TortureCast (SF Giants Podcast)

327: Eliminated

We strung out this episode because during the recording, the Giants blew a 5-run lead they had in the 7th against the Cardinals, then Ryan Walker came in and failed to close out a 1-run lead, allowing 2 runs in the 9th. We waited out the episode to watch Wilmer Flores feebly strike out with the tying run on second to end the game and their official and mathematical hopes for the playoffs as they were eliminated. But, before coughing up their largest lead of the season, Eric and I break down what went wrong in the last two weeks that saw their once bright and resuscitated playoff hopes get extinguished in such a quick fashion. They've now lost 9 of 11 and can only achieve a .500 season by winning their remaining four games. They are likely headed to another losing season. This also means that the Giants have only made the playoffs ONCE in the last nine seasons. That is just one more than the Pirates. Will Melvin be fired? Who will win the Willie Mac? Will Adames reach 30 homers when it seemed like a lock when he hit his 28th 13 games ago? We review the playoff races and talk a bit about the ABS coming to MLB next season. Next episode will record on Monday, the night before the playoffs start when we'll give our playoff predictions. Alas, a Giants postseason will have to wait until at least next year.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastinstagram.com/torturecast

326: Another Eulogy

Chad and Eric were hopeful that their trip to Arizona would bear witness to the Giants leapfrogging the Mets into the third wild card position, but instead were witness to the final nail in the coffin to their postseason hopes. Although we did get to see Bryce Eldridge's Major League debut, we also witnessed an 8-1 drubbing followed by a walk-off win for the Diamondbacks on a game which the Giants led by four runs. It was a frustrating experience, but it does give clarity to the fact that this team is not ready for the playoffs. We chat about the season that could have been and our experience at Chase Field. www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastinstagram.com/torturecast

325: TortureCast Live from Arizona!!

Chad traveled down to Arizona to meet Eric for a couple of Giants games, but we wrapped up the last 10 games in a special live and in-person episode! We thank the Mets for their 8-games losing streak that enabled the Giants to get to within 1 1/2 games, despite the Giants going 4-5. And, our timing couldn’t be better because Bryce Eldridge has been called up and we should be seeing him the next two nights at Chase Field. Join us for a fun and rare episode!

324: Just When We Thought We Were Out....

...they pull us back in. Yes, we are all Al Pacino. The Giants have suddenly forgotten how to lose. In fact, they've only lost one of their last 11 games and suddenly find themselves two games above .500 and four games back of the Mets for the third wild card with 22 games to play. We are still in snowball's-chance-in-hell territory, but it's better than last week and the week before that. This remarkable surge has been powered by the long ball with the Giants homering in 17 straight games (and counting), breaking the SF record. The NY Giants record is 19. During that streak, they've hit 36 of their 150 homers which is 24%...in just over two weeks! Willie Adames hit four bombs this week and is only four away from 30 and would become the first Giant to do so since Barry Bonds. Devers hit five this week (including a HR trot that technically lasted an MLB-record 8+ minutes!) and has 30, 15 with each Boston and SF. Chad and Eric chat about this surge, talk about their realistic chances for making the playoffs, and reveal that they will be at Chase Field on September 15 and 16 to watch the Giants take on the Diamondbacks. We'll even resurrect the bonusode!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecastinstagram.com/torturecasttorturecast@gmail.com

323: Beat Good Teams, Lose To Bad?

Just when they had us down, they sweep us back into their arms. Well, maybe not quite yet, but the Giants have quietly put together a 4 game winning streak and are 3 games under .500. Their offense is finally clicking, and they've even homered in 10 straight games. Devers went off tonight in game 2 of their series against the Cubs, going 4-4 with 2 bombs, a double, and 5 RBI....right after I put in the notes about his poor splits in SF vs BOS. He raised his OPS by 50 points with the Giants in ONE game! Eric and Chad chat about the good week in Giants baseball, and look towards a favorable September schedule, where the Giants will play 6 games against the Dodgers, the only winning team in their last 29 games. Now, we're not saying they are going to sneak back into playoff relevance, but we are saying if you were to line up the possibility, this would be the way to do it. We review who's hot and not, injuries, and even talk about Big Dumper and the Freak for a spell.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecasthttps://www.instagram.com/torturecast/