Nuschlers News

My last 4 months

2010-01-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long delay in posting to NuschlersNews. I'm sure I lost a lot of readers along the way as potentially this could be thought of as just another forgotten blog. I'd like to reassure those of you who still check in here that this isn't just another idle site, but that I am still around and will begin postings again. Let me take a minute to share with you about my life, outside my life long obsession with the San Francisco Giants. As it turns out, there is something more important.

Back in April of 2009, my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child. More excited than anyone can imagine, although I expect anyone who is happily married and has been in the same situation was equally thrilled as we were. We tried for 3 years to get pregnant and finally had. Early on, it was an extremely difficult pregnancy for my wife. She was sick 24 hours a day until 16 weeks along.

At 18 weeks, we found out it was a girl. At the same time, we discovered our daughter had a fairly common kidney problem that usually went away prior to birth but they wanted to monitor it with complete ultrasounds monthly just to be safe. Although at worst, this would require a small surgical procedure post birth to clear a block in her urinary tract, it turned out to be a life saving discovery.

At both the 22 & 25 week ultrasounds, the kidney problem remained fairly unchanged but not too worrisome for the doctors. At the 28 week ultrasound, our life changed.

Our daughter was diagnosed with Ascites on Halloween and we were told she would likely need to be born via emergency C-Section within the week to hopefully keep her alive. We went home for the next 30 hours thinking things couldn't get worse but we were wrong.

First thing monday morning we had another ultrasound at our perinatologists office and complete body Fetal Polyhydrominoes, or Hydrops, were discovered. The doctor told us, at 28 weeks 3 days, that our daughter had a 10% chance at living born today and 30% if we could keep her enutero until 34 weeks. Our options were to home and "let nature take its course" or check ourselves into the labor and delivery unit for both my wife and daughter to be on 24 hour monitoring with the first signs of fetal distress, an emergency C-Section would be performed. The doctors all agreed, they didn't expect us to make it to 29 weeks, but were just hoping against the odds we could make it to 34.

Hydrops is fluid buildup in a body cavity, usually isolated to one area. Our daughter had it everywhere. Around her heart and lungs, putting pressure on them and causing the lungs to stay collapsed inhibiting development. Around her head, between the scalp and skull. In her abdomen. In all 4 extremities. At 28 weeks, she measured 34 in size.

It turned out we had a brilliant perinatologist and she diagnosed the Fetal Hydrops origin. She was able to perform both an amniocentesis on my wife and a thorocentesis on our baby. It was caused by a block in her thoracic duct of the lymphatic system backing fluid up everywhere. The Thorocentesis worked and the lungs expanded instantly. From then on, the fluid gradually receded. It was a long process, but well worth it. It was one of the hardest things I could imagine. Feeling the pain my wife was going through with the giant needle in her stomach and watching my squirming unborn child have that same needle enter her tiny chest, just centimeters from her heart.

My wife was in the hospital the entire month of November. She had Thanksgiving in a hospital bed. Our daughter slowly beat the odds and at 34 weeks, my wife went home. 35, 36, 37, and 38 weeks passed and out December 31st ultrasound showed complete resolution of the Hydrops. Something we never thought possible.

January 14th my wife went into labor as her water broke... which coincided with what would be my late brother, Jeff's, 30th birthday. At 0345 am on January 15th, our daughter, Clara, was born.

Completely healthy.

We are home now and trying to raise a little girl. 5 days old and the center of our lives.

Some things do take the lead over the Giants apparently. But please stick with me everyone. I'll be back writing Giants posts very shortly... hey, look there, Bengie Molina just resigned with the Giants...

Starting to think beyond this week

2009-09-28T01:06:00.001-07:00

On a day when the Giants salvaged 1 of 4 games against the Chicago
Cubs, one would expect the topic of conversation to center on Matt
Cain's brilliant 8 innings of shut out ball, maybe Eli Whiteside's 2
double night at the dish, or Juan Uribe's continuing torrent hot
streak. Instead, we find rumors floating about of who may or may not
want to be back next season.
>
> God forbid, we might muster a few thoughts about the fact that the
> Giants still aren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet.
>
> Already in the last 2 days, the Giants have been linked to Milton
> Bradley and current middleinfielders Juan Uribe & Freddie Sanchez
> are wanting to return.
>
> Other questions have begun to arise as well.
>
> What to do with Aaron Rowand? Is this the Real Barry Zito?Is Edgar
> Renteria ever going to be healthy? What about our Free Agents? Winn,
> Molina, Penny, Lowry, Frandsen, Johnson, Uribe, Aurilia, etc
>
> But the two biggest issues of them all ought to be 1- Do we Fire
> Bruce Bochy? Do we fire Brian Sabean?
>
> It seems like everyone is talking already, why not us?
>
> Over the next few weeks we'll be taking a closer look at everything.
> Check back often

MasterZeet Theatre

2009-09-16T02:02:00.001-07:00

Champions are those who step up and deliver the best they have when
needed most.

Tonight, watching Barry Zito take the mound in what was arguably his
biggest night as a San Francisco Giant, I wondered if he would dig
down and deliver a performance reminicant to his Oakland Athletic
days... And did he ever come through!

Entering the game, the Giants trailing the Rockies 3.5 games with 19
to go, the fate of the season seems to be residing on each game.
Coinsiding with the recent momentum of Brad Penny & Tim Lincecum's
dominance as well as the offensive resurgance, the Giants were in a
must win situation hoping to keep their momentum progressing.

To make matters worse, Barry Zito would be facing Ubaldo Jimeniez, the
Rockies Ace...

A game definitly full of pressure and expectations; completely worthy
of the billing "Barry Zito's biggest start as a Giant".

How would he respond?

7 innings of 5 hit ball, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, 2 scattered runs, and 9
strike outs...on just 95 pitches.

Zito was lights out from the first pitch, attacking hitters and
getting ahead of 10 of the first 11 hitters. Minus the cheap HBP to
Carlos Gonzales in the first (hit his hands on the bat) Zito struck
out 3 in the first on a curve ball the Barry Bonds couldn't hit.

Zeet's continued throughout, whipping the hook in for a strike every
time. It was so good, he started getting swingthru strikes on his fast
ball.

If it hadn't been for the Giants manufacturing 10 runs and a lead so
big even Bobby Howry could hold it together, Zito would have nailed
down a complete game.

The Giants still have alot of ground to cover and big games to play,
but it's nice to see the guy making all the money stepping up at the
right time!

As it stands right now, Zito is the projected pitcher for a one game
playoff game...

Madison Bumgarner in... Tim Lincecum out?

2009-09-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the future is here!

Today, the Giants have called up super prospect Madison Bumgarner and he makes his MLB debut as a spot starter for the injured Tim Lincecum.

Bumgarner comes from AA Connecticut, bypassing AAA Fresno altogether. He's been ranked all season as a top 6 prospect. Recently he's been referred to as the number 1 prospect in any organization. The number 10 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Bumgarner is on the fast track but still slower than Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, or Buster Posey were.

Standing at 6'4", 210 lbs, the Left handed Bumgarner is much closer in comparison to an early Randy Johnson (except not nearly as wild) than other Giants such as Lincecum or Matt Cain. Yet still, Bumgarner comes with no less expectations than Lincecum did when first promoted. Bumgarner's biggest problem will be following in the massive footsteps that Timmy has left in his wake and fulfilled.

He excelled through both A San Jose & AA Conn this season, posting a combined 12-2 record with an ERA of 1.85, 92 K's in 131 innings, 1.02 WHIP, 6.9 H/9, 2.3 BB/9, 2.71 K/BB.

Lincecum on the other hand, was scratched due to a stiff back. Bruce Bochy said it didn't seem to be too bad, but it scares the crap out of me.

I really don't want to believe it.

It can't be true.

I don't believe it.

You know what... it can't possibly be true... God just wouldn't do that to us...

I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.

Our New, New #5 Starter, Brad Penny

2009-08-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

According to multiple sources around the web, without officially confirmation, the Giants have signed Brad Penny to a contract through the end of the season today.

Penny was let go a few days ago from the Boston Red Sox after asking for his release. Penny cleared release waivers and became a free agent, allowing the Giants to sign him for a pro-rated portion of the league minimum, or only 75K for September.

Penny had been linked to multiple NL teams, most notably the Rockies & Marlins. By the Giants signing him, it at least prevents 2 of their closest competitors from getting him.

Penny had a rough go at times this year for Boston after struggling last season for the Dodgers amid injuries. Prior to that season, Penny was arguably the LA Dodgers most consistent performer. At 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, & 2.12 K/BB, Penny's stats don't look like an improvement, but remember that was in the hitter friendly AL East. Penny should have an improvement in the NL West, where he had dominated before.

At the very least, Penny should be a slight improvement over the Sadowski/Martinez combo who combined as the teams 5th starter posted a line of 5-6, 5.97 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 5.63 K/9, & 1.30 K/BB. Penny not only should bring improved performance over these two, but he actually pitched a bit better in Boston than the Sad/mart combo has done here, plus his postseason experience is worth the try.

There's nothing saying the Giants owe Penny anything. If he pitches well, he should add at least one more win to this team. If he doesn't and the Giants still make the playoffs, they can leave him off the roster if they choose.

If the Giants miss the Playoffs, we can still blame him for being a Dodger, Bochy for pitching him, and Sabean for being, well, Sabean.

Edgar Renteria & the 3 million dollar homerun

2009-08-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Edgar Renteria is the best signing the Giants made all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What ever you do, DO NOT READ ANYTHING ELSE I'VE EVER WRITTEN ABOUT HIM. Just take my word on it, i'm good for it.

Today's 7th inning 2 out Grand Slam that put the Giants ahead 6-5 on a day when Matt Cain struggled mightily was the knockout blow the team was looking to produce.

For all the so struggles Renteria's endured this season and all the difficulties he's had trying to capture fan's hearts following not only the great Omar Vizquel, but living up to the lofty expectations placed on his head after inking that 2 year, $18.5 million deal, he's finally earned endeared himself to us.

That Grand slam was clutch, not clutch like it's "cool" to say "bro, that was clutch". No, I mean the real clutch. The kind you see from savvy ballplayers who are capable of getting a hit in the 1997 world series to win game 7... Wait, that was Edgar. Maybe he still can do it. Maybe it's been there all along and he was just waiting for the pennant race. Maybe he knows how to pace himself and the best is yet to come. Maybe that $18.5 million looks a bit more like $15 million right now. Maybe, just Maybe...

Then again, if Renteria goes o-5 and leaves another 8 on base Tuesday, I'll be the voice you heard screaming "you're a bum" in the background of the Philly broadcast.

Feeling a sweep, really needing a sweep

2009-08-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

2 Down, 1 to go... that is, in this series...

Entering the final days of August, the Giants are in an all important position today facing the Colorado Rockies. Win and sweep the 3 game series, and close the gap to a tie in the Wildcard race, or lose and fall 2 games back entering the final month of the season.

At 15-12, the Giants have already secured a winning month, but 16-12 would look soooo much better.

With only 31 games left next month, a 2 game deficit isn't impossible, there's plenty of time, but an even playing field is such a better way to go about it. The Giants have a tougher month than the Rockies, especially at the beginning.

The Giants start with 3 in Philly, then 3 in Milwaukee before coming home for 3 against S.D., 3 with LAD, then the final 3 against CO. Back on a road trip is in LA for 3, then in Arizona for 3, and they finish at home against the Cubbies for 4 and the DBacks for 3, then the final, most likely deciding series in S.D. for 3.

All the more important the Giants put a stamp on this series today. Let the Rockies know they really weren't affected by that 14 game disaster the other day and as the Giants are advertising...they really are "in this thing".

Matt Cain goes today and after Barry Zito's masterpiece last night, the crowd should be energized and Cain will be feeling it. If the Giants can score more than 1 run, it may just be enough, but lets hope they make things a bit easier on Cain.

What in hum-baby's name himself was Bochy doing?

2009-08-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Uggghhh!!!!

My hangover still hasn't cleared yet and I didn't even drink last night.

I feel like kinda like I was betrayed by my best friend and a need a few days away to eveluate our friendship. Problem is, I was on FUCKING vacation when it happened. How do I escape from that.

What I really need right now is Agent K or Agent J to come hit me up with one of them "Neuralyzers" so I can just forget yesterday ever happened because that's the only way. My mother always said, "even if you can't forget, you can always forgive." Well Mom, I guess we are gonna see if you're right this time...

Last nights debacle in the 14th left me sour, pissed, and down right angry. Way to screw up a perfectly good trip up the mendocino coast Bochy! My wife's birthday will now forever be mired with the nasty taste of a Ryan Spilbourghs swift punch to the gut. Justin Miller & Merkin Valdez are moving dangerously close to Felix Rodriguez/Livan Hernandez/Solomon Torres lore with that performance.

I am speechless and I assume you are as well... Actually, I'm not speechless at all but for the sake of anyone reading past this line, I'm pretending i'm speechless for now.

Fuck it...

I am so sick and tired of Bochy's "style" right now. If anyone, ANYONE AT ALL, on the mother f-in Giants knew how to bunt, this game would have been over ohh, i don't know, how about anyone number of innings:

How about Juan Uribe in the 8th? coulda got Randy Winn to 3rd with two outs for Bengie Molina.

Edgar Renteria in the ninth? IN THE NINTH INNING OF A TIE BALLGAME! No, it absolutely would not make sense to try to move a LEADOFF DOUBLE to third base. Nor would it make sense to try it one batter later when Aaron ( I don't have a sacrifice AB yet this season) Rowand comes to the plate with one out.

No, the best time to always try is when you have YOUR CLOSER BUNTING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE TO MOVE A RUNNER TO SECOND, WHO HAPPENS TO BE YOUR ACE PITCHER PINCH RUNNING, BECAUSE HE REALLY IS EXPERIENCED AT BASE RUNNING, WITH ONE OUT. Why one out you ask? Because Boch didn't think it was the smart move one batter before... I mean, really, like, who bunts a runner over with no outs in the 11th inning of a tie game when you are on the road? I mean, come on...

OK, I'm gonna end the ranting there for today. It's gonna be a long last month and a week and I need to concentrate on something more positive right now...Like which Whisky I drink tonight as I watch the Giants game cause I can't do it sober again.

God help us if we lose the Playoff race by one game to Colorado

An Ace named Barry

2009-08-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Huh? Did I just get confused with Barry Bonds? Certainly I can't be referring to Barry Zito! Actually, Yes, I am...Kind of.

Don't let me confuse you to much, because no one is going to argue Zito's the actual ace of a staff that has Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain. But I do give him a leg up on Bobby Howry. But the fact you cannot argue with is the end production.

Since the All Star break, Barry Zito has been the Ace of the team. The anchor, the guy who's saved the back half of the season by getting the team a win sandwiched between a few bad starts by Cain & Lincecum.

Zito has actually always been a second half guy. We've heard it before, but that's because it's just true!

Zito's career splits can be found here: Some notables...
1st half: 58-66, 4.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.75 K/BB
2nd half: 73-38, 3.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.91 K/BB

In 7 starts since the mid summer classic, would you believe his 2.36 ERA is better than both Timmy & Matt? They have a 2.49 & 2.78 ERA in that same span. How about the fact that Zito has more strike outs than Cain (although Cain has 1 less start and should surpass him today) with 34-32. Barry's 3 wins are 1 more than both of them and his WHIP of 1.10 is very close.

If it had only been a few starts, you might be able to brush it off but 7 is on a freakin roll. Imagine what kind of damage the Giants can do in a 7 game series with a rotation whereas so many of them had been so dominant leading into the playoffs...And don't forget about Jonathan Sanchez!

Since the break, here is how the four line up:
Lincecum- 2-1, ERA-2.49, WHIP-1.01, BAA-.209, K/BB-4.80, BB/9-2.13, K/9-10.30
Cain- 2-2, ERA-2.78, WHIP-0.93, BAA-.200, K/BB-3.10, BB/9-1.99, K/9-6.15
Zito- 3-2, ERA-2.36, WHIP-1.10, BAA-.227, K/BB-2.80, BB/9-2.57, K/9-7.29
Sanchez- 2-2, ERA-4.04, WHIP-1.21, BAA-.202, K/BB-2.30, BB/9-4.54, K/9-10.35

Looks pretty good to me...Now if they can just get to October...

2009 Draft signings

2009-08-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

The deadline has passed for teams to ink their 2009 first year player daft picks and the Giants seemed to do well this year at least getting their players under contract. The top 17 picks all signed and only 8 of the top 41 decided to pursue other avenues this year. Most importantly, the Giants were able to agree to terms with their overall top pick, P Zack Wheeler, at the last minute.

Signing Wheeler became even more important after 2 recent trades that brought the team AllStar second baseman Freddie Sanchez and first baseman Ryan Garko because in those deals, the Giants traded away the organizations #2 & #5 pitching prospects. Wheeler himself should immediately slot into the #2 or #3 pitching prospect. He isn't expected to make his professional debut in the minors until 2010 and by that time, Madison Bumgarner potentially could be challenging for an open major league rotation spot so Wheeler might just be the top dog.

Outside of Wheeler, the Giants had other very important signings, Here's the complete rundown:
1-Zack Wheeler, RHP
2-Tommy Joseph, C
3-Christopher Dominguez, 3B
4-Jason Stoffel, RHP
5-Brandon Belt, 1B
6-Matthew Graham, RHP
7-Nick Liles, 2B
8-Karl Benusa, CF
9-Evan Crawford, CF
10-Jeremy Toole, RHP
11-John Eshleman, SS
12-Christopher Heston, RHP
13-Shawn Sanford, RHP
14-Brian Salsbury, RHP
15-Kyle Vasquez, RHP
16-Ryan Cavan, SS
17-Christopher Gloor, LHP
19-Jason Walls, RHP
22-Andrew Biery, 3B
24-Alexander Berg, C
25-Steven Rogers, RHP
26-Luis Munoz, CF
27-Kyle Mach, 3B
30-Craig Wescott, RHP
32-Luke Andrews, 1B
33-Jake Dunning, RHP
35-Brandon Graves, LHP
36-Ryan Scoma, RF
37-Ryan Lollis, RF
38-Addison Proszek, RHP
39-Kyle Henson, C
40-Jonathan White, LF
41-Gary Moran, RHP
46-Juan Martinez, SS
50-Kaohi Downing, RHP

All told, the Giants drafted & signed 15-RHP, 3-LHP, 3-C, 2-1B, 1-2B, 3-SS, 3-3B, 1-LF, 2-CF, & 2-RF. Because they did signed everyone but #18 in the top 20, focus won't be on who they failed to sign, but maybe on who they failed to draft or who they actually did draft.

It appears at the onset, that the Giants drafted the best available player most of the way through with some critics debate as to whether Wheeler was the best available. The line their looks to be so thin that I would trust Sabean's judgement when it comes to talent scouting within the ranks of high school & college Pitchers.

It's the 2nd round that some questioned since the team took super prospect C Buster Posey last season, so why did they take a C here? Tommy Joseph wasn't always a C and in fact just recently focused on it. It's his bat they like as Joseph is a pure hitter. Teams always find a home for a bat, look at Pablo Sandoval. Plus, there is no guarantee Posey is a career catcher. Injuries or the athletic ability to play elsewhere can change his direction. Look at Mike Piazza or more appropriate comparison is Craig Biggio.

Others to watch, 3rd round pick Chris Dominguez is already powering through low-A ball with 8 homeruns since July 1. In fact, the roster is already littered with over achieving 2009 draft picks. Drew Biery is batting .361/.426/.556/.983 with 13 doubles & 6 HR's. John Eshleman, Ryan Lollis, & Evan Crawford (you can follow him on twitter) all have OPS hanging around .800. Chris Gloor is dominating as both a starter and reliever posting a 5-0 record with a 1.78 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, & 33 SO's in 30 inn. Jeremy Toole & Kyle Vasquez are also excelling and a Pitcher to really keep your eye on, 4th round pick Jason Stoffel has just begun throwing. He's unscored upon through his first 3 innings with 5 K's.

Two others of note to watch who have yet to begin play: 5th round pick Brandon Belt should be exciting as he brings the classic first baseman makeup with solid hitting and above average power. 6th round pick Matthew Graham is a RHP to watch. He's young, just out of H.S. and fell farther in the draft than expected due to sign-ability concerns. His Fastball is plus and some suggest he could be the best player out of this draft class in the end, but is VERY raw right now.

I really don't like the Dodgers!

2009-08-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

I hate the Dodgers.

Do you hate the Dodgers too?

Hate is such a strong word tossed around recklessly among today's generation, whether it be the youth, adults, or elderly. We are all guilty. My parents tried to raise me to look past hate...

Except ONLY in the case of the Dodgers.

To understand where hate comes from, sometimes you just have to look back in time.

For me, it started before I was even born. My father would listen to Giants games and preach distaste of the Dodgers to me through my mothers belly.

The year I was born, the Dodgers lost the World Series. Only better way to start my baseball life would have been a Giants victory in the World Series.

My first words were actually "ti Tate ta Todgers"...my mother now says "you should have seen your fathers smile."

At 3, my father would read me bed time stories like "the Baby Bull and the three headed Campinella", "the Say Hey Kid saves the Bay from the Evil forces of the Drysdales", and "look out below, Jabba the Tommy's coming to town."

By 5, my dad took me to my first Giants/Dodgers game. I learned first hand bad names like Garvey, Sax, Guerrero, Valenzuela, & Welch.

My first year in T-Ball, I played on the Brewers and our coach taught us two post game celebrations. "2,4,6,8, who do we appriciate... (insert team name)" and 1,2,3,4, the Dodgers suck forever more"

At 7, my father bought me my favorite shirt. One I wish I still had, one I will have again, and one for which epitomises for which I stand on this very subject. I wore it often and I wore it proud. In Orange and Black, it simply stated "Duck the Fodgers"

At 9, I was drafted to my first little league team, unfortunately it was the Dodgers. I wanted to scream. My father said "don't cry, only Dodgers cry." So instead we formed a plan. My agent (dad) decided it was best for me to hold out through spring practice and see if I could force a trade. The GM (my ex-friends dad) was pissed and refused a trade, so I did the only honorable thing... played the year out in the minors.

At 10, I was drafted to the Expos and we beat the shit out of the Dodgers every game and chanted our to our hearts content.

At 11, I wanted to break both Kirk Gibson's other leg.

At 12, I called Tommy Lasorda a fat ass from the stands... It felt great. He called me a fat kid... that didn't feel so good but the hatred intensified.

At 14, Brett Butler broke my heart...HOW COULD YOU GO PLAY THERE TRAITOR

Jose Offerman's defense made me smile for half a decade until I was 18.

My 19th birthday I was treated to Jabba's retirement... hopes and dreams of the franchise tail spinning into the abyss were rampant

At 21, I was Orel Heirshisher threw the galaxy out of whack. It felt like french kissing my sister seeing him take the hill in Orange & Black. (thank god I don't have a sister eh? you'd all be really freaked right now)

I blame 2002 on the Dodgers cause FUCKING MIKE SCIOSCIA made the moves to get the better of FUCKING DUSTY BAKER and his fucking dumbass moves in game 6 and 7.

The next 10 years I enjoyed the hell out of watching Barry Bonds launch ball after ball out of the yard off them. I don't care how many suppliments he was taking, they were all doing it. It was an even playing field, it's just that we had the best and the Dodgers fans hated it.

I hated Eric Gagne, but loved Bonds duels with him.

I toasted Gagne when he was busted for cheating... That was a great beer...

Manny Ramirez went from bad to worse last year but gave me the best early season present I could ask for this year with his 50 game break. It's funny how the tables can turn...although OUR Barry (so called cheater) Bonds was never actually caught in a drug test. Manny's an idiot!!!

So now you know my story. I fucking hate the Dodgers and it's in my Genes. What's your story?

{some of these stories may have been slightly blemished, twisted, or complete blatant lies, but you get the point...who really cares...I hate the Dodgers}

DUCK THE FODGERS

Big Series, Giants/Dodgers matchup

2009-08-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Coming into this season, most so called "experts" picked the Giants to finish between last and might as well be last in the "miserable" NL West and the Dodgers with Manny Ramirez to run away with the Division. Much has happened between then and now but one thing hasn't changed much... The Dodgers are still supposed to run away with things.

It's now August 10th and the Giants are 61-50, 11 games over .500, and only 5 1/2 games back of the mighty Dodgers. Plus they own a tie atop the Wildcard standings with the Rockies.

With the complete lack of offense and only 2 "solid starters" it's apparently a wonder the Giants are this close to the chosen team. What with the rash of injuries they've had, and inconsistent play, the Dodgers ought to be 15 games ahead.

But they're not!

Think back to May 8th when the Ramirez story broke. The Giants were 6 games back of the baby blue boys when the 50 game suspension took effect. The Dodgers extended their lead to 8 games by early July when ManRoid returned. At the most since then, they got out to an 11 game lead. But somehow, some way, the Giants are only 5.5 back today.

Closer than in early May.

The Dodgers are suffering, have a sputtering offense (although capable of scoring MANY runs), inconsistent relief, and a VERY injured pitching staff. Perfect timing for a team 5.5 games back to overcome that deficit. Especially if they play three games against each other.

The Giants throw out Jonathan Sanchez, Joe Martinez, and Tim Lincecum vs, Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf, and PTBN (Chad Billingsly's day but he's nursing a sore hammy). Advantage Giants. The key will be Martinez overcoming his emotions, first start at home.

A three game sweep sends the league a serious message. A three game sweep puts the Giants 2.5 games back of the Reigning NL West Chumps with 6 more head to head games.

First things first, one game at a time.

Worst game ever? hopefully we never see worse

2009-08-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Of all the games to miss, why couldn't it have been last night's...Dammit!!!

Damn my fascination with this team. Why couldn't I have just taken the night off like I was supposed to...It's Timmy's fault. If he hadn't have been pitching, I wouldn't have rushed home from Tahoe to catch the game in time...

At least I took my wife's advice and didn't place a bet on that game. Head's would certainly be rolling then...at least mine would...

That Game was utterly disgusting!

It wasn't too bad seeing the Franchise struggle a bit, even though he was able to only allow 1 runner per inning. His K total was down and his pitch count was up. But when the King Eugenio gave him a 4-2 lead in the fifth, I was certain this game was over.

I mean, the Giants were 41-11 in games they score 4 or more runs this season...and Timmy was still pitching...

Then they got that much needed insurance run to make the game 5-3 in the 7th. It had to be over. At 36-4 when scoring 5 or more runs...This game was locked up.

Time to hand it over to our Bullpen! Rely on the defense! I recipe that has worked so well this season. But not last night.

Jeremy Affeldt got one batter...Walk...who later scored

Sergio Romo couldn't finish of the 8th...one out, a hit and a walk... who would later score.

Brian Wilson came in needing a 5 out save with the bases loaded...That's a tough call considering he has a tough time with 3 out saves and the bases clear half the time... 2 runs score, tie game.

At least Wilson had a chance at 9th inning redemption. Got time to clear his head and refocus...Not really. Wilson started off the 9th with frustration, only getting 1 out while getting more pissed at a few bad calls by the plate ump... Game over!!!

Brandon Medders had to finish the inning off. The defense fell apart. 3 consecutive walks. 5 Errors.

Worst game I've watched since T-Ball... Maybe worse.

I guess there's a reason you are 0-14, 324 when you give up 7 runs in the last 2 innings

Joe Martinez back in action

2009-08-05T09:23:00.001-07:00

Don't call it a failed expirement, Ryan Sadowski just pitched well above expectations AND above anything he put together in the lower minors. He was bound to hit some struggles eventually. Think back to spring training; Sadowski wasn't ever mentioned as a guy to be this years long reliever, nevertheless the teams fifth starter.

Joe Martinez won that job. Kevin Pucetas was a close second. Justin Miller and Brandon Medders were the surprises in the pen. Even free agent lefty specialist was touted as a potential starting candidate (although that was before he spent 28 scoreless innings pushing Brian Wilson in the closers role). In the end, it was always supposed to be Martinez.

After 4 solid seasons in the minors, with steady improvement each year, Martinez headed into last offseason with the expectation he could push for a roster spot. He won it and looked like he would excel early.

Spring training went very well as he solidified his opening day roster spot as the long man.

Martinez saw his first action opening day as he came in behind a struggling Tim Lincecum shut down the opposition and take the win himself.

About a week later in just his second appearance of the season, pitching to Mike Cameron of the Milwaukee Brewers, Martinez took a lined shot off his head... The result was multiple skull fractures and a very long road to recovery.

Joe has been in Triple-A Fresno for month now rehabbing. In his 5 starts, he has not only put up good numbers, but he's pitching with confidence. More importantly, he's pitching without fear. He's earned his trip back to the bay, with or without Ryan Sadowski's return flight to earth.

Today Joe Martinez will take the ball in his first professional start. Expectations aside, it'll be great to see this comeback complete. For him, for his teamates, for us fans. For those who watched, or for those who heard...that skull crack, it's something you never forget.

I'm watching today in anticipation of a guy who I hope can be the next great pitcher to be developed out of the Giants system. But I'm also watching in anticipation of seeing a guy who is about to overcome more adversity than mere mortal ballplayers can fathom. To see him conquer any deamons he might have will be special in it's own right.

Possible Giants targets

2009-07-31T04:31:00.001-07:00

With less than 12 hours to go before the July 31st non waiver trade deadline passes, I don't expect we'll see additional Giants moves but it is certainly possible. The Giants have made the decision to go for it this season yet set themselves up for the future somewhat. The team still has needs and can upgrade in a few areas so expect that Brian Sabean will be combing every opportunity until 1600 EDT today.

The team could look to upgrade a back of the rotation starter and another bat, likely a LF but they won't be very picky. Here is a short list of who they are likely targeting:

Mark Teahan- the Royals infielder can play nearly anywhere... Literally. 2B, 3B, 1B, LF, RF. He has shown good power over the years but has been inconsistent offensively. He would likely be a platoon guy similar to what they expected from Frandsen, but not have an established position on this team. He's controllable for one more season and is a local CA guy out of Redlands. This season, Teahan is hitting .290/.344/.450/.794 with 9 homeruns. Teahan is not likely to slip through waivers in August

Carl Crawford- Crawford is one of the games most underated superstars and not likely to be moved. With one more very affordable team option, Crawford makes sense to keep for the Rays except this may be the best time to capitalize on his value. He's the perfect fit to AT&T park and quite possibly could reach 25-30 triples playing there. No one in the league is better at stealingbases currently than Crawford and his high OBP is just what the Giants need. The Rays won't become sellers this season, but have indicated they might move him if it involved getting something of greater need back for this years playoff run do to clear money, sat Roy Halladay. Crawford is not likely to clear waivers in August.

Josh Willingham- Willingham has really gotten hot recently and may have just played himself into staying on the Nationals for years to come but just last week they were still talking about him. He has the power potential to hit 30 homeruns but is somewhat limited in his dimensions offensively. Willingham is team controllable for a few more seasons and is cheap now. One factor against him is he's already 30 si this could be the ideal sell high time... Hry wait, Sabean loves to buy high, who needs match dot com when you have this? He could be the power bat the Giants want in LF this season but as the Nats GM Frank Rizzo has made aware, he won't come cheap. They wanted Jonathan Sanchez for Nick Johnson! What do you think they'd want for Willingham... Matt Cain???? No way he slips through waivers.

Jermaine Dye- The white Sox think they are still in the race so GM Kenny Williams hasn't made Dye available yet, but it could come soon. Dye would give the Giants that natural cleanup hitter they long for and positionally fits great. Another NorCal guy, he would be very familiar here. For an aging OF with questionable knees and a rather large 2010 salary, there is very little question he slips through waivers so don't worry about him. The Giants still have a month.

Carlos Lee- Lee is a bit of an enigma here. The OF spurred the Giants a few years ago to sign for less with the Astros for their Hitters park and has not even lived up to that contract. He's owed a lot ($56 million more thru 2012 & full NTC) for a long time still, but if you compare him to our other two deals that way(Zito/Rowand) his numbers look good...and technically Sabean didn't give him that contract so he can't take fault right? On one hand, he didn't want to come here anyways so why should we want him. On the other, well, I still don't want him but the 'Stros may pick up some coin on him and it won't take a buster/Madison/angel to get him... And he should clear waivers over and over.

Jon Garland- This DBacks starter has been consistent if anything else recently. nothing spectacular or over powering but he'll give at least the quality innings Zito has. That's pretty good if you're looking to improve a back end spot. He might just be the difference in 2 more wins the last two months. 2 wins is 2 wins. He has a mutual 2010 option but not so favorable wording regarding trading him this season. If he is, the acquiring team cannot offer arb if he's a type A FA. Garland is questionable but likely to clear waivers.

Jarrod Washburn- This Seattle starter is having a renaissance season perfectly timed with his walk year. He is more of a number 3 starter than a back end guy but is owed a good chunk of change still and is likely to clear waivers. The problem is he's likely to garner type A FA status so the Mariners are going to push for 2 quality prospects back even though the likelyhood they extend arbitration in the first place is very low.

Brian Bannister- This Royals pitcher is still fairly young and controllable for 2 more seasons so it would be likely the Royals look for a sweet return on Bannister. He's another quality three guy and doesn't cost much at all. He is not likely to clear waivers in August.

One thing to keep in mind: With this economy, this "trade deadline" will be as loose as ever and more players than ever before should slip through waivers. The August deadline should be busier than July's. Expect the Giants to deal again...

Giants acquire Freddie Sanchez for Tim Alderson

2009-07-30T13:26:00.001-07:00

The Giants announced last night another trade, acquiring Pirates All
Star second baseman Freddie Sanchez for AA pitcher Tim Alderson.

Alderson was one of the Giants top 4 (suposedly) untouchable prospects
with a live arm and great command. He has been projected to be a solid
#2 starter. Many have envisioned a "dream rotation" of Lincecum, Cain,
Bumgarner, & Alderson leading the Giants for years to come, comparing
to the great Braves staff if the 90's. It's hard to compare prospects
though until they reach the show.

Baesball America had Alderson ranked as the midseason #26 prospect in
baseball. Others all had him listed in the top 50. He was #4 in the
Giants farm system and will move up to #1, maybe #2 behind Pedro
Alverez, in the Pirates farm.

Sanchez brings stability to a shaky second base this season and a
consistent #2 hitter. Sanchez doesn't hit for power but high average
and on base % he excels in. Sanchez has an $8 million option for 2010
that vests at 600 PA's or becomes a club option if not. Either way,
you can count on the Giants picking it up and looking to extend him
another 2 years this offseason.

This is a high price to pay for Sanchez, but if the Giants reach the
playoffs this season this deal will look better. If they reach the
world series, Sabean will be lauded.

In the end though, it will be difficult to determine how good or bad
this trade was until a few years have gone by. Alderson will likely
make his MLB debut at some point next season for the Pirates, whereas
it wasn't likely until 2011 with San Francisco. If he starts his
career off strongly, Sabean once again will have an earful of critics.

My opinion: I was in favor of and was hoping the Giants would go after
Sanchez, but not to this extent. Many of the 2B prospects didn't get a
fair shake this season &/or are still very young and were pushed to
hard to fast. The organization decided to go all in on 2009, a move
that is hard to argue with given the position the team has put
themselves in. Freddie Sanchez will make a lot of fans in San
Francisco as long as they accept he won't bring the power bat they
desire, and he should be here for years to come.

Last but not least, this will likely spell the end of the Kevin
Frandsen era in S.F. and he will be gone by next season, if not
sooner. Matt Downs still has time in the organization to play himself
into a role here. Emmanuel Burriss, once healthy from his broken foot,
will have his focus shifted back to SS, where the team will have thru
the end of next season to see if he can take over for Edgar Renteria
in 2011, a much healthier time-line for him offensively given his age
of 22 now.

Breaking down the Garko trade

2009-07-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes the best deal you make is the one you don't"

Who ever said that doesn't know what they are talking about, trades are fun when you think they are going to work in your favor or you THINK that your team won... Oh wait, I've been saying that for months.

Well, I didn't mean it in this case. This time, the Giants have finally made a trade that looks great on first impressions. The Giants acquired 1B/OF Ryan Garko from the Cleveland Indians for minor league (A) P Scott Barnes. On second impression, I still like it.

Now, if Scott Barnes turns into Francisco Liriano or Joe Nathan, then for the record I HATE THIS DEAL. I thought it was dumb from the beginning and Sabean needs to be fired... But for now, I think the Giants got a great return.

Garko, 28, is a Stanford product so he's got to be smart right? Isn't that enough? No, OK, well we do have a ton of Cal Bear fans so we'll leave that one alone. He was a 3rd round draft pick by Cleveland in 2003, made his major league debut in 2005 but only played one game. Garko then played 50 in 2006 and became a regular for the Indians over the last three seasons. Regular? kind of. He's been playing mostly 1B and DH over his career, with some limited LF/RF this season... and it hasn't actually been everyday. Garko has about 100 less plate appearances than Giants regulars Winn, Sandoval, Renteria, Rowand, & Molina so his numbers may look smaller than they can be.

He has demonstrated decent power over the last 3 seasons, with a high of 21 and 53 career. Garko may never be that perennial 30 home run, 100 RBI guy, but 25/90 isn't that far fetched. He's just entering his prime and is coming to a home park that actually suits a right handed pull hitter very well. Garko is a pull to middle hitter that nearly equally hits line drives, fly balls, and ground balls

More so than his power is his all around bat. Garko has a career line of .283/.355/.450/.805. That .805 OPS isn't superstar, but it is good. It's also better than the career average of every single Giant except Pablo Sandoval. It's not just the career line though, this season he's at .285/.362/.464/.826. Again, better than all the current Giants except Sandoval.

Garko excels against lefties, this season batting .333 with a .960 OPS. He takes a few more pitches than we're used to and can hit in the clutch. In 61 AB's this season with RISP, he has 4 doubles, 4 HR, 27 RBI, and is batting .295/.408/.557/.965.

Garko is also under team control for 3 more seasons as he enters arbitration for the first time this offseason. He makes 450K this season but should get a nice bumb this offseason in the 1 to 2 million range.

Comparable ball players to Garko on Baseball Reference are James Loney, Conor Jackson, Casey Kotchman, and none other than our very own JT Snow. Not bad company.

Barnes is a fair price to pay. It's unforunate to see him go as he is likely to be a very quality to good major league pitcher. Barnes problem is the depth within the organization, exactly the reason why he was expendable. Baseball America rated him the Giants preseason #9 prospect within the farm system. Currenty he was buried behind Madison Bumgarner, Tim Alderson, Henry Sosa, Kevin Pucetas, Jonathan Sanchez, Ryan Sadowski, Joe Martinez among others. Barnes is still 2 years plus away from making the bigs but when he does, he's probably more like the 5th best pitcher in the farm system.

Barnes is having an excellent season at A San Jose, posting a 12-3 record with a 2.85 ERA & 1.13 WHIP. He certainly has the chance to make the Giants look bad 5 years from now, but in the end, this should be a good move for both teams. The Giants don't lose their best prospects and still have depth while improving their offense and the Indians clear a spot for one of their top prospects in Matt LaPorta while getting a likely 3rd starter in a few years.

How the Hell did they ever win three?

2009-07-26T22:02:00.001-07:00

Right about now, the San Francisco Giants are boarding a plane inbound for home, and they better be thanking their lucky stars that they are only 2 games behind the Colorado Rockies in the wildcard race.

The Giants just finished a miserable (I'm trying hard not to use the adjectives I'm thinking) road trip; 10 games of 3-7 ball.... THREE And Freakin SEVEN!!!!!!

I'd love to blame it on needing days off, maybe have Crash Davis get them a rain delay, but the All Star Break preceded this...disaster. So we'll give Lincecum & Cain a pass, but the rest of them....

Actually, when you look back at it, disaster is too harsh. I mean, they did win 3 games. 3 games is a mind blowing success; it should have been 1 or 2.

Over the last 10 days, the pitching sucked, the defense blew(well, with the exception of Andres, Pablo, & Nate) and the offense...who are we kidding. What offense?

The Giants were outscored 44-23 on the trip. The batted .217, had an OBP of .254, slugged .292... That's an OPS of .546

2.3 R/G, 50 LOB, batted 12-67 with RISP... That's .179

They had 17 doubles (6 in one game), 3 triples, 3 SB, 17 BB's, and ONE measly HOMERUN

The team only had 3 guys with an OPS over .710 I'll give you 20 guesses and I bet you wouldn't get the order right. (since I don't want to lose another bet, I'm just going to give you the answer now)

3- Nate Schierholtz- .333/.333/.485/.818

2- Matt Cain- .333/.333/.500/.833

1- Freddie Lewis- .333/.454/.500/.954

In case you were wondering how some of your favorites fared, here you go:

Winn- .268/.318/.390/.708

Renteria- .192/.222/.231/.453
Uribe- .187/.212/.281/.493

Sandoval- .244/.279/.341/.620

Ishikawa- .280/.280/.280/.560

Molina- .214/.290/.250/.540

Downs- sorry, I couldn't bring myself to crusify him

But don't fret, it wasn't all the offense; although 2.3 runs is enough to make any self respectng pitcher shut down. Still, those guys have a job to do and all of them not named Matt Cain or Jeremy Affeldt just didn't help matters

Going into the All Star break, the entire staff was 1st or 2nd in every category frm CG's to No-Hitters, ERA to Shut Outs, Strike outs to girls phone numbers... Heck these guys were so good, even the opponents started sending notes via courier to the boys, looking for a night out. Notthis trip though.

The team ERA this trip was 4.40, WHIP- 1.375, K/9- 7.97, BB/9- 4.09, & K/BB- 1.95

The bullpen had it rough: ERA- 4.02, WHIP- 1.44, K/9- 5.46, BB/9- 4.31, & K/BB- 1.26

If not for Matt Cain's 1.28 ERA, WHIP- 1.00, K/9- 8.36, BB/9- 3.85, & 2.16 K/BB while leading the Giants to 2 wins and Jeremy Affeldt keeping his scorless streak going(now the best in 40 years for a reliever) at 27...this teamwould have been 1-9

Indeed these guys were lucky to get three wins. If they want to stay together, they had better find their mojo quick. With the trade deadline looming, Sabean undoubtedly is burning the midnight oil looking for help. Is is needed, Yes, but that is another topic. For now, these guys are glad to be home

By the way... Is it "Sad & Pathetic" or just another "Showcase of his talent" that Matt Cain currently sits 2nd on the Giants with his current active hit streak at 2 Games?

A Giant reason to win tonight

2009-07-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tim Lincecum is taking the ball tonight & the Giants haven't needed a win this bad in a while. Not since the now infamous 6 game road trip thru San Diego & Seattle have the Giants looked this bad. At least then, the Giants were holding opponents to a 2-1 score.

Gone are the days of a 1-2 loss. The Giants must have gotten tired of those close losses because after a couple of them in Pitt(1-2, 0-2), they decided to give up a boat load of runs, 3-8 & 1-8 in the last two. The offense has just been absent since the All Star break.

At 1-4 in their last 5 games, the offense has been nothing short of anemic. They are:
35-180 (.194 BA), .236 OBP, .311 SLG, .547 OPS...9 Runs (1.8 R/G), 8 RBI, 9 BB, 47 K's (9.4/G), 9 Doubles (6 of them in the lone win), 1 Triple, 0 (ZERO) Homeruns, 2 SB's, 34 LOB, & 5-32 with RISP (.156)

Pretty sad considering...well, it's just sad. The Giants have never been accused of being an offensive threat, but this awful. With only 9 days remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline expires, the Giants NEED to find some offense and quick. It's not that they may fall out of contention, their pitching staff will always keep them close...It's not that some players may be on the chopping block, most have little value right now...It's that GM Brian Sabean may feel more pressure to deal some top talent that may cripple the franchise for years to come, just so he can feel better about the teams chances at the wild card in 2009.

Don't get me wrong, if the right deal were to fall to our laps, I would jump on it like Amy G on Jonathan Sanchez post No-Hitter. But that is for the right deal. Your not gonna pry Buster Posey out of my cold dead hands, nor am I "cool" to the idea of relinquishing my grasp on future man crush Madison Bumgarner, but some others aren't completely untouchable. It's just that I would require a deal that no one would meet.

I don't want to see Matt Holliday in a Giants uniform for 2 months at the price of Thomas Neal & Henry Sosa. You can keep your Freddie Sanchez for $8 million next year if you think I'm giving up Jonathan Sanchez, and there is NO WAY I'm sending Tim Alderson to Texas for Hank Blaylock...

But you offer up Roy Halladay, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Jose Reyes, Nelson Cruz, among others and I'll open, my ears a little. The problem is now... Now the Giants can't hit... Now the Giants need offense... Now the Giants need to win to ease the pressure just a little on Sabean to pull that trigger because the longer he waits, the more the price will drop.

Come on Timmy, Now we need a win!!!

A look back at the first half, by Cliff Claven

2009-07-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

With the second half of the season about to begin tomorrow, teams licking their wounds, gathering game plans, rearranging the rotations, & taking a look back at what did and didn't work in the first half. While the Giants do the same, I thought we could take a look into what turned out to be a terrific first half by any standard and see if we can figure out what to expect in the second half:

I think we'll find some pleasant surprises here...

First the obvious, Team stuff...

-At 49-39, the Giants hold the 2nd best record in the NL and 5th best record in baseball. 88 games into the season is slightly over halfway, but that record puts them on pace for a finish at 90-72. That would be their best record since 2004.
-At .262, the team BA ranks 13/30 in MLB, & 5/16 in the NL
-At .393, the miserable team SLG ranks 26/30 in MLB, & 13/16 in the NL
-The OBP is even worse, at .312, it ranks 28/30 & 15/16
-Surprisingly, both the Mets & Pirates have hit fewer HR's thus far.
-The team is 20th in baseball in total SB's, 15th in doubles, and 8th in triples
-Not surprisingly, the Giants are LAST in BB's received.
-Even with fleet footed Bengie Molina, the Giants have grounded into the 7th fewest double plays this season in the MLB
-The Giants are second in baseball in Sac Fly's, so as much as we make about them not being able to get "that" run in, they are doing a fine job here
-The Giants lead all of baseball with a team ERA of 3.51, CG's with 8, SHO's with 13, OB% of .316 & K's with 694
-They are also 2nd overall in WHIP at 1.27, SLG% at .375, & BAA of .239
-The team fielding% is 10/30 at .985

...then the obvious, Player stuff...

-At 15 HR's, Pablo Sandoval ranks in a tie for 42nd overall, and 18th in the NL
-Andres Torres & Randy Winn are both tied for 18th in Triples with 4. That's good enough for 11th in the NL
-Sandoval is tied for 17th MLB & 7th NL in doubles with 24. Winn & Aaron Rowand are right behind him with 23
-Sandoval has 55 RBI, 31st MLB & 16th NL, but still 30 behind Albert Pujols
-At .964 OPS, Pablo is 8th in the NL & 13th in MLB
-Tim Lincecum & Matt Cain are second in baseball with 10 wins & CG's with 3
-Both Lincecum(2.33) & Cain(2.38) are 3rd & 4th respectively in ERA
-Brian Wilson leads (that's right, LEADS) the NL with 23 saves & is 2nd in MLB
-Timmy is tied for the MLB lead in K's with 149
-Jeremy Affeldt leads the majors in every one's favorite category, Holds, at 19

...and for the Cliff Claven stuff...

-The Giants are 18-7-4 in the series they've played thus far
-Giants are 13-5 when Matt Cain starts, 12-6 behind Tim Lincecum, 10-7 when Randy Johnson takes the ball, 8-10 behind Barry Zito days, 4-10 when Jonathan Sanchez toes the rubber, & 2-1 when Ryan Sadowski pitches.
-Jeremy Affeldt still holds the league lead with 21 2/3 innings scoreless innings
-Giants are 8-3 when Eli Whiteside catches with 4 team shutouts, & the No hitter
-3-0 when Pablo Sandoval catches, all Barry Zito starts
-BTW, when someone not named Bengie Molina is Barry Zito's battery-mate, the Giants are 5-2 in 2009...
-Giants are 46-10 when allowing 4 runs or less
-Giants are 41-16 when scoring 3 runs or more
-Matt Cain & Tim Lincecum have more hits than unlucky Kevin Frandsen
-They also are undefeated in games in which they haven't lost since 1883, tied for the longest active streak ever...OK, just checking you were still reading

It should be one hell of a second half & we'll be right here second guessing every move...stay tuned
-28-18 when Juan Uribe starts

The Panda losses to the Flyin' Hawaiian...but there's still a chance!?!

2009-07-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

So .326/.379/.560 is not good enough to get into the All Star game. At least not when it comes to fan votes in the Final Vote as Pablo Sandoval lost a seesaw battle with Shane Victorino today by apparently the slimmest of margins.
Giants fans came out in remarkable fashion to vote and certainly is wasn't lost on the national media as now "the Panda" is a household name...but still not an All Star. Yet he may still be...

Every year some player comes down with a last minute injury and is unable to attend the All Star game leaving the manager to pick one final player. It just so happens that this year there could be one.

N.Y. Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran is currently hurt & likely to be unable to attend the game. Given that Victorino is an OF, Phillies & NL All Star manager Charlie Manuel will not NEED to add an additional OF if/when he must fill that spot, so maybe Pablo can still slide in.

Here's an idea, why not put the pressure on him now? As fans we spent countless hours over the last 4 days voting for Pablo, why not spend a few more minutes to let the Phillies & major league baseball know you want Pablo in?

Here is the contact link for the Phillies contact center online...

Here is the contact link for the MLB contact center online...

Let's inundate them with emails. Tell them Pablo needs to be Beltran's replacement!!!

Last chance to get Pablo in!!!

What's up Doc? How about the Giants for a while!!!

2009-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Who's ready for a bold move?

Sometimes you have to get bold to win...

...and sometimes you get very bold!

Yesterday, Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi made it known that he would "listen" to conversations about trading ace P Roy Halladay. Translation: Halladay is on the block! And he WILL be traded.

Why not to the Giants?

Ricciardi won't trade Halladay just to trade him, he doesn't need to. Doc is under contract through 2010 with a $14.25 & $15.75 Million price tag over the time period, plus a complete no trade clause. Ricciardi will need a very good haul to let go of Roy, but teams will line up to the offering table. All biases aside, Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball...

Before you jump my shit, I didn't say I'd trade Lincecum for him...and for the record, I'd rather have Timmy. But Doc is the best pitcher currently as he has been consistent at his level for a number of years. I do think Timmy's level is & will match his over time, but we've only had a very short sample size. Still, imagine the rotation...Lincecum, Halladay, Cain, Johnson, Zito... and the Giants are one of the few teams who actually have the resources, the chance to win, the ability to take on payroll, and the right division/league to match up with the Jays.

The Giants farm system is a deep as it has been in 30 years. The team is winning, therefor making money, and as reported yesterday by Hank Schulman, the Brass met to discuss finances... or more like adding payroll. Halladay has the No Trade thing & wants to play for a winner... it's been so long, I almost forgot I was talking about the Giants here... and the kicker, the Jays could trade Halladay to a place the only have to (possibly) see him once every 3 seasons.

Why, do you ask, should the Giants even consider this given the pitching in the minors & the current staff? Easy, because they can simply be the best team in baseball with the addition of Halladay. Naysayers would argue that the Giants should target a bat, but what the Giants really need is a superstar bat & one is just not available, so why not build up the current strength even more?

Halladay will command a deal similar, but possibly slightly better than both the DiamondBacks & Mariners gave up in the Dan Haren & Erik Bedard trades recently. Plus compared to what the White Sox were giving up in the failed Jake Peavy deal, it makes the Giants seem like they have the perfect pieces. A quick rundown on those trades:

-A's Dan Haren (+Conor Robertson) to the DBacks for OF Carlos Gonsalez, P Brett Anderson, 1B Chris Carter, OF Aaron Cunningham, P Dana Evaland, P Greg Smith (the DBacks 1, 3, 7, & 8 ranked prospects)
-Orioles Erik Bedard to the Mariners for OF Adam Jones, P George Sherrill, P Chris Tillman, P Cam Mickolio, & P Tony Butler
-(vetoed deal) Padres Jake Peavy to the White Sox for P Aaron Poreda, P Clayton Richard, P Lance Broadway, & one other unknown Pitcher

Haren was under team control for 3 more season at the time for only $16.25 million total, nearly all of Halladay's 2010 deal. Bedard was under team control for 2 more seasons but was still in arbitration. He's earned only $14.75 million over that time period, or Halladay's salary this season. Peavy, the better of the three, was to be traded for a lesser haul due to his salary (signed through 2013 for $69 million more)

Based on these deals, the Giants are looking at trading 4-5 players depending on the quality. Neither Lincecum nor Matt Cain would need to be involved. The Blue Jays reportedly would like a SS & Pitching back, but will take the best they can get. So who then would the Giants have to part with?

For starters, one of the two untouchable pitchers would have to go. That's either Madison Bumgarner or Tim Alderson. My guess is Sabean keeps Bumgarner, so Alderson becomes the focal point.

Second, the Jays would want a major league ready arm to possibly replace him, so Jonathan Sanchez is included.

The Jays want a SS, but will take the best they can get. I'm guessing one off the 40 man roster for potential. Probably one, maybe two of SS Brandon Crawford, OF Thomas Neal, 3B Conor Gillespie, 2B Matt Downs, 1B/OF John Bowker, 3B/1B/DH Jesus Guzman, SS Emmanual Burriss, or OF Roger Kieschnick

Lastly, they want another pitcher with potential, but it won't be a top prospect so look at P Kevin Pucetas, P Scott Barnes, or P Dan Otero

The Jays obviously see him as a "Type A" free agent after 2010, so they at least want the equivalent of two first round picks for him. Any combination of these Giants would give them that if it starts with Alderson & Sanchez.

Halladay for Alderson, Sanchez, Gillespie, & Otero or
Alderson, Sanchez, Crawford, Downs, & Barnes
Alderson, Sanchez, Guzman, & Neal

The more I look at it, the better it sounds. The Giants still keep Bumgarner, Buster Posey, & Angel Villalona. They still have depth, they still have trade bait for other pieces, they still have youth & a future...and they would have ONE HELL of a pitching staff.

In case for some reason you don't know Roy Halladay that well; he's a 32 year old, former Cy Young, 6 time All Star, who dominates in the AL East. In 11 seasons, he has 43 CG's & 12 Shut Outs (19 & 4 since 2007), 220-260 inning pitched/year.

Career: K/9-6.5, K/BB-3.17, BB/9-2.0, HR/9-0.7, WHIP-1.20, ERA+ 132, 141-68 record, ERA- 3.47

2005-2008
64-27, 3.08 ERA in 115 starts, 25 CG, 5 SHO, ERA+ 144, WHIP 1.101, H/9-8.4, HR/9-0.7, BB/9-1.5, K/9-6.3, K/BB-4.21

Here's a look at Lincecum in his career (since 2007):
34-12, 2.93 ERA in 74 starts, 5 CG, 3 SHO, ERA+ 149, WHIP 1.173, H/9-7.3, HR/9-0.5, BB/9-3.3, K/9-10.1, K/BB-3.11

So why not go bold? The Giants can make a serious run at the World Series title the next two season while not mortgaging the farm. They really wouldn't need to add too much offense if they don't allow any runs...

This year so far, the Giants have recorded 12 team Shut Outs, 10 times they have held teams to 1 run, 13 times to 2 runs, and 8 times to 3 runs. In those 43 games, they are 36-7. Logic says "No Shit Sherlock, if don't don't give up many runs you're gonna win more" but that's the point here. Halladay would basically replace Sanchez/Sadowski. In the 15 games, the Giants are 5-10 behind these two & opponents have scored more than 3 runs 8 times, all losses.

In 16 starts this season, Roy Halladay has only allowed more than 3 runs 4 times. Certainly the difference between them would result in another 4-6 second half wins, or the Wild card race. Then the post season would shape up with Barry Zito in the bullpen...

Time to get bold!!!

BTW, Vote for Pablo

Vote for Pablo, Vote for Kinsler

2009-07-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

By now we all know Pablo Sandoval is in the running for the final spot on the NL All Star team. Whether or not he should have already been included is moot at this point because, well, he's simply not there...yet...but we can change that...(VOTE FOR PABLO)

Sandoval is among 5 in the NL up for the vote. The others, well, I'm just not going to name them as to not confuse anyone still on the fence. (VOTE FOR PABLO) Time is running out though. With less than 2 days, 12 hours till polls close, Pablo has the early lead but word is teams fans from both leagues are starting to work together to get their man in, like those damn LA teams.

It's worked in the past: the last season saw Milwaukee & Tampa work together to get Corey Hart & Evan Longoria in. Before that, (2007) Okajima & Young, (2003) Varitek & Jenkins had their fans work together. So why can't we? (VOTE FOR PABLO)

We can!!! Actually, we already are. As word began to spread today that both Sandoval & Texas 2B Ian Kinsler were leading in the early poll, fans from both our teams began to work together. (VOTE FOR PABLO) On Twitter, all day long, fans have been pushing Vote for Sandoval, Vote for Kinsler. Lets keep it going.

This is our chance to be heard. Pablo is our guy. He deserves to be there. VOTE FOR PABLO

All Star starters

2009-07-01T00:42:00.001-07:00

The Giants just thumped the Cardinals for the second straight night,
but today's pounding had an implication on a much larger scale. The
All Star Game!

Without getting into a breakdown of why the Giants have 5 All Stars
(Cain, Lincecum, Sandoval, Wilson, and Affeldt...yes Affeldt), let's
just take a moment to speak about the Obvious two...Lincecum & Cain.

Nothing against the other three but Cain was the most dominant pitcher
in baseball over the 1st 10+ starts. Lincecum now fits that bill. Both
are a lock... Both deserve to start...

But starting the All Star game may not be an option. You see, St.
Louis Chris Carpenter was more dominant in his few early starts but
battled injury. Back now, he took a VERY sub 2 ERA into tonight's game
with a stranglehold on starting the All Star game.

I say that because the Game will be played in St. Louis this year.
What the Giants needed to do is really stick it to this guy...and they
did! Carpenter was tagged for 6 Runs on 11 hits, more importantly was
the balloning of his ERA to the mid 2's

Both Cain & Lincecum owe the team for this one... But before we jump
the gun on this one, let's see the final roster

3rd round pick Dominguez signs...

2009-06-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

Announced today was the signing of 3rd round pick Chris Dominguez out of the University of Louisville. Dominguez, having played college ball for a few years, should be able to advance quickly through the minors. Signing this early allows him to head straight to rookie ball and get an extra half season in the system.

Dominguez is an interesting player. Researching his playing ability has me intrigued & terrified. Here are the baseline stats from his three seasons in college:

Year Avg GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT

2007 .262 66-65 271 47 71 19 3 15 61 16 88 9-12

2008 .365 62-62 249 68 91 13 2 21 75 23 47 11-15

2009 .345 64-64 258 80 89 12 2 25 82 32 55 19-25

Word on him says his defense is marginal, possibly will require a change of positions, maybe first. OK, I can handle that. Villalona has had to do that... So has Sandoval... hmmm...

His upside is his power. People talk about his power like it's unique; like no one in the history of the game has had his "light tower power". (my friend told me that his cousin told him that a girl he dated knew this guy that said his roommate saw Dominguez hit a ball 838 feet last year.) Great power is something the Giants can kind of use.

The downside is his apparent complete inability to hit the curve ball. Straight ball he hits very much. Curve ball, his bats are afraid.

He is a unique find indeed, but not without equal. I remember one such ball player that had the same symptoms Dominguez does when he first hit the field...

Pedro Cerrano came up with the Indians in 1989 and helped them win their division for the first time in yeeeears. It was a struggle at first however as he could only hit the straight ball. At one point he said

"Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come."
Cerrano suffered through a miserable season of K after K as he continually turned to his trusty lucky charm, JoBu.

After offering JoBu everything from Rum to Cigars to KFC without any change, Cerrano told JoBu "Fuck You" & he did it himself.

Now, it's not to say Chris Dominguez has his own JoBu, but he might. Considering he apparently cannot hit the curve ball, Dominguez and the Giants are sure to work hard to tell his own version of JoBu to "Fuck Off".

Here's to a speedy fix cause the Giants need this guy to develop!

Buster Posey to Fresno... Bengie Molina implications?

2009-06-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Word around the blogosphere today is that Buster Posey is being promoted...Slow down, don't get too excited. Not to the Giants. No, but exciting never-the-less...

The word from Henry Schulman today is that the plan with Posey was to play him the first half at A San Jose, then promote him for the second half. As it turns out, he will be skipping AA Connecticut and heading straight for AAA Fresno. Whether the plan all along was to bypass AA is questionable, but fairly irrelevant. There are good arguments for both, neither are really wrong.

I was hoping that Posey's next stop was in Connecticut, but really from the standpoint of learning under the tutelage of Steve Decker... But at this point it may be holding him back. On one hand, catching Henry Sosa, Madison Bumgarner, & Tim Alderson could help, especially from a cohesive standpoint later on. On the other, he is so far advanced offensively, he may need more of a challenge. Plus Jackson Williams is in need of much more work offensively & is definitely not ready for a promotion himself.

Moving Posey to Fresno has value. As Bochy put it, there is a lot to learn by catching guys who have big league experience. The move to Fresno certainly would allow that as 4 current members of the staff have big league experience. He will also have his bat tested much more.

The real value and the true reason for moving Posey now is more about Bengie than anything else.

With Bengie Molina's contract expiring come season's end, the Giants have a major decision to make. Molina could walk, but will likely be a Type A free agent. If the Giants allow this & offer him arbitration, they would get 2 draft picks. Then again, Molina could except Arbitration and would be in line for a raise. Using the 20% rule & Molina's current salary, the least the Giants could pay him is $4.8 million. More likely they pay him around $8 to $9 million. Not bad for 1 season, but not good if they have Posey ready to take over.

So the question then remains, will Posey be ready by 2010? Maybe... It's entirely possible. Better to find out now, because option C opens. If Posey can display the same advanced skills at AAA Fresno that he was in San Jose, then Bengie Molina becomes expendable. Not to the point where the Giants are needing to off load salary or are in sell mode, but at the price of improving because they found a deal they couldn't pass up.

The Giants are in the unique position whereas they may be able to be buyers & sellers. The Giants need a bat, but it's too early to for a good deal. Other buyers have needs the Giants may be able to fill. Randy Winn for instance makes $8.25 million this year, Jermaine Dye makes $11.5 million. Dye may hit the trade market come mid July and the White Sox may be looking for Salary relief as well as prospects. Dye for Winn +cash, say $3 million might work. Puts the Giants on the hook for $14.5 million, or $6.25 million more... Same could be said for Bengie Molina...

If Posey shows he's the guy for next year, & the Giants think Molina WILL except arbitration, they may decide to deal him. Teams always are looking for a catcher down the stretch, see the Yankees last season. Teams like Toronto, New York Yankees, & Boston from the AL all have again catchers who still hit good but may need more rest could platoon him & DH the other. The more ideal trade partners come from the NL central. The Cubs desperate to win, are getting sup par output from Giovanni Soto. The Reds Ramon Hernandez is performing well below average... & the Brewers have Jason Kendall who has about as many career Homeruns as Duane Kuiper does. All from a very winnable division, all with a need.

So the development of Posey has far reaching possibilities. One that the Giants must pursue. The future is bright & the future is near... Time to see what we have.

Wild Finish & a Steve Bartman sighting

2009-06-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Wild finish to the game tonight. Nate Schierholtz scored on a wild
pitch by Rangers pitcher Jason Jennings that ought to haunt catcher
Jerrod Saltalamacchia for quite a while. But to understand how we got
to this point and more importantly how this could have been over
sooner, we have to go in reverse.

Schierholtz batted for the first time in the 11th, doubling down the
left field line in what can be described as sabatouge. I say sabatouge
because no Giants fan in their right mind would do such an act as to
possibly cost the team a win. No, that group of fans who reached over
the fence to snag a fair ball by the speedy Nate must have been Texas
imports planted there, led by Steve Bartman himself. Fortunately for
the Giants, Nate would not be beaten! Problem with that: Nate
apparently cannot control his playing time!

Back this thing up even farther; why was Nate not in the game? When
Bruce Bochy filled out his lineup card today, he must have looked at
his starting pitcher and thought it was 2008. Why else would he put a
lineup together incapable of scoring runs?

I guess he could have noticed the rookie starting on the other side
and figured the offense was taking the night off anyway, so what does
it matter. But COME ON!!!

Randy Winn is garbage this year against lefties! Did he not know a
lefty was pitching? Hell, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain are
hitting better against lefties than Winn's .105 BA!

.105....

Bochy's affinity for veterans is going to be the downfall of this
team. Schierholtz has been testing the cover off the ball lately.
Honestly, the Outfield should be Torres/Rowand/Schierholtz everyday
right now. But that's neither here nor there as long as Bochy has a
bench full of Uribe's & Aurilia's...

Speaking of Aurilia... Why was he playing. His last hit came in a Reds
uniform... Cheap shot, sorry Richie, I still love you... Ishikawa has
2 homeruns in the last 2 games! On this team, that is as hot as you
can get. He just came off the bereavement leave... So, what, he needed
a rest day?

Honestly, the 0-7, 3 LOB, Winn & Aurilia put up was fun to watch. I
bet Matt Cain loved it as he was posting 0 after 0. Anyone wanna bet
Ishikawa/Schierholtz wouldn't do better than that? 1 freakin run in 8
innings & Matt Cain gets rewarded. Bochy & Sabean need to get with the
program and solidify this roster now.

The team can become dramaticly improved this week without a trade...

The names are John Bowker & Kevin Frandsen!!!

Is it time for a change?

2009-06-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

Going from the season high after sweeping the A's to quite possibly
the seasons low point this far 3 days later, many fans are frustrated
with the team, management, and more specifically some of the
underachieving players. Many people are calling for some changes,
anything from the permanent move of Fred Lewis to the bench replaced
by either Nate Schierholtz or Andres Torres to the trade at all costs
Jonathan Sanchez.

With just under 6 weeks until the trade deadline, teams are trying to
position themselves to be either buyers or sellers this July. The
Giants included. They are in the thick of the wildcard race yet have
many obvious holes.

My question to you, as we posted last night on Twitter, is this:

If you could make one change now to improve the team/organization,
whether it be a demotion to Fresno, complete benching, flat out
release, promotion from the farm, change in coaching/management, or a
trade... What would that one change be & why?

I hate the Angels!

2009-06-17T23:33:00.001-07:00

Just can't get over it! I waited mercifully after the game today,
because my mother always said "if you don't have something nice to
say, then say nothing at all."

Well mom, I can't wait any longer. I-Hate-The-FRIGGIN-Angels!!!

A three game sweep? Not one effin win? Didn't we just destroy the A's?

Worse than that, I just cannot, nor will I ever, get over 2002! That
was our Series; our year.

I've even had to wipe my memory clear of my childhood days playing 2B
for the Angels of Santa Cruz little league. Sorry there dad

Sent from my iPhone

Shit, another starter they haven't faced

2009-06-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

Just tuning into the game tonight. I forgot the Giants were getting Sean O'Sullivan tonight because Ervin Santana is hurt...

Frickin Great!!!

Just what the Giants need, a kid making his major league debut against them... and following a drubbin...

You know, when the Giants face a kid making his major league debut AND it's folowing a drubbin, they are 0-264 over the last few years and 258 of those losses were a 2-1 score... the other 6... 1-0

Nice GDP Renteria... and so it begins

A Demotion; A Promotion; A DFA... and no Frandsen...

2009-06-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

Struggling second baseman Emmanuel Burris was sent to AAA Fresno today to work on his hitting... specifically his leadoff skills according to Henry Schulman. He'll be back soon enough, but for now I think it's what is best to get Manny hitting again. I think Manny is the 2B of the future, not Frandsen... for that matter, not Downs, Noonan, or Crawford just because it's too early to tell with them. Don't get me wrong, I've been an avid supporter of Kevin Frandsen. I think he needs to be on this roster, not instead of Manny, but along side him... or at the very least, as a super utility player. Ideally, I would LOVE to see Burriss become the everyday SS, but he has a lot to work on to get there.

Speaking of Frandsen & Downs; Anyone wonder why Downs was called up instead of Franny? A league rule states any player sent down to the minors must stay no less than 10 days before being recalled. Since Frandsen was just sent down 4 days ago, he is not eligible for another 7 days... Nice move Sabean... Frandsen just got screwed again on this deal.

As for Downs, in order to be called up, the Giants had to clear a spot on their 40 man roster for him. This time, C Steve Holm got the boot. Eli Whiteside just earned himself a spot in the bigs for the year. Last year Holm hit fairly well, and caught very good for a first year player. I know he struggled to start this season, but his hitting had begun to turn around in the last month at Fresno... I don't see him clearing waivers so you might think about putting your Steve Holm replica jerseys on EBay before everyone finds out...

It's too bad there is no one else (bocock)on the 40 man roster that is expendable (brian bocock)... no one at all (BRIAN BOCOCK). Yep, that 40 man roster move thing is starting to get tight around here... at least they didn't sign a second round draft pick last year and put him straight to the 40 man roster. Can you believe some team did that. That guy will be a free agent in 2013... Shit, nevermind. Tried to block that from my mind last winter...

As for Downs, he is deserving of a chance at least. He tore it up this spring. He started the year at Fresno on a tear, before cooling for a while. His stroke is back and has some pop. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in his limited time, but his leash will be short. if he's not hitting by the weekend, Frandsen will be called up the first chance they get in place of him.

One last note: Jesse Foppert was released yesterday from AA Connecticut. After a rough start to the beginning of his second stint in the system, he'll have to look for work elsewhere. Best of luck Jesse... Thanks for giving me hope in the farm system during an era when Sabean didn't know how to draft.

All-Star Starter... Matt Cain???

2009-06-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

Do I ever love Matt Cain!!!

Today Cain was dominating beyond belief. At least that's what the rest of the league is now thinking.

Us Giants fans, we've known it and seen it since 2006. He's had better nights than this, certainly, but this ranks near the top.

His complete game, 4 hitter, was already his 3rd CG this season. Not allowing a runner after the third, other than one who reached on an error... that's the stuff legends are made of... Not that we're calling Cain a legend... just yet

Yes, the rest of the league is taking notice. Matt Cain is a sweet 9-1 with a cool 2.39 ERA in 13 starts. Tied for 1st in NL wins, third in ERA...

It's only 3 weeks until the All Star game. At this point, most of the All Stars are beginning to separate themselves from the rest. Why not make Cain the starter. He's had arguably the best season so far in the NL.

Competition is fierce, but only a few to really fight against. Teamate Tim Lincecum, Arizona's Dan Haren, & the Dodgers Chad Billingsley could all have a case... But really it's going to come down to one player... St Louis Chris Carpenter. He's been hurt a little, but lights out this season...and the game is in his home town

But what's right is right, and in the end, I think we see Matt Cain start the All Star game.

Day 2 Draft Recap

2009-06-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

With the second day of the 2009 MLB first year amateur day coming to a close, teams will now comb over all the scouts info in hopes of finding a diamond in the rough over the last 20 rounds tomorrow. Some teams are going to strike it big, it's inevitable with another 600 names being called out tomorrow, it's happened before. Some notible names over the years...

The Dodgers took Mike Piazza in the 62nd round (1390 overall)in 1988.
Keith Hernandez went in the 42nd round in 1971.
Kenny Rogers in the 39th round in 1982
Jeff Conine was had in the 58th round in 1987.
Rual Ibanez was taken in the 36th round in 1992.

... so the question is, can the Giants make that find? Only time will tell...

The more important question to ask is "How did the Giants do on day two?" Everyone is familiar with the first round picks, everyone knows the first 3 rounds should be studs... but teams... no franchises (not Timmy) are made on day 2. Scouts live to find that one guy who know one knows about,who can be had on day two. Some of the best players from our generation, heck even the 2009 Giants were taken on day 2.

Some of the Greats of the past/present include Ryan Sandberg (20th), Don Mattingly (19th), Ken Griffy Sr. (29th), Andre Dawson (11th), Mark Grace (24th), Brett Butler (23rd), Orel Hershiser
(17th), Jose Canseco (15th), Jim Thome (13th), & Albert Pujols (13th)

The Giants success on day two, by rounds:
-Brian Wilson, 24th, 2003
-Billy Sadler, 6th, 2003
-Kevin Frandsen, 12th, 2004
-Jonathan Sanchez, 27th, 2004
-Joe Martinez, 12th, 2005
-Alex Hinshaw, 15th, 2005
-Sergio Romo, 15th, 2005
-KevinPucetas, 17th, 2006
-Travis Ishikawa, 21st, 2002

(No need to look back through the draft classes of 1996-2000, the took those years off. Actually, the Giants drafted 248 players over that 5 years span and only 7 played more than 150 major league games, the best being JACK FREAKIN TASCHNER!!!)

Back to this years draft though. History & logic appear to be on our side though. (Did I really just refer to something Brian Sabean did in the same sentance as history & logic?) It appears that Sabean has reversed course in recent times, especially since getting a better scouting dept & LISTENING to them. If this all holds true,we should see a few gems out of this group. Now, onto todays picks:

4th- Jason Staffel, a top ranked closer in the draft out of Arizona. He was hit more than expected this year,probably causing his slide to here, but is in the right organization to learn. Expect him to develop well.
5th- Brandon Britt, 1B, U Texas Austin
6th- Matt Graham, RHP, Oak Ridge HS, TX. Reportedly a project that can thrown 95 already. Likely to go to UNC.
7th- Nick Liles, 2B, Western Carolina
8th- Karl Benusa, CF, Riverview HS, PA
9th- Evan Crawford, CF, IU... He's on Twitter
10th- Jeremy Toole, RHP, BYU
11th- Josh Eshleman, SS, Mt San Jancito JC, CA
12th- Chris Heston, RHP, East Carolina U
13th- Shawn Sanford, RHP, U South Florida
14th- Bryan Salsburg, RHP, MT San Jancito JC, CA
15th- Kyle Vazquez, RHP, Franklin Pierce U
16th- Ryan Cavan, SS, UC Santa Barbara
17th- Chris Gloor, LHP, Quinnipiac
18th- Jonathan Walsh, OF, Coppell HS, TX- is a catcher with below average skills so far but above average bat & is Switch hitter. It's believed to be difficult to sign him away from U Texas at this point. Likely position change in future for him.
19th- Jason Walls, RHP, Troy U
20th- Mitchell Morman, RHP, Des Moines area CC
21st- Zach Wasserman, 1B, Lake Shore HS, MI
22nd- Andrew Biery, 3B, Kansas ST
23rd- Adam Champion, LHP, U Arkansas Little Rock
24th- Alexander Burg, C, Wash St
25th- Steven Rogers, RHP, Tulane
26th- Luis Munoz, CF, Puerto Rico BB Academy
27th- Kyle Mach, 3B, U Missouri
28th- Jamaine Cotton, RHP, Western Oaklahoma St College
29th- Luke Demko, RHP, U Rhode Island
30th- Craig Wescott, RHP, Bellhaven College

Cross your fingers...we'll find out about summer 2013...

Giants select P Zack Wheeler #6

2009-06-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

With the #6 overall pick in todays 2009 MLB draft, the Giants selected High Schooler RHP Zack Wheeler, out of Dallas, Georgia.

Wheeler was one of the top 3 H.S. pitchers rated on all boards, including Tyler Matzek & Jacob Turner. Wheeler ended up going before all the other High Schoolers except Donovan Tate who went to the Padres at #3.

Wheeler reportedly already throws 98mph, but is consistently clocked in the low to mid 90's. The knock on him is his inconsistent curveball and lack of a change up.

The Giants have an excellent track record on pitchers, especially other recent H.S. pitchers taken like Matt Cain & Madison Bumgarner. With the limited issues spoken of Wheeler, I don't see any reason why the Giants cannot teach him better mechanics or a change up. Hell, Lincecum learned a change up while warming up for a game last year. Plus, Wheeler has the potential for Matt Cain size. At 6'4" 170 lbs, most scouts seem to think he has the right frame to add not only muscle mass, but velocity...and durability

Wheeler is a great choice. It gives the Giants options. Not like the selection of a fast track guy like Aaron Crow would have, but the Giants never-the-less have options.

Here's a look at the current rotation plus minor league starters & the years the Giants control them through:
Barry Zito- 2013
Tim Lincecum- 2012
Matt Cain- 2011
Jonathan Sanchez- 2011
Randy Johnson- 2009
Joe Martinez- 2014

Kevin Pucetas-2014+
Madison Bumgarner- 2014+
Tim Alderson- 2014+
Henry Sosa- 2014+
Scott Barnes-2014+

Zack Wheeler-2015+

+ players haven't reached the majors yet thus the 6 year time period the team controls them hasn't begun, subject to change to a later year.

With all these pitchers, the Giants should be in position to make a deal for a bat they desperately need

Draft prediction: Ackley or Crow falls to the Giants

2009-06-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

One last quick look at the draft before it starts in a few minutes.

With the Nationals set to pick #1, they would be crazy not to take P Stephen Strasburg.
The Pirates at #4 seem posed to take C Tony Sanchez.

That leaves 3 picks until the Giants. logic says CF Dustin Ackley should be off the board, and all indications suggest the Padres take him at #3 if the Mariners pass, but Donovan Tate seems to be the pick they are trying to hide. I can see him going to the Padres even if Ackley is still there.

The Orioles at #5 really seem to like Zack Wheeler and I don't see him going sooner...

So that leaves the Mariners at #2 to the fate of the Giants. Early indications had Aaron Crow going there, but lately all the talk is Dustin Ackley. Either way, I really think one of these two falls to the Giants at #6...

Which brings me to the Giants...I think they take either Ackley or Crow, whoever falls...

If you remember recent drafts, Posey, Bumgarner, Gillespie, Alderson, & Lincecum all fell to the Giants...

Kevin Frandsen recalled

2009-06-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

Travis Ishikawa was placed on Bereavement leave today, allow the Giants to recall hot hitting Kevin Frandsen. Frandsen has hit over .500, 19-35, with 5 doubles, 2 homeruns, and 6 RBI's since returning to Fresno.

In that 2 weeks span, Kevin Frandsen has had a fire lit under his ass. By all indications, he seems to be playing with a chip on his shoulder. As Andrew Baggerly reported a few days ago, “The Giants don’t see me as an everyday player, but I see myself differently,” Frandsen was quoted as saying. “At a certain point, you realize a lot more teams need help, no matter how much my heart is set on this team.”

Not the sound of a happy Giant, but non-the-less he's back up. This could be good for Kevin, or this could spell the end for him here. Not directly, but if Frandsen is right this may be one of his last chances in town...

If the Giants truly don't see Frandsen as an everyday player, they might be looking to showcase him for a midseason trade right now.

On the other hand, Frandsen can use this opportunity to steal a position away from others on the team. He seems focused. He's driven. He's hitting the shit out of the ball...and no one on the Giants other than Aaron Rowand (the least likely Giant to lose his job) can say that. Frandsen can play 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, RF, LF... He's not going to unseat Pablo Sandoval, but he could play the other corner spot. Ishikawa, Juan Uribe, & Richie Aurilia beware, this could be the time he takes over a job...

In the same breath, it's hard to see Emmanuel Burriss lose his position due to his phenomenal defense as well as he's getting on base except for his recent 4 game skid...still, Fransden can fill in so many places...

One way or the other, this could be similar to the Pat Misch scenario a few weeks ago, wheras the Giants are looking for help but if it doesn't work, they may be looking to move on from the player...

I hope I'm wrong. As much as I'm a fan of Frandsen's game, even if he never becomes an every day player, there is nothing wrong with a guy who can play everywhere on the bench. Marco Scutaro has made a career out of it. Frandsen is certainly more qualified at this point in his career than either Richie Aurilia or Juan Uribe is

2009 Draft examined: Why the Giants need to find a bat, yet need to take a pitcher

2009-06-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Draft day is tomorrow! The Giants have only 1 early selection (6th), and Time to break out the champagne and strawberries, cause Sabean is about to make us toast to the heavens with... a question like "who did they say?"

Actually, in all fairness, he's done OK for us the last 3 years, especially since giving Bobby Evans more say & hiring Ron Schueler 2 years ago to teach him how to spot non pitching talent...not that I'm complaining about the pitching we've drafted over the decade. Still, with the needs the Giants currently have & the lack of really anything substantial offensively in this years draft, I worry about what decision the Giants brass makes with the 6th overall pick.

The Giants need to make this pick count, and then worry about the rest later. So whom to take?

Really, with the 6th pick, Giants need a Time Machine. They need to go back to 2003 and select any one of Carlos Quentin, Adam Jones, Jared Saltalamchia, or Matt Murton, with their 22nd overall pickas each would be drastically helping the offense this season because David Aardsma (he of the trade with Jarome Williams for LaTroy Hawkins) is certainly helping. Shit, for that matter, they could have taken Brandon Wood, who went 23rd to the Angels, and be better off. Actually, if they had taken Chad Billingsly, who went 24th tothe (gulp) Dodgers, the Giants would be in even better position for what I'm about to propose. (Consolation prize goes to Andre Eithier as he was picked just 7 spots in the second round AFTER the Giants took C Jeffery Jennings {he who doesn't even have a baseball stat I can link to his name})

Then again, if I had a time machine, the first thing I'd do wouldn't be baseball related, but the second... well I go back to Oct. 26, 2002 and SHAKE THE SHIT OUT OF DUSTY BAKER UNTIL HE REALIZED NOT TO PUT FELIX RODRIGUEZ IN TO FACE SCOTT SPIEZIO IN THE 7TH!!!

Back to reality though. Reality is, the Giants have the 6th overall pick in the draft and NEED help on offense. They need help now. Not too many draft picks end up fast tracking the majors like Evan Longoria, so the help won't come this year, or probably even next from this draft class. But the Giants need help now.

This years draft is widely considered to be weak on top tier offensive talent and strong in first round starting pitching. So weak infact, that the top ranked offensive talent accross almost all boards is Dustin Ackley, who the best favorable comparison I've heard is John Olerud...exceptin center.(OK, I'd take 10 years of Olerud's offense, but it's not like they are comparing him to Joe Carter). Problem is, he most likely will be gone by the time the Giants pick. The other guy you can definitely forget about is Stephen Strasburg, because if he doesn't go #1, the Nats GM will get fired. He certainly won't fall past his native San Diego at #3 who would giveanything for him.

Back to the Giants needs though. After Ackley, the pickings are slim.

There's Grant Green, the USC SS who has slipped down everyones boards. Compared at times to Troy Tulowitzki or Evan Longoria, but as McCovey Chronicles puts it..."his detractors make him sound like Kevin Frandsen". Green might be the best chance after Ackley of seeing someone in the majors sooner than later.

Then there's Donovan Tate. The H.S. kid with a former NFL player for a father & Scot Boras as an agent. Not that I wouldn't draft a Boras client, but Tate is young and raw. Tate may develope into a very good ballplayer, but he won'treach the majors until atleast 2012 & likely won't show good numbers until 2013. In case you are wondering, the Giants currently only control Lincecum thru 2012 & Cain thru 2011.

Then there is the solid prospect but argueable reach & a step down in his respective reconginition as far as talent goes. Tim Wheeler has an "advanced bat" and is refined in his baserunning skills, plus is a good CF. He might help sooner than later, but the realquestion is,can the Giants to better at #6?

If they go with the Best Player Available, it likely will be a pitcher. High School Preps are flush this year. Guys like Tyler Matzek, Zack Wheeler, Shelby Miller, & Jacob Turner are all highly touted, and will be fine picks... then again, the Giants are flush with Pitching talent already and should be more than fine for the next 4-5 years. They could take one of these guys, wait for the development, and have the nexxt superstar in the wings in 2013. Or they could do this:

Take the best/most polished college pitcher available to add to the current surplus of minor league arms that are quickly pushing to be a major league surplus, and allow the Giants to make a trade for an established major league bat next season. Lets face it, no matter how good Bumgarner or Alderson get this year, they don't make in impact on the majors until next season...at the same time they, or who ever else, bring back more trade value next season.

Arms like Mike Minor, Aaron Crow, Tanner Scheppers, Alex White, & Kyle Gibson all have the ability to make us salivate the same way Bumgarner & Alderson currently are, or Lincecum before them, or Cain, or Lowry did. At least one of these guys will be available come #6 tomorrow.

Imagine drafting an Aaron Crow & being able to turn him into a Matt LaPorta next season, whether it be at the cost of Tim Alderson, or Crow himself? Either way, the Giants aren't going to find that LaPorta here tomorrow. Nor are they going to find a Chris Davis/Josh Vitters/Ryan Braun/Evan Longoria...not that the latter two can be had via trade anyway...but the only way the Giants land one from thsi years draft is to trade from their surplus...

Starting Pitching...

Can we swallow that yet? What are your thoughts?

Pat Misch Gone...Soon to be forgotten...

2009-06-07T00:39:00.001-07:00

Pat Misch, you will be missed... HaHa, that was fun to say.

Who am I kidding. I already have forgotten why I dreaded his early season callup this year, that is how much I'll miss him. Oh yeah, I just remembered the last two seasons.

Misch was placed on waivers earlier this week, and as luck would have it, the suckers in Blue and Orange who call themselves the Mets took a flyer on him. Actually, Misch could still develop into a nice long reliever in the game.but his time in SF was numbered. He failed to have any concistancy and was holding up a 40 man roster spot when a ton of talented starting pitching was breathing down his neck...Pucetas, Sosa, Snyder, Alderson, & Bumgarner.

A week in review (mostly because I've been gone)

2009-06-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'm back. After a week off work and away from a computer, time for some catch up.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to some of your questions. Work called. Had to go out of town for a class for work this week, as well as recover from last weekends Relay for Life.

(by the way,for those of you who don't know...The Relay for Life is a fundraiser for Cancer through the American Cancer Society. We had a fellow fireman, Jim Peterson, die from cancer this past Dec. so we put a team together to help raise money. We raised over $14,000, under team Peet's Fire Angels. 7 of us walked all 24 hours and over 40 miles each... And we are very proud to say Lance Armstrong rode stage 20, May 30th, of the Giro d'Italia dedicated to our very own Jim Peterson.) http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong/status/1972272993

Anyway, enough about my week, how about them Giants. Taking away the UUUUUUGLY game they just lost in the Florida rain, they have had a good start to this road trip. I wrote earlier that this may be a make or break trip for them, a 10 day road trip. If they go 2-8, they probably head toward the sellers line in the annual buy/sell game called the July trade deadline. If they go 8-2, they B-line straight for the buyers line in hopes of making that tough deal that may or may not sacrifice the future for an unexpected win now approach in 2009. A give or take a game .500 trip is still a positive after the miserable performances the Giants have fashioned thus far... so far, 3-2 is pretty good.

Given the fact that the Giants haven't played a rain free game yet, again with the exception of tonight, the pitching, defense, and offense has been pretty good. Fortunatley for me, I was able to miss the bullpen blunders of game 1 when Lincecum apparently had another win locked up.

CONGRATS TO RANDY JOHNSON on his #300 career win. It was great to see him lock it up right away, now the entire team can focus on winning without a huge distraction. In case you missed it, Randy Johnson gave an interview on KNBR the next day that is well worth listening to. Gary Radnich was the host and hit hm with an unusual barrage of questions that led Johnson to loosen up, at the same time put Radnich in his place. You can hear it online here.

Matt Cain had another strong outing and has strengthened his case to be the NL starter in the ALL-STAR game.

Barry Zito got win #2, without any run support again.

Pablo Sandoval hit a homerun...crickets...oh yeah, so did Aaron Rowand...even Richie Aurilia got his first one in the last day of May...but that's all. 3 homeruns since Travis Ishikawa hit his first homerun of the season in the first game of the Braves series last week, 11 games ago.

Speaking of Rowand, how about his sweet 16 game hitting streak that coincides with his move to the leadoff spot. It's very nice to see him earning his keep offensively right now. I wonder who pushed for that move, him or Bochy? For any flak he gets over his contract, he is a total gamer that just wants to win. Maybe leadoff is just the right amount of pressure for him.

And then there is Sanchez... As a friend of NuschlersNews, Sarah S put it today, "which diirrty will show up to florida tonight. the beach baller tosser or the marble slinger????" (By the way, if you're on twitter, she's a definite follow. A diehard Giants fan and an entertaining read... @luvboysofsummer) That's a pretty accurate assessment of what we have seen out of Sanchez this season. A good game here, a bad game there. Toss in a great outing over there, and cap it off with, well tonight.

Sanchez is pitching himself right out of the hearts of Giants fans, but at the same time, he is making it extremely difficult to move him. Personally, I would like to see the Giants wait and try to correct his issues. Sanchez has all the talent in the world. His swing & miss ratio is one of the best in the game, better than Lincecum. The problem isn't there, that's obvious though. But this inconsistency has to end. A rough start is understandable, but not this.

But this is for another post, one that I'll get to soon. As well as a Matt Cain post, should be up tomorrow.

For now, enjoy the 3-2 road trip, and hope for at least that record the second half of it. Timmy is pitching tomorrow, and maybe just maybe it won't rain.

Can I get a Productive K anyone?

2009-05-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Trying something new today. Watching the game and putting my thoughts down as they come. Bear with me:

Randy Johnson just struck out the first batter and reminded me how much I love listening to Mike Krukow. He always finds the fat guy eating or the little kid sleeping. Then there is the occasional umpire dig. After this strike out we got a great rendition. "Do your thing Bill! HEEAAYYYY!!!!!" If nothing else this year, at least the broadcast booth is entertaining... Then again, if we're counting on our broadcasters for enjoyment, the Giants must suck...

First inning down. Randy Johnson's slider is fantastic tonight. only 8 more of those innings and the Giants can hope for a 0-0 tie...that counts for a win this year right? well, maybe the offense can go on another 5 hit onslaught like this game & we won't have to worry.

Nice single by Edgar Renteria! I knew he was a great signing this offseason.

And that is why you cannot have your cleanup hitter as a guy who runs a 9.6 40 meter dash. Also why you cannot count on the big bad single to score your runs. Might just have been the easiest double play the Braves have ever turned.

Kenshin Kawakami has wicked good movement on his fastball tonight (plus I really like saying his name). Against teams that don't wear Orange & Black, he supposedly throws straight. Thankfully he can't find the strike zone, otherwise the Giants would be in trouble. Kawakami is the p....

HOLY SHIT!!!!!! I got way to much enjoyment out of that Ishikawa foul ball into McCovey cove...

...annnnd....back to reality. Ishikawa had a productive K right there. Fred Lewis stole second on the swing. I mean, it must be right? When Emmanuel Burriss grounds out and a runner gets to second, don't we call that a productive out?

Holy Crap. I think Ricky Vaughn is on the mound. That ball sailed "just a bit outside" OK, OK. Inside and 5 feet high.

Juan Uribe just singled in Fred Lewis. Alright, so maybe we can win on singles.

WHOAAA, whadua know. Aaron Rowand doubles to lead off an inning. Things are looking up. Don't waste a precious extra base hit.

AND THAT IS HOW IT'S DONE!!!! STEAL HOME, THAT IS THE WAY TO SCORE. Great job Aaron Rowand. When you can't count on the offense, you must get creative.

Arrgh. What might be more frustrating than the final scores we've seen this year? How about the number of times the Giants have had runners in scoring position & less than two outs, AND NOT SCORED!!!

Emmanuel Burriss is looking more & more like he'll be a phenomenal defensive second baseman in the years to come. I really think the Giants need to stick with him. His offense will come around, as will his power. Not suggesting he'll ever have numbers like this, but he may end up being a 10 homer/30 double/10 triple/50 stolen base guy some day...remember, he was here until last season.

Did I say Bengie Molina is incredibly slow? I can't believe he made it to second on that play in the 5th.

Nevermind, he made up for it at the plate, thanks Frenchy...

Speaking of him, Jeff Francour is on the trading block. Anyone else want to see a Randy Winn for Jeff Francour & a prospect deal? He could platoon in right with Nate Schierholtz... One hell of a cannon he has...then again, i think I could still throw out Bengie...

SEE, RIGHT THERE... That was a productive out. Richie Aurilia grounds out & Manny gets to third. Can't we give Ishi some credit for his productive K? I mean, the stolen base cannot be allllll Fred Lewis right? Give the guy some frickin slack

Then again, I'll take that double anyday... Thanks Manny, except somebody needs to tell him, SABEAN LIKES SINGLES!!!

I have an idea for Giants management... How about a foot race between Molina & Randy Johnson? I'd pay money to see that...

Hey, another Rowand double scores a run. Be careful, this could trigger a fad... what would we do without our singles.

Speaking of singles, nice RBI Nate!!!

Good day by Johnson by the way, hopefully the bullpen can hold this 4-1 lead. 79 pitches, that is about his limit these days. I'm glad to know Bochy appears to be cognisant of this.

Damn bullpen, 4-3 now. Is #299 ever gonna happen? Not that they can help the error, so they don't get all the blame this inning. Can the Giants actually score more than 4?

Thanks Manny, just when I give you praise on defense, you make an error.

Ishikawa & Uribe, keep them singles coming.

WAY TO MAKE UP FOR IT EMMANUEL!!! Burriss knocks in a run on a single with his third hit tonight.

Nice to see Andres Torres back in the game. He was sure a nice story early on...Looky there, single in his first AB back, & an RBI.

Damn Renteria, flies out to end the 7th. I always knew he was a bad signing!!!

Wow, look at the score, 6 runs through 7. Nicely done so far. Maybe next season the Giants can schedule the Braves 156 more times...

Never thought I'd see the day when Chipper Jones struck out 4 times in a game...First time in his career...

Merkin Valdez in the 8th, 17 pitches... 96, 94, 88, 97, 98, 97, 98, 97, 97, 98, 99, 98, 99, 88, 99, 88, & 99... WOW!!! If this guy ever can stay healthy...

GIANTS WIN! GIANTS WIN! GIANTS WIN! Typical 1-2-3-4 Brian Wilson Save...With the throw in double just to let them think they have a chance. I love it when he gives us the nail biter, just love it...

Good to see Randy get #299...How long until Randy gets #300 now?

Great Sweep. I always love beating the Braves. They aren't the Dodgers, but I rank them right up there with the Angels...

Guzman sent down, Torres back up

2009-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Lost in the scuttle last night over the offensive explosion by the Giants that culminated in scoring an incomprehensible 4 runs, is the latest roster move.

Andres Torres has finally returned from his extended rehab assignment & trip on the DL. To make room for him, the Giants optioned the fans proclaimed offensive savior, Jesus Guzman. He's obviously not needed now, after Travis Ishikawa proved Brian Sabean right with his 4-4 effort and a homerun 2 days ago, then the offense exploding last night with 5 hits and 4 runs.

Actually, Guzman needs to be in Fresno right now. He needs to be playing everyday. Until the Giants decide to make changes, Guzman does them NO good on the bench.

Torres should provide a spark on the basepaths and lets hope he continues the flashes of firepower he showed us in spring training.

Trade Winds a Blowin'

2009-05-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Do you think anything is brewing? According to those in the know, something is...

Without beating the dead horse and stating the obvious too much, the Giants offense is floundering early in this 2009 season, with nary a promise for a reversal of fortune. Things are bad. Things could get worse soon if Brain Sabean begins to think he may be a lame duck GM and goes for broke with his job.

In the last 48 hours, the Giants have gone through multiple roster moves and have been linked to many players via trades...Some of them good, some of them scary. The roster moves tell me a last ditch effort is underway to try and put pressure on certain hitters to begin producing, as well as the timing is related to returning players.

Roster Moves-
-Noah Lowry & Joe Martinez placed on 60 day DL, clears open 2 temporary 40 man roster spots.
-Eli Whiteside & Jesus Guzman placed on 40 man roster & promoted to Big club.
-Pat Misch, Steve Holm, & Eugenio Velez demoted to AAA Fresno.
-Kevin Frandsen promoted to Big Club
-Edgar Renteria returned from DL
-Juan Uribe returned from Bereavement leave
Expected Roster Move-
-Sergio Romo should come off the DL within a week or so, expect it tobe timed with a potential trade, possibly Merkin Valdez for Nick Johnson (or some form thereof)

Players linked to the Giants via trade this week-
-Mark DeRosa, Indians
-Nick Johnson, Nationals
-Dan Uggla, Marlins
-Matt Holiday, Athletics (late tonight, Henry Schulman shot this down)

Other Players I envision are a legitamite target-
-Chris Davis, Rangers
-Nelson Cruz, Rangers
-Hank Blaylock, Rangers
-Adrian Beltre, Mariners
-Russell Braynon, Mariners
-Jorge Cantu, Marlins
-Aubrey Huff, Orioles
-Felipe Lopez, D'Backs
-Paul Konerko, White Sox
-Magglio Ordonez, White Sox
-Brandon Inge, Tigers
-Miguel Cabrera, Tigers

Now some of these names aren't going to come cheaply, but could be had. The question is, what are you willing to give up?

Matt Cain has been dangled today by Brain Sabean, supposedly to see his value.

This one, I pray is false

Nick Johnson, the deal to make...NOW!!!!

2009-05-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

So when are the Giants going to discuss the Elephant in the Room? It's becoming obvious on two fronts, that this team is pitching well enough to make a run for the post season, yet the hitting from the current roster (or within the organization) is not enough to make that run. This puts the Giants in an interesting dilemma. To make a trade or to not make a trade?

Let me start of by acknowledging it is too early in a typical season to make a deal. Teams still are a month out from externally admitting they might need to be buyers or sellers so the cost of a player is remarkably higher today.

Let me also start by saying, that in NO WAY am I advocating abandoning the youth movement in favor of a win at all costs this season mentality. The Giants are leaps and bounds behind the Dodgers, even without Manny, on the offensive side...and the Dodgers entire staff is pitching better than the Giants... Don't believe me? Check this out by Raising Matt Cain. But he Giants can make a significant external improvement without mortgaging the farm.

The Giants are in position to compete for years with guys like Bumgarner, Alderson, Posey, Noonan, Villalona, or Gillespie. But they can improve without including the likes of them in any deal, the offense has been that bad.

Like many of you, I've been thinking about what to do for a long time. The best scenario, and what I think a significant improvement would be, is Nick Johnson. I know, it's not an original name, courtesy of Andrew Baggerly here. But never-the-less, the correct player to be going after. Before I say Why? specifically him,or better yet a first baseman... I want to cover why not another position quickly.

Right Field- Randy Winn, he's in a contract year & yet to hit consistently for a long period of time, yet he will improve. He knows that corner he best. Has little trade value right now and is in a saturated market for his position. If the Giants decide to move him, it won't be until the July deadline if at all.

Center Field- Aaron Rowand, at $12 million per for another 3+seasons, along with his perma-slumping (thank you Hank Schulman for the phrase and Andrew Baggerly for passing it along), are virtually untradeable. Think Barry Zito the last two seasons (Although his on-field performance has improved,his tradeability has not).

Left Field- Fred Lewis, Fred could actually be traded and bring back a decent return, but why do it? His current on field production makes him a sell low candidate, so why make that deal? Besides, he still is one of the better hitters, is just entering his prime, and is cheap. I covered him in the first Why? series here.

Third Base- Pablo Sandoval, do I need to say more. His first error last night (which wasn't an error at all). You should be forgetting names like Beltre, Adkins, Crede, Encarcion right now.

Short Stop- Edgar Renteria, forget about a replacement for this season. His contract is restrictive enough. Still, his offensive production IS an improvement over last seasons. I'm not trying to justify the signing, because I'm still not happy with it,but he's here irregardless. The Giants have the option for next season, so wait till October on him.

Second Base- Emmanuel Burriss, I think the Giants have found the 2B of the future, you may not agree. Young, Cheap, strong defense only getting better. (think Gold Glove 2011 & beyond). He's showed flashes of what he can do offensively and will only get stronger, so those extra base hits will come. (he's only 24)

Catcher- Bengie Molina, what can I say. He's kinda like Barry Bonds right now, except he's nice...he doesn't draw walks...he doesn't scare pitchers...he could never run...and he only hits about 1/3 the Home Runs. OK, so he's not really like Bonds except that he's really the only offense. If Bengie goes this year, forget about the team winning, they will be in serious Sell all mode.

So that leaves First Base as the only real viable place to improve. Travis Ishikawa plays nice defense, sometimes very nice, but the combined offense between him & Richie Aurilia is sad.

32/147, 5 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 12 R, 22 RBI, 10 BB, 39 K, 0 SB, .218 BA, .281 OBP, .265 SLG, .546 OPS.

For a historically very productive position, that is sad. So how to improve?

Looking at realistic trade candidates, taking into consideration if/when their teams might decide on sell mode, and comparing what it might take to get that player (not to mention the sooner the Giants can get help, the better their chances in '09 are. Come July 31st, at the current rate, they may just be too far back), as well as what other teams are vying for similar players, I come to the conclusion of Nick Johnson over & over.

First, other teams maybe in need of 1B help now: The Mets lost Carlos Delgado for 3 months. The Red Sox are getting little production there/DH.

Second, other players who may be made available:
-Aubrey Huff, (33) Orioles. Currently buried at the bottom of the tough AL east, surely to become sellers.
-Russell Braynon, (34) Mariners. Losing but in a fairly weak AL west, may not decide to sell until July.
-Jorge Cantu, (27) Marlins. Always a late season strong team, competitive in the NL east even with a losing record.
-Garrett Atkins, (29) Rockies. Not looking like a competitive team, but in the NL west, you're in the race for a long time regardless. May not want to trade inter division.
-Victor Martinez, (31) Indians. Buried at the bottom of the AL central, they won't decide to deal (especially Martinez) until near the deadline.
-Adam LaRoache, (30) Pirates. Never ending NL central bottom-dweller, still there. Will certainly become a seller.

Of those named, all but Cantu & Atkins are free agents after this season. LaRoache looks like a more advanced John Bowker, he's going to bat around .250 and hit 25 homeruns, but for more money. Braynon is off to a hot start, I can't knock him...but he is playing much better than history suggests. Plus his defense isn't that good. Huff would be an improvement, but is he worth the prospects.

Cantu has been talked about all winter, but he's on fire right now. A trade for him would be a buy extremely high deal. The Marlins already wanted Jonathan Sanchez this winter, and with his early season sell low status, the Marlins would certainly require him and another prospect. Not a smart move right now.

Atkins, like I said, would be an inter division trade, so the Rockies would require a very steep price from the Giants. Think Sanchez +Sosa/Pucetas & Downs. With the Rockies in need of pitching, they might hold the Giants to a super prospect as well, just because they can. Possibly Noonan/Gillespie. Just a thought. I wouldn't make this deal any time. Atkins isn't necessarily going to succeed in S.F., has stuggled this year in a Matt Holiday-less lineup, and would require a position change.

Martinez, while he may just be the best of all of them, is going to fetch the Indians a super-prospect. They are looking for another Matt Laporta if they deal Martinez...and they want a pitcher. So unless you are willing to deal Alderson or Bumgarner for a half season to 3/4 of a season of him, forget about it. I'd bet a deal would have to look something like this... Alderson, Bowker/Ishikawa/Guzman, & Sosa... Then the Giants have to sign him to a long term deal.

This brings me all the way around to Nick Johnson. The current National/former Yankee is a F.A. after this season. He is currently owed only approx $4.2 million this year. He looks healthy, although has been plagued by injuries over his career. He's a local guy, growing up in Sacramento, playing at McClatchy H.S.. The Nationals have Dimitri Young (fairly untradeable) & Adam Dunn making significant money capable of playing 1B. They own the worst record in baseball. They need pitching...

Johnson doesn't have exceptional power, but IS a 20+ homerun guy IF he stays healthy and can get 500 AB's. But it's not his power that the Giants need. It's his on base skills. Johnson WILL get 100+ BB's, and he'll hit near .300. He's a 35-40 double guy, and will knock in 85-90 Runs. But even better, his defense is really good. Johnson is as good a defender as Ishikawa is.

Better yet, Johnson will not require nearly the package to land him, plus there is a real opportunity to lock him up for the future if they want to. Johnson is only 29, and if finally healthy, could be the Giants first baseman for a number of years. Think JT Snow, think Will Clark. A good hitter, who gets on base a lot, who plays good defense, and sets up his teammates, as well as a clubhouse leader...and he should be cheap next year as well considering his career misfortunes.

I think, given the Nationals farm system and pitching staff, I think the Giants have a number of combinations to get him. Henry Sosa & Travis Ishikawa, or Kevin Pucetas & John Bowker/Matt Downs. Maybe less.

I think it's a deal worth making now!!! Without mortgaging the future. Keeping with the youth movement, and allowing for a potential run at the division.

Make the Deal!!!

Noah Lowry, MisDiagnosed or accidently MisHandled?

2009-05-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

As you've probably heard by now, Noah Lowry had surgery today. Surgery to remove a rib, now allowing his body to "facilitate circulation". Henry Schulman reported earlier that Lowry has been diagnosed twice in the last 5 days differently than he had been previously.

Lowry's agent, Damon Lapa, came out later and stated the Giants had misdiagnosed Noah all along and eventually performed an unnecessary surgery last year, followed by an incorrect rehab program. Then he basically accused the Giants of neglect, without saying that specific.

The Giants came back later and aggressively shot down any notion of wrong doing, citing their inability to comment cue to patient confidentiality.

So the Ground work has been laid.

Lowry, for what it's worth, is in the final year of his deal. The Giants hold a team option for $6.25 million for next year. The surgery is a 3 month recovery, putting him into late August/early September before he can begin throwing.

His season his done.

So what happens now?

The way I see it, Lowry's agent is laying the ground work for a case against the Giants. A suit is possible. 2 years of lost time is significant if a jury/judge finds negligence. But that is a long way off.

More likely, Noah is mad & excited at the same time. Happy to finally find a cure and know he'll pitch again, upset that he could have been back on the field last season had the Giants found the cause in Sept. '07.

I'd say he is probably ready for a fresh start, and given the depth of starting pitching the Giants have throughout, he may not want to have to "prove" himself here. Yes, I think the ground work is being laid alright.

At 6.25 million, a healthy Lowry is a good deal. I think the Giants wanted to pick up his option but can't justify it now. That doesn't make him a free agent yet though, as he doesn't yet have the service time to be one. The Giants can non-tender him, take him to arbitration, and pay him less, about 20% probably since he hasn't pitched.

Lowry's agent knows this. This is their ticket to more security. If Noah comes back at $4.5 million, fighting for a rotation spot behind Lincecum, Zito, Cain, Sanchez, Bumgarner, Alderson, Martinez, Pucetas, etc., he's potentially going to end up in F.A. 2010 with very little to show for the previous 3 seasons. If they make enough noise though...

They can force a trade. If the Giants are fed up with the agents antics and Lowry is upset, potentially suing him, they might be able to force a trade giving him a place for a fresh start. A shot at a rotation. Lowry is still only 28 and twice led the Giants in wins. He's going to get healthy again. He's going to be a solid #3 in the league somewhere.

It's too bad it won't be here...at least that is how I see it.

I'd love to see the two sides work this out and bring him back for next season. I just don't think they will. Stay tuned, this could get ugly...

Why we'll see Jesus Guzman in a Giants uniform this week

2009-05-19T01:01:00.000-07:00

2 words...

Brian Bocock

you want 2 more?

Designated Hitter

Fine, 2 more...

Offensive Boost

What more do you want?

Don't answer that... I know what you want, be patient. All we may get this road trip is Jesus Guzman (or if they decide Bocock is still just to good to leave unprotected out of A ball, then John Bowker gets the call, either way by game time tomorrow one is up.) Come next home stand, more changes will be in store.

A New Friend to the Fans- Tubesox Nation

2009-05-19T00:33:00.000-07:00

I came in contact with a new Giants Blog out there I think you might enjoy. It's kinda like a media watch dog group, except it's focus is toward the Giants ownership and the penny pinching weenies trying to milk us for every cent possible.

I have to say, Tubesox Nation is not only a very entertaining read, but extremely informative. John is taking a stance against the marketing dept and the management. If you're looking for informative stuff, take a few minutes here. You'll enjoy it.

Important Road trip looming

2009-05-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

Whewww!!! Now that that homestand is over and the Giants are still standing proudly 1 game above .500. They can hang their heads high after pulling out the final game against the Mets 2-0,but we all know the Series win could have and should have gone the other way, 3-1 to the Giants. Then again, coulda/woulda/shoulda the past all we want, but the past is the past. Or as Sawyers uncle in "Lost" said, "What's Done is Done!" Best we can do now is fix what went wrong for the future. Speaking of the Future...

A 6 game road trip against San Diego (16-22) & Seattle (18-20) is looking pretty tasty right now...Or maybe, pretty miserable....

On one hand, limping into these two cities after posting a 3-4 homestand that could have easily been 5-2, on paper the Giants couldn't find a better recipe for success.

San Diego is a very beatable team that relies on 1 Ace (Peavy) and 1 Slugger (A. Gonzales), and have had surprising success from Scott Harrison...but that is all. The Giants aren't even facing Peavy this go around (for a head-head matchup comparison, click here). Better yet, the Giants get to face Kevin Correia so maybe he'll give back a little of what he owes us. The Giants hitting is coming around some (key word, some) and so is their plate discipline. In their first 30 games, the Giants had a total of 77 BB's (2.56/game), 222 K's (7.4/G), & 109 Runs (3.63/G). On the 7 game Homestand, they scored 41 runs (5.85/G) while drawing 21 BB's (3/G) & only 42 K's (6/G). While it is still not the offense we all are craving for, it's enough to win behind once the starting pitching gets back to form.

Seattle is similar to San Diego, except San Diego is playing way above expectations. The Mariners have a very good 1-2-3 front line with Hernandez, Bedard, & Washburn. A healthy Bedard is scary, as he could be the #1 on 23 teams out there by next season. Fortunately,the Giants will miss Bedard this time, but it looks like they will get one of Hernandez/Washburn, and possibly both, going against Cain/Zito. The Mariners are living behind Ichiro...and Russell Branyon??? as they are the only consistent (and good) hitters for them this season. Adrian Beltre, Ken Griffey, Jr, Jose Lopez, & Kenji Johjima are hitting well below standards and the pen had looked, well, very Giantish so far. So if ever there was a quick road trip the Giants could capitalize on, this is it...Or is it?

As my mother always told me, I have a selective memory. This must be the reason I don't remember the 3 game sweep the Padres laid on the Giants back in early April down in S.D. (Nor would I ever recall the same thing in L.A.). So this must be a typo, a misprint I see here on April 10-12, because there is no way my Giants got swept in S.D.... But then again, it must have. If it happened once, could it possibly happen again. Sometimes teams have anothers number, especially in their home park. I hope this isn't one of those years.

And Seattle... And Seattle... Like I said before, they could have 2 of their best going for them and like we love to see first hand, you don't always need to score runs to win. Just take a look at the 5 games the Giants have already won 2-0 or 1-0 this season. Also going against the Giants is history, specifically interleague play. The Giants are .500 in interleague play over 12 seasons. The Mariners, .547. In total head-to-head, the Giants are 9-10 against the Mariners, but only 4-7 in Seattle.

Hopefully an energized Randy Johnson will come out and pitch against his old team like he did against the DBacks.

One thing is for certain, with 16 of the next 22 games on the road,the Giants desperately need to take advantage of 6 very winnable games.

A little magic

2009-05-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

Long live Pablo Sandoval!!! Bobby Howry needs a non save situation...again...

What a great finish. 3 run HR with 2 on, 2 out,2 strikes. Little Panda 3 run HR.

Time to go for a sweep tomorrow

Monday night at AT&T notes

2009-05-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Quick Notes from last nights game. My phone was down, so i couldn't upload directly from the park.

Randy Johnson looked good. Right now, he's on the every other start routine, meaning this saturday might not go so well. As for last night, with the exception of 1...no 2...actually mistake pitches that were launched for solo homeruns, he looked sharp. He didn't fall apart until after spending an excess amount of time walking around the bases. I see him being a 5-6 inning starter all year so bullpen beware.

Emmanuel Burriss is the real deal. He batted leadoff for the first time and didn't get a hit,but did draw an important walk. No, I'm not talking about his hitting. Burriss defense is spectacular. He plays second base like veteran. He has a cannon for an arm and one of the quickest releases i've ever seen. His double play turn is improving quickly and he has plus range. I always wanted to see him as the everyday SS, but if he keeps this up,he's not going anywhere. Stay tuned because his hitting is coming. I think Kevin Frandsen needs to find another position in a hurry.

Randy Winn looks like he is heating up.His stroke looks good and his confidence is up. He's a very consistent hitter so this may be the end of possibly his only real slump this year.

Fred Lewis needs a day off. Maybe 3... Expect to see Schierholtz in the next game.

Travis Ishikawa had an outstanding game.I'm not sure whats better, seeing him come out of his slump,or that over the railing catch down the line.

And last but not least, the Giants won that game based on capitalizing Nationals mistakes. They took walks,HBP, WP's,and Errors...It's amazing how far solid defense & pitching really will get you

A pitching change with 40 man roster implications

2009-05-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

Quick news to pass along. Osiris Matos was sent back to AAA Fresno today and Pat Misch was recalled to take his place. I have to assume Matos was shipped out partly due to his performance as in his 5 games, he had an ERA of 9.00 & WHIP of 2.00. Another reason has to be the recent heavy use on the Pen combined with the extended stretch between off days.

Pat Misch wasn't exactly pitching lights out in Fresno, but was coming out of the pen. He has some starting experience so he should give the bullpen more flexibility come long relief.

I tend to believe this may be Misch's last chance with the Giants. He's been up multiple times over the last 3 seasons with very little success at the MLB level. He also seems to have regressed at AAA recently. The Giants no he can pitch, but will he? It seems tome that it's do or die in the organization for him right now. If he does well over the next week or two, he might survive the return of the pitchers on the DL. Or...

The Giants are a team in need of a plce on the 40 man roster soon. If the Giants decise they need offensive help from within, 2 of the most likely candidates, Jesus Guzman & Dallas McPherson, are not currently on the roster. By my calculations, the two most likely to be bumped are Misch & Brian Bocock (currently in A San Jose, a long way from opening day 2008 in the bay).

Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games

2009-05-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

This just in... A big name power hitter has been suspended for violating the MLB Drug policy, and there are major implications possibly effecting the Giants season...and it's not Barry Bonds...Who you ask?

Manny Ramirez is who.

(Damn, that felt good to say.)

The Dodgers just lost there savior today. Manny-wood is on hold. Dodgers fans are trembling in their flip flops...

(That all feels even better.)

I have to admit, when I first heard the news, I got so excited I think I peed a little. After a few hours of toasting to the Dodgers Misery, I came down to earth. What does this really mean to the Giants? I mean, anything to make the Dodgers suffer makes me happy, yet we're talking a winnable division here and to make matters worse, the Dodgers are leading the way. So what might this actually effect?

For starters, I am so glad the Giants didn't sign this guy. Back when the Jan 1st news first broke of the Giants reported interest in Manny, I was leaning toward trying to bring him in at many unreasonable conditions... Am I glad they didn't find a way to sign him cheaply, then again word was they were looking for a clause to protect them in this exact case so Manny to the Giants probably never had any real legs.

As for the next 50 games and beyond, the Giants have an obvious opportunity to make significant progress on the Dodgers. I saw on ESPN earlier that the Dodgers were expected to win three less games over the next 50... from the current standings, that brings the Giants to3 games back. It could be much worse than that though...Could being the premium word.

The Dodgers aren't going to keepup their undefeated home record, especially now. Their offense is built around a lost slugger, even though they have plenty of firepower left. The keys for them are going to be how the younger players adapt to the Manny-less offense, such as Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, & James Loney. If they struggle with the added pressure, the Dodgers suffering escalates. My guess, they don't. Still, things can get worse.

The Giants have the next three games to control their own destiny and that is all, unfortunately. Barry Zito vs. Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Sanchez vs. Eric Stults, & Tim Lincecum vs. Jeff Weaver. I think we can assume the Lincecum game is a win (I think I'm going to assume every Lincecum start this year is a win and anything less is total disappointment). Sanchez has been very rusty the last two starts since being skipped so he should be due for a good game...yet the Giants tore Stults a new asshole April 29th so there is significant hope there. I think it all comes down to the Zito game. If he steps up and pitches like his last 3 outings, the Giants have a great chance for a sweep. Unfortunately, Billingsley has had everyone's number this year including the Giants twice, April 13th & 28th.

Even is the Giants don't sweep, the Dodgers schedule isn't exactly looking up between now and July 3rd. Of the Dodgers first 29 games, they are 21-8. Their opponents have been mostly the NL West and the combined records are 68-97, or a .412 winning %. The Next 50 are a lot tougher as they their opponents records are 182-198, or a .479 winning %. of those games, they have road series in Philly, Texas, Florida, Chicago White Sox & Cubs, and LA Angels. All good teams, all at, above, or should be above .500 teams when the series rolls around. Losses probably would have begun to pile with Manny, and now...

Looking closer at the pitching matchups, I can see about a 25-25 record, give or take a game or two, with 22-28 a stretch but possible. if the Giants continue to play ball like they are, come Manny's return, they should be in a dead heat with the Dodgers...

...And that is all we can ask for...Competing within the division heading into July, a month before the trading deadline...and doing it without much offense. Anything is possible; If they they are in this position, Brian Sabean will have an interesting decision to make mid July.

Changes are a comin'

2009-05-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

Lookout, things aren't going to stay the same for long. Problem is, there is not much room to tinker with the offense...but they are about to try...

After a miserable night at the plate today, in Coor's Field of all places, GM Brian Sabean must be grinding his teeth down to the nerves... After 1 Month... After 26 games... After a 13-13 record which the starting pitching has kept them in 22 games...After watching the offense produce one of the two worst starts to the year...Sabean is ready to make a move and tonight may just have been the final straw.

For a refresher, the Giants rank last in the NL in HR's, SLG, BB, RBI, Runs, 2nd to last in OBP, Hits, & fourth to last in BA, 2B. Actually, the only thing they have succeeded in is SB's & 3B...So what is the next move then?

First off, you can all but rule out a trade right now. It's too early. Teams usually wait until after the owners meeting at the end of May, and really early mid season trades go down in June. So for a team in dire need now, might have to give up more than want to this early. That means they will have to fill from within.

Options within are limited, as the most major league ready hitters usually make the team out of spring. Fortunately for the Giants, 2 guys are heating up in Fresno at the right time. John Bowker & Jesus Guzman. But who do they replace?

The obvious answer isn't so easy to come by.

Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn, Bengie Molina, & Edgar Renteria all may be trade candidates later on this season, but are firmly locked in for now.

Pablo Sandoval isn't going anywhere for a long time as he is part of the answer, not the problem.

Fred Lewis, while slumping, is here to stay. He may lose playing time, but not his job. He showed last year his hitting ability and they know it'll come back.

The pitching staff is currently at 12 with Sergio Romo due back soon. For the Giants to drop one pitcher for extra hitting on the bench, they'd actually have to give up two to get there. As Wilson, Howry, Affeldt, & Romo are locks, Miller & Medders have been about the most consistent pitchers, and Valdez is out of options, Matos is the only logical player to get sent down. So that leaves 7 ball players to choose from...

Manny Burriss, for all the flak he's taken for his slow hitting start, needs to play. He's shown great maturity and significant improvement in his decision making process as a second baseman. His defense is already in the top half in the league and as the everyday second baseman, he has the ability to be great. That's a far cry from what I was saying going into spring, and while I still think he could be the SS of the future, I don't think they can move him from second. As for his hitting, he has been the hottest Giant hitter over the last 7 games, he is 9-20, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB, HBP, 3 SB. That is .450 BA, .542 OBP, .500 SLG. Not bad, hard to ignore. Even more prevalent is the fact that both AAA second baseman, Matt Downs & Kevin Frandsen aren't running away from the league with their hitting and would both be a defensive downgrade. (That doesn't mean Franny shouldn't be here though). Actually, I think Manny is shaping up to be their best option at leadoff.

Juan Uribe & Richie Aurilia are both loved by Bochy and Sabean, as well as are highly regarded for their veteran presence. They have faith in Aurilia that is well deserved, especially since he's swinging the bat as well as anyone right now. They have faith in Uribe that...well, ummm...I actually have no idea why they have faith in him. He hasn't hit yet, not at all. He gets his due because he can play SS, but I don't see it. (actually, for my money, I get rid of him and bring up Kevin Frandsen and let him split B/U SS with Burriss, but this is not what they will do.) Uribe is safe for now, and probably will be through June.

Andres Torres is hurt and safe.He played his way onto the team and has shown no reason why they should second guess their decision.

Nate Schierholtz...Nate Schierholtz...Nate Schierholtz...what can I say you don't already ask for. He's about to get his chance. With Fred Lewis struggling, Nate is only a few days away from some significant PT. Lewis has a great track record in CO, so expect him to play tomorrow. I bet you see Nate start all three games in LA. Schierholtz is out of options and would definitely get grabbed by someone else, so don't expect any changes there unless more PT is the change.

That leaves 2 players...Eugenio Velez & Travis Ishikawa. Velez still has an option, so expect to see him go first. As a 5th/6th OF, he is expendable. As 2B is his only decent IF position and an unwillingness to lose Uribe, he is covered there. Kevin Frandsen makes a logical defensive replacement, but we're talking offense, not that Franny can't produce that. Ishikawa is a much stickier situation. To dump him would mean to give up on him completely as he likely would not clear waivers. After 4 years invested in him, I'm not sure the Giants are there yet.

This makes it seem as Velez is the odd man out. in that case, the two hottest hitters in the minors are Bowker & Guzman. Guzman brings the highest offensive upside, yet hasn't taken a major league AB, nor is he on the 40 man roster, so Bowker makes more sense right now. Both can play 1B & OF. Bowker's experience might just win out for now...

In other words, expect to see John Bowker on the major league roster by the end of the Dodgers series, with Velez MIA. If you see a 40 man roster spot open up, this tells me the Giants are feeling the pressure and we'll see Guzman up. If not then, he'll probably be up before June anyway. Also, don't be shocked if Franny makes his way up within the next month if not sooner...

As for the offense, stay patient and pray...Pray that the Giants can stay close,long enough to get their offense clicking, because what we see is what we're going to get.

Zito's Rabbit foot?

2009-05-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

It's hard to argue with numbers... It's hard to argue with facts... It's hard to argue against Pablo Sandoval...

Heck, it has been hard to argue for Barry Zito...

So why do I find myself trying to argue with all those things?

Fact: Ever since August 18th of last fall when Pablo Sandoval gave Bengie Molina a day off and caught a Barry Zito masterpiece, the two have worked like a well oiled machine. Many people have begun to wonder if there is more to this than mere coincidence. I think the answer is as easy as Yes... and No!!!

It's no secret that Barry Zito has not performed up to the expectations that came along with his 7 year, $126 million deal. Not fans expectations, not managements expectations, and certainly not his own expectations. So after a little more than 1.5 seasons with the Giants, why did Zito suddenly find a groove that coincided with a catcher change?

The stats don't lie, the simple facts of them...

From the beginning of 2007 thru his August 13th, 2008 start, Zito was caught by Bengie Molina and a few different reserves with similar results. Since then, he has been caught 7 times by one Pablo Sandoval and the results are unquestionably great.

In those 7 starts, the Giants are a perfect 7-0, with Zito going 3-0, in 47Inn, with 37H, 16R, 15ER, 18BB, 30K, 2.87 ERA, 1.67 K/BB, 1.17 WHIP, 5.75 K/9

In the other 62 games he has pitched, the Giants are 22-40, with Zito going 18-32, in 352Inn, with 353H, 217R, 200ER, 176BB, 236K, 5.11 ERA, 1.34 K/BB, 1.50 WHIP, 6.03 K/9

There has to be more than mere coincidence...

Many pitchers over the years have used personal catchers. Most great pitchers will say there is just something to the feel of specific catchers. Pitchers work on rhythm & feel. When they aren't in sync,they don't perform.Some pitchers have to keep a certain pace, some like it fast, some slow. Hitters are constantly trying to throw that rhythm off. Barry Zito had a personal catcher before, Jason Kendall, it just worked that he was the everyday catcher for the A's. Others have done it too.

Tim Wakefield found Doug Mirabelli was the best for his knuckleball. Zito's teammate Randy Johnson used John Flaherty one season. Greg Maddux used a few over the years, Henry Blanko, Paul Bako, & Eddie Perez. Steve Carlton employed Tim McCarver specifically for 4 consecutive years, from 1976-1979. In fact, Carlton, Maddux, & Smoltz all won Cy Youngs with Catchers who would later be a personal catcher. In 1977 Carlton one a Cy Young with his personal catcher. Check out this Baseball Prospectus article from 2006.

So maybe there is more to the Zito/Sandoval battery than pure luck... But I also find it hard to argue against Zito's drive to be great again, his will to bounce back, his refocus on his game.

Zito went into this offseason with a commitment to get better, to make a change. He moved in with his BFF Brian Wilson, a renowned workout nut, to try a different tactic. Zito had always been a "core" guy and mental toughness when it came to his focus. Wilson changed him into an all around physical guy, focusing more on his legs and upper body, as well as his core, than ever before. One way to put it in perspective, in under 3 months, Zito went from 2 pull ups to 19. This workout program is already showing it's effects.

Last year, Barry Zito was pitching in the low to mid 80's, really his fastball was topping out around 82-83 on good days. The last few games, Zito has hit 90 at times and has been around 87-88. It's still not his old 92-94, but it is still early. He has never been an early season guy, with very little success coming in April, yet so far, April of 2009 has been his best since 2003. Don't believe me, Baseball-reference.com has the monthly splits here.

The fact is, Barry Zito is in shape and focused. He is still a good pitcher and could very well be back on track. It is still early, but I think we are seeing the beginning of something special. Whether or not Pablo Sandoval has more to do with it than Zito himself is debatable, but it's hard to argue the facts. I tell you this much, I hope Sandoval catches every Zito start for the foreseeable future.

News and notes from last week

2009-05-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

News I forgot to pass along last week but you probably heard about anyway...

Eugenio Velez was sent to AAA, then recalled a few hours later. Needing to make room for an additional reliever, Velez had been optioned to Fresno before the game 3 days ago for Osiris Matos, then when Andres Torres came up lame that same game and was placed on the 15 day DL, Velez was recalled. Velez doesn't lose his option as the rules state a player must be in the minors for 20 consecutive days.

Barry Zito is looking fantastic if you haven't seen his recent starts...tune in to Sunday's game to catch a look yourself.

Barry Bonds stopped by the other day and thrilled not only fans, but the team and management alike. He's still not retiring and honestly, I don't think he'll ever make that announcement. Too much to lose in the case against collusion. Andrew Baggerly has a great take on it, I recommend you read this.

Scott McClain, the real life Crash Davis, signed on in Japan. At 37, he has undoubtedly seen the writing on the wall when it comes to a big league opportunity. After last fall when he the minor league career homerun leader finally got his first major league dinger, some thought he may get a chance at the open 1B job this spring. After Travis Ishikawa played himself into it, Jesus Guzman learned he might need a new position, and Dallas McPherson signed on in Fresno, AB's surely would begin to fade. To McClain's credit, he is definitely playing for the love of the game. Most of us would love to be in his position and I hope he finds success as long as he keeps playing.

As for Dallas McPherson, he is still yet to report to Fresno... lingering back injury??? that is what is sounds like... many people had called for his signing the last two offseasons and touted him as the power factor the Giants need, but let me point out again...Once a back injury, always a back injury. More on this to come...

In Howry we trust??? Not me...

2009-05-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Watching the game right now at work, 3-0 Giants top of the 8th... I'm trying not to panic but I find myself working myself up... Is anyone else? For some reason, Comcast sports lostthe feed for the tube, yet can still give us the play-by-play...

I can deal with that except Randy Johnson just got pulled after 7 exceptional innings and Bobby Howry is in... Good Lord, please help us...

Nevermind, Howry gave up a homerun, I guess my worries are confirmed...

Thankfully it looks as if Bruce Bochy has about as much confidence in Howry as I do right now. Best managerial descison so far this season... Affeldt in, I'm feeling better...

Here's to a strong outing by Affeldt/Wilson for the 8th/9th...

(and now that the TV feed is working again, i'djust like to thank Comcast fromsaving me from witnessing the Bobby Howry gaffe)

Bullpen Blunders or Offensive Blues?

2009-04-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Giants squandered the game last night against the Dodgers...They freaking gave them the victory! It was bad all the way around. Coaching decisions came back to haunt them. Umpires calls went against them. Poor base running hurt. The offense hit, but not when it counted. The starter was rusty. The bullpen couldn't hang... Is this going to be their thing?

When it counts, they just can't seem to come through right now. The Giants are in a funk. All winter long we heard about the offensive blues... All winter long we heard about the rebuilt bullpen... So why does this first few weeks seem like deja vous?

Taking a look at the full season, the bullpen has been faltering more times than they should. Brian Wilson has had 2 early season blown saves, both behind Matt Cain strong outings... but those happen. Wilson, for all his lore and promise, is still young. He is still only 27. He's just entering his prime... but remember, he's just coming off his first full season in the bigs, as well as one season removed from fighting his way to make the team. Wilson has shown the stuff to be great...an elite closer... he's still learning how to pitch though. He has to go through more ups and downs while learning how to use his dominating stuff against major league hitters...Wilson is not the problem, he's part of the solution...

The rest of the bullpen has had it's share of up's and down's. Brandon Medders has pitched great, but should have never pitched a third inning the other night, then was probably tired 2 days later when he was off. Justin Miller has looked good. Jeremy Affedlt has looked like he should be the "setup" man, but is stuck being the only lefty in the pen (Will Ohman is looking so much better now). So that is the good...

And for the bad. Merkin Valdez has looked off...Straight...hurt??? It's unexplained still why the Giants went with virtually a 5 man pen for 10 days. Is Valdez still hurt? Are they hiding him so not to lose him? It makes some sense, as he has the tools to be a very effective reliever if he can ever stay healthy. A big "IF" as he's coming off his second serious arm injury and is only 27. He seemed to come back much sooner than expected. Another problem has already been addressed as Alex Hinshaw pitched his way to Fresno with his inability to throw strikes. Too bad, the Giants need another good lefty. He will not be back until he can prove himself. (for what it's worth, Osiris Matos has been called up and pitched a nice 1-2-3 inning, his forte. If Bochy can get past his love for Bobby Howry, Matos should find himself in some critical spots.)

And then there is Bobby Howry... Already, he has blown leads three times, including last night. He reminds me right now of Tyler (gulp) Walker. When he's on he's on, but when he's not...well, look no closer than last night. Cubs fans warned us about this. "Better you than us" "Have fun with that signing". But I never thought I'd be scared when he came in...IN APRIL!!! It's too early to call for his release, hell it's too early to think he's not gonna work out...but it's not to early to sound the alarm... Be on the watch and pray Bochy does setup man by committee...But is he really the problem?

The short answer, NO...The long answer, still NO!!! For all the crap I/we have given the pen, it's not their fault they are coming into games with scores like 2-2, 3-2, 3-1, 0-0, 1-0, & 1-2... Those are the 6 times in 19 games the bullpen has blown a lead or tie which ended in a Giants loss. Then again, that is only 11 runs in games scored for the starters...or 1.8 runs... Think it's still the pens' fault for the losses? Try this number... 3...

3 is the number of times the Giants offense has put more than 3 runs on the board for their starters. 11 is the number of quality starts (6+ innings, 3 runs or less) Giants starters have in 19 starts. 3/11...3/19...No matter how you look at it, the Giants aren't scoring runs. To expect the bullpen to be perfect is to expect Barry Bonds to play left field again...it's just not gonna happen. The Giants need to give them some wiggle room. Last night showed all the flaws.

Ishikawa getting doubled off third. Flannery holding back Ishikawa just before that. Randy Winn getting screwed at home. But all those pale in comparison to the 9 runners left on base. The 2 times the bases were loaded and the Giants failed to get a hit. The 6 runners left in scoring position with 2 outs.... This is the problem they've had all year. The are hitting better than last year, but they can't get the big hit. Until they can, this is shaping up to be a long year...

Jekyl & Hyde

2009-04-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Randy Johnson was lifted today after a poor 3 1/3 innings today where he gave up 10 base runners and 2 runs. Johnson threw 81 pitches to his 42 strikes and had 7 BB's to only 2 K's. Johnson's fastball was not at his peak, but was no where near the 84mph crap he was throwing a few starts ago in LA.

Thankfully the bullpen stepped up and pitched brilliantly, as well as the offense came through to recapture the lead. Edgar Renteria continued his hot hitting and Randy Winn found another good swing. The offense didn't do alot, but the hitting was timely and came through with runners in scoring position. In fact, Johnson was the only issue...

It's not the bad day he had, I can live with those. Hell, I have bad days ALLLLL the time. No,what troubles me is it came from our 45 year old fireballer, that has more of a smoking gun now. That and it's happened now twice. I know, he has only had 4 starts and it's to early to see patterns, probably to early to get worried, but that doesn't mean the hair on my next isn't standing up a little right now. I think there is some reason to fret...

If you look closely, Johnson had a very good game going against the brew crew before losing stamina at around pitch 75-80 in the 5th. He was throwing in the low 90's, up to 93mph.

Against the Dodgers, Johnson looked exhausted. Johnson was wild and got pounded (OK, give me your best joke now) More importantly, his velocity was down around 83-84mph, and his offspeed in the 70's. He didn't last long.

The next game was against his old team and he was pumped. He took a no-hitter into the 7th and was eventually pulled to keep fresh. His pitch count was still low, 73 total, but his fastball was topping out at 94-95mph.

And then there was tonight...

I'm not sure what the solution is yet, but the problem seems to be visible. Johnson is getting older and starting to really show his age. Including spring training, he has now thrown 35 innings. His arm should be showing more improvement than a consistant 65-70 pitch limit before fatigue. Also, his age and rest are probably a factor. Johnson doesn't appear to be recovering by his next start. Maybe he needs more rest, maybe he needs to pitch through this.

It would be nice to augment him with a 6th starter and work a crazy funk rotation to keep him fresh, but the Giants pickings are slim. With Joe Martinez out indefinately & Kevin Pucetas struggling,the Giants don't have a quality armquite ready. Bumgarner should realistically wait until fall before seeing action....Maybe Pedro....One things for sure, the Giants need tobaby his arm

A continuing theme...

2009-04-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

For the 6th consecutive game, a Giants starter has been lights out!!! Tim Lincecum threw 8 strong innings tonight with only 1 BB and 5 hits to go along with his 12 K's... and his 1st Win...It was another typical Lincecum performance, although I find it hard to assume a typical performance from him would be expected to be like this for fear of jinxing him. Then again, my superstitions should have zero affect on Lincecum, never-the-less, I still have them. Fortunately, for Lincecum the Giants offense was working today.

Bengie Molina had a big day, hitting a solo homerun as well as a 2 run double. Edgar Renteria hit a solo homerun as well. Fred Lewis & Pablo Sandoval got 2 hits as well. Common theme is these hitters have been carrying what little offense the Giants have been producing over the first 2 weeks.

Another unfortunate common theme is Randy Winn & Manny Burriss both struggled again. Winn at least had a triple late, but has failed to produce in meaningful AB's all season and spring training. Burriss is just in an awful funk. His swing is off balance and he looks lost. He seems to be swinging like he has 2 strikes on every pitch and has only hit the ball hard once in his last 4 games. For Winn, a day off is in store. He needs to sit. He's a hitter and will find his way out, but give him a day off to think that far through...besides, Nate Schierholtz needs a start!!! Burriss on the other hand needs some confidence. It's to early to call for a change, but if this pace stays the same the Giants cannot afford to wait until 150 AB's to make a descision.

Then again, if Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, & Jonathan Sanchez match Lincecum start for start like they have this week, Winn & Burriss can go hitless for the season and the Giants will still win the World Series...

Zito back on track (I'm serious)

2009-04-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

5 in a row!!! 5 consecutive games in which Giants starters have been terrific...That is 5 starters have pitched a gem... 2 runs allowed over the 5 games... Any way you look at it, it always looks good... Yesterday included...

Barry Zito looked like his old self... 7 innings of shutout ball... only 6 scattered hits... 5 strikeouts... 0, that is Zero walks... most importantly, he pitched well.

Call it what you may... Pablo Sandoval was the catcher and they have chemistry, it's hard to argue with their record together... The unseasonably warm weather... A good night sleep for the day game... I think it may just be hard work...

Zito has taken abuse for his contract, me included at times, but his work ethic has never been an issue. He took a different approach his offseason by moving in with Brian Wilson to try and get in better shape...and I think it's paying dividends. Zito's fastball was consistantly around 87-88 yesterday and reached 90 mph at times... Something he just hasn't been able to reach since 2006... His curve ball was sharp, and his changeup more effective. His mental makeup has never been an issue, nor has his desire to win. I think we may be seeing the Barry Zito we've been waiting for...

Keep in mind this was only "one" start, but it's the fourth "one" start like this including spring. All pitchers take a little time to get up to speed( Zito longer than others as history might suggest), but one cannot argue that Barry is improving each time out. We should not expect to see this every time, just like we cannot expect Lincecum to throw 8 shutout, 13 K innings everytime, nor Matt Cain to go undefeated, but I think Barry is in for a great season...

Matt Cain's New Best Friend

2009-04-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Matt Cain must really be enjoying himself right now. He is pitching fabulously. He isn't walking batters. He looks like a smarter pitcher...and the Giants are scoring runs for him. Now lets just pray the bullpen can start t close things out for him.

After the first four seasons of his career, we've seen him lose brilliantly pitched ballgame after ballgame due to the ineptitude of the offense, and the inability of the bullpen to close out games. Given the average pitcher goes through this, but no one at Cains pace. Right about now, Cain must be praying for whatever he can get for help. He must be loving Edgar Renteria right now. After his 3-4, 2 R, 5 RBI (including a grandslam) performance, he must be Cain's best friend. Actually, the Giants are scoring runs for Matty. After the first three games, they are averaging 6.3/game. Much better than the last few years.

2009- Already this year, the Giants are 2-1 on days when Matt Cain pitches. They are also 2-1 on days when they score more than 3 runs for him. Given the one loss they didn't score runs 2, 3, & 4 until a homerun in the 8th, an inning after Cain left with a 1-2 deficit, still the bullpen managed to blow the 4-2 lead in the 8th and 9th, something all to familiar to all Cain fans. As for the other two games, 7 & 8 runs has been plenty, has been refreshing, and has been more than enough to give Cain a warm fuzzy feeling in his stomach to make him think maybe they do care. Kinda like that second (or third) Hot Tottie at Christmas time. Even still, it is early, yet maybe the Ghosts of Cains' past seasons are put to bed. Already, the Giants are at 23% oflast years total number of games they scored 4 runs or more when Cain pitches & 30% of 5 or more.

2008-
8-5, when scoring more than 3 runs for Cain. Out of those 13 starts, the Giants scored 5 or more runs only 7 times, with the team posting a 5-2 record. Of those two losses, Cain left one game in the 7th with a 5-2 lead, only to watch the team squander it and falter 7-8 in the 10th. The other wasn't such a good day for him but Cain still left after 7 with a 6-6 tie, only to watch the bullpen give up another 7 runs in 2 innings.

2007-
7-4, 3-1. Of the three 4 run losses, once Cain left with a 4-2 lead, only to see the Pen give up 4 in the 9th. Another time he was pulled after 6 with a 4-1 lead,only to see the boys give up 4 in the 7th, Once he just got flat knocked out by giving up 7 in the third.

2006-
15-6, 12-4. In Cain's first full season, the Giants had an offense...and they needed it at times with him. 13 times Cain . Of those 6 losses, once Cain left with a 6-4 lead so he could watch the Pen give up 10 runs in 3 innings. Another time he left after 6 with a 3-2 lead to see the Pen allow 4 more runs, and 4 times he got lit up like a Disneyland Parade.

2005- Matt Cain was called up late in the season and made 7 starts. Of those 7 starts, the Giants scored me than three runs 3 times, going 2-1 in those games. One of those games they scored 5 or more runs, winning it.

As we know, the Giants bullpen has excelled at blowing up following a Matt Cain lead. Actually, in Games where Cain has left in position for a Win, or the team has been tied, the bullpen has been worse than bad. It has been horrific. In 2005, out of 7 starts, the Pen blew only 1 lead. In 2006, the blown games grew to 4 out of 31 starts. In 2007, out of 32 starts, the staff lost 8 games for him. In 2008, it was another 7 games out of his 34 starts. This year, the pen has already lost 1 out of his 3 starts. In total, the bullpen has Failed to keep a Matt Cain lead 21 times out of his 107 starts, or 20% of the time. Friggin awful, but the offense has been no better.

As for the offense, it has been no better. In those same 107 games, the offense has scored Zero or One run while Cain is still pitching 39 times, or 37% of his starts. In 2005, it happened 3 times, in 2006 it was 6. In 2007 it happened 13 times and in 2008,it was a full 16 times, nearly half of all his starts. Already this season it has happened once.

Hopefully, things have finally changed for Matty.

First Week Notes and a Vacation

2009-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Been off the grid for a few days. Went to CO to visit family for Easter and stopped by Coor's stadium to see the Phillies pound the Rockies on Saturday night. Also saw the Giants play last week, game 2 vs. the Brew Crew before we hopped a plane to Denver. A few quick thoughts before we move on.

First, the Giants looked good in person. A lot of hustle. Everyone on the top rail in the dugout. They looked to have confidence and swagger. The hit...not great, but they looked decent. A one game sampling just isn't close to enough to tell though. Randy Johnson pitched and looked great. His fastball was topping out around 92 mph, so he's definitely not the same ol' Randy. Hopefully he isn't fully ready yet and still has a few mph left in the tank since the word on him coming into the season was he could still it 94. With the exception of one pitch to Yovanni Gillardo, Johnson was rolling. Then again, the game is made of a whole lot of "one" pitches and Johnson should have never put the ball in a position that a pitcher could hit a 3 run HR off him.

Second, watching the Brewers struggle to hit the Giants staff made me think our pitching might be just good enough to pull us through this season in contention. The bullpen is much better than last year but the jury is still out. I want to see them come in while we are in the lead in a close game a few more times. The Brewers have a very good lineup and it was nice to see them off balance so often.

Third, the Rockies don't look as good as I expected, but they can still hit. Then again, I was at Coor's field. They are definitley going to score some runs this year, but their pitching looked horrendous. De La Rosa threw and looked nothing like the kid who came on strong late last year. Again, it is early...I mean,if Lincecum is struggling then I guess everyone else is allowed a free pass for a while.

Finally, the Phillies....The Phillies... They looked every bit like the world champs. They hit the crap out of the ball. Brett Meyers looked like any good pitcher should while throwing in Denver... Vulnerable yet extremely productive. He limited the Rockies to hits,yet 3 were HR's that just kept carrying. As I watched the 15 hit parade the Phillies put on, I began to wonder...no,more like question the Giants own lineup. It is nowhere near the Phillies. It still has potential, but that was a world series lineup. Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Feliz...and that was with their backup catcher. I tried not to compare to the Giants,but who couldn't?

The Giants have exactly 1 hitter I think the Phillies would trade straight up, position for position. Bengie Molina, and Bengie would probably bat 8th in that lineup...4th in ours. Now, that is not to say, the Giants are not better at other positions, I just think the Phillies may not view it that way. Personally, I would keep Fred Lewis over Raul Ibanez anyday. As for the rest, well, the ones I want, (Ishikawa, Sandoval, Burriss) they are still so new to the big leagues and unproven, you just can't really compare yet. Although, it would take a long, very longtime for Ishikawa or Burriss to reach even a sniff of a breath of being mentioned in the same paragraph as Ryan Howard or Chase Utley...wait, they are in the same one here. Ok, I promise this will be the last time until the day the may actually warrant it. As for Sandoval, if he hits like he should, I don't think their is a Giants fan alive that would rather have Pedro Feliz back instead of him.Then again, Feliz did have some faithful followers. Honorable mention goes to Randy Winn over Jason Werth. Werth really came on strong last year after getting comfortable in the starters role. He has more pop than Winn and is younger, but Winn knows RF at AT&T and is such a consistent hitter. Reality, I'd stick with Winn, Fantasy, give me Werth.

As for the rest of the season, being in Colorado, I was only able to see opening day, the game I went to, and last nights miserable loss to the damn Dodgers. It doesn't appear I missed much in the way of positive things over a 2-5 start. The hitting has been awful, at least that is what it sounded like between catching a few innings on my IPhone and watching Internet updates. The Pitching has been worse, and only because it is supposed to be so good.

One of the early bright spots, Joe Martinez, was crushed by that line drive...Hopefully he is recovering well...And I hope that isn't an omen for the season. As for Martinez, lets just hope he recovers back to full strength and his normal self. He's lucky he cracked his skull because the swelling from his brain could have killed him had it not cracked. He may get back on the mound someday...probably will try...but let's just take it one day at a time. He may never have the same confidence he once had and therefor may not ever be a decent pitcher again. First though, the recovery.

Also, the Giants made one minor Major League FA signing...or was that one major Minor League FA signing? Either way, the Giants made a great move in my estimation,by bringing Dallas McPherson into the organization on a minor league deal. McPherson, a third baseman, as already covered here, has always been considered a top prospect, but never lived up to expectations. He has power that is currently unmatched in the Giants organization, yet doesn't hit consistent enough nor play good enough on defense to have ever broken past that "AAAA" label. The minor league deal allows the Giants to stash him away in Fresno while they see how the Ishikawa/Sandoval tandem works itself out. He can compete with Jesus Guzman for time there and try to learn the skills of another position, like 1B or RF. Realistically, the Giants will give the current corner IF's 100-150 AB's to see if they can get on track, then look to make a move if needed. Look for both McPherson & Guzman to be called upon in June if either Ishikawa or Sandoval falter, or the more likely scenario of an injury to Aurilia or Uribe.One other possibility is a deal. The Giants might just have enough going right for them this year to pull off a major deal.

Final Roster Set...For Now...

2009-04-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

The Giants released the official 25 man roster they will open the season with today. A surprise last minute change appears to have happened which should make the bullpen significantly better. They went with a 12 man pitching staff, 5 bench players, and no dedicated backup catcher...Sandoval shall do for now. Our 2009 San Francisco Giants looks like this:

Starters-
-Tim Lincecum
-Randy Johnson
-Matt Cain
-Barry Zito
-Jonathan Sanchez

Bullpen-
-Brian Wilson
-Jeremy Affeldt
-Bobby Howry
-Merkin Valdez
-Alex Hinshaw
-Brandon Medders
-Joe Martinez

Regulars-
-Randy Winn
-Edgar Renteria
-Fred Lewis
-Bengie Molina
-Pablo Sandoval
-Travis Ishikawa
-Aaron Rowand
-Manny Burriss

Bench-
-Andres Torres
-Nate Schierholtz
-Eugenio Velez
-Richie Aurilia
-Juan (gulp) Uribe

Overall, I like the team. As I've stated before, I'm not too fond of Juan Uribe. Otherwise, with the injuries to Noah Lowry & Sergio Romo, this is a pretty good lineup. I don't fall in line with the thought process that it's good the Giants are keeping their options open, but the fact they let Perdomo go means they are willing to make some tough decisions this year. Not that allowing a rule 5 pick to go is tough, but they certainly limited their options by cutting him loose.

The camp I do fall into is that this roster is most definitely not the roster we will see come May 1st. Sabean will keep working the phone lines. Hinshaw could get wild. Bengie may need more time off. Guzman & Frandsen may play themselves up. Romo may get healthy. Martinez may fizzle. Uribe may strike out...a lot. Valdez may still be hurt. Velez may be, well, Velez.

As for now, I think it's timeto just see how they play it out...

Dallas Mcpherson anyone?

2009-04-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dallas McPherson was cut by the Marlins the other day and is now being linked to the Giants through rumors.

My first thought was GREAT!!! Maybe we can pick up a power hitting corner IF off the scrap heap for cheap...Then I remembered, we already have one...no two...no, actually three...Maybe I shouldn't jump the gun on him.

There is a reason a talent like Mcpherson has been let go by two teams now in two years. There is also a reason he hasn't made that final leap above being a great AAAA player. He sure can hit the long ball. In 2004, he hit a combined 43 HR, between the minors and majors. In 2005, he hit only 16, but was buried on the Angels bench, and out with hip surgery. In 2006, he hit 24even though he rode the pine quite a bit once again on the big club. He was hurt all of 2007 because he had back surgery. In 2008, after signing on with the Marlins, he hit 42 HR in their minors. This spring, he seemed to be struggling mightly. He has always been able to hit for average, with his worst minor league batting season coming in 2008 while batting .275, other than that,he has been a .300+hitter.

His problem has been defense. Just looking at his statistics on Baseball-Refernece.com, his third base defense looks atrocious. His career Fielding % of .917 and his Range/game of 2.37 are far below average...very far. Last season he was quite a bit better, but still below average. He took up 1B a few seasons ago and has done well, but not spectacular.

Bringing him on to the team now would force the Giants into a tough spot. Sandoval needs to play until he proves otherwise. That would mean Ishikawa would be out. Would the offense McPherson brings be enough to offset his defense? Or a better question should be would the total package McPherson brings be enough to offset what Ishikawa brings? I don't think so.

Coming into this spring, Ishikawa had the job based on his defensive history. He has continued that play sofar. It's his offense that has been surprising, at least to me. He has hit for power, hit for average, and spread the ball around. In my view, he has earned the job until he proves otherwise as well, barring the Giants bringing in a proven veteran who is remarkably better.

I would love to see the Giants sign Mcpherson and stash him away in Fresno, along with Jesus Guzman. Let the season play out with what they have and if an opportunity presents itself, give them both a chance.

Personally, I find it hard to believe the Yankees don'tbring him in until A-Rod is back, or the talent starved Padres to give him an opportunity.

Giants Beat The Dodgers

2009-04-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

I just love the sound of those 4 words together. With a final score of 10-8, the Giants beat the Dodgers today for the second time this spring.

Much has been made about the spot start outing Madison Bumgarner made, specifically in striking out Manny Ramirez. More so than this outing though, is what he has shown this spring as a whole...The maturity of a major leaguer. Don't get me wrong, he still has a lot to learn, but it's sure fun to think we might actually have another Tim Lincecum in the minors. Bumgarner has been nothing short of flawless. 8 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 2 BB, 10 K...not bad at all...Looking forward to seeing him this septmeber...

Youth Movement Over after an unsuccessful 26 days...

2009-03-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Manny Burriss won the job today!!!!!!!!

Kevin Frandsen was cut today????????????????

WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Alright, so the Giants (namely Bruce Bochy & Brian Sabean) announced a few roster moves today and allowed some insight into their thinking as to the final roster shape... ... ...and in my wildest dreams, I didn't think this was possible. I thought...I mean I bought into...what i'm trying to say...

...YOUTH MOVEMENT, WHERE IS THE FUCKING YOUTH MOVEMENT???

OK, i'll try to calm down a little and back up...

Kevin Frandsen & Jesus Guzman got their pink slip today, that is both are heading to AAA Fresno. Brandon Medders & Justin Miller were told today, thanks for your hard work, but even though we are likely to keep 12 pitchers instead of 11, you both aren't likely to be one of them...

Sooooo, the team's best hitter (Guzman-.412/.444/.922/1.366, 9 2B, 5 HR, 11 R, 15 RBI) didn't do well enough to make the team. Fan favorite and hardest competitor, who only suffered last year because of injury, hasn't been a minor leaguer since mid 2006 (Frandsen- .274/.333/.384/.717, 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 R, 6 RBI, incredibly solid defense with only 1 error) wasn't enough to stick as a backup, considering he can play all infield positions, and the outfield. (Hell, I bet he can catch too). So, if you have a minor league option and aren't starting, you can't stay up here huh?

How about pitching better than every other reliever in camp not named Brian Wilson? Does 12.3 innings, a 1.46 ERA, 3-1 record with 1 save, 2.5/1 K/BB ratio, 1.05 Whip, & 7.30 K/9 sound like a good enough spring to make the staff??? Not for Medders, he should have been better...Bam, go to Fresno...

No, Medders wasn't nearly good enough for you??? Well, how does this sound? In 7 games... 9 innings, give up 4 hits, NO BB's to 5 K's, 0.00 ERA... just in case you missed it, a 0.00 ERA, 0.44 Whip, & .129 OBA. Not that it's perfect or anything, I mean, I'm sure he could have thrown a few less pitches along the way. No, I think the Giants must have had better options since this wasn't good enough to get Miller into the rotation.

So, the Giants must have one hell of a team to pass on these young guys who fit perfect into A) the biggest offensive need. B) A Young and Strong clubhouse leader to lead the Giants through this Youth movement. C) Flexible movement from the bench. D) An Improved bullpen E) AN IMPROVED BULLPEN

Wait, I was just running down the list of what's left in camp and I'm a bit confused. Uribe & Aurilia are both going to make the team? What do we need two veteran utility IF's for? Velez & Torres are both going to make the team? What do we need two speedy type, pinch runner, 5th OF types? For that matter, what do we need 6 OF's for? When was the last time a team carried 6 OF's? None of this makes sense...

Obviously, right now, the Giants team should look like this: Lincecum, Johnson, Cain, Zito, Sanchez...Wilson, Howry, Affeldt, Miller, Medders, Valdez, Perdomo... Rowand, Lewis, Winn, Ishikawa, Burriss, Renteria, Sandoval, Molina... Frandsen, Torres, Guzman, Schierholtz, Holm...

But balancing roster spots is tough business. Still, it's hard to imagine that 5 of these players aren't going to be there. How does this happen? It's called Brian Sabean... After an offseason full of what I thought were good moves to put the Giants in the best possible position this spring, he then reverts back to his old self at the moment of truth. Where is the Youth Movement now?

It's not as if the youth hasn't done EVERYTHING asked of it this spring, or last season as well for that matter. Sabean still decides to go with the veteran presence. Bochy too!!! Uribe or Aurilia I could see, both played well...but both of them? NO WAY. One is on the downside of his career and the other's upside ended 4 years ago, at 26 years old.

I can only see starting off the year this way under the pretense of inevitable trades...but how likely is that. The FA market was flooded today with IF & OF alike. With guys like Sheffield, Jenkins, McPherson, Lamb, & Pena all available, many teams are going to be a little less likely to be dealt. Given the fact that many Giants had great springs, the likelihood is still there for a trade, but I wouldn't hold out hope. Velez, Uribe, & Aurilia all are probably on the block.

As for the others, it is true that everyday playing time is good for them, especially Guzman learning a new position, but there is something to be said for earning a job even if it is on the bench...

...As for the off season, how's that working out now? Renteria is hitting shitty...and blocking Frandsen....

More Spring Cuts...and a couple of callups???

2009-03-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

...And then there were 32...

With 3 games left in the Cactus league season, the Giants are having to make some tough decisions. Today they trimmed the roster down so that there are only 7 excess players in camp. A few positions are still up for grabs and wide open.

Buster Posey, John Bowker, & Osiris Matos were reassigned to minor league camp. While expected all along, it's still sad to see Posey go. He has been such a refreshing reminder of what is to come and outperformed everyone's expectation except maybe his own. Posey will head to Single A San Jose where he will work with a pitching staff full of exceptional talent including Madison Bumgarner & Tim Alderson. I find it hard to imagine that the Giants won't accelerate Posey this year. One indication the Giants are thinking about him as next years everyday catcher would be a promotion to AA Connecticut where he can learn under the tutelage of ex-catcher and current manager, Steve Decker.

Bowker more or less was caught in a numbers game as somany young players are excelling this spring, he needed to tear the cover off the ball to make opening day...He didn't... He still has been showing his power upside, but needs to work on his overall approach to hitting before making the jump for good. He should end up in AAA and have a chance to play everyday. Look for a midseason call up or two if there are a few injuries in the outfield or to Ishikawa.

Matos showed a lot of promise but was outperformed by a few not on the 40 man roster who deserve to make the staff, as well as the act the Giants only plan to carry 6 relievers. Matos should pitch in AA to start the season, but could find himself in AAA. Expect him to be the first right handed short reliever called up once someone inevitably gets hurt. Also, if the 11 man staff falters early, he could be the 12th man.

Another interesting move was the recalling of both Keiichi Yabu & Ramon Ortiz to compete for the long reliever spot out of the pen. Both had been horrible earlier this spring and were sent to minor league camp to work on their skills. Both had been pitching fairly well since the demotion so this call up may be in part on merit. I don't see either as a good option at this point nor do I think the Giants are actually intending on using them, but a second look never hurt anyone.

More over, this shows the Giants are probably failing in their attempts to acquire the long reliever the are after (for their price) via trade and are trying to show they have other options. They are also probably trying to push Justin Miller & Brandon Medders just a little more to see if they can muster another inning of stamina.

Expect one of two things in the next few days: A trade, or the announcement of a 7 man rotation to open the season. Ideally, the Giants would trade a few players for a quality long reliever & a minor leaguer or two. Look for Luis Perdomo, Merkin Valdez, Justin Miller, Brandon Medders, maybe Billy Sadler or Pat Misch, Eugenio Velez, & Juan Uribe to be a potential trading piece. Ideally the first four all make the team, but it is not likely unless they expand.

A 7 man bullpen makes sense to start out as it gives the starters a few extra weeks to build stamina and the team more time to find a trade partner. By late April, I fully expect to see a 6 man rotation. For now, it's hard to select who doesn't deserve to be part of the 6 out of this: Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Bobby Howry, Merkin Valdez, Brandon Medders, Justin Miller, Sergio Romo, Alex Hinshaw, Luis Perdomo... and don't rule out Will Ohman in the next few days...

A Trade for a Trade

2009-03-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Giants have traded...

...A left handed reliever for a backup catcher...For a minor league pitcher...

Not exactly the eye popping news story most fans have been clamoring to hear this off season. Pretty certain most fans first...second...third...and fourth thoughts were hoping around hope that the Giants brought in a bat. Someone, anyone who might give us just a sliver of more hope for offense heading into the season, because really, that is all we really need. Still, I think this is a decent deal for the Giants.

Jack Taschner's days have been numbered ever since Jeremy Affeldt signed this off season. Even before that, the emergence of Alex Hinshaw last season allowed rumors to surface of his departure. Taschner's late season performance, combined with his fairly awful spring, made me wonder what he could fetch in return. He has shown enough promise in the past to make me think he has the ability to be a setup man, 7th inning, maybe 8th, but certainly a lefty specialist. His wildness...not so much. If you had asked this time last spring what he could fetch, I'm betting it was about a backup catcher and a low to mid level minor leaguer, so all in all this ain't bad.

Ronny Paulino, acquired from the Phillies for Taschner, is a solid backup catcher. A career .278 hitter with Pittsburgh, last year saw him struggle at the plate as a backup and dealing with a nagging ankle injury. As the starter the two previous seasons he was solid. While the Giants didn't exactly have a screaming need for an improvement at backup catcher, never the less he would have been one. The current backup, Steve Holm, performed very well in that roll last season, but had made the jump a few levels to get there, and only has most of last year under his belt in the big show. Paulino, at the very least, would have given the Giants a bit more experience as well as more proven hitting. One thing Holm brings that no one else not named Jason Kendell is, Barry Zito's trust. For some reason, Zito preferred Holm to Molina last fall and once the transition to his personal catcher was made, Zito pitched terrific...If for no other reason, that is reason enough to keep Holm around about 5 more years.

About an hour after completing the Taschner for Paulino trade, the Giants turned around and flipped Paulino to Florida for Hector (not Kevin) Correa. According to Chris Haft, at MLB.com, Correa was "the #3 prospect in the N.Y./Penn league in '07, earning allstar honors with the short-season Class A Jamestown club, going 6-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 11 starts". According to Baseball-Reference.com, Correa just turned 21 and has only pitched in the minors since 2006. It looks like a very short sampling in '06 in Rookie ball, then a full '07, followed by a very short '08 where he only pitched to 63 batters over 12 2/3 innings. In a google search, it appears he had shoulder problems last year forcing him out. Still, he was widely considered one of the Marlins top Prospects so if he bounces back from the injuries, the Giants could have made one hell of a deal. If he never pans out, they still don't come out looking too bad. Taschner was the third lefty in the depth chart, so he wouldn't have provided much in useful situations this year. Good Move.

The 40 man roster dilema

2009-03-24T08:29:00.001-07:00

Really, if you look at the 25 man roster, the way things are shaping up, to field the best team possible it should look like this. Winn, Rowand, Lewis, Ishikawa, Burriss, Renteria, Sandoval, Molina as the starters, and Holm, Frandsen, Schierholtz, Torres, Guzman, Aurilia as the reserves. The problem here is 3 people get bumped from the 40 man roster. Given Velez and Aurilia can be interchangeable but the veteran leadership gives him the nod, especially since Torres can be the pinch runner extraordinaire. Combine that with the two relievers Justin Miller and Brandon Medders who should make the team, and the Giants have a huge, 5 person problem, with the 40 man roster. Usually teams can find a player or two out of spring who are injured to use on non-roster invitees for a while, but I can't recall 5 before. The only way around this is to either expose a player to other teams or make a trade. This is where all these recent trade rumors are coming from.

The front office must really be scrambling right now, trying to find trade partners. Jack Taschner's name has been floated out there, as well as Eugenio Velez, Luis Perdomo and Merkin Valdez. I understand Taschner, as even though he has ~~struggled this spring~~ had trouble ~~since last spring~~ since being called up, he still has trade value. Velez makes sense considering the spring he has put together as well as how he finished last season. Velez still has youth on his side and can play infield and outfield. Perdomo & Valdez, not so much. Good young arms are what the Giants need for the bullpen and both will be used this year. The problem with Perdomo is the rule 5 draft status. He shouldn't make the squad out of camp, so technically he needs to be offered back to the Cardinals. However, he has showed enough this spring to warrant the opportunity for a mid season call up so I see no reason why the Giants won't try to work out a way to keep him.. That would assume the Cardinals to agree to some sort of arrangement, which given the facct that his name has been mentioned in trade rumors make it likely the Cardinals are playing hard ball. Valdez, on the otherhand, should NOT be traded. He is what they need...he is what they are looking for, a hard throwing young right handed pitcher who gets guy out. With the injury history he has, combined with the promise he has already shown at the major league level, the Giants need to hold onto him and wait it out.

So then what are the options. Clearing 5 spots is tough. The Giants will be looking to stock the farm system with some mid range talent that ideally could be called upon mid season. Taschner, & Velez would clear two spots. I can see them dangling Aurilia & Uribe to see what they can get, & keeping the other one. Although this still doesn't help the 40 man roster dilemma, it could still bring in a decent minor leaguer. Other's I expect them to shop, Pat Misch, Waldis Joaquin, and Brian Bocock, but none of them are likely to bring much back, or find a trade partner at this point. A team like San Diego, financially in ruins and in dire need of pitching, may give us a bag of balls and a few In & Out burgers for Misch. A team like the Blue Jays, who are short on SS's, may want try to grab Bocock, but if they offer cash in Canadian dollars, were in trouble because I'm not sure Sabean knows the exchange rate.

Yesterday's news on minor league pitcher Kelvin Pichardo and his suspension for PED's couldn't have come at a better time. Now the Giants have 50 games to learn what they need to about one of these guys.

Noah Lowry should end up on another 60 day injury list, so there is another spot.

As of this morning, the Giants are at 37 players on the 40 man roster, so they are looking good. I expect a few minor trades are coming, but nothing exciting most likely. In addition to above, I expect them to acquire a long reliever, probably some teams 5th starter who have a number of minor leaguers pushing the major league roster. The Marlins fit this bill and Sabean likes to deal with them. Tampa too.

One interesting team is Detroit. They have both Nate Robertson & Dontrelle Willis looking like relievers opening day, and they need a lefty in the pen. Given, both of those two are lefties and have large contracts, but if they take on enough money,one of them could possibly fit here.

The World, Up-side-down

2009-03-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've noticed this spring the impressive hitting being displayed by the Giants Youngsters. I'm also just as sure you've noticed the slumping hitting show the Vets are putting on. But have you noticed the trend...

Here is the Offense, from a Major league service time point of view:

-Richie Aurilia, 13.027
-Edgar Renteria, 12.143
-Randy Winn, 10
-Bengie Molina, 9.077
-Juan Uribe, 7.089
-Aaron Rowand, 7.065
-Kevin Frandsen, 2.083
-Fred Lewis, 1.129
-Eugenio Velez, .162
-Emmanuel Burriss, .162
-John Bowker, .151
-Nate Schierholtz, .078
-Travis Ishikawa, .065
-Ryan Rohlinger, .047
-Pablo Sandoval, .047
-Buster Posey, 0
-Andres Torres, 0
-Jesus Guzman, 0

Now take a look at the team leaders overall offensively:

-Jesus Guzman, .404/.440/.872/1.276, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 10 R, 14 RBI
-Andres Torres, .455/.510/.636/1.146, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 5 RBI, 4 SB
-Buster Posey, .421/.435/.789/1.224, (19 AB) 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI,
-Pablo Sandoval, .417/.440/.625/1.065, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI
-Travis Ishikawa, .327/.351/.655/1.006, 3 2B, 5 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI
-Fred Lewis, .341/.400/.659/1.059, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 10 R, 7 RBI, 3 SB
-Ryan Rohlinger, .269/.269/.808/1.077, (26 AB) 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 R, 11 RBI
-Emmanuel Burriss, .404/.458/.463/.922, 3 2B, 11 R, 6 RBI, 2 SB
-Nate Schierholtz, .316/.409/.526/.935, (19 AB), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
-Eugenio Velez, .327/.352/.519/.871, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 12 R, 9 RBI, 5 SB
-Richie Aurilia, .344/.475/.500/.975, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 3 RBI
-Kevin Frandsen, .333/.397/.474/.871, 5 2B, 1 HR, 10 R, 5 RBI, 1 SB
-Juan Uribe, .283/.283/.435/.718, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB
-Bengie Molina, .283/.298/.413/.711, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 11 RBI
-Aaron Rowand, .229/.260/.438/.698, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB
-John Bowker, .226/.317/.377/.694, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI
-Edgar Renteria, .235/.250/.333/.583, 5 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
-Randy Winn, .240/.250/.320/.570, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 6 RBI

As you can see, the inverse of the order almost holds true to everyone. As a matter of fact, Bowker is about the only significant displacement. What does all of it mean... Well, maybe absolutely nothing, but what is the fun in that. Actually, it could be a sign of good things to come... or maybe a sign of the bad...

Who likes a Pessimist? Yeah, I know, but it would be an injustice to not recognize other possibilities. The Bad... With all of the regulars hitting so crappy this spring, one could justify the nation wide argument that the Giants just can't hit, and the vets are showing their true colors early, getting up there in age, and have lost a step or two. The youngsters full of youth and exuberance, are only hitting well down in the warm desert air and once they get back to PacBell (I still have a problem with AT&T) Park, they will come crashing down. Along with that, the youth movement is too inexperienced to carry the hitting over all season...Yeah, but who likes a pessimist?

I think that this just means the Giants are in great shape. I don't worry too much when I see gamers like Molina, Winn, and Rowand struggling. It's early. These guys will find their stroke soon enough, and Winn seems to be on a roll lately. Renteria was already a question mark coming into the season and what he is doing now is already an improvement on the combined SS numbers from last season. Really, it's the top have that get me excited.

5 of the top 8 hitters, Posey, Rohlinger, Guzman, Torres, & Burriss weren't even expected to make the team and the first 4 of them undoubtedly weren't even really considered. The plan with Burriss, to get him a season at SS in AAA has blown up and Guzman & Torres are causing a major 40 man roster dilemma, as well as a few of the middle relievers. Posey and Rohlinger both won't make the team anyways, but have probably opened a few more doors for Brian Sabean and company. The reality of this whole thing is if the Giants want to field the best team they can out of camp, they are going to have to make a few trades...and not necessarily to get better hitting.

Guzman has earned a job on the 25 man roster. He has the hottest, and possibly the best bat on the team. He has nothing left to prove down on the farm. The problem is,where does he fit, and how to create a spot on the 40 man. Torres has also earned a job...at least he would be the best fifth outfielder. He is much older, and at 31, really doesn't need the minors to show what he has. He just needs an opportunity. He has the same issues Guzman has, how to create a spot.

"Don't get used to the Long Ball!"

2009-03-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

A lot has transpired over the last week down in spring training...

A triple play... Zito pitched a good game...A homerun hitter who says he doesn't hit homeruns... a reliever was cut...then resigned... a minor league trade with major league implications (I silently scream WOOHOO to this one)...Zito pitched a good game... the search is on for a long reliever... the offense is producing exactly to the inverse of their MLB service credit...the WBC...well, we have Sanchez back now, are any Giants fans still watching?...Zito pitched a good game... Sandoval is tough...the Manny & Franny show is heating up...Buster is making a statement...So is Madison...Timmy Jr is not... and Who's at Short?

Oh yeah, did I mention... BARRY ZITO PITCHED A GOOD GAME!!!

Well, it seemed like a lot as I was sifting through all the info, maybe it is anyway. Let's take a look.

Ryan Rohlinger started what turned out to be a triple play today on a ball hit by Oakland's Bobby Crosby. Not that it has any significance on how good the defense may or may not be, but noteworthy never-the-less. A Triple play just shouts Baseball at it's most basic,most fundimental level, as it is one of the most rare of all plays.

Travis Ishikawa broke out of his mini slumpin a big way today with 2 homeruns and a single, bringing his spring total to 5 along with 10 RBI's. As Henry Shulman pointed out, Ishi had 27 total homeruns last year, but when interviewing him after todays game, Travis said he's not a homerun type hitter and for the fans to not get used to it. I have news for you Travis, too late! You may not want the pressure, but you can't take away the fact that you actually hit 27 homeruns last year...11 more than team leader Bengie Molina. Fans have gravitated towards Ishi because he represents hope and promise and youth. No one is expecting Ishi to take the league by storm,or even be the 3rd best hitter on the team for that matter, but we do get to hope. Along with a defense that the Giants won't have seen since JT Snow (not that he will be that good), but a 20+ homerun, .260 BA season given 500 AB's is not too much to expect...and it will be an improvement overall.

Keiichi Yabu was released Friday after already being optioned to AAA 2 weeks ago. Yabu posted pretty good numbers last season for being plucked from obscurity and teetering on elderly. Factoring in his age of 40, the apparent need for Long Relief due to wanting to keep 11 pitchers, and the question of what to do with Andres Torres and Jesus Guzman, presumably he was simply caught in a numbers game along the lines of the 40 man roster...

Keiichi Yabu was resigned today to a minor league deal and thought as a possibility to rejoin the 40man roster later this season if the 11 man thing fails or injuries add up. I smell a change is a comin at the major league level, and not the pitching...

Lefty just dropped a tidbit at the end of his latest post that a minor league trade with the White Sox just happened. Apparently the Giants will recieve SS Sergio Santos for future considerations. Andrew Baggerly thinks he will be the starting SS at AAA Fresno...because Manny Burriss looks like he will make the team... Oh Yeah... I want to see this happen. It's tough, because Manny has shown enough promise at Short to make me believe he can be the SS of the future and a season in Fresno might be perfect for him, yet I want the Giants to win and win now.How can you argue with his spring and performance on the big club last spring...More on this later...

Suddenly, all the Giants off season bullpen work doesn't look like enough. From a group including Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affedlt, Bobby Howry, Sergio Romo, Alex Hinshaw, Merkin Valdez, Jack Taschner, Keiichi Yabu, & Billy Sadler, along with Brandon Medders, Osiris Matos, Justin Miller, Luis Perdomo, & Ramon Ortiz, I thought surely the Giants would have a quality pen out of the gate, maybe top 5 in the NL. Suddenly they are shopping though. An injury to Valdez last year isn't healed... Romo is hurt and could be out longer than expected... Hinshaw is running through sophmore struggles... Howry looks old (well, he kind of is) even though he's been effective thus far... Taschner seems to think walks are a good thing... Yabu is gone, kind of... Sadler is showing his minor league stuff, I think he forgot which camp he is still in... Ortiz really was washed up 5 years ago... and Perdomo looks like a rule 5 draftee for a reason... Now, the last three (Matos, Miller, & Medders) have been nothing short of unstoppable, but that is against late inning spring training hitters and there is the continuing theme of 40 man roster spots. Still, an out is an out... Let's see, that leaves us with a closer and two setup men, a minor leaguer with 20.3 total big league innings of so-so pitching, and two non-roster invitees. What to do with the staff?

This must be the reason why the Giants have recently been linked to Will Ohman, who wants about $1.75 mil for this year, plus incentives. I don't see the problem with that, MAKE IT HAPPEN SABES! As well as the daily rumors regarding wanting a long reliever. Indeed they would need a inning eater/spot starter who can chew up 4-6 innings if needed. They have a few options in Pat (ughh) Misch or Joe Martinez, but both would be better suited starting in AAA. I can see a trade involving a few of the players mentioned like Eugenio Velez or Jack Taschner. There is not much left on the FA market and you're not gonna convince Pedro Martinez to be the 6th starter, so a trade should be in order. On second thought, if they can't find a good match now and go with Ughh or Martinez, they may have plenty of options in a month or two with potential blockbuster trade chips...again, more on that later.

Have you noticed how the offense is doing. Staggering to me is WHO is producing, not as much HOW. I'm going to write on this next in more detail, but for now... The best hitters on the team are the guys making the least money and off the 40 man roster, followed by the guys fighting to make the team, followed by the guys who should be on the team,followed by the guys who make the most and we couldn't rid ourselves of very easily or at all... What I mean is, a potential problem.

The WBC... Puerto Rico is out... The Giants are together again... Opening day is 17 days away... ... ... Oh yeah, Team USA is still in it. Horray... Sorry to them though, I'd trade a WBC title for a World Series title ANYDAY... Still, I have to admit, it's been fun to watch.Any Baseball is good baseball...Well,there was that one day my sophmore year of HS when we beat Grant HS 43-1 in 4 innings. That wasn't very good baseball. But I am a fan of the WBC,I just don't want it interfering with my Giants. And then there is rooting against team USA for a few innings the other night until the Puerto Rican coach pulled Sanchez and made me not feel like such a traitor anymore... But I just don't think it's right the way it is. Something has to change in it. Not sure what yet, but I'll let you know when I figure it out.

Pablo Sandoval got popped in the mouth by a hard smash to third. This just in, he's tough. Afterward, Sandoval said he liked the experience. Awesome, my kind of attitude. He may not be the most graceful 3B we've ever had, nor the best, but at least we won't be able to attribute any mistakes to being scared of the hot corner. I mean, he's a freakin catcher for shit's sake, he shouldn't be scared. Still, with that attitude, I can see him getting much better.

"What's on Second?" Seems like that is the question of the spring. The most competitive job on the club at first seemed to have implications of one would start in Frisco and the other in Fresno. Not so fast... Emmanuel Burriss & Kevin Frandsen have performed so well, they have their own show now... "Manny & Franny"... Really, the fact is they have both performed remarkably well this spring and have put Bruce Bochy and his staff in a tough spot. Right now, there is no favorite. It is in a good way at least. They have also created a problem for Brian Sabean. Baring a complete and utter collapse, both players have earned a spot on the big club, something the Giants undoubtedly didn't expect. The plan all winter once Renteria was signed, was to have Burriss start the season at Fresno, and try to be the Giants starter there next year... Well, that plan is out the window now. Now the real problem is which players are going to be expendable, considering outside of the two of them, Sandoval, Ishikawa, and Lewis, the best offensive players have been the non roster invitees, Guzman & Torres. Stay tuned.

A noteworthy observation unlikely to have an impact on the opening day roster, but could totally change the dynamic of the team come November, and quite possibly July. Buster Posey is tearing up spring training, both offensively and defensively.... Madison Bumgarner is virtually unhittable, but in a smaller sample size from Posey... Tim Alderson is NOT!!!

Posey is looking like he may be ready this year after all. He wont make the team, but he is hitting .421/.435/.789 in 19 AB's, and has displayed more power than anyone expected, hitting a ball 435'. His defense has been even more spectacular, saving a run on a difficult block and another on a running catch. What is significant here is a hot start to the minor league season would likely prompt the Giants to let Molina walk after the season instead of trying for a one year deal. I could see them also looking to deal Molina come the summer as Molina likes it here and at his age, physical prowess, and the current FA economy, he will likely be a Type A FA and except the Arb offer to stay...Bumgarner could do the same. No one expects another Lincecum type vaulting through the minors, but if he gets hot early, and one of the pitchers goes down, I see the Giants could possibly make Sanchez, or,god hlp me, Matt Cain available....Alderson just ooks like a guy not quite ready for the competition. He will be better served on the slow track for this year. He has great stuff, but is nervous and unconfident this spring. Just as a kid should be when facing these guys at his age.

Zito dropped an interesting statement when talking about the infield. "Who's at Short?" Some of the reporters have taken it as a potential jab at Renteria, or a sign that maybe he doesn't own the job. I think those are a little overblown and it's more of Zito being surprised that all the questioning was good spirited and non confrontational after his good outing, as well as most of the questions being directed towards second. He's probably so used to defending himself, he tried a joke and it sailed right over their heads...But it got me thinking. Maybe Renteria isn't as long for this team as we thought. He really is only signed for this season, as next year is a team option. Given the Manny & Franny show going on, is it possible Sabean is rethinking the decision to sign Renteria. I think it's entirely possible that the Giants entertain offers for him this summer as they watch the season unfold, and if Burriss continues his play, we could see a deal, regardless of the teams record...

On that note, It is entirely possible the Giants trade Molina, Renteria, an Randy Winn this season, and still stay competitive...Maybe we will actually see the farm bare it's fruit in '09 instead of '10.

And last but certainly not least...Barry Zito pitched a good game the other day... 6 IN, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 ER. I'll take that EVERY DAY!!! Scouts sound confused as to whether the radar gun was reading 81-83 or 83-85 MPH. Either way, not real fast, but i'll take the faster one if I get to choose. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a fan of Zito. I want his to win so bad. I think he can bounce back. I like his attitude and determination. He's a good teammate and a hard worker. He hasn't lost his ability due to being lazy. But he still has that contract and has to live up to it. Sure, the Giants would be thrilled to have a 14 win season with him as a 4th starter, but that isn''t what they planned on. Zito needs to keep working and trying, and we need to stay on top of him. We'll folllow him closely throughout the season and keep you posted.

How the Giants offense is better, Part 3

2009-03-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Now 15 games into the Cactus League schedule, the sampling size is much larger, but the competition still close. Ishikawa is leading the way a first, but Bowker's bat is heating up a little. Sandoval is doing what he did last year, but Guzman is showing why the Giants can't forget about him at third. With Roberts gone and a 5th OF spot now up for grabs, Velez is showing why he deserves to make the team, but some guy named Andres Torres is saying not so fast...and then there is Second Base. Burriss and Frandsen are locked in a dead heat to win the job. Everyday it seems, one moves in front of the other, and then back. They have both been playing so well on both sides of the ball, it is surely going to come down to the last day of camp.

But besides the open jobs, the team seems to be hitting extremely well. All of those mentioned above are lighting up the spring, or at least hitting better than expected. Some of it is in garbage time, against pitchers who are the opponents equivalent of our Pat Misch, Ronnie Ray, Jessie English, or Kelvin Pichardo...versions of pitchers who either aren't good enough or just not ready to make a big league roster, and later in the games. But not as much of it is in garbage time as you might think.

Sure, the Giants do lead the majors in Homeruns...What?...huh...well, maybe it is more garbage time than I think. We do have guys tearing up the spring later in games such as Ryan Rohlinger, as Lefty pointed out here. But we also have guys hitting well early and those are the guys who count.

Here are the inning by inning scoring lines for the Giants:
1-4
2-5
3-7
4-7
5-10
6-18
7-6
8-21
9-11

Although the scoring is bottom heavy, specifically the 6th and 8th innings, it doesn't nescessarily mean it's only from garbage time. Teams often pitch starters only a few innings, 3-4, this early, but they also occasionally pitch a second starter following the first for another 3-4 innings, such as the case when the Dodgers started kershaw and followed him up with McDonald. Regularily teams pitch closers and setup men in earlier innings, such as the 6th, 7th, or 8th to ensure they face tougher hitters early on.

So far, the opponents starters Giants have faced are Sowers, Wolf, Grienke, Silva, Bush, Davis, Ramirez, Kershaw, Cahill, Moseley, Morales, Eveland, Adenhardt, Parra, and Feldman. Combined, the starters have pitched:
INN H R ER BB K HR ERA
41.1 35 19 16 8 17 3 3.49
This list comprises opponents relievers who are either the closer, setup men, a few starters coming out of relief, or relievers from the previous seasons bullpens who are expected to make the team. Chulk, Herges, Weaver, Stults, Broxton, Mota, Soria, Batista, Villenueva, Rouch, Peguaro, Davies, McDonald, Elbert, Mota, Oliver, Bulger, Speier, Hirsch, Simmons, Speier, Aguilar, Donnelly, Mendoza, and Register Combined, these relievers have pitched:
INN H R ER BB K HR ERA
33.1 49 30 25 12 22 5 6.76

As you can see, the Giants are having some success early on against the starters, and significant success against the relievers. Compare the starters numbers to those of the Giants and consider Sanchez isn't included here, and you can see how much better the Giants look. Lincecum, Zito, Cain, and Johnson in 12 starts:
INN H R ER BB K HR ERA
30.1 25 10 10 10 29 2 2.90

Of the 23 homeruns, obviously that is somewhat of an illusion as only 8 have come against teams top pitchers, but then again, no one is arguing the Giants are apowerful team. As for the rest, it is spring and it is early, but all this is marred when you compare the fact that the Giants big 3 hitters, Bengie Molina, Randy Winn, and Aaron Rowand are struggling mightly.

Returning Vets: Winn, Aurilia, Molina, Rowand-
Combined, they are: 20-99, 6 2B, 3 HR, 5 R, 11 RBI, 0SB, and a line of .202/.261/.354/.615

Returning Kids: Lewis, Burriss, Velez, Bowker & Holm-
Combined, they are: 38-132, 7 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 27 R, 17 RBI, 8-11 SB, and a line of .288/.338/.447/.785

New Additions- Frandsen, Ishikawa, Renteria, Uribe, Sandoval, & Schierholtz-
Combined, they are: 35-114, 5 2B, 6 HR, 14 R, 17 RBI, 0 SB, and a line of .307/.336/.509/.845

Fighting for a Roster Spot- Uribe, Rohlinger, Torres, Guzman, & Downs-
Combined, they are: 39-108, 12 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 22 R, 26 RBI, 2-3 SB, and a line of .361/.384/.722/1.106

These last 5 are impressive, but the majority of the AB's have come against the lesser talent. Still, Uribe and Guzman have been tearing everyone up and are making for strong consideration this year. Rohlinger is doing most of his damage in the 8th and 9th innings and Torres is making a case for himself. Stay tuned for more.

First Spring cuts

2009-03-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

As we approach 1 month since pitchers and catchers reported in this World Baseball Classic extended version of spring training, we find teams have more time to evaluate the talent in camp. That is why I did a doubletake when I saw the names of the first five players reassigned yesterday... 1 in particular... Pat Misch, Ramon Ortiz, Todd Jennings, Ronnie Ray... and Josh Phelps...Can you guess which one surprised me?

I get the first four, I mean, eventually another 25+ will be sent packing and this early spring movement allows for more concntration on thoswho might actually help the team this year.

Pat Misch has been incredibly inconsistent over the last 3 seasons of call ups, nothing appears to have changed in the last month, and he's not exactly going to beat out Lincecum/Cain/Johnson/Sanchez/Zito so why keep him around. Ramon Ortiz is trying to make a comeback at the big league level, but he hasn't been effective against MLB hitters in 4 years and looked liked he was advertised over his first few spring outings...washed up...so lets give more innings to someone who can help the bullpen. Ronnie Ray was a long shot anyway and with the non-Roster Invitees of Medders, Miller, and Beltran pitching so brilliantly, Ray had no shot. Jennings is behind Molina, Holm, Posey, Sandoval, Whiteside, and Williams on the catchng depth chart so with the loss of 3 pitchers, someone had to go...Josh Phelps on the otherhand...

Josh Phelps just doesn't quite make complete sense to me. He was brought in as a non-roster invitee, so his shot was long to begin with. But with no first baseman, no real power in the lineup, and his experience, he seemed like a guy who would actually have a shot. Phelps has more raw power than anyone in camp. He has never shown the ability to hit consistent at the major league level, but if he ever figures things out, he could be like a slightly lesser version of Adam Dunn. More like Adam Dunn at the 30 home run level than the 40-45 homerun level. Still, that's 14 more homeruns than anyone had last year...thatis IF he figures things out too, not nescessarily a given either. So why is his spring done already? Why is he among the first cuts?

For starters, look at his Spring line... 4 games, 8 AB's...and that's all... Or as the famous Ausin Powers once said about the 80's, "a flock of seagulls and an oil shortage. That's all." Bruce Bochy said after the cuts were announced that Phelps has been battleing a nerve injury all spring and he most likely wouldn't be healthy until after spring ends. OK, i'll buy that. If he really is injured, he has no shot. Still, it's dissapointing in a way. I didn't want to just hand the job to Ishikawa or Bowker, but keep pressure on them all spring.

Then again, both Ishi and Bowker are doing a fine job competeing against themselves so maybe in another month, we'll forget all about Phelps and have a hard time recalling if he was in the 2009 camp or the 2008 camp.

Dave Roberts sent packing

2009-03-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Giants severed ties with Dave Roberts, creating a much needed roster spot and playing time for the likes of Nate Schierholtz and likely Eugenio Velez. More importantly, the Giants ate $6.5 million still owed to Roberts for 2009. Not that this frees up any more money for this season, but it definitely helps paint the picture for the future a little more clearly. Now the Giants will have all of 2009 to see what Schierholtz can do.

Roberts had signed a 3 year $18 million deal back in the winter of 2006, was do to come off the books after this year. Still, he didn't exactly fit into the get younger and better plans. I'd like to say I called this as i've been refering to his immenent dismisal all winter, but I think everyone else saw it coming as well. Roberts was overpaid from the beginning, but in this economy, was grossly overpaid. Give Lefty credit here, he predicted if Roberts were a free agent this offseason, he would be forced to retire. It may yet happen.

The bottom line is Dave Roberts is now gone and the Giants have the room to try out some talent. If at some point this season, they have the ability to add another player via trade, they now have a clearer path to a roster spot. After this season, The Giants will now know better whether or not Nate Schierholtz can slide into Randy Winn's RF spot, they need to resign Winn, or make a run at a Matt Holliday.

Giants Beat The Dodgers

2009-03-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the delay, as many of you know, this happened a few days ago. Still, I feel obligated to tell you (only because I love to say this) that the Giants beat the Dodgers the other day. I know it is still only spring training, but a win is a win is a win when we are talking about the Dodgers.

We are so happy here at Nuschlers News to announce a Dodger beat down that we are going to provide a year long tally of it, so stay tuned for more of these same headlines. Hopefully the Giants can run the table on them and make it 20 more. Next up, April 1st in another exhibition...

The Manny fallout...

2009-03-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

Manny Ramirez signed the today with the Dodgers. A 2 year, $45 million deal. It is $25 million this year with an opt out, both years have deferred money. This is basically the same deal he had on the table in November and it is essentially $5 million more than he opted out of to become a F.A.. So in the end, he got more money, but no where near what they were shooting for. It also seems apparent that NO other teams ever became involved in the bidding process. Not even the Giants...

Unfortunately for the Giants, their fans did become involved in the bidding process and Manny signing elsewhere may have bigger repercussions than Bill Nuekom or Brian Sabean ever envisioned. Kinda like CC Sabathia, except this time only worse. You see, losing out on an ace lefty starter isn't too bad when you have the pitching staff the Giants have, but losing out on the best power hitter in the game when when the best you currently have is the equivelant of Dan Gladden as clean up or when your fans are used to seeing someone in the likes of a Barry Bonds back there, is potentially dangerous.

Already, when the ink isn't even dry in Los Angeles, fans are calling up local radio stations complaining how the Giants made a huge mistake or heads need to roll. I heard one guy switch his allegiance to the Athletics after this (go then I say). But the reality is, fans are mad. It's not just that Manny signed with the Dodgers, but the Giants didn't really even try... No offer was made... Heck, by the sounds of it in Henry Schulman's latest write up, the Giants didn't even want him. I understand the objective of trying to force the Dodgers to overspend and lock up more money, but someone forgot to tell the fans they were just kidding.

Just for the record, I didn't really want manny, but deep down I did...or was it, I really wanted Manny, but deep down I didn't...I think i'm flip-floping more than John Kerry in 2004 right now. Actually, I said this: I think the Giants should sign Manny to a short term, incentive laden deal, but not to over commit which is what will probably be needed. In the end, he got more than I thought the Giants should go to. Still, the damage has been done and the Giants front office has some repair work to do.

Fans thought they might get offense this off season, considering they've needed it for about 4 years now. Edgar Renteria just doesn't scream "the offense is fixed". As I'm trying to lay out here and here, I think the offense will be just fine, but that's not the perception the fans have. And if things don't go right early, the Giants will be hearing the fans Manny beef not only on the airwaves, but in the box office as well. You see, Manny undoubtably would have brought more fans to the seats, more beverages and food purchased, more merchandise collected...hell, maybe a new line of marketing dreadlocks... But what Manny also was to bring was a lot of the fans on the fence BACK. The Giants have had 4 consecutive losing seasons and never in the history of the franchise have they lost 5. Not even in New York. Some fans are debating how to spend their hard few earned dollars in this piss poor economy and most everyone has less disposable cash to part with. The Giants are facing the probability that many loyal and devoted fans simply cannot afford to come to the ball park this year and not having a Manny Ramirez in the lineup is one more reason to stay away.

Some hard desicions are going to have to be made this year by many people and certainly the Giants will have a few. Here's hoping they start the season off on the right foot and find away to make an improvement trade versus a trade to save money because no one will show at the park.

How the Giants offense is better, Part 2

2009-03-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

After 6 games this spring, the Giants are showing some life offensively. You have to look hard to find it, but if you look just right, it's there. The 2-4 record is misleading, but then again, isn't all of spring training? The guys who have the most to gain, seem to be playing the hardest. Second base is wide open, and only because all three vying for it are playing superb. Ishikawa appears to be putting his stamp on first, and Pablo is holding his own at third. As a matter of fact, the only ones really struggling right now are the Returning Vets. There is a breakdown here on what I'm refering to in this...

Returning Vets- Rowand, Molina, Roberts, Aurilia, & Winn-
Combined, they are 7-43, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 Runs, with a line of .162/.217/.302/.519
Given that Randy Winn is still ofer the season, this will improve. Also, the chance Dave Roberts makes the squad at all gets slimmer by the pitch, and even if he does, he will be useless, so his total AB's will probably be negated. Also to note, Rowand, Winn, and Molina are all very experienced and professional, and there isn't a single expert out there who expects them to have a worse year than last season so we can expect improvements overall here.

Returning Kids- Lewis, Burriss, Velez, Bowker, & Holm-
Combined, they are 14-55, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 9 Runs, with a line of .254/.280/.382/.662
Still not an imposing line, but only Lewis here really ought to see significant opening month action. Velez is playing his way into a key reserve role, but not likely to be a starter. Burriss is hitting terrific and making it very difficult to send him down, though I still see that as the only place for him barring an injury. Bowker is struggling, and his 2-13 makes this line look so much worse. The important thing to take from here is Lewis appears to be playing healthy and relatively pain free. Give him a month to get his confidence back in the foot and he'll be on fire.

New Additions- Frandsen, Ishikawa, Renteria, Uribe, Sandoval, & Schierholtz-
Combined, they are 22-69, 6 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 10 Runs, with a line of .319/.356/.580/.936
A very good looking line there. It is a very limited sampling, but still nice to see. Remeber, none of these players with the exception of Sandoval, had any significant role on this team last year, and he only played for 1.5 months. Last year, Fred Lewis led the team with an OBP of .791. Pablo but up .847 in 145 AB's, roughly 1/4 of a full season. These are the players to watch this spring, here is where we will see if the offense is drastically improved.
In this group consist of the starting 3B, SS, 2B, & 1B, as well as the fourth OF and a role player who could see significant time under Bruce Bochy. It's important to understand that there are no exceptions here. If Renteria can produce his career low numbers last year, it's still a better line by far than the combined Giants 2008 SS. Sandoval replaces Jose Castillo and Rich Aurilia, not that Richie can't hit, but Castillo was a butcher and took most of the PT. Frandsen looks like he finally gets his shot now that Durham is gone.
The bottom line is these players will see significant time on the field and all have the realistic potential to far out produce those they have succeeded.

How the Giants offense is better, Part 1

2009-03-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

So, the first week of Spring games is virtually in the books and the Giants are 2-4. On the outside, it may not look great, maybe not even good...but I'm here to tell you otherwise. At the end of last season the Giants had a few major...well, through all of last season, the Giants had a few major needs to address.

This offseason, they attempted to and appear to have done a good job. The bullpen was lacking consistency as well as about 5 effective arms. They added Howry and Affedlt. They needed 1 solid innings eater for a fifth starter. They added Randy Johnson. They lacked middle infield depth, or all infield depth. They added Edgar Renteria. They needed a power hitter, or any power, or any middle of the order hitter, or any upgrade offensively...they added...well, they didn't address this one small issue...Or did they???

Last season, the Giants started the year with Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn, Dave Roberts, Jose Castillo, Omar Vizquel, Ray Durham, Rich Aurilia, & Bengie Molina as the opening day starters. By the end of the season, only Rowand, Winn, & Molina were everyday starters. Unseated by players from within the system, the Giants found multiple success stories and quite possibly some very useful players for the next 5+ seasons. The same goes for the bullpen as well.

Going into this spring, most baseball observers say the Giants didn't do anything to improve. I'm here to tell you maybe they didn't need to. For the purpose of this spring, I'm going to break the players into 3 categories: Returning Vets, Returning Kids, and New Additions. We'll take a look at how they are doing and compare them to Last years players they are replacing. Also, we'll only look at the most likely and projected lineups. If that changes as we go, we'll change as we go.

The Giants likely opening day lineup should be:
1-Randy Winn
2-Edgar Renteria
3-Fred Lewis
4-Bengie Molina
5-Pablo Sandoval
6-Travis Ishikawa
7-Aaron Rowand
8-Kevin Frandsen/Manny Burriss

the bench is likely to consist of: Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez, Nate Schierholtz, Steve Holm, Dave Roberts/Richie Aurilia/John Bowker

My money tells me that unless Burriss is the greatest show in Scottsdale or Kevin Frandsen gets hurt, he is destined to go to Fresno as a SS. I love his game and want to see him in SF full time, but Uribe is the writing on the wall.

The Returning Vets consist of Randy Winn, Aaron Rowand, Bengi Molina, Dave Roberts, and Richie Aurilia.

The Returning Kids consist of Fred Lewis, Manny Burriss, Eugenio Velez, Steve Holm, and John Bowker

The New Additions consist of Juan Uribe, Nate Schierholtz, Kevin Frandsen, Travis Ishikawa, Edgar Renteria, & Pablo Sandoval.

New additions are based off not playing with the team for more than the late season call up last year. Pablo, only because his was over such a short span. Fred Lewis I consider a returning kid because he wasn't the given starter going into last season and has only 1 full season under his belt.

Check back in regulary as we'll keep a running total this spring based on these factors.

Is the sky falling?

2009-02-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I know I said no more analysis until the spring games started, tomorrow... but something came out of the intersquad game toady I just couldn't pass up...Barry Zito looked good!?...$# huh, I'm not sure how to end that statement. Does anyone else know the appropriate ending to that statement?

Barry Zito looked good+/>!:;@

...huh, I've never written that one before...

Anyway, on to today. Zito was scheduled to start and pitch the first inning, against Randy Johnson. We was so sharp and good, his pitch count so low, they gave him the second inning as well. Zito's velocity appeared to be up and his curveball down. His change up was sharp and he only allowed a runner to first. The latter part I don't care about.

Wow! Could this be a sign of things to come? Did the offseason overhaul with Brian Wilson work magic onto him? I mean, from 2 pull ups to 19 in 3+ months IS impressive.

What's more impressive to me is the fact that he looked sharp. Zito has never been an effective early season pitcher and even in his great years with the A's, he struggled in spring training.

Did Zito finally put the time and effort into the offseason that might allow him to show his good form all year? Is he going to earn that money this year?

Only time will tell, but I tell you what, I'm encouraged. Judgement will wait until more games are played. For now, I'm going to relish in the thought that we might actually have a Cy Young award winner as our number 4 pitcher, and not the fact that we have Barry Zito of the last 2 years pitching there.

Oh, what a thought, what a difference a good Barry Zito would make...

Game time baby, The wait is over!!!

2009-02-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

As I sit here tonight and watch the ground dry from another day of much needed rain, I wonder how I ever made it through another winter without a ball game. November thru February is such a long time to watch paint dry... water boil... grass turn green. I mean, let's face it, everyone loves Football, but it's not baseball...and they only do it once a week.

I love all sports. Well, not really. Basketball just doesn't cut it for me anymore, it's too star player dependent, not enough of a team sport for what they promote. Tennis doesn't cut it either, although I LOOOOOVE to watch woman's tennis, just can't get into the sport.

Thank god for the Amgen Tour of California this past week, because the cabin fever was starting to get to me. Oh man, only 24 hours to go...

The Giants first spring training game is wednesday, against the Indians. Timmy is supposed to start. For he first time in years, since Barry Bonds injury, I am actually excited about the product we get. I think this is a team that can win the division. They may not have a great record and may only win 85 games, but by george, they can make the playoffs...and anything can happen there, just look at the Cardinals a few years ago.

It's time to put projections aside, lay down the arguements on who should start and where the offense is going to come from. it's time to see what IS going to happen...

Is Noah or Jonathan going to be the 5th starter and the other traded? Now we get to see them duel it out.

Who should be the starting second baseman, Kevin, our Manny, or E-U-G-E-N-I-O? Let's just see if their abilities shine through.

Is Dave Roberts going to get cut? Albeit I think it's innevitable, now we get to see if he wants to prove his worth.

Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz? the future is not only here, but it's time to see the action

Can Pablo repeat AND play third? Does Jesus make the jump? What happens to Travis? How about the kids in camp, Buster, little big Tim,and Madison? So many more questions, a winter's worth...

Ahh, but so many answers are on the way.

The best time of the year is here.

Enough with the speculation, hold the conversation, quit staring out the window...spring is finally here.

Let's Play some ball

We'll get back to the scrutinizing in a fe days, it's time for Giants Baseball...Hum-baby

Andy Marte and the case of the missing Third Baseman

2009-02-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

In what has become the longest Hot Stove season in history, more headlines are appearing now with links to those who have been linked to the third base in San Francisco.

First off, the Cleveland Indians have designated for assignment (DFA), former super prospect, Andy Marte. His name has surfaced the past 2 off seasons as a possible target of the Giants. The other.....I still don't believe what i'm writing, but Joe Crede has signed with the Twins.

Let's start with Crede, since he's been the hot topic. I haven't found the official press release yet from the Twins so I shall withhold my excitement until I see official proof, but for now, the leaked info shall do. The Twins inked him for $2.5 million guareteed and $4.5 million in incentives...way below the $11 mil total he was looking for...still about $3 million more than what he is worth this season...but what to I care, HE IS NOT A GIANT!!!

As for Marte, the Giants need to jump all over this kid. He is the perfect ball player to take a flyer on. I'm not saying we should expect him to come in here and be the starting third baseman, nor do I expect him to make the team. No, for other reasons...back to the basics of reasons. ANDY MARTE IS A YOUNG 3B WITH POTENTIAL...and he fills a glaring need...

What is the Giants single biggest weakness, outside of the obvious fact that they have no real, proven 3, 4, or 5 hitters...Ok, so that is huge...but still, organizationally, the Giants largest problem is having someone who can play 3B. Look at the depth chart:

Pablo Sandoval- ok, so we are praying for this to work out, but does the word praying instill much confidence. Sandoval is a converted catcher to third, who was originally a converted catcher from third. So really what we have is a guy who the Giants thought not enough of at his natural position, so they immediately converted him to a position of need, then hit the jackpot in the 2008 draft their at the same time they realized this kid can mash and can't really play catcher liked they hoped...So why not try him back at third because of the rest listed below...

Richie Aurilia- alright, we all know richie isn't the 3B of the future but he may be a stop gap of '09. More likely, he'll see most of the time at 1B if he makes the team.

Juan Uribe- cut loose by the White Sox because he just isn't that good, Uribe can play a decent third, decent when you compare him to last years starter, Jose Castillo, but then so could I. Uribe is not a long term solution, but makes a decent backup to the left side of the infield. In 600 AB's, he might give us 25 homeruns, but strike out a league record # of times (no joke either) and bat around .220. He makes for the perfect type of player Bruce Bochy falls in love with and forgets about the kids, so I don't like him on the roster.

Jesus Guzman- a nice steal this off season from the A's, Jesus would make for the perfect situation if he can make the final leap to the bigs...moving Pablo to first... Jesus is only 24, yet is already in his third organization. He has hit really well at A and AA but struggled some last season at AAA. His Power is just coming into play now, so we don't really know what we have yet, but he hit 25 and 17 homeruns the last 2 seasons combined as well as 13 homeruns in the venezuela winter league this year. His defense has never been spectacular, actually more like suspect. He is a long shot to make the roster. The guy has a ton of potential but there is a reason teams have let him get away. This is like the praying for Sandoval, with Guzman, we are hoping he can have a breakout year. Again, I don't put much faith in the word hoping.

Ryan Rohlinger- at 25, Rohlinger made his debut last season out of neccesity, not merit. He had been in the minors only two seasons and played in A ball only. He had hit 18 homeruns in 2007, so he might have some power, but he has too short a sample and at too low in the minors to have confidence in what we might have. In his 32 AB's with the big club, all he showed is he is not ready. He looked lost both at the plate and in the field, and was subsiquently sent back down to AA for seasoning, where he performed nicely posting a line of .296/.358/.497/.855 and 6 homeruns in 44 games. He should start the season off in AA and if he can post numbers like that again this season, maybe the Giants have something for the future, for now though, we can only hope.

Conor Gillaspie- how in the world did this guy make the major league roster last season. One word, contract. Gillaspie was drafted in the second round in 2008, yes, last season. Somehow, he fanagled a spot on the 25 man roster last September, without ever playing a minor league game. Out of college, he was argueably a top 15 draft pick and some had him higher, as well as possibly the best 3B in the draft...then draft day didn't go as planned and the Giants landed him in the second round. Now, he is the most widely recognized player as the heir apparent to third base someday, yet his major league service time has already started. At 21 now, he should hit hit free agency barring the Giants from locking him up around about 26 or 27 years old. He projects as a good defensive third baseman, yet offensively, he is supposed to be a Billy Mueller type...you all remember him right. Hit's for average, no power. Damn, no power. In his Arizona Fall League, Gillaspie had, well, no power. So, here is a guy where the countdown has begun,but realistically, he is not supposed to be that middle of the lineup, third baseman that every team invisions having. He is not David Wright, no Ryan Zimmerman, not Chipper Jones. It wouldn't be an issue if the Giants can manage to secure even the faintest bit of power by the time Gillaspie is ready, which, concievably could be by the beginning of next season if projections pan out. As for now, he may be our best bet but it is way to early to tell. With him, I find myself praying again, praying he develops the ability to hit the ball far...

Thats it. No more serious third base candidates in the Giants organization. So, this is why I think they should take a chance on Andy Marte...

Andy Marte- only 25 himself, once considered a super prospect of the Cleveland Indians. Obviously, he hasn't panned out. But at 25, he isn't washed up. Josh Hamiltion took a while, given under very different circumstances. But still, why not. The guy has some power, yet isn't hitting for much average. .250-.260 BA in AAA. Not threatening.Maybe he needs a change. Maybe new coaches, or a new atmosphere. Who knows, but he would be cheap, a minor league deal and spring invite. If he doesn'tmake the team, he probably slips through the system and stays in Fresno. Maybe he succeeds there and can come up later. At the most, he is going to cost the Giants a minor leaguer in a trade, and not one we are worried about making a difference here at anytime. Maybe Brian Bocock for his 40 man roster spot. I don't know, but what I do know is this. We have a lot of words like maybe, praying, and hope here. None of them mean definate, none of them are comforting. But the more wehave, the better chance we have one pans out.

What good does it do us if Pablo can't play third, Jesus is no more than a AAA star, Conor takes 3 more minor league seasons, Ryan stalls out at AA, Richie gets hurt, and we are staring down the gun barrel of 200+ strikeouts by Juan...oh Juan...does anyone else think Sabean thought he signed the late great Jose Uribe when we inked Juan...sorry, different soapbox, back on topic...

What good does it do us when, or if, that happens and Andy Marte is thriving in say, anyone of the other 29 teams systems or worse yet, on their big club.

Now, Andy could just as easily be just another prospect who missed with the Giants too, but, wouldn't it be better to have one more option?

Giants sign Ramon Ortiz

2009-02-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Not to be confused with Russ Ortiz, the Giants have inked yet another veteran with quality big league experience to a minor league deal, Ramon Ortiz.

Most Giants fans probably remember Ortiz as that damned Angels pitcher who won Game 3 of the 2002 world series. All will be forgiven if he leads the Giants to a world series title this year...

OK, but really, what to expect from him. He pitched in Japan last year after bouncing between the Reds, Nats, Twins, and Rockies from 2005-2007 as a #5 to spot starter and long relief. He hasn't been good in a while; as a matter of fact, his numbers over that time period resembles Kevin Correia.

Ortiz spent the first 6 seasons of his career with the Angels and had early success. From 2001-2003, he went 44-33 with an ERA near 4, almost 2/1 K/BB, and Whip in the 1.3 range. Not bad but that was a while ago.

Ortiz is a long shot to make any roster this spring, but the Giants is pretty much the worst for him. I can't imagine he has visions of starting here so maybe as the long reliever and spot starter. Chances are he pitches in Fresno and gets a few mid season call ups. Competition there is between Pat Misch and...well Pat Misch. Unless the Giants decide to use one of Kevin Pucetas options for a mid season 10-15 days. Only time will tell but this is a good move. Worst that could happen is he sucks this spring and goes away.

Giants bring back Aurilia

2009-02-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Giants have signed Richie Aurilia to a minor league deal with a spring invite today. I he makes the team, Aurilia gets $1 million. Ken Rosenthal broke the story and Henry Schulman confirmed it.

This is an excellent deal for the Giants. I have to admit, GM Brian Sabean is doing a good job this offseason, even if he is delaying the youth movement some. It's hard to argue against a minor league deal to a proven veteran, even though I did here. Even with my argument, I'm not exactly right to be upset. There is the definate chance Uribe, or Aurilia doesn't make the team.

What Sabean has done this offseason is set up some significant healthy competition this spring, with a great mixture of young home-grown talent and successful veterans. Last season, Aurilia signed a guarenteed deal, but had thesame opportunity. He was told at the time that he was viewed as a leaderoff the bench and was going to be used in spot starts and against lefty's. When camp broke, he was the starting first baseman. This was due in part to injuries and his play. He was told the same thing with this deal.

Richie had multiple similar offers on the table and had turned down a major league deal early on this offseason with Houston, so his reasons for being back must be more genuine than just money. One quote I read that is especially enlightening is this:

"I'm a Giant," he said. "I'm proud to have San Francisco across my chest. I want to retire a Giant, whether it's this year or the year after. I heard a little about (managing general partner) Bill Neukom talking about the 'Giants' Way.' Well, I'm the last Giant who was part of the teams that won all those years. I know something about the Giants' Way."

One last item, Aurilia can get out of his deal before the end of spring training if the Giants bring someone in that he's not happy with. Someone most likely meaning Joe Crede, who would basically steal most of his playing time or at least his roster spot come the end of camp.

News and Rumblings from Fan Fest

2009-02-07T23:01:00.000-08:00

Staring down the barrel of the beginning of another San Francisco Giants season, it was time to roll out the red carpet for the fans today. The annual Fan Fest went off without a hitch today and there were many tidbits to note dropped as well. In the winter of many moves, it's not surprising that a few more could be just hours away. Also, all of the newest players were in attendance as well as a few with high hopes. Here's what we learned:

-For Starters, Fan Fest is a great, fan friendly, family oriented environment. It was also cheap! Free Parking, Free Admission. You can't beat it.

-Brian Sabean reitterated the daily dose of Manny, saying they are still interested, they have been actiely talking with his agent, and it would have to be a perfect fit financially. 'he's not the silver bullet" and he has liabilities. All while laying out why the giants are probably out, club officials are open to a three year deal... huh??? So, it sounds like nothings changed.

-Speaking of Manny, at the same time, Sabean stated the Giants are OUT on Dunn and Abreu.

-The Giants are currently speaking with members from other teams about trades, but nothing seems to be different in asking prices. The Giants aren't as opposed to contract year players as once thought but the price remains drastically high. On that note,Brian Sabean stated the most likely scenario is the Giants waiting until the post all star trade deadline to make significant moves.

-The Giants reportedly have an offer out to Richie Aurilia for a minor league deal with spring training invite. Richie is "mulling it over" and very much wants to return.

-The Giants also apparently have an offer out to Joe Crede. It's unclear as to what the terms are. He is friends with Aaron Rowand and when asked about Crede today, Rowand had a big smile appear without comment. Stay tuned because I'm certain we will hear more about this in the morning. (I hope the Twins step up quick as I think this would be a baaad decision.

-Randy Johnson was a huge hit. He made Matt Cain look like a midget. Said all the right things, really seems to mesh well with the club. He said he's looking forward to working with guys like Lincecum, Cain, and especially Sanchez. Those damn lefty's sure like to stick together.

We'll cover a few more tomorrow but as I'm still sick, walked to much today for that case, and have to work in the morning, i'm going to bed.