Results tagged ‘ Tim Lincecum ’
Sandoval, Renteria sustain mild injuries
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Third baseman Pablo Sandoval and shortstop Edgar Renteria sustained mild injuries in the Giants’ 11-10 exhibition loss to the San Diego Padres at Peoria, Ariz.
Sandoval sprained his left ankle while trying to avoid a pitch and Renteria developed tightness in his right (throwing) elbow, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Bochy added that although Sandoval will rest for at least one day, the same injury might not sideline him in the regular season. Renteria, said Bochy, might play Sunday against Milwaukee.
Still, these minor ailments foil Bochy’s plan to play his regulars for three days in a row. He also wants them to play significant numbers of innings to condition them for the regular season. But the slow pace of Saturday’s game — it took about two hours to play four innings — forced Bochy to remove some of his regulars prematurely. Also, catcher Bengie Molina stayed in Scottsdale on Saturday to catch Tim Lincecum in a Minor League exhibition and probably will skip Sunday’s game to collaborate with Randy Johnson, who’s getting his work in by pitching in a Minor League intrasquad game.
Though Friday night’s Jack Taschner trade robbed the Giants of a left-handed relief option, Bochy said that he would not hesitate to use an all-right-handed bullpen, save for Jeremy Affeldt. Asked if he’d find this arrangement comfortable, Bochy said, “It will be if e feel we have at least a guy or two who can get left-handers out. It doesn’t matter if they’re left-handed or right-handed.”
One other news tidbit: Right-hander Osiris Matos stayed at home Saturday with flu-like symptoms.
Sandoval continues to amaze; Lincecum, Posey linked
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In the eighth inning of the Giants’ 5-1 loss to Seattle on Monday, Pablo Sandoval singled through the right side of the infield. Given Sandoval’s .442 batting average, that wasn’t startling.
What WAS startling was that Sandoval hit a pitch that skipped in the dirt. It was just another example of the 22-year-old switch-hitter’s free-swinging tendencies — and of his considerable skill.
“Some guys are meant to get hits all the time,” veteran Rich Aurilia marveled.
Hitting coach Carney Lansford said, “We have people coming out early to work with guys on that swing.” Lansford was joking … we think.
Another event worth remembering was the first on-field collaboration in an organized game between right-hander Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey, who caught the final three innings. If the baseball gods smile upon the Giants, this will be the first of many times Lincecum and Posey work together. It was believed to be the first time that winners of the Golden Spikes Award (given annually to the nation’s top collegiate player) formed a battery.
“He needs to get back there,” Lincecum said. “It’s good for both of us to get a feel for each other. It’s a little different because we haven’t gotten a chance to see what kind of pitcher and what kind of catcher we are.”
Lincecum related that Posey, who didn’t call pitches in college, understandably struggled with this task.
“He’s like, ‘I don’t know what [signs] to give you, man,’ ” Lincecum related good-naturedly. “He’s just throwing down numbers and stuff. I was like, ‘OK, sounds like a good pitch.’ “
Chris Haft
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