The Giants blasted out of the gate last year with the best record in the majors during Spring Training games. With a record of 23-12 in Cactus League play, they set the tone for a World Championship season.
This year there’s one more dress rehearsal before the games begin. The Giants will play an intra-squad game Thursday that is expected to go three to four innings.
“When you get to Spring you can’t wait to get to Spring Training and once you’re into it for a couple of days you want to get the games started,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, adding, “that’s where they’re at right now, it changes things up and gets them back on schedule.”
The Giants are playing their Cactus League opener a couple of days earlier than usual. Friday at Scottsdale Stadium the Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Saturday, they host the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Joining the team for the early portion of the Cactus League schedule as a special infield instructor is former Giant Jeff Kent. As the second baseman with the most home runs in the history of Major League Baseball, he will share his experience and insight with the team for which he was the National League MVP in 2000.
Wednesday was the final day of just drills and also served as photo day with the team getting their pictures taken in full uniform.
Laurence Scott is part of the team working on an NBC Bay Area Sports ‘Giants Spring Training Special’ and will have nightly reports on television and the web from Scottsdale.
