 
03/16/2003 5:32 PM ET
Rueter gets Opening Day nod
Alou 'concerned' about Santiago's slow start
| By Rich Draper / MLB.com |
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Put a memo in your datebook. On March 31, 2013, ask Kirk Rueter if being named the Opening Day pitcher for the club at San Diego on March 31, 2003 was something special.
When manager Felipe Alou made it official on Sunday, it wasn't that big of a deal for the southpaw.
"It might be 10 years from now, but this will be another game for me," said the eight-year veteran, who "won" the nod from right-hander Jason Schmidt. "I get ready to pitch every game, doesn't matter, No. 1 or... at the end of the year."
"We're No. 1 on the day we pitch," Rueter said. "It's nice, but it's not like we're naming a starting quarterback. I pitch the same every day. It'll be fun, but still one of 34 starts. You have to have five guys to be successful."
Kirk Rueter
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It will be the first-ever Opening Day start for Rueter. He also led the Giants staff in ERA (3.23) last season and tied with Russ Ortiz for most wins (14). He started the first game of the LCS against St. Louis last October and won, 9-6. The team won 75 percent of Rueter's starts in 2002.
Although pitching coach Dave Righetti let the word slip about Rueter on Saturday, Alou said Sunday it was the lefty's win-loss record lifetime and "what he means to the club" that earned him the first start. "Schmidt is a deserving guy also."
Alou said the other three starters will be named about mid-week. In the running are Livan Hernandez, Damian Moss, Ryan Jensen, Kurt Ainsworth and Jesse Foppert.
Hernandez has been the Giants' Opening Day starter the past three years.
The skipper speaks: "Something is worrying him, whatever it is. He told me [in Maryvale, last Wednesday] that he wouldn't let the contract negotiations bother him. He looks fresh and strong and he's a tremendous athlete, even at his age [38]. He's got to lead the pitching staff again and make sure no outside factor would affect his ability. I have to admit I'm a little concerned about it. But I could see concern in his eyes." -- Felipe Alou on catcher Benito Santiago struggling on offense -- .136 with no RBIs -- this spring while negotiations over a possible new contract fell through
Cody ... who? When Giants shortstop Cody Ransom hit his first spring homer at Peoria on Saturday off San Diego's Francisco Cordova, he kept up a fast pace going around the bases, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. "I don't want them to remember me," laughed Ransom, named the Pacific Coast League's best defensive shortstop last season by Baseball America and currently hitting .250 over 14 spring games.
Going batty: When Damon Minor cracked a two-run double down the right-field line against the Padres at Peoria on Saturday, the bat shattered in his hands, pieces flying everywhere. What Minor wasn't aware of is that he grabbed an already cracked bat from his personal supply. "I probably had broken it in batting practice, but didn't realize it," said Minor. "I'll remember to check it next time."
Getting better: Reliever Tim Worrell, who hadn't pitched since March 4 and had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder about 10 days ago, was back in action against San Diego on Saturday and threw one inning, striking out two batters. "I'm kind of achy all over, but I feel fine," said Worrell of the expected minor soreness Sunday. "The important thing is I feel good today."
Numerology: The Giants lead the Cactus League in attendance per game, averaging 9,118 fans at Scottsdale Stadium. The only team in baseball with a higher average is the Yankees, averaging 10,150 per contest. ... The Giants lead the NL with only eight errors in their first 20 spring games. ... Barry Bonds -- now in the Bay Area to visit father Bobby Bonds, who has lung cancer -- owns a 1.273 slugging percentage after homering for six of his nine spring hits. He's tied for the ML lead and paces the Cactus League in homers. Bonds went home Saturday night to help celebrate his dad's 57th birthday and is expected to return here in time for Tuesday's game at Scottsdale Stadium.
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Robb Nen
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Nen better: Closer Robb Nen threw 30 pitches during a two-inning simulated game Sunday at Scottsdale Stadium and reported he "felt good" afterward. Nen, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in his right shoulder (rotator cuff and labrum) last Nov. 8, may pitch in the last week of the Cactus League, according to trainer Stan Conte. There is no certain timetable on when or if Nen will pitch this spring.
Weather report: Ugh. Rained-out game against the White Sox on Sunday at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants have a day off on Monday, and the weather will be similar, temps in the 60s.
Coming up: The Giants are off Monday, then play two split-squad games on Tuesday, with Damian Moss (0-2, 15.43) facing Seattle at Scottsdale and Jesse Foppert (1-0, 1.13) vs. Texas at Surprise. On Wednesday, Ryan Jensen (1-0, 5.73) starts against Anaheim in Tempe.
Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Benito Santiago
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