When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

08.16.2007
Post-Game 8/16: Up...Up...and Rajai!

Giants 9, Braves 3: When was the last time a Giant did something to make you laugh out loud with joy? That was my reaction when Rajai Davis ended tonight’s game by running full speed and leaping against the center field fence to rob Andruw Jones of a possible home run. (Perhaps later they’ll post the video clip here.) Every day in a Giants uniform Davis does something to make me happy.

John over at OBM doubts Davis will keep up his .400 OBP (scroll to the end of his post), and I admit Rajai’s burst reminds me of Jason Ellison’s amazing month and a half to start 2005. But look at Davis more closely and you’ll see his game is different than Elly’s. First, he knows how to steal bases. Second, he’s got a great arm. Third, he’s got more defensive confidence.

I don’t know if Davis will adjust to the rigors of playing every day and to pitchers once they figure out his flaws, but thanks to the largesse of the Pirates, the Giants suddenly find themselves with a guy the fans can buzz about now, and perhaps all winter.

PLODAG: Dan Ortmeier, who hit a huge opposite-field home run and a double. This guy has real power from the right side. As a righty he’s now gone yard the other way in Atlanta and at Shea Stadium, both large parks. If he can do it at Mays Field, I’ll join the Official Dan Ortmeier Bandwagon Club. Runner-up: Pat Misch, fresh off a cross-country flight, nine up, nine down.

P.S. Not only does he wear his hat like a goon, but Randy Messenger is a dumb-ass.
Also on the Network:



[August 17, 2007 10:27 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Barton said

Lefty,

You totally missed the real news in that link about Messenger breaking his hand. Lance Niekro has been warming up in the Fresno bullpen! Apparently he inherited that knuckleball from his father and uncle and is thinking about switching positions.

As far as I can recall, the Giants haven't had anyone throw the knuckleball since Hoyt Wilhelm, and he left the team in the late 50s.

Here's hoping that the key to throwing a knuckleball is all in the genes.

[August 17, 2007 12:24 PM]  |  link  |  reply
rocketdog said

Lance Neikro = Rick Ankiel.

Ha ha. Did I just type that?

[August 17, 2007 1:49 PM]  |  link  |  reply
the gene hackman said

raj's catch was the #2 web gem.

They gave #1 to scotty rolen's throw to first from his ass. don't remember who he gunned down, tho, and it wasn't as cool as davis' catch... no way.

[August 17, 2007 2:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Josh from Hollywood said

As baseball fans, I think we too often boil any and every player down to his esssential elements to find his worth. Whether we use OPS+, VORP, WinShares, or whatever, sometimes we forget to account for the things that first drew us to the game, and to individual players. What Rajai Davis turns out to be in terms of offensive production remains to be seen, but it's not too early to say he delivers something that has been a very rare commidity around these parts -- pure, unadulterated excitement. His jaw-dropping speed, his willingness to get on base anyway possible, and his dazzling, throw-his-body-around-like-a-young-Freddy-Lynn catches are amazing things to behold, and provide the kind of youthful enthusiasm this team -- and its fanbase -- has needed for a long time now.

[August 17, 2007 3:23 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

I didn't see last night's game ending catch, but it couldn't have been better than the one the night before where he races from right center, dives headlong on the warning track and catches the ball 8 inches above the ground. One of the most incredible plays ever.