The Kung Fu Panda celebrates Edgar Renteria during the post-game. Edgar hit a lead changing Grand Slam to bury the Rockies Sunday (08/30/2009).
Here's Edgar getting pied:
Go Giants!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Live Blogging from AT&T Park
I'm gonna give a shot at LIVE blogging from AT&T park from the Giants Vs Rockies game. We'll see how it works out. :)
Pre-game:
The Giants are 7 games behind the dodgers and 3 games behind the Rockies in the wild card race. Good opportunity for the Giants to catch up on the Rockies especially when they have Lincecum and Cain slated to start for games 1 and 3. Lincecum aka "the freak" has been pitching great. But it doesn't seem to show up in his wins column this last month. That's bound to change for the better and hope it starts tonight. But he has a worthy opponent in Jimenez. We witnessed this same match up in a showdown last Sunday which went down the wire to end with a 2 run rockies win. The Giants would love to return the favor riding on their ace tonight. There are a few injury concerns for the giants though: Molina and Sandoval are questionable for tonight. Hopefully they are ready to start come game time.
7.50 pm: got here at the top of the 2nd. Its still scoreless after 2. But the giants had chances to knock in a run or 2 both innings. But to no vail. Timmy is pitchin good though. So fingers crossed. Injury update: sandoval is playin today...so there's bound to be some offense.
8.10 pm: end of the 4th and its still scoreless. Feels like its gonna be a long night. Rockies had a couple of hits, but no damage so far.
9.05 pm: its the end of the 6th and the giants are up 2-0. The kung fu panda (Sandavol) took Jiminez deep for a HR in the 5th. Velez had a 2 out hit in the 6th to make 2-0. Lincecum has about 100 pitches through 6. Let's see how long he stays in.
9.20pm: Lincecum just pitched his 8th. That's shut out 8 innings. And Uribe just got a lead off triple. but giants fail to score. Its top of the 9th with 2-0 lead and Wilson is out to try get a save.
9.40pm: and that's the ball game :). Brian Wilson got the save without much drama. That's the 17th shutout of the season for the Giants. and Timmy "the freak" has his 13th win of the season...finally. The giants are now 2 games down on the wild card and gained a game over the dodgers. Hopefully they can keep this going and run down the rockies and who knows maybe the dodgers.
Pre-game:
The Giants are 7 games behind the dodgers and 3 games behind the Rockies in the wild card race. Good opportunity for the Giants to catch up on the Rockies especially when they have Lincecum and Cain slated to start for games 1 and 3. Lincecum aka "the freak" has been pitching great. But it doesn't seem to show up in his wins column this last month. That's bound to change for the better and hope it starts tonight. But he has a worthy opponent in Jimenez. We witnessed this same match up in a showdown last Sunday which went down the wire to end with a 2 run rockies win. The Giants would love to return the favor riding on their ace tonight. There are a few injury concerns for the giants though: Molina and Sandoval are questionable for tonight. Hopefully they are ready to start come game time.
7.50 pm: got here at the top of the 2nd. Its still scoreless after 2. But the giants had chances to knock in a run or 2 both innings. But to no vail. Timmy is pitchin good though. So fingers crossed. Injury update: sandoval is playin today...so there's bound to be some offense.
8.10 pm: end of the 4th and its still scoreless. Feels like its gonna be a long night. Rockies had a couple of hits, but no damage so far.
9.05 pm: its the end of the 6th and the giants are up 2-0. The kung fu panda (Sandavol) took Jiminez deep for a HR in the 5th. Velez had a 2 out hit in the 6th to make 2-0. Lincecum has about 100 pitches through 6. Let's see how long he stays in.
9.20pm: Lincecum just pitched his 8th. That's shut out 8 innings. And Uribe just got a lead off triple. but giants fail to score. Its top of the 9th with 2-0 lead and Wilson is out to try get a save.
9.40pm: and that's the ball game :). Brian Wilson got the save without much drama. That's the 17th shutout of the season for the Giants. and Timmy "the freak" has his 13th win of the season...finally. The giants are now 2 games down on the wild card and gained a game over the dodgers. Hopefully they can keep this going and run down the rockies and who knows maybe the dodgers.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Doesn't suck being a man
Found this from another blog. Pretty Funny!! .....so thought I'd share it.....
(Begin excerpt)
This is from a woman's perspective .. and as they would tell you, what do you expect from such simple creatures?
- Your last name stays put.
- The garage is all yours.
- Wedding plans take care of themselves.
- Chocolate is just another snack.
- You can be President.
- You can never be pregnant.
- You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
- You can wear NO shirt to a water park
- Car mechanics tell you the truth
- The world is your urinal.
- You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
- You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
- Same work, more pay.
- Wrinkles add character.
- Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
- People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
- New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
- One mood all the time.
- Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
- You know stuff about tanks..
- A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
- You can open all your own jars..
- You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
- If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend
- Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
- Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
- You almost never have strap problems in public.
- You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
- Everything on your face stays its original color.
- The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
- You only have to shave your face and neck.
- You can play with toys all your life.
- One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
- You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
- You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
- You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
- You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Charming Liar ??
The video below is just another indication that its politics as usual in Washington. It also depicts the hypocrisy in how a typical politician campaigns as a good guy, but reveals his true colors making back room deals.
And I guess you get a free pass as long as you are "Charming". They really do think people are "sheeple", don't they?
NOTE: Refer to one of my previous posts to understand why I think Big Pharma is actually one of the enemies in the Health Care Reform front.
And I guess you get a free pass as long as you are "Charming". They really do think people are "sheeple", don't they?
NOTE: Refer to one of my previous posts to understand why I think Big Pharma is actually one of the enemies in the Health Care Reform front.
Obama Vs Car Dealer: A hypothetical verbal exchange
I found this interesting bit from the TMQ article this week. It is a supposed dialogue / negotiation between Obama and a Dealer who tries to get the federal rebate of $4500 (as a part of the cash for clunkers program) already credited to his customers. Very funny...thought I should share it here.
Excerpt from the article:
(start transcript)
Auto dealers who credited customers with $4,500 for clunker deals are discovering federal rebate checks have not yet arrived. What's the matter, dealers -- didn't you read the fine print? Perhaps auto dealers have fallen for a bait-and-switch! Here, a dealer negotiates with Barack Obama:
Makes you think eh?
Excerpt from the article:
(start transcript)
Auto dealers who credited customers with $4,500 for clunker deals are discovering federal rebate checks have not yet arrived. What's the matter, dealers -- didn't you read the fine print? Perhaps auto dealers have fallen for a bait-and-switch! Here, a dealer negotiates with Barack Obama:
AUTO DEALER: Where's my check for $4,500? You said it was in the mail.
OBAMA: [Waves thick contract] Look right here, subparagraph 14d. It clearly states the money will be paid on the third Tuesday of a month that begins with a waning gibbous moon. You read subparagraph 14d, didn't you?
DEALER: No -- I was tired -- you assured me it was just paperwork.
OBAMA: Well! Maybe I can still get you the discount, if you buy rustproofing and splashguards.
DEALER: Your ads didn't say anything about rustproofing.
OBAMA: [Waves printout] Look, I am giving you everything below my cost. See, here's my factory invoice. My revenue is $2.2 trillion, yet I am spending $3.9 trillion. [Note: actual federal budget figures for current fiscal year]
DEALER: Wait a minute -- if you're really selling below cost, how do you stay in business?
OBAMA: We make it up in volume.
DEALER: Just give me my $4,500!
OBAMA: OK. I have to ask my manager. [Disappears into back]
DEALER: I wonder if he's really checking with his manager.
OBAMA: [Returns] Tell you what, you can use the $4,500 as a down payment on the $11 trillion debt your children will owe. While you're here, would you like free health care? It's going to cost you.
(end of transcript)Makes you think eh?
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Giant hunt for Red October
Go Gigantes!!
Its end of August and the SF Giants are still in the playoff race. Not just the wild card..... they are still not out of the NL West pennant race (Standings: NL West, NL Wild Card). As of today, they are 3 games behind the Rockies in the Wild Card race and 6 and half games behind the Dodgers in the Division Standings. With over 35 more games to be played in the regular season, they are at least bound to keep it interesting till the end of September.
Today, the Giants are completing their 11 game road trip. They went 5-5 after the first 10 games and could head home with a winning record if they beat the Rockies at Coors Field tonight (they are up 1-0 as of now). Could they have done better on this trip? Yes, but if you had told me they would come back home 5-6 or 6-5 after such a long road trip, I would have taken it right away. The frustrating part is that they could have easily had atleast 2-3 more wins, which they gave away this road trip. So has been the story of the Giants this season so far: They have lost more games that they should have won than they have won games they should have lost. Yet they are still in it and it is hard to believe but there is hope!
Its no secret that the strength of this team has been its pitching. Lincecum (above) and Cain have been lights out for the most part (especially the first half of the season) in spite of the sub-par run support from the offense. They have been going late into ball games keeping the bull pen fresh for the relatively shorter starts by Zito, Sanchez and the fifth starter position. And I cannot overstate how good the bull pen has been (of course I am discounting this last road trip which has been a nightmare for the bull pen and hope its just an anomaly). Defense has been average. Some nice plays thrown in with some sporadic mind-numbing errors, combine that with some bad breaks from mediocre umpiring, defense should get a B. Its the anemic offense that is the clear Achilles heel for this team. The addition of Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko definitely was an upgrade, but not even close to make them a contender. They clearly lack a decent clean-up hitter. Molina hitting clean-up is an indication of the offensive shortfall this team has. He should be hitting 7 or 8 in a line-up of a potential contender.
Despite that why do I have an optimistic outlook? Here is why: Of late, the Giants have been loosing starts by Lincecum and Cain. This is surely not going to continue for long. They are both too good to let this continue. I hope that turn for the good will take place at the coming home-stand. Also, Zito has been having a good run after the All-Star break, which he is historically known to do. If he keeps that up we will get back to having 3 front-line starters. After that if Sanchez and Joe Martinez even pitch .500 baseball, winning every other game they pitch, we should be well placed for a final push in mid-September. I also thing it is a good thing the giants cooled off now. The best chance they have if and when they make the playoffs to go deep is if they are hot at that time. Nothing says a playoff team is hot more than a good streak of play closing the regular season. So hopefully by mid September the giants can hang on keeping the dodgers and Rockies withing eyesight, remain healthy on offense (hello Freddy Sanchez), and make that final run at the wild card (or the pennant too if it is within reach). I am sure we would rather have a hot team on a streak make the playoffs than a team limping in to get blown out. Also, the Rockies have been hot since July, it does not bode well for them if they stay this hot till mid -September. They are bound to cool off sometime and I hope that happens just before the playoffs, when the playoff pressure would add to the slump. This is true with the Dodgers too. But they have a fairly easy schedule the rest of the way making it harder to think they may falter. But hey, you never know when you have about 35 games left. That's why the games are played and not decided on paper.
Its end of August and the SF Giants are still in the playoff race. Not just the wild card..... they are still not out of the NL West pennant race (Standings: NL West, NL Wild Card). As of today, they are 3 games behind the Rockies in the Wild Card race and 6 and half games behind the Dodgers in the Division Standings. With over 35 more games to be played in the regular season, they are at least bound to keep it interesting till the end of September.
Today, the Giants are completing their 11 game road trip. They went 5-5 after the first 10 games and could head home with a winning record if they beat the Rockies at Coors Field tonight (they are up 1-0 as of now). Could they have done better on this trip? Yes, but if you had told me they would come back home 5-6 or 6-5 after such a long road trip, I would have taken it right away. The frustrating part is that they could have easily had atleast 2-3 more wins, which they gave away this road trip. So has been the story of the Giants this season so far: They have lost more games that they should have won than they have won games they should have lost. Yet they are still in it and it is hard to believe but there is hope!
Despite that why do I have an optimistic outlook? Here is why: Of late, the Giants have been loosing starts by Lincecum and Cain. This is surely not going to continue for long. They are both too good to let this continue. I hope that turn for the good will take place at the coming home-stand. Also, Zito has been having a good run after the All-Star break, which he is historically known to do. If he keeps that up we will get back to having 3 front-line starters. After that if Sanchez and Joe Martinez even pitch .500 baseball, winning every other game they pitch, we should be well placed for a final push in mid-September. I also thing it is a good thing the giants cooled off now. The best chance they have if and when they make the playoffs to go deep is if they are hot at that time. Nothing says a playoff team is hot more than a good streak of play closing the regular season. So hopefully by mid September the giants can hang on keeping the dodgers and Rockies withing eyesight, remain healthy on offense (hello Freddy Sanchez), and make that final run at the wild card (or the pennant too if it is within reach). I am sure we would rather have a hot team on a streak make the playoffs than a team limping in to get blown out. Also, the Rockies have been hot since July, it does not bode well for them if they stay this hot till mid -September. They are bound to cool off sometime and I hope that happens just before the playoffs, when the playoff pressure would add to the slump. This is true with the Dodgers too. But they have a fairly easy schedule the rest of the way making it harder to think they may falter. But hey, you never know when you have about 35 games left. That's why the games are played and not decided on paper.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Favre-a-geddon??
Not-so-Flash news: Brett Favre is back .......from retirement ........for the millionth time.... and now as a Viking.
This should not have been a surprise to anyone. With the drama queen it was always on the table albeit covertly. This post is not a tribute to the Favre's "greatness". Neither a venue to chastise the back-stabber. But to try guess what's in store for all concerned: Favre, the vikes, my beloved Packers and the NFL.
Who can blame Favre for taking this offer? And get paid over $12 million a year (maybe more with all performance incentives). He gets to straight away play in games ....no mini camp....no training camp .... no living in dorms while training. He now has the chance to keep his consecutive games streak on. He can keep padding all his career stats like yards, TDs etc. (including the bad ones .... cough! cough! interceptions! cough! cough!) ..... and keep it far away from anybody's reach for the foreseeable future (waddup Peyton??). The last thing, and probably the most important in his head, is that he has the opportunity to avenge Ted Thompson and the Packers for "moving on". It would bitter sweet for him if the Vikings took the division and shut the packers out of the playoffs. Nothing would be more pleasing for Favre than to hoist that Lombardi Trophy and show Ted that the Packers made a mistake in letting Brett go. But in reality can this all happen is a whole different story. We will know as the season plays out. But this we can be sure of: Favre had every reason in the world to come back with the Vikes.
Now, what were the Vikes thinking? .....no really ...... Vikes, what in the world were you thinking? They have a good defense and a great running back in Adrian "all day" Peterson. All they needed was a QB who would take care of the ball and manage the game without making mistakes. And who did they just land? A 40 yr old QB who dare I say is washed up. Yeah I know the saying.... you never bet against Brett Favre ..... as a Packer fan I know that feeling. Brett was prone to throw INTs even during his heyday, but then he could come back with a TD with his next throw. Does he have it in him now to repair his own damage? I do not think so. There is a reason why Green Bay needed to "move on". There is a reason why the Jets started 8-3 with Brett at the helm, but missed the playoffs. Guess the Vikings didn't get the memo: Brett is a 40 year old coming out of a 20+ INT season and a shoulder surgery!! Good Luck with that!
The NFL should be loving it. What more does the league want than 24x7 coverage of the league a month before the season starts? First it was the Vick story and now Brett. The NFL should be drooling at the thought of the spiked rating because the face of the league the past 2 decades is back at it again. We are going to see a lot of Purple and Yellow on national TV this year. The Green Bay - Minnesota game ratings are going to be off the charts. Whatever happens to the Vikings, there are going to be a whole bunch of people tuning in to watch Favre play.
One would things the Packers should be worried about the Vikes pick-up. I think it would be on the contrary. No doubt, they would have loved to face Taravis Jackson or Sage Rosenfelds instead of No.4, but the thought of Brett handling the ball is not going to cause sleeplessness to the Packers D. This year unlike last was not a distraction. Last year, the Brett to GB thing was still alive. This year he had nothing to do with the Packers and so they had no distractions pre-season due to the whole fiasco. The guys on defense also seem to be taking it the right way. For example this is what Nick Barnett (and other Packers) had to say (video):
Barnett: "Would I like to hit him? Hell yeah I'd like to hit him. All these damn practices out here and they didn't let us hit him. I want to get a nice little shot on you, Brett. I said it. Put it on the bulletin board."
If that's the attitude the Packers are having then I say: Bring it on!! Another positive thing out of this whole ordeal for the Packers is that all the focus in the NFC North will be on Cutler at Chicago and the new No.4 in Minn. The Packers would love to fly under the radar until they clinch the division. Remember the under the radar Packers team that went to the NFC Championship Game couple years ago. But for that INT by the old No. 4 they could have been in a super bowl. All I can say is it bodes well for them. The table is perfectly set. So lets roll!!
Go Packers!!
This should not have been a surprise to anyone. With the drama queen it was always on the table albeit covertly. This post is not a tribute to the Favre's "greatness". Neither a venue to chastise the back-stabber. But to try guess what's in store for all concerned: Favre, the vikes, my beloved Packers and the NFL.
Who can blame Favre for taking this offer? And get paid over $12 million a year (maybe more with all performance incentives). He gets to straight away play in games ....no mini camp....no training camp .... no living in dorms while training. He now has the chance to keep his consecutive games streak on. He can keep padding all his career stats like yards, TDs etc. (including the bad ones .... cough! cough! interceptions! cough! cough!) ..... and keep it far away from anybody's reach for the foreseeable future (waddup Peyton??). The last thing, and probably the most important in his head, is that he has the opportunity to avenge Ted Thompson and the Packers for "moving on". It would bitter sweet for him if the Vikings took the division and shut the packers out of the playoffs. Nothing would be more pleasing for Favre than to hoist that Lombardi Trophy and show Ted that the Packers made a mistake in letting Brett go. But in reality can this all happen is a whole different story. We will know as the season plays out. But this we can be sure of: Favre had every reason in the world to come back with the Vikes.
Now, what were the Vikes thinking? .....no really ...... Vikes, what in the world were you thinking? They have a good defense and a great running back in Adrian "all day" Peterson. All they needed was a QB who would take care of the ball and manage the game without making mistakes. And who did they just land? A 40 yr old QB who dare I say is washed up. Yeah I know the saying.... you never bet against Brett Favre ..... as a Packer fan I know that feeling. Brett was prone to throw INTs even during his heyday, but then he could come back with a TD with his next throw. Does he have it in him now to repair his own damage? I do not think so. There is a reason why Green Bay needed to "move on". There is a reason why the Jets started 8-3 with Brett at the helm, but missed the playoffs. Guess the Vikings didn't get the memo: Brett is a 40 year old coming out of a 20+ INT season and a shoulder surgery!! Good Luck with that!
The NFL should be loving it. What more does the league want than 24x7 coverage of the league a month before the season starts? First it was the Vick story and now Brett. The NFL should be drooling at the thought of the spiked rating because the face of the league the past 2 decades is back at it again. We are going to see a lot of Purple and Yellow on national TV this year. The Green Bay - Minnesota game ratings are going to be off the charts. Whatever happens to the Vikings, there are going to be a whole bunch of people tuning in to watch Favre play.
One would things the Packers should be worried about the Vikes pick-up. I think it would be on the contrary. No doubt, they would have loved to face Taravis Jackson or Sage Rosenfelds instead of No.4, but the thought of Brett handling the ball is not going to cause sleeplessness to the Packers D. This year unlike last was not a distraction. Last year, the Brett to GB thing was still alive. This year he had nothing to do with the Packers and so they had no distractions pre-season due to the whole fiasco. The guys on defense also seem to be taking it the right way. For example this is what Nick Barnett (and other Packers) had to say (video):
Barnett: "Would I like to hit him? Hell yeah I'd like to hit him. All these damn practices out here and they didn't let us hit him. I want to get a nice little shot on you, Brett. I said it. Put it on the bulletin board."
If that's the attitude the Packers are having then I say: Bring it on!! Another positive thing out of this whole ordeal for the Packers is that all the focus in the NFC North will be on Cutler at Chicago and the new No.4 in Minn. The Packers would love to fly under the radar until they clinch the division. Remember the under the radar Packers team that went to the NFC Championship Game couple years ago. But for that INT by the old No. 4 they could have been in a super bowl. All I can say is it bodes well for them. The table is perfectly set. So lets roll!!
Go Packers!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)