**Official SF Giants Back to World Series Thread**

Well, game #1 is in the books with a 5-4 loss to the snakes. They looked a little nervous with a few errors, Crawford getting squeezed by the third base umpire several times, but they did come back twice and almost did it.

OK Bay Area and Giants fans--have your say!!

Brett Pill 2 run shot in his first at bat of the season...

Wow---it can only be up up from here!!

SWEEP!!!!!

Finally our first win on Monday---with Zito---and a shutout!!! Wow, some notes as it is Zito's first shutout since 2003 when he was with the A's......This is his third complete game with the Giants in 6 years! Giants win 7--0 today!!

They take 2 out of 3 from the Rockies-----Home Opener on Friday with Cain!!

Cain with the 1 hit CG shutout on opening day.. 11K, 0 walks.. 19 1st pitch strikes out 0f 28, only hit was by the pitcher..

madbum took a no-hitter into the 6th yesterday as well .. the crazy thing is after the first week, the Giants lead the league in runs per game and last in era (prior to this game).. twilight zone

Giants closer Wilson likely needs surgery


Giants closer Brian Wilson is likely headed for surgery on his right elbow after an MRI showed structural damage and an issue with the ligament, and his season could be in jeopardy.

Manager Bruce Bochy and athletic trainer Dave Groeschner say the club will seek at least one other opinion and probably two, including from the renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performs Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgeries.

The 30-year-old Wilson, who led the majors with 48 saves in 2010, already had one Tommy John surgery during college. The three-time All-Star right-hander complained of discomfort in the elbow Friday then was sent for tests. He was to be examined again by team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki on Saturday night, and is to be placed on the 15-day disabled list.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ts.wilson.surgery.ap/index.html#ixzz1s43Meesx

Glad to see you back----Blackened--------you always add great stuff --like the last couple of years--about the G-Men
Giants hitting with RISP is still terrible --it is 8 for 46 so far this year!! Well three night games against the Phillies. At least they took 2/3 from both the Rockies and Pirates. ???Dodgers have only played Pirates(3 games) and Padres(7) Nice scheduling....wait to they are really on the road and play some good teams!!!!

Wilson out for the year...Im bummed...

Hey RC, thanks.. the hitting's coming around, Melky has been a pleasant surprise, not a big Pagan fan though.. Belt almost made a bonehead move on the basepath today.. I don't know about that kid.. are we ever going to get Freddy back?

the bullpen is deep, both up here and in the minors.. I'm not too concerned about it, we've got guys that can close. I'd like to see Romo take it over but that slider is pretty taxing on his arm and I don't know if they want to run him out there that much because he's had elbow problems in the past. It'll probably be a platoon of him and Affeldt for now.

As a Mets fan I was glad to be rid of Pagan, he wore out his welcome in NY. First few seasons he was pretty clutch but his last year he would give up on plays, make bonehead errors in the field and on the bases. Last straw for me was a pop fly in right center field he could have had easily if he hustled but he let it go and it got behind him, manager Terry Collins ripped him a new one for that. Sorry to hear you feel the same, we picked up Andres Torres in the trade, I would ask what Giants fans thought of him but he got hurt on opening day, of course. He did make some nice grabs in the field and got a hit or two before he got hurt though.

Torres had a career year in 2010, one that he'll never duplicate imo. He was the catalyst for the offense that year and I don't know if we win the world series without him, but the same can be said for a lot of players that year. Great fucking guy both in the clubhouse and towards the fans. The thing that's plagued him throughout his career is he has severe ADHD. So bad that he will literally forget the sign 2 seconds after you give it to him, and he goes through stretches where he loses focus and looks lost at the plate. The meds help, but it seems like he stops taking them for periods at a time. I wish him nothing but the best. Is he still using the biggest bat in the majors?

Pagan hit triples on back to back days this weekend after hitting only 3 all of last year and finally got his first stolen base. He had a lousy spring and lost the leadoff spot for a minute, but he was hitting there this weekend. I heard he was hated in the clubhouse in New York, any idea what that was all about?

hm, I'm not sure if "hated" was the right word, I really just think people grew tired of him after some non productive years after showing alot of potential. From what I remember he was a good guy to have in the clubhouse, he was always working with the younger guys, making them feel more comfortable about being in the majors and the transition. I don't really remember him being a problem there, him and Beltran were really good friends. Pagan isn't a bad player, he'll def contribute to your team all he has to do is try, I think that's why he ran out his welcome here. Like he was a guy you could depend on to get a hit, bunt a runner over, make some great plays in the field and he did all of that, and was a fan favorite at one point. Somewhere along the way though I think he hit a bad slump and the media got all over him and it seemed like he gave up. I typically will wish former Mets success on other teams unless it's a division rival. Maybe Pagan needed a change of scenery but if he was going to be an important piece of the Mets puzzle, they would have kept him. As for Torres that's pretty much what I heard from my cousin who lives in CA and is the biggest SF Giants fan I know, that he had a career year at one point but don't expect him to do it again. I did like what I saw of him for the brief time he was in the game. I guess it was a blessing because his replacement Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been a stud so far in CF. Anyway I wish your team best of luck, sucks to hear about Wilson being done for the year, guy's a beast and I'd think after surgery he'll be even better.

Gotcha, thanks.. the jury's still out on Pagan, but I wish Torres nothing but the best.. great guy.

4 Cy Young's tonight.. Halladay (2-0, 0.60 era) vs Lincecum (o-1, 12.91 era)

Timmy's had location problems, and his velocity has been down all spring, which isn't totally out of the norm for him, but he usually flips the switch once the season starts, hasn't been the case this year.. the lack of zip on his heater makes the world class changeup a lot less daunting

Giants are 3-0 in the regular season vs Halladay, who's allowed 5 er in all three starts. 1-1 in the postseason

Tuesday Blanton vs Bumgarner, Wednesday Cain vs Lee

That's going to be a good series...I see the Giants taking 2 of 3...

just heard on 95.7 The Game the Giants signed Madbum to a 5 year extension through 2017.. covers all arbitration years and first year of free agency, with options for 2018 and 2019.. no word on money yet

Tim better get his shit together after turning down the big contract from the Giants, Cain and Bum are gobbling up all the money

largest guarantee for a pitcher ever with less than 2 years of service.. $35M guaranteed over 5 years, $40M if he reaches Super 2 status

If he doesn't qualify for Super 2 his salaries will be 2013, $750k - 2014, $3.75M - 2015, $6.75M - 2016, $9.75M - 2017, $11.5M..

It also bodes well for the Giants signing players in the future since they know what he will be making. arbitration years can get dicey

If Lincecum can't dominate this lineup the Giants have problems.

if Bum finishes in top 3 of Cy Young voting at any time, both option years become vested at $14M, if he wins Cy Young, both are $16M.. if he hits all escalators, contract worth over $70M

limited no-trade clause, he picks 8 teams every year that he can't be traded to

Phills have bigger problems regardless ...your counting on some dude who's back is shot and some fat dude who has been in decline the past several years to rescue them...

whose back is shot?

Thought Utley had some back problems....just checked and it is the right knee....my bad...he still blows now....