by
GreekGiant
It seems that word of the Giants’ three World Series titles in the past six Major League Baseball seasons has finally gotten out to the East Coast. Don’t look now but the Giants are actually favored by some writers and fans in the 2016 National League Wildcard game.
As someone who lives on the Eastern seaboard and who once lived in San Francisco I can categorically confirm the existence of an East-Coast bias in the media and in coverage of baseball teams in particular. It’s simple geography and simply a matter of the time differences. The old-school New York, Boston and Washington media centers are much closer culturally and geographically to the teams on the east. The writers and fans, with the unbalanced schedules, only get to see the Giants and other California teams once per year (a serious un-intended consequence that needs to be examined by the schedule-makers because it puts teams west of Philadelphia in a public relations and reputation shadow). It’s just a fact of life and the way our country’s media and political centers were established. Interestingly, technology and the Internet have not really changed much in that regard.
The Giants Postseason Glory as Underdogs
This phenomenon does have its advantages however. Baseball players and managers are human just like you and I. This means they too sometimes weigh decisions and make calls based on reputation and perceptions rather than reality and hard facts. Since 2010, the Giants have been underdogs in practically every postseason series and game they have played. Needless to say, our beloved baseball club from San Francisco has been underestimated by players and press alike. This gives our team a big edge and has contributed, arguably, to our amazing run of rings.
I remember when I played High School baseball and saw my name in print in the local papers the first time. It was trippy. Imagine having your every play and move scrutinized by every media outlet and fan across the globe instantaneously. It is bound to be a challenge and part of the territory of professional athletes. I would venture to guess the Giants and all professional sports teams have some sort of policy and advice for their athletes regarding protocols, do’s and don’ts and how to stay focused before and after games. Our coaches used to tell us not to get hung up on our stats and to avoid letting our heads get inflated with the purified synthetic oxygen of dreams and delusions of stardom.
Madbum and the Wild Card Game Vs. The Mets
Will the Giants being favored, albeit by a minority of many experts (the official MLB Las Vegas line favors the Mets), give them any sort of distraction? Do the Giants players and coaches read the hype? You bet! Does being a favorite in tomorrow night’s contest against the Mets and Noah Syndergaard make you nervous?
I think this relatively newfound respect is most likely a reflection of the Giants championship pedigree. What the Giants have accomplished this decade had not been done in the National League since the St. Louis Cardinals won three championships in the war-altered baseball landscape of the 1940s. That’s pretty incredible and that puts the Giants on a historically great run. Favorites or not, I think the pressure of the postseason will be mitigated by the Giants experience in these games. Madbum is a living postseason legend and this moment will not fluster him. As I see it, there is much more pressure on the home team Mets and Syndergaard than there is on the Giants.
For the postseason as a whole, pressure is always a factor of expectations and the entire world has pretty much predicted the Cubs will win it all this year. If that doesn’t make your mouth water with motivation nothing will. You can bet the Giants will be ready and prepared for this game. I expect their pedigree gives them a psychological edge and that whole favorites/underdog pseudo-dynamic will not even cross their minds.
Here’s what I think the Giants prefer:
Post Season
A lot of the Least Coast ‘insider’ types are hoping for a Giants win, because with that decimated pitching staff of the Mets, they don’t have much of a chance, IMO, against the Cubs. And lets all remember ‘Thor’ was shelled by Atlanta just 2-3 weeks ago, and only went 3.5 innings giving up 5 runs.
Breckeroni concurs with Matthew below. TO may prefer to direct his attention to University of Michigan Football but most authentic Giant fans – wish to go deep into October watching America’s Pastime.
In the back of everyone’s mind, I suppose, the chance the Dodgers and Giants could be rematched for the NL pennant as in 1951.
Let it be so!
Or 1962
Or 2017 !
Tale of the Tape, courtesy of the Giants, from today’s email blast:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/efc32efe9f5136050383bc86e6582774f9c3e844ca6b25394b90d73ede140ced.png
Bartolo Colon is amazing.
Who knew he’d lead that rotation in wins? anyone?
His pharmacist?
LOL. or geriatrician.
His personal chef!
The way it’s tracking Hurricane Mathew is going to reek havoc on the Dodgers-Nationals series in DC this weekend.
Whoa. Matthew, huh?
Damn blowhard.
Good one, one of your best.
Sounds like Haiti is a mess but what else is new, SMH 🙁
Just doing my job….it’s an Anti_Dodger path of destruction…spare all buildings and people, mess with the visitors dugout
Cubs on SI Cover…:-)))))
Great! Just keep Bumgarner off the cover.
Regional covers?
Yup. Cubs are Northern Hemisphere
Ha Ha. North Side, represent.
Nope. But I learned Kahlil Mack was on 9/19/2016 cover. Can’t believe I missed that…
One baseball game is an arbitrary measuring stick. It’s almost a roll of the dice. Baseball just isn’t a sport where teams can be as dominant as they are in other sports. The Cubs’ 102 win season is the equivalent of a 10-6 football season. It benefitted the Giants this season, but the second wildcard was more of a money making idea than anything else. Hopefully, they can take advantage of the opportunity.
Bochy is a revenue GENIUS!
THIS is why YOU are THE Oracle
This will be engraved on Beane’s headstone.
Very true. One game playoffs are basically a crapshoot in baseball. They are not the recommended path to the postseason…
Wow GG. Your work keeps getting better. Thank you so much for all this effort. Is there a PayPal account we can donate to or something? This is content worth paying for.
Thank You Sir! My pleasure. No payment is required. I am very grateful for your kind offer however. Enjoy!
I think we all need to help GG out with guest posts over the off-season.
To bad that Nunez banged up his right hamstring-leg. That is his plant leg when crossing over during steal attempts. Syndergaard has a stolen base hole in his game.
http://razzball.com/sp-sagnof/
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/syndeno01.shtml#standard_fielding::none
psst – our guy Stroman goes 2nite.
Marcus is the SH*T. Let us hope he does not get one in Trumbo’s wheel house
I wonder if it’s occurred to Syndergaard that hole screws up the impact of his changeup and slider in leverage situations.
Great point. At 6’6″ – one of the first ways they slow down the opposition is to build in a Slide Step into his delivery out of the stretch. The alternate way is to implement one of Tom House’s favorite expressions: “Throw Over to First base Often and Early”.
Often famous or infamous relievers like Robb Nen, Brian Wilson do not care about holding runners on base. So maybe in four or five years from now Thor turns into a heavyweight closer out of the pen.
Counterpoint: Casilla needs to know how to throw to first because that guy never has a clean inning.
Fortunately, I don’t see Casilla being used in any game relevant spot.
………or making the WC roster…….
Most dominant closers or even high Velo guys like Timmy was when he first came up do not know the nuances of stopping the running game. In college at UWash most hitters never got on base versus Timmy. Santiago may not make the Wild Card roster.
It’s him or Kontos.
George doesn’t walk guys.
Unfortunately you cant steal first
Tick…Tock….Another 29 hours and 23 minutes to go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL3AgkwbYgo
We’re all here for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wJV1FQlGM
I don’t buy into the whole underdog relevancy in a WIld Card game. It all goes out the window. But going into NY with that crowd going nuts, ala the Pitt crowd from two years ago, they’re going to feel like it’s them against the world. Which is when they’re at their best. The fact is, the Giants will consider themselves underdogs as long as they’re alive in the postseason. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This was also part of Bochy’s masterplan. He knew this Giants team would not have success in the playoffs as a #1 seed. So he purposefully screwed around and had them JUUUUUST get in so now they’re underdogs, where they’re best.
Was that OK Oracle?
Actually, that was my theory for the team as a whole. They were bored with the regular season and just wanted to play in the postseason. If they win the World Series this year they will petition MLB for an automatic 2017 NLCS berth..
Best Post of October so far…..
TO is listening to Jame Taylor before heading off to work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wJV1FQlGM
If they win, someone will no doubt try to seriously argue that.
You???
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
Bochy the SHIP Repairman
A ship engine failed, no one could fix it. Then they brought in a man with 40 yrs. on the job. He inspected the engine carefully, top to bottom. After looking things over, the guy reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.
He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. The engine was fixed!
7 Days later the owners got his bill for 10 K. ‘What?!’ the owners said ‘You hardly did anything. Send us an itemized bill.”
The reply simply said Tapping with a hammer. $2
Knowing where to tap? $9,998 – Don’t Ever Underestimate Experience.
Das Boot – Giants took this baby to hull crush depth and back.
The “Bends” ?
That’s pretty good!
Selig is many things, but let’s face it, he has made baseball much more popular by decisions like adding the 2nd wildcard.
We hear the east coasy bias all the time in professional sports. Even ESPN is east coast bias; probably has to do with the fact they’re based in Bristol, Connecticut. Having said that, since the game is on ESPN, I plan to watch the game with the volume turned down, and the radio up with Jon, Flemm, Kruk and Kuip coming over the airwaves
I enjoy the Giants being the underdogs. The more they fly under the radar, the better. They’ve been here before. They know what to do and how to do it.
Are you using some software to sync the radio feed with the TV?
Nope. And there’s actually 5-7 second delay between radio and TV. I actually know what’s going to happen first listening to the radio and then watching it unfold on TV.
Cool.
There you go. There is some software available for download – I tried a trial version of one few years ago. Worked okay, but I’m sure somebody could recommend a gold standard for syncing radio with the Fox or whatever – perhaps there is a free version.
Thanks for the heads-up, but I’m going to keep it the way it is.
Almost like Time Travel … it is a fun way to go.
That can be fun. One year when I still lived in NY, my buddy owned a bar and the Yankees were playing in the postseason. We sat outside in his car so we could smoke and had a busser deliver us beers. We had it on radio, the Yanks would do something positive and we’d watch the bar erupt. It was pretty amazing. Drugs might’ve also been involved.
Hunter’s best friend Buster Posey
https://www.facebook.com/Giants/videos/10153881044966828/
Alex Pavlovic 14min ago:
Hunter Pence’s hair is ready for October.
LOVE the hair!!
Laśt minute decision prompted by a possible impending hurricaine– on my way to NYC to see the Giants beat the Mets
Get ’em, Surf!! Slap Efrain for me.
Yeay, Surf!
C’mon Surf ! Are you ready for the battle? Don’t forget to wear the camo hat !
Packed. Ready to go on a three city trip. NY, ORD, SFO
Cool…Envy…Envy…
Irresponsibily to other obligations is my middle name.
Change that very long phrase to “Priorities!!!”
Finnerty’s in the plan? AP is transmitting from there today/tonight as an outpost of Giants fandom.
Got a Stub Hub ticket– not too bad though Finnerty’/s in many ways is more fun
Very nice.
Need 12 wins for another parade– as Moses Malone said when the 76ers needed to win 3 best of 7 series for the NBA Championship. I plan on us going Fo, Fo, Fo.
Alex Pavlovic 30sec ago:
Bochy said Nunez will take swings today, run a little. Did not sound like he expects to have Nunez tomorrow.
Gillaspie could be another of the Giants postseason “under the radar” heroes. You never know.
Yes, you never know. Although there certainly are hints after the way Conor played to wrap up the season.
Alex Pavlovic Oct 2:
Conor Gillaspie has been a savior for the Giants this week.
I just have a hunch, if he makes the roster, Parker will make an important contribution as well.
Andrew Baggarly 13min ago:
Bochy still working on his lineup but confirms he’ll stick with Brandon Belt in the 2-hole.
Good move.
As long as he keeps his K count down. Bochy never bunts to move runners over anyways and rarely hits and runs
As long he gets on base or pounds the ball 35-40% of the time…
Very much approve. That was only true lineup concern (for me) coming into the postseason. As far as I’m concerned just stick with what they used against Maeda.
The Giants should have Gordon “Good Luck Charm” Beckham in the dugout for as long as they’re in the postseason. He can’t be on the roster, of course, but the Giants went 3-0 in games he appeared in and 5-1 while he was on the team.
I would imagine…based upon his many friendships on the team…that’s happening.
That was one of the stranger things I’ve ever seen: trade for a guy with six games to go, start him in two, have him play one inning in the field in the third, having him sit for three games and most of the fourth. But hey–it worked out, I guess!
Alex Pavlovic @AlexPavlovic 5m5 minutes ago
Giants brought everyone to NY except Mac (rehabbing in Arizona) and Beckham (flew home, will watch to see if he gets a ring).
Not hard to imagine him on the 2017 roster…
Actually, I don’t see that happening at all
You guys need a hug 🙂
Seriously.
I’m not here to argue 2017 rosterbation!!!
Since WHEN?!?!?!
JUST NOT THIS WEEK, OKAY!!
THIS IS SERIO…..us. Sorry for yelling.
my bad. It’s not every year the Giants are in the playoffs…
I agree
just over 100 inn. at SS the last two years, FWIW
Bochy just needs to keep wearing his 2013 Cactus League T-shirt.
Hank Schulman 30min ago:
Rev. Pence: “It’s going to be a wild ride. That’s why they call it the wild card.”
How can you not love Pence?
one of a kind hitter and personality. remember this version?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRnKyHRQJDY/TV_w6ARcE2I/AAAAAAAAACU/oN_LeNSNO8c/s1600/Pence%2B-%2B2.jpg
Looks way too much like Blaine Gabbert in this shot…
Actually I don’t. He looks sorta like Matthew McConaughey here.
Just outta curiosity…
What are your thoughts on the following baseball decisions?
1. Firing of Dave Stewart and Chip Hale. Maybe they gave up too much for Shelby Miller, but how many other GMs want him too?
2. DJ LeMahieu sitting out to win the batting crown. No one else but the injured Daniel Murphy could have won it, so is it bad that he too sat out to win it over a guy with 4 less GPs…even before is manager (wink, wink) sat him?
1. Owners must not have liked the way things backfired in conjunction with relinquishing so many assets. And something about possible arrogance that rubbed the wrong way. Dansby Swanson sure is looking good for Braves…
2. Weak sauce. Weiss said Murphy isn’t playing so why should DJ? DJ should have lobbied to play. Put an asterisk by any batting crown won in Denver as is well understood.
This is even weaker since i just watched a Ted Williams special yesterday that detailed his playing in both games of a final day doubleheader despite sitting at .400. As I’m sure most of you know, he achieved his .406 by going 6-8 over the two games.
Ted could have yanked your femur from its socket and hit .300 with it. He was cut from a different cloth.
Yeah but my femur is comprised of North Carolina’s finest maple.
You may be splintery, and willowy even, but you are no Splendid Splinter.
I’m neither. 100% beefcake. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/052d810917b2f0667e6f62da29eb4f8390757d654fcb5534513f3c1c38077a70.png
Sheet, I raise you some batting titles and homerun robberies…
http://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/images/1992-kirby-puckett-079005883.jpg
Are you posting that because of the yearly bet i used to make with my buddy? Or is this just a coincidence?
uhhh… kismet?
Seriously, did i tell you about that previously? Can’t recall.
Nope, what’s the story morning glory?
Hahahaha. Well, that’s just weird. One of my best friend’s and i had a yearly bet when we were in high school on who’d hit more homers, Deer or Puckett. So that’s funny.
Good bet. Kirby and I are distantly related. Too bad he had to go out like he did – he was totally my hero and favorite player – him and Will Clark.
Boilercake….
Tomatoes, potatoes…
Hey beefcake, how many pull-ups you got?
The thought of a pull-up makes both my elbows shriek and cower.
..and brings one’s curb weight to mind.
That’s the way you are supposed to wear a baseball uniform: snug to the body, with stirrups, leather cleats, and pants pulled up a bit.. Love the 1980s look!
Even weaker sauce since DJ had a .393 BA at Coors and a .301 on the road. His road OPS was .747, home OPS was over 300 points higher. He’s a Coors creation.
The real kicker in my mind happened when they canned or did not re-up with Dejon Watson.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/team/exec_bios/watson_dejon.jsp
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/tony-la-russa-wont-run-d-backs-baseball-ops-future-with-org-uncertain.html
He was supposedly the FIND of a lifetime having spent 8 years learning the business in the Dodgers organization. To answer your question, Hale was like Mike Quade who had made strides for Theo but Theo thought Dale Sveum was better and then thought Rick Renteria was better.
I think the Dbacks thought that by raiding other organizations best buys that they could speed up the process especially after the Kevin Towers and Gibson debacle.
Although I think Matt Williams gets another chance I would not be shocked if the OLD guard in the DBacks front office don’t rehire Bob Brenly a second time. Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzales are also on the payroll and people that their investors trust.
Look for Joe Carter, yes that Joe Carter to impact decisions going forward.
Enough about what’s going to happen tomorrow, that’s tomorrow.
Today is today. Who will win?
Going Orange and Black. Stroman strong, but Jays stifled. Big hits by Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones. Zach Britton shows why he is CY worthy final four outs.
The Birds got this! Mark my words …
I tend to agree. Buck out manages Gibbons.
And tomorrow Bochy…..
Buck is gonna manage the Mets tomorrow? Dammit. I was counting on Collins effing things up.
I could not complete the positive sentence about Bochy vs Collins per TO’s manifesto.
Tonight, Pence faces off against Kaline. Wait…
Cats have arrived in the hall of fame.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfmskcMEUIo/V_Julo9GE2I/AAAAAAAAFw8/wrJMP7hrlkEJ3aOjKnQB2Wr511N97ZETQCLcB/s640/14566347_1033278270104734_7797654547685989263_o.jpg
Is that a Skeeter sighting?
His Turkish rake of a cousin.
Just needs a smoke and a Turkish coffee.
Re-post – 2016 Wild Card Game and Division Series Umpires
http://www.closecallsports.com/2016/10/2016-wild-card-game-and-division-series.html
mike effing winters….
I would say it’s less about being underdogs with the G’s and more about embracing the challenge of playing in the post season.
Buster said something the other day before the dodgers series..when everyone was talking about the pressure, he said something to the effect of as a player, this is what you want or look forward to, to play in games like this.
But not getting too amped up. To me, that’s the key and why players who have been exposed to postseason games, in any sport, tend to fare so much better. It’s being able to treat it like any other game despite knowing it’s anything but.
I used to hate that feeling right before the first pitch when I was anxious and exhausted…I’m sure the boys manage their nerves better
Even Pence? Doubt it.
As much crap as he’s taken (and deservedly so), plenty from me included, I’ve had a feeling for quite some time Span turns into postseason Renteria circa 2010. All of a sudden some big contributions down the stretch and now here they are in the postseason. So, naturally the 2016 World Series MVP will be Denard Span.
That would make my year! 🙂
Mine , too….believe it
WHEN IS THIS F%#€ING GAME STARTING?!?!?!?!
Sorry…I’m getting a little amped.
Time to induce a coma and have a friend get you up in time with smelling salts.
Beauty better lay out a bed for fig and lettuce leaves for her Tarzan to relax on before 5 pm tomorrow.
Watch the Giants 3 WS DVD’s. Relive the magic before Chapter 4 starts tomorrow.
Brisbee: “Take this with piles of salt, then. You’re reading this because of your thirst for postseason content, you insatiable rascal, and it’s not completely inconsequential. The Mets don’t appear to have a lineup built to decimate Bumgarner, no. But it won’t matter. None of it matters. We’re all doomed, unless we’re about to be really excited to face the Cubs for some reason.”
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2016/10/4/13164672/sf-giants-new-york-mets-nl-wild-card-2016
Thanks, Paul! Feed me!
Marge coming up in 2 minutes on Intentional Talk….
Grassy As
Let me know how it went when it is over
Great sense of humor….
Wide receivers are like that
The effect of global warming on baseball and how it’s like to show up. http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/10/how-will-rising-temperatures-change-to-baseball/502778/
In addition, I saw this pic of the calculated difference of Arietta pitches in Wrigley in summer and October.
https://i.imgur.com/oxtOZ51.png
http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-physics-of-october-baseball-in-wrigley/
Not much October 5th history for our Gigantes
http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2014_NLDS1.shtml
On October 4th Petit beat Roak in the BB9’s 18th inning HR game
October 6th Fister beat Bum 4-1
October 6th 2012 where Pagan broke Cueto, Cincy beat Matt Cain at Willie Mays Field 5-2
October 7th of 2010 Timmy pitched a masterpiece 9INN CG vs ATL and won 1-0
The 2014 – 8 to 0 WC victory over PITT was played on October 1st
Reprehensible and Unconscionable
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/john-harbaugh-addresses-attack-that-landed-fan-in-hospital/ar-BBwXLT1?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout
…but common…the last game I attended two years ago, I didn’t feel safe. And a young man got beat up in the bathroom that day.
Too many who attend these games are drunk losers looking for a fight
Amen!! Utter inexcusable and down right evil. Ugh, hate it!
Had to be emotional – especially when Rickie Fowler brought the Ryder Cup to the King’s funeral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jka2FRxP4qE
Has the roster been announced.
Here’s my 25 for tomorrow. Changes for Friday.
1 Bum
2 Marge
3 Cueto
4 Kontos
5 Strickland
6 Law
7 Romo
8 Okert
9 Lopez
10 Osich
11 Smith
12 Span
13 Belt
14 Posey
15 Pence
16 Crawford
17 Pagan
18 Panik
19 Gillespie
20 KT
21 EA
22 Gorkys
23 Parker
24 Brown
25 Nunez – if healthy – If not Blanco?
Notables Left off:
Peavey, Cain, Casilla, Blach, Moore (both lefties) to be added on Friday but no point for tomorrow since they just pitched.
Casilla in Osich out
I would agree
Nooooo ….I don’t want Bochy tempted
Officially 9:00 EST Wednesday
Holy crap they’ll be playing ’til 1am out there…
FROM 2 am until 5 am for me.
I’m glad with the 6:00-6:30 start. It’ll go 3.5 hours at least.
I really don’t think I would choose Osich ……..
Still don’t know where CC gets his lineups (try to understand, he’s a magic man, Mama…)
But here’s the lineups for today’s big game:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/orioles-blue-jays-al-wild-card-game-lineups/
Tulo has been such a shadow of himself.
Hey Brandon Belt, Josh Donaldson bats second, see it’s not so bad.
Brandon is fine with it. It’s the blog that has some curious issue with it
I think it’s perfect.
Pretty sure many think 2nd is a great spot for him and his high OBP. It was the 7th spot in the order remark that seemed ludicrous.
http://www.rotowire.com/baseball/daily_lineups.htm
Bada bing.
http://www.baseballpress.com/lineups
Does Ratto ever write anything worth reading?
Too smug for me.
Ray is like comfort food. He’s a big potato wrapped up in a cozy (sweater). I like him.
With tin foil in the potato.
And lard instead of butter.
No.
He just trots out overdone shtick.
To the food vendor
If left alone to do NO schtick he has an amazing sports brain – problem is he is more concerned with the 6X sweater and for being the funny kid in 5th grade.
By the numbers. Both Panik and Crawford grade out as leading candidates for NL Gold Gloves. Belt is in the mix at 1B as well.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-2016-national-league-gold-gloves-by-the-numbers/
Bluejays or Orioles?
avwh is smiling.
TO should smile a bit, Adam Duvall is the leading candidate for a NL GG in LF.
I’m not sure it will be a smile, or a spirited roster of posts full of sarcastic toldyouso wit…
A man in search of stigmata.
Starling Marte is ,without a doubt, the Gold Glove winner and Fielding Bible winner for LF.
thank goodness.
AMEN TO TO https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4a044d5a97ab5e29bde0a8d02e0a873dcc0c0d2ff298b4a6a14e19ce621a455f.jpg
Adam Duvall should never win a GG. Would be so wrong.
The numbers seem to say otherwise. Gordon had a down year.
I know, I have seen the numbers. But I have also seen him play with my own eyes. No way he is the best defensive LF in the NL.
I haven’t seen him play a lot, but from what I have, I was surprised too. His routes don’t look like he’s quite got a clue yet. But, he’s still got the inside track.
The final analysis of changes in this years strike zone. Belt’s right that high, away pitch is now in the zone.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-2016-strike-zone/
Don’t wanna get ahead of myself as we’re not guaranteed anything but have they announced start times for Friday’s games?
Just found it. 6:15. It’ll either be the Giants or Mets, just to make sure I’m not doing anything wrong…
The best thing I’ve ever read on interpreting strikes and ball probability on an edge pitch. Listening Ty Blach?
http://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/comments/evaluatiing-the-effectiveness-of-an-umpire-effectively
Just went to the range and hit a small bucket. Was doing alright until I thought, gonna use my driver one more time then chip some balls. And then couldn’t strike one ball cleanly. Like 30 swings, simply couldn’t hit the friggin ball even decently. The yips, man. Just doesn’t seem possible. Anyway… the highlight of all this was hearing Hershiser on the radio, they asked him for an under the radar player who might step up. His response: Andre Ethier. That kinda made me laugh. Thought, is Andre OUR Conor?
I almost forgot, the Dodgers are in the postseason too.
Word has it they’re playing the Nats. I feel like the Nats have zero chance of winning that series. Would love for it to go seven.
With some hurricane delays, to use up any travel off-days.
Wind and rain are due Friday/Saturday.
Scherzer just has to beat Kershaw twice and then Gio leftyhandles that lineup for the third win. Like taking jewelry from a Kardashian.
Speaking of… Anyone see David Wells comment a couple months ago after playing in some golf tourney? Reporter asked, how’d it go out there, David? He said, a bunch of Kardashians. When the reporter needed more clarification, Wells went on: A lot of action around the hole but nothing white was going in.
BADA BOOM
Bada Boomer!
you’re in post season form
I’m a bit disappointed in myself, that I’ve used that one-liner. Got quite a few laughs, though.
I think it’s a five game series. NLDS, right?
That’s right, Lon!
The longer it goes, the bigger the chance that Baker will do something stupid to lose. He almost always does. And if there’s a game 5, forget it
I know the Dodgers didn’t need to win as bad as the Giants this past weekend (Home Field v Nats would have been nice), but no one will convince me that the Giants sweep didn’t mess with the Dodgers’ heads some. The were lucky to win 2 out of 3 in LA…so their head-to-head against another winning team (2-4)…late in the season…wasn’t exactly a confidence builder. Add that to their existing Post-Season insecurities and maybe the Nats send them home.
Given that Gio Gonzalez is the only LHP the Nationals have, the Dodgers may feast on Nationals pitching. Although hitting .213 against LHP, they are hitting .264 against RHP. Add to that, they have 152 HR against RHP, but only 37 against LHP.
Scherzer ain’t too bad. He gets 2 starts in a 5 game series, Gonzales 1. Nats can easily take the series.
Wanna meet at that driving range alongside I5, near Dodger Stadium sometime? I can let you watch the big dog eat.
Can I take a 9-iron to the big dog?
You’re a fun guy.
My 7 wood against your driver..eh?
Reymundo or Mr. Johnson?
Joe Sheehan @joe_sheehan 4m4 minutes ago
Tomorrow will be the #Mets’ first game against a winning team since September 14.
Just Remember: http://m.mlb.com/sf/video/topic/7969910/v30142981/together-were-giant-defining-moments
Who will be on first? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M
Sportsmanship? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PhvXyoGVFw
Russ – Lon and Bill http://bayarearadio.org/sports/giants/index.shtml
How does YOUR stance look? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81f0sN9t_EE
Where do they get the “mud” to rub up the MLB balls? http://baseballrubbingmud.com/
Batting *tricks* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykIdSolHg8k
Does the BAY know how to Party? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ux1S7-5ZTU
Wanna MAKE a baseball? http://www.reliableplant.com/view/25724/how-baseballs-are-manufactured
Candlestick Fans will remember https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-PwJe7ldTI
Hall of Fame
http://baseballhall.org/hof/2017-todays-game-era-ballot
TMI???
As you wish farnz
You can’t have half a hole, the key to this years Nobel Prize in physics. https://www.quantamagazine.org/20161004-nobel-prize-awarded-for-quantum-topology/
Giants Story with Predictions
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/giants-mets-nl-wild-card-how-to-watch-live-stream-info-predictions/
Hope Brownie gets to see this new Bollywood movie about famous Indian cricketer and Indian team captain ,M S Dhoni – Untold story’
Thirsty for some beer to go with the games the next two nights. And no, it won’t be Coors.
Wanting something dark, something porterish. I hope Save-Mart comes through for me on my way home.
ENJOY THIS GAME! GO BLACK AND ORANGE!
Just had a DeShutes brewery Porter Ale…so smooth
That’s what I was looking for. Did not have.
Red Tail Ale from Mendocino Brewing Co is what I have been drinking lately. Great stuff. Might not be your style though. It’s a piney ale.
Not head over heels for that. Picked up Sierra Nevada fall sampler
Hard to go wrong with Sierra Nevada. Its solid, but RTA better than their pale ale imo. All subjective of course.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.monthlyclubs.com%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F12%2Fimage%2F9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95%2Fm%2Fe%2Fmendocino-red-tail-ale_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beermonthclub.com%2Fmendocino-brewing-company-red-tail-ale.htm&docid=cNbSIYG2U5lx2M&tbnid=oNUNxO18MzhyVM%3A&w=600&h=800&bih=704&biw=1338&ved=0ahUKEwi48_D0uMLPAhUUz2MKHWsoCfYQMwgeKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8
Did you get it off an in store display? Dats my work, Cuz
Hell no. Got it cold and ready to drink.
Keep buying it from wherever… Cha CHING. Red Bull chaser. Svedka nightcap. Bulleit back.
I’ve been drinking Hennessey lately of all things. Strong buzz. Normally am a Scotch guy. You work with them?
Nah….cheapskates!
I actually work with mostly with the guys that have west coast HQ other than just a few… and all the 3rd party distributors.
I like Tito’s vodka. Mmmmmmm Moscow mule.
Tito Beveridge! What a dude! He’s MyGuy
At the airport on my way to NY and I reread GG’s excellent post. Here is my 2 cents about underdog status. It is totally irrelevant.
The Vegas oddsmakers could care less about who is actually more likely to win. They care about balancing their book and it is a well known fact that NY draws bigger money play and so, naturally they are ALWAYS either made a bigger favorite or less of an underdog than an objective analysis (to the extent that such a thing even exists) would dictate.
This phenomon is well known in all sports– for example Notre Dame always tilts the line simply because of its name and alumni– both actual and otherwise.
So let’s not worry– or even think about underdog status. As Al Davis would say– “just win baby.”
I’ll make further reports on what I hope is a three week road trip!!!
A true Giant fan!
Tomorrow YOU (not me) MUST post you and tee shirt sideways again for good luck https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/74d75ccaf1041774a7da3bf1e3e83fe2258fa34b810b1176de5ad96e5d412f1f.jpg
Got the MadBum Hat– Beat LA shirt is only for the Dodgers. I got you covered.
With the hurricane bearing down on GG and me– the choice to go to the game last minute was a no brainer.
Beckham at home at Mac Will in Arizona
http://tinyurl.com/NO-MAC-DADDY-WILL
The Egg Plant Nation will not be happy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peuy_DcJhp8
“Bochy admitted that Posey has been more banged up than usual”… Mentioning his hand along with other issues.
Well…then.
G’Night Allen! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1bb12a3c9b02704ad6903f1f4384997115a25ec254fda8c1ae12b83cd1f8d28a.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9e9fd0804cf2599172283cb6d8dc16de495db7cd305e296d528760fa8429d3e9.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/326c1f09697c52a018f43309663d86accb02358344245cbf303bbe1675340edd.jpg
I can only hope that I’m not too late. You all know that I like to take care of MyGuyz. Well, knowing how the boyz will be rockin’ the Big Apple tonight, I did some research and it seems that 3 of the Olive Garden restaurants in Manhattan have closed their doors. The one at 696 Avenue Of The Americas is open until 10 so Brandon might want to order on line.
http://www.olivegarden.com/order-online?_requestid=946763
Note: the Tilapia Piccata is said to be decent .I’ve had a Tweeter pal give him a heads up.
There are about 10,000 sit-in restaurants in NYC and about 23,000+ counting takeout venues, bars, etc.
I really hope the Crawfords can find somewhere else to eat.
Belt is the Olive Garden fan. Craw will probably have 3 munchkins to entertain.
how am I not surprised Belt likes Olive Garden!?!? SMH
Open mouth, insert foot.
not really, it figures Belt like a place like that
No worries…little foot, big mouth
It’s for Belt, well known as an Olive Garden fanatic. In other words- IT WAS A JOKE.
Ah, very funny lol.
BTW – next to Finnertys is a Boston bar, Professor Thom’s, terrific nachos.
Two block down is Momufuko Ssam bar, great stuff from David Chang, of Fuko fame, the fried chicken sammy at Citifield.
Best thing about Finnertys is they have no food but you can bring in / order from upteeth places around it.
Your proper reply was “Oops, my bad.” This was a fair to middling effort for damage control, though.
Upteeth? Oh well, maybe somebody else has.
Huh?
See you at the game tomorrow?
It would be cool to see a pic of you guys together at the game.
In the shadows.
It looks like a game time decision. My buddy got bombarded with requests. If not will be at Finnertys.
Enjoy and have a Fuku or Shake Shack!
Oops.Your bad.
Stroman is a gamer and tough competitor. Orioles in a tough spot vs the sinkerballer
Jah. Fiery Blue Devil.
Doughjinx
Happy to do it! Rooting for the O’s.
I am , too….
I thought you were a Stroman fan
I am… And Donaldson…in general, though, I find the Blue Jays to be extremely high on the Douche Quotient Scale
I get that feeling too. I like Bautista though and couple others. I like the way the O’s play…managed like an NL team despite all the HR’s.
Gonna be fun watching that bullpen get unleashed
Showalter isa heck of a manager.
Yes, very good.
Wow! Pillar.
TrumBomb
Michael Bourn : defense matters
I love how calling a hit and run in the AL is seen as an amazing move by a brilliant manager!
Nothing like glorified slow pitch baseball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnoYg1iNdJ8
TooLow needs to wear his hat right.
Time to go to that pen.
AL ball will [poison your mind.
Paid off big time.
Wtg Givens!
I want him on my team
Not very impressive base-running or team speed for the j’s in that inning
Baseball still uses phones with cords… I find that odd
My students would need me to explain to them what those are.
Some of them even have cranks.
More secure… Cards executives might be hacking
We got a ball game and Biagini!
Very good stuff!
Yeah, we didn’t need that guy with his pinpoint command, swing-and-miss offspeed pitches, and 95 MPH fastball.
For real. Who wouldn’t?
Good for Joe. Go Ags!
bossy cow cow !
Nasty.
Have the umps been wearing those Tony Stark helmets this whole season? Guess I never noticed..
I wish the Toronto fans well tonight. Getting eliminated from MLB’s playoffs at home is most likely (because of the duration of the season) at the top of the N. American professional sports misery index.
Should the Jays lose the hurt/anguish on the mugs of those dedicate fans sitting behind home plate will be palpable.
Go Os!
Speaking of their fans…that was horrible. Just threw a bottle on the field to obstruct a fly ball
Yeah, not feeling a bit sorry for them now. Go O’s!
Who does that? Should be a lifetime ban
The person who downed the contents of the bottle? 🙂
It looked full!
Canada or anywhere? Wtf?
Absolute BS.
That should be an automatic game forfeit for the home team. O’s win.
You can’t blame the home team for that. It wasn’t their fault.
Be a pretty strong deterrent for fans, though.
Yea, but then there could be undercover fans, wearing the opposite team colors etc etc..
Then you prosecute. There are sanctions that work.
But if dropped it the batter is out
That’s fair.
Imagine it at the Open. Or the British Open.
Totally. Never ever put up with that.
They wouldn’t at ATT
Let’s see if security has the balls to take that clown into custody.
And another ex-Giant on the mound in Toronto!
THrowing Grilled Cheese
Dang. A Jones hr would have been sweet
Kim as well. Gotz a ball game.
Hit a line drive to the same section would be fitting.
And for a change of pace, GSW preseason game on ESPN, soon. The first half may be fun.
I don’t recognize half the Warriors by sight. That’s a weird feeling.
Extra nasty.
Other than the usual stuff, why do we hate the Jays?
Ever been camping?
Mockingbirds hate them.
I dunno but it’s a helluva ballgame.
We just hate their fans..
I hate the Jays for what they did to my Phillies in the 1993 WS. So I say a pox on their house!!!
NOOOO! Hawking did not just do a car commercial.
You mean STEPHEN Hawking?
Yup…I remember how disappointed I was two years back when Bob Dylan did a Buick ad on the Super Bowl…this one is up there
Yeah, it’s like everyone is a whore these days.
Saw that and thought, what’s this world coming too. Found it to be rather crestfallen.
Wow, that’s really disappointing. Is there anyone left in the world not out to seek a payday?
Yes, They needed a strong spokesman. Do you think he drives that make of car?
He almost looked like a c-generated character.
And Howard Dean went to work for Pharma.
There are no words…
He’s bitter about losing out to MacDonald’s Gilroy Garlic Fries.
Wow.. Who’s this Ozuna kid?
Never heard of him but he’s got a filthy slider.
O’s in trouble…
Sit down.
The managerial chess match has begun.
Beer can toss in Toronto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHcqV0NBg-8
Gives a whole new meaning to the term shitfaced.
At least it’s not batteries, like in Philly. Jones got their ‘license number’ as they shot him the bird from the front row.
I grew up in Philly. I can’t think of anything they DIDN’T throw. When the Eagles played at Franklin Field, players would have a three-course meal on their helmets when they emerged from the tunnel. Brutal fans.
And another former Giant pitching for Toronto!
Francisco Liriano. I didn’t know that the Pirates traded him to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline.
AT&T has won me over by playing the jumping guy ad every 5 minutes…
I surrender…
Watching this extra-inning game, it occurs to me that Bochy could use Samardzija out of the pen tomorrow if he wants to. If they win, they could go Cueto-Moore-Bum-Shark-Cueto in a five-game series. Shark could go multiple innings tomorrow night and stil have plenty of time to rest up for a start.
That’s a theoretically epic notion.
Showalter should hire you.
Texas gets the ECB (East Coast Bias) TV schedule… LOL
I’m not watching the game, but Showalter is going to justifiably take heat if they lose without Britton ever pitching.
Whoops
Bochy is gonna be jealous if you keep this up
Gotta bring in Britton
What was the deal? He left the field a long time ago.
I’m glad the Jays won, but I feel bad for old Uvaldo
That’s why you have to manage a postseason game differently than a regular season game with regards to your bullpen. Showalter absolutely has to use his closer in that situation.
I think he left the field around the same time Stroman left.
Yup. And make him go more than one inning if necessary.
I know its a road game but the Cy young candidate needs to pitch in eliminatino game
Yup
It’s be nice to see a walk off HR from the Giants. Was Bonds the last one who did it? At least it seems that way.
Ishikawa
Dude…really?
I was playing, damn. I know it was Travis
OK, fine👍🏻
Jays pen up to task with all those giants and the kid Osuna – what an arm! Filthy.
Just like you called it!!
Uhhh…
Wow… really Ubaldo?
Buck should fire the GM. That’s the best they could put out there? Eek.
The GM should fire Showalter.
I’m a Buck fan.
Me too but how on Earth do you not use Britton?
In that exact situation against the meat right handers, you need a good RH….not Ubaldo
What happened to him? He was so good at one point… injury?
The guy on the national radio broadcast just now said in his game recap, “Zach Britton, perhaps injured…” Was that reported before the game?
I think that was yeaaaaars ago
Like maybe the best reliever in baseball this season?
Oh, I hear ya. Obviously would have better than bang , bang, BOOM. Always easier form here….the idea of saving a closer for just saves is absurd.
American League managers are pretty clueless …I know your thought on Bruce, but he and his NL brethren sure manage pens better in general
Nah … a one-game playoff is just a flat out crapshoot. Buck’s a good guy.
Ubaldo Jimenez. When your team has to bring him in to a tied game in extra innings in the wild-card game, your chances are not very good.
That is a nightmare ending for the Orioles…
If only they had a Cy candidate who hadn’t blown a save in the pen.
That games on the Oriole’s manager.
Aren’t they all?
A painful deja vu … Carter of the Blue Jays broke the Phillies hearts when he hit a walk off 3-run HR against Mitch “The Wild Thing” Williams in 1993.
The younger fans of the losing team will be heart broken by this game. They won’t forget it.
Bad omen or totally unrelated?
Unrelated…
Let me clarify. It IS a bad omen, but unrelated to the Giants.
Huh? What’s Ubaldo got to do with us??
Road black and orange??
Well, that’s a stretch.
With 666 birthmarks on managers scalp…
I want an autographed Gary Sheffield tablecloth/neck tie
Chef!
You called?
Buck… just because Bochy got away with Ty Blach vs. the Dodgers in Game 161, doesn’t mean you can get away with Ubaldo vs. Encarnacion in the Wildcard Game.
I want to see vintage film of the locker room celebrations when they sprayed foaming sasparilla into each others eyes with no Oakleys…
Didn’t Pence tell his teammates that they should “feel the burn”?
Showalter lost an extra inning elimination game without ever using the possible AL Cy Young winner. Because of the stakes, that was even dumber than Casilla vs. Lamb.
Britton was getting greased up innings ago, could he have felt injury?
I posted this below: The guy on the national radio broadcast just now said in his game recap, “Zach Britton, perhaps injured…” Was that reported before the game?
Not that I heard. Only rational explanation.
During
Not injured, apparently.
Warriors up 71-33 over the Clippers at halftime, but we shouldn’t be too hard on the Dubs–they’re still getting used to playing together.
Awesome. Love it. Pretty sure they’ll be better this year than last year.
They better be.
Well, 2 teams have gone on to win the WS the year after Showalter was fired…the ’96 Yanks, and the ’01 D-Backs.
O’s fans won’t forget this one. My Maryland buddy is absolutely blowin’ my phone up right now lol.
Ha.
Great reporting, Steve.
It’s too late, too late
Too late for Britton…
Lol and Buck said Britton was not hurt. Unreal.
Die hard the Showalter…
Maybe the fix is on.
One thing leads to another.
Hahahaha good one again, brother. Seriously though? You never know. How could he not use Britton?? It was…pardon me Greek…unconscionable.
Oh come on.
I don’t know him – but I feel bad for him – they won a ton of games this year.
Showalter doing a Bochy and trying to defend his decision. I haven’t heard yet whether he tried to say it was the the “staff”‘s idea.
He used, ‘We’ in the post presser.
That’s amazing.
Uncle Buck is taking some.
Buck Showalter doing his best Matt Williams interpretation right now.
Did he say, “That’s how we’ve done it all season”? Poor Matt Williams, love him still, helluva Giant.
Nah. Meathead.
That was just incredibly stupid. Wow.
I feel really thankful for Boch now lol.
One of the worst decisions ever. Season on the line and you don’t bring in the best reliever in baseball. By a mile. Gave up 4 ER all year.
LOL
https://twitter.com/stephenjnesbitt/status/783515653659557889?s=07
Bochy comes to Showalter’s defense: “I would’ve done the same thing. Bucky needed to get him going.”
I blame Bochy for the Oriole’s loss.
I blame the hideous black jerseys. God I hate those things, even on our Giants.
I used to feel that way about the ‘Friday Orange’ – but a number of huge W’s have disabused me of my prejudice. :o)
Clearly Showalter didn’t want to have to pinch hit for Britton next inning.
He couldn’t remember how to do the double-switch.
I hope Boch doesn’t forget to take his omega 3’s tonight.
The good thing is WE don’t have a lights-out closer whom we have to hold back for a save opportunity that never comes. Silver linings!
Lemme think – I got Cy Young in the ‘pen – better make sure I save him for the right time… Wait – we lost??
Fredi Gonzalez did the same thing with the Braves a couple years ago–had Craig Kimbrel in the pen, Braves had a one-run lead in the 8th in an elimination game, Kimbrel warmed up–and never got in the game. Dodgers took the lead, season over for the Braves.
Buck Showalter turned out to be another one of those clowns that are running around terrorizing people.
He is a good manager, but he made a mistake here.
That’s a very kind way to put it.
So brutal. Defense smothers Steph…swarms KD…and the ball kicks out to a wide-open Klay for an unguarded three (he has six so far).
Far be it from me to take sides – I got blacked-out on the game – but I thought Kaline beat Pence to a pulp tonight in right field.
I thought it as Cain vs. Pence.
And Kaline said, Governor, I knew Hunter Pence, and you’re no Hunter Pence.
You’re certainly an unbiased observer.
Mark Shields said that these two were supposed to be the nice guys.
This is worth a read and rather cute, if anything for the illustrations alone:
http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/17668845/korean-bat-flip
My Main Man Hunterpence:
“It’s not because I wanted to look like this, but because it’s fun to do things that are crazy with your teammates,” he said. “There are not too many jobs where you get the opportunity to look like a bum and have fun doing it.”
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/notes-giants-test-nunez-unlikely-have-him-vs-syndergaard
Underdogs Or Favorites: Which Do the Giants Prefer in the 2016 N.L. Wild Card Game?
“Who gives a s—?”
The Dance starts tomorrow. It’s gonna be fun. Season doesn’t matter. All about moving on and playing Cubs.
PS. I’m glad I’m not an Baltimore fan. My God Buck!!
They had better win or it won’t be safe to go in here this winter.
They have to win to take the bitter second half taste out of my mouth. I just hope Bochy doesn’t get cute with the lineup. Cough… Span, Pagan.
Lineup
1. Span
2. Belt
3. Posey
4. Pence
5. Pagan
6. Crawford
7. Panik
8. My Boy
Sounds right to me.Who needs a 3rd baseman?
I have an extra one laying around that I’m not using, they can have it.
Pac’s boy is Conor.
great choice, but I’ve talked to Conor and he prefers “My Guy”
#8 is the third baseman.
And hopefully doesn’t end tomorrow.
You’d be happy with it though. You can orate more about Bochy this or Bochy that.
I can’t believe everybody wants Concede-a-tater on the playoff roster…..
Could get a little chippy : MadBum says the Mets better not look at him tomorrow night
I’m hoping he dusts Cespedes in the first…
So we get Bautista vs Odor Round 2. IMO, Blue Jays have a legitimate shot at advancing to the ALCS & WS. Rangers are not that heavy of a favorite here as some are predicting. Blue Jays slipped out of many people’s radar during the season but they were the preseason world series favorites and are looking like it ATM. They have the pieces to make a deep run.
Go Rangers on Thursday
Go Giants today.
OK- now. as they say, it’s “go time”and I REALLY gotta go. Like, Bad, Am I gonna make it bad.
Over share?
Whew, that’s better, Good Night all.
taking a picture would have been an over share.
Just watched the first three quarters of the Warriors game. People hoping that there was gonna be a slow coming together process for that team are going to be sorely disappointed.
I just hope no one hits a walk off home run tonight.
cloudy with a chance of portent…
What I don’t understand is why Buck didn’t put Britton in once there was a man on in that last inning. I had heard earlier that Britton had left the dugout at one point during the game and there was concern there might be something wrong. According to Buck, he was fine. It all doesn’t make sense, then. Let’s hope Boch (although he doesn’t have anything approaching the talent of Britton) doesn’t make the same error.
It’s two things to me: the tired old idea that you have to have righties face righties in every chance you get, and the other tired old idea that closers need to be brought in to close out save situations.
I truly think AL managers are pretty lazy and uninvolved, and when post season comes around, they tend to stumble and fall.
By the way….good morning
Aargh. My water will be off today, so I’m up earlier than I really want to be.
Good morning, My Son. Are you in Chi-town or at home? I’m glad you’re one of the folks that’s up. I’ve not been feeling it the last few days, so I hope my vibe changes today.
I’m up because of a no-fun crisis, temper tantrum by a big shot procurement guy at a client who went ballistic and I have to manage a skittish crew through it while trying to settle down little big man…these days only happen once in a great while…but it had to be on Wild Card day
Yeah, that manager really rolled the dice. Bring in that guy Britton and you probably survive an inning or two longer with a chance to score a run while he’s in there. If he loses the game at least no one can second guess you. Not much upside to leave him in the bullpen. Glad I’m not Buck Showalter today.
This is embarrassing in a joint like this; till last night when I caught up on the blog (nice job by Efrain getting everyone’s skivvies in a bunch) I had never heard of this stud closer Britton. I only have the band width to pay attention to the Giants and A’s, but that is pretty ridiculous, only four earnies all season? Wow!
Plus heat. A closer up for Cy? We don’t want anything like that when we have Casilla.
BTW, belated congrats on the backgrounder, good job the other day.
Thanks B.
lowest ERA with 50 IP minimum in history – or something like that.
MattyIce stuck the landing.
Britton only closes
Who says that is a rule? Seems to me that pitching with one on 1st with the game on the line is a “save” if there ever was one.
Its not a “good rule”…it’s a “good ol’ boys rule” that gets nut punched time and time again, but the ol’ boys don’t seem eager to change
It is not my rule
Keep thinking those pesso-optimistic thoughts…
So Bucky screwed up? Who cares?
That’s what I’ve been wondering. Doughnut said it all last night: “He is a good manager, but he made a mistake here.”
Are we really going to spend all day talking about Buck Showalter’s mistake?
But, dgg…it’s a chance for Couch Managers of America to puff out their chests!
I don’t want to think about tonight’s game yet; I’ll go crazy.
What was it that our front office DID NOT see in Biagini that the Canadians could see in one of the funniest guys in the big leagues? He was a hero last night on a huge stage.
Rule 5 loss
Almost.
I realize he was a Rule 5, but he wasn’t protected AND he’s on the Canadian’s roster… now. I would have protected him for his entertainment value alone.
Looked pretty darn good with some adrenaline behind his fastball. Finished season with 3 ERA and 1.3 WHIP – numbers really came up last month and a half.
Down at Richmond, his last level in Giants system, he had a nice trim 2.42 ERA and 1.12 WHIP – his K rate rate was only 5.8 per 9.
Using hindsight, one can go pick and find someone else they could have let go instead – perhaps Joan Gregorio or Kyle Crick or whoever was Rule V eligible.
Suede goats, Bapah, suede goats.
Indeed. Humorous guy, though.
Thor eating breakfast at ShakeShack
Bum: Oatmeal, Fruit, OJ, Grits, Ham
Me: Sumatra IV
Hey, I know you’re a big Buck fan, soooo… why the hell didn’t he put Britton in as soon as Jays got a guy on base? We’ve all seen Jimenez before and I, for one, would have no, zero, none, zippo confidence in him.
I don’t get it.
The game appeared inevitable IMO. Buck is another excellent 162 game skipper. Like walking Bonds with bases full. If anybody ever did that in the post season – their team would lose.
I felt doom and gloom when Bourn botched that ball
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/205003334/orioles-michael-bourn-has-a-busy-night-in-loss/
That had a Joe Carter feel to it. “Touch ‘Em All Joe”. But yeah I know Joes was the WS.
Good fans.
Hella of a play by Tulo
Encarnacion is one of your guys, I know he is. Suppose he could play some LF and 1B at ATT ?
He might be able to play 1b but doubtful LF + he maybe one of those guys that is 2-4 years older than listed. Did he ever do anything for Cincy?
Wondering about his vitamin intake scares me. SF FO would pass.
Drinks on me tonight, Gang. Just opened up yesterday’s mail and I received a check from AT&T for some sales tax litigation settlement.
Oh wait, sorry, no drinks afterall. The check is for seven cents. And it says it is the “final settlement” so that is the end of my windfall. Sorry for the false alarm, I guess I will have to keep working.
“work like you don’t need the money”
We got one, too–$2.30. Coffee at the AM/PM on me!
I guess I’m picking up the little packet of sweetener and maybe the stir stick.
Baseball entertainment news…
Tim Tebow will report to the Arizona Fall League and play with the Scottsdale Scorpions. In essence, he’ll be one of the guys taking away some at-bats from Giants OF prospect Hunter Cole.
Clearly the Orioles don’t want Britton and he’s now “frustrated”. He’s a free agent in 2019, made 6.75 million this year. So naturally trade him and Adam Jones to the Giants for whatever it takes – boom.
If only this was a possibility! The Giants would win 110 games and the World Series every year possibly if they added Jones and Britton. Someone is in happy happy land this morning….
sounds like a crazy joke – but Jones production is down and he’s making about 18 mil per year for 2 more years, maybe a way for them to re-sign Trumbo – NAH!
https://twitter.com/AlexPavlovic/status/783669819363045376
No Nunez 🙁
11 P’s
https://twitter.com/AlexPavlovic/status/783669301735624704
No Osich … 😐
Baggs saying in his article that Okert has been more consistent of late
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/2016-postseason/2016-n-l-wild-card-game-battle-of-the-aces-as-the-giants-start-the-drive-for-their-fourth-title-in-seven-years/
VIVID dream that Hunterpence hit a grass-cutter that went over the fence and nearly hit his girlfriend, who was in the RF bleachers looking down, charting pitches. Must’ve been chanelling this [10/24/14]:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb81e8d7d67dbda839973f98824b46bb67d0e2e5ff873ce36aca603e87e394b6.jpg