! ! ! ! Can’t get any lower. Still I feel I’m sinking ! ! ! !
Outshined by Chris Cornell and Soundgarden. The theme song for your SF Giants 2026 team.
In a season full of pitching debacles and crushing losses, they managed to pull one out for the ages.
Yes, the biggest blown 9th inning league in the 125 year history of the team. They were 2,208-0 when leading by 6 or more in the 9th. Til today.
Up 9-3 in the top of the 9th, the team could not even get an out before Cincy tied it. Bivans came in and really had no clue. Not sure why whoever the interim manager even was didn’t pull him a little faster, but I think it was pretty obvious Bivens didn’t have it. He gave up the longest home run into the cove that I’ve ever seen. Then again, Smith came in and nuked the joint. And the rest was errors, walks and general rookie ball crap.
I guess the lockout is a blessing.
For Dolly . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
And in the end a hooligan muff.just another example of a continuing shitshow of a season that can’t end fast enough..
Winder
says:
August 3, 2026 at 9:31 am (Edit)
Seems like the whole U.S. is nothing but payola now and baseball is no different. It’s not just the music business anymore. I have just about given up on baseball and it’s not because the Giants suck…well maybe it is.
Reply
So many great comments here and frankly, I have hardly read any news about the trades, nor followed any of the games since approximately 3-4 weeks ago. Winder’s response to xoot a couple of days ago summed up my feelings about the Giants, and MLB.
Growing up with Willie Mays patrolling center field and Juan Marichal high-kicking on the mound set a standard that is almost impossible for modern baseball to match. The game in the 1960s had a distinct, living pulse, driven by dynamic table-setters, execution plays, and starting pitchers who treated nine full innings as a minimum expectation rather than an antique concept.
Modern front-office analytics have optimized baseball into a cold math equation, heavily prioritizing the three true outcomes: home runs, walks, and strikeouts. Instead of continuous action and contact hitting, fans watch fucking endless pitching changes, single-inning relievers throwing upper-90s heat, and batters swinging for the upper deck on almost every count. Free agency forever altered the illusion of lifelong team loyalty, turning rosters into revolving doors.
Meanwhile, expanding the postseason to twelve teams diluted the pure, high-stakes drama of a grueling six-month pennant race where only the absolute best earned a shot at October glory. I FOLLOWED BASEBALL FOR 162 GAMES FOR THAT REASON. Not to see a bunch of undeserving, mediocre teams get “lucky” against the Dodgers or Yankees! Sheesh, why waste time with the season? In effect, just have a tournament for all 32 teams and call it a season. Basically, what I’m saying is that the game today ONLY benefits the owners and players. They could give 2 shits about us.
As for the putrid Giants, their stretch of mediocrity over the past decade is largely the invoice coming due for that legendary run from 2010 to 2014. After winning three titles, the organization naturally held onto their beloved championship core past their prime out of sentimentality and loyalty. At the same time, the farm system stalled out, failing to draft and develop impact star talent to replace that aging core. When the front office pivoted toward heavy analytical platooning, fans were left watching a revolving door of short-term journeymen rather than stars you could bond with over multiple summers. Throw in high-profile misses on major free-agent targets and the daunting task of competing in a division dominated by the Dodgers’ financial juggernaut, and the franchise ended up stuck in reverse. Sigh . . .
Winder, I am this “” close to saying to baseball, “Sorry. No habla fucktardo.”
Nicely sated. But, change is with us always and it usually only looks like progress. integration of mlb destroyed the negro leagues. Twenty years later Oakland’s own black Curt Flood (an exciting player) challenged the indentured servitude of the reserve clause, which inspired other players and the union to demand some sort of free agency system. Twenty years after that, the long strike and the corporate consolidation of mlb. (The commish, originally the would-be conscience of the game, became a money grubbing ceo.) We’re overdue for the next big change. Technology (stats, media, marketing, training, med care, and don’t forget vast gambling) has changed everything.
Has the game survived? I’d say yes, although it looks quite a bit different. Is that because cataracts and nostalgia obstruct my view? Only in part.
*stated
Spot on Blade great Post as a kid myself seeing awesome players like Mays,McCovey,Marichal,Cepeda,Perry all HOF dudes at The Stick,that NEVER MISSED games like a lot of players in those days on every team and pitchers threw CG,250-300 innings, all these players played hard for the love of the game!
I just don’t get it why in those days they just drank beer maybe some greenies?Didnt have high tech weight rooms, probably wouldn’t use them anyway, and these pussies now pulling hamstrings,TJ, Surgery’s,out with a hangnail etc, are Harrison Scooter dumbshit rarely happened back then except to Mantle..
Great post, blade.
Blade- those Giants teams you talked about are the reason I love this game and still feel it is the best game in the world. But just like most everything else now big money has practically ruined it. I remember well getting so mad at Stoneham for gutting the team through terrible trades that showed a complete incompetence that I just did not understand. I do now. He was broke. Just like that we were a small market team. Just think what would the Yankees be without Kansas City, etc. Free agency and massive contracts continue to keep some teams as continual farm teams for haves. I am all for players getting as much as they can since it’s only for so long. I never really thought about greed before since I never really had very much and was comfortable for most of my life. I clearly see the poison that is spreading through the world. And my vote is not enough to stop it.
Thank You Blade. Brilliant. Thank You again & again!
huh TA headline under Phils : “Luis Arraez brings his one of a kind bat and infectious energy to the Phillies.” No surprise 2 rbi singles in his first 2 ABs as Phils win 5-0 in his home debut in pinstripes.
Donnie two-times putting Arraez in the cleanup spot was a pretty solid move. He ain;t gonna be your HR guy but he drove in 3 with guys on.
AK, i think a lot of the reason players break down more is the overfocus on working out. Kids up until the 80s (?) didn’t hyperfocus on any one sport. I mean players like Mays, McCovey, Aaron, Clemente, certainly stayed in shape during the offseason, but it wasn’t every day all the time. Resting certainly helped.
And esp back in the day a lot of these guys worked on farms. Country strong was a thing. They were doing that kind of workout.
is 100 losses likely?
hmm , let’s see .. played 114, so 48 left to go .. we’re 48-66 after today’s debacle .. if we lose every game here on out would put us at 48-114 .. so Yes! Pretty decent chance for 100 loses to happen, I’d say.
*losses
if we lose every series, even if we don’t get swept in any? I think so.
oh! Yeah Baby, that’ll work for sure.
With this team pretty bereft of good, experienced MLB talent, 90+ losses looks like a lock. IMO, 100 losses might be a bridge too far, but it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.
oh yee of little faith .. LOL! We can do it!
in fact, all we need is Webb to go on IL for a week + same for Lee .. we could even get to 104 .. that’s it, I’m gonna stick my neck out and say 104 losses by the end.
Arraez with solo HR for phils.
harrison vs. Skenes in marquee pitching matchup. Total of 1 hit btw both teams in bottom 4. Harrison looks great coming back, and has 5 Ks in a row.
Little did Posey realize how much giants would miss good controllable young SP and at deadline he began searching for next one. Good luck, Giants gonna 1 or 3 of these.
“need”.
yep, Arraez with his first HR for Phils,
Ramos with his first hit (2B) for Yanks
Baseball has always been math driven. didn’t we learn as kids how to figure out BA and ERA? What analytics has done is given teams more access to stats that better define the game than those 2, or RBIs Pitcher wins, Saves, fielding pct.
any team would want to know how best to position their players to field a ball in play better, hence the cards they all have used for years. Pitchers today are far ahead of hitters in use of not just speed and spin but biodynamics etc. You see hitters checking iPads in dugout or on field after pitching change.
I still find the most compelling drama in all sports is simple pitcher vs. hitter dynamic…what pitch at what speed and where it winds up, vs. what hitter can do with it.
every pitch is a ball in play.
Just checking in on my Thursday morning… I see the 2 Carsons and “Beck is Dreck” (thanks, Tom!) did their usual magic. Just think, without them there would have been no runs scored in that game!
I might be wrong, but is this the first game ever that received no comments from posters, Flap or here? Interesting…
Probably less than 10 Flap-ugees posting regularly here. We’re fading away…
We have become accustomed, habituated to the losing. The banality of wretched play? I suppose now only the remarkable losses seem worth much comment?
If 100 losses fell in the forest and no one was around, would they make a sound?
Nope. This puts desultory to shame.
Come on DJ, there’s got to be 12 of us.
Something I didn’t realize: Giants prospect guys in Sac or Richmond that are not brought up and therefore not on 40 man roster/not subject to having to be protected from Rule 5 draft (like say Davidson) would still be able to play for Sac next season if MLB is locked out.
So this might factor into who is called up and more importantly who is not. I don’t have list of who Giants would have to protect from Rule 5 next season but I have seen discussions about this elsewhere in blogosphere.
definitely a factor. Lockout or strike might obviate the next rule 5 draft though. If CBA runs out eg.
Dec 1.
rule 5 draft set for Dec mlb meeting.
which writer / blogger is covering those issues?
Give Giants credit for finding Susac off Rule 5. So far at least he looks like regular C of the future, pleasant surprise. Both Ray and Webb iirc said he called entire games for them.
I’ve enjoyed watching susac with cavanaugh as well used backup. Not dazzling but effective.
Chappie may need abdominal surgery. Cut hin already.
LOL, not happening. Giants aren’t eating $100 mil. If it turns out he won’t be able to play again this season that also means no one likely to trade for him either until at least ST, if then. If he does return then Schmitt takes over 2b and Giants don’t need Basabe or Furman etc. except as backups in Koss role.
OF is different. Posey dealt Ramos away and I’m disappointed he didn’t get pitcher more ML ready than A ball guy he got from Yanks. Would have thought M’s could have offered more but guess not.
Could have kept Ramos around and avoided the Leonard debut in LF or having to play all LH OF (Lee Gilbert McCray) vs. LHP SP and pen. So Posey created this problem for Vitello and GM to sort out, though as above Rule 5 thing might have impact on call ups.
Just re-upped my WordPress account so we get one more year of fun.
weeeeee!
Awesome Chuck, thanks for keeping things going.
That’s Terrific News! Thank You Unca Chuck!!
Thanks chuck.
Thumbs up !
Thanks. And here I thought you guys were happy about the Chappie news.
Krukow retiring.
Apparently, immediately.
Check that. He’s done at end of the season.
I wonder if Kuiper will continue on w/out him. I’d be surprised if he does.
Idk, Snarkk…if Kuip is also packing it in, then why not do a joint announcement – unless he just doesn’t want any attention…
today is the anniversary of my first Giants dodgers game in 78. They were battling for first place in thr west. Pavarotti sang the anthem. The astroturf looked horrible but I didn’t really care.
Nice. I hated that Dodger team. But they did have some players and pitchers on that team. i wonder what a team like that would cost now days.
good question. Of course, if you spread the payments out over twenty years ….
yeah the Giants played over their heads for most of that year but they were exciting.
Sheesh, Arraez continues to rake for Philadelphia who knocked out 16 hits today vs Nats: Arraez with a single, double & rbi. The old ‘hitting is contagious’ adage comes to mind .. were we just over vaxed?
Over vaxed, funny! The Arraez thing kinda breaks my heart just a little, I must say. He looks perty good in that Phils uniform. He ain’t coming back…
Oh, Brother Paulie, I’m so with you on that .. and if I’m totally honest, I’m more heartbroken than I’m willing to admit —been doing quite a bit o ‘driving & crying’ these past few days .. Trying to understand my (over) reaction … maybe I’m just a stupid thrill junkie. Opium is such a great drug. Withdrawal is a mutherfucker.
Yeah, it’s kinda like seeing an old flame on the street looking all happy with their new love… sniff sniff. This too shall pass…
LOL! That is so right-on the money.
Is there an MLB rule that a team cannot cut a player on the IL? If Chappie is seriously out of it for awhile (stomach surgery?), they absolutely should just let him go, if it’s allowed. The money is gone, whether he’s released, or whether he’s kept but sidelined indefinitely, what’s the difference? He clearly is on an increasingly steep and irreversible slope downward, he’s not going to get any better or healthier in the future. If team is smart, they’ll release him and give 3b to Schmitt (who’s NOT a 2nd baseman). Basabe looks fine at 2b. For now…
You and Unca are unequivocally spot on regarding Chapman. I think Baltimore Orioles superstar first baseman Chris Davis was threatened with being released due to poor performance; however, after a severe multi-year statistical decline following a massive seven-year, $161 million contract extension, he officially retired on August 12, 2021, due to a chronic hip injury requiring surgery, while still receiving his full guaranteed salary. Again, not certain of the specifics or details, but I know ownership wanted to be rid of him.
Hopefully, the Giants can get rid of Chapman too by any means necessary.
Pretty cool to see Arraez raking for the Phils.
better to have loved and lost that to never have loved at all.
That may depend on to whom the love was lost …
Agree. I certainly detest the Bums. Yanks are a close second. But the phuckin Phillies .. ugh, I really do hate them. I grew up an Expos fan and, to this day, would be an Expos fan if the team still existed. I’m nothin’ if not loyal.