Return to AT&T Park

Its good to be home again. Walking into the ballpark again, the lights, the sounds, the people, the smells, being squished in the BART and even more squished in the MUNI...having your feet stepped on, having to pee like crazy and waiting in a Giant line of fellow fans dressed in black and orange...and hearing, up close and personal, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things -- and holy crap there's a lot to talk about. Since their return home, the Giants have won both of their home series against the Cardinals and the rival Dodgers. Both of the games we won during the Cardinals series happened to be late in the game ... meaning in the bottom of the 9th or in extra innings.

In game one of the Cardinal series, Aaron Rowand was the hero. He's been hitting well recently, which will prompt more questions when Andres Torres (not on the 15-day disabled list, a strained Achilles tendon) and Cody Ross (whos' likely to return later this month) return to the line-up, where will Rowand go since he's obviously hot right now. Those are questions to be answered a little later on. Anyway, before Rowand got to be a hero again (again because he was the home opener hero last season too) Pablo Sandoval had to tie the game up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Thankfully, the lighter Panda managed to come through for us, and the game went into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 12th, Rowand got his chance. The Cardinals' relief pitcher loaded the bases by intentionally walking Freddy Sanchez. Rowand smashes a double into the outfield, hitting the wall before falling into anyone's glove and we win 3-2 Giants.

In game two of the series, we were in a similar situation. After the euphoric flag raising ceremony involving our favorite black bearded closer, Brian Wilson, the same black-bearded-ninja-raging-sugar-giving-closer blew his first save of the season. It's important to note that he was recovering from oblique problems. Anyway, after blowing the lead, we were trailing the Cardinals by 1 run in the bottom of the 9th. Instead of Rowand being the hero, Tejada decided to earn the adoration of Giants fans by smashing his own game winning double into the outfield to take home game 2 of the Cardinals series.

After the Cardinals flew out of town, the Dodgers came in. After a few of their dumb fans who were likely just looking for a "good" excuse to throw a punch beat up an Innocent Giants fan, emotions were running high. Security was tighter than usual and there were plenty of news articles urging Giants fans to have some pride and not retaliate.

The Giants lost the first game of the series, but won the second and third. My boyfriend and I went to the second game. It was his first professional ball game ever, and he had to be initiated into the fandom. The game got off to a slow start and the Dodgers took to the lead from Tim Lincecum early on in the game. Timmy was having a little trouble with his command of the strike-zone, but we'll see what happens -- his velocity is back though. It was a back and forth game; the Dodgers taking the lead and the Giants tying it up and the Dodgers taking the lead again. The Giants finally pulled ahead late in the game after Rowand tripled, and came home on a wild pitch. The final score was 5-4.

Last night's game was won on two home runs.  Aaron Rowand lead of the game with a double and inched his way home on fielder's choices and a sacrifice fly by Huff. The guy may look like seaweed  in the water when he's batting or like he's drunk until the ball starts flying his way, but hey, if he's hitting, who cares. Pablo Sandoval homered (batting right, his first in a while) and with two outs, Mike Fontenot also sends a solo shot into the stands. Fontenot was a last minute replacement for DeRosa who was a last minute replacement for Freddy Sanchez. I guess you gotta use the chances you have to play to play well, especially if you're fighting for a potential starting spot in the line up.

 3There have been possibilities that Belt and Huff will trade positions. Belt, who has only seen playing time at first base as a GIANT, could be moving to right field and Huff returning to his comfortable first base position. This leaves two empty spots in the outfield...and many potential outfielders.

Speaking of fighting for spots in the line up, even though we managed to get rid of some of our outfielders, it still seems like a crowded outfield to me. We have, Cody Ross, Andres Torres, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff (future maybe Brandon Belt) Mark DeRosa and Nate Scheirholtz...they're all fighting for playing time. Mark DeRosa hasn't seen very much playing time except for as a pinch hitter, but that could change, he's a good player, and it was disappointing when he fell of the grid last season after so much anticipation because of his wrist. That was back when Todd Wellemeyer was still starting...where is that guy? At that time, Aaron Rowand was also our lead-off man. Anyway, how are they all going to get playing time?

Rowand has been hitting triples and doubles, and RBIs all over the place just trying to keep his spot in the line-up. Andres Torres was our centerfielder most of last season and we know for a fact that he plays well...plus he can run. Belt can also run, and play the outfield; if not, Aubrey Huff will keep his spot most likely and play in the outfield. Nate Scheirholtz went 3-3 in a recent game, proving that he too can contribute to the team in one way or another. The return of Cody Ross will take away a spot in the outfield. The outfield is currently manned by Burrell, Huff, and Rowand. Cody Ross will almost absolutely reclaim his spot as soon as he's feeling better, moving Burrell out of the line up. If Rowand continues to hit well, we'll move Huff back to first and sit Belt for a little while, and put Torres back in center.

Of course, there's a million, bazillion options here, and all the guys wanna see playing time...

My homecoming to AT&T Park was completed by how oblivious my boyfriend was to the whole thing. It finally feels like the season's started and summer's just around the corner.

I can breathe a little easier knowing that

the boys of summer are finally back.  

Raising the Flag

You would think that the euphoria here in San Francisco ended long ago, but that's unbelievably wrong. The excitement and energy has carried over from November of 2010 to the 2011 home opener at AT&T park, San Francisco. The city has been waiting patiently for the return of their beloved, championship team. Tickets for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday home opener, a series set to be against the St. Louis cardinals is sold out. The park that has been dormant since november will come alive again as the giants come home.

Here in the windy, foggy streets of San Francisco, there's been a lot of pressure to repeat, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since the 2000 Yankees. The San Francisco giants are new to this whole champions ordeal. Across the bay, the Oakland athletics repeated way back before I was even born.

San Francisco didn't get off to a great start, seeing as we nearly got swept by the dodgers ad the padres. Then again, when have the giants ever been consistent? I think the team is still trying to find their "fight." and it'll come, in time it'll come.

The giants have added rookie Brandon belt to their roster. Belt is taking over at first base, moving veteran Aubrey huff to right field.So far, belt has hit an impressive homer over the dodgers' centerfield wall. For now, pat Burrell is playing in left, but with the return of Cody Ross, things could change a lot. Clothes are the options. 1). pat burial leaves, someone is given up, rowand or burrell or maybe schierholtz. 2). Brandon belt spends some more time In triple aaa Fresno, moving huff back to first & keeping Burrell in left. Thy decision will depend on how belt plays in the time Cody needs to recover. Things will work themselves out; when the time comes to make the changes, well see how things have played out & make the changes accordingly.

Aubrey huff struggled a little bit his first several games, but lucky for us, he began producing again yesterday. He's still breaking in right field, but he's a team
Player and would be happy to contribute anyway he can. Brandon belt has brought with him an air of patience. The kid, unlike many rookies, knows how to wait for the right pitch. He has a really good eye, and rarely looks frantic at the plate. For a rookie, he's calm and tames each of his swings.

Tomorrow begins a new chapter for the treen. They get to come home to screaming fans who are craving more wins, and perhaps, dare I say it, maybe even another title. Spring is starting to look a little tiny but like summer, and that means baseball is officially back here in the city. the giants will take the field tomorrow as world series champions.

2011 is just another season. Were gonna take this one game at a time and see where that takes us. hopefully, it'll take us far & maybe, just maybe, well get to relive 2010 again.

Either way, its gonna be a good season of ball, I can feel it. I mean, it's baseball, anything cam happen.