Why you must write

Check out my 15 March post on Ten Pound Press. We are all part of this now.

Inspire Our Team!

In an effort to not dwell on Spring Training, (yes that means Timmy sucked so I don't want to talk about it) I thought I might try to stimulate our artistic juices. Perhaps this will inspire our boys to take a break from their quest to establish new levels of incompetence ( and fan anxiety).
Towards this end, it is time for the annual Spring Training Haiku Contest. The winner earns a free subscription to RMC (internet connection required).

Here goes nuthin'...

The cactus wither,
Arizona taps our hope,
Good thing we're gamers

Benjie batting fourth?
Centerfielders at all spots?
Sabean has job?

Defense, pitching, speed
Giants have it all this year
Monkeys out my butt

Gulls sob and wind chills
One hundred twenty losses
Long, cold, hard summer

Gee, I guess this might not be too inspirational.... Maybe you guys can do better.

4 4 2 2 2 4

Matt seemed to have gotten "back on the beam" today. I'm concerned about TBF in general for M.C. (Total Batters Faced), 18 today. That is 6 over the minimum (2 walks and 4 hits). I'd like to see him lower his pitch counts and face fewer hitters in his starts. Young pitchers often get themselves in trouble with control, and have to work too hard, reducing their season-long effectiveness. I'm encouraged by the 4 K's, and the fact that we scored IMMEDIATELY after Matt gave up two runs. (8 runs on 13 hits after 5+ as I write this.) Maybe this year Matt can be the beneficiary of our modest outbursts of run support. Matt put up three zeros after the first inning, and I hope we see more zeros on the opponent side of the ledger this Spring!


UPDATE (Wed a.m.): This is an abomination. Schierholz is the only legit OF prospect we have, and we'll keep Dave Fucking Roberts instead? He just turned 24 and has an option year left so I expect he'll be in AAA this year, even though he has already done well at that level. Check out John Sickels' take on him from Sep '07. This year Sickels rates him as our 5th best prospect with a "B-" grade. Today: The Enchanter! JC, sharpen your pencil!

RPPW

Please tell me we survived Irrational Giants Exuberence Week. Good Golly, this team will be a test of our patience and fortitude....
Well, since I have neither of those attributes, I shall stick to my strength and I declare Rational Paranoid Pessimism Week. Face it, this is something we can really get behind.
May I begin?

1) Is Tim old enough to get a groin injury? I always thought that was code for too much "love you long time." Maybe there is a "real" groin injury and our little Timmy has it!! I know the press is telling us one thing, but I figure that could be a spin job to control the possible panic. We all better hope this is nothing and Tim is back enchanting us all in a few days. Face it. The way this team is currently built it is all about Matt and Tim growing into stars in the Majors. Either one of those guys get hurt and this year will be a complete waste.

2) Is it possible to treat our best prospects any worse? It sickens me to see what Frandsen is being put through. All because we pay Ray-Ray so damn much. And what about Sanchez? Is he a starter this week? How about a new pitching motion in March? And, how many guys with big upsides (like Merkin, Threets, and Lewis) are we going to lose because we will keep around detritus (like Kline and Roberts)?

3) How is it possible to start a season without acquiring a REAL firstbaseman or a DECENT thirdbaseman? I have nothing against Ortmeier, but the idea that he is ready and/or the best available option seems like a scam that only Karl Rove could pull over on the public. Who is our thirdbaseman anyway? Aurilia? And, how is this rebuilding?

I see very dark days ahead. I wish I was just talking about the losses. We have all lived through many more losses than victories. What I worry about is the embarassment. As the elderly Ron loves to remind us, any team with Benjie Molina cleaning up is pretty scary. Add in a horrible bullpen that was only "improved" with AAA types. Don't forget the inevitable injuries...oh gee, I guess they have already started! I honestly can't remember a team with a greater potential for disaster (that actually sounds kind of positive).

So, let's all join in on RPPW. Hit me with your best paranoid fantasies involving our beloved team. How will life mock us next? If everybody can out do me then I guess I'm not really being paranoid, just shrewd. Fine line there.

Yeesh

Just another entry in the "Good Thing It's Spring" department:

Matt Cain is the latest San Francisco starter to struggle.
The Giants' right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings against the Angels on Thursday, allowing five runs on five hits including a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero.

Lowry needs surgery. That's good. It means his mind is OK, his control issues were physical. Frandsen won't be the SS. That's good. It wasn't fair to jerk him around like that. Give him the 2B job he has earned. Messenger is sent down. That's good. He hasn't done well. This gives Merkin Valdez a better chance to make the final cut. (And what about Erik Threets?)

Otherwise, we really stink. That's bad.

IGEW

A matchup I'd like to see in real time: Greg Maddux, the grizzled vet, the control expert, one of the Greatest of His Time, versus Tim Lincecum, the phenom, the flamethrowing kid, the Great Giant Hope. In Arizona today we had another case of LIFE MOCKS US: Maddux faces six batters and gets six boring, routine, somebody-pour-me-a-beer-it's-the-Giants outs. Our boy shows all his flash and poise and still gives up three runs. I guess we have to get excited about Rich Aurilia and Aaron Rowand muscling up, but I'm past that whole homer thing. Hell, I want to see Eugenio Velez run the bases like a hillbilly chasing his hogs. The Tim-ster put down a perfect bunt, did you catch that on the highlights? Now THAT'S the kinda stuff that'll win ballgames, dammit! I hereby declare IRRATIONAL GIANTS EXUBERANCE WEEK! Time for some irrational exuberance. Get irrational! Be exuberant! Fly in the face of conventional wisdom! Kick sand in a stat-geek's face! Get down, get funky, get IGEW!

Aaron Rowand will hit 30 HRs in the 4-spot behind a resurgent Ray (.290/.380/.450) Durham. Bruce Bochy will garner three (3) "Manager-of-the-Year" columns when the Giants are .500 and only 5 back at the All-Star Break.

M.C. debut

MATT CAIN made his spring debut today. He faced 12 batters, allowing 4 baserunners in 3 innings (41 pitches). One baserunner was a Frandsen bobble-and-throw double error, one was a bunt single, one was a walk, and one was a line drive single. He struck out 2 and got 4 fly balls and 2 grounders (one a DP) to account for the 9 outs. He also struck out looking as a batter and earned a putout on the tail end of the 3-6-1 DP in the 2nd inning. Spring performances don't mean much, but you have to like our two hard-throwing right-handers coming out and looking sharp. Keep it up Matt, maybe we'll get some wins for you this year. We are running like a pack of deranged escapees today, with some success, but so far we aren't putting much on the board. (Ah, an Ortmeier DOUBLE! A real hit!). I hope that sort of spastic little-ball will work, I really do. Eugenio Velez is winning the Greenies Award so far this year. Go man, go! Make the team! Be our new 3B! Or SS! Or whatever! Just run, Eugenio, RUN!


update, top o' the fifth: FOUR RUNS! We have FOUR RUNS! Matt! Think what this means! You can get some WINS! This doo-run-run offense JUST MIGHT WORK! Woo-hoo!

update update: SIX! We have SIX! Partytime, Excellent!