Tag Archives: Clayton Kershaw

by | October 10, 2019 · 11:01 PM

Episode #184: Schadenfreude

MLB: NLDS-Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw contemplates what happened after another postseason implosion. Kershaw gave up back to back homeruns on consecutive pitches in the 8th inning, tying the game at 3. The Dodgers later lost the game 7-3 in 10 innings. (Credit:Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

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

Schadenfreude (/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/; German: [ˈʃaːdn̩ˌfʁɔʏ̯də] (About this soundlisten); lit. ‘harm-joy’) is the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another.

This is what us Giants fans experienced on Wednesday night. Despite seven consecutive NL West titles, despite a club-record 106 wins, despite setting a record for homeruns, the LA Dodgers somehow did NOT win the World Series. Clayton Kershaw, the anti-Bumgarner of the playoffs, entered with a 3-1 lead in the 8th inning of game 5 versus the Nationals and promptly gave up back to back homeruns on consecutive pitches, the second time he has done that in the playoffs. He’s never done that in all of his years of the regular season.

As we dance on the graves of the 2019 Dodgers’ season, Eric and I also review the first round of the playoffs and check it against our predictions. One thing to note, including the two wildcard games, 5 of the 6 contests (4 LDS) came down to ONE GAME. So, that said, I ended up getting 4 of 6 correct, Eric 3 of 6. We also preview the LCSs and we’ll be back to record episode 185 right before the World Series.

Go Nats?

Chad

P.S. I will be leading a scientific expedition to explore the deep sea off the coast of California next week. You can watch live video from the depths from our remotely operated vehicle at www.nautiluslive.org. We should be in the water from Monday through Thursday night. I will be audible on the coms between 8-12 both in the AM and PM (2 shifts).

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by | April 9, 2018 · 3:54 PM

Episode #138: Cutch Saves the Day!

cutchwalkoffhr

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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by | April 2, 2018 · 10:04 PM

Episode #137: Giants Split in LA…somehow

panikHR

San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik has made history with two solo home runs in the first two games of the season, and pretty much saved the series as a split. Photo by Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

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

If you told us that the Giants were going to start the season without MadBum, Shark, and Melancon, yet split the first four games of the year in LA, we’d take that in an instant. We’d be even more flabbergasted if you told us that the Giants would be outscored 14-2 but STILL WIN 2 GAMES. Thank you, Joe Panik! His two solo shots in two consecutive games off of Kershaw and Jansen may have single-handedly prevented the Giants from being swept.

That said, winning the first two games of the series put the Giants in the driver’s seat to take the series, but they couldn’t do that, losing 5-0 and 9-0 in the last two games.

Chad and Eric dive into the stats of the series (mainly that the Giants were 1-20 with RISP, and Longo, Cutch and Jackson combined for 2-43!), the pros, the cons, the strengths and the weaknesses. But, hey…it’s only four games.
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by | January 30, 2018 · 8:05 PM

Circle These Dates On Your 2018 SF Giants Schedule

2018schedTC

Pay no attention to the word ‘tentative’. This schedule has the dates and opponents correct, and that’s all we need for this preview.

Getting itchy for baseball yet? I know I am. Last week, Chad and I kicked off 2018 with a quick 30-minute pod to discuss the new additions to our beloved San Francisco Giants. Check that out, it’s not outdated yet because time moves at a glacial pace during the baseball off season.

But, I’m not here just to pimp our podcast. It’s time to start looking ahead to the 2018 Giants season, Fan fest is right around the corner on February 10, and pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale, Arizona on February 13 to begin their workouts.

The Giants take on the Brewers in their first Cactus League game on the 23rd of February. It’s baseball, Continue reading →

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by | October 1, 2016 · 6:16 PM

162

162b

Marty Lurie always cites that the baseball season is a “mosaic of 162 games.” Welp, we’re down to game number 162, and things still need to be settled with the Cardinals trailing the Giants by a game, anything could happen tomorrow.

Here are the two possible scenarios:

1. Giants win or Cardinals lose: the Giants clinch the second wild card berth and will head to New York to play the Mets on Wednesday.

2. Giants lose AND Cardinals win: Giants will have to travel to St. Louis for game #163 (still considered part of the regular season) to earn the right to play the Mets in New York on Wednesday. The Cards hold the tiebreaker on the Giants (4 games to 3 in their regular season series).

What I can’t help imagine is all of the blown saves this year, including the 9 games lost when heading into the 9th with the lead. Additionally, the Giants never won a single game this year when trailing heading into the 9th. It’s some weird voodoo baseball god magic that has turned the balance on the law of averages for the sole purpose of blessing Giants fans with that dreadful feeling of “torture.”

Of course, the biggest blown save right now is the won they blew a few weeks ago to the Cards (I’M LOOKING AT YOU BOCHY FOR PUTTING CASILLA BACK IN AFTER YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T). That represents a two-game swing, meaning the Giants would’ve clinched the wild card after Friday night’s win, and these last two games would have been torture-free.

It’s quite something, however, to see all three teams, the Mets, Cards, and Giants, who had been playing mediocre ball, at best, over the last few weeks, suddenly respond and turn it on. All three teams have won three in a row.

On our last podcast, both Eric and I agreed that over their last six games, the Giants would have to win at least four to get the playoff spot. Well, they’ve already won four with one to go. Apparently all that four wins guaranteed is an extra game in St. Louis.

Let’s just thank those same odds-busting baseball gods that a rookie earned his first major league win by shutting out the Dodgers over eight incredible innings and beat, you know, CLAYTON F’N KERSHAW! I honestly chalked this one up as a loss before the game.

Both the Cards and Giants start their games at the exact same time tomorrow, so it’s going to be simultaneous torture.

Baseball is weird. Let’s not get too weird tomorrow.

Oh wait, yes it can. Ryan Vogelsong is pitching for Pittsburgh against the Cardinals.

EAT YOUR #RALLYENCHILADAS!

 

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