February 27th, 2006

Yet another beautiful Arizona day. It hit about 80 today. The Giants had a short practice with both the vets and the youngsters finishing by 12:15. The Giants stetched, ran, had a bunting competition, had infield/outfield practice and finished with batting practice thrown by the coaches. No live batting practice today......as a matter of fact, I didn't see the pitchers do much of anything today. I assume they either threw bullpens or worked out on the half practice field, but since I can't get to those locations.......I can only guess.

I don't know if you have been following the press the last couple of days.......but the Giants camp is really becoming quite the little social setting. They held a bunting competition today. Omar Vizquel, Ray Durham and Steve Finley competed to see who could lay down the most bunts within little rectangles that had been drawn on the infield (see photo). The entire team gathered around (including Bonds) and cheered their favorites on. From the way they were hooting and hollering, I am pretty sure that some money must have been put down on the competition. They sounded like a group of Little Leaguers out there. Steve Finley won the competition with 5 perfectly placed bunts, Vizquel had 4. I didn't see how many Durham had, but I am sure it was less than Vizquel. At any rate.....I have never seen anything like that in a Giants practice....they are usually pretty business like. I don't know what (or who) it is, but there is a different vibe in the Giants camp this year. They all seem to be having a lot more fun. That can only be a good thing.

During batting practice, no one really lit the joint up today. Niekro, Alou & Finley each had 3 HRs to lead the team today. I saw Ellison hit for the first time in several days and he was spraying linedrives around the field. Bonds really did not hit well. He only had one HR and really only a dozen or so well hit balls. After he finished batting, Bonds grabbed Luis Pujols (who had been pitching) and wrestled him to the rear of the batting cage, all the while claiming it was Pujols' poor pitching that caused his poor batting practice session. Like I said......a lot more horsing around this year.

Tomorrow, the Giants are holding a takeoff on the American Idol series. The sixteen players who are in their first Major League camp, will be required to dress up and sing, with the vets acting as judges. Comedian Rob Schneider, who is in town and is a big Giants fan, will help out by hosting the "show". I had read about this event in the media, but I was surprised to find out today, that the event will be open to the public. The entire Idol parody, will be held on top of the 1B dugout and the park will open an hour earlier (at 8:00am) to let the fans in to watch. The Giants will be asking for voluntary contributions from the fans and the players have promised to match the contributions with the total amount to be donated to charity. I am really looking forward to this event. Even my wife wants to come & watch. Don't be surprised if the entire post tomorrow has to do with the "Giants Idol" competition.

Only two more days of workouts before Spring Training games start. I hope the Giants are able to find a little time between their social events to work on the art of playing baseball ;-)