SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Willie Mays is more energetic some daysthan others. Thats likely true for most people who have walked this earth for more than 80 years.
When hes up, hes an absolute riot. Wednesday was one ofthose days. As he sat in his usual shoot-the-bull spot with Mike Murphy in theGiants clubhouse, someone introduced Mays to outfielder Gregor Blanco. This isthe kid who went from first to third on a wild pitch the other day. Somethinglike that.
Whered you go? To third?! Mays screeched, to plenty oflaughter. Who stopped you?
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As Mays is fond of recalling, he scored from first base on awild pitch. He remembered one similar instance when Art Mahaffey of the Philliesthrew one away and Mays jolted all the way around to score, bashing into Pat Corralesat the plate.
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I spent 45 minutes looking for that box score. Couldnt findit, but I have a hunch Mays is recalling this game on Aug. 15, 1965, when hescored from first on Bo Belinskys errant throw. (Actually, Willie McCovey, whohad hit a roller back to the mound, scored on the play, too. What did Belinskydo, shoot that throw into orbit?)
No matter. Legends require few hard facts.
San Francisco Giants
Only to third?! Mays repeated, as Blanco laughed. Naw,naw, naw. I aint having that!
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A day after infielder Joe Panik opened eyes with a terrificat-bat at Camelback Ranch, another young Giants prospect took center stage.
Tommy Joseph collected a pair of RBI singles, including thetiebreaking line drive in a three-run eighth inning that powered the Giants toan 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
It was a big moment for Joseph, who went to Horizon Highhere in Scottsdale and is really making a name for himself as a solid defenderin addition to a promising power hitter.
Its also hard to believe that Joseph is still a few monthsaway from being able to buy a six-pack.
Great game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. He caughtwell, made a nice throw, blocked a couple balls there. He lives here, so itsgot to feel good with what he did today. For a young kid, Ill tell you, thatsa great experience to perform like that late in a ballgame.
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Josephs playing time might pick up in the next few days.Thats because catcher Hector Sanchez has a mildly tweaked hamstring and willneed to rest for the remainder of the week, Bochy said.
Sanchezs stroke has looked razor sharp thus far, but hefelt his hamstring grab on the basepaths Tuesday at Camelback Ranch.
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If you were wondering which on-the-bubble players are out ofminor league options in Giants camp, the list isnt long: utilityman EmmanuelBurriss and catcher Chris Stewart.
Thats a point in their favor as roster decisions are made,since they could be lost on a waiver claim if they dont make the opening-dayclub.
I thought perhaps third baseman Conor Gillaspie might be out of options,but hes got one left.
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Stewart had a funny story to relay from Saturdays game at Talking Stick. He was told to get ready to enter the game. He assumed thatwould be to catch, so he began getting his equipment together.
At the last minute, Bochy told him no, he wanted Stewart togo into Aubrey Huffs spot as the DH. The problem: Huff's spot was already on deck.
Then Pablo goes and makes a quick out, Stewart said. Igrab a bat, rush out there and I hit a double off the wall. Later I said,Boch, go ahead and do that to me every time.
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Stewart didnt connect against 49-year-old Jamie Moyer,though. In two scoreless innings Wednesday, the ageless wonder got five ground-ball outs(from Huff, Brandon Belt, Ryan Theriot and Brandon Crawford) and allowed onesingle (to Nate Schierholtz).
Moyer struck out one batter: Stewart.
You cant stay back on that guy, Stewart said. I swear,Im gonna bunt every time I face him. Unbelievable. I told someone, I hope Ican still walk at his age.
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Nate Schierholtz wasnt lying when he told me he plans to bevery, very active on the basepaths. He stole his second base of the spring onWednesday.
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Ryan Vogelsong cannot wait to throw off a mound Thursday.Hes been forced to wait because of a strained lower back.
I am really, really tired of core exercises, he told me.