GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/20 GIANTS at PADRES

What the fuck just happened???
You know that friend of yours that hates baseball….thinks it’s a bunch of Men in pajamas running around playing a boring game?
Well, after watching two nights of this crap, I think they are right?
Hell, I could have spent the last three hours watching the fucking weather channel and been more stimulated,,,,,
I don't even know what to say after a night like tonight….I mean how can you get your hackles up when NOTHING HAPPENS……
GOOD GOD, the Giants have as good a chance of scoring at Petco, as Stephen Hawking does in a nunnery…..nah…..take that back,…..they would probably be taken in by his vulnerability and flaccid manhood…….

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/20 GIANTS at PADRES

GAMEBALL

ROWAND

Why can I totally picture Rowand driving a 1977 White Trans Am and dealing Coke in Philly????
Its it just me?
Well anyways, Aaron took advantage of the strange lineup to save whatever scraps of pride he has left……with a 3 hit night…….
Keep him in the leadoff spot and maybe the jackass keeps hitting….don't mean I have to like him……


TIP OF THE CAP :
SANCHEZ
Good job….holding the walks to 3 in 6 innings…….
Hey, for Sanchez that’s a good night….

BOCHY
Leadoff magic works again……lets see……tomorrow….automatically bunt with the #2 hitter and hit Winn #3…..guaranteed 3 runs……

WINN
Didn't you get the memo…..quit hitting the ball, you are making everyone else look bad….

KRUKOW
Highlight of the night…..Giants fan catches a foul ball, he turns and gives it to a Padres fan with what appears from the back to be a little boys haircut…..
"Right guy found it….ahh, he gave it to a kid"-Krukow
only to have the Padres fan turn around and you see it’s a really a 40 something bull dike with her date……
"uh….maybe"-Kuiper
I almost lost my lunch……
I would post a pic, but I don't think she is really worthy of clowning….I mean, there's nothing wrong with a few rug munchers at a ballgame, now is there?

JOKER

US

If you are like me, you sat on your couch for the better part of 3 hours alternatively stabbing yourself in the eye with a sharp object, and slamming your head against the closest hard object…….at least then I got some sensory stimulation……
God this shit is hard to watch……I find myself looking back at the good old days of 2008…..When Krukow and Kuiper would do this day in Giants History and then show another Bonds highlight and then the Giants would lose……ahhh…..those were the days…….

SMACK OF THE STICK :
FRANDSEN
Sure, I will grant him the fact he looks 100x better at short than I could ever imagine…..but what the Fuck are you doing kid?
You better take advantage of the time you are getting, instead you have put up a fat 0 for 10….
Hell 3 starts in a row amounts to a LONG LOOK for a Giants youngster…..just ask Schierholtz……

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/19 GIANTS at PADRES

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/19 GIANTS at PADRES

GAMEBALL

ZITO

Zito was less that sharp tonight, but was more than enough to hold the Padres to 2 solo shots…….we spectacular defensive support Zito turned in a complete game, albeit the kind you really don't want….the 8 inning varity…….As the Giants sink below .500….Zito has been the biggest reason for improvement over last year……where would we be without Twitter thumbs…..no, best you don't think about it

FB max 88.6
FB ave 86.6


TIP OF THE CAP :
GLOVES
Freddie???? Well, he probably won't ever win a gold glove, but I tell you he really ain't that bad……made a few bonehead plays early in the season, sometimes gets poor jumps, looks like a deer in headlights at times, and never gives you an air of confidence…..but really he has been playing pretty well out there…..good speed, and a good throwing arm he gets to more than his fair share of balls in Left…..Sure he has had his issues in the minors and majors, but I got the feeling he is going to get better as he gets more comfortable, and quits thinking so much……..
And man, if Burriss isn't a gold glove waiting to happen, I don't know who is…..the best range from a second baseman I have ever seen in a Giants uniform….quick hands and a very good arm for 2nd……WOW……

WINN
Continues his ownage on Randy

VELEZ
Now 7 for 13 off Young…..too bad you can't hit any other pitching on the planet……


JOKER

YOUNG

What…..games over???? We LOST????
WOW, that was weird, coulda sworn we had baserunners all over the place and knocked Young out of the game early……
God I HATE games like this……a couple quick homers off Zito, and what seemed to be chance after chance after chance…..you figure the Giants would HAVE to break through……this guy is throwing 86 MPH….and there is no nasty break….just a flat fastball and a little curve……
I guess this is what the opposition felt like everytime Reuschel would beat em……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
HAIRSTON and HEADLEY
How the fuck do two dudes that weight about 200 pound combined muster enough power to get it out of Petco?????
Good god, I hate the Padres……Cute little friars…..stands 1/4 full, and 50% of those are Giants fans…….on paper they have no business beating ANYONE….and yet here we are, looking at that L in the loss column……
Hope Padres fans enjoy the victory…..all 7 of them…….

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/17 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/17 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

CAIN

After years of battling poor run support, a shaky bullpen, and bouts of wildness…..Cain hasn't let any of that bother him, and he just goes out and performs……
Although not his sharpest, Cain was able to use what he had to keep the Mets off balance and off the board…..and then since no one in the lineup other than Sandoval or Molina were hitting the ball, Cain took it upon himself to drive in the run from third with 2 strikes and the infield in……..
This kid is still young, still maturing, and is the workhorse of the staff…..
Good job on the win Matty, way to stop the losing streak…..

TIP OF THE CAP :
WILSON
Despite his sudden rise to Public Enemy #2, Wilson got it done with a 1-2-3 inning…….

K-FRAN
Miscast at SS, he did make a couple nice plays….not you better got hot with the stick FAST….or spend the summer in 105 ºF heat of Fresno…..believe me….EVERYTHING is better in San Francisco……

MONEY BROS
Molina, Sandoval…..where would we be without you……oh yeah…..behind the Padres……

JOKER

WHITE SHINJO

God I love that pic……I am a Genius, just like Brian Wilson (Watch Life of Brian, and am still laughing)
Don't worry about the slow start…..Veteran Players usually come back to their establish norms…….
I have this phrase 100 times, and sure a "proven track record" means something as far as predictive ability…..
But what exactly is Rowand's Proven Track Record……
Rowand had a monster 2007, which he parlayed into a fat contract…..many people write off that year being a function of Citizens Bank Park….which may or may not be true……but either way, I think we can all agree it was the "classic" career year
Throw that year out and see what you get the last 3 years
13 HR
.268 Average
.330 OBP
Is this the player we are waiting for ?????
At 32 with a banged up body and slowing bat is he worth the playing time????
Sure maybe we get lucky and some of the 2007 magic is left……and to be fair he also had a very good 2004…….but Rowand is NO SURE THING as far as offensive production…….Hell, if Schierholtz or Lewis turned in that offensive line, they would be sent to AAA
So when Andres Torres gets healthy, I would love to see a Pseudo platoon set up……
Sure Torres is a journeyman, but he's got 4.1 speed, a good arm, and great instincts in center…..and he wouldn't be the first veteran speedster to break in after his 30th birthday (see Otis Nixon)…….
One more note on a "pseudo platoon"……
Aaron had 5 Homers in 402 AB vs RHP……
Aaron had 8 Homers in 142 AB vs LHP

SMACK OF THE STICK :
JOE MORGAN
I don't think much needs to be said
As good as you were a ballplayer…..is as bad as you are as a broadcaster

DUDE THAT FELL INTO PIT
ok, I can understand getting excited about a baseball…..but you don’t do 2 things

1) Don't run over kids or women (or really anyone)
2) Don't die

Well, you got #1 right…..but like Ishikawa going after a foul ball, you went heads over heels 5 feet straight down…..and I don't think that floor is made of foam…….
So get a clue…..at Least Ishikawa is getting $400K to risk life and limb,……you are re3aching for a $15 piece of leather and yarn….and I am pretty sure you went home empty handed

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/16 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/16 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

WHITE SHINJO

Bochy hinted at resting Aaron, but the outfield corps were too banged up???
Is that all it took to light a fire under your ass???
After doing his best Shinjo impression for most of 2009, Aaron actually PRODUCED at the PLATE....I know, I know, you don’t believe it.....but its true.....the day after being lynched on the WWW for leaving runners at 3rd twice in a close game Rowand suddly turned into Captain Clutch with a 2 run single and a shot into the left field stands.....
Good job jackass...lets hope Bochy threatens to bench you every game for the rest of the season

TIP OF THE CAP :
BATS
Holy shit, what are you doing this high in the write up.......
If ever there was a game primed for an offensive shut down, it was this one
With an offense so bad, you would think Alex Smith was the Quarterback, the Giants didn’t seem to have a prayer versus the best Non-Lincecum pitcher on the planet......
12 hits and 5 extra base hits, every position player had a hit, and even Aurilia got one off the bench.......


JOKER

RANDY

No Randy, sorry.....not pretty.........
No sir, you got beaten like a Miami hooker on a date with the Sham Wow guy
And sorry kids, slice the data any way you want, this has been a down year for RJ....he has been off more than on.....and when he is off ....you can forget staying in the game.....
The 3rd time in 8 games he gave up 7 runs, and 4th time out of 8 games he has given up 10 baserunners... not exactly what the Giants were expecting......and on a team built on pitching and defense... you can’t have two lefty crapshoots every 5 days.......
So Randy, put that scowl back on your face, and ditch the good guy just savoring his last days, cause that last day may come sooner than you think

SMACK OF THE STICK :
WILSON
Been a day, but my mind goes back.......much like Mando crushed the psyche of that 2006 team.....your performance the last two times out are deflating to fans and players.......I can live with a poor pitching performance or two....but when the mental bullshit plays are accompanied by that LOOK AT ME persona.....people start turning on you.........a full year of converting saves and an all star appearance don’t cut it... this is a “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY” game.....so take that famous work ethic, work out the mental farts and start fine tuning that changeup....cause if you start performing........we can forget the bad, and all we be forgiven.....and perhaps you can be a worthy successor to the Beck/ Nen legacy.....

METS FANS
Good god, I sat in front of a pair of god-awful Mets fans the other night.....a couple flew in from New York (as she complained about flying all that way and not seeing Reyes)....and quite a couple they were......A VERY LARGE white female......maybe 5’6” 250+ and a smaller hispanic male....maybe 5’6” 150......and oh my god...they were vocal....but not like you think......it was some of the most high pitched, poorly enunciated, barely audible shouting I have ever heard.....backed by that New York City bravado......
1) The pitch of their voiced were perfectly matched, so I had to turn around to tell if it was a guy or girl trying to yell....dead serious
2) I would ask for the Giants fans around me not to yell, just so we could try to figure out what they were yelling.......2 rows behind me......
3) When they were yelling and clapping, you couldn’t hear them over their own clapping

It what turned into a miserable night watching the Mets steal 7 bases and beat the Giants late in the game, they provided endless amusement......
In a voice I could only describe as Frankie Valli with nasal congestion on his death bed, we heard such classics as....
“leh go betra” and “como dahid” and of course “leh go meh” and other non-senical noises in whiney whiney whiney voices
And the Bravdo......they would stay purposefully blocking views of pissed off Giants fans behind them.....and when I took a picture for the purposes of clowning them on this site....he was gracious enough to pose for me........pics pending......

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/15 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/15 METS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

JEFFREY

JEFFREY "DON'T CALL ME JEFF" LEONARD
Good to see that ugly puss back at the ballyard
HacMan, Penitentiary Face, 00, Mr Googly Eyes on the Batting Helmet….and '87 NLCS MVP…………
Was the Ying to the Good Ol' Boy Will Clark Yang of that 1987 Team……You could imagine yourself going deer hunting with the Good Old Boy from Bayous of Louisana, you could just as well see yourself getting stabbed in a bar fight by the Mean Kid from the Streets of Philly…..
Forged in the days of the pitiful 84-85 teams, a Vet that grew with the kids of 1986, Jeffrey represented the Bad Boy Arrogant Swagger that was appealing to a teen-age rebellious Merkin……and unapologetic hacker in a time when a walk wasn't nearly as good as a hit…….and Home Run trot that was offensive not just to the opposition, but the same baseball purists who also criticized Griffey Jr for his backwards cap in BP…….
A couple hot streaks at the right time made him famous in San Francisco, and infamous in St Louis……
After calling St Louis a "Cow Town", he became Public Enemy #1 to Cardinals Fans…..Literally clanking their Cow Bells, showered Jeffrey with Boos and at one point beer….after which Jeffrey was quoted….."…its okay, it was light beer…."
Although the 80's certainly wasn't the golden age of baseball, there was still a mythical quality of the unseen…….With only a handful of games on TV, and no Internet, Newspaper and Radio were the primary modes of delivery of baseball……..
and there are Jeffrey Myths to this day I swear are true…..well at least as true as Babe's "Called Shot"
Submitted as myth
1) In 1988 after hitting a home run, Jeffrey abandoned his One Flap Down, for One Finger Up
2) St Louis Catcher Tony Pena was the last of the old guard of catcher, who would talk trash ala Crash Davis in Bull Durham…… During the 1987 NLCS, the TV briefly showed the view from behind the umpire…..Jeffrey slowly wagged his bat over the plate in the face of Pena……there was a message carved onto the bat……which was reported as "FUCK OFF"…….
Ahhh good old Jeffrey…..great to see ya…..even more popular now than he was way back when…….and I am still pissed off about that Ernest Riles trade……ERNEST RILES?????....Hey, Mitchell was getting fat, and needed to move to left……and Riles was the closest thing to a 3rd baseman they could find…….

TIP OF THE CAP :
AFFELDT
DAMN….a impressive performance pulling the Giants asses from the fire….back to back K's with a runner on third and no one out….and after a Intentional Walk…..one more K for good measure……add another scoreless inning……and this was a GAMEBALL worthy performance….too bad they couldn't convert

LEWIS
Looks like he has calmed down and little and quit trying to crush the ball…..kid has "easy power"….just swing the bat…..the power will come…..just look at the nice easy swing resulting in a 430 foot shot……..

AURILIA
Took himself off life support with a couple hits and a hard hit line drive out……

JOKER

WILSON

Fuck Fuck Fuck
I am torn….but this is about the moment….and at this moment you are the JOKER……
a night after being schooled by the Mets baserunners, he brain farted himself AGAIN, with a nice easy throw to third…..too bad Sandoval wasn't 6'4", cause the only guy who had a chance to catch that was Dana Demuth…..and after Dana's calls last night you can be sure he wasn't helping out the Giants…..
Mr Twitter isn't really Mando-like in his handling of the Media……
Mando's problem was always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time…….
Wilson's problem is never shutting up…….
It’s the Twitter, it’s the TV Show, it’s the Radio Show…..good god, you're a 1 time all star and you are in the media more than Paris Hilton……
You are making yourself and easy target……
do yourself a favor…..cozy up to Randy Johnson, or give Bonds a call……lose the media….let them hate you and concentrate on getting that changeup into game shape you JOKER…….
By the way….I am pretty sure they should reshoot that Comcast commercial with the two cute little girls.…..
"A few tips, you're not kicking high enough, you're mechanics are all wrong, snap the wrist, grip with the seams, relax your wrist, palm to the sky, vary your looks, and throw to the base not the player……"
Heh….I think those girls could probably teach Righetti a thing or two….and the haircut is pretty stupid……

SMACK OF THE STICK :
ROWAND
TWICE with less than 2 down, failed to get the runner in from Third….a strikeout and a weak chopper to 3rd……Slap some big orange wristbands on him, and its SHINJO all over again…..of course….Shinjo had better range better style and would hit the cutoff man……

MERKIN
97MPH don't mean shit if you can throw it over the plate…..don't make Bochy go back to Howry….please……pretty please?

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/13 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/13 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

ZITO

May not have been on the right side of the decision or the game, but was effective all day long……Zito will never be a low WHIP guy, and he did a masterful job of stranding runners, and he pitched better than his numbers show…….after 6 solid, gave up 2 hits in the 7th only to be let down by his defense and his bullpen…….so when looking at that boxscore….dont stress out….the 2009 Zito is still doing fine
Side Note: Nice little slider vs Right Handed hitters…runs about 80 with a nice little 5 oclock break…..throws it in on the hands…..probably helps keep hitters off the curve…..
According to Fangraphs/ Baseball Info Solutions he is throwing it 14% of the time compared to 10% last year and 4% in 2007……this pitch type data is more reliable since it is based on human recognition, rather than pitchfx which classifies by movement…..(I think)

FB AVE 86.3 MAX 88.5


TIP OF THE CAP :
SCHIERHOLTZ
He, didn’t fall on his face in right, and had a bomb of a triple…..lets hope you got over your yips from last night……

ISHIKAWA
1 for 2,……and more importantly to me….didn't K

BOCHY
Can't get on him for Zito handling…..even using Misch in the 9th to save the bullpen…..and I like sticking with Burriss at the top even though he has cooled off…..and showing some balls by sticking Ishi in the 5 hole…..

JOKER

ROWAND

OK, I could get on most anyone's ass today…..but you know what…..Rowand really sticks in my craw……..
Bases juiced in the first and a weak ass popup…set the tone for the day
Add to that weak chopper, and another popup.…although he did draw a lead off walk and score late in the game…….
But what really bothers me is his defensive reputation……
Plays way too deep, cause he sucks going back on the ball…..
Average speed at best, with an over aggressive average arm…..
Usually gets good jump and has good instincts, and is adept at the diving catch which gets him on Sportcenter…….but you could say the same good things about Moises Alou……
Overall he is NOT a superior defender…..NO NO NO (Merkin stamps feet)
And you shmucks who think otherwise should be beaten with a Official Bonds "Walker" Rubber Chicken……
AVERAGE CENTER FIELDER….I would but him middle of the pack in the NL…..not bad…….but nothing special……maybe only a slight upgrade from Randy Winn….and most of that's his arm…….
And good god he is overrated at the plate……
.280 hitter with 15 HR power…….MAYBE…….
All this with a fat contract, pitchers park, and his bat and legs are only getting slower………

SMACK OF THE STICK :
MARTIS LOVERS
Wow, the hatred of Sabean runs deep on the interwebs…..even respectable print publication are calling him out of the Stanton/ Martis trade……
Hey, I love the kids as much as anyone…(well except for Marco and Brute) but the WHOLE POINT IS WINNING GAMES IN THE MAJORS……..sure in 2006, maybe we didn't have a world championship team…..but if you have a chance at a playoff spot, you have to take a chance……and trading Martis was a small price to pay for Stanton…….
In 2009 it may look silly, but think back to 2006
On July 23, the Giants were in 1st place by 1/2 game and about to complete a 4 game sweep of the formerly 1st place Padres……and then Termel Sledge crushed a Benitez pitch over the bricks in right to tie the game, the Giants would eventually lose in 12
BOX FROM THAT DAY
Now the Giants were certainly in the running, and the trade deadline was upon us…..
Stanton became the best reliever on the team for the rest of the year, even becoming the closer when Benitez strained his jaw eating doughnuts*…..and then when Stanton was signed away in the offseason, the Giants received a Sandwich pick, which a disappointed Benitez found out was not edible…….Just because the Giants ran out of magic by the time they picked Culberson, means the pick was bad….not the trade…….
All this and they only gave up a 20 Year Old Single A arm, who projected to be a #4 Starter was a small price to pay……
Sure, he had that famous 5 inning perfect game in the WBC, but really he was not a "highly talented" prospect…….
Even now he is exceeding expectations, with control and a nice change up….b ut he wouldn't even be in the Majors if it wasn't for the pitching poor Nationals…….
Looking at a 5-0 Martis 2 hitting the Giants, and looking at the horrible end to 2006, this is the exact wrong day to defend this…..but I will defend this……if you have the chance to win, you take it…….things could have broken very differently for the Giants in 2006 and yes…Bonds was still on the team, so you know the orders were WIN NOW……..


BURRISS
Leadoff spot hasn't been kind so far….1 for 13…..but hey, 3 walks makes it a little more palletable……and a low throw to 2nd opened the floodgates in the 7th….good aggressive play.….poor throw…….if that is ruled an error instead of a fielder's choice….2 runs would be unearned……dumb baseball rules……

BOCHY
I CAN get on him for batting Rowand 6th, or playing him at all
And although Holm had a good game with Zito…..I wouldn't push your luck…..give Zito back his Panda…..


* This is in fact 100% True….scouts honot……Benitez and Tyler Walker were seen in Happy Doughnuts cleaning out the day olds, when Benitez hurt his jaw while shoving 7 Jelly Doughnuts simultaneously into his gapping maw

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/12 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/12 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

PANDA

Proving that late inning offensive heroics aren’t the sole domain of Bengie, one strike away from a emotional loss, Pablo crushed a fastball deep into the left field seats to turn fortune on its head……after an embarrassing would be Triple turned embarrassing out…..Pablo had the most energizing hit of the Giants season giving Giants fans a Bondsesqe ending to a back and forth game…..
What can you say……the love for the Panda only grows in San Francisco……

TIP OF THE CAP :
MOLINA
Molina's solo shot in the 8th made it a 1 run game……foreshadowing Little Money's shot in the 9th…..oh yeah……Bengie also had his 1st walk….and scored from 1st on a double…..

ISHIKAWA
Added 2 more hits to his hot streak….and 1 more K…….

WINN
Key 2 run double and solid D, this time in left

BURRISS/ RENTERIA
Set the table for the Panda…..

FRANK
Our resident Wonderdog loves the taste of Nationals pitching

JOKER

HUMAN TORCH

Baseball is littered with relievers who seem to excel in a setup role only to melt once put under the pressure of the closer role…..well….Howry has taken that problem one step further and seems to melt if ANY situation with even the mildest pressure…….After an encouraging 3 outings including an improbable 2 scoreless versus the Dodgers…..the Howry that Giants fans have quickly learn to hate is back……..nursing a 1 run lead in the 8th, Howry got a strike out, and then allowed a walk, a LOUD fly out and back to back singles to get yanked…..but not before losing the lead……So lets hope Bochy has learned his lesson, cause few more high profile failures like this one, and the name Howry will be held with the same reverence as Walker, Hawkins, and Herges…….

SMACK OF THE STICK :
SCHIERHOLTZ
Although Fred Lewis' name was off the lineup card, Nate carried the sprit of Fred out with him to the field…..Getting crossed up on a line drive hit just to his left for a single, mis-judging a deep fly at the wall for a double, taking 3 straight fastballs for a strikeout and having your bat explode on your other 2 at bats……not a way to impress the management…….

MANNY ACTA
Frank Robinson is rolling in his grave…..
Hanarhan….was pretty nasty yesterday…..I don't care if he blew two saves…..he's 100x better than Wells and Beimel…….just hope you don't figure that out before the Giants are done spanking your team this year……

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/11 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/11 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

ISHIKAWA

So now that Burriss and Winn seem to have gotten past their early season woes……my mind drifted to Ishikawa……What happened to that aggressive power bat that was spraying balls to all fields????
Well, I cut the data every way you could, Spray charts, Batting Average on Balls in Play, Infield fly percentage, Wind speed of an unladen swallow…..seeing what I might be able to find that the naked eye has not detected……
The results……well…..in 2008 looks like Ishikawa revamped his swing, likely trying to generate more power….lets look at Groundball, Linedrive, Flyball splits
Before 2008 (rounded)
GB = 50%, LD = 18%, FB = 32%
2008
GB = 38%, LD = 20%, FB = 42%
while maintaining a hit rate on balls in play of about 32%
this would seem to bode well for the future…..
Additionally in 2008, he cut his Strikeout rate from above 30% to 20%.....
Now looking at 2009, the GB/LD/FB splits remain……
GB = 34%, LD = 19%, FB = 47%
But the hit rate falls to 28%...
And K rate JUMPS to 33%...
So what does all this mean????
Lets assume the hit rate is luck, and he will get back to about 32%, only worth about 0.20 points of BA….not much
So really it’s the strike outs that are killing him……
Now all this work, all these slicing and dicing, and one thing kept hitting me over and over……69 AT BATS…..ONLY 69 AT BATS…..good god, really hard to condemn a guy when he only has 69 at bats……hell Ishikawa got 3 fucking hits in 4 at bats tonight…..and his batting average went from .188 to .219……he does that again tomorrow and he's all the way up to .247……
As we have seen with Burriss and Winn…..when you are hitting .100 something with less that 100 AB's a few hits can change those averages REALLY quick and the pressure starts to lift and confidence starts to grow………
Heck, I didn't even mention his defense….this kid has a glove, range AND instincts and the FEARLESS determination to go get the ball…….
I say it right now……Travis is AS GOOD DEFENSIVELY AS JT SNOW……..so Travis may never hit 30 BOMBS…..but if he can pitch in 275 with 15 HR and gold glove Defense…..He will be a valuable part of a winning team……..


TIP OF THE CAP :
WINN
SMOKING the ball all over the field, and burning around the bases…..LOOK OUT BUMS….RANDY IS HEATING UP….and nobody goes on a tear quite like Mr Streaky himself……..

R ZIMMERMAN……
Good god, that shot to right…..reminds me of Adrian Beltre in a contract year……


JOKER

HUMAN BUTTPLUG

So this has been beaten to death by now, but here is my two cents……If you are going to pull a bush league move like that
1) Do it on the field, not hiding in your dugout like a pussy where only TV cameras could catch you
2) Do it when you take the lead….not TYING THE GAME…..you went on to lose
3) Make sure your target doesn't throw 100 MPH with a wild streak…..
What the FUCK where you thinking???? You think the Giants needed a jolt in the ass, some poster board material?????
Believe me, that just gives a jolt to an already energized Giants team…..whereas a suddenly vulnerable Dodger team is on an emotional low, and about to get their pitching exposed BIG TIME with a trip to Philadelphia who just happen to be leading the league in Homers….BOMBS AWAY!!!


SMACK OF THE STICK :
MANNY
Synthethic testosterone, eh?
Never tested positive for Steroid, eh?
Was a prescription for "medical issues," eh?
….so go ahead and add LIAR to the JUICING offense…….
"…… The test revealed the testosterone was synthetic -- in other words, it was ingested somehow…….. The synthetic testosterone in Ramirez's body could not have come from the hCG, according to doping experts, and so suddenly Ramirez had two drugs to answer for. Worse still for the ballplayer, MLB now had a document showing he had been prescribed a banned substance. This was iron-clad evidence that could secure a 50-game suspension,…….."
From ESPN

GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/9 GIANTS at DODGERS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/9 GIANTS at DODGERS

GAMEBALL

BURRISS

After a scorching spring, Burriss was the surprise winner of the 2nd base job over fan favorite local boy Kevin Frandsen……and after spending the first month of the season on the interstate many inside and outside the organization were looking at swapping the young secondbaseman…….but a funny thing happened on the way to Fresno…….
in fact you may not even have noticed……but Manny has started to hit…….
Since hitting ..161 with a .235 OBP over the first 19 games, over his last 9 games he has posted a .448 with a .515 OBP raising his average to a decent .253 including 2 of the Giants 4 hits today,……..sure, he probably won't ever wow anyone with his hitting ability……but if he keeps hitting the Juan Pierre way, he may just stave off Frandsen a little longer


TIP OF THE CAP :
PANDA
Well….nobody on the field deserved it, and at least without Panda in the lineup we proved our offense is beyond pathetic



JOKER

BATS

My God…….Sorry Krukow…….Stults was NOT fantastic…….his shutout was not a product of mixing pitches and hitting his spots…….quit blowing sunshine up our asses……The Giants FLAT OUT BLEW IT…….NUMEROUS 90MPH FAT FASTBALLS were left DOWN THE MIDDLE BELT HIGH……only to be fouled back, popped up or grounded weakly at an infielders…….
And just to make sure it wasn't my imagination, I extracted some data from Brooksbaseball.net and sure enough……fastballs in the happy zone all day long……
Good god, I don't think this offense can get any worse…….
If I am Carney Lansford, I take them all out in pregame tomorrow, and have them hit balls off a tee…..at least they would LEARN WHAT IS FEELS LIKE TO HIT A BALL HARD FOR ONCE….freaking JOKERS……


SMACK OF THE STICK :
SANCHEZ
Dude, you've been around long enough and logged enough innings....the whole wild thing is getting old....time to get your shit together and throw strikes......no need to nibble with stuff like that.....this is the big show....prime time.....and there is plenty of competition for your rotation spot coming on hard......Sure he's still young, but what...you gonna find your control at 30????
And then the mental breakdown on the rundown.....sure, backing up home for a throw, but as soon as the ball goes to first and a run down ensues, you getter get your ass over there.....what, were you expecting the slothy equipment laden Molina to go cover?????

Green Dots are Fastballs
The Large Square is the strike zone according to Pitchfx
The Smaller square represents the middle "1/2" of the plate, and the top "1/2" of the strike zone…….count em…..18 fastballs at 90MPH were in the "happy zone"……that’s 18 of 38 Fastball strikes were up and over the middle……a REAL offense woulda whacked him all over the park…..Stults certainly wasn't keeping the ball low OR hitting the corners……




PS…What the FUCK is up with these two douches????
Things can't be so bad you have to cover your face……with what appears to be a paper towel and a doo rag………Don't want to be caught on TV rooting for the Dodgers????
Or did you just cut out from Work a little early and don't want to get caught……either way…..pretty fucking stupid….