Aaron Rowand News: Pro Sports Daily

Giants' Aaron Rowand puts the pedal to his mettle

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February 18

San Jose Mercury News

"Aaron Rowand flexed the bulging knots in his calf muscles, showing off proof of a winter spent pushing pedals on a bicycle. A stationary bike, someone asked? "Oh, hell no!" said Rowand, laughing. "Are you kidding me?" With that, the Giants' center fielder whipped out his iPhone and played a video from atop a steep hill in Nevada's beautiful Red Rock country — a scene befitting a John Ford film. It was a message Rowand had recorded for the benefit of team trainer Dave Groeschner and conditioning coach Ben Potenziano. In it, Rowand is decked out in a white racing suit and helmet, striding his high-performance Pinarello cycle and squinting into the phone camera. "It's 6:30 in the morning, and ..."

Rowand reckons Giants' deals will be enough

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August 1

San Jose Mercury News

"Rowand reckons Giants' early deals will be enough Victor Martinez is a run producer with power, Nick Johnson is an on-base machine, and both players switched teams as the non-waiver trade deadline passed Friday afternoon. But neither one to the Giants. General Manager Brian Sabean didn't make any last-minute deals, having added Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko earlier in the week. Will that be enough to make a successful playoff push? "With our pitching staff, I tell you what, I think so," center fielder Aaron Rowand said. "We've come this far while playing a lot of young guys in the lineup, mixing and matching here and there. But now, you've really got to tip your cap to Brian. These are ..."

Rowand will get a rest more often

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April 13

San Francisco Chronicle

"Manager Bruce Bochy sat Aaron Rowand on Sunday. Although the motivation was Rowand's 0-for-10 futility against Chris Young, an occasional day off for the center fielder might help prevent the type of second-half collapse he had last season. "It's going to keep him fresher, giving him a break now and again, sure," Bochy said. "I'm not caught up in what happened last year in the second half. I talked about the fact that I did wear him down. You've got to give guys a break." Rowand started 149 games last season. Five of his 13 days off came in April after he broke some ribs in the season's third game. He rarely rested down the stretch. Rowand, off to a 7-for-18 start, would not cop to feeling ..."

Giants' Rowand reveled in Phillies' World Series win

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March 11

Philadelphia Daily News

"The first year Aaron Rowand was with the Phillies, the team just missed the playoffs. The second year, they won the division but were swept in the first round. Last year they won it all.And, when the final out was recorded, Rowand naturally started jumping up and down to celebrate.Of course, he was watching the game on television at his Las Vegas home at the time. So instead of joining the dogpile on the mound, he had to settle for sending congratulatory text messages to his former teammates.Rowand turned down a 3-year offer from the Phillies and took a 5-year, $60 million deal from the Giants after the 2007 season. And, as much as he would have liked to have been a part of it, he said ..."

Rowand likes the way Giants are playing

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August 24

San Jose Mercury News

"Aaron Rowand always believed the Giants could be contenders in 2009. One of the best teams in the National League, even. What he has seen over the past month — Barry Zito's reemergence, glimmers of talent from younger players, winning six of seven series — has only strengthened his confidence. "It's all about pitching, and we have it,'' the center fielder said. "And we have more in the minor leagues — a lot of it. Guys are starting to believe that we'll be competitive in every game we play. If we score a couple runs late, we can win.'' Rowand also has confidence in Brian Sabean, even though the Giants' longtime general manager doesn't have the strongest approval rating among fans. "There's ..."

Rowand puts best spin on Giants' prospects

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August 24

Oakland Tribune

"Aaron Rowand always believed the Giants could be contenders in 2009. One of the best teams in the National League, even. What he's seen over the past month — Barry Zito's reemergence, glimmers of talent from younger players, winning six of seven series — has only strengthened his confidence. "It's all about pitching and we have it," the Giants center fielder said. "And we have more in the minor leagues — a lot of it. Guys are starting to believe that we'll be competitive in every game we play. If we score a couple runs late, we can win." Rowand also has confidence in Brian Sabean, even though the Giants' longtime general manager doesn't have the strongest approval rating among fans. ..."

Rowand makes new memory

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August 10

San Francisco Chronicle

"For the first time since becoming a Giant, Aaron Rowand saw Barry Bonds on Saturday when the outfielders of the present came onto the field during a pregame ceremony to hand commemorative pins to 26 outfielders of the past. Bonds had some profound words for one of his successors. "I told you it was cold here," Bonds told Rowand, who responded, "You weren't lying." Bonds was long gone when Rowand supplied his most profound act as a Giant. With one out in the 10th inning, he slapped a bases-loaded single past a drawn-in infield to complete a stunning rally against closer Jonathan Broxton that beat the Dodgers 3-2. The night could not have been sweeter for the Giants fans among the 41,963 in ..."

Rowand quickly became team's clubhouse leader

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August 8

San Francisco Chronicle

"Aaron Rowand sat by his locker this week and uttered a simple declaration that every hotshot prospect and clubhouse loudmouth in baseball should remember. "Nobody in this game deserves respect," Rowand said. "You have to earn it." Rowand has earned it. The currency of his respect is a World Series ring, the image of his bloodied face after crashing into that wall in Philadelphia, playing in 107 of 112 games in 2008 despite busting a rib or two in the second game of the season and his demeanor as the Giants' clubhouse leader. And make no mistake. Even if Rowand is correct in saying, "We're all equals in this clubhouse," he has emerged as the first among equals. "This is Rowand's team," ..."

Escobar concerned about shoulder

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July 13

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Yunel Escobar is scheduled to have an MRI on his troublesome left shoulder Monday and said Saturday that he was concerned "a little bit." The Braves' shortstop missed five games June 25-July 1 after injuring the shoulder reaching for first base when he dove back trying to avoid a double play."

Dodgers second-guessing can start with Giants' Aaron Rowand

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June 29

Los Angeles Times

"The Dodgers played the Giants in the first three games of the season and haven't seen them since -- except in the rearview mirror, at an uncomfortably close distance. In this season when the Giants were expected to be bad -- and they are -- nothing would be quite so embarrassing for the Dodgers as finishing behind their rivals. Season totals for center fielders, through Friday's games: Aaron Rowand, .300 with eight home runs and 43 runs batted in for the Giants, for $10 million; Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre, .243 with two home runs and 31 RBIs for the Dodgers, for $26 million."

Fond All-Star memory

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June 8

San Jose Mercury News

"Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand acquiesced to a day off Saturday in order to rest an inflamed right hip flexor. But he never begs for a break, and he wouldn't dream of complaining if selected to the National League All-Star team. "No, I'd be honored to play," said Rowand, whose .328 average is fifth in the National League and leads all N.L. outfielders. "Last year was one of the highlights of my career and it would be an honor to be a part of something like that again.""

Rowand worthy - but unlikely - to be All-Star

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June 8

San Francisco Chronicle

"Aaron Rowand made the final out of last year's All-Star Game in San Francisco, flying to right against the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez with the bases loaded to end a 5-4 American League victory. The numbers suggest Rowand deserves a shot to go to this year's game at Yankee Stadium. The Giants are going to campaign for Rowand's election to the National League team, but he has no illusions about his chances. Other than Barry Bonds, San Francisco players have had a hard time in the polling. A decrease in attendance will not help the cause either."

Maybe only one will go to Yankee Stadium

June 2

San Francisco Chronicle

"For now, the Giants have as many as four All-Star candidates - Tim Lincecum, Bengie Molina, Aaron Rowand and Brian Wilson - but the team's low placement in the standings could mean only one Giant will suit up July 15 at Yankee Stadium. "We've got some guys having really good years," Rowand said. "Right now, if I had to say one guy, it probably would be Timmy. He's throwing the heck out of the ball." Lincecum, who threw seven scoreless innings Sunday before being charged with an eighth-inning run, is 7-1 with a 2.23 ERA."