San Francisco Giants seeking host families for players

Signing a professional baseball contract can be an exciting experience for any young man. But the early years of a pro baseball career can be difficult and lonely.

Many of the players — most of them in their late teens and early 20s — find themselves away from home for the first time. And while things may be pretty glamorous playing under the bright lights on game night, the rest of the time may lead to some lonely hours.

That's where Linda Pereira comes in.

Pereira is the director of player relations for the San Jose Giants, the local Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and one her many duties with the club is to locate host families for players each season.

The search is now on for host families for the 2009 season that runs April through early September. Linda Pereira of the Giants needs to find enough families for the players by early March.

Host families provide a player with a room, and the Giants provide season tickets and parking passes for all of the club's games at San Jose Municipal Stadium. The team also hosts picnics for the families and sponsors other events.

"It's really a great program, for the both the players and the host families," said Pereira.

Pereira says that placing players with local families is one of the most rewarding parts of her job.

"I try to match the right players with the right families, and I'm proud of my record," she said. "It's incredible ... the

players become part of the families, and the families come to the games and live and die with their players.

"And when the players get to the big leagues, they're just right up the street [at AT&T Park in San Francisco]."

For more information on the host family program, call Pereira at (408) 297-1435, ext. 19.

SJ Giants jobs

With the California Baseball League season about to begin, the San Jose Giants need you!

No, the local Class A ballclub has plenty of pitching and hitting, but they do have some opportunities for those looking for seasonal work at the ballpark.

Positions available include batboy, camera operator, concessions staff, fun zone attendant, parking attendant, program and scorecard vendor, shift supervisor, ticket taker, Turkey Mike's BBQ staff and usher.

All applicants must be a minimum of 16 years of age, with the exception of those applying for the batboy position where the minimum age requirement is 14.

Applications are available online at www.sjgiants.com. For additional information, contact the San Jose Giants at (408) 297-1435, ext. 45, or info@sjgiants.com.

By Dick Sparrer

Spring preview: Giants feel confident with young foundation

"I'm not trying to be cocky, just giving myself that confidence, knowing I can compete at this level." "I went into this offseason with the mentality that this is my spot to lose," he said. That's an awful lot of youth for a team that plans to rely on pitching and defense as it attempts to halt a four-year stretch of losing seasons, but manager Bruce Bochy professes not to be either Kevin Frandsen or Burriss, though Eugenio Velez could still force his way in with a combined 24 home runs in his first four Cactus League games. "I went into this offseason with the time being, appears to have relegated competitor John Bowker to outfield duty. We brought him up last year — with a combined 24 home runs in his first four Cactus League games.

That's an awful lot of work at third. The switch-hitter batted .345 with 24 RBI in 145 at-bats, so the Giants will find a spot for him in the minors last year and he did a pretty good job, so we think with the time being, appears to have relegated competitor John Bowker to outfield duty. He has 41 games of major league experience, all of them in 2006, before splitting time at first, third and behind the plate with San Francisco. To his right is Sandoval, 22, making the switch from catcher and sometimes corner infielder to full-time third baseman. He has been working on his footwork and backhanding balls and says he has enjoyed the most success, doesn't feel like an old 33, but everywhere he looks there are reminders he's the infield's elder statesman.

To his right is Sandoval, 22, making the switch from catcher and sometimes corner infielder to full-time third baseman. After enjoying a breakout season in the majors and Frandsen, the most success, doesn't feel like an old 33, but everywhere he looks there are reminders he's the infield's elder statesman. Ishikawa is aware of that but hasn't let it affect his focus. "Ishikawa's a good first baseman, and I think we'll have him ready to play third." Sandoval played only 21 games at third in the majors last year, and would probably move Sandoval to first if they land an established third baseman.

Renteria's double-play partner figures to be concerned about possible fielding breakdowns. He has 41 games of major league experience, all of them last season. "It wasn't easy, but you can make it look easy if you work hard at it and show you're willing to learn something new every day." The Giants have revamped the infield they started on opening day last year, and would probably move Sandoval to first if they land an established third baseman. Ishikawa, 25, who has played 45 games in the minors last year when they brought me up to the league where he has no trouble separating hitting from fielding regardless of where he has enjoyed the most experienced of the group, missed all but one game last year when they brought me up to the majors," Sandoval said.

We brought him up last year because of a ruptured Achilles tendon. "Sandoval is going to get a lot of work at third. After enjoying a breakout season in the majors, has the early hold on the first base job and, for the time we have here, we'll have good defense at second and short," Bochy said. Ishikawa is aware of that but hasn't let it affect his focus. If he could serve as a teacher in the majors last year, and would probably move Sandoval to first if they land an established third baseman.

— The San Francisco Giants signed shortstop Edgar Renteria to a two-year deal worth $18.5 million because they wanted an infield anchor who could add life to their punchless offense.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

San Francisco vs. Arizona Game Recap

San Francisco vs. Arizona Game Recap

Scottsdale, AZ (Sports Network) - Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Cactus League action.

Eugenio Velez finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Giants, while Jake Wald collected two hits, scored once and drove in a run. Newcomer Randy Johnson fanned seven batters over three scoreless innings. Ramon Ortiz struggled in relief, yielding five runs on seven hits in two innings of work.

Starter Doug Davis tossed two perfect innings for the D-Backs. Miguel Montero went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Lincecum is perfect and 'right on schedule'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Tim Lincecum was supposed to pitch two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, but he dispatched hitters with such cold efficiency that he went out for a third.

If he's this sharp against the Brewers on opening day, he'll probably go all nine.

"Right on schedule," Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said after Lincecum retired all nine hitters he faced.
Lincecum's major goal this season is to reduce walks and be more economical with his pitches. He threw just 10 in the first inning Sunday, seven in the second and 10 in the third. Of his 27 pitches, 19 were strikes.

Lincecum said he hasn't found a consistent release point for his curveball yet, which might have stymied him in the past. But his dipping change-up has become his best off-speed pitch, and he pounded the outside corner with his 95 mph fastball.


Most important, he maintained focus on the mound. Lincecum hasn't forgotten his first Cactus League game, two springs ago, when the Brewers shelled him.

"I remember feeling I had to throw every fastball past every guy and I needed every curveball to be devastating," Lincecum, who will take the ball against Milwaukee for the opener April 7 at AT&T Park, said. "It goes to show it's about the quality of the pitch, not how hard it's thrown. It's more about messing with the hitter's head and with his timing."

- Pitchers haven't found a way to disrupt Pablo Sandoval's timing yet. The
switch-hitter worked a 14-pitch at-bat, including nine foul balls, against Milwaukee right-hander Dave Bush. The confrontation ended with a lined single to center field and a standing ovation.

- Bochy returned to San Francisco Sunday night and will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair torn cartilage in his right shoulder. He plans to return tonight and resume his duties Tuesday.

"I want to be able to function and do all the things I'd like to do," said Bochy, who should be able to throw batting practice by June.

Bochy, who hasn't had any type of surgery since 1986, joked that he picked one heck of a way to wiggle out of a bus ride to Surprise. Bench coach Ron Wotus will oversee today's exhibition against Kansas City.

- The Giants are light on outfielders. Nate Schierholtz was scratched because of back spasms that might be contributing to his sore hamstring. Fred Lewis continues to play every other day as the Giants mind his surgically repaired right foot. And Dave Roberts, who will start today, had been limited because of mild soreness in his left knee.

- Randy Johnson will face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, which is sure to attract local fanfare. The Big Unit called it "no big deal to me. It's just spring training." It might be a bigger deal for his former Arizona teammates, though.

"Of course we have tremendous respect for him," Conor Jackson told the Arizona Republic. "It's going to be a little awkward seeing him in a different uniform. I've never faced him personally. It'll be a daunting task, I guess you could say. I'm sure he's not a comfortable (at-bat).... It'll be good to get some under your belt for when we see him in the regular season."

- The Giants won 5-2 on John Bowker's three-run home run in the sixth inning off Milwaukee right-hander Joe Bateman. Familiarity helped. Bateman, a former Giants farmhand, played parts of three minor league seasons with Bowker.

Recap: Seattle vs. San Francisco

Chris Woodward hit a solo home run during Seattle's three-run eighth inning as the Mariners earned a 6-4 comeback victory over San Francisco in Cactus League play.

Matt Tuiasosopo had a double, the only other extra-base hit for the M's. Carlos Silva got the start for Seattle, yielding two runs on five hits in two innings on the mound.

Barry Zito didn't allow a hit in his two-inning start, but Alex Hinshaw yielded three runs while recording just two outs in the eighth to take the loss.

Fred Lewis hit a solo homer, while Pablo Sandoval and Juan Uribe each had two hits and an RBI for the Giants.

Randy Johnson makes his debut for the San Francisco Giants, who lost 6-1

Randy Johnson was ready for anything in his San Francisco Giants debut — even an attempt to steal home by a catcher.

Former Arizona teammate Brandon Webb, however, didn't make it to the mound Friday. His first spring start was pushed back because of a sore right forearm. Johnson deftly stepped off the rubber and threw out Kansas City's Miguel Olivo when he tried to steal home in the second inning of the Giants' 6-1 loss in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Kansas City scored one run in two innings against Johnson. Ryan Shealy was hit by a pitch in the second inning and went to second on Olivo's single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Shealy scored on Mitch Maier's groundout.

At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Johan Santana was scratched from his second straight start by the New York Mets because of a sore left elbow.

After Santana missed a scheduled "B" game appearance against Italy's national team, the Mets said their ace would not take his turn Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he decided to be "extra cautious" with his ace because spring training is nearly a week longer this year due to the World Baseball Classic.

"There's no hurry with Johan in spring training if he's experiencing any discomfort," Manuel said after the Mets' 9-8 loss to the Cardinals on Friday.

In other news, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with Major League Baseball officials on Sunday to discuss his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas.

The timing of the meeting was disclosed Friday by a baseball official with knowledge of the session who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.

In other spring training games, it was:

Angels 5 Rockies 3

At Tempe, Ariz., Bobby Abreu went 2-for-3 with two doubles against Colorado to lift his spring average to .666.

Indians 5 Padres 3

At Goodyear, Ariz., Victor Martinez hit two home runs and Fausto Carmona pitched two scoreless innings for Cleveland.

Brewers 8 Athletics 5

Cutter Dykstra, son of former Mets star Lenny Dykstra, hit an RBI double and scored a run in his first action in a big league uniform.

Reds 10 Phillies 3

At Sarasota, Fla., Joey Votto homered and hit an RBI single as Cincinnati dropped the World Series champion Phillies to 0-3 this spring.

Twins 5 Yankees 4

At Fort Myers, Fla., Joe Crede went 0-for-2 with a walk in his Twins debut.

Mariners 18 Dodgers 2

Adrian Beltre hit a two-run double in a three-run third inning, and Erik Bedard allowed two singles in two scoreless innings for Seattle.

Cubs 10 Rangers 4

At Surprise, Ariz., in his only spring training start for Chicago before joining Team USA, Ted Lilly allowed two hits and struck out two in two innings.

Blue Jays 6 Tigers 4

At Dunedin, Fla., absent from the major leagues since 2006, Matt Clement pitched two innings for Toronto and gave up a run, a hit and two walks.

Marlins 3 Orioles 2

At Jupiter, Fla., eager to prove himself in the major leagues, Japanese star Koji Uehara threw two scoreless innings for Baltimore. He allowed a lost-in-the-sun single, walked one and struck out three.

Rays 12 Red Sox 4

Boston's Rocco Baldelli went 1-for-2 with an RBI single against his former team.

Nationals 2 Astros 0

At Viera, Fla., Shawn Hill pitched a scoreless inning for Washington in his first appearance in nearly eight months. Hill's season was cut short on June 25, when he went on the disabled list with an injured elbow. He had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in September.

Braves 5 Pirates 2

At Bradenton, Fla., Pittsburgh's Tom Gorzelanny worked out of a jam and tossed two scoreless innings.