2007–2009: losing ways & Milestones History of the San Francisco Giants

1 2007–2009: losing ways & milestones

1.1 2007: end of bonds era
1.2 2008: without bonds & golden anniversary
1.3 2009: mix of old & new , no-hitter

2007–2009: losing ways & milestones
2007: end of bonds era

with eleven free agents excluding jason schmidt signed dodgers $15 million year, new manager on board bruce bochy coming division rival san diego, , loss of veteran catcher mike matheny due complications resulting concussions sustained during career, giants prospects 2007 season less favorable going winter off-season. team agreed several deals—re-signing pedro feliz, ray durham, , old time giants fans favorite rich aurilia, , picking catcher bengie molina, ryan klesko, , dave roberts. signed free agent pitcher barry zito seven-year contract worth $126 million. deal, richest contract pitcher in baseball history, includes $18 million team option eighth year. on january 9, 2007, giants re-signed pitcher russ ortiz compete fifth starting position in spring training. ortiz slotted position in late march due outstanding spring.

the 2007 team during spring training

the giants started off regular season slow, had spurts of promise more stretches of mediocre worse play. pitching inconsistent or offense non-existent (such during pair of 1–0 losses losing pitcher matt cain).

the season did have memorable action, such giants playing red sox in boston first time since 1912 , giants hosting 2007 mlb all-star game. notable during season, however, bonds march towards hank aaron s career home run record of 755. bonds s proximity record brought heavy media attention san francisco giants.

leading off in top of second inning of game 2 versus padres, before sell-out crowd @ petco park, barry bonds hit high fastball off facing of upper deck in left field 755th career home run. opposite-field shot tied game @ 1–1 , tied hank aaron all-time home run record. giants lost in innings, time score of 2–3. in bottom of fifth inning @ home against nationals on august 7, 2007, bonds hit 756th home run caused melee in crowd. hank aaron appeared on big screen , congratulated bonds. giants went on lose game 8–6.

on august 9, 2007, mark sweeney traded los angeles dodgers aa second baseman travis denker. trade first between giants , dodgers since 1985.

the discouraging theme of 2007 continue solid pitching not backed offense. tim lincecum held chicago cubs 2 hits through 8 innings on august 21, team scored 1 run, losing cubs score of 5–1.

on september 22, 2007, giants officially announced team not re-sign barry bonds 2008 season. after speculation , debate, owner peter magowan announced bonds s departure @ press conference, stressing fact giants needed younger , start fielding more efficient offense.

barry bonds played last game san francisco giant on september 26, 2007. went 0 3, driving ball caught @ warning track in left-center field in final @ bat.

2008: without bonds & golden anniversary


tim lincecum 2008 cy young award winner.

the 2008 season marked first year barry bonds not member of team since first signing them in 1992 , 50th season in san francisco. giants signed former philadelphia phillies outfielder aaron rowand 5-year, $60 million contract. barry zito once again got off poor start, losing first 8 decisions. however, team found hope in pitcher tim lincecum. after going 7–5 in first stint in 2007 giants, exploded onto scene year winning 4 straight before losing 1st game of year on april 29, 2008, colorado rockies. lincecum selected 2008 mlb all-star game @ yankee stadium unable pitch due being hospitalized flu-like symptoms. went on win 2008 nl cy young award, finishing @ 18–5. first giant since mike mccormick won in 1967. giants finished season in fourth place in nl west record of 72–90.

2009: mix of old & new , no-hitter

during off season, giants strengthened pitching staff acquiring veteran starting pitcher randy johnson , relievers bobby howry , jeremy affeldt. giants signed infielders Édgar rentería , juan uribe. despite questions lingering team s struggling offense, team compiled 49–39 record 2009 major league baseball all-star game, enough second place in nl west.

in addition team s overall performance, first half of season provided several memorable moments players themselves. highlights included johnson earning 300th career victory, becoming twenty-fourth pitcher in major league history so, struggling starter jonathan sánchez tossing no-hitter against san diego padres on july 10, first giants no-hitter since 1976. 2009 s pitching staff go down 1 of strongest starting rotations in giants history– giants sent 2 of starting pitchers all-star game, including year s starter, tim lincecum. went on win 2009 nl cy young award, finishing @ 15–7. lincecum became pitcher capture cy young award in each of first 2 full major league seasons.

on july 10, jonathan sánchez, spot starting in place of injured randy johnson , on first start upon returning starting rotation after brief demotion bullpen, threw no-hitter against san diego padres. sánchez issued no walks (the runner reached on error third baseman juan uribe) , struck out career-high eleven hitters in game, first major league complete game , shutout , first no-hitter ever thrown @ at&t park. threw 110 pitches complete game, final score of 8–0 giants.

the team faced tragic note on july 19, when club announced sue burns, team s senior general partner virtual fixture in seat adjacent giants dugout, died sunday morning of cancer. burns widow of harmon burns, financier in san francisco bay area key member of investor group saved team moving tampa in 1992. giants honored burns in pre-game ceremony in barry bonds in attendance.

on july 20, giants traded 1 of top prospects, aa pitcher tim alderson, pittsburgh pirates second baseman freddy sanchez. alderson first round pick in 2007 draft , ranked number 4 prospect in giants organization baseball america, sanchez provided needed jump giants offense. sanchez ended 2009 season batting .293 41 runs batted in , 22 walks. on september 11, giants added key player when brought buster posey giants aaa affiliate fresno grizzlies.

although team finished 14 games above .500, won 16 more games previous season. emergence of star player pablo sandoval alongside dominant pitching staff, giants looked forward making playoffs next year first time since 2003.