Spring Training Update: Game Wrap 03-27-2010

Today's game was televised in Southern California on Fox Sports West, so I got to see the Giants in action for the first time this spring. The winning formula fell just short today as a strong wind blowing straight in from CF hampered the hitters and some of the Giants younger hitters showed their inexperience as the Angels edged the Giants 4-3.

The matchup featured two soft tossing LHP's in Barry Zito and Joe Saunders. Zito was dealing for the first 5 innings except for a 2 run blast in the 3'rd inning by Bobby Abreu that somehow bored its way through the wind. Zito was visibly ran out of gas in the 6'th when he gave up an RBI double to Torii Hunter followed by an RBI single by Matsui. More on Matsui's hit later.

The Giants loaded the bases with 0 outs in the 4'th inning. Here's where the Giants younger hitters showed their inexperience against the wily Saunders. Buster Posey, Nate Schierholtz and Travis Ishikawa all struck out to leave the bases loaded and never came close to getting a hit. Those 3 went a combined 0 for 11 at the plate. Nate, who was hitting commando with no gloves again particularly looked lost at the plate. Nate was replaced in RF by John Bowker after his 3'rd AB, I would say an ominous sign for Nate. Bowker, in his only AB, crushed a pitch to dead center which would have almost certainly been a HR had it not been for the strong headwind. But, here's the thing about Bowker playing RF. Remember the game winning single to RF by Matsui? Torii Hunter was coming from 2B and there should have been a play at the plate, but Bowker looped a very weak looking throw that made to to about even with the pitching mound. I don't know if Nate would have gotten Hunter at the plate, but I'm pretty sure he would have made it close.

I know Bowker is hot right now, and he appears to have more power potential than Nate, but it's a long season. If the Giants were convinced that Nate was ready to take over RF, they need to give him a chance to work his way out of this slump and try to preserve his D in RF. Just my opinion.

The Giants 3 runs all came in the 5'th inning when they again loaded the bases and this time with 1 out, Bengie Molina crushed a ball to the base of the left-centerfield wall clearing the bases. Bengie is not small, but he does look to be in better condition than last year. I think the humiliation of the offseason has lit a fire in him and I look for a good season. He isn't young any more and will need more days off than he has been used to, which is where Buster may fit in later in the season, if not from the beginning. I just don't want to see Buster become a "Super Two" as a part time player, so it's probably better to send him down for the first two months of the season.

Panda is not thin either, but he definitely looks stronger and his weight looks better proportioned than last year. Hopefully that translates into perfomance on the field. He made a couple of nice plays at 3B today.

Key lines:

Andres Torres- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.

Bengie Molina- 2 for 4, 2B.

Posey, Nate, Travis, Downs- 0 for 15. Ouch!

Barry Zito- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. Zito pitched much better than this line looks.

Henry Sosa- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K's. Sosa came in with a runner on first and 1 out after Zito ran out of gas and gave up 2 runs in the inning. Henry loaded the bases, but got out of it. This is the first time I've seen Sosa pitch. He seemed to be able to get strike 1 with a darting fastball, but had trouble getting his secondary stuff over for strikes which forced him to come in with the fastball later in the count. Fortunately the FB had enough on it that he go out of the inning with no further damage.

Santiago Casilla hasn't pitched in awhile. Now comes word on rotoworld.com that he has been sidelined with a tight back muscle. Looks like he is going to have to prove he's healthy and able to pitch well in the minors before making any MLB roster.