Are we back?

by I'm_a_Man on Jul 16, 2009 1:48 PM PDT Comment 56 comments

Over the past few days there has been a lot of discussion on this site about our beloved Giants, as we are at the halfway point of the season. As we sit here ready to start the 2nd half, most of us are pleasantly surprised by the performance of the team. There was some wasted years from about 05-07 and I think most people thought the rebuilding would take another year or two. Neukom's stated goal was .500 this year and contention in '10. I thought it would probably be more like '11 before we really turned it around (when the likes of Bumgarner, Posey, etc. would start to make an impact). But we appear to be contenders already.

So my question is, is it a mirage or are the Giants back in the land of the baseball living for the forseeable future? Should we expect to see competitive teams from here on out, or are we due for a 2nd half regression and more growing pains next year? Personally, I don't see why what we've done in the first half can't continue, if we stay relatively healthy of course. Other than maybe Cain and Affeldt, I can't think of anyone who is having a year that is better than their career averages/ current expectations would predict. And we're a young team with talent in the farm system. On the other hand, this has not been a great overall year so far for the NL, as teams with more talent than we have (Mets, Cubs) have under-performed, and we've taken advantage of that to have the 2nd best (tied) record in the National League. Anyway, your thoughts. What are the expectations?

Poll

Are the Giants ready to be contenders again for the forseeable future?

Yes, with the pitching and young hitters coming up through the system, we can expect to see winning baseball for the next several years.

106 votes

No, the Giants have been lucky this year and will likely regress in the 2nd half and possibly next year.

22 votes

Maybe, it depends on moves to be made before the deadline and during the offseason.

45 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Comments

This also makes me wonder: when/if we reach a state where we contend for several years in a row again, what will the site be like? I didn’t find this place til the giants started sucking. I can just imagine: “Oh, the yankees are so lucky to be facing us in the world series, giants suck so much, ahahha”. I hope people keep coming.

VOTE SANDOVAL
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Jul 16, 2009 2:48 PM PDT reply actions

adversity brings community

you pose an interesting question

HOWEVER, daily kos, the blogfather of SB Nation, and a get-democrats-elected powerhouse, has stayed well-traffic’d even after Obama got elected and congress went blue.

"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.

by hairball on Jul 16, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions

We’ll still probably be wildly pessimistic. There will just be more new people here who don’t understand our ways.

GROUGTHINK ALERT

by groug on Jul 16, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions

HAY GUYZ I THINK WE NEED TO TRADE FOR PUHOLS CAN NEONE SAY THREEPEET??1!!1

Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 16, 2009 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

WE NEED TO SHUT THEM OAKLAND FANS UP BY WINNING FOUR IN A ROW WHO IS LAUGHING NOW BILLY BEAN?

by satyricrash on Jul 16, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

CAINZ 4 HOLOLIDAY

"Snow woulda had it!!!"
Self appointed president, ruler, dictator, czar and potentate of the Free Gerald Society. As of... right now.

by beat_la_25 on Jul 17, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Are we wildly pessimistic around here though, do you think? I used to post on the MB on the sfgiants site and that place was about a million times more pessimistic than pretty much anyone I’ve seen around here. I always thought of McC as more optimistic but with a layer of reality on top so that we don’t get too ahead of ourselves.

by The Double Deuce on Jul 16, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Our true colors will show after a two-game losing streak.

GROUGTHINK ALERT

by groug on Jul 16, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

" He turned a back to me . Of coarse i should stab or bite it! What are you uncivilized man?"

That’s it! Katie bar the door for this 79 win team is star crossed! And I am loving it.

by daveinexile on Jul 16, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

We still need a lot of hitting, but at least we’re on the right track thus far.

Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 16, 2009 3:11 PM PDT reply actions

is that Benjie in the blue? There on the right?

by tyrannoman on Jul 16, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Obviously Bowker there in the middle

the tall orange one with the short arms

Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis.

by j14 on Jul 16, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

short arms

"Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?" / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Jul 16, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

short arms

Everybody loves money

by fwoty oz on Jul 17, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 17, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

oh, God! My Eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minor White > Ansel Adams

by say hey nation on Jul 17, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Bruddah Iz?

I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
Tyler Graham is my favorite San Jose Giant because he has smart balls.

by Norm Median on Jul 17, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions

ʻAe !

My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!

by nvsfg on Jul 18, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Whoa, I had forgotten about this movie.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Jul 16, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I only remember the dinosaurs walking through the parade. I have no idea what the story was.

Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 16, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I had the book when I was growing up

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=5002686

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Jul 17, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Where’s the poll option for “stop trying to jinx it already, willya?”

Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.

by EliminateMe on Jul 16, 2009 3:38 PM PDT reply actions

Too late.

NL West TempestTeapot
Nothing matters , and what if it did?

by victor frankenstein on Jul 18, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I noticed that for the Giants to finish at .500, they would have to go through the second half of the season with a lower win percentage than they had last year (about a 70 win team).

by FPTV on Jul 16, 2009 3:46 PM PDT reply actions

Are we back?

Did we ever leave?

by wilriv21 on Jul 16, 2009 4:16 PM PDT reply actions

Don't call it a comeback

Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.

by EliminateMe on Jul 16, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

we've been here for years

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 16, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

We were gone but now we're back.

I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
Tyler Graham is my favorite San Jose Giant because he has smart balls.

by Norm Median on Jul 16, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

That’s another one that goes on my guilty pleasures list.

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 16, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

no guilt about it

"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."

by i did my job on Jul 16, 2009 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions

One wonders which of the many possible attractions the Baroness is referring to…

…or is it all a savage cocktail?

NL West TempestTeapot
Nothing matters , and what if it did?

by victor frankenstein on Jul 16, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

“I’m back baby!”

George Costanza

by I'm_a_Man on Jul 16, 2009 5:26 PM PDT reply actions

/sleeps under desk

"Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?" / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Jul 17, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

The poll results

are a lot more optimistic then I thought they would be. Anyone who voted “no”
care to make your case?

by I'm_a_Man on Jul 16, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

I didn’t vote for that, but I’m not surprised some people said no. There have been a couple articles linked to in fanshots showing that the Giants have been one of the luckiest teams in the majors. Of course, we don’t know for sure how reliable those stats are, but it’s certainly not a surprising viewpoint, or one without statistical evidence.

VOTE SANDOVAL
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Jul 16, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Regression (some good, mostly bad) but still in contention hopefully

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!!!

by baetown415 on Jul 16, 2009 5:47 PM PDT reply actions

Is there good regression?

by I'm_a_Man on Jul 16, 2009 6:18 PM PDT reply actions

I believe there could be if a player’s BABIP is abnormally low, for instance, and it regresses to the mean. Maybe. I don’t know.

VOTE SANDOVAL
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Jul 16, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Regression to the mean is bidirectional.

Still in despair.
BRING BACK MARMOL!
konakona:「つかさに教われと...なんか非常に負けたような気がする。」
Shun Kakazu: MOAR JAPANESE PROSPECTS PLZ

by Zetsuboushita on Jul 16, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Hot.

GROUGTHINK ALERT

by groug on Jul 16, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Weeeeeeere Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Congratulations and Thank you Jonathan Sanchez.

by GrahamCrakalaka on Jul 16, 2009 7:37 PM PDT reply actions

Yes, we’re back. But we’re just a few snapped ligaments away from being San Diego. As well as we’ve done this year, and as good as the forward projections might seem, we have neither the revenue or organizational depth to contemplate being any sort of post-season fixture let alone a dynasty. Consistently competitive, possibly; perennial mortal lock for the playoffs, don’t kid yourselves…

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™

by S.F. Giangst on Jul 16, 2009 10:43 PM PDT reply actions

Expectations

Other than maybe Cain and Affeldt, I can’t think of anyone who is having a year that is better than their career averages/ current expectations would predict.

You don’t think Pablo’s outperforming expectations? Or Sadowski? Or Scheirholtz?

I think quite a few things have broken right for the Giants in the first half. In fact, it’s a lot shorter list of things that have gone sour. Fred Lewis. Sanchez before the no-no. Winn maybe. Burriss maybe. That’s about it.

"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002

by achiappanza on Jul 17, 2009 12:22 AM PDT reply actions

Pablo, sure. The expected regression didn’t kick in.

Sado… how are you going to judge anybody on the basis of just 3 MLB starts?

Nate, well that .732 OPS would only put him at 26th best OF if he had enough PA to qualify. And since the generic OF list is almost always weighted toward corner OF, it would make him effectively one of the worst starting corner OF in the league.

by S.F. Giangst on Jul 17, 2009 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions

>> Sado… how are you going to judge anybody on the basis of just 3 MLB starts?

Whether it’s statistically significant or not, it’s still his year, and it’s still unexpected. Which is what you said you couldn’t think of.

The Nate thing I just pulled out of my ass without looking at any numbers. So yes, it smells.

"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002

by achiappanza on Jul 17, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Uribe, Miller, Medders, Torres

All the scrapheap signings are doing better than could have been expected.

Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.

by EliminateMe on Jul 17, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Them too

Jeremy Affeldt’s ERA+ is 326 compared to a lifetime average of 108. WHIP 1.206 compared to a lifetime 1.462.

"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002

by achiappanza on Jul 17, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Over the past few days there has been a lot of discussion on this site about our beloved Giants,

Observation FAIL

Minor White > Ansel Adams

by say hey nation on Jul 17, 2009 8:17 AM PDT reply actions

I love that song Poker Face

by ktice on Jul 19, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions

as long as Sabes is the GM

(and Bochy is the manager) both of which are going to stay as long as the Gints are sucessful…

We’ll have something to bitch about.

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.

by zenbitz on Jul 17, 2009 9:31 AM PDT reply actions