Open Climb Down from the Ledge Thread
by Grant Brisbee on Oct 9, 2010 10:23 AM PDT
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PrintAlmost every Giants fan dwells on playoff memories of Jose Cruz, Jr., Scott Speizio, Sidney Ponson, and Jay Payton, and with good reason. There is some raw pain associated with each of those names. Last night's game feels like it should go right up there.
Quick question, though: how many times over the past two years have you thought about Manny Aybar? Vinny Castilla on the Braves? Keith Lockhart? Yeah, me neither. But there was a time when those names were loaded with the same kind of pain.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200210050.shtml
It wasn't the same kind of surprise pantsing that last night was -- it was more of a discouraging, humiliating defeat. So this is an imperfect comparison. But the Giants were down two games to one against the Maddux/Glavine/Millwood-era Braves. They'd just dropped their first playoff game at home, and in order to move on, they'd have to beat the Braves in Atlanta after winning the last game in San Francisco.
Talk radio was buzzing about Manny Aybar. It's hard to believe, but that's the first time that sentence has ever been typed on this site.
Everything worked out, and we were set up for a much larger heartbreak down the road. Awesome!
It's possible that last night was the beginning of the end. The elation/dejection cocktail feels like 2000. Maybe 2002. Possibly 2003. Quite likely all of the above. But it might be a Manny Aybar moment. I think at this point, it would be silly to give up on this team. They are capable of providing such bigger heartbreak. Give them a chance.
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F.
"For all you first-basemen who played first your whole life, that's where Buster plays on his OFF days" - Kuiper
YOU CAN'T TALK ME OFF THE LEDGE!
"Too much awesome on my feet."-Brian Wilson
"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
JUMP!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
/Third Eye Blind
Shawn Estes’ favorite band IIRC.
Postgame needs more Shawn Estes.
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
If you do not want to speak to me again, I would understayeayeand…
by Murray, Present on Oct 9, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
In fact, 2002 was all that my household was talking about last night.
by Kirsten Schlewitz on Oct 9, 2010 10:25 AM PDT reply actions
i disagree
This game had the unmistakeably bitter taste of Game 2 in 2000.
I feel ok about it though. Unless Benny Agbayani gets announced as a Braves pich hitter, or Bochy decides to start Mark Gardener and bat him with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 6th….
2003
We won the first game with a dominating pitching performance, and then we blew the same 4-1 lead in game two, I do believe. Now we’re going on the road and might not come back. We should have kept Guillen in the roster, because when we get that dropped flyball in game three it won’t be so surprising.
Buster Posey: Let's enjoy him before he goes to the Yankees.
by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2010 11:09 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
1987
vs Cardinals
Proud parent of Bengie Molina: Buster who?
by The Enchanter on Oct 9, 2010 11:06 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I like your writing for 7500 to Holte, by the way.
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Oct 9, 2010 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
I feel ok now
I believe in Jonathan Sanchez
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Did you just equate Dirtyism with National Socialism? LOL. I guess mustaches are a significant part of each.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
The Chinaman isn't the issue here!
Rooting for the Yankees is like cheering the tanks at Tianamen Square.
Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.
"Forget it Donny, you're out of your element"-Walter Sobchak
by icanplaythird on Oct 9, 2010 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I too believe in the Church of Jonathan.
Let us pray.
Proud parent of Bengie Molina: Buster who?
by The Enchanter on Oct 9, 2010 11:07 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Time to get Dirty
It’s not all that bad, most likely last night will mean no more awful Sandoval AB’s or his awful defense at third. Even though it was a heartbreaker, take away the two unearned runs and the Giants still win. Take away Burrell’s bobble and the Giants win, take away Pablo Sandoval and the Giants win. If Glaus isn’t at 3rd base in the 10th, Giants win. It was a tough defeat, but this team seems to come back from those with a tremendous flare, remember Colorado, or the demoralizing serieseses against the Padres. This team has heart and in the end a game like last night could even set them up for a long run. We’ve still got Timmy one more time and Dirty going tomorrow, there’s lots to be optimistic about.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Well duh. I’m in for the long haul with this group of fuckbaskets. I’m still livid about last night, but there’s so much more misery and elation to be had.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 9, 2010 10:27 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
For your optimism and use of fuckbaskets.
That guy in August was an impersonator, and the real Tim Lincecum was fighting for the universe's survival in the Crab Nebula. The universe is safe now. And we're better Giants fans for it.
Oh, hello there, GiantPain. My, your fuckbaskets are so lovely!
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
♥ 2010 San Francisco Giants ♥
♥ McCoven ♥
This kind of thing generally doesn’t end well….
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
It took all 162 games to get us into the playoffs
Did you really think the postseason would be easy?
YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL
No
I think a lot of fans had convinced themselves it would be, though.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
i'll be honest
I felt the momentum after the 4-0 lead and Cain kicking ass. Didn’t think it would be easy but I sure as hell thought they had that one last night
"For all you first-basemen who played first your whole life, that's where Buster plays on his OFF days" - Kuiper
I don’t think any of us expected to lose last night, but in hindsight of it all, it is fitting for this team
YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL
This
This is the man who is on the Attack. Listen to him.
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
Turn out, it's just a smack attack
Heimy is all talk
Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!
I think that’s fair. That said, I hope the heartbreak last night was a reminder of how the Giants generally do business.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
True
High drama, magic, and torture = fan engagement = profits.
The marketing department probably told Posey to GIDP…bastards.
And then immediately put it in the shredder. Then remove the shreds and burn them. Then take the ashes and pour gasoline on them and burn them again.
History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there.
George Santayana
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 9, 2010 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I always think about that. Every time the Giants had a heartbreaking loss in extra innings, they’ve always come back from it. I need to hope they do it again.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
I was waaaaaay too over confident after we went up 4-0
isn’t it in the rules somewhere that if we score 4 runs we win?
it should be.
San Francisco Giants: your 2010 NL West CHAMPS.
Ironically, only if Zito is on the mound.
Or Timmy, but he had the day off.
Better to be a Giants fan than an Athletic supporter!
This. I thought of ways the Giants would lose Game 2 and the pecking order was something like this:
1. Giants can’t score a run
2. Hanson throws the best game of his life
3. A gazillion double plays
4. Errorz
5. Bad umpiring
6. Posey gets injured
7. Torres gets injured
8. Cain throws the worst game of his life
.
.
.
27. The bearded ones conspire to blow a 3-run lead
Eluding nightmare scenarios 1-26 was such a relief that I was ill-prepared for #27.
They could be Giants...but not really.
When we had a three run lead in the first and MATT CAIN singled in an RBI for himself,
yes, yes, I did think this would be that easy. Maybe not a lock for a World Series ring, but I sure felt like we had last night in the bag.
Better to be a Giants fan than an Athletic supporter!
it was like...
shawon dunston homering. a supposedly fortuitous omen which was merely a precursor to pain…
FELLOW McCOVEN!
Sons of Northern California!
I see in your posts the same fear that would take the heart of me!
A game may come when the courage of the Giants fails,
when we forsake our rally thongs and break all bonds of internet friendship!
An hour of Hairstons, and broken bats, when the post-steroid era comes crashing down, but it is not this day!
This day, we play baseball!
By all that you hold dear, on the well-manicured grass at Turner field, I bid you stand! Men of the National League West!
by GiantPain on Oct 9, 2010 10:30 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
personally I don’t pull out this speech until the utter ends of need.
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
That's what I thought
…but then I second-guessed myself and thought it was “300”
Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!
Pioneers O Pioneers
Come my orange-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your bats ready,
Have you your fastballs? have you your sharp-edged curveballs?
Pioneers! O pioneers!
For we cannot tarry in Atlanta,
We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of a tied series,
We the youthful sinewy Giants, all the rest of the NL on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
O you youths, NL Western youths,
So impatient, full of action, full of Giants pride and friendship,
Plain I see you NL Western youths, see you tramping with the division leaders,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 9, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
/sexy teenagers cavort in Levi’s jeans
by Murray, Present on Oct 9, 2010 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, GiantPain! And in that spirit.......
Someone found this on the I Hate the Dodgers website:
Our Father who art in San Francisco. Baseball be thy name. Thy will be done. The NL Division will be won. On the field, as well as in the bullpen. Give us this day our bat and glove, and forgive us for our errors, as we forgive those who homerun against us, lead us not into …defeat, but help us BEAT ATL. In the name of…….the fans, Lincecum and the Giants. Amen!
Rooting for the Yankees is like cheering the tanks at Tianamen Square.
I teared up a bit, I’ll be honest.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Oct 9, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Last night was a fluke, not the norm
Usually our bullpen is solid, and they’ll turn it around. Hopefully the Sanchez that shows up on Sunday is the one that is dominant and filthy and not the inconsistent wild one that walks 7 guys in 5 innings. Not giving up yet!
That's my worry.
Sanchez strikes me as a head case guy (sorry, no numbers to back it up.) If we had a two-game lead going into ATL, I would feel far more comfortable about him riding the momentum and other intangibles.
Better to be a Giants fan than an Athletic supporter!
I sort of see this as the same situation as last sunday
really really really really really WANT to win, but with a safety net behind him.
He can do it.
San Francisco Giants: your 2010 NL West CHAMPS.
He is kind of a head case but he has gotten so much better about it. Its like Sunday all over again. I would have been more comfortable going in to ATL 2-0 but I believe Jonathan proved to himself and to others that he can be trusted in a big game must-win situation like this.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
The playoffs are a fluke, not the norm
esp the best of 5 variety
Meh.
The bullpen coughing up that mild, to mid sized hair ball, does not worry me as much. It is the fact the hitting is what it is. Think about it the Giants have scored 5 times. 20% is because a pitcher single and another 20% is Cody Ross’s game 1 seeing eye hit. The Braves had already used their Pen for 8 2/3rds innings. At some point our hitters should be stringing together a more couple runs between GiDP’s but that shows very few signs of happening. That is what where my pessimism comes from.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Morning sickness again. I think I’m pregnant.
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
mpreg
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Next time on Home Runs and Western Suns!
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
oh, for the record
I actually started storyboarding the Zito/Hudson h/c but then remembered I can’t draw
San Francisco Giants: your 2010 NL West CHAMPS.
That’s okay. A written outline will do.
What’s this for, again?
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
OVER IT
I think it’s pretty remarkable – laughable even – that almost everything that could have gone bad DID* last night. I now it’s the playoffs and I’m supposed to care, but I don’t. NOT A REAL GIANTS FAN OMG BLEEDORANGEANDBLACK
*Except for Matt Cain + Pat Burrell, of course.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations. JUST NOT IN HIS EARS.
crash doesn't bleed orange doesn't bleed orange
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
I slept quite well last night, surprisingly. I couldn’t sleep after our 1st and 2nd loss to the Padres last weekend. NOT A REAL GIANTS FAN EITHER OMG!
Yeah, last weekend was a lot more stressful that this series, for me anyway. I feel like I could give a shit if they even win another game this series OMG WINE AND CHEESE FAN
*JAY-kay, of course I want these idiots to WIN EVERY SINGLE GAME FROM HERE ON OUT.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations. JUST NOT IN HIS EARS.
I think this ballclub has reached and surpassed all of our expectations. To go even further would be hella awesome. But to be disappointed would be like a kid spending all day at Disneyland and still whining that they didn’t get to go on the mr toads wild ride ride
I mean seriously. The ride is overrated. A long wait for a bunch of sharp turns & disturbing images.
The Magic is inside all of us.
Proud father of the man taking your hard-earned money.
by ResDog on Oct 10, 2010 12:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
he shouldnt play the rest of the way
nuff said
Seriously
I think people are forgetting that Renteria and Fontenot are hardly upgrades over him. And Sandoval certainly has a lot more upside.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
/RIMSHOT
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations. JUST NOT IN HIS EARS.
Sure, he should start against righties. However, he should be removed from the game the moment Burrell is taken out. I’ll take Uribe @ 3rd the rest of the game.
Uribe makes a lot of errors at third too
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
We can't all be on the roster
Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!
by Goofus on Oct 9, 2010 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You really don’t have to.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Nah
Replacing Burrell was the right move with a lead.
The Fontenot thing was just stupid especially in a tie game.
Fontenot came in so they could double-switch
It wasn’t a defensive replacement, per se.
It's orange inside
No it wasn’t. Burrell shouldn’t ever be taken out unless it’s a 20-0 game.
Having Schierholtz in the game helped in no way.
"Catch that, Eckstein!" - Duane Kuiper
He’s faster. Having him on second increased the chances of scoring a run.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
You know what increases the chances of scoring a run? Not giving away automatic outs.
"Catch that, Eckstein!" - Duane Kuiper
Runner in scoring position, two outs. Nate increases the number of batted balls that will score a run. It’s an actual scoring opportunity, not a hypothetical one.
And it improves your defense with a lead in the late innings… it just ain’t that egregious of a decision. I mean, Burrell is surprisingly good and I like him, but he ain’t Barry Bonds for chrissakes.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
Well said. I mean I like to think I strong reputation around here for taking Big Head to task. I might quibble with a couple of moves in game 2 but I can’t honestly slam them. They did have sound counter rationales.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Yeah, this
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
+1
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Oct 9, 2010 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Wasn't able to see the game last night.
Sounds like some epic over management by Bochy. I’ve bitten my tongue about this until now, but he’s been doing that quite a bit lately. Leave in Pat the Bat. Just leave him in. Do not remove him until the 8th or 9th inning. Or don’t do it at all.
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Also… You knew that it would come down to elimination. You just knew it. Game 5 feels like a lock.
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Oh?
What I said was that it was a virtual lock that the Giants take this to a game 5. I mean, we all knew that going in, right?
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Game 5 back in the bay would be pretty damn epic.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
How many people are hungover like myself this morning?
"Too much awesome on my feet."-Brian Wilson
"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
Stuck with beer.
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
I was super pissed that I left the blinds open on my east facing window
but in no shape to get up to close them. Pillow over the face worked fine.
San Francisco Giants: your 2010 NL West CHAMPS.
I'm okay
I played a few games of beer pong with Silver Bullet. I didn’t participate in the one-beer-per-cup game, where all participants got slammed drunk.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 9, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Yup. Watched the game at Public House, then went to Lucky 13 after the game.
I have Croix de Candlesticks older than you.
goldengatebeerbars.com
by troymccluresf on Oct 9, 2010 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Can you describe your hangover?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
BTW
The Braves’ bullpen is absurd, might be better than the Pads’ pen…
I can’t see us scoring too many runs on them without walks, errors and ground attacks…
Having Wagner out helps, that’s for sure, though….
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 10:44 AM PDT reply actions
Last I heard, they were replacing him with Saito, who was similarly ridiculous this year.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
What?
LOL…
/sigh
This is literally like playing the Padres all over again…Why wasn’t Saito on the playoff roster to begin with? I thought I heard he was banged up pretty good…
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
he has an uncertain right shoulder
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Uncertain?
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
That’s how my stomach feels when I watch Barry Zito pitch to Albert Pujols
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Hopefully how many innings they have pitched so far in the series, they’re worn out like the Pads bullpen last Sunday.
"Too much awesome on my feet."-Brian Wilson
"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
Nah
They had a bunch of rest this past week and an off day today.
Don’t be counting on a worn out pen to be the difference.
This series comes down to defense. The Braves lost the first game on bad defense and the Giants downfall was also possible due to some poor defense.
I think overall the Giants have a better defense but we’ll see.
Good observation.
The bats and pitching seem relatively evenly matched. Both games so far have been a matter of costly mistakes.
That being said, I still feel we had last night in the bag. When Pat hit the homer, I turned to mrs. breadfan7 and said, “Well, now this game’s ours to lose!”
Sorry, everyone.
Better to be a Giants fan than an Athletic supporter!
I'm Trying
My attitude for this post-season is just get in to the playoffs, beat the Padres, then don’t be disappointed if they cannot advance. I am trying to fight my expectations rising to the point I am destroyed by elimination. That being my mindset, I absorbed last night much better than I would have without the regular season abuse heaped upon us by this team. Maybe this season has prepared me for the torture? It’s hard to keep my expectations low thanks to teams like the ’06 Cardinals winning on the back of Jeff Weaver.
I loved it, especially after they showed the replay of April's HR
San Francisco Giants: your 2010 NL West CHAMPS.
Yes, that was awesome.
Torres’ bunt too. Also, damn shame that Sanchez got hit with that pitch. Other than him getting knocked out possibly for game 3, but that pitch would have moved Renteria over to 3rd
YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL
I was surprised to find out Freddy’s X-Ray to be negative. I thought his finger was broken for sure.
Freddy has a low pain threshold but a high endurance level.
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
He was wearing Gamer’s Gritty Gloves of +5 Endurance
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
It was good
He knew Glaus was in for the 2nd time all year at 3rd, I’m sure. It was a good decision.
Andres’ bunt, less so.
Best part about it
was that Glaus looked so surprised and inept. Plus it is entirely possible that Rent’s bunt got Wagner’s injury started. He was probably just as surprised as Glaus, and had to move a lot more trying to get to that one than he did on the next one.
It's orange inside
Better part is...
He saw Wanger had issues fielding Torres’ bunt and decided the twist the knife. That is just smart harrd nosed baseball in my book. There has been a good ammount fo that so far. That is right up that with late in game 1 when Buster caught Conrad ( I am pretty sure it was Conrad in teh 8th) peeking. Buster sets up way inside and as Tims delivers Buster slides back over the plate. It is risky thing to do but they both executed it well.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Please be durty tomorrow, Sanchez
"Too much awesome on my feet."-Brian Wilson
"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
Why did I let my guard down last night?
I was like the girlfriend who finally believed her BF would never beat her again. Then BAM! The BF drank too much Jack Daniels and I’m left to re-evaluate my life again.
Go to Nucky Thompson, he’ll take care of your boyfriend. /Boardwalk Empire’d
Ryan Rohlinger lives in my basement. I let him out to play baseball.
I agree.
I started believing again. Damn.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
Tomorrow's game is sooooo huge
Win it, and we save Timmy for possible game 5 back at home. The short rest thing can get messy if we’re down 2-1 going into Monday’s game
YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL
I agree
and it is going to be tough as Hudson is very good when pitching in Atlanta.
The one positive thing I’m holding on to is that this team has shown the ability to bounce back after crushing losses and this was a devastating type of loss that can cripple most teams.
Yeah
I am less than thrilled to be facing another sinkerballer.
The Giants might ground into 10 double plays in his 9 inning shutout.
Tomorrow has the potential for disaster. Mucho Sanchy walks and mucho hacking at slop equalling ground balls…
Hopefully the majority of the ground balls go in Brooks Conrad’s direction….
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
better team this season but
still needs to improve the hitting to go along with the great pitching we have . If Lincecum doesn’t throw a shutout, we’re down 2-0. The only run we got was a fluke as their third-string third-baseman couldn’t grab a routine grounder. Last night, Burrell hits a first-inning 3-run bomb and the Giants then resort to their old selves, unable to do squat offensively. You knew sooner-or-latter that pitiful hitting would catch up with them. Hey, we’re getting better but the Phils have pitching and hitting and a recent championship. We aren’t in their class yet until we get more reliable guys at the plate. We should have blown the Braves into the Bay while we had them down…..but we didn’t……. and now it’s back to torture. Sigh.
(sorry….don’t mean to be so negative; I had to vent; I’m still bummed, couldn’t get to sleep last night. I’m in the East and the game didn’t end until 1:30 a.m., and I’m the only Giants fan around here)
I think defense was far more an issue than offense last night.
Better to be a Giants fan than an Athletic supporter!
Nah
Lowe pitched a great game on Thursday and there is no shame in only scratching out a run.
The offense got 4 runs yesterday and cannot be faulted for that loss. That loss is on the pen which is not a weakness on this team.
These two teams are very close in talent on both offense and pitching. I’m hoping that the Giants are better on defense and that ends up being the difference. We’ll see, as it was some poor defense that also contributed to the loss yesterday.
I guarantee I will be happy tomorrow night
Possible scenarios…
1.Giants win. All is good in the world. Regardless, of my postgame plans.
2.Giants lose. I go to Built to Spill concert at tiny club. They will be so loud and so awesome that any sadness will be obliterated.
I think I would actually go to Atlanta tomorrow morning if I didn’t have tix to Built to Spill already.
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 10:54 AM PDT reply actions
Having serious problems
dealing with this loss. I know its just one game, but all those missed opportunities…
I went to sleep right after the last out, and did not want to get up this morning. Sucks that there’s no game today to take our minds off the loss.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
It is not healthy to let it effect you this much
Remember this is for your entertainment. Enjoy the fact that the Giants are in the playoffs and that all the young guys are getting valuable experience.
It truly does suck that they lost and it will really blow chunks if they get eliminated, but it shouldn’t be causing you physical problems.
No physical problems
Just mental ones. I’ll be fine, I just need to stop reflecting on the past 4-5 innings of that game. Possibly break out some white wine.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
I hear ya
I felt similarly to that after Game 6…
Remembering how snakebit and cursed this franchise is, whether that is true or not, helps me deal with these soul crushing losses…Expect the worse with this franchise, so you won’t be as crushed when they invetably shit the bed again. I now find it funny at times how much horrendous shit has gone horribly and unbelievably wrong since I started following this team.
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Good to hear
You’re “did not want to get up this morning” had me worried along with the “Having serious problems”.
I know we exaggerate our feelings on here a lot so I was hoping it was just that. This sort of loss can have profound impacts on people to the point where some really do have serious issues.
Appreciate the concern
It was exaggeration. Now if only I could fastforward to tom.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
Meanwhile, in non-playoff related news...
The Nationals would have interest in targeting Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp in a trade if the Dodgers make him available, according to a baseball source. Their potential interest in Kemp and other outfielders on the free agent market shows the Nationals may be open to a creative solution should they not re-sign first baseman Adam Dunn.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Thanks but same comment. Where do they hide these outfielders that the Giants can’t find/draft them?
They could be Giants...but not really.
Heh, no idea.
But I’d be willing to bet that a lot of other teams look at our rotation/back end of our bullpen and think the same thing about our pitchers.
I’m sure they do!
The Giants’ success with pitchers is even more remarkable when you consider that pitchers are usually tougher to draft/project than position players. On the flip side, that just makes the inability to find and develop position players a lot more glaring, I guess.
They could be Giants...but not really.
If Sanchez gets a win tomorrow, he should get a statute at AT&T. Please do it, Jonathan.
Proud parent of Bengie Molina: Buster who?
by The Enchanter on Oct 9, 2010 11:00 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
What everybody fails to realize
Is that the Braves won last night’s game for Bobby Cox…The play of the game was Cox getting ejected, firing up his guys and inspiring a comeback. This guy just knows how to win ball games. He is one of the best managers the game has ever seen.
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:03 AM PDT reply actions
Chasm?
He got ejected in the 2nd inning…
That was my ESPN announcer imitation…
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions
I lol'd.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
My head recognizes we still have a decent chance...
My heart knows it’s over. Actually my head believes this too.
I just don’t see the Giants scoring off Hudson or Lowe, or the Braves bullpen (even without Wagner).
Nope, I’m in full Pvt. Hudson mode.
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
Get well Tony
ESPN_MLB
San Diego Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn diagnosed with cancer of parotid salivary gland – http://es.pn/b0JHIp
Oh no :(
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
Adopted parent of good old Wendell, he tries so hard. You'll get a hit someday son!
by theghostofjasonellison on Oct 9, 2010 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
My first thought…Get well Tony.
My second…Is this related to tobacco? Did he chew?
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I should clarify. I don’t think dipping has been conclusively linked with this kind of cancer. I answered yes to your second question.
Gwynn said the parotid cancer is on the right side of his face from the bottom of his ear to the chin.
He is also concerned that the cancer could be linked to his career-long practice of using chewing tobacco.
"I haven’t discussed that with the doctors yet, but I’m thinking it’s related to dipping," said Gwynn, who resumed the practice of using chewing tobacco after the first two surgeries.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Yeah
Just saw the link, in the original post..
/feels dumb
I can’t believe he didn’t quit after having previous surgeries….gah….If his son dips, hopefully this inspires him to stop.
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 9, 2010 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
What does anyone expect?
Nicotine is a powerful. intensely addictive narcotic.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
So don’t start using.
I have Croix de Candlesticks older than you.
goldengatebeerbars.com
by troymccluresf on Oct 10, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Just so.
But, at the age most do start, advice is generally scorned. Plus, in baseball, there is extra pressure to dip, because it’s “manly” and “traditional”.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
I had to take up smoking to quit dipping. I was 15. Didn’t give up cigarettes for another 9 years.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 11, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Get well Tony :(
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Oh man. Good luck for a speedy recovery Tony.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
I posted a fanshot about this. So sad.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 9, 2010 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions
I can’t help but get angry every time I see someone chewing tobacco.
I have Croix de Candlesticks older than you.
goldengatebeerbars.com
by troymccluresf on Oct 9, 2010 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
I really wish MLB did more to discourage its use.
They do seem to do a good job of not showing players using. I’m sure this isn’t easy as it appears it is still unfortunately quite popular.
It's not just MLB.
It’s the players themselves. I’ve spoken with GMs about it, and they despair—they put up display photos of cancers, they have doctors and ex-players who’ve had surgery come in and address the team, all for nothing. They start as kids, ‘cause it’s like cool, man, and that’s it. I saw a Scientific American article a few months ago on the addictive effects of cigarettes on kids just lighting up their first: the first few puffs produce profound bodily addiciion reactions that remain for at least months after.
But hey, it’s a profitable industry, and the business of America is business. Pfui. I just hope my ten years, from 15 to 25, don’t come back and bite me in old age.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
I still remember the videos we had to watch in middle school about lung cancer and the effects of cigarettes. Scared me then, scares me now. They are pretty much the biggest reason why I’ve stayed away from them.
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Oct 10, 2010 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
I went to SDSU same time as Tony
Wow…that’s sad news. Any word on the outlook for recovery with this type of cancer?
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
Sez Olney
Buster_ESPN
Glad to hear from Tony Gwynn that doctors feel like they caught his cancer early;one of the best, as a player and his treatment of others
They could be Giants...but not really.
Well that sucks. Good luck to him.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Oct 9, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh no. :(
Get well soon, Tony.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 9, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Get well, Tony
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
Huff said last night that he felt the hitters went into cruise control after Pat’s HR. I read that as he felt the lineup got complacent because they expected the pitching to take it from there and make those runs stand up the rest of the way.
I hope that’s not true.
They could be Giants...but not really.
I really don't buy this.
If anything the lead would relax the hitters allowing them to press less and have better at bats.
I buy it
They do this all the time. Infuriates me. Lots of lazy at bats after they have an early lead.
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
Could you please define "lazy at bat"
I really don’t notice any difference between when they have a lead and when they don’t.
Impatient, for one thing
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
I guess I should clarify
More impatient than usual
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
Definition of a lazy at bat
It can be different things for different hitters.
- Torres: Not working the count; greater tendency to swing for the fences
- FSanchez: Not working the count; greater tendency to try to hit everything to right field
- Huff: Not working the count; tendency to lose focus when umpire’s call go against him; chasing bad balls away or in the dirt—especially breaking pitches; poor situational hitting
- Posey: I haven’t seen a lazy at bat from Posey; I thought he was pressing on the fateful DP at bat
- Burrell: Best example—when focused, works the count well and lays off bad balls away and in the dirt; when not focused, tends to swing at everything
- Uribe: Another great example—there’s a reason so many of his HR’s have either tied games or put the Giants ahead. His lazy at bats are full of FPOM’s and swings at balls WAYYYY out of the strike zone. But in key situations, Uribe is more likely to lay off bad pitches and work a count.
- Sandoval: Every at bat looks the same with him.
- ALL: FPOM’s, no evidence of mental approach to AB, Just swing hard, hope you hit one out. Lots of hacktastic swinging. Impatience.
This is what I’ve observed, and this is the kind of stuff I think Huff is talking about.
By the way, are you saying Huff is lying about the hitters going into cruise control, or are you just saying that Huff doesn’t know what he’s talking about and that you know better?
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
Yes
I remember i think it was a week or two ago, late in the game Huff sometimes just mentally removes himself from the AB when a questionable call from the umpire doesn’t go his way. I remember he got called on a strike that wasn’t a strike and he got pissed and I immediately thought “He’s going to swing at the next pitch it doesn’t even matter where it’s at he’ll swing” and he did and he’s done that a few times. The thing that trips me out is that pitchers even throw strikes to Uribe. He swings at everything I don’t understand why a pitcher would even give him something to hit. His AB’s irritate me the most I think.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
Logic would also say the closer the 9th inning the better the level of pitching. ( The Miracle of the Modern Bull Pen!!) So the difference in late innings arms can easily be greater than the difference the same hitter’s concentration levels.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Something positive
I was looking at Tim Hudson’s game log for the past few starts. He’s given up 4, 6, 6 and 4 runs in 4 of his past 6 starts. He also has an ERA of 5.30 in September/October.
Having said that he will probably throw a CG SO against the Giants tomorrow.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
and none of those starts were against the Giants
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 9, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Giants baseball: TORTURE!
"I don't know how the six-pack got in my hands." -P.T.F. Bat
by deuce deuce on Oct 9, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Im having a really hard time believing we're going to win at least one in Atlanta.
"There he goes. One of god's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
Jonathan Sanchez would like a word with you
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
♥ 2010 San Francisco Giants ♥
♥ McCoven ♥
by GiantsBabe on Oct 9, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 18 recs
I’m not too worried that Sanchez is going to have an awful start… But I have some serious doubts about our ability to score anything off of Tim Hudson.
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Oct 9, 2010 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
True, but I think that tomorrow’s game is the worst matchup for us. Madbum + Tim > Lowe + Braves4thStarterIForgetHisName
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
Thank you. I’ll still probably forget his name again.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
I believe that Cox has decided to use Lowe in game 4 win or lose.
Buster Posey: Let's enjoy him before he goes to the Yankees.
by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2010 12:20 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Makes some sense.
If they win game 3, he goes with Lowe to clinch and avoid going back to SF; if they lose game 3, he goes with Lowe because the season is on the line.
Loving it.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 9, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, GiantsBabe. You are the Patronus Charm to our Atlandementors.
You must be part Veela. This is how your posts look to me:
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
aw, LOL!
♥ WTAWTAM ♥
I’m actually 100% Veela. /bats eyelashes
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
♥ 2010 San Francisco Giants ♥
♥ McCoven ♥
/swoon!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Hell yeah!
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Oct 9, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
the caption should read
this is a baseball
"For all you first-basemen who played first your whole life, that's where Buster plays on his OFF days" - Kuiper
Me too
I’m worried.
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." -Zinedine Zidane
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Oct 9, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
OT: Catz!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87p53rAD7Sk&feature=player_embedded#!
Here is a touching video that I hope will comfort everyone in their time of distress. Just try and keep the song from being stuck in your head!
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
35 minutes?
I like cats and dogs both, but there is no way I am sitting through 35m of videos of either.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm more upset at myself for getting my hopes up.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 9, 2010 11:50 AM PDT reply actions
That was the most depressing game I've ever watched in person...
God fucking damnit.
No one said it was going to be easy, but still…
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
Just when I thought I was over last night’s game, I see this headline:
Ankiel, Glaus & Farnsworth: Whose success was most stunning?
Thanks for rubbing it in, Yahoo.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Man. I really want another shot at Farnsworth with the game on the line.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
I know. I still can’t believe we couldn’t get a freakin’ run off the guy.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Hits the first batter, walks the second batter, then gets out of it with a DP. Amazing.
Buster Posey: Let's enjoy him before he goes to the Yankees.
by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2010 12:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
You know, in some ways, this is almost comforting. The fact that they needed these three guys to do something “stunning” just to win a one-run game shows that their success is extremely precarious. Will lightning strike three times again in this series? Or will they return to more predictable suckiness? Here’s hoping for the latter.
It's orange inside
As Earl Weaver (I think) used to say...
Momentum is tomorrow’s starting pitcher.
It was a bad way to lose a game—so many things had to go wrong, and they all did—but in the end it’s the same as a run-of-the-mill 5-2 loss.
Best of three. Giants still have the edge, I think.
Thoroughbread of sin!
All last night is that I was wishing we were just blown out. I can deal with that. Beating ourselves is just so much more painful…
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
Looking at it objectively, I really do see an advantage for us. I see us as underdogs in the next game, but Mad Bum is way better than their 4th starter, and then it’s back to Tim.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
If we’re down 1-2, you think Bochy will still go with MadBum? I would think he’d be tempted to start Tim on short rest in that situation.
They could be Giants...but not really.
I guess that’s a good point. I sure hope it doesn’t come to that.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
If we lose Game 3 – I think we’re almost guaranteed to see Timmy and Cain for games 4 and 5.
by keyser_sozey on Oct 9, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I would only start Tim on short rest
If you’re also willing to start Matt on short rest. Otherwise Madison is going to have to start anyway if we win, so why make tim start early?
I agree, but I think esseffgeez was just trying to predict Bochy’s thought-process, which will be tainted with thoughts of “momentum”.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
Actually, I’m just reading between the lines of Bochy saying that his Game 4 starter will either be MadBum or Tim on short rest. Given that Timmy has never pitched on short rest, I’m pretty sure what that means is:
If the Giants are ahead 2-1: MadBum; worst case, if you lose, you have a rested Tim at home for Game 5
If the Giants are behind 1-2: Tim and damn the consequences
They could be Giants...but not really.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Plus, maybe Bochy feels more comfortable with Tim on the road and Madbum starting at home.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
Maybe but
MadBum has very good numbers on the road.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
But Matt wouldn’t go on short rest. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Two days off in a five game series?
No wonder the World Series may go into November. I seem to remember last year one of the seven-game series had an off day between two games at the same park. Nuts.
Seeing as how Game 4 is on Halloween,
there’s almost no chance it doesn’t go into November, especially on the East Coast.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Two scheduled off days in a five game series is SOP. You have to schedule travel days after Games 2 and 4. For the Giants and Braves, it’s hardly a luxury as they have to travel across the country.
It’s the off days between two games at the same park that are hard to defend. Both the ALCS and the NLCS had an off-day between Games 4 and 5 last year.
They could be Giants...but not really.
For the first few years of the 2-2-1 format, they didn’t have an off-day between 4 and 5. In 2002, the Giants beat the Braves at home in Game 4 on Sunday, went to Atlanta to win Game 5 on Monday, then had 1 day off to head to St. Louis for the NLCS on Wednesday. The TBS contract introduced a bunch of extra off-days.
They did get rid of that completely superfluous LCS off-day for this year, so that’s good.
/shift-A
Last night was toadfuckery, but I still have faith in them.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 9, 2010 11:59 AM PDT reply actions
I was last night. Why do you ask?
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 9, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
That hurt. It hurt quite bad. This team is better than the Braves though. They’ll split these next two and come home to unfurl a rousing victory. It’s stressful, but I’ve waited seven years for this stress, so I’m going to embrace it rather than cower from it.
GO FUCKING GIANTS, GO!
Billy Ripken is not a fuck face
Since 1997
Dante Powell
Jay Payton
Benny Agbayani
Bobby Jones
Scott Spiezio
Jose Cruz, Jr.
J.T. Snow
Rick Ankiel
It’s unbelievable how many soul-crushing playoff losses this team has had in such a short time.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 12:07 PM PDT reply actions
I would remove JT from that list. It’s not his fault that he’s slow as hell.
Billy Ripken is not a fuck face
Alou was only 2003. The rest is on the idiot Baker.
Buster Posey: Let's enjoy him before he goes to the Yankees.
by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2010 12:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That list isn’t supposed to be blaming people, it’s just a list of the team’s most devastating playoff losses. It’s funny that everyone knows exactly what I’m talking about despite listing nothing other than names.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
It would be palatable if actually good players beat us
Look at that list of fuckwits
I'm too young
I’m sure it was heartbreaking though.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
My dad taught me to hate Oquendo
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
My dad is a Yankee fan
you cannot imagine the pain I’ve been through
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Remind him that rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for US Steel.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
My dad is a Yankee fan too
but the Giants are his favorite NL team. And he liked the Giants when he moved to California (in the mid 80’s) and hated Jose Oquendo
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
I'm 12 years old and who is Jose Oquendo?
:)
by keyser_sozey on Oct 9, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Jose Oquendo
In 1987 he ruined an 8 year olds life for almost nearly a week, after he pretty much knocked the Giants out of the playoffs against St. Louis.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions
I was really thinking of both games
Oquendo hit the sacrifice fly after the Maldonado play for the only run of game 6, then hit the HR to start off game 7 (he had 2 career regular season HRs at the time).
Yankees can give you a longer list.
But they make up for it by winning all those damn WS titles.
by keyser_sozey on Oct 9, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL OPTIMISM
"There he goes. One of god's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
I’m sure today’s Cal game will help get that bad taste of disappointment out of my mouth.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
“I’ll have a Sam Adams.”
“It’s 9:30 in the morning…”
“Yeah, but I need to get the taste of weed and hooker spit outta my mouth.”
…
“I’ll have a Sam Adams too.”
Samuel Adams, always a good decision!
"There he goes. One of god's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
You've never been with a hooker
They won’t kiss you.
Buster Posey: Let's enjoy him before he goes to the Yankees.
by rxmeister on Oct 9, 2010 12:26 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
But if you pay them enough, they’ll spit in your mouth.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
by groug on Oct 9, 2010 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
DAN FROM NM LINKED TO PROSTITUTE SPIT FETISH ON WEBSITE!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Nice FG reference!
Hitler was a Dodgers fan.
by The Nick on Oct 9, 2010 4:03 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
NAILED IT
THAT WASN’T A SARCASTIC COMMENT AT ALL
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
This is a funny reply fail.
It makes you seem schizophrenic.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
That wasn't a reply fail though
I was congratulating myself on my successful totally not-sarcastic prediction.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
He has not pitched well of late
And given that he’s coming back from TJ surgery could very likely be wearing down, but even if he’s not. Dirty seems to be quietly becoming a big game pitcher. Plus the Braves only have three major league level hitters—AAA hitters can still hurt you—and two of them are left handed.
Believe bitches believe!
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm starting to think it's time to bench the great pumpkin.
"Mike Laga will make you forget about every power hitter that ever lived." - Sparky Anderson
"You're alright, La Russo." - Johnny Lawrence
by AngeloB on Oct 9, 2010 12:31 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Hey, you know what happened 21 years ago today?
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 12:34 PM PDT reply actions
This.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I was there.
I was 13. It felt good. I miss that feeling.
"Mike Laga will make you forget about every power hitter that ever lived." - Sparky Anderson
"You're alright, La Russo." - Johnny Lawrence
by AngeloB on Oct 9, 2010 2:00 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Is it true that if the Braves remove Wagner and replace him with Saito, then Wagner would be ineligible for the NLCS as well?
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 12:36 PM PDT reply actions
After researching it further
I think you’re wrong. The best thing I can find on the subject is this message board post so it’s not conclusive by any means. But if that’s right, then Wagner would be ineligible for the NLCS and World Series if they replace him on the roster now.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
He'd be available for the WS but not the NLCS.
Because the roster rules have been altered to allow for injury-related substitutions during the postseason, Cox will not carry three catchers like he liked to do when he guided Atlanta through the playoffs 14 previous times.
If a player is injured during a particular series, he can be replaced by a member of the club’s 40-man roster. But the injured player would then be ineligible to compete in the next round.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Hmm
I thought I read somewhere that they are ineligible for all future rounds
I agree 100% with that assessment.
Deal with it. Jose Guillen has been there before.
by Tay on Oct 9, 2010 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions
some idiot with a georgia license plate was driving in front of me today.
i wanted to rear end the hell out of them, but then i remembered my car insurance doesn’t cover rage caused by pandas.
"to me, the all star game is retarded."--aubrey huff
Dear Bochy - Please sit Pablo.
That’s all.
This
Times infinity
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Dear Giants
Losing to the Braves won’t cause me any emotional distress. You’ve gotta lose to the Phillies if you want to make the postseason worse for me than the Dodgers crapping the bed already has.
So you might as well dispose of the Braves tomorrow and Monday so you can get about with the business of either avenging the West upon the bloated corpse of the Phillies, or Nelson Muntz’ing me.
Y’know?
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:06 PM PDT reply actions
If the Giants make it to the NLCS, they will not dispose of the Phillies to somehow redeem the dodgers we do so to avenge the fans who have had to watch shitty Giants teams the last 5 years
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
I didn't say vengeance would be their motive.
But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t happen.
I may go to IHOP to enjoy delicious waffles with whipped cream and strawberries.
My gaining 30 pounds by doing that every day is almost certainly going to be part of the result, even if it’s not the intent.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I think I’ve already gained 30 pounds watching the Giants stretch run and playoff games.
Note to self: It does not make sense to eat ice cream after a win (for celebration) and after a loss (for comfort).
Sure it does.
Just use different flavors for comfort and for celebration.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Truth.
But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t utter a few variants on “Oh goddammit” if the Phillies were to win a third straight pennant.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I’d have to guess that a Giants/Braves/Phillies/Reds playoff is pretty close to a Dodger fan’s National League Doomsday Scenario.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Probably depends on the Dodger fan.
Re-replying since SBN hates me:
See, I personally Really Don’t Like the Phillies because they ended our season the last two years in the NLCS, but there’s no historical animosity there.
I detest the Braves because of 1991.
I wasn’t born during the Dodgers/Reds rivalry of the ‘70s, but I’ve always considered the Cardinals the #2 rival in the NL after, of course, San Francisco.
Ask ten other Dodger fans, you might get ten other responses.
My personal doomsday would be Giants/Braves/Cardinals/Phillies, so yeah, pretty close.
But an older Dodger fan might be closer to what you just cited, or might replace the Phillies with someone else.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
What about the Padres? Are they just too bad too frequently to matter?
Is there any level of SoCal dislike, or are the Padres to Dodger fans as the Clippers are to Laker fans?
What about the AL? My guess would be Angels/Yankees/BoSox or A’s/LOL AL Central!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
The Padres are gnats.
Or possibly mosquitoes.
Frequently irritating, in extreme cases life-threatening, but most of the time you don’t think about them all that much.
I had a fairly righteous hate-on for them in high school when it seemed like they were knocking us out of the playoffs in the final week of the season every year, but it’s not a self-sustaining hatred.
In the AL? Hm.
The Yankees and A’s are the only ones I have strong feelings about from a baseball perspective. Arte Moreno and his “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, USA, Terra, Sol, Milky Way” fetish bother me much more than the franchise itself does.
I don’t know that it’s possible to construct a doomsday playoff scenario in the AL for a Dodger fan (or this specific Dodger fan, at least), other than “The Yankees win the pennant!”
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, pretty much what I figured.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I think part of it is because I hate most AL teams fairly well equally.
The DH and all, donchaknow.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Probably depends on the Dodger fan.
See, I personally Really Don’t Like the Phillies because they ended our season the last two years in the NLCS, but there’s no historical animosity there.
I detest the Braves because of 1991.
I wasn’t born during the Dodgers/Reds rivalry of the ‘70s, but I’ve always considered the Cardinals the #2 rival in the NL after, of course, San Francisco.
Ask ten other Dodger fans, you might get ten other responses.
My personal doomsday would be Giants/Braves/Cardinals/Phillies, so yeah, pretty close.
But an older Dodger fan might be closer to what you just cited, or might replace the Phillies with someone else.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 1:36 PM PDT reply actions
Sorry, I already jumped
Next time I’ll try something higher than the 2nd floor now. Because now I just added physical pain. :(
"Catch that, Eckstein!" - Duane Kuiper
An argument for the Giants being the favorite to with the NL Pennant?
Something I’ve been wondering about is whether the things a team needs to win a division over 162 games is the same as the things needed to be successful in the playoffs. Of course the playoffs are still just baseball games but there are some differences between the regular season and the post season.
For example, a team will
- only face the best teams
- often face the opposing top starters more than once
- often face the opposing closer for more than 3 outs
- play longer series against the same team
So what are the characteristics of successful playoff teams?
It appears someone looked into this (Nate Silver) and developed a “Secret Sauce” to explain playoff success. He argues that teams that do well in the playoffs feature power pitching, a good closer, and a strong defense. The performance of his formula hasn’t been that great, but some argue that it doesn’t take into account the final rosters for teams (so maybe it is a bit better than it appears).
If he is right for 2010, it bodes well for the Giants according to my back of the envelope calculations.
Anyway, here are some articles on the topic:
http://nymag.com/guides/fallpreview/2009/sports/58501/
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5541#commentMessage
Is this complete horse shit? Does anyone know about other studies done around post-season success? I am curious about this topic.
pure horseshit
It boils down to, Mariano Rivera is really good. Which is true. But not predictive unless you are Mariano Rivera.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
datamining is not easy
In this case, Silver did it wrong. Full stop.
But what we have is a model based on historical data that has thus far been ineffective at predicting results out-of-sample, which doesn’t give us a lot of reason to be confident in it going forward. So for now, we’re retiring the Secret Sauce.Link.
True, to get to there from my comment you a) need to understand the pitfalls of datamining, b) understand what would have been the influential points to Silver’s curvefitting, c) understand that the Yankees are a big part of that set and d) accept that as a result Mariano Rivera probably drove the effect.
But that would require you to care about analysis.
If you don’t, I guess ‘heh’ is a perfectly cromulent answer.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah I read this too and I get the issues with data mining, etc.
That’s why I was wondering if anyone else has tried to tackle this…
Good link
Thanks.
It sounds as if Tango’s POV is that they are all just baseball games.
But the argument that there is more “run scarcity” in the post season since teams feature the top of their rotation more and additional innings for their best relievers makes intuitive sense. And my hypothesis would be that some teams would inherently be better in a more run scarce environment. But it doesn’t appear this has been proven or disproven at this point. I am fully prepared to be proven wrong here…it’s just a hypothesis that I am curious about…
There is more run scarcity in the post season. There is a lot of well-established analysis on the effects of run levels. Defense does matter a little more, as does pitching, consistency and small ball. But you still have to score. Your analysis of the postseason should use all available data, estimate the run-scarcity effect and probably simulate to estimate the effect of short series.
What it should not do is throw away 99% of your data and let Mariano Rivera drive your result.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
About run scarcity:
Are there numbers? I’ve not looked it up, but—as Tango has said in The Book—good pitching stops good hitting to about the exact same extent that good hitting stops good pitching. So post-season games ought to have about the same average scoring as regular-season games between good teams. is the reality, over some nontrivial span of time, much different? I’m too lazy to look myself.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
FWIW, Baseball Prospectus has stopped using Secret Sauce. Not sure if that’s because Nate Silver left, though.
They could be Giants...but not really.
They stopped because it doesn’t work.
You don’t need to have spent parts of your career doing data analysis to understand this, either. You just have to say, ‘dude, what kind of a predictive method ignores offense?’
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Ok, next you’re going to tell me that the old adage, “offense wins games, defense wins championships” doesn’t hold. Shame on you. :)
As this article points out, recent changes in baseball have also undermined several of the model’s underlying assumptions.
They could be Giants...but not really.
I still think Silver’s result is 100% bunk due to influential points like the Yankees and Rivera.
I did like his note:
For what it’s worth, Secret Sauce has the Padres winning it all.. Rays are nipping at San Diego’s heelsAnd while our n here is 2, that would appear to be yet another out-of-sample failure.
I am pretty comfortable calling the Secret Sauce pure horseshit. Generally I like Nate Silver, but not here.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Not to defend Silver but re: the Padres…they may not have the right team to get to the post season and we will never know how they would have fared if they made it. He is not making any claims about which teams will or won’t make the playoffs…only how they will do if and when they get there…
I think the Padres would have done okay — assuming Latos’s arm didn’t fall off.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Re: "strong defense" "bodes well for the Giants"
Just have to point out that the earned run score after 9 was 4-2 Giants.
It's orange inside
Can anyone explain why the Braves' first run wasn't earned.
Without the error, Lee is on first with no outs. McCann’s hit would send him to third, and then Cabrera’s fly out would score Lee with one out. Is the official scorer not allowed to assume a hypothetical sacrifice fly when reconstructing the inning?
With the runner on first the entire pitch sequance can change and can the hitters objective of the hitter on any given pitch. Ergo the entire path of the inning is altered.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
I make it that . . .
. . . the Giants were the #11 defensive team (11th best, that is) in MLB, and the 5th best in the NL. Remarkably, Atlanta was the 2nd best (after the Padres), but I guess the injuries have hurt them in several respects.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
How are you measuring team defense?
I can not find a single metric that does not have the Giants as one of the top 5 defensvie teams in MLB and top 3 in the NL.
by BornRaisedAGiant on Oct 11, 2010 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Simply:
As the fraction of all men available to the defense to make outs on who actually were put out. Details here: the three rightmost columns are conjectural, but the one labelled FE% is simple hard fact.
If I recall right, the so-called DER (Defensive Efficiency Ratio) that Bill James came up with at about the time I developed FE% is pretty much just 1 minus BABIP, and so is normally close to .700 for a team (as BABIPs are close to .300). The FE% is pretty similar, but includes out made on double (and triple) plays, so the percentage is silghtly higher, around 74% (since runners on base are potential outs available to the defense, and DPs are normally considered important parts of defensive play).
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
If you redue this for the whole season I bet the Giants final 27 games moves them up significantly.
I bet the end up in the top 5 in MLB and top three in NL just like all the other metrics.
by BornRaisedAGiant on Oct 11, 2010 4:01 AM PDT up reply actions
The linked page . . .
. . . is complete-season data. In-season, the page updates daily.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
Are you sure?
The game total for the Giants is just 135 and the game total for the other teams ranges from 133 to 135. Thus it looks very much to me like it has not updated since about the first of September.
by BornRaisedAGiant on Oct 11, 2010 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Well, my face is red. The PHP script received a “very minor” update a month ago, along with several others, but a stupid little one-character typo sneaked in. I have now repaired it and here are the summary results (the correct) full results are, again, at the link:
San Francisco is #2 in the NL (after San Diego), and #5 in MLB overall.
NY Yankees:. 761
Oakland: .761
San Diego: .754
Tampa Bay: .753
San Francisco: .751
MLB average: .739
I never even thought to look at the Games totals. Stupid is as stupid does.
Nonetheless, it remains so that—
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
No problem.
It is nice to see your work correlate so well with the other metrics available. This gives me better confidence in both your work and the work of these other metrics.
by BornRaisedAGiant on Oct 12, 2010 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions
playoff in baseball (unlike the regular season) is a crapshoot anyway, especially for the 5-game series. Doesn’t surprise me that no one can predict it well. In fact it would really surprise me if anyone can make good predictions…
Proud adopted parent of the ball dudes, who have grounded into 109 fewer double plays than the Giants.
Just so.
The worst thing about a five-game series is that it doesn’t realistically reflect the team’s actual starting staff; but a close second is that in so few games, so much can turn on some one or two flukes—a bad call, a barely missed (or not missed) ball, and so on. It’s bad enough in a seven-game series, but it’s cruel in a mere five.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
I have i mentioned I hate 5 game post seasons seires.
/ mutters " ..just freaking go back to 154 regular game… sets of 7…. and getting the W.S. over with before I have get the turkey in the oven."
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
True but trying to make predictions is not that interesting to me. Predictions for the regular season is frequently wrong too. Are you aware of any models that predicted the Giants first and the Padres second in the NL West?
What’s more interesting to me is understanding how the relative importance of success drivers change in the transition from regular season to the post season. The Braves are an interesting case study. 14 division titles or something like that and only 1 WS victory. Were these teams built for regular season success and post season failure?
Can we please ditch "Fear the Beard" now?
Also, as covered in PGT, Orange Friday should be officially dead and buried (though I guess it’s moot for this year, with no more Friday games).
It's orange inside
eh
I’ve started growing a beard and it’s gotten to the point where I can’t be bothered to stop.
I had that same thought process while looking into the mirror this morning.
I mean, fuck. It’s a playoff beard; I can’t shave it off after the first loss.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I shaved on Friday morning.
I sincerely hope that doesn’t count.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I assume you mowed down those whiskers in tribute to Lincecum's artistry the night before.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Not in tribute so much as it just seemed wrong to have more facial hair than somebody who pitches like that.
I mean, maybe I could donate the clippings so Timmy can have his own beard?
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm guessing he's a few years away yet from growing one himself.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I had facial hair when I was 14.
And yet he’s the millionaire.
Justice: there is none.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Ugh
I’m going to be so annoyed if the Rangers make it out of the first round and the Giants don’t.
“The Giants needed veteran leadership like Molina provides, not some rookie hitting into double plays when it counts.”
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 2:45 PM PDT reply actions
I’m rooting for the Rangers, but not because of Molina.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
I just saw Dubya in the stands. Is that why?
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I like them too.
And I even like Molina. I just shudder at the idiotic things that will be said and the amount of credit he’ll get.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes
but it’s much harder to say those things if they lose
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm stuck . . .
. . .with a Giants fan whose strong secondary loyalties are to the Rangers and the Twins because each used, at some time, to be the Washington Senators (“Washington: first in war, first in peace, last in the American League”). It was a disease contracted in childhood and appears incurable: not even George Bush and Nolan Ryan seem sufficient.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
I didn’t think much of the Rangers until I visited Dallas last year on vacation. I guess it was a lot like meeting someone for the first time and assigning a name to the face. The Rangers became a real thing to me, and if nothing I’m an old softie. So I grew to like the Rangers after that point.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
My fault
Sorry guys. I left my lucky Marquis Grissom bobble head and mini baseball at the office yesterday. Going back to get them both now.
by Lima Beans on Oct 9, 2010 2:48 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Good news/bad news
The good news is that I woke up to fewer chest-thumping messages from Braves fans on my Facebook wall than I thought I would.
The bad news is, last night still happened. I woke up, and it was all still true. And the national media are making a huge deal out of it, like divine providence saved His team from a loss at the hands of that team from the other coast.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
I can't get exercised
Journalists labor in a dying industry. If they choose to forget a hundred million people or so, it’s their loss.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Print journalists. You’re a radio voice, I thought.
by wcw on Oct 9, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I am. I’ve worked in print. In my defense, I’ve often bemoaned the lack of news coverage from the Western states. I’m just not in a position to do anything about it.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Time to pull out the ol' soapbox
I miss Day to Day. It was NPR News’ first big step toward more western-oriented news. The show debuted in July, 2003, and was produced from NPR’s then-new West Coast production facility, NPR West in Culver City.
I first heard it not long after its debut, and I fell in love with it. It was smart, irreverent, smooth and most importantly, it got away from the Beltway. The news was mainly from a Pacific Coast perspective, with focus on the thoughts, ideas and values shared by Westerners.
When I became the news director of a college NPR station in Alabama three years later, I strongly advocated for Day to Day in our weekday program lineup. We became the only station in the state to carry the show.
It broke my heart when the network cancelled D2D in December, 2008. I was angry because in that action, the most clear, interesting voice on the West Coast went silent and talented journalists, writers and producers were let go simply to save a few dollars. I wrote a long e-mail to the hosts and producers of the program, expressing my profound thanks for their work.
I still can’t believe it’s gone. Not long ago, I paid a visit to NPR West. As I walked around, my guide gestured toward darkened rooms and silent studios. “That’s where Day to Day used to be,” she said. She says it just hasn’t been the same since the West Coast lost its most powerful voice at NPR.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
I had an awesome, and very realistic feeling, dream in which the Giants won.
I woke up to extreme disappointment. :(
Sucking up to Grant for a mod position since 2009
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
1-0, Rangers.
If the Rays get swept here, at least the Giants (if it comes to that) won’t be considered the biggest bust of the postseason.
/reaches for any silver lining
They could be Giants...but not really.
I like the cut of your jib. I’m honestly on the cusp of picking up drinking as a hobby.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
I don't think we can be considered a bust at all
Esp. considering that most experts had us pegged for 3rd or 4th in the division.
In the regular season, sure. But by virtue of injuries, home field advantage, etc. popular opinion favored us over the Braves.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Live Press Conference
Watch Bochy and Sanchez talk about Game #, and hopefully not Game 2:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=15424332
Game 3 Win Probabilities
Braves 55.6%
Giants 44.4%
Oddsmakers are more confident in the Giants than we are.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:26 PM PDT reply actions
Got the odds on the series win?
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
I'll try to find them
But when I did this last night using 40% for Game 3 I came out with 48.5% for the series. So we’re closer to, if not over 50% now.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Following up
Looked at 3 different sites with series odds and the W% ranges from 50% to 51.1% for the Giants.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 9, 2010 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I refuse to draw opinions about last night's game
until the series is concluded. I’m still working through the initial visceral reactions of what might have been a soul amputation.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
The collection date was unspecified.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
extrabaggs Andrew Baggarly
Bochy says staff discussed starting Fontenot over Sandoval in Game 3. First they must watch Freddy in BP to make sure he’s good to go.
by GiantPain on Oct 9, 2010 3:52 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I wholeheartedly approve of this decision.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Even if Fontenot doesn't get a hit
He’s an upgrade.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Catching weak grounders and throwing them to first base
Is an upgrade over Sandoval and would’ve won the game last night.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Just how many runners did the Giants have on 2nd or 3rd. Move just 1 of those 90 -180 feet and there is your game winning. Goat horns all arround for the hitters.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Depressing stat
Rick Ankiel had a better batting WAR as a rookie pitcher in 2000 than he did this year.
Rick Ankiel and Barry Lamar Bonds – the only players with a Splash Hit in the postseason. Let that that thought percolate for a while.
They could be Giants...but not really.
This wasn't kind.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. - SLC
it was awesome how that ball made it all the way back up from the cove and onto the field last night
D:
Rooting for Jose Casilla to take his K- and GB-inducing skills to the majors and join his brother.
I’m just hoping certain people don’t see that post.
Rooting for Jose Casilla to take his K- and GB-inducing skills to the majors and join his brother.
I go one better. I turned to wife and said don’t throw this guy a fast ball near the zone. After watchiing Tim in Game one she cocks her head and says, ’ Why not?" there is a loud crack from teh TV and I replay, " It is about the only pitch in MLB he can hit" why couldn’t I have been wrong?
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Say what you will, but I’m coming to the conclusion I’d enjoy having sex with Matt Garza.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Letter, I have no idea what to say to this.
"throwing out runners? I don’t know, just chuck it as hard as you can".-Buster Posey
Fonty!
extrabaggs Andrew Baggarly
Freddy Sanchez didn’t take batting practice. Not on the field, anyway. Getting treatment right now.
Fonty
Ever notice that both Bochy and Piniella use Fontenot to shake players out of their lethargy. They threaten to start or platoon him, but never actually do it. Bochy threatened to put him at third in place of Sandoval, but I bet he doesn’t actually do it.
Wagner replacement?
so I don’t get that the Wagner replacement player is supposedly Saito.. I thought he was injured as well.. like injured enough to not have him on the roster in the first place?
"throwing out runners? I don’t know, just chuck it as hard as you can".-Buster Posey
Hooray
The painters haven’t finished yet so the scaffolding is still up. Thus blocking my Directv dish and I cannot watch Sunday’s game.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Nope. Sleeping it off didn’t work.
Belted!
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Oct 9, 2010 5:19 PM PDT reply actions
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS HIT ONE TO THE OUTFIELD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The more I think about that play the more I wish Huff had just been more aggressive. Obviously Huff takes the walk to keep the inning going and get Buster up there, but if he just puts a ball in play we had a decent chance at scoring since there was no DP opportunity.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Oct 9, 2010 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions
"aggressive"
I love it. Run that through Babelfish and it comes out “swing at balls outside the strike zone”. We already gave at the office.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
Use whatever adjective you like, it doesn’t change the fact that this teams leads the league in GIDP’s.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Oct 10, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
But that isn’t indicative of anything.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 10, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
If anything, it’s indicative that they’re too aggressive. Remember how we’ve been bitching for years that they’re hackers that don’t take enough pitches?
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 10, 2010 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
There’s no doubt they’re too aggressive, that alone is a good reason to try to put something in play when there’s an open 1st base. I’m not placing blame on Huff for taking a walk, there’s nothing wrong with it. But, thinking back on the situation I wish he had put something in play.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Oct 10, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
There wasn’t an open 1st base. Diarrhenteria was on second and Sanchez was on first. Huff’s BB moved Diarrhenteria to 3rd with one out.
Huff did the right thing, Buster, on the other hand, well, we won’t get into that…
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 10, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
And exactly what pitch in teh PA was he supose to squared up on enough?
naw Huff did good there.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
I’m not putting blame on Huff, and I know his mind state wasn’t “Let’s avoid a Posey DP.” However, if he did put one in play, we probably score a run.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Oct 10, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
That is not my point. My point is exactly what pitch did you expect time to square up on put into play that decided to take? TO my Eye Huff knew what he was looking for in the PA but just didn’t get it. A hitter that starts trying to make do with other pitches in that situation ussally achieves 2 things. 1) Looking like Pedro Feliz. 2) encourages the umprise crew to expand thier strike zone for each of his following P.A.’s the rest of series.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
I wasn’t around last night (drinking myself to sleep) but who was the groug think yelling at? Pablo? Bochy?
Belted!
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Oct 9, 2010 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe it was the baseball gods saying “Enough of the Posey is better chants”.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
This
Persius had his struggles too, if I recall.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I TOLD YOU JOSE GUILLEN WAS FUCKING WORTHLESS
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
If it was Guillen who did that last night? I think we would’ve destroyed the internet.
Belted!
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Oct 9, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I know that my mouse would've sustained severe damage.
History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there.
George Santayana
by Sabean's_Folly on Oct 9, 2010 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I think he just wanted to show off his breakdancing skills
"For all you first-basemen who played first your whole life, that's where Buster plays on his OFF days" - Kuiper
WTH? Really?
We just sat down to watch last night’s game on the DVR. We wanted to see a few things again before deleting it… and TBS joined the game late? WTH?
The Giants/Braves game was on TNT until Reds/Phillies game ended.
They could be Giants...but not really.
Considering our ability to fast-forward through their ads,
I’m pretty sure TV networks will never throw any bones like that our way.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
On another board I frequent, there was mention of the possibility of games being moved to TNT so there are people there who are DVR’ing both TBS and TNT.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Be ready tomorrow
Could happen again with TB/TEX preceding
Giants/Braves should have been switched on TBS in the Giants and Braves TV areas with Phillies-Reds moved to TNT.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
That's silly.
The only people that helps are the ones that aren’t watching live. If you’re watching live, you’ll catch the repeated and clear heads-ups about the temporary station switch. And if you’re DVR’ing the game, you’re gonna skip the ads, so there’s no incentive to help you.
But let’s say you’re at a bar or something and miss the heads-up. Moment of panic: you search around and eventually find the game on TNT, but you miss a couple of outs while doing so. Those outs you miss can either be in the first inning or the ninth.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
FOX has done it. They would move a game to FX that isn’t part of the local area.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
A football game, yeah. But that’s because of the bizarre and self-defeating NFL rules that lead to blackouts and whatnot. They’ve seriously cut away from a team lining up for an overtime field goal so that I could watch ten minutes of sideline reporters.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Random thought
If you think that your team can’t beat Tim Hudson in Atlanta, maybe you shouldn’t care too much because you obviously think your team sucks beyond repair and they weren’t going to win it all anyways.
That is not random.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Not random at all, and glad you said it.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond, Brian Anderson.
Jeremy Affeldt induces strained obliques
by Giant among Angels on Oct 9, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Playoffs are a crapshoot. No reason to believe anything at this point. One day you can lose to Rick Ankiel, the next Tim Hudson. Split at home, get swept on the road, it doesn’t make sense. Except when it does.
Playoffs are not a crapshoot.
Exhibit A: Yankees.
by keyser_sozey on Oct 9, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I remember that string of championships from last decade. It’s like they couldn’t lose.
by Grant Brisbee on Oct 9, 2010 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that’s just we “feel” like they couldn’t lose (after they have already won). People are notoriously bad at detecting randomness. There were a bunch of studies in psychology about that. People also tend to impose causes on things they cannot explain.
I am not saying the Yankees weren’t good, but they were also very lucky. There are 8 teams in playoff and even if you are clearly the best you can’t expect winning it all at much more than 20% chance.
Proud adopted parent of the ball dudes, who have grounded into 109 fewer double plays than the Giants.
I agree with you. I was just trying to counterpoint using lev. III sarcasm. The Yankees made the playoffs eight times in the last nine years, and they’ve won a single championship in that time. And when they did win it, it was with four or five 35+-year-olds playing at a crazy-high level without getting injured. You can call that design, but I have another word for it.
by Grant Brisbee on Oct 10, 2010 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions
it appears that my chasmdar broke…
Proud adopted parent of the ball dudes, who have grounded into 109 fewer double plays than the Giants.
i know the feeling
Here borrow mine.
Yes, I’ve recently been looking to an excuse to dust that off.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
At least Braves-Giants won't be the only series not to end in 3.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Perhaps it’s the Saturday-afternoon beer talking, but:
- The series is tied. We’ve lost home-field advantage, but whatever. We’re not facing elimination yet. We’ve been through this before. Any post-season loss is painful, and for seven out of eight teams, this season will end in pain. Lots and lots of pain. We can handle it. We always have.
-
- Fuck the critics. The Giants overcame a late 6.5 game deficit to beat the Padres. I love this team, no matter what happens from here on out. The Braves may beat the Giants, but they’re going to have to beat some damn good pitchers to do it. Bring it on.
-
Knowing the Giants history this season
They will lose game 3 in disappointing fashion and win game 4.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
They’re going to burn down my city, but I’m laughing my ass off.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Jose Oqeundo.....Will clark should have beat him to death
sorry…was thinking of my first heartbreak….back then I thought “ah hell they’ll be back next year.”
Know what you mean
But they were back in 89, too bad Al Rosen was the anti-Sabean he could never seem to find pitching.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions
There was a while where Sabean couldn't find pitching either
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
Some new Baggs notes
I do not care at all about this:
The Giants will have to win without Jose Guillen’s cheerleading skills. The outfielder, who was left off the playoff roster, did not accompany the team to Atlanta. "He opted to stay home," spokesperson Jim Moorehead said.
I was also amused yesterday
When an article in the Chronicle came out that basically said “Burrell reminds people of Bonds!”
The crux of which was that they both used to play in Pennsylvania, they both played left field, and they both hit home runs.
I facepalmed a lot.
They forgot about the pigmentation in Burrell’s skin.
Rooting for Jose Casilla to take his K- and GB-inducing skills to the majors and join his brother.
I mean to say that that reminds me of Bonds too.
Rooting for Jose Casilla to take his K- and GB-inducing skills to the majors and join his brother.
I hope we’ve seen the last of Jose Guillen.
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
Very nice Jose.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
He's not here for curtain calls or cheerleading
He’s here to hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fontenot bats 8th if Pablo is out of the lineup and Sanchez’s hand is ok?
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond, Brian Anderson.
Jeremy Affeldt induces strained obliques
by Giant among Angels on Oct 9, 2010 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Is he not . . .
. . . reported to be in substantial pain owing to a bulging disk in the neck? That quotation implies that he’s just being pouty, which I don’t believe is the case.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
Yes, he may well be staying to receive treatment… this might not be as damning as some are making it out to be.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 10, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I felt like destroying something beautiful
Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, please keep hitting.
Speaking of fights
I’m still waiting for the Posey-Heyward “Beat It” knife fight
Proudly adopted Aubrey Huff. You can't beat that!
Heyward's afraid to fight...
As long as the mental assassin has Posey’s back. Ninja skills.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I took the SAT this morning and I definitely lost at least 30 minutes worth of testing time because I was repeatedly plagued by visions of Buster hitting into that double play in the bottom of the 10th… It is probably for the better, when the colleges reject me for my scores I can quit school and devote all my time to the Giants.
In other news
Fuck you, Twins, you gutless pieces of shit.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 8:29 PM PDT reply actions
ISWYDT
I suppose the missing ‘h’ stands for the huevos the Twins lacked?
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Aw damn Twins I wanted them to win I liked them.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
Because no one's around anyway: An excerpt from the next chapter of "Home Runs and Western Suns"
Schierholtz rubbed his forehead. “Does it seem like, you know, maybe…that maybe Pat’s spending a lot of time with Rowand lately?”
“Yeah, he’s helping Rowand figure out some issues with his plate discipline.”
“That’s what he says he’s doing.”
Aubrey stared at him for a moment. “What are you trying to say?”
Nate fixed his gaze on the sidwalk, avoiding Huff’s eyes. “I’ve seen ‘em in the cages when no one else is around. Rowand is not looking for help on his swing. He’s all over Pat.”
“Bullshit,” Huff scoffed.
“I know you don’t want to hear it. But…I don’t know. It seems like Pat doesn’t even know it. He doesn’t see Aaron the way Aaron sees him.”
“I don’t believe this.” Huff put his hands to his temples and sat down on the curb. Schierholtz knelt next to him.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed it. I think you suspect something and you don’t want to admit it.”
Huff glared at him, trying to keep his anger in check. “What do you know?”
“Aubrey, please don’t be mad at me. I don’t think he’s trying to hurt you. But that’s exactly what’s gonna happen if you don’t do something. Talk to him. If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to say I’m sorry.” He paused. “But I don’t believe I am. And I think you agree.”
Huff covered his face with his hands. “God, I’m fucked.”
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
by TheLetter2 on Oct 9, 2010 8:51 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
ZOMG!
I get to be the first to read this?!? It magically appears!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
NEEDZ MOAR
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
YES
MOAR PLZ
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 9, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m trying to get my ass in gear to finish the fourth chapter.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Looking forward to when you post it!
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Oct 9, 2010 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Rec’d
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Panda
If Sandoval wants to change his luck and perform better, he needs to give Fontenot a piggyback ride. Carlois Zambrano was hot when he did it, and when he stopped, his pitching went south.
I think this would be pretty funny.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
Also lol I found this
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
Worked for Pedro, too, though it wasn't Fontenot himself.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s official. That’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Cowboy Up!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Worst part about last night
I order a shot of whisky in response to the Ankiel homerun. Bartender pours the shot and says $7.50.
And that’s what pushed me over the edge. My Giants lose, and this bartender is charging me $7.50 for a shot of Jack Daniels.
Fuck that shit.
Supply and demand.
He knew you needed it, and charged accordingly.
by DodgerFanInPackerLand on Oct 9, 2010 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay, this is a rant, 'cause I just have to say it, not in the heat of the moment
WTF is with the coaching staff, specifically batting coaches. I thought the batting coaches had some level of authority, or at least influence. Clearly that is not correct (and apologies to Carney, who’s head I wanted on a platter last year). Why is it that the G’s waste year after year with long ball strategies and marginal long-ball players. Christ, either pay for the real deal or just suck it……. How is it that nobody seems to be able to convince Pablo that he can’t hit EVERY FUCKING PITCH, or bench his ass if he won’t listen to reason!
You want a good batting coach next year, hire Burrell and give him full control on batting. Hit the way he dictates or sit the fuck down. If he says “You didn’t do want I said to do.”, bench ’em.
Giants need to be at the plate with a whole new frame of mind…..
Obviously hitting coaches have no authority.
1) They’re there to be fired when hitting doesn’t happen, so that management appears to be Doing Something About It.
2) Panda is hardwired to swing at everything. He’s done it his whole life, and it’s gotten him to the majors.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, but “swingiitis” seems contagious. Posey was more disciplined at the plate when he first came in. I know there is added pressure batting clean-up, but clearly his approach has changed now. Pablo is a story unto himself….. and who will convince Huff to stop crowding the plate?
I agree, Posey’s plate discipline seems to be regressing.
Pablo – I think he’s not disciplined with anything. Hitting. Fielding. Throwing to the correct base. Making good throws. He’s just an undisciplined talent. Talent got him here, but MLB pitchers prey on weaknesses – he simply has too many.
Also – Andres Torres seems to be getting a steady diet of breaking pitches in the dirt and he keeps swinging at them.
This is the beauty of playoffs – teams can totally game plan and attack the weaknesses of each hitter relentlessly. And most pitchers who are still pitching can execute the game plan without too many mistakes.
by keyser_sozey on Oct 9, 2010 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
(on hitting) Probably silly idea, but we can pull a La Russa, and bat the pitcher #8 and panda #9. If the pitcher can successfully bunt the guy over, panda won’t be able to GIDP.
Proud adopted parent of the ball dudes, who have grounded into 109 fewer double plays than the Giants.
Not at all silly.
In the NL (but not the AL), it’s a sound practice. Like all lineup arrangements, it makes only a microscopic improvement, but nonetheless it is an improvement. So says The Book, and I agree with their analysis.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
62
The Giants have 62 more walks this season than their career stats project. That is a wacking great load of new-found patience, and it’s spread pretty well around most of the team. I, for one, am perfectly satisfied with Meulens. It’s not like he can take each at-bat for them.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
Maybe it is a silly question, but
How tall is Amy G?
But if we cath Fontenot do we get a pot of gold?
Or free cha cha bowls at least?
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Gotta Cath Em All!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 10, 2010 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions
When Freddie Patek was a rookie, he was listed at 5’8". Every year his card listed him as being smaller. He retired at 5’5". I have seen them both is person, and he is bigger than Mikey. So is Eck.. Mikey is 3 apples tall, and weighs 4 beers.
The reply button is your friend.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions
So I guess Evan Longoria finally got his hat back.
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:46 PM PDT reply actions
Looks like we have to beat the Yankees
To win the World Series.
I guess beating the Yankees would be the best way to win. Beating Texas wouldn’t be the same.
I know, I know – don’t put the cart before the chicken, don’t count your horses before they’re hatched, etc.
If it can't be us,
the misanthrope in me wants Fox to be stuck trying to sell “Cincinnati! Arlington! It’s the Worrrrld Series onnnnn FOX!”
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 9, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Have a great game tomorrow. Chicago has switched its allegience to the Giants., and will be in your corner tomorrow.
We thank you
Godspeed.
I HATE YOU PABLO!
Giants Front Office....Torture!
by Giant Torture on Oct 9, 2010 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
This.
I feel like the Cubs rode in to battle when we thought they were going to stay back and protect their homeland (as is their right). But they came and turned the tide.
Hopefully he manages somewhere next year
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
No baseball team has ever failed with Chicago behind them!
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
by groug on Oct 9, 2010 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Will it make you uncomfortable if I rec all your comments?
by Dan from NM on Oct 9, 2010 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not as uncomfortable as meeting his gaze will make you.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 9, 2010 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, do you wanna get stared at, buddy? Because I totally will.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
"You all are just blinded to reality by your hatred of Armando just as the Bonds haters are." -grm
/averts eyes
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Oct 10, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Zing!
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 10, 2010 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions
The Cubs were not treating their players very well this year. All of the players without fat contracts wanted to jump ship. Only four of the most popular players were able to, and the ones left wanted Fontenots team to win the west division. They promised him they would try to help, and they did.
Also
Does this imply that the Cubs might have been throwing the games against us?
Because I remember those games being annoying as shit.
I don't think so
I remember them playing hard against us. Even in the game that they were getting blown out in, Byrd made a diving catch for a ball to save a run I think after they were losing by a significant amount, it was pretty great.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
All of the clubhouse shenanigans stopped when Quade took over. Lou practically let the players call the shots, and it was like Lord of the Flies. Also, the players were not getting paid unless they had good contracts, so the players who got traded had most of their contract money reamaining for the new teams to pick up. This IS from an indide source.
You should really try to use the +reply button
But thanks for the info – I have no time to pay attention all the machinations of other towns when I waste so much time on this one heh.
Paging Mr. Nichelson....
wow, it’s frightening nuthouse when Milton Bradley was probably the norm…. Hope it’s squared away now, there’s some real talent on that team……
OK, but......
It is easier to criticize your own team because you see them every day, but know that in other towns, it can be much worse.
My Boys
By the way, last year, shy little Mikey landed a part on a TBS show last spring. It was a short part, but it was cute that they picked the most camera-shy player. They promised to make him look taller.
I highly doubt Fontenot gets non tendered
Ross…I hope not
Buster Posey>
"I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
Guys who have overcome obstacles so overwhelming, tend to develop an aura, and he has the personality that makes most people love him. His humility has earned him lots of respect, and so is his talent and grit. I hope he brings the Giants good luck this fall.
Fontenot is
Basically a likable and more talented Eckstein. But he’s OURS. And he doesn’t waste time talking about how he doesn’t translate to paper.
He has overcome a lot more than Eckstein has. Being small is no big deal to him compared with his other challenges.
He did commercials for Accu Vue in 2008, but only spoke about being near-sighted, with astigmatism. Actually, he had to teach himself to focus his eyes, yet he learned to hit and field as well as he does. This may explain why he is not always consistant, but when he identifies a weakness, he will work until he corrects it.
He and Freddy have something in common, then . . .
. . . besides being second basemen. When Freddy was born, his parents were told that he would probably never be able even to walk (severe club foot). He, too, has overcome some obstacles.
Sabean delenda est!
Professional baseball analyst since 1980.
Basically a likable and more talented Eckstein.
Jock itch is more likeable then Eckstein.
Threat level that the 2010 Pads finish with more wins than the 2010 Giants is currently at: 61%
Spoiler: Grumpy older Giants fan is Grumpy.
Sick burn!
(No, really!)
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 10, 2010 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
With the Yankees sweeping the Twins
There is a chance Jon Miller may return to the Giants until the ALCS (I’m assuming he’s doing the ALCS because of the Yankees).
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden
hankschulman Henry Schulman
I must have missed the announcement, but Braves definitely going with D. Lowe on short rest for Game 4.
/grounder the short
Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis who is stuck in the baseball purgatory called extended spring training.
Not surprising at all. If the Giants win today then he’s Lowe pitches to keep them in the series, if the Giants lose today then he puts Lowe in to close it out and not have to go to game 5.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
1. Infante 3B,
2. Heyward RF,
3. Lee 1B,
4. McCann C,
5. Diaz LF,
6. Gonzalez SS,
7. Conrad 2B,
8. Ankiel CF,
9. Hudson RH
lolineup
…sigh…
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
no panda
Torres cf, Sanchez 2b, Huff 1b, Posey c, Burrell lf, Uribe ss, Fontenot 3b, Ross rf, Sanchez p
extrabaggs Andrew Baggarly
The Braves are adding Takashi Saito to the roster, replacing Billy Wagner. No way Wagner can go in the next round, should the Braves advance
The whole reason Saito wasn’t on the roster in the first place was an achy shoulder. I guess they’ve decided that he’s ok now?
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
Grant and McCovey Chronicles just got a shout-out by Marty Lurie on knbr!
They were discussing syncing up tv and radio and suggested coming here to find out how to do it.
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
♥ 2010 San Francisco Giants ♥
♥ McCoven ♥
Man Vlad Guerrero is one of the biggest hackers I’ve ever seen. He might put Pablo to shame.
"He knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals! The Cardinals are dead! The Giants are going to the World Series!!!" -Jon Miller
t's Posey time!!
Screw you Flannery.
Less than 2 hours to gametime
I find myself expecting the worst, but hoping for the best.
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 10, 2010 11:47 AM PDT reply actions
There's the Bengie we all know and love
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).
by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 10, 2010 11:51 AM PDT reply actions
Is it me, or does he look even bigger?
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Oct 10, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
...
Giants Baseball: The Thing Is, It Keeps Happening.
Proud parent of William Nuschler M.F. Clark.
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 10, 2010 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
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