We Love the Trade Deadline

Some big names have moved already - Ken Griffey JR, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Texiera. I am going to be keeping my eyes on MLB Trade Rumors all day.

A Gamer Doesn't Take Walks

One of the things that's frustrated me the most about this year's team is that while our starting pitchers seem to always be around 100 pitches by the fifth inning, our offense is routinely picked apart by even the most mediocre pitchers. The Giants management has accepted that the team lacks a good offense, yet it believes that this can be overcome through speed and a "gamer" mentality. But speed isn't going to help you if you can't beat out a two-hopper to a middle infielder. Whenever Aaron Rowand swings over a breaking ball in the dirt, I could care less whether he ran into a wall once. And when Bengie Molina hacks at a first pitch way out of the strike zone, I don't want to hear about how good he is in the clubhouse.

Getting hits has been a problem, but it's not the only source of the Giants' offensive problems. When you don't have a great offense, you need to find other ways to get on base, and the Giants have not done that. The team's total of 306 walks is last in the National League. Their on-base percentage of .316 is 26th in the majors, which when coupled with a complete lack of power means very few runs. Over the last seven games, the team has walked a grand total of four times. And in the last two shutouts against the Dodgers, the Giants did not draw a single walk. Fred Lewis and Randy Winn are tied for the team lead with 40 walks, which leaves them tied for 43rd in the National League. It's clear that power wasn't only thing that went out the door with Barry Bonds.

I know I sound like Billy Beane, and maybe I'm just really pissed at the way the team is playing right now, but I fear this lack of patience is the kind of thing that can turn into an organization-wide problem. When Brian Sabean says he's hesitant to trade Bengie Molina, or Bruce Bochy says he's looking at Jose Castillo as the second baseman of the future, it doesn't make me very confident that this team knows what's good for it.

Giants Target Bonds Single Season HR Record

As a team, the San Francisco Giants have clubbed 61 home runs this year. On July 30, 2001, Barry Bonds only had 45 on his way to 73. This means, the Giants could collectively reach Bonds's total as early as September.

Deja Vu

Apparently, Comcast Sports Net is replaying old games in place of the actual ones - like Charlie suggested - but they need to pick better ones. Last night they replayed a sad Matt Cain outing against the Dodgers. 7 innings, 8 K's, 1 earned run and he gets the loss! This must have been from last year because this just does not happen anymore. I don't know what Aaron Rowand was doing there, though.

Richie In '09?

Mention the possibility of Rich Aurilla coming back in '09 and Giants fans will head for the hills. But, Chris Haft raises some good points in this week's Giants Mailbag:

Although the Giants' veterans are gradually fading from prominence, the team can use Aurilia or somebody like him to provide stability in the infield, which could be an extremely inexperienced group next year. Aurilia's ability to play all four infield spots makes him a potentially valuable backup. I wonder, though, whether Giants management views Jose Castillo as somebody who also could fill this role. As usual, the offseason will be intriguing.

Dear Dodger Fans

Chanting "Giants suck!" and "Fuck the Giants!" during the game really doesn't work as a diss anymore. Most Giants' fans say those things several times a day. You need to find a new slogan. How about "The Giants starting pitching is league average at best." Then someone might actually pick a fight with you.

Calm Down

I won't argue with anyone that Saturday night's loss to the Diamondbacks was one of the worst losses of the year. Tim Lincecum was brilliant, with a thrilling thirteen-strikeout, zero-walk performance. But listening to Ralph Barbieri and other Giants' fans on KNBR, one would think that he was throwing a perfect game.

Lincecum had thrown 111 pitches through seven innings. Let's flash back to last Sunday against the Brewers. Lincecum, in his first start since the flu took him out of the All-Star Game, came out for the seventh with 100+ pitches. He didn't record an out and gave up a three-run homer to Ryan Braun that put the game out of reach. After the game, Giants' fans hammered Bruce Bochy for pushing his young ace too far. On Saturday, when Lincecum struck out Alex Romero to end the seventh inning, I think everybody knew his day was done. If he had pitched the eighth and allowed three runs instead of Tyler Walker, do you really think Bochy would have gotten a free pass?

I'm not saying Bochy's completely guilt-free, however. Not even close. Tyler Walker hasn't proven that he can consistently hold a lead of five runs, let alone one. After a good start, Walker has worn out his welcome as the setup man. The Giants should see what they can get for him and give the eighth inning to Sergio Romo or Alex Hinshaw.

Mild Giants Trade Rumors

Scan through the latest MLB Trade Rumors and a few Giants come up - but nothing too exciting. The Marlins are reportedly interested in Bengie Molina. Brian Sabean is not eager to trade the veteran catcher, but "the price is said to be a young power hitter." Jack Taschner's name is floating around, while talk of Randy Winn going to a New York team now seems unlikely. Rich Aurilla appears to be staying put as well.

20: Losses For Barry? Wins For Lincecum?

Barry Zito losing twenty games! Tim Lincecum saving this dismal season with his 20 wins ... could it be possible? With two months left in season, it is looking like neither will happen - for better or for worse. Lincecum is doing just about everything he can to be a 20-game winner. He faced off against Arizona's Brandon Webb on Saturday and outdueled for a good seven innings - striking out 13 in the process. Unfortunately, the bullpen and the defense couldn't hold it for him. To pull off 20 wins, Lincecum would need 9 wins in two months and though he is capable of great things, it basically means he can't lose again. He could handle it on his own, but I doubt we could back him up with the right amount of run support each time. Still, with impressive numbers, I wouldn't rule Lincecum out as a Cy Young candidate.

Zito has a little bit of an edge on Lincecum, boasting 13 losses after yesterday's drubbing. That being said, Zito is bound to have one or two more decent starts before the season ends. Also, it's doubtful this team would actually put Zito in a position to lose 20 games. His ego's been bruised enough this season - they wouldn't serve him such an unavoidable blow.

Yanks Don't Want Bonds, But Maybe Winn

Chances are the Yankess won't sign Barry Bonds, but apparently it is still worth writing an article just to say:

Steinbrenner wouldn't say if the Yankees are interested in Bonds, but it appears unlikely the team will pursue him — partly because it's so late in the season.

Let it die, folks!

The Yanks may have an interest in Randy Winn, though. Also, the Rays have an interest in Tyler Walker.

Giant of the Week: Matt Cain

When Matt Cain struggled in the first half, fans started to get antsy that the pitcher was not all he'd been built up to be. To believe that is to neglect the fact that Cain is only 23 and still receives some of the worst run support in the National League. Of course, when a report surfaced that the Phillies were interested, few were searching for truth in it. After allowing four runs in a 9-1 loss to Milwauke last week, Cain returned to form yesterday with the team's most brilliant pitching performance of the season. In two hours time, Cain allowed just four hits, no runs, no walks, while striking out four. In the most character building of moments, Cain was faced with the challenge of needing to retire two hitters in the ninth, with runners on second and third. Bruce Bochy let him face the challenge and two flyouts later, the Giants had their first complete game shutout of the season.

Honorable Mentions: Bengie Molina, Brian Wilson, Barry Zito, Omar Vizquel.

Bonds/Yankee Rumor Won't Die

The Yankees have denied interest in Bonds before, but he will be the subject of discussion when Yankees officials meet today, according to ESPN.

"I'll mention it. We'll cover everything," [Co-chairman Hank] Steinbrenner said before the meetings began. "No stone will be left unturned."

Happy Birthday Barry

Doesn't look like he will be playing anywhere this season, and it doesn't appear that the Giants will be erecting a statue in his honor anytime soon. Still, we'd like to take a moment to wish our beloved exiled home run king a Happy Birthday.

Zito Finds Comfort Zone

Last night may have been my favorite Barry Zito start of the year. This doesn't mean I thought it was his most exciting. In fact, this start qualifies as my favorite because it was completely average. For the first time all season, I did not feel nervous watching him pitch. I wrote yesterday that we would probably get a strong indication of what to expect from Zito for the rest of the season, and I think that is what we received. Now fourth in the rotation, Zito appears remarkably adequate. He pitched six innings, gave up three runs, and struck out five against a bad team. These are perfectly respectable numbers for a fourth or fifth starter on a team with a really good pitching staff. In all seriousness, that is where Zito may feel most comfortable, and perhaps where he will be most effective.

Zito Goes Tonight

In 2007, Zito was able to turn things around in the second half, leading many to believe he had solved the problems that plagued him upon first joining the Giants. Unfortunately, the first half went worse for Barry than we could have possibly imagined. He has looked stronger as of late - though that is not exactly saying a whole lot. I like Zito and I am rooting for a return to form - for his sake and ours - but he does enter the first half with a big question mark on his back. We'll probably get an example of what to expect from the lefty when he takes the mound tonight against the Washington Nationals. The largest question attached to Zito - just how much can we put up with? The Giants have three solid, young starters in Cain, Lincecum and Sanchez. Correia has floundered as of late, but also had his moments. Noah Lowly has started rehabbing, and there's a good deal of promising pitchers in the lower levels of the minor leagues. We're only in the second year of Zito's seven-year deal, but how long before there's no room for him on this staff?

Remembering Ray

Ray Durham spent five and a half uneven years in a Giants uniform. He was acquired after the 2002 season to be a dynamic leadoff man, but injuries quickly claimed his speed. With all the injuries, it's easy to forget just how productive Durham was. With the exception of his terrible 2007 season, he never had an OPS lower than .785 for the Giants, an solid number for a second basemen. Ray was such a good Giant, he asked that the trade not be finalized until after the Giants wrapped up their series with the Brewers, so that he wouldn't have to play against his former teammates in front of the San Francisco crowd. Here are some of my favorite moments from Durham's time with the Giants.

• March 31, 2003 - In his first at-bat as a Giant, Durham hits a leadoff home run on opening day off San Diego's Brian Lawrence, leading the Giants to 5-2 victory over the Padres. Durham would be limited to just 110 games in 2003.
• June 24, 2006 - With the Giants trailing the A's 7-5 in the ninth, Durham hits a three-run walk-off home run off closer Huston Street. Durham had a career year in 2006, posting career highs in homers (26), RBIs (93), and slugging percentage (.538).
• September 9, 2007 - Durham hits a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning off the Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton, putting the Giants ahead 4-2. Durham had by far the worst year of his career in 2006, batting just .218 and losing the second base job in September.
  

Reality Check: The Giants Won't Contend

It would have been difficult for the Giants to play any more awful than they had leading up to the All Star break. The trend continue with a miserable sweep at home at the hands of the Milwauke Brewers. The problems that have plagued the team all season continued - the team couldn't score behind Matt Cain, the bullpen didn't keep them in the game, scoring opportunities came and went, while not even Tim Lincecum could stop the downward spiral. Trading Ray Durham makes sense. We cleared some salary, and word is we did not get much in return. Fact is, Emmanuel Burris can now begin to develop into an everyday player and the Giants can put their focus where it needs to be - getting this team ready for 2009. Hopefully, more trades are in the works. Jack Taschner and Rich Aurilla are two names that have floated around, while unloading Dave Roberts is a bit of a pipe dream. Let's hope the Cain-to-Phillies rumors have no basis. The nails were already in the coffin, but hopefully this weekend solidified it. This year is about evaluating talent, and that is where our heads need to be.

Durham's a Brewer

UPDATE: It's official. According to Henry Schulman, the Giants will get Ford and Hammond, and will pay half of Durham's salary. I saw a bit of an interview with Durham on NBC11, and he was very gracious to the organization and the fans. Durham had been the longest tenured player on the Giants' roster. That honor now belongs to Kevin Correia.

UPDATE: Tom Haudricourt says the trade is Durham for outfielder Darren Ford and pitcher Steve Hammond. He says that Taschner is working out on the field with the Giants, so it would not seem as though he is part of the trade. No word on how much of Durham's salary the Giants are picking up.

Buster Olney says it's a done deal, but the other details of the trade are not yet known.

Trade in the Works?

UPDATE: Henry Schulman also says it looks like it's going to be Durham for Ford.

UPDATE: That first rumor might be too good to be true. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is hearing Durham or Taschner for Darren Ford.

Courtesy of McCovey Chronicles:

WSSP 1250 AM in Milwaukee is reporting that Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants are close to a deal that would send Milwaukee's Double A Catcher Angel Salome, Single A prospect Outfielder/speedster Darren Ford, and Triple A First Baseman Brad Nelson to the Giants for Second Baseman Ray Durham, Reliever Jack Taschner, and a PTBNL.

I'm not going to say anything until I know this is true.

Draft Disaster?

The August 15 signing deadline for draft picks is less than a month away, and the Giants still have yet to sign any of their top four picks: catcher Buster Posey, third basemen Conor Gillaspie, outfielder Roger Kieschnick, or shortstop Brandon Crawford. And, according to Baseball Prospectus, they aren't even that close.

Catcher Buster Posey, the fifth overall pick and recent Golden Spikes award winner, has had few discussions with the Giants, and there's no reason to believe that he's backed off from pre-draft talk that had him looking for a big-league deal worth over $10 million. The problems don't end there. Supplemental first-round pick Conor Gillaspie slipped a bit in the draft when he told teams how much money he'd need, which one team categorized as "delusional." In addition, third-round pick Roger Kieschnick and fourth-rounder Brandon Crawford remain well apart from the team in negotiations. Both saw themselves as potential first-rounders at various points in the season, and still want to get paid as if they had been.

I'm still confident the Giants can get their picks signed. Combined with last year's draft, Brian Sabean has the chance to win back some credit by rebuilding this team's farm system. But if he can't at the very least lock up Posey and Gillaspie, his job may, and should, be on the line.

Lowry Making Progress

It's been a while since we got any positive news about Noah Lowry, but Henry Schulman reports that the lefty threw for the first time since he was shut down in late April. Lowry played catch on Thursday, and said that the tingling in his left arm which prevented him from throwing is gone.

"It's encouraging at this point," said Lowry, who last pitched in a regular-season game Aug. 29, nearly 11 months ago. "We are turning corners, which is good. It's something to look forward to. I'm certainly excited about it."

Lowry still hopes to pitch in 2008, but he's going to take it slow. With the Giants not going anywhere this year, it would be counterproductive to rush him back. The best thing would be to slowly let him rebuild his arm strength, and hopefully he will be ready to rejoin the pitching staff in 2009.

Giant of the First Half (Charlie's Pick)

The Giants entered Spring Training in 2008 knowing that pitching would be the strength. They had two young studs in Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. They had Barry Zito, who was coming off a solid second half of 2007. They had Noah Lowry, who won 14 games in 2007. And they had Kevin Correia, who had excelled in a small number of starts. The odd man out seemed to be Jonathan Sanchez, who had bounced between Fresno and the major league club, and between the starting rotation and the bullpen, for the past couple years. His name frequently came up in trade rumors, with the Giants targeting players like Chicago's Joe Crede and New York's Hideki Matsui. At 25 years old, this was a make-or-break season for Sanchez to prove that he could stick in the big leagues.

Sanchez's big break didn't come without a bit of luck. Noah Lowry went down early in Spring Training, opening up a spot for Sanchez. When Kevin Correia was placed on the DL in April, Sanchez was in the rotation to stay. Since some inconsistency early, Sanchez has been arguably the Giants' second best pitcher, going 8-5 with a 3.97 ERA. The high point came in the month of June, when Sanchez went 5-1 with a 3.10 ERA. He is seventh in the league in strikeouts with 115 in just 111 innings. While much of the rotation has battled injury and inconsistency, Sanchez has been a lifesaver, and has shown that he deserves to be a part of this rotation for a long time to come. And that's why he gets my vote for the Giant of the first half.

Yanks Say No to Bonds

Are you at all surprised? Turns out, they want Richie Sexson, instead.

Would Cain Be Dealt?

From Sports Illustrated's Truth and Rumors - "Phillies eye Giants pitcher":

The latest has the Phils hoping San Francisco, an NL West pretender, will shop 23-year-old right-hander Matt Cain. Word is the Giants might part with Cain, who is 5-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 20 starts, if offered an intriguing package of young talent.

UPDATE: Despite this report coming from SI today, Jayson Stark found little truth in any such rumor just last week, stating:

We keep hearing people speculate about the Giants trading Matt Cain. But we can't find a team that has gotten anywhere in its attempts to even get the Giants to discuss him. "I don't know who got that rumor rolling," said an official of one club. "But they told us, emphatically, no."

All Star Aftermath: Lincecum Doing Fine, Wilson Proud

Had Tim Lincecum been available to pitch, he would have gone the 15th. Instead he watched "some" of the game from his hotel room. While we have not heard from the cover boy in the aftermath of his flu-like symptoms, his dad told the San Francisco Chronicle, "He's Fine."

Closer Brian Wilson represented the orange and black well, retiring the only two hitters he faced in the eighth. "I walked off with my head held high," he told MLB.com. "I thought it was exhilarating."

Giant of the First Half (Will's Pick)

Each week Will and Charlie pick a "Giant of the Week." To kick off this feature, each writer is selecting a "Giant of the First Half."

Will's Pick: John Bowker
.274, 9 HR, 38 RBI

Tim Lincemcum is the obvious choice, and Brian Wilson deserves serious consideration as well. But Giants fans were told to anticipate promising young pitching. The questions that lingered into the start of the season - what would the offense look like and are there any promising hitters in this organization? While the Giants offense has floundered at times, both Bowker and Fred Lewis have shown a level of progress that is invigorating. Bowker is the most pleasant surprise of all. The young outfielder provided a shot of adrenaline, homering in his first two big league games. Despite slumps here and there, he leads the team in homers, while also batting a respectable .274. The team quickly converted him to first base with the outfield already crowded. Working with J.T. Snow, Bowker does have natural instincts for the position. He hasn't been perfect, but his willingness to work at the position consistently shows why Bowker is the kind of player this team needs to keep around. Only in his first big league season, and Bowker already looks like a leader both with his numbers and with the example he sets.

Bonds Return UnlikelyBut That Won't Stop Rumors

Barry Bonds's agent says a return of the all-time home run king is unlikely this season, reports Sports Illustrated.

"I'd offered him for the league minimum - $390,000 - to numerous clubs and not one of them would take him," [Jeff] Borris said. "If that doesn't create a level of suspicion I don't know what does. How can a guy who was a National League All-Star last year not have a chance to put on a major league uniform in 2008? He's completely healthy. Everyone knows that his trial date is not until March of 2009, so there would be no interruption with the 2008 season."

Of course, just this morning SI starts their own rumor:

Hideki Matsui's left knee swelled, increasing the possibility he will need season-ending surgery and perhaps giving the New York Yankees reason to contemplate signing Barry Bonds.

Live Blogging the All Star Game

Bloggers: Charlie and Will

5:00 - Every year, I say this is the year the NL will turn it around. This year, I really think they have a shot, but they've got to score some early runs. I'm a little less excited that Tim won't be there, but I'll still watch. -c
5:04 - These are the fastest introductions I've ever seen. Tim's not even there. -c
5:05 - The Red Sox players weren't booed as loudly as I'd thought they would. -c
5:06 - "From the Oakland Athletics, Justin Duck-sher." -c
5:10 - Apparently, this one counts. -c
5:13 - At least the Giants have strong representation among the Hall of Famers, with Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, and Perry. -c
5:15 - I give Fox some credit (wow, I didn't think I'd say that tonight) for changing up the introductions. -c
5:30 - Who brings a guitar to sing the national anthem? That actually wasn't that bad though. -c
5:33 - Who'd have thought that George Steinbrenner would have one of the more tender moments? -c
5:39 - Tim McCarver is here. Thank God. -+c
5:50 - Cliff Lee's looking like Carl Hubbell early, striking out Ramirez and Utley. -c
5:57 - Alright, just tuning in - what did I miss? -w
5:58 - Hamilton strikes out - I think he still has a shot at MVP. He seems like the kind of dude who'd want to play the whole game. -w
6:06 - Chipper gets the first hit, but Braun strikes out and leaves him at second. Two good innings for Lee. -c
6:21 - Sheets gets out of a jam in the second. Looks like Zambrano's coming in next. -c
6:25 - I wouldn't have known Kosuke Fukudome was Japanese if they didn't put his name in Japanese. -c
6:39 - Pujols actually looked safe on that slide. Oh well, three and a half scoreless. -w
6:44 - This really is a pitchers game so far. Maybe all the hitters are afraid of messing up their swings. -w
6:53 - Holliday hits a bomb - we are on the board. -w
7:18 - Finally, a mention of Lincecum. Does not appear that he is at the ballpark. -w
7:40 - Got to watch Joe Nathan pitch with no mention of the A.J. Pierzynski trade. Yay! -w
7:53 - J.D. Drew homers to tie the game. I called it - looks like we've got an interesting game here. -w
7:59 - Papelbon gets some boos from this Yankee crowd. -w
8:01 - Chants directed at Papelbon - "Mariano!" "Overrated!" -w
8:03 - NL reclaims the lead! -w
8:07 - ALRIGHT! Main event - Brian Wilson enters the game. -w
8:08 - Carlos Quentin flies out. Come on, Brian! -w
8:12 - Carlos Guillen goes down swinging! -w
8:14 -Wilson exits - a very nice showing for the Giants. -w
8:23 - Wagner gives up a single to Sizemore, a stolen base, and a game-tying double to Longoria. Should've left Wilson in there. -c
8:29 - Rivera's in. He can't get a save, but I think there would be a riot if he didn't pitch. -c
8:45 - Extras! -w
8:56 - Damnit. I thought the NL was going to take lead there. -w
8:57 - Uggla hits into the double play and then makes an error! Ug. -w
8:59 - Uggla just made another error! -w
9:22 - What a play at the plate! This game does not want to end. -w
9:31 - Longest game in All Star history. -w
9:32 - Uggla wins the Least Valuable Player award. -w
9:39 - Is this even fun anymore? -w
9:45 - This lineup looks like the Future's Game. -w

UPDATE: Looks like we got a little tired around the 14th inning.

The Flu Has Lincecum-Like Symptoms

UPDATE: Andrew Baggarly has more. Lincecum definitely went to the hospital, but Brian Wilson doubts that he was taken out on a stretcher. NL manager Clint Hurdle thinks Lincecum will make it to Yankee Stadium in time for the game. He also said that Wilson is scheduled to pitch the eighth.

The chances of Tim Lincecum pitching in tonight's All-Star Game were already getting lower by the minute, but recent developments seem to make it a certainty that he will not take the mound at Yankee Stadium. Lincecum was reportedly taken to the hospital for dehydration and flu-like symptoms. According to KNBR, he was taken out of his hotel room on a stretcher. I was really hoping Lincecum would pitch at least one inning tonight, but this latest development leads me to believe it's probably for the best that he sits out. Get well, Tim. You'll have plenty more chances.

Giant All Star Memories

Insert cynical caption here.
Tonight, the achievements of Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson will be celebrated at the All Star Game - and they are soaking it all in. In a season that has been filled with disappointment, having two representatives both of whom represent the team's future is quite an achievement. Hopefully, new memories will be made, but here is a look back at some of our favorite Giant All Star Memories...

2007: It is pretty hard to top attending the 2007 Home Run Derby at AT&T Park, after a decade and a half of watching the competition. We had a good seat to see Barry Bonds take batting practice. That is the ultimate All Star memory for me.
2003: Jason Schmidt starts and throws two shutout innings, redeeming a rather negative history of SF starters in All Star Games.
2002: Bonds gets robbed of a homer but later hits one, while Benito Santiago makes the final out, ending the contest in a tie!
2001: Three Giants in the starting lineup (Bonds, Jeff Kent, Rich Aurilla).
1998: Bonds hits first All Star Game home run.
1996: Bonds bests Mark McGwire in a pre-Steroid Era Home Run Derby. Still my favorite derby.
1995 and 1996: Cheering for Matt Williams even though he was unable to play due to injury.
1993: First time I remember watching the Home Run Derby - Bonds hits five.

Josh Hamilton Displays True Meaning of All Star Game

Josh Hamilton didn't win the Home Run Derby, but that hardly mattered last night. Hamilton stepped up to the batter's box in Yankee Stadium and showed why the Home Run Derby has become more important than the All Star Game. Hamilton set a first round record with 28 home runs, demolishing his competition. He took his time, frequently breaking, while All Star teammates ran up to home plate. The crowd chanted his name, and when his round was over, it did not matter what happened next - the show was stolen. And this is what the All Star Game should be about - players are put under the national spotlight and given the opportunity to win over a larger fanbase. Much has been made of the "great story" that Hamilton is, and Peter Gammons wrote a great blog today about that. Hamilton is a great story, but what was most important about last night's performance is that he took the moment seriously. The All Star Game has been reduced to a boring exhibition in recent years, but Hamilton talked beforehand about his dream of participating in the Home Run Derby. He then proceeded to relish every moment of it. He displayed just what this exhibition is supposed to be about - a celebration of the fans who make these players the icons they are.

Live-Bloggin the Home Run Derby

We're getting started a little late, but we've got the derby on the Tivo.

Will's prediction: Berkman & Hamilton in the final.
Charlie's prediction: Utley & Hamilton.

5:00 - 3 Doors Down performances are the reason Tivo was invented. -c
5:05 - The 3 Doors Down singer looks like a 13-year old boy with his little mohawk. -w
5:14 - We've had a Rudy Giuliani sighting. I guess he's not sleeping on the subway. -w
5:24 - Uggla's making me look bad. - c
5:27 - Not a bad start. Uggla showed that a righty can hit some bombs. - c
5:31 - Grady Sizemore hits the first upper-decker. Of the eight competitors, there's two second basemen and a leadoff hitter. That's got to be a first. - c
5:32 - To go with this whole "This One Counts" thing, we were thinking that the league that wins the All-Star Game should also get the Home Run Derby winner on their team. - c
5:41 - Evan Longoria's a great hitter, but how many guys had to turn this down for him to get in there. There's a few All-Stars with more homers. Carlos Quentin? Milton Bradley? - c
5:45 - Longoria rebounded from a slow start to hit three. He probably spared himself any "Eva" jokes. - c
5:49 - Utley needs to pick it up. - c
5:52 - Utley hits five. That might not be enough. - c
5:58 - Berkman's batting lefty. The buzz earlier today was that he was going to be hitting right-handed so as not to mess up his swing. Now, he could be the favorite. - c
6:03 - Looks like my first pick is making it to the second round. Glad Berkman decided to go lefty. He really had a nice finish there at the end. -w
6:09 - Rick Reilly inserts race into the Home Run Derby, noting that this year there are eight white guys. - c
6:21 - Braun was headed for Mike Piazza territory with 0 homers and six outs, but then he stepped up and hit seven. Let's hope Hamilton gets in and then we will have a real solid second round lineup. -w
6:28 - Hamilton just hit one off the back wall in right field. Not quite the light tower, but not bad.
6:35 - Should we just call it for Hamilton now?
7:14 - "It's a bad night to be an atheist" - I'm not sure Rick Reilly will be invited back next year.
7:23 - Hamilton's just showing off now. Somebody had a "Where's Barry?*" sign.
7:51 - Well, that was a little anticlimactic. Hamilton probably shouldn't have taken those swings in the second round. Regardless, this Home Run Derby won't be remembered for Justin Morneau.
7:57 - The State Farm guy called Justin Morneau "Jason."

Best Event in Professional Sports Happening Today

Today - July 14, 2008 - is All Star Monday and that means our favorite sporting event of the year, the Home Run Derby, is taking place. While the actual All Star Game has become rather boring, the Derby is truly the main event - showcasing the top (and usually younger) sluggers in baseball. Furthermore, the other All Stars watch from the sidelines, showing a laid back and carefree nature rarely seen during the season. This year's competition features Astros veteran Lance Berkman (pictured above from his 2006 appearance) alongside Ryan Braun, Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Justin Morneau, Grady Sizemore, Dan Uggla, and Chase Utley. The list is pretty solid, aside from the fact that it lacks the presence of Alex Rodriguez. ESPN's Jayson Stark was none too happy about this:

A-Rod told The New York Times last month that he didn't want to take part in this Derby because "it sets your swing back about three weeks." But we'd like to know exactly what he bases that on.

Because it isn't the facts.

The last time A-Rod took part in a Home Run Derby was 2002. Want to know how far he set his swing back that year? He damaged it so irreparably, he hit four homers in the first four games after the break.

Chris Singleton disagrees:

A guy like A-Rod knows himself, knows his swing. I think with everything he's got going on -- on and off the field -- he wants to show as much commitment as he can to his performance for the Yankees. He wants to help salvage the season and possibly get the Yankees to the postseason. He doesn't want to jeopardize that. I totally understand guys who worry that the Home Run Derby could alter their swings. It depends on how mentally tough you are -- and how disciplined you can be after the Derby.

A-Rod or not, we will be glued to ESPN starting at 8PMET and live-blogging the whole way through it.

Timmy's An All Star, But Will He Pitch?

To no one's surprise, Tim Lincecum was selected by his peers to represent the Giants at the All-Star Game July 15. But within hours of this announcement, Bruce Bochy seemed to dash any hopes of Lincecum getting the deserved starting nod, or of even pitching at all. Originally, Lincecum was scheduled to make his last start prior to the All-Star break on Wednesday against the Mets. However, Bochy chose to reshuffle the rotation, instead pitching Lincecum Tuesday in New York, and then again on Sunday in Chicago, just two days before the All-Star Game. The logic behind the move seems to be simply to give Lincecum more starts and give the Giants a better chance to gain ground in the NL West. But the strategy almost seems counterproductive. If he pitched Wednesday, Lincecum would match up with Johan Santana, giving the Giants their best shot to beat the Mets' ace.

I will be very disappointed if Lincecum doesn't pitch in the All-Star Game. Of course, I would prefer he start, but I'd rather see him throw just one inning than nothing at all. And I think it's extremely uncool of the Giants to hold Lincecum back from his first All-Star appearance with the justification of being in a pennant race. If the Giants want to prove that they deserve some respect, I'd much rather see Lincecum mow down Alex Rodriguez in Yankee Stadium than see the team fool itself into thinking that it has a chance at the playoffs.

In other All-Star news, congratulations to Brian Wilson for being chosen by the players, and make sure to vote for Aaron Rowand in the Final Vote, albeit over much more deserving candidates.

Why Wilson is an All Star

Tim Lincecum graces the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated and it seems all but certain he will be suiting up at Yankee Stadium on July 15. The Giants continue to push fans toward voting for Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand on their ballots. But just as deserving to be out there for the mid-summer classic is closer Brian Wilson, who secured his league-leading 22nd save of the season last night in a 2-1 victory over the Cubs.

Wilson's league lead in saves is impressive for a number of reasons - one being that this team has only won 37 games. Wilson has only blown two saves this season, and only one of those was a loss. That loss was May 3 in Philadelphia - nearly two months ago. Since that time, not every save has come easy (he did allow a run and put the tying and winning runners on last night), but he always closes the door. There's a fire and intensity when he pitches that every closer needs to succeed. "Put in a good word for me with Clint Hurdle," he says. Wilson is fun to watch - and he deserves to be out there on the national stage in two weeks.

Farewell B. Diddy

Here at Still Orange & Black, we're pretty much one-sport guys. But if there is a second team in our hearts, it's the Golden State Warriors. And it's a sad day to be a Warriors fan. Just a day after opting out of the final year of his contract, Baron Davis signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. This is very disappointing for a team that has been getting better for several years. I'm sure many Warriors fans will hate Davis for this, but that's just the way sports is today. In reality, Warriors fans owe Davis a huge debt of gratitude. While he was a very good player, he had an ability to elevate his game to superstar levels when he needed to, most notably in the 2007 upset over the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, which is arguably the best Bay Area sports moment of this decade. While I'm sad to say Baron go, giving a guy with a bum knee a lengthy contract seems like a risky move. Nevertheless, it will be tough to replace his production.

Alfonzo Back, Holm Gone

A couple of moves to report today. Most notably, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo is back with the big club. After returning from a 50-game steroid suspension, the (hopefully) clean Alfonzo was hitting very well (.316/.360/.595 with five homers in 79 at-bats) at Fresno. After getting some clutch hits early in the year, Holm struggled at the plate the past couple months, and he wasn't adding anything defensively. At least Alfonzo adds some power potential on days when Bengie Molina isn't playing. I feel like the writing was on the wall after that meltdown game against Kansas City. Giants' pitchers threw three wild pitches, and while I know you can't blame Holm for that, something tells me Bengie would have held things together a little better. Holm was a good story out of Spring Training, but his time in the majors was based more on luck than anything else.

A week after designating Vinnie Chulk and calling up Sergio Romo, the Giants made another bullpen move, sending Billy Sadler back to Fresno and calling up Osiris Matos from Double-A Connecticut. Matos was dominating Double-A, with a 1.23 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. Sadler showed promise, but had problems with control and consistency, culminating in last night's outing, when he walked the bases loaded and allowed a grand slam to Mark DeRosa. Something tells me he'll be back at some point this year, however.

Lincecum Graces SI Cover

Sports Illustrated may not be the pinnacle of sports journalism it once was, but this is pretty fucking cool. I can't remember the last time a Giant made the cover without being accompanied by an asterisk or a syringe. The lengthy, and extremely dense, article by Tom Verducci, features a detailed breakdown of Lincecum's mechanics, as well as an illuminating discussion of pitching mechanics and injuries. It's certainly worth reading and re-reading. For $70, you can buy a framed copy of the cover here.

Time To Let Omar Leave With Some Class

Like most Giants fans, we love Omar Vizquel. It's been a pleasure being able to see him play every day for the past few seasons. As cliché as it sounds, he plays the game the right way, and he plays it with an infectious joy rarely seen, especially on a team that's been disappointing ever since he signed. However, the stats don't lie. Omar can no longer sustain himself as an everyday player at the major league level. His line of .156/.234/.180 is one of the worst in all of baseball, and even his continued stellar defense cannot make up for those numbers. It's unfair to the Giants organization and to Omar to keep throwing him out there on a team that's going nowhere.

That said, I still think there is a place for Vizquel on a major league team, just not this one, and not as an everyday player. The Giants should look to trade Omar to a contender, and there actually seems to be plenty of teams that would value his services. One team that I think matches up very well with the Giants is the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays already have their own slick-fielding, weak-hitting shortstop in Jason Bartlett (.252/.296/.282). But the Rays have shown, with additions such as Cliff Floyd and Troy Percival, that they value a veteran leadership presence. Who knows, a switch to a young, exciting, contending team (not to mention a warmer climate) may energize Omar. The Rays may wish to keep Vizquel within the organization. What better mentor for shortstop Tim Beckham, the recent number one overall draft pick.

The Giants won't get much in return from the Rays, but there are a couple interesting players that could be targeted. One is infielder Ben Zobrist, who has failed to stick at the major league level but has a solid minor league track record. Another is catcher Shawn Riggans, who has swung the bat adequately as a backup to Dioner Navarro, and would be a far better option than Steve Holm. That's just what I came up with off the top of my head, but neither seems all that unreasonable. As far as a replacement for Vizquel, the obvious option is Emmanuel Burris, who has been a nice surprise this season but I doubt whether he's really ready to play every day. A better temporary option might be Ivan Ochoa, who's having a very good season in Fresno (.312/.395/.436) and has little left to prove in the minors. If the Giants could acquire Zobrist in a trade, he'd obviously be an option as well. The best solution would be that the Giants get a high draft pick and land a legitimate major league shortstop prospect, but you never know how that's going to play out.

For the moment, the Giants need to give Vizquel a shot with a contender rather than making him languish on a team that is trying to get younger.