Miscellaneous Stuff

[Heathbar012]

When did they get Matt Cain?

As of right now (considering the careers), Clayton Kershaw is a better pitcher than Matt Cain. At the end of this season, maybe not... but Matt Kemp got jobbed out of his MVP last year. That was more of the point that I was trying to make. The Dodgers were a third-place team last year with the CY and MVP (in my opinion), and they improved their team in the off-season (if only by getting Ethier back and strengthening the rotation). Then, MLB added two more playoff spots.

 

[msgkings322]

As of right now (considering the careers), Clayton Kershaw is a better pitcher than Matt Cain. At the end of this season, maybe not... but Matt Kemp got jobbed out of his MVP last year. That was more of the point that I was trying to make. The Dodgers were a third-place team last year with the CY and MVP (in my opinion), and they improved their team in the off-season (if only by getting Ethier back and strengthening the rotation). Then, MLB added two more playoff spots.

I was kidding re Cain vs Kershaw (maybe not as you say this year), hence the silly fish-slapping smiley.

Totally agree with your breakdown of LA, that's why I figured they'd be tough all year after they got out to that good start.

 

[Heathbar012]

I was kidding re Cain vs Kershaw (maybe not as you say this year), hence the silly fish-slapping smiley.

Totally agree with your breakdown of LA, that's why I figured they'd be tough all year after they got out to that good start.

I knew you were kidding. I was just hoping to finally nip this "No one saw this coming" storyline in the bud. You know what is actually surprising to me about this season? The Rockies utter collapse into obscurity. The Phillies collapse is at least a little more understanding with all the improvements that almost every team in their division made in the offseason (and yes, gp, I know you vaguely predicted this).

The "No one saw this coming" storyline would have only worked if the Padres were winning as much as the Dodgers (like they did in 2010) or the Astros somehow avoided losing 90 games (not likely). The Dodgers were certainly an underdog for the playoffs, but they were always in the discussion. Now, the Washington Nationals, on the other hand...

 

[calsnowskier]

I knew you were kidding. I was just hoping to finally nip this "No one saw this coming" storyline in the bud. You know what is actually surprising to me about this season? The Rockies utter collapse into obscurity. The Phillies collapse is at least a little more understanding with all the improvements that almost every team in their division made in the offseason (and yes, gp, I know you vaguely predicted this).

The "No one saw this coming" storyline would have only worked if the Padres were winning as much as the Dodgers (like they did in 2010) or the Astros somehow avoided losing 90 games (not likely). The Dodgers were certainly an underdog for the playoffs, but they were always in the discussion. Now, the Washington Nationals, on the other hand...

Ahem...

I predicted the Nats would be "the surprise team" this year, thank you very much...

 

[gp956]

LOL

 

[gp956]

Aaron Rowand returns to baseball...............
.
.
.
.
.
.
....in the broadcast booth. Will provide color for the Whitesox this weekend. I wonder if he'll tell the story of how AT&T ruined his career?

 

[msgkings322]

Aaron Rowand returns to baseball...............
.
.
.
.
.
.
....in the broadcast booth. Will provide color for the Whitesox this weekend. I wonder if he'll tell the story of how AT&T ruined his career?

Got him some nice new jewelry though!

 

[calsnowskier]

Got him some nice new jewelry though!

And a cool motorcycle, and a new home, and a new retirement plan, and a...



F'n Douche bag...

 

[gp956]

Giving Up on Justin Smoak

Nice article at USS Mariner showing that the door to Justin Smoak career is closing. 1000 AB now, and not showing much of any offensive production. Well reasoned article worth a read on it's own, but also interesting to Giants fans because quite few out there wanted Smoak over Posey.

 

[calsnowskier]

Giving Up on Justin Smoak

Nice article at USS Mariner showing that the door to Justin Smoak career is closing. 1000 AB now, and not showing much of any offensive production. Well reasoned article worth a read on it's own, but also interesting to Giants fans because quite few out there wanted Smoak over Posey.

I don't know that a lot were saying "Smoak OVER Posey", more of a "Smoak, if Posey is not available", or "If we are going to play Posey at 1B, go Smoak instead"...

Smoak looked like a Tex-type player coming out of the draft...

 

[gp956]

I don't know that a lot were saying "Smoak OVER Posey", more of a "Smoak, if Posey is not available", or "If we are going to play Posey at 1B, go Smoak instead"...

Smoak looked like a Tex-type player coming out of the draft...

Really? I remember a lot of angst and Sabean bashing when the Giants took a catcher over a corner infielder. Because, you know, we had this young phenom catcher in Pablo Sandoval who was tearing up A+ and AA at the time. I'm not saying that the "complainers" were dominate, but there were a lot. Probably depends on where you were hanging out at the time.

 

[calsnowskier]

Really? I remember a lot of angst and Sabean bashing when the Giants took a catcher over a corner infielder. Because, you know, we had this young phenom catcher in Pablo Sandoval who was tearing up A+ and AA at the time. I'm not saying that the "complainers" were dominate, but there were a lot. Probably depends on where you were hanging out at the time.

I am going from memory. This was the way that I remember reading the temperature on that pick at the time. My own feelings at the time may have influenced how I read others' opinions. There was a lot of talk about Smoak pre-draft because few thought Posey would be available at 5. When he ended up dropping, I think there was a lot of comparison because Smoak would have likely been the pick if Posey had not dropped.

I may also have filtered the opinions through my BS mesh...

 

[gp956]

I am going from memory. This was the way that I remember reading the temperature on that pick at the time. My own feelings at the time may have influenced how I read others' opinions. There was a lot of talk about Smoak pre-draft because few thought Posey would be available at 5. When he ended up dropping, I think there was a lot of comparison because Smoak would have likely been the pick if Posey had not dropped.

I may also have filtered the opinions through my BS mesh...

A lot of people put stock in this late report just before the Giants picked:

Bryan Smith (11:37:58 AM PT): Before the Giants pick, let me say that I think Justin Smoak is a better fit for this organization than Posey. Steven alluded to it a bit earlier—they need absolute impact bats. I like Buster Posey a ton, and I think he’s a sure-fire Major Leaguer. But absolute best case scenario is probably late 90s Jason Kendall, and we’ve all seen the other comparisons thrown around. Smoak has the potential to lead the Major Leagues in home runs and win Gold Gloves. Position scarcity shouldn’t concern a Giants team that is weak at every position offensively.

 

[gp956]

..and then the Giants picked Posey.......

FUCK YOU YOU FUCKIN' SHITHEAD MOTHERFUCKER.

yeah why take 30-40 hr a year potentially when u can have 8 and be "solid up the middle!""

posey is not the name of a major leaguer

And Buster is something you name your dog.

so fucking bummed.

doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed

Move over Jackson Williams .. you’ve got company

Not only did we just draft the guy with the lowest ceiling of the top 10, we also took the guy asking for $12 million.

So we took the equivelant of late 90’s Jason Kendall, which will turn into the worthless piece of shit that is Jason Kendalls rotting corpse now. This team ceases to amaze me. Nice going Sabean.

So this is what it feels like to be a Pirates fan—I don’t like it.

You guys
did not seriously think they would take a sluggin’ 1B, did you?
After pitching, pitching, and more pitching – up the middle defense.

FUK
y would u take a fuking catch who hits .280 15 hr 70 rbi’s over a 1b who hits ,275 40 hr 120 rbi’s!!!!! im on the edge of tears

Go take a swim in the ocean Buster

What about Sandoval?
I thought they had hopes for him. Does this mean no?

 

[msgkings322]

Just shows what a crapshoot baseball drafts are. Even the experts (like Bryan Smith) don't have much of a clue unless you have a no-doubt kind of talent (Strasburg, Harper, Trout...going back further A-Rod, Bonds, Griffey Jr, etc)

And those message board whines were priceless.

I think that's what separates a good board from a lousy one. On the dumdum ones, everyone is so damn sure of their wild ass guesses, and so vitriolic when 'idiots' like Sabean and Bochy don't do what they shoulda done, according to the same dumdums.

I guess that's the world we're in, 24/7 coverage, internet forums, etc. In the old days you followed your team, had no idea what was going on in the minors, or even on other teams. You rooted and then went about your life.

Now it's a full time job to be an idiot fan.

 

[gp956]

Just shows what a crapshoot baseball drafts are. Even the experts (like Bryan Smith) don't have much of a clue unless you have a no-doubt kind of talent (Strasburg, Harper, Trout...going back further A-Rod, Bonds, Griffey Jr, etc)

And those message board whines were priceless.

I think that's what separates a good board from a lousy one. On the dumdum ones, everyone is so damn sure of their wild ass guesses, and so vitriolic when 'idiots' like Sabean and Bochy don't do what they shoulda done, according to the same dumdums.

I guess that's the world we're in, 24/7 coverage, internet forums, etc. In the old days you followed your team, had no idea what was going on in the minors, or even on other teams. You rooted and then went about your life.

Now it's a full time job to be an idiot fan.

Dunning-Kruger Effect.

 

[gp956]

Whoa.......Nostradamus:

From Keith Law, ESPN, on Smoak...

This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He’s a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers’ ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did.

Well that explains why he wasn’t picked sooner. They’re comparing him to some chick name Adrian

The Rangers had Adrian…then they traded him. Is this a do over?

Maybe the Rangers will trade away Smoak for a crappy starter and a reliever!

Two years later Smoak is traded to the Mariners for a starter and a reliever.

 

[gp956]

....and Sabean gets the last word on Posey:

“He’s far more advanced than he gets credit for by people who have no business evaluating him,” Sabean said.

 

[tzill]

Really? I remember a lot of angst and Sabean bashing when the Giants took a catcher over a corner infielder. Because, you know, we had this young phenom catcher in Pablo Sandoval who was tearing up A+ and AA at the time. I'm not saying that the "complainers" were dominate, but there were a lot. Probably depends on where you were hanging out at the time.

Honeypot or diction error? You're THAT crafty...

 

[gp956]

Honeypot or diction error? You're THAT crafty...

Diction error..........maybe :charlie: