Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

by APGiantsFan on Sep 11, 2007 10:11 PM PDT

The Little Giants took the Cal League Northern Division Championship by beating the Visalia Oaks 7-5 at Recreation Park tonight. The long ball propelled the Giants to the win. Fred Lewis hit two homeruns (driving in 3 runs) and Pablo Sandoval hit a monster two run shot to right field (it was easily 420+ feet). Travis Denker drove in the first run of the game with a double off the left field wall. Denker went 3 for 5 and hit .538 for the series. As a fellow Giant fan commented during the game - "that guy knows how to hit." The other run was driven in by Travis Ishikawa.

The Giants took a 3 to nothing lead in the third following Ishikawa's RBI single. The Oaks then scored single runs in the 3rd, 4th and 5th to tie the game. The Giants broke the game open in the 6th with Sandoval's 2 run homerun followed shortly by Freddie's 2 run homerun to left center.

Darren Sack started for the Giants and only lasted two innings. He did not look sharp and was lucky to escape without giving up any runs. In the second inning the Oaks had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs as the result of two walks. A strike out to the next batter turned into a double play when the runner at 2nd was thrown out attempting to steal. The next batter singled, but the runner at 2nd was thrown out at home. (A very good throw by A. Contreras was a bit up the line towards third, but beat the runner) Ronnie Ray followed with 4 innings - giving up 3 runs (2 earned). Waddell followed and gave up 2 unearned runs in 1 2/3 innings. The unearned runs were the result of Waddell throwing a bunt attempt past first base, allowing a runner to score. Sergio Romo came in and promptly gave up a single, scoring the bunter, who wound up on third following the overthrow. Romo then struck out the next batter to end the inning and he struck out 2 of the 3 batters in the ninth to earn the save.

There was a small but vocal contingent from San Jose who enjoyed the game and were giving out San Jose Giants t-shirts and orange hand towels. I snagged a couple of shirts by going by and cheering for the Giants.

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Come on down

Congratulations to the Cal League Northern Division Champions. Come on down and beat up on the Lake Elsinore Storm.

by wilriv21 on Sep 11, 2007 10:28 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Thanks for the update, and congrats to the Little Giants.

The victory feels muted for me considering Lewis was such a difference maker in the game. You could argue Visalia should have won this one, and I think a Game 5 between these teams would have been a good battle (and Visalia would have been favored, IMHO)

What's worse is discovering that Antoan Richardson lost his roster spot to make room for Lewis. (I didn't realize that til it was mentioned in the San Jose webcast.) Come on, Giants! Antoan was named the team MVP! Shouldn't be get a chance to play?

Still..... Lewis wasn't much of a factor in games 2 and 3, so it's not like he tipped the scales completely. And, Pablo is my kids' favorite player, so it's great that his HR was technically the Game Winning RBI (for those who remember that stat). I feel good about that.

I realize the minors are a tool for the big league club, and that Lewis had nowhere else to rehab. But I'm hoping for a Cal League finals without him, and with Richardson leading off again. Go Giants!

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 12:05 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

even tho this is the playoffs, teams are still allowed to use their farm clubs for rehab starts

so playing lewis and sitting antoan is alright by me

lewis should get the call before the baby g's play for the championship....so antoan should get his day in the sun

by bacci40 on Sep 12, 2007 2:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Oh, it's certainly within the rules. Just doesn't seem right. It'd be more satisfying to have the playoffs be all about the guys who worked hard to get you there.

The same concept applies, sort of, to Cowart and Matos' callups. It's exciting to see them with San Jose, but they've cost Anthony Moreno and Gregorio Martinez their playoff spots. That's not a problem in tactical terms, but it's a shame that those two guys -- who have kind of stalled and probably won't go much further -- didn't get to compete in this post-season.

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Antoan Richardson hasn't played in over a month has he? Out with a high ankle sprain. Did he lose his roster spot in any substantive way (ie, was he ready to come back and play for this series) or was it just an administrative move for a player who wasn't healthy enough to take the field anyway?

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Sep 12, 2007 5:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Richardson played in Game 1 of the series.

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Visalia reaction

At least one fan wasn't too happy about Lewis...

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

There was some grumbling by Oaks fans about how the Giants needed a major leaguer to beat them. I agree that Lewis has shown he is sufficiently rehabed and should join the big club.

by APGiantsFan on Sep 12, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

i think its pretty weak having Lewis play down there in the playoffs...SFG seems to like to make sure San Jose has some ringers the last few years- maybe has to do with the area fan base or keeping the A's out of the area??

by slojoe on Sep 12, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Want weak? The Salt Lake Bees started Bartolo Colon in game 1 of their playoff series against Sacramento. He pitched fairly lousy and got ND, but SLC won. Colon was there on a rehab assignment just like Freddy was for the little Giants.

So let's see...a marginally talented OF that hasn't shown a heck of a lot in the major leagues as a ringer, not so good. A Cy Young award winner and 20 game winner (albeit fat and injured) as your game 1 playoff starter...weak. Tres weak.

LOL @ SLC though cos Sacramento came back from an 0-2 deficit to win the series 3-2.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 12, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

it just all seems kind of...i dont know the right word for it, yes i do- its like CHEATING, thats it..
I wouldnt want to be associated with it. Would you like to be the manager with Colon on the mound or F. Lewis clobbering 2 HR's- i'd be embarrassed...

I realize the minors arent all that important, but the playoffs should be treated with some respect.

by slojoe on Sep 12, 2007 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Winning in the minors means a lot to the players. I did a few interviews with SJ Giants players last year and I asked the guys what their goals were for the year. One said point blank: I want to win. A lot of people don't see that when they think of minor league baseball. It's true that the purpose the minor leagues is to develop talent and graduate players to a Major League team. These guys still play to win. The managers and coaching staff want to win.

I'm sort of meh on the ringer business, myself. I did think it was sort of extreme to put Freddy in SJ but it was the highest level of Giants baseball still playing and he needs to rehab somewhere. Is it unfair to put his talent against high A league talent? Yes. And I agree it's the same sort of deal with Colon and Salt Lake. He needs to rehab even more than Freddy does because the Angels are playoff bound. They need Colon to be ready. Something is still fishy in Denmark when you send a Cy Young award winner into a freakin' minor league playoff game, though. That is most definitely extreme. Don't they have "simulated games" for pitchers for that very reason, to rehab? It's not like the Giants can do a simulated game for Freddy. What would he do, stand around in the outfield 80% of the time?

Colon is weaksauce. That is all.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 12, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

I didn't hear any Oaks fans complaining when Randy Johnson was pitching for Visalia five months ago. Sure, they ended up losing that game, and it wasn't the playoffs... However, he is still a Major Leaguer rehabbing on a single-A team.

That being said, I'm sure that I would have been a bit pissed at the end of that game if I wasn't first-and-foremost a SF Giants fan.

by Jakespaar on Sep 12, 2007 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

ths was the playoffs though.. a regular season game
with Johnson pitching at less than 100%, probably working on some stuff, drawing some extra fans- not a major effect on their little pennant race down there

by slojoe on Sep 13, 2007 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Anyone want to bet Sabean signs Colon to a 5-year, $100 million deal just to piss us off?

We're lacking savvy! Oh noez.

Brian Anderson: converting saves and dominating as best he can.

by JT Jordan on Sep 12, 2007 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

i guess Freddie's not really a ringer, i just wish Giants wouldnt do stuff like that even if others do..they should make a rule or something for the playoffs that no players allowed to drop down for rehab and no guys drop down that havent benn there for a while, only allow someone like an Ishikawa, who was terrible at the next level....i guess others will disagree, but i dont want to be the fan of the other team, who might be a real minor league fan and may have attended quite a few games, and then Freddie
clubs them out of the playoffs...

you brought up "simulated" games, which is what i also would have thought the big clubs could use in a situation like this

by slojoe on Sep 13, 2007 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

I've heard of simulated games being used to rehab pitchers. Rich Harden must have pitched in about twenty this year alone. I haven't heard of them being used for position players though, and I really can't see how it would work if they did go that route for a hitter.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 13, 2007 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

The Championship Series begins 9/13 in Lake Elsinore. The five game series will go like this:

Game 1 - 9/13, 7:07 PM in Lake Elsinore
Game 2 - 9/14, 7:07 PM in Lake Elsinore

* Game 3 - 9/15, 5:00 PM in San Jose

Game 4 - 9/16, 5:00 PM in San Jose
Game 5 - 9/17, 5:00 PM in San Jose

I haven't got my work schedule yet, but I'll hope to see some of you at the playoff games in San Jose. I won't make Friday, but hopefully Lake Elsinore will hold on to force at least a game 4.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Sep 12, 2007 2:15 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

I have a previous engagement and will miss the 9-15 game in SJ. My life is made of fail. Although if I can get in the 9-16 game I totally will.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 12, 2007 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

It'd be nice if there was some kind of rule that made the playoff teams rely on their own players during the playoffs or at the very least only allow them to play guys from levels below the team.

Zealously advocating for Nate the Great since 2007.

by orangeandblackattack on Sep 12, 2007 8:11 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

makes sense to me...i dont get the feeling the big clubs take this stuff too seriously though...

by slojoe on Sep 12, 2007 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Pablo!

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Sep 12, 2007 9:37 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Hey, Flanders, that's my line! Pablooooooooo!

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Sep 12, 2007 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

sorry about that, neighboroonie!

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Sep 12, 2007 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

I watched the game with APG and it was a lot of fun. I don't normally like rooting against the home team (we both live in Visalia), but I couldn't help myself last night.

Although the SJ Giants generally looked pretty good, there was some sloppiness and lack of hustle at times. There was another overthrow to first, In addition to the one APG mentioned. Both of them were so badly thrown that I doubt that a 10 foot tall player could have caught them.

I always feel somewhat conflicted when the Little Giants come to town. Fortunately, last night we were able to blend in with the folks that came down from SJ.

I enjoyed watching Freddy's performance, regardless of the controversy that it caused...

by Jakespaar on Sep 12, 2007 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

Finals rotation

Changing the subject a bit, who's going to pitch for the finals?

The Web site says Oseguera is slated for Game 1, so maybe we'll just see a reprise of the Visalia series: Oseguera, Cowart, J.Martinez.

I'd have liked to see Sosa, Oseguera, Cowart for the first three games, but apparently they're being delicate with Sosa's innings -?

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 11:50 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Sep 12, 2007 5:45 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

Flying to San Jose for the weekend series. I will be there for games 3, 4* and 5*. (* if required) If it ends in less than 5, I will enjoy the sites of your great State. It will be my first time in California. Will tickets be easy to come by for the games or should I purchase in advance?

by Joco on Sep 12, 2007 7:39 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Little Giants - Northern Division Champs

I think you'll be fine buying tickets at the last minute. Hope you have a great trip out here.

by wedge on Sep 12, 2007 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Lewis Returns

Sounds like Fred will be in San Jose for the finals, too.

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_6880015

This part gets under my skin: Apparently Lewis' rehab stint was limited to two games. After that, the Giants demoted him to be a "real" minor leaguer, not just a rehabber. I guess the California League can't prevent the Giants from doing that.

Quoting from the story:
The National Association and the California League approved Lewis' rehab stint for only two games. When the Giants decided he wasn't ready after those two -- during which he was 1 for 6 -- they had to recall him to the majors and option him back to the minors, which means he must stay for 10 more days.

I was willing, grudgingly, to accept the rehab stint as legal but regrettable. I certainly didn't like it. This, though, smacks of real cheating.

If nothing else, it cheats one minor leaguer -- be it Antoan or someone more healthy -- from experiencing the thrill of a finals series.

Fred, you're a nice guy, but I'm going to be rooting for you to strike out every time.

by wedge on Sep 13, 2007 2:03 PM PDT reply actions

Send in the clowns

Down at Lake Elsinore, the Class A home of the San Diego Padres, they're playing it cool. General Manager Chris Jones fielded inquiries about Lewis thusly: "Who?" "I can't predict the future," he said. "I can tell you our team's going to come to play. Not much I can do about it even if they send down Barry Bonds."But I did hear (Jake) Peavy tweaked his shoulder and might need a rehab start."

by wilriv21 on Sep 13, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Game 1 Cal League Finals

Went to Game 1 last night and had some fun at the minor league park even though SJ blew a 6-0 lead to loss 7-6 in 10 innings. If you ever are in the area take a night off to see a game there, very nice park. Park was only 1/5 full with a small but vocal San Jose fan contingent. I sat right behind the Giants dugout. A fanatic SJ Giants season tix holder was in row wearing the Pope outfit. Trust me. Apparently he is in SJ Giants commericals and even on the pocket schedule for Giants.

Lake Elsinore made light of the Fred Lewis situation:

PA system played "Cheating Heart" when he batted
They display name, number and stats for players on the display board but for Lewis they had a AAA logo and his name
Between innings they have an "Ask the Fan" segment and the question was "Longtime SJ Giants player Fred Lewis, how many ABs did he have for the SF Giants this season?

Other observations:

Mooney has a rifle arm
Do not hold your breath waiting on Bocock to arrive
My best comp for Denker would be a poor mans Jeff Kent in that he struggles with glove but is able to handle the bat and has power
Sandoval looks like he is a baseball player - smooth swing, instincts but needs to improve "D"
EME is thinner than I thought

Oh yeah and it was $1 drink nite at the yard - I think I may have been one of the few sobers.

by wilriv21 on Sep 14, 2007 5:45 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Game 1 Cal League Finals

Thanks for the report! Pretty funny that they messed with the whole Lewis situation -- it's like being the uber beer batter (without the cheap beer part, although I guess $1 drink nite takes care of that).

I'll be at Game 3 tonight, although missing about 1/2 the action while i keep the kids entertained. Hoping to at least get a glimpse of Denker -- he got hurt in the collision at the plate in Game 2 and didn't finish the game.

by wedge on Sep 15, 2007 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions