The San
Francisco Giants have certainly had a different type of season than they’re used
to. The team that prided itself on winning records with big homeruns and big
players has suddenly turned into the complete opposite. But that’s not to say
that the clubhouse atmosphere has been a negative one this season.
For
veteran Aaron Rowand, who has been on winning teams with a clubhouse full of
veterans, and on teams similar to the 2008 Giants, there are tremendous
differences between the clubhouse atmosphere, but every team always shares a
common goal, which is winning ballgames.
“Veterans know
what to do when it comes to preparation for games and such, but on a younger
team, it’s up to the old guys to show the young guys how to prepare themselves,
what they should and shouldn’t do at this level,” said Rowand.
That’s not to
say that having a young team is necessarily a bad thing. Rowand thinks having
young players also bring excitement to the team and for the fans. “Young players
bring energy. We’re all trying to win everyday, and consistency is the most
important part.”
Giants’ rookie
middle infielder Emmanuel Burriss also stressed the importance of consistency.
He has had what he describes as a “rollercoaster season” that’s full of “ups and
downs” and thinks he still has a lot to work on.
“There’s a
certain amount of consistency that you need up here [in the majors],” said
Burriss. “It’s something I want to improve on in order to help the team as a
whole be more consistent. It’s something I will work on in my entire career.”
Also in a
season where there have been more call-ups and sent-downs amongst rookies and
other players than in recent seasons, seeing new faces and watching old ones go
has been a unique experience for Burriss.
“It’s growing
pains,” said Burriss. “The more rookies there are, the more mistakes get made.
We learn from each other’s mistakes. We’re like brothers here… Once somebody
makes a mistake, everybody hears about it.”
The Giants
currently have a few players who have experienced the “yo-yo” affect (being
called up to the majors and sent back down to the majors more than once in a
season). One of them is reliever Jack Taschner, who was one of the young guys
himself not so long ago, but has now taken the role of mentoring young arms who
come through the clubhouse this season.
“It’s tough,
but when you get sent down, you just have to look at the circumstances and look
to change the things that you did wrong,” said Taschner. “We all experience
that, except for superfreaks like Matt [Cain] and Tim [Lincecum] [who have been
called up once and stayed].”
According to
Taschner, this season has been a big audition for young players. “A lot of young
guys have the opportunity to show what they can do and show that they belong
here. Some guys will be around, some won’t.”
Rowand also
thinks this season was about seeing who will best fill in the holes and gaps
that the Giants have. “We’re trying to see who can compete at this level and see
what they are capable of. It’s all part of the game, and that’s what’s beautiful
about it.”
For those who
have been experiencing being in the bigs the entire season for the first time,
it was a complete adjustment as to where they were a season ago.
“The game is
faster up here, and mistakes have to be minimized,” said rookie outfielder Fred
Lewis, who is spending his first full season in the majors this year. “Guys can
really hit here.”
Burriss was
called up around the midseason point and has been in a Giants uniform ever
since, but that hasn’t made things any easier for him at this level.
“It’s a big
change [playing in the majors as opposed to the minors],” Burris said. “Everyday
you’re playing against the best competition so you have to be on top of your
game.”
Successes and
failures are both maximized, so for a rookie like Burriss, it’s tough to bounce
back after making some mistakes. “Making an error definitely puts pressure on
yourself. It feels like everybody’s looking at you, and you’ll definitely hear
about it.”
However, for
other young players, there isn’t much of a difference between playing in the
minors and majors. Closer and All-Star Brian Wilson looked at his first full
season as a Giant no differently than he looked at any of his seasons in minor
league ball.
“It’s the same
game for me, personally,” said Wilson. “There are just as many successes and
failures here as there are in the minors.”
But that is not
to discredit the hard work every player puts in at the major league level. “It’s
a great honor to be called up, but it’s the same game and same mindset,” said
Wilson.
Another
believer in the mentality game is Rowand. Other than guiding the young players
through all the technicalities that come with being a professional baseball
player, Rowand believes it’s important to stay positive and to have young
players believe in themselves positively as well.
“This game is
more mental than physical,” said Rowand. “Whoever is being consistent positively
with their mentality and outlook and approach will be winners.”
As for the
upcoming offseason and the 2009 season, the Giants aren’t looking too far ahead
yet.
“We just hope
to finish this season on a strong note and use it as a stepping stone for next
season,” said Rowand. “We all understand the game and the business of baseball,
but we just have to try to focus on playing the game.”
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