Tagged: Indians

Giants vs. Indians Recap – Today in Baseball History!

Giants send Sanchez to the mound against Lee for the Indians. After 1 inning it’s the Giants 3 and the Indians 0. The Giants scored 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 errors in the bottom of the 1st inning. In the 2nd Velez hit a 2 run triple to give the Giants a 5-0 lead. Sandoval hit a sacrifice fly to score Velez. The Giants get another 3 run inning off of Lee. Make it a 4 run inning now. Rich Aurilia just hit a solo home run. The Giants hit for the cycle this inning. They got a single, double, triple and a home run. After 2 innings it’s the Giants 7 and the Indians 0. The Indians get on the board in the top of the 4th inning on a home run by Peralta. The Giants answer back in the bottom of the 4th. Uribe hits a RBI double to score Aurilia. The Giants now have a 8-1 lead. The Indians get back on the board in the top of the 6th. Nate Schierholtz hits a RBI double to score Velez in the bottom of the 5th. The Giants end up adding 2 runs in the 6th. After 6 innings it’s the Giants 10 and the Indians 2. The 7th and 8th innings went by pretty fast. The game is now in the 9th inning. Which means the Indians are down to their final 3 outs. The first Indian up hits a triple. He scores on a sacrifice fly. Indians are down to their final 2 outs. The Giants get the final out and get a cactus league win.
 
The Giants get 10 runs on 14 hits and 1 error. The Indians get 3 runs on 9 hits and 2 errors.
 
Highlights
 
  • The Giants have 5 players that have a multi hit game. 
  • Torres goes 2-5 scoring 2 runs.
  • Velez goes 3-5, 2 RBI’s and scored 3 runs.
  • Schierholtz goes 2-4, 2 RBI’s and scored 3 runs.
  • Aurilia goes 2-3, 1 RBI and scored 1 run.
  • Uribe goes 2-4 with 3 RBI’s.
  • Every Giants starter got a hit today including starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez.
 
Side Notes
 
The Giants had to stop the game last night vs. the Cubs. It was really windy and I think at the start of the game the wind was blowing 25-30mph. I watched some of the game on TV and was amazed at how they could even play. Zito got the start for the Giants. He pitched 5 innings giving up 3 runs and getting 7 strike outs. That’s a decent start for Zito. Giants got the win 5-3 over the Cubs.
 
Jesus Guzman didn’t get the off day like the rest of the Giants on Wednesday. He played a minor league game, so he can work on playing 1st base. This guy has been on fire with his bat, but the Giants don’t know where to put him on defense. They have him trying to play more first base.
 
Today in Baseball History
 
1989 – Sports Illustrated exposes Pete Rose’s gambling activities. The article alleges ‘Charlie Hustle’ bet from the Riverfront dugout using hand gestures with an associate.
 
~ King of Cali

Buster Posey and Bill Neukom on the radio 2/26/09

Buster Posey thinks the Giants pitching staff is nasty. He’s a soft spoken kid. Buster said one game at Florida State he played all 9 positions. He said the most uncomfortable position he played was first base. He said just seeing the ball come off that bat at that angle was weird. Posey has hit with
 
BusterPoseyspring.jpgwood in summer leagues before now. The speed of the game is a lot faster. Base runners are faster. He doesn’t know what the Giants have in mind for him this season. He’s just going to control what he can when he’s on the field.
 
Bill Neukom was impressed with Ishikawa’s power surge in yesterday’s game. He said that ball would have went out of any big league park. The Giants are pushing to have a lot of homegrown talent. Bringing someone in here and there with a trade is fine, but they want guys to come up through there system.
 
Neukom said Manny isn’t a perfect fit for the Giants right now. He loves his bat but said the Giants have a huge outfield and need someone who’s a good defender in left field to save runs. He said that doesn’t mean were closing the door on Manny. He was just comparing Bonds when the Giants first signed him to Manny Ramirez now. He was saying Bonds was a 5 tool player. He could do everything. Manny at this point in his career is just a hitter.
 
Giants face the Dodgers today in Cactus League play. Matt Cain is going to take the hill. Let’s see what other Giants step up today.
 
UPDATE – Tim Lincecum and Giants agree on a 1 year $650,000 contract. Lincecum will be elligable for arbitration next year.
 
~King of Cali

Thoughts on Giants 10-7 spring win 2/25/09

Renteria got a double in his first AB (finishing 1-3), Sandoval followed him with a hit (1-3 with a walk) and then Travis Ishikawa got a 2 out RBI single. The Giants put up one run in the first inning. Lincecum gave up one hit to Peralta and got one strike out (Sizemore) in the bottom of the first inning facing 4 batters.
 
I know this is only spring training and these games don’t mean anything. It’s just nice to see the Giants able to put up some runs. After 6 innings and they already have 7 runs. The really good thing is they have 3 home runs so far. That’s from a team that hardly ever had multiple home runs in a game. Travis Ishikawa is projected to be the starting first baseman for the Giants unless Bowker can beat him out for the job. Ishikawa is off to a great start. He went 3-3 with two home runs and 4 RBI’s. Giants fan love to see someone in the lineup with some pop. The Giants will have more pop in the lineup this year by having Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa in the lineup for a full season.
 
The Giants now have 10 runs after 8 innings. Frandsen and Velez also got an RBI each. The very fast Velez has also stolen a base for the Giants. The Giants scored 3 runs off of Vinnie Chulk in 2 innings. Chulk was with the Giants last season.
 
Spring Training game one for the Giants is in the bag. The Giants beat the Indians 10-7. I really don’t care about wins during the spring. It’s just being able to see what players do what. For example a guy on the Giants Pichardo gave up 3 runs and I never heard of the guy. Although Yabu gave up 3 runs too and that’s kind of scary cause he’s in our bullpen. I only see him pitching in games to eat up innings in the middle. Not during close games. I will be watching MLB Network tonight to catch up on all the highlights from today. Just an FYI A-Rod did hit a home run today too.
 
~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
zitofrandsenbrucefanfest.jpginterview 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.
dbruceme.jpgThanks 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

Check the attendance for your team…

Teams                  Dates         Home att.       Home avg     Road avg         Total
 
NY Yankees            81            4,287132          52,928         35,193        7,137,726
NY Mets                  79            4,042,045         51,165         35,944        6,953,516
LA Dodgers            81            3,730,750         46,059         34,710        6,542,284
St. Louis                 81            3,432,917         42,382         32,342        6,052,643
Philadelphia          81            3,422,583         42,254         33,214        6,112,949
LA Angels               81            3,336,747         41,194         29,621        5,736,079
Chicago Cubs         81            3,300,200         40,743         36,328        6,206,469
Detroit                   81            3,202,654          39,539         29,308        5,511,391
Milwaukee             81            3,068,458          37,882         33,237        5,760,633
Boston                   81            3,048,250          37,633         38,367        6,155,993
San Fran.               81            2,863,847          35,356          32,272        5,445,583
Houston                80            2,779,487          34,744          32,198        5,387,486
Colorado               80            2,650,218          33,128          32,812       5,307,964
Atlanta                  81            2,532,834          31,270          34,105       5,227,115
Arizona                81             2,509,946           30,987         33,946        5,259,562
Chicago WS          80             2,460,294           30,754         30,253        4,910,792
San Diego             81            2,427,535            29,970         35,795       5,326,908
Toronto               81             2,399,786            29,627         30,119       4,809,298
Washington         80             2,321,988            29,025         32,825       4,948,027
Seatle                   81             2,329,788            28,763         29,823       4,745,428
Minnesota            81            2,302,431            28,425          29,527      4,644,597
Cleveland            80             2,169,760            27,122          31,029      4,652,092
Cincinnati            81            2,058,632             25,415          34,288     4,835,994
Baltimore             78            1,950,077             25,001          31,654     4,482,366
Texas                    80            1,945,857             24,323          29,765     4,327,076
Tampa Bay           81            1,811,986             22,370          30,343     4,239,403
Oakland                81            1,665,256             20,559          29,943     4,030,782
Pittsburgh            80            1,609,076             20,113          33,701     4,338,855
Kansas City          79            1,578,922             19,986          29,918     4,002,291
Florida                  80            1,335,079             16,688          33,335     4,001,845
 

AL total: 34,488,931    AL average: 30,630
NL total: 44,085,595    NL average: 34,201
MLB total: 78,574,526    MLB average: 32,536

 

What player on your favorite team will have a breakout year in 2009?

Well I think a couple players on the Giants will have a breakout year. I guess I will
PabloSandoval.jpgname them both and for different reasons. I think Pablo Sandoval will have a very nice season with the bat. He hit .345, 3 Home Runs and 24 RBI’s in just 41 games. I believe that was just a sample of what he can do with a bat in his hands. He does hit for AVG, but I’m hoping he gets a little more pop in his bat. He will probably be batting 3rd and I’m sure he will keep his AVG up and RBI’s will also come easy for him with Renteria on base a lot in front of him.
 

BarryZito.jpgI also think Barry Zito will have a breakout year. I know I’m sure a lot of you guys think that’s a type error. No it’s not! I do believe he will have a breakout year. This year he’s not going to be the main guy that everyone is looking at cause of his big contract. They have Tim Lincecum coming back as the ace and Cy Young award winner. Then you add Randy Johnson with Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez. Zito will fall back to like the 3rd or 4th spot in the starting rotation. Which can only help him. He will not be going up against another teams ace. He can only get better at the bottom of the rotation.
 
Who do you belive will be your teams breakout player of 2009?
 
– King of Cali