by
Greek Giant
Now this is exciting. It was announced yesterday that the Dominican Republic will play Team USA in the first round of the World Baseball Classic in Miami on March 11, 2017. The thought of Johnny Cueto facing Buster Posey in an international baseball contest certainly whets my appetite.
The game will take place at the stadium where that awful Major League baseball team in Miami plays. It is not yet clear if Cueto will pitch in that game but since it is a first round contest perhaps we should assume it. The starting rotation for the Dominican Republic is formidable: Johny Cueto, Carlos Martinez (Cardinals), Edinson Volquez (Marlins) and Bartolo Colon (Braves). That is some special Caribbean nation!
I have written before that I support the World Baseball Classic for two reasons. First, I just like international competitions and I think they are good for all people. Second, I believe it will be good for baseball to showcase an international competition for the dissemination of the game’s glory. Whether we are exploring baseball in South America, Central America, Europe and Asia, the more people watching and playing this glorious game across the globe the better off humanity is in my book!
Johnny Cueto facing Buster Posey? Surf Maui and I will be there!
I’m glad our star Pitcher and Star Catcher are playing in this meaningless facade. Posey and Cueto should be completely exhausted by June.
What’s the difference, isn’t playing in the WBC just replacing meaningless spring training games?
The difference is that they’re real games that teams want to win for national pride. Players might exert themselves more than in a spring training game and might do so before they’re truly up to speed physically. That’s the risk, anyway.
Dr. L is correct. Too high a risk of injury.
National pride is the venom which is killing mankind.
Sure, and it’s not like players never get injured in spring training.
Someone will say that Posey is exhausted by the second week of the season, just like always. The man has never made an out that wasn’t the result of exhaustion.
That someone is usually named The Oracle.
No, I actually think that Posey, like every other player, is capable of slumping without being tired.
Actually Bapah – with beach chair – is monitoring Posey’s NFL half-back size thighs and Hamstrings as we speak.
Buster may have to do the Paleo diet.
Tired legs, not exhausted. The exhaustion comes a week after the temperatures reaching the mid 80’s in the south
Got a Movie Name Pac?
Facing each other I see lots of laughing going on but also a chance to try too hard and strain something.
I still think the WBC is for college players and recently retired MLB guys.
You do not like to win I guess, the other Countries play to win, have pride, the USA not that much, wonder why they have never won it .
Haak HATES winning. I think his showing in the MyGuy contests proves that.
The other Countries had All Star Lineups the DR had , Ortiz, Cano, H.Ramirez, Reyes, and others .
Ok…
So, Haak , wants the USA to use college kids and retired players vs MLB All Star players, do not like the USA teams chances, USA Basketball went to Dream team to win,after college players lost.
“USA Basketball went to Dream team to win,after college players lost.”
And that was disgraceful thing to do. Don’t bother replying, I doubt that you understand about the concept of competing with a level playing field.
So you mean competing without really competing?
Should the Connecticut women’s basketball team stop playing against other universities’
women’s teams, since it doesn’t seem to be a very level playing field?
You are determined to be a shit disturber. You are good at it, no one would love you if weren’t.
To answer your question,it would be like the Connecticut women’s basketball team playing DivisonII Minnesota State-Moorehead.
LOL! This is good.. MScott decrying “shit disturbers..” LOL
I out the shit disturbers, think of me as the shit disturber whistle blower.
Someone loves me?
Everybody does, we’re just shy about telling you.
No, I meant all teams would be restricted from using current MLB players. Then it would a level playing field with amateurs competing going all out. Think, Olympics of the 80’s without Soviet Block cheaters.
Then nobody would pay to watch, People like to watch players they know already, they take this seriously , you might not , but others do .
There’s the right way, the wrong way, and Peter’s way.
That’s incorrect. Again. The College World Series is quite good and followed extensively. Many including myself feel the CWS is some of the most entertaining baseball you can see. Especially that time of year.
Alex tweeted that Trevor Brown is going to play some 2B and 3B this spring (he was originally drafted as an infielder) to give the Giants the option of carrying three catchers.
I don’t get it. Brown’s bat isn’t good enough to make him a valuable bench hitter. I suppose Brown being there for an emergency could allow Hundley to pinch-hit, but is that better than, say, having Gillaspie on the bench to pinch-hit? And is Brown a better asset offensively and defensively than Kelby Tomlinson would be? Those would seem to be the two guys potentially on the bubble if Brown takes a spot.
I’d also think that Brown would be better served playing in Sacramento everyday to work on his receiving skills and get more regular ABs; then he’s ready if there’s an emergency on the big club.
Just my take–maybe I’m missing something.
I would recommend taking some of these “makes no sense” pieces of information and treat them in the same vain as anything coming from someone endorsing a certain line of clothing (wink, wink). Then it just becomes laughable and something that you don’t waste any valuable energy on.
It’s Spring Training…stuff is just being thrown out there to create news and justify the expenses spent to send these reporters out to AZ.
Evans and Bochy seem to be saying several nonsensical things. The worst was Bobby:”Yeah, I don’t know that I want both of them [Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker] to be on this club.”
They are just speaking to speak. Every spring training something is said that gets misconstrued and it becomes then an indictment on that persons soul.
#Coolbreeze
Evans said exactly that and his further elaboration didn’t make much sense.
The world is icy up here. The last thing we need right now are more cool breezes.
Grrrrrrrrr
He just needs a spokesperson to tell us what he really meant. There should be one available real soon.
But Bruce needs 3 catchers. When he goes with 3, 1 does not play unless of injury on a day when Buster needs his rest. Atleast in a dual mode role, he has a guy that can sub in as an infielder. That means the guys but is not stuck to the pine for 9 out of 10 days
Bruce has a huge place in his heart for undertalented back up catchers…it’s in his DNA. He loved Whiteside ( so did I), he loved Hector (I didn’t), and he loves Brown (I don’t) . Certain types get extra rope. I get it because we ALL have our preferences. Bruce’s include older vets, and backup catchers.
do not forget Stewart
True…but Stew brought exemplary defensive skills. Well beyond the other recent back ups
Yeah but Stewart was the third catcher. It was Posey then Whitesde, then Stewart. Posey went down and Stewart won the job.
I liked Stewart.
So did I. I liked Whiteside and Stewart. They two of them did a great job in 2011.
They really did. Awful as it was to not have Buster, the pitching staff was fantastic and didn’t miss a beat with those two guys. And Stewart was a bit of a Lincecum-whisperer. I always wondered what might have happened if they hadn’t traded Stewart right before the 2012 season.
I was an undertalented backup catcher…on the 7th grade girls softball team. Talk about riding the bench. I’m still digging splinters out of my butt.
As it should. That position shaped Bochy’s demonstrated biases. It’s hard to shake off one’s formative experiences or almost any of one’s past.
By the way. I hate it too.
It should be noted that the reason he got run out of San Diego after leading them to their 4th post season in 12 years was his horrible biases. It should also be noted that in their 48 year history, the Padres have made 5 postseason appearances, none since Bochy left in spite of being managed by the much superior Bud Black.
I wouldn’t be making any wagers on Brown making the team. Anybody that he would replace is better than Brown. t’d think of him as minor league depth, as you said.
What is Brown`s option status? I thought he has a couple of years left. Just curious. Bochy loves his multi-position players.
Trevor Brown has 3 options left.
Having 3 catchers is really having 2.5 or so, as it lets Buster play at first more freely: say 90 games as C and 40 as 1B? It does mean that Brandon Belt has to play more in LF, as Belt’s too valuable to just sit down that much.
Trevor played 2B in the low minors and only was converted to a C in 2014.
If you do carry 3, to be more like 2.5 C’s, you keep 4 OF with Belt making that more like 4.5 OFs.
My best guess is that Brown will be assigned to the River Cats, but it isn’t stupid to think about carrying him on the MLB roster.
I think the Hundley signing sealed his fate…
Thanks for the info on the options for Brown. I would think that Buster is closer to 110-120 games at catcher, but point taken. Buster plays a pretty good first base…so moving Belt to left may weaken the D a bit, but his bat is needed in the lineup. I would rather have the extra OF, than Brown, given his option status.
You are missing something. Brown will not start the season with the big club, I see the INF practice as a decision to make him a more valuable tool on the bench IF needed. Catchers get injured frequently, I’m sure he’ll be needed at some point this season.
I don’t make a big deal out of the rosters because I see them as being fluid all season long. There will be guys who will make it out of ST that will not be up all season or perhaps even with the Gmen all season.
Those finals roster spots mean very little in the end. It’s about the overall roster that is important to me. The players that are capable to step in in a pinch.
You may know that Brisbee agrees with you, and has a long post about it over at the Cove.
Who is care? Busta and Johnny better come marching home sans injury…
Please, Johnny. No pitches in on Buster when he’s at the plate.
RIP to Mr Freeman who arrived late last month under the radar. Since arriving there has been a Heavens Dance Marathon.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/arts/music/bobby-freeman-of-do-you-want-to-dance-dies-at-76.html?_r=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-tmZHMnlAo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6S5v6lLEgs
Bobby Freeman? It must be a slow news day in Heaven.
Must be a slow trash day in TO land.
He never learned to Swim.
You needed swimming lessons.
Catchy tune: a song from my dad’s generation. RIP to a local kid.
“Johnny Cueto facing Buster Posey? Surf Maui and I will be there!”
Adjoining rooms? Surf + GG + Posey + Cueto ?
Just curious…and this is baseball related IMO…but if Jeffrey Loria sells his team to Ivanka Trump’s brother-in-law (Joshua Kushner)…then becomes Ambassador to France…doesn’t this have a stinky smell to it? MLB Owners would have to approve the sale, so I wonder if that actually happens?
That would an interesting discussion. I’m sure everyone would jump at the chance to get Loria out, but…
Jeff Passan on Jeffrey Loria:
“Over the past 18 years, as Jeffrey Loria sprayed the stench of his naked greed across baseball like the skunk he is, as he destroyed the sport in one city and bilked another out of billions of dollars, as he tore asunder a championship team and micromanaged countless others and behaved like the lamest sort of wannabe George Steinbrenner possible, all blowhard, zero substance, the aggrieved could take solace in one thing and one alone: Some day, the game would rid itself of him.”
Poor France.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-glorious-exit-of-jeffrey-loria-the-worst-owner-in-sports-054809854.html
I remember watching Loria on Showtime’s The Franchise 2012 (the year after the Giants–ours was much better). I remember thinking “any minute now he’ll shed a skin.”
The uncertain transaction doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the probable appointment. The NY Times identified Joshua Kushner and Joseph Meyer as the two NY businessmen in negotiations to buy the Marlins. It’s uncertain if Kushner/Meyer can afford the asking price. Meanwhile, Preibus is pushing for Jeffrey Loria to become the Ambassador to France. Loria’s qualifications for an ambassadorship can be summed up by the $125,000 contribution to Trump’s campaign. Rex Tillerson is reportedly less than pleased by the prospect.
What are these “qualifications” of which you speak? I was thinking that I’d become an astronaut next year, since apparently people can become whatever they want now.
His qualifications are similar to those of most Ambassadors.
I can’t believe that money has ever been involved in any political decision or appointment…
I was thinking more of other situations where unqualified people have been given positions–ones considerably more important than ambassador to France. Not all in politics, either–for example, I was pretty dubious about Janet Napolitano becoming UC President.
And he belongs to DJTs golf club, as well.
It’s exactly what happens in every administration. I don’t like it either, but it’s nothing new, by ANY stretch.
Did I say it was? This was a comment about a guy who has done a lot of damage in the world of baseball and gotten filthy rich in the process. France deserves better than Jeffrey Loria. Bugger off, Matthew.
Whoa…why is there such animous in these discussions? I made a comment. Deconstruct…”I don’t like it either”. We need to be cool. You’re a fantastic person, and I respect you so much. I really don’t mine if we aren’t aligned on many political issues. But any comments of different views seem to incite. It’s similar to the way Scout started trolling me, and I think we can all be better than that
I like my corruption sprinkled in with some competence though.
It shows the incompetency of Trump’s advisers that Jarad Kushner might be the best of the lot. This is baseball related because Donald has a baseball cap.
I’ll wait to hear from the new Sheriff before I agree with you.
Do you really think Loria would make a bad financial deal for himself to become the Ambassador to France?
Wow, Baggs throwing down on Brian Kenny, who threw some snark at Ken Rosenthal.
Works for me. I think Ken Rosenthal is awesome and I’m not a big fan of Brian Kenny.
https://twitter.com/extrabaggs/status/832007282128887808
With you all the way…
BK bit back, telling Baggs it was “a nasty thing to say.” Baggs apologized.
Good stuff from Joe Ritzo (the play-by-play guy for San Jose) on the Giants’ prospects going into this year. Could be good MyGuy™ fodder.
https://sjgiants.mlblogs.com/2017-giants-minor-league-storylines-1def2e2a98c9#.9hxkc96z1
Nothing on Chris Shaw or Dylan Davis, the Giants whole System is anti Power !
If the whole system is anti-power, why are Shaw and Davis in the system?
Probably trade bait, for a future Pitcher or slap hitting glove man !
I heard that they will be trading them to Cincinnati.
Mike, don’t waste time to ask something logical to Pete.
Alvise.. What is your opinion of Shaw and Davis? Please don’t respond with an essay regarding American politics..
02:20 am here. Just got in bed. I’ll answer you tomorrow with an essay regarding the next disruption of world trade which will be triggered by the irresponsibility of DT administration.
Shouldn’t that be directed to CNN or some other political site? You frequent this site because of your love of the SF Giants, right?
LOL
Many years ago I learned Marcuse’s lesson NOT to be a one-dimensional man.
And yet, alas, you ARE one dimensional. This is a Giants BASEBALL blog. What’s your projected starting lineup? Who should get that coveted 5th spot? Which non-roster guy should get a good look?
I still have no idea why you even post here. At least the “regulars” who insist on posting their political stuff have contributed to the baseball discussion.
But hey.. its’s a free world (and blog)… Can’t wait to see the next photo of some Italian dish that you cut and pasted and claimed as your own,,
Yea, it’s a free world and blog, and just because that what and which way I post here it’s none of your frigging business. Feel free not to read my posts. Be coherent because “Sapiens de minimis non curat”.
Wow! You’re up late! That’s great! But you took time earlier to disparage Peter J and mock his posts…
Hmmm…
That’s my Wildcat
Lay off.
Why? Alvise voluntarily took a swipe at PJ, and while we can discuss the merits of that pro and con, the fact remains that at least PJ contributes baseball related posts here.
All “Alvise” does is stir up shit.
I can’t stir you up more than you are already.
Oh, yeah, PJ’s a real paragon of civility. Never said a bad word to anybody.
LOL. Big time. 👍
How long you been Sheriff around these parts?
Thank you.
LOL. He’s blind in his reading eye.
I’m giving him time to process that.
Read it again. It mentions Shaw in the first paragraph with a photo noting he hit 21 hrs. And then it addresses Arroyo’s need to show more power and ….Austin Slater’s Power Surge!
Sorry about that, missed it, I went straight to the players mentioned in bold print ,starting with Bedde .
And of course bringing Ruggiano and Morse to camp and signing Hundley…slappy anti power. Sad. So unfair!
No, they’re anti – PJ. It’s plain they peruse this line of action just to bug you Pete.
Joe does really nice work
Nightall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v874XP7o7oQ
Excellent! Muchas gracias.
Derek is right up there with Eric and Sting as really good back-up guitarists.
Two successful side dishes in the Instant Pot™ tonight. Best one was steamed carrots tossed with butter, cumin, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and a bit of butter–and done in UNDER FIVE MINUTES. I think I’m in love.
With butter. Obviously.
It needs a better name, Potty-Hotty? No?
My favorite “cooker” is my wood-fired Terracotta Pizza Oven.It was one of the first things I bought when moved into our new house after the Valley Fire. Hey, we were sleeping on the floor but we had bitchin’ pizza pies..
http://www.worldmarket.com/category/outdoor/bbq.do?template=PLA&plfsku=504972&camp=ppc%3AGooglePLA%3Anone%3A175913110859_custom_label_4_tabletop_kitchen_custom_label_3_bestseller_custom_lab&product_id=504972&adpos=1o1&creative=74033939219&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAiAlZDFBRCKncm67qihiHwSJABtoNIghQGfBUVRrBfxKwhk3VPpVgB3qSKJittUiHz-4g3ElRoCFfrw_wcB
Not the Toad one.
Now, that’s cool. I pine for one of those BBQ smoker things now. I love cooking gadgets.
Told ya! 😏
Draymond Green is still a knucklehead, but at least he’s limiting it to words this season, so far.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18692181/draymond-green-accuses-new-york-knicks-owner-james-dolan-using-slave-master-mentality
I guess I spoke too soon, as Green loses control and gets tossed from the game.
And your sharing because you disagree or just plain trolling for people to up your post?
I bet your type likes Dolan. Think he’s a fine owner. Typical of your type.
What’s my type?
you know incapable of really thinking for yourself, having to follow the line (plus the whole you think anyone not white is a knucklehead, pretty much ingrained in you)
I’ll give you credit for not making any effort to hide the fact that you’re a moron. Be proud.
You always dig yourself in deeper, pleasure to see it.
That must be part of my “type.”
You sound Like a racist to me, it goes both ways, but most seem to ignore, the reverse racist type !
That’s fine go ahead. When not talking baseball you hardly say anything of note, so no worries.
Pretty sure that no one has ever said “Oracle is incapable of thinking for himself” before now.
Also, are you keeping score, to have by now called every single regular here a racist? You are often rude, but never ruder than when you trot out that canard.
I’m in that club – many times over.
I got my Croix De Efrain when I criticized Pablo. My Marichal avatar didn’t even make a dent in his thoughts
You won many points on that one. Almost get a pass in my book.
hey if you quack like a duck and walk like a duck, well you know……
you will only find issue if you feel uncomfortable with what I’m stating, if you are not guilty of any such tendencies, then it’s all god right?
Im so glad i took a break from dealing with some of the racist asses on this site! Not all of them are that way I THINK but they know who they are!
Trust me Slilkk they know who they are. All those racist assholes that have been hiding their racism at home and under their breath over the past decade now find under Trump that they can be more comfortable and open about how they really feel.
Exactly and the ones that say they arent racist id love for their daughters to bring home a black man to their families and see the look on their faces !! Not racist huh yea right!! Btw read my comments til your hearts content posters.
I have no idea how you deal with these people everyday!
Who are the racists, Slik? That’s a very ugly charge, so if you’re going to make it, be man enough to make it clearly.
It’s worth remembering that while Draymond was piling up flagrant points, Klay Thompson saved the Warriors’ season in OKC last year. Tonight, more of the same.
For those of you who are complety down on Span, remember that in game 3 of the nlds, when Bumgarner had given up a 3-run homer to Arrieta and the Giants were down 2-0 in games and 3-0 in the game, Span is the one who kept them in the game with a double and a triple off Arrieta and two runs scored, setting up the 8-inning comeback, and he got 2 more hits in game 4 (and a run and RBI). If the Giants had held on in the 9th inning of the 4th game and won the 5th, Span would have been the one who led the comeback.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJNguru0qzI
good stuff, and let’s hope we get more of the 2nd half Span in 2017. While we’re at it, let’s say we win 5 or 6 of the season’s regular games from those blue guys, and sweep the Blue guys.
Your 25-Man bid; clarify / add on for me …
You gave me: “Add Tomlinson, Hwang, Gorkys Hernandez, Ruggiano (Parker released), Okert, Cain …
If you accept Hundley and Conor this creates a six-man bench. I think you have to give up one of your BenchGuys for a Reliever.
I took Conor Gillaspie off your ‘default’ list and put Hwang on my 25.
Bullpen, hmm, my “great memory” fails me. Of course Cain is my 5th starter, and I took Okert to have a lefty. The 7th bullpen member must have been Albert Suarez, unless he’s one of your defaults too.
Okay, that makes sense.
Suarez vs. Blach is one of the questions that we are having to make a pick on and that settles your picks for me.
You are right on the cubbies … the only answer is to win against them this year.
No doubt Span had a good postseason (for the short time it lasted), as did Panik (and obviously Gillaspie). But that doesn’t erase a lackluster regular season where he was an ineffective leadoff man (both at the plate and on the bases) and a bad defensive CF.
Span strikes me as one of those signings Sabean was so fond of in the late 00’s: over 30, used to be good, on the bargain rack because of injuries. See DeRosa, Mark, and Renteria, Edgar (and yeah, the 2010 World Series was great, but the 2009-10 regular seasons, not so much).
Let’s cal it what it is: Span was a bad signing by this team. As you point out any short period of success do not erase the overall performance. It was a signing out of need and desperation by the Giants brass in an off season they did well with the Cueto / Shark signings (which I have said a child could have made since they basically opened the bank).
To me it’s like the Rowand signing, where they were stuck and had to play him till they decided no more. Span for one more year, and then move on the next plan, either in house or via trade / FA.
I hope for better things this year, but at this point I agree it was a bad signing. They hoped for him to bounce back from his injuries and be the guy he was a few years ago. They got him for a bargain price compared to what he would have cost after a very good 2014 season (the same was true for Cueto and Samardzija, actually).
I looked up his stats from a few years back. He did use to be an above-average defensive CF, at least per Fangraphs’ range of metrics. And we know he was a solid hitter and base runner. But age and injuries may have caught up with him. It happens.
I’m not enthusiastic about Span but it isn’t all minuses, and there just aren’t so many available centerfielders out there. They’ve been spending money where is should be spent (starting pitching) and there isn’t so much left to spend on the outfield.
Mr. Sarcastic wrote: All “Alvise” does is stir up shit.
————–
1. Take those quotation marks off my name. I’m not used to hide my name like almost everyone else here on this blog. I’m proud of it.
2. I can’t stir you up to a level higher than that you are already in.
I’m sorry I doubted your credentials. There’s nothing strange at all about an Italian aristocrat from Venice who only posts disparaging remarks about United States government on a blog page for Giants baseball fans.
Nope. Nothing weird about that at all.
Yes sir. Nothing weird about that at all. My familiy has always been known to be a WEIRD one, for centuries, since at least 900 A.D.
That’s not true. Alvise posts photographs of delicious food. And beautiful cities, mountains, and cats. He also is an astute baseball fan and posts erudite comments about current events in baseball.
If he also “posts disparaging remarks about United States government” – or our “so-called” president, well, he’s not alone.
Your observation that he’s an “astute baseball fan” is based on ….what? The cat photos?
You should know – you’re an oracle, right?
True, but that one is beyond my powers.
so true, wonder how he would feel about someone here trolling an Italian blog and commenting on their government and posting pictures of burgers and philly cheese steaks, lol
yeah not weird at all.
He’s a Giants fan, and he does comment on the Giants and on the games. It’s the offseason now. But he’s not a troll.
Maddon’s approach to repeating, to keep his team “uncomfortable”:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/sports/baseball/chicago-cubs-repeat-world-series-champions-spring-training.html
(the first of a billion articles on how cute the Cubbies are, no doubt)
FYI:
TWG Spring Training Scout Schedule
… Updated but please correct this as needed; our coverage is growing.
Feb. 20-23 … Cabbie and Bapah
March 1-7 … RobDeer
March 10-12 … DrLefty
March 10-14 … standardstarboard
March 23-25 … HaakAway & Sons
March 26-28 … JustPeachy
The Top 10 Right Now shows are done. In first place at each position:
SP: Kershaw
RP: Miller
C: Posey
1B: Goldschmidt
2B: Altuve
SS: Seager
3B: Bryant
RF: Betts
CF: Trout
LF: Braun
The Cubs led the pack with eight players in the top 10 at their respective positions: Lester, Arrieta, Davis, Rizzo, Zobrist (for 2B), Russell, Bryant, and Schwarber (for LF).
The Giants had seven, with their ranking at their positions in (): Posey (1), Bumgarner (3), Crawford (5), Melancon (6), Belt (8), Pence (8), and Cueto (8).
The Dodgers had five (Kershaw, Jansen, Seager, Turner, Grandal). I don’t think any other team had more than five.
Panik and Nunez unnamed, but pretty good ways to fill in the cracks. OF, well, if Pence is actually hurt again, instead of dinged, seems very iffy.
Very good points. Most of us think Panik, GG nominee this year, is going to show again that he is in the Top Ten. If Nunez can repeat he is up there too. Pence and Span are the only ones with some age catching up to them.
Panik was very unlucky last year with BABIP. Hit too many balls right at fielders.
Hey, I am a Panik fan and agree with some who see him hitting over .300 … so his luck will change; things even out and this year he gets better stats.
Panik was #3 at 2B last year but dropped all the way off the list this year, Gold Glove notwithstanding. 2B is a deep position. I was also surprised that Pence was on the list.
Thinking exactly the same…
I just noticed “Schwarbler” … He didn’t even play in 2016. What is with that?
It was a very thin LF list. Michael Brantley, who played 12 games in 2012, was on the list, too. I agree that Schwarber being there shows The Shredder has a good imagination.
Although I must admit his Post-Season was a surprise to me. I expected very Rusty and IIRC he had a few clutch hits. But I love seeing him on the field creating a Big Hole in the OF.
Because he’s one of the most talented young hitters in baseball. The Cubs seem to do ok with him in LF.
The Cubs are a lot less certain of that than you. They want him at 1B… but that spots taken. There are some rumors of them and the Mets talking about pitching for Schwarber. Who knows, but he’s got the tool.
With my theory on Defense I hope he is out there when the Giants play them but his hitting just may be that good. Michael Morse was okay for one season and late inning replacement.
More woe for Zach Wheeler:
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2017/2/15/14627970/mets-zack-wheeler-elbow-innings-limit-new-york
Poor kid.
Yeah. The trade for Beltran will be 6 years ago this summer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHuH4JUTXE
Now that ST has commenced I fear too much baseball on the blog and not enough politics and culture issues!
Fear not. Trust me
yes, I know will get juicy. How are you Matthew?
Interested to see your take on the 25 man roster in the next few weeks.
Hey, Brother…kinda focused on my roster…I landed Constellation Wine and Spirits right before Xmas and our launch is about a 4 month process. having to add 2 account and 1 graphics person…almost there…headed to Chi-town Sunday to meet with Constellation Beer. Been swamped! How’s my Mad men brother doing in NY? I’ll start focusing on the Giants when i see how Bruce handles the Geriatric Wing of the clubhouse in Scottsdale
Congrats on Constellation. Would love to speak with them in the East Coast. Great brands. I see Casa Noble was picked up recently.
Yup. They also snagged High West Whiskey (Colorado) and Charles Smith Wines (really cool dude out of Seattle)…but those are internal cannibalization for me since I had them already. That’s the huge trend…little guys sell out and keep only winemaking/spirit blending roles and give over all sales and marketing to the giants…
true but an issue for me since I’d rather have the small houses as clients, you can do better work with the actual brand people.
BTW High West is UTAH!!!!!!!
oops…my bad. My old Gallo buddy, Justin Lew is the marketing manager …I shoudld have remembered Utah since I made a few requisite jokes about that odd marriage
oh i’d love to help him out in NYC! Amazing brand to work on.
I’ll see who they are using, Brother…hang tight!
Congrats on the great sale!
Thanks, Skweez!
May it be so. Amen.
Doc you’re always good for a couple of zingers!
I’ve been trying very hard to stay away from it. I don’t initiate political topics. I also don’t comment on most of other people’s remarks, but I’m human and I slip up sometimes. I feel just as strongly about things as other people here do, but I’m trying to respect GG’s guidelines.
Now, food posts–guilty.
Got a new book in the works on how trump causes weight gain?
I have no concrete reason other than hope and relying on solid scouting by the Giants but I think Jae-gyun Hwang is going to be a solid contributor this year. I think he will be a good infield insurance policy and maybe even more…
I agree. The problem is that he’s pretty much the same idea as Nunez and Gillaspie so I’m not sure where he’s going to get in.
Another Giant featured in an article on bad hitting luck last year, this time Posey. A lot of the Giants’ hitting problems last year were statistically demonstrably bad luck, especially Posey, Panik, Williamson, Gillaspie, and Nunez (after he got to the Giants; when he was on the Twins he had very good luck). This is the main reason I’m more optimistic about their hitting this year.
http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/surprise-you-believed-their-2016-babips-but-shouldnt-have/
LOL. You abandon what was perhaps the best swing in baseball for fauxpower, well ‘bad luck’ is one name for that.
Joke, hit it over the fence and you do not need luck, hit it in the field of play, and you need luck that a fielder is not playing you where you hit the ball ..
You badly need to understand probability, and maybe abandon your current naive POV.
You can’t reasonably deny that a lack of power was a problem the the Giants last season.
He’s not into power, he likes 3 or 4 bloopers to score runs instead, Juan Pierre was his favorite MLB player of all time .
What one can deny is that Posey is a power hitter though. Becoming a power hitting team just isn’t in the cards for the Giants, so why lament the loss of what was really never an issue. Look at the WPA’s and contact numbers. People can gnash their teeth all they want, but AT&T is AT&T. And yes, I like that game.
There is a cruel irony when a contact, line drive hitter tries to loft the baseball and become what he’s not.
I’ll agree with you that Posey was fine the way he was, but it is possible to hit HRs at AT&T. The Giants just don’t have much power.
I just don’t think the Giants will ever have that much power. I’m not sure any team could.
True power hitters don’t have a problem anywhere, because when they hit it well, it goes. Nolan Arenado doesn’t seem to be bothered by AT&T. Jay Bruce made the RF wall look short. Your favorite guy, Adam Duvall, lined one over the LCF wall and hit another waaaay up into the seats. Pre-steroids Bonds wasn’t bothered by the park. It’s just been awhile since the Giants have had a real power hitter.
IMO, you’re asking the wrong question. It’s not can a hitter hit a ball out, it’s how often that’ll happen. And would team offense be better served by doubles and line drives. Everyone, for instance, gets all warm when Posey, for instance, puts one in the seats but somehow forgets all those chances with men on base that are long flyball outs. I also think, and all the data supports, Earl Weaver’s brand of baseball just is misplaced here.
I will hypothesize the Giants are actually a better hitting team at home than on the road. Oh, except for that pesky home run stat. So how mluch does that matter? Or are some of us afflicted with an extreme case of Earl Weaver-itis that we just can’t seem to shake? Somehow, the punchless ones won 3 WS playing in that park otherwise known as death valley. Go figure.
In 2012 the Giants scored 44 more road runs then any NL team, but scored so few runs at home, they were just above middle of the pack in total runs scored, they have always scored way more runs on the road then at AT&T Park .
I’m not hypothesizing about how they are vs everyone else – where are they a better hitting team. How have they been in runs scored relative to themselves – home v away?
They score way more runs on the road ! then they do at home .
Uh,no they don’t. You’re using alternative facts. In 2016, they scored 344 runs on the road vs 371 at home.
Last year you are correct just looked it up, but that was not the norm, but I was wrong about last year .
Just looked it up, scored over 100 more runs away 410 to 308 at home in 2012, and scored more Away in 2013-2015, last year was the exception in the last 5 years .
They had great Pitching, so won , why not want both, scoring runs is fun to most.
I want proof or Facts, that the Giants are a better hitting team at home, my information says that is wrong !
RUNS AWAY 344 LEAGUE AVE .357
RUNS HOME 371 LEAGUE AVE. 361
Yes ,like I posted below , last year was the exception in the last 5 years, I was wrong, probably because they did not hit many HRs on the road last year, so the lack of power at home did not hurt as much as it did in the past .
i replied to this comment:
“I want proof or Facts, that the Giants are a better hitting team at home, my information says that is wrong !”
Nothing about past years.
You must have alternative facts.
He has a full carpetbag.
It’s a combination of all the factors. The 2016 Giants with one of the better bullpens from prior seasons might’ve won the division, even without much power. But none of it changes the fact that, while not always absolutely necessary, power is good.
Luck, are the other Team played him where they think he hits the ball often, so good information and good defense alignment .
You can complain about the election all you want, but I think one of this county’s biggest problems is “power reclining” chairs and couches. Are people really that lazy? Was leaning back or reaching down to pull a lever just too much effort? Furniture shouldnt need to be plugged in.
Nor should there be battery powered toothbrushes.
My Grandfather – RIP – was aghast at remotes for the TV. And leaf blowers. I’m not sure how he adjusted to the whole “electric lamp” thing when it invaded his safe space.
His safe space had some rough edges
Or elevators for 3 floor buildings. At least it should only be used by handicapped folks.
My office is on the third floor of a three-story building. I always take the stairs–some days that’s all that passes for cardio in my world–but it is nice to have the elevator if you’re carrying something heavy up (like a box of books, for example).
Me too with the exercise, and of course I have no problem with people who use the elevator if they need it.
But I see college students – 18-22 yr olds – using the elevator in my building to go up 1 or 2 floors and it drives me nuts. We also only have one elevator so that ends up occupying the elevator for people who need it.
I’m sure you can sympathize with this since you also work at a university.
Battery devices can make some people feel warm and cozy
Bada BOOM
We just bought new custom La-Z-Boy living room furniture last year and specifically decided AGAINST the power-reclining features. They’re way more expensive, they have to be plugged in, and they’re harder to fix if something goes wrong. Just one of those things where more high-tech isn’t necessarily better.
I applaud your decision. I’ve been looking for couches and don’t have much time. The furniture store I went had practically nothing that wasn’t a power recliner. Unless a person has a disability, it’s a dumb feature for all the reasons you listed.
The biggest furniture problem for me and I suspect for many other oldish farts is the over stuffed couch. Gotta have it, absolutely necessary to spend at least 12 hours on or rather IN it. And there lies the problem- getting out of it takes several tries. Eventually you just give up and lay back down. That’s the good part.
Try the Power-Gooser 3000. Guaranteed to get you on your feet lickity-split.
Is that a couch or rocket?
I am SO HAPPY to see baseball arguments again!!!! I said it yesterday, but seeing the group tete-a-tete between Team Slappy Babips and Team Roid Rage is a welcome respite.
And one of the important things is having nicknames and uni’s!
What the hell did I do?
America’s Pastime Brings Out the Best and the Not So Best
This is pretty good. Greg Maddox pranking Kris Bryant. Bryant seems like a really nice guy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axkik-8oFTs
My brother met Bryant and Rizzo last year–he has a buddy who works for the Cubs, and he got the VIP treatment while on a business trip to Chicago. He said they were both great guys. He also met Jake Arrieta–not such a great guy.
Doug Padilla
ESPN Staff Writer
If the Dodgers have a theme for 2017 it is to continue the unselfish attitude they displayed last season. Manager Dave Roberts explains.
Hahahaha. Is Puig still on this team?
I’m late to the party, but my two cents on Bochy and his musical chairs of relievers.
I have no problem with his over aggressiveness in the playoffs. Having lived through the years of Giants managers who didn’t want to change their regular season patterns in the playoffs, I’ll take Bochy’s impatience, even in those times/years when it doesn’t work like last year. What would you rather have? The Blue Jays manager who says “I wasn’t going to bring in my closer in the biggest game of the year because I never bring in the closer in a non-save situation.” That would drive me crazy. I also don’t have to tell you how beautifully Bochy has managed in the playoffs many times over. The truth is managing the bullpen is the hardest (only?) job a manager has. Look at Maddon. Even after winning the World Series, he was questioned to the point that I think he was pretty sore about it.
If there is one beef that I can agree on regarding Bochy is that he didn’t establish clear roles in the regular season. Even if he changes those roles in the playoffs, like bringing in his closer in the 8th, or pulling a guy after one batter, at least in the regular season he should allow his pitchers time to develop and build confidence and that should the structure to build from in the playoffs. If he yanked guys around in the regular season, then yanks them around in the playoffs, it’s not a surprise that guys failed over and over.
Let’s hope he learned his lesson and uses this regular season to create those roles.
Yep, yep, yep … what management also overlooks is the cost to the roster of carrying so many pitchers. And they misread the problem last year. The bullpen ERA was fine, so clearly it was their USE that was the problem. You only need 12 or 13 pitchers if you think there’s every a reason to burn through 5 relievers in a 9 inning game. There isn’t. Smaller pitching rosters should be the next “moneyball” competitive advantage, or the development of pitchers who don’t have extreme platoon biases.
Now it’s Bochy’s fault that “guys failed over and over.” ? There are some legit reasons to question some of his decisions, as there are with all managers, but blaming him when relievers don’t do their jobs is ridiculous
It’s a worthy discussion, but I don’t see much evidence that international nationalistic competitions are necessarily good for all people.
I agree with you on one extent, but you can say for baseball fans worldwide it has to be a big deal. First of all, as Americans we take for granted when we have “home grown” stars, but if you are from a nation that doe not produce many baseball star AND you are a baseball fan, it has to be a hug deal.
That being said, look at a small nation like the DR were baseball is life. They have a history of producing great player and most likely will continue to do so. Unlike other Latino nations that have soccer to fall back on, the DR is about baseball. It has to be a great sense of pride to have what many consider the best team in the tournament.
So do most people in their respective countries care? Maybe not. Absolutely nothing like the interest in the World Cup. But are baseball fans into it. You better believe absolutely.
You have to look at it in the international context. This is not a tournament to please the US or American baseball fans. It is to bring baseball fans around the world closer to each other. Baseball and MLB needs this because the more international players the more global marketing they can conduct and the more $$$ they can make. The US MLB audience is getting older by the year, so baseball has to find a way to tap into the international market much like the NBA has been successful doing.
Weird Arse University of Michigan FB Fans https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/22896fb23d151528cc578abe869cc016e369326b36cf51a4e05aa2b4408025c2.jpg
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/2017-giants-offseason-news/can-michael-morse-contribute-to-the-giants-this-year/