Giants Midnight Replay

Stress

I have been stressed lately. Getting finished with my finals, switching jobs, eating a lot of pizza, and watching the Giants….. all of these things stress me out. I want to say that my “magical vacation” to Chicago to see friends and the Giants play at Wrigley Field was a cloud of fun and relaxation, but it really was just more stress. I will fill those blanks in with a post when I get a chance. For now I am wallowing in a couple of stress free days. Now all that stresses me out are the Giants. Why did I even dream that this win would be an easy one?

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The Omar Vizquel defensive inside play of the game goes to:

Nate Schierholtz for making an absolutely balls to the wall flying catch to end the game. If he missed the ball we lose. Flat out spectacular!

The Eugenio Velez defensive mishap of the night goes to:

Miguel Tejada, sure he made an amazing dive to get the ball but how much does that mean when you almost throw it away…. at this point I know I am being petty, the guy is getting better. 

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The Jack Donaghy (hero) award goes to:

Madison Bumgarner, how do you win your first game, hit a double and suppress the hell out of the opposing batters. Madison went all beast-mode on the dodgers today, I’m impressed. 

The Devon Banks (goat) award goes to:

Police people. I know I know, I am suppose to welcome safety to the ballpark right? nah, this just looks like a my house after the kegger I threw in high school got broken up. 

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more stuff:

Fontenot gets the scoring started!

The absolute meanest Pablo face I have ever seen. Awesome!

When you can’t win you just go after the batters I guess. 

I love that look that pitchers have when they can’t believe that they just gave up a hit. 

Soooo close to his first shutout. zoiks. bummer moment here. 

I probably should have giving Fontenot the Velez award today, but I just couldn’t. I like the guy too much. 

Usually a good sign, if you have two outs in the ninth, not today. Brian needs to take a day or two to heal that ankle. 

That is the second batter that got hit tonight. just saying…

Who is this guy? and what has he done with the old crappy Tejada? No joke, let’s pay some respect to a guy who seems to be turning it around. I really do want to root for you buddy, just give me a reason. 

Take notes Darren Ford, this is the only way you are going to make the bigs. 

GMR Field Trip

The Mets have a scoreboard problem. They start playing the “Let’s Go Met’s” chant before their first batter even gets into the box, which leads to the inevitable scoreboard prompt burnout by the 5th inning. I say, only sounds until at least the 4th. 

There was some pretty great banter back and forth between the Met’s and Giants fans during the game. And it went back and forth pretty well, through our bases loaded pop-outs, and through their bases loaded double play. Organic “Let’s Go Giants” Chants were squashed by thunderous boos but Giants fans definitely grabbed a foothold in Citi field tonight. 

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I’m just gonna post pictures and give a couple of my thoughts. But first…..

Stock watch

Rising stock:

Schierholtz, Fontenot, Lopez, and Huff (a little bit).

Falling stock:

Tejada (majorly), Burriss, Ross, and Vogelsong (sorry buddy)

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If you read this blog you know that I am a Fontenot fan. He just embodies the underdog thing. He had an important hit tonight and played solid defense at SS. 

Mets fan definitely remember Mota, and they don’t like him. Note to self: look up what Mota ever did to Mets fans. 

The AAA crew. Ford, Burriss, and Rohlinger, chumming it up on the fence. 

Just showing again how short Fontenot really is. Sure the angle distorts the view a little bit, but not much. 

Stretching it out. 

Burrell and Huff were chatting the whole afternoon before the game. There was not a lot of smiles going around. In fact the only one acting loose was Bochy who played catch with Ross for a while. Lots of focused looks on the Giants before the game. 

Henry Schulman in the wild. zoiks!

The only action shot I took all night. I was in foul ball territory and I got about 4 that were hit in about a 30 foot radius, so I couldn’t be holding the camera the whole time. 

Constant coverage!

There Will Be Blood

I tried…. I tried REALLY hard to save the Zito stache phenomenon until I could do a “This Week In Giants Facial Hair” post…. But it’s not possible, it was on full display tonight. This shapely “Nose Mullet” is THE nicest I have seen on a pitching mound since Clay Zavada. Can you attribute Zito’s future dominance to his new “Tom Selleck”? That would be a resounding YES! Is it a major reason why the Giants won 4 to 1 tonight? YES!

Zito I am your eternal fan if you keep the stache! I take back all the bad things I said about you. I will forget the fact that your an emotional wreck with a philosophical attachment to surfboards and other self-absorbed-beach culture douchiness.

Keep the “Plainview” Barry, if you know what is good for you. 

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The Kafka Tamura Award (Hero) goes to: 

Pablo Sandoval for the 38 lbs lighter defensive show he put on in the 4th inning. Pablo also got the first RBI of the night.

The Johnnie Walker Award (Villain) goes to: 

Gio Gonzalez, cause you gotta recognize greatness! This guy is a beast straight up! I would not be surprised if he wins a Cy Young at some point soon.

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The Omar Vizquel award goes to:  

Pat Burrell, There isn’t many times where I can give the award to him. So I gotta do it when I can. Nice Catch Burrell, nice catch. 

The Velez Award goes to:

Andy LaRoche was having a bad day all around. He had a wide throw to first base on a double play chance, and also this bungled ball. 

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Extra goodness. 

OMG these guys are insane homers! I am so happy to have our broadcasters, every time something doesn’t go their way its “NOOOOO” from the fucking peanut gallery. 

Hey look…  smiles!

Coco smiles!

Exhibition game smiles!

Game face bitches!

Zito was about 11 inches away from giving up his 1 run lead early.

Holy crap, DeRosa has a HUGE backside! Just sayin…… just sayin…

DeRosa’s big ass is slowing him down on this foul pop-up.

As much as I hate Panda hats, imagine if this was your only hat choice. Actually imagine if that was your job, making like 2,000 ballon hats. 

Don’t forget the little guy’s contribution an RBI double in the 7th. Fontenot is another player that is better than Rowand

A missed sign gets Andy Laroche into a “Fun”-down in the 5th.

I swear if Schierholtz loses his job and Rowand keeps his I will be pretty irrate. Two batters after Rowand waved frantically at a high pitch Nate blasts this one deep into center field.

Tomorrow I will post my season “Preview”.

The Kevin Frandsen Memorial, Golden Puppy Award Candidates

Last year I branded Kevin Fransen “a lovable puppy”. Now I want to make it a tradition. I intend to give the KFMGPA (Kevin Frandsen Memorial Golden Puppy Award) to a new player every year. The requirements are:

• They receive way more attention specifically from the female contingent of fans than is proportionate to how good they are. (aka. girls think they are “hot”)

• They are not a super star. (Sorry Buster, and Timmy)

• They kind of look like they are a puppy.

• They are not super intelligent (sounds like all ball players are safe here).

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Here are the candidates.

#1. Alex Hinshaw

While Hinshaw might have looks that could mow down a 14 year old wearing a Noah Lowry shirt, his low 90s fastball has a hard time even getting past your average bat. Which I suppose makes him a perfect candidate.

Girlfriend says: Hinshaw gets….. 3.5 Steve Finley’s out of 5 possible Steve Finley’s

#2. Thomas Neal

Better known as @Tdaddyneal on twitter, is taking the social network path into the hearts of female San Francisco fans.

Girlfriend says: ….. 2 Steve Finley’s out of the possible 5.

#3. Brandon Belt

Don’t let that docile southern drawl draw you in ladies. This guy crushes ladies and baseballs. Aside from this guy’s non-neck he is in the clear lead so far.

Girlfriend Says:……. 3.75 Steve Finley’s out of 5

#4. Emmanuel Burriss

Burriss is on track to smash the modern day SF Giants record for “guy you see the most that never plays”. But again, it’s that babyface that make you think he’s never been taken out at 2nd on a double play breakup. Now if he could only keep his fragile feet from breaking he would be about as useful to the Giants as the guy who we named this award after. (just kidding burriss, we love you man)

Girlfriend Says:… 3 Steve Finley’s out of a possible 5 Mcdreamy’s

#5 Nate Schierholtz

Are you kidding me…… The keeper of the key to most abs in baseball, proves that the only thing he is lacking is some hair on his dome and a decent shot at becoming more than a defensive replacement. Just look at those fucking abs!!!!

Girlfriend Says: 3.25 Steve Finley’s out of 5 Steve Finley’s

Wild Card…..

Brandon Crawford..

I’m throwing this guy in the mix cause…. crazy girl attracting eyes + Minor League Talent = Kevin Frandsen 2.0

Girlfriend Says: …….. sorry….. she went to sleep.

Time to honor past winners.

2008, 2009 and 2010 KFMGPA goes to: The original Golden Puppy himself, Kevin Frandsen

2007 KFMGPA goes to: Noah Lowry…….. retroactively

Ok … everyone vote, or I will have to just pick one.

9th Inning Nervous Breakdown

Giants find 2 runs (somehow) against Oswalt and the Astros 2 to 1

Screenshot of the game.

Jazz Hands Strikeith!

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3 out of 5 Neukoms

- 0 walks taken

- a pretty bad bobble by Rohlinger in the 9th that made us all sweat a little more than we should have.

- All in all nothing super special, nothing super terrible defensively.

- But Nate made a spectacular catch early in the game that was pretty nice. 

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The Duke Award (hero) goes to Lincecum for leaving his 8th straight game with the lead…… too bad the bullpen threw 3 of those away. (….hmmmm…. that might be wrong…. but i know he left MOST of them with the lead.)

The Destro Award (villain) goes to Carlos Lee for being a bitch.

“your outta here ……bitch”

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Other Pics

Nate Dog is a beast

Really B.Wilson…..? You just have to make it bases loaded, 2 outs 3-2 pitch in the 9th inning? …… Really……? 

If at least 2 of these 4 things happens and of course #5 happens then the Giants have an excellent shot of making the playoffs this year.

1. Our underperforming/overpaid veterens need to produce at the level that they once did. Aaron Rowand, might smell like 2007 when he hit 27 HRs had a .309 AVG and had an outstanding VORP of 51.1. But all the off-season biking in the world is not going to return him to that form, especially outside of the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park. Lets aim for something realistic like…… trying not to chase sliders all the time. Renteria needs to silence the doubters. If he can return to his 2007 form at least from a VORP (value over replacement player) standpoint. In 2007 he was 46.5 VORP, last year he was 5.5. If it really was his injuries that slowed him last year, then he can return to at least to an above average SS option.

2. Will Schierholtz be the ONE Giants prospect that delivers? We don’t need more sub-par regulars to fill in the cracks around the cast of regulars that Sabean hand picked for the teams offense this year. The Giants need Schierholtz to deliver Winn-esque defense while fighting his way to a .350+ OBP and at least hit .280 with some power. The minor characters will be the ones who get us in the playoffs this year.

3. Bam Bam Meulens succeeds in his attempt to make everyone in the lineup take two pitches. On-Base Percentage should be the MOST stressed aspect of the game this year. If you can’t get a bunt down, if you can’t take a walk, they you need to sit a couple of games.

4. Our 4 and 5 starters deliver a 10+ win season each. I know it is a lot to ask of a 4 and 5 starter. But with the talent that we have on the pitching staff our 4 and 5 guys would be 2 and 3 guys elsewhere. While everyone expects Sanchez to deliver a stellar year, I would be happy if he got 12 wins and 15 or so quality outings. As for Madison Bumgarner, It seems like he could add another great southpaw to our staff. It will be sort of odd to have our front 2 pitchers throwing from the right side and our back three throwing from the left. But the important part is to see if Madbum can at least make it once through the league just being a surprise to everyone, maybe picking up 5 wins on the way, then change it all up when they figure him out, which hopefully can be good for another 5 wins. Otherwise I am more than willing to see Wellemeyer soak up 5 or so wins at some point.

5. Magic…. thats what we need. We need the same luck that we had last year when we won more games than we were suppose to. We need Huff to remove the bricks from his hands and play the 1 bag at least half as good as Ishikawa. We need Juan Uribe to come off the bench and comically swat home runs like he did last year. We need a full year from Mr Mole himself Freddie Sanchez. We need Sandoval to keep his jester hat on, while golfing any ball that comes within 5 feet of the strike zone. We need the same magic that happened last year in the bullpen to repeat (minus all that Merkin Valdez stuff). We need a couple hundred balls to bounce our way, and we need to pound the shit out of weak teams like the Padres who somehow destroyed us last year.