Tim McG

Niners are looking pretty good right now. We'll see what they have when they play the Saints in NO and when the Seahawks come to Candlestick.

Happiest of Happys, David!

My sentiments as well, Goodie! Cool. I'm an NL guy so gotta go with the Cards in 6. But if Boston wins, I'm OK with that one, too.

I'm kinda partial to the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale: http://thoughtfullibations.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/img_0670.jpg?w=342&h=458 The Newcastle Winter IPA is pretty good, too: http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4840841635235847&pid=15.1

Loved that play called the Bumerooski. He lived a good long life. RIP.

I was hoping for a Pirates vs BoSox WS, but a Cards vs BoSox WS will be fun to watch, too.

Go BoSox! Go Cards! For the same reason Joe Buck is: Fox loves to annoy the hell out of people.

This "Honey Badger" is a real piece of work: http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/sports/2013-10-13/32819e30-569a-4177-9d5b-502b5c4053a7_tdthrowdown.gif

Niners beat the AZ Cards. Cool.

Tough loss last night in Boston. The good news is if you like pitcher's duels, they are a'plenty this season...in both Division Championships.

Bite your tongue. If the [hated] Dodgers get to the WS it will be a sad page in the history of the MLB. Buying your way in is NOT what baseball is supposed to be about. I don't know why you like to pretend the Giants didn't buy their two....like the Red Sox, Phillies, Angels, etc....even the Diamondbacks bought theirs. The Giants only had any chance of winning once they started spending. Now, they're headed back to that land being relevant every so often unless they keep spending. They, like the Dodgers already have the advantage of being in the weakest division in the MLB....but only gets them so far. It's like the Niners didn't buy all those Super Bowls while DeBartolo, Jr. was throwing around all that DeBartolo Corporation money before the hard cap in 1994/1995 season, which was the last Super Bowl game for them until last year. As in, glass houses and all. The Phillies didn't buy their 2008 WS win. They won with home grown talent and a few low priced FA's. The only notable acquisition they made during the 2008 season was a trade w/ the A's for future Hall of Famer Joe Blanton which added about $1.8M to their payroll that year. In 2008 their team payroll was $98M which put them 13th highest. They didn't go crazy w/r/t spending until after they won. Now if you want to say they tried to buy a championship in 2010-13 you would get no argument from me. So did the Giants. Those big contracts [excepting that Zito mistake] were awarded to players already on the team and who came up through Triple-A ball in Fresno. They were Cain, Lincecum, Posey, Bumgarner, Crawford, Sandoval and Belt. Pagan, Scuturo and a handful of others came in trades or their contracts were purchased by the Giants. Hunter Pence was the only additional player the Giants got in a 2012 trade with Philly. That's legit baseball. The Dodgers are just dumping suitcases full of money on guys never associated with the team ala New York Yankees. Alzheimer's by homers is always amazing. Forgetting Barroid and all the rest just 2008 through 2012. Amazing just how many free agents throughout it all beside Zito. 1. 2008 $75.8 4th place. No free agents on this team. 2. 2009 $82.56 million. Won 16 more games but still finished 3rd in the minor division. Just to name one of a the many of a free agents galore lineup....as in, I completely forgot about Randy Johnson who everyone knows like all the other free agents started out in SF's farm system. They were not trying to buy anything by signing Randy Johnson for $8 million. 3. 2010 $97 million and first WS in San Francisco. No former free agents signed for big money involved beside Zito. 4. 2011 $118 million and they drop to 2nd in the minor league. Still all no major money for free agents beside Zito is the story, I guess. 5. 2012 $131 million and 2nd WS in San Francisco. They even had a free agent who was an All-Star that year who was having his best year as a player....but unlike Barroid....he was officially suspended for steroids. How far would they even gotten without Melky "SF Farm system" Cabrera? http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/?cyear=2008&team=SFN&pos= http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/?cyear=2009&team=SFN&pos= http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/?cyear=2010&team=SFN&pos= http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/?cyear=2011&team=SFN&pos= http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/?cyear=2012&team=SFN&pos= So, um, all those guys I mentioned didn't come up through the Minors? Baseball-Reference.com will be very surprised to learn that. Barry Bonds played in the 2002 WS. I was speaking of the 2010 and 2012 WS. I thought that was pretty obvious. Tell you what: Please do not engage with me in any way, shape or form. I have had enough of your troll behavior. Thank you. [Moderators: Please note.]

Bite your tongue. If the [hated] Dodgers get to the WS it will be a sad page in the history of the MLB. Buying your way in is NOT what baseball is supposed to be about. I don't know why you like to pretend the Giants didn't buy their two....like the Red Sox, Phillies, Angels, etc....even the Diamondbacks bought theirs. The Giants only had any chance of winning once they started spending. Now, they're headed back to that land being relevant every so often unless they keep spending. They, like the Dodgers already have the advantage of being in the weakest division in the MLB....but only gets them so far. It's like the Niners didn't buy all those Super Bowls while DeBartolo, Jr. was throwing around all that DeBartolo Corporation money before the hard cap in 1994/1995 season, which was the last Super Bowl game for them until last year. As in, glass houses and all. The Phillies didn't buy their 2008 WS win. They won with home grown talent and a few low priced FA's. The only notable acquisition they made during the 2008 season was a trade w/ the A's for future Hall of Famer Joe Blanton which added about $1.8M to their payroll that year. In 2008 their team payroll was $98M which put them 13th highest. They didn't go crazy w/r/t spending until after they won. Now if you want to say they tried to buy a championship in 2010-13 you would get no argument from me. So did the Giants. Those big contracts [excepting that Zito mistake] were awarded to players already on the team and who came up through Triple-A ball in Fresno. They were Cain, Lincecum, Posey, Bumgarner, Crawford, Sandoval and Belt. Pagan, Scuturo and a handful of others came in trades or their contracts were purchased by the Giants. Hunter Pence was the only additional player the Giants got in a 2012 trade with Philly. That's legit baseball. The Dodgers are just dumping suitcases full of money on guys never associated with the team ala New York Yankees.

Hey, JETman! Welcome back.

Pittsburgh had to play two NL Central opponents.

Oakland had their chances. But home field or not, my money is on those scrappy A's. Bite your tongue. If the [hated] Dodgers get to the WS it will be a sad page in the history of the MLB. Buying your way in is NOT what baseball is supposed to be about.

That would be a fun WS to watch. I figure it wouldn't be any worse ratings-wise than a Cincy vs BoSox WS or an A's vs Pirates deal.

I agree; $90 million is a bit pricey. However, if he keeps playing the way he has the past two years and it gets the Giants back into the playoff/WS, it will be more than worth it, IMHO.

[Off topic, but: Golf should not allow fan participation. It ruins the game and unfairly scrutinizes the star players.] I agree with Neal. This lay-off nonsense is just a rating booster and hurts the teams involved. A's have been red hot and a long lay-off will definitely affect their play on the field, IMHO. I, too, will watch the game with the sound off; that "chop" garbage is as annoying as hell.

We shall see, Dan. Pence isn't the only bat. More of batting by committee. Though I do hope the Giants go after some pitching as well as somebody who can swing a bat.

Dan, We heard this "massive over pay" stuff when the Giants signed him in 2012. They were wrong then, too. BTW...Pence hit the walk-off gamer today. 99 RBI's sez yer wrong

Giants sign Hunter Pence! http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-Pence-agree-on-5-year-deal-4852973.php

Go Tribe!

With all due respect, a "tasting" isn't free coffee. It just isn't.

Still a lot of yardage left on his legs. Niners 35-11 over the Rammies.

I agree. It is just a waste of humanity and for what...a game? Wow. I am just stunned. Fortunately, this is a very rare occurrence [in fact I can't recall another time] in San Francisco after a Giants game. Best news I have heard all week, I mean, besides Zito going away. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/bud-selig-retirement-five-good-things-five-bad-191224987--mlb.html