First Half Review
by Grant Brisbee on Jul 13, 2009 2:08 PM PDT
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PrintThis game was the killer. May 24th, at Seattle, the Giants lost the rubber match of the series, even after exploding for four runs. The team was 20-23, had lost nine of their last 11, and were nine games back of the Dodgers. Going into this season, I was a member of the “.500 Would Be Just Ducky” Brigade. Claw out of the basement, develop some of that young talent, identify the team needs, and charge into 2010 with hopes of seriously contending. So why was it so, so painful to watch a team that was pretty close to .500?
I’ve figured it out, and I hope I remember it the next time I catch myself hoping a team is good enough for a .500 season. A .500 team really isn’t different than a team with a .600 winning percentage if you watch every game – it’s just an extra win every ten games. There’s more to it than that, of course. An extra win for every ten games is the difference between a mediocre team and a great team. But when you watch almost every game, the difference is almost imperceptible. A .500 team loses five out of ten games, and of those, a couple of the losses are bound to be close, frustrating losses. A .500 team seems cursed because it’s as if they’re on the precipice of being a really, really good team, even though that’s mostly illusory.
So nuts to the whole .500-is-good idea. It makes for an unpalatable, soul-spindling season. Mercifully, the Giants have surpassed all but the most homery of predictions. Ten games over .500 at the break? Leading a race for a playoff spot? Pablo Sandoval, a hitter worthy of more than a few top-ten MVP votes? It’s like some magical dream, except this time you’re wearing pants. And if the Giants finish up at .500 when the season’s over, this season isn’t going to be remembered as a magical step in a rebuilding season; it’s going to be a wings-of-wax, spectacular, propeller-in-the-airshow-stands failure of a season. They’ve teased us with premature contending. We have a taste for it now.
The Giants have the third-best record in the league (just one percentage point behind the team with the greatest outfield in the history of professional baseball, which is a huge accomplishment). They have easily identifiable weaknesses, and there might be a trade or two that will help the roster in the short-term. All of this leads to a comment starter:
Are you satisfied with the Giants’ first half? Before you answer, please note that any answer other than “Yes” will be roundly mocked, flagged, and/or delted.
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Can’t really see going with less than an A. Even if you think they’re due to regress in the second half, they’ve been way above expectations and have the second best record in the NL. If that’s not an A, relative to expectations, I don’t know what it is.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Yeah, pretty much this
This team has been phenomenal thusfar.
by FairweatherFan on Jul 13, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
one complaint
Doesn’t seem to be mattering right now, but Fred Lewis has been disappointing. Not even playing every day anymore (unless that’s because of his foot issues? I’ve been a little behind the news after a few weeks out of the country). I was hoping for slight improvement, not regression. Last year, he seemed like the one semi-promising position player at the ML level, and now it’s kind of fallen apart.
Although I am thrilled with the team’s play in general. Winning is fun!
VOTE SANDOVAL
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
To be honest, I still don’t understand why everyone expected a 27 y-o with an unsustainable BABIP to improve.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry.
:-(
Well, raisingcain said “hoping” not “expecting”.
I didn’t really expect big improvement, but on the other hand I didn’t expect his power to disappear and his defense to regress.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
I was thinking about the community projection, where a ton of people expected more power and more contact from Lewis. Anyway, I don’t think his power has disappeared as much as you think it has. His HR/PA is pretty much identical to last year’s, and his Isolated Slugging dropped by just .021 points, which basically means that he’s a HR and a double away from matching last year’s power numbers. His main problem is the declining K rate (though, again, the difference isn’t as big as it might feel), plus just some natural BABIP regression.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry.
:-(
I think Fred doing poorly and the team correctly identifying that and moving to compensate is A material.
Duane Kuiper: Hall Of Fame broadcaster.
by Johnny Disaster on Jul 13, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I went with B
Only because you can’t be seven games behind the ducking Fodgers and deserve an A.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
it was a b+
but sanchez’ no=no gives them the xtra-credit they needed for the A
"I would've been here sooner but I had to shake the Veleasels"
by The Gene Hackman on Jul 13, 2009 2:17 PM PDT reply actions
If I could, I’d go for an A-. Mostly because of the So Cal series at the beginnig of the season.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
Beginning!
It’s hard to type and draw at the same time.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
lol Tim’s shirt.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 2:25 PM PDT reply actions
Solid A
They’ve been better than expected and fun as hell to watch and root for.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
Anyone who fully believed that the team would be 49-39 at the break with the third best record in the NL may vote for a grade less then an ‘A’.
Otherwise, I don’t see how it could be anything less than that.
imagine if they keep pace and win 96 games. we would be shitting our pants if we knew that at the beginning of the season.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jul 13, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
MATH ELITIST!
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jul 13, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Anyone who doesnt grade this half an an A has some ’splanin to do
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
I went with B because I thought this was a team that needed one more bat coming into the season, and I fear it’s a team that needs one more bat still, and so I’m disappointed that we continue to field a team that is one bat short. That’s maybe outside the purview of the grading system, and if so I regret my B and assign them an A.
Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz
by lyricalkiller on Jul 13, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
That's how I felt...
But also, I didn’t really understand the question.
by The Double Deuce on Jul 13, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I went with B, but am starting to regret it. I would have chosen A- like Natto if that was an option. My thought is that there’s always room for improvement. I hope they don’t just become satisfied with the first half and start to regress a little bit. It’s best to be happy but not satisfied. However, it is obvious that they’re driven. I wish I could change to A but I can’t.
I went B because of the lineup. Fred basically fell apart, the second base situation was pretty lousy until Uribe took over (and I like Manny Burriss), Renteria is up and down. It’s come together in the last few weeks, but that is not representative of the full half season.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I was pretty much kidding
But based on my expectations coming in, this team has eared an “A”
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
I gave them a “B.” Clear thesis, organization and continuity; probably some minor mechanical errors but no major ones. Work might be needed on stylistic points such as wordiness and unclear transitions.
"He is Tim Lincecum...the Most Interesting Pitcher in the World."
Not enough semicolons!
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jul 13, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I gave a B
Too many ABs for Aurilia, and the continued, inexplicable presence of Molina in the cleanup spot. In spite of the fact that the team has been winning, those things (and the general offensive futility) make the team hard to watch at times. Also, Zito. Yeah, looking at the standings and seeing a winning record is nice, but as Grant said in his post, the difference between .500 and .600 is almost imperceptible to a fan, so aesthetics matter.
(Still, if I really believed that they were going to hold it together and make the playoffs, I would probably go with A.)
Yeah, I am really happy with this season
Cain finally learns how to win, Lincecum is still awesomeness, Pablo is an All-Star, second best record in the NL West (Bastard Dodgers), a no-hitter, only 6 starting pitchers used in half a season (pretty amazing), more runz scored than I would have ever imagined.
I guess what’s really hope-inspiring is the emergence of Pablo. Do we have a legitimate hitter around which we can place more legitimate hitters? A lineup with Posey and Pablo next year is a real possibility. Plus awesome starting pitching. And only 3 more years of Aaron Rowand CF
Did you really just claim that Cain finally learned how to win?
I’m gonna slap a ho
by FairweatherFan on Jul 13, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks
I wasn’t sure if anyone got the Pablo’s an all-star one either…
progress!
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Has to be an A
Unless you had the G-men as 2009 WS Champs in preseason, they’ve exceeded most expectations.
Mo'ped Money, Mo'ped Problems
You kids today grade compared to EXPECTATIONS???
Sorry, I don’t adopt that standard. They get an A+ compared to expectations, but so what.
On the standard of what makes a team great, the Giants have superb pitching, pretty good defense most of the time, and barely mediocre offense. That’s not an A+ team, but only A+ as compared to expectations.
This team is a B.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
+1
Proud supporter of the Fightin' Hydrants.
by Little Napoleon on Jul 13, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Although
how do the Giants compare to the rest of the teams in the NL? I’d argue that record aside, and because of a lot of injuries, one can argue that the Giants have a top 4 team in the NL.
That is also what Espn power rankings says! We good
no grading on a curve
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't grade on curves; might spill my drink.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions
If you’re grading on a curve, the mean # of wins in the NL is 43.375 with a standard deviation of 6.55. The Giants are within one deviation of the mean, so no A for us.
/think I did that right
by SheboyganBratwurst on Jul 13, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I totally graded on a curve.
Duane Kuiper: Hall Of Fame broadcaster.
by Johnny Disaster on Jul 13, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Even ignoring expectations, I think 10 games over .500, with a pythag that supports that and the second/third best record in the NL is an A performance.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
what grade would you give the stinking dodgers, out of curiosity?
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
D
Based on three major grading criteria:
1) How well are they hitting?
2) How well are they pitching?
3) How many of them aren’t Dodgers?
~66% = D.
Osiris, lord of the dead, and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
by neurofarm on Jul 13, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
irl lol
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
Grading a team should be like grading a lover
If you’re not going to grade against expectations, you should at least factor in how they compare against others and how much enjoyment they’ve given you.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
do go on...
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Clearly, Goofus’ first love wore a skullcap.
"He is Tim Lincecum...the Most Interesting Pitcher in the World."
You think just the first one?
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
This poetry mitigated only by the fact that
I’m ten years old and have had only five lovers.
sample size fail.
For your sake...
…I hope Mrs. Goofus never grades you on those criteria.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
Ooh… you are SO gonna be delted.
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.
so instead of evaluating the team based on pre-season expectations, you evaluate them as compared to greatness? not sure anyone would deserving of an A on that scale.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
No, I didn't mean a standard of greatness as such.
No, I meant of the things that make teams good or bad, we are great in one, ok to good in the second, and sub-par in the third. I mean it in a general way, and certainly not comparing to the all-time greats (1931 Philadelphia Athletics, yo yo!).
There is simply no measure besides compared to expectations on which the Giants net out to an A. We aren’t good at hitting. And if we’re an A, then the stinking dodgers are an A++?
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. Was trying not to be inflammatory.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Definitely A
This season so far is so much more fun than any of the past few seasons, probably the funnest since 2002. And since a playoff run this season is so unanticipated, there won’t be any crushing disappointments like in 2002 when they cancelled the world series for some reason.
Osiris, lord of the dead, and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
Question
What kind of world are we living in where the best pitcher in baseball bears an eery resemblence to Patti Smith?
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
Timmy reminds me more of Cher.
I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
Tyler Graham is my favorite San Jose Giant because he has smart balls.
/resists urge to post screencap from “If I Could Turn Back Time” music video
"El once, chico. Eleven."
If Tim shows up in torn fishnets…
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I might regret this, but I'm going to have to insist that you finish that sentence.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
He'd take back those words that hurt you
You’d stay
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
(approves the torn fishnets)
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
And if the Giants finish up at .500 when the season’s over, this season isn’t going to be remembered as a magical step in a rebuilding season; it’s going to be a wings-of-wax, spectacular, propeller-in-the-airshow-stands failure of a season.
I disagree.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jul 13, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions
Finishing 81-81
suggests something must have went horribly wrong.
Like an injury to Timmy or something.
by AmorVincitOmnia on Jul 14, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I disagree
Lincecum is not going to pitch every night and even he loses sometimes. If last season proved anything it was that Lincecum can win the majority of his starts and the team still plays .500 or worse.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jul 14, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
The question was: "Are you satisfied with the Giants’ first half?"
The degree to which we, the voters, are satisfied NOW necessarily involves a consideration of our expectations THEN (i.e. before the season began). Since expectations count I’ll give the Giants an A.
"El once, chico. Eleven."
Tim & Silent Bob
Strike Back
I noticed Brian Wilson in background.
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:10 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
you're not supposed to notice a ninja
He fails at ninja too.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
He fails at not giving me an ulcer every other game, as well.
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Would you rather see the NSFW pic of Tim doing the SIlence of Lambs dance in Clerks 2?
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
please don't delt my comments
I’ve had enough of that today.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions
A
Each loss hurts. It feels good to hurt after a loss again.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Jul 13, 2009 3:32 PM PDT reply actions
BREAKING NEWS.... Obama at ASG
This is from an insider at Busch Stadium a couple minutes ago: Stan Musial will give ball to Obama, and Obama will throw the 1st pitch. I haven’t seen Obama’s possible attendance mentioned anywhere in the news.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
Yeah
I remember reading an article or hearing about this on some podcasts.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
breaking news from about a month ago
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Will my free health care be pitched, as well, by the President?
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the congressional GOP and the craven Dems will be pitching your free health care.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
So you’re telling me the pitching by government will be Zito-esque?
Zero production, and at the same time costly for no reason?
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Free. LOL.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Bad News: You don't get free health care.
Good News: You don’t have to root for the Blue Jays.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
If you live in Vancouver you could root for the Mariners...
Yeah, I know not that much better.
Status: Has a feeling that tonight is going to be good night. || Still boycotting Johnsonville and Giants souvenirs or ballpark foods for repossessing my K Wall in right field.
Yeah, and you have to get a special government waiver even for that.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
NAFTA, bitches.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Anti-trust exemption. WHAT! WHAT!
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
you should be happy about that.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
OK, so it's just crumbling news.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Cool
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Pujols is catching 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
First Half Review : Franchise Edition
I thought about making a fanpost but decided against it. Probably a good thing anyway.
As the first half draws to a close, I was looking at our MLB roster and our prospect list as well as recent draft picks. This got me thinking :
With the current state of the organization, if you were given the choice of swapping both the complete MLB roster and the farm system with another team for the next five years (and still be called the San Francisco Giants of course), who would be your top 5 teams to swap with? Would you even do it with any team?
Personally I’m stuck after the Red Sox.
Fuck the Red Sox and every other team.
I like our Giants. I want to win with this group of guys.
Whether we’re the “best” organization is an entirely separate argument.
"El once, chico. Eleven."
Well, mortgage of our lovely ballpark comes first.
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
That, and not spending money on Zito-type players
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
Dope-smoking Republican surfers.
Luckily, there aren’t a whole lot of those, so they shouldn’t be hard to avoid.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
Even rarer
Dope-smoking Republican surfers who wear horned helmets.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
P.J. O'Rourke and... and... (crickets)
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
.jpeg)
I would trade mortgages with the Red Sox as I think their stadium is paid off.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
this is the last year for the mortgage isn’t it?
by cybermaldonado on Jul 13, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought it was a 20-year loan.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Jul 13, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Watching the All Star coverage on MLB Network
As much as I hate sideline reporting, Harold Reynolds on the scene, running around and talking to the dudes, actually looks like it would be fun.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 13, 2009 3:43 PM PDT reply actions
Best parts of the season so far: Dirty’s no no, Pablo’s power surge, Timmy and Matt being awesome, Unit’s 300th win, Rowand being better than last year, the rejuvenated bullpen, Posey, Neal, Bowkermania, Mad Bum and Alderson going off in the minors,
Worst Parts of the season so far: Molina’s hacking at slop daily and nightly, Zito’s contract (and for the next 4.5 years), Joey Martinez getting hit in the face, Sanchez being unwatchable until he was unhittable, Bochy’s excessive double switching and oddball hit and running, Petco, Aurilia and Burriss getting excessive playing time, mistreatment of Kevin Frandsen, and Wilson being a douche.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:46 PM PDT reply actions
Zito’s contract (and for the next 4.5 years)
/sobs
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Everytime I look at Zito's contract
I remind myself that unlike Herpes, this is not going to last a lifetime. Thank God.
Sometimes it goes into remission for a game, but god damnit its back the next week
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
Zito: The official zpokesperson for
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
WHY IS THIS NOT GREEN
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
forgot to mention one of the best parts of this season. Kicking the shit out of the A’s in interleague. that was awesome.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll add Uribe and Torres to the “best” list. They’re not “all kinds of awesome” or anything, but both have really helped the team for guys we found whilst dumpster diving.
They both seems likable, making them easy to root for.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
good points
they are likable and they’ve both given a lot more than we would have thought at the beginning of the season. Both were good, cheap signings.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 13, 2009 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Has to be an A
If you are grading the team on their performance alone, I could see a B. However, grading the team on the overall experience as a fan, it has to be an A. Sandoval’s emergence, Cainecum, Sanchez, 300, this year has been great to watch. Not only is the team winning but for the first time since 1997, it’s a team to love. Once Barry truly became Barry, no matter how much us Giants fans try to deny it, rooting for the team wasn’t quiet as fun. Having 25 guys seeming to enjoy each other and have a good time really makes a difference. I just hope it’s as fun down the stretch.
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jul 13, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions
Nah
I loved the Giants before Bonds got here. I loved them while he was here. I love them now that he is gone.
Don’t attempt to foist your morals on the rest of us, pal.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jul 13, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Hahaha, I’ve always loved the Giants as well. I guess the best analogy that I can think of is rooting for the Giants with Barry was like being a Yankee fan while rooting for this team is like being a 2008 Rays fan. You love the team but it does feel different.
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jul 13, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I loved rooting for Barry back in the day. I did, however, get really sick of the OMG STERIODS comments anytime I told someone I was a Giants fan. I’m glad to be done with that, and find it much more fun to talk about baseball with fans of other teams now.
Osiris, lord of the dead, and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
For that Lars
You get NSFW pics of Marie Louis Parker baking PIE
by SoFa King Mike on Jul 13, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
LARS FTW!
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Wronghanded Affeldt pitches right
by Giant among Angels on Jul 13, 2009 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah sorry I disagree
Barry was and always will be my favorite player. It was ELECTRIC watching him at the plate, just like watching Tim pitch. It was just incredible.
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
This is the way I feel, I loved Barry and still do, I was at the game when he came back for the outfielder reunion and even though I had the surprise of Barry spoiled to me, I was in the scoreboard operators room when the Raynelle rushed in to tell us all, when he came back it almost brought tears to my eyes. I have never been a part of a longer ovation.
Congrats to my soul mate and birth brother Zach Wheeler on being drafted into greatness. Should I just buy my Wheeler jersey now, or wait till my next birthday?
I definitely didn’t mean to imply watching Barry wasn’t fun. But during the Barry years it seemed like being a Giants fan was more about defending Barry and why and how you could like the Giants. Now it’s obvious to everyone who watches baseball that this is a fun team. When you talk to other fans about baseball, it’s about how awesome Timmy is or how fun Pablo is and not how everyone is doing steriods its just that Barry is so much better, etc.
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jul 13, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Its true that EVERYONE
mentioned “DERRRR BARROID” as soon as you told them you were a Giants fan. But whatever. Quite frankly, I’d rather watch the 03/04 teams than this team because he was so freaking exciting. I love this team, but I think the shitfest we’ve sat through for 4 years is tainting our perception of what a really good team is like. They’ve been good this year, I’m just worried it might not keep up. Who knows.
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
by bondslegend on Jul 13, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Have to agree with Angel here. Quite apart from the fact that he was a cheater, BLB was pretty much a prick. The most electrifying, exciting prick cheater I’ve ever had the good fortune of watching in a batters box, but a prick and a cheater all the same. Personally, that made it a little difficult to root for him sometimes and less fun to be a Giants fan. Maybe that makes me less of a homer or less of a “true” Giants fan, but I’ll take those accusations and still feel fine about my devotion to the team. I can understand those of you who were able to compartmentalize their objective judgments or were just plain jaded enough to not care, but that’s not me.
by thethrillisgone on Jul 14, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
B-
Would jump to A+ if Pumpkin head Bochy would move Molina out of the 4 hole
"Buy High-Sell Low"--The Brian Sabean Method Of Trading
by Mordy From Monsey on Jul 13, 2009 3:56 PM PDT reply actions
I voted for B
The 2009 Giants are much, much better than I thought they would be, but our offense is still 24th in baseball and we are 7.0 games back in our own division.
I have two monitors. Giants on one screen LotRO on the other. Game time is my game time.
by cybermaldonado on Jul 13, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I miss having dual screens
that was fun
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
NINTENLOL
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
by bondslegend on Jul 13, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Players get an "A"
for exceeding expectations. They would also get an A for having the 2nd best record in the NL (although the offense would get a C-)
Management gets a C- for the non-Panda version of the offense, existence of aurilla (gotta go) on the roster and general Bochy-headed nonsense.
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.
I'm going with a B
An A represents perfection or near perfection and I feel as though there is headroom for current performance and also adding parts. Very few players are playing beyond their means and many are having very disappointing years actually.
Rotation: B- (A,A,C,C-,D)
Bullpen: A-
Veterans Position: Rowand B, Winn C, Renteria C-, Uribe B+, Molina B
Rookie Position: Sandoval A, Ishikawa B-, Lewis D, Schierholtz B-
Bench: Torres B,
Thank you for the Wiley Wiggins Reference
I keep expecting Tim to awkwardly grab his nose after every pitch.
Let's bring the...
IMO
Grant was asking how we felt about the Giants season, not how we feel about some baseball team in a vacuum. The Giants were expected to be 3rd in their own division, and that would be a best case scenario. The fact that they’ve done so well deserves nothing less than an A IMO. I’m a bit worried about the second half, but this team has been very, very fun to watch and soo much better than I was expecting.
Great pitching continues, great hitting can cool off. I’d rather be dependent on the pitching.
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
Despite how awesome this team has made me feel this season
I still have to give the season a B because I think the team is in for a hard regression (downward) soon, unless we get a significant upgrade to the offense.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.
GET THAT VORP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
With all due respect, lowering their grade because you think their going to regress is just silly.
A. The question clearly said “…to this point.”
B. It’s like an olympic diving judge lowering a divers score because of what he expects his next dive to be
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
It is pretty silly, but I can’t say that this team has really been anything more than a B team so far with the offense that it has carried, although that’s probably me just looking at their context-neutral statistics v. their clutch performance and thinking that the offense has been (I hate to use this word) lucky in re: to hitting with runners in scoring position w/2 outs. If that make sense.
It is pretty silly though. I wish I felt differently.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.
GET THAT VORP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
I feel sorry for you
if your “context neutral statistics” are diminishing you’re enjoyment of a just plain fun first half of the season. I took the question to mean how much have you enjoyed following the team so far. Definitely an A in my book.
I agree that we should all be wary of the coming regression, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to just ride the wave while it lasts.
by thethrillisgone on Jul 14, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I gave them an F because the only rankings that even matter ever at all have them as the THIRD worst team in MLB. Therefore how can anyone with half a brain give above a D, I guess all you idiots are just we aren’t THE worst.
Congrats to my soul mate and birth brother Zach Wheeler on being drafted into greatness. Should I just buy my Wheeler jersey now, or wait till my next birthday?
B is for....
Barry Zito still exists wtfwtfwtf!
I’m a pessimist. Sue me.
by High_On_Lincecum's_Godliness on Jul 13, 2009 8:52 PM PDT reply actions
A-
For a combination of both the actual performance and the degree to which they’ve exceeded expectations.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™
I don't get it
That’s Timmy smiling? He looks more adorable with his uni on.
And I vote B (even though I picked the last option), as you need to an elite team to get an A in my view.
B
Pitching would be an A, but I don’t see better than a C grade for the offense. Overall a B.
brian wilson
wed probably be 16 games over 500 if we had a real closer i say waive him
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