Giants’ home opener: Traditional day of renewal already a time to worry?
New and familiar faces eager to experience pregame intros at AT&T
The tradition is as old as the spitball. On Opening Day, the team stands in formation along the baseline closest to its dugout for introductions, the moment the organization tells the fans, “Here, these are the boys you’ll be watching this summer.”
The Giants will continue the tradition before Tuesday’s home opener against the Mariners at AT&T Park. First, they will introduce staff, including the traveling secretary, clubhouse workers and trainers, then the reserves, and with the starting pitcher already warming in the bullpen, the lineup.
They are a diverse group with countless experiences. Among the Giants who will stand for introductions are two returning favorites, a pitcher with terrible AT&T experience on his resume, a coach who was born not far from the ballpark, an All-Star who bears the burden of high expectations and a 26-year-old rookie who had no clue he would be here.
Their stories: The prodigal sons: Gregor Blanco saw the writing on the wall in 2016, knowing the Giants wanted to see other outfield options in 2017 and he would not be invited back.
“I remember my last game that I was wearing that uniform,” Blanco said. “I told myself, ‘This might be the last game you play here.’ I looked at everything, the fans. I memorized it.”
That last game turned out to be Game 4 of the Division Series against the Cubs. Blanco, a fan favorite and holder of two World Series rings, signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks.
He got to another postseason with Arizona, but that was a one-and-done. He now will stand for introductions at AT&T.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Blanco said. “It’s going to be great to hear (PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moon) announce my name and be wearing the Giants’ uniform again in front of that great crowd.”
Fellow returnee Pablo Sandoval had a different farewell experience. His final act with the Giants the first time was catching the last out of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City. He declared his love for San Francisco at the championship parade, then left for a $95 million deal in Boston.
Sandoval said things he now regrets and earned forgiveness during a 47-game tryout with the Giants last year after the Red Sox released him. His “look around” moment did not come in 2014, but after he won Game 162 last year with a homer.
“When I hit the walk-off, it was emotional for me, not knowing if they were going to pick up the option. Looking around the field, walking around with my kids. You never know what’s going to happen. I’m glad I’ll be back with the team. I’m glad they gave me a second opportunity to be here.” The new starter: Derek Holland will stand for introductions on a field that was not kind to him in the 2010 World Series. Pitching in relief for Texas in Game 2, Holland inherited a runner on second with two outs in the eighth inning and the Giants ahead 2-0.
Holland faced Nate Schierholtz, Cody Ross and Aubrey Huff, walked them all on 12 pitches, and a seven-run inning was in full bloom.
With the Rangers down 2-0 in the Series, Holland joked about his outing after the game, suggesting that somebody moved home plate. That’s Holland. Have a chuckle about a bad experience, learn from it and move on.
That, and the Rangers’ fivegame Series loss, do not define his feelings about AT&T Park.
“I joked around about it because you’ve got to get past it,” he said. “I’m not going to let something like that destroy me. Obviously, I bounced back the following year and pitched one of the greatest games in Rangers history.”
Holland carried a shutout into the ninth inning of Texas’ Game 4 victory in the 2011 Series, which the Cardinals won in seven games. The hometown coach: New batting coach Alonzo Powell was born in San Francisco and went to Lincoln High School before embarking on a playing and coaching career that reached its pinnacle last year, when he earned a World Series ring with the Astros as their assistant hitting coach.
“I do remember a few where we kind of snuck out of school to go to Opening Day” at Candlestick Park, Powell said. “It’s going to be an unbelievable moment for me, growing up in San Francisco, knowing the history of the Giants, being a Giants fan as a young man and eventually getting into the Giants’ organization. I can’t wait to experience it.” The older rookie: Pierce Johnson was a supplemental first-rounder in the 2012 draft, taken 23 picks after his former Cape Cod summer-league roommate, Chris Stratton. Arm trouble helped derail Johnson’s quest for the major leagues. There was another factor, too.
“I had some control issues,” he said. “I was good at walking people.”
Johnson pitched a few openers in the minors, winning for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs last year. Now, with two majorleague innings in hand, he will stand for introductions in a moment he considered fantasy when he arrived in Giants camp as a minor-league free agent. He earned the honor by not allowing a run all spring.
Johnson figures that, at 26, after years of struggles, he will appreciate Tuesday’s opener more than he would have had he soared to the bigs out of college.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “It’s my story. It’s how I got here. It’s very special.” The incoming All-Star: Opening Days are not new to Andrew McCutchen. He had eight with the Pirates. Five began All-Star seasons, one an MVP year.
McCutchen has started 1-for-16, which might add to a natural nervousness as he runs to the line for introductions. But he also is grateful he no longer needs to run to his position and get blasted by the fans behind him.
“I sure heard them,” McCutchen said. “I heard them loud and clear. The fans, the atmosphere, you step into a ballpark with the winning culture there, playing against teams that won multiple World Series, you feel that when you step on the field every single time.
“It was always electric, always loud, definitely one of the most uncomfortable places I played when I was on the visiting side.”