Tagged: Athletics
My 100th Blog Happens To Land On My B-Day!
Okay well I just wanted to start off by letting everyone know that this is my 100th blog that I have posted, and today is also my B-day. It’s like a double shot of love. lol That’s was a reality show on MTV incase you didn’t get that. lol I wasn’t sure what to really write about for my 100th blog. I know my Giants play tonight against the Brewers and we have Randy Johnson on the mound. That game starts at 7:15, so I know no matter what I’m doing I will be by a TV at that time. I was really planning on taking it easy tonight, cause tomorrow I’m going out to dinner/drinks then going to the Tank to see the Sharks game.
Well since no one really knows much about the people’s blogs they read. I have decided to tell you guys a little about me. It all started when I was a twinkle in my dad’s eyes. lol jk Okay well here is something about me. I love
to watch/talk about sports. I love my Warriors, Sharks and Giants. I follow the A’s but can’t say I love them. They messed that up by sweeping us in the 89 World Series. lol I play softball on a tournament team. We do a little traveling but nothing to far from home unless it’s a big tourney. Softball/baseball is my passion. I love being out there on the field and at the plate taking my swings. Well I don’t play baseball anymore. Ever since my community college stint ended, so did my baseball career. I do play softball on Friday nights in a league and tourney’s like twice a month. I know when people think of softball they think it’s so easy and blah blah, but it’s really not. We play in a competitive league/tourney’s. Pitchers are trying to fake you out before they even pitch. This past weekend I played in Manteca Ca. at a place called Big League Dreams. I have played there a ton of times, but just thought I would share it with you guys incase you haven’t heard of it. Each field is a replica of a major league field. Our first game was the Fenway Park replica. Guys were hitting it off the Monster.
I started this blog because I love to talk Baseball and don’t always have someone to talk about it with. None of my friends love the game as much as I do. I can sit with a complete stranger and talk about any team. I love my Giants, but I follow every team. Not just the Giants. I really wish I would have went to school to do something with baseball. Anyways I found this blog on MLB.com and decided to try it out. Then I started to read other blogs and have little conversations here and there with other people posting blogs. That’s why I decided to keep it going and look where I am…. #100 blog. lol
I think I have pretty much been rambling during this whole blog. Just wanted to share with people who I am, so I’m just not a title you see “King of Cali”. I do plan to keep this blog going for a little while longer, so I will share some photos and thoughts about baseball/ Giants baseball throughout the baseball season.
~ King of Cali (Steven)
All Systems Go For Opening Day!
Today is Opening Day for most teams, and it’s obvious excitement is in the air. I have logged on to MLBlogs and seen so many new blogs in the most recent activity area. I have seen blogs that I never seen before. Everyone is pumped and wants to write about it. Today is the day that every team is still in it and has a chance to be #1. I really wanted to take today off to watch some games, but I decided to work today. I’m going to be off work tomorrow, so I can watch the Giants Opening Day against the Brewers.
As a Giants fan I was pretty damn happy watching the Braves game last night. It was nice because the season was finally starting. Just seeing how good Derek Lowe looked. That must make all Giants fans happy to see him pitching like that for any team other than the Dodgers. =) I can’t believe the Dodgers didn’t even try to get him back. Something else must have been going on. It was not even a question if he will return to the Dodgers once he became a free agent. Everyone knew he was going to end up pitching somewhere else.
Since I’m also playing Fantasy Baseball this year. I did have some other interest in the Braves game. I have Brian McCann as a player on one of my teams and he did hit a 2 run home run. My other player is Shane Victorino. He didn’t do anything last night, so thanks for nothing Shane! lol
Well all I can do today is check scores and highlights from teams playing. I might watch the A’s and Angels game tonight. Just getting myself pumped and ready for Lincecum and the Giants tomorrow. I heard there is chance of rain tomorrow. This game better not get cancelled cause then I might have to take another day off to see their first game. =) I get Lincecum tomorrow, Johnson on wed. ( my b-day) and then I’m going to the Sharks game Thursday night. Talk about a very nice week for me. =)
~ King of Cali
Giants Lineup Has Homegrown Talent – Today In Baseball History
After watching the Giants and A’s game last night. I’m ready for the season to start now. Just seeing them play at AT&T Park. Now it feels like some real baseball. Tim Lincecum out there blowing it by A’s hitters. Seeing Pablo Sandoval hit a RBI double off the right field wall. Everything is just starting to click to get me excited about the season. I know were not the Yankees or anything like that. We have some good young guys that will make the game exciting. Giants fans know the Giants always traded for guys or signed free agents. Now here is some proof that things are starting to change in Giants land.
2007 Opening Day Starting Lineup
1. Dave Roberts
2. Omar Vizquel
3. Barry Bonds
4. Ray Durham
5. Rich Aurilia
6. Pedro Feliz
7. Bengie Molina
8. Randy Winn
9. Barry Zito
We only had one homegrown player from the Giants minor league in the 2007 starting lineup. That player was Pedro (Feloser!) Feliz. The Giants have finally decided to grow some homegrown talent and have put a lot of money into scouting/developing players. This year our opening Day line up will have 5 homegrown players in that lineup. One of them is pitcher Tim Lincecum, but the other 4 are everyday players.
2009 Opening Day Lineup
1. Randy Winn
2. Edgar Renteria
3. Fred Lewis
4. Bengie Molina
5. Pablo Sandoval
6. Travis Ishikawa
7. Aaron Rowand
8. Emmanuel Burriss
9. Tim Lincecum
The 4 everyday players are Fred Lewis, Pablo Sandoval, Travis Ishikawa and Emmanuel Burriss. These 4 guys should be really exciting to watch. The Giants really like Lewis and want him in the 3 spot this year. Were hoping he can hit around 20 home runs. Lewis has a lot of speed and should get a lot of triples with his speed and the large gaps at AT&T Park.
Now Pablo Sandoval is my favorite of the 4 everyday players. This guy can flat out rake! He had 3 hits in the game last night against the A’s. He had a double of the right field wall and had a triple in the gap. He can run pretty good for a big guy. This guy looked foolish on two change ups outside and then rakes a ball off the wall on the next pitch. Don’t look at Sandoval to walk much. He’s a free swinger at the plate. He should be able to drive in a lot of runs in the 5th spot of the lineup. He also will set up the lower part of the lineup by being on base a lot. I’m sure he’s going to hit over .300 this year. I’m thinking he might hit about .320.
The next guy is Travis Ishikawa. The Giants gave him the 1st base job at the beginning of Spring Training without seeing what other guys would step up for the job. We never really got a chance to see what Ishikawa could do yet, but his spring stats helped Giants fans feel comfortable with him getting the job. Ishikawa led the Giants in home runs this spring by hitting 7. The Giants love him for his defense at 1st base, but they think he will also be able to give them some power. Ishikawa says he’s not a power hitter, but it seems to look like he might have more power than he wants to admit.
The 4th player is Emmanuel Burriss who beat out Kevin Frandsen for the 2nd base job. The Giants really love Burriss and think he can be a really good player. He has speed and has had a really good bat this spring. I’m sure he’s going to be a fine player this season.
These are just the players that are starting this season. The Giants have some other hot prospects that I’m sure will make their debut this season and might even make it to the starting lineup for next year’s opening day.
Today In Baseball History
1985 – The owners proposal of expanding the 1985 League Championship Series from the best-of-five games to best-of-sevin is agreed to by the Players Association.
~ King of Cali
Earthquake Shook This Blog Out Of Me!
As I was thinking about what I would like to blog about today. I feel the ground shake a bit and think it’s someone walking by then it shakes a little more and it turns out we just had a little earthquake. This made me think back to our big earthquake in 1989. I was 9 years old and my dad had just dropped off my sister and I at home. We were just about to watch the start of game 3 of the World Series. It was the San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A’s. The Bay Bridge Series. Well I know I didn’t care about the game once the earthquake hit. I remember the day October 17th 5:04pm. It was 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale (surface-wave magnitude 7.1). We ducked and got under the table and I just remember the ground was rolling under us. I would hate to have another one like that. I remember watching the news and seeing the Bay Bridge had a piece of the upper deck fall. I remember seeing players from both teams standing on the field. The Giants got swept by the A’s in that World Series and I just blame that on the earthquake. I need to have something to blame it on and that’s the only thing that makes me feel okay about that World Series loss. =) Our earthquake today was reported as 4.4. I think it’s the Baseball Gods trying to shake everything up for the NL West. Go Giants!
Here is a picture of the Bay Bridge.
The Day The World Series Stopped.
Picture of Candlestick Park right after the earthquake.
~ King of Cali
MLBlogs Latest Leaders Tournament
Today I seen on “The Max” blog. There is a one-on-one tournament set up with the MLBlogs leaders. The first round is almost over. I’m up against “Yankeeology”. I just hope I make it past the first round. I really like reading blogs. Just cool to see different opinions and to debate in good fashion. Well if you haven’t checked out “The Max” blog. You better check it out and see if you’re one of the teams in the tournament. Good luck and good blogging!
ps. VOTE FOR ME!!!! 😉
UPDATE – Tim Lincecum is scratched from making his start today against the Angels. Don’t worry Giants fans. He’s not hurt…. He has the flu.
~King of Cali
Who would you build around?
This is just something I have been thinking about and I’m curious as to what other bloggers think about this. If you could start your with one player. Who would be the guy you would build your team around? Would you start off with a young Ace like Tim Lincecum. Somebody that can start every five days and shut the other team down. Maybe you want a star shortstop like Derek Jeter. Someone that can hit and give you a 100% day in and day out. Maybe you want a centerfielder like Aaron Rowand that goes balls out on defense. You can even go with a monster swinger like Ryan Howard. He can spark your offense and get a ton of RBI’s. There is so many ways you can go with this. I’m just curious to see what bloggers would go with what guys to start a team and build around them. I look forward to your comments.
~King of Cali
D-Backs vs. A’s recap 3/12/09
The Diamondbacks got 2 hits in the top of the 1st but did not score. Dan Haren gets the start for the D-Backs. He did get Rajai Davis to fly out and then walked Travis Buck. Matt Holliday then grounded into a fielders choice. Forcing out Buck at 2nd base. Haren then faced Jason Giambi and fell off to the side of the mound which caused some concern to the D-Backs, so they came out to check on him. He said he was fine and stayed in the game. He then walked Giambi, so runners on 1st and 2nd. He then got into a 3-0 count and Ellis then hit an RBI single scoring Matt Holliday from 2nd base. Haren then struck out Powell to get out of the inning. After one inning it’s the D-Backs 0 and the A’s 1.
Upton led off the 2nd inning with a single off of Mazzaro. Mazzaro gets Reynolds to strike out. Upton tried to steal 3rd base but got thrown out by A’s catcher Landon Powell. Snyder then strikes out and Skelton grounds out to end the top of the 2nd inning. Bobby Crosby then led off the bottom of the 2nd. I really want this guy to do good. I like him and feel bad that the A’s went out to get Orlando Cabrera. I’m sure they are looking to trade Crosby. He didn’t help himself off because he struck out to start the 2nd inning. Dan Haren retired the A’s in order going 3 up and 3 down to end the 2nd inning.
Dan Haren reached his pitch count after walking Giambi in the bottom of the 4th. He pitched 3 innings allowing 1 hit, 1 run, 3 walks and 4 strike outs. Going into the top of the 5th the A’s are still clinging to a 1 run lead. In the bottom of the 5th the A’s got 3 straight hits off of Qualls. Giambi got an RBI single. After 5 innings its the A’s 2 and the D-Backs 0. The A’s add on to the score in the bottom of the 7th inning. Doolittle hits a home run to make the score 5-0. The A’s would add one more run before the inning ends.
The D-Backs did load the bases in the top of the 8th inning, but couldn’t get any runs in. A double play ball ended their chance to score. The D-Backs finally scored in the 9th inning, but to little to late.
The D-Backs score 1 run on 10 hits with 0 errors. The A’s scored 6 runs on 12 hits and 1 error. There was only 2 players who had a multi hit game. The D-Backs Frey had 2 hits in 5 AB’s with the only RBI of the game for the D-Backs. The A’s Mark Ellis was 2-16 coming into this game. Ellis went 2-3 with 1 RBI. That was his first RBI of the spring.
Side Notes
One good thing about listening to the A’s -D-Backs game on the radio was they did a lot of talking about the Giants. I guess cause the Giants and A’s are in the bay area and the D-Backs are in the NL West with the Giants. They also think Zito will have a decent year because he’s going to be the #4 starter. They also think the Giants still need one big bat to add to the lineup. They are saying the same stuff I have been blogging about this whole off season. Does this mean I should work in baseball too? I wish!
~King of Cali
I’m #9 on the leader list
This is the highest I have ever been. I just want to say thank you to everyone
for reading and commenting on my blogs. It’s nice to know that people actually read them. =) I use this as my way to talk about baseball, cause none of my friends are die hard baseball fans like myself. I dedicate my #9 ranking to “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson. I know everyone knows Reggie’s #44 was retired by the Yankees. The A’s also retired Reggie’s #9 that he was wearing when he was with the A’s.
for reading and commenting on my blogs. It’s nice to know that people actually read them. =) I use this as my way to talk about baseball, cause none of my friends are die hard baseball fans like myself. I dedicate my #9 ranking to “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson. I know everyone knows Reggie’s #44 was retired by the Yankees. The A’s also retired Reggie’s #9 that he was wearing when he was with the A’s.Reggie has made the All-Star team 14 times. He has been a world series champion 5 times, Silver Slugger Award 2 times, World Series MVP 2 times and the AL MVP 1 time. His induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame was 1993. He did receive 93.6% first ballot votes. Jackson’s career statistics were AVG .262, home runs 563 and RBI’s 1,702.
Today in Baseball History
1903 – The New York Highlander franchise (to be renamed Yankees in 1913) is approved as a member of the American League.
~King of Cali
Just some quick thoughts from 2 Spring Training Games…
Yankees – Astros
Russ Ortiz pitched 3 solid innings today for the Astros. He’s trying to win the 5 spot in the rotation for the Astros. He did have one bad pitch. That turned out to be a home run for Angel Berroa. I was listening to the game online and I heard a name that sounded so familiar. It was Cody Ransom. He was a Giant a while back. He never really made it big, but I was glad to hear he’s still playing. I don’t think he will make the Yankees opening day roster but he did play 33 games for them last season hitting .302.
Mike Hampton got lit up today. He gave up 4 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings. He did manage to get 2 strike outs.
Giants – Royals
I love listening to baseball on the radio and I must say Giants fans are really lucky to have the guys we have on the radio. Today KNBR the Giants flagship station is not doing the game. I had to listen to the game with the Royals radio guys. All I can say is I feel sorry for Royals fans that have to listen to the games on the radio. These guys were just so blah. I mean I don’t want to say they were bad, but they were just so boring compared to Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow and Dave Flemming. They did make me laugh one time. One of the guys told the other one that he’s already in mid season mode (the way he was calling the game). Then the other guy says why cause of all the (Royals) errors. It just made me laugh out loud.
The Giants didn’t play that great today. Matt Cain gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 1.2 innings. I didn’t really get much better for any other Giants pitchers except the Giants closer Brian Wilson. He 1 inning allowing 0 runs. The Giants had 8 different pitchers in this game. Dave Roberts had an 0-3 day and still hasn’t managed to get a batting average yet this spring training. Burriss went 2-3 to to help his battle for the 2nd base job. The only other Giants player with 2 hits was Torres. The final score of the game is Royals 14 and the Giants 5.
The other Bay Area team.
The Oakland A’s have signed Orlando Cabrera to a one year deal. They signed him for $5 million less than what he was asking for this off-season. Orlando signed for $4 million. This means Bobby Crosby will no longer be the starting short stop. He will play a utility role or be traded. I was actually excited to see how Crosby would do this season. I’m sure he will have a fine season in whatever role he is playing this year. I guess this signing means Nomar might be retiring. He said last week it was the A’s or retirement.
Today in Baseball History
1927 – Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce the Bambino will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years.
~King of Cali
Q&A with radio host Damon Bruce from KNBR
I would like to introduce all of you to Damon Bruce. You can hear Damon on KNBR, the Giants flagship station. Where he is the nightly host of “Sportsphone 680”, which is heard from 7-10pm Pacific Time. You can also stream his show online at www.knbr.com. You gamers out there might recognize his voice, he does the play-by-play for the video game “The Bigs”. One thing I love about Damon is that he’s very passionate about the Giants and what they should be doing to improve the team. Damon was born in Chicago. You would never know it from hearing him on the radio, but he’s a Chicago Cubs fan! I know that his second favorite team is the Giants! Damon does a “Giants Hot Stove League Show” where he interviews players, coaches and broadcasters.
I recently contacted Damon, told him about my blog and asked him if I could
interview him for it. He agreed to let me interview him via email. I did get a chance to meet Damon when I was at the Giants Fan Fest. I walked up and introduced myself to him. Not only did he know who I was, but he obviously reads his own emails! He told me he would have all the answers to me by early in the week. It was great to finally meet the man behind the voice. (Picture to the right is Zito, Frandsen and Bruce at Giants Fan Fest.)
interview him for it. He agreed to let me interview him via email. I did get a chance to meet Damon when I was at the Giants Fan Fest. I walked up and introduced myself to him. Not only did he know who I was, but he obviously reads his own emails! He told me he would have all the answers to me by early in the week. It was great to finally meet the man behind the voice. (Picture to the right is Zito, Frandsen and Bruce at Giants Fan Fest.)Here is a Q & A with sports host Damon Bruce from KNBR.
King: Since it’s known you’re a Chicago Cubs fan and you cover the Giants. Who would you want to win in the NLCS if they played each other?
Damon B: Cubs vs Giants – Lets hope, and it’s a sfe bet… that’s not going to be a problem for me. Personally, I would love to see the Cubs in the World Series in my lifetime, but not at the expense of me getting to cover a World Series in my lifetime. I would likely have to take the series off, and just start drinking heavily.
King: Who is your favorite player current and all time?
Damon B: Favorite Player All Time – Mark Grace… if we’re talking current Giants: Lincecum or Cain
King: What’s your best Giants memory?
Damon B: Covering Bonds the night he tied Hank Aaron in San Diego. It was surreal to watch him do that in another team’s ball park. Padres fans didn’t want to applaud, but they couldn’t stop themselves. It’s covered in scandal, but it was quite a moment in time.
King: What’s your opinion on Manny Ramirez possibly being a Giant?
Damon B: Sign him before the Dodgers do… are you even serious with this question? This guy is a proven winner, and the best post-season performer in ML history. I can’t belive the Giants are just watching the Dodgers take their time with this guy.
King: I like adding Renteria and Johnson if they add a clean up hitter. If they don’t then I don’t see a point if they aren’t trying to win. What do you think about those signings?
Damon B: Both are stop gaps… Renteria will be an offensive upgrade over Omar, but not 1/2 the defender. It really show’s they don’t have a player in their minor league system ready to go at SS. It’s a C-plus signing, maybe a B-minus… lets see how he plays and adjusts to NL pitching again. Johnson is a sub-plot to the season which will be cool to cover. 300 wins is special, and hopefully it gives the Giants incentive to deal some pitching for a bat.
King: If you were the Giants GM what moves would you have made this off-season?
Damon B: Manny… Manny… Manny… trade some pitching for a real bat if he didn’t sign. I like the Affeldt signing, would have tried to deal for Holliday instead of letting the A’s do it. Would have never inked Zito for that cash… I could go on & on… but I’ll spare you. Oh, I would have made a move on Dan Uggla.
King: Has there been a recent move by a team this off-season that you’re impressed with and didn’t see coming?
Damon B: I think every off-season needs to be spent addressing major issues… there is a major lack of major league bat in the middle of this line-up, and until that’s fixed, they’re just painting a rusty car, not treating the rust.
King: What’s your prediction for the NL West?
Damon B: D-Backs, Giants, Dodgers, Rockies, Padres.
King: What’s your take on the Barry Bonds issue?
Damon B: Should have come clean a-la A-Rod and this would have been over years ago. His ego was his greatest asset and worst enemy at the same time.
King: Is there anything you want to let people know about you that they might not know?
Damon B: I’ve written a book about Bay Area Sports Lists… will be out near the beginning of baseball season. It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, so I’m excited, and hope people dig it.
I hoped you guys really enjoyed getting to know a little about Damon Bruce.
Thanks again Damon for taking the time to answer these questions and it was really nice to meet you at the Giants FanFest. Here is a picture of Damon and I at the Giants Fan Fest.
Thanks again Damon for taking the time to answer these questions and it was really nice to meet you at the Giants FanFest. Here is a picture of Damon and I at the Giants Fan Fest.~King of Cali
King of Cali 
