by
GreekGiant
Ahhhhhh, that was wonderful! We always knew the Giants were capable of a complete effort in all phases of the game. Matt Moore was sensational, going 7 2/3 innings giving up one run to the powerful Rockies and the Giants lineup did the rest. Before I laud the hitting exploits of our much-maligned batters, I want to expand on Matt Moore’s start. Let’s remember his last game in Los Angeles against the Dodgers: a total disaster that saw him exit before he could get through the second inning. It was an implosion in a crucial situation for the team by a newcomer trying to acclimate himself to the expectations and pressure of a pennant race.
Is Matt Moore Evolving Into Another Ace?
Tonight he was the impresario of a baseball masterpiece. His fastball was everywhere he wanted it to be: inside corner, outside corner, down, up, and most importantly, by the Rockies hitters. D.J. LeMahieu, he of the .350 NL-leading batting average, struck out his first three times up. In the 6th inning Moore threw 8 pitches. He was efficient dominant, and most importantly, confident when the game was on the line and when the Giants desperately needed their starter to set the tone of the first game of the final homestand. His final line: 7 2/3 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 0 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Moore right now reminds me of Jeff Samardzija for most of the season: Incredibly promising, maddening, inconsistent and oh so close to being dominant. It appears Rags and Co. have groomed Smarge to a point where he is now more confident and more consistent with his command, thanks to his newfound curveball and some modifications to his wind-up. With Matt Moore learning the cutter three starts ago from Madbum, we could be seeing the evolution of a dominant lefty addition to our rotation.
Everybody Hits, the Runs Runneth Over
And now for our hitters! Joe Panik busted out of his semi-funk with two extra base hits. Brandon Crawford smoked balls left, right and center. Brandon Belt was crushing everything and was a homer away from the cycle. Posey (for his 1000th career hit) and Pence went back to back with cruise missiles that threatened to knock out spectators in the left field bleachers. Angel Pagan and Denard Span both had big hits. Conor Gillaspie mashed a curveball into the right field stands during garbage time in the bottom of the 8th. This was one of the most gratifying offensive performances of the entire season and a veritable party for us frustrated, agonized fans starved for a dominant game by our talented lineup.
Synchronizing the Moving Parts of a Winning Baseball Team
This is the Giants team we were hoping for at the start of the season. This is the team that we saw signs of in the first half. If the Giants waited till game 156 to re-assert their genius on Major League Baseball then I can live with that. Sometimes when everything goes right in a baseball game it is easy to get suckered into thinking your team is flawless. We know baseball is not that easy. There are so many moving parts that constitute winning a baseball game…
The Giants are a team that has won three World Series in the past 6 seasons by putting those parts together and prevailing over foes with more impressive individual statistics. This 2016 Giants team has been, in the second half, the exact opposite: a team less than the sum of its parts unable to meet the demands of its talent and potential. Tonight’s game gave us an inkling of what this team can accomplish when talent and expectations find an equilibrium befitting of their championship pedigree.
I can’t wait for tomorrow’s game! I needed this! So did you!
That was fun.
Got home late. Happy belated, Mateo.
Birthday? Did not know, Bro. If so, Second what RD said. Hope it was a great day.
It was! Thanks. Giants capped it off nicely
First post of Wednesday morning. This latest bout if insomnia is maddening; wake up at 1:00 AM (EDT), can’t get back to sleep. Maybe it’s because I have to pull up the AtBat app and see how we did. When it’s good–like tonight–box score review, watch all the highlights, then pull up TWG to see what GG and y’all are thinking.
All three teams won tonight, so it’s same status tomorrow. Shark and Cueto, maybe we sweep the Rockies and keep the pressure on. Win out and we’re in. Too much to ask? Not after all we’ve endured these past 11 weeks. GIANTS!!
Yes agree. Great ball game. Let’s just enjoy this moment.
Only makes sense if the entire line up can go cold and flat at the same time that they also get the entire line up to be hot at the exact same time. Strange but true.
1-0 in the Gordon Beckman era.
Happy Birthday ,Matthew. Oops, i’m too late, I’ll send you a card for your next one.
Send pan fried chicken!
I want some for mine, too! Maybe we should make a nice calendar for all our birthdays so the Chef can stay on top of this next year.
Moore went 7.2 innings, 99 pitches.Oh my goodness- and only 4 days to recover. I hear that he had to be carried from the dugout to the clubhouse.
Gnight,
We need more people up at this hour. It’s really boring here.
The east coast contingent is here!
The question is, Why would anybody be on their computer at 5 in the morning (on a baseball blog) unless they’re being paid for it?
because they work a swing shift and just got off, or it is 8AM on the east coast.
Now 8 AM in the Central Time zone, I checked out last night at a score of 2-1, so this 12-3 thing is just fabulous to see on this fine morning.
The bottom line is the Giants hold their own destiny as they have all season. As bad as they have been, they have been getting better. The pitching has gottten better over the last month allowing less runs per game, the offense has been scoring more runs and as a result they are closer to 500 over the last month than 300. They win out, they are in NY or possibly at home
True enough, the starting pitching has been good, and scoring more runs will make everything all better. I think the team needs to win 4 of these next 5 games, to generate a bit of momentum, and to show they can run with the good teams (LA). Otherwise backing into the WC round could be embarrassing.
Everything is going to be boring this morning, saw last night’s blog action, the kids were in a good mood, Peachy got folks talking about sex positions, hard to top that.
Peaches is a nice addition to the other Newbies we have this season. Love it that we also have a German Molecular Biologist adding to this gaggle of derelicts. It’s becoming a Thang.
Peachy called the 12-run game early on. She’s trippy!
Trippy….Nah….just being a modern day lady
If anyone ended up conceiving a baby last night, please don’t blame me.
Unless it was wanted, in which case, please name the baby after me.
We need you to maintain whatever mindset you had going yesterday evening.
Not a problem. As a card-carrying positive-negativist, I truly believe that anything I positively predict will produce negative results and vice-versa.
I can see you in the lab:
this experiment is BS, a total mess, but I’ll collect and analyze the data anyway. what else will I do with my time in this basement other than perfect my coffee brewing methods.
6 mos later… I accept the Nobel Prize on behalf of my beloved boat, the HMS Beagle.
I don’t think it’s fair for a guy to make a “final tour” and make appearances in so many games without having to actually play baseball. What a farce the DH is.
This three team/two play-in chase is fascinating. Three good teams, all with serious flaws, but core strengths as well. Cards and Mets play eliminated teams, we play arguably the best team in the league. Hope we at least get five good games.
I saw here from last night’s post that the Giants picked up Beckham. What on Earth for?
Good luck charm and/or have another big leaguer on the bench for these final playoff caliber regular season games. No risk.
So Posh Spice hangs around.
But not free, since if Beckham does get into a game, it is at the expense of KT or EA’s playing time. It is a real head scratcher.
…talking to myself. I thoroughly approve of getting Sanchez into the dugout, however.
He becomes another option so that Kelby would perhaps be able to pinch run at a different, maybe more critical juncture of the game.
A ball game is delightfully random, yes, you never know what might be needed. But it has to be a bit discouraging to these two young men to see the organization isn’t really behind them 100%.
One thing I have noticed about the Giants is we never really know the medical conditions. Could it be that KT is nursing a sore hammy, or a nag in his shoulder hinders the long throw across the diamond, something like that?
Bochy’s insatiable need for yet another veteran bat for the bench.
“It’s only six games? Well, they’re important games.”
Meanwhile two talented young players with 10+ years of team control sit stapled to the bench. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Only five games now, and with another righty starter, the lineup will no doubt be identical after 12 runs last night.
The beat writers explained it thus: Mac’s injury took a RH bat off the bench, Beckham replaces that. Sanchez’s addition allows Brown, another RH bat, to pinch-hit.
I’d like to see AD/Kelby and Gorkys in the starting lineup, with Gillaspie and Span/Pagan entering later in the game. At least against the lefties.
I’m sorry…? Are you new here?
Professor, we’re down to it now so the real talent should rise. Pagan can hit better than any OF not named Pence, so he’s gotta be in there. If Span throws out more of those useless “right side” ABs, Gorkys or Kelby should get some of those ABs.
Tell you what, though, Pagan was swinging it really nicely last night. Heck, they all were. But I like Pagan in that spot in the lineup, and he can be streaky. If he heats up right now, he could really help them.
Yes. Did you notice how many RBIs Pagan (53) and Panik (61) have? That’s pretty good for limited time (Panik) and hitting second most of the year.
Pagan’s offense is not the issue for me, it’s his range, effort and clutchiness on defense.
He should be removed by the 8th inning in all games that are close.
It doesn’t seem to me he has much “clutchiness” – either. He only gets “hitterish” when it doesn’t matter.
Astounding for Joe P.
Yes, but Span(ky) didn’t hit anything until the rest of the team did. He’s horrible in #1 spot in lineup.
Heck, I’ve been saying that for months. I think him at the top of the lineup is one of the big reasons the offense can go so stagnant. Not a good leadoff hitter. Not a good outfielder. Why do we have him, again?
In his last 8 starts, he’s .333 BA, .444 OBP .911 OPS.
That is relevant now.
Ah, but when in each game did he perform? Usually not until it was too late, or insignificant.
That’s bull bippy. For starters, the 2 run homer against the Pads just 4 days ago was HUGE.I’m sorry, but 10 hits and 6 BB in 8 games can’t be dismissed as ” insignificant”.
That’s one instance out of how many? Sorry, but that’s the correct term.
You made the claim, prove it.
Didn’t you say he only started hitting after others did last night? Bottom of the 5th. leads off with a double to jump start the rally that puts the game away. I’m helping you out,pal Giving you a change to admit you’re wrong. Any more help and it’s pay as you go.
Did you really forget the extra innings 2 run HR? That was pretty dang significant.
‘Cause of that video where he hopped over a bunch of hurdles?
‘Give him $30M!’
Very Very Incorrect Doctor Professor Lefty
You are really stretching it on that one. I’m counting on you to do better
Is Mac really injured?
See Uggla, Dan. Ugh is right.
Most of us are shaking our heads at that move. Quite honestly, as Lefty and others suggested, it shows a bit of confusion and desperation in the Giants front office.
Our media dunderheads think this deal clinches the WS.
Lefty is not the best judge of that topic Greek
Can someone tell me how I should act after a no doubt win? I forgot how to do this.
You start pumping that things have turned around and the winning is rolling from here.
I bought World Series tickets. Too soon?
Follow your leaders.
Basically win and they are in. 1 up on the cards in the loss column
2Hole’s Cubs be like :
make them go away, anybody but them, please no – they’ve got 4 starters capable of shutting us down, they’ve got an offense that could all of a sudden get clutch and get hot, they’ve got that even year thing still going. Please God, make the Giants go away…
No the Giants have 4 starters capable of holding them to 1 or 3 runs. The Cubs have 4 starters capable of holding the Giants to 0 or 1 run.
Arrieta vs Giants this year: 1-1
Lester: 1-1
Lackey: ND, would have been a loss except for Casilla
Hendricks 0-1
The Giants have beaten ALL of these guys THIS year and they pounded Lackey when they faced him in the playoffs in 2014. The Giants know they can beat these pitchers and the pitchers know it, too.
Being a front runner can be tough.
Are you nervous? Methinks you doth protest too much
That is actually right (I’m embedded in Cubs territory). Mom wants STL to come out of the WC round. Cubs announcers said throughout the final split 4 game series how challenging those four games against SFG were. I hope last night did in fact wake up the bats!
Split 4 game series? The Cubs took 3 of 4, though they were tough and needed a comeback or 2.
He was imagining that Casilla didn’t blow that save in the last game.
Come from behind wins late in the game are a sign of a good offense and a never say die attitude. How many come from behind wins have the Giants had when behind after 8? Last I read it was zero or something real close to that.
Yep. Zero. They haven’t even tied a game when trailing after eight. Amazing. Even the 100-loss 1985 team had four ninth-inning comebacks.
I keep seeing this “no comebacks when trailing after 8” stat but also know that they’re 11-7 in extra inning games this year. So, doesn’t that show that they HAVE come back in late and close games? If people do in fact believe that “come from behind wins late in the game are a sign of a good offense and a never say die attitude”.
How many World Series have the Cubs won in the last 108 years? Both stats mean the same – nothing.
Selective memory, I guess, that sounds better than early onset senility, so we’ll go with the former. All four games decided by one run, but the Cubs only dropped the 2nd game. 2HH is right, the Giants seldom come back, and Baggs had some amazing stat about the losses being mainly just one run, like the CHC series. Last night was fine, but those same bats need to be there again the rest of this week for this team to go anywhere.
And its meaning going forward? Irrelevant.
It all has to start somewhere. I noticed Brandon Belt trying real hard to get his bat head out for the fastball. It wasn’t working in this first 2 ABs – the pitcher did him a favor throwing breaking balls in 2 strike counts as his bat speed was more tuned to the breaking pitch. However, in his third AB, the catcher got smart and tried to come in on the hands with a fastball in 2 strike count. Belt was ready and got the bat head out front.
That, folks, could be a very good sign and 2 hole hitting Belt could be getting ready for a strong finish to an otherwise weak 2nd half. He may have found his permanent lineup home – right where I’ve liked to see him.
As good as Bob did last night, BCraw got a Turkey Tap in on the postgame high-five line.
better to have a short burst of pain there than to high five the dislocated finger.
way to swing it with wounded hands though. It’s a career year in the batting average department.
Just to point out, Bob gets Craw almost every game there IS a line.
I must focus IN more to THAT area
Bingo
Same soup lineup tonight vs. righty Tyler Chatwood. Rinse, wash, repeat.
spanbeltposeypencecrawfordpaganpanikgillaspiesamardzija
Brisbee’s postgame piece was fascinating. The 2016 Giants have scored 12 or more runs in a game more times than the 2012 and 2014 teams did, put together. Their second-half run differential is -7, and yet they have the second-worst record in baseball. Last night’s game was the second time in franchise history that they’ve had four triples and 3+ HRs–and the first time was a month ago.
Bottom line: This team can hit and score a lot. Except when they don’t. They were on a 100-win pace that first half and are on a 100-loss pace the second half (hat-tip Baggarly).
The 2016 Giants aren’t just frustrating. They’re a true statistical oddity.
Today’s lesson, children:
Run differential is deceiving.
Yep: Blowout wins + one-run losses = deceiving run differential
’87 Twins were -20 in run differential and won the WS.
’97 Giants were -7.
http://www.pinstripealley.com/2014/8/9/5982215/yankees-playoffs-history-run-differential
The second half Giants are exactly why you cannot make predictions based solely on statistical analysis. This team is going down in the baseball history books, one way or another.
All the more to think that the Giants just might go all the way.
Barring a disaster, Samardzija will cross the 200-inning line tonight, making him the third Giants starter to do so this year. Moore is over 190 innings for the year now, and if he makes a start on Sunday, could end up over 195.
That is quite a foundation to build on. A big reason why some of us thought this year’s bullpen would be as good as or better than last year’s was because of the rotation’s improvement, especially in the ability to go deep into games. Well, half of that panned out. Of course, they didn’t have Moore until August, and Peavy/Cain had some pretty ugly starts in the first half. Still, the rotation did its job overall.
I think the big key these last five games is the starters getting a quality start each time out. That was huge in the first half. Score early, score often, and yes, it takes pressure not only off the starters, but the bullpen as well. Nonetheless, great take Doctor!
It is a great foundation and too bad it did take too long for the move from Cain and Peavy to matriculate.
What I don’t see is where this is related to the bullpen being better? What was left of the core four was older (plus injury concerns / Romo) and the young arms in the farm where not as good as believed or anticipated.
We have great foundation for next year that will only be wasted once again without a stronger relief crew (and no that does not mean praying what we have will magically get better over night)
Well, the argument that Evans/Bochy made last year was that the bullpen was pretty good in the first half and wore down from overwork in the second half because of the weak rotation. Turns out they should have paid more attention to that second half as evidence that the bullpen was just NOT THAT GOOD.
I think Evans got the memo this time. They have some serious money coming off the books after this season, and I will be stunned if that isn’t re-invested into a quality reliever(s).
“Serious money…”
Can you you lay out some details? Who’s gone and how much?
Peavy, Pagan, Blanco, Casilla, Lopez, Romo–totaling around $50 mil in salaries.
Now, not all of that is available due to locked-in raises and adding Moore. But they should have about $25-30 mil to spend on free agents, even after the raises and the arbitration-eligible guys.
Ahhh… lots o’ dollars coming available. But I think I think that pitchers, especially relievers, are the most sketchy investments. But given the inconsistant performance of this years crop of young BP arms, they gotta try I guess. Let’s hope they find what’s lacking currently.
Thanks!
I see the relief corps as succumbing to the “bright lights, big city” syndrome and that guys like Javi, and maybe Romo, as being the tempering force working if the post-season is a reality.
I’ve wondered the last 2 weeks or so if the Baseball Gods are lining Romo up for some serious even-year magic. “Just get in” they say. Then someone, usually unexpected, becomes the hero. Romo perhaps?
‘That’s whats up!’
True, but the biggest failure this season was not getting that reliever, in a period that arguably some of the best relievers were made available. Will that same quality of talent be available again? Will it cost more? They believed the bullpen would be better? ( to me that was pure Giants PR spin BS).
All this adds to one big fat failure on their part.
Well, to be fair, they signed two free agent starters and an outfielder and extended the Brandons. So it’s not like they went cheap in the offseason. It’s hard to do everything.
The good news is that it should be a good buyer’s market for relievers this winter. Jansen, Melancon, and Chapman all available, plus second-tier guys like Ziegler. (Not sure which tier Romo and Casilla would be on.)
Yes they did, but the argument can be made that a top reliever was more important than Span, who they really overpaid for (coming off surgery + aging).
A lot of it is excuses as well, both from the team and the fans. No one will admit that the weak farm is a big reason a deal could not be made for a guy like Miller or Chapman, others teams just not interested in the Giants weak prospects.
Of course this team will never say that out right. They love their PR spinning, tellIing the average fan that all is great all the time.
It appears that the memo came from his boss:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/brian-sabean-really-embarrassed-giants-blown-saves
Uhhhh, have the Giants ever met the Mets in a postseason game/series??
I’ll take the answer off the air. Have a great day.
Of course, in 2000, first round. The underdog Mets, the wild card, beat the top seed Giants in four. The big moment was J.T. Snow’s dramatic HR off Benitez that sent the game into extras…where the Giants lost.
I was at that game, sitting in the bleachers when Snow hit it. Pacific Bell Park shook.
I didn’t know what Dusty’s thinking was, when he had Gardner hitting with the bases loaded in Game 3 or 4.
First year at Pac Bell too… That place was SHAKING when Snow hit that HR. We all KNEW they were going to win after that!! Until they didn’t… 🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqZyxJPdF5k
CHILLZ!!!!
Yeah! I was at that game too. The thing that was amazing was while that ball was in the air, everybody was holding their breath and it was really quiet, then when it clanked off that metal green ledge, the place exploded. You could hear the clank of that ball as it landed. If you ever go to that right field arcade before a game, there are dents in the metal from balls hitting it. What a dramatic moment that was. Unfortunately they lost the game in extras. Another thing about the HR, Benitez’s pitch was a meatball, right down the middle. Didn’t Sabean notice that before signing him? Also, Edardo Alfonso had an amazing post-season, Giants signed him to a FA contract and… that didn’t turn out so well.
I also got chills looking at Benitez after the HR…foreshadowing…don’t do it, Sabes…don’t do it!
Yep i remember that game as if it happened 16 years ago!
It’s hard to believe that was already 16 years ago.
That one stung. Such a feel-good year with the new park, and the Giants finished with 97 wins and the best record in the NL.
I remember that year they were playing mediocre .500-ish ball until about the 4th of July, when they had a day-night doubleheader vs. the Rox. We went to the day game. They swept the DH and took off from there. We took all the credit.
Atta babe. The Giants lost their first, I think, 9 games at Pac Bell. But after they won their 1st game there, they finished with an incredible home record, 55-26 !
You’re right on on the fact the G’s were around .500 at that time. If I’m not mistaken, Marvin Benard hit a walk-off HR against the Dodgers’ Mike Fetters on Sunday Night Baseball. That win pretty much sent the Giants on their way to the NL West title.
That was on July 2nd, because I had season tickets that year. Still have the stub.
That was a hot ticket that year, and pre-StubHub type outlets. The only reason I got to a couple games was that a colleague had season tickets and sold ones she couldn’t use. They were up in the View Reserve, 3B side. That was the only way I got in there the first few years the park was open.
And that our beautiful new yard at Third and King is now seventeen seasons old. If this was Atlanta the Giants would be getting ready to move to the suburbs!
Embarrassed to say…I still haven’t been to a game at AT&T. Soon, I promise.
Make it happen TF!
We cannot describe in words the beauty of this stadium….you have to experience it in person
You need to break your AT&T Park cherry!
Speaking as an East Coaster it is well worth the trip. We made the pilgrimage in August of 2010 and saw Matt Cain beat the Mets. We will always claim that my first home game visit after 49 years of rooting for the G’s was the catalyst to their first SF World Series title.
Also visited Yosemite, Carmel, stayed at Eastwood’s Mission Ranch for one night and stood on the 18th green at Pebble Beach (sadly, without clubs). It was a memorable trip we hope to repeat within the next couple of years.
You should go for it!
Snow’s HR off the foul pole I still say Pac Bell – ATT – Willie Mays Field has NEVER been LOUDER
I will buy ice cream for anyone who can name the MVP of the 2000 World Series.
I know the Yankees won it–it was the Subway Series, and wasn’t there something between Clemens and Piazza? I had to cheat and look up the MVP, though.
Mr L and I were just talking about how often LCS/World Series MVPs end up NOT being the big stars. You have your David Freese or Cody Ross or Edgar Renteria or Marco Scutaro instead. That’s the thing with baseball is anyone (hitters, anyway) can get hot for a couple weeks.
Yes. Exactly. In that case, Derek Jeter had a big homer in one game and the Yanks swept the Mets with some close wins and general dominance. It was an interesting series even though the Giants did not make it. I remember that season thinking the Giants were going to be back soon.
And they were–in the World Series just two years later!
On your marks ready set GOOGLE!!!!!!!!!
Scott “Atrocious” Brosious
Derek Jeter
It was a shot in the dark. Definitely missed on that one.
Mark Gardner. Ughh
Bobby freakin’ Jones.
Edgardo “False Hope” Alfonso
I’ll go one better. Benny flippin’ Agbayani.
Im trying to trick myself into thinking that last nights win was a whatever win in my mind with big hopes that we can pull out another one tonight. Hey it works for me.
Matthew A Big Happy Belated To Ya!!
Thanks much, Slikk!
No worries on timing. I have christened it my Birthweek, so the party continues unabated
Happy Belated Birthday Matthew. Many More!
Happy bday Matthew – I’ll leave the Belt jokes aside for a week in your honor (plus Belt does enough to keep it going lol).
Celebrate on, Matthew!
“Birthweek”
Brilliant!! I’m gonna implement that concept myself next time around.
You guys are nuts. You’re trying to add six more days to birthdays and I’m trying to get it cut back to one every 2-3 years ! Obviously you’re not 1st-hand participants of the glorious 60’s.
Yeah I am! AA Stagg High, class of 1969!
I’m all for making “my special day” a week-long event. Just had mine two-plus weeks back.
Sorry, but you missed it. You were just getting started when they ended.
if they can have Shark Week, we can have Birthweek. I’ll hang on desperately to my 50’s for a couple more, thank you very much
Not in my 60’s quite yet, but soon enough I’m afraid.
I figure when the calendar makes that turn I’ll just but everything in a holding pattern and celebrate the same birthday overcand over. My dad did that. He used to say it like… “this is the 15th anniversary of my 49th birthday”. I see that sort of scheme working just fine for me too. Cheers!
I’ve always heard it as the “Birthday Zone”.
Good plan!
My birthday is this week too. The big 4-0. Don’t even want to think about it.
Youngster. Now is when the real fun starts!
Tell that to my body.
some of us would pay big $$ to have the big four oh coming up, rather than being a speck in the rear view mirror.
Ha, thanks. I guess it’s all relative. But if you’re in good health, there’s no complaining.
good health is all that matters. an early happy b’day, cynical one..
Birth week wow your poor mom!
I had to get her going
There ya go
We got released from the black hole, er, I mean Soberanes fire yesterday and I made it home last night just in time for the big offensive eruption. Pretty cool ‘welcome home’ party. I tell myself they did it for me. Ha!
And it was yet another example of just how whacky this season has been, right? More 12+ run games by the fellas this season than in the two previous combined. Did I get that right? That’s just stupidly weird. And to expand the weirdness further we see all three WC contenders scoring 12 on the same night. Unexplainable and symmetrical… weird. Despite the reams of numbers baseball is insrcutable.
Yeah, no… More 12+ run games than in 2012 & 2014 combined. Hmmmm, even years… weird years… magic years… Championship years.
Gotta ponder that some more.
2016… weirdness, symmetry, magic?
Thanks for your work on Soberanes. We’re keeping an eye on Loma Prieta now around my neck of the woods.
Hey neighbor … we live about four miles west of the smoke.
GSDubs in close by too.
Nice to feel the cool air coming in from the bay yesterday evening, finally.
That was fun to watch last night. A pitcher in full control, and absolute rockets flying off SFG bats. Panik’s two hits were scorched, as were lots of the other hits.
Interesting pitching decisions if this all stays very tight:
Thor would pitch Sunday if the Mets need the W [to stay in or to keep #1 spot] but then he is out for the WC. I think they would give up #1 spot just to have Thor for WC game; he is their Last Man Standing.
Garcia pitches Friday (like Bum) so he those two would line up for the WC.
The one pitcher who can really help the Giants knock the Redbirds out of the chase if it’s not decided by the weekend: Vogelsong. How cool would that be?
That would be sweet to see.
Something like that might help the Giants feel the old Even Year Magic again.
Yes the Mets have already said they will only pitch Thor on Sunday if they need to win to get in the Wildcard, do not care about home field, so if already in Wildcard on Sunday will not pitch Thor .
Thanks PJ.
That is bad news for the Giants then. So maybe all the NY missing pitchers will cough up their lead and they will have to pitch Thor on Sunday.
Although Thor vs. Bum would be a classic.
I remember Pittsburgh doing everything they could to avoid a wildcard game at all, and then they ended up in the wildcard game against the Giants having spent their pitching before that in the futile attempt to avoid it.
“…and the rest is History.” as they say.
For all the head-scratching Bochy has caused this year (THIS week!) the Post-Season is where he has been King; he becomes an advantage again.
And he has the luxury of spending Bum on the WC because of the strong rotation
Heaven forbid the Giants drop the two in CHI that also means Bum faces them in Game 3 at Willie Mays Field to stave off elimination. Can you feel it?
You guys are nuts.
Ah, you know you woiuld love/hate it too.
You are a Giants Fan. This is normal.
Of course we are
Can’t get that quite far ahead of things, but I know what you’re saying.
And when the Pirates changed their starting pitcher on the last day, knowing they had a chance to win the division because they started their game later, we now have all final Sunday games starting at the same time!
I heard Matts (?) went for elbow chip surgery yesterday.
Such a marathon, and key players on all the teams are going down with injuries. I’m really interested to see 1) if Cueto actually pitches on Thursday; and 2) how he pitches; and 3) how he feels the next day. My son and I have tickets for Thursday night. He wanted to go one more time this season.
One of the Perfect Things of baseball is that people have time to talk between the action and that works great for parents and kids. I envy you.
That said, I too am concerned that Cueto is back already. Cautious me would have saved him until Saturday vs. LA and then he could still start Friday vs. the Cubs.
I’m guessing by starting Cueto on Thursday, then Bochy could choose from either him or Bum for the WC game. Cueto would have five days rest, and Bum his usual four.
Pre-injury, I was starting to lean to Cueto over Bum for a possible WC game. He’s just been more consistently good lately. Anyway, it’s a nice choice to have.
I’d be comfortable with any of that starting 4. In fact, right now, I’d put Samardzija as the best choice.
Shark coming out of the pen sure sounds interesting to me.
Shark would be rusting on six days’ rest and so might be too strong for the WC game, but both he and Moore might be needed for play-in games to get to the WC game, ugh!
I’d apportion the rest to Bumgarner, the guy who needs it.
Love JC but Bum is the Only Choice to make.
JC leading off the SP in CHI is another strength of the Giants … a #1 SP in most teams.
I wonder if the Giants might be thinking the same as you regarding Cueto. It could be that they want people to think that Cueto will pitch Thursday, though they know that they will swap him out at the last minute. I imagine it could be a game-time decision. I will say this, though, that if he does pitch and if he pitches say, six innings, that will be a very good sign.
We had such a fun evening at the ballpark! Sat about six rows up from the visitors bullpen, field level, looking at the Virgin America box to our right, the strikeout brick way behind us, and a great view of the field. Cueto looked a little tentative early on, for sure, and Colorado came out very aggressive, swinging at everything and hitting most of it, although with all the hard hit balls, he also struck out the side in the 1st. It seemed like Cueto was in some pain as he moved around, but as the game progressed, he seemed looser and looser. SFG missed out on some scoring opportunities early. Panik really stroked a ball hard with two outs and a guy at 3rd, but it was right at the LFer. Getting those runs to tie the game in the 4th was huge, then when Crawford’s smash up the middle caught their pitcher, we all thought a bunt would be a good idea. Both Pagan’s and Cueto’s bunts were absolute beauties, and it was nice to have Arenado giving something back for a change. The people in our section were loud, chanting, high-fiving, heckling the relievers, sharing baseball conversation. We laughed and laughed. Cueto giving them that kind of effort should give them all some confidence that if they can get to a wild card/division series or whatever, they have some pretty good starting pitching. Now to beat LA, which is not going to be easy.
I think it says a lot that Moore got hit hard and came right back and pitched great. Good sign.
11 Ks in two of his last four starts. Yes, he needs to be more consistent, but that’s some serious upside. Then there was the near no-hitter at Dodger Stadium, too.
He’s got stuff for the coaches to work with. You’re not going to get a perfect pitcher in a trade. That’s all they can ask for.
And he’s still young and still in his first full post-TJ season. The best could be yet to come.
Looking forward to seeing the results after going through a regular Spring with the Giants
His stuff is A+… I have the yips about him with each start…there is a Jonathan Sanchez feel to him.
That’s exactly who I thought of.
Doesn’t seem like quite the same head case, but yeah.
So we’ll go Shark, Cueto, Bum, Suarez (and Johnny Wholestaff), and Moore. I like it.
Dodgers will be playing for home field advantage…and the right to remind us that *they’re* the ones that knocked us out.
Gonna need a 4-1 finish, fellas.
Nats came back from being no-hit thru 5 to win. They’re 2 up on Los Bumbinos for home field.
If he’s not injured, Olivo would have been a better choice than Sanchez, IMO. I know he’s old,but he should be able to make it through an at bat or two before he croaks He has genuine pop.
Is “genuine pop” Coke with real sugar? I think it’s only available in Mexico
no it has actual coke in it.
One has to be careful when trying to buy pop online without a prescription.
I’ve wondered for years what the hell ‘pop’ was, excluding weasel farts.
Pop = what they call Soda in the south.
You buy pop at the Winn Dixie
Don’t blame ‘pop’ on the South. That and frap come from somewhere with winter.
I first grew up in MI with “pop,” then got nothing but blank stares when we asked for “pop” in TX. “Soda water” is the operative word in the Lone Star State!
All I ever called any soda was a coke.
I found out that worked too!
Eh I think you’re right: pop is more of a midwest thing.
It’s REALLY good!
(One of my ‘virtual’ friends on facebox once posted some drivel about all the terrible things that happen to your body in the first 30 minutes after you drink a Coke.
I responded, ‘Yeah but the first 15 seconds are so intenso!)
Maybe Olivo said “No thanks” when (if) they asked him to hang around their training facility in AZ for weeks after the AAA season was over just in case they “might” bring him up. He’s pretty old and maybe he was over it for this year.
Possible. But I think that we’d all agree that trading for a catcher who can hit a little would have been better than getting Beckham
Are you forgetting all the breaking balls he wiffed on in Sac this year?
olivo was a hitting machine in ST, iirc, not that that means anything…
Last night was fun, crisp authoritative swings, good energy…great news seeing Crawford swinging well after the pinkie mishap.
Tonight will be a better gauge of where the bats are facing Tyler Chatwood.
Away from Coors he’s been pretty dang good; 7-1, 1.88 era. He will issue walks.. 4.1 BB/9,
Last start at ATT in July, he threw 88p in 5in, gave up 1 run, 3 hits and issued 4 walks.
Career
Pence 3/19 1 hr.158
Posey 2/15 (5 walks) .133.
Craw 7/23 .304
Belt 6/20,.300
Panik 3/6.
Dave has friends here. Maybe if he can forget that we tried to drive him out of town, he’d ask his guys to lay down for us. Bum could buy him a truck for the favor.
Dave and Bum never played on the same team, but Cain and Peavey both played with Roberts…..
Bum gives him the truck or there is no deal.
I just want another shot at the Cubs. Winner take all.
It seems inevitable and would be beautiful baseball.
Two hurdles and the Giants are there with Cueto and Smarj starting in CHI.
If they get there then it likely means they would have done a good job taking down the Dodgers in the last series, so even if we don’t face them in the playoffs we can have that.
Indeed, great and beautiful baseball.
Do the Cubs fold in the postseason? They are going to be under as much pressure as any team I can remember possibly since the Red Sox finally breaking through in 2004. But, unlike the Red Sox in 2003/2004, the Cubs will be *overwhelming* favorites to win the NL (and to win the WS). I too hope the Giants get another shot at them…
Thank you…me too! Baggs tweeted something yesterday that he has reliable sources that know the Cubs don’t want the Giants in Round #1. That 4 game series in Chicago…where the Giants could have won 3…added with the Giants playoff experience…is No Bueno for a team with so much pressure to deliver.
I wonder how Maddon feels personally?
Too in love with himself to admit it and/or worry.
I suspect not. But let’s see if we can make him cry.
How about my boy Tebow.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17660738&ex_cid=espntw
He looks way too big.
Big head too.
Instructional League? 18 year-olds?
Dude is the
most
over
hyped
athlete
ever.
Even some un the local press have said it’s mostly PR and to sell a boatload of Jerseys
Well I like that idea better than the notion being pushed by some that the god they believe in likes some players better than others.
So Matthew has a storm named after him? Hell of a way to go after Bochy.
I’m getting an undeserved reputation.
Now, Tropical Storm Peter? Hurricane Efrain?
Bob will now raise three kids solo – albeit with the amazing extend family that the Fitzgerald’s and Serra Community will provide. Rest in Peace Carol.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=carol-fitzgerald&pid=181591313
http://www.knbr.com/2016/09/22/bob-myers-offers-touching-condolences-to-bob-fitzgerald/
https://twitter.com/marcjspearsespn/status/778630079282720768
Hey GG. I want to thank you for going the extra mile in setting all this up. I enjoy reading the posts and I enjoy the Giants` articles. Good job writing the pieces. You`re the MVP in my book. Thanks again.
Prayers for those in the Santa Cruz area. As SurfCity told us – it is really, really bad
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/09/28/loma-fire-santa-cruz-mountains-grows-2250-acres/
So I gather Matthew is celebrating a birthday today.
Happy 49th, big guy. I hope you got the guitar of your dreams and I hope you get a Giants victory combined with Met and Card losses.
….
Okay, so yeah, Mets was 2000, and yeah, Bobby Jones and JT Snow and…
How about the Dodgers? Other than 3 game series in 1962, when have the Giants and Dodgers met in the playoffs? I thought it might happen in ’14. Mayhaps this year?
The other Matthew (Vasgersian) is today…mine was yesterday…but thanks a ton, Cousin Scoutman
Gonna snag my present this weekend: a looper with built in drums and backing tracks. By then, the boys will be on a 4 game win streak and we’ll be planning our pitching and going bloglistic on lineup construction.
Hope to see you busking some day!
1951 (Bobby Thomson!) was also a three-game playoff for the NL pennant when the two teams finished tied. They couldn’t have met until after the wild card started in 1995 because they were always in the same division (except for tiebreakers as in 1951 and 1962). Since 1995, there has only been one time, 2014, that both teams made the playoffs, and as we well remember, they did not meet in the postseason–Cards knocked out the Dodgers in the first round and then the Giants beat the Cards in the NLCS.
Bada bing!
I just want another crack at the Cubs. Get us there.
If we get a crack at the Cubs, then it means we probably demoralized the Dodgers in the last series of the season anyway. So that could serve as our crack at LA if need be
Actually, I could care less about the Dodgers, except insofar as they are a route to the Cubs.
Yes, I got that. Just offering up to others who may be interested in that.
;-).
Actually, the Cubs are a route to the Dodgers …
Former Giant – CSM Bulldog – UC Davis Aggie – Joe Be A Genie nails strike three with good late run-movement as Ump Will Little dumps the Orioles Chris Davis
http://www.closecallsports.com/2016/09/mlb-ejections-187-188-will-little-2-3.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVv-RaAo2XM
At my acupuncturist for the first time in several months.
Steven: So, what’s bothering you?
Me: Well, we had a 9 game lead when I last saw you and now we’re just praying to make the playoffs. I still have hope if we get in for a couple reasons but I really don’t know how tangible those hopes are.
Steven: Ummm….
Steven?? Ha ha ha. Are you kidding me? I always thought of you as Rob.
Steven, my name is Raul. Raul de las Colimas.
ooops, sorry. I’m dumb.
Not dumb. Slow.
Phil McCracken: Son, see if you can fit these objects into this box that has a lid with various shapes cut out for each object.
Me: This round thing wont’ fit into this opening, I’m going to hammer it in. Hey, this opening is shaped like a _____, can I put my ____ in it?
I had a ‘wellness exam’ and got a shingles shot.
I know it’s a non-sequitur – but if you’ve ever known anyone who got shingles – you’d get one too.
See if someone can beat Lefty to the research punch…
Unless Brandon Belt goes off the next few days, the Giants will be without the punch of a 20 HR hitter.
When was the last time that has happened and with what kind of frequency does this Giant phenomenon occur.
I’ll take my answer over the ether soaking in the floor boards.
That might be the 62-100 – 1985 SF Giants. Brenly led with 19 Jacks.
1985 SFG’s @ 62-100
BB – 19
Chris Brown 16
Danny Gladden 7
Jeff Leonard 17
Rob Deer 8
RHP Jim Gott 3
Krukow 1
Matt Nokes 2
Ricky Adams 2
“Young Blood” 4
David (I don’t want to be here) 5
Manny Trillo 3
Jose Uribe 3
Chili 13
Dan Driessen 3
Alex Trevino 6
Ron Roenicke 3
2008. Molina with 16, Rowand with 13, Winn, Bowker and Aurilia with 10 each (I do not remember Bowker getting 10 jacks in a season).
Yep. The others were 1975, 81, 85 & 86…
2008 was the second year I looked up. I guessed 2011 first but Pablo had 23 that year! After that it HAD to be that dismal post Barry 2008. But seriously, do not remember Bowker getting enough playing time to even get 10 HR. Wow.
egads
I think I do.
Why try to beat her? Sit back and let her do the dirty work.
Viva “Gordo” !!
https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3670664/gordon_beckham.0.jpg
Gordo said: “Those filthy rumors about Spice were never true. I dated Just Peachy before I met my soulmate Brittany” – Fletcher – daughter of Major Leaguer Scott Fletcher.
*** In school Beckham also starred in the classroom, earning a 3.7 GPA average through his high school years.Beckham was an honorary member of the Chi Phi Fraternity while attending the University of Georgia. Gordo has two younger sisters, Gwen, and Grace.
– Wiko-Footy –
Looked like a future AS his rookie year. Maybe he can pop one against the Bums.
How NOT to throw out a ceremonial first pitch…. http://m.mlb.com/video/v1192695583/?c_id=mlb
Good thing George W Bush didn’t bounce it in 2001
http://tinyurl.com/Last-Nights-Highlights
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/pregame/game-157-preview-giants-battle-rockies-in-search-of-postseason-berth-offensive-momentum/
And now if we win again today, that is called a winning streak. It has happened before.
I’ve heard of those.
Need a rally. I’m putting on my hospital socks.