Giants Spring Training Games Start Today

Many games will air on NBC Bay Area this year

It's real baseball now -- the Giants play the Cleveland Indians Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. to kick off their Cactus League exhibition schedule. And this season, you'll be able to watch the Giants on NBC Bay Area, from the Cactus League and all season long on the broadcast home of the Giants. Also keep on eye on  the NBC Bay Area Giants page for updates and highlights. 

If you want to hear "play ball" today you'll have to tune in to KNBR.

Tim Lincecum will be first up to take the mound for the Indians game, but expect solid Spring Training performances from several other Giants pitchers.  Both Randy Johnson and Barry Zito went one strong scoreless inning apiece Tuesday in an intra-squad scrimmage.

This opening game would have been a dazzling "Cy Young winner vs. Cy Young winner" duel pitting Lincecum against last year's AL winner Cliff Lee. But the Indians are choosing to sideline Lee, because the exhibition game is meaningless and for god's sake there are 41 of these exhibition games to come.

Your hot Spring Training position battle is at second base, because that spot is up for grabs in a three-way contest. Over at first base, John Bowker will try to beat out Travis Ishikawa. Bowker was super human for about one week when he first got called up last year, and he'll try to rediscover his vanished bat.

We'll get our first look at Edgar Renteria as a Giant. He'll bat second, and try to shed that washed-up look he had last year with the Tigers. Team brass are confident he'll flourish now that he's back in the National League.

 The Giants will play Cactus League exhibition games through April 1.

 Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who's trying to shed that washed-up look he had last year with the Tigers.

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