MLB 2011

[Paelos]

It was intentional. I was just like, ok rub some dirt on it. Then he didn't and went to the dugout.

And I was like...

[Paelos]

Huff just committed robbery.

FREE BASEBALL!

EDIT: And to answer the earlier question, Sjofn, yes when we score first, we win most of the time. 

[Sjofn]

I am pretty sure that was a re-injury of something (the fifth stater injuries are all blurring together at this point, as Zito just re-fucked-himself-up during a rehab start), and I am pretty sure you need both ankles to pitch. I can't stand Sanchez, but I'm not going to fault him for coming out of the game. I'd much rather he go "fuck, I just broke myself AGAIN" and come out than try to rub some dirt on it and walk in a run before getting taken out anyway. I've never been a big fan of trying to make people play injured when they don't think they can anyway. They know what they're feeling way better than I do. I know I can play at X level in Y amount of pain, I'm not going to assume I know that for people not me, you know?

This is probably leftover bitterness from having a soccer coach who was positive I was just being some sort of pussy because one time (one fucking time) we were getting creamed so badly (I was the sweeper) I couldn't make it to half time before needing my inhaler. Clearly a mental issue. She seriously acted like asthma is some sort of made up disease.


Losing sucked, but ... I dunno. Considering how loltastic the injuries have gotten for the Giants at this point, I am pretty impressed it took so long to lose, you know?

[Paelos]

It was more of "The fuck, man? Your bullpen can't handle this. They are depleted. You need to at least do some injury pitches and see."

In no small part this is due to the Braves having the exact same issue last year heading down the stretch and then we met up with the Giants, who proceeded to clean our injury-riddled clock.

[Sjofn]

Yeah, I was actually thinking about that during the game, I remembered you saying how the Braves were basically all dead going into the playoffs last season. It kinda sucks! I'm worried Cain will spontaneously combust or something on the mound next.

[Rasix]

  

PS.  Fuck the Phillies, that felt good.

[Sjofn]

At least Rasix is happy! 

[Paelos]

Hey I'm happy, worst that can happen is we split a series I expected to split anyway.

I'm cheering for the Dbacks for 2 more days. Then, BLOOD!

[Sjofn]

That fucking ninth inning! 

But otherwise, yay! 

[caladein]

Rangers 7, Angels 3



lMoving the Needle: Michael Young singles home a pair in the first, +.116 WPA. The Rangers got an early start in their most recent installment of Burying The Angels. After a walk and a double in the first, Young grounded one up the middle to bring home both runners. In the third they’d extend the lead to 5-0. The Rangers now lead the West by six games, with 39 to play.

Thanks FanGraphs... I thought we were cool.

[Paelos]

That fucking ninth inning! 

But otherwise, yay! 

It was a bad game to watch when our starter imploded in the 4th. That said, I thought for a second yall were gonna piss it away again.

[Sjofn]

It had a bit of panicked "oh shit guys we can't win a game Matt Cain pitched in by more than a run, QUICK FUCK UP" air to it.

[Paelos]

Watching both of these clubs hit is very 

[Sjofn]

So fucking painful. Part of me is like "well, at least we get to play the Astros next" but they'll probably shut the Giants out at least once.  


EDIT: This made me laugh, then weep softly to myself:

[Paelos]

One is the loneliest number. Unless you're playing Lincecum, then it's a win. Because the Giants don't score for him, ever. 

[Sjofn]

Oh ho ho, don't be silly. The Giants don't score runs for anyone. If they're feeling generous, sometimes they'll score a couple for Vogelsong, I guess. But generally, especially since the all star break, they're giving the middle finger to all of 'em. I think Cain is still the "ha ha, fuck you, throw a perfect game if you'd like, the best you'll get is a no-decision" winner, though. Yesterday was like ... all the runs they're going to score for him for the rest of the season.

[Ingmar]

I believe Cain has a losing record for his career to go with his 3.3ish career ERA. 

[Paelos]

Well, so much of your high priced talent isn't doing shit.

Zito's your highest paid player and a total injury disaster. Or just a disaster.
I can count $30M worth of position players that are batting under .240


Your unequivocal best hitter is making half a million. That's pretty ironic.

[Sjofn]

Zito is pretty special. You want a Giants fan to shake their head sadly, you mention him, it seems to me.

[Ingmar]

A little more Matt Cain  -ness:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/15094/matt-cain-unluckiest-pitcher-in-history

[stu]

Christmas in August for Haemish:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cubs-hendryfired

GM Hendry fired (finally lol).

[HaemishM]

Wrong guy to fire, IMO. Get rid of fucking Zambrano and Pena, then Soriano and maybe Ramirez to start. Cut the team to pieces and start over.

[Ingmar]

Hendry made the call to hire all of those guys, though. I don't think he's a bad GM (probably above average honestly) but there comes a point when you need a fresh look at a situation when it gets as dire as this year's Cubs.

[Fordel]

Dire Cubs

[Sjofn]

I thought that yesterday's lineup was the shittiest one that was likely to be put together this season. Then today's occured. The Giants are currently losing 5-0 to the fucking Astros.  

[Paelos]

I thought that yesterday's lineup was the shittiest one that was likely to be put together this season. Then today's occured. The Giants are currently losing 5-0 to the fucking Astros.  

Man. It's just not yall's year. That was us last year except we fell ass-backwards and limping into the playoffs.

[Sjofn]

The Giants may yet fall into the playoffs by accident, as the Giants get to play a lot of shitty teams at home (plus one last one versus Arizona) from here on out and the Diamondbacks decided to keep things interesting by kindly losing when the Giants did, for the most part. Hell, they got swept by the Braves. It was right neighborly of 'em.

[Paelos]

The Giants may yet fall into the playoffs by accident, as the Giants get to play a lot of shitty teams at home (plus one last one versus Arizona) from here on out and the Diamondbacks decided to keep things interesting by kindly losing when the Giants did, for the most part. Hell, they got swept by the Braves. It was right neighborly of 'em.

We certainly appreciated it.

Shit at this point with your division, this is about the time I expect Colorado to come out of the shitter and give you both a run for your money.

[ghost]

Is age to blame for Joe Mauer's problems? 

Tom Verducci at SI seems to think so.  I like his list of folks that age has apparently caught up with: 

This baseball season is notable for the number of star players having significantly down years. Age is almost certainly a factor in the declines of Ichiro Suzuki, 37; Magglio Ordoñez, 37; Vladimir Guerrero, 36; Chone Figgins, 33' and possibly even Adam Dunn, 31; and Jason Bay, Jayson Werth and Vernon Wells, all 32-year-old outfielders.

My suspicion is that most of these players have had to lay off of HGH due to improved testing.  Hell, there were guys hitting 50 home runs into their very late 30s as little as 5 years ago. And now we have a minor leaguer get caught doing HGH.  I think that gravy train may be over. 

[Paelos]

Pitchers are setting records because hitters are off the sauce. The funny thing is that it will take about a decade to weed out the people that only made it to the majors because they were on chemicals. The younger up and coming talent should have to get by on actual talent, skill, and things that matter beyond hitting the long ball.

If I'm a GM, I'm doing exactly what the Braves did in their recent trade. I'm going after speed. Speed is going to be the new hot commodity in the national league in the next five years.

[ghost]

Speed and pitching.  A couple of good pitchers can get you to the playoffs now almost by themselves. 

[WayAbvPar]

If that is the case, ratings are going to TANK. Watching 3-2 nailbiters doesn't go well with Joe SixPack. Offense is exciting, not pitching duels. The only time most fans give a shit about watching pitching is when there is a no hitter on the line.

I include myself in this, btw. After watching the Mariners not be able to hit themselves out of a wet paper bag the past few years, I am bored to DEATH. They have had a bunch of good pitching, but that just means they lose 2-0. They have a crop of young guys now that are starting to hit a little bit, and they are far more entertaining to watch. They still don't win very often, but it feels like they are starting to compete, at least.

[ghost]

I am with you man.  I actually could care less about doping.  Some of the most exciting racing ever in the Tour de France was with doping.  Baseball was much more exciting with the Bash Brothers and crazy Barry/Sammy Sosa/etc. 

[WayAbvPar]

I am not endorsing doping, I am just making an observation. All the doping assholes were cheaters and need to die a horrible painful death.

[Sjofn]

I prefer pitching myself, actually. Which is a good thing, since the Giants absolutely fucking blow at hitting the ball.