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Giants prepare for Rockies series
By Ken Gimblin September 22, 2008 |
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SAN FRANCISCO--The Giants towards the end of this season are trying to finish up the season on a strong note. The clubhouse presence despite not getting in the playoffs is positive so from that stand point the Giants have improved this year. The Rockies who come into AT&T Park feel the same way and they got to be disappointed because they went to the World Series last year and are now 10.5 games out of first place in the National League West. Some of the young players have come through for San Francisco later in the season. At the beginning of the year there were question marks about how they would perform. You look at the year that Tim Lincecum has had on the mound this season he's been outstanding. Some of the other players have come through and that's where the Giants have to feel good. If they can get back with a young pitching staff for next season that would be really a big improvement and the team has some young hitters that have come through so the Giants are definitely going to finish much more stronger this year and things are going to be more optimistic next year, does that mean their going to World Series? No but it means that their on the road to improvement. Barry Zito: Zito's struggles this year were a mystery but at the end of the season he put together some victories. Earlier on it might have been a confidence factor or maybe he's relaxed more. Maybe he's finally found that niche. There is no question if the Giants had to do it again their not signing him to a contract of $126 million. All in all looking back at the one game he pitched in August that kind of got him back on track was in San Diego where he shut out the Padres 2-0 he looked magnificent he couldn't haven't looked better. Maybe he putting things together a little bit and from the Giants stand point that would be positive. The Giants have a very strong pitching staff particularly if Zito can come around and be a .500 pitcher. Young players to look for: Fred Lewis has some great speed in the outfield and a great glove and he's certainly come around this year and he's done a nice job with the bats too. Some of the other younger players Nate Schieholtz might need a little more playing time. Those are the players are going to need in order to be that successful playoff team in a couple of years. Emmanuel Burriss is one of the players that can prove himself too and Bruce Bochy likes what he sees in Burriss' ability with the glove and bat. Sabean's return: I'll point out that Brian Sabean the Giants General Manager has done some bad things but he's done some good things with the young prospects. He's returning and William Nuekom the Giants General Managing Partner is bringing back Sabean for 2009 the last year of his contract. Neukom would like to see how things go in 09 before he makes any changes at General Manager and would like to see what Sabean can do with the team before making a move. Getting rid of Sabean would be a major move and very wisely he's just going to come and look at the picture and at the end of next year and say okay it's either time for him to go or keep him on. Tuesday's starters: For Colorado to open the series Udaldo Jimenez 11-12 ERA 4.12 versus the Giants Tim Lincecum 17-4 2.46. First pitch at AT&T Park 7:15PM. Ken Gimblin is filling in for Stefani Rebekah Black who covers Giants baseball each Monday. |
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