San Francisco @ Milwaukee GameThread, Apr 6, 2008 11:05 AM PDT

Isn't Zito only making like $14 million this year?

Thanks to the wonderful world of backloading.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 6, 2008 10:09 AM PDT 0 recs

I knew some dink would come in here to make that point...

...I just didn't think it would be you. You broke my heart, Howie. You broke my heart.

by Grant on Apr 6, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

But I always bring up the backloaded contracts

How could you not think it would be me?

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 6, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

Grant -- with Vito here, it's not personal.

It's strictly contractual in nature.

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Roberts LF
Velez RF
Lewis CF
Durham 2B
Castillo 3B
Aurilia 1B
Holm C
Bocock SS

I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

BTW, why does Bocock, who leads the team in OBP and OPS (yes, small sample size i know) batting 8th?

by Viliphied on Apr 6, 2008 10:10 AM PDT 0 recs

And why is He of the Terrible Defense in CF?

by Viliphied on Apr 6, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well, you have to expect Bocock to eventually remember that he's Brian Bocock. I haven't seen all his base hits, but the strikeouts I've seen have been all Bococked up.

Can't answer the CF question.

Go Steve Holm! First MLB start, right? I just hope he doesn't embarrass himself.

by wedge on Apr 6, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

FREE VELEZ LEWIS HOLM BOCOCK

Oh... wait... let me try again...

free ortmeier davis?

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 6, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

On the bright side

1) Bengie Molina isn't batting cleanup
2) Aaron Rowand isn't batting behind Bengie Molina

That's two things I wanted to happen, happening!

I'm actually pretty happy to see the young lineup again. I just wish Aurilia wasn't a part of it.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 6, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

Some habits die hard with Bochy

Giving a veteran plenty of time to hit.

Like all of 2007 and part of 2008.

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

OF alignment is interesting. Big "D" in the 4-hole. When does Sabean make that trade for the LHH 1b he keeps talking about? Best of luck to the rookie Holm in his start. Have Zito keep the ball down. Hope Zito gets some movement on his pitches today. Maybe today is the day the bullpen gets some rest. No, seriously.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

Barry Zito

is gonna give you up, he's gonna let you down, he's gonna run around and desert you. He's gonna make you cry, he's gonna tell a lie and hurt you. He *is* however never gonna say goodbye.

by SnowLeopard on Apr 6, 2008 10:36 AM PDT 0 recs

he has no reason to

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

He says sayonara, however, to showers of baseballs flying over furlongs of fences.

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

Giants have

a higher team OBP than the Yankees, Rox, and two other teams. We're dead last in SLG though ....

(although I'm *sure* it's only a matter of time until the post-Bonds team spirit kicks in, and a few of the boys start slugging .863 and .812 ...)

by SnowLeopard on Apr 6, 2008 10:43 AM PDT 0 recs

A lopsided race to the deadly end

Between post-Bonds and post-Mortem for this team

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

SLUGGING??

Hell, I'd be happy if they OPS'ed those #s....

by Viliphied on Apr 6, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

If the G-men OPS ,800 this year

I'm buying everyone in the McCoven a new car!

by SnowLeopard on Apr 6, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

another Oprah

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

Or...

Just Oprah?

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 6, 2008 10:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

I assure you

not so much

by SnowLeopard on Apr 6, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hey. Leopard's buying me a car

I want a gas guzzler.

All you guys talk about is a gas emitter.

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

Oh yeah also

we lead the majors in CS, sixth in batting strikeouts, and last in XBH. Swagger-y!

by SnowLeopard on Apr 6, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is MLB.tv working for anyone? I keep getting timed out.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 10:52 AM PDT 0 recs

likewise.

by wedge on Apr 6, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

it's working fine for me at the moment

Make me proud again Hen

by AndYourBirdCanSing on Apr 6, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks

yes it is.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:08 AM PDT up 0 recs

#1 pick debut - Madison Bumgarner

Bumgarner gave up a single, dobule, run in the first inning. Oh yeah, he also struck out the side.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 10:54 AM PDT 0 recs

Go GreenJackets

Nooner is batting clean-up today and Big V is hitting 6th and gets the start at 1b.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

That game, even if it were Pony League

Is infinitely more interesting that the steaming horseapples in front of us here in Milwaukee today.

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

Bummer for Bumgarner

His pitching line for his debut:

3 innings
5 runs
7 hits
0 walks
6 Ks

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:07 AM PDT 0 recs

Six strikeouts in three innings is encouraging, though.

by MidKnight on Apr 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Dear Jonathan Sanchez...

...stay the hell away from our first-round picks!

For now, at least.

by Grant on Apr 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Huzzah!

Finally a chance to watch a game... so what if it's on Gameday.

I can't wait for May to come around - then I won't be teased for being a Giants fan anymore. I swear these Virginians don't know what they're talking about.

by KyrieEleison on Apr 6, 2008 11:09 AM PDT 0 recs

As for the actual Giants game...

Well, that's a great start.

by wedge on Apr 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT 0 recs

wtf Sheets

guy is unconscious

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT 0 recs

ho boy

He struck out the side in like 4 pitches.

by non sequitur on Apr 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT 0 recs

Sheets is setting the bar high for Zito

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:11 AM PDT 0 recs

Perhaps if he set it neck-high

And Zito, jogging, doesn't see it....

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

do you remember as a kid tying a line across the street at night and hanging a newspaper from it and watched cars drive into it ?

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

That was you?

My dad is preparing the lawsuit, Wil

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

got to get in line after that old lady who lives 5 door down. Boy was she upset.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

check swing, check swing, check swing...

by GiantsFanInExile on Apr 6, 2008 11:11 AM PDT 0 recs

haahaha i love it

by Tchli on Apr 6, 2008 11:11 AM PDT 0 recs

Johan Santana

just doubled for the Mets. That has nothing to do with anything, but somehow it adds to my misery.

by wedge on Apr 6, 2008 11:12 AM PDT 0 recs

It adds to my stack

of miscellaneous and useless statistics

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

with this lineup.....

sheets may get another no-hitter today.

by vivalancellotti on Apr 6, 2008 11:12 AM PDT 0 recs

with 27 strikeouts

Make me proud again Hen

by AndYourBirdCanSing on Apr 6, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

True sign of a faux ace: hiding behind the simple trick of not letting the other team hit the ball.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 11:12 AM PDT 0 recs

He may not need to use Zito's faux tricks

Such as hiding behind an inpenetrable curtain of line drives

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

That's a veteran move right there, getting the radar gun to register the speed going out instead of the speed going in.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 11:21 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's been a few years since I read Moneyball, but if I remember right, Michael Lewis went on about how the A's were smarter than other teams because the were the only ones who realized Barry Zito was a better pitcher than Ben Sheets. I think most Giants fans would disagree about that particular assessment after watching the first inning.

by jcb9 on Apr 6, 2008 11:13 AM PDT 0 recs

GameDay had his FB at 85,-87, is this correct?

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:15 AM PDT 0 recs

Flem is saying 84 on the radio side.

by non sequitur on Apr 6, 2008 11:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

84-87

by MidKnight on Apr 6, 2008 11:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

poor Holm

can't possibly throw out the runner with Zito, even if he pitches out with his 84 mph fastball..

by SFGAmsterdam on Apr 6, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm trying to figure out the effectiveness of a changeup when it's only 6mph slower than his fastball.

by MidKnight on Apr 6, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's all about lulling them to sleep... I guess

/endpositivemode

by SFGAmsterdam on Apr 6, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

The fastball can be knocked into the tenth row

The changeup, with a critical 6 mph missing, 78 is usually only a triple off the wall

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

How are they able to guage such torrid speed?

by Moggeee on Apr 6, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

encouraging beginning for Mr Zito.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:20 AM PDT 0 recs

1st inning

As thrilling as it was to see Zito navigate a scoreless first inning, this has to be seen as the game that marks the sayonara to any hope of seeing .500 again this year. There is no way this team will ever manage a four-game win streak.

by NearestNorwich on Apr 6, 2008 11:23 AM PDT 0 recs

Norwich

Please keep an eye on our sleeper prospect EME.

by wilriv21 on Apr 6, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

EME

I'll do that the same way you will, reading Steve S. religiously. I'm nearest Norwich in terms of our minor league teams but actually a long way away in New Jersey. I try to see them in Trenton against the Yankees farm team.

by NearestNorwich on Apr 6, 2008 11:36 AM PDT up 0 recs