OT congrats to the SF Giants

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Scouts everywhere will now be looking for pitchers named Yusmeiro from Venezuela.

He's no surprise - one pitch away from a perfecto last year and set the MLB record for consecutive batters retired this year.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

He's no surprise - one pitch away from a perfecto last year and set the MLB record for consecutive batters retired this year.

He was pretty awful for his first few years in the majors and ended up playing a year in the Mexican League. He seems to have turned it around. Strikeout to walk ratio this year of over 6, wow.

[itjclarke]

His stats were pretty solid, but Petit's value this year cannot be quantified by stats alone. He's been a true swingman. He was the stop gap after Cain went down and before Peavy arrived. He then moved into Lincecum's spot and had many good, some near dominant starts down the stretch. He's also been very good out of the pen, as evidenced by last night and by setting what IMO is one of the most impressive pitching records (retired 47 batters in a row) earlier in the season.

The level of insurance and flexibility Petit gives Boch is invaluable. In the right circumstances (starter goes down to injury/innefectiveness, or gets knocked out early in a key game), I think a swing man can be one of the most valuable pitchers on a staff.. defintiely more so than a specialist or closer.

Re- lucky shirts, I'm with you Ooo-ribay! When younger, I hit my growth spurt at 13 (hit 6' 1" and never grew since), which allowed me to use the same lucky shirt in every baseball and football game I played through age 18. Still have it, holes and all. Travelling again this week and bringing "Torture" with me every step of the way... then hopefully having some home WS games I can wear it to when we get back.

[itjclarke]

The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant!

... and frankly, I cannot explain how they've done it again?? Such a weird, funky, scrappy, "any means necessary" team... but probably most important-- absolutely fearless and full of character. Regardless of how strangely they win, 3 pennants in 5 years is no fluke.

Also, big props to Travis Ishikawa. I was so happy for the guy for just coming back to the Giants and contributing with some key pinch hits down the stretch... then amazed and happy he earned a roster spot... even happier he'd been able to contribute and with exception of one time tonight, play a clean left field... and then tonight?? Are you kidding?

Giants v Royals will be a classic.

[Louieman]

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? I'm guessing this series will answer that one. Way to go Giants!

[edjs]

I hope you guys forgive me for posting this on the main forum, but this guy comes back from playing Washington, and takes the time to sign this and send it back to us (it is for my kid), in the middle of the playoffs. He is really a great model for kids (my boy was so excited when this came the other day). I am having a hard time here, last year Kemp goes up to SF and gives that sick kid his jersey, hat, cleats, ball, then brings the kid down to see a Dodger game in LA. Brandon Crawford has consistently made it hard for me to hate the Giants. What is the world coming to, SF residents learning to like Dodgers, LA residents learning to like Giants? Next thing you know there will be a Yankee fan in Boston! Nah....

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by edjs

I hope you guys forgive me for posting this on the main forum, but this guy comes back from playing Washington, and takes the time to sign this and send it back to us (it is for my kid), in the middle of the playoffs. He is really a great model for kids (my boy was so excited when this came the other day). I am having a hard time here, last year Kemp goes up to SF and gives that sick kid his jersey, hat, cleats, ball, then brings the kid down to see a Dodger game in LA. Brandon Crawford has consistently made it hard for me to hate the Giants. What is the world coming to, SF residents learning to like Dodgers, LA residents learning to like Giants? Next thing you know there will be a Yankee fan in Boston! Nah....

Funny Ed, I've totally softened on my LA hatred. I was raised to be bitter that "they take all our water", "the smog", blah blad. It peaked in college where it was a 50-50 split (San Luis Obispo) and So Calers would spot No Calers within 1-2 sentences of a conversation and call them out ("hella", "the 101", "hooked up" vs "got together", etc)... but it has really tailed off the past 10 or so. It's better that way.

Crawford an absolute class act, and glad to hear that story. He's been one of my favorite Giants since he came up.

[Rickyy]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant!

... and frankly, I cannot explain how they've done it again?? Such a weird, funky, scrappy, "any means necessary" team... but probably most important-- absolutely fearless and full of character. Regardless of how strangely they win, 3 pennants in 5 years is no fluke.

Also, big props to Travis Ishikawa. I was so happy for the guy for just coming back to the Giants and contributing with some key pinch hits down the stretch... then amazed and happy he earned a roster spot... even happier he'd been able to contribute and with exception of one time tonight, play a clean left field... and then tonight?? Are you kidding?

Giants v Royals will be a classic.

It's like Brian Sabean said...they're like cockroaches....can't kill em all...they keep coming... this was a great series though...the Cardinals grind and grind with the best of em!

Ricky Y

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Rickyy

It's like Brian Sabean said...they're like cockroaches....can't kill em all...they keep coming... this was a great series though...the Cardinals grind and grind with the best of em!

Ricky Y

Yeah, I have so much respect for the Cards and the way they play (imagining how good Jon Jay would look in orange and black) and the series could've definitely gone the other way. The Matheny cap tip was the best. Think Giants/Boch would feel the same had roles been reversed.

[barrysloate]

One of the interesting things in this fantastic Giants post season run is that Lincecum has yet to make an appearance. Bochy says he is ready to go, but I think Timmy has pitched himself into the doghouse.

Did anyone pick a Giants-Royal world series? I bet it will be a great one.