Tagged: Reds
Giants 6, Reds 4: Cain is just about ready to go
Well, we can see that Matt Cain is about ready for the season. Maybe the Giants ought to thinking about signing this guy past this season. Just a thought.
Cain sailed through five innings against the Reds, giving up no runs, four hits, no walks and fanning five.
“Everything is going good,” Cain told the AP. “I’m just getting my pitch count up. … I don’t have much to work on.”
Cain is on schedule to start Thursday against the Rangers in his final spring start in the desert. Then, he should get the call on April 3 against the A’s in Oakland. That would align him perfectly to throw in Game No. 3 of the regular season on April 8 at Arizona.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
- OF Gregor Blanco showed a rare boost of power, belting a home run in the second inning. He finished 1 for 5. His spring average has been slowly dipping in the past week down to .373. But it doesn’t matter much. His speed and glove will keep him on the roster, two things that don’t go into a slump.
- 1B Brandon Belt keeps doing his thang. He went 3 for 4 with a walk and a double. He’s hitting .380. Although Bruce Bochy still says the decision on whether to keep Belt on roster will go down to the wire, we can’t see how he doesn’t break camp with the club.
- OF Nate Schierholtz went 2 for 3 with a walk, as he tries to get things together as talk begins to circulate that his RF job is jeopardy (possibly to Belt, who would actually play LF with Melky Cabrera sliding to RF).
UP NEXT
Barry Zito gets the start as the Giants travel to play the White Sox at 1:05 p.m. The game will be aired on tape-delay at 9 p.m. on MLB Network.
Giants 6, Reds 3: Buster and Freddy back on the field
Don’t worry, Matt Cain. We still love you.
When Cain left the bullpen Friday and walked onto the field at Scottsdale Stadium, he was greeted by huge roar from the Giants fans.
“I thought everybody really loved me,” Cain quipped. “And then I looked behind me and saw Buster.”
Buster Posey returned to live action for the first time since May 25 of last year, catching Cain two innings and flying out to right in his lone at-bat in the Giants’ win over the Reds.
“It was fun,” Posey said. “I’ve put in a lot of work. Even though it was only two innings, it was nice to be out there.”
Posey will get Saturday off, then return Sunday to catch four inning, according to manager Bruce Bochy.
“It was good to see Buster back out there playing again,” Bochy said. “I know he was excited. It was great to see the ovation he got when he walked out to the bullpen. … Everyone was happy to see Buster playing again.”
Well, that’s for sure. And it was also good to see Freddy Sanchez, too.
Sanchez went 1 for 4 as the Giants designated hitter Friday in his first game since a shoulder injury ended his season last June. But the big test will come Monday, when he plays his first game at second base.
“Playing defense will be a big stepping stone for me,” said Sanchez, who will DH again on Saturday and Sunday. “I feel like I’m getting a little stronger each day.”
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
- Matt Cain pitched three scoreless innings, giving up three hits, no walks and striking out four. He has not allowed a run in five innings this spring.
- OF Melky Cabrera continues to rake. He went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the third inning. He’s hitting .588.
- Aubrey Huff made his first spring start in left field. He went 0 for 3 and is hitting .214 this spring.
- Meanwhile, Brandon Belt came off the bench and replaced Nate Schierholtz in right field. He went 2 for 2 with a double and an eighth-inning home run. He’s hitting .389.
UP NEXT
The Giants play split-squad games on Saturday. Barry Zito will start at Scottsdale against the Brewers, where he won’t have Prince Fielder to throw at anymore. Right-hander Shane Loux gets the start in Tempe against the Angels.
Another close win, with another loss — Freddy Sanchez
San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez, center, is helped off the field by a trainer and Bruce Bochy, right, after being injured fielding a base hit by Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Phillips in the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
And the hits just keeping on coming.
Fortunately, so do the walk-off wins.
Just as there appeared to be a little bit of light at the end of the injury tunnel, things got dark again when Freddy Sanchez left Friday’s game with a dislocated shoulder.
The injury didn’t keep the Giants from getting their ninth walk-off win of the season on Nate Schierholtz’s game-winning single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Giants a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
But the excitement of the win was sobered some by the injury to Sanchez.
Sanchez hurt his shoulder while making a diving stop of a groundball up the middle. He left the game in clear pain and was later taken to the hospital for treatment, after Giants trainers popped the shoulder back in place.
Now, we wait for an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.
If accurate, the initial diagnosis for a dislocated shoulder is better than a separated shoulder. A separated shoulder involves a tear of the ligament that holds the shoulder in place. It would require a six-week minimum of recovery time, and likely would require surgery.
With a dislocated shoulder, you’re looking at a recovery time of 3 to 12 weeks, depending on the severity.
In the meantime, the Giants have to consider their next roster move, assuming Sanchez is headed to the DL.
Infielders Mike Fontenot and Pablo Sandoval are on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno. Both were expected to rejoin the Giants on Tuesday, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy did not expect either to return any sooner. Fontenot, in fact, may have suffered a setback with his groin injury on Friday.
The first option is to do nothing and wait for Sandoval to rejoin the team on Tuesday in Arizona. With the Giants playing an afternoon game Saturday and with Fresno playing in Salt Lake City, there’s little chance of getting a replacement player in town ready to play Saturday. So we’re really only talking about playing shorthanded one more game on Sunday.
This is the most likely option. Sandoval would then take over a third base on his return, with Burriss taking over at second base until Fontenot returns. We could even see Miguel Tejada at second base, particularly if he continues his recent hot streak. Fontenot’s return from the DL likely would result in Connor Gillaspie returning to Triple-A.
But there’s another option. On Friday, Bochy mentioned that the Giants have not discounted the possibility of Sandoval playing catcher on occassion — saying that he would only make two starts a week at most under that scenario. That option would lead to Chris Stewart being sent back to Fresno.
And the Giants could also consider calling up Brett Pill from Fresno. Pill has gotten off to a fast start at Triple-A, playing both 1B and 2B. At this point, the Giants have no sub for Aubrey Huff at first base, with Sandoval becoming the first backup option at 1B when he returns. But calling up Pill would require the Giants to make a move to open a spot on the 40-man roster. That could be created by sending Buster Posey to the 60-day DL.
Interesting to see which way the Giants go.
Giants get two wins Saturday and head for home
Wins and losses in spring training don’t matter. But the Giants really needed to get one win before leaving Arizona.
Well, they got two. Both on Saturday.
The Giants left Arizona with a 20-12 record after posting wins over the Reds and Indians on Saturday.
The news wasn’t all good Saturday. Tim Lincecum, making his final spring start, got smacked around pretty good by the Reds.
“I just started missing spots and pitches got up, and I wasn’t getting ahead of many batters,” Lincecum said. “My arm feels ready. It would be nice to get to some games that actually matter.”
We guess that’s the good news. Lincecum is healthy and ready for the season. We just wish he went into the regular season on a stronger note.
Lincecum gave up six runs on 11 hits in five innings. The big hits were wind-blown home runs by Juan Francisco in the second and a three-run homer by ex-Giant Fred Lewis.
On the bright side, the Giants hitters who had largely struggled in the past week got going Saturday.
Andres Torres was 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI. Two of those hits were right-handed, which was huge. The oblique injury Torres suffered early in the spring limited his right-handed at-bats and he had struggled since then. So Saturday’s performance was a good sign.
Freddy Sanchez was 2 for 3 before leaving the game after being kicked in the head trying to break up a double play. He was said to be OK, which was good news.
Buster Posey walked three times. Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 3, so was Pat Burrell and Mark DeRosa. Miguel Tejada’s bat continued a strong finish to the spring, going 2 for 4 with two runs.
The Giants scored six runs in the sixth, five coming off Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman.
Also good news is four scoreless innings by the Giants bullpen. Four pitchers — Shane Loux, Guillermo Mota, Jeremy Affeldt and Steve Edlefsen combined to give up just one hit and one walk.
In the Saturday evening game, the Indians announcers were belly-aching about how the fans in Goodyear were being cheated because the Giants sent out a Triple-A lineup. Then that Triple-A lineup pounded out eight runs on 13 hits in an 8-5 win.
Mike Fontenot, Brandon Crawford and Eli Whiteside were all 2 for 5. Brandon Belt was 2 for 4, including a three-run home run. Nate Schierholtz was 2 for 4 and Roger Kieschnick was 2 for 3 with a home run.
On Sunday, the Giants capped their Arizona schedule with a 7-4 loss to the Royals. Jonathan Sanchez suffered his first spring loss. He gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The good news is that he only walked one, a four-pitch walk to Kila Kaaihue that would come back to bite Sanchez.
In the fourth, Sanchez gave up a double to Melky Cabrera, who scored on a single by Billy Butler. After the walk to Ka’aihue, Sanchez got Alex Gordon to pop out and Jeff Francoeur to strike out. Sanchez was one strike from ending the inning against Wilson Betemit, who then smacked a three-run homer for a four-run inning.
The Giants again ran out a lineup devoid of regular starters.
Expect the regular to be in the lineup Monday when the Giants return to San Francisco to open a three-game series against the A’s.
Another pitcher-perfect spring win
It’s only March 10. It’s only March 10. It’s only March 10.
That’s what we keep telling ourselves.
But on March 10, Madison Bumgarner added another outstanding pitching performance to a spring that has been full of outstanding pitching for the Giants.
Bumgarner limited the Cincinnati Reds to one hit in four shutout innings, striking out six in a 7-0 win for the Giants.
“You can’t ask mcuh more than what we saw today,” manager Bruce Bochy told the San Jose Mercury News.
Thursday’s outing added to an impressive spring of pitching by the Giants.
The Giants’ team ERA of 2.80 is the lowest in the majors during spring training. So that’s impressive. But of the next 10 best team ERAs this spring are being thrown in Florida. The next best team ERA from a team training in Arizona, where the air is lighter and livelier, belongs to the Dodgers at 3.98.
And if you just look at the starting pitchers, it gets even better for the Giants. The ERA from the pitchers who started spring training games for the Giants is 1.79. If you take Tim Lincecum’s first start of the spring, in which he gave up three teams in 1 2/3 IP, the starters’ ERA is 1.24.
Add to that the news that Matt Cain reported no issues with his elbow while throwing three innings of simulated game Thursday.
Here are more Thursday highlights:
ANDRES TORRES: Torres went 1 for 3 with a two-ru home run in the third inning.
FREDDY SANCHEZ: Sanchez was 1 for 2 with a home run and a walk.
CODY ROSS: Ross was 1 for 3 and hit the third home run in the third inning for the Giants.
PABLO SANDOVAL: The Panda was 1 for 3 with a double.
PAT BURRELL: The Bat was 2 for 2 with a double and a walk. He’s hitting .250 now for the spring after a slow start.
SANTIAGO CASILLA and SERGIO ROMO: Both threw scoreless innings Thursday. Both have spring ERAs of 0.00.
One last Renteria rant
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News caught up with Edgar Renteria on Sunday, and the World Series MVP soundly as if he’s moved on from the acrimony of offseason contract negotiations with the Giants.
And Giants should as well.
But MoreSplashHits is still stuck on remarks Renteria made during these negotiations — when he called the Giants’ $1 million offer “disrespectful” — and reiterated on Sunday.
“It’s not about the money, you know?” Renteria said. “For me, it’s about pride.”
Oh, we’ll then that’s OK, right?
And then he later added: “I’m not going to play for anybody for $1 million. I’d rather retire.”
So … then .. it WAS about the money.
This is MoreSplashHits’ biggest pet peeve — athletes who sign free-agent deals and say “It wasn’t about the money.”
It was entirely about the money … unless you sign for less — not more.
Maybe MoreSplashHits has a different perspective about money than Renteria does. But we just have a hard time trying to figure out how a guy who has averaged about $9 million a year over the past seven years can say no to $1 million but yes to $2 million.
That’s like someone who has been making $270,000 a year for seven years losing his job. Then saying “no way” to a $30K-job, but yes to a $60K job.
We just don’t get it. But Edgar has his reasons, we’re sure.
And MoreSplashHits is not upset that Renteria is gone. We figured he’d be gone, even after his great postseason. We were frankly surprised that the Giants made that $1 million offer, especially after signing Miguel Tejada and tendering a deal to Mike Fontenot.
We couldn’t figure out how Renteria was going to figure into the mix. As it is, the Giants have 14 players in camp battling for 13 roster spots. How were they going to make room for Renteria?
Renteria says he holds no bad feelings toward the Giants. And Giants fans should hold any ill will against Renteria. Renteria is looking forward to getting his World Series ring when the Reds visit San Francisco on June 8, and we hope he gets a rousing ovation at AT&T Park.
All this hub-bub over the “disrespectful” comment could have easily been avoided if Renteria had said this upon signing with the Reds:
“After last season, I thought about retiring. Then I thought about the minimum requirement in terms of salary and playing opportunities that it would take to get me to return for another season in the majors and away from my family. In the end, the Reds met that requirement, and the Giants did not.”
If Giants fans heard that, they’d be just fine.
So before he opens his mouth again on the topic of the offseason negotiations, Renteria should call MoreSplashHits. We’d offer him with a little public relations help.
And we’d gladly work for anybody for $1 million a year.
Report: Renteria to sign with the Reds
So long, Edgar Renteria, and thanks for the memories.
ESPN Chicago is reporting that the 2010 World Series MVP will sign a one-year deal that could be worth as much as $3 million with incentives to serve as a backup infielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
We had heard that Renteria’s agent was in contact with the Giants as recently as Monday, but clearly the Giants weren’t moving off that $1 million offer that made last month that Renteria described as “total disrespect.”
Of course, it was never about respect. It was about the going rate for an aging backup infielder these days, and it was about what the Giants had to offer.
We don’t know the specifics of Renteria’s deal in Cincinnati. It’s probably at $1 million to $1.5 million base, with incentives that could allow the deal to grow to $3 million. The Reds will use Renteria to backup starting SS Paul Janish.
Without Renteria on the Giants’ postseason roster, it’s difficult to say what might have happened last postseason, So thanks, Edgar, for that.
But here’s another point: If the Giants didn’t put Renteria on the postseason roster — and there was strong consideration of that you may recall — there’s no way Renteria gets this deal. Without his strong postseason, Renteria would be signing a minor-league deal this offseason, or he would have retired.
Spring training: Reds 10, Giants 3
Jonathan Sanchez pitched 6 1/3 innings, but the bullpen blew up in the eighth, giving up seven runs to the Cincinnati Reds as the Reds beat the Giants 10-3.
Sanchez gave up three runs (only one earned) on four hits and two walks. He also struck out two.
In the eighth, Jeremy Affeldt gave up three runs (one earned), then Brandon Medders gave up four earned runs on three hits and a walk.
Inside the box score
Aaron Rowand was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Edgar Renteria hit his second spring home run.
Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 3
Aubrey Huff was 1 for 3 with an RBI
Mark DeRosa was 1for 3 with a run scored
Spring training: Giants 6, Reds 0
Well if he hadn’t done so already, Todd Wellemeyer looks to have all but locked up the No. 5 rotation spot Saturday, becoming the first Giants pitcher to pitch five innings in San Francisco’s 6-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
More Splash Hits 