Giants/A's

Five and a half months after Gehrig John Neshek stopped breathing and died only 23 hours after his birth, his parents are just beginning to learn to breathe again.

The rain falling at AT&T Park since the third inning had subsided, replaced by confetti that settled around the feet of Moises Alou.

Of the injured Giants, manager Bruce Bochy considers Hector Sanchez the most uncertain to be fully healed by Opening Day.

Although the A's won't have Bartolo Colon in their rotation the first week of the season, he'll almost certainly be there after serving the final five days of his 2012 suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

Grant Balfour isn't much of a fan of pitching in minor-league games – almost no veteran pitchers are.

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was scratched from Sunday's 9-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies after he complained of discomfort in his right elbow.

Following Matt Cain's five shutout innings Friday, Madison Bumgarner was nearly as good Saturday, pitching five strong innings as the Giants lost 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds in a split-squad game for both clubs.

No one in the A's camp has done more to help his cause with less publicity than Eric Sogard.

Amid pressing matters of trying to make an impression in spring training and win a job with the A's, infielder Eric Sogard was asked last week if he'd gotten to know the guy in the next locker at the team's spring training facility in Phoenix, reliever Brian Gordon.

The Subway Series won't start for another two months. In the meantime, pick your superhero.

Brett Pill's chances of making the Giants' Opening Day roster took a hit Wednesday when it was determined he'll require surgery on his right knee to repair a meniscus tear.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he'd be happy if Tim Lincecum got his pitch count up to 45 on Tuesday night, and that's right about where the right-hander left his start against the San Diego Padres.

Yoenis Cespedes was back at A's camp on Tuesday, crushing balls in batting practice, a great weight lifted off his brawny shoulders.

Mitch Lively, a punter at Sacramento State for four seasons, hopes to stick with the San Francisco Giants as a pitcher.

A's pitcher Arnold Leon was optioned to the River Cats and sent to Oakland's minor-league camp Monday.

Gio Gonzalez munched on chicken wings and shrimp scampi at a sports bar in his hometown as he watched Team USA rally to stay alive in the World Baseball Classic.

A's left-hander and projected Opening Day starter Brett Anderson left his spring training start Sunday because of a strained neck muscle after facing just two hitters, but he said he doesn't think the injury is "anything major."

When Chris Heston took the mound for his first bullpen session this spring, he looked down to the plate and saw Buster Posey waiting to catch him.

Running out of outs, Adam Jones and Team USA suddenly broke loose and saved themselves from a humbling loss.

Tim Lincecum threw 32 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and said he's looking forward to rejoining the Giants' rotation this week.

Shane Peterson was one of the few comers in the A's farm system who didn't get a look on the major-league roster last year. But he's getting one this spring, and he's leaving manager Bob Melvin and the front office staff wide-eyed.

Technically speaking, this start didn't come with quite the amount of consequence that Ryan Vogelsong got to know so well last October.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he wouldn't have minded if Sergio Romo had thrown four more pitches for Mexico on Thursday night in the World Baseball Classic.

PEORIA, Ariz. – Josh Donaldson arrived with his A's teammates for Friday's spring training game against the Seattle Mariners with his equipment bag but not his customary No. 20 jersey.

PHOENIX – The night began with two anthems. It saw flags draped over suite balconies and shoulders. It heard baseball Commissioner Bud Selig speak longingly about the "internationalization" of baseball. And it ended with Team USA losing its opening game of the World Baseball Classic 5-2 to Mexico.

All of our baseball expert friends say the World Baseball Classic is a big deal, but we're not feeling the excitement – at least not yet.

PHOENIX - As the Oakland A's went through cutoff and relay drills Thursday morning, Jemile Weeks stood in foul territory in a green warm-up sweater, his long hair spilling out of the back of his hat and his glove on his hand, watching.

PHOENIX – Before the A's played the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, Jed Lowrie hadn't played third base in a major-league game since 2011. And Chris Young had not played left field.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Tim Lincecum's troublesome blister is steadily improving.

Even for a Cactus League affair in early March, Thursday's game between the A's and Mariners got off to an odd start. A's left-hander Tommy Milone, the control artist who owned the seventh-lowest walk ratio among qualified starters last season (1.71 per nine innings) issued a free pass to Mariners leadoff hitter Robert Andino -- on four pitches.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – One benefit of being a young catcher in the Giants' spring training camp: When the incumbent gives you pointers, you can be pretty confident in the source.

One benefit of being a young catcher in the Giants' spring training camp: When the incumbent gives you pointers, you can be pretty confident in the source.

Some highlights from a few days in Scottsdale, Ariz., enjoying the sun-drenched circus that is spring training:

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner threw 223 1/3 innings during the regular season and playoffs last year in his second full season in the majors. Afterward, the 23-year-old talked with his more veteran rotation mates about how they planned to alter their winter workouts following such a long season.

The play has followed Gregor Blanco since last June - around San Francisco and back home to his native Venezuela.

Sean Doolittle's sharp rise from Class A to the major leagues last season showed a knack for fast learning from the first baseman-turned-relief pitcher. But apparently that doesn't apply to everything.