In Zaidi we trust - The Giants

Cain was at 103 pitches as he strolled back to the dugout, where baseball's superstitions had long since taken over for his teammates. Well, for most of them.

You don't talk to a pitcher who is working on a no-hitter, and you certainly don't sit close to him in the dugout. But when Cain returned after the stressful seventh, he found Belt, in his second big league season, in his spot. Cain was amused, and a day later Belt admitted that it wasn't his first faux pas in that type of situation. In the minors, he once walked back into the dugout in the middle of a no-hitter and pointed out to teammates that there were a lot of zeros on the scoreboard.

CAIN: "I mean, it's kind of obvious. There's a towel. (Pitching coach Dave Righetti) would always lay out a towel. It was always there ... (Ryan Vogelsong) was like, 'What are you doing!' Belt was just completely oblivious, which now we know Belt and its standard for him. It was awesome."

BELT: "It wasn't funny at the time. I got the death stare from Cain and Vogey, but looking back on it, he might have gotten the perfect game because I sat there. I look at it as I think I'm good luck. But yeah, that was a scary moment for me, for sure. I thought Vogey was going to kill me."

2022-23 Hot Stove thread

Staring to get excited about baseball again, these discussions are helping. Not sure how good the Giants will be this year but will never give up on my team.

Sergio Romo is coming home.

The three-time World Series champion agreed to a contract with the Giants that will include an invitation to camp.

"I’m not coming here to make a team."

So what is Romo preparing for? @extrabaggs explains:https://t.co/9fe8vWh5Yt

— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) March 16, 2023

I was able to watch the Romo thing as they played the game on MLB Network, it was fun.

https://www.knbr.com/2023/03/23/giants-raked-in-booming-profit-despite-mediocre-2022-season-forbes-valuations-show/

The Yankees top the list at $7.1 billion, with the Dodgers ($4.8 billion), Red Sox ($4.5 billion), and Cubs ($4.1 billion) rounding out the top-five with San Francisco ($3.7 billion).

The Mariners brought in $83.8 million in operating income — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Giants earned $75 million in profit.

The Giants spent $179 million on player expenses, per Forbes, and took in $130 million in gate receipts. The organization’s television rights deal is also a substantial revenue driver.

The franchise’s $75 million profit mark is a major increase over the $32 million a year prior, per Forbes. The Giants saw $64 million loss for the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season.

Opening Day lineup: Wade 1B, Conforto RF, Flores 3B, Pederson DH, Yaz CF, Estrada 2B, Crawford SS, Sabol LF, Perez C. Webb RHP.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) March 30, 2023

Buster Posey discusses expectations for Joey Bart in 2023https://t.co/hUELHZrHPT pic.twitter.com/IcIoDzlhuS

— KNBR (@KNBR) March 29, 2023

Bart not starting opening day really is telling, wow. I did read that Webb loved pitching to Perez but still.

Flores is in the lineup rather than Villar today but the plan is still to give Villar the bulk of starts at third. Flores’ calm demeanor makes him a good choice for opener in NY.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) March 30, 2023

Brett Wisely’s parents were going to be here today but he was told last night he was headed to AAA. Giants then acquired Matt Beaty and changed some things around, so Wisely made team but his parents probably won’t make it here for his debut. Not ideal.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) March 30, 2023

xp add calm demeanour to the list of intangibles

Here we go, just looking for 3 - 3 record on a six game road trip.

Go Giants!

Kuip: "I always thought, you cheer for the one you sleep with." #SensualBaseball

— LOLKNBR (@LOLKNBR) March 30, 2023

lol, for reference, Brandon Crawford's sister is married to Gerrit Cole.

I know!

Webb allowed 11 hrs total last year btw.

Webb had 12 stakeouts compared to Cole's 11. Webb ended up giving up four earn runs. Giants have no bats, going to be a long ass year.

Yeah he was fine except when he wasn’t.

Baggarly’s got impeccable Giants sources so when he writes this in the Athletic:

Giants president Farhan Zaidi shook up several assumptions held both inside and outside their clubhouse. Speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson did not make the opening-day roster following a strong spring in which he stole 12 bases in 12 attempts. Neither did right-hander Sean Hjelle, who opened eyes with his velocity bump and earned consistent praise. Instead, the club backed away from every public pronouncement in order to acquire first baseman/outfielder Matt Beaty from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.

NEW YORK — Rewarding young players from the system who have tremendous springs isn’t always possible on Opening Day, but the San Francisco Giants had sent signals the past week or two that Bryce Johnson and Sean Hjelle would be with them at Yankee Stadium.

Instead, the Giants picked up onetime Dodgers outfielder Matt Beaty, who didn’t make the Royals roster, and sent Johnson, who has elite speed and led the majors with 12 steals this spring, to Triple-A Sacramento. Hjelle also was optioned after a magnificent spring that drew raves; the team already has seven starters on the roster and two days off the first week, which meant innings were likely to be scarce.

Thanks for those post as I don't have access, going to maybe sign up for the Athletic as they have Baggs and Grant Brisbane.

No game today but I do have this:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/03/offseason-in-review-san-francisco-giants-13.html

xp you should, the Baggs piece springboard off an interview with Farhan last week where he said they’d be picking players from the internal organisation

Yeah, Grant is one of my favorite writers and miss reading him.

Yaz has looked lost, not only after two years, but this spring training as well. I know it's only the second game of 2023 but at least he looked Major League today.

Yeah a bit messy but a much needed W. Still not validating the front office shit imo!

For the first time since 2011, the San Francisco Giants hit four home runs in one inning.

Here are all four of Jon Miller's incredible calls 📻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/23AWx33nLk

— KNBR (@KNBR) April 3, 2023

Is the ball different this year? It is flying out all around the league

I think it is too early to tell but the White Sox park is a bandbox. They were saying on the telecast that only the Cincinnati park has more home runs on a given day.

i think what you all are forgetting to take into account is that michael kopech sucks and is a bad pitcher

Excuse me, I’ve been a Man United fan since my early teens, I have zero problem with hating on a team I support! I’m happy for Bryce Johnson.

Yeah, Grant is one of my favorite writers and miss reading him.

― Bee OK, Friday, 31 March 2023 20:17 (four days ago)

In the very early days of ILB, I got him to post here at least a few times before he left for greener pastures.

Best Blogs?

SS is back is the news here, glad to hear from you again. It funny that you got Grant Brisbee to post here twice and then that was it for him.

The balls are juiced, its ridiculous.

Here we go, just looking for 3 - 3 record on a six game road trip.

Go Giants!

― Bee OK, Thursday, March 30, 2023

Coming off a .500 season, the Giants went 3-3. They had 15 homers in the three wins and 11 hits in the three losses.

I guess I'm happy but this team needs to strike out less.

Horrible lose today after seemingly cursing to a win. Reminded me of Game 6, 2016, obviously stakes were quite different.

Darin Ruf is back and hits a double off Kershaw in his first at bat. You can't make this stuff up.

This muncy shit is out of control lol l can you believe this guy

Max Muncy on playing in San Francisco:

"I don't like this place. It's cold and windy all the time. I do hit well here. I don't understand why, but I'm not going to complain about it."

I think he dropped this 👑 pic.twitter.com/WxB15BFpsx

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) April 11, 2023

classic heel

respect lol

Honestly his Bumgarner chirp is still incredible

Kinda funny Muncy mentions the cold because there was a heat wave for this past series (65F! I'm sunburnt!), quite unseasonably warm for early spring but yes windy... tho not nearly as windy as Candlestick was. That said, if you can hit the ball a couple hundred feet in the air into the 40mph gusts the last few nights and see just see where it goes. Mookie definitely looked lost a few times and couldn't tell where the ball would land, I think Kershaw needed close to 30 pitches to get out of the 1st.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/logan-webb-giants-agree-five-year-90m-contract-extension

Webb will make $8 million next year, $12 million in 2025 and $23 million in what would have been his first year of free agency. He will make $23 million in 2027 and $23 million in 2028. In addition, Webb will make yearly donations to the Giants Community Fund totaling nearly half a million dollars.

SERIOUSLY?

Seems like a good deal

Is the bullpen really that bad? Unreal to lose two consecutive games in extra innings to this team.

I was responding to that not the deal

I see lol

The Giants can't beat the Royals or Tigers. I know it's still early but man, I think this is going to be a long year.

And yeah so brutal loses from the bullpen.

Some