Scoring Bug

Did anyone else notice the new scoring bug at the top of the screen for today's game on KTVU? I think it looks hideous. I liked the old box better than the new banner . It seems like now, ESPN is the only place that still uses a nice-looking box for baseball. When will they switch to a banner?

Note: I just relized ESPN already switched. That just goes to prove my point.

Absolute Hilarity

The Rockies lost to their farm team in Colorado Springs by the count of 5-3. Now, if that had happened to me as a Giants fan, I would be going off my rocker.

Exhibition Games

I'm getting tense now. These exhibition games at the very end of March really kill me.

Do you know how to add?

If not, this table is for you.

A's, Giants unlikely to be in playoffs

Now, everyone is ripping this article by Carl Steward. I don't see why. It's a fact that they're getting worse. Now, I'll let my comment talk:

What's the problem? Everyone ripping this article because their beloved A's aren't going to do as well this year? Look, I'm not any happier as a Giants fan. Yet I recognize the truth (even if I don't acknowledge it)—neither Bay Area team is going to be this good this year. Both have had prolonged success over the past few years, so it's only natural for them to crash sometime, and this is it. Live with it, folks. Denial of the facts won't change them.

1 Week

Opening Day is now, at last, a tangible reality! My spine is tingling from the excitement of another year of 3rd Place!

Remembering Ed Bailey

Ed Bailey, who died Friday, made his name in Cincinnati, but near the tail end of his career, he spent 4 seasons by the Bay, being named to the All-Star team twice. He platooned with Tom Haller on the '62 squad, and went 1-14 with a home run in that year's Series. He was a fairly potent slugger, knocking 51 balls out of the park between '61 and '63. His career was cut short by Tom Haller's taking his job, but for some years, he was among the elite catchers of the National League.

Juan Pierre

I'm glad the Giants didn't pick him up, seeing as how the Dodgers paid that kind of sum to him. Clearly, Colletti has gone insane. There is no way he would have made that move in San Francisco.

Nightmare

...and I wake up in a cold sweat, and it hits me like a sack of bricks that Pedro Feliz is still our 3rd baseman.

.500

Currently, the Giants are 12-12 in Spring Training, at .500. Looks like a good preview of the regular season to me.

Ortiz

Ortiz has all but won the 5th starter's spot. Expect him to implode in May.

Opening Day

Here's a good one for a slow Tuesday—why does Opening Day always take place on a Tuesday? Why not Monday, like almost every other team?

Scottsdale Screw-up

Fred Lewis is being left off the Giants roster for the regular season. I just don't know how you defend that. This makes Linden and Ellison (who, incidentally, went to Lewis & Clark State in Idaho) the 4th and 5th outfielders. Don't get me wrong: I think Ellison and Linden both deserve to be there. Lewis does too, though, and there has to be a way to fit him in. Now Lewis will likely languish in Fresno until Armageddon.

Cricket, Anyone?

In the United States, baseball casts a heavy shadow over cricket, a sport whiuch I enjoy almost as much as baseball. I am avidly following the World Cup, where my team (Bangladesh) has just defeated India! Hooray!

¡Béisbol!

Only two short weeks until Opening Day! Rejoice, my friends, rejoice at the sight of a meaningful game!

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. CF Roberts
2. SS Vizquel
3. LF Bonds
4. 2B Durham
5. RF Winn
6. 1B Aurilia
7. 3B Feliz
8. C Molina
9. P Zito

Tournament Time!

Though I don't follow basketball avidly, and I don't care about the NBA outside of what the Warriors do, I do follow NCAA basketball sporadically, and March Madness is really what turns me on. I don't have a particular rooting interest, but it's always fun to see all those teams out there, going against one another. As for their classwork...

Good News on Mando

I heard that some scouts were looking on as Benitez pitched a few days ago. They seemed impressed. I guess they have heard of the phrase "don't judge a pitcher by his weight". Most Giants fans have learned the irony of this phrase. SO DO JUDGE A PITCHER BY HIS WEIGHT. Hopefully a team can pick up Benitez, and learn this lesson the hard way.

Most Valuable Giants—Explanation

The Giants have had a long history of good players. So, I decided to investigate, and based solely on stats, I compiled my list. It proves what I thought it would: the best players on good teams are better than the best players on bad teams (most of the time). For proof, look at Orlando Cepeda and Dan Gladden. Both are one-time winners. Which strikes the ear better, Cepeda or Gladden? Exactly. I will look at the careers of each player, with one every few days.

Most Valuable Giants—The List

By Season:
1958—Willie Mays
1959—Willie Mays
1960—Willie Mays
1961—Orlando Cepeda
1962—Willie Mays
1963—Willie Mays
1964—Willie Mays
1965—Willie Mays
1966—Willie McCovey
1967—Willie McCovey
1968—Willie McCovey
1969—Willie McCovey
1970—Bobby Bonds
1971—Bobby Bonds
1972—Dave Kingman
1973—Bobby Bonds
1974—Gary Matthews
1975—Von Joshua
1976—Bobby Murcer
1977—Willie McCovey
1978—Jack Clark
1979—Mike Ivie
1980—Jack Clark
1981—Jack Clark
1982—Joe Morgan
1983—Darrell Evans
1984—Dan Gladden
1985—Chris Brown
1986—Chris Brown
1987—Will Clark
1988—Brett Butler
1989—Will Clark
1990—Kevin Mitchell
1991—Will Clark
1992—Will Clark
1993—Barry Bonds
1994—Barry Bonds
1995—Matt Williams
1996—Barry Bonds
1997—Barry Bonds
1998—Barry Bonds
1999—Jeff Kent
2000—Jeff Kent
2001—Barry Bonds
2002—Barry Bonds
2003—Barry Bonds
2004—Barry Bonds
2005—Moises Alou
2006—Ray Durham

By Most Seasons Won:
9—Barry Bonds (1992-1994, 1996-1998, 2001-2004)
7—Willie Mays (1958-1960, 1962-1965)
5—Willie McCovey (1966-1969, 1977)
4—Will Clark (1987, 1989, 1991-1992)
3—Jack Clark (1978, 1980-1981)
3—Bobby Bonds (1970-1971, 1973)
2—Chris Brown (1985-1986)
2—Jeff Kent (1999-2000)
1—Orlando Cepeda (1961)
1—Dave Kingman (1972)
1—Gary Matthews (1974)
1—Von Joshua (1975)
1—Bobby Murcer (1976)
1—Mike Ivie (1979)
1—Joe Morgan (1982)
1—Darrell Evans (1983)
1—Dan Gladden (1984)
1—Brett Butler (1988)
1—Kevin Mitchell (1990)
1—Matt Williams (1995)
1—Moises Alou (2005)
1—Ray Durham (2006)

A Plea to Benitez

Please, please, let us feel just a little bit of security with three-run lead going into the 9th. I'm not even asking for 1- or 2-run leads, just 3. Is this too much for me to ask?

Caught This While Listening to the Game on KNBR

Dave Flemming and Jon Miller were talking about the Iliad around the 7th or 8th inning. They were talking about it for at least half an hour, and there were many interesting parts, such as Flemming comparing Achilles to a modern athlete. However, the funniest joke of all was from Miller, who said of the Iliad, "I could never really trust the author, because I heard he was a homer." I knew Jon Miller had a lot of talents, but I didn't realize one of them was cracking jokes on the spot.

Bonds Update

He hit a home ruun today. Of course, that doesn't prove anything, but it's nice to see him do it.

Spring Training Blog

Go to Giants Jottings for Giantsfan9's great sring training photos and analysis.

Split Squad

What exactly is the purpose of a split squad? It never made much sense to me why on earth you would need to have your team playing in two different palces at the same time. Answers, anyone?

Nothing Else to Say

Arizona

I realize this is just Spring Training, but how do you allow 7 runs in an inning to these scabs? How do you only get 4 hits off guys like Enrique Gonzalez? These are definitely the Giants of '05 and '06, repackaged.

Fantasy Baseball

I have nothing to write about, so I will just say that fantasy baseball is strange.

Brewers, Part II

It's all very weird. First you lose by 19 runs at home to a split squad, then the next day you visit the full squad and beat them. Can anyone make head or tail of this?

Blowout

Justin Knoedler scored the first run for the Gigantes by getting a sixth-inning RBI single, which was before Steve Holm's run-scoring double two innings later. Bonds went 0-for-2, grounding out and striking out, in his first spring appearance. Matt Cain sailed through the first inning before giving away, thanks to Mike Rivera's double on a catchable ball that Bonds dropped. Ryan Meaux, a non-roster invitee relieved Cain and allowed six runs in one-third of an inning.

The First Win

Today the Giants won, 9-2. Barry Zito may have gotten the W, but the real story was Russ Ortiz and his performance. Ortiz threw three hitless innings. This really should help him win the 5th rotation spot.