And here Tim Kawakami column on the Giants

October 2013

A rare off season sub for Alex, who had a conflict and couldn handle the official Tim Lincecum signing and subsequent conference. Always at the ready, the old reliever comes to the mound.

moncler outlet jackets It easy to be jaded about today athletes and how they can move from team to team without any thought of living up to expectations or trying to make up for unfulfilled ones. Yes, Lincecum is getting a handsome contract, but some of the things he said Friday show everything about who this guy is in deciding to return to the moncler outlet sale Giants. In short, he wants to try and make up for the last two years. It applies to Brandon Belt’s swing cheap moncler coats changes. It applies to the Hunter Pence moncler outlet store deal that was signed hours before the final out of the season. It applies to this entire post, really. Yeah, yeah, we’re long past August and September, but blog tradition is blog tradition, so here belatedly is The Month That Was. Pull your socks up, these are the stats, quotes, GIFs, photos, facts, etc. that stood out from the season’s final 56 games. Better late than never! moncler outlet jackets

cheap moncler coats 1. Sprint to the Finish: The Giants were 20 14 after Aug. 24, the third best mark in the National League. They were 16 11 in September, posting their best winning percentage (.593) of a losing season. The finishing run secured the season series with the Diamondbacks (12 7), Dodgers (11 8), Padres (11 8) and Rockies (10 9). According to the Giants PR staff, they haven’t lost a season series within the division since dropping 12 of 18 to the Padres in 2010. cheap moncler coats

cheap moncler jackets sale 2. The Hunter Games: On the field, off the field, at the bank the month of September belonged to Hunter Pence. He was a dominant storyline throughout, but it really peaked during the season’s final weekend. On the final Friday, Pence won the prestigious Willie Mac Award and hinted that a new deal could be close. On Saturday morning, he agreed to a five year, $90 million contract. On Sunday, he became the first San Francisco Giant to start all 162 games and ended Game 162 with a walk off single, his first as a Giant and the club’s 12th of the season. On Monday, he was named National League Player of the Month. cheap moncler jackets sale

moncler factory outlet Oh, monlcer down jackets in September he also released a great spoof video for the „Hunter’s Hitters” camp. „It gets better with every viewing,” Pence said, smiling. moncler factory outlet

3. The Scooter Fund: Pence approached the Giants after the 2012 season, hopeful that he could sign a long term deal. For him, it turned out to be a blessing that the organization waited. The right fielder had one of the great September contract drives in recent memory, hitting 11 homers, driving in 32 runs (it didn’t hurt that many of them were against the Dodgers), scoring 23 runs and drawing 16 walks. The charge helped secure the long term deal that was bigger than anyone cheap moncler could have imagined last offseason.

moncler outlet „I understand the responsibility that comes with five years,” Pence said. „It’s a pretty big investment. It’s not going to be taken lightly. I’m extra motivated. Don’t think there’s going to be any part of me that’s going to be stagnant. I want to become a better ballplayer.” moncler outlet

UPDATE: Here my final story on the Lincecum deal, with comments from Bobby Evans and Hunter Pence, who also chose to sign before becoming a free agent. And here Tim Kawakami column on the Giants, who have cheap moncler jackets given out $125 million before the start of free agency. moncler sale My initial take: Let wait and see what they do from now until pitchers and catchers report. Look, the Giants can afford to spend a lot of money on their guys, and Lincecum can still be a big time contributor to a championship team, as he showed in 2012 (and he better now than he was in 2012). If the Giants still have the budget to go out and add another impact starter, they be fine. If they just putting the band back together, they probably in trouble, but it too early to tell. We know more in the coming months, and we know more about this deal in the coming days Lincecum should be made available later this week, assuming he passes his physical. Check back here for full coverage

moncler outlet uk The most recognizable pitcher in franchise history will be a Giant for at least two more seasons. moncler outlet uk

moncler outlet online The Giants and right hander Tim Lincecum agreed to a two year, $35 million deal Tuesday, moncler outlet online pending a physical. Lincecum, a two time Cy Young Award winner, was days away from becoming a free agent for moncler mens jackets the first time. moncler outlet online

moncler sale outlet Drafted 10th overall in 2006, Lincecum is 89 70 in seven seasons with the Giants moncler outlet with a 3.46 ERA. He was 10 14 last season with a 4.37 ERA and threw his first career no hitter. Lincecum’s velocity has dipped in recent years and there were questions about his ability to remain a starting pitcher. But Lincecum, 29, adjusted his routine last season, spending more time studying hitters and setting them up. moncler sale outlet

cheap moncler jackets „I feel like I’ve got some upside,” he said in September. „I’ve been willing to make some changes and I don’t feel like I’ve gotten anywhere near where I feel I should be.” cheap moncler jackets

moncler jacket sale The Giants are betting that Lincecum will find his old form. They were not impressed with the free agent pitching crop and entered the offseason with three holes in the rotation. Only Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner are signed long term. moncler jacket sale

The Giants locked up their two marquee free agents before they could hit the market. Right fielder Hunter Pence signed a five year deal during the season’s final weekend. Both deals include full no trade clauses.

cheap moncler outlet Heath Hembree was prepared to come to San Francisco, but on certain mornings, things are out of his hands. cheap moncler outlet

„They never get it right,” Hembree said last week, smiling.

moncler outlet sale „They” are the coffee shop baristas. „It” is Hembree’s middle name, the one he goes by. More often than not, Heath looks down https://www.kinkhost.com at his cup of coffee and sees „Keith.” moncler outlet sale

„I try to emphasize the ‚H’,” he said. „But it never seems to work.

moncler outlet store Luckily for Hembree and the Giants, those coffee runs were just about the only speed bumps during the right hander’s September cameo. Hembree, 24, made nine appearances after joining the club September 3 and didn’t give up a run. He allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out 12. moncler outlet store

Hembree opened eyes, and they were the right ones. Last Friday, manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean were asked about the call ups. Bochy listed a handful of players, starting with Hembree. Sabean was more succinct.

moncler sale „I’d say cheap moncler outlet Hembree has been the most intriguing to me,” he said. „He’s come a long way in a year, a long way.” moncler sale

That year started in big league camp, but Hembree had trouble with consistency in Triple A. He gave up seven earned runs in 11 May appearances and had a 7.84 ERA in June. The Giants called up plenty of Hembree’s teammates, but repeatedly chose players who were capable of pitching multiple innings. Simply buy moncler jackets put, Hembree wasn’t forcing the issue, but he has now.

moncler jackets outlet Hembree has quickly shown that he can succeed at the big league level, and when he goes to big league camp for a third time Cheap Moncler Jackets next February, he’s moncler sale outlet just about a lock to stay the entire time. The Giants want to get back to their pitching and defense roots, and Hembree looks capable of helping get the ball to Sergio Romo in close games moncler jackets outlet.