The Torture Cast

If you told us that the Giants were going to start the season without MadBum, Shark, and Melancon, yet split the first four games of the year in LA, we'd take that in an instant. We'd be even more flabbergasted if you told us that the Giants would be outscored 14-2 but STILL WIN 2 GAMES. Thank you, Joe Panik! His two solo shots in two consecutive games off of Kershaw and Jansen may have single-handedly prevented the Giants from being swept.That said, winning the first two games of the series put the Giants in the driver's seat to take the series, but they couldn't do that, losing 5-0 and 9-0 in the last two games.Chad and Eric dive into the stats of the series (mainly that the Giants were 1-20 with RISP, and Longo, Cutch and Jackson combined for 2-43!), the pros, the cons, the strengths and the weaknesses. But, hey...it's only four games.www.torturecast.com@torturecast.facebook.com/torturecast

It's our annual season preview! In this 7th preview in total, the gang has all been pretty close in guessing the Giants' win totals...until last year.With all of us ranging between 84 and 92 wins, we were more than 20 games off. That said, no one predicted that the Giants would lose 98. Taking that into consideration with this year's injuries, we have the biggest range in our hosting history, with Chad going low with 76 wins, Willie just behind at 79, and Eric piling on the unicorn droppings with a whopping 96 wins, proclaiming that the Giants will win the West, the World Series, Duggar will win Rookie of the Year, and Posey and Panik will battle it out for a batting title.Perhaps Eric is getting high off his new puppies?We also read listener's win total predictions, talk final potential roster moves, and our keys for getting off to a good start, considering that the Giants play the Dodgers 10 times over their first 29 games...and that's without Bum or Shark.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torture

Spring training has merely a week left, and Chad and Eric talk about the second round of cut the Giants made, and how the Giants are near the top of every offensive category! (but, maybe not so much on pitching). MadBum is raking, AT&T Park is rated #1 by Forbes, and the season starts in LA in 10 DAYS!Join us for a fun episode...spring is almost over!torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

We last left you before Media Day, before pitchers and catchers reported, before Tony Watson and Derek Holland were signed. And man, does everything seem positive right now!There was a profound sense of positivity at Media Day, where I got interviews with Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford, along with group interviews with Andrew McCutchen and Bruce Bochy. But...I buy into it. This isn't your typical response from a team that lost 98 games last year. They truly think that was an anomaly, and with the improvements to the club, these guys think the postseason is certainly possible. I think I'm buying into it.Eric and I talk about this and the first six games of spring training, which included three bombs from Kyle Jensen?! Ok, so although he's not making the team, we still talk about him and other solid performances over the first week down in Arizona.Timmy signs with Texas?! At least he's not a Dodger.Also, check out Eric's great writing on our site, he's gonna manage a team website at some poin

The ever-casual skipper, Bruce Bochy, commanded a group of reporters in a suite today at AT&T Park, where he talked about the "euphoria" he experienced when he found out the Giants had traded for Andrew McCutchen, among other great nuggets in this interview.torturecast.com@torturecast

Chad sat down with Giants' shortstop Brandon Crawford to talk about what went wrong last season, and what he's looking forward to in the upcoming campaign, especially with the additions of Cutch and Longo.torturecast.com@torturecast

Chad sat down with Brandon Belt for a one-on-one discussion about his health status, pitch selection, and last year's disappointing season. Also, be sure to check out Chad's interviews with Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford, and group interviews with Bruce Bochy and Andrew McCutchen.torturecast.com@torturecast

Chad attended SF Giants' Media Day at AT&T Park where a group of reporters huddled around newly acquired outfielder Andrew McCutchen. "Cutch" as he is often called, talks about Roberto Clemente, how he got his number 22, and the similarities and differences between PNC and AT&T Park, among many other subjects.You can also view this interview on our YouTube channeltorturecast.com@torturecast

Chad sat down for a one on one interview with San Francisco Giants' new third baseman, Evan Longoria. Evan answers questions about his new home, the new ballpark, and the new fans.Look for additional interviews with Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Bruce Bochy.torturecast.com@torturecast

It's true, the Giants' pitchers and catchers are reporting in less in a week. A few mere days until we can claim that we smell the fresh cut grass and hear the crack of the bat echo through our collective skulls.Until then, Eric and Chad talk about Barry Bonds' #25 being retired in August, despite not being the Hall of Fame (a Giant requisite for a retired number), the clash between the MLB players' association and MLB about the lack of free agent signings, Chad will be covering the Giants at Media Day on Friday, and Eric has been writing a metric ton on torturecast.com. Seriously. Go there. Read it. It's good stuff!www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

In episode 132, Eric and Chad talk about the big signing for the Giants this off-season. We also talk potential lineup options, pitching rotation, and Hall of Fame results.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Ack, the unthinkable has happened! The Dodgers are in the World Series! Listen to Eric and Chad break down their predictions. torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

What a horrendous day. Just coming off the news from Puerto Rico, then comes the Vegas shooting and now Tom Petty. Let's talk about baseball, shall we?Chad, Eric and Willie reflect on the end of the 2017 season for the Giants, including what went wrong, how they may address it, Pablo's season-ending walk-off and how that affects the draft, and of course, Matt Cain's last start. Chad talks about covering Cain's last start and Eric shares a poignant moment he had with his father when they watched Matt Cain and Barry Bonds beat the Cubs in Chicago.We also dwell upon the impending playoffs and offer up our predictions. Chad and Willie both predict Houston and Washington making it to the World Series with Houston winning it all, while Eric thinks the Dodgers will hoist the Tiffany trophy after defeating the Astros. (GOD I hope Eric is wrong)That means it'll be the Twins vs the Rockies in the World Series, of course.We'll be back in a week or two to reflect on the playoffs, then again after the World Series before

Chad and Eric wind down the season with a deep political discussion that some may not want to hear, but what the hell...they're close to 100 losses. www.torturecast.comwww.facebook.com/torturecastwww.twitter.com/torturecast

Although we didn't dwell on the hurricane in Texas, we wanted to mention that thousands, if not more, people, are being severely affected by this storm. Please, donate money, pray, do whatever you can to help those in harm's way.As far as baseball, Chad and Eric reconnect with Ben to discuss recent developments in Giants-land from their earliest and official elimination from the West, being swept by Arizona, Kontos to the Pirates, Cain getting bombed...wait a minute, jeez, sounds like we didn't have fun! But actually, any time you get three guys talking baseball, no matter how depressing it may seem, it's actually quite enjoyable, because you know what, there's real life like in Texas.We do also dwell on more positive topics like the player's weekend uniforms and the Giants mega-interest in Stanton (like that's going to happen).@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

So, we lost track of the number. 127, 128...it's about the same difference as in Matt Moore's expected and real ERA.Speaking of Moore, we talk about the huge disappointment he's been, among other Giants. They are flirting with a 100 loss season, but are throwing in the towel with the youth movement, DFA'ing Connor Gillaspie, sending down Hwang, and calling up Suarez, Jones, Parker and others. If Beede and Arroyo weren't hurt, we just might have the RiverCats playing out the rest of the Giants' season!And yes, we talk about the reunion with the Panda, and trading away a solid player in Eduardo Nunez to the Red Sox for some pocket lint that may not amount to anything.At least we can look forward to 2034?@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Happy birthday, America!To celebrate, the Giants have won six in a row, and have mystified some Giants' fans who seem to think "there's a chance" of making the playoffs.No. That's not going to happen.But, that's no reason to not celebrate this winning streak, the bullpen, and the timely hitting! I mean, even a guy who goes 1 for 10 with a homerun celebrates that dinger, right?Eric and Chad talk about what's gone right for the Giants, why they should trade Cueto, Posey's selection to the All Star team, the homerun derby, and who's hot and who's not.Stay safe out there! Don't blow off any fingers and don't drink and drive.@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

How do you record a podcast for a team that is 20 games under .500 and 20 games back before it's officially summer? You cry, you laugh, you commiserate. But, one thing is for certain, there is no stress in this season now, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!Chad, Ben, and Eric join in a proverbial IDGAF podcast to try and dissect what has gone wrong for the Giants this year. After tonight's 9-0 loss to the Braves, the Giants have a .361 winning percentage, and are on pace for 103 losses. To put this in perspective, since 1883, the Giants have only lost 100 games ONCE. As far as winning percentage, the current club is 3rd worst in history, trailing only the 1943 (.359) and 1902 (.353) Giants. Yeah...since 1883, y'all!!Clearly, the Giants will be sellers at the trade deadline, but they can't trade everyone you think they can trade. Belt is in a 3-25 slump, Matt Moore is 0-4 with a 9.24 ERA on the road. Matt Cain is waaaay too expensive and is 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA on the road. The Shark has a no-trade clause.

When we recorded our last podcast two weeks ago, the Giants were 8-2 over their last 10 games, and had pulled within 6 games of .500, but it's all gone south since. Despite tonight's win in Milwaukee, the Giants have plummeted to the dredges of MLB with Philly and San Diego. They also lost 2 of 3 to Philly, which was the first series win for Philly in 5 WEEKS.Eric and Chad discuss their recent woes and now there are rumblings of being a "seller" for the first time since 2007-2008. Posey even reflected on this new era for Giants baseball.Still, we look for highlights and silver linings, and we aren't quite ready for them to sell just yet. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Nope. Not yet. The Giants are making great strides, winning 3 series in a row, and opening with a win in their 4 game series with Chicago. However, they still find themselves 9 games back of Colorado and in a precarious hole. That said, if they had been .500 or worse, their season really would've been over by now, or close to it. There is life. Not much, but it's something to build upon.Chad and Eric talk about where the Giants are more than a quarter of the way through the season, and what it'll take to erase the Rockies' lead, week by week. We revisit Eric's excellent article on the history of playoff berths with a record similar to the Giants', and although far from a lock, it's encouraging to see that it's been done multiple times.Join us for episode 123 of the TortureCast!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast