Heartbreak: It can be the only way to describe Friday evening's loss to the Phillies.  After falling quickly behind 4-0, on one 2-run homer each by Chase Utley, who leads the league with 12 roundtrippers and former Giant Pedro (Pete) Feliz,the Giants scratched back with three runs in the 7th.  Score tied 4-4.  Ex-Phillie Aaron Rowand led off with a homer in the 10th, his third this season, only to see closer Brain Wilson give up a two run shot to left by San Jose's Pat Burrell to lock up the victory for the Phillies.  Two of the first three in the inning were struck out by Wilson.  First baseman Ryan Howardwas tossed for the use of questionable language to Plate Umpire DarrellCousins.  Wilson had two strikes on the Phillies leftfielder, when he left a fastball

Continue reading "Heartbreak: 6-5 Phillies over Giants"

A weekend visit to Philadelphia saw the Giants winning a one run decision, while dropping two others.  Both of the losses came in the Phillies last at bat, including a walk off two run homer by San Jose's Pat Burrell on Saturday night...Giants were able to scratch back in both games from deficits, but the final outcome was not to their liking.  Their record now stands at 14-17, a lot better than any of the so-called experts thought they would be.  The 'experts' had them in last place and looking up all season...As of Friday night, only one team in the division, Arizona Diamondbacks had a record of over .500...Giants newcomers are fun to watch,  but they are making too many rookie mistakes, not saying that I could do any better...Eugenio Velez, he of the flying legs wh

Continue reading "Giants Drop 2 to Phillies"

Giants thumped by Pirates:  In the opening of a three games series, the Giants and Jonathan Sanchez were thumped by the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates 12-6.  The Giants made it semi-interesting with 5 runs in the last two frames.  Brad Hennessy relieved Sanchez, but the hits just kept on coming.  Two more games at PNC Park then home to the Phillies for Friday, Saturday and Sunday...May 6th is the birthday of Giants/baseball Great Willie Mays.  Though long retired, Willie does public relations work for the club...Who knows where his nickname the 'Say Hey Kid' comes from?  Special prize to the first who responds correctly...Surprise, surprise; Barry Zito returns to the rotation tomorrow evening against the Pirates.  His demotion to the 'pen' lasted just one sta

Continue reading "Another thumpin!"

Giants snakebit at PNC Park:  Giants dropped another to the Pirates at PNC Park, 3-1.  The highlight was the return of Barry Zito to the Giants rotation.  Guess that 10 day layoff did him some good: 5 innings, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, including a couple called on his devastating breaking ball, two runs, two walks.  One of the hits was a two run homer by Xavier Nady.  Giants tried to mount a mini-rally, with three singles and one run in the ninth, but a double play, a pitcher's best friend ended the game...General notes: Brad Hennesey, who hasn't pitched well in his limited appearances this year, was sent to AAA Fresno.  Billy Sadler, one of the last pitchers cut after Spring Training, was called up.  He threw a few games last year...Rich Aurila's a

Continue reading "Woes continue in Pittsburgh"

Giants 1-6 in Pennsylvania: In the just completed games in Pennsylvania, three each with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the team went 1-6, which drops their record to 14-22, a winning percentage of just .389. Only Colorado and San Diego are in worse shape in the National League West.  Arizona seems bent on running away with it, but they have played less than 30 games...Matt Cain pitched into the 7th.  He was relieved by Jack Taschner, who had retired all of the 18 inherited runners this year.  He couldn't quite get that 19th runner, which proved to be the game winner...Silver lining though:  Both Emmanuel Burris (1) and catcher Steve Holm (2) had their first major league run batted in (RBI.)  Congrats to them...Matt Cain had two hits, a singe and a double...Nate McCl

Continue reading "Giants leave Pennsylvania behind---Good!"

At 14-22, the Giants need to shape up really quickly, or they are going to disappear into the mucky morass of last place.  Only Arizona and Los Angeles are playing decent ball out of the five teams in the Western
Division.  They need to score runs!  With so many young, not necessarily rookies, occupying starting rolls, perhaps it is time to play some of the older guys (Aurila, 37) on a fairly regular basis, so the young guys can see how it is done.  Willie Mays did not became great on sheer talent alone, he watched what his older team mates were doing.  They tutored him.  He had all the tools though.  The only 'old guy' among the regular is Randy Winn, playing his steady right field day in day out, with a day off here and there...The Giants need a b

Continue reading "What the Giants need to do RIGHT NOW!"

Techincal difficulties prevented me from reporting over the weekend. Back on Monday.

Continue reading "Sorry Fans!"

Just when the Giants offer us a little bit of hope, two wins against the Phillies, then they beat us back again.  A 7-3 loss to the Houston Astroson Mo nday night showed us that it isn't Zito's fault when they collapse.  Zito pitched a decent five innings and with all games, the results rest on as little as five pitches.  Lance Bergman would agree.  He is now tied with Chase Utleyfor the league lead in homeruns with 13.  His three run shot came on a misplaced breaking ball in the 6th inning.  Tied the score at 3-3. The usually competent bullpen lost the game.  Hey, it happens.  Giants are starting to sink.  They are in third in the West, but only because Colorado and San
Diego are smelling up the division...Put a chink in Arizona's armour,

Continue reading "Sorry 'bout that Chief!"

Matt Cain and Fred Lewis both had really good nights.  Lewis went 3-4, while lacking just a homerun for the cycle.  May 13th, 2007, he did hit for the cycle against the Rockies at Coors Field...Meanwhile Cain, pitched 8 innings, gave up seven hits, struck out five, walked four AND hit a solo homerun, his second of the year.  The win gives him a record of 2-4, with more to come...Giants scored early as Fred Lewis led off the game with a triple, was k knocked in by Omar Vizquel's weird double, a bloop into center field that no one could catch and then, when the center-fielder held the ball just a little too long, Omar went to second.  Randy Winn then knocked in Omar....Brian Wilson got his league leading 12th save, with a rare 1-2-3 inning, in command the entire way, unus

Continue reading "Cain and Lewis lead the Giants"

Inter-league play has begun...The annual race to find out which league has better teams has  begun.  Each year around this time, teams begin playing teams from the other league, sometimes it's a geographic thing: Dodgers vs. Angels, Mets vs. Yankees; Arizona and Detroit.  So much for that theory...Giants opened against the Chicago White Sox Friday evening.  Temperature was 75 at 7:15 game time.  Fans were wearing shorts...JONATHAN SANCHEZ threw 6 2/3 really good innings, but getting that last batter in the 7th proved fatal: Alexi Rameriz, who physically reminds me of Gino Velez, smacked his first major league home run with Nick Swisher aboard.  They were the only two runs scored all nite...In pre-series interview, the much maligned A.J. Persinski said he didn'

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Barry Zito...Now 0-8, Barry cannot be blamed for a team that has scored 11 runs in his 8 losses, that's 1.22 per game.  A run in each of the first two innings, that was enough to beat Black and Orange, who are not producing runs lately.  Generally old reliable with runners in scoring position, Bengie Molina has not had an RBI in 10 games.  The Woes continue...Giants have new Managing General Partner: Bill Neukom, a one time attorney, raised in San Mateo, Stanford Law School graduate, and once the director of Microsoft's legal team...Will take over when current owner leaves on October 1...Hey Bill: SPEND SOME MONEY!  Pat Burrell and C.C. Sabathia are going to be available at the end of the season...Payroll is still under $100 million...Some large salaries need to go and I don't mean Mr. Zito...  I see about $13 million with just two moves...Thank goodness the White Sox are leaving town after today's game...No more AL teams until June 13th vs. the A's at ATT.  15 straight games in June with AL clubs: 6 at home and 9 away, though the last three away are just eight miles away in Oakland...Good rootin'! 

Continue reading "Barry, Barry, Barry, and Friends"

Dear Readers;   It is getting very difficult to be positive in my writing about the Giants when they are finding different ways to lose everyday.  Granted they were up against a very hot Chicago White Sox today, but despite two comebacks they still lose, 13-8.  In baseball, generally no one person can be blamed for losses day in and day out, except perhaps the manager, who pulls the strings, but, even Billy Martin, who had a great deal of success managing numerous teams, said the manager only effects the outcome of about 15 games a year...The sheer talent is there, the know-how is there, the wins are not.  They have lost almost twice as many as they have won.  The only reason they are in third place is that the Rockies and Padres are playing very poorly t

Continue reading "It's the Same Old Song!!!"

Another game, another loss-This time to Colorado, which is just slightly better than the Giants, now 17-29 Another 1-run loss, 4-3...Only San Diego trails at 16-29...Bullpen let the game slip away again...They began the season being pretty reliable...Try it again tomorrow night...Silver linings:Lewis and Velez tied for league lead with 5 triples each (they are both barn burners)...Aaron Rowand is 10th with a .322 batting average...Velez is 9th with 8 stolen bases (was thrown out tonite)...Giants have scored 162 runs and given up 222...Timmy Lincecum is 7th in wins with 5...second in ERA at 1.92...Leads the league with 63 K's...Matt Cain is 8th with 61 innings pitched...  During 14 game hitting streak, Randy Winn is hitting at around .400, with two homeruns.  2nd round tripper ton

Continue reading "Tsk, tsk, tsk"

Giants took a three game series against the Colorado Rockies 2-1...  All three games were one-run affairs, games which the Giants had not excelled at this year...Tim Lincecum stopped the the Rockies on Tuesday evening.  He left the game after the 6th inning leading 6-3.  Brian Wilson coming off a stretch of poor performances, gave up a two run homer, making it 6-5 and then struck out the Rockies' final batter...The save tied him for most in the league, at 13, but he sure is scary...He seems to thrive on the nail biting, pressure situation...As I said last week, Rod Beck was exactly the same before he established himself as the league's premiere reliever in the late 90's and early 2000's...A rare day game on Wednesday had the Giants going into the 9th trailing

Continue reading "Giants win a series!!!"

Extra, extra, Barry Zito (1-8) gets his first win of season...Yes, the 125 year record is safe...No Giant up to now has begun the season with an 0-9 record as Barry Zito finally got his first win of the season with an 8-2 thrashing of the Florida Marlins...He threw six and one-third innings, gave up one run, three hits, struck out five and walked four...He threw 100+ pitches...  He was clearly way tired in the Florida heat...This was the Barry Zito that the Giants ponied up $126 million over 7 years for, not that other guy that went nearly eight weeks into the season before garnering his first win...It didn't hurt that the offense got him eight runs, there highest total of the season...Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand provided much of the muscle, clubbing back t

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Doubleheader Loss-Giants now 20-32...Giants dropped two to the Florida Marlins, 8-7 & 5-4.  The good news was:  Omar Vizquel, the seemingly ageless shortstop, tied and broke the record for games at shortstop, playing his 2,584th game at the position.  He took over the top spot from his hero Luis Aparicio, who played in the 1950's's and 60's in the American League.  (C'mon, you must have a baseball card of him somewhere, if your mother didn't throw them out when you went to college.)...Giants are planning something against the Padres Friday evening, but aren't saying what...It is also 'Until There is a Cure' night, spearheaded by late reliever Rod 'Shooter' Beck...Pat Misch, still in search of his first major league win, started and took the loss in the first game 8-

Continue reading "Giants Drop Two to Marlins; Vizquel Sets Record"

TIM LINCECUM and BENGIE MOLINA pretty much had their respective ways with the Western Division leading Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday evening in Phoenix...LINCECUM went 7 1/3 innings, striking out 7, while giving up six hits and walking 3 Diamondbacks.  LINCECUM is proving to be the Giants stopper, as he won for the fifth time after a Giants loss.  His record is now 7-1 ("Your kingdom for a balk...")...Each strikeout by LINCECUM gets fans $1 off their bleacher seats next time he pitches.  So, 7 K's, seven bucks off the normal $27 dollar ticket... Meanwhile, back in MOLINA-land, Bengie,coming off being named National League Player of the week with an average of .652 (15 for 23,) smacked another home-run to put the Giants ahead for good.  It was his fifth of the year.  His other hit was a plain, ordinary single...JOSE CASTILLO has been showing some pop recently and his defense has improved markedly, slugged a solo shot to deep center...BRIAN WILSON had an unusual 1-2-3 inning.  Though his ERA is over 5.00, much of it has come on three bad games early in the season and in early May...Two more with the 'Backs and home to face cellar-dwelling San Diego May 30 to June 1st...Good reading and Good Rootin'!  May 27th, 2008.

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Monkey off the back?...The Giants may have gotten the monkey off their backs with an 11-3 blowout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday evening...Ask anyone, that is what I have been saying that they needed for weeks now...Jonathan Sanchez went 6 innings, gave up just 6 hits and walked 3...His record now stands at 3-3...Should it surprise you that BENGIE MOLINA had another good night on the road.  With three more hits tonight, he is batting around .667 in his last 7 games.  His BA is up into the .320's...He is going to miss the road...Let's not forget the contributions of Ray-Ray Durham with a solo homer and a three run triple.  He is now hitting in the solid .280's.  Since Velez was sent down last week, Ray-Ray has become the fulltime second sacker again.  He provides a lot of leadership too...Emmanuel Burris at short, giving Omar Vizquel the night off.  Since his hot start when he returned two weeks ago, his bat has turned against him...The Giants are planning to honor Omar with some kind of ceremony Friday evening against the Padres.  They aren't saying what though...One more tomorrow night against the D'backs and the 'Big Unit' and then home for three against the Padres beginning Friday evening...Good reading and Good Rootin'!  May 28th, 2008! 

Continue reading "BLOWOUT!!!!!"

Randy Winn had a lot to say about the outcome of tonight's game against the Western Division leading Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix...He clubbed two solo homers to left field, both as a right handed batter.  The first tied the game at 1-1 and the second was the game winning hit in the Giants 4-3 win...Barry Zito went six innings, giving up the three Arizona runs, but pitched impressively for his third straight appearance...He ended the evening with a no decision...Tyler Walker-The Bull-plagued recently by a string of poor performances, pitched the 8th inning and went home with the win...Brian Wilson had another 1-2-3 9th inning for his fourth save on this road trip.  The save boosted his save total to a league leading 16... Giants head home aft

Continue reading "Giants sweep the Diamondbacks; Big Night for Randy Winn"