Nate Schierholtz News

By the beginning of Spring Training, Hensley Meulens will remain a first-year hitting coach.

Sadly, the San Francisco Giants' 2009 season is already growing cold. It was a fantastic ride - better than most people expected - but it's time to close the books on another 162-game campaign.

The season opened April 7 with most prognosticators figuring the team would finish well out of playoff contention.

Nate Schierholtz planned on touring Europe over the winter. But when he gets on a plane next month, it'll be strictly business.

John pulls no punches in his coverage of the Giants and his support of Barry Bonds.

Pinch-hitting with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, Lewis hit a ground ball to second base that well could have been an inning-ending double play.

They were supposed to be two pressure-free innings of relief intended to restore Chad Billingsley's confidence.

For the Giants to improve at the plate in 2010, they'll need to find more help from the outside, with apologies to Freddy Sanchez , Ryan Garko and Buster Posey .

Now that manager Bruce Bochy has a set lineup against right-handed pitchers, his challenge begins as the Giants face lefties Randy Wolf today and Arizona's Doug Davis on Monday night.

Despite Sunday's loss, the Dodgers took two of three games from the Giants over the weekend, rising to the occasion again against a contending team.

The Rockies can exhale. At least for now. Colorado survived a furious ninth-inning rally by the Giants to salvage the finale of a three-game series at San Francisco last night.

Reporting from San Francisco - Five and a half months into the season, Russell Martin said he thinks he finally might be emerging from his yearlong slump.

An inspired Brad Penny outpitched slumping former teammate Chad Billingsley on Sunday as the Giants avoided a series sweep by beating the Dodgers, 7-2. A two-run homer in the seventh by Russell Martin ruined Penny's shutout.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Great, After going through computer issues while taking in my first month of college life, there wasn't much time for yours truly to bash the man in charge of the "Orange & Black". However, with my computer back and having down time on a Friday afternoon, there are two succinct advantages.

Things I'd like to see this weekend: * First time up tonight, Manny Ramirez hits one out of sight -- maybe clearing the left-field bleachers altogether.

Randy Winn finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Ryan Sadowski turned in six scoreless innings as San Francisco downed Milwaukee, 7-0, in the finale of a three-game series from Miller Park.

Nate Schierholtz missed out on a home run the last time the Giants came to Miller Park on June 27, when center fielder Mike Cameron made a leaping catch at the wall to take one away.

Crucial inning : Visiting New Orleans broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning that was highlighted by Brett Carroll's grand slam -- his second homer of the game.

That's not a reflection on his appetite but his .367 average at AT&T Park the highest home mark among NL hitters.

Before Saturday's game against the Rockies, Barry Zito couldn't remember the last time he struck out the side to lead off the game.