A smile crosses my face when I think of how well the Giants have performed on the season.  I guess I was used to losing or something.   In my wildest dreams, I don’t think I would have ever predicted 49-39 at this point in the season.  Factor in that they have the third best record in the National League and lead the wild card and my smile widens.

First and foremost, the secret to the Giants success this year is their pitching.  The starters start the games, so we’ll begin with them.  The two headed beast of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain has given the team an awesome stability at the top of the rotation.  I will set this one two punch against any in the majors.  With Timmy, after two hiccups to begin the season, he’s merely continuing what won him the Cy Young award last season.  As for Cain, he’s showing us what he can do when he has the comfort level a little run support will allow.  Incredible.  If each continues their first half performance, the Giants will be well.  Randy Johnson’s been good, not great, not stellar.  He’s been a stable influence in the rotation when he’s not giving up taters.   However, his 8-6 record is gone until August (or September).  A lot will happen between now and then and his return should be viewed on a par with a late season trade.  It could push them over the top but won’t help them in the short term.  After him, Barry Zito’s been hit and miss, sink or swim, bouquet or stink.  In other words, a great number four.  For every dominating outing he has, there is seemingly one bad one and two that can go either way.  I’ll take the dominating ones when we can get them.  However, while he’s nice when on, he can’t be depended upon in crunch time.  So that leaves us with the kids.  Jonathan Sanchez was great in his last outing (no-hitter) and mostly abyssmal in the previous 13 before that.  It’s imperative that this last start was not an anomaly and that the Giants can depend on more of that sort.  If he starts walking the world in his next outing, the team should be concerned.  If the next batch are the same as the first 13, a change will be in order.  If he continues this dominance, then the Giants are in for a treat.  The rookie, Ryan Sadowski, has been good in three starts.  As a true #5, whatever the team can get from him will be gravy.  If he can remain accurate with his pitches (in his lost, he walked four), it appears he can be a consistently good juxtaposition to the fireballers at the top of the rotation.  He’s one to watch in the second half.

The bullpen was awesome.  Between Justin Miller, Brandon Medders, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, and Bobby Howry, leads were often safe in the first half.  The only real question mark is oft-injured Merkin Valdez and his ‘just under five’ ERA.  Perhaps they could use an upgrade in this department.  Every other pitcher who hasn’t produced in the bullpen this year (Matos, Misch, Hinshaw) has been shown the door in short order.  Let’s hope the Giants don’t get too tentative about this one.  Perhaps a returning Joseph Martinez is the answer.  Brian Wilson, as usual, gave us a few nervous moments but, more often than not, came through for the Orange and Black.  I don’t see why that should change in the second half.  Nor do I see any need for a different closer (though the reactionaries will always scream that the sky is falling and somebody other than Wilson should be the closer….they are wrong). 

For the lineup, I’ll be brief:

First base-The lineup improved once 1) Travis Ishikawa started hitting and 2) once Travis Ishikawa started playing consistently.  I love this guy at first.  He should be the starter from here on out.  They need no upgrade at this position.  He saves uncountable runs with his scoops at first and, I’ll call my shot, he will end up the season with 20 homeruns and 80 RBI.  Mark it down. 

Second base-After the failed (can we declare it failed yet??  Yes, we can.) experiment with the combination of Emmanuel Burriss (didn’t hit/sent to the minors and currently missing the rest of the season with a broken foot) and Kevin Frandsen (sent to the minors/recalled and didn’t hit/currently being given a second look in the majors as a pine rider), Juan Uribe was a pleasant surprise at second base.  He’s hitting .301 and fielding second base like he was born to play it.  I don’t trust him 100% to continue this torrid pace and don’t think either Matt Downs or any minor league youngsters are the answer should he fail.  Therefore, if they are going to grab a stick by the deadline, second base is a good area to shore up.

Shortstop-I know many have been very critical about Edgar Renteria but, to be honest, he hasn’t been playing that badly.  Very average with his range.  His stick is nothing to write home about but he is good about tossing gas on the fire when the team starts blasting balls around the field.  In other words, he’s doing exactly what the Giants thought he would.  He is an accompaniment.  Nothing more, nor less. 

Third base-Hey, hey, what can I say?  Pablo Sandoval is the man at this position.  At the hot corner, he has been awesome.  Most of his seven errors came during his little stint at first base.  At third, he has been special.  His bat is awesome.  The league will grow to fear him.  As an added bonus, his power came around, in a hurry.  We’re looking 30+/100+ from him by the end of the year.  This is a bat to build a lineup around.  It’s also one that can carry a team offensively for a stretch. 

Catcher-Benjie Molina first, should not be hitting cleanup.  His power hitting seems to have abandoned him.   The pitchers like him, however, so we’ll continue to see him in the lineup.  However, don’t expect a ton from him.  And, lest we forget, he does like to surprise, at times.  Dependable bat that should be more potent in the second half.  Eli Whiteside has been a nice surprise.  I enjoy him playing in small doses.  The white hair is a bit freaky, though.  Eh.  I guess it matches his name.  Bucks the team trend, too, as it’s not a mohawk. 

Left field-Fred Lewis, who I pushed hard in the preseason, appears to have worn out his welcome.  Too many strikeouts with too little production will do that.  Sorry Fred.  I did lobby hard for ya’ for three years.  Nate Schierholtz has been nice as a substitute (though he’s better suited for right field) and should get more starts in the second half.  His scorching bat seems to have cooled a bit.  If he can’t pick it up by the end of this month, then that’s another spot where they might be able to use an upgrade. 

Center field-Aaron Rowand has experienced a renaissance since moving to the leadoff spot.  Amazing.  He’s hitting well and playing good defense (although the strikeouts are a bit high).  He swooned last season.  However, I think he’ll keep this up for the duration.  He’s playing with a vigor that is nice to see. 

Right field-Earlier stated, I think that Schierholtz is best suited to play here and move starter Randy Winn over to left.  Winn’s good.  He’s a leader.  He’s rather unspectacular.  However, he’s a veteran and, as such, is an asset to the team.   Important to have these down the stretch. 

I’ve read a great deal of ‘experts’ and ‘fans’ desiring that manager Bruce Bochy get the axe and that general manager Brian Sabean be smoted with the same stroke.  I think this idea is silly.  While I was a little miffed at Bochy for sticking with some veterans in the field early when I thought they should be on the bench or seeking other employment, he came around and now Ishikawa’s playing at first while Rich Aurilia’s riding the bench.  I think Bochy’s doing a great job with this team, overall.  Let’s see if he can get them to the playoffs and beyond.  I think he can.  That should keep the aforementioned smile beaming on my kisser.  Now, round one was fun and is in the books.  Let’s get going on round two of the season. 

The San Francisco Giants used stellar back-to-back pitching performances to rally from a bullpen meltdown and win game #300 for Randy Johnson’s career and the three game series from the Washington Nationals. 

The middle game, delayed by a day due to rain, featured Johnson (5-4), the six foot ten veteran, with all baseball eyes upon him, tossing six dominant innings, surrendering a scant two hits and one run (unearned) in a winning effort, 5-1.  The Giants used a two run, second inning rally off Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman (2-3) to provide Johnson all the necessary offense.  In the second, Travis Ishikawa followed a one-out single by Fred Lewis with a double to right field, setting the stage for an RBI groundout by Juan Uribe and an RBI single by Emmanuel Burriss, making the score 2-0.   Johnson did the rest, cruising through the sixth, when he was roughed up by an RBI double by Nick Johnson, cutting the lead in half, 2-1.  The only real threat from that point on was when the Nationals loaded the bases against Giant closer Brian Wilson in the eighth with slugger Adam Dunn coming up to bat.  Wilson responded by striking out Dunn looking on a full count pitch, ending the threat.  After the Giants tacked on three more runs in their half of the ninth, Wilson struck out the side for his thirteenth save of the season.  Johnson’s win is even more poignant when taking into account that he originally came up through the Montreal Expos organization. 

In the second game of the double header, the Giants won 4-1 in a truncated game, ended after the top of the sixth.  Matt Cain (7-1) went the distance for another dominating performance.  Aaron Rowand, Pablo Sandoval, and Rich Aurilia drove in runs off Ross Detwiler (0-2) in a three run fifth.  The game was called with the Giants batting in the top of the sixth inning. 

Game one featured a quality start by Tim Lincecum going for naught as the Nationals rallied for six runs in the bottom of the tenth, turning a 5-4 deficit into a 10-5 advantage and going on to win 10-6.   Losing pitcher Bob Howry (0-3) and Merkin Valdez each gave up three runs in the set, featuring RBI doubles by Elijah Dukes and Ryan Zimmerman and an absolute implosion of the Giant middle relief corps.  Justin Miller, though not officially scored upon, was lit up in the effort, to the tune of an RBI double, walk, and sacrifice fly.  Ron Villone (3-0) tossed one and two thirds innings of perfect relief for the victory.   Aaron Rowand hit a leadoff homerun (6), in the losing effort.

Great to see a win in the series.  Also nice to see Ishikawa back at first base and performing well in such a position.  Sandoval played well.  Bullpen meltdowns, like what happened in the first game, happen.  However, an eye should be kept on Howry.  Free agent signing or not, he’s having rough outings more times than makes me comfortable.  Hopefully he can turn it around.  Still, a series win is great.  Let’s see if the Giants can continue their winning ways. 

The next Giant series will begin on Friday night as they venture to Florida to face the Marlins.  The same night, the Nationals will welcome the New York Mets to town. 

Rich Aurilia hit his first homerun of the season and the bullpen turned in 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball as the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3, taking the weekend series, two games to one.  Aurilia’s shot off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (5-3) broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning and made a winner of Merkin Valdez (2-0).  The Giants rallied behind Pablo Sandoval, whose RBI single erased a two run deficit in the fifth.  Brian Wilson threw the ninth for the save (12). 

In the opener, Matt Cain (6-1) continued to dominate, pitching into the seventh inning while giving up only two runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out five and lowering his team leading ERA to 2.31.  Pablo Sandoval drove in two in the winning effort and Brian Wilson threw a scoreless ninth for the save.

In the middle game, Albert Pujols stroked two homeruns (15, 16) as the Cardinals rallied to beat Barry Zito (1-6), 6-2.  The Giants scored on winning pitcher Chris Carpenter (3-0), becoming the first team to tack an earned run this season on the St. Louis ace.  Sergio Romo made his first appearance of the season, throwing 2/3 of an inning while surrendering two runs. 

Analysis, a series win is always great.  Nice to see that the team overcame the early deficit to win on Sunday.  Also nice to see Romo come back, though he had some rust, to be sure.  Equally great that Sandoval is back in the lineup, albeit at first base.   This is my criticism.  I understand that they want to play Sandoval at first to rest his sore arm (as opposed to having him hurl throws across the diamond from third base).  I get that.  However, Travis Ishikawa, who was swinging a scorching hot bat against Atlanta, didn’t pick up the stick one time against the Cards.  That’s not smart.  We’ll see if he can get some at bats this next series.   Brian Wilson was nails this series.  Also great to see that Cain continues to dominate.  He was my preseason pick for Cy Young and I’m not changing it now.

The Giants will next travel to Washington DC to play the Nationals as Randy Johnson shoots for win number 300.  The Cardinals will next host the Cincinnati Reds.

Tim Lincecum spent the entire evening throwing bb’s past the bemused Los Angeles Dodgers and Benjie Molina drove in four runs as the Giants won the rubber game of the teams’ three game set with a convincing 9-4 victory. 

Lincecum was practically unhittable until the eighth inning, when the Dodgers loaded the bases with none out, eventually going on to score three times along with giving the starter a ticket to the showers.  After Jeremy Affeldt induced a double play, closer Brian Wilson got the final out of the inning, then pitched the ninth, surrending one run, for his fifth save of the season.  Edgar Renteria gathered four hits on the evening while Molina tripled and homered.  The much ballyhooed matchup between Lincecum and LA’s Manny Ramirez ended with the slugger 1 for 3 with a single and walk.  Hence, the outcome of that rivalry is obviously still in the air.

The opener saw Barry Zito with his second consecutive solid outing, carrying a 3-0 shutout into the seventh.  In that set, the Dodgers rallied, highlighted by a two run Casey Blake homer to chase Zito.  Reliever Merkin Valdez couldn’t put out the fire in the inning, surrendering the lead and allowing a 4-3 deficit, after a Manny Ramirez RBI single, and leaving the reliever on the hook for the decision.  However, the Giant bats came alive in the bottom of the eighth.  After singles by Fred Lewis and Renteria, Randy Winn struck out.  Then, with runners on the corners, Rich Aurilia, inexplicably starting at cleanup, hit a dribbler up the first base line.  Dodger reliever Ronald Belisario gloved the ball and attempted to flip it to catcher Russell Martin.  The ball had air under it and Martin was unable to handle it cleanly, allowing Lewis to score with Aurilia ending up at first.  After a wild pitch, Molina grounded out to third, bringing Renteria home, and giving the Giants the lead, 5-4.  Brian Wilson struck out the side in order in the ninth for the save.

The middle game saw a dominating performance by Chad Billingsley as the Dodger ace threw 7 1/3 quality innings before being chased in the eighth with the Giants tying the score at three.  The bullpen unraveled in the top of the ninth and the Dodgers scored twice, leading to a final score of 5-3 in favor of Los Angeles.

All in all, the series gives the Giants much to grow on.  It’s their fourth straight series win.  Also, Pablo Sandoval’s officially hot.  However, he ended up leaving Wednesday’s game with a tight groin and will be day to day.  Zito’s outing featured Sandoval at catcher.  I think it evidences that these two need to be paired every fifth day.   Going back to last season, Zito pitches better when Sandoval’s behind the plate.  Something the team needs to keep in mind.

The Giants start their next series on Friday when they play host to the Colorado Rockies.  The Dodgers will host the San Diego Padres on Thursday evening. 

The San Francisco Giants made their final roster moves, with some surprises, heading in to Tuesday’s opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

In trimming back to the final 25, the team decided to go with a 12 man pitching staff, designating Luis Perdomo for assignment while purchasing the contract of Brandon Medders from AAA Fresno.  As Perdomo is a Rule 5 pickup, they will have to offer him back to the St. Louis Cardinals since he’s not remaining on the 25 man roster.  More on that as it develops. 

In other moves, the Giants optioned catcher Steve Holm to Fresno, leaving them with just one full time catcher in Benjie Molina.  Third baseman Pablo Sandoval will moonlight as a backup backstop until later in the season (probably right after the first month, which is laden with off days, and at which time the Giants will have a little better idea of the type of team that they are fielding), when Holm is expected to be recalled.  Relief pitcher Justin Miller was reassigned to minor league camp.  Expect him back some time this season.  Also, the contracts of Juan Uribe and Rich Aurilia were purchased from Fresno.  Both veterans will start the season on the Giants roster.  Finally, pitcher Noah Lowry and reliever Sergio Romo will both open the season on the 15 day disabled list. 

The 2009 San Francisco Giants opening day roster is as follows:

Starting Rotation: Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Randy Johnson, Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito.

Bullpen: Alex Hinshaw, Bob Howry,  Joseph Martinez, Brandon Medders,  Merkin Valdez, Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt,

Starters:

C: Benjie Molina.

1B:  Travis Ishikawa

2B:  Emmanuel Burriss

SS:  Edgar Renteria

3B:  Pablo Sandoval

RF:  Randy Winn

CF:  Aaron Rowand

LF:  Fred Lewis

Bench: Rich Aurilia (IF), Juan Uribe (IF), Eugenio Velez (UT), Nate Schierholtz (OF), Andres Torres (OF)

Atleast it wasn’t another lose for the Barry Zito I guess we can say.  Zito pitched six innings of seven hit and three run baseball against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night as the Giants lost 7-3.  Zito really only made one mistake in the game and that was on a two run home run by Lance Berkman.

Vinnie Chulk ended up taking the loss for the Giants as he pitched an inning of relief and gave up two hits and one run.  Merkin Valdez also struggled out of the bullpen as he only recorded one out and gave up two hits and three runs.  Only one of those three runs were earned however as two errors later in the inning scored two runs.

John Bowker had a solo home run which was the fourth of the season for him as he finished the game with one rbi.  Fred Lewis and Omar Vizquel also had one rbi in the game.

Had it not been for the two errors in the eighth inning, the Giants would have had a lot better chance at coming back in the ninth inning.  Four runs in one inning is just to much for this Giants offense to come back from in my opinion.  What do you think Giants fans?  Giants Blog

The San Francisco Giants lost 4-2 on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Arizona is a tuff team to beat this year and this was a hard match up for the struggling Giants lineup.  The Giants just couldn’t keep the Diamondbacks inside the ballpark as the D-backs hit three home runs in the game.

Kevin Correia was the opening pitcher for the Giants throwing for six innings and giving up eight hits, three runs, and two walks.  He was only able to strikeout two Arizona batters.  This loss put him at 1-3 for the year.  Merkin Valdez and Brad Hennessey were brought in to pitch the last two innings.  Valdez did allow one run to cross the plate while Hennessey pitched a scoreless inning.

The Giants scored in the second inning when Jose Castillo singled to center field and scored Aaron Rowand.  The scond Giants run came in the third inning when Fred Lewis hit a solo home run.

The Giants will face off against the Diamondbacks one more time tonight in Arizona before heading to San Diego to take on the Padres for a two game series.

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The San Francisco Giants picked up the 8-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday putting them at 8-11 for the year.  The Giants have a lot of work to do to get back in the top standings but this win giving them the series win in St. Louis was a good start.

Jonathan Sanchez is now 1-1 after pitching five innings in the win against the Cardinals on Sunday.  He allowed only two hits and no runs during his time on the mound.  Keiichi Yabu, Merkin Valdez, and Vinnie Chulk were brought in to close out the night and seal the win over St. Louis.

John Bowker hit in his third home run of the season.  Bengie Molina led the Giants with three RBI,  Aaron Rowand and Bowker both had two RBI, while Ray Durham had one RBI.

The San Francisco Giants head to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks on the road on Monday night.  A big win there would really help their season out a lot.  Picking up divisional wins is key, and the Giants still have time to get back into contention in the division. Do I think they will do it?  Nope…

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The San Francisco Giants struggled against the Arizona Diamondbacks and their starting pitcher Brandon Webb on Wednesday afternoon.  The Giants were only able to manage one run in the game and only three total hits as they lost 4-1 You can’t win the ball game in most cases with one run and only three hits.

Eugenio Velez was the only Giants player to record an RBI in the game.  Velez doubled to left-center in the fourth inning to score Fred Lewis.  Other then that double, the Giants bats were silent as Webb dominated them for eight inning and then Brandon Lyon closed the door in the ninth inning.

As for the Giants pitching, Barry Zito took the loss which dropped his record to 0-4 on the season.  Zito didn’t have good command of the ball as he walked five batters, gave up five hits, and let five runs cross the plate.  Only four of the five runs were earned, not like it mattered anyways.

Vinnie Chulk and Merkin Valdez pitched the final three innings and did a good job.  Maybe the bullpen should have been called on earlier in the ballgame with Zito struggling so much.  What do you think Giants fans?

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The San Fracisco Giants won their second game in a row for the first time this season as they beat the San Diego Padres by the score of 1-0.  In the bottom of the 9th inning, Dan Ortmeier doubled over Jim Edmonds head and scored Rajai Davis who was pitch running.

Now that is what you call an exciting win!  The Giants pitching deserves credit for keeping them in the game and only allowing four total hits to the Padres.  Jonathan Sanchez pitched six innings and struck out ten batters while only giving up three hits.  Merkin Valdez, Jack Taschner, and Tyler Walker all pitched in relief.  Walked ended up picking up the win as he pitched the 9th inning.

The Giants record now stands at 3-6 on the season.

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