Tim Ls pitching mechanics? Arm speed slowed or mechanics or what? It all happened so fast.
I think the hip issue was the result of the unorthodox delivery and violent way he landed on every pitch. If you look at the landing spot for really tall pitchers, Tim landed about the same distance….so his mechanics allowed him a unique amount of leverage, his arm motion allowed special movement…but the whole “system” stressed his hips and , to some extent, arm.
So, the car broke down.
Then, he tried and failed to battle through the breakdown ( the drop off in recent years) and came back way too soon after surgery ( the disaster this year)
My two cents
Yes, and, his very small frame could not maintain the violent delivery and his arm was spent as a result. The very beginnings of this were noticeable in 2011, though he had a very good season that year.
I remember when Timmy came up in 2007 and there was already talk about how he would have a short career because of his motion.
Makes sense to me.Thanks
You remember when Mavo describe Lincecum as a gymnast? He nailed it.
I’m shocked too. In that Braves highlight video his fastball wasn’t that high – maybe 91, 92. And most of his K’s were on the changeup or maybe slider.
So was his downfall losing 2- 3 MPH on the fastball or did his changeup get worse?
Command got worse, when he had good command he was still very good, the problem was it was very inconsistent, so he walked to many hitters, and he was very bad at holding runners on, and he would also always be pitching behind on batters , so had to grove a pitch and then he got blasted . He was either really good or really bad, look at his game logs in 2014 and 2015, lots of great starts and lots of awful starts, not that many average starts .
I apologize if this is a repeat but bringing in your best SP in an elimination game was Bob Brenly’s idea in 2001. Was he the first and then Bochy has made it popular again? It sure worked for Roberts.
Go cubs!
You guy, Kris Bryant, is going to take care of some business ๐
Imagine if Bryant, Rizzo and Zobrist all get hot?
You can finally share the love with all those cub fans in your company right?
…yup, as I wear my Ring Head hat around the office
You mean that letter wasn’t just for me?
Yeah! I got one addressed to “Dear (my real name)”!
If it didn’t say DrLefty you know it wasn’t real.
I think they got confused on mine and thought I was like George:
“Dear Portuguese -Scottish Giant”…
Whoever wins the NLCS can always lose the World Series ……
I think the Cubs own Smarge. Bad matchup for him with the good LHH they have. That said 95 percent of the time any reliever should be able to lock down a 3 run lead
I want to see Puig and Baez do a bat flip off then get beaned by both opposing pitchers.
Just a warmup for Joey Bats?
I forgot about that – yes!
I really hoped a comebacker would ricochet off Arrietta and hit Baez. There’s still time.
that’d be a thing of beauty.
Or an Utley Baez run in. Two douches, …. .
Ooh, even more magical!
So you think that it”s cool to throw at a player’s head because he flipped his bat? Watch this and tell me that is what Puig and Baez deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlbXtg_-31c
Yeah, that’ll teach ’em.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’m not asking for anyone to get hurt. Just a nice bruise in the buttocks.
Bean means fastball to the head.
I doubt that is what he meant. I never associated beaning with at the head either
But it’s what ballplayers mean, which is the issue, I think.
Not convinced of that either
OK.
“Beaning” is throwing at the head. But here is a good idea-have a designated thrower at ‘er. In the Giants’ case, maybe a ball dude.
My predictions: Cubs in 5. Blue Jays in 7.
Cubs Indians Cubs in 4 – Arrogance?
Bums in 7, Indians in 6
As a lifelong baseball fan who endured 50 seasons without winning a World Series, I hope it’s Cubs/Indians. Cubs fans and media might be insufferable, but they’re the best team in baseball this year. Plus, if it’s Cubs it’s not Dodgers.
Oh yeah: Cubs in six, Indians in 7.
Cubs in 6. Jays in 6.
Let’s start an LCS predictions thread gang. I want to hear your thoughts. I am rooting for the Jays or Indians to win it all…
Jays all the freakin way. I will accept no less.
My Sincere predictions:
Jays in 6
Cubs in 7
Good information says Cubs are the most arrogant team in baseball which was already common knowledge. Can’t root for them in the least.
It would be funny to see Kershaw try and become the new Bum of the playoffs but the effort could be embarrassing. Can’t root for them.
Don’t like the Blue Jays for a number of reasons, including their uniforms and their stadium. Can’t root for them.
And when the Cavs beat the Warriors it became apparent Cleveland was on the do not like list. Especially considering the Johnny Manziel (short lived) era. So considering the other teams in the playoffs, Indians get the root by default.
Absolutely rooting for the Dodgers against the Cubs, and I am not ashamed to say it in the least. Cubs are easily the most impossible to like team I have ever seen. I have never seen such brazen superdouchebaggery in my years as a sports fan. I hope they go down in flames. Let em fry.
You know it’s crazy I didn’t think that to be possible. But after watching their antics, particularly Baez, in the NLDS I kind of agree. It will be a tough series to watch. Don’t want either team to win. I just hope the Indians win the WS.
Man, no doubt. I didn’t think it was possible to root for the Dodgers in anything at all, except perhaps most losses in a season. But the Cubs are absolutely insufferable.
Baez is a kid on a team of kids.
23 y.o.
I wonder if Baez gets inspiration from Puiggy.
IMO Baez is way worse. He has (I know it sounds weird) a far more arrogant and confrontational tinge to his antics. Puig’s is more self-involved and clueless. I actually don’t believe Puig is trying to shove it in the face of the opposition, he just wants to show off to everybody. The Cubs players, and Baez leading the way, were not just screaming with joy. It’s like they were screaming at the Giants as if to say in your face. It wasn’t pure joy or elation with their emotions, it seemed like a f$%^ you Giants with it. It was the opposite of acting like you’ve been there before. For example, the Dodgers excitement when they took the lead last night was much more intra team joy, not with a tone of suck it Nats. I am someone who does not get offended easily and usually criticize those who do as “get off my lawn!” types. But the Cubs antics were over the top and they will get their comeuppance, whether it’s this year or soon thereafter.
Regardless of how the post-season goes, I’m sure we can expect to see news about Baez in the off-season getting arrested for a bar fight or excessive speed. Or maybe I’m just hoping that ๐
My level of dislike for the Cubs is way up there too. Don’t think I can in good conscience root for the dodgers, but man I want to see Chicago fail (they wont, easily the best team). Hopefully they both lose.
Arrogance aside, I like the idea of an all Midwestern World Series; Indians/Cubs.
In a salute to the AL’s first African-American ballplayer (correct me if I’m wrong), Larry Doby, the Indians, led by Rick Vaughn and Roger Dorn, carry the Tribe to their first title since 1948.
Wahoo!
I’m pulling for the Indians. As a Giants fan, I am aware that our team swept them in 1954, and that has to be put right. Also, that Eric Gregg screwed them in 1997. So let them win it all, I’m happy for them.
As for Cubs/Dodgers, I will enjoy watching the team that loses. I just hope the team that wins goes on to lose the Series.
I would agree that based on this year’s impressions only, the Cubs are insufferable. But I could never root for LA. I think the Cubs have way better pitching, and that should be enough. But you never know.
The way I see the pitching match ups, I’m calling Jays in 5, Cubs in 6….then Cubs in 6 in the series.
Then I will endure the adolescent joy in Chicago, pat their little heads in my best Oracle impression and say ” That was cute”
Beauty still getting ready? Am waiting to load pistachios out here off highway 33 revisited. Will have to do a blues folk song in Dylan fashion.
How about “That was cute, we’ll talk when you have 3 in 5”?
I’m going to go with Jays, although I think an Indians win would be better. Their fans are less obnoxious and don’t throw beer cans at players.
Indians vs cubs
That’ll at least reduce the whine volume by a factor of two.
I want Indians over Dodgers. Indians are the least objectionable team left. Dodgers suffer humility of losing the WS.
But If had to bet, Cubs over Jays.
Don’t discount Scully magic. Dodgers in 6. Pederson Mvp?!?
Tribe in 6. Tito Magic, Tyler Naquin Mvp. They can hit too.
I’d like to see an Indians – Cubs matchup just to reduce the volume of whining. But, since Major League, I have a soft spot for the Indians.
The last line about committing the necessary resources is a bunch of horse manure. We all know the Giants are a well oiled business. Their philosophy has always been to be competitive and not to win it all. A competitive team that makes the post season as a wild card draws just as many fans as a world series champion. They left us hungering for more. What if… I’m still not convinced they will spend the big money to get Melancon, Chapman, or Jansen. I see a trade for Davis being more likely as they would only be on the financial hook for one year. I also don’t see them signing Cespedes or Reddick – not that I want them anyway. More likely they go to war with Parker/Mac in left and sign or trade for an aging vet – again, short term commitment. Sorry Larry, not swallowing your kool aid.
Yeah,ticket sales have really taken a hit since 2010.
At some point you have to move from this fantasy you’re propagating to the real world. I’d also you move from ‘we’ to ‘I’ in your choice of pronouns.
Their philosophy has always been to be competitive and not to win it all.
I’m sure the ownership group cried tears of rage in 2010, 2012, 2014 ……
I always root for the team that either beats my team (unless it’s the Dodgers or Cowboys) or the team my team has beaten as a reflection of how good my team is/was. Thus I rooted for the Rangers in the ’11 Series and the Royals in the ’15 Series. I will never root for the Dodgers. As insufferable as they are and as potentially damaging they may become to our future success as they gain experience in winning a championship all I can say is…Go Cubs Go!
Sorry- I don’t hate the Cubs or the Dodgers. But I do hate smirkers, flippers, and folks who look at me. So I tried throwing at Baez but all I did was wreck one of my TVs. Fortunately I buy them in bulk.
I thought you made them in the garage?
i tried that but when it started raining, I remembered that we don’t have a garage.
You definitely need a substantial shade tree and some serious rapid grow.
LOL
Conor Gillaspie gets some attention. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-biggest-hits-in-division-series-history/
It’s interesting that the author includes Eric Hinske’s 10/10/10 homer off Romo, but fails to mention that ATL actually lost the game the next inning (or did I miss something)
Interesting article about the Walgreens’ futility in the postseason. It was a pleasure for me to read since I really hate that team: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/sports/baseball/nationals-hope-to-end-washington-world-series-drought-dating-to-1924.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fsports&action=click&contentCollection=sports®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=10&pgtype=sectionfront
They are starting to develop a choking reputation. Three division series losses with three different managers. Favored in 2 of the 3 and had Game 5s at home in two of them. I just think they’re simply not that good. This year was in large part due to injuries. The absence of Strasburg and Ramos were killers. Their lineup had no depth as it seemed like the 6-9 hitters were nearly automatic outs. Joe Ross was horrendous in his Game 4 start. Werth’s AB against Jansen in the 7th last night cost them the game. They have a decent core but if they can’t stay healthy it’s not going to matter.
Is it me or is Werth not a post-season player?
Actually, he has great postseason numbers and he had a great series. The problem is he saved his worst for his most important AB of the series.
Thanks. Those must be the only moments I’m paying attention.
Melancon’s sub-conscious, “Hmmmm…if I got traded to the Giants, I would have closed out Game 4, probably Game 5…and went on to the next round. Championship pedigree. The Nationals couldn’t even get me to a save situation.”
How many posts of the day are you shooting for today? ๐
I doubt that the Giants will pay big money for a top level closer. They’ve been good at finding guys other teams don’t want and they don’t pay top dollar for almost anything (especially something that the #s guys say is fungible). Finally, they have been too successful grooming their own (until just recently). If Bochy had had the cojones to admit the problem with Casilla he could have groomed Law for a few months during the season to get him ready for the post- season and it is possible that the problem wouldn’t exist. I fnd it much more likey that they will say that the replacements for Romo, Lopez, Kontos(?) will make the bull pen better and start 2017 with Nathan or some other guy that needs a fresh start to mentor Law until Bochy trusts Law or until an answer falls in their lap.
They had an historically bad bullpen and have $50M coming off the books (although a little more than half of that might be eaten in raises and arbitration). Due to the way the second half unfolded and losing Game 4 in historic fashion they put themselves in a position where they have no choice but to spend big on a closer. Ordinarily, I would agree with you. But the Giants put themselves in an exceptional circumstance where they, IMO, are committed to spending big on a closer. They have a tremendous starting rotation and, as Flannery said. may as well throw it all away without somebody to shut it down in the 9th. No way on earth can they *hope* Law, Strickland, Smith or anyone else emerges as the closer they need. That’s what they did this year…and it killed them.
I think the Giants will pay for a top level closer….Melacon
They won’t pay for an upgrade in LF…
They should be paying for both
They can’t afford to take that gamble. They will go all out to land one of the big three. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be successful.
They have to make Melancon their Plan A…talk and treat him as such…and get ‘er done. Any efforts towards Jansen or Chapman would be a waste of time. I expect both to go back their previous teams and then…if the Giants waste time with them…someone else could come in and swoop Melancon. Sell Melancon on coming back to the West (Born in CO, went to AZ), the Giants starting staff and defensive prowess, the culture/ballpark/fans/opportunity to mentor, and then show him all those saves that were left on the table. And then show him the $$$. Playoffs and WS would help pay for his salary…
Melancon scares me a little, because he is a pitch to contact guy, and some times bad luck happens with contact, grounders get through because of the shift, bloopers fall in, a lot like what happened Tuesday, not much loud contact was made . I prefer swing and miss closers, even Romo at his best mostly got outs by the strikeout , Brian Wilson too .
I agree, but none of those guys will likely be available. The domestic abuser will almost assuredly re-sign with CHI as will Jansen with LA.
Post of the day.
So for image sake they have to get a top name? To sell more season tickets they have to have a big name? Or do they just have to make it look like they made an effort? The folks that are impressed by a big name are also the ones lost quickly when it doesn’t work. Seems risky. Those fans will eventually come on board if the team keeps winning.
A nuance worth giving some thought. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/the-closer-role-is-slowly-dying/
Evans, โ(The Giants) will explore every opportunity to make sure no ninth inning goes unstaffed.โ
Evans did his job, Bochy not that much, Matt Moore or Will Smith should have started the 9th inning Tuesday night, both were acquired by Evans at the deadline, but Bochy messed it up like usual, making a simple solution, look harder then it was !!
Whether I agree with you or not PJ, your succinct, well thought out posts, strong opinions and direct style make for some of the best, most entertaining reading around these parts. And yes, those were all compliments.
LOL. Each to his own.
Plus, he doesn’t come across as pretentious.
No, he’s not pretending. What you see is what you get.
The part that will bother me all offseason is the refusal to use Smith. I understand those clamoring for Moore to stay in but I had no problem taking him out. However, I thought Smith was an easy call. He threw 8 pitches the night before (whereas everyone else seemingly threw 30+) and he had been the best RP on the team for several weeks. Bochy must learn how to optimize use of Smith next year because his refusal to use him enough in the postseason was their downfall.
Bochies explanation was a Joke, he liked his matchups in the 9th, John Shea had an interview with him, I could not read ,used up the free ones at the chronicle web site, but from what I saw Bochy was going matchup game .
That is such a ridiculous statement that didn’t need to leave anyone’s mouth.
I think he’s just trying to pacify the fan base…and perhaps some pissed off owners?
He needed to make the Mangers job so easy, even Bochy could not mess it up, I liked when he said he had good relievers that would grow with great coaching , but did not mention Bochy that would help them grow, just Raggs and Gardner .
Pavlovic says that Pagan’s opting out of the last two games “did not play well in the locker room.” I bet everyone there has been tired of Pagan’s act for a long time. Good riddance.
don’t let the screen door hit you on your way out. or, here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?
I don’t take such gossip too seriously. I refuse to believe that Pagan or any Major Leaguer would refuse to play in a postseason game if he was able to do so. I don’t buy it one bit. How can Pagan possibly benefit from malingering? It doesn’t add up to me.
I don’t think it’s a refusal to play. I think it goes more to not trying to play through it. I don’t think Pagan exactly had the reputation of a guy willing to play through a lot pain, say for example, like Posey and Crawford seemed to do. You’re right, “gossip” like that must be taken with a grain of salt, but I have no trouble believing that Pagan’s “antics” irritated guys on the team.
…and Pavs isn’t Baggs. He’s not writing that without having reason (and maybe permission) to do so.
Right. Alex isn’t a gossipy type. He didn’t say Pagan was malingering–just that his unavailability didn’t sit well with teammates.
I’ll go back to what one of the writers were saying when they were pursuing Jay Bruce and was asked about Pagan. “Pagan would be included in the trade back to the Reds. One less headache for Bochy.”
Writers typically don’t write that stuff without a good reason.
Yet he still wrote Pagan’s name into the lineup, every day.
Maybe to keep the headache in check? Kind of like spoiling a crying little kid with goodies to shut them up?
To all six free agent, I would say thank you and best of luck. It does not make sense to bring any of them back. And doing so, IMO, would be a mistake that would eat up a valuable roster spot. I knew Pagan’s production since signing his contract was bad, but t was harrowing to read that after Pagan signed his $40M contract he put up a TOTAL of 1.4 WAR. That is absolutely horrendous.
The only one I might consider is Romo.
Not after the laughing on the mound…not once, but twice. True colors…
Or maybe the one open and honest reaction to what Bochy was doing.
Not when you were f-in lucky to get even into the game, after coughing up the lead the night before in the 9th. Romo’s season was so bad, he has no reason whatsoever to laugh at anyone but himself. He spent so much time on the DL this season…and the only reason he sniffed closing was because of how bad Casilla is done. He talks like he is so grateful for the Giants giving him a chance (and making him financially comfortable), but his unprofessional behavior says otherwise. When the door hits him on the butt, I hope Bochy helps the door with his boot.
Actually, his season wasn’t bad. He gave up too many home runs, but otherwise pitched pretty well.
until the last two playoff games…
I’m so sick of relievers with a 2.60 ERA and almost a 10K/9. Their seasons are just so bad.
After the way the playoffs unfolded, and his actions towards Bochy, I don’t think that’s happening. Pavolic’s piece seems to indicate the Giants feel that Gearrin is a younger, better (and likely cheaper) version of Romo at this point.
I don’t expect Romo to be back, but I don’t think Gearrin is good enough to replace him.
Gearrin certainly is nowhere near peak level Romo, but if the Giants sign an elite closer, they’ll have Law and Smith to take over the 7th/8th roles assuming Bochy learns Smith is not a LOOGY. Plus, Strickland will hopefully continue to develop his offspeed stuff and command, although I don’t think I’ll ever fully trust Strickland in high leverage spots.
so after this season you trust Strickland in “high leverage” spots? Tell us why?
You know how old he is right? Once a guy in MLB reaches a certain age and number of innings, it’s not like a miracle happens and Cy Young materializes.
The rest is just BS wishful thinking.
“I don’t think I’ll ever fully trust Strickland in high leverage spots.” The word ever is in perpetuity. So, no I would not entrust Strickland in high leverage spots, in particular the 9th. But, he has utility in the pen if he can continue to develop the slider. Some people say go with internal options at closer. I say pay whatever it takes to bring in Melancon.
He might be as good as 2016 Romo. Not so much 2011-12 Romo.
Exactly what I was thinking…which Romo we talking about.
Where did you get this? I would like to read the original source.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/which-free-agents-will-giants-bring-back
Wow. I usually wait to move the bobblehead off the active roster (the back of the piano) until the player is officially on another team or retired. I think it’s probably safe to move the Pagan bobble now.
You could push right to the edge …
He “opted out.” Hahahah what a typical exit from that clown. Good riddance indeed.
Kershaw’s relief appearance last night was exactly what I thought Bum was going to do in Chicago in a Game #5, but some of the bullpen didn’t play along.
Bochy gets a pass from you, you liked his Russian roulette style of working the 9th inning Tuesday .
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/26e07f882d78f720e2e504495b56a00db67533698cd0e71b5f852e6f553244ab.jpg
For your 2016 Christmas Tree
nice
Festivus pole? Grievances?
Festivus!
woaw!!!! where do we purchase!?!?!?!
Stood up by Matthew at Starbucks Kettleman. Unbelievable. I’m tempted to leave him a couple bags of pistachios in the Bravo Farms play house as a token of good will.
He probably did what i did, executed a drive by and then just kept on going. You need a stunt double.
Clint Eastwood may do the trick.
Cuz you were in Starbucks talking to an empty chair? No wonder Mateo didn’t stop.
The most astonishing fact of the day isn’t baseball, it’s politics. Clinton has pulled within the margin of error in a poll in Texas. Visualize my mouth dropping open in surprise.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/texas-news/new-poll-trump-lead-shrinks-in-texas-within-margin-of-error/335896258
Not that long ago Texas had Democrats in their house. They also had elected democratic governor for all but 8 years of 120 years prior to Bush being elected. Since the last census and redistricting has wiped out the house from Democrats.
Dig baby Dig is the new Mantra of Republiicans over Drill baby Drill.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Texas
Long live Johnny Allred.
I heard that if Clinton gets elected, there will be “Texit” (like Brexit). I say good riddance, and they have to keep Ted Cruz.
That’s just a little harsh. A political universe filled with liberals or progressives exclusively could be just a tad impulsive.
Except the Ted Cruz part. Anybody who is unwilling to compromise and is willing to default on the country’s debt to further his agenda can go too. Otherwise, you’re right, it’s healthy to have different opinions and perspectives. This is the first (and hopefully only) political commentary I’ll make on this blog but I absolutely loathe Ted Cruz.
I’m not a Cruz fan, but I am intrigued by Kasich, truthfully.
agree F’m if they go that route, all racist pigs anyways
Texas is 35% Hispanic. What are you talking about?
do they actually own or run anything other then their small businesses or call any shots politically or economically?
Or is it one of those where they go about their business as long as they are not seen or heard too much?
Indians pitcher Trevor Bower is invaded by the spirit of Affeldt. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/10/14/indians-pitcher-trevor-bauer-cuts-finger-wont-start-game-2/92066046/
Unbelievable. Was it the attack of the frozen burger patties again?
SMH. That’s even dumber than Cain scratching an hour before his start because he was cutting his sandwich into fancy triangles.
I bet because his windup has so many moving parts that when he went to fix the drone – his complicated technique got all in the way.
The Cutups — new nickname
I don’t understand how pitchers end up cutting their hands anyway. Wouldn’t the knife or whatever be in your throwing hand anyway?
That’s funny (except to Indians fans).
Become acquainted with Wade Davis trade rumors…
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/royals-trade-rumors-wade-davis.html
That’s pretty interesting. OMG, can’t believe I said that. ๐
Sounds like the deal might take a few of the very young bullpen guys, who didn’t really establish themselves well this season. I’d be OK with it. Good Scout scouting to find the article.
No thank you. Had two different bouts of elbow issues last year, is only controlled for one more year and would cost the few top prospects the Giants have. The Giants have substantially greater financial resources than prospect resources. Just go buy a closer and stay the hell away from Davis.
You work all the options, IMO, without foreclosing any.
It’s fine to use it as pretend leverage when negotiating with Melancon, et al. But to give up Arroyo or Beede or even Reynolds for one year of a guy who had two different elbow issues last year and is only controlled for one year has to be nothing more than an absolute last gasp option.
It’s not pretend, the ‘options’ internal and external are evaluated against one another. Injury, and recovery are just parameters in that decision process, to be weighted accordingly.
Agree, I pass on Davis. Dayton Moore , as usual, will want an overpay too
I agree, I think the Wade Davis idea was absolutely out of desperation and not long term idea or need.
They need to make long term (more than a year) moves moving forward. Basically recreate a a core 4 from scratch.
BTW, wonder what Greg Holland is up to these days?
Tommy John surgery recovery .
Had wondered the same. The comeback starts this year?
Yup. Believe he is a free agent
I would 100 percent want the Giants to look into him and offer a contract. Should be relatively cheap low risk
Gee, can’t wait for the Jamey Wright, Ted Lilly, Brandon Webb and Jimmy Key rumors.
I’m here at work and we have a guest in the house today; retired pro bowl DE Jared Allen. Not quite why he’s here, big feller with a cowboy hat, looking at our product (boots), I’ll see what I can find out.
A friend of mine made the news lately but not because he was my friend but because he again fought against adversity and won another battle. He is not a friend like we/I had growing up in the neighborhood, but I friend in coaching, a mentor, part of the brotherhood of coaching fraternity that Bapah, Matthew and many others may recognize. I have often held this friend as the Gold Standard. Mark Speckman was born with no hands but that never got in the way. He had great parents, he had as normal a childhood as the rest of us and as I write this he is teaching young men how to compete in sports. His sport is football. At Coaching Conventions for baseball I would always find the time slot for when Coach Speckman was giving his talk. Did not matter that he was not talking about baseball, what mattered was his passion for being a clinician and teacher of young student athletes. Congrats Coach!
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/02/22/menlo-college-football-coach-leaves-for-cfl
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/article32582391.html
http://www.mercurynews.com/2012/09/07/menlo-college-football-coach-mark-speckman-doesnt-need-hands-to-build-a-winner/
https://speckmanspeaks.wordpress.com/
http://wbay.com/2016/09/28/driver-with-no-hands-reaches-settlement-with-wisconsin-dot/
The “Guillen Number”, a new way of looking at HR as part of the game. The interesting way the HR plays into today’s game of baseball.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/home-runs-are-taking-over-the-playoffs/
Good talking points but in the NL the team with the greater regular season Guillen # won.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1933544
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWH21CMzWs4
11 days ago Joe Bonamassa – “Ole Time Religion” – Live At The Greek Theatre
Not a big fan of Bonamassa, but those female vocalists are AMAZING. The vocalist on the far right is one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.
I won’t hold that against you ……..
What, you don’t like her?
No ๐ I liked “her” and the other two gals also!
I was just messin’ hahaha. Those vocalists are OFF THE DAMN HOOK.
But I’m not a big Joe fan bc I don’t really think he’s an original. Just my opinion, though, Clutchman. His songs are ok and I think he emulates this guy too much:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h34G-L5TVM8
That is a good call but then again JB played on stage with BB when JB was twelve. Hard for me to say he’s not original. Obviously not in the top 5 but that is ok.
Jeff Beck – Hendrix – Clapton – Carlos
None of those are in my Top 5, with all due respect. I like all four, but I think they are all vastly overrated, with the exception of Beck, who is a master. Just not a fan of his songwriting.
Best Guitarist Of All-time:
Paco de Lucia
My favorites, based on their compositions:
1. Jimmy Page
2. Edward Van Halen
3. Eric Johnson
4. Steve Howe
5. Alex Lifeson
Honorable Mention: James Hetfield, Steve Vai
I believe Paco de Lucia is the greatest guitarist that I have ever heard or seen, but I like the other 7 more because of their songwriting. It’s about the guitarist as a songwriter in the end. After all, it’s the songs that matter.
CSN Roberto Bobby Evans
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/which-free-agents-will-giants-bring-back
Baggarly
https://audioboom.com/boos/5165378-10-14-andy-baggarly-talks-about-the-giants-bullpen-issues?t=0
Bruce Jenkins on the Closers role
https://audioboom.com/boos/5166227-10-14-jenkins-says-the-giants-need-to-address-the-closer-spot-before-anything?t=0
I’ve been asked to come up with a name for a new drug. It deals with overcoming the fear of clowns. I came up with BozNoโข, Any ideas?
They could of used that years ago for Brian Bosworth also
Crustimetum.
Unbeatable title. In the classic Pezโข dispenser to top it off.
Hahahaha Bapah’s post was a classic hit, and you, sir, delivered the knockout blow!
BozNo in a Pez dispenser.
It’s the right move for California.
Cool idea. But BozNo sounds like a repellent for clowns!
Harlequinine?
Clownarin
Pavs http://www.csnbayarea.com/video/pavlovic-lot-reasons-giants-2016-season-ended-early
Blah, his podcast with Ratto is better….
Lefty knows this in her sleep but I had to look it up … the strange feeling we all have goes back to October 4, 2003. It was the last time the Giants were in the playoffs and were eliminated.
So a six year draught followed that.
Then five years of getting in three times and NEVER eliminated.
Then missing a year.
Now in a year but knocked out … first time that has happened in 13 years.
But who is care.
Root for the forlorn Indians and Little Giants everywhere … Stratton starts tonight …http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/scoreboard.jsp?sid=l119&t=l_sco&lid=119
I like Cleveland’s story, but they’re not healthy. I want the best and healthiest opponent to take on the Cubs. Toronto vs Chicago has a lot of sex appeal to me.
Affeldt is on KNBR right now, politely criticizing Bochy’s handling of the bullpen. He’s saying that bullpen guys need to know their roles and also questioning the one hitter and done strategy.
He’s being polite about it? That will never do.
The only deadline deal that I liked was the one for Nunez. But I’ve seen enough to change my mind about Moore and Smith. All three seem to be great adds.What I’m getting to is that we’ve already made significant upgrades for next year. 6 months of these guys should be worth several games in the standings.
I would never pay big bucks for a closer.I give the job to Strickland. I think he’ll rise to the occasion if he knows the job is his to lose.
He blew his one shot at the end of the season. I don’t think he has the stuff to do the job.
See above.
No. Okert blew it for him
No, he blew a 4-1 lead against the Padres on his first shot at the closer role. His failure to grasp the role is one of the reasons the Giants went with closer by committee until Romo settled in.
Oh, so now that one BS means he is unfit for the job? ( It was the Dodgers, BTW.)
i love you guys.
Padres as well. He started the ninth inning and allowed a run and left with 2 runners on base without recording an out. He gave way to Okert who eventually gave up the 3-Run HR after recording two outs but that was all on Strick.
It’s not the blown saves, it’s his mentality on the mound in the 9th inning. He seems extremely uncomfortable in a save situation and he needs a veteran closer to mentor him. He may become our closer in the future but as of right now, he’s simply not ready.
Okert gives up a 3-Run HR and it’s all on Strickland? Please.
The bottom line is, he was given a chance, but he didn’t stick.
Okert gave up the big hit, but at least he got 2 outs before giving up a hit. Strickland faced 3 batters and allowed a hit or a walk to all three.
Personally, I’ve never seen Strickland prevent an inherited runner to score this year.
Even in the NLDS, he comes in and gives up the winning hit against the Cubs in Game 4 when he had to come in and just get one more out. There is no fear factor with him on the mound.
It was Okert’s job to strand the runners. As to Strickland stranding runners- 35 inherited, 11 scored
“The bottom line is, he was given a chance, but he didn’t stick”
Hardly a fair sample.
As good as Strickland could be, Giants need to acquire a closer to make the bullpen that much better for next season. That much is a must-do this offseason.
It’s the Manager , get it !
I agree. That “we tried him once and he failed” thinking was a big part of the problem this year.
The 9th inning of the that fateful Cub game was just a condensed version of what happened to the pen this year.
Yep. It’s a little frightening for me when we agree. ๐
We’re all frightened. Can I whistle?
Yeah, so your finally going to agree it was Bochy’s fault, I have hope for you after all .
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Well, you always agree with Lefty and she agreed with my comment so that would make her, what? Colonel Obvious?Look. I’m sorry that Mac won’t be playing CF for the Giants , try to get over it.
True, but I still don’t think Strickland is the guy.
I don’t really, either. Seeing what happened with Casilla this year convinced me even more that mental makeup matters in the ninth inning. Casilla didn’t have it, and I haven’t seen it in Strickland, either. Law does, maybe, but too soon to say. Rather have a proven closer, Law for set-up, Strickland for the 7th. Not bad at all.
It’s got to be like finger painting, if Bochy has to figure it out, it is not going to work, he needs the best rotation in baseball , the best closer in baseball, so Bochy does not have to make any tough decisions .
VET LOVE VET LOVE!!!
I don’t want to blow our treaty, so I will just say how happy I am to see some rain.
Rain? What’s that?
I think the problem stemmed from Bochy going from one extreme to the other. He gave Casilla way too much rope to hang himself with due to his loyalty to veterans. Then when it was too late, he made the change and goes to closer by committee, and then takes the lefty-righty approach and gives his pitchers the chance to face one batter before being pulled. IMHO this caused a chain reaction of fear in the bullpen, I HAVE to get my guy out or I’m getting pulled. That kind of pressure never helps anyone.
He got pulled before it was blown…Okert gave up the kill shot
A voice of sanity.
My mistake
I think there is a lot of merit to just picking a guy, any guy, and giving him the rope Wilson used to have. Use the regular season to sort it out. I think there are 3 or 4 good choices down there potentially. Strickland among them (Law, Okert, even Smith)…..
Add to it the pressure of being a top-notch team with 3 titles in its resume, being expected to return to the promised land again, and you have even more fear going into the decision-making. That’s why Wilson was allowed to be the Torture Whisperer. Now they’re a championship winning team, and that doesn’t always add up to decisions made from strength, but more from fear, or being too careful, which is ironic, being a 3-time champion.
This is part of why this team failed to go far this year. Too many decisions rooted in fear, rather than strength.
Playing not to lose rather than to win.
Bochy only gives 5 year or more vets rope , so until he goes it is never going to happen .
Wilson was in his 3rd year when he was given the coil in a 2009. Bochy had no other choices after the Benitez fiasco.
even Smith? He was the best pitcher down the stretch. Check the stats.
He needs two more reliable pitches to go with 4-seam, 2-seam (he needs to make this one a lot better- could be a killer) and slider. He needs a change up and a curve. Too much heat, needs a couple of back-breaking slow pitches.
That’s one too many pitches,IMO.
You’re on fire. What’s cookin’?
Nacho noche aqui.
It is, for sure, but he doesn’t have the best slider and he has no good off-speed pitches. If his slider was better, he could drop the curve, but he needs a change-up. I suggest that he learn Timmy’s split finger change and he could drop the curve.
The change is the pitch I would add, and scrap the slider.
He likes to throw everything hard (it’s his mentality, “if something doesn’t work just get a bigger hammer”), so I doubt he’ll give up on the slider and that is why a Timmy-like split might work for a change up.
I liked the Moore trade from the beginning even though I practically cried over losing Duffy. The problem with the Smith trade is that even though was great (check his stats since August 20), Bochy simply refused to give him a serious crack at the closer job. Gearrin also deserved a shot. He was fantastic in June, injured in July, recovering in August, fantastic again in September. And of course Law should be give a shot. Strickland at best should be 4th in line.
What about Reddick —- ?
Good fielder, adequate hitter, and general goodball. I think he’d be a good fit.
Maybe move Pence to left and put the better defender in right. Maybe plays center too.
We don’t need another LH hitter.
Like I said, you’re on fire ๐ฅ
I agree. Mac is worth an honest shot, imo. More on this later.
Peter is right about this-ATT is a very hitter friendly ballpark for a right handed power hitter.
Will have to do some independent research…
Why?
that’s how I roll. Gospel of Peter and all that jazz.
…it’s not looking good for the Gospel of Peter. 2015 looking well below average on HRS for LHH and RHH
God no.
My gawd MLB is just salivating for Cubs/Indians. You can almost hear them panting at the ratings prospects.
Gonna buy you a mute button for X-mas, Alex.
Nobody buys me Xmas presents, Geddy. :^(
PS. Joe B emulates Gary Moore and you know it.
Eh…Eric Johnson more than that, Sav. But there is some G Moore there. I prefer Matt Moore.
JB has nothing on EJ, KFK.
All you Warriors fans, is Curry still hurt, he can not hit a shot in pre season, since every time Curry has a bad shooting night in the playoffs, he was hurt was the excuse, even though he scored over 30 points in the last 3 games of the Western Conference finals . Draymond Green is also throwing up bricks tonight .
So they were awful in preseason last year and then they won 24 straight to start the season. Not close to worried (yet).
Klay and KD are playing great , Green and Curry not so much, even in the Olympics coach K was not impressed with Green, hardly ever played him .
Peter, you gotta relax, man! Baseball just about tore you apart, and you jump right into freaking about a practice game for Curry? I say vote “yes” and try calming down.
who gives a shit about basketball yet? Go to the Dubs blog with that crap.
As long as his wife can cook…
He looked just fine to me tonight.
Who’s seen much of Cleveland? I’m under the impression that they rock. Tito can play the bongos like a fine musician and Lindor is mvp caliber talent. And Kluber is a bit like rhp Kershaw.
Stop bashing Belt. Go Jays.
Belt’s going to be a Jay, someday, Stevie Ray.
Will he be playing in Blue Jay Way?
Please don’t be long, please don’t you be very long, please don’t be loooong….for I may be asleep…
Don’t know this song and it’s really hard to find Beatles on youtube – not on Magical Mystery Tour is it? Sessions?
Yes Magical Mystery Tour. Excellent spacey Harrison cut. You should have that album anyway, Sav. One of their best.
Sincerely Stellar Beatles Albums:
1. Abbey Road
2. Revolver
3. Rubber Soul
4. Magical Mystery Tour
5. The White Album
6. Help!
7. Sgt. Peps
8. With the Beatles
9. A Hard Day’s Night
10. Let it Be
11. Please Please Me
12. Beatles For Sale
I own em all, you scalliwag.
used to have MMT … Miss that one, yeah.
ps – everybody’s got something to hide…
Except for me and my rally monkey! EW! I do not heart 2002.
Peps is too low. In the top 3.
Abbey
Rubber
Peps
Revo
No way, dude. I like it, but Peps is way overrated due to clueless jump on the bandwagon rags like “Rolling Stone.” Putting “Revolver” ahead of “Peps” is not the right choice for California.
I meant putting “Peps” ahead of “Revolver” is not the right choice for California. I think going to bed is the right choice for TheSincere. Geesh…
Wow, Sincere. Thanks for bringing up Beatles albums!
I go:
Abbey Road
Revolver
Sgt Peppers
Rubber Soul
White Album
Peps was groundbreaking because of the orchestration and all the work Martin put in. It changed the genre and there us no Floyd without it. Revolver, while a great album with some great songs (especially the Harrison Songs), isn’t really groundbreaking IMHO which is why I personally rank it lower.
As always ~YMMV
Ah, but Revolver is groundbreaking because it preceded “Peps,” and contains “Eleanor Rigby,” which is all orchestration. Also, the usage of sitar on “Love You To,” preceded sitar work on “Within You, Without You.” “Got To Get You Into My Life” also had orchestration with horns. All of this preceded “Peps.”
But honestly aside from those facts which make Revolver more groundbreaking, the songs are simply better. “She Said She Said” is one of the greatest Beatle songs ever, and “Taxman” rocks so hard, and actually precedes Hendrix’ usage of the E7#9 chord he uses in “Purple Haze,” which was considered groundbreaking.
Harrison first used Sitar on Norweigian Wood.. On Rubber Soul which of course preceded Revolver. No argument on the Harrison Songs on Revolver. Of course that is the most salient argument that you didn’t use that Harrison was much more involved in Revolver than Pepper.
Pepper to me is a tighter album than Revolver which does have some better songs.
I dunno, me being of mind that The Darkside of The Moon by Floyd is the single greatest album of all time I see its roots directly in Pepper and for me that makes it better. And not just because David Fricke says so.
Again, different strokes for different folks….
All good points, but I just don’t see how Peps was that much of a concept album like Dark Side. Sure it was a step forward in scope from the brilliance of Revolver and Rubber Soul, but the vibe just doesn’t hold together in a cohesive album vibe like Rev. or RS, and certainly not like Dark Side. It seems disjointed. Almost like a pseudo-greatest hits album, but from the same year. I dunno…perhaps I’m talking around the point which is what you said before. Different strokes. But in your favor, my favorite albums of all time are the epics. Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Zep’s Physical Graffiti, Rush Hemispheres and Caress of Steel. The big concept, double album, story masterpieces. I’m also a huge KISS fan. Don’t hold it against me, I grew up on them, and their 1976 epic “Destroyer” was produced by Bob Ezrin, who produced “The Wall.” So I am certainly on the epic tip with you, just with different albums. Just not feeling Peps like the other great Beatles albums.
I’ll forgive KISS if you forgive my Def Leppard….. I’m a child of the 80s……
DUDE. Obviously u haven’t been paying attention to Footy and myself worshiping Lep since we’ve been on here lol. Totally love Leppard. Scroll back in the comments and u will c what I mean. High N Dry interior 4 cuts beginning with “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” is one of the finest sequences in album history. I wore out 2 copies of “Hysteria” when I was in high school. “Love Bites” is sublime, an absolute eargasm, and the title cut is just gorgeous. “Pyromania” is phenomenal top to bottom. No shame necessary here.
Ladystrange off High’N’Dry is by far the most underrated Lep song ever…
Viv is a better technician of his instrument, but the bands soul left when Steve died….
Francona is also a great manager who doesn’t think in cliches and can think on the spot. Unlike Bochy apparently.
took out Kluber at 6.1
And went to Andrew Miller.
If the Indians win the World Series, then it’s up to the Browns to win the Super Bowl. With the Cavs (yuk) already the NBA champs (yuk) Cleveland has a chance for a sports championship trifecta. However, smart and ignorant money says that this is not going to happen.
Browns are even money, right?
Sure….
If the Indians win the World Series, there’s going to be another parade in Cleveland.
Happy for Cleveland. I hope they can pull it off.
Did some reading about Tommy John surgery. Recovery takes a year or even more than two years. (Moore had it last year)
Also, if you have it, you 50% more likely to suffer the same injury.
I was also shocked to find that 25% of MLB pitchers and 15% of minor league pitchers have had it, and 20-30 have it every year. This is incredible growth from when it was new 40 years ago.
And we all know pitchers whose careers ended early from overuse. And it is overuse that causes the injury.
Bottom line, I’m not going to criticize Bochy for pulling Moore. I didn’t realize it was this serious. I would have pulled him myself.
It was an incredibly stupid move by Bochy. This was an elimination game, exactly what are you saving him for? He pitched 133 innings in the near no-hitter when he had 5 days’ rest after, this time he would have had 6 days’ rest. So an elimination game is less important than a no-hitter? Makes no sense.
Wrong. Ulnar nerve surgey is dangerous. Stupidity is a wrong choice of words. 120 can turn to 140 in an instant. Rags told him after 8 he was done.
I called for Will Smith at the time. No way Lopez or Romo should have been used.
But I ask was it stupid to let him pitch 133 pitches to try and get a no hitter if 122 was his max? Moore only threw 7 pitches in the 8th and hadn’t allowed a hit in several innings. In other words not a lot of high stress innnings.
Exactly. In what universe is a possible no-hitter more important than an elimination game?? Especially when there would be 6 days off before the next start.
120 turns to 140 in 20 pitches last time I checked. I don’t think there was any danger that he would have simultaneously thrown 20 pitches. At least he could have gotten two outs as opposed to the first four pitchers who went out in the 9th who got zero outs. Getting eliminated from the postseason is worse that dangerous. If Rags made the choice, then it was a stupid decision by Rags. Or maybe ‘suicidal’ would be a better word. Or ‘self-destructive’?
Good to see that Kontos is being tendered,.The guy is a solid middle inning reliever.
Did they strongly hint at that? Or announced ? But agreed.
I think the beat writers reported in so many words that Kontos would be tendered.
Evans said they were.
Makes sense – suppose he’s somebody that has a slight chance of being traded as well, say to the Yankees?
Had the second lowest ERA on the team (2.53). #4 cutter (w/C=3.39) in the majors. #19 slider (w/C=2.51). And a career record of pitching better in high-leverage situations (wOBA=.227). Given the general mess, they should have tried upgrading his role.
It’s nice to have a reliable guy like George that can get those big outs when the starter falters in the 5th or 6th.
They should try him as an 8th or 9th inning guy. Tell him to lose the fastball and just throw curves and sliders. We might well be pleasantly surprised.
George Melancon?
ps – nice researching
I think they just meant they were preparing him to be barbecued. Oh no, that’s “tenderized”, what was I thinking, you’re a real chef and never would have gotten mixed up on that.
They meant that he will be with the team next year. Sorry.
I’m a “real chef”? Actually, yes.
Greek – I don’t see where this is your favorite line:
“In short, we will pursue every opportunity and
commit the necessary resources to field the best possible team to get
back to the playoffs in 2017.”
To me its just a bunch of PR B@#$%^IT to be honest. They used the same company line last season and obviously they didn’t do enough. Other than opening up the bank and getting two of the top pitchers (after Lester said no, they just went down the list) they got a lead off hitter that actually didn’t supply enough at the top AND questionable OF defense.
When they needed to fix the issues in the pen and on the bench, they failed miserably.
AND THEN to top it all off, they had a team that could have gone to the WS this season, even with some lingering issues, they had the starters to do it. Had the Cubs on the ropes and I sincerely believe Cueto would have beat Lester in that game. Then we would have beat the Dodgers.
What happened was the biggest failure of the season and not getting the closer the team needed, a year where some of the best in the game were made available. AND BS the argument it was not done because we would not give up Panik or Blach or whomever.
When you are so close, as I know many of you agree and believe, something had to get done. Not getting it done is unacceptable, a bunch of crap and I don’t by the PR crap from Baer.
Um, if ‘they had a team that could have gone to the WS this season’, how can it be that ‘they failed miserably’?
The front office did their part. The players have to play and the manager has to manage. They too often fell short in those two areas.
Cubs talent depth was superior. Game 5 was not a done deal nor next round.
Except they had only two regulars hitting over .188 for the series, whereas the Giants had only two hitting UNDER .222, one hitting over .400, and one hitting .600. Plus the Cubs would have been freaked out from blowing a 2-game lead. Can’t be sure what would have happened but way over 50% chance the Giants would have won game 5.
Lester was the year before. Last year it was Greinke they swung and missed on.
The front office did a truly fantastic job rebuilding the rotation. By the end of the season, only Bumgarner remained from the previous year. The rotation ended up fourth in the NL in ERA, and that was with Peavy, Cain and Suarez making almost one-third of the starts. Next year’s rotation, with Moore in it all year and hopefully Blach as the #5, should be top 1 or 2. That is the strength of the team to build upon now. What a difference a year makes, huh? Last year the strength of the team was the young homegrown infield, and the rotation was the weakest link.
As for the bullpen, everything that could have gone wrong, did. Romo got injured and missed two months. Casilla went into an epic meltdown. Lopez, after an excellent 2015, just didn’t have it anymore. Young guys like Osich and Strickland couldn’t follow up strong 2015 seasons (Osich especially; Strickland overall had a pretty good year, but he hasn’t stepped up as a possible closer). Law was their best reliever and he started the year in AAA.
For me, though, the big fail of last year and even the trade deadline was in the outfield. They had four guys who were well past 30 and who had all had major injuries within the previous year. You could see even last winter that this would be a problem, and it was. Pence and Pagan spent major time on the DL. When they were healthy, they weren’t very good. The defense was terrible and other teams were running wild on them from spring training on. Then they actually had younger guys fill in pretty well while Pence and Pagan were injured but buried them the minute the old expensive guys got back. Just an epic fail, IMO.
It seems pretty straightforward to me how they fix the bullpen. Spend whatever it takes to get an elite closer, possibly get a good set-up man, too. The rest of the bullpen will fill out pretty well with Strickland, Law, Smith, and Okert/Osich. The outfield, though? With Pence and Span both locked in for two more years? It’s harder to see what the solutions are.
I think they did a great job to miss on Greinke.
Smith and Gearrin were by far their best relievers down the stretch and no one even noticed.
You definitely spin a rosier picture than I do.
I still stand that the biggest failure was not fixing the pen, in a year the Giants had a team to go to the WS and compete. Yes the Cubs are a more talented team, but the Giants have won and hardly been the best team in the NL doing so (2010? 2014??).
While the OF is in shambles and I’ve written a few times that it will need to be completely overhauled in a couple of years (of course huge concern) a big point is that it was not going to get fixed this season. They signed and pretty much struck out on Spann, who most likely will never be better than he was at the end of this season and will end in a situation of having to ride out his contract. The OF is old and injuries to Pence and Pagan were to be expected. You also have a more homer, rosier view point of the “younger” guys as I don’t see much future worth in Mac And Parker, more marginal major league players. Add to all this that the OF help at the trading deadline this season was mediocre and also older (Bruce? Braun? no thanks).
But there was one thing both you and I mentioned since ST, and that was the pen. It didn’t take a rocket science to see the state of the pen going into the season, with the aging of the core four and a lot of unproven guys. Again, you have a way more optimistic view of the younger in-house options; sure, while they have had some good moments, they have had a lot of issues. I just don’t assume a Giant farm hand is going to succeed, just because he is in orange and black. I mean how long will folks ponder if and when Strickland will “get another pitch” to reach the promised land? I mean C’mon!!!!!, they guy is like 28 years old!!!!!!
You know what was available this season? Pen help!!!!! All season long, some of the best names in the game where made available. Sure they cost something in return buy I’m a big believer that tomorrow is never promised. Posey or Bum are anyone else can get injured and who knows about the next 5 years. Guys like Pence have seen better days, the decline is happening quick, wont be the same guy moving forward. The Giants had a team to win now, had the rotation at the end of the season to beat anyone, had a few bats clicking, they just needed that one or two extra pen arms to lock it down and beat a team like the Cubs because in the post season good pitching can nullify good hitting (giants fans should know this better than anyone).
Not fixing the pen was absolutely the most unforgivable act by this front office and to me inexcusable no matter how the Giants PR staff spins it, hell with Bauer and Evans all all their crap.
Hey, there’s something on MLBTradeRumors about what Baggarly wrote about FO nudging Bum’s agents to talk about his extension?
The ridiculous thing is that the whole point of the main two free agents acquisitions last season was getting pitchers who could pitch deep into games, and Bochy got obsessed with complete games early in the season, but then in an elimination game when every single factor is pointing towards leaving the starter in for the 9th, he pulls him. Incredible stupidity.
Bochy made some very puzzling decisions, but you should lose the cracks saying he’s stupid, or an idiot..
He’s not, and those comments leave your intelligence in question.
Well his moves were dumb and stupid. BB the man isnt any of those imo.
If you’ll read carefully, you’ll notice that I didn’t say he’s stupid. I said that decision (and many other decisions this year) was stupid.
I’ve seen enough of your comments about Bochy that clearly show what you think of him. and that’s fine- but the use of those words are disrespectful towards a man who clearly does not deserve such disrespect. You are not an unintelligent man, surely you can get your point across in a better manner.
Calling decisions stupid is completely different from calling a person stupid.
So, what does the sentence “Incredible stupidity.” mean?
It refers to a particular decision, obviously.
stuยทpidยทiยทty
st(y)oอoหpidษdฤ/
noun
– behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgment.
“I can’t believe my own stupidity”
synonyms: lack of intelligence, foolishness, denseness, brainlessness, ignorance, dull-wittedness, slow-wittedness, doltishness, slowness; More
– the quality of being stupid or unintelligent
I’m a professor of linguistics. With a Ph.D. You can look me up under this name on the internet. And you’re going to try to argue with me about something like this?
LOL! You’re not going to try and get my address, are you?
Dedicated to Peter. He really should relax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP1t1p0JpJI
Nice action for Giants prospects in the AFL…
Hunter Cole, batting cleanup, went 2 for 3 with BB.
Aramis Garcia 2 for 3, 2B, 3 RBI
Chris Stratton started the game and went 4 frames: 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Corey Taylor 2 IP, 2 H, ER, 0 BB, 0 K
This has been the Scottsdale Scuttlebutt….
It’s drizzling on the beach, and Louis the Rally Dog had am impressive 2 for 2 on dumps on sand that were easy pickups for this old shortstop.
This is the Shell Beach Scout Report…
Thank you for picking up your dog’s shit. Far too often, people don’t.
Right on, Shell Beach. And yay drizzle. Enjoy some chowdah for all of us.
Will you stop by Splash in Pismo?
I don’t have time, peach….we have lunch at Firestone, then we have the game tonight. All day in SLO…
Dogs have got it made dammit, they can just dump wherever they want whenever they want and know one will say a damn thing. Lucky !
And they can hump whatever leg they want and still run for doggie president.
Hump lol havent heard that word in WOW since last week.
Many of you will thoroughly enjoy Bill Plaschke today with his “Anti Lovable Losers” rant in the LA Times… I can’t link on my I Pad.
My guess is Sincere will top the list of happy readers
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-cubs-plaschke-20161014-snap-story.html
does this mean “Go Dodgers”?
Not for me….I will never, ever, ever, never, nope, won’t do it, never, ever root for LA in a post season series
Maybe the Cubs can just get it over with so the narrative will be resolved.
It is hard, but, unlike the current election, there is one competitor I find I dislike less, and it’s not the Cubs.
Besides, as someone reminded me yesterday, there is always the actual World Series to eliminate the NLCS winner.
it would take a lot to pull for the Dodgers. Chicago = a lot. The Red Sox actually had to win one to shed their status as cherished underachievers. The Cubs have managed to do it without winning a WS yet. They have gone from lovable losers to (to quote The Sincere, I believe) “brazen superdouchebaggery”, with lots of help from MLB bias. The pressure is on, after having a century long pass. I suggest you win, because now you are expected to. Just ask the Red Sox. Or the Giants for that matter.
The media and fans are so obnoxious about the Cubs that it’s difficult to determine whether the actual players are really obnoxious.
Well, there’s Baez and Arrietta, both of whom are truly annoying. And Rizzo, who breaks other players, and Chapman, to name a few.
My brother has a friend who works for the Cubs, and my bro got to meet Bryant a couple weeks ago–said he was delightful.
Not so delightful: Lester, Lackey, Arrieta, Chapman.
Just the sight of Lester and Rizzo and Chapman makes me sick. Lackey is ugly but doesn’t particularly look like a bad guy.
Like Hendricks but I’m a professor myself…
Lackey’s pretty well known as a jerk.
Okay, I’ll take your word for it.
Lefty can probably give you some specifics. She remembers stuff!
What a whiner. Ooooooh it was so hard and unfair to the Dodgers to have to play in the (gasp) afternoons! And to not get a travel day. And and and and. And everyone always expects the Cubs to lose but no one EVER expects the Dodgers to lose. Oh brother!
I thought about the TV schedule, and my initial cynical impression was that the Cubs/Giants series was always in the evenings because of the appeal of the Cubs.
Then I realized: The Cubs WERE the top seed in the NL–the best team in the NL. Maybe it was just that the top seed gets prime time. That would make some sense and be somewhat fair, too.
The rainout whining is reaching. Yes, maybe MLB called that game too quickly, but you can’t very well blame the Cubs for it raining in DC last Sunday.
Some Left Field musings…
I can imagine there are a lot of fans that wish the Giants just had Adam Duvall for left field, just plug him in and let him pop 20-30 HRs and play surprisingly well on defense.
What about letting Williamson and Parker pop 20-30 HRs and probably play better defense than Duvall and perhaps get on base at a higher clip?
Duvall’s MLB career includes 757 trips to the plate. He has popped an impressive 41 HRs, abetted by the home field in Cinci. His line is .234/.291/.480 with 6.7 BB%, 27 K%, and 101 wRC+.
Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have combined for 365 trips to plate and in that time have clouted 17 HRs, hindered to a degree by AT&T. Their combined line is .248/.340/.446 with 11.6 BB%, 28.5 K%, and 116 wRC+.
If you were to pro-rate the HR total over the same number of PAs that Adam Duvall has, they would have combined for 35 career HRs. And who knows what that would be with 600 PAs in in the NL Central and Cinci as the home yard.
So this may be the plan. Let these two guys try to do their best Adam Duvall impression and just maybe they can outdo Duvall – by the rate statistics, they have so far.
If they fail, Austin Slater could, God willing, become a Stephen Piscotty caliber hitter. Hunter Cole may surprise and Christian Arroyo may make the leap. If all else fails, get a MLB bat at the deadline.
I see AAAA’s for each for a total of 8 A’s. This maintains the Giants track record of not having a solid, bonafide starting long term OF since 1984. Fighting history here.
Mean to say…as developed by their farm system
Duvall wasn’t just a good defensive left fielder. He was #2 among regulars in the majors.
But the plan is reasonable especially if the Giants are going to break the bank on a reliever.
Hard to believe. Those metrics don’t pass the intuition test. Give Mac a run and he could probably put up similar DRS if the balls were hit just right – of if he had a shallow OF to defend and a CYA centerfielder next to him.
I’m not sold on Parker defensively, but Mac actually has the potential to be elite out there. With the misery of the second half, it’s easy to forget this, but Mac made some absolutely stellar plays in the OF the first half of July, several game-savers. He also has an excellent arm. When he played in San Jose, he had 15 assists.
Per Fangraphs, Mac was in the positive numbers in Defensive Runs Saved and in UZR, even with very limited playing time. There’s potential to be better than Duvall, I’d say.
Mac made some really bad plays at the beginning but when he settled in he made some great ones. If the former were just nerves the kid has defensive potential.
John, those metrics claiming him the best also listed Span as 2nd or 3rd best CF….and that’s the rest of the story…..
No, they didn’t. Span was ranked as #14 out of 17 in the majors on Fangraphs.
Cc posted an article that listed him top 3 CF from fan graphs. Same outfit, right? And the one you may be referring to had Blackmon last? Defensive measurements sure appear a tremendously unreliable judgment method.
Span is perfectly capable of getting to all the balls a good CF should get to – as we all know, the arm is liable to cede an extra base here and there.
The same chart I just linked has Span at #15 in UZR/150 and #14 in DRS. Now, maybe you can say he had a bad year or that you don’t believe in the metrics, fair enough. But the metrics say he was one of the worst CFs in baseball last year, and that does not contradict the eye test, either.
I’m not saying Span was always among the worst. Neither was Andrew McCutchen. But they both had bad 2016s out there.
I looked at Inside Edge Fielding scores and I also used the good old eye test. Seems like he was within range of expectations for CF – he apparently did not make any unlikely or impossible plays in CF.
Looking at the FA tracker for LFer’s, Michael Saunders of Toronto is making $2.9 million this year. He hit 24 HR, 57 RBI. He only hit .253 but his OPS was .816. And, he’s only 29. Might be worth looking into?
sure, but he had a really bad 2nd half and his 1st half numbers inflated by the Toronto effect.
No…there and there and there and there
Here’s what I’m looking at. Fangraphs has a composite ranking that includes all the best metrics. That’s where Span is #14. If you sort the stats, you see he’s near the bottom in DRS, too.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2015&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
Poor dude has none arm.
I was referring to Fangraphs DEF which has Span as much worse.
Also Reds’ fans I know say Duvall is indeed a great defensive player or at least has been this year.
He has, I’m sure , been very good. I still contend that not all left fields are created equal…I don’t watch enough Reds to be expert. Good for him, I guess
Great points. You could make an even stronger case for Mac/Parker vs Duvall, too. Specifically, Duvall got the opportunity to play everyday, get 4 ABs, go through slumps and streaks and make adjustments. Parker and Mac went back and forth on the Sacramento shuttle, sat on the bench, pinch hit, and didn’t play regularly. It’s possible their numbers would match up even better if they’d had the same opportunities to establish themselves that Duvall had.
Speaking of Piscotty, and I now this might be a stretch, but why not package Mac and Parker to the Redbirds for Piscotty?
Boom. Get it done. The Bird on the Bat say eff no however – better throw in Beede and Arroyo – Piscotty is quite a studly hitter.
Hmm. That’s a tough one. Trading Beede and Arroyo or just one of them with Mac and Parker. See if the Giants FO could dangle Blackburn or Stratton in front of STL before Beede.
before I go any further – this ain’t happening. Cards have to reason to part with Piscotty.
Understand. This is why I thought it might be a stretch.
I know that you are pulling Crawnik’s leg.Right?
Piscotty is under control through 2021, I believe.They are not trading him.
It’s like comparing apples to quince….
I don’t know if there is any true comparison because the situations are so different, but the metrics and the scouting suggest that Mac/Park or just Mac would be up to the task of equaling or surpassing Duvall’s 2016 production – which was, park adjusted, on par with Angel Pagan’s.
Also, what Duvall did in May/June last year was so astounding, that it conjures the term “flukish”, and that such a prolific 2 month explosion is very unlikely to happen again in his career.
Well, and at the end of the day, Duvall’s gone and isn’t coming back. Yes, they could have used him this year, but this year’s over. It’s more interesting to think about what the Giants might/should do next. The presser the other day suggests that Evans thinks Mac and Parker are ready to contribute.
I like your attitude ! ๐
Quince is pretty yummy. Especially quince jam.
You can’t develop your full potential without playing every day. With what I have seen, I like Mac’s upside more than Parker’s. I would roll the dice with Mac in left, make him the every day left fielder. I think he would pop for 30 home runs, .250 BA, and a fair glove. I’m not in favor of spending on a FA for 5-6 years. I’d rather trade for our needs. And that starts at CF. Span needs to be the 4th OF – the Gregor Blanco going forward.
On the eve of Dodgers-Cubs, it’s tough to root for either. Dodgers? Well, that’s obvious for any Giants fan. But Cubs too? How sacrelege! This lovable loser thing is about as annoying as it gets. Already getting overdosed on all the stories, every day. And they havent won anything yet. But if/when they do, you will wish it never happened. They will go from a cute story to wishing they would just go away. Although, if this immensely talented young squad is destined for dynasty status (and they might), then may as well get it over with. Get yourselves to the World Series but lose the WS to whomever. Hoping, actually, for another epic fail in true Cubness fashion to add to their historic misery. So…Go Cubs, tepidly, for another week.
I thought they played today?
Prime time!
The scariest thought of all: Theo. He’s young and a genius. This will not go away anytime soon.
I really wouldn’t worry about the Cubs being a dynasty at this stage. I doubt they’ll beat the Dodgers and I’m almost sure they can’t beat the Indians. And the pitching staff is just too old.
Yes, the next phase of building the Cubs will need to be developing a young, studly rotation to go with their positional depth.
No one worried about the SF Giants being a dynasty, but the cockroaches proved otherwise….I have no doubt that Epstein and Maddon can maintain a winning environment beyond this year.
Every team gets their pitching overhauled. They also have unlimited funds to do so.
I’m curious why you think they can’t beat the Indians….have you watched the full turn of Indians starters? Ughh.
I think they will. It’s more a matter of hoping they won’t if they get that far.
The Indians are playing great. They haven’t been behind in any game since the 3rd innings of the first game against Boston. You saw the Cubs series, I won’t exactly say they were lucky to beat the Giants but the Giants outhit them .252 to .200, only two Cubs’ regulars hit higher than .188, they were outhit badly (6-3 and 11-6) in two of the games they won, they needed some boneheaded baserunning to win game 1, boneheaded started pitching to win game 2 (Samardzija not throwing any curves), and boneheaded managing/horrible relieving to win game 4–they just didn’t look impressive at all.
I’d rather see the Cubs win in this series. It would suck if we couldn’t beat them, but the smurfs could. Although I don’t think it’s possible to choke as much as our BP did.
But, it would be so cool to see the Indians beat the Cubs. Not that the umps would let that happen in any of the games that could go either way. ๐
Go Cubs Go, with a certain amount of enthusiasm. its not just Dodger hatred, either.
This is like seeing Trump and HRC on the ballot.
Except the world won’t come to an end if either team wins.
Although SF isnt playing i do find piece of mind watching the remaining games and not worrying about every little thing that could go wrong. It’s comfy just sitting back and saying who gives a damn!
I enjoy watching these tight ballgames where so much is on the line with each and every pitch.
I don’t really listen to whoever is announcing, it’s all there in front of me, so I don’t get bothered by the media personalities like so many other cats.
It’s high stakes baseball and it’s pretty fine.
Were alike that way Scout! I could care less about who’s announcing a Gs playoff game it nver mattered to me.
Id love to hear Richard Enberg do a playoff game again.
Oh, my
Where’s Miller? He could do Scully for the Dodger series.
I just dont feel Bob Evans as a GM!
I’m hoping he grows into it a bit more.
He landed two really good FA pitcher…his deadline trades, on balance, seem net positive. It wasn’t a disastrous year.
But I fear there is a Bochy/Evans disconnect on roster construction…
Nunez was the real steal.
He really was. With Blach clearly ready and Andrew Suarez progressing very well, Mejia was expendable. Great move.
I’ve been a big Evans critic, but I think he had a great year. He built the rotation from the team’s biggest weakness to its biggest strength in less than one year. I think the Nunez pickup was great, and I suspect that the Smith trade is going to look very good in hindsight. I hate that he traded Duffy, but now that I see how terrific Matt Moore is, I’m feeling a lot better about it.
To me, if you’re going to criticize, it’s more about what he didn’t do (bolster the bullpen enough, get a young outfielder). And I share your concern about him vs Bochy.
What he didn’t do was also limited by the resources at his disposal. Sure, he probably could have beat the Nats offer for Melancon, but then there would be remorse for parting with the rookie sensation Law and another prospect of value.
Yep. I think there should be some reflection about why the Giants’ farm system never has the chips to make the really big deals–remember how they just missed on Cole Hamels last year?
They have limited draft board positioning each year – winning hurts. They don’t trade their big league assets for prospects, ever. With the picks they do have, they tend to make safe/conservative picks for players with tools that are less flashy and less likely to be coveted by other teams (my take), and their work in international free agency leaves much to be desired.
…and I don’t think they were anywhere close on Hamels, no matter what somebody speculated in the media.
They got as far as getting Hamels to waive his no-trade rights to go to SF…that sounds serious.
I loved the Moore trade when it was made. He got a cost controlled lefty starter with great stuff. It was a great trade the day it was made.
He did his job, Bochy not so much !
I would grade him out as a low B. Some great moves already mentioned. But the miss with Miller, Chapman, and Melancon does not make it a great year. Tell me that if we did not have Panik from Aug 1st on that we would still be playing with Miller. Of if Arroyo had been part of the Melancon package that we would still be playing.
I blame Bochy, he had enough to get those 3 outs in the 9th Tuesday night, just went nuts, and over thought it, if the Giants win Tuesday, they have Cueto pitching Thursday, with some hot hitters in the lineup. I liked the Giants chances , and if they win everything before that is forgotten, and with a deeper rotation then the Dodgers, they had a great chance to make the World Series.
It was reported that The Yankees had no interest in the Giants prospects. Probably could have outbid nationals for Melancon.
Yanks wanted Panik as part of the deal. Giants said no.
Speaking of left field, Mac & Park can do the trick, especially if Brandon Belt gets shuttled out there for maybe 20 or so games. This means more 1B for Buster Posey, and that’s a good thing for his legs, back, wrist, shoulder and his batting line.
What this team could use is an upgrade at backup catcher. Brown has looked good at times but it feels like an upgrade here could help the team, especially by reducing some workload on the team’s best hitter.
Who is available?
Alex Avila (30)
Drew Butera (34)
Jason Castro (30)
A.J. Ellis (36)
Ryan Hanigan (36) โ $3.75MM club option with an $800K buyout
Nick Hundley (33)
Chris Iannetta (34) โ $4.25MM club option
Jonathan Lucroy (31) โ $5.25MM club option with a $25K buyout
Jeff Mathis (34)
Dioner Navarro (33)
A.J. Pierzynski (40)
Wilson Ramos (29)
Carlos Ruiz (38) โ $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (32)
Geovany Soto (34)
Kurt Suzuki (33)
Matt Wieters (31)
This list kind of sucks just as much as the FA list for any position. Chooch was a nice add for the Dodgers – that sure helped. Weiters ain’t gonna be a backup. Neither is Ramos.
What about trades and trading for a guy like Brian McCann? Whoa! Now there’s some crazy talk that piques the interest.
It might keep his legs fresher but the back and wrist and shoulder are more of a get beat on by a bad foul or a sudden twist. Plating less games will not make these types of aches and injuries less. I remember 1 pitch in the Giants game against the Cubs, it was up and in, the Cub was swinging, Posey reached up to grap it and immediately ducked his whole body back to the center of the plate to avoid the follow through from clunking him. It is those types of movements and accidental hits on the body that create the ongoing hurts that degrade his performance and power. Buster is way to valuable of a hitter to the Giants to be a .280 singles hitter.
Go get AJ Ellis on the relatively cheap….
Then go from there
I like the way you think – stick to the Dodgers . He knows a thing or two about the boys in blue.
For backups, I think it’s not a bad list. They could use a veteran catcher.
Please not Salta… because I’m still dizzy from learning Samardzija!
I don’t think Posey will ever be worth a premier first baseman. He won’t be Votto, Goldscmidt, Rizzo, etc.. On a full-time basis he would be a slight upgrade over Belt (3 hits more per 100 at bats). His value is behind the plate. That’s where he belongs. That’s where he wants to play. Accept it and move on. I would rather have a .280 hitting Posey with 15 or so home runs and playing as close to full time behind the plate rather than a first baseman who brings a drop off in defense at both first and catcher – all for 3 more hits per 100 at bats. Brown is a capable backup once a week.
A backup catcher needs a better resume than ” Capable for once a week duty”
Unless there is something about him that I don’t know ( mad cow disease, sub-par moon walker), Hundley is a good choice.
Soto?
De he even play this year, is it his Cubs connection that you like, because he gets injured a lot, since he is not in the greatest of shape, and since his rookie year his career has gone down hill .
He was injured a lot last year .
He’s always hit the G’s well. Defense is suspect.
Does’t matter if he’s hit well against us.
Just noticing ….Wouldn’t be why I would sign him.
Nice to have a backup like him that can pop several out. Vet of the NL West. Good call.
When the Giants Come to Town…
http://whenthegiantscometotown.blogspot.com/2016/10/state-of-giants-2016-2017.html
Not this year.
That blog story IS from “this year”
When the Giants come to town, it is bye bye baby , not this year though .
Giantsโ Bruce Bochy breaks down fateful 9th inning By John Shea -October 13, 2016
So easy to look back and condemn. So easy to second-guess after the heat of the moment. So easy to blame after the fact, after someone fails. After an entire bullpen fails.
โThatโs baseball,โ Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. โThatโs what youโve got to deal with.โ
Bochy gets it. You manage in the big leagues for 22 years, you understand that for every morsel of praise, thereโs at least a morsel of criticism. It comes with the gig. In the hours and days after Bochyโs pitching moves backfired in Game 4 of the Division Series, columnists, talk-show hosts and social-media somebodies let Bochy have it.
Bochy had his reasons for every move he made and explained them in a Chronicle interview Thursday, starting with why he removed Matt Moore after eight innings and 120 pitches (and leading 5-2), even though Moore extended to 133 pitches during a no-hit bid at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 25.
โFirst of all,โ Bochy said, โwe care about Matt Moore. I mean, I lost sleep over letting him go that many pitches going for the no-hitter. He came off Tommy John not that long ago. He is human. When you throw 120 pitches in eight innings, in your mind, you think youโre done.
โWe checked with him after seven and let him go the eighth. With the three-run lead and the bullets we had in the bullpen, he did his job.โ
Moore underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2014 to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. He didnโt appear in the majors again until July 2015, pitching 63 innings last season. This season, 1981/3. Bochy said he used him more than anticipated after acquiring him from Tampa Bay on Aug. 1.
Tuesday marked Mooreโs first postseason start in 2016, coming on eight daysโ rest after he threw eight innings in a 7-1 win over the Dodgers in the regular seasonโs final game. In removing Moore with three outs to go, Bochy was thinking not only of keeping him fresh for further October starts but the rest of his career.
โA lot of clubs wouldnโt let him go that much,โ Bochy said of 120 pitches. โShow me another pitcher whoโs throwing 120 pitches in these playoffs.โ
We canโt. Seventeen postseason games have been played through Thursday. Moore was the lone pitcher to reach 120 pitches. Madison Bumgarner threw 119 in the wild-card game in New York, Johnny Cueto 118 in Game 1 against the Cubs.
So among the 34 starters who have taken the mound in the playoffs, the Giants rank 1-2-3 in pitch counts. In fact, counting Bumgarnerโs 101 pitches against the Cubs, the Giants accounted for half of the eight games in which a starter threw at least 100 pitches.
โHeโs part of our future, and we donโt want to put him at risk,โ Bochy said of Moore, who didnโt fight to stay in when pitching coach Dave Righetti told him he was done. โItโs not like this guy hasnโt had an arm surgery. Itโs about caring for the individual.โ
Itโs tradition for a manager to hold his breath and stick with a pitcher in a no-hit bid, though the Dodgers pulled two pitchers in no-hit bids this year, and Bochy immediately pulled Moore once he surrendered a single with two outs in the ninth inning, with his 133rd pitch.
As for Tuesday, the odds were in Bochyโs favor when he pulled Moore. In postseason history, teams with leads of at least three runs entering the ninth inning were 824-3, and all three losses came in 1986.
Eight-hundred twenty-four and three.
โWe had all our guys lined up,โ said Bochy, hoping his bullpen simply could get three outs before the Cubs scored three runs.
Five relievers were summoned, and the Giants didnโt get an out until after the Cubs tied it. Sergio Romo became the closer down the stretch but blew a save opportunity the night before (first two batters: walk, two-run homer) and threw 32 pitches, so there was no reason to believe he could pitch an entire inning Tuesday.
So Bochy went with matchups, which was blue-printed long before the ninth inning.
Rookie Derek Law was the first reliever, and Kris Bryant singled through the Giantsโ shift โ not many years ago, it would have been a routine grounder to short. Bochy called Javier Lopez to face Anthony Rizzo, who was 1-for-15 in the series. Lopez, 39, has made a living of retiring tough lefties, especially in the postseason.
He missed outside on a 3-2 pitch, issuing a walk.
โWe were hoping Law would get the first guy, and he got the groundball,โ Bochy said. โThe walk hurt, but you canโt have a better matchup than what we had there. Heโs been good down the stretch. Again, it makes you realize how difficult it is.โ
The next reliever, Romo, fell behind 3-1 to Ben Zobrist, who doubled on the hardest-hit ball of the inning. Bochy quickly pulled Romo, who put his glove to his face as he walked off. In mid-September, Romo was seen laughing after Bochy pulled him, showing up the manager, and Bochy said they met afterward.
โWe talked about it last time,โ Bochy said. โThatโs his way.โ
No longer. It was undoubtedly Romoโs final pitch with the Giants. In his biggest game of the year, he had far from his best stuff and was replaced by Will Smith, who gave up pinch-hitter Willson Contrerasโ game-tying single up the middle, which Smith nearly stopped with his bare hand.
The Giants got their first out when Jason Heyward bunted into a fielderโs choice, but Brandon Crawfordโs errant throw to first permitted Heyward to take second. Javier Baezโs single off Hunter Strickland put the Cubs ahead.
Santiago Casilla, who lost his closerโs job after Bochy finally lost faith in him, wasnโt a ninth-inning option. In his only playoff appearance, with the Giants trailing in the sixth inning of Game 2 in Chicago, he faced three batters and surrendered two hits, one off the Wrigley ivy.
โWe had the matchups we wanted,โ Bochy said.
But not the results. The man with a reputation as the best in the business at making pitching moves had them backfire on him.
โIt couldโve happened to Moore. Then youโd really feel bad that you stretched him out,โ Bochy said. โAgain, I donโt think you put a pitcher at risk like that. We all took it hard. They played so well. Iโm proud of them. Itโs tough to lose it late like that.
โWe had a lot of those.โ
John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer
Just pisses me off more, Bochy what a joke .
….so your sitting there in your house providing for your kids……have never coached LL, Babe Ruth, HS, NCAA or pro baseball and yet you say what you say…. OK
You like him , I do not, do not bring my kids into it !!
Ha, you tell US all the time -“I’m sitting here waiting for xxxx to get off the bus”……….”The kids and I just had ice cream”
Nice try
What’s really funny is that your attempts to ridicule people are so completely inept.
How are yours working out, TO?
This thread is fucking amazing.
In an attempt to ridicule Peter, the guy chooses to go after the fact that Peter apparently stays at home to care for his special needs son. Pretty weak, but neither unusual nor surprising, especially for someone who’s incapable of intelligently debating a topic.
I understand pulling Moore…. if you had Miller, Chapman, Melancon, Jansen. But you don’t. You have the worst bullpen in MLB and the night before they almost blew another game. So if you pull Moore then replace him with MadBum on 24 hrs rest, a fresh JC, Blach, or the Shark. It’s like the circus. The midget car rolls up and the clowns get out of this little car…. that’s what we had. A bunch clowns emerging from the pen.
The clown was the Manager, Smith had been lights out for 5 weeks, and should have started the 9th, he was only brought in after the inning was out of control, in a desperation move . Law had thrown 35 pitches Monday, Romo had thrown 32 pitches Monday, and Lopez has been bad all year, and had not pitched in a while, Smith had a 1, 2, 3, inning Monday on 8 pitches, with some of the same hitters due up Tuesday night .
………………so your sitting there in your house providing for your kids……have never coached LL, Babe Ruth, HS, NCAA or pro baseball and yet you say what you say….
OK
Shut Up !
Sounds like one 11 yr old twin girl talking to her twin sister. ๐
Bochy fan boy, your going to back your hero, I disagree, so we agree to disagree !
He uses less exclamation points in his disagreement
Ur funny man!
Lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
If Bochy wanted to pull Moore at all, yes, Smith was the obvious choice, in fact the only choice.
Clowns scare me.
Could you imagine a clown with a head the size of Bochy?!
Another thing Kramer was right about.
********* Much to your chagrin Rags is the main man who makes those decisions and he not Bochy speaks to Posey and Moore between innings.
Rags asked Moore after the 7th and he said he could go the 8th.
Rags was the one seen in the dugout shaking Moores hand and telling him he was done and yada yada nice job…
Total BS. Bochy has been quoted many times in similar situations about how he personally spoke with the pitcher about continuing. Now, when it’s a decision that turned out badly and received criticism, it’s Righetti that supposedly made the decision.
“Total BS” is the lead in to over 90% of your replies to posts ….
Yes, Rags has his job and it includes that one Pete Malloy. Like I said, you are well know to have an issue with almost any “authoritative” response. Soon you may be domiciled to vehicle abatement department.
PETE MALLOY says So we should agree with your point of view because your brother was a sergeant and your father was an attorney? How does that have anything to do with your credibility? Are you unable to stand on your own two feet without attempting to rely on them?
Who is this Pete Malloy?
It is Officer Oracles nom de plume
Never read a post here by a Pete Malloy. You sure or kiddin’ me?
POSTGAME NOTES: Petit finally finds perfection, and keeps going; The change that led to Blancoโs blast
Pete Malloy to Formerly_PSI 2 years ago
You made the prediction that current Lincecum, after two poor seasons, wouldn’t be as good as Hall of Famer Greg Maddux? Brilliant! No one else could have seen that but you! You should give yourself yet another round of applause. We are all truly fortunate to have the benefit of your brilliance.
Pete Malloy was a character in the old US police show from the ’60s, Adam 12.
Thank you for the info.
You think your comments are authoritative. Priceless.
True that TO. Remember “Sullenberger was a good pilot *but not a hero*.
LOL He SAVED 159 lives plus his own.
Actually everybody associated with the Giants know my name but on the Law Enforcement SJ sites your Pete Malloy.
Here is Sabes number … go ahead check it out via Department channels
415-793-3214
There are a few possibilities here:
1. You made up a phone number in an attempt to try to portray yourself as an insider;
2. You somehow have Sabean’s office number, which someone else gave you, and you decided to publish it here, again in an attempt to portray yourself as an insider;
3. You know Sabean, or are possibly one of his closest friends and advisers, and he gave you the number…which you then published here, violating his privacy and your great friendship in an attempt to prove that you’re a knowledgable insider;
No matter which scenario is accurate, it shows you to be a very strange and pathetic guy.
There are three possible scenarios here:
1. You made up a phone number in an attempt look like you’re some kind of insider;
2. It really is a number for Sabean, given to you by someone else, and you chose to publish it here to try to make it look like you’re some kind of insider;
3. You have Sabean’s number because you actually know him, and chose to publish it here, violating his trust in the process, to try to make it look like you’re some kind of insider;
One thing all the scenarios have in common is that they all make you look pathetic.
Talk about pathetic – had you been paying attention – I have posted Sabes number here many times before.
Number one is wrong
Number two is wrong
Number three: Sabes answers incoming numbers that he recognizes. He has a governor on any goof balls that would use it.
Cue the gong Malloy
Hmm. So the reasons that Bochy pulled Moore were:
(1) He came off Tommy John not long ago? Well it was even more recent when he let him threw 133 in the near no-hitter.
(2) He had lost sleep over the 133 pitches he threw in the near no-hitter? I see. So he pulled Moore in game 4 because he didn’t want to lose more sleep? That seems like a questionable motivation.
(3) The bullets we had in the bullpen? The bullets which blew 30 saves this year and another the night before? The bullets which had pitched 8 innings the night before? Those bullets?
(4) He did his job? So by that logic he should have pulled Gillaspie also, I mean he’d gotten 4 hits in the game, he had certainly done his job.
(5) A lot of clubs wouldn’t let him go that long? So what? A lot of clubs didn’t have pitchers who had blown 30 saves this year. In fact all of them. A lot of clubs didn’t have relievers who threw 8 innings the day before. And considering both Bumgarner and Cueto threw complete games in the games they threw 119 and 118 pitches, they couldn’t possibly have thrown any more.
(6) It’s a tradition to let pitchers stay in to try to complete a no-hitter? So explain how something being a tradition makes it less dangerous than letting pitchers stay in to try to win an elimination game.
(7) The odds were in Bochy’s favor? Then why were basically no Giants’ fans surprised when the bullpen blew the lead?
(8) We had the matchups we wanted? Hasn’t Bochy noticed that this strategy hasn’t been effective this year?
Sorry, this is all bogus. Bochy blew it.
Which game going forward did you wish for it to all unravel ?
1 game at a time !!! With a decent Manager it might not never happen !
If you honestly don’t think Bochy is a decent manager, you have an incredible lack of perspective and a very short memory
It’s very possible for a manager to be good in one instant and make bad decisions in awhile. Managers can slump just like players can slump. I think most people would say Buck Showalter was a good manager. He’s gotten a lot of perceived “over performance” out of the Orioles. And then he made one of the dumbest managerial decisions of my lifetime in a very important game. Thinking Bochy has been bad lately doesn’t mean anyone thinks he’s always been bad.
That’s never what Peter means
Much to your chagrin Rags is the main man who makes those decisions and he not Bochy speaks to Posey and Moore between innings.
Rags asked Moore after the 7th and he said he could go the 8th.
Rags was the one seen in the dugout shaking Moores hand and telling him he was done and yada yada nice job…
Fine, then it was Rags’ fault? What difference does it make? The coaching staff screwed up.
Turn the page. The Bullpen was going to have to “do their collective jobs” going forward…sooner or later.
**Center Plate Corp runs the concessions at Willie Mays Field. I am sure Baer and the Investor group wanted the cash from said concessions going forward to Nov 2nd. I know you have PLAYED the game so a reminder. Players execute or fail their assignments. Players win games or lose games. The OTHER dugout is also trying to bash the Giant players into oblivion. The Giants Players are not scrimmaging themselves.
The Players did not get their jobs done.
Like when with 12 games left in the ’64 regular season, the Phillies held a 6ยฝ-game lead in the National League. In those days, the math was a bit easier to figure out and the stakes were considerably higher. With no playoffs to speak of other than the World Series, it was a simple case of win-and-you’re-in.
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/philadelphia-phillies-collapse-of-1964-still-stings-50-years-later-092414
The bullpen was going to have to do their jobs sooner or later? Not necessarily. The Giants won the 2014 World Series with zero saves from the bullpen, count ’em, zero, and that was when they had only one reliable starter. If Bochy had left in Moore in the 9th, that would have been three complete games in five postseason Giants’ games. The Giants swept the Dodgers 3 games in the last series of the regular season with only one save, and in that game Blach pitched 8 innings, threw only 99 pitches, and had a 3-run lead; very good chance he could have finished with a win. The 1964 Phillies had 2 solid starting pitchers, Bunning and Short, the 2016 Giants had 4, not the same thing at all.
“Sorry, this is all bogus. Bochy blew it.”
Managers make decisions – Players either execute and do their job or things go south.
Not when the Manger goes all Russian Roulette on his pitchers, until they blow the game !
Incorrect. Pete it is BASEBALL. Baseball is a game. Games detract from out daily routine. You are still the same great father that you were before they lost.
They could have easily lost to Syndergaard.
On Monday night, Bochy trusted his bullpen , on Tuesday night , he went full Paranoid Bochy on them !
AT&T is known to have a kale manger
Law was questionable. Lopez was the exact predictable outcome….I wanted Smith earlier and longer.
Baseball happens.
They need to work out the closer situation, and then this team is quite formidable.
Your easy !
You mean you are as in you’re ?
I don’t find it beneficial to mentally replay the outcome of something that happened…it’s a worthless endeavor, Peter.
You call it easy, however I think you kind of agree with what I wish had happened.
Bochy did many things this past season that I disagreed with, and they didn’t win the World Series. He did many things in those championship years that I disagreed with, and they won it all. That proves to me a ” who the heck do I think I am?” approach. I see results. It doesn’t make me a better manager because I first guess or second guess. There’s too much I don’t know inside that club…from players, coaches, trainers, medical staff, etc.
I’m not happy they lost. But, they are my team through and through. Bochy included
Excusez moi, Monsieur Peter, would you kindly like to explain to me what does that “your easy” mean? Thank you in advance.
He is easily pacified, gets over things that upset him easily, moves on from disappointment quickly.
Well, if that’s true Matteo is a wise guy indeed. You should learn from him and you will live a lot better, Pete.
I know, the stress is not good for my health, I usually distract myself with other things to not think about that game, this morning I watched a WSBK motorcycle race race from Jerez Spain, your part of the World. My favorite Motorcycle racer ,Nicky Hayden finished 4th, I have followed and watched him race since he was 16, he is now 35 years old .
Jerez de la Frontera. I visited that town many years ago, when I was young. A back-sack, hiking “on the road” and all of those things, you know. Teenagers.
4TH??!! HE SUCKS! LOSER! HE SHOULD OF TAKEN THAT CORNER BETTER! THAT TRACK IS PERFECT FOR THE KIND OF RIDER HE IS! WHY DIDN’T HE GO FASTER???!!!
Mooose, don’t shout at Peter, plz.
Sorry. I’m trying to speak his language.
You nice guy.
His bike, a Honda CBR 1000RR, has not been updated since 2008, and it is not as good or fast as the Ducati that won the race, and the Kawasaki that were 2nd and 3rd in the race. Honda is finally updating the CBR 1000RR in 2017, and he signed through 2017, so will see if he can win more, The Ducati rider has won 8 races this year, the 2 Kawasaki riders have won 12 races, Nicky has won the only other race, in the rain, where it is more about rider then bike .
Excuses
We really need some velocity rate.
If you like bikes, you should visit Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, near Bologna. I did. Very interesting. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3c4cfb6ec2c3b5be511281717b36531fa0067059d8336e59ccb543d50deb2b39.jpg
I have owned many bikes , mostly Suzuki’s and Honda’s, and been to many race tracks, Ducati’s are out of my price range, but have followed them through racing for over 25 years .
An admirable quality
It is, wish I had it, I take things too seriously, so have a hard time getting over them, and Sports is my life , besides my family, never got into music of other activities, played and watched sports in my down time .
Baseball is the perfect sport to learn with. The best teams lose 60 games a year. The best batters fail most of the time. Most teams never get to the World Series.
More important things in LIFE PJ
https://www.facebook.com/tim.albretsen/posts/1308169979194285
What a slappy video.
Those are positive traits, Peter.
Yeah , I know, I am a poor loser, always have been, got used to winning at a young age, was always the fastest kid in my school, so was very good at all sports and won a lot, so when a did lose I was in denial .
I admire how open you are here on TWG Peter. You’re a good egg.
Not computer friendly enough to know how to have a picture on my avatar, same as my twitter account, but not a big deal to me, some people like to think they are better then other people based on an avatar or based on how many followers somebody has .
Some people are better. They work harder. They’re more talented. Keep grinding.
I haven’t seen anyone delve into the relationship of the starters with the relievers.
Here’s one option that hasn’t been discussed much: What happened to Jeff Samardzija? He was chosen to start Game 2 specifically so he could be available out of the bullpen later in the series. He didn’t throw another pitch. You don’t want to push more, your other guys gave you heavy innings the night before–why not try Samardzija to get those three outs?
Or Will Smith. Nine (9) pitches the night before.
He wanted to over Manage, he wanted to play matchup, Lefty vs Lefty, Righty vs Righty games, so use at least 3 different pitchers for the 3 different hitters due up, Just the opposite of what he did on Monday night .
I do agree and think he over managed that inning
According to Bochy, Bochy didn’t make any bad decisions. It’s just baseball. I also like the part about Dave Righetti being the one that told Bochy that Moore was done. Bochy passing the buck, again.
With a 3 run lead, 6 of one, hall a dozen of the other as to whether Huff goes out there for the ninth.The first mistake was having Law start the inning. In effect, he was having Law audition for the closing gig. Hardly the time for that. All downhill after that. If Moore starts the 9th, he gets one base runner and turns it over to Smith. The pen sits down and Joe has the floor.
IMO.
Little over a month ago Sir Charles decided to visit Craig Sager
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/09/charles-barkley-craig-sager-hospital-bone-marrow-transplant-leukemia
NFL TV’s decline…does baseball pick up the slack. IMO, the current MLB blackout model in sheer lunacy.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/nfl-ratings-plunge-could-spell-doom-for-traditional-tv/2016/10/14/a7a23dc2-915f-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_nfl-720pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
Reflecting on Giantsโ elimination-game streak and homegrown influence By John Shea
October 14, 2016 Updated: October 14, 2016 7:26pm
Overshadowed by a bullpen downfall and end of an even-year dominance, the Giants had a major-league record that finally hit the skids.
When the Cubs rallied in the ninth inning Tuesday, they ended the Giantsโ run of 10 straight wins in postseason elimination games — the longest streak in baseball history and second longest among the four major pro sports behind the Boston Celticsโ 11.
How was it doable? We asked the Giantsโ official with more baseball experience than anyone.
โPart of it is the homegrown guys, in my opinion,โ said Joey Amalfitano, 82, who spent the past 25 of his 62 years in pro baseball in Giants player development and saw the 11 homegrown players on the playoff roster advace through the farm system.
โIn this day and age, with business the way itโs conducted with free agency and arbitration and with players moving on, this club here has kept a lot of its guys.โ
Amalfitano noted the Giantsโ 2010 championship team finished with no homegrown infielders in the lineup. By 2012, the year the elimination-game streak started, there were three. By 2014, all four. Last winter, the 40-man roster had 27 homegrown players, most in the majors.
โSome of the success weโve had in postseason play is because of the players who have come through the system,โ Amalfitano said. โCredit the ability of the front office, scouting and development. Those guys who came here from the minor leagues, they made a statement.โ
Nine of the elimination games were started by homegrown pitchers, if we include Ryan Vogelsong, who was dealt from the organization and returned. The winning rally in Mondayโs final elimination win came courtesy of a couple of homegrown players who hit consecutive doubles in the 13th inning, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik.
Then again, two of the relievers in Tuesdayโs ninth-inning collapse were homegrown, Derek Law (probably the Giantsโ best reliever) and Sergio Romo. Also, an error by Crawford prolonged the rally.
Amalfitano has seen more than most can imagine. He witnessed Willie Maysโ catch in the 1954 World Series, lent his bat to Mays the day the Say Hey Kid hit four homers in a 1961 game, was the penultimate out in Sandy Koufaxโs 1965 perfect game and, as third-base coach, was the first to congratulate Kirk Gibson after the 1988 World Series homer.
Amalfitano is a big fan of the players coming from the farm sytem, especially Panik (Amalfitanoโs an old second baseman), and said a young Buster Posey โwas different, he was kind of specialโ and compared Poseyโs demeanor to that of another catcher, Joe Torre, who became a Hall of Fame manager, hinting Posey could be an excellent one someday, too.
โTorre had a calmness about him, a strength about him,โ Amalfitano said. โLet me put it this way: A guy like Buster should stay in the industry. Fine player, nice human being. Heโd be a plus in any organization.โ
DH, no DH: A storyline that was buried amid Tuesdayโs ninth-inning chaos was the significance of the swings taken by the pitchers.
Cubs pitchers were 3-for-8 with two homers and drove in six of the teamโs 17 runs. Kyle Hendricksโ two-run single and Travis Woodโs solo homer were the difference in Chicagoโs three-run win in Game 2, and Jake Arrietaโs three-run homer was the story of Game 3 until the Giants rallied late and won.
Game 4 was all about Matt Moore – at least until the ninth inning – because of his two-hit pitching and bases-loaded single that broke a 1-1 tie, the first Giants pitcher with a postseason go-ahead hit since Hal Schumacker in 1933.
In a related matter, donโt expect the designated hitter rule to change anytime soon. Last week, commissioner Rob Manfred reiterated heโs fine with the DH in one league and not the other, saying it โdifferentiates the play in the two leagues, and I think that’s a good thing.โ
Agreed.
Both sides? No manager can satisfy everyone. The Giantsโ fan base came out for and against Bruce Bochyโs decision to pull Moore after eight innings and 120 pitches. Now consider Nationals manager Dusty Bakerโs decision Thursday on Max Scherzer, who led 1-0 entering the seventh and was at 98 pitches.
Scherzer threw one more pitch, a Joc Pederson home run, and was pulled. The Dodgers scored four runs in the inning and eliminated the Nationals.
Baker was criticized for both letting Scherzer begin the seventh and for not letting him continue in the seventh. Itโs similar to how critics blasted Bochy for not using Santiago Casilla in the finally inning Tuesday, perhaps some of the same folks who chastised Bochy for staying so faithful to Casilla in the second half.
The lesson: Yes, we can have it both ways.
Heavenly Vin: Vin Scullyโs play-by-play still can be heard, though in a different denomination than baseball.
A devout Roman Catholic, Scully recorded the 20 mysteries of the rosary, including accompanying prayers, produced by Catholic Athletes for Christ in collaboration with Immaculate Heart Radio. CDs are for sale, and proceeds benefit CAC high schoolers.
Before Scullyโs final broadcast at AT&T Park on Oct. 2, the Giants set aside a room so he could attend a Mass, along with dozens of others, including his family. Rev. Anthony Giampietro of San Francisco said the Mass, and Scully did the first reading.
John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
That’s the biggest reason I’m not “upset” by the end…
Who are we to think it’s anything but amazing that we were gifted to watch 10 straight wins in elimination games? So, it ended in gut wrenching fashion…we ended a whole trail of vanquished victims in the previous 10….
Like I said: everyone thinks we should have won…everyone. We didn’t. But you cannot take away those other 10, many of which we shouldn’t have won. We did.
Perspective. Time helps refocus that…
Sunset at Noth East.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4429fe898d910bfd9075cd3d59bee012fdac6c90663ae6e574ea9e71facb318b.jpg
One who was born by the ocean or has associated with it cannot ever be quite content away from it for very long.
John Steinbeck
Now let’s go with the thumbs down. The pic is upside down.
Can’t control iPhone photo library.
Wait…are you in Australia?
LOL.
here you go https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/410e389162c8953758faf9193f13c21b6e4edb8753b8a41b678887162b0886cd.jpg
Thank you very much, Pico bro.
Adam Duval on TVG right now with LoDuca
I’m sure it was only a warning track interview, and expect him to give even worse interviews next season as the media begins to exploit his weaknesses.
Interesting article. I didn’t know Duvall was dabetic. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17393651/cincinnati-reds-adam-duvall-thriving-fighting-diabetes
Evans or Sabean brought that up when discussing the trade at some point during this season.
Missed that. It’s apparently pretty serious.
Yep, Type 1.
But only of 4-5 years duration. That is a bit unusual.
My Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide. Here we go!
Looks like you are talking something about Shiloh or Bull Run…
College football. SEC college football. Nothing better.
I visited the battlefield of the Wilderness in Virginia a couple years ago, and the National Parks ranger was describing what took place on a certain portion of the field and said something to the effect of
“…and then the 146th New York in conjunction with the 88th New York swept up this field and drove back the Alabamians who were holding that tree line…”
When a voice from the rear of the group of sight-seers drawled:
“Oh, those would’ve been Auburn boys.”
Thinking about strike zone robots. If each MLB ballpark had calibrated strike zone cameras, the inside of the HP umpire mask could be a grid that would show him with red, yellow, green indicators where each pitch was in the strike zone. The ump still makes the call alone. But he can see what we all see and call the zone as he sees fit.
How do you calibrate the strike zone when it is different for every hitter? It’s not as easy as everyone seems to think.
You could lock in width and length, and knees to letters can be punched in for each hitter. Just thinking out loud Moooose. Variable strike zones are frustrating to watch.
Especially when they go against us!!
Exactly. The graphics some TV broadcasters use to represent the strike zone never seem to move. as far as I can see.
It has to be coming in some form.
I mean it is not like removing Pitchers from the batting order and replacing them with a guy who only swings a bat for a living…
Imagine the defensive play if there were an offensive team and a defensive team!!
the thing that really pisses me off, is that JP12 finally was locked in at the plate. i know he’s money when he spits at tough pitches that are just off the plate. he did that the entire cubs series. small sample, but his slash was .600/.615/.800. too bad bochy didn’t recognize this, and switch positions in the L/U with belt, who was slumping. oh well
It took you 5 days to figure it out?
i don’t remember ever claiming to be the brightest bulb on the christmas tree
The advantage of leaving him where he was is that he was next to Gillaspie, who was the second hottest hitter.
You skulk around the house just thinking of stuff you can b**ch about?
i’ve never skulked in my life, and if i did, i’d never do it in my house
I like to skulk in back alleys, with a fedora and a trenchcoat.
i can see that. you’re wearing a monocle.
Up here some retired hockey player does the weather but you Bay Area fans have stolen Reggie Theus’s daughter away from So Cal. Well done.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/personality/roqui-theus/
Peter is one funny dude!
POTD!
Just read thru everything below. Wow… what a Saturday!!!
This blog wouldn’t be the same without him. That’s for sure !
Got that right i love the guy
He’s my favorite.
Yeah, but preferably taken in small doses.
I have to work at creating humor.
Peter is like Robert Redford: The Natural.
Dude rolls out of bed and smacks gappers like Rickles
I still wanna believe it’s all a farce and he’s perpetrated the biggest con this side of Melville.
Not the least bit slappy. All power, all the time!
A very talented and young baseball player that has it in perspective
@Noahsyndergaard
Baseball has a way of ripping your โค๏ธ out, stabbing it, putting it back in your chest, then healing itself just in time for Spring Training.
More Important items: https://www.facebook.com/tim.albretsen/posts/1308169979194285
Anti-Bochy-Decision Fans Mantra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW9qLOfHabI
I don’t care what Sincere says, Joe rocks.
Agreed.
This is Sincere’s number one guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s
Then he likes
1. Jimmy Page
2. Edward Van Halen
3. Eric Johnson
4. Steve Howe
5. Alex Lifeson
Honorable Mention: James Hetfield, Steve Vai
LOL – we’ll he thinks about about this list, especially former Dodger Howe at #4,
YES YES YES !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ZmIFR4Sc0
Baseball Howe dead at 48 yrs old
Nice getting to know the Indians. They might have the goju this year.
Yah- they’ve got my vote, Bob.
Can’t go with the team that has Carlos Santana on lead guitar.
Looks like Francona has his mojo back.
I would love some goju if I knew where to buy
Cleveland
Major Cleveland stress with “junkballer” Tomlin throwing that curve up there to those sluggers!
Alex is back vs. the Raiders 1:00 CBS
CK gets another shot vs.the Bills 10:00 Fox
What’s next? First he won’t stand for the anthem Now CK refuses to sit to poop.
Colin was protesting the anthem before protesting the anthem was cool!
Well, at least CK should recognize that America gives him the freedom to protest even the national anthem.
Oh, I think he recognizes that just fine. It’s the people criticizing him who don’t seem to recognize that.
Of course.
I’m not sure he really understands what he is protesting.
Oh, I think he does. People just don’t like what he’s protesting (or how).
He’s said a lot of different things about it.
I seem to recall much more reputable players in this drama in 1965-66. The vast majority weren’t millionaire sports figures.
I’m no Kaepernick fan, but he’s definitely gotten a conversation going. That is not actually a bad thing.
The conversation has been going on for sometime. If I were investing someone with the catalyst for this discussion it would Ta Nehisi Coates and not Colin Kaepernick. It’s like mistaking a man for a shadow. Mr. Coates is special in this argument. If people haven’t read The Case for Reparations in The Atlantic, they’ve missed a genius at work.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
Tommie Smith and John Carlos were subject to immense criticism when they silently protested during the anthem at the 68 Olympics. Then they were ostracized by the sports community. It took years (like 30 years) before people started praising them and giving the awards for what they did.
People look back on it and say it was a great thing. At the time it was happening? Not so much.
It was the same thing with Ali. Caught all the same sort of guff that people on this blog give to Colin, at the time. Later in life, most everyone thought he was great. But in his day he was speaking and acting out against injustices, including war and the draft.
He’s well aware of that. Are you?
YES sir. I have been well aware since 1966, when I started to hang out at an United States Information Service center. You ?
Excellent. Then you should have no problem with his protest.
Absolutely
I’m not sure that this started out as a social protest, CK wasn’t used to being irreverent I think it was a “look at me” deal.Then when it was being taken seriously, he began to take it seriously.
target hit, as usual, Chef !
Hunter Strickland just announced on Twitter/IG that there will be a “Baby Strick” around April.
That little Diablo …. When does Lexi and the Reverend tie the knot?
November sometime. Hope he cleans up some.
Lexi may get to choose which HP she prefers
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c1f08c5a7d4d17b61727ada6acd1ad6a51a00ca03b79af5c5ba082b3bc108e43.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5bccdc5c560e92ad411c2e9f4c25944641b731bebb75ba3059a594dfda09c90f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/387c83f3cee4a6a1932a6ffa370c389faaa6a892560c077a2a0d05689554d3c3.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0305eab4eb34f632e93129535e86593dbbbefd3a0c63c9dfd885366efd1411a9.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf9fafd20edc76ec33dbe3aa1232f89b23d3b87fc1f982671b574ea443bc5ab4.jpg
He looks like Brock Turner’s cousin in that last pic. On second thought, keep the messy pube-like hair going.
I’m sure that baby will be going to the shooting range as soon as it can walk.
Happened to turn on the 30 for 30 last night, Jordan Rides the Bus. MJ’s manager that year of the Birmingham Barons? Terry Francona. Thought that was pretty funny.
Next up: 30 for 30 seconds: Tebow Rides the Bus.
Gimme a break. It’ll be titled, Jesus Rides the Rails.
Whoa, easy there, Pontius.
Scouts are absolutely scathing about Tebow after his week in the AFL.
But didn’t he assuage somebody having a seizure?
Yes. He can’t hit, field, or throw. But he can pray with a fan in distress. And he’s taking a spot from a top prospect who earned it.
I can’t wait til he plays PF for the Nets next year.
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Tebow will wash your feet if you ask nice,
He’ll also tea bag you if you pass out.
I don’t remember that part of the song. Was Mick riffing?
Yeah, extended cut, live in Prague.
My home for six years.
But we’ve been down this road, i forgot. We played frisbee.
Ultimate frisbee. Dude, let’s meet up at Castaic Lake and throw some disk!
I’m already there.
You and Vaclev Havel, late night parties.
Be-a-Genie really stays true to one side of the plate, regardless of handedness of hitter.
โข – “Joey” as we like to call him is one of the good ones.
Andrew Miller is such a difference maker for the Indians. He’s like MadBum out of the bullpen in a way.
AMEN…. and NYY said no trade without the Giants tossing Panik in the package
Play by Play on paper – Tribe vs TOR
http://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay?gameId=361015105
ALWAYS liked Rajai Davis
Darwin Barney got stunted in Chicago
Is he old enough to finally rejoin the Giants?
Platoon with Span?
I see what you did there. Tito/Terry guys like to stay right where they are
especially after a parade!
Give it up.
Watchutalking about, Willis?
You would really want him?
As RHH bench piece that can play CF, sure, why not?
Because it doesn’t make sense
It’s like talking to a chatty cathy doll, on occasion.
If you want a bench player who can play CF, you kinda want someone who is BETTER in the field than Span.
I remember Rajai made a really great catch against the Pirates in 2007.
it’s 2016 now,
Made a great one against Atlanta, to end the game and cement a win that same year. I was there at Turner Field.
That’s nice.
haha
Viagra/Cialas ads have been gold for these 40-50 year old, attractive female models.
Bogus adds. Just close eyes and picture Jessica Alba
I love those 40-50 year olds. Just sayin’…
About as unhittable as it gets.
Blue Jays have to be thinking, “Thank God, Cody Allen is coming in.”
or maybe ……
Where did the 2-2 pitch miss?
The location of these strikes is completely ridiculous. Literally the cold zone of every hitter.
Must be nice to have your starter only go 5 2/3 innings and have the bullpen hold a 2-1 lead for 3 1/3 innings.
I know not what you speak of.
Good afternoon, Mr. Mutt Lange, are you ready to try to decipher some notes into that melody I’ve been trying to recall?
Dear goodness is this that sax cut again?
gonna get to the bottom of it – you just let me know when you are ready.
What’s the beats per minute? 120, like a disco beat? Or more funky?
probably 120. it’s kind of soul, pop, disco as far as I can remember with just enough funkiness to make it really tasty and catchy.
once we figure this out, you’re gonna say ” dude, that’s one of my faves!”
It’s probaby in my itunes lol.
BEST OF
Cyclical this stuff goes in circles i guess.
Soon you will have to work your way out of the anger stage.It will take awhile but you WILL find acceptance.
O’er the land of the FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…
And the home, of the brave!
Even their National Anthem performers are Nathan’s Originals!!
I hate that. I mean, really hate it. The national anthem is not about your vocal histrionics, dude. Not impressed.
And that note is really not that high, if he was going for technical histrionics. Lol what a cheese grater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Wr_-C-Isg&index=8&list=PLV1cB8fu8A5rl2JszPpXNIOfu_hDBJf43
Lol Ross holding the ball up for 10 seconds, staring, with the duck face as an encore.
Duck face. In a baseball game.
GO DODGERS.
Roberto lives!!!!!!
Robristo ? or Zoberto?
Annoying Cubszo.
d e d f#f#
f#f#f# d e d f#f#
??? help ??? (tighter space, shorter note)
Is this that sax song you were talking about?
I don’t even know anymore. It might be from Super Mario Bros for all I know.
Someday, in a grocery store, that song will come on and I’ll have another piece to the puzzle.
Are those notes above that you posted, or chords?
just what I was tapping out on the piano – and guitar
I may have the wrong key, I may have the wrong sequence of notes.
Good effing luck. It’s your mission should you choose to accept.
So they’re single notes, like a melody, and not chords?
totes – some sort of melody that involves similar steps
could be this as well
D E DF#F#
D E DF#F#F#F#F#D E DF#F#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCW1i5HQ0o0
no – I can’t put a signature voice to it either – may be instrumental all the way through.
but thank you for best efforts – this is high degree of difficulty assignment because I’m a horrible game maker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gO1ys2AiNM
Great funking song – good movie soundtrack song.
Do these songs follow some of that I-III-V pattern I suspect?
This one kinda sorta, but it doesn’t go to the V until later than usual. So I take it this isn’t it? Up the alley, though?
not quite the same neighborhood. sigh….
Wendall Kim
RIP
Baez grows on me
I had Tinea Versicolor grow on me once.
Pretty incredible upside, he whole packag. Now he just needs t grow up.
Yeah, me too. Like VD. Or a yeast infection. Or gangrene…or a flesh-eating virus.
Are you a fan of baseball? Because with only one team it would be intramurals. The kid has major game.
Do you think it’s all about talent only? Or do class and sportsmanship matter?
You know, bro. I think it’s more youthful exuberance than bad attitude. Romo dissed him in game 3, and I think that’s what led to some of the histrionics in game 4. He and Contreras are young, talented players. We could use some of that. The veterans on the team will tell him if it’s too much.
No they won’t. Davis Ross pulled a staredown and duck face a few innings ago after the play at the plate. All cut from the same superdouche cloth.
Baez and Russell are 23 and 22.
I think Crawford and Panik were in A+ and AA at those ages.
They were cadillacking around the bases all day in San Jose, I’m sure.
Don’t be jealous cuz you got a Cutlass-Supreme to drive around in.
Wrong. I have a ’73 Olds Cutlass, brah. Needs a new paint job, but, it only has 20K miles on it. We would cruise in that and listen to “Hysteria,” son!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/adc554561324c2928ceee668c2d361cf33d44b634cd7f39f38e3264dffb230d0.jpg
If you’ve kept it High & Dry, should be good to go, Phil.
Hahahaha but the Photograph is good.
“Danger, such a strange emotion…”
Can you feel it in the air?
They were ahead of their time. I think the High & Dry T-shirt will be right for me.
Right on. Those interior 4 songs starting with “Bringing on the Heartbreak” are one of the best album sequences ever.
My point. Young, energized, low-salary, 5-6 years team control for each…there’s a lot to like.
he’s a fan of the Giants, get it, you and Scout can root for every player in the MLB, but some of us are GIANTS fans, and we do not care, about a player on another team , got it !!
I would think he’s an insecure, egomaniacal, immature little turd even if I wasn’t a Giants fan.
My point mainly, Clutch , Scout, CC, are more of a fan of the game of Baseball, and not 1 team in particular , so they do not die inside , like some of us , when are team loses .
I think there’s nothing wrong with being a fan of the game, and recognizing great players. But what I will never do is enjoy watching players that are egomaniacs and who find it not sufficient to just do a great job, but to parade around like Morris Day and the Time on a baseball field. Sure I can agree with talent and ability, but I don’t have to like watching em.
Not to be confused with Otis Day and the Knights ๐
Lol I mentioned that because I am doing the Prince tribute again in November, and we’re doing “Jungle Love” by Morris Day and the Time bc Prince was a co-writer. Psyched!
He’s a young punk kid like we were. Harper and Joc are the same. BUT He has major game. You don’t need to be young to be turd. Brian Wilson was. All about himself.
Maybe, but I was never brash and egomaniacal as a youth. You can be young and humble, and focused on your game without getting all in your face. It is possible. Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, TheSincere lol.
I’m sorry about the dying part of you. I used to get upset and want to throw radios and stuff, but I just don’t anymore.
Don’t say those things about Peter. He’s a semi- good guy,
Hell yeah I’m going to root for ballplayers in MLB. It’s what I do, dawg.
I know, I do not, I want my team to win , and every other team to lose , that’s what fans of 1 team do .
I’m not a good “fan”. Don’t hold it against me. Forgive me, if you can.
I am a poor sport, I am not watching the NLCS, because it would just remind me about Tuesday nights Giants choke job, and I am not ready to deal with it yet !
To each their own.
I used to be a real bad remote control throwing miserable yell at the TV SOB. And then when they won in 2010 I couldn’t help it, something just changed in me the next season. A loss would happen and I’d laugh it off. Not one remote got thrown. Then in 2012 then went down 2 games to 0 and my GF and I just shrugged and said “Hey let’s hope they at least win one.” And then they did, and another. And tons more. After they won in 2012, I had no clue how long it would take me to get honest to god mad at a game. Maybe 5 years? Maybe 20? Then they won in 2014 and shoot, everything I’d been dying to happen from the age of 7 thru 29 suddenly had happened 3 times! I just can’t get too mad anymore. Maybe I’ll get back there some day.
I threw a friend’s remote and broke it after Rod Beck blew a save in Atlanta on a walkoff by Fred McGriff in ’97ish. I did have it repaired, however lol.
That’s the attitude of most fans, that’s why most think Bruce Bochy can do no wrong, because of 3 in 5 years, for me every year is a new year, and every game is a new game, no free pass, I could deal with it if they won game 4, and lost game 5 and were never in the game , but how they lost game 4, will leave me with what could have been feeling .
Don’t get me wrong, I still think Bochy had his worst year as a manager this year. There’s no free pass from me. I just have the power to walk away calmly now, which I didn’t use to have. Watching them not win it all for 23 years, and then win a lot, softened me a bit. I’ve been called a bad fan because of that, and I’m okay with that. I have never been interested in getting into “who’s a bigger fan” arguments (which I’m not saying you are doing, just in general).
Nice try
Been a Giant fan all my life
Mark Trumbo…??
These announcers and the Cubs need to get a room.
Smoltz is excellent
So the Atlanta Braves and Falcons are simultaneously pumping up ticket sales for their new stadiums that open next year (personal seat licenses as well for Falcons). These replace Georgia Dome which opened in 1992, and Turner Field opened in 1997.
Tax dollars spent to replace 20-25 year old stadiums–neither of which needed to be replaced–is a very bad idea anytime, especially right now in Atlanta.
Bit more of a ballgame. Maeda not so much of a postseason pitcher. Hoping this game stays close for my viewing pleasure. Tito’s vodka Moscow Mule’s, little pizzas on naan. Mmmmm.
TV’s muted and I’m listening to the pouring rain. This is a good way to watch evil vs. eviler
Finally got the rain. I am happy for you. We are one day away from a super moon, and I am on vacation with dear friends at The Owl Farm in Bloomsburg, PA. Clear night and the moon looks like it’s gonna eat us.
yeah! no moon viewing here tonight – enjoy it for me! I guess it’s called a hunter’s moon (Hunter Pence’s moon? wait I’m not sure I want to see that)
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/15/498081878/look-up-the-moon-is-going-to-be-amazing-this-weekend
Especially if Pence ain’t got no time for the downscaping.
HAHA! *puke*
This is one of my favorite moon-related baseball pics. You can tell I snapped it awhile ago based on the splash hits.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/93b9f4bbcf83c0662deabf5a24f571c9d11917afa7480e0654e71a2abbb0ce91.png
I looked at that pic and thought the moon was the baseball.
Best way. Drop in the Force Awakens crack a beer and look for Easter Eggs….
Oh man, I’m all beered out. Went to a pizza festival then went beer tasting today. Resisting taking an evening nap ๐
Right? So much douchieness.
Switching to Warriors/Lakers pregame on NBA TV.
Dripping with Summer’s Eve.
Is that a word?
Satan vs. Beelzebub.
I thought I was done with baseball for awhile after so many G’s games. I hadn’t planned on watching but I’m now into it. I’m surprised how quickly I put the NLDS behind.
And for me, despite the nauseating feeling I felt Tues, it’s an easy call to go with the Cubs. I’ve loathed the Dodgers for 50 some years. Can’t turn that around. And one look at the loathsome Utley in puke blue and…real easy call.
I can’t watch the playoffs because first off, we should be playing LA and secondly we’d be pounding LA into ground beef and third it would be tough listening to all the announcers splooge all over the cubs. Wish I could but no can do. It’s Giants or bust.
#GORAIDERS
Kind of fun to see the Cubs’ BP stinking it up like ours.
Chapman had so much spit coming out, entering the field, it looked like he was puking. One thing about baseball I’ll never like. All the spitting.
Hunter Strickland is good for some high-volume spit. And of course MadBum is the snot rocket king.
Yes!!
Dammit, so close..
YESSS!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Cry me a river, Cubbies!!!!
Damn, A-Gon tied it.
Love it.
My TV is still on mute even though it’s not raining anymore, did the whole stadium go silent?
Haha yes and in the words of Cesar Romero as The Joker, it is delicious!
We coulda had these chumps, no doubt about it. That Game 4 was the biggest waste I have ever seen. Too much hubris. They will fall.
There are no chumps at this level
Blue Jays look like chumps.
Yet another epic postseason game. Let’s play twenty!
Chapman’s really a postseason beast ๐
Day late, dollar short, etc. etc.
Maddon, for all his “brilliance,” just will never learn that Chaphole just won’t bust out of his comfort zone and pitch a 2-inning save. For such a flamethrower, it’s amazing how weak he is with multi-inning saves.
Goose and Sparky are laughing somewhere.
As they pass the purple haze back and forth, Jimi.
Did I tell you about the used copy of “The Bronx Zoo” I received from Amazon recently?
No. Only zoo I care about is the scorpion zoo. Other than that Chapman blows two away cedes the single and now Zorilla on a rampage.
It is a random used copy signed by both Peter Golenbock and Sparky Lyle!! And there is a note written to the person to whom the book was signed. A very controversial note about people that Lyle despised! I can’t post it on here, but it is oh so good. I will email u soon, cousin.
Goose was something, the way he just reared back and just threw the cr*p out of the ball. Great fearsome pitcher.
George Brett, and Kirk Gibson were not impressed !
Ricky Henderson was๐
Seemed like correct move
He also PH for Lester with a 3-1 lead, when Lester only had 77 pitches on his arm, even Bochy would never do that, so he needed 9 outs from his bullpen .
Overthinking like Bochy.
There was a lot of disgust from Cubs’ fans from Maddon from the Giants’ series.
“Seemed” being the right word.
I have the feeling that Chapman isn’t physically capable of throwing at that speed for more than 1 inning but doesn’t want to tell anyone.
Gonzo
Pure Pro hitter
Smooth
Ice water veins
Borderline hof
All-Star Addison Russell. Great talent there.
Yup….needed an HR here
Lol…..my sarcasm worked!!!๐๐๐ป
You have a problem with HRs, oh yeah your a Giants fan , that drinks the Kool aide about just move the line baseball .
Ummm….bases loaded, two outs, tied game, 8th inning. Yes, I do think high percentage hit in that situation. No kool aid to drink here.
HRs are accidents, just ask CC, they are just well hit balls that happen to go over the fence, 3 or 4 singles to score a run, is very hard to do and rarely happens vs good pitching, HRs break open games .
Agreed. High risk = high rewards etc. HR’s are low percentage but can break open a game. In that situation a lowly single secures a run, possibly two. And Dodgers are short on outs.
Singles are not that easy, that’s my point, hitters can not get singles on command, in the 2nd half when the Giants could not buy a hit with RISP, it was not because they were swinging for HRs .
Shades of Will Clark! Wow!
I wonder if this is the first Grand Slam in a post-season game at Wrigley since Clark’s blast.
Blanton you hanging off-speed pitch loser. Well SF’s bullpen shouldn’t feel bad after that sequence. One hanger, followed by another. On 0-2. Complete incompetence.
And……..scene. Boom goes the Blanton.
Wowieeeee
Walking bases full is bad business.
Wow what a MEATBALLER. Giving Matt Cain a run for his money.
Oh, that is cold. But funny.
And true.
Sincere giving Lefty a run for her money.
Run for cover…
A couple of days ago, didn’t somebody write that maybe Cain could re-invent himself in the mold of Joe Blanton? Something about learning some off-speed pitches.
I don’t think Cain can hold Blanton’s jock at this point in their careers.
Exactly! That’s why I referred to that. Seemed a little ridiculous to pattern one’s career rebirth after Joe Blanton.
3 straight hangers, right over the plate!!! One on an 0-2. Complete garbage.
Yeah, the slam came on an 0-2 count.
Sooner or later Blanton was gonna Blanton.
Chapman
Vulchered the win
Seemed pouty after salami
Couldn’t have done it in a better fashion!
Wonder how AGone feels about Blanton right now…
Why, what did he say about him?
Are you watching the game?
Off and on, Do you have a problem answering my question?
No, it’s just you ask in riddles many times, my friend. Sometimes it’s hard to discern where you’re coming from.
It was a straight forward question
I thought you were being sarcastic. So, in answer to it, Blanton said nothing about AGone.
Blanton undid that clutch 2-RBI hit that A-Gon got.
In other words, baseball.
Thanks Booch !
Ballplayers know that everybody screws up and they have each others back. They aren’t like us
Thinks he’s a helluva hitter.
.love ya Joe, you big loooooser.
I was kind of hoping Baez would flip over the rail while cheering.
Not watching the game but looking at the box score and play by play, still can not believe Lopez walked Rizzo who has 1 post season hit so far .
i’m sure he didn’t mean to, Peter,.
He was pitching scared, nibbling, like he did lots of times all season, and that leads to walks .
Rizzo had been swinging at pitches way out of the strike zone low and away all series, that’s why he was hitting so badly, but he pulled himself together in the 4th game.
Lopez never should have been in the game in the first place.
MOY Roberts made the wrong call walking Coughlin to load the bases. That’s the way it goes.
In a tied game, absolutely.
Blanton couldn’t get anybody out after that. Didn’ matter at all.
Over!!! Lucky placement on line drive๐
“Go Cubs Go” sounds like a Jimmy Buffett song. “I don’t know…I don’t know…I don’t know where I’m a gonna go when the volcano blow.”
Same song.
OK, now if you can place my ditty, then you’re golden.
I am not giving up.
Giants Way.
Isn’t that a Joe Walsh song?
Parrot Heads are probably all Cubs fans.
Well, Eddie Vedder is, so it must be cool.
Now you have to write a Giants themed victory anthem to the tune of Cheeseburger in Paradise…..
Maybe something like Four Trophies would sure be Nice?
Lol oh my…I don’t do songs like that very well. Rally songs aren’t my forte. I come from a darker place when it comes to my creations. If you don’t mind sharing your email address with me, I’d love to share my songs in a more direct way with you.
Now that it’s out of the limelight. ceboyd72@hotmail.com
Roberts saying that he essentially walked Coghlan to get Chapman out of the game. Walked the bases loaded in a tie game to get their closer out of the game.
How does one “essentially” walk a hitter?
I was speaking as to his intention. Why he walked Coghlan. “Essentially” should have been placed before “get Chapman.” Sorry for the misplaced modifier, Teach! I essentially commented.
How are things, btw?
Below average.
Sorry to hear that. Hope things get better for you.
I’m getting ready to set up rehearsals for another Prince tribute show. This time as a 4-piece band, rather than a 6-piece. Lotta pressure on me to cover the 2nd guitarist’s parts and backup vocals. I’m essentially music directing it as well. 2-hour show this time instead of a single hour.
I’ll get back to you for some conversation about our hometown and whatever else we want to talk about.
In the meantime you may like to read a little about his sister, Wilma Scott Heide. A remarkable woman.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilma_Scott_Heide
Gotcha. Thanks for the referral, Chef. Hope you have a good night. Come back to Jtown, and I’ll treat you and yours to Rizzo’s in Windber. Best food around. God bless. :^)
I brought up that idea in the Mets game – do you walk the batter before Bumgarner to get him out of the game? The Mets pitched to Gillaspie. The Dodgers walked Coghlan. Both ended well if you ask me!
The NLCS is going to be boring. The Cubs will expose every Dodger weakness. The only game the Dodgers will win is Kershaw’s start and that’s it. Cubs in 5, mostly routs.
The Cubs’ can’t hit curves and Hill has a great curve which he throws a lot. And the Cubs have only one lefty starter. It’s going to be a very tough series. The only thing that would make it one-sided is if Roberts exhausts and traumatizes the pitching staff with overmanaging, which is quite possible.
After watching tonight’s game, I don’t see why Matt Cain can’t do what Blanton did for the Dodgers this year. They’re virtually the same type of pitchers with very similar repertoires. Cain can still help the Giants in that regard in the pen, and leave the no.5 spot in the rotation to Blach or Beede.
Absolutely. A 5 run 8th is doable!
Looking past that though, Blanton was a very solid setup man for them this year. Cain is obviously prone to big innings like that, but over the stretch of a full season, he should be able to match the level of production Blanton gave the Dodgers.
A hell of lot more exciting if Roberts used 5 pitchers, A home run each
WTF. My DVR is set to record anything Giants-related and I noticed tonight there was an FS1 “MLB Epic Moments” episode recorded with the description saying it was about Madbum’s dominant pitching performance in the 2014 postseason, but it ended up actually being about Kershaw’s no-hit game in June 2014. Screw you FS1!!!
Whoa! Isn’t FOX owned by former Dodger owner Rupert Murdoch?
Ugh, what a double cross! I did see the episode about Bum awhile back and it’s great, so keep trying! After the game tonight FS1 showed a great new documentary about he 1971 Pirates, who of course won the WS with Clemente’s brilliant performance. Earlier that season they made MLB history by fielding an entire lineup of people of color. At age 10, 1971 was my first year following the game, and I still vv9dly remember the great Clemente showing the world just how amazing he was! ๐
Giants are the only team that can beat the Cubs. You give us a real closer and it’s over. Dodgers will get swept. The Indians and Miller have a slight chance.
The Giants should have beaten the Cubs even without a real closer. Just leave Moore in for the 9th and Cueto could have won game 5.
The Indians can definitely beat them. The Cubs are weak against curves, Kluber has the best curve in the majors and Tomlin’s curve has been great. The Dodgers should in principle be able to beat them but with Dave Roberts managing who knows.
Roberts is MOY
Buy a lotto tix
Cueto was not a given in game 5.
Lester is solid.
Matt Williams was MOY two years ago. That didn’t mean he was a good manager in the postseason.
Doesn’t mean he was a good manager in the regular season either.
Not a given but I would have liked our chances.
Haven’t seen anything this year to suggest Roberts is even an adequate manager.