April 27, 2005
Clutch Hitting, Umpire's Call Fuel A's Win over Chisox, 2-1
OAKLAND -- The A’s must feel like they’re on the receiving end of some good fortune these days.
One day after beating the Chicago White Sox thanks to a series of bizarre fielding errors, they pulled out another victory in unusual fashion against the team with the best record in the major leagues.
After hitting Aaron Rowand with a pitch and walking A.J. Pierzynski, A’s reliever Justin Duscherer appeared to have loaded the bases with the scored tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning when he plunked shortstop Joe Crede with a curveball.
But homeplate umpire Hunter Wendelstadt immediately ruled that Crede didn’t try to get out of the way of the pitch, an automatic strike. On the next pitch, Crede popped up to first base, ending the inning, and the A’s went on to win the game, 2-1, on Marco Scutaro’s single in the bottom of the frame.
"It was a weird two games," said A’s catcher Jason Kendall. "I don’t know if I’ve ever been involved in two games like that."
The umpire's call led to two ejections: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen for arguing the ruling, and Crede for throwing his bat in frustration on the next play.
"It’s rare that they call that, but now that I’ve looked at the replay, he saw it coming and leaned into it," A’s Manager Ken Macha said after the game.
Former A’s right fielder Jermaine Dye replaced Crede at shortstop for the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Dye’s first time playing an infield position in the major-leagues, and he looked shaky in warmups, but was never tested in the game.
After Erubiel Durazo reached on an error in the bottom of the decisive ninth inning, Mark Ellis laid a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line against White Sox reliever Dustin Hermanson, advancing Durazo to second. Hermanson then walked Nick Swisher intentionally to bring up Scutaro, who smoked a two-strike pitch down the third base line to score Durazo and end the game.
"You always want to be the hero and I guess I like those types of situations," Scutaro said. "When I got two strikes, I was just looking to make contact. It was a split finger that he left a little up."
The A’s scored their other run on a home run by Durazo in the fourth inning. Known for his patience at the plate, the designated hitter took five straight pitches, before blasting White Sox starter Freddy Garcia’s 3-2 split-finger offering over the fence in right centerfield.
Durazo overcame a sore throat and other flu-like symptoms to go three-for-four, almost reaching the bleachers again in the seventh inning when he hit a line drive off the scorebord in right field for a single.
"I feel awful. I feel so bad today," Durazo said after the game.
A’s starter Kirk Saarloos pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits. Saarloos struggled with his control, walking five White Sox batter, but the A’s were able to stay out of trouble by turning four double plays.
A’s pitcher Huston Street relieved Saarloos in the fifth inning with runners on first and third and one out, and got Jermaine Dye to ground into an inning-ending double play. Duscherer entered the game in the eighth inning, pitched the ninth inning, and got credit for the victory, his second in as many days, lowering his season ERA to 0.66.
With the victory, Oakland (11-11) took the series 2-1, the first series that the White Sox (16-6) have lost all season.
Posted by Neil Henry at 11:57 AM | Comments (1)
A's Notebook: Macha Says Kotsay Emerging as Team Leader
OAKLAND -- The Oakland A’s may have found a new team leader who can serve as inspiration on and off the field. Before the third and final game in the series at home against the Chicago White Sox, A’s manager Ken Macha said Mark Kotsay – who had scored two runs and batted in another the previous night – was becoming a leader to the younger players.
"He’s really emerging [as a leader]," Macha said.
In Tuesday night’s game against the Sox, left fielder Eric Byrnes dropped a fly ball in the sixth inning, which allowed Juan Uribe to reach first and ultimately score. Immediately after the inning, Kotsay approached Byrnes in the dugout for what appeared to be a mix between a lecture and a pep talk. The two seemed upset at first but seemed to come to an understanding.
Macha said the players shouldn’t have emotional outbursts after they botch a play because it affects the whole team.
"It’s not the perception you have of yourself, it’s what you leave on your teammates because they are out there 1,000 percent trying to win this game," he said.
Sounds of the Clubhouse
For those unfamiliar with the fraternity-like setting which is the A’s clubhouse, the natural sound is not what one would assume.
Instead of recent popular rap songs like Fifty Cent or The Game, the clubhouse actually bumps late 90’s R&B jams. Before Wednesday’s game, the stereo blasted the Mark Morrison’s 1997 hit "Return of the Mack" on repeat.
No one enjoyed it more than A’s left fielder Charles Thomas, who loudly sang along to the chorus: "You know that I’ll be back; Here I am. Return of the Mack; once again."
"[Music] is such an important thing in my life," said Thomas. "Without music… I don’t even know."
Posted by Neil Henry at 11:54 AM
April 26, 2005
Prayers Answered, A's Use Bats to Club Hot White Sox, 9-3
OAKLAND— Maybe it was divine intervention. Or maybe simply divine.
But just before Tuesday’s game, A’s third baseman Eric Chavez revealed that he and his fellow teammates had recently resorted to praying over their bats in clubhouse chapel. And apparently, someone was listening.
The A’s scraped out a 9-7 victory over the white-hot White Sox Tuesday night, largely thanks to some timely hitting and a fortuitous series of Chicago misplays and fielding errors.
With the game tied 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth, former A’s outfielder Jermaine Dye botched a routine fly ball off the bat of Marco Scutaro. Mark Kotsay then walked, and Erubiel Durazo’s potentially inning-ending ground ball slipped right under the glove of Chicago shortstop Willie Harris, scoring Scutaro from second. Jason Kendall followed with an RBI single to left.
"It was just one of those freak things," said A’s centerfielder Mark Kotsay, who was one-for-four and threw out Chicago second baseman Tadahito Iguchi at home with the score tied 4-4 in the fifth.
"We caught some breaks tonight. Now we just gotta grind it out and get back into this thing," Kotsay said.
With the win, the A’s put the stop to two dubious streaks. Up until their four-run fifth inning, Oakland (10-11) had been mired in a 26 inning scoreless streak, and had lost three games in a row. The White Sox (16-5) are off to their best start in franchise history and had won eight in a row, but they committed four errors Tuesday night.
For the slumping A’s batters, it was a breakout night. The team racked up 13 hits, and their struggling star Chavez drove in three runs with a double and a two-run single.
He sat in the clubhouse before Tuesday’s batting practice experimenting with alternative ways to tape-wrap his bat handles. "I’m trying everything," he said, creating small ridges on the handle in hopes of an edge, "this is an old grip I used to use when I was younger."
Manager Ken Macha was heartened by his third baseman’s performance. "Chavvy came through with some big hits tonight," he beamed.
A’s starter Rich Harden (2-1) was pulled after 5.1 innings in his least effective outing of the year. He gave six runs, five earned, on nine hits, while striking out 4 and walking 2. 102 pitches, 67 strikes.
Posted by Neil Henry at 10:54 AM
April 25, 2005
Padres Lord Over Punchless Giants, 5-3
SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants aren’t doing much to reverse all that talk about a Barry-less lineup being a powerless lineup. They’ve scored three or fewer runs in seven games – all of them losses – and are near the bottom of the league in home runs and hits when the hometown fans are cheering.
The hitting, or lack of it, makes for good banter because Barry Bonds is spending more time on crutches than he is with a bat in his hands. But at what point does all this unsettling chatter turn its attention to the starting pitching?
It might be sooner than you think.
Noah Lowry struggled through his second straight defeat in a 5-3 loss to the Padres last night at SBC Park. After the untouchable kid from Ventura won his first seven big-league decisions, he has seen his earned run average climb as fast as the Dodgers’ lead in the division.
And that’s just the beginning. Fellow starters Brett Tomko and Kirk Reuter look lost and the rotation’s kid terrific, Jerome Williams, woke up this morning in Fresno on a minor league quest to find his fastball.
Manager Felipe Alou brushed away suggestions that it’s time to start flipping over chairs or calling meetings. Like baseball veterans tend to do, he refused to make any kind of sweeping indictment against his team or his starting pitcher.
"He’s got weapons, he’s healthy, he’s a tough kid," Alou said.
"Where I come from, we don’t panic," he added later with a smile.
Lowry felt the same way, insisting there’s no pattern to be found within the rotation’s struggles.
"Every guy’s their own man," he said. "You just try to stay focused on your game plan and what you need to do. It’s not contagious."
But it is a pattern. The loss was the Giants’ sixth in their last eight games and marked the 11th time they’ve allowed five or more runs. The lineup certainly isn’t helping, scattering eight hits but never quite figuring out Woody Williams, the Padres’ starter who held onto one lead after another.
"I wish I could do something about that, not having to play catch-up," Alou said.
Geoff Blum’s two-run homer in the second gave San Diego a 3-1 lead. After RBI singles by Omar Vizquel and J.T. Snow tied it for the Giants in the fifth, the Padres took back the lead for good in the sixth on back-to-back singles by Blum and Mark Loretta.
The Giants had runners in scoring position in both the sixth and eighth innings, but couldn’t close the gap – a gap created by the pitching.
"What would be the recipe?" Alou asked. "I don’t believe in meetings … I don’t want it to get to that."
Posted by Neil Henry at 10:45 AM
Giants Notebook: Williams Headed to Fresno For More Work
SAN FRANCISCO – The up-and-down saga that is Jerome Williams took another turn yesterday with news that the struggling starter had been sent to Triple-A Fresno. Williams, coming off back-to-back poor outings in which he allowed a combined 10 runs in nine innings, will get at least two starts with the Grizzlies to work out issues with his control and arm strength.
Pitching coach Dave Righetti said Williams is "very close to where he needs to be" and added Williams’ troubles could be traced to a shaky spring in which he missed time to visit his father, Glenn, who had liver and kidney transplants last month.
"To me, it’s not that devastating," Righetti said of Williams’ first career demotion to the minors, adding "we’ve all been through these fallouts, including me."
The Giants called up veteran reliever Al Levine from Fresno to fill Williams’ roster spot. Levine, who arrived moments before the Giants took on San Diego, was cut by the team after spring training, but inked a minor league deal to stay with San Francisco instead of signing elsewhere. The 36-year-old righty has pitched for seven teams, most recently with Detroit last season.
Williams, coming off right elbow surgery last August, was solid in his season debut April 9 against Colorado, giving up one run on five hits over seven innings. But because of a day off on the schedule, he was skipped in the rotation and went 10 days between starts. Righetti said the time between starts may have pushed Williams "a little bit out of synch," but that both he and manager Felipe Alou expect a quick return for the third-year starter.
"I don’t have any doubt he’s going to throw a couple of times and be ready," Alou said.
ANOTHER NEW ARM:
Alex Smith, the Utah quarterback selected first overall by the 49ers in the NFL Draft, toured SBC Park prior to the game and was introduced to a standing ovation before the second inning. When asked what the Giants planned to give Smith, reliever Scott Eyre, a former Utah resident, joked, "the key to the city."
Posted by Neil Henry at 10:42 AM
April 24, 2005
Giants Cluster Hits in Fourth Inning, Drop Brewers 6-2
SAN FRANCISCO – After watching his team strand 21 runners in two games against Arizona and muster just five hits in Friday’s opener against Milwaukee, manager Felipe Alou sat back in his chair prior to yesterday's game and smiled when asked about his lineup’s tendency to swing aggressively on the first pitch.
"Those guys are good hitters, and that’s how they’ve done their damage," he said. "‘Be more selective.’ You tell the kids that in A ball."
Alou said different hitters prefer different counts, but yesterday, they all preferred Chris Capuano over the Brewers’ starter Friday, Victor Santos.
In one inning, the Giants put together enough offense to help Brett Tomko to his first win of the season, 6-2, and silence critics for at least one more day.
With the score tied 1-1 after a Yorvit Torrealba home run in the third, Brewers third baseman Russell Branyan became the ninth Giants opponent to launch a home run into McCovey Cove. Moments later in the bottom of the fourth, he became the butt of a schoolyard joke as he could not handle infield hits by Pedro Feliz and Moises Alou – both on the first pitch – sandwiched by a 10 pitch walk to Edgardo Alfonzo.
With the bases loaded, Marquis Grissom sacrificed home Feliz and Torrealba followed with an RBI double. This put runners on second and third for Tomko with a 3-2 lead.
On a 1-1 count, Tomko surprised even himself.
"I didn’t even know I hit it in play until the crowd cheered and then it was like, ‘I better start running,’" Tomko said. "I thought I’d fouled it off, and I was trying to see where I hit it."
Tomko had broken his bat, sending a flare into shallow right field in front of Geoff Jenkins, plating Alou and Torrealba for his first RBI of the season.
The four run inning brought the Giants to life and provided more than enough momentum for the bullpen to finish the job.
Closer Armando Benitez struck out three of six batters en route to his fourth and most dominant save this season.
"This is just beginning. We have another 150 games, no?" Benitez said. "I don’t have to show you everything I’ve got right now."
Benitez allowed one walk, but did not allow any balls out of the infield.
"That’s the guy we signed," Alou said. "He’s got the face of a closer."
Torrealba tied a career high with three hits in his third start this season, a triple away from the cycle.
Torrealba’s opportunity has been severely limited this year, and he has only 10 at-bats so far. "It’s been tough for a couple of years," he said. "But obviously there isn’t anything I can do about it."
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:34 AM
Notebook: NFL Draft the Talk of Giants Clublhouse
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds released a statement about his knee injury through his Website yesterday, saying he had fluid removed from his right knee on Thursday to reduce swelling.
According to the statement, Bonds will use crutches for the next few days to prevent the fluid from coming back.
"This was merely a precautionary measure," Bonds said through the website. "My spirits are still high about my recovery as a whole and I can't wait to get back to rehabbing next week."
Manager Felipe Alou was less optimistic of Bonds’ recovery time, saying it took himself longer to come back from surgery when he was 36 than when he was 27. Alou said it took six weeks to recover from torn cartilage in his knee at 27 than a maintenance surgery at 36.
"When I see Barry taking batting practice on the field in uniform doing some baseball stuff then the hope is going to be for real," he said. "But I don’t see that."
Bonds said on the website that he would not give reporters daily updates on his conditions and would only release information about the injury through his website.
Draft Day Fever
Instead of the usual morning baseball games from around the country, many Giants players had their attentions and televisions tuned to the NFL Draft.
"I’m going to call my dad right now and have him find out who the Rams are taking," JT Snow announced to some other players, as his son threw a football around with Jason Ellison and Lance Niekro. His father, Jack Snow, played 11 seasons with the Rams.
Scott Eyre didn’t care for the show, and changed the channel to Saturday morning cartoons. "The NFL Draft (really stinks)," he said. "If it takes you 15 minutes to make your pick, you’re a moron."
After hearing whom the 49ers selected in the first and second rounds (Alex Smith, Utah and David Baas, Michigan) Eyre was sarcastically optimistic. "So the Niners got a Ute and a Michigan boy," he said. "They might win three games next year."
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:30 AM
April 22, 2005
Niekro Leads Giants over Arizona in Extra Frames, 4-3
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants may have found a new slugger in Lance Niekro. But he may not be around for much longer.
Niekro may have only joined the Giants to replace injured pitcher Moises Alou on the roster and injured J.T. Snow on first base, but the last-minute addition has proven to be quite valuable.
In the Giants 4-3 exta-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, Niekro pounded a high curve ball for a two run homerun in the sixth. Next, he let loose a deep fly ball to center field which allowed second baseman Ray Durham to advance to second and eventually score the game-tying run.
And for the finishing touch, he smacked a bloop hit off Arizona reliever Mike Gosling to right in the 13th, which landed him on first. Pinch hitter Deivi Cruz’ single then scored Niekro with the winning run.
In an interesting twist however, Niekro may only be wearing black and orange for one more day.
The injured Alou, on the disabled list since April 7 with a strained right calf muscle – gave the room for Niekro to join the roster, but is scheduled to return in Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
"There’s nothing I can do or say," Niekro said before Thursday’s game about his possible demotion. "I got to do what’s best for the team and if that’s going back to Fresno, they’ll decide."
The 26 year-old Niekro’s run with the Giants has shown that he’s ready for the big leagues, even if they aren’t ready for him. In his six starts since he got called up to the majors on April 8 he has filled Barry Bonds’ usual third spot on the batting order. And he not only bats, he does it with gusto.
Niekro admitted before the game exactly what he demonstrated to the 34, 824 fans gathered at SBC park: he loves to swing. Niekro’s swinging – albeit a bit wild at times – saved the game for the Giants.
Throughout the night, Niekro swung at 15 of 28 pitches, which ranged from in the dirt to above the Giants logo on his jersey. But the consistent swinging paid off when he hit his second homerun of the season – his first was last Monday in San Diego.
"I like to swing. I hate taking strikes," he said, prior to the game. "Sometimes I get myself into trouble and I swing at a ball, but I like taking my chances of swinging."
Although they may not have room for him on the roster, the Giants should not be too hasty in sending him packing. With Barry Bonds and Moises Alou – two of their top batters on the disabled list – the Giants continue to struggle offensively. In 13 innings, they had only 6 hits and left 11 men on base.
Giants Manager Felipe Alou said the more Niekro bats, the harder it is to fathom sending him back to the minors.
"He’s batting third he’s hitting homeruns, he’s getting good at bats. That’s all a statement he’s making to make our lives complicated," Alou said. "He came up because of an injury now he’s in the middle of the lineup, I just hope it doesn’t have to take a guy coming back to send him back down."
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:00 AM
Giants Notebook: Rueter Gets Late Night Bullpen Call
SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Felipe Alou sent pitcher Kirk Rueter, tonight’s scheduled starter in the series opener against Milwaukee, to the bullpen to warm up in the bottom of the 13th inning of the Giants 4-3 victory against Arizona.
Alou had used his entire bullpen by the time he sent Deivi Cruz to pinch hit for reliever Tyler Walker with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 13th.
When Cruz’ single won the game, Rueter won a reprieve.
After the game when Alou was asked if Reuter would still start tonight’s game, pitching coach Dave Righetti entered the Manager’s office and blurted "Yeah, we’re OK."
Reuter’s last relieve appearance came in 2000 with the Giants.
Schmidt’s Fourth Start
Giants ace Jason Schmidt started last night's game, his fourth start of the year. He allowed only six hits in seven innings, one which was Diamondbacks first baseman Chad Tracy’s three-run home run.
Schmidt threw 107 pitches and struck out five.
Unexpected Snow
Giants first baseman J.T. Snow surprised Giants fans Thursday night by batting in the bottom of the ninth, despite his pulled groin which has kept him on the bench the past two days.
Before the game that he had said he might return for Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, but felt good after stretching the muscle Monday.
"If I feel the way tomorrow the way I did today, I’m sure it’s a go," he said.
Before Thursday’s game, Snow joined his team for batting practice, then caught some ground balls, ran bases and stretched with head athletic trainer Stan Conte.
"He says he’s feeling good, and I’m a believable guy so I believe him," Giants trainer Stan Conte said.
The Return of Ortiz
Diamondbacks starting pitcher Russ Ortiz – who had a five year career with the Giants – allowed only three hits including Lance Niekro’s two run homer in the sixth.
Posted by Neil Henry at 08:06 AM
April 21, 2005
Lowry Gets First Loss, Giants Fall to Diamondbacks, 2-1
SAN FRANCISCO – The ghost of Hooks Wiltse sleeps easy this morning.
It’s been more than a century since George Leroy Wiltse took the mound for the New York Giants, won his first start and then just kept winning. His 13 straight victories to start a career have stood up against the likes of Juan Marichal, Clydell "Slick" Castleman and now, Noah Lowry.
Lowry was handed his first career loss last night in a 2-1 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco’s third straight defeat. The 24-year-old starter had won his seven previous decisions dating back to Aug. 3 of last season and had moved behind only Wiltse on the franchise’s all-time list.
If you’ve never heard of Wiltse, don’t feel bad. Lowry hadn’t either until people started asking him about a streak that put his name above Marichal’s and Castleman’s in the record books. But just so we’re clear, Wiltse’s streak in 1904 was the start of a career in which he won 139 games, threw 30 complete games in one season and even played a little outfield.
"It’s definitely an honor to be put in the same category with those guys," said Lowry, whose command was missing through a six-inning struggle.
"Tonight definitely was a battle for me all night," he added.
Lowry gave up only two runs on two hits, but he walked five. An RBI double to center by Luis Gonzalez in the third followed by a sacrifice fly from Troy Glaus one batter later was all the Diamondbacks needed.
"He struggled with his command tonight," Giants manager Felipe Alou said. "He’s a tough kid though and he pitched well."
While Lowry was struggling early, Arizona’s Javier Vazquez was in control. The power pitcher tossed seven scoreless innings and retired seven of his first eight batters.
"You have to get him early because if you don’t you know it will be a while before you do," Alou said. "He’s a strong guy. We really had our shots tonight but we hit into a lot of double plays."
Three to be exact. The Giants also couldn’t capitalize on 11 hits, leaving 10 runners on base.
"Even by accident we should have scored two or three or four runs," Alou said.
The Giants have kept this thing together to this point without Barry Bonds and Moises Alou in the lineup with a handful of timely hitting and pinch of drama. This loss is what happens when all of that fades away.
"You don’t want to fall behind too far," said shortstop Omar Vizquel, who may see himself batting leadoff soon if Ray Durham doesn’t turn things around. "Everyone’s saying it’s early, it’s early, but these games, they hurt in the end."
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:50 AM
Matheny Steadies Bullpen After Shaky Season Start
SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants have struggled lately, winning only two out their last six games. The bullpen, on the other hand, has been stellar over the same stretch.
"The bullpen worries of the first week are over now," said Felipe Alou, noting the recent success of his relievers. The Giants’ bullpen has allowed a paltry four runs over its last 21.0 innings worked coming into Wednesday night’s game with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I think everybody over-reacted," said reliever Scott Eyre regarding the bullpen’s perceived slow start. "It’s not like we were falling apart. We had a couple of games where things didn’t go our way."
The leadership of catcher Mike Matheny is a big reason things are working for the bullpen. "He takes it to another level. Right now he’s studying film even though he already knows these guys," said Eyre.
"I work harder now that he’s here, I want to pitch better when he’s catching me," said Eyre.
If the Giants expect to catch the Dodgers, the bullpen is going to have to continue their hot streak and Matheny will need to figure out how to get his starters deeper into games.
Alou Almost Set to Return
Moises Alou is expected to be off the disabled list and available to play by Friday according to Giants’ trainer, Stan Conte.
"Whether he plays Friday or Saturday will be up to Felipe but he should be ready," said Conte. "It’s going to be cold Friday night, so that’s something to consider," said Conte. Alou took batting practice before today’s game and looked good while doing so, putting a number of balls over the left-field wall.
No Snow in Forecast
JT Snow’s groin is still bothering him, leaving the Giants’ first baseman, "day to day," according to Conte. "At this stage we still can’t rule out the disabled list, we’ll see how he does in the next 48 hours."
As for the return of Barry Bonds, manager Felipe Alou, trainer Conte, and Bonds himself all had "no comment," on a projected return date for the Giant’s slugger.
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:44 AM
Bonds Mum on Recovery
SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants left fielder Barry Bonds told reporters tonight that he had no comment regarding a San Francisco Chronicle story earlier Wednesday reporting that his recovery from knee surgery was going much slower than expected, and that he may not play this year. Perhaps following Bonds’ lead, no one else had anything much to say either.
"We have no new reports on Barry Bonds. We have no old reports on Barry Bonds," said head athletic trainer Stan Conte before the Giants’ Wednesday game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Chronicle article cited a March 22 press conference at which Bonds said he might not play this season because of his Jan. 1 and March 17 surgeries on his right knee.
Some observers have interpreted Bonds’ failure to return by May 1, roughly six weeks after his last surgery, as evidence that Bonds may not return at all this year. Giants Manager Felipe Alou said Bonds’ recovery is not falling behind schedule, since there has never been a set date for Bonds to return.
"Anytime for us, the sooner the better," Alou said.
Alou, who said he has had two knee surgeries himself, said back-to-back surgeries combined with Bonds' 40 years of age results in a longer recovery process. Although Alou compared Bonds’ career longevity to that of Willie Mays, he did suggest that the older a player gets, the harder the recovery from injury.
"When you get up to a certain age you never know when you’re going to go," Alou said. "There’s a time when you just cannot do it anymore."
J.T. Snow is No Go
Giants first baseman J.T. Snow is recovering well from the groin injury he suffered during Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
Conte said after taking Tuesday off to rest, Snow’s groin was much better.
"J.T. is improved, which is significant," Conte said. "When we talk about groin injuries, they either get better or they get worse. His is getting better."
Although Snow remains listed on the day-to-day basis, Conte said the disabled list can’t be ruled out just yet.
"At this stage in the season we tend to lean to the conservative," Conte said.
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:09 AM
Alou-less Giants Fail in Clutch, Lose to Arizona, 2-1
SAN FRANCISCO -- It only took five pitches for the Giants’ Moises Alou to launch two balls into the left field bleachers at SBC Park Wednesday afternoon.
Unfortunately for Giants fans, it was just pre-game batting practice. And unfortunately for the Giants, Alou would still be on the DL for the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Once the contest started, the rest of the Giants lineup struggled to get the big hit, stranding eight runners over the final four innings and ultimately losing 2-1.
"We had what, 11 hits?" manager Felipe Alou wondered after the game. "By accident, we should have scored two or three or four runs."
It is the third loss in a row for the Giants (6-8), who continue to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers increase their lead in the NL West.
"We don’t want to fall behind too far," shortstop Omar Vizquel said. "Everyone keeps saying, ‘It’s early, it’s early.’ But these games, they hurt in the end."
Diamondbacks starter Javier Vazquez got his first win of the season, giving up eight hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. Vasquez, who came over from the Yankees in the offseason Randy Johnson trade, had given up at least five runs in his previous three starts and gave the Giants plenty of opportunities in this one.
"We had shots. We had men on," Alou said. "But we didn’t get the big hit."
The Diamondbacks (8-7) did. Luis Gonzalez hit an RBI double in the third, scoring Craig Counsel. The D-Backs shortstop had reached base after a throw error by Lance Niekro pulled shortstop Omar Vizquel off the second base bag while trying to turn a double play. Both Counsel and pitcher Javier Vazquel, who was walked, were safe on the play.
One batter after Gonzalez, Troy Glaus hit a sacrifice fly to score Royce Clayton, who reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on Gonzalez’s double.
The Giants scored their lone run in the ninth off of Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon. Mike Matheny hit a one-out double and advanced to third on pinch-hitter Deivi Cruz’s single. Ray Durham brought Matheny home with a sacrifice fly, but Vizquel then flied out weakly to left to end the game.
Giants starter Noah Lowry struggled early with his command, walking two batters in the first inning and throwing 79 pitches through four innings. He eventually settled down, ultimately giving up just two hits, two runs (one earned), and five walks.
"For me tonight, it was trying to find consistency," said Lowry, who took the first loss of his career. "By the time I figured it out, it was too late."
Posted by Neil Henry at 09:00 AM
April 14, 2005
A's Down Blue Jays, 6-3: Scenes from the Show
A's pitcher Joe Blanton hurls a pitch during last night's 6-3 Oakland victory
over the Toronto Blue Jays at the Coliseum. Photographer Tovin Lapan filed
this image and others direct from the diamond.
Outfielder Nick Swisher, who homered in last night's game, hurries to take the field.
DH Erubiel Durazo takes a mighty cut.
Eric Chavez watches one sail past.
Blue Jay Orlando Hudson swings and misses.
A's manager Ken Macha, left, and bench mates take in the action.
Photos by Tovin Lapan.
Posted by Neil Henry at 08:41 AM
April 11, 2005
UC Berkeley-Cingular Wireless Project
CSJ reporters are using new cell and digital transmission technology provided by Cingular Wireless this semester as part of a joint education project.
Rebecca Turek at work in the Coliseum press box while
covering the A's in Oakland. Cell photo by Nagomi Onda.
The journalists are testing these cell phones at sporting events around the Bay Area to enhance their reporting in a variety of ways.
The reporters use the phones to reach sources and remain in contact with editors by voice, and can also use them to file their text stories, record and transmit sound clips of interviews, and take photos and transfer them directly to editors.
Here you'll find sample photos and audio clips related to the project. CSJ thanks Cingular, Motorola and Sony Ericsson for their support, also that of Paul Grabowicz and Scot Hacker of the School of Journalism.
Motorola representative Reza Sadrimirzael explains the cell phone's capabilities during a class visit, while Cingular's Lauren Garner (upper right) looks on.
Writer Matt Vree examining the cell phone, which is still in development by Motorola.
Instructor and Sacramento Bee reporter Gregg Bell interviewing Raider coach Norv Turner. Via cell.
Writers Rebecca Turek (right) and Oskar F. Garcia covering the Randy Moss press conference. Via cell.
Oakland's three super bowls at Raider headquarters. Via cell.
Chronicle sports columnist Gwen Knapp and instructor Neil Henry. Via cell.
Raider tackle Brad Badger supporting the addition of former Viking teammate Randy Moss. Via cell.
Cal women's basketball coach Caren Horstmeyer (center) after another tough loss. Cell photo by Rebecca Turek.
Audio clips
Randy Moss exults upon this arrival in Oakland as a new Raider.
Warrior guard Jason Richardson explains the art of the dunk.
Posted by Neil Henry at 12:51 PM | Comments (1)
April 10, 2005
Tucker Slam Leads Giants over Rockies, 4-2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Michael Tucker loves fastballs, first-pitch fastballs especially. Put some runners on base and he loves them even more.
His manager knows it, his teammates know it and, because this is a guy who has been around a little, it’s a pretty safe bet most scouts know it, too.
You wonder if Scott Dohmann knows it.
You know Scott Dohmann, right? He’s that lanky kid out of the Louisiana bayou who with two pitches has single-handedly created more good drama at SBC Park this weekend than CBS does in a year.
His latest addition was Tucker’s knew-it-when-he-hit-it grand slam in the bottom of the eighth yesterday that shattered what had been a nice pitching duel and rearranged it into a 4-2 Giants victory over Colorado.
It’s hard to blame Dohmann, a second-year reliever the Rockies, for starting Tucker off with a fastball. He had just walked Edgardo Alfonzo on five pitches to load the bases and Dohmann can hit the mid 90s.
The first pitch to Tucker was no exception, coming in at 94 miles per hour. It came in fast, went out fast and stopped wet, landing in the bay. It was the big hit the Giants had waited for all day after managing only singles and four walks off Colorado starter Jamey Wright.
"We knew that if we kept getting guys on base, something big was going to happen," Tucker said.
The headaches were still pounding at the park from Friday night, when Tucker’s fellow journeyman veteran Marquis Grissom lined a walk-off homer off another Dohmann fastball in the bottom of the ninth of a 10-8 win. With Barry Bonds and Moises Alou down with injuries, it’s guys like Tucker and Grissom who will have to keep things going for the Giants.
"This is a very deep club," manager Felipe Alou insisted.
That depth includes Omar Vizquel, the guy Tucker called "our second lead-off hitter." Vizquel lined a soft single to center with one out in the eighth, moved to third on a Pedro Feliz single two batters later and was dancing up and down the base path as Alfonzo drew that walk.
Moments later, Wright was standing at the top of the dugout stairs as four Giants rounded the bases, looking awfully dejected with his right arm wrapped in a towel and his head hanging low.
Giants starter Jerome Williams gave up one run through seven innings in his first game of the season. Like Wright, he was full of emotion, but for a different reason: his father, Glenn, underwent liver and kidney transplants last month and his health may have contributed to his son’s rough spring. That’s all meaningless now.
"I’m going to go home and call my dad," he said. "This was very emotional."
Posted by Neil Henry at 01:02 PM
April 01, 2005
Crosby "Good to Go" for A's Opener Against O's
SAN FRANCISCO – A’s shortstop Bobby Crosby was answering questions from reporters about his sore left hand before last night’s game when teammate Eric Byrnes, standing a few feet away, started chanting, "Johnny Franchise."
SBC Park shines as the Bay Bridge Series continued
In San Francisco on Friday night. Wireless photo by John Letzing.
Crosby, last season’s Rookie of the Year, rolled his eyes and quickly turned his attention back to reporters. He downplayed the recognition, but there’s no denying Crosby’s importance to the lineup.
The A’s have no other true shortstops and utility infielder Marco Scutaro, who played 16 games at the position last year and one in 2003, started at short in Crosby’s absence last night.
"I’ll be good to go Monday [the season opener in Baltimore]," Crosby said.
Results from an MRI taken Thursday showed no damage to the hand, hurt the day before when Crosby was plunked by a pitch thrown by Milwaukee’s Gary Glover. X-rays taken earlier Thursday were negative.
"I don’t think it will be too much of a problem," said Crosby. "When I first got hit, I was a worried. But knowing I could move my fingers, I was the happiest man in the world."
The tone when it came to right-handed starting pitcher Rich Harden was slightly more tempered. Harden has a blister on his pitching hand and was scratched from his scheduled start last night. Kirk Saarloos, battling for the fifth spot in the rotation, took the mound instead.
"It’s a precautionary thing," Manager Ken Macha said. "We don’t want him to go out there and rip a piece of skin off."
Macha left open the possibility that Harden might miss his first scheduled start of the season Wednesday against the Orioles. If Harden isn’t ready, there are a number of possible alternatives, including Saarloos, Seth Etherton or No. 3 starter Dan Haren.
"The rotation in April is in pencil," Macha said. "I have an eraser, too."
Giants notes: Regulars Omar Vizquel, Moises Alou and Mike Matheny all took scheduled nights off … San Francisco left Arizona with 17 wins, the most since 1992 … The Giants broke a team record for attendance average at Scottsdale Stadium, drawing 10,624 fans a game.
Posted by Neil Henry at 10:09 PM