The 2012 World Series

Game 1 -  Giants 8 Tigers 3

Vida Blue said it best after the first game, " I don't believe what I saw."  Duane Kuiper said if the game was played on paper the Giants didn't have a chance.  This was confirmed by Vegas betting odds.  If you bet $100 on the Giants to win you would have won $155.  If you bet on the Tigers you needed to put up $165. in order to win $100.

The headlines read 'Panda-Monium' - Pablo Sandoval added his name to baseball mortals Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson  and Albert Pujols to be the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game. One of the post game programs showed video of Babe Ruth hitting a home run  and I could not believe that he almost looked anorexia compared to Pablo.   Other Giant stars were Zito for great pitching and the automatic rbi machine Marcos Scutaro.


Game 2 -  Giants 2 Tigers 0

The unsung heroes of game 2 were the Giant pitching coaches Dave Righetti and Mark Gardner who have worked with Bumgardner over the past couple of weeks to straighten out his pitching mechanics.  The results seven innings of shut out ball.  Looks like the Giants in four!


Game 3 -  Giants 2 Tigers 0

It took the shut out pitching of Vogelsong, Lincecum and Romo a couple to timely hits by Blanco and Crawford in order for the Giants to take a commanding three game lead in the World Series.


Game 4 -  Giants 4  Tigers 3  (10 innings)

World Champions!  Marcos Scutaro did it again getting the key rbi two out single to knock in Theriot with the winning run.  How many times has he done it?  Posey just like in Cincinnati hit a key home run in the sixth inning and Belt's triple got the Giants on the board early in the second inning.  Cain pitched a solid seven innings to keep the Giants even.  Jermy Affeldt struck out the Tiger 3, 4 and 5 hitters in the eighth inning and Romo struck out the side in the tenth to preserve the win.  Romo is no Wilson --- He retires the side 1, 2, 3.

Homer Sweeney 

Natonal League Champions!

I never anticipated the Giants winning the NL race this year.  I was one of those who believed that the lack of power would eventually catch up with them.  Instead it was a stroke of genius by Brian Sabean to trade for Marcus Scutaro who continually drove in runs as he hit the cover off the ball for the Giants.

Homer Sweeney

Comments and Opinions

The Giants took two out of three from the D'Backs while preparing for the post season play.  The win on Thursday was unusual because the Giants hit three home runs which seldom happens on this club.  This blog was wrong to believe that the Giants lack of power would eventually be their downfall.

We wondered why Belt was not playing left field during these last games since the NL West title has been assured. He started in left on Thursday and misplayed two balls that Blanco probably would have caught which will most likely eliminated him from playing that position in the playoffs.  The Giants will miss his bat when Sanchez catches and Posey plays first. . . Lincecum next start probably against San Diego this weekend will determine if he will be on the playoff roster. . . Only Bud Selig could pull this one off and it is the reason why he makes about $20 million being commissioner.  The teams with the best records will be at a big disadvantage because they have to play their first two games on the road.  Never before has this happened.  This is the result of adding a second wild card team just before the start of the season.  There is no question that this addition has increased interest and revenue for the teams involved.  But at what price?  The decision was made because money comes first while the integrity of the game what is left of it suffers.

Homer Sweeney

The NFL Lies Again

The National Football League is a joke.  The NFL agreeing with the call last night shows that instant replay should be eliminated. The replacement refs blew the call and will take all the blame.  Remember however regular NFL officials are in the replay booth and they really blew it!

Homer Sweeney

Giants Win

Congratulations to the Giants -  The first step winning the West in the National League has been accomplished with still 1 1/2 weeks to go in the season.  This gives the team time to settle on their playoff roster and to get their pitching rotation in order. The Giants will either play the Nationals or the Reds in the first round.  Both teams took five of six from the Giants during the season.  The Giants now have a different look with Pagan and Scutaro at the top of the order and Pence in right field.  This blog would suggest playing Belt in left field during a few of these last regular season games to see how it might work when Sanchez catches and Posey plays first.

Homer Sweeney

49ers Lose

The first two weeks the 49ers pushed the Packers and Lions all over the field.  Today the Vikings gave it back to the 'Niners big time.  The game wasn't even close.  The offense was almost non existent as it seems as if the Forty Niners were starting to get too big headed for their own good.

Homer Sweeney

Don't Listen to Me!

The Giants swept four games from a very inept Colorado Rockies team and combined with Dodger losses the Giants magic number is now three.  This blog suggested that the Giants bench over weight Sandoval for Arias.  Sandoval is benched for a game returns to the line up and starts hitting home runs again which is just what the Giants needed. Save some for the playoff, Pablo!

Homer Sweeney

Magic Number Gets Smaller!

The Giants took two of three from the D'Backs to complete a very successful road trip to Colorado and Arizona where they won four of six games combined with a few more Dodger losses dropped their magic number to  nine.  The Giants are planning on wrapping up the NL West on their upcoming ten game home stand.  Although the Giants are not great at home they should win enough games combined with Dodger losses to win the west before  playing their final six regular season games on the road.

Comments - You may have noticed Francisco Pequero at the plate during yesterdays game. He swings at just about every pitch and most of the time misses.  He is #5 Giant  prospect and #2 outfielder behind Gary Brown.  Maybe he can't hit but he is fast.  The Giants have a habit of drafting outfielders who can run but the question is can they hit.  They need  outfielders that hit like the catchers they draft. . . After benching "Fatty" Sandoval for a game he was back in the lineup in Arizona.  He responded with three hits but then promptly went hit less the rest of the series.  The thought is the Giants cannot win without Fatty.  I had the same thought in 2010 but I was wrong and maybe the Giants are wrong now. . .  Runzler was given an opportunity to show what he could do Sunday and promptly allowed two batters to get on base.  He has really regressed in the last three  years.   Machi looked good for an inning yesterday but last week when the pressure was on he came in and failed to do the job.  Bochy can count on about ten pitchers of his nineteen man staff a batter out.

The 49ers beat the Lions Sunday.  Why was the game so close when the 49er dominated the Lions?  Poor 3rd down calling early in the game resulted in field goals rather than touchdowns.  

Homer Sweeney

It's 2010 Again?

The Giants took two of three from the Rockies but we're not sure it's 2010 again.  It is however 2010 for Pablo Sandoval.  His errors and lack of clutch hitting cost the Giants their game against Colorado on Monday.  Finally by Wednesday Bochy benched him for Arias.  Let Arias play third until he shows he can't.  Giants take a 7 game lead into their three game series with the D'Backs.

A Great Weekend

The Giants took two of three from the Dodgers to move 5 1/2 games ahead in the NL West.  The difference in the two teams was evident Saturday.  Victorino hit a ball into the right field corner and trotted into second with a double with one out..  The next batter flew out and Giants then retired the side with Victorino still on second.  Pagan of the Giants got the same type of drive into the corner and ran like hell to end up on third with a triple then scores on a fly ball.  That's the difference Giants score Dodgers don't. 

49ers - Although I predicted the Packers to beat the 49ers Sunday I was not surprised to see them win easily Sunday.  Just hope they do not peak too early.

Homer Sweeney

They Came With Their Htting Shoes On!

Some fans must be wondering where the D'Backs have been all season after seeing them rip Giant pitching to threads in their three game series.  The Giants came from behind Monday thanks to a number of clutch hits to over take Arizona.  On Tuesday the Giants rallied again but could not get that one big hit and lost in 11 innings.  The final game was all Arizona.

Notes - X Nady the Giants one hope in left field is probably out for awhile with a hamstring problem.  Bochy is talking about getting creative in left field and has mentioned Belt's name a couple of times. . . Here is the Giant lineup I was be using until Nady returns:  Pagan CF, Scutaro 2B, Belt LF, Posey C/1B, Sandoval 3B, Pence RF, Pill 1B or Sanchez C, Crawford or Arias SS and the pitcher batting ninth.  

Homer Sweeney

What A Trip!

The Giants won five out of six this week sweeping the almost win less Astros and winning two of three from the 'building' Chicago Cubs.  They were not easy games to win and the Giants had many heroes.  Arias was the star of the Houston series.  In the first game he pinch hit a double in the ninth inning to drive in the tying run and then scored the winning run. He started the second game hit a two run triple late in the game to drive in the Giants fifth and sixth runs in their 6-4 win.  On Thursday he hit a home run to give the Giants a must needed insurance run. 

Notes - This blog suggested over a week ago that Nady be called up which so far has proven to be the right call. . . Pinch hitter Audrey Huff was a real hero Sunday.  He took enough pitches to allow the Cubs to throw a wild one that tied the game. . . Pagan drove in the tie breaking run Sunday in the ninth inning.  On the second pitch he tried to bunt.  He said later he saw the third basemen playing back and thought the could get a hit.  A bunt hit would not had scored the leading run.  How many times have we seen the Giants have a man on third with none out and not score so having a runner on third one out is no cinch.  He would had left it up to Scuredo who had been hit less in the series to get the runner home. Don't bunt with a man on second! . . . Lopez has been very sharp in relief and  is earning his money. . . The press finally brought up the topic of Sandoval's weight.  This blog has been talking about it  for weeks even suggesting that we change his nickname from Pandy to Fatty. . .  Bochy said he was maintaining  his weight but he will have to go on the same off season program as he did two years ago.  In other words he weighs about 280. . .  If the Giants lose the NL West Sandoval will get plenty of criticism.

NFL -  Pre- season games are for the most part glorified scrimmages and the last game is usually played to not get hurt.    Not the 49ers last Thursday.  They played a great game against the Chargers who I assume are either bad or were playing by the old rules. . . Maurice Jones-Drew who wanted to re-negotiate his contract with the Jaguars ended his holdout over the weekend after training camp had ended.  I am a believer once you sign your name on a contract you honor it.  I understand why he might not have learned this lesson at UCLA but you would think DeLaSalle would have left an impression on his mind. . . Prediction this Sunday Packers 24 49ers 7.

Homer Sweeney

Is It Over?

The Giants took the first two games of their four game series with the Braves.  The Dodgers then made their blockbuster trade and over the weekend the Giants looked like a team that has given up. It was a disgrace.  The relief staff gets worse and a few of the relievers are really a joke.  Not like the 2010 team when you could depend on the entire relief staff to do their job. . .    Then there is Panda.  No sign of power at all.  It time to start calling him 'Fatty' and maybe then he will get the message. . . There is no other words for Pence.. terrible.  Maybe being back in Houston this week will help him get his stroke back.

The Minors - Xavier Nady recently signed former major league outfielder and Cal star hit three home runs for Fresno over the weekend.  His average has risen to.273.  Maybe he should be given a chance in left field although he is not currently part of the 40 man roster. . .   Gary Brown who was so hot a few weeks ago has now settled in as .280 hitter. Not the answer this year.

The Red Sox -  Last winter this blog site predicted that the hiring of Bobby Valentine gave the AL East Championship to the Yankees.  Little did I realize that he would completely destroy the Red Sox team which in turn would  provide support for the Dodgers.

The 49ers beat Denver 29 -24  in a glorified scrimmage before a packed house in Denver.  They really got killed by Manning and the Broncos first team. The 49er defense is playing on its reputation.   

Homer Sweeney

Shocked Again!

The Giants took five out of six on their South land road trip which has given them a 2 1/2 game lead over the Dodgers.  They are now home to face the tough Atlanta Braves. The drug situation in baseball makes for many suspicions.  I have chosen to ignore my thoughts on the subject in making these following comments. 

Pagan - Had a great road trip  making up for the absence of Cabrera
Scutario - What a sound pick up by Sabean
Sandoval - Got a couple clutch singles and sacrifice flies.  He is so fat it is embarrassing
Posey -  Cooled off a little which was expected.
Pence -  Since July 4th hitting .125.  Did the Giants get taken again? Had a sold out 45,000 for his bobble head night in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Arias -  Signed in the spring as a no hit good fielder.  Left spring training for Fresno as one of the Giants best hitters.  Returned to the Giants to show that he could field but not hit. He is now showing the Giants that he might be a pretty good hitter.
H. Sanchez -  Gets raves from the pitchers but has lost his touch with the bat. 
Belt - Much improved at the plate but lacks consistent power for a first basemen
Blanco and Christain- Lost at the plate.
Starting Pitching -  Zito, Vogelsong and Lincecum continue to be a worry.
Relief Pitching -  Shaky at best.  Looks like Casilla will return to be the closer as predicted by this blog two weeks ago.
Attendace in San Diego was very good thanks to thousands of Giant fans.  The Dodger games were  a disappointment.  A sellout for Fernando bobble head night but 20,000 empty seats Monday and 16,000 on Wednesday.  Decades ago the Giants always drew 50,000+ at Dodger Stadium.

Homer Sweeney

Shocked!

Melky Cabrera gone for the season.  Drugs!  The Giants chances of winning the West now are between slim and none unless they are able to sign or find a Cody Ross who will hit 10 home runs in September.  The pitchers cannot carry the team because they have been worn out by lack of run support earlier in the season.  The good news is now they can afford to sign Melky for next year.  He lost millions today!  What are you getting?   Was his tremendous season all because of drugs and if he plays it straight what can he really do with the bat?  Looking back at the season there were a few warning signs.  I remember Melky was hitting the cover off the ball then there were two  games in San Francisco where he looked lost at the plate going hit less and the Giant broadcasters could not believe it was the same person. This blog believes the Giants will not take a chance next season.  It was fun while it lasted.  Oh yes, Washington took the series from the Giants two games to one.  The Giants now trail  by a game which means the Dodgers cannot block any waiver pick ups the Giants might desire.

Homer Sweeney

The Win of the Season

Duane Kuiper said it best after Sunday's game, "This one is for the fans because nothing has happened all year."  The fans have not seen the Giants rally and score five runs in an eighth inning as they did Sunday to wipe out a two run Colorado lead.  Posey's at bat in that inning was classic as he fouled off pitch after pitch then was finally able to hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.  Then Pence followed with a three run homer which he later credited to Posey for tiring the pitcher so he could get a pitch he could park.   Can you imagine the Giants losing a series to the last place Rockies at home just after Brian Sabean said  the team that wins the most series will  win the NL West.  The Giants won the series two games to one which assured them of a one game lead in the NL West.  The  Washington Nationals with the best record in the National League come in for three tough games which will prove to be a real test for the Orange and Black.

Sports Notes -

The 49ers open their pre-season schedule with a impressive victory over Minnesota which featured two Wildcat formation plays that would be the envy of the New York Jets. Colin Kaepernick reserve quarterback entered the game at the start of the second series.  On his first play from the Wildcat formation he handed the ball to James for a few yards gain.  That set up the next play.  The Niners quickly went into a no huddle offense and before Minnesota defense knew what was happening Kapernick faked to James and found the field wide open for a 78 yard TD run.  Save those for the season!  It reminded me how Kaepenick with his running and faking led Nevada to a route of the Golden Bears a few years ago.

The Olympics -  Congratulations to all those athletes who worked most of their entire lives for the Olympic dream.  Looking at the final medal count many American will go home very happy. . . I heard last night that USC students earned 25 medals at these Olympics and a few of them were even Americans. . . The USA Old Men Olympic basketball team won a gold as expected.  Spain was about two NBA players short of upsetting the Red, White and Blue. . .  The part of the Closing Ceremony that I watched was horrible.  Al Michaels was on with Bob Costa at the beginning expounding on  the greatness of beach volleyball.  Was he comparing beach volleyball to the great USA Olympic hockey win in 1980?  I guess it depends if your talking sports or sex.  Even Kelly Rippa commented that beach volleyball was all about sex for the delight of a lot of old men. . . Athletes are beginning to lose their medals as results of their drug tests being completed.  What hypocrisy!  Test all the athletes then have a closing ceremony based of the drug culture of today. . . The last Olympics of this modern era is scheduled for Rio in 2016 although they are beginning to find out they really can't afford  to host them. When Rio applied for the games they were anticipating a budget of a little over $1 billion.  The budget for the London games was $14.1 billion that does not take into account the billions the games will be over budget. Will LA be needed to bail out the Olympics again?

The NBA -  The 2012-13 NBA season is over.  If you read the LA papers or listen to LA sports that's the big news.  The reason is that the Lakers acquired 'Superman'  Dwight Howard in a very confusing four team deal which some of the under the table payoffs were not made public which is typical of the NBA. The Lakers don't seem to worry that  Howard with all kinds of competition has emerged as the NBA's leading prima donna.  Orlando fans refer to him as 'Dwight-mare' since Howard did not live up to his contract like so many NBA  players who take big bucks complain about everything and then quit playing or get 'hurt'.  The Lakers have a long track record of making the right moves even though some might consider Howard a bum who is also coming off of back surgery for a herniated disk which is usually found only in old men.  So Howard, and old men like Kobe, Nash and Jamison will have much in common.

Homer Sweeney

Two Wins and No Rain

The Giants continue to lead the NL West after splitting a rainless four game series with the red hot St Louis Cardinals while at the same time at Chaves Ravine the Rockies were taking two out of three from the Dodgers. All of the Giants played well in the series noting especially Posey and Scutaro for their hitting, Zito and Vogelsong for pitching and Brian Crawford for his outstanding defensive play at shortstop.

Notes -  This blog pointed out at the start of the week that the relief staff had gotten very unreliable so it was no surprise that the Giants decided to change the assignments of the relief staff and close games by committee.   It has been reported that the former closer Santiago Casilla has had a blister on his finger but the facts are that he got tired, careless and lazy.  This blog believes he will get his second wind and be the main closer for the Giants by September. . . Vince Scully mentioned on a Dodger game broadcast which was also highlighted on the internet that he can 't understand with all the technological advancements why baseball doesn't have instant replay umpire sitting in the press box correcting all the missed calls within a matter of seconds. . .  The Giants like many major league  teams have a solar company as one of their sponsors.  Most solar panels advertised look the same as the 1970 version but one company has really innovated by having a small chip instead of a large solar panel placed on top of  a roof.  Scully would be impressed with that type of progress. . . Giant fans got a little nervous when contract talks between the team and Melky Cabrera were broken off until the end of the season.  This blog mentioned back at the start of the season that the Giants have no interest in resigning Cabrera.  These recent talks were not serious and designed to keep the loyal Giant fans quiet and happy. The Giants offered the star outfielder $21 million over three years which is an average of 7 million a year. Give me a break they can't be serious.  They paid Huff $11 million a year for the past two years on emotion and are still paying Rowand 12 million.  The Giants pay their pitchers enormous salaries which makes it almost impossible to sign Melky with Posey and Sandoval waiting in the wings.. .  Will Brian Wilson be offered a contract next year by the Giants?

Homer Sweeney

Olympic Thoughts

The Olympics of 2012 are much different then the 1948 London games held  immediately after World War II   Old men have supplanted younger athletes and professional millionaires have replaced amateurs on the USA basketball team, swim teams and in track and field. . . Michael Phelps wasn't even on the 1948 team. . . . One thing that hasn't changed is when a US athlete wins the gold and stands of the platform they play the same old scratched record of the Star Spangle Banner that has been played since the days of the great Jessie Owens during the Hitler games of 1936.  . . . How about NBC prime time coverage?  Turn in at 8 and you get sex better known as women's beach volleyball  or an exciting quarter final water polo game while most of the audience is waiting for the gymnastics, swimming and track and field coverage that is dragged out until midnight so they can get those all important ratings . . .  With high unemployment I guess they figure nobody has to go to work the next day. . .Would you allow your daughter to stay in the Olympic Village if you knew the USA basketball team was also there? . . . The Rio games in 2016 will be the last games of this modern area.

Homer Sweeney

Giants Sweep the Rockies

The Giants' scored 35 runs with 45 hits including five home runs as they swept three straight from a horrible baseball team, the Colorado Rockies. The "g" men with Texas Rangers like numbers, were led by Buster Posey, the hottest hitter in baseball since the All Star break, who collected eight hits and seven rbi's and raised his batting average to a robust 327.  That's the good news but the bad news is that the Rockies go to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. The Giants move on to play the Cardinals four games in St Louis and Bochy's big worry is the relief pitching which seems to have worn down and become very unreliable.

Homer Sweeney

Pouring It On!

Carmillo Anthony?

Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the USA Olympic pro basketball team was visibly upset when he was accused of  running  up the score in beating a group of amateurs from Nigeria by 83 points 156-73.  The Duke coach pointed out that the team only took 46 three point shots and stopped using the fast break once they had a safe 57 point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.  Carmillo Anthony lead the assault with 37 points in just 14:29 minutes of play exemplifying why he is known as a 'hog'.   A girls basketball team from Texas was recently heavily criticized nationally for winning a game by 100 points. If they had only known they would have saved themselves a lot of grief and embarrassment had they just won by 83 points which is not considering pouring it on according to the Duke University professor of basketball.

Homer Sweeney

Loosing To A Lousy Team

It was sad and discouraging seeing the Giants lose three out of four to a lousy baseball team, the New York Mets. The New Yorkers gave the Giants the second game of the series and played sloppy enough to lose two other games during the series.  The magic of the three amigos that kept the Giants going early in the early season is gone.  The team needs new heroes.    Perhaps having a refreshing Coors as Krukow suggests during each telecast will spark the bats this weekend in Denver.

Homer Sweeney

Winning the Bronze!

It has been published that US athletes are paid from your contributions for winning at the Olympics and Uncle Sam will soon be knocking on their door for them to pay their taxes.  The IRS is also considering  taxing the value of their medals.  Are they in for a shock.  The athletes who win receive a commemorative Ghiradelli Chocolate bar wrapped in gold paper for their efforts.  That is the reason you see all the athletes biting into their gold medals. The value of bronze medal bar won by the athletes has been set at $4.95.  Can you imagine if the Giants finish third in the AL West that on Wednesday October 3 following the last game of the season they would be spraying champagne all over the clubhouse yelling, "We won the bronze, we won the bronze, we won the bronze!"

Homer Sweeney

Predictions Come True

On November 9, 2011 this blog reported that the following Giants would not be with the team in 2012 - Whiteside, Stewart, Beltron, Burris, DeRosa, Fontenot, Burrell, Ford, Ross,Torres, Keppinger, and Corbrea. This week Burris was designated for assignment the last player to fall.  We said at the time that Stewart would be in Fresno in case he would be needed. He was traded to the Yankees and it was Whiteside who was brought up for Sanchez.  On May 4, 2012 this blog predicted that Schierholtz would be traded if the Giants could find a player that could help them immediately. Pence is that player.

Homer Sweeney

Revenge!

It was revenge time for the Dodgers after getting swept and shut out three times last month at AT&T.  The combined salaries of the three Giant starters is over $50,000,000 (42% of the entire teams salary) this year and still they could not salvage one win in the three game series with the Dodgers.  The loss of Sandoval hurt and the bats went to sleep over the weekend.  The lack of a home run threat is killing the Giants.  Vida Blue remarked early in the season that the Giants line up would not scare him.  Who will step up against the Mets?

Homer Sweeney

Giants Win Padres Series and the Olympics

We attended the final game of the Giants Padres series on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Park and knew immediately it was not going to be a good day with Sandoval and Posey not in the lineup and Pagan batting clean up.  Lincecum got batted around and the "g" men looked helpless at the plate for most of the game.   Any chance of Giants catching the Padres during an eighth inning rally was curtailed when Arias was thrown out at third base on a ball hit to deep short.

The series began with Crawford being the focal point of two controversial calls.  In the first inning his ball hit to left field was originally ruled an out. In an unusual action the umpires gathered and made the right call as shown on replay and changed the ruling to a hit.  Later in game Crawford was ruled out for missing first base.  According to talk radio in San Francisco the ruling was made by a new umpire apparently trying to make a name for himself.  Replay showed that Crawford touched the inside of the base although the San Diego announcers after reviewing the same replay said that he clearly missed the base.  The second win on Tuesday evening featured a great catch by Pagan that turned out to be a crucial double play.

Olympic Flame Squaw Valley

Signing at MoMo's

Notes -  Before the game on Wednesday we were busy signing  autographs at MoMo's. . . Followers of the Giants are in denial if they don't think the addition of Hanley Ramirez to the Dodger line-up is going to make a big difference in the NL West race. . . Gary Brown after a hot few weeks has leveled off at .290. .  Vince Scully of the Dodgers mentioned during Friday night's game that Belt was being booed by the Giant fans.  At the game Thursday all I heard was  encouraging cheers for Belt.  Not sure where Scully got that information  but it was bogus.

Olympics - I thought the Olympics Opening Ceremony was long, drawn out and very boring.  The costumes change from year to  year but otherwise it was another replay of  recent Olympics.  Nothing like the creativity of all those pianos that were featured at the Opening Ceremonies of the LA games in 1984. . .   I felt sorry for the Queen and those in attendance who sat for hours just waiting to see the Olympic flame lit.  I am sure they didn't realize that they can see an Olympic flame ignited at the start of the fourth quarter of USC football games played at the LA Coliseum. . .   The Olympic flame pot from the Squaw Valley Winter games of 1960 (pictured above) was auctioned off as a barbeque grill to help pay the enormous expenses of hosting the games. . . This flame was centrally located at Squaw Valley and could  easily be viewed for all the events unlike the current London flame that can only be seen from inside the track stadium. . .The Olympics seem to be more about sex then the games.  Bob Fitzgerald reported on his affiliated station KNBR how great it is for the Olympics to spend your donated money to purchase condoms for the athletes so they can enjoy their experiences at the games.  Fitzgerald  is the Golden State Warriors TV announcer who is covering Olympic basketball for NBC.

Homer Sweeney

Lead Shrinks

San Francisco hit three homers Saturday but it was a drag bunt that drove in  the lead run in a 10 inning win over Philadelphia. The Giants failed  in an attempt to sweep the series as the Phillies salvaged the last game with a 12 inning win while the Dodgers were taking all three of their games from the Mets in New York cutting the Giants lead in the NL West to 1 1/2 games.

Notes:  Can you believe it? The Oakland A's started three rookie pitchers and a veteran cast off and swept the New York Yankees who have the best record in baseball. . .  The Giants are noted for their excellent pitching staff but it costs millions while the A's pitchers are paid minimum baseball wage. . .  The Bay Area Yankees fans have always been very vocal in selling out the Coliseum in the past were missing this week.  . .   This year the series only drew between 24,000 and 30,5000 on Sunday and it is evident that the talk of moving to San Jose has really hurt the fan base in Oakland. . . Gary Brown has cooled off going hit less in his last two games which dropped his average to .290

One Shock After Another

Those Giant fans that read this blog were probably shocked last December when we predicted that  Hector Sanchez would be the Giants backup catcher.  The media and experts who follow the Giants didn't figure it out until the end of spring training. The reasoning was simple.  If Crawford was going to be the shortstop and Posey was a question behind the plate the team could not afford a light hitting catcher.  Last year the 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup  for the Giants were always around the Mendoza line which was one reason the Orange and Black were near the bottom in runs scored.   Sabean was embarrassed and was not going to let it happen again.  We were shocked yesterday when we heard that Crawford, Whiteside were again at the tail end of the lineup just like last season.  We were further shocked by the results.  Whiteside hit a double to drive in the Giants first run to tie the game and later Crawford hit a grand slam and a solid single to drive in five more runs which was plenty to support Lincecum's second strong outing in a row. 

Homer Sweeney

Just Can't Resist

Most likely responding to criticism from this blog that they were getting old, the Lakers announced that they had signed Antwan Jamison who is only 36 years of age as part of their 'youth' movement.  Jamison started his NBA career with the Warriors during the 20th century and has been an above average NBA player. . .  You  probably have read the fact that USA Olympic uniforms were made in China  has upset some politicians.  The Chinese too are receiving complaints especially from the USA Olympic basketball team members saying that they cannot get  their pull over sweaters on because their heads are too big. . .Jermy Lin who set the New York Knicks and the NBA on fire last season with his play is now with Houston because New York Knick and US Olympian 'hog' Carmelo Anthony didn't want him on the team.  

Homer Sweeney

Copy Cats

It's really hard to believe but a .200 hitter who hadn't hit a homer in over 6 weeks and a reserve infielder who enter the game as a pinch runner and who had never hit a round ripper in the majors homered to beat the Rangers and give Oakland a split in the battle of the bombers.  Those A's homers were watched on TV in Atlanta by Giant players who were in their clubhouse waiting for the rain to stop.  You could just hear them, 'If those guys can do it so can we.'

Atlanta homered first and then Cabrera tied with a homer.  The Giants took the lead in the 10th but the Braves scored two on a homer to tie the game.  You could just hear the Giants fans screaming or maybe even swearing at Bochy for he had taken both Posey and Sandoval out of the game.  How are we going to score they wondered.    The Giant players remembering what they had seen on tv decided to copy the A's in the 11th inning when Crawford who replaced Sandoval hit a home run and Blanco who ran for Posey also homered as the Giants scored six runs  in the 11th inning to win going away.

The Giants out hit the Braves 9 -3 in the final game of the series but two of the Braves hits were home runs which was enough for them to salvage the final game of the three game series.  On to Philadelphia!

Notes:  Gary Brown the Giants #1 prospect has now raised his batting average to .295.  He has been on  fire!  It was on June 21 I commented  that I thought Gary was over rated.  Looks as if I was wrong.  If he keeps it up maybe Sabean's big move to improve the Giants for the stretch run will be within his own organization.. .  There is excitement in baseball because there will be two wildcard teams this year.  Wow!  If baseball adopted this blog's suggestion for updating the sport there would be 24 playoff teams each year.  Now that excitement!. . .  The Giants TV duo K & K were recently discussing the Giants upcoming schedule and Krukow noticed that it was not fair for the Giants to play the Cardinals four times in St. Louis while the Cards only played twice at AT&T. Where have you been Mike?  The schedule is unbalanced and unfair and has been that way for years.  Baseball tradition was thrown out the window by Bud Selig and his gang of cutthroats.  This is the price for having inter league play. . . Late  update - Gary Brown got two more hits last night which raised his average to .297.

Homer Sweeney

Same Attendance for A's and Giants

The A's lost and the Giants won last night before 20,000 empty seats both in Oakland and at the site of 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  The Giants scored nine runs without the benefit of a home run in their easy win while the A's were out homered 2-1 in their loss to the Rangers.

Homer Sweeney

Are the Oakland A's For Real?

It is really hard to imagine with the second half of the season underway that the Oakland A's are a serious playoff contender.  Billy Beane of Money Ball fame has to be considered a genius and hats off to Bob Melvin for the terrific job he has done managing the team.   Those that read my blog know I am a great believer in the three run homer right out of Earl Weaver's play book.  The A's have five players with ten or more home runs and as a team have hit 92 to date and their current  first baseman who has played only 27 games has 11.  I believe Moss is the fifth first baseman the A's have had this year but they kept changing until they found one someplace that could hit with power..  How can the A's find power hitters while the Giants continue to search?   Giant fans know the team needs more power having hit only 52 homers this year with Buster Posey being the only player with 10 or more.   The Rangers who come to Oakland tonight have hit 105 round trippers so these two games could be the battle of the bombers and give us an idea if the A's have just been red hot and are due to cool off or if they are for real.  Over 10,000 loyal A's fans are expected to root on their favorites tonight while in Atlanta the Braves expect nearly 10,000 Giant fans to be in attendance.

Homer Sweeney

Catchers Lead Sweep

It was Posey and Sanchez who led the Giants to a three game sweep of the Astros.  Posey got the second half off  to a flying start with a home run in the first inning and Giants never looked back.  Hector Sanchez collected four hits Saturday including the winning rbi in the 11th inning in a game that might have seen the return to form of Tim Lincecum.  The final game Sunday saw Posey get key singles to drive in two of the three Giant runs to give Cain his 10th victory of the season.

Notes -  Following the game Bochy commented that the Giants offense needs to pick it up.  That's an understatement.  The Giants just had enough hitting to win three games but in most  innings they looked like  hit less wonders especially with runners in scoring position. . .  Perhaps the hot humid air in Atlanta will get the bats fired up. . . My patience with Belt is running thin. . . Don't think the Dodgers got shook up after their unbelievable loss on Saturday night against the Padres?  If you didn't see it, the Padre runner stole home while the Dodger  pitcher held the ball on the mound. According to the plate umpire the throw home was in time because the runner was called out.  Only one problem the throw went over the catchers head which also allowed the winning run to score from second. . . The Dodgers still had a hang over Sunday committing five errors in their loss to the Padres allowing the Giants to move 1 1/2 games in front in the NL West.. . .  Speaking of the Dodgers what ever happened to Urbie?  We wrote at the time that he left that it was a big mistake on his part to leave the Giants where the fans loved and supported him.  His two years with the Dodgers have been a disaster. . . Gary Brown the Giants #1 prospect continues his torrid hitting for Richmond and has raised his average to .288.

The Second Half

The Giants needs for the second half have been well chronicled to include the return of Lincecum and to hit a few more home runs.  Pitching will keep them in the race but will they have enough power to win the west? The bad news is that the Dodgers  Kemp and Ethier are back tonight and they are still in first place.  They will be tougher now.

Homer Sweeney

The All Star Game

In a night that will long be remembered by thousands of loyal Giant fans the National League shut out the American League and will again  have home field advantage in the 2012 World Series. Cain led the parade of NL pitchers and MVP Cabrera and Sandoval provided some timely hits. Which NL team will thank the Giants in October?

Homer Sweeney

Warrior News

Comments - I have one word to explain the Warriors recent draft --- spectacular. . . I read where people who live near the proposed new arena on Piers 30 & 32 are concerned that it will be too high and will block some of their view.    What do they expect?  Some basketball players are 7 feet tall.  . . The Warriors biggest rivals the Lakers are thrilled about obtaining a 38 year old point guard in one last desperate effort to win another NBA title during the Kobe Bryant era.  For the Lakers its too late since the NBA today is a young man's game.

Homer Sweeney

Giants Win One Game!

Barry Zito was hit hard but got the win on Friday evening as Melky Cabrera's home run led a Giant counter attack that was protected by the bullpen.  Vogelsong pitched another strong game Saturday but the Giant hitters gave him no support and then on Sunday Lincecum and the Giant relievers were bombed by the Pirates enabling Pittsburgh to win the series 2-1.  It's time for a break!


Comments  - Vogelsong was visibly upset because he was not chosen to represent the National League in the All Star Game saying "they do not respect me."   What then does he think of the Giants who listed him as either #4 or #5 starter?  I would have had him pitch the first game after the break. . . The Giants are in a state of denial regarding Lincecum who is listed to start game two . . Pagan looking like he did in spring training has seen his average drop quickly from .316 to .284. . . Posey could use the day offs instead of playing in the All Star game. . . Sandoval hit a home run Sunday after the Giants trailed by ten runs but he did not look like an All Star on the trip either at the plate or in the field making another bonehead play when he tried to tag a runner instead of throwing to first base.  He has done that in the past indicating that he doesn't seem to learn from his mental mistakes. . . Dave Fleming hit the nail on the head Sunday on television when he said the Giants are getting beat by the home run ball.  They were out homered 12-3 by the Nationals and Pirates which is a prime reason they lost five of six games.. . The Giants trail the Dodgers by 1/2 game so all will be forgiven if they can win this Friday against the Astros. . . The Giants road trip to the east brought out large crowds in both Washington and Pittsburgh which was wonderful to see.. . . The Yankees and Red Sox were on national television over the weekend so perhaps you saw Andrew Jones hit four home runs for the Yankees.  Remember Andrew?  He was compared to Willie Mays as a center fielder with the Braves and he was also a pretty good hitter.  Then he lost his stroke was released and ended up with a number of teams including the Dodgers.  I really felt sorry for him when he played for Los Angeles as he looked completly lost at the plate and fans booed him costantly.  This again illustrates what a difficult sport baseball really is to play and how rewarding it is to see Andrew again experience some success.

Homer Sweeney

Gaints Notes

Freddy Sanchez - The Giants finally announced that Freddy Sanchez is out for the season which is  no surprise for those that read this blog.  On March 19, 2012 we revealed that there was a big concern about his condition and then on March 30 we reported that  he may never play again and finally on May 14 we concluded  that he would not play either second or third base this season.

Gary Brown one of the Giants can't miss prospects has recently been hitting the cover off the ball according to reports from the Giants who might have been responding to a report made June 21 on this blog that implied that Brown was highly over rated.   This recent surge has brought his average up to .273 which is a big improvement since he has been batting under .250 for most of the season.  Brown noted for his speed has been successful only 71% of the time in his attempts to steal while on the major league level Pagan is at 88%, Blanco 83%  and the Giants as a team have a 77% success rate.

Stolen Bases - Stolen base statistics have never impressed me because in many situations stealing a base may not be the best strategy for the team.   Nobody knows how many bases Willie Mays could have stolen during his career.  When he was on first he did not attempt to steal since he wanted to protect the next batter Willie McCovey.  By staying on first he kept the hole between first and second open and if he did steal a base they would most likely pitch around McCovey.  Bochy has done a masterful job for the Giants this year successfully applying the stolen base strategy when it can be most beneficial for the team. 

Homer Sweeney

Giants Swept

Giants 1924 Uniform

The Nationals won the home run battle 7-1 which was the key in their three game sweep over the Giants knocking them out of first place in the NL West.  The Giants lost the final game in the the ninth thanks to some very sloppy fielding but the goat of the game was Sandoval who failed twice with the bases loaded to deliver a run.    The Giants wore the New York Giants uniforms to commemorate the 1924 World Series against the Washington Senators.  The cap worn by Belt at the right looks very much like the 1946 San Francisco Seals 'milkman' caps.  (See related article May 31, 2012).  On to Pittsburgh where the Giants are counting on Vogelsong to prevent another sweep. The All Star break cannot come fast enough.

Homer Sweeney

All Star Complaints

All major league baseball teams show support and protect their players so they will complain when they feel  a deserving player is not chosen to play in  the All Star game.  This year was no exception.  Dusty Baker manager of the Reds complained that two of his players pitcher Johnny Cueto and infielders Brandon Phillips were left off the NL squad  because they were involved in a brawl last year with the Cardinals.  I think Dusty has a legitimate complaint since LaRussa NL manager this year holds grudges as evidence by all of his head hunting pitchers that played for him both at Oakland and later with the Cardinals.

Homer Sweeney

The Giant Fans and the Vote

The Giants have great fans and support which  is evident with sell outs every game at AT&T, the attendance at Scottsdale during the spring and the support they receive when they are playing  in Oakland, San Diego, Anaheim, and Los Angeles.  A small energetic group of  fans dressed out in milkman uniforms with orange ties led the charge to get out the vote for 'Melky' Cabrera and other Giants so it was no surprise that Posey, Cabrera and Sandoval were voted starters on the National League All Star team.

The Giant fans not only voted for their stars but voted for Giants over more deserving National League players.   Belt came in second at 1st base, Freddy Sanchez who hasn't played in over a year and won't play this season received 2,287,147 votes to place fourth among second basemen, Crawford a .220 hitting shortstop came in second and Huff with nine hits for the season was 14th among outfielders.  I was guilty of giving Sandoval 50 votes when I thought that Wright of the Mets deserved to be the starting third baseman. Our  plan on how to revise the selection process was outlined on June 25, 2012.

Homer Sweeney

A Split with the Reds

The grounder up the middle was the only hit Bumgarner allowed in pitching  a great game to give the Giants the first game of the series and the National League West lead.  The bats were very quiet for a couple of days then on Sunday the strong pitching of Vogelsong, Theriot scoring three runs and Posey key hits gave the Giants a split in the four game series.  The Giants travel to play Washington if power is restored in the area and Pittsburgh for a tough six games before the All Star break.

Homer Sweeney

NFL and 49ers

49ers Want Their Welfare -  Wouldn't it be nice if you owned a multimillion dollar company and the government paid the salaries of your employees?  That's what the 49ers want indirectly from the County of Santa Clara that decided to renege on their contract to pay the 49ers $30 million towards their new stadium. If the County will pay towards the new stadium that frees up the 49ers money to pay their million dollar player contracts.  Pretty good deal!   The 49ers might be learning not to trust the government just like the State of Arizona discovered this week that you can not trust the federal government.


The Lies Continue -  The NFL announced that the second games on Sunday would start 10 minutes later this year so that fans watching an early game will be able to see the end of the game they are watching.  This is the way it has been  for over forty years and now the NFL decides to address the situation.   Give me a break!  Most fans will not realize or won't care that they are being lied to because it is the NFL. This is an easy way to slip in the fact that there will be more commercials and longer games in order that the networks will have enough advertising dollars to pay off the new NFL contract so that players can continue to get those million dollar contracts.

Homer Sweeney

The Dodgers Are Swept

The Dodgers failed to score a run in three games for the first time since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1958.  The last time the Brooklyn Dodgers failed to score in a three game series was in 1937 against the Boston Braves. . .  The Dodgers tied a major league record by hitting into a double play in the first inning of each game. . ...  The three loses moved the Giants into a first place tie with the Dodgers.  It took the Giants exactly one month to gain 7 1/2 games on Los Angeles  proving again that it is a long season and anything can still happen.  The Giants have weaknesses but a real chemistry that was started when the 'three amigos' Cabrera, Payton and Blanco took over as starters in the outfield..  . The real reason Bochy selected Sanchez to catch Lincecum instead of Posey was to protect his star catcher from taking a beating like Sanchez took stopping close to 15 pitches with his chest and chasing numerous pitches that hit the backstop.. A quick review of the three games :

Game 1 - Pablo and the 'three amigos' supported Zito  with key hits in  a 8-0 shut out win.

Game 2 - It was Cabrera and Pablo leading the attack for Vogelsong in a  2-0 win.

Game 3 - Lincecum got his first win in months with amigos Cabrera and Payton getting 3 rbi's  to lead the 'g' man to a 3-0 win.

Homer Sweeney

How I Would Change the All-Star Game

If the major league owners and the union believe the All Star Game should continue I would propose to change the purpose, the selection process and the number of players allowed on each team.

Purpose:  The current rule of the winning league obtaining home team advantage in the World Series is absurd and would be eliminated  The purpose would be to show case the best players in baseball

Selection Process:  Currently players are selected by popular vote of the fans.  This would continue but it would be structured similar to the Presidential Election. The voting would be divided into 7 voting blocks one for the players, one for the baseball media and five for the fans broken down geographically across the country. The players wining a voting block would receive 10 points, second place 5 and third place 3 with one bonus point awarded to the players with the highest popular vote at each position. The players with highest total points from the seven voting blocks would be chosen.  If there is a tie the players with the highest popular vote would be selected.

Roster:  There would no requirement for each team to be represented.  The roster would be limited to 14 position players and 11 pitchers. Extra inning games will be limited to 12 innings and two players for each team would be allowed to re-enter the game. A player who declines the invitation to play in the game would be replaced by the player with the next highest votes at his position and would be eliminated from all star voting for five years and automatically placed on the DL for seven games.

Homer Sweeney

Are the Warriors a 21st Century Team?

It was just a few months ago that Golden State traded away the season for highly regarded Andrew Bogut 7 foot center who it is believed will lead the Warriors to the playoffs. Perhaps in the 20th Century NBA but maybe not in 21st Century basketball where big men have all the basketball skills. During the Championship series just completed the Miami Heat Center Erik Spoelstra played about two minutes and scored 0 points in the series.  The center-for-center sake as Mark Whicker of the OC Register points out is headed for the tar pits.

Homer Sweeney

Touring the American West Conculsion

The Bay Bridge Rivalry -  The Athletes love this series because it fills the Coliseum with Giant fans.

Game 1 -  The Giants rallied with four runs in the ninth inning to overtake the A's.  Lincecum is the story.  In the first inning he had allowed three runs, the base were loaded and still none out.  He then proceeded to strike out the next three batters and went on to pitch hit less ball until taken out after the sixth inning.  Is Lincecum back?

The Giants won this game in spite of  their strategy.   In the A's eighth Lopez had two out and then walked a batter.  Hensley was brought in to pitch to a right handed hitter.  Sorry, I would never replace Lopez with Hensley regardless of the situation.  Hensley proceeded  to load the bases bringing up Crisp.  The count is 3-2 and the next pitch is two feet inside and the umpire calls him out.  A big break for the Giants and a call that probably costs the A's the game.   In the Giants ninth the first five Giants got on base with walks and hits.  The A's were desperate to get an out and the Giants obliged by having Arias bunt demonstrating how to kill a rally in one easy lesson. The Giants managed to score one more run which they needed but could have probably easily scored a few more. If I managed in the American League with the DH rule the team would probably not bunt once during the entire season. 

Game - 2   The A's scored four runs in the ninth but fell one run short of catching the Giants.  Hensley replaced Lopez again and got the final out with the bases loaded.

Game - 3  A three run homer in the last of the ninth enabled the A's to salvage the last game of the series.

Notes - The Giants won the season series from the A's 4 -2. . .  It is hard to expect the 'Three Amigos' (Cabrera, Pagan and Blanco) to continue their hot streak which has carried the Giants for most of the first part of the season.  They cooled in the A's series going five for 32. . . The Yankees play in a stadium built for home runs which is one of the reasons the 2012 Yankees already have more round trippers then the Giants had during the entire 2011 season. . .  We reported that the Giants were ready for their road tour but they lost five of nine to  American League West teams proving that we can't be right all of the time.

Homer Sweeney

You're Kidding

There were two stories in the SF Gate in recent days that are worth  a comment..  One deals with the 49ers signing A.J. Jenkins their first round draft choice to a four year contract. You're kidding!  Four years? If they had to sign him, why not two years? The 49ers have been very impressive in recent years adding quality players to their roster  This year the Forty Niners now know they made a big mistake in drafting Jenkins in the first round.   The accounts regarding Jenkins have indicated that he drops a lot of passes, is not in football shape, has been outplayed by undrafted wide receivers, has difficulty keeping his balance and is buried deep on the  debt chart..   The 49er were perhaps getting a little too cocky after all their recent successes.

The other story deals with 'can't miss' Giant  Gary Brown currently hitting .247 for Richmond.a class AA team.  This past winter he was in the outfield for the Scottsdale Scorpions along with Bryce Harper 19 now tearing up the National League and 20 year Mike Trout hitting .337 for the Angels. Brown was not selected to be part of the 2012 Futures Game and the Giants say don't worry it's part of the developmental process.  Today's real stars of the future make it to the majors quickly such as Lincecum, Posey Sandoval, Belt, Bumgarner and Hector Sancez of the Giants.  The ironic part is that I keep reading that Brown will be a September call up and if Giants don't sign Pagan for next year he will be in Giant outfield.  You're kidding!  That's just what the 'g' men need is another singles hitter with speed.  The Giants can use somebody that can hit the ball with authority.  This recent draft saw them revert to their former plans of drafting all kinds of pitchers hoping a couple will make it.  The Giants miss Bill Neukon's direction.

Homer Sweeney

Touring the American West Continued

California Adventure -  The Giants lost two out of three to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who currently along with the Texas Rangers are the two best teams in the major leagues.

Game 1 - Two plays made the difference in the first game of the series.  Trout of the Angels smashed a ball up the middle that Cain knocked down recovered and through a runner out at home.  In the other play, Mike Theriot of the Giants also hit a grounder up the middle that went through the legs of pitcher LeRoy Hawkins of the Angels to score a Giant run.  The relief staff retired the last twelve Angels to preserve a win for Cain.

Game 2 - Zito and the relief staff were rocked but good.  Enough said!


Game 3 - We attended this game with thousands of other Giant fans and were very disappointed and discouraged at the outcome.  The men in Orange and Black were shut out with just four singles.

Homer and Blog Artist Emi

Notes -   The Angels out homered the Giants in the series 5-0. . . Talked to a couple of Giant fans from Ventura who were attending the game and they said they use to go to Dodger Stadium but will not go again.  They asked about hotels in San Diego.  We recommended the Omni Hotel five minutes from your hotel room to your seat in Pepco Park. . . In game three the Giants and Angels tied a major league record of no throws to first base by a pitcher in a nine inning game.  Ironically I had e-mailed a few of my friends telling them to look for us on television because we had seats that would probably be shown when a pitcher threw to first. . .  It seems that every time I try to check on the Dodger game on the out of town score board in right  field they covered it with a commercial. . . There were at least ten beach balls forbidden by Angel Stadium that were in play during the game. . . The game was so bad for Giant fans that they even participated in the Wave. . . Seeing Pablo in person last night I revised my thinking on his weight which I don't really think is an ounce over 268lbs.

Homer Sweeney

Touring the American West

Disappointment in Seattle - The last place Seattle Mariners took two out of three from the 'jelling' Giants over this past weekend.   Sunday's game was particularly disappointing since it wasted a terrific pitching performer by Bumgardner, the relief staff failed,  the best hitters were unsuccessful in the clutch and the Dodgers won their series with the White Sox to move 5 games in front of the Giants. The Giants hit two home runs to win Friday's game the last round trippers they would  hit in the series while the Mariners supplied the home run power against Lincecum Saturday.

'C' Street Car - 1940's

Book Cover

Notes -  Pablo looked about 270 lbs on TV this weekend and I believe last year they were hoping to keep his weight in the neighborhood of 245. . . A very loyal  Giant fan and a very successful attorney in the East Bay e-mailed me that Lincecum would break out his funk but needs to quit smoking pot. . . Many believe that Lincecum lost 20 lbs  over the winter because he was on the 'The Drinking Man's Diet.' . . .  The Giants played the American League Champion Rangers since the NL West is playing the AL West this year except the Dodgers who are the only team in the NL West to play the AL Central Division White Sox. . . .  The Giants play the Astros nine times this year while the Dodgers play them only six times which are  a couple more examples of the horrible major league schedule that throws baseball tradition out the window for the almighty dollar.  The schedule will reportedly be better balanced next year since the Astros are moving to the American League to the disgust of most of their fans.  It couldn't be any worse! . . . Justin Christian hitting .364 was called up from Fresno. He spent some time with the Giants last September and we wrote at the time that we thought he could compete to be the fifth outfielder.  Then we learned that Sabean didn't think much of him so we revised our thoughts and said if the was in Fresno he would be a outfielder to bring up in case of injury. . . Roger Kieschnick hitting .319 with a team leading 14 home run is on the DL.  He probably would not have been called up since the Giants need a right handed bat off the bench which Christian has an opportunity to provide.   Brett Pill is hitting .400 in his first nine games back at Fresno. . .  It still being decided if before his next start at AT&T Matt Cain will hit golf balls from home plate like he did before his perfect game last week.  It is known however that Rory Mcllroy defending Open Champion from 2011 who did not make the cut at Olympic will not be throwing out any first baseballs in the near future. . .  The fog rolled into the Olympic Club Sunday after a few beautiful days in San Francisco.  It reminded me when I was young and returning from a Sunday doubleheader at sunny Seals Stadium on the 'C' street car that once we arrived at the top of Geary and Presidio the fog was rolling in to welcome us back to the Richmond District. . . Gregor Blanco's  sensational perfect game saving catch for Matt Cain will be hard to top this year for both excitement and importance.

Homer Sweeney

US Open and the Warriors

The US Open -  The Giants celebrated the San Francisco Olympic Cub hosting the US Open by featuring  Rory Mcllroy bobble head night and having the defending Champion throw out the first ball on Irish Heritage Night. Then on Wednesday Giant players including Matt Cain hit golf balls into McCovey Cove from  home plate.  Since Cain pitched a perfect game that night maybe we should have Cain hit some golf balls before every start. . . The wall to wall TV coverage of the open switched to NBC on Thursday at noon for two hour of coverage.  It was never shown in LA because of LA  Kings Stanley Cup Celebration  parade was taking place. Never trust the networks to televise sports.

The Warriors -  After seventeen years in North Dakota the Warriors are moving their developmental league team to Santa Cruz so they play 'beach basketball'.     Another loyal group of supporters gets the well known shaft from Golden State just like the fans in Oakland.  North Dakota has all kinds of oil  is growing fast getting rich and in the future may have their own NBA team while California is full of hot air,depends on wind and is broke.

Homer Sweeney

Perfect

The Giants took two out of three from the Astros highlighted by Matt Cain pitching the first perfect game in the long history of both the New York and San Francisco Giants.  The Giants finally broke out of their home run slump hitting six in the series.  The Orange and Black are jelling with Sandoval back in the lineup and Belt starting to look like the hitter many think he is.  This takes the pressure off Cabrera, Blanco and Pagan who for the most part have carried the Giants offense up to this point. The team is ready to meet the big challenge of playing the next nine games on  the road against American League teams.

Homer Sweeney

Rangers Return

The Texas Rangers took two out of three from the Giants.  The opening game on Friday was embarrassment to the Giants since not one Giant hit a ball over 200 feet and in the final game Sunday the orange and black  could only collect three hits in losing by the same score of 5-0.  The one win of the series came on Saturday thanks to another brilliant  effort by Vogelsong and some very timely two out hits.

McCovey Statue

Thoughts on the Giants:  Its getting hard to find a positive about the pitching of Tim Lincecum.   Here's one for you.  The Giants have now lost 11 games that he has started and since the Giants  are paying Lincecum 20 million this year that is currently about 1.82 million a loss. If they lose over 20 games that he starts it will be less then a million dollars a loss which should make Sabean feel better. . . . Pablo Sandoval had a horrible game at third base Sunday but we need his bat in the line up.  We got spoiled with Arias playing third. . .  The Giants are going to have a difficult time contending this year for two reasons.  One is the fact that  they have no power and second it is really hard to imagine the 'three amigos' in the outfield continuing to hit at their current rate. . . Congratulations to the marketing team of Giants who continue to sell out AT&T.  It's a lot more difficult this year since last year's weekend games were sold out weeks in advance.  This year they have give a ways such as orange and black caps today and recently McCovey statues to entice the fans to come.  It has worked.  Houston coming in Tuesday will be a challenge!. . . Is it time to put Melky Cabrera on the DL?  The tendency is to come back early like Kemp of the Dodgers with disastrous results.

Homer Sweeney

D-Day Week

US Army bazooka

Day 1 Monday June 4, 2012 - Field Commander Bochy was asked if the lack of fire power is a problem since the Orange and Black army had just won four battles in a row.  He answered that it is a concern that has been compensated for up to now with speed.

Day 2  June 5, 2012 - One day before the 68th anniversary of D-Day the Giants must have felt like the Germans in 1944 getting bombed by three Padres home runs. The Germans were not fast enough to stop the Allies.  Will the Giants speed be able to stop the new found Padres fire power?

Day 3 June 6, 2012 -  There were many decorated heroes in the famous battle of Normandy.  Today the star bazooka marksman Romo was down wounded and the medics responded with braces on both knees so that he could fire three bazookas to knock out the Padres fire power to save the Orange and Black

Day 4 June 7, 2012 - The boozka marksmen are feeling the effects of the war.  The Orange and Black army lost their star (Wilson) months ago and his two of his most reliable back ups Casilla and Romo are wounded.  Yesterday it took Casilla six shots to eliminate the Padres fire power which enabled the Giants to take the rubber game of the series.  One can never anticipate the results of war.  In a related battle the Blue Army of the City of Angels minus many of their heavy guns surprisingly swept through the City of Brotherly Love in four days.      

Homer Sweeney

Sweep, Records and Concerns

Giants 1912 uniform emblem

Sweep - The Giants swept a four game series from  the Chicago Cubs which was highlighted by each team wearing their 1912 uniforms on Saturday  to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the New York Giants World Championship and the 200 year anniversary of The War of 1812, sometimes referred to as  "A second war of independence"


Records - During the Cub series the Giants tied a major league record by starting four different first basemen (Pill, Huff, Posey and Belt) in a four game series. They tied another major league record by winning six out of seven games on the home stand without hitting a home run.  Pagan continues to break his own Giants record of hitting safely in 28 straight home games.

Concerns - The Giants are currently not happy with fun loving Pablo Sandoval for two reasons.  The first is the fact that he got involved into sex related incident last Thursday in Santa Cruz which could become a major distraction.  Bochy is also concerned and extremely annoyed with the fact that Pablo may not be able to handle third base when he returns because he has put on weight while on the DL.

Homer Sweeney

Our Plan for the Giants

At the start of the season this blog established a plan for the Giants that by June 1, 2012 they would:
     -  still be in contention for the the NL West and
     -   player positions would be finalized.

It is now June 1 and the first goal has been met. The Giants are 5 games behind in the west still in contention. The second goal is nearly complete since most positions have been finalized including catcher, the outfield, third base, shortstop and starting pitching..

There are still questions regarding first and second base and relief pitching.

Currently Belt and Pill are platooning at 1st.  This strategy has not produced to date. .
Arias will take over at second base when Pablo Sandoval returns from the DL to take over third.  This may prove to be the solution.  In the meantime Theriot will play second with chance to save his job on the team.

The loss of Ramirez, Wilson and Mota has hurt the relief staff.  Casilla has done a great job closing.   This move however weakened the rest of the relief corp.  The Giants are hoping that Penny will be ready to help soon.  Giant farm hand pitchers at Fresno and Richmond have plenty of incentive to do their best and hope for a call up at any time.

Homer Sweeney

The NBA

Is the Draft Rigged?  True loyal Golden State fans will never forget how the team got the royal shaft from the NBA in the draft of Patrick Ewing to the New York Nicks.  That was done on national television with the person picking the envelope kept feeling for some type of mark on the envelope.  New York needed help and so did the NBA and they got it with Ewing   That's history!

So there would not be any suspicion in the future the NBA now draws the envelopes in private with a few friends and a  company that certifies that the drawing took place.  Even the new owners of the San Francisco "Rainbows" thought it could be rigged and said so publicly.  On Chronicle Live before the lottery drawing was over the basketball experts on the show openly said that it is rigged for New Orleans.  A headline in the Orange County Register said, 'Well, well, well.  What a shock! David Stern's New Orleans Hornets were awarded the first pick in the NBA draft.'  The owner of the Hornets was paid off big time with the number one pick in the draft and his representative at the draft almost looked embarrassed when he was congratulated by the assistant commissioner of the NBA.  He must be thinking how did he ever get involved with the unethical NBA and must have wondered when he too would become a victim.

The Ellis Trade Works:  The day Monte Ellis was traded the Warriors were in the playoff hunt.  They traded for the future and then a number of first stringers got hurt and were 'out for the season' so the Warriors became a team from the Developmental League.  Those players tried hard to win but usually came up short.   The Warriors currently owe the Utah Jazz a first round pick but it cannot be higher then #7.  The Warriors lost just enough games to tie Toronto for 7th and 8th spot in the draft   A coin flip gave the Warrior the seventh pick.  Then during the lottery the Warriors drew #7 position so that they keep this year's high pick which three months ago seemed impossible. New owners do get paid off.  Only in the NBA!

Homer Sweeney 

Dodger Update

"The Team Needs Me":  These Matt Kemp words were reported on this blog on May 14, 2012.  We commented at the time that odds are good that he will return early and like so many in the past injure himself more seriously.  Kemp returned after the minimum of 15 days on the DL played one game and injured himself again running  in the first inning of his second game.  Now it is reported that he could be out for at least a month. They Never Learn!

Where are the Dodger Fans?  There was another incident at Dodger Stadium recently in the parking lot following the game.  Two cars got together in a fender bender and a brawl followed.  The District Attorney of LA decided not to proceed with the case making Dodger fans even more nervous.  It seems it's who you are in LA not what you have done that will be protected.  The caliber of fan that attends Dodger  games has deteriorated and the loyal fans of the past know it and are scared to go.  Good luck Magic!  Come to think of it isn't it Laker fans who are known for destroying business property around Staples.

Dodgers Lose Again:  The Dodgers lost four in a row to the Brewers who currently have seven players on the DL.  Now it's time for a Rocky Mountain High! 

Homer Sweeney

Giants Diamondbacks Series

The Return of Milkmen:  The Giants took two out of three games from the Diamondbacks.  Zito again did his job of keeping the Giants in the first game a 4-2 victory.  The second game win by the Giants featured a very strong performance by Vogelsong and the return of milkmen to San Francisco baseball after an absence of sixty-six years.  Arizona won the last game of the series proving again that sometimes things never change.  Goldschmidt homered off of Lincecum and Kennedy pitched a gem against the Giants. Cabrera recorded a record tying 51 hits in May to end the month with a league leading average of .373.

Borden's milkmen or SF Seals ?

Many of the fans in attendance at Tuesday's game probably never even heard of a milkman.  A group of about six loyal Giant fans dressed in all white as milkman with white caps and orange ties sat in the left  field stands and brought attention to themselves and TV in order to promote votes for 'Melky' Cabrera for the upcoming All Star game in Kansas City

Part way through 1946 season the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League changed their cap color from the normal blue to white pin strip with a blue visor. Many Oakland Oaks fans of that era said that the Seals looked like milkman with their new caps and that the picture shown is really that of the Borden's milkmen of San Francisco. 

The Miami Trip

Home Run Sculpture Miami

The first game belongs to Vogelsong. He got Stanton to pop up with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning that changed the direction of the game eventually won by the Giants 14-7.  Lincecum who did not have  his fast ball or control lost the second game of the series on Friday. The game marked the return of second baseman Theriot hitting .179 to the starting lineup because as Bruce Bochy put it,"we need his bat".  Talk about the unexpected -The Giants remained 6 1/2 games behind the Dodgers because the Astros beat Kershaw and the Dodgers. Cabrera and  Posey went hit less leaving four runners on base as the Giants lost game three of the series. Cabrera raised his season average to .369 getting four hits and scoring all three Giant runs in their 3-2 victory Sunday giving the "g" men a series split.   

A Plan for Oracle

Oracle Arena Oakland

The Sacramento Kings of the NBA have failed to negotiate a deal with the city of Sacramento to build a new arena.  Both Anaheim and Seattle are just waiting their turn to grab the team.  Why not Oakland?  Even if they could not break their current lease with the Warriors, Oracle Arena could host two teams just like Staples hosts both the Clippers and the Lakers. Although the Kings' fans will have lost their Sacramento home it would be relatively easy to keep the same TV outlets and to see them play in Oakland which is must better than the alternatives down south and up north.

Homer Sweeney

Comments on the Giants

Power Wins Again: Both Posey and Sanchez the two Giant catchers hit home runs last night to lead the Giants to a 14 inning win over the Brewers. The 'g' men should have won in nine but poor defense and lack of clutch hitting hurt them again.  The reliable part of the relief corp was used so Cain better be ready to go nine tonight

Posey Hurting the Team?  Buster Posy's insistence on catching rather than playing 1st base is hurting the team.  The Giants are much better when Sanchez is catching and Posey is on first.  Bochy needs to start finding another position for his second string catcher because it is a crime to have him sit on the bench  five days a week on such weak hitting ball club.

The Plan:  This blog outlined a plan for the 2012 Giants which was primarily to stay in contention until June1st when all the positions problems were to be solved.  Not going to happen.  There will be numerous changes after Pablo returns in a few weeks.  It is easy to imagine changes at first, second and short by the middle of June. It's harder to imagine who will be playing first.  The list grows with Belt, Pill, Huff, Posey, Sanchez, Sandoval and even Todd Linden could be playing first by July 1st. Roger Kieschnick .324 hitting Fresno outfielder with 11 home runs would be with the Giants now if he hit right handed.

Can't Miss Future Giants:  
#1 Prospect - Gary Brown center fielder with Richmond hitting .254 with 0 home runs
#2 Prospect -  Francisco Pequero  Fresno outfielder hitting .229 with 3 home runs.
#7 Prospect - Joe Panik infielder with San Jose hitting .250 with 0 home runs.


The Giants Plan:
Fans are complaining about the lack of power and runs.  The Giants have been honest about their future plans in which pitching is their #1 priority.  The money is spent on pitching since it is the reason the Giants won the World Champions in 2010  The 2010 team was not noted for its power but it certainly was much better than 2011 and 2012 Giants which is a major concern of the fans.  In 2010 Huff at 1st base had 26 home runs, Torres and Rowand combined for 27 in center field, Urbie at short had 24 and Sandoval  had 13 at 3rd base in his off year.  Posey came through with 18, Scherholtz 13 and Burrrell 18.  The team hit a total of 162 home runs which was much better than last years Giants who hit 116 and the current team which is on a pace to hit 103. By way of comparison The New York Giants of 1947 hit 221 home runs.

Two in a Row Over the Brewers:  More Giant Power!  The Brewers out hit the Giants 11-5 however two of the Giants hits were gigantic home runs by Posey and Arias.   Melky Cabrera made the throw of the year on the fly from left field to prevent the Brewers from scoring in the first inning.

Giants Lose...What's the Headline? The big story is that the umpires were terrible missing  a number of calls at first base and behind the plate.  I have never seen so many blown calls at first base as I have seen this season. The internet headline says Zito was belted in the first inning and that was it.  Baloney! Zito had plenty of help. Burriss not covering first in time on a bunt,  Crawford making another error and Arias missing a drive he lost in the shadows were major factors that contributed to the Brewers 6 run first inning. You  can't give team 6 outs!  Burriss is playing like he wants to get cut.  I am sure the Giants will oblige soon. (added May 23,2012)


Homer Sweeney
Art Work:  Emily Knous

Notes on the Basketball Move to SF

They're Lying Already:  Builders who have tried to develop piers 30-32 in recent years have abandoned their projects since the cost to upgrade the pier was estimated to be over $200 million.  The press release from the NBA franchise say between $75-100 million.  That's $125 million short on the first day.

Name Change:  Everyone anticipates that the name Golden State will be dropped for San Francisco.  Don't be surprised if the name Warriors is also dropped for not being politically correct.  The San Francisco emblem in 1960's was an Indian Chief and they were forced to drop that logo for Captain Marvel.  The San Francisco power base will never allow the name Warriors so look for them to change the name to the Rainbows just the reversal of the University of Hawaii who changed from Rainbows to Warriors because the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii did not want visitors to know that it rains on the islands. 

Warrior Fans Protesting Move

Fan Support:  The biggest asset the Warriors currently have is their fan base which has filled the Coliseum for decades.  Without their unbelievable support the team would currently be located in Tampa Bay.  These fans have been given "the bird." by the new ownership.  Remember San Francisco never supported NBA basketball in the past.  In fact the Warriors had to play some of their home games in San Diego just to pay the bills.  There is no evidence that they will support a team in the future.  Many of my friends are loyal Giant and 49er fans but I hardly know anyone who follows the Warriors or NBA basketball. The Giants may draw at AT&T but that's no guarantee NBA basketball will be supported.

Some Other Thoughts:  David Stern Commissioner of the NBA was at today's press conference. Wasn't he recently in Sacramento?.....  If a site in San Francisco is not available by 2017 there is always the Carrier Plan outlined yesterday on this blog.....  The new arena is going to  be used for concerts and conventions.  That's a stretch to say the least. Doesn't San Francisco already have a large Convention Center and all kinds of concert halls at a  more reasonable rate.  As mentioned yesterday the new arena will also be used for The Bulls hockey team and St. Ignatius College Prep Volleyball. ... Will the arena every be built at piers 30 and 32?   Look for them to move to the site the Giants control  near the O'Doul Bridge....Numbers I have heard which is strictly rumor is that the cost of seat license will be upward to $30,000 and the City will receive slightly over$1.00 a year from the Warriors to lease the area.... Business associates visiting town who don't  know a basketball from a soccer ball will make up the future Rainbows' fan base.

Homer Sweeney