A few of my fav-o-rite things
by Grant on Jun 27, 2008 12:52 PM PDT
89 comments
After last night’s snooze-fest, Comcast Sports Net Bay Area Net Sports Cast aired this game from 2000, and danged if I didn’t get a little misty-eyed. The team had just started their ridiculous post-June run of ’27 Yankees-esque domination, and Armando Rios kept the magic going with a walk-off against John Wetteland. It all made me realize how much I loved that team. Examples:
- Even though Barry Bonds was 0-4 in the game that Comcast just aired, it was so comforting to watch him swing a bat. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed that this season. Another thing I’ve missed: an actual lineup. It’ll be a long time until we see anything approach the production of the Bonds-Kent-Burks combo. The two biggest lineup problems were Marvin Benard (.342 OBP) and Bill Mueller (.333 OBP), both of whom would have been among the team leaders last year.
- The pitching staff was young and effective. There was reason to be excited for the present and reason to be giddy about the future. Russ Ortiz would continue to pitch like he did in the second half! Shawn Estes was maddening but good! Livan Hernandez was an innings-eating ace! Kirk Rueter was Kirk Rueter, which used to be a very nice thing! There weren’t any stars, but it was a solid rotation 1-5.
- Ye gods, what a bench. Everyone had a specific purpose, and they all filled their roles perfectly. Calvin Murray was a right-handed hitter who could cover center and steal a base. Armando Rios was the lefty with power who could spot Ellis Burks’s knees of scientific wonder and pinch-hit late in the game. Ramon Martinez was good enough to handle the middle infield, and, for that season at least, he was a hitter worthy of a starting job somewhere. Felipe Crespo was the greatest weapon of all: a switch-hitter with cove power and defensive versatility.
Of course, they were probably all roided up to the gills, but that’s a post for another time. - The park was still brick-and-mortar euphoria for anyone who had ever been to Candlestick. It’s still one of the best ballparks ever, but there was something about that first season. Not only that, but the funky dimensions probably had something to do with the absurd home/road splits (55-26). The Giants figured out how to cover the outfield before the rest of the NL, and it wasn’t really fair.
- Barry Bonds’s homer in the 13th-inning of Game 3 against Rick White was a monster, and it was nice to watch the Giants slap 13 hits off of Bobby Jones in Game 4 to move to the NLCS. The sweep of the Cardinals was simple poetry, but the Derek Jeter lineout to Kent in Game 7 of the World Series was poetic justice. The parade down Market Street was like a dream. I made out with Cameron Diaz the whole time. Aquaman was there, too.
Just a few of the reasons why the 2000 team was my favorite of my lifetime. Open Favorite Giants Team of Your Lifetime Thread.
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Felipe Crespo was the greatest weapon of all …
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on Jun 27, 2008 12:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Even though I was only 10-years-old, the 1993 team will always be one of my favorites. Bonds, Clark, Williams, Thompson? Yes!
Burkett and Swift had career years. Rod Beck was on the team. Good times.
Even though the season ended unfortunately, it’ll always be one of my favorite teams. I also remember playing with this team a lot on Ken Griffey Junior’s Baseball for the SNES, they were stacked.
The mid-to-late 90’s resurgence and the early 2000 teams were great teams, too.
by xanthan on Jun 27, 2008 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Favorite team ever.
I still hate Solomon Torres to this day and probably shouldn’t even be mentioning his name.
But that team was awesome and was a joy to watch. A great follow up after the Giants had been saved just months before. I still remember watching the “last” Giants game in 92, and the sad sendoff from the Stick and KTVU’s even sadder music as they signed off. Thank God that didn’t last.
I can still hear the KNBR commercials now “Clark, Williams, Bonds!”
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blame Rosen or Dusty if you must...
But I’ve never been able to fully blame a 21-year old kid who was rushed to the majors at the end of ‘93 in a doomed effort to prop up a desperately thin pitching rotation. Torres had been close to stellar during his rise through the Giants farm system.
- 531 Ks in 561.33 IP
- 8.51 K/9
- 1.92 BB/9
- 1.08 WHIP
But Torres was 21, in just his third year of pro ball, and honestly he had not even a smidgen of the kind of makeup needed to pitch effectively down the stretch of a pennant race.
More important, I think there are pretty strong indications that Torres’ heavy workload was catching up with him by the time he took the mound for Game 162. At age 21 and with a slight 5’11” build, Torres had already logged 230 innings pitched that year. Torres had pitched well in five of his first six starts after getting called up from Phoenix, but he’d been ineffective in two of his last three. His last quality start had been a 118-pitch, 8 scoreless-inning gem against the Padres Sept 25.
Game 162 was the second of two final starts for Torres that followed that start, over the final eight days of the regular season. Torres failed to last past the fourth inning in either start. In those two starts he totaled 6 IP, allowed eight hits, nine walks and struck out only two. One of of those two strikeouts was pitcher Kent Bottenfield, and the other was Eric Karros on a nine-pitch at bat. Karros would tag Torres for a run-scoring double an inning later.
Torres was able to keep the Dodgers off the board in innings 1 and 2 of Game 162. But things began to unravel pretty quickly in the third inning. The inning began with a Kevin Gross single (What? An opposing pitcher getting on base? Inconceivable! ...actually, Gross batted .203 that year, which probably sounds pretty good right now to a certain Giants shortstop). After Butler sacrificed Gross to second, Torres got Offerman to ground out to first base. But a Hansen single, a walk to Piazza and that Karros double led to two runs. Torres was actually fortunate to escape without further damage that inning when Cory Snyder drove a deep fly to right with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The fourth inning was no better though, as Torres walked two of the first three hitters (sandwiched around a sac bunt from Gross). When Offerman followed with a pop-up between SS and 3B that managed to drop, Torres was done. Dave Burba and Dave Righetti would end up contributing far more to the blowout than Torres did (8 runs in 1.2 IP, total). But Torres had started the game, had not been effective and he deservedly is remembered for a less-than-quality start.
But I say that for Dusty to have trotted Torres out to the mound for Game 162 was foolish. Certainly hindsight proves that, but I can’t imagine that there aren’t many of you who thought it was the right choice going into that game. I think it was pretty obvious that Scott Sanderson was the guy Dusty should’ve gone with. Sanderson had been solid, if unspectacular, down the stretch in 1993. He was a veteran, and he’d always had pretty decent success vs. the Dodgers. I’ve never understood why Dusty didn’t give Sanderson that start.
Who I blame for 1993:
1) Colorado for lying down like dogs all year against the Braves
2) San Diego for gift-wrapping Fred McGriff and giving him to the Braves
3) Dusty, for not starting Scott Sanderson in Game 162.
4) Al Rosen, for not trading for Dennis Martinez when he had the chance.
5) Salomon Torres
That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!
by tobias on Jun 27, 2008 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now Torres is closing for the Brewers, my second NL team. I live in fear that he will blow something big for another team I like.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree totally, and would even delete #5 from your list if I were making mine.
When someone rises to the level of his incompetence, or more accurately, after a whole season of wear and tear and toil and travel, you can’t blame the guy who took the ball when he was designated to take the ball.
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 27, 2008 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Err...Blame *Bob Quinn* or Dusty if you must
Sorry, that was a fairly sizable bonehead error on my part.
Also, I meant to post the gamelog of Salomon Torres’ eight starts in 1993.
That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!
by tobias on Jun 28, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rusty...
...(everybody’s favorite mechnical man) still roamed the landing and lived in a wee shack in right field like grewned-keepah Willie.
JT’s 9th inning NLDS homer off Benitez is still the park’s greatest moment.
by bgunn on Jun 27, 2008 1:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ah, yes. The 2000 season.
It was a glorious time. The Giants were really good, the garlic fries were fresh, the best bleacher seats in baseball were $10, and we all pretended we didn’t mind hearing “Who Let The Dogs Out?” 15 times a game over the PA.
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on Jun 27, 2008 1:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Haha YES! I was talking about “Who Let The Dogs Out” with my friend last night as the game was replayed. Good times…good times. For the 10 year anniversary of the park I think they should bust that tune out just for nostalgic purposes. Of course after a Giants win, it might be the only time that song would be considered tolerable.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sometimes we need to be reminded
that Marvin Benard didn’t always suck.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Matt Cain" = TRAGIC MAN, ISN'T PATHETIC
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jun 27, 2008 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Like when he hit the walkoff homer against the Dodgers.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, he was actually pretty good from 98-01, definitely good production from your CF.
by xanthan on Jun 27, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus from such a late round pick, roids and all, what that little guy did on the field was impressive.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His full name is Marvin Larry Benard.
Remember the pitcher Ben McDonald? His full name is Larry Benard McDonald.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Matt Cain" = TRAGIC MAN, ISN'T PATHETIC
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jun 27, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
2004
JT, my favorite player back then, went crazy and hit .327/.429/.529. Ray Durham was a good 2B. Grissom, Cruz and Alfonzo were still reasonable starters. Pedro Feliz fooled us into believing he’s an OK hitter. I’ve always liked Michael Tucker. Ricky Ladee…well Ricky Ladee sucked.
Schmidt was awesome. Woody was still reasonable. Tomko had a good year. Williams and Lowry had all the potential in the world.
Neifi Perez’s attempts at swinging a bat were a comic relief. Bonds hit like Ted Williams on the moon. Tod Linden was going to be good one day. Justin Knoedler had a funny name.
Good times.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
by Cookyman on Jun 27, 2008 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
that 2004 team
ripped my heart out. Somehow they figured a way to stay in the race despite the fact that:
A) Other than bonds and his stupid OPS+ of 263, they had a terrible offense. The fact that JT Snow had a great year was true, but seeing as to how he was the second best offensive player to BB with an OPS+ of 146 (only one other starter, ray durham, had one over 100) was pretty telling because we should not have been riding a veteran first baseman like JT Snow’s bat and he only played in 107 games that year because of injury.
B) That game against the dodgers killed me. I do not feel like rehashing it, but I have never come closer to puking because of a sporting event that I watched.
Schmidt was amazing that season and JT’s performance was a revelation, but our bullpen was so shaky that season I felt like I was in the earthquake simulator every time they came in the game. Brower, Hemanson, Herges, and Franklin all took years off my life.
Now, if they had snuck in the playoffs that year on the back of a victory on Saturday (which, by the way was heading toward a pantheon giants win for 8.5 innings) and a Jason Schmidt domination on Sunday, I may love that team.
Someone get Damon Minor's agent on the phone stat!
by fanofvanlandingham on Jun 27, 2008 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 2000 team was also my favorite
Mostly because of Bonds-Kent-Burks.
Only 893 games until the end of Zito's contract
by thehavenot on Jun 27, 2008 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Humm-Baby anyone?
The ‘86 team was such an instant surprise. That sweep of the Astros to put the Giants in first by a GAME and a HALF… HUGE! Especially for those of us who were in those miniscule “crowds” in 84 and 85. The 87 team could have won it all too… I have the team poster from 86… that was a sweet group.
by johnniedisaster on Jun 27, 2008 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The sweep of the Astros in that double header was the first time I had been to a game. I was pretty excited when they showed the highlights from those games the other day. Loved the ‘86 team.
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
by SF Pete on Jun 27, 2008 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Every year past 1987, 1989, and 1993 we get, I seem to forget more and more who was even on those teams, and slap my face in completely forged shock at some of the sucky players that played with the Giants those years. So I try to keep it hazy with vague rose colored remembrances.
But 2000, that was a hell of a team. Ellis Burks? Damn! I still miss him.
yeah, well, the whole world stinks, francine -- so get used to it!
by satyricrash on Jun 27, 2008 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Even though he was only a Giant for a few years, Burks is one of my top 5 all-time favorite Giants.
by Cleophus on Jun 27, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mine too
Had he played more games with us in 2000, I think he could have had a legit shot at the MVP. It seemed like Burks was coming up with clutch hits left and right that year, and he provided great protection for Bonds and Kent when his knees were up to playing.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
1993
In the middle of that season, I was a young lad with big dreams and hoped that this would be the year that erase that sour taste of 1989.
Of course dreams were meant to be broken. Damn you Salomon Torres. & damn you Colorado.
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 27, 2008 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve seen a lot of before/after pics of Bonds from the front, but this ones pretty amazing. Even though Clark is closer to the camera, he and Williams both look much beefier than Bonds.
2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!
by Goofus on Jun 27, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn you Dave Burba!
That game was well within reach when Torres left the game. It’s F**king Dave Burba that killed us. He killed my favorite Giants team of all time & I’ll never forgive you for it Dave. Never.
CF Darren Lewis
2B Robby Thompson
1B Will Clark
3B Matt Williams
LF Barry Bonds
RF Willie McGee
SS Royce Clayton
C Kirt Manwaring (who one scout told me had the slowest bat speed in all of baseball)
Don't think, it could only hurt the ballclub.
by ResDog on Jun 27, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your post made me go back and look up the box score for that game – my memory was clearly faulty, because I remembered Torres giving up a lot more runs. Huh. Of course, I was on the east coast at the time, and the game inexplicably wasn’t on national tv (as I recall, the game they showed instead was a totally meaningless affair featuring two teams who’d already been eliminated…ugh).
I’d also forgotten that Dave Righetti was on that team, and that Scott Sanderson was ever on the Giants at all.
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was lucky enough to be in attendance. The horror…. the horror.
Don't think, it could only hurt the ballclub.
by ResDog on Jun 27, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, look, stirrups! I miss stirrups. Nowadays, everyone just wears socks. What happened to stirrups, anyway?
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
2000 and 2002 were my absolute favorites.
that’s what won the giants for me.
BROCK BOND LIKES HIS MARTINIS PUNCHED IN THE FACE, NOT STIRRED.
by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jun 27, 2008 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Grant,
Thanks for mentioning Ramon Martinez. Along with Torrealba, they’ve got the highest all-time GA/GFA* ratios. Both of those guys earned the right to be Giants starters but never really had a shot.
*GA/GFA = Goofus Appreciation/General Fan Appreciation
2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!
by Goofus on Jun 27, 2008 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
1971 Giants
Aging greats McCovey, Mays, Marichal. Perry is his prime but soon to be traded for sudden Sam McDowell. The Giants will the pennat, then Bob Robertson almost single handedly wins the NLCS for the Pirates. A young Chris Speier, Bobby Bonds, and Ken Henderson provide hope for the future.
The lowlight of the season is the trade of George Foster for Frank Duffy. Foster goes on to greatness with the Big Red Machine. What could have been if the Giants had kept Foster and not traded Perry.
The Giants beat the Dodgers for the West title by one game. SWEET!
Lot’s of fun back then listening to Giants games on the radio with the incomparable Lon Simmons.
by hammerofthor on Jun 27, 2008 2:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What could have been
That is the official phrase of the Giants.
Only 893 games until the end of Zito's contract
by thehavenot on Jun 27, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Insult to injury
Frank Duffy played about half a season for the Giants in total. Batting way below the Mendoza line. While Foster didn’t really catch fire for the Reds for a couple of years, he ended up with 300+ HR’s for the Reds, and 1000+ RBI’s.
by hammerofthor on Jun 28, 2008 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dirty Al
Oops, can’t forget Tito Fuentes, and Dirty Al Galagher who started at 3B. One of my favorite all time Giants. Dirty Al was known for sliding head first into 1B to try to beat out infield hits. No matter what every game the guy found a way to dive on the ground to get his uniform dirty. A line drive hitter. A gamer type guy. Eventually traded to the Angels. The front office back then as today made a number of head scratching deals.
by hammerofthor on Jun 27, 2008 2:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
1996 was the first year I closely followed sports, and the Giants were so lousy that year. 1997 might have been my favorite Giants team because it was so new into my serious sports fandom and so exciting.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
they had the barry pirouette game on demand when i was home recently
and I watched that homer like 15 times. Chan Ho Park versus Reuter, Roberto Hernandez with a 2 inning save throwing GAS. That was a great year.
Someone get Damon Minor's agent on the phone stat!
by fanofvanlandingham on Jun 27, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Barry Pirouette was great, Hernandez was great, Brian Johnson was great. I still remember the celebration after they clinched the division. Barry high fiving and hugging the fans, and Stan Javier was running around the clubhouse spraying everyone with a hose. Just best ever.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also was that the year Shawn Estes won 19 games? I loved him so much back in the day.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was the reason I took #55 as my favorite number
and Timmy now gives me new hope in it!
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on Jun 27, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Somehow I felt it was fate.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
estes
i love him too until he failed to slide into second base in the 2000 NLDS. On a scale of one to boneheaded that was ruben riveraesque.
speaking of estes: a buddy of mine from college is from Marin and apparently a family friend owned a bar either in the city or in marin and Estes used to come in and do all sorts of blow at the bar. It may be a cool story, but it is not surprising in the least.
Someone get Damon Minor's agent on the phone stat!
by fanofvanlandingham on Jun 27, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blow you say?
In an alternate universe, my 15 year old self is crying.
"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 Jun 27, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone remember the story where Estes stole a bicycle from a cop in Los Gatos?
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If this is true
He is now my favorite person in the world.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on Jun 27, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is true.
He took it for a joy ride, didn’t realize it was a cop’s.
Gary Thomasson's only true fan.
by Idaho Nick on Jun 27, 2008 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amen
I turned on the 2000 game last night during Barry’s first at-bat and I told my wife to come down stairs so she could enjoy it with me. I commented to her how much I miss watching that man play baseball. BTW I love the card with Will, Matt, and Barry.
by KingBarry on Jun 27, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't miss Barry
Or Petey Feliz, or Ryan Klesko, or… well, nobody misses Mando.
by BigO on Jun 27, 2008 2:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Either 1993 or 2002
I was only 28 years old in 1993, but that was a great team. With BIG Mike Jackson throwing the 8th and Rod Beck shooting in the 9th, we effectively took TWO DAMN INNINGS AWAY FROM the other team in any game we were leading in the 7th. That is HUGE. I hadn’t seen anything like it before and haven’t really since. It was just known and viscerally felt throughout the league that if you were going to beat the Giants that year (which only happened 59 damn times), you were going to HAVE to do it in the first 7 innings, and that amounted to a lot of pressure on other teams before the game even started. Two 20-game winners were fun, power in the form of Williams and Bonds (sorry; Clark wasn’t as useful as the other hammers)... Sigh.
And in August of 1993, I taped an episode of ‘Jeopardy’ which aired the next January. They shoot 5 episodes in one day, so there is a large stable of contestants who have to spend the day together. The most obnoxious one was this matronly but loud woman from Atlanta, who, upon learning that I was from SF and a Giants fan, went out of her way to say - in her best fiddle-dee-dee Scarlet O’Hara prissified southern accent - “Thank you for letting us get Fred McGriff. He has simply been a mahvel for us.” (For all you chirrens out there, there only used to be two divisions in each league, and for odd reasons, Atlanta was in the NL West, so it mattered.) The rest is really sucky history.
September and October of 2002 I will never forget. (By curious coincidence, during the first round of playoffs in October 2002, I taped an episode of “Pyramid” with host Donny Osmond.) That postseason run was such joy and intensity and exuberance. I got to take my dad to a World Series game after he went to a lot of trouble to take me to the 1978 WS in Pittsburgh when I was 13. Coming full circle on that was amazing and remains a high point of our relationship.
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 27, 2008 2:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I loathe the Pads all of the time, anyway, but the McGriff trade was just a dagger to the heart. And then to watch Atlanta go down to the Phillies, who the Giants owned that year, and then Toronto winning it all, gah! I’m still not over it. That disappointment ranks right behind ‘02 and ‘89.
"Mow bwiefings?" "More briefings."
by stobgopper on Jun 27, 2008 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of the 93 Padres….can anyone think of another trade involving 2 HOF’s (we will just pretend Sheffield will get into the HOF one day) when they were both at a very young age and just get started in their careers.
That trade worked out pretty well for both the Marlins and Padres I’d say.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Jackson was AWESOME. He was my favorite Giant for a couple of years.
by Cleophus on Jun 27, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice screen name-- 'Blues Brothers'/James Brown reference?
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 27, 2008 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes—Rev. Cleophus James of the Triple Rock Church.
“Do you see the light??”
by Cleophus on Jun 30, 2008 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For me, it’ll always be the 1989 team. They might not have been quite as good as the 1993 or 2000 teams, but I was nine years old and THE GIANTS WENT TO THE FUCKING WORLD SERIES! After the terrible mid-80s teams, the crushing defeat of the 1987 NLCS (I still hate you, Candy Maldanado), and the relative disappointment of the 1988 season, just getting to the World Series was so incredible. The series itself was, of course, pure shit.
Plus, Will Clark and Robby Thompson in their primes, a young Matt Williams, Kevin Mitchell having his one true monster year, the whole Dave Dravecky saga…
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and Brett Butler, of course. Still the team’s best leadoff man in my lifetime.
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, do they air these old games regularly? Is there any particular schedule? The CSN Bay Area webpage is supremely unhelpful, unless I want to learn more about Amy Gutierrez’s show.
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 3:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately they don’t air that many.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/fan_forum/classics.jsp
That is the schedule. There was some kind of vote earlier in the year to determine the top 10 games. I guess those ones listed are the 10 that made it. Kind of disappointed that no LCS games are on there. I would have loved to see Game 1 of the 89 NLCS, or Game 4 and 5 of the 02 NLCS. Shit even Game 1, when Lofton nearly started a brawl by showing up the Cards. Gah. I really wish they could release a bunch of old games on DVD or make them available on On Demand for the entire season. Give us SOMETHING to look back on. While it hurts to think of what was, its still fun to look back on fond memories.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
when Lofton nearly started a brawl by showing up the Cards
The pitcher that threw at Lofton was a friend and teammate of mine from college, Mike Crudale. Last time I talked to him he was in Italy hoping to make the Italian olympic team.
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
by SF Pete on Jun 27, 2008 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I started following baseball in 2002 (they were in third place when I started watching, btw, so I’m no bandwagoner!!11) and man, that wasn’t a perfect team but it really was a lot of fun.
The end of the year kinda sucked though.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on Jun 27, 2008 3:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What do you mean? We won that 5-game World Series, remember?
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 27, 2008 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's what I remember too!
Jeff Kent FTW!
by Hobbes2d on Jun 27, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was a 6-game series
A shame they had to call that last game in the bottom of the 7th. But hey, Russ Ortiz had the game ball—that’s the only one they could play with. [stabs eyes out with a fork]
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on Jun 27, 2008 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What kills me is when I talked to Russ last year, he told me still had that ball in a glass case.
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 27, 2008 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh duh, what was I thinking?
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on Jun 27, 2008 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me too
I was sort of a bandwagoner, but I was like 14, so I hadn’t been into baseball much before that. My dad was always a huge Giants fan, though. That was the friggen best. Since I started paying attention to sports, that’s the only time I’ve seen one of my favorite teams in a championship circumstance. Lofton’s NLCS-winning game will always make him one of my favorite players.
by bondslegend on Jun 27, 2008 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I was 14 too! End of my freshman year of high school and I just decided, “Hey, why not watch some baseball?” and then I just got addicted to it.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on Jun 27, 2008 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s interesting, looking through this thread, how recently some of y’all have become Giants fans. Some of you are post-Candlestick Park – even more are post-Will Clark. Which is crazy to me, because in my childhood, Will Clark WAS the Giants, pretty much – from when I was six until I was thirteen.
I feel sort of old now. I’m not even thirty, but I have been a die-hard Giants fan for a damn long time, considering my age.
Also, my propensity to reference folks like Brad Wellman, Greg Litton, and Bill Bathe must be even more baffling to a lot of you than it should be.
(Hey, speaking of Bill Bathe, according to this), his OBP in 1988 was lower than his batting average – how the hell does that work!?)
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 6:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I consider myself a Giants fan for 26 years, but I didn’t really get into it until I was 14. That’s when I embraced the sport for all it was worth.
Is it different for boys and girls?
"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 Jun 27, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know if it’s different – I just know I was always obsessed. And my sister never cared the slightest about baseball, so there’s not much grounds for comparison in my household.
by jcb9 on Jun 27, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I grew up with the game, but I wasn’t a fanatic until I was 17, in college, and looking for something that reminded me of home. I don’t think I watched a game from 1990 to 1994, other than the scattered few that I attended. I really started to get into the Giants in 1996, for whatever reason.
by Grant on Jun 27, 2008 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t start seriously following any sports until like 2005, when the niners got a new coach. I watched the 2002 playoff run of the Giants, and the niners’ comeback over NY, but I wasn’t a huge fan then like I am now. So yeah, fairly recent. I guess Bonds is my Will Clark.
by bondslegend on Jun 27, 2008 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a 5 year old growing up in Chicago, the first game that I can remember going to was at Wrigley when the Giants were in town. At that age you want to do everything that your parents are doing and I haven’t looked back since.
Without killing anyone
We've won it 3 times
by ChrisHero on Jun 27, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
“his OBP in 1988 was lower than his batting average – how the hell does that work!?”
Sacrifices and and sac flies—though they don’t count as AB’s, they do count as PA’s (where you did not reach base).
"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 Jun 27, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was a rabid Giants Fan as a kid
But then this thing called the strike happend and it ruined it for me
I didn’t watch baseball again until Sosa and Mcgwire started crushing and caught my attention.
Didn’t get really heavily into it until ‘04 or so – and since then i’ve been stuck
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on Jun 27, 2008 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I became a fan during the Will Clark era. Of course, I was only 6 when I started to pay attention to baseball (GiantsVision FTW!). My parents took me to my first game the next season (‘89), but I didn’t really appreciate what an awesome team that was. After that, during the lean times, I never paid attention to the standings, because I was so used to the Giants not seriously contending (except 1993, of course). I tended to root for the players, not caring what the score was. I do remember Greg Litton and Bill Bathe though, but mostly through baseball cards, so I have no recollection of how they did on the field.
As far as favorite seasons go, I suppose 1997 was special for me, because they kept winning, and it was so unexpected. That year also renewed my then-gradually declining interest in the team and made me the die-hard fan I am today.
by rightcenterfielder on Jun 27, 2008 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're really old
And I guess I’m ancient. Johnny LeMaster defines my latter youth (I’m 45), which has to be depressing. I also call myself a child of the McCovey era, since I really started watching and listening when I was 9, in 1972.
The 1987 team was the answer to a (grown) child’s prayers…the Giants hadn’t really been shit my entire life, with the exception of a couple of teases (Fred Breining is to me what Salomon Torres is to many of you).
1987 is the one. One flap down, baby. And Jose Oquendo is the face of SF failure in the playoffs that year.
Gary Thomasson's only true fan.
by Idaho Nick on Jun 27, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Johnny Disaster
I’m 53. I attended my first game in 1965, a Giants win, and Mays wet opposite field. I think that was before the Centerfield portion of the stadium had been enclosed.
by hammerofthor on Jun 28, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
1993 or 2002
I’ll be brief
1993: The rockin’ trio
2002: Robb Nen
by Giant Voodoo on Jun 27, 2008 6:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Faves
1. 1993
2. 2000
3. 1989
"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 Jun 27, 2008 6:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
not sure when it started
Maybe 1997, became a big time fan in 2000, a diehard in 2006 when I left for college.
I remember when I was 9 years old, I had tickets to this one game, September 18th, 1997 but I had to visit family somewhere that weekend. So my dad and his friend got to watch the best regular-season game in SF Giant history and I umm didnt. I was pretty sad…
I Remember Schmidts 1st start with us in 2001, being really satisfied with that trade.
I also remember seeing Lofton starting a fight with the cardinals and loving it.
I Remember having an unhealthy shinjo obsession in 2002, voting him as an allstar 30 times and almost buying those sleek orange armsleeves. Sort of blocked out the memory of losing that world series, though shinjo had a chance to win it in game 7 w/ bases loaded. sigh.
I Remember in 2003 being dissapointed that JT couldn’t bowl over Pudge.
Since then more sighs.
Remembering is fun!
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jun 28, 2008 1:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Al Rosen Was gone in 1993
1993 is my favorite team also, and I have several villans too. However, not Al Rosen. The new ownership group had moved him over in favor of Bob Quinn. To make matters worse we had a chance to trade Salamon T. for Randy Johnson at the deadline, and refused.
by Sblantonus on Jun 28, 2008 9:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I should clarify
My favorite team is the 2000 team. My favorite season was the 2002 season. That season was magical. It was, by far, the funnest season I’ve ever experienced. Too bad about the end.
I also feel the need to share my personal Giants fandom story because of all of the sharing going up above.
I first got into baseball in 1988 as an eight year old. At the time, I was mostly an A’s fan because my family was all A’s fan and the A’s were really good that year. From 1988 until 1994 I was both an A’s and a Giants fan. My favorite team was the A’s but my favorite player was Will Clark. From 1994 through 1996 I really didn’t pay that much attention to baseball. I was smack in the middle of my teenage years and the strike happened and both the A’s and Giants weren’t good. But then 1997 happened. I think it was 97 that I officially became primarily a Giants fan. I had been leaning that way for a couple years any way but 97 was just fun and tipped the balance. The gulf has gradually increased to the point that I don’t really follow the A’s at all, really. It was fun watching today’s game with my Aunt, who is an A’s fan, though. I got to point out the National League strikeout leader board and stuff. And she, who is a Barry Bonds hater, said that now that Barry is off the team maybe they can start doing better. One rolls their eyes at such sentiments, even from family.
Only 892 games until the end of Zito's contract
by thehavenot on Jun 28, 2008 8:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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