A seething mass of turgid drama.

Baseball + Art

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:35:16 GMT

Monday we flew to LA for a quick vacation.
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And now back to catching up on work.

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Two Things of Note

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:10:11 GMT

Pete Rose died. My feelings on Rose are not particularly complicated. I admire his athletic feats, especially because they came from effort rather than natural talent.

However: he bet on baseball. As a player, and as a manager. He lied about it, and lied about lying about it. He only came clean when the lies were exposed. That not only tarnished the game, but may have affected the outcomes. He claimed he only bet to win. But if you don’t bet on a day when you think you can win, you give that information to the bookies. There’s also the persistent temptation to save effort (or players, as manager) for another day when you are betting.

Sensational deeds, banned from baseball and blackballed from the Hall of Fame for cause.

The Giants fired Farhan Zaidi as general manager. Not surprising, since he has underwhelmed except for the one record year where everybody overachieved. I do find it surprising that Buster Posey is taking his place (albeit as "Head of Baseball Operations", which seems to be the new trend instead of GM). I wouldn't have picked Posey as someone with the background/experience to succeed in this role that is dramatically different from a player - but I hope I am wrong.

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What we did this weekend

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:24:00 GMT

We flew to San Diego for a quick getaway. I know we went to Italy a few months ago, but this was a somewhat spur-of-the-moment weekend vacation.
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Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:06:58 GMT

I never got to see Willie Mays play. Nor did I ever interact with him. But he loomed large in Giants history, and I did see him a number of times from a distance - at the ballpark a number of times, and at the 2010 World Series victory parade. Had I gotten to speak with him, I probably would have stammered something like "It's an honor to meet you."

Sleep well, Say Hey Kid. You were the best.

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Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:37:14 GMT

I am pleased that MLB banned a player for life for betting on baseball - the first since Pete Rose. That rule is posted prominently in every clubhouse and is well known. He has no excuse.

I am surprised, however, because the players' union has routinely blocked major punishments other times that the rules have been flagrantly broken. (See: Trashtros and Red Sox for their sign-stealing.)
ETA: It's not entirely fair to blame the players' union for the whole thing. The commissioner hasn't had a spine either in acting "in the best interests of baseball" - because if he did, the union would strike and the owners would fire him.

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Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:15:59 GMT

Bob Melvin is a safe hire as manager for the Giants. He's generally well-respected, was Manager of the Year three times Ed: two with the A's, is a Bay Area native, and played for the Giants. So he should be popular with fans and the press. He's also fine with the stats-driven platooning that the A's and current management of the Giants espouse.

So not a bad hire. But a safe one. Melvin will stay the course and not challenge management - but it may be that forcing a change is what is actually needed for the team to prosper.

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Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:44:59 GMT

For the second year in a row, we didn't go to any Giants games. They were uninspiring and mediocre. I still count myself a fan, but I haven't had any desire to follow them. The local newspaper not carrying game writeups doesn't help with that lack of connection.

But I am still pleased to see the Dodgers bounced in the first round. BEAT L.A.! (Now Bochy's Rangers just need to take care of the Trashtros.)

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Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:53:48 GMT

Sapporo is shutting Anchor Brewing. This saddens me, but I generally stopped buying their beer when they ceased being a craft brewer. Regardless of what they're saying about it losing money, I don't think it was ever a good fit and they undoubtedly overpaid. Sapporo wasn't a victim of circumstance (i.e. COVID and lower SF visits) so much as they documentably mismanaged the brand and the workforce.

It's possible someone will buy the brand to resuscitate it, but it doesn't seem that likely. Our weird and antiquated distribution laws make it hard to succeed unless the beer company is very small or very large.

I agree with an SF Comicle columnist: "Buying an Anchor at a Giants game was the only time I never thought to complain about beer prices, and it was always hard to drink just one."

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The Church of Baseball

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 17:41:36 GMT

We bought tickets at the local cinema for a 12:30 showing of Bull Durham yesterday. The plan was to watch a fun baseball movie, have a beer or two and some mediocre food, and enjoy a couple hours out.

Instead, when we arrived, the place was closed. They apparently had a broken water main, and claimed they had sent out an e-mail Friday evening. (Although at least two other people were there for the show and none of them had seen it either.)

Disappointed, we walked most of the way home and had lunch at a Southern cafe we'd been thinking about. It was okay but not what we were looking forward to.

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"Is this a fucking joke?"

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:57:05 GMT

I am disappointed to see the Athletics leave, but only as a baseball fan. As a Bay Area resident, I am thrilled that Oakland did not choose to pony up billions of taxpayer funds for a miserly billionaire team owner who does nothing for the community. (They're still paying off the ill-advised Al Davis ransom note. And how did that turn out for them?)

Las Vegas, Fisher is your problem now.

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Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:34:04 GMT

The Trashtros' pitcher last night became the first pitcher in major league history to give up five home runs in one game in the post-season. Not just in the history of the World Series, but the entire post-season.

Normally a manager will yank his pitcher before that happens as it becomes obvious he isn't throwing effectively. But this is Dusty Baker, who has a substantial documented history of leaving pitchers in too long.

I don't have anything against Baker... but there is a certain amount of anticipated schadenfreude should he come up short of winning a World Series yet again.

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Farewell, Demp

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 18:01:08 GMT

I had heard rumors that Buster Posey planned on retiring after this season. I don't blame him for wanting to hang it up while he is still in good health - catchers take a lot of wear from the squat, as well as possible concussions from foul tips or over-swung bats. Even if the Giants didn't win another World Series, he's going out on a high note.

I hope to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame in five years, and for the Giants to retire his number. He's earned his retirement and family time.

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Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:48:19 GMT

We could not beat LA... and the umpires. (To be clear, I don't think the umpires were bought - they just made a lot of bad calls.)

Go Braves and Ed: ~~Red Sox~~! Although if it (shudder) comes down to it, I will root for the loathed Dodgers over the Trashtros. Because while the Dodgers are bums, they aren't dirty stinking cheaters.
Ed: I was reminded that the Red Sox also cheated, when Cora came over from the Trashtros and set up a similar system. Screw the AL.

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Mon, 11 Oct 2021 14:24:23 GMT

I have totally come around to the idea of robo-umpires calling balls and strikes. Saturday's game against LA was a prime example of why it is needed -- even the national announcers, who aren't supposed to comment when the umps get it blatantly wrong, referred to the number of pitches well off the plate called as strikes. The only slight positive was that he seemed to be calling them on both teams.

Teams should not have to scout umpires before a game to determine a strike zone. Enforce the one in the rulebook. If you don't like that one, make a change to the rules.

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Sun, 03 Oct 2021 22:31:32 GMT

LET'S GO GIANTS

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Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:58:55 GMT

My local professional society, to which I am forced to belong and pay dues every year, held an in-person event yesterday. They rented one of the suites for a Giants game. I still had to pay for tickets, but it was a deeply discounted rate. So, what the heck - I signed up. Might as well get some use out of the group.

This was billed as a networking event and each person could only bring one guest/client. I signed up the wife under her graphic design firm name. It wasn't even lying: I am in fact responsible for her investments. I had to chat a bit with people who insisted on networking, but mostly we watched the game as that's what we were there for. The suite was a recent renovation of the worst views available on that level, in left field right by the foul pole. You can't see all of the field from there. But hey, we sat outside and got to watch the game.

The Giants trounced the Padres and clinched the playoffs, becoming the first team this year to do so. I am very tired today but I am glad we were there to see it.

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A's for Effort

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 15:33:49 GMT

It's abundantly clear that the A's ownership were never negotiating in good faith. Negotiating is not "give me what I want". (Except in Congress, where bipartisanship is defined as "you agree with me." But that's a different rant.) The A's were never really interested in a new ballpark except with all the subsidies and free stuff they've been demanding from the start. Their proposed location is terrible - next door to a metal-crushing plant and in the path of a thriving commercial port. As opposed to the current Coliseum, where they have their own BART station, easy access to two freeways, and could build a stadium even before they tear down the old one.

(If "waterfront location" and "downtown environment" are must-haves, how do they plan to get that somewhere outside Las Vegas?)

In a more ideal world, I would prefer that the A's stay in Oakland. Ideally under ownership that wanted to keep them here, and was willing to run the team as more than a way to extract money from fans. But if a forced sale isn't possible for other team owners to require (see: SF Giants move to St Petersburg) then I would rather see them go. It's not worth yet another massive bailout by the city and county to people who can afford it.

I won't spit on their memory the way I do Al Davis' Raiders, but I won't regret them leaving.

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Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:59:08 GMT

I am taking a couple days off for a long weekend. We're not going out of town - Thursday I bought Giants tickets for a day game. We're in a vax-section but it may not matter as much now. I am looking forward to getting out to the ballpark and relaxing in the sun.

Friday we're going to see the Pompeii exhibit at the Legion of Honor. I'm not completely interested in it, but the wife wants to go and the membership is in my name. I'm sure it will be interesting.

And now, to work!

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Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:38:46 GMT

Go Rays and Braves! I don't care about either team - and I won't be watching this horrendous not-baseball - but I certainly want the Dodgers and Asterisks to lose.

This is a pretty good read. I fall on the "Anger" side and numbers 1 and 2 of the reasons to root against them.

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Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:08:46 GMT

Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitchers in baseball - during the regular season. As a lifelong Giants fan, I am always pleased when he predictably chokes (as he did last night, blowing the lead) and helps ruin the Dodgers' chances to win.

I believe the term for this is "Kershawdenfreude".

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"Certainly, my boy. It's baseball season!"

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:16:17 GMT

The wife and I caught a game yesterday - the only one of the season. I bought secondhand seats in the club level, so we had a good view, uncrowded bathrooms, and were comfortably in the shade the entire time. The weather was glorious and the Giants won the game. A foul ball hit off and landed in the empty seats directly in front of us, but I could not get to the ball quite in time and the people just below got it. Ah well.

Downsides: for games we usually park near a sushi restaurant (right on the end of our permit area) and walk the mostly-flat 20 minute remainder. If we walk from home, we have to hike the huge hill. This is a good compromise. However, yesterday it was completely, utterly packed for blocks around. We ended up parking much farther out, not even in our permit area; by that point, my parking patience was more than exhausted and I was willing to chance getting a ticket. Fortunately we did not get dinged. But with the increased housing and arena in our neck of the woods we may have to shift our tactics in the future.

Also, the concessions on the club level are surprisingly limited. Plenty of bar space, so I guess we know where club-level fans spend their money.

Then we drove to the edge of Chinatown to hear a talk on the history of tamale-making in San Francisco. The talk was quite interesting; tamales were apparently the street food/bar food of choice in the late 19th and early 20th c. They were even exported to Chicago and the rest of the country!

Downsides: traffic was appalling to and from the venue. Stupid Luber amateur drivers. In a brief flash of sanity, we did not try to find street parking and used a garage 5 minutes away. Totally worth it.

Despite the various downsides, it was a very good vacation day to spend with the wife.

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Wed, 28 Aug 2019 14:50:30 GMT

I met Etaine for a drink last night after work. Okay cocktails (not standout, but reasonable); fabulous chattage. It took a long time to get home due to the impending baseball game, though.

Now that both she and Josh work roughly on my way home, we determined that we need to do this approximately every month.

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Oops.

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 16:07:48 GMT

The wife and I decided to get tickets to a Giants game so that we actually go to one this year. Neither of the two alumni groups scheduled one (that I am aware of - it is possible, though unlikely, I have fallen off their lists as I do not donate). I picked a Thursday afternoon game as that will be more fun, even though it means taking some time off work. (Or because.) I bought the tickets.

Then, when I was adding it to the calendar, I noticed that a couple weeks ago I bought tickets to a "history of tamale making in San Francisco" talk that day. Well... the game starts at 12:45, and the talk is at 6. Barring many extra innings we should be okay, but it will be a busy day.

Note to self: this is precisely what calendars are designed to avoid.

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Mon, 12 Aug 2019 18:43:05 GMT

I was glad to hear the Giants are retiring Will Clark's number 22. I always liked Will the Thrill as a player, and his post-baseball work fundraising for autism research only strengthens it.

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I'll watch tonight

Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:45:52 GMT

Sadly, we're back to the "If we can spoil it for the Dodgers the season won't be a total loss." But it probably requires a sweep, and that seems a stretch.

Still, go Giants. Beat LA.

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