Friday, March 15, 2013

Game Wrap Spring Training 2013: Giants 5 Rangers 2

The Giants appeared to be almost ready to start the season after a crisp win over their 2010 World Series foes.  Key Lines:

Andres Torres- 2 for 4, HR(1), SB(1).  BA= .333.  Torres has been hurt for much of the early spring, but this line brings back fond memories of 2010.

Buster Posey- 1 for 1, 2 BB.  BA= .238.  Buster has had a quiet spring, but I think the Giants have been trying to pace him a bit and figure out who his backup is going to be.

Hunter Pence- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .314.  Lines like this out of the Rev will be most welcome this year.

Nick Noonan- 1 for 2.  BA= .194.  Noonan made a late run at a roster spot, but it was apparently too little too late.  Noonan got the word, along with 21 other players, that he is being sent down after the game, so this one was for the good times.  Not sure I completely agree with that decision.  I just posted a response on Shankbone's site this morning about how I though Noonan might be the best choice for the final IF slot.

Ricky Oropesa- 0 for 1.  BA= .267.  Another one for the good times.  Ricky's gotta feel pretty good about his first MLB camp.  Got in quite a few games, made some nice defensive plays, hit a tie-breaking dinger to impress the manager.  It doesn't get much better than that for a kid coming off his first professional season.

Matt Cain- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.60.  Cainer looks like he's rounding into mid-season form.

Edwin Escobar- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.  Escobar gets called up from from minor league camp and gets to throw an inning.  Hmm.....

Heath Hembree- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 7.50.

Rangers Lineup- I guess Nelson Cruz will be back, but that lineup is looking decidedly not fearsome without Josh Hamiton and Mike Napoli.

9 comments:

  1. Which one is Shankbone's site?

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  2. You Gotta Like These Kida.

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  3. I was impressed with Ricky. He moves well for a big man. Big test coming up, and he'll have to work on controlling the strike zone. But he has power, he's got confidence, and he's got his wingman Adam Duvall. Looks like those two will be the main attraction in Richmond as we're fielding an all-star team in Fresno and our rotation in San Jose is the toast of the minors.

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  4. vogey and jeremy coming home as angel beats everyone to sf

    vogey did his job, but the usa decided to play like the giants and provide him absolutely no run support

    were this not international rules, vogey showed enough to at least finish off the 5th...but he got pulled due to pitch count

    and once again, the usa doesnt make it to the semis...which i think is a good thing and my money is still on japan

    bochy brought guys in 3 at a time for the huge cutdown...cant see being sent down was a blow to too many, although brown mightve been a bit surprised

    boch told jr over dinner last night....

    in the arm dept, i expect to see most, if not all at some time during the season

    andres played well today, so i hope that means he is healthy

    buster, scoots and blanco havent had the greatest springs....who cares

    anyone betting on who is raising the flag this year? i think its between zito, romo and posey

    bacci

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    1. I have given the flag raising gig some thought. I think Zito has to be the guy, although it might not be his style. Wilson was a natural for it. Romo has an extroverted personality who I think would be a great fit. Posey? Not really his style, although he has become THE cornerstone of the franchise.

      Here's another candidate: Angel Pagan! Dude wasn't as out front and outspoken as the Rev, but he really became a leader of the team after Melky left and backed it up with his play in the field. His play in the WBC is only adding to his reputation as a leader. Plus, I think everybody fell in love with his family when his daughter did the guest PA announcer job and introduced him as "my daddy."

      Unless Zito turns it down, which I could see him doing, I think he has to be the man.

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  5. Noonan probably would be a better choice for a backup infielder spot than any of the other candidates, but at this point I would guess they want him to get regular playing time in Fresno rather than idling away on the big league bench.

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  6. I absolutely love the World Baseball Classic and so does Angel Pagan (he looked happier beating the USA to get to the semis than when he won the WS). One person I'm pretty certain doesn't love the WBC is Joe Torre. Either he doesn't care or they have him on some new medication at the old folks home he apparently lives at now. Why is he managing the team? How is it possible that we don't win this thing every year? If the major leaguers and Torre are going to half ass it every time why don't they send some minor leaguers or college kids that would actually take some pride in representing their country?

    I give a lot of credit to Braun, Wright, Rollins and Phillips, either they drew the short straws or they actually get it that it is cool to represent your country. I've lived abroad so my perspective might be slightly different but every other country in the world that I've ever seen would take pride in representing their country at just about any event. I know it has a lot to do with timing and lots of these players aren't ready to compete at this level this early in spring but if they cared a little bit more maybe they could have a camp for all WBC players 3 weeks before spring training to get them ready or just get their heads out of their asses and have it at the end of the MLB season.

    How is it that Bud puts so much effort into making the WBC happen and then sabotages the U.S. by making it at the worst time of year? Several other countries are disadvantaged as well but even the major leaguers on PR, DR, Italy, and Venezuela seem like it is important enough to work with their teams earlier than spring training. It pisses me off that we don't take this tournament more seriously and make sure we send our best players like Verlander, Price, Posey, Prince, Kershaw, Longoria, Trout, Hamilton, Strasburg, and Hamels to name a few. We invented this game and yet we don't care enough to make sure we win every time! If England put as little effort into the world cup as we put into the WBC there would be riots in the streets of London!

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    1. Oooh! I get what you are saying, but just the mere mention of Buster Posey playing in it sends a cold shudder down my spine.

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