How 'Bout Them Niners?

Subtitle: Giants Tame the Cubs; No Cubs Were Harmed During the Playing of the Baseball ... Except for Ryan Pressly who was definitely psychologically traumatized. Our zoologists revel in the series victory over the Cubs including Tuesday's historic Verlandering. And Matthew tries to get Ben to admit that the Giants are just good. No buts, no regressing to the mean, no Outs Above Average.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking an Alabazam while Ben is drinking a Spiced Bourbon Ginger Highball Recipes below.Alabazam1 1/2 oz Cognac1/2 oz Cointreau3/4 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz Semi-Rich Simple Syrup1 barspoonful of Angostura BittersAdd all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Spiced Bourbon Ginger Highball1 1/2 - 2 oz Spice Bourbon (Bourbon steeped with spices of your choice for 8-24 hour)3-5 oz Ginger BeerAdd spiced bourbon to a highball glass and fill with ice. Top with chilled Ginger Beer.#doitforginny

The Willy vibes have been great but this is even better. Our mountaineers break down the Rockies series including the continuing rise of Willy Adames and the surge of ... checks notes ... Luis Matos?! They also discuss the position player depth problem and what can be done about it mid season; Trades? Call ups? Or is it just "hope they get better"? Oh no. It's the last one, isn't it?Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Bantha Milk Margarita while Matthew is drinking a Binary Sunset. Recipes below.Bantha Milk Margarita2 oz Tequila1/4 oz blue Curacao1/2 oz Cream of Coconut1/2 oz lime juice1/2 oz pineapple juiceCombine all of the ingredients in shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple fronds.Binary Sunset1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila3/4 oz Aperol1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup1/2 oz Lime Juice1/4 oz Grand Marnier1/4 tsp GrenadinePrepare chilled cocktail glass by adding Grenadine to bottom of glass. Add remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a cocktail shaker with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and orange wheel.#doitforginny

Well, that was a dose of reality. Our chagrined hosts reluctantly review the Padres series the good, the bad and the inadequate. Then they turn their gaze to the starting pitchers. Have the boys been too hard on them? No. But it might not be anyone's fault.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking a Hotel Room Old Fashioned while Ben is drinking a San Diego Margarita Recipes below.Hotel Room Old Fashioned1 Airplane bottle of bourbon2-3 packs of sugar from the hotel room coffeeSplash of strong hotel coffeeBrew hotel coffee with a small amount of water to make coffee extra strong. Combine with sugar to make syrup. Add to a glass with ice and add bourbon. Stir for 30 seconds and drink quickly. (Ben's addition: maybe pinch your nose while you drink?)San Diego Margarita 2 oz Blanco Tequila1/2 oz Curacao3/4 oz Lime JuiceShake it. Strain it. Rocks glass, fresh ice. No Salt. Because San Diego has nothing to be salty about.#doitforginny

Well that was fun! The brothers try to catch their breaths after Heliot Ramos' wild run around the bases as they break down the Rangers series. Later they reflect on the first 1/6th of the season (I'm not calling it a month, no matter what Ben says); what went well, what could be better and what it means for the rest of the season.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking The Texas Abyss while Matthew is drinking a Chocolate Old Fashioned. Recipes below.The Texas Abyss4 oz Dark Rum1 oz Lemonhart 151 Rum3/4 oz Mr. Black’s4 dashes chocolate bittersCombine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir well to desired dilution. (A lot, you want a lot.) Strain into a rocks glass with a single large chunk of ice. Garnish with an orange twist.Chocolate Old Fashioned2 oz Bourbon or Rye1/2 oz Creme de Cacao1/4 oz Demerara Gum Syrup2 Dashes Chocolate Bitters2 Dashes Angostura BittersOrange Peel for GarnishAdd all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice (preferably a large block). Express orange peel oils over drink and drop peel into the glass.#doitforginny

There is no closer controversy! Our worrywarts break down the Brewers series (Birdsong! Doval! WILMER! Adames? Hicks? WALKER?!) and then ask the questions:Are the Giants fielding their best roster?What will it take for young starters like Hayden Birdsong, Kyle Harrison and Carson Wisenhunt to get a shot?Why are the Giants using Sean Hjelle to dominate washed up AAAA players?Will Christian Koss become our new closer? (OK, maybe not that one.)Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking a Wounded Tiki while Ben is drinking a Nasty Brew. Recipes below.Wounded Tiki1 oz Aged Rum1/2 oz Reposado Tequila1/4 oz Allspice Dram1/2 oz Cointreau3/4 oz Lime Juice1/2 oz OrgeatAdd all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 12-15 seconds. Strain into a tiki or Collin’s glass with crushed ice. Garnish with mint and a lime wheel.Nasty Brew1 oz Blanco Tequila1 oz Benedictine3-4 oz Ginger Beer or Club SodaCombine the tequila and benedictine in a highball glass with no ice. Stir well to combine. Add ice and top with the ginger beer or soda. (Don't use the ginger beer, it's too sweet.)#doitforginny

Well, that sucked. The brothers gamely break down the Angels series including the resurgence of the starting rotation, the return of David Villar, and Ryan Walker's first blown save. They then take a deep breath and look at the big picture by breaking down the the strengths, weaknesses and unknowns of the 2025 Giants.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Fruit Punch to the Nuts while Matthew is drinking a Bitter End (aka Limelight). Recipes below.Fruit Punch to the Nuts1 part Cognac1/2 part Banana Liqueur1/2 part Amaretto2 parts Pineapple Juice1/2 part Lime JuiceGinger ale for splashingCombine cognac, banana liqueur, Amaretto, pineapple juice and lime juice in a container and stir aggressively. Chill until cold. Serve over ice and provide ginger ale for an optional splash on top.Bitter End (aka Limelight)2 oz Bourbon1/2 oz Lime Juice3/4 oz Simple Syrup3/4 oz Pineapple Juice3 Dashes Orange Bitters1 oz CampariPinch of Ground Cinnamon for GarnishAdd all ingredients but the Campari and cinnamon to a cocktail shaker with ice. Meanwhile, prepare a rocks glass by pouring in the Campari and then adding ice. Next, shake the cocktail shaker for 10-12 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass by pouring it over a bar spoon to float it on top. Add pinch of Cinnamon. Enjoy.#doitforginny

t.fitzgerald has joined the chat. Our mods discuss the offensive outburst of Tyler Fitzgerald as they break down the first 3 games of the Phillies series. Then it's a lightning round! Is the starting rotation OK? Is Randy Rodriguez's arm going to fall off? Is Ben getting a new tattoo? Has anyone seen Luis Matos, Christian Koss or Sam Huff? All that and of course a Wilmer Flores fact. See you inside.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking a Bailey Sour while Ben is drinking a Rusty Banana. Recipes below.Bailey Sour1 1/2 oz Fireball Whiskey1/2 oz Bourbon3/4 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz Cinnamon Simple Syrup1 Dash Orange BittersOptional: Egg WhiteAdd all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. If using the egg white, shake all of the ingredients without ice for 10 seconds. Add ice and then shake for another 10 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.Rusty Banana1 oz Stiggin’s Fancy Pineapple1 oz Rye Whiskey1 oz Banana LiqueurCombine all three ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish it with a banana peel or something more appropriate. Pineapple probably.Oh, it's called a Rusty Banana because it's a riff on the Rusty Nail. Ben forgot to say that in the show.#doitforginny

MVP Jung Hoo Lee? The boys marvel at the exploits of JHL, break down the Yankees, and attempt to solve the Hayden Birdsong problem. Ben also declares when you can stop saying "it's early", Matthew drops more Wilmer facts and they perform a musical number. Yes, really. Our apologies.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Bronx HooLeeGan while Matthew is drinking a Who? Jung Hoo! Recipes below.Bronx HooLeeGan1 1/2 oz Koala Drum1/2 oz Stiggan’s Fancy Pineapple Rum3/4 oz Apple-Ginger Vodka1/2 oz Lime Juice3/4 oz Simple SyrupCombine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Briefly shake to incorporate. Strain into a highball filled with crushed ice.Who? Jung Hoo!1 oz Soju1/2 oz Vodka (or Gin)1/2 oz Peach Liqueur1/2 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz Honey Syrup2 Dashes of Peach BittersAdd all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10-12 seconds until well-chilled. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon peel.#doitforginny

So these uniforms are an homage to NYU? Wut? Our fashionistas discuss the purple controversy, the nearly disastrous Reds series and the Justin Verlander blues. They also sing for the unsung heroes of the bullpen until Ben ruins it by crying about Camilo.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Purple Pushover while Matthew is drinking a Rye-ght Hander. Recipes below.Purple Pushover1 1/2 oz Indigo Gin1/2 oz Orange Curacao3-4 oz Ginger Beer1 squeeze of limeAdd the gin and Curaçao to a highball glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and squeeze the lime wedge over the glass and drop the wedge into the glass.Rye-ght Hander2 oz Rye Whiskey1/2 oz B&B Liqueur1 barspoon Agave Syrup2 Dashes Orange Bitters1 Dash Cardamom BittersOrange Peel for garnishAdd all ingredients but the garnish to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Express orange oils over the drink and place peel in the glass.#doitforginny

Best team in baseball! The TV Star and the Old Man break report back about the home opener, review the Mariners series, and ask the critical question: Are the Giants for real? You known what Matthew will say, but perhaps Ben will surprise you.Our new cocktail podcast The Perfect Sip is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. You can find it here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Rye Smile while Matthew is drinking a Matt Chai-pman. Recipes below.Rye Smile1 1/2 oz Rye Whiskey1/2 oz Apricot Liqueur3/4 oz Cherry Syrup3/4 oz Lemon JuiceCombine all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with 3 brandied cherries.Matt Chai-pman2 oz Gin3/4 oz Lime Juice3/4 oz Chai Syrup2 Dashes Angostura BittersAdd all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10-12 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.#doitforginny