[Mick]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

[Mick]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

[teejers1]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

[teejers1]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

[lex24]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

Doval has much better control of his slider. He just missed hitting someone in the head early this year with a 99 MPH fastball..  He’s scary.  If he can harness it, he’s gonna be special.

---

Vlad jr. is leading the league in BA, tied for the league lead in HR, and fifth in the league in RBIs.  Were it not for Ohtani, he’d be a shoe in for MVP.

Tatos Jr. is an exciting player, but he’s not at the level of Vlad yet.  They are both 22 and have been in the league three years.  Both will be exciting for years to come.

BC

Disagree on Tatis.  He’s missed about a month. Still leads league in HRs. And he has elite speed.  That is not part of Vlad’s game. Both are pretty darn special.

---

Not a stats guy. I like Vlad's stroke.

Me neither.  To me the difference is Tatis speed.  They both are dynamic  hitters.

---

Chet Johnson Sacramento Solons pitcher in the 50s.  of immense proportions hot dog
Chuck Conners LA Angels in the 50s big hot dog
Carlos Bernier Hollywood Stars in the 50s biggest hot dog.
Loved them all

Chuck Connors - The Rifleman…..

---

Well, since it's only trolling, I'm sure you'd be "in" for a fair wager:  Giants win division, you get a nice bottle of red;  Dodgers win the division, I get 2 nice bottles of red.  ("Nice" being defined as moderately priced, say below $30/bottle - winner's choice).  What say you?

Unfortunately, since I neither gamble nor drink (to any appreciable degree), this one will have to be for pride alone.  Dodgers win, you get to say "I told you so" twice; otherwise, I get to needle you over "all that needless worry" once.

BC

Any other taker, since BC wants none of it?

BTW, this is akin to me betting against a favored Stanford team in a football game.  I'd gladly pay $__ for the W; and the disappointing L will at least be partially offset by some ancillary comfort.  I'm applying this approach to the Giants and winning the division, but only to one taker.

Talk about a sucker bet :). I think the Giants are going to need to go about 12-5 to win this. That assumes the Dodgers go 13-3. I think that is possible, if not probable. They have an easy schedule. Got an enormous break by getting Brewers last weekend of season. When they will be doing nothing but setting up for playoffs.

It’s nuts.  The Giants may win 105 games.  And finish second.  

Mad Bum goes tonight. Maybe it’s his playoff game.  He’s been lousy last 4 or so starts. Roller coaster year.  Just give us one more big game, MadBum……

[lex24]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

Doval has much better control of his slider. He just missed hitting someone in the head early this year with a 99 MPH fastball..  He’s scary.  If he can harness it, he’s gonna be special.

---

Vlad jr. is leading the league in BA, tied for the league lead in HR, and fifth in the league in RBIs.  Were it not for Ohtani, he’d be a shoe in for MVP.

Tatos Jr. is an exciting player, but he’s not at the level of Vlad yet.  They are both 22 and have been in the league three years.  Both will be exciting for years to come.

BC

Disagree on Tatis.  He’s missed about a month. Still leads league in HRs. And he has elite speed.  That is not part of Vlad’s game. Both are pretty darn special.

---

Not a stats guy. I like Vlad's stroke.

Me neither.  To me the difference is Tatis speed.  They both are dynamic  hitters.

---

Chet Johnson Sacramento Solons pitcher in the 50s.  of immense proportions hot dog
Chuck Conners LA Angels in the 50s big hot dog
Carlos Bernier Hollywood Stars in the 50s biggest hot dog.
Loved them all

Chuck Connors - The Rifleman…..

---

Well, since it's only trolling, I'm sure you'd be "in" for a fair wager:  Giants win division, you get a nice bottle of red;  Dodgers win the division, I get 2 nice bottles of red.  ("Nice" being defined as moderately priced, say below $30/bottle - winner's choice).  What say you?

Unfortunately, since I neither gamble nor drink (to any appreciable degree), this one will have to be for pride alone.  Dodgers win, you get to say "I told you so" twice; otherwise, I get to needle you over "all that needless worry" once.

BC

Any other taker, since BC wants none of it?

BTW, this is akin to me betting against a favored Stanford team in a football game.  I'd gladly pay $__ for the W; and the disappointing L will at least be partially offset by some ancillary comfort.  I'm applying this approach to the Giants and winning the division, but only to one taker.

Talk about a sucker bet :). I think the Giants are going to need to go about 12-5 to win this. That assumes the Dodgers go 13-3. I think that is possible, if not probable. They have an easy schedule. Got an enormous break by getting Brewers last weekend of season. When they will be doing nothing but setting up for playoffs.

It’s nuts.  The Giants may win 105 games.  And finish second.  

Mad Bum goes tonight. Maybe it’s his playoff game.  He’s been lousy last 4 or so starts. Roller coaster year.  Just give us one more big game, MadBum……

[Giants]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

Doval - effectively wild.

[Giants]

Giants just won their ninth in a row, 6-1 over rapidly fading Padres.  Belt, Ruf, Bryant had doubles, Posey had an HR.  Desclafani now 12-6, Watson and Rogers earned "holds" and Doval pitched the last inning and struck out two.

Giants have scored 77 runs in the last 9 games and are currently #4 in OPS and #6 in runs scored.  They're #2 in ERA at 3.24 and WHIP at 1.13...both behind the Dodgers.  Giants are #7 in most errors.  They are 95-50, on pace to finish with 106 wins.

The Giants are on an amazing run that is so fun to watch.  Maybe it's fueled, at least in part, by the Dodgers continuing to win (seemingly) every game, thus forcing the Giants to do the same to stay in first place.  Regardless, this is by far the best regular season Giants team I can ever remember.  And again, so fun to watch.

Today is bullpen game against a pretty good Padres starter.  And is Snell going tomorrow?  Hmm.  Gotta keep finding ways.

On Doval, I'm not sure he has any idea where his fastball is headed.  Could have sworn Buster called 85% sliders because he, also, had no clue where the fast ball was going and didn't want to try and catch such a feral, unleashed animal.  [The hitter isn't the only one at risk of getting injured when Doval's fastball goes . . . wherever].   If/when he harnesses that pitch, he will become an immediate closer.  His slider is nasty.

P.S.  No takers on the bet, so the offer is withdrawn.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  But I'm telling you right now that if the Giants end up one-and-done in post season, that would be so effing . . . unjust!

Doval - effectively wild.

[lex24]

Couldn’t finish hitters last night. Lots of deep counts and two out hits. Couldn’t finish innings - 7 runs with 2 outs. Sometimes got to tip your hat.  brobdingnagian game today. Gausman vs Bullpen.  2 or 1 game lead. Getting through first 4 with Pads only dropping 1/2 game while LA played the beyond hapless DBacks is a win. Losing a game and a half is not.  Plus it could get Pads going.  Which would be worse.  Given they have 7 left.

[lex24]

Couldn’t finish hitters last night. Lots of deep counts and two out hits. Couldn’t finish innings - 7 runs with 2 outs. Sometimes got to tip your hat.  brobdingnagian game today. Gausman vs Bullpen.  2 or 1 game lead. Getting through first 4 with Pads only dropping 1/2 game while LA played the beyond hapless DBacks is a win. Losing a game and a half is not.  Plus it could get Pads going.  Which would be worse.  Given they have 7 left.

[lex24]

Disappointing performance from Gausman.  They needed him to step up.  I’m afraid Pads woke up after a long slumber.

[lex24]

Disappointing performance from Gausman.  They needed him to step up.  I’m afraid Pads woke up after a long slumber.

[BostonCard]

Lead is down to 1 with 15 games left.  Teeters is feeling better about how his bet would have gone.

BC

[BostonCard]

Lead is down to 1 with 15 games left.  Teeters is feeling better about how his bet would have gone.

BC

[Phogge]

They need to get Wood back soon.

[Phogge]

They need to get Wood back soon.

[French Rage]

And they said the wild card would take away great pennant races.....

[French Rage]

And they said the wild card would take away great pennant races.....

[Phogge]

Haven’t had this much fun since 1959.

[Phogge]

Haven’t had this much fun since 1959.

[lex24]

They need to get Wood back soon.

Saturday, maybe

[lex24]

They need to get Wood back soon.

Saturday, maybe

[BostonCard]

In praise of the Niners and their pre-snap motion...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/FiveThirtyEight/status/1439005258500427787?s=20[/tweet]

Since 2017, if all you know after a game ends is each team’s share of offensive plays that featured play-action and the share of plays that had some form of pre-snap motion, you can correctly guess the winner around 65 percent of the time.

I know many people here have sung Shannahan's praises, and these numbers support their assertions.

I would add that pre-snap motion and play action passes are not hard to implement, so maybe some nice lessons for our offensive braintrust.

BC

[BostonCard]

In praise of the Niners and their pre-snap motion...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/FiveThirtyEight/status/1439005258500427787?s=20[/tweet]

Since 2017, if all you know after a game ends is each team’s share of offensive plays that featured play-action and the share of plays that had some form of pre-snap motion, you can correctly guess the winner around 65 percent of the time.

I know many people here have sung Shannahan's praises, and these numbers support their assertions.

I would add that pre-snap motion and play action passes are not hard to implement, so maybe some nice lessons for our offensive braintrust.

BC

[BostonCard]

Dodgers lose, so it is chance to go up by 2 games with 14 left.

BC

[BostonCard]

Dodgers lose, so it is chance to go up by 2 games with 14 left.

BC

[qwerty49]

Good grief.  Rogers came in with absolutely nothing and allowed a 3-run HR to blow a 2-run lead in the top of the 9th.  This after Belt gets picked off first in the bottom of the 8th, wasting Slater's subsequent double.

[qwerty49]

Good grief.  Rogers came in with absolutely nothing and allowed a 3-run HR to blow a 2-run lead in the top of the 9th.  This after Belt gets picked off first in the bottom of the 8th, wasting Slater's subsequent double.

[Phogge]

Good grief indeed. Solano down to the last strike hits one out!

---

Teejers fault. Jinxed McGee to the IL.

[Phogge]

Good grief indeed. Solano down to the last strike hits one out!

---

Teejers fault. Jinxed McGee to the IL.

[Embo]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

[Embo]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

[Mick]

And the Dodgers lost.  Suck it, LA, you're two games back.

[Mick]

And the Dodgers lost.  Suck it, LA, you're two games back.

[old spanish trail]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

What a game. Rogers had at least one other game like this when every pitch was belt high across middle of the plate...and he got killed there also.  That's the fastest I've ever seen Crawford run.

[old spanish trail]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

What a game. Rogers had at least one other game like this when every pitch was belt high across middle of the plate...and he got killed there also.  That's the fastest I've ever seen Crawford run.

[lex24]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

What a game. Rogers had at least one other game like this when every pitch was belt high across middle of the plate...and he got killed there also.  That's the fastest I've ever seen Crawford run.

2 up 12 to go.  9-3 should do it..  8-4 maybe.

[lex24]

Wow.  Just when you thought you had seen everything.  What an ending!

What a game. Rogers had at least one other game like this when every pitch was belt high across middle of the plate...and he got killed there also.  That's the fastest I've ever seen Crawford run.

2 up 12 to go.  9-3 should do it..  8-4 maybe.

[Phogge]

Bullpen wins it with a big assist from Wood. Miley going against Kershaw in Cindy Sunday.

[Phogge]

Bullpen wins it with a big assist from Wood. Miley going against Kershaw in Cindy Sunday.