March 2008 Archives

Dodgers 5, Giants 0. It's important to avoid pegging a season to Opening Day. It's what non-fans do. You show up at work the next morning, and the non-fans, having glanced at the newspaper headlines over some guy's shoulder on...
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Whoda thunk? The Giants are tied for the lead in the N.L. West! Ladies and germs, señoras y señores, the Steve Holm Era has begun. Here are a few predictions: * Tired of the nattering negatrons behind his back, Barry...
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The opening day 25-man roster is set. It won't be the roster for long, as Omar Vizquel is due back soon, Vinnie Chulk doesn't seem too injured, and Noah Lowry could be back by the end of April. Here are...
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Yesterday’s post brought much debate over blame for the current mess. Brian Sabean’s fault? Ownership’s fault? Who’s really in control? Unless we get incriminating e-mail off the Giants’ servers… From: P-Mags [mailto:thebigguy@sfgiants.com] Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 12:54 PMTo: ‘Brian Sabean,’...
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The media got a tour of Mays Field yesterday and noticed the Giants had taken down all the Bonds-related paraphenalia. No “Bonds Squad.” No “Road to History.” No “756.” No home-run counter. No surprises here. Remember my suggestion last month...
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In his “state of the team” talk yesterday, Brian Sabean gave the media a barrel of mushy maybes and toothless threats. For example: On Dan Ortmeier: "I don't know if he's our first baseman, but he deserves to be on the...
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Before all the bad news gets us too far down, bunkies, let’s take time out and remember that baseball still rules. Loyal reader BigO sent these photographs from his recent trip to the desert. (For more, see our collection at Spring...
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Kevin Frandsen has ruptured his Achilles' tendon. Bad bad bad bad bad. He could be out for the year, pending the results of an MRI. It's injury added to insult, which came when the Giants said they'd start Frandsen in...
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I was off the grid over the weekend and returned last night to find the Giants had a new third baseman, sort of. The facts: Jose Castillo is a 27–year-old utility infielder who has been dumped by two of the...
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Roster moves: Nate Schierholtz has been optioned to AAA. Not a big surprise. Also optioned to Fresno are Travis Denker (which means he skips AA completely -- keep an eye on this kid), Travis Ishikawa, and Billy Sadler. Emmanuel Burriss...
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But they won’t be Bad! Shamon it! (Hat tip to NW.) ...
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Item #1: Behold the words of Dave Roberts in today’s Chron and know why athletes shouldn’t be counted on for rational analysis. Regarding Eugenio Velez making the team, Roberts said, "I don't see how he couldn't. He's obviously got talent. He's...
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PM UPDATE: Chris Haft of sfgiants.com predicts the Giants break north with Wilson, Walker, Hennessey, Chulk, Kline, Taschner and Valdez in the bullpen and try to sneak Erick Threets through waivers. Bad idea. Taschner has an option. Why not use...
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Thirteen of the 32 games on the spring schedule remain. Jonathan Sanchez is likely to be the team’s fifth starter in Noah Lowry’s absence, but beyond that not much has cleared up. I have a few suggestions. 1) The Giants will...
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Friday notes on this busy day… * SOX TALK: The Giants and White Sox keep talking about Joe Crede but can’t see eye to eye, the Chicago Trib reports. The writer is Mark Gonzales, who used to cover the Giants...
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The Giants are headed to their worst spring record in nearly a quarter-century, and in addition to the putrid hitting statistics I cited a couple days ago, they also have the worst ERA and most errors in the majors this...
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PM UPDATE: Capellan Gone. Hat tip to the tireless BigO for noticing this note. The Giants put Rule V pick Jose Capellan on waivers, and the Reds claimed him. That leaves three lefties competing for the bullpen, Kline, Taschner and...
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A spring record of a few wins and piles of ugly losses; weird injuries; the worst batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in the Cactus League; Barry Zito’s new delivery; an ad campaign devised with the help of Bruce Jenkins.   I need a...
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Aaron Rowand wants to get the band back together. But Kenny Williams, playing the role of Saul Zaentz, could throw a wet blanket over the whole thing. Word from the Chicago papers is that White Sox GM Williams doesn’t feel...
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“Exertional Compartment Syndrome? Isn’t that when you work and work and work to fill your diaper, no one bothers to change it, and you get a bad rash? Quit whining, Noah, and tell your mom and dad to slap some Desitin...
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Just when you thought Kevin Frandsen was the opening day shortstop, Bruce Bochy says mmmm….nope. Frandsen has had a case of the uglies in his brief time there this spring, and now the Giants say someone else will fill the gap left...
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The Giants sent Randy Messenger to Triple-A, so contrary to what I assumed a few days ago, he does have options left. Though, ahem, I was right in guessing he'd be the first righty demoted. I'm still waiting for the...
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(With apologies to the Baffler.) We saw this coming. First Bochy’s comment about “warrior spirit” last year, then the Aaron Rowand January Tour as the new face of the team, then the “Find your swagger” T-shirts to start spring training, and...
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No doubt you already know that Noah Lowry had a horrific day yesterday that has led to whispers of “Steve Blass Disease” around the desert. But you probably didn’t know that Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams made an imaginary...
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Slap me silly for inhaling early-spring optimism like it was helium from a rose-colored balloon, but the emergence of Eugenio Velez and the injury to Omar Vizquel give me reasons to stump for Joe Crede. There are several conditions, however:...
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