Game 55: Timely hitting gets Timmy out of a jam, Giants in 7-5

I like it when Timmy has tough luck and the boys get him out of a jam.

Despite an 0 for 6 from their back up 3rd baseman Miggy, the Giants answered all 5 runs that the Cardinals put up with a 9th inning, 2 out, game tying Nate Schierholtz single after Manny Burriss stole second to put himself in scoring position.

Then, Nate the Great knocks in Fred with an 11th inning single to put the Giants up for good.

Timmy looked pretty good, he had a few tough innings and coughed up a lead int he 7th, but he deserves an off night.  The Giants made it a point to pull him out of the fire, and got to the Cards' perfect closer in the 9th.

When Sandoval comes back, and hoping that Nate can pull off a .270 avg with 15 ding dongs this year, the Giants might have a shot.

The boys have at least a split in a big series and keep pace with the first place WTF D-Backs.

Game 9: Throw away game allows Cards to get out of SF with one win, 6-1

Giants started their B-teamers (Fontenot, Schierholtz, Whiteside). 

Still a bit concerned that Torres is hurt, didn't check the status update since the game started, but it's not thought to be a tear only a strain of the Achilles tendon.  Not sure how much time that means.

Zito cruised with no support until the 7th.  I think 6 innings should be his cap, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is going to say this in the next 5 days.

Dodgers in town tomorrow, Giants are 4-5.  2 out of 3 (as revenge) has to be the goal, and a win tomorrow makes the Giants 5-5 after 10 games.  I'd be ok with that.

Game 8: Another walk off hit, Torres leaves the game with Achilles strain, Giants win 3-2

The Boys certainly have a flare for the dramatic. 

First in an hour long ring ceremony pregame where they literally ran aps around the ballpark, called out every player, trainer, coach, clubouse staff worker and concessionaire onto the field to get a ring.

Then, in a 2 1/2 hour game that I watched completely from My Floating Red Couch, I watched the giants squander almostevery single opportunity until the very last pitch of the game, a 3-2, 2-out slider that Ryan Franklin hung to Miguel Tejada that Tejada slapped to deep left center.  The score was 2-1 Cards, and the Gians had Posey on 2nd, Belt on 1st (pinch running for Burrell).

And even then it looked like Card centerfielder Ramus or leftfielder Johnny John "JJ" Jay might have had a beat on it.  Then the ball hit Rasmus' glove and slowly rolled out.

Ballgame (the home town official scorer called it a "double").

Cain did well.  He went 7, gave up his first two runs of the season in 6 and 7, but kept the chomping-at-the-bit Cardinals at bay.  No decision, but he didn'tdeserve a loss.

Cardspitcher Jaime Garcia was good, perfect the first time through the lineup.  9 Ks in 6 IP, pulled for offensive reasons.  Ryan Franklin is going to cost him wins this year, he might be an early new-guy-in-the-running-for-a-Cy-Young favorite.

Matt Holliday comes back today, Giants got Zito going.  But they've got two in their pocket, so a win today would be a little extra gravy.

Torres left early, hurt.  Rowand can fill in for him, but he's our only speed and  hope he's not out long.

Giants Pregame: 4-9-11 vs Cards

Giants used their whole pen in yesterday's 12 inning affair.  Once again Matt Cain's got to be the workshorse.  7-8 innings out ouf Baby Huey is essential. 

Tomorrow, Z's liable to be out early.  Bumgarner on Monday too.  So it'd be nice to get most of the pen to rest.

If Weez comes in, it should be for less than an inning's. 

Buster Buster Buster.... Gotta come out tonight.  Have to.

Win tonight avoids leaning on Zito for 2 out of 3.  Ideally, Giants go up in the middle of the game so Cain can be economic with his pitches early and relaxed in his last couple innings of work.

Game 7: That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, Giants win in extras 5-4

Dude, 4:28 I thought the last batter was coming to the plate.  I thought I'd be able to leave work as soon as this last guy gets out and Giants would win 3-2.

Of course, Brian Wilson was pitching.  And he really tries to make things exciting.

2 runs scored, Cards primed to win 4-3.  2 quick outs in the bottom of the ninth and defensive sub Aaron Rowand (playing left field!) coming up.

Rowand singles, gets to second on a wild pitch, and Panda Bear knocks him in with a base hit.

PANDA freeeeking BEAR!

Larussa pulled some tricky crap in the 11th: 5 infielders.  And a lead off Torres double turned into a really weird inning.  Torres got out in a rundown, Larussa walked bases loaded, and DeRosa gets called out on what seemed to be a suspact call.

Meanwhile the bullpen is seriously shutting down Pujols and them.  Javi Lopez did a very decent job shutting down these guys.

Bottom 12, Giants load the bases (Pujols error started it) and Rowand smacks a ball off the fence to finish the game.

Extra innings are the best, aren't they?  They totally wash away the sins of the regulation period.  After all, we forget that Sanchie had some decent stuff, but walked too many early on and was at 94 pitches after 5 innings.

Burrell and Buster hit into double plays, but at least Burrell went yard.

I hate double plays.  They kill like three innings.  Even a home run doesn't wipe away a double play (maybe a 3 run homer, but Pat the Bat only hit a solo shot).  Burrell made a *ahem* nice play (tumbling over like a water buffalo) on the warning track.

SEVENTEEN RUNNERS LEFT ON BASE!  4 for 18 WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION.

You have got to do better than that.  They should've been up by 7.  So, once again they come close to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  And this time, it's the B-team that keeps them in line (that's 2 out of their 3 wins that belong to the B-team).

I like it; it's exciting baseball.  Not particularly good baseball, but exciting baseball.

box score

Wane-wright: Can the Giants Trade Zito to the Cards?

Adam Wainwright is ailing.  Shut down at the end of last year, and now he will undergo Tommy John.  Season over already.

Maybe next year too.

The Cardinals are in desperate need of a pitcher.  Would they be in the market for a Barry Zito?

Well, the season hasn't begun yet, so I'd be surprised if any team would even return a call for one of their top 3 starters.  The Cards will have to bring a dude up or trade for a .500-at best pitcher.

So, let's talk about how Zito can fit into this mix:

1. Zito has never missed a start due to injury, and only one due to sucky.  Every pitcher in the St. Louis has had arm surgery.
2. Generally, over the course of his massively effedup tenure with the Giants, Z's been a 2nd half guy.  Last year, he was a first half guy.  This year, maybe he can actually put two decent halves together.
3. Zito is a similiar pitcher to Wainwright.
4. The Giants would entertain all offers for Z, including and up to a very nice picture of dogs and cats frolicking together, hand drawn by Tony LaRussa himself.

like this, only sketched in pencil or charcoal, with the animals holding balloons and hands and without the looks of general malaise plastered on their faces

Downsides to the Cardinals:

1. Over the last 3 years, the Pirates are the only NL Central team against which Zito's ERA is under 4
2. Oh, and there is the gigantic white elephant wearing a top hat and monocle lighting cigars with dollar bills over there in the corner.  All 3 years worth of that elephant.

oh yeah, he's on a ball too

Tony LaRussa thinks he can find the replacement in camp (or settle for Kevin Millwood........I wouldn't take Kevin Millwood), but hopefully he knows that the offer is on the table.