By Ben Leonard
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photo by sfgate.com: The Muni Cable Car system dedicated Car #24 to Willie Mays on his 85th birthday on Fri 5-6-16
SAN FRANCISCO — You know it’s an eventful night at the yard when Tim Lincecum had a showcase, and he wasn’t even the first topic of discussion. There’s a special energy in the ballpark tonight — some guy named Willie Mays was in the clubhouse for his eighty-fifth birthday.
For the occasion, the city of San Francisco honored their legendary centerfielder in typical San Francisco fashion earlier on Friday, adorning cable car #24 with a Mays-themed plaque in a ceremony.
“A lot of people have done a lot of good things for me,” Mays said to the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea.
His birthday will be celebrated at AT&T Park on Friday for the fans, but wasn’t immediately available for comments with the media Friday.
Having the Hall of Famer and 24-time All-Star in the clubhouse still excites Bruce Bochy, long-time big league manager and Giants’ legend in his own right.
“It really [does],” Bochy said. “It’s an honor. It’s a privilege to have one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of all time hanging with us in the clubhouse in spring training and here during the season. He loves these guys and he watches them and cares about them.”
For Bochy, talent wasn’t the only thing that set Mays, a 12-time Gold Glove winner that hit 660 home runs, apart — it was his love of the game.
“It shows when he talks about baseball,” Bochy said Friday.” You see his love for the game and the passion for the game. You kind of get why he had such an unbelievable career. The talent was there, but still when you play the game for as long as he did, it’s all about how much you love playing the game….If you love what you do, you’ll be really good at it. That’s what you see from him — here he is, on his birthday, celebrating in the clubhouse.”
Even 65 years after he made his major league debut, Mays still hasn’t really sat down and thought about his career.
“I started at 19 with the Giants, and now I’m 85,” he said to Shea. “I never really stopped and thought about all this stuff because I’m trying to keep going, keep my body together.”
The Giants’ organization certainly has reflected about arguably the greatest all-around player of all-time, retiring his number and giving him his own day — May 24th — in the city.
Notes —
Lincecum Showcase a Success
Another former Giants’ great, Tim Lincecum, had a long-awaited showcase in front of MLB scouts at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. Lincecum had originally scheduled the event for January but had to push it back to be fully ready.
The lanky right-hander threw 41 pitches with dozens of radar guns from pointed at him, and rode in the 88-91 MPH range.
“He looked healthy and athletic, but it’s hard to tell from our view of him,” Bochy said Friday of his former ace.
One reporter asked Bochy if he has faith in a healthy Lincecum to rebound, and Bochy expressed confidence in his old horse. “Yeah, if he’s healthy and he has no issues, that’s fair to say with Timmy,” Bochy said. “But I think he’ll tell you, he hasn’t faced hitters [in a while], so he has some work to do to get ready.”
Kontos On Track For Rehab
Reliever George Kontos, who had been shelved with a right flexor strain, had a “good” bullpen session Friday, Bochy reported. He’ll start a rehab assignment on Sunday with the Sacramento Grizzlies.
Kontos’ return is long awaited — the bullpen has been scuffling to start the season, ranking 24th in the majors in ERA.
Suarez Called Up For ‘Pen Depth
After Vin Mizarro was tagged on Thursday for nine runs (7 ER) and six hits in just .1 innings, the Giants called up pitcher Albert Suarez to serve as the long reliever, designated Mizzaro for assignment in a corresponding move. Suarez, a 6’3″, 235 pound right-hander hailing from San Felix, Venezuela had posted a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings for Triple-A Sacramento, striking out 15 while walking 7.
“We need some help in the bullpen right now, and he’s been throwing the ball well down there. He’s earned this. He’s stretched out and ready to go.”
Suarez has had three days of rest and is armed with four pitches, with a fastball ranging from 91-95 MPH. He features a fairly standard offspeed repertoire, including a curveball, changeup, and slider.
Suarez is now the third long reliever to audition for the job this season, after Chris Heston and Mizarro got shellacked out of their spots. He didn’t have a shot to make the roster coming out of Spring Training, so Bochy didn’t see him much, but when he did, he was impressed by his “good stuff.”
Bumgarner vs. Rockies
Madison Bumgarner (3-2, 3.03) will toe the rubber for the Giants on Friday, taking on the Rockies’ Chad Bettis (3-1, 3.89). Bumgarner has won his last two starts, giving up just two runs in 12.2 innings. He has dominated the Rockies at 24 Willie Mays Plaza over the years, posting a 2.14 ERA in ten career starts at the venue.
Despite his success this season, the Giants have gone just 3-3 this year when Bumgarner has started. Rockies’ slugging outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has owned Bumgarner throughout his career, hitting .348 (16-46) with five long balls.
Panik Returns to Lineup
After missing six games with a mild groin strain, Giants’ second baseman Joe Panik is back in the number two hole in the lineup for the Giants:
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