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

04.09.2008
4/9/08: My Heart Is Filled With Ort

Giants 1, Padres 0: Daniel Ortmeier is the obvious hero with his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth, his first professional at-bat after his abandonment of switch-hitting. And good for him. The Giants brass gave him the booty end of the stick this spring, and he needs to prove them wrong.

Good news that won't show in the box score: the Giants hit several balls hard that turned into outs, including Jose Castillo's liner just before Ortmeier's at-bat. This is the kind of game the Giants will have to win over and over to have a half-way decent season.

PLODAG: Jonathan Sanchez. Like so many Giants starters, he needs to reduce pitch counts, but it's hard to argue with 10 Ks and less than a baserunner an inning through six. Runner-up: FreddieLoo! What a play on the pop fly-double play to preserve the shutout -- was it foul? Was it fair? I couldn't tell from the video replay.

The Upside: Ortmeier. If he sticks in the majors, it'll likely be as a fourth OF/utility type of guy. Nice to see he's willing to make adjustments -- like giving up hitting lefty -- and doing little things well, like hitting pinch-hit doubles to win baseball games. 
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[April 10, 2008 9:58 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Mark O'Connor said

I was happy to see the studly relief work. And I was shocked to see Sanchez start the 7th. It seemed like he'd done his thing and done it well--time to sit. Without Lewis' play it could have been ugly. (I think it was foul, looked awful close to the bullpen mound.) Great win!

[April 10, 2008 11:31 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Jefferson said

Sanchez is pitching his way into a permanent job in the starting rotation. So glad to see him fulfilling the potential he showed in the minors.

[April 10, 2008 2:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
mxmob33 replied to Jefferson

Or pitching his way into a trade. Will be interesting to see what happens if/when Lowry gets healthy.

[April 10, 2008 3:29 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Randy said

Last year, the drunken frat boys who scalped the seats behind me one day kept yelling "Sweet Freddie Loooo" all game long. The nickname has stuck (at least for me).