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Mighty Casey at the Bat – The creation of a Baseball Legend
We were at the Tuesday 5/9 game against the Nationals with friends (including some of our favorite winemakers) and we were privileged to witness an iconic moment in Giants baseball history – the first game for infielder Casey Schmitt. The 24-year-old out of the River Cats was a high draft choice, had a reputation as an infielder with a soft glove and a rocket arm, and a great bat. He was at shortstop because Crawford was injured (Casey worships Craw and wears the same headband under his hat). This was his first game and 40 members of his family from San Diego attended. Our seats are right below the Giants family seating section (in 118) and they were yelling and screaming 10 rows above us.
That was cool but what happened next was beyond cool. Casey got up to the plate for his second at-bat and got his first major league hit – a 2-run home run into the left-field bleachers. The place exploded. The smile on the kid’s face as he rounded the bases was awesome. The last time a new Giant had a moment like this was in 1986 when Will Clark came to the plate against Nolan Ryan for his first MLB at-bat in Houston and rocketed the pitch into the stands.
Can it continue? So far it has. Since making his Major League debut on Tuesday, Schmitt is 8-for-12 (.667) with two home runs and four RBIs, tying Hall of Famer Willie McCovey for the most hits by a Giants player through his first three games since 1901. He has personally won the last three games since he came up and is the most exciting thing to happen to the G-Men since signing Barry Bonds in 1993.
Who needs Aaron Judge when we have Casey Schmitt? We are all stoked.
The upcoming series against the Phillies and the Marlins – a test and a look at the new G-Men
The G-Men are 17 and 20 today (going into another game against the hot Snakes) and fighting to get to .500 after this road trip is complete. Both the Phillies and the Marlins are hovering around .500 and are battling for second and third place in the NL East behind the torrid Atlanta Braves. The pitching looks good (especially Cobb and Webb), and the relievers are stanch (looking at you Tyler Rodgers and Camilo Doval). On the offensive side Conforto and Haniger are getting untracked (which was the reason they were acquired). Estrada is a super stud and the other kids (Wisely, Sobel, and Davis) are settling in and looking like they belong in the show. Joey Bart has been nails behind the plate (comfortable, good hitting, calling a good game, and having a rocket arm) and we have a rotating cast of outfielders with good arms and solid hitting. All around the team seems to be settling down, playing well, and giving us exciting baseball. The NL West division is tough for sure, but it would be no fun if it wasn’t a challenge.
The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are still in the first leg of the race but it has been exciting to watch this season start to settle down and play out. The upcoming series will showcase just how far the Gigantes have come.
On the board and ready to be picked up are:
MON 5/15 – Phillies [6:45] – 4 - Sacramento State University Night
TUES 5/16 – Phillies [6:45] – 3 [I’m going] - Japanese Heritage Night
WED 5/17 Phillies [12:45] – 4
SAT 5/20 – Marlins [1:05] - 4 - Lou Seal Splash Hits Counter Bobblehead
SUN 5/21 – Marlins [1:05] – 3 [I’m going] - Little League Day
Let the torture continue!
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a wait list.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
