Bridge Ball

Giants Weekly Wrap--May 17-23

Record: 4-1
Took two out of three from Chicago and won two in a soppy San Juan before the rain ended the Giants’s chance to sweep the Expos. Overall 19-24 and now only 4.5 games from first as the Dodgers won only one game this week and the Padres went .500.

Best Game
Tuesday at Wrigley: Jason Schmidt was almost as dominant as a pitcher could be in shutting down the Cubs during a 50 degree night with the wind howling in.

Worst Game
Wednesday at Wrigley: The lone loss of the week. The bullpen blows a lead and Moises Alou launches a changeup in his eyes for a Cub win in the 10th inning.

Who’s Hot: Jason Schmidt
Much has been made of Schmidt’s 144-pitch one hitter. But he only threw five pitches that weren’t fastballs or changeups. It probably felt more like 2 hour 42 minute batting practice than a game for Schmidt.

Who’s Not: Barry Bonds
Three games + painful sciatica = one hit. Still led the team with four runs scored. Unbelievable. Also: Edgardo Alfonzo hit .174 in the five games.

Highlights
In 1998 Neifi Perez hit a home run off of Robb Nen to win the last game of the season for the Rockies. It forced the Giants into a play-in game for the National League Wild Card against the Cubs that team lost. On Thursday, Perez got a little bit of revenge for the Giants by hitting a two run home run for the Giants in the 10th inning.

Lowlights
The Giants shut down Robb Nen for a full month without any work after the thrice operated upon shoulder continued to bother the former closer.

Quote Me
"Tell Felipe not to say nothing. Be quiet. He doesn't know me. He sees a lot of people throw six innings. I can throw nine innings. I got four hits in a game once and wasn't tired. I think he made the wrong comment."
-Former Giant Livan Hernandez responding to Felipe Alou saying he thought Hernandez got tired in the 7th inning after running the bases. Hernandez loaded the bases before Luis Aylala "relieved" him.

Double Your Pleasure
Giant Double Plays This Week: 4
Season Total: 48

Coming Soon?
Andres Galarraga has beaten non-Hodgkin's lymphoma again. Could he be sporting the Orange and Black for the Giants again soon? With Pedro Feliz looking solid at short and JT Snow ailing, the team is seeking help at first.

Returning Soon
Jesse Foppert threw off the SBC Park mound a week ago for the first time as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The team hopes to have him back on the roster by September.

Coming Up
Two teams that have struggled all season: Colorado and Arizona. The Giants will not see perfect game hurler Randy Johnson, which appeared to be the Diamondback’s best chance to win. A good week could near the team to the .500 mark.