Random Panicky Thread

Oh man, this is bad. Keep it together keep it together keep it together

UPDATE 11:32a: Thanks Josh S. (in the comments) for this one: PANIC!!!

World Series Game 2 Thread

C.J. Wilson vs. Matt Cain.

COMMENTS: One loss shouldn't be cause for alarm, even though the Giants did get to Rangers ace Cliff Lee; in doing so, the Giants have also used up their best gun in Tim Lincecum. Game 2 falls to Wilson, who led the team in BB this year. Which means that C.J., a walker Texas Ranger is going to go all Chuck Norris on all of those fat Giants today. Count it.

World Series Game 1 Thread (4.30p)

Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.75) vs. Tim Lincecum (2-1, 1.93).

COMMENTS: That Keith Law guy over at ESPN.com might be on to something when he concludes that "pitching will be the difference" in this World Series. No. Shit. And Game 1 features the postseason matchup of the century (that is, now that we've gotten Lincecum's two duels with the equally talented Roy Halladay out of the way).

This series may be a network's nightmare (NYY-PHI would have had the #1 and #5 markets with a combined population of 25M; instead, we've got the #4 and #13 markets with a combined population of 10M and change), a true baseball fan's dream, and a barber's anxiety. But it's also going to be the vehicle that gives the San Francisco Giants, this year's Team of Destiny (TM), what is almost certain to be the franchise's first World Series title.

(Not that we're not trying to offer alternatives.)

Giants get home field advantage, ironically enough thanks to one of our own. On the flipside, the 4:30p start time may mean that the Giants reprise the NLCS and fall short of a full house. All I know is, I'll be watching. And if you're a Dodger fan, I know you will be too.

Thanks to Nic J for the image!

Since This Worked Out So Well Last Time

Remember, their track record is not so good. (In fact, it's tragic.) Oh well, without further ado, the ESPN pundits' 2010 World Series predictions:

Four points:

• 1. Jim Caple in, Eric Karabell out? Would have loved to have seen that conference room arm-wrestling match.
• 2. What determines the placement of these names? I noticed Amy K. Nelson has risen to the top...
• 3. ...and of course, that helped me noticed Amy K. Nelson. Hell-o, Amy K. Nelson! (Don't worry, this isn't an Erin Andrews thing or anything.)
• 4. Oh, and Jim Caple: BOOOOOOOOOO. That is all.

Go Rangers!

NLCS Game 6 Thread: Giants @ Phillies, 5p

Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 2.03) vs. Roy Oswalt (1-1, 3.29).

COMMENTS: Since I, SoSG Orel, was apparently fated to write this Game Thread, can we talk about fate for a minute? Were the Rangers fated to make their first World Series this year, or did they just manage to burn through the best of the AL East with talent and hard work? Are the Giants fated to return to the World Series for the second time in nine years, or do the Phillies have enough juice — which they had more than plenty of in 2008 and 2009, assholes — to make a comeback for the ages?

As we've discovered in our comments, you can lose years off your life rooting for a team not to win. Baseball just isn't as enjoyable when you're pulling for a negative outcome. But hell, everybody around here is half-happy that the Yankees are getting ready to hit the links, so what's another two Giants losses? Call it fate, or Phight — because I'm getting tired of rooting against the bad guys.

Bill Simmons Channels The Giants' Pain

With the Giants having wielded a 3-1 NLCS advantage, it's certain they're going to advance to the World Series, especially against this Phillies team that is playing like a bunch of high school prom-goers: lots of activity and tension, but no scoring. But Bill Simmons' mailbag over at ESPN.com described the Giants' sparsely-populated crowd this way (and no, the question was not from one of us Sons):

Q: Saw your tweet (after Game 4 of the NLCS) that San Francisco is "totally underrated as a baseball city" and "you can't have a better playoff atmosphere than that." I am a Dodgers fan who HATES THE GIANTS. You didn't really describe Silicon Valley techie dorks and fair-weather hipster grad students who miss the first two innings because their ultimate Frisbee game ran late as "underrated" baseball fans, right? They couldn't even sell out Game 3! -- Robert, Pasadena, Calif.

[Simmons goes on to say that he thought the crowd at the Big Phone (albeit not a full house) was interested in the baseball game (like they have any alternatives, given the lameness of the 49ers). And he cites how SBC Pac Bell AT&T Park has a beautiful view of the Bay, which is indisputable. The he picks up here:]

The Giants won in 1954 in New York, moved to California a few years later and haven't won since. They lost the '62 World Series in the most brutal way possible (McCovey's line drive that got snared). They watched in horror as the underdog Dodgers won in 1988; one year later, when the Giants finally made it back, a devastating earthquake happened right before their first World Series home game in 27 years and took precedence over everything that happened on the field. Thirteen years later, they choked away a five-run lead in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series, gave away the title to Anaheim, then their best player became the most loathed athlete of his generation. Look, I can't watch a Giants playoff home game and NOT think of that stuff. Fifty-plus years of pain. It hangs over everything. That's not atmosphere? You didn't feel it last night in the third inning when their defense fell apart and the fans went into "oh, no, please, no ..." mode?

There's no way the Giants aren't going to the World Series this year. There's no shadow of pain. There's no worries of choking. Nope, none at all.

Giants Fans Support Their Team By Leaving Early During NLCS Game 5

You heard it here (emphasis mine):

Having spoiled the Giants' clinching party, the Phillies headed home on a redeye charter, hoping to stage a celebration of their own this weekend.

Jayson Werth's solo homer in the ninth quieted the raucous sellout crowd of 43,713, and many fans began making for the exits even before the final out.

Yankees fans left Game 4 of the ALCS. And now Giants fans are leaving early in Game 5 of the NLCS? Need to beat the stifling traffic in the Bay Area?

Noted.

ALCS Game 6 Thread: Yankees @ Rangers, 5p

Phil Hughes (1-1, 5.73) vs. Colby Lewis (1-0, 1.69).

COMMENTS: Unexpecteds 3, Expecteds 2. In both LCSes. Can Colby find his cheese and send the Rangers to the World Series, or will Hughes hew to the Yankees' historical script? More importantly, which of these teams has a better chance of beating the Giants in the World Series? I can't believe I just typed that. This season has been so depressing.

Guess Which Son Is Slated To Write The NLCS Game 6 GT

Game 1: LCS Super-Duper GameThread. Disqualified due to multiple-game coverage. Giants win.

Game 2: Orel writes GameThread. Phillies win.

Game 3: Sax writes GameThread. Giants win.

Game 4: Sax writes GameThread. Giants win.

Game 5: Orel writes GameThread. Phillies win.

Game 6: ????????

Get Yer Locker Room Bulletin Board Material Right Here

From Tim Lincecum after tonight's game, in which the Phillies staved off elimination and sent the series back to Philly for Game 6:

Philadelphia will try to become the 12th team to rally from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Red Sox were the last to do it, in the 2007 ALCS against Cleveland.

"From our perspective, we see ourselves more in the driver's seat than them," Lincecum said.

I mean, he's probably right and everything. But I'd still post this on the Phillies' bulletin board at Citizens Bank Park.

Comment and link if you've found other bulletin board material, and I'll update the post.

NLCS Game 5 Thread: Phillies @ Giants, 5p

The 2010 Phillies.

Roy Halladay (1-1, 2.25) vs Tim Lincecum (2-0, 1.69).

COMMENTS: The Giants are heading to the World Series. Right now everything is going right for them — homegrown players (Lincecum, Posey) are hot, acquisitions (Ross) are hot, Bochy is making all the right decisions. Bonds is gone (except for pre-game ceremonies), so they don't have a villain on the team. Even Sandoval is heating up. I guess it's not how you start, but how you finish. Right, Padres?

NLCS Game 4 Thread: Phillies @ Giants, 4.30p

Joe Blanton vs. Madison Bumgarner.

COMMENTS: Everybody, sing along!

Hey, hey hey

It gives me pause
Your fans throw snowballs at Santa Claus
And the last two years you beat us
Kept us out of the elitist games of all

I feel no mirth
Watching home runs mashed by Jayson Werth
And not to be dogmatic
But I can't stomach that Phanatic
Standing tall

Hey there Phillies
Yeah, it's kinda silly
That I'm standing here, and say sincere
That you're the team that I've got to cheer

(But) I'd be bumming
If the next round coming
Was a World Series starring...
The Giants

ALCS Game 5 Thread: Rangers @ Yankees, 1p

C.J. Wilson (1-0, 2.03) vs. CC Sabathia (1-0, 7.20).

COMMENTS: Maybe the ALCS isn't all it was cracked up to be, because, like a Metamucil user, New York is on the brink of elimination. The heavily favored (by me, anyway) Yankees have been clobbered into submission by the Rangers, who have outscored them 30-11 in their first four games. Most impressive.

But in order to advance to the World Series, Texas has to get through New York's $161-million man, Sabathia. Can an ace turn a series around? Expect CC to throw BB's today, and perhaps he'll make the Rangers look like an AAA team. If he doesn't, Joe Girardi might have to start looking for another job.

Degree of difficulty: Tex is toast.

screengrab via Big League Stew

ALCS Game 4 Thread: Rangers @ Yankees, 5p

Tommy Hunter (0-1, 4.50) vs. A.J. Burnett (if Joe Girardi doesn't come to his senses).

COMMENTS: Just think — if the Texas bullpen hadn't coughed up five runs in Game 1 of the ALCS, the Rangers would be looking at a sweep of the Yankees tonight. Regardless, Tommy Hunter (who?) goes up against a Yankees offense hungrier than Joey Chestnut at a tapas bar. If the Rangers shut the Yankees down again, expect jeers in New York and cheers in Philly. And cheesesteaks. I prefer Jim's.

After Texas started pulling away last night, did you notice the New York "faithful" deserting the stadium last night faster than lemmings off the Titanic? And on national TV? During prime time? Yet that won't besmirch the sterling reputation of Yankees fans. Assholes.

photo by Mark Humphrey/AP

NLCS Game 3 Thread: Phillies @ Giants, 1p

Cole Hamels vs. Matt Cain.

COMMENTS: The NLCS moves to San Francisco for a trio of games, which should give SoSG regulars even more of a chance to tap into their ample resources of hate-filled vitriol. With every crowd shot of a Giants fan sipping his chardonnay with his pinky sticking out and his sweater tied over his shoulders, channeling that anger and hate into dreams of Giants suffering should be easy to do. So follow the words of Yoda--and CHANNEL THAT HATE AS STRONG AS YOU CAN. (At least, I believe that's the sentiment that the Jedi master was trying to convey. My recollection of Dagobah is a little murky, however.)

Like Yoda himself, let's hope the Phillies use this Cain for a lot of walks this afternoon. (10 years in purgatory for that one, I know.)

Fox Deems Moldy Episode of 'Glee' More Ratings-Worthy Than Giants

Did Glee Bump Giants From Prime Time? (NBC Bay Area)

Actually, it looks like Fox had their choice of a Tuesday or Wednesday prime time game — and old "Glee" beat out older "Simpsons" and "Office" episodes. Still, it'll be interesting to compare Giants vs. Glee once the ratings come out. And fear not: NLCS Game 4 starts at 5PM tomorrow — after all, the Phillies polishing off the Giants belongs in prime time.

A Tale of Two Pities

Who do you want to win the NLCS?
	Giants
	Phillies
pollcode.com free polls

When faced with two unpalatable alternatives, my mind can tell my heart which way to root...but my heart wins out when I'm watching the game. Turns out I want the Phillies to beat the Giants.

But some of you don't share that sentiment:

Josh S.:
I can't do it. I've anguished over this for a few days now, but I cannot bring myself to root for the Phillies. Even against the Giants. Those f***faces have squashed our nuts and our dreams in a vice for two years straight (three, if you count the regular season squashing this year)! I hate them. I want to punch their hillbilly valley girl manager in the throat.

The Giants, on the other hand, haven't done remotely anything to us (other than be the Giants, which, admittedly, is a heinous offense) in yeeeeeaaars. They're a terrible team who are only there because the Padres choked away the West.

I'm not saying I don't hate the Giants. Far from it. I want to set Wilson's beard on fire. It's just that I cannot abide the PH***ING PHILLIES going to another World Series. Let the Giants have this one. Then, I will dance on their broken souls as they are once again stomped by the American League champ.

Fred's Brim:
Josh, I am with you on this one. I wasn't sure how I'd feel when these two matched up, but I figured I could muster enough hateHateHATE! for the Giants to pull for the Phillies. But I get absolutely no joy seeing the Phillies win, even if it's at the Giants' expense. I just can't do it. I only get more mad at the Phillies when they lose to the Giants. That's the only direction this relationship can go at this point

Dusty Baker:
Hate to differ from a brother (but we can agree on how SHITTY Glendale Blvd was this morning), but I have to root for Phiws in this instance. I just couldn't stand the thought of them going to the WS while we're at home pulling our peters, and of the satisfaction their fans would get out of it. I guess it boils down to a fan thing; given far proximity, and general lack of attention the Phiws' fans pay to us anyway, I don't have to deal with any anti-Dodger gloating in that scenario. If Gnats go that far, we'll never hear the end of the "At least we went to the WS" taunts from the MCC types. I am too fragile for that reality.

As much as I loathe Victorino, though, and aforementioned hillbilly valley girl manager, I actually can't truly hate on the likes of Utley or Howard or Rollins or even Werth. All they did is go out and crush our dreams...I mean go out and win fair and square. They were the better team the last two post-seasons when playing us; it hurts, but it's true. I'd just rather them get the satisfaction of going to the WS. Plus, I hate a lot more people on the Jints, Timmeh primarily among them but also that fat f***ing fat headed fat f***er KFP f***, as well as Uribe and smug-faced f***er Burrell and all their god damned medium hitting white guys and Zito (wait, can I hate him if he's not on the post-season roster).

Steve Dittmore:
I'm going to be contrarian here, but hear me out.

I dislike the Giants as much as the next person, really since Joe Morgan in 1982. But I also lived in the Philly area a few years ago while teaching at another institution and before the Phillies started their run.

Phillies fans are downright insufferable. The weather is miserable. The fans are miserable. Everything about Angrydelphia is genuinely miserable (except the Liberty Bell, UPenn, Reading St. Market, Independence Hall and the world's best children's hospital).

I have no problem cheering for the Giants if only to make the miserable lives of Philadelphians more miserable.

Wow, so much passion for something the Dodgers aren't remotely involved in. Tell us which way you're leaning in the poll and comments!

UPDATE:

Mr. C's eloquent summation:

Mr. C:
The best thing about the Giants playing the Phils is one of them must lose.

The worst thing about the Giants playing the Phils is one of them must win.

That is all.

UPDATE:

More voices:

what_difference_does_it_make:

As much as I hate the Phillies, (and I f***ing HATE the Phillies, every time I see Shane Victorino’s Face I want to throw something at my television set) I would like the Giants to win the NLCS…and yes I absolutely hate the Giants but here’s my rationale: I hope the Giants win only so that a team as stacked as the Phillies could lose to a team from the shittiest division (sometimes referred to as the Minor League West). Also, Giants fans would come sooooo close to winning it all only to get swept by the Yankees (yes my AL team is the Yankees…shhhhh don’t tell anyone) in the World Series. Also I would like to see the Panda fall on his ass trying to make a routine play and get tagged out in thee most embarrassing way….that would REALLY make my day and I also hope that Brian Wilson gets bombed by Teixiera to score a Grand Slam and the ball would land in the lake where a Giants fan tries to catch it, only to get hit in the head….Oh and Also (of course this wouldn’t happen but one can dream) best case scenario is that both teams somehow LOSE and are both eliminated because of some random technicality….

el montanero:

i can't let recent postseason disappointments cloud my judgement. yes, the last two nlcs were like a punch to the gut and a kick to the balls at the same time...but the giants are the giants. they're joe morgan, juan marichal and his bat, asshole bobby thompson, 1951, 1962, 1971, 1981, 1990, bitchass matt williams, jeff kent, pumpkinhead schmidt, the hell that was the 2002 world series that made me root for the f***ing angels...the angels!!!, tim worrell, the fact that they play in the city home to the snobbiest, most self-important t***s in the world (though new yorkers could argue that claim), and so-help-me barry balco bonds.

philadelphia is america's taint. their fans and this edition of the phillies team are horrid. and yes, shane victorino's face causes anal leakage. all that said, they're STILL not the giants.

Yeah, That Cliff Lee Guy Has Some Promise

I mean, he's no Octavio Dotel or anything. Glad we didn't move on him this season.

RANGERS 8, YANKEES 0

ALCS Game 3 Thread: Rangers @ Yankees, 5p

Cliff Lee (2-0, 1.13) vs. Andy Pettitte (1-0, 2.57).

COMMENTS: Petit is the postseason veteran, while Cliffly is the relative newcomer. Yanks have home field today, but Rangers have the ace-ier ace. The new Yankee Stadium was the second hitter-friendliest park in the majors this season, behind only Coors Field. I want a clean fight, boys. Nothing below the belt. May the best man win. Ding ding!