Tag Archives: Buster Posey

Episode #149: Playoff Chances are on Life Support

San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros AT&T Park MLB Baseball

Bumgarner twirled 7 inning shutout ball against the Astros, only to get the no decision, much like Dereck Rodriguez the previous game.

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

Two weeks ago we talked about the Giants’ dwindling playoff chances and how they needed to reel off a streak of near-historic proportions to get back in the race. It hasn’t happened in the last two weeks. Going 5-7 in those two weeks with some late heart-breakers against the Astros has all but put a nail in the coffin for the Giants playoff hopes. MLB rates them at a 2.2% chance of getting into the dance.

When you look at their current deficit at 6.5 games behind Arizona, you can point to just one game a month that they shouldn’t have blown. If they just had one game a month back, they’d be sitting just 1.5 games out. This is the difference between a good team and a mediocre team.

Chad and Eric review the last two weeks, talking about the devastating blow of Cueto getting Tommy John surgery, Pablo is out for the rest of the year with a hamstring tear that required surgery, and Brandon Belt is still out. Although rocked by injuries, the Giants have had bright spots in Dereck Rodriguez, Duggar, Moronta and others. We also talk about why the Giants didn’t buy or sell, and if they’re rebuilding. And…should they trade Bumgarner?

Enjoy Episode #149 of the TortureCast!

Chad

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Episode #148: Are the Giants Buyers or Sellers?

FUCKINGBAYBRIDGETROPHY

Really, does anyone fucking care about this piece of shit?!

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https://torturecast.podomatic.com/enclosure/2018-07-26T16_22_42-07_00.mp33

The Giants have not been too bad, but they haven’t been great at all. They are 3-5 since we last recorded and are slipping in the standings, now in 4th place, 4.5 games behind the Dodgers, needing to leap three teams in the NL West. Things aren’t great. Things aren’t horrible. Things are just…meh.

Chad and Eric catch up on the Giants over the last two weeks, with series against Oakland and Seattle, with the All Star game in between. Posey, Cutch, Belt and Crawford have been woeful since the break, and all four maybe even worse over the last month. The bright spots are Derek Rodriguez, and more recently, Hunter Pence.

If the Giants want a shot at the West, they may need a bat or arm. But, will they be buyers this far back? Or, will they sell and reload for 2-3 years from now?

Enjoy Episode #148 of the TortureCast. The Giants need a push!

Chad

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Episode #147: Walk-offs! Walk-offs! Walk-offs!

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Buster Posey knocks in the game-winning run in the 13th inning against the Cubs on July 11, 2018. It’s the 8th walk-off for the Giants this year, which leads all of baseball. © Stan Szeto

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

The Giants took the rubber game of a three game set with the Cubs with a 13th inning walk-off hit by Buster Posey. This was the second walk-off in the series and the eighth walk-off of the year, which leads all of baseball.

Chad and Eric chat about the current homestand, Crawford and Posey’s selections to the All-Star game, the timely pitching of Dereck Rodriguez and Suarez, the return of Johnny Cueto, the trade of Gearrin and Jackson, more trade rumors and more!

Friend of the show Ryan Leong passed along this youtube video, it’s a good watch. “The Giants Story, A Tale Of Two Cities” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDNdb2xHxCI

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Episode #146: Giants are Surging

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Derek Holland is wondering where all this winning is coming from (Photo: USA Today)

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

The surging Giants just completed a 3 game sweep of the division-leading Diamondbacks in Arizona behind timely hitting and phenomenal pitching from their staff. All told, the Giants have won 10 of their last 12 and find themselves only 2 1/2 back of Arizona in a virtual tie with the Dodgers. After the final 3 games on this road trip in Colorado, the Giants return home once again for 10 games before the All-Star break. The Giants currently have the best home record in the NL, so home cooking should be good to close out the first half.

Eric and Chad discuss the latest successful homestand, walk-offs by Pence and Crawford, incredible pitching from their rookies and Bumgarner, and how the Giants will handle both Samardzija and Cueto coming back to the rotation, given the great performances from Suarez and Rodriguez. In fact, the Giants are 8-2 in their last 10 combined starts (2.62 ERA).

We also talk about who’s hot and not, this date in Giants history, and the All-Star game vote here in Episode #146 of the TortureCast, the podcast by and for fans of the San Francisco Giants.

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Episode #144: Have a Week, Brandons!

Belt-belted

Brandon Belt was just named NL Player of the Week, and deservedly so. He hit .444 with 5 HR, and has raised his season average to .313 and is now in the top 5 in the NL in most offensive categories. Photo: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

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

Brandon Belt was just named NL player of the week. Belt hit .444 with 5 HRs for the week, and is now in the top 5 of most offensive categories in the NL and is an MVP candidate at this point. So, suck it, Belt haters. Brandon Crawford has raised his average from .189 on May 1 to .302 by hitting well over .500 in the month of May.

He credits his turnaround to Panda and Blanco, who noted that he used to have his hands set a little higher, just mere inches. Low and behold he checked the video and fixed it. MadBum has three rehab starts coming up, Mac Williamson will be back soon, and the Giants might be running into a buzzsaw of a road trip, facing Houston, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado. This might be a tough road trip to survive.

The offensive explosion this month has compensated for the horrendous starting pitching, which has plummeted the Giants to 12th in the NL in ERA at 4.33. That said, the entire NL West is struggling, and the Diamondbacks have opened the door for almost any team to take command. The Giants are in 3rd, just 2 games back at 24-24, but the Dodgers have won 4 in a row and are just 3 games back of the Giants.

This is anyone’s race!

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Episode #142: How Sweep it is!

Andrew Suarez

Andrew Suarez had a great start in Atlanta, absorbing errors and an unearned run in his victory. The Giants swept the Braves in Atlanta. (photo: AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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TThe Giants are hotlanta right now after sweeping the young, first place Braves to start off their 10 game road trip. The Giants have won 4 in a row, 5 series in a row, 7 of 8, and 11 of 14. Their record stands at 19-15, 4 games back of the division-leading Diamondbacks.

Chad and Eric discuss their .417 average with runners in scoring position over the weekend, the great pitching, Johnny Cueto’s elbow, kicking the tires on Matt Harvey, who’s hot and not, injuries and more. We like to record when the Giants are good! Thanks for all of your great comments and support!

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Episode #141: To .500 and Beyond!

cueto

Johnny Cueto has been nothing short of phenomenal this year, posting a 0.84 ERA. However, there is a chance that he may be out for an extended period of time. Worst-case scenario is Tommy John surgery. We will hold our collective breath. Photo: Ben Margot / Associated Press

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

The Giants wrapped up the week with a 5-2 record as a part of a 7-3 homestand, propelling them above .500 for the first time this season.

Chad and Eric talk about the hot offense, Panda’s perfect inning, who’s hot and who’s not, and injuries. Speaking of which, we might be saddled with bad news regarding Johnny Cueto. Although he’s seeking second opinions about his UCL, it could mean Tommy John surgery.

The Giants are off for a 10 game road trip, and have 18 road games in May, vs. 7 at home. Could be a tough month for the Giants, or it could be an opportunity for the offense to continue heating up in these small ballparks.
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SF Giants Torture Report: Week 2

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Photo: @SFGiants Twitter

The San Francisco Giants currently hold a 6-6 record, good for 3rd place in the NL West. Arizona leads the division with a 9-3 record, followed by Colorado in second place with virtually the same record as our Giants at 7-7.

There’s been 6 games since last week’s Torture Report, and continuing the theme on the season, the Giants went 3-3 in those games. The Giants have not been above or below .500 by more than 2 games either way so far this season. So, while they aren’t running away with anything, this team is not getting buried early on.

Last Friday, the Giants and Dodgers were rained out. It was the first rain out at AT&T Park since 2006. It gave the Giants 2 unexpected off days in a row before the quick 2-game set against LA. Continue reading

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Episode #138: Cutch Saves the Day!

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Andrew McCutchen launches a walk-off 3-run homerun in the bottom of the 14th inning vs. the LA Dodgers to win the game, 7-5. (Photo: AP)

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

Although it’s been a week since we last recorded, the Giants only played 4 games, thanks to off days and a rainout. They went 2-2 last week, splitting 2 game series each with the Mariners and Dodgers, but the Dodgers series was dramatic! The Giants blew a lead late to force extra innings, and actually went down 5-4 in the 14th before Andrew McCutchen launched the most memorable hit of this young season, a 3 run homer to win the game. He also went 6-7, the first time a SF Giant had 6 hits at home…ever! They also exploded for 10 runs in game 2 vs. the Mariners.

Chad and Eric discuss these four games, significant at bats, who’s hot and who’s not, and preview the upcoming week.

This, and so much more in episode #138 of the TortureCast!
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Episode #135: Cuts So Deep

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Derek Law was one of many sent to Triple A Sacramento today. (photo: USA Today)

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Spring training has merely a week left, and Chad and Eric talk about the second round of cut the Giants made, and how the Giants are near the top of every offensive category! (but, maybe not so much on pitching).

MadBum is raking, AT&T Park is rated #1 by Forbes, and the season starts in LA in 10 DAYS! Join us for a fun episode…spring is almost over!

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