by
610nm
I’ve been thinking about what to put in a TWG guest post for much of the off-season, but didn’t manage to do anything more. Greek Giant’s call to action has finally gotten me started. My theme was meant to be how my mother turned me into a baseball fan, although she probably didn’t expect the Giants thing to happen. But part of this story is some old games, to match GG’s recent suggestion of topic.
I grew up in the Midwest, where the Cardinals were dominant – everyone west of St Louis at least as far as the Rockies could listen to Harry Caray on a network of radio stations. We always had those games on, and of course my parents were Redbird fans. I was raised properly, in the National League religion, and taught contempt for the Yankees that persists to this day. We could watch exactly one game a week, on NBC every Saturday afternoon, so sometimes I could see Willie Mays in his prime, along with McCovey, Marichal, Perry, and all the rest of his Giants cohort. I’m very grateful to Willie for turning me into a Giants fan. Probably that was 1961, but perhaps 1962 when I was 8 years old, and learned the hard way in that World Series that sometimes the bad guys win. Baseball holds a lot of lessons for life, and the ’62 WS was an early and very cruel example. I still hate the Yankees almost as much as I hate the Dodgers.
Now, Dad liked ball as much as any normal American would, but Mom was a fanatic. I remember that if I went to the grocery store with Dad on Saturday, he’d buy me a packet of baseball cards and gum – and since my Mom is not the kind to throw cards away, I’m not one of those who complains that his Mom threw all his cards away after he went to college. Two of her uncles had once tried to go to Montana to play in some kind of rookie league, I’d guess back in the late ’20s, one of whom used to go to spring training in Arizona every year after he retired. As a kid, I thought that was a pretty cool idea, but of course the prices were quite a bit different then. Unfortunately I didn’t know I should ask my Greatuncle about his attempt to play pro ball, while he was still alive. Mom grew up in the 1930s in Topeka, so I grew up hearing about the mighty Topeka Owls whom the Internet reveals to have been a class C team, operating just before and after World War II. I often heard that Granddad would take Mom and my uncle for an ice cream on the way home from the game. Mom had lots of autographs she’d written off for, and the Owls gave her a life long passion for the game. We always went to a lot of minor league games in Wichita, and later Mom and Dad had half-season tickets and even were part of the booster club for the Wranglers: more on that later.
Now, our family would spend a vacation week in the summers of the 1960s, by loading all us kids into the back seat of a Ford to drive off to a major league city. Museums and stuff mostly, but always with a big league ball game. I remember going to Chicago, and having the game rained out: the next day Dad went to the ticket stand to plead that we were on holiday, and so not still in town on the official rain date, and could we please go that day. I did find that program, from 8 June 1969, complete with a rain check ticket stub tucked inside. That was long before the Cubs were selling out all their home games, and they were in fact extremely impressed anyone would have come all the way from Kansas to see them. We also went to the Astrodome, in June 1968, when the players decided to play the game we had tickets for after all, in the wake of RFK’s assassination. It is odd to think we all believed artificial turf was a good thing then, but I remember buying a scrap of it for my souvenir. We did go to a few KC Athletics games in the early ’60s, but those games weren’t a big deal as it was only an hour’s drive from Granddad’s home (and the AL, to boot, so not nearly as memorable). Granddad listened to his KC Royals on the radio the night before he passed away, I’m told.
But the best game of all these family trips was to STL. No doubt after intensive lobbying by 10 year old me, we arrived at the Giants-Cardinals game on 20 June 1964, quite possibly the first MLB game I ever saw. A couple of decades later, I had the memory that Willie had homered that day, but wasn’t sure who had won the game. Then Mom mailed me the program in 1990 (see photo) after Orlando Cepeda had come to a card show, where Mom had the program autographed. Apparently being asked to sign a 26 years old program seemed pretty unique, as she tells me Orlando spent some time looking at it before he signed it. Mom also sent along the newspaper she had saved, and delightfully for me to rediscover, it was a rout. 20 hits by our Giants, with a solo shot by Willie as one of our 3 HR. Cepeda, Lanier, and Davenport each had 3 RBI. Pagan was the SS, and Haller the C. Alas, the newspaper article says Willie clanked a catch into a triple, to Lou Brock, one of many big-name Cardinals that day. I’m sure Mom and Dad weren’t too thrilled about seeing their Cardinals lose 14-3. (box score http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196406200.shtml).
Now, I can’t find the program from the next Giants game I saw in person, on 9 September 2006. 42 years after my first Giants game. Wherever that program is, there’s also the ticket stub and a button that marked one of Barry’s home runs, it must have been in the 750s, which you could get from the Giants by mailing in your ticket. I’ve had fun looking at a lot of other stuff while hunting for that program, including finding a printout of Mavo’s story about the Marichal/Spahn marathon. But finally I just tracked that game down on the internet. Jason Schmidt started against the Padres. We were there for a chemistry conference, and the student who organized the resold tickets got us into the left field bleachers, a few rows behind #25. Barry hit a solo homer to center early on. I remember turning to the Giants fan next to me, and remarking that the last time I went to a Giants game, that Willie had hit one (and waiting while the guy mentally processed that one!). The game got tied up, as Jason Schmidt was on his downward slide by then, just before slipping all the way to LA, but the Giants won 5-4 in extras (box score http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200609090.shtml).
I’ve only been to one more Giants game in person, that one a 6-2 loss in Milwaukee on 19 June 2007, which Tim Lincecum started. The Brewers crowd was really ragging on Barry, hitting clean up, who went 0-3 with a walk. So my lifetime record is 2-1.
Okay, back to Mom. This is from a note she got in early 2016 from a childhood friend, now living in a nursing home in the Seattle area. They have an in-house news bulletin of some kind, by and about the residents. I have changed all the names in this, for purposes of anonymity, except for a few player names and the vaunted Topeka Owls:
JUST A FAN, NOT A FANATIC
Forest Home is blessed with several men who are avid baseball fans. The Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees are among their favorite teams. But there are some women, too, with the baseball itch, among them Ann Nightingale.
“I love baseball”, said Nightingale, a Forest Home resident since February of 2014. “I’m just a fan, though. I’m not even close to being like some of my relatives who are fanatics”.
Therein lies a story of how the game can become so captivating, even intoxicating. And this story began in the 1940’s in Topeka, Kansas, home of the Topeka Owls of the Class C Western Association.
The Jerry Curtiss family, cousins of Ann Downing (Nightingale’s maiden name), began taking her to games with them.
“I felt so lucky they did that”, she said. “It was so much fun to spend a hot summer evening watching the young players in the all-white home uniforms. Fun to hear the crack of the bat. Fun to see the players tear around the bases. Fun to see them circle the bases after hitting home runs. It was only a class C league but some real talent came through it, including Stan Musial and Mickey Mantle. Needless to say, Musial and Mantle didn’t stay long.” [editor’s note: my Mom and my uncle always spoke of Musial in the same manner I do Willie. Baseball Reference tells me Stan the Man was an Owl in 1941].
Seeing Ann’s budding interest, Jerry [my Granddad] made it a priority to increase her interest. “He taught me a lot about baseball”, she said. “For instance, he taught me how to keep score and filled me in on some baseball lingo, such as ‘can of corn’ for a pop flyball.”
All the while, Ann became a bigger and bigger fan of the Owls, a team that periodically was associated with the St. Louis Browns, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox.
In 1949, two years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jerry encouraged his daughter Mary [that’s my Mom] to request an autograph from him. She was shocked and delighted by the reply. Robinson not only sent his autograph, but also those of Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella, two other black players signed by the Dodgers.
“Mary cherishes those autographs”, Nightingale said. “She probably could sell them for quite a bit of money, but she’s not about to do that. She has them in her archives which include many other autographs, articles, and other souvenirs. She did send me a copy of the autographs which is very special to me.”
Then there was the night at an Owls game when Jerry told Ann and Mary that George Sisler, the Hall of Fame first baseman, was in the park. He suggested that they ask for his autograph. “I got Sisler’s autograph, but I have no idea what happened to it”, Nightingale said. Her frustration with the loss of that autograph was heightened in 2004, when Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki surpassed Sisler’s record for hits in a season, with his 257th, a record which Sisler had held for 84 years, “And I lost his autograph”, she said.
Nightingale and her late husband moved to Puyallup, Washington in 1975, and she became a devoted fan of the Mariners. “I watch them on TV a lot”, she said. “I also like the Cubs, and Mary loves the Cubs. I have a wish – that the Mariners and Cubs would play in the World Series”.
Would a lifelong friendship be tested by such a pairing? “Not really”, Nightingale said, laughing. “I think it would be great fun”.
Mom was pretty happy last October, but I’ve recently told her not to expect a repeat in 2017 – the Giants are too strong to let that 9th inning happen again.
I’m not quite clear on how Mom changed from being a STL fan when I was a kid to a Cubs fan now, but she did pull for the Padres in between. That was because Wichita had the AA affiliate of the Padres for a while. Our Bruce Bochy managed the Wranglers in 1991, and made quite an impression as a human being on Mom. I’ve got a bunch of Bochy baseball cards that she bought back then, now in my possession. Mom also remembers Hunter Pence playing in Wichita, as the Wrangler’s were also an Astros affiliate for a spell.
You can see that my genetics indicate I’ll go to my grave as a Giants fan. I started just because Willie seemed so graceful a player, and he had so many other good teammates in the 1960s when I was a boy. Like a lot of people, my interest in baseball faded in early adult life, but started to come back in the 80s and 90s – I was at a chemistry conference during the earthquake, and at a different conference when the news came that Peter Magowan had saved our team for SF, and then a day later landed a deal with Barry Bonds. The organization now has great stability: financially, in the front office, and on the coaching staff. Pitching first, hitting second, the exact same recipe those cursed Dodgers used on us in the ’60s. Matt Cain is a personal favorite, and we all know what Tim Lincecum did. But best of all, I like the emphasis on team chemistry and decent people: it is easy to say Posey and Bumgarner, but then there’s also Panik and Pence and Crawford and our memory of Duffy or Vogey. The Giants are doing things the right way, and no doubt acquiring fans in this decade like they did back in the 1960s.
Now, let me end by saying how much this blog means to me. As baseball coverage died in the newspaper (try and find anything written about west coast teams in a Midwest paper today!), the internet came along, so I found the team’s MLB page and the SF Chronicle’s page early on. Somehow I then learned about Baggarly’s blog at the San Jose paper’s web site, which had great information about the team and players. Mostly I read the actual Extra Baggs post, but after a while it seemed that the comment section was chock full of interesting characters, with a deep knowledge of baseball. Pavlovic carried on well, and did us a big favor by getting rid of two awful trolls. I still can’t figure out why the SJMN let their blog fall apart last year, but Greek Giant really stepped up last season to keep things going. We’ve had new content all through the winter from GG, and I am sorry my own effort is too late to help GG as “Hot Stove filler”. Truly, thank you.
I’ve learned a lot from all of you, about old games, being a fan, the technical side of fielding and hitting, thinking about OurGuys, and how fatalistic a manager has to be about his pitching or pinch-hitting choices. Mentioning any names would just mean I overlook others, but I simply had to work in Mavo’s name above! It took me more than two years reading Extra Baggs to find the courage to toss in a comment, and I’m happy that you put up with me. I only played briefly in little league, and now you know that I have been to a grand total of 3 Giants games – I am so envious of your stories about Candlestick or attending parades or meeting some of the players. So let me encourage anyone who is lurking to chip in, too. There seems to be room for all kinds of baseball and Giants fans here, and even our fairly interesting Cubs and Dodger fan.
What a fantastic post…thank you
Yea, it’s a shame I didn’t know about it 4 hours ago.
were you too busy hand picking coffee beans off of shrubs in Argentina?
No. I was sitting on the other thread waiting for someone to post something.
Keep up, Gramps
It’s tough if nobody says anything.
lmao
Good morning all. Lineup for today’s game versus the American League champs:
Today’s SF lineup vs. CLE: Span CF, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Parker LF, Morse DH, Hill 2B, Hundley C, Blanks 1B, Tomlinson 3B (Cain P)
Do Parker and Tomlinson need to sit at the Kid’s Table?
I’m interested in seeing how tomlinson does at 3b. That seems to be his only chance to get into the starting lineup
I’ve seen him play there in Sacramento. I thought he was quite good.
Well that settles it for me then. 🙂
Six of those are among the 19 getting votes from MyGuy participants to make the 25-Man. Three are Givens and One got a comment yesterday that “I didn’t know he was still around,”
Yup, that was me talking about Blanks. Hadn’t seen him get an AB before yesterday.
So, if Rollins is playing 2nd, who’s playing SS?
Bravo! Well done, 610nm.
It was a gorgeous Saturday at Marchant Stadium…now spruced up to the tune of $40 million or so. Sadly, it wasn’t Arizona and the Giants but instead the Tigers and Yankees. That being said, it was live baseball with a childhood friend. In other words, a great day!
Next year…Scottsdale. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/793e73aefade2aad0407dd89e93773a218027a7c9f8adcd9a683e20460dc4ec9.jpg
New power rankings in MLB are out. The Giants sit at #5, behind the the Cubs, Indians, Red Sox, and Dodgers.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/03/06/mlb-power-rankings-cubs-indians-rangers-dodgers/98792138/
that’s only one outlets take on it. I’ve seen them as low as 10 on other sites.
Somewhere in between those numbers sounds about right for this roster.
I’ll bet you and Krukow would have spirited debates over brewski’s
Very! You know I would have tons to discuss.
Over a nice bourbon or rye, with am IPA back.
One thing I forgot to post yesterday was almost walking by a table set up for Willie Wilson and George Foster who were signing autographs. They both looked good. George was wearing Cincinnati red which makes sense. If he had been wearing Giants colors it would’ve been painful.
Where was Frank Duffy?
Shopping for toothpicks with U.L. Washington.
Hmm…Frank already has toothpicks below his waist. Wasted trip
…and Vern Geishart.
Might stop by the bullpen and talk to Cain. See if I can help him out.
These episodes of Deer Tales are fantabulous
tend bar?
I’m back on the horse. Guess it makes sense with Cain starting.
A closer look at some of the issues with artificial turf. https://theconversation.com/why-artificial-turf-may-truly-be-bad-for-kids-72044
MRI’s on my son’s knees tell me all I need to know
Awesome guest post!
Two thumbs up!!
So His Majesty King James felt that he wanted work at 2B, so now Hill’s playing SS (hasn’t played there in a decade).
Matt Cain: Sheesh, I’m trying to hold onto my rotation spot, Crawford’s gone, and I have both my middle infielders playing out of position? Thanks a bunch, Boch.
When I first read this, i thought Lebron was playing 2B for the Giants today
Cain coughs one up. That didn’t take long.
a hairball?
Let’s start calling him Big Snorkel!!!
With a combined age of over 70. Can’t say that about too many 2B combos.
That and only 2 players in the lineup batting over .300
I think Cain knows he has it wrapped up.
Really really good post 610.
” I’m very grateful to Willie for turning me into a Giants fan. Probably that was 1961, but perhaps 1962 when I was 8 years old, and learned the hard way in that World Series that sometimes the bad guys win. Baseball holds a lot of lessons for life, and the ’62 WS was an early and very cruel example.”
Truer words were never spoken.
A+, Orange.
Is it OK if I call you O for short?
What are Belt’s chances against Kershaw tomorrow? He is 0 for his last 4 against him, and by 0 for 4, I mean last 4 years. He hasn’t got a hit off him since 2012. 0-37 with 22 strikeouts. SMH.
he’s due
I guess nobody saw the comment I made on Belt’s ABs against Chapman.
Interesting view of neuroscience. http://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/6/14835034/ben-carson-slaves-immigrants
Is that how you characterize it? The hits keep on coming.
SMH too.
He did get AT&T’d against Kershaw once last season.
LOL. A LHB trying to pull the arguably the best LHP in baseball, with a shift on seems a fools errand. Belt and Samardzija seem to share a rockbox sometimes.
Phenomenal post 610nm!
Agreed. Great read, sir.
Aaron Hill! That’s MyGuy™! One of ’em, anyway.
Really? Why … sorry, I missed the original explanation. He seems like another guy (with Rollins) wasting time.
I actually think Hill’s a legitimate bench option. He can play several positions competently and has some pop. He’s 34 and still a decent player–hit .262 with 10 HRs in part-time play last year. Rollins has been washed up for a couple of years and is 38. As I’ve noted before, Rollins was DFA’d from the White Sox last June, hit in the .220s in 2015 and 2016, and hasn’t hit over .260 since 2011.
Hill is 5-for-14 this spring.
Hill definitely has some game left in him.
His last 3 years are a lot better then Cain’s, who you think has lots of upside !
Cainer with 3 strong…Bruce and Raggs doing a do-si-do near the on deck circle!
I hope we’re all rooting for him to win this spot. He’s got the highest upside … having the old Cain as the No. 5 likely means a division title.
I’m rooting…with a serious case of the Cain Yips
Having the more recent version of Cain as the #5 likely means 85 wins and finishing 8 games out of the NL West title.
WTF, have you seen him pitch the last 4 years, the old Cain is long gone , and Blach and Beede have way more upside, Beede just won the ERA title in AA, and throws mid to upper 90s !
PJ with a “WTF”!
Stop the Presses!
Really that had me ROTFLMAO
Cain more upside then, two up coming young pitchers, that statement, deserved it !
It’s fair to note that he was mainly facing minor leaguers. No Lindor, Encarnacion, etc.
Nice baserunning, Rollins!
I’m unable to listen, but my reading experiences on TWG makes me think this was a tiny bit sarcastic?
Got caught off third and tagged out in a rundown.
Listed officially as caught trying to steal home, which does sounds better than “picked off”.
Belated thank you for your baseball stories. You caught the flavor of so many kids in America that found heroes in The Game while still appreciating the Everyday Heroes of their own families.
Good job.
You have at least one article still in you about those Bochy baseball cards with some pictures to go with it.
It’s funny, but your piece resonated very strongly with me. I grew up in SoCal and from very early I remember the radio on with Vin and Jerry Doggett and daily baseball games. I got my love of listening to games from her. My dad coached, but Mom was the real fan. Even though it was the Dodgers, she influenced my love of the game (and Sandy Koufax) more than anyone. So, thanks for the induced memories and pardon the early LA fandom.
[I wish I’d listened to her. She wanted me to play baseball in college and not football. Always the wise woman.]
There is no such thing in score book as caught off third actually….
PO’d?
LMAO
He looks old. But I guess I’m stating the obvious.
Ok, was just told by the missus that Rollins made a nice catch while I was getting a beer. So I guess he looked young for a minute.
So today we have George Foster back signing but he’s been joined by Rollie Fingers, Darrell Evans and Gaylord Perry. Gonna post some pics. I’m sure they’ll be sideways. I don’t wanna hear about it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4ba880d949f7eb80e754e00da0653cb4f6ea8daf509001a36a51adab3bbb9d44.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fbe719724f5dc668144f131b2baf3c9642c4b12880abb4c1e9178ff5d84d6c35.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5815c2fc978c23b1d1577e431fe04f151a33cce11bc198bfb9356b65e15440f5.jpg
Well, rotate them.
Dufus announcer, it isn’t pronounced caliK-stay, it’s cali-stay.
How does this guy get the call to announce the Giants ST every year?
Tough customer.
He has the genetic advantage or name and voice.
He has some knowledge at least; even if his Spanish is rusty.
Is “Rusty” the other announcer?
Jon doesn’t seem to have that problem.
He is a HOF’er with language skills that are off the charts.
Think of these announcers as AAAA pitching prospects that keep getting switched from Starting to Closing.
Also, Hank was pretty good IIRC.
You have a wonderful mom, 610nm.
This made me laugh out loud.
Andrew Baggarly 35min ago:
Sneaky: Ty Blach enters and allows Matt Cain’s inherited runner to score on a double, thus driving up his competitor’s ERA.
Andrew BaggarlyVerified account @extrabaggs 54 minutes ago
“Second baseman Jimmy Rollins has snagged two line drives with diving efforts thus far today. No question, he can play there.”
Either that, or he gets such bad reads that he has to dive for balls that other guys would just make routinely.
The latter.
Doubtful deeg. 🙂
Another way to put it is, “Ty Blach, a starting pitcher, had to come into someone else’s inning, inherit his baserunner, and pitch immediately from the stretch.”
Just saw Hunter doing some running on the back field. Gotta love him. I was sneaking a cig. Gotta hate me.
Who’s calling the game with Doug G.? Is it Joe Ritzo?
He was supposed to , Giants getting hitting from guys not supposed to make the team, Blanks today .
I was thinking that whoever it is sounds like a competent professional, i.e., not Shawn Estes (though to be fair, Estes has been better this year, IMO). I’ve always thought Ritzo’s pretty good.
Kyle Blanks with 3 hits today. A big FU to RobDeer.
Sounds like that last one was a *triple.
Yeah, standing out in RF so couldn’t see how it played out. The way their RF-er was tracking it I figured it was gonna be caught.
He is a long shot to make the team , those are the only guys hitting this Spring for the Giants , the regulars are not hitting very much at all .
I’m just glad I have you to walk me thru this ST process.
No problem , glad to help you out !
You’re on a roll today, PJ.
I am a little worried, the Giants do not give me that much optimism, the way they are playing so far, Starting Pitching, and every day players hitting, it’s early I know !
I”m a little worried, too.
OK, not Joe Ritzo. Someone named “Rocky.”
Koplick? Coplic? No idea who he was, but better than Doug.
Vice President, Client Retention & Sales Strategy Rocky Koplik
Strickland in, and gives up leadoff infield single to SS, to lead off 9th in 1 run game, should he got him out Mr. Deer !
A win. Nice change of pace.
Only good things can come from Strickland increasing his GB rate. Take the long view.
Hey RobDeer … How is Strickland getting these DP ground balls?
Has he changed his approach?
What was his highest FB?
I made a couple clandestine mound visits with some sandpaper strategically tucked into my thong.
Red Tide in motion!
TMI!
That’ll make a guy squeak
The streak is over! Very nice outing by Blach.
I’m a slumpbuster. Just ask Mateo.
Let’s dance.
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/03/07/science/07sci-boobies-social/07sci-boobies-social-master675.jpg
LOVE that photo.
The one on the left looks intoxicated.
Compared to having both feet planted https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d59d70e1e6d5fac5b2e239ca3f63694222c1c71fd9c02f4f341220fbd0085b83.jpg
Or https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/902fa4b8f2ece013fc21752ea761f1aa6c1791dfe9a8e932e9374ffd939ed4c1.jpg
Rob Deer??
Doin the one foot shuffle.
But with disco style.
I stole it from a NYT article this AM.
The face cracks me up.
I stole it from you, and put it on facebox.
To dovetail with an earlier discussion here, Dave Cameron discusses two new stats , Catch Probability and Hit Probability, derived from Statcast (as BAPAH described earlier), that will come to effect WAR.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/statcast-and-the-future-of-war/
Awesome. If there’s one thing baseball needs, it’s more “advanced” stats. There were hardly any before.
You are invited to ignore them. They have bedeviled you for a while. Think of it as cautious humility.
Haak asked what Strickland’s velocity was but there’s no readouts here. Which is aggravating. Curious what Cain topped out at today. Looked to have more pop than his last start but if it’s true he hit a high of 87 last time, it’s not saying much. Anyone know what he hit today on the gun?
No gun so that the pitchers don’t look at it?
Notice any scouts using them?
I saw Ryan but he was wearing a wig with a stuffed bra and I didn’t want to blow his cover.
That’s a good point when going to see MiLB and College games. I always sit close to and behind or next to scouts with guns. I’ve lucked out a couple of times by being within chatting distance of Giants’ scouts. They’re the friendliest.
I like that idea and have identified the spot for that at the San Jose games for this year. Scouts seem like a young group; maybe well coached college players that did not quite get drafted? I will have to ask them how they got into this biz.
You can bet they’ve had some experience or exposure to coaching somewhere.
@ 610nm Guest Post: The Game I’ll Never Forget
Thanks for sharing. Those are GREAT memories!
Umpire Rob Drake returns after long lay-off http://www.closecallsports.com/2017/03/injury-scout-rob-drake-works-1st-game.html
PSS – “The New IBB Rule”: McCovey does not like it. Carl Steward hates it. I don’t like Manfred messing with rules that are not part of the reason why the game is stretched out.
I still would have loved to see the OLD IBB – with a runner at third base and some tweaked reliever on the mound – especially – one Just called in who threw 18 warmup strikes in the bull pen and then now his skipper holds up 4 fingers. Balderdash – if the new reliever was Chapman or Dellin Betances under the old rules – with our runner at third….. I am enjoying that aspect of the game.
The should have split the distance. Runner on third = must throw four balls. Otherwise you can use automatic IBB
Thanks for the update on Carl. Was wondering all week what he thought about the new IBB rule.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/24/steward-calling-a-balk-on-the-new-intentional-walk-rule/
Carl’s gotta be in his 60’s now. Rule wasn’t designed for guys like him in mind.
That’s as weak as Miracle Whip for a reason why his POV is not valid. 🙂
What does Ja Rule think of the new rule?
LOL – not sure that JRoll is still using the Harry Kalas moniker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-ES_YyNL5o
He and Diddy do not like the new version https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/680a8a431122410d93c31441615db8a80bee79c49e9e22076f76cd92bb0562de.jpg
Heinz is to ketchup as Velveeta is to “cheese”
A couple of iconic American brands.
Besides, it was originally catsup and only children and illiterates should use the dumbed-down, “Kiddified” name that Heinz uses.
Amen.
Hello Clutch!!!
HELLO Mr. BHS1 !
Let’s hope it’s really helping Blach coming in and looking sharp post some Cain innings.
I’m kinda high on Slania, wonder if there is room for him. Who goes? Guerrin? Kontos?
Love Slania. Big, huge body who they stretched last year from reliever to starter total pitches. Fun loving Notre Dame Touchdown Jesus athlete. https://audioboom.com/posts/5650055-2-26-dan-slania-talks-about-being-in-giants-camp?t=0
Thanks for the link, sounds like a good kid.
Think they’ll keep him in Sac to work on being a starter more or bring him up to work out of the pen?
yes
He will start the season in AAA, unless about 3 or 4 guys come down with cholera. Maybe 6.
Anybody down at Spring Training or headed there asap and YOU have something untoward going on regarding your SF Giant Spring Training Package – I suggest you write down this name: Greg Marinec – Client Retention & Spring Training Manager. Greg has held several titles within Giants Ticket Office Front Office but this is clearly his niche. Can almost “walk on water”.
One thing he could not do is hit a grand-slam on MLB Jeopardy as you can see by the frame. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e21744ef74f30e51204c399322150d4abf08507086bd1a7fdcee9abf80d76d2a.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/04b071e9c9916b9a95eda22e9762c8ac10f8bed0bb9cef347170d4fe4f5c7787.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/23a435e68d5b6972ede7a1b803617e17b45f563635bb7262495c85fe38948ce4.jpg
Swing Happy Deer is down there now….
Outta here in the morning. One toke over the line…
Whoa…already reassigned to minor league camp?
Trouble with the curve
Me and Clint berating an empty chair in the desert.
So, if you go over to CSNBayArea.com, you’ll see Alex so remain all-in on the fact that Cain gets the 5th slot….
Is Alex still following Baggs around like a puppy dog?
Enjoyed this post very much!! Thanks for sharing this with us, 610nm.
Good Night Allen https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/be1829b21c0762694a7c6895584fe6f48dcf1b56e7d18cfba325bcd309db5152.jpg
Snow in Sonoma down to 1500 feet.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=PYB3Sc_lOTSg7BtGX1f5OM$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYvbUZWtRUMT4vE47T4Jci67WCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg
Andrew Bogut had to be carried off the floor with a leg injury in his Cavaliers debut.
I hadn’t realized that KT has an outfield UZR/150 of 110.4. Best on the team.
Span’s is -10.0. Parker is -11.0
you can’t seriously compare KT’s to Span’s considering the difference in the window it reflects.
You tell me if I’m serious.
LOL–he’s played two games in the OF, right? But I do remember him gunning a guy down at the plate on the fly last year.
And 20 innings in LF already!!!!
BOGUT FRACTURED LEFT TIBIA OUT 4 SEASON! This type of injury usually takes 4-6 months to heal.
Bogut hurt? What a shocker.
Ezeli’s having season-ending knee surgery, which is kind of a misnomer since he hasn’t played a minute this year. The Dubs did right moving on from those two guys. Too bad for Bogut, whom I enjoyed as a Warrior, but yeah–not surprised.
Everything you just said I agree with wholeheartedly
that was a very enjoyable read, ST. well done, my friend. GPOTS (guest post of the season)
Game I’ll never forget is the one I left in the 3rd inning. It was 9-0 Mets by the time we got to our seats in the bottom of the 1st on a very cold night at the stick.
Just to prove to PJ once and for all that I do not–DO NOT–hate Jarrett Parker, here’s an awesome article by Schulman about him.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Giants-Jarrett-Parker-is-intense-and-intent-10981662.php?t=205aa85f18&cmpid=twitter-premium
Game I’ll never forget- 1960 WS Game 7
BTW, the first cuts have been made.Sent to the minor league camp: Belt, Nunez, Crawford, Pence, Span, Hernandez, Rollins,Ruggiano,Moore, Osich, Kontos,Gearrin, MadBum, Cain,Samardzija
The game I’ll never forget is July 8, 2013. Matt Harvey vs Tim Lincecum. Game went 16 innings, lasted 5 hours 26 minutes. Posey went 5-8 with 2 doubles and a homer. It was also Brandon Belt’s first career start in the 3 hole. He responded with an 0-8 with 5 strikeouts. SMH
You haven’t gotten over Belt’s game yet ?
This is a long-time Belt hater reappearing.
I knew I liked him for a reason, sounds like a smart person
👍👍👍
How about the 18-inning game in which Belt hit the game-winning HR and the Giants took control of the NLDS in Washington? That was an even longer extra-inning game.
Ahh, the Yusmerio Petit game. Must of slipped my mind.
Petit’s six innings was the most remarkable performance I think I’ve ever seen. Six bottom of the ninths, every one sudden death. SIX.
Ah. The “Must of slipped” tipped it off for me. What is it with these “Incognito” people? They always tip their hand.
Baggarly is also of the opinion that Bochy has already decided on Cain as fifth starter.
I feel sick. Sick. The Giants have decided to punt this season before it starts. And it’s all about money and ego. They don’t care about winning this year.
They gave a 31 yr old closer 62 million. Pretty sure they haven’t punted on the season.
There is no excuse for letting Cain pitch one single inning this year. They have other options. He was horrific the last couple of years. You are choosing to lose every game he starts.
That’s a silly statement.
But heartfelt.
No doubt.
They won’t lose every game he starts but I would say they will likely lose 2 out of 3. He is really has been awful for several years now. Blach gives them a much better chance to win. The games in April and May count — if the Giants lose the division by a few games letting Cain “figure it out” again this season could cost them. Evans needs to step in and tell Bochy no once in a while.
I think that is the popular speculation.
And Black or someone else could just as well come into the season and stink it up and lose 2 of 3. It is all speculation until proven out.
He has been lacking in consistency, constancy, and visible order. Quite fitful and disconnected, I’d say.
I’m reluctant to give you ammunition, but you already come strapped with bandoliers.
Denard Span hasn’t exactly been lighting up the Cactus League batter’s box like Jimi Hendrix and his Strat at Woodstock.
Got to get him going. If, somehow, he’s partially finished and not being productive, it will take a while to supplant him and the replacement probably won’t offer much. He’s sort of key to the offense, and a hole could be dug. So, positive thoughts.
Let’s hope it’s just spring training talking. He gets a fresh start from me until he shows otherwise.
Plenty of other sluggish starts as well. He’s not alone. By next week, you’d really like to see swings coming around.
Yep. Not worried yet. My eagle eyes will scout them this weekend!
Just read Baggarly’s game story. Sounds like Blach might not even make the team if the Giants believe Cain can pitch deep into games and won’t need a long reliever.
“Cain can pitch deep into games”–based on what…2009? Sighhhhh
I’m going to be very upset if Blach doesn’t even make the team but that’s what Baggarly hinted at because of the competition in camp for the reliever spots.
Sounds like another Terry Mulholland coming down the pike.
Jimmy Rollins’ poor spring training numbers are meaningless as well. It’s early, says the large headed one. The previous two seasons of poor hitting were apparently also too early to be relevant.
Maybe he’ll get his arse kicked so badly in early starts that he’ll have to go DL.
Holy cow! This is a fantastic guest post by an absolutely vital member of the blog. Step aside Robert K. Adair, 610, you’re my favorite baseball physicist. Great handle, very cool, and bright human being.
I just noticed that you augmented your avatar. Your special quartz prism appears to have some sort of refractive filter quality to eliminate blue and illuminate with orange ( at 610 nanometers no less! ). Very clever, creative, and cool indeed. I expect no less from you, or your mother. May the Giants and Cubs have a rematch in the NLCS.
PS – your tales of watching that weekly baseball game during that era, those damn Yankees, and your reflective prose reminded me of the book ‘The Brothers K’. Real good book. I think you and or anyone else who enjoys reading and baseball will enjoy this book.
https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-K-David-James-Duncan/dp/055337849X
Cheers.
Thanks, Footy. It means a lot to me (and I’ll try the book). Sometimes I feel like a walking history museum: Yes, when I started there was only the game of the week on the TV, but the radio meant that the Class C teams like the Owls were just gone. Probably that TV that first showed Willie to me was still black and white.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzPxbttjjzk
nice win for g state.great game from iggy, and i really like that kid, patrick mccaw. he was picked late in the 2nd round by the bucks, then traded for cash to the warriors. “Warriors executive board member, Jerry West, felt McCaw should not have slipped that far, saying “People are gonna be sorry they didn’t draft him.” that west guy was an ok baller if i recall. or should i call him “the logo?”
Excellent win for them. They needed to remember how to win as a team.
It was written that if the Dubs re-sign Durant next season (he’s not going anywhere), they would have to release Livingston and/or Iggy. If it’s a choice, I’m re-signing Iggy. Maybe Durant will take a little less to help keep Iggy around…or the Dubs just have to pay the luxury tax impact.
This had to leave a mark, Israel upset Korea 2-1 in 10 innings in the WBC in Seoul.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/06/israel-south-korea-world-baseball-classic-opener-seoul
“I think a guy like Tyler can give you some different options”–Bochy, talking about Blach’s prospects as a swingman.
Except that his name is not “Tyler.” That’s Beede. Be nice if the manager actually knew who he was talking about. SMH.
https://twitter.com/mlbpipeline/status/838952822884323330
Maybe a trade is in the works? By the way, it’s Tyson.
Cain has waived his full no-trade clause and has agreed to a trade?! That’s great news!
Who in the hell would trade for Cain. Even if the Giants paid his entire salary, he has statistically been one of the worst pitchers over the last few years while pitching 1/2 his games in a favorable park.
She was kidding.
I’m sick and a little slow today.
That’s OK, me too.
Nevermind
I think I have said this before, I have at least 2 things in common with Bochy. We both move slow and can’t get a decent shave.But if he doesn’t pick it up this year, I might make the HOF before he does.
Chef, you’ve already made it. We’re just waiting on the ceremony… and the little lapel pin.
Who has lapels anymore, anyway?
I hope you feel better soon, giantc. Genuinely, for real!
I didn’t think my sarcasm was that subtle.
Hey giantc! When we discussed the Giants trading Cain several days ago, I asked: What team would want him?
Bochy should know that Ty isn’t short for Tyler. Tyson Michael Blach is his full name.
‘Damned with faint praise.’
Exactly. By downgrading Blach’s career from a starter to a swingman, Bochy is denying him the opportunity to earn a lot more money–you know, like Matt Cain has already earned?
The Yusmeiro Petits of the world make $2-3 million in a good year. Meanwhile, Matt Cain has made around $150 mil playing baseball. It’s not a small thing to derail a starting pitcher’s career when he’s already 26 years old and has been patiently waiting his turn in your system for years.
Cain gets paid whether he pitches or not. Bochy’s callousness towards a guy like Blach is amazing.
I know it’s echoing, but this Rollins/Cain sheet is infuriating. The Cardinals would NEVER stifle a budding young player like Blach.
Yes, I was going to mention Kelby Tomlinson, another nice young man who’s done everything asked of him–including, for example, knocking in the winning run yesterday with a good AB–and how his career is possibly going (back) into the deep freeze so that ancient, washed-up Jimmy Rollins–who like Cain has already made all his money–can have one last hurrah.
Blach is being Hestoned, not Cained.
Your last sentence is spot on.
Basically, he doesn’t fit into their plans. They had it all worked out with Cain’s last contract year and Beede lined up as the heir apparent. Blach wasn’t supposed to be better than Cain, just like Heston wasn’t supposed to be one of their best starters in 2015. But they effed with Heston to preserve spots for Peavy and Cain, buried him, and then dumped him–a guy who won 12 games and pitched a no-hitter. I don’t even remember what they got for Heston.
The Giants were to receive the PTBNL in the Heston trade. I’ve searched for who it might be and so far, no luck.
That’s right. I think they’re going to decide when spring training is over.
Ah shoot I forgot about Presto. I hope he wins 20 with Seattle.
Even if he doesn’t win 20, I hope Heston has a spectacular year!
I suppose in this case, money talks; even if Blach is pitching better than Cain.
Which he was and IS. If you’re going by merit, there is absolutely zero question who deserves that spot, or at least first crack at it. And then there’s Beede, Blackburn, and Stratton, and even Dan Slania. Plenty of credible candidates for that fifth spot. But the least credible is going to get it.
It’s up to Baer Sabean Evans to cut Cain. I think Bochy would prefer Blach.
I think you’re right about this, earlytimes. But how can they cut former hero Cain? I’m thinking this situation will eventually be resolved by an injury, for real or not.
That’s the dilemma/problem for them. Does one think for a minute bochy preferred running Zito out there for 7 yrs?
No, not at all.
If Cain and Blach both make it, that would shut out MyGuy Adrian Suarez.
Cain and Blach are MyGuys!
You mean there’s 3 of them?
He’s like my dad who’s over 70 and can’t remember names anymore.
I’m half-joking because there ARE a cajillion “Tylers” right now, and they do have Tyler Beede, so it’s not all that shocking Bochy wouldn’t know that Blach’s full name is Tyson and not Tyler. But he at least should know that Blach goes by “Ty.”
It’s just maddening because we all basically knew Bochy made up his mind even though we hoped he’d give the chance to the deserving guy. As you have astutely pointed out I don’t think it should be glossed over that Blach is 26. If he was 21 I’d be a little bit more tolerant of Bochy’s decision. But he’s 26 with absolutely nothing left to prove in the minors and he’s proven so far at the big league level that he belongs in a rotation. Whereas Cain hasn’t proven that in 4 years. And, at what point does Bochy pull the plug on Cain? I think it will have to be at least two months of poor starts before he does. I don’t seem him making a rotation change in early May. Cain nearly pitched the Giants out of the playoffs last year while Blach pitched them into the playoffs. Yet Blach is the one who will be relegated to the pen because the Giants still cannot grasp the concept of a sunk cost.
“…. to deny that Cain’s $21 million salary will play into the decision is naive.” Schulman.
Evans is the one who said in a perfect world Matt Cain wins the 5..Bochy playing along…
“They won’t lose every game he starts but I would say they will likely lose 2 out of 3.”
G’s went 7-9 last yr in Cain’s starts, 11-15 over the last 2 yrs. And he did pitch well enough in couple more to win. Also went 11-10 in Peavy’s starts, so they almost overcame 18-19 from the 4&5.
Not to say I wouldn’t prefer Blach or Beede, but I expected they would give Cain another shot. Think the rope will be considerably shorter.
Great stories 610nm!!
i’m sure this was mentioned earlier, but i just saw it. ben carson..really??? holy shit
Samuel L. Jackson’s tweet says it best:
“OK!! Ben Carson….I can’t! Immigrants ? In the bottom of SLAVE SHIPS??!! MUTHAFUKKA PLEASE!!!#dickheadedtom”
The man said Barack Obama’s Affordable Care act was “really, I think, the worst thing to happen to the nation since slavery. And it is slavery, in a way”.
Anybody here hear of NIF?
It isn’t important; was just wondering.
Do you mean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility ?
Doesn’t The Death Star essentially operate a ‘NIF’?
Hmm. The very last thing on that web page says the lab was used as the engine room in the film “Star Trek into Darkness”.
I’ll look. I was intrigued by a story of recent developments there on sustaining a reaction and the likelihood of a sustainable fusion reaction there in the next 5 years. It was late and just wanted to know if anyone was still up and knew about it. Seems sort of silly now, come to think of it. I used to work at LBL and Livermore was our sister facility.
I once subbed in a high school science class for a day and asked them what the significance of the recent development of a blue laser was. It had recently been done at LBL. Surprisingly one kid got pretty close with his answer. [Yes, it was an honors class.]
My sense (just as a chemist, not an engineer/physicist) is that the NIF has gotten closer to fusion than most projects, but we aren’t necessarily any better than “fusion is the power of 50 years from now” – a phrase that has been a truism my entire career. Of course, you get a lot of good expertise on giant lasers and pulse control out of projects like this, and train students and postdocs.
But we maybe spend too much on stuff like this, and not enough on the things that actually work:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Iowa
My state started wind in 1983, and went from 8% of electricity from wind in 2008 to 31% last year (less than a decade). They are building a new power line to take the energy from where it is windiest to where the most people live, so our percentage heading up.
There’s big progress in solar, too.
Just like baseball, science needs its AFL too.
Today’s lineup vs. Dem Bums, courtesy of Pavs:
Guys facing Kershaw: Hernandez CF, Panik 2B, Williamson LF, Belt 1B, Ruggiano RF, Marrero DH, Hwang 3B, Beckham SS, Federowicz C. Moore SP.
and so, the Beckham fixation continues…
Crawford and Posey went to the WBC. Maybe we should be happy this lineup is Beckham > Rollins? Although, as far as I know, Arroyo is still in the MLB camp.
My point exactly. I know the Giants are grooming Arroyo for 3B, but we all know Christian can play SS. I’m way more interested in watching Arroyo play. The Giants should be too.
And KT needs to be on the field. I think we’re going to see people assigned to MiLB or released pretty soon, and am not panicking before that.
In the meantime, the Giants need more split-squad games to get their army on the fields.
They only have 2 this ST
Kelby played yesterday so I’m guessing that’s how come he’s not in the lineup today. The Giants decided against multiple split-squad games this ST.
Maybe this period of early Spring Training is the exact right time to play guys like Rollins and Beckham to see what they have in the tank. I agree that it’s much more interesting to fans if guys like Arroyo and KT get more playing time…but Spring Training isn’t for fans…it’s for evaluating players to lead to the proper decisions in building a championship roster.
I have no interest in what Rollins and Beckham have left in the tank. Zero.
Oh. I forgot. I don’t think they should have been invited to spring training.
I think Sabes has been a dumpster diver his whole career.
But there was really no need to dive in dumpsters for this season. The Giants already have guys for these spots. Guys who are younger. Guys who proved they’re worth, and proved they’ve got what it takes, last season.
It’s the same reason 99cent stores still do well selling things we don’t really need. Finding a bargain is just too tempting.
I like the “99 Cent and Up!” store name. Basically every store on the planet is a “99 Cent and Up” store …
One word: Insurance. Say KT and Panik or Crawford or Nunez got hurt in ST….
If it were only insurance, earlytimes. But that’s not what Rollins has in mind. Alex keeps talking about how Rollins is the “slight favorite” for the second utility infielder spot. It’s a real competition with washed-up veterans for the spots.
Oh, I understand…I’m not in agreement with their places in camp, but as Giants fans, we are fully aware that these gents are shining beacons of how the organization thinks. We fans will have a very hard time convincing them to think differently, given the contributions during this decade of players like Vogelsong, Ross, Burrell, Huff, Scutaro, and so on. The team has been wildly successful with different levels of contributions from players no one wanted.
There was no need for the Giants to go diving in dumpsters this spring. They’ve already got the guys they need.
They obviously disagree. or, put differently – “what’s to lose?”
It’s their philosophy. It may drive us crazy…but as I stated elsewhere, they see no reason to change
We should have gotten used to all this by now. What Snu?
There’s a lot to lose if Rollins supplants Kelby Tomlinson or Conor Gillaspie.
Let’s talk in April…believe me, I’m in total agreement with you. But I’m deciding not to worry now…
KT s/be @ SS today.
Belt fixation too. Guess 0-37 with 22 strikeouts isn’t enough for Bochy to know Belt can’t hit Kershaw.
Not the same thing. Belt is the current and future 1Bman. Beckham is hamburger helper.
Oh. You just reminded me. I forgot to block you yesterday. I’ll do that now!
Free speech under attack
Nope. You’re free to say dumb stuff. She’s free to not listen
It seems to have worked. (said softly so as not to disturb the inmates)
Just because you don’t agree doesn’t make it dumb.
lols.
This guy’s a retread. Same agitator with a different name.
Don’t you wish other things in daily life could be blocked as easily as this guy?
“Blocked” is one word for it.
Would a lobotomy constitute and attack on free speech?
Uhh.
What’s a lobo tomy?
We need principled Republicans to truly put American first.
I’m trying, dgg…
Do you think the Secret Service reads these blogs?
They don’t have time. Too busy protecting all of Trump’s various properties.
You recycled that retread so deftly!
What was his/her previous handle?
Lefty knows!
It’s got a hint of “Sam” to it
Looks a bit like, “None of us have been able to hit this guy, let’s try the Kitchen Sink and see what happens.”
I’d say if Marerro does well today, his stock might be something not to short.
Isn’t spring training the time when hitters should be ahead of pitchers?
I wish the Giants had the guts to say: Merit and performance and the development/promotion of our young guys will guide our decisions on the available spots. We’ve got to make selections based on what’s best for the team now and in the future.
The Giants FO person with the courage to say this and act on it is TBD.
Even though I’ve said my piece, I think there are many things in this Spring Training that are left TBD.
I’m sure you’ve seen this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzjxVYPjys
Funny that a couple of the tags said TDB and not TBD.
And the biggest misconception here is that it’s entirely Bochy’s call.
Yeah. I wonder why that is?
Because successful companies should have a level of consensus and freedom to share opinions among stakeholders?
“Stakeholder” is my least favorite trendy management buzzword. Actually, I hate all of them.
Hate is big word. You need a safe space.
Never.
Bochy has enough credibility within the organization that if he really wants Blach to be the guy he’s not going to get overridden. The problem is that he’s in Cain’s corner. So when the FO and the manager want a certain guy to take the #5 spot that’s going to be nearly impossible to overcome.
Well, I disagree. He understands this is a business decision and will publicly support mgmt.
Bs, he has his favorites, I think Evans got overruled on this , Sabean and Bochy are in the Cain camp, so Evans is going with the company line .
We’ll know in 3 weeks. If Cain is getting shelled all Spring and still wins the 5th spot, it will be obvious that the fix is in …
He didn’t get shelled yesterday so “all Spring” is already off the board.
You have no fucking clue what is going on behind the scenes.
They won’t say that because that’s not what they believe.
For better or for worse (and it’s probably for the worse in this situation) the Giants organization “takes care of their own”. Cain is a war hero from their first two World Series championships and they will do everything they can to give him one last shot. If the results aren’t there then Cain should be the one who takes himself out “for the good of the team”, but I don’t see that happening either. I’m afraid it’s going to take a full month of poor starts, a 1-4 record, and then then a phantom injury to get him out of there.
!30 Million is enough love for Cain, the Giants owe him nothing more .
I didn’t give a scouting report on Cain yesterday cuz I felt like it’d just cause turmoil and angst. But that happened anyway. So much for that strategy. I will say he looked better than his previous starts. I want to talk about how the ball was coming out of his hand but that might cause some major coronaries.
Sounds like you were smoking/getting beer/hung over, anyway. Why should we trust you? 🙂
I.E., just like every other scout in the stadium.
I could see Deer in his Full-Brito with cigar and old-school radar gun
I knew I should’ve gone to Full-Brito.com before heading out here.
True. Unlike their last time out though, it wasn’t a case of Cain struggling and then Blach coming in and mowing thru the hitters. In fact, Cain gave up one less hit than Blach in 2/3 more innings (3.1 – 2.2). And the hit leading off the game was a flare job that Pence got a horrible break on. Just saying… I really am not trying to insinuate Cain should be named the starter, nor do I need to see his numbers over the last four years. But we just need to let it play out and not lose our minds that the decision has been made just cuz Alex and Baggs say so.
I’m not losing my mind over this. There are far bigger things in the world to worry about right now. I will be justifiably pissed however if Cain makes the team and Blach doesn’t which Baggarly suggested yesterday could actually happen.
What if Cain doesn’t give up another run this Spring? Stop laughing, dgg.
Good one, Rob! Great real-time reports from Spring Training! Informative and entertaining!
Well, you were my target audience.
You know what will happen if you dare talk about “how the ball was coming out of his hand” since what happens to the ball when it gets hit by the bat is what counts. Every time Cain had a terrible outing and then in the post-interview, talked again about how the ball felt good coming out of his hand, I wanted to scream!
That’s the difference from Cain and Lincecum, Cain is always making excuses, and being easy on himself, Lincecum was very honest and hard on himself when he had a bad outing, just another reason Timmy is one of my favorites of all time, not afraid to tell the truth even if it makes him look bad .
Diff’rent Strokes, PJ.
By the way, you were on FIRE yesterday. Good stuff
I feel you need to be “fair and balanced” with your assessment.
That internship I did with Fox News is gonna come in handy.
Scouts have to tell the truth or they will soon be ex-scouts.
Or Moonlight Rachels.
Listening to KNBR on the way to campus this morning, and Murph was agreeing with the caller that Blach should be in the rotation with Cain “out to pasture” (caller’s words). PCon quoted Bochy as saying maybe they’d move Blach to the bullpen.
This is nuts. If for some inane reason the Giants don’t want Blach in their rotation to start the season, they should send him to AAA to keep stretched out for if/when they need a replacement. OR they should trade him. There has to be a team that would be happy to get a polished, 26-year-old major-league-ready lefty starter. That would be a better use of an asset than turning him into Yusmeiro Petit.
Murph made the comparison between Blach and Kirk Reuter that we’ve heard before, and I think it’s a good one. Reuter was a good Giant and rock solid for years. The Giants could do a lot worse than plugging Blach into the rotation and just leaving him be for the next six years.
Why would you get rid of a guy making 500k under team control for years when Cueto can opt out at the end of the year?
Blach isn’t going anywhere. Him and Beede could both very well be in the rotation next year.
Why would you waste him in the bullpen when he should be continuing to hone his skills as a starter?
Case in point on why the Giants did not need to bring Rollins into camp to compete with Kelby and Conor: Gillaspie’s hard work and improvement as third baseman. Alex just posted an article/analysis on Gillaspie’s growth as a defender.
“Last season, [Conor] was worth five defensive runs saved in 304 innings, and the rest of his defensive metrics crossed over to the positive side of the ledger, too. After making 14 errors in 2015, Gillaspie had just two last season.”
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/postseason-star-gillaspie-continues-work-becoming-impact-defender
“…to compete with Kelby and Conor and Hill and Hwang and Beckham and Calixte and, I guess, Trevor Brown.”
I think it’s pretty clear that Evans is a paper tiger. Sabean is still steering the ship.
I’ve always viewed Sabean’s role as supervisory. I do not think Evans is making any large free agent or other budgetary decisions without consulting with Sabean (and possibly ownership) first. But that’s how it works, Sabean technically is Evans’ boss. I could not disagree more with Evans’ position on who the #5 SP should be, but otherwise I think he’s done a commendable job.
Matt Moore has had a quiet and unspectacular Spring so far. Hoping for a good outing today.
There’s a new book out on the 70s A’s, and it sounds like it might be a good read. Here’s an excerpt about Reggie Jackson losing big in a locker room fight with Mike Epstein:
http://thestacks.deadspin.com/the-time-reggie-jackson-got-his-ass-whooped-in-the-club-1792943293
Hac Man back in orange & black!
http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Hac-Man-back-in-Giants-uniform-10983030.php
A couple days ago, I posted something about Daniel Faalele, the 6’9″, 400 lb. Australian 17 year-old who has become a major college football recruit without yet having played a down. SI just did this story on him. At 12, he was 6’0″, 220. His 11 year-old brother is 6’0, 260.
http://www.si.com/college-football/2017/03/07/daniel-faalele-img-academy-recruiting
Good read. Thx.
Is this one of those deals where there’s a new post and nobody says anything?
Yes. We’ve all been on it for awhile just absolutely shredding you.
I gnu it.
Yesterday I talked to myself for nearly four hours.
Come to think of it, it was the most fun I’ve had in weeks.
POTD!
Awesome.
Hey, I forgot to commend you on your scouting yesterday. It was very well done and easily mistaken for a professional effort.
If that’s the case those professionals really need to elevate their game.
Do you check GG’s Twitter timeline? That’s how I find new posts.
That requires having a functional memory.
I’m buying you an Archie Bunker Always-Blink-12:00 VCR for Opening Day
Always a Mensch.
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/2017-giants-offseason-news/spring-training-2017-game-13-thread/
Glory hallelujah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTwJvVTQ6-0