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Going into the All-Star Break After a Tough Month
The G-Men played atrocious baseball (in the sense it seemed they were always trying to dig out of holes they dug for themselves) immediately before the current brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break next week. Four home games against the Cubs looked winnable enough on paper, but the Cubs, while looking inept, still have lots of talent and are right in the thick of the Wild Card race with the Giants – so taking 3 out of 4 was a bonus. Then the three home games against the team from LA were exactly as difficult as we expected but we won two (and I was at the 11th-inning meltdown game – not a great night). The three road games against the Braves will be exactly as daunting as you expect (so winning the first game last night was cool). And if you’ve been living under a black-and-orange rock this season, the upcoming three road games this week against AL Central-leading Guardians (I still want to say Indians, but that is just not politically correct) may be the most difficult assignment in baseball this side of four road games against Cleveland. But, at the end of yesterday, we are in 3rd place in the division and 2 games under .500 – there is plenty of time to right the ship.
Who are the New Giants and Will They Make a Difference?
I was at Hayden Birdsong’s first game, and he looks like a keeper. He’s 22 (I have shoes older than him) tall, cool, throws a nasty change-up and has a great baseball name (his first game featured the battle of the Hayden’s, which has never happened before). Then he repeated his strong showing for his first MLB win against the Braves. He is a keeper and is sliding into the rotation like he’s always been there and belongs there. If we ever get Robbie Ray and Blake Snell back the rotation will cease to be a liability (Logan Webb has been a brick and is the only reason we are having this conversation and not turning to next year already) and may be enough, with the young talent, to carry us through July and the dog days of August. This group is shaping up well (and it’s not a minute too soon).
On the offensive side, Jorge Solar is swinging a hot bat (probably because I kept yelling at him from our seats and he heard me), and maybe worth what we are paying him. But the real reason to come out is to see Heliot Ramos, Brett Wisely, and Patrick Bailey. They are playing great defense (especially Bailey), hitting the ball with authority, and looking like the future. If they can keep it up in the second half it will be an awesome run to the wild card (because the Giants have no chance of catching up to the insufferable team from the southland – I must admit to taking a certain joy in watching Ohtani strike out, like he did on Sunday against our rookie relievers). The new guys are also pushing the established players (like Yaz, Flores, Slater, Conforto, and Chapman) and that’s a good thing. I’m still waiting, though, for Casey Schmitt to catch fire. I love the way he plays.
The Upcoming Series Against the Blue Jays and the Twins – it gets no easier.
First up next week is the AL East last-place Blue Jays (15 games back), coming into town led by Vlad Guerrero and angry. They are getting healthy and cannot be overlooked. These are the games we need to win to start to build a cushion in the wild card race, and the talent is there. Second up is the Twins (unfortunately for them in the same division as the Orioles), currently at 48 and 37 and leading the AL wild-card race. Correa, Castro, and Jeffers lead this group of boppers. This will not be an easy week.
On the board ready to be picked up are:
TUES – 7/9 [6:45] – Blue Jays [3 – I’m going] – Italian Heritage Apron Night
WED – 7/10 [6:45] – Blue Jays [4]
THUR – 7/11 [12:45] – Blue Jays [4]
FRI – 7/12 [7:15] – Twins [ 3 – I’m going] – Cal Poly Beanie night
SAT – 7/13 [4:15] – Twins [4] – Core Four statute night
SUN – 7/14 [1:05] – Twins [4]
Let the torture begin.
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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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 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. 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.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
