Only an exhibition game? Not Giants-Dodgers

By Art Spander

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Only an exhibition game? Not when the Giants play the Dodgers. Not with the image of Marichal and Roseboro still hovering in the mind. Not with the memories of Reggie Smith climbing into the stands at Candlestick to try and attack a fan. Not with the Dodgers finishing 40 games ahead of the Giants last season.

“You wake up,” said Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, “you know you’re playing the Dodgers and everything changes inside of you.”

What didn’t change was the Dodgers pummeling the Giants, 9-3. Wait, a week ago the Giants pummeled the Dodgers by the same score, 9-3. So that’s it. They end the Cactus League at 1-1. But in truth that’s not it.

Not when a century of history, beginning back when they were the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, shadows them. Not when tales of Bobby Thomson’s pennant-winning home run, the “shot heard ‘round the world,’ are revived. Not when thoughts of the brawls and the boos never die.

Steven Duggar, the rookie centerfielder, who may or may not be on the roster when the Giants break camp, who Sunday, with Scottsdale Stadium packed to the extreme (12,141) hit his third homer of the spring, sensed that this was no ordinary exhibition.

“There was more buzz,” he said. “You could feel the vibe.”

Once they were in neighboring boroughs in New York City. Then they shifted to California, some 400 miles apart. But for spring training, ever since the Dodgers moved into their complex at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the clubs are probably separated by only 25 miles.

And their fans are everywhere, attired in Giants black or Dodgers blue — and aren’t those two colors symbolic of the brawling between the teams, and unfortunately occasionally between the fans?

“Beat L.A.” is the normal chant from a Giants crowd. You didn’t hear that Sunday at Scottsdale. What you did hear were boos when Yasiel Puig’s name was announced and after he doubled in the first inning to drive in a run for the Dodgers, one of his two hits.

You also heard, “Let’s go Dodgers.” How did those people get in?  

How Chris Berman, the retired ESPN announcer, a professed Giants fan — you don’t have to be impartial in television — got in was through the Giants. He was invited by team management and even went out to the mound to change pitchers in the seventh inning

“A bit of levity,” said Bruce Bochy, the Giants’ manager.

After last season, the Giants can use some. Last place. The Dodgers in first, en route to the World Series. Spring games are not supposed to mean much — other than Giants vs. Dodgers — but a study of the starting lineups for each team indicates L.A. is far superior.

The heart of Dodgers' order, three through six, is Cody Bellinger (who Sunday had a hit); Puig (who had two hits and an RBI); Yasmani Grandal (who had a home run and two RBI); and Joc Pederson (who was hitless). Puig is batting .400.

The Giants' strength, if they have one, is pitching. Jeff Samardzija started Sunday for San Francisco and was decent for his third start. He did yell at home plate up Mark Ripperger in the second after a pitch was called a ball. The crowd picked up his displeasure and hooted a bit, but that was about it. Other than Samardija’s three walks in the inning.

Samardzija said he enjoyed the reactions of the crowd, which lifted the game from the ordinary. “They had a good turnout,” said Samardzija, of the Dodgers fans, “and we had a great turnout. It gives the game a little more excitement when the fans are into it more.”

Most spring games, Bochy is unconcerned with what occurs. He cared about this one. “We didn’t play that well,” he conceded.

“The rivalry? Look at the sellout. We wish we had played better, but we did beat them at their place. There’s always added interest when these two teams play, a lot of noise.”

Baseball as it should be. The games don’t show in the standings, but they certainly do to the fans.

S.F. Examiner: Giants need to prove magic of spring isn’t lost in fog of summer

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

Bruce Bochy was telling the truth. A game in April is no less important — critical, was the word he used — as a game in August. But April is gone. So is the Giants’ lead. They are in second place now, behind the Dodgers, a team hailed and by some — Giants fans — hated.

A team against which San Francisco tonight begins a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Read the full story here.

©2016 The San Francisco Examiner

Samardzija on Giants-Dodgers: It’s a rivalry for sure

By Art Spander

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — They were booing the announcement of the other team’s lineup. Before an exhibition game. Before what, in effect, is a workout, if with a lot of accoutrements. But it was the Dodgers, and for a sellout crowd of 12,127 at the Giants spring ballpark, that fact transcended everything else.

As one of new kids on the block, and on the mound, understood full well.

“It’s a rivalry for sure,” said Jeff Samardzija. “I love it.”

The majority of the fans at Scottsdale Stadium did not love the result, the Dodgers winning 5-2. It wasn’t a good day overall for the Bay Area against L.A., with the Lakers throttling the Warriors.

Of course, that one mattered, in the standings and in the records. This one mattered only for the emotions of the spectators. Not that they should be ignored.

When people are chanting “Beat L.A., Beat L.A.” in Arizona, in early March, one grasps the significance of what, other than the individual performances, is a contest of insignificance. Except for the people who buy the tickets and buy into the idea that beating the Dodgers makes their lives better.

“It’s to be expected,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. He didn’t need to add that the Giants and Dodgers have been facing each other since 1890 when the Giants were in one New York borough, upper Manhattan, and the Dodgers in another, Brooklyn. They’ve played more than 2,400 times, not including exhibitions.

“The booing, the fans, probably adds a little excitement for the players,” said Bochy.

As usual this time of year, Bochy doesn’t get too excited or depressed, other than for a serious injury. He was upbeat about Samardzija, in his second Cactus League start, going three innings, striking out five and allowing just one run. It’s what the Giants need from a man signed as a free agent for $90 million who is supposed to be No. 2 or No. 3 in the rotation.

If Giants relievers Clayton Blackburn, who was the loser, and Jake Smith each gave up two runs, well, nothing to be worried about. Even if it’s against the Dodgers.

The Giants' lineup was without Buster Posey, taking a day off, and Hunter Pence, who’s been out with soreness in an Achilles tendon but is supposed to be ready on Wednesday.

Brandon Crawford again was the designated hitter — even when two National League teams meet, the DH is in effect in the exhibition season — because of a sore throwing arm. He should be back at shortstop the middle of the week. Crawford’s swing is fine. He homered in the sixth.

The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, who singled and drove in a run, was the main target of the derision. Giants fans simply do not like the man. And Chase Utley, who reportedly has won the appeal of a two-game suspension he received for taking out (and breaking the leg of) Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in the World Series, also was booed loudly.

“You’ve got two passionate fan bases,” said Samardzija, “and they’re going at each other more than the players are. That’s good.”

Although he’s new to the Giants, Samardzija is not new to rivalries. He pitched for the Cubs, who couldn’t escape the presence or success of the Cardinals. Before that, he played football for Notre Dame.

“It could be USC or Michigan,” said Samardzija. “Those were big games for us. We could have a down team or they could have a down team. It never really mattered. There was so much at stake.”

A wise man would say that virtually nothing is at stake in baseball during the first week in March, but when the opposing team has LA on its baseball caps, logic is secondary. Memories of Tommy Lasorda lording it at Candlestick Park remain, even with Lasorda retired and Candlestick destroyed.

For years, the Giants were the Dodgers' foils. As the lyrics went, paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep.

Giants fans cannot forget or apparently forgive.

“For the players, these games are just workouts,” said Samardzija. “But we have to understand the people take these games seriously. You don’t want to go out there and be too loose.”

To borrow from Samardzija’s thoughts, don’t we just love it?

Newsday (N.Y.): Dodgers coach Bob Geren looks at Chase Utley slide from other side now

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

GLENDALE, Ariz. — This wasn’t exactly joining the enemy. Baseball people change teams and uniforms all the time. And yet ... “Yes,” acknowledged Bob Geren, “one of the players said to me, ‘Now that you’re on the other side ... ’ ’’

Neither the player nor Geren had to finish. He knew. Everybody knows.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2016 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Even Dodgers applauded Tim Hudson

By Art Spander

SAN FRANCISCO — He was walking off a off a major league mound for a final time, and in the other dugout, the opposing dugout, the Dodgers dugout, players were standing and applauding, joining a last hurrah for Tim Hudson.

His Giants teammates, of course. The more than 40,000 fans, indeed. But the Dodgers, the historic rivals of the Giants, also taking part? More than anything, that was proof of the respect Hudson had earned in a career now coming to a close.

These are strange days for San Francisco baseball. The Giants’ chance for the postseason, the opportunity to repeat as World Series champions, was halted earlier in the week by the Dodgers. The games no longer mean anything.

It is a time for reflection, for farewells, in the case of 40-year-old Tim Hudson, for a cameo and an ovation that Thursday afternoon shook AT&T Park. You can’t win every year, but you can be appreciative of the years you did win, and the players who contributed to those wins.

For Hudson, the appearance amounted to a victory lap, even if there would be no victory, the Dodgers edging the Giants, 3-2. Hudson lasted 2 1/3 innings. After a single by Howie Kendrick in the top of the third, Bruce Bochy stepped onto the field to replace Hudson. The time had come.

“It was a special moment,” said Bochy of Hudson taking his leave. “It’s been an honor to have him on our team.”

Brief as that might have been. Huddy was with the Athletics for six years, then, joining as a free agent, the Atlanta Braves for nine. He came to the Giants before the season of 2014 with the express purpose of pitching and winning a World Series, a goal that was achieved and one that Hudson quickly asserts remains the highlight of a 17-year career.

“I never would have dreamed things would have unfolded the way they did,” said Hudson.

Sport emphasizes the passing of time. One day you’re a rookie, the next you’re nearly finished. Always someone is arriving — the Giants' catcher Thursday, the man to whom Hudson pitched, was Trevor Brown, 24. Always someone is departing.

These were an exciting few days for Brown, as they were for the other rookies who were in the Giants’ starting lineup, Kelby Tomlinson, Matt Duffy, Mac Williamson, Jarrett Parker and Nick Noonan. These were bittersweet days for Hudson, as they would be for any retiring athlete. The tributes confirm the reality that life is about to change.

“I’ve had so much fun the last 17 years,” said Hudson. “This was a special day for me, the way the fans responded, my teammates responded.”

When someone wondered if this curtain call was easier than the one he shared last Saturday in Oakland with Barry Zito, Hudson said, “It’s always easier in front of the home fans. These are the best baseball fans, the best sports fans there are. I just wish we would have won the ball game. This is a classy town, a classy organization.”

We have seen so many come and go through the seasons, Willie Mays, Joe Montana, Rick Barry, greats all. Whether Hudson is in that category is debatable, but he did win 222 games—the most of any pitcher active through the end of 2015 — and struck out 2,080.

Bochy mentioned the Hall of Fame, and when Hudson was asked if he thought about the possibility of being elected — he won’t be eligible for five years — he said, “It’s tough for me to get my head around that now. I feel very lucky to have played as long as I have.

“It kind of makes me laugh. This year has been pretty tough.”

Hudson missed time because of a hip problem and finished with an 8-9 record, after 9-13 last season. Not the way he would have wanted, but that old guy, Father Time, has a reputation for ruining all sorts of plans.

Hudson was relieved by Jeremy Affeldt, who a day ago announced he also was retiring, at age 36. It was also a goodbye appearance for Affeldt. He pitched only two thirds of an inning before Ryan Vogelsong took over.

The Giants' pitching wasn’t bad. The Dodgers' pitching, mainly starter Brett Anderson, who went 7 2/3, was spectacular.

“Huddy wanted to be out there,” said Bochy. “I’m sure a lot was on his mind. He had a wonderful career. I hope he takes time and looks back on what he accomplished.”

For certain, everyone else will.