Dispelling the Myths
by Grant Brisbee on Sep 17, 2008 12:30 PM PDT
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PrintThere’s just a ton of misinformation floating around these parts – call them the urban legends of McCovey Chronicles - and it's about time that we clear up some of these myths.
Myth: Rajai Davis was a little-known player on the 1995 Giants.
Fact: Recently unearthed evidence suggests that Davis was on the team as late as this April. Even more amazing is the idea that Davis’s superlative defense and 2007 on-base percentage of .361 had people excited about him at the end of last season. It’s too bad he wasted his trial of 18 at-bats with the Giants this year.
Myth: The minor league renaissance of Travis Ishikawa, while certainly good news, is likely to mean as much as the minor league success of Lance Niekro and Todd Linden.
Fact: There were never players named "Lance Niekro" or "Todd Linden" on the Giants. This search on Yahoo! offers conclusive proof.
Myth: Barry Zito is a below-average player
Fact: Among pitchers with more than 10 starts, Zito has the second-highest on-base percentage as a hitter. So unless you’re some sort of Luddite who doesn’t think on-base percentage is important, you can sit on that.
Myth: The Giants called up Osiris Matos and Geno Espineli when the rosters expanded.
Fact: Jack Taschner strangled both pitchers before they were called up, and he dumped their bodies in a ravine outside of Fresno.
Myth: If Noah Lowry wasn’t hurt at the end of 2007, the Giants could have traded him for a good young hitter.
Fact: The Giants heard a rumor that Jose Castillo would be available on waivers, so they didn’t need to trade Lowry for him at all.
Myth: When the stars align and Grant is right about something, he doesn’t stop bringing it up.
Fact: It’s been at least a year since I mentioned that I picked the Tigers to make the playoffs in 2006.
Myth: Matt Cain receives historically poor run support, even when you factor in that he’s pitching for one of the worst offensive teams in the majors.
Fact: Wait, that isn’t a myth. But it will be forgotten in 30 years, and Cain’s Hall-of-Fame run will be blypedoed on the first ballot because he didn’t know how to win.
Myth: It’s way too early to even think about hypothetical career paths for Cain that forecast him anywhere near HOF consideration.
Fact: Shut your face.
See? Easy. And it feels good to clear all of that up. I'm sure a missed a few, so use the comments section to add your own.
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MYTH: Speed and defense is a poor strategy for winning baseball games.
FACT: Majestic home runs win baseball games.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on Sep 17, 2008 12:33 PM PDT reply actions
FOGHORN FANFARE!
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 17, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
FANFARE LEGHORN!
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
How is my adopted son almost twice as old as I am? Nevermind...Go Omar! Warm the Bench!
MYTH: Tim Lincecum is made of porcelain
FACT: His actual composition is 80% saltwater taffy and 20% calk
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
only if it's big
"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 Sep 17, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
motion in the ocean
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 17, 2008 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 17, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: There are girls on the internet
Fact: Everyone on the internet is a diabolically constructed spambot
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN
speak for yourself
I, myself, am a cleverly contrived automaton.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Sep 17, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Where do I plug it in?
BZZZZAP!
Well , obviously not there…
"Ain't got a hope in Hell - that's my belief." - Bon Scott
by victor frankenstein on Sep 17, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I am sure that Baron, TK, and JP would care to refute that statement. Not only are they really girls, they are girls (women) of the hottest kind. Girls that can speak intelligently about baseball :-)
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
Actually, they don’t exist. And I would know because I’ve met them.
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
Yeah, we are not actually real.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
That was a quick reply..
for a spambot. :-)
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
cialis viagra webcam
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
low mortgages bigger penis sarah palin clown fart
#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 17, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
$126 , 000 , 000
and it brings him no happenis…
"Ain't got a hope in Hell - that's my belief." - Bon Scott
by victor frankenstein on Sep 17, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
i see what you did there
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 18, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Tuesday's fiscal lesbians
Quite possibly the funniest subject line on a spam email I’ve recieved.
"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 Sep 17, 2008 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Question: Are Tuesday’s fiscal lesbians better than Thursday’s fiscal lesbians? Discuss.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
Somewhere, canofcorn and igotnothing are weeping.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
Yeah they deserve to be included in the spambot list.
"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 Sep 17, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Waitress: Well, there’s egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam; spam bacon sausage and spam; spam egg spam spam bacon and spam; spam sausage spam spam bacon spam tomato and spam;
Vikings: Spam spam spam spam…
Waitress: …spam spam spam egg and spam; spam spam spam spam spam spam baked beans spam spam spam…
Vikings: Spam! Lovely spam! Lovely spam!
Waitress: …or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
I am ensured that Baron, TK, ant JP would care to refuse stalemates. Not only are they rarely girls, they are (womanest) the hottest fire. Girls that can speak inadvertently about braised ball colon dash paren.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Sep 17, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: the 2011 opening day Starting Rotation for the SF Giants will include these 5 pitchers:
1. Lincecum, 2. Cain, 3. Sanchez, 4. Alderson, 5. Mad Bum
Fact: Zito will still be under contract in 2011 (and 2012 and 2013 and probably 2014). That dream rotation will never happen as long as he’s a Giant.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Sep 17, 2008 12:59 PM PDT reply actions
The Dream Rotation Can Happen....
Zito just becomes the sixth starter. The one that starts every 162 Games.
My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .
Myth: Butt pee originates from chicken
Fact: It really comes from Pujols.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 17, 2008 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 9 recs
Comments turn green if enough people recommend them.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
What about the asterisk?
Does that mean the comment is tainted?
by rightcenterfielder on Sep 17, 2008 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
There is a butt pee/stained taint joke somewhere in here
by Lars The Wanderer on Sep 17, 2008 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
It really depends on what you eat.
Oh – did you mean the post? Nevermind.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
I wanted to make this joke, too. So I did.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Sep 17, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
If you eat something with green food coloring, that’s what happens to your butt pee.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Sep 17, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
As I have learned with my kids, some blue food colorings will do this, too. Blue Trix yogurt and blue fruit snacks are the best.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
Gotta turn this one green...
I laughed
#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball
Reply fail
Responding to the UnleashTheGore above me!@
#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball
But it will be forgotten in 30 years, and Cain’s Hall-of-Fame run will be blypedoed on the first ballot because he didn’t know how to win.
Myth: According to Grant, Cain’s career will last for 29 years.
Fact: Cain’s career will last for 30 years, and he’ll finish with a record of 100-500 and an ERA of 2.95.
No, my Crazy Crab bobblehead is not for sale.
Myth: AndYourBirdCanSing is my favorite Beatle’s tune.
Fact: It is actually In My Life.
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Sep 17, 2008 1:44 PM PDT reply actions
On a related note
Myth: I have 9 credit cards from the Japan Credit Bureau
Fact: My initials are JCB and 9 became my lucky number when I had it in Little League and my team won the 1988 Albany Junior Minors Championship.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
On an unrelated note
My initials are JMB.
My son’s are JAB.
The number of years between my son’s age and mine are exactly the same as the number of years between my father’s age and mine.
"Ain't got a hope in Hell - that's my belief." - Bon Scott
by victor frankenstein on Sep 17, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
But, also really cool.
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Sep 17, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: Rush is a good band
Fact: Even though I don’t like Rush, I am really only saying this to annoy Rush fans
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
Myth: you are awesome
Fact: you suck
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 17, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, come on
No one thinks I’m awesome.
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
yeah, you're right
if you bought into the whole Nate-at-3rd, you might have :)
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 17, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I approve of this.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Sep 17, 2008 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: you approve of this
Fact: You do not approve of this. And these are not the droids you are looking for.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 17, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions
well played, sir.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Sep 17, 2008 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: Nate Schierholtz Cannot Play Third Base
Fact: Groug Cannot Play Third Base
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
by Outside The Box Thinking on Sep 17, 2008 2:05 PM PDT reply actions
MYTH: Freddie Lewis is a gigantic average left bequether. But his BABIP in sit-ups are horrendously flawed diamonds.
FACT: The 3rd 1st pitchers Angel Villalona is not fat.
Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense.
Myth: Brian Sabean’s signing of Michael Tucker from the Kansas City Royals prior to the 2004 season is widely viewed as the precise moment the Giant’s GM jumped the shark.
Fact: This is one of the more persistent rumors in the blogosphere. Of course, we now know that Michael Tucker never played professional baseball. Born in 1946, Mr. Tucker rose to fame on the hit 1980’s TV show “L.A. Law,” where he received three consecutive Emmy nominations. By 2004, the 58 year old actor was in comfortable retirement, devoting much of his time to charitable activities. Mr. Tucker has never even been to Kansas City.
your 2008 SF Giants: this isn’t totally insane, just really stupid
MYTH: Matt Cain is a 3rd pitcher, at best
FACT: I’m gonna cut you!
Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense.
Myth: Sabean’s dead-horse-beating Pierzinsky trade was one of the dumbest trades of all time
Fact: if you look at the team’s situation and the players involved at the time, it somewhat made sense. Nathan and Liriano’s durability were very questionable at best, Boof was decent, but obviously hasn’t turned out to be much, and Pierzinsky was an above average player at a position of need. Nathan just happened to never get injured again, and Liriano, while the jury’s still out on him, has looked brilliant when healthy.
In hindsight, it turned out so bad that it would certainly justify taking Sabean’s job from him, but from the players’ histories, it’s hard to blame him for making the trade.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
I’m happy to say I was on record as hating that trade from the moment it was made.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
Ditto
No hindsight here. I was shocked and appalled at that trade at the time.
Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense.
ditto as well
i was pretty damn convinced nathan was going to be a stud. the rest surprised me, but i was against it just because we were giving up joe.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Sep 17, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Question:
Which bear is best?
2nd (and more applicable) question: Say Merkin comes back next year and continues the dominance he showed this year in the short time he was here. Would you trade him for…say…an above average SS?
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 18, 2008 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions
More like trading Brian Wilson, Ben Snyder and Henry Sosa for 1 year of an above average SS.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
except
Brian Wilson and Sosa do not have the injury histories of Nathan and Liriano. Everyone here knows as well as I do the years they hung on to Nathan in hopes that he would be able to be healthy one day. He finally was able to do so for 3/4 of a season, and it wasn’t unreasonable to think he would get seriously injured again. And, as good as Nathan was for the Giants in that 3/4 of a season, he didn’t have the closer stuff that Wilson does.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 18, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Sosa has been injured for most of this year, and is considered a health risk because of his high effort delivery. And when Liriano did pitch, he was better than Sosa.
Not sure what you mean by “closer stuff”. Compare 2003 Nathan to 2008 Wilson: K’s and HR’s are about the same, Wilson has a much better GB% but Nathan gave fewer walkes and hits. Nathan looks better to me. Yeah Wilson throws harder, but not by a huge margin – Nathan was pumping FB’s in the mid 90’s too. And, even though he doesn’t have Nathan’s injury history, Wilson did have TJ.
Seem like reasonable comparisons to me.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
I wasn’t anti-A.J., but I thought they were giving up way too much and that it was a waste of resources, as I felt Torrealba would be fine as a starting catcher and there were bigger holes on the team.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
I think
What gets me the most upset about that trade is purely emotional. Nathan’s story is just so cool. A failed prospect gets injured and attempts a comeback in the bullpen. He completely sucks and looks like he is completely done until he suddenly stops walking people, starts throwing hard again and starts to dominate hitters.
And then the Giants trade him for a mediocre jerk of a catcher who doesn’t fit our ballpark. Aforementioned player goes on to be all-world closer.
Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense.
2008 Myth: The Giants are a better team without Barry Bonds
2009 Fact: Holy crap! It looks like they really are a better team without him.
Zooperstars, they quack me up!
Hmm
Currently, the Giants have scored 596 runs through 151 games.
On September 17, 2007, the Giants had scored 627 runs through 150 games.
They had an almost identical record a year ago today, actually. 83 losses today and a year ago today.
What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC
Myth Busted?
This time last year: 67-83 with a run differential of -28.
Today: 68-83 with a run differential of -107
What is Holm’s ruling on this?
I pretty much posted this just to see howie’s head explode, but since you’re looking at records this year and last year, shouldn’t you look at 2008 with Bonds and without Bonds. I don’t remember the details, but a big deal was made of the fact that the Giants’ record last year was better without Barry (and it stirred up all kinds of crap here).
Zooperstars, they quack me up!
2007 (as far as I can figure out, I could be wrong)
When he played: 71-91
When he didn’t play: 17-19
There is also that giant change in run differential, which is pretty much all lack of offense.
I’m with oldrips. They aren’t better, they aren’t worse. They are different and on their way to getting better.
My head did explode, but that event created cognitive problems that prevented me from responding appropriately.
Needless to say, it would have been a remarkable pro-Bonds rant.
(really, though, I’ve long since stopped having the exuberance to jump crazed into any conversation that suggests Bonds makes baseball teams worse… it’s going to come up… many people are going to believe it… some are even going to have good reasons for believing it… I have to live with it.)
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Sep 17, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Fixed it
2008 Myth: The Giants are a better team without Barry Bonds
2009 Fact: Holy crap! It looks like they really are a better different team without him.
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
2008 Myth: The Giants are a better team without Pedro Feliz
2009 Fact: Holy crap! It looks like they really are a better team without him.
did anyone believe otherwise?
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Sep 18, 2008 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I dunno...
Put Pedro on this team and it might have been better. Just because of increased defense and some POWER.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
How is my adopted son almost twice as old as I am? Nevermind...Go Omar! Warm the Bench!
Pedro is definitely better than Castillo.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
This holds true for all known values of “Pedro”, including Almodóvar.
Scott McClain: Great story, no place on the 2009 Giants.
by EliminateMe on Sep 18, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Fact:
Livan Hernandez is 1/3 of an inning short of having pitched at least 200 innings in 10 consecutive seasons. (Not funny, but true.)
You’re doing it wrong.
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Sep 17, 2008 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Myth: Livan Hernandez eats everything.
Fact: Livan Hernandez only eats innings. They just go straight to his [everywhere].
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Sep 17, 2008 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Crap!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/features/cy?season=2008
"Ice is made for two things: injuries and my drinks." The Lincecums
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/9/9/610636/tim-lincecum-leads-espn-s#8621969
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
lame
A 12-point bonus awarded for leading your team to the division champsionship (pro-rated based on the current standings)
What does that have anything to do with singular pitching performance? I get that ERA can be determined by a pitcher’s defense, but VB is a ridiculous stat.
Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 18, 2008 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/9/9/610636/tim-lincecum-leads-espn-s#8621969
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
Victory Bonus..
That was probably the last thing added to their equation. After all his other stats were added, then everything was still a little off, so this “Victory Bonus” put him at a closer percentage to figuring out the Cy Young.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
How is my adopted son almost twice as old as I am? Nevermind...Go Omar! Warm the Bench!
My take
Myth: The Cy Young award is based on wins
Fact: The Cy Young award is based mostly on wins, with a sprinkling of, “what’s the best story so I don’t have to do any actual work?”
Neglectful father of David Quinowski
ANGELS CARRY HIS HOME RUNS BALLS
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
by groug on Sep 17, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
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