SB Nation User Blog: nvsfg

OT: Phillies Lose Utley and Feliz For Spring 2009

nvsfg — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:49:44 -0000

OT: Phillies Lose Utley and Feliz For Spring 2009

The World Champion Phillies got some bad news for the holidays. Both Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz will miss time for the first part of Spring 2009.

This is second time this year that Feliz has taken time off with this injury. Without knowing exactly what the injury is, the description of the surgery/procedure sounds like the same one I had three years ago. Microdiscectomy or Discectomy is a "minor" surgery compared to disc replacement or fusion, but still is spinal surgery.

What does this mean for the rest of his career ? I am happy that Feliz got the chance to get a ring, but as an all glove/weak bat 3B, could it mean he's done ?

Semi-OT: MiLB Reno Aces and Giants History

nvsfg — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:15:41 -0000

With a number of MiLB affiliation changes at the end of 2008, the Aces will play in Reno with the season home opener on April 17. Despite their lame team name and affiliation with the D-Backs, it is professional baseball, as opposed to the guys who were managed by Hackman . I have purchased a season ticket package (two seats, front row, 1B Dugout) that cost me less than my annual pilgrimage down to the 'Bay for three to four games each season. Their schedule includes eight home games against the Griz, as well as the rest of the fifteen PCL teams

Today, the Aces named Brett "Bugsy" Butler the new Manager, and Joel Youngblood the hitting instructor.

One of the most interesting things about the former Tucson Sidewinders is the longtime connection with the Giants. Former Giants Players seem to have found a home with this organization.

From Wikipedia" After the MLB expansion that added the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Toros moved to Fresno, California as the Fresno Grizzlies. The Phoenix Firebirds relocated to Tucson, briefly became the Tucson Toros (1997), and then became the Sidewinders (1998), the Triple-A affiliate of the new Diamondbacks. This was accomplished by what amounted to a "swap" in ownership in 1997, with Firebirds owner Martin Stone purchasing the Toros and Toros owner Rick Holtzman receiving interest in the Firebirds. The Tucson team retained management and staff primarily from the Toros, and traces its history from the Toros rather than the Firebirds. The Phoenix Firebirds had played from 1958 through 1997 as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The franchise joined the Pacific Coast League as a charter member in 1903 as the San Francisco Seals, relocating to Phoenix when the major league New York Giants moved to San Francisco. Seals alumni include Joe DiMaggio"

2008 Aces Roster (YTD) Comment Starters: Can these guys win with this roster ? I am excited about 3A Baseball in Reno. Are you ? What is the otherworldly connection between this team and the Giants ? Does it signal the End Times ? Should this have been a FanShot ?

This Year In Baseball Awards (Fan Voting)

nvsfg — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:07:59 -0000

This Year In Baseball Awards (Fan Voting)

The MLB and MiLB Year in Baseball Awards is online and available for voting. Please make sure to vote for Timmy, MadBum, TimA, and Kyle Nicholson. They do require an e-mail address and birthday. Bonus: You can vote as many times as you want ! Minor League Voting is a small link under the MLB candidates.

OT: All Time Worst Contract Team

nvsfg — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:01:01 -0000

How about a little "off day" distraction ? On Bugs and Cranks yesterday one of the contributers posted the All Time Worst Contract Team. I'm sure you can imagine the current Giant listed on that team.

Comment starter: Do you agree with the writers list ? Can you create an All San Francisco Giants Worst Contract Team ? The team need not be based on dollar value. Player performance does factor. Trades may be included. Difficulty: You may not include Barry Zito.

Field Of Nightmares ?

nvsfg — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:14:33 -0000

I came across this heading, picture, and comment on an antique photography web site.

Field of Nightmares: 1910

August 1, 1910. New York Giants centerfielder Fred Snodgrass, whose 10th-inning error in the 1912 World Series shadowed him for the rest of his life, and beyond.

Headline of his obituary in the New York Times: "Fred Snodgrass, 86, Is Dead; Ball Player Muffed 1912 Fly."Photo Property of George Grantham Bain Collection

This is one of the reasons I love baseball. This poor bastard dropped a fly ball in an important baseball game. It followed him for the rest of his life. In fact, it followed him even into death.

Having been a Giants fan since the seventies, I have seen my share of bad baseball. The years 2000 through 2004 were pretty sweet however. As was 1997, and who could forget the heartbreak that was 1993 ?

Comment Starter: Who will be the Fred Snodgrass of 2008 ? Who will be the guy you are p*ssed off at for the next ten years ?

Optimism.....Weak

nvsfg — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:08:11 -0000

I love my Giants as much as anyone, but it has been a particularly bad week as far as optimism goes. It is only Spring Training, and as of yet it does not really mean anything,but still, "The Force of Optimism" is weakening.

Here is a sample of the battle going on in my head:
Optimist: Merkin Valdez finally looks like he could be the force on the mound most of hoped he could be.
Pessimist: Dude, It's Merkin Valdez.
Optimist:Franny gets moved back to 2B where he showed potential at the end of last year.
Pessimist: Dude, Did you forget Durham's still on the roster, and Bochy is the Manager ? You know Bochy, the guy who started Castilla every day, even though he stunk up the joint, until the GM DFA'ed him.
Optimist: Fred Lewis is looking pretty good with the bat. He and Rajai would make a pretty good tandem wouldn't they !Speed and Defense ! Even if it takes two guys!
Pessimist: Dude, see Bochy Comment above !
Optimist: Threets looks pretty good. He could be valuable in the pen or as a trade piece.
Pessimist: Dude, He's out of options, Sabes is probably going to forget about it, keep Kline, and lose him on waivers !

Anyway, you get the point. McCoven, Help me see the light at the end of the cellar.....um,er tunnel.

OT: "The Office" and Fire Joe Morgan

nvsfg — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:05:35 -0000

What do "The Office" (US Version) and Fire Joe Morgan have in common you say? As it turns out, quite a bit.

Michael Schur , producer, writer, and actor (Mose) from The Office is the man behind the pseudonym "Ken Tremendous" at FJM.

Surprised? Angry? Befuddled?

Comment Starters:

Will you read more of FJM now that the secret has been revealed?
Are you hoping for some "The Office" type wit from FJM?
McCovey Chronicles is much wittier and funnier than FJM. Why isn't Grant writing for TV?

The Dominoes are Starting To Fall

nvsfg — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:31:38 -0000

In the "other than discussions about Joe Crede" category comes this item today. Casey joins Red Sox by signing one-year contract .

Sean Casey is a career .301/.366/.450 OPS+ 110 hitter. $700K seems like a reasonable risk and amount to pay for a 33 yo one year LH 1B.

Comment Starter. Should the Giants have taken this risk ?

Bud Selig, Man Of the Hour

nvsfg — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:52:38 -0000

Henceforth, I propose that the McCoven use the picture below in any reference to Bud Selig.

Sadly, this picture is not "photoshopped". It ran in the Wednesday edition of the SF Examiner.com online . (Check out the handshake with George Mitchell right after Selig's special mining operation, EEEWWWW !)

I am surprised that Howie did not add this to his Happy Saddest Day in Baseball Today Day!

Coment Starter: WTF ? This guy is grown man, in Conressional Hearings, not a three year old.

OT: Did Not See This One Coming

nvsfg — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:53:00 -0000

Cards, Blue Jays set to swap third basemen is being reported by Ken Rosenthal this morning. This is just a wierd deal.

Do both teams hope that the change of scenery moves both of these guys back to 2002-2003 form ?

Who wins in this deal ?

Does this add value to our old friend Pedro Feliz ?

Would one of you McCoven "genius" (geniuses ) please help me understand this trade ?