50 years and counting

51 Years and Counting begins April 3 '06 vs. Padres (82-80, NL West Champions)

2005-10-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

"Personally, I'm embarassed."
         - Brain Sabean, Thursday

"I was afraid of last place."
         - Felipe Alou, post-game interview

"The season didn't turn out the way we wanted, the way we're used to. We're used to playing in October. But there's always next year."
         - J.T. Snow, post-game speech

Sources: Sacramento Bee, SF Chronicle, KNBR

3-1 win vs ARI    |    75-87

Some of the poor numbers behind first losing season since '96

2005-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

- Brett Tomko: 7-15, 4.66 ERA, BAA .278, WHIP 1.41
- Jason Schmidt: 4.40 ERA, WHIP 1.42, record vs. SD: 0-2, 7.58 ERA
- Edgardo Alfonzo: RISP/2 out .228;
excluding first 4 games: 353 ABs, 38 RBI, 0 HR, .266, .320 slug
- Pedro Feliz: 603 ABs, RISP .219, .298 OBA, 20 HR (1:30 ratio)
- Lance Niekro: since all-star break: 120 ABs, .182, .256 OBA, 2 HR
- Armando Benitez: 30 IP, 23 K, 5 HR; road ERA 7.15, road WHIP 2.03
- Todd Linden: 171 ABs, 54K, .216, .256 OBA
- Barry Bonds: 13 games started
- SF Batters vs. NL: 15th (out of 16) in runs and walks; last in OBA
- SF Pitchers vs. NL: 11th in ERA
- Entire team: 36-44 home record

2-1 loss vs ARI | 74-87

Encouraging numbers: players who helped Giants stay afloat

2005-09-30T23:46:00.000-07:00

- Matt Cain: 46.1 IP, 24 H, 0.93 WHIP, 2.33 ERA
- Randy Winn: 55 G, .360, 14 HR, 39 XBH, .447 Sept, .994 fpct
- Noah Lowry: 8-4, 2.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP since all-star break
- Omar Vizquel: RISP .336, .988 fpct
- Mike Matheny: RISP/2 outs .341, .999 fpct
- Moises Alou: .320, OBP .400,
- Barry Bonds: 42 AB, 5 HR, 9 BB
- Scott Eyre: BAA .197
- Scott Munter: 38 IP, 1 HR
- Jack Taschner: BAA .176, ERA 1.71

7-3 loss vs ARI | 74-86

The Giants could finish season as much as 9 games back. Still, how many sure wins -- or game-saving ties -- turned into losses?

2005-09-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

At least 14:

April 12: Benitez blows 3-run lead in 9th, picking up where Cody Ransom and Wayne Franklin left off in 2004. Benitez would blow out his hamstring a couple of weeks later. (9-8 loss to LA)
April 20: 14 runners reach base, but only one scores. (2-1 loss to AZ)
May 7: Accardo, in second ML appearance, is asked to be new closer, gives up 3 runs in top of 9th. Brower gives up one more. (11-8 loss to DC)
Jun 19: Linden gives SF 3-run lead with 3-run HR in top of 9th, but Walker gives up 2 bombs in bottom of inning. Eyre loses in 10th. (10-8 loss to DET (10 inn.))
Jul 4: Rueter blows early 6-1 lead; still, SF puts tying run on third with 1 out in 9th, but can't score. (11-10 loss to CIN)
Jul 16: With 2 outs in 9th, Walker lets 5 straight runners reach, blows lead, loses. (5-4 loss to LA)
Jul 25: Giants strand several runners on third, Hawkins blows lead in 8th, Walker gives up game-winner in 9th. (3-2 loss to CHI)
Jul 27: Feliz strands runner on 3rd with one out -- twice. (4-3 loss to CHI)
Aug 13: First two runners reach in 9th, but Feliz, Alfonzo and Linden can't move them up. (2-1 loss to FLA)
Aug 19: Walker blows 4-run lead in 9th. (5-4 loss to STL)
Aug 26: Vizquel leads off 9th with double, but Feliz can't move him to third. (1-0 loss to NY)
Sept 6: Hawkins blows lead in 8th. (4-2 loss to LA (10 inn.))
Sept 7: Reminiscent of April 12: Benitez blows 2-run lead by first giving up HR to Oscar ("2 HR") Robles. Another runner scores later to send SF to defeat. (9-8 loss to LA)
Sept 14: Benitez blows 2-run lead with 2 outs. Along the way, Padres hit a pair of doubles when count is 0-2. (5-4 loss to SD)

1-0 loss at SD (11 inn.) | 74-85

51 Years and Counting

2005-09-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

Giants eliminated as Padres (.500) clinch NL West with just 79 wins; second year in a row Giants simultaneously eliminated and forced to watch home team celebrate division title.

9-1 loss at SD | 74-84

Brett Tomko joins a very special club

2005-09-27T23:31:00.000-07:00

Other members include Sidney Ponson, Felix Rodriguez, Shawn Estes, Cody Ransom, Jose Cruz Jr, Solomon Torres; players not in this club include Schmidt, Rueter, Nen, Kent, Lofton, Winn, Beck, Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, Barry Bonds, Joe Morgan, Brian Johnson; tonite, Bonds hits 3-run HR in top of first, but Tomko gives back all runs in bottom of inning; Giants take 5-3 lead by third inning, but Tomko gives back all runs in bottom of third; Tomko's line: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 ER; still, Giants retake 6-5 lead in top of 4th, and Fassero comes in for Tomko -- but Snow makes third error of the year when he boots two-out check-swing grounder; four unearned runs score when next batter Hernandez hits 334-foot grand slam; SD magic number is 2.

9-6 loss at SD | 74-83

Game of the year: Giants come back against Hoffman

2005-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Down 2-1 in 9th, Hoffman comes in to close it out (41 saves/43 opps); with one out, Matheny singles; with 2 out, Winn (4-for-4, BB) triples in PR Ellison to tie, then Snow singles in Winn to lead; Petco fireworks accidentally set off when, on Winn's triple, CF Giles robs Winn of a HR by knocking ball to ground, yet fails to make game-ending catch; bottom of 9th: Snow chases popup, falls into camera well, slams into TV camera face-first, dents metal casing, stays in game; Vizquel makes two Gold Glove plays on dying quail to left and slow roller up the middle, helping Benitez retire side 1-2-3; also: Taschner (2/3 IP) drops ERA to 1.31; Bonds tweaks knee on great running catch, goes 0-for-5, strands 7 runners, may not play tomorrow; Hennessey gives up single and HR to first two SD batters, but Padres get just one more hit for remainder of game; with 6 games left, Padres magic number remains at 4; Giants magic number is 10.

3-2 win at SD | 74-82

SF, now 4 back (first time since 5/25), goes to SD for 4 games

2005-09-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Cain throws well again (6 IP, 1 ER; ERA falls to 2.02); Randy Winn hits another leadoff HR (third since coming to Giants); Bonds (0-for-3) makes surprise day-after-night start despite pain; SD gets 2 hits, loses in extra innings at AZ.

6-2 win at COL | 73-82

SF clinches first losing record since 1996

2005-09-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

At Coors Field, Giants manage just 3 hits off pitcher with 4.40 ERA.

6-0 loss at COL | 72-82

Kinney auditions for '06 gig, gives up 6 runs in 2.1 innings at Coors

2005-09-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

But Cooper, Fassero, Accardo, Hawkins, Eyre, Walker (23rd save) combine for zero runs in 3rd-9th; Bonds (.360) gets on base 3 times, pushes SF record to 7-1 when he starts; but with SD win, Pads' magic number down to 5.

7-6 win at COL | 72-81

Bonds DNP = Giants DNW

2005-09-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Nonclutch Alfonzo (RISP/2 outs avg: .244) leaves four on base; Niekro Ks 3 times (28 Ks for team in series); Tomko again gets no run support: SF has scored 2, 1 or 0 in 16 of his 31 starts.

2-0 loss at DC | 71-81

Bad Hennessey MIA

2005-09-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

Good Hennessey finally shows up: doubles, homers, wins first start since July 28 (he HRd in that game too); RFK souvenir shop has 14 bobbleheads for sale -- $21 each -- all of them of Guzman (.209); anything else? oh yeah: Bonds goes deep for 4th game in row, Giants 6-1 when he starts.

5-1 win at DC | 71-80

Bonds all the difference behind SF's 4 runs, but Benitez nearly chokes again

2005-09-20T21:17:00.001-07:00

RFK fans chant "Ster-oids!", yell "BALCO Barry from the Bronx" (huh?), and flash paper asterisks -- then give standing O after Bonds crushes Livan fastball into Prince George's County; Bonds holds finger over lips and tells fans behind plate to "shoosh" after HR trot; with SF trailing 2-1 in 9th and one out, Alfonzo (slowest 31-year old ever) mercifully pops out with Vizquel on 1st, allowing Bonds to draw walk, leading to Alou's 3-run bomb; in bottom of inning, Benitez loads bases, yields run, saves game anyway on do-or-die catch by Linden.

4-3 win at DC | 70-80

Running out of time

2005-09-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

Bonds hits Cove (705); Winn goes 3-for-4, homers again (11th in 45 games), now at .345 since coming to Giants; but SF still 5-1/2 out with only 13 left as SD beats DC in late innings again.

5-3 win vs LA | 68-80

Too little too late?

2005-09-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

Despite win, SF fails to pick up ground when DC's mostly-reliable Cordero coughs up 9th inning, 2-out GS vs. Padres; on related note, excellent article by MLB.com's Barry Bloom on the history of Benitez blowing must-win games paints grim picture.

2-1 win vs LA | 67-80

704

2005-09-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Not having proved he can catch up to fastballs yet, Bonds blasts curveball into deep CF bleachers; Hawkins allows inherited runners to tie game in 8th, but leadoff walk to Alfonzo and broken bat single by Linden bail him out in 9th.

5-4 win vs LA | 66-80

The ship is sinking: scalpers on King Street now dumping Giants tickets for $5

2005-09-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

Reuter impersonator Hennessey (2.2 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 R; season 4-8, 5.25) has not won in last 9 starts; McCovey Cove shot by Bonds, foul by two feet, still electrifies crowd, but the sight of horrible ABs by Niekro, Linden, Alfonzo and Feliz in front of full houses nightly not good PR for '06.

7-1 loss vs LA | 65-80

Giants win 4-2, sweep Padres, now only 4 back Benitez & Hawkins blow up again

2005-09-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Benitez yields pair of walks and pair of 0-2 doubles in 9th, blows save; Hawkins (2-7) lets three batters reach after 2 out in 10th, loses; Feliz (RISP avg .234) first-pitch hacks a one-out popup with bases loaded in 6th; Giants fall to 6 back.

5-4 loss vs SD (10 inn) | 65-79

Without Bonds, Giants lose tonite

2005-09-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

Instead, he reaches base three times to start or prolong rallies; responsible for at least 2 runs tonite; OBP in two games .500; makes running catch at 382 foot sign; when he struck out last night, it was first time he Kd by swinging and missing on all three strikes since Aug. 26, 1998, against Hideo Nomo (- STATS Inc.).

5-4 win vs SD | 65-78

Bonds returns: tale of two games

2005-09-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

First 1/3 of an inning: Correia throws 27 pitches (18 balls), 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 ER, forces Bonds to stand in OF for 19 minutes; final 8-2/3 innings: Kinney, Taschner, Hawkins, Benitez 3 H, 3 BB, 0 ER; Bonds (proving he can literally hit right out of bed) makes several running catches, doubles in 11-pitch first AB of '05 (misses HR by a foot) and scores, flies out to right in next AB, hits 405-ft out in third AB, Ks in final AB before being replaced defensively; re-ignites team (rally-starter) and crowd (standing during his ABs, flash bulbs on each pitch); when he's is replaced defensively in 8th, the look of the team on the field screams "14 under .500."

4-3 win vs SD | 64-78

Tomko, Hawkins, and absolute garbage

2005-09-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

Giants offense has scored 2, 1 or 0 runs in over half (15 of 29) of Tomko's starts, and 3 runs or less in 7 of team's last 8 games; Hawkins, who Chicago was begging others to take off their hands earlier in the year (but got more than that in Jerome Williams and Aardsma) is now 4-for-4 in garbage-ness against those same Cubs: blew three leads in Wrigley earlier in year, then today allowed back-to-back 2-out doubles (including game-winner to Neifi Perez) to lose; Bonds, returning from DL tomorrow, won't save the season, which was already going down the drain when "elite closer" Benitez blew SF's 3-run lead in LA on April 12; SF's recent 6-game win streak neutralized with current 5-of-6 garbage streak.

3-2 loss vs CHI | 63-78

After winning 6 straight, Giants regain their previous shi*# form and lose 4 of 5

2005-09-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Bonds returns to this crappy team on Monday; coupled with the just-as-garbage-y Padres coming into town, SBC may actually start to sell out again.

5-2 loss vs CHI | 63-77

In third start in majors, Cain throws complete game 2-hitter

2005-09-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

8K, 1 BB, 1 HR (to Derek Lee), 105 total pitches; youngest on Giants to throw complete game since McCormick in 1959; Cain has added nasty sliders to pitch selection; also gets first ML hit (2B); season ERA drops to 1.71.

2-1 win vs CHI | 63-76

If Alfonzo were making Neifi Perez money, could he be dumped like Neifi Perez?

2005-09-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

Alfonzo (5 runners LOB tonite) certainly has Neifi Perez numbers in all major batting categories, including: avg (Alfonzo .280 - Perez .283), RBIs (43 - 49), HR (2 - 9), OPS (.687 - .713); even though Perez has 162 more ABs, Alfonso's value isn't close to the $8 mil he's due in '06.

5-3 loss vs CHI | 63-76

Get used to this crap until 2008

2005-09-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Tonight had nothing to do with starters, middle-relief, offense, or defense: Benitez, basically a 9th inning Hawkins (see previous post), gives up game-tying HR to Oscar Robles (1 HR, 275 ABs at start of game) and blows another one in LA; unfortunately, SF stuck with his 93 MPH fastball and propensity to put runners on base until Spring Training 2008; Accardo, trying to clean up Benitez's mess in 9th, tosses inning-ending DP ball into CF, prolonging inning; why Giants deserved to lose 2 of 3: Jose "K" Cruz Jr. slams 3 HRs in 2 games.

9-8 loss at LA | 63-75