SB Nation - San Francisco Giants

Free Agency, Part Two: Our greatest fears

Grant — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:17:42 -0000

The flipside. One player you’re absolutely terrified that the Giants will sign. Cull free agent list, and name your guy.

I have three nominations for coveted Annual Gary Matthews, Jr. Do Not Want Award:

The Overpaid, Overcommitted, and Over Here

Jason Bay will get close to $100M, and that just might work for an AL team. Bay’s a remarkably consistent hitter, and he’s been healthy throughout his career. His defense is pretty spotty, but he’s still a net positive as long as he’s hitting. On the Giants, though, he’d be paid like a franchise player. With Zito and Rowand making a combined $100,000,000,000,000 over the next three years, adding Bay would pretty much be the last free agent foray for a while.

As soon as Bay is on the Giants, he’ll remember that he’s over 30 and fall off a cliff offensively. And the Giants will have three years of the most hilarious outfield coverage in baseball, especially if right field is filled by a rangeless goober as well. This is my dream; this is my nightmare.

Pure, uncut, ignorance

"Man, this team needs an RBI man. Saaaay, Jermaine Dye is available. He gets RBIs. This offseason stuff sure is easy. Saaaaay, Newhart reruns are on! Good thing my work is done here."

I’m not wild about using UZR to predict future performance – that’s not really what it was designed for – but Dye’s UZR hints that he’s played the outfield like a thumbless Glenallen Hill for the last three years, and that age is only going to make things worse. You don’t put a clomper like that in the outfield unless his offense is stellar enough to force your hand. A .340 OBP in a hitter’s park is not stellar, and it’s not a given that he’ll produce even that going forward.

I’m not unreasonable. Now that Sabean is back, all I want him to do is honestly evaluate why his offenses have been at the bottom of the league for the past six years. A Dye signing – "35 years young, plenty of homers and RBI, what’s not to like?" – would be an obvious indication that Sabean thinks that he’s just been unlucky with his roster-building philosophies. It wasn’t his fault, for example, that Rowand stopped hitting 30 home runs when he came to San Francisco. Gag.

Bengie Molina

This category is populated by Bengie Molina. A man who gets paid to evaluate baseball players is right now worried about how the offense is going to make up for Molina’s offensive production. He’s thinking, man, it makes sense to give Posey a shot, but who’s going to drive in the runs? Is it worth it, he wonders, to commit to a second or third year to Molina if it guarantees that all of those runs are driven in next year? That would block Posey, but then the runs would be driven in. And runs need to be driven in, or the offense will be even worse! What a dilemma.

Again, we follow an organization that is convinced that Molina helps an offense, whereas the rest of the civilized world realizes that a sub-.300 on-base percentage coming from the slowest player in baseball is something to avoid. Bringing back Molina is finding your wife in bed with one of her students after you’ve already read the e-mails between the two. I mean, you knew, but seeing it in action just hammers the ungodliness home.

I think Molina scares me more than any of the other free agents. At least we can pretend with Dye and Bay – poor defense is much harder to quantify on a day-to-day basis, especially when they’re improving on the offense from last season. But Molina grounding into double plays, stopping at third on a long double, and weakly flying out to the outfield for another two seasons? Assuming Bochy will know how to transition from a veteran catcher to a rookie catcher? I’ll set a series of small fires if that happens, and I can’t promise that they’ll be on inanimate objects.

Arizona Fall League: Matt McBride Homers, Aaron Crow Hit Hard Again

raygu — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:40 -0000

The AFL was back in action on Monday following a day off on Sunday. The Rising Stars game was very exciting for those who watched as the Indian's catching prospect Matt McBride hit a two-run homer off of Nationals pitching prospect Drew Storen.

Let's take a look at the performances from Monday's games:

Jose Tabata, OF, PIT-0-4, (.349)

Buster Posey, C, SFG-1-3, BB, K (.224)

Brandon Allen, 1B, ARI-1-4, K (.167)

Domonic Brown, OF, PHI-1-4, 2K (.256)

Thomas Neal, 1B, SFG-0-4, RBI, BB (.288)

Hector Gomez, SS, COL-2-3, RS, 2B, HR, RBI (.271)

Starlin Castro, SS, CHC-1-4, RS, SB (.414)

Bryan Peterson, OF, FLA-2-3, BB, RBI (.400)

Jay Buente, RP, FLA-2 Inn, 5 K (3.86)

Matt McBride, C, CLE-2-4, 2 RS, 3B, HR, RBI (.420)

Yonder Alonso, 1B, CIN-3-4, RS, RBI (.293)

Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL-0-3, 2 K (.267)

Jonathan Gaston, OF, HOU-1-3, HR, 3 RBI (.226)

Ike Davis, 1B, NYM-2-4, RS, (.339)

Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX-0-3, BB, 2 K (.240)

Aaron Crow, SP, KC-4 Inn, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 K (7.94)

Scouring the free agent market

Grant — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:38:17 -0000

One player you want. Cull the free agent list, and name your guy.

It’s a rosterbation sensation!

Nick Johnson is my guy, and I know it might not be especially rational. If Nick Johnson were a regular reader, he would probably raise his eyebrows at the suggestion that the Giants should spend a lot of money on an oft-injured, 30-year-old who plays a position at which the Giants have a decent option.

Per Rotoworld: Nick Johnson is going on the 60-day DL after raising, then straining, his eyebrows. The condition, incredulitis, is believed to be chronic.

But I’m an on-base percentage slut. Can’t get enough. Guy’s gotta have it. Mmmmm, on-base percentage: you got what I need. Mmm.

Johnson had a fantastic on-base percentage last year. He always does when he’s in the lineup. He isn’t much of a power guy – heck, he only had eight home runs last year, which is Ishikawa territory – but that’s easy to ignore when he’s putting up sweet, sweet on-base percentages. Mmmmm. And as weird as it sounds, I still think Johnson is learning how to hit. Sure, he’s 30 already, and he’s been around for eight seasons, but he’s only been healthy for, oh, 12 games or so.

"Gee, Grant," you say, "isn’t it a bad idea to sign over-30 guys who rarely stay healthy?" To which I respond, "lalalalalalalalala" with my fingers in my ears. On-base percentage, you punishing-yet-fair dominatrix: what are you about to get me into?

I don’t mind Ryan Garko on a roster, but with an organization that has Jesus Guzman, I’m not sure that there’s a good reason to pay Garko what he’s going to get in arbitration. He doesn’t run, and he doesn’t field, which is all pretty discouraging for a .280/.350/.470 guy (in the best-case scenario, even). FanGraphs says the difference between Garko and Johnson has been anywhere between one to four wins, depending on the season you pick. That’s pretty substantial, especially for a team with only one hitter who is a decent bet to be above average next season.

I’ll probably delete this post in three years, when Johnson is in the last year of a 3/$24M deal that provided his team with a total of 200 combined plate appearances. For now, though, Johnson is the only name-brand free agent in whom I have any interest.

I have a problem.

Your one guy, if you please. Don't do that thing where you post the whole lineup after your 156 moves are made. One guy, dang it.

SB Nation Writers Vote: NL & AL Manager of the Year

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:04:11 -0000

More photos » by Will Powers - AP

Browse more photos »

Here are the results from the SB Nation's writers poll regarding the NL Manager of the Year award:

Rk	Manager	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
1	Jim Tracy	Colorado Rockies	24	1	2	125
2	Tony LaRussa	St. Louis Cardinals	3	7	10	46
3	Fredi Gonzalez	Florida Marlins	2	6	5	33
4	Joe Torre	Los Angeles Dodgers	-	9	2	29
5	Charlie Manuel	Philadelphia Phillies	-	3	5	14
6	Bruce Bochy	San Francisco Giants	1	1	1	9
7	Bobby Cox	Atlanta Braves	-	1	4	7
8	Bud Black	San Diego Padres	-	1	1	4
9	John Russell	Pittsburgh Pirates	-	1	-	3

And below are the results from the AL Manager of the Year vote:

Rk	Manager	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
1	Mike Scioscia	Los Angeles Angels	9	8	3	72
2	Ron Gardenhire	Minnesota Twins	9	5	1	61
3	Don Wakamatsu	Seattle Mariners	6	3	8	47
4	Joe Girardi	New York Yankees	2	4	2	24
5	Ron Washington	Texas Rangers	1	4	4	21
6	Terry Francona	Boston Red Sox	1	1	3	11
7	Jim Leyland	Detroit Tigers	-	2	4	10
8	Joe Maddon	Tampa Bay Rays	-	1	1	4
9	Ozzie Guillen	Chicago White Sox	-	-	1	1
10	Trey Hillman	Kansas City Royals	-	-	1	1

Let's hear some reaction from these results in the comment section below.

NL West in Review: 3rd Basemen

Poseidon's Fist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:43 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

Atkins could soon be a teammate of the pitcher he just hit a home run off of in this picture: Cole Hamels. Maybe going ~~to a hitter's park~~ away could help ~~his career~~ the Rockies.

View full size photo »

You want to know where the Rockies lost the division in 2009? Don't look at Jorge de la Rosa's groin (please don't). Don't blame Clint Hurdle. Don't blame Canada. Don't look at the Rockies seemingly annual inability to beat one NL West team.

No - your culprit is the hot corner.

The Rockies were heavy favorites to outclass the NL West at third base going into the season. Garrett Atkins was projected to finally rebound while Ian Stewart was expected to exhibit growth. Either way, Colorado was sitting pretty. Brendan Scolari's preseason report had the Rockies way out in front at third base, totalling 5.5 WAR, with San Francisco second at just 2.3 WAR. Los Angeles was in a tie for last at just 2.0 WAR.

Part of that is misleading, as his projections gave the Rockies about 300 extra PA, so Colorado's lead over LA should been more in the neighborhood of 2.5 WAR. Instead, it was Los Angeles that trounced the Rockies by almost 3.5 WAR. There's a six game swing right there.


Teams	Players	Avg	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG	wOBA*	WAR
1. San Francisco	4	.313	26	92	.368	.532	.392	6.04
2. Los Angeles	6	.283	20	92	.356	.424	.353	4.95
3. Arizona	4	.247	39	90	.336	.487	.355	3.70
4. San Diego	5	.258	20	100	.314	.420	.331	3.19
5. Colorado	4	.223	22	77	.314	.386	.307	1.56

The third base position was comparatively very stable in 2009 for the division - only the Rockies failed to have a third baseman accrue 500+ PA.Your graphical plot of the RAR for all five teams, with the positional RAR set at +2.5:

You might be surprised who comes out on top of the NL West rankings for third base. (Hint: this man is responsible).

There were 23 total third basemen, with the top five representing the main starters from each of the five teams. The complete rankings/stats can be viewed here, along with all the juicy math behind the numbers:

Rank	Player	Team	PA	Avg	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG	wOBA*	UZR	WAR
1	Casey Blake	LAD	557	.282	18	78	.365	.471	.362	8.0	4.00
2	Pablo Sandoval	SFG	512	.320	20	69	.377	.544	.401	-4.5	3.82
3	Mark Reynolds	AZ	554	.246	37	80	.339	.528	.375	-4.3	3.23
4	Kevin Kouzmanoff	SDP	571	.238	18	71	.303	.420	.325	7.7	2.62
5	Ian Stewart	COL	379	.225	15	41	.327	.420	.320	4.7	1.57
~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
19	Chris Burke	SDP	3	.000	0	0	.000	.000	.000	-	-0.06
20	Josh Wilson	SDP	13	.154	0	0	.154	.231	.167	-	-0.10
21	Augie Ojeda	AZ	63	.182	1	4	.262	.291	.245	-4.1	-0.12
22	Edgar Gonzalez	SFG	15	.214	0	1	.267	.429	.284	-1.4	-0.13
23	Blake DeWitt	LAD	26	.200	0	2	.192	.280	.234	-0.6	-0.14

Scrapbook Memories: 1989 World Series, Game 3, Part 2

67MARQUEZ — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:19 -0000

Scrapbook Memories celebrates the 20th anniversary of Oakland's last World Series triumph. Since the day they set foot in Arizona some seven months prior, the A's mission for 1989 was clear; a wildly successful 1988 season had ended with a thud, leaving a sour taste in their collective mouths, and a sense of unfinished business. After disposing of the Toronto Blue Jays in five hard-fought games, the A's allowed a single run to the San Francisco Giants in the first two World Series contests, putting them two victories from being crowned champions for the first time since 1974.

Just when it seemed there was nothing to derail Oakland's date with destiny, a massive earthquake shook the Bay Area a few minutes from the commencement of Game 3. While the region healed, baseball took its proper place. It would be a full ten days before the teams would again take the field at Candlestick Park. Prior to 1989, the longest delay in World Series play was six days. That was in 1911, and the participants were the (Philadelphia) A's and (New York) Giants.

ABC's Al Michaels, as told to a nationwide audience before Game 3, Part 2 (you can read the first part here):

"...And now on October 27, like a fighter who's taken a vicious blow to the stomach and has groggily arisen, this region moves on and moves ahead."

"And one part of that scenario is the resumption of the World Series. No one in this ballpark tonight- no player, no vendor, no fan, no writer, no announcer, in fact, no one in this area period- can forger the images. The column of smoke in the Marina. The severed bridge. The grotesque tangle of concrete in Oakland. The pictures are embedded in our minds."

"And while the mourning and the suffering and the aftereffects will continue, in about thirty minutes the plate umpire, Vic Voltaggio will say ‘Play Ball', and the players will play, the vendors will sell, the announcers will announce, the crowd will exhort. And for many of the six million people in this region, it will be like revisiting Fantasyland."

"But Fantasyland is where baseball comes from anyway and maybe right about now that's the perfect place for a three-hour rest."

Oakland manager Tony La Russa had kept his players' eyes on the prize by flying them to Phoenix for two days of workouts, but clearly there was a wide array of emotions (excerpt from "Three Weeks in October"):

"We showed up in Arizona and there were all these people in the stands. That really touched me. It's like somebody was saying, ‘Baseball is great. Baseball means something.' When the day was over, I felt this tugging," he said, pointing to his heart. "I had some positive vibes, but then I had another tug. A different kind. I was embarrassed. I mean, aren't we supposed to feel guilty? It confused the hell out of me. When I drive by 880, I feel a lot of emotion. Then about 10 miles down the road I'm getting full of myself. And I start feeling guilty again."

La Russa said he would tell his team before Game 3: "Be honest. If you feel good, you deserve to feel good. They're calling this the forgotten World Series, but if you play well in this situation, it will have more meaning than any other World Series that has come before. Nobody's ever been asked to do this."

Indeed.

As I recall it, when I left work with my brother John that October 27, at the same time as we did ten days before, there was a general uneasiness going home. Like, can it really happen again? The entire family gathered at Mom's for this one; with some of us attending the games in Oakland, this was the first time we were able to take in a World Series contest together. Inside Candlestick Park, there was a festive mood, like "Now where were we?" The earthquake had brought this region, hardly antagonistic to begin with, even closer. All that was needed was for the A's to actually show up. Steve Wulf, Sports Illustrated:

By the time the Series resumed, it was permissible to joke a little about the circumstances. The Battle of the Bay had become the Rattle of the Bay, and Candlestick Park was dubbed Wiggly Field by columnist Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle. Early arrivals checked out the park, and the only thing they could find awry was that the A's were missing. The team bus had been stuck in traffic on the San Mateo Bridge - the alternate route they had to take because of the damage to the Bay Bridge - and they arrived at Candlestick nearly an hour late for batting practice. "I wasn't worried," said first baseman Mark McGwire. "I'm from Southern California, so I find traffic relaxing. Besides, they weren't going to start the game without us."

The Giants might have had a chance if they did start without them. If the Series' competitive fire had been reduced to a flicker during the layoff, it took just three batters for it to light up again. Scott Garrelts twice threw high-and-tight to Jose Canseco, who was upset enough about being mired in a 0-for-23 Series skid (dating back to Game 1 of the previous season). And so the Giant woke up the giant; the slumbering, slumping Canseco, who promptly singled past the shortstop.

Then it was Dave Henderson's turn, who hit what we all thought was a home run (including Hendu, who did his little homer hop) but instead it hit off the top of the fence for a two-run double (Carney Lansford had singled ahead of Canseco). Just like that, the A's were on top.

Rickey Henderson, who had a subpar game- well, for him- in Game 3 (1-for-5, 1 run scored), did find time to double to lead off the third, and swipe third base, his record eleventh steal of these playoffs.

In the top of the fourth, Hendu led off with a shot that did clear the fence and two batters later, Tony Phillips joined the bashers with a blast of his own. Exit Garrelts, after allowing four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work.

The Giants came back with two runs in the bottom half to close within 4-3, but Mark McGwire kept Oakland in front with a diving stop at first and a flip to starter Dave Stewart. Then the A's put the game out of reach with four in the fifth, the first three coming when Canseco took Kelly Downs downtown and the last one coming on Hendu's second home run of the night.

Carney Lansford's home run with two outs in the sixth gave the A's five big flies on the night; not since the 1928 New York Yankees had a ball club put on such a power display in the World Series. It was Lansford (3-for-4, 4 runs, 2 RBI's), Canseco (3-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI's), and of course, Dave Henderson (3-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI's) who swung the biggest bats in Game 3.

Almost lost amid the parade of elephants was Dave Stewart, who was his usual stellar self. Already idolized within the community for his efforts on the field, the St. Elizabeth High grad turned in his A's cap for a hard hat during the layoff, pitching in wherever he might be needed. When La Russa looked to him in Game 3, Stew simply pitched: seven innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, eight strikeouts. Winner of 62 regular-season games from 1987-89, Stew became the first man in history to record two victories in both the League Championship Series and World Series in the same year.

The A's, as a unit, earned straight A's this evening, tacking on four more runs in the eighth and steamrolling to a 13-7 win.

Arizona Fall League: Rising Stars Game

raygu — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:00:19 -0000

I did not get a chance to watch the Rising Stars game last night as I attended a Dark Star Orchestra (Dead cover band) concert in Philadelphia. As it turns out, both were good shows. Funny, I wore my Dodgers long sleeve T to the show, how Phillies fans still talk junk after getting their asses handed to them by the Yankees in the World Series.

Back to the Rising Stars game. The AFL East squad jumped all over Braves pitching prospect Mike Minor scoring 7 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 2/3rds of an inning, but the West team came roaring back and got to Nats prospect, and future closer, Drew Storen for 2 runs in bottom of the 8th to overcome the early 7 runs deficit to win 8-7.

Let's take a look at the top performances in the game after the jump:

Jose Tabata, OF, PIT-2-3, RS, RBI

Bryan Peterson, OF, FLA-1-2, SB

Starlin Castro, SS, CHC-2-3, RS

Brandon Snyder, 1B, BAL-1-4, BB, K

Grant Desme, OF, OAK-1-3, RS, RBI

Brandon Allen, 1B, ARI-1-4, HR, 3 RBI

Buster Posey-1-2, RS

Chase D'Arnaud, 2B, PIT-2-3

Domonic Brown, OF, PHI-1-4, RS, 2B

Drew Storen, RP, WAS-Inn, 2 H, 2 ER, HR

Dustin Ackley, OF, SEA-0-1, RS, BB

Chris Heisey, OF, CIN-2-3, 2 RS, 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Yonder Alonso, 1B, CIN-3-4, RS, 2B, 2 RBI

Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC-1-3, RS

Jordan Danks, OF, CHW-0-5, 2 K

Matt McBride-1-2, GW HR, 2 RBI

Carlos Triunfel, SS, SEA-1-2, HR, RBI

Mike Minor, SP, ATL-0.2, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER

Something about new ballparks

Travis G — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:12:21 -0000

View full size photo »

The first Yankee Stadium was built in 1923. The Yankees won the World Series (for the first time) over the New York Giants that year.

The first year of the 'overhauled' Yankee Stadium was 1976. The Yanks won the pennant (for the first time in 12 years), but lost the World Series to the Big Red Machine.

The first year of the new Yankee Stadium was 2009. The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win their 27th title (for the first time in nine years).

What are the odds?

(The '09 Yanks also became the third team to win the clinching game of the World Series in their new ballpark, joining the 1912 Red Sox and 2006 Cardinals.)

AFL Rising Stars Game Rosters

raygu — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:15:11 -0000

The 2009 AFL Rising Stars game rosters are listed below for those of you who get the chance to see some of the best prospects in MLB in one game tonight at 8:15 on the MLB Network. Unfortunately, the Nationals pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg will not be making the start in this one with a "sore neck". What timing. But you will get the chance to see Buster Posey, Starlin Castro, Josh Vitters, Domonic Brown and Tanner Scheppers among others.


2009 AFL Rising Stars rosters
East Division						West Division

Position players

POS.	PLAYER	TEAM	ORG	POS.	PLAYER NAME	TEAM	ORG
C	Hank Conger	Mesa	LAA	C	Jason Castro	Saguaros	HOU
C	Buster Posey	Scottsdale	SF	C	Lucas May	Javelinas	LAD
IF	Brandon Allen	Scottsdale	ARI	IF	Yonder Alonso	Saguaros	CIN
IF	Josh Bell	Phoenix	BAL	IF	Zack Cozart	Saguaros	CIN
IF	Starlin Castro	Mesa	CHC	IF	Ike Davis	Surprise	NYM
IF	Chase d'Arnaud	Scottsdale	PIT	IF	Daniel Descalso	Surprise	STL
IF	Matt Dominguez	Mesa	FLA	IF	Carlos Rivero	Saguaros	CLE
IF	Brandon Snyder	Phoenix	BAL	IF	Mike Moustakas	Surprise	KC
IF	Josh Vitters*	Mesa	CHC	IF	Lance Zawadzki	Saguaros	SD
IF	Jemile Weeks	Phoenix	OAK	OF	Dustin Ackley	Javelinas	SEA
OF	Domonic Brown	Scottsdale	PHI	OF	Jordan Danks	Javelinas	CWS
OF	Grant Desme	Phoenix	OAK	OF	Chris Heisey	Saguaros	CIN
OF	Bryan Petersen	Mesa	FLA	OF	Daryl Jones	Javelinas	STL
OF	Jose Tabata	Scottsdale	PIT	OF	Casper Wells	Javelinas	DET
OF	Rene Tosoni	Mesa	MIN
Pitchers

POS.	PLAYER	TEAM	ORG	POS.	PLAYER NAME	TEAM	ORG
RHP	Andrew Cashner*	Mesa	CHC	RHP	Phillippe Aumont	Javelinas	SEA
RHP	Brandon Erbe*	Phoenix	BAL	LHP	Michael Dunn	Surprise	NYY
RHP	Reidier Gonzalez	Phoenix	TOR	RHP	Josh Fields	Javelinas	SEA
RHP	Matt Gorgen	Phoenix	TB	RHP	Javy Guerra	Javelinas	LAD
RHP	Andrew Johnston	Scottsdale	COL	RHP	Danny Gutierrez	Surprise	TEX
RHP	Tommy Mendoza	Mesa	LAA	RHP	Craig Kimbrel	Saguaros	ATL
LHP	Danny Moskos	Scottsdale	PIT	RHP	Mike Leake	Saguaros	CIN
RHP	Toru Murata	Scottsdale	N/A	LHP	Mike Minor	Saguaros	ATL
LHP	Blake Parker	Mesa	CHC	LHP	Andrew Oliver	Javelinas	DET
LHP	Matt Reynolds	Scottsdale	COL	RHP	Mark Rogers	Javelinas	MIL
LHP	Dustin Richardson	Mesa	BOS	RHP	Tanner Scheppers	Surprise	TEX
RHP	Drew Storen	Phoenix	WAS
RHP	Stephen Strasburg*	Phoenix	WAS

Star Pitcher Pinched

Grant — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:11:39 -0000

by Grant on Nov 5, 1923 2:00 PM PST

Star Pitcher Sullies Team, Caught With Hooch

Teammates View Art Nehf Askance, Mindful of Series Loss

With the hopes and year-long dreams of post-championship attaboys dashed by the cross-town behemoth Yankees, whose steadfastness in the face of worthy competition proved too daunting for even our nifty boys, star pitcher Art Nehf was caught with a hip flask full of hooch, besmirching his name and reputation as well as that of his fair team.

Though Nehf's doggy, Joe Brooks appearance has always led this observer to believe that he partook of a belt of giggle water whenever convenient, the official pinch only confirms our suspicions. Nehf proved to be quite the sap by carrying the skee on the hip; though he was not zozzled at the time of his arrest, there is every indication that he was planning on going hoary-eyed through the streets of New York, stumbling from speakeasy to speakeasy.

Far be it from this observer to be the town killjoy, but Nehf's predilection for getting owled or fried to the hat whenever the opportunity arose quite possibly could be the reason for the Giants' crushing defeat in the Contest of Contests this solemn autumn. For no Yankees player has yet to be popped for panther sweat in the past year, which just might account for their uncanny ability to hit on all sixes when their backs were against the Polo Grounds center field wall. No impartial party has yet reported that fellas like Wally Pipp, Whitey Witt, or "Babe" Ruth have besotted themselves in a quest to get canned from whatever bathtub skee dribbled into their cup, so we can only assume that their gumption, discipline, and fortitude served them well.

The youth of today deserve more from Art Nehf, whose swanky glad rags prove a tell-tale sign of the gin-mill gadfly who lost the final game of a grueling Fall contest, possibly while splifficated. For shame, Mr. Nehf. For shame.