Interesting MLB News, Notes, Trivia: LA Dodger Player's Weird Part Time Job; Jonathan Sanchez Struggling; Matt Cain's Contract Status

Back in the days before multi-million dollar baseball contracts, Major League Baseball players actually had to work for a living during the offseason.

Although Willie Mays was one of the best major league baseball players, he had to work in the winter for a living

San Francisco Giants' legend Willie Mays, perhaps the greatest ball player of all time, did not have a multi-year contract where he can support himself for the rest of his life. He had to take on a second job in the offseason just to make ends meet for most of his playing career.

Today, only minor leaguers regularly take on second jobs, but there is at least one current MLB player who is actively working to make a living in the offseason. You can find him playing with one of the Giants' biggest rivals.

According to Charlie Steiner during a Los Angeles Dodgers' radio broadcast, Jerry Sands, first baseman for the Dodgers, works as a substitute teacher during the winter months. He was actually called into work during spring training, but he had to politely decline.

By brendan-c on Flickr [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Working for the MLB definitely has a lot more perks than working as a substitute teacher--and a lot more upside.

Any other players or coaches work during the offseason?

You bet. Giants' third-base coach Tim Flannery works as a musician and makes albums, but I am sure it is more for passion than necessity.

If Sands pans out and overtakes James Loney as a regular, it is safe to say his teaching days are over. However, it's always good to have a back-up plan in case he suffers a career-ending injury.

...

Remember our old friend Jonathan Sanchez?

Apparently, he has had a rough go as a Kansas City Royal. The inconsistency continues...

Sanchez has a 21.00 ERA, albeit it in just three innings pitched. He has given up seven earned runs in those three innings on seven hits and two walks.

Opponents are hitting .438 against him and his WHIP is 3.00. A bad start or the Giants looking good for trading him?

According to Jon Miller during a Giants' spring training broadcast, the Royals' brass were concerned about Sanchez's velocity being down. His average fastball was around 89 mph, which concerned Kansas City.


However, during one spring training game, Sanchez was clocked throwing 99 mph.


Knowing Jonathan Sanchez and his tendencies, I believe the sudden velocity jump was a product of Sanchez's frustration. He probably saw people getting on him about his low velocity, so he wanted to prove 'em wrong.


So he aired one out. Gotta love Johnny Sanchez.


...


For those who think Matt Cain will be donning the orange and black for a long time, think again.


According to Andrew Baggarly of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Cain said he was "really torn"about his future with the Giants.


CSN Bay Area also reported that Cain was "excited" about the possibility of free agency.


This does not bode well for the Giants. Anytime a player is excited for free agency, it means big money for the player--money the Giants have had a track record of shying away from.


The Giants do not like to overpay for players, so if Cain demands C.C. Sabathia money, $20-25 million, the Giants' right-handed hurler could be wearing pinstripes. If this were the case, I think Cain would be overly thrilled rather than just excited.


The good news is there is hope that Cain and the Giants could work something out.


Baggarly also reported on March 10 that "it would be a surprise" if Cain's deal does not get done before the season starts.

The Giants open up in Arizona in less than three weeks.


...

By eürodäna via Wikimedia Commons

Will the Giants re-sign Matt Cain? Will Cain get an extension this season? Will Cain get $25 million or more?




Was Jonathan Sanchez's trade worth it? Will Cabrera be more valuable than Sanchez? Is Sanchez's velocity going to be closer to 99 mph or 89 mph? How will Sanchez do in Kansas City?


Will Jerry Sands be a substitute teacher after this season? Will major league players ever work again in the offseason?


We will find out in the weeks and months ahead.

Leave a comment below.

Don't forget to take my poll on the left. Who will start for the Giants at first base this season?




Information from Extra Baggs and MLB.com contributed to this article.

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Giants avoid arbitration, sign Melky Cabrera to 1-year, $6MM deal (FeedCrossing.com)

By Troy Nelson

According to a tweet by ESPN Deporte’s Enrique Rojas, the Giants have signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a one-year, $6 million dollar contract to avoid arbitration.

The switch-hitting Cabrera, 27, batted .305/.339/.470 (.809 OPS) with 18 HR, 44 doubles, 87 RBI, 201 hits, 102 runs, and 20 steals in a breakout season with the Royals last year.

Acquired in the trade that sent Jonathan Sanchez to Kansas City on Nov. 7, the Melk Man earned $1.25 million dollars last season. He is eligible to become a free agent after the 2012 season.

The Giants, who also reached agreement with Angel Pagan yesterday, now have five unsigned arbitration-eligible players: Santiago Casilla, Tim Lincecum, Sergio Romo, Pablo Sandoval, and Nate Schierholtz.

Today is the day in which teams and players exchange arbitration figures.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants Who Deserve an Extension

 
Whether it is a freezing foggy night in San Francisco or a sweltering hot day in LA, Tim Lincecum is always seen sporting his Giants hoody.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images 

 

Tim Lincecum is the face of the San Francisco Giants, but in a time where team loyalty is down and money is king, is it possible that he and other beloved Giants will end up elsewhere?

If there was ever a pitcher in baseball who deserves a lifetime contract extension, it would be Tim Lincecum.

Lincecum's stay with the Giants has been nothing short of impressive. Since his start with the Giants in 2007, he has a career 3.00 ERA, with a 58-28 record, 939 strikeouts and 1.173 WHIP—plus Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009.

Back in February 2010, Tim Lincecum signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Giants. Lincecum, 26, is under club control until at least 2013, but he will face another arbitration hearing at the end of the 2011 season if another deal is not made.

Whatever the price, the Giants are best served in signing their ace right-hander—who won the clinching game of the 2010 World Series—no matter the price. He is the heart and soul of the Giants, and the energy in San Francisco would deplete worse than the 1970s crisis if their Freak was racking up strikeouts for another team.

Here are four other players who deserve a contract extension and should play in San Francisco for a long time.

1. Buster Posey

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Buster Posey is an exciting young talent who perhaps single-handedly led the Giants to their first World Series title in San Francisco—both with his hitting and the way he handled the pitching staff.

What Posey did in his rookie season was incredible. Coming up in May hoping to jolt the Giants' struggling offense, Posey hit .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 108 games. He also had a strong OPS of .862.

Most importantly, Posey has the poise of a 10-year veteran at just age 23. Handling a pitching staff in his rookie season with the likes of Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez is an impressive feat in itself.

Because the gutsy catcher will continue to get better, he deserves a contract extension. He is under team control until at least 2015 but is eligible for arbitration after this season (he signed a one-year, $575,000 contract with the Giants this past March).

2. Matt Cain

Pool/Getty Images

Matt Cain established himself as a big-game pitcher in 2010. He has yet to give up an earned run in the postseason, and he has followed it up by pitching well in 2011—minus one start at Coors Field, a pitcher's graveyard.

Matt Cain, 26, impressively makes his 91 mph fastball work. When he first came up to the big leagues, Cain threw 96-plus and tried to strike everyone out, but now, he learned how to pitch by manipulating his fastball movement and developing a good changeup.

Greg Maddux played for a long time with low velocity but lots of movement and control. There is no reason Cain cannot do the same.

In his Giants career, Cain is only 59-63, but he has a lifetime 3.45 ERA and a .230 batting average against.

Cain signed a $27.25 million, three-year contract in 2010, but the Giants would do no harm by signing him to a more long-term contract.

3. Brian Wilson

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Brian Wilson earned his paycheck in the 2010 postseason. Wilson provided Giants fans more torture than watching grandma's home movies, but the end result is worthy of a contract extension.

In his first playoff appearances, Wilson amassed six saves and 16 strikeouts in 10 games. Like Cain, Wilson did not give up an earned run in the postseason.

Wilson's two-year, $15 million contract extension he signed in March 2010 expires at the end of this year. He is eligible for arbitration after this season and will be a Giant until at least 2012, but the Giants should lock him up beyond that.

If they do not, it would kill the whole "Fear the beard" slogan.

Whether it is a freezing foggy night in San Francisco or a sweltering hot day in LA, Tim Lincecum is always seen sporting his Giants hoody.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Tim Lincecum is the face of the San Francisco Giants, but in a time where team loyalty is down and money is king, is it possible that he and other beloved Giants will end up elsewhere?
If there was ever a pitcher in baseball who deserves a lifetime contract extension, it would be Tim Lincecum.
Lincecum's stay with the Giants has been nothing short of impressive. Since his start with the Giants in 2007, he has a career 3.00 ERA, with a 58-28 record, 939 strikeouts and 1.173 WHIP—plus Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009.
Back in February 2010, Tim Lincecum signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Giants. Lincecum, 26, is under club control until at least 2013, but he will face another arbitration hearing at the end of the 2011 season if another deal is not made.
Whatever the price, the Giants are best served in signing their ace right-hander—who won the clinching game of the 2010 World Series—no matter the price. He is the heart and soul of the Giants, and the energy in San Francisco would deplete worse than the 1970s crisis if their Freak was racking up strikeouts for another team.
Here are four other players who deserve a contract extension and should play in San Francisco for a long time.

1. Buster Posey

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Buster Posey is an exciting young talent who perhaps single-handedly led the Giants to their first World Series title in San Francisco—both with his hitting and the way he handled the pitching staff.
What Posey did in his rookie season was incredible. Coming up in May hoping to jolt the Giants' struggling offense, Posey hit .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 108 games. He also had a strong OPS of .862.
Most importantly, Posey has the poise of a 10-year veteran at just age 23. Handling a pitching staff in his rookie season with the likes of Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez is an impressive feat in itself.
Because the gutsy catcher will continue to get better, he deserves a contract extension. He is under team control until at least 2015 but is eligible for arbitration after this season (he signed a one-year, $575,000 contract with the Giants this past March).

2. Matt Cain

Pool/Getty Images

Matt Cain established himself as a big-game pitcher in 2010. He has yet to give up an earned run in the postseason, and he has followed it up by pitching well in 2011—minus one start at Coors Field, a pitcher's graveyard.
Matt Cain, 26, impressively makes his 91 mph fastball work. When he first came up to the big leagues, Cain threw 96-plus and tried to strike everyone out, but now, he learned how to pitch by manipulating his fastball movement and developing a good changeup.
Greg Maddux played for a long time with low velocity but lots of movement and control. There is no reason Cain cannot do the same.
In his Giants career, Cain is only 59-63, but he has a lifetime 3.45 ERA and a .230 batting average against.
Cain signed a $27.25 million, three-year contract in 2010, but the Giants would do no harm by signing him to a more long-term contract.

3. Brian Wilson

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Brian Wilson earned his paycheck in the 2010 postseason. Wilson provided Giants fans more torture than watching grandma's home movies, but the end result is worthy of a contract extension.
In his first playoff appearances, Wilson amassed six saves and 16 strikeouts in 10 games. Like Cain, Wilson did not give up an earned run in the postseason.
Wilson's two-year, $15 million contract extension he signed in March 2010 expires at the end of this year. He is eligible for arbitration after this season and will be a Giant until at least 2012, but the Giants should lock him up beyond that.
If they do not, it would kill the whole "Fear the beard" slogan.

4. Jonathan Sanchez

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Despite all the baserunners, walks and frustrations associated with Jonathan Sanchez, he is still a good major league pitcher. Although he led the National League in walks in 2010, Sanchez led the Giants with a 3.07 ERA, and he had a .204 batting average against.

Sanchez will be a Giant until at least 2012 but is eligible for arbitration after this season. He signed a one-year, $4.8 million deal before the 2011 season.

Sanchez, 28, gives Giants fans fits, but in the end, he is a formidable pitcher with electric stuff. On the days he can control his great stuff, he can pitch as well as Lincecum or Cain.

The Giants should give him a contract extension, but because of his inconsistency, perhaps one not as long or as large as Lincecum's or Cain's.

5. On the Fence: Pablo Sandoval, Madison Bumgarner, Sergio Romo

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Pablo Sandoval has not earned anything yet—and he knows it.

After batting .330 in 2009, Sandoval laid an egg in 2010. Sandoval helped his cause by losing the weight in the offseason, but his success or failure in 2011 and beyond will determine whether or not he will continue his Giants career long term.

Madison Bumgarner has been awful so far in 2011. He is 0-3 with a 7.73 ERA and batters are hitting .357 against him. He is not eligible for free agency until 2016, so the Giants have plenty of time to assess his worth.

Sergio Romo did not help his cause during Sunday's game against the Braves. He threw a hanging slider to Dan Uggla, which he hit for a game-tying, eighth-inning home run.

Romo is prone to giving up big home runs late. He did so during the NLDS in Atlanta and various times throughout the 2010 season. Romo did develop a good sinker this season, but the Giants might want somebody who throws harder pitching in the eighth inning.

Romo will not be a free agent until 2015, so the Giants have time to assess his worth. They need to know whether or not he will be the pitcher who throws a good, tight slider or the pitcher who hangs them.




Vinnie Cestone is a Baseball/San Francisco Giants Featured Columnist for The Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all information was obtained first-hand or from official materials from ESPN.com and MLB.com.

This article was featured on The Bleacher Report.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

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Chris Haft/MLB.com: Sandoval's homer plenty for surging Giants; plus Vinnie's quick thoughts

DENVER -- After the Giants dismantled the Colorado Rockies, 6-3, Tuesday night, one player used non-verbal communication to explain how San Francisco could thoroughly subdue a club that seemed so dominant in the early season.

Link: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_19_sfnmlb_colmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=sf

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The Giants are impressive in the way they have been scoring first-inning runs. They set the tone early by scoring five runs in the first inning on Monday, four on Tuesday, and one on Wednesday.

This early scoring is essential to the Giants' success. When you have a team with such great starting pitching as do the Giants, early scoring will put pressure on other teams -- extra pressure when you have to come back against Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum. The best thing for a pitcher is when the batter tries too hard and gets himself out.

Rockies' starter Ubaldo Jimenez was not himself yesterday in his first start since is injury. His velocity was down just a bit (my MLB At Bat '11 app. had his fastball cruising between 92-93 mph). Once he gets fully healthy, he should throw those blazing 98-100 mph fastballs with movement.

That said, this post is coming a little late because of the quick turn-around time. So, I will wrap it up here.





  
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San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies Preview; Andrew Baggarly/San Jose Mercury News: Giants lineup for Tuesday plus the return of Cody Ross (sort of)

              VS              

Another big game tonight between the Rockies and Giants. Here is tonight's lineup.

CF Rowand
2B Freddy Sanchez
1B Huff
C Posey
3B Sandoval
LF Burrell
RF Schierholtz
SS Fontenot
P Jonathan Sanchez

Cody Ross is back with the team. He will not be activated until tomorrow, since he had a late night in Fresno.  Miguel Tejada gets a rest.

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News will give you a much better preview of tonight's game than I can in my short time before photography class.

Enjoy!

...

Cody Ross is here and the Showtime cameras are following him around like a rock star. Pat Burrell took one look at him walking down the hallway and yelled out, “The Show is back!”

Link: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2011/04/19/giants-lineup-for-tuesday-plus-the-return-of-cody-ross-sort-of/

To My Readers: My upcoming interview with San Francisco Giants' hurler Jonathan Sanchez

There's a very good chance I will be doing an interview with Jonathan Sanchez, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. I am really excited for this opportunity, and I hope it goes through.

In a nutshell, my The Bleacher Report piece on him led to the interview. One of my readers contacted me about the article, and it eventually led to a possible interview with the star pitcher.

Now is where you guys can participate. If you have any suggestions on topics I should ask about or angles I could go for, please feel free to contact me or comment below. This would be my first time interviewing a professional baseball player, and I am a little nervous to be honest, but I should be just fine.

Also, please feel free to contact me with possible interview questions. If they are good, I might use them, but nothing controversial. My goal is to profile Sanchez and make him look good, not bash him.

We all know Sanchez frustrates Giants fans with the high walk totals, loads of baserunners, etc., but he is one of the best pitchers in the game and has a good story to tell like all professional baseball players -- and I look forward to hearing it.


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Chris Haft/MLB.com: Two-homer inning lifts Giants past Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO -- If the Giants' initial homestand was any indication, get ready for another wild ride this season...

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Like Tuesday night, the San Francisco Giants played like the 2010 Giants on Wednesday night.

Jonathan Sanchez grinned out another gutsy performance, pitching six good innings of three-run ball. Two swings of the bat put a dent in his run column -- a two-out, two-strike mistake pitch at the belt to Rod Barajas that tied the game at two, and a RBI triple by Aaron Miles.

Sanchez's velocity dipped to the high 80s by the sixth inning, but he used what he had to keep the Giants in the game. In years past, if Sanchez's stuff was not all there, he would fall apart. His maturity from a thrower to a pitcher really showed in last night's game in the way he made the best of what he had stuff-wise at the time.

The Giants got clutch home runs from two unlikely heroes. Pablo Sandoval proved that he is back to his 2009 form from the right-side, and Mike Fontenot showed why he is a good, little player.

A concern has got to be Pat Burrell. He has four home runs so far this year, but just four RBIs. He is hitting only .182, and his starting job is in jeopardy when Cody Ross is activated from the disabled list.

Another nod to the 2010 Giants was the Giants' tremendous relief pitching last night. In three innings of work, the bullpen held the Los Angeles Dodgers to two hits, no walks, and no runs.

It should also be noted that the Giants' defense came through with no errors in last night's game. The earlier defensive struggles were probably a result of the team still getting used to each other, and of course, the lack of defensive talent in the outfield.

The Giants will spend the weekend in Arizona. If the Giants can take two out of three and win their third series in a row, they should enter Colorado with a lot of confidence.

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The Wacky World of Giants Baseball: Giants' sweet torture continues in extra-inning affair

Aaron Rowand hits game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning and goes 2-for-3 in Giants' 5-4 win.

Looks like things have not changed much since last year.

The San Francisco Giants continued their victorious but torturous ways, as a sellout crowd at AT&T Park witnessed one of the greatest, yet weirdest games baseball fans will ever see.

The game featured two dramatic ninth-inning rallies with two outs and nobody on, a strike zone the size of a golf ball at one time and an SUV at another, an unlikely hero two home openers in a row, and an extra-inning dogfight where the Giants stranded a runner at third with nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning. If you thought that was weird, the St. Louis Cardinals moved their left fielder and put five men in the infield in that bottom of the 11th inning -- and it worked when Aaron Rowand lined a smash right to third base, which was manned by left fielder Allen Craig.

The Giants achieved their 5-4 victory and broke the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 12th inning when Rowand roped a game-winning single off the left-center-field wall with the bases loaded. Coincidentally, it was just last year on the Giants' 2010 home opener when Rowand hit an RBI infield hit in the 13th inning to beat the Braves also 5-4.

"This one was a lot easier than the last one trying to leg it out," Rowand said.

The 12th inning rally began off Cardinals lefty Brian Tallet (0-1) when Miguel Tejada hit a one-out single to left. With two outs, Andres Torres reached on a catching error by first baseman Albert Pujols.

Cardinals manger Tony La Russa elected to walk Freddy Sanchez to load the bases for an unlikely hero. Rowand promptly silenced the naysayers by coming through in the clutch for the second home opener in a row.

"It was a lefty in that situation, so I hope they got to me," Rowand said.

The ecstasy at AT&T Park by the end of the 12th inning was nothing of the sort back in the top of the ninth inning. With the Giants up 3-2 and Brian Wilson looking for his first save of the year, Wilson lost the 12-pitch marathon battle with Ryan Theriot, as he singled in the tying and lead runs with the bases loaded. The inning started with two quick outs.

Wilson was angry, as he walked off the mound in the top of the ninth inning. He seemed to disagree with home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman's strike zone and began shouting at him while he was leaving the field.

"I was a little pissed," Wilson said. "Emotions are flying. It's opening day. Ow well, that's what happens."

It appeared that the Giants' opening day party, which included their championship flag being hoisted and set atop a pole forever at AT&T Park, was ruined by the Cardinals' ninth-inning rally. However, the Giants returned the favor and started a two-out rally of their own, which concluded with a game-tying single to right by Pablo Sandoval.

It appeared the first baseman Pujols was out of position when Sandoval hit his hard ground ball to the right side, as he broke toward the bag as the pitch was being thrown by closer Ryan Franklin. Nonetheless, the Giants enjoyed every minute of it.

"The game was an emotional roller coaster, a great game," said Bruce Bochy, Giants manager. "These guys fought hard. It was quite a ball game for a home opener."

Lost in all the hoopla was a fine starting pitching performance by Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez. Although he threw a lot of pitches early, he battled through a first-inning jam and allowed just one run, while striking out seven, in five innings of work.

The Cardinals scored first on a Tyler Greene single in the top of the second inning. The Giants would tie the game on a third-inning home run by Miguel Tejada, his first as a Giant.

The Giants grabbed the lead on a Freddy Sanchez double in the second inning. They would tack on another run in the sixth inning on Pat Burrell's third home run of the year, making the score 3-1.

For the most part, the Giants kept Pujols in check. The Cardinals' slugger went just 1-for-6, with an RBI single in the eighth inning that cut the Giants' lead to 3-2. Pujols' average fell to .179 for the year.

Dan Runzler (1-0) pitched a perfect 12th inning to earn the win in relief. He was one of eight pitchers used by the Giants in the game.

Although the torture called Giants baseball continued, like last year, torture still never felt so good.

My Thoughts

This was just a great baseball game.

The Giants did something that all good teams need to do to be successful. That is to not quit, even when all seems lost.

When the Giants blew their 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, many teams might have felt so deflated and just rolled over -- not the Giants. They roared back with a two-out rally. Rowand (2-for-3) got things started with a two-out single, and would eventually come in to score on Sandoval's game-tying single.

Another instance where the Giants showed resiliency was after the bottom of the 11th inning. After Torres doubled and advanced on a wild pitch with nobody out, the Giants suffered a crushing blow. Victory was within reach, but the Giants stumbled.

Freddy Sanchez struck out, and then, Aaron Rowand hit a hard, low liner that the left fielder dove for and trapped at third base. Tony La Russa moved the left fielder to third base, and it actually worked, as Torres was nailed in a rundown on the play. Mark DeRosa then struck out on some questionable pitches for the third out of the inning.

Again, the Giants could have rolled over and let the failure get into their heads. Fortunately for the Giants, this did not happen, as Runzler came out and pitched a scoreless top of the 12th, setting up the Giants' walk-off win at the bottom of the inning.

Another thing to note. Bruce Dreckman's strike zone was awful today. The one thing players ask for in a home plate umpire is consistency, no matter if his strike zone is high, low, or wide. It seemed that early in the game, Dreckman's zone was very tight when Sanchez was on the mound. Later on in the game, his strike zone widened, especially during DeRosa's 11th-inning at bat.

If the Giants are going to do this torture bit on their fans again, it should be another fun season in the wacky world of San Francisco Giants baseball.

Tidbits

The Giants are now 3-4 and have won three home openers in a row. With home runs from Burrell and Tejada, they now lead the National League in home runs with 9 (tied with the Reds and Brewers). Rowand got his second-straight, walk-off hit in a Giants home opener. Cardinals' outfielder Matt Holliday says he may play this weekend after having his appendix removed just five days ago. Pujols has hit into five double plays in seven games so far this year. Tomorrow, Matt Cain will look for his second win of the year against the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia. The game will start at 7:05 p.m. to accommodate the Giants' ring ceremony.

	1 2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
STL	0 1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	4	8	3
SF	0 0	2	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	15	1

W: D. Runzler (1-1)
L: B. Tallet (0-1)

Vinnie Cestone is a Baseball/San Francisco Giants Featured Columnist for The Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials from Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

Stats and other information came from ESPN.com and MLB.com. 

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Chris Haft/MLB.com: Belt's first homer negated by Giants' errors; my quick thoughts

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LOS ANGELES -- The Giants have a scheduled off-day Monday in San Diego. The word "scheduled" should be emphasized....

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There is no way around it tonight. The Giants were just awful defensively once again, committing two crucial errors -- their fifth in two games.

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The Pablo Sandoval play I completely get. It is a do or die play where you have no time to set your feet, no time to think, and no time to get a good grip on the ball -- it is just get ball and throw. Errors will happen.

The Jonathan Sanchez play off the bat of Hector Gimenez was inexcusable. Sanchez had time to set his feet, glove the ball, grip the ball, and throw to first for the out.

If Sanchez does what he is supposed to do, the inning is over and the Giants may have just won 3-2. Not a good two days for the defending world champions.

The great thing about baseball is tomorrow is a new game -- a new try for a win. What makes it better is the quick turn around time -- the Giants play at 1:10 p.m.

For those who want to panic, it was last August were the Giants struggled in all facets of the game.

They could not hit. They could not pitch. They lost their ability to play decent defense. Still, they did not panic after their losing month, and the rest is history.

Sleep well, San Francisco. The moment where the Giants slap hands in celebration at the conclusion of the game will come soon enough.

Buster Posey and the SF Giants’ Last 10 Prospects Who Lived Up to the Hype (Part 1)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants struck out in developing major league talent for most of the 2000s, but that trend has turned around recently.

Born and bred within the Giants' organization, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Buster Posey are emerging as perennial superstars in the major leagues. They have demonstrated leadership and poise during baseball's biggest stage, the World Series.

Many formidable predecessors donned the orange and black on day one of their professional careers. Will "The Thrill" Clark was one of them, along with many others.

Posey has lived up to the hype so far, but who else in Giants history has preceded Posey? Here are the last 10 Giants' prospects who lived up to the hype.

1. Buster Posey

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Buster Posey made his major league debut on Sept. 11, 2009 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although Posey looked foolish on a check-swing strikeout during his first major league at-bat, the AT&T Park crowd roared with excitement for their up-and-coming rookie sensation -- and with good reason.

Posey did not have many half-hearted strikeouts in 2010. In his first full rookie season, Posey hit .305, with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs, in 108 games.

If Posey can replicate his success in 2011 and beyond, the Giants may have a future Hall of Famer on their hands. Leading his team to a World Series title in his rookie season is an impressive feat.

If Posey stays healthy, he will live up to the hype -- and more.

2. Madison Bumgarner

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

On Sept. 8, 2009, the Giants were vying for a Wild Card spot with the Colorado Rockies. When Tim Lincecum was unable to make the start in a crucial pennant race game against the San Diego Padres, pitching phenom Madison Bumgarner stepped up to the challenge in his major league debut.

Although Bumgarner lost the game, he pitched well. In five and one-third innings of work, he gave up just two runs on five hits and walked one -- even when he lost about 7 mph on his fastball since the beginning of that year.

Fast forward to 2010. Having already pitched a big game in a pennant race in 2009, nothing seemed to faze the 21-year-old left hander.

Although Bumgarner had some rough outings at AAA Fresno, he was ready for a big league challenge. In 18 starts, Bumgarner finished 7-6 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

These solid numbers do not even tell the whole story. Game 4 of the 2010 World Series was certainly one to remember for Bumgarner.

In baseball's biggest stage, Bumgarner dazzled in front of a national audience. In his eight shutout innings, he yielded three hits and two walks, while striking out six Rangers.

Bumgarner is no ordinary rookie. When he takes the mound, he looks like he owns the mound. He has the confidence of a 15-year veteran, and the heart of a champion.

3. Tim Lincecum

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Tim Lincecum was no stranger to the national stage, even before his legendary 2010 playoff performance.

After learning about the live arm of the freakish-looking right hander, Giants fans were excited when Lincecum made his major league debut on Sunday Night Baseball. The day was May 6, 2007.

His first big league pitch was to the Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins. The pitch was clocked at 97 mph, leaving Giants fans roaring with excitement, as they gazed amazed at the radar reading.

Lincecum took the loss that night, pitching just four and one-third innings, giving up five hits, walking five, striking out five, and surrendering four earned runs. That night may not have been pretty, but the Giants knew they had something special -- if Lincecum could control his pitches.

He did.

Lincecum developed a change-up (or split-finger), won a couple Cy Young Awards, and lost a few feet on his fastball along the way, but his lines became better and better as time progressed. He was changing from a thrower to a pitcher.

Although Lincecum had a horrible August in 2010, he shined in September and the postseason. His 14-strikeout, complete-game shutout in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Braves demonstrated Lincecum's capabilities when everything comes together for him.

Then came every child's dream -- winning a clinching World Series game. He did that and made it look easy during Game 5 of the 2010 World Series.

On that fateful night, Lincecum pitched eight strong innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out 10. Expect more of these thrilling moments from him.

4. Matt Cain

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Matt Cain was another highly touted pitcher within the Giants' ranks. However, at times, it seemed as though Cain's lack of run support was holding him back.

Making him the longest tenured Giant, Matt Cain debuted during the Barry Bonds era against the Colorado Rockies on August 29, 2005. He was only 20 years old.

Cain gave up just two runs and three hits in five innings on that night, but lost the game 2-1. That game served as a microcosm of how his next few seasons would fare for the gutsy righty.

In 2007, Cain finished the season with a 3.65 ERA, good for the 10th lowest in the National League. However, the Giants went 9-23 in his starts and scored two runs or fewer in 21 of his starts.

As the Giants got better, Cain emerged as a candidate to strip Tim Lincecum of his ace status. He has yet to give up an earned run in postseason play and had a phenomenal 2010 season.

With his blazing 91-93 mph fastball that blows away hitters as if it were 98 mph, Cain finished 2010 with a 13-11 record, with a 3.14 ERA, 177 strikeouts, and a solid 1.08 WHIP.

Expect more good things to come from Cain.

5. Jonathan Sanchez

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In 2006, Baseball America ranked Jonathan Sanchez as the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization. In 13 appearances (three starts) at AA that year, Sanchez went 2-1, with a 1.15 ERA.

The Giants were intrigued by Sanchez and called him up in May 2006. He made his major league debut on the day Barry Bonds hit home run number 715 against the Colorado Rockies, retiring Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins in order.

Sanchez would go through ups and downs from 2006-2009 but put it together in 2010. He still had his moments, but Sanchez grew up dramatically as a pitcher that year.

In his best season as a big league player, Sanchez went 13-9 for the Giants, had a team-leading 3.07 ERA, 205 strikeouts, and a 1.23 WHIP, despite leading the league in walks. He was incredibly hard to hit, as batters hit just .204 against him.

Sanchez had his brain lapses in the 2010 postseason, but he still pitched well in big games in September, including the National League West clincher. At 28, Sanchez is still improving and has the potential to measure up to his companions in the rotation.

For more on Jonathan Sanchez, see this article here.

This article was featured on the Bleacher Report

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The mailbag is open, Giants news and notes

Since I started this blog, I aimed to create a baseball forum where fans can talk and debate about the game. In order to enhance interactivity with my readers, I am opening my mailbag to your questions, comments, and feedback. Your e-mails may be posted on my blog along with my answers to them. I will try to post a mailbag blog entry once per week, depending on the volume of e-mails I get.

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Here are some Giants news and notes. Click on the hyperlinks below for more information.



Giants ink Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal. 


Giants sign Andres Torres to one-year deal.


Giants avoid arbitration with Javier Lopez.

Giants make Casilla deal official.


Ross, Sanchez, and Ramirez back for 2011.

Dr. Perfecto and Mr. Walk, Which Will Giants Hurler Jonathan Sanchez Be in 2011? (Part 2)

This article is also known as "San Francisco Giants: Will 2011’s Jonathan Sanchez Be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?"

The Bad Outlook: 6. Increasing Walk Total

Elsa/Getty Images

Although Sanchez is a dynamic pitcher who is tough to hit, his high walk total is a concern.

At some point, one might wonder how long he will be able to get away with surrendering so many free passes. In 2010, Sanchez walked a major league leading 96 batters but seemed to get away with it, as he posted a 3.07 ERA and a WHIP of only 1.23.

Eventually, if Sanchez keeps tempting fate, the walks are probably going to come back to bite him. Consistently walking people almost always hurts a pitcher in the long run.

Not to mention, the amount of high stress pitches he makes, and all the extra pitches, due to walks can take a toll on Sanchez's body. A pitching arm can be a delicate thing, and if it wears out, a plethora of three-run home runs could be coming in 2011.

For the sake of the longevity of his career, Sanchez needs to pound the strike zone more often. Randy Johnson's transformation into more of a control pitcher might have extended his greatness for a few more years, and Sanchez needs to make the same transformation if he wants to pitch until he is 40.

7. His Inconsistency

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

On the night of Jonathan Sanchez's 2009 no-hitter, former Padres' outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. described Sanchez's inconsistencies best when he said, "On film he throws the ball hard, but it looks like he doesn't know where it's going. Today he looked exactly like he knew where it was going."

On one night, Sanchez can sparkle like he did on the night of his no-hitter. On another night, his line might look like this: 5 IP, 1 hit, 7 BB, 4 K, 0 Runs.

Worse, he might completely fall apart on another night and allow a five spot in his run column, like he did against the Florida Marlins on July 28th. His games seem to fluctuate from start-to-start, and sometimes, you simply cannot rely on him to pitch a quality start.

In a sport where consistency can mean everything, Sanchez struggles to be as reliable as a Greg Maddux. If he cannot be counted on to pitch well during tight, close, or important games, the bullpen could be a reality for Sanchez in 2011 -- a possible reason why the Giants signed a sixth starter in Jeff Suppan.

8. It's Easy To Get Into His Head

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

If a team's strategy was to beat Sanchez by getting into his head, that would probably be its best bet.
Sanchez, in the biggest game of his life, showed why he was not ready to pitch under the lights of postseason play -- and it showed up on his line.

After drilling Chase Utley in the back with the score tied 2-2, he casually flipped the ball back to the pitcher's mound. Angered by this, Sanchez barked back at Utley, leading to a benches clearing altercation and Jonathan Sanchez's removal from the game by Bruce Bochy.

Sanchez's overreaction illustrates his immaturity. Instead of letting it go, he made things worse than they actually were, even though Utley should have probably left the ball alone.

Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area had a very good take on the issue on his blog. What Utley did was not really "malicious or totally out of line," but Sanchez felt that he had to say something.

Sanchez would no longer be a factor in that game after the incident. The end result of the game may have worked out for the Giants that time, but it was not because of Sanchez's pitching.

More brain lapses like that can mean a miserable 2011 for Sanchez. However, a good therapist might be able to solve that problem, but he must get his head right in a game that is arguably mostly mental.

9. His High Pitch Count

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

As mentioned earlier, Sanchez's high pitch count, mostly due to his high walks and strikeouts, can be detrimental to both his pitching and health. He was 15th in all of baseball in pitches per inning pitched, which is something he needs to improve upon as a starter.

It would not be so bad if Sanchez did not throw so many pitches in such stressful situations. If there was a stat measuring this (maybe total pitches with runners in scoring position), Sanchez would surely be a league leader in this category.

Eventually, this will catch up with Sanchez, either in the form of three-run homers, a long stint in the bullpen, or a career-ending arm injury. His electric stuff will mean nothing in 2011, and in the long run, if he cannot use it more efficiently.

10. He Does Not Always Think Things Through

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Along the lines of point number nine, Sanchez does not yet understand the mental aspect of baseball. He clearly showed this when he inaccurately called a sweep against the San Diego Padres in August.

This was the worst thing he could have done. Not only did it motivate the Padres, but it also made him look bad around baseball.

Guaranteeing a sweep is not a smart idea, especially in baseball where it is hard to sweep a team. It would be one thing if Sanchez said, "we are going to show the Padres why we are a good team," but calling a sweep -- a humiliating experience for any team -- in front of the media was just out of line.

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News wrote it best in his blog when he stated, "Jonathan Sanchez doesn't really qualify as a team spokesperson."

Maybe he should have let the Giants' Jim Moorehead, senior director of media relations, speak for the team.

In that Padres' series, Sanchez ended up with the losing decision in one of the games. Hopefully, he learned his lesson to think before he speaks.

If Sanchez continues to make such statements, other teams might give that extra effort against him at the plate. That energy might be channeled through a big home run in a crucial game down the stretch.

Questions? Comments? Feedback? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your question may be posted on my blog, along with answers.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants

This article was featured on the Bleacher Report

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants

Questions? Comments? Feedback? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your question may be posted on my blog, along with answers.