SB Nation User Blog: merkin

Offense overachievers? 71 Game Checkup

merkin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:14:14 -0000

I belileve I have mentioned this before, but lets go ahead and check in on the Giants offense.....

Despite being near last in the league in runs scored, this team is actually over achieving.

Based on Tango Tiger's Linear Weights wOBA thingy....which is about as advanced as it gets these days....

The Giants have actually scored 20 more runs this year than one would expect from the component parts....

wRC = 281, actual runs = 261

Or lets slice that another way.....

Compare 2008 vs 2009 through game 71.

Now the Giants had more plate appearances this time though 71 games, so for purposes of comparison I have reduced the 2008 numbers to match 2009 using plate appearances.

As you can see the runs scored is almost exactly the same.

But to get to this run total the 2009 Giants used the same amount of hits

but 2009 has 16 fewer doubles, 4 fewer homers, 42 fewer walks, 47 more strikeouts, a lower BA, lower OBP, and a lower Slugging.

So how are they scoring more runs? They are converting their chances better, with 23 fewer runners left stranded.

So this can be read a few ways.

The Giants are either lucky, clutch, incredibly well managed, or some combination of the three.

I will leave it up to you to choose which one….

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION

Top 30 Picks...1982-2001..Hitters v Pitchers, College v High School

merkin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:12:03 -0000

So that other thread is up over 200+ posts, so hope no one minds of I post this here....

Prior to the 2007 season I sat down and did stats on the June Drafts from 1982-2001 with "performance" through the 2006 Season.
The draft picks were evaluated on 4 criteria.
1) Did they put in a full season at the major league level
2) Did they make an all star appearance
3) Did they finish in the top 10 of a major stat category in any year
4) Did they play enough at the major league level to lose their rookie status
Imperfect for many reasons, yet fairly valid as a point of comparing within the data set. After reading the debate of Bumgarner v Heyward v Porcello v Alderson v Noonan v Smoak v whomever....
I figured it would be worthwhile treat the data in a new way......Hitter vs Pitcher, High School v College...... To that end I submit the following.......(CLICK IT TO ENLARGE)

via i51.photobucket.com

And of course the plug for Giantsboard.com...... a larger version is here
PS data was complied manually, and triple checked....but its a ton of data....I apologize in advance if I am off a little bit somewhere....but I believe I got it ironed out fairly well

SJ Giants at Stockton Thursday 4/16 (Pics and Vids)

merkin — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:13:16 -0000

Cold night in Stockton
Got a ton of pics and a few vids

Quick notes, was bugging the Ports scout.
Bumgarner was throwing 88-93
Whittaker was throwing 88-90
Quirate was throwing 90-92
LOTS of scouts
I counted 8 radar guns firing at the same time
Sat next to a guy who said he was a Twins scout
The lady was not a scout, she sweet talked a scout into borrowing the gun
still getting used to the camera, hope you enjoy

BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE

Grant hitches a ride to the game
A Brute Sighting

Bum a Dealing

Whittaker slinging the ball

Angel Crushing one to Left

BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE

OT- I Love You, Man

merkin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:28:34 -0000

The Rush thread is long gone, but there had to a place for this.Who else has seen this freaking hilarious movie? And if you haven't seen and appreciate a good stupid movie, see this as soon as possible. Be the first one on your block to pull quotes out of your butt like you did with the last Will Ferrell Movie

Prepared to be Rushified

'I Love You Man' Prepared to Be Rushified @ Yahoo! Video

The New Street Banners are Up

merkin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:11:16 -0000

The new street banners are up in China Basin. These are similar to the Bus Ads some of you have already seen on Muni. Some are fairly cheesy, but really not as bad as last year and not as bad as the ticket designs. I would say my favorite banners is still the SF Skyline from a few years back. seen here

via i51.photobucket.com

Those are the Worst two..... the rest are here

Sounds and SIghts of Spring, Lemonade like Grandma Made some more vids from that day here...

merkin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:41:31 -0000

Sounds and SIghts of Spring, Lemonade like Grandma Made

some more vids from that day here (03-01_
Heavy on the Posey
http://www.runboard.com/boardsfgiantsfans.f9.t18817

New Season Tickets.....Photoshop Fun

merkin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:22:43 -0000

Well got my season tickets today, and good god they look awful.

I got green colored tickets, which I assume are for my section (which were yellow or gold in years past)

A bit disappointing after last years 50 year anniversary ticket design which looked like a baseball card with a different Giants for each and every ticket.

This year, cheesy slogans which no doubt copy the street banners we will see every gameday for the next 7 months.

The tickets

Well, its seems that the only thing the McC'ers love as much as baseball, is Photoshop.

I submit to you the masters of McC Photoshopery, tickets to mangle to your hearts content......(and shameless advertising over the ticket details)

Zito and Blank

Sabean and Blank

Wednesday Mini Camp Experience....aka Xmas in March

merkin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:36:19 -0000

figure this is worth a fanpost

Our last day in Scottsdale was Wednesday. .

Afternoon flight, so figured we would swing by Indian School to see if anything was happening.

Knowing mini camp had started Tuesday, and minor league camp was starting Thursday we weren't quite sure what to expect.

So we packed up and check out the hotel and got to Indian School about 11:30 to flabbergasted by what we saw.

Apparently "Mini Camp" means the cream of the prospects not in Major League Camp. Villalona, Noonan, Rodriguez, Adiranza, Crawford, Fairley and a ton more notable prospects were going through various drills. After snapping a few pics and videos, then came the autos. I had two pearls with me, and almost immediately got Bumgarner and Rafeal Rodriguez on the sweet spot on the two balls, at which point I needed a new ball. SO I ran back to the car and dug in my luggage for the multi auto ball from the game at Surprise a couple days back and proceeded to get more Autos. The guys had showered and changed at this point, so how to tell who is who. Alderson was easy to recognize, Noonan and Fairley not as easy but I guessed right. Crawford was talking to the other dude getting autos when I realized who he was. Other then that I was asking for AUtos and asking what their name was at the same time. Ran out of room on the ball or I coulda gotten at least 10 more. I missed Adrianza, as I likely didnt recognize as he walked past. Kieschnick walked past when Bumgarner was already signing for me. Villalona remains a mystery. He was on the field, but went around the back way into the clubhouse never to be seen again. Likely took off the back way. Anyways, was a great wrapup to a great trip, and I think next year we are going to plan our trip around Mini Camp, bring a better camera, bring a case of balls...and get there early to see the actual workout.......

Click for pics from Minor League Camp

Click for videos from Minor League Camp

Click for Spring Training Autos, from both Major and Minor League Camps

My ST Pics 02/28 to 03/03

merkin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:09:54 -0000

My ST Pics 02/28 to 03/03

www.giantsboard.com

going to be posting pics from my 4 games at ST
Have 2/28 up already
Will be loading 03/01 later tonight
and each evening

Not as cool as GFan9's blog, but I do what I can
Thanks for looking

3 Tickets Tonight in Photowell MONDAY TIMMY PITCHING

merkin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:18:56 -0000

We suddenly have to get rid of 3 tickets in the photowell by 3rd base.

Can take 1 2 or 3

Just a few feet from 3rd base

Asking $50 each, but will take anything you can spare as these will go to waste (my buddies tickets, you pay her.)

MUST be Giants fan!!!

giantsbaseball@gmail.com
and leave a Phone #, time is short

My name is merkin and I approve this message

via i79.photobucket.com

SB Nation User Blog: merkin

Offense overachievers? 71 Game Checkup

Top 30 Picks...1982-2001..Hitters v Pitchers, College v High School

SJ Giants at Stockton Thursday 4/16 (Pics and Vids)

BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE Grant hitches a ride to the game A Brute Sighting Bum a Dealing Whittaker slinging the ball Angel Crushing one to Left BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE

OT- I Love You, Man

The New Street Banners are Up

Sounds and SIghts of Spring, Lemonade like Grandma Made some more vids from that day here...

New Season Tickets.....Photoshop Fun

The tickets Well, its seems that the only thing the McC'ers love as much as baseball, is Photoshop. I submit to you the masters of McC Photoshopery, tickets to mangle to your hearts content......(and shameless advertising over the ticket details) Zito and Blank Sabean and Blank

Wednesday Mini Camp Experience....aka Xmas in March

My ST Pics 02/28 to 03/03

My ST Pics 02/28 to 03/03

3 Tickets Tonight in Photowell MONDAY TIMMY PITCHING

BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE

Grant hitches a ride to the game
A Brute Sighting

Bum a Dealing

Whittaker slinging the ball

Angel Crushing one to Left

BUTT LOAD OF PICS HERE

The tickets

Well, its seems that the only thing the McC'ers love as much as baseball, is Photoshop.

I submit to you the masters of McC Photoshopery, tickets to mangle to your hearts content......(and shameless advertising over the ticket details)

Zito and Blank

Sabean and Blank