by
Greek Giant
I remember this game like it was yesterday. The Giants were humbled in game 3, the first 2014 World Series game at Willie Mays Field. Game 4 was pretty close to a must-win and then the Giants fell behind 4-1 in the top of the third inning. Things were looking a bit dicey with an upstart Royals team on the fast-track to a commanding 3 games to 1 Series lead.
But in the bottom of the 4th, a potential shutdown inning for the Royals, Buster Posey singled in Matt Duffy. The Giants responded with a run and went on to score nine more un-answered runs in the game and cruise past the Royals.
Posey’s at-bat was huge and brilliant. With two outs and Duffy on second he took the first pitch for a called strike on the outside corner. He then took two very close pitches for balls that barely missed the inside corners. Falling behind 2-1 to the Giants premier hitter, Jason Vargas, the Royals starter had to come in with a groovy fastball down the middle. Buster smoked it into left. Duffy scored just barely ahead of the throw and the crowd was back into the game. Momentum was back on the Giants side.
Without a doubt, that was a tense game for Giants fans. The Royals had humiliated the Giants in a regular season three game sweep in Kansas City. I remember that sweep being perhaps the low point of the season and never imagining the Giants had a chance to get to the World Series… Oh ye of little faith…
Hunter Pence had three hits and three RBIs while Pablo Sandoval drove in two runs with huge hits as well.
I miss those days when you could count on the Giants winning every other World Series..
The Complete Game
The Box Score
Aww yes, thanks Greek. Good memories for sure. great game.
Just another day at the park, huh?
6.1 shutout innings, 3 by Petit. Petit was just huge in that postseason. 3 wins, second only to Bumgarner.
Mr. Lefty and I watched that game in the Michael Mina sports bar at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. I was attending a conference that weekend at the Hyatt around the corner, and he tagged along. We staked out a table, invited a couple of friends, and hunkered down to watch the game.
Holding down a table in a place like that for four hours is not cheap, but it was cheaper than World Series tickets at AT & T would have been. And it was a very memorable time watching it there. The whole (large) place was packed with Giants fans, and it was a really communal experience.
“Holding down a table in a place like that for four hours is not cheap”
As a non-drinker I would have had to tip the wait-person mucho – or buy food every half hour. Ouch 🙂
We did have food, as it went through the dinner hour. Pretty good food, but it is not a cheap place.
Levi’s Lounge – correct – never been confused with inexpensive 🙂
I couldn’t afford tickets to the game (or any PS games- I’m still jealous of my sis who got to attend the Zito vs. Verlander game in ’12) but we (a group of 5) showed up early enough to snag a table at Tres a block or two away- that whole area was so alive. Cheering outside and inside, blimp overhead, chaos. I had invited my Phillies friend who I hadn’t seen in 14 years and she was blown away by the experience of witnessing a World Series. It was super cute- she said “wow there’s the ballpark right there and the WS is really happening right now!” (She had only moved to the bay 2 weeks prior).
Four hours, two people, food and drinks. In this part of the good old USA, that would be appx $50 an hour, including tip. Defined as good sports bar food and pitchers of beer, for the most part. I bet yours was more!
…and that’s for your basic sports bar. Not a dive, but nothing ultra fancy or chic.
Bingo. Our tab was around $200. We kept the food modest–sandwiches and appetizers–but that is not a cheap place.
Petit was the man. Down in games 2-1, down in the game 4-2, two of the last three games in KC, he turned the Series around.
Petit was huge in that game too! Really the unsung hero of the 2014 postseason.
I was talking about the game you posted.
So was I.
So why did you write ‘too’? I got confused.
Ah, I guess you assumed that what he did in Game 2 vs. the Nationals was obvious.
Krukow vs Kuiper
https://www.facebook.com/Giants/posts/10153939289501828
I remember when they intentionally walked Posey in the 6th to get to Pence and then Sandoval, I thought, Yost you dipshit, you’ve blown it, you’re going to regret this.
I remember that poor Royals relief pitcher who had warmed up 2 or 3 times before actually coming in the game. The kid didn’t have it and Yost offered no relief. I enjoyed the Giants rally, but decided Yost was an ass.
That poor kid ended up with a Yost infection. Those are no fun, I hear
Actually he IS considered a very good skipper.
At the time i thought he seemed pretty good but i hadn’t seen him much and the general vibe about him as i later learned was not so good. Walking posey was a particular case of colossal stupidity. Royals fans i know who weren’t very excited about him in 2014 said he got much better in 2015.
Kluber’s two seam fastball is being likened to a modern version of the screwball. Whatever it is, it left Rizzo a bit dizzy.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-corey-kluber-pitch-that-turned-the-cubs-into-mush/
Unusual movement on that thing
Note the 6 walks by the Royals pitchers, 3 of which scored.
For the longest time whomever the Cubs skipper was – they had to deal with odd ownership: The Tribune, Sam Zell & Tom Ricketts. The 1st two wouldn’t spend money and the third couldn’t due to terms of the sale. Tough to not spend money AND win.
The argument should be made that the Giants should be spending much more than they currently are.
They are making it hand over fist, but too cheap and conservative to go balls out.
They used signing 3 FA in the off season (out of desperation, need, PR moves) which went only so far, leaving the team very unbalanced and not fully stocked (look at state of bench) out of ST.
You honestly think the issue is that they aren’t spending enough? That’s the core issue?
What part of the Giants organization are you happy with?
I really do think they could be spending more and with more strategic thinking behind it. They could have had a better off season last year by getting a couple of smaller pieces to bolster the pen and bench.
Alvise- please let us know that you are OK….
He was on here yesterday. Is something amiss in Venice?
A couple of earthquakes just now in Italy…epicenter was Perugia I think
A lot of masonry, a lot of it not reinforced, a lot of it been through a lot of earthquakes.
Outstanding game. I’ve watched this one at least six times. Seriously. The comeback–over a few innings–was a thing of beauty. Pablo with two *clutch* hits, the second one to tie the game.
Not to be overlooked is Duffy’s leadoff, pinch-hit single. He worked that AB very well for a rookie recently brought up from AA. On Blanco’s infield grounder Duffy veered into Hosmer’s line of throw to 2B, forcing them to take the easy out at first. As soon as Duffy crossed the plate, I knew we would at least tie and probably win. Great, great memories!
Two Double Ouches
@extrabaggs
That was a big home run. Because the Cubs have been, you know, kinda dangerous when down 3-0 in the ninth.
@extrabaggs
Kenny Lofton should throw the ceremonial pitch from shallow center field, and it should be a 27-hopper to the plate. Just like old times.
What a sarcastic fellow Baggs is… Un-called for.
Pure Baggs nevertheless. Aubrey Huff once fouled off a ball and it went about 15 ft and landed with a thud. Baggs made sure to tweet about it. Baggs and Huff never exchanged a Kale lunch.
Or cold brew coffee?
If the Cubs drop two in Cleveland, he may stroke out, or turn to a dill pickle.
I will vote for the pickle 🙂
Well I’m sure the lost traffic on his blog is hitting his pocket book. Not that he would have an axe to grind or anything.
I really doubt a writer with Baggs experience and awards has a contract where lost traffic to a blog hurts his pocket.
Ridiculous statement.
The newspaper business ain’t what it used to be. Lots of qualified competition out there.
Jus’ sayin’
But, isn’t Kenny Lofton who gets a walk off single for a series win against the Cards and gets to point at LaRussa?
AMEN
Agreed
I was there! Giants win the pennant! Baggs was covering the Dodgers in 2002.
One of my favorite moments from Giants history. Especially because it was done to LaRussa.
Great little piece that looks at team OPS allowed in the WS ‘weighted’ against how good the opposition is. Then it re asks the question, what is the probability of the Cubs or Indians winning. Low and behold, the Indians, looking at quality of opposition, have the advantage 55% to 45% for the Cubs. Prior to last nights game, the Cubs were given a 67% chance of winning just based on stats that didn’t factor in quality of opponent. That’s a 22 point swing. Pretty cool, IMO, and a lesson to all of us here who try and make arguments without taking account the quality of opposition.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indians-pitchers-have-been-crazy-good/
Aramis Garcia http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/207073234/giants-aramis-garcia-catching-up-in-afl/
MyGuy class A in 2016…sigh. At least I did well (I think) with Sam Coonrod, my other class A MyGuy.
Not great but since he finished 2015 in San Jose with wRC+ of 68 then his 83 this year is actually a gain … probably put him in the middle of the pack. I know this because I have to know this. He is MyGuy™ too. [and dgg’s and 22SweetSwing’s]
Just to be a jerk….we should do “Great Moments In Cubs Post Season History”
“1908 – As the growing horse manure epidemic engulfed the corner of Addison and Clark, fans wearing handkerchiefs over their faces cheered on as Mordecai Brown tried to signal for an intentional walk, but no one knew why he was holding up 3 fingers…”
Super idea!
Heyward benched yet again….
hmmmmm…..
Bochy does not approve?
That made me laugh. What’s wrong with me.
Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy similar to Hall of Famer The Oracle.
SJPD Basketball Hall of Fame …. leads PAL to victory!
Bravo!
Maddon needs to give Heyward time to work through this …
Must be written into his awful contract that if the temp is under 50 he does not play.
I won the office lottery that year for this game. I was in 4th row seats right behind the visitors dugout. Someone offered me a lot for this ticket, $3,000 I could have paid a couple of years on my own 1/4 season tickets. Of course I went and then when they went down I was thinking I could have had 3 grand.
The two things I remember most from this game was Duffy scoring from 2nd on a wild pitch to ignite this team. The second thing is how loud and fervent the crowd became. If you looked into the eyes of the Royals you could see it had an affect on them. One other thing I noticed before the game was how well the Royals responded to the crowd. Before the game they were very classy. During not so much.
the 3 grand would have been long gone, on who remembers what? the memories you really can’t put a price on. smart move turning down the shekels.
There is another World Series memory, me having to go shopping with my mom while my dad and grandmother went to the 7th game of the 62 series. So your right I can remember this a long time.
I did receive some other outrageous offers which I can’t repeat on this site. All left behind for one of my top five games I have been too.
What a job by Petit in that game. I remember when he came in it looked like a throw in pitcher for a loss. Then he kept them in it while they came back.
Hmmm, Strickland pitched a scoreless ninth inning when given a chance? Nawww…. say it ain’t so.
he pitched the whole inning? the entire 3/3 of an inning? was bochy out sick? in the bathroom?
Maybe Timmy rolled him a fat one?
Map ID’ing todays Italian earthquake.
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/b4cc8e84103b8449b90058c21a841a018543aea9/c=144-83-479-530&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2016/10/26/USATODAY/USATODAY/636130944890677473-intensity.jpg
… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/74946f7da2276c270c81e23aab31089f7c932fcc4c2ba066bbabea6505d2d9f2.jpg
Ouch!
Ya, see a lot of non reinforced masory.. ouch…..
who was the guy that started in CF, hit lead-off, got 2 hits and a walk, stole a base, and scored 3 runs? yep..GB7..great giant, an even better person..
I’m okay. Venice is situated in a geological zone safe from earthquakes. Soil made of compressed sand, not rocky.
Happy to hear this good news AC
Good to hear Alvise!!!
Atta babe
Corey G – nightmare on his flight
http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-pitcher-live-tweets-nightmare-flight-delay-10414459.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvCpiiJpLAE
Looks like The Baby Flannery’s singing the anthem
awful rendition of the anthem, geesh
Finally – but as EFRAIN has stated – had Brown been Black he would have been out of football way way sooner
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/26/josh-brown-release-new-york-giants-nfl-blame
well…..DUH!
The players and the other front offices were rumbling and the Giants had to succumb to the pressure. They finally did the right thing.
Is it Duh or DOH?
Oy.
Vey.
DUH is used for a condescending you stupid idiot reference
DOH is used for am I stupid I didn’t realize
I don’t know if it’s “right”. Using a players own therapy journals which should have been priviledged information against him in the court of public opinion starts a dangerous precedent. Especially if you believe the nature of the abuse was NOT physical as being presented in this case.
Surprised they threw to 2nd instead of home???
Watching the first 15 pitches of Trevor Bauer makes me think “if this is their 2nd best starter, Michigan Avenue may have a parade after all”
Carrasco and Salazar are injured
i think you should assume Matthew knows that already
I thought I heard they might use Salazar in this series. He’s been out since mid-September.
Heard that too. Probably out of the pen
oh gee, after last night everyone was so exited about the big Mo!
I picked Cubs in 5…. I like Cleveland’s fire, but talent wins. Looks like Kluber and the 3 Dwarfs as a rotation….
This dude is throwing Home Run Derby batting practice.
If you are right, how the d these dwarfs got to the WS?
Francona is a great manager…they have hitting….two starting pitchers are hurt…and they play in the Junior Circuit.
yeah on paper the Cubs should win this but i’d like to see the Indians take it since it’s hard to pull for another NL team.
But there is always a BUT, the best team doesn’t always win. Still early to tell.
I want Cleveland, too…..
Picked Cubs in 5 but I think it might be 6 as I doubt they win all 3 in Chicago
Because of Kluber? Maybe so…
Tonight Chris Guccione takes center stage for his 1st World Series plate.
http://www.closecallsports.com/2016/10/discussion-and-live-blog-of-2016-world.html
Schwarber might explode his oblique as he excitedly attacks these Biscuit and Gravy pitches
Gravy?!?!?!? Did Schwarber see gravy ??!?!?!?! On Cecil Fiedler could attack gravy with more aplomb.
What’s with Highpockets Arrieta and his Ed Grimley pants?
Really do not like this guy. Trim the beard, Highpockets.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6facb98d26a5d50b9e1c6a104709a0616a9eee1a7ed39389aa5e3ac72dd68884.jpg
Miss the season but hit the wall in Game #1 and become the Poster Boy.
Must be ads just aimed at me since I have the hip MyGuy™ Thing going.
I am sorry but hoodies should not be allowed on a baseball diamond.
The high in San Juan is 78 today….kid doesn’t like the cold…
How about Nanook Maddon and his Antartica get up?
Atta boy
He’s of italian descent and doesn’t like the cold, of course.
Really sad to see the Cubs score … oh well, a sweep is still a sweep
Watching the Cubs and the Indians play should make everyone here wonder why the Giants don’t appear to make it a priority to draft more players like Contreras, Soler, Baez, Lindor, Ramirez, to go along with the Posey, Kelby, Duffy, Brown, types.
One reason is relying on college types, which you should all be well aware there aren’t many kids of color, Latino or Black, playing (percentage wise) at the college level, whether it be exposure, grades or the right HS and travel team backgrounds.
It would be nice to find some more balance on the team, players who could bring a great deal to the team.
Brandon Beltran!
It helps to successive awful years.
Like the Giants had before they got Lincicum, Crawford, Belt Panik Duffy and??????
I realize to get certain players the team would have to suck for a while, but still maybe not rely so much on college kids and do better scouting international kids.
Que?
I agree wholeheartedly
I pretty much do as well, for the record.
Schwarber has the tool.
Yes indeed. It’s a roll out of bed variety hitting tool.
the kid can hit but has DH written all over him
He plenty playable corner OF hitting. 300 with 30+ bombs. Catches some also.
yeah right dude! I guess you didn’t watch his keystone cop episode in last years post season. Plus check the scouting reports, doubt the Cubs want that kid catching that pitching staff.
30 bombs? Where in your mind? Sorta like the argument that Belt should have 25 bombs per year. Last I checked that hasn’t happened…….
Stick with me, the point is that if he clobbers ball enough it doesn’t matter what the D looks like.
DH
Sure. They could probably trade him for an ace someday.
Old age, if you can hit, they will find a place to play you.
Ex: Big Daddy Fielder, Greg Luzinski, Boog Powell… etc…
Adage?
Yup, damn auto correct
Nice comps.
Those K zone boxes are rediculous. The top of it was at the belt of Santana
How, exactly, do Deep Freid Twinkies from Wal Mart mean you are living better?
What’s with the middle reliever throwing 97? Different ballgame these days, folks.
Stricklandesque
oh you mean he gave up a homer?
Zo loves the WS!
Back to back?
Just wow. And was thinking Giants could use guy like Shaw who could close for them.
His motion has a tiny bit of Derek Law in there
Good call. Shaw & Law law firm – we put hitters behind bars.
So much for the great bull pen some had talked about. The great equalizer football weather.
This game is a total snooze. Two-plus hours in and it’s the fifth inning. Thanks to the power of suggestion, I think I’m going to pop in the DVD of Game 4 of the 2014 World Series.
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN 1m1 minute ago
Cleveland pitchers have thrown 130+ pitches and it’s the fifth inning. And there’s this on the way: https://weather.com/weather/radar/interactive/l/USOH0195:1:US?layer=radarConus&zoom=8 …
Brilliant strategy! Suspend, come back tomorrow!!!!
It is now. Drone Boy set the tone.
NBA League Pass is free this week…I did a stalker move by watching Bogut for awhile….it took me all of about 5 minutes to go Full Lefty on Zaza last night.
Where’s bogut playing these days, Chick?
Dallas…
Dirk still filling it up from behind the arc?
He’s more like Johnny Unitas throwing pick sixes with gray hair.
We should do a twg pickup game someday. Can’t wait to reject TO’s jumpshot.
Boom…. I’d pump 3’s like White Chocolate…with this spine, that’s all I can do, though. I play Steph defense
I’ll cover your man/woman for you. I’m sub 40 for 3 more weeks.
Nice! Landmark birthday!!!! Guest post the tequila shots play-by-play! 🎉🎈🎁
I knew I was going to miss Bogut…looks like the Dubs do, too
How many wins this year?
None so far! 🙂
Sports Illustrated’s NBA preview issue has each team’s overview, along with the ubiquitous “an opposing coach/scout’s view”. That voice for the Warriors page said “the Warriors will miss Bogut far more than they thought. ZaZa is a major downgrade.”
NHL Center Ice is where it’s at.
Bogut had an off night. Barnes had a nice game. Mavs lost in overtime though.
He looked rough when I watched….I still miss him.
Warriors definitely missing what Bogut could sometimes provide! 🙂
Barnes still a W?
Dalls as well…Durant plays his position. Keep up, Scooter
Mavs
“Brain changes seen in youth football players without concussion”
Researchers have found measurable brain changes in children after a single season of playing youth football, even without a concussion diagnosis, according to a new study.
I was waiting for you. For your reading pleasure. https://www.quantamagazine.org/20161025-pairwise-gene-removal-reveals-genetic-structure/
NBA games that started around the same time as this game are close to finishing in the 4th Quarter..
Who cares about the NBA before March?
Potn.
So no Warriors watching til then I take it?
Not much point really
So are 36-hole gold rounds!
When did MLB start allowing pitchers to wear shiny reflective necklaces? When I was growing up, the batter would complain and the pitchers were forced to remove the distractive piece.
$200M doesn’t get you what it used too.
Two ✌ too to
I’ll take the “o” button is sticking for $200, Alex!
Yes. You’ve had same keyboard for years I see.
where are all the posts tonight about momentum?!?!? LOL
that’s why I like to have the games play out and not make ridiculous predictions.
We fell asleep. Almost at the three-hour mark and still the sixth inning! Zzzzzzzzz
P=mv
Where P is the pitcher. Cubs have Mo tomorrow, tio.
Let’s talk Mo Buckets….
Otero was clearly beaten by the ugly stick in Oakland.
Schwarber was hit with the Jack Black stick…
Did you get beaten with the Lorenzo lamas stick?
Gregory Peck…..Belt got hit with the Lamas stick
Your are my film father?
Another four hour, nine inning game? I watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time in a long time. I like my choice. A long, great movie, and still an hour and fifteen minutes shorter than the game.
Ohhhh.
Nice they added that to Netflix. I watched the whole thing recently too.
I’ll admit, i’m as big a Giants fan as anyone here, but if the Giants aren’t on, i don’t really watch that much. I’m cool with the 5 minute highlight reel and reading whatever you fine people have to say about it. But I’ve never been very invested in sports if I don’t have a rooting interest.
I am finally getting over my Giants choked depression, and I started to follow the World Series, actually it is easier for me to watch then a Giants game ,way less stress .
Take it easy, pal. Life is beautiful.
Watch another sport, no time limit, who gives a Cr p how long it is , if you are a baseball fan, you have a paying .attention problem
Don’t hurt my feelings.
Here’s some Blue and Maize glaze… http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2016/10/is_michigan_the_last_stop_for.html#incart_river_home_pop
That WAS a great movie. I’ve been thinking about watching it again. I’m a huge Tom Hanks fan (just showed the “No crying in baseball” clip in my grammar class yesterday). Also, I remember reading that between “The Martian” and “Saving Private Ryan,” about $9 billion has been spent to retrieve Matt Damon.
That’s pretty good.
So of course when I showed that “League of Their Own” clip, my students were all “Isn’t that the guy who was on SNL last week?” They weren’t even born when “League” came out…Sighhhhhh
Were they surprised those old films were in color? 😉
LOL. Pretty much
Field of Dreams is my all-time favorite. I still get choked up when I hear “Hey dad, wanna have a catch? ” Gets me all the time.
Great movie….touching. Baseball, Ray.
You know what bothered me, though? “Wanna HAVE a catch?” Who says that? Maybe it’s a Midwest thing? It’s “wanna play catch?”
I just go with it.
Exactly … we never said that in California so I figured it was from some other American ball field.
“Have a catch” is definitely not a west coast thing, but it definitely is the way they say it back east. Just like “pop” in the Midwest. Or the people who say “Let’s get a coffee” instead of just “Let’s get coffee”. I love those little differences about America.
Kinsella, who wrote a novel, Shoeless Joe, that provides a basis for the movie is Canadian, and the playwright is from NY.
We said “let’s play catch” in California. When we moved to the Midwest, it was “have a catch” almost every time. In the south, it’s more “let’s throw the ball around” or something similar.
I never felt the need to watch that movie, after having visited 3 times Omaha Beach and the American War Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. I payed the due tribute to those brave G.I.s who sacrificed their young lifes to restore freedom in Europe. Thank you and long live America.
This is perhaps Tom Hanks greatest role yet: David S. Pumpkins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS00xWnqwvI
“Black Jeopardy” was better. I was laughing all through that sketch. The ongoing, opening Trump/Hillary bit gets better every week. Satirical comedy is a necessary part of our culture. SNL dishes it out to both sides.
Seriously … how do MLB and Fox allow both teams to wear dark blue tops? Horrible TV
Thanks Mr. Scrooge !
Scrooge? Total non sequitur.
You always bitch about something, and who cares , both teams have used those uniforms all year, and it was not difficult to tell them apart, so what is the problem ?
Not everyone can maintain your always sunny disposition.
I was trying to think of a pithy comment to punctuate this particular thread. Think you might have achieved it!
The problem is YOU. You couldn’t ever say : “Cogito, ergo sum”. You are a nice guy, aniway.
I prefer the “original” Cubs roadies instead of the blue softball unis…I don’t consider myself a Scrooge. More of fashion conscious kinda guy
For fans of the movie “Major League” I found this interview with Charlie Sheen interesting:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/charlie-sheen-talks-world-series-major-league-3-his-health-i-feel-excellent-941525
California Penal League
http://www.rantlifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Charlie-Sheen.jpg
Fall League Flyer…
Chris Stratton picks up some whiplash in the desert: 9 H in 3 IP, HR. 5 ER, 2 K. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless frame. Hunter Cole 1 for 4 with 3 Ks (still batting cleanup which is a nice nod). Aramis Garcia 2 for 4.
Tim Tebow 1 for 4, K.
Perusing the Trade Rumors section…
Yoenis Cespedes to opt out of his contract with 2 years and almost 50 million dollars remains. The nerve to shoot for 100+ million!
When the Dodger were talking Braun with the Brewers, they were apparently talking Puig and Brandon McCarthy and some prospects. I guess I can imagine them going hard after Braun should Turner opt to really test his market elsewhere, but having both is possible too…
Kendrick??/2B?
Seager
Braun
Gonzalez
Turner
Grandal
Ethier/Toles?
Pederson /Toles
P
vs.
Span
Belt
Cespedes???
Posey
Pence
Panik
Crawford
Nunez
P
???=NOT!!!
Don’t discount the Doyers chasing Yo
He has openly said he hates the west coast.
Thats just raising his ask for LA.
Said it last off-season too.
I apologize in advance if any one of you has already mentioned this, but is anyone getting sick and tired of Joe Buck having a lovefest talking about Kyle Schwarber? I mean, so what if he missed pretty much the entire season and comes back and gets a couple of hits. Buck goes on to say that the Cubs “love this guy and fans rave about him.” Dude isn’t even the face of the franchise and the Cubs haven’t won anything yet. What the Cubs FO found was a diamond in the rough from that powerhouse baseball program that is Indiana University.
When Schwarber gets ROY, NL MVP, a Silver Slugger award or two, 3 WS titles and numerous other accolades within his first 7 years in the big leagues, come back and talk to me. Yes, I’m talking about Buster, and he did go to a college baseball powerhouse: Florida State.
Enough already.
He’s pretty much in Chuck Tanner’s Mother territory already.
Right?
The Giants have a farmhand drafted out of IU in the 21st round in 2015, Ryan Halstead.
Sam Travis is a big Red Sox prospect name, a 2nd round pick in 2014.
You can also find the ol’ Giants Confederate down this list a few years back – it’s kind of fun:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?key_school=17a57ad2&exact=1&query_type=key_school
I love you Scout i really do but 80 pct of these so called minor leaguers that you mention aint worth crap!!!!! Not trying to be a ass or anything but its true buddy!
Every team has AAA, AA, A+, A, A short-season, and rookie ball with 25 men/boys on the roster, so that’s 30 teams x 25 x 6, that’s 4500 “prospects” in milb. Whittle that down to each team’s top 30 prospects, guys with some kind of chance, and that’s 900 prospects.
There are only so many positions open and the competition is fierce, so yeah, it makes a ton of sense that “80%” of prospects “ain’t worth crap” or don’t amount to the dreams they have.
Love you too, Slikk.
And Slikk if you manage to mention all 900 prospects in your various posts and one of them happens to break out of the pack, you can claim that he was always “My Guy!!”
One of those guys is destined to BREAK OUT!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHtWs4wiFCs
Have a great day, my AC/DC buddy, enjoy this high voltage rock n’ roll !!!
I strongly believe every team also has 5-6 players that are stuck in that nether “AAAA” world; not good enough to play in MLB, but better than most AAA players he played with and against. We have them too, although we’d probably have quite a lengthy list if everyone listed their five guys.
Slikk, some folks clip Prospect Coupons, some don’t. Ya gotta read those expiration dates….
So don’t look. Baseball is about a lot more than the top prospect. Don’t you enjoy watching ball at every level. Me, I love to watch those senior league guys play, just for the sheer joy it brings them.
from what I’ve read the lovefest of Chunk with the Cubs is pretty much like that of the Giants fans with Duffy, sort of a folklore type of hero.
Of course he is not their best player, but people have been infatuated with him, much like you guys loved the Duffman.
It’s miss informed to compare his status with Posey, as you could not compare Duffy to Posey.
Why are you listening to Joe Buck at all??
Um, because myself and Mrs. Crawnik were out having dinner and they had the game on with the volume up.
I read an interesting “What are the Cubs going to do with Jason Heyward?” piece. Clearly you have a problem when your big free agent acquisition can’t even crack the lineup in the World Series–against two RIGHT-handed starters. After going through the options (eat the money, trade him, keep him), it concluded that they’ll probably keep him and have him play CF–which somewhat negates his (only) remaining value, as a premium defender in RF. He’s very hard to trade, not only for obvious reasons (he can’t, you know, hit) but because of his complicated contract status with a couple of opt-outs coming up (so how exactly do you value him at this point).
Anyway, it concluded that the Cubs will probably play Heyward in CF with a rotating cast of Zobrist, Schwarber, Almora, and Soler in the corners–and that means they probably wave a fond farewell to Dexter Fowler. Poor Cubs. It must be so tough to have all that talent tripping over each other. 🙂
What they’ll really do, is really work hard on his swing mechanics, he’s simply got to change things up. His 70 OPS+ is pretty dismal, but it was 117 just last year. Perhaps video will demonstrate some bad habits, or perhaps it really is re-tooling time.
I’ve always been one to think personal stress and overthinking are often the key driver to performance changes.
Heyward didn’t forget how to hit. But I believe the contract justification stress he put on himself led to him overthinking ( trying too hard?) once the pitch is on the way…subliminally, perhaps.
Possibly. Hitting is a lot like sex: the more you think about it the less able you are to perform at a high level…
Both require tons of time in the cage alone, honing skills…?
As Woody Allen said in “Annie Hall”: “Don’t knock it; it’s sex with someone I love” (!).
Is it proper to employ ones own virtual reality batting coach?
and both require many repetitions to get the strokes and timing down…
He’s having a heck of time with pitches up and in it seems – hands just not in right position to get there.
But hey, Belt has these issues too from time to time and we can see the swing get loopy, and undoubtedly there are some overthinking components.
But man, Heyward almost hit .300 last year, so it’s still got to be in there somewhere.
He’s a complete mess of a hitter. I have not seen a Major League hitter struggle so badly and so long like that since Juan Encarnacion of the 2006 Cardinals.
There’s a blast from the past!
Melvin
Melvin Upton, Jr. His drop off was more attributable to poor work habits and his stubborn refusal to take the advice of Braves hitting coaches. This was well documented in the Atlanta media. There was pressure on him to perform as well, but his 2013-2014 production was far, far below his career trend.
Last 2 years he has been way better, maybe it was the Braves coaches that were the problem .
Yes, the article mentioned that either there’s a hidden injury or a (hopefully) fixable problem, and that the Cubs would surely know that.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Fowler in Orange and Black, and I don’t mean the Orioles.
WOuld be a nice addition, but I feel we need power in LF. So, if we sign Fowler, we have to move Span.
He is the Cubs’ Barry Zito, a bad free agent signing for so many reasons. How anyone could pay him that money!!! This signing was a classic example of new “advanced”metrics run amok… The naked eye test could tell you he was never worth that money. He at best saves 10-20 runs per year in the outfield but his offensive production is so weak that his defensive runs saved are negated. The Cubs should dump him for prospects, eat some salary and move on to find a replacement.
Zito also had some value in his earlier years as a Giant as an innings-eater (180-199 in his first four years with SF). I remember him being pretty decent in 2009 and logging almost 200 innings in 2010. The Giants only won the division on the last day and needed those innings to get to that point.
So does Heyward as an Outs Eater
The whole “Advanced Metrics run amok” thing really is not true at all. No traditional scouting predicted a guy with a career 118 wRC+ suddenly putting up a 72 wRC+. He got a lot of money because he’s an elite defender with an above average bat, with untapped power upside. And most importantly, he was going into his age 26 season. How often do 26 year olds hit free agency? The idea that this is a failure of “advanced metrics” is silly.
BS, he has not hit for years !!!!
Not true. He’s never hit as well as he hit in his rookie year, but he’s been an above average hitter every year for the last 4 seasons, posting a 113 wRC+. He’s hovered around that mark each of those seasons. Other than injury, there is zero reason to think a 26 year old will suddenly go from 4 seasons of 113 wRC+ to 72.
Last 4 years he topped out at 60 RBI and 14 HRs, from a corner outfielder that is a joke, most overrated player in MLB, not even close 184 million dollars for that .
Agreed. The Cubs made a big mistake in over-estimating Heyward and drinking the trendy advanced metrics Kool Aid narrative around him. It doesn’t take a genius to see that. His stats have been sub par for more than 2-3 years. His best year 2012, was an outlier. Since then he has been way below league average in avg, hrs, and rbis every year. This bad season he is having right now is not a shock to anyone paying attention. It may be he had a personal crisis in his life in 2013 or a severe injury that has affected him adversely psychologically, physically or both.
If you look at Heyward’s peripherals he actually hasn’t been much worse this year than in the last few years. His LD% (20.5) was actually better than his average. His K% is well below his career average. His Hard% (26.4) is down from last year (29.1) but exactly the same as 2014. His BABIP has taken a big hit (.266) but it was way too high last year (.329). He looks like a generally mediocre hitter who got lucky in 2015 and equally unlucky in 2016.
It would be great to get Fowler but doubt the Giants will pony up. Span killed that dream.
Schwarber doesn’t look like he’ll be running around an outfield anytime, soon. Although the magical Cubs pitchers can probably insure that the balls are hit directly to where he is standing.
I really wanted Hayward a few years back but looks like the GMen dodged that bullet signing him long term.
The main thing is, unlike the Giants, the Cubs are so loaded with young talent that they can afford to take that hit, while the Giants would not be.
Even this season where they had so much pressure on the the Span signing, while he was ok, he was far from what the team really needed performance wise. Add to that no real solutions on the roster and you get a FA signing that was a bit of a drag. For the Cubs, they can plug in another guy and keep it moving.
‘Heyward’, “Span” …just pullin that chain, train.
Maddon is going to be under pressure from management to keep using Heyward no matter how bad he is, just like has happened to Bochy with a number of starting pitchers who will remain nameless. It’ll hurt the Cubs. I wouldn’t be totally opposed to picking up Fowler especially considering his anti-Kershaw stats.
Jason Heyward is not this bad as a hitter. He had an absolutely miserable season. I think he begins a complete rebuild of his swing this offseason, and comes into spring training with improved mechanics and attitude.
You’re right–he isn’t going anywhere, at least not for the next few years.
You can see, as you say, the poor guy has lost his swing. IMO, like a lot of tall hitters, he tried to find a way to cover the inside pitch and just torpedoed is swing. Let’s hope he snaps it together, he’s got the makings of a terrific ballplayer offensively and he’s probably the best defense RF in baseball.
Not clear why we should hope he gets it together, he is playing for the enemy.
Trevor Bauer should not pitch another game in this World Series.
Put quotation marks around it, and add Terry Francona’s name after it, and Cleveland fans will feel better
“We gave up nine hits, eight walks and made two errors. Generally, need to play a clean game to win.”
Terry Francona is a gem.
Maybe a pitcher can be chosen by public lottery.
So, tell me about Tomlin, the game 3 dude. I know Hendricks….silent but deadly.
Tomlin, out of Texas Tech along with our beloved Kelby Tomlinson.
“Tomlin is in the midst of a career year, playing in his seventh season
in the majors. Starting 29 games this season, Tomlin has posted a
career-high 13 wins, earning his last on the final day of the regular
season, going 7.1 innings to defeat the Kansas City Royals. In that
outing, he rung up three batters, while allowing two runs in Cleveland’s
3-2 win. Over his last four starts, Tomlin has put together an
impressive 1.78 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. Overall, he’s struck out 118
batters this season, putting up a near 6-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio,
as he heads into his first postseason start of his career on Sunday.
Tomlin pitched one season at Texas Tech in 2006 before being chosen in
the 19th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians.”
Tough sob.
http://www.texastech.com/news/2016/10/5/baseball-tomlin-tomlinson-set-to-begin-mlb-postseason.aspx
Thanks, cc.
He has a truly microscopic BB%, 2.8%, that’s the lowest of any qualifying pitcher. But Hard% of 34% and 18% HR/FB. 88 mph avg. fastball. Huge number of cutters.
Wotus on vocals, Raggs on drums, Dunston on lead guitar
Big Head Bruce and the Monsters with their 2016 recap song, Bittersweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuUNfC3tTI8
“I miss those days when you could count on the Giants winning every other World Series…”
So do I, GG.
Okay, my understanding is that Kyle Schwarber has not been medically cleared to play in the outfield. Will he be medically cleared to play catcher? Or are the Cubs just joking about that? Will he be a PH at Wrigley field?
He will definitely be PHat Wrigley…oh, not PHat, you mean “pinch hit at”. My bad
I’ve been reading about Schwarber’s defense in left field before he badly injured his knee. “Routes weren’t good, poor instincts,” and so on. Schwarber is in the wrong league. He’s a DH.
Efrain is right. (I can’t believe I said that.)
well, I’m right pretty often thank you! The problem is most times I’m right it’s about something that others find offensive.
As I’ve always told Matthew, to know me is to love me 😉
I now know you, and much like the understated wonderment of Brussels sprouts, you’ve grown on me.
lol my fiance will fully agree with you. I tend to stink once in awhile but I’m pretty good often.
A cheeze whiz of a kid.
He’s a 1B ultimately, IMO. But his play in LF is improving. What a problem to have.
IB where? Not on the Cubs.
OF, no way. He would make a worse OF than BB. There is a reason the Giants have not moved Belt to LF and that is because he is not an OF, PERIOD.
Same with Schwarber, just think worse.
We’ll see.
The Cubs would replace Anthony Rizzo, left-handed first baseman, for Schwarber?
6-foot, 3-inch Anthony Rizzo.
Not any time soon, of course, but Schwarber has yet to play a full season of baseball. A lot can happen on an Epstein GM’ed team. I’d keep on open mind, myself. If Schwarber hits 40-50 HRs at Wrigley and can carry that power to St Louis and the West Coast parks, he’s the next Stanton with a bat. That changes the equation as to who plays a lot.
It’s nearly impossible to hit a home run on the west coast. In San Francisco, I believe it’s 500 feet to CF and 400 down the lines. At least that’s the way the Giants made it look.
LOL. Given the odds and park factors (which are calculated from real data), you’re close to right. Of course I could be wrong, and all those power bats in MLB just have the Park address wrong on their applications.
Actual power hitters don’t have a problem hitting it out anywhere.
Maybe we should agree to disagree about that. Everybody has trouble at AT&T except for a very few, and they often end up scratching their heads. Any park that can diminish your ‘power’ by 30-40% isn’t a hitters paradise.
Nolan Arenado?
Like Marco Scutero, he hit 2/3rds of his home runs at home for the Giants in 2012 while only batting half the time at ATT
my dear DGG, it is extremely more difficult to play Catcher at a high level than it is OF, Schwarber may be “hidden” in the OF for a few games but in no way will the Cubs put him behind the plate in the WS.
One doesn’t make awful defensive players into complete players over night. The kid is a hitter first but his defense will keep him off the field more than it will help him.
“My dear DGG” Would that be complimentary or condescending?
both hehehehhehe
You’re incorrigible, Efrain.
I agree
I was digging up rocks in the backyard just now when I realized “My dear dgg” is like “My dear Watson.”
loves me some Sherlock, the books, the PBS series, even Elementary!!!
He has admitted himself personally into his own doom and gloom by now being an East Coast resident. Enough cannot be said about that…
I’m sure you know that Schwarber was once considered by the Cubs as a possible catcher.
Schwarber in 2014 on the learning how to be a catcher: “You have to think, ‘Where is the ball going to be at?’ If you’re late and drag [the pitch] out of the strike zone, and it’s not called a strike, pitchers don’t like that from a catcher.”
and also… “It’s little things, things that I wouldn’t have paid attention to. Just the way I throw the ball back to the pitcher makes a huge difference and is something Cossins gets real excited about. That’s a throw you make over 100 times a game, that’s muscle memory. Once you do that, it translates to the throw to second.”
I bring in the Posey secenario. Posey was a great enough athlete to actually play SS, and pitch. A guy with that much physical ability, agility and natural instinct, it is possible to make him a SS. Much like Biggio of the Astros.
But you can’t “make” a catcher because you want to. See what happened with the Yankees and their great next star Jesus Montero.
Schwarber is much closer to Montero than Posey or Biggio in athletic / defensive ability.
Yeah, I don’t think Schwarber can be a catcher. It amazes me the Cubs thought this was possible.
well no, I don’t fault them. When a team has a hitter like that and has invested money in the draft pick and the coaching, all they can see is the possibility of that bat in the lineup every day. It only behooves them to try even if a long shot.
Actually caught 21 games last season, but his knee injury wouldn’t allow him to do this in the WS…even if Maddon wanted to.
Hey you, was wondering how the weather is up there?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGm46gCmcTM
It was raining and cool yesterday. Still cool now, light-duty sweatshirt weather (54 degrees) but sunny. I’ve got to get out in the yard and continue working on the usual fall chores. Yesterday evening, I was unloading bags of top soil and compost in the garage when the neighbor’s cat ran into the garage. I was worried she was going to get into the oil pan under the pick-up. We spent an hour looking for her and by then, it was too dark to work in the yard.
drats, those cats. I’ve become a big cat guy since living on a ranch. One will come in the bathroom window and sleep inside, snuggling next to our red “cattle” dog on the bed. Then out in the morning between 3 – 6, maybe back in again by 7 to sleep in.
It’s hard out here for a pimp…I mean a cat. 🙂
He won’t play LF tomorrow at Wrigley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXYAXv09ik8
love me some kevin moore..nice cut..nice choice
Rainy blues day here in Sac area. I really like him and Eric Bibb.
it’s rainy here too, on LI, and cold. don’t know eric bibb. will check him out now..
nice call cc..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0WDTtIeSAI
Talk of Schwarber and a picture of the Kung Fu Panda above.
Sandoval could sure hit – fall out of bed and hit kind of hitter, as Schwarber very much appears to be.
Will Schwarber have a similar trajectory? Hit, hit, hit, and then lose “it” (mostly as a result of conditioning)?
No. the Scwharbino will end up a DH in a trade. He is simply not a National League player. The Panda plays a far more important and demanding position and has won 3 rings and counting. No fair comparison yet. They both seem to be natural born hitters however so I will give you that.
The Great Schwarbino! Love it, GG.
When is Michael Brantley making his appearance
Ha! This is good!
He’s currently tracking balls off machine and may get 4 PAs in Arizona!
Would only be fair
Ken Rosenthal on Schwarber:
“Schwarber prepared for the Series by tracking 1,300 pitches from a pitching machine at the Cubs’ spring-training facility in Mesa, Az. He did not, however, track 1,300 flyballs. And he was a below-average outfielder even before he got injured in a collision with center fielder Dexter Fowler.”
“Still, as Epstein indicated, the Cubs can proceed with relative caution. Replace Schwarber for defense if they get a lead. Use him off the bench in Games 4 and 5, when two flyball pitchers, John Lackey and Jon Lester, are scheduled to pitch.”
The Delmon Young Story: Part Deux!!
Just play Swarbie on the LF foul line – and Fowler in LCF and the Cubbies RF in RCF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7STRwujTZ7U
SFGiants 2min ago:
Congratulations to our #Rawlings #GoldGlove Award Finalists — 2B Joe Panik, C Buster Posey and SS Brandon Crawford.
Let’s have a Cubs GG Winner Totals Pool!
well you can scratch Schwarber off the list first lol
Whoa no Belt? Myers, Rizzo….who else?
Belt sucks. He’s a decent 1B but not the all world GG you guys imagine year in year out.
Try harder
He’ll never make people happy on the offensive end but he is a +++ Lefthanded firstbaseman. Stop he does WAY above par:
* Crashes hard w/runners at 2nd/1st in order to get lead runner(s) at lead base
* Extremely quick at slapping pick off move on runner trying to get back
* Extremely efficient and fearless on balls at the dugout railing
* Plays the pop up in the ATT bullpen area equal to JT Snow
* On high pop up near the pitchers mound with ++ players around – will take charge
** Once back in Texas had a pet pit bull named Efrain
Is that pit bull crack a put down joke.
Why of course not….back in Nacogdoches – those PB’s ran wild …
LOL.
lol
At least Efrain doesn’t hide his WMD’s
nope!
If only George W had employed Efrain back when – we’d never have been in that mess.
From Wikipedia:
“In the 2012 NLCS, Belt hit .304 (7-for-23) in six games with a .565 slugging percentage. On October 28, 2012, Belt won his first World Series ring when the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers. Belt played a key part of the Giants’ clinching game in the World Series, starting the scoring by hitting a triple to right field in the second inning, scoring Hunter Pence from second.
In the 2014 postseason, Belt batted .295 (18-for-61) with 8 RBI and 11 walks in 17 games. In Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS versus the Washington Nationals, Belt hit a solo home run in the top of the 18th inning to break a 1–1 tie, helping the Giants to an eventual 3–1 series win. On October 29, 2014, Belt won his second World Series ring when the Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Belt, along with teammate Hunter Pence, hit safely in all seven games of the series, the only players on either team to do so.”
Well, whoever says that BB9 sucks has a very strange idea of the meaning of the verb “suck”.
Excellent Post sir!
ευχαριστίες Γεώργιος
He made more out of zone plays than any 1B in MLB this season, was 2nd in MLB in DRS, and was 3rd in UZR/150. To pretend he’s just decent is expected from you, but wrong (which, is also expected).
Belt had too many errors this season.
2 more than Rizzo. But errors aren’t really important when it comes to evaluating who is the best defender. Plays made is far more important. Errors just determine who had a .996 fielding percentage or who had a .994.
Errors aren’t the only measure, but they are important. A Gold Glove winner should make the routine plays as well as the great plays. For 2016, Belt had too many to deserve to be a finalist.
Chris Davis had an awesome year, and had 10 errors. It matters where those errors happen in a game, which is something that DRS actually tracks. Belt made two more errors than Rizzo, but all of his errors this season came in low leverage situations. That’s how Belt’s 9 DRS is 2nd in MLB this season.
What do you make of Duvall’s DRS in light of him not being a rangy looking outfielder, having Billy Hamilton next to him center, and a small area to patrol in Cincy.
What that a racist insult, not a rangy looking outfielder, the numbers say he was a rangy outfielder !
Oh BS, Hamilton’s speed facilitates Duvall’s marginal route skills, and lack of range.
Prove it, Hamilton missed lots of games, and your range is your range, the numbers say he had good range, he also played on the road half the time, so small ball park means nothing .
Hamilton is a former infielder. He will finally learn CF “the day that he actually learns it”
No ETA available
We were talking about Duvall’s range, they think that playing with Billy Hamilton makes him look better .
People who call somebody a racist are usually racist themselves.
Bs, but you might be one, notice you seem to mostly post about minority players, your inter city stuff.
Translation, please.
Please no. Accusing racism on a baseball blog is weak sauce. Please chill.
He seems to compliment, and praise mostly Minority players .
He has no clue – see above.
I had already realized that. Simply joking. PJ is a nice guy. He gives me a lot of fun.
PJ and Efrain are in my top 5 of TWG regulars I would like to see a guest post from sometime this offseason.
Live and let live. De gustibus disputandum non est, atque nunc non disputo.
You’re creeping up my list too Alvise, but it would have to be in English.
=”In matters of taste, there can be no disputes, and I don’t dispute…now”.
in the works!!!
Your our teddy bear 🙂
I think Gary of KNBR is a reverse racist, when a white caller or writer, or player, he is get him in and out quickly, if he is a person of color, he is excited , how you doing brother, and praises and lets him talk for as long as he wants .
What’s a reverse racist?
A contradiction in logic.
Gary has a preference for women of color:
Alicia his wife was only a KNBR intern when he took after her. He was still married.
Gary tried pursuing Pam Moore but her boy friend Frankie Beverly of the group Maze put an end to that.
Gary is now infatuated with Brittney Shipp the KRON weather person.
He doesn’t hide is preference. Ask BaldHeadSlikk1 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d4e928eb8c93d70be2b0afb7ebea025a63b66b524023e633daa38d48cd87b65e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6a8dabf470414185fbef656f1f3c86031141d4598772e25cfc60329e70cdd2e0.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/29d9244944b447eeaa2f1a54bd11d0bff7ddd5a31c513486e264d8bc7bb8489e.jpg
First of all – your OP makes NO sense grammatically (What that a racist insult, not a rangy looking outfielder, the numbers say he was a rangy outfielder !)
And secondly – my son and daughter are bi-racial – so have a great day PJ.
I don’t think there’s ever really been much correlation to a CF helping out a corner OF defense. It can matter more in the infield (like if you have a rangy SS with a cannon so the 3B can hug the line a little more), but I don’t think Hamilton would have magically made Duvall make a tons more plays. His high DRS is likely most related to him getting the most opportunities. He had more balls hit to him in LF than any other LF. That’s a good way to accumulate some defensive value. The small ballpark almost certainly helps. BUT, you still have to make the plays, and Duvall did. He was successful on 95% of balls hit into his zone, easily the highest among MLB LF (and compare it to Pagan at 88%). So, a good arm, making the highest % of the plays.
There is just no way I believe Adam Duvall is the best defensive LF in the NL. I don’t care what the numbers say. Eye test doesn’t back that up at all
I haven’t looked, but a lot of the experts make the first cut on DRS (defensive runs saved). Belts ability to turn the double play has a big impact there.
I would guess Buster and Brandon win. Panik was out too long…even if he was the best defender.
If Posey and Craw don’t win there needs to be an FBI investigation.
I thing you should get royalties from “them” using your partial initials in their adds
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2e0cb55c9fc2227967c3312c163a2365d45702dc785e07c17995aab5d9df20e.png
Hey ClutchUp, this seems a bit strange, from out of left field.
Well….out “here” the adds and billboards are everywhere…. so not just leftfield 🙂
Canada?
On TV they are everywhere
Panik play enough? I’d think Belt would make the final cut, but Rizzo would win.
Goldschmidt?
Molina played less then Panik last year and still won, it is a reputation award, Justin Turner is a finalist , Myers was picked over Belt, lots of players that are better known for hitting then fielding were picked as finalist .
Final pitch f/x numbers for World Series (CHC@CLE) Gm 2
HP Umpire Chris Guccione: 144/145 Balls + 51/61 Strikes = 195/206 = 94.7%. +1 CLE.
How non-Marquez of him!
http://www.internetmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/baseball-cartoonhigh.jpg
Front running as a baseball strategy. It works, and explains the 2016 Indians and the 2014 Giants.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-cubs-beat-the-front-running-indians-at-their-own-game/
Bapah might need to fix this for me, but here is a Halloween costume idea from WSJ https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d5a82393a11240dbd7677dad8ceb9d7f6dc6df14b94bb20b80f596107220648e.jpg
Wow they are really diving to the floor for those rebounds
Speaking of the Gold Glove and defense and all that jazz,
here is a preview of who should win the awards based on the metrics (two parts):
http://actasports.com/statoftheweek/who-are-the-2016-fielding-bible-award-gold-glove-contenders-part-i/
http://actasports.com/statoftheweek/who-are-the-2016-fielding-bible-award-gold-glove-contenders-part-ii/
A Halloween costme of note.
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-10/14/6/campaign_images/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane01/this-celebritys-melania-trump-halloween-costume-i-2-22670-1476442185-0_big.jpg
Looks like HE wears a gold glove…
Berlusconi knock off, no pun intended, sort of.
Never could stand Berlusconi. He is a pig-man.
Kind of like OJ’s Bruno Magli shoes
Umpiring Notes
Some have asked if there is any correlation between playoff assignments and replay. Here is the info with each umpires replay numbers…(overturns rank among umpires with 10 replays) The % can be skewed in that often after the 7th or in the 6th managers will just ask for replay if it’s available.
Larry Vanover: Replayed 15 times, Overturned 6 (t10th)
Chris Guccione: Replayed 13 times, overturned 7 (t21st)
John Hirschbeck: Replayed 21 times, overturned 12 (t60th)
Marvin Hudson: Replayed 23 times, overturned 13 (T69th)
Tony Randazzo: Replayed 25 times, overturned 13 (T69th)
Joe West: Replayed 24 times, overturned 11 (T52nd)
Sam Holbrook Replayed 17 times, overturned 6 (t10th)
It should be noted that this is of 80 umpires with over 10 replays. The only umpire to work postseason with less than 10 replays was Jeff Kellogg. He had a remarkable season and had the fewest overturns with three of any full-time umpire. Several umpires of the 80 are NOT eligible to A) work a world series B) work this world series or C) not on the full-time staff. Some have said that the WS crew is weaker than both LCS crews.
-CCS-
Good stat Clutch
Hmm, this replay stuff is going to give some nice objective basis for evaluating umpires for example for the Hall of Fame.
Ouch! Might be a friend of a friend here on this board?
http://abc7news.com/news/cops-aggie-crashed-into-patrol-car-while-topless-snapchatting/1576017/
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/aesthetics-of-the-giants/the-giants-1978-uniforms-a-stylish-trio-of-groovy-pullovers/