We are officially halfway through the season, and I'm trying not to get too excited about these Giants.  However, if the last three games are any indication of where this team is going, there's reason for optimism.  San Francisco improved to 42-and-34 with last night's 6-to-3 win in St. Louis, and find themselves only six games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.  The Giants also lead the Cards and the Rockies for the wild card.  Double up the numbers, and the Giants are on pace for 84 wins, which is a heck-of-a-lot better that last year's 72-and-90 performance.  I don't want to get too greedy and think play-offs, but, on second thought, YES I DO WANT TO GET VERY GREEDY.  I know, I know, there's a lot of baseball left to be played

Continue reading "Giants Outscore The Cardinals and Pujols 13-to-3 In First Two Games In St.Louis"

  Congratulations Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain!  The Giants' pitching staff, for a second year in a row, have two representatives on the National League All-Star team.  Third Baseman Pablo Sandoval did not make the roster today, but is one of five finalists that can still be voted in by the fans.  Go to sfgiants.com or mlb.com to log your votes for Pablo, and from what I understand, there is no limit on how many times one can vote.  The deadline to cast your ballot is Thursday. Here's a look at Pablo's competition for the final roster spot:

Continue reading ""Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are very deserving All-Stars""

It's still not too late to vote for Pablo Sandoval, in fact, it's not too late to vote 1,000 times for Pablo before Thursday's "unlimited" voting deadline!  I guess it depends on how much extra time you've got on your hands, but in this quick-click society, what's 10 (or 100) votes over the course of the day.  I must admit, I've voted for Sandoval and Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers 40 times since Sunday, and feel very good about my contribution.  However, let's not get too carried away this process.  If everyone had just one vote, or maybe 10 votes?  That, to me would be a better indicator of who is deserving for the final roster spot.   What I REALLY think is that the players should vote for that final spot, and have it over and done wi

Continue reading ""Have You Voted For Pablo Sandoval For The MLB All-Star Game?""

It's still not too late to vote for Pablo Sandoval, in fact, it's not too late to vote 1,000 times for Pablo before Thursday's "unlimited" voting deadline!  I guess it depends on how much extra time you've got on your hands, but in this quick-click society, what's 10 (or 100) votes over the course of the day.  I must admit, I've voted for Sandoval and Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers 40 times since Sunday, and feel very good about my contribution.  However, let's not get too carried away this process.  If everyone had just one vote, or maybe 10 votes?  That, to me would be a better indicator of who is deserving for the final roster spot.   What I REALLY think is that the players should vote for that final spot, and have it over and done with when the main rosters are announced in the first place.  Why drag it out?  Oh...I forgot, the "Mid-Summer Classic" has become a crucial match-up between leagues in JULY, to determine home field advantage in October.  That sure makes sense Bud Selig - brilliant idea!   I think the players (or coaches) would see the value of Pablo as a multi-positional option later in the game. Extra Catcher? Extra third baseman? Extra first baseman? Hello?? As for Wednesday's finale with Florida, the Giants were shutdown 7-to-0 by Marlins' right-hander Chris Volstad, who tossed a complete game five-hitter.  Easily his best effort of the season, improving to 6-and-8, Volstad (zero BBs and Six Ks in 105 pitches) helped Florida avoid the three-game sweep at the hands of the Giants.   The "Big Sadowski," Ryan Sadowski didn't have his best control with four walks allowed, as well as his first two earned runs in three starts.  Sadowski worked five innings, gave up five hits, three runs (two earned), walked four and struck out four. Sadowski has posted an ERA of 1.00 with only today's two runs allowed in 18-total-innings of work.  The bats were completely silenced by Volstad, while Merkin Valdez in relief served-up a three-run bomb to Dan Uggla, his 16th homer of the season.  As appealing as Uggla may be in a possible trade scenario, I would have to say that he strikes out way too much and needs to think more about his batting average (.223 after today) and on-base percentage, (around .332) rather than his home run count. Hey, I'll take two out of three over the "fish," but it sure would have been fun to see super stud short stop Hanley Ramirez.  Ramirez, an all-star starter, missed his fourth consecutive game with a hip injury.  Oh well... The Giants are 26-and-15 since Memorial Day, and welcome San Diego for a four-game weekend series.  The Padres are a team on the ropes and already willing to trade some of its pieces, including Scott Hairston to the A's.  Tim Lincecum gets the ball Thursday night, and looks to match fellow all-star Matt Cain with 10 victories.

Continue reading ""Have You Voted For Pablo Sandoval For The MLB All-Star Game?""

  JONATHAN SANCHEZ!!!!!  NO-Hitter!  WOW!  Was anyone ready for that?  I am stunned.  Just amazing. Granted, its the San Diego Padres, and not against a more robust hitting line-up.  The first no-no for the Giants since 1976 and the first no-hitter at home since Ed Halicki in 1975.  And, obviously, the first no-hitter EVER at A.T.& T. Park!

  The line on Sanchez:  9 innings pitched, NO HITS, NO WALKS, AND 11 STRIKE-OUTS!  

  I know as a baseball fan it's important to let this one sink in, but let's step away and think big picture for a moment.  Randy Johnson is injured, and for now, Sanchez is taking his spot in the rotation.  Ryan Sadowski was sent back down to Fresno for now, and should be back after the all-star break as the team's fifth starter.

Continue reading ""JOANATHAN SANCHEZ, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?""

 As I watched Tim Lincecum start the MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis, something just wasn't right.  It appeared he didn't have any control of his change-up or curve ball, as evidence by the 81 MPH curve that ran in and hit Derek Jeter's hand in the first inning.  Fortunately for Yankee fans, and anyone who might have Jeter as their fantasy league short stop, the ball struck the very knob of the bat, and didn't strike his hand flush.  He stayed in the game and had a couple of more at-bats.  But Timmy was clearly nervous, and said later that his heart was racing, and he couldn't feel his body, hence, a lot of pitches were "up in the zone." After watching Lincecum's two-innings of work Tuesday, I pose the question: "Opening Day assignments aside, has this guy ever pitched in a BIG game?"  The Giants certainly haven't played a lot of meaningful games in recent years, and the all-star game IS a big game when it comes to performing on the big stage in front of all your peers.  Lincecum allowed two hits, one earned run, zero walks, and one strike out on 35 pitches.  After struggling through the first inning, he clearly settled down and went 1-2-3 in the second inning, including a nasty hook to freeze opposing pitcher Roy Halladay.  Halladay, by the way, wasn't expecting to hit and had to borrow Evan Longoria's batting helmet (the "TB" team logo was peeled off so Tampa fans didn't get too excited about the possibility). Aside from some bad luck (Pujols error, broken bat single by Ichiro), Lincecum did all right for his first all-star effort after not being able to pitch in last year's "Mid-Summer Classic" at the old Yankee Stadium.  It's important for him to have these experiences now to better prepare him for the big stage of play-off baseball. As for the game itself, a 4-3 A.L. victory, the few highlights for me: Stan Musial making a pre-game appearance along with other Cardinal legends: Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Bob Gibson, and Red Schoendienst.  All-Star MVP Carl Crawford's home run saving catch to rob Colorado's Brad Hawpe, and Detroit's Curtis Granderson's game-changing triple off the Padres' Heath Bell. The Giants are 49-and-39 at the break and get back to action Friday in Pittsburgh.  Let's hope that Matt Cain (who wasn't able to pitch Tuesday) will make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Pirates.  

Continue reading ""A Few Post All-Star Game Thoughts""

  Yikes!  What happened to that sterling Giants' bullpen?  After dropping two of three to the Pirates, San Francisco made it three losses in four games to start the second half after getting clobbered by Atlanta 11-3 Monday.  Seven earned runs were allowed by three different Giant relievers -- a rarity this year. 

  Everyone wanted to see how Jonathan Sanchez would perform following his no-hitter July 10th.  Sanchez pitched fairly well:  allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits, 8 strikeouts and just one walk over 8-innings of work.  Home runs off the bats of Chipper Jones and Garret Anderson were the only real blemishes in an otherwise solid effort.  The uncertainly of Randy Johnson's health status, and the inexperience of Ryan Sadowski in general might lead one to believe that Sanchez is just too valuable to trade at this point.

Continue reading ""Giants' Bullpen is Suddenly Stuggling""

  I'm glad to see the Giants are willing to at least make one move before Friday's trade deadline.  San Francisco has acquired former Stanford Cardinal and Cleveland Indian Ryan Garko to fill the gap at first base, and hopefully a solid number-4 or number-5 hitter.    Garko played in 78 games for Cleveland this season, batting .285 with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, 29 runs, and 10 doubles.  In exchange, the Giants gave up minor league pitcher Scott Barnes.    I first heard the news driving to last night's Giants' win, 4-2 over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but could only speculate as to whom they may have traded for Garko.  When I saw the starting line up with Jesus Guzman at first, and Eugenio Velez in left, I made the assumption

Continue reading ""Welcome Ryan Garko""

  Clearly Brian Sabean had something else up his sleeve when he traded for Pittsburgh Second Basemen Freddy Sanchez Wednesday. Following San Francisco's extra-inning 1-0 win and a series sweep of the Pirates, the Giants then proceeded to swipe Sanchez, who has was one of the last remaining faces of a rudderless franchise.  The 31-year-old Sanchez, the National League's Batting Champion in 2006, is currently hitting .296 with six home runs, 34 RBI's, 45 runs scored, and 28 doubles this season.  Unfortunately, Giant fans may not see the immediate return of the deal as Sanchez is nursing a mild knee sprain, and has not played for several days.  However, before the trade was completed, Giant team doctors checked out the knee twice and gave the "all clear."

Continue reading ""Are The Giants Done Dealing Before the Deadline""

  I knew I forgot something.  The Giants had to give up something to get something, and Wednesday they parted with minor-league pitching prospect Tim Alderson in order to acquire Freddy Sanchez.  Alderson was considered a top-five prospect in the San Francisco Farm System, and its number two pitching prospect behind Madison Bumgarner.  Will Alderson become another Cain or Lincecum, or will he become another Jason Grilli.  We'll just have to wait and see.  For the Pirates' sake, I hope the kid materializes into a solid starting pitcher down the road.

Continue reading ""One More Thing About The Freddy Sanchez Trade""