Play Ball!

Dedicated to my Relatives throughout the Land who are watching or listening to The Game with a Pepsi, (often these days a Coke), Bud (used to be Oly), or a glass of water. And Uncle Tony and the rest who have the Sky View.

The day many folks and I have been looking forward to has arrived! I won't be in the stands this evening at 5 pm Mountain time, but I've been online this morning scoping tickets for when I go home in June. Hmmm. Texas Rangers or Houston Astros? Of course, the Rangers for the 2010 World Series rematch! But, there's a world of difference in price between the two teams from the Lone Star state. Time to count the pennies and figure that all out later.

More importantly, here then is the projected Giants lineup for today according to The San Francisco Chronicle's online site:

1. Pagan CF
2. Cabrera RF
3. Sandoval 3B
4. Posey C
5. Huff LF
6. Belt 1B
7. Crawford SS
8. Theriot 2B
9. Lincecum P

Posey’s back! Back walking, suiting up, and playing. Huge. Last May, when he got injured—and how he got injured! Oh, that was rough Cousins crashing into him was debilitating to him physically and the rest of us emotionally, psychically. Doom and gloom!

Then Brandon Crawford showed up and in his first major league hit belted a grand slam! Maybe things were going to be ok. Things were ok but just ok.

Freddy Sanchez—how many doubles in that World Series game? 2? 3? 4?—slammed his shoulder in June. These injuries were after Pablo Sandoval’s wrist that knocked him out of the lineup until mid-June. The Giants didn’t repeat. They didn’t even win the National League West. 

Back to today and three new (to the Giants) guys: Angel Pagan, Melky Cabrera, and Ryan Theriot. Word is they’re fast guys. I watched part of a few Spring Training games—I’m not on summer vacation yet—and I saw one of them steal. Yes, I don’t know who it was and I couldn’t tell them apart today, but I will. It’s Opening Day. Give me a couple more games.

The game just started. Pagan made an out. Cabrera hit a double. That’s why they money guys brought him over. Panda hit a shot to deep right and Cabrera tagged up and went to third. Posey flied out. 

I wanted to post before the Dbacks hit and now their first batter got on base. Let’s go Gi-Ants!

Okay, I posted before the Diamondbacks scored, but Chris Young has just hit a homerun. 2-0, Arizona. I thought it'd be tacky if I didn't acknowledge the first homer of the season between these two teams. 

Thoughts of going to watch the Giants when they travel to Arizona just flashed through my mind again. I have to remember that I’m boycotting the state. I’m on a budget. I don’t just have a budget, but I’m sticking to it. Finally.

Lincecum just got his first out. A strikeout. Go Timmy! Tim! Lincecum! I gotta put on my Lincecum jersey that my cousins Joanna and Victor gave me last year after visiting. Now, the cap I bought with the San Francisco skyline. I hate to be materialistic…

 

Another Dback homer. Time to take off the cap, unbutton the jersey. I’ve been saved from my die-hard materialist ways. It’s gonna be a long game. Long season? 

Pitching Coach Dave Righetti has gone out to talk to Lincecum. He ends with a strikeout. Shake it off, Tim. Ok, I don’t want to do a play-by-play. Besides, I know I’ve already missed a few plays. Catch you later. I’m heading back to the bleachers.