by
GreekGiant
The Giants hitters continued their sleepwalk through the order, making Christian Friedrich look brilliant. Or maybe we have this all wrong? Maybe opposing pitchers elevate their game against our hitters? Maybe it’s something in between? Whatever the case may be, the Giants continued to make weak, lazy outs though 7 innings, except for a double by Gorkys Hernandez. Friedrich was effortless in putting up zeroes through seven innings. The Giants were sleep-walking until Joe Panik opened the 8th with a ground-rule double and was driven in by a seeing-eye pop up from Angel Pagan. Hunter Pence macerated a baseball down the third baseline to add an insurance run with two outs in the inning.
Buster Posey looked lost at the plate but was brilliant behind it, framing pitches for strikes and throwing out a runner trying to steal second to end the bottom of the 7th inning.
With the continued offensive funk by the team, Major League baseball has been tasked by the Attorney General to investigate the Giants’ sudden inability to hit baseballs with any authority. It appears former Senator Tom Daschle will chair a special committee. His first witness will be Hensley (Bam Bam) Meulens.
Senator: Mr. Meulens, that’s a Dutch name right, foreign?
Bam Bam: Excuse Me? I’m from Curacao.
Senator: Mr. Meulens, can you explain the sudden end of hard hit balls by your baseballers? Has your team been infiltrated by the Communist Party? Can you explain your trips to Cuba?
Bam Bam: We have had tough luck since…(interrupted)
Senator: How would you characterize your relationship to Donald Trump?
Bam Bam: I don’t.. (interrupted)
Senator: What answer do you have for such a putrid showing at the plate by your team? Do you believe in God? Do you think it is right and proper for ticket-holders to bear witness to such an immoral, unnatural, and downright apocalyptic display of batting by an American baseball club? Do you believe in Capitalism? Free Enterprise? The American Pastime and the right to bear arms? Sir?
Bam Bam: What?
Senator: Answer the question!
Jeff Samardzija pitched heroically. His line: 7 innings pitched, no walks, 9 strikeouts, no runs, and a mean display of dancing fastballs curling around the edges of home plate and paralyzing the Padres. His curveball was effective and his command was exquisite. He looked Ace-like. Despite the homer given up by Derek Law, the Giants hung on with a score-less ninth by Sergio Romo, our new/old closer, and escaped with a victory and a modicum of self-respect.
I could write so much more about the mystery of the missing runs but what’s the point? Either the Giants will hit or they won’t. Don’t expect much of a postseason sojourn without production from Buster, Belt, and Craw… Starting pitching and defense are carrying this team. Suddenly it’s 2011 again.
With his double tonight, Brandon Belt set a career high with 61 XBHs this year. It’s the second time he’s reached 60 in a season. Posey has only managed it once.
Posey’s OPS is under .800
Posey has thrown in the towel with regard to driving the ball. He’s worn out and resigned to slicing singles to right field. Not what they need in the middle of the order but obviously Bochy is not going to drop him down.
Very interesting stat. Thanks Oracle.
Smarge: 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks.
Bum: 7 innings, 1 hit, 0 BBs, 10 Ks.
Bueno!
(I’m still livid that Boris sent Spandex up to PH AGAINST A LH PITCHER in the 9th with a runner on 2B. WTF, Boris.)
Smarge pitched the backside of his ass off. Great ##### effort.
That’s a pretty funny phrase, lol.
Does it mean the same thing if you swap the order of backside and ass?
Kelby comes through with a hit when it was supposed to be a bunt. I guess he just figures there is no need to waste an out when he can just punch one through.
Love to see Kelby get a start in LF vs. a lefty, and make Pagan take a day. Kid can hit, and he can play all over the field.
He’s our Tony Phillips!
Per Alex: Will Smith has 15 consecutive scoreless outings.
Huge win. They’re all huge now. Those freakin’ Mets came back twice in their last ABs to tie and then win.
Greek is spot on. We’re gonna need some hitters to step up. Start tonight, fellas!
Great write-up Greek. Can’t wait to see the replay of that Congressional Committee hearing with Bam Bam on C-SPAN. Now that would be must see TV. 🙂
Macerated? Tom Daschle??
We’re you under the influence when you drove this post home?
All’s well that ends well. Nice job, Greek; the hardest working man in blog-biz.
Shark is ready for October – dare I say ready for the Wild Card game. Bring on Syndergaard.
I just saw your comment on Quinn as another Big Bat Prospect. Maybe they juiced the ball in S-K but several guys there looked ready to go. One of the Dillion/Dylans also was #1 in HR’s in the system right?
Makes 2017MyGuy™ interesting for who to pick at Augusta and San Jose.
#1 HR hitter in the Giants org was Dylan Davis, with 26, IIRC.
I had a Testor’s plastic model of an SR-71 that I put together with dad. I also had a B-17 model that my parents got for me at the Pearl Harbor gift shop.
Sniffed a lot of model cement as a kid 😉
Proof that the glue sniffing does not hurt that much. Memories of that smell and models go together and come back with one whiff.
Yes I had to find it; Dylan Davis, 26 HR’s between Augusta and San Jose in 555 PA. I am going to make him PJ’sHonoraryMyGuy™… http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa709037&position=OF
Ive always enjoyed the smell of gas. Not dumb enough to sniff it but it smells grand!
Moscow Mules and giddiness that our bullpen held on!
Speaking of communism!
It’s nice to see the Shark have some great starts in the last month. Even the Mets game he ultimately lost was a great game. I had lost hope in him when he got homer happy but he’s really corrected his issues.
Reinvigorates the question: “Does Smarge close games in the playoffs after his one start in round one?”
I have heard even Kuip mention that one and Law’s outing last night set him back.
If Bochy could bring in Bum for a save in Game 7 why not another SP when the Well is Dry among the staff?
If it comes to that, I think Shark and Romo would be co-closers in the playoffs. Shark is scheduled to pitch the WC game as long as there are no tie-breaker games. However, if they play a tie-breaker game and win, then Bum would pitch the WC game.
If we are fortunate enough to get into a postseason series we will need four starters. That’s Bum, Cueto, Moore and Shark. Bullpen has to bullpen. Righetti and Gardner must have them ready to perform.
It has to be considered but right now is Moore better than the Shark?
I read that Samardzija has a 2.45 ERA in his last nine starts and has won two decisions because of poor run support.
I am learning to nearly ignore pitcher’s W-L record since there is WHIP plus all the other initials that I do not even understand yet. We need a TWG seminar on that run by who? … CC, Clutch, Matthew, etc.
CC can castigate me, but ERA, W-L, and WHIP are about all we really need to grasp – that’s my opinion! SFG pitchers also have a stat called BA and sometimes even RBI/HR!
He has been stellar and should be in the postseason rotation, if we get there…
He’s throwing a 2 seamer from hell right now.
He has also been attacking the strike zone and getting ahead of hitters. Matt Moore are you watching this?
Hard to imagine that Smarmie wouldn’t be the #3 starter in the postseason. Moore has just been too inconsistent.
4 sure
?..
And our sad hitting has cost Madbum at least 4 wins, maybe more. We could have 2 pitchers in the Cy Young conversation…
They definitely have two pitchers in the CY conversation.
Let’s hope so, but we have seen this from Shark before, one month he looks like Bob Gibson and the next he looks like he is lost. I think it’s just who he is.
But as the 4th starter on this team he fits the bill. Not as a third starter.
You’re obsessed with starters number in the rotation.
Because it matters, something you should understand after watching baseball all these years. Ask any pitcher or coach. Reason you just don’t throw people in the rotation for the hell of it. Reason why guys at top of rotation can earn more.
Greetings from Basecamp at the Soberanes fire, now in Southern Monterey Co. I’m back on the line for my 2nd deployment to this never ending money suck that is USFS fire “control”.
Wednesday was a great day! I started my line assignment and totally missed the beat down in LA. Lucky me!
Nice to read that the boys’ seriously weak offense was still strong enough to squeak by the Pads. Maybe one of these days they’ll score, like, 4 runs. Yeah, 4! Would’t that be cool?
Giants, GO!! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6ab6f078387a37ce3c8e74d1e0c1fcdac0a22fd96cc434808c8e481d486e1045.jpg
All too familiar a sight and smell this time of year in CA.
Sounds like you could have used the rain we had the other day. Kudos. Life on a fire line is not to be envied.
Stay safe Captain. I have do much respect for you guys fighting fires; particularly that one.
Be safe and thanks for the photo.
You’re a hero.
Giants could use a bat flip on the next home stand. This is no Bautista, but it’s pretty good:
https://twitter.com/OriginalYoni/status/779162639859609600
Giants could use a come-from-behind victory and dramatic homer to wake up the team…
Who’s gonna hit it?
Angel of course.
Gee, thanks for the link…just what I want to see
That’s one of those players you have a cute name for.
The Giants have been last in the majors post-ASB in OPS and runs scored. LAST. I guess that’s not surprising when you consider they’ve had the worst record in baseball in that period, but–wow.
At some point do you have to look at the hitting coach/approach?
Imagine where this team would be if the rotation weren’t actually pretty good.
Thanks for the research Lefty. I was going to look this up and write about it too. It’s not surprising and there needs to be an accounting for this. It is just awful production. We focus on the bullpen but the weak hitting has been as big, or bigger culprit for this slide in my mind.
Agree–it’s both/and. The Giants don’t add on so the games are tight and the pressure’s on the bullpen in the late innings. If the starter puts the team in an early hole–which actually hasn’t happened so much in the post-Peavy/Cain era–forget it, game over. If the team is behind late–forget it, not happening.
It’s really kind of mind-boggling. I don’t worry about a young guy like Panik as much as guys like Posey and Pence who just will suddenly go dead for these brutal stretches. The Giants are counting on their middle-of-the-order guys to carry them.
You know who keeps coming through, though?–Kelby Tomlinson. I’d find a way to get him to the plate EVERY game.
Why is it that Bochy seems to despise him?
He doesn’t have 15 years of MLB experience.
Kelby is scrappy. Reminds me of a young Pete Rose. Craw needs to setp up too. Hope his finger is ok because we need some kind of run production from the middle of the order as you said. I would keep Gorkys in center for the rest of the games till he plays his way out of the lineup. I would also put Panik at the 2 spot. He will be fine.
Panik at the #2 spot. I agree. He’ll see infinitely better pitches than at #8.
Word. Bochy: think about it. Be flexible. Panik hitting behind Adrianza last night was just dumb.
Kelby should be at the plate and in the field more often. He will do well whatever his coaches tell him to do. Little Kelby has a lot of “ball player” in him.
Alex had a clip of Craws BP yesterday – said his hand did not seem to bother him.
The one thing that jumps out at me is that they have taken the approach from a few years ago and made it worse.
To wit: They scorched the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 series by being pesky and slapping tough pitches foul until they got one they liked…it ran up Verlander’s pitch count in game one, added a does of pablo, and the tone was set
Now, it seems they ONLY flick away at pitches and rarely Drive the good ones. Peter makes note, and we tend to downplay his criticism (actually the method, not the message) but where he is spot on (actually the message not the method……..) is the alarming lack of power.
In today’s game, many teams are OK with high strike outs if the player displays great power. We have such slow bats in general that I want an overhaul. I want a hitting coach that has a very aggressive thought process…not wanton disregard for contact , but a plan for attacking contact, more drive.
And maybe a young, quick bat like Williamson could get more ABs.
Brisbee had a post last week about that very subject: the Gints just don’t hit the ball very hard.
(Not talking about you, Hunterpence – or you, Mac, uh, mac, uh – whatsyourname?)
I’m going to go back to my John Madden quote from the other day regarding “they stop listening after 10 years”. Maybe Bochy still has their ear…or no change will be made regardless…but are they listening to Bam Bam anymore? Yes they’ve won WS with him, but TIm Lincecum played a bigger role and he’s gone because he isn’t at the same levevel.
Then again, who, besides Cain, has been there for 10 years?
I understand your point, buy my point is someone’s “voice” can have an expiration date and perhaps when the Giants FO opens the proverbial “hood” to examine what went wrong (or where they can improve)…hitting and the guy coaching it should be looked at. It’s very possible they pull the “our guy” card, but it should be looked at…just like everything else.
but they “listened” for the first half — why did they stop after the ASB ?? I’m still thinking there is something going on in that clubhouse that we may or may not ever get to know but SOMETHING happened to them IMHO
Yes. They won in the first half when they shouldn’t have. Injuries had scrubs playing and they won and had no right to. Pay-back’s a bitch.
So they didn’t deserve their wins….but they deserve all of their losses?
There’s no arguing with serendipity. They don’t deserve either, but as we all know, “shit happens.”
Just what I keep on thinking and mumbling. Something got the team chemistry to rot. Mumble mumble.
1st half was “smoke and mirrors”. Lots of injuries and they were beyond fortunate to have that record.
best record in all of baseball = smoke + mirrors ??? oh…ok
Yup
Baseball history is loaded with many examples where teams do great with their regular starters in the 1st half…even have the best record in baseball…then nosedive in the second half; missing playoffs altogether. The “smoke and mirrors” was the Giants achieving this when …at times…they had up to half of their starters out via injury.
But… It’s disappointing to hear that the 1st half was “smoke and mirrors.” It was grand and then, just fizzled.
I remember, vividly, thinking ” this isn’t real” with that line-up. I didn’t anticipate this, but I knew it wasn’t kosher.
Nobody thought that was sustainable. But you seem to think this is more their true talent level. I don’t see why one is more legitimate than the other.
No, you’re reading something that isn’t there. Both halves are an anomaly.
Last 30th in runs and RBI, but 26th in OPS, 27th in SLG%, 18th in OB%,22nd in AVG,29th in HRs, just looked it all up, proves OB% is not as important as the Sabermetric crowd thins it is .
At the end of the day, runs are the only things that matter. All the other stats just explain how you get runs (or don’t).
Yes Runs scored is the most Important stat, and that is why I am old school, and will always think RBI is the most Important stat followed by Runs scored, and players that have over a 100 in both are the best players .
Yes Yes
and if no one in front of you gets on base, how will you drive in runs? if no one behinds you gets a hit, how will you score a run? Sure, you can hit a home run, but at the end of the day, guys from winning teams will have more RBI’s and runs than guys from worse teams.
Matt Kemp has 104 RBI playing for the Padres and Braves, Brian Dozier has 99 RBI and 100 runs scored with the Twins .
Edwin Encarcion has 123 RBI for the Blue Jays. Ortiz has 122 for the Red Sox. Betts and Bryant have 117 runs scored on playoff-bound teams. Next is Donaldson with 116 runs scored.
That’s why I did not list them, they play on good teams, I listed 2 players that play on bad teams, I did not list Trout because I hate the hype he gets and Pujols who has 116 RBI for a bad Angels team .
Pujols bats behind Trout, the best player in the game. Any hype Trout gets is completely deserved. No hitter in the game is as good as Trout now.
Trout gets the hype because he deserves ever single ounce of it. I cannot understand somebody hating anything related to Trout.
exactly. Is it Trout’s fault that his team is crap?
Yes. He’s the one that accepted the big money over being on a well-constructed, contending team. He’s a great player, but he isn’t valuable for obtaining anything significant.
Trout is just plain wasted. All that talent just frittered away.
Apparently, you’ve never witnessed the sublime talent of Mike Trout playing baseball.
Or maybe sub in some other guys. If not that, shake up the lineup. That’s what most every other manager would do. Boch has to adapt; the game is a living and breathing industry as well as art and talent it its finest. Can’t stand still.
Boris don’t like change.
they’d be the Reds : (
I think a hitting instructor’s impact is marginal. He might help certain hitters here and there by pointing out some little things, but ultimately they’re on their own at the plate. You don’t see a hitting instructor join a team and then immediately cause a dramatic improvement in the offense. If they were that significant, they’d be highly paid and sought after.
Heading to Tahoe for the weekend. I guess the upside to all of this is I’m gonna get some really good odds on the Giants winning it all.
Strong, buddy.
Great stuff, Mr. Greek!
Got back early, spent time with some old friends up in the Anderson Valley.They live in a yurt, grow veggies to sell at farmer’s markets and such. 2016 hippies.Nice time but i had to get back because I suspected that Merna was having too much fun without me. I was right- she and her girlfriends could be called the Doobie Sisters.
Anyway, I’ll attend to you guys later.
As you know, October 2nd will be Vin Scully’s final game after more than 6 decades behind the mike. Maybe his most famous “call” was one time when he didn’t say a thing.When Gibson hit his limp-off to beat the A’s in the ’88 WS, he left the booth and let the crowd tell the story.Awesome, no words could say it better.
I got to meet Vin in 1965 when he and my Dad did the Dodger/Twins World Series.As others have said- he was exactly as you’d think he was- witty, urbane, and folksy as well.I picture him as a Man with a Schedule- a precise one at that. 6:10 A.M. wake up, 6:25 A.M shower with 101.7 water temp, 6:35 A.M unbuttered wheat toast and English Breakfast Tea…..
This is Game 7 of the series- Koufax threw a 2 hit shut out on 2 days rest. One thing that you’ll notice- they were not afraid of “dead air”-they didn’t think that the viewers were idiots.It’s the baseball version of how my Dad called a Packer TD: ” Starr-Dowler-Touchdown..” A picture is worth a thousand words
It’s not often that you see 2 HOF announcers in the prime of their careers, take a peek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS6ueh7Lg4k
Very nice, Chef. I remember it well. I was a huge Twins fan (my second favorite team) in 1965. All those HRs. Killebrew, Allison, Jimmie Hall. Battey, Mincher, Kindall, Rollins. MVP Zoilo Versailles. The elegant Tony Oliva. I loved hitting, and those guys could HIT.
I remember sneaking out of class to catch snippets of game seven. Koufax on short rest because of the Jewish High Holy Days. Vin and your dad: Classic.
Nice post, thanks Sir!
At first, I thought you said Siri, not Sir!
“Siri, what’s a comeback win?”
I see you’re being humorous… and not working, once again.
We have a weekly celebration at my company: “F%#K Yeah, Friday!!!”. I am not one to challenge tradition
It sounds like to you there’s a “F%#K Yeah, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday too.
Perhaps. My bosses are into sabermetrics…the stats look good, so I must be a keeper
If you ever need representation, look me up. I’ll make you an All Star.
They take the long view, someone thinks you’ll go out with a bang, not a whimper.
oh my gosh — that is terrific ! thank you so much MIke for the share. I loved how Vin opened the game describing the field . will watch more later as Kofax was one of my favs as a kid and I want to hear your Dad ! Also I really loved how broadcasters from both teams shared the booth — would be cool to get back to that for at least 1 game in each post season play-off series
As goodsam said, this is terrific, Mike!
Thanks so much for this story (“limp off” is creative phrasing magic) …though much of this is about Vin, I must tell you: I loved the to-the-point , reassuring descriptions of Ray, and I can often read it in your communication style.
Mike, that was a work of art.
OK Cubs: set aside the partying, resting and mixing up the lineup this weekend. These are really important games in the NL postseason race, and I expect to see the best-team-in-the-league Cubs for all three games.
You too, Phillies.
As a baseball fan, you have to be happy for Cleveland. Set aside the entire Cavs/finally won one thing and look at the baseball team standing alone. They haven’t won the WS since 1948. They had a nice stretch in the late 90s but lately it’s been tough sledding. They have a bunch of grinders, and Francona is a solid manager.
As the regular season comes to an end, AL baseball is must-see. All three division leaders within one game for home field advantage, and six teams within three games for the WC.
AL baseball a must to see. Really I’d have to see those f•••••g DHs?
Well, sir–as much as you (and many others) disdain the DH, it’s here to stay and it’s coming to the NL. You can’t have at least one game every day where there are different roster strategies for both teams
Like it or not, it’s unfair for the Tigers–who are in the thick of it for postseason play–to play their last three games without the DH when all their competitors have it.
DHEVER.I agree. Wish it would be abolished. It won’t be, for the reasons I mentioned. The AL has the best overall balance and a plethora of good young hitters. I think the DH is an integral part of that.
You should have to play baseball (all of it) to win ANY award in MLB.
Besides, it’s an Owner’s invention.
The DH Dumbs-down the game. Period, the End.
Qui si parrà la lor nobilitate.
= This way their nobility will be shown.
Its funny because Bochy said that if the DH came to the NL, he would retire.
I suppose some folks would get what they wanted after getting what they don’t want.
Hmm…I may have to adjust my view.
Not sure if I agree it’s coming to the NL. It will impact the NL salary structure, because now they too have to budget big $$ to secure an impact DH. Not everyone will sign up for that.
…and there would be bat-flipping protests by NL pitchers who like to hit and are good at it.
Just think that MLB can’t continue with daily inter-league play and two different rules. I think it comes down to that. Salary adjustments will work out over the first few years, IMHO.
I actually enjoyed (back in 2014) when the Giants had a DH-like guy in Michael Morse and then played Blanco in LF. Added an interesting element to the strategy of a NL team going into an AL park.
total – dh in the nl?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxRX6LXDpWs
Seems like Cleveland really limping to the finish line. Any arms left? Kluber and Bauer? Haven’t been keeping track of the rotation. I know they have a rookie, Clevinger, getting some innings. Of course, having traded for Andrew Miller is a big thing. No Michael Brantley this year either. He was establishing himself as of the very best players in MLB. Tito keeping them in position. Kluber should garner considerable CY votes I imagine. And Mike Napoli raised the roof.
I don’t think they have a chance sans Salazar and Corrasco. Although Bauer, Kipnis and others were furious with a Cleveland reporter when he made a statement to that effect. I think both are correct. The players should be annoyed the writers have declared they have no chance…and I think they have no chance with 2 of their 3 best pitchers out for the postseason. Too bad, with Salazar and Corrasco they’d have a very good chance at winning it all. If the Giants can’t make it there, the WS I was/am hoping for is Indians v. Cubs. Although it seems being happy for the Cubs is toxic to this blog environment.
Yeah, statements like that should be opened in well ventilated areas, but I have no problem with historic droughts being relieved.
Hey Greek BamBam was speaking to the Senator in one of his other 5 languages…
The media tells us that Kaepernick’s message must be respected. Now it’s telling us that this Mariner catcher should be fired for expressing an opposite view.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/09/23/steve-clevenger-tweets-charlotte-suspension-release/90885244/
That’s a completely stupid story. Clevenger has the right to express his thoughts, as does Kapaernick.
I think he was being facetious.
Steve Kerr said it all. Kaep got people talking about guns and race. Kerr’s dad was assassinated….Kerr said “our society is out of control”
Each generation has had their own form of expression.
I wish there was a better way of expression than some of those who drive from far out of state with, what appears to be, the sole purpose of vandalizing and stealing from others
Agreed. I have already inappropriately donated Hundreds of thousands of miles in the state of Nebraska for those people who fall into the heinous categories:
White Racism
Black Racism
Any Racism
Murderers
Wife beaters
Husband beaters
Violators of property unless it is their own
Terrorists
Pervs of any gender – Pedophiles similar to Jared
ANY person who harm children
People who torture pets
Any person of any gender who causes elder abuse
Anybody who fires a gun not commissioned as law enforcement -hunting or self D
Anybody who drives a lethal weapon vehicle while drunk/impaired
Anybody who uses their Job Title to gain access to people, then harms them
Much of our Federal Government – politicians
Banking institutions or individuals who intentional dupe others
Steve Kerr: “As long as the message is clear, I’m all for people speaking out against injustice. Whatever form that takes, if it’s non-violent and it leads to conversation, then I think that’s a good thing.”
Greek, Lefty, SurfMaui – anonymity is key….to their survival
https://twitter.com/GreekGiant/status/778954875770134528
It would’ve actually been funny if GG placed a dark circle (individually) over everyone’s face…kind of like Jack (Jack in the Box) putting a mustache in glasses on. Maybe not, but that’s just my humor.
Picture of Greek, Lefty, and SurfMaui….you go to see what everyone looks like….and you just see bodies with the faces blocked out. Funny
That would be perfect, covering my face would make me way more attractive–even better than standing far, far away.
Surfing Maui gives you immediate cred.
I would have hoped so–but so far, not so much
Keep swinging. You might enjoy this TV series, John from Cincinnati.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814164/
Thanks. I saw it when it first aired. Interestingly on my CV I had always written that I was s proud member of The Association of Surfing Lawyers (yes it is s real organization) and in one of the episodes of JFC the lawyer character was marching alone in a parade with a banner that said Association of Surfing Lawyers. My wife and I saw that and started laughing
I disagree, sir. That is a GREAT picture!
Please know there is zero wrong with your picture (or any others in it). I know it’s human nature to wonder what other contributors look like…and if GG posted something saying “here’s a picture of Lefty, SurfMaui, and myself”…and contributors anxiously click on it…only to see three bodies with faces blocked out…that would be funny IMO.
I really wish I hadn’t worn my orange shirt and glasses for that photo.
OMG – that’s funny.
So wait ….. Law gets a PASS because “he might be hurt – or he was hurt …. or he just what ?
It is possible that Santi Casilla was also dealing with a pinching of the testicular area causing him to also miss his various locations ….
And pigs can always fly, too. Any pinching is in the pre-frontal cortex.
I once saw Wisdom Cow flying over my house but never a Pig https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cab6d5315887e74b2863a0be05ea48b4da82e132013b4937fb153b53a830b147.jpg
Yes.
Got the one run and then BOOM, another run! It was like Christmas.
Two runs, not only in the same game, but in the same inning.
Anybody interested in an interesting insight, IMO, of a symptom of Giants play the second half that might explain a lot, look at the difference in BB/K. They either are pressing, or have completely walked away from strike zone management as a key to hitting.
My guy Belt for sure. WAY too many Ks, way too many called Ks.
It’s far more than Belt, it’s like a disease among them. Limited to a 100 PAs
First half.
https://i.imgur.com/SXdIRsT.png
Second half.
https://i.imgur.com/Y0gWFVA.png
Wow, Belt’s 30%+ K rate is astounding, not surprising when watching his second half ABs, but astounding nonetheless. And Posey’s GB% of 57.1% this month is downright scary. He’s the last guy, especially in the 3 hole, that should be pounding balls into the ground on a regular basis. Just a team wide offensive meltdown in the second half.
We need Sherlock Holmes on the coaching staff. I concluded a while ago that Belt’s K% was the most telling metric about him. He keeps it 20% or less, he’s a superstar, but at 30+%, he’s a Roman candle on a rainy night.
Mike Trout struck out 184 times in 2014 and won the AL MVP, and has stuck out at least 130 times every full season of his MLB career .
Are you seriously making Mike Trout a comparable to Brandon Belt, are you daft?
He’s making the very strong point that it matters much more what a hitter does in the ABs where he doesn’t strike out. Yes, Belt is a better hitter when he reduces his strikeouts, but it’s also a fact that, while he has struck out more than any other Giant, he has also been the Giants’ best overall hitter in 2016.
Like Bobby Bonds in his day , set records for striking out, but still scored an average of 125 runs a year his 1st 5 full seasons with the Giants and drove in close to 100 runs a year, and averaged over 30 HRs and 30 SBs, very similar of what Trout has done the last 5 years, but Bobby Bonds never got the same hype .
Agreed, he was a substantially underappreciated hitter. He had an outstanding career and is in this day and age would have gotten far more credit for it. Career OBP over .350 and career slugging over .470 with speed to go along with it. A player with his skill set in this day and age would garner a contract close to $200M on the FA market.
Being the best Giants hitter is a dubious distinction at best. But break the season down into chewable pieces, and it’s clear, as goes his %K, so goes Belt. What gets me is that just going from 30 to 20% makes such an enormous difference. His OPS is .200 points higher with that drop in K rate.
Just about any player’s season is made up of peaks and valleys. I think bigger problems have been Panik’s poor year at the plate and Posey being much less than what they have come to expect.
Belt in the second half has been a shadow of his 1st half production. It’s been atrocious if the benchmark is the 1st half. But the intent of my comment wasn’t to excoriate Belt, but to make the point that the ‘disease’ driving this record breaking 2nd half crash is shared by all of them.
And what’s his career OBP? If Belt displayed that kind of power and speed his Ks would not be nearly the problem that they are. Plus, Trout’s K rate this year is 20.4%. Trout’s two prior years with his highest K rates were his “worst” offensive years. The two have slightly different skill sets. One being the best player in the game. The other a 1B with average power, a good eye and problems with regular contact.
Belt leads the team in doubles, home runs, extra base hits, walks, OBP, SLG, and (obviously) OPS. He’s second on the team in RBIs, three behind Crawford. He’s been the Giants’ best hitter in 2016. The Giants have far bigger offensive problems than Belt.
My point was not to indicate that Belt is not a good hitter, he’s been the Giants best hitter this year and will always be among their OPS leaders. My point was that he doesn’t compare to Trout, which to be fair, virtually nobody does. But I do think CC has a point that if Belt’s K rate is ~20% he is an All Star. When his K rate is as high as 30% he still gets on base plenty but is essentially a league average hitter as evidenced by his .227 second half BA and .748 OPS.
Of course not, but I think that Peter was using Trout to make a more general point.
Sure, which is a point I agree with in general. But when it comes to Belt his K rate matters. PJ’s point is that the type of outs don’t matter (exceptions of course being runner on 2nd nobody out, runner on 3rd less than two out). I don’t care if a player has a 20% K rate or a 30% K rate if the offensive production is the same. But applying this issue to Belt specifically, when his K rate gets dangerously high his production suffers dramatically. Other hitters can maintain higher K rates and keep their production at the same level, Belt doesn’t seem to be able to.
But Belt’s +29 RE24 show that he doesn’t get as strongly affected by them as people think. That mark is good for 25th in MLB this year, tied with Miguel Cabrera and right behind JD Martinez. Trout is elite, but even with his K rate, Belt is an All Star. 30% isn’t typical of him, never has been.
Peter, as he often does was tailoring the stats to sound good. Trout %K is around 20%, what Belts was when he was on a tear in the 1st half. TO, listening to PF will lead you into a bog.
Just because Belt leads in all those categories doesn’t mean he’s really good. When you compare his numbers, it just implies that everyone else really stinks.
I fail to see how Belt’s numbers compare unfavorably to other good players
What an insightful, and irrelevant comment, well done. I think maybe folks would like a little granularity beyond yours. It’s a baseball discussion where we try to learn something about the game, not so much a chance to be poetic. Go ahead and disagree, but try to be creative about it.
He’s 4th in the NL in walks, 6th in doubles, 8th in OBP, 14th in extra base hits, 15th in OPS.
He has a 20% strike out rate. Dig a little deeper next time you offer a comparison. If there is any salient comp to Belt in baseball in terms of archetypes anyway, it’s Joey Votto, not Mike Trout.
Notice Panik has the lowest Strikeout rate and he is having the worse 2nd half, Strikeouts are not the biggest problem .
No one said it was. It’s a diagnostic of a team who ignores the strikezone discipline that once was a highly prominent part of their game. As a consequence, Panic, an example, makes poor and inconsequential contact. You are indeed a member in good standing of Flatland.
Pagan too. But he beefs his called Ks every time.
Totally agree. I heard someone talking yesterday about their ABs with RISP. They’ve gotten the pitcher in a jam, and they go to the plate too aggressive, pressing, trying to do too much, and they hit one of the pitcher’s early count pitches or fall behind in the count and have to deal with whatever he wants to throw. As opposed to going deeper into the count, making the pitcher work harder, making the pitcher feel the pressure, and getting something good to hit later in the AB. Nunez was a good example of that last night (again). He was up with runners on first and third in the eighth, right? First pitch curve in the dirt, strike one swinging. Second pitch curve in the dirt, strike two foul. Third pitch curve, foul. Fourth pitch, curve, grounder to third, Kelby forced at second, runner at third held. Very poor AB.
Posey is a little mysterious until you look at his GIDP rate and GB to short stop.
Bad bunts on display again last night — Kelby (trying to be too fine, redeemed with a single, but still, should be able to execute a sacrifice and couldn’t); and Adrianza (popped up). I guess when you have the worst record since the ASB, one of the reasons you have the worst record since the ASB is you can’t do the fundamentals.
I have found at every level of baseball that the number one egregious thing is bunters trying to bunt bad pitches. It is almost out of control. Pitching staffs all know where to throw a ball that will be the toughest to get down + the fact that Pitchers (mostly) know that the hitter is trying to give them an out. I have come to the conclusion that there are “lost arts” in baseball and then there are “really-really lost arts in baseball”. It figures that there is a cavernous divide between those who can bunt and those who cannot. On top of that – the amount of ball players who don’t know the why part of having runners at first and second with no outs – and knowing the reason why the bunt must go down the third base line. Some hitters do bunt the ball that way – but have no clue why it is so.
Then there are former bunters like Brett Butler – who the opposition knew was bunting and he could do it any way. Butler versus Grienke – last week – would have noticed that Grienke immediately upon letting go of the pitch was bolting to the third base line and Bugsy would have bunted the ball hard right back thru the pitchers mound.
ML hitters know they should bunt the “top part” of the thrown fastball but it is doubtful that they know that the best way to bunt a curve ball is the bottom part…
Did you know that scoring first, by any method, is the highest predictor, home or away, of a games outcome, regardless of the final score. As I recall, over time, it predicts a 60-67% win rate.
That is amazing.
I once had this very cerebral HS baseball team but it was ultra short on talent.
I sat them down the first day of fall practice and asked:
“Which is more important during a game, hits or runs”
Keep in mind this was the first team in a long time that got the answer correct. DOH!
So I said “What would be the score OR – how many runs would *we* have if we scored one run per inning”? Obviously the answer was seven.
THAT team boat-raced other teams that should have beat us severely but it took selflessness and an understanding that is or should be obvious to any HS, NCAA or Pro team.
In scoring always in the first – that led to many – many innings of crooked numbers and I look back at that team with glee – because from the neck down it was my least raw talented team.
That’s why you see Sandburg bunting in the 1st inning sometimes. It just makes some Bill James devotes crazy, but it seems to be true. I’ve never personally seen the numbers, myself.
Skweezplay55, ClutchUp, cc, Greek Giant, Bapah, Matthew: This is the best informative conversation/discussion about baseball that’s been on here in a while. (Just waiting for Bapah to say more…)
Well, thanks. I’ve made sure every player I ever coached learned how to bunt. There’s always some resistance from one or two, but time and brute force by me or my coaches always seemed to make them come around. it didn’t always make them proficient, but it made them better players.
You make your ‘victims’ play pepper?
Absolutely. Especially infielders.
What surprised me is how much it helps hitting in young guys.
…and fielding… and throwing.
That seemed intuitive to me, but the hitting didn’t. I was surprsied. The LL games I used to go to here in Davis and in Eldorado Hills all did that. It seemed different than what a lot of kids in the 80-90s were taught. They all seemed to have some hitting gimmick device from an infomercial in use.
I also found it useful to (mostly) let them do it on their own. Sometimes how well you learn is dependent on who you learn it from.
Actually we play Pepper to see who the future victims will be :-/
Sadist.
Sandberg had become only the second HOF since Robby to manage a ML team full time. That three year contract that he signed – runs out in 2017 although he resigned and was not fired.
At 57 years old it seems that Ryno should get another shot.
:-).
I did know that. I think it is an under-appreciated aspect of the game. It is especially key in the postseason. Thanks for posting this.
LOL, I was reading an article about Ryne Sandburgs attempt to get that 1st run on the board in a game, beg, borrow, or bunt. An army of saber-thugs (:_) ) descended on the comment. But when they investigated, damn if he wasn’t right. It’s the why that stumps them, especially since it seems true in low or high scoring games. I’ve sure got no good explanation as to why.
My guess is the reason for the advantage when scoring first is that it puts psychological pressure on the opposing team’s hitter and pitchers. It also often changes things strategically. I am a big believer in scoring in the first inning too, and in shut down innings.. I would stress these things if I managed a team, Little League or the Giants.
Your explanation is as good as any I’ve heard. I haven’t a clue.
I do know the answer.
Not to discount the talent needed at the highest level to bunt a baseball, but….of all the fundamentals I learned at the age of about 8, bunting was one of the easiest. I remember Bummy Keefe showing me how to “catch the pitch” with the bat, hand placement, placement of feet, bat angle, tracking the pitch with the bat …it’s NOT rocket science. But, it’s also not sexy…and modern kids seem to be about the sexy
I’d be concerned about letting my 8 year-old spend time with a man named Bummy.
Amen and thumbs up to a name like Bummy.
Actually a lot of ball players from other countries most likely did not go to college – I am guessing here – no cards and letters please.
HS you learn to bunt. College coaches take the big shot high school hero ball molecule out of your system. Either that or it is sit on the bench. A high school power hitter that got to hit with Minus 5 or Minus 3 metal bits was usually full of themselves. In college you must perfect the drag – the push – the sac – the safety squeeze and the suicide squeeze and you must prove to your coach that you know what is buntable and what is not. You also must prove that you know NOT to turn to bunt when the pitcher is on an automatic to throw over to first base. You also must prove to that coach that you know that turning early to bunt does not take away from your manhood. My coach use to say “everyone on the planet knows you are bunting”, now turn early so you can *pre-set* the angle of your bat head to the area of the field for placement.
Players from other countries save Japan – never were told to turn to bunt, they were told to swing with both cheeks if you wish to “leave the Island”
I would insert one caveat. The sneaky drag bunt by speedy RHBs.
Tell your boy Kelby learn something along those lines.
Just give him to me for a couple days and I’d put money on him being game-ready.
Ooops, I meant LHBs
Bunting successfully made me a better hitter. I took pride in doing it well. It took awhile, but it helped/made track pitches better.
I’ve heard some kids/young adults and a few older players liken it to pepper in that it can dramatically help you focus on what a baseball is actually doing coming at you. I think that’s what Blanco is trying to do so often (as well as the obvious) when he shows bunt a strike one.
I’m also a firm believer in pepper. One thing it did/does is learn/teach bat control. I’ve had teams that could play it daily and direct every hit to a particular player any time they wanted regardless of where the throw was, often telling them how many bounces. When players did it well, they loved to show off the skill and sometime got pretty sophisticated in their showing off. [Especially if there were others watching}
We need CC to pull out a chart for bunt attempts per game over the last 50 years.
I think SABRmetric math has pushed the bunt out of the game – so it’s not just about sex appeal.
The thing that drives viewers crazy is watching a guy who everyone knows is going to bunt square late and not have his hands in position. Tisk tisk.
…and bunt it foul… or miss it entirely.
Here’s another drill I make my infielders do. At first it was just to show off, but it proved so valuable, that I’ve continued it with most. I have them play catch using ONLY the backs of their gloves. closed, in other words. It only works if the throws are good, but it makes them use two hands, makes for faster exchanges and definitely makes the other guy make better throws. Plus it’s fun to watch and even more fun to do.
Great post:
Yep Coach John Noce – Hall of Fame College Baseball coach at College of San Mateo aka College of Small Minds aka CSM – Scott Feldman – Joe Bee A Genie and John Wettland – introduced that to us in 1972 – so as to make the exchange efficient…
Read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/sports/baseball/san-francisco-giants-alzheimers-disease.html?ref=sports
Bittersweet.
Whoa…what a heavy story , but all too relatable to many…Thanks, Greek
I sometimes wonder if it were (or is) happening to me, just what I’d do. It’s crossed my mind several times this year… I think.
Moving, nonetheless.
That sure looks like Dr. Lefty over the subjects shoulder and Marty behind her.
Thank you GG. Amazingly touching.
One of things about baseball over other sports is how it connects generations. My grandmother and I use to tune into the Bakersfield station to see how the Doyers were doing late at night, after the Giants game was over. We sit in this enclosed back porch and listen. This story reminds me of her as she had this same disease before she passed.
The season is so long it connects events with our lives and it helps us remember loved ones and sometimes the things we liked to forget as well.
Thanks for the article GG.
My mother is 84 and suffers from chronic manic depression. One of the few things in life she finds pleasure in is watching baseball games. I will often sit next to her during Giants games and share that peace with her. My dad is her care-giver so I give him a break every Sunday. Our routine is that I cook for them and my mom and I watch the Giants. I turned her into a big Giants fan and she still asks me when Timmy is pitching, refusing to believe he is not on the team anymore.
Well a lot of us refusing to believe he is not on the team any more. jk, I did the much the same until I was forced to move my 90 year old mother into a memory care unit. I could not watch her 24 hours. I say this with all sincerity God bless you for doing what many will not.
You mean Timmy isn’t on the team anymore?
you da man in many ways
Great stuff Greek:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a64ea1c6051bdad3f0ac6bc60fb6fb1424630424f2e489358bcd5017187466c5.jpg
Although it was my older brother, my dad and his three brothers that turned me on to baseball – they were always playing baseball, etc. My mom was the all time fan of Giants land as she had this little area off our back porch – where – believe it or not, she loved to iron clothes while listening to “her Giants” on her transistor radio. I still have her transistor radio but it is quite worn out. (see photo). The significance of her ironing in our back porch was that it was the only way in for me after being “out” with my friends. If curfew was blown – I had to deal with mom listening to “her Giants”. Later we would watch games together. We were watching during the Cody Ransom bad error at SS game and Pitcher Felix Rodríguez was her least favorite Giant. I think I heard her curse Felix in Italian when he gave up the HR and RBI in the 10th during the 2000 NLDS. Even though she passed into heaven at the age of 90 in 2004 I know she is still talking about the 2002 WS.
Based on the post earlier that Clutch Up put that made every man wince in sympathy pain, maybe this years slogan needs a small update
Giants Baseball – Torsion
Pinch – Snip – Re-position – Advil – Exhale – Nap time
Reminds me of two California governors campaign slogans. “Cut, trim,pinch, squeeze” Reagan, followed up by the “Lower your expectations” Brown.
Too many fans think it’s as simple as this song title….It’s not (neither is the speed of Walter’s blues licks)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQZ5TChXu8E
Welcome to the human race, Matthew…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0tDySd5Enc
A tribute to GG and Noce’s stories below
I found this a few years ago – http://baseballminded.com/why-we-play-baseball/
Reprinted below from somebody named “DB”
I spent yesterday working with my 84 year old dad as we repaired the steps leading up to my screened in porch. It was a day of talking baseball. My dad has skin cancer, just had a huge portion of his ears cut off due to the cancer and is covered all over his body. He is going to have a tough way the rest of his life. Looking back, baseball is what we always had together.
My dad never played. He left school at a very young age and drove mules in a lumber yard. My Grandfather was a huge baseball fan, had a tremendous arm but was never able to play because he had to work. So, when I got to be of age to play, my Grandfather insisted that my dad let me and my brother play. I was, at that time, pulling roots out of a persimmon orchard trying to get it cleared so that we could plant corn. I think I was 9. We were as poor as poor can get. I got to play and that became the big thing for my dad.
We had to move and ended up in Illinois. Me and brother were able to continue playing. My dad worked every low paying high sweat job you can find to make ends meet. He would show up at the games and somehow that made his day bearable. In HS, my dad would show up at the end of the games and sit by a big tree down the line. He worked in a vinegar mill by then and he smelled strongly of vinegar. He was also filthy from that job. My HS baseball coach would find a way every home game to walk down that line and say a kind word to my dad. My dad would go to work and he could be proud of his son. I did well at the HS level and made all of the post season awards I could earn.
One of the stories my dad always tells is when a local drug dealer (teenager) was in the park and I was named the starting pitcher for the local All Star game. He commented in the stands that he could get a hit off of me. Dad heard him bragging saying the same and so, went up to him and told him that I’d throw 5 pitches to him and that if he got a hit on any one pitch, dad would give him $5. The park and parents had wanted to keep this kid out of the park but somehow he always got out of jail and was back at the park. Dad came up to me and asked me if I could take him. He was 2 years older than me but I told dad no problem. So, after the game was played, dad had this kid get a bat and go to the plate. Then, dad walked up and told me to hit him 5 times. I gladly obeyed. Dad went to the kid and gave him the $5. Then, he told him that if he had a problem with me, that I was standing there on the mound so go get some. The kid stopped coming to the park. Dad laughs every time he tells that story.
Dad was working in a muffler shop at the age of 74 and I was coaching HS baseball. He and I would talk on the phone after every game. He never met any of those kids and yet, he knew them all. My cousin who worked with dad would say that dad would brag about my teams and my players. Those teams helped my dad through everyday of work. As we worked yesterday, dad asked about some of those boys. He still remembered their names.
There are so many reasons why parents want their sons to play baseball. In the end, baseball got me into college and so, I was the first person on either my mom’s or dad’s side to go to college. I owe that to baseball and a dad who was willing to work every stinking job in America to give me that opportunity.
I won’t have my dad much longer. When he left yesterday, he stopped at his truck and thanked me for one of the best days of his life.
All we did was talk baseball and the work was secondary. I’d have to say it was really special.
Wow, great story. Thanks Clutch.
I could have sworn I already dusted. That was lovely. Made me think of my own, “old Dad. ” as he called himself.
Many of us, very likely.
Mike Leake getting lit up again. I am sooooooooooo glad the FO did not re-sign him and opted for Samardzija instead. Enjoy the next four years after this one STL.
Fun comparison this season with Leake, Samardzija, and Kennedy – all from that same tier of FA starters and all with similar contracts. Kennedy compares favorably with Shark.
Kennedy’s FIP is much higher, but so is his WAR, which is bizarre. Kennedy’s ERA+ is also outstanding. Must be the Ks because Shark is ahead of him in innings and FIP. But Kennedy trumps him easily in WAR and ERA+. I’d still much, much rather have Shark than Kennedy over the next four years.
Forget WAR! Dumbest attempt at a statistic in sports.
My biggest issue with it is that it’s a counting stat and it heavily skews certain elements that can cause a double take sometimes. But I am not on the “it’s a useless garbage stat” bandwagon. If you look at WAR leaders I think you’d agree it’s pretty accurate for the most part. But there are certainly instances where it can be puzzling (e.g. Ian Kennedy).
Explain how Posey has a OWAR of 3.2 and Belt has a OWAR of 2.8 according to the ESPN Stats, when Belt leads Posey in every stat besides runs scored and batting Average, but has a higher OB%, higher SLG%, higher OPS, more Doubles, more Triples, more HRs, more RBI .
BA
Positional adjustment?
Posey has a nicer hair cut.
WAR – Wins Above Replacement. 1B is a position that probably contains the most offense in baseball whereas catcher contains probably the least. The replacement level for a catcher is way, way lower than for 1B. There are not a lot of light hitting 1B in MLB, there are a ton of light hitting catchers.
Curmudgeon. Used correctly, it’s the Royal stat.
The dumbest? More than a pitcher win? At least one attempts to paint a picture of what actually happened.
Fangraphs has Kennedy at 1.8 WAR, Samarzija at 2.3 WAR.
Wow, that is an enormous difference between bWAR. 3.9 seems crazy high, I agree with fangraphs on this one.
bREF uses ERA for their pitcher WAR, fangraphs uses FIP-, but also offers an alternate that uses RA9, which has Kennedy at 4.4 and Samardzija at 3.1. Usually it’s good to split the RA9 WAR with the FIP WAR, which would leave us at 3.1 for Kennedy and 2.7 for Samardzija. And with a difference that small, they probably like Kennedy a bit more because of the better K rate, and Kennedy’s excellent ability at holding baserunners, which is not a strong suit of Smardge. That ability to hold and strand runners is probably enough to separate him and Samardzija this year.
You really, really need to watch Kennedy pitch.
LOL – one of your guys. What’s in the #’s, fellah?
How does Shark look on a bad day?
Like Kennedy on a good day….
Just imagine the Giants with Span in CF , Kennedy on the bump, Loney at first….
How did Loney get on first?
Anyway, your point seems to be to beat a drum that Kennedy is no good, yet…
183 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 3 BB/9, 1.5 HR/9.
Yes the long ball rate is high. But those are his #’s in the AL. Compare to Shark in NL – and yes Shark has better overall stuff.
Front office clearly knew something about him that they didn’t know before trading for him. For them to go after him so aggressively (it was very obvious he was the guy they wanted) and to then turn around and make zero attempts to resign him….something clearly happened.
Leake did not perform well as a Giant. Also tweaking him hamstring doing simple warm ups and missing a lot of time when they needed him the most did not do much to endear him to the organization. I hated the trade and was nearly universally ripped by GE Refugees for my opinion. I just think he is an average to slightly below average pitcher who is an innings eater. Never was a fan and became that much less of a fan after his stint with the Giants. And now Cardinals fans have joined in on that sentiment, you should have seen some of their comments when he recently missed time with an injury.
Lefty loves Leakey too, for his resilience and dedication. ;o)
Oh I hated that they targeted Leake. I think he’s just about one of the least interesting, average at best pitchers in MLB. The idea that he would somehow make a difference in a playoff race is risible. But SF clearly thought he could, and had been desiring him for a couple of seasons. This was a guy they spoke about for a long time with the Reds. And while he did come over and pitch 9 mostly uninspiring games, that means that the team changed their mind on a guy they had wanted for two seasons, after 9 games. That’s impressive, on both sides.
They just finally figured out what they should’ve known before they traded for him.
Better late than never?
I really wonder who they thought he was, and why they thought he WASN’T that, 9 games later.
Well, they obviously thought AT&T would be a plus, since he’d worked in a bandbox. Whether it was the injury, adjusting to a new team, environment —we’ve seen how Smith Nunez took some time settling in—-it just didn’t pan out.
It will only be good if Giants can win tonight.
It was a comment more on the next four years than just this game. But his stinker in this game (hopefully) helps the Giants maintain playoff position for at least one more night regardless.
Really interesting new baseball movie coming out on TV, Pitch.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/pitch-tv-show-review-fox/501341/
Greek Giant was absolutely correct about Posey’s brilliance behind the plate. (Reading between the lines about what Posey said about his offseason plans, it would appear that his offensive woes can be traced to an injured back)
Watching the game at the time –and it is worth replaying to see this–if you look closely at Posey setting the target anticipating that the runner on first would be going, he set it high and where he could get off a good throw. Pitch was right there and Posey was up throwing to nail the runner, and as I recall end the inning.
This was a very subtle thing but brilliant in the mental game and resulting in ending the threat.
Kid is smart, no doubt.
i have been incessant in my belief that he has two significant injuries: low back and wrist. I’ve been mocked. But I totally believe it to be the biggest reasons for his drop off
Back for sure.
How does a back problem only give you trouble hitting, but not catching, throwing or running?
T W I S T I N G .
Did you see him running to first in that last Dodger game? Bobbled grounder to third, normally even Buster would have beat that throw but he wasn’t close at all.
Wrist would deflate his power for sure.
I’m unpacking my new house. Is it time for the rally thong?
Photos please.
Anything for the Giants
We’d all be just as happy with chicken murder and dismemberment, followed by boiling in oil.
God, NO. Surf, pay no attention.
Do it Surf!
Send it to Kate Beckinsale, then we’re good
Happy to–but then she would likely join the Witness Protection Program
The numbers on a 3 way WC tie in the NL. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/theres-a-10-percent-chance-of-a-three-way-mlb-wild-card-tie/
Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.
The tie breaker method seems weird to me, should it come to that.
Very strange to me too. Is it true that team A can decide who they want to face either team B or C? And then why would the Giants get a game at home since they would be deemed team C?
JUST WIN, WIN, WIN and this will be irrelevant!
If anyone has ANY connection to Panik, give him this reference. I’ve used it.
It also did wonders for UC Riverside baseball
https://ultimeyesvision.com/ and
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/02/prweb11584884.htm
Happy Friday. Giants Fans!
So will Span be leading off today? LOL
no
He had a great AB last night. Runner in scoring position and striking out on 3 pitches. GE Refugees will be in a collective rage if he leads off. Just freakin play Gorkys for the rest of the season, he has played well in his time with the Giants and is superior defender x10.
Absolutely agree with, play Gorky rest of season. To me that is a no brainer
Won’t happen.
Because it’s a no brainer and … you know.
No, tell me.
Be happy with a platoon.
OMG. he struck out with w/RISP? Nobody does THAT.
Another great point by you because he has been so good this year otherwise. What am I thinking condemning him for his awful AB last night when for the season he’s hitting .263 with an OPS+ of 88 and his 0.8 WAR (Gorkys is *already* halfway to Span’s WAR total)? He totally deserves to play every day in CF and bat leadoff. What was I thinking?!
I spoke only of the absurdity of singling him out for failing with RISP.
That WAS a great AB. Oh man! And he’s MyGuy too. Dang!
You should “vixen-ize” him with some of JoBu’s rum.
‘Vixen-ize” I like it. I would like to vixen-ize the entire team with wins. Let me work on that!!
Last 5 full games for Denard – on base 11 times.
His AVG in Sep is .164
I think we’ve seen enough for this year. Meanwhile, Gorkys is hitting the ball off the tops of fences.
And yet Gorky’s was crucified here by those who claim to know… for not catching the Matt Moore – Seager duck snort.
Even Vinny called it uncatchable last night or the other night…
Gor
What did I miss?
Just my drift.
Largely due to his terrible in early September.last 2 weeks-.265 BA .375 OBP
Correct. That just does not cut it for a lead off man IMHO
.375 OBP doesn’t cut it? That’d absurd.
.164
It’s about now.
It’s all good. We just do not agree.
True.
How many extra bases for the opposition on his howitzer?
Non-responsive again.
How so? “Non responsive”? Because it doesn’t fit with your view? Span will play…you got that right.
Is he the best option? Overall …not just getting on base.
Nope.
Non-responsive because i only spoke to his recent OBP.
Not above…vixen asked if he was leading off, you mentioned 11at bats, I countered with a question over that time regarding his fielding…so I guess you narrowed it back down…I need warnings so I can keep up.
@Scotty_Mike_Chef
Any news from Minnie Soda from Stix?
Having Span on that contract is going to squelch any hope of Mac or Parker playing LF next season. Pagan will be gone, they will have to move Span to LF because there is no way they will make him a reserve and then they’ll sign some other CFer. Or maybe this guy Gorky has figured it out at the plate and can land that job.
11. He’s consistent.
Susan Slusser is a great writer: He’s on the small side, but A’s Jharel Cotton is big news
http://tinyurl.com/jaxk5qr
the one that got away from Dodgers farm? He was up and comer last year, but they were flesh enough to send him.
Fleshy or Flushy works for me
What an odd, uncomfortable feeling as I root for the Cubs….
I know your Chicago brethren drive you nuts but if the Giants don’t win it I’m pulling for the Cubbies. Knowing how awesome it was for the Bay Area and Giants fans when our team won it finally after so many years of futility, it would be awesome for that town.
I agree, but we seem to be in the minority on that opinion among GE refugees.
Oh no, I left something out, I think they’ll torch the place if the Cubs win.
We’re on the 44th floor at Sears/Willis… I’m hoping they put out the fire before it reaches us
Cubs winning the World Series would be wonderful for 610nm’s Mom.
The Goat says: NO WAY !
YES! thank you. I learned of the Cubs over Cards victory today in an e-mail from Mom, right after I got out of seminar. She wants the Cards to get the wild card, saying the Giants would be a much tougher foe than STL.
She’s right that the Giants would be a much tougher foe, as evidenced by the most recent series between the two teams.
I’ll be pulling for Zorilla as he pulls the Cubs cart.
It was nice rooting for the Giants in 2010. I had mentioned I thought they would win. Everyone was looking at the power of Texas but ignored the fact that the Giants had a bunch of guys and bench guys that could pop 20 + home runs a year. If you removed Texas DH or added a Giant batter like Pablo or Juan or Burrel you had more power and a higher average. Then the Giants pitchers Matty No Run Cain was awesome.
Now I hope to root for the Cubs this time around.
Every once in a while, 2hh, you post a comment I can upvote.
That may be son of 2HH 🙂
Kidding ….
Russian hackers.
Dulcolax is known to be gentle
How is our guy Justin Maxwell doing ……
KBO’s Lotte Giants
https://www.giantsclub.com/eng/?pcode=830
Julio Franco 81 years old – I mean wearing number 81 is their hitting coach
https://www.giantsclub.com/eng/?pcode=830&pc=70414
They like to spell the word Pitcher in a funny way
https://www.giantsclub.com/eng/?pcode=831
Who is this guy, Oh it’s Justin Maxwell
https://www.giantsclub.com/eng/?pcode=834&pc=66523
Jerome Williams looks like he did a macadamia nut cleanse that didn’t quite work out as planned
If I promise to buy Nationwide insurance as I watch Directv, while eating Papa John’s, will you just go away, Peyton?
???
American pop culture reference to commercials in which Peyton Manning, a former football (American version) player with an exceptionally tall head, stars and appears in semi-humorous sketches…
Ty, Efkaristò
Greekepedia. Nice
You had to be there…it’s Pacman’s next horror movie …”The Forehead”
Peyton Manning Hall of Fame QB to be and doer of 5000 TV commercials
Peyton is taking over for Alex Trebek on Jeopardy by the next time Baggs is on.
The 2016-17 Draymond Green rule
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/NBA-refs-to-more-closely-monitor-groin-hits-9240721.php
Greek Giant: “I could write so much more about the mystery of the missing runs but what’s the point? Either the Giants will hit or they won’t. Don’t expect much of a postseason sojourn without production from Buster, Belt, and Craw… Starting pitching and defense are carrying this team. Suddenly it’s 2011 again.”
This certainly sums it up for me.
MadBum/Cueto/Smarmie give us a good chance in any series.
Very true, Mike. Although I don’t think I’m going to call him MadBum anymore.
What Moore could you ask?
Okay Ryan, that’s pretty damn good.
Hank Schulman 1min ago:
#cubs beat #cardinals 5-0. #sfgiants and #mets lead STL by a game heading into tonight’s games.
How is Montana on September 23rd?
Rainy, cloudy, cool. Sweatshirt-and-shorts weather.
This wild card “race” this year is weird.
The Cardinals lost today and play the Cubs 2 more times this weekend, but since they play the Reds 4 times starting Monday and the Reds are playing awful, the Giants need to get a cushion on them by Monday so need to sweep the Padres .
The Padres have two series sweeps this season.
I know both vs the Giants, the Giants swept the Padres 3 times in the1st half .since the Giants won last night they need to start a hot streak now .
I’m all for that, Peter, but the Giants hitting and scoring, even with last night’s win, does not inspire.
Nor do their:
* Non-productive outs
* Non-timely hitting
* Two out – run scoring base hits
* Lack of a third catcher
The Braves lost 8 of 10 before winning 2 against the Nats, 3 vs the Mets and 1 more v the Marlins.
Guess what. The record over the last 10 (or any number of) games is no predictor of any of the next games. None.
A Greek and Roman reason for some of the Giants troubles:
Now that the sun has passed directly over the Equator heading South, Friday is the first full day of Fall.
Persephone was Demeter’s daughter. One day while Persephone was gathering flowers, Hades, god of the underworld, captured her. No one had any idea where she had gone to or what had happened to her. Demeter was sick with worry and grief. She asked Helios the sun god what had happened. When she learned that Hades had captured her daughter she became very angry. For a year she caused crops and plants to wither and die.
A terrible famine gripped the earth aka losing streak aka no runs aka crappy bullpen.
Zeus commanded that Hades release Persephone. Persephone was overjoyed. However he tricked her into eating some pomegranate seeds before she left the underworld. He knew that if she ate anything from the land of the dead, she would have to return to him for a part of each year.
Demeter was delighted that her daughter had returned to her. However every time Persephone had to return to Hades, Demeter mourned terribly again. This is why for a part of each year the plants and crops stop growing aka Giants play VERY bad.
When Persephone returns to earth, the land once again bursts with life.
.
How was her throwing arm?
hilarious. thanks for LOL
She threw with either hand…
Ahhh yes, the rape of Persephone. Tis the season for pomegranate harvest. Just harvested early Wonderful, big time harvest of Wonderful awaits in over a week – about 18,000 fruit. Chances are I will not see Persephone in the fields near I5 and the aqueduct.
….but Kevin Costner went to Visalia HS – so you got that going for you …
Watch those Resnick’s…they drive a hard bargain, and loyalty is suspect.
Ohhh dude, you know them? They’ve created a monster!! I suspect their loyalties lie with the great reptilian overlords. I better hush, my paycheck is indirectly linked.
Been serving the almighty Roll Global for many years…..
Albert Suarez is probably good for another 5 IP and 2 ER, just like every time out. I keep waiting for his clock to strike midnight and the carriage to turn back into a pumpkin, but he keeps churning out these quality-enough starts, keeping the team in a winning position.
Albert did not pitch against the Chihuahuas this year, so fresh looks for both sides. Get on Albert, keep doing your thing, a 2017 roster spot feels pretty much assured.
Has he tried to break out of his comfort zone? I want some marble fudge but I am getting a lot of Vanilla. He has also repeated the same mistake(s) in the same inning each time out.
Try that cake batter ice cream
I think that cookie dough and cake batter ice cream is only for young bloods like you who weigh 157 dripping wet 🙂
Actually I’m down to 150 gv or take lol and feeln grand.
Quality Enough lol u are a riot pal!
Not quite 6 and 3, but darn close. Bochy keeps the shepherd’s crook handy.
Absolutely! Just like No Hit Heston’s was!!!
Still sore? Yeah what happened there? Who bumped him? As I recall he just didn’t have same stuff and spring was not going well. The rest is history, but a great season and event to reminisce. Funny thing is that I saw him in AAA the year before and he looked poised for the call up.
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/pregame/game-154-preview-will-the-giants-ice-cold-bats-warm-up-in-san-diego/
The Orioles are now on the outside looking in for the AL wild card after losing 4 in a row and Detroit winning 4 in a row. Kind of a shame because the Orioles were leading the AL East at one point and looked to be solidly in front in the wild card race not too long ago. Hopefully teams wearing the Orange and Black close out the regular season strong.
These WC races are intense.
Detroit, Rock City. Houston within range too.
Amazing that Houston has a shot at it still.
https://i.imgur.com/euAkMZs.png
^$##^&^%%$&*(*%^Q@$#@$#%^%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back big fella, back I say.
See you on the other side … heh heh heh