Giants 10, Dodgers 8

One day after Blake DeWitt and Chin-lung Hu had big games to state their cases for the two utility-infield spots that remain open, Doug Mientkiewicz and Juan Castro had big games to state their cases for the same two spots. Each of them homered today. There are still four games to go before opening day, but it sounds like the decision is going to be made in the next 24-48 hours, and my money for now is on Castro and Mientkiewicz because they are veterans, with DeWitt and Hu going to the minors because they need regular ABs. Castro went 2 for 5 with a double and a tow-run homer and is hitting .415 for the spring. Mientkiewicz went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer and a walk. It appears the competition is this: Mientkiewicz vs. DeWitt for one spot, Castro vs. Hu for the other, the thinking being that both Mientkiewicz and DeWitt are LH hitters who can pinch hit. …
Hiroki Kuroda gave up a run on four hits over three innings in his final tuneup before taking the ball on opening day. He was limited to three innings, but Torre said that is normal for a pitcher’s final start of the spring and that Kuroda should be ready to throw 100 against the Pods on Monday. …
Eric Milton appeared to pitch himself out of his last glimmer of hope for the fifth spot in the rotation or for a bullpen spot — he gave up eight earned runs in 2 1/3 innings — but it turns out he had already been told he won’t be on the opening-day roster. After discussing it with Joe Torre over the past 10 days or so, he has agreed NOT to exercise the April 4 escape clause in his minor-league contract and will instead go to Triple-A and continue to try to get his arm back into game shape. You have to remember, it has still been less than two years since this guy had Tommy John surgery, and he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since. If he can get back to form, there is still a good chance we’ll see him in Los Angeles sometime this summer. …
Dodgers fall to 15-19. Vs. the Angels at Dodger Stadium tomorrow night.
Los Angeles or bust.