Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants finally get in the win column with a 3-2 victory over the Padres

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Well, it took three games, but the San Francisco Giants got into the win column with the help of great pitching from their starter and bullpen.

Dereck Rodriguez went five innings plus, giving up two runs and five hits, as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 3-2 at Petco Park.

Rodriguez got into a jam in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he gave up a leadoff double to Manuel Margot and a single to Ian Kinsler that ended Rodriguez’s evening on the bump.

Travis Bergen came onto replace Rodriguez, but was treated rather rudely, as he gave up a two-run double to Eric Hosmer that cut the Giants lead down to 3-2.

Reyes Moronta then replaced Bergen, and responded by striking out the side, including Manny Machado, Will Myers and Hunter Renfroe to end the threat.

In two innings of work, Moronta struck out five in his season debut for the Giants and also gave up just one hit, before turning the ball over to Tony Watson, who gave up two hits in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Will Smith came on in the bottom of the ninth inning, striking out two to pickup his first save of the young season.

The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Yangervis Solarte doubled in Steven Duggar, who singled off of rookie Nick Margevicius, who was making his major league debut for the Padres.

Joe Panik drove in the final two runs of the game, as he singled off of Robert Stock, who replaced Margevicius that scored Evan Longoria, who singled to score Solarte; however, Buster Posey was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch the Giants lead.

It was an impressive debut for Margevicius, who went five innings, allowing one run on five hits, while walking no one and striking out five.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants avoided their first 0-3 start since the 2012 season, when they won their second World Series in three seasons under manager Bruce Bochy.

The Padres were going for their first 3-0 start since the 1984 season, when they went on to their first World Series appearance and ironically, the backup on that team was none than Bochy.

Another ironic twist to those two seasons is the fact that the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series behind World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval, and in 1984, the Padres were defeated in five games to the Tigers.

Longoria left the game with a calf injury, and is day-to-day and Duggar was hit by a pitch in the first inning off the nose; however, he stayed in the game.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will make his season debut on Sunday afternoon, while the Padres will send Chris Paddock to the mound, as the right-hander will make his major league debut.

Another loss drops Giants to 0-2

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

If it was not for an Evan Longoria home run in the top of the ninth inning, the San Francisco Giants would have turned something that never was accomplished in the 137-year history of the team.

Longoria’s home run in the top of the ninth inning stopped the chance of the San Diego Padres of shutting out the Giants in the first two games of a season

The Padres jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Giants in the bottom of the second inning, as Manuel Margot doubled in Eric Hosmer and Fernando Tatis, Jr., and the Padres defeated the Giants 4-1 at Petco Park, in a game that ended with some controversy.

Following the Longoria home run off of reliever Phil Maton, Padres manager Andy Green turned the game over to his closer Tyler Yates; however, the Giants were not phased the closer.

After Brandon Crawford grounded out for the first out of the inning, the Giants began to flex their muscles against Yates, as Joe Panik singled to center, then Stephen Duggar walked and then Eric Kratz was hit by a Yates pitch and then the controversy began.

Gerardo Parra struck out looking on what looked like a pitch out of the strike zone, much to the dismay of Parra and Brandon Belt struck out looking on a high pitch that home plate umpire Lance Barksdale called strike three to end the game that upset Belt.

As Barksdale left the field, he felt the barrage from Belt, Parra and even Bruce Bochy, but to no avail and the Giants dropped their second game in as many days to open the season.

Ian Kinsler stretched the Padres lead up to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his first home run of the season and also first as a member of the Padres, when his 354 foot blast landed in the left field seats against Giants starter Derek Holland, who was making his season debut.

The Padres got their final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Franmil Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to score Thursday’s hero Will Myers from third base.

Myers doubled to right field off of Trevor Gott, but Kinsler was thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning that denied Myers another run batted in against the Giants in the first two games of the season.

Newly signed Manny Machado then singled to left field, but Myers was held at third base and then Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to lengthen the lead.

Holland pitched four innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking two and struck out five.

Joey Luchessi went 5.1 innings, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out seven in his season debut.

NOTES: Prior to the game, catcher Tom Murphy was traded by the Giants to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league reliever Jesus Ozoria. In his first seasons as a professional, Ozoria is 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA, walking just 14 and striking out 73 in 20 games with 10 of them in starting roles.

Murphy played in one exhibition game with the Giants after being acquired by the organization from the Colorado Rockies on Monday. He was then designed for assignment by the team on Thursday, when the team began their season.

UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez will make his 2019 season debut, as he takes the mound on Saturday night, while the Padres will send Nick Margevicius, who will be making his major league debut.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Bummed out–Giants and Bumgarner get shutout 2-0 in opener

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Madison Bumgarner started for the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day and was able to keep the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado under control, but the Padres still won it 2-0.

#2 The Padres’ Fernado Titas got two hits to help contribute towards the win. The Padres’ Wil Myers got a home run off Bumgarner and the Padres had a 2-0 lead.

#3 This was Machado’s first game as a Padre playing in Opening Day. Although Machado didn’t get a hit, the game was a win and it should be memorable for Machado.

#4 Padres starter Eric Lauer (1-0) pitched six innings of shutout ball against the Giants, surrendering four hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

#5 Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (0-1) pitched seven innings along with five hits and two runs and posted nine strikeouts for the loss.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Offense flounders as Giants drop season opener to Padres 2-0

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

There were two positives that came out of Thursday’s season opener: Madison Bumgarner looked rather sharp and gave the Giants every chance to win, and Evan Longoria will not start the season with an extended 0-fer, which was the case in 2018.

Bumgarner surrendered only a pair of run over seven solid innings to go along with only five hits allowed. Meanwhile, Longoria went 2-for-4 at the plate, including a single in his very first at-bat of the season.

The rest of the day was rather forgettable at best, as the San Diego Padres beat the punchless Giants, 2-0, at Petco Park Thursday afternoon.

Wil Myers did all of the damage for the Padres at the plate, driving in both runs to send the Giants reeling right out of the chute. It started in the third inning, when Myers took Bumgarner deep to right-center to give San Diego a 1-0 lead.

Three innings later, he struck again, blooping in a single into shallow left-center to bring Ian Kinsler in and double the lead.

The Giants never posed a serious threat, as they never got any more than one hit in a given inning and did not get a runner safely to second base the entire game. Padres starter Eric Lauer was brilliant on Thursday, going six innings and giving up only four hits, walking only one while striking out three.

They hope to bounce back very quickly in this weekend series against the Padres by getting their bats to wake up. However, if this is any indication of things to come, it will be a very long season for the Giants.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Baer will lose control of team when he comes back from suspension; New CEO Dean to take Baer’s spot

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Photo credit: @Deadspin

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, the San Francisco Giants have decided to have acting CEO Rob Dean as their frontman. In a statement from the team on Tuesday, the Giants have said that upon returning from suspension on July 2nd, Baer will no longer have control of the team, although he will retain his title as CEO and president.

#2 The players have stated that regardless of the off-the-field issues regarding Baer, they are determined to stay focused, and outfielder Steven Duggar says playing between the lines has been a safe haven for the players.

#3 The Giants have been struggling in spring training are are now open their regular season today in San Diego. They do have one of the best defensive infield in the National League coming into the season.

#4 The Oakland A’s, who were left for dead after their starting rotation either went on the DL or underwent surgery, came back later in the season and made it to the Wild Card. You just can’t count a Billy Beane team out.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Lots of drama as Giants face losing in 2019

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Photo credit: @SportsTechie17

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants are used to going into seasons with great expectations. Winning rings will do that for you.

However, this ain’t one of those years.

With new general manager Farhan Zaidi trying to figure out how to get rid of the bad contracts handed out by his immediate predecessor while also pondering how to get this floundering team back on track, the Giants are clearly in a rebuilding mode this season.

To add to the drama was the extremely-unfortunate incident that involved team CEO-president Larry Baer, who earlier this month was caught on video angrily grabbing a cell phone from his wife’s hands and subsequently knocking her to the ground.

The Giants have since suspended Baer without pay until July 1.

What makes this really sad, particularly for Giants fans, is the fact that 2019 will mark manager Bruce Bochy’s last season as a major-league skipper.

Meanwhile, the other teams in the National League West have improved, particularly the San Diego Padres, especially with their offseason acquisition of highly-coveted free-agent infielder Manny Machado, who helped the Dodgers make a run to the World Series a season ago.

San Diego also has a highly-touted rookie in Fernando Tatis, Jr., who officially made the team out of spring training.

The Colorado Rockies made sure to lock up their star player in Nolan Arenado, who just so happens to be a notorious Giant-killer, and he will team up with budding stars Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon and the rest of a Colorado team that made a serious run at the playoffs in 2018.

Here’s what all of this means: Expect the Giants to take a beating at the hands of their own division – a division that they themselves overcame to win three World Series rings in five seasons not too long ago – in a way that is similar to the beatdown that Muhammad Ali took at the hands of Larry Holmes toward the end of his great boxing career.

Giants close out Spring Training on a sour note

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Well, from here until September 29, the games will count; however, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s played one final exhibition game.

Mark Canha drove in three runs, as he hit a double off of Jeff Samardzija in the top of the second inning and then added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, as the A’s completed a three-game sweep of the Bay Bridge Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in a game that was called after six innings due to rain, before a crowd of 24,992 at Oracle Park.

Canha drove in Jurickson Profar, who walked to leadoff the second inning, then Marcus Semien singled and then Canha doubled in Profar, and the scoring ended in that inning ended, when former Giants catcher Nick Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to Yangervis Solarte in left field.

Two innings later, Canha launched a Samardzija offering into the left-center field bleachers to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Samardzija ended up going 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out five.

“Always good to get it done,” said Samardzija, who added, “got thru came and get this going.”

The Giants cut into the A’s lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Gerardo Parra singled in Connor Joe and Alan Hanson; however, the rally and the game ended, when Pablo Sandoval struck out versus Jerry Blevins.

Mac Williamson, who suffered a devastating concussion on April 24, 2018 when he dove for a foul ball near the left field bullpen took a pitch off the right wrist, but stayed in the game.

“Results are negative,” according to Bruce Bochy.

NOTES: Chris Stratton was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Williams Jerez.

Ty Blach was optioned prior to the game to Triple-A Sacramento, and Andrew Suarez was optioned to Sacramento on Monday.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner will take the mound on Thursday afternoon, as the Giants begin 137th season on the road against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Left-hander Eric Lauer will take the mound for the Padres, who will begin their 50th season in “America’s Finest City.”

Following Bumgarner will be Derek Holland on Friday, Dereck Rodriguez on Saturday and Samardzija on Sunday before heading 120 miles up Interstate 5 and begin a three-game series against two-time defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

Larry Baer suspended by MLB for physical altercation with wife

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sfgate.com file photo: San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer is serving a five month suspension including retroactive time going back to March 4th and will be back to work July 1st. The suspension was issued by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday.

by Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO — Calling for warranted discipline and after reviewing a TMZ video of San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer on March 1st getting up and pulling a cell phone out of the hands of his wife Pam where she was seated and fell off her chair and Baer walking away in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has suspended Baer without pay until July 1st.

Manfred said that the suspension without pay will be retroactive from March 4th when Baer had went on voluntary leave of absence from the club on March 4th. Baer had made a statement after the incident that he apologized for his actions the same evening of the altercation.

Baer’s wife Pam at the time said that she had an injured foot and that she couldn’t keep her balance while hanging onto the phone and Baer was pulling up on the phone and she fell off her chair screaming “oh my God help.”

The question now remains can Larry Baer remain CEO of the Giants after something like this and still have the respect of the community, players, fans, women’s right’s groups and have his front office and MLB colleagues still listen and respect his business decisions?

Manfred said that Baer is held to a higher standard and as the face and front person of the Giants he should have been better than that. The total amount of suspension time including retroactive time without pay amounts to a five month suspension. Baer will be allowed to return to work on July 1st but the Giants partnership may also decide to ask Baer to step down when he returns.

Jeremy Harness is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Washed Out: Giants’ offense looks familiar, creates concern

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — The one thing the Giants’ offense can’t afford? Looking like they’re long in the tooth.

The transition envisioned by GM Farhan Zaidi hasn’t moved the needle yet with the team’s roster changes. The 2018 infield returns intact, Mac Williamson has another opportunity to capture the left field job and 32-year old Gerardo Parra could be the team’s most impactful addition.

That means a bunch of at-bats by hitters approaching or beyond 30-years of age, and a scouting report and approach to get them out that won’t change much regardless of opponent.

Simply, bring the heat and challenge the middle-aged lineup to succeed while facing a steady diet of 90’s and mid-90’s fastballs.

The Giants looked the part on Monday, ultimately going the first 15 innings of the Bay Bridge exhibition series without scoring a run. The Giants rallied in the seventh, but still fell short, losing 5-4.

The at-bats involving the regulars followed a pattern:

Brandon Belt batting in the first inning with two on and one out: struck out swinging on a 94-mph fastball, Liam Hendricks’ fastest pitch of the sequence.

Buster Posey in the third on a 3-1 count with two runners on, one out: rolls over on a 92-mph fastball, and is doubled up, third to first. The 92-mph, two-seam fastball from Fernando Rodney is his hardest offering of the at-bat.

In the fifth, A’s closer Blake Treinen threw five consecutive pitches–92 and above–to Joe Panik with a runner in scoring position: the fifth pitch was a cut fastball that inducted a ground out to first.

A small sample size with all three players leaving the game early, and before the four-run, seventh-inning rally, but the offense hasn’t had great numbers all spring. The 140 runs scored ranks the Giants’ third worst among Cactus League teams that played a full schedule. The Royals scored 72 more runs than the Giants, the Dodgers 10 more than the Giants despite a seven-game losing streak and an inferior won-loss record.

Last year? The Giants finished second-to-last in the National League in runs scored (603) and home runs (133).

NOTES: The A’s and Giants experienced a 84-minute rain delay on Monday, then played for 3 hours, 12 minutes without interruption. The drizzle continued throughout the evening but didn’t regain any intensity… The A’s used their bullpen approach and got nine, different hurlers into the game. The A’s improved to 4-0 against San Francisco this spring… Both teams scored four runs in the seventh inning. Erik Kratz delivered a two-run single in his Oracle Park debut.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Panda’s days as a Giant could be numbered; Around the horn with the infield; plus more

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Photo credit: @honkbalopzolder

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1  The San Francisco Giants have the most potent infield in baseball. Let’s start with Brandon Belt, who last year hit .253 last season and is one of the most established gloves at first base.

#2 Giants second baseman Joe Panik has been brilliant with his fielding at second and hit .254 last season.

#3 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is no stranger to All-Star selections and had an incredible offensive season last year hitting .254.

#4 At third base is Evan Longoria, Longoria was a key hitter in the Tampa Bay Rays lineup once upon a time and last year hit .244 for the Giants last season.

#5 San Francisco Giant third baseman Pablo Sandoval is on the bubble and could very well be cut from the team by the end of the current Bay Bridge Series. If so, he would play his last game as a Giant on Tuesday night against the Oakland A’s. The other scenario is the Giants could hold onto him instead of infielder Alen Hansen, who is out of minor league options. Could Panda be gone at the end of spring training?