The Torture Cast

Happy New Year! We're back! Eric and Chad hop aboard the first podcast train of 2021 to discuss the players that the Giants have signed so far this offseason, what their needs are, and what free agents are left to pursue to fill the holes. Boy, the Padres certainly loaded up with Darvish and Snell, eh? Egad. That said, we do think there is a good chance the Giants could sneak into the playoffs with an expanded playoff schedule like last year, but those details have not been settled, yet. With the demonstration of the NFL finishing its regular season during the pandemic along with last year's MLB and NBA seasons, it seems likely that MLB will proceed with its regularly-scheduled spring training and season. However, the owners will push to delay the season to offset the financial losses of not having fans in most parks for the first couple months. The players won't let that happen. We talk about this and more on episode 212 of the TortureCast, the podcast by and for fans of the San Francisco Giants.twitter.com/

The boys streamed episode #211 over on Facebook, but are bringing it to you on YouTube as well. We review the Division and Championship Series and preview the World Series. Braves, WTF, you had ONE JOB! We also talk about potential Giants' All-Stars, Belt's surgery, Ramos' injury, a 10% reduction in Giants baseball operations and more. You can follow us on Twitter @torturecast and like us on Facebook, where we stream our episodes live. You can also get our audio-only podcast on your favorite podcast platform. twitter.com/torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

We streamed episode #210 on Facebook tonight, reviewing the wild card round and previewing the division series. We review Zaidi's end of year comments and watch the Giants' fan "thank you" video. Horrible, bad, regretful predictions of the DS and CS winners are also made by Chad and Eric. We hope they don't come true.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

One game. One hit. One play. Essentially, if the Giants had one fewer mistake or one more rally over this entire 60 game season, they would be in the postseason. Yes, they exceeded expectations, but this is a bit painful to see them lose 3 in a row to close out 2020.Chad, Eric and Willie give the eulogy for the 2020 Giants' season. They were as close as you could get to not only getting into the playoffs, but having a chance to knock off the Dodgers as well. Instead, that honor will go to the 29-31 Milwaukee Brewers, who had the tiebreaker (intradivisional record) over the Giants by one game. The NL West is far superior to the central, but the central will see four of their teams in the playoffs, a record, of course. Yes, there were mistakes...many mistakes that cost the Giants ultimately. Namely, in the last week, they lost their last three games and four of five. That's not playoff-caliber baseball. They blew a 2-run save on Friday night against the Padres, blew numerous chances with the bases loaded on Thu

Eight games left. That's it. This is our last podcast before the end of the 2020 regular season, and the Giants are just on the outside looking in at a playoff spot. Despite having a .500 record like the Reds and Brewers, both teams hold the tie-breaker over the Giants (intra-divisional record), and that may be key in deciding the Giants' playoff fate. Chad and Eric review the 3-2 week and forecast the Giants chances for making the playoffs, which may take 6 wins in their last 8 games to ensure a spot.Chad and Eric will be captaining a team of Giants fans this Thursday at 7pm PT to defend our title in Giants trivia. We'll be joining other captains, including Andrew Baggarly, Grant Brisbee, Marty Lurie and many more. If you're interested, tickets are $30 and all proceeds go to benefit the Sonoma Family Meal and Big Basin Recovery Fund. Go to www.giantstrivia.eventbrite.com.

What a bizarre week of Giants baseball...even for 2020! The Giants started the week with a mini two-game sweep over Seattle, but the second game last Wednesday was played under apocalyptic skies at Oracle Park as Most of California is still on fire. Chad covered the game that night and has never seen anything like it. Your social media was probably covered with orange-tinted photos from the Bay Area. Then, just as they had started a pivotal four-game series in San Diego, Alex Dickerson apparently tested positive for COVID-19, but then later didn't. It was determined, through two subsequent negative tests, that his first test was a false positive. This resulted in immense scrutiny and pain for the Dickerson's (Alex's wife is 39 weeks pregnant and on bed rest) after USA Today falsely reported that Dickerson broke protocol and visited family and friends in the San Diego area, which was completely false. Also, Friday and Saturday's games were postponed, but one was made up during a double header on Sunday that th

The Giants hit .500 after a 4-2 week and now sit at 21-21, with zero run differential, so right in the middle, baby! But, in 2020, that's good enough to get you in the playoffs! The Giants currently hold the 7th seed, virtually tied with the Marlins and just ahead of the Rockies. There are several other teams in contention, of course.Chad and Eric discuss a good week in Giants' baseball. From a record 23 run murder of the Rockies to familiar face of Madison Bumgarner returning to the Oracle Park bump, there was a lot to talk about. Just 18 games left in the season, and the Giants control their own destiny.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Borrowing the slogan of mediocrity from the 1984 campaign, the Giants are indeed hanging in there thanks to a shortened season, and the expanded playoffs. After going 3-3 this week, they sit just a half game out of the 8th seed in the National League, with only 24 games remaining. This week saw the Giants with an epic walk-off homerun against the Dodgers, a double-header sweep to the same team, a boycott of a game, winning two of three in Arizona, old guys catching fire, and....no trades. None at all. This is so 2020.We’re excited to announce that TortureCast has joined the SportsHosts community as one of their official Content Creators.SportsHosts is the world’s first global community of fans, built by fans for fans. We’re going to be working together with them to create better experiences, better content and better events for passionate fans like you to be part of.You can check out our page on the SportsHosts platform by signing up for free using this link (https://tinyurl.com/sportshosts). You can also go

Just as we counted the Giants out last week after having lost 5 in a row and 7 of 8, including those 3 gut-wrenching 9th inning blown leads, the Giants turn it around and hammer out 6 straight wins (and counting) to get themselves right back in the wild card hunt at 14-16. Chad, Eric, and Willie get together to discuss each game of the week, Joey Bart's MLB debut (finally! boy can he rake!), Yaz's MVP consideration (he leads MLB in offensive WAR!) and sadly, the end to the reunion with Hunter Pence as he was designated for assignment after posting a miserable .096 average (5-52). We're going to miss The Reverend.You can also check out the video of the podcast below, and join us on Facebook Live (mostly) every Monday afternoon as we review the week in Giants' baseball!twitter.com/torturecast facebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

Willie Dills joined Chad this week to talk about what may be the most depressing week in regular season TortureCast history. Not only did the Giants drop 7 of 8, but they blew three consecutive save opportunities. The first was the worst: a 5-run lead in the 9th (first time since 1929 a lead this big was blown in the 9th), the next night it was a 3-run 9th inning lead, and last night it was a walk off 2-run HR by the Angels. All 3 were blown by Trevor Gott, who is officially out as closer. However, the defense helped put Gott in the situations in 2 of the 3 blown saves. Adding salt to the wound in between was a 15-3 blowout loss to the A's. Sitting dead last in the NL West at 8-16, the Giants' playoff hopes have dwindled to a microscopic level. BTW, where's Joey Bart?torturecast.comtwitter.com/torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Somehow the baseball season is still pushing forward, despite the Cardinals are now the "infected" team. In fact, although the Giants have played 16 games, which is more than a quarter of the way through the season, the Cards have only played 5 games....FIVE. The Giants went 3-5 since our last recording, but the main hurdle was Colorado, where they lost three of four, despite having late inning leads in two of those losses. They've split so far in LA, but Donnie Barrels (aka Donovan Solano) leads the league in hitting, and Yaz leads the majors in wins above replacement. The veterans of Pence, Pablo, and Crawford have not played well at all, and their pitching staff has a 5th worst ERA at 5.05. Surprisingly, their batting average is fifth. At 7-9, the Giants are barely out of the expanded playoff picture, and if they can survive the last 4 games of this hellacious 10 game roadie, they may not be in horrible shape. Eric and Chad chat about all of this and more in a brief episode 202.twitter.com/torturecastfaceb

Although the Giants had an average week, it included a dramatic splash-hit walk off, another great comeback stalled by a bullpen that exploded, Chad got credentials to cover a game, and well, basically most of the Marlins have COVID-19 (and now the Cardinals, too), which is putting the MLB season in dire jeopardy due to the number of postponed games. Eric and Chad chat about all of this and more in a brief episode 201.twitter.com/torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Willie Dills Gregory and his two friends started this podcast on June 12, 2011. Nine years later, we've finally reached episode 200. However, that's with the caveat that if you add all of the bonusodes, season previews and interviews, it's really recording number 258. That said, it's something to celebrate, especially as we recorded during the Giants' home opener (which they sadly lost 5-3 to SD).Chad, Eric and founder Willie Dills wax poetically over 90 minutes about the Marlins' COVID outbreak, the expanded playoffs, and the first series the Giants split against the Dodgers. This episode, and all going forward, was streamed on Facebook Live. Check out our ugly mugs as we get through this episode! Hopefully baseball sticks around long enough to make it to the playoffs. Thanks for coming along for the ride!@chadk21twitter.com/torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

Honestly, we can't believe it. We are having a season preview episode. In July. Whatever. We'll take it.Joining Chad and Eric are long standing podcast veterans including a founder of TortureCast, Willie "Dills" Gregory and a woman who has joined us for numerous season previews and drunken "bonusodes," Jennifer (formerly Cosgriff) Kent.The four of us discuss the new rule changes, the potential roster, guess on the number of wins for the Giants, the World Series champs and even discuss the importance of Gabe Kapler and several Giants that took a knee during the National Anthem before the exhibition game against the A's. We're almost to #200!@torturecastfacebook.comm/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

We have a schedule! We also have injured players and others that might sit out this season. Chad and Eric discuss the first week of summer camp, the positive COVID cases, and more in this episode of TortureCast!

After months of frustrating negotiations...the owners and players failed to come to an agreement. But alas, MLB Commish Rob Manfred instituted a 60 game season, players agreed to the health protocols, and voila! We officially have a 2020 baseball season!Here are the main points:60 game season (40 against NL West, 20 against AL West)Universal DHIn every extra inning, a runner starts the inning on second base60 player pool; camp opens today, July 1Season starts July 23 or 24Trade deadline is Aug 3130 man roster the first 2 weeks of the season, 28 the next 2 weeks, 26 the rest of the wayPlayoffs remain the same (3 division winners, 2 wild cards in each league)Separate COVID-19 injured list. A player has to test negative twice to resume playPlayers and personnel not in game must be in stands, 6 feet apartEric and I talk about the ramifications these new rules have on the Giants, including who's going to be DH most of the time, the Giants actually have a shot at a playoff spot with so few games, how do they handle

Wow! What a change 24 hours can bring. After MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that he's '100 percent' certain that a 2020 season would happen, he flipped yesterday and said he was not '100 percent' certain. This brought ire and backlash from the players, and quite honestly, the owners and Manfred don't look good to the public in this situation, despite their leverage. This (Tuesday) morning, Manfred and MLBPA chief Tony Clark had a secret meeting and emerged with a 'framework' for both sides to move forward on negotiating terms. Initial reports state that the season would be around 60-70 games, players would receive their full pro-rated salaries (which is what the owners were denying all along), and there would be a greatly expanded playoff...going to 16 teams from the current 10. Originally, expanded playoffs were to include 14 teams. In return, the players would agree to not filing any grievances against the owners about their reduced salaries due to the limited number of games.Despite this great

Things are tough in the nation right now. From the pandemic to civil unrest, there are many more important things happening than a podcast about baseball and the Giants. Yet, Eric and I decided to go ahead with our recording, as we only do so every two weeks at this point. Perhaps our conversation can be a distraction from these troubling times.There have been a few developments in the negotiations between the owners and players, but both sides seem to have their feet planted firmly. The owners want to pay the players much less than previously agreed to, with fewer games played, and the players want a prorated salary and more games. They are currently very far apart, and the chances of having a season seem to dwindle with every passing day. But, there is some hope that we'll see baseball some time this year. We also chat about Vegas reopening, bullpen completion and new dimensions at Oracle Park and more!Chad@chadk21@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

Do we think this is likely? Not really. But, that is the latest bit of news coming out of the baseball world. Last week, MLB owners sent the players association a proposal that would start an 82 game season in July. Some of the main points of how the season would work include the DH for the NL, an expanded 14-team playoff, games restricted to mainly geographic opponents to reduce travel, and a myriad of COVID-19 related guidelines for on-field play (no spitting, chewing tobacco, fist bumps, etc.). They also proposed a 50/50 revenue split with the players, but that would result in lower salaries than the players already agreed to on March 26, when they agreed to a pro-rated salary based on the number of games played. Additionally, California Governor Newsom indicated that pro sports may be able to return by June, without spectators.All of these issues are massive hurdles, which makes the prospect of a season starting in July seem unlikely. However, baseball fans around the nation would be ecstatic to see their

We're back to talk about developments in a plan that may bring baseball back in some form by June. Currently, the plan is to essentially put all players and personnel in a bubble, test them for the virus every week, and make sure they only travel to and from the stadiums and hotel. However, the PPE and test kits required would put a huge strain on medical resources, and there are players with families that are unwilling to be away from their families for five months or longer. Adding families to the bubble would raise the costs and stakes far too much. This plan is questionable, at best, but may be our only route to a form of baseball.Baseball Reference is simulating the 2020 season with the game, OOTP 21, and currently the Giants are in 4th place at 7-10. Hunter Pence is 1-3 in the players' league, playing MLB The Show '20, but he had an epic walk-off Buster Posey homerun in his last game. You can view his games on his Twitch channel.Stay safe out there, and if you have a quarantine story to share with us, d