OK, it's a cross post with The Perfect Sip. Mostly. The boys do talk some baseball at the beginning. Oh, and they'll be back on Monday to talk about how the Giants definitely aren't signing Soto. In this episode they have ridiculous discussions about olive loaves and Ben makes a joke about eating a national icon. It's your typical mayhem really. The cocktails are good though. Recipes below. (Didn't have Randy Winn as VPPD on my bingo card.)

• 3 oz Spiced Whiskey Milk Punch
• 2-4 oz Sparkling Cider
• 0-2 oz Club Soda
• Pour the milk punch into a highball glass over ice. Top with sparkling cider. For a less sweet cocktail, replace a portion of the cider with club soda.

Spiced Whiskey Milk Punch

• 8 oz Spiced Whiskey
• 3 oz Toasted Powered Milk
• 1 oz Maple Syrup
• pinch of salt

1. Combine the spiced whiskey, maple syrup, and salt. Stir to combine.
2. Toast powdered milk in a pan on the stove, in the oven, or in a toaster oven. Monitor closely as it can burn quickly. Some light browning on the edges and surface is expected, but do not scorch.
3. Boil enough water to rehydrate the milk, then use the hot water to make the milk according to the package instructions.
4. While the milk is still hot, measure 3 oz into a large container, then pourthe whiskey mixture into the milk. You should see curdling happen immediately. Stir gently to help it along.
5. Let the mixture sit for a minute or two, then filter through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Once some curds have collected in the filter, move the filter to a new container and re-strain the first portion of the final product.

Spiced Whiskey

• 750 ml of Whiskey of you choice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 star anise pod
• 4 cloves
• 1/4 cracked nutmeg
• Combine whiskey and spices in a sealed bottle or jar. Let sit for 24 hours to 3 days, tasting every 24 hours. Remove spices when desired.

• 2 oz Brandy or Cognac
• 3/4 oz Allspice Dram
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
• 1 Dash Cardamom Bitters
• 1 Dash Orange Bitters
• Absinthe for rinse
• Start by preparing a coupe glass: coat the inside with absinthe and discard any excess. Add the remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled. Double strain into the prepared coupe glass and garnish with a star anise.

It's quiet out there. But not in here! The brothers are yelling about evil baseball players, bad parents, and stinky garbage. And that's just the first ten minutes. Later they set their own expectations for the off-season and then they announce the All Time Team for the last 25 years. Left Field and Catcher are real tough.

Also, we're going into winter hibernation and will be publishing once a month in November and December. But! We will also to emergency podcasts as needed. Juan Soto signing? (Yes, Ben is laughing as he writes this. He also enjoys talking about himself in the 3rd person.) And we'll be back from hibernation on January 6th.

Upcoming episodes: November 25th, December 23rd, and emergency podcasts as needed. Back full time January 6th.

In the meantime our new cocktail podcast The Perfect Sip is in full swing even though Giants bats are not. You can find it here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking an Allspice Old Fashioned while Ben is drinking The Horseman's Head Recipes below.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Allspice Dram
• 1/4/ oz Demerara Syrup
• 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 3 Dashes Orange Bitters
• Garnish with an orange peel and cocktail cherry.
• Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with a large chunk of ice. Express orange peel oils over drink and add garnishes.

• 1 oz Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz Vodka
• 2 oz Heavy Cream / Whipping Cream
• Combine Mr. Black’s, Vodka and pumpkin spice syrup in a mixing glass. Stir to combine. Pour over a very large single ice cube in a rocks glass. Stir gently to slightly chill. In a separate mixing glass slightly whip cream with a milk frother. (You can also shake in a mason jar.) Once cream has thickened to a thick but pourable consistency, gently pour into the glass. Aim for the top middle of the ice cube.

The brothers come to the grim realization of the big job Buster Posey has in rebuilding the Giants offense. They try to predict who will be at each of the 13 roster spots to begin the season. We should hope they're wrong.

Our new cocktail podcast The Perfect Sip is in full swing even though Giants bats are not. You can find it here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking ----- while Ben is drinking ------. Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Allspice Dram
• 1/4 oz Cynar
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Brown Sugar Syrup
• 1 egg white
• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice. Dry shake for 10-15 seconds. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a star anise.

• 2 oz Averna
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 4 oz Ginger Beer
• Add lemon juice and Averna to a highball or Collins glass with ice. Stir gently to combine. Top with the ginger beer.

Did Bob Melvin and his staff make Farhan's roster better? The brothers are discussing the coaching staff today including why fans can never truly understand the dark art of MLB coaching, where the 2024 Giants needed the most coaching, and the one area that definitely needs to get significantly better. Finally they discuss why the 2025 staff will be a lot different not matter what the internal evaluations will be.

Our new cocktail podcast The Perfect Sip is in full swing even though Giants bats are not. You can find it here:

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking the Amen Corner while Ben is bringing back thew new and improved Orange & Black. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Aperol
• 3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
• 4-5 Mint Leaves
• Gently muddle the mint in a cocktail shaker. Add the remaining ingredients, plus ice, then shake until chilled. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with mint leaves or cocktail cherries.

• 1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
• 1/2 oz Mr. Black coffee liqueur
• 1/4 oz orange liqueur (I used Cointreau)
• 2 Dashes orange bitters
• Garnish with orange twist
• Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until the desired dilution is reached, then strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube. Express an orange twist over the glass, rub around the rim, and drop into the drink.

Buster asked for the ball. The brothers discuss how the appointment of Buster Posey went down, what about the current team made him want to ask for the job, and what these early days will look like for him. They also participate in a coup and Matthew asks a close friend for help.

Our new cocktail podcast The Perfect Sip is live. Listen here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking an Herbal Hot Toddy while Ben is drinking a Venus Gin #2 Old Fashioned. Recipes below.

• 4-5 oz Hot Camomile Tea
• 1 1/2 oz Cognac or Brandy
• 1/2 oz Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 heaping teaspoon Honey
• Steep camomile tea in a mug for a few minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined.

• 2 oz Venus Gin #2
• 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 dashes Orange bitters
• Lemon Twist
• Combine gin, simple syrup and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a Old Fashioned glass with a large chunk of ice. Express oils from lemon twist over the cocktail and discard. Garnish with 3 brandy soaked cherries.

BuPo is the new HOBO! Excuse me, Buster Posey is Mr. President of Baseball Operations. The brothers break down the firing of Farhan Zaidi and why it needed to happen. Then they turn the page and look forward to the second Buster Posey era. How will this impact his legacy? Will this make it easier to sign free agents? What other changes need to be made?

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking whiskey neat and Ben is drinking a glass of wine. Recipes not below.

Well, that happened. Our scientists review the completely disappointing but entirely predictable slightly below mediocre season of baseball that was played by the 2024 San Francisco Giants. They give out high level grades to the players, coaching staff and front office. Then they give out MVP, Unsung Hero and Most Disappointing Awards to the players for all of 2024. Finally they review their awful preseason and mid-season predictions.

Also, Ben is really sorry about the dog story. He'll never let that happen again.

On the cocktail side of things our new cocktail oriented podcast The Perfect Sip is out now. You can find it here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Ginger Whiskey Sour while Ben is drinking Ben's Whiskey Sour. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 3/4 oz Ginger Syrup
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled. Double-strain into a rocks glass with ice.

• 2 oz High Proof Rye Whiskey
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 small Egg White (1/2 oz)
• Red Wine for float
• Combine all ingredients except wine in a shaker with no ice. Shake for 5 seconds. Open shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with ride wine float. Add two brandied cherries as garnish

It's all over but the crying. But just who will be crying when the season is over? Our sad sacks discuss the recent news that Giants ownership has already decided the fate of HOBO Farhan Zaidi, Zaidi's assessment of the team and the quickly advancing career of Bryce Eldridge. They also preview the state of the 2025 starting rotation. Who's your 5th starter? Roupp or Birdsong?

In the lightning round @coleslunch delivers Donovan Walton a meal, Ben's dog gets a new toy and Matthew goes off the rails.

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a the Whiskey Sour he featured on The Perfect Sip while Matthew is drinking a Bee's Knees. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.

• 2 oz Gin
• 3/4 oz Honey Syrup
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• Lemon twist for garnish
• Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well for 12-15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Add garnish and enjoy.