freaky franchise.

Exhibition 1

It’s a bit exciting to know that by the time I step into AT&T for opening night/the ring ceremony, I will already have been to five Giants games this year (3 in AZ, one exhibition at AT&T, another at the Coliseum). Last night we headed to the city to see the first of three Giants/As exhibitions they’ll play before heading to LA for Thursday evening’s opener. Lineup was darn close to what I think we’ll see on Thurs…the only question mark is the 1B/RF situation (last night Aubs started in right and Belt handled 1B). They each looked fine there respectively but for one ball that dropped between them in shallow right. From my perspective the ball was BB’s; Aubs would have had to come in too far. But it makes sense that they are working out coverage and communication kinks at this point; BB has never played here. More worrying was the next batter’s ball that Pabs, Pat, and Tejada let drop in shallow left…while Pablo made some really nice plays and got to some balls he wouldn’t have last year, Miggy just looks old and slow out there, to no one’s surprise. He also seemed intent on swinging at first pitches and making quick outs. I would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong, but I’m not hopeful for him on either side of the plate right now. And it really was a drop off in the lineup: Torres, Sanchez, Aubs, Buster, Burrell…first pitch swinging and Miggy goes down. Not hopeful, and do not like him hitting anywhere but eighth. On that note, Aaron Rowand. Went into the game for PtheB in the late innings last night, which I can only assume meant he was pouting about having to play LF. Shockingly, struck out in his one AB. Blech. Have to say BB also looked less than stunning at the plate last night, though that is completely understandable. I don’t doubt, though, that if his next two are similar, it helps build the case for him to start in Fresno. Rumor has it that Boch wants him here (instead of whom, I wonder?) but that Sabean isn’t sold. If his ABs tonight (which will reportedly be as the DH) look like last night’s, I’d put money on Sabes winning this one, and I’d have to agree. The kid had barely even had any time at triple A. Let him go down and tear it up in Fresno, build his case, then bring him up. Money aside, though that doesn’t hurt either. Heading to the Coliseum tonight for the second exhibition, Zito on the mound…should be fun.

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AZ II

OAK-PHX is a short flight; it seemed as though we were barely in the air.  My Southwest flight was full of Giants fans heading to Spring Training; mainly 21-50 year old guys…a few families…and me.  The crew called it the “Giants shuttle to Phoenix.” 

First impressions of Scottsdale were that it was quite ugly and full of strip malls.  But, the nearby mountains are beautiful, and Old Town is quite cute.  The nightlife, at least during Spring Training, has a Cabo- or Vegas-type vibe, which frankly I don’t mind once a year.  Apparently this was the big weekend to go (four Giants home games in a row + St. Patrick’s Day, I suppose) so perhaps it’s less crazy and more family-friendly at other times.  

We decided to go take a look at the new D-Backs/Rockies facility, Salt River Field at Talking Stick, on Thursday afternoon, since the Giants game wasn’t until that evening.  It’s a very pretty ballpark, and we grabbed lawn tickets for $8 at game time and caught about 4 innings of a Rockies-White Sox (Omar!) game.  Jimenez got rocked a bit.  We were so incredibly hot that we left after four, but it’s a very nice park (though you definitely have to drive or get a ride there—it’s in Scottsdale, but a little ways out from downtown/Old Town/whatever the center of Scottsdale is properly termed).

After heading back to our hotel, we went to the famous Don & Charlie’s (which it turns out was practically in our hotel’s parking lot) for an early pre-game dinner.  The place is packed with both people and awesome sports memorabilia, and makes a mean bloody mary.  Pretty neat.  No sightings there that night, though Friday night, a lot of the Giants organization (not current players though) were eating there—they weren’t letting anyone into that room but we attempted to sneak a peak while enjoying more bloody marys.  

Then we grabbed a cab over to Scottsdale Stadium for a 705pm Giants-Angels matchup.  The ballpark is located right near everything; we actually walked home that night and to both subsequent games.  Our seats were great—along the LF line, five rows back, right next to Burrell.  All the regulars started, with the—possible—exception of Belt rather than Huff at first, and Fontenot at short (though the way Miggy is playing, perhaps Fontenot will be the everyday SS).  Maybe it was the giant Firestone Walker DBA I had, and I don’t mean to sound corny, but the evening was sort of magical.  Twilight baseball can’t really be beat in my book, it was a perfectly warm evening, Pat was nearby…at one point, he looked over in the direction of our section, and emboldened by beer and proximity, I waved at him.  He put up two fingers as in a peace sign and then waved them at me.  I was giddy.  It was a great game, too—Sanchez went six full innings (the first starter to do so this Spring, until we saw Zito do the same on Saturday), giving up only one hit.  I am a major J-Sanch backer so I suppose I’m biased, but I thought he looked great and really in control out there.  

At some point a pack of Dodgers fans came through (we were playing the Angels, remember), chanting and yelling, and did a lap around the park.  Apparently they do so at most/all of the Giants games in Scottsdale, which I sort of respect and find hilarious.  Everyone at the park was drinking a lot and seemed to have been doing so all day—I think that’s just Scottsdale.  The park was full (maybe a sellout), and what a great place to watch a game.  Really, really nice little yard—sort of reminds me of San Jose Muni.  Just a really nice night, and great baseball.  

We tested the Scottsdale/St. Patrick’s Day nightlife after the game and apparently stick out as being from the bay area, which I am 100% okay with.  Scottsdale is alright—any place you can watch some baseball, wear cowboy boots, and drink a lot of $2 PBRs is ultimately all right by me.

The next day we’d catch another game, drink some more bloody marys, and test the theory that Jen and I were the only women there all on their own. 

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