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Open Gameday Thread, 5/18

Thumb_tiny by Grant on

Chicago @ San Francisco


I am truly awful when it comes to maintaining an updated list of Giants blogs. New blogs come, and I forget to put them up. Old blogs defunctify, and I forget to take them down. Throughout it all, I forget to link to the ones that consistently put out great content, like Xanthan's Bay City Ball, Martin's Obsessive Giants Compulsive, Brute/Baron's work at SF Dugout, and Chulk/Kenshin's work at Giants Cove.

Don't stay too long, though. You'll get bad ideas. Like, if you go to Bay City Ball, you'll read actual analysis, and then you'll expect that kind of stuff here. Don't hold your breath, though I do have a post in the works that analyzes Zito within the context of Calvinball. Preview: It turns out that he's really good.

Then there are the new blogs that I neglect to mention, like Orange, Black, and Blue. Andrew Baggerly has a new blog here that looks fantastic. Bonus points: He gives a shout out to Steve S.

I've updated my blogroll, so let me know if I've prematurely ditched or forgotten one.

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Happy Cain Day!

Danks just sounds like a dreary pitcher. I smell a 3-run offensive explosion! (or maybe it is the eggs and hash browns I had for breakfast)

by Lars The Wanderer on May 18, 2008 11:37 AM PDT   0 recs

You've listed my favorites

Although some are in need of updates (you know who you are) (but like I should talk).

Any predictions on which one inning the Giants will score during today?

My money is on the second inning.

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch

by can of corn on May 18, 2008 11:41 AM PDT   0 recs

BTW – I’m hoping some day to hone my blarging skills enough to deserve a link.

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch

by can of corn on May 18, 2008 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I like Giants Jottings

But it is really only active for every spring training.

by Lars The Wanderer on May 18, 2008 11:44 AM PDT   0 recs

i like it too.

The link

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for the links

Always enjoy reading Schulman and Baggarly.

How ‘bout winning one today for the fans Cain.

by wilriv21 on May 18, 2008 11:50 AM PDT   0 recs

Must-win?

The subject line is kind of a joke, but for this team’s psyche, the difference between an “abysmal” 3-7 homestand and a “poor” 4-6 homestand is probably important. Let’s see if they can score 4 runs for Cain, and actually let Wilson try and close a game again.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 18, 2008 12:20 PM PDT   0 recs

I hope we lose(with cain get a ND)

because if we win with todays lineup, say hello to everyday vets. This “re-building” is starting to turn in to a complete joke.

by superk1ng on May 18, 2008 12:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I see what you mean

Lineup:
Winn RF
Castillo 3B
Durham 2B
Molina C
Rowand CF
Aurilia 1B
Ortmeier LF
Burriss SS
Cain P

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 18, 2008 12:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

eh,

Castillo and Ortmeier are youngish, younger than Lewis. Buriss is young.

The only position where I think there is a serious chance of a young guy losing time to a vet is at second base. I’m distinctly ambivalent about that.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Winning Formula

R. Winn rf
J. Castillo 3b
R. Durham 2b
B. Molina c
A. Rowand cf
R. Aurilia 1b
D. Ortmeier lf
E. Burriss ss
M. Cain p

by wilriv21 on May 18, 2008 12:38 PM PDT   0 recs

I'm really starting to hate facing lefties

Only 928 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 18, 2008 12:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed

But we do get a little Burriss from the right side, which is always fun.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Castillo batting second.

ack. he’s like 0-12 there or something.
on the positive side he’s batting .262 .325 .447 with OPS+ 101, and the thirty million double plays.

oh and he 27, like Ort and Lewis (who are also sporting OPS+ above 100).

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey Grant want to give a shout to my blog?

It’s been around for a while and the original author was falling out of favor with his readers. He wanted me to bring a new perspective to it so I’m going to start writing for him. Although I haven’t started yet, I’m sure the readers will kick him out soon enough. Here is the link.

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 May 18, 2008 12:41 PM PDT   0 recs

i don't like tom brady

but he’s sporting a giants hat at the celtics game

by ihateme on May 18, 2008 12:59 PM PDT   0 recs

i just saw that...

so i turn to the internet McCoven – why is Tom Brady sporting a SF Giants cap?

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

he's from the bay area

went to Serra just like BLB

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

because hes from the bay area

and grew up a niner/giants fan. His dad used to have season tickets for both the niners and giants

by superk1ng on May 18, 2008 1:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He actually wanted the niners to take him

but i think they took rattay instead. Great move!!

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't forget Giovanni carmazzi

The patriots play the niners this year at candlestick…I bet he’s going to make us feel it for passing on him.

by superk1ng on May 18, 2008 1:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

meh

he’s probably over it…right?

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good move for Brady. He’d probably have been concussed out of football by now.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting tidbit from Andrew Baggarly today:

Neukom expressed his dedication to player development, said he loves dropping by the minor league complex during spring training and quoted former American League president Bobby Brown, who told him that “baseball is farming.”

“We come from this unbelievably historic situation of having this great talent and now we have to do it in a more conventional way, bringing people in the system, bringing them along the Giants way and relying to a large extent on home-grown talent,” Neukom said.

Sabean said he was heartened by those comments.

“We’ve been on such a treadmill as far as needing immediate results or instant gratification,” Sabean said. “The game doesn’t work like that. There are times you have to exercise more patience and you’ll have down years or transition years. The more you understand that, the more you’ll have the patience to let that process play out.”

by wilriv21 on May 18, 2008 1:02 PM PDT   0 recs

double happiness

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow

Sabean’s comment might be glad-handing for the press, but it’s a pretty explicit slam of Magowan/Baer/etc. and the “win now” philosophy.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 18, 2008 1:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah, well

it ain’t an undeserved slam

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sabean clearly has a profound understanding of the need for “down years.”

by Evan on May 18, 2008 1:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

watching the A's game until the giants come on

where did this Alan Embree come from? I remember a much worse pitcher named Alan Embree.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:07 PM PDT   0 recs

then he gives up 2 runs

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

good jinx job. i applaud you. if that was your intention.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

no bowker

jeez, bochy. WTF?? Aurillia?????

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:09 PM PDT   0 recs

I approve 12 pitch innings.

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: One of the few reasons to watch this year.

by sfgreg on May 18, 2008 1:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Jose Castillo: no longer an offensive disaster:
.262 /.325 /.447

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:13 PM PDT   0 recs

OPS+ of 101

RC still sucks thanks to his luckless DPs.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

the total package is still lacking too,

he has a .605 RZR, last in the NL

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I dunno..

His wOBA is .328, which is below-average. Plus, his glove is leaden. I don’t call him luckless, I call him a freebie. If only the team generally knew that freebies are useful, and $140m contracts to anyone but a superstar slugger aren’t.

by wcw on May 18, 2008 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting Stat

First 41AB 0 walks
Next 101 AB 13 walks

He only walked 6 times in 221 AB last year with the Pirates.

Carney teaching patience?

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: One of the few reasons to watch this year.

by sfgreg on May 18, 2008 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's only 26

he still has a little development in him

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And only the second-worst-fielding 3B in the majors!

by Evan on May 18, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

who’s worse?

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i'm going to guess

that Miguel Cabrera even has a better ranking them him, and he’s been moved off 3b.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmm, no, looks like Cabrera’s a little worse.

(I’m looking at the Hardball Times numbers, which of course are pretty crude.)

by Evan on May 18, 2008 1:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

is UZR listed anywhere on the web? I look at THT’s too, because BPRO’s are so awful.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don’t think so. MGL seems to post his data sporadically. There’s a spreadsheet of 2003-07 numbers floating around that you could probably find by googling.

by Evan on May 18, 2008 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Mike Lamb

by Evan on May 18, 2008 1:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yuck.

.556 RZR for Lamb.

Castillo at least gets to decent number of out of zone balls.

I don’t think Carney can improve the D, though.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Castillo has been a pretty poor defensive 2b

for most of his career. hopefully more time at 3rd can get him up a level that’s not “the worst” or second worst. and maybe he can even get good. Feliz wasn’t top of the league until his 31/32 year old seasons right?

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jose Castillo: He's Not Pedro

And that’s a good thing, He’s costing us at most $650K; maybe as little as the MLB minimum of $390K. Feliz is getting 2 years times $4.25MM plus incentives.

by NiceGuysFinishEtc on May 18, 2008 1:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

QUICK!!!

Trade for Crede!! Most errors by an AL 3B! He belongs here!!!

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:15 PM PDT   0 recs

2 more than our guy castillo!

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"concentration, focus attitude"

I’m sorry, but what do any of those have to do with hitting a baseball?

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:16 PM PDT   0 recs

I don't know

It seems like concentration has a little something to do with hitting a baseball.

Only 928 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on May 18, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

meh

probably. Just seemed weird

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for the shout-out Grant...

I’d do a shout out for you, but no one reads our boards. :P

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on May 18, 2008 1:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Nate’s back in the lineup for the Grizz today, FYI.

"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 May 18, 2008 1:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Our cleanup hitter is sporting a .712 OPS.

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: One of the few reasons to watch this year.

by sfgreg on May 18, 2008 1:20 PM PDT   0 recs

maybe,

but I bet his GRIN (Gamer Rating Index Number) and GRIT are off the chart, right?

by bondslegend on May 18, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

6 points higher than Matt Cain’s SLG%

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cain

Looks especially…fluffy today. Also, pitching well.

"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 May 18, 2008 1:24 PM PDT   0 recs

I’m only listening via the internets. What you mean fluffy?

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

His hair is very curly today. I’m purely being silly in this observation.

"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 May 18, 2008 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe more conditioner is the solution.

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch

by can of corn on May 18, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

must be humid

that happens to me

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

the hair

Personally, I love it. I think the whole I-am-a-good-pitcher-I-must-look-like-a-badass thing has gone too far. Just imagine if the guy who strikes you out looks like a cuddly pinup on a prebubescent ‘70s girl’s wall.

I mean, that just smarts.

by wcw on May 18, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I would love the tight curls, myself. The best I can do is waves, when it’s not humid. Then I just look like a mammal died on my head.

"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 May 18, 2008 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cue Bobby Hill picture with jponry looking on lustily.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 18, 2008 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ick.

More Papa.

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch

by can of corn on May 18, 2008 1:26 PM PDT   0 recs

More JT on the radio side.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:26 PM PDT   0 recs

Does anybody watch Strong Bad email?

Because JT’s announcing = College Radio Style

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on May 18, 2008 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes!

You are SO right.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on May 18, 2008 1:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

KKain!

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 18, 2008 1:26 PM PDT   0 recs

I like Matt Cain

He pitches scoreless innings for the Giants.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.