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Giants hoping to take their A game in nation's capital
By Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin July 24, 2006 |
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Now why would the Washington Nationals want to trade left fielder Alfonso Soriano to another ball club before next Monday night's trade deadline? Pitching might be the answer. It's the answer with every other Major League club and the Nationals are going shopping. Soriano hitting .288 and went 2-5 with two hits had an RBI on Sunday is the Washington Nationals lead off man and he's been a very dependable one at that. Soriano at the beginning of spring training held out because he thought he would be the Nationals starting shortstop a position that he long held when he played for the Yankees prior to being dealt to Washington. Soriano stayed away for two games until he was coaxed by agent Diego Bentz to come back or have his contract voided by the Nationals. Manager Frank Robinson whose been known to be tough on players and sometimes members of the media went a little easier on Soriano understanding the circumstances of somebody whose been at shortstop all his career and then making the move to left field was a culture shock for Soriano. Robinson welcomed Soriano to Washington and Soriano has adapted to his new home and position in left field. Soriano likes the position now and also likes Washington and would like to stay put. Bentz says he's planning on talking with the Nationals this week before the deadline in order to keep Soriano in Washington. Soriano's team mates enjoy playing and working with him, he's been a great team mate plus a team leader; the greater Washington community has taken to him and would be sad to see him go. He makes fans forget about being in last place when they see him play. "I think my agent and the club; they have a lot to talk about. If we have something working we need a little bit more time," Soriano said. The Nationals have a new team President Stan Kasten who joined the team last Thursday and Soriano met him briefly but did not talk contract at all. If Soriano does get dealt expect the Nationals to shore up their pitching staff and try to move out of the cellar. On Tuesday Nat's outfielder Jose Guillen will have surgery for a torn ligament in his right elbow. The ligament surgery knows as Tommy John surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews. An MRI scan shows a complete tearing of the elbow ligament and thus the surgery is a must before Guillen can even make a come back. According to General Manager Jim Bowden. Guillen is hitting .206 with nine homers, 40 RBIs, in 241 at bats. Guillen will rehab right after surgery and will leave for Miami where he lives to begin working at a rehab clinic there. The San Francisco Giants prepare for the series with the Nationals on Tuesday night at RFK Stadium. Prior to Sunday's 12 inning loss to the Padres the Giants had won five straight games all at AT&T prior to that winning streak the Giants had lost three straight. The Giants are a half game out in the N.L. West just behind first place San Diego. The Giants enter this series in Washington with a road record of 22-24. The Nat's are in last place in the N.L. East at 43-56 and are 16.5 games out of first. Shea Hillenbrand is up for a contract extension 15 days after the World Series is completed. Hillenbrand who likes his new team and being back out west is hoping that all works out in San Francisco once his contract eligibility goes into effect. "Yeah I'd consider it. It's a situation that's never been presented to me. I'm a first time free agent up until the last couple of years. I've always settled without going to arbitration. Just in the 24 hours I've been here I feel very comfortable, really good," said Hillenbrand. Babo trial: Michael Rains Bonds attorney has filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Court on Monday in the BALCO/Steroids scandal that Bonds right to privacy was violated when his medical records leaked out to Chronicle investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams last week. Rains insists that there is nothing in the medical records that would implicate Bonds for steroid use but that Bonds right to privacy is at issue and that Grand Jury testimony and evidence are to be kept confidential. Rains believe that the U.S. Attorney's office leaked the medical records which were given to the court by the Giants. The U.S. Attorney's office said that all matters of medical evidence and testimony under the Grand Jury policy is to be kept confidential and that the U.S. Attorney's office was not responsible for the leaks. "Basically we're sending a letter to the U.S. Attorney and court seeking an investigation into the leak of the medical records." said Rains spokeswoman Maggie Bedig. Fainaru-Wada and Williams are scheduled to appear in court to reveal their sources as to where they got testimony on Bonds and Yankee Jason Giambi in a December 2003 Grand Jury hearing which revealed that Bonds didn't know he was using steroids in "the Cream" and "the Clear" BALCO products. Fainaru-Wada and Williams are expected to use the California Shield law which protects journalists from revealing their sources. It was reported that BALCO founder Vince Conte was the source of that leak. Oh yes and there is a ball game scheduled. Tuesday's matchups at RFK: For the Giants Matt Morris (8-7 ERA 4.42) and for the Nationals Ramon Ortiz (6-9 ERA 4.73). First pitch is served at 4:00PM PDT. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin co-host Sportstalk and cover Giants baseball on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. Quotes courtesy of : Fox Sports.com |
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