EXTRA BAGGS: Crawford gets unconsciously confident, etc.

BOX SCORE

SAN DIEGOBack when Brandon Crawford couldnt seem tofollow the bouncing ball in April and early May, he quietly said six words amid ahushed clubhouse:

I know Im a good shortstop.

Hes proving it now. Crawford, after making 10 errors in hisfirst 39 games, has played error-free for his last 12. Hes made his share ofspectacular plays, too, including a couple as the Giants defense played a vitalrole in Wednesdays 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.

The defense is making a difference. When they went 6-1 ontheir last homestand, all six victories were error-free.

Crawford is doing what his boyhood idol, Royce Clayton,advised him to do: Hes stabilizing the infield. And having Joaquin Arias atthird base is a pretty good help, too.

Its understanding as a player to put mistakes behind youand thats what hes doing, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Crawford. Hisconfidence has grown. I think (the opening series at) Arizona got in his head alittle bit. Now hes put that behind him and hes played terrific defense.

Crawford made a full-extension dive to his right in thefourth on Jesus Guzmans hot shot and got to his feet quickly to get off astrong throw. The shortstop made an even better play in the second inning, whenhe went far up the middle to glove a grounder, then offered a no-look flip tosecond baseman Ryan Theriot for an inning-ending forceout.

Its the kind of play a less confident shortstop wouldnthave attempted.

Honestly, I didnt even remember seeing he was there,Crawford said of Theriot. The base never moves. So I knew thats where he wasgoing to be. I might have subconsciously seen him moving, but the play happenedkind of fast.

And thats the point: Crawford let his instincts take over. Hedidnt second-guess them. Thats the mark of a truly confident shortstop.

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This was not a banner start for Madison Bumgarner, whoallowed four runs in six innings. He also walked four batters, which was aseason high. He hadnt issued more than two walks in a start all season.

Bumgarner didnt mention plate umpire CB Bucknor by name,but it was clear that an inconsistent strike zone took him out of his game.

I made a couple pitches that were borderline and didnt getthem, Bumgarner said. I let that mess with me and I tried to do something Iwasnt capable of. I tried to be perfect. All in all, it wasnt a good game forme, mentally and everything. I didnt handle it very good in my head. I lostfocus a little bit.

Bucknor usually ranks near the bottom in player surveys. Heblew a call at first base Tuesday night, too.

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The other day, I had an entertaining conversation with AngelPagan about his time in the minor leagues. He played for Binghamton, the MetsDouble-A affiliate in the Eastern League, and he had vivid memories of facingMatt Cain at Norwich. They were not pleasant.

"You remember the guys who do not mess around," Pagan said. "And he definitely did not mess around."

I find it unbelievable when players remember finite detailsof minor league games. Pagan, for instance, recalled that Cain struck him outon a changeup.

As it happened, Cain and Pagan are a locker apart here atPetco Park. So when Cain entered the room, this turned into a roundtable discussion about players fromthose Double-A rosters. Cain recalled a time or two when he lost his cooland shouted at runners as they rounded the bases, too.

Both of them delighted in remembering Mike Cervenak, who was unconsciousas a .337 hitter for Norwich that season but never established himself in thebig leagues. Through the magic of baseball-reference.com, I was able to tellthem that Cervenak, 35 years old, is still playing. Hes at the MarlinsTriple-A club in New Orleans.

What was that line in Ball Four? You spend a careergripping the baseball only to learn in the end that the ball is gripping you.Something like that, anyway.