It's just spring? Me thinks not, yo.
FINAL
Japan - 6
The Boys Who Showed Up: Lincecum, Sandoval, Renteria, Ishikawa
Showing posts with label Ishikawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ishikawa. Show all posts
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
WELCOME BACK KAWA!
The first things I shall tell you is that today is Ash Wednesday.
The second thing I shall tell you is that you should immediately have the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter" in your head, and I'm about to tell you why.
Spring Training is upon us, thank GOD. The voice of Jon today was almost as good as an old friend returning after years of silence. Everyone did mostly well.
-Lincecum's first pitching AB was a K.
-Renteria's first AB was a 2B
-Scheirholz's first AB was a 1B
-Ishikawa's first AB was a RBI 1B
But that was not all that 'Kawa did. Oh no. The man who "has problems against lefty pitching" was 3-3, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI. Hello? Did you hear that?
You know who else hit like Ishikawa, who performed like him regularly, who came up through our own system as a surprise, and played 1B? Will Clark. Will Clark, people. I'm not making predictions, but I have always enjoyed watching this kid. He's humble, hard-working, and dedicated to the franchise. That's all I have to say.
Welcome back, 'Kawa. Welcome back.
FINAL
SF - 10
Cleveland - 7
The second thing I shall tell you is that you should immediately have the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter" in your head, and I'm about to tell you why.
Spring Training is upon us, thank GOD. The voice of Jon today was almost as good as an old friend returning after years of silence. Everyone did mostly well.
-Lincecum's first pitching AB was a K.
-Renteria's first AB was a 2B
-Scheirholz's first AB was a 1B
-Ishikawa's first AB was a RBI 1B
But that was not all that 'Kawa did. Oh no. The man who "has problems against lefty pitching" was 3-3, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI. Hello? Did you hear that?
You know who else hit like Ishikawa, who performed like him regularly, who came up through our own system as a surprise, and played 1B? Will Clark. Will Clark, people. I'm not making predictions, but I have always enjoyed watching this kid. He's humble, hard-working, and dedicated to the franchise. That's all I have to say.
Welcome back, 'Kawa. Welcome back.
FINAL
SF - 10
Cleveland - 7
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mining Gems For Zito
I'm not sure how to start this. Perhaps with these words:
Today finalized our first series win in Atlanta since 1993. That's 22 straight, and 18 of those were straight series losses down in Georgia. The victory today made the series three games out of four.
How did it happen? Glad you asked. Multiple ways:
The Braves pitcher, Campillo, was messy all day, especially in the 1st when we set the pace early with three runs. Zito was fantastic (note again, on the road), allowing just five hits and no runs over seven innings. Yabu actually pitched well in relief again, as he used to early in the season. Burriss was 1-4 with a run; Ishikawa the same. Roberts 1-3 with a run; Rowand 1-3 with a HR. Pablo Sandoval was 2-4 with a run as well. Even Romo, recalled from Fresno, retired the 9th inning easily.
FINAL: 5-0, ATL
Unreal. Just unreal.
-MSH
PS -> Please notice, this is once again after starting multiple youth.
Today finalized our first series win in Atlanta since 1993. That's 22 straight, and 18 of those were straight series losses down in Georgia. The victory today made the series three games out of four.
How did it happen? Glad you asked. Multiple ways:
The Braves pitcher, Campillo, was messy all day, especially in the 1st when we set the pace early with three runs. Zito was fantastic (note again, on the road), allowing just five hits and no runs over seven innings. Yabu actually pitched well in relief again, as he used to early in the season. Burriss was 1-4 with a run; Ishikawa the same. Roberts 1-3 with a run; Rowand 1-3 with a HR. Pablo Sandoval was 2-4 with a run as well. Even Romo, recalled from Fresno, retired the 9th inning easily.
FINAL: 5-0, ATL
Unreal. Just unreal.
-MSH
PS -> Please notice, this is once again after starting multiple youth.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Pitcher's Importance
Jack Taschner owes Wilson one-half of his salary for this game. He owes Lincecum the other half.
Remember that Tim was coming off a potentially freak injury to his knee from last game. Lincecum had two hit shutout going into the 8th inning and leading 3-0, when a walk and single after getting two outs was cause enough (?) for Bochy to replace him. With Jack Taschner. "Lefty specialist", is what they call Jack. He certainly isn't any better than against right-handers. With a three-run cushion, Tasch gave up a single and a run in his only batter faced: 3-1, S.F. Wilson was called in to clean up before closing, which he did in typical Manimal style, striking out the last two outs of three.
By far, the most notable players were Burriss, Winn and Ishikawa. Winn was only 1-3 today (he's hitting around .450 for the month), but it was a triple, and he scored because Burriss knocked him in. Burriss himself was 2-4. But the real note was Ishikawa. Not only does this guy know how to play defensively, but he's continuing his hot hitting from the minors: today, 2-4, with a HR in the 2nd inning. Did we mention this is his third major league game?
FINAL: 3-1, S.F.
Remember that Tim was coming off a potentially freak injury to his knee from last game. Lincecum had two hit shutout going into the 8th inning and leading 3-0, when a walk and single after getting two outs was cause enough (?) for Bochy to replace him. With Jack Taschner. "Lefty specialist", is what they call Jack. He certainly isn't any better than against right-handers. With a three-run cushion, Tasch gave up a single and a run in his only batter faced: 3-1, S.F. Wilson was called in to clean up before closing, which he did in typical Manimal style, striking out the last two outs of three.
By far, the most notable players were Burriss, Winn and Ishikawa. Winn was only 1-3 today (he's hitting around .450 for the month), but it was a triple, and he scored because Burriss knocked him in. Burriss himself was 2-4. But the real note was Ishikawa. Not only does this guy know how to play defensively, but he's continuing his hot hitting from the minors: today, 2-4, with a HR in the 2nd inning. Did we mention this is his third major league game?
FINAL: 3-1, S.F.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Gifts and Gaffs
That's how I'd describe tonight's game in a phrase. Here's why:
Fred Lewis was given 2B in the 1st, which Molina turned into a run with a single. Dave Roberts' steal of 2B in the 3rd was more work, but Jurrjens' WP gave Roberts 3B. Winn sac flied; Roberts scored easily. 2-0, S.F. Roberts got the brunt of a close call later in the game, which would've widened the margin more.
Kotsay was given 3B on a WP from Cain as well, who otherwise pitched very well - solid as usual. Kotsay scored off of Jones' single, however. 2-1, S.F.
When Jurrjens was replaced, things fell apart for the Braves. Ohman gave up a solo shot to Winn - 3-1, S.F. Ohman was replaced, but that didn't help either - Lewis scored again off of a single by newcomer (who can really play, by the way) Travis Ishikawa. 4-1, S.F. Runners advanced on the LF error (another gift), and hen the Braves loaded the bases with a BB.
This is biggest gaff of the rundown: we had the bases loaded with no one out, and couldn't score anymore.
We made up for that, however, when Mr. Winn got another hit, this a near triple that bounced over the wall. Lewis got a gift BB; Molina singled. Lewis was thrown out at 3B, but Winn scored easily. 5-1, S.F. Lewis would have scored on the subsequent double by Ishikawa, but Burriss struck out to end the inning.
All I really have to say about this game is: "Yay For Youth!" Ishikawa is now 3-8 in his first two Major League games, playing unbelievable 1B defense; he credits God (as Lewis does) and relaxes. I like him - a lot. His enthused but stoic approach is a lot like the 23-year-old Cain, who was solid again - and this time he got a W. Ochoa's defense is still incredible, and reliable. Burriss adds a work ethic to position playing I have rarely seen in this team for the last few years, apart from Winn (who was 4-4, again). Wilson closed the game impeccably with the exception of a walk, again. I can't remember the last time we won this handly, although I'm sure we've done it a few times this year. All I'm going to say is that it is obviously easier when you have excited, young talent instead.
Magic number to avoid the second 100-loss season in team history: just 12.
FINAL: 5-1, S.F.
-MSH
Fred Lewis was given 2B in the 1st, which Molina turned into a run with a single. Dave Roberts' steal of 2B in the 3rd was more work, but Jurrjens' WP gave Roberts 3B. Winn sac flied; Roberts scored easily. 2-0, S.F. Roberts got the brunt of a close call later in the game, which would've widened the margin more.
Kotsay was given 3B on a WP from Cain as well, who otherwise pitched very well - solid as usual. Kotsay scored off of Jones' single, however. 2-1, S.F.
When Jurrjens was replaced, things fell apart for the Braves. Ohman gave up a solo shot to Winn - 3-1, S.F. Ohman was replaced, but that didn't help either - Lewis scored again off of a single by newcomer (who can really play, by the way) Travis Ishikawa. 4-1, S.F. Runners advanced on the LF error (another gift), and hen the Braves loaded the bases with a BB.
This is biggest gaff of the rundown: we had the bases loaded with no one out, and couldn't score anymore.
We made up for that, however, when Mr. Winn got another hit, this a near triple that bounced over the wall. Lewis got a gift BB; Molina singled. Lewis was thrown out at 3B, but Winn scored easily. 5-1, S.F. Lewis would have scored on the subsequent double by Ishikawa, but Burriss struck out to end the inning.
All I really have to say about this game is: "Yay For Youth!" Ishikawa is now 3-8 in his first two Major League games, playing unbelievable 1B defense; he credits God (as Lewis does) and relaxes. I like him - a lot. His enthused but stoic approach is a lot like the 23-year-old Cain, who was solid again - and this time he got a W. Ochoa's defense is still incredible, and reliable. Burriss adds a work ethic to position playing I have rarely seen in this team for the last few years, apart from Winn (who was 4-4, again). Wilson closed the game impeccably with the exception of a walk, again. I can't remember the last time we won this handly, although I'm sure we've done it a few times this year. All I'm going to say is that it is obviously easier when you have excited, young talent instead.
Magic number to avoid the second 100-loss season in team history: just 12.
FINAL: 5-1, S.F.
-MSH
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hurricaning Youth
For the first time this season, and that I can remember, the Giants had six out of nine starters under the age of 29, thanks to the Giants sending up three new Fresno sensations. The starters' ages for today are as follows:
Velez: 26
Ochoa: 26
Rohlinger: 25
Ishikawa: 25
Sandoval: 22
Correia: 28
Lewis got in during the 2nd inning as well, for Rowand. Notice please from the list above that the oldest is the starting pitcher; all the rest are position players. If you count Burriss who was on the bench today, this means that we have six position players aged 26 or under. This lineup shocks, is far overdue, and therefore worth the majority of the post itself. The possibility of winning is not worth even a good portion, since you've seen what we're doing in Houston already, and apparently the Astros had won 7 in a row, and were 17-8 since the All-Star Break.
What else can I say when the Giants got two runs in the top of the 1st? Velez-Ochoa-Ishikawa also turned a DP in the bottom of the 1st. Velez himself got two 2-out singles, that eventually led to runs. Even Sandoval, who didn't have a notable game offensively, was great for sacrifice contact. Ochoa and Rohlinger hit hard as well, and were simply robbed by great defense out of the Houston 2B.
The problem, since there naturally has to be one, was Correia's lack of control; it's mostly mental. So, in my mind I sense that he pitches like Zito: the minute the other team gets any kind of momentum at all, he relies completely on the defense and his pitches get all kinds of off-center. We had a 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but Correia blew that by the 3rd inning. In the 4th, Ochoa made a "fantabulous" DP by running to the bag and then throwing to Ishikawa while rolling to the ground. Proof of this Zito Effect for Correia: after that play, he struck a batter out.
In the 6th, Lewis (replacing Rowand earlier in the game) hit a HR and then Ishikawa finally settled the nerves and had a standup double, although he did keep from advancing easily. I'm not really sure what to say about Correia, except that he usually has trouble in the middle of his starts, but does quite well after the first troubling inning. He retired eight batters in a row, and had only 79 pitches through six full innings.
Velez was robbed of another up-the-middle hit because the ball hit the pitcher and bounced perfectly to the 2B. Otherwise, we didn't have much to speak of on the Astro bullpen. But I'll tell you this: these kids must feel for each other, because Ochoa made a diving catch to save the tying run on 3B in the bottom of the 7th. He was barely there, too; just as so many of our batters had been robbed. The defense for our team is stellar, whether young or old. Without question. Except for Sandoval. I'm glad he's in, but I wonder why Holm was sent down, because although Sandoval had a few sacrifice hits, the unfortunate thing about him is that he had two passed balls. Both of those PBs made things very difficult. Bochy has told the players that he doesn't mind them making mistakes after just coming up, which I think is a good attitude; relaxed players do better anyway. Of course, you know that relaxing only does so much. Like when Taschner came in to face a lefty, instead of leaving Correia in, and ended up with a one-pitch single - giving up the lead. Correia wouldn't get the win. Taschner threw just the one pitch. Yabu got out of the inning.
In the 8th, Ishi walked. That was it. When Yabu gave up a leadoff single, he was replaced by Hinshaw. In two pitches, Hinshaw gave up a HR to Berkman. Granted that the pitch wasn't bad, such an outing isn't normal for Alex, Berkman is strong, and this park favors Berkman's strength... but the game was pretty much up at that point. It was clear that the management thought so at least, because they put Walker in, who of course gave up yet another run. Ochoa made a nice play to Velez to finish the inning, but Jon and Dave had to joke about Michael Bourn's Class-A hitting performance by calling him "The Bourn Out" to make this inning an honest laugher. Which leaves the primary positive for the game the same as it should have been all year: "Yay For Youth."
FINAL: 7-4, Houston.
We were swept.
Hope B.S. wept.
-MSH
Velez: 26
Ochoa: 26
Rohlinger: 25
Ishikawa: 25
Sandoval: 22
Correia: 28
Lewis got in during the 2nd inning as well, for Rowand. Notice please from the list above that the oldest is the starting pitcher; all the rest are position players. If you count Burriss who was on the bench today, this means that we have six position players aged 26 or under. This lineup shocks, is far overdue, and therefore worth the majority of the post itself. The possibility of winning is not worth even a good portion, since you've seen what we're doing in Houston already, and apparently the Astros had won 7 in a row, and were 17-8 since the All-Star Break.
What else can I say when the Giants got two runs in the top of the 1st? Velez-Ochoa-Ishikawa also turned a DP in the bottom of the 1st. Velez himself got two 2-out singles, that eventually led to runs. Even Sandoval, who didn't have a notable game offensively, was great for sacrifice contact. Ochoa and Rohlinger hit hard as well, and were simply robbed by great defense out of the Houston 2B.
The problem, since there naturally has to be one, was Correia's lack of control; it's mostly mental. So, in my mind I sense that he pitches like Zito: the minute the other team gets any kind of momentum at all, he relies completely on the defense and his pitches get all kinds of off-center. We had a 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but Correia blew that by the 3rd inning. In the 4th, Ochoa made a "fantabulous" DP by running to the bag and then throwing to Ishikawa while rolling to the ground. Proof of this Zito Effect for Correia: after that play, he struck a batter out.
In the 6th, Lewis (replacing Rowand earlier in the game) hit a HR and then Ishikawa finally settled the nerves and had a standup double, although he did keep from advancing easily. I'm not really sure what to say about Correia, except that he usually has trouble in the middle of his starts, but does quite well after the first troubling inning. He retired eight batters in a row, and had only 79 pitches through six full innings.
Velez was robbed of another up-the-middle hit because the ball hit the pitcher and bounced perfectly to the 2B. Otherwise, we didn't have much to speak of on the Astro bullpen. But I'll tell you this: these kids must feel for each other, because Ochoa made a diving catch to save the tying run on 3B in the bottom of the 7th. He was barely there, too; just as so many of our batters had been robbed. The defense for our team is stellar, whether young or old. Without question. Except for Sandoval. I'm glad he's in, but I wonder why Holm was sent down, because although Sandoval had a few sacrifice hits, the unfortunate thing about him is that he had two passed balls. Both of those PBs made things very difficult. Bochy has told the players that he doesn't mind them making mistakes after just coming up, which I think is a good attitude; relaxed players do better anyway. Of course, you know that relaxing only does so much. Like when Taschner came in to face a lefty, instead of leaving Correia in, and ended up with a one-pitch single - giving up the lead. Correia wouldn't get the win. Taschner threw just the one pitch. Yabu got out of the inning.
In the 8th, Ishi walked. That was it. When Yabu gave up a leadoff single, he was replaced by Hinshaw. In two pitches, Hinshaw gave up a HR to Berkman. Granted that the pitch wasn't bad, such an outing isn't normal for Alex, Berkman is strong, and this park favors Berkman's strength... but the game was pretty much up at that point. It was clear that the management thought so at least, because they put Walker in, who of course gave up yet another run. Ochoa made a nice play to Velez to finish the inning, but Jon and Dave had to joke about Michael Bourn's Class-A hitting performance by calling him "The Bourn Out" to make this inning an honest laugher. Which leaves the primary positive for the game the same as it should have been all year: "Yay For Youth."
FINAL: 7-4, Houston.
We were swept.
Hope B.S. wept.
-MSH
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