I guess this is all part of all of us getting older, but the heroes of the golden era are fading away. Charle Young is the latest. 1st round pick and rookie of the year for the Eagles back in 1973 as a vet presence on a young team. from USC and was instrumental in setting the tone for that 1981 Super Bowl run. He was a Fresno kid who went to USC. He was 75. Funny thing is, he had the same issue I have with my name.
“People had a problem. They thought they had better call me Charlie or Chuck. But Chuck doesn’t fit me, and they didn’t know if they should spell the other one Charlie or Charley. So I decided to find a shorter name that would make it easier for them, and I decided on Charle. Call me Charlie if you want but spell it Charle.”
Still have a few friends that call me Chuck but I never really liked it either. And I randomly see people spell my name with the ‘ey’. Not famous enough to do anything about it though. Plus I have 2 cousins, 2 uncles, and 2 grandparents named Chuck, so I wanted to be different.
In other news, Craig Morton passed as well. Ex-Cal Bear who went on to greatness with the dreaded Cowboys, and somehow dragged the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl in what for me was the ONLY time I’ve ever rooted for Denver to win anything.
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And hey! Got Robbie Ray going today so let’s see if the Giants can. live up to the prediction of sweeping 4 in LA! Facing Ohtani tonight. At least he isn’t a lefty. Let’s hope we give Rotten Robbie some run support. A 2.74 ERA should be enough to be better than 3-4.
Forty Niners Forever 
Too funny seeing Roman Gabriel as an Eagle. Can’t find any Niner highlights.
Early in SB XVI, we had already fumbled the opening kickoff. We got the ball back and ran a reverse with a lateral to Montana who threw about 15 yards the Young. It looked like an overthrow and interception. Young jumped high in the air and snagged it, averting disaster. I always remember Charle for that play.
I need to watch that game again. Been a while.
Charle Young was a stud from a bygone era of college ball and the NFL.
He was from Edison High in Fresno (back then, the so-called “black” high school that pumped out a ton of great athletes) and onto USC under the legendary Coach McKay, where he was on the ’72 NCAA title team. NFL ROY in the ’72-’73 season, and onto a long, solid NFL career including the first Niner Super Bowl team. Definitely a ’70s star at the TE position for college and the NFL. Helluva player in his prime and IMO a trailblazer for enhancing the TE position into a real offensive threat in the NFL game.
So, Unca, are you now to be better known as “unca Charle”?
You beat me to it.
Uncle Charley! Loved this cat in My Three Sons. He was good friends with Fred MacMurray, due to a number of movies he made with him. I always get William Demarest (Uncle Charley) mixed up with another favorite, William Frawley, who was the original cast member in My Three Sons (and was also in I Love Lucy).
Due to diminishing health, Frawley was replaced by Demarest. I think Frawley also had a drinking problem (didn’t we all???).
The Flying Squirrels new starter “Tugboat” Wilkinson just threw a gem start for them in his first appearance. 5 IP, no runs, 6Ks. Best ERA and WHIP in the AA Eastern League. Yeah, he sorta has a David Wells look.
This is perfect: Trade Robbie Ray an his expiring deal in about 6 weeks before he gets hurt, and the Tugboat steams in McCovey Cove to take that lefty starter spot.
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/sf-giants-bailey-trade-prospect-22257389.php
And, while talking about the Squirrels, this Bo Davidson looks like a stud (link below has two vids, he’s ripping two doubles). Easy swings and the ball jumps off his bat. Slashing really good stats this season in a notoriously tough AA Eastern league. Bring this guy to SAC and let’s see if he can get fired up to add some sizzle down I-80 to the SF outfield.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/richmond/news/squirrels-open-road-trip-with-7-1-win
Heard on the radio today that the NFL team scheduled to travel the most miles this season is the 49ers. I think the number was like 38,000…
truly another why the F does League brass do this to teams. I think I read there are 9 Int’l games this season where teams are flying all over Europe etc. Like an NFL season isn’t already difficult enough and there’s still talk about adding another game to regular season schedule. yeow.
Paris, Rio, London (3 times? they already have “football” and I doubt soccer stadiums appreciate games being played there)Madrid Munich…
Interesting discussion in TA about Arraez-Schmitt. Arraez is on 1 year $12 million make good salary. Extending him will cost lost more per year than that given year he is having at plate and in the field.
Schmitt has .500 slugging, is hitting .285 (second only to Arraez) and leads team in HRs (6) and OPS (.838) among regulars. He’s making $740K, will be arb eligible next year and can’t be FA wil 2030. He’s also only 2 years younger than Arraez.
what to do?
Trade Chappie, give Schmitty 3rd base. I think they need to reframe this discussion as such. Both Schmitt and Arraez should be starting, somewhere in the field…
Well I’m a huge fan of Luis Arreaz the only thing Posey did right in the offseason Mahle&Houser the best he could do for starters ?Yeah probably break even said to Posey you have to cut into the Giants junior program money to sign them..
The thing with Arreaz I’ve always appreciated hitters that consistently make contact going back to the 60’s for me..Carew,Tovar,Boggs,Greenwell,Mattingly,Gynnn,Brett, etc that are constantly on base putting pressure on pitchers and their opponents.. Just my 2 cents you have a 3time batting champion on a cheap contract playing all world defense nobody expected, U lock that type player easily for 2/3 years imo
Agree, AK. A pleasure watching him bat. People rag that he doesn’t hit homers; don’t need him to hit homers as long as others are doing so. He needs to be locked up for near future.
God help me. On Streameast, I have the Dodger feed with Orel Leonard “Bulldog” Hershiser IV doing “color.” He should get one of those Life Alert bracelets, so if he ever gets a life, he’ll be notified immediately.
That’s funny as hell Blade , I’ve never liked that Dweeb Orel.Just his name says he took nothing but shit in grade school, probably got punched in the face a lot.
Then late in his career he ended up with the Giants and I hated him even more.
Mercifully, he’s like a church mouse on this broadcast – hardly makes a peep. Play by play announcer (whom I never heard of) just rattles on and on.
Bomb Espinal. Sheesh, another blast by Betts. Hmm . . . Yeah AK, I didn’t like that signing either. He was a .500 pitcher by then. Gmen said, “No thank you” on his option year.
Pffft! Adames with career 5 SOs in 7 ABs against Ohtani.
You guys hear about are see about the Giants outfielders celebration after the 9-3 victory Monday Night?
As Baggs reported MLB was not happy ,and I have to agree the Lewd Dry Hump gyrations lead by Gilbert more to Ramos then Lee went Viral.. Manager Tony V didn’t notice it supposedly but did say “Well their a close knit bunch” Last night they just bowed as a group, the message must of got through.,
https://x.com/CodifyBaseball/status/2054203905660317998?s=20
lol . . . That’s some funny shit. Am I the only one that thinks this is probably going to be okay with the San Francisco community, particularly the Castro District???
Not certain, but I think Chapman is now 3 for 41 or 42 (per the play by play guy).
Arraez is a hitting machine. Rest of the team should watch him intently when he is at bat.
Yep lifetime.316 batting average with 3 batting titles says it all Blade.So he doesn’t hit bombs big deal that’s not his job he sets the table for the rest of the LU..
Fucking Adames getting doubled off base ,this fucking team has to be worst team in baseball running bases and with idiot baseball coaches Borg and whoever at 1st don’t help..
For the life of me, I can’t figure this team out AK. Last 2 games they play like WORLD BEATERS! No major fuck ups, clean baseball in the field and at bat.
Fast forward 24 hours later, they get the “brain freeze” contagion again and play like April and 1st week of May again.
Arraez of course is the only one that’s been vaccinated from this disease.
What the hell was Adames doing?
Wow I backed up my dvr since they didn’t even bother showing a replay on Gilbert’s drive that was caught and I swear Adames was jogging towards 3rd thinking there was 2 outs!! Inexcusable brain freeze..
Adames is a freaking joke. If “stupid” was a science, he’d have a PhD.
Can’t win ’em all, or most of ’em if you’re the Giants.
Ohtani may take the Cy this season, he’s tired of MVP awards, I suppose…
Hardly watched any of game, but from what I’ve read Rodriguez having his issues behind the plate. PB last night, throws to 2nd, etc. Susac is supposed to come off IL once Giants hit Sac for weekend series vs. A’s.
Who goes? And do they really keep 3 Cs??? How do you send down Haase?
Yeah that don’t need 3 catchers even if they think Rodriguez is versatile and can play other positions I don’t see that, and he could of been charged 2 PB last night and he’s 0-7 against base runners stealing as well, his throws have been awful I would keep Hasse cause he’s a veteran behind the plate and send back down Rodriguez for now to work on his game more once they activate Susac..
Still steamed about our imbecilic SS “. . . getting doubled off second base because he miscounted the outs.”*
*https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48766151/amid-slump-ohtani-keeps-mound-dominance-win-giants
Rue the day I actually suggested and supported this signing. Bad on me.
Yeah I was all in as well getting Adames Blade they needed a SS after Crawford’s declining in the end for sure an overpay but nobody else was ready in the organization.
He fessed up to his brainfreeze play but WTF does it take useless Borg to signal theirs only one out at him? Shit even little leaguers no better.
AK, I think both of us (and perhaps, many fans), were so sick and tired of Zaidi missing out on free agents (Judge, Stanton, Harper, etc., etc.) that when Adames became available, we were fucking desperate at that point.
Bottom line? This organization’s problem is that it has million dollar dreams with a minimum wage work ethic.
Bottom line Ohtani beat Giants like he has done all season. tip cap/move on Adames did not cost the Giants the game lol. He made a boneheaded mistake and owned up to it. Vitello to his credit did not go all Billy Martin and kick his ass off the field. Again, he fraternizes with everyone especially Latin players and I’m sure he did it with Brewers as well.
“Adames did not cost the Giants the game”
Who said he did? No one . . . That doesn’t take away from the fact, he has a fucking hard time keeping his head in the game. He made a bone head error a few games ago on an easy grounder, that he muffed for an error. Sure, the Giants were out of that game, but he still made an error on an easy play.
He sucks.
And another thing he was fraternizing with Mookie Betts at 2nd right before his brainfreeze move! Posey has come out and said that’s not what you do he hates that! And especially against the Freaking Dogpile you’re most bitter rival..
Yeah I get it different times BS now and all players engage in small talk but can’t it be before the games only?
“Feast or Famine” Strike Out teammates:
Matt Chapman: 23.1% (admittedly roughly league average. However, as I noted last night, he is in an unbelievable slump right now).
Willy Adames: ~30%
Rafael Devers: ~31%
Luis Arráez: ~4% (The extreme outlier).
Why is this important? We play half our games in the most difficult, or near most difficult ballpark in the MLB. This approach is particularly risky in San Francisco. A “max-effort” swing that results in a 380-foot flyout to the triple-alley part of the park is a “famine” result, whereas Arráez would have just poked a single into left field to keep the inning alive.
When Adames and Devers connect on the same night, the Giants look like they can score 10 runs easily. But when their timing is off, you get those 1-0 or 2-0 losses where the team leaves 10 men on base because the middle of the order couldn’t put the ball in play.
It’s definitely a tough watch for fans who prefer the “keep the conga line moving” style of baseball . . . Remember, 2010, 2012, 2014??? It feels like the team is waiting for a three-run homer that may never come, rather than just putting pressure on the defense.
Rest assured Posey knew ahead of time all about Adames K %-during last few seasons with Brewers it varied btw 25.1-26.9%. It was 26.1% last year when he hit 30 HRs, which no Giant had done during 3/5, nor since Bonds.
Couple of Dogs power hitters K quite often as well: Muncy has been at least 25% for almost last 8 years. Teo H career K% is 29% over 11 years (!) and 4 times since 2018 it’s been over 30%. The game is different than 3/5 years, and it’s not coming back. Pitchers are more advanced, throw harder and teams have more data than ever to help improve them, in season and beyond.
Might be time to lower the mound again.
Not certain what you are trying to say. I could give 2 shits if a player strikes out often, but at least be productive in other aspects of the game. I would take Muncy every day and twice on Sunday, e.g., this season – he has a .917 OPS; 11 bombs; BA .271.
No one on the Giants can come close to that production.
Amazing stat about Othani, he’s never given up a career run against Giants as a Dodger.
He did give up a run to the Giants in 2021(there last good year) as a member of the Angels a Solo HR blast by Yaz.! 5 years of dominance by him, yeah he OWNS the Giants..
The Giants current woes and those of the last half decade and more all revert to one main thing — they have been dogmeat at recognizing, drafting and developing talent in house. The examples are endless. So they make PR moves spending money wildly and wrongly on name players who nobody else wants or needs — also known as “never rebuild” or “never get to the post season”. Adames coming with SF one of the most recent glaring mistake. Fans, as blade noted above, even smart ones like here on this blog, are so hungry for talent that some of these moves look good at the outset, then turn into turds when they put on the uni and play.
Management knew for half a decade or more that at some point, Craw would have to be replaced. Regardless of years available to them to find/develop a replacement, they could not do it to save their souls. The Will Wilson – Zack Cozart / Angels trade debacle, the endless and ridiculous dance with Luciano, the Correa signing/ rescinding debacle, and on and on.
Oh, and Otto Lopez, SS with the Marlins, is tearing it up. 27 years old. Huh?
Current OPS of .864 and OPS+ of 144. Wow. Wouldn’t that be nice on the Giants? The Giants got him from Toronto late in off-season 2024, had him in Scottsdale in Spring of 2024 for a while and then put him to the AAA River Cats for half a cup of coffee. Then — they just cut him. DFA’d before he played more than a handful of River Cats games. Marlins almost immediately picked him up for nothing in Spring 2024, developed him, and the rest is history.
If the Giants had recognized what the Marlins did, and developed Lopez while Ahmed and whoever else was hacking it up at SS for Farhan in 2024, they would never have been reamed by Boras again — forced to pull the emergency cord in late 2024 and sign/overpay this perennial half-season player and Gatorade-tossing, outs-forgetting jackass Adames.
The issue isn’t really with Giants ownership/management spending far too little money, it’s spending what they do spend stupidly, and not enough on successful player development. Let’s hope this supposed crop of budding stars at A and AA (e.g., Jhonny Level ?) is not just more of the same hype…
The only game I really hate is the Dec. game at the meadowlands. Someone always gets hurt bad when we play there.
Good post snarkk. Player development is difficult in any baseball organization, as so many drafted players fail to make it the big leagues; and, the ones that do, frequently fail, only staying for the proverbial “cup of coffee.”
However, it seems the Giants fail at this far more versus other organizations, particularly our rivals, the Dodgers. Couple that with our seeming failure to sign decent free agents, it’s probably not a surprise that we’re little more than a perennial .500 team.
That was nicely done by roupp and he got out of inning with only 2 runs on the board. In auto bio by Cal Ripken he said that was the Orioles Way of playing rundown–you only make one throw.
Hershiser and the other announcer were complimenting Arraez’s defense, giving particular high praise to Ron Washington, whom we all know worked with Arraez on his fielding after he was signed. Really liked what they had to say about Arraez and Washington. Remember Washington when he was manager with the Rangers, but particularly, when he was a coach with the A’s. Gold glover Eric Chavez gave him one of his Gold Gloves in appreciation for his assistance as 3rd base/fielding coach.
That’s effing awesome! Tie ballgame
Way to go Lee, and a big fuck you to the Dodgers for letting the popup drop.