Urban: Random Thoughts from San Diego

Sept. 10, 2010
GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO
Mychael UrbanCSNBayArea.com

SAN DIEGO -- Nota great deal of action on the field for most of Fridays game between theGiants and host Padres, but there was plenty of action between the ears of yourMLB Insider. Tough toevaluate Jonathan Sanchezs outing. Seven walks (one intentional) is way toomany, and that forced the bullpen to work earlier and harder than youd like,but five innings of shutout work is five innings of shutout work. One-hit shutoutwork, at that.Props to AaronRowand, forgotten man. It must be a horribly humbling and even embarrassingexperience for him to be planted on the bench during a pennant race, but allIve seen him do is work his butt off, encourage guys who have taken hisplaying time, and refuse to come remotely close to lamenting his lot in life. Mark DeRosaisnt on the roster, but that doesnt mean hes not contributing. Hes a majorpresence in the clubhouse, keeping people loose and offering advice to playerswho havent been though the September ringer in an unobtrusive manner. SantiagoCasilla has handled a couple of pressure-packed appearances in a row now, andthats a tremendous sign for the Giants. His rep is that of a guy who willshine when theres a cushion one way or another, but hes pup-tent on you in atight spot. If he keeps this up, his stuff -- always, always filthy -- is thekind that makes a good bullpen great late in the year. Pablo Sandovalsimply cant be allowed to play against left-handed starting pitchers for therest of the regular season. Its winning time, not hoping time. Quite adifferent atmosphere in the park Friday night. Giants fans came strong again,but they didnt drown out their counterparts as they has the previous night.Perhaps Padres fans responded to San Diego closer Heath Bell calling them outfor their lack of support and attendance after Thursdays series opener. Speaking ofGiants fans, it was pretty surreal to walk the streets of the Gaslamp Districtafter Thursdays game and see all kinds of folks in orange-and-black gearhigh-fiving each other and generally crowing about their clubs dominance. Andpretty predictable to see a lot of the same people on the same streets at aboutnoon Friday looking like theyd just rolled out of bed and were looking for aplace to fall back asleep.