The available games, dates and number of tickets will be shown at the end of the blog before the rules. Remember when you email me back to identify the game, the date, and the number of tickets you want. Please whitelist my email so you get the blog posts and ticket offers all season long.
Oracle Park is now open for baseball (no restrictions). That means two things – our traditional Section 118, row 25/26 seats are back, and crab sandwiches will be available in center field.
Are the 2021 Giants as Good as they look?
Yes, they are.
Start with the basics. 47 and 26 (21 games over .500 after the Angels game) - - the best record in MLB. Couple that with the most home runs in baseball and one of the most effective pitching staffs, and that is a recipe for first place, an exciting summer, a run at the playoffs and (fingers crossed) the postseason. The national scribes have a Giants at a 47% chance at the playoffs (they obviously still believe in the Dodgers and the Padres – and rightfully, there is a lot of baseball left to play). However, I would like to point out that the 1927 Yankees were 43 and 17 on June 22, 1927. Just saying.
Singling out players is difficult because so many are playing so well. Crawford and Posey, the old guys (really? old at 34?), both without a doubt in my mind going to the All-Star game. The new guys, including Yastrzemski, Flores, Duggar, Dubon, Slater and Solano showing great gloves, solid hitting and confidence that comes from believing in each other and playing unselfishly.
Do not forget the defense that Belt brings to the field, settling down the defense and using his bunting skills to beat the shift. Belt at-bats are a thing of beauty when he connects and sends the ball into the bay. We will soon get Longoria (a certified HOF player) back and he knows this is a team of destiny. The challenge will be to get him into games but when he and Belt are both in the game, they are like an iron wall at 1st and 3rd.
Today Ruf and Dickerson came back from the DL and two youngsters playing so well (Vosler and Wade, Jr.) went back to AAA because they were the only ones left with options. Flores deserves a major callout [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vuaqDDr--Q] because he is hot and hitting home runs in bunches. The Giants bench could start on 90% of the current MLB teams.
The pitching is equally as good. Gausman (1.51 ERA), DeScalafini (2.77 ERA), Cueto, Wood, Webb and a host of new young guys are redefining Giants starting pitching. The bullpen, behind Tyler Rodgers (he of the unhittable slow sidearm slider) and Jake McGee (with the 98 mph heater across the face) is stanch. And then they add Brebbia, one of the top relievers from the Cardinals just coming off Tommy John surgery. I saw him on Sunday when the Giants finished demolishing the Phillies.
There is, however, one basic reason this team is playing so well, winning so many games and putting hope back in the hearts of the Orange and Black – Gabe Kapler. We are all becoming believers in analytics when we see a commitment to playing the hot hand (which is what analytics is all about) pay off. Gabe uses the entire 40-man roster (including the top guys from AAA) and mixes and matches with a sense of the game that, so far, appears magical. There is no letdown from the bench players because they are all starters, and each knows that he may come in in a clutch situation and be asked to perform. That is the essence of the 2021 Giants – unselfish to the core and a complete team.
That is not to belittle the skill and savvy of the man who put the roster together and furnishes Gabe with the pieces he needs to win – Farhan. There will be incredible baseball books written about this season and it will start with the Giants front office operating in a pandemic year with panache, skill, and a sense of destiny.
Roster decisions, call-up’s and the trade deadline, oh my!
Check out the roster of the Sacramento River Cats. 15 of their starters are on the Giants 40-man roster and all of them (except Joey Bart) have been called up already this season. The question is the trade deadline (end of July) and what is out there for the Giants to get better than what they have. No one expects San Diego to trade Tatis, Jr., but the Nationals trading Scherzer (whose contract is up for renewal) is not a far-out thought. When the Nationals come out to Oracle in July look to see if Scherzer starts and, if so, how well he does at Oracle. He might be a short-term rental pitching for a big contract next year.
What do we have to look forward to before the All-Star break?
The three home series before the All-Star break will be gang busters. First, we play the As, the best team in the American league and our neighbor across the bay. I would love this to be a preview of another bay bridge world series, this time with a different result than the 89 series, and no earthquake. Then we play the Cardinals, at .500 in the tough NL Central and looking to get a leg up on the Cubs. Finally, the Nationals, another .500 team we saw this month in Washington in bad weather who might be looking at some of the Giants young players while showcasing Scherzer.
On the board ready to be picked up are:
· FRI - 6/25 [6:45 - 3] A’s – Fireworks night. (I’m going).
· SAT - 6/26 [7:05 - 4] A’s – Yaz Bobblehead night. (I want one).
· SUN - 6/27 [1:05 – 4] A’s – Kids cap day
· MON - 7/5 [2:05 -3] – Cards (I’m going)
· TUES - 7/6 [6:45 -2] – Cards
· WED - 7/7 [6:45 – 4] – Cards
· SAT - 7/10 [1:05 – 4] Nationals – 2010 Championship shirt day
· SUN -7/11 [1:05 – 3] Nationals – 2010 Championship shirt day (I’m going)
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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THE PROTOCOL: the firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 16 foul balls myself over 19 years, and I am looking for more (although since the screens were raised in 2018 it has become tougher to get a ball). If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a wait list.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.