Prune Pickers Love Milk!

Giants Still Trail by 1 1/2 Games.

The Dodgers continue to lose and so do the Giants so I am wondering again like I did two months ago if Arizona might sneak in and win the West.  The last time I said this the DBacks lost about five games in row.  Will they do it again?

The Pirate Series

Aoki one of the best leadoff man in the majors was back for the Pirates opener but they batted him low in the batting order because Blanco had done so well leading off recently.  Blanco went 0-5 failing to drive in runners in three different occasion with two out.  I do not judge a lead off hitter by the number of times he gets on to start an game or inning.  I look for one that get that two out hit to dive in a run.  Blanco failed miserable in the Giants lack luster 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh.  Harvey Kuenn was not particularly fast but the could put the bat on the ball and that is the reason he was the lead off hitter for the 1962 NL Champion Giants who lost a heart breaking game 7 to the Yankees in the World Series  at Candlestick

Blanco was not benched but he batted 8th in the second game of the series and got two hits.   Home runs by newly acquired Myron Byrd and  Bumgarner featured the Giants 6-4 win over the Pirates.   Bryd will at least give the Giants a threat in the lineup that sorely misses Panic and Pence.

The Pirates hit three home runs Saturday and the Giants none.  Guess who won 3-2.  What makes baseball a great game for the fans is the discussion about strategy.  I never like a batter bunting with  none out and a man on second to get him to third.  That's what Adrianza did Saturday with none out. The Giants failed to score.  When there is a man on second the hitters job is drive him in regardless if there is none out, one out, or two outs.

I mentioned recently I did not like the way the Giants were handling their bullpen.  I wrote that they were using Konkos who is great in getting through one inning but putting him for the second inning could be disastrous.   He was pitching in his second inning Saturday when the Pirates won  with a two out walk off home run.   

I didn't understand why they removed a good hitting pitcher Mike Leake after only 77 pitchers for a pinch hitter.  Even Hall of Fame managers over manage. 

We wrote when Susac injured his finger sliding head first into third that it was stupid.  Boy was it.   Bochy only called on his replacement Sanchez to catch two games and Posey started the rest.  Could that be the reason that Posey has been a disaster at the plate on this trip?

It was just a few weeks ago when discussing Duffy as a rookie of the year candidate that Chris Heston's name was brought into the conversation. He had pitched a no hitter and won 11 games for the Giants.   Oh how things changed!  Now he is with Sacramento hopefully resting his tired arm so he can return and help the Giants in September.

The last game of the series played Sunday night was over in the first inning when the Pirates scored three runs off of Vogelsong.  Pittsburgh tried to make a game of it for the national television audience  by making all kinds of errors but the Giants said, No Thanks!  Bochy benched Belt because of a left handed pitcher but perhaps he should have had Posey sit who went hitless again.  When Posey doesn't hit and team doesn't have Panic and Pence there is really no chance.  I am starting to believe that the Giants overrated Susac.

Giants Lose in St. Louis

It was pointed out that neither the Giants or Cardinals had any of their starting outfielders available for the series that was won by the Cards 2 games to 1.  Vogelsong was the Giant hero with a very well pitched six innings Tuesday and Pérez made an absolutely fantastic catch over the right center field wall in Wednesday's game that saved Cain from a very early exist.  Cain then settled down a pitched a solid three innings and the Giants are hoping it carries over to his next start. Bumgarner is now the team # 1 pinch hitter.  Tomlinson has shown his inexperience at second base and Posey hit a couple of long drives to the wall in St. Louis that were caught and managed only one hit in the series.

It is really hard to imagine the Giants staying in this race without Panic or Pence the heart and soul of the team and both of whom could remain on the DL for weeks and possibly the season.  But give the Giants credit regardless of the handicaps they never give up.  Somehow thanks to Dodgers losses to the A's the Giants remain within striking distance.

The Media

CSBA has hired Ricky Waters 'the  traitor' to work it's pre and post game shows of the 49ers.  Remember the 49ers had just won the 1994  Super Bowl against the Chargers and he decided that the team did not run enough so he fled to 'greener' pastures.  If he had stayed the Niners' would not have waited until  2012 to return to the Super Bowl.  Now he gets to cover the team.  Surprised they allowed it!  I am losing my short term memory but long term I am still pretty accurate and I would not have hired him.

Will the Giants big four of Miller, Fleming, Kuiper and Krukow soon be three?  It is  seldom that one of the team is not on " assignment".  Miller contract must be limited to the number of games and Fleming works for ESPN.  Why do they need four when they get along just fine with three.  Or will they go the other way and hire Flannery to the team.  Tim has been the star of the pre and post games shows this year and he has worked for the Padres in a similar capacity in the past.  Not sure he wants to commit the time.   It will interesting to see what develops. 


Pro Football

Don't mention his name.  That's the message I am receiving from listening to the SC 49ers review their performance last Saturday in Houston.  I am talking about the greatest rugby player in the world Jarryd Hayne first game as a 'Niner.  He surprised everybody including the coaches who continue to downplay his unexpected performance.  I guess they are afraid he might upset their personnel plans for the team.  This is a real opportunity to excite the fans many of whom expect them to draft #1 next year.   This should not surprise us since we understand that the 49ers organization leaves a lot to be desired.  In other words they are 'stupid'.  I don't think one would ever hear a baseball manager in spring training saying after a rookie had hit three home runs in his first two exhibition games is that he really can't hit and we won't be playing him anymore.

I understand fans will receive a packet of  different supplies to help keep 'cool' at Levi Stadium this year.  Not mentioned in the press release is the fact that fans will also receive a large packet of Kleenex  to wipe away the  tears.  

I  noticed that CSBA will not use the nickname of the NFL  team in Washington DC.  Figures since it is owned by NBC.   In my book they are hypocrites.  They call the Dallas team the Cowboys.  Isn't that sexist today?  They should  really be called the Cow Persons or better still the Milk Persons so that animal lovers will not be upset.  Then they call the SC Prune Pickers the 49ers.  In reading their history the team was named after a bunch of alcoholic drunkards.   Don't want to upset those people who don't drink.  Those who love to eat prunes will know what this is all about.

Jerry Jones owner of the Milk Persons of Dallas hurt the feelings of the Prune Pickers  management by commenting  that he doesn't believe Levi Stadium turf is safe enough for his starters to play.  Where they going to play anyway, Jerry?  Tickets were going for under $1,000 so maybe it  isn't worth playing regulars.  The Prune Pickers head coach Tomsula defended the grounds crew saying that the field is in perfect  condition  which doesn't answer the question why they laid new turf.  They had rolled up the turf from Candlestick when it was being torn down and brought to Levi to be used.  Guess it didn't take.  In fact no grass is going to take because the dirt grew prune trees for decades and is refusing to cooperate with the 49ers who again look 'stupid'.  Don't believe the rumors that the NFL is thinking of moving Super Bowl 'L' game to Oakland which is actually more convenient for those who will be staying in San Francisco.  It is however an alternative.

Sports Flash!  The Prune Pickers beat the Milk Persons of Dallas 23-6 in what one might call a 'smoothie'.  The Prune Pickers have advertised that they will be a running team and if tonight was any indication it is true since they threw only 17 times.  Kaepernick played very little and what I saw looked the same---same plays same results.  Perhaps he wasted his time this summer in Arizona.  The Aussie continues to impress running the ball that helps give the faithful hope that this  season may not be so bad after all.  It look to me being about 400 miles from the stadium that the turf brought in special from Arizona held up for the game.

Win Over $1,000!

I will be emailing everyone information regarding a Monday Night Football Pool.  I have been playing it for about ten years now and can honestly say I haven't won a penny.  If your not interested just trash it.  Look for it perhaps today but very soon.

College Football

The big news down in the southland is the fact that USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian made a fool of himself at a Saturday night 'Salute to Troy'  gathering.  He was inebriated or as we use to say 'drunk'.  He not only embarrassed himself but also the University as well and had to be pulled from the microphone by Athletic Director Pat Hayden. I am surprised he wasn't fired last night.  He still may be if the President of the University gets involved.  I predicted the Trojans would be 9-3 this season and with their pre season hype would be a disappointment but maybe not bad enough to fire the coach.  With this incident last Saturday night 9-3 will get him fired.