Northern California Baseball Blog and Q&A

Paul Gutierrez
Raised in Barstow, Calif., where he played community college baseball for two years, Paul Gutierrez has worked at Sports Illustrated and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he covered his alma mater's Runnin' Rebels at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During a six-year stint at the Los Angeles Times, he co-authored Tommy Davis' "Tales from the Dodgers Dugout." He came to The Bee in October 2005 and is now a Bay Area sports features writer who concentrates on baseball during the spring and summer.

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July 31, 2007

Time for Beane and Geren to exit, stage right?

Question: I think it's time for Billy Beane to make his exit and take Bob Geren with him. The A's need a manager that has a brain of his own and isn't controlled by the GM. These A's teams from the last three years have been horrible offensively. My question is when will this all end?

- Mick, Vacaville

Answer: Wow, rarely does the normally bulletproof Beane get any criticism but your points are refreshingly frank. To answer your question - Not anytime soon. William Lamar "Billy" Beane, you may recall, signed a seven-year contract extension in June and already has a small ownership stake in the club. And Bob Geren is a close personal friend who was the best man at Beane's second wedding. So while it may seem as though Beane is weaning himself off the A's with such outside interests as soccer, "Moneyball" is here to stay.

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: Do you have references to medical research, with double blind studies, showing that performance enhancing drugs actually enhance performance over that of placebos. I have not been able to find any, not even in the steroid bible, "Anabolic Steroids".

-Roy Sachs, Davis

Answer: Um, no. I suppose we could ask Barry Bonds his thoughts in the media conference after he hits home run No. 756, but that could be a tad awkward.

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: Will you do another article like pious? I loved it. It doesn't just take strength, it takes hand-eye coordination. How many readers know about all the cheating that went on in Hank Aaron's era and since then, from the beginning of baseball? Corked bats, pine tar on bats. Scuffed bats. Ty Cobb sharpened his cleats to slide into players on bases. Spit on the ball. What about all the drunks that played baseball? Babe Ruth, Gaylord Perry, many others. Role models? Ha! There has been cheating since the beginning of sports. Doesn't make it right. But it's done.

-Ginger Johnson, Eden Valley

Answer: Preach on, Ginger. Preach on. And to anyone who missed "Pious," it was last week's On Baseball column, where I opined that the current mess baseball is in with regards to steroids and Barry Bonds about to become the home run king is a well-deserved maelstrom because we all looked the other way at the dawn of the Steroid Era.

You can find the column at http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/292614.html

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: Curt Schilling is throwing everyone under the bus for using steroids. Has he forgotten that he was on the Phillies with Lenny Dykstra when he used steroids to win an MVP Award? How come Bob Costas or any reporters aren't asking about that?

-J Clemons, Fairfield.

Answer: Well, there have been many rumors about steroids and Dykstra, who was known as "Nails" in his career, but he never won an MVP award. He did, however, finish second to one Barry Lamar Bonds in 1993.

And all you need to know about Schilling is that he once said in an interview that he could never give up chewing tobacco, which has been proven to cause cancer, despite his wife Shonda suffering from skin cancer at the time.

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: Who's the real villain in this steroid mess? Is it not the commissioner's job to police the league that HE runs, to implement and enforce drug policies? Why in the world would anyone feel sorry for Bud Selig? He is the single person most responsible for this whole mess. Could you even imagine Stern or Goodell in this situation? Of course not. So why aren't people calling for Bud's resignation? Why must Barry be the scapegoat? Every fan and sportswriter is to blame as well? We drooled every time someone was on pace for 60. Careful what u wish4.

-Jason, Sacramento

Answer: I couldn't agree with you more. Take a look at http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/292614.html to get a sense on how I feel we are all to blame for this. I also called out Selig during the All-Star game here http://www.sacbee.com/giants/story/266886.html

Why is Barry the scapegoat? Several reasons. The first is because he's about to break the most hallowed record in the national pastime. The second is because he is perceived as a bad guy. And third, and no one really wants to address this, is the racial element involved. Sometimes the truth hurts.

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: Why don't MLB just drug test all the players before every game. I think that would take care of the steroid problem. What do you think?

-Sean Nova, Citrus Heights

Answer: I think that would be messy, but funny. Would you be willing to deliver said specimens to the lab for testing?

-Paul Gutierrez

Question: I've been a loyal Giants fan for about 45 years now. Frankly, I don't know if I've ever saw the team in such a mess. I mean, Giant brass have made Bonds breaking the home-run record more important than winning. Isn't this going to have even the most loyal fans looking elsewhere for entertainment? How long will the ballpark sell tickets? As a whole, baseball fans tend to support winners. What will happen when the sideshow (Bonds) is gone? Without a packed ballpark are the Giants going to be able to afford the players necessary to win games?

-Rex Hughes, Gordonsville, TN

Answer: You bring up a more-than-valid point. When the Giants declared last winter that Bonds would not be the centerpiece of the team and yet, made him the centerpiece with such an old and cheap lineup, it was obvious the front office chose the record chase over fielding a competitive team. Unless they were fooling themselves, that is. Fans will continue to attend games at what many say is the most beautiful ballpark in the game the remainder of this season, with the hope of catching Bonds' final home run as a Giant. But it will be interesting to see how fans react next season. Owner Peter Magowan and general manager Brian Sabean have both hinted that the rebuilding begins once Bonds is gone, which should be next season. As far as affording players, with Bonds off the books they have a lot of cash to throw around since there should not be THAT big of a dip in attendance. But it will be interesting to see how long fans are willing to wait out a rebuilding project.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 09:09 PM | Comments

Dude, just take over the payments?

The strangest rumor making its way through the press box here at McAfee Coliseum in regards to the non-trade of Mike Piazza to the division-rival Angels is that the Halos simply turned down a deal in which all they would have had to do was take over the remainder of Piazza's contract and not part with anyone.

Kinda like "buying" a car and just having to take over payments.

Piazza is owed a pro-rated $2.88 million for the rest of the season.

Looks like the nickname of Angels General Manager Bill "Roster set in" Stone-man is well deserved.

A's general manager Billy Beane is expected to be available after the game.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete at 07:28 PM | Comments

All quiet in the East Bay

The non-waiver trade deadline came and went and despite Mike Piazza, Dan Johnson and Joe Blanton all being bandied about as trade bait in the days leading up to the 1 p.m. deadline, all three still found themselves wearing green and gold Tuesday afternoon.

Piazza, who was the centerpiece of the blockbuster seven-player trade in 1998 when the Los Angeles Dodgers sent him to the Florida Marlins for Gary Sheffield, among others, said he was happy to still be with the A's, even as his rumored suitors, the Angels, are in a playoff chase and the A's are all but done.

"I mean, I just wasn't really thinking that much of it, really," Piazza said. "I've just always felt that unless something actually happens, it's not worth getting all worked up about.

"I'll just keep plugging away. I'll never sign on with a team expecting to be traded."

As Piazza, who signed with the A's to be their designated hitter and nothing more, spoke to a growing group of reporters in the A's clubhouse about NOT being traded, it was ironic that the television behind him showed the Kevin Garnett press conference after his trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics.

"It's kind of like a marriage, for better or worse," Piazza said. "We're not in the standings where we need to be."

Still, Piazza, with what remains of an $8.5-million salary, could slip through the waiver wire and be dealt next month.

"I've been around a long time so to work yourself up for no reason doesn't make much sense," he said. "I've still got to prepare myself. I don't know if that comes from experience or being pragmatic. We'll see."

And there are still plans to have him catch, which seems odd considering the A's lost about a month of time when he was attempting to rehab his shoulder enough to throw as a catcher when he could have been hitting and helping the A's.

Yet, so in love with Jack Cust fell the A's and general manager Billy Beane they essentially sacrificed Piazza's bat in the interim.

"He would like to get back there (and catch)," said A's manager Bob Geren, "and I would like to get both him and Cust in the lineup."

Piazza said it was still too early to get involved with hypotheticals.

"I'm happy they decided to keep me," he said. "We want to be in a better spot in the standings, but when I make a commitment...."

Too bad the A's did not maintain their commitment to Piazza as a pure DH.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete at 06:50 PM | Comments

July 29, 2007

A few last thoughts on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon...

Before I pack up here at AT&T Park, er Dodger Stadium North (remember, this Blog will refer to the baseball yard here at China Basin as such until the Giants break their 11-game home losing streak to the Dodgers) a strange feeling overcame me that Barry Bonds will still pass Hank Aaron at home, sometime during the homestand of Aug. 6-12 against dregs Washington and/or Pittsburgh.

Why? When he has six games in L.A. and San Diego to hit two homers?

Well, there is this creeping sense that Bonds will sit out Tuesday's series opener at Dodger Stadium, giving him two off days in a row, and then he'll sit out the series finale at Petco Park next Sunday, which will be a day game after a night game. That would give him just four games in a week, enough of a break to recharge his 43-year-old batteries to ensue his chase at Dodger Stadium North and Franklin Stubbs Bay.

Just a hunch...

Also, keep an eye on the Blog the next few days as I will be answering questions that have been flooding in from eager readers.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 06:01 PM | Comments

Adios, SF, Hola, LA.

After a day off Monday, the Barry Bonds home run watch resumes Tuesday in, of all places, Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium.

Bonds was held homerless again Sunday as the future home run king, who needs two homers to supplant Hank Aaron, was 1-for-4 against the Marlins in the Giants' 8-5 loss.

Bonds grounded out to second in the second inning, flied out to right in the fourth, grounded out to second in the sixth and reached first when catcher Miguel Olivo missed Bonds' pop-up in front of the mound in the eighth. The play was originally scored an error on Olivo but was changed to a single after the game.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 03:48 PM | Comments

Just thinking out loud about the rivalry

But with the Giants honoring the 1987 division championship team, we're feeling a tad nostalgic. After all, they're playing my favorite music, jams from the late 80s along with clips of the Giants division winner.

They introduced members of the team before the game and Kevin Mitchell, Jeffrey "Don't call me Jeff" Leonard and Will Clark received the loudest ovations from the crowd.

The 1987 Giants won the NL West after losing 100 games two seasons earlier and obviously hold a special place in the fans' heart.

And having grown up in Southern California and following the Dodgers, it got me to thinking about the rivalry between the franchises that dates to their days in New York and Brooklyn, respectively.

The Giants were always kind of cute in comparison to the Dodgers, kind of like the Padres and Angels for that matter. They didn't generate the type of hatred the Boys in Blue do in the Bay Area. At least not to me and mine. Maybe it was because the Giants were never really a threat. Sure, they won the occasional division title and Joe Morgan's homer knocked the defending World Series champion Dodgers out of the chase in 1982.

But while the Dodgers were winning World Series in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988, the Giants and their fans are still waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

Hey, I actually rooted for the Hummmm Baby Giants as a high school senior in 1987, the whole Hac-Man and his one-flap down act in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Now what self-respecting Dodger fan back in the day would admit that, even 20 years later?

Then again, having heard Leonard and Co. just murder "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the seventh-inning stretch, I now understand now why so many Dodgers - Duke Snider even said he hates Halloween because its colors are orange and black - and their fans despise the Giants.

Hey, it's a rivalry, after all. Even if it's so one-sided in favor of The Azul...;-)

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 03:13 PM | Comments

And another groundout

Leading off the sixth inning, Barry Bonds grounded out to second base and the crowd, which was on its feet in anticipation of the record0tying home run, groaned and took a seat.

Bonds is now batting .149 since July 6 and if you take away his three-hit day in Chicago on July 19. he is hitting a putrid .091 since then.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 02:46 PM | Comments

Bonds watch continues

Florida Marlins starter Sergio Marte absolutely owned the Giants the first time through the order, throwing three perfect innings in recording nine groundball outs, including Barry Bonds' groundout to second on a 3-and-0 pitch to start the second inning.

But the Giants teed off on the right-hander in the fourth, scoring five times with two out, and after Bonds flied out to right-field. It was a towering shot off a broken bat that was some 20 feet shy of the warning track, though the crowd erupted as if Bonds had just tied Hank Aaron for the home run crown.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 02:22 PM | Comments

July 28, 2007

Window to history

Wanna see baseball history? Then try sticking by the side of Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Not only will Bochy bear physical witness to a new big league home run record when Barry Bonds goes deep two more times - so long as Bochy is in the dugout - he was already on the field when the Hit King was crowned.

Bochy was catching for the San Diego Padres on Sept. 11, 1985 at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium when Pete Rose singled to left field off Eric Show for the 4,192nd base hit of his career to overtake Ty Cobb.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 08:24 PM | Comments

Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

Dontrelle Willis is not going to shy away from Barry Bonds. At least the Florida Marlins left-handed starter did not the first two times he faced him Saturday night at AT&T Park.

Willis, who grew up in nearby Alameda and said watching Bonds ply his trade in San Francisco was the reason he picked up a baseball glove, challenged his idol with first base open and runners at second and third and one out in the first inning, striking Bonds out on a 96-mph heater.

In the third, first base was again open, this time with two out and a runner at second, and Willis got Bonds to pop up to second baseman Dan Uggla.

The demonstrative Willis said something to Bonds as they crossed paths after the put-out and it looked as though Willis was telling Bonds he was not going to run from him.

Stay tuned.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 07:37 PM | Comments

It could be a great one ...

Greetings from AT&T Park, where Barry Bonds sits with 754 career home runs, one behind Hank Aaron for the major league all-time record.

There is a postseason feel to the atmosphere as the crowd waits in joyful hope of witnessing history.

Before the game's first pitch, a taped message from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky appeared on the stadium's video board as the Great One wished the Surly One luck in his chase and said his wife and family were rooting for him.

Of course, the message prompted snickers in the press box as more than one writer said Gretzky's wife Janet, who has been implicated in a gambling ring, had money on when Bonds would go deep and already had a call in to Rick Tocchet, who pleaded guilty to running the "Operation Slapshot" ring.

Just another day at the yard.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 07:34 PM | Comments

July 25, 2007

Where's Villalona?

Back to the mailbag...

Reader wschoenberger@charter.net of Reno writes: "The Giants signed a kid named Villalona last year. Can you check where the young teenage phenom is playing? I'm guessing he is somewhere in Latin America. Can you also let us know how he is doing?"

We're here to serve so here goes...

Angel Villalona, a third baseman from La Romana, Dominican Republic who was signed by the Giants as a non-drafted free agent on Aug, 16, 2006, is playing for the Giants' Arizona Rookie League entry in Scottsdale. Villalona, who turns 17 on Aug. 13, was ranked by Baseball America as the Giants' third-best prospect heading into this season.

He is struggling to find his stroke in Arizona, though, as the 6-feet-3, 200-pound right-handed hitting Villalona is batting just .230 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 24 games. He has struck out 18 times, walked 10 times and his on-base percentage is .327, his slugging percentage is .414 and his OPS is .741.

For updated stats on Villalona or any other minor league player check out www.minorleaguebaseball.com and do a player search by last name.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 09:56 AM | Comments

July 20, 2007

Looking for signs?

OK, as if there are not enough weird and wacky coincidences with Barry Bonds sitting within two home runs of Hank Aaron with the Giants tonight beginning a three-game set in Milwaukee -- Commissioner Bud Selig's hometown and the city in which Aaron began (the Braves) and ended (the Brewers) his major-league career.

Try this: it was 31 years ago today -- July 20, 1976 -- that Hammerin' Hank hit the 755th and final homer of his career. It was a two-out, solo shot off California Angels right-hander Dick "Don't call me Ivan" Drago at Milwaukee's County Stadium in a 6-2 Brewers win. One batter earlier, George Scott took Drago deep.

Gotta love retrosheet.org...
-- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete at 03:16 PM | Comments

July 18, 2007

Scapegoats?!?

Just something to chew on, but since both Bay Area teams parted ways with their resident bad boys - the Giants and embattled closer Armando Benitez and the A's and volatile yet brittle outfielder Milton Bradley - both clubs have taken turns for the worse.

The Giants were 25-26 (.490) when they traded Benitez to the Florida Marlins before facing the New York Mets on May 31 and are 14-27 (.342) without him.

The A's were 39-32 (.549) when they designated Bradley for assignment on June 21 and are 6-18 (.250) since.

It will be football season early for Bay Area baseball fans this year.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:11 PM | Comments

No mo' 'Swish' and 'Mo Bezee'

The A's Nick Swisher is not only missing his buddy in Milton "Mo Bezee" Bradley, but also, apparently, his hair.

Swisher has no one with whom to celebrate his home runs in the dugout as he did with Bradley. Two weeks ago, Swisher was reduced to a "ghost" handshake routine after going deep. Interestingly enough, it is the only homer Swisher has hit since his partner in celebration was let loose.

The Samson effect on Swisher also is up for review.

When Swisher cut his hair for charity May 19 - the locks were made into wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment as a tribute to Swisher's late grandmother Betty Lorraine Swisher, who died from brain cancer two years ago - the switch-hitter was batting a robust .290 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 35 games.

Since undergoing the cut, Swisher has five homers and 25 RBIs in 52 games and his batting average has slipped 34 points, to .256.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:11 PM | Comments

'Aloha' means 1 for fastball, 2 for curve

Things are getting dreary in the A's clubhouse, but there was at least some positive news made Tuesday at 10:16 p.m. at McAfee Coliseum.

With two outs in the eighth inning and the bases loaded, the A's boasted the first Hawaiian-born battery in major-league history. That's when right-hander Shane Komine, who was born in Honolulu on Oct. 1, 1980, took the mound against Texas Rangers designated hitter Sammy Sosa and pitched to catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was born in Wailuki on Maui on Oct. 4, 1983.

Hmmm, sounds as if The Bee needs to send this reporter to Paradise for an in-depth feature on Hawaiians in baseball, right, boss?

Shaka, brah, and mahalo.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:11 PM | Comments

July 17, 2007

Eager Suzuki has his chance

Talk about being in a tough-yet-great spot.

Kurt Suzuki, who began the season with the River Cats, has the unenviable task of trying to fill the catcher's gear left in Oakland by the revered Jason Kendall, who was traded by the A's to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

The A's pitchers have made it well known how much Kendall's game-calling behind the plate has contributed to their development, especially All-Star Game starter Dan Haren, surprise Chad Gaudin and injured closer Huston Street.

So into this cauldron of expectations steps the rookie Suzuki. And really, he's up to the task.

"I feel I'm ready and obviously (the front office) felt I was ready," Suzuki said Tuesday afternoon at McAfee Coliseum before the A's game against the visiting Texas Rangers. "The only thing I couldn't control was how fast I was going to get here.

"I love this. This is something I want to do - follow in Jason's footsteps."

And what of earning the pitching staff's trust?

"It will happen," Suzuki said. "It might not be tomorrow or next week or even a month, but it will happen. It's just a matter of time."

Time, most assuredly, will tell.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:58 PM | Comments

July 15, 2007

Series an 'embarrassment' for Bonds

Barry Bonds hit a major roadblock on the road to becoming the all-time home run king, a Dodger Blue roadblock, and while Bonds might be just five homers from passing Hank Aaron, he looked utterly lost in a lost weekend against the hated Dodgers.

Bonds was a combined 0 for 12 vs. L.A., and he is 0 for his last 20, the fourth-such longest streak of his career.

"It's an embarrassment to me wearing this ... uniform the way I'm playing," Bonds told reporters in a hushed Giants clubhouse after they had been swept by their SoCal neighbors.

"There, that's it. Now go away."

And when reporters did not comply, Bonds continued.

"I'm embarrassed to have this ... uniform on, the way I'm performing," he added. "Now get out of here."

The Dodgers are only too eager to abide by Bonds' wishes. After all, they have dibs on naming rights here now, having won 11 in a row at AT&T Park, er, Dodger Stadium North. Yet rumors that they plan on renaming McCovey Cove as Koufax Kove (yes, we realize Sandy was a pitcher but with the Giants serving as the Dodgers' man-servants, the Dodgers can do whatever they want) might be a bit premature. Franklin Stubbs Bay has a nice ring, though.

"We have a lot of respect for him and we pitched him very carefully," Dodgers manager Grady Little said of Bonds. "That's all we're trying to do.

"(Catcher) Russell Martin and those pitchers did an outstanding job on him this series."

Dodgers left-handed reliever Joe Beimel, who grew up in Pittsburgh wanting to challenge Bonds when he played with the Pirates, also owns the impending home run king. Bonds is 1 for 14 against Beimel.

"Guys pitch around him and mentally, I think he can sense that (fear)," an unintimidated Beimel said. "I can't really explain the success.

"He's obviously not the same guy he was six years ago when he was hitting 73 home runs, but that's to be expected. He's still a great hitter and he can still change a game."

Giants fans are waiting. We're all waiting.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 05:47 PM | Comments

Kickin' it

I spent about 20 minutes before today's game chatting up Dodgers journeyman reliever Rudy Seanez, 38, who wants to go into mixed martial arts cage-fighting when his baseball career is over.

Seanez, who has taken taekwondo and jiu-jitsu classes, credits martial arts training for his longevity in the game - and, no, he has not had to use it on the field during a baseball fight.

According to Giants media relations people, Barry Bonds dabbled in martial arts when he first signed with San Francisco in 1993. And former Giant-turned-Dodger Jeff Kent, they said, participated in the kicking art of taekwondo to loosen up his hips and core to better assist him at second base when turning double plays.

Funny, Bonds and Kent just kinda choked and pushed each other when they got into that infamous dugout tiff in 2002.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 03:46 PM | Comments

Reading into Sabean's re-signing

It has been two days since the Giants stunned their fans with the double-whammy of announcing that beleaguered yet formerly bulletproof general manager Brian Sabean had been signed to a two-year extension while owner Peter Magowan acknowledged he was prepared to undergo a youth movement. And the aftershocks still are reverberating throughout China Basin.

Anyone have a "Pardon our dust" sign available while the Giants rebuild?

And just what does it all mean for the largest Giant of all?

Well, if we're reading the tea leaves properly here in the press box, it means Barry Bonds is done as a Giant at the conclusion of this season. Unless, of course, the impending home run king is willing to come back and chase 3,000 hits for a salary considerably less than the $18 million or so he's going to get, including incentives, at season's end. The Giants should begin offers at $3 million and not blink, and if it's not enough for Bonds, he should hit the bricks.

Also, reading between the lines, it appears as though the extension is an admittance by Magowan that Sabean was hamstrung by Bonds' contract, that Bonds and his chase for the home run record were thrust upon Sabean, who made due with what he had at his disposal. The result was a creaky roster headed toward last place. As such, Sabean gets a mulligan for the past three non-playoff seasons, which will run to four this year, and with Bonds gone, Sabean will have the flexibility to build a team as he sees fit.

How do you see it, Giants fans? How long are you willing to wait for a contender while the Giants rebuild?

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 03:29 PM | Comments

Maybe he's auditioning to catch on elsewhere

OK, now he's just showing off.

An inning after climbing the ladder to snag Juan Pierre's line drive that would have scored at least one run to end the second, ageless (with the glove, anyway) Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel barehanded a Jeff Kent chopper at him to start a double play.

All Giants starter Noah Lowry could do was silently mouth the word, "Wow."

Pretty much everyone else at AT&T Park had the same reaction.

Seems as though Vizquel, with his glove-work artistry, is improving his trade value, what with the Giants looking to rebuild and get younger and Vizquel, 40, in the final year of his Giants contract.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 03:25 PM | Comments

Suspended games vs. official games

We want to make this blog as interactive as possible with readers, and as such one of its features is a Q&A section. Reader Glenn L. Spitzer of Sacramento asks: "Why are some baseball games considered complete games after 4 1/2 innings when rain stops play while others are completed at a later date? What is the determining factor between the two results?"

I emailed Michael Teevan of MLB's media relations department and this was his response: "Games completed at a later date are suspended games. A rule change that took effect this year calls for games that are tied after 4 1/2 innings to be picked up where it left off. It used to be that those games would be regulation tie games and replayed in their entirety. If a road team has had at least five innings at bat and is still losing, and the remainder of the game is deemed unplayable, the game can be called and the home team can be declared the winner. There are also rules that apply when a road team ties or takes the lead in the top of the inning - the game could be suspended and resumed where it left off."

Hope that helps, Glenn.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 03:24 PM | Comments

July 14, 2007

Who makes the record book?

With Barry Bonds a mere five home runs from becoming the new home run king, it's natural to predict the date on which he passes Hank Aaron with his 756th career long ball.

Something tells me it happens during the Giants' series against the Florida Marlins July 27-29 at AT&T Park, with, you guessed it, former Giants closer Armando Benitez serving up the record shot.

Another quirky prediction - Bonds tying the mark July 20-22 in Milwaukee, where Aaron began his big league career with the Braves and ended it with the Brewers (it's also home to Commissioner Bud Selig, who has dissed Bonds by not saying if he'll be in attendance for the record), and setting it at home against Aaron's Atlanta Braves, July 23-26.

Now that would be downright eerie, right?

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 12:34 PM | Comments

World Series envy?

Yesterday was Friday the 13th, the second half of the baseball season is underway and both the A's and Giants are under .500. Scary times indeed for the Bay Area teams.

And with the Dodgers at China Basin for a weekend set against the Giants, really, is there a better villain for the Giants to face on such an ominous night?

The fog was rolling in and the scent of garlic fries seem stronger than usual.

At the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dodgers were leading, 3-0, and the Giants have a little rally going when those magic words begin to reverberate throughout AT&T Park.

BEAT L.A.!!! BEAT L.A.!!! BEAT L.A.!!!

A little World Series Envy, perhaps?

After all, since both teams moved to the Golden State from New York and Brooklyn, respectively, following the 1957 season, the Dodgers have won five titles. The Giants? Not so much. As in zero championships.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 12:30 PM | Comments

July 12, 2007

If it's good enough for Bradley ...

So what do Milton Bradley and Rich Harden have in common? We'll answer that at the bottom of this entry.

This morning's news that the A's put the oft-injured Harden on the disabled list - AGAIN - just has to be frustrating for Oakland's fan base.

Then again, how can you miss something you barely had? Harden, the purported right-handed ace of the pitching staff with some of the most electric stuff in the game when healthy, has made just seven appearances this season, including three relief stints. With a $2 million salary this year he's pulling in $500,000 per start. Nice gig if you can get it.

So in keeping with the same line of "good-riddance" thinking many A's fans exhibited when their club cut ties with just-as-brittle outfielder Bradley, shouldn't the A's just get rid of Harden?

If you can't contribute, you can't play, so don't let the door hit ya on the way out, was how many readers put it to me after my "On Baseball" column last week examined the move.

But it's not so easy.

The A's ended up trading free-agent-to-be Bradley and his $4 million salary to the San Diego Padres, after a botched attempt to send him to Kansas City. And Harden is still owed $4.5 million next season with a $7 million club option for 2009.

It was simply cheaper for the frugal A's to get rid of the ultra-intense Bradley after a star-crossed season-and-a-half in the Easy Bay than it would be to do the same to the laid-back-but-competitive Harden, who made his big league debut in 2003 and had his "toughness" questioned by an anonymous teammate in an ESPN the Magazine article earlier this season.

And to answer the above question - both went on the DL five times while wearing the green and gold. And the clock is still ticking on Harden.

As Arsenio Hall would say, it's enough to make you go, hmmmmmm.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 03:47 PM | Comments

More on the commissioner

Wednesday's critical "On Baseball" column on tap-dancing-yet-prat-falling Commissioner Bud Selig, who has yet to make a decision on whether he will be in attendance when Barry Bonds breaks the all-time home run record - he is within five homers at the All-Star break - drew negative responses from readers...towards the Commish.

But Bonds was not the only subject that came up during an hour-long Q&A with Selig during a luncheon with members of the Baseball Writers Association of America at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco's Union Square.

Selig also ruminated on several other topics.

With the World Series now pushed to November, Selig said he likes the idea of moving the regular season back to 154 games from its current 162-game slate.

"I like change," he said, "but I'm also at heart a traditionalist."

Selig said when he was owner of the Milwaukee Brewers he tried to get the other owners to reduce the schedule.

"I was voted down, 29-1," he said, despite there not being 30 teams in MLB at the time. "I couldn't even get a 'second' (on the motion)."

Selig also wants to keep the opening round of divisional playoffs at their current best-three-of-five formats.

And on teams that are out of the running down the stretch resting their stars, Selig took umbrage.

"This is not the theory of relativity," he said. "This is easy. You play your best players."

Of course, Selig was asked if he thought baseball's drug-testing policy was working.

"Do I have frustrations on Human Growth Hormone? Yes," he said. "There is no test for it. The landscape changes every day because of chemists."

Some might say, so too do Selig's feelings on Bonds. But Selig's non-committal to attending speaks volumes of his disdain for the impending HR King.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 03:11 PM | Comments

Two Fish by the Bay?

With baseball's trade deadline fast approaching, reader Roberto Crespo, a lifelong Giants fan who now lives in the heart of Dodgers country in Pasadena, has the following three-team trade suggestion for his beloved Orange and Black, so long as Bonds hits five more home runs to pass Hank Aaron for the all-time mark by July 31.

Crespo's whirlwind deal has the last-place Giants sending Barry Bonds to the desperate and always-looking-to-make-a-splash New York Yankees, who in turn throw a bunch of cheap prospects to the fading and frugal Florida Marlins. The Fish, who are always looking to unload salary, then ship All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera and left-handed starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis to the Giants.

Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? After all, Cabrera's and the D-Train's combined guaranteed salary of $13.85 million is less than the $15.8 guaranteed Bonds. Only problem is, Cabrera and Willis are arbitration eligible at the end of this season and are due big raises.

Of course, as I wrote a few weeks back, the Giants should let Bonds walk away at the end of the season and set their sights on Alex Rodriguez, though A-Rod might look better in the red of the Los Angeles Angels.

What do you think, Giants fans?

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 01:06 PM | Comments

July 10, 2007

Next stop: Yankee Stadium

From the emotional pre-game salute to Willie Mays to the thunderous applause for Barry Bonds and his ensuing tip o' the cap to his adoring throng to Ichiro Suzuki's record-setting inside-the-park home run, the 78th All-Star Game ended on a stirring note.

To paraphrase J.A. Adande, late of the Los Angeles Times, the only thing more agonizing than being Francisco Rodriguez is watching Francisco Rodriguez.

The Angels' K-Rod, who inherited a base runner at first, got himself in a bases loaded jam in the ninth inning with two out by walking Derrek Lee and Orlando Hudson before getting Aaron Rowand to fly out to right field for the final out.

American League 5, National League 4. And Ichiro was named the game's MVP.

But perhaps more importantly, the Junior Circuit ran its unbeaten streak in the Midsummer Classic to 10 straight.

So now it's on to Yankee Stadium next year for its swan song as The House that Ruth Built will be shut down after the 2008 season.

-- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 09:32 PM | Comments

They boo Angels, don't they?

And you thought they only booed Dodgers in San Francisco...

Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez was jeered heartily during pre-game introductions and they were only louder when he came into the game with two out in the bottom of the ninth.

I guess Giants fans still aren't over the Angels beating them in the 2002 World Series.

--Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 08:56 PM | Comments

Can we expense the baseball?

Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros nearly cost the Bee a computer. The Houston Astros slugger slammed a shot off the facade of the upper deck, three rows below where we're sitting, for a long foul ball.

Our esteemed baseball writer Nick Peters' machine suffered a similar fate at Dodger Stadium a few years back when a foul ball into the press box at Chavez Ravine crushed his laptop.

- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 08:22 PM | Comments

It's raining Mariners

Well, the game has taken on a Seattle feeling, and it has little to do with the overcast skies.

The top of the fourth inning ended with N.L. right fielder Ken Griffey Jr., the one-time prince of the Emerald City who moved on to Cincinnati in 2000, throwing out his heir apparent in Seattle, Mariner-turned-Texas Ranger in 2000-turned-New York Yankee in 2004 Alex Rodriguez, out at the plate.

Then, in the next inning, the latest Mariners star, Ichiro Suzuki, made All-Star history when his shot off Padres lefty Chris Young caromed off the wall in right-center and bounded far enough away from Griffey to give Ichiro an inside-the-park home run, the first inside-the-park job in the Midsummer Classic's history.

With so many Mariners, past-and-present, making their presence felt, you have to wonder - where was Randy Johnson?

-- Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 07:41 PM | Comments

Who's that guy next to Willie?

Giants great Willie Mays was honored before the game when he emerged from beyond the center field wall and was greeted by the All Stars. It made sense for Barry Bonds, Mays' godson, to escort him to a waiting 1958 Cadillac, to commemorate the Giants' move to San Francisco in '58 from New York, that drove him around the field.

But what was Derek Jeter doing in the picture? As Raiders beat writer Jason Jones, who is sitting next to me, observed, "Jeter just wants to be on TV."

Really, shouldn't Mays' second arm have belonged to someone like, oh, I don't know, Ken Griffey Jr.?

"The guy that was left out but (I) thought should have been there was Griffey," Mays acknowledged later. "But I gave him my jacket, my coat to put in his house. He's building a house. We were fine. It was O.K."

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 07:39 PM | Comments

Down in front!

Greetings from the upper deck media seating section at AT&T Park. A little sore from yesterday's scrums with the masses for a home run derby ball, I'm nonetheless ready to go. The wind is blowing, the clouds are coming in and it figures to be a cold one, just like the not-so-good-old days at Candlestick Park.

The start of the All-Star Game is still about two hours away but there is already a sense of excitement coming from the crowd as the orange-clad American League All-Stars take batting practice down below. The N.L. stars hit first, wearing black jerseys - the host Giants' colors serve as the B.P. jerseys, complete with the Golden Gate Bridge serving at the "I" in "American" and "National" - and, as expected, Barry Bonds got the loudest ovation.

Not surprisingly, a Dodger, catcher Russell Martin, received the loudest boos.

The players, though, will wear their teams' respective colors during the game. It is one of the best traditions of the game, allowing players to truly represent their teams by sporting their uniforms.

The NBA tried a similar stunt in its All-Star Game a few years back but it never took hold. Besides, there is more money to be made in more jerseys.

-Paul Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 06:11 PM | Comments

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