Tagged: Javier Lopez
Play Ball!! (Sort Of)
Baseball’s back!! Well, at least baseball training is!! I can even watch games on TV again! In case you’re interested and dying to get that baseball fix as much as I am, here’s a link to the broadcast schedule (both TV and radio) for the Giants Spring Training games. I’ll definitely be watching that Giants vs. Dodgers game on Wednesday. Maybe we’ll even get a view of Romo with his new teammates (UGH!!).
Yes. We knew he probably wasn’t going to be a Giant this season, but now we know Sergio Romo will be wearing Dodger blue. Sigh. It is going to be really tough to watch him play in that uniform, joking around with the likes of Adrian Gonzalez and (choke) Yasiel Puig, but I can’t really blame him for making that choice. When I first heard, I was pretty upset, but then I heard about a text he sent to Paulie “Mac” McCaffrey of KNBR. Here’s a link to it. Sergio made it clear that he has no ill will and is moving to the Dodgers for family reasons. He grew up a Dodgers fan, his dad is still a Dodgers fan, his family lives in the area, and frankly, they offered him a job. He still wants to work, and the Giants didn’t come a calling. He turned down some offers from East Coast teams, but that’s understandable coming from a guy who puts his family first and has young children. I always hate it when my boys go to that team, but I understand. Come game time, though, he ain’t going to be getting any cheers from me!! Thanks for all you did for us, Sergio. You (and “El Mechon”) will definitely be missed!
It’s also been confirmed that Javier Lopez will not be a Giant and that he is retiring from playing baseball. Thankfully, he’ll still be hanging around and will be announcing some games along with Jeremy Affeldt. This comes as Mike Krukow will have a lighter workload this season due to his medical issues. Can’t think of a better replacement – Javi is a natural and will fit right in. He’s also supposed to help out at Spring Training as a special instructor. Looking forward to hearing him in the booth (and the craziness that will ensue when he and Jeremy get together!).
Another former Giants reliever, Brian Wilson, is trying to make a comeback. This time, he’s trying to make it as a knuckleballer. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014 when he played for the Dodgers (Yeah – remember the World Series ring fiasco with Larry Baer? Still hate the guy for that.). And he must be serious because he even shaved off his beard. I had forgotten how cute his face was under that thing! Here’s a pic of his clean-shaven face. Whatever. You have to admit, the guy is entertaining I guess. We’ll see if he can make his way back onto a team or not.
I’ve got some more Spring Training tidbits for you. Our beloved Cody Ross is also helping out the Giants in Arizona this season. I love that guy – he’s always so happy. Glad he’s coming back. The Giants signed Gordon Beckham to a minor league deal. If that name sounds familiar it’s because he played in 3 games for the Giants at the end of last season. Guess they’re going to give him a chance again this year. Plus they are also giving Aaron Hill a chance to compete for a spot, signing him to a minor league deal as well. Hill batted .262 between the Brewers and the Red Sox last season, but he floundered near the end of the season and found himself up for grabs. The list of guys competing for infield utility spots now stands at 8 (Kelby Tomlinson, Jae-gyun Hwang, Orlando Calixte, Conor Gillaspie, Jimmy Rollins, Aaron Hill, Gordon Beckham, and Juniel Querecuto – thanks for this list, Grant Brisbee). That dugout sure must be crowded! How stressful it must be to know you have to beat out that many guys to earn a spot on the team. Guess that’s part of why they make the big bucks.
I learned a fun fact about how Michael Morse ended up in Spring Training camp this season. It was due to a bit of crazy serendipity. He was at Hunter Pence’s wedding (of course he was there because those two have a major bromance going on), and he happened to run into Giants general manager Bobby Evans there. During a casual conversation with Evans, Morse mentioned that he felt he still had something to offer as a reserve player, to which Evans responded, “Well, if you don’t think you’re done, why don’t you come to camp?” WHAT??? Isn’t that crazy??? And Morse said that he wouldn’t want to play for any other team than the Giants. I love that boy! Hoping, hoping, hoping I get to see him at Spring Training.
Has anyone else been wondering what the heck happened to Jake Peavy? I hadn’t heard a word about whether the Giants were pursuing him or if he had been picked up by another team until last week. It turns out the poor guy has had some horrible luck lately. Not only was he the victim of a Ponzi scam last season that bilked him of millions of dollars, but he also came home after the 2016 post-season and was greeted by divorce papers from his wife of 15 years. Harsh! Understandably, he’s decided he needs a break to be there for his kids at this difficult time in their lives, so he’s not planning on playing for a team right now. I feel so bad for the guy. I hope everything works out. He hopes that once things settle down he may be able to help out some team near the end of the season. Wishing you all the best, Jake. Hang in there.
There are a couple of new rules that baseball is considering in order to speed things up, and frankly I’m not a fan of either. The first is a change to the intentional walk. Pitchers would no longer have to throw any pitches to do this – the bench would simply signal to the umpire that the batter is being intentionally walked. I think this stinks. If you are going to walk someone, you need to walk them. That’s 4 pitches the pitcher is being saved – not fair! Plus it’s always exciting when something crazy happens during an intentional walk, like a passed ball or an actual connection by the batter. And seriously, how much time is this going to save? Another rule that’s being tossed about really makes me angry. In order to speed up games that go into extra innings, a runner would be placed on second base at the start of the inning. They are actually trying this out in the low minors this year. I hate this in so many ways. Who is that runner going to be? How is that runner going to affect the pitcher’s stats? And with both teams getting that runner, how is it going to change anything?? I still think if you want to speed up the game, cut off a couple of innings!! And apparently, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins agrees that it’s something to consider. Check out some of the other ideas that came out of an interview during Spring Training Media Day in Florida. What do you think? Personally, I say just leave the game I love alone!
I’ll end by mentioning what a fantastic time I had at Giants FanFest two weeks ago. The lines definitely seemed a bit shorter this year – Ginny and I got to the park at about 7 am and we were right up in the front of the line. We got into the KNBR Q&A session with Bruce Bochy, Bobby Evans, and new closer Mark Melancon, we got lots of goodies from vendors down on the field, we watched our boys being interviewed down on the field, we walked on the field (Ginny got to stand where Brandon does at short) and in the dugout, we went to The Garden in center field (Ginny’s first time), we got to get close to lots of my boys signing autographs, and we toured the Press Box. We also got to talk to many of the wonderful AT&T Park staff members – they’re always so friendly and helpful. But the highlight of my day was when I got to take a picture with my boy Eli Whiteside as he was walking from one autograph booth to another. What luck! And what a thrill! Thanks for having the peace of mind to stop him for a photo with me, Ginny! I owe you big time! Just being in that park always makes my day wonderful! Heading off to Spring Training in less than two weeks – can’t wait to see my boys up close and personal again! Hopefully I can update you on some of the kids in camp next time. Have to start learning those names. Until next time, GO GIANTS!! BEAT LA ON WEDNESDAY!!
Pitchers and Catchers Report in 13 Days!!
I seriously need to update this thing more often! Even though baseball hasn’t started yet (but it will very soon!!), there has been some news to update you on regarding our boys. Here’s a list to get you up-to-date with what’s happened in the past month:
- My beloved Gregor Blanco will be leaving the Giants. He was offered a minor league deal by the Diamondbacks and will be battling for a spot on their team during Spring Training. At least I might get a chance to see him again as we will be attending a D-Backs game in March. I am really going to miss that guy. He definitely came through for us when we needed some outfield support. Plus he made several amazing catches (including the one in the Matt Cain perfect game) and clutch hits (remember that leadoff homerun in Game 2 of the 2014 World Series?). Besides his production, he is just an all-around nice guy, so I’m sure he’ll be missed in the clubhouse as well. Best of luck, Gregor. And thank you for not spitting!!
- Santiago Casilla will also be leaving as he signed a 2-year contract with the Oakland A’s. At least he doesn’t have very far to travel! I think everyone expected this after his performance last season, but I will really miss Santiago as well. He always gave it his best and he was another really nice dude. I won’t miss the torture in those late innings, though. Glad he was picked up by another team. Best of luck, Santiago. Thanks for helping us win those rings.
- Conor Gillaspie, George Kontos, Eduardo Nuñez, and Will Smith all avoided arbitration with the Giants and signed 1 year deals. Gillaspie gets $1.4 million, Kontos gets $1.75 million, Nuñez gets $4.2 million, and Will Smith gets $2.5 million. Very excited about all these guys coming back. Conor earned his place on the team as a backup third baseman with his amazing post-season play. George was a treasured gem in an otherwise lackluster bullpen, posting a solid 2.56 ERA and 1.16 WHIP last season (plus he’s adorable!). Eduardo came through with some amazing support both offensively and defensively at third after the Matt Duffy trade (still hard for me to type that). He may even see some time in left field next season as he has experience in that role. We need some outfield backup with Angel and Gregor leaving. And Will showed much promise at the end of the season. He’s a much needed lefty in the bullpen with the probable exit of Javier Lopez.
- Still haven’t had confirmation whether Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez will be coming back, but at this point it doesn’t look good. On KNBR this morning, Duane Kuiper mentioned that if Javier isn’t offered a major league contract up front, he probably will retire. He could definitely have a second career in baseball as an announcer, though. That guy is so intelligent and witty! On the other hand, Sergio Romo would be willing to try out for a team during Spring Training (even though he’s never had to do that before). Romo mentioned in an interview that he would love to come back, but at this point he’s assuming it’s not in the cards. I would have to agree. Supposedly the Mets and the Nationals have shown interest in him. Will keep you updated if I hear anything. I love Sergio and all he did for us during his time on the Giants, but I have to say his disrespect of Bruce Bochy near the end of last season has left a sour taste in my mouth. Sergio will be pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
- The Giants signed Korean 3rd baseman Jae-gyun Hwang to a minor-league deal. He will be competing for an infield roster spot during Spring Training. I mentioned him as a person of interest in my last blog. He did really well in the Korean League, so we’ll see how that translates here. There’s going to be a lot of infield competition this season!
- The most surprising move to me was the signing of Nick Hundley, former starting catcher for both the Padres and the Rockies. He was given a major-league contract, agreeing to a 1-year, $2 million dollar deal, meaning that he will most likely be Buster’s backup catcher. Hundley hit .260 with the Rockies last season, but that was in a park that is super batter friendly. Still that’s above average for a backup catcher, and he is a veteran behind the plate so I’m sure guys will feel comfortable pitching to him. I remember Hundley from watching games where he was our opponent, and what I remember is that you need to watch out when he comes up to the plate! Definitely made a good impression on me! This addition surprised me because I assumed Trevor Brown would be the backup catcher, but I guess even though the starters like to pitch to him, his bat has been a bit too quiet for comfort. Trevor is a guy who may also be able to play another position, making the Spring Training competition that much more lively. Welcome to the team, Nick. Wonder how he’s going to adjust to the lower altitude?
- As one player gets added to the roster, another must leave. Thus when Nick Hundley was signed, Ehire Adrianza was designated for assignment to make room for him. I liked Adrianza, but I’m kind of surprised that he wasn’t released sooner. He was never really that impressive. Today he was claimed off of waivers by the Brewers, so at least he’ll be on a team again. Thanks, Ehire, and good luck to you in Milwaukie.
I also heard that one of my favorite ex-Giants players, Ryan Vogelsong, signed a minor-league deal with the Twins. I’m so happy he’s able to continue playing baseball. I love that guy! And I’m sure he’ll continue to battle, giving it his all and surprising people. Keep on going, Vogey! Wishing you the best. And all the best to your lovely wife Nicole as well.
I heard on KNBR about a study that was done on the effects of jet lag on baseball players. At first I said, “DUH jet lag affects baseball players!” but some of the results were interesting. They found the offense of jet-lagged home teams is much more affected than that of jet-lagged away teams, and eastward travel had more negative effects on home teams than on away teams. Negative effects on offense were related to base running, such as stolen bases, number of doubles and triples, and hitting into more double plays. Pitchers were especially affected, giving up more home runs. This effect was large enough to erase the home field advantage for the pitcher. The other weird thing is that there are worse ill effects from eastward jet lag than westward jet lag. If this is true, our boys, who are usually travelling eastward to games, would be at a disadvantage. But of course, they are amazing, and they do well for us regardless!! Pretty interesting stuff after all. Wonder how much they spent for that study, though. As a result, you may see teams sending starting pitchers to away games ahead of the rest of the team in order to allow the jet lag to wear off.
I have a fun video to share with you. Bruce Bochy did this piece with Yahoo Sports where he opened a pack of 25-year-old baseball cards and commented on each of the guys. Man, he knows everyone! It was so cool because he had stories about almost every single one. Listening to the interview I realized how much I miss that guy! Here is the interview.
Also came across a heart-warming baseball story that I wanted to share. It’s not about the Giants but the San Diego Padres. The story involves pitcher Matt Lachappa. He was drafted in the second round of the 1993 draft by the Padres and played Class A ball for them in Rancho Cucamonga. In April 1996, while warming up for a relief appearance, he stopped and clutched his chest and then fell to the ground. The team’s trainer got to him quickly and performed CPR for 20 minutes until help arrived. Surprisingly at such a young age, Lachappa had suffered a heart attack. He survived, but the lack of oxygen to his brain for that period took its toll, leaving him unable to walk and slowing his speech. Of course, sadly, Matt could no longer play baseball, plus he would be burdened with hefty medical bills if he lost his insurance from the team. But Priscilla Oppenhiemer, director of minor league operations at the time, wasn’t going to let that happen. She asked why the team couldn’t continue to offer Lachappa a contract with insurance benefits each year, and she got no resistance. So to this day, Matt Lachappa is signed to a minor league contract with the Padres and continues to have his medical bills paid through the team. That’s a great story right there. Baseball people take care of their own!
I can finally count the days to FanFest on my fingers!! It’s only 10 days away! Can’t wait! I wonder if the guys that are going to the World Baseball Classic will be wearing their countries’ jerseys again this time. And I’m hoping that Angel and I can score that Peet’s orange mug that we barely missed out on last year! Will be so wonderful to be in my happy place and see my boys again. I’ll keep my ears open for any late off-season news for you, though there’s not much time left for any major moves. Let me know if any of you are going to FanFest and we can try and meet up. Until next time, GO GIANTS!!! LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY BOYS AGAIN!!
Bye, HestoPresto!
I wasn’t expecting any news so quickly after the Melancon signing, but Bobby Evans is definitely still at it. This time the news isn’t as jaw dropping, though. Chris Heston was traded to the Mariners today for a “player to be named later”. It sounds like this was done in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Melancon. I’ll never forget that no hitter he pitched 2 seasons ago, a prospect coming out of nowhere to help out in the rotation. But he couldn’t handle being in the bullpen last season, his numbers weren’t anywhere near what they were in 2015, plus he spent most of the year on the DL with an oblique strain. Hope he does well up there – apparently he’ll have a much better chance of getting on the 25-man roster in Seattle. Good luck, Chris. Thanks for the wonderful memories from that amazing game. Now we just have to wait and see who that mystery player we’re getting will be.
I got a little more insight into the character of Mark Melancon from an interview that Tom Tolbert and John Lund from KNBR did with him. That guy is definitely a thrill seeker! He and his wife came up with a mutual bucket list when they got married. Some of the things they have already crossed off are a safari, skydiving (only him), they rode down the most dangerous road in Bolivia on bikes, going in a shark cage, and a blimp ride. Another he hasn’t yet done is going backstage at a concert, and he asked Tom and John if they could help him with that one. He also mentioned that winning a World Series and meeting a president were also on there. Hey, he could accomplish both with the Giants in one season! And just in case you were wondering, his walk-up song is “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. He mentioned that Ryan Vogelsong helped sway him to join the Giants (they played on the Pirates together). In fact, he said Ryan spoke of the Giants so much he started to get sick of it! LOL! Really looking forward to getting to know Mark better and watching him pitch FOR US!!
Another rumor that I’m not really surprised about is that Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, and Javier Lopez will most likely not be back next season. After last year’s bullpen train wreck, I can’t say I’m very upset about this. The blown saves killed Casilla’s chances of returning, Lopez’s ERA skyrocketed to 4.05, and Romo was starting to be predictable (plus his bad attitude and disrespect of Bochy started getting on my nerves). Changes had to be made, and the Giants are opting to go with the youngins. I’ll always remember the significant contributions that all three made to us winning those three rings. I’m pretty sure if they want to continue playing, they will be picked up by some other team. And when he retires, I’m sure Javi could easily slip into a broadcasting role – that dude is so intelligent!
The World Baseball Classic is back next season, running from March 6 – 22. Last time it happened, several Giants players were involved, and there was some discussion about whether it negatively affected their seasons because of the increased playing time coming off an already extended season. But they’re back at it again this year. So far Buster will definitely be playing for the U.S., Johnny Cueto will pitch for the Dominican Republic, and Albert Suarez will play for Venezuela. Brandon Crawford may also play for the U.S. I love the fact that these guys will be representing their countries, but please, please, please, don’t get hurt!! My favorite part of the WBC last time was watching the Latin fans in the stands – those folks love their baseball and show so much energy and emotion! Fun times! I hope some of the games are televised next year.
Will continue to keep you posted on the moving and shaking going on with my boys. Until next time, GO GIANTS!!
Spit Analysis 2016
As promised, I’ve compiled all my spit data from last season. Everybody hates all the spitting, right?? Well, here’s the scoop on who’s been doing all the spitting on the Giants, plus recognition for those who refrain from it and make me happy. During the 2016 Giants baseball season, I counted spits during a total of 13 games. These are my results:
| # of games | Total # of | Avg. # of | Highest # of | |
| caught spitting | spits | spits/game | spits/game | |
| Cueto | 6 | 67 | 11.2 | 26 |
| Law | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Gillaspie | 5 | 24 | 4.8 | 9 |
| Green | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Peavy | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Belt | 13 | 40 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Bumgarner | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5 |
| Span | 9 | 26 | 2.9 | 6 |
| Duffy | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Tejada | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Parker | 7 | 16 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Bochy | 6 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Pagan | 6 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Wotus | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2* |
| Strickland | 5 | 9 | 1.8 | 2 |
| Casilla | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Meulens | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Posey | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Samardzija | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Tomlinson | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Osich | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Blanco | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* |
| Crawford | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kontos | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stratton | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hayes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Suarez | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* |
| Pence | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* |
| Kelly | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Panik | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Adrianza | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*indicates that spit logged was due to expelling sunflower seed shells
I have to say that unlike last season, I was not surprised at our spit count leader this season. The overall Spit Master General for the 2016 season was one of our newer additions and a favorite of mine, JOHNNY CUETO. I noticed right from the start that Johnny was going to be a high volume spitter. He logged 26 spits during the game on April 16th, the highest single game spit record for a Giants player last season. Thankfully he came nowhere near the all-time Giants record set last season by Andrew Susac at 41. And also thankfully the spitting does not appear to be due to tobacco chewing. Still love watching the guy pitch, but the spitting definitely can make it challenging sometimes.
Here are some other records of note in the area of spit counts last season:
- Most spits in a game by a non-Giant – Stephen Vogt of the A’s (again) at 32 on June 29th
- Lowest spit count average – 1 spit every 6.9 minutes (April 9th the Dodgers)
- Highest spit count average – 1 spit every 2.5 minutes (June 29th the A’s – again Vogt skewed the data on this one!)
- Highest number of Madison Bumgarner snot rockets in a single game – 7 (on both April 9th the Dodgers and June 8th vs. the Red Sox)
Also of note is the fact that Brandon Belt was caught spitting in every single spit count that I did. For shame!! And YUCK!!
Even though all the spitting (and snot rockets) does get me down, I always look forward to recognizing those guys that somehow have not picked up the nasty habit of expelling their saliva like the vast majority of their counterparts. These guys are my heroes. And thankfully, I’ve got a bunch to recognize from last season.
First off, there were an amazing four guys who played regularly during the season and were NEVER caught spitting. (envelope please) The Thank You For Not Spitting Award for the 2016 Giants season goes to JAVIER LOPEZ, TREVOR BROWN, CORY GEARRIN, and RAMIRO PENA!! Javi makes the list for the second season in a row, even while he pitched in 9 of the games that I counted. Way to go, Javi! Trevor was a surprise to me, especially because he is a catcher. When catchers are in the game they are on camera a lot – tough to sneak a spit that way. Trevor played in 6 of the games that I counted and never got caught once. Cory was another surprise as it’s tough for pitchers to make my list as well since they are on camera almost the entire time they are in the game. Cory pitched in 4 of the games I counted and stayed spit-free. Then there’s Ramiro who I almost forgot about since he didn’t play near the end of the season when Joe Panik came back and we acquired Eduardo Nunez. Ramiro never got caught spitting even though he played in 4 of the games that I counted. I salute and appreciate all of you for keeping your saliva where it belongs – IN YOUR MOUTH! Check your mailboxes come next April for those certificates (suitable for framing, of course!)!
Two other players were each only caught once spitting even though they played in the majority of the games I counted. And each of those single spits was due to expelling sunflower seeds. I’m going to give them a break and recognize this achievement as well. They are GREGOR BLANCO and HUNTER PENCE. Both these guys have made my list before, and both deserve recognition for this feat. Thanks for resisting the urge to spit, Guys!
I’m also giving several Honorable Mentions this season – guys who won’t be officially recognized with a certificate but still deserve some kudos. Brandon Crawford and George Kontos were only caught spitting once each. Try a little harder next time and you might just get that certificate! Sergio Romo was never caught spitting, but he was out for a large part of the season and only pitched in 2 of the games I counted. Thanks for the effort, Sergio! Also Matt Cain only pitched in one of the games I counted, but he didn’t launch a single spit through 6 innings. This is definitely worth recognizing. Albert Suarez was in the same category as Gregor and Hunter, getting caught once and the one spit being a sunflower seed spit, but he didn’t pitch in any of the games I counted, so it doesn’t feel right to send a certificate. For next season, I’ll definitely keep my eye on him in addition to Matt Moore, Eduardo Nunez, and Will Smith (who joined the team after I had stopped doing spit counts). Remember – I’ll be watching!
Still waiting to hear some solid Hot Stove gossip, but nothing juicy yet. Just a rumor that the Giants are thinking about getting Pablo back from the Red Sox. Yeah, right. There is no way that could ever happen. He can’t keep the weight off (remember when his belt burst open while he was batting??), his numbers were way down last season, he was injured again, and he totally dissed the team and management on his way out of SF. No. This will not occur. I don’t know who the writer from Boston is who “broke” this story, but he must be desperate for readers. Come on!
Also heard that Sergio Romo is disappointed that no one from the Giants has contacted him yet about resigning. Sergio is currently a free agent, and he says that other teams have shown interest. I would assume he won’t hear anything until the Giants have signed a solid closer – that will dictate how much money they have left to offer. Plus I still have a bad taste in my mouth about how Romo acted during the end of the season, laughing a couple of times walking off the field and in the dugout when Bochy took him out. I hate disrespect. I also think the Giants staff doesn’t appreciate it, either. Romo says he wants to come back to the Giants, but he can also find happiness somewhere else. We’ll see where he ends up. With all the young up-and-coming bullpen talent the Giants have, I have a feeling it might be somewhere else.
On a final note, today is Hunter Pence’s wedding day. I’m so excited for both him and Lexi – they make such an adorable couple and always seem to have so much fun together, including sharing lots of silliness. Wishing both of them the best. Also found out that like me, Hunter plays Pokemon Go (plus he’s on the same team as me – Team Instinct!). Here’s a video of him and Lexi trying to get to a coffee shop in the City while Pokemon Go kind of gets in the way. So funny!! Love these two!
Still keeping my ears open for anything on the rumor front. Hoping, hoping, hoping they can actually sign one of the top closers. This is always one of the most frustrating times to be a baseball fan. If you happen to hear anything, let me know. On a happy note, I think we finalized the dates for our Spring Training trip. Can’t wait!! Until next time, GO GIANTS!! SIGN A WICKED CLOSER!!
Spit Analysis 2015
Finally! After all these months! The 2015 Spit Analysis is here! As you all know, I hate how much guys spit in baseball. In order to shed some light on who the worst offenders are, I did spit counts during 19 games from the 2015 baseball season, and below are the results, some surprising, some not so much:
| # of games | Total # of | Avg. # of | Highest # of | |
| caught spitting | spits | spits/game | spits/game | |
| Susac | 7 | 114 | 16.3 | 41 |
| Leake | 1 | 6* | 6 | 6* |
| Byrd | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 8 |
| Vogelsong | 8 | 34 | 4.3 | 16 |
| McGehee | 5 | 19 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Sanchez | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Belt | 15 | 47 | 3.1 | 9 |
| Bumgarner | 5 | 15 | 3 | 6 |
| Hudson | 3 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| Parker | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Brown | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Williams | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Strickland | 6 | 16 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Pagan | 13 | 31 | 2.4 | 6 |
| Bochy | 12 | 26 | 2.2 | 6 |
| Lincecum | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 4 |
| Duffy | 11 | 24 | 2.2 | 5 |
| Blanco | 2 | 4* | 2 | 3* |
| Reyes | 1 | 2* | 2 | 2* |
| Machi | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Noonan | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cain | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Posey | 10 | 19 | 1.9 | 5 |
| Meulens | 9 | 16 | 1.8 | 4 |
| Heston | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | 3 |
| Petit | 7 | 12 | 1.7 | 3 |
| Casilla | 5 | 8 | 1.6 | 3 |
| Aoki | 6 | 13 | 1.6 | 3 |
| Osich | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Hall | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Affeldt | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 2 |
| Romo | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 2 |
| Tomlinson | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 2 |
| Wotus | 5 | 6 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Righetti | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Maxwell | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Adrianza | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Panik | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Decker | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Kelly | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Peavy | 2 | 2* | 1 | 1* |
| Kontos | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crawford | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| De Aza | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Perez | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Frandsen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Arias | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hayes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pence | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Groeschner | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*indicates that spit logged was due to expelling sunflower seed shells
Are you as surprised as I was at the leader this season? He had a healthy output last season as well, but he certainly outdid himself this time. Once again, we have a different Overall Spit Master General for the 2015 season, and that person is ANDREW SUSAC who logged 41 spits during a single game on July 5th. This surpasses the all-time record for a Giant previously held by Chris Stewart at 38. What is wrong with that kid? And the weird thing is that he doesn’t seem to be chewing tobacco. Why does he spit so much? Granted catchers are on camera a lot, but seriously? Andrew will be receiving his spit certificate in the mail as soon as the regular season starts. Hope he frames it in his locker as a reminder to KNOCK THAT STUFF OFF!
Other spitacular records that were set this season:
- Most spits in a single game by a non-Giant – Stephen Vogt of the A’s at 34 on September 26th, the majority of these being logged while he spat THROUGH his catcher’s mask!
- Lowest spit count average – 1 spit every 5.8 minutes (October 4th the Rockies)
- Highest spit count average – 1 spit every 2.7 minutes (September 26th the A’s – Vogt definitely contributed to this happening!)
- Lowest total spits in a single game – 33 during the April 24th game vs. the Rockies and 33 also during the July 6th game vs. the Mets
- Highest total spits in a single game – 91 during the July 5th game vs. the Nationals
- Madison Bumgarner snot rockets during a single game – 9 (June 17th the Mariners)
One positive note on the season regarding spits – umpires were definitely caught less often this season. But on the flip side, for some reason any time a new kid would come up from the minors, he would be caught spitting right away, usually in his first game. Also of the veterans, Vogey’s and Belt’s numbers unfortunately rose this season.
However, there’s always a bright side to all this. There are guys who managed to keep the saliva in their mouths this season. One of these guys shines above all the rest. And to think I almost missed him because he NEVER showed up in my spit counts this season. Even for sunflower seeds! The winner of the Thank You For Not Spitting Award this season is JAVIER LOPEZ! He pitched in 11 of the 19 games I counted, and he was never caught once. Now granted he usually only comes into the game to pitch to a player or two, but I still think this accomplishment is worth recognizing. Thank you for your good manners, Javi! Hope others can follow your lead and keep the saliva off the screen and in their mouths!
I am also going to send certificates to 2 guys who were caught spitting technically, but only sunflower seed shells. These guys are GREGOR BLANCO (who’s being recognized for the 4th time in a row) and JAKE PEAVY. Gregor was caught spitting 3 times in one game, and then once in another, but every time it was sunflower seeds. Jake was caught spitting seeds once in one game and then once in another game. Even though he only started during one of the games where I counted spits, I think this is a feat worth recognizing. So thank you for at least only spitting out seeds, but please look to Javi as an example and aim for a complete lack of expectoration next season!
Special thanks to Mike Leake as well. He got caught during one game spitting seeds 6 times in the dugout, but since he never started any of the games I counted and since he came to the team so late in the season, I didn’t feel like he really deserved that certificate. But his efforts are definitely worth mentioning. Some other guys worth mentioning who played a lot during games I counted yet only got caught once or twice were Brandon Crawford (1), Hunter Pence (1), Joe Panik (2), and George Kontos (2). But spit is spit. Just remember that I’m watching at keep that spit where it belongs!
I’ll end with a video of someone who I’m hoping will be getting a thank you certificate next season, Jeff Samardzija. Here he is answering some fan questions. I am so excited about having this guy on the team next season, both because he is an excellent pitcher and because he seems to have such a great sense of humor. FanFest is only 3 weeks away now! It’s almost here! Can almost taste it! Until next time, GO GIANTS!
It’s a Byrd, It’s a Plane, It’s…Tomlinson!
First, I have to apologize for taking over two weeks to update my blog. Would love to do this full time, but life happens sometimes. So much has happened in the last two weeks, most notably some injuries but also thankfully some much needed contributions from the new guys. Since August 6th when they started that series against the Cubs, the boys have gone 10 and 13. That may not sound great, but you have to keep in mind that they are nearing the end of the most challenging part of their season, encountering the Cubs (twice), Astros, Nationals, Cardinals (twice), and Pirates, all of whom are playoff contenders. And those Cardinals have by far the best record in all of baseball right now at 84 and 46. The challenge continues this week with three games against the Dodgers. After that, besides the four games we play against the Dodgers at the end of September, it’s pretty much smooth sailing against a slew of teams with records way below .500.
I wasn’t very disappointed at the loss today, even though Duane Kuiper said it was “barfable.” I think a list is in order – why I’m feeling positive even after a loss:
- Aoki and the middle of the order (Belt, Posey, and Byrd) had multiple hit games against a pitcher who had a 1.77 ERA coming into this game (Jaime Garcia). They raised his ERA to above 2 for the first time since the middle of June. You’ve got to like that.
- Byrd has made an amazing showing as a Giant – today alone (on his birthday to boot) all of his hits were for multiple bases (two doubles and a triple), and he was responsible for driving in 4 of the 5 runs. Those two hits that he sent to almost the exact same place to just left of the right field foul pole were amazing. On Twitter, Andrew Baggarly mentioned that you hardly ever see a ball go there, but Byrd did it twice. And he’s hit three bombs with the Giants in only 9 games, including the grand salami he launched on Friday night to secure a win. Loving this guy.
- Kelby Tomlinson does need some defensive work playing second since he’s used to being a shortstop, but he’s also come through offensively for us. His current batting average is .328, he hit his first homerun (of the grand slam variety) on Thursday night to contribute to the win against the Cubs, and he hit a walk-off single on Friday night to end the game. Superman indeed!
- The bats of Brandon Belt and Buster Posey appear to have been awakened.
- Juan Perez has a .389 batting average through the 10 games he’s hit in while in the Bigs this season. WHAT?? Everyone’s stepping up! I’m so happy for Dan’s boy. Plus, he’s pulling off stunts like this in the outfield. Unbelievable! I’ve heard from guys both on the radio and TV that that was the most spectacular catch they’ve ever seen. I know it was for me!
- Jake Peavy continues to provide us with strong outings.
- Madison Bumgarner – well, he just continues to be himself. Thank goodness for that.
- Relievers have gotten some rest and have been fairly strong, especially Romo and Lopez who have been “en fuego” (on fire – my siblings and I text this back and forth to each other during games). Well, Lopez did give up his first homerun this season today, but I really think he was jinxed by Amy G. who did an interview with him before the game and mentioned his success. Oh, Amy!
- We’re still only 4 games back of the Dodgers (plus they’re losing to the Cubs 2-0 as I write this – GO CUBBIES!).
Lots right there to be positive about.
However, with the good comes the bad. First off – starting pitching overall. Besides Bum, Peavy, and Leake, I really don’t have any confidence in the other potential starting pitchers. Sorry, but you gotta be real sometimes. Heston didn’t give us anything to hang our hat on today after coming off the DL and getting some rest, Cain has been a big question mark the entire season, and Vogey has been pretty inconsistent. This is the issue that scares me the most, even more than the injuries. As far as that goes, Pence and Panik still don’t have a definite return date, but Crawford is scheduled to start the Dodger series on Monday, and Pagan and Hudson are scheduled to be activated on Tuesday when rosters expand (As of September 1st, teams are not limited to only 25 active players. Guys on the 40-man roster are also entitled to play. Those dugouts will soon be pretty crowded!).
More bad news this week – Tim Lincecum is still experiencing pain in his hips and back. According to Andrew Baggarly, Lincecum’s hips locked while he was trying to throw off the mound at the Giants’ complex in Arizona last week. Lincecum says he has good and bad days, but, “the bad days are outshining the good ones.” According to Bruce Bochy, when asked about Lincecum’s return to pitching for the Giants, he simply said he’s “not close.” Sigh. I feel so incredibly sorry that this is happening to him. He has contributed so much to the success of this team, and he is loved by so many fans. I’m definitely pulling for the guy, but it’s not looking good, especially since he’ll be a free agent next season. Hang in there, Timmy. We’re all pulling for you. Hoping for a miracle.
In brighter news regarding the Giants pitching staff, Madison Bumgarner was voted the NL Player of the Week on August 17th. This came after an amazing 7-day stretch where Bum pitched two complete games against Houston and Washington, the latter being a shutout. And the guy managed a double and a homerun in the game against Washington. Where would we be without him?? He even pinch hits (and successfully!)! I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being named Player of the Month.
I mentioned in a previous blog that Brandon Crawford’s wife, Jalynne, is expecting another baby. Well, they recently found out that said baby is a boy! As Brandon put it in his blog, he’s happy that he’ll have “a comrade in our house of girls!” No news on the name yet, but I’ll keep you posted. I’m sure it will be creative.
I’ve got a new spit count for you:
August 29th
Giants:
- Susac 22
- Vogelsong 10
- Byrd 8
- Belt 7
- Petit 2
- Adrianza 1
- Meulens 1 (seeds)
- Crawford 1
- Kontos 1
- Tomlinson 1
Cardinals:
- Molina 4
- Carpenter 1
- Piscotty 1
- Tuivailala 1
Misc.:
- Giants Fan 1 (after catching foul ball)
Game Spit Master General = Susac at 22
That’s a total of 62 spits during a 3 hour and 10 minute game for an average of 1 spit every 3.1 minutes.
I have to give kudos to the Cardinals for keeping the spit numbers way down. Vogey’s number was up, and I think it’s because he wasn’t chewing gum during this game. Byrd logged his first spits today. I’m disappointed not only because he got caught for the first time but because of the telltale bulge in his cheek while he was doing it. Sigh. And our friend Andrew Susac was his usual, spitting self today behind the plate. Also, I’m pretty sure Yusmeiro Petit launched a snot rocket during this game. He turned his head to the side at one point, and I notice a stream of liquid emanating from his nose area in the opposite direction. Picking up bad habits from Bum. And Brandon Crawford – I’m just so disappointed. I thought so much better of you. Also typing the name Tuivailala reminded me of how much fun the announcers had pronouncing his name yesterday. They’re just so silly.
Even though I didn’t do a spit count during the game today, I did make an interesting spit observation. As if to rub salt into the wound from the loss, Mark Reynolds of the Cardinals expelled the contents of his mouth at the end of the game (an obvious wad of tobacco), then topped that off with a spit. Jerk.
The boys are off to Los Angeles to start a 3-game series against the dreaded Dodgers. At least our top 3 pitchers (Peavy, Bum, and Leake) are scheduled to pitch down there. The Dodgers haven’t announced who they’ll start yet, but you know Kershaw and Grenke will somehow make it in there. Just keep your fingers crossed that Nori can hit so many foul balls that the starters will be out early and we can have a field day with their relievers. Their relief staff sucks! (Just checked – Dodgers are still losing 2-0 in the 7th! Maybe we’ll only be 3.5 behind tonight! Plus it’s a no hitter in the 7th!! HA HA!!). My boys always seem to rise to the occasion when it comes to opposing the Dodgers, so I’m staying positive. Really looking forward to these games. Until next time, GO GIANTS! BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!
It DID Get Better!
Last I blogged, Giants Fan Carm was feeling mighty low. The boys were about to start the series with Houston after suffering a 4-game sweep by the Cubs. Figured we had a chance of splitting the two games with Houston, and we did. A sweep would have been nice, but can’t be greedy after all. The win on Tuesday was so much sweeter after that sweep. Tony never sounded so good. So on to the Washington series and the likes of Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, two of the toughest pitchers in the National League. Gulp. Did anyone else figure those first two games were pretty much over before they started? Come on, be honest! I love my boys but I’m also realistic. I should know better. Strasburg game – even though the Nats started off the game with a homerun, my boys one upped them at the end of the inning, scoring two runs. Vogey recovered and pitched a gem, allowing only two more hits in the next 4 innings. His showing, combined with wicked relief from Strickland, Romo, and Casilla, allowed that lead in the first to hold. YEAH!! Scherzer game – Giants got 6 runs in the first three innings. WHAT?? OFF OF SUPERHUMAN SCHERZER?? Matt Cain pitched beautifully up until the 5th when he gave up 4 runs. But the boys had his back – the relievers came to the rescue, allowing only 1 hit (thank you Affeldt, Kontos, Osich, Romo, and Lopez). Scherzer thwarted! The beautiful thing about these two games was that once again this season, everyone contributed. Timely hits, spectacular defense, and amazing pitching came from all over the place. This is the team that I seriously still think can come through and win the division this season. Yes, I said it. We’re only 2 ½ games behind the Dodgers right now and presently strutting our stuff, even against tough teams and even while dealing with a bunch of injuries. I’m liking it! Gio Gonzalez today – piece of cake!!!
There have been a lot of rumors lately about the Giants acquiring Chase Utley from the Phillies. It was also confirmed by Bobby Evans that a trade offer for him has been made (no details available right now). I don’t get this. I know he was also talked about last season to take over for Marco Scutaro, but since then the guy’s numbers have plummeted. He’s currently hitting .208 (and that’s not a typo), down from .270 last season, with 4 home runs and 29 RBI. But after doing some investigating, these numbers may be misleading. Utley went on the 15-day DL with ankle inflammation in late June, and since he’s come back he’s gone 11 for 22 with 4 doubles. That’s .500 folks. Looks to me like the guy is trying to impress someone, even though he has a no-trade clause in his contract. But who wouldn’t want to leave the Phillies right now, who are 17 games out and bottom feeding in the NL East?? On the pro side, Utley can give us some much needed depth at second both offensively and defensively while Joe Panik is out. On the con side, he’s owed $4 million for the remainder of the year, he may not be interested in being a backup second baseman, and he’s an old man (36) so his recent hitting may not be sustainable. Will keep you posted as this plays out. Inevitably there will be some breakthrough on this right after I post today!
So many injuries to deal with lately. Figured I’d catch you all up on what’s been going on with the roster lately. Nori Aoiki was placed on the concussion DL as he was feeling nauseated and lightheaded a few days after he was hit in the head with a fastball. He says that he’s not feeling that bad, so hopefully that means he’ll really be back with us after the 7 days are over. Concussions are tricky, though, so you never know. Keeping all my fingers crossed. He was replaced by Ryan “Lolly, lolly, lolly, get your adverbs here” Lollis. Angel was put on the DL (finally) due to patella tendonitis (AKA knee problems). We all knew that was coming. Hopefully some rest will do him good. He has been replaced by Dan’s boy, Juan Perez. It was nice to see him batting again the other day. Josh Osich came back up to the Bigs when Mike Leake went on the DL with hamstring issues and Ryan Vogelsong has filled in beautifully for Leake as a starter. Leake is expected to return early next week (more finger crossing). Andrew Susac hit an RBI double in a rehab game in San Jose Thursday so hopefully he’ll be back soon to fill in for Buster when needed. Joe Panik remains on the DL with no clear end in sight. Gosh, I miss that kid! Also of note is the fact that Nick Noonan was resigned to a minor league contract with the Giants. He played in the Yankees organization last season, but was released recently and picked up by his original team. Welcome back, Nick!
Congrats to Brandon Crawford on receiving the Heart and Hustle Award presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to one player on each MLB team who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit, and traditions of the game. With his all-out play, dedication to charity, and all-around good guy-ness, you couldn’t have chosen a more deserving guy for this award. Nice job, Kid!
The Giants marketing team is truly amazing. They are having a Full House event at the end of September, and they have released this video promoting it. This thing is spectacular! All my boys surely rose to the occasion. Of course Brandon Crawford plays the part of his doppelganger, John Stamos. My favorite part of the whole thing is Javi Lopez – hysterical! You can also watch the original to see how close they got with this. Love, love, love it!
Also have one more reason to love Kruk and Kuip. Check out this video of the pregame show on Friday night (you have to click on the thumbnail of Kruk and Kuip wearing ring hats down below). Oh my gosh, I adore these two! Especially love when Kuip starts making his wiggle. And Ahmed’s initial reaction. We are so very fortunate to have these guys around!
Today Jake Peavy goes against Gio Gonzalez. With as well as Jake’s been doing, I have to say I’m looking forward to some late-night crooning by Tony. I know we can do this. Hoping the boys can finish with the Nats, and then carry that much-needed momentum to face the league-leading Cardinals and the oh-so-hot Pirates on the road. I know these guys can do it. Just keep on doing what you’ve been doing. We’re all behind you. Until next time, GO GIANTS!! GAIN SOME GROUND ON THOSE DREADED DODGERS!!
KNBR Giants FanFest 2014
I got up at 4 am on a Saturday morning. Those of you that know me understand the significance of this act. I am NOT a morning person, and I live for the weekend so I can sleep in. But this was no usual Saturday morning. This Saturday morning brought with it the long awaited end to the baseball drought – the 2014 KNBR Giants FanFest!! I had been looking forward to this day for months.
I picked up Ginny on the way to AT&T Park, stopped at Starbucks for some caffeine, and off we went. Just the drive there got us both excited – hadn’t made that trek in over four months. We arrived at the park at about 6:30 am. One of the sweet parts of this day was that the parking was free. We headed over the bridge to wait in line until 10 am when the gates would open.
Both Ginny and I agree that the wait is one of the highlights of the day. It was glorious to be surrounded by die-hard Giants fans once again, and of course, we made friends with several of the people around us. We shared stories and laughs, and one group even shared food with us. I got some tips on my Spring Training trip and a great website to check out games going on at Chase Field during the gap we have between games. The best group we met consisted of Ben, Jen, Jen, and Ben (I’m not kidding). These kids were fun, interesting, huge Giants fans, and just as excited about FanFest as the two of us were. If you guys are reading this (I gave them my blog address), it was a pleasure to meet you and get excited with you, and I hope to see you all at a game at some point. And Jen – you really are a fabulous chef – that cookie was AMAZING!! Being surrounded by lots of people to talk to, the wait really went by quickly.
At a little after 10 am, they blew a whistle, and the gates flew open. People started cramming into the park. Considering the amount of people waiting to get in, things went pretty smoothly. Ginny and I, being the veteran FanFest goers that we are, had a plan – run to the View Level (most people run to the field, but the lines up top are much shorter – but don’t let the secret out!!), get one set of autographs, walk around to the other autograph booths and take pictures, get something to eat, hang out at the Q&A Stage on the Club Level to see the player interviews, and then try to get a tour of the Clubhouse. We ran up to the View Level and got into one of the lines. At this point, I have to tell you that I decided to wear my Vogelsong T-shirt to FanFest, even though it was really a day for the entire team. I decided that he is truly my favorite, so I was going to honor him. So was it coincidence that he was in the autograph booth where I lined up???? You never know who will be up there until you hear from other people. Luckily, I had brought my picture of me with Bill Laskey and Ryan (I was able to get it signed by Bill Laskey at last year’s FanFest). I was just hoping that Ryan would still be in the booth once I got up there (they rotate the guys around about every hour or so). Got to the front of the line in about 40 minutes. HEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! In the booth with Ryan were Nick Noonan and hitting coach Joe Lefebvre. I got Nick’s autograph and congratulated him on his recent wedding. Then I gave him an orange and black rubber band bracelet I had made. He said thank you, and I moved on. He is a cutie. I got Joe Lefebvre’s autograph next. He was wearing his World Series ring. I told him that was some pretty nifty jewelry he had there, and he laughed and said thanks. Then came Ryan. I handed him the picture to sign and asked if he remembered the occasion. He said, “I sure do.” Thanks for lying, Ryan. You’re such a good boy. After he signed the picture, I gave him a bracelet as well. He said, “Another one!” Guess my idea wasn’t unique. But he proceeded to put it on, which I appreciated. I was so excited to actually get his autograph on that picture and talk to him again. But it all happened so quickly. And I didn’t even show him that I was wearing his shirt! Ginny got some great pics of me with him. What would I do without her??
Next we walked to another autograph booth. Brandon Belt, Heath Hembree, and former Giant Mike Felder were signing there. We got some great pictures of the three of them. That’s the nice thing about the view level booths – you can get really close to the players. Little did we know we would soon get even closer. A few minutes after we got there, it was time to swap out players. Brandon Belt walked right by us – like within 2 feet! Bill Laskey and Joe Lefebvre came in to replace them, and we wondered who would fill the third seat. Then here came Gregor Blanco, and he walked right by us as well. He even said “hi” to Ginny!! After getting pictures of Gregor, we went back to where I had gotten Ryan’s autograph. We got pics of Dave Dravecky, Michael Morse, and Jack Dunning. Then we moved on the the last autograph booth on the View Level. Nick Noonan and Jeff Leonard were signing there, but unfortunately we couldn’t get close enough to take pics.
We then headed down to the Club Level to get something to eat. On the way we passed the two Q&A stages on this level. The first one had Orlando Cepeda, first base coach Roberto Kelly, and Tito Fuentes on stage being interviewed. We got some shots of them as we could get pretty close to them. Then at the next stage we saw Bruce Bochy, Brandon Belt, and Javier Lopez. We were pretty far away from them, but we still had a pretty good view. Walking further down the hall I noticed someone familiar behind one of the glass doors leading out to the seats – Larry Baer! He was just walking around talking to folks. As he walked by I followed him, and he happened to stop and I asked him for his autograph. He graciously gave it to me and I told him he was such a great guy. He said, “Aw, thank you!” and went on his way. So cool and unexpected.
We then ordered lunch (I got a polish sausage and garlic fries – oh, how I had missed that combination!), and we went outside to eat and take a break. We watched the KNBR interviews that were taking place down on the field. Soon after we sat down, someone tapped my shoulder. It was Leslie, my friend whom I met at FanFest 2 years ago! She came with her kids and we texted each other to try and meet, and she found me. We hung out with them for a while, and I gave all of them orange and black bracelets. I had met her daughter, Morgan, at FanFest as well, but I also met her son and her youngest daughter for the first time today. I felt like I already knew them because of Facebook, but it was nice to see them in person. And her youngest is adorable!
After we visited for a while, we headed back over to the main Q&A stage. Tim Lincecum, Hunter Pence, and Matt Cain were there. I always love hearing the exchange between the guys at these things. They are all so funny and they mess with each other. We weren’t very close, but as that session ended, some people left and we were able to move in closer. The next session contained both Ginny and my favorites – Brandon Crawford and Ryan Vogelsong, along with new-kid-on-the-block, Michael Morse. I was so glad that Ginny got to see Brandon because last year he didn’t show up at his scheduled session. Again, the banter between the three of them was great. We noticed that Brandon and Michael seemed to be developing a friendship as they would talk amongst themselves when Kate Scott was asking Ryan questions. I also noticed that Ryan was still wearing the bracelet that I had given him, and this made me so happy.
At this point I have an announcement to make – Michael Morse is officially one of my favorites! I absolutely love the guy! He was candid and told funny stories about how bad his high school football team was (for which he was the quarterback), he’s a cutie pie, and he’s humble. I am so happy he is on the team, and I think he will fit right in with that clubhouse. At one point during the interview, he looked over at us and I waved and caught his attention. Then I made a heart with my hands and he smiled. AWWWW!!! Just wanted the guy to feel welcome here. He really seemed to love all the fans and kept saying how happy he was to be a Giant and it was the best team he had ever been on. At one point, Kate got the crowd to sing his walk up song, Take On Me by A-ha, and he sang along. I can just hear everyone singing it at the games this season. We got some good pics of the three guys along with my girl, Kate, and then they were on their way.
We weren’t planning on staying for the next set of guys, but it was Buster, Sergio, and Jeremy Affeldt, so we decided what the heck and stayed. Plus, we were able to move up even closer as more people left. Jeremy finally got to answer back to all the heckling he had gotten – everyone picks on that guy! Buster looks so buff – he gained a lot of muscle weight in the off season. He also buzzed his hair and I hope he grows it back soon – not liking that look on him.
We stayed for about half the session, then left and went down to the Field Level to sit after standing for so long (and to recover from the garlic fries that weren’t agreeing with either of us). Michael Morse was being interviewed by Tom Tolbert on the KNBR stage, and it was like they were just having a personal conversation. It was so great! Morse really is personable, and you could tell Tolbert was loving it. We decided to try and see if they were still doing Clubhouse tours, and we were able to go down under the Field Level into the bowels of AT&T Park. I had never been in this part of the park, so I was just excited about that. Unfortunately, the tours had ended about 10 minutes prior, so we missed out. And Ginny discovered that she had been “birded” while we had been watching Morse, so she went off to the restroom to clean up.
That’s when the insanity began. I happened to look down the hall and saw a tall guy in an orange jersey – Hunter Pence! He was signing autographs down the hall from me! I walked over to him and he looked so exhausted, so I didn’t try to hassle him for one. But he walked within two feet of me. I got a couple of good pics of him. As I turned around to watch him walk down the hall, a female police officer told me to please move out of her way. I apologized and did, then realized too late that she was escorting Ryan Vogelsong! He had already taken his orange jersey off, so no one knew he was a player. I yelled out, “You sneaky Ryan” and I saw him turn and laugh. I turned back around to find Ginny, and then I saw more players coming down the hall. First Jeremy Affeldt (who gave me a fist bump as he walked by), then Buster (who smiled at me – what gorgeous eyes that boy has), then Michael Morse walked by. As Michael walked down the hall to leave the park, I yelled, “Michael, you’re awesome! I’m so glad you joined the team!” and he turned around and smiled and waved at me! Love that guy! All those guys had walked right by me. Then Ginny came by and I told her about what just happened, but it continued. Here came Gregor Blanco again! And he said hi to Ginny again! I think he has a thing for her! And she may add him to her list of favorites now. What an exciting way to end the day!
As FanFest was just about over at that point, and there were no more players to be seen, we headed out to the car. On the way, we noticed the spot where the players had come out of the park (near the gate by the dugout store on 3rd Street). So we had more player sightings! We saw Hunter and Gregor again, as well as George Kontos, and then we saw Matt Cain driving off. So much fun!
The day would not have been half as fun without my buddy and Giants partner in crime, Ginny, at my side. She took some great pictures for me and really let me do whatever I wanted to the entire day. And I love that we both share the same enthusiasm for baseball and our boys. Thanks so much, my friend. Looking forward to that first game we can attend together and to our texting when we watch the games at home!
Great day all around. And it’s always great to get back into that park after the off season. I have a few more tidbits for you, but I think I’ll save them for another day so that I can savor the FanFest experience. Until next time, GO GIANTS!!!! Only 13 days ‘til the start of Spring Training!
And the Moves Begin!
Things are starting to move as far as acquisitions on the team this off-season. To start off with, the Giants signed right-handed pitcher Tim Hudson to a 2 year, $23 million deal on November 18th. Hudson was most recently on the Braves, and before that he was with the A’s, so he’s familiar with the Bay Area. He’s been mentioned since the end of the season as one of the pitchers the Giants wanted to go after. Tim’s been in the big leagues for 15 years, and in that time has accumulated 205 wins, the most of any active pitcher in the National League. He had a 3.97 ERA last season, but his season was cut short due to a gruesome injury he received when his ankle was stepped on while he went to cover first base. I would give you a link, but it’s one of those Joe Theismann-like things that is pretty tough to watch, so out of respect for the guy, I won’t. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, Google it yourself! However, it looks like we don’t have to worry about him losing any time next season, as Alex Pavlovic of the Mercury News reported that Hudson had a screw removed from his ankle recently, and “said he’s right on track to have a normal spring training.” In an interview on KNBR, Hudson mentioned that money wasn’t first on his list of deciding where to go (even though he said the Giants were right up there with the top contenders moneywise). He said he wanted to move where his family would be comfortable (I love that!), and San Francisco topped his list. During that interview I also got to hear the guy’s voice for the first time – he’ll fit right in with Buster, Madison, and Brandon Belt for sure! And I’m already liking the guy, as he thanked the fans in Atlanta for all they had done for him over the years through a letter to a local newspaper. Plus it will be nice for Madison, Matt, and Timmy to have a long-time veteran around to learn from, especially Timmy who is similar in stature, also pitches to the bottom of the strike zone, and is trying to reinvent himself now that he’s lost some of his speed. This acquisition definitely sounds like a great one for my boys. Welcome to the team, Tim! Hey just realized – that’s two Timmys we’ve got pitching now!
That leaves one more starting pitcher spot open. Rumor has it that the Giants are still interested in Ryan Vogelsong, but why no definite news yet??? So many possibilities. They could still sign a free agent (Bronson Arroyo’s name still comes up), or they could possibly go with Yusmeiro Petit who had a great showing at the end of last season, or possibly even Chad Gaudin who had an amazing showing when he took over for the injured Vogelsong. Any of the minor leaguers in our system aren’t quite ready yet, but there are some very promising prospects in the minors so the Giants probably won’t sign someone new to a long contract in the hopes that they can come up in the next few years.
Ricky Nolasco’s name has also been mentioned as a possibility for a pitcher. He was acquired by the Dodgers at the end of last season (the Giants had their sights on him then as well), so as far as I’m concerned, he’s a little tainted! Rumor is that the Giants have offered him a 3-year contract but he’s looking for a 4-year commitment. They’re probably not going to budge on that as again, they have several good pitcher prospects coming up through the minors.
My boy Javier Lopez signed a 3 year, $13 million deal last week as well (YAY!). So happy about this one – that guy rocks it with that sidewinder pitch! He’s so hard to hit off of. He had a 1.83 ERA last season, appearing in 69 games. Welcome back, Javi. I was getting worried!
The Baseball Winter Meetings are scheduled to take place December 9th – 12th. The Giants’ front office guys will be in attendance, and apparently finding a good bat in left field is high on their list. According to Brian Sabean (in an interview on KNBR), they’re not happy with any of the free agents available at this position, so they’ll be looking to work out a trade. This scares me. Who will be on our end of the trade??? I don’t want to lose any of my boys! What do you think? Who could go? One of the Brandons? Pablo? Hector? Scary to think about, but we really do need more offensive force. Maybe they’ll just settle on Dan’s boy Juan Perez in left since he did so well at the end of the season. Will keep you updated when I hear.
Will end today on a fun note. You may have heard about the blockbuster trade this week of the Tigers Prince Fielder for the Rangers Ian Kinsler. Both are big money All-Star players. Seems that apparently this trade was foreshadowed in a commercial that aired on ESPN during the 2010 season. Check it out. Best of all is the Giant who makes a cameo appearance! Love it! Ah, what a difference 3 years can make in the life of a starter. Until next time, GO GIANTS!!!
Spit Analysis 2013
Now for the highlight of my blog season – THE ANNUAL SPIT ANALYSIS!! OK. So I know some of you (OK – most of you) don’t care about the spit count stuff, so feel free to scroll down to the bottom of this. But be aware that there is actually other information that you might want to read in this one! And for those of you who love this stuff as much as I do (admit it), here we go!
I did spit counts during 24 games this season. Here are the results:
|
# of games caught |
Total # of spits |
Avg. # spits/game |
Highest # of |
|
|
spitting |
spits/game |
|||
| Moscoso |
3 |
87 |
29 |
36 |
| Kickham |
1 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
| Sandoval |
22 |
193 |
8.8 |
27 |
| Quiroz |
7 |
35 |
5 |
20 |
| Posey |
22 |
98 |
4.5 |
17 |
| Pagan |
9 |
39 |
4.3 |
14 |
| Belt |
14 |
54 |
3.9 |
11 |
| Sanchez |
5 |
19 |
3.8 |
12 |
| Rosario |
6 |
22 |
3.7 |
7 |
| Perez |
2 |
7 |
3.5 |
5 |
| Scutaro |
18 |
54 |
3 |
6 |
| Cain |
6 |
18 |
3 |
6 |
| Romo |
8 |
17 |
2.1 |
6 |
| Gaudin |
7 |
15 |
2.1 |
4 |
| Bumgarner |
7 |
14 |
2 |
7 |
| Casilla |
6 |
12 |
2 |
6 |
| Bochy |
16 |
32 |
2 |
5 |
| Lincecum |
8 |
16 |
2 |
5 |
| Francoeur |
3 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
| Noonan |
3 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
| Pill |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
| Peguero |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Crawford |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Blanco |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Vogelsong |
6 |
11 |
1.8 |
3 |
| Kontos |
7 |
12 |
1.7 |
2 |
| Zito |
7 |
12 |
1.7 |
2 |
| Meulens |
3 |
5 |
1.7 |
3 |
| Kelly |
3 |
5 |
1.7 |
2 |
| Arias |
9 |
14 |
1.6 |
3 |
| Affeldt |
4 |
6 |
1.5 |
2 |
| Torres |
6 |
8 |
1.3 |
2 |
| Machi |
4 |
5 |
1.3 |
2 |
| Pence |
3 |
4 |
1.3 |
2 |
| Abreu |
5 |
6 |
1.2 |
2 |
| Righetti |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
| Lopez |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| Mijares |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| Gardner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Hembree |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Reyes |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Kieschnick |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Surprisingly, we had a new winner this season, and thus all three seasons I’ve done this someone new has taken the “prize” of Spit Master General. This season it was Guillermo Moscoso, showing off his spitting prowess and racking up 36 spits in a single game on July 30th. He also achieved the highest average number of spits per game at 29. Even so, he still hasn’t beaten the all-time Giants record set by Chris Stewart in 2011 of 38 spits in one game, though Moscoso’s average per game was much higher. The record set by a non-Giant this season was achieved on April 14th by the Cubs’ Dioner Navarro, who was caught spitting 28 times (record = Chris Snyder of the Astros at 44 in 2012). The spittingest umpire award goes to Mike Everett, who logged 29 spits on August 9th (record = Rob Drake at 40 in 2011).
Other records of note:
– Most spits by a manager: Bruce Bochy at 5 (April 14th)
– Madison Bumgarner snot rocket record: 13 (June 14th – new all-time record)
– Lowest spit count average: 1 spit every 6.8 minutes (April 7th vs. Cardinals – new all-time record)
– Highest spit count average: 1 spit every 2.1 minutes (July 8th vs. Mets and July 30th vs. Phillies)
– Most total spits in a single game: 152 (July 8th vs. Mets)
– Least total spits in a single game: 25 (April 7th vs. Cardinals – new all-time record)
At least the new records set were in the low spitting category, which makes me happy. But someone really needs to have a talk with Madison (or give him a hanky!).
Now on to the part of this I really enjoy. Of all the guys who played regularly on the 25-man roster this season for the Giants, can you guess the only one (yes, depressing, isn’t it?) who was never caught spitting? My hero, KENSUKE TANAKA!! All us spit haters thank you from the bottom of our baseball-loving hearts! Thank you for your wonderful manners and your fine example of keeping your saliva where it belongs, in your mouth. Hope you end up on a MLB team next season so I can mail you your certificate. I’m going to make an exception for one player and give him a certificate as well. Why? Because it’s my blog and I make the rules, and I think he really deserves it. Unlike Brandon Crawford and Hunter Pence who got certificates last season but disappointed me this season by being caught with flying saliva, GREGOR BLANCO was only caught during one game, and both times he was spitting out sunflower seeds. So I think that is still worthy of recognition. Thanks, Gregor, for setting a great example for your son, but be more careful next season cause I’ll be watching again for any slip ups!
OK – as promised, now onto other things baseball. Speaking of Gregor, he was named the Giants’ Defensive Player of the Year. Gregor didn’t commit a single error in 1,022 innings over 149 games (WOW!), had six outfield assists, and saved 10 runs with his defense from all three positions. Congratulations on this great achievement! See what not spitting can do for you?
Heard a rumor that Ron Wotus (Giants Bench Coach) was interviewed for the manager position with the Seattle Mariners. When I heard this, I really started to panic. I love that guy, and I really didn’t want him to go to another team, even though he has earned his way to becoming a manager. I hate change! Luckily (for me), someone else got the position and he’ll be back next season. It’s all about me!
The Giants officially declined Barry Zito’s option for next season. Knew this was coming, but it still seemed so sad. More sadness in the fact that they also declined Andres Torres option. Even though you can’t say he contributed that much play-wise to the team last season, I still adore that guy. He’s always got a smile on his face and loves everyone. Will be so sad to see him go if somehow they don’t resign him anyway. Another guy who’s entered free agency is Javier Lopez. Open bidding for free agents began on November 5th. Apparently, there is lots of interest for Javi throughout the league (of course), but he’s still holding out hope that the Giants will resign him. I’m holding out hope, too. Love watching him throw that sidewinder. Then there’s my boy, Ryan Vogelsong. This one hit me the hardest. They didn’t pick up his option either. Rumor is that they are still interested in him, but they didn’t want to offer him the $6.5 million a year in his contract. Please, oh please, I hope that they come to some sort of agreement soon. Do you think they will? I think he can still be a benefit to the team, and what will I do with my Vogelsong T-shirt if he doesn’t come back?? He’s my boy!
Will keep my ears open for any news regarding my boys now that the Hot Stove League has officially begun. Will the Giants spend the dough to get a great bat in the outfield? Who will take the last two spots in the pitching rotation? Which guys will not make a return to the team next year? Will there be some unexpected surprises pulled out of Sabean’s back pocket? And what about Naomi? These and other exciting questions will be answered in our next episode of “As the Hot Stove Burns.”
Will end today on an uplifting note. My mom has a book with quotes from children with disabilities, and I was skimming through it the other day. I came across a wonderful quote and wanted to share it with you all for two reasons – the baseball reference and this kid’s moxy:
“I’m not old enough to play baseball or football. I’m not eight, yet. My mom told me when you start baseball, you aren’t going to be able to run that fast because you had an operation. I told mom I wouldn’t need to run that fast. When I play baseball, I’ll just hit them out of the park. Then I’ll be able to walk.”
Love that kid. Domingo Ayala would be proud. Until next time, GO GIANTS!!!
Giants Fan Carm 