By
Greek Giant
Johnny Cueto was very good, matching Jacob deGrom inning by inning and leaving with the Giants down 1-0, having only given up a single run in 7 sharp innings. Brandon Belt would homer in the bottom of the 7th go get Cueto off the hook but the Giants bullpen was once again not up to the task. The game was a thing of beauty until the top of the 8th. DeGrom and Cueto were like two heavyweights in a glittering performance of strength, power, guile and grace. Watching two aces face off with their best stuff is a sight to see if you love baseball.
Jacob deGrom was making the Giants look like Little Leaguers most of the game. Johnny Cueto was in and out of trouble but prevented the Mets from doing any serious damage, keeping them off stride and guessing throughout.
If am the architect of the team the bullpen is the first piece I rebuild next year.
Ryder Jones made his Major League debut going 0-4.
It’s Sunday so I will not bore you with all the ways the Giants are terrible. Let’s enjoy the day and relish the chance to watch Buster have a sterling season.
Kevin Durant giving OKC and Brian Westbrook an appropriate “cupcake” response. No cherry-on-top; just a championship ring.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5214304be95b631d482ab8084bd9aa959f089edcaa929f87f10111035733b37.jpg
I like, nay, I LOVE KD’s style.
That’s funny.
Greek, there were two key bullpen moves that haven’t worked : Smith got hurt, Melancon is injured and not pitching well.
The very, very huge clear “first moves” for me -though way tougher than bullpen – are finding outfielders. Our outfield has killed this team both offensively and defensively with who they are. The bullpen is more about an odd mix and injuries. Both places are disasters. I vote OF first
…and also second: there’s two big salaries that aren’t paying off.
McC Chron has turned up another really good writer:
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2017/6/24/15869382/giants-are-mets-mets-are-giants-but-hey-ryder-jones
“Watching Crick take the mound for the big club, and cause the best defensive catcher in the game to flinch and stab like Pedro Feliz, made me very happy.”
That is nice to hear.
Poling got me in his first sentence, “devolved into thumbless shamblers flop-sweating all over the diamond”.
Guy knows how to turn a phrase.
Hopefully someday able to write about a positive team.
I think Bobby Evans did his due diligence with the bullpen. It was time for Casilla, Romo, and Lopez to move on. He traded for Smith last July and paid up for Melancon. Law had a great rookie year, and with him, Strickland, veteran Kontos, and the two young lefties in the wings, it looked like a deep and talented mix of veterans and talented youngsters.
Well, we know how that all turned out, but it’s not for lack of planning or trying.
In contrast, there was no planning and no trying when it came to the 2017 outfield. I know Evans has a budget. I know he used it all up getting Melancon. But the lack of effort shows not just in the LF revolving door but also in the other two spots, where the defensive ability in particular is far below major league quality. And Gorkys Hernandez as Plan A if/when something happened to Span (which I recall was Day 2 of the season)? Drew Stubbs and Justin Ruggiano and Orlando Calixte as Plans B, C, and D?
That’s not trying. That’s bargain-shopping and dumpster-diving. And none of it has worked.
There was supposed to be one OF to be found between Parker and Williamson, and I do hope Parker’s return is solid, but yeah, they spent money and trade value on the bullpen, and had horrible luck with it. Should have spent a million on Gregor Blanco, at the very least.
Parker had only 21 at bats, and Williamson has 31 at bats, all this stuff I read and hear on the Radio that the Parker and Williamson experiment failed, never wanted to give them a chance in the 1st place .
Failed in the sense that they’ve made almost no contribution. And Williamson doesn’t seem to be hitting much at AAA, so I feel he’s finished. Parker is still to be determined, of course.
Williamson has hit with a lot of pop in Sacramento, average not so good, SLG% .481, HR every 20 at bats, not bad .
I still haven’t given up on him. I’ve always been intrigued by the five-tool potential and especially the power. I also remember how well he played last summer for the Giants when he actually got a chance.
It would be great if he got hot in July, came up in August or September and played well for the Giants, and was in the mix again for 2018. But that’s probably just wishful thinking. Besides his inconsistency, they just don’t seem to like him much. Don’t know why; maybe it’s deserved, but there it is.
I’ve also always been a big fan. At this point I hope he gets traded and thrives elsewhere a la Duvall. It would serve us right, and maybe instill some patience into the thought process of managers and coaches.
Think Duvall for the quick hook to AAA.
Williamson was injured in spring, and Parker was injured a couple weeks into the season, , so the plan was messed up before it ever got started .
Even if that hadn’t happened and one or the other of them had played well, that still doesn’t account for the lack of backup behind Pence and Span. Both have been on the DL this year, and even though Span is hitting much better this year than last, they’re both defensive liabilities, and Pence isn’t hitting much, either. It’s shocking how quickly Pence’s game has deteriorated.
We’re all fairly good baseball fans. We do our research, we watch closely, most of us follow the game beyond our team. All through the offseason–starting immediately after we were eliminated–the consensus concern of TWG was the weakness of our OF. The lack of depth, a gaping hole in LF, and especially the declining skills of Span and Pence.
If we saw this, how did the front office not? I think they did, but ownership refused to give them additional payroll to cover the additions we needed, and to cover the luxury tax hit we would take. As Dr. Phil would say “how’s that working out for you?”
Bingo
Finnerty’s 4 pm eastern
Top 50 trade targets. Seems the Nats have a lot of non-Melancon options to address their bullpen woes. I bet it starts with Neshek of the Phils and maybe dipping into the A’s pen. It’s gonna be hard to move Melancon. Real hard. They have Cueto listed deep on this list, but if an inconsistent, injury prone Sonny Gray is the top starter, you’ve got to figure there is a chance for Cueto.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/top-50-trade-deadline-candidates-for-2017.html
Casilla!!! Or not??
Madsen/Doolittle
Just opened it up…boy, they cover it all by listing about 200 guys. Bet they come back in August and claim foresight!
Attababe!
That’s an interesting list. Trying to think like a GM: Are you trying to win now and get a starting pitcher for the postseason? If so, Cueto would seem among the best of the bunch. He’s a quality starter with a good postseason resume.
But his contract complicates things a lot. If he were a straight rental, you take a chance to win now. But what if you trade for him, he gets injured, and then you’re stuck with him at a high price for four years?
If you’re sort of middling–you’d like to win now but you’re looking at an AL wild card spot, so you’re not selling the farm for an ace–then you go for someone with longer control, like Gray or Quintana or Cole, even if they’re not all that right this minute; you bet on their upside.
I wonder if the Dodgers get Cole. Or Gray.
The Dodgers have to think about both now and later with their rotation after this shocking injury to Urias. Unless they think they’re going to go after a pricey free agent starter in the winter, they should try to get one of the younger guys who still has team control after this year. And I imagine the Cubs will be right in there, too, for the same reasons–they need to reinforce their rotation for the future. And the Yankees…
We were on an all-day tour of the Big Island yesterday, and part of our tour group was a family from East Texas–Nagadoches, to be exact, and they knew all about local boy Brandon Belt (the oldest daughter goes to Stephen F. Austin junior college, where Belt played before transferring to UT). Anyway, the dad’s a big Astros fan, and we said “Want Johnny Cueto?” Interestingly, he immediately said “NO.” I think Cueto still has a reputation of being inconsistent and unreliable, which is odd, because the stats show he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball for some years now.
My Mom offered me only Kyle Schwarber when I tried to fake-trade Cueto to her Cubs – she thinks he’s diminished.
My guess, for whatever it is worth, is that Cueto’s contract is too peculiar for another team to want to take it on, w/o the Giants adding in mucho denaro, which they’re not likely to do.
You’re right. I think Cueto does not get traded at the deadline, because of the contract. I love Johnny Cueto, but I’m skeptical about four more years of top of the rotation production. You have to think that his people would know there’s more money on the table before they decide to opt out, and that would get us another high round draft pick.
A lot can change in a month.
Hard to believe but Giants facing a starting pitcher todsy with s higher ERA than Moore
Who was the last starter to get a win ? Moore
Good point. The batters need to score some runs for the pitchers, a good starting point would be to get a 2-game streak for Moore.
What’s a pitchers best pitch?
A called strike 3.
Strike One.
When was the last pitcher to implode? Answer: Take your pick
Yes. The Tuesday game in Atlanta. He pitched really well that night, and we broke through in the eighth inning with our patented RTIs, and Slater’s three run jack.
I just read Carl Steward’s game review plus team assessment. Giants are 5-17 in June so far, and he has other similar discouraging numbers like that. To try to be a little more positive, what do we have to look forward to? Arroyo and Parker should both be back, and maybe Hwang will get a look. Bumgarner’s return seems likely to be earlier than planned, and he should come back snorting. Nunez is playing good when he’s able to be on the field. Slater, Jones, Parker might push the two old OFs to part time roles? But maybe the chance of a .500 month rests solely in the hands of the two Brandons?
Seems like Hwang might not. I thought he would, but the Ryder J call up seems to supersede that chance? Unless they DFA Gorkys -which I don’t see…
Gorkys is safe for a while, he’s playing a bit better, and the Giants simply can’t have no insurance behind Pence and Span.
One beat writer (Alex? Hank?) said that the Giants don’t think Hwang can handle it defensively, so it’s unlikely they’re bringing him up before July 1. If he opts out, they’ll live with that.
Parker is on the clock and will have to be brought back soon or DFA’d. They had him play CF in one of Sac’s doubleheader games yesterday. Maybe they decide Slater (who’s also played some CF) and Parker are enough backup for Span. Are they really going to DFA Parker in favor of Gorkys? Hard to picture.
Also, Jones has played both corner OF positions, so he’s a backup outfielder as well.
Do you concur that Hwang is that deficient defensively? I’d hate to lose him to the opt-out without ever seeing him at the MLB level!
They tried him in the OF, and that looked terrible. I saw him play third a couple times in spring training and actually thought he seemed decent there, but that was a small sample size. The last time I was at a game, he was playing first. They’ve had Jones playing a lot of 3B the last week or two after having him play a lot in the OF, so I take it this Jones move was planned for awhile.
I would think Parker stays…I swear, it would be the absolute best case if Span or Pence could be traded…not because Gorkys should stay, but because Span and Pence are no longer viable outfielders in any sense of the current state of MLB.
How many days left on Parker?
I think it’s 20 days(?) after a player begins rehab games? And Parker’s been playing for Sacramento since last Monday. So a couple weeks to go.
I just can’t imagine who would want Span or Pence at the price. Yes, Span’s showing some signs of life at the plate, but he’s bad in the OF and expensive. And Pence is even more expensive, and even if you’d want him for his clubhouse presence…yeah, I just don’t see it.
GM’s tend to panic and overreach , so I do think both could be trade bait…both have veteran pedigree and great leadership skills that are intoxicating from afar. I’ve seen worse guys moved.
I could see someone taking on Pence – but… Span???
Naw dont wanna lose Parker!
Why would the Giants DFA their hottest hitter in the month of June? Thats right Gorkys hitting .375 in June with a .467 OBP. Take that Buster and Brandon.
Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.
Good morning all. Mrs. Crawnik and myself enjoying a few days here in Reno with friends of ours. Had some great food, beer from the Great Basin Brewing Company, won some money, gave some back, won some more. Question. Do you think I should put $20 down on the Giants losing 100 games?
This much I know. We walked into the Atlantis casino, walked through their Race and Sports Book, and just about every TV had the Dodger game on, to include some TV’s on ESPN interviewing Bellinger. I just about threw up in my mouth. Oh yeah, they had one TV on the Giants game. This was Friday night. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/090ce421dae4d7c572b2563198359605dda0407fad4112ddfbd695be9e9e5007.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4ada1005d7413bda8aa05609332476f6baba299c4cce30f2335d0d0478382011.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5ea016f639f4c7b1ad693c5736497d9f6f36626b8c3414a2c4a0daf668afb7fa.jpg
Bet that $20 -ON- the Giants, not against them. You’ll immediately feel better.
You may notice, the Dodgers are playing against the other team in the division that still matters, head to head pennant race you might say.. And, they’re playing really good baseball. They’ve won the same amount of games the Gs have lost (50). You’re in Reno, guess what people like? A Winner. Which unless you’re just so partisan you can’t flip your blinders up, is really fun to watch.
Sometimes we think the world is our own little oyster. It’s not.
3 years ago on this day, Timmy threw one of his no-hitters.
That’s a ray of sunshine today!
Yes, on my wedding anniversary (my gift that morning was a Timmy bobblehead, true story) and Brownie’s birthday!
Happy Anniversary to you and Mr. Lefty and happy birthday to Brownie! I’ll have an extra beer for y’all today at the ballpark. Well, maybe before the ballpark actually, it’ll be cheaper.
Thanks! A year ago today was the MadBum bobblehead game, and we were all there. We met Brownie and his wife at the centerfield garden bar before the game and toasted our special days.
This year, Mr. L and I will have to make do with celebrating in Hawaii…hope the game goes well. Matty Moe pitches better at home.
I remember you all telling us about that! A year ago today. Wow. Time flies.
MadBum pitched that night, too, and took a heartbreaking 3-2 loss. But those were still good times in Giantsville. Not for much longer, as it turned out.
I was at that game too! And sitting in center field. I went to that entire series against the Phillies actually. The night before I brought a Matt Duffy poster with Skeeter on it to the game (and my friend said while I went to the bathroom everyone was passing it around and wanted to see it- I guess casual fans didn’t know who the giant cat was) and we showed up on the Jumbotron with that poster. I still have it 😥 Tomorrow will be the one year anniversary that Kruk & Kuip complimented my bro-in-law on his barehanded foul ball catch on tv 😆
The same day a future 30 HR ,100 RBI player was called up .
You may never get over it, PJ.
He never played in that game, but the cameras should him arriving in the dugout during game, a great 1st MLB game, I also remember he had over 20 HRs in AAA when he was called up .
He’s not alone.
Lefty, party of 3, you’re table’s ready?!
Willie McCovey?
Um, Hal Lanier!
No, lemme change it. Yeah, it was Hack Wilson.
That’s right, Lon!
Wow, you DO have a good memory, PJ. I remember that now that you said it, but I don’t think I could have just come up with that.
OK, here’s another one for you, and I bet you get this because you’re such a huge Timmy fan: When Timmy pitched his first no-hitter in San Diego in 2013, what rookie outfielder was too scared to go to the bathroom the whole game for fear he’d jinx things by moving an inch? And what dumpster-dive free agent outfielder arrived for his first game with the Giants the day of that first no-hitter? (BONUS QUESTION: how was the dumpster dive related to a later Giants no-hitter?)
Francour’s 1st game as a Giant, Japanese infielder started that game LF
Yep. And who was the rookie who didn’t move? And how was the addition of Francoeur related to a later Giants’ no-hitter?
Justin Christian?
Roger Kieschnick was the rookie. And Francoeur was added to the 40-man roster via a DFA of…Chris Heston, who was pitching for Fresno that year.
And we should also remember Kieschnick was brutalized on GE for not acting in the right way at the time.
Right. Kensuke Tanaka. I also remember those two guys were front and center in the White House photo a week or two later, while George Kontos, who actually contributed to the 2012 title, got optioned to AAA right before the trip and didn’t get to go to the White House at all.
That’s what abstaining from drugs and alcohol will do for your memory. What’s your excuse? 😉
I don’t do any drugs and I don’t overindulge on alcohol. Coffee, strong as I can make it, keeps me sharp as a tack!
… … … …
Is disqus broken again? The navigation is slow, and it no longer allow me to post pictures of kitties. (Says I have to log in, when I already have.) :o(
Disqus Hates Kittens!
I think it just hates me (SOB!). ;o)
i can’t believe there’s anyone that can hate you, paulito. well, maybe one guy..
‘This one guy is blocked…’ ;o)
Yeah because Melky’s average was disallowed, he hit .346 in 2012
That was an odd quirk. By rule, Melky could have still won the batting title because he already had enough plate appearances to qualify when he was suspended. But he requested to withdraw from the batting title race, and Buster was awarded the title. Nice move after Melky had let the team down, but it seems odd to me that the league could just ignore its own rule on request of a player.
Anyway, Buster’s the 2012 batting champion, and he certainly deserved the MVP for the way he played after Melky got popped.
I think Melky ended the year a few at bats under to qualify, but usually MLB just gives a player 0 for those at bats, to come with an average that does qualify, and Melky would have won the batting title doing that, but they did not do that .
That’s correct. He was appx 5-6 plate appearances short of qualifying for the batting average title. MLB would add those ABs to his numbers, and if he still led he would win it. Melky decided not to do that, so Buster won the batting average title.
Ah, that all vaguely rings a bell now.
That is correct, they did not do that as Melkey asked not to have them do that
Cabrera did win the batting title. Not giving it to him was completely artificial. Posey, of course, eagerly accepted the charity.
Fact is, Melky knew he screwed up big time with the PED scandal, trying to cover it up with some lame story, then walking out on his team without saying a word. I think he decided to give up the batting title to save face and take away some of that stink. Not artificial. It was Melky’s decision, and Buster was the beneficiary.
Completely artificial. By the rules of baseball, Cabrera won the batting title.
WRONG…
I agree that it was artificial, but I don’t see that as a knock on Buster. He was just there. It could have been someone else on another team, too. And Buster put the team on his back in that second half after Melky went out, allowing them to go from tied in the NL West to running away with the division, clinching it barely five weeks later, and winning by 8 games.
He was certainly the MVP.
And the batting champ
WRONG
POTD
lol potd and its still morning lolol
Foots gives those out from his windowless white van
Lmbao
Melkys average was not disallowed. Melkey asked that they not give him an o fer to reach the number of required at bats for the season to win the batting championship.This ways his way of trying to make ammends with the organization and handed Buster the title. If Melkey did not insist on that Melkey was the batting title winner.
Bummer. I’ve got some real turkeys I’d like to post pictures of. And some kitties too. But never the twain shall meet.
I like your avatar photo…don’t know his name…but recall him from a star trek episode with Kim Darby and of course the mechanic in Bonny & Clyde. Can’t answer your question about the site.
“Dirt in the fuel line. Blew her clean out!”
He was the one who tipped the coppers on Bonnie and Clyde’s whereabouts.
I thought it was his old man?
Yeah, might have been the kid tipped his dad? Senior moment/hazy memory. Good movie for those days.
Paul in p.v.’s avatar is of Michael J. Pollard. Yeah, I remember him from the Star Trek episode about the planet where non-children were called “grups”.
Michael J. Pollard!
Pictures of Myrtle?
And Snorkel. And Spats. And Myrtle. And Lucita…
Ah, yes. Lucia–I forgot about her! Spats is a new one for me. Can’t wait to see those pictures!
Then there is the immortal Snorkel. Listening intently to the radio broadcast, Snorkel would walk across the table to “bring us luck”…and often that would coincide with a winning rally. Snorkel was the coolest cat. Gave us the classic line “who is care?”
El Snorkel loved his Gigantes, and vice versa.
Dunno if I can post Spats’ photo – I’ve tried and tried, even attempted to open a new disqus account under a modified name, but it says ‘this email address it already in use.’ Grrr.
p.s. Are then any disqus experts out there?
Only fake ones like me. I changed my browser back to Mozilla and Internet Explorer
Went down and checked out the flooding Kings River in Reedley yesterday (the fruit basket of the world). Impressive. Pine Flat is about 99.5% full, but at least influx is slowing from the all that crazy snowmelt. Still quite a sight. So today, going up the great cathedral Canyon above to humbly observe God’s work and the raging Kings River below. It’s an awesome place to get awestruck in. I think the Giants have a winning record on days I go to the Park/forest.
Good to hear about those “raging waters”. About two years ago we actually had some communities in California running out of water. This past winter cured a lot of California’s thirst. Let’s hope it continues next winter.
Interesting (to me) side note during yesterday’s game…Cueto pitching to Flores. He threw his complete Tiant-esque assortment at him – the back to the hitter twist, the pause in mid wind up, the Cueto shimmy, etc. And then of course, after all that trickery, the ball still crosses the plate the same way and Flores whacks it out for a home run. Lots of entertainment though.
During yesterday’s FOX telecast Matt Vasgersian referenced the early-mid 1980s Giants, specifically the few years before we re-emerged as contenders in 1986. He referenced this article by Mark Purdy. That 1985 team was AWFUL, as Purdy describes here. As I discussed earlier, I had some limited behind the scenes access. Those guys were even worse than Purdy describes.
Vasgersian also reminded us of the 1983 campaign to get Johnnie LeMaster on the all-star team. LeMaster was like the Crazy Crab–the guy fans loved to hate. That year they moved him to leadoff (we had no other viable options), and he actually played much better. He started getting on base, stealing bases and playing good SS. Johnnie couldn’t hit, so once he inched over .250 we were pumped. Johnnie Lee LeMaster was one of Mrs. TF’s favorites. She would holler out encouraging cheers, Johnnie would look over and offer a shy smile. I loved it. Great memories.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/21/purdy-congrats-to-the-2017-giants-on-track-to-be-worst-in-san-francisco-history/
A LeMaster pre-emptive to the fans.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b06294598f8ffca93cc706c4c2a42629516c1c9b678a04a7227483d8ef23b845.jpg
😂😂😂
I remember it well. That was hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
Johnnie is from Paintsville, KY, and of course the players called him “Kentucky”. After he retired Johnnie settled back in his home area, working with a local church’s youth groups.
I will only go to ga message now for the bobbleheads. I could care less about the product on the field.
We’re on our first trip to the Big Island and have been fortunate to view some incredible scenery. Here are a few photos. The sunset photo is from Friday night on our balcony. The rest are from our Circle Island tour yesterday. We saw the Kilauea volcano, a black sand beach, went through a lava tube, two waterfalls, and the stunning Waipi’o Valley lookout was our last stop. We also saw the REAL southernmost point of the U.S. (Key West is a pretender; their sign should specify “continental”).
The two photos of me and Mr Lefty (married 34 years today!) are at the volcano and at Waipi’o Valley. Anyway, I’m no artist like Allen Hirsch or Greek Giant, but when you have sights like this, all you have to do is point and shoot with your iPhone and it’s still incredible.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4l4skmicypnhhep/AAD9fRGF1os2c_6aEBkv3JPHa?dl=0
beautiful pics, doc. allen would be proud. happy anniversary to you and sr. lefty. you might want to fix the typo in your post though. it says you two kids are married 34 yrs. you probably meant 24, yes?
Thanks, Steve! For real on the 34–June 25, 1983. The Giants won that day.
Actually, they didn’t win that day. I just looked it up–to see how Johnnie LeMaster played (he was 1-2 with two walks, a SB and a CS).
June 25, 1983 was a Saturday, Padres at Giants. We lost 3-2. Two former Giants pitchers did most of the work against us: Ed Whitson and John Montefusco.
That was a four game series. We won Friday night game and swept a doubleheader on Sunday. Your wedding weekend did give us a series win, so close enough!
I think they may have been winning at some point–I remember a wedding guest snuck out to his car radio and whispered the score to me at the reception. I may have been otherwise occupied and didn’t hear the final score. No MLB At-Bat back then!
Yes, they took an early 2-0 lead, then coughed it up late. Lavelle took the loss, giving up an unearned run. But you get credit for the three outta four!
The Giants had a 30 HR hitter 1n 1983, Darrell Evans .
Indeed. Then they couldn’t convince him to stay in SF, and he signed with the Tigers. He won a WS ring in 1984, hit 40 HR in 1985 and a total of 141 HRs in his Tigers tenure. Darrell Evans was a good Giant.
Dead pull hitter, perfect for the old Tigers stadium .
Great pix Doc, and you look mahvelous, Dearie
Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Lefty.
Fine photos but why not a Giants ball cap? I see no Giant accessories.
Enjoy!.
Maybe you can’t see it, but I was wearing a 2017 Giants spring training cap. Mr Lefty has plenty of them, too, but he happened to wear his Life is Good cap (with a yellow Lab holding a Frisbee, in honor of our dog).
I can’t see!
Really my eye sight is not what it once was.
A relief to know you have priorities in order.
the warrior draft pick, jordan bell, looks like a steal. the kid should fit perfectly in the dubs system. mccaw last year, and now bell. why can’t the giants get that kind of talent with their later picks?
https://theringer.com/2017-nba-draft-golden-state-warriors-jordan-bell-4c30c438b139
Sometimes they do. Slater was an 8th rounder. Duffy–18th. Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, Jonathan Sanchez–all in the 20s.
Agree on Bell, though. Bob Myers is a freakin’ wizard. HOW did he get anyone to make a deal with him, and how did that deal end up being such a great fit (prospectively, anyway)?
credit to lacob as well, for writing the check. i know 3.5 mil isn’t as big a deal for him as it would be for you and me, but still…
Yes, credit to him, for sure. I’d happily write a check for $3.5 million, but good luck cashing it. 🙂
I’m determined to look for bright spots. The Giants’ starting lineup, yesterday and today, has six homegrown starters: Posey, Panik, Brandons, Slater, and Jones. When Cain or Blach start, and when MadBum comes back, that will be seven.
Now, I know that’s not all good news because the reason Slater and Jones are here is how badly the team has floundered, plus injuries to Parker and Nunez. Still: the first four guys are mainstays and have been for years, Slater is a legit prospect who’s earned his way here, and Jones was a second-round draft pick–also legit. So it’s kind of cool, really.
Another bright spot: If all goes well, MadBum will pitch for the River Cats on Friday. We’ll still be in Hawaii (moving to Maui tomorrow), but I gave our tickets away to a younger co-worker, who’s taking her three boys to the game. They’re excited to hopefully see the Big Guy in action.
San Jose on Thursday was reported as Bums 1st rehab start , unless things have changed .
In this morning’s Chronicle John Shea said likely Friday in Sac.
Schulman tweeted about the Sacramento Friday start during the game yesterday. He’s doing a game in AZ today.
Kihei or Lahaina side?
Lahaina. Staying on Ka’anapali Beach.
Atta Southpaw!
Where are they now?
Roger Kieschnick…last played in April of 2016 for a team in the Mexican League
The Great Mike Kickham…pitching well (2.43 ERA) for the Marlins’ AA team
Nick Noonan…hitting .190 for the Brewers’ AAA team
Juan Perez…just came back from an injury and playing for the Tigers’ AAA team
Brett Pill…retired when he didn’t make the Tigers this Spring Training
Joaquin Arias…out of baseball
Andrew Susac…hitting .151 for the Brewers’ AAA team
Jake Dunning…has a combined ERA of 8.34 for the White Sox’ AA and AAA teams
Chris Dominguez…hitting .264 for the Cubs’ AAA team
Gary Brown…playing in the independent Atlantic League…has a career MLB BA of .429
Mike Broadway…ERA over 10 in Tampa Bay’s system
Alas, most of these stories are sad. Mike Kickham is now 28 years old and not even in AAA. He got demoted to AA after 3 full seasons in AAA. One hopes for the best for him but he’s at that age where illusions start to die fast.
Dreams die slow.
But at least they made The Show, even if only for a brief period. They’re permanently etched into MLB history.
You’re right–dreams die hard. You gotta think that once they hit 30, they realize it’s time to focus on their life’s work.
I’m sure many of them have no idea what that might be.
At 30, neither did I.
Indeed, TO! For many minor leaguers, the MLB dream has been the focus of life for many years. I imagine quite a few never developed a skill that leads to a high paying job.
Recently someone here (sorry, can’t remember who) that Ted Turner said he was paying 200 minor leaguers to play catch with the 10 who might make the show. That’s oh so true. And a testament to the very high baseball skills of anyone like Gorkys Hernandez who is able to hang about on a 25-man roster for a reasonable length of time.
True that. Back in the day we went to every Stockton Ports home game at Billy Hebert Field. We got to know a lot of the players, and we all knew who the stars were. I didn’t realize the reality of your statement until one of the lesser players one day told us “hey, there’s only 2-3 guys on every California League team that have any shot at the majors. The rest of us are just here to play with them.”
With 25 man rosters at any given time there are only 750 MLB players. On the other hand there are thousands upon thousands of MiLB players who stay in near-miss mode for many years. Sports can be very cruel to those who are very good but not quite good enough. Ever see “Hoop Dreams”?
Dreams die hard but those subsistence level minor league salaries must be tough to bear year after year. He’s been in minor league ball since 2010. At what point does the economic strife become intolerable?
It’s ridiculous that minor league players don’t even earn minimum wage. Giants could probably pay these guys (all minor leaguers). a 40 hour year round minimum on what they make in overpriced food and beer profits in a single series. I realize a few of them got bonuses, but even fewer get the big bucks.
It’s sad minor league players are paid poverty wages.
Exactly why, unfortunately– even with the best of credentials– are a total dice roll
Curtis Parch?
Merced’s finest! Well, on Merced’s list behind Doug Fister and a couple others
Where’s Travis Ishikawa? I was thinking about him the other day.
I hope he’s moved on, because he is an outstanding young man who will go on to do great things in his life. A few years ago someone here told us about meeting Travis’s father-in-law at a Giants game. This man said that whatever Travis accomplished in baseball would pale in comparison to the accomplishments of Travis the husband, father and Christian. High praise indeed.
Well, he’s the author of one of the greatest moments in SF Giants and AT & T Park history. No one can ever take that away from him.
Indeed. Couldn’t happen to a better and more deserving guy. I remember being in tears as he shared his struggles that year and how his faith got him through. LOVE that guy!
Should never, ever have to buy a meal in San Francisco
Not currently playing anywhere.
Powers out in Davis. You left in the nick of time.
Yikes. My poor dog (and dog-sitter).
I checked in on the ballpark app and won a Cueto shimmy bobblehead! One of 30 to win.
Well thats just shimmylingus!
Well, you DID say you would bounce today.
Cool. We got those at a River Cats game earlier. You’ll like it.
I actually went to the game where they orignally gave those away back in April. It was a Saturday day game against the Rox and the G’s got blitzed. Portence of things to come.
So much for my 27-0 June record. You should have taken the under. On my way to Finnerty’s to watch the Giants beat the Mets.
There’s always July.
Or 2018
Keys to the game:
1 Matt Moore gets dialed in during his pre game warm up
2 Giants hitters knock the cover off the ball
3 Bull pen does its job
Did you lose your keys again?
WTF why do these guys need the first inning to finish their warm ups. With our luck, Moore pitches the no hitter which is still in tact and we lose 1-0.
The good news after 8 pitches: he still has a no-hitter going
Dont jinx him. but he lost the perfect game with the leadoff walk
Matt Moore is a walking self-jinx
Wonder if we can get Duffy (even with his pending surgery ) back for Moore
Make that 24. No hitter still on the table.
What a shock ? Waks the leadoff batter followed by a wild pitch
My 2017 SF Giants MyGuys: Hunter Oence and Matt Moore. What was I thinking!?
akes a real man to admit picking Moore
This dude is Whitey Sanchez…drives me nuts
Maddening. The talent is there, but big time control issues. A 24-pitch first inning. Ugh.
Moore falls behind on his own ineptitude
At least it’s a beauuiutiful day! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dfc99a5c392933f789fb2fc3d354f9fa6044d9fc72c3b59795f95142da33e7ac.jpg
Looks like you are in perfect position to catch Buster’s next big fly.
Which shoes?
Watermelon, duh
21st Amendment Feet!!!!
I stopped there before the game, of course.
Finnerty’s is absolutely dead. Bartender told me that Giants poor play has really cost them money.
Tell the owner to send the Giants a bill for lost revenue and hardship. What ever may be fair compensation. Worth a try.
There goes the no hitter.
There goes the no hitter
That play reinforces why Pence wouldn’t be a smart choice in LF either
Better than RF though…
How so?
Lots smaller, no triples alley, and we know Barry Bonds worked there on bad knees.
Those two balls would have been doubles and it would be 4-0… more balls are hit to left. He would further destroy the IF defense….he’s devolved into a DH…at best
Fair enough. Actually, I’d love to have word leak out that he’s playing through an injury of some kind, to give us some hope for the future.
Less ground to cover? I don’t think he gets traded or even platooned next year. Gotta put him somewhere.
If he isn’t traded, he needs to be a back up. I know that sounds crazy, but he simply cannot defend any more. As bad as Span is, this last month of Pence flailing about late on fairly routine fly balls show him to be our worst defender…
What about Pence and Cueto to Houston for a haul of young talent?
The Astro’s need another starter.
Pence started with the Astros and could be 4-5 OF and DH for the rest if his contract.
Brass ruing time for the Astros, they have maybe never been better.
I’m in.
Trust me, they haven’t been!
way to go Slater!
not even Slater could catch that one
Moore just plain sucks!
Airhead.
Wow. Just f****** wow!
And we’re gonna get swept at home. Of course.
Only way to watch this is to keep telling myself: “Remember 2010, remember 2012, remember 2014”
Finnerty’s can help you with drowning your troubles!
Not really
Moore is now tied for the league lead in earned runs allowed. He’s still 2 behind the leader in runs allowed, but it’s early.
Give it an inning….
I did not see him turning into one of the worst starters in the national league. He has completely fallen apart after having an excellent finish last year with one of the great postseason starts in recent memory.
More proof that pitching coaches, like hitting instructors, have a limited impact. Moore has talent, but Righetti doesn’t have the magical ability to get him to consistently harness that talent.
I also got a free Buster face. It’s creepy. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/64b7667c29e1cf9b4093d78e5745dc02990e5c0e6f10290be7369d767c6a9f96.jpg
That’s one way to raise your BA.
And to “intrigue” our friend PJ.
Best bunter on the team.
And stop them from shifting
Some wandu for a change?
a bunt and a bloop now a blast.
Tie it up!
Ouch.
Not gonna go over well with Boch.
This game is painful.
How many players got their first big league error before their first big league hit? I can name one.
Barry doesn’t understand advertising breaks
He doesn’t have to.
We are stuck watching the Mets feed here at Finnerty’s. Giants blacked out.
Good to see Moore get out of that jam. For Cricks sake especially. Now let’s see if the Giants can turn the momentum with that.
There’s a guy here with Cubs gear on – Rizzo jersey. Ew
Dump a beer on him. Oops! I’m sorry…not!
He has a friend too, with a Baez jersey
Come through Buster
Hit one out to Peachy!
Just cut the deficit by 33%.
Not for long.
Shut down innings are rare.
You called it.
That qualifies as a 2017 big inning.
That’s a shame.
Cant run yourself out of that inning I think
Vince Coleman taught them well .
Think it was Roberto Kelly
Nope, Vince Coleman hired to improve base running, not going that well .
Yes, I’m aware of that. It was sarcasm
Maybe he was thinking he wanted to stay out of the double play. I know there was two outs, but you never know how these guys think.
Very dumb move. Stupid, really. It would be questionable if you had SB speed, let alone Pence and his balky hammies.
There is certainly a big group of core players that appear to be trying to do too much.
Our HS coach used to often say “stay within yourself.” That is, don’t try to do things you can’t do. You’ll only hurt the team. Yep…
Was it him or called from the bench?
Had to be on his own.
So does making the third out on an attempted steal of second with a runner on third seem as bad as making the first or third out at third? Yes it kind of does.
Great shutdown inning by Moore. I repeat, he just sucks.
Even after the HR he reacquired a troubled inning. I’ve always been mystified by his acquisition because he lost his luster after 2014 and is now 3.5 seasons into mediocre-to-bad mode. I have no clue what the FO saw there. On the other hand he isn’t costing us much and is a UFA next year.
Had a few spectacular games and many games where he just stunk. Hard to figure him out
He had TJ in 2014
This only reaffirms my conviction that most guys whose pitching arms are cut by surgeons do not come back. Tommy John himself sort of created a myth which is not true in the details.
Two more ML Umpires whose time has come because of incompetence or it’s always about them: Bill Miller and Jerry (I need a stool) Meals
http://www.closecallsports.com/2017/06/mlb-ejection-079-bill-miller-1-john.html
http://www.closecallsports.com/2017/06/mlb-ejection-076-jerry-meals-1-nick.html
With the way that he’s playing, Slater should be batting ahead of BCraw and Jones.
I think Slater is 8th to help Jones see some pitches, and to kinda stretch out the lineup.
Actually, that makes sense, you might be right
Crawford is mired in a long slump. He looks lost at the plate. I wonder about our hitting coaches.
Nice jump, Span
not only poor jump but poor route and poor speed– looked like he was running with a paino on his back
I harp too often, but Span and Pence are simply not MLB defenders in any way whatsoever, and further destroys our suspect pitching. I can’t take Span and his Flintstone’s running-in-place starts out there
At least Fred Flinstone had a car
I’m reminded of Felipe Alou’s classic statement regarding rapidly declining players on the 2006 team: “these players are dying in my hands.” We are watching the end of Denard Span’s career, IMHO.
Really. Ender Inciarte would have been coasting. How can we go another year with mediocre CF play?
(So would Gorkys)
Get rid of Span for whatever we can get
Im about done with Span
Do the Giants have the worst commercials. Remember when they used to be funny and creative?
What is it about Bochy and Kontos?
Well, who would you go to? It’s a Dollar General dump bin out there
Righetti?
What are the long choices?
Who is the first Giant to be traded and when?
So much for the youth movement. Ryder Jones gone after 2 ABs.
It’s the error, I’m telling you
Please..He made the last out and only 4 bench players and lots of innings to eat.
He is pressing beyond pressing at the plate. Sit and watch, play tomorrow. That last AB he took strike 3 right down the heart
and an error on a dp ball
I’m a firm believer that you don’t leave a kid out there to embarrass themselves when they are struggling that bad
He needs to play consistently. Slater was the same way initially
He’s been here two days with two starts. Next question
I know you’re a dedicated fan, but relax. If you recall, Bruce pulled Slater after a couple games to watch a bit…it can work. Sit next to some dudes and watch. Let the game slow down. He’ll be back out there. Step back, Hoona
To be honest, all of them are pressing
I get that…but seriously, stop and think of that kid right now: he is completely overmatched at the plate, swinging at balls in the dirt, taking strikes down the middle….let a DP grounder go between his legs. Yes, he needs to play. Of course he does. But there are moments when it’s WAY better to pull him, let him breathe, sit next to veteran ball players in the dugout and assimilate. I strongly believe it was the right move, especially given the Game situation and the need to double switch. It’s not “personal”, it’s taking the opportunity to make the switch AND let the kid relax
All right, I just want him to get as much ABs in as possible before he’s inevitably sent down. Only a handful of games left for him to make an impression.
With Nunez and Arroyo both hurt, Jones will stick for a while. But he might be backing up Gillaspie in tomorrow’s game.
That’s what I fear also.
There’s also the possibility that he might not be good enough.
Yup
But we need to give him some run here and find out what he can do. Today was a strategic double switch. Nothing more.
Also a need for a double switch and multiple innings by Kontos.
Kontos leads the universe in inherited runners scoring. Any bets here?
Should have taken my bet
Serious question: if you’re Bruce, how long do you want to do this? If you’re Mrs. Bruce, how loudly are you telling him to come home and relax?
Serious answer – he seldom looks like he’s having fun, and will ask to step down at the end of the season. To great praise, I should say, he’s an icon for SFG.
I agree. He’s not going to stick around and be blamed for a failed rebuilding process by which time his accomplishments would appear diluted.
Too late for a couple folks on here (Oracle, Peter, Myhill), but you are exactly right
Speaking as someone who last year strongly encouraged her man to get out of an extremely stressful job when he had the opportunity, I’d say VERY loudly. I want us to have some golden years together. And my husband doesn’t have serious health problems like Bochy does.
EPILOGUE: He listened to me, changed jobs, and life is much saner.
And what has happened to the Giants since then, huh? Huh?
This is Kontos’ role. He’s the long man, not someone you boot in in the 8th inning.
A 1m buyout or 9m option on Moore. Cueto opting out. Cain will be bought out. Blach looking shaky. Who knows how Bum will do. Suddenly 2 yrs after rebuilding the damn thing, Rotation needs an overhaul.
The pen and OF need to be rebuilt. Wow. That was the case two years ago. And they still owe a ton of money next season even without Cueto.
Baer Sabes Evans won’t be getting much sleep.
Baer sleeps like a baby on a pillow of dollar bills….
A pillow of HUNDRED dollar bills.
Those are SOFT!
So long answer short … whole team needs to be rebuilt with the exception of Posey and Panik. I’m serious and it’s going to take a long time.
Who would have ever thought that there’d be even the remotest doubt on picking up Moore’s option? Instead he’s turned into one of the worst starters in the league.
Mets have scored in 4 of the 5 innings
Wasn’t this pitcher 0-13 with a 54.75 ERA coming in to today?
You talking about Moore? : )
Montero is having his career game.
I was just looking at his history. He had two comparable starts in 2014 (when a rookie) and hasn’t done much since.
The Giants are a pitcher’s tonic in 2017, unfortunately for the opposing team’s pitcher.
W-L I-9 and 5.51 ERA. Win and best ERA in 2014
The 2017 motto around MLB: “get healthy against the Giants.” Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Atlanta…others in sure I’m forgetting.
We wait until June 23 to DFA Aaron Hill. We bring Conor Gillaspie back. We keep Gorkys. We dumpster-dive for other team’s castoff relievers, they go all gas can for us, then we DFA them. We start Span nearly every day.
When does football start?
Bill Walsh used to say ten years is a very long time with one team. Evans or whoever is running the show must recognize it. It has been a total collapse since last year.
Has a team with this much talent, yes there is talent on the Giants roster, ever been so inept at winning baseball games? The ineptness is really a team effort. A talented team and they all lay an egg at the same time. The team looks talent-less because of all the egg laying, so you could argue there is no talent. But these guys are pros for a reason. A few may have their best years behind them, but WTF, it is not a bad roster.
When you name the “talent”, you must realize some are done. Is a Pence “talent”? Is Span? Cain? Moore? Bullpen? Bench?
Apparently it’s evident those guys better years came to an end this season. But talent wise, who knew Melancon would wet the bed like he did. Who knew Crawford wouldn’t tear it up at the plate. Panik is very talented. Who knew Smith would go down. Bum, Posey and Belt are core guys. Slater is a keeper. On paper coming out of ST, they looked like contenders. But reality took over I know. Appreciate Cains history but never felt he should have been in the rotation. His big contract is why he’s still here. Moore is a effin disappointment. Smarge is a competitor. All in all it’s frustrating as all heck.
I have no idea how you can think this is a talented team.
Forget the record, this is a better roster than last year’s team.
The record, combined with the second half of 2016, is a pretty significant thing to forget.
But that’s what we’re debating here is the amount of talent, not the record, right?
Talent-wise, this year’s team is better than last year’s team.
There’s nothing more indicative of a team’s overall talent level than its record, particularly when it’s approaching the worst record in baseball.
So you think the Giants are really the worst team in baseball and that they’re not underachieving one bit?
Possibly a bit, but there is no denying that both the bullpen and outfield are terrible, the starting pitching isn’t much better and the infield is, overall, mediocre. Blach was a bright spot, but he seems to be rapidly dimming. Maybe Slater can keep it going. Posey is the only player who’s having an excellent season.
Yes. Talent. That’s what is so puzzling. There is talent on this team.
Not sure about that. At all.
The one area I find glaringly worse than last year’s team is the OF depth. Other than that, the starting rotation is/should be much better than last year’s (which featured Peavy & Cain), bullpen has an established closer, and the lineup consists of pretty much the same guys from last year.
All in all, talent-wise, I’m pretty convinced that this year’s team is better.
That’s leaving out the natural causes decline of key guys like Span and Pence… and the LF and 5th starter risks were organizational fuck ups of the highest order. This team should be better than they are, but not better than last year
If it was any other manager except Bruce Bochy or any other team besides the Giants, a managerial change would have been made by now.
With the kind of talent on this roster? Absolutely. Managers have been fired for a lot less.
True.
They do have struggling talent but the outlook for their pitching staff couldn’t be worse. When Bum comes back they’ll have two-fifths of a starting rotation and no bullpen. Most of their talent is in the field (Posey, Panik, Pence, Belt) but only Posey and Panik are “steady Eddies”. Belt and Pence can disappear for weeks at a time. Some talent? Yes. A bunch? I don’t see it.
I think the Pence we knew has disappeared permanently.
Yes
Just an intuition but I feel you’re right. He’s 34, obviously lost a step, and his power numbers have gone into the toilet with his OPS down 150 points versus 2015/16. When guys in their mid-30s fall off the boat they seldom go out with a bang.
I actually feel sorry for Kontos. He’s kind of the team’s designated innings eater and he does have a strong arm. He’ll probably do 70 innings this year. The inherited runner thing is a problem but he does tend to come into unsalvageable games anyhow. Cory Gearrin will be the team’s other inning eater.
Kontos seems best at coming in when we’re behind and not letting them score more. Hold a lead? Keep it close? Not so much.
Leadoff walk.. I wonder what’s going to happen?
Atta babe Kontos.
As this total eclipse of the fun occurs, we get the public words of Evans that they won’t rebuild, but rather tinker…. but I do wonder what they REALLY think behind closed doors. They must realize two things – there are many high paid veterans who are DONE, and they have a lack of viable talent in the minors…
Options are limited, but I wonder if they will actually attempt to blow it up?
It’s gotta be a multi-year approach at this point, doesn’t it? Hard to see this getting better quickly.
I hope they’re a bit more realistic behind closed doors.
He did say once Duffy wasn’t going anywhere but then shipped him out for Moore. So you never know. He could bring in the wrecking ball.
Would one of you guys just hit a freakin’ home run.
I love Joe Panik’s strike zone. He’s the lineup’s anti-Pence.
well ain’t that 2017
This team is just sucking the life right out of itself.
It’s unwatchable– yet I am watching, like a moth drawn to a light
Yep.
You’re a true baseball fan, Surf. A true Giants fan. Like many others here. I tip my cap.
I thought it was impossible but this team just keeps getting worse.
The Phillies have scored in the 7th to pull even with the Diamondbacks.
We’re on a roll, but think about the questions coming in to the season and the answers that have come in the form of steel toed boots nut kicks:
Will Pence come back healthier? No
Will Span’s hip and shoulder allow him to improve? No
Will Cueto be as good as last season? No
Will Moore stay solid? No
Will Melancon greatly improve the closer’s role? No
Can Will Smith fill the 7th or 8th inning role? No
Is Derek Law for real? No
Will the Brandon’s continue improving their hitting? No
Will Buster’s power return a bit? No
Will Mad Bum continue his run of solid seasons? No
Will Cain get healthy and be a solid 5? No
Will Blach continue to improve? No
Can Parker and Williamson improve LF? No
Can Nunez stay healthy? No
Perhaps this is a very cruel season because , basically, everything went wrong. A quick death CAN be better than a slow one…IF the organization realizes the true situation they are in.
Posey has a .190 ISO, his highest since 2012 and higher than his career. I think that constitutes his power returning “a bit”.
About the only guy you left off the list is Samardzija, and I’m not sure what to think about him. In some ways, he’s pitching great. But the ERA is still bad (that’s not all him, he’s been victimized by a bad outfield more than anyone), and he still gives up too many home runs.
He’s still good enough that every time he starts I think we have a good chance to win. Cueto and Shark. After them, no confidence. I think Blach might figure it out. Let him keep starting. I’d like to see Cain or Moore to the DL pre-Bum return and get a look at Beede.
Samardzija is a fighter but all the available data seems to indicate that 2014 was the end of the happy part of his story.
His ERA was below league average last year and he threw over 200 innings. This year he has his career highest K rate and career low BB rate. There’s plenty to be happy about 2017 Samardzija.
I have a feeling, supported by evidence, that you’ve appointed yourself my personal natterer. Smarge is going to get $18M a year for the next 4 years. Is he THAT kind of good? The question answers itself.
I think we have interacted twice? I think Samardzija is both overpaid AND a good pitcher. You implying he hasn’t had a “happy” season since 2014 is just incorrect.
There are about 3 “yes” questions: Samardzija, Posey’s stroke, and maybe Slater ( too soon)… the overwhelming is “nay”
I don’t think Slater even had a yes-no question about him before the season. He was just some guy tucked in AAA for emergencies.
The 1909 Washington Senators lost 29 games in the month of July– the most losses by a team in a month. We won’t come anywhere near that record– at least this month. But wait till July
A very early look at the top prospects in the 2018 draft:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/236744566/jim-callis-2018-mlb-draft-top-10-projection/
Why bother coming back– bullpen will just blow it
BCraw now 3-for-27.
Yes, but his outs are becoming more impressive. Darn, that’s all I’ve got.
Gumby shoulders
Kuiper and Krukow just assuming Hernandez is under .200…understandable.
What’s the scoop with Slater? Is he hurt? Only have the Met broadcast here
“Youth movement”
It was a serious question
No he’s not hurt, Bochy just took him out of the game
I was wrong, he got injured making a catchin the 2nd inning apparently.
Mr. Bochy will accept your apology. He is injured.
He’s had enough and asked to be sent back to Sacramento
uff da
Who can blame him?
And the Rockies are coming to town.
Yesterday’s mail brought a letter from my Mom. She had “thoughtfully” cut out a picture of Arenado beaming his way across home plate after hitting the game winning homer to complete his cycle. (gee, thanks for that). Last thing we need is to see that dude again.
I wouldn’t be too sure that Posey wants to stick around for a whole lot more of this.
This game is just drip torture.
Either I deserve some credit or a free psychiatrist appointment for continuing to watch this.
You’re a fan. You take the bad with the good. Otherwise, you’d just be a front runner.
Never a front runner but this is just painful– largely the same team that had the best record in baseball at the ASB last year.. OK, admittedly they did it with mirrors, but how did this happen?
It had to happen…the law of gravity. It just happened in a particularly dramatic fashion for the Giants.
Don’t worry Parker and Williamson will turn this season around
Parker had 21 at bats this season, stop being a douche bag .
Takes one to know one.
Wow the kettle was outside the pot
So just how many ab’s do you need to figure him out?
More than 21 spread out at bats, many players have slow starts .
Meaning you haven’t seen enough of him to form a solid opinion?
I seen him in 2015 go on a tear, when given constant at bats for a few weeks, I seen what Duvall did with the Reds with constant at bats, and what he did not do with the Giants with 73 at bats over 3 months of spread out at bats .
That’s a false equivalency but at least you’ve upped the ab requirement to at least 73.
See I was right about you after all, A Bochy fan , and want to be scout, you and Ryan should get along well, Check what Judge did last year with the Yankees, if you were in charge he would have been DFA.
First, you’re wrong about the Bochy thing. How you can pull that out of your ass is beyond me. But don’t go Kellyanne Conway on me and deflect. I asked you a question following your douche bag comment and you simply cannot find it in yourself to provide an answer.
That’s because you asked him a question that was going to make him look bad. He doesn’t answer those (most of the time. Of course a lot of times he doesn’t realize his answer is going to make him look bad until it’s too late!).
That slur was uncalled for, Peter.
He blames it on having to take care of his kids 24 – 7. SMH
No, I do not , I am blunt and non PC, You and him just get my goat .
It’s obvious you’re not here to be loved but you often make insightful posts that are negated by poor civility. Wouldn’t you rather be known for those points above and beyond your stridency?
BS. Peter,
You’ve been cranky ever since your Board Moniker “Peter Johnson” made a few dolts on here giddy with stupidity. This has nothing to do with PC or being blunt but you NEVER give any credit to any staff member associated with the three World Championships. Answer me this, you and 56 year old Wotus are at the game about 10 am for a 105 game and you and him are chatting him up – talking ball from AA to ZZ. Are you telling me that you’d use the same style and way about you when talking with a baseball person that
1) has no agenda
2) has been in baseball since 1963 and
3) has been the Giants bench coach since 1999. ?
He should follow your example and just focus on trying to be more creepy.
Creepy??? You are on the SJ Mercury answering people like Marcus Thompson II and his wife using Peter Malloy. I learned it all from you hunky big guy with the great personality so they all say.
Yeah. Way creepy. You make up conversations you supposedly had about me with people you don’t know. You post photos of people you think I might know without having any idea, and for what reason? At least your smart enough to take this up after everyone has moved on to a new thread, I guess because you knew what would be coming back. How are things in Canada, creepy guy?
What would be coming back? HA, you have zero clue how little that means after finding out what chemo/radiation does when it “comes back”. You posted Peter Malloy on the story about a federal jury awarding $11.3 million to a man left paralyzed when a San Jose police officer shot him in the back and your comments were typical of the person your are. You told people you don’t even know what the verdicts should be. You use a narrative that you think I know nothing about what I say in baseball and then you use the same narrative to try to destroy other peoples comments about police brutality. You Posted under The Ex Mrs. Oracle way before I started my shtick about you. I hope your daughters get to be with their mom as much as you because I would had to have it so one sided that they became miniature oracles.
Canada’s fine, I get to fly back and forth on their dime. The Clinical Trial at Montfort Hospital allows me to spend my money on flights and not on USA medicine. It even mandates faux names like the blog. I’m thinking about using Oracle II the next change instead of what I use now.
In the meantime you’ve had issues with enough bloggers – Matthew * Mike Scott * CC and even Lefty over your political bent that I will use one of your famous San Jose Mercury laughable quotes: “I do agree with the police haters who so often comment here that, at this point, we ought to just be quiet. There’s nothing to be accomplished by repeating ourselves. We know what’s happened in the election and what’s going to happen as a result. There’s nothing else we can do. Let it happen.”
You are funny, yes lots of immature people had a laugh over my real name, and that you think just because people work in Baseball and coach Baseball they should be given a pass forever, and what they say is gospel , is over the top .
Not “over the top” and not “Gospel”. But you could not hang with the true baseball people who live and breathe baseball 10 months out of the year. Instead mostly you hang back and comment on in game items as if it is your way or the highway.
My Wotus post
Probably, I just do not like the guys attitude toward young players, and his blind loyalty to Bruce Bochy !
Okay, okay but “douche bag” goes WAY too far in the opposite direction. Hold your thoughts for a few seconds before hitting the POST button. It might change your tone.
Frankly, I see no problem with a Mac, Parker, Slater outfield at this point. Fielding would improve.
Does Jarrett Parker get DFA’d when his rehab time is up? Is he out of options?
Parker has no options left. Left said earlier that his rehab is limited to 20 days (by rule). But I can’t think of any reason at all, other than hitting less than 0.200 with Sacramento, why he wouldn’t be recalled.
Whose spot would he take? There’s no reason Slater should go down. Gorkys appears to be mysteriously untouchable.
Try to trade span
Mysterious epidemic of pulled hammys.
Maybe Pence or Span will be on the DL soon? Gorkys lacks options, too, but I suspect they’d release him to look at Parker.
I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t think they see anyone else as being able to backup CF.
Gorkys?
That certainly is why Gorkys outlasted Marrero and Calixte and so many others that I can’t remember.
less than .200 would be an upgarde
Good for you CG, that’s nice to see.
Atta babe Connor.
Smalls is Killing Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs73-eVBu6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_nlFhMUMO8
Kuip says the beef is coming up. More like tofu…soft, squishy and tasteless.
Umps get this call wrong quite a bit http://m.mlb.com/video/v1533704983
I’ll take it. Nice job Pence.
Come on Buster
Hit it to Peachy (2nd attempt).
Does seem like we’ve been here, before. Dejavu all over again?
Yup, another sacrifice RBI.
Brandon Crawfords favorite umpire (NOT) Jordan (I’m too tall to ump) Baker. Baker blows this check swing call. Kinsler checked hi swing perfectly.
http://www.closecallsports.com/2017/06/mlb-ejection-075-jordan-baker-3-brad.html
Remember when he ejected Crawford? Classic.
Darn, Slater with possible hip flexor injury.
Just saw Pav’s tweet and the play where he might have gotten injured. Hopefully the team’s just being cautious?
Oh, gosh. 2017 is wearing my optimistic nature to a nub.
When it rains, it pours.
They caught it in time I think
Hope so. He has been a bright spot in a dismal season.
Maybe go 10-day DL? Better that than making it worse.
Just when we had a LF with a clue.
Thanks a heap, Strickland. You are getting more popular by the minute around here.
Play this at Strickland’s locker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE
He is a worthy giver-upper of that dinger. Welcome back from suspension, Meathead!!
Test: Spats – El Snorkel’s mentor:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/10030b2d60ac2b400e747738e60f0a5bfab91997ad1e6e460918e60baab5ece0.jpg
Gracias, Clutch!
Joe Cool the Cat.
Gracias, a todo. Spats was the ultimate cool tuxedo. And a sweetie-pie, just like Snorkel. BTW – 19 lbs. of love. He was tall, and had big bones.
Now, that’s a tuxedo kitty.
ALL the good COOL cats are in heaven so it had to happen to some of the team. Glad that Affeldt, Blanco, Lopez, Romo, Casilla and Pagan did not have to witness some of the average luck that turned really bad.
Oh yeah! Now I remember Spats! Cool cat!
looks like he was as cool as the other side of the pillow, amigo
there ya go, laddie! :o)
Giants Bullpen– the gift that just keeps giving. (as in giving up runs)
Some drunk Mets fan is trying to start the wave
Ewwwwww
In our section, up in the RF View, a guy tried and we all shouted him down. Some good heckling. It may have been one of the few highlights from today.
Was Buster just telling Strickland, you’re on your own if you hit someone else?
We sure missed Strickland– we had to give up runs without him
With our 2017 anti-luck we’ll score 5 in the 9th.
I am glad that this title has the word DAYS vs Day 0 like this. Buckle up the chin strap to all my brothers and sisters. Since around 2010 – “we” sat here gloating about any and all pimple or bad play that our Giants brought out in the other team. We cursed that Opie wasn’t better then MadBum, and that was never true. We made fun of Lasorda and their distant 1988 World Series. We chortled at the pathetic play of the Friars, The Rockies and any player the Dodgers brought up, hoping Seager would not be the real deal. We chanted “What’s a matter with Anybody”…..”He’s a Bum”. We laughed and the AL teams during Inter-league. We said we hated other teams. in 2010 – They were called boot-camp lucky and when they re-upped in 2012 we had everybody east of the Rockies spewing hatred. 2014 validated the other two years but having the bullseye grow as large as the number on the back of the jersey – ended up becoming 2017. Show some Grace and be a good person to your loved ones. Go out to ATT and watch a ball game. If you can’t afford it, I will leave you tickets for free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f00L6OBYJP4
Cheers, Clutch Up!
Atta babe.
What you said. Better than what I said. Thank you.
It’s too bad there’s not some type of “mercy rule” in the majors where the Giants can just pack it up by the ASG.
Send them home, they don’t deserve to be on the field.
It’s just remarkable. There’s really not a damn thing to like about this team right now. Even in 2008–and that was a BAD team–there were Lincecum’s starts and Pablo’s fun rookie season.
That’s why I came back to the Giants in 2009. Bonds was finally gone, and there were promising young players ascending who gave me hope!
He was gone after 2007, he was also one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, this Blog seems to be full of the snob types, that think they were to good for Bonds, bitching about him cheating why they were pure .
I beg to differ. Posey is having an excellent year. Slater, Blach, Arroyo are getting their introduction to MLB. Others will follow from Sacramento, I’m sure. Our favorite players will play better and give us at least a few enjoyable baseball moments in 2017.
If nothing else, I’ll look forward to seeing 25 players don the Orange and Black and take the field everyday wearing GIANTS across their chest.
Might not mean much to y’all, but it does to me.
Are you a Giants fan, Efrain? Or is your insatiable urge to troll more powerful than your love for your team? At least 2Hole is up front about being a Giants hating Cubs fan.
“Don’t deserve to be on the field”…
I’m a Giants fan of course but above all I”m a huge baseball and all it’s beauty.
The GIants are not vry good and I’ve pointed out reasons and concerns for a few season.
No sense getting upset that those things are coming to fruition. Being hopelessly optimistic does not make a person a “good” fan.
Flannery just said it. The Giants are boring.
Hall of Fame manager
I agree 100% with Krukow.
Nobody is feeling sorry for the Giants, they’ve had too much success. They need to do some soul-searching and dig out of this.
KERSHAW
NL MVP + CY
Who you yelling at?
SCHERZER. BACK-TO-BACK NL CY YOUNG WINNER
It’s a long season, we’ll see.
Season ends today, it’s Scherzer–he leads the league in ERA, SO, WHIP, and batting average against. 2 innings behind Kershaw for innings lead.
I’d tend to put my money more on Scherzer since he’s such a workhorse and Kershaw tires as the season goes on. But yeah, we’ll see.
Bellinger?
Ryan Zimmerman? That’d be a cool story after all the years he’s struggled.
His is an awesome season from the get go. Bellinger has to slow down or struggle sometime, right? I mean he’s not the 2nd coming of Duke Snider, is he?
Depends if anyone cares to pitch him differently
Cody Bellinger with another 2 HR game. Good lord, this guy’s a monster
Giants have a winning record this season versus the Dodgers
Nevermind ROY, could be ticketed for MVP with this 50+ HR pace.
Everybody is hitting in that lineup. Everybody protecting everyone else, everyone having a great time.
The Dodgers have homered in something like 18 straight games now. Have the Giants hit homers in 4 games in a row yet?
Schulman reports that the Giants have pitched 200 innings this year and let up 142 runs and 38 HR. Ouch
You mean the bullpen? The Giants have pitched a lot more than 200 innings. Cueto and Samardzija are already around 100 each just the two of them.
Must be, there’s already been 600+ innings.
Seens more like a million innings
In June– sorry for the omission
Last series we won: May 26-28 at home vs. Atlanta. If we don’t beat the Rockies two of three (raise your hand if you think that’s happening) we’ll have zero series wins for the month of June.
Our June record after today: 5-18.
Mets broadcast announced that today was the 27th consecutive day in which at least one player hit multiple HR– a major league record
Bad for the game
Mr Bunter, just wow .
You mean to tell me they lost, again?
Inconceivable!
Hate to be the messenger of bad news, but yes, they lost. Again.
Would you like the vile in the left hand or the vile in the right had? They both have Iocane powder in em
Not only that my pg&e went out this AM and is not expected back until after 11 PM tonight at the earliest so no AC except I cheated and have been running propane generator for the Giants game and now the aftermath.
Granted only in muggy low 90s, not like Valley.
The Giants lost today. IIRC 8-2.
Eight Men Out. The movie on MLB network. Would like to watch the Pirates/Cards but wouldn’t be able to relax watching Leake toss a good game. Always liked him. Maybe tomorrow the Giants turn it around. You effin never know.
Gearrin’s outings feel about a bazillion times slower at the ballpark.
He’s a human rain delay.
Not only will the Giants get the #1 or #2 pick in the draft next year, but they’ll likely have a Cueto comp pick around 30 and another one at start of 2nd round at around 35 plus a huge signing pool to make magic happen. If only there was no doubt talent waiting for them. A Harper a Trout a posey or Strasburg…
Cueto will be traded. One of the contenders will give in and take the risk. There is a major need for frontline or co-ace starters among the contenders.
Cueto and Pence would be a great trade to the Astros.
The Astros are as close to the brass ring as ever in their history.
The Astros are down a starter or even two because of injuries.
Pence fits as a 4-5 OF and right hand DW opposite Beltran and has a positive history playing in HOU. Pence could spend the last year of his large contract in 2018 as a reserve OF and part time DH.
Astros have a good farm system.
Strickland drill another person in his first game back. That guy should be band for life
Mets showed amazing restraint today considering two players got plunked. Almost as if Terry Collins could see they were sleepwalking and told his team not to do anything to wake ’em up.
I was driving around in Santa Barbara today listening to the only baseball game I could get. It was the Dodgers vs Rockies. You would not have known that listening to the Dodgers anouncers just trash the Giants over and over. Things like as of today last year the Giants were 47 and 25 and 7 games upon the Dodgers and then the Giants collapsed. Then they were harping on how the Dodgers since Kershaw went on the injured list has gone 100 wins and 27 losses while the Giants were like 65 and 97. Then they were saying how the Giants were 23.5 games back this year with 7 games left in June. This will be corrected to 24.5 games back as of today. They trashed the Giants pitching as they have allowed the 4th most runs scored in MLB, they trashed the hitting for average being like second worst, they trashed the Giants on the fact they were 30th in runs scored and last in Home runs. They said the Giants can’t hit and can’t pitch and this was a team that was leading the league in record at the all start break.
And this was a Dodgers Rockies game. I listened at 2 points about an hour apart and both times trash talking the woeful Giants as to how bad they are and how good the Dodgers became after Kershaw went down.
F the Dodgers
Dodgers with losing record versus ths Giants this season
That’s officially a thread. 😉
As the only bright spot this year, there should be an article touting that for the blog to enjoy
Had to watch two Mets broadcasts and they were somewhat respectful towards us and the Giants deep history but every now and then a small dig and a slight was tossed in there, very subtle but obvious. F them. Their still butt hurt Gillespie took Familia deep.
Why is it a dig to talk about a team that hasn’t shown up to play a full game in a month?
Feel better now? Come on a Giants blog and trash our team when we’re at our lowest.
All the trolling and gloating, that’s part of the drill. This right here? Disrespectful and way out of bounds.
What goes around comes around, 2Hole.
TF62,
Start winning some games then if you don’t want to hear about the smack that other announcers are saying. They did note the Giants had a good run but the Dodgers have won the division the past 4 years.
It is hilarious how many folks on this blog refuse to accept that. They believe in “alternative facts”.
😂😂😂😂😂
65 and 98 since this time last year. That is over a season.
Well there are those still holding on to a post season berth in 2017.
Belt has been so bad he needs to hit .332 for the rest of the season to approach .280. He has had like 2 months in his career where he hit that well for a month. It must be the stress of playing for a big contract
I forgot, they basically stated that since the AS game last year the Giants pen is terrible and can’t hold a lead of any kind. That they were finding all the ways to lose a late inning game. Atleast this year, they do have 2 or 3 come from behind wins.
Blocked him a couple months back. Much happier now.
Hey the Giants suck, if an announcer or writer states that, it’s not as if it’s not true.
They want people to stop talking? Turn the shit around.
For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. It’s merely the Giants success in 2010/12/14 that’s sparking such anger, especially as the Dodgers’ Division success hasn’t even led to a pennant during their 4-year Division reign. The anti-Giant talk will abate if they at least win a pennant but until then expect the acrimony to continue at record levels.
honest reporting … What can you say?
Sounds like they were just stating facts.
Well, first, it’s the truth. And, second, I love that as astoundingly awful as the Giants are, their success is still very much in the heads of the Dodgers organization. What better compliment that when your team is terrible the team with best record in baseball can’t stop talking about you.
No there really is no rivalry as far as LA is concerned is there?
I don’t know what that means. It’s the closest rivalry in the history of sports in terms of championships on each side and head to head historic record. The Giants have had substantially more recent postseason success. So, I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or just referring to the lack of competitiveness this year (but (a) big deal about one year in the history of this rivalry and (b) the Giants somehow have a better head to head record this year).
Thank god the Giants play in a pitchers park. They would really stink otherwise
Hey 2hole, you’re a Cubs’ fan, right? Congratulations on your team’s wonderful 2016 season. And that WS was one of the most entertaining I think I’ve ever watched. You should be very proud of what your team has accomplished. Again, congrats
Saw my name in lights on Wrigleys scoreboard last summer during a Family reunion in which 30 of us went to the game. I have that plastered on my facebook page. It was kinda cool
You are an odd dude to be trolling this site all the time trying to get under the skin of hardcore Giants fans. I doubt anyone here would even think of going to a Cubs or any other team’s forum to bother those fans. Unlike most here I am not emotionally invested in the team or its players and coaches so your trolling doesn’t bother me but it is quite noticeable and it’s a waste of time so I’m joining Lefty and probably others and throwing on the troll block for you. Normally I just use it for the crazies such as Old Man and Runnit, you don’t strike me as crazy but you are apparently are a habitual loser who only finds pleasure in the sufferings of others so I have no time for you.
A diplomat is born.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d42b06a0a5c6d5201910bd0d7b9cb53f610e68f4079bf877f3b0486ce3c3b9c7.jpg
I love labs but some are smarter than orhers.
I thinks that a golden, or mutt. Poets live short, meaning filled lives. A reason?
You’re probably right about the breed. Maybe about poets too. 🙂
Poetic license is seldom funnier.
Bellinger is an amazing story…two more today.
Leads the NL. Just one behind Judge for MLB lead and has 69 fewer trips to plate.
He has quite the “I’m taking this pitch way downtown swing”, you’d think that the scouts and pitchers would have figured it out by now. Apparently not, he must have fewer holes than you’d expect.
Hopefully the Giants can right the ship here in the next couple years and start competing with the Dodgers.
If anything the team states publicly is true, they won’t. We’ll get Jay Bruce and a Nunez extension.
Bumgarner for the AZL Giants: 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
Also of note in that game: Steven Duggar’s first game of the year (0-2).
No idea why he’s pitching at all unless they’re trading him
Bored late night AS Game Ballot, NL/AL:
C: Buster Posey / Gary Sanchez
1B: Joey Votto / Miguel Cabrera
2B: Daniel Murphy / Jose Altuve
SS: Corey Seager / Andrelton Simmons
3B: Kris Bryant / Jose Ramirez (maybe Josh Donaldson?)
OF: Charlie Blackmon, Ender Inciarte, Bryce Harper / Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge (Trout injured, George Springer replacement)
DH: Freddie Freeman (does NL get a DH?) / Nelson Cruz
SP: Max Scherzer / Chris Sale
Still here,folks. You know the joke-a woman brings 9 kids to the ballgame, Renal asks if whoever brought them, please claim them- they are beating the Giants.
But really-it’s become fun- you know that they will lose, it’s just a matter of how that they will do it,.
Side note- what a weekend for the Jones clan- hitless, an error , gets pulled on a double switch. In the end,they didn’t even sit to together. It was like “Jones? You must be mistaken- we are the SMITH family”. Seriously, I was really rooting for the kid -do ANYTHING, move a runner over, hit a loud foul ball, cold cock the ump….
See ya, probably tomorrow.
It’s a win-win when The Chef drops by. Even if the Giants lose.
Top MLB run producers by wRC+:
Aaron Judge 197
Ryan Zimmerman 168
Paul Goldschmidt 166
Yonder Alonso 158 – Seriously?!?
Cody Bellinger 157
Bryce Harper 156
Buster Posey 154 – Our Guy !! …what he’d always do playing much more 1B???
Corey Dickerson 154
Joey Votto 153
Michael Conforto 150
Justin Smoak 149
Zack Cozart 149
Marcell Ozuna 148
Jose Ramirez 146
Miguel Sano 146
Jose Altuve 145
Daniel Murphy 145
Aaron Hicks 144
George Springer 143
Corey Seager 142
Our guy .241 with RISP, .182 with 2 out with RISP, .000 with the bases loaded .
Just makes you shake your head, doesn’t it, Pete?
The Giants have scored the 4th fewest runs in MLB in runs scored. Posey is third on that team in both runs scored and runs batted in. While it’s an interesting number to talk about, when you step away from the calculation and look at the big picture, it clearly does not accurately measure what it claims to measure.
When things are theoretical in nature that aren’t always accurate in practice. But given enough practice, they confirm the theory.
Another statistic that purports to do what can’t be done.
The cynics below make a very good point….I’m a Buster Posey fan, but on no planet is his run production, or WKRP, or his whatever, 7th in all the land
.340/.421/.528, 10 HRs (with extreme pitcher’s park for home yard).
and…..?
see below? Theory and practice. Look at the other names. Strong correlation to actual run production
Everyday, everyday I have the blues
Ooh everyday, everyday I have the blues
When you see me worryin’ baby, yeah it’s you I hate to lose
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Well worries and trouble darling, babe you know I’ve had my share
Everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday
Everyday, everyday I have the blues
When you see me worryin’ baby, yeah it’s you I hate to lose
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Whoa nobody loves me, nobody seems to care
Well worries and trouble darling, babe you know I’ve had my share
If it wasn’t for bad luck, they wouldn’t have no luck at all.
This is the kind of story that gets written when you’re losing. Interesting, but does it really have anything to do with what’s happening on the field?
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/san-francisco-giants-find-nothing-is-routine-in-troubled-2017-season-062617
In a game, and especially on a team that NEVER was the most talented, yet still found ways to win, then I think it does have something to do with it. I know many think it’s only about talent day to day…and obviously that is the biggest factor… but I honestly believe the tenor of the clubhouse does affect the field results to a unmeasured degree.
We’ve all been noticing a different “mood”. Losing does that…but so does team dynamics. We’ve all had jobs where there was better camaraderie, and others not so much. This team looks and acts dead, uninspired, etc.
Yep … They really don’t care very much. That doesn’t mean they ding run out a ground ball or grove pitches on purpose …just means they haven’t done the work needed to compete. Not really any other explanation possible. Shame on them and the Hall of Fame manager who is supposed to motivate
“Some with the Giants muse that the team even misses Angel Pagan, who created an odd sort of unity because most of the players disliked him.”
And who said that Pagan didn’t have any talents?
Glad to see someone is paying attention to the Giants. All i read about is how awful the Phillies are. Typical east coast bias.
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/2017-season/giants-swept-by-mets-as-spiral-into-oblivion-continues/