Giants at Rangers

The Giants faced the Rangers at Surprise today, and lost 3-4. The Giants started only 4 starters. There were very few replacements in the game. Thomas DeLaRosa replaced Vizquel, Clay Timpner replaced Klesko and Lance Niekro replaced Bonds. Of the 3 replacements....only Niekro got even a single AB. This is new for the Giants. Under both Baker and Alou.....the Giants used VERY liberal replacement players all spring long.

Through the 8th inning, the Giants had hit 8 HRs in their last 17 innings in Surprise.......unfortunately, all 8 of them were solo shots. The Giants waited until the 9th inning before they finally got a run that wasn't due to a solo HR.

The Giants outhit the Rangers 11-7, but failure to take advantage of baserunners killed them. In the 2nd inning Molina was thrown out trying to score from 2B on a 2 out single. In the 3rd inning, Ellison got on base on a leadoff single, but was thrown out trying to steal. In the 4th, Molina had a 1 out single, Sweeney walked, but then Todd Linden hit into a 4-6-3 DP. In the 7th, Frandsen had a 1 out single followed by a walk to Ellison. Then Frandsen was caught stealing and Vizquel flied out to end the inning. In the 9th, the Giants had a 1 out double by Sweeney, followed by a RBI single by Linden. Linden stole 2B, but strikeouts by Frandsen and Ellison ended the game. The Giants just couldn't keep baserunners on base and just couldn't get the key basehit.

I pretty much covered the pitching. Ortiz was great, though victimized by the wind. Sanchez was OK and Kline continues to worry me. It was just good to see a Giants' pitcher go 6 full innings on March 20th. I have always thought the Giants pitchers weren't quite ready for the start of the season, since under both Baker and Alou.......Giants' pitchers didn't go more than 5 even in their last spring appearance.

Tomorrow is the Giants at the White Sox in Tucson. We will be going with a couple of my wife's clients and will be going out to dinner afterward. With the 2 hr trip back to Scottsdale........plus dinner....I doubt I will be posting tomorrow, unless it is the following morning. I doubt many Giants regulars will go to Tucson tomorrow. Hopefully, Bochy will play the regulars for the last week or so. Maybe then we can get a read on this team.