the Hammer......you can't stop that!
 

Joel Hanrahan, the Pirates ace closer, gets the nod to represent us in Phoenix. Hammer has 36 straight saves!

I still think Andrew McCutchen was overlooked. Congratulations Joel!:pirate-steer:

Oh, goodie- more baseball fans are joining in the convo!! Figured as we get to the A;; Star break and close to play-off time, more would join in.

I really like hearing about other people's teams and about players i don't know much about.

UGH- San Diego is up 2-0 vs. SF in the first today!! And the Tigers did come back and won against SF yesterday.

Voglesong made the All Stars!! I am happy!!

Houston is here. We are very close to being in first place. UNBELIEVABLE. The ballpark was sold out again.

I'm suffering terribly from this extremely high humidty, to the point I wanted to leave in the second inning, and that never happens. Glad I stayed. We had 16 hits! (only five runs)

OMG we had 5 errors in one inning, they only marked us for three, but it was 5. Home team gets the benefit of the doubt. It was so sad, our short stop was crawling on his hands and knees to retrieve a ball he initially muffed up, then the third baseman who was backing up the play, muffed it twice (once trying to catch it, and dropped it when trying to throw it) so short stop went crawling over to it, but the left feilder came all the way in and grabbed it, and made a laser throw to first and OVERBAY dropped it.

Houstons catcher had a rough game and I'll be shocked if he is not concussed. He did a fantastic job of protecting the plate when thirdbase minorleague call up Harrison tried to score, Harrison broke his nose on the play. Carlos Corporan, the catcher...took three foul balls off his face mask and was very shaken. In the 8th innng, the pirates attempted a steal and Corporan was still seeing stars I guess, he threw the ball, as if he was supposed to, to short stop.....They came out and checked on him and he stayed in the game.

Yes Atlast, I saw where Jim Leyland had his team prepard to beat you guys. I read the recap and giggled, I could just see jim hiding in the corner of the dug out getting a cigarette in without getting caught because he was so nervous!

I also saw Ryan Vogelsong got the nod for all stars. We still love him here.

Anyone see the game today? It was the Root sports selection of the day.

I wish I could have gone to a game today- BUT SF just lost a nail-biter to SD!! ARG!!!
One of those games that I hate to see my guys lose, but a damn good ballgame!

Yes, Vogie is in! Plus, Lincecum, Wilson and Cain. Looks like the National league team is top heavy with SF pitchers. Damn, I just know that Posey and Freddie Sanchez might very well have made it on. Sanchez might be back to play in late August- he's recovering well. Posey has his cast off and says he is out of pain entirely. I think he has a long way back and he may not ever be the player he was. That was a very bad injury. But, we shall see- it's the majors and injuries can be heartbreaking.

Yes, the Pirates seem to be doing well! Hey, ya' nevah' know! They could go far! believe me, many people didn't think SF would have even be in the WS last season, let alone, take it.

I know, I am jazzed with the pitching roster on the NL team. Oh yes, Lolina is one hell of a catcher! Yup, Mama Modina has to be proud of her sons! And WOW with the Week's family players!! Jamile, the A's rookie is going to carry on the tradition in that family.

UGH- SF lost the last 2 to the Padres!! Weird, since SD is almost in the cellar- but they always do well against SF here at AT&T. Plus, both games have been really fun to watch as in both, SF caught up, then in the 9th have been so close! Rivalry in Northern v. Southern California National league aside from Dodgers & Giants!!

SF will always be my favorite team, but, I just like following players throughout both leagues because I just love baseball.

Well, it took 14 innings, but SF beat San Diego tonight!! Hope they do the same tomorrow. Some game, again- these teams just really get going with each other and both have played some great ball.

Nate "the Great" Nate Schierholtz smacked a home (had 2 tonight) run to braek the 5-5 tie and the Giants had another walk-off win. SF didn't tie it until late (like in the past 2 games they ended up losing), but they won this one!

The Giants hitting ups and downs make me nuts! They are consistently inconsistent on offense! Hot, cold, hot cold..... ARGH!!! But Wilson had a good couple of innings and had his stuff. Good, no more dumb tantrums!

Buster Posey sat in for a couple of innings with our usual announcers and that was kewl- he is doing pretty good after his injury, but it is obvious it is driving him nuts not playing. He probably thinks about what it will really mean to his career and this was only his second season in the majors. He was doing so well and is very talented. But, he seems like a bright guy and level headed- so if his career ends due to this, I'm sure he will do fine doing something else and he is very young.

I am getting excited about the All Star game- now I will be able to watch some of the players you all bring up that have been selected in one game!! Way kewl!

When SF played the Tigers during the last inter-league series, I was totally amazed at the offensive stats! I so wanted to see Verlander pitch, but he wasn't in that rotation- they have great defense, too!

I need to research the Clemmens case- know very little about what is going really.

Yup, Posey has a long haul ahead. Who knows what will be for him. I hope we see him back out there- but maybe not as a catcher? Don't know.

Hope SF wins again tonight! And damn, when are those Red Sox going to get going? Thery are my fav AL team.

Link to baseball slang and lingo-
 

http://baseballtips.com/knowledge/baseball-slang.html

This is great!

I agree! WTH?

Why isn't this considered double jeopardy? Please don't provide an answer. I don't want to know.

Is Clemens going to be the new face for steroids?

I still want to know if they have tested Bautista?

After doing virtually nothing to Barry-roid- Bonds and allowing Mark Mcguire to Coach in major league baseball, this is real old.
:passinggas:

I will go on record to say, I feel strongly about accusations of doping in any sport. I'm pretty ticked about Lance Armstrong and have let that take away some of my enjoyment of TDF.

Tonight it's the Mets v. SF in SF!! SF took 2 out of 4 against SD yesterday.... hope we do well against the Mets. Yikes, a couple of my NY relatives that are Mets fans want to smack me!!

I'm going to try to get to a game during the next home series- I wish I had baseball friends here that would go with me. LOL, have to say that most of my close friends don't live near or id they do, they are not into sports. Hummm.... is it wrong to wish for a future gf that likes baseball? LOL, I probably should just hope for a future gf..... Even women's pro basketball would be great. Even football- well as long as she likes the Steelers. But, I really love baseball.

My honey told me I could go to a game with you when the Pirates are in California...Aug 8, 9, or 10....the Pirates would love hear my big mouth way out there.......LOL thats what she said!

If I could make airfare work for the daytime game on Wednesday....(and I am still looking into that, the red eye) I'd only burn one PTO from work.

And to answer your question, no it isn't wrong to look for that quality. It was a non-negotiable with me. If you don't like baseball, I go without you, and you don't bitch, because baseball is what I do. I also like womans basketball, we don't even get that on TV here, I have to settle for college. I don't like men's basketball. I'm not a fan of football, but I never interfere with her watching or going.

But we have talked about this before. I am very active, and it's hard for me to expect anyone to keep up with me. Here is a hint how I know if they are a semi baseball fan. When I buy a scorecard, and start filling it out, and I don't get the protracted eye roll....it's not someone humoring me.

I see lots of femmes at the games, season ticket holders, you get to know one another........it's not just a guys sport. Don't settle!

Happy to see my Detroit Tigers back on track after that inter-league play. First time they didn't finish inter-league with a winning record. Our pitching rotation is pretty sorry, but I think we will still contend in the AL Central. Playing game 2 of a series with the KC Royals tonight. Won the first game last night. Play ball!

No it isn't just a guy's sport at all.

WOW!!! OMG! This would be fantastic!! Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy KEWL!! Let me know- I'll get the tix!!! My sister is a Giants nut, too (whole family was and we are who is left) and she might already have seats for a game in that series and she has good ones- gives them out to me and her kids often as she can't travel as mucg to games (her husband is ill). Otherwise, I will just get some (but hers are usually way, way good seats!).

I've mentioned earlier in this thread that, although I've very limited interest in modern day baseball as a sport, I love vintage baseball imagery and collect original vintage photos.

Thought I'd show two photos I picked up over the past few weeks.

The first was motivated by my trip to San Francisco last week. Whilst there, I went to the Giants Stadium and to their shop where I was able to buy various items of tacky and over-priced memorabilia .... I thought back to the original Giants and the Giants will always be a New York team to me so I took the initiative to buy this photo.

It's of the Giants 1922 side. It is a historically significant photo as the Giants were in that tussle for supremacy with the Yankees - this was the second series in succession that they had fought over, with the Giants winning both, but the Yankees were to open Yankee Stadium the next year, winning the World Series that year also and the rest is history .....

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/a...1922Giants.jpg




The second photograph I bought was shot in 1958 and is of Gussie Moran in a Yankees shirt. Moran was a famous tennis player and one of the first women who introduced glamour to the sport. In fact, her tennis outfits (tame by today's standards) scandalised the sport. Anyway, I bought this one because I think she looks great in the Yankees shirt (much better than something vulgar such as a Boston Red Sox jersey):

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/a...gq/yankees.jpg

YAHooooooo.

http://www.realmoneyfantasyleagues.c...hits-promo.jpg

http://www.realmoneyfantasyleagues.c...-Promotion.php

Jeter's 3000th hit was a home run and everything. You can't get any cooler than that. The guy who caught it just gave it back to Derek Jeter and everything.

I'm not a big Yankees fan, in fact I usually cheer for the other team in the playoffs but Jeter is one of my favorite baseball players ever.

Andrew Mccutchen gets the nod for the all star game Due to someone being injured.

When being interviewed, Andrew said *Of course I'm happy that I am going the all star game. But I'm happier that the home town fans have let me know, to them, I am their all star* Then he smiled and winked at the camera. That gave me goose bumps.

updated all star list
 

Wow! Batting practice at PNC park today.

I stayed home, too humid. Watched it from my a/c igloo. pirates 9 cubs 1.

Kevin Correia was put on the all star list. The Phillies had a pitcher who became ineligable because he pitched today. Correia was next in line with the most votes.

That gives us three. And that feels better.:vigil:

This IS good news! LOL, baseball, ya' gotta love it! The brawls, ejections... don't like to see hit batters, though. All too often, some of those are really bad.

UGh about the awful fan acident Friday during Rangers game- the fan that fell out of stands trying to catch the ball. tragic as his 6 year old son was right there. I can't imagine witnessing that.

Oh yeah, the All Star break is needed. Re-group for play-off strategy and well, the trades that we all know will go on. And time off - a lot of players need a break. But, I am excited about the actual game. I hope favorite players of all got in it.

WOOT, SF took 2 of 3 against the Mets!

Big Pappi/ designated hitter
 

So, I just finished watching the confrontation with Gregg and Ortiz. I was reading a sports blog yesterday,that said Gregg threw three pitches inside by two feet. Thats pretty far inside. He definitely was throwing low and inside on him. The catcher was setting up inside. And he got him to do exactly what he wanted, a shallow pop up.

Ortiz, I don't know what kind of player he is, most likely he is a was and is all power now, I suspect bad knees, as he can't run and certainly doesn't like too. I also suspect he gets his ass kissed. I personally witnessed him here, hit a shallow fly and he stood and watched it, did not run out the play (inning ending) and went right into the dug out. The Pittsburgh fans Booed him. We don't like that. We don't have designated hitters.

So Ortiz not running and just watching the ball, would be Ortiz like. However, 8 ejections in that series.....a beaning or two every game. Thats dirty ball. The kind the Cardnials used to play. But I can recall Pinella screaming if any of his guys got hit. Maybe baseball is too long. Really, is a 4 day break even a break>

The father falling out of the stands to catch the free baseball was too much to think about. I feel for the player too. The next day he hit a foul ball that hit a fan in the head and caused an injury. Albeit, I am no longer interested in the baseball, there was a time when I was....

In other news, both the Reds and the Brewers needed to loose (and didn't) for us to slide into first place. We've been sold out every night since the Bo sox have been here. That hasn't happened/ for ever I don't think. I don't recall three rivers stadium being full very much.

I am waiting to see what happens with the trades. I find it interesting, Pedro Alveras is recovered, but they are keeping him in the minors, these rookies we have up here are on fire! Overpaid committed another defensive error saturday and they yanked him from the game.....(hoping they get rid of him) and keep Malholm. We shall see.

I caught most of the all star game, but I have been dealing with super awful sinus headaches (wind and all the crap floating around in it) for a couple of days and the OTC stuff I take usually makes me sleepy. so, I was in and out during the game.

YES, NL!!

I am jazzed about the LGBT game in SF coming up, too-

LGBT Night
presented by AT&T
Monday, 8/29 vs. CHC 7:15pm

Celebrate the Bay Area's rich LGBT culture at the Giants annual LGBT Night! All members of the LGBT community, family, friends, and community organizations are invited to come out and show their pride at this special event. The special event ticket package includes a seat in the LGBT section to watch the Giants take on the Chicago Cubs, as well as an LGBT-themed Giants hat, only available with purchase of the special ticket. Partial proceeds from each special event ticket will be donated to non-profits in the LGBT community. Don't miss out on the fun!
The Gianjts were the first MLB team to make a video for the "it's get Better" project which makes me proud! I know, it's SF!!

TRADES-
Looks like beltran might become a Giant-

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/san_francisco_giants/ This site has a bunch of info on all the team trades.

Clemens Mistrial
 

Am I wrong to think they should let the Clemmens thing die?

WOOT! The Giants beat the Padres in 12, 6-2! For some reason, we always have a bad time with them- and they are not a very good team.

But SF's hitting remains sporatic and unreliable. Not good. But Huff smacked one out and my favorite rookie, Crawford played great defense as usual. Hope his bat comes along.

Yup- I like that camaraderie stuff too! In all sports- when you can see players digging what they are doing. The AS game was pitching all the way- makes sense when I think about how many great ones there are playing these days.

I have to take some time off baseball to watch the women's soccer this sunday- there is some good stuff with Team USA going on!!

Ah, the couch after dancing!

It is the top of the 2nd with SF 2-0 against SD at the moment. Whoa, Tim Lincecum just got a single- not a very good hitter- even less so than most pitchers. Maybe my guys are getting into a hitting round- last night, 4 of 6 runs for SF were based upon walks and a couple of SD errors. Ross just hit a homer.... kewl!

OK, I have to walk my dog and put in ear plugs and listen to the game with a happy pooch! But it has been windy and foggy again- just plain cold.. argh! My arthritic joints get really cranky when it is like this.

WOOT! SFbeat LA, 5-0!! After taking 3 of 4 against SD! I wanted to go to one of the games in this big rivalry (Giants-Dodgers), but can't. But dammit, I am going to a game in August!!

Hey- it looks like the BoSox are going strong and so are the Pirates! Sometimes I get a game or two of theirs.

I need some orange shoe laces....

I took tomorrow off so I could go to the afternoon game. I don't know what it is about afternoon baseball that I love so much, and it's going to be 95 and dangerous humidity. Betcha my butt will be inside the club with the rest of the fans for the comfort of the a/c......but thats not baseball. I can sit at home and do that. Pirates are in first place for the first time since 1991
Clint Hurdle should get manager of the year, no matter where the Bucco's end up.We have tickets for the remainder of the home series. This division is tight. The St. Louis Cardnials roll in to town Friday. They are a finess team. They make few mistakes.I'm looking for the games to be close and the heat to make the players *edgy*.

Life has been so good this summer. I haven't enjoyed baseball this much, since, well, I don't when.

That darn Lyle Overbay (overpaid you may know him as in my rants) We are nearing the trade deadlines, and I SO want the owners to trade his sorry ass and his outrageous salary, and wouldn't you know it, all of a sudden he can hit:seeingstars:WTH!

YES, the Pirates are in First!!! Lookin' good!

It is so much more exciting when divisions are tight, I think. I love close games that end up being won on a whole lot of mental determination really.

I am having a great time with the Giants taking the Dodgers in a series this week. Hope they win again today. My favorite SF pitcher is starting- Lincecum. Jeff Keppinger will be playing today for SF after his trade. We need his bat!! Our offense is just not consistent, although better lately. Had a 5-0 shutout against LA for the first game of the series. And Belt returned to the club yesterday and got a homer - first up, first pitch!!

Have fun at the games! ugh.. yes, the heat!