Tagged: Reds

April 2, 2009

2007 Home Run Derby Pictures…

I have never posted a blog about this, but I did go to the Home Run Derby when it was at AT&T Park. I just wish I would have took more pictures. The battery died on the camera so I knew I only had a few pictures in it. It really was a cool experience to see all the booths and stuff they had set up outside of the stadium. Right when I walked in the stadium I went straight to the field. The National League team was having batting practice and the American League team was starting to stretch out in front of me. I got a couple pictures of some of them up close. It was just really cool to see all these players from different teams up close. These players seemed so loose and were just joking around. You knew they were all having a blast.

Here is a couple of pictures from my seat view. I never sat this high before but these were the only tickets I could find for the Home Run Derby.

The winner of the 2007 Home Rub Derby was big, bad Vladimir Guerrero from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

~ King of Cali

April 2, 2009

My 2nd Fantasy Baseball Team

Last Friday I did my 2nd Fantasy Draft. I had the 6th pick in the draft. My #1 pick of the draft was Josh Hamilton. I have never played Fantasy Baseball before so I’m still not to sure how everything works. I know I have two guys on this team that are injured. I decided to get Alex Rodriguez since I figured he would be back in May. I also got Troy Glaus. I had no idea he was injured. I think I seen on MLB. com today that he won’t be back till June. Grrrrrrreat (not Tony The Tiger Grrrrrrreat) now I need to figure something out. lol Well here is my 2nd Fantasy team. Let me know what you think and any suggestions would be nice. =)

Team – King of Cali

C                  Brian McCann

1B               Pablo Sandoval

2B                Howie Kendrick

3B               Alex Rodriguez

SS                 Rafael Furcal

OF                Josh Hamilton

OF                Alfonso Soriano

OF                Corey Hart

Util              Andre Ethier

Util              Jim Thome

BN                Delmon Young

BN                Orlando Hudson

BN                Troy Glaus

BN                Fred Lewis

SP                 Jon Lester

SP                 Matt Cain

RP                George Sherrill

RP                Chad Qualls

P                   John Danks

P                   Ryan Dempster

P                   Jered Weaver

~ King of Cali

March 13, 2009

Giants vs. Rockies recap 3/13/09

Giants start the game off by going 3 up and 3 down. Renteria did get a hit but was out in the double play ball hit by Lewis. The Rockies start the game off by getting 1 run on 1 hit in the bottom of the 1st inning. Helton gets the RBI scoring Spilborghs. Sandoval starts the 2nd inning off with a single. Then Ishikawa hit it back to the pitcher. Which turned out to be the 2nd double play ball hit by the Giants in the first 2 innings. Turns out to be another 3 up 3 down inning. Ex-Giant Yorvit Toorrealba started the bottom of the 2nd with a bloop single. I always liked Torrealba and he’s a player that I always want to see him play good. Just don’t like to see him do good against the Giants. The Giants did get out of the inning now allowing any runs. John Bowker would start the 3rd inning off with a hit. The starting pitcher Pucetas gets a single to set up the Giants with runners at 1st and 3rd. Then Velez got a 2 run triple. He may have had an in the park home run if the pitcher wasn’t the runner at 1st base. Fred Lewis also hits a triple to score Velez and give the Giants a 3-1 lead. The Rockies finally went down in order 3 up and 3 down in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

The Rockies did score their 2nd run in the 7th. After the 7th inning the score is Giants 3 and Rockies 2. Buster Posey did get a pinch hit AB but failed to get a hit. The Giants didn’t score any in the top of the 8th. The Rockies also were held scoreless as well. The Rockies got runners on 1st and 3rd in the bottom of the 9th and then got a sacrifice fly to tie the game up at 3-3. Now I’m hoping the Rockies just win it now, cause I don’t have much more time to listen to the game. This game needs to end within 20 mins or this blog is getting posted with out the final score or final stats. =) Now the game is going into the 10th.

Didn’t take long for the Giants to score a run. The 2nd pitch in the 10 inning was hit by Torres for a home run to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. Well in my mind the Giants will win, cause I’m leaving while they have the lead.

The Giants still scored a few more runs before I could post this blog. The score is now 7-3 Giants. Giants scored 4 times on 6 hits and an error. The Rockies are coming up to bat in the bottom of the 10th but I won’t be able to post what happens. Have a nice weekend my fellow bloggers.

Today in Baseball History

1960 – The Chicago White Sox become the first team to feature road uniforms with the players names on the back. The innovation by Sox owner Bill Veeck makes it easier for the American League fans to identify the visiting Pale Hose.

~King of Cali

March 13, 2009

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

February 13, 2009

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.)

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.

~King of Cali

February 12, 2009

Domino effect time for free agents

With spring training here. I think a lot of players are going to start to panic
that they are not on teams. They don’t want to sign late and miss the start of the season. I’m sure we will see some signings starting to come quick. Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn signing recently is starting the domino effect for the rest of the players. If someone would have asked you at the beginning of the off-season that your team can get Abreu for $5 million would you have believed them? I’m sure if any team would have thought that. Every team would have jumped to try to get that deal worked out quick. Abreu is a steal for the Angels. It’s such a great move cause they got him for cheap and he can bat anywhere. They don’t expect him to be a huge force. He’s just a great bat that has some pop. He will get them about 20 or more home runs and will hit about .300. Can’t ask for anything more than that for a $5 million deal.

I think Adam Dunn was waiting as long as he could to get a better offer. He just never got it, so he decided to finally sign with the Nationals. The reason I say finally cause it was reported a while back that the Nationals had a contract offer to Dunn but he just kept waiting and waiting. I think he was waiting for Manny to sign and then see what’s out there for him. I’m sure he was hoping Manny wouldn’t sign in LA, so he can sign with the Dodgers.

Now it’s wait and see who’s signing next. I’m sure most of us have heard the Dodgers are trying to sign Manny and Orlando Hudson. As a Giants fan I hate this move. As a baseball fan… I think this makes the Dodgers a whole lot stronger. To add these two bats to your lineup. Orlando will hit around .300 and Manny will just rake all day at the plate. I hope the Dodgers can’t get both of these players, but if they do. We will just throw Tim Lincecum at them and no Dodgers will be hitting that day. =)

~King of Cali

February 11, 2009

Rich Aurilia on the radio, Dunn signs 2 year deal

Today I was listening to Gary Radnich on KNBR the Giants flagship station. He did an interview with Rich Aurilia. Rich just signed a minor league deal with the Giants. Rich said he knows he’s not the big bat that the Giants needed to get. He said he knows his role on the team and is very happy to be
back. Gary asked him if he thought about retiring since the offers aren’t really there. He said he did not consider retiring and wants to play a few more years.

Rich Aurilia was the first player to hit a grand slam in interleague play. His bat was sent to the Hall of Fame. He was asked if he thought Randy Johnson can still pitch. Aurilia said he thinks Randy still has some stuff left in the tank. He has always had good success against Johnson and said he thinks it was easier to hit off him when Randy was younger. He said Johnson now doesn’t throw as hard but he has more pitches that he throws now so it’s not just the fast ball. He plans to get to know Johnson really good during spring training cause he found out that their lockers are right next to each other.

Aurilia likes the core that the Giants have with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Emmanuel Burriss and Kevin Frandsen. Gary also asked him about Bonds. He said Bonds soften up as his last couple years with the Giants. Said Bonds has been nothing but nice to him and his family. He played with Bonds for 11 years and has nothing but nice experiences with him. He said Bonds had a lot to live up to. He had a lot of pressure cause of his dad being Bobby Bonds and his godfather Willie Mays. Bonds was a fun guy to be around when you got to know him and spend time with him one on one.

He was asked about Manny Ramirez. He hopes the Dodgers don’t get Manny Ramirez. Aurilia said his buddy Adam Dunn is still sitting at home not knowing where he’s going. He thinks the economy is holding players back from signing. He thinks these free agents will sign a one year deal like Abreu and hope the economy picks back up next off-season.

Side note: Dunn has signed a 2 year deal today with the Nationals worth $20 million

~King of Cali

February 11, 2009

Strawberry is the next guy to bash players in a book

Just when you thought the books of bashing players was going to stop. It’s not…. Darryl Strawberry is going to be releasing a book in April. “Straw: Finding My Way” will detail the boozing, skirt-chasing New York Mets of the
mid-1980’s.

“We were the boys of summer. The drunk, speed-freak, sneaking a smoke boys of summer,” Strawberry writes.” I have read that Strawberry will not be saying names of players but will tell it how it was during that time from his point of view.

I know I can’t wait to read this one. I have a few books that I want to read. This is another to add to my to do list. I always liked Strawberry. He just never was able to keep his nose clean. I remember when the Giants had him (1994). There was a sign behind him at the stadium saying “Strawberry Patch”. Awww the memories. =) Click here to read about the Strawberry book.

~King of Cali

February 8, 2009

This weekends Hot Stove

A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez is the only name to be released from the ’03 steroid testing. He is on a list of
104 players to have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. A-Rod was approached by an SI reporter on Thursday. A-Rod did not want to discuss the test results. He would not say if he tested positive or not for performance enhancing drugs. A-Rod said “You’ll have to talk to the union.” He was asked if there was an expanation for his positive test, and he said “I’m not saying anything.” There were no penalties for positive tests in 2003. I’m sure we will get a lot more information on this in the next couple of days. I will try to keep you updated with information as I get it.

Gordon signs a 1 year contract with the D-Backs

Tom Gordon has signed a 1 year contract with the Arizona. It’s reported that he will earn $500,000 and with bonuses can earn him up to $2.5 million. Gordon hasn’t pitched in a game since July 5th of last season with the Phillies.

Andruw Jones hopes to resurrect his career with the Rangers

SI.com has confirmed that Andruw Jones has signed a 1 year minor league contract with the Rangers. Jones was released by the Dodgers this offseason. He worked out a deal so the Dodgers will release him and still pay him his contract over time. The Rangers signed him for $500,000 plus $1 million in incentives. I really like Jones and hope he has a bounce back year. He’s to young to be on that big of a decline.

Ryan Howard signs a 3 year contract with the Phillies

Well now the Phillies and Ryan Howard can stop all the arbitration stuff. I think this is a great move for the Phillies. They have a legit power hitter locked up with a contract he’s going to be happy with. If he can cut down a lot of his strike out’s, he’s going to be an even better player. He will earn $15 million this season, $19 million next year and $20 million in 2011.

Giants have an offer on the table for Crede and Aurilia

It’s been reported that CBS television on Saturday that the Giants have made an offer to Joe Crede. No specifics on the contract offer have been reported. Crede isn’t that big bat that the Giants need but he’s a good 3rd baseman and has a little pop. It’s just a question if he can stay healthy or not. Maybe that’s what the Giants signed Juan Uribe to back him up like he did last year for the White Sox. The only other team that has been talking about trying to sign Crede has been the Twins.

The Giants have also made an offer to Rich Aurilia for a minor league contract. Aurilia has spent 10 of his 13 big league seasons with the Giants. Brian Sabea said “I think he’s taking the weekend to decide. We hope he comes back.”

I did go to the Giants Fan Fest this weekend and will be blogging about it this week. I also will have pictures of the event in the Fan Fest blog.

~King of Cali

February 6, 2009

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