Giantsblog

          After waiting half a year, the San Francisco Giants are back in regular season action. As exciting as opening day always is, the Giants appeared weak, being shutout by the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0. The starting lineup looked something like this: Dave Roberts (LF), Rich Aurilia (1B), Randy Winn (RF), Bengie Molina (C), Ray Durham (2B), Aaron Rowand (CF), Jose Castillo (3B), and Brian Bocock (SS).

          Barry Zito continued to struggle in opening day starts, giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings to earn the loss. He gave up three runs in the first inning, two of which came on a 2-2 fastball that Jeff Kent deposited over the left-center wall, but then settled down after a shaky inning. Merkin Valdez relieved Zito in the sixth inning, and allowed another run on two hits after striking out the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter. Keiichi Yabu, and Erick Threets each pitched scoreless innings after that. Overall, the pitching did not look too bad, it will get better. The pitching staff combined for three strikeouts, four walks, eleven hits, and two wild pitches (by Valdez and Threets).

          Offensively, the Giants did not do much; their bats were silenced by Dodgers ace, Brad Penny. At one point, he retired thirteen consecutive batters (between the third and seventh innings). However, Aaron Rowand did go 2-3 in his Giants debut, both hits were singles. Collectively, the Giants drew three walks, and mustered up five hits against the Dodgers pitching staff. Rookie shortstop, Brian Bocock walked twice and was caught leaning a little too far off first base in the eighth inning; he was picked off by Dodgers reliever, Joe Beimel in his major league debut. Roberts was also caught stealing second base in his first attempt of the season by Dodgers catcher, Russell Martin.

         The Giants will have to get their bats going and capitalize on their scoring chances tomorrow when they take Derek Lowe at 7:10 p.m. Matt Cain will start for the Giants in the second game of the season. Once the offense starts producing, all things should fall into place for the Giants. They may have lost opening day, but the season is long, and by no means over.

On the eve of opening day, the final twenty-five man roster has been set. The last moves made to establish a twenty-five man roster involved cutting veteran reliever Steve Kline, and backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo. Surprisingly, Steve Holm, a minor league veteran that has never played above the Double-A level will backup Bengie Molina. Another rookie, Brian Bocock will make his major league debut at shortstop, filling in for Omar Vizquel. After using one hundred twenty-four different lineups throughout the 2007 season, it is nearly impossible to guess what manager Bruce Bochy might go with to start the season. The Giants will open the 2008 regular season on the road tomorrow against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:10 p.m.

Unfortunately there is more injury news for the Giants. In today’s game against the Chicago Cubs, new centerfielder Aaron Rowand was hit by a pitch in his right foot. The initial diagnosis is that it is only bruised, and Rowand became listed as day-to-day. Thank God it is not as severe as Kevin Frandsen’s injury. The Giants will depend a great amount on Rowand this season; hopefully he will be healthy enough to start opening day.

As if the Giants did not have enough to worry about this season, now infielder Kevin Frandsen is hurt, and could end up missing the entire regular season. Frandsen suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg while rounding second base during the Giants 6-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday. He is scheduled to have the injury re-examined today to determine the real impact it could have on the team, he is likely to miss five to six months. After shortstop Omar Vizquel went down with an injury earlier this month, Frandsen appeared to be an option to fill-in until his return, but did not live up to expectations at the position. Frandsen hit .235 in fifteen games this spring, but made three errors while playing five games at the shortstop position, fielding .850. The acquisition of infielder Jose Castillo from the Florida Marlins over the weekend may pay off, he is the best option to play shortstop until Vizquel returns. Versatile veteran, Rich Aurilia also has the capability of playing the position, but might now have the range that Castillo possesses.

With nine days left until the regular season starts, Barry Zito looks to be nearly ready to pitch opening day. Last night, he went five and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up two hits, three walks, and striking out four Chicago White Sox batters. Giants closer, Brian Wilson blew a 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth before the Giants rallied in the bottom half of the frame to win in walk-off style. The Giants are now 7-17-2 this spring. Things are falling into place, and the coaching staff is gradually cutting down the roster to twenty-five players; most recently catcher Guillermo Rodriguez, and pitcher Patrick Misch have been sent down to Triple-A Fresno. The active roster now stands at thirty-three.

Today Giants pitching coach, Dave Righetti set the proposed opening day starting rotation. Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Kevin Correia, and Jonathan Sanchez will pitch games in that order. Sanchez will pitch out of the fifth spot after primarily pitching out of the bullpen in 2007. Although sloppy through most of spring training, Zito will start the season opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 31st. Matt Cain is scheduled to start the home opener on April 7th against the San Diego Padres. The rotation is set, but Righetti would like to mix up the lefties and righties, however he many have to wait until Noah Lowry, who is recovering from surgery returns to the team in late April.

The Giants offense exploded for fourteen runs today against the Seattle Mariners. Barry Zito did look shaky once again in the first inning, giving up a grand slam to Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima, but then settled down for several innings to earn his first win of spring training. Zito lasted five and a third innings, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits, and walked four batters. In five and a third innings of work he did not even manage to strike out one batter, obviously his well-known dangerous twelve-to-six curve ball is not all there yet, although he was involved in turning a double play, and picking off a baserunner. He will likely get two more starts this spring before getting ready for opening day.

Beginning their rehab after surgeries, both Omar Vizquel and Noah Lowry are on pace to return to the team sometime during the second week of the regular season. Lowry underwent surgery on his left (pitching) forearm last Friday after having control problems in his first two spring training starts. Barry Zito has been working on his pitching mechanics, trying to develop a new delivery, something he had attempted last year. Looking at his numbers while with the Giants would suggest that he stick with his trademark delivery used while with Oakland. Zito has made three starts this spring, going 0-3 so far with a 17.18 earned run average in seven and a third innings pitched; not impressive numbers for a guy projected to be the ace in the rotation. Eugenio Velez is continuing to impress the Giants coaching staff, and looks to be a lock at third base unless the second half of spring training goes to hell for him. If Velez wins the starting third baseman job, veteran Rich Aurilia will likely move to play first base.

After sloppy defensive play at shortstop, the position is now Kevin Frandsen’s to lose. He was handed the job when Omar Vizquel went out with a knee injury. Vizquel will hope to return to action during the second week of the season, but until then someone else will have to fill-in at shortstop. Non-roster invitees Brian Bocock, Emmanuel Burriss, and Ivan Ochoa will fight for the shortstop, or manager Bruce Bochy can choose to start Frandsen and hope nobody hits the ball in his direction. Frandsen will now re-enter the competition with Ray Durham for the second base spot, but will continue to play some third base. Rookie phenom, Eugenio Velez looks to be running away with the third baseman’s job, this spring he is hitting .370 and leading the team with six stolen bases in six attempts.

The control issues have continued for southpaw Noah Lowry. His inability to throw strikes appears to result from a case of tendinitis in his pitching hand, somewhere between the thumb and wrist. In his last start, coming against the Texas Rangers, Lowry pitched an inning, giving up four earned runs on nine walks and three wild pitches!? He did not give up a hit, but that is likely due to the fact that he could not hit the strike zone and give hitters anything worth swinging at. Lowry will miss his next scheduled start (Friday against the Oakland Athletics), but will return to action sometime within the next week. The Giants still expect him to fit into their opening day starting rotation, assuming he makes a full recovery. The Giants are 2-5 this spring, which ties them for second-to-last in the league.