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KTE: They Might Be Giants

sharpie Jul 08 2011 07:54 AM

I was in San Francisco last week for KTE research (also to visit my daughter and sister). Now, this team is the reigning world champeen but never have I seen such a display of random fandom. Every other person seemed to be wearing a Giants hat or an article of Giants branded clothing; the bars were thick with people crowding around the TV to cheer on the local lads; a 20-something prettygirl had a freakin’ Giants tattoo on her thigh. My daughter’s boyfriend grew up in Atlanta. It was finally time for the talk. He’s lived in San Francisco for all of a year but is now a diehard Giants fan although he ‘fessed that he was an obsessive Braves fan growing up and hated the Mets especially after they got the sainted Tom Glavine. In that he has foresworn his Braves allegiances, I won’t object to his dating my daughter although this weekend we will be enemies once more. I don’t recall seeing any A’s gear and I spent some time in Oakland and Berkeley. We can expect to see these Gigantors: C – Eli Whiteside. He and I share a birthday (tho’ more than twenty years apart). He plays because Buster Posey was in the wrong spot for a play at the plate or was brutalized by the runner and a Congressional investigation is in order depending on whose side you’re on. What he doesn’t do is hit: 3hr, 12rbi, .225. 1B – Aubrey Huff. Made knuckleheaded comments to a Baltimore radio show but then became Mr. Giant last year. He doesn’t hit much for a first baseman: 8hr, 43rbi, .241. 2B – Bill Hall (2-14-.211) and Emmanuel Burris (0-4-.220) form a crappy second base tandem for the boys in orange and black. Hall got stitches after being spiked the other day so probably won’t see action. SS – Similar situation. Once-time-MVP Miguel Tejada (3-24-.240) and never-will-be-MVP Brandon Crawford (2-16-.215) complete the middle infield craptocracy. 3B – Pablo Sandoval, who took their World Champeen year off productionwise and rode the pine in the postseason, is back to being a good player. Certainly their best hitter. Spent some time on the DL but has been hot lately. 8-27-.302. OF – We’ll probably see all of these guys at some point or another ‘cause I can’t get when who sees action: Former Phillie Pat Burrell 7-21-.240 Former Marlin Cody Ross 6-25-.271 Former Phillie Aaron Rowand 2-16-.242 Career Giant Nate Schierholtz 6-27-.278 (hit a walkoff homer in the 14th two nights ago) Former Tiger Andres Torres 3-14-.226 None of ‘em scares you. You think, this team bites, they must be in last. But they’re in first. They have a 50-39 record and are two games up. Their three all-star starting pitchers for this series is why. FRI: R.A. Dickey vs. Ryan Vogelsong (6-1, 2.13). Those 6 wins equal his career high with Pittsburgh in 2004. He managed to lose 13 to go with those 6 wins that year. He’s due to lose about 12 in a row. SAT: Chris Capuano vs. Tim Lincecum (6-7, 3.14). Off year for the Freak so far but he’s capable of turning it on when you least expect it. Pitched 7 shutout innings against us in May. Career 2-1, 3.07 vs. Mets. SUN: Mike Pelfrey vs. Matt Cain (7-5, 3.22). Hit David Wright in the head. Career 4-3, 4.03 vs. Mets. Closer is Brian Wilson. Dyed beard, yeah yeah yeah. GiantMets: ‘Roid user and Piazza-thrower-atter Guillermo Mota played for the Mets a couple of times. Manager Bruce (Big Head) Bochy caught for the Mets back in the dark days. MetGiants: Wayne Hagin broadcast the Giants for a couple of years in the ‘80’s.

Edgy MD Jul 08 2011 08:05 AM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

We're facing --- what is it? --- seven All-Star starters in a row?

Ceetar Jul 08 2011 08:15 AM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

We're facing --- what is it? --- seven All-Star starters in a row? Vogelsong strikes fear into my very soul. What I wrote for the last KTE on him. oops. (btw, this KTE didn't get archived: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16099) He pitched against Dickey last time too. Vogelsong is the Giants version of Jason Isringhausen, Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 5th round of the 1998 amateur draft he was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Armando Rios to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal. The Giants had only really used him as a mop-up reliever through 24.2 innings, and the Pirates made him a starter. He wasn't really successful at either role. He was granted free agency after 2006, pitched in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes and the Hanshin Tigers, and didn't show up in the majors until 2010 where he signed free agent contracts with the Phillies and the Angels, being used by neither of them on the major league roster. He signed with the Giants again on 1/11/11. He struck out 17 in 11.1 innings this year in the minors and got the call when Zito went on the DL. This will be his fourth appearance and second start. He's got a 1.74 ERA and 11 Ks in 10.1 innings. In three games, one start, against the Mets he's got 1 win over 9 innings and a 1.0 ERA. The Mets starter in that game? Aaron Heilman. The only Met to drive in a run? Miguel Cairo drove in Ramon Castro back in July of 2005. Beltran is 0/1, Wright 2/5, Reyes 0/1.

sharpie Jul 08 2011 08:32 AM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

Ceetar, no fair using material from your researched and detailed KTE in my thrown-together-at-the-last-minute one.

Ceetar Jul 08 2011 08:40 AM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

sharpie wrote: Ceetar, no fair using material from your researched and detailed KTE in my thrown-together-at-the-last-minute one. sorry! (although I should point out I threw that together at the last minute too) I was just curious on how I wrote Vogelsong up given that at that point he was a journeyman scrub and now he's an All-Star.

smg58 Jul 08 2011 01:24 PM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

If we can score three runs each game, we'll sweep.

TransMonk Jul 08 2011 02:17 PM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

I'm your only friend I'm not your only friend But I'm a little glowing friend But really I'm not actually your friend But I am Nice work, sharpie.

metirish Jul 08 2011 02:19 PM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

Sharp work on the KTE.

G-Fafif Jul 08 2011 04:41 PM Re: KTE: They Might Be Giants

Appreciate the on-the-scene research.