A Win!

Oh how the Giants needed a win to escape the Oakland A's with some respectability.  Sandoval and Belt got the key hits and Zito somehow got out one jam after another. It wasn't long ago Giants pitchers were always getting quality starts and now they are few and far between.  The good news is that with all their problems the Giants are still only 1 1/2 games behind the DBacks in the west. The plan is to keep close and then take your chances.

K & K during their telecast today mentioned that the Giants led the league in walks and this is most likely one of the reasons the Giants defense has been so poor.  The players are falling asleep in the field.  I might add that the TV viewers at home are also dozing.   There have been some horrible long drawn out games lately.

The Giants and A's both wore their batting practice caps during the series  Major League baseball approved this alternative for inter league games.  The question is why.  Don't tell me it is sell more caps!

The Stanley Cup.  The Sharks do a great job qualifying  for the Stanley Cup almost every year only to disappoint and be eliminated.  It has to be embarrassing for the San Jose team  that they are the only California NHL team to have not won the prize cup.

Homer Sweeney

Worried About the Giants

After coming to life in the last two games against the Rockies over the weekend the Giants again looked dead in their loss to the A's on Monday. . .Not like recent years the Giants are scoring plenty of runs  but pitching is a problem that might be difficult to correct.  The starters are getting hit regularly which forces the relief staff to pitch more.  This has obviously effected Konkos who can't seem to get anyone out lately. . . If you read this blog last Wednesday it is no surprise that the rookie left hander Michael Kickham just up from Fresno will start tonight's game. . . Pablo worries me.  It has been reported that he has been under the weather  for the past six days and he does look sick at the plate.  He is not the same.  Could it be that some thing else is on his mind like drug testing or another potential law suit?  I certainly hope not but these are thoughts I have had looking at the usual jovial Panda the past few days. . .  In recent years on major American holidays the major league baseball teams have worn caps with red, white and blue team emblems. This year they went all out to honor the military with all teams wearing special uniforms for the day;  a wonderful gesture.  But why did they make the uniforms so ugly? I was reminded after viewing those vets at the baseball games yesterday without arms or legs that 'War is Hell'.  America has a long history of presidents that have lied to the country to get us involved in wars.  

A note on the NBA ---  I was certainly wrong about the Grizzles taking care of the Spurs.  That's the last time I listen to my NBA scout.  Come to think of it, if the Warriors had not blown that first game against the Spurs they could have won that series. . .  I read where Dwight  Howard is interested in signing with the GS Warriors.  How could the Warriors even entertain the thought to sign a player that has a history of destroying teams and turning off fans? 

Homer Sweeney    

Grading The Umpires

It's been a horrible year for baseball umpires and this week just concluded is no exception. A few weeks ago one umpire crew didn't even know that a pitcher had to pitch to at least one batter before being taken out of a game.  Another crew did not want to admit a mistake and refused to over turn an instant replay that clearly showed that the ball hit was a home run..  Saturday Giant fans were in an uproar over two blown calls one at home and another  at third by the same umpire that cost them at least one run. .  Those two calls were forgotten  when Pagan hit a two run inside the park walk off  home run to win it for the Giants.  In Seattle on the same day the first base umpire called a runner out when the pitcher caught the ball at first base but the first basement had his foot on the bag.  He apologized the next day but couldn't one of the other umpires over rule the play?    Major league umpires are mediocre  because they are protected by a strong union just like in other fields such as eduction.  Ask any teacher about incompetent teachers at their school and they stay because it is almost impossible to fire them.

I know it easy to say with these glaring errors that the umpires deserve a failing grade.  I would give them a grade of 'C' .  I believe they get about 80% of all the calls they make right.   When I was in school a few decades ago that was a 'C'.   I know today with grade inflation that it is most likely an 'A+'.  Major league baseball must use the same new criteria. 

Homer Sweeney

Giants Bounce Back

The Giants behind solid pitching and fundamental play took two of three well  played games from the visiting Washington Nationals.  The series was marred by the injury to Vogelsong.  We had just written last week that the Giants five starters were always ready to pitch when scheduled.  This streak will end in the next few days.  The Giants have tomorrow off but it plans to be a special day for Fresno pitcher Michael Kirkham.  He is moving through the organization quickly and has looked very good in his last five starts.  If he pitches well Thursday he will probably start for the Giants next Tuesday against Oakland.  Can the Giants find gold in Fresno?

Injury Reports:  The first report said that Vogelsong would be out four to six weeks which is ridiculous.  He will be fortunate to pitch in September when the rosters expand.  Yesterday the 49ers lost Crabtree with an torn Achilles which is the worst possible injury a wide reviver can receive.  He will be lucky to play in 2014.

Homer Sweeney

Santa Clara Wins Super Bowl L

The 50th Super Bowl will be played next to Great America amusement park in Santa Clara at the still to be finished Levi Stadium.  Super Bowl activities usually bring a big spike to the local economy with rip offs common.  One motel chain  is planning to buck the trend.  Motel 6's in the greater Santa Clara area are offering rooms for three nights for as little as $385. a night  if reservations are made at least one year in advance.  Houston was awarded the last Super Bowl LI which will  be played in 2017.

Homer Sweeney

The Giants and the Government

It was a tough week with the government scandals  in Washington and the Giants play in Toronto and Denver. The Giants lost five of six because of extremely poor pitching and horrible defense which looked as if the team did not know how to play the game.  The Orange and Black like all teams do on occasion have a very bad week.  The difference this time is the collapse of the pitching which has been so reliable for years.  Can it be corrected?  If it isn't the 2013 season could be very long.  The government on the other hand knows how to play the game.  All I heard all week was "I don't know"  This should be a clue for young people looking for a job with the federal government.  Answer every interview question, " I don't know" and you will  feel right at home and  the job will be yours.

Baseball Observations --- Mike Scioscia will not be fired as manager of the LA Angels of Anaheim because if he is the Dodgers will hire him immediately. . .  When Coors Field opened twenty years ago you could not buy a ticket so it was heart warming to see large crowds return this weekend for the Giants series. . .  Difference in the leagues --- The Sunday night pitcher for the Detroit Tigers Fister leads both major leagues in hit batsmen.  He has more than many team totals.  If he pitched in the National League he would have to bat every game and perhaps he wouldn't pitch so close to the batters to protect his own health. 

Homer Sweeney

So This Is Playoff Basketball!

The Warriors failed playoff basketball.  They weren't ready.  They were destroyed and the Spurs who were not that good will be eliminated quickly by Memphis.  At the end of the last game, Lee, Bogus, Curry and Barnes were all but through playing and would not have been ready for a possible seventh game.

It is being said that the future is the Warriors.  I don't believe it.  The playoffs proved that Curry's ankle is going to be on on going problem and Bogus is injury prone and could never play the 82 game NBA elimination tourney and the energetic playoffs.  Without Bogus and Curry at full strength the Warriors playoff experience will be limited to one year.

Homer Sweeney

Two Game Series

Thank goodness only two games in Toronto.  The Giants were blown out playing some of the worst baseball possible.  They made both physical and mental errors in the first innings to help the hot hitting Blue Jays scored 11 runs to start the games  in route to two easy wins. 

Before the game it was mentioned that the roof would be open and ball would be flying.  In the first inning of Wednesday's game the Giants actually led 1-0 but blew a chance to score more.  After Pagan led off the game with a double Scurato gave himself up by bunting Pagan over to third which killed any chance of a big inning.  It was stupid to play for one run so early in this game.  Scurato has done this in the past  because it helps his batting average but not the teams chances to win..  If the Giants were facing Kershaw where one run could make a difference then it would be understandable. The number of errors by both Pagan and Scurato this season are troubling.

Warriors Prediction:  Whoever wins tonight's game will win the series.

Homer Sweeney

It's So Easy!

The Giants took the final three of the four game series with the hot hitting Brave using a very simple formula, pitch and hit. Cain, Bumgarner and Lincecum  had great starts as the Giants out scored the Braves 26-5 and out hit them 32-13 in these games which included eight Giant home runs by five different players.

Homer Sweeney

Three Plus Words

Mitch Richmond former Warrior great commenting following the fourth game of the series said it was ugly.  He was right on.  It was ugly! The Warriors shot 38% for a team that needs to shoot near 60% usually to win.  Seems to me that both the Spurs and Warriors wore themselves out in the first two games and are still trying to find their legs.

Homer Sweeney

Warriors in Three Words

The bubble burst!

Homer Sweeney

More Words on the Warriors

The Warriors are unbelievable.  They are now are being claimed by some national media to have the best two shooting guards in the history of the NBA.  I am not so sure that's true but they are having a fantastic seines against he Spurs which is getting national attention.  NBA history was repeated  this week in the Miami - Chicago series.  The Bulls upset the Heat to win the first game.  Normally in the playoffs when an under dog wins a game they get thrashed in the following game which is exactly what happened to the Bulls.  The Warriors if they followed the normal NBA pattern should have been drubbed in game two. Instead they were the team in control to even the series.  Coach Jackson has those player believing.  More power to them!.

Homer Sweeney

The Broom Broke

The Giants managed to avoid being swept in the three game series with the Phillies thanks to a key hit by Torres and the pitching of Zito.  The game Monday proved to be pay back time for two ex Texas Rangers 2010 World Series veterans Mike Lee and Michael Young.  The Phillies are a different team with a healthy Utley and pitching that reminded me of the 2010 and 2012 Giants.

Homer Sweeney

The Warriors in Three Words

They blew it!

Homer Sweeney

Sweeps Week

The Giants swept the DBacks early in the week and completed the cleaning of the NL West by taking three from the Dodgers at AT&T.  Dramatic home runs and late inning hits proved to be the perfect receipt for the Giants.

We had three suggestions at the start of the season for the Giants.  The first one was to move Crawford out the eighth spot in the lineup especially against right handers.  After watching him bat this week maybe he does belong in the number eight spot.  Our second request was accomplished last week when the Giants optioned Sanchez to Fresno.  We listened to Vince Scully account of Saturday's game in which he said that Pence was hitting .190 with men on base and .300 otherwise.  I have said from the start of spring training that  Pence should not support Posey in the lineup..  Then on Sunday Pence become the hero with 4 rbi's. We will have wait for this change to be made.  I believe batting Posey third followed by Pablo then Pence makes a lot more sense.

Homer Sweeney

The Giants Pitching and the Warriors

The Giants swept the DBacks with some late innings heroics.  In previous years the Giants have gotten a lead like 4-1 and end up winning 4-2.  This year they fall behind early and somehow find a way to get clutch hits late to win.  The starting pitching has not been up to par but the most important thing is that for over a year   each of the five starters is ready to start when it is his turn.  That's gives the Giants a tremendous advantageous and they are the envy of most major league teams.

The Warriors --- It takes a lot of talent to blow an 18 point lead in the fourth quarter of the most important game of the season but fortunately they held on to win and move on to play the Spurs.  My prediction still stands.  The Warriors will win the West if they shoot 67% or better in each game.

Homer Sweeney