Category Archives: Episodes

by | May 22, 2017 · 11:27 PM

Episode #123: Are We There Yet?

arewethereyet

“Sorry, son, you better piss in a bottle, cuz we have a long way to go”

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Nope. Not yet. The Giants are making great strides, winning 3 series in a row, and opening with a win in their 4 game series with Chicago. However, they still find themselves 9 games back of Colorado and in a precarious hole. That said, if they had been .500 or worse, their season really would’ve been over by now, or close to it.

There is life. Not much, but it’s something to build upon.

Chad and Eric talk about where the Giants are more than a quarter of the way through the season, and what it’ll take to erase the Rockies’ lead, week by week. We revisit Eric’s excellent article on the history of playoff berths with a record similar to the Giants’, and although far from a lock, it’s encouraging to see that it’s been done multiple times.

Join us for episode 123 of the TortureCast!

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | May 15, 2017 · 11:42 PM

Episode #122: Josh Osich’s Mustache

osichstache

This glorious facial hair will save the Giants’ season

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Ben returns to the podcast with Chad and Eric to discuss what may be the turnaround for the Giants’ season. Sure, it’s only a four-game winning streak, but they hadn’t won more than two consecutive games all year. The pitching is settling in, and despite the injuries, the offense has shown some life over the last several days. Buster Freakin’ Posey is showing how to put a team on his back, going on a home run tear, catching a 17-inning game, and hitting a walk-off in said 17th. Cain has been somewhat of a “stopper,” and although he many not quite be channeling 2012 Matt Cain, it’s more than serviceable for a fifth starter. Span is hitting over .400 since coming off the DL and setting the table.

Now, they just need to start winning series and get back to .500, and we can talk about making the playoffs thereafter.

@torturecast

Facebook.com/torturecast

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 11, 2017 · 1:55 PM

Episode #121: Can We Get a Do-over?

cevhjlvxiaaypz_

Bruce Bochy attempting to travel back in time with VR goggles to start this season over.

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Being a Giants fan is tough right now. We’ve had it good over the last 7 years, but things are a-changing in 2017. The fact is, to get to 87 wins, a reasonable total to get the second wild card position, the Giants would have to play .591 ball the rest of the way, and only one team (Cubs) did that all of last year. Eric and Chad discuss this looming task, along with the poor performance of the team and players, aside from the likes of Posey, Panik and Arroyo.

If the Giants want to turn their season around, it needs to start now.

twitter.com/torturecast
facebook.com/torturecast
http://www.torturecast.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 27, 2017 · 10:00 PM

Episode #120: May the Morse be With You

morseHR

Michael Morse with an improbable game-tying homerun in the 8th inning against LA, reminiscent of the one he hit in Game 5 of the NLCS. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Willie returns to the podcast to chat with Eric and Chad about the Giants’ historic poor start. We still believe it’s too early in the season to panic, but there are legitimate concerns, but there are also bright spots like Matt Cain, Christian Arroyo, Michael Morse, Buster Posey and Joe Panik.

twitter.com/torturecast
facebook.com/torturecast
http://www.torturecast.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 17, 2017 · 11:05 PM

Episode #119: Jarrett Parker’s Collarbone is the Giants

hi-res-126808ac12ba4e20d4cce70e4826ca6d_crop_north

Jarrett Parker broke his collarbone catching a fly ball against the fence on Saturday. Let’s hope the Giants have already hit their fence and come back over the next few weeks to turn this season around. (photo: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

We thought they’d turn it around this week.

They didn’t.

After a 2-4 week, the Giants sit in last place at 5-9, but we look at two seasons since 2000 when the Giants were worse (4-10) and both seasons they finished above .500. In 2000 they won 97 games and the west after starting 4-10.

Ok, so we’re looking for silver linings here.

Eric and Chad discuss MadBum’s winless start to the season, Cueto’s 3-0 start, the bad luck, who’s hot and who’s not, if Cain should be skipped, Marrero’s first MLB HR, Strickland and Gearrin haven’t allowed a run, and well, anything else positive we can point towards.

twitter.com/torturecast
facebook.com/torturecast
http://www.torturecast.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 10, 2017 · 10:55 PM

Episode #118: It Could Be Worse

bustergettinghit

We all held our collective breath when Buster got hit by a 94 MPH fastball in today’s home opener. (photo: Eric Risberg, AP)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

3-5 is better than 1-5, 6, or 7, right?

That’s the barrel the Giants were looking down two days ago when they were 1-5 before winning the last two to make the internet of Giants fans a little less dreary.

Eric and Chad open up our first regular season podcast of 2017 by discussing what went wrong (LF, bullpen), and what went right (Bum, Cueto, Moore, Panik, Crawford) over the first week of the season. Basically, the Giants have the worst left field offensive numbers by far, and their bullpen and pitching stats with a lead are cringe-worthy. Also, we hope Buster will be ok after getting drilled in the noggin.’ And that little league bases-clearing double by Moore is a sight to behold.

Maybe next week will be better?

@chadk21

@torturecast

facebook.com/torturecast

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | April 3, 2017 · 11:53 PM

Episode #117: 2017 Season Preview

bumgarnerhomeruns

Bumgarner became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit two homeruns on opening day. (Photo: USA Today)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Besides the post-World Series victory podcasts, season previews are our favorite to record every year. Spring has sprung. Hope is effervescent. The Giants bullpen is…different.

Chad, Ben and Eric talk about that catastrophic meltdown by Melancon in the 9th in their opening day loss to the Diamondbacks, but also reason why there is hope.

Many of you responded to our query about how many games the Giants will win this year. Let’s just say that many are out of the stratosphere, but would more than be appreciated. We also offer up our own predictions and break down what are crucial spots that may pivot the season in one direction or the other.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @torturecast or like us on Facebook!

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , ,

by | March 2, 2017 · 11:08 PM

Episode #116: Spring has Sprung

c54uyjju4aafept

Where hath thou hair gone?

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Ben, Eric and Chad get together to talk about the first couple of weeks of spring training, including the record number of players in camp, the competition for scarce infield and outfield positions, the fifth starter, the new closer, and of course, Hunter Pence’s freshly shorn face.

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

by | February 6, 2017 · 11:23 PM

Episode #115: Football is Over!

gorkys

Gorkys is our savior

Download the episode or stream it below!

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/torturecast/episodes/2017-02-06T23_08_10-08_00

The TortureCast has awakened from its long winter slumber to bring you thoughts on the Super Bowl and the Giants’ offseason. We say goodbye to Romo (Dodgers), Lopez (FA), Peavy (FA), Pagan (FA), Blanco (D’backs), Casilla (A’s), and welcome Melancon, Morse, Rollins, Hundley, and a lot of familiar faces. The starting rotation is almost set, but there are questions in the outfield, except for Gorkys!

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | October 6, 2016 · 10:40 PM

Episode #114: Heading to Chicago! NLDS Preview

bumgarner1

MadBum continued his legendary postseason performance with a 3-0 complete game shutout victory over the Mets in the NL Wild Card game. (photo: AP)

Download the podcast here, or stream it below!

Willie, Chad and Eric soak in the post-wild card game glory of another legendary performance by Madison Bumgarner and another unlikely postseason hero as Conor Gillaspie hits a 3-run homer in the 9th to defeat the Mets 3-0 and move on to face the best team in the majors, the Chicago Cubs.

The Giants have now won 11 consecutive postseason series, tying the Yankees, and Bum has 23 scoreless innings in elimination games in the postseason, and lowers his road postseason ERA to a microscopic 0.50, easily the best in the history of baseball.

We revel in the stats, the momentum and talk about how the pressure now is really on the Cubs.

Join us for episode 114, it’s a good time!

Leave a comment

Filed under Episodes

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,