Midseason Progress Report: San Francisco Giants Exceeding Expectations

by Eric Jolivette

As we near the mid-point of the 2009 season, Giants fans should be on cloud nine. After a lengthy hibernation in the cave of mediocrity, these bears are awake -- and they’re starting to look like contenders.

Whether or not Giants fans are excited, Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean surely are. San Francisco’s manager and GM both began the season on seats that were hotter than a car stereo at a swap meet.

It was easy to see from the beginning that pitching would be the Giants’ strength this season. Tim Lincecum and company have definitely not disappointed.

Read Full Story

San Francisco Giants showing rare power of late

By Chris Haft

Though home runs remain a rarity for the Giants, they've proven lately that slugging is not a completely foreign skill to them.

They entered Tuesday night's rematch against the St. Louis Cardinals having homered in five consecutive games, tying a season-high. Of San Francisco's eight homers in this span, Pablo Sandoval and Nate Schierholtz hit three and two, respectively. Matt Downs, Travis Ishikawa and Juan Uribe hit the others.

Read Full Story

San Francisco Giants' pitcher hit by liner working his way back to the big leagues

By Brian VanderBeek

San Francisco Giants' fans have seen the replay a thousand times, from every conceivable angle at every speed.

So has Joe Martinez.

But while we wince every time that April 9 Mike Cameron line drive cracks into Martinez's forehead, Martinez doesn't.

"They replay stuff and show it on ESPN a million times," Martinez said. "And it's tough to watch. It's tough on my parents. It doesn't bother me to watch because it didn't hurt. I just didn't feel it. Maybe it's for lack of brain.

Read Full Story

The 2009 San Francisco Giants - Unexpected Success

by Raymond Mullan

With 14 games remaining for the San Francisco Giants before the All-Star break, they are in position to be the biggest surprise of 2009.

Before the season began, it would have been essentially impossible to find an analyst, expert, or common baseball fan who would predict the Giants would be a .500 team. Conversations of a playoff berth were nonexistent.

All of that has changed.

San Francisco has a record of 40 wins to 34 losses. They are in second place in the National League West and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by seven games.

Read Full Story

San Francisco Giants' 2009 Season Already a Success

by Andrew Nuschler

That might sound a little premature.

Actually, it might sound a lot premature.

After all, the San Francisco Giants have only played 74 of the 162-game slate. They sit a mere six games over .500, and, while they're in a cluttered group of leaders hunting for the National League Wildcard, their company in contention features some intimidating teams.

The St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs are all within hailing distance of Los Gigantes.

On paper, that doesn't bode well for our guys.

Read Full Story

San Francisco Giants' secret weapon

Jim Welte

THERE ARE DAYS when John Yee has more than 40,000 screaming fanatics outside his office, drinking beer and yelling constantly, seemingly all at once. There is loud music, an MC that seems amplified from the heavens, and nary a peaceful moment. For a guy crunching numbers and making complex financial projections for a multi-million dollar organization, an active construction site would be less disruptive.

Read Full Story