2010 NLCS: Phillies vs. Giants

Feel free to make a prediction.

I predict that ...http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGwill win another game.

so apparently madison bumgarner is washed up at age 20

― mookieproof, Thursday, April 15, 2010 10:08 PM (5 months ago)

will the phillies need to use a 4th starter in this series? if not then they're the favorites

is this BeeOK?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyVdbfyvwso

I predict that even the Philly and SF haters will get stoked for DOC VS BIG TIME TIMMY JIM!!!!

Stoked!!

What I'm hoping for: Giants in 6, with two perfect games from Halladay.

my prediction is that every game will be scoreless through 7 and then big time lols from r0m0, wilson, u mad son, and lidge.

Is Blanton the Phillies #4?

I say Philly in 6.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/43/img02171.gif

the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykug0n81qRg

mmm, Champagne porn

Brian Wilgetsonned

someone tell me what the fuck is up with brian wilsons beard. dude looks like this:

http://www.unathleticmag.com/wp-content/uploads/hollywood_hogan.jpg

Pretty reasonable comparison.

At least Sergio's beard isn't dyed.

they both look like Wooly Willy to me.

Giants:Phils :: Braves:Giants

Phils in 6, and if it only takes 4 or 5 that wouldn't surprise me either.

Phils in 5.

I would love to see the Giants surprise people and make this a long series, but my gut tells me Phils in 5.

I'm surprised it's unanimous for Philadelphia. I see the rotations as more or less even through the first three starters--edge to Phillies, but close enough that it could go either way.

Very good point except that you overlooked the small fact that the Phillies have one of the best offenses in baseball and the Giants have one of the worst.

The offenses are very not-equal. xpost!

It could but realistically, it won't go either way. This season has been 'torture' 'cause even if we won, we've been barely scraping by a run or three every game all season and it's hard to really set a line-up when no-one is really sure whose hitting streak is starting and whose is slumping.

if you go position-by-position, the phillies are pretty much even or win everywhere except in the catcher spot, and tbh ruiz good so it's not like posey is matching up with some ausmus type.

FACT: Eli Whiteside was one of the reasons SF pwnx0red DocHalladay earlier this season.

Actually to continue this devil's advocacy, I'm pretty sure SF took the season series with PHI (no google) and roughed up Halladay/Hamels and even roughed up THE ALMIGHTY Roy Oswalt as well (w/ Houston at the time).

Phils in phive

April: SF wins 2/3 at At&T

August:PHI wins 2/3 at CB Park

xp They split the season series (they both won two out of three at home.)

And Oswalt beat us at home.

To be clear, I meant in Philly

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows, and that the role of Jack Morris/Bob Gibson/Bret Saberhagen/Howard Ehmke will be played by Tim Lincecum. Giants in 7.

bOLd PREDELICTION:

PHI in 7

Oswalt throws another perfect game. Halladay and Hamels continue to "shit the bed" TM DR. MORbiuS MD.

you overlooked the small fact that the Phillies have one of the best offenses in baseball and the Giants have one of the worst

True, but I subscribe to the cliche that pitching--starting pitching especially--is at a premium in the postseason. And if the front three for both teams are at their very best, I don't know that relative offensive strength will mean all that much. Close games all, could go either way. Not saying the Giants will win, just that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they did.

And I agree with Morbius that Lincecum is the key. After a pedestrian season by his own standards, I get the feeling he's hyped to carry his team all the way.

True, but I subscribe to the cliche that pitching--starting pitching especially--is at a premium in the postseason.

I watched great pitching get the Braves to the postseason for 14 straight years, with one championship to show for it. In October, it's the bats that make the difference imho.

The Braves are a good counter-argument, but, besides the fact that they seemed to live under some ungodly postseason curse, I'd point out that a) the teams who beat them in the Series, the Yankees, Twins, and Blue Jays, had excellent pitching too, and b) you can find any number of big-hitting teams--the Gonzalez-led Rangers, turn-of-the millennium Mariners, any Rockies team, etc.--that sank like a stone in the playoffs. Again, all I'm saying is that if you start with Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez, I think you've got a much better chance of winning than people might think.

The Rockies weren't such a good example...thought they'd made the playoffs more than just three times. They sank like a stone twice; the other time they went to the World Series, then sank like a stone.

This year, those 3 pitchers won a combined 42% of their starts this year against teams that were wholly inferior to the Phillies and in fact, those "big three" barely compiled a winning record this year.

Trying to find the stats showing the terminal decision of a pitcher's non-decision start... anyone? I know TV guys always spout this stat.

You guys are convinced the Giants are overmatched. Let them play the games and we'll see who's right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf0j1rmZVbM

this is new to me

You guys are convinced the Giants are overmatched. Let them play the games and we'll see who's right.

This thread is also a poll, though.

brian wilson looks like a motherfucker with some dark secrets

There will be a day game in San Francisco. Unfortunately, it's a weekday. Lotta Tweeps are saying that's because Fox doesn't want to preempt "Glee" on Tuesday night on the East Coast. Here is the schedule. All times are Pacific Daylight Time and mark the start of the Fox broadcast. First pitch is a bit later.

Game 1: Saturday at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m.

Game 2: Sunday at Philadelphia, 5;00 p.m.

Game 3: Tuesday at San Francisco, 1:00 p.m.

Game 4: Wednesday at San Francisco, 4:30 p.m.

Game 5: Thursday at San Francisco, 4:30 p.m.--*

Game 6: Saturday at Philadelphia, 12:30 p.m.--*

Game 7: Sunday at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m.--*

*--If necessary

Home team disadvantage?

Home teams are 4-11 in the playoffs so far.

BeeOK, I assume those times you posted are PST?

yeah, got it from the San Francisco newspaper

Game three needs to go into extra innings -- like 20.

Home teams are 4-11 in the playoffs so far.

I know, Joe Sheehan tweeted that

now i'm in love Bochy, he is going to pitch J. Sanchez second. i love the fact that our bulldog Matt Cain is going to be put off until we get back to AT%T.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Barry-Bonds-delivers-message-of-support-to-NLCS-?urn=mlb-276880

"I will always be a Giants fan. The Giants are in my heart. The city I love. It's like I always try to tell people — I don't really have fans in San Francisco, I have family. That's my family. So if you think I'm going for Philadelphia — forget it. I'm a Giants fan for life. I love you. Much love to San Francisco."

"I hope you beat their (expletive)."

What he actually said was "I hope you beat they ASS!!!"

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

that Glee thing is total bullshit as TBS is playing the NY/TX game in the day the following day

The Giants were the only team in baseball to record wins over Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in 2010.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Five-reasons-to-believe-in-the-San-Francisco-Gia?urn=mlb-276600

curious what the official odds are on this series, people make it sound like the phillies have won already when in reality it's 60-40 at best and probably only 55-45

Are seven game series ever much better than 60-40? I wonder what the most lopsided predictatron #s have been in the post WC era.

baseball prospectus monte carlo odds behind the pay wall = LAAAAAAAAAAMME

theyre a business, u know

also, I don't see that kind of odds chart yet, I don't think they're doing it.

Morbius, quit parroting my posts! For shame!

Can you not look at a Vegas bookie? Let me see if UK bookies offer odds, one sec...

AL: NYY 8/13, TEX 27/20
NL: PHI 4/11, SF 9/4

So yep, the Phillies are substantial favourites. Might have to put a wager on the Giants despite my vote in this poll!

Okay, I've put £££ on the Yanks and the Giants.

we need to sign up for diamond mind stat

SIMULATE 1 MILLION ILX THREADS

SIMULATE 1 MILLION ILX THREADS

Tenth level of hell innit

As I've already said, I'm way in the minority on this: I honestly believe that the Giants have a better chance of winning their series than the Rangers (who I am rooting for, though).

is it dumb to consider not pitting the Freak against Halladay? I guess it depends who it hurts more if those guys split.

You'd have to replace him with your worst starter, though, and can anyone afford to write off game one?

probably true. you can't forfeit maybe 3 halladay games.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

A bunch of people bat around the question of where the Halladay-Lincecum match-up ranks historically:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/8708

The first two that came to mind for me were Pedro vs Clemens and Schilling vs Clemens but I'm not sure you can say that they were matchups of two all-time greats at their absolute peaks. McLain vs Gibson was about as big a contemporary matchup as you can get, but McLain wasn't a great pitcher, career-wise.

I had to check--and I didn't wade through all the comments, so maybe these were mentioned--but for peak match-ups, Seaver vs. Cuellar (twice) in '69, and Seaver vs. Hunter (twice) in '73, are pretty huge.

Catfish (RIP) overrated

Christy Mathewson v Eddie Plank

Catfish (RIP) overrated

Ah, c'mon--I'm sure your memories of baseball in the '70s are as good as mine. So put away the calculator and let me enjoy my illusions. Next thing you'll be telling me that Al Hrabosky was neither mad nor Hungarian.

Fox pulling out all the stops with uh, John Malkovich and Richard Ashcroft in the intro package.

Giants in big trouble.

The only thing straight about Roy Halladay is his... wait what?

Howard is alive!

I didn't realize this series is on Fox.

I HAVE CABLEVISION AND THERE'S A FUCKING CORPORATE SKIRMISH AND IT'S NOT ON

Headed out momentarily to find a bar.

http://www.beatsandbombs.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/rick_ross1.jpg

This game is moving at a slightly faster pace than the last one.

haha, this game!

i love Ross, what a pick up

J0rd, is that the prez of Cablevision?

Pitching-duel letdown shockah

That's some challopsy talk coming from the guy who goes postal when someone posts RIP after the first game of a series.

I think there are many people on this board who regularly check their middle finger to make sure it's in working order.

I come from a postal family

also I keep getting 'authentication error' when I try to buy MLB's feeds for $10

Morbs you were right -- four innings of one-run ball from Doc and Lincecum, what the hell, these guys are frauds!! I can't believe I was excited to see this game.

http://radiobigboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/rick-ross-2.jpg

well, bought the mlb.com feed...

LOTS OF FREEZING! INCLUDING MISSING THE ROSS HR SWING!!!! FUCK FUCK FUCK

did i say how much i love Ross, unbelievable!

pretty much freezes with Halladay in windup every time. EXCELLENT

morbs, try pitching the quality down a bit & reducing extraneous windows

jaysonst Jayson Stark
How bout this: Only one RH hitter had ever had a 2-HR game vs Halladay before Cody Ross tonight - Corey Hart, 6 weeks ago (9/4)

RIP Doc

closing this extraneous window now, thx

ross was 2-12 vs halladay this year

morbs! just trying to help

pitch the quality down?

well on the mlb tv player there is usually a bar at the bottom that indicates quality, and if you bring it down a bit, the video won't be as good but it might stop freezing

does anyone else w/ a square, non-HD tv have the whole score box pretty much out of range of the tv?

i thought that was gone, can they actually cash in a run for once?

WoW

More playoff runs scored after what should have been a called third strike.

whoa @ this

Hit the invisible floating dime, Roy.

I don't think Halladay has any cause for complaint; that looked like a clear ball to me.

does anyone else w/ a square, non-HD tv have the whole score box pretty much out of range of the tv?

Yes

That non-strike was close enough that you can't really blame the ump. The real problem was Ibanez, he should have made the catch.

"dangle" not found

Lincecum's 3rd pitch there was like the stinkiest funk ever smelled

dude is so awesome

what does this "quality" button look like J0rd? cuz I just see fwd, rew, pause, etc.

MLB.com forum chorus: "your service is shit"

well, boom

of course, this is a Giant game. meaning the whoever wins will win with one run.

werth is the only likeable player on the phillies, and he is IMMENSELY likeable

fitting that he will be leaving

well, doc is highly likeable, excuse me

http://www.wrestlingsuperstars.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/edge1.jpg

hate Werth

I'm seeing maybe 30% of the action. O BRAVE NU WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

should Timmy pitch anymore tonight?

i don't think so, let this great bullpen finish the game as he has 102 pitches so far.

Gutsy move there to let Lincecum hit.

four innings of one-run ball from Doc and Lincecum, what the hell, these guys are frauds!! I can't believe I was excited to see this game.

Getting less impressed?

Joe Buck "the Giants are waiting for something to happen with their line up"

Joe aren't they winning 4-3?

Yes! A tight 4-3 game with each guy striking out seven, somebody stop the bleeding, please! Someone should take away their Cy Young awards.

xpost

oh i forgot: Timmy gets better the later it gets

This isn't going to be news to anyone but me, but I haven't watched any Fox baseball all season. Tim McCarver really is just a vegetable now, isn't he?

pretty much

but i think this Fox broadcast is so much better than what TBS was doing. i thought i like Dick Stockton but he got most names wrong on a given night and sometimes wondered what game he was calling.

this is it, the ninth for all the marbles in game one

actually saw that strikeout

Someone should take away their Cy Young awards.

Tonight, let's just call them Chris Volstad and Jonathon Niese.

WELCOME BACK BRAD LIDGE

That SF pitcher's beard is fake rite? Looks like Jack from LOST.

Lidge is pitching like it's a save situation.

rofl

can't believe the Giants won that game

RIP Philadelphia

― sanskrit, Saturday, October 16, 2010 12:05 AM (22 hours ago) Bookmark

damn that was a boss pitch

what a game

happy happy joy JOY

SUCK IT PHILLY

morbs otm

haha Lincecum talking about Brian Wilson in the postgame interview "pure intensity ... and of course, the beard"

wondering how much of a dick move it would be to change my facebook status to PHILS WIN (i'm from philly)

Do it.

http://twitpic.com/2ybcrv

Neyer on new switchy Phils' lineup tonight:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/5847/phillies-manuel-devises-perfect-lineup

Game 2, looking forward to seeing what Sanchez can do after Lincecum's night.

OK, firing up MLB.tv to see if it's better tonight...

need gif of roy slowly shaking his head in the lineup intro

Ugh, I hate how McCarver says Sanchez.

Ugh, I hate how McCarver says Sanchez.

ive got no replays, who was that on?

Fontenot's throw was wide, also hit the runner and glove at same time.

More fun with the strike zone: Werth gets rung up on a high strike that basically slipped out of Sanchez's hand, but Rollins walks on a really good pitch low and inside.

THAT was a fuckin bullshit strike

also McCarver reading B4rry's posts on the air

Spent the last 15 minutes making this, did I miss anything?

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lagohjksTP1qbypg1o1_400.gif

we dont give a shit about the Eagles, Buckface

Sanchez has settled down and is now pitching like he normally does.

lulz

I uh think it's dinner time.

Fontenot apparently trying to get Sandoval back in the lineup.

yeah, i think that is his third error since taking over.

now is the time for a hit Giants

Ross again

i love that guy

i hate that guy

3 HR in the series wtf is with that guy

Cody Ross has killed the Reds ever since they traded him a few years back, glad to see someone else get killed by that guy.

I like it especially coming against Roy Oswalt.

Thought that HR was a replay from last night, thanks for the excitement Bucky.

screen froze right b4 homer

are there Murdochs living in the US who I could [redacted] to get this Cablevision shit resolved?

http://cdn.theurbandaily.com/files/2010/07/rick-ross3.jpg

well, thing aren't going well when a pitcher gets a hit than scores a run

I can't think of any reason for not waving home the runner there other than that the runner was a pitcher. If you're not going to try to score in the 7th inning of a 2-1 CS game because you don't want to risk an injury to your pitcher, then he shouldn't be running the bases. This is one of many reasons why the NL sucks because of the no-DH rule.

i only really like NL ball because the pitchers has to hit

Panda in at 3b

eff the DH

oh man, that thing was a breeze away from being a grand slam

Good for Oswalt for not giving a crap and running through the stop sign and all that, but while you guys jizz over pitchers trying to pretend that they're real hitters, I prefer to watch an offense that's actually trying to score runs.

I would recommend winning all 3 games in SF

Ouch.

RIP this game

I also prefer democracy insofar as all the players come to bat

I also would wish herpes on all Philadelphians if that wasn't redundant

as much as i hate the phillies, i'm happy for oswalt

hope the giants bludgeon hamels

Bochy went a bit overboard with the IBB's there, in particular the walk to Utley seemed totally unneccessary.

all i wish for was a split in Philly and the Giants at least got that

Roy Oswalt still doesn't seem right in a Philly's uniform but he pitched a good game tonight. first time he has done that against the Giants this year.

Sanchez was due to have an off game, i was hoping it wasn't going to happen tonight but it did. he will be much, much better the next game because that has been his cycle all year long.

Sanchez pitched fairly well though, he's not the reason why the Giants are losing.

i hate Joe Buck, shut the fuck up about football already. if you don't want to be there than don't do baseball asshole!

u mad

Tough breaks tonight. Need some healing fog.

The football talk WAS annoying last night ... he was talking about it as if the Phillies' win would be the icing on the cake of the Eagles' win earlier. Fucking Week 6?? Compared to the NLCS?

but he pitched a good game tonight. first time he has done that against the Giants this year.

― Bee OK, Sunday, October 17, 2010 10:02 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

how many times are you gonna be wrong about this?

his three starts vs the giants this year

6 IP 3 ER
7 IP 2 ER 7K
7 IP 3 ER 7K

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6646/gamelog;_ylt=AuY69vti2PBE.Ft6bQyJn4qFCLcF

and the Giants record was 3-1.

he pitched late into games but the Giants always seemed to hang a loss on him. it was four games not three.

yeah and he was playing for the freakin astros

add

7 IP 2 ER 5K

to that

i mean, to be hearing the win argument from a guy whose a fan of the team that matt cain pitches on is sorta mindblowing

he of the career 57-62 career record

Bee OK, please take some breaks from being a homer every once in awhile.

"he pitched late into games but the Giants always seemed to hang a loss on him."

</Jack Morris>

You can blame the Dodgers beating the crap out of Cain for his poor w/l. He got his first career victory against them this season. After playing in the same division as them for 5 years.

Cain is a great pitcher. Unfortunately he plays for the Giants.

"great" as in Oswalt is "greater" than Halladay?

You mean as in Halladay "shitting the bed" in game 1 and Oswalt winning decisively last night? Yes!

Matt Yallof is a great interviewer: "You went from seeing people wearing panda hats to you not being in the lineup. Has this affected your confidence in your head?"

TracyRingolsby
Aaron Rowand in CF in place of Torres for Giants. Rowand hits 8th, Aubrey Huff 6th, Cody Rose 5th and Edgar Renteria 1st. JUuan Urbie at 3B.

Posie at C, Sandlevow on bennch.

I just got back to town and it's freaking cold!

Last week it was like 85F too. Wanted to show off my pimp town to MLB watchers but seriously, picture me shiverin.

Rowand and a banged up Renteria and Uribe, triple threat of fail!

If SF wins this series, the WS could be ugly

Renteria is leading off?

What is the correct stat head approach, looking at the options? Its all garbage save Huff and Posey.

Ben Gibbard natl anthem no joke. sounds like willy nelson strangely

fuck this day game nonsense. what am I supposed to do after work?

watch the rangers-yankees game?

well, this game is moving along

haha I am blind.

Is the Fox feed fritzing out for everyone or is it just my local affiliate?

(Morbs, please don't feel like you have to chime in.)

Rowand.

I'm at work. I am going to watch the last few frames at a gay sports bar in Chelsea.

h8 matt cain

whaaaat

are u shocked bc u expect me to be repping against phillies? i just dont like him personally

he has a crap face and he got kicked out of high school for beating up a retarded kid

Cain graduated from Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, where he earned the nickname "Big Sugar"

clever

he has a crap face and he got kicked out of high school for beating up a retarded kid

― (♥_♥) (roxymuzak), Tuesday, October 19, 2010 4:22 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

lol wait is this true????

Buck just said "the great Cody Ross."

haha

Go Tard Beater!

THE GREAT CODY ROSS

http://idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/rickross.jpg

i think mccarver then called him dave? ross after the hit

yes its true!!

hes from west TN

he actually beat up a retarded kid!!??

In 1998, Matt Cain was suspended from high school for assaulting a special education student.

you're not kidding

im not kidding!

to be fair to matt cain, i was once assaulted by a special education student myself -- now i didn't retaliate for obvious reasons, but some people have different temperaments -- maybe he was just defending himself and it went wrong

Best guess on the Cody Ross's ridiculous, short-sighted new contract... 3 years, 7 per?

i bet you were assaulted by david wright in high school too

Is that true or merely wiki slander from a phan?

whoops!

WHERE MY BEE OK LIVEJOURNAL JERNT AT?

Zoe D doing GoblessAmerica... lollll

god bless america indeed. shit

businessmanlike

Hard to see that outside corner over your bulbous cheek, Raul.

Fuck yeah.

bigleaguestew 'Duk
Giants fans serenading Fox set with chants of "Karros sucks"

2 more!

Cole Hamels on Cody Ross: "He's hitting pitches most normal people can't hit."

"most normal people" is a pretty good description of the giants lineup

Cole Hamels on Cody Ross:

http://www.yorapper.com/Photos/corrections-officier-rick-ross.jpg

Giants radio guys really impressed with Hamels, thought he was really gracious and gentlemanly.

Giants radio guys are terrific

i assume no one is being facetious.. i had them on the mlb app broadcast. agreed they are great announcers tho i question their repeated usage of "ownage".

why is it that Matt Cain always seems to outpitch his peripherals but every year is going to be Ricky Nolasco's big year?

if Gibbard and Deschanel today, surely we can expect Devendra in the Series

lol morbs i made that same joke to a friend via text ^_^

hi5

lol!

roxy are you from the memphis metropolitan area?

HELL no

rox, you have to separate star performers from whatever kind of hideous ppl they may be when they walk among us.

i was told by ILB to take a time out, even if i feel like i know what i'm talking about.

happy happy JOY JOY

i thought it was sweet that Ben Gibbard opened the show than Zooey Deschanel also gets face time in the seventh inning.

they must be really happy :)

Can't tell who is worse right now: Blanton or Ruiz.

ALL-TIME now means "mostly since 1995"

balk

but incredible sliding tag by renteria. god i hate having to say something good about him.

what is the youngest battery to have pitched in the playoffs?

dunno. trying to think of catchers who were younger than Bench in '70 (23?).

i approve of all references to 'one flap down'

busty

MadBum is looking like the Giants other pitchers tonight

nice throw Rowland, might have saved us the game

mlb.tv totally fucked this inning

Great throw and tag! I was sure that the run would score, I thought they wouldn't even have a play.

i was just thinking that if there was any philly i'd want up to bat in that situation, it's polanco

MadBum is looking like the Giants other pitchers tonight

― Bee OK, Wednesday, October 20, 2010 6:05 PM (22 minutes ago)

Sanchez?

Casilla is looking a lot likehttp://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGright now tbqh.

i showed that to my bf and he said "well did u see the pitch he just threw?"

what a horrible inning, hope the bats wake up to stay in this game

casillas post season stats looking red hot

just what the doctor ordered

Phillies score four, the Giants had to get a least one and they got just the one

LOL Dominic Brown ... it's kind of insulting when someone throws you out underhanded.

next game gonna be a good one, 2 best pitchers

At that point, they had to get at least two. See, by just getting the one, they're still behind. 3<4

NOW they have to get at least one.

crosscrosspost

Ross just golfed that one... *boosh*

what is Francisco doin out there?

Pat the Bat going 1st to 3rd like a champ, whoa.

that was fair ffs

replays showing chalk spittin up

why the hell would you throw anything in the zone in that position? bogggggles the moggles.

this game is giving me a heartattack

not driving in Sandoval in from second with no outs could come back to haunt them. World Series champions don't do that. hope it doesn't cost the Giants in this game.

and now you have Cody Ross up

great game tonight

why is cody ross in blackface

pan-da
pan-da
pan-da
pan-da

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKung Fu Panda vs. Ryan uMadSon

what a matchup

stay down on that ball, ball dude

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKung Fu Panda vs. Ryan uMadSon

^^morbs rolls over in his grave

lol at tim mccarver

cody ross looks like the undertaker out there

sad panda

sheeeeeiiiiitttt

Will Clark has really let himself go.

Idle question since they take 2 minutes between pitches and 5 between half-innings -- has a right-handed batter ever sent one into the cove?

why is roxy making references to wrestling dudes rather than metal dudes

what a surprise, Sandoval hit into yet another inning stopper double play

World Series champions don't do that.

dude, I'm rooting for the Giants to run the table, but they'd be an even weaker champion than the '06 Cardinals.

GIDPPPPPanda!!!

Idle question since they take 2 minutes between pitches and 5 between half-innings -- has a right-handed batter ever sent one into the cove?

― Unfrozen Caveman Board-Lawyer (WmC), Wednesday, October 20, 2010 7:52 PM (49 seconds ago)

once iirc, can't remember specifics tho.

Sandoval should not be playing

bc if a metal dude applies his makeup in that style, he is derided as looking like the undertaker iirc

oic

http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGromohttp://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGromo

shut up Shasta

lol

http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPG

Feel free to make a prediction.

I predict that http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPG will win another game.

― Fartbritz Sootzveti (Steve Shasta), Monday, October 11, 2010 7:52 PM (1 week ago)

i fell extra innings

fell feel

or fell

lol im amped

anyways whoever win tonight will win this whole thing

my prediction

http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPG

http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPG

http://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGgets three outs despite giving up the lead.

take that Shasta!

whoo...how did that happen i didn't put in that pitcher

lol at ILB

pitcher .jep

lol this whole thing is blowing my mind tonight

lol, i can't do anything right tonight!

anyways whoever win tonight will win this whole thing

my prediction

In that case, it's looking like we're on the verge of LIDGE vs WILSON, the closers' war to settle the score.

Advantage: Giants (shades of G4 in last year's WS)

Perfect throw right there on the CS. Huge play.

jsut lollin at SF... bases loaded double plays, their fastest guy getting CS'd by a mile... their offense finds ways to lose games, they give away more outs than any other team I've ever seen.

true

but, they still have that pitching so...

Oswalt up in the pen!

haha

i know this game is that big to win but it is that big where you run out a starter?

though the Giants are using Wilson in the 9th.

I like that you can see the line on Wilson's sideburns where the black dye starts.

WOW

Wswalt is coming in

You're surprised they're using Wilson? It's the most important inning of the series thus far!

I guess this is Oswalt's throwing day, not sure if they would really use him here.

xpost hahah waht

like i have said to JOrdan: the Giants have owned Oswalt this year...

Renteria has been playing SS with a torn bicep? what kind of team is this?

lol and me hitting the W instead of the O for Oswalt in that last post

not sure what kind of team this is and i have been following them all year

xpost

you seem a bit emotional

i believe Renteria said the pain subsided once it completely shorn off.

like i have said to JOrdan: the Giants have owned Oswalt this year...

Didn't Shasta already explode this myth? (checks) yeah, a 3.33 ERA in 27 IP vs the Giants this year. So I have no idea what you're talking about.

I think Bee is going for irony in a post-9/11 world.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

busty

The POZE

NAPOLEON BUSTAMITE

If Ron Washington was the Giants' manager, he would have "eased Posey into the series" by letting him play as a defensive sub in the 8th and 9th innings of Game 2.

what rhymes with Uribe

GID PLAY?

Why you taking it so personally?

well shit

:D :D :D

Say waht, Shasta?

what a moment

sweeeeet

I'm celebrating by beating up a special needs kid now.

roybow

appropriate!

what is with calling posey an old soul

ok now look at the sideburn color and the beard color, obv dyed

feeling bummed thathttp://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGdidn't pick up the win. oh well, there's always 2m.

Lee vs Lincecum in Game 1 of the WS? WE ARE ALL WINNERS.

Red City vs. Blue City?

as a cubs fan i must warn you all

not until the last ball is in the mitt

I need to see tomw night's game in a bar, I can't sit in front of this stuttering stream for 3-1/2 hrs again.

Aaron Rowand, Juan Uribe, and Steve Perry ... it's like 2005 all over again

happy happy j oy joy

i am definitely bummed thathttp://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPGdidn't get a second win. you never know what mccarver might parrot off a stat sheet.

The big 3 in the NLCS:

Roy Halladay (0-1)
Roy Oswalt (1-1)
Cole Hamels (0-1)

My buddy got a hug from Pablo and Sanchez at El Farolito taqueria last night.

wau, which Sanchez?!!?!?!

nohttp://images.chron.com/blogs/askacat/hatcat.JPG

lol I didnt know that was automatic

J-Sanch. I bet Pablo loves them quesadillas.

early halloween? downtown is growing insanely thick with masses of black and orange right now.

if the giants werent my teams most ancient rivals and some of my sf friends werent such dbags about it I would like them more =\

They remind me of the '04 Red Sox, and I mean that positively AND negatively.

they remind me of the 69 mets: light-hitting with a strong 1-2 pitching staff, pulling wins outta there ass.

was paps on the 04 sox? both teams having a successful yet semi-retarded closer...

I just mean in the sense of being a band of yahoos.

Foulke was the closer in '04.

did anyone notable even pick SF to win the NLW?

did you see those jackasses out there celebrating

SF was awfully fun last night.

phillies are good w/ their back to the wall

...

Bochy playing little ball, love it

as opposed to...?

WoW

What's with Utley in this series? He's been sucking offensively and defensively.

giants ~almost~ didn't score with 1st/3rd, no outs.

SF scorer being extremely generous giving Posey a hit on that.

the Giants don't run a lot, so it was nice to see Bochy put on the hit and run there.

xxxpost

I wonder if Utley knew his back was against the wall ;)

Bochy playing little ball, love it

Posey told him he didnt feel like handling all nine lineup slots

haha i dont think he was aware tbh

bochy playing bocce ball

looool

this ump is all over the place so far. doc gettin squeezed imo.

possible bee ok identities:

SI_JonHeyman i know sabremetricians wont like this, but #sfgiants have a lot magic right now

utley playing like kim batiste?

i know Jon Heyman wont like this, but #eatshit right now

xxp nor grammarmaticians (sic)

utley needs some performance subduing drugs like wiid

good at bat for the Panda, he usually swings at everything

why did they just play phantom of the opera

Halladay is really struggling with his command. Could be a rough night for the Phillies.

well, shit

comedy of errors

What a screwed up inning. The Phillies' hitters still haven't had a solid swing against Lincecum.

shouldnt he have run anyway

only like 10% of baseball players actually run plays out

and like 0% of pitchers

.... and there's the first well-hit ball by the Phillies.

someone said he cant run til someone hands him a satin jacket

lol @ ibanez's dip!!!!

The only way Buttley can get on base is via walk or hbp.

Chase Utley = Alexi Casilla

if Halladay runs this game is out of touch.

so Sandoval cost the Giants again by not knowing where the hell third base was.

for Timmy to only give up the three is a good sign.

Halladay has a big pitch count and the game is very young

Utley screws up again!!

Halladay has thrown about 2 more pitches than lil Timmy

Incredible post on the "Ask Bill" section of James's site today (with James's response):

Roy Halladay's nickname is "Doc." Cody Ross hit two home runs to lead the Giants over Halladay. Cody Ross spelled backwards is "Sorry Doc.' How weird.
Asked by: Anonymous
Answered: October 20, 2010

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

texas/sfg would be so cool.

ssory doc

can I make a steers vs queers joke if that happens or is that not cool

"ssorydoc": Hadn't noticed that...pretty close, though!

more like "Doc's Rosy"

the mayor of san francisco is up with risp oh christ

BAWWWWWWWSE

i love that guy

fuckin walk that dude. he has been possessed with the spirit of barry lamar bonds.

stupid

no reason to tag

so unnecessary and typical of giving away outs like free samples

that is so uncool

theres the panda I know and love

Great throw.

lol, shut up mayor

don't think this game will end up with the score of 3-2

Jayson Werth is the most prog-looking baseball player I've ever seen. I'm positive he used to play mellotron for Gentle Giant.

he reminds me of late 90s varg tbh

I want the Phillies to win but man I love watching Lincecum pitch.

BTW I'm watching this in Spanish. It's great. The announcers actually refer to SF as "Los Gigantes"

would you believe that they sometimes wear jerseys with that very name printed across their chest?

(lol, r u from the midwest? sorry)

lol

nice moniker

i know FOX wan't the Phillies but shut the fuck up already. there is another team playing

seems like FOX wants THE RAIN to make the world series, what with how much they're talking about it right?

lol, i know i go overboard at times.

hey i haven't been here since 2003, enjoying this ride like no other.

did i hear the Khachaturian Sabre Dance being used as rally music?

can someone print up some BASWETOBER shirts

er, BAWSETOBER

it has never happened in San Francisco, so this is big.

even though i don't live there anymore, i have taken this team with me.

hey i haven't been here since 2003, enjoying this ride like no other.

― Bee OK, Thursday, October 21, 2010 6:34 PM (1 minute ago)

y'all haven't been

here

haha! oof

i was at that pudge game -- dope stuff

error by our right fielder, will never forget. the Giants never recovered from that one error.

anyways it would means so much to the city because it will happen without Mr Bonds in the lineup.

when i said "here" i oblivious meant the playoffs

what the fuck does that "line" even mean

yes:

http://yfrog.com/7559932747j

just a bit short tonight

way to chase that ball in the dirt

what the fuck does that "line" even mean

y'all haven't been

here
since 2002 dawgglez. marlins fired off three in a row in the 03 nlds. pew pew pew!

so i was talking about that from Shasta.

yeah Bonds is the reason why they didn't make it in 2003, not Dustan Mohr, not Jose Cruz Jr, not Jason Schmidt, not Kurt Rueter, not Joe Nathan...

nah i was talking about what mccarver said on tv

just what the doctor ordered

Here's why the NL sucks ... if Uribe had reached base last inning, then the Giants are down 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth with the pitcher coming up. You have to pinch-hit for Lincecum, there's no other choice. There's absolutely no pitching-related reason for him to leave the game, but he has to leave the game. Does this make for better baseball? And it's not like the Giants can send up a left-handed power hitter to pinch hit for Lincecum against a struggling Halladay, which would make for actual suspense and intrigue and stuff, because they don't have anyone like that. Because it's the NL, and most teams don't carry those sorts of Thome/Stairs types of hitters who can make things interesting with one swing.

Good thing Uribe struck out and let Bochy off the hook.

fortune smiles

Now enough about baseball, let's watch this woman wearing a house on her head.

choices & strategy make for better baseball, yes

and how about these two somewhat disappointing matchups of Cys?

love the hat

No, good pitchers facing good hitters make for better baseball!

xpost

NL games are shorter, therefore they are better

I'm totally with NoTime on the DH. Of course, I'm in an AL city. But as James has shown, it's not strategy if everybody does the same programmatic moves. I know--another thread...

To answer your question, Morbs, I think Lincecum pitched about as well as he did in Game 1, Halladay really battled out there but somehow left with the lead. Game 1 was a draw, but Lincecum definitely outpitched Doc today. Neither guy pitched like a Cy Young winner, but both guys were still pretty good. Just because neither guy was dominant doesn't mean you have to be disappointed with the matchup.

Here's why the AL sucks:

MLB
Rules And Regulations
1.01
Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.

I wonder how Lincecum would have fared tonight with a league average defense.

Oh no--every AL game since '73 has been in flagrant contravention of the rules. How did they ever get away with this?

The Giants have hit a lot of line drives right at Phillie infielders tonight.

this has been a good game, almost feel like the Giants were the better team as of now but the scoreboard doesn't reflect that

the giants entire bullpen is dudes with shitty castro beards

lol @ belly woppin'

the giants entire bullpen is dudes with shitty castro beards

― (♥_♥) (roxymuzak), Thursday, October 21, 2010 10:29 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

At first I thought you meant the gay neighborhood, Roxy! LMAO!

those Castro beards are different

not really tbqh

it's time to put this away!

...says Ryan uMadSon

last time I was in the Castro most of the bears were shaving anyway

I somehow didn't notice (until right now) that the Phillies shuffled their lineup again, with Utley and Howard batting 3-4. Seeing as they were just shut down by Lopez, that decision could cost the Phillies the game if the Giants come back in the bottom of the eighth.

Although the real problem is probably Utley and Howard sucking balls today and looking totally lost at the plate and in the field.

Robusty Pees

Besty Poseur

Bustey Prose

Bus Eyeports

Cody Ross backwards = uGotMadSonned

Betsy Prouse

so it's just not the night

won't be the first time i was turned down

dude, jesus christ, it's not about you

They're just not that into you.

Trying to get info on the RH cove shots for you WmC

only the 33rd RH homerun to RF according to Jon Miller on the radio

I looked at wiki last night but I couldn't ID any RH batters off the top of my head.

lol, glad i can bring some comic relief

Now we know why RamRam was DFA'd by Boston. RIP duder.

Bruchy leaving him, vultures circling, lots of salty facepaint tonight.

LIDGE

Lidge's career splits at AT&T:

ERA 0.00
WHIP 1.17
BAA .190

mistake mistake mistake

Six innings, yes.

xpost

Sandoval needs to sit next game, without his miscues than this game has a whole different feel to it

the Giants only need one out of three

now out of two and they have Sanchez next, feel good about that match up

I expect both series to go 7 and fuck up my weekend.

Still looking for the Giants to win. But feel very uneasy about returning to Philadelphia.

the Giants only need one out of three

― Bee OK, Thursday, October 21, 2010 8:13 PM (55 seconds ago)

uh...

Wow, Rosenthal must be 5'4"

keep reading Shasta

hard to keep up tbqh

At least it ended before 30 Rock.

Something that bothers me about this is that Bruchy in the pre-game said they were gonna play like this was game 7 of the World Series... which leaves a lot to be desired, even from a management standpoint, ie leaving a cooked and ineffective RamRam in wayyyy too long for example. Doesn't look good.

Phils are saying Halladay has strained groin and is day-to-day.

That happened during the first inning. Wow.

Anyone actually think the G-Men were gonna pull this off tonight? I'm going to be a nervous, drunken mess this weekend.

Make that the second inning.

want to kill everybody on my facebook feed for spelling everything with "ph"

M** W***** Phightins back in Philly. Lets go Phils, do work.

L****** G***** Ya gotta keep the Phaith

Six years since both LS went to six or more games.

wow. that's really interesting.

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
OK, let's get this on the record: I am 5-foot-4 1/2 - and don't forget the half! EVERY player is taller than me - some more than others!

fully expecting SF to blow this now. If it wasn't for Lee I'd expect the same of Texas.

Neyer:

's a trade-off, defense for offense, and generally speaking it's worth making. Well worth making. In this game, it wasn't. With another first baseman and another third baseman, the Giants probably win. Which is obvious to everyone in the world, now. Nobody could have known it when Bruce Bochy was making out his lineup. Including Bruce Bochy.

He didn't do anything wrong. Now he just needs to resist the temptation to overreact and send his hitters to the bench in Philadelphia.

I've got a huge bro-crush on Halladay and all that, but if he'd been lit up while pitching hurt and the Giants won the series, then the Phillies would be looking really dumb right about now. At what point do you draw the line and not risk the season because of some macho bullshit?

A fairly recent comparison would be Schilling in Game 1 of the ALCS ... sure, nobody remembers the series for what happened in that game, but at the time it looked pretty bad, the Red Sox lost the game because their best pitcher was hurt, and it looked like he wouldn't be pitching again that year. I'm sure Schilling said he felt OK and could gut it out. Halladay could have been lit up too.

Anyway, I'm glad I didn't have to make this kind of decision.

Well it was a 'minor groin strain' and he only gave up 2 runs.. So you cant be too mad..

Also I dont get what Neyer is trying to say.. Why would Bochy do anything with Huff? Third base is a revolving door and can continue to be, but first? Only other 1Bman on the Giants is Ishikawa and if you move Huff to LF what do you do with Burrell? Also its Bochy we're talking about, not some lunatic like Joe Torre. hehe

he's saying that Ishikawa is their best defensive 1b, but that's not enough reason to play him over Huff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/5940/this-time-giants-trade-off-betrays-them

Giants radio guys put it in perspective last night for fans who panicked after losing 4-2 to Doc on some shoddy defense:

They'd take a split in Philly, which they did.
Then they'd take 2 of 3 at home, which they also did.
No biggie.

I can see that point, shrug.

Who had the better Game Score last night by the way, I forgot to check...

They'd take a split in Philly, which they did.
Then they'd take 2 of 3 at home, which they also did.

tru, but it always feels worse when you've lost the most recent one

Momentum, yeah--does that have any place in the VORP universe? I'd feel a lot better about San Francisco's chances right now if a) they'd taken game 5 instead of game 4, and b) if they still had Lincecum in reserve (even though he hasn't been at his sharpest, and Sanchez and Cain both pitched very well).

Momentum is what Earl Weaver said

(even though Lincecum hasn't been at his sharpest, and Sanchez and Cain both pitched very well).

orly

Timmay NLCS:
Game 1 : 7IP, 6H, 8K/3BB, 3 ER
Game 5: 7IP, 4H, 7K/1BB, 2 ER

Sanchez NLCS:
Game 2: 6IP, 5H, 7K/3BB, 2 ER

Game Scores from NLCS game 5:
Halladay: 55
Lincecum: 65

I just meant at his sharpest in the context of who Lincecum is...unless that's the point you're making. I can't tell if you're disagreeing with me because you think Lincecum was pretty sharp, or if you're saying that Sanchez pitched as well or better than he did. Both are true. But given the choice, I'd still rather have a fresh Lincecum than a fresh Sanchez or Cain.

What did Weaver say? I'm guessing it was a suggestion ast o where you can put momentum, and that there was at least one colorful four-letter word.

i dunno if the statistics bear it out but the idea of 'momentum' doesn't really hold up logically to me. it's just another of those magical unquantifiable forces that sportswriters fall back on to support opinions / predictions / etc when they don't have enough tangible evidence to talk about

if it shows up in the statistical record it's probably because teams that win consecutive games were a bit more likely to be the better team in the first place based on the initial win, plus teams who are losing will tend to be in worse shape bullpen-wise

I'm not sure. In terms of cold hard logic it doesn't make sense, any more than you'd say flipping three heads in a row increases your chances of a fourth. But then I think of things like the 2004 Red Sox, and a million other examples. Psychologically, probably the players themselves could give the best answer. (Except that you're all going to tell me "What do players know?"!)

if the 2004 red sox are evidence of momentum at work then shouldn't the 2004 yankees be equal evidence against? i suppose you'd need a rigorous definition of 'momentum' before you can attempt to study anything related to it

Good point--it's a zero-sum concept. The 2004 Yankees proved that momentum was real...up to the point when they proved it wasn't real.

"I don't believe in momentum. You could be on a five-game winning streak and then run into Nolan Ryan, who will take care of your momentum by giving up no hits."

more commonly rendered as
"Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher."

otm

"I don't believe in momentum. You could be on a five-game winning streak and then run into Nolan Ryan, who will take care of your momentum by giving up no hits."

but how many walks lol

http://30fps.mocksession.com/NOLANLOL.gif

so i just read on-line that FOX is changing the game time to a night game now that the AL game is no longer on tomorrow.

now first pitch is going to be closer to 5PM Pacific Time.

http://30fps.mocksession.com/RONYAYO.gif

Klaw (1:02 PM)

So in 2008, the Giants gave Buster Posey what was (temporarily, at least) the highest bonus figure any player received in that draft, slightly over $6 million. I think it's fair to say that they've already received twice that much value in return, and they still have six more years of control, three at the minimum salary. Just remember that the next time you hear some anonymous owner or GM or scouting director claim that what the draft really needs is hard slotting, because even with the current system of slot "recommendations," it's clear today that Posey got hosed.

Because of course, every first round pick in baseball is guaranteed to pan out.

Which isn't to say that I think hard slotting is the solution, but the idea that Posey got "hosed" is silly.

Jeff (Boston)

Point taken about slotting, but of course, Posey is far beyond what would be typical return on investment.

Klaw (1:32 PM)

I think there are 2-3 guys in every draft like that, and they get screwed the most. But probably a dozen guys per year would get significantly more if they were free agents, and the draft hurts them the most. I'm not talking about second-round picks - I'm talking about premium guys. Harper gets double his bonus if he's a free agent this past June.

Yeah, I skimmed through the chat after posting. Still not buying that anyone got "screwed" here.

I don't think it's silly at all. The draft and way in which pre-free agency baseball is designed to suppress salaries. Even if Posey signs away his arbitration years for $40M guaranteed tomorrow, his total payout for the next six years is going to be significantly less than it would have been if he'd been able to declare free agency. And if he blows one or both of his knees out before the end of those years he may never get another payday.

"Because of course, every first round pick in baseball is guaranteed to pan out."

Of course they aren't, but hard slotting treats, exceptional talents like Posey or Strasburg and let's say less exceptional talents like Luke Hochevar the EXACT same way. I'm fine with letting the market decide which of these players has the most value.

Look at it this way: when a guy performs above expectations, he's not "screwed" if he's making less than he's worth. Did the Giants screw, say, Aubrey Huff too? He signed a one-year deal for $3M, which was reasonable market value, now he's presumably worth more. Do the Giants owe him a few million dollars now?

The true value of a draft pick is about a million times more unpredictable than that of established big leaguers like Huff.

The problem is that Posey didn't perform above expectations. He and Teixeira and Strasburg and Prior, etc, all received the bonuses they got because they were perceived (rightly in each of these cases) as being "sure things". Now anything could have happened and they could have underperformed or flamed out, sure. But the fact is the teams that signed them were able to take advantage of their status to sign them for significantly less than they would have been able to command on the open market.

Except that the team has to assume the risk of signing these guys, and knowing that they might not get much of a return. And considering that predicting who will eventually become a star is an imperfect science (and WAY more unpredictable than signing a free agent who's already in MLB), I don't know how anyone can say with certainty that any draft pick got hosed when he signs for that kind of money.

I'm thinking of the math in this way: maybe 20% of high draft picks turn out to be stars and would be worth 6/40 on the open market (these numbers obv aren't meant to be exact). The other 80% don't pan out and are worth basically zero. The expected value of these players is then about 0.2 * 40M = 8M. Which is what Posey signed for. The team assumes all the risk here.

I'm not saying that I love the way the draft is currently run, in fact, I don't even pay close attention to the draft in most years. But I do know that it's nearly impossible to put a true dollar value on baseball draft picks, even guys who are drafted out of college, compared to football and basketball players.

0.2 * 40M = 8M. Which is what Posey signed for (approximately)

"Except that the team has to assume the risk of signing these guys, and knowing that they might not get much of a return."

But that risks always exists.

"and WAY more unpredictable than signing a free agent who's already in MLB"

But with a much greater return if you are right! Also some guys are easier to predict greatness for than others. Shouldn't these outliers be compensated accordingly?

I actually think the draft should be dismantled completely and everything should be open market (the same as it is for international players) and that some other method be used to slant the field towards weaker teams (more money with the condition that you use it on player development or scouting? beats me?) since the draft is already obviously imperfect at doing that anyway I can't imagine this would be much worse.

"I don't know how anyone can say with certainty that any draft pick got hosed when he signs for that kind of money."

Look at the way guys like A-Rod, Justin Upton, Posey, Teixeira, Beckett, Prior, Strasburg, etc, got talked about when they got drafted. There is hyperbole involved, but in general these players were universally loved by scouts, GMs, everyone. That's why their bonuses ended up being as high as they were. I can almost guarantee that the success rate for players who were rewarded bonus 1.5 or whatever x the slot is actually very high (excepting injury--which can happen to anyone--and idiocy--which is maybe slightly more likely to happen to young kids). Baseball is not that the inefficient at recognizing talent like that.

I actually think the draft should be dismantled completely and everything should be open market (the same as it is for international players)

I definitely agree that it's dumb to have a draft for domestic players and a totally unregulated FA market for foreign players.

Just because I was curious, I decided to see how things panned out for the players in the first round of the 2005 draft. No particular reason for picking 2005, but five years is enough time for a first round pick to have worked his way into MLB and to get a good idea on whether he'll be a star or not.

Out of 48 picks, I count just 11 guys who are stars or are still widely believed to be star-quality players (Upton, Zimmerman, Braun, Romero, Tulo, McCutchen, Bruce, Ellsbury, Garza, Rasmus, Buchholz). Obviously there's some subjectivity in those picks (e.g. I didn't include Alex Gordon, nobody really knows if he's already a lost cause, I say yes), but 11/48 is about 20%. It could be less, depending on what you consider a "star" -- for instance, Upton isn't developing as quickly as a lot of people thought, and he regressed this year.

However, seven of those guys were picked in the top 12, so it's true that the really "can't miss" guys are less risky than most (just based on this one particular year, anyway).

"I didn't include Alex Gordon, nobody really knows if he's already a lost cause, I say yes."

Yeah Alex Gordon is obv a case where the scouts/GMs/everyone was wrong. In those folks defense a bit though, the Royals appear to have not helped his development at all.

Easy on the Strasburg optimism. Dude went to the DL 2x this year: forearm (flexor tendon?) and then torn UCL.

Upton got a $6.1M bonus btw. Whether you think he's currently a star or not (he's clearly not a once in a generation A-Rod type player) he's put up respectable to excellent #s for the past three years and is still only 23.

xp Injuries can happen to anyone.

Esp. any pitcher.

TNSTAAPP

Yes, but Strasburg isn't APP. He is a pitcher. Pitchers get hurt. That's part of the risk of signing pitchers to long term contracts.

Another thing I'd like to point out is that a lot of the "ohmigod what if they aren't actually good or they get hurt" stuff could be alleviated by being more creative with contracts. Tying them performance, appearances, etc. Also making part of the salary non-guaranteed and add a $ amount for non-tendering the player (bet the Giants wish they'd done something like that with Barry Zito).

I wonder how much Chapman would've been paid over slot value had he been in the draft.

2005 was a particularly strong draft class though

people are saying 2011 is gonna be one of the strongest in recent history so it should be interesting to see if bonuses are any higher across the board to reflect that. i've read prospect dudes saying that a 2nd round draft pick next year might be equivalent to what a first round was this year in terms of talent

"I wonder how much Chapman would've been paid over slot value had he been in the draft."

Less than Strasburg, I am sure.

alex has been otm

Dont alot of these guys eventually get overpaid for their 'decline years' when they sign multi-year FA contracts once their 6 yrs of team control are up? For some people it evens out..

don't they get paid millions of dollars even if they're average?

Don't the owners make billions of dollars even if they suck shit like Jeffrey Loria and should be eaten by wolves?

Dave Campbell on ESPN Radio just stole roxy's "backs to the wall" line

Sanchez has been nowhere close to the strike zone so far.

Maybe next year.

I think I don't really care who wins this series, but I really want to see a Game 7 in this year's playoffs.

Through a where-is-he-going Utley

Excellent third-base coaching there.

wtf is this ♥

looking fwd to at least one crucial error by R-How at 1B

― kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, October 6, 2010 11:06 AM

wrong series, but oh well

error changed from R-How to Polanco, fuck that

I'd say that the Giants should bring in a new pitcher, but they really need to keep his bat in the lineup.

STFU Sanchez

Throw one strike, Sanchez.

chase said "what's bullshit?"

some grease must have filtered into Utley's brain if he think he's being hit on purpose there

what, did Sanchez talk first? radio guys dont know

i dont think he thought that; yea i didnt see a shot of it but it seems p clear utley was only answering sanchez

utley flipped the ball back to Sanchez who said 'thats bullshit'

d-cell battery time

Apparently Utley showed poor post-beaning etiquette there.

giants playing their brand off butthurt baseball.

Yay first-pitch strike.

Must be one of those unwritten rules:

If you are hit with a pitch, and the ball bounces off the dirt in such a fashion that you are able to catch it, you must either a.) not catch it or b.) politely roll it toward someone other than the pitcher.

giants playing their brand off butthurt baseball.

― mayor jingleberries

^^^ idle Dodgers fan.

fwiw I don't think anyone on the Giants actually likes Sanchez on a personal level.

jayson werth looks like a truck thief

hah idle dodger fan yeah but the giants bitch about a ton of bullshit all the time. exhibit a: whining about the humidor all throughout august and september

My wife: "why is the Giants pitcher so upset???!!? He just threw the ball back to him. These guys lose it over nothing."

baseball radge is the most hilarious radge in sports

hell of a catch!

It wasn't that great.

was that a screwball

A dead squirrel

The Giants are having some amazing at-bats vs Oswalt.

a bloop single worthy of a former mvp

How did Rollins not score?

good bounce of the wall - he would have been out by 30 feet

maybe he got a bad read in the air. not that likely w/ a ball in left center tho

Two outs though, you'd think he'd be running on contact?

Anyway, WHEW.

He did run on contact but the carom was perfect and Torres got the ball in quickly.

oh right forgot there were 2 out

CODY ROSS YOU BEAUTIFUL MAN.

INTENT INTENT INTENT.

Renteria is no Derek Jeter. But then again, who is?

hahaha nice try renteria