The McCovey Chroncast

You're probably wondering if we have any insights into the Giants' second half of doom, but the whole point of fandom, and in particular fan analysis (or fanalysis), is that there isn't any insight to be had, only educated guesses based on intense observation. To that end, we're looking at the Giants' collapse simply for what it is: losing. Lots and lots of losing. Does it matter why they're losing? Does coming to some sort of understanding about the nature of their consistent loser performance help us come to an understand of what might be in store for them (and by extension, us)? No.  The Giants are bad because they're losing. They're losing because they're not playing well. They're not playing well because the Giants are bad. That's all there is to it at this point. At least, that's how it seems to me. Doug's perspective is a little bit different... But not much different. The one thing we totally agree on is the cultural impact and significance of Star Trek and we try to compare 50 years of the show's history to 50 years of Giants history. Which Giant in Giants history is the most like Captain Kirk? Which Giants stadium is the Enterprise? We also answer your Twitter questions and suggest new ways to watch Giants games. It's a fun, loose chat that will soothe the latest walk-off monster in Colorado. Really!

Doug's off this week, so it's Reuben who gets the start. It's our privilege to chat with Wendy Thurm from Sporting News. We cover the week that was -- the Giants nearly no-hit the Dodgers! -- and the week to come -- the Cubs might be so good that their goodness might very well be their undoing! -- and we answer some Twitter questions and consider the state of baseball writing in general.  What's worse than being Butt-Ass? Wendy has the perfect answer that you absolutely must hear.   

It's easy to lose perspective in the middle of a tailspin, but if you close your eyes and keep 'em shut real tight and tell yourself over and over again that the Giants are still in first place of the wild card, then you're sure to pull out of the spin. Okay, so maybe we don't know a whole lot about piloting aircraft and perhaps our advice was the exact opposite of what you're supposed to do in those situations, but what we do know lots about is Giants baseball. Although, maybe that's not true, either. You'll have to decide for yourself after I tell Doug why I was *this* close to writing an article just before the season began about how the Giants might not be very good this year. What's absolutely true is that the Giants are set to begin their BIGGEST SERIES OF THE SEASON against the LA Dodgers. In the midst of a 11-23 tailspin, it's important to maintain perspective: the Giants are a game behind their blood rivals and they haven't really shown up in the second half. Or have they? What better way to find out than when they put up their best against the Dodgers' best? We also answer your Twitter questions and play a really quick game. We also try to figure out why there's a seafaring vessel in the Giants clubhouse. Oh, does that last part sound confusing? Well, you'll just have to listen to the show to find out what we mean.

The second half of the 2016 season hasn't been kind to our favorite baseballing squadron and there's no guarantee that their bad luck and bad play will "balance out" before the season ends. And yet, they're still in first place. Playoff hopes spring eternal. We look at what's gone right and wrong over this stretch that's seen the Giants lose a league-leading 18 out of 27 games and from that mess what might actually be a portent of good things to come.  Meanwhile, the Giants unveiled a statue for Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry and that compelled us to consider the next *two* statues the organization should commission. Who's deserving of statuesque immortality at China Basin and what famous pose from their playing days should it feature? We also answer your Twitter questions. 

The Giants go another week without losing the lead in the division despite their Second Half Stumble. That's the good news. Well, there's other good news, but first the really bad news. The Giants made trades. Lots of trades. And it cost them a lot in terms of players. Quantity and quality. And Matt Duffy, a shining beacon of scrappy hope, the hot corner of a homegrown infield. But alas... that is no more. And our hopes and dreams have been dashed. Our minor league guru, Roger Munter, joins us to talk about what the Giants gave up in their trades for Eduardo Nunez, Will Smith, and Matt Moore, and why industry valuations of certain players may have differed so much from the outsider perspective (you know -- us). And there was certainly a method to the Giants madness, but that doesn't mean we can't be mad about who the Giants gave up to get in return.  We also look back at the week that was (the Giants made history!) and answer your Twitter questions.

The Giants have their worst week of the season, a 1-7 run following the All-Star Game. But they're still in first place! They still have one of the best records in baseball! There's still awhole lot of talent on the team and time to turn it around! But it's also one of those things where the Giants have hit a bad stretch and you have to wonder if that run will stretch on for far too long. Will they be able to pull out of it before they fall behind in the standings? What do the Giants need as the trade deadline nears? And, we talk about the Chicago White Sox, who've made a lot of news this season for some big off the field reasons. But Doug and I wonder: have the White Sox players had a point this whole time? Are we wrong to laugh at them? We also answer your very strong bunch of Twitter questions.  

The Giants were well-represented at this week's All-Star Game in San Diego, even though they were directly responsible for the National League's annihilation. We thought we'd recapture that same magic/trainwreck by making this week's show a group chat featuring some of the longest-tenured McCoven on the site. Learn how we all stumbled upon McCovey Chronicles! Learn what we think about some of the players and what some of the players think about us! Who has the closest relationship with Brandon Belt? How many of our guests have blocked or muted Bryan on Twitter? We also answered a previous week's Twitter question that got everybody reminiscing about some truly terrible Giants teams. It's a free-flowing conversation that somehow manages to never overstay its welcome. And there's a special guest McCoven who drops by to deliver a message you have to see to believe.

The Giants have the best record in baseball at the All-Star break and we're all very happy about that. Brandon Belt won vote for the final spot on the National League All-Star roster and we're all even happier about that. RIGHT? You had better be, because why not? Brandon Belt has come a long way. So, that just leaves the only real unpleasantness of the entire week: Brandon Crawford's omission. It's a glaring one when you consider that he's the best shortstop in the National League and if not the best in all of baseball, then tied for the best. This is the perfect topic for we greedy Giants fans to gripe about, and this week's special guest co-host, Reuben Poling, does not disappoint. Why not have Brandon Crawford on the All-Star team? Why not have Madison Bumgarner in the Home Run Derby?  We also try to figure out the official name of the colors for the Arizona Diamdondbacks' various uniforms before answering your very specific Twitter questions.  Also, there's a second f-bomb in here that I could not find so, surprise! 

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to complain about the All-Star Game selections, but after three world championships and an All-Giants 2012 All-Star Game, we could be forgiven for scrutinizing the glaring omissions of Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt from the festivities in San Diego. What gives with players around the league preferring Corey Seager to Brandon Crawford? He's won two world championships, a Gold Glove, and was an All-Star last year! And while Brandon Belt gets an opportunity to join the roster via the fan's Final Vote, he's competing against rookie Trevor Story, whose uneventful and practically celebrated inclusion on the list smacks of hypocrisy when you consider the backlash created by Yasiel Puig's placement on the same list midway through his rookie year in 2013. All that to say, poor Brandon Belt. But also, poor Giants bullpen. It's terrible, and it makes us not want to talk about the Giants very much. But we do anyway. FOR YOU. We also interview JEFF SAMARDZIJA and ask him how he feels about is first few months as a Giant. Did we really get Jeff Samardzija as a guest on our show? You'll just have to listen and find out (no, no we didn't. It's definitely not the real Jeff Samardzija; it is a vague parody of Jeff Samardzija). We also answer your Twitter questions and Bryan announces that The McCovey Chroncast now has an official Twitter account: @McChroncast. Follow us! We're also accepting submissions for our official avatar and banner. Think you've got a great idea? Tweet it at us or put it in the comments below.

Wow, can you believe it? Thirty Chroncasts already. Where does the time go? Well, this week, it goes to discussing the Giants'  unlucky ace, Madison Bumgarner, whose two pitching losses equaled the Giants only two losses. But we also talk about how his dynamic presence at the plate as a hitter means his presence at this year's MLB Home Run Derby is *essential*. What are the Giants needs as the trade deadline approaches? Who are our players of the week and what was the best game of the past week? In addition to answering your sharp Twitter questions (i.e. "What happens when some of these injured Giants come back? Who stays? Who goes?"), we also discuss how easy it is to tank a major league franchise, and, Bryan introduces Doug to his name for the Giants' dark persona -- their Mr. Hyde, if you will.

Minor Lines author Roger joins us to break down the Giants' 2016 draft, especially their #1 pick, switch-hitting outfielder Bryan Reynolds.  Was there an organizational philosophy at play with most of these picks, or was it simply "best available player"? Also, what kind of pitching depth might the new draftees provide? We also take a look at some of the burgeoning stars currently in the Giants' system, especially Phil Bickford and Aldalberto Mejia. Might these be names stitched to the back of a Giants uniform in the very near future? Bryan and Doug certainly don't know the answers, and Roger does his best to tamp down their ridiculous prognostications and hopes (mainly Bryan's), but it's an informative hour that winds its way through all the really important notes about the Giants and the farm system. We also answer some draft-related Twitter questions. Definitely check it out. 

We're back after a brief hiatus, and wouldn't you know it, the Giants are doing quite well for themselves. What June Swoon?  We go over all the games, celebrate the the short life of Splash 69 and discuss this awful t-shirt worn by Doug (you can't see it on the syndication stream -- you'll have to go to McCovey Chronicles.com to witness it). We also answer your Twitter questions and, surprisingly, talk about the aftermath of game 7 of the NBA Finals. It's the scattered, frantic conversation style you've come to expect from the McCovey Chroncast!

You don't really believe that as soon as the Giants enter the month of June they become a collection of moronic, untalented, reprehensible baseball players in name only, do you? Well, if you did, you'd have ample evidence to back up your feelings. Over the past several years, the Giants have been... suboptimal in the month of June. June 2016 has been no exception, and we're only 5 games deep! Does Samardzija's 4-homer game mean we're doomed? Does Jake Peavy mean we're doomed? Does the bullpen mean we're doomed? And what about Matt Duffy? What's going on in his head? We ponder these important and somewhat existential questions as well as your Twitter questions in a light and humorous manner, perfect for any long trip or simple yet lengthy office task. Also, this week's Chroncast is a bit longer than usual, so you can listen to half today and half on the second off day this week. Or listen to it twice! You won't believe the words coming out of our mouths sometimes. Doug decrees that Cardinals fans are the best people on the planet! Bryan questions the Giants' ability to win!

The Giants had another winning week against the Rockies and the Padres. Grant Brisbee descends from Mt. Bloglympus to talk about everything working and everything that isn't -- namely, Matt Duffy and Javier Lopez. There's also some consideration as to which historical Giant is a home brewer. 

After a 5-1 week, the Giants have now won 9 out of their last 10 games, including a Sunday Night Baseball game. We talk about the dominant stretch by the top three starters and the sudden -- and welcome -- emergence/return to form of Matt Cain as a viable major league baseball player. Is Matt Cain back? And more importantly, does Matt Cain's potential "he's back-ness" mean that trading for rotation help is no longer a priority? Is there a move the Giants might make that would make them regret it a la the Orioles trading away Jake Arrieta? We also answer your Twitter questions, not all of which are baseball-related this week. Hear our thoughts on men's fashion and what constitutes the best party we've ever attended.  You'll notice that we're trying out a new intro bumper. It's formal, cleaner, and pleasant to the ear before our voices (mainly Bryan's) assaults your senses.