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Oracle Park is now open for baseball (no restrictions) but we all hope that everyone is vaccinated and covid free.
The A’s, the Padres and the NL West – It’s time for the Giants to stabilize the Defense.
The G-Men just finished the two game interleague series against the A’s by taking both games, proving to the faithful that the G-Men are not the worst team in baseball and are able to play a solid nine innings of relatively error free ball behind a good defense (including the Brandon’s, who are both back) and a lot of home runs. The boys now head down to San Diego for a 3-game series against the Padres starting on Monday.
The series in San Diego (winner of the Juan Soto sweepstakes and the best team in the NL West not starting with the initials “LA”) will be a look at how the Giants can perform against a playoff team. After losing 8 horrible, painful, games over the last two weeks to the Dodgers (who do look like, and are as arrogant as, the 27 Yankees) the G-Men play a team that is, perhaps, more loaded than the Dodgers.
As near as I can figure, the Padres traded all their minor league stars, their cheerleaders, and several bars in the Gaslight district for Soto, and a shot at the division title. The Padres also got Tatis back from the DL. I’m not saying that the Padres are favored, but Vegas is ready to take the games off the board. Regardless, the series will be a serious test of whether the Giants are in the same league as the Padres and the Dodgers. This is our playoffs.
We all ask if the defense will show up. Even Kapler is worried, having got tossed from a game for the first time this year in the last series. Do the Brandon’s make that much difference on defense (I say yes, they are anchors) or is the problem the coaches? It seems like there are so many new guys that the team is tentative and not making the snappy plays that have been the Giants style for so long. That must change – its August for God’s sake.
Are injuries the real problem?
As we all watched Kap's temper flare at an umpire's ridiculous behavior in a recent Dodgers game and the subsequent ejection, it is clear he is aware enough of all the factors which have caused this unfortunate post-All-Star game downward slide. To pick on any particular player misses the point. We won 107 games last year. Lots of teams vastly improved while the G-Men chose to largely stick with the formula and squad which had worked so well. However, an extraordinary number of injuries has depleted that lineup. The infield is replete with names new to all of us. Before a recent game vs. the Cubs we even plucked their shortstop and put him in our lineup. No Craw, Longo, Joc, Thairo, DeSclafani or (drum roll) Buster Posey. Everybody loves a Mercedes, but we didn't know ours would be parked at third base. It looks like the team is back – now they must perform.
The Upcoming Games against the Pirates and the Snakes.
The upcoming series against the Pirates and the Snakes (both fourth in their respective divisions) are a chance to get healthy and make up a few games in the standings; at least enough to stay in the running for the 2nd and 3rd playoff slots. Look for Giants pitching to stabilize, Joey Bart to finally look like the first draft pick (he has been making solid contact and playing an excellent catcher) and the team to finally get healthy enough to have the entire team on the field. It’s time to get to the ballpark and enjoy a crab sandwich with a glass of white wine (this is San Francisco after all).
August is here and, on the board ready to be picked up are:
FRI 8/12 – Pirates [7:15] - 2 – I’m going
SAT 8/13 – Pirates [6:05] – 4
MON 8/15 – Snakes [6:45] – 4
TUES 8/16 – Snakes [6:45] – 2
THUR 8/18 – Snakes [12:45] - 4
Let the torture continue.
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 19 foul balls myself over 22 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!
