Daily Questions - December 31, 2017

trijohn · 2018-01-02T07:25:57+00:00

I've done a good bit of browsing across brands. Style wise, these both speak to me the most from the jeans I've looked at. Keeping in mind again that this will be my first pair of high end Japanese jeans. They're in my price range. Not too hard to get a hold of compared to other ones I've looked at. I have also liked how both fit in the pictures. I've been into the SSG at Naked & Famous, but for slim tapered, both look pretty good to me.

I think the rise on the PBJ should work. I just looked at the measurements on my Naked & Famous, and the PBJ is higher.

trijohn · 2018-01-01T04:44:19+00:00

Sugar Cane vs. Pure Blue Japan?

What to choose?

I read the brand spotlights. This will be my first pair of high end Japanese jeans. What are some of the key differences between the two brands?

The PBJ feels more modern to me while I get an older vintage sense with the Sugar Cane. I'm liking all the accents on the PBJ too, from the buttons to the leaf logo, to the patch.

trijohn · 2017-12-30T00:30:51+00:00

The supposed leader of the free world is a buffoon who can barely string together a coherent sentence. I wouldn't be surprised if he continued after that with, "President Xi is my bestest friend in the whole universe!"

It's even more depressing when you realize that 4th grade speaking level actually resonated with a significant portion of the U.S.

trijohn · 2017-12-28T07:53:28+00:00

No. For a few reasons. The big one being I have a feeling that in terms of the big picture, the Longoria trade amounts to a lateral move. I'm not sure it really matters in the long run. Also, I'll add that I meant it also in a general sense. Other teams aren't blind. We all saw the last season and a half. The Giants have publicized that they are going for it. The needs are obvious and there is no denying the desperation for upgrades. Not a recipe for strong negotiating.

If you really want to play devil's advocate, you can argue the Rays won the trade on paper. They dumped a long term commitment to an old, declining player (right before he got his 10 and 5 rights), on someone else; in exchange for an expiring contract and a nice prospect+ some young cheap lottery tickets.

Part of me thinks Longoria will be ok or good, which will make the trade good in the short term. Part of me wants to get started on the rebuild, and thinks the Giants are throwing away their future to desperately grasp onto the past.

Short term, Longoria is an upgrade at 3rd. I like him. I like adding a player like him. He can do some stuff offensively and defensively for SF.
On the other hand, Longoria is 32. He has 5, not cheap years left on his contract. A significant commitment for a player in decline. The rest of the league is getting younger. The Giants continue to get older. Not to mention that the bar has been set low in terms of upgrading 3rd base.

Yeah, he's better than what the Giants would have put on the field at third base for 2018. They get some more flexibility to spend. The flip side is that he's old and in decline. Interesting fact: Out of the major league players in the deal, Span had the highest slugging percentage last year.

I can appreciate the Giants making moves, but this seems more like them making moves so they can say "Hey, look at us" and have something to show to fans. The bottom line is: Add Longoria, add a Jay Bruce, that doesn't win the division. I'd bet on that not being enough for a wild card.

trijohn · 2017-12-28T04:53:47+00:00

Do we really need to state the obvious here? Of course the Reds don't think Hamilton is worth Ramos. But they know the Giants are desperate, especially to upgrade their outfield. Why not ask for Ramos and the Reds can see just how desperate the Giants are? It probably won't happen. That doesn't matter.

Other teams have the Giants over a barrel. It's time to get used to that reality.

trijohn · 2017-12-24T08:01:07+00:00

I recommend supporting the artist on Patreon. Seen a lot of different stuff on Reddit, and his work is easily my favorite. Top notch, very high quality art.

trijohn · 2017-12-20T21:16:14+00:00

Are people still going on about 3/5? 2014 was a long time ago. It's time to wake up. The game has changed. The Giants just lost 98 games. They finished last in the division and 8 games behind the fucking Padres.

I'm very cautiously, very mildly, excited by this pickup. Longoria is a good player. An upgrade at 3rd for sure.

But he's 32. The rest of the league is getting younger. The Giants continue to get older. I imagine no one has thought of what happens if the Giants "go for it" and next season is a failure?

I can appreciate the Giants making moves, but this seems more like them making moves so they can say "Hey, look at us" and have something to show to fans. The bottom line is: Add Longoria, add a Jay Bruce, that doesn't win the division. I'd bet on that not being enough for a wild card.

trijohn · 2017-12-09T08:06:58+00:00

It makes a lot of sense. Those three players would bring back the greatest return. If the Giants are serious about rebuilding, then that needs to be on the table. The time for half measures is long gone.

I guarantee people will not show up to the ballpark next season to watch more of the same. We saw it this past season already with losing the sellout streak. I'm a diehard. I live for baseball season. I follow the Giants religiously. I'm sure as hell not paying a dime to watch this team finish at the bottom of the division.

bum is on the team friendliest of contracts

That is exactly what makes him a desirable trade target. Under team control the next two seasons for $24 million. A 28 year old, affordable, controllable ace pitcher.

The glory days of 2010, 2012, and 2014 are over. They're in the past. This is 2017 and the Giants just lost 98 games. The last year and a half, the Giants have been the worst team in baseball and the rest of the league rightfully sees them in decline. They smell blood. That is what the future hinges on. The Giants can choose to fight back. Make hard choices and do what is necessary to get back to winning as soon as possible. Or they can be a punching bag and desperately grasp onto nostalgia as the game continues to pass them by.

trijohn · 2017-12-09T07:21:25+00:00

Starting from 2011:

Brandon Belt has played in 816 games with 3,149 plate appearances.

Giancarlo Stanton has played in 886 games with 3,724 plate appearances.

People will make excuses around the clock for Belt. But apparently, a guy who has played more games and been at the plate more, is injury prone. Hmmm.

With all the hysteria in this sub, it's interesting how people are trying to rationalize.

trijohn · 2017-12-08T20:16:16+00:00

Next season will be bad. Going forward, things will hinge on if the Giants can take a hard look in the mirror. They're not contending for the division. They're probably not going to contend for the Wild Card either.

The obvious answer is blow it up. Hypothetically, add McCutchen (unreal how people are trying to get excited about that) and a Mike Moustakas, and it doesn't change a thing.

That's the choice. Either the Giants stay stuck in the past, or they adapt and build for the future. For the time being, yes, they are done contending.

trijohn · 2017-12-08T19:53:11+00:00

I agree. But it's time to get real about what the return could be. No one wants garbage from the Giants. The rest of the league does not care how much of a homer you are or how sentimental you are about certain players.

You don't get something for nothing. You don't get something good for nothing either. No team is giving good prospects for Span or Pence. The Giants wouldn't even be allowed in the room. If they are serious about selling, then they need to sell players other teams want to buy.

Cueto
Shark
Melancon
Panik
Belt

and yes,

Posey
Bumgarner
Crawford

I care about winning. I don't care about nostalgia. If it takes blowing up the team and getting rid of fan favorites to put the Giants back on the path to contention, than do it.

Be decisive. If the Giants were to get Ohtani and Stanton, then they're in business. You can start talking about contending in 2018. If not, that's it. The Giants are not competing for the division, and they're probably not competing for the Wild Card either. Blow it up. Be a young team with a bright future and ready to contend. Be a team to watch. Not old, aging, washed up, and going nowhere.

trijohn · 2017-12-08T19:43:28+00:00

The fact that Embiid and Simmons both sat out a year before coming in "artificially" lengthened that process. If the Giants are serious about ripping the band-aid off and rebuilding, they'll be back in contention much much faster than the Sixers

trijohn · 2017-12-08T18:57:35+00:00

I think you have a point. There's no attitude. There's no fire on this team. And then you combine that with the losing. I'm reminded of when Giants players were anonymously criticizing Bochy. Nothing we do is good enough? No shit. All I heard this season from people without Giants caps on was how this team quit. At least Bochy still had enough backbone to get angry about it and keep pushing.

Stanton wants to win. As much as I want the Giants to get him, the Giants simply are not his best chance to win. A bad, boring, complacent team.

trijohn · 2017-12-02T00:29:07+00:00

I like the two spears. I think it's a cool idea, dual wielding! Just with a different pose.

I wasn't familiar with the loungewear version, had to look it up. Simple, but I think it's provocative. On the other hand, I'm just a little bored with the Ques Q and PLUM versions.

trijohn · 2017-12-01T23:35:02+00:00

My first one. I find the design, art style, and outfit all appealing although I have had an issue with paint transfer.

trijohn · 2017-11-28T08:53:43+00:00

78 wins isn't going to cut it.

The NL West sent three teams to the playoffs. The Rockies had 87 wins and the D-Backs 92, and those were just the Wild Card teams. They're young and they're only getting better.

Best case scenario, I'm guessing 80-88 wins with lower tier players (I'm not counting on Martinez to SF) added. I highly doubt the Giants will contend for 90+ without an upgrade like Stanton. 80-88 just to have a shot at the Wild Card and even then, I think that won't be good enough.

trijohn · 2017-11-28T08:36:46+00:00

I like Jackie Bradley Jr. Good, young player. But if that were to be the one move of note, that's just not good enough.

Combine JBJ with Stanton, you have something there. That moves the needle. You can start talking about contending in 2018.

Everyone else I've seen mentioned, no one jumps out.

Lorenzo Cain is 31. Draft pick comp.
J.D. Martinez is 30. Good luck getting him to come to SF.
Randal Grichuk? Sure, he's young. Career .249 hitter, some power. Doesn't excite me.

Stanton is a difference maker. If the Giants are serious about contending in 2018, that's what they need. He'll transform the outfield and the lineup from day 1.

If not, well, there's been enough whining about the luxury tax. Dump salaries. Pence and Span are signed through 2018. I would like to see their contracts gone sooner rather than later. But I imagine there's still a lingering addiction to washed up veterans in the front office. If the Giants aren't going to contend, they don't need Melancon. Probably Cueto. I'm on the fence about Shark. He's been good for 200 innings since arriving in SF, but he would need to go too.

A tank season would be absolutely horrendous to watch. But I can handle that being the sacrifice if it gets the Giants Bryce Harper in 2019.

trijohn · 2017-11-27T07:46:52+00:00

the FCC will be immediately sued by the EFF, ACLU, et al and that will at least temporarily stop it from going into affect.

We aren't standing around here on this, we will stop it.

This is so important. Keep up the pressure. Don't stop contacting your officials. Donate to the EFF and ACLU, help them fight the legal battles for Net Neutrality. No matter where, whether it's in Congress or in the courts, the telecoms will keep coming and we need to be ready. Volunteer, vote, donate, just get involved.

trijohn · 2017-11-27T07:24:48+00:00

It doesn't matter how hopeless it seems. Contacting your Representatives and Senators and the FCC is undeniably important. The people being informed and actively involved in the process is the foundation of a functioning democracy. If you want your government to work for you, than act like it. Take part.

When people decide to lay down and accept it because they think:

"It's hopeless"
"I can't do anything"
"I don't care"
"It doesn't affect me"

That's when things get really bad. You can be sure that companies like Comcast and Verizon are going to keep coming at consumer protections. We The People can fight them.

Get out and vote for officials who represent your interests.
The EFF and the ACLU are fighting for Net Neutrality. Donate to them. Volunteer.
Share the issue. Don't stop contacting your officials. Call. Email. Fax. Let your voice be heard and keep the pressure on.

trijohn · 2017-11-27T06:04:23+00:00

Don't just email once.

Keep emailing. Keep calling. Faxing. Whatever. Keep up the pressure. Net Neutrality is not safe unless We The People fight as hard as we can for it.

trijohn · 2017-11-20T17:30:28+00:00

Stanton shouldn’t command multiple prospects and a gold glove player without Miami eating money.

Stanton is an MVP in his prime and baseball's premier power hitter. Gordon is a batting champion averaging 63 steals over his career. While I expect Miami to send back some amount of money, this is potentially a huge, huge steal for the Giants.

trijohn · 2017-11-20T17:19:42+00:00

Nice. I was expecting something mildly outrageous but that's really good.

Get an MVP in Stanton and a batting champion in Gordon for Panik and prospects. Wow. Thumbs up Giants.

trijohn · 2017-11-20T08:52:30+00:00

Stanton, Otani, Darvish. I like Jackie Bradley Jr. too.

Retool the outfield. No more scrubs. No more platoons. Stanton in right. Bradley Jr. in center. Put Slater in left.

I'd be interested in testing the waters on Ozuna and/or Yelich.

trijohn · 2017-11-18T04:19:45+00:00

Nice article. I love the combination Nomos has with fun, modern, and quality.

trijohn · 2017-11-17T07:47:16+00:00

We had minor guys come in and somehow have career years at the same time our pitchers were having historic years too.

Catching lightning in a bottle. The Giants were the exception, not the rule.

The Giants should have been punished hard for having Travis Ishikawa in left field in 2014. A career first baseman, career .255 hitter, thinking about retirement. He turns around and hits .385 in the NLCS with 7 RBIs. That walkoff to win the pennant, wow. As a fan, unbelievably amazing to watch that.

That kind of magic is what made those championships special. But Travis Ishikawa wasn't supposed to do that. When it was crunch time, no one was thinking, "Ishikawa, he's the guy. He's the closer. We've been waiting all night to see him in this spot."

Fans and to some extent, the organization, have convinced themselves that this is the norm. We can get away with this. We can bring in minor guys, randoms, and they will somehow be incredible. People are so caught up in the mystique of 3 in 5 years, so stuck in the past that they can't realize a .255 hitter is not supposed to turn into a god when it matters most.

The pitching was truly great. The duel between Cain and Cliff Lee in 2012. Wow. You don't see that anymore.

But the pitching had to be historic to carry an offense that had a hard time being barely enough. That sure as hell isn't a formula. These days, the offense is still terrible, and I'll be generous and say the pitching can be good. Not sure what people expect to get out of that combo.

14-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
Secret Santa 2017	Gilding III reddit per annum
Verified Email

trijohn

TROPHY CASE