McCovey Chronicles - Open GamesThread, 7/23
We want to continue to create opportunities for payroll flexibility.
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50879/mcc-fav.png
2013-07-24T00:12:40-07:00
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/rss/stream/4314959
2013-07-24T00:12:40-07:00
2013-07-24T00:12:40-07:00
Giants defeat Reds, undefeated over last few hours
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h0e16fMT466L06K3LZN5COpXV6o=/0x26:4000x2693/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16815749/174315116.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The cliché is that a tie game is like kissing your sister. The joke is that, well, wait. I think I just got the joke. Good lord, that's creepy. No, no. That won't do.</p>
<p>Splitting a doubleheader is like being told you have nice eyes by … getting a back rub from your roomate's … being in one stall and hearing your boss's wife in the other … look, splitting a doubleheader is just <i>weird</i>. There's so much discouragement and ennui built up from the first loss, but before you can wallow in it, there's a nice, calming win to take the edge off.</p>
<p>It's weird. I watched seven-plus hours of baseball, but I only remember about three of it. Our brains probably have a fail-safe mechanism built in. This is genetic, passed down from the days when monkeys who paid too much attention to monkey stick-games were eaten by larger monkeys and didn't get to breed. Serves them right. I remember the days when I was romantic about doubleheaders. But that is literally a <i>Godfather</i> and <i>Godfather II</i> of baseball, with some <i>Godfather III</i> thrown in. Except the <i>Godfather</i>s were written and directed by Troy Duffy. So good luck with that.</p>
<p>The first game was a debacle. It's cute to watch the Latos/Posey gif over and over again, but eventually you have to switch it up to this one:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1721549/9tRFhHk.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1721549/9tRFhHk.gif" class="photo" alt="9trfhhk_medium"></a></p>
<center> </center>
<p>Stop, stop. He's already dead. It fit with Tim Lincecum last night. It fit with Eric Surkamp on Tuesday. All of those warm fuzzies about Surkamp this morning, where I mentioned that we probably didn't see the best version of Surkamp? Yeah, <a target="new" href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/andrew-baggarly/giants-notes-herky-jerky-surkamp-not-back-yet-arias-rehab-etc">about that</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I feel like I’m close," Surkamp said. "It just doesn’t feel … They way I’ve described it to people, you’ve done so many shoulder exercises that your arm doesn’t have that whip back in it again. I feel a little herky-jerky throwing pitches and I’m not as fluid as before. I don’t have that whip back in my offspeed pitches just yet."</p>
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<p>He was probably still the best option for a spot start the Giants had in the system. Remember that when you read someone with a cockamamie trade idea for Ervin Santana.</p>
<p>Here's the glory of a doubleheader: We don't have to dwell! There was a Giants win tonight. The other stuff, pffff. So what if the Giants have retired the Reds in order four times over the last 27 innings? Not important. The Giants are on a .500 pace for the last two (2) games. That's an improvement.</p>
<p>Of course, a .500 pace isn't good enough with two months left. But, whatever, we'll worry about that tomorrow. The Giants have the staff ace going, you know.</p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; color: #292929; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; padding: 0px;" class="extend-divide"><img style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; width: 32px; height: 8px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" alt="Star-divide" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg"></p>
<p>Barry Zito started the game and lasted a couple innings. He was a third of an inning away from a "few" innings, and the win that would have went with it. Santiago Casilla got the win instead, and the Barry Zito Countdown is at 11 or 12 starts, give or take a demotion when Ryan Vogelsong is back. So let's focus on Santiago Casilla.</p>
<p class="extend,divide" style="margin,top: 5px; margin,bottom: 10px; font,size: 13px; vertical,align: baseline; line,height: 18px; text,align: center; padding: 0px;">Boy, it sure would have been nice to see Santiago Casilla come into the games that Affeldt blew in the ninth.</p>
<p class="extend,divide" style="margin,top: 5px; margin,bottom: 10px; font,size: 13px; vertical,align: baseline; line,height: 18px; text,align: center; padding: 0px;">...</p>
<p class="extend,divide" style="margin,top: 5px; margin,bottom: 10px; font,size: 13px; vertical,align: baseline; line,height: 18px; text,align: center; padding: 0px;">That's about enough of the Zito talk, and I'm not sure if there's anything else to say about Casilla. He looked good. But a quality middle reliever on a team like this is like a blinged-out case for your Virtual Boy. Maybe you'll fool someone into thinking you're cool once. But there's always a Virtual Boy underneath the case, y'all. Don't get fooled. Sure would have enjoyed that case a month ago, though.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; color: #292929; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; padding: 0px;" class="extend-divide"><img style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; width: 32px; height: 8px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" alt="Star-divide" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg"></p>
<p>Bruce Bochy won his 1,500 game. This is important because we have 10 fingers and 10 toes, and that's why we use a base-ten number system. Look, I read that<a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_was_the_base_ten_number_system_developed"> on this site</a>, so it's probably true. Look at all the stimulating math content they have, too:</p>
<center> <a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2953331/Screen_Shot_2013-07-23_at_11.45.55_PM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2953331/Screen_Shot_2013-07-23_at_11.45.55_PM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2013-07-23_at_11"></a>
</center>
<p><br>Love you, Internet. You're the worst and the best, but mostly the worst.</p>
<p>Back to Bochy, though. This is a relevant list:</p>
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<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>Rank</strong><br>This is a count of the rows from top to bottom.<br>It is recalculated following the sorting of a column." class="tooltip ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center" data-stat="ranker">Rk</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="left" data-stat="manager">Mgr</th> <th style="background-color: #ffa; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Wins" class="tooltip sorttable_sorted sort_col" align="center" data-stat="W">W<span> ▾</span>
</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Losses" class="tooltip" align="center" data-stat="L">L</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>Win-Loss Percentage</strong><br>W / (W + L)<br>For players, leaders need one decision for every ten team games.<br>For managers, minimum to qualify for leading is 320 games." class="tooltip hide_non_quals" align="center" data-stat="win_loss_perc"><nobr>W-L%</nobr></th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>Games over .500</strong><br>If positive, the team has won this many games more than it lost.<br>If negative, the team has lost this many more games than it has won." class="tooltip" align="center" data-stat="g_over_500">G>.500</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Team’s Best Finish" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center" data-stat="best_finish">BestFin</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>Playoff Appearances</strong><br>Times that a team this manager managed for appeared in the playoffs<br>(may not have managed in the postseason)" class="tooltip" align="center" data-stat="playoff_apps">Plyof App</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>World Series Wins</strong><br>Times that a team this manager managed won World Series.<br>(may not have managed in the postseason)" class="tooltip" align="center" data-stat="WS_won">WSwon</th> <th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<strong>Pennants Won</strong><br>Times that a team this manager managed won the pennant.<br>(may not have managed in the postseason or completed season)" class="tooltip" align="center" data-stat="Pennants_won">PennWon</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="372">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="359" align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Mack,Connie" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mackco01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Connie Mack</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3731</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3948</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.486</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">-217</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="410">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="396" align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="McGraw,John" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mcgrajo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">John McGraw</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2763</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1948</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.586</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">815</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="344">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="332" align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="LaRussa,Tony" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/larusto01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Tony LaRussa</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2728</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2365</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.536</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">363</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">14</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="113">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="110" align="right">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Cox,Bobby" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/coxbo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Bobby Cox</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2504</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2001</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.556</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">503</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">16</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">5</td>
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<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="634">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="611" align="right">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Torre,Joe" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/torrejo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Joe Torre</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2326</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1997</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.538</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">329</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">15</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="11">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="12" align="right">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Anderson,Sparky" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/andersp01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Sparky Anderson</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2194</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1834</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.545</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">360</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">5</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="248">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="240" align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Harris,Bucky" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/harribu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Bucky Harris</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2158</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2219</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.493</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">-61</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="403">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="389" align="right">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="McCarthy,Joe" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mccarjo99.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Joe McCarthy</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2125</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1333</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.615</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">792</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="8">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="9" align="right">9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Alston,Walter" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/alstowa01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Walter Alston</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2040</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1613</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.558</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">427</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="153">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="149" align="right">10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Durocher,Leo" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/durocle01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Leo Durocher</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2008</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1709</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.540</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">299</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="604">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="582" align="right">11</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Stengel,Casey" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/stengca01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Casey Stengel</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1905</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1842</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.508</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">63</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">10</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="397">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="383" align="right">12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Mauch,Gene" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mauchge01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Gene Mauch</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1902</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2037</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.483</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">-135</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="415">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="400" align="right">13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="McKechnie,Bill" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mckecbi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Bill McKechnie</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1896</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1723</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.524</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">173</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="502">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="484" align="right">14</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Piniella,Lou" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/pinielo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Lou Piniella</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1835</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1713</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.517</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">122</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="354">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="342" align="right">15</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Leyland,Jim" align="left"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/leylaji99.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jim Leyland</a></strong></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1730</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1703</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.504</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">27</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="18">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="19" align="right">16</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Baker,Dusty" align="left"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/bakerdu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Dusty Baker</a></strong></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1637</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1475</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.526</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">162</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="286">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="276" align="right">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Houk,Ralph" align="left"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/houkra01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Ralph Houk</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1619</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1531</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.514</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">88</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="90">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="88" align="right">18</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Clarke,Fred" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/clarkfr01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Fred Clarke</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1602</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1181</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.576</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">421</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="345">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="333" align="right">19</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Lasorda,Tom" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/lasorto01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Tom Lasorda</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1599</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1439</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.526</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">160</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="681">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="656" align="right">20</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Williams,Dick" align="left">
<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/willidi02.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Dick Williams</a> <span class="hof_note">HOF</span>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1571</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1451</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.520</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">120</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr style="display: table-row;" data-row="42">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="42" align="right">21</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="Bochy,Bruce" align="left"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/bochybr01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Bruce Bochy</a></strong></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1500</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1498</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">.500</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot>
</table>
</div>
</center>
<p> </p>
<p>The opinion of Bochy seems to shift a lot depending on whether or not he's winning championships. But he's still my favorite manager since Roger Craig. And when Roger Craig was manager, I thought Bobby Brown's <i>Don't Be Cruel</i> was the best album ever released, so I'm willing to revisit every opinion I've made since then. </p>
<p>There are opinions and strategery that I've disagreed with. Overall, though, he's been a good manager, and I respect the hell out of him. Ninety-nine wilns, and he buries that goofball at #19. </p>
<p>He'll do it with another World Series win, too. Not that I'm greedy.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; color: #292929; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; padding: 0px;" class="extend-divide"><img style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; width: 32px; height: 8px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" alt="Star-divide" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg"></p>
<p>More on Sergio Romo tomorrow as a part of <a href="http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/closer-strikes-out-the-side" target="_blank">one of my favorite series on the site</a>. Until then, a quote from Mike Krukow on Chris Heisey swinging through a Romo slider:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I'm not sure if he could have hit that with two bats."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The best. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; color: #292929; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; padding: 0px;" class="extend-divide"><img style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; width: 32px; height: 8px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" alt="Star-divide" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg"></p>
<p>Last, but certainly not least, a still shot from the CSN broadcast by way of <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/gidget">@gidget.</a> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2953439/blankie_g.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2953439/blankie_g_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Blankie_g_medium"></a> <br id="1374649594957"></p>
<p>There are no ... I mean ... he had to make the blanket and have her autograph it. Or he had to get the autograph on a picture, and then surreptitiously get it made into a blanket. </p>
<p>Either way, good lord. I have a<a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F111056598%2Fbaseball-print-rubens-run-12x15%3Fref%3Dshop_home_active&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mccoveychronicles.com%2F2013%2F7%2F24%2F4551890%2Fgiants-reds-doubleheader-recap" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener"> poster of Ruben Rivera</a> hanging in my office, so I know all about devotion to minutia. But this is a new one. This is a new one. </p>
<p>Mostly, I'm just ticked off that someone trumped the Cammy Blackstone patch on my denim jacket. </p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2013/7/24/4551890/giants-reds-doubleheader-recap
Grant Brisbee
2013-07-23T21:51:01-07:00
2013-07-23T21:51:01-07:00
Game 2 Thread 3
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C3tI5i1mNcajtGRBzTy6BkOaw2Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827977/large_mccoveychronicles.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx276/mccimages/zito/zitobrand_zps5d5bdef6.gif"></p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2013/7/23/4551648/game-2-thread-3
Natto
2013-07-23T20:25:00-07:00
2013-07-23T20:25:00-07:00
Game 2 Thread 2
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C3tI5i1mNcajtGRBzTy6BkOaw2Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827977/large_mccoveychronicles.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx276/mccimages/zito/zitobuster_zpsf3271c5b.jpg"></p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2013/7/23/4551534/game-2-thread-2
Natto
2013-07-23T19:01:38-07:00
2013-07-23T19:01:38-07:00
Game 2 Thread 1
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C3tI5i1mNcajtGRBzTy6BkOaw2Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827977/large_mccoveychronicles.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx276/mccimages/zito/sexyzito_zpsaba8c6a2.gif"></p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2013/7/23/4551224/game-2-thread-1
Natto
2013-07-23T17:13:13-07:00
2013-07-23T17:13:13-07:00
GameThread 2
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C3tI5i1mNcajtGRBzTy6BkOaw2Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827977/large_mccoveychronicles.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>And this is only game 1!</p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2013/7/23/4550930/gamethread-2
Natto