It Is Said "A-U-henio"

The mysterious all-encompassing Eugenio Velez made just another common argument for why we should keep him playing every day: 3-5, with a run and 2 RBI. Andres Torres also contributed to a monstrous 4-run top of the 10th, and all lead-blowing was forgiven.

Clever note: Pedromo got the win. He's being used a lot in the later innings, but not many keepers are... I'm wondering if Bochy wants to keep him and give him more chances to practice, or if he wants to keep Pedromo and yet has to justify the desire with more good performances.

Either way, a win is a win, and the rule-fiver from the Cardinals just got his second one of the spring.

FINAL (10)

S.F. - 7

COL - 3

A-Draftin' We Will Go

Fantasy League Time is here! I was so excited that I was setting myself up for disappointment. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed until the later rounds when it came time for pitching:

C	Geovany Soto (ChC - C)
1B	Albert Pujols (StL - 1B)
2B	Dustin Pedroia (Bos - 2B)
3B	Aramis Ramirez (ChC - 3B)
SS	Stephen Drew (Ari - SS)
OF	Carlos Lee (Hou - OF)
OF	Adam Dunn (Was - 1B,OF)
OF	Raul Ibanez (Phi - OF)
Util	Nelson Cruz (Tex - OF)
SP	Joba Chamberlain (NYY - SP,RP)
SP	A.J. Burnett (NYY - SP)
SP	Scott Baker (Min - SP)
RP	Brian Fuentes (LAA - RP)
RP	Chris Perez (StL - RP)
RP	Jose Arredondo (LAA - RP)
P	John Maine (NYM - SP)
P	Justin Duchscherer (Oak - SP)
BN	Khalil Greene (StL - SS)
BN	Adrian Beltre (Sea - 3B)
BN	Jayson Werth (Phi - OF)
BN	Mark Ellis (Oak - 2B)
BN	Jonathan Sanchez (SF - SP)

 How's that? :)

Sionara

In case you missed it, Lincecum blew away the entire Japanese team, allowing no hits over 2.1 IP. Who cares if Japan came back against us? It means we were leading them at all, and Tim's now pitched a two-hitter all spring. 

It's just spring? Me thinks not, yo.

FINAL

Japan - 6

S.F. - 4

The Boys Who Showed Up: Lincecum, Sandoval, Renteria, Ishikawa

The Depth to Handle Potency

Bochy had an interesting lineup today: Bowker at 1B, Frandsen at SS, Velez at 2B, Uribe at 3B. Joe Martinez, one of our Connecticut Defenders (AA) made his second spring start, and he looked impressive. Three innings and not a single hit to a very potent Texas offense. At least we still know that our pitching reserves are deep. He did start losing control in the fourth inning a bit (BB and a triple for the Rangers' first hit), but that's normal for a reserve with little ML experience.

Hearing every time the webcast received an IM or email was amusing, as well.

Guzman showed up AGAIN, knocking a second stand-up double; Bowker repeated the favor and we led 1-0. It was 2-0 after Uribe ripped one past the SS. These runs were two-out runs. Uribe ended the inning, but I applaud his effort for trying to steal: it was the first time he'd been caught all spring. 

Kinsler was caught stealing by Holm to Velez immediately following. I appreciated the immediate "fair play". That triple did lead to a run from Texas, but no more than that, and Martinez escaped with only that damage on his record.

The disappointing factor for today was Jeremy Affeldt. He's supposed to be a good off-season acquisition, and instead he destabilizes a lead. Velez barely made a play, for having to do the splits to make it, and kept a runner at third in a tie-game. However, that couldn't keep the runner from scoring on the next AB, despite a good attempt at a DP turn with Frandsen. The main thing to grasp here is this: batters know exactly what to get out of Affeldt, whether they can get what they want or have to settle for less-productive ball placement off the bat. Either way, they produce and we lose. 

In other news, Posey worked a full count and one-hopped a RBI double, scoring Rohlinger and cutting the lead to 4-3, Texas. Posey will be at Connecticut this year as well as Martinez, where Steve Decker (a former catcher in the 80s) will be coaching him. Exciting times! Posey scored on a fielding error, and tied the score himself as well, 4-4.

Jesus Guzman made a glorious attempt at a triple, but was thrown out. What I will say is that the kid is at least trying to make an impression, and so far he's done it. The problem is that he could have had a double with no one out and a chance to be the go-ahead run, and instead Torres was given empty bases.  The nicest thing is that they still turned it into a lead: Bowker, Rohlinger and Downs went on base in a row, and we walked away with a 5-4 lead (Rohlinger being tagged out trying to force a run himself). The lead is nice, but it could have been more without forcing extra bases. I suppose we still have to learn when to push and when not to push, based on team streaking.

Velez knew. He stretched a double, and then stole third. Velez scored easily off a SAC to CF, and with a DP turned by he, Frandsen and Bowker it was a final.

FINAL

S.F. - 6

TEX - 4

The Boys Who Showed Up: Velez, Bowker, Downs, Posey, Uribe, Martinez

P.S.-> Note: this was only the second game of the spring where we did NOT hit a HR.

Timmy the Kid

Just remember you heard that nickname here first, over a year ago:

"Timmy the Kid" makes the cover of MLB 2K9.

'Nuff said.

-Michael

Rohling (or, "Brew Crew on the BBQ, Part II"!)

Who are these kids, exactly? One day, Uribe and Bowker do nothing; the next day, they go back-to-back for HRs. One day, Sandoval is the 3B to replace, but over the last several days Ryan Rohlinger has hit 9th Inning HRs to give us the lead, and today to win the game.

I am absolutely speechless.

FINAL

MIL - 6

S.F. - 8

The Boys Who Showed Up: Uribe, Bowker, Rohlinger

P.S.-> Misch's last multi-run inning gaffe finally caught someone's attention: he's been optioned to Fresno, along with his partner-in-crime from the last debacle Ron Ray.

Payback's "A" Bitch

All I'm going to say is that it's extremely satisfying to smack the A's around a bit, when Oakland made a number of trades for power. Finally, I am starting to see good pitching be complemented with team offense I KNEW we had.

Check out the box score for details.

FINAL
S.F. - 10
OAK - 1

The Boys Who Showed Up: Lewis (2-3, 2RBI, R); Posey (1-2); Downs (3-4, 3 RBI, 2R--HELLO?); Johnson (3.1 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks)

As Good As A Day Off.

As usual, Cain did extremely well only to have the team keep from producing. Ron Ray let five runs pass in the fourth inning, and Misch gave up three in the sixth. Why were they kept in for those innings, and the bullpen warming only after the damage was complete? I think Bochy may have made a number of decisions already. Also, Burriss made two errors in that sixth inning, and it was hugely surprising.

The only reason I kept listening (enough to hear that Aurilia was involved in a 3-run sixth to counter the Rockies, and Rohlinger hit his second ninth-inning HR in as many games) was because of Jon Miller. So, before I forget to encourage you, please don't forget to buy your tickets for the 8/7 bobblehead giveaway for Jon! :)

One piece of information worth considering: We haven't had a day off yet. In other words, I'm a little exhausted for them, so they must be as well.

FINAL
COL - 9
S.F. - 7

The Boys Who Showed Up: Cain, Posey, Bocock, Aurilia, Torres, Rohlinger

Angelic Surprises

There's nothing much to say but the usual for the pitching: Lincecum was dominant (the L.A. announcers called him "as advertised", with emphasis), and no-names competing for BP spots blew a 2-0 lead against the Angels today. A walk-off HR given by Sadler did not surprise me in the slightest. But I will say that I get a nice little twisted joy hearing the Angels' announcers acting like it was their batter's positive action.

But there's nothing different about the offense, either, particularly. The 2-0 lead was a surprise, but the biggest surprise of all today was Andres Torres. This kid and Guzman, even without team support, are hitting up a storm. (The problem here happens to be that I cannot tell if this is normal for them, if they're finally coming into their own, or if they're just spending all they have to get that 5th roster spot now that Roberts is a free agent.) We even made a comeback to take the lead in the bottom of the 9th, a two-run shot by Ryan Rohlinger.

Who ARE these kids, hmm? And are they for real? You can never be too sure, given last year, but then because of last year's constant rotation some people are picking us to be the surprise of '09.

Oh, you want the final? Sorry, I was giddy from realizing that I really did love my team enough to pay attention to them last year.

FINAL
S.F. - 4
L.A.A. - 5

The Boys Who Showed Up: Torres, Rohlinger, Lincecum

P.S. -> My son and I finally got him his first glove today! Yeah, OK; he's only 2 and the glove is for 3-5 years of age. But the first time he put it on, he did so perfectly, and I already knew he had a rocket of an arm!