Previously, CSN introduced us to womens' professional softball.

Apparently, the season is over.  Now showing as a lead-in to FP and Co: team paintball.

Wouldn't the 5 or 10 of us that might watch SJ or Augusta or CT be a larger audience than the vast audience of the National Professional Paintball League?

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I don't know what this is, but it's following the Ginats on CSN.  Assuming, arguendo, that there are more than the 100 people in the stands at that game that are interested in it... isn't there something a wee bit more local that could be shown?  Or maybe something that Ginats fans (like this writer) might be more interested in watching?  I realize that it's 3PM on a Thursday, but sheesh.

While looking for something else, I noticed that they have several discs worth of the old show "Home Run Derby" available for instant viewing on Netflix.  Most Netflix memberships these days include the ability to watch unlimited instant programming.  For that matter, you can sign up for a 1 at a time plan for $8 or so that lets you watch as much instant programming as you wish.

For those of you unfamiliar with the program, it was made in the late 1950s.  It was filmed in Wrigley Field (the one where the LA Angels and Hollywood Stars played; there's an interesting Wikipedia on it ), and features two contemporary sluggers competing to sock the most dingers.  In between "innings", the fellas come back to the dugout and chat with the host, which is the best part of the show.

Netflix lists season one's contestants as Aaron, Mantle, Ernie Banks, Killebrew, Jim Lemon, Ken Boyer, Rocky Colavito, Jackie Jensen (seemingly forgotten in these parts, unfortunately), and Barry Bonds' Godfather. 

I first saw it on ESPN classic a few years ago before they changed their programming to infomercials, live college football, and Rachael Ray shows.

Highly recommended and (assuming you're already in Netflix) scot free.

I suppose one can only hope that if Magowan does step down and sell out that this kind of thing may be nipped in the bud but...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/14/SP5710M9D5.DTL

How long ago was it a few of us wondered whether Brain would be over-encouraged by the performance of the team?  Coupled with the several mentions of Joe Crede that have appeared (even Jon Miller, shame on him), I'm getting nervous.

For those to lazy to click on the link, the Brainiest quotes are:

"When you consider some of our challenges in spring training and some of the question marks, we've got to be considered one of the most improved teams in baseball."

"I feel good about some of our choices. We've now got a solution at first base. We've got a solution at third."

"....With that in mind, Sabean said he does not contemplate moving his most marketable experienced players before the trade deadline, as many rebuilding teams do."  [In fairness he is referring to Winn and Molina, but it seems the league has already communicated to him that those are the only tradeable pieces that are not pitchers who only shave once per week]

If only we could all drink the same kool-aid from Brian Cancer's rose-colored shot glasses.

I too am glad Omar is back and seems to be playing well, and that seems to have invigorated things (and broken up the losing streak), but I'm more than a little concerned that between the lines of this article lay a Sanchez for Crede or a Lincecum for Rios. 

Why?  Because I have the same computer software that Brain and Co. seem to be using for roster management.  It's called Sammy Sosa High Heat Baseball 2001 ("SSHH2K1").

In SSHH2K1, Ray Durham is one of the best 2B in the game, a great leadoff man and always a threat to steal a bag. Rich Aurilia is a great player, hitting for power and a good shortstop.  I realize the Ginats are playing him at first, but you have to understand that many of the players on the SSHH2K1 Ginats have since retired.   So it's getting hard to fill the roster spots with real major leaguers any more.  And since all the computer-generated rookies like "Spider Hoover" and "Enrique O'Houlihan" don't pop up in scouting reports Brain is receiving from personnel staff, it's pretty hard to understand what the "reality-centered" scouting community produces, much less those spreadsheet Ivy League nerds.  But cheer up- 3B "Jake Smith" is projected to hit 50 HR per year!  And "Justin Fuller" might strike out 200 this season!

In SSHH2K1, players age mercilessly, and really tail off in performance after age 34 or so.  But there's this great button, "Use 2000 Roster", so that when you start each season players come back just as they were, without the nasty effects of aging!  And, since you can simply uncheck the injury box, those players won't ever go down or end their careers prematurely!  Robb Nen still shuts them down in the 9th for the SSHH2K1 Giants!  Again, this contrasts jarringly with the reports that come from those silly medical staffers who obviously don't realize the capabilities of the software.

Pitching management can be done automatically too, as can all in-game personnel decisions.  Nen might pitch three innings, but be unavailable for the next two or three games (there's this irritating "pitcher fatigue" feature that keeps pitchers from appearing more than once every other game or so, you see).  And there are useful sliders that control how long starters go, and who pinch hits for whom.  Change them during a rainy Dodgers game for extra fun!  See Brent Tomko pinchhit!  Watch Pedro Feliz play catcher!  The "Late Inning Substitution" and "Pinchhitter" sliders are really fun too!!1!!

There's computer control of trades too.  You have to be careful here; the computer will trade one or more prospects for your veteran players, even those that are only of marginal utility.  So be sure not to mess with those settings or propose trades because the AI is a little sketchy, just let the computer handle the whole thing like the Ginats Brain Trust does.

Finally, there's the most important optional feature.  It's called "Computer Management of Minor Leagues".  It makes roster moves a snap!  The computer figures out which players should be promoted or demoted based on its assessment of their talent.  With the click of a button, the "most talented" players at each level will be instantly whisked away to the majors!  All the players in AAA that might have had good records?  Or the AA performers due to move up?  They'll all be cut or stuffed onto the A roster.  Soon there'll be 15 players at every level except the majors, and many of the lower-level rosters will be packed with the same players year to year, as the computer instantly and infallibly determines who will never rise above AA ball.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/4/19/415901/giants-call-up-burriss-cut

And the computer works during the season too!  The 18 year old SS it called up directly from A ball who's batting .100?  He'll be sent to AAA for "seasoning" having skipped over a whole level of play, and someone will be called up from A or AA to replace him.  And the OF who's batted poorly in 18AB?  Off to San Jose with him!  There's no waiver wire in SSHH2K1 you see.  Move everyone up and down with impunity, whenever the mood strikes you!  There's no salary control either, so it doesn't matter what you write in the "salary" blank on the "reality-based" free-agent contracts.  The stands are always full, the hot dog and chocolate malt vendors are always hard at work, and the invisible fireworks go off every time Ellis Burks jacks out another dinger!

That's how the computer brain does it, so I understand why the Ginats' "Brain" and the rest of the FO crew does the same.  Now you all can relax and enjoy the season! It'll all be done for you, even the boos in the 9th inning when the opposing team piles on a home run in a blowout game.

So, if anyone has DirecTV, this week has a free preview of MLB-EI.  For those who have experienced this...

Are local teams blocked out even when their game ISN'T on local TV?  Specifically if the A's game is not otherwise televised, will it be blacked out on MLB-EI too? (I think only 1 Giants game isn't televised this year, at least as of now).

I'm wondering if the "freeview" plays by the same rules as will be in effect during the season.  I think so, but wouldn't be surprised if MLB let the blackouts slide during the preview.

Thanks!

It's apparently 30 years since I first went to a Giants game...

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197807220SFN

Apologies if this has been done recently, but I'd be curious to see how many here can recall or find the actual date.  It was a bit of a surreal experience for me; I don't think I appreciated the magnitude of the event (i.e. had never been in a  large stadium before, only been to SF a handful of times, etc.)

It was also the beginning of a long period of lackluster finishes by the Giants.  Sure glad that's over with.