San Francisco Giants Baseball (SF Giants Rumors) » King of Cali Blog

2011 Year In Review For SF Giants Rumors

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:06:59 +0000

Now that the 2011 year is over. I have been reflecting on how far SF Giants Rumors site has come in 2011. It started on a high note as in January everyone was still feeling great about the San Francisco Giants winning the 2010 World Series.

The first big moment for SF Giants Rumors in 2011 was when I posted an exclusive Pablo Sandoval video of him working out on January 17, 2011. It was big because fans got a chance to see him working out hard to shed some pounds. MLB Trade Rumors linked to this post on January 21, 2011. Them linking to SF Giants Rumors really helped get the word out there to a lot of Giants fans that weren’t aware of the site.

It was just a few days later that I was able to post a short Q&A With Pablo Sandoval. Giants fans loved it, and those two posts started getting fans to the site on a regular basis, which helped the traffic of the site to gain momentum. Fan started to hear about the site by word-of-mouth.

I then was able to do a Q&A With Brandon Crawford (prior to his MLB debut). Next thing I know, I’m invited to attend Media Day at AT&T Park. I was able to get my credentials, and walk in like any other representative of the media. I chatted with Mike Fontenot, Pat Burrell, Darren Ford, and a bunch of other Giants. You can look up the King of Cali Blog on the right sidebar and look back to February 2011, and see some of the posts/videos.

I attended Spring Training, and received credentials to go on the field, hangout in the press box and in the locker room area. I was able to chat with some players, and snap some pictures. Everyone in the clubhouse was really cool and didn’t look at me weird, like who the hell are you? They just would say what’s up as they pass by or stick out their hands to give me knuckles. Yes, I can confirm that Andres Torres would say hi and wave (with a smile) every time he would pass me.

As the year kept moving along. I was able to chat with a lot of people in the media (Chris Haft, Andrew Baggarly, Jerry Crasnick etc.). I have been given some great advice, and even chat with some on a regular basis to share their insights with me about the Giants. I have made some great relationships with some sports agents as well. All of these connections have helped me create my own unique content for SF Giants Rumors. Which allows me to sometimes share some different stories or insights that you won’t find on other sites.

This site also gained a lot of exposure as the year went on (Facebook, Twitter) and I had readers sending me emails requesting me to build an iPhone app. I haven’t got a chance to do that yet because they’re really expensive. However, there is an email alerts list that you can request to be on.

I was able to get credentials so I could meet Gary Brown and Zack Wheeler.Both players were willing to do a Q&A, so I interviewed them both separately, right after batting practice at a San Jose Giants game. Click the Q&A link on the right sidebar to view all the Q&A’s that have been posted on SF Giants Rumors.

To make this long story about 2011 not drag on any longer. Basically 2011 was a great year for the site and getting my foot in the media world. Only time will tell if I’m just one lucky blogger that had a chance to see what it’s like in the media, or if 2011 was only the start to something better in 2012.

~King of Cali (Steven)

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You can follow SF Giants Rumors Facebook page for more Giants updates! Want an email alert when the is a new post? Click the “Contact Us” tab and request to be added to the email list. You can also follow on Twitter @SFGiants_Rumors.

Technorati Tags: 2010 World Series, Andres Torres, AT&T Park, Brandon Crawford, Darren Ford, Gary Brown, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali Blog, Mike Fontenot, MLB Rumors Giants, Pablo Sandoval, Pat Burrell, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Zack Wheeler

Ryan Vogelsong Is Up For The Players Choice Award

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:45:59 +0000

The Players Choice Award is scheduled to be announced on November 3rd. San Francisco Giants (Willie Mac Award Winner) starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong is among the finalists for the National League.

Vogelsong made the NL All Star team, and ended the season by going 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA. Vogelsong is arbitration eligible, and will be returning to the Giants.

Vogelsong’s 2011 Stats

G	W	L	ERA	SO	BB	IP	WHIP
30	13	7	2.71	139	61	179.2	1.252

Do you think Vogelsong will have the same success in 2012?

~King of Cali (Steven)

———-——–—-——-——––———————-—————————————————- You can follow SF Giants Rumors Facebook page for more Giants updates! Want an email alert when the is a new post? Click the “Contact Us” tab and request to be added to the email list. You can also follow on Twitter @SFGiants_Rumors.

Technorati Tags: Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, Players Choice Award, Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, SFGiants Rumors, Willie Mac Award

Bryan Stow: Step In The Right Direction

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:04:59 +0000

Just wanted to pass some really great news on to Giants fans that Bryan Stow has been released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

He still has a long road to recovery, but it’s a step in the right direction! SF Giants Rumors sends our thoughts and prayers to the Stow family.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to the benefit of Bryan and his children.

~King of Cali (Steven)

Technorati Tags: Bryan Stow, Giants Baseball, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, San Francisco Giants

SF Giants Rumors: G-Men Need Their Swag, Rowand & Tejada Reactions

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:21:59 +0000

Since Aaron Rowand and Miguel Tejada have been DFA. The Giants are showing they have a pulse by defeating the Cubs just hours after the clubhouse shakeup.

This weekend the first place Diamondbacks come to town, and it’s a make or break series for the G-Men. Every game from here on out is a playoff game.

Earlier in the year the Giants still had that swag about them. They knew if they can get on the scoreboard or keep the game close, they would find a way to win it at the end.

Once August came around something took that swag away. I don’t know if it was the dog days of summer? Let’s just hope September brings the magic back to this group of guys.

Rowand and Tejada Reactions

Here are some comments from fans of SF Giants Rumors Facebook page.

Marcel Densing – “Won’t make a damn bit of difference. The offensive problems go waaaay beyond Tejada and Rowand.”

Erin Wild – “Finally!!! This means business… we’ve got a championship to uphold… Hello World Series 2011.”

Jayson Valenzuela – “So many bad contracts the Giants made.. Zito, Rowand and Huff.”

Frank Rogers- Smith – “It’s not personal, it’s business.”

~King of Cali (Steven)

Technorati Tags: 2010 World Series Champions, Aaron Rowand, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, Miguel Tejada, NL West, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors

Big Time Funk, Solo Homer Record, Beltran, Random Thoughts

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:30:59 +0000

I go on vacation and come back to the San Francisco Giants being in a BIG TIME FUNK! They went 3-7 in this homestand, and have lost 3-consecutive home series for the first time since May 12 – June 18, 2008.

The Giants have 19 consecutive solo homers. That matches the record set by the 1914 Phillies. That’s just 1 RBI per homer. I’m sure if we can get some guys on base these homers could help spark our offense…

Carlos Beltran (strained wrist) is listed as day-to-day, and will likely be in the Giants lineup Friday against the Marlins. Beltran has sat out 3 games in a row so far. Let’s hope we can get him back out on the field, so we can hope his bat can spark something or maybe run into a 2-run homer to stop that 19 solo homer streak!

Since the All Star Break (Stats – Prior to today’s game) – Giants have scored the fewest runs in the Majors (73 R – 2.92 Runs a game). They also have the lowest AVG W/RISP since the All Star Break (.189)

Today was the 60th sellout for the Giants this year, and that just means more and more people to see the slumping Giants live at the ballpark.

I’m sure these Giants are happy to be on the road, maybe that’s what the doctor ordered to get them out of their funk!

~King of Cali (Steven)

Technorati Tags: Carlos Beltran, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, NL West, San Francisco Giants, SFG Rumors, Steven Robles

Quick Thoughts Before The Giants Sweep The Dodgers Out Of San Francisco

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:07:59 +0000

The San Francisco Giants are playing some pretty good ball right now. They have won eight out of their last ten games, and are on the verge of sweeping the hated Dodgers.

Miguel Tejada‘s status was changed yesterday from day-to-day, to the 15-Day DL. With Tejada headed to the DL. That gave Brandon Belt the opportunity to re-join the Giants, and he sure had a welcome back party last night! Belt was 2-for-4 with a HR and two-run double.

It’s been a crazy year thus far for the G-Men, but one thing this team doesn’t do is give up! Brian Sabean isn’t done making moves, so let’s see what deals he can hammer out in the next 11 days…

~King of Cali (Steven)

Technorati Tags: Brandon Belt, Brian Sabean, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, Miguel Tejada, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Steven Robles

My Thoughts On Bochy Feeling The Heat With His All Star Selections

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:49:59 +0000

The All Star selections were made, and Bruce Bochy is now feeling the heat. Marlins manager Jack McKeon and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle have publicly came out and are very upset with his selections.

This happens every year, so it really doesn’t bother me to hear them complaining about their guys not getting in. I do recall Pablo Sandoval being left off, so Phillies manager Charlie Manuel could get Jayson Werth in. That’s when they needed an injury replacement for Carlos Beltran.

This is going to continue to happen every year if a new system to select players isn’t created. If McKeon and Hurdle want their players on the All Star team next year. They may want to try really hard this season to make the playoffs and win the World Series. That’s their best chance of insuring their players will be apart of next year’s All Star Game. I’m just saying…

~King of Cali

Technorati Tags: All-Star Game, Bruce Bochy, Carlos Beltran, Charlie Manuel, Clint Hurdle, Giants Hot Stove, Jack McKeon, Jayson Werth, King of Cali, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors

Giants Sweep the A’s and Posey is Heating Up!

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:25:59 +0000

It was a nice weekend for the San Francisco Giants. They took their brooms out and swept the Oakland Athletics right out of AT&T Park!

The Giants have beaten the A’s 13 out of the last 17 games overall, and 9 times in a row at AT&T Park.

The offense still isn’t running on all cylinders, but they are still finding ways to win ball games. They have won 7 out of the last 10 games.

Buster Posey seems to have kicked his swing into another gear. He’s now the team leader in AVG (.281). Pat Burrell still leads the team in homers (5) but his playing time has seem to be dwindling down.

Giants currently lead the NL West (27-19) by 3.5 games over the Rockies.

~King of Cali

Technorati Tags: AT&T Park, Buster Posey, King of Cali, NL West, Oakland Athletics, Pat Burrell, San Francisco Giants

Little Nuggets From Triple-A Fresno

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:02:59 +0000

On 4/20/11 the San Francisco Giants optioned Brandon Belt to the Fresno Grizzlies. This move was to make room for Cody Ross to be activated from the disabled list.

Hot Start

Brett Pill has played 14 games so far, and is batting .397 with 2 HR, 13 RBI, and 8 runs scored.

Emmanuel Burriss has also played 14 games, and is batting .346 with 15 SB, and 13 runs scored. Yes, that’s 15 steals in 14 games!

Still Trying To Find His Groove

Travis Ishikawa still is trying to find his groove in Fresno. In 11 games, Ishikawa is hitting .233 with 4 RBI, 2 runs scored and 0 homers. It’s still very early in the season, so let’s hope he can get back to his 2008 form.

In 2008, Ishikawa was smacking the ball all over the yard against the Pacific Coast League pitching. Ishikawa hit .310 with 16 homers, 19 doubles, 46 RBI and 35 runs scored.

~King of Cali

Technorati Tags: Brandon Belt, Brett Pill, Cody Ross, Emmanuel Burriss, Fresno Grizzlies, King of Cali, Pacific Coast League, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Travis Ishikawa, Triple-A Fresno

DeRosa to be released or traded?

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:26:59 +0000

Recently I sent an email to Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com, and asked the following question.

“When Cody Ross is ready to come back, and if Andres Torres doesn’t have to take a trip to the DL, do you see the Giants maybe releasing Mark DeRosa or putting him on the DL since his wrist is flaring up? Mike Fontenot can back up at shortstop, second and third base. Aaron Rowand is hot right now, and Nate Schierholtz still has value on the team.”

Urban used the question in his MLB Mailbag. You can check out Urban’s answer here.

A day later Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports had the same thoughts as I did. Rosenthal says the Giants are set in the infield and their outfield is getting rather crowded, so he believes DeRosa looks like a prime candidate to be traded.

~King of Cali

Technorati Tags: Aaron Rowand, Andres Torres, Cody Ross, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Nate Schierholtz