Comfort Home League: Parallel Giants - Page 2

Sparrow · 08-03-2010, 03:41 PM

3/5/2010

Spring Training is here. The baseball players finally take the field. I see myself as a pretty hands on GM, and will have a lot of input in the lineups, and even will try to influence in game decisions. However, for Spring Training, I put 34 guys on the active roster. I'll let Ed Olwine, our field manager, make all the decisions, while I sit back, watch, and evaluate.

There are a lot of spots up for grabs, so for now, I won't discuss battles for positions or roster spots. I'll get into that as they develop.

Sparrow · 08-04-2010, 09:01 PM

3/5/2010

Finally...a game. Below are some notes I took away from the game.

Bonderman pitched well throwing 4 scoreless innings. He had 0 strikeouts, and threw too many pitches. It would be nice to see him pound the zone and get more K's as we move through Spring Training.

Damaso Marte walked 5 of the 6 hitters he faced. I was seething as I watched him turn the game from us up by 1 to down by 1. That lack of control is unacceptable, even for the first game of Spring Training.

Eric O'Flaherty replaced Marte with 1 out and the bases loaded. His first 3 pitches were balls and I was about to retire then and there. He came back with 3 pitches in the zone (called strike and 2 pitches fouled off) before inducing an inning ending double play.

We reclaimed the lead when Franklin Gutierrez hit a 2 out, 2 RBI base hit in the bottom of the ninth. Nice clutch hitting for a guy who is a long shot to make the roster.

Travis Hafner had the games only extra base hit with a home run.

Next up, the Cubs.

Sparrow · 08-04-2010, 10:12 PM

3/6/2010

Here are my notes, as I wrote them throughout the game.

Shields has a terrible first. The first batter hit a routine grounder to short, but Pennington's throw pulled Hafner off the bag. The next three batters got hits before he retired an out with the score 3-0. All 9 batters come to bat in the first, and Shields gives up 4 runs, 3 earned.

Here in the second inning of the second game, it's evident that our batters are good at working counts, and inflating pitch counts. Wells threw 51 pitches to get through 2 scoreless innings.

McLouth getsw his first hit in 6 AB's. Basically a swinging bunt, but nice to see him on base.

Getting hits, just not stringing them together. Still 4-0 through 6 and a half.

Saul Rivera gives up a hit, then walks the next 2. Bases loaded, 0 outs in the bottom of the 7th. Very tired of these walks. Rivera gives up a run, gets 2 outs, bases still loaded as Blaine Neal comes in.

Neal gets the third out to end the inning.

Gutierrez gets a pinch hit double. Impressive first 2 games/AB's.

Top of the ninth, one run in, 2 outs. Tying run gets to come to the plate as the bases are loaded. Jerry Gil flies out to end the game.

All-in-all, a good game. Rivera's walks were frustrating, and it would be nice to see some timely hits, but not bad for the second game of Spring Training.

Sparrow · 08-29-2010, 09:49 PM

3/7/2010

Again, notes as I watch the game.

Great plate discipline. #2-4 hitters walk in the top of the first. Ryal K's after a good AB, and Gil fouls out. Leave the bases loaded.

#2-4 hitters walk in the top of the third with no outs. Wow is Olsen scared of these guys.

Gutierrez with another big hit plating the second Giant run of the game.

Figgins kills the 5 run inning by grounding into an inning ending double play with 1 out and runners on the corners. Third inning and he is already 0-3.

Gil looks over matched.

Gutierrez looks great hitting a home run and 4 RBI's and is now 4-5 in Spring Training.

Neal comes in in the 5th. Nice outing by Maholm. Neal walks the first 2 batters he faces. Double play and a fly out gets him out of the inning.

Another 5 run inning in the 6th.

Rigby makes his first appearance of the Spring and walks the first 2 batter he faces. I sure hope this is just rust. Rigby gives up 3 runs and recorded one out. Terrible outing.

Okajima walks 3 and gives up a run, and only records 2 outs in his first inning of work.

1...2...3...inning for O'Flaherty. No walks!

A nice game on offense. Nice patience, getting 12 walks. The Giants bullpen walked 7 which is too many.

It's early, but Rigby and Gil don't look destined to make the team.

Sparrow · 10-09-2010, 09:07 PM

4/4/2010

Here we are, opening day. Finally.

George Felix Jr., the owner, expects .500 ball, and frankly I think we are better than that.

The roster:

Starting Pitching
Jeremy Bonderman- Career ERA+ of 134 over 7 seasons.

James Shields- Double digit wins first 4 seasons.

Paul Maholm- Been pretty average.

Jaret Wright- Been pretty average.

Jason Vargas- Pitched 8.2 terrible innings last year. Very short leash.

Relief Pitching
Darren O'Day- New closer seems ready to take over the job.

Hideki Okajima- Dominant in 2009, his second year in the league.

Jason Frasor- Good in 2006 and '07. terrible in '08. Did not play in 2009.

Saul Rivera- 2006-2008 were great. Hopefully 2009 was an anomaly, not a trend.

Eric O'Flaherty- Starting his 4th year after three great seasons.

Blaine Neal- Pitched very well in 2009.

Billy Wagner- Pretty average relief pitcher.

The Hitters
C, Joe Mauer- 5 time All-Star.

C, Landon Powell- Good power, poor contact skills.

1B, Travis Hafner- 8 fantastic seasons. Some think he is aging fast.

2B, Rusty Ryal, Nice rookie campaign in 2009.

2B, Anderson Hernandez- Less than serviceable back up.

2B, Alex Rodriguez- A long, mediocre career.

SS, Cliff Pennington- Decent average, no power. Still young.

SS, Chone Figgins- Great speed. Doesn't get on base enough to utilize it.

LF, Franklin Gutierrez- Good Spring Training got him on the roster.

CF, Nate McLouth- Above average 5 year career.

CF, Rocco Baldelli- Streaky player. Slumps outlasts the hot streaks.

RF, Ryan Ludwick- Last 5 years define average.

RF, Alexis Gomez- Pretty terrible.

Okay, maybe our chances aren't as good as I thought.

Let's play ball!

Sparrow · 10-16-2010, 08:27 AM

04/04/2010

Here we are in Houston facing off against the Astros. Over 40,000 people are here tonight and not may are wearing Giants caps.

Bottom of the first
The Astros score 2 in the bottom of the first on some very hard hit balls. This is not good. Bonderman, our ace, must be better than this.

Top of the second
We get both runs back on RBI singles by Cliff Pennington and Joe Mauer.

Bottom of the second
Bonderman has a shut down inning.

Top of the third
McLouth barely gets one over the right field wall, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Nice to see after an atrocious Spring Training.

Top of the fifth
Ayala relieves Scherzer with after a walk to the pitcher. Bases loaded, 2 outs, Pennington up.

RBI SINGLE!

Bottom of the seventh
The Astros use speed and singles to get a run back. 4-3 Giants.

Bottom of the eighth

Bonderman relieved by Okajima with one out none on. Great night for Bonderman giving up 3 runs in 7 and a third.

Top of the ninth

Insurance run on an Alex Rodriguez single.

Bottom of the ninth
Darren O'Day gives up a single and shuts down the Astros to win the game.

Great start to the season.

Sparrow · 10-18-2010, 09:23 PM

4/5/2010

James Shields goes tonight as we look to go 2-1.

Bottom of the first
Early problems again as Shields gives up back to back doubles for 1 run before retiring the next 3 batters.

Bottom of the second
Shields gives up another run, but at least minimizes the damage as the Astros had runners on second and third with nobody out.

Bottom of the third
Shields is trying to build a picket fence as he gives up a leadoff home run to Jeff Fiorentino.

Top of the sixth
McLouth comes up with a big 2 out 2 RBI double. He now represents the tying run on second base. Ryal pops up a 2-0 pitch to end the inning.

Top of the seventh
Shields lifted for a pinch hitter and cannot get the win as we don't score.

Bottom of the seventh
Saul Rivera gives up 2 runs. Boy am I more comfortable down by 1 than 3 with only 6 outs to go. Comeback time.

No comeback tonight as we lose 5-2. Too many runners left on base by Ludwick, the fifth place hitter. Hopefully we can get the win tomorrow to win the series.

Sparrow · 10-18-2010, 09:46 PM

4/6/2010

Bottom of the first
They didn't score!

Top of the fourth
Gutierrez is still hitless, but he got his first RBI on a groundout to give us a 1 run lead.

Bottom of the fifth
Maholm is having a great game, giving up only 1 hit and no runs through 5, only throwing 52 pitches.

Top of the sixth
Hafner makes it 4-0 with a 3 run home run!

Bottom of the eighth
Kory Casto gets the first earned run for the Astros on a bomb to center. With 1 out the lead is down to 4-2.

Bottom of the ninth
1-2-3 inning for O'Day and we win the game 4-2 and the series.

Always nice to win a series on the road, especially on the road. The bad news in the Astros lost Fiorentino for 6 weeks making a play in center field.

08-03-2010, 03:41 PM	#21 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Start of Spring Training 3/5/2010 Spring Training is here. The baseball players finally take the field. I see myself as a pretty hands on GM, and will have a lot of input in the lineups, and even will try to influence in game decisions. However, for Spring Training, I put 34 guys on the active roster. I'll let Ed Olwine, our field manager, make all the decisions, while I sit back, watch, and evaluate. There are a lot of spots up for grabs, so for now, I won't discuss battles for positions or roster spots. I'll get into that as they develop.

08-04-2010, 09:01 PM	#22 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Spring Training: Giants 4, Pirates 3 3/5/2010 Finally...a game. Below are some notes I took away from the game. Bonderman pitched well throwing 4 scoreless innings. He had 0 strikeouts, and threw too many pitches. It would be nice to see him pound the zone and get more K's as we move through Spring Training. Damaso Marte walked 5 of the 6 hitters he faced. I was seething as I watched him turn the game from us up by 1 to down by 1. That lack of control is unacceptable, even for the first game of Spring Training. Eric O'Flaherty replaced Marte with 1 out and the bases loaded. His first 3 pitches were balls and I was about to retire then and there. He came back with 3 pitches in the zone (called strike and 2 pitches fouled off) before inducing an inning ending double play. We reclaimed the lead when Franklin Gutierrez hit a 2 out, 2 RBI base hit in the bottom of the ninth. Nice clutch hitting for a guy who is a long shot to make the roster. Travis Hafner had the games only extra base hit with a home run. Next up, the Cubs.

08-04-2010, 10:12 PM	#23 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Spring Training: Giants 1, Cubs 5 3/6/2010 Here are my notes, as I wrote them throughout the game. Shields has a terrible first. The first batter hit a routine grounder to short, but Pennington's throw pulled Hafner off the bag. The next three batters got hits before he retired an out with the score 3-0. All 9 batters come to bat in the first, and Shields gives up 4 runs, 3 earned. Here in the second inning of the second game, it's evident that our batters are good at working counts, and inflating pitch counts. Wells threw 51 pitches to get through 2 scoreless innings. McLouth getsw his first hit in 6 AB's. Basically a swinging bunt, but nice to see him on base. Getting hits, just not stringing them together. Still 4-0 through 6 and a half. Saul Rivera gives up a hit, then walks the next 2. Bases loaded, 0 outs in the bottom of the 7th. Very tired of these walks. Rivera gives up a run, gets 2 outs, bases still loaded as Blaine Neal comes in. Neal gets the third out to end the inning. Gutierrez gets a pinch hit double. Impressive first 2 games/AB's. Top of the ninth, one run in, 2 outs. Tying run gets to come to the plate as the bases are loaded. Jerry Gil flies out to end the game. All-in-all, a good game. Rivera's walks were frustrating, and it would be nice to see some timely hits, but not bad for the second game of Spring Training.

08-29-2010, 09:49 PM	#24 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Spring Training: Giants 13, Pirates 7 3/7/2010 Again, notes as I watch the game. Great plate discipline. #2-4 hitters walk in the top of the first. Ryal K's after a good AB, and Gil fouls out. Leave the bases loaded. #2-4 hitters walk in the top of the third with no outs. Wow is Olsen scared of these guys. Gutierrez with another big hit plating the second Giant run of the game. Figgins kills the 5 run inning by grounding into an inning ending double play with 1 out and runners on the corners. Third inning and he is already 0-3. Gil looks over matched. Gutierrez looks great hitting a home run and 4 RBI's and is now 4-5 in Spring Training. Neal comes in in the 5th. Nice outing by Maholm. Neal walks the first 2 batters he faces. Double play and a fly out gets him out of the inning. Another 5 run inning in the 6th. Rigby makes his first appearance of the Spring and walks the first 2 batter he faces. I sure hope this is just rust. Rigby gives up 3 runs and recorded one out. Terrible outing. Okajima walks 3 and gives up a run, and only records 2 outs in his first inning of work. 1...2...3...inning for O'Flaherty. No walks! A nice game on offense. Nice patience, getting 12 walks. The Giants bullpen walked 7 which is too many. It's early, but Rigby and Gil don't look destined to make the team.

10-09-2010, 09:07 PM	#25 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	The Opening Day Roster 4/4/2010 Here we are, opening day. Finally. George Felix Jr., the owner, expects .500 ball, and frankly I think we are better than that. The roster: Starting Pitching Jeremy Bonderman- Career ERA+ of 134 over 7 seasons. James Shields- Double digit wins first 4 seasons. Paul Maholm- Been pretty average. Jaret Wright- Been pretty average. Jason Vargas- Pitched 8.2 terrible innings last year. Very short leash. Relief Pitching Darren O'Day- New closer seems ready to take over the job. Hideki Okajima- Dominant in 2009, his second year in the league. Jason Frasor- Good in 2006 and '07. terrible in '08. Did not play in 2009. Saul Rivera- 2006-2008 were great. Hopefully 2009 was an anomaly, not a trend. Eric O'Flaherty- Starting his 4th year after three great seasons. Blaine Neal- Pitched very well in 2009. Billy Wagner- Pretty average relief pitcher. The Hitters C, Joe Mauer- 5 time All-Star. C, Landon Powell- Good power, poor contact skills. 1B, Travis Hafner- 8 fantastic seasons. Some think he is aging fast. 2B, Rusty Ryal, Nice rookie campaign in 2009. 2B, Anderson Hernandez- Less than serviceable back up. 2B, Alex Rodriguez- A long, mediocre career. SS, Cliff Pennington- Decent average, no power. Still young. SS, Chone Figgins- Great speed. Doesn't get on base enough to utilize it. LF, Franklin Gutierrez- Good Spring Training got him on the roster. CF, Nate McLouth- Above average 5 year career. CF, Rocco Baldelli- Streaky player. Slumps outlasts the hot streaks. RF, Ryan Ludwick- Last 5 years define average. RF, Alexis Gomez- Pretty terrible. Okay, maybe our chances aren't as good as I thought. Let's play ball! Last edited by Sparrow; 10-09-2010 at 09:12 PM.

10-16-2010, 08:27 AM	#26 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Opening Day! 04/04/2010 Here we are in Houston facing off against the Astros. Over 40,000 people are here tonight and not may are wearing Giants caps. Bottom of the first The Astros score 2 in the bottom of the first on some very hard hit balls. This is not good. Bonderman, our ace, must be better than this. Top of the second We get both runs back on RBI singles by Cliff Pennington and Joe Mauer. Bottom of the second Bonderman has a shut down inning. Top of the third McLouth barely gets one over the right field wall, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Nice to see after an atrocious Spring Training. Top of the fifth Ayala relieves Scherzer with after a walk to the pitcher. Bases loaded, 2 outs, Pennington up. RBI SINGLE! Bottom of the seventh The Astros use speed and singles to get a run back. 4-3 Giants. Bottom of the eighth Bonderman relieved by Okajima with one out none on. Great night for Bonderman giving up 3 runs in 7 and a third. Top of the ninth Insurance run on an Alex Rodriguez single. Bottom of the ninth Darren O'Day gives up a single and shuts down the Astros to win the game. Great start to the season.

10-18-2010, 09:23 PM	#27 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	Game 2 4/5/2010 James Shields goes tonight as we look to go 2-1. Bottom of the first Early problems again as Shields gives up back to back doubles for 1 run before retiring the next 3 batters. Bottom of the second Shields gives up another run, but at least minimizes the damage as the Astros had runners on second and third with nobody out. Bottom of the third Shields is trying to build a picket fence as he gives up a leadoff home run to Jeff Fiorentino. Top of the sixth McLouth comes up with a big 2 out 2 RBI double. He now represents the tying run on second base. Ryal pops up a 2-0 pitch to end the inning. Top of the seventh Shields lifted for a pinch hitter and cannot get the win as we don't score. Bottom of the seventh Saul Rivera gives up 2 runs. Boy am I more comfortable down by 1 than 3 with only 6 outs to go. Comeback time. No comeback tonight as we lose 5-2. Too many runners left on base by Ludwick, the fifth place hitter. Hopefully we can get the win tomorrow to win the series.

10-18-2010, 09:46 PM	#28 (permalink)
Sparrow All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 790 Thanks: 192 Thanked 68x in 55 posts	The rubber match 4/6/2010 Bottom of the first They didn't score! Top of the fourth Gutierrez is still hitless, but he got his first RBI on a groundout to give us a 1 run lead. Bottom of the fifth Maholm is having a great game, giving up only 1 hit and no runs through 5, only throwing 52 pitches. Top of the sixth Hafner makes it 4-0 with a 3 run home run! Bottom of the eighth Kory Casto gets the first earned run for the Astros on a bomb to center. With 1 out the lead is down to 4-2. Bottom of the ninth 1-2-3 inning for O'Day and we win the game 4-2 and the series. Always nice to win a series on the road, especially on the road. The bad news in the Astros lost Fiorentino for 6 weeks making a play in center field.

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