In Memoriam: Gary Carter, Pedro Borbon, Alexis Busch

This past year will go down as one of the all-time great seasons for the SF Giants ... that happens when you win the World Series. Who would have ever thought we would have two World Championships in a three-year span? We are still amazed. However, while we enjoy the fruits of this past season, it's important to remember those that were a part of the club at one time or another that are no longer with us. In our view, any one that puts on a Giants uniform will always be remembered, so with that, we honor three individuals that past away in 2012.

Gary Carter  - Catcher (SF Giants: 1990)

Pedro Borbon - RH Reliever (SF Giants: 1979)

Alexis Busch - Bat Girl (SF Giants: 1999-2002)

SF Giants Players Music Choices and Stadium Music List

We often receive inquiries from fans on a player's walk up music. Typically, they just want to know who sings it. So, with a little research we have compiled the music of choice for 2012 SF Giants, plus we gathered the songs that are typically played at the yard in between innings.

Enjoy!

Angel Pagan: Blue by Gemini
Aubrey Huff: Superstar by Saliva
Barry Zito: Doo Rags by Nas
Brandon Crawford: Writer's Block by Royce Da 5'9; Lord Knows by Drake
Brett Pill: I'm Broken by Pantera
Brian Wilson: Jump Around by House of Pain
Buster Posey: Hell on Wheels by Brantley Gilbert
Clay Hensley: Wherever I May Roam by Metallica
Dan Otero: Stop Science
Eli Whiteside: The Ocean by Led Zeppelin
Emanuel Burriss: Function by E40; Faded by Tyga; Untouchable by Rick Ross; Up! by Loverance
Freddy Sanchez: Black and Orange by Bailey
Gregor Blanco: Welcome to Jamrock by Damian Marley; Blue by Gemini
Hector Sanchez: Corazones by Daddy Yankee
Hunter Pence: A Warrior's Call by Volbeat
Javier Lopez: Coastin' by Zion I
Jeremy Affeldt: Fireproof by Pilar
Jose Milares: Lovumba by Daddy Yankee
Madison Bumgarner: Bad Company by Five Finger Death Punch
Marco Scutaro: Danza Kuduro by Don Omar
Matt Cain: Whistlin' Dixie by Randy Houser
Melky Cabrera: Crazy People by Pitbull; Right Above It by Lil Wayne
Pablo Sandoval: Dance by Big Sean; N**** in Paris by Jay Z and Kanye West; Wild Boy by MGK; The Motto by Drake
Ryan Theriot: I Wanna Rock by Luther Campbell; Push It by Salt-N-Pepa
Ryan Vogelsong: Metalingus by Alter Bridge
Santiago Casilla: Mi Roca Y Mi Castillo by Entre Mar Y Cordillera
Sergio Romo: El Mechon by Banda MS; Wherever I May Roam by Metallica
Tim Lincecum: Loud by Mac Miller

STADIUM SELECTIONS
Song 2 by Blur
Bye Bye Baby
300 Violins by Jorge Quintero
Don't Stop Believing by Journey
Lights by Journey
Twist & Shout by Isley Brothers
Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra
I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett
You Dropped a Bomb On Me by Gap Band
Fist Pump Song by HardKnox

Our Holiday Wish to SF Giants Nation

This holiday we want the lonely to find company; sick to gain health; sad to find levity, unemployed to find work; broken-hearted to endure; and another San Francisco Giants World Championship parade down Market Street in 2013.

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Go Giants!

The Sons of Johnnie LeMaster

Our Wish List of 2013 SF Giants Promo Items

Each season the SF Giants compiles a promotional calendar to entice the masses to attend a game and walk away with a nifty souvenir (aka the stadium giveaway) to take home compliments of (fill in the name of any sponsor). In recent years, the bobbleheads have been all the rage, and this past season the gnome giveaways leapt over the bobbleheads as the must-have giveaway items.

Now with the club fresh off a 2012 World Championship, it's safe to say we'll have a 2013 promo calendar themed around the World Championship. Sure, we'll get the good old standard giveaways: calendar, schedule magnet, cap, baseball cards, and few bobbleheads tossed in. But how about something different?

Here's our list of giveaway items that we would schedule if we were in charge of the promo schedule ...

• Inflatable replica of the Commissioner's Trophy ... fans could bring this to every home and ROAD games - especially down in LA. We could remind all opponents who the defending champs are!
• Replica National League MVP trophy - let's celebrate with Buster by having a replica trophy can we can hang on to.
• Continuing on the trophy theme ... have a replica World Series MVP trophy day in honor of Pablo.
• Again, with the trophy theme ... have a replica National League Championship Series MVP trophy day in honor of MARCOOOOOOOO ... SCUTARO!
• World Championship themed FatHead stickers that we can take to Kinko's and put on cardboard stock to bring them to the games.
• Juan Marichal replica statue ... you know this is gonna happen.
• Cow bells with the World Championship logo ... can you imagine the bleachers ringing the cow bells when Matt Holliday is playing LF!? "Holllllliday!" 
• Plastic batting helmet with the World Champs logo ... what happened to those plastic helmets?! They use to give them out a the 'Stick! Maybe some fans actually used them as a batting helmet in a game :-/
• Wrist bands with the caricature of Buster Posey, Mr. MVP! Remember when ball players had wrist bands with their likeness on them?!
• SF Giants World Champs Twitter themed shirt with #RallyZito #RallyVogey #RallyBum #RallyCain #RallyEnchiladas
• Another SF Giants shirt that says, "It's the San Francisco Giants show so far!" @therealmattkemp
• Hat clips with World Champs logo
• And finallllly ... World Champs logo thongs for the ladies (and for Aubrey Huff)!!!!

Whatcha all think? Awesome, right!? We should work for the promo department.

Our Fearless Offseason Predictions for the SF Giants

Well, it appears we have Jeremy Affeldt back into the fold after hearing that he had agreed to terms (3yrs for $18M) with the club. That's the market for middle relievers folks ... nice work if you can get it.

But we digress ... so how will the rest of the roster look heading into spring training of next year.

So here's the list of SF Giants that are either free agents or arbitration eligible:

FREE AGENTS:

• Melky Cabrera: He earned $6M this past season, but the club wants no part of this act or circus for 2013 ... he'll sign with another club for 2-yr deal worth around $8-10.
• Freddy Sanchez: He earned $6M this past season to essentially work out in Phoenix and then fly up to SF for some postseason games to watch from the dugout. Freddy, thanks for 2010, but adios!
• Angel Pagan: we think he's looking for "Aaron Rowand money" <gasp> ... we got chills just typing that. But coming off a World Championship he's looking to cash in ... we think he'll sign elsewhere for a three-year deal.
• Ryan Theriot: the man that Marco Scutaro replaced. I'm sure he's looking for a starting job somewhere, and SF doesn't appear to be a fit. If he's willing to return as a backup, the Giants will sign him, but that seems unlikely.
• Guillermo Mota: he earned $1M this past season ... even though he was suspended, he still has value as low cost alternative. Our guess the Giants will sign to another one-year deal just under $1.5M.
• Marco Scutaro: we expect the club to resign him to a two-year $17M deal, with a club option for a third year.

ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE:

• Brian Wilson, last year of arbitration: our guess is that BWeezy will be wearing a new uniform next season. He earned $8.5M in 2012, and take only a slight pay cut for 2013. The risk is too great for the Giants to resign him ... they'll let him walk.
• We expect the following guys to have some raises next season ... Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Buster Posey, and Gregor Blanco.

FEARLESS AND BOLD HOT STOVE MOVES

• We expect the Giants to get a CF via trade, so this is our forecast ... drum roll please ... the Giants will trade Tim Lincecum to Boston for Jacoby Ellsbury.
• LF will be platooned by Blanco and Gary Brown.
• The club will look for an inexpensive fifth starter, think Jason Marquis or a return of Kevin Correia.
• The team will look for another middle reliever, think Joe Rauch on a two-year deal worth around $6-7M.
• A trade of one of the two Brandons will take place to bolster either the 1B or SS position.

So that's it! This is what we guess will pan out in the weeks and months to come. How close will we be, who knows, but you'll know changes are a coming. What are your guesses on what might happen in the offseason?

SF Giants Championship Parade Tips

Anyone else still in disbelief that we won our second World Championship in three years?! It's as if the baseball gods have parted the clouds, and said San Francisco it's now your turn to shine on the big stage. We are still speechless and in awe on what has happened in the past month. No one will ever forget this postseason run. Now, we get to all enjoy this great season by celebrating with World Championship parade ... this never gets old. So having said that, here are some parade tips for those of you that plan on attending the parade.

1. Time, time, time ... build in extra travel time to your schedule. We cannot stress this enough. In 2010, approximately 1 million fans lined the parade route, so get up early and arrive to the city as soon as possible.
2. Weather ... this time around it's going to be a bit chilly, so dress accordingly.
3. Shoes ... this sounds like a no-brainer, but please wear comfortable WALKING shoes, you will be on your feet all day. If you have a pair of running/walking shoes, wear those!
4. Pack a bag ... it's going to be difficult to navigate getting from one place to another once the parade starts. So bring a backpack that includes some drinks and snacks. Every Walgreens is going to be packed ... so don't rely on getting in and out of there in a few minutes.
5. If you live really far away ... we would even suggest getting a hotel room in the city for tonight. Sounds crazy, but it's totally worth it ... it will save you a lot of time and headaches.
6. Festive ... it's a time to celebrate, so bring a good attitude and a lot of patience, the city is going to be packed for everyone.
7. Have fun ... we hope there are more championships parades in our future, but enjoy this one!

Last add, for those of you that attended the parade in 2010, the parade route for this year has changed. They are NOT going down Montgomery Street like they did in 2010. Instead they will start at the foot of Market and Steuart streets (see map below).

Courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle

World Series Game 4 - A Day of Reflection

Today has the chance of being a magical day for all SF Giants around the world, and while we wait for Game 4 to start. We can't help but reflect on those great SF Giants that are no longer around to enjoy what can be a tremendous day. So we ask that you take a moment and think about those Giants that tried valiantly to help us win a World Championship, but came up just a bit short. We can only hope they have a front row seats with the rest of the baseball gods.

Rod Beck
Jose Uribe
Miguel Del Toro
Chris Brown
Matty Alou
Alex Busch
Sue and Harmon Burns

NLCS Game Dates and Times

GAME DATE LOCATION TIME
NLCS Game 1 Sunday, October 14th AT&T Park 5:15 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 2 Monday, October 15th AT&T Park 5:07 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 3 Wednesday, October 17th @ STL 1:07 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 4 Thursday, October 18th @ STL 5:07 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 5* Friday, October 19th @ STL 5:07 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 6* Sunday, October 21st AT&T Park 1:45 p.m. PT
NLCS Game 7* Monday, October 22nd AT&T Park 5:07 p.m. PT 

61 Years Ago Today, The World Saw the Original Walk-Off Home Run

Perfect Storm: Planning Your Postseason Trip to AT&T Park

**UPDATED**

San Francisco will be the nexus of the "perfect storm" of sporting events, concerts, and other annual events this weekend as the Giants march towards the 2012 postseason.

As the number 3 seed, the San Francisco Giants will host the Cincinnati Reds for games 1 and 2 of the non-wild card National League Divisional Series, this weekiend on October 6-7. On the surface of things, that sounds great, two games over a weekend ... there is one problem, err, several other problems. It's also the same weekend of the following other events and activities scheduled in or around the city:

• AC World Series Regatta (Oct. 2-7) SF Bay
• Fleet Week (Oct. 4-8) SF Bay
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (Oct. 5-7) at Golden Gate Park
• Arizona v. Stanford football (Oct. 6 at noon) at Stanford Stadium
• UCLA v. Cal football (Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.) at Memorial Stadium
• Justin Bieber concert (Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.) at Oracle Arena
• Madonna concert (Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.) at HP Pavilion
• Bills v. 49ers  (Oct. 7 at 1:15 p.m.) at Candlestick Park
• Castro Street Fair (Oct. 7) at Castro District
• Italian Heritage Parade (Oct. 7) Fisherman's Wharf to North Beach
• Madonna concert (Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.) at HP Pavilion

Sooo, if you have tickets to the Divisional Series ... plan ahead, allow for extra time for travel. We encourage everyone to use BART, SF Muni, and other means of public transportation. It's gonna be a crazy weekend, so save yourself a headache and leave early! GO GIANTS!

Predict Which Game the SF Giants Clinch the NL West

Okay, we're gonna have a little contest here. The first individual to correctly guess which game the Giants clinch the NL West title will receive one of our coveted limited-edition shirts in 2013.

So, go ahead and guess ... when are the Giants gonna clinch the NL West?

2012 World Series Logo

We always find it interesting to see how the World Series logo changes year-to-year, and this year's logo still maintains the fall leaves that were included in last year's logo, but the abundant use of green hues are gone. Nevertheless, we think it still would look kinda cool on a SF Giants lid (crossing our fingers!).

Duane Kuiper's Home Run Anniversary

On August 29, 1977, Duane Kuiper belted his only career home run against the Chicago White Sox at the old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. In fact, years later, Duane obtained the seat in which his home run ball hit when it went into the stands.


* A hat tip to one of our Twitter followers, @txbtxb, for reminding us of Duane's anniversary. Thanks!

Duane Kuiper

Matt Cain's Major League Debut Anniversary

On Aug. 29, 2005, Matt Cain made his first Major League start versus Colorado. Cainer gave up 3 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings of work and ended up being the losing pitcher of record.

2002 Bowman

2012 Postseason Ticket Pricing

In addition to the postseason schedule being released today by the Giants, they also released postseason ticket pricing for the entire postseason - should the Giants advance.

SF Giants Release Tentative Postseason Schedule

This afternoon, the Giants distributed an e-mail to all season ticketholders announcing the 2012 tentative postseason schedule and the pricing for the postseason ticket strips. All season ticketholders have until September 12 to make their full payment. At first glance, it's interesting to note that if the Giants make it to the postseason, there might be some games in which they would conflict as some of 49ers home games at the 'Stick.

 

 

Giants 2012 Postseason Tentative Schedule

(Dates are subject to change)

 

Wild Card

Friday October 5th NL Wild Card Game  

    

Divisional Series  

 NLDS A (Non-Wild Card Series)   

  Saturday October 6th NLDS Game 1    

  Sunday October 7th NLDS Game 2   

  Tuesday October 9th NLDS Game 3    

  Wednesday October 10th NLDS Game 4    

 Thursday October 11th NLDS Game 5     

NLDS B (Involves Wild Card)  

Sunday October 7th NLDS Game 1 

Monday October 8th NLDS Game 2  

Wednesday October 10th NLDS Game 3 

Thursday October 11th NLDS Game 4  

Friday October 12th NLDS Game 5 

Championship Series   

  Sunday October 14th NLCS Game 1  

  Monday October 15th NLCS Game 2  

  Wednesday October 17th NLCS Game 3  

  Thursday October 18th NLCS Game 4  

  Friday October 19th NLCS Game 5  

  Sunday October 21st NLCS Game 6  

  Monday October 22nd NLCS Game 7  

World Series  

  Wednesday October 24th AL at NL WS Game 1  

  Thursday October 25th AL at NL WS Game 2  

  Saturday October 27th NL at AL WS Game 3  

  Sunday October 28th NL at AL WS Game 4  

  Monday October 29th NL at AL WS Game 5  

  Wednesday October 31st AL at NL WS Game 6  

  Thursday November 1st AL at NL WS Game 7  

 

*Game and times will be announced once all Postseason standing has been determined

Melk's Expiration Date was Today

Where does one begin? We were disappointed when news broke of Melky's suspension from testing positive to testosterone. We like so many of the Giants faithful felt disbelief, heartache, and sadness. Having Melky admit and apologize for his use of PEDs probably brings to full circle why he even used PEDs in the first place. After his dismal 2010 season with the Atlanta Braves, he probably felt it was worth the risk to use PEDs and put up numbers that would revive his career and garner his first big-time contract.  We're not gonna lie, if we were in his shoes, we might consider the same thing - it's basic human nature, do what you can to survive. Was his decision right, no, of course not. However, desperate times call for desperate actions .... and that's what we have here.

Melky isn't the first player to be caught, and he certainly will not be the last ... others will follow form in due time - human behavior and instinct does not change. The question then becomes what will happen to the team now? The players, just like the fans are in shock, but they now control their own destiny. The season can easily fold this weekend in San Diego or they can rally amongst themselves and take the "us versus the world" mentality and go out fighting every single day. We guess, we'll find out on Friday which route they've chosen. If the team decides to continue the good fight, others must rise and take on greater responsibility and produce at a high level - this is the only way they can achieve their goals.

As for the future of Melky and the Giants - it's over. We do not envision the club trying to sign Melky once the season ends. The bridge has been destroyed and will not be rebuilt ... this hit the front office and coaches hard, and as the saying goes, "fool me once, shame on you ... fool me twice, shame on me." The Giants have too much to risk for them to resign Melky, you can bet he will be with another team next season.

For those of you that purchased Melky shirts, jerseys, caps, and every other merchandise item that had Melky on it ... we feel your pain. We even printed t-shirts to have him resigned ... lesson learned for us.

For now, we will continue supporting the club and the players that remain, they need the fans support more than ever, and that's what we plan to do when we attend the games this weekend in San Diego.

Go Giants!

Tips for Visiting Petco Park

It has come to our attention that a HUGE contingent of SF Giants fans are making the trek down to San Diego to attend the Giants series on August 17-19. Since a few of us here at the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster have attended games in San Diego, we thought we share some tips.

Travel: First and foremost, get a hotel room in the Gaslamp Quarter, preferably near the ballpark ... there are a ton of hotel properties to choose from. So avoid staying in Mission Valley, Mission Bay, La Jolla or anywhere else not in the Gaslamp. Trust us, it will be much easier for you to just walk to the ballpark from your hotel in the Gaslamp. If money is no object, we highly recommend the Hard Rock Hotel, which is exactly one block from Petco Park ... the rooms at HRH do not disappoint, plus the onsite bars are the place to be on the weekends - don't be surprised to see a few of the players there too. The other place we recommend is the Omni Hotel, which actually has an adjoining bridge to Petco Park. It's also the hotel the Giants have been staying on recent trips. Other name brand hotels are nearby and should be considered as well.

The Gaslamp Quarter is also very close to the airport, so just cab it to your hotel. There is no need to rent a car, plus parking costs are usually $30+ per night at  the hotels.

Restaurants & Bars: Another reason to have a hotel room in the Gaslamp is the abundant food and drink establishments all within walking distance. Some of our favorite restaurants include Acqua Al 2 Ristorante, Osteria Panevino, Lou & Mickeys, and Nobu (inside the Hard Rock Hotel). However, the Gaslamp is really known for some great drinking establishments and some of the best are right near the ballpark. Places to try are The Field, Nicky Rotten's Bar & Burger Joint, Dick's Last Resort,  The Tipsy Crow, and "207" in the Hard Rock Hotel.

For breakfast, there are only four place you need to know ... Cafe 222 (get there early), The Broken Yolk, Richard's Pancakes, and Mary Jane's. All are excellent, you will not be disappointed.

Tickets: Even if you're planning a last minute trip, you shouldn't have a problem getting tickets either from the Padres or secondary market. Plus, where ever you sit, you will be surrounded by Giants fans. Our favorite location is behind the Giants dugout in section 106 or 108, but in all honestly, there isn't a bad seat in the house. We are not joking when we say that Petco Park becomes AT&T Park South when the Giants are in town.

Meeting the Team: One of the great things about traveling to a Giants road game is that you will see members of the team walking around town. San Diego is perhaps the best example of that. If you want to get an autograph or photo, just hangout by the players entrance by the west side of the stadium (facing the Omni Hotel) and you will definitely see them and the broadcasters as they enter and leave the stadium.

Gaslamp Quarter

Hard Rock Hotel (Petco Park to the right) - our favorite SD hotel

Could It Be the Shoes and Hat?

We were wondering what was causing Lincecum's pitching woes for the last two seasons ... could it be confidence, mechanics, stamina, strength, conditioning, focus, or his comfort level with Posey? Perhaps it could be one or all of those things, but alas we might have identified the sources of his struggles. It's his shoes and baseball cap. Ever since he got called up to the Bigs, Lincecum wore Reebok cleats, than after the 2010 World Championship season Timmy switched over to Nike. The same applied to his cap, he wore the same cap from the day he got called up through the end of the 2010 season - Hank Schulman even wrote a short story regarding his cap too.

So our recommendation to Timmy ... go back to wearing Reebok cleats and find your old SF cap and wear that baby too!

Lincecum in 2010 with old cap.

Lincecum sporting his Reebok kicks.

Goodbye Nate, and Then There Were 11

So today the SF Giants upgraded their OF by acquiring Hunter Pence from the Phillies ... no question, it was a move that had to be made. However, one side story is the number of players that are currently on the 25-man roster that were on the 2010 World Championship team ... that number is now 11. Perhaps, it will drop to the 10 based on how Aubrey Huff left the field yesterday, he might have played his last game as a Giant too.

Say what you will about Nate, but he helped bring a World Championship to San Francisco, and for that we here at the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster will forever be grateful. Perhaps greener pastures await him in Philly and he'll flourish there.

The one thing that will always stick in our minds is the incredible defense Nate played at AT&T Park, and with that we present two videos for you to see (that we picked out on YouTube). So please raise your glasses, and toast Nate for helping us win a World Series, and hopefully he'll find success in Philly. Cheers to you Nate, 2010 World Champion.

Nate's incredible defense

Nate's diving catch in LA

Congrats to Melky Cabrera, All-Star Game MVP #SignMelky

So much for all of the criticism regarding all of the SF Giants starting for the National League at the All-Star Game. Fact is, the Giants flat out owned the All-Star Game, and Melky's two hits, one of which was a 2-run HR, was the difference maker.

So we here at the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster are raising our drinks in honor of Melky. Well done sir!

Oh, one more thing ... SIGN MELKY NOW!!!

Melky Cabrera - 2013 All-Star Game MVP

R.I.P Craig Appel aka The Rally Pumpkin

Sad news to report this morning. One of the most iconic SF Giants fans passed away earlier this week. His name was Craig Appel, but he was also known as The Rally Pumpkin. He was the larger than life figure that would dress up in all orange and attend games at AT&T Park or on the road rooting, cheering, and dancing for his beloved Giants.

His connection with the team went a bit further since he was also the team bus driver whenever they played games in Los Angeles and San Diego. Unfortunately, his stint as the team driver ended in 2010, but that didn't stop him from cheering for his Giants as they marched towards their first World Championship in San Francisco.

We here at the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster met Craig a number of times, and he was a die-hard SF Giants fan.

R.I.P Rally Pumpkin

The Rally Pumpkin

So Long Freddy, and Then There were 11

Yesterday, it was announced that Freddy Sanchez was having back surgery which essentially ended any hope - however slim - of him returning to the Giants lineup this year. As most of said, this just might be the end of the road for Freddy's career. His service time in the Bigs was just over eight years, most of which was spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he won a batting title and appeared in three All-Star Games.

He was traded to the Giants in 2009, for then hot pitching prospect, Tim Alderson. His tenure with the Giants was a short one, he appeared in 196 games over a 2.5 year span, but he will always be remembered as being one of the key players to the 2010 World Championship team. In 2010, we as fans witnessed what a healthly Freddy could do - provide clutch hits to any part of the field, and play a steady second base. In '10, Freddy ended the season batting .292 with seven home runs and 47 RBI. However, his greatest accomplishments were in the postseason ... there he saved the Giants in Game 3 of the NLDS by getting a clutch hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two strikes against him. That hit sparked an incredible comeback win for the Giants, which led to a Game 4 win and a date with the Phillies in the NLCS. His other big moment in the postseason was in Game 1 of the World Series, where he knocked three doubles - setting a single game World Series record. He also played some great defense throughout the series which eventually led to a World Championship win.

What makes the news of Freddy's season ending surgery so interesting is that now we have only 11 players from the 2010 squad on the current 25-man roster. We know that Aubrey Huff and Dan Runzler are rehabbing and that Eli Whiteside is in AAA, but as of now, the club has only three position players from the 2010 season on the current team (Posey, Burriss, Schierholtz) and eight pitchers (Affeldt, Bumgarner, Cain, Casilla, Lincecum, Lopez, Romo, and Zito).

It's just hard to believe how quickly a team roster can turnover in just under two years after winning a World Championship.

Freddy Sanchez

Game 5 of the 2010 World Series

New Sons of Johnnie LeMaster Shirts! #SignMelky

It had to be something special for us to produce another shirt during the regular season ... we agreed that after the "BOO" shirts were distributed that we would not produce another shirt this season, and would wait until 2013. But we couldn't help ourselves ... we just had to produce another shirt to show ownership what they need to do immediately - sign Melky Cabrera to a contract!

Melky has exceeded everyone's expectations and he's on pace of having a career year, after posting a franchise best 51 hits in the month of May. What more do you want this guy to do? He's been solid since day one, and he's been playing a great LF for us too!

So in honor of Melky, we have produced a special limited edition tee that says, "Sign Melky to a Contract!" What do you think of the tees, like them? We hope Melky does ... look for them at the yard this weekend. We even have one for Kruk and Kuip too!


*Per our policy, none of our shirts are for sale. We distribute these shirts for FREE to other passionate SF Giants fans like ourselves. If you are worthy of one, we will find you.

The Back of Our New Shirts ... "Sign Melky to a Contract!"

The Front of Our New Shirts ... Includes Melky's Number

SPECIAL: US Open Travel Tip

For those of you that are attending the final round of the US Open today and have a hotel room in the City and are flying out of SFO this evening, we have a great travel tip for you.

The SFO Travel Agency located at the International Terminal near gates G91-G105 has luggage storage facilities. The Travel Agency is open everyday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and travelers can store their luggage there for a fee. The fee is based on the size of your luggage, and a minimum one day cost ... expect to pay somewhere between $12-25 per day. This is a huge time and money saver for anyone that had planned on returning to the City at the conclusion of the tournament to retrieve their luggage and then hop back onto BART or a cab to flyout of SFO.

Reservations are not accepted, but we were informed that they have plenty of luggage storage space.

SFO International Terminal

Perfection

What else can we say? The 22nd Perfect Game in the history of the Bigs, and the first for this great franchise. A huge hat tip to the Horse for a job well done! What do you think of that contract extension now? To paraphrase former Ryder Cup Captain, Ben Crenshaw, "we have a special feeling about this."

Don't book any vacation trips for the month of October, unless it includes AT&T Park!

The Referendum Has Commenced - Sign Melky to a Contract!

What else do you want Melky Cabrera to do? He just set a franchise record with 51 hits in the month of May, leads the league (as of May 31) in batting average (.373), hits (73), and triples (6) ... and has been the spark plug for this team while carrying the offensive load while Sandoval is on the DL.

He's earning $6 million this year, the highest he's earned in his career, and he's on pace on shattering the great year he had in Kansas City last year. Why wait until the end of the season to sign, and possibly lose him to another team ... lock him up now.

To help reinforce this idea to the team, the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster have created a limited edition shirt that reads, "Sign Melky to a Contract!" Again, as in the past, our shirts will be distributed for free to like-minded die-hard Giants fans that agree that the club needs to sign Melky to contract. Length and terms ... who cares, just sign the dude!

The Melk-Man

Our New Timbuk2 Bag

Several weeks ago we lost our SF Giants Timbuk2 bag that was distributed to season ticket holders back in 2007. It was a sad day for us. Nevertheless, we had to fill the void and since those bags are not available for sale anywhere, we had to improvise and make another bag on our own. So, we simply went to the Timbuk2 website and ordered a customized bag per the SF Giants color scheme, and then purchased a World Series Champions patch on eBay. Our next step was to find a local tailor that could sew the patch on the bag, and $8 later, the patch was on our new bag. So what do you think?

Side Note: when you receive the WS patch, make sure to detach the plastic backing that comes with the patch. For the new patches, it should be fairly easy ... just pick a corner and rip the plastic backing off. Don't worry, you will not ruin the patch. If you are having difficulty in removing the plastic backing, simply use a hair dryer and heat the plastic to loosen the adhesion and then remove the plastic backing. Please do not avoid this step! The plastic backing must be removed in order to stitch the patch to the bag.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly ... Ranking the 2012 Contracts

We're only seven weeks into the season, but we figured now would be a good time to assess how some of the 2012 contracts are looking for the SF Giants.

So, we're gonna break this up into three groups: The Good - exceeding expectations, and providing more value than originally planned; The Bad - middle of the road, not great, not horrible; The Ugly - an absolute bust, we're shaking our heads in disappointment.

The Good:
Melky Cabrera ($6M): Where would the club be without the Melk-Man? How great did this trade turnout for the club. An absolute god-send, and he's picked up where he left off from his career year in 2011. No doubt he's playing for a huge contract, and by all means, he deserves it!

Pablo Sandoval ($3.2M): Up until his hamate bone surgery, Pablo was dialed-in at the plate. He is a legit power hitter, and has the potential to put up some big numbers this year.

Santiago Casilla ($2.2M): Santiago has respectably filled in as our new closer. Has he been perfect? No, of course not, but we still feel comfortable for him closing out a game when the team has a lead.

Sergio Romo ($1.6M): We still can't believe the club found Sergio from the Golden Baseball League - the last chance saloon of professional baseball. With each game he gets in, he only gets better ... he's become one of the premier setup men in the Majors. Plus he's humble guy that knows playing pro ball is a blessing and truly appreciates the home fans.

Buster Posey ($615K): Don't lie, you were worried too if Buster was going to contribute to the club in '12. So far, the ankle is holding up, and he's been pretty steady at the plate too. He provides the middle of the order power and plate discipline that the team needs.

Madison Bumgarner ($560K): Thankfully the team signed MadBum to an extension, and he might become the ace of the staff by seasons end. This kid is legit, and isn't afraid of anyone or any situation.

Gregor Blanco ($516K): It's still early, but Gregor is a true leadoff hitter we haven't seen since the days of Brett Butler. Gregor has the ability to work a count, and put the ball into play, and with his speed he can cause havoc on the base path. He's our early contender for the 2012 Willie Mac Award.

Hector Sanchez ($480K): The Rhino, yes - that's our nickname for him, has been a pleasant surprise. For such a younger player, he understands what he needs to do at the plate. If Posey ever ends up at 1B full time, we have a great catcher to take his place. Plus, Zito loves this kid behind the plate.

The Bad
Barry Zito ($19M): If it wasn't for the huge check he's getting this year, Zito would be in The Good category, but sadly that's not the case. Zito has been a pleasant surprise thus far, and we can only hope he continues on carrying the back end of the starting rotation.

Tim Lincecum ($18.2M): Hey, this was tough for us to put him in this category too, but let's not kid ourselves, the month of April was horrible. He's picked up as of late, but he's not the Tim Lincecum you and us know and love.

Matt Cain ($15.8M): Do we see a trend here? He's a horse, and pitched a complete game a few weeks ago! Yes, we know those things, but Matt would agree he's been a bit off to start the season. Look, we're glad he signed an extension and is gonna pitch for the club for years to come.

Javier Lopez ($4.2M): Javy has been steady, but $4.2M for a situational lefty seems a bit too much for us.

Ryan Vogelsong ($3M): He started the year on the DL, and has been okay with his starts thus far, but our biggest concern is his back. Can Ry maintain the rigors of an entire season without going on the DL again for his back? That's worrisome for us.

Nate Schierholtz ($1.3M): We thought this was going to be the year that Nate busted out of the gates and finally claim a starting OF job, but it just hasn't happened. He's been relegated to the bench, and after his dismal pinch-hitting appearance last night, his days with the club might be coming to an end. We anticipate he'll be with another team by the end of the season.

The Ugly
Aubrey Huff ($10M): What can we say, the two-year contract the club gave to Aubrey after the World Series was a huge mistake. We're not gonna dive into his personal issues, but it's hard to imagine any meaningful contribution Aubrey can make to the club this year. Nevertheless, we will always be thankful that he helped bring a World Championship to San Francisco.

Brian Wilson ($8.5M): This might be his last season as a member of the SF Giants. I think the club has learned it's lesson on not signing players that are coming off a major surgery. Might be a good time to shave the beard too.

Freddy Sanchez ($6M): Freddy clearly has the talent, but his body is breaking down to the point of no return. Will he even return on the field this year? After the recent story regarding his back, it's highly unlikely.

Jeremy Affeldt ($5M): Frozen hamburger patties and lifting his child are the reasons for his stints on the DL. Jeremy has great talent, but the high salary and his poor decisions off the field landed him in this category.

Ryan Theriot ($1.25M): We're still perplexed how TheRiot made the club. His contributions thus far has been non-existent, and we still can't believe that the "Baby Babe Ruth" (Fontenot) wasn't kept ahead of Ryan at basically the same  salary.

Guillermo Mota ($1M): Anyone that goes on the 100-game suspension list goes on this list automatically. C'mon, kids coughing syrup?! WTH!

Now, we didn't include anyone on the roster in this blog post. The two Brandons are both making $481K, but can't say they've been great or horrible based on their contracts. Same goes with Pill and Hensley.

EXCLUSIVE: Rich Herrera on the Los Angeles v. San Francisco Rivalry

*The Sons of Johnnie LeMaster is pleased to have Rich Herrera from MLB Radio contribute his first ever post to our blog. We encourage you to follow him on Twitter at @RBIrich.

Over a century ago the greatest rivalry in the game of baseball was born.  May 3, 1890 was the first game between baseball’s most hated rivals.  No, this rivalry did not take place between teams from the Bronx or from Boston.  Contrary to my friends at ESPN whose east coast myopia causes most baseball fans to be conned into thinking that the Red Sox and Yankees are baseball’s civil war, baseball’s greatest rivalry is truly played between the Glorious Giants and the Despicable Dodgers. 

Think I am kidding baseball fans.  Ask any real Giants fan how they feel about the Dodgers and their players.  Do you remember Wade Boggs riding around Yankee Stadium on the back of the NYPD horse?  Do you recall the reaction of the Yankee fans gleefully cheering the former Red Sox great as one of their own?  What kind of reaction would any real San Francisco fan have given lets say Ron Cey if he would have brought a World Championship to Candlestick.  Giants’ fans would have gleefully tossed things at the Penguin.  Things like vulgar insults, cups of beer, half eaten hot dogs and of course back in the day, D cell batteries from the boom box you brought to hear the game on the radio.  Now there have been a few to cross over but none were ever accepted as one of ours.  The only exception to this of course is good baseball men that were run off by the Dodgers for no good reason, and those baseball expatriates pledged their allegiance to the Orange and Black.  (We will have to talk some time about Dodgers running off their own like Dusty and Scioscia).

So let me share a few reasons why this is a real rivalry.

Giants and Dodgers are competitive and play meaningful games in their rivalry. The Giants are .538 team since play began back in 1883 while the Dodgers are 524 since then.  The Red Sox are a .517 team since 1901 and the Yankees a whopping .568 team since 1901.  How can this be a rivalry of any merit when the Yankees have dominated so much in their series? 

The Giants and Dodgers are almost identical when it comes to postseason success.  The Giants and Dodgers have six World Series wins the Giants owning 21 NL pennants to the Dodgers 22 NL flags.  The So Called greatest Rivalry in baseball, the Yankees 27 World Series winners and 40 AL Championships while the Red Sox have won the World Championship seven times with 12 pennants to show for their efforts. The numbers don’t lie the Giants and Dodgers go back and forth, while the Yankees have clearly showed themselves to be head and shoulders about the

To be a good rival you must play spoiler to your rival over and over again.  Giants fans have cheered players like Joe Morgan for knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs in the 80’s or Rod Beck getting the 1-2-3 DP to win the NL West in 1997 from the Dodgers.  And yes Giants fans have seen heartbreak at the hands of the Dodgers as well. History shows over and over again the Yankees knocking out the Red Sox over the years with Boone and Brosius homers coming to mind.  And the Red Sox can claim over coming a 3-0 deficit in 2004.  So let’s take the biggest moments in the two rivalries.  Both were winner take all games.  Both were game winning home runs.  Now you tell me which was a greater moment in the history of the game, which brings an ear-to-ear smile to the victor and can still cause tears to well up in the eyes of the loser.  You tell me what is a bigger moment, Bucky Dent’s corked bat homer that just got over the Green Monster or Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World”

Case closed … Sorry ESPN … The greatest rivalry in baseball is the Giants and the Dodgers.

Michael Tucker vs. Eric Gagne

Tips for Visiting Dodger Stadium

It has come to our attention that several members of Giants Nation are making the trek down to SoCal for the Giants three-game roadie at Dodger Stadium. Since several members of the Sons of Johnnie LeMaster have several years and games under their belts attending games in Chavez Ravine, we thought it would be helpful to hand out some tips ahead of your visit.

• Get there early! Dodger Stadium is just east of downtown LA, and the main freeway artery (110 freeway) is busy all day, but especially when rush hour traffic starts gearing up at around 3:30 p.m.
• Public transportation is basically non-existent. Don't fall for the Union Station Dodger Shuttle bus that goes between Union Station (MTA, Amtrak) and Dodger Stadium. That is a complete waste of time, and even Dodger fans moan on how bad and unreliable it is.
• Enter the stadium parking lot by going thru the "Downtown Gate" if you're on the 110 Fwy, use the "Stadium" exit. Park in lot 7 ... you can thank us later - it will allow for the fastest exit out of the stadium and best way to get on 110 Fwy.
• Leave the cooler at home, Dodgers have a "no-tailgating" rule in the parking lot. This existed prior to the Bryan Stow event, but now it's being enforced. We've seen plenty of Dodger and visiting fans forced to empty their beers on the ground in front of the LAPD. *A moment of silence for the beers ...  thank you.
• There are no pre-gaming spots near the ballpark. Reason #1500456789 to dislike Dodger Stadium.
• Be mindful where your seats are, it will determine which gate you can enter the stadium. For whatever reason, the Dodgers brass will not allow you to enter the stadium at any gate, you have to enter based on where your seats are. i.e. Field box level, loge level, reserved level, pavillions, etc.
• Pavillion section ... Dodger Stadium might be the only stadium where the folks in the bleachers cannot walk or roam around the rest of the stadium. There is no walkway from the pavillion to the rest of the stadium, and they will not let you out of the pavillion section to re-enter the main concourse. It's also where some of the worst Dodger fans sit, so you shouldn't even bother getting tickets there.
• Concessions - once you experience Dodger Stadium, you will love AT&T Park even more. Dodger Dogs are one of the most overrated food items ever touted. Have you ever seen Vin Scully eat one? That's a no, because Vinnie is smart not to eat one, however he does make it sound good, "mmmm, mmmm ... a Dodger Dog made by Farmer John." Actually, we would recommend a stop at the historic Phillippe's on 1001 North Alameda Street just outside of Chinatown, which is near the ballpark. Phillippe's has the best French dip sandwiches anywhere, and the smart fans will get a to-go order before a Dodgers game.
• Count how many times you see a beach ball being tossed around, and watch the side show as ushers scramble around trying to retrieve it and pop it once they get it.
• We recommend seats in the lower box (behind home plate) ... yes, we know it's pricey, but seldom do fights breakout in this section.
• Sections to avoid ... DO NOT sit in the pavillion sections and upper reserve. We cannot reiterate this enough, you're gonna wish that you spent the extra money on seats in the loge or lower box sections.
• Wear your Giants gear, but don't gloat ... actually, this applies to any visiting fan visiting any ballpark. It's okay to cheer for the club, but don't taunt and gloat to the opposition fan base. This is common sense 101.
• Once the game is over, hangout outside of the stadium near the right field wall. Typically, if it's the first or second game of a three-game series, you will see some of the players walkout of the stadium to grab a cab or get a ride with a friend. We've seen plenty of players sign for fans that wait around. Also, Kruk, Kuip, Flem & Jon typically rent a car and will walk out to their SUV, and they sign as well. Plus, they're always happy to meet and greet with Giants fans.
• Have fun, Go Giants!

Commentary on Social Media

When we started this blog and joined Twitter, our intent was simple, to have fun and converse with individuals that shared the same interests, and perhaps along the way - we and others might even learn a few new things on a number of subjects. Our goal all along was to make this fun and not to make a business venture out of this or to profit from what we do, which is why you never see any advertising (aka monetizing efforts) on this blog or see us sell any of our shirts that we produce. However it has come to our attention within viewing some tweets in the past week, that others do not share our idea of having fun. Yes, we are not naïve to think that everyone has the same ideals as we do, but it's also disappointing when others use social media, or in this case Twitter to repeatedly attack or stalk others in a negative and condensing tone. Now, to make this clear, none of the negative tweets were directed at us, but we did notice a trend where individuals would consistently make inappropriate remarks to individuals that aren't even public figures. We get that good nature ribbing is par for the course, but when does good nature ribbing turn into poor inappropriate behavior and crosses the line between good nature ribbing and acts of cruelty? To be fair, this dilemma has existed on every social media platform, individuals that have the bravado to type remarks and comments intended to incite and enrage (aka Internet bullies), and yet it seems that the general social media population has generally accepted that type of behavior versus standing up and condoning it.

Now, we're not here anointing ourselves as patron saints of social media because we're not, but we also believe if you're going to type something to someone online via social media, you should have the wherewithal to say the very exact same thing to that same person when you see them in person. If we understand correctly, it's called the "paper tiger" syndrome of social media or "liquid courage" for those of you order than 21 years of age. Twitter and other social media outlets have been utterly amazing on a number of fronts, and right when we're totally enthralled with what each of these platforms can provide, the proverbial "ugly head" peers out and shows the nasty side of things.

To our regular readers, we apologize for not making this a post related to the Giants, but felt it needed to be said. GO GIANTS!

Baseball Card Pictorial

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, we think that applies to baseball cards as well. Here are some of our favorites ...

Monte Irvin - 1955 Topps

Robby Thompson - 1988 Big Topps

Tim Lincecum - 2008 Upper Deck Masterpiece

Will Clark - 1986 Fleer

Barry Bonds - 2005 Topps

Carl Hubbell - 1939 Play Ball

Mike Krukow - 1988 Topps

Carl Hubbell - 1941 Play Ball

Tim Lincecum - 2012 Topps Tribute (proof card)

Buster Posey - 2010 Topps Chicle

Met Ott - 1934 Goudey

Tim Lincecum - 2007 Upper Deck

Before The Thrill, There Was The Ripper

The other day, we were looking at our collections of SF Giants jerseys and we finally came across our mid-80s Giants home jersey, with CLARK #22 on the back of it. Now, you've seen this jersey at every home Giants game honoring Will "The Thrill" Clark. However, before the Nuschler ever came along, there was another CLARK #22, and he was and if not more of an offensive threat than The Thrill was.

Now, for those of you that that were born in the last few decades, there was an outfielder for the Giants by the name of Jack Clark. His nickname, and aptly so was "The Ripper" for the simple fact that he was just a pure slugger. He would make baseballs bleed, and the pitchers cringe, he was George Foster & Reggie Jackson bundled into a skinny frame kid that happened to play for a club that was a perennial doormat of the National League West.

Clark was a homegrown Giant, he was drafted in the 13th round of the 1973 amateur draft out of Gladstone High School in Covina, California. Clark would spend the next four years in the minors, with brief stops in The Show as a September callup in 1975 and '76.  His first Major League appearance was on September 12, 1975, and in his first at-bat he pinch hit for catcher, Mike Sadek, and walked before eventually scoring. It wasn't until 1977 that Clark made the club out of camp and would start an eight-year run as the starting right fielder. During his time with the Giants, Clark batted .277, with 163 home runs, 595 RBI, and a .359 OBP.

His greatest season with the Giants was in 1978, where he batted .306, with 25 home runs, and 98 RBI and having a .358 OBP, .537 slugging percentage. He would also earn his first All-Star appearance that year, and finished 5th in the National League MVP vote. Keep in mind that he did all of this as a 22 year old kid.

His other impressive season was in 1982, where he batted .274, with 27 home runs, and 103 RBI. He would finish seventh in the NL MVP vote. After the 1984 season, Clark was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, and help lead the RedBirds to the 1985 World Series where they ended up losing to the Kansas City Royals. In his final year (1987) with the Cards, he compiled his best statistical season when he belted 35 home runs, 106 RBI, and leading the league in walks, OBP, Slugging, and OPS. He would also earn his fourth All-Star appearance and finished third in the MVP ballot.

Clark would end up spending the next five seasons between the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox. His last game was on August 28, 1992, when the Red Sox played against the California Angels. He was 0-for-3 in his last game. In his 18 year career, Clark compiled 340 home runs, 1180 RBI, and a career batting average of .267. Make no mistake about it, he played when pitchers dominated and there is no question if he played today he would rank among the most feared and lethal offensive weapons.

After his playing career ended, Clark would serve as a batting coach for a number of clubs before joining the broadcast rank. He now has his own radio show, Sports Night, on KTRS in St. Louis.

So next time you see a CLARK #22 jersey, don't just think of The Thrill, but remember there was another CLARK #22, and his nickname was "The Ripper."

1982 - Jack Clark at Dodger Stadium

Jack Clark - Younger Years

$5 Tickets for Tuesday's Game vs. Philly

View reserve seats for Tuesday's game versus Philly is now available for just $5 on sfgiants.com. Individuals must use the promo code, "MADBUM", in order to purchase those tickets. Quantity is limited, so get them now!

Probable starting pitchers are: Madison Bumgarner vs. Joe Blanton.

Win a Sons of Johnnie LeMaster tee on April 13!

That's right, our first public giveaway of some of our limited edition tees will be distributed on Friday, April 13 at the Public House on 3rd & King streets. Now, if you didn't know already, we pay for the shirts out of our own pockets and have never asked for money in return - thus the rationale on a limited run of shirts. Having said that, we have six shirts to distribute during KNBR's Murph & Mac morning broadcast.

This is the deal, we will provide Murph & Mac six shirts (3 men's, 3 women's), and they will giveway the shirts to like-minded die hard Giants fans. However, since we only have a handful of the shirts to giveaway, Murph & Mac will devise some contest to determine the recipients. So get there early, bring a good attitude and your passion for the Giants.

Good Luck!

The Journey Begins Today ...

Does Opening Day ever get old?! The answer is ... of course not! Maybe it's the idea that each team starts from a clean slate regardless of past regressions, and has a chance for postseason glory. Maybe it's the idea that the veteran will capture lightning in a bottle one last time. Maybe it's the idea that the prospect will finally live up to the hype and deliver at the big league level. Maybe it's the symbolic beginning of the spring and summer months.

Whatever YOUR reason is, today, the boys in Black and Orange will commence the 2012 campaign and will take us on a roller coast ride for the next seven months. Hopefully, it will end with a parade down Market Street.

Rejoice, the season is here! Let's GO GIANTS!!!

SF Giants Opening Day 2011

Where are they now ... John Bowker (SF Giants: 2008-2010)

It seems like yesterday when John Bowker bursted onto the scene at AT&T Park as a home grown power hitter, but his tenure with the Giants was short lived.

Bowker played college ball at Long Beach State, and was a 3rd round pick for the Giants in the 2004 Amateur Draft. He spent a better part of four years in the Giants farm system slowly climbing the ladder, when he was called up to the Bigs on April 12, 2004. This is where Bowker etched his name in the record books. He became the first player in San Francisco Giants history to club a home run in his first two games (April 12-13). The future looked promising for Bowker, but like so many others before him, he simply could not find the consistency that is needed at the big league level.

In 2010, after starting as the opening day right fielder, Bowker failed to hit and flirted with a .200 batting average for most of the season, he was eventually sent down to AAA Fresno on June 1, and left the team with a .207 batting average. Approximately two months later, Bowker and Joe Martinez (RHP) were traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Javier Lopez (LHP) ... and we all know how this trade worked out for the Giants.

Bowker spent the 2011 season between the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies, but rarely saw any action. On January 10, 2012, he was released by the Phillies and soon thereafter signed with the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan. As of today (April 5, 2012), Bowker has appeared in six games for the Giants and has one hit in 25 plate appearances (.042 batting average). The season is still young, but the Japanese teams are notorious on having a short leash with foreign players (gaishin), so he'll need to pick it up if he hopes to make his mark in Japan.

All told, Bowker played four years in the Bigs, and during his time with the Giants he compiled a .238 batting average, .285 OBP, 15 home runs, and 58 RBI.

John Bowker in 2008

John Bowker with the Yomiuri Giants

John Bowker with the Yomiuri Giants