GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> GIANTS at RANGERS 11/01 WORLD SERIES GAME 5

World Motherfucking Champions my friends….been waiting a fucking LONG TIME for this…..all those years of futility and heartbreak….all those cold nights at Candlestick and Pac Bell Park….. all those games listened to on the radio, watched on TV and in person….…..all the box scores poured over, the stats and scouting reports read….all the hundreds and thousands of dollars spend on gear and tickets and travel…..all TIME spent working the Giants into our lives day in and day out for most of the year every fucking year……all the disrespect from the media and rival fanbases……all the ghosts of the past that haunted us…..all of the emotional investment that you have put into this team…..well my friends….it was all worth it……everything you put into this team has been paid back tonight……so dear rest of the Baseball World…..Kiss My Ass and Suck My Dick…..the San Franfuckingcisco Giants are WORLD CHAMPIONS……and THE only trophy that really means anything is FINALLY coming home…….

GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> GIANTS at RANGERS 11/01 WORLD SERIES GAME 5

GAMEBALL

RENTERIA

Edgar fucking Renteria…..World Series MVP…..it doesn't matter that he had back to back overpaid subpar years anymore….when we look back years from now at Edgar in a Giants uniform, all you can say is World Series MVP…..he could ride down that Market Street Parade fondling himself screaming racial epithets and he would still of a fucknig Hero…..just Maldonado and Jose Cruz's are victims of forgotten regular seasons over post season mishaps……Edgar will benefit from being THE MAN with his 2 Homers in 2 separate World Series game to give the Giants a lead then would not relinquish……good job Edgar, and don't be surprised if we don't see Edgar back in a Giants uniform next year…..and no matter how he plays during the regular season, we can always fall back on that whole Clutch thing…..just get him to the playoffs……

TIP OF THE CAP :
LINCECUM
Within a batter, I knew Timmy was on and the Rangers had a uphill battle….he looked as sharp as the Shutout versus the Braves…..and how can you not love this kid…..Athletic with the long hair and free spirit (code word for likes to smoke pot)……he's everything that Nor Cal cool is all about….I can't see this kid in any other uniform, and lets hope he feels the same

WILSON
Yes, was nails all postseason…..and tonight did something neither Nen nor Beck ever did…..get the ULTIMATE out of the season…..

ROSS and URIBE
Back to Back singles set up the game winner

HUFF
Laid down a nice sacrifice bunt…..his FIRST of his career…..and in a World Series Clincher…..and man was it a beaut….

HARMON and SUE BURNS
For helping save the Giants from the move, wish you could be here with us and hope you are watching…..

McGowan
Catches a lot of flak, but was a major part of keeping this team here and by extension making this day possible

SABEAN and STAFF
Taken their share of flak….and maybe Sabean isn't making those calls in the draft…..but someone in that office picked Cain JSanchez Wilson Posey Bumgarner Linceceum Romo Runzler and obtained Huff Pat Ross FSanchez Uribe and now we can put Renteria on that list,…..yeah, they have made a couple bonehead moves, but when you bring home that Trophy, all that shit fades in importance……

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS FANS
We got a KICK ASS Fanbase…..smart, loyal, tenacious, stubborn…and there are a FUCKING SHIT LOAD of us…..man, I am proud to be one of you and call myself a Giants Fan….. we don't get enough love from the rest of baseball, and it don't fucking matter…now we got our fucking Trophy and no Media Expert can take that away from us…..

TJ
Got Will Clark Auto, Got to see the Giants Win it all…..and even got Torres Champagne goggles as a souvenir…

JOKER

DODGERS

Dodgers??? What the hell??? Why you talking about the Dodgers…..I will tell you ……when I was a kid the Giants broke my heart…..the year was 1987…..I was still young so I figured that if it wasn't 1987, then 1988 was certainly our year…..most of the same team coming back and hell we didn't find out stride until the second half anyway…..yup was going to be 1988…well…..lets just say 1988 isn't famous for a Giants Victory…..and I was not only crushed my Giants weren't back in the postseason…..I got to watch the storybook Dodgers take the fucking title….Mickey Fucking Hatcher….no speed, no bat, no power, no defense….what the FUCK……well I tell you what…..as bad as I felt on that day…….I have to imagine that's what those Dodger fucks are feeling right now……looking at how their year when to SHIT….how their owner screwed them over and how the Giants have THEIR STORYBOOK team ride into October all the way to the promised land……Hey Call me a Sore Winner if you will, but part of being on top of the mountain is rubbing it into the faces of those less fortunate….

SMACK OF THE STICK :
A'S FANS
Plenty of room on the bandwagon, come on over…..and hey, after the A's move your kids will grow up to be Giants fans anyway….its what's best for your family

ARLINGTON
Hey, look at the bright side…..at least you won't have to watch your home team lose the Super Bowl too


OK Folks…..honestly this whole thing is still a little surreal……headed into the City right after the last out ….we flipped over a Couple Zip Cars and set fire to a Segway…..but it still hasn't settled in…..just watched the Trophy Ceremony and it is starting to set in…..maybe tonight when I close my eyes….maybe Wednesday when we are at the Parade…..maybe come spring when we are back at the park…..not sure how I will finally react……the only thing I DO know is we are no longer that cursed franchise striving to someday reach the top…..no, this changes everything……we CAN get there, and now we are just like a bunch of other teams that know the taste of victory……was convinced it would never happen in my lifetime……now it has…..and, well……maybe I can stop being such a cynical fuck….well, for at least a few months.,……

SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG



(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 thought 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 when he gets inducted to Cooperstown..)



by merkin

GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> MARLINS at GIANTS 07/26

GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> MARLINS at GIANTS 07/26

GAMEBALL

ROWAND

What can you say, in a reserve role Rowand WAS the offense tonight coming up with a fan aided clutch 2 run fence scraper to get the Giants back in the game in the 7th, and then hit a line shot single to center after working a 2-2 count to lead off the 9th…..the biggest red ass on the team seems to have accepted his role off the bench and looks to contribute when called upon…..and he actually DID contribute going 2 for 2 in that "sub role" which was an improvement on his 2 for 12 off the bench so far this year…..and with Torres more or less firmly entrenched in the starting lineup, I am OK with Rowand getting the gameball tonight…..especially when it means I can use this one more time……


TIP OF THE CAP :
FSANCHEZ
Collected 2 hits, including a single in the 9th to set up the would be tying run at 3rd with 2 down…..

TORRES
Wasn't the best game …after a single to lead off the first got caught leaning for the Caught Stealing (rules need to be changed that make that a pickoff if you ask me) …but threw in a walk and did his best to tie the game in the 9th (damn you Gaby Sanchez)….throw in a nice play in triples alley to rob extra bases from Cody Ross and I will put him on the positive side of the ledger……

URIBE
The Box Score says he had 2 hits…..I musta been making a snack

POSEY
Only 1 hit….overrated…….

BURRELL
Worked the walk ahead of Row Row's homer, and on a full count with Uribe on 1st in the 8th with two out and down by two… swung so hard, I think I felt the breeze 50 miles away……I approve…..full count, belt high change on 3-2….guessed fastball and missed……wasn't gonna shorten up with the team in need of a tater…….

JOKER

RENTERIA

Renteria was the man at the plate to end both of the Giants late inning rallies….both times with the tying run in scoring position…..and both times….a whiff to end the innings……score 3-2 with runners on 1st and 2nd in the 7th…..and score 4-3 with runner on 3rd in the 9th……something about this guy bugs me…something about him reminds me of Livan Hernandez…he quiet emotionless demeanor just seems to come off as lethargy and just not caring..…….even in big parts of the game you hardly see emotion from him…..the only time I recall seeing a reaction for Edgar is when the benches clear and he is ready to throw down…..or when they play that Marlins walk off World Series hit from many moons ago…..HEY I got it……those damn 97 Marlins that bumped us from the damn playoffs…Livan was MVP of that series…man I think my subconscious hates Edgar……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
MOTA
Gave up the run that was the difference in the game on two belt high fastballs to Ross and Stanton…..

CANTU
Ouch…..hit iron glove was on display as he clanked a foul pop off the mitt……I don’t remember who hit it, I ain't going back on Tivo, and I didn't take notes…..

ISHIKAWA
overmatched by Nolasco and pulled for a pinch hitter when a LOOGY was brought in…..and sorry Krukow…..the term was not invented by the Giants beat writers……its been around years, and first used by Baseball Prospectus…..and I won't bother looking that up to verify…..I will let Marco correct me if I am wrong….seriously, saves me work…..

FACE PAINT CHICK
Oh boy……so yesterday I broke down how chicks don't dig body paint….well times are a changing and women these days can do all kinds of things……paint their faces…vote….drive cars…..all kinds of stuff……and Sorry $9, she didn't she didn't sport the topless upper torso paint like our friend from yesterday's GB and JK…and for that….she gets a smack…..








SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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 thought 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..)




by merkin

GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> GIANTS at ASTROS 06-23

GAMEBALL and JOKER ==> GIANTS at ASTROS 06-23

GAMEBALL

RENTERIA

Hey….now I don't think anyone here will accuse me of being an Edgar lover…..but I am more that willing to give him the benefit of the doubt……an aging shortstop with limited range and arm strength, could still contribute to this team…..maybe not starting every day…..but virtually everyday….assuming his bat can chip into the Giants attack….and whether he really likes Houston or his bat really does have some life…..today was a good sign… 3 hits including a extra base hit to left are all good signs….and those pulled extra base hit was what was missing last year…..sort of a canary in a coal mine if you will……lets just hope we aren't the canaries……and besides…..Uribe and Sanchez can use to sit a spell…..and Rent at SS also leads to a position shuffle that gets Molina some rest as well……

TIP OF THE CAP :
TORRES
Well whatever was wrong with Andres, certainly didn't last long….2 extra base hits and a walk…..the RBI that got the Giants on the board and scored the second run of the night…..guess I should stop worrying…..

LANDON DONOVAN
Debated the GB for Landon, but in the end just couldn’t do it……..huge huge goal for USA Soccer, but its not the 1984 Olympic Hockey team…….This country manages to care about soccer once every 4 years…..and that goal prolonged the spotlight for a few more days….……so good luck against Ghana, or Zimbabwe, or Suriname, or Sudan, or whatever country is next on the list……admit it, you had to go to google maps to figure out where half these countries are….and it should be mentioned, not only was this a big goal for USA Soccer, but gay athletes everywhere…..yeah, I know about the whole hot ex thing…..but ever notice how the gay athletes in the closet have the hottest women?? Jeff Garcia??.....Brett Tomko??.......but seriously, if he is "a gay" more power to him….to each his own….live and let live….a stitch in time saves nine…..haste makes waste…..don't tred on me…..or some profound shit……

ROWAND
Gamiest pinch hitter in the game

JOE MARTINEZ
Scoreless inning….hey, I thought he was being sacrificed….errrr….pitching against the Red Sox this weekend???


JOKER

ZITO

Yeah….thats not gonna work……belt high fastballs and looping curves getting smacked around the park……Zito turned in his worst effort of the year……It was almost as if the Astros were playing slow pitch softball just hanging back waiting for that slow shit to make it to the plate…..after tearing through April and early May….Zito has hit a bump where he is almost alternating starts where he is pretty good, and then not so much…..still far from the embarrassing pitcher of 2007-2008……but now far from the ACE we were watching early in the season….lets hope he just settles into this halfway decent area instead of regressing….I know the contract ain't worth it, but at least we get some useable value out of him……..and by the way……with his over the top public love of all things unicorn……and unabashed bachelorhood…….not gay…….although the gays think he is a fucking fruity bastard……but not gay…….and the gays are relieved……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
PABLO
He's gotta snap out of it sometime right???

ENGLAND
OK, I figured it out……the fucking English Soccer team wear jersey's with FUCKING COLLARS……what the fuck…..pompous asses…..the whole team looks like Dan Akroyd's Country Club buddies from Trading Places….good luck with Germany you wankers……



SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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 thought 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..)




by merkin

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at MARLINS 05-06

Sorry that took a little longer than planned…..Comcast was running a special on the Gold Rush cheerleaders….and well, I just wanted to get to know the girls a little better…..you know, hear their dreams and aspirations ……

After missing a sweep in the 3rd game in 3 consecutive home series, did anyone expect a sweep in Florida? Hey 2 of 3 woulda been great, but this is pretty badass …bouncing back to win game 1 after blowing the late lead, then Zito gem coupled with Romo's Houdini….now to complete the sweep versus budding Ace Nolasco…man, it really don't get better than this….the Marlins are a tough hitting, scrappy team with some good pitching……man…..keep it rolling …..just keep it rolling……

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at MARLINS 05-06

GAMEBALL

CAINER

Cain did a great job of following up Zito and Lincecum holding the Marlins hitless into the sixth inning…..Cain had the best year of his career last year and has just keep on rolling into the new year….after all the bellyaching about dropping k rates and unsustainable BABIP…(didn’t we just do this yesterday?)……Cain has defied the stat heads posting stellar "surface stats" while the underlying stats tell a different story….. Man this BABIP is everywhere! I am reading on mainstream sites…….so .300 is the norm and anything outside that is basically unsustainable unless you are a groundball freak….or so goes the theory…..well after posting a full year at .268 BABIP… Cain is off to a another stat head defying BABIP of .260….but something is different this time….walks are down FURTHER from a career 3.5 to about 2.0 per 9….and hey, when did Cain become a groundball pitcher??? he has 44.7% GB and only 37.2%FB so far this year, which is the exact opposite trend of the past……His is holding his K's per 9 at about 7, so no matter which way you slice it, Cain is doing BETTER so far this year than he did during his first all star campaign……on a big day for the Giants with the sweep, the man in the middle of the diamond gets that GAMEBALL


TIP OF THE CAP :
NATE
Man, it was hard to pass Nate up tonight, but 5 1/3 hitless will do that…less than a month ago I had Nate written off as a solid bench guy…..well…..Nate certainly has changed things quick…..since basically getting a starting gig on April 17th, Nate has gone 22 for 56, hitting 393/ 431/ 607 …and tonight he added his 1st homer and his 3rd stolen base….and man that Homer was a delight, as Nate just turned on a slow curve CRUSHING it 15-20 rows back in Right…..man, this kid is strong and if he can keep this going the Giants look to have another legitimate hitter in a lineup desperate for hitters……

DEROSA
Let his bat do the talking with a RBI double to get the Giants on the board…..and a single to plate another run in the 7th…..

ROWAND
Man, no homer, but spanked a triple to get the Giants their 2nd run of the night….and yeah I heard the shit about bike riding…..but after that play on Baker's liner in the 7th….I think I have to believe….that looked like a sure hit off the bat……and ROW ROW made it look easy………..

MOTA/ WILSON
Shut them down with people all over the bases……



JOKER

RENTERIA

Ouch, well…..those good feelings didn't last long…..after tearing up the Cactus league and playing well for about 20 minutes….good god, just what we needed another useless overpaid middle infielder on the roster to complain about……well, although disappointing I guess this year is actually his best year so far as a Giants…combine the home opener Homer with an injury that actually gets him OUT of the lineup, instead of IN the lineup and sucking for 150+ games…..well, either way……I don't think there is a Giants fan among us that isn't happy to see this JOKER off the active roster and let someone else get those AB's


SMACK OF THE STICK :
FLANNERY
Anytime you get 2 runners nailed at the plate in 1 inning, especially when you are thrown out by a mile like Derosa…..you had a bad day…..and I don't know what Flannery was doing on that Molina play, but that didn't look like a stop sign….hell, didn't look he was doing anything really…..maybe a subtle hand signal…..but then again, I have never seen Flannery but subtle about anything…..

AFFELDT
Dude…..what happened to your control???

RUNZLER
Dude, maybe you shouldn't use Affeldt as your tutor….


SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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..)




by merkin

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> PIRATES at GIANTS 04-13

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> PIRATES at GIANTS 04-13

GAMEBALL

VELEZ

Damn that skinny kid has got some pop, Eugene hit a chopper to tie the game… but the real heroics was the SHOT he hit over the bricks in right…..the kid can hit, but is a man without a position and probably never gets a chance at a full time job because of his defensive shortcomings….but man, this kid gives you goosebumps where you see all that potential……and we got a glimpse tonight, which was good enough for the GAMEBALL

TIP OF THE CAP :
MOLINA
What a strange year, did anyone expect that Bengie would not only be leading the team in hitting with a .455 AVE, but his OBP is actually HIGHER that his batting average!.... 22 AB's into the season Bengie has 2 walks, compared with last year where it took Bengie until May 14th and 123 AB's before his 2nd walk of the season…..Quick Sabes, lock him up for 3 more years!!!

ROWAND
Back and forth performances all over the place, and after a much publicized 0 for 10 start, Rowand is now hitting .300 and got 2 more hits tonight and scored 2 runs….also made a nice play to gun down DOUGHMITT trying for a double……

ROMO
Keeps on dealing…..

JOKER

RENTERIA

Well that was quick….Renteria has not only cooled off considerably, he gets the JOKER this evening for his bat but especially the muffed catch on what looked to be a sure double play ball to set up the go ahead run in the pivotal 8th…….I would avoid Affeldt in the clubhouse, I hear he can have a temper……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
AFFELDT
Yeah, run was unearned, but you still set the whole thing up with the 4 pitch walk

FLANNERY
Dude…….you got one job to do….and that play on Pablo wasn't even close….and in case you missed it Molina is hitting like .400 something…..

MEDDERS
The weak link got smacked around for insurance runs that turned into a good investment for the Pirates……with the depth of Giants pitching, you have close to no job security….the only thing you have going is the Giants don't want a kid sitting at the end of the pen collecting dust…..

CAIN
Sorry Cainer, 6 Innings and 3 runs aint gonna cut it….that may be a Quality Start in some parts, but we expect dominance from the big arm..

SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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..)




by merkin

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at ASTROS 04/07

What the hell is going on here? Are the Astros that bad? Are the Giants getting lucky? I am really hoping the answer to those questions is no, but am really don't want to know the answer……just keep doing what you doing please…..

"Last time Houston was beat this bad Bobby Brown went to jail"- EricR17
Warms your heart to know you have an influence of the youth of today. I do what I do for the kids…..

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> GIANTS at ASTROS 04/07

GAMEBALL

RENTERIA

Wow, in these three games Renteria already has more hits than he had all of last season…..Don't bother checking the stats, it’s a fact….Renteria has been playing as if he was reborn. This is a feel good story unfolding before our eyes people….If Edgar can continue his rebound from his forgetful frustrating 2009, it will be the most heartwarming story of redemption by a Columbian since Andres Escobar of 1994 World Cup fame…..GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLL….ok maybe not…..

TIP OF THE CAP :
BOWKER
Now THIS IS What I am talking about!!!...Pablo broke through to give the Giants a homegrown hitter….but Pablo is different, he is still a kid……Bowker however is cut from the same cloth as so many pretenders before him…kicking around the Giants system for year, finally making to the show in the mid to late 20's….Lewis, Minor. Frandsen, Ortmeier, Linden, Niekro, Ellison, Torcato. Ransom, Minor, Murray, Crespo, Rios…. you get the idea….. so when Bowker looks like he might break through, it's something entirely foreign…Of that whole list of players only Headcase Lewis has had a good semi-full season in the majors……so good luck bucking that trend Mr Bowker, history isn't your friend….and neither is Carlos Valderrama

ROWAND
Shook off the first 2 days with a 4 hit night including a "triple" to lead off the 7th and singles to plate the Giants 6th and 9th runs

URIBE
Slugged a double to change momentum following the Astros Rally and set the stage for Geravacio…..and knocked in the run that avoided going to Wilson for the 3rd time in 3 days……

ISHIKAWA
Reminded everyone of his existence with a one hand golf shot homer in the 9th

JOKER

GERVACIO

For the man with the weird ass setup, one weird ass day to forget…..the biggest play of the night according to fangraphs was his throw down the line to plate the go ahead run…. that one throw was worth basically was worth 0.44 Giants Team Wins…..and if the Division is decided by 0.44 Wins we know who to thank…..and to an injury to insult, some how he actually sprained his shoulder and is out for an undetermined amount of time….I guess that's what happens when you don't setup your throw properly……hate to pile on an injured kid, but after a performance like that I have no choice but hand you your well deserved JOKER…..



SMACK OF THE STICK :
GLOVES
Both Rowand's and Uribe's heroics with the bat saved them from the lower half of the write up, but it wasn't enough to save their gloves……now Pablo's error was more physical than mental……Rowand and Uribe….well, although they weren't official errors, they are certainly mental lapses that robbed Cain of his 1st win of the year and started that whole hard luck Cain shit all over again…..Rowand made a great play to get to the ball, but you got to make that catch….That ball had more leather on than Rowand wears to the Folsom Street Fair….but Rowand was looking for a wall to jam his face into, instead watching the ball into the glove…..and then Uribe, with the speedy Bourn at the plate….takes a couple easy steps in on a slow grounder….prefering to hang back and rely on his arm than charging aggressively…….but mental errors in my book, and those things will kill you in the long run…..so learn from them my Giants, learn

OFFICIAL SCORER
OK, first of all Rowand's Triple was a single and at least 1 error on Bourn…..maybe a 2nd on Pence…..but then how the hell does a ball hit and stick to the outside of Rowands glove for 1/2 an hour before he drops it become a Triple? When a ball gets that much glove time its surely an error from all the baseball I have seen…..what's a matter afraid to give a big bad baseball player an error?

SAN FRANCICSO
I don't think I even really need to add anything I guess Toyota has diversified into Jersey's now….




SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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..)




by merkin

Giants Infielders 2010 ..... GAMER or HEADCASE Pt 2

Ok, looks like we are rolling… so stay with me as we move to the infield with GAMER or HEADCASE……or to put it in 2010 marketing speak, ILLUSION or TRICK

The PANDA
Instead of an offseason talking about how Pablo had the best first full season by a Giants homegrown player since Will Clark in 1987, instead of talking about Pablo hitting the most homers by a homegrown player since Matt Williams in 1994…all we heard this offseason was detailed diet and workout plans of Operation Panda….good bless Pablo, man…. after a season like Pablo had, any other player in the league would have blown a gasket when every question was about how many slices of Pizza he ate this offseason.. DOESN'T ANYONE WANT TO TALK ABOUT FUCKING BASEBALL????? Pablo hit .330 BA with 25 BOMBS PEOPLE……yeah, he could use some guidance with his diet and fitness, but do you have to make that the Giants Headline all season long???? Is the Front office even fucking thinking???? Sorry guys, if I had habits to change and it became a headline…..I am eating fucking handfuls of goddamn twinkies just to spite the powers that be…….thank god Pablo is such a good natured son of a bitch……..oh yeah, expect more of the same….
VERDICT: GAMER

EDGAR RENTERIA
Well ain't that a bitch, Sabean rewards player with a rich contract only to watch their career worst year (stop me if you heard this one before)…..bone chips? ok, I buy that……332 BA from 2007? THAT I don't buy…. best case, .270-290 BA ..330-.350 OBP with 10-15 HR…..but now 2 years removed from his career year coming off surgery and turning 34 this season??? I am guessing we are looking at .260 BA .320 OBP with 10-15 HR…..at least if the wheels don't fall off……
VERDICT: SNOOZER

FREDDY SANCHEZ
All Star Batting Champ Freddy Sanchez…..This is some sort of bad joke right??? I am thinking a better moniker would be Sabean's Yearly Contract to Regret Circa 2010 Freddy Sanchez…. Knee + Knee +Shoulder, good god, hope he gets traded to Toronto so he can take advantage of that Universal Canuck healthcare……Prediction for 2010? limited 350 at bats after bouts with Rickets Shingles and Gout……
VERDICT: PRETENDER

AUBREY HUFF
Ok, so who the fuck names their kid AUBREY??? Guess that was an easy shot, but it needed to b said. Pasty flabby white guy that would looks more like a professional bowler, than a baseball player. Sure that's racist, but he's white so its OK ;)…Anyways, the guy certainly has pop in his bat, but the hard part is getting the bat to contact the ball….hell, even getting his glove to contact the ball is an issue at times…..He better come out of the gate with a bushel of bombs, or the Giants faithful won't stand for his defense…. and yes, after watching JT for so many years, and even Ishi and Galarraga we are a bit spoiled……average first baseman = butcher in SF Giants fan speak… add that to his reputation of "having a good time and this don't look good..…Really this could go either way, but I think AT&T is going to kill his power, as many those homers robbed by the Brick Wall in Right and Triples alley are turning into Doubles and even Singles with his foot speed…..(9 of 204 career HR went OPPO)….Hope I am wrong but I don't see him getting more than 400AB's with 10-15 HR's….
VERDICT: HEADCASE

TRAVIS ISHIKAWA
Ahh Travis, our hearts may wonder but they always come back to you….Glove so slick, bat so powerful…..so why don't you just break out already……I am still hopeful, as Travis is still young enough to become a solid player, but time and opportunities aren't unlimited…. I remained convinced there is something mechanically wrong with Travis…..I have never seen a player look like he is right on a pitch only to do the swing through….I am predicting……ok, maybe praying that Bam Bam can fix whatever is wrong…but I doubt it…….really in the end I will be forced to realize our
VERDICT: HEADCASE

JUAN URIBE
Much like Krukowisms, best served in small doses…..not he isn't the .300 hitter you saw last year, no he won't fulfill the promise he showed as a Rockies Prospect at the beginning of the Millennium…..but he WILL play any time he is asked and any where he is asked without complaint….and he WILL swing at a high fast ball like a starving Filipino Boy presented with a Piñata stuffed with Lumpia and Spam…..I mean, good god when a hitter swings this hard without snapping a bone or tearing a ligament its hard not to like….especially when every once in a while he connects…..in extras…..to beat the DOGGIES…..
VERDICT: GAMER


SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG


(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--> ROCKIES at GIANTS 9/16

Giants failed to complete the sweep which would have cut the Rockies lead to 1 in the loss column and put a big spectre of doubt in their minds….. instead the Rockies 3 up in the loss column with 16 to play….and leave town feeling like they dodged a bullet…..Giants wrap up a losing home stand, but after shellacking the Rockies in back to back games and then giving them a scare they are actually feeling pretty emboldened as they head down to Los Angeles….and if you factor is the miscues from the Rockies and the shakiness of sudden lack of depth in their pen, it would be easy for the seeds of doubt to start to creep in… of course, last time the Rockies left town they proceeded to go 10-1 so who knows what will happen, all I know is I paid my Playoff bill so for better or for worse, I guess I am in….. and the Giants players certainly won't have a hard time getting motivated in the smog bowl that is September in Chavez Ravine…….

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> ROCKIES at GIANTS 9/16

GAMEBALL

BULLPEN

Didn't seem relevant at the time, but after the near miss in the 9th the dominating performances from Ruzler, Affeldt, and Romo were HUGE….shutting down the potent Rockie attack and keeping the Giants "close" with 3 innings of 1 hit ball with 5 K's….and Affeldt and Romo are looking like they will be on top of their games down the stretch shortening the game by 1-2 innings, and RUnzler is suddenly a major player with his high-90's heat from the left side…..Good job kids, keep shutting them down….if the Giants make a run in the seasons final 2 weeks, you know these 3 will be major players…..

TIP OF THE CAP :
URIBE
Wasn't as big a game , but was on base all day with a hit a walk and a HBP….throw in a groundball thrown away by Tulowitski and Uribe was everywhere…even had the presence of mind no to charge the mound after getting a fastball in the side
JOKER

RENTERIA

The highlight of Renteria's night was either calling De La Rosa out, or the linedrive at em ball in the at bat immediately following the shouting match……otherwise Renteria was useless and his return to the lineup, catalyzed the shuffle that weakened the defense and …..had runners on all 4 times at the plate and failed in each appearance including a Double Play in the 2nd and of course the weak ass pop out in the 9th…..Sure no one would complain if Uribe and Sandoval manned the left side of the infield the rest of the year……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
TORRES
Struck out with 2nd and 3rd and nobody out, but the reason he is here is the fucked up double play….leading off second with 1 out……got caught leaning towards 3rd on a hard ground ball to Short….first of all, knowing Tulowitski's arm he should have been breaking back to the bag once the ball was basically hit AT him….second, once he was caught leaning, all you can go is get into a run down…..make Tulo either run you down or make a throw to third…hesitation was the worst play possible…..

MEDDERS
Shoulda just nailed Tulo….you got nothing to lose... Giants pen is deep, game looked out of hand at the moment…and if Tulo charges the mound you both likely get suspensions….and that’s the best thing the Giants could hope for……

SANCHEZ
Lead off the 9th with a single, but otherwise looked foolish at plate swinging over De La Rosa's slider all night……The more I watch this guy, the more I consider him a curiosity…..either he is hitting the ball on the screws all night, or he is flailing at air….When Krukow says something like, "I don't think he is picking up the rotation on the slider" what he means is "Why the fuck does he keep swinging at that"…its almost like he was traded from the AL or something….DUDE, the PIRATES are the NL…..you HAVE seen these guys before, haven’t you???? (fyi, before tonight Sanchez WAS 6 for 11 off De La Rosa)

ROWAND
If Sanchez looks like he is lost some nights…well, you are looking lost almost every night…..dropping a sure catch was the highpoint of the night…..the low point was when BOCHY actually had seen enough and pulled you for a PH in the 9th…..stings don't it……wonder if you will do some Zitoesque soul searching this offseason…..

WINN/ SCHIERHOLTZ
Both failed to bring home the tying run…and both had pitches to hit……

BOCHY
GODDAMNN IT….The Infield of Uribe at Short, Sandoval at 3rd, Sanchez at 2nd and Ishikawa at 1st was working……Sandoval is way more comfortable at 3rd than 1st…..Uribe is more comfortable in the middle than at 3rd, and Ishikawa is our best defensive 1st baseman….Yes, I understand that De La Rosa is a lefthander, but if you can start Nate, why can't you give Ishikawa a chance…..it's not like he has stunk it up versus lefties at the major league level sure, only 44 PA, but a .300 AVE and .364 OBP….looking at his minor league numbers, he has a weakness against Lefthanders, but then again Renteria has a weakness against Major League Pitching…and Ishikawa has been your goddamn lucky charm with the Giants going 10-2 in his last 12 starts…..hell, I hear some players don't change their underwear if they are on a hot streak…..its like your NEED to platoon is a genetic condition…. probably a side effect of the Elephantitis that boated your skull……

FINAL THOUGHTS
All that being said, I had a strange feeling in the 9th inning….something I haven't felt since 2003…..butterflys in the stomach, cold sweat on the palms…..sure we have had many "must win" games this year, and the word "playoff atmosphere" has been thrown around more often then batteries at a Candlestick Dodger game…but tonight was actually the first time I had the real feeling of a playoff…..sure we came out on the wrong side of this one, but there are a little over two weeks left and it is likely to come down to that final weekend….and really winning 2 of 3 was enough to keep us alive as we not only cut 1 game from the lead and gained a little momentum…but we assured that if the season comes down to a 1 game playoff, it will be at AT&T Park by virtue of the new head to head tiebreaker system……

SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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--> ROCKS at GIANTS 8/30

I often hear than fans can allow themselves the luxury of having their emotions swing with the outcomes of games, whereas players as professionals can't let those things effect them. Well, that may be true to a certain extent but after Monday nights loss you can't tell me the players didn't have their heads down and their tails between their legs. But when faced with a situation like that in baseball, or in life in general…. you can go two ways…..roll over and die, or get mad get up off your ass and fight….. and dammit if the Giants didn't do just that….. fighting back with 2 late wins versus the DBacks, and then after two dominating performances, coming back from what seemed like a loss in the books to SWEEP the team responsible for the bad feelings in the first place and the teams emotions as so high, they probably didn't need a plane to fly to East Coast tonight

After a game like that, its Fangraphs time



Giants best performers
Renteria +87.4% WPA (that’s more than 1 1/2 wins)
Lewis +15.8%
Affeldt +12.4%

Giants worst performers
Sandoval +17.5%
Whiteside +17.2%
Cain +16.6%

GAMEBALL and JOKER--> ROCKS at GIANTS 8/30

GAMEBALL

EDGAR

In the Bottom of the 6th inning with runners on second and third and no outs, down by two…..Molina and Sandoval both struck out, not even managing a sac fly or a run scoring grounder……and then the pinch hitting Garko hit a easy broken bat grounder to third to squander a chance to tie the game with a simple basehit……Then in the 7th inning the Rockies pushed across another run to extend the lead to 3……the game was over right there…..but in the 7th the Giants would have another chance……the first two runners would reach, and the after a Whiteside K, and a Lewis HBP the Giants had the based juiced and the tying run on base for Velez……Another K with a runner on 3rd and less than two out and up stepped injured Renteria in the midst of his worst season in the majors …..he had hit the ball hard twice in three at bats, so perhaps we might have seen this coming…..but no way, this would not happen…..the Giants would surely squander this chance as well……on a 0-1 fastball location mistake belt high inside edge of the plate, Renteria UNLOADED on the ball hitting a NO DOUBTER over the cars in left, clearing the wall by at least 20-30 feet, and at that one moment everything changed, the park came alive, and with Affeldt warming in the pen you suddenly had the belief that we COULD beat this juggernaut of a team…..not only BEAT this team, but actually dominate and demoralize this Rockies team that has been rolling since May……so who knows how this season will end, or how Renteria will finish the year, but I know one thing…..despite the numbers and the disappointment, Edgar won a lot of fans today……..and by the way, the Rockies have now lost a season high 5 in a row….

TIP OF THE CAP :
URIBE
A tough AB to draw a lead off walk in the 7th to get the ball rolling for the rally, a single/ triple thing to right to help extend the lead in the 8th…but overlooked at the time and forgotten later, was a SLICK double play in the top of the 7th to hold the lead at 3……with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd and Medders just in the game, he ranged to his left to snare a hard hit 1 hopper, spun and fired a strike to Renteria, who relayed to 1st to just get Hawpe and send the Giants to the bottom of the 7th for the game turning rally….we can forgive the misplay on the popup in the 9th where Renteria and Uribe combined for the drop…..

MEDDERS
Came in 1st and 3rd and 1 out…..let the one run score, but got out of the 7th keeping the damage in check……

AFFELDT
With a fresh 1 run lead, Jeremy gave every one a scare…..a double and a single and there was 1st and 3rd with 1 out……and Jeremy got mad…..and proceeded with Back to Back punch outs and then a full body fist pump celebration to end the inning and send it to the 9th….

ROHLINGER
BIG add on double…..after looking bad twice on two swing and miss sliders, Rohlinger hit a hard line drive to Left Center to drive in 2 and give the Giants some breathing room….

LEWIS
Doubled and scored in the 6th, and then took a 97 MPH fastball in the ribs during the grand slam rally…and no Monkey, I don't think he rubbed it…..

VELEZ
Double plated the 9th run, and when it bounced into the stands he put me on TV….for about 1.7 seconds……..


JOKER

WEIRDO in LEFT

If you were at the game, you saw something ALMOST as stupid as the Kruk & Kuip bobbleheads…between every 1/2 inning…..1st row down the left field line..a Dude with Mickey Mouse Hands and a Fantasia style Wizards Hat…was doing his imitation of Michael J Fox being Electrocuted…..ok, I could understand if he was being paid by Red Bull or GoldenPalace or something like that, but as far as I could tell this was just the biggest attention whore I have seen since Paris Hilton…..lets just hope he doesn't make a sex tape……and yes, I did see something on his shirt, but searching the net I can't figure out what he was promoting…..I am thinking he is one of these court jester guys you hire for parties…..you know the jackass doing magic, trying to do sing alongs and generally acting like the village idiot……whatever he is, he should have been kicked out of the park once he started doing his "dance"….or at least taken out back and maimed…..

SMACK OF THE STICK :
CAIN
Been a horse all year, but dug the Giants an early hole after being hit HARD, allowing 2 Homers and a double that was as close as you can come without going out…..

HINSHAW
3 baserunners vs 1 out does not keep you in the bigs….sure 1 was a nice bunt, but then the one out was a pickoff too…never got a batter out….

UMPIRES
I can understand the missed call on Cain, but do they ALL go against us…..the ratio of getting the short end of a ball call seems to be 2:1 at least …..and why do we have the same umps for the WHOLE HOMESTAND????......but the real reason you are here is the called 3rd strike on Pablo….looked inside, but the Center Field camera is at a slight angle so I went to PitchFX to be sure….the ball was 6 inches off the plate according to Pitchfx…..and that system is pretty damn accurate in regards to inside outside and it is set to judge the strike zone on a plane with the FRONT of the plate….and that ball was moving even MORE inside when it hit the mit…..bad call……rookie umpire…..


FINAL THOUGHTS
After being at the game on Thursday….watching Friday's game on TV and then missing yesterday entirely, I felt I NEEDED a good game today as I took it in from the Left Field Bleachers……and the Giants delivered….a good crowd even when we were down got FUCKING LOUD when that ball left Renteria's bat, and then EXPLODED when the ball went over the wall….after that point, the place just kept BUZZIN with a playoff like atmosphere (an overused but in this case apt analogy*)……this was the BEST game I have been to this year, and actually its been years since a game this good and I go to a lot of games……the only game in recent memory that comes close would be Timmy's 15 K game this year……before that it was May 16th 2006 when the Giants scored 4 in the 9th to beat the Dodgers…..


*Analogy, Simile, what the fuck do I know, I ain't no goddamn fucking English professor….juts read the damn thing and smile….


SHARE VIA FACEBOOK

SHARE VIA TWITTER

GB and JK ARCHIVES AT THE GIANTS BOARD BLOG

(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..)