Dodgers shut out GIANTS 5-0 to open 2008

The March to Number #1

Mike Lovell - Talkin' Giants Baseball

The Giants opened the 2008 season with a shut out loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0.

The weak hitting Giants managed five singles in a lackluster effort. Dodgers hurler Brad Penny dominated the Giants despite not having what appeared to be his best stuff. The Giants highlights were Aaron Rowand's two singles and Brian Bocock's tremendous play deep in the hole at shortstop. The other highlight was Eugenio Velez' appearance in leftfield; Velez also added an infield single. Talkin' Giants recommended the move to left permanently several weeks ago.

Barry Zito was mediocre in his 2008 premiere giving up four runs and eight hits including a two run home run to former Giant Jeff Kent in the first inning. That was all the Bums needed.

Tomorrow night the Giants face the Dodgers with Matt Cain facing Derek Lowe. Stay tuned...

Starters have mixed results vs. A's

GIANTS lose 7-2...ending
Correia shines, Sanchez struggles in spring finale

Jayson Addcox - Special to MLB.com

A's at the plate: The A's bats beat the Giants with the long ball again. Bobby Crosby got the A's on the scoreboard with a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning. Then in the seventh inning, first baseman Mike Sweeney drilled a first-pitch fastball off reliever Jonathan Sanchez into the left-field stands for a three-run homer. Rob Bowen added a two-out, two-run single off Sanchez to cap a six-run seventh inning for the A's.

Giants at the plate: The Giants struck first in the third inning on a single by Rajai Davis that drove in Steve Holm, who singled to lead off the inning. Two batters latter, the Giants scored again on a throwing error by Crosby, allowing pitcher Kevin Correia to score.

A's on the mound: Dana Eveland looked sharp in his final start of the spring, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three in six innings. Reliever Santiago Casilla ran into a little trouble in the bottom of seventh, allowing three hits, but lefty reliever Gio Gonzalez bailed him out, inducing a bases-loaded popup to end the threat.

Giants on the mound: In his final tuneup, Correia, the Giants' No. 4 starter, pitched well, allowing just one run on four hits in four innings. Sanchez, who is slated to be the Giants' fifth starter, struggled in relief, giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Sanchez did not have command of his fastball, allowing four walks and a homer.

Exhibition records: A's 18-8 ; Giants 9-23-2.

Up next for the A's: Right-hander Joe Blanton will take on the Red Sox in the A's U.S. home opener at McAfee Coliseum on Tuesday. Blanton gave up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Red Sox in the season opener in Japan on Tuesday.

Up next for the Giants: Barry Zito takes the mound against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the season opener at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Zito, who went 1-3 with a 10.31 ERA in five preseason games, is 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers.

Holm, Yabu get spots on Giants' roster

Catcher thrilled to make Opening Day squad

Jayson Addcox - Special to MLB.com

Giants manager Bruce Bochy summed it up best Sunday afternoon when he said the last day of Spring Training is the worst and best day of the exhibition season.

Bochy was referring to the roster moves that have to be made in order to reach the final 25-man roster. On Sunday, Bochy was left with the burden of designating veteran left-handed pitcher Steve Kline for assignment.

Kline, a veteran and a well-liked guy in the Giants clubhouse, was a casualty of one the Giants' final roster moves that included catcher Eliezer Alfonzo being optioned to Triple-A Fresno. Bochy said it was a difficult decision to make, but with the emergence of relievers Merkin Valdez, Erick Threets and Keiichi Yabu, Kline became expendable.

"Anytime you have a veteran like Kline, who is a great player and teammate, it's always a difficult decision," Bochy said. "We just felt at this point we could give some of these kids like Threets, Valdez and Yabu an opportunity."

Kline, who had been the Giants' primary left-handed reliever for the last two seasons, struggled last year, posting a 4.70 ERA in 46 innings of work. With Kline gone, Threets and reliever Jack Taschner will look to become the primary lefties out of the bullpen.

Threets, a 26-year-old hard-throwing lefty from nearby Hayward, pitched well enough in Spring Training to impress Bochy.

"We can use Threets really anytime in the game, from early to middle. He can pitch multiple innings or come in and face a left-hander," Bochy said. "He's a big guy and he did a good job using his changeup in Spring Training. He throws 94 mph and if he locates that changeup, he's tough out there."

Catcher Steve Holm and infielder Brian Bocock were two of the surprise players to make the roster. Bocock, who will fill in at shortstop until Omar Vizquel is ready, was a long shot to make the team, but with the injury to Vizquel, he'll be starting Monday on Opening Day.

Bocock was elected the 2008 Harry S. Jordan Award winner by his teammates prior to Sunday's game. The award, which is named in honor of a longtime Minor League trainer for the club, is "given in recognition of the player in his first big league camp whose performance and dedication in Spring Training best exemplifies Giants spirit."

Holm, a 28-year-old veteran of seven Minor League seasons, was informed when he got to the park in the morning that he would be the team's backup catcher. Holm, who has never played above Double-A, said the first thing he did was send his parents a text message.

"This is the best day of my life," Holm said. "I was in Spring Training last year for two weeks, so this year when the first two weeks passed, I started feeling a little better about my chances. I was starting to hide so they couldn't cut me."

Bochy, a former catcher in the Majors, said he was most impressed with the way Holm managed the pitching staff. Bochy said he told Holm at the start of Spring Training that he was at the bottom of the totem pole as far as catchers were concerned, but Bochy said the kid hung in there.

"He did a real good job handling the pitchers and that's what we were looking for," Bochy said. "With pitching being our strength, we wanted to go with the guy who did the best job handling the pitching staff."

In addition, the Giants placed pitchers Vinnie Chulk and Noah Lowry and infielders Vizquel and Kevin Frandsen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21. Lowry, Vizquel and Frandsen all underwent surgeries during Spring Training, while Chulk is not quite ready for the season after battling a strained shoulder this spring.

Ortmeier won't start, Alfonzo won't stick

Harry Schulman - San Francisco Chronicle
Now is the time for managers to have very difficult conversations with some players who toiled for six weeks in spring training.

In the last two days, first baseman Daniel Ortmeier and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo found themselves on the unhappy end of those conversations.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told Ortmeier on Friday that he would not start at first base in Monday's season opener at Los Angeles.

Rich Aurilia will play first base, with newcomer Jose Castillo starting at third.

When spring training began, the first base job was Ortmeier's to lose.

At best, after hitting .240 in the exhibitions, he will share the position with Aurilia. At least Ortmeier will be on the team. Alfonzo is going to Triple-A Fresno. He was demoted after Saturday's 6-2 loss to the A's. Alfonzo hit .091 this spring. The Alfonzo move leaves 28-year-old organizational player Steve Holm as the only catcher besides Bengie Molina still on the team, but Bochy declined to name Holm his backup catcher, suggesting the team might have a deal in mind for a more experienced player.

Castillo, Aurilia to start Opening Day

Recently added infielder gets nod at third base

Jayson Addcox / MLB.com

For infielder Jose Castillo this last month has been more unpredictable than the weather in San Francisco.

He began Spring Training as a member of the Florida Marlins fighting for a starting job. Then he was waived unexpectedly and left without a job. And now, just one week after being claimed off waivers by the Giants, he is the starting third basemen going into Monday's season opener in Los Angeles.

"It feels good because this team gave me an opportunity to play. I'm happy for the team and I'm for myself," Castillo said. "When I got here, I was told that I was going to get a chance to play and that's all I wanted. To be the starter, that's great."

Castillo knows all about the highs and lows of baseball. As a member of the Pirates in 2007, he was relegated to a utility role after starting at second and third base in his first three seasons with the team.

Upset about his role on the Pirates, the 27-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, asked to be traded and was released after the season. Castillo hit .244 with 18 doubles and 24 RBIs in 87 games last season before joining the Marlins in December.

"I don't know what happened. Maybe [the Pirates] didn't feel like I could play and that was that," Castillo said. "It something that I've moved on from, but I wasn't happy with their decision."

Castillo enjoyed a solid campaign in 2006 when he hit .253 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs in 148 games with the Pirates. Castillo, who has primarily been a second basemen in his career in the Majors, said he feels comfortable playing third base.

"I played third base with the Marlins in Spring Training, so I feel good there," Castillo said. "In Venezuela, I played every infield position, so I don't care what position I play. I just want to play every day."

Castillo started at third base Saturday against the A's and went 2-for-3, slapping a sharp liner to left in the second inning and a single to right in the fifth. Defensively, he made one blunder when he ran into shortstop Brian Bocock on a pop fly in short left field. The ball dropped in, allowing a run to score, and he was charged with an error.

With Castillo starting at third base, manager Bruce Bochy announced that Rich Aurilia will start at first base in the season opener. Bochy said he will continue to shuffle the lineup, with Dan Ortmeier getting some playing time at first base and Aurilia at third.

"Although Ortmeier has been swinging it better, he's struggled a little this spring getting on track, so we're going to put Castillo at third and Rich at first," Bochy said. "We feel that for Opening Day that's the best team we can put out there."

Giants doomed by bad inning vs. A's

Two errors, wild pitch contribute to three-run sixth frame

GIANTS awful in 6-2 Loss

Mychael Urban - MLB.com

Giants at the plate: In the middle game of the annual preseason Bay Bridge series, second baseman Eugenio Velez opened the scoring when he reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning and scored on a double to right field by Randy Winn. Velez added a single and his 16th stolen base of the spring in the third inning.

A's at the plate: Outfielder Emil Brown, who hit his first regular-season homer Wednesday in Japan, hit his first Spring Training homer in the fourth inning to give Oakland a 2-1 lead. The A's added three unearned runs in the sixth, taking advantage of two Giants errors, a wild pitch and an RBI single by third baseman Jack Hannahan. Reserve infielder Donnie Murphy chipped in with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Giants on the mound: Right-handed starter Matt Palmer, who'll start the season at Triple-A Fresno, was solid through his five innings of work, allowing two runs on two hits while walking two and striking out two. Palmer made three starts this spring and appeared in a total of five games, posting a 2.57 ERA (14 innings, four earned runs). Relief prospect Merkin Valdez gave up a run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.

A's on the mound: Righty starter Justin Duchscherer, in his final tuneup of the spring, bounced back from a shaky first inning and held the Giants to two hits over his next five frames of work, retiring the final 10 batters he faced. Duchscherer, who will make his 2008 debut Friday at home against the Indians, struck out two and walked one. Righty Keith Foulke, who pitched a shutout inning in each of Oakland's regular-season games against the Red Sox in Tokyo earlier this week, issued a leadoff walk in the eighth before quickly retiring the next three batters.

Spring Training records: Giants 9-22-2; A's 17-8

Up next for the Giants: Righty Kevin Correia will start the series finale for San Francisco, set for 12:35 p.m. PT at AT&T Park. Correia, the Giants' No. 4 starter, is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA (16 2/3 innings, 12 earned runs) in five Cactus League appearances, including three starts.

Up next for the A's: Rookie lefty Dana Eveland, acquired in the December deal that sent Dan Haren to Arizona and recently named Oakland's No. 5 starter, will get the start Sunday in San Francisco. In addition to posting a 1.20 ERA (15 innings, two earned runs) over five Cactus League starts this spring, Eveland pitched well in an exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers of the Nippon Baseball League last weekend in Tokyo.

Comment: This is going to be a long season my fellow Giants fans. I hope I am wrong, but this team, unless there is some player movement real soon, I am afraid this team could rival the 1962 Mets. Watching this game on television, was almost embarrassing. This team is devoid of credible offense, the defense is atrocious, and there is a big question concerning the quality of the bullpen. If the Giants had signed Aaron Rowand prior to the Alex Rios, Tim Lincecum trade rumors, I think I would now support that trade to get the added offense. This team should play its prospects and have them gain experience. The Giants should play Velez, Ortmeier, and Lewis and be done with it. They should also trade or release Kline and Yabu keep both Threets and Merkin Valdez.

Lincecum Dominates!

GIANTS defeat A's 3-1

Right-hander shows he's ready with five hitless innings

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Most Giants zealots share the belief that Tim Lincecum will pitch a no-hitter someday. Friday, he provided a sample of how that wondrous event might look.

Lincecum didn't just tune up for the regular season. He performed a full detailing job, rotated the tires and changed the windshield wipers -- which were necessary in Friday night's steady rain. The right-hander no-hit the Oakland A's during his five innings, helping the Giants record their ninth exhibition victory with a 3-0 decision at AT&T Park.

Lincecum allowed only one baserunner, walking Donnie Murphy on a 3-2 pitch to open the third inning. The only Oakland batter to flirt with a hit was Mark Ellis, whose sharp fourth-inning grounder to the left side was smothered by third baseman Rich Aurilia. Ellis was easily thrown out at first base.

Lincecum, whose next scheduled outing will be April 2 at Dodger Stadium in the regular season's third game, struck out the side in the third and fifth innings on his way to totaling nine strikeouts. He also ended the second and fourth innings with strikeouts, enhancing his dominance.

The 23-year-old right-hander relied on fastballs and changeups, explaining that he couldn't get the feel of his breaking pitches while warming up. Most importantly for Lincecum, he vanquished all doubts about his readiness for the season. A mild groin pull midway through Spring Training forced him to make one start under controlled conditions in a Minor League game.

"He came in a little behind, but now he's ready to go," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Lincecum, who threw 42 strikes in 67 pitches.

Lincecum said that he didn't even think about his no-hitter -- "I got done what I wanted to do," he said -- although Bochy joked about it.

"I told Rags [pitching coach Dave Righetti], 'Now you're going to get me hooted on for taking him out,'" Bochy said.

Lincecum's biggest concern was the wet mound, since he knew that one slip on his long stride toward home plate could reinjure his groin.

"I was making sure that my landing wasn't as pronounced as it usually is. I was softer on my feet," Lincecum said. The Seattle-area native added, "I've dealt with these kinds of conditions before."

Giants expect mix-and-match lineups

Bochy's choices can emphasize either offense or defense

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Although the composition of the Giants' Opening Day lineup remains an intriguing unknown, it quite possibly won't be the contingent manager Bruce Bochy calls upon the most in 2008.

Bochy used 124 different lineups in 2007, and he indicated before Thursday's 7-2 exhibition loss to the Seattle Mariners at AT&T Park that this kind of variety could emerge again as he searches for suitable combinations among the Giants' mix of veterans and relatively untested youngsters.

Bochy might have to experiment actively early in the season, depending on the physical condition of various Giants. Left fielder Dave Roberts, a possible regular, missed his third consecutive game Thursday with a sore left knee. Second baseman Ray Durham played his second exhibition in a row, but his injury history suggests that his tight left hamstring could nag him at any time. Even after shortstop Omar Vizquel returns from left knee surgery, which could be as soon as mid-April, Bochy probably will have to rest him periodically to keep him fit.
While Bochy would prefer to employ a set lineup -- what manager wouldn't? -- the Giants' tenuous health and instability at the infield corners might force him to mix and match constantly.
Citing factors that could influence his selections, Bochy said, "It may be a matchup. We may give up defense to try to get some runs. [Or] we may go with our defense."

Bochy prefers the term "matchup" to "platoon." Yet it's a near-lock that Roberts, who batted .156 against left-handers last season and owns a .238 career average against them, will sit against left-handed starters while Rajai Davis plays.

Other choices might not be so obvious, aside from when a particular hitter-versus-pitcher confrontation favors the Giants. Bochy can employ a lineup featuring as many as four switch-hitters -- Vizquel, Durham, Randy Winn and Dan Ortmeier -- which minimizes the need for platooning.

Yet Ortmeier, despite last year's statistics (.310 against right-handers, .257 against lefties), is more comfortable from the right side, which is his natural stroke.

"Left-handed has been somewhat of a mystery. Right-handed, he's a threat," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. Since Rich Aurilia, the other prospective starting first baseman, also bats right-handed, Bochy still might elect to use Ortmeier against certain right-handers.

A lineup that emphasizes offense likely would include both Durham and the dynamic Eugenio Velez, who's hitting .303 with a Major League-high 14 stolen bases and 13 RBIs, tied with Aurilia for the team lead. Since Velez appears to be most comfortable at second base, he'd have to play third or perhaps the outfield, where he has spent one inning all spring after playing 66 games there in the Minors last year, if Durham were starting.

Thursday, Durham drove in a run with a seventh-inning single, one of only five hits the Giants collected.

Based on current trends, an offense-oriented group also could feature outfielder Fred Lewis, who's batting .279, tallied a Cactus League-high four triples and ranks third on the Giants with 12 RBIs. Lewis went 0-for-3 Thursday but drew two walks, hiking his team-leading total to 11. Roberts, the 35-year-old leadoff man who hit .296 in last season's final three months and is hitting .283 this spring, has performed respectably. But it's clear that Lewis is poised to receive more than just sporadic activity.

"I know what I'm capable of doing," said the quiet yet determined Lewis, 27.
"Freddy's an exciting player," Bochy acknowledged. "There's no reason he couldn't be one of the better outfielders in the National League."

But Lewis, who occasionally takes uncertain routes toward fly balls, might be left out if Bochy wanted to emphasize defense. That, said Bochy, "is an area he can improve on and needs to improve on." The Roberts-Aaron Rowand-Winn trio, featuring three players capable of playing center field, is the outfield Bochy probably would favor if he wanted to suppress opposing offenses.

Jose Castillo, acquired last Saturday on waivers from the Florida Marlins, might find himself in Bochy's favorite defensive infield, most likely at third base.

"You can tell he's a good defender. He's going to help us out there," Bochy said of Castillo, Pittsburgh's regular second baseman from 2004-06.

Just Another Loss...Mariners 7, Giants 2

Cain fans six in loss to Mariners
Molina contributes hit, sac fly; Threets, Valdez toss zeros

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Mariners at the plate: Yuniesky Betancourt drove in five runs, doubling to score two in the second (he came home on a throwing error) and adding a three-run homer in the fourth. Betancourt also caught the Giants napping and raced home in the sixth inning during a brief lull in play.

Giants at the plate: Bengie Molina singled leading off the fourth inning for the Giants' first hit. Molina also drove in the Giants' first run with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly following three walks.

Mariners on the mound: R.A. Dickey limited San Francisco to one hit in five innings. The right-hander lowered his spring ERA from 3.00 to 2.25.

Giants on the mound: Matt Cain had good stuff, striking out six in four innings, but two fielding errors and Betancourt conspired against him. Relievers Erick Threets and Merkin Valdez, both out of Minor League options and striving to make the Opening Day roster, each pitched a scoreless inning.

Exhibition records: Mariners 12-15-3; Giants 8-21-2.

Mariners up next: Seattle travels to Las Vegas for a pair of weekend exhibitions against the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field. Friday, right-hander Carlos Silva will start for the Mariners against Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly.

Giants up next: The Giants play the first of three Bay Bridge Series exhibitions on Friday against the Oakland A's. Tim Lincecum will start for the Giants at AT&T Park against left-hander Greg Smith.

Giants lose to the Grizzlies 4-3

Mixed results for Zito in final tune-up
Lefty allows eight hits, four runs in 6 2/3 innings vs. Fresno

MLB.com

Giants at the plate: Bengie Molina put the Giants on the board with an RBI single in the top half of the first. Later, Fred Lewis had a two-run double in the sixth to put the Giants ahead, but the Grizzlies rallied to win in front of 14,084 at Chukchansi Park.

Grizzlies at the plate: Shortstop Ivan Ochoa's double in the seventh inning proved to be the game-winner. Ochoa (2-for-4) and Nate Schierholtz (2-for-4) contributed to the Grizzlies' eight-hit attack.

Giants on the mound: In his final tune-up for his Opening Day start, lefty Barry Zito gave up a pair of runs in the first but settled in to pitch 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits. He took the loss.

Grizzlies on the mound: Starter Patrick Misch didn't allow an earned run over five innings of work, but it was Billy Sadler who got the victory with a scoreless seventh, walking only one.

Up next: The Giants head home for a meeting with the Seattle Mariners at 7:15 p.m. PT on Thursday at AT&T Park, with Matt Cain (2-2, 4.64) on the mound against right-hander R.A. Dickey. After that, the Giants host the opener of the three-game weekend Bay Bridge Series, starting Friday at 7:15 p.m. at AT&T Park.

Comment: The sad state of the Giants continue. Now they lose to their AAA team in Fresno. This looks to be a painful ride to honor fifty years in San Francisco. Oh, the pain!

Giants veterans facing pressure to keep jobs

G.M.: Contracts don't matter; 'Best players are going to play'

Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews

The Giants' opening-day lineup might not reflect the team's pledge to go younger. But any veteran who starts Monday at Dodger Stadium will be under constant pressure to keep his job, General Manager Brian Sabean said.

As the Giants boxed belongings and looked north Tuesday, Sabean indicated that the spring competition would last into the summer as the club transitions from the Barry Bonds era.

In other words, second baseman Ray Durham must produce or he will lose time to Eugenio Velez. And Dave Roberts must get on base or Fred Lewis will end up as Bonds' primary replacement in left field.

"We've said from Day One that the veterans are going to be responsible for holding down their jobs if they can," Sabean said. "These other kids are ready. Who knows? It might be as soon as opening day. We haven't made any hard and fast decisions. The best players are going to play."

Even if the Giants have to eat some of Durham's $7.5 million salary, or the two years and $13 million remaining on Roberts' contract?

"If that's in the best interests of the organization, absolutely," Sabean said.

The Giants broke camp after one of their worst Cactus League performances in history. Following a mistake-filled 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, they had an 8-20-2 exhibition record and scrambled to cover themselves as injuries befell key players.

Shortstop Omar Vizquel had knee surgery in February and is expected to miss at least the first week of the season. Left-hander Noah Lowry is out another month because of forearm surgery. Infielder Kevin Frandsen is out for the season because of a ruptured Achilles' tendon. And Durham has been scratched more times than a DJ's turntable.

Durham was supposed to be in the lineup again Tuesday but came down with flu symptoms. It was the sixth consecutive time the Giants scratched him, and Sabean strongly suggested the 36-year-old get back on the field.

"Now it's whether he can hold up enough to be the opening-day guy," said Sabean, adding he expected Durham to play in tonight's exhibition at Fresno.

Sabean reiterated that Velez will be on the roster, though the hard-handed infielder hasn't progressed enough at third base to be an option there. Although Velez's game-changing speed has been the talk of Giants camp, his only avenue for playing time is second base.

The G.M. also said first baseman Daniel Ortmeier will make the team, though Manager Bruce Bochy would decide whether Rich Aurilia opens the season at third base or first. The likeliest scenario has Ortmeier playing against left-handed pitchers and selected right-handers, with Jose Castillo at third on the days Aurilia plays first.

Sabean said the backup catcher will be Eliezer Alfonzo or Steve Holm, "unless we stumble onto something." And Class A shortstop Brian Bocock remains the choice to start until Vizquel returns.

"Without anointing him right now, I can't see us changing our mind or going to the outside," Sabean said.

But Sabean said it's difficult to make any broad conclusions based on the limited snapshots he has seen this spring.

"I don't think we can evaluate our lineup at all," he said. "By and large, no matter how we mixed and matched things, we didn't have a chance to get things under control that way. We're looking forward to the games remaining to tighten this thing up."

The Giants have decisions to make in the bullpen, where eight players are competing for seven slots. Sabean said one of his two pitchers without minor league options - right-hander Merkin Valdez or left-hander Erick Threets - will make the team. The other is competing for a spot.

The Giants will carry Brian Wilson, Tyler Walker, Brad Hennessey, Jack Taschner and Steve Kline. They also want to find a place for non-roster pitcher Keiichi Yabu, who would be valuable in long relief.

Although Yabu is on a Triple-A contract, Sabean was unsure whether the right-hander would report to Fresno. Yabu also was non-committal, saying: "It's a difficult question. I have one more game to pitch, then I'll think about it."

The club will have to make another cut a few days into the season, when Vinnie Chulk is expected to come off the disabled list.

Sabean doesn't expect to trade any veterans before the season. He also doesn't expect to make any other waiver pickups or trades, though he continues to discuss possibilities.

"You've got to be sure of what you're getting," he said. "There's not much more time to experiment."

Except, of course, for the 162-game test tube that awaits.

"This could be one of those teams," Sabean said. "How you start lineup-wise isn't what's going to happen week to week or month to month."

GIANTS lose to Cubbies 7-5

Bullpen surrenders game late

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Cubs at the plate: Matt Murton's eighth-inning sacrifice fly broke a 4-4 tie after Derrek Lee's two-run, fifth-inning homer snapped a 2-2 deadlock. Geovany Soto drove in two runs with a third-inning homer and a fourth-inning single.

Giants at the plate: With the Cubs leading 4-2, Rich Aurilia's seventh-inning double pulled the Giants even, but Fred Lewis was thrown out at the plate. Randy Winn singled in the first inning and homered in the third to drive in a pair of runs.

Cubs on the mound: Rich Hill, the No. 4 starter in Chicago's rotation, allowed two runs and five hits and concluded his five-inning outing by striking out the side.

Giants on the mound: No. 5 starter Jonathan Sanchez struck out seven in five innings, but also allowed four runs and eight hits. Relievers Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson, expected to be San Francisco's top late-inning combo, combined to allow three runs in the eighth and ninth.

Cactus League records: Cubs 13-14-1; Giants 8-20-2.

Cubs up next: Carlos Zambrano will make his final spring start on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. CT when he faces the Angels in Tempe. Zambrano, the Opening Day starter, has walked three and given up eight hits in 15 innings so far while striking out 14. After this, Big Z's next game will be Monday at Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Giants up next: The Giants travel to Fresno, where an overflow crowd is expected to watch them confront their Triple-A club on Wednesday night at 6:05 p.m. PT. Opening Day starter Barry Zito will make his final exhibition tuneup against fellow left-hander Patrick Misch.

GIANTS dropped by D-Backs 6-5

Lewis and Molina Power Up
...Frandsen probably lost for Season

Mike Lovell - talkin' Giants baseball

The Giants were beaten today by the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5.

In what promises to be the outcome of the early season, the Giants had too few hits, running errors and defensive problems which continue the devastating formula for losing that has all too familiar this spring with the 2008 Giants.

There were some highlights. Fred Lewis and Benjie Molina both homered in the loss and after initial difficulties Nick Pereira pitched relatively well. Pereira is destined to pitch for the Fresno Grizzlies. Giants' new pick-up Jose Castillo went 1-4 while playing thirdbase. The Giants Cactus League record is now 8-19-2. This is not the kind of record to create a lot of excitement.

In a minor league game, Kevin Frandsen ruptured an achilles tendon and is feared lost for the season. The Giants just got a lot thinner in already anemic offense.

Stranger things have happened, but looks bleak my fellow Giants fans. The season is merely a week away and this team looks a long way from being near contending status.

Prove me wrong Giants!

Lincecum holds down Rangers

GIANTS Lose 5-2

Starter gives up just two-run homer, striking out seven

T.R. Sullivan - MLB.com

Rangers at the plate: Ben Broussard, 13 hits in his last 30 at-bats coming into the game, hit a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his second home run of the spring. Michael Young had three hits and a walk. Ian Kinsler broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring triple in the seventh and scored on a single by Young.

Giants at the plate: Backup outfielder Rajai Davis had a double and a single while batting at the bottom of the order. Bengie Molina and Rich Aurilia also had a pair of singles. Every Giants starter reached base at least once by hit or walk.

Rangers on the mound: Luis Mendoza pitched five scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and a walk but the Giants were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position off him. Right fielder Marlon Byrd threw out Aaron Rowand trying to score from second on Rich Aurilia's single in the second inning. Mendoza has allowed one run in his last 10 innings.

Giants on the mound: Starter Tim Lincecum, after allowing seven runs in his previous 4 1/3 innings over two outings, held the Rangers to two runs over six innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out seven, dropping his ERA from 9.00 to 6.23.

Cactus League records: Giants 8-18-2; Rangers 14-9-2

Giants up next: Second baseman Ray Durham, recovering from a tight left hamstring, hopes to be fit enough to play at 1:05 p.m. PT Monday as the Giants face Arizona at Tucson in their next-to-last Cactus League game. Durham, batting .436, has missed four games in a row. Left fielder Dave Roberts and Molina are among the other regulars expected to make the trip.

Rangers up next: Left-hander Kason Gabbard makes his last start in Arizona against the Chicago Cubs at 3:05 p.m. CT Monday in Mesa. Relievers C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit are also expected to pitch for the Rangers, with Ryan Dempster going for the Cubs.

Giants claim infielder Castillo on waivers

Sports Network

The San Francisco Giants claimed infielder Jose Castillo on waivers from the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

Castillo, 27, has played in 465 games in four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound infielder signed as a free agent with Florida in the offseason and hit .275 with five runs, four doubles, a home run and six runs batted in in 16 Grapefruit League games this spring.

Castillo has played 388 games at second base, while logging 34 at third base, 10 at shortstop and one in the outfield.

Last season, Castillo hit .244 with 18 doubles, a triple and 24 RBI in 87 games.

Comment: Jose Castillo has played primarly with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2005-2007. Castillo signed a free agent contract with Florida in December 2007 to now being released this spring without playing a league game with the Marlins. Castillo played primarily second base for the Pirates; although, he did play shortstop, thirdbase and in the outfield at times for Pittsburgh. Castillo has moderate power hitting eleven and fourteen home runs in 2006 and last season respectively, and has hit .256 thus far in his career. It is a bit disconcerting, if this is the best Brian Sabean can do to upgrade this inept offense.

It was reported by Andy Baggarly from the MercuryNews that the Giants are talking with the Angels in a deal in which Casey Kotchman is being offered for Benjie Molina. Perhaps, Sabien has something else in the works? The Joe Crede trade is dead according to many sources. There is apparently fear that he has not recovered fully from the back surgery.

It would be hard to imagine this team being the one that ends the season.

Today, the Giants played a rather crisp and refreshing winning baseball game. Matt Cain was dominating in his scoreless stint.

The Giants have to find a place for Eugenio Velez. He is a player! Today only demonstrated the force he provides when in the line-up. Talkin' Giants Baseball suggests the Giants move Velez to leftfield. He has a strong arm and at AT&T Park the seven position would be the easiest outfield position for him to learn. Velez could then develop into a star. He has the same swagger as Will Clark when he first came to the Giants. Knowing you belong!

Cain dominates as Giants win

GIANTS Blast Brewers 8-1
-Two Game winning streak

Righty goes six strong frames; sub Velez drives in four runs

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Brewers at the plate: After moving only two runners into scoring position in six innings against Giants starter Matt Cain, the Brewers scored an eighth-inning run with the help of a Giants throwing error. Tony Gwynn singled twice.

Giants at the plate: Eugenio Velez, playing for an injured Ray Durham, stroked a bases-loaded triple to cap a four-run fourth inning and added a run-scoring ground-rule double in the eighth. Aaron Rowand, who had two hits and looked sharper at the plate than he has all spring, doubled to open the fourth.

Brewers on the mound: Claudio Vargas cruised until the fourth, but couldn't finish the inning, leaving with two outs. Derrick Turnbow and Eric Gagne each contributed scoreless innings.

Giants on the mound: Cain went six innings for the second start in a row, extending his streak of shutout innings to 11. Steve Kline, who had been scored upon in five of his previous seven outings, blanked Milwaukee in the seventh.

Cactus League records: Brewers 15-9-1; Giants 8-17-2.

Brewers up next: Jeff Suppan will make his final Arizona start and his next-to-last Spring Training start when the Brewers host the Diamondbacks Sunday in the first of three consecutive "home" games at Maryvale Baseball Park. Former Brewer Doug Davis, who filled the No. 2 starter role before he was traded and Suppan was signed, will start for Arizona. Relievers Seth McClung, David Riske and Brian Shouse are also on the list to pitch.

Giants up next: Slowed somewhat by a mild groin injury, which he insists no longer bothers him, Tim Lincecum will make only his fourth Cactus League start Sunday against Texas in Surprise. Right-hander Luis Mendoza will oppose Lincecum, whose most recent appearance was a five-inning stint in a Minor League exhibition last Monday.

Zito strong early as Giants rally late

Ace goes 5 2/3 scoreless frames; Alfonzo wins it in ninth

GIANTS BEAT CHISOX 4-3

Chris Haft - MLB.com

White Sox at the plate: Chicago rallied for three ninth-inning runs. Paul Phillips singled, Jason Bourgeois tripled, Juan Uribe doubled and Alexei Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly.

Giants at the plate: Fred Lewis lashed two hits, including a triple that ignited San Francisco's two-run first inning. Eugenio Velez's single and Aaron Rowand's wicked groundout generated the runs. Stephen Holm hit an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth, and pinch-runner Brian Bocock scored the game-winning run on Eliezer Alfonzo's pinch-hit single.

White Sox on the mound: Gavin Floyd allowed both Giants runs, but walked none in six innings. Scott Linebrink and Ehren Wassermann each contributed a scoreless inning.

Giants on the mound: Barry Zito, who entered the game with a 14.92 ERA, allowed two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Keiichi Yabu and Tyler Walker provided scoreless relief before Brian Wilson struggled in the ninth, allowing Chicago's runs.

Cactus League records: White Sox 9-14-2; Giants 7-17-2

Up next for the White Sox: The South Siders conclude their Phoenix-area tour by facing the crosstown rival Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. CT. Javier Vazquez, who has walked two and struck out 16 over 12 innings in three starts, will oppose Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly.

Up next for the Giants: In their next-to-last Arizona home exhibition game, the Giants will face the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. PT. Matt Cain, who worked six innings in his previous start, will oppose Milwaukee's Claudio Vargas.

Giants demote Schierholtz on busy day

ROHLINGER COULD PLAY HIS WAY ONTO OPENING DAY ROSTER

Andrew Baggarly -MercuryNews

These decisions became clear in Giants camp Wednesday:

Nate Schierholtz is out. Eugenio Velez is in. And Ryan Rohlinger might have a spot on the opening day roster, if not in the starting lineup.

Yes, Rohlinger. The Giants emptied lockers Wednesday, cutting Schierholtz and six others. But with one week until camp breaks, their competition at third base is more wide open than ever. Now that Rich Aurilia and Kevin Frandsen are sidelined for a few days, the club took the extraordinary step of transferring Rohlinger - a scrappy infielder who hasn't played above low-A ball - to major league camp.

Even though Rohlinger's big league invitation arrived five weeks late, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said the 24-year-old would get a legitimate shot to break with the team.
"He's opened eyes and we're staying open-minded," Bochy said of Rohlinger, who is 4-for-10 with a grand slam and seven RBIs in limited Cactus League action. "Any time we brought him over, the kid's done something."

General Manager Brian Sabean declined to categorize Rohlinger's chances of being the opening day third baseman, describing the decision to give him a major league dressing space as "due diligence."

Rohlinger hit .235 with a club-high 18 home runs for Augusta in the low-A South Atlantic League last season. A third baseman in 1 1/2 minor league seasons, he saw time at second and third at the University of Oklahoma.

Along with Brian Bocock, who will sub for rehabbing shortstop Omar Vizquel in early April, the Giants could feature a left side that doesn't have a single game of experience above Single-A.
More likely, the Giants will trade for a third baseman such as Brandon Inge, Joe Crede or Wes Helms - Sabean said he has engaged in conversations about third basemen over the past two days - or go with some combination of Frandsen and Velez.

Sabean confirmed that Velez's game-changing speed has earned him an undefined role with the club when the season begins.

The original plan was to play Aurilia at third, but Sabean acknowledged that it's likely the veteran will open the season at first base after Daniel Ortmeier has appeared overwhelmed at the plate this spring.

Ortmeier and Rohlinger were both in the lineup Wednesday night - a 4-2 loss to the Cubs - as Aurilia is nursing right elbow tendinitis and Frandsen has a sore left Achilles' tendon. The two players are expected to be sidelined another two or three games.

Bochy lamented the timing of the injuries, one week before the club breaks camp. The manager said that prior to the March 26 exhibition at Fresno, the staff would "huddle up and decide which way we'll go everywhere on the infield, including the batting order."

• The Giants haven't completely shut off Ortmeier's opportunity at first base. The struggling switch-hitter and converted outfielder has been overwhelmed with learning the nuances of a new position while also making adjustments from both sides of the plate.

At the club's request, Ortmeier sacrificed the club's lone free day on the spring schedule Tuesday to get five at-bats in a minor league intrasquad game. He hit a home run and singled.
"At first I was a little stunned when they asked, but I feel I'm getting closer every day," Ortmeier said. "Why not get one day closer?"

• A month ago, Sabean said he didn't know how he could option Schierholtz to Triple-A Fresno, saying the outfielder "had nothing left to prove in the minor leagues."

That's where Schierholtz is heading, though. Bochy gave him the news on the bus ride from Tucson on Monday, and the Danville native admitted to the manager that he pressed while hitting .229 this spring.

The odds were against Schierholtz from the start because he has a minor league option; Fred Lewis, Rajai Davis and Ortmeier do not.

"He's the victim of the rule, really," Sabean said. "It's a matter of keeping our inventory."
Because optioned players cannot be recalled for 10 days, the Giants made the move with Schierholtz now in case another injury would necessitate his return before the March 31 opener.

• The Giants sent out four other infielders, optioning Travis Denker and Travis Ishikawa to Fresno and reassigning Ivan Ochoa and Emmanuel Burriss to minor league camp. They also optioned right-hander Billy Sadler to Fresno and reassigned right-hander Victor Santos.

Sanchez fans five in loss to Angels

Bocock delivers RBI single; Velez continues spring thefts
Giants Blasted by Angels 8-1...Spring Record falls to 6-17-1

Lyle Spencer - MLB.com

Giants at the plate: Brian Bocock had an RBI single. Eugenio Velez worked a pair of walks and stolen his 11th base of the spring in 14 attempts.

Angels at the plate: Erick Aybar continued his bid for the shortstop job with his third homer of the spring, a two-run blast. Gary Matthews Jr. extended his streak of consecutive hits to seven with a pair of singles, scoring on Vladimir Guerrero's double in the first with an artful hand-swipe slide. Chone Figgins (RBI double, single), Mike Napoli (RBI double, single) and Howie Kendrick (two singles) also had multi-hit games.

Giants on the mound: Southpaw Jonathan Sanchez yielded four runs (two earned) on 10 hits across five innings, striking out five hitters, three looking. Tyler Walker gave up a two-run homer in his one inning of relief.

Angels on the mound: Shaving his Cactus League ERA to 2.89, Nick Adenhart delivered six shutout innings, scattering three singles and two walks while striking out six. He has 13 strikeouts against three walks in 18 2/3 innings. Steve Marek yielded an unearned run in the seventh.

Cactus League records: Giants 6-17-2; Angels 14-7

Up next for Angels: Jered Weaver (4-0, 1.29 ERA) gets his first look at hitters under the lights on Friday when he faces the Rangers at 6:05 p.m. PT in Surprise, Ariz. The game will be televised by KCOP (Ch. 13) in Southern California. Right-hander Sidney Ponson gets the start for the Rangers as Weaver, who has allowed only five hits in 14 spring innings, tries to stretch it out in his bid for the Opening Day assignment against the Twins.

Up next for Giants: Barry Zito, who owns a 14.92 spring ERA and has allowed seven runs or more in three of his four starts, will attempt to creep closer to his usual form Friday when the Giants entertain the Chicago White Sox in Scottsdale, Ariz. Right-hander Gavin Floyd is scheduled to oppose Zito.

GIANTS Lose 4-2

Correia nipped for four runs by Cubs
Ortmeier collects two hits, drives in run; relievers hurl zeros

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Cubs at the plate: Ronny Cedeno belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Geovany Soto contributed a second-inning RBI double.

Giants at the plate: Dave Roberts, Ray Durham, Rajai Davis and Dan Ortmeier each collected two hits. One of Ortmeier's hits was a fourth-inning RBI single.

Cubs on the mound: Jon Lieber strengthened his case for a spot in the starting rotation, allowing one run while scattering seven hits. Ex-Giant Scott Eyre struck out two batters in a scoreless sixth inning.

Giants on the mound: Kevin Correia retired nine consecutive batters from the second through fourth innings but still allowed four runs and seven hits. Erick Threets, Brad Hennessey and Jack Taschner provided shutout relief.

Cactus League records: Cubs 9-12; Giants 6-16-2.

Cubs up next: The Cubs play host to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at HoHoKam Park. Rich Hill is slated to start for Chicago, making his third start and fifth spring appearance. The lefty has struggled in recent outings and so far has given up eight earned runs on 14 hits and eight walks over 11 1/3 innings.

Giants up next: Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who has virtually clinched the No. 5 starter's spot, will seek further consistency when he faces the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Catcher Bengie Molina will miss the game to attend to personal issues.

Team wants to deal, but needs its pitchers

John Shea - San Francisco Chronicle

The Giants remain in the trade market, still trying to upgrade their offense, but their thinking has changed given what's happening in the trainer's room.

With reliever Vinnie Chulk shelved with shoulder tendinitis and starter Noah Lowry rehabbing from surgery and unavailable until at least late April, the Giants are shying away from trade talk if it means giving up pitchers.

"We're going to try," general manager Brian Sabean said when asked if he expects trade activity before Opening Day, "but I don't see us trading pitching in any regard to try to solve what we want to do offensively."

The Giants continue to monitor third basemen Joe Crede of the White Sox and Brandon Inge of the Tigers, but both teams expressed an interest in pitching. If the Giants don't add a corner infielder, it's possible Rich Aurilia, who's healthy and producing, could start at first base and Kevin Frandsen at third base.

Daniel Ortmeier has been given a prolonged shot at first, but his average (.178) suggests he might not be ready for everyday work in the big leagues.

"We're going to let it play out," Sabean said. "We didn't guarantee he's going to be on the team or guarantee he's going to be the everyday first baseman as much as he was given a chance to get a lion's share of the playing time. The good thing is, Richie can play first."

Lowry's absence gives Jonathan Sanchez the likely nod as the No. 5 starter. The Giants plan to keep 12 pitchers, including seven relievers. With Chulk's availability in question, bullpen competitions become more pronounced and involve right-handers Merkin Valdez (looking solid after Tommy John surgery), former Met and Devil Ray Bartolome Fortunato (1.59 ERA in six outings), and lefty Erick Threets of Livermore.

Plus, ex-A's reliever Keiichi Yabu, 39, has been impressive.

Lincecum on target: Tim Lincecum is in line to pitch the series finale at Dodger Stadium on April 2, with Barry Zito and Matt Cain working the first two games of the season-opening series.
On Monday, Lincecum threw 85 pitches in five innings against an A's A-ball team at the Giants' minor-league facility. He surrendered two runs and five hits, walked a batter, hit another and collected eight strikeouts.

Reminded that his first regular-season start will have a different setting than Monday's, in which about 20 fans watched, Lincecum smiled and replied, "About 50,000 different."

While the Giants were losing 4-2 to the Rockies in Tucson, Lincecum - who said his goals are 200 innings and 15 wins - was able to pitch in a more controlled environment and extend his pitch count. He said his groin problem, which prompted him to miss a start, is "not an issue right now."
"Guys come over here and relax," pitching coach Dave Righetti said. "His last game, he looked like a closer coming out of the bullpen and tried to throw like one. Sometimes they don't even know it. This is a different atmosphere. They get so much out of it."

Currently, Kevin Correia is the No. 4 starter, followed by Sanchez. They could be flip-flopped so Sanchez and Zito (both lefties) don't pitch back to back. That would put Cain on target to start the home opener against the Padres on April 7.

Briefly: Ex-Giants right-hander Jerome Williams was at the team's minor-league camp, looking for work. He's hoping to get a tryout with any team and hopes the Giants give him another chance, even if it means in A-ball. ... The Giants, now 6-15, are off today and play again Wednesday night against the Cubs.

Palmer solid in spot-start vs. Rockies

GIANTS lose to Rockies 4-2 in 10 innings
Velez, Davis drive in runs for Giants; Kline gives up one

Thomas Harding / MLB.com

Rockies at the plate: Second-base contender Jayson Nix homered and added two singles. He has six hits this spring, but half have been homers. Willy Taveras singled, walked and stole two bases, and Scott Podsednik came off the bench and tripled. Ian Stewart belted a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th.

Giants at the plate: Rajai Davis and Eugenio Velez each had RBI singles in the second inning. Velez also was hit by a pitch.

Rockies on the mound: No. 2 starter Aaron Cook, in his first Cactus League start since March 3, gave up two runs in five innings. He struck out four, against three hits and a walk. Closer Manny Corpas hit a batter in his scoreless inning. Left-handers Micah Bowie and Josh Newman each added an inning to their scoreless Cactus League records.

Giants on the mound: Right-hander Matt Palmer came from Minor League camp and held the Rockies to one run on four hits in five innings pitched. Lefty Steve Kline allowed one run in two innings, giving up four hits.

Cactus League record: Rockies 7-10, Giants 6-15-2

Up next for Rockies: The Rockies are off Tuesday, although right-hander Kip Wells will pitch in a Minor League game to stay on his regular schedule. Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will start for the Rockies against the White Sox on Wednesday at Tucson Electric Park.

Up next for Giants: The Giants are off Tuesday. On Wednesday, right-hander Kevin Correia will start for the Giants against the Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium.

GIANTS Fans...Brace yourselves!

Giants Drop Two in Split Squad Action
Anaheim Angels 5, Giants 2; Kansas City Royals 13, Giants 3

Mike Lovell - TalkinGiantsBaseball

After watching the Giants play the Angels on television today, the stark reality of this years' Giants team was painfully brought forth. In both games, the Giants managed a mere five runs on a combined ten hits in eighteen innings. There wasn't a lot of highlights to raise optimism for Giants faithful. Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson looked good, and after an abyssmal first inning Matt Cain looked fine as well. This team does needs some bats in the worst way. Dan Ortmeier is in a slump...this doesn't fare well for his hopes of playing this season and the defense on the "A" team looked dubious at best.

It would be major surprise to this reporter if the Giants do not lose a hundred games this season. Hopefully, this prediction will be in error; however it doesn't look good. No hitting, poor defense and mediocre pitching is not a formula for success.

Humm Baby...this year's Giants are not! This will be a chance for the young players to get their feet wet and get MLB experience. Giants, prove this reporter wrong for the Giants fan within him!

Giants lumber up against Mariners

Winn, Rowand, Durham club homers; Aurilia drives in three

GIANTS Sink Mariners 14-8; Blasted by A's 10-2
-in Split Squad Action

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Mariners at the plate: Kenji Johjima lofted a first-inning grand slam. Jose Vidro added a sacrifice fly and Raul Ibanez provided a run-scoring groundout in the fifth before Greg Norton drilled a leadoff homer in the sixth.

Giants at the plate: Randy Winn, Aaron Rowand and Ray Durham hit opposite-field homers off Erik Bedard in the first, third and fourth innings, respectively. Rich Aurilia lined a two-run double in the first inning and Bengie Molina singled and scored twice.

Mariners on the mound: Bedard's ERA climbed from 8.00 to 9.69 after he yielded eight runs (six earned) and seven hits in four innings. Ryan Rowland-Smith contributed two scoreless innings.
Giants on the mound: Barry Zito became the first Giants starter to pitch into the sixth inning this spring. After yielding Johjima's homer, Zito surrendered two singles through the next three innings before allowing three runs in his final 1 1/3 innings.

Cactus League records: Mariners 8-9-1; Giants 6-12-2

Mariners up next: Right-hander Felix Hernandez makes his second Cactus League start against the Brewers, this time at Peoria Stadium. Hernandez held the Brew Crew to two hits over four innings the last time, surrendering a pair of solo home runs. He'll turn the game over to three of the Mariners pitchers working their way back from surgery. Left-hander Arthur Rhodes and right-handers Chris Reitsma and Mark Lowe are slated to pitch one inning apiece. Ichiro Suzuki, who is back to his old tricks of one or two hits a game, has hits in his last two games after ending a prolonged hitless streak.

Giants up next: The Giants play split-squad games for the second day in a row Sunday. They'll entertain the Los Angeles Angels in Scottsdale, with Matt Cain opposing Jered Weaver, and visit Kansas City in Surprise, where non-roster right-hander Victor Santos will face Zack Greinke.

Velez making a strong bid

John Shea - San Francisco Chronicle

Eugenio Velez hit a home run, stole two bases and made a diving catch at second base to start a double play Friday.

Velez's favorite moment?

"All good," he said, smiling.

Manager Bruce Bochy would agree. After the Giants' 11-6 exhibition victory over the Diamondbacks, Bochy declared Velez has a real shot of making the 25-man roster. Not only as a bench player but as someone who "might force the issue, too," meaning get in the lineup on occasion.

"If we want a lineup with speed in there, he gives you another dimension," Bochy said. "This kid is fun to watch."

Velez has nine steals, tops in the majors. Friday, Brandon Webb thought he had Velez picked off first base, but Velez zipped to second so quickly that first baseman Conor Jackson made no throw.

Velez wasn't in the lineup but replaced second baseman Ray Durham, who exited after a half-inning with a migraine. Bochy said Velez, if he makes the team, could play second and third and maybe the outfield, though the 25-year-old could use work at all positions.

"I have to practice," admitted Velez, who's batting .326.

The Giants have two games today, one in Scottsdale (against the Mariners) and one in Phoenix (versus the A's), and Durham and Velez will be the second basemen.

The other second baseman, Kevin Frandsen, will play third in Phoenix. Frandsen didn't play Friday, one day after getting beaned. He's fine, by all accounts, and had enough energy to take in Thursday night's Warriors-Suns NBA game in Phoenix.

Finally, five innings: One day after Bochy pleaded for a starter to last five innings, Jonathan Sanchez was the first to do so. The lefty, who gave up two runs and three hits while striking out six - most by a Giant in spring training - is the favorite to replace injured Noah Lowry in the rotation.

"I felt I could go more than five today," said Sanchez, who's gaining confidence with a new windup that helps prevent him from throwing flat pitches. "I feel this is the time to do my thing and be a starter."

Roberts in left field: Dave Roberts plays Barry Bonds' old position and is repeatedly reminded of that fact around these parts. As in, every time the Giants play away from Scottsdale Stadium.

"That's all you hear. 'Where's Barry? Where's Barry?' " Roberts said. "It's good to know everyone's concerned about him."

Roberts isn't concerned, though his future isn't exactly set in stone. The Giants have Fred Lewis and Rajai Davis in the wings and, according to a Chicago Tribune report, discussed including Roberts in a trade for White Sox third baseman Joe Crede, who's struggling at the plate (.080 in 25 at-bats) and is coming off back surgery.

The White Sox don't appear interested, instead pursuing a top prospect and young reliever for their 2006 hitting star. Some Giants officials would rather not acquire a veteran hitter if it means sacrificing the future by losing young arms.
"If (a trade) ultimately does happen, I'd be surprised," Roberts said. "You hear your name, but I've been around long enough that I heard my name many times. I love it here, but it's not my decision."

Omar's timetable: Shortstop Omar Vizquel, who figures to return to the Giants the second week of the season, threw for the first time since surgery Feb. 27 on his left knee. He played catch for 10 minutes on a back field.

"Everything is on schedule. Everything's good. No pain," Vizquel said. "I think it's realistic to get back for the home opener. That's what I'm shooting for."

Offense erupts in Sanchez's stellar start

GIANTS Crush D-Backs 11-6
(Doesn't that feel good?)

Giants pound out 16 hits, starter strikes out six in five innings

Rick Eymer - Special to MLB.com

Diamondbacks at the plate: Eric Byrnes collected two hits, including a double, to lift his average to .346. Emilio Bonifacio hit a three-run double and Justin Upton drove in a couple of runs.

Giants at the plate: Bengie Molina had two hits and drove in three runs, while Eugenio Velez hit his first home run among two hits and drove in three runs. Randy Winn added three hits, while Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia each had two.
Diamondbacks on the mound: It wasn't Brandon Webb's day, as he gave up six runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and recorded three strikeouts. Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless inning.

Giants on the mound: Jonathan Sanchez became the first Giants pitcher to throw five innings this spring, giving up two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out six. Bartolome Fortunato, Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Cactus League records: Giants 5-11-2; Diamondbacks 6-11-1

Up next for the D-backs: Randy Johnson makes his second start of the spring when the Diamondbacks visit the Angels in Tempe on Saturday. It's a classic matchup between Johnson and Angels starter John Lackey, who is also a little behind this spring.

Up next for the Giants: Left-hander Barry Zito (0-3, 17.18) will attempt to do something about his spring ERA when he makes his fourth start, this one against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. The Mariners counter with Erik Bedard (1-0, 8.00). In a split-squad game against Oakland, Pat Misch (0-1, 3.68) gets the call against Henry Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00)

Lewis, Durham provide spark for Giants

Giants tie Mariners 3-3
Correia lifted in third inning; Burriss gets clutch RBI double

Jim Street / MLB.com

Mariners at the plate: Ichiro Suzuki ended his Spring Training hit drought with an infield single in the first inning. He entered the game 0-for-21 in Cactus League action, the longest hitless streak during Spring Training since going 0-for-12 during a three-game stretch in 2002. Hot-hitting Mike Morse had three hits, improving his Cactus League-leading batting average to .581, and infielder Miguel Cairo hit his first home run.

Giants at the plate: Left fielder Fred Lewis singled twice and drove in a run. Former Mariners outfielder Randy Winn singled and scored a run. Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss tied the game at 3 in the seventh with a two-out double down the left-field line. Designated hitter Ray Durham contributed a single and double.
Mariners on the mound: Left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn worked five innings for the first time this spring, holding the Giants to two runs (one earned) on six hits. He helped his own cause by guessing correctly twice on potential stolen bases, throwing behind the runners on first base. Right-hander Cha Seung Baek worked a scoreless inning of relief.

Giants on the mound: Right-hander Kevin Correia, the projected No. 4 starter, was lifted after 2 2/3 innings. He surrendered seven hits and three runs, including a solo home run in the third inning. Lefty reliever Steve Kline worked a perfect inning of relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Cactus League records: Mariners 6-8-1, Giants 4-11-2.

Mariners up next: A couple of left-handers attempting to earn spots on the Opening Day pitching staff are on the mound Friday when the Mariners face the Rockies in the third game of a three-game "homestand" at Peoria Stadium. Ryan Feierabend and Jake Woods follow right-hander Miguel Batista (0-1, 6.00) to the mound against the reigning National League champs. Both Feierabend (1.69 ERA) and Woods (3.00 ERA) have pitched well this spring.

Giants up next: Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 9.00) makes his third start and fourth appearance of the spring Friday when the Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks. He looked sharp in his last outing, not allowing an earned run in three innings against the Chicago White Sox last Saturday. He's working on a new delivery that quickens his windup. Brandon Webb (1-0, 6.00) starts for Arizona.

Today's Pasting-Padres 11 Giants 5

Roberts muscles up against Padres
Righty Lincecum runs into early trouble in third spring start

Mark Thoma - Special to MLB.com

Giants at the plate: Dave Roberts hit a two-run homer in the third and Randy Winn singled and scored from first on Bengie Molina's single in the right-field gap. Winn doubled in a run and Molina singled him home in the fifth.

Padres at the plate: The Padres were loose early on an 80-degree day, as the first four Friars reached safely. Tony Clark singled home one run and Chase Headley hit a three-run, two-out double over the head of Giants center fielder Roberts. Jeff DaVanon walked and scored in both the fourth and sixth innings. Jody Gerut continued his torrid spring by hitting a solo homer in the seventh. Paul McAnulty hit his third homer, a three-run shot, in the eighth.

Giants on the mound: Tim Lincecum had a difficult first inning, allowing four runs on four hits, a walk and hitting a batter. He loaded the bases again in the second but escaped unscathed. He threw 59 pitches and allowed six hits, two walks and four runs in two innings. Keiichi Yabu followed, allowing two hits and one run in three innings. Brad Hennessey was shaky in the eighth, allowing four unearned runs.

Padres on the mound: Chris Young cruised, except for a shaky third in which he allowed three runs, including Roberts' two-run homer. Young allowed four hits, three runs, one walk and recorded four strikeouts while throwing 64 pitches. Enrique Gonzalez struck out one during two perfect innings of relief.

Cactus League records: Padres 8-6; Giants 4-11-1.

Up next for the Giants: The Giants will start Kevin Correia against Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners in Peoria at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Up next for the Padres: The Padres will travel to Mesa to play the Cubs, as Greg Maddux starts against the Cubs' Jason Marquis. Wil Ledezma, Kevin Cameron and Mike Gardner are also scheduled to pitch for the Padres in the 1:05 p.m. PT contest.

Comment: It is getting closer and closer to the season opener and the there hasn't been too much improvement. No hitting and not a lot of pitching. This is a very dangerous combination. When will the Giants management start making some noise and try to improve this squad? Your guess is as good as mine....

Durham goes 4-for-4 to back Cain

Right-hander allows two runs in sharp, four-inning outing

GIANTS WIN! Beat Brewers 8-4

Adam McCalvy - MLB.com

Giants at the plate: Ray Durham went 4-for-4 including a single in the second inning, when San Francisco sent 10 men to the plate against Brewers starter Ben Sheets and scored five runs. Fred Lewis and Aaron Rowand had two-run hits in the inning and each finished 2-for-4.

Brewers at the plate: Mike Cameron hit an RBI triple and scored on Prince Fielder's sacrifice fly as the Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Giants went on to score the next eight runs in the game.

Giants on the mound: Matt Cain was sharp after the first, working three more scoreless innings and striking out four Brewers during his four-inning start. Kevin Gryboski and Steve Kline each pitched an inning of perfect relief to help snap Milwaukee's five-game winning streak and end San Francisco's four-game winless streak.

Brewers on the mound: Sheets worked a scoreless first inning, then struggled through the second and allowed his first runs of the spring. He was penciled in for at least four innings of work but lasted just three, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks. It could have been worse; Cain slashed what looked what it would be an RBI single, but center fielder Cameron threw out Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo at home plate. Reliever Guillermo Mota continued his string of success, pitching a scoreless inning for the fifth time this spring.

Cactus League records: Giants 4-10, Brewers 9-5.

Giants up next: Tim Lincecum is the scheduled starter when the Giants host the Padres on Wednesday in a matchup of National League West rivals.

The Daily Thrashing-KC 15 Giants 6

Zito tagged with third spring loss
Leone launches first homer, drives in three; Winn has two hits

Dick Kaegel - MLB.com

Giants at the plate: Justin Leone had a two-run homer, an RBI double and is 8-for-14 (.571). Eugenio Velez got his team-high 11th hit, a triple. Randy Winn had two doubles and a RBI.

Royals at the plate: Non-roster outfielder Damon Hollins had five RBIs with a three-run double and two RBI singles in three at-bats. Ryan Shealy cracked his third homer, the team high, to lead off the fifth. Jose Guillen, in his second game, got his first hit -- a solid RBI single with the bases loaded. Mark Teahen banged his second home run. Jason Smith and Alberto Callaspo each had two hits.

Giants on the mound: Left-hander Barry Zito, the Opening Day starter, worked 3 2/3 innings and was charged with eight runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks. Tyler Walker relieved Zito and gave up a three-run double to Hollins.
Royals on the mound: Starter Hideo Nomo surrendered four hits and two runs in three innings. Closer Joakim Soria pitched two shutout innings for the second straight outing. Joel Peralta gave up a triple and a home run back-to-back in his two innings.

Cactus League records: Giants 3-10, Royals 6-6.

Up next: The Giants will be at Maryville Baseball Park to play the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:05 p.m. PT on Tuesday. Matt Cain will start for the Giants against Ben Sheets.

Giants Blasted by Colorado 10-2

Mike Lovell - talkinGiantsbaseball

The Giants received their daily drubbing Sunday by the Rockies 10-2.

There weren't too many highlights on the Giants side. Patrick Misch pitched well for three innings before tiring in the fourth inning. Clay Timpner hit a home run in the ninth and Eric Threets pitched an impressive inning striking out the side.

Again, the Giants offense was more offensive than productive. The Giants ended up with two runs on five hits.

Although it is still fairly early in the spring...still, in a little more than three weeks the season will start for real. The Giants need to either acquire some legitimate hitters or realize the inevitable and go with all of their young players. As of the time of this writing, the potential of this team brings back sad memories of the last days of Horace Stoneham and those abyssmal teams of the mid-seventies. Those teams may actually have more overall talent than the Giants of 2008.

Giants management has flown directly against any forethought in their approach to developing a quality and balanced farm system. They have given up high draft picks for the hope that Barry Bonds would deliver them to the promised land. In addition to a flawed (at least in the latter years of Bonds' era) strategy the Giants have concentrated on drafting pitching year after year. Granted, pitching is the backbone of a team; saying this, so is scoring runs for the pitching staff. The strength of the 2008 Giants is their starting pitching. There seems to be hope that Brain Wilson will be able to anchor the closing duties. Middle relief is a major concern. With the possible exception of Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn, and Benjie Molina the remainder of the team is a big question as for its ability to score runs. When the great Omar Vizquel returns, the middle defense will improve.

There seems to be some potential in the lower minor leagues as the Giants change their focus to teams built around speed and defense. Eugenio Velez looks like the real deal. Find him a spot. The real talent coming up in the neglected farm system is in its lower levels.

Brian Sabean appears to be gun shy on making deals. Surely, after making several bad deals, e.g., Joe Nathan, Jeremy Accardo, Francisco Liriano, not to mention Brian Burres (now with Baltimore). Sure, these are all pitchers...the return for these players have not been in kind in trade value.

Sabean does not appear to have a solid plan and it is not certain a trade for Joe Crede will make any difference this year. The Giants need both a third baseman and a first baseman. Daniel Ortmeier does not appear to be the answer until Angel Villanova is ready in two or more years from now.

2008 appears to be a bleak season for fans of the Giants with little potential to get excited about. Maybe it is time for Giants to re-evaluate their game plan. This season could very well be Brian Sabean's swan song...if this season plays as it looks so far this spring, perhaps Sabean should be replaced or bumped up to another level in the Giants hierarchy.