October 2005 Archives

"The Giants on Thursday exercised their option for the 2006 season for Winn, the National League's Player of the Month for September. San Francisco also picked up their option on ace Jason Schmidt, while outfielder Moises Alou, second baseman Ray...
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Just when the name "SBC Park" started to feel comfy and homey -- for those of us who spent our childhoods down a manhole or in a regional switching office, that is -- it looks like the old yard is...
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By choice and by circumstance, I've caught most of the first two World Series games on the radio. By circumstance, because I've been in the car or the shower for parts of the first two games. But mostly by choice,...
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As has been amply noted, the two World Series teams this year are riding high on excellent starting rotations. Their pitching has compensated for mediocre offenses built around one or two big bats (Berkman, Ensberg for Houston; Konerko, Dye for...
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My fondest impressions of Bill King remain from my pre-teen days, when I was as obsessed with the Warriors as I was with the Giants. I could sit and listen to him all night on the radio, rapid-fire but smooth,...
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I turned on my computer yesterday and an odd thing happened. After months of barely noticing my desktop wallpaper, I sat and stared and smiled at the image of Omar Vizquel in the 2005 opening day game, leaping into splits...
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Didn't this remind you a little bit of this?...
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The Los Angeles Times noted a couple days ago that the Dodgers were starting to interview managerial candidates to replace Jim Tracy. On the list: the Giants' bench coach and long-time heir-apparent Ron Wotus. To become the Giant manager, Wotus,...
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Late last week Baseball America posted its top 20 list for 2005 Pacific Coast League prospects. As with the '04 list, the Giants had exactly one name on the list. And just like in '04, the name was called up...
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Last week the Giants quietly announced the winner of their annual Willie Mac Award, a players' vote for the most inspirational squad member. Little surprise: Mike Matheny was the man. The object of much scorn all year (mine and others'),...
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Oh dear, I nearly forgot: Ha ha ha ha ha ha Dodgers! You couldn't even finish ahead of our crappy team! And Jim Tracy, as my Moldavian landlord once said, your employer gives you pink slipper; you find yourself with...
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On the final day of the year, Randy Winn auditioned in the three spot. Felipe Alou has mused this week about batting him there next year, given Winn's power proclivities since coming to the Giants: 14 home runs, 5 triples,...
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