Last night didn’t start that way I had hoped it would. Barry Zito just didn’t look like he did in his previous 6 starts. Zito went 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 3 runs and 7 walks. The San Diego Padres had runners all over the place. I’m just shocked that the score was only 3-2 Padres. It’s nice to know there is another team out there that has trouble hitting with runers on base.
Aubrey Huff had a 2-4 night driving in a run and scoring a run. He did however show his frustration in the 7th inning after fouling out. He snapped his bat in half over his leg. Bringing back a memory of when Bo Jackson would break a bat over his knee (Bo Knows Baseball).
Shotgun Cain (Matt Cain) takes the hill tonight to try to even the series. Cain is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA. He’s looking to end this winless streak against the Padres so far this season. The Padres are 4-0 against the Giants thus far in 2010.
Side Notes
Mark DeRosa received some bad news on Tuesday. DeRosa said his wrist is completely ruptured again. He’s currently pondering playing with bum wrist and having surgery during the offseason, or having it now. He’s going to have a few days off before having to make that decision.
Freddy Sanchez looked good in his first rehab game with the San Jose Giants. He went 2-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s at Visalia. I’m really excited to see Sanchez join the San Francisco Giants soon. Giants fans still don’t know what a healthy Sanchez can do for this lineup.
Bruce Bochy said “It is encouraging, it looks like he’s on his way. Hopefully we’ll have him up here pretty soon.”
Todd Wellemeyer may get his next start pushed back a day. He’s listed to star Friday night against the Houston Astros, but the Giants are considering moving Tim Lincecum up a day. Lincecum would still have his usual 4 days rest. Wellemeyer isn’t holding down the fifth spot in the rotation. He’s currently 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA, but would pitch Saturday so the remaining starters can still get their 4 days rest between starts.
If Wellemeyer doesn’t get things turned around fast. We may see the Wellemeyer project end soon. Which means we can possibly be getting closer to seeing Madison Bumgarner sooner rather than later.
The National League Westshowdown starts tonight! The hot San Diego Padres come marching into AT&T Park. Now they might not be marching in. It’s probably more like limping in. Although they are at the top of the NL West. Bill Center of The San Diego Union Tribune says the Padres are playing good baseball, but have key elements of their offense struggling.
He’s noted that since the start of May, five key hitters are struggling. These players are Adrian Gonzalez (3-20), Will Venable (4-21), Jerry Hairston Jr. (4-21), Tony Gwynn (2-19) and Kyle Blanks (2-15). Sounds like a perfect time to me for the Padres to make their way to San Francisco.
We aren’t exactly hitting the cover off of the ball ourselves, but we have some guys that have a nice swing going (Aaron Rowand). We just need Pablo Sandoval to find his stroke, and drive some runs in.
Barry Zito will take the hill tonight and he’s looking like he wants to start the All Star Game, or collect his Cy Young Award now. I know, we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch. It’s just hard not to enjoy this streak that Zito is on right now. He’s fallen from the graces and now it’s nice to see Giants fans get behind this guy. No, he will never live up to his $126 million dollar contract (not really possible for any pitcher). Even though he has started off this season with a 5-0 record and a 1.49 ERA. Do you think Zito can keep up this outstanding pitching all year?
I have been asked what’s my thoughts on Sergio Romo. I really do like Romo and think he’s a great arm in our bullpen. Yes, he’s given up two big homers early in this season. The first to the Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez and then Tuesday night to the Marlins slugger Dan Uggla. I guess I have a bias opinion towards Romo because my girlfriends dad was born and raised in Brawley California (same as Romo).
Romo got his chance for redemption in last nights ball game, and he didn’t disappoint! Barry Zito pitched a stellar game and it started to slowly slip away in the bottom of the 8th inning. Romo came in to face the most feared hitter in the Marlins lineup Hanley Ramirez. Did I forget to mention the bases were juiced and nobody out? Ramirez who’s the hottest hitter in the Marlins lineup looked foolish against Romo. Romo had his nasty slider (Frisbee like). He got Hanley to strike out on 3 pitches and then got Jorge Cantu to ground into an inning ending double play. That kept the score 3-1 Giants going into the 9th inning.
It’s nice to see Bruce Bochy throw Romo back into the fire the next day. He got a chance to redeem himself and didn’t have to dwell on the Uggla homer for too long. Romo wears his emotions on his sleeves when he’s out there on the mound. You know when he’s really pumped and you have to love a player for showing they care by wearing their heart on their sleeve.
The Giants did secure the series win yesterday. Matt Cain will lead the Giants tonight as they go for the sweep. It’s a very nice start to their East Coast road trip. Next stop will be New York to face the Mets.
The San Francisco Giants 2010 Opening Day payroll is up 19% from the 2009 Opening Day payroll. The Giants have had some pay raises and added two bats (DeRosa and Huff) to the everyday lineup.
The 2009 Opening Day payroll was $82,616,450. Some tweaks to the lineup have been made since then. One player gone from that Opening Day Lineup is Randy Winn. That did free up $9.6 million, but that money was spent on raises. You didn’t think Lincecum and company would remain cheap did you?
Tim Lincecum was making $650,000 last year, and is now making $9 million this year. There goes the money that was free when Winn wasn’t re-signed. Randy Johnson (retired) was paid $8 million last year, so that money went to Matt Cain who’s salary went up this year by $2 million (2010 salary $4,583,333). Then the other $6 million went to Giants closer Brian Wilson. Wilson made $480,000 in 2009, and his salary has skyrocketed in 2010. He’s now making $6.5 million.
The two bats that were brought in to help the Giants score more runs on a consistent basis, so far seem to be doing the job. Mark DeRosa is making $6 million this year, and Aubrey Huff is making $3 million. Huff may turn into the big steal of the winter if he can drive in 100 runs. He’s already learned that his homers may take a hit at AT&T Park, but he’s still trying to get them any way he can. He did get his first homer as a Giant. It was an inside the park home-run!
With all of these pay raises and roster changes. The Giants Opening Day payroll is $98,641,333 in 2010. It’s nice to know that the team is willing to spend money to try to put out a team that has a chance to win. Our payroll is way below the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but at least were in the upper half in the league in payroll. Just be happy you’re not a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. They have the lowest payroll ($34,943,000).
NL West 2010 Payrolls and Top Player Salary
Arizona Diamondbacks – $60,718,166 – Brandon Webb $8.5 million
Colorado Rockies – $84,227,000 – Todd Helton $17,775,000 million
Los Angeles Dodgers – $95,358,016 – Manny Ramirez $18,695,006 million
San Diego Padres – $37,799,300 – Chris Young $6,375,000
San Francisco Giants – $98,641,333 – Barry Zito $18.5 million
The end of the first series of the season ends today. The Giants are sending Matt Cain to the mound to try to get the sweep over the Houston Astros. Barry Zito pitched 6 shutout innings, and only allowing 3 hits. The Astros lineup isn’t anything great, but at least the Giants are doing what they should against a sub-par team.
Zito and Tim Lincecum have combined for 13 shutout innings, 7 hits, 12 strikeouts and 1 walk. The Giants seem to have a little swagger right now. Everyone seems pretty confident except for Aaron Rowand. He couldn’t make an out in Spring Training, and now is struggling to get his first hit of the 2010 season.
Bengie Molina has been given today off. He’s usually given the day game off following a night game.
Wednesday’s Giants Lineup
CF Rowand
SS Renteria
3B Sandoval
1B Huff
LF DeRosa
RF Bowker
2B Uribe
C Whiteside
P Cain
This Date In SF Giants History
April 7, 2002 – Livan Hernandez tossed a complete game, giving up only 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 5 while going 3-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s in SF’s 10-1 victory over the Padres.
The 2010 season gets started with a weak grounder to the shortstop by Aaron Rowand. The first hit of the year for the Giants comes off the bat of Aubrey Huff. He lead off the 2nd inning with a single. Mark DeRosa followed that up by drawing a walk in his first Giants at bat. Bengie Molina follows up Huff’s single and DeRosa walk with an RBI single. Scoring on the play from second base was Huff. John Bowker follows up Molina’s single with a RBI single of his own off the left field wall. Juan Uribe does his job by getting a sacrifice fly to score Molina from 3rd base. The Giants scored 3 runs in the 2nd inning to give Tim Lincecum a lead to work with.
Lincecum went 7 innings strong. He didn’t allow any runs or walks. It was a very impressive start of the 2010 season for Lincecum.
The Giants said they gave Bowker the starting position in right field even though Nate Schierholtz is the superior defender. Bowker made a very nice grab in right field to end the bottom of the 2nd inning. Giants are hoping Bowker can at least be an average defender in right field.
The first homer of the season for the Giants came off of the bat of DeRosa. It was a solo shot that just cleared the right field wall. The Giants went on to win the game by a score of 5-2 over the Astros.
The two offseason bats the Giants acquired (Huff, DeRosa) this offseason went a combined 2 for 7 at the plate, scoring 3 runs and getting 1 RBI.
The Giants and Astros are back at it tonight in Houston at Minute Maid Park. It’s a 5:05 Pacific start time, so kick off your shoes after a long day of work. Barry Zito is on the mound tonight against Wandy Rodriguez. Let’s hope Zito can have a quality start and give us a chance to win.
Chris Haft of MLB.com gives some insight on the Giants and Prince Fielder saga. Pitching in relief last June 28th at Milwaukee, Sanchez opened up the ninth inning by plunking Fielder, who was seen loitering in the corridor near the Giants clubhouse after the game. Nothing came of that non-incident, though the Giants sought revenge for Fielder’s theatrical game-winning home run celebration last Sept. 6. Barry Zito hit Fielder with a pitch on March 4th, which settled matters according to baseball’s rough yet time-honored etiquette.
King of Cali thoughts: Jonathan Sanchez hit Fielder (yesterday’s game), and then both teams were immediately issued warnings. Umpires are aware of the feud going on between the Giants and Brewers since Fielders walk-off homer in September against the Giants. Zito was the first Giants pitcher to face Fielder since that homer/celebration. Zito plunked him on the first pitch. Fielder just picked up the ball and tossed it back to Zito. Fielder knew it was coming, and just took it. That should have ended that.
Now that Sanchez has hit Fielder again. I’m starting to have a feeling that this feud is far from over. Although Sanchez didn’t appear to hit Fielder on purpose. I’m sure there will be some retaliation coming when the Giants face the Brewers for the first time during the season on July 5th in Milwaukee. Let’s see how this turns out. That July 5th date may end up being a bench clearing brawl waiting to happen. Only time will tell…
The Associated Press reports that the Giants have agreed to a three year deal with starting pitcher Matt Cain. It’s a $27.25 million dollar deal. Cain will receive a $1 million signing bonus, and will be paid $4.5 million this year, $7 million next, and then $15 million in 2012.
Giants closer Brian Wilson signed in January a one year deal to avoid arbitration for $4,437,500. He has since signed an extension with the Giants. He will make $6.5 million in 2011 and then $8.5 million in 2012.
Relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt also received an extension. He will receive $4.5 million this season, $4.5 next year, and has a $5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News also says (via Extra Baggs Blog) the Giants will have roughly $35 million committed to Cain and Barry Zito for the 2012 season, and they’ll have Tim Lincecum eligible for arbitration again. It’s bound to be a very, very expensive starting five.
King of Cali thoughts: My thoughts always depend on which mood I’m in. Sorry, that’s just how I roll. Today I’m thinking positive, so I’m happy that these guys have all been rewarded for their great performances. Every team in baseball would love to have Cain, Affeldt or Wilson on their team. The Giants are smart and are taking care of these guys.
Now from a business standpoint. That’s a lot of money that is locked up between Cain and Zito in 2012. If I wasn’t in such a great mood today. I would say that would definitely jeopardize the Giants being big spenders around that time on any key free agents.
However, since I’m in a great mood. I’m looking at it like this. As fans you shouldn’t get to caught up in how much these guys are making. Just hope that the owners pay these guys what it takes to keep them happy to be in San Francisco. We just need them to be committed to putting out a team every year that has a chance to do something. Let’s just be thankful we aren’t a team that brings up good players then trades them away before it’s time to pay them what they deserve.
King of Cali thoughts: I did this video as a test, and figured I would put it up on the site. Just my thoughts about Pablo Sandoval and Barry Zito. Sandoval did make $401,750 last year, and Zito made $18,500,000. Nice to see what they should have made and what they actually did make. Things that make you go hmmmmm…
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says Bobby Evans told him that he and Pablo Sandoval’s agent are negotiating only a one-year deal for the Panda. The Giants are not ready to buy out any of Sandoval’s future arbitration years.
The Giants use precedent as a guideline for negotiating and setting salaries with their younger players, but there is no recent precedent for the Giants position player hitting .330 with 25 homers and 90 RBI’s in his first full season.
Tim Lincecum (last spring) and the Giants agreed to a $650,000 deal, but he had a few more months of service time than Sandoval. Schulman thinks Sandoval might get less than that for 2010.
King of Cali thoughts: Giants fans have nothing to worry about. Sandoval is in the same boat as Lincecum. Which means he’s not going anywhere for a while. He’s still under the Giants control, and I’m sure the Giants will definitely try to lock him up long term as he gets closer to becoming a free agent.
I did some due diligence of my own today. I wanted to check his (Sandoval) value for his last season’s performance. Sandoval was worth $23.3 million, better than I even expected. I’m sure the Giants are happy to get that kind of production from someone that made less than a million.
Okay since I did the research on Sandoval to see how much his numbers actually should have paid him. I figured I would have to do the same for Barry Zito. Everyone know’s he’s overpaid for the production he’s giving the Giants at this point of his contract. Well with that said. He should have made $10 million last year by going 10-13 wit ha 4.03 ERA. All of his numbers factor in to this, but those are the main stats I wanted to add in this post.
I have been asked what’s my thoughts on 
The San Francisco Giants 2010 Opening Day payroll is up 19% from the 2009 Opening Day payroll. The Giants have had some pay raises and added two bats (DeRosa and Huff) to the everyday lineup.
The end of the first series of the season ends today. The Giants are sending 
The 2010 season gets started with a weak grounder to the shortstop by 
