W....TF?

So, I stepped into media blackout after the final A's game because my wife had a kid

 

my daughter Tyler

 

And I come back and all hell has broken loose.

• 3-6 since then
• Swept by Marlins at home
• Posey has a broken leg (clean or not, unnecessary hit)
• Belt came back and went down
• Crawford might be purty good
• The D-Backs are in first place and the Rockies are below .500?

As my son would say, "That's cwazy!"

One Month Review: Infielders

The giants currently have the 13th most errors on the season with 17 and 18th best fielding percentage at .982. 
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Miguel Tejada is the glaring offender in the infield, as he sports 4 errors and a .954 fielding percentage.  That places him 20th and 21st for those stats respectively amongst regular MLB shortstops currently.  It's not just the errors, though.  Miguel Tejada is not playing crisply.  Playing in the wrong position on stolen bases, shifted in properly and not getting to balls.  All messed up.

Unfortunately, Panda  Bear will miss all of May, and it looks like Miggy's going to have to stay in the lineup as the closest thing to a back up 3rd baseman.  Not promising.

Fontenot, Whiteside, and Huffy are the only regular infielders that haven't commited an error yet this seaosn (including the Burriss and Belt).  Of course, Fontenot was util in April, Whiteside is off the bench and Huffy's only been playing first for like 10 games.

The weak spot right now is the infield and that's going to be an issue.  Since Burriss is up, hopefully he can offer a little late inning support.

Belt's hitting was a disappointment.  Thinking that it's best to bring rookies up midseason rather than from opening day.  Hopefully Belt's tough enough to mature and be a force at game 60 or 70-ish.  It could be like Matt Williams.

Of course he could be like Todd Linden.

Huffy's another story.  Ugh, .202 with only 2 homers, 18 K's in 90-something at bats..  Woof.  We've finished month one, now's the time to worry.

Fred has been pulling his weight,  I'd like to see him get really hot for about 2 or 3 weeks, but he's been pretty good so far, which makes me think he's going to slump soon.

Fontenot's been playing a very good defense, and when he starts, he hits like .300.  But he's o'fer 10 as a pinch hitter.  I'd like to see him get a little more time at SS.  After all, Miggy's not hitting, and I remember that Fontenot was a regular on the Cubs.


Panda Bear has been a truly bright sot for the Giants so far this year.  He's hustling, he's hitting, he's making plays he couldn't have last year.  2011 should be the year of the Panda Bear -- I really like a .300 Pablo with appropriate power and a bit of base stealing ability.  Today it was revealed that Panda's going to be out 4-6 weeks with wrist surgery.  Wrist surgery makes me think about DeRo, and DeRo was out a whole year.

Posey
My calls: No sophomore jinx ; .295/20/90, 140 games (batting 3rd)
Actuals at 4/30: .261/4/17 ; 24 games out of 26 ; primarily batting 4th ; back-up Whiteside is 3 for 14 with a GIDP

Belt
My calls: send him to Fresno if he struggles out the gate ; .285/15/70, 500 ABs (batting 8th)
Actuals at 4/30: .192/1/4, 52 ABs ; Fresno



Fred Sanchez
My call: .290/8/60, 80 R, 160 games, 6 errors (batting 2nd)
Actuals at 4/30: .273/2/9, 25 out of 26 (none missed due to injury), 1 error ; primarily batting 2nd ; back ups are Burriss and Fontenot

Sandoval
My calls: .310/25/90-95 ; 60 BB, 8 errors (batting 6th)
Actuals at 4/30:  .313/5/14 ; 8 BB ; 1 errors ; primarily batting 5th ; no real back-up ; DL



Tejada
My call: hope for .270 w/ 15 HRs ; .260/15/65, 12 errors (batting 7th)
Actuals at 4/30: .216/1/9, 4 errors ; primarily batting 7th or 8th ; back up is Fontenot .233/1/2 w/ 30 ABs and 0 errors in 18 games out of 26

DeRosa
My call: .270 <15 HRs
Actuals at 4/30: .333/0/3, 18 ABs, DL

OK, I'm officially over Mark DeRosa now

I'm not a piler on, and I don't blame the guy, but Mark DeRosa is now on the DL.  Again.  According to Andrew Baggarly.

All due respect to the guy that was apparentlysupposed to be the guy despite the fact that he has the career that never was, but I was unenchated with the acquisitoion of DeRo last year.  Then he hits .194 and everyone sez "Oh don't worry, he just had a bad wrist."

Well, before Sabean was a World Champion GM, I was ready to rake himover the coals.  Why are we signing a guy that's over the hill with a gimpy wrist?  Why is the team doctor and training staff not seeing this?  Whether Sabes is getting bum info or ignoring it, it all rolls back up to him -- and let me tell you: this dude is a bust.  A hard core bust.

There are a few guys I'd rather have on the roster over DeRo,

Burriss
Ford
Belt (though I'd like him to stay in Fresno for a bit if he's not going to start)

So, put DeRo on the shelf permanently, give him a asst bench coach job, put him on TV --whatever: just know that his career is over!

Games19/20/21: Giants overmatched by Braves in 3 game home series; swept

Easter weekend, didn't get a chance to check in very often.

Friday's game, Maddy let it get out of hand early and once again the Giants had no ideas against Tommy Hanson.  Bumgarner gives up 4 in less than 3, walks 2 in the process.  The Giants mounted no ressure against the back end of the Braves' bullpen.  Giants lost 4-1.

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Saturday's game, I only heard the first few innings on the radio, but Timmy went 3-1 to maybe every batter I heard him face.  Sometimes, either because of some umps or because of his stuff, Timmy's pitches don't hit their mark.  I think the book on him is take pitches and hope that he doesn't get the calls.  Still, he went 6.1 and left with only 3 runs on the board (Lopez let a couple other score).

Huddy was as good as he always is, pitched 8.2 strong and it only took him 113 pitches to get that far.  Cody Ross got a batting average with a 2 for 4 day and an RBI.  Pat the Bat went 3 for 4 and scored both runs that the Boys posted.  Giants lost 5-2

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Sunday's game was a good one until the Giants lost.  Sanchie gave up 2 early, but Buster tied it up with a ding dong in 4th.  Then it got weird.

In the top of the 7th, Affeltd gave a 3 run jerk to Heyward (who woke up this series going 7 for 12), but the Giants rallied for 4 (the go ahead 2 off of a Rowand double) to go up 6-5.

In the top of 8, Romo threw a snapper that didn't snap to Uggla and the Braves tied it up with one swing.

Weezy came in for the 9th to hold the tie, but in the 10th, loaded the bases quickly.  Still, he got through 2 guys, and, though throwing 3 straight balls to Nate McClouth, got him to 3-2.  but McClouth punched a fast ball up the middle and that's all she wrote.

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Postivies: only 2 double plays, both vs Huddy (which you'd expect), also Panda Bear's still hitting well and Pat the Bat seems to be climbing out of the Bingo batting average territory (in fact, he's at .270).

The Giants are 0-4 without Brandon Belt

Game 18: Cainer gets shellacked; Giants drop game 3 vs Rocks 10-2

I watched the first couple innings yesterday, saw Buster get his first RBI (he had all 2).  Then I watched as far as Cainer all but collapsing the 2nd, an inning which saw Wiggington go yard for a 3 run shot, and still didn't end, though no one else scored.

Cainer didn't have it.  He's kind of spotty at Coors Field.  And the Rocks were getitng over hteir shellshock from the furst two games.  I'd have preferred a sweep, of course.  Because a 2-1 series win means the Giants are  three back of Colorado in the standings.  A sweep would've meant only one back.

Of course, i forgot that Jorge de la Rosa is freaking Sandy Koufax against the Giants.

Oh well, to early to care about standings, and truly I was hoping for a 4-2 road trip, but expecting 3-3.

For the record, it was 4-2.

So, here we are, 18 games in with a 10-8 record.  If they 10-4 over their next 14, they'll be on pace for 100 wins and should be #1 in the MLB.

But, again, too early.

Belt officially got demoted.  He's got a good head on his shoulders, he'll be fine and he'll be back.

Oh yeah, an Cody Ross came back -- which I like -- he batted clean up, which made me go all, huh?

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Belt-age

Cody Ross coming back.  The team will actually be much better because of it (although Schierholtz last night, I dunno) --

Brandon: we'll see you later.  You'll be better off too.

Game 16: Lincecum dazzles, Shierholtz hits a ball to "Kansas", Giants win opener 8-1

Timmy goes no-no into the 7th.  He struck out 10.

Huff his a double in the first that scored Fred, Buster strikes out, then Rock pitcher Esmil Rogers walks Panda Bear to get to Pat the Bat.

We all know what's coming right?  Pat the Bat smacks a ding dong.  No surprise.  But then Nate the Great comes up and emphatically hits a ball into the 3rd deck of Coors' Field.  Bondsian in distance, magnitude, and sheer just-for-the-helluvitness.

Jon Miller said it was out towards Kansas.

My father-in-law came into town, and I feared that I had to watch a no-no out the corner of my eye.  Timmy sounded good.  I saw one inning (the 5th) and he look fabulous, making Tulowitski (Eater of mortals, shirker from Gods) look silly on low snapper that struck him out.

In fact, Timmy finished with 10 punchouts.

Schierholtz went 3 for 4 and really demanded time in the starting lineup for the time being.  I'd be surprised if we see Belt play much more in this first half of the season.

Oh well, send him down to Fresno and let him get his batting average back.

Upcoming: 3 @ Colorado

This is going to be the Giants first true test on the season, by which I mean that they are going up against a team not only expected to be their competition in the division, but also a team that could very easily dethrone them as National League and World champs.

The Rockies will host the Giants and flaunt a MLB-best 12-3 record.

Of course, they haven't had what I'd call stiff competition thusfar into the season.  A couple vs the Dodgers, a couple vs the D-Backs and Pittsburgh, New York, and Chicago.  They lead the league in saves, which suggests that the games have been close, but they're 22nd in runs allowed, which suggests that they've been outscoring opponents rather than holding them down.

Still, 1 out of 3 might be the most we can expect, however, Timmy goes in Game 1 and Cainer goes in game 3 of the series, I'd hope for two.

The Keys:

Game 3 is going to be the rubber match.  Cainer is nails versus the Rocks.  They're going to put Jhoulys Chacin, a man who is pitching out of his mind and is due for one rough go of it.  Buster's been hitting well, and Panda Bear has been stroking like a fluffer (oooh nasty).  Chacin is not much of a strike out pitcher, and that bodes well for the Giants.  But they HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE DOUBLE PLAYS!

Game 1 should belong to Timmy.  The Rocks are floating their fifth starter out there, but, like everyone in their ro ro, he's been pitching out of his mind too.  I'd be very surprised ifay of their guys will get off a hit versus Timmy.

Game 2 will see Sanchie go up against Ubaldo Jimenez, fresh off of the DL.  I don't hold out much hope.  A well rested Ubaldo seems to be a bad mark for the Giants.

But stranger things have happened.

I'd say this series is Brandon Belt's last shot to stay with the big club.  And even now it may be too late. The problem is that he's not driving the ball.  Short of 12 balls hit on line drives to the gap, Belt's got little chance to keep his roster spot when Ross gets back.  Too bad too, but even his base hits are dribblers and squirters.  I think he's got to get some training on hitting a nasty curve and slider before he comes back.

Also, I hope the Giants will start checking the Waiver Wires or Trading Blocks for decent SS.  It'd be one thing if Miggy could hit regularly, but a .224 avg from a guy that leads the team in at bats shows that A) you got a dud and B) he's the only one you got there.  3 errors, and at least another 4 or 5 "suspect" plays in 15 games is not boding well for Miggy.

He seems like a nice guy though.

Game 14: Zito gets hurt just as he started making the game interesting, Giants win 5-3

Giants clinch the series with their 4th consecutive win Saturday night. 

Buster hit a 2 run ding dong in the 1st, and the Giants jumped out to an early lead.  But 2 runs is not a safe lead with Z on the mound and he promptly gave up 2 in the second (one on a Zito error).

2 batters after giving up the lead, Z lunged after a bunt back to the mound, came down funny on his right foot and sprained it.

Mota came in and pitched 1 run ball over the next 4.1.  His longest outting ever.

Offensively, the Buster dinger might have been the lone highlight, especially after they hit into 5 double play over the 5 innings that followed Buster's blast.

But Fred doubled in Rowand in the 6th to tie the game at 3, then singled in a couple runs the next inning to put the Boys up for good.

Rowand got 3 hits.  He seems to be hitting for average this year and might be making a claim to create more drama in the outfield.  (or perhaps increasing his trade value)  Rowand is 7 for his last 17 at bats in the last 4 games -- impressive enough, but then take into account that on Friday he was 0 for 5.  Thusfar, Row-Waaand is hitting .359.

Belt might be climbing out of his start-of-the-career funk.  A pinch hit last night put his average up to .217.  About 60 points higher than this time last week.

The Boys are starting to play well, get on base.  If only we could cut out the double plays -- Oh how frustrating.  I would have rather won today over yesterday, so I guess they're just going to have to sweep the D-backs in their own house.  Ha ha.

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Upcoming: 3 @ Arizona

The Giants first non-Opening Day-related road trip will whisk them away to the magical land that they occupied not 3 weeks ago: Phoenix, Arizona.

The Giants will send Cain, Zito, and Bumgarner agaist Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, and Barry Enright.  Combined those 3 D-Back pitchers are 0-4, but Hudson is sporting an ERA just above 3 (the other 2 are at an eRA of 6)

Cainer should be able to handle the Zonas, even with their "best" pitcher on the mound. 

I worry about guys that have high ERAs after 2 starts because you know that they're due for a reaosnable start.

Saunders gives up baserunners, whereas Enright is a bit more stingy in that department.  I see another bullpen game in Z's future, but I see Maddy pitching a little more comfortably against a sub-par team.

Saunders will let the Giants hit, and I hope that it'll wake up Belt in that game in particular.  The Giants are going to have at least one 6, 7, or 8-run game, and I think that middle game will be the horse race.  It should also be the gravy game.

Game 3 moight be lower scoring, but I'd like to see Maddy take a 4-1 win in his pocket and go 7.

The way Panda Bear and Fred have been hitting, and with the hopes of an andres Torres return by Saturday, plus the Giants on an upswing, nothing would be better than taking a 3 game sweep into Colorado next week.  That would also put them 3 games over .500.

Road Trip Preview

Now that the season has "officially" begun, and now that there will be very few occasions for pre-game ceremonies or Sammy Hagar-worthy National Anthems, we can look at the Giants first legitimate road trip.

In-division road trips are never anything to scoff at, even if one of the locations is Phoenix versus the hapless D-Backs. 

Their first destination, Phoenix, will be a decent test for the back end of the ro-ro.  Whilst we all have enormous confidence in Cainer, Z and Bummy have been less-than-adequate in their first two starts.  And the Diamondbacks love to take all of nothing swings.  Cut down on the location mistakes, give 6 and let your lively bullpen arms blow hard cheese past the yuckadoos from Zona, the Giants should still take 2 out of 3.

The Rockies are another story.  Whereas the Dodgers came out of the gate looking to show everyone that they are actually a quality team, especially now that they're Manny-free; the Rockies have no need to prove their worth.  With a best-in-MLB 10-2 start, a 6 game winning streak, and home field advantage on their side, the Rocks are laying claim to the NL West throne.

Even with their best pitcher out for a bit, their hitting has pretty much cashed them in versus all opponents.  Tulo's got 7 dingers, this Herrerra kid's hitting .458 and the team has scored 68 runs in 12 games.

The only condolence is that their current 7-1 streak (6-0 in the last 6) comprises itself on 2 4-game series vs the Mets and the Pirates.  But, all 8 games were on the road.

The Giants will send Timmy, Sanchie, and Cainer against the Colorados, so we'll be praying for 2 ou of 3, and I foresee Cain pitching the rubber match.

Offensively, the boys are waking up, and the trip to the hot air and the thin air ought to spark Belt.  If he scuffles ont his trip, he's definitely headed back to AAA.

Game 11: Long night for Lincecum, a spark from Buster and Belt, and the Giants even the series with a 5-4 comeback win

"And tonight the Giants got their closer back."

Kruk

The Dodgers'  book on Lincecum is to take pitches and work him deep into counts.  Lincecum was not crisp today, but he was effective most of the way.  Still he was at 50 pitches before the 3rd inning, labored through one of those annoying innings where everybody seemed to get a base hit.  (Belt had an error)  And the Dodgers scored three.

But the Boys battled back.  Timmy bonked Uribe and a nice little game showed up on CSN Bay Area.

Buster was 3 for 4 with a couple RBI's, Panda Bear doubled in a run, Belt got a hit, a walk, and scored a run.

Plus Brian Wilson closed out a uneventful 9th inning!

This actually looked like a sane, and well-groomed baseball team.  The first non-Opening Day-with-ceremony win.  Props.

On a lighter note, they found a new way to hit into a double play: Belt strikes out as Miggy gets thrown out trying to "steal" 2nd.

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Tighten that Belt

So Belt has been given a small sample size now, and he's grinding.

5 for 35 over the first 10 games.  His OPS is under .500 and he's struck out almost 1/4 of his ABs (8x)

This is a significatnly dismal line.  I think that Cody Ross is still, I dunno, about a week away.  Maybe another 10 games at the most -- so this gives Belt a little time to prove his meddle.

But, the truth is, if he's still under .200 (and really, if he's under about .240) when Ross comes back, I think the smart move is to move Belt down to Fresno for a little while and let him get his numbers back up.

The concerning thing is not so much the lack of hits because sometimes the hits aren't coming.  We've all gone through a 5 for 35 spell (well, those of us who've played professional baseball ...... I've never played pro ball).  But in the first series v the Dodgers, Belt was working counts, seeing a lot of pitches and putting the ball in play.

These last 6 games, he's completely befuddled.  He's buckling on curve balls, he's swinging early on off speed stuff.  He's grinding, legitimately grinding.  Almost lunging to get the ball in play.

I think Belt needs to be patient.  And though he's faced quality pitching -- the back end of every pitching staff he's gone up against has been lackluster.  He should be at least working the bullpens, but he's not.  Not against SD, not againts the Cards, and last night he was flumoxed.

It seems unfair to demand production from a young kid in his first 10 games, but the truth is if he's not producing after all the sunshine that we the fans and they the team management has been blowing up his ass, then he's going to be down in the dumps and emtionally unstable for who knows how long.

A demotion to AAA might do the same thing, but if he can go down for 20 or 30 games, learn how to judge a curveball, and get a gawdy avg, then he might come back up in June ready to kick ass again.

Game 10: Kershaw dominates, Bumgarner flounders, Giants play like shit

It's only the 7th, but the Giants are playing like shit. 

Not a whole lot that they could do against Clayton Kershaw tonight, though.  Currently it's 6-0 and the way the Dodgers are hitting (one single after another single), it could go higher.  The Giants won't get anything going unless Kershaw gets out of the game.

Miggy's leading off, not in love with that -- especially considering the terrible terrible game that he had on opening day against this same pitcher.

Aaron Rowand is hell off the bench, but he is the shits int he lineup.  His one tiny little glimmery streak of quality at bats came over the course of about 40 games when he was leading off.  If he's got to be in the lineup: LEAD HIM OFF!

Burrell got dined twice for errors.  He looked like he was doing damn jumping jacks when he misplayed a shoulda-been base hit that turned into an olé triple.

Nobody hit the ball well tonight.  Someone who needs a hit is Brandon Belt.  O'fer tonight as of the B7th, he's sitting right on .147.  When Ross comes back, I wouldn't have a problem dropping Belt for a few weeks to Fresno and letting him find a swing.

He's grinding right now, so much that he doesn't even work counts anymore.  And he's noticeably suckered on every single snapper and hook that he sees.

Only one double play, of course they only had 2 rallies.  One killed by a Fred SAnchez double play, the other killed by a  Brandon Belt strike out.

Giants Pregame: 4-11-11 vs Dodgers

Game 1 of the first Dodgers @ SF series will be the Giants gravy game in the series.

Gravy Game: A game where the edge might be nudged against your team for various reasons, so if you lose, well, that might be int he cards.  But if you win: that's gravy.

Clayton Kershaw looked like damn Doc Gooden (pre-crack) on opening day vs the Giants.  His next start vs the rockies showed that he's fallible, at least on the road, as he took the loss giving up 3 runs in 6 IP (off of 2 homers).  But he still got 8 Ks.

The Giants, to win tonight, need a few things working for them:

1. Madison Bumgarner has to rebound off of a sloppy first start on Tuesday vs the Padres.  Kershaw is not going to give up a lot of runs, at least you can't expect him to, so Maddy's got to get rid of walks and he's got to play crisply.  I think he was a little nervous off of his first start -- Padres' home opener, 1st start of the season -- hopefully now his eyes are not so wide, and hopefully the lack of pageantry will keep him calm.
2. Double freaking Plays are absolutely killing the Giants.  9 double plays in 9 games is something that needs to be addressed and quickly. 
3. The Giants have left 73 runners on base in 9 games, which averages out to about 8.5 runners per game.  Their walk-off win on Saturday night, they left 17 runners on base.  In games as tight as they have been playing, situational hitting is so very important.  Some of their main guys are taking a bit to get going (Huff, Posey, Burrell has double play-itis, and Belt should be producing more).  They need more RBI's.
4. Brian Wilson -- he's not been right since coming off the DL.  It's time for him to step up again and be the crazy, unhittable bastard that we and he know he can be.

Game 2: Giants now 0-2 with a 4-3 loss

Jonathan Sanchez pitched well.  Even his bad inning was nothing more than a couple legit hit and 2 screw ball choppers + a throwing error, and a beach ball that Guillermo Mota threw to Furcal.

Belt went yard for his first ever.  Big thumbs up to the kid.

Posey got a hit, scored on Belt's dinger.  But, he struck out with the bases loaded and a 3-2 count (in fact he threw a bat and hit some Dodger fan in the head (the guy was probably one of the dudes that beat up those Giants fans the night earlier).  Grannies should come with 2 outs and bases loaded.

Posey's got this wierd steadiness about him.  He's not quite clutch -- He's not unclutch: he's just as likely to get a hit in a clutch situation as he is to get a hit in an unclutch situation.

Cain goes tomorrow vs Lilly.  This should be about where the rotation depth surpasses the other pitching staffs.  Anyone can throw out a couple of really decent guys (and let's not forget Sanchez should be a #3 at best), but when your #3 guy has to go up against Matt Cain: the Giants should win.

Of course, 2 more errors tonight (J. Sanchez and Panda Bear) -- 5 in 2 games.  Put that in perspective: that's like 6% of the total errors in 162 games last year.

Still even keel.  Win 2 in a row and leave LA on a high note.

Good points, Bad points

Without beating a dead horse, and after digesting a bit, here's some of my major points of discussion from Game 1.

• Lincecum pitched well.  And it was nice to see him take a piece of Uribe with him.  Listen, 1 unearned run, 5 h, 3 BB and 5 k's in 7 is a decent game.  He was humping the ball into 94-95 territory, and he is notoriously terrible in adrenaline games.  Except Game 5 on 11/1 and now we can add 2011 opening day.
• Tejada -- o'fer with an error -- not going to cut it bro, you best pick it up.
• Burrell ding dong was nice, but he fouled out with a runner on in one pitch with a runne ron int he 6th.  Would like to see him execise patience, but nothing breaks a 5 month-long slump like going yard.
• I heard today from John Shea on Twitter:
  

  Stat o' the night: Dodgers threw 135 pitches, 29 to Belt. That's 21 percent to one guy. Great plate discipline by the kid.

  
  Absolutely flabbergasted.  Belt's got much need discipline in an unruly lineup and he's got poise in the field.  BTW, this was his first game in a very hostile environment.
• Andres Torres, epic 12 pitch AB.  Apparently he swung at a pitch after Kuo threw 6 balls in a row.  Lead off man's got to be more patient, but Torres is an aggressive guy -- game 1, we'll cut him slack
• Same goes for Posey.  The error was not mental, you take chances and you get burned sometimes.  Seemed like he had nerves
• In fact, nerves is the word of the night.  2 first timers for opening day, and everyone but Burrell is new to title defense.  Tonight things should be more calm
  ('course, Sanchez is tossing, so maybe not)

Game 1: Giants Lose Opener to Dodgers 2-1,

Lincecum pitched 7, allowed 0 earned runs, 5 k's but loses due to walks and shady defense.

Burell goes yard.  Dodgers' Kershaw looks good.  Not scary good, but way decent good.  Latos-good.

I listened to the first 3 on the radio in the car, on my way to buy a new ukulele.  Then sort of followed the game on my phone and peeking around the corner into the bar at Noriega Pizza. 

aside from what looked like butterflies, thought they looked good.  Belt looked good, 1 for 3 with a walk, worked a couple counts.  Sandoval seemed to be playing light on his feet at 3rd.

All in all, a positive loss.  2-1 is just a pitchers' duel and Timmy was a little less perfect than Kershaw.  Dammit.

Time to get ready for a long season.  Oh, BTW, we got Jonathan Sanchez tomorrow, it'd be nice to take 3 out of 4, I'll settle for 2 on the road though (Z's pitching Sunday and he got a bonked head).

An exchange

from John Shea's article on Brandon Belt's ascension to the big club.

With a crowd at Belt's locker, a voice was heard from across the clubhouse:
"Hey, Belt, you crying?"
It was Aubrey Huff.
Belt: "A little bit."
Huff: "Why you crying? I'm the one who's gotta play right field every day."

Belt! (officially)

Ishikawa rides the long, lonely train out of SF -- make way for Brandon Belt.  I guess all of the eggs are in one basket now.

Thanks for the time Travis, I underesitmated you and