FanHouse San Francisco Giants

The Fanhouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

Chicago Cubs (3-6) vs. Cincinnati Reds (6-4)-1:05PM Est.

He's only nine games into his tenure as manager of the Chicago Cubs and Lou Piniella is already tired of his team. After the way Big Z and the pen blew yesterday's 5-0 lead it's pretty obvious that no matter how much money they spend, or who they bring in to manage, they're still the Chicago Cubs. I can't wait until Rich Hill gets into trouble and Piniella comes to the mound. "What's wrong, Skip?" Piniella then rips Hill's heart out and bites into it. "Nothing."


Pittsburgh Pirates (4-6) vs. San Francisco Giants (3-7)-7:05PM Est.

Barry sure did have a happy homecoming to Pittsburgh on Friday didn't he? Two home runs, four RBI, and a Giants romp. If Barry played the Pirates everyday he'd catch Hank Aaron by Thursday. This game will also be Barry Zito's third attempt to get his first win as a Giant. So far he's making $15.59 million for every point on his 8.08 ERA. Also, as far as the Pirates are concerned, remember when they were 3-0 and in control of the NL Central? Boy, those were the days.


Boston Red Sox (5-4) vs. Los Angeles Angels (6-5)-FOX 3:55PM Est.

Something tells me that sitting around all week hearing nothing but talk of Daisuke Matsuzaka will arouse the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of his soul. So I'd expect a very philosphical performance from the pitcher turned blogger this afternoon. Hector Carrasco will make the start for the Angels in place of Kelvim Escobar as the Angels continue to rack up injured starters like Britney does new wigs.

Because they apparently interviewed former Giants trainer Mark Letendre (pictured behind Bonds) in February, although Letendre says he didn't have a whole lot to tell them.

"It was all pretty vanilla," Letendre said. "I'm pretty far removed from it."

Well if Letendre didn't have a whole to share, or at least that he's willing to let us know about, then what does it mean that Letendre was brought in?

"There is absolutely no doubt that the U.S. attorney is still running a grand jury and still taking evidence that involves Bonds," said Michael Rains, the lawyer for Bonds. "There is still an active effort to indict Barry."

Doesn't sound like Rains is complaining -- the more they're investigating, the higher the bill he charges Barry, right?

I'm not sure exactly what the grand jury is going to find out beyond what was in Game of Shadows, considering what's in the book is fairly incriminating to begin with. If they're trying to get Barry, they better do it soon, since Bonds is only 21 home runs away from rewriting history.

Previously at FanHouse:
Barry Bonds Owes Greg Anderson Bigtime

We already know about Commissioner Bud Selig's ambivalent stance on whether or not he'll be in attendance when Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's career HR record (although I'm just realizing it means he might have to attend every Giants game for weeks from the time it's tied until it's broken). Hank Aaron has come out and said he won't be in attendance if/when Bonds breaks Aaron's long-standing record.

"Uh-uh. No, no. I'm not going to be around
...
I'd probably fly to West Palm Beach to play golf. Again, it has nothing to do with anybody, other than I had enough of it. I don't want to be around that sort of thing anymore. I just want to be at peace with myself. I don't want to answer questions. It's going to be a no-win situation for me anyway. If I go, people are going to say, 'Well, he went because of this.' If I don't go, they'll say whatever. I'll just let them make their own mind up."

Well Bonds responded on Monday, saying he's more concerned about his godfather Willie Mays being present.

"If he has other plans, other things, to do, I respect that," Bonds said. "He's his own man, he can do what he wants to do. No hard feelings.

"Now if Willie (Mays) wasn't there, I'd be disappointed. Because that's my godfather. I'd be real (ticked). My dad, he'll be there too, in spirit."

Bonds also says he wants to reach 3,000 career hits for Mays, which means he'll most likely need to play in '08 to reach that mark. But you know what, I don't care what Bonds says. Barry claims that he's not adversely influenced by fans taunting and jeering. I disagree -- players tell me that they hear everything, and Bonds is no exception.

Barry may be a master at manipulating the media and making it seem as if he's not bothered, but I'm sure that somewhere, deep down inside him, he's truly hurt that the significant people in Major League Baseball won't be there when it happens. Bonds is wise enough to know that people don't want to be there because they question the legitimacy of his work.

Previously at FanHouse:
Barry's World: Will Bonds Be Unanimous HOFer?
Barry Bonds Is in the HR Column
Barry's World: A Rare Start to the Season
Giants Won't Be Hyping Barry Bonds' Chase
Barry Bonds Is a Man on a Mission

Barry's World is the FanHouse's look into the season that is Barry Bonds

In Sunday's LA Times, Barry's agent, Jeff Borris, let out a belligerent declaration:

"Barry better be unanimous, 100%, first ballot," Borris said. "If the Hall of Fame is what it stands for, how can the greatest player ever to play the game not be a unanimous selection?"

I understand that Borris is Bonds' agent, meaning his job is to best represent his client's interests, but seriously Borris, don't you think that edict is a little out of order?

Consider this, no player has ever been a unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame. Not the Babe, not Hank Aaron, not Mantle, not Mays, nor DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan, none of them. On the 2007 ballot, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn received the 3rd and 7th highest percentages in history, 98.5% of the vote for Ripken, and 97.6% for Gwynn. Ripken had the iron-man streak, 2 MVPs, 19 All-Star games, a Rookie of the Year, and two Gold Gloves. Gwynn has eight batting titles, five Gold Gloves, and 15 All-Star games. They both played in what's considered the fringe of the steroid era and neither of them received a unanimous selection. Why would things be any different for Bonds? Especially consider that the Baseball Hall of Fame has a morals clause wherein character, sportsmanship, and integrity are all heavily weighed. Wouldn't that be enough to keep Bonds from garnering 100% of the vote?

There are more questions that must be asked: Is Barry the greatest player ever? Should Bonds be the first player to receive the unanimous distinction? Will voters snub him of a first-ballot Hall of Fame vote because of all the Game of Shadows allegations that surround him? Lastly, is there any player worthy of a unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame? These are all questions you must ask yourself and try to come up with the answer.

Who were so critical of him during his tumultuous first week of play as a Dodger. After being unable to make plays on routine fly balls, allowing hitters to turn singles into doubles, and going hitless in his first seven at-bats, many people were calling for Gonzo to be benched. There were even some people (that shall remain unnamed), who dubbed Gonzalez the $7.5 million mistake (yes, that's me with my head looking down at my keyboard in shame). In fact, Gonzalez made comments that he wasn't used to taking such a beating from the media.

he appeared surprised that he would be asked repeatedly about those failings, and that they would be written about.

"It wasn't like this in Arizona," he said. "Are you going to ask me about this every day?"

Well Gonzalez sure played like he had a chip on his shoulder Sunday, crushing his first two home runs of the season as part of the Dodgers highest scoring game of the year, a 10-4 win over the Giants that allowed for the sweep. Funny thing is, Gonzalez was his typical polite self afterwards, electing to let his superb play on the field speak for itself. As a side note, Gonzo also happens to have more home runs at AT&T Park than any other non-Giant.

Previously at FanHouse:
Luis Gonzalez: The $7.5 Million Mistake
Dodgers Own the Giants Whose Season Is Over

It's official, at least for now that is, since the Boys in Blue have won eight in a row at AT&T Park going back to last season, following a three game sweep this weekend in San Francisco. The Dodgers outscored the Giants 16-6 in the series, including holding the Giants to one run in both Friday night's and Saturday's games. Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Randy Wolf got the wins for the Dodgers, while Noah Lowry, Russ Ortiz, and Barry Zito took the losses for the Giants. Neither Lowry nor Ortiz pitched poorly for the Giants. Barry Zito on the other hand gave up eight runs over six innings, sending his ERA sky-rocketing to 8.18 (after only two starts). Luckily for Giants fans, Zito has a history of poor Aprils, which is reason to be optimistic that things will turn around.

Meanwhile, the Giants would like to have you believe they're not panicking. The same I'm afraid cannot be said for some of their fans, who are even questioning whether or not they've lost their homefield advantage. But if you ask one scout, he'll tell you the Giants' season is already over. Luckily for the fans, they still have Barry Bonds' who was just 1-8 with an RBI in the series, and no extra base hits. The Giants are now 1-5, and off to their worst start since 1980. With only 14 runs scored in six games, it's safe to say it's going to be a long season in the Bay.

The Dodgers are 4-2 and tied for second place in the NL West, largely because they haven't yet had the pleasure of playing four games against the Nationals. Some fans are already gloating over the sweep, while Luis Gonzalez is remaining humble after his two homer day. The Dodgers are now preparing for their home opener today against the Rockies.

The Fanhouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

San Francisco Giants (1-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2)-10:15PM Est.

You know how when two rivals meet, announcers tell you to "throw out the record books!" That's one of the dumbest things announcers say. First of all, if you throw out the record books then how in the hell is anyone supposed to know who's in first place? Second of all, who the hell keeps records in a book? Ever heard of the internet? Anyway, throw out the record books when the Giants and Dodgers meet, because all either of these teams care about is beating each other!


Chicago White Sox (1-2) vs. Minnesota Twins (3-0)-8:11PM Est.

Here's another series starting tonight between two division rivals. The White Sox and Twins have been fighting each other for the AL Central for years now, all the way back to when the Tigers were losing 100 games a season. It seems like every time these teams meet, something exciting happens. With Carlos Silva and Javier Vazquez on the mound, that excitement will probably come in the form of 600-foot home runs.


Houston Astros (0-3) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (0-3)-8:10PM Est.

Remember a few seasons ago when these two teams were fighting for a National League pennant against each other? Well tonight's game won't be anything like that. Nope, instead we're gonna get two teams that are yet to win a game this season. How exciting. If for nothing else, I suggest you watch just in case Brad Lidge has to face Albert Pujols in the 9th inning again. Have you ever seen a pitcher wet himself on the mound?

Thanks to an LA Times article, I was alerted that there is a video on YouTube of a Giants fan burning his no. 29 Jason Schmidt Giants jersey, in obvious resentment of the fact that the former Giants' ace, signed a free agent deal in the off-season to pitch for the rival Dodgers. Before you check it out, be advised that there is a Snoop Dogg song playing in the background with several explicit lyrics. Oh yeah, and if you're not into fans burning jerseys with a blowtorch, don't go here either.

With fans like that, it's easy to see why the Dodgers scheduled their rotation so Schmidt would miss the Giants this time around -- the teams begin a three game series tonight, and Schmidt already pitched on Wednesday. Schmidt has already said he expects to get booed.

Previously at FanHouse:
Is Jason Schmidt Ducking the Giants?

Word on the street is you better get your looks in on Barry now, because when FOX starts airing their Saturday game of the week later in the year, the Giants won't be on the schedule too often. In the meantime, you can catch Barry as a guest on Larry King some time next week, as he is working on rebuilding his image. Barry uses George Foreman as an example of a player who was disliked during his playing (fighting) days, and liked after his retirement, and suggests the same thing could happen to his image. I guess Barry's on his own in this regard; the Giants say they won't be hyping Barry's chase for the record, and he was also left off the cover of the Giants media guide, presumably because he hadn't signed by the time it was printed.

As for Barry on the field, the legend went deep for the first time in the season on Wednesday night. He took it opposite field too, which is pretty darn impressive considering most people thought he only had warning-track power last year. Between stealing bases on Opening Day, and five Spring Training home runs, Bonds looks pretty good. No matter to Jim Caple, he still came up with 22 reasons why Barry won't pass Hank Aaron. Probably not helping the cause is Bonds' suggestion that he'll be taking days off throughout the season.

Anywho, if you think you're already sick of Barry, guess again because I'll be here all year long giving you Bonds updates, just like our boy Pedro Gomez, who hasn't yet gotten on Barry's nerves. But don't get it twisted; it's Bonds who's running the show, and he'll even dictate to the media how his press conferences go. In fact, he'll put a conference on hold until he has his tape recorder running so he can put the sound on his website.

Previously at FanHouse:
Barry Bonds Is in the HR Column
Barry's World: A Rare Start to the Season
Giants Won't Be Hyping Barry Bonds' Chase
Barry Bonds Is a Man on a Mission

As aptly described at Fark Sports, the Dodgers April 15th game against the Padres will be just like that old Bugs Bunny episode.

Playing first base for the Dodgers, # 42. Playing second base for the Dodgers, # 42. Pitching for the Dodgers, # 42.

Because as announced on the Dodgers official site, the team will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball in a unique way.

the Dodgers decided to have their entire team wear uniform No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day in tribute to the late Hall of Famer who broke baseball's color barrier while wearing Dodger Blue.

Check out Sons of Steve Garvey who obtained a sneak peak at the Dodgers scoreboard for that night. Additionally, Juan Pierre and Marlon Anderson will conduct a youth clinic at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in South Central Los Angeles the previous day. While there's no possible way for baseball to thank and honor Jackie Robinson enough for what he went through and endured in paving the way for many future black players, the Dodgers are certainly making their attempts.

Furthermore, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. will also wear jersey No. 42 in honor of Robinson on April 15th. Griffey Jr. petitioned the league to wear the number, since it was retired throughout baseball in 1997 on the 50th anniversary. Padres OF Mike Cameron will also wear No. 42 in honor of Robinson when they play the Dodgers on the 15th, and he will even go completely old school.