Friday, March 31, 2006

Giants vs Angels @ AT & T Park - March 30th, 2006

Before I get into last night’s game, I would like to just write a little note about the Giants final game in Arizona, a 12-0 shellacking of the A’s. Jason Schmidt looks to be his old self. His fastball seems to have more life than last year and his off-speed stuff, particularly the changeup, is just getting hitters WAY out in front. The only time Schmidt even remotely got in trouble was when he gave up a hit and a walk in the same inning. Other than that, the A’s never threatened. The only thing that concerns me (you always have to have some concern) is that Schmidt only struck out 1 batter in the game. He took several batters to a 2 strike count, but usually the at bat resulted in a popup or a groundball out. As I said…….to my eye, the fastball seems to be back to the mid-90’s range…….but with the lack of strikeouts, I will be interested to see what the gun reads the first time he pitches in a park that displays the pitch speed.

The offense in the A’s game was just superb. Seven HRs from 7 different players, including both veterans and youngsters was very good to see. I must say though that there was a very strong wind blowing directly out to LF…….Omar Vizquels HR, at the very least, would never have made it to the warning track on any other day. As it was, the ball made it over the wall by just inches. Another 17 hit day, where 11 Giants got base hits, off of some very good A’s pitchers was also good to see. Since I left early to get to the airport to catch a plane, I didn’t get to see the 9th inning. But the 4 runs on 6 hits (including 2 HRs) off of A’s phenom closer, Houston Street, must have been a thing of beauty. A VERY nice ending to my 6 weeks in Arizona.

I returned to the Bay Area on Wednesday evening. When the Giants break camp and head to San Francisco………I break camp and head to San Francisco.

Last night’s game, against the Angels, was not the most enjoyable game I have been to. It was chilly and threatening rain pretty much all night. The rain finally came in torrents, with 1 out in the 6th inning, causing an immediate end to the game. The Angels were playing with a split squad and the Giants fielded a team that LOOKED like it was a split squad. I am sure that Felipe Alou didn’t want many of his veterans to risk a late spring injury on the wet field. At any rate, the Giants fielded a team that looked a lot like the lineups they used in early spring when 4 starters were off playing in the WBC. Personally, I think they should stay in Arizona longer and take advantage of the better weather……..but since they wouldn’t be able to take advantage of 20,000 season ticket holders paying regular season prices to see the Fresno Grizzlies play…..I am sure that won’t happen any time soon.

The Giants lost 1-0 as it looked like most players from both teams looked like they would rather be anyplace else in the world than at the ballpark. The Giants managed only 2 hits off of Angel’s starter Jared (the other) Weaver, as the offense never got untracked. Matt Morris pitched a very good game, giving up 1 unearned run on 4 hits, no walks and 3 strikeouts. The unearned run came on a fly ball down the RF line that Abraham Nunez got to, but then dropped the ball after it hit in his glove. It looked like Nunez was more concerned with his footing than in watching the ball all the way into his glove, which was understandable with the wet turf. The run scored on a 27 hop ground ball that just made it out of the infield past a diving Kevin Frandsen. Morris really only gave up one hard hit base hit, a double in the 4th inning by Angel’s DH Mike Napoli (a AA player last year).

When the rains finally came, those of us who were prepared let out a huge cheer. It may have sounded strange on the radio, but it is actually kind of fun when the team is playing in the pouring rain and you are staying dry because you thought to bring the proper rain gear and the fans who were unprepared are scampering for the sheltered areas of the park. But we knew the game would soon be called. After Jeremy Accardo got 1 out in the top of the 6th, the umpires stopped play and very soon thereafter the game was called. As a note, lost in the hoopla about who will be the 5th starter and how Benitez, Walker, Hennessey and Correia are doing, is the little known fact that Jeremy Accardo has a 1.42 ERA this spring, giving up only 1 run in 5 appearances.

So it was a rain shortened night at the ballpark. Not exactly what I had hoped for on my first game back in the Bay Area. With rain predicted for the entire weekend…..this may not be the last rain shortened game before the regular season starts. Tonight is the Giants vs the A’s with Noah Lowry on the mound. I would hope to see more regulars on the field tonight, but with the rain…….I wouldn’t bet on it.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's the good word? Where will Joe Bateman be sent? Norwich? Fresno? Inquiring minds (in CT) want to know!!!

Anonymous said...

Until next year...I'm out.

Anonymous said...

Author, respect 2 you. Bookmark! :)


replica louis vuitton handbag

cash advance and paycheck loan

quick payday

application loan online personal quick

1000 advance fax no payday

payday paycheck loan cash loan

advance cash online payday

payday loan lender

cash emergency fast loan loan loan payday quick

home loan calculation

obtain a free credit report score

See you later, thanks

Anonymous said...

[color=#f5deb3]
hello there!
I bookmark your site, best greetings.
We enjoyed visiting your website very much. Here a lot of helpful information.

Also visit my sites:
[url=http://cialis-lis.blogspot.com/]CIALIS[/url] cialis-lis.blogspot.com c
ialis

See ya![/color]

Anonymous said...

Hi
Very like it!
Very much interesting site. Here a lot of helpful information.

Also visit my sites:

http://vicodin.butkel1.org/ vicodin
http://oxycontin.butkel1.org/ oxycontin


Buy!

Anonymous said...

[url=http://bontril-moza.blogspot.com/]bontril[/url] http://bontril-moza.blogspot.com/
Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://cheap-car-insurance.quickfreehost.com] car insurance chicago [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://seoguide.ws] compare car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://nutritionguide.ws] cheapest car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://affiliaterevenueguide.ws] new jersey car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://careeremploymentguide.com] admiral car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://fitnessequipmentguide.net] free online car insurance quote [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://inetmarketingguide.ws] direct line car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://interiordecorguide.ws] geico car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://landscapingguide.ws] compare car insurance rate [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://mortgageguide.ws] car insurance for woman [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://personalfinanceguide.ws] admiral car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://trafficbuildingguide.net] aig car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://vacationrentalsguide.ws] antique car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://wealthbuildingguide.net] diamond car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://progressive-car-insurance.wealthbuildingguide.net] progressive car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://compare-car-insurance.vacationrentalsguide.ws] car insurance chicago [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://cheapest-car-insurance.trafficbuildingguide.net] general car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://classic-car-insurance.personalfinanceguide.ws] car insurance quote online uk [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://free-car-insurance-quote.mortgageguide.ws] cheap online car insurance quote [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://cheap-car-insurance-quote.landscapingguide.ws] best car insurance quote [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://low-cost-car-insurance.interiordecorguide.ws] direct line car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://car-insurance-quote.inetmarketingguide.ws] direct car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://car-insurance-rates.homeimprovementguide.ws] car insurance coverage [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://new-york-insurance.fitnessequipmentguide.net] affordable car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://california-car-insurance.estateguide.ws] allstate car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://car-insurance-rate.careeremploymentguide.com] fresno car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://auto-insurance-company.affiliaterevenueguide.ws] infinity car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://online-car-insurance.acneguide.ws] car insurance cost [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://auto-cheap-insurance.nutritionguide.ws] diamond car insurance [/url][/b]
[b][url=http://auto-insurance-quote.seoguide.ws] free car insurance quote [/url][/b]

http://cheap-car-insurance.quickfreehost.com

Random Keyword: :)
[b]geico car insurance quote[/b]