Giants Outfielders 2010.....GAMER or HEADCASE Part 1

Looks like it's time to shake the offseason cobwebs out and start figuring out what I am going to type up this year. So let's start this thing like the other billion goddamn Giants websites out there and give you a Season Outlook for the Giants…. This should give me a chance to round out into my regular season form at least as well as Freddy Sanchez……

OK, so lets play a little game I call… GAMER orrrrrrr HEADCASE……

OK lets start in the outfield

OF/ IF Mark DeRosa
Well one think I learned this offseason, is that this guy is a slick mother fucker. If he hits like he interviews, the fanbase will love this guy. I was never convinced about this guy as a hitter, I mean who breaks through as a fulltime player at 31 years old? Well DeRosa broke through with 3 solid seasons with the Rangers and Cubs, and even a very solid 1/2 season with the Indians before crashing and burning with the Cardinals. Wrist injury? Sure, I will buy that. Was the breakout real? I think so, hard to fluke 3 1/2 years worth of stats, especially when you see gains in pitches per at bat and associated BB% per PA. So what do we expect this year? I would lock him down for 400-500+ AB's with 10-15 HR and .270-.280 BA and .340-.360 OBP, but the part that is really cool about this signing is he can play decent defense at 3 positions giving the Giants flexibility for inevitable failures of others…… You can slide him into 3rd and Panda over to 1st, so really the battle at 1st is Huff v Ishi v the 4th OF. Or lets says Renteria sucking air again, and Sanchez still brittle? Go with Uribe and DeRosa up the middle…. He's not going to dazzle anyone at any of these positions, but he can't be that bad??? and Please Please Please keep this guy out of Right Field…….VERDICT: GAMER

OF Aaron Rowand
Lost 10 pound, best shape of his life, back to the basics, blah blah fucking blah… I don't buy any of that shit. This guy has always run hot and cold, and these days its more like Teppid and Artic….the only story I want to read about Rowand in the offseason is how his ridiculous contract has expired and he has to pick up part time work as a speedbump. Throw our that career year that proceeded his contract with the Giants (sound familiar?) He has established a .260-270 BA with .320-340 OBP and 10-15 HR. hey, at least he wasn't an embarrassment in Center Field…..
So expect another mediocre season at all star prices, with clichés about Gamerness and Gamerocity ……..VERDICT: HEADCASE

OF Nate Schierholtz
Hard not to cheer for Nate, local boy who has all the tools to be a prototypical AT&T Right Fielder….going into the season looked like Nate was finally going to get his shot…sure Nate has about 500 AB's in the bigs with some modicum of success to show for it….. but as he entered Spring Training the Right Field job was his too lose….and looks like he may have just gone ahead and lost it with 14 K's with 4 BB in 59 PA, that's 24% Strikeouts…He even got the Sabean "Player's wont' read this" Treatment as he described Schierholtz battling demons to Baggs…In Nate defense, the Giants were looking for more power, and although he only has 1 HR, he does have 9 Extra Base hits to go with those 14 K's…...Nate is one of the wildcards for the 2010 Giants. I think 0.280 BA .320 OBP and 15 HR is about the most we could hope for, but I don't think he gets anywhere close to that….Seems that he is having doubts about himself and the path that he and Bam Bam have taken this offseason… Sure, I am just some random asshole on the internets, but to me that looks like someone too worried about the mechanics of his swing than the pitcher trying to get him out…..It's a tough game Nate, keep your nose down and your eye on the ball. Until then, I have to call em like I see em, and right now….VERDICT: HEADCASE

OF John Bowker
What a difference a year makes. Bowker relegated to the Minors after spending most of 2008 on the big club, sucked it up and went ahead and beat the snot out of the PCL posting a league leading .342 BA and 1.047 OPS… he rolled that momentum right into Spring Training with a 1.009 OPS in the desert…..when he was languishing you didn't read about him getting a bad break, or being mistreated by the organization (cough Frandsen, cough cough), you just saw the stats come rolling in quietly week after week. Sure stats don't tell the whole story, but we are talking about a guy with a short compact stroke that would play well in the Majors…… I do have hoep for 2010, after about 400AB's in the show, Major League pitchers have exposed his weakness with slow stuff down and in….. If he can just adjust to that pitch he should be able to put up something in the range.270 BA .340 OBP and 15+ HR…. and although he won't win any gold gloves anytime soon, he has enough speed and smarts to play RF in AT&T……and maybe he won't cover as much ground as Winn did, but he certainly has a better arm…..VERDICT: GAMER

OF Andres Torres
What's not to like about this guy, former prospect turned savvy veteran. Switch hits, runs down balls in the gap wearing bling almost as big as him. Hey, sit me start me, I am just happy to be pulling down the major league minimum. riding charter jets, and staying in 1st rate hotels… Rowand better not get hurt, because if we got to see this guy play center for an extended period we would get spoiled…. and god know he would probably not only out glove but out hit Rowand as well……VERDICT: GAMER

OF Freddie Lewis
Oh god, I feel bad piling on this guy…. I think it he was typing this up himself it would label himself a headcase….. Heck, I heard he was in the same support group as Brett Tomko, Ricky Ledee, and Wayne Gomes…… After some success at the major league level he was anointed the Giants best chance for a homegrown impact position player by not only Management, but the Lord hisselfs (#25, for the unlearned)……Lewis has a major case of the Yips at the plate and in the field... nothing short of a trade or maybe electroshock therapy is going to snap him out of it…….lets hope for Lewis case the Giants choose trade…. VERDICT: HEADCASE

Eugenio Velez
The Pharaoh is about as gifted a athlete as there is, electric bat and lightning in his legs……too bad he has hands of stone on the infield and the instincts of a platypus in the outfield…..he will make an outstanding play, only to back it up with a booted grounder or a bad first move in the outfield……a converted infielder, he probably turns more routine flyballs into great plays with his bad routes in the field….he has been playing outfield long enough that you figure he would start to get it…..but he hasn't……when everything is clicking he is one of the best position players on the team….but when it starts to go south, get him out of there before he crushes his own psyche….nope, despite the glimpses of ballplayer he shows the VERDICT: HEADCASE…..

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(The fine print: There will be cussing and bad taste. This is written with the heat of the moment feel you may have during the game, with rational though sprinkled in now and then. This is entertainment folks, sure there is a lot of truth and I am a genius, but this is all about having a laugh and enjoying the ride…….now lets go heckle Jeff Kent in when he gets inducted to Cooperstown..)

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at METS 8/16

How are you all doing? Me, doing fairly well… you see I was outside in the sun and fresh air all day and in spite of a chipping game that has gone to hell, had a good day on the links…..You see I could have been huddled indoors for 3 hours screaming at my television, but I can't do that every day, can I? And plus through the magic of Tivo I was able to relive the agony without the commercials or suspense……
If you are like me, baseball is a commitment. 162 games a year and I watch every one possible…..including attending 30-40 regular season games + a yearly spring training visit…all while trying to maintain a semblance of a life……so today I got some much needed R&R from the game, and am able to step back from the frustration of the moment…..and I will sleep like a baby tonight…..

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at METS 8/16


GAMEBALL

J SANCHEZ

What more can you ask for from a #4 starter…keeps you in the game and gives you some solid innings…..and Jonathan continues to tease….swing and miss stuff of a dominant pitcher but way to wild and inconsistent to be dominant…seems like every start is a battle with himself…and today was no different, but Sanchez was able to throw enough strikes to keep a depleted Mets lineup in check…..and down by one run with a man on second, who could expect Castillo to swing for the fences for the big blow a 2 run shot….his 1st homer of the year…..hell, I you could groove that 3-1 pitch 100 more times and he hits a lazy Flyball with that swing……but whatever….Sanchez was solid enough for the win, but the Giants offense was in a deep deep slumber……

TIP OF THE CAP :
VELEZ
Was the Giants offense today, on base 3 times scored 1 run and knocked in the other…man, can you imagine what the Giants would look like without his 2nd half hot streak???..and the help couldn't have come at a better time……he has taken off just as Rowand has fallen off the map

GARKO
Here I will fly in the face of the current feelings about a Garko……I will say it now, I like what I see at the plate from this kid….he is one of the few mythical "Professional Hitters" the Giants have…. works a count, can spoil a few pitches and in an RBI situation concentrates on solid contact more that driving the ball….and today he was choking up on 1 strike…..and was the victim of more bad luck as he hit a line drive right at Castillo…..he may be inferior to Ishikawa with the glove, but this kid will get his hits of he gets the AB's



JOKER

LEWIS

Freddy's defensive shortcomings are no surprise, but today was just a flat out joke……I had to slow it down to believe it… that ball actually hits him IN THE FUCKING WEB and bounces out…..not the heel, not the tip, not the outside of the glove…..IN THE GODDAMN WEB…….sure it would have been a nice play and quite a few Left Fielders would have made that play but that is straight up maddening to the fans…..and probably his teammates…….but that’s not even the reason I am pissed…..according to Baggs Blog Freddy claimed that the ball came loose when his elbow hit the turf……Dude….what the fuck are you talking about……the one thing worse than failure is not taking responsibility……I have already mentally written off Lewis as a complete loss, a waste of a roster spot…..and now you want to go Armando "I Did My Job" on us????? Don't make excuses, just live up to the fact that you fucked up…….and I can't remember who mentioned it before, but if that is a Wilson A2000 he is using, I fucking HATE that glove…..I got one for xmas when I was a teenager and then immediately lectured my mother that buying a glove without my being there was like buying me shoes without trying them on…..that A2000 was a clumsy stiff piece of shit…..Now matter how much I tried to break that sucker in, it was unreliable and that's no way to feel about your glove….I just left it in the back of my truck for anyone that needed a glove in a pick up game……I lost it a few years back now, think I lent it out at a softball game and we lost and I stormed off without thinking about the glove…anyway, I digress……but even if Lewis isn't using a A2000, a good glove won't let you drop that ball…..if the ball hits the web it should naturally just close around the ball without a thought, I don't care if your name is Fred Lewis……
(PS…..checked the pics, looks like a A2000 to me…..)



SMACK OF THE STICK :
ROMO
The good news is he is getting outs again, the bad news is that wasn't good enough today….as Romo gave up a groundball leadoff single in the 9th and then on a hard bunt back to the pitcher went to first when he very likely gets the out at second…..Romo comes up with the ball with Francouer just slightly 1/2 way to 2nd and Uribe already standing on the bag……at that point you have to play that 1 run game and take a chance……

AFFELDT
Well, he looked better today than previous days where he was struggling to find the strike zone…..but that Curveball looked pretty flat to me, and Murphy was able to serve it up to Right for the game winner……watch Affeldt carefully as without his lefthanded arm carving up the opposition the Giants postseason chances are in trouble….Wilson is looking solid, Romo looks to have righted the ship, now we need our 3rd gun out of the pen back in form……the Giants were playing their best ball when all three of these guys were lights out…….the offense sucks and that’s not going to change…..but if we can get Affeldt back in form, we have a shot…..and its really not a lack of stuff, just being able to get the ball over the plate….. since the scoreless streak Affeldt has 4 innings, 3 hits and 6 walks……not exactly being tattooed by the opposition……

F SANCHEZ
Solid D, but 3 K's at the plate…..2x leading off the inning with an out, and then with a runner on 2nd and the game in the balance was wiffed after a battle at the plate….Hell, Matt Downs coulda done that, and not cost a "Top Prospect" (and I use that term liberally)

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(The fine print: There will be cussing and bad taste. This is written with the heat of the moment feel you may have during the game, with rational though sprinkled in now and then. This is entertainment folks, sure there is a lot of truth and I am a genius, but this is all about having a laugh and enjoying the ride…….now lets go heckle Jeff Kent in when he gets inducted to Cooperstown..)

2009 First Half JOKER

Just wanted to make a quick note….I don't have an editor…. I am just a Giants fan working a regular job like everyone else and then sitting here typing shit up…. I usually do a quick spell check, but don't proof read… on a nightly basis…….I value speed over accuracy...and hell I am usually pretty tired by that time of day anyway….…… hope the typos and what not aren't too annoying……..

Wow what a GREAT all star game…. I was on the edge of my seat……..but then I passed out hit the floor and slammed my head against the coffee table….. when I came back to consciousness, I awoke to this annoying low pitching humming in my head. But then I figured out that if I hit the mute button on the TV I wouldn't hear McCarver and Buck.
On that note, I know you all have been on the edge of your seats waiting to see who would win the illustrious JOKER of the first half. I can only hope that when YOU pass out from reading this boring crap, that you are surrounded by soft and non-lethal furniture……

GAMEBALL and JOKE
2009 First Half

JOKER

LEWIS

Booooo……Booooooo……
You remember when Lewis was a part time rookie, who sparkled in limited time?
You remember when Lewis, not Sandoval, was the first significant position player the Giants had produced since Clayton?
You remember when he took pitches because he was exhibiting patience uncharacteristic of most Giants hitters?
You remember when Bonds and the front office anointed this kid the next middle of the order Giants hammer?
Yeah, right….after a 1st half performance where Lewis exhibited the Batting Eye of Todd Linden, the power of Brian Bocock, the fielding ability of Cody Ransom, all combined with the mental toughness of Brett Tomko…. Fred Lewis has erased all those good feelings.. although getting a bit long in the tooth, Lewis is still immensely talented but out of options ……Fred is a square peg in a round hole……won't pass through waivers, can't trade him for anything of value, and would need to play him with the hopes of regaining value on a team with designs on the post season…..
Coming into this season, despite his unpolished Defensive ability I was a Lewis backer…..I didn't entirely buy the fact he would hit 25+ HR, but I certainly expected he would put up a line like 280/ 350 /500……and really he still could, but all arrows point south and if Lewis gets enough playing time to turn it around, that means the Giants are also headed south……..

SMACK OF THE STICK :
BURRISS
Talk about disappointment…… after jumping from Single A to do a decent job in the majors in 2008, Burriss had a dazzling spring which caused the Giants to make a surprise move and take away the 2nd base job from Frandsen. After getting off to a slow start with the bat, Burriss got hot for a few weeks just as a tease and then didn't just go cold, this kid was liquid nitrogen with the bat……with his glove and prospect status intact, Manny went down to AAA and started hitting again… until a foot injury took him down…..now he has an injury marred 2009, which will stunt his development…..he still may turn into something, but it won't be in 2009 and signs say it probably won't be 2010 either…….

VELEZ
If you have seen this kid in spring training any time over the past couple of years, chances are you fell in love….. when healthy in spring, this kid looked like a world beater… Quick bat, great speed, good base running instincts, and surprising power….but in the desert many things turn out to be a mirage……and Velez turned out to be Alex Sanchez all over again……..

HOWRY
Good god, Howry should have come with a warning label, "Contents Combust Under Pressure"……and Howry saved his worst moments for when the game was on the line……he still throws hard, but he loses control and his slider flattens out when under duress….17 appearances entered with a 0-3 run lead, allowed a run in 6 of 17……..16 other games, either behind or ahead by 4 or more, allowed a run 1 time……1 for 16
repeat
6 for 17 when ahead 0-3 runs
1 for 16 when behind or ahead by 4 or more
What the FUCK!

HINSHAW
Oh yeah, I remember you ……after beating out Taschner for the 2nd leftie spot in the pen, Alex proceeded to melt down….. always a bit wild, he still managed to punch out 47 in 39 2/3rds last year…… but this year it wasn't the same story…..as the Dodgers kicked the shit out of him twice before he was sent down to AAA to walk more people……

[/big>
And now for the part of this write up where I will likely win no friends……
HUNG JURY

And please, if you search Google Images for "Hung Jury," please have safe search ON!
ZITO
The target de jour after he got the shit kicked out of him by the Padres….yes…the Padres….in a game that should have completed the dominating sweep of the Pads and evened the season series…….but I spare twitter boy from the Smack and Joker…… sure he is an overpaid under talented self important douche…..but that was a given going into 2009. What was the surprise is that he might actually have some use as a Major League Pitcher……yes, his ERA is 5.01 but he has pitched better than that…well not MUCH better……but he is a passable 4th or 5th starter and I actually believe he will probably improve……seriously, quite giggling, I am trying to make a point ….…… His velocity remains better and his curve remains snappy….. you can see this where his K rates are up, his BB rates are down …Zito's big issue is he has a hard time shaking that big inning….Sure big innings count just as much as little innings…but to me that is an indicator of an immature pitcher (and here you thought he was a vet) letting the past get in his head……….Zito still has the tools to be a decent pitcher, but he has to conquer his mental demons…for an example, just look at his game log for the past 3 starts….
4 1/3rd 5 runs 7 K's…touched up in the 1st and 5th innings, while having stuff nasty enough to punch out 7
8 1/3rd shutout ball……quickly got out of what little trouble he got into……never tested
4 1/3 9 runs…. blasted 3 different innings for 3 runs each time….melting everytime he got runners on…….
And then look at his game score distribution…..
5 games > 60 (very good)
7 games 40-60 (decent)
6 games < 39 (crap)
And even if Zito doesn't improve in the 2nd half, he is still better than I expected……sure that 5.01 is ugly, but just one start ago it was a respectable 4.43… and I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt……..for now

JOHNSON
Pitching like a bargain basement Zito……much was expected after the offseason signing, but the numbers aren't there…..like Zito.. Johnson has flashed ability…but unlike Zito, Johnson's wild swings have settled into a blah performance after blah performance…… the slider is still nasty and the fire is still there so I will hold out hope for the 2nd half……but I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson is out pitched by Zito in the 2nd half……

WILSON
So I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosis with something called Alopecia Douchiata, which genetic condition that causes hair loss and is triggered by having a Douche for a closer….. Brian has a nack for getting the saves, and is the best closer we have had since Worrell put together that amazing 2003 season……but three things drive us all crazy……the walks create opportunities that make our hair fall out……he has a mouth only matched in size by his ego…….and most importantly when he gets hit, he gets hit HARD…….he has crashed and burned in spectacular fashion looking at WPA (Win Probability Added) overall Wilson is a -.062……not a great figure, but not the end of the world…..but to get there, he posted a -6.63 in bad games (2nd worst next to Lidge) and a 5.91 in good games (6th among full time closers)…….

ISHIKAWA
After a scorching spring and a great opening day, fell flat on his face for a month and a half…..then suddenly the power started to come around …..but the contact is still lagging behind……jury is still out on this kid, I think he still has potential and is showing small signs of getting the contact in line……he better get that contact fixed because with a 30% whiff rate, Ishikawa will struggle in the long run to hit .225……and you need to hit A LOT of dongs to make up for that….

RENTERIA
Like Ishikawa, was a disappointment with the bat and glove…..but I hold out hope…..a rash of doubles in late June look like a tease…but there is a possibility he comes around…….but what really made me move him from Smack to Hung Jury was his defense…..do my eyes deceive me, or does it seem that his is moving a little better and is faster on the draw over the past week or so? Does Edgar need the heat of a pennant race for him to try to play defense? I dunno, but I hope whatever I saw was real and not imagined……

WINN
Dragging it from the Right Side……but still defending well and hitting from the left…….We expect more from Winn….and anything short of .300/ 350/ 430 is not acceptable……

MOLINA
Despite his hot start, it doesn't look good for Molina…..a ridiculous career low with walks… he never was one to take a walk, but he still could put up good numbers for a catcher……but this year any value derived from his power is counteracted by his low BA, even lower Walk Rate, and the worst set of Wheels this side of a side of a Yugo…..


A QUICK ASIDE
Man did anyone see Pujols v Costas today? I really hope Pujols is clean, he was invoking the God thing, and says he doesn't want to go to hell for using steroids…..MAN…..do you think GOD would really send you to hell???

And Costas….what a self important ass…..Pujols mentions that many records will be broken before the Single Season HR Record….where Costas slips in a "That 511 Wins by Cy Young is tough one too" and then smiles like he just dropped the most clever nugget of information ever…..and you can see Pujols looking like, "yeah duh…Bob"…while trying to be polite….Classic….Pujols comes out looking pretty good, and Costas…well, a jackass……..and I hope Pedro Gomez was watching…..Pujols just offered free room and board for anyone willing to follow him for 3 months……be careful what you wish for Albert……

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GAMEBALL and JOKE 06/19 RANGERS at GIANTS

OK…. it’s a Fangraphs night


Winners
Romo +.170
Affeldt + .124
Lewis +.301
Rowand +.176

Losers
Medders -.268
Ishikawa -.185 (that Pop DP with Sandoval trumped the late HR)

Big Plays
Lewis HR +.322
Byrd 2B -.307
Big swings of the stomach in the 6th inning with the two biggest plays by far being these two hits……

GAMEBALL and JOKE
06/19 RANGERS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

LEWIS

Wow…..apparently Freddie hits best with splinters in his ass……after spending most of the week riding the pine, Fred took advantage of his opportunity……and it was a thing of beauty……after watching Feldman saw off leftie hitters Sandoval and Ishikawa with hard stuff on the hands in back to back at bats……Mr Go The Other Way, dropped the bat head and JERKED it over the bricks in right to give the Giants lead…..man…..this kid is strong……add a nice play in a line drive to left, and forgive a foul ball error that woulda been a nice play near the wall and he gets today's GAMEBALL….…..

TIP OF THE CAP :
ROWAND
Ooops, looks like there are a few magic beans left in the bag after all, with a leadoff Homer, and 2 more hits to bring his AVE back over .300……and despite his lack of speed, his good instincts in center are kinda comforting just because he makes all the plays he can get to…….

ISHI
Splinters in the ass work for you too, eh? Maybe that’s the panacea for the Giants hitting woes,….everybody plays part time……3 starts this month….and 2 HR…coming in back to back starts…..looks like ISHI might have found his groove….. and tonights homer is bigger than the casual follower might think…….Rangers are all about fastballs and long balls…..versus Wilson who is all about walks and the fastball……1 run lead there was just begging disaster……a 1 run lead lets Brian attack with abandon……

ROMO/AFFELDT/WILSON
Shutdown all the way around

DOWNS
I swear….gotta love it……not supposed to be anything…..and yet here he is…..I bet he is already the most popular Giants behind Tim and Panda

MOLINA
Stroke looks like its coming back…..and he even worked a full count in his first two at bats…..but don't worry, he made up for it 1 pitch At Bats his last two times at the plate

WOODY
Good to have Kirk in the house……now lets just hope our lucky charm spends the weekend……

JOKER

MEDDERS

Medders had been a pleasant surprise to start the season…..but since then he has cooled off a little…..allowing runs in his last 4 outtings……..no……wait a second, that box score HAS to be wrong……I distinctly remember him grooving a first pitch low 90's belt high fastball down broadway to Byrd…….OH YEAH…..those are RANDY'S Earned runs…shit…….not only did Medders allow the tying and go ahead runs to score, he did it while avoiding any earned runs of his own…….thus the beauty of ERA……good job JOKER……lets hope you don't have a locker next to Randy…..I hear he can be an irritable fellow…….

SMACK OF THE STICK :
SABES
As we watch Renteria's slow bat slow hands and slow feet…..Giants fans glance towards the Rangers dugout at the charismatic boisterous Former Giant who was allowed to walk away not because of money, not because of defense…..but because of the need for offense……
So far…….AVE 254 OBP.319 SLG.319…..for $9 Million???...hell, you coulda had Omar and Hudson….ahhh hindsight is such a wonderful thing……..lets just hope Renteria's bat warms up…..…..cause at this point I'm thinking I might even prefer Bocock back at Short…..at least he played solid D……

HOLM
Passed through waivers on his way to Frenso…..OUCH……Whitehead looking decent…..nobody else wants you……..sucks, don't it……….

WILD CARD HOPES
The Big Tease…..El Grande Teaso…..
The Giants should just stand pat, cause it's a sellers market
At the beginning of play today, only 6 teams are 8 games out or greater That means that 24 teams are within 7 1/2 with more than 3 months to play……even if teams think they are out of it will have a hard time dumpimg players without pissing off their fan bases…..ask the White Sox……7 back, and last I heard….they are buyers…..

FRANNY
Downs is doing what everyone wanted you to do…..seized the opportunity, playing scrappy hustle ball with solid Defense…….who knows, maybe Downs never relinquishes his hold on the job…..heck, if he keeps playing like this, the Giants would be fools to make a change……..

GAMEBALL and JOKE 06/09 GIANTS at DBACKS

Draft Day!!!
Like a second opening day, for the geeky…..Kids too young to suck yet, and in our minds eye they are all-stars…..well….except for Jackson Williams…..

I dig the fangraphs thing,


here is the link for tonight
FANGRAPHS
And here are the MVP'S

PANDA +0.393 (78.6% of a win)
URIBE +0.138 (27.6% of a win)

And the LVP'S
Lewis -0.089 (-17.8% of a win)
Cain -0.136 (-27.2% of a win)


GAMEBALL and JOKE
06/09 GIANTS at DBACKS

GAMEBALL

PANDA

That Arizona air feels good, is it the thin air, the altitude, the proximity to Scottsdale Stadium???? Well whatever it is, he loves it….
In between dinking and doinking 3 panda hits, he turned on a Fastball high and in and CRUSHED it into the right field seats for the go ahead game turning hit…..
That brings Panda's line in the desert to ave .500 obp .500 slg.750 slg with 2 HR's and 8 RBI in 34 Plate Appearances….Love the AVE OBP SLG..line….nice and neat

TIP OF THE CAP :
URIBE
That "infamous" 20 HR power that has kept him in the big leagues showed up tonight with a solo shot to give the Giants an early lead……the way this offense has sucked, that first run is always the hardest…..and that was big and helped the offense relax……

RENTERIA. ROWAND WINN
See, that’s what a real 2, 3, 4 in a lineup should be doing….and Happy 35th Randy……shhhhh….don't let Sabean hear how old you are

WHITEHEAD
Looked solid behind the dish…..and nice laser shot off the wall……does anyone miss Steve Holm?
And for those who think is name is Whiteside….please click here

FRANDSEN
I will agree with Krukow, with the bad luck outs this kid has made, that shoulda been a 2nd hit……was getting ready to smack him for that wanna be double, but that 2nd hit and a nice play up the middle moved him over here……and come on, Chris Young made an easy throw for an out, if it was Velez everyone would be out for blood……lets just hope that got it out of Frandsen's system….stick to the basics until you get comfortable, no need to go all Pete Rose on us now……

CAIN
Hey, a little shakey, but screw the haters……he deserves any support he gets after all the shit he has put up with…..VOTE CAIN FOR ALL STAR GAME……what do you mean, we can't vote for pitchers??? What the fuck kinda stupid rule is THAT……

WHEELER
Welcome to the org…..now go to the mirror and practice……and if you haven't seen Bull Durham….get the DVD and let Crash help you with your interview skills

EVERYBODY WHO VISITS
So far 2nd biggest visit day on this site with over 1200 unique vistors with over 1 hour left could end up being the biggest…….draft day 2008……1,453 unique vistors

JOKER

LEWIS

Bunion boy took the collar in ugly fashion, pouting when left out of the party……I can't raise too much bile after a win like tonight, and hey…..Yeah, he should be happy with the win, but if you are sucking its hard to hold that poker face……The Talent is there…..just concentrate on what you are good at, stay back and take the ball the other way……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
DBACKS PITCHING
What the fuck????
Bill Buckner?
Clay "Rollie" Zavada?
Is this 1984?
Its like I stepped into a Red Sox v Brewers game

DBACKS DEFENSE
Wow…so THAT'S how a team with so much talent can suck so bad…..this ain't soccer kids, you are allowed to grab and hold onto the ball once in awhile…..

GIANTS BASERUNNING
Ouch…..Franny got gunned, and if it wasn't for the aforementioned Dbacks Lack of D, we would have lost a run at home and at 2nd…..not good when you are a struggling offense……

WILDCARD
You tease…….bastard……Does that mean Alderson and Noonan for DeRosa????


I don't want to end on a negative on a day like today
Good win, got some more talent in the system, got a good chance at finishing above .500…..and maybe not this year, but very very soon the Giants will be BACK in the playoffs……and maybe even win the……well…..lets not go there yet…….

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/24 GIANTS at MARINERS

After this past week, this almost felt like a victory……a few big hits and the offense seems like it is back and on track….Felix was dealing some NASTY stuff…what can you do….lick your wounds and hope some home cooking can get us back to the W column….

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/24 GIANTS at MARINERS

GAMEBALL

FRED LEWIS

Finally, we see that easy power potential from Freddy…and mister "go the other way" has gone deep twice both times jerking the bal to Right…….sure yesterday was the curveball…..but today he turned on a 97 MPH fastball…..sure it wasn’t on the hands,…but I will take this as a good sign…..the kid has TOOLS and needs confidence more than anything……

TIP OF THE CAP :
ROWAND
Kept the lead off magic going with 2 more hits and a nice diving play kept the Giants in the game…….


JOKER

ISHIKAWA

OK, folks….I have been preaching patience with Ishi….but I am almost done……after a brief hot streak that brought his average all the way to .241, he has gone 2 for 17 with 6 strikeouts…..sure 4 walks were nice, but he's still striking out at a nearly 30% clip……
If he can't get his contact rates up, whatever power he has is useless and that slick slick glove of his can go find another home…the clock it ticking Ishi, and I got the feeling that is Jesus ever starts hitting even just a little you will get your walking papers…..
Sure Ishi may figure it out one day…..but if it ain't in the next few weeks he will be figuring it out for another team……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
BOCHY/ SABEAN
Have rode Molina like Alyssa Milano on a date with a fat Pitcher
Molina's bat has gone ice cold, Panda on the shelf, and Holm's 10 day clock ticking led to Whiteside getting the call…..lucky enough Ed performed well…but let the lesson be learned….when a key offensive piece is the catcher…..he needs his rest……
Now about moving Posey off catcher……

SCHIERHOLTZ
See Ishi…..clock isn’t quite as advanced…..but you better do something….and soon……

ZITO
I can't get too down….Zito had an off day….but his stuff was still there….his control was the biggest issue
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GAMEBALL and JOKE 4/12 GIANTS AT PADRES

Long weekend, got way too much sun
Very tired….will have to make is short…..

GAMEBALL and JOKE
4/12 GIANTS AT PADRES


GAMEBALL

LITTLE GIANTS

I don't know about you, but I had a fine day at the yard.
The sun was shining, the BBQ was fired up, 2 rows back of the giants dugout for $15,…..and the Giants were putting a thumping on the A's farm team…We got ourselves a fucking Class A Juggernaut……If you are in the area, do yourself a favor and cruise down to San Jose Muni and forget about the Big Club for 3 hours….it will put a smile on your face……
Impressive all the way around, most of these guys clearly belong in AA or AAA…Crawford….Noonan….Posey….Kieshnick….Gillaspie…..all hit shots all over the field……Clark and Whittaker looked solid…..the defense was solid to spectacular at times……Even Mike Amort put on a little show in a sub role for Villalona……
Players are friendly and signing Autos…..teh silly Minor League Sideshows between innings……the Beer Batter……the Yelling so loud the whole crowd can hear you……..
a good time at the ballpark….and certainly better than the Big Giants gave us this weekend……..

TIP OF THE CAP :
WILSON
At least someone looked good today…….

JOKER

LEWIS

Padres broke out the Camouflaged Uniforms today…..and Lewis played like the Ball was Camoflaged……..
Bright sky? White shirts in the stands?? Not enough Vitamin A in his diet???
God knows what got into Freddie today, be he played Left like Timmy Lupus without the booger eating…….
When you build a team to win with pitching and defense……you actually HAVE to play defense…..


SMACK OF THE STICK :
VELEZ
OK, the gapper triple for the catcher…..I will let that slide……aggressive play almost stole an extra base hit to lead off inning,…..but fumbling the single up the middle lead to a run…..and the unneeded throw to 3rd in the first could have been a disaster……




by merkin

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