**Official** San Francisco Giants Thread

[Harmon]

News Article

Ortiz's return to Giants ends in defeat
Starter's outing declines in last two innings of season debut
By Becky Regan / MLB.com


SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants dropped their second game to the Dodgers in a 4-1 defeat Saturday afternoon, pushing San Francisco to a 1-4 record at the bottom of the National League West.

Saturday's loss gives the Dodgers seven consecutive wins at AT&T Park, a streak that started last Aug. 19 with a 14-7 Giants defeat.

Starting pitcher Russ Ortiz's new semicircle delivery looked like it was living up to the hype in the first two innings when he allowed just one hit, but the Dodgers looked more comfortable at the plate their second time through the lineup.

With two outs in the fourth, Ortiz allowed two singles, then walked Andre Ethier and Wilson Betemit, who was batting eighth, to load the bases and walk a run home, tying the score at 1.

Giants pitchers have walked the eighth batter four times in the five games they have played this season with two of those walks resulting in runs.

Ortiz's performance continued to decline in the fifth when he allowed three hits, including a double from Jeff Kent that brought in two runs.

Ortiz allowed seven hits and three runs and walked three in five innings. Ortiz, who played for the Giants in 2002, has not recorded a win since Aug. 29, 2005.

Disappointing start for the Giants. Hopefully Barry can get a win tomorrow.

[JalVles89]

2-0 against the Giants so far, I'm loving it.

[DNEUM.]

I think we're gonna be in for a long season. I think our pitching will be ok, but run support is going tough to come by. Everyone is too damn old lol. I don't think anyone in the line-up is under 32. After this year, Barry will have the record, and then its time to clean house.

Either way I'm hoping to make my way down for a few games this year and check out the AT&T Park. I've been dying to watch a game in this ballpark, I've heard its awesome.

[Harmon]

Matt Cain had a no no going until Greene hit a double...DAMN!

[DNEUM.]

Cain was a beast, only gave up 1 run on 1 hit, and yet the Giants can't even muster up a single run. I think this is going to be the theme of this season. If Bonds doesn't homer runs are going to be tough to come by.

[DNEUM.]

Hell yea, already got 2 runs in only the 2nd inning lol.

[DNEUM.]

Sick game for Bonds today. In the bottom of the 7th in Pittsburgh right now and he's 3/3, 2 HR, 4 RBI. And I freakin had him on the bench in my fantasy league!!

[MannyBeltre]

San Fran fans, tou think Bonds did steroids?

[DNEUM.]

Originally Posted by MannyBeltre

San Fran fans, tou think Bonds did steroids?

You know, he probably did, but this is how I look at the whole steroids situation ... its not like he was the only one taking them. IMO, there were probably more that 75% of the players were taking them at the time or have taken them at some point in their career. I have a friend that played for a top baseball academy in Florida and they would always talk with some of the college players in the area and he told me that almost everyone on the team were taking them or have taken them because they didn't get tested, so if pro players weren't getting tested back then either I very seriously doubt it was any different. Back when Bonds was supposedly taking them, yes they were illegal, but baseball itself had no rules against baseball so there was nothing on the baseball side of things to keep players from taking them. And whenver someone is taking about a player taking steroids, its always taking about some big HR hitter. But what about the pitchers? If you think that there wasn't a good chunk of pitchers taking them, you're kidding yourself. So you don't think they were getting a few extra miles on that fastball? Steroids were so widespread throughout the league that I don't think it really gave anyone a distinct advantage because EVERYONE was doing it. That's why IMO, I don't think that there should be an * next to Bonds' name. I hate the fact that baseball keeps trying to dig up who was taking them in the past. Just admit they were wrong and made a mistake in not having a stern policy for substance abuse and steroids, move on and focus on preventing it in the future and not try to find every single person who took them when they were too stupid to have any rules against it.

Sorry for the rant haha, but I just get sick of hearing all the crap about the steroids and wish baseball would just move on and focus on not having those problems in the future. IMO, the game has taken a huge hit in popularity because I know I'm not the only one who is sick of hearing about the steroids crap. By continuing to bring it up over and over is only going to drive fans further away IMO. Like I said, they just need to admit they were dumb for not adressing in sooner and focus on preventing it in the future.

[MannyBeltre]

Sorry, I just read Game of Shadows, so I have been thinking about it again lately.

I think the fact that when the MLB did the league wide testing a couple years back, only 7% of the league came up dirty with the substances they viewed as illegal. I dont hink it is 75% of the league like you once said, but I could expect about a quarter of the league using steroids. Many used stuff that is viewed legal today, I dont think 75% of the league is using HGH and whatever Victor Conte had on the market.

I bring the topic up again because I am personally not a fan of Bonds, as I am a old fashioned fan and dont want to see Hank's record broken. Since the discussion has been brought up so many times, I show my opinion with "Record's are meant to be broken, but now Hank's" if that makes ay sense. I'll always remember 755 as the magic number, and the class Aaron broke the record with. The clip of the two white guys being the first to shake his hand after passing Ruth will be memorable. I just find it a shame that when Bonds breaks it, he most likely will be booed, Aaron wont be supporting him, and he will be remembered for doing it with the strong likelyhood of using steroids. The way this season is going on so far, I'll remember this season hoping for Bonds to fall short, and not celebrating it which will be likely whenver A-Rod or Pujols breaks the record.