My daughter and I attended this game in Surprise, AZ. Giants fans have certainly taken over the Cactus league as they made up at least half the crowd in the Rangers' crib today by my estimate. It's pretty easy to tell who the Giants star players are if you go by the names on the backs of the fans. I would say that its about 40% Tim Lincecum 55, 40% Posey 28 with a variety of names making up the other 20%. My daughter was pretty disappointed that Buster didn't make the trip to Surprise but we still enjoyed the experience. Gaylord Perry was in booth with Ferguson Jenkins and a few other retired players signing autographs. I shook his hand and got a signed copy of 6" by 8" biography card. He was just a bit short with me and obviously going through the motions even though there wasn't even a line to get the autographs. I've met a couple of other players/retired players who at least acted more interested in me and my brief introduction as a long time Giants fan. Anyway, on to the Key LInes:
Andres Torres- 2 for 4. BA= .385. Torres got the game started right with a line single to right-center and scored the first run on Pablo's triple. Torres hasn't hit much from the right side due to an oblique strain. He turned around and swung it from the right later in the game.
Pablo Sandoval- 2 for 3, 3B, SB. BA= .325. Wow! Panda actually looked fast out there today! Actually, he doesn't really look like much of a panda any more. Time to retire that nickname! He legged out the triple with ease and then stole 2B on what looked like a busted hit-and-run with Cody Ross at the plate. Both hits were low liners with a lot on them.
Brandon Belt- 1 for 5, 2B(4), SB(2). Belt's double wasn't cheap at all, a hard drive that he pulled to the base of the RF wall. He also made a nice stab of a hard grounder with runners on first and second that looked like it was trying to be a double down the line. He then made a nice throw to 2'nd to get one runner but the relay was a bit off line and not in time for the DP.
Nate Schierholtz- 2 for 3, HR(1), Assist. Nate legged out a broken bat grounder to 2B that helped set up the 5 run 4'th and then pulled a HR to right off a LHP, Arthur Rhodes.
Chris Stewart- 2 for 3, 2B. BA= .316. Stewart has looked good at the plate this spring. Whiteside better get completely healthy soon or he may find himself replaced as backup catcher by Stewart.
Ryan Vogelsong- 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 2.13. Vogelsong looked good working with a variety of pitches. Especially impressive was how he worked his way out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the 3'rd with the top of the Rangers' lineup coming up. He got Kinsler to pop up, Andrus to ground out on a weakly hit ball to SS(DeRosa smartly got the out at 1B allowing 1 run to score), and then Hamilton had his bat sawed off to end the inning. The 3 hits that loaded the bases were all of the IF variety and none were hard hit.
Affeldt and Romo pitched scoreless innings. Santiago Casilla got roughed up a bit before settling down and striking out the last 2 batters he faced.
The Giants' spring record now stands at 14-4. Matt Cain returns to action tomorrow against the BrewCrew in Scottsdale.
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Interesting about Vogelsong. And Runzler, Suppan, and Mota. What do you do? After the five starters, I assume that Ramirez, Affeldt, Casilla, Lopez, Romo, and Wilson are all locks, which leaves Runzler, Suppan, Mota, and Vogelsong fighting for one spot (assuming they keep a dozen) and they all look pretty good. Runzler would be the top lefty in most pens. Suppan is looking like he might win 12-14 again -- for somebody. Mota is probably Mota (which aint bad). And how can a guy not root for Vogelsong? So, Doc, how about you play Sabean -- who do you keep? What do you do with the others?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but I believe it might have been Hinshaw's first appearance. The batter was Todd Helton. Alex just dominated Helton on the first two pitches. He had Todd down 0 - 2 and tried it again, only to see Helton stand with a standing 2B. I thought the kid was going to be very good until Helton did his masscre. Sure was sad to see him toil today...
ReplyDeleteDoc, Panda's SB looked like a straight steal to me. The batter (I forget who) did not swing (the pitch was WAY inside, though) but Panda was not looking for the ball. His head was down and he was running hard for 2B.
ReplyDeleteA good throw would have had him, though, but it would have been close.
doc,
ReplyDeleteperry was a friend of my uncle's, so i met him when i was a kid...trust me, he was even short with fans back in the day...and i was a kid
nate cannot be traded
i was wondering what your thoughts were about rowand, as it is now apparent that whole "i will only play in right" thing is over and done with
i think the panda nick sticks...but ya...he aint no panda anymore, and i dont think he is gonna gain back the weight
when belt finally does come up...the giants are gonna have a seriously dangerous offense
i like how the kids responded today...i think we finally have some legit depth in our upper minors....really curious as to where people will be assigned
stoked for voglesong....if he doesnt make it on this club...he is sure to get picked up by another one
sabean and bochy have some tough choices to make...totally different from years past
Hey everybody! Thanks for the responses.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is just one pitching slot open. Right now? I'd keep Vogelsong as the long man/6'th starter. Try to trade Suppan for some sort of prospect. Runzler to Fresno as a starter. He can always go back to the pen. Don't forget Marc Kroon who has pitched well and has that velocity and experience you are always looking for.
Yeah, Alex appears to have good stuff, just doesn't seem to have that ability to finish a hitter off and doesn't seem to be able to stay in any kind of groove out there.
Yeah, Pablo's steal could have been straight up. I guess I just didn't believe he would try a straight steal and figured the reason why the batter didn't swing was the pitch was so far inside. The throw was to the left of the bag and the 2B had the try a 270 degree backhand sweep and Pablo beat it.
Don't get me started on Rowand. Maybe I'll write whole post on it. Not gonna dwell on the past, but at some point I think the Giants have to acknowledge his mere presence is hurting the team. With as little PT as Travis is getting, I'm getting the feeling he is gone, which sadly temporarily makes room for Rowand.
On the SF Giants' website, under the roster, and then the transaction link, there is a transaction that occurred on 3/4/11, when 2B Brock Bond was "assigned" to the SF Giants. Does anyone know what that means? He is still not on the 40 man roster.
ReplyDelete