12-6 win in SF
The Dodgers did not allow a run in their first three games, all in San Diego, and got four scoreless from southpaw starter Alex Wood in this afternoon's Opener at AT&T Park. If they'd gotten a fifth they'd have tied a major-league record for the most consecutive scoreless innings to start a season. Trailing 4-0 in the 5th the home crowd, and the Giants, needed a lift. Brandon Crawford got things started with a leadoff walk and pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson put down a perfect bunt single and suddenly it was a rally. A run scored two outs later, ruining LA's streak, but the big blow came off the bat of Joe Panik, a triple to center to score another. That got the crowd into the game and the Giants rolling.
Chris Heston took the 6th, Peavy giving up four runs on ten hits in his five, and went 1-2-3, looking very sharp. Ol' Jake wasn't pretty today but he was actually better than the other guy. Wood came back out to pitch the 6th but did not get an out and the Giants rallied for four more, with 9th-place hitter Angel Pagan doing much of the damage.
Javier Lopez was awesome in the 7th, but gave up a hit to Adrian Gonzalez to start the 8th. Sergio Romo got the lefty pinch-hitter Carl Crawford but gave up a homer to lefty Joc Pederson before getting the next two outs. That blow gave Giants fans a bit of nerves, but the home team was not done scoring. A rally highlighted by another perfect bunt single, this one from Denard Span, was punctuated by a ridiculous bomb--a grand slam--from Hunter Pence off Pedro Baez.
Hunter Strickland pitched the 9th and got to have a matchup with Yasiel Puig and he blew his heater by him twice to end it. Very satisfying. There was one episode early in the game where Panik failed to complete a double play by coming off the bag too soon after the feed from Crawford. In the old days it would have been a "neighborhood play" and the runner would have been out. But the Dodgers correctly called a challenge and the video review overturned the field umpire. That play bears closer watching as the year develops, wouldn't you say?
This was the most runs scored by the Giants at PhoneCo in an Opener. I was at the first game in PacBell: Kevin Elster of the Dodgers hit three home runs. Crazy, man. Folks had more fun today, I reckon.
Matt Cain tomorrow night. GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
P.S. I mentioned earlier that RMC will be well-represented (three of us) at Sunday's game featuring Johnny Cueto. We will be in Section 148, the Arcade. I'll be in the front row, seat 9, dressed in black. Look for the long hair. If any readers are at the yard, please come by and say hello!
P.P.S. Actually it will be FOUR of us, as Ron pointed out in the comments! Ron, Zo, JC, and me. I'm still the one with most hair.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Flat Giants Fall in Finale
4-3 loss in Milwaukee
The Giants gave away too many baserunners today--7 walks and 9 hits--and could not respond with enough offense of their own to catch the Brewers. A ragged Jeff Samardzija showed flashes of clutch pitching, limiting the damage with a strikeout or double-play grounder when he needed one, but too many balls in play went for hits. Add in three walks and Milwaukee's lineup just had too many chances. If he had gotten another double-play grounder in the 6th he would have pulled off a 'quality start,' as it was he left after 5-1/3 with the game tied 3-3. Of all people Javier Lopez walked the first guy he faced to lead off the 7th and that run came around and was the game-winner.
Buster Posey was thrown out at the plate in the 1st on a nice effort from third baseman Aaron Hill who nabbed a popup in shallow left with his back to the plate and spun around and made an excellent throw to get the out. I have a rule: Buster Posey should NOT EVER be thrown out at the plate. (1) He's too slow. Don't chance it. (2) He's too valuable. Don't chance it. Alas, that was a critical not-run. Gregor Blanco scores easily on that play, but he's Gregor Blanco. I'm not one of these ballplayers-are-china-dolls types, I like to see athletes athleticize. But no way Posey should run on close tag plays. Let the next guy hit him in. The Giants had a chance in the 8th and two hard smashes to center by Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt went for outs. A little luck, there's the tying run.
Samardzija looked like he could not throw his forkball/splitter thingie. That's what he'll need to get more swing-throughs and weak contact. His fastball has some life, the gun said he hit 94 mph, and his slider looked good but he did not have enough command of it. A sweep would have been nice but the Giants did what they needed to do which was take two of three. The Brewers may have a lousy team, but they are still major-leaguers and even the worst teams win 40% of the time!
Next up is Los Angeles in the Home Opener tomorrow afternoon. Jake Peavy gets the nod against Alex Wood. I think everyone is excited about the impending Madison Bumgarner-Clayton Kershaw matchup on Saturday.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Giants gave away too many baserunners today--7 walks and 9 hits--and could not respond with enough offense of their own to catch the Brewers. A ragged Jeff Samardzija showed flashes of clutch pitching, limiting the damage with a strikeout or double-play grounder when he needed one, but too many balls in play went for hits. Add in three walks and Milwaukee's lineup just had too many chances. If he had gotten another double-play grounder in the 6th he would have pulled off a 'quality start,' as it was he left after 5-1/3 with the game tied 3-3. Of all people Javier Lopez walked the first guy he faced to lead off the 7th and that run came around and was the game-winner.
Buster Posey was thrown out at the plate in the 1st on a nice effort from third baseman Aaron Hill who nabbed a popup in shallow left with his back to the plate and spun around and made an excellent throw to get the out. I have a rule: Buster Posey should NOT EVER be thrown out at the plate. (1) He's too slow. Don't chance it. (2) He's too valuable. Don't chance it. Alas, that was a critical not-run. Gregor Blanco scores easily on that play, but he's Gregor Blanco. I'm not one of these ballplayers-are-china-dolls types, I like to see athletes athleticize. But no way Posey should run on close tag plays. Let the next guy hit him in. The Giants had a chance in the 8th and two hard smashes to center by Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt went for outs. A little luck, there's the tying run.
Samardzija looked like he could not throw his forkball/splitter thingie. That's what he'll need to get more swing-throughs and weak contact. His fastball has some life, the gun said he hit 94 mph, and his slider looked good but he did not have enough command of it. A sweep would have been nice but the Giants did what they needed to do which was take two of three. The Brewers may have a lousy team, but they are still major-leaguers and even the worst teams win 40% of the time!
Next up is Los Angeles in the Home Opener tomorrow afternoon. Jake Peavy gets the nod against Alex Wood. I think everyone is excited about the impending Madison Bumgarner-Clayton Kershaw matchup on Saturday.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Giants Edge Brewers
2-1 win in Milwaukee
Johnny Cueto worked fast tonight and threw a lot of strikes. He gave up some hard hit balls but the Giants kept the Brewers down with their usual excellent fielding. The final line was seven innings, six hits, a run, no walks, and four strikeouts in 96 pitches. It was just the sort of start he's expected to deliver so it was a grand debut for JohnnyC. He threw first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 26 batters he faced and mixed it up well. The Giants had lots of chances but a 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position limited the damage. They settled for two and that was a enough. One was a massive blast from Brandon Crawford. Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson also pitched a good game, he's from Klamath Falls.
A thumper yesterday, a squeaker tonight, it matters not by how many but only that that the "W" is in the column. I like those relaxing wins, the tense ones wear me out. But they sure are ones to savor! Nice work from Romo and Casilla to nail it down.
Jeff Samardzija gets the getaway game tomorrow at 10:40 a.m. Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. Cueto's next start will be Sunday in San Francisco against the Dodgers. I think RMC will be well-represented. More on that later.
Johnny Cueto worked fast tonight and threw a lot of strikes. He gave up some hard hit balls but the Giants kept the Brewers down with their usual excellent fielding. The final line was seven innings, six hits, a run, no walks, and four strikeouts in 96 pitches. It was just the sort of start he's expected to deliver so it was a grand debut for JohnnyC. He threw first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 26 batters he faced and mixed it up well. The Giants had lots of chances but a 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position limited the damage. They settled for two and that was a enough. One was a massive blast from Brandon Crawford. Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson also pitched a good game, he's from Klamath Falls.
A thumper yesterday, a squeaker tonight, it matters not by how many but only that that the "W" is in the column. I like those relaxing wins, the tense ones wear me out. But they sure are ones to savor! Nice work from Romo and Casilla to nail it down.
Jeff Samardzija gets the getaway game tomorrow at 10:40 a.m. Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. Cueto's next start will be Sunday in San Francisco against the Dodgers. I think RMC will be well-represented. More on that later.
Monday, April 4, 2016
A Great Start!
The Giants started the season, indoors in Milwaukee today (30 degrees F, snow, wind) and made it look easy, at least on offense. The offense did exactly what they were supposed to, score up and down the line-up, early, and often.
Matt Duffy started things off in the 2nd inning after Hunter Pence reached on a fielding error and Brandon Belt doubled. A single from Matt put 2 runs on the board and put the Giants up 2 - 1. More on that in a minute. In the 3rd, Denard Span picked up the first of his 5 rbi for the day when he singled home Angel Pagan from second. Denard scored on a Brandon Belt single. Giants up 4 - 2.
The Giants scored in the 4th, then again in the 5th. Madison Bumgarner walked in front of an Angel Pagan double (looks like that 'bat the pitcher eighth' thing has some merit) and scored when Denard picked up his second rbi of the day on a sac fly. That made it 5 - 3. Then, in the 5th, Brandon Belt, on base for the third time, scored on a Matt Duffy home run. That made it 7 - 3.
Like the idea of the Giants homering on Opening Day? So do the Giants. In the 8th, Denard Span endeared himself to Giants fans with his 3rd, 4th and 5th rbi of the game on a 3 run shot to deep right. Did you know that he has the same birthday as our own JC Parsons? Not to be left out of the fun, Joe Panik promptly homered and then Buster Posey homered after him (on the first pitch). 3 in a row! It has been 19 years since that happened in the major leagues. Giants 12, Brewers 3. That held up for the final score. Dig these hits: 3 hits for Brandon Belt. 2 for D. Span, Buster Posey and Matt Duffy. 1 for Joe Panik, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, Angel Pagan, Ehire Adrianza and Gregor Blanco. That's 15 - spread nicely around. The Giants scored 12 and left 7 men on base.
Pitching, uh, .....well.... Our ace, Madison Bumgarner was on the mound and it was not pretty. Domingo Santana singled to start the game, then Maddy walked 3 Brewers for Milwaukee's first run. It could have been worse, but for a double play ground ball that got him out of his BB bases-loaded jam. In the 2nd, Scooter Gennett homered for Milwaukee. People named Scooter are not expected to homer, nor should they. In the 3rd, Jonathan Villar homered. Fortunately, that was all they got. It was not the last close call, though as in the 4th, Angel threw out a guy (that Scooter, again) at the plate from left. Maddy somehow hung in there for 5 innings, the announcers said he was recovering from a flu bug, but he was also rough during the spring, so maybe just not quite there yet. He struck out the side in the 5th, though, all swinging strikes. Madison's line: 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 HR, 5 BB, 6 K on 102 pitches.
George Kontos got himself into trouble in the 6th, but got himself out of it, and Cory Gearrin (man, he looked good), Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich finished the game with 1 inning each. So, YEAH! Way to go Giants! Nothing wrong with sitting atop the division at the beginning of the season. Keep it up!
Matt Duffy started things off in the 2nd inning after Hunter Pence reached on a fielding error and Brandon Belt doubled. A single from Matt put 2 runs on the board and put the Giants up 2 - 1. More on that in a minute. In the 3rd, Denard Span picked up the first of his 5 rbi for the day when he singled home Angel Pagan from second. Denard scored on a Brandon Belt single. Giants up 4 - 2.
The Giants scored in the 4th, then again in the 5th. Madison Bumgarner walked in front of an Angel Pagan double (looks like that 'bat the pitcher eighth' thing has some merit) and scored when Denard picked up his second rbi of the day on a sac fly. That made it 5 - 3. Then, in the 5th, Brandon Belt, on base for the third time, scored on a Matt Duffy home run. That made it 7 - 3.
Like the idea of the Giants homering on Opening Day? So do the Giants. In the 8th, Denard Span endeared himself to Giants fans with his 3rd, 4th and 5th rbi of the game on a 3 run shot to deep right. Did you know that he has the same birthday as our own JC Parsons? Not to be left out of the fun, Joe Panik promptly homered and then Buster Posey homered after him (on the first pitch). 3 in a row! It has been 19 years since that happened in the major leagues. Giants 12, Brewers 3. That held up for the final score. Dig these hits: 3 hits for Brandon Belt. 2 for D. Span, Buster Posey and Matt Duffy. 1 for Joe Panik, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, Angel Pagan, Ehire Adrianza and Gregor Blanco. That's 15 - spread nicely around. The Giants scored 12 and left 7 men on base.
Pitching, uh, .....well.... Our ace, Madison Bumgarner was on the mound and it was not pretty. Domingo Santana singled to start the game, then Maddy walked 3 Brewers for Milwaukee's first run. It could have been worse, but for a double play ground ball that got him out of his BB bases-loaded jam. In the 2nd, Scooter Gennett homered for Milwaukee. People named Scooter are not expected to homer, nor should they. In the 3rd, Jonathan Villar homered. Fortunately, that was all they got. It was not the last close call, though as in the 4th, Angel threw out a guy (that Scooter, again) at the plate from left. Maddy somehow hung in there for 5 innings, the announcers said he was recovering from a flu bug, but he was also rough during the spring, so maybe just not quite there yet. He struck out the side in the 5th, though, all swinging strikes. Madison's line: 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 HR, 5 BB, 6 K on 102 pitches.
George Kontos got himself into trouble in the 6th, but got himself out of it, and Cory Gearrin (man, he looked good), Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich finished the game with 1 inning each. So, YEAH! Way to go Giants! Nothing wrong with sitting atop the division at the beginning of the season. Keep it up!
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Vlog #3 : Preparing for a Trip to the Homeland
We must be very excited! Two posts on the same day! I suppose we have good reason. A great team is about to start an EVEN NUMBERED YEAR. If that isn't enough, how about going to see this team at their magnificent home ballpark? Against their arch rivals? This is likely my only trip to AT&T all year, so, please, watch the episode linked below and give me some helpful advice.
Vlog #3
Vlog #3
Great Expectations
I am not used to this. I've spent many seasons of the last several decades telling myself that the Giants would win the World Series. Much--well, most--was bravado. The team sucked and I was hoping for a miracle. There have been some years that I knew the team had talent and could, and even should, compete for a title. This time it's different. I know they have the talent. I know they should compete for the title. That, in fact, it would be a disappointment if they didn't have one of the best records in the game. It is certainly a funny feeling, but I can tell you it is a genuine one. Other than catastrophic injuries (o ye gods, bless us with your favors) there is no reason why this team shouldn't kick some serious baseball butt.
So I enter this season with great expectations. In the Dickens novel the "expectations" refer to an inheritance. A payoff. I was thinking about that. Certainly winning clubs get a hell of an income boost. Check out the Giants payroll! But I was also thinking "all that glitters is not gold." If I grok the plot of GE, our hero finds out that life is tough and doesn't always go as planned. We've all been around the block with our beloved team. We know shit happens. But that's not what I want to think about. I want to accentuate the positive. And this team has a lot of goddamn positives.
Baseball returns to our land today. And the Giants open their season tomorrow.
It's 2016, and I'm stoked.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
So I enter this season with great expectations. In the Dickens novel the "expectations" refer to an inheritance. A payoff. I was thinking about that. Certainly winning clubs get a hell of an income boost. Check out the Giants payroll! But I was also thinking "all that glitters is not gold." If I grok the plot of GE, our hero finds out that life is tough and doesn't always go as planned. We've all been around the block with our beloved team. We know shit happens. But that's not what I want to think about. I want to accentuate the positive. And this team has a lot of goddamn positives.
Baseball returns to our land today. And the Giants open their season tomorrow.
It's 2016, and I'm stoked.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Still More from the State's Capitol
Here are a few more of the sights from Wednesday's exhibition in Sacramento. The crowd was decked out in their finest orange and black. Hell, the RiverCats themselves donned their new orange alternative SacTown jerseys (too cool, must have!). I'm sure I will visit Raley Field several times this summer. Maybe not sliding down a grassy knoll next time, though. ;)
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