Catching Up on Giants Baseball

Mets stink, pitching inside and no more LaMonte Wade

This week Max and Jackson break down back to back series wins against the floundering Mets and the powerful Phillies. If the Mets go into full fire sale, who should the Giants rescue from that sinking ship.
Then we hit the Bryce Harper brouhaha and the importance of pitching inside. Brett Wisely is killing it with a new swing change, Randy Rodriguez is unhittable and did the Giants handle LaMonte Wades tender hamstring irresponsibly? Probably, because now he's out at least a month!
Then we preview the Yankees series and give our 90's nostalgia picks for the week.
 
Email us at catchingupsf@gmail.com
 
Links:
Deion vs Barry dunk contest
Eno Saris article about front door sinker

Weird, wild stuff and which new guys will stick around?

Jackson and Max break down the wild and crazy week that saw the Giants sweep the Rockies and take two of three from the Pirates while averaging nearly 8 runs per game.
Luis Matos winning player of the week, Matt Chapman putting on a one man show fit for Broadway and LaMonte Wade can't be kept off the bases, this week had it all.
We give some of the highlights of the week and the lowlights as well (Blake Snell were looking at you) as we discuss an epic week in Giants baseball. 
Then we talk about which of the three young players, Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos or Marco Luciano should stick around all year and then we answer the question on everyone's mind...who has the best mustache as we near the end of Mustache May?
 
Email us at catchingupsf@gmail.com
 
Links:
Bones Brigade Documentary
Darren Lewis game

Is it early or is it over?

This week we ask two vital questions:
1) Is it early or is it over?
2) When did it all go wrong for the Giants?
We get to the bottom of these deep philosophical quandaries and try to find some bright spots in the current season.
We also break down the unprecedented rash of injuries and talk about which Rivercats turned Giants we are impressed with so far.
Then, we preview the upcoming week, talk about the epic return of a backup catcher (yes that's where we are at this point folks,) and finally, give your our 90's nostalgia picks for the week.
 
Email us at catchingupsf@gmail.com

Dismal dismantling in Philly and the greatest celebration is no more

Oh dear what a terrible week it’s been! Max and Jackson talk about the dismal destruction at the hands of the Phillies, the direly needed sweep that wasn’t in Colorado, and just generally ask and answer, what’s wrong with the Giants?
We try our best to find some bright spots and then highlight the problematic injuries and who is most likely to replace the aging, injured veterans? Then we dig into some deep stats to see if there are answers hidden in the numbers. Turns out they are in plain sight!
Lastly, we talk about the Luis Arraez trade to the Padres, talk about the greatest and most short lived celebration the Giants had this season, and give our 90’s nostalgia picks for the week.   
 
Reach us by email at catchingupsf@gmail.com 
Links:
This week in baseball on YouTube
Lizard skins

What's wrong with the offense?

We break down the last two series focusing on the Giants abysmal offensive output over the last week. Is this the best we can all hope for or is there more the Giants can do to produce more runs *Hint: we don’t think so. 
Then we break down what’s ahead with a big four game series in Philidelphia. Will the Giants get slaughtered or will the friendly small confines of Citizen’s Bank Park spark the offense. Only time will tell. Also, Alec Bohm has a .1000+ OPS so don’t let him beat you. 
Lastly, with a trip to Philly we talk about the merits of booing as a fan. When is it ok to boo your own team or is it ever ok? We give our thoughts on this pressing issue. 
We end with our nostalgia picks for this week and it’s a classic sitcom and a classic 90’s sports video game.
Reach us by email at catchingupsf@gmail.com 
 
Some fun links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=QxaQ9cKYQXo
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=rTimaB1_xcQ
 
 

What's your closer entrance song?

This week we break down the D-Backs and Mets series. Why does the Giants current brand of baseball fell so frustratingly similar even though so many of the names on that backs of the jersey's have change.
We highlight the bright spots in the bottom of the batting order and the starting pitcher and then dwell on the downer that is Blake Snell's injury and disappointing Giants tenure thus far.
Then we look ahead to the Pirates and a loooong road trip.
Finally we ask the most important question of this new season. With the new lighting system what song would we choose for our cinematic entrance as a closer?
Email us with your choice catchingupsf@gmail.com
 

Recap of Florida road trip and best win of the year?

On today's episode Max and Jackson talk about the Giants win against the D-backs and ask whether it was the best win of the year. Then a look back at the Florida road trip. Was it a success or a disappointment?
Next the hosts play "2 ups and 1 down" where the high leverage relievers feature heavily in both the good and the bad. 
Lastly a look ahead to the importance of the long home stand and hopes for Blake Snell to get his season going tonight.
 

those pesky Nationals (Gnats)

Jackson and Max reconvene after a brutal series against the annoying Nationals and try to find some bright spots from the Giants win in the final game of the series. In what is proving to be a weekly segment, we fawn over Jordan Hicks' most recent start. After considering the Florida road trip ahead we address the epidemic of pitcher injuries in Major League Baseball and beyond.Then have a little fun picking our favorite of "the Jacksons", this year's group of rising phenoms that all share the world's best first name (Max says that's debatable.) We cap it off with everyone's favorite section where we revisit some pieces of 90's nostalgia. This week we examine the frightening head hunting tactics used by Giants legend, Randy Johnson in the 1993 All-Star game and talk about our shared love for the best syndicated comic strip of all time. Links and sources: John Kruk vs The Big UnitCalvin and Hobbes dead birdCalvin and Hobbes snowman accident

Episode 2: What’s good? What’s brutal?

Jackson and Max break down the first 10 games of the season talking about what they are liking thus far and what has been brutal to watch. Then they talk about the A's move to Sacramento, something Max speaks personally to as a longtime Sacramento resident. The consensus: everyone is excited to go see OTHER players (not A's) play in the intimate ballpark, but lets be real, a major league team playing in a minor league stadium can't be classified as anything other than a travesty. We give our good bye and good luck to Joey Bart. Lastly we give our nostalgia picks for you to revisit. Get ready for classic pizza and classic television. References and links: The Sunday Read: Grant Marek on why the Bay Area man who runs the first-ever Round Table Pizza turned down $20 million

Ep 1: Opening Day!

On the very first episode of Catching Up, your hosts Max and Jackson review the off-season, talk briefly about opening day and then give their obligatory "bold predictions" for the season. They include their "anti-predictions" of what could go wrong this season and then talk about which player not on the opening day roster they are most excited to see make their debut. Plus if Bob Melvin was forced to get a hand tattoo what would it be? AndMax and Jackson give their recommendations for a piece of 90's nostalgia you should revisit (or visit for the first time.)