Monday, March 24, 2008














The Giants had plenty of chances to win this game yesterday. 12 hits, plus 5 walks and only 2 runs? That's pretty horrible. And it wasn't just the 11 men LOB that killed them. They pretty much ran themselves out of this game.

A long standing rule in baseball (if not THE cardinal rule on offense) is NEVER make the first out of the inning at home or 3B. Well the Giants did just that twice yesterday. The first was when the human windmill, Tim Flannery, sent Aaron Rowand home with 0 out in the 2nd inning. It appeared to me that Rowand would be out by 20 feet as he rounded 3B. A good slide by Rowand made it a little closer than that....but still first out of the inning at home plate.......rally killed.......no runs in the 2nd. A little later on, Benjie Molina tried to go from 1st to 3rd on a long single. A mediocre runner could have made it easily, because it was a play that required not 1 but 2 relay throws. Molina was out by plenty. 1st out of the inning at 3B......another rally snuffed. Add that to the fact that the fastest man I have ever seen that just can't steal a bag, Fred Lewis, got caught stealing........again. That makes 4 CS in 6 tries this spring for Fred. How can I guy that fast not be better at base stealing? Add a couple of DPs into the equation, and you can see how every Giants starter could get on base by a walk or a hit..........7 starters reached base at least twice.........and the team still scored only 2 runs. You would think they would have lucked into more than 2 runs with that many players reaching base.

Erick Threets pitched the 7th and gave up 2 runs. Threets threw too many fastballs up in the zone. Brad Hennessey gave up a 2 out, solo HR in the 8th to mar his day. Once again, the Giants pitchers had problems IN the strike zone not by missing the zone. Between the 3 pitchers, they only issued 1 walk. I am not happy with the 5 runs allowed.......but the lack of walks is encouraging to me. Good things come from throwing strikes. The real problem with this game was not pitching, it was the Giants' frustrating ability to get TONS of men on base.......and not score.

As you can probably surmise from this late post.......I am not taking the 4 hour roundtrip ride to Tucson today. Frankly, I am just too damn lazy........especially since learning that Kevin Correia was scratched from the start. More injury problems.......like the Giants can afford that. Tomorrow will be my last game in Arizona. Wednesday, I fly back to San Francisco and Thursday I will be at the game in ATT Park. With my "busy" schedule..........I think I can afford to miss a game.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hank,
Thanks agaiin for making this spring training more enjoyable. Your pictures and commentary are priceless.
Dennis

Anonymous said...

Hey GF9, Absolutely love and look forward to your 'jottings' every year. It's like being there. I know it's almost time for baseball when Giantsfan9 fires up the blog. Thanks for tending to my Giants addiction and doing such a fine job every year. It's much appreciated!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your daily reports and pictures. This spring training went by so quickly! It's nice to know that even though our Giants didn't have a stellar spring you were still there to report on the events of each day. Your efforts so MUCH appreciated!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the pictures and reports - you have dramatically improved my spring training experience.

CRTTT said...

Thanks for the spring Hank. You missed Nicks 1rst Major League start. We were all listening live on MLB.Com...but would have loved to see the kids picture put up..Nick called later that evening, and gave us all the details, live...one of these days we need to chat..there are a few things I would like to share with you. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Mike

Anonymous said...

Loved hearing about and seeing spring training through your pictures and comments! Looking foward to tomorrow's game in Fresno.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for tracking the Giants all spring. I read your site everyday because it is the only place to get good pictures and game commentary. THANKS!!

Fred Sarra said...

GF9,

It looks like we sat pretty darn close to each other at this game, lol. I saw a guy with a score card a few rows in front of me and wondered if it was you.

What I took from this game was that they must find SOME way of keeping Eugenio on the field. He is exciting, and already has the fans on his side big-time. Losing will be tolerable if I get to watch this kid develop. Also, after only seeing Ortmeier for a very small sample size, I think they really need to let him loose at 1B. Give him the job and let him run with it. I say run with it, cause that kid is FAST. Might be the fastest big guy I have ever seen. His defense seemed decent (made a nice save on a high throw), and with his size you just hope the power comes. Platooning him now will just keep the power from developing, and make learning the Defense that much harder.

What do you think of Danny and Eugenio?

Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Thanks again for your great blogg this year. I looked foreword to it every year for the past 3 years. You also give us a insight into the state of the giants that is unavailable on the "official site" and on the negative fan forum.
Once again thank you--gary(nwgfan)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your pix and ideas with us. It seems as if I am there.

greg8370 said...

GF9--Thanks a ton for your time and effort here. Great job!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for making the Giants spring training "up close and personal" yet again.

Good luck and may the Giants not be as bad as pundits predict. ;)

Grizzfan said...

GF9
Thank you aso much for the reports and pictures. Especially of my son Nate. You really have it mastered. Our family and friends here and in So. Cal enjoys what you do.
thanks again for everything.
Nates Dad
Vai Schierholtz

Catherine Nguyen said...

Thank you for your spring pictures and commentary, GF9. It's great getting a "real" look at the Giants every year, especially all the younger position players and pitchers. I'm looking forward to next season's jottings.

Thanks again and

Go Giants!

Giantfan9 said...

Hey Vai:

Good to hear from you again. I figured you have been lurking all spring. Tell Nate to keep his chin up.....at some point the Giants have to give him a prolonged chance. This spring must have been hard.....but he will get his chance. Of course, he would already have it if I were the Manager or GM.....but they just won't give me the job.

Hank

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for the blog. It's the closest I'll ever get to spring training.

I was wondering if you knew a good place to park by AT&T. I've heard they up the prices to $30 and was hoping there was some sort of secret parking lot somewhat close to the park so i could avoid that.

Thanks again for the blog

Giantfan9 said...

I live about a 15 minute walk from the park.....so I am the last person you should ask about parking. I haven't driven to the park since May 2004. Sorry.

Grizzfan said...

Hank;
Yes, I've been reading up on everything in hopes to see a trade of some sorts to open up the OF. If it wasn't for Lincecum the whole 3 games vs the A's would have been the same this weekend as all of ST. just see how the team luckily scored runs and the errors keep coming. now to see the opening day line up. nothings changed. nate expected it as you called it with a PH here and there in the late innings. He's positive and ready to go. great win for the grizzlies!!! thanks again Hank. when nate gets the call we'll have to meet at the park
vai

Giantfan9 said...

Hey Vai:

I'll be there. I always am. And I hope Nate gets that call soon. Man we need him. This team just does not look good. Some "Youth Movement".

Hank

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the spring training coverage

Anonymous said...

i'm ready for 2009 spring training!! Let's Rock!!
Mike in New Jersey!