All-Star Game Sorely Lacking in Panda

Another year, another pretty crummy All-Star Game. Of course, I'll be watching again next year, because a lame baseball game is better than no baseball at all. Some observations:

- Tim Lincecum didn't have quite the Carl Hubbell/Pedro Martinez-type outing we were anticipating, but his two innings at least weren't disastrous. He was clearly very amped up, as he missed consistently up high to the first few hitters. The AL seemed to be jumping on the first good fastball they saw, which may be the best strategy againt Timmy. He also suffered from some poor defense, as David Wright made a bad throw on a potential double play, and then Albert Pujols booted a grounder that allowed the first run to score. Tim's only strikeout came against Roy Halladay, but to be fair, he threw a pretty nasty curveball. Can MLB go ahead and just make the DH permanent in the All-Star Game? All in all, nothing spectacular, but I don't think this is the last time we'll see Timmy on the mound in one of these games.
- Barack Obama's appearance was more enjoyable than most of the game itself. I give him credit for repping his team instead of just doing the politically correct thing. Here's a fun video showing him mingling with the players before the game. I'd like to see the conversation between him and Lincecum. In another nice story, Willie Mays accompanied the POTUS on Air Force One. The "All Stars Among Us" tribute was a nice touch as well. They should do that every year.
- As for the game itself, they really wasn't a whole lot that stood out. Among the pitchers, I was most impressed by Zack Greinke, who strucked out two in a perfect inning. Carl Crawford, who took a home run away from Brad Hawpe, was probably the most deserving MVP candidate, as no one really stood out on offense.
- I have a feeling Pablo Sandoval would have done something great in this game. But I'll settle for him sticking it to the Phillies in the NLDS.

Video: Jonathan Sanchez No-Hitter (all 27 outs in 3:49)

Did We Miss Anything?

I've been at a loss for words for the last several hours. Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter tonight has joined the ranks of Brian Johnson's walkoff against the Dodgers in 1997, Kenny Lofton's NLCS-winning hit in 2002, and Barry Bonds's 756th home run in 2007 in my list of favorite all-time Giants' memories. I'm not usually one for sentimentality, but the stories in this case are impossible to ignore. Some observations:

- Jonathan Sanchez lost his spot in the rotation, primarily because he couldn't throw strikes. He stepped back into the rotation for an injured Randy Johnson, having never even thrown a complete game at any professional level. He struck out a career-high eleven and perhaps most impressively, did not walk a batter. He became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter with no walks since...Randy Johnson. Sanchez's father flew in from Puerto Rico to watch his son start for the first time, which made for a beautiful moment in the dugout after the game.

- Give Juan Uribe a break. His error doesn't diminish Sanchez's start in any way. In fact, when you think about it, it makes his feat more impressive. Sanchez had to face 28 hitters, and he was in a position to get all of them out.

- Don't forget Eli Whiteside. Like Sanchez, he wasn't supposed to be here either. Bengie Molina, a countryman of Sanchez's, legitimately had somewhere better to be, as his wife is scheduled to give birth very soon.

- If not for other developments, we may well have been talking about Pablo Sandoval's monstrous home run. Duane Kuiper said in the post-game wrap that even Bonds didn't go there very often. Let's hope he hits a few more like that when the Phillies come to town.

- Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter has already been described as "unlikely," and it was, partly because of the circumstances and partly because no-hitters always are. But to lump Sanchez in with the likes of Bud Smith, Jose Jimenez, and Eric Milton would be wrong. Anyone who's seen the guy at his best should have known that he had a start like this in him. But regardless of what happens the rest of this season, and the rest of his career, Jonathan Sanchez, and all of us, will always have this night. So let's savor it for now.

They Might Be Giants: June 15

Position Player: Thomas Neal, OF
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 23
Week Stats: .417/.481/.792, 6 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Season Stats: .346/.426/.626, 47 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 24 BB

Neal, a 37th round pick in 2005, has made a Sandoval-esque jump this season, going from merely a solid minor leaguer to a legitimate prospect. He has out-shined more highly touted prospects in San Jose, and was one of three players from that lineup named to the California League All-Star team, along with catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Roger Kieschnick. He seems to have no problem handling Single-A pitching, so a jump to Double-A could be in his future.

Pitcher: Clayton Tanner
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 20
Week Stats: 1-0, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO
Season Stats: 5-1, 51.2 IP, 45 H, 18 BB, 49 SO, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

Tanner, a third round selection in 2006, is repeating at San Jose, where he put up respectable numbers last year. He's been better this year, and his start against Modesto this week was arguably his best of the season. In a season-best seven innings, he walked none and struck out a career-high thirteen. Tanner is one of those second-tier Giants' pitching prospects, but could raise his profile if he keeps pitching like this.

The Sports Illustrated cover was ok...

... but this is where it's at.
[Via Extra Baggs]

Giants Select Zack Wheeler

As many expected, the Giants went with a high school pitcher, selecting right-hander Zack Wheeler with the sixth overall pick. A lot of experts had the Giants taking lefty Tyler Matzek, but in the end it looks like Brian Sabean went with the slightly more signable pitcher. That's not to say that Wheeler was a reach, as he is certainly a top ten talent. The organization obviously needs position players, but this is a pitching-heavy draft, and there just weren't any impact hitters available at our draft position. Wheeler becomes the second or third best pitching prospect in the organization, behind Madison Bumgarner and possibly ahead of Tim Alderson. Congratulations Zach, and welcome to the Giants.

They Might Be Giants: June 8

Position Player: Buster Posey, C
Age: 22
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 2 (14 in MLB)
Week Stats: .381/.581/.619, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 1 SB
Season Stats: .307/.403/.512, 36 R, 15 2B, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 27 BB, 5 SB

On the day before the 2009 draft, it's appropriate that we look back at last year's first round selection, who has done nothing but impress. The highlight of Posey's week was a walk-off home run against Bakersfield on June 5. But what has impressed me most about Posey so far is that he possesses something that is sorely lacking in the Giants' system: plate discipline. He seems to have a very good idea of the strike zone, as his .403 OBP is tenth in the California League. I haven't been able to judge what kind of catcher he is, but the bat is for real. The speculation is that he will skip Double-A and head straight to Fresno.

Pitcher: Henry Sosa
Age: 23
Level: Double-A, Connecticut
BA Ranking: 13
Week Stats: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR
Season Stats: 4-0, 51.0 IP, 41 H, 17 BB, 34 SO, 4 HR, 2.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP

Sosa, once ranked as highly as fifth overall in the Giants' system by Baseball America, has had trouble putting together a full, healthy season, despite flashes of dominance. So far, so good in 2009, and despite getting a no-decision, the right-hander had possibly his best start of the year against New Britain this week. He allowed a season-high four walks, but made up for it by allowing just one hit and striking out seven, both season-bests. Sosa, who is on the 40-man roster, could be due for a September callup, and is a dark horse for a roster spot in 2010.

Randy Johnson Memories

Randy Johnson achieved career wins 296-300 in a Giants uniform, and we're proud he decided to share them with us. With Johnson's tenure with the Giants has been a short one, he is one opposing player we have enjoyed watching over the years. Here are a few Johnson moments that stand out in my mind.

• My first memory of Randy Johnson is during the 1993 All Star game when a fastball slipped from the Unit's fingers and flew over the head of John Kruk. Kruk had a new sense of fear when stepping back into the batter's box and proceeded to strike out swinging. In 1997, Johnson faced Larry Walker in the midsummer classic - a hitter who famously sat out on days he was to face Johnson. Showing that he has a sense of humor beneath that stern exterior, Johnson let one go over Walker's head, as well.
• Two Johnson moments that stand out for me both occurred in the playoffs and in relief. Johnson pitched three innings in relief on one days rest in game five of the 1995 division series against the Yankees. While he did allow a run in the top of the 11th, the Mariners scored two in the bottom half on a dramatic Edgar Martinez single. Johnson relieved Curt Schilling on zero days rest in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. He pitched the final 1 1/3 emerging the winning pitcher and sharing a co-MVP with Schilling. Said Schilling, "That relief appearance is everything you ever need to know about Randy Johnson."
• When the Mariners visited Candlestick in 1997, the inagural season of interleague play, Johnson looked as though he'd never swung a bat in his life. He still looks a bit like that, though I did once see him launch a hit to the centerfield wall at the 'Stick as a member of the Diamondbacks.
  

Video: Randy Johnson's Postgame Press Conference

Let's Play Two: Doubleheader History and Facts

"Let's play two!" was a catchphrase coined by Cubs great Ernie Banks, and if Banks had his wish, he'd have been able to play a double-header everyday. Once scheduled prior to the season, double-headers are rare now except in instances of making up games that had been postponed. After yesterday's rain-out, the Giants and Nationals have a double-header scheduled for today, beginning at 1:35, with Randy Johnson on the hill going for win number 300.

I was strolling on the internet and collected some fun facts and feats from the history of double-headers:

-10 pitchers have accomplished the feat of two complete game victories and the same day. Such a feat has not been accomplished since 1926. [via Baseball Almanac]
-Not an actual double-header, but on July 2, 1933, New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell went the full 18-innings for a win over the Cardinals. [via Sporting News]
-There have three tripleheaders in baseball history, though none since 1920 as tripleheaders are not allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement. [via Wikipedia]
-On September 25, 2000, the Cleveland Indians hosted a doubleheader against two different teams. [via Wikipedia]
-Mark Whiten holds the record for most RBIs in a double header with 13. On September 20, 1993, Whiten drove in one run of the first game, and then proceeded to hit 4 homers and drive in 12 in the second. [via Sports Illustrated]

Richie

How many of you felt a twinge of nostalgia which Rich Aurilia proved one of the heroes in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Cardinals. Recent roster moves had put Aurilia's roster spot in jeopardy, leading some Giants fans to wax poetic about their favorite Richie moments. Aurilia's homer - performed with the same swing and quick trot the utility man has exhibited throughout his entire career - was his first this season. Aurilia's production has been minimal this year, but he remains a hard guy not to like. Whether it be his links to better days in Giants history or just the fact that he is one of those admirable players who may not be a hall of famer but still busts his tail and occasionally achieves something great, we're hoping to see Richie stick around for a few more swings.

Henry Schulman writes today that Aurilia does not worry about his roster status. "I don't think you can have fear over something you have no control over," Aurilia said. "I still feel I can help this team now. I proved it the other day. I don't think they've lost confidence in me, and I haven't lost confidence in myself."

They Might Be Giants: June 1

Position Player: Angel Villalona, 1B
Age: 18
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 3 (44 in MLB)
Week Stats: .417/.417/.667, 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Season Stats: .308/.342/.470, 30 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 7 BB

Villalona continued to hold his own at San Jose, despite the fact that he would still be in high school if he had been born in the United States. He's still a pretty raw talent, and he will probably always be the kind of player who strikes out a lot and doesn't draw many walks, but he's got more power potential than any player in the Giants' system. He's the first baseman of the future, though that could be the somewhat distant future. Note: I didn't pick John Bowker because he's not a prospect anymore, but his performance this week at Fresno is worth a mention, as he hit a ridiculous .538/.586/.923 with a couple of home runs.

Pitcher: Scott Barnes
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 9
Week Stats: 1-0, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
Season Stats: 5-2, 45.1 IP, 41 H, 18 BB, 33 SO, 2 HR, 3.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

There were a few good performances by Giants' pitchers this week, but Barnes is the most legitimate prospect of the bunch. The lefthander, an eighth round draft pick in 2008, allowed a season-low two hits while striking out a season-high six against Visalia. With Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson gone, Barnes is the top pitching prospect left in San Jose. After a bit of a rough stretch in early May, he's been much better in his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA. In case you're curious, Bumgarner had a good, but not dominant start, allowing one run in five innings, walking two and striking out three.