The success of the season; the pessimism of the offseason
by Grant Brisbee on Oct 5, 2009 11:37 AM PDT
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PrintRight about now, there’s a news conference going on. Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean are taking questions about the 2009 season, and the rumor is that they’ll also be talking about the new extensions they received. Going into the season, most of the folks around here had the Giants at .500 or below. Heck, one regular said he’d do something "outlandish and crazy" if the Giants win anywhere near 90 games. The Giants won 88. So this season is an obvious success.
Right?
A lot of people would have been happy with .500. It would have been measurable progress for a rebuilding team. The Giants exceeded expectations. They took our modest goals, and surpassed them. It goes without saying that the season is an unqualified success.
Right?
So why does it feel like there’s a sneeze-cloud of pessimism over the salad bar of the offseason? Why are there so many grumblers after a season in which the Giants blew our collective minds? Why the feeling of impending doom?
This could be a 600-page book, really, filled with psychoanalytical ramblings, pie charts, and anecdotes. I’ll try and keep it simple: I feel uncomfortable about the offseason because I still don’t think that either of the two folks speaking at the press conference right now learned anything about what makes a bad offense bad. I think there’s going to be a lot of talk about "execution" and "fundamentals." Here’s what I’d want to hear in a press conference:
Why did we struggle to score runs? We made too many outs, we didn’t hit for a lot of power, we made too many outs, and we made too many outs. We gave away too many at-bats by being too aggressive. Can you believe that Pablo Sandoval led this team in walks? That’s insane. He was swinging at balls over his head this April, and he ends the season as our most patient hitter. Something has to change.
There’s no way, though. We’ll hear about Eugenio Velez’s magical resurrection after he was brought back from Fresno (.321 on-base percentage in the second half), we’ll hear about how Bengie Molina did everything he could in a role everyone agrees he’s not suited for (.285 on-base percentage), and how when Freddy Sanchez was in the lineup, things started clicking (.295 on-base percentage for the Giants). These are the things they’ll hope stay the same for next year.
There should be an opening at shortstop. There won’t be. Renteria was hurt, therefore it doesn’t count that he’s been an impressively awful hitter for two straight years who can’t make up the value on defense with his limited range. There’s going to be a spot open at first base, but that might be filled by our current third baseman, who would move over to make room for the player who could easily replace Renteria. There’s going to be at least one outfield spot up for grabs, and it will almost certainly go to a mid-priced free agent veteran who won’t represent any sort of upgrade over the under-30, in-house options. There’s going to be an opening at catcher, unless they decide that the worst on-base percentage in the National League is something the Giants would be lost without.
That’s a team with a lot of openings. That’s also a complete lack of faith that the short-term moves will be successful in fixing a bad offense.
I’m optimistic about Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito gave me hope that they’ll be able to contribute for a full season in 2010. I’ve always enjoyed Sabean’s non-Benitez bullpen additions, for the most part, and with a core of Affeldt/Romo/Wilson coming back, there’s a chance that the pitching will be as strong next year. The feeling, then, isn’t of impending doom; it’s of impending stasis. It’s a fear that the next year is just going to be more of the same: fantastic pitching wasted by an ineffective offense. And, heck, maybe they’ll have the exact same season, and maybe 88 wins will win a playoff spot next year. It's more likely, though, that a similarly built team will fall short of the playoffs again.
I want to be so, so wrong. I want to look like an idiot by March, and I want to look even dumber in October. I want the failures of this post to be repeated, recounted, and rubbed in my face like the messy little basset hound I am. But I’ve watched Brian Sabean build an offense after he was spotted the greatest hitter of the last 50 years, and I’ve watched him build an offense without that player. I’m almost convinced that Sabean uses batting average, RBI, and general scouting reports as his primary player evaluation tools. I’m almost convinced that Bochy uses his eyes and his gut feelings. And I’m certainly convinced that the Giants’ offense needs a hell of a lot more.
Comment starter: Was the season a success, and am I a loon for being anything other than optimistic?
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To be fair, bondslegend does outlandish and crazy things on a regular basis.
And yeah, I agree completely with this post. There are ways the Giants could improve for next year – I’m not sure they realize what they are, though.
But I have to feel kind of like if they do do all these things they’re hinting at (Velez/Torres in LF and leadoff, Molina back, Sanchez back, Renteria back and starting, etc) the fans are going to realize that we’re not looking at much of a substantial upgrade over this year, right? Even the casual ones? I mean, they can’t possibly think that the same exact team that pretty much faded right out of the playoff race due to a lack of offense (maybe with one or two minor differences) is going to manage to improve on last year, right?
(Wait, I forgot that the pitching was why we didn’t end up making the playoffs! Because they dropped off in September. Never mind then!)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
The pitching and Fred Lewis.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
And Bob Howry.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
But mostly fred lewis
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Thank God we replaced that bum with Velez.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Win by losing
The post is exactly right for die-hard Jintz fans. It was fun and better, but the people in charge don’t know what just happened and appear to have drawn precisely the wrong lessons. On the other hand, if somehow we lost Winn, Molina, Rent and Rowand from the everyday line-up, that would probably put us over the top next October. Those four were devastating to the Giants ability to compete. What are chances our WIMORR quotient could go down? As it declines, our chances of post-season play go up.
OMGOMGOMG IM FAMOUS
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
It is a bit sad
I have no faith in mgmt to improve this team one bit. none. zero. he who lacks faith…
MGMT
I have no faith in them to run a baseball team either, but I enjoy their music.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
uhh mgmt
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
There’s too much in your post that I agree with, Grant. Why even bother to comment?
That said… I think the pitching will take a small step backward. I firmly believe this. I think the Giants don’t really have Lady Luck on their side any more, and, anecdotally, it often seems like relievers cycle between good years and bad years, meaning you can’t really rely on what you got the year before from a guy out of the ’pen. Coupled with the front office lemon party, I foresee stasis minus present results.
Well, the possibility of actual and legitimate improvement aside, Matt Cain is almost certain to have a worse season next year in terms of runs given up because he was almost certainly the beneficiary of some serious luck in that regard this season.
I’m not sure how the rest should be looked at. Expect more of the same from Lincecum? Expect anything between 2003 and 2009 Barry Zito from Barry Zito? Expect anything from 150 to 185 innings of 3.50 – 4.50 ERA pitching from Jonathan Sanchez? Expect Brad Penny / Madison Bumgarner / Russ Ortiz / Joe Martinez / Mystery Bag to be a number-four-quality starter at… worst… ? Best? Something? Expect the bullpen to be weird, because bullpens are weird?
The pitching could be a LOT of different things next year. We seriously need a good offense to expect (not “hope for”) any kind of repeat of this season’s success.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Right. Assuming the pitching isn’t as good, the offense must improve if the Giants are even to repeat their performance.
Listen, I spent a lot of time saying that in way more words than you just did. The least you could do is not show me how much time I wasted by saying it so simply.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
ERA vs. Peripherals
Negative number means that 09 ERA was higher than Expected ERA (normalizing factor 2.77). Positive number means peripherals were wose than actual ERA.
-1.14 SergioRomo
-0.51 BobbyHowry
-0.40 JonathanSanchez
-0.29 TimLincecum
-0.23 MerkinValdez
-0.17 JoeMartinez
0.01 BrianWilson
0.01 BradPenny
0.04 RyanSadowski
0.04 RandyJohnson
0.05 BarryZito
0.38 MattCain
0.58 JustinMiller
0.69 JeremyAffeldt
0.92 BrandonMedders
so cain, affeldy, medders, and miller got lucky
romo, howry, sanchez, merkin, and timmy al ittle unlucky, the rest pretty much a push
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
2009 Expected ERA
2.19 TimLincecum
2.42 JeremyAffeldt
2.60 BradPenny
2.75 BrianWilson
2.83 SergioRomo
2.88 BobbyHowry
3.27 MattCain
3.76 JustinMiller
3.84 JonathanSanchez
3.93 BrandonMedders
4.08 BarryZito
4.49 RyanSadowski
4.92 RandyJohnson
5.43 MerkinValdez
7.33 JoeMartinez
About that press conference: Bochy is currently talking about improving the offense by… bunting more.
Words FAIL
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Oct 5, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
grrr
what is this from? Looks so familiar, AD?
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
If Jeffery Tambor is on this website, it’s prolly AD
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
I need to watch more of that show
only seen a few episodes
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Season 2 of this
… comes down from Hulu on October 9. They’ve already taken down season 3, but season 1 will stay up.
I’m only a couple of episodes into season 2. It was a decent show.
"The questions are so stupid. I don't believe in rivalries. I don't believe in curses. Wake up the damn Bambino, maybe I'll drill him in the ass."
- Pedro Martinez, asked about the Curse of the Bambino
There should be more Hill Street Blues era Tambor around here — heck he wore a dress for two seasons, then became a gun toting courtroom judge. How can that not be entertaining?
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
indeed
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Dexter.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
MOARILLIA
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
When do they just start laughing? It can be by accident, this doesn’t have to be a planned thing, but doesn’t somebody find it funny?
I wish they would let us in these types of press conferences. Not only could we ask the questions that need to be asked and point out things that should be obvious to them but are not, we could laugh at their answers.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
BUNTING!
If only ST were 45 days long….
Wait, what? it was?
If he’s going to complain about this, then falls directly in his and his coaching staff’s laps. They had the time to teach them. They had the time to to it for forty five frickin’ days. NEED MORE PRACTICE BUNTING OFF TEES!
Save it Bruce. Save it.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions
If Sabean populates the roster with the correct type of players, then Bochy will have no choice but to play the right guys. Of course, this assumes that Sabean acquires the correct type of players, but after years and years of watching him construct teams, I just don’t think it’s going to happen.
Please prove me wrong, Sabean.
I’d like to believe that Bochy would be forced to play the right players, but after this year I am not so sure. I’m sure Bochy would find some way to not play the right player, unless of course he’s a veteran.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
by Tellias on Oct 5, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
If Bochy’s coming back, it’s pretty safe to assume that Sabean believes he is playing the right players.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Sad but oh so true.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
Bochy wouldn’t recognize the right kind of players if they came up and kicked him square in the nuts.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s probably not.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
At least there’s some sanity in the FO. But pitching ain’t the problem with this crew…
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Dick “The ’Stash” Tridow has a hammer lock on Sabean so Sabean generally spends his time fouling up other parts of the organization now days. It is just a Hypothesis mind you but surface events do seem to correlate.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
Sabes doesn’t want to trade Cain and he doesn’t think he would get fair value for him
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
Well
I’m glad to hear that.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
He implied that a deal like that would be:
- a short term “rental” OR
- the position player would be really expensive for them to retain for a longer period of time
He pointed out that they have Cain under control for 2 more years and hinted that an extension might be easier with him.
Plus, Cain’s actually got a house in SF… he’s put down more roots here than most players do. That doesn’t mean he’s going to sign on the cheap, but it might mean he’s more willing to listen regarding a deal that would lock him up long term.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Oct 5, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, if he’s living IN the city, I’d think it would cost more to retain him! Amirite? ’Cause SF is expensive, see…
Actually, I’m not sure if there was a joke in there or not…
I'm thinking but nothing's happening.
Shush you
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/26/MNR718GDED.DTL
by troymccluresf on Oct 5, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
When I lived in SF I lived in Noe Valley and loved it. Warm and close to fun things.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
NAILIST
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
Do you have any recommendation for stopping the biting of nails? I have a… friend… who wants to stop but needs a really easy / effective way to make it happen because he’s totally not willing to make much of an effort.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s not a stress thing, though. He started because he didn’t like cutting his nails, and then he kept doing it because it’s just so much easier than waiting for them to grow and then it became a habit and now he can’t stop.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Punch yourself in the nuts each time you bite your nails. That’ll make you stop. Or make you develop a weird fetish.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
Myself? I clearly said this was about a friend. I didn’t even screw up my pronouns, accidentally revealing that I’m actually talking about myself, either!
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
DAMMIT HELL!
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I've gotten a lot better
I had the exact same problem. Then I started dating my girlfriend and over the last two years she’s told me repeatedly how gross it is and how I shouldn’t do it. So I started letting her clip my nails. Now whenever I get the urge I tell myself to stop and then I make her cut the long nail as soon as possible. Now I just need to learn to cut them myself. Another good trick is to just have 5 sets of nail clippers so there’s one within reach all the time
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Well, if he thinks that he should be fired on the spot. AT&T was a hitter-friendly park this season. (10th best in the majors by park factor.)
I assume he means visually attractive.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
AT&T was a pitcher’s park 5 years ago.Therefore, everyone still thinks it’s a pitcher’s park.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
The Giants pitching was awesome. Therefore it’s also a pitcher’s park.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Conversely
The Giants hitting was atrocious therefore it’s not a hitter’s park.
by esseffgeez on Oct 5, 2009 1:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m wondering how this could happen. How could it have been a pitcher’s park and change into a hitter’s park?
The only theory I have is Barry Bonds. Because he did not hit as many home runs at home as on the road, it skewed the whole park factor thing, just because such a huge portion of his hits to RF were homers.
Weather patterns make a big difference. It happens to most parks.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Support Tim Lincecum! Support global warming!
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
way ahead of you
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
New parks shift the average to less runs scored
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
It seems espn’s is more naive. BR does some various adjustments that probably improve the accuracy, so I would probably go by BR. But I’m having trouble finding a straight-up list of park factors on BR like I can find on espn. Anybody know how to find that?
Tm BPF 6 PPF
BOS 108 106
COL 107 107
ARI 107 107
CHC 106 104
CHW 105 105
CIN 104 105
TBR 103 102
PHI 103 102
LAA 103 102
CLE 103 102
BAL 103 104
SFG 102 102
DET 102 102
WSN 101 102
TEX 100 101
NYY 100 100
NYM 100 100
MIL 100 100
LAD 100 99
TOR 99 98
STL 99 99
FLA 99 99
ATL 99 99
HOU 98 99
KCR 97 98
SEA 96 97
PIT 95 96
OAK 93 93
MIN 93 93
SDP 89 89
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
help me out
I’ve never understood what exactly is being said when a particular park is referred to as a “pitcher’s park”. Minus stadium redesigns or major climactic changes, whether a batted ball is likely to be or not be an out is constant for a given park, isn’t it? So variances in park factors would reflect more the peculiar mix of pitchers and hitters that happen to come together in any given year, i.e., if we’re a “hitter-friendly” park this year vs. that one, it’s mostly because we just happened to have crappier pitchers pitching and/or better hitters hitting here.
I could see where in some cases players make adjustments to parks, i.e., making conscious efforts to exploit a large outfield gap or something whereas before their approach was “neutral”. But I doubt this can account for the statistical variance in park factors you see.
Am I missing something?
The Giants Hitters Are Solely Responsible For This.
Visiting teams hit worse at AT&T as they always have. This year the Giants bats lite up AT&T while they sucked on the road.
by giantsrainman on Oct 5, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Seems like they really want Freddy Sanchez back. If they don’t get Freddy back then they’re going to see how Burris is doing.
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
Burriss? Really?
There are going to be at least 5 solid 2B options out there on the FA market this year and they want to give Burriss another shot? After he spent a year not playing much and hit only .268/.312/.366 in Fresno?
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
he said they needed to determine where Burris was at before looking at free agents and he mentioned it’s a tough free agent market
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
Yes, b/c that worked out SO well this year!
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
He shouldn’t have to determine where Burris is. He should be able to look and see that he had a crappy year at every level he played and would represent a serious downgrade from almost anybody else he could put on the roster.
Look at it this way: If you asked me if I’d rather see Burris or Velez starting at second base on any given day, I’d stop for a second, probably throw up, and then, speechless, use my finger to write the word Velez in my vomit.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions
No
Ewe.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
I would be very cool with Burris playing a lot of SS in Fresno to start the season.
I would also be cool with Rholingher getting more time at other inf spots and being on the short list for the Fresno Express to give rides to. Seriously is Uribe proves too expensive to resign this team could pay more for less production from a utility back up INF spot. For that matter is injury should force Uribe into a prolonged starters gig the same applies.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
Kevin Frandsen says what?
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Burris at second? I thought this year was suppose to be a spring board year? This organization has little direction and no plan on how to improve on its recent success.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
Hopefully that does not = we'll give you whatever $ you want for as long as you want. =(
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
Sabean wants to bring Freddy back so he doesn’t have to admit that trading Alderson for him was a mistake.
by Giants Fan in MA on Oct 5, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
He's putting us on, right?
Nobody could be this clueless.
/facepalm
"BUSTER POSEY
HE SAVES PANDAS!" - sadison bummedgarner
His name's Clayton, not Danny.
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 5, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
To me, it seemed like when he mentioned the Burriss injury that it would result in some re-planning. It scares the shit out of me that Burriss is still in their plans going forward.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
I completely agree with you, Grant. Despite not being able to build an offense for, oh, 8 years? Sabean still thinks the way he’s doing it is the right way, because he’s an arrogant ass. I can’t believe these guys are being brought back. Maybe my “outlandish and crazy” thing will be to stop paying attention to this team. If they do nothing to improve a HISTORICALLY TERRIBLE offense…grr. It’s so annoying.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Hey, by the way, great job nurturing Pablo this year — I feel really really good about my decision to hand off the fathering duties.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Thanks a lot
he’s definitely somethin else
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
i'm terrified of this offseason.
the organization’s affinity for players like burriss, velez, freddy sanchez, renteria, etc., plus the ability to fall back on aging vets in the FA market scare the crap out of me.
also, why is edgar renteria playing crippled and lying about the severity of his condition while he plays some of the worst offense in the league a GOOD thing?
Brian Sabean figures that if he buys enough bottles, one of them is bound to have lightning in it.
If he didn’t keep playing then he’d have
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Renteria lying about being hurt does not bug that much. That is why you have a manger. The more expeirance the manager has the more he should see through that crap and act. The not seeing and/or not acting bug teh crap out of me.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
4 starts is enough for Bork. Hell, that’s one more than it usually takes him to do his evaluations of any player.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s why he gave him all of 17 ABs this year. He’s simply framing his responses in a manner that will please the brass. He didn’t want Posey up this year or next. He played Whiteside on the last day, enough said.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
I also liked the part how Bochy mentioned that Buster got more comfortable catching bullpens after his call-up.
Hey Bruce, Remember when Buster was there for the first day of ST when P’s and C’s reported? He’s probably caught most of the staff then. You need game-like conditions to get real seasoning. That’s where him being comfortable with the pitchers really matters.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Re: Posey starting next year.
Sabes: tough position to make the jump to from where he was. Bochy’s area of expertise.
Bochy: he impressed me with his game calling. spring training could be a factor
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
"could" be a factor?
If Posey doesn’t spend the entire Spring Training with the pitchers, getting to know them and their pitches and their tendencies in depth, then what’s the point?
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Not to mention ST shouldn’t weigh in a decision
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I took that to mean that if he plays well he’ll be the starter, kinda like burris this year.
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
That worked out so well.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
btw
I’m not yelling at you, I’m just frustrated by our intrepid leaders.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
I know, I’m just trying to clarify because it seems like they were relatively sane in their comments about Posey
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
Yeah I know and I’m glad it sounds like they are willing to give Posey a shot to be the starter. But I’m frustrated that they still think ST stats are relevant.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
STOP YELLING
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
I'll take it
ST Stats > Bochy’s gut.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
I didn’t hear what he said exactly (so correct me if I’m wrong), but i don’t think Bochy would rely too heavily on ST stats when determining whether Posey should be the starter. More likely, he’ll evaluate how comfortable Posey looks catching the starters as the key factor. If he looks good and gets no complaints from the staff, then Posey should be fine, unless he can’t hit the ball out of the infield, etc. Plus, if Molina is still around, then we all know he’ll be the starter no matter what.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not yelling at you, I’m just frustrated by our intrepid leaders.
With our management that makes me think of a Dodge rather than an aircraft carrier.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Oct 5, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions
spring training
unfortunately, the decision to re-sign Bengie will be made long before ST, so it really won’t matter what Posey does there. if Bengie is still on the roster, we know who’ll be the starter in 2010.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
And if Bengie isn't on the roster...
…then Gregg Zaun will need a lot of ST starts to get used to the staff before opening day.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, on the Curacao-SF express (via Arizona).
of course
which is kinda funny b/c I Bochy also believes that veteran journeymen don’t need much time to do that. only rookies do.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions
How awesome would it be that Nuke has been toying with Sabes and Bochy this whole time and comes out after the pressconference and fires them!
I R 5
I would so love this to be the case
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
I dare not hope that to be the case.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
This year I predicted the Giants would win 76 games. They did better than I thought.
Looking at the lineup as is and guessing at the types of acquisitions that will be made, I expect next year’s team to win 76 games.
Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis.
Sabean and Bochy piss me off....
But I am most disappointed in Andrew Baggarly. (That is right, Bags. I am talking about you.)
Sabean and Bochy are just stubborn and old school. They know nothing but grittyness and gamerocity. Baggs knows better and refuses to call the Dumbtastic Duo on their BS.
Do your job, Baggs. You are not a schill for the team. You are supposed to be a reporter.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 12:08 PM PDT reply actions
He can’t risk losing his access. With the newspaper business a shambles, his job’s on the line with every story he files.
Unlike the Giants, you can’t succeed by failing in his business.
“Unlike the Giants, you can’t succeed by failing in his business.”
HAHA hilarious. Man, the truth really hurts.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
/COUGH JENKINS COUGH
//COUGH PLASCHKE COUGH
by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Oct 5, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Sadly I have to agree with this. I love Lars point. It is the same thing that first drew me in the first time I read E Ticket. But a guy has to chose his battles and I can imagine this a is time were he does not have the resources to win too many battles. If he loses a battle we get either no beat reporter or a complete shill. Sadly, personally, I think his behaving like a 5th columnist is the best we can hope to get for a bit.
On the topic of beat writers caving in I am beginning to have real worries about Shulman. I mean at least be tactfully quiet on the topic of Fred Sanchez instead of churning out piece after piece on how an injury plagued guy that made an out over 70% of the time he walked to the plate and forced the team to keep playing another injury crippled man (Renteria) is a great addition and source of hope for 2010. If that is what he truly believes than fine but then march something out there to back up the belief and don’t be trying to use compose stats to avoid using an already documented stat that measure the exact quality in question because that exacting stat cast doubt on your stance.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
his job is defined by access. I see that more as job for columnists. Unfortunately none of our columnists are bright enough to string together a coherent critique.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
What good is that access if he does nothing useful with it? How much access do you need to toe the party line?
Shame on you, Baggarly. You are better than this.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the reader can draw his own conclusions, Baggs gives us lots of stuff that nobody else does.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
You have more faith in humanity than I do
People need to be smacked in the face with the truth. There are people posting on this very blog that think Bengie was the “key run producer” for the Giants this season. They think this way because no one (other than McC) tells them any differently. We can bury those buffoons in stats and rationale that prove without a doubt that Bengie was a bad offensive player, but they won’t have any of it because the newspapers (including schills like Baggarly) reinforce that belief by not reporting it.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
do you want him to turn into Kawakami? pass, I’d rather have him toe the party line when he needs to and just keep doing what he’s been doing.
Thing A
I don’t think asking difficult questions turns you into Kawakami.
Kawakami is annoying because he is a loudmouth with stupid ideas that doesn’t know what he is talking about. He knows jack about baseball.
Baggs knows better and still does nothing. It is shameful.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 6, 2009 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions
This is really a general critique of the media in general. They’re all so scared to lose their access but they use their access to ask insipid and useless questions.
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Oct 5, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
If the question yields asinine responses, then I’m in favor of the tepid questions.
However, I wish there were a few well known columnists willing to jump on responses and expose the stupidity inherent in these two.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
Sleepy Bochy is Sleepy
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
Sconed!
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions
he keeps rocking his head up and down in this press conference
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=6261176
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
photo shop fodder?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
I guess.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Oct 5, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 12 recs
You are a genius
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Would love to see one of two things:
1) The “Evolution of Win Now” fanpost featuring every iteration of the image, or
2) One last huge, hi-res Win Now image featuring every snippet used for the evolution of Win Now.
Anagram of "suck it Russell Martin" = TRUER SKILL: SCUM STAIN
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Oct 5, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
LMFAO
"BUSTER POSEY
HE SAVES PANDAS!" - sadison bummedgarner
His name's Clayton, not Danny.
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 5, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
QUIT ROCKING YOUR HEAD BACK AND FORTH BRUCE
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills
How in the world can Bow-Tie seriously consider resigning these two buffoons with the idiotic babble they are producing in this press conference.
The fact that Sabean is considering Velez and Torres to be starters should be enough grounds for dismissal. Heck, the fact that Renteria is still in the picture is grounds for dismissal.
Sabean’s running of this organization is pure negligence. He is not using the ordinary standard of care required by a reasonably prudent general manager.
They should be resigned, just not re-signed.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions
This press conference...
makes me wanna jump ship. Whaddya think? Oaktown 2010?
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
i'd die first
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
It tastes like Snozzballs!
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
BASEketball!
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
BLURN!!!
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
MULTI BLURN!
Why do San Francisco teams insist on having terrible offenses? Frank Gore and Pablo Sandoval can't do it all.
Yes!
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
portland?
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Its all about basketball and college football there.
And the SD AAA team resides in Portland. The stadium sucks! City is nice though.
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
and
I think they bungled a deal for a new stadium, so even the Beavers are angry.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Oct 5, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Great!
Now I have Wes Claypool’s base line for “Wynona had a big brown beaver” rambling through my brain.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
heh…you said seminal.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 6, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Like a penis.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 6, 2009 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Great!
Now I have Madonna’s song “Like A Virgin” running through my head.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 6, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
“Like a penis. Being touched for the very first time.”
You really don’t have to change many words in that song for this version, do you?
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 6, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
"Like a penis"
Sounds like something Goofus would say.
"All I know is right now, you comeback and do you dwell on that? I think you're man enough to take it, you're man enough to chew on it, to spit it out and you learn from it. ... I think winners let it go. I think losers dwell on it and talk about it all week and that screws you up for the next opportunity going forward." - Mike Singletary after the 49ers loss to the Vikings
Les Claypool, you mean?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
Go Beavers.
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe Oakland is a little extreme..
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
honestly, the Giants frustrate me
but I’ve tried to become even a little bit invested in other teams (even just as a second team) in the past and I can’t do it. I’m stuck with the Giants, for worse or worse.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Yeah, I’m a closet Mariners fan
And I just can’t get as involved
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Having a brother in-law with awesome Philly season tixs, I got on the Philly bandwagon last year and it was fun, but that only lasted the post season. Its hard having a second team in the regular season.
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
this
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
me too
can’t get excited one way or another about any other team. ever.
even if a doctor told me rooting for the giants was going to take 10 years off my life.
Brian Sabean figures that if he buys enough bottles, one of them is bound to have lightning in it.
10? optimism!
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
Even having lived in the heart of Red Sox Nation for almost 20 years now (including the two World Series) and having kids born here who are Red Sox fans, it’s not even close between how I root for the Red Sox and how I root for the Giants.
I’ll never lose sleep over any Red Sox game the way I do for Giants games. I guess I’m cursed like most people here.
by Giants Fan in MA on Oct 5, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
We're all stuck...
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
N
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m going to lunch. Someone please note if they ever mention Fred Lewis
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
LOL FRED!
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
who?
"The big thing people say to me is, 'Why don't you ever smile?' Well, I'm too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile." Will Clark
"I'm close to six feet, I like to think." The Freak.
I think he means Dan Ortmeier.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
The hammer is my penis.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
What?
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
basically, "for years you signed old people who can't perform" why?
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
you’re right. He can’t answer this, becuase he is in this thing
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Herolose.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
OMG I WANT TO HOPE
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
jponry’s right. I should temper this by saying that “I want to hope” means “I probably still don’t have any reason to hope.”
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Screw you, Baggs. That is one enormous cock-tease.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I’m glad you used a hyphen there.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I wasn’t sure how to properly punctuate the phrase.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Cocktease is probably actually one word, if you ask me, but I don’t want to put it in my browser history at work to be sure.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
But the hyphen was the right choice, nonetheless.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
IF
they were going to be brought back for sure, why wait to do it?
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
LALALALALALA I refuse to listen to this LALALALALA
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
They are negotiating the terms of the contract and haven't ironed them out yet
would be my guess. Hopefully, they are short deals, but I bet Bochy will get at least 2 years and Sabean at least 3.
please god no
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
what did renteria do? he was awful. uribe was great. renteria was awful. they could hire me for 2% of the money and il all they want is enthusiasm
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
I too have a bad shoulder, and tendonitis in my left elbow, and I have a great attitude and I'd most certainly have an OPS+ in the bottom 10% of players
And I’ll play SS for the league minimum and only complain about Bochy and Sabean under a nom de plume.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions
what if ozzie guillen was our gm and he just told everyone how much he thought the players sucked. best gm ever.
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
whiteside.
blegh.
Brian Sabean figures that if he buys enough bottles, one of them is bound to have lightning in it.
AAAAAAAARRRRRGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
leverage?
you are Brian Sabean, buyer of Zito, Rowand, Roberts, and Renteria. Look up the word first.
LOLOL
"Buy High-Sell Low"--The Brian Sabean Method Of Trading
by Mordy From Monsey on Oct 5, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe he means he’s gotta catch up on season two of “Leverage” before he can start looking at these arby cases?
This from a guy who outbid himself to resign Barry bonds when nobody else was in the running….LEVERAGE!!!!
"Buy High-Sell Low"--The Brian Sabean Method Of Trading
by Mordy From Monsey on Oct 5, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Listening to Sabean speaks gives me a headache.
FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!
Fuck listening to Sabean speak. You should drink.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn’t have as much fun as last year, and only partly because I hung around here more often than not and learned about all the reasons to be pessimistic.
--
Long ago they came west over the mountains, and I have rooted for them years uncounted; and together through many ages of this world we have fought the long defeat.
mike blowers predicted that no useful information would come out of this press conference
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
Listening to this press conference makes me want to throw stuff against a wall as hard as I can. So comment starter: What’s your preferred item of destruction?
I’ve got an electric guitar nearby that could probably do some serious damage.
only if you’re within striking distance of sabes or bochy…you might be able to get a pitching gig out of it
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll destroy the world.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
You should, because according to Lars, the world is planning to destroy you!
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
I thought that was according to Communist Russia.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
MY MIND!!!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GROUND
Buster Posey shot my dog.
I thanked him.
by Bballpitcher2 on Oct 5, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s what I thought, too.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
the wall
and I’m very handy with Spackle
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
After a broken phone, remote control, and lamp, I started keeping ping pong balls in drawers throughout the house. It’s not nearly as dramatic or spontaneous as the heavier objects, but also not nearly as destructive either.
by Hammaker Party of 8 on Oct 6, 2009 2:41 AM PDT up reply actions
It looks like it’s made of bones and human hair or something.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s his BFF bracelet from Randy Winn.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Actually, it is the same type of bracelet that Timmy wears.
I have Filipino friends who have been wearing them for years.
nah..It’s a dilldoe
"Buy High-Sell Low"--The Brian Sabean Method Of Trading
by Mordy From Monsey on Oct 5, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
An herbal deer?
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Butt-banned?
That’s a shame.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
its a charm for all those players he got to sign instead of vladimir guerrero
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
Penny demanded he be allowed to go to the Giants?
But Sabean, I thought players DIDN’T want to come to the Giants!
Miller had loose bodies in his arm?
No wonder he couldn’t pitch!!
"Buy High-Sell Low"--The Brian Sabean Method Of Trading
by Mordy From Monsey on Oct 5, 2009 12:36 PM PDT reply actions
we had loose bodies all over the infield that played just fine
by Giant Voodoo on Oct 5, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Now we get a real press conference. Sing’s press conference is next.
FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!
So then it’s time to look forward to more meaningless blah blah?
Well, I guess at least Singletary’s will be listenable.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
maybe he will drop his pants...
b/c after this show stopper that just happened, attention is hard to come by
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s depressing to listen to Sabean or Bochy talk. I need a drink.
FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!
Maybe success, but not for Bochy and Sabean
The season can be called a success in certain ways. However, I have been of the opinion that Sabean should be fired for the last 4 years now and I don’t see this season as anything but more proof behind that opinion – FAIL . As for Bochy: just awful managing, nuff said – FAIL.
BLING BLING
Problem is
they did better than expected with the tolls they were given. What seems to be lost in translation to bow-tie is that these same two douches caused the dilemma we’re in. We need soem new blood somewhere, oddly i think i can live with Sabean if we get a new manager.
I fully expect both to come back on two-year extentions.
by Giant Voodoo on Oct 5, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t believe Bochy has given the Giants their present dilemma. Really, if you subtract Bonds from Sabean’s reign… it’s the same dilemma.
oh and . . .
The reason why we are depressed, despite a successful season is that the Giants still have all the same problems that they had two trades and two pitching prospects ago.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
by oldjacket on Oct 5, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
And this coming off-season seems to have no feasible options to improve the wretchedness that was the 2009 San Francisco Giants offense.
Exactly.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 5, 2009 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the season wasnt quite a failure
I did predict they would win the WC and get 88 wins, so I was partially right.
But all of the things you said are completely true. I think that the Giants wasted Buster Posey’s September, the Edgar Renteria signing was a bad move, that the Freddy Sanchez trade was a failure, and that they under utilized Fred Lewis.
I think that if 2 of those things were “undone” that the 09 Giants are possibly the NL WC rep.
They need the big bat, and I think they may need to think about trading MadBun to get him. The Brewers wont give up Fielder for him, but there are big bats that could push this team over the edge who could be had for him.
No need to spend on FA this off season, unless we are talking about picking up Matt Holliday, and then you add the MadBum trade for another big bat, possibly WS bound in 10.
I would have had no problem selling high on Mad Bum. Trading him now, though, might be selling low.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Not going to get
anything big without trading him.
I love the kid, but his declining velocity on the FB is a little to be worried about.
I’m not necessarily against trading MadBum, but I don’t feel very good about doing it now that our next two pitching prospects down the ladder (Alderson and Barnes) are gone.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
But the Core
Is going to be in SF for at least 2 more years probably. Nice window.
Would you rather have them trade Cain or MadBum? With the velo issues Id rather hold onto Cain. Zach Wheeler will be ready right in time for the next wave of youngsters.
Cain and Lincecum are a great core, no question. But past that, the rotation remains a lot of question marks in my mind. Now, there are ways to remedy that and I definitely hope that Wheeler, Graham and some of the other lower level pitching prospects advance quickly and make this a moot point, but going into next season without much depth at the upper levels of the minors could be a huge mistake.
And I don’t want to trade Cain or MadBum. My real point here? THE BARNES AND ALDERSON TRADES WERE HUGE MISTAKES.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
IAWTC
Barnes was like “meh” but when I saw the Alderson one I was, and still am, pissed.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
The combination of trading both of them in one trade deadline and not getting much of value back for them is the problem.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
But of course if Barnes never makes it past AAA, and Alderson ends up sucking it won’t really matter much will it?
As often as Sabean makes stupid moves, I trust both him and Tidrow when it comes to evaluating pitching prospects. Has a single one come back to bite us in the ass? No.
And I’m not counting Nathan since he was already a “veteran”.
this isn’t really the point. Both those prospects have a value right now and the failure to get anything useful when they were traded is definitely a failure.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
I’m not disagreeing with that. All I’m saying is that given their track record I’m pretty confident neither will turn out to what we as Giants fans would have hoped for had they remained our prospects. Granted, they had value (thought Barnes surely took a hit after reaching AA) and we might have been able to get more for them, but even THAT is debatable.
Debatable given who our GM is, and given how a lot of teams when in trying to trade often ask for more than they can realistically receive.
I mean does anyone think Barnes and Alderson + someone else would have been good enough to get us V-Mart? I sure as hell don’t. Plus I really think it’s too soon to give up on Garko, though sadly the Giants might non-tender him which would be monumentally stupid.
monumentally stupid is as monumentally stupid does
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay, good. Sorry to be part of the dogpile, I just hate the second cousin of the idea of you were espousing, that just because something may be worthless in the future means that it’s worthless now.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
Two points:
1. Even if those guys don’t turn out to be good major leaguers, the trades were still dumb because the Giants gave up valuable assets and didn’t get anything in return.
2. Although Liriano got injured almost immediately, the Twins still got far more value out of him than the Giants ever got out of Pierszynski.
Even Bonser gave the Twins a better WAR than Pierzynski gave us.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Yeah, but looking at trades in retrospect down the line is easy. Looking at what we could have gotten and didn’t for a guy like Alderson, regardless of what he does for the rest of his career is where things get a lot more critical here.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Even in the best case scenario it matters if it was a poor use of resources – that is to say, if we could’ve done better using those players as trade chips.
That, of course, is up for debate.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Four people make the same point in a one-minute stretch. That’s got to be some sort of record (non-109 division).
GROUPTHINK
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
That's GROUSETHINK
Man that joke really doesn’t work, but I’m still going to force it in there (yes, I know, TWHS).
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
His “velo” issues (its 4 more letters just say velocity, please) are probably more a symptom of arm fatique. He did hit 92 in SD.
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
So what are your
What if? issues
Would you move Madison Bumgarner, if:
Prince Fielder/Lance Berkman/Jose Reyes/Carl Crawford????
Any of those guys work for you?
Not those guys.
1) b/c position, berkman and fielder play a position that Panda will be at soon
2) Jose Reyes seems like a black hole of a team mate (but I wuold be tempted)
3) Crawford has one year left
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I would definitely trade MadBum for Reyes. The Mets wouldn’t do that though. I’m not even sure the Giants could realistically put together a package that would get Reyes.
The Mets may have to trade one of their core to fill all the gaping holes they have.
No one wants Delgado or Castillo, Beltran has a full no-trade clause, they’re not trading Johan or K-Rod this soon after getting them, and Mets fans would riot if they even thought about trading Wright.
Reyes is beloved but ultimately expendable. He went from hurt to more hurt to even more hurt this year- and all the injuries were to his legs, from which he derives his value- he’s got a little bit of a rep for losing focus from time to time on the field. And yet they can’t afford to give him away for less than a king’s ransom, or Mets fans will riot anyway.
There’s a good chance that his career is teetering on the edge of a big drop-off; the question for the Mets might be, “how much can they really get for him?”
Schadendodgerfreude 2009!
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 5, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Fielder and Reyes, yes, but realistically, we won’t be able to get either of those for MadBum straight up. And Reyes is kind of iffy, depending on how badly he’s actually injured.
Crawford and Berkman – hell no. Crawford’s a free agent at the end of next year and he’s going to be expensive as hell very soon. Berkman is already expensive as hell and has said that he doesn’t want to play past his current contract. And I think he probably has a NTC and doesn’t want to leave Houston, anyway.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Berkman has also trashed the Giants in the past – he hates San Francisco, our ballpark, and the weather.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
which is too bad. The Astros should be sellers this offseason, and Berkman had a bit of an off-year.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
In a vacuum, I’d love to have Berkman on the team, but trading MadBum for him would be a bad idea and yeah, in the real world, he probably wouldn’t want to play for us.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Does he rake in our yard?
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Not enough leaves.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions
.261/.375/.551
i’d take it
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
.261 batting average? HA! Sabean’s too smart to be tricked into thinking he’s good.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Sadly, didn’t Torres hit… like… .259? Or something? And he’s undoubtedly in the mix to start in the outfield. Undoubtedly.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t you mean our platoon lead-off hitter?
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Was it John Rocker type comments?
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
No, it was just, “I hate it there, the ballpark is terrible and it’s always cold and foggy” stuff, I think.
I remember being really amused that a guy from Waco was complaining about Bay Area weather…but maybe that’s just me.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
True tales from jcbland
My wife and I got flashed by a gnarly looking guy earlier. I didn’t notice.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Tim Flannery enjoying his first day of the offseason.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
who's jc bland?
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
He was on NSync
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
Apparently, he’s a weird guy who pulls his shirt up and his pants down and asks passing couples, “Is this erect?”
Or so my wife says. I didn’t hear him.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Is this in SF?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
In Seattle I saw a guy “spankin that ass” and humping air.
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
yikes
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
I don’t think I want to see any of Sabean’s layers. I’m pretty sure one of them is mostly made out of fat.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Seal fat.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
HEATHER MILLS WOULD BEAT YOU WITH HER PEG LEG!
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Second layer is whiskey.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Fifth layer is Taco Bell’s new Five Layer Burrito®. Make A Run For The Border!®
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
LOL RUN-ON NONSENSE
I’m not depressed. I save depression for things that have personally failed for me. A relationship down the tubes, un-or-underemployment, issues with aging and a deteriorating mind and body. Those are things to get depressed about. Those are things that are real. Baseball isn’t real. I watch these guys for six months out of the year for a few laughs and to help me feel connected to society just a little better. I’ve been doing this every year since I was eleven. Watching these guys. But I only seem to take the good. The only time I really ever think about the “bad” vis-a-vis a team’s performance is when other people start a gripin’ and teLling me that I should feel bad. That I should be sad. That I should be depressed. “All hope, it is lost.” Well, okay, I don’t think that’s true, because if it was, I would just stop watching. I am pessimistic about most everything in my life. You have never seen a more hardened cynic than the one seated before you. But in baseball, I am not. Why is that? The continuity in baseball, it’s greatest asset, is also it’s greatest liability. It’s a straight line from Christy Mathewson to Tim Lincecum, from Merkle’s Boner to Game Six. It’s a vast forrest made up of many trees. And a couple skunks. Bla bla bla.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
NO U!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
It’s depression, but it’s happy depression. Sort of like how you’re scared at a horror movie or on a rollercoaster, but you are having fun at the same time. It’s fun to care about stuff that seems like it matters and actually doesn’t.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Watching these guys. But I only seem to take the good.
Same here, but I’m generally an optimist. Maybe it comes with age but pessimism for me takes more energy to maintain that particular viewpoint. Baseball is real for those who’s livelihood it depends on. For most, baseball is an escape. It’s a pasttime to entertain oneself. If my hobby or interest depressed me, I certainly wouldn’t keep coming back for more.
I might be to pollyannaish but that’s the way I’m wired.
Crazy Crab despised in the 20th century and beloved in the 21st century. Hey it only took over 20 years, so don't give up hope.
2007 Mariners
All we need to do is gut the farm for an injury prone 1B who is only under contract through 2011 and the comparison will be nearly perfect.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
It took a Bavasi to give them a Zduriencik, though.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
But we don’t know what we might get with a new GM, so we should just stick with the one we know.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
Also need to gut the farm system to trade for an injury prone starting pitcher, and we will be just like the Mariners.
FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!
We don’t need SP which is why I went with 1B.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
I see what you did know. I was really confused for a second. All I could think about was that Berdard(sp) but you said 1b, so iwas all like “Wut! they made another bad trade?”
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions
O Dog?
Would the acquisition of O. Hudson instead of Renteria have been enough to push the Giants into a playoff spot?
Hudson .283 9HR 62RBI $3.38M—Rent .250 5HR 48RBI $7M
Not to mention the two flap gamerness.
"I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw." - Willie Mays
Tommy Lasorda is the Antichrist
by tommylasordaistheantichrist on Oct 5, 2009 1:35 PM PDT reply actions
No, and he’d cost us our first round pick. At least Mr. Mole would keep our draft intact.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I was going to do a post on this if the Giants missed the playoffs by just one or two games- how the 2009 season will ultimately be remembered as the Year of the Tommy Joseph Gambit. Maybe in two years, Joseph is the best slugging prospect in the minors, and we’ll be grateful that Sabes went with Renteria instead of Hudson. Maybe the dude is J.R. Phillips without the contact-hitting skillz, and we’ll always wonder what might have been.
by Grant Brisbee on Oct 5, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, Hudson was about 2.8 WAR this year and Renteria was something like 0.2. So on the surface, it wouldn’t be quite enough to make up the gap.
Plus you’d also have to consider who would have gotten most of the PT at SS out of the gate, etc. Plus the lost first rounder (of course, we ended up giving up a first rounder to fill the hole at 2B anyway, so…)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Most of the SS playing time out of the gate would’ve probably gone to Burriss, so that would be a wash, I imagine.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
IDK, I think there’s a chance Burriss would have been even worse than Rent. I mean, he was -0.9 WAR at second base and there’s the positional adjustment from 2B to SS To take into account but I also think Burriss would have been even worse defensively at short than he was at second.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Man
Remember when the Giants signed Renteria and we were worried if we’d get the good (2007) version or the bad (2008) version
2008: .270 / .317 / .382 / -9.1 batting / -0.9 fielding / 1.4 WAR
2009: .250 / .307 / .328 / -20 batting / -0.8 fielding / 0.2 WAR
/sobs
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I found my preseason prediction for Renteria
wheee:
AB: 480
BA: .272
OBP: .328
SLG: .391
HR: 8
Defense: Not horrible, but bad enough that someone will make a fanshot about how his defense is much worse than Sandoval’s, a few people will shout the original poster down, and then everyone else will settle into discussing the last novel they read.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I just finished Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie. It’s not his best book or anything, but I liked it, mostly. It was sort of all over the place, so I really liked some sections and was more meh about others.
Now I’m reading City of God by E.L. Doctorow. First book I’ve read by him and I’m only like 20 pages in.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
The Death of Bunny Munro… interesting but flawed book that has already been misinterpreted and misunderstood by the media up the wazoo
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Is that the one by Nick Cave?
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
Yeah
I wrote a whole review of sorts of it on my LJ if you’re interested. Basically, people aren’t getting the point of why the title character is so disgusting and why he’s such a misogynist.
HINT: THE BOOK IS NOT ENDORSING HIS VIEWS.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Argh, it drives me crazy when people conflate characters with the author. It’s like the intentional fallacy on speed or something.
With that having been said, as an undergrad my ex-roommate was in a writing workshop with me, and he submitted a short story told in the first person with no plot that was pretty much 100% an angry rant about bitches and what the narrator thinks of them and what the narrator would like to do with them. And then he got really pissed when people in the class were upset and/or uncomfortable with it. That was pretty creepy.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I think the trouble is that the Nick Cave “characterization” in the media has always been ‘LOL MISOGYNIST WHO WRITES SONGS ABOUT KILLING WOMEN LOL!" when he hasn’t been that guy for awhile now.
And yeah, sometimes, it obviously is just the author using a character in a book to carry out his own creepy desires. But the book itself is pretty damn clear that Bunny is a horrible person and doesn’t really even make excuses for him. So I don’t get why everyone is getting it so wrong (well, actually I do… all they read is the omg ~scandalous parts and don’t bother to actually read the in the context in which they’re presented.)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
I remember hearing PJ Harvey interviewed once, and she said something about how sometimes people ask her if she really had a daughter and drowned her the river. FAIL.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
LOL OH GOD
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
everyone who has ever played a homosexual in any medium probably gets asked if they are really gay for years
I got that just for being in high school.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I was rumored to be gay in the 6th grade, when I hardly knew what that even meant.
And to be fair, I WAS still a little grossed out by girls at the time.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I used to wear mu-mus in highschool, and I had an afro a foot across. I did it to mess with the jocks. They all thought I was gay.
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
Oooh boy. Rule number one for fiction workshops: it’s not a therapy session.
And then rule number two is never be self-righteous about criticism.
So I guess dude was ohfertwo right there.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
The previous year, when the guy was my roommate, I once heard him talking about the professor running the workshop where he repeatedly referred to her as a cunt.
So, yeah, he had issues.
One of my other suitemates that year was a drug dealer with terrible personal hygiene. One day, he pissed off a friend of his for some reason, so the friend showed up in the middle of the night and dumped bleach into the guy’s fish tank.
And he would also play jazz music at maximum volume at 2, 3, even 4 in the morning and not shut his door. And there wasn’t another wall between my bed and his room, mind you.
I lived with some real winners that year. Ugh. Thank god I had a single my senior year.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I have nothing against jazz. It’s not really my thing, but my dad’s a huge fan and I appreciate it.
It’s just the part about playing it at ear-splitting volume at 4 AM almost every night.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I got that. It’s just that self-deprecating humor doesn’t really translate well on the written page.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Dick Masterson is also misunderstood
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
2009: The return of Los Galacticos!
Oh god, I don’t remember.
Not because it’s been so long. I just have a terrible short-term memory.
Thank god for my awesome long-term memory, though.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
It was The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes. Very fun.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 6, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Prey by Michael Chrichton.
Yeah , that’s thought provoking. It’s all escape for me since I learned what the term meant.
Mexico by James Michener is in the on deck circle (the bathtub rim)
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Oct 5, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I saw Casablanca a couple months ago.
Next on the all-time classics list is Ernest Saves Christmas, then maybe I’ll get to Maltese Falcon.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
casablanca is still my favorite movie ever
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Casablanca was pretty good, as was Maltese Falcon. In a Lonely Place is another Bogart film I have to recommend – probably one of his finest performances.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Oooof
Here’s mine:
AB: 500
AVG: .315
OBP: .360
SLG: .450
HR: 12
Defense: Perfectly average
I’m going to come in last in the predictions contest if it’s ever tallied up.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
Wow, you could lop 100 points off that OPS figure and we’d still take it in a second. (Or, alternatively, take 300 off the AB figure.)
Where Men Wind Glory, the Jon Krakauer book about Patrick Tillman. I know, I know; I’m a horrible populist.
Good book, but not everything I had hoped it would be.
Someday girl I don't know when were gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and well walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us baby we were born to RUNZ
-Proud Papa of Dan Runzler
I dont have any real jusitification for this feeling
But I feel like we’ll make a play for Jason Bay. I don’t know if it’ll be a good or bad idea, but I feel like Sabes (get it done!) will at least kick the tires.
Why do San Francisco teams insist on having terrible offenses? Frank Gore and Pablo Sandoval can't do it all.
I would prefer Matt Holliday, but I wouldn’t mind it if the Giants sign Bay.
FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!
I’ll be pretty wary of a Bay signing. He’s already a DH-caliber defender in LF.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
On the other hand
.921 OPS.
/drool
Why do San Francisco teams insist on having terrible offenses? Frank Gore and Pablo Sandoval can't do it all.
Wrong side of 30 playing in a hitters park
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
he's only 31
no reason he can’t be an 800+ ops hitter for 2-3 more years.
Why do San Francisco teams insist on having terrible offenses? Frank Gore and Pablo Sandoval can't do it all.
If he’s only an .800+ ops hitter, a -10+ defender and making $15 mil a year (or more), that’s not a good combination.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
and yeah
he’s going to get more than 2-3 years
IT’S A TRAP
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
b-but… his name is BAY! And he’d be playing in the BAY Area! The tickets sell themselves!!
My question is: how many more disastrous, even on paper, moves will it take before the super secret McCoven death pact is enacted?
I went to giants game a friend who is a phillies fan and he was telling me how awesome Bay would be for the Giants, I told him a statue of BLB would field better
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 5, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I am with jponry on this one. So the next 3 years we could look forward him stumbling arround in LF and Rowand taking about 2400 innings each season. That doesn’t leave a lot of space to find better Out fielders.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
I don’t know if he has been mentioned and I am just looking in the wrong spots, but how would we feel with Adam LaRoche at 1B for a couple of seasons? Is it mainly because of the potential cost in comparison with Nick Johnson who seems to get mentioned often? What do you all think it would take to get LaRoche? Something like 2/17 or 3/25? Would that do the trick? He seems to be a pretty consistent producer, while not a masher it’d be nice to count on 20-25HR, 80-90RsBI, and a slash of around .275/.345/.490 What am I missing?
by Hammaker Party of 8 on Oct 6, 2009 3:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Adam LaRoche is one of those guys that cold as ice tell around August. Since most of his playing time has been with the Pirates I am not sure if he is the type of player that turly catches fire in the last 2-3 months or as his team falls farther out of the post season race and the pitchers get more worn the lower themselves down to his skill level more often.
Personally I think if spending more than $4MM on a given infielder might as well nut up and go after Figgens for 2-3 seasons at around $10MM (give or take) per year or be getting a real legit SS.
That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.
I'm pretty sure this won't happen
But it would be really sad if Sabean made some good moves (in terms of process) and those moves turned out to suck.
e.g. I would love to have Mike Cameron on this team, at a reasonable price and length on contract (1-2 yrs for ~$10 – $11 mil per season), but I feel like we would be the team that sees Cameron’s decline/collapse.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
This was not a successful season. The goal of the season was to rebuild. Offensively, the rebuilding has been nearly stagnant. The Giants have developed an all-star caliber 3B (Sandoval), but their LF of the future (Fred Lewis) has lost his job and there is a large cast of contenders for the LF Job. The other young players there were questions about there are still questions about due to lack of PT. Pitching wise, the bullpen is getting younger and all 3 of the Giants young starters improved this season.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
To be fair
Fred Lewis was never the LF of the future. He was and is a nice complimentary piece, but he’s the type of player who is easily shoved aside when someone clearly better comes along. The key being clearly better, which is where Bochy whiffed fucking hard.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
by marcello on Oct 5, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
What smart guy here said...
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
fred lewis
if we’re not going to play him ( and we’re not), trade him to cincy for micah owings. randy is as good as gone, micah in the 5 spot for 5-6 mediocre innings every 5 days. when owings gets to spring training, he finds a 1st basemans glove in his locker for days he’s not pitching.
And he could bat cleanup!
Schadendodgerfreude 2009!
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 6, 2009 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions
they wonder if he’ll be prepared to carry the offensive load to be the everyday catcher next season
/frysquint
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
WTF?
So now he has to “carry the offensive load”?
lol fail
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Well
we all know that Bengie carried the offensive load this year!!
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
The only load Molina carried was in his diaper.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
BLAST!
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
Baggs Update to the rescue! Some notes:
Sabean and Bochy do not have contracts or commitments to contracts beyond Oct. 31. They will meet with owner Bill Neukom and debrief him on what transpired this year. They’re confident they met the criteria to return. This whole process seems very formal, very corporate, which is in keeping with Neukom’s background. They insist this does not bother them. It’s all in keeping with the timeline Neukom spelled out long ago.
That said, for two guys who don’t have contracts beyond Oct. 31, they did a lot of talking about next season. Here’s the major bullet points:
–Freddy Sanchez clearly is coming back. Sabean mentioned he’d like to restructure the contract, but that the club has every expectation he’ll be the second baseman. Sounds like if they can’t find common ground on a two-year deal, the Giants are willing to pick up his $8.1 million option. Hard to imagine they’d speak so confidently about Sanchez returning if they didn’t consider the option a viable fail safe.
–Pablo Sandoval was invited to play for a traveling MLB All-Star team in Korea and hadn’t decided what to do. He’ll also play for Magallanes in Venezuela for a three-week period. This could delay his Panda weight loss/conditioning camp he was supposed to begin the first week of November.
–After the session, Bochy told me that he met with his coaching staff and promised to be in contact after his situation was settled. He and Sabean met this morning and began discussing potential changes to the staff. Hitting coach Carney Lansford would appear to be in trouble. During the session, both Bochy and Sabean said they were bothered that the offense didn’t seem to improve as the season went along.
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
So Lansford may be the sacrificial lamb of the offseason. Anyone else feel bad about this? He was preaching more discipline the entire time.
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
it’s kinda like the job description of hitting coach, though. You are there to be pitched over the side if needed.
worse job ?
raider head coach or giants hitting coach ?
Raider head coach. by a lot.
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
Successful hitting is clearly not an issue for Tom Cable.
Schadendodgerfreude 2009!
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 6, 2009 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Some jobs you just have to punch your way out of.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 6, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah, it's not close
man, I would so much hate to be any part of the raiders organization. What a joke.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
2010 Hitting Coach: SHAWON DUNSTON!
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Find us some mailmen
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
His official logo
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
I’m thinking the same thing even if you were be sarcastic.
"All I know is right now, you comeback and do you dwell on that? I think you're man enough to take it, you're man enough to chew on it, to spit it out and you learn from it. ... I think winners let it go. I think losers dwell on it and talk about it all week and that screws you up for the next opportunity going forward." - Mike Singletary after the 49ers loss to the Vikings
Well, they can’t afford to mess around – he has a lot of leverage, what with his 10,000 injuries, declining performance, and lack of secondary skills.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
–Medders, Miller and Ryan Garko are arb-eligible, too. They aren’t automatically going to be tendered contracts if the Giants need more 40-man roster flexibility, Sabean said. If the club hadn’t called up Posey and Bumgarner, they’d have two more spaces to play with. But it could be a squeeze now
So, they have screwed up the 40 man roster management as well by bringing these guys up early. And in Posey’s case, to barely play him.
Lord knows there's no fat to trim on that roster
Just Bocock, Hinshaw, Valdez, Whiteside, and the not-at-all-redundant trio of Rohlinger, Downs, and Frandsen.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
He did hit .222 and have a grand slam. Johnny Bench is envious.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
also
he catchted a nohitterz
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Oct 5, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Also
Not long ago I predicted Garko would get non-tendered and GRM said there was no chance that would happen. Maybe Sabean isn’t thinking outside the box on this one. :(
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
What a coincidence
I, too, was bothered that the offense didn’t seem to improve. At least they’re admitting it. For a while I thought it was just going right over their heads
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
2009: The return of Los Galacticos!
One of my favorite lines so far...
a sneeze-cloud of pessimism over the salad bar of the offseason
…that was pretty great.
After so many years of reading and listening to Brian Sabean, I have concluded that the man spends far too much time creating euphamisms, metaphors and similes than constructing a good baseball team.
Does he actually create them? It seems like he mostly just regurgitates every cliche.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
On the bright side.....
It appears I won’t have to rack my ever-shrinking brain for a new and oh-so-clever nom de guerre.
DFAAurillia on the other hand, is not so lucky
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
He could say that he wants Chaz Aurilia DFAed from his Little League team.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
For the fake bunt that broke the camel’s back.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Or he could say it means Don’t Forget Awesome Aurilia.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
But wouldn’t that require a j/k behind it?
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
The j/k is silent.
To the eyes….
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
His 2001 was awesome.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
I don't remember
If only someone had told me not to forget that…
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
Also
Now I’m thinking of what usernames would be left over if MCC had been around since the 80s/90s.
ShawnBartonIsAGoldenGod?
SteveUpperDecker?
KellyDownsFutureAce?
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
(Explaining the joke: Shawn Barton had a 1.74 first half ERA in 1995. Then 6.46 in the second half. Then 9.72 in a few innings 1996. Then he never pitched in the major leagues again.)
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
I think I need a new adopt-a-player
what do I do?
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Your best bet might be to see who the Giants sign/trade for, then pounce on someone you like.
I’m expecting to be in the same boat. :(
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
yeah
is there an official protocol for this? If my player is no longer on the roster do I get relegated to the back of the line or do I get first pick of someone new – or do we do a new draft every year with eligible people able to keep their player like we did last year? Goofus?
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I think it was WalrusMan who did the draft. I haven’t heard anything about whether or not we’re doing another one.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
ok well whatever works
I just want to have someone to irrationally defend. Or in Aurilia’s case DFAend
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
My original rule was that if your player was cut or let go, you had first dibs on the next player added.
I don’t think we’re going to re-draft every year
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
ok that sounds reasonable
we’ll see what transpires in the off-season but let the record show that once Aurilia retires I am next in line for a new signing. But wait – what about Molina/Winn/etc – who gets first dibs – does it depend on when the player is officially not a Giant anymore?
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Can you actually change your nickname?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
Can you actually change your nickname?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
Can you actually change your nickname?
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I want a burger from Barneys in Berkeley (actually, is it Oakland yet at that point?).
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
The only Barney’s I know in Berkeley is on Solano Avenue, which definitely isn’t Oakland yet, since it’s barely even Berkeley.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
There’s one on 24th @ Castro in Noe Valley.
by troymccluresf on Oct 5, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
There’s one on college like right next door to Zachary’s. I just can’t remember where that little “Welcome to Oakland” sign is.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I just remembered that. Zachary’s is definitely Oakland and I think Barney’s is too. The border is up around Alcatraz Avenue at that point.
Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: FREDEMPTION Lewis
And it sure is delicious.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
yes
there are two in Berkeley (solano and shattuck) and the rockridge one is in Oakland
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I’m making chicken in some sort of marinade, black beans and rice.
I think I’m craving black beans. Hard to put my finger on it. Hope that’s it.
Can you actually change your nickname?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
howie thanks for the inspiration
I live like 6 blocks from the Barney’s on shattuck so I ended up having it for dinner because of this conversation
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I live like 4 blocks away
And now I’m thinking about moving.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
wow
I had no idea there was a mccovenite in the neighborhood. What direction are you? I’m up above shattuck near cedar and euclid (exact location withheld for fear of howtheyscored stalking). Why moving? Because of me? I’m moving soon also, not sure where to but somewhere in Berkeley/Oakland
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Yes, entirely because of you. Weirdo.
I’m near Spruce and Virginia.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
This joke just isn't working. Oh well.
On the plus side, the comment box seems to be fixed.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
wow
get out of my neighborhood.
or stay since I’m likely leaving. North Berkeeley Gourmet Ghetto/Northside WHAT?!?!
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I bet it was delicious. And it would probably be a good bet because I saw how much you enjoyed it.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 6, 2009 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions
/closes shades
/turns out lights
/hides under covers
/actually at work, hoping Howie doesn’t know where that is
actually I did enjoy it quite a bit. But damn do I always eat too many curly fries
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I’m pretty ready for the team’s pitching to regress back closer to league after or slightly above and then watch everyone BE SHOCKED that the Giants might take a step back next year. This year’s pitching put up a ERA+ of 120. That’s ridiculous. It’s the best team pitching from a Giants team since the ’54 New York team.
To expect this team to do (pitching wise) next year what it did this year is going to throw a lot of people for a loop.
Yeah, I think the trouble is that they basically seem to be assuming, “Okay, the pitching is going to be just as good next year. We only missed the playoffs by four games. Therefore, we probably only need to make up four games worth of offense this offseason.”
That’s just not likely to be the case.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
It reminds me of what the Seattle Mariners thought after the ’07 season…
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Yeah, and let’s not forget that the offense actually overperformed by about 30 runs this year. So even if the pitching were as good next year, they’d still (odds are) have to make up not just the four wins they missed by but also the three that were the result of luck on offense. Seven wins is a lot. It’s not going to be easy to get them for the roughly $20M they have to spend.
Well, yeah. But even for someone who knew what he was doing, it would be pretty difficult, unless some homegrown options (Bowker and Posey would be the most likely) pay off in a big way.
they can’t pay off if they don’t play.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I know. I’m saying the only chance of success is to play those young guys and have them pay off. But it is only a chance, because although the smart move, the only move that might work, is to play those young players, it still might not work because those guys might not hit. In fact I would be shocked if Posey doesn’t hit eventually, but it should not come as a great surprise if he’s not particularly good next year.
Like a penis.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Is this erect?
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions
jcb9’s wife says no.
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
Get rid of Bochy and Sabean, it's time for something new.
extra bunting practice in spring training will probably add like, what? 3-5 more wins?
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 5, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
The storming of the Bastille was pretty festive!
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Oct 5, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Off with their heads! Let’s party!
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 5, 2009 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s because the Giants don’t give a shit about winning. They will do just enough to get fans to continue to buy season tickets because they’ll get excited about ALMOST making the playoffs this year.
Maybe after that 20 year debt is over on the ballpark they can raise their payroll over 90 mill. Of course we already know they could easily do that if they wanted to….
probably this
Turns out you can spell Ugnio Vlz without 4 E's
by The Gene Hackman on Oct 6, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
this team is just not going to be very good next year
especially when they’ll probably put out the same exact lineup. Just substitute molina for posey and winn for schierholtz/bowker. That’s not gonna get it done.
But this young group can only get better from the experience of being in it. Next season they should really grow togther and be even better. That’s how it works, right?
This is exactly what the two buffoons won't even consider, and why enormous offensive upgrades will be needed just to equal this year's win total.
My money ISN’T on Sabean grasping this simple concept.
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 5, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
BUT BOCHY IS GOOD WITH THE PITCHERS HE KNOWS HOW TO USE THEM MAKE THEM PITCH GOOD BETTER YEAH!
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Oct 5, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
It certainly couldn't be Righetti
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.