by
Greek Giant
By golly folks, Spring Training and baseball are really here in earnest! The first exhibition game is slated today at 12:05 Willie Mays Field Time. This is the game thread. Lots to discuss, from the Giants paying off their mortgage in full at Willie Mays Field to the “problems” with baseball and the commissioner’s strange approach to addressing them….
The Lineup
- Brandon Crawford – SS
- Joe Panik – 2B
- Brandon Belt – 1B
- Hunter Pence – RF
- Michael Morse – DH
- Jarrett Parker – LF
- Conor Gillaspie – 3B
- Nick Hundley – C
- Gorkys Hernandez – CF
Wait! Where’s Buster? My guess he is getting some time off with maybe an at bat later in the game.
Madison Bumgarner will start and pitch a grand total of one inning. Clayton Blackburn, Steven Okert, Derek Law, and Cory Gearrin are the other pitchers announced to appear in the game.
Breckeroni says “play ball!”, for the first time in 2017.
So Breckeroni is in an extremely good mood today.
Blue skies today, but what a winter of water and discontent?!? Baseball is on the way…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCPMD04MEZE
that’s my guy..the big man was as smooth as they come…
One of the Kings that must have sojourned to bear gifts to the black baby Jesus once upon a time – or so I’ve been told.
Here’s another:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtpCAhbAJdc
my guy as well. died way too young. freddie was clapton’s favorite..
Haak is going to go ballistic when you use “My Guy” to apply to a non-baseball player!
i thought about that, but the haakman has a good heart. he will be ok with my transgression..
What did you do with Rachel?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/floodcu01.shtml
Uhhh, I know. I’m just worried about Rachel.
…
I feel extremely unobservant and remiss that I hadn’t noticed the old photo of Footy you were using as a tribute to his self-imposed (we think) exile.
It’s a remarkable likeness and I’m stunned I hadn’t seen it until now. I’m thinking he was just a little unstable and this vacation will do him good in the long run.
Exile? He’s here pretty much every day.
You must be mistaken. There is no such person here.
His next name should be Sybil.
There are many talentless hacks and fools about and Foothills Ryan is a peerless standout amongst them.
He’s just eccentric.
Indeed.
Exile On Main Street
“Carson’s passionate concern in Silent Spring is with the future
of the planet and all life on Earth. She calls for humans to act
responsibly, carefully, and as stewards of the living earth.”
http://www.rachelcarson.org/SilentSpring.aspx
Hi Ryan.
Goldstein-Burriss 1984
Who do you have in the First Lineup Criticism Post Pool, GG?
Should there be an asterisk next to the line-up because it doesn’t count?
Myself of course!
This line up sucks! What is Bochy thinking!
I can’t believe Bochy is pulling Bumgarner after only 1 inning!! He’s over managing!!
Good One!
Baseball and politics…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM9FIMwXeVk
What’s game time?
12:05 Willie Mays Field Time. See post.
Thanks. It isn’t always the first thing I do. I very much appreciate you putting the road sign to new posts back in.
I’m crushed you don’t read my posts the instant they are posted Bapah! Just crushed!
Most need to be savored, so I wait until my mind is more settled.
That could be a long wait, yeah? 🙂
I’m sorry, Miss, are you new here? Certain liberties will not be tolerated any longer. I’m afraid we may have to have a little talk after the game.
OMG! Is it noon yet! Games are back!
Howdy, y’all!
Just for you App7 … Just need to think of Seven spots to fill by Saturday night.
My25ManGuys™ 2017
Pick who will be on the 25-Man roster at season’s open.
Here are the obvious “Core 18”:
Starters: Posey, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Nunez, Pence, Span
Bench: Hundley, Conor
Starting Pitchers: Bum, Cueto, Moore, Samardzija
Bullpen: Melancon, Kontos, Smith, Law, Strickland
Post the seven others you think will make it here in response to any HaakAway post. To save time do not list all 25 unless you think one of these 18 will not make the 25-Man.
”25/25 Deadline” … By request here from some: You get two shots…
February 25 is the deadline for your first picks … Spring Training is wide open then.
March 25 is the deadline for your final picks … Spring Training is about to end then.
*Questions? Write me at: My SF Giant Guy at g Mel d Ott com
Excellent! Thanks for looking out for me! I’ll get this to you by Saturday.
We going to make it to some games this year?
Sure … Should be some interesting prospects in SJ: Reynolds? Brusa? MyGuy™ Kelvin Beltre. Maybe even a rehabbing Big Giant like Pence, Cueto or Will Smith?
Wouldn’t that be fun? See some rehabbing MyGuys playing with the up-and-comers?
I’ll go with:
Cain
Parker
Ruggiano
Hernandez
Rollins
Okert
Gearrin
Thnx
Finally!!! It’s baseball. Looking forward to talking baseball with you all again this summer.
Must be baseball season – Kruk says our old friend Michael Morris is back…
I thought it was Kuiper who calls him “Morris.” Krukow too?
No, you are right, it’s Kuiper.
“That was not a hanger, A7.” ;o)
Glug. 🙂
Duane – Still convinced his last name is two syllables
Yes. Kruk is such a goofball I tend to reflexively blame all the silliness on him, but this one is Kuip. I say that with all due affection and respect, by the way.
Very small sample size, but Affeldt sounds pretty good on the radio with his humor and pitching insights. Can’t wait to hear what Lopez brings to the radio and TV side.
Wow, Vegas is packed, wall to wall folks here. Was just wandering around a casino and a guy was playing blackjack by himself and had a spat with the young lady dealer. I’d guess he’s from Somalia, really heavy accent, sounded exactly like the pirate from the Charlie Phillips movie. Anyway, he thought she counted wrong and took his $50 by mistake. She tried to calm him, then the pit boss followed, but he got more and more heated. He called her a bitch so the PB called security. Two guys came but the guy wouldn’t budge, going on and on about his $50. Finally a third guy comes, some dude right out of Goodfellas and that guy looked up and that was it, somehow he knew, he got up and they showed him the door. I guess those guys just have the look that communicates to anyone that you’d better not mess with them.
Which cssino was it, just out of curiosity?
A small one, The Westin just down the side street from Bally’s. I stayed at PH but my rental car for a separate side trip is at The Westin.
33 Spring Training games? Way too many.
Easy bucks for MLB, right?
World Baseball Classic driven….
They also played 33 last year.
Preparing for this years WBC …. they needed a model….
No, it’s really not.
Is too.
tic tac toe
Well we agree on that.
Current Best new Name in Baseball – Rookie Davis
http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/9/6/2/216929962/02.24.17_vs._CIN_afwo3bvl.pdf
WELCOME BACK: The Giants will open their 70th Spring Training in Arizona today…it will mark the Club’s 35th-consecutive spring here in Scottsdale, Arizona and the 66th-consecutive spring camp in the desert.
THE GIANTS – 2016 REGULAR SEASON: Finished the 2016 regular season (59th in San Francisco and 134th overall) with an 87-75 (.537) record…SF finished in second place in the National League West and qualified for the Postseason as the second Wild-Card…SF defeated the New York Mets 3-0 in the NL Wild Card game, but were defeated 3-games-to-1 to the eventual World Series Champion Chicago
Cubs in the NLDS.
BIG OFF SEASON MOVES: The Giants added RHP Mark Melancon (four-year contract) and C Nick Hundley (one-year contract) to their roster…SF also brought in 2009 All-Star Aaron Hill, 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins and former Giant’ slugger Michael Morse as non-roster invitees.
COACHING STAFF CHANGES: The Giants made two changes to their coaching staff, hiring José Alguacil as their first-base coach and Phil Nevin as their third basecoach…Alguacil spent the 2016 season as the Giants’ triple-A Manager in Sacramento and Nevin was the Manager for the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks
triple-A club).
GIANTS PRESS BOX: To support Major League Baseball’s Green Initiative, the San Francisco Giants offer giantspressbox.com, a media-only website that helps streamline and expedite distribution of information to outlets covering the team in a more environmentally friendly manner…In addition to serving as a central
location for all media documents, with content including media guide, game notes, stat packs, media clips, lineups, audio and video, this site is updated every day throughout spring training and the regular season and remains archived…To access the site please go to mlbpressbox.com and sign up for a username and
password.
That is good to know (mlbpressbox). Thanks.
Refresh your browsers for lineup and pitching assignments in the above post.
The sound of Jon Miller makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
Good call. I wasn’t aware that I’d been smiling for the last hour or so.
Another thing… Jeremy is pretty good at explaining how pitchers are thinking about hitters and getting them out. I hope they don’t try to dumb him down.
He is very rare in that his technical expressions will not fly over the top of some because he’s already factored that in.
You and me both Matthew. Good afternoon to you too, sir.
Thank you Radnich!
40-man players who are out of options:
RHP Cory Gearrin
IF Conor Gillaspie
OF Gorkys Hernández
RHP George Kontos
RHP Mark Melancon
RHP Jeff Samardzija
RHP Hunter Strickland
PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN WBC
C Buster Posey – USA
IF Brandon Crawford – USA
RHP Johnny Cueto – Dominican Republic
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
70 players in camp (30 non-roster):
36 pitchers (12 non-roster)
6 catchers (3 non-roster)
18 infielders (10 non-roster)
10 outfielders (5 non-roster
I do believe Parker is out of options as well.
Thanks – did not know
GG says: “Where’s Buster? Baggarly once wrote: “Buster Posey takes an oddly timed day off…..”
Alguacil and Nevin could prove to be two of the most important acquisitions this season.
Nevin definitely has history with Boch and is likely the first person since Flan that Bochy truly trusts.
Yep. Let’s hope the players feel the same way!
Plus if there EVER is a pushing and shoving fight – Nevin provides some Soprano muscle.
A tough mofo, indeed.
You over in AZ for this game?
Nope. Sick at home.
Had to meet my new espresso machine.
Just hope you do not have to bow to the Porcelain god.
Now I recall you were enjoying the radio coverage. I caught the last half thanks to AtBat.
Remember to fill in your 25Man… email me to keep your Insider Picks a secret.
Not that kinda sick. All head, nose, cough, drip, drip, drip.
Thanks, Scottsdale.
What did you get (machine)?
Yup. My old Pavoni took a permanent break several years ago and I never replaced it. Hardly anything from my old machine fits this one. It’s a lot like many things; no two are the same and it will take a little finessing to make this one perfect.
(All references to previous domestic partners have been removed to protect the health of the author.)
KT
Parker
Ruggiano
Hernandez
Cain
Okert
Gearrin
Glad to have you.
“Augie” showing some good hands.
Duck Snorts always make me smile.
Well the Orioles threw the fat in the fire. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/02/24/donald-trump-first-pitch-camden-yards-john-angelos/98347208/
Orange-and-black!
I can feel an E6 coming since JR has only taken reps at 2B…. (kidding)
Tony Renda – Pride of Serra/San Mateo HS. (Brady-Bonds-Swann-Fregosi)
MM came out of the gate Hacking. Hmmmm 0 for 2.
I wonder how Jeremy feels about the shift…
Glug! :o)
He might want to listen to Shawn Estes to learn what not to say.
Nevins PLUS 1 on that “read”
Well that hit from Rollins should lock up his spot on the roster now.
LOL
Affeldt is the perfect remedy for insomnia!
Hi friends bb is back and its gonna be a great time over here once again!
Glad to have you back here Slikk!
Hows Thy Love Life Going ?
What a dumb question.
He and I talk off line. You OK Bunky?
TMA, taking it offline is a good idea.
I have traditionally asked him that question for the last three years …..
Scroll by
Nick Hundley did his homework and came prepared.
My two favorite Giants baseball tweets of the day:
Hank Schulman 1hr ago:
Blackburn with a “don’t forget me” inning: two strikeouts, weak bouncer to third.
Alex Pavlovic 1hr ago:
Panik hit a single, Pence doubled off the wall, Panik scored. GIANTS ARE BACK.
It was really nice to read about Blackburn having a solid outing, I would love for him to have a “don’t forget about me” year. I think others have alluded to it but with Cain done after this year (or earlier) and Cueto having the ability to walk, there could be two open roster spots to start 2018. It sure would be nice if those two spots could be filled by Beede, Blach and/or Blackburn.
This really really sounds good. Welcome home Giants baseball.
Great story by Jeremy about Bad Glad hitting the highest infield popup out in the world.
JA: “By the time the ball came down – Vlad was at third base. I asked him to sign the bat”
We heard that, C/U.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/65b9d5d7bcfa7672d47fd8c96f94f7fc8449048baff6c5b174283ad590a34700.png
Jae-gyun Hwang might turn out to be like the 49ers Aussie Jarryd Hayne
hopefully not, because Hayne did nothing, ever.
So you’re grouping them because they are foreigners? Other than that, no correlation.
HaHa – not even close to how my brain was thinking.
Hayne: Never ran with ‘pads’ low as a Rugby player = could not adjust.
Hwang: Has played competitive baseball back home at an “A” level.
That does not even make sense. I think Hwang will catch up at some point this Spring.
It’s one game, you well know in the big picture it means very little. It’s the start of a long process.
It makes sense, you just don’t concur. A friend of mine, when I was high on Haynes arrival – told me he won’t adjust even tho the guy was a beast. You KNOW Hayne is not part of ANY Shanahan plans.
Hwang – needs to quickly make adjustments to the SPEED of the ML game.
She persisted. Probably a Giants fan.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2158546/our-lady-strays
BOOM!
Walk off winner! That’s a nice ST opener!
Spring Training means nothing, but it’s always fun to win on a walk-off.
That the whole of 2017 ends this way! Glug, A7!! ;o)
Yay! Appalled is back!
Aww, thanks MOOOOOOOOSE! Good to see you, too!
Cubs and Giants tomorrow. Cain pitching.
Zastryzny has nothing.
Zastryzny = “Eye Chart” name
Bear bones, so to speak.
The fan pigeons and scavengers will be on their fences tomorrow rooting for ignominy.
With Marrero looking good, do we really need Belt?!?
If Cueto leaves after the season, he could get us another starter in a package deal.
😉
Make sure you always take care of your special other half Mr. E.
https://tinyurl.com/h4ycmr4
Dude…you’re like Spandau Ballet: one hit wonder
c’mon Matthew you know you liked their first album, plus they had more than one hit.
Launch angle and swing path according to Chris Denorfia, and Charlie Blackmon.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/charlie-blackmon-and-chris-denorfia-on-launch-angles/
@AlexPavlovic – It’s throwback day here: Freddy Sanchez, Bengie Molina and Jeremy Affeldt are all on the field.
Hope they took a photo – especially for the Ghost Sanchez.
Re-post. Pacbell becomes AT.T. and “pays off its Nut”
http://www.knbr.com/2017/02/24/in-honor-of-the-giants-paying-off-att-here-are-some-of-the-parks-greatest-memories/
Don’t know if anyone’s posted this, but here’s the Giants’ radio and TV schedule for the Cactus League games.
https://twitter.com/bittergiantsfan/status/835285241598091264
Nice. Thank you…hope the meeting was worth it!!!
Nope. Not even close.
I was sneaking peeks at my phone’s At-Bat app, and it was bewildering. It described the first inning thus:
Panik singled
Belt tripled but Panik didn’t score
Morse got a single that scored Belt
Morse stole second
Meanwhile, the beat writers were Tweeting that Pence had knocked in Panik. The app went on to claim that Bumgarner had pitched a 1-2-3 second inning.
None of that was correct, of course, other than Panik’s original single. The beat writers were correct. And Bum only pitched one inning.
So either the app guys were high or it was #FakeNews. I should have figured when it said Morse stole second.
That’s too funny…because it’s very relatable…that app should be outlawed. Baseballboarding…cruel and unusual
Is Doug Greenwald calling the MLB.com Giants ST games again? I wish the audio quality could be improved somehow; it’s always sounded like maybe one step above two tin cans and a string!
I don’t know, but probably. Doug and Shawn Estes…ugh. I don’t know how a team that’s had four HOF broadcasters and two more who’ve been finalists can let those two hacks do anything, even spring training.
In signing Marrero, the Giants got a guy they hope might be another Duvall. They both hit with power in the minors, but never really got a big league shot with their original team. Maybe they learned something.
House of Duvall, Season 3!
Cabin of Duvall, maybe.
Duvall looked purty bad on that 2B by Pence.
Muhammad Ali’s son was detained in customs because of his religion.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/24/muhammad-ali-jr-detained-immigration-officials-fla-airport/98379082/
Let’s hope this all blows up in his face. I thought this country was founded on religious and political freedom. Something’s going to happen from which we’ll have a tough time recovering.
The USA recovered from a Civil War and two World Wars. I’m pretty sure it can recover from Donald Trump.
Depends on how long he holds power. The USA has never been threatened by fascism before.
Please point out the other nations where the “fascist” leader is openly mocked, hated and ridiculed by half of the population, or where his intentions are thwarted by courts and other sectors of the government. While there’s plenty to reasonably dislike about Trump, the level of over-the-top hysteria amounts to the largest, longest and most overly dramatic collective tantrum in history.
I don’t argue with walls.
That’s a pretty good strategy when you don’t have a rational argument.
You miss law school don’t you.
oversimplifying the situation, yes Americans have survived wars before, but what you are missing is that it is much easier for White Americans to make it through tough times, no one really scrutunizing
“Immigration officials let Camacho-Ali go after she showed them a photo of herself with her ex-husband, but her son did not have such a photo and wasn’t as lucky. Mancini said officials held and questioned Ali Jr. for nearly two hours, repeatedly asking him, “Where did you get your name from?” and “Are you Muslim?”
When Ali Jr. responded that yes, he is a Muslim, the officers kept questioning him about his religion and where he was born. Ali Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1972 and holds a U.S. passport.”
Washington Post: “Muhammad Ali Jr. had just returned to Florida from Jamaica, where he had accompanied his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, who was there giving a speech about black history.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/25/muhammad-alis-son-reportedly-detained-at-airport-asked-twice-about-his-religion/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.8f10bd87605c
This happened on February 7, 2017.
What bothers me is these guys didn’t become imbeciles because of some executive order. This latent potential has been there all along OR some unknown secret orders have been given to be as stupid as possible now that it’s OK to do so.
Several US-born citizens with Arabic-sounding names have been detained and regarded with suspicion, questioned about their names and Muslim faith. Sidd Bikkannavar, a NASA Scientist who works for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory was detained and wasn’t released until he turned over his JPL work phone and password. Bikkannavar is a NASA engineer, born in Pasadena, CA, with a valid US Visa.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/us/citizen-nasa-engineer-detained-at-border-trnd/
“It looks an awful lot more like it does now than it did before.”
This was what an old boatbuilder said at the end of this episode. Now, I think he’s from Maine so that might make a bit of difference.
As an old sailer and wood worker, I love this stuff. This guy is a master boatwright, but still…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxu1oaHwIE8&ab_channel=TipsfromaShipwright
My25ManGuys™ 2017 … 20 of us are in; deadline is Midnight WMFT.
Pick who will be on the 25-Man roster at season’s open.
Here are the obvious “Core 18”:
Starters: Posey, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Nunez, Pence, Span
Bench: Hundley, Conor Starting Pitchers: Bum, Cueto, Moore, Samardzija
Bullpen: Melancon, Kontos, Smith, Law, Strickland
Post the seven others you think will make it here in response to any HaakAway post. To save time do not list all 25 unless you think one of these 18 will not make the 25-Man.
”25/25 Deadline” … By request here from some: You get two shots…
February 25 is the deadline for your first picks … Spring Training is wide open then.
March 25 is the deadline for your final picks … Spring Training is about to end then.
*Questions? Write me at: My SF Giant Guy at g Mel d Ott com
IF Bench — Tomlinson
OF — Parker, Marrero (I am going off one AB?), Hernandez
BP — Okert, Suarez
SP — Blach (hoping they find a reason to DL Cain)
This probably won’t happen as it seems like Bochy like to carry 8 pitchers and they will probably find a way for Cain to start and get lit up for two months before he gets “elbow tenderness.”
I am Unrealistically picturing Cain gets three starts that will reveal some “recurring pain” and Blach gets his first start at home vs. the doggers. Or Cain is really better and takes on the doggers and does great.
Haak – I already submitted mine correct? Seems I did it awhile ago.
Yes … Here is what I have:
2/25 – Cain, Mac, KT, Gorkys, Rollins, Suarez, Osich
You have 10 hours and 43 minutes to change it.
Gracias
Here you go, I’ve made some changes:
Starters: Posey, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Nunez, Pence, Span, Mac
Bench: Hundley, Conor
Starting Pitchers: Bum, Cueto, Moore, Samardzija
Bullpen: Melancon, Smith, Law, Strickland
INF bench: Hwang, Tomlinson
OF bench: Gorkys, Marrero
Pen: Okert, Suarez, Cain
I can see a scenario where Cain has an “injury” to start the season and Kontos/Gearrin get the final RH pen spot.
Got it down for you. Good luck; picking some ‘fast starters’ it would appear.
Four long-time umpires have retired:
“Veteran umpires Davidson, Hirschbeck, Joyce, Welke retire
by Jonah Birenbaum 3d ago”
http://www.thescore.com/news/1237139
Just so nobody else sits here for hours wondering what the hell are people doing and not posting comments. You’ll have to go through two extra steps to get to a new thread and catch up. Shame on you.
Looks like at least Cain is consistent, starting right where he left off last season.
Let’s hope if he keeps getting pounded all ST, logic will prevail and Blach/Stratton/Beede start the season as #5
BOOM @ Parker