Brian Wilson's Gonna Give Me A Heart Attack!
by Squire_Boone on Apr 25, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
41 comments
I sure wish he would stop being so wild! He has a great fastball, but he just loses command of it sometimes. It is almost as if he does not trust his fastball and thinks he needs to nibble or something. Still, I can't take 3-1 counts to every single batter in the 9th inning much longer....I might have a heart attack (and I'm only 22!).
I personally have not been impressed with Brian Wilson's secondary pitches. I thought he had a good curveball, but I don't see him throw it often. He does not seem to possess a great secondary pitch to complement his fastball like Gagne had with his changeup or Robb Nenn with his slider.
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slider
He has an 89 mile per hour slider that I’ve seen him touch 91 with. It has late sharp cutting action and is a true strike out pitch and is very reminiscent of Robb Nen.
While I agree that he has been a bit wild so far and it has had me up in my seat cursing and pounding the table with my fist, he has still been getting the saves, striking out people and performing with GAMER attitude with men on base.
I think he definitely has the potential to be one of the top closers in the game for years to come and so far this year he hasn’t done anything to disprove that notion.
by Keenlow on Apr 25, 2008 1:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve always believed the closer role was more about the balls one has versus the balls one throws. Brian Wilson has pretty big cojones.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. With the big arms, the tats and the blazing fastball, he looks to me like a guy you wouldn’t want to f**k with.
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on Apr 25, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For my money
I want my closer to look like a guy who is capable of murdering me and my whole family. It wouldn’t be so great if Brian Wilson actually did that, but he can look all mean and throw good, and I’ll take it.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Better yours than mine :-)
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on Apr 25, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to picture my closer in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I’m here to party.
by Scottsdale on Apr 25, 2008 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to picture my closer with giant eagles wings, and singin’ lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band and I’m in the front row and I’m hammered drunk!
Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar
by JakeS on Apr 25, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew!
Proud adoptive parent of Tim Alderson.
by Anticon23 on Apr 25, 2008 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want my closer to look like a guy who is capable of murdering me and my whole family
I totally love that line !
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
by nvsfg on Apr 25, 2008 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brian does need better facial hair, though. Maybe he can Fu it up like the late, great Rod Beck
by tyrannoman on Apr 25, 2008 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So agreed. I would be attracted to him were it not for that awful face merkin thing he has.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
IDEK why he has that, it’s disgusting.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on Apr 25, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It adds to his “closer-ness”:-)
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
by nvsfg on Apr 25, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
gotta love the horseshoe
if you don’t, you hate America
Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.
by delorean on Apr 25, 2008 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The horseshoe IS America.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we're long overdue...
...for a comeback of the Rollie Fingers ‘stache.
2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.
by EliminateMe on Apr 25, 2008 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nobody can touch that stache.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure I’d really want to :-)
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
by nvsfg on Apr 25, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As long as he looks like that on the mound. When I met him at the fan fest, he seemed like a really nice, laid back (at least at that moment) guy.
Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
by raisingcain on Apr 26, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well yeah. It’s like Robb Nen being the meanest SOB on the mound, but just being a cool friendly guy the rest of the time.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 26, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i thought Krukow was saying that Wilson developed a cutter last year, which was the reason he
got back to the bigs….supposedly a few MPH slower but good movement?
by slojoe on Apr 25, 2008 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nen was on KNBR this morning (He’s tonight’s Forever Giant Special Guest at the ballpark). He reminded those people who had forgotten that he didn’t throw too many clean innings, either. I loved Nen, but I remember a lot of his save appearances involving men getting on base. Which is not to say Wilson is anywhere near Nen’s level, just that he’s working his way into the role, and I feel wayyyyyy better having him as our closer than, say Armando.
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on Apr 25, 2008 1:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
True dat
Nen’s career WHIP is 1.213, it wasn’t like no on one ever reached base when he was hitting. It also drove me crazy the way runners could steal at will on him.
It’s easy to forget that when we got Nen, he was 28 and in his 6th MLB season. He went through similar growing pains that we didn’t have to suffer through, like his first year (‘93) when he walked 46 guys in 56 innings and had a WHIP of 1.946. While Wilson isn’t as polished/experience, there’s no reason to think he’ll never be as good as Nen at this point. The good news is we’ll have him under control for a while whereas the team had to pay Nen big bucks for his services.
On the current 25-man roster, I’d put Wilson behind only Lincecum and Cain as guys I’m most glad are on the team and part of the Giant’s future.
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on Apr 25, 2008 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
The leadoff walk was his bugaboo, often he’d even do it on 4 pitches. Then, once the runner easily stole his way into scoring position, Nen would calmly get the strikeout he needed, and I would calmly change my underwear.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Apr 25, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That used to be when I started to get a headache. Those were some tense innings when Nen would lead it off with a walk.
As a long time Giants fan, I have however deleted those memories from my database. The only Rob Nen I remeber now is the “Nth” inning one with the wicked 92-96 mph slider :-)
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
by nvsfg on Apr 25, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
once again I must bring up 2002. Deciding game of the series, bottom of the ninth, fans in Atlanta going nuts. First and third nobody out, Giants clinging to the lead. Nen strikes out Gary Sheffield and gets Chipper Jones to hit into a double play. Robb Nen will always be my hero.
Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment
by rxmeister on Apr 25, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just wish..
He would shave off that merkin.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on Apr 25, 2008 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
that soup saver is foul
i’m going to throw razors at him next time I see him warming up
Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.
by delorean on Apr 25, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The fact that you are only 22 shows
that you haven’t been through this as much as some of us older guys. I’ll let you in on something. Every closer in the history of baseball drives their fans crazy. Mariano Rivera blew the freaking World Series fer chrissakes.
Not to worry. You are just breaking your cherry with B Wilson. I had to break mine with Greg Minton and Rod Beck. Lots of home runs. Lots.
"Why you gotta be cardin' my hos?" - Charlie Hayes
by stevieg on Apr 25, 2008 2:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nen almost always allowed runners, but then he closed the door. Beck pitched far beyond what he could get out of his arm. Those two men are/were complete balls to the wall badasses. Even Trevor Hoffman isn’t automatic anymore but he’s still one of the absolute greatest of all time.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 25, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Growing up a Padre fan, I had the honor of watching two HoF relievers; Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage. They gave the occasional heart attack, but were crowd favorites.
Gossage was the ballest to wallest baddest ass pitcher I ever saw. (I never saw Bob Gibson pitch.) He’d let it fly and it never looked like he knew where it was going. If anyone remembers when he hit Ron Cey in the head, that was some scarry stuff. I remember reading an interview later where Gossage said his first reaction was “Oh Christ, I killed him.”
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on Apr 25, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was watching that game live as a kid!
I also thought the world had just lost a penguin.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Apr 25, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Weird
I’m 23 and even I remember broke my closer hymen on Beck. I can’t even imagine Wilson being my first…
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Apr 25, 2008 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heart attack you say?
You should stop definately give up your Brian Wilson habit. Too much saturated fat.
Only 949 games until the end of Zito's contract
by thehavenot on Apr 25, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
sry2say, he wouldn’t be a true closer if he wasn’t giving you a heart attack.
That said, it definitely would be nice if Brian could cut down on the number of baserunners he’s allowing so far. I think he has the talent to do it and I hope the Giants stick with him.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on Apr 25, 2008 2:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wilson is a work in progress...
...but he’s coming along nicely. Remember he’s only got a few months of experience in the majors.
And yeah, people remember Nen being really dominant, but as Kitspool posted I remember him putting a runner on pretty regularly, and still managing to get the save most of the time.
2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.
by EliminateMe on Apr 25, 2008 2:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sure, it would be great
If wilson had the 1-2-3 inning every time out. Thing is, that would make him perfect, and no closer has ever been perfect.
What Wilson does have is the stuff to pitch his way out of any situation. He can have the bases loaded w/ nobody out and Im not even THAT worried.
He has yet to show a propensity to self destruct or to be hit too hard. That makes me a lot more comfortable. I’m perfectly fine w/ my closer giving up a run w/ a 2 run lead – thats called pitching smart and not trying to over-acheive.
Will he blow some saves? Definately. Will he save a lot of games this season? I hope so.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on Apr 25, 2008 3:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Brian Wilson has saved 7 of our 10 wins, and the one save he blew we won the game anyway. Yeah, he makes you nervous but he gets it done. That wildness scares hitters into getting comfortable against him, and he’ll probably get beat by lucky bloops more than he will get beat by getting bombed. If he stays healthy he could be the best closer this franchise ever had.
Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment
by rxmeister on Apr 25, 2008 6:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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