Willie Mays

Willie Mays was born in 1931, the same year both of my parents were born. My Mom is still alive and will turn 93 in September. My Dad was born in May—twelve days after Willie. He died in 1998. I was born in November of 1959. My first baseball game is too hazy, but it would have been at Candlestick Park in 1967 or 1968. I remember the 1969 season—Bobby Bonds was a phenom and Willie McCovey won the NL MVP. Dad took us to the first playoff game in 1971 against the Pirates. Tito Fuentes, my favorite player, hit a home run.

Willie Mays was of course a central figure on all of those Giants teams. He was unfortunately gone by 1972 and finished his final days with the Mets. Willie was 40 in 1971, his last productive season, and the Giants wouldn't make it back to the post-season again until 1987.

I didn't get to see the prime superstar seasons that Willie dazzled baseball with for over a decade. I saw an aging baseball legend. Even then, when I was a kid, people generally agreed that Willie was the best player ever. But as a boy I was much more excited about other guys on the team. I suppose I took Mays for granted. And then he was gone for a long time and the team was mostly pretty bad. They finally re-united with him in 1986 and it's been a happy relationship ever since.

Clearly Willie Mays is one of the greatest ballplayers of all time. As Giants fans we got to enjoy him more than everyone else, and that's pretty cool.

Rest in peace, Willie.

--M.C.

Estrada's blast lifts Giants

SF 7  CHC 6

It's hard to get more clutch than a 9th-inning three-run bomb to plate the go-ahead run on the road, am I right? That was a heck of a hit by Thairo. It really seemed like the Cubs had seized the momentum with a big bomb of their own but the Giants battled back. Jordan Hicks did his thing with five scoreless but rookies Randy Rodriguez and Erik Miller couldn't hold the line. Camilo Doval, handed a one-run lead with Estrada's clutch home run, nailed down the win with an effortless 11-pitch save. Go figure. Also, a hit, two walks, and a run scored for Jorge Soler. They really need his bat. Is it perhaps awakening from its slumber? Two more hits including a homer for Heliot Ramos who is now slashing .328/.404/.577 and has clearly "served notice."

Logan Webb goes tomorrow at 5:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

4th inning: 8-10

1st inning: 7-11

2nd inning: 8-10

3rd inning: 12-6

4th inning: 8-10

35-37, .486, 3rd place, 8-1/2 GB

The Giants exploded for 13 runs today and even had a nine-run inning. Unfortunately they lost the first two games of the series to this really bad Angels team and that dampers my enthusiasm a bit. Of course it is nice to see someone like Jorge Soler finally start producing and to see a good game from the bullpen. Even Camilo Doval got some much-needed work. He gave up four runs in 1/3 of an inning! That's a bit worrisome even if it was a blowout. Heliot Ramos continued his hot streak with two more hits today.

Overall it has not been a good June for the Giants. The pitching staff took another hit with Kyle Harrison going down. Apparently it was a weight room-related ankle injury. The rotation got a boost with Keaton Winn's return but it is still stretched thin. Today 30-year old rookie Spencer Bivens made his debut in long relief. With Spencer Howard that makes two Spencers on the staff.

The Giants go on the road to face the Cubs and the Cardinals and then come home for the Cubs and the Dodgers to finish out the month. Tomorrow night's game is at 5:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants take finale from Astros

SF 5  HOU 3

Logan Webb gave up two runs in the 6th on a double from Alex Bregman and a homer by Yordan Alvarez. It was only the fourth home run allowed by Webb in 15 starts (92-1/3 IP). That third-time-through-the-order-penalty tightened up a 5-1 game. Webb finished the inning but was done for the day. It was his eleventh quality start. Fortunately the Giants bullpen was up to the task and shut down the Astros the rest of the way. Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers put up zeroes in the 7th and 8th and Camilo Doval (shocker!) had an uneventful 9th for the save.

Austin Slater, in the leadoff spot against lefty Framber Valdez, was the hitting star. He was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Brett Wisely chipped in two more hits and is now sporting a .317 batting average. Giants #2-3-4 hitters (Ramos/Flores/Chapman) all contributed an RBI. Even Jorge Soler had fun: two hits, two walks, and a run scored. Webb wasn't at his best today but he certainly bested Valdez who was out after four frames and tagged for eight hits and all five runs.

There are only five teams in the NL with a winning record: Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, and Padres. The Giants 34-35 record puts them at sixth-best. Tomorrow is an off-day and then the Angels come to town for a three-game set. Speaking of the LAnaheimers, there are only six teams in the AL with a winning record and they aren't one of them. Friday night's game is at 7:15 and the weekend games are both at 1:05 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Weird win in extras

SF 4  HOU 3 (10)

The Giants had perhaps their nuttiest finish of the season so far with an improbable comeback against the Astros to take the series opener. Down 3-1 after a goofy top of the 10th where the Astros bunted twice, the lineup fought back with their own oddball attack. Tonight's top of the order featured the youngsters: SS Brett Wisely, CF Heliot Ramos, and C Patrick Bailey. They all singled. With Michael Conforto batting the pitcher made an error and the game was tied. After Jorge Soler made an out (big surprise), Austin Slater hit one off the wall to end it.

Kyle Harrison pitched well but lost the shutout and the 1-0 lead in the 7th. Sean Hjelle, Ryan Walker, and Camilo Doval kept it quiet until Erik Miller's unfortunate 10th. But the Giants put together quite a comeback. Here's FanGraphs win probability chart:

Jordan Hicks goes tomorrow night at 6:45 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Rampagin' Ramos rips Rangers

SF 3  TEX 1

Heliot Ramos has eleven hits in his last six games (as well as six walks) and four of those hits have been homers. He doubled to drive in the Giants first run today and then hit a two-run bomb to plate the rest of the runs. How about a slash line of .327/.419/.554 for the 24-year old outfielder? Not bad! Let's hope he can find a consistent groove and be a steady producer for the rest of the season.

FNG righty starter Spencer Howard didn't make it out of the 5th but held the line at one run allowed. The bullpen took over and it was all zeroes the rest of the way. Camilo Doval put two on in the 9th but still got the save. Two wins in two tries in Texas means a chance for a sweep tomorrow. Keaton Winn is back from the IL and gets the start at 10:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Webb and homers subdue Rangers

SF 5  TEX 2

Logan Webb threw another good game and the Giants backed him with a homer barrage and some strong bullpen work. That was enough to win the opener against the Rangers. Wilmer Flores hit home runs in his first two at-bats against Michael Lorenzen to give the Giants an early lead. Texas rallied against Webb to tie it in the 5th but the Giants countered in the 7th. Michael Conforto homered after a Matt Chapman walk to re-take the lead. Hot-hitting Heliot Ramos drove in a run in the 8th—he had three hits from the leadoff spot. After Webb's seven frames (5 H, 0 W, 6 K) Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval each threw a clean inning and sealed the win.

Every time the Giants win a tidy game like this one I wonder why they don't do it more often. I suppose getting a dominant start from an ace pitcher is not such a common thing. Webb has now gone seven innings or more in eight of his fourteen starts.

Tomorrow's game is listed for 1:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Wilmer slams Snakes

SF 9  ARI 3

The Giants loaded the bases four times in this game, twice in the same inning. Behind 1-0 in the 3rd, Austin Slater led off with a single and Heliot Ramos followed with his fifth homer. Thairo Estrada singled, Matt Chapman walked, and Jorge Soler singled to load the bases. Wilmer Flores then hit a grand slam. Being up 6-1 was a great, but the way the Giants have been playing it didn't feel like enough. The Giants continued with the inning and loaded the bases again but didn't score.

Jordan Hicks didn't last and the D-Backs chipped away and it was 6-3 in the 6th when the Giants loaded the bases again. They failed to score. Fortunately the bullpen held the line. Soler hit a solo shot in the 8th to create some breathing room. In the 9th Michael Conforto led off with a hit and Ramos walked (he had three on the day). Estrada doubled home a run and Chapman walked to load the bases. Flores hit a sac fly to get another run home. It was enough.

The win snaps a six-game losing streak. That's enough about that. Travel day tomorrow and then a three-game set in Texas against the Rangers. Logan Webb gets the call, 5:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Yanks complete sweep

NYY 7  SF 5

The Giants had a real shot to win the game this afternoon in San Francisco. Taking a 5-3 lead into the 9th closer Camilo Doval had an epic meltdown and the Yankees emerged as winners. It was a shame because after two consecutive pastings (6-2 Friday and 7-3 yesterday) the home squad came out fighting and got some huge hits from the youngsters. Heliot Ramos homered and drove in another run with a single. Casey Schmitt had a run-scoring single and a homer. It was almost enough. Doval has not been the same this season. He walked two more batters in his disastrous outing and that makes 17 in 23-1/3 IP. Blake Snell started and looked better but then he couldn't make it out of the 5th. It seems he has another groin injury.

It's off to Arizona for three against the Diamondbacks. Tomorrow's game starts at 6:40 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.