August 2008 Archives

I won’t rehash my feelings about pitch counts. I haven’t changed my stance since I wrote this post. In the days since, Bruce Jenkins of the Chron wrote a two-part cranky-grandpa complaint about pitchers these days getting mollycoddled, improperly waxing their...
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Our old friend Livan Hernandez is throwing tonight for Colorado, and if the Giants can’t muster a bunch of runs against him, it’ll be the latest and saddest indication of their chronic offensive anemia. Livan has some embarrassing numbers this year,...
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Starting Thursday, MLB will use video replay on controversial home runs. Odds are good it will come into use at least once at Mays Field before the season is over, seeing how often fans reach above and perhaps over the...
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SI writer Jon Heyman leads his latest rumor and notes column with speculation from an unnamed executive that San Francisco is Vallejo native C.C. Sabathia’s first choice as a free-agent landing spot. Heyman then hems and haws about how questionable this scenario is and...
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Part 1 is here. On to the pitching staff. I actually started with this part a few days ago,  but I got to the bullpen and started twitching and drooling on the keyboard. Beyond Brian Wilson, what in Jehosephat's name can...
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The last four Giant victories at home have come in their last at-bat. How about that? If you missed today's game, the kudos rest squarely on the shoulders of Manny Burriss. He walked (walked!) with one out in the bottom...
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Oh, Matt Cain. Alas and alack. He throws 125 pitches, nearly gets through 8 innings and stands on the precipice of an even-steven win-loss record for the first time since, what, double A ball? But Brian Wilson throws one too...
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As you probably know the Giants have set a franchise record for most major league debuts in one season. Now I’m addicted to the anticipation of seeing someone in black and orange for the first time. I want more, but...
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Now that the draft picks have signed and the latest round of youngsters have reported for duty, it’s a good time to take another wild stab in the dark at the 2009 opening day roster. Today I’ll look at position...
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Gerald Posey is a Giant. He signed a minor-league contract with a $6.2 million bonus, the highest ever for the Giants by more than $3.5 million. As I noted yesterday, our two major daily beat writers had different information leading...
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Me and my baby in ‘96. Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1996. It was late September back in ‘96, what a very special time for kids. Not only are there a ton of great pop songs about that year, it happens...
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Hank Schulman of the Chron fires back at Baggs! OK, that's a bit over the top, but Schulman wrote on the Chron's Giants blog last night that anonymous sources say Baggarly's report on Buster Posey's deal -- which cites a...
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Another puke job by the Giant bullpen today makes me want to can the lot of ‘em. Instead I’ll focus my wrath on Bruce Bochy for something he did and something he didn’t do. With a man on second, the Astros...
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Ouch. The Giants just demoted Eugene Espineli, the guy who was supposed to go to the Olympics. His promotion to S.F. last month trumped his Olympic berth, but now, just as Team USA begins its competition, he’s back in Fresno. I...
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Big roster changes for the Giants: UP: Ryan Rohlinger and Pablo Sandoval from AA, Travis Ishikawa from AAA. DOWN: John Bowker and Steve Holm to AAA, Jose Castillo designated for assignment. There were rumblings of this over on the McChronic...
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If you haven’t heard by now, the Giants’ world stopped spinning on its axis for a few minutes last night; the oxygen was pressed out of our lungs with a great sucking sound. Tim Lincecum was thwacked on the knee by...
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The Giants' brass has a hard time making up its mind. Perhaps this isn't unusual among major league teams; I don't follow the daily minutia elsewhere closely enough to say. But it seems the Giants this year have made several...
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Jonathan Sanchez pitched his best game in two months and got an L for it tonight, and he's partially to blame. In the decisive sixth inning he misplayed a sac bunt, and that was the difference. If he got an...
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Like mice chewing through ill-secured electric cords, the Giants put the Dodgers on the fritz twice this weekend, doinking them not to death but certainly to distraction. The only grand power stroke came through the left-field wall about 45 minutes...
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Those were my reactions when I saw the news that the Reds have hired former Mariners GM Bill Bavasi as a special assistant to GM Walt Jocketty. And if you want to add a cherry to the top of the delicious anti-Dodger sundae Grant...
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11am UPDATE: ESPN.com reports that San Diego's Brian Giles will likely veto a trade to Boston, which claimed Giles on waivers. the Sox and Pads would like to work something out, but Giles's veteran status gives him veto power. By...
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It's official, the Giants' second draft pick Conor Gillaspie is on board. He got nearly $1 million to sign, according to reports. Here's a look at his swing (scroll down to #37). He's 21 and a polished collegiate hitter; it'll...
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Time only for a quick link today: ESPN has a long article about Fred Lewis and the horrific car accident that changed his life. ...
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UPDATE: Baggarly now says no need to panic about Sergio Romo. The Giants had to designate Romo for assignment on a technicality, but he’ll stay on the 40–man roster and report to Triple-A Friday. I’m sure we’ll see him and Matos,...
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As a parent, I hate to see games like last night. Matt Cain walked five, hit a batter, but still got the win, sending the wrong message to young pitchers everywhere: It's OK to be wild if you throw in...
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OK, it’s not so shocking if you’ve watched the Giants day in and day out. They’re dead last in the majors with 61 home runs and on pace for 90. They won’t break the major league record, as teams in...
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