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

The Fruit of Youth

When Pat Misch has to rescue your SP, you get disappointed. Zito did well at first, but nullified a stunning teamwork-built 3-1 lead with a WP and then a 2-R HR to Ethier. Thank goodness Richie got a taste for his swing and gave us the lead back. And then Sandoval chipped in with one of his own. The addition of yet two more runs still couldn't keep the bullpen from allowing trouble once again, walks loading the bases after the Dodgers closed it to 7-5. Sadler removed, we barely escaped the inning 7-6.

The comforting bliss after that storm came through Roberts; a vet who is deliberately taking the fifth OF slot in the depth chart produced two more RBI. But once again teamwork was key: the bases had to be loaded in order to score two with a single. Bowker scored from Posey's second hit of the day: 10-6. The Dodgers kept threatening, per the usual, but in the end what matters not in spring is the score...

While the pitching situation is still very much unclear, even with Howry and Affeldt, what is obviously positive is how well the offense is gel-ing. We had nine hits by the fourth inning, and the only people without a hit were vets. We have not been this young and interdependent in a while, and it's refreshing. Burriss, Lewis, Sandoval (3-3, HR; spring average of .471 now), Velez and Kawa (2-2, 2B) are all doing well together, and it's definitely because of the time spent with the team last year. I won't make predictions, but I am not expecting last place again. Hallelujah.

FINAL
L.A. - 8
S.F. - 10

The Boys Who Showed Up: Sandoval, Aurilia, Roberts, Posey

Historical Pose

OK, I don't mean to be presumptuous, but the signing of Buster Posey last night could be huge, and here's why:

- He won every major college award for 2008.

- He won the Golden Spikes award. The last two Giants to do that are Tim Lincecum and Will Clark. Hello.

Read it and enjoy.


-MSH