Timmah!

It's only the middle of the first, but I'm already amped enough that I know I'm not going to sleep tonight until this one is over.

I haven't been this excited about a Giants' rookie since.... never.

Game Over

Last night I turned off the MLB.tv broadcast in the middle of the ninth. I knew we would lose. It didn't feel good, but I knew it.

This bullpen is incapable of keeping the other team off the scoreboard long enough for this (terrible) offense to put some runs up in a clutch situation.

What a day for Fred

Fred Lewis hit for the cycle today. The triple and the homer were the first of his MLB career. Hitting for the cycle when you can still count your MLB at bats on your fingers and toes is a little like losing your virginity to Carmen Electra.

That was a strange outfield today.

WTF?

A hit and run with Vizquel/Aurilia that leaves Bonds to lead of the next inning... brilliant!

What was Bochy thinking on this one?

Homegrown Hitting Help

Nate Schierholtz is tearing things up in Fresno. From Baseball America:

The 23-year-old Schierholtz raised his average 74 points and doubled his doubles total lasts week, while hitting an unbelievable .545/.559/.879. He led the PCL in average, slugging, hits (18), doubles (six) and extra-base hits (eight).

Running the wrong way

Would Dave Roberts have caught the liner off Reyes' bat last night? It's a difficult play for sure, but Linden's lunge towards homeplate was foolish.

Zito looked good, he had his curveball working exceptionally well last night. Interesting to see how often he uses it. In the sixth, he came out and threw only fastballs with the rare changeup, until a run scored and he was in trouble. Then he went back to the curve. He humiliated Easley with it, but Molina couldn't handle the spin in the dirt.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, just closed on a new home.

14-13

Coming down from the Lincecum euphoria...

Matt Cain finally paid for his early season control issues. He only got 9 outs, giving up four walks, eight hits, and seven earned runs. He did have one highlight reel moment, a buckling curve to Chase Utley in the first. But it was apparent from the get-go that Cain was in trouble, he started the first three hitters of the game 2-0.

IT'S GO TIME

Russ Ortiz to the DL.

Tim Lincecum is about to make his major league debut!

On Sunday!

On the ESPN Sunday Night Game!

I'm going to have trouble breathing for the next couple of days.

Another Good Outing

7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
38.1 IP, 2-3, 3.52 ERA

There have been worse 126 million dollar investments.

Note: That's two straight starts of over 120 pitches. Bochy looks ready to push his durability.

You little Devil...

Tremendous, classic, tragic Devil Rays moment:

Men on first and second, no outs. Jason Tyner lays down a bunt towards the pitcher. BJ Upton is playing second, and he doesn't even make an attempt to cover first. Edwin Jackson, who fielded the ball, realizes this and then turns to third to check Torii Hunter, who has wandered too far off the bag.

But Jackson fires the ball about 25 feet over the head of Ty Wigginton, and the ball goes deep into left field.

The inning continues...

Update:

BJ Upton makes a fielding error, Joe Mauer punches one to left, and the bases are loaded now with still only one out. Now Joe Maddon is out to replace Jackson, and young Edwin is NOT HAPPY. Not that you can blame him, Upton has killed him this inning.

Is there a bigger defensive liability in the majors than BJ Upton?

Tonight's Games

A couple of interesting pitching matchups in the AL tonight.

In Tampa Bay, Sidney Ponson continues his campaign of crapiness against fellow dud Edwin Jackson. It's only a matter of time before one of the young Twins prospects pushes him out of the way, and the sooner the better. Go Tampa.

In Arlington, Phil Hughes makes his second start for the Yankees against young Kameron Loe of the Rangers. Texas presents a formidable lineup in a ballpark that is a hitters paradise -- this is certainly a challenge for the young right hander.