Tom Ontis's San Francisco Giants fan blog

After their disastrous start of 2-7, the San Francisco Giants have not only ended the month with a 10-10 .500 record, but have taken every series that they have played: Two series (4 games) against Arizona, 2 games against San Diego and two of three from the hated Dodgers, including a 9-4 win Wednesday evening at ATT Park...Couple of things you might never ever see at a ballpark again as long as you live: The pitcher batting 8th and Juan Pierre bringing up the rear, AND, AND Bengie Molina knocking a triple of the centerfield wall!  Molina is becoming the heart and soul of the Giants.  He has been recognized the past two seasons with the Willie Mac Award, voted by players and coaches as the most inspirational player on the club.  Looks like he is the leader for a third a

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Anyone who has followed the rise of the Giants Tim Lincecum knows why they call him the 'Franchise.'  Another strong performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks , his second of the week, gave him his first win and lifted him into second place in National League strikeouts, at 35, just two behind the Mets' Johann Santana.  The Giants' pitching staff, which has been considered their strong point, has given up just three runs in their last 5 games, going 4-1 in that stretch.  Ironically, the only loss came in Lincecum's 13 K performance against these same Diamondbacks on Saturday, April 18th at ATT Park.  Even the much maligned Barry Zito came away with a good performance, though he did not get a win.  The Giants have scored just 51 runs, while giving up 59.  Ou

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Good news-finally-for the Giants...A 1-0 10th inning win over the San Diego Padres had them sweeping the brief two game series.  Bengie Molina knocked in Andres Torres with a ground rule double to send everyone home...Beginning the season 2-7, the Giants took two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend and swept two games over the Padres in walk off fashion, to give them a more respectable 6-8 record in the young season The other story from ATT was Barry Zito, the Barry Zito of old, the Barry Zito which the Giants paid $126 million over seven years.  In seven strong innings, he blanked the Padres on 6 hits, while striking out 5.  Zito was challenging hitters with wicked off speed stuff; He set up  more than one Padre hitter with fast stuff (87-89) a

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Big Unit goes 7:  Certain Hall of Famer Randy Johnson earned his 296th win, as the Giants took two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.  RJ went 7 innings, struck out seven, gave up just one hit, walked 4.  Not bad for a 45-year old man, eh?... All three scores were 2-0, with the Giants taking Friday night and Sunday, while the 'Backs took Saturday, in spite of a 13-K performance by Tim Lincecum.  Saturday and Sunday were, in the words of announcer Dwayne Kuiper, "...a glorious day for a ball game..."  The hitters did strike another 9 times, way too much for this early in the season.  Rookie First basemen Travis Ishikawa is struggling, falling below the Mendoza line after starting out quickly.  (Ask any older baseball fan, who doesn't rely on the Internet for their sports news to find out about the Mendoza Line)...Pablo Sandoval was quoted on SFGATE.COM that he has figured out his problem and and has fixed it.  He had three hits, including a belly flop triple.  (Announcer Mike Krukow is fond of saying that big guys who barel around the base-paths are like 'runaway beer trucks.")...Stats:  Lincecum is tied with the in K's Padres' ace Jake Peavy for 3rd  at 23 each.  (The Giants face Peavy this week when the Padres come in for two games)...Giants and 'Backs are both 4-8 this year.  Dodgers are lighting it up in the southland...Now what I really think:  This is THE make or break year for Barry Zito.  He has to pitch at a .500 clip to save his job with the Giants.  The team may have to jettison him and his contract if he doesn't perform...Edgar Renteria is no Omar in the field, but he is steady, 'ceptin' for a couple of lapses...Pablo has improved dramatically in the hot corner since his first week over there.  Good readin', good rootin' and see ya at the ballpark.  April 19th

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Southern California has not been nice to the Giants as we go into the second week of the season, dropping all five games that they have played against the Padres and the Dodgers.  They were swept by the Padres and have lost the first two of three to the Dodgers.  Giants now stand at 2-6, the exact same record as the first eight games in the past two seasons.  And we know how both of those turned out.  They have averaged just four runs per game, that average being raised by two sort of outbursts of 10 runs and eight runs.  They have just five home runs, two each by Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand and one by Randy Winn on Opening Day.  Yikes.  Pablo Sandoval is swinging at everything, even balls way out of the strike-zone, but at least he 'D' has tightened u

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San Diego and Petco Field was not kind to the Giants this past weekend, as the Padres swept the Giants by scores 7-3 on Friday, 6-3, Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday.  Giants ace Tim Lincecum went 0-2 to begin the season as he issued far too many walks and the usually reliable defense blew a few plays, many of which accounted for runs.  The one bright spot for the Giants was the continual play of Randy Winn, now the elder statesman of the club:  He has hit safely in every game of the year...Giants are now 2-4.  Last year after six games they were 1-5...Barry Zito continues his April nightmare, throwing just 4 innings, giving up 4 runs and taking the loss on Friday night.  Only twice in his career has Zito had a winning opening month.  The chat and comment lines are already screaming for his head.  This could be a make or break year for Zito, who is on the third year of a $126 million contract.  If he doesn't hit the .500 mark this year, the Giants just may have to eat the rest of his contract.  Buyout clauses in contracts are a thing of the past...Randy Johnson gets his second start as a Giant on Monday afternoon, when the Giants visit Chavez Ravine for the Dodgers home opener.   He will face Clay Billingsley...Good readin', good rootin' and see ya at the ballpark.  April 11, 2009

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The Giants, who were not supposed to-have any offense, is proving some experts wrong, at least for the first three games: They have scored 19 runs.  Any team who averages 6 runs per game will win a lot of games, as long as they don't give up seven.  Such was the case as the Giants downed the visiting Brewers with a 7-1 final score...With the game in hand, Joe Martinez entered in the top of the ninth for his second big league appearance.  Mike Cameron lined a drive back up the middle, which hit Martinez in the right part of his forehead.  Martinez knuckled to his knees, tried to-get up then sat back down until the training staff reached him from the dugout.  He was bleeding from the forehead and was clearly wobbly as he left the field.  Replays showed that

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A pitcher and hitter named Yovani Gallardo spoiled the Giants attempt to become the first team to ever go 162-0, as his Milwaukee Brewers downed the Giants 4-2 in Wednesday's contest.  Gallardo smacked a 3 run homer in the fifth, which turned out to be the difference in the game...Randy Johnson's debut as a Giant didn't go as planned, as he left after 5 innings trailing 4-1.  He did however strike out 7 in his debut, with most of his pitches registering in the low 90's, not bad for a 45 year old man...Mike Cameron, the man who replaced Ken Griffey in Seattle a number of years ago, had a solo shot for the Brew Crew's other run...The Giants again played steady defense, with just one error in two games.  (When they went to the series in 2002, they did not commit and error for 16 games.)...Bobby Howry and Alex Hinshaw also threw this evening...Milwaukee returns for a 4:05 game tomorrow.  Matt Cain starts...Tim Lincecum received his Cy Young Award tonight, presented by the only other Giant to win the coveted pitching award, Mike McCormick.  He was 22-10 on the year, with an ERA of 2.85, practically unheard of any more.  (Anything around 3.00 is considered good.)   Good readin', good rootin' and see ya at the ballpark.  April 8, 2009

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     Opening Day at ATT Park in San Francisco almost didn't happen as scheduled, as it rained most of the morning and a bit into the afternoon.  But, just to prove that baseball fans have friends up there and no I don't mean Bud Seling,  it stopped, the tarp was taken off and the game began about 1/2 hour late.  After the usual introductions of the entire team down the third baseline, then a ceremonial first pitch by Sully Sullenberger, he of the flight that ditched into the Hudson river in January, the game got under way around 1:30.  Cy Young Award Winner Tim Lincecum didn't have it, going just 3 innings, giving up 4 hits, allowing three walks, 2 hit batsmen and 5K's.  His warm-up routine was shortened, which could have been part of his problem.  But it's OK, he'll be fine...A parade of six other pitchers threw at some point, with-closer Brian Wilson mopping up.  His pitches consistently hit the high 90's, with one hitting the century mark...Hitting stars in the 10-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers were Travis Ishikawa, with a first inning triple that knocked in 3 runs; Aaron Rowand with a two run blast, and Bengie Molina and Randy Winn with solo knocks...Pablo Sandoval playing at the hot corner is never going to remind anyone of Mike Schmidt, he of the Hall of Fame...The Big Unit, Randy Johnson is scheduled for tomorrow night, though rain threatens again...A 4:05 game rounds out the three game series with the Brew Crew, before the Jints move on to the Southland, where they will face the Padres and the Dodgers.  Remember Giants fans, we don't need no stink-in-a wigs to show our talent...Good reading, good rootin' and see ya at the ballpark.  April 7, 2009

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Ding, ding: The bell is about to ring in ballparks around the country.  With the exception of the Braves defeating the world champion Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 last night, Monday and Tuesday will be Opening Day in ballparks all over the land.  Everyone except the Braves and Phillies are 0-0, as I write at 8:45 am West Coast time...Giants open Tuesday versus the Brewers, with Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum scheduled to meet Jeff Suppan.  How can Lincecum improve over last season?  He stays with his game by game approach and, while seeing Opening Day as special, it's just another game to him...Only catcher Bengie Molina, center-fielder Aaron Rowand and right fielder Randy Winn remain as starters in the positions from last season.  (Hey Bochy, just leave Winn in the lead off spot all year and he will do really well....Barry Zito is now the #4 in the rotation, taking a lot of pressure off of him.  He spent the winter working out hard with relief pitcher Brian Wilson.  13 wins would be an  improvement...The Big Unit Randy Johnson is #2 and 15-17 wins would be a blessing.  Matt Cain, # 3 and Johnathan Sanchez, #5 round out the rotation...Biggest experiment will be Pablo Sandoval at third base.  His prowess near the end of last year and a .467 spring average puts him in the lineup.  He is also slated as the #2 catcher behind Molina...Weather permitting, I will be in my season location of Section 110, Row 37, Seats 3 & 4 Tuesday...See ya at the ballpark.

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