So, for the 3rd day of Spring Training, Dad and I headed of to Surprise, Arizona to watch the Giants take on the Texas Rangers in a world series rematch. It was a sweltering day and the stadium was packed with 12,000 plus people, but what a day it was.
The Giants had Ryan Vogelsong on the mound, looking to make his way onto the 25 man roster. Once thought to be a top prospect in the Giants organization around the turn of the century, Vogelsong meandered through the Bigs until taking a hiatus after the 2006 season. He ended up going to Japan in 2007 and did not return to the Majors until signing a minor league contract with the Angels. In this outing, he outpitched Tommy Hunter, by going 4 innings giving up a couple of runs, walking 1, allowing 4 hits and striking out 2. Not a stellar performance, but solid enough for spring.
The big story was Kung Fu Panda himself, Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval had a couple of hits including a stand up triple and a stolen base! A lot of people kind of wondered about Sandoval and his level of athleticism after he showed up overweight to camp last year and subsequently lost his starting job to Juan Uribe in the World Series following a meager regular season performance. Well, he sure seemed to be hustling along and looks ready to return to his rookie form.
Another note was that Gaylord Perry was signing baseballs for charity under a tent on the main concourse. I couldn't resist and got myself a ball. As he signed, I said, "Thank you for the year in Seattle and sorry about the tugboat." He chuckled a little and it was a great baseball moment that I'll always remember.
DAY 4:
Once again, we found ourselves in Peoria as the Mariners were to take on the Cubs. It started the same as our last Peoria endeavor: multiple first pitches and a national anthem singer that couldn't remember all the words.
Doug Fister had his longest start of spring, managing to go 4&1/3 innings, but it was sloppy, with 6 hits and 3 walks. Fister's control struggled and while this wasn't the worst an outing could go, it still leaves one hoping that Fister finds his control by April.
The one thing I really enjoyed about this particular game was watching the Mariner offense finally work how we had hoped it would work last year. Figgins got on a few base hits and beat out a force at second that kept an inning going. Figgins did get picked off in a run down, but he, Ichiro, and Josh Wilson all managed to steal a base. Justin Smoak had a few big hits and even Dustin Ackley managed one in his only at bat. Sure, no moonshot home runs, but production enough to get the M's out of a deficit.
Also, years after being duped at a baseball training camp, I finally got a legitimate Robby Thompson autograph!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Spring Training 2011: Day Two
So, today it was the Mariners taking on the A's in what became a 10-2 blow out. Yes, this is spring training we're talking about, results will vary come April 1st, and blah blah blah, but this one felt good, especially at the plate.
The Mariners appear to be showing a lot more patience, with only 3 strike outs, none courtesy of Jack Cust, Milton Bradley or Justin Smoak. Instead, the M's managed to draw 6 six walks and pick up 13 hits. They definitely weren't pressing.
-The Big Bad Bradley had a few hits that could have been outs, but hustled them out and made his way to third 3 times. He was heckled by fans, but merely waved his hands at the jerks as if he was shooing away a fly. He appears to be enjoying himself out there while having a monster spring.
-Justi Smoak crushed one to deep center and walked twice, showing that he may be a bit like Jack Cust. Will be even better if Smoak can avoid the k's.
-Speaking of Cust, he legged out a double and then went from second to home on the next play. Didn't know he could run like that.
-Ichiro was pegged in his first at bat, but got his revenge with an opposite field single on the next at bat.
-French looked good, with 4 k's against legitimate big leaguers in 3 innings. I wouldn't mind if he place holds for Pineda to start the season.
-I made off with a Milton Bradley signed ball and another signed by Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, and Greg Halman.
The Mariners appear to be showing a lot more patience, with only 3 strike outs, none courtesy of Jack Cust, Milton Bradley or Justin Smoak. Instead, the M's managed to draw 6 six walks and pick up 13 hits. They definitely weren't pressing.
-The Big Bad Bradley had a few hits that could have been outs, but hustled them out and made his way to third 3 times. He was heckled by fans, but merely waved his hands at the jerks as if he was shooing away a fly. He appears to be enjoying himself out there while having a monster spring.
-Justi Smoak crushed one to deep center and walked twice, showing that he may be a bit like Jack Cust. Will be even better if Smoak can avoid the k's.
-Speaking of Cust, he legged out a double and then went from second to home on the next play. Didn't know he could run like that.
-Ichiro was pegged in his first at bat, but got his revenge with an opposite field single on the next at bat.
-French looked good, with 4 k's against legitimate big leaguers in 3 innings. I wouldn't mind if he place holds for Pineda to start the season.
-I made off with a Milton Bradley signed ball and another signed by Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, and Greg Halman.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Spring Training 2011: Day 1
So, I've been on hiatus... In fact, I wasn't sure if I was going to keep this going, much to the dismay of my 3 followers. However, I've decided that I enjoy this as a hobby and should continue for at least another. I do not promise large, in depth summaries of each game, but at least weekly input, (probably more like bi-tri weekly most of the time).
Anyways, my first blog in nearly 2 months will not have too many things about the Mariners as I took in a Giants-Padres game instead, but in the spirit of baseball, here's how it went down:
-This was the first time I got to see Tim Lincecum pitch in-person and it was a sight to watch. It wasn't a stellar outing, as Tim did walk the first batter and give up a home run to Orlando Husdon. However, he did manage to strikeout 4 and it was a sight to behold him after he settled down. Watching Jorge Cantu swing through a Lincecum fastball and come up with nothing was a thing of beauty.
-Pablo Sandoval showed some hustle, making some great grabs at third and going first to third on a single to right-centerfield. The Panda is looking to be in better shape and can hoepfully return to 2009 form.
-Mike Fontenot hit what appeared to be a homer to rightfield in the first inning, but the official ruled it a foul ball. Fontenot then managed to smack a second ball out in the fifth inning that was undeniably fair. This coming from a guy that hit 1 homer all last season.
-Felix Romero closed out the game and from a back-up closer/setup man position, I liked what I saw. He wasn't over powering with velocity, but he kept the pitches low and got a quite few guys to swing over the top of the ball as it sunk on them. The only hit he allowed was about a foot over the head of the firstbaseman.
-The national anthem singer apparently believes the thing that the line "twilight's glass gleaming," somehow fits in their.
-The two owners of the Deschutes Brewey each threw out the first pitch. Then some rodeo cowboy named Skeeter also threw out the first pitch. This set the record for most first pitches at any MLB exhibition game at 3.
-Apparently, when some dumb ass college kid walks around with a plastic pink flamingo you're suppose to shotgun Smirnoff Ice with it to impress some drunk girls. This guy and his friend must have drank 10-15 drinks with the girls in the middle of the main concourse in what is probably the biggest amount of binge drinking I've seen that was totally disregarded by staff at a public venue. Needless to say, these guys did get some digits after 8 innings of begging.
-Ex-Mariner Guillermo Quiroz managed to lose a wild pitch from about 20 seconds after took a big hop in front of him and landed behind Quiroz as he spun in several directions while waving his fists in confusion.
Anyways, my first blog in nearly 2 months will not have too many things about the Mariners as I took in a Giants-Padres game instead, but in the spirit of baseball, here's how it went down:
-This was the first time I got to see Tim Lincecum pitch in-person and it was a sight to watch. It wasn't a stellar outing, as Tim did walk the first batter and give up a home run to Orlando Husdon. However, he did manage to strikeout 4 and it was a sight to behold him after he settled down. Watching Jorge Cantu swing through a Lincecum fastball and come up with nothing was a thing of beauty.
-Pablo Sandoval showed some hustle, making some great grabs at third and going first to third on a single to right-centerfield. The Panda is looking to be in better shape and can hoepfully return to 2009 form.
-Mike Fontenot hit what appeared to be a homer to rightfield in the first inning, but the official ruled it a foul ball. Fontenot then managed to smack a second ball out in the fifth inning that was undeniably fair. This coming from a guy that hit 1 homer all last season.
-Felix Romero closed out the game and from a back-up closer/setup man position, I liked what I saw. He wasn't over powering with velocity, but he kept the pitches low and got a quite few guys to swing over the top of the ball as it sunk on them. The only hit he allowed was about a foot over the head of the firstbaseman.
-The national anthem singer apparently believes the thing that the line "twilight's glass gleaming," somehow fits in their.
-The two owners of the Deschutes Brewey each threw out the first pitch. Then some rodeo cowboy named Skeeter also threw out the first pitch. This set the record for most first pitches at any MLB exhibition game at 3.
-Apparently, when some dumb ass college kid walks around with a plastic pink flamingo you're suppose to shotgun Smirnoff Ice with it to impress some drunk girls. This guy and his friend must have drank 10-15 drinks with the girls in the middle of the main concourse in what is probably the biggest amount of binge drinking I've seen that was totally disregarded by staff at a public venue. Needless to say, these guys did get some digits after 8 innings of begging.
-Ex-Mariner Guillermo Quiroz managed to lose a wild pitch from about 20 seconds after took a big hop in front of him and landed behind Quiroz as he spun in several directions while waving his fists in confusion.