Tim McG

OK. I don't get this: Keppinger the Hitter is non-tendered while Fontenot the Batting Slump Boy is signed...? Like the Giants have batters to burn? WTF is that?

They've already won the division, yes? Without a QB, the Niners won't get past the second round. They've already won the division, yes? Yes, and could be the second seed. Not bad. Some QBs take a long while to develop. Maybe he's finally arriving. Nah. Smith is as dumb as a box of rocks. The guy still has to refer to plays taped to his arm. Besides, he's a statue in the pocket. If I want to look at a statue, I'll drive a few miles North to ATT Park to look at Willie Mays or Juan Marichal. That happened in your game too? Happened on the second half kickoff return of the Packers/Raiders game as well. The Packers returner stepped OOB about 15 yards before he was called out. Raiders challenge, but OOPS! the replay system isn't working, sorry, no challenge. I've never heard of such a thing! I know, huh. In the Niners game the opposing bench got the better deal...and they made the challenge. Cost the Niners the game, too.

It's not where you start, Jim...it's where you end up

Hope it was a great day, Jim!

Dear Jed York. Please dump Alex Smith. He sucks. He will always suck. Thank you. Signed, Had Enough +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And what was that "do over" because the replay machine wasn't working bullshit? You give the Arizona coach what he wants anyway? San Francisco got homered by the refs. It ultimately cost the Niners the game on Sunday.

It's an Eephus pitch. A gimmick, true...but legal nonetheless. How to throw an Eephus pitch.

It was great day for us NL guys More good news: Giants trade Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez for Angel Pagan. Though I hated to see Torres go [great OF'er and speedy on the bases; no bat], it is nice to get another bat in the line-up. Which "bat" would that be? If you're speaking of Pagan, as a Mets fan, I know that he possesses little or no heart. I see the swap as a wash - two inconsequential players trading places and offering improvement to neither team. We'll see, Jet Man. Again, we shall see. Bochy did a lot with a lot of nothing to get to the WS in 2010. My money is on Sabean and his knowledege of player personell. The Giants have had a lot worse than Pagan.

It was great day for us NL guys More good news: Giants trade Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez for Angel Pagan. Though I hated to see Torres go [great OF'er and speedy on the bases; no bat], it is nice to get another bat in the line-up.

I had that card

Yes siree, Jack was his great-great uncle. I'm sure there's a joke about "tools of ignorance" and great-great uncle's instrument choice in there somewhere. (Apologies to Free For All.) Between Nolan's wanting pitchers to go further into games and Greg's brain to pick you may end up with a staff of super pitchers for the Rangers. That's is what they needed in this year's WS. But can they swing:

From what I've read, he lost control of the clubhouse and certain players were eating and drinking during games. That's the kind of thing that Bobby would not tolerate. Having seen him operate with the Mets, he is not one to suffer fools gladly and he thinks he's smarter than most other managers -- and he lets them know it. Gotcha. Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware it was that bad in Boston. Good news for my Giants though: GM Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy have been re-hired through the 2013 season with club options for 2014.

What I'm not understanding is what was so wrong with the BoSox last manager? I mean, Valentine would be an improvement...?

Happy Birthday, Brooks!

Most of the numbers I need or have to call I have either written down in my Rolodex or have them stored on my cell phone. However, on occasion, I do refer to the phone book for numbers I rarely need or when a fix-it job comes up. Like Jim, I still have a land line. Mainly because it doesn't need a battery and for messages from folks when we're not home. You may want to change that, Mike. The phone company charges you to keep your number unlisted.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Dan.

Hey Jon...congrats on your guy Kershaw winning the Cy Young. The kid is a monster on the mound and clearly deserves the award.

I hate to go back on my word but since you asked: If Bobby Valentine becomes the manager of the Boston franchise of the American League, I will cease to follow that team at all until such time as he is fired. And you can take that to the bank. To me that makes no sense. You root for the team through thick and thin. As players come and go, we, as fans, are still there. I may not always like (more often than not, if you have to know the truth) what the Mets do but I've been rooting for them for 50 years and I'm too old to kick the habit Agree with you on that. I became a Yankee fan in 1964. I was eight years old, the Mets were a joke, the Yanks make the WS and lose in 7 to the Cards. They don't sniff a game after #162 until 1976, by which time I was 20 and had suffered through Horace Clarke, etc. for my adolescence. I stuck with my team through thick and thin and I still do. It's much easier now to be a Yankee fan, but I remember the lean years, the Stump Merrill years, etc. I disagree. As a kid, back in the 1960s, I was an Angels guy who liked the Giants because my best friend was from the Bay Area [it is also one of the reasons why I'm a Dodger hater, but that's a different story]. I lived and died with that Angels team. But when Gene Mauch had to prove to the world [twice with the Angels; once in 1982 (Remember that two man rotation? What an idiot.) then again in 1986 when he pulled Mike Witt with two out in the 9th against the BoSox (to insert an injured Donny Moore who later committed suicide over the loss)] that he couldn't win the big one, I had one foot out the door. Then a couple years later when the Angels traded Wally Joiner to make room for JT Snow whom they then traded to the Giants for Will "can't hit my hat size" Parker, I had had it. We were done. I had given enough of my heart to that team. From that point on, I was a Giants fan who only follows the Angels.

I hate to go back on my word but since you asked: If Bobby Valentine becomes the manager of the Boston franchise of the American League, I will cease to follow that team at all until such time as he is fired. And you can take that to the bank. To me that makes no sense. You root for the team through thick and thin. As players come and go, we, as fans, are still there. I may not always like (more often than not, if you have to know the truth) what the Mets do but I've been rooting for them for 50 years and I'm too old to kick the habit Not necessarily. The only LA franchise I root for is the Lakers. But when Dennis Rodman played for them I steadfastly refused to watch or support them until that jackass left the team.

Now this: Joe Paterno has cancer.

True dat. I wish my Giants had both those guys. Are the Marlins that well healed? I mean, they haven't dropped a dime on that team for years.

It may be the best they can do right now with all the litigation and sale pending.

I'm wondering how they manage the $$ on this. It's a 37000 seat stadium, Ramirez is signed at about $11mil/year, Reyes will be at least $10mil/year, Pujols about $20-25mil/year. It doesn't seem to leave much for a pitching staff, etc. Ticket prices, parking fees and concessions will shoot through the roof, I am sure.

Got back late last night from the Niners game...it was AWESOME! 27-20, Niners beat the NY Giants. Nice to see the Niner Faithful get excited about the team again...been almost ten years. Now, if we only had a quarteback....

With Melky Cabrera on board I don't know that the Giants will be pursuing Reyes or Pujols...but it would sure be nice to get one more big bat in the line-up. If I had to pick, I would like Pujols and on a two-year deal.

On this point we absolutely agree, Ted. How anyone who has been indicted for child molestation can be allowed to continue working with kids show a complete breakdown in the Child Protective Services department in that state. My guess is because the charges were dropped in 1998, that somehow made it "OK", I won't speculate. But it sure looks like the system is irrevocably broken.