Noticed?

[Rog]

Anyone noticed that Brandon Belt is 8 for his last 17 with runners on base?  5 for 11 with RISP?

I can't imagine anyone has missed Buster Posey's hitting the past two games.  Buster now has 13 hits in his last seven games.  


Are the Giants getting hot at the right time?  Way too early to tell, but so far so good against the Cardinals.  Let's just say it's too early to panic.

[klaiggeb]

I've noticed, Rog, and I just signed on to post basically the same thing.

I've also noticed he's going to LF a LOT more.

What we're seeing now is "Good Brandon."

Unfortunately we see much, too much of "Bad Brandon."

My guess is that IF he'd ticked off the GM, as he ticked off me, he's likely just saved his job in SF.



But not if I'm the GM he hasn't.

I have a long memory, and that memory INCLUDES his ridiculous RELUCTANCE to WANT to go the other way with the ball.


In fact, in the post game interview in Arizona he said, and I quote. "I hate hitting the ball the other way."


Now, IF I was the GM... could he still save his job?

Yes, he could, but here's what I'd HAVE to see, and see a LOT of it.


1-Continuing to do what he's doing; hitting the ball the other way WITH AUTHORITY.

2-Eclipsing 80 RBIs in the 16 games remaining.

3-He have to SHOW me, and I mean, REALLY SHOW ME that he's permanently made adjustments to NO LONGER have those massive, inexplicable Bad Brandon slumps. All players slump, but not like he does.


He shows me those things over the next 16... maybe 16+ games, and I keep him.

If not... , as the Monkees sang: well, he can..."Take the last train to Clarksville..."

boly

[sfgdood]

too little too late

[Rog]

The Giants are still in Wild Card position, so I don't think it's too late.

[klaiggeb]

Roger, you are truly an optimist.

I wish I could be.

I see the proverbial "writing on the wall."

This team just doesn't have the "IT" needed to win.

We lost TWICE to half assed starters this weekend.

And now we go to LA...

I'm thinking... sweep... for LA

boly

[sfgdood]

Anyone who has faith in this offense and/or this bullpen is kidding himself.

[Rog]

I don't know that anyone here has true faith in the TEAM, let alone the slumping offense and the combustible bullpen. But even after last night's huge disappointment -- and a rash of them over the season, concentrated in the past month or so -- this thing is far from over.

Instead of simply expressing our frustration and disappoint, how about more ideas to help. Good ideas are tough when a team is struggling this badly, but I think they are at least worth discussing.

Boly would like to see more of Corey Gearrin. I would like more Smith and especially Law. How about some other ideas and the reasons why we think they might work?

If I had one complaint about this board, it's that the ratio of complaints to possible solutions is way, way too high. It's really easy to complain -- even when things are going well, let alone when they collapse. Researching and thinking through possible solutions take more effort, but they have considerably more meaning.

And then there's the uniformed stuff like picking on Brandon Belt for the second-half problems, when he leads the team in second-half RBI's and has been their best hitter with runners on and in scoring position. IMO too often we go with what we believe our eyes and gut tell us, without studying to see what has actually happened. Our judgment and memories aren't always accurate.

[klaiggeb]

Rog, with all due respect, as the Fonz used to say..."Sit on it."

boly

[sfgdood]

That might have been more helpful in July, Stats Geek...but on September 20, not much can be changed. Too late

[Rog]

I'm thinking... sweep... for LA


Rog -- Still thinking that way?

[Rog]

Rog, with all due respect, as the Fonz used to say..."Sit on it."


Rog -- I wish I could open more minds around here.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3494/noticed?page=1#ixzz4KuS5BOhD

[Rog]

That might have been more helpful in July, Stats Geek...but on September 20, not much can be changed. Too late


Rog -- Not sure specifically what you're referring to, Randy, but I'll guess it's Brandon Belt. Are you going to deny he's been the Giants' best hitter so far? Are you going to deny that he's had his best season at the plate? I guess it wouldn't surprise me, since you seem to be in denial.

As for this "Stats Geek" stuff, if you had decent arguments, you wouldn't have to sink to such a low level.



Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3494/noticed?page=1#ixzz4KuSn1trS

[sfgdood]

It wasn't directed at Belt. I have fully stated my peace on that subject. It was directed at your call for "ideas." What good would OUR ideas do the Giants when 1) they wont be heeded and 2) it's too late in the season to do much good. Anything that hasn't been tried yet would fall under the category of desperation.

As for my "arguments" that is a joke. YOU are the only one here that sees this forum as a competition. The rest of us just post our own opinions without much care if anyone changes his mind. I call things as I see them and there doesn't seem to be much doubt that you are ALL about numbers and metrics on here. That's what I call a stats geek.

[Rog]

The Giants certainly aren't going to heed our ideas. But isn't that what this forum is for -- ideas, observations and discussion?

The forum isn't a competition -- but shouldn't we back up our thoughts with as many facts and as much analysis and reason as we can?

As for my being all about numbers, with the exception of Don on Giants history and Boly on mechanics, it appears I know as much about the game as anyone here -- without metrics. I know enough to have discussed the game in some detail with Chris Speier, Brad Wellman and Chris Lincecum
-- without metrics. If all I knew was numbers, those guys would have given me short shrift.

It has been said that I don't watch the games, but I don't know of anyone on the board who has seen more games of the Giants and their minor league teams than I.

You could have been there in 2006 when Tim Lincecum pitched for the Giants in San Jose and Stockton. You could have been there when Buster Posey made his debut with San Jose on September 6, 2008, catching Tim Alderson in the playoffs, and learned from the radar gun guy that Alderson -- fairly soon to be traded for Freddy Sanchez -- rarely broke 90 on the gun. You could have been there April 10, 2009 when Madison Bumgarner made his San Jose debut, pitching to Buster. You could have watched their entire bullpen, although you would been almost the only one who did. Heck, you could have given the board a scouting report on Bumgarner.

You could have watched Lincecum's four starts in Fresno, charted his pitches, and given us a scouting report, just as you would have done after watching him pitch for San Jose. You could have been at least prepared if you got the chance to report on those games to his dad.

But as far as I know, you didn't do any of those things. And thus missed an opportunity to learn a lot about some things that were to become important in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

[sfgdood]

As far as I know, the only "insight" you gave about our three titles was that we were just lucky because the numbers didn't add up for you

[Rog]

I don't think the numbers -- aside from wins and losses -- have much to do with it, Randy. I have heard even the Giants' announcers talk about how 2014 at the very least involved luck -- or at least getting hot at the right time.

A long time ago -- well before I got involved in metrics -- the obvious dawned on me, that many games are decided by one or two plays, which often could go either way. Whether it be an umpire's call (a little less likely with replay), an error or great play by the opposition, an opposing hitter's just missing a pitch right down the middle, dunking in a hit on a pitch where the hitter was fooled, or perhaps being so fooled by a close pitch that it is taken for a ball (Think Yusmeiro Petit's just-missed perfect game). Maybe a ball that is foul or fair by an inch, or a ball that is just caught or just missed by the opposition. Maybe a ball where the opposition is out of position, but the ball just happens to find them.

Those things will eventually even out, but not necessarily in the same season, and certainly not in a game or a series. Good teams get cold, and bad teams get hot. Any team in the majors can beat any other in a single game, and usually in a series -- even one of seven games.

If we look at the entirety of the seasons and postseasons, it is clear that the Giants didn't have the best team in 2010, 2012 or 2014. But they did win the all-important tournament. Some of it may have been their character. Some of it may have been getting hot at the right time. Some of it may have been luck.

The Giants were the champions. But not necessarily the best team. A 162-game schedule is a much better test of a team than a much shorter tournament. I think the Giants deserve special credit for 2014, since they could easily have been derailed by injuries but somehow found a way to overcome them.

[klaiggeb]

Rog says---The Giants were the champions. But not necessarily the best team.

***boly says***

that's an EXCELLENT point, Rog.

We were NOT the best team.

But the differences between those champions, and these clods are:

1-they did NOT drop an 8 game lead in the 2nd half.

2-They did NOT go into a massive team slump

3-They did NOT blow 28 or 29 saves.

4-They did NOT play like crap most of the 2nd half.

Those are just some of the reasons I'm not optimistic about these guys.

We get in.

Swell.

Then what?

One and done because:

a-We can't score runs
b-We can't close out the game
c-Matt Moore implodes again?
d-all of the above

boly

[Rog]

1-they did NOT drop an 8 game lead in the 2nd half.

2-They did NOT go into a massive team slump

3-They did NOT blow 28 or 29 saves.

4-They did NOT play like crap most of the 2nd half.


Rog -- I'm not particularly optimistic even after noting that the Giants had nearly as bad and nearly as long a streak in 2014 as this season -- and a longer hot streak -- but the point is that they're still in it. Not just mathematically alive; IN it.

Thank God for the second Wild Card, and especially for the Wild Card in general.


Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3494/noticed#ixzz4LBPfIzAZ

[klaiggeb]

Rog, I'm not sure I even want to make the post season.

Seriously.

These clowns, and that is exactly what they are, clowns, do not deserve to make it.

They don't.

I watch the pre game show every day.

I listen to the analysis of Flannery and others... but it doesn't make any difference.

This team is an embarrassment to all Giant fans everywhere.

All the rhetoric, all the talk, all the speculation about what they "can" do is tidal-waved by the reality of it all.

Most of our hard hit balls go for outs.

Last night Panik, and Belt, just to name a couple, are great examples.

We opened the game with a lineout by Span.

The other team almost ALWAYS finds a hole no matter how hard the ball is it.

They bloop one... it usually finds a hole.

We are unable to do that.

And Bochy, no matter what strings he pulls, don't work.

This has been a 2 month nightmare and from where I sit, I see ZERO hope for next year.

We can't score runs NOW... what makes ANYONE believe it'll change next year?

boly

[sfgdood]

I have heard even the Giants' announcers talk about how 2014 at the very least involved luck -- or at least getting hot at the right time.

Dood - I've lost a lot of respect for Kruk and Kuip in recent years because it seems like every single play, to them, involves one team or the other "catching a break." That is utter nonsense. That and Kuiper constantly saying "unbelievable." That's something you'd expect from someone who hasn't watched a lot of baseball in his life. Someone who's been in the game for 50 years like Kuip? Not much should surprise him at this point.

[klaiggeb]

I'm frustrated with them, too, Randy... but that doesn't take ANYTHING away from the truth of the statement: Unbelievable.

That is what I'VE BEEN SAYING since mid August!

It HAS been unbelievable. Incredibly so.

I've never, ever, EVER seen a team have such a prolonged period of simply bad luck as this year's Giants.


In today's game, COUNT the number of balls hit right at people.

Not just hard hit bullets, but balls hit right at people!


Far, far too many.

Doesn't matter how hard or how many, the vast majority of them find leather.


Thus, unbelievable is THE RIGHT WORD.

boly