Mesh Magazine

The Giants just announced the signing of ex-Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand to a five-year $60 million deal. Last year Rowand hit .309 with 27 home runs 89 RBIs, 105 runs, 189 hits, and 45 doubles in 161 games, while also winning his first gold-glove. Prior to that though, he was okay at best, except for a standout year with the White Sox in 2004. Not sure what this means for my man Rajai Davis, or any of the other 700 Giants center fielders, but it does mean the Giants won’t listen to any more offers for Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum. Rowand does play hard, as evidenced in the photo above, which was taken after he made an amazing catch while running face-first into a wall. Welcome to San Francisco, now shave that goatee.

Now, much like the Giants over the past three years, you too can fall flat on your face at AT&T Park. Today through December 1st and December 6th through December 9th, the infield at the ballpark will be covered by an ice skating rink. The rink is open from 10AM-8PM Sundays-Thursdays, and 10AM-10PM on Friday and Saturday. Tickets, including skate rental, are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 14 and under. Kind of pricey, but at least you don’t have to watch the Giants blow a three-run lead in the eighth.

Yesterday, while waiting for my plane home in the Atlanta airport, I had a drink at a bar and noticed Giants manager Bruce Bochy sitting at the table across from us with his wife and another couple. I didn’t ask him if he was there talking to Andruw Jones, but here what he had to say:
Hi Mr. Bochy, I’m a huge Giants fan. I just wanted to come over and meet you.

Thanks. Shakes my hand.
I’m looking forward to next year.

It’ll be better.

Yeah.

Yeah, it’s going to better next year.

Gonna go with some younger players?

Yeah.

Nice meeting you.

Thank you.

We saw Elvis too:

Barry Bonds posted this message on his Web site today saying the Giants told him he won’t be returning. It’s sad, but as much as I loved watching him play, that’s $18 million that should come in handy next year. Does this mean we’re really getting that young team we were promised last year? And, since Barry says in the message that he will play somewhere next year, I wonder what team he’ll end up with. Oakland, I mean Fremont? He does say he wants a World Series ring, so maybe Anaheim?

Dear Fans,

This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season. During the conversation with Peter Magowan I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco…. read the rest.

Rod Beck, Giants closer throughout most of the ’90s, died Saturday at the age of 38. “Shooter” saved 199 games for the Giants from 1991 to 1997, including 48 in 1993, when he finished the year with a 2.16 ERA. He was also a true mustache inspiration, and sported a mullet for most of the ’90s. And, as the Chronicle’s Scott Ostler pointed out, in 2003, while trying to revive his career after elbow surgery, Beck played for a triple-A team in Des Moines, Iowa, and lived in an RV behind the stadium. After home games, he would invite players and fans back to the RV to party and would buy beer for everyone that showed up. R.I.P.

Don’t let the door hit ya’…

According to researchers at the University of Iowa, Gatorade, one of the greatest inventions in the history of hangover remedies, destroys your teeth faster than Coke or Red Bull. How many national championships have you won recently, Iowa? Haters.

Also, having not watched a full NBA game all year, I am proud to announce that I have officially jumped on the Warriors bandwagon. Last night’s victory against top seeded Dallas, was extremely exciting, with Baron Davis on fire, just like the last time I watched a Warriors game about two years ago. Warriors, your tickets are too expensive, and your uniforms look ridiculous–please just wear The City jerseys year round.

And, wrapping up this week’s Sports, um Wrap, the Giants are on fire, winning their fifth in a row, on a three-hitter from young phenom Matt Cain, and a home run from Barry Bonds. Other than Bonds, the Giants hitting has been pathetic this season, but the starting pitching has been unbelievable, posting a 2.81 ERA so far this season. In addition, they’ve got a 22-year-old right hander at AAA Fresno who’s got a 100-mph fastball, hasn’t allowed a run and has struck out 28 in 18 innings, Tim Lincecum, who could be called up if Matt Morriss or Russ Ortiz tank.

Apparently, San Jose’s ice skating team is doing really well also, but I don’t live in Canada, so I don’t really know about that.

Any of you that watched the Giants vs. Rockies game last night may have a noticed a more macho Barry Zito taking the mound. Having kicked off the season and his seven-year, $126 million contract by going 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA, the man needed a change. And what better way to gain focus and recapture the testosterone necessary to succeed than cultivating a handsome mustache?

MLB.com, SF Gate and the AP tragically ignored the key to his turnaround in their round-ups of the game, but it is obvious that the mustache played a large role in his six-inning performance, where he allowed no runs and just three-hits, “My last start, I tried to have a good game, and tried to be too fine. I wasn’t as aggressive as I wanted to be. This time, I tried to be aggressive in the zone.” An aggression that only a mustache could bring. Sadly, having scoured the Web, we have been unable to locate a proper photo of the new, mustachioed Zito. When one surfaces, we will present it to you.

Don’t shave the ’stache, Barry. ¡Viva Los Machos! ¡Viva Mustache May!

This is a serious bummer. Bay Meadows is closing for good in November. I’m way into the going to the track. Actually, I was just searching for some Bay Meadows photos and found my first ever blog post on the Mesh site, which was about Bay Meadows. Since I started going, I’ve run into some interesting people that I wouldn’t necessarily expect to be way into horse racing, like the guy that runs this thing and someone from this band.

After I wrote this, a flurry of e-mails were sent throughout the office. One guy at my work had this description of a night at the track: “Crappy cover band, sketchy people, semi palatable hot dogs! Its like a really terrible circus where you are the clowns.”

Exactly.

The first Mesh blog post after the jump.

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Despite the rest of their geriatric team, this is exciting news.