Rusty Priske - Future Hall of Famer

[rpriske]

I thought I had a real shot to win MVP this year. Instead I came 3rd. Darryl Strawberry won and Dwight Gooden was 2nd. I did get four 1st place votes, so that is something.

[rpriske]

As Chili Davis, Attlee Hammaker, and John Rabb all filed for Free Agency, the team purchased the contract of Max Venable from Phoenix.

I am all for giving some new guys a chance, but I hope we are also going for some free agents.

[rpriske]

The rumour mill has the Giants talking to Tom Niedenfuer and Kent Tekulve.

[rpriske]

Add Andy Hawkins to that list. It seems pitching is their primary target.

[rpriske]

They purchased the contract of Alonzo Powell from Phoenix. I guess they aren't interested in any position players among free agents. Hmmm....

[rpriske]

The Winter Meetings are going on and if the rumours are to be believed, the Giants are checking in on a LOT of pitchers.

[rpriske]

I wasn't expecting this.

The Giants just traded Eric Show to the Tigers for LF Luis Medina and a minor league SS.

Medina only played in 56 games last year, but he hit and fielded really well. Nice pick-up.

I hope some of those pitching deals come through.

[rpriske]

We signed a couple fo pitchers and the Winter Meetings, but they are minor leaguers - Mike Trujillo and Kernan Ronan.

[rpriske]

The Draft happened.

Our top pick was a 1B named Ryan Klesko.

Then an OF named Tom Goodwin, SP Jerry Dipoto, etc.

[rpriske]

We finally signed one of those pitchers who have been rumoured - Scott Sanderson, a bullpen arm from Oakland.

He was solid for them. I expect that he will be a set-up guy.

[rpriske]

1989

[rpriske]

I am heading towards my 5th season in the bigs and my 21st birthday.

Weird.

With my big new contract, Christmas was good this year.

Now let's see what Santa brought the Giants.

[rpriske]

Atlee Hammaker signed with the Expos.

[rpriske]

We were going hard for Kent Tekulve and not only did he not sign with us... he signed with the Padres.

[rpriske]

What is worse than losing Kent Tekulve to the Padres?

Chili Davis just signed with the Dodgers.

[rpriske]

Spring Training is here and some interesting thing are going on.

It seems that both Scott Garrelts and Scott Sanderson are going to be give a chance to win rotation spots. Is that because they have the skills or because we are short starters?

As for batters, it seems that it is time for Bob Brenly to take a back-up role and Alan Cockrell will be our starting Catcher. Rumour has it, they are even shopping him.
The infield looks the same, me and Robby Thompson up the middle with Mike Aldrete and Jim Presley on the corners.
The outfield looks quite different. Rob Deer has moved from left to right and Ruben Sierra is taking over in left with the new guy, Luis Medina, in centre.

The bench will likely include Brian Giles, Steve Stanicek, and Phil Ouellette, with Tom O'Malley and Tim Naehring fighting it out.

I like Tim. I hope he makes it.

[DD Martin]

Good luck to SS Rusty and the Giants, but it looks like a tough road in 1989

[rpriske]

Originally Posted by DD Martin

Good luck to SS Rusty and the Giants, but it looks like a tough road in 1989

Agreed. Luis Medina had a good year, but replacing Chili Davis is quite a task. Can the converts to the rotation pan out enough to carry a fairly lacklustre offense?

[rpriske]

February 27th, 1989

Spring Training is here!

I ended last season with a pretty negative attitude about Jim Lowe. Jim is still the manager and I am going to make sure that if there are any problems, they don't start with me.

We are starting Spring the way we ended the season - facing the Dodgers.

They have Orel Hershiser and we have Frank Viola.

I start thing off, as usual, and I reach with an infield single. Stolen base. That's as far as I get.

In the 2nd Tom O'Malley scored on a single by Frank. Then I struck out with two men on.

Giants lead 1-0

In the 4th I took care of a Steve Sax grounder for the 1st out. I then did the same to Tim Wallach for the 2nd.

Frank ended up pitching four perfect innings.

In the 5th I came up with one out and now facing Craig Lefferts. I grounded out to Dave Anderson at short.

Butch Henry came it to pitch for us.
I got the 2nd out in the bottom half off a Benito Santiago grounder.

In the 6th Rob Deer scored on a triple by Tom, who then scored on a Steve Stanicek sac fly.

Giants lead 3-0

In the bottom of the 6th Domingo Michel got the first hit for the Dodgers... a two run homer.
I handled a Sax grounder for the 2nd out.

Giants lead 3-2

I was lifted for a pitch hitter in the 7th.

We ended up going long, winning 4-3 in 12 innings.

I went 1 for 3 with a single and a stolen base.

I heard a great rumour. Word is the Giants are talking to Keith Hernandez.

[rpriske]

February 28th, 1989

It is the Giants with Rick Sutcliffe against the Astros and Chris Hammond.

I led off the home half by flying out to Calvin James in left.

I caught a Craig Worthington pop for the 1st out in the 2nd.

I came up in the 3rd with one out and Alan Cockrell on 2nd. I flew out to James again.

Scott Service took over not he mound for us in the 5th. Steve Stanicke took over in CF for Luis Medina at the same time.

The Astros opened the scoring in the 6th when Bill Doran and James scored on a single by Dickie Thon. I took care of a Tony Barron grounder to end the threat.

Astros lead 2-0

I led off the bottom half against Mike Dowless. I reached on an error to Worthington at 3rd. Mike Aldrete walked. I scored on a Ruben Sierra single. Mike ended up scoring on a Robby Thompson sac fly to tie it up.

Game tied 2-2

Jeff Robinson took over in the 7th.
We turned a nice Thompson - Priske - Aldrete double play to get Wiley Lee and Rance Mulliniks.

I was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 7th.

We ended up losing 6-2 in 12 innings.