Jason Ellison got the start in CF. He went 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Giants vs Milwaukee
The Giants beat the Brewers today, in Scottsdale, 10-6. The Giants started mostly regulars for a change with Jose Vizcaino playing SS, Steve Finley in CF, Barry Bonds in LF, Lance Niekro at 1B, Ray Durham at 2B. Rounding out the lineup were Abraham Nunez in RF, Angel Chavez at 3B and Yamid Haad at C. This lineup responded nicely with 7 runs in the first 2 inning.
That Bonds guy continued to make a mockery of Spring Training pitching by going 2 for 2 with a double, a HR, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. He also had his first defensive chance of the season on a popup hit right to him. He almost lost the ball in the sun, but managed to make the catch while falling to the ground. Steve Finley continued to prove that rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated. He went 1 for 3 with a 3 run HR in the first inning. I’m not sure but I believe that is Finley’s 3rd HR of the spring……not bad until you realize that Bonds also has 3…….in about 1/4th of the at bats.
Everyone had their hitting shoes on early with Jose Vizcaino going 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Ray Durham was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Lance Niekro was 1 for 2 but didn’t manage to get an RBI for it seems like the first time this spring. Abraham Nunez was 1 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Even Yamid Haad was 1 for 2. Of the starting lineup, only Angel Chavez was hitless, in 2 ABs, but he still managed to get on base twice with bases on balls.
Of the replacements, Mark Sweeney continues to hit very well, going 2 for 3 with a couple of runs scored and 1 RBI. Kevin Frandsen was 1 for 2. Dan Ortmeier while going 0 for 2 managed a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Justin Knoedler had no hits in 2 plate appearances, but also helped the cause by getting 2 RBI on 2 SAC flies. The Giants had a total of 12 hits, 7 walks and an error. Even though they scored 10 runs, they still left more men on base than the Brewers with 8 LOB.
Brad Hennessey started the game and although he allowed only 2 runs in his 3 2/3 innings, he was not on at all. He gave up 4 hits and 3 walks and seemed to fall behind a every batter. In the second inning he was either 0-2 or 1-2 on every batter, loading the bases on 2 walks and a hit. No runs scored in that inning, but he had a full count on almost everyone, even though he was way ahead of the count early in the ABs. I hate it when a pitcher throws strike 1, strike 2 and then starts to nibble and loses the batter. Hennessey hit his pitch count after 2 outs in the 4th. Steve Kline came in with 2 out and 2 men on and got the only man he faced out, ending the inning with no runs allowed.
Old Man, Jeff Fassero, came on and pitched the 5th, 6th and 7th innings. He did a very creditable job; giving up 1 run on 2 hits and a walk while recording 1 strikeout. Fassero gave up his only run on a solo HR by Prince Fielder (Cecil’s little boy). Worrell had a really bad inning giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk, including a HR. Worrell just wasn’t sharp. He was not hitting his spots and his breaking stuff….wasn’t. The final inning was pitched by Tyler Walker who had his best inning of the spring allowing no base runners and getting out of the inning on less than 10 pitches.
It was good to see a game won by the veterans for a change. I was becoming so used to the kids winning the game, that I wasn’t sure what the vets could do when given the chance. As much as I like the kids….it was nice to see the vets perform.
Tomorrow will be the Giants vs the Rangers in Surprise. My guess is that since Surprise is an hour ride or so from Scottsdale AND since so many veterans played today…..we will see mostly the kids again tomorrow. Alou just doesn’t play regulars in back-to-back games until the last week or so of the spring. We shall see.
That Bonds guy continued to make a mockery of Spring Training pitching by going 2 for 2 with a double, a HR, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. He also had his first defensive chance of the season on a popup hit right to him. He almost lost the ball in the sun, but managed to make the catch while falling to the ground. Steve Finley continued to prove that rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated. He went 1 for 3 with a 3 run HR in the first inning. I’m not sure but I believe that is Finley’s 3rd HR of the spring……not bad until you realize that Bonds also has 3…….in about 1/4th of the at bats.
Everyone had their hitting shoes on early with Jose Vizcaino going 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Ray Durham was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Lance Niekro was 1 for 2 but didn’t manage to get an RBI for it seems like the first time this spring. Abraham Nunez was 1 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Even Yamid Haad was 1 for 2. Of the starting lineup, only Angel Chavez was hitless, in 2 ABs, but he still managed to get on base twice with bases on balls.
Of the replacements, Mark Sweeney continues to hit very well, going 2 for 3 with a couple of runs scored and 1 RBI. Kevin Frandsen was 1 for 2. Dan Ortmeier while going 0 for 2 managed a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Justin Knoedler had no hits in 2 plate appearances, but also helped the cause by getting 2 RBI on 2 SAC flies. The Giants had a total of 12 hits, 7 walks and an error. Even though they scored 10 runs, they still left more men on base than the Brewers with 8 LOB.
Brad Hennessey started the game and although he allowed only 2 runs in his 3 2/3 innings, he was not on at all. He gave up 4 hits and 3 walks and seemed to fall behind a every batter. In the second inning he was either 0-2 or 1-2 on every batter, loading the bases on 2 walks and a hit. No runs scored in that inning, but he had a full count on almost everyone, even though he was way ahead of the count early in the ABs. I hate it when a pitcher throws strike 1, strike 2 and then starts to nibble and loses the batter. Hennessey hit his pitch count after 2 outs in the 4th. Steve Kline came in with 2 out and 2 men on and got the only man he faced out, ending the inning with no runs allowed.
Old Man, Jeff Fassero, came on and pitched the 5th, 6th and 7th innings. He did a very creditable job; giving up 1 run on 2 hits and a walk while recording 1 strikeout. Fassero gave up his only run on a solo HR by Prince Fielder (Cecil’s little boy). Worrell had a really bad inning giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk, including a HR. Worrell just wasn’t sharp. He was not hitting his spots and his breaking stuff….wasn’t. The final inning was pitched by Tyler Walker who had his best inning of the spring allowing no base runners and getting out of the inning on less than 10 pitches.
It was good to see a game won by the veterans for a change. I was becoming so used to the kids winning the game, that I wasn’t sure what the vets could do when given the chance. As much as I like the kids….it was nice to see the vets perform.
Tomorrow will be the Giants vs the Rangers in Surprise. My guess is that since Surprise is an hour ride or so from Scottsdale AND since so many veterans played today…..we will see mostly the kids again tomorrow. Alou just doesn’t play regulars in back-to-back games until the last week or so of the spring. We shall see.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Giants vs Rangers
The Giants defeated the Rangers 3-2 today in one of the fastest games yet this spring. Game time was about 2 hours & 15 minutes. Since I expanded the comments on the photos I will try to keep this review down to a minimum. Although, when I start talking baseball, it’s pretty hard for me to keep it short.
The Giants didn’t play a lot of regulars, but the regulars accounted for all of the runs in one form or another. Barry Bonds went 3 for 3 with a HR, 2 singles and a sacrifice bunt……yep, that’s right………Barry laid down a SAC bunt that moved pinch runner Jason Ellison over from 2B to 3B from where he scored the third & winning run. Lance Niekro got another couple of RBIs and would have had a third, except that Barry held up waiting to see if the ball would be caught and then couldn’t score from 1B on a double that Lance hit off the wall at the 430 foot mark. Lance and Barry had a good laugh about it. This team continues to be as loose as I have seen them in years. They seem to really enjoy each other.
Morris only gave up 2 runs in 5 innings but he was really hit hard. Even the outs were just smashed. He struck out 1 and walked 1. Without some good defense and a couple of “atom balls” Morris could have easily given up 8 or more runs. He wasn’t fooling anyone.
Jamey Wright pitched the 6th, 7th and 8th innings, giving up no runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Jamey also struck out 2. The way they are using him; it looks like they are grooming him for long relief. I don’t know…..he looks like the leading candidate for the #5 spot in the rotation to me. Jack Tashner got the save, pitching a scoreless 9th inning. After issuing a walk to the first batter, Jack struck out the next 3 batters to end the game. He looked very sharp and had a nice fastball today. I really like this kid.
Todd Linden went 0 for 3 again with a walk. It appears his early hitting streak is over. Angel Chavez went hitless for the first time in awhile. Frandsen, Schierholtz, Wald, Buscher and Tyler Von Schell went a combined 0 for 11….so the kids didn’t hit the ball. But they played some good defense to bail Morris out……so all was good.
Like all spring games, some good, some bad. Considering the Giants again played few regulars, I was happy with the game. As I have said many times, I really like these kids. Even when they don’t hit, they help the regulars win the game. Good stuff.
The Giants didn’t play a lot of regulars, but the regulars accounted for all of the runs in one form or another. Barry Bonds went 3 for 3 with a HR, 2 singles and a sacrifice bunt……yep, that’s right………Barry laid down a SAC bunt that moved pinch runner Jason Ellison over from 2B to 3B from where he scored the third & winning run. Lance Niekro got another couple of RBIs and would have had a third, except that Barry held up waiting to see if the ball would be caught and then couldn’t score from 1B on a double that Lance hit off the wall at the 430 foot mark. Lance and Barry had a good laugh about it. This team continues to be as loose as I have seen them in years. They seem to really enjoy each other.
Morris only gave up 2 runs in 5 innings but he was really hit hard. Even the outs were just smashed. He struck out 1 and walked 1. Without some good defense and a couple of “atom balls” Morris could have easily given up 8 or more runs. He wasn’t fooling anyone.
Jamey Wright pitched the 6th, 7th and 8th innings, giving up no runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Jamey also struck out 2. The way they are using him; it looks like they are grooming him for long relief. I don’t know…..he looks like the leading candidate for the #5 spot in the rotation to me. Jack Tashner got the save, pitching a scoreless 9th inning. After issuing a walk to the first batter, Jack struck out the next 3 batters to end the game. He looked very sharp and had a nice fastball today. I really like this kid.
Todd Linden went 0 for 3 again with a walk. It appears his early hitting streak is over. Angel Chavez went hitless for the first time in awhile. Frandsen, Schierholtz, Wald, Buscher and Tyler Von Schell went a combined 0 for 11….so the kids didn’t hit the ball. But they played some good defense to bail Morris out……so all was good.
Like all spring games, some good, some bad. Considering the Giants again played few regulars, I was happy with the game. As I have said many times, I really like these kids. Even when they don’t hit, they help the regulars win the game. Good stuff.
Starting pitcher Matt Morris. He was the first Giant pitcher to go 5 innings this spring. It looks good that he gave up only 2 runs in his 5 innings, but he was hit hard. 6 hits, including a HR allowed, a walk, plus FOUR line drives caught by infielders (including Lance Niekro's unassisted doubleplay) plus the 2 great catches by Schierholtz and Finley. He could have easily given up 7 or 8 runs or more. It helps to have the good "D" behind you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
