MLB: SF Giants Blog

2008-11-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a touching and interesting article written by Bengie Molina about the game and how he's dealing with his father's death. Something to thing about during the Thanksgiving holiday.

2008-10-30T11:32:00.001-07:00

Guys, it's a GIANT election this year! Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th!

2008-10-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

Although neither the Giants nor the A's qualified for the 2008 postseason, Northern California is well represented in the World Series. It's some consolation, right?

2008-09-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure we just gave the Rockies' Quintanilla that last point to end the game last night. It was time to go have a beer, so we gave it away. At least that's what I'll tell myself.

2008-07-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever realized that we have a ton of venues and playing fields in San Francisco? It's crazy! I have no excuse to be bored here. Ever.

2008-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

I was hunting for a SF Giants video I saw once, but I came across this one first and had to watch it. Sooo funny. It's like he's just dying to be chased, and nobody gives a crap he's out there.

All-Stars

2008-07-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Will your favorites need to find all-star game tickets themselves, or will they be taking the field? It's your last chance to cast a ballot for Bengie, Rowan, and Winn, so go vote at MLB.com!

What's In a Name?

2008-06-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how particular San Franciscans are about city pride? I got into a discussion about city nicknames, and we ended up going online to settle a debate. I came across way too many articles about what to call the great city. SF? San Fran? Frisco? The City?

Here are just a couple of the links:

On Virtual Tourist
On MetBlogs

I think perhaps we have too much time on our hands.

2008-06-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'm not the only one blogging about MLB stuff. Bengie Molina's Behind the Mask blog is one of the better ones I've seen out there. Is there nothing this guy can't do?

It's great to be able to read what a player is actually thinking out on the field, since we spend so much time speculating "What was he thinking??" about players in general. Sometimes the internet amazes me. This is just one more example of how it connects people in ways we couldn't have imagined even 10 years ago.

Who knows? Maybe he'll read my blog someday...that would mean I'm in the big leagues, too. :)

Ouch!

2008-06-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the game online from work (shhh!), and it is not looking good for the Giants. 2nd inning and it's 3-0 Mets. I'm trying to keep down my sad sighs of disappointment so the guys in the next cubes won't hear. Of course, they're probably doing the same thing I'm doing, anyway.

Giants to "change the culture in the clubhouse"

2007-10-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Maybe they got lost in all the Barry Bonds hoopla, who knows, but the San Francisco Giants not only didn't make it to the playoffs this year, they finished a humiliating last place in the NL West Division. The good news is that GM Brian Sabean seems to be taking it seriously and has called for a major overhaul of the team, including encouraging the team to play more aggressively. According to Sabean, they're not only looking to beef up the roster, they're examining every aspect of the team. Here's hoping it does some good!

Giants made the trade at last!

2007-06-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'll give them this one... I'm happy about the Benitez trade> But anyone want to step up and answer why it took them so $#@! long?!

Better late than never, I guess.

I do believe

2007-03-08T10:55:00.001-08:00

I believe Frandsen can do the job for the Giants and more importantly is confident he can. Put Frandsen back in the game and you drive three runs in with a homer. Frandsen could be one of the smoking guns behind a winning season for the Giants.

2007-01-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Giants responded with a "no further comment" regarding allegations that Barry Bonds tested positive for amphetamines.

Steroid debate punctuated with other issues

2007-01-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

Fascinating editorial in the Arizona Republic urging the San Francisco Giants to dump Barry Bonds before he breaks Hank Aaron’s record. Not that we haven’t heard this on and on forever. But what interested me was how the the firestorm of online reaction got redirected toward the typos in the article—yeah, they would make my late great English-teaching aunt cringe. And y’know what? After all the years of the steroid mess, I’d rather argue about the merits of perfect punctuation than get into the endless debate about how bad is too bad to be in the Game of Baseball!

You decide. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0115rant.html

Bringing Bonds Back

2006-12-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants signed Barry Bonds to a one year deal reportedly worth $16 million, to give Bonds the chance to pass Hank Aaron as the all-time leader in home runs. Bonds will only need 21 home runs in 2007 to surpass Aaron which will likely happen if he stays healthy.

San Francisco Looking for Another Giant

2006-11-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

Offseason rumors have it that the San Francisco Giants are looking into the possibilities of working a deal with one of the very expensive sluggers who are the cream of this year's free agent crop. The names I keep seeing are Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano.

Didn't we already have a big-dollar slugger? Oh yeah, there are rumors floating around about Barry Bonds, some of them to the effect that the San Diego Padres are going to woo him away...they'd be getting more than a player, I can tell them that.

Yes, Vizquel’s Glove Is Golden

2006-11-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants signed Omar Vizquel to play short stop for three years at over $4 million a year, knowing that by the end of the contract he’d be getting on up to Jack Benny’s proverbial age of 39. Looks like they knew something else, which the scoffers in 2005 did not.

Vizquel has been the best short stop we’ve seen in San Francisco. His current career fielding average is .984—and this past year he topped the league at .993. In the entire 2006 season, he made only four errors. So we can’t be surprised that he’s up for his 11^th Golden Glove award.

What slides by in the discussion of Omar’s awesome defense is that he hits (lifetime .295) and he steals, with a total of 366 bases so far. Congratulations, Omar, and thanks!

We'll google if we want to

2006-11-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

The World Series that just ended was a good reminder of why we don't play baseball all year round. Besides it's nice to have a chance to see what else has been happening besides baseball. So I've taken a bit of time to utilize what George Bush calls "the Google."

Guess what I came across regarding Google. They don't want us using "to google" as a verb, unless we mean searching using the real Google system. Furthermore, they've set their law department to figure out what to do about. Now I don't pretend to know why that company makes business decisions like spending $1.6 billion for YouTube. But even I know plain crazy when I see it. Google, please don't waste another nanosecond trying to control English vocabulary and how it's used. Your company is about a decade old, and you have been immortalized.

Good news for MLB clubs, players, and fans

2006-10-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

The players' union and the MLB owners have come to an agreement that should keep the players on the diamond for the next five years. That sure beats a) waiting to the final hour to hammer out a contract--when everybody knows it has to be done, or b) alienating the fans (you know, those folks who spend their hard-earned money to buy the tickets and the paraphanalia) by shutting things down.

Look out, World

2006-10-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

It's total Armageddon. Cats and dogs living in perfect harmony. Snowing in hell. And, most shocking, the Detroit Tigers are in the World Series.

Doing It For The Kids?

2006-10-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants are doing it for the kids? What are they doing? Well Giant team members Mark Sweeney and Kevin Frandsen, as well as over 20 other professional athletes and media personalities, will be attending a fundraiser with a spooky theme…Halloween! At this event, held at the Exploratoriam in San Francisco, activities will include arts and crafts, pumpkin decorating, costumed characters, food and beverages, interactive activities, a silent auction and "tricks" and "treats" for the whole family. Why are Major League Baseball players attending a fundraiser of this sort? I would like to think it’s because they are just plain nice guys, but maybe it’s because the money raised at this event will benefit the Junior Giants baseball program of the Giants Community Fund and the Exploratorium Children's Education Outreach Program. Either way, it sounds like a good cause to me! It’s always nice to see these pro-ball players doing something for somebody else, we could use more guys like them! Way to go Giants!!!

Looking Forward to 2007

2006-10-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Even with our stumble down the stretch, I really believe ’07 might be our year. Though he seems like a good guy, it was time for Alou to go.

It’ll be interesting to see how prepared Bonds can get for another season on his aching bones (and subject muscles). If nothing else it’ll be nice to have the All-Star game at home as a mid-season circus we can all enjoy.

I left my appendix in San Francisco

2006-07-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

I’ve been having the worst time lately. I almost forgot it was baseball season. All I can say is if your stomach hurts for four straight days, don’t listen to your mother about her home remedies for gas – go to the hospital! If they say its just gas then get some good prescription strength anti gas pills and be glad your appendix didn’t burst landing you in the hospital for three weeks. If I had gone the first or second day my appendix would not have burst and the recovery would have been much easier and shorter.

The San Francisco Giants survived my absence so I must get Giants tickets for their home series against the Philadelphia Phillies next week.

Giants facing Rockies for summer series at home.

2006-05-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants had a tough week. We let the series with the St. Louis Cardinals get away from us and are facing the Colorado Rockies at home this weekend. I loved watching that stellar series against the Houston Astros last week, though. 34 points in three games. Let’s see more of that. Go Giants.

A Little Hennessey Please

2006-04-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants are doing alright and might be on the way to really distinguishing themselves as a winner in the National League West. This series against the Arizona Diamondbacks looks to be going in the Giants favor and Brad Hennessey is a big part of that.

Off to a good start?

2006-04-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants are playing to win and Barry Bonds is giving the team the support they need despite not having a home run yet. On Sunday, against the Atlanta Braves, he was walked twice giving the other hitters in the rotation a chance to see some action and they won the game. Unfortunately Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros was postponed because of rain but was rescheduled as part of a double-header.

A Muddy Day for San Francisco

2006-04-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well, spring showers are affecting more than just San Francisco Giants baseball games. We got more than a little rain and mudslides have caused evacuations in the Bay area. It looks like those people will be kept away from their homes for nearly a week while emergency crews shore up the hillsides that are slipping and clean up fallen rocks and debris.

Everyone Loves Arctic Monkeys! They’re so cool they’re cold!

2006-03-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

If you live in San Francisco you have to get Arctic Monkeys tickets for March 13^th. They are an amazing band from Sheffield, England. The Arctic Monkeys are classified as Indie Rock or Britpop and have been getting a lot of radio play in the States and abroad. You really should see them live while they are here – I already got my tickets. Follow this link for the best seats:

http://www.coasttocoasttickets.com/cities/san_francisco_ca.shtml

Look under San Francisco concerts.

Giants Surge into Future With Technical Upgrades at AT&T Park

2006-02-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

The Giants ball park is going through a name change from SBC Park to AT&T Park. The Stadium will also go through some other changes to update its system to a nice wireless entertainment network. With Wifi throughout the park the San Francisco Giants home has become one of the most technologically advanced of all MLB ball parks.

Getting Pulled

2005-06-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Giant’s short stop Omar Vizquel went through something that most people end up going through at some point in there life. I went through it and missed work because of it. It is probably one of the most painful things that I have gone through.

What is it you might ask?

Getting you wisdom pulled teeth out. OUCH! Well Omar Vizquel had his removed earlier today and will sit out tonight but should be back Wednesday, but in the meantime Deivi Cruz will short stop tonight.

Marquis Grissom

2005-05-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Marquis Grissom, who has a .272 average, 227 home runs and 965 RBIs in 2,153 career games, has been recently placed on the disabled list (May 17th). At 38, the ballplayer is reassessing his game. This season has not exactly been his best, only being able to average a .202.

Grissom took a fall leaving the clubhouse that severely bruised the bone below his right knee. He attempted to play on it instead of being advised the proper course of action. After being taken out of the game for barely being able to walk on it, Grissom realized he needed some help with it. He was placed on the DL for 15 days.

Does he have another year in him?

Jason Schmidt back on the Mound

2005-05-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

The next series upcoming is against the LA Dodgers. Beautiful rivalries cause great things apparently. Jason Schmidt, who just went on the disabled list around 2 weeks ago, says that he will be ready to begin against the Dodgers. Schmidt went onto the DL due to a shoulder strain that he thought was affecting his throwing.

The Giants are coming off of 2 wins and winning this series could put us back into the running for top positions and over the Dodgers.

Team Report:

2005-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

LHP Noah Lowry continues to learn on the job. He allowed four earned runs in four straight starts, as opponents have adjusted to his changeup. Lowry won't dramatically alter his style; instead, he will look to avoid the one bad inning per start that has been his recent downfall. . . .

Expect an offensive resurgence from LF Moises Alou. He has been bothered by injury and illness but is primed to regain his form as one of the most consistent hitters in baseball. . . .

After a strong start, CF Marquis Grissom seemingly has lost some bat speed. He also has been plagued by chronic left hamstring problems. OF Jason Ellison has been getting increased playing time and entered the week on a 10-for-20 stretch.

Tomko vs. Clemens

2005-05-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

In a battle of arms, Roger Clemens showed Brett Tomko why he has been in the industry this long. Clemens allowed for only five hits and one run in his eight innings on the mound. Tomko kept up but lost it in the sixth.

Orlando Palmiero was able to break through and get on base. Craig Biggio followed suit with a home run to make the game 3-1. The Astros scored once more after Lance Berkman homered for the first time this season.

Tomko win over Pittsburgh

2005-05-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

In a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brett Tomko showed why he is such a necessity to the Giants organization. After only letting six hits in the first three innings, Tomko took out 21 batters following. Not only was his pitching game on, but Tomko also fired a single to score a run for the Giants.

Mark Redman, pitching for the Pirates, had practically the same game by making 20 groundouts and only allowing six hits. Redman assisted in the only Pirates score of the game by an RBI single.

Team Report:

2005-05-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

Several relievers are in the running to replace RHP Armando Benitez (hamstring) as the closer, including RHP Matt Herges, who handled the job for much of last season; RHP Jim Brower, who recorded the first post-Benitez save; and LHPs Jeff Fassero and Scott Eyre. Manager Felipe Alou previously has identified Eyre as having closer potential. Alou also could rotate closers, basing his decisions on matchups. Benitez is expected to miss at least four months. . . .

Rookie OF Jason Ellison has been an early surprise with his daring baserunning, strong bat and ability to play all three outfield positions.

Armando Benitez is Out

2005-04-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

Armando Benitez will be out for the next coming months due to a torn right hamstring. The right-handed reliever will be undergoing surgery to re-attach the tendons to the bone and the rehabilitation will take quite some time. The Giants are unsure as of yet whether he will be playing again this season.

"This is a shock. It hasn't really sunk in yet. We didn't have our heads in the sand [Tuesday] night when this happened. But we didn't expect this to be the outcome, either."
- Giants general manager Brian Sabean

Benitez is currently on a 3-year deal with the Giants worth approximately $21.5 million.

Barry Bonds: How much longer?

2005-04-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

As of now, we have Moises Alou coming off of the DL as soon as Friday. With how the season is going, this is a much needed assistance. Alou had a calf sprain and looks like he’s ready to play as soon as possible.

This may not be the case for Barry Bonds. The slugger is still on the disabled list with no time table being set up for his future recovery. This is a good thing because they have no reason to try to speed up the process and hurt Bonds even more.

"You get up to that age (40) ... as long as the player still owns that quickness, we like to see him come back. When you get to a certain age, you never know when it's going to go. We've all been through it -- Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Matty Alou. Some guys last longer than the average guys and Barry's obviously one of those guys."
- Giants manager Felipe Alou

So, there’s the question posed to all of you Giants fans: How much longer will Barry Bonds play in the Majors?

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME:

2005-04-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

It's no accident that Vizquel, 37, is a physical marvel. He works out diligently and has low body fat. Vizquel is wowing fans with acrobatics around second base, and he practices leaping and throwing. His penchant for barehanded catches already has helped on double plays and in cutting down fast runners.

Team Report

2005-04-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

OF Moises Alou (calf) is out, so IF/OF Pedro Feliz will play fairly regularly in left field for the immediate future, and Michael Tucker will play right. Feliz's left field skills have improved dramatically; his ability allowed the club to bring up Lance Niekro as a backup first baseman. . . .

Watch for backup OF Jason Ellison and SS Omar Vizquel to take chances on the basepaths and steal more, something that has long been missing from the Giants' offense. . . .

RHP Jerome Williams has improved his changeup, curve and conditioning since last season.

Opener for San Francisco Giants

2005-04-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome back everyone and it’s good to have the season up and running once more. True, it’s always nice to see how the team updates itself and the changes throughout different franchises. But, now it is time to see if any of the updates have advanced us as a whole.

In the opening day game, the San Francisco Giants went head to head against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jason Schmidt allowed for two early runs. Edgardo Alfonzo evened it up with a two-run homer. The game kept pretty close, but two errors on the Dodger’s side helped the Dodgers advance to victory. The final score was 4-2.

Giants Honoring Former Players

2005-03-31T12:53:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants have decided to honor some former players. Sure, it may be just a shot at pitching new concessions and updates around the stadium, but it’s a good thing they are honoring former classy players. Above that, the players that will be honored are not hitters but pitchers.

The three pitchers being honored will be Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, and Robb Nen. Juan Marichal, who was a member of the franchise in the 60’s, will have a statue put up for him. Gaylord Perry, who is the only former member of the franchise to not have his number retired, will have this exact honor. Robb Nen, who was known for being the all-time saves leader for the Giants, will also have tribute paid to.

BREAKOUT PLAYER:

2005-03-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

- from FOXSports.com

With an 8-9 rookie season in 2003, Foppert was just getting settled when his right elbow ligament popped. He had a setback-free rehab, pitched in one inning in the 2004 finale and shows renewed power, maturity and drive coming back this season. Only 24, the righthander has an improved, smoother delivery and is expected to blossom into a starting role after beginning the campaign in long relief to stretch out his arm and regain strength.

Maybe Bonds Was Wrong…?

2005-03-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

After having his third surgery on his knees in the last two months, Barry Bonds is not looking as positively as he was originally. Originally, Bonds viewed his injury as temporary and was very positive that he would be there and ready to go opening day. Now, that does not look like it is very likely.

Bonds had to get torn meniscus surgically removed from his right knee. As of now, it is not known whether he will join the fold in the next few months or if he will miss the season completely.

"Right now I'm just going to try and rehab myself to -- I don't know -- hopefully [I'll be back] next season, hopefully the middle of the season -- I don't know. I feel bad for the guys because I want to be out there for them. But three knee surgeries in four months ... I'm tired, guys, I'm just tired."
- Barry Bonds

Use Foppert?

2005-03-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

As of now, Jesse Foppert does not know how solid of a place he has in the bullpen. In 2003, Foppert had Tommy John surgery and recovered from it pretty nicely. He has a good arm, but it is very possible that this will be in use at Triple A this season. The line is already stacked with Jason Schmidt, Kirk Rueter, Brett Tomko, Noah Lowry and Jerome Williams.

"I'm trying to get ready to play a season. I can't control their decision. I can only control what I do out there. The rest is not up to me."
- Jesse Foppert

The Giants will be watching him in the coming weeks before they come about a decision. They really want to ease him into a five-man roto that is already set. This may take some time. Will we use Foppert or not?

I'll be ready Opening Day

2005-03-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

- excerpt taken from Barry Bonds and the Official Site of the SF Giants

I'll be there. I'll be on the field and in the lineup on Opening Day. I think that's fair to say. Based on the way my right knee is feeling right now, I'll be ready.

I don't think I've ever missed an Opening Day. I'd take Opening Day and go back on the disabled list or something. But I don't want to miss Opening Day. It's important because I've been out there year after year after year. This will be my 20th, and that means a lot to me. Not to be there Opening Day, not to be there through the whole parade thing, with all the guys, with the whole adrenaline thing going, just to sit there and watch it would really break me down.

My knee is getting there. I had surgery on it before Spring Training, but it's starting to improve. I had a little setback again last week. I shouldn't have hit on the field. I was doing fine in the cage. But I just wanted to be out there with my teammates and I kind of pushed myself a little bit, aggravated the knee a little bit.

Stan Conte, our trainer, convinced me that I really needed to allow it to take its course. We're too early in Spring Training. If it was the same guys we had last year I probably wouldn't think about it that much. But we have Mike Matheny, Omar Vizquel and Moises Alou over here, and I want to be out there with them, try to figure out what we can do for each other, what Omar's range is. All those little things you need to do to become a team.

But really, I have to just focus on my rehab. I'm not frustrated at all. I'm making great progress. I have to strengthen the leg now. That's the only thing that's weak -- the whole leg, because of atrophy in the muscles. That's the key. Hitting, you put a lot of torque on your knees, you put a lot of torque on your legs. That's been my breadwinner my whole career -- my legs.

It'll probably be another week before I'm in the outfield, taking fly balls. On the bases, running and stopping. I have a deadline in my head for getting back out there. I'm not superstitious, but I don't want to jinx myself by revealing it right now, just in case I don't make it.

I have it set in my mind when I want to go do more drills and do more things. It'll be before the end of Spring Training, that's for sure. I'm going to be ready by April 5. That's the key.

Bonds Coming Close to Breaking Records

2005-02-22T15:29:00.000-08:00

In a recent response to a blog I wrote, a fellow blog writer wrote me his opinions of Barry Bonds and his steroid use. Barry Bonds will be breaking Hank Aaron's record soon and we need to take this into consideration. Please read this blog, it was very inspirational.

Giants Updates

2005-02-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants ended last season maintaining the second slot in the National League West Division; ending with a record of 91-71. After a pretty good year, the team is looking at ensuring that this will happen again.

One great addition is that of Moises Alou. Former Chicago Cub, Alou will be coming in to play right field and also to add another power-hitter to the team.

Speaking of power-hitters, Barry Bonds is back for another year. Bonds had 45 home runs and 101 RBI’s. Kimberly Bell, Bonds’ former girlfriend, recently was interviewed by Geraldo Rivera. In the interview, she discussed Bonds’ use of steroids; the biggest topic in sports as of now.

Jason Schmidt will still be leading in the rotation. After having a fairly decent season, Schmidt made out with 18 wins and an ERA of 3.20.

Bonds is going to miss alot of Spring training.

2005-01-31T14:21:00.000-08:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

Barry Bonds is expected to miss much of spring training following arthroscopic surgery Monday on his right knee, but the San Francisco Giants slugger should recover in plenty of time to resume his chase of Hank Aaron's home run record in April.

The seven-time NL MVP had a ``minor arthritis cleanup,'' the Giants said in statement. Dr. Arthur Ting also repaired a small tear in Bonds' meniscus.

Giants trainer Stan Conte expects Bonds to return for at least the final two weeks of spring training, and the 40-year-old should be back to full strength before opening day.

``It's not a situation where I'm concerned for him,'' Conte said. ``It doesn't take him long to get ready. ... It's good for him not to wear himself out during spring training, which he does sometimes.''

Bonds often tires of the day-to-day grind of spring training, both mentally and physically, and his rehabilitation might even provide a respite. Bonds, who had a similar surgery on his left knee in October, will begin rehab Tuesday.

He will report to Scottsdale, Ariz., along with the Giants' pitchers and catchers on Feb. 17, but will concentrate on his six-week rehab program until mid-March.

Conte said Bonds' knees have responded well to similar arthroscopic operations and that Bonds has ``a very youthful body for his age.''

``He recovers well,'' Conte said. ``You never know when age is going to be an issue, but this surgery was not extensive.''

Bonds' knee showed signs of arthritis during a similar operation in 1999, but this surgery revealed less trouble than the Giants feared. Bonds first complained of pain in his right knee last week.

Bonds finished last season with 703 career homers, trailing only Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

He also became the oldest player in major league history to win an MVP award. Bonds hit .362 to win his second NL batting title in three seasons and shattered the major league record with a .609 on-base percentage, topping the previous mark of .582 he set two years ago.

He walked 232 times, 34 more than the previous record he set in 2002 and more than 100 better than anyone else in baseball this season. His 120 intentional walks obliterated the old mark of 68 that he had set in 2002.

Lets hope him being out a little longer doesn't effect his game in the upcoming season too much. Lets keep our spirits high for the upcoming season you guys... and GO GIANTS!

Giants ink Feliz to two-year deal

2005-01-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

The Giants believe the versatile Pedro Feliz is a key element for their return to the playoffs, and proved it Monday by signing him to a $6.1 million, two-year deal, the Associated Press reported...

eliz, 29, who batted .276 with 22 homers and 84 RBIs last year, has been a valuable bench player and semi-regular starter at first and third, but could move into a starting role in 2005. His deal calls for a $2.225 million salary this season and $3.625 in 2006, according to the Associated Press. He received a $200,000 signing bonus and, based on plate appearances, could earn an additional $450,000 in bonuses...

Alou near deal with Giants

2004-12-23T18:05:00.000-08:00

By Rich Draper / MLB.com

The Alou brothers -- Felipe, Matty and Jesus -- are legends in San Francisco Giants history.

And now the genealogical beat goes on.

According to multiple sources, veteran free agent outfielder Moises Alou, son of Giants manager Felipe Alou, will sign a two-year contract and then possibly retire after the pact expires. Before the deal becomes official, Alou reportedly needs to pass the requisite physical.

ESPN Deportes reported Wednesday that the 38-year-old Alou would join the club, while the Associated Press said the deal is worth about $13.25 million with an escalator that could raise it to around $13.75 million. AP reported the second year of the deal is a player option.

Alou is scheduled to undergo a physical in Miami on Monday, said ESPN Deportes. Alou was involved in a mishap in the Dominican Republic last Sunday when his car hit a pothole and spun out, but the player was unhurt.

Alou has had a stunning 13-year career and previously played for his father while with the Montreal Expos from 1992 to 1996. Last season, he hit. 293 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs, the kind of slugger the Giants have been seeking to solidify the outfield.

Felipe Alou told MLB.com during the recent Winter Meetings in Anaheim he'd love to have his son join the club but that it was out of his hands. Felipe Alou and his brothers played for San Francisco in the early 1960s and started in the outfield on one occasion.

Giants fans have long wanted a good hitter to back up Barry Bonds in the lineup -- Moises Alou was a popular choice -- but it remains to be seen if the new slugger will force opposing pitchers to not intentionally walk Bonds.

Alou is a career .300 hitter with 278 lifetime homers who has driven in 100-plus runs five times. ESPN Deportes also said Alou had offers from Los Angeles, the New York Mets and Houston.

The Giants have been seeking a center fielder, although Alou has primarily served in left field. His father called him a "born right fielder." The team didn't re-sign outfielder Dustan Mohr, which puts Alou in a starting group of Bonds and Marquis Grissom. Alou played with Grissom in Montreal from 1992 to 1994.

It's been a highly successful offseason for San Francisco, which has already signed shortstop Omar Vizquel, closer Armando Benitez and catcher Mike Matheny. With the re-signing of left-handed relief pitchers Jason Christiansen and Wayne Franklin, it's likely general manager Brian Sabean has his club intact.

The club finished a whisker away from the 2004 playoffs, and at least on paper the Giants seem a sure bet to contend for the National League West title.

Giants Finalize Deal with Benitez

2004-12-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

By Rich Draper / MLB.com

With stunning suddenness, the Giants' beleaguered bullpen just got better -- a whole lot better.

San Francisco signed free agent closer Armando Benitez -- considered one of baseball's premier closers -- to a three-year deal worth about $21 million on Tuesday.

"He's the prototype of a closer and will be a dominant force at the end of the game," said Giants vice president and general manager Brian Sabean. "This developed more rapidly than we thought and put [the deal] on fast forward. We decided to move and strike fast."

In announcing the signing of a heavily back-loaded contract, Sabean said it's unlikely the Giants will re-sign free agent starter-reliever Dustin Hermanson, who starred as a replacement closer after midseason and wants to remain a closer.

Sabean said earlier this month Benitez was the top reliever in the free agent market, but felt the 32-year-old right-hander, who had 47 saves and a 1.29 ERA with the Florida Marlins, was out of financial reach.

Managing general partner Peter Magowan, however, frustrated with the Giants just missing the playoffs last season, was determined to push the projected $80 million budget to the limit.

Benitez is a prized catch. He owns a high-90s fastball, a hard slider and splitter, and held opponents to a .216 average last season. The Marlins wanted him back, but Benitez rejected a one-year $5 million deal and a $6 million option for 2006.

Manager Felipe Alou was excited by the signing of the 11-year veteran.

"This is a guy whose name has been everywhere -- I'm excited," said Alou. "We made a major change in the middle of the season last year. Our guys did a tremendous job, but it's great to have a guy who has been very successful and is an intimidating closer."

Benitez ranks ninth among active pitchers with 244 lifetime saves, while is fourth with a 86.2 percent success ratio (244-for-283) in saves behind Trevor Hoffman (89.1), Mariano Rivera (87.5) and Troy Percival (86.3).

The veteran reliever has long been on the Giants' radar screen, and on Tuesday morning Sabean said he re-read multiple scouting reports on Benitez.

"One of the interesting things I noticed was 12 independent scouts all recommended we acquire the player -- that's very difficult when scouting can't alway see a guy pitch perfect," said Sabean. "Being unanimous, that was an overriding factor."

While critics may argue Benitez hasn't done well in the postseason and in "big games," Sabean said the pitcher has matured, and last season with the Marlins "developed confidence in his stuff and felt more relaxed and could concentrate."

While Benitez was flying to his native Dominican Republic and wasn't available for questions, he issued a statement saying "the quality of the Giants excited me the most and caught my attention. We have a chance to get to the World Series."

Contract guru Ned Colletti's creativity -- and Benitez's willingness to negotiation freely -- made the deal work. Colletti said the contract is spread out over five years, with the lowest salary in 2005. It increases every year thereafter and includes yearly portions of a signing bonus that runs two years after the pact is over.

Amazingly, Sabean said even with the signing of Benitez and the recent acquisition of shortstop Omar Vizquel for a three-year contract worth $12.25 million, the Giants may not have to part with any other veterans.

Trade talks and discussions with the agents of Dodgers outfielder Steve Finley and Oakland's Jermaine Dye are ongoing.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who won a $3.5 million, one-year deal through arbitration last season -- and could seek a $5 million pact now -- could still stay unless his demands are too high. The Giants will have an extra $9.15 million in the bank from reliever Robb Nen's salary.

Nen, the Giants' all-time closer, has been working out at his home in Southern California and hopes to return to action despite a torn rotator cuff. The Colorado Rockies have expressed interest in Nen, who hasn't thrown in a game since the 2002 World Series.

With Nen hurt, San Francisco moved deluxe setup specialist Matt Herges into the closing role in 2004, but the right-hander's arm withered under a heavy workload.

Hermanson, only average as a starter, did well until the final series against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he gave up a single and walked three straight batters, setting up Steve Finley's grand slam to clinch the NL West title for the Dodgers.

A save there might have propelled the Giants into the postseason. Setup pitcher Jim Brower was unavailable because of a sore arm, also due to overwork, and Hermanson was pitching on his fifth straight day.

Any hopes of Nen seeing action again are remote. Trainer Stan Conte said Tuesday the veteran's rotator cuff is 70 percent torn and can't be fixed by surgery.

Nen will pitch off a mound near his Orange County home in about two weeks.

"I'm pessimistic that Robb will come back as he's failed everything so far," said Conte. "It's unrealistic, but stranger things have happened. He's thrown off flat ground with no pain, which is all positive. But unless he throws full speed we won't know."

With Benitez, aboard, Sabean said this will help solidify setup roles for Brower, Herges and Scott Eyre.

Aardsma Hopes to Lead in AFL

2004-10-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

By Rich Draper / MLB.com

Right-handed pitcher David Aardsma has two claims to professional fame.

He was the San Francisco Giants' first-round selection in the 2003 First Year Player Draft and is No. 1 in the Major League's all-time player registry -- just nipping

Hank Aaron -- with his double-A last name.
Even his middle initial is "A."

Aardsma is the club's top player in the Arizona Fall League -- he's playing for the
Grand Canyon Rafters -- which opened last week in the Valley of the Sun, and the relief pitcher hopes to never again return to the alphabetical minor leagues, as in Double-A and Triple-A.

Aardsma's goal is to keep his fastball revved up, but also to improve his other pitches to complement the heater, which was solid at the Pacific Coast League level but proved less-than-effective in the big leagues.

Aardsma finished his rookie season at San Francisco with a 1-0 record and a 6.75 ERA over 11 appearances spanning 10 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old, who led Rice to the College World Series title in 2003, won his first game with two scoreless innings against Houston on April 6.

Over 44 games with Triple-A Fresno, Aardsma was 6-4 with a 3.09 ERA and 11 saves.
The Rafters also have a raft of other promising players: outfielder Fred Lewis; infielders Lance Niekro and Mike Cervenak; and pitchers Chris Begg and Scott Munter.

Lewis has been prominently mentioned by Giants brass, and for good reason. Lewis, who turns 24 in December, stole 33 bases for Class A San Jose last season, hiting .301 with 47 RBIs and 88 runs scored.

Niekro was having a good spring in Scottsdale but suffered a high ankle sprain. He recovered slowly, eventually hitting .298 at Triple-A Fresno with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.

Cervenak slugged four homers in six games at Double-A Norwich, and in 10 games at Fresno, hit five homers and 10 RBIs while batting .250.

Begg, a right-hander, had a great 16 games at Norwich, going 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA. He also had 61 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 94 innings. At Fresno, he was 2-5 with a 6.97 ERA.

Munter, also a righty, was 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA over 15 2/3 innings at Fresno, and had a 2-4 record, a 3.59 ERA and three saves at Norwich.

All About Barry

2004-09-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

So Mr. Barry Bonds got his 703 homer recently, in a crucial loss to the division leading L.A. Dodgers. Bonds also "tweaked" his knee while running to first base in the ninth, but Bonds should be ready to play on Tuesday night when the Giants head over to play the Padres in San Diego.

"When my back isn't adjusted correctly other parts of my body go out of whack," said Bonds, "I'm 40 years old and I should be doing something else. But this is my only job description."

But bonds still plays on, for good reason, and is expected to win the National League MVP for the 7th time. Of course bonds is modest when askk bout the MYP award.

"I can't worry about winning the MVP in the National League. The writers pick that. It's not in my hands. And you shouldn't worry about anything you can't control. I've won six of them and it would be nice to win another, but it's not my top priority. Getting into the playoffs and back to the World Series is." - Barry Bonds

Go Giants!

WOOOOOOO 700 Baby!

2004-09-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

Nobody thought it would happen again until they met Mr. Bonds. He managed to get his 42nd homer of the year and his 700th homer of his whole career. Only 2 others have hit the 700 mark and they have become legends and they are the first people that come to mind when somebody says baseball. On another good note we are still ahead in the Wild Card Race. But we will have to keep up the intensity if we don't want the Cubs or Astros passing us up. Now lets cheer Bonds on to 756 Homers guys! GOOO GIANTS!

698 and Counting

2004-09-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

Last night in a loss to the Colorado Rockies Barry Bonds belted home run number 698 in his career and his 40th home run of the season. In doing so he becomes closer to joining the 700 club that include names like Babe Ruth(714) and Hank Aaron(755).

In the excitement of the 700 mark and the wild card race, people forget about a pitcher named Brett Tomko. Tomko is now 8-2 with a 3.26 ERA since being activated off of the disabled list since June 24. So keep an eye on Tomko down the stretch.

Go Giants!

Almost there

2004-09-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

We are almost in the lead for the wild card race, and I'm confident we can pull this off. We really need to up the pace, cause even though we have won 2 straight, those games dont mean anything if we loose more than we win, especially when it counts the most! So lets get out there, and cheer Barry Bonds to 700 career homeruns, a MVP, and a World Series. GO GIANTS!

1 game back

2004-08-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

We are one game back from the wild card spot and I have a feeling this will be a fight to the bitter end. So we need to finish this series off with a win and redeem ourseleves from the first games 1-9 loss.. Lets get out there and win Giants!

4 in a row!!!

2004-08-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

We are tied for first in the WC and its feeling good. Just keep it up Giants and we are going to be loading up the bus come October!

Almost there..

2004-08-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

With the Giants sweeping the cubs, it makes the wild card very reachable and very obtainable. Unless we can start playing better, and not be sloppy like we were in the last few games, then we arent gonna get it. We got lucky a few of these times and we need to get rid of the need for luck and just play good baseball. Lowry pitched brilliantly last game and has an amazing ERA of 1.36 now in 2 games. Lets keep up the winning Giants!

We need to sweep the cubs!!!

2004-08-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

This is the time of the year when the Giants are usually making their mark, but this season appears different. They're 2-4 on their nine-game homestand and 5-10 since July 21.
They seem to drop a game a day in the standings lately, falling 71/2 behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and three in back of the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race.
The Cubs and former Giants manager Dusty Baker are in town for a three-game series that begins tonight.

If we win these 3 games, we could be back in the race for the wild-card spot. Now lets just hope and pray that the Giants can pull through for us tonight and win. Walker(4-1) needs to get us a win , or else our playoff hopes , become that much harder.Its gonna be a interesting one, especially since Walker has never pitched against the Cubs. GOOO GIANTS!

Ledee to look for game time

2004-08-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

Ricky Ledee didn't expect to get traded this year. But then again, he didn't expect not to get traded, either.
Ledee was drafted in 1990, but didn't make his Major League debut until 1998, so he knows a lot about perseverance. And after 10 years in the New York Yankees system, Ledee was traded twice during the 2000 season, so he knows something about making adjustments, too.

A skilled outfielder, a strong pinch-hitter and a home run threat, the 30-year-old left-handed slugger has nonetheless been a part-time player throughout his career. But 14 years of professional ball have given him uncommon perspective.

"After being in the minor leagues so long, you kind of learn to appreciate and just respect the game," said Ledee, who was drafted out of Puerto Rico as a 16-year-old. "I came to the big leagues, I got traded a couple times, and the thing is, you can't control that. As much as you want to stay with one team, you can't control it, so you have to work around that."

Ledee was acquired by the Giants on July 30 from Philadelphia for reliever Felix Rodriguez, traveling 3,000 miles to the west to join his newest club. It appears he's going to once again be a reserve, vying with Dustan Mohr for playing time behind Barry Bonds, Marquis Grissom and Michael Tucker.

Giants manager Felipe Alou has kept Ledee out of the lineup for both games since he was acquired. Ledee was announced as a pinch-hitter Sunday, but Alou then pinch-hit for Ledee when St. Louis brought in a lefty reliever.

gomez dies...

2004-07-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Former Giants pitcher Ruben Gomez died July 26 in Puerto Rico at the age of 77. Gomez, who had been ill for a long period, started the first game in San Francisco history, beating Don Drysdale and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0 on April 15, 1958. The two teams moved from New York after the 1957 season.

bogus!

a good night for pitching

2004-07-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

schmidt normally pitches circles around wells' fat ass, but the pads pounded him pretty good the last time.

Julia out getting stomach stitched

2004-07-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

We all must wish Julia luck this week in her endeavor to be beautiful. Lord knows she has a long, long way to go. She won't really be missed though. honestly, i never liked that cow.

Anyway, this post is about baseball or something. Oh yeah. The Giants. How bout that Barry Bonds fella? Is he hopped up on the juice? I don't see any other way a 40 year old would be capable of doing anything. Let's face it. Old people are stupid and worthless. They need pills to get out of bed in the morning, but God only knows what they need to hit 90 home runs in a season or whatever it is Barry did.

AL takes NL in All-Star game

2004-07-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The crowd had barely calmed itself from the buzz created by the appearance of ceremonial first-pitch honoree Muhammad Ali when Clemens put the National League in a quick six-run hole, which led to a 9-4 American League win.

An Ivan Rodriguez RBI triple and two-run homer by Manny Ramirez gave the AL an immediate 3-0 lead. With two outs, Jason Giambi reached on a Jeff Kent error, and after Derek Jeter singled to left, game MVP Alfonso Soriano cleared the bases with a first-pitch homer to left field that gave the AL a six-run advantage.

Barry Bonds went 0-2 batting, with one walk. Wrong, I say, simply wrong. And Schmidt didn't ever enter the game. Not even after Roger Clemens' lame performance. Oh well, at least it doesn't count.

New SF GIANTS blog

2004-07-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hey SanFran!!!

I'm dedicating a new blog to my favorite baseball team, the San Francisco Giants. My job moved me away from SF a few years ago, but I stick with the Giants. (Otherwise, it's always the home team, right?) Anyhow there's not too much to say right now since it's the All-Star break, but I'll put up a few stats to tide everyone over.

Giants are sitting at 49-40 (.551) at the moment, coming off a 3-1 series with Arizona (4-8, 8-3, 3-1, 9-2). We're second in the NL West, just below the LA Dodgers. We're off to Colorado on Thursday to take the Rockies to school!

That's about all I've got for now. The season is looking solid right now, but it's too early to jump to any conclusions. I welcome any suggestions, comments, questions, corrections, etc. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon!!!

;-) Julia