The available games, dates and number of tickets will be shown at the end of the blog before the rules. Remember when you email me back to identify the game, the date, and the number of tickets you want. Please whitelist my email so you get the blog posts and ticket offers all season long.
Oracle Park is now open for baseball (no restrictions) but bring a mask if anti-vaccine idiots sneak into the stadium.
The Power of Good Play and Never Say Die in the 9th inning
The Giants have easily been the most entertaining team in baseball up to this point in the season. They are playing championship caliber baseball behind one of the strongest lineups in recent Giants history (at least since the Barry Bonds era). The games where they are behind in the 9th inning are never over until the last out. They came back against the Dodgers (twice!) in LA (they own Kenley Jansen), and the 9th inning in Arizona last night was the stuff of movies. Top of the 9th, down 4-0 and mount a comeback with 4 runs in the 9th and 1 in the 10th to take the series. The lesson: never turn the TV off (or go home if at the stadium) before the end of the game.
Every night it’s a different hero but the standouts so far are Brandon Crawford (in a career year), Buster Posey (in a HOF year), Yaz (with 18 dingers), Wilmer Flores, La Monte Wade and just about every other starter on the team. The pitching has been nails, with a team ERA in the high 2’s, and the bullpen has been lights out with the back end of Tyler Rodgers (16) and Jake McGee (26) battling to see who has more saves.
Hello Kris Bryant (and Evan Longoria, Tommy la Stella and Brandon Belt)!
The Giants were not expected to be big players in the annual trade deadline deal ballet, which often involves pitchers going from mediocre teams to contenders. For example, say hello to Max Scherzer going to LA (but the Dodgers also got Trea Turner, one of the best shortstops in the league, from the Nationals - another reason to hate Washington DC). OK. Good deal Dodgers. Now show us you can win games.
However, in another very end of the trade deadline (literally hours to go) 9th inning strike the G-Men got Kris Bryant (an ex-MVP) from the Cubs for two minor leaguers with promise. Bryant may be the last piece of the puzzle (batting .333 right now with a HR in his first game). He plays every position on the field except for pitcher and catcher (and he might do well there also). Simultaneously, Brandon Belt and Tommy LaStella came off the DL and played in Arizona and looked like the All-Star players they were in their prime. The next candidate back is Evan Longoria – another MVP. The Giants biggest problem right now is where to put everyone with no room on the active roster. I expect to see very creative movements between the team and the DL (and Sacramento for those with options – like Mauricio Dubon) for the next month until the rosters expand in September. More to come on this subject in the next blog.
The Schedule from Hell? Or Heaven?
The Giants are coming off what seems like a schedule from hell. At the end of July and into early August the G-Men took 5 out of 7 games from the LA team, and 2 out of 3 from the Astros. For those of you counting, that’s 7 out of 10 games against the two teams in the World Series last year and picked to be there again this year. Not too shabby. However, the season is not over, and the Giants can’t let down against the rest of the division (the Padres, Rockies and Snakes). Coming out of Arizona last night with 3 out of 4 away from home made a statement.
One sour note was the loss of a three-game series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, and another three-game series against the Cardinals in St. Louis. The NL Central is playing hard against the G-Men and the three-game series at Milwaukee starting tonight will be important to see how those match up’s work.
One thought for the rest of the league – the more the Giants are challenged they more they are hardened for the inevitable playoff run in September – so bring it on!
On the board for this week are up coming home division games against the Snakes and the Rockies (and the first game of the NL East leading Mets series). It gets no easier in August.
On the board ready to be picked up are:
Tuesday August 10 [6:45] Snakes: 2 tickets, I’m going to this game so join me. Jerry Garcia tribute night
Wednesday August 11 [6:45] Snakes: 4 tickets, Nurses Night
Thursday August 12 [6:45] Rockies: 4 tickets, Indian Heritage Night
Friday August 13 [6:45] Rockies: 4 tickets – Fireworks night
Saturday August 14 [6:05] Rockies: 4 tickets: Star Wars Day
Monday August 16 [6:45] Mets: 4 tickets
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
We use mail chimp so give permission for the blog to arrive in your mailbox if you want to receive the blog and participate in the fun. Past blogs can be found at www.beveragelaw.com at the Czar’s blog archive.
THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 17 foul balls myself over 19 years, am looking for more and caught my latest ball at the Cards game on July 5th [film available!]. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a wait list.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.