Giants News

Lincecum will plead guilty to lesser charge
Comment
November 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has agreed to plead guilty to one charge related to his possession of a marijuana pipe in return for his drug charge being dropped, in a plea agreement that still must be approved by a judge in Clark County, Wash. Prosecuting attorney Grant Hansen said Friday that Lincecum's lawyer has signed off on the deal, which requires the 2008 Cy Young Award winner to pay $372 in fines. The judge could accept the deal with a signature but could also order Lincecum to appear in court at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 22. Hansen said Lincecum's celebrity had nothing to do with this disposition, which is standard for a first-time offender for misdemeanor pot possession who ..."
Prosecutor recommends drug charges be dropped against San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum
Comment
November 7
San Jose Mercury News
 
"A prosecutor recommended that two misdemeanor drug charges be dropped against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who was cited Oct. 30 for marijuana possession while speeding on Interstate 5 roughly four miles north of the Washington-Oregon border. Lincecum would pay a $250 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A infraction in Washington, if his plea deal is accepted by a judge Monday. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner received no preferential treatment, said Grant Hansen, the deputy prosecuting attorney for Clark County, Wash. "This is the protocol for a first-time offender who is cooperative with police," said Hansen, adding that Lincecum would not face probation or jail time. The ..."
San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum faces pot charges in Washington
Comment
November 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Giants ace Tim Lincecum faces misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession after he turned over a small amount of the substance during a traffic stop near the Washington-Oregon border on Oct. 30, Washington State police said. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner also was cited for driving his 2006 Mercedes 74 mph along a 60 mph stretch of Interstate 5 near Hazel Dell, Wash., police said. After an officer detected the smell of marijuana, the two-time All-Star complied with a request to turn over 3.3 grams of the substance and a pipe from the car's center console. Because the officer did not judge Lincecum to be impaired, he cited him and allowed him to continue. Lincecum, 25, entered a plea of ..."
Lincecum cited for having pot in his car
Comment
November 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was cited for possession of marijuana one week ago in the state of Washington. Though he faces misdemeanor charges in the state, it is unlikely he will receive any punishment from Major League Baseball. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner was stopped for speeding at 8:23 a.m. on Oct. 30 while driving on Interstate 5, 4 miles north of the Oregon state line, according to Trooper Steve Schatzel of the Washington State Patrol. Lincecum was cited for driving 74 mph in a 60-mph zone. The police report said the motorcycle officer who stopped Lincecum smelled marijuana in the car and asked him to produce any drugs that he had. Lincecum acknowledged that he did have drugs ..."
Giants batting coach Hensley "Bamm-Bamm" Meulens is more than bilingual. He speaks English, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento, the tongue of his native Curacao.
Comment
November 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Dutch and Japanese? Maybe if Giants re-sign Rikkert Faneyte and Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Meulens can turn them into .300 hitters. "I don't know about that," Meulens said, "but I can communicate with them." After the Giants announced Meulens' promotion from Triple-A hitting coach to the big-league job Monday, the onetime Yankee communicated this to fans weary of a popgun offense: He believes he has the know-how to get into the heads of the hitters, young and old, and teach them how to be more selective and dangerous at the plate. Meulens, 42, replaces Carney Lansford, who was fired after two seasons. In 2009, the Giants ranked 13th in the National League in runs, last in walks, last in on-base ..."
Clements demoted, then suffers broken scapula
Comment
November 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"There was no immediate word on how long Clements would be out. Wide receiver Brandon Jones had the same injury in training camp and missed six weeks. Clements left the locker room early and was not available for comment. He was seen with a sling on his right arm. "We'll know more tomorrow (Monday)," coach Mike Singletary said. Clements was on the field for a few plays in the 49ers' nickel defense and also returned four punts for 31 yards. He made two tackles. One of the best-tackling cornerbacks in the NFL, Clements at times has been a liability in pass coverage. That's damning for a player signed to a theoretical $80 million contract in 2007, with a 2009 salary of $3.5 million. Facing ..."
Sanchez gets more than Pirates offered, but . . .
Comment
October 31
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Count me among those who were wrong about Freddy Sanchez. I did not expect him to get more money than the $10 million over two years the Pirates offered him in July. I thought it was a fair offer and Sanchez rejected it because he didn't want to stay in Pittsburgh. Turns out, he did get more, but I'm not so sure it proves the Pirates wrong. Sanchez signed a two-year, $12 million contract Friday with the San Francisco Giants, the team to whom the Pirates traded him in July. Those terms don't make the Pirates offer look ``embarrassing,'' as many bellowed at the time the offer was made. The deal makes the Pirates' offer look realistic but a little low."
Giants sign Freddy Sanchez to two-year, $12 million deal
Comment
October 31
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Freddy Sanchez feels he has something to prove to Giants fans. Now he will get two seasons to do it. The club agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the 2006 NL batting champion and three-time All-Star, who will return as their starting second baseman and likely No. 2 hitter. Sanchez, 32, will receive $6 million next year and in 2011. "I try to be a loyal person," said Sanchez, who was acquired July 29 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for well-regarded pitching prospect Tim Alderson. "And now, being part of the Giants' family, hopefully I can do what they traded for me to do." Sanchez expressed regret that he was limited to 25 games after the trade because of a strained left shoulder ..."
Freddy Sanchez signs for 2 years
Comment
October 31
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On the other side of the infield, the Giants would like to re-sign Juan Uribe, and general manager Brian Sabean has begun talks with Uribe's agent. However, a quick resolution is unlikely. "I get the sense he's going to test the free-agent market," Sabean said. In another move that was expected but might carry some emotional weight, the Giants cut ties with popular but injured pitcher Noah Lowry by declining his $6.25 million club option for 2010 and placing him on outright waivers. They also outrighted long reliever Justin Miller. Like Lowry, Miller can become a free agent. Senior vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said the Giants would not "close the door" on re-signing ..."
Giants, A's remember day that shook baseball
Comment
October 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"Twenty years ago today, at 5:04 p.m., a half-hour before World Series Game 3 at Candlestick Park, Al Michaels told a national TV audience, "I think we're having an earth..." The Giants and A's were rendered irrelevant after the Loma Prieta quake shook the region. Amid death and destruction, the Series was pushed back 10 days. While the Giants resumed working out at the 'Stick, A's manager Tony La Russa took his team to Phoenix for two days to maintain a higher level of focus. The A's completed a four-game sweep with just two starting pitchers, Dave Stewart and Mike Moore, and an imposing offense that outscored the Giants 32-14, matching the most one-sided World Series in history. The A's ..."
Lansford couldn't work miracles
Comment
October 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Carney Lansford has been chasing a little white baseball for four decades as a player, coach, father and fan. He said he learned two lessons about the game over the past 24 months. "Never take a job for sentimental reasons," he said over the phone, "and never take a hitting-coach job with an offensively challenged team." Lansford, a San Jose native and Wilcox High graduate, received a call from Giants manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday that he would not be invited to return for a third season as the team's hitting coach. Two hours later, Lansford buried his father-in-law. "Heck of a day," Lansford said. The 52-year-old former batting champion had other priorities Wednesday besides returning ..."
Coach says he did his best for team of free swingers
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October 16
San Francisco Chronicle
 
""Frankly, I don't care," Lansford said Thursday. "I wish whoever it is the best. I hope they get some players for him." Fan favorite Will Clark does not appear to be a candidate. Clark said Thursday he has not been contacted about the job. He has rebuffed other full-time job offers so he would not be away long from his autistic son, Trey, now 13. "Bill Neukom was very kind to offer me the special assistant job," Clark said of the Giants' managing general partner. "I am very comfortable in that role right now." Triple-A hitting coach Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens is the leading internal candidate for the job, although Bochy said outsiders will be considered, too. Lansford got the news Wednesday ..."
Baseball after death, and destruction
Comment
October 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"There is no cheering in the press box, but there is weeping. I try to keep my weeping to a minimum and reserve it for important stuff, like when the popcorn machine breaks or a writer with a fat head camps in the row in front of me. Oct. 27, 1989, was different. Ten days had passed since the earthquake and the World Series was set to resume at Candlestick Park. More than 62,000 people had filled a much-despised ballpark that stood firm, like Gibraltar, when our world shook. As part of a pregame ceremony to pay respects to those who died in the quake and honor the thousands of law-enforcement heroes, the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon led the entire stadium in a sing-along rendition of the ..."
Giants don't ask hitting coach Lansford back
Comment
October 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants did not hit, and batting coach Carney Lansford is paying the price. Manager Bruce Bochy phoned Lansford on Wednesday to tell the coach he would not be invited back for a third season. The South Bay native and 1981 American League batting champion was the only member of Bochy's staff not asked to return. "I have tremendous respect for Carney," Bochy said Wednesday night. "Carney's a friend and worked hard. We just feel at this point as we move forward it's time to go with a different voice." Bochy said Triple-A hitting coach Hensley Meulens, who was credited with Eugenio Velez's improvement this summer, likely will be a candidate to replace Lansford, although the team will search ..."
Swing and a miss: Lansford out as Giants hitting coach
Comment
October 15
Oakland Tribune
 
"Carney Lansford is not a scapegoat, Bruce Bochy said. The Giants manager strenuously made that point when discussing the decision to fire his hitting coach after two seasons. "I'd say that's not fair and that's not true," Bochy said Wednesday. "We know what type of offense we could have, and we know the areas we want to improve. Sometimes you just need a different voice, and we'll see if a change can help. That's the reason. This is not finger pointing." Bochy called Lansford on Wednesday and informed the San Jose native and 1981 AL batting champion that he would not be invited to return for a third season. Lansford wasn't sure he wanted to come back, anyway. That's how frustrated he was ..."
The Sabean years
Comment
October 14
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Brian Sabean was named general manager after the Giants' last-place finish in 1996. Starting with a National League West crown the following season, the team embarked on the most successful seven-year stretch in its San Francisco history, with three division titles and a pennant. Even in the years they did not reach the postseason, the Giants contended deep into September. Then, with Barry Bonds missing most of the 2005 season with a knee injury, the Giants began a stretch of four losing seasons marked by insufficient transition plans for life after Bonds, who was not invited back after 2007. Like all general managers, Sabean also made some moves that backfired, most notably his 2003 deal ..."
Follow the money, Giants fans
Comment
October 14
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ray Rotto
"So Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy got their deals, as expected. And the new season begins in 172 days, and the Giants will be handed new and grander expectations because, as we know, every time a team gains 16 wins, it must by definition pick up another 16 the next year, give or take a few. And that burden will land squarely on Sabean's leonine head. Except that teams don't typically make two such leaps in successive years; in fact, most teams that actually leap forward one year tend to fall back the next. Not because it wants to, or because the players are lazy or stupid, but because the history of baseball says it will. This has been covered by sabermetric experts for years, but you could ..."
'When do you think they'll start the game?'
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Tom Smith was 66 years old, and he'd never been to a World Series game. He was an avid sports fan and an accomplished sportsman. He had played pro basketball, before there was the NBA, and he had played pro baseball in the Phillies chain. He had coached high school basketball — so well, in fact, that he is in the Washington state high school hall of fame. And now, on Oct. 17, 1989, he was about to see his first World Series game. He had driven 16 hours from his Christmas tree farm in Washington. Along with his wife and daughter, he had boarded a bus in San Francisco, a party-on-wheels bound for Candlestick Park. They had settled in their seats, down the right field line when it hit. Tom ..."
Mrs. Lurie shows her grace and class
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The ground had stopped shaking, but I hadn't. The 7.1 earthquake that put Game 3 of the 1989 World Series on hold rattled me like few things ever have. What I didn't know scared me. Was this the main event, or a foreshock? Was it a small quake centered nearby, or a catastrophic event centered miles away? Were the rumors true? Had cars really been pitched from the Bay Bridge into the water? Had the scoreboard at the Oakland Coliseum really crashed to the ground? I did know one thing — there would be no baseball. Candlestick Park was without power. And it was getting dark. Still, there was a job to do. I made my way to the locker rooms to interview A's and Giants players. Then it was time to ..."
Writing by the headlights of a parked car
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"n the aftermath of the earthquake before Game 3 of the Bay Bridge World Series, everyone pretty much banded together to lend assistance. That included members of the fourth estate. After gathering as much information as I could — Were rumors true that the Coliseum scoreboard had collapsed? — I needed place to write. I finally settled on a piece of pavement in front of the players' parking lot at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman, then covering the Giants for the Oakland Tribune and until this day a good friend, turned on the headlights of his Honda Accord so I could see. Henry was writing in front seat of his car, Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse was writing ..."
Candlestick Park was the real Series champ
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 columnist Mark Purdy
"The crowd cheered and applauded a natural disaster. That's what so many people forget. I was in the upper deck at Candlestick Park, where they put the overflow media. I knew exactly what was happening. I looked up to my left at the enclosed 49ers press box and noticed the windows wobbling and bending and shivering. I thought, "Man, if those things pop out, we're in real trouble." Just then, the shaking stopped. And the cheering started. Lusty roars. Loud. The vibe was: "Hey, it's a Bay Area series and this is cool!" But then reports reached the ballpark about the bridge and the fire. The scoreboard flickered out. Power was gone. Things grew quiet. I hiked down to the field and interviewed ..."
Sabean, Bochy get 2 more years
Comment
October 14
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As expected, managing general partner Bill Neukom announced Tuesday with "special pleasure and delight" that ownership has signed Sabean and Bochy to two-year contract extensions with team options for 2012. The contracts include incentives but no vesting options that would guarantee the third year. Sabean, the longest-tenured current GM in the majors, will begin his 14th season at the helm in 2010. Bochy will begin his 16th as a major-league manager, his fourth in San Francisco. With a lawyer's precision, Neukom established objective benchmarks for Sabean to keep his job. Clearly, a 16-game improvement to 88 wins in 2009, the Giants' first winning season since 2004, and another good year ..."
Sabean, Bochy get two-year extensions
Comment
October 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As expected, the Giants have extended the contracts of general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. The deals go for two seasons with club options for 2012. More after a noon conference call. UPDATE: We just got off a conference call with Sabean, Bochy and managing general partner Bill Neukom, who said it was "a special pleasure and a delight" to announce these extensions." As we all knew, Neukom approached this with a lawyer's mindset of setting and reaching objective benchmarks. That the Giants went from 72 wins last year to 88 this year boded extremely well for Sabean and Bochy to return. "If anyone deserves credit for this year's turnaround, it's Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. ..."
Giants looking to build on 2009's successes
Comment
October 8
San Jose Mercury News
 
"For two men whose contracts expire Halloween night, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy sure didn't talk like they're about to turn into pumpkins. A day after concluding an 88-74 season, the Giants' baseball architect and field boss still had not signed extensions for next season. Nor has owner Bill Neukom made them any promises. But they appeared confident during a media session Monday in which they laid out their vision for the offseason, discussed personnel changes and even talked about cranking up the pitching machine for bunt practice in spring training. "We certainly look forward to next year," said Bochy, in concluding his opening statement. Neukom and president ..."
Some power options for Sabean to mull
Comment
October 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"There's a list somewhere in Brian Sabean's office, a list we'd all like to see. It's a rundown of power hitters potentially available to the Giants as they try to resurrect a tired, unacceptable offense. What follows is not that list, merely one writer's partial survey of the landscape. Not surprisingly, it begins with ... Prince Fielder: His left-handed power (46 homers, 141 RBIs) is immense, and he'd have no problem with the challenging dimensions of AT"
Giants must learn how to sacrifice, but not their principles
Comment
October 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Gwen Knapp
"In public settings, Bruce Bochy doesn't project a lot of personality or flexibility. He says the same things - bland nothings, really - over and over again, as if speaking on autopilot. His drawling speech and big, lumbering frame don't help. When things start going in the wrong direction for the Giants, it's easy to see their manager as an ocean-liner steaming toward an iceberg, thoroughly unable to reverse course. When he expressed his opinion on bunting - "You only get 27 outs, and I hate giving up an out" - it was read as gospel. When the Giants repeatedly failed to manufacture the one or two runs per game that might have pushed the team into the playoffs and Tim Lincecum toward 20 ..."
Sabean, Bochy look ahead
Comment
October 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Bengie Molina still could be a valuable asset for the Giants. Freddy Sanchez is likely to be the second baseman in 2010. Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner need more seasoning in the minors. There is no rush to forge a long-term contract with Tim Lincecum. Finding power is a priority but will not be easy. These were some of the conclusions to be drawn after general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy spent an hour Monday sharing their thoughts on the Giants' 88-win season and gazing toward next year. There was an odd tilt to this annual exercise. Though it has been reported that Sabean and Bochy have been told by managing general partner Bill Neukom that they will return, neither ..."
Giants looking to build on 2009's successes
Comment
October 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"For two men whose contracts expire Halloween night, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy sure didn't talk like they're about to turn into pumpkins. A day after concluding an 88-74 season, the Giants' baseball architect and field boss still had not signed extensions for next season. Nor has owner Bill Neukom made them any promises. But they appeared confident during a media session Monday in which they laid out their vision for the offseason, discussed personnel changes and even talked about cranking up the pitching machine for bunt practice in spring training. "We certainly look forward to next year," said Bochy, in concluding his opening statement. Neukom and president ..."
McDonald relishes touchdown
Comment
October 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For the amount of time he's on the field as a non-starter, Ray McDonald might be the 49ers' most productive player. The third-year defensive end is listed as the backup to starter Justin Smith but he's a big part of the defensive-line rotation. On Sunday, McDonald scored the first touchdown of his career when he scooped up a fumble and chugged 11 yards into the end zone with 14 minutes left in the game for San Francisco's final score of the day. Quarterback Kyle Boller was credited with the fumble when he attempted to hand off to wide receiver Danny Amendola on an end around. Amendola was bobbling the ball when he was smacked by outside linebacker Manny Lawson. McDonald, trailing the play, ..."
Sandoval's blast in the 10th puts fitting cap on season
Comment
October 5
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants learned something about themselves every day in an encouraging season. In their 162nd and final game Sunday afternoon, they learned that Kung Fu Pandas don't always land on their feet. But they don't stay down for long, either. In a year that featured Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter and Randy Johnson's 300th victory, Pablo Sandoval left the Giants with two more enduring images. He flipped over the dugout rail while making a spectacular catch of a foul pop in the seventh inning, then he skipped around the bases with both arms raised after crushing a solo home run in the 10th. Sandoval's 444-foot monster shot made the difference in a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco ..."
Padresfinale to Giants, look to 2010
Comment
October 5
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"The final-day result was the same, but the difference in the Padres' end-of-season mood from 2008 to 2009 was palpable. A year ago, the Padres, relieved to have barely escaped 100 losses, were almost somber as they closed the season. Sunday, the atmosphere in the Petco Park clubhouse was celebratory despite a season-ending 4-3, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants. "I think we've come out of the transition and are into that period when you look ahead with anticipation," said second baseman David Eckstein, who closed 2009 with his second homer. "We've got something going now. When we came out of spring training, that was not the case." "There is still room for improvement in a ..."
Just sayin' hey to this kid
Comment
October 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Two random Pablo Sandoval snapshots: Sandoval, forced out at second, breaks up the double play with a slide that starts at the bag and finishes near the outfield grass. He's a one-man Gashouse Gang. On a single to the outfield, Sandoval takes an aggressive turn at first but opts not to stretch. Instead of the standard casual loop-back-to-first, Sandoval stops his momentum with a quick pop-up slide, turns and scurries back to the bag. I've never seen it done before."
Improvement, and uncertainty, for Matt Cain
Comment
October 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"A few players know. Aaron Rowand has a World Series ring. So do Randy Johnson and Bengie Molina. Randy Winn does not. He has played 1,600 major-league games without reaching the postseason, the most of any active player. Winn tries not to fret over the possibility he could go his entire career without getting there. "You might not have a choice," he said. "I wouldn't be the first in history." As Johnson surveyed the clubhouse, he predicted postseasons in the Giants' near future, assuming the organization makes the right moves for some offense, and suggested the experience of lasting in the race until the season's final week should help the younger guys understand what it takes to go ..."
Giants offense missing again in 2-0 loss
Comment
October 4
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Brian Sabean officially became the longest tenured general manager in the major leagues on Saturday. The only GM who'd served longer with one club, Kevin Towers, received his walking papers after 14 seasons in charge of the San Diego Padres. The Toronto Blue Jays fired J.P. Ricciardi after an eight-year reign, too. And Sabean insisted that contrary to published reports, he continues to await word from managing partner Bill Neukom on whether he will have a job after his contract expires on Oct. 31. "I haven't been told anything," Sabean said, before the Giants' 2-0 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. "Bill's timeline was after the season and that's still the timeline." Towers' ..."
Correia, Cabrera struggle in Padres loss
Comment
October 3
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"If ever a couple of players personified the Kevin Towers methodology of "bottom-fishing" baseball, they're right-handed pitcher Kevin Correia and shortstop Everth Cabrera. The former is another NL West club's discard who began this season with a minor-league contract and winds it up as the Padres' de facto ace. The latter's a Rule V draftee - unwisely left unprotected by another division foe and quickly scooped up by Towers - who went from Class A ball to the Padres' starting l On the night that that word got out about Towers' dismissal after 14 seasons as Padres general manager, Correia and Cabrera also had particularly rough evenings at Petco Park, the pitcher giving up two solo homers ..."
Zito ends year with bruised arm, not ego
Comment
October 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Zito called it the hardest and most painful comebacker he ever took off his body, which jibes with catcher Buster Posey's observation that it "came off the bat hot." "I'm guessing it was going over 100 miles an hour when it hit him," Posey said. This was no way for Zito's season to end, taking a shot off Adrian Gonzalez's bat on his pitching arm in the sixth inning of Friday night's 7-2 Giants victory. At least it missed his elbow, hitting him in the forearm just above. X-rays were negative, and Zito heads into the offseason with a bruise. "He got me as square as it could have gotten me," Zito said. "But the baseball gods treated me well tonight. I didn't die and it didn't break." The only ..."
Giants' Cain values 15 wins
Comment
October 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Cain places high value on reaching 15 wins SAN DIEGO — The magic number for starting pitchers used to be 20 wins. Now it seems 15 has become the benchmark. It's a number Matt Cain hopes to reach in his final start of the season today, for more reasons than one. Lest anyone forget, Tim Lincecum won his 15th Thursday. "It's been fun all year trying to compete with Timmy and push each other," Cain (14-7) said. "In a lot of those (statistical) categories, I'm the one always trying to keep up. But for sure, it'd be nice to get that 15th." Cain, 25, was 12-2 with a 2.12 ERA after his first 21 starts but bogged down as the Giants became serious contenders. Before he beat the Chicago Cubs on ..."
Turnaround season ends painfully for Zito
Comment
October 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Barry Zito turned catcalls to cheers in his third year as a Giant, but a respectable season came to a sudden, painful and ultimately lucky end Friday night. Zito was struck just below the left elbow by a line drive in the sixth inning of the Giants' 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The left-hander reflexively held both arms in front of his chest as he was struck by Adrian Gonzalez's vicious liner, which caromed high in the air. X-rays were negative, Zito was diagnosed with an elbow contusion, and he should be fine to make his next start. It helps that his next start won't come for seven months. Zito can't wait for that day. "I think I made a lot of strides," said Zito, ..."
Sabean, Bochy reportedly will be ask back by Giants
Comment
October 2
Oakland Tribune
 
"Tim Lincecum tipped his cap, Rich Aurilia said goodbye and Randy Johnson provided the finishing finesse as the Giants ended their home schedule with a sunny 7-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. At 52-29, the Giants will boast the strongest home record in the National League. And although three games remain at San Diego, Giants owner Bill Neukom apparently is confident he has the right baseball leadership going forward. Earlier in the homestand, Neukom informed general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy that he wished to retain their services, a major league source confirmed to Bay Area News Group. Contract length and other terms are being negotiated presently, ..."
Giants must trade an arm they love for a bat they need
Comment
October 2
Contra Costa Times
 
"Thursday at AT"
Lincecum not likely to be a Cy Young repeat
Comment
October 2
Contra Costa Times
 
"Randy Johnson tried to tell Tim Lincecum back in spring training: It's always tougher the second time around. "He never really responded, but I think he heard me," Johnson said. "Repeating things is a lot harder." Lincecum knows it now. In his final start of the season Thursday, he took a shutout into the eighth inning in a 7-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, improved to 15-7 and lowered his ERA to 2.48 - well below last year's 2.62 ERA, when he won the Cy Young Award. But the competition is tougher this time. Lincecum should receive his share of votes, but he isn't considered a favorite to repeat. The St. Louis Cardinals' Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright will receive strong ..."
Molina and the Giants need each other
Comment
October 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ray Rotto
"Rich Aurilia received five standing ovations Thursday, one for every two years in service to the king. A fair return, all in all, and besides, gratitude is free. But with the customers in a magnanimous mood during the Giants' 7-3 win over Arizona to end their home season, Bengie Molina must have slipped their minds. I mean, we know Aurilia isn't coming back so the gratitude was well-earned. But Molina might come back; more importantly, the Giants don't have a way to replace his 20 homers and 80 RBIs, and their need for him is as a great as his need for them. He offered one last reminder to the home folks Thursday with a fourth-inning double down the right field line that scored the second ..."
Carpenter is Lincecum's Cy Young pick
Comment
October 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Tim Lincecum's choice to win the Cy Young Award? "I would like to see (Chris) Carpenter because of his comeback," Lincecum said. "He's put up pretty crazy numbers." Carpenter, who missed more than a month this year with an oblique injury and most of 2007 and 2008 with an elbow injury, is 17-4 with a league-low 2.24 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals after throwing five scoreless innings and driving in six runs (four on a grand slam) against the Reds on Thursday. The Cardinals have two Cy Young candidates, including Adam Wainwright (19-8, 2.58). Lincecum, after outdueling Dan Haren on Thursday, is 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA. His ERA is lower than last year's 2.62, and his strikeout total (261) is ..."
Giants will bring back Bochy, Sabean
Comment
October 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants' 2009 home season ended with Rich Aurilia taking a final curtain call, Tim Lincecum winning his 15th game, Randy Johnson throwing the final inning without knowing it and Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy on the verge of new contracts. With Thursday's 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks, the Giants completed a three-game sweep to give them the National League's best home record, 52-29, then boarded their charter to San Diego for the final three games. While an announcement isn't due until next week, The Chronicle learned that Sabean and Bochy will be re-signed and return next season. Contracts are in the process of being ironed out. For weeks, all signs pointed to extensions for the ..."
GIANTS 4, D'BACKS 1
Comment
October 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"To the surprise of many, the 2009 Giants stayed in contention for 158 games, or more accurately 1572/3. They were not eliminated by losing. They defeated Arizona 4-1 Wednesday night as Brad Penny ended a six-start audition with his first complete game since 2005. The wild-card math caught up to the Giants with a Colorado victory that ended during the seventh inning of the game at China Basin. "When we were in spring training, we felt like we were a team that could contend with this pitching staff and the lineup we were throwing out there," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We took it deep into the season. For that, we feel pretty good. It's a little disappointing we didn't take it farther." So ..."
Giants' Aurilia will say goodbye to AT&T Park today
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October 1
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Aurilia will say goodbye to AT&T Park today Rich Aurilia will put on a Giants uniform for the final time Sunday in San Diego, but he expects to be most emotional during today's home finale at AT&T Park. "It's been my home for 11 of the last 14 years," said Aurilia, who ranks sixth with 1,290 games played in the club's San Francisco era. "I was here when this place opened. I played in a World Series here. I'm sure the day will bring back a lot of memories — all good ones." Giants manager Bruce Bochy paused for 20 seconds when asked if Aurilia would be in the lineup. It's clear the team has something in the works for their respected infielder. "I don't know yet," Bochy said furtively. ..."
Giants officially eliminated
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October 1
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants began September in a dead heat with Colorado for the NL wild card, having just swept the Rockies in a surging three-game series at AT&T Park. Now the calendar page is turning to October. And on Wednesday night, the Giants sped straight through to 2010. In the seventh inning of their 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Giants were eliminated from postseason play. Colorado had finished its victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, keeping the Giants out of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The Giants are trying to finish strong, and won their third consecutive behind Brad Penny's complete game. But their surge is coming too late. The Giants were 13-14 in September ..."
Dodgers can't finish it off
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October 1
Los Angeles Times
 
"The bottles of champagne remained corked when the Dodgers departed from Petco Park on Wednesday night, their 5-0 loss to the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies' 10-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers keeping their magic number to clinch the National League West at one for the fourth consecutive day. But no worries. Champagne can be aged for several decades if stored under proper conditions, evidenced by how one wine critic described the 1928 Dom Perignon as "lively" and "totally fantastic" as recently as three years ago. "It's delicious," Manager Joe Torre said of cellared champagne. So, hey, if the Dodgers get swept by the Colorado Rockies this weekend and lose the division crown, ..."
Curtain call for best ever S.F. catcher?
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September 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"These may be the final days in San Francisco for Bengie Molina, though it would be wise for the Giants to try to persuade the catcher to return for one more year to split time with Buster Posey - if Posey proves worthy. If it is the end, Molina has done enough in three years to warrant comparisons to other all-time San Francisco catchers. In fact, a case can be made that he ranks No. 1 in the team's 52 years in San Francisco. His .277 average and .439 slugging percentage since joining the team are highest among the 10 catchers who have caught at least 350 games, and no other catcher has matched his 255 RBIs over any three-year span. His 95 RBIs in 2008 are more than any season high except ..."