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.

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.

Roster Moves & Rivals

There's always something historic about the season's first Battle of The Bay matchup. The concept alone would entertain even the nominal Bay Area fan.

It's a good thing that is so, because there wasn't much more to this game without the pre-existent rivalry. If I were the A's, I would be mildly upset at the lack of competition. The Giants started a weaker lineup, probably to test Uribe's ability to command his probable field of mostly secondaries (Kawa was the only certain starter). Uribe didn't do that all too well, causing Velez to throw to him too far from second base, once making an opposition single a double instead.

The SP was a certain Martinez that I had not really seen or heard of, and he lasted a whole 1 2/3 innings, giving up four. Taschner was wild, and Matos had to enter by the fourth inning--but when he did, it resulted in a DP. The A's, on the other hand, started an extremely notable prospect, Trevor Cahill. Cahill did well, except for a WP that allowed a run. Someone who did do well for us was Francis Beltran, who put the A's down in order for one BP inning.

As for offense, a few of the unknowns surprised me: Torres manufactured our first run by stretching a double, advancing well and then taking home on a WP. Jesus Guzman, a young 3B hit his second HR in as many games, which impresses well (he also made a nice tag to stop a triple). An intriguing note, though Jon spoke well by saying it's not much because we're in spring, is that the Giants have the most HRs in spring among NL teams. I will agree that it is obviously still spring; we had two on with two out in the 8th Inning, making it a chance to tie the game, and Bowker whiffed. However, even if it is just spring, things are assuredly looking up from last year, without question!

The most intriguing news from this game happens to be the roster releases: Yabu is now optioned along with another BPer, and Roberts is now officially released. The first piece doesn't surprise me, and makes me glad. The second piece doesn't exactly make me sad, but it does surprise me. Roberts had been doing well recently, even being willing to take the fifth spot for OF on the bench. Brian Sabean visited in the 4th inning voicing some unbelievable news: that the reasoning was primarily based in giving the youth more ABs. "Unbelievable" because my GM may see what I have noticed for so long. Sabean also noticed that he wasn't willing to see a certain pitcher in AAA "at his age". My only other guess to complement the Sabeanic mentality is that Roberts wasn't willing to be optioned, but his release raises a number of questions:

1) What will happen to the rest of his salary? Does it free it up to add to someone like Lewis, whom we obviously want to keep?
2) Who will take the 5th OF spot? Is Velez going to be an OF-only reserve, or do we want to keep an extra IF, maybe keeping both Frandsen and Burriss? Guzman?
3) What else will happen now that kind of precedent has been set? Are we finally willing to go with the numbers from last year, take a risk and do better with a very young team; rather than maintaing a guaranteed mediocre season? Could we in fact be back to form?

To be honest, I could see it coming when Vizquel was released and Aurilia was "invited" to spring training via a minor league contract. But this was a shock; a good one both for purpose and stats, but a shock. Sabean seems to really like Velez, as well. What next? Perhaps you want to start only the best team players instead of paying $126m for a "third starter"? Hallelujah!

One thing now is not a shock: There's nothing like clarity in the front office, even if it's a prima facie reasoning for the time being. That kind of news will do, to occupy the mind during a day off tomorrow.

FINAL
OAK - 4
S.F. - 2

The Boys Who Showed Up: Torres, Guzman, Sabean