Well, it started as a hopeful season for the Giants. They had new talent and old talent (old perhaps being an issue here). But with the Giants not even out of April they have now lost their closer for at least 4 months. Benitez tore the hamstring tendons from where they join the pelvis according to KNBR. Ow, Ow, Ow. With Barry still on the disabled list, Alou still rusty and now losing their closer… it could be a long year.

Joan and I went to a wonderful Giants game today. It rained for at least 7 innings without a rain out. I am sure it was a miserable day to play, but the Giants were finally looking sharp. Maybe as a friends suggested, they are “mudders”. Kirk Reader recorded his first win of the year and had a no hitter for the first 4 innings. Pedro Feliz hit a 3 run home run on his birthday. The defense was sharp all day (unlike the Padres). Yes it was a beautiful day. Of course, my season tickets are under the overhang and out of the rain.

I saw my wife’s to do list recently and it

inspired this to do list for the avid baseball fan. (now available on the back

of a t-shirt). How can you get anything one when there is

baseball 6-7 days a week. The answer is to get as much done as possible on those

off

days.

P.S.

The handwritten font here is the one I created using a site which was the very first thing mentioned on my

blog.

With the Giants off to a slow start and their two aging superstars on the disabled list, there is not much news of my favorite team that I would wish to relate. But on the topic of baseball, I enjoyed George Will’s article on Greg Maddux.

Only two pitchers in the lively-ball era have had four consecutive seasons with an earned run average under 2.40 – Maddux and Sandy Koufax, who threw from a mound five inches higher than today’s. In Maddux’s four seasons (1992-95) his ERA was an astonishing 1.98, two runs per game lower than the National League’s 3.99 over the same period. Today, as he prepares to win at least 15 games for a record 18th consecutive year, he represents physical normality in baseball.

According to Sports Illustrated, Sammy Sosa managed to get thrown out of a Spring Training game for arguing balls and strikes. The odd thing is that he was already out in right field. Now I am not Sammy’s biggest fan, but really.

Pitchers and catchers report today for the Astros, Braves, Devil Rays, Giants, Indians, Marlins, Phillies, Pirates, Redsox, Rockies and Tigers.

OK, it’s not baseball news, but you have to wonder if people were not paying attention to how bad strikes can be for a sport. I still remember the baseball strike year and know friends who are still mad. My heart goes out to hockey fans.

I became a Giants fan the first year of Will Clark’s career. Back when the Giants advertising motto was “you’ve got to love these kids”. That would not be the best slogan for the current Giants. As the Giant’s website points out“the Giants’ starting outfield of Barry Bonds, Marquis Grissom and Moises Alou boast a combined 118 years of existence, nearly half a century worth of baseball seasons, almost 6,500 games all told.” The odd thing about that is that manager Fellipe Alou’s reputation before coming to the Giants was that he could turn young players into all stars as he had done at least twice in Montreal (followed twice by a fire sale).

The only thing to say about the new deal between players and owners to crack down on steroids in baseball is “it is about time”. Does it go far enough? Probably not. But any change at this point is probably an improvement.

Hardball Times has this must read article for any Giant’s fan.