Joe Martinez

Brandon Medders, Sergio Romo, Dan Runzler, Waldis Joaquin, and even Joe Martinez can fill the void; bridging the gap to Jeremy Affeldt and closer Brian Wilson. We'll see how things shake out in spring training. There's about a half dozen other bullpen candidates, including one-time short stop Tony Pena, Jr.   So, one more time, let's view what the opening day line-up should look like (with the assumption that Aaron Rowand will lead-off): CF Rowand2B Sanchez3B Sandoval1B Huff LF De RosaC  MOLINASS RenteriaRF SchierholtzSP Lincecum  I would say pretty solid, but is there another potential right fielder out there with more experience? Is the team willing to spend any more money? I would say probably not because they still have to sign Lincecum who has asked for $13-million in salary arbitration for 2010 -- the Giants are offering only $8-million. He'll get at least ten, and probably closer to twelve. Regardless of Timmy's final number, that will boost the team payroll somewhere around 100-million-dollars, and that includes about five-million in deferred money to Barry Bonds.  So, although it would be nice to add an Eric Byrnes (Bay Area kid for probably for not much money), Xavier Nady (former Cal Bear, most recently with the Yankees), or Jermaine Dye (Sacramento kid and one-time Oakland Athletic), it just doesn't appear financially feasible. I believe it was me last season who said that Schierholtz deserves an extended look to prove himself. Now that Randy Winn is gone, it appears the time is now for Nate to play everyday in right field for the Giants. There is some young depth for the outfield as well with Andres Torres, Eugenio Velez, John Bowker, and (I would say very reluctantly) Fred Lewis.  

Continue reading ""Bengie Molina is Back in the Squat ..."

 This was A BIT of an upgrade over Joe Martinez and Ryan Sadowski.  (By the way, sorry to see the team designate the "Big Sadowski" for assignment - we barely knew you.

  Back to the present...Penny had all of his pitches, fiddled with the curve ball to steal a few strikes here and there.  Good slider and very well placed fast ball at varying speeds.  The line on Penny:  8 IP, 5 H, 1 BB and 2 K's in just over a hundred pitches thrown.  He struck out Victorino on a down-and-in 97 MPH "see ya" fastball early in the game.  I think he got the Phillies attention with that pitch, and another called strike three on Ryan Howard - but Howard strikes out so much that his teammates must be numb to it by now and just look at the positives (37 homers and 112 ribbies).  I also like Penny's attitude on the mound.  Can we call him a "red ass" and mean that in a good way?  He has maturity, has pitched in big games, AND HE CAN'T WAIT TO PITCH AGAINST HIS OLD TEAM THE DODGERS, YES!...

Continue reading ""Digging Brad Penny in the Orange and Black""

 The combination of Joe Martinez and Ryan Sadowski has not been the answer.  Too bad things have gone so terribly wrong for Noah Lowry - remember him?  I was kind of hoping to see Lowry eventually return from injury (as well as some legal allegations made against the Giants' medical staff), and grab that number five slot.  

Continue reading ""Giants Have Reportedly Signed Brad Penny""

  This is a team the Giants should sweep!  San Francisco sends Joe Martinez (3-1) to the mound against some guy for the D-Backs who IS NOT named Webb, Haren, or Davis, and that's good.  But even against an under-manned and injury-riddled Diamondbacks squad, The Giants have relied upon 8th-inning, three-run home runs to pull out victories both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Bengie Molina's pinch-hit three-run blast off Chad Qualls last night could be one of the highlights of the year to date. Watching Molina limp around the bases (quad strain) instantly reminded me of Kirk Gibson's game-winner off Eck in game one of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium - I was waiting for the under-handed fist-pump as Bengie rounded second base.  Of course the stakes weren't quite as high on a Tuesday night in August as they would be in October, but nonetheless; these games actually mean something.  The Dodgers beat the Rockies today, which means a win tonight could close the gap in the wild card race to just two games heading into the weekend showdown.

Continue reading ""Giants Go for the Sweep Over Arizona""

t was to see both Justin Miller and Merkin Valdez give up four earned runs apiece in relief of Joe Martinez; it was great to see Ryan Garko finally flex his muscle, and smash two homers in the same game.  Rowand, Schierholtz, and Pablo also went deep in a wild, old school night at Coors Field, that saw 25 runs on 27 hits!  Humidor, what humidor?

Continue reading ""The Giants Have Got to Bounce Back ..."

zling 2.37.

 Monday's game at Citi Field was such a collective release of frustration!  Joe Martinez (Jersey kid) had to be nervous pitching in front of family and friends, but he s

Continue reading ""Will The Hits Keep Coming for the Giants?""

  

  The other story-line from Wednesday's win was rookie Joe Martinez, who returned to the mound for the first time since early April, after suffering a fractured skull from a line drive off the bat of Milwaukee's Mike Cameron.  Martinez improved to 2-0 after working five solid innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, with four strike outs and zero walks.  Martinez pitched well enough to keep his team in the game, and considering the extraordinary circumstances, how much more can one really ask from this kid?

Continue reading ""The Giants Get it Done in Houston""

Brewers up, facing rookie Joe Martinez

Lincecum is out after throwing about 90 pitches in three innings

Suppan - Ground ball down the third baseline again, this time for an out.

Continue reading "Brewers at Giants, Top of the Fourth"