Tim Lincecum Is Not Billy Rowell
by Grant Brisbee on Jun 24, 2009 10:51 AM PDT
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PrintI answered a few questions for Athletics Nation here, and one of them had to do with the niche that Giants fans had carved for themselves. The Cubs fans are the "lovable losers", the Dodgers fans have the whole thing where they arrive with two outs in the top of the fifth and leave before the bottom of the fifth starts, and the Red Sox fans are now the "lovable losers that you want to punch in the face now that they've won something." What are the Giants, then? I gave some lame answer about wine and cheese, but I have a better answer now.
Giants fans are a bunch of pessimistic whiners.
Oh, I'm fully aware that I'm at least a corporal in the pessimistic whiner army. I whine and, uh, pessimize with the best of them. When a hitting prospect comes up, I assume he's going to flame out. When a pitching prospect comes up, I assume he's going to walk five hitters for every nine innings he pitches. I assume that every free agent will stink, and that every trade will come back to hurt the Giants. And I don't assume that the Giants will lose in a painfully unforgettable way when they reach the playoffs -- I know it.
We're still whining about a trade from seven years ago, even though the best part of the trade hasn't done anything other than tease the Twins. Well, it might be a little disingenuous to suggest that Lirano was the "best part" of the trade. There was also that guy. You know, the one with the hat? The uh, what do you call him, uh, oh, the closer who needs to pitch at his current level for a couple more years to have a shot at the Hall of Fame, who was a likable and homegrown player, and who probably would have won a World Series with the Giants in 2004 if he were the closer.
See. That just came naturally. I thought I was clicking the spell-check button, but it turns out I just unconsciously typed a bunch of pessimistic whining. It's our thing.
But every once in a while, it's worth it to appreciate the good fortune in our bleak, sad, mopey, orange-and-black lives. The Giants are winning. Heck, they'd make the playoffs if the season were to end today. And for that to be true, a whole lot of good luck had to come our way.
Think about how many things had to go right.
- The Royals wanted a pitcher who wouldn't ask for billions of dollars. Lincecum could have been that pitcher.
- The Rockies wanted a pitcher who would reach the majors quickly. They could have thought Lincecum was that pitcher.
- The Rays did juuuuust fine, thanks for asking. But if the Royals or Rockies wanted Evan Longoria, it's entirely possible that Lincecum would be in Tampa right now.
- The Pirates weren't scared by a short right-hander with electric stuff. They just preferred Brad Lincoln, as did quite a few folks.
- The Mariners wanted a pitcher, and the whole hometown angle didn't mean squat to them. They had Brandon Morrow rated higher. You know that there was a least one guy in the player development department who wanted Lincecum. That one guy wasn't persuasive enough. We should send him a "Thank you for being an ineffective weenie" arrangement from FTD.
- The Tigers wanted the best-rated player in the draft, and they were willing to spend for him. If the Royals had the same philosophy, everything would have been just a wee bit different. Who knows who the Tigers would have selected if Miller were off the board?
- The Dodgers aren't exactly kicking themselves for drafting Clayton Kershaw, who is an outstanding young pitcher. But they could have picked a different pitcher, and the Giants would have had to face that pitcher 723 times every year. I'm not naming names. It's too horrible to contemplate.
- The Reds wanted a burlap sack full of tools. Drew Stubbs's college nickname was "burlap sack full of tools." It was a perfect match. Stubbs might still be a good player, but this guy could have been in the Reds' front office.
- The Orioles took a liking to a young, powerful high school hitter, Billy Rowell, about whom Baseball America wrote, "(He) models his game and his approach after that of Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, and like Bonds his best tool is his power." Hey, that sounds enticing. Can't blame the Orioles for getting excited about that. But they could have said, you know, maybe we could use a pitcher who isn't going to take a while to develop. It would have been a perfectly reasonable approach.
The Giants picked tenth. Tenth! So many freaky things could have happened. Rowell might have really, really wanted to go to college, and he might have said as much right before the draft. Lincoln could have gotten hurt before the draft instead of just after. All of the credit in the world goes to Dick Tidrow for wanting Lincecum and to Brian Sabean for agreeing with Tidrow. But Lincecum had to actually be there at the tenth pick for that to mean anything.
Don't get me wrong. Pessimism and whining are still encoded in our DNA in a morbidly charming fashion. After a game like last night, though, it doesn't hurt to think, damn, we can get lucky too.
Also, Tim Lincecum is good.
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# The Rockies wanted a pitcher who would reach the majors quickly. They could have thought Lincecum was that pitcher.
this makes me lol irl because yeah that worked out very well for them!
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
We should send him a “Thank you for being an ineffective weenie” arrangement from FTD.
I just received one of these from my boss.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jun 24, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions
Can we send one of those to Mr. Selig?
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I admit that i’m pessimistic to the core but i’m also a student of schopenhauer and nietzsche so i’m entitled to be a chronic whiner
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions
Schopenhauer said that life is a pendulum swinging between boredom and desire. Clearly, he was a Giants fan — despite the fact they hadn’t been founded yet.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Jun 24, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Nietzsche: "If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman?"
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 24, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
3 Doors Down lyric? Isn’t that the chorus to “Kryptonite”
by BleedBlackNOrange on Jun 25, 2009 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions
67M: I see that your avatar is Charlie Brown. I can’t help but notice the irony in that. But to be fair, I’ll allow you this: if the A’s were a Peanuts character, who would they be, and why?
Grant: Violet. Nobody cares or pays attention to her, but for some reason she’s a total jerk to Charlie Brown.
That there is what you call an indian blog burn
Minor White > Ansel Adams
by say hey nation on Jun 24, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions
It’s ironic because it’s not ironic when you’d expect it to be ironic. It’s meta, or something.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
I just threw up a little in the back of my throat. imagine “Lincecum and Billingsley” instead of “Lincecum and Cain”. ew ew ew ew ew
"Snow woulda had it!!!"
The Dodgers aren’t exactly kicking themselves for drafting Clayton Kershaw, who is an outstanding young pitcher. But they could have picked a different pitcher, and the Giants would have had to face that pitcher 723 times every year. I’m not naming names. It’s too horrible to contemplate.
I think you missed the memo.
by deuce deuce on Jun 24, 2009 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
WOULD YOU GUYS STOP IT ALREADY!!!
There may be impressionable kids reading that filth.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
by EliminateMe on Jun 24, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
LALALALALALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU
Anagram of "knowing how to win" = WOW, I KNOW NOTHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jun 24, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
You sound like the serpent in the Garden when Eve tells the serpent that the fruit is forbidden. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Heh, that’s worth a few chuckles.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Am I wrong here?
I would prefer LIncecum and Billingsley to Lincecum and Cain. Am I off base here?
I know...
somehow I had never even thought of that before… it’s still kinda making me sick.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Jun 24, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I can still remember gushing when Lincecum fell to us. I had picked up the BA magazine draft edition before the draft and they had him rated like #2 overall and with the top fastball and curve of the college starters. I couldn’t believe a guy with his profile could fall to 10. And I don’t particularly remember hearing ridiculous salary demands from him. His mechanics/delivery and size really scared teams eh?
Their loss is our gain. :) Kinda like the how the A’s got lucky when the Mets didn’t take Reggie Jackson #1.
People were talking like he was destined to be a reliever.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Something, it must be said
I am very happy about :)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
I’m cool if he becomes a closer at age 40
Minor White > Ansel Adams
by say hey nation on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
When the Giants first drafted Lincecum, I seem to recall a lot of writers clamoring to make him the future closer.
by deuce deuce on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
A lot of people did want the Giants to call him up immediately and just install him as the permanent closer.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
because we were contenders!
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Not surprisingly...
Ralph Barbieri (who was also in favor of the Alexis Rios trade) was one of those people.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
September 15th
The Giants were actually still in the 2006 race until Jason Schmidt missed his scheduled start on September 15th with what may well be a career-ending injury. The Giants replaced him with Brad Hennessey, who got hammered, setting off a long losing streak that quickly put the Giants on ice.
Tim Lincecum had pitched excellently in San Jose’s 2006 playoff opener on September 9th and was scheduled to open the second round on September 14th. The only problem was that the Little Giants lost the deciding game of their five-game series.
With one extra days’ rest, Tim would have been ready to start that September 15th game if asked. Who knows what would have happened?
some of them were even smart people
Keith Law thought his future was in the bullpen until last year because of how much his numbers fell off after his first time through the order. Then he developed the lights-out changeup and, well, that problem kind of went away.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Jun 24, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Someone has to say it, and by golly I'll say the stupid comment already!
People thought Reggie Jackson would be a reliever? That’s just weird.
I'm thinking but nothing's happening.
believe he can toe the rubber.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
sharksrog can still remember gushing too.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
They should
Probably the Lincecum’s SHOULD have a restraining order against me — or they could just send Tim’s 6-foot-3, 250 pound brother Sean to take care of me.
I finally met Tim just before Christmas at a card signing show in San Bruno. I gave him the University of Washington hat Tim’s dad had taken off my head almost exactly nine months earlier and signed, telling me to have Tim sign it and see what he said.
Tim’s answer? “I’ve seen that signature on a lot of checks to pay my parking tickets (at UW).”
Grant: Nailed it.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
Giants fans are competitively desperate, desperately competitive.
•We’re not Cubs fans. That’s just a level of torture I’d like to not even think about. But damned if we’re not giving them a run for their money.
•And we’re not Indians fans. I liken Indians fans to Sisyphus coming down the mountain. He doesn’t even bother entertaining optimism anymore. If things start looking up, he doesn’t raise his hopes—-he knows that rock is coming right back down the hill. In order to avoid suicide as an answer, one must imagine Sisyphus happy.
That should be on Cleveland’s license plate.
•We don’t wear that pessimistic moniker as well as Philly fans…but we’d like to think we could….
This franchise has seen plenty of championship success…in New York. With so much amazing history tied to this organization, I think as a fan I want to see competitive teams that don’t flat-out embarrass the tradition that’s spanned from coast-to-coast.
However, there is a certain degree of pathetic pride taken in debating with Cubs/Indians fans about who is actually further from winning the next championship, and pointing to the post-Bonds offense as kind of a trump card. “If our best pitchers throw slightly better than their ERA and limit the opponent to 2 runs, we probably lose. You ever hear of a World Series game being won with 0 runs? I could blindly pick someone from your lineup and immediately slot him at 3rd or 4th for the Giants, and improve the offense.”
oh, and god bless the baseball gods for bringing us Tim Lincecum.
that is surely worthy of some kind of rawhide sacrifice on the mound of Doubleday Field.
Camus argued that Sisyphus was content with the absurdity / futility of his punishment, this also applies to Giants fans.
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
What the husserl
Scott Munter?
Is that you?
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
by tk on Jun 24, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions
There's Something About Timmy (TM)
This a great post, because it’s important to remind ourselves just how lucky we are to be able to watch this guy pitch for the Giants—-much like how lucky we were to watch Bonds play 15-odd years wearing the French Vanilla.
Listening to the late innings of last night’s game, I was getting seriously stoked. It felt like a lot more than just a regular season game, it felt like an EVENT: the Giants fans at the Coliseum getting louder and louder every jam that Timmy got out of, Jon Miller’s voice rising on every strike he threw in the 8th and 9th, the excitement building as it became clear the he was going to pitch a complete game…Brian Murphy really hit the nail on the head this morning by comparing Lincecum to late 90’s Pedro Martinez. That’s exactly who he’s like, and that’s exactly how it feels watching his starts. They’re a big, big deal.
"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09
Damon Bruce made the same comparison last night after the game. He also said that Fred Lewis wouldn’t have made any of the plays that Torres did, so I dunno.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
I don’t disagree with the Lewis part. I really like Torres. Baggs said Torres made plays that Holiday probably wouldn’t have made if he were the Giants LF too and that his catch allowed Lincecum to get the CG…
I just don’t see the point in bashing Fred Lewis when he didn’t even play today.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
oy oy oyyyy
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
fred lewis has a case of the alligator arms this year. NEVER FORGET
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
Does he do sit-ups in his driveway, too?
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Lets just hope he doesn’t follow Pedros later career path
Minor White > Ansel Adams
by say hey nation on Jun 24, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
He’s obviously not as good as late 90s Pedro was. If he continues to refine his command, though, he might be able to approach it though.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Idk that anyone will be as good as late 90s Pedro, in all honesty. Especially considering the context in which he dominated, in a very offensive friendly era. Though it’s interesting that some of the greatest pitchers/pitching seasons of all-time occurred in such an era. But it makes sense when so many guys were swinging for the fences, makes it easier to throw those hitters off-balance when they’re swinging out of their shoes.
Also, pitchers used PEDs (and greenies), too, allowing them to stay fresher and recover more quickly from injuries.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
You know who had a really underrated stretch? Curt Schilling. He was kind of overshadowed by Johnson, and everybody hates him, but his 2000-2006 were absolutely incredible. One of the best stretches any pitcher has ever had without winning a Cy Young, along with Marichal’s mid 60’s stretch.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry.
:-(
Pedro’s stats between 1997 and 2003 were absolutely silly.
118-36, 1,408 ip, 2.20 era, 213 era+, 34 cg’s, 11 shutouts, 1761 k’s, 0.94 whip, 11.3 k/9
by deuce deuce on Jun 24, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
213 ERA+? WHIP under 1? 11 Ks/9? Good lord. That is just unreal.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Don't flip over FIP
Tim’s FIP is 2.08. Matt Cain’s is 4.00. FIP puts too much emphasis on strikeouts and home runs IMO. Tim has probably pitched between his 2.08 FIP and his 2.57 ERA, while Matt has also probably pitched between his 2.28 ERA and his 4.00 FIP. I’m thinking about 2.40 f Tim and 3.20 for Matt.
Obviously this is quite subjective.
I’m not a pessimistic whiner.
/sips wine
/nibbles on cheese
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Every team’s fans are similar really. They just might not get to sip wine and nibble on yummy cheese.
Other teams fans may sip wine and nibble on cheese. However, it wouldn’t be crappy wine and some type of Safeway brand ordinary cheese.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
You sir, have not met enough Phillies fans. They are certainly a different breed.
by Missing Barry on Jun 24, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Absolutely
We should acknowledge our good fortune, at times. And Timmy is, indeed, at the top of that list, currently.
Other good fortune, of varying degrees: Matt Cain, Sergio Romo, Panda.
And from the past: Bonds, Mays, Marichal. Oh, and did I mention Barry Bonds? Because Barry Bonds was awesome. Yep. I think I should mention Barry Bonds.
"Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense."
Only [hella] games left until the end of Zito's [no, make that Rowand's] contract.
Adoptive father of "Poncho" Villalona: This Angel don't fly. Nothing about him is light.
John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Willie Mays, Monte Irvin, Bobby Thomson’s shot heard round the world, The Merkle Boner, Fred Snodgrass, Carl Hubbell’s 5 straight K’s vs 5 HOF batters in the AS Game, Juan Marichal, Marichal bludgeoning Johnny Roseboro over the head in a brawl with a bat, Willie McCovey, Candlestick Park, Orlando Cepeda, Barry Bonds, Tim Lincecum, Gaylord Perry, etc etc etc. It’s pretty hard for teams to compare with the Giants history. First to 10,000 wins. Only 1 season (despite being one of the OLDEST MLB teams) of 100 losses, and it was exactly 100. Even the World Series’ that have been lost in SF have all been very memorable. 62, McCovey’s line drive that ended on a miracle leap by Bobby Richardson. 89’ series had the quake vs cross bay rival A’s. 02’ had an epic meltdown with 5 outs away from their first title in 48 years.
Yeah some of those things might suck and be hard to swallow, but I’ll take the Giants history over any team. Even over the Yankees you say? Damn right.
The picture of Willie Mays on the top of the dug-out steps at the Polo Grounds in his rookie season hangs on my bed-room wall. I love the Giants.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
This Barry Bonds fellow you speak of
he was a giant at one point, no? I’d love to hear more about him.
And PLEASE don't tell me that this Bonds fellow in any way consorted
with those weird “bases on balls” that young Sanchez likes to give out to out-of-town guests
Pessimistic winer
Gotta love the Pinot gray from that really bad year. You know, the 2002 strike year.
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 24, 2009 11:59 AM PDT reply actions
I have no memory whatsoever of the wine to which you refer.
I did buy a bottle of Sammy Sosa wine once, but unfortunately it was corked.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
Thank you, I’ll be here all week.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
It was probably all filled with juice, anyway
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 24, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Brian Wilson on XM
Brian’s on XM in the next few minutes, on “Inside Pitch” with Jeff Joyce.
I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused
I’m glad Wilson is the best closer we’ve had in like 5 years, but my god if he doesnt ever come off as the biggest pretentious douche. Even worse than Zito.
I like to think I am usually positive about things. I do have my bad moments, of course, but in general I usually am optimistic.
Case in point: my post in last nite’s recap thread.
by positiveuphemism on Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
We won’t talk about Buster Posey.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
I’m pretty sure my prediction for wins this year was 90, iirc. Whatever that may mean. :D
by positiveuphemism on Jun 24, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
i save my optimistic anti-whining for my inner solilioilioquys
i am guilty as hell of complaining and whining, so here are some things i am thankful for…
1. competitive games that i care to watch all the way through. that hasnt happened in a long time
2. i can honestly say that i dont know much about college players and the mlb draft, but i was very very excited by predraft reports that we were getting lincecum. and, we did get him. kind of the same way i felt about the niners and michael crabtree.
3. pablo is so goddamned fun to watch, even when he strikes out he is endearing.
4. i actually watch barry zito pitch now. i actually watch aaron rowand’s at bats…inconceivable to consider before the season started
5. just saying “the giants are the wildcard leader” is life affirming
6. i love the fact the will clark is part of the organization again
7. our minor leagues are full of exciting players that i look forward to seeing and cheering for
besides that, everything sucks and it is brian sabean’s fault
Les Plack = more chicks
I am running roughshod over the dingerz.exe league. the dl is trying to jinx me, but im too guile-y.
by Headhunter Rollins on Jun 24, 2009 12:04 PM PDT reply actions
I am a pessimist
It is just the way my brain is wired.
I get angry at Giants players when they fail. It doesn’t matter if it is their fault or not. I get angry anyway. I want this team to win more than a lot of other things in my life that should have more importance.
It is kind of silly to be honest. I offer no excuses.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jun 24, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions
As an Orioles fan...
That the O’s could have drafted Lincecum really stings. I suppose the silver lining is that it likely hastened the departure of the front office staff that was responsible. Grant noted that if the Giants had drafted Albert Pujols earlier, they wouldn’t have Lincecum now. But even if the Orioles had taken Lincecum, they’d still have Wieters. And given the history of prospects, one can say that a Cy Young winner in the hand is better than an MVP candidate in the bush.
If he was really pissed off?
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
That is indeed an awesome handle. We just need Felicia Day to become a Giants’ fan for the world to be complete.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
The Giants would have screwed up Pujols’s development….I’m POSITIVE.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Depends on whose bush…and who gives out the awards?
by positiveuphemism on Jun 24, 2009 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
That was a really bad place to put the interview
At the beginning of a gameday thread?
"Catcher are base running. Hitters are offense."
Only [hella] games left until the end of Zito's [no, make that Rowand's] contract.
Adoptive father of "Poncho" Villalona: This Angel don't fly. Nothing about him is light.
pessimistic whiner
I am the worst. How bad is it? I cringe inwardly whenever someone says “Happy Timmy Day”. I think we’re just jinxing him.
I just like having fun winnings games to watch.
Minor White > Ansel Adams
by say hey nation on Jun 24, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Oakland has such an inferiority complex in regard to San Francisco
The Raiders fans exhibit it as well. It’s fairly hilarious. It always seems like the Oakland fans have to entice the Giants fans into some sort of rivalry. Seems like we don’t really care about them too much, but they seem to really want to spark up a rivalry/hatred with us.
But hey, congrats A’s fans. You went to 3 straight World Series’ and won one. Congrats. That was 20 years ago. We won a WS a long time ago as well.
LinceCain and pray for rain .... or for someone to take Zito off our hands.
55 years ago in another city!
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
they do seem to hate the Giants more than we hate the A’s. I grew up watching the A’s and I really liked their team. I loved watching Ricky and Dwayne Murphy and Stewart and Steinbach and Lansford, McGwire and Canseco and for a season, Dave Kingman and the Cobra. Those were interesting teams in the 80’s.
But after the 1989 WS, I lost interest in them. I just couldn’t stand them as much, though I still liked some of their players.
And now, because of their obnoxious fans, I’m beginning to actually hate them a bit. I also really want them to move away so the Bay Area can belong to the Giants alone.
But I really think that their fans hate the Giants because of Bonds and our great ballpark. I know A’s fans who refuse to watch a game at AT&T, even if its the Giants/A’s. They also seem to revel in being a poor franchise as if there’s virtue in it from a baseball view. It’s just obnoxious.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
hey also seem to revel in being a poor franchise as if there’s virtue in it from a baseball view.
Isn’t that just Oakland/Berkeley/Richmond vs. City/Peninsula/Marin, even outside of ze wide world of sports?
We of the East Bay have something of a triple inferiority complex, I think. We feel the East Bay is overlooked due to being in the shadow of San Francisco, that the Bay Area is passed over due to the population and political clout of Southern California, and that the west coast is given the shaft due to east coast bias.
I don’t know how this fits into the baseball question, though. I always see a lot more Giants fans in Oakland than A’s fans.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
There seem to be more A’s fans once you get out to Central Contra Costa, though.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Think How San Jose feels
Even though our city is more than twice as big as yours, we don’t even have a baseball team.
SJ Giants are a baseball team.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Let’s face it: San Jose is an overgrown suburb. Yes, I grew up in the South Bay.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
possibly, but I grew up on the peninsula and a lot of the A’s fans I know are from there and they revel in it, too. I think they’ve just been conned by the A’s into believing that being a bargain hunting team is better than one that blows $126M on Barry Zito.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe Chomsky reader/Pacifica Radio-listeners Bay Area-wide
(you know, “I’m smart and superior and more insightful than everyone else but am doomed because of it to not have much money as the dumb lunk-heads”) are A’s fans, wherevere they are from …
You seem to take a bit of a Giants/A’s rivalry as a bad thing. I mean, we only play them 6 times a year so it’s never going to be something we really care that much about, but it still makes those 6 games more fun to treat the A’s as a rival. I think part of the reason it’s probably a bigger deal to them is they don’t have a rivalry like the Giants have with the Dodgers.
by Missing Barry on Jun 24, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
The Giants have multiple rivals. The A’s have…..? They kinda had a few potentially brewing in the early part of the decade with the Twins, Red Sox and Yankees and maybe even Angels but then they got rid of all their good players and so nobody cared anymore. :D
They get pretty worked up about the Angels.
Randy Winn is in time out until his OBP gets back over .330.
I hear they’re not big fans of the Yankees.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
the giants have multiple rivals? really? I just hate the dodgers. and the angels a little bit. other than that…what am I missing?
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
pretty much all intra-division matchups make a rivalry, though some are newer and less heated than others.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
rival definition:
rival: a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.
i guess my standards are too high for “rivalries.” don’t you LOL at the thought of a giants/padre rivalry? they are our opponents on a consistence basis…but that’s about it. i don’t particularly give two shits about the braves, cardinals, etc…?
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
oh yeah? I got 2 words for you:
Scott Hairston
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Cardinals, Braves are two legit rivals of the Giants for a long time. Dodgers obviously. When the Pirates were good a long time ago they were as well.
well, rivalries really heat up when the teams are vying for the same division title or in the playoffs, etc. since the Braves aren’t in our division anymore and we don’t see them in the playoffs, it’s natural for the rivalry to cool off.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
That was bad, but I hated the Braves too, after 1993.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
“Was bad”? They still do it. Is bad.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Exactly
Don’t all Giants fans hate those two? Is there really anyone here who hates the Pirates, or the Cardinals, more?
I just feel sorry for them actually
Years of front office bumbling. Poor Pirates.
Robby Thompson "hey Hinshaw, let me see your hat for a minute."
Alex HInshaw "Why?"
Robby Thompson ,"You'll see...."
Truer words have never been spoken. It really amuses me how the artificial rivalries are concocted due to Oakland’s fans inferiority complex. Just go to any Giants-A’s game or bring up the two teams in a bar. Giants/Niner fans from what I can tell really don’t care about Oakland one way or another, but Oakland fans are typically VERY defensive and are quick to try to spark up some kind of name calling, drawn out argument and bring up championships and all that crap.
As Giants/Niners fan, I’m kind of meh on the Oakland teams and tend to root for them when they’re not playing the San Francisco teams. Not even a hint of outright hostility.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
This, um, “rivalry” is retarded and seems pretty one-sided like 95% of the time.
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Last night at the game there was a guy sitting in the front row of my section with a green shirt on and a Dodger’s hat. He was equally booed by both A’s and Giants fans. From the back I thought it was an A’s shirt he was wearing, but when he got up I saw that it was a Dale Earnhardt Jr. t-shirt. The guy was getting heckled all night. It was great. For the first time I felt some real solidarity with the A’s fans.
I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
it was wrong what he did to his dad’s team, he should’ve been heckled i agree
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
was there a lot of hype about pujols before he broke onto the scene? didn’t he kind of show up out of relative anonymity?
Les Plack = more chicks
I am running roughshod over the dingerz.exe league. the dl is trying to jinx me, but im too guile-y.
by Headhunter Rollins on Jun 24, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions
not really. As an amateur he was a bit overweight and didn’t move all that well. (He shaped up and obviously, has become a stud.) After being drafted in the 13th round in 1999, he didn’t like what the Cards offered him and played in a summer collegiate league called the Jayhawk League (Bonds played there once as well), where he did well, so the Cards increased their bonus offer. He was the Cardinals’ #2 prospect heading into 2001 after a very solid 2000 season (across 3 levels), his only season in the minors. He wasn’t originally expected to start out in the majors in 2001, but injuries to McGwire, his obviously good bat and his versatility (he played 1st, 3rd, LF & RF) allowed him to get into 161 games and he took the league by storm.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s also difficult to believe the guy is only 29 years old…if you believe it.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
OT
Anyone else watching the US-Spain match right now? OMGWTFFIFA!
"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09
LOL BBC play-by-play guy
“It’s like watching a football match from a bee hive.”
"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09
This is like watching a one run Brian Wilson save
by BleedBlackNOrange on Jun 24, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Michael Bradley red card=Wilson walking the first batter of the inning.
"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09
That call was total BS. I mean, sure it was a foul, but he went in on-time, with his legs low and he won the ball before making contact. Such a shit call.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
It was BS, but even playing a man down for almost 10 minutes, the US didn’t allow a goal. DeMerit and Onyewu especially played their asses off. WOOT!
"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09
i think the bs call is going to hurt us sunday
but for today… YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! i’m super jazzed. eight of my friends and i went to germany for 2 weeks in 2006 to watch the games, and next year we are heading to s. africa for two weeks as well… it will be amazing going in as a force to be reckoned with
Dodgers fans eat their young.
DeMerit and Gooch both had amazing games. Howard, too, obviously.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
blowout!
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
YES!! I wish I could get the stream to work here at my office but the firewall has it blocked :/
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
That game is gonna be ugly.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
LOL I couldn’t paint that spot, my hand was there.
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Did he paint whiskers on himself too?
by BleedBlackNOrange on Jun 24, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I admit to being pessimistic
But reading this gives me warm fuzzies inside
The artist formerly known as Set-up man
Back when the Giants were good, I was optimistic and looked on the bright side of things. Even when they did something seemingly crazy, like the Matt Williams trade, I took a wait-and-see attitude. As soon as the Giants beat the Braves in the 2002 NLDS, I predicted the Giants would win the World Series. Too bad tragedy struck and the World Series was cancelled halfway through Game Six.
When they started sucking, I became the pessimistic whiner you describe. Some might call this a wild personality swing – I call it realism. With a touch of bitterness added in.
Now that they’re doing okay again, I’m finding it hard to shake the pessimism. For this season, at least. I’m very optimistic about the future, provided Sabean doesn’t screw it all up (see, there’s the pessimism creeping in again!).
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
The Matt Williams trade was a bad example, because the Giants weren’t good until after that. But you get what I mean.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Perhaps
I’d like to think of myself as a pessimistic idealist, though.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
"A pessimist is optimist in full possession of the facts."
(damn, or is “An optimist is a pessimist who is not in full possession of the facts”?)
I don’t like to think of myself as a pessimistic whiner. I am a bitterness artist™.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
i wish tim lincecum WAS robert rowell
cuz then the warriors wouldn’t suck so much amirite?
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
The Warriors and Brian Sabean make my face do this.
Robby Thompson "hey Hinshaw, let me see your hat for a minute."
Alex HInshaw "Why?"
Robby Thompson ,"You'll see...."
Come to think of it
Felix Rodriguez, Scott Spiezio, Armando Benitez, A.J. Pierdouchebag……they ALL make my face do that.
Robby Thompson "hey Hinshaw, let me see your hat for a minute."
Alex HInshaw "Why?"
Robby Thompson ,"You'll see...."
I remember most of the Giants’ fanbase being almost irrationally optimistic from 1997 (Dustiny!) until a certain game in October of 2002. After that, it’s going to be whining and pessimism until the Giants finally, you know….
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 1:55 PM PDT reply actions
that game formed a deep, deep scar on the psyche of Giants fans.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
It was our Buckner moment, unfortunately. But seriously, the pain of that game will make it so much better if they ever do win in our lifetimes (don’t want to jinx).
We just have to agree not to become like Red Sox fans if that happens, too.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
it wasn’t just that game, but he whole series. And when you add to that, the wonderful 2003 season that ended in another tragedy to the damn Marlins and then Steve Finley in 2004, followed by the losing seasons and Bonds media fiasco, you have the deep underpinnings of the current psychological condition of most Giants fans. It was just a lot to take all in a row like that.
I don’t think Giants fans are pessimistic by nature, necessarily, but due to most recent events in our franchise’s history, that’s how we’re feeling. Things are starting to come around, but it takes time…and winning.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
God, that Jose Cruz game was rough. That’s when I truly felt the Giants were snakebit and gave up all hope. But truthfully, I was pessimistic all year in 2003 after the asteroid series.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m still trying to figure out how Eric Young wasn’t on the post-season roster and pinch running for JT in the last game.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Wouldn't have mattered
If he had been on the roster, he would’ve taken Neifi Perez’s spot, and he probably would’ve been used as a PH ahead of Snow just like Neifi was. The only guys still on the bench when Snow got on base were Feliz and Santiago.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
The Giants wanted an extra pitcher. Even though, he wasn’t used or did the Giants need a 12th pitcher in a best of 5 series.
Stats for the series are here. All 12 pitchers were used, although Christiansen only faced one batter (gave up a hit) and Eyre only pitched 1/3 of an inning. And Nathan only pitched 1/3 of an inning also, although he threw a lot more pitches than either of those two, unfortunately.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
The only left-handed hitters on the Marlins: Juan Pierre, Todd Hollandsworth, and Andy Fox. Obviously, two lefty specialists were a must.
by Grant Brisbee on Jun 24, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Geez
I was feeling fine until that first paragraph.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
sorry. someone had to say it. I’m tired of pretending it didn’t happen.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
It was very hard to deal with at first, then as I recall, there was the story about Nen after the Series.
He had been advised in August by Dusty, the trainer & pitching coach to go on the DL, or the then-present damage to his arm could worsen and end his career. Rob knew his value to the team, and elected to finish the year.
So when his arm gave out in the 8th inning of that game and he gave up the double on a pitch that failed to break as usual, they were doomed. The other relievers failures in the 7th and 9th sealed their fate.
The irony is that they got to the Series because Nen saved a lot of games going down the stretch the last 2 months, so that took a lot of the sting out of it.
There is a lot of truth in this
However, I remember being horribly pessimistic about the ’02 season. Then they had a ridiculous August and September to sneak into the wildcard. I was like, “Well, at kleast they made the playoffs”.
When they smoked the Braves, I was more “Well, at least they didn’t get ousted in the 1sr round”.
When Kenny got under the Cards skin in game 1, I was like “Damn, they might actually reach the World Series”.
And then the asteroid struck Anaheim and cancelled the World Series.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jun 24, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I was definitely more upbeat about our chances heading into the playoffs in 2000. In 2002 I was expecting another first round exit.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
Yeah, I started to believe during the Cardinals series.
As a result, I have never believed in anything since.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
“smoked” the Braves? You mean just beating them right, not kicking their ass? Because that was a hard fought series. One reason I will always defend Livan Hernandez, he pitched a great game to tie the series at 2 to send it back to Atlanta for a 5th game. True, we got to Glavine early, but Livan easily could have crumbled too, but he didn’t.
Lars, remember that one Giants fan on that other board who refused to root for the Giants that post season because they were the wild card team and, thus, an illegitimate contender and only would post to root against the team. GRUMBLE.
I pretty much mirror Lars in his take, as per usual. To me, 2002 was a fluke, I never believed that that team was actually that great, but wen along for the ride because I knew that you never know how many chances your team is going to get. I must say that the possibility of winning the whole enchilada did not even cross my mind until the sixth inning of Game Six, when I said to myself out-loud, “oh my god, the Giants are going to win the World Series.” NOW I KNOW BETTER THAN TO SAY ANYTHING REMOTELY SIMILAR TO THAT.
Didn’t the 2002 team have the best run differential in the National League? That doesn’t seem very fluke-ish to me.
The 2000 team was better overall, though.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
It seemed like to to me because the 2000 and 2001 teams felt so much stronger to me, at the time, IN THE GUTS. I can’t pay attention to stats usually. No dig at all on those who do. I mean it’s great, but my brain doesn’t work well with math so I just leave stuff like that to everyone else and just smile and nod.
it was YOU!
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh God, I remember that assclown. If anyone mentioned wildcard after that he would go on a tirade. I wanted to set him on fire.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jun 24, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
You apparently didn’t read alt.sports.baseball.sf-giants. Those guys were pretty cranky and bitter even in the best of days.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
I didn't...
But my pessimism (and that of my friends and relatives, even my grandma who keeps score every game) didn’t really surface until that asteroid struck Anaheim.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think I’m either with regards to the Giants. Generally in life I feel like most everything is outside of my control anyway, and when it comes to baseball it definitely is, so I just accept whatever the case is and feel good or bad according to the circumstance. What is is, and all that. No point hoping, no point whining. Just enjoy what’s good and endure what’s bad.
Pessimism
The tone really changed after 2002. I wonder why? The Giants fans will never be happy until they win a championship, perhaps even two. I know I feel like I had my dog ran over by a drunken Angles team that had just stolen my car when they lost in ‘02, and it’s likely going to take a World Series win just to neutralize that feeling. The complete mishandling of the roster as Bonds (03-08) was here and then phased out also contributes to the whining.
I actually winced at your metaphor about the Angels there. I know you didn't mean anything by it, but...
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 24, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Not to belabor, as I know you meant well, but you get that it's not the dog part that's a little jarring this year?
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jun 24, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I just winced at the typo.
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
by tk on Jun 24, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Random memory
My wife and I first got together in late 2001, so 2002 was her first experience real experience of my Giants fandom. She was into basketball when she was younger, but had never really watched baseball.
Anyway, I was so moody during and after Game Six and the fallout thereof that, when the next season started, she told me, “I’m sorry, but I kind of hope the Giants don’t make the playoffs this year.”
Whee!
/this is obviously a fictional story, that World Series never happened, etc.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
My wife loves going to baseball games. Loves watching games on tv. Before & after she met me. She just won’t watch a Giant game with me anymore.
In 2003 she made plans to go out with my mother during game 4 against the Marlins. My mom comes over with my sister to pick her up then realizes the game was on. My mom stayed & watched the game with me. My sister & my wife gave her a look like “You sure you know what you’re doing?” They got the hell out of there. Watching Pudge hold up that ball & not being able to curse was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Even the remote survived!
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
i was at game 7 in anaheim...
and even as the game ended i still was jazzed i got to go to a world series game AND that our team was going to be a force.
2003 was a blast because of how well we played all year.
2004 was great because of what bonds was able to accomplish.
2005 i was ok with because i thought it would be great that we finally get a high draft pick (that turned into timmy!)
2006 was a joke, but even though we pretty much sucked i was also stoked we had 3 first round draft picks thanks to this crappy season (which gave us madbum, timmy 2, and a project still in the works)
2007 was the road to 755 and the all star game.
2008 was the road to repair without bonds, timmy became the best pitcher in the NL, AND we finally got some of the best deals for tickets since the Big Phone opened.
2009 is great because we have the panda, timmy, a new zito, cain taking his game to the next level, and we are staying competitive.
so i’d basically say i’m an optimist (and am really good at overlooking the negative).
we still have an amazing stadium, a strong cash flow, prospects in the low minors everyone wants, a pair of aces in our rotation, a fun team, and all the wine and cheese we want. who wouldn’t want to be a giants fan?
Dodgers fans eat their young.
I just realized I remember pretty much nothing about the 2006 season.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Me neither, but in my case that’s mainly because I became a father right in the middle of the season. And 2006 was the only season since like 1986 when I haven’t been to a game in San Francisco (although I did catch them in Wrigley when my son was a couple of months old).
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
I remembered that the Giants were in “contention” til August when the starting pitching fell apart.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
I thought it was the beginning of September when they fell apart.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2006-schedule-scores.shtml
They were 3 games back on September 14.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
I wasn’t sure if it was August or September, so I went with the earlier month.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
September 14th
The Giants were actually in contention until three days after the fifth anniversary of 9/11.
I pretty much only remember 6/6/6.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 24, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I remember Felipe played Steve Finley all the fucking time even though he was terrible after April.
I remember Shea Hillenbrand.
I remember that game when Durham beat the A’s when he hit a 3-run homer off Huston Street in the bottom of the ninth.
I remember Jason Schmidt striking out 16 Marlins.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
Oh, and I remember that they were the absolute definition of a .500 team until they fell apart in September.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
I do remember being baffled and pissed by the Shea Hillenbrand trade, now that you mention it.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
GAH... memories
Accardo and cash for Hillenbrand and Chulk.
&
Hearing shit talking all game from an A’s fan sitting next to me, Ray comes in to save the day and serves up a nice cup of STFU. Highlight of the year.
by SoFa King Mike on Jun 24, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions
2006 was the year of the mid-season acquisition of Shea Hillenbrand that sparked the Giants to a championship, right?
Some of the details are a little hazy in my mind.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
2006 was one of the greatest years of my life. I made my first visits to San Diego (for the World Baseball Classic) and Denver (for a Giants/Rockies series over July 4). It was the first year where I worked in professional journalism settings; covered an All-Star Game, made my first trip to a press box as working media, and did my first interviews. I also made strides in my personal life.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 24, 2009 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
good post redhornet
Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
by zodiac_chiller on Jun 24, 2009 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions
lol
so i’d basically say i’m an optimist (and am really good at overlooking the negative).
you’re delusional…you came out of game seven with a spring in your step?
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
THE GIANTS WERE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!
as a little kid in the 80’s i was stoked we made the ‘89 series, but growing up poor i never thought i’d be able to actually attend a game… so when ’02 came around, and i just so happened to work 10 miles away from anaheim, and the glory of craigslist gave me access to tickets, AND i had saved two grand for braces (my teeth still need them), the chance to watch the giants in game seven of the world series was a literal dream come true. i was even supposed to work that day, but my boss saw the excitement in my eyes and said “go do what you have to do”… i bought four tickets, took three friends, and we had an amazing time.
do i wish they had won? of course. but i can always say i was there to watch the orange and black in the biggest baseball game in the world. that is why i can say i left the game with a positive attitude and hope.
Dodgers fans eat their young.
I'm a pessimis
But like JCB pointed out, its an earned pessimism; when the stupidity manifests itself again and again and again (the Zito contract, the Renteria contract, the Rowand contract, the Mike Matheny Contract, the Juan Pierre / Gary Matthews Contract offers, etc etc), its hard not to be. You feel like the Giants have lucked out into guys like Sandoval, and that people like Sabean have no ability to evaluate hitting talent – at all.
Jonathan Sanchez. He's left-handed, like Barry Zito. His fastball breaks 80, unlike Zito.
I’d be stoked about Montgomery in the Pac-10, which wasn’t that great last year at all. Like 80 times better than Braun.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Jun 24, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Giants fans are cynical hipsters
We put on a show of jaded ironic pessimism because we can’t fess up to the fact that deep down we are slobbering fanboys/girls with an irrational conviction that this is the year the Giants win it all.
Not me, mind you. But I have this friend.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
My favorite thing about Giants fans is that when the team starts doing well, they start to panic because they think the front office is doing well. I don’t know any other fanbase that feels worse when their team is winning.
Bruce Bochy would like you to look at the career numbers and stop complaining.
www.baseballthinkfactory.org
Somebody probably mentioned this already, but this thread was picked up in part by www.baseballthinkfactory.org.
Whiners and moaners
Me thinks you are judging others by your own warped attitude. The whiners and moaners who claim to be Giant fans are a small, obnoxious vocal minority. There is a huge mumber of Giant fans, including myself, who follow the Giants through thick and thin, win or lose and are grateful for what Giant management has provided for us. I myself have followed and rooted for the Giants since 1951 and they has never given me cause to whine or moan. It seems the whiners and moaners are not really Giant fans. They are hanger on-ers just waiting for the Giants to fail so they can cry, “I told you so.” So which are you, a Giant fan or a whiner? Make up your mind and quite making excuses for you behavior. Rgv
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