Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

by Flapjacks McGurty on Dec 11, 2007 4:46 PM PST Comment 29 comments

I've discovered a hazard to my career. I waste, like, a lot of time reading websites that offer news, rumors, and speculation about all the maneuvering being done behind the scenes by all of the major league teams. Sites like mlbtraderumors.com, probably the biggest time suck on the intarnet.

I keep seeing names pop up there that the Giants could use, but we're not even talking to their teams. F'r instance, here's one from yesterday:

Haudricourt is "starting to get some vibes" that the Brewers have their eye on Hank Blalock. The 27 year-old third baseman hit .293/.358/.543 in limited duty this year. He's locked up affordably - $5.95MM in '08 and a $6.2MM club option for '09. Would Dave Bush and a decent pitching prospect cut it?

We could use a guy like Blalock. Now, I for one think that Noah Lowry compares favorably to Dave Bush, and lord knows we have plenty of decent pitching prospects. I'm not saying that the Rangers would want to make either deal, or even that they're shopping Blalock around. I'm fully aware that most trade rumors on the net are worth the electrons they're printed on.

But wouldn't it be nice to hear that Brian Sabean is actually interested in something other than trading our best young pitchers, or signing overpriced FA outfielders to desperately long contracts?

Here's another name, from another site (mlb-rumors.blogspot.com). Matt Murton. Outfielder for the Cubs, who didn't really have room for him after they signed Soriano last year. 3 years of service time, where his numbers are .296/.365/.455. The website says:

However, I am hearing that the Padres are interested in reopening talks with the Cubs about Mark Prior and Matt Murton. This would probably be only if the Cubs land Kosuke Fukudome, and if the Padres feel Murton can play everyday. Murton has great power and could probably handle an everyday job, but his numbers might not fair well at PETCO Park.

Sabes, this is why you're looking at two more years of last-place ball, followed by your ignominious termination. Your division competitors have a better handle on talent, theirs and others, than you do. Please remember that long after you're gone, we fans will still be here, wondering whether the Giants or Niners will be the next team to break .500.

(At this point I prepare to hit 'Submit' for my first McCovey Chron diary, silently mouthing the same prayer said by all first-timers: Christ, I hope I didn't fuck up the formatting . . . )

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Comments

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

And I see . . . yes, I did F$@(#* the formatting. What happened to the graf breaks?

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by Flapjacks McGurty on Dec 11, 2007 4:30 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

It looks okay to me now, but were you in HTML formatting and forgot to include < br > tags?

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Dec 11, 2007 4:35 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Yes, and yes. I'm never starting a diary again.

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by Flapjacks McGurty on Dec 11, 2007 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

It's okay, lol. I switch to html formatting all the time and then end up writing posts that were supposed to be in list form and end up as one big block of text.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Dec 11, 2007 4:50 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

This diary is totally spot on and captures everything that's wrong with the current management. It isn't the blockbuster deals that make a team, its the numerous 'little' deals for undervalued players that make a team. Save the blockbuster for when the Giants need and extra boost to put them over the top.

by Nathan on Dec 11, 2007 8:26 PM PST up reply actions

Next time..

Just hit Preview before you send in the post. Most diaries I always do that on.

Coming to you from The Land of Many Beers.

by WalrusMan on Dec 11, 2007 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Next time..

Actually, for Diaries you're forced to preview, so I'd think you probably do it for all of them.

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 12:48 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

As always, when preparing to post, the "Preview" button is your friend. Though the formatting looks fine to me.

Whether or not the Giants pop up as an interested team in one of the 8 million trade rumors this month is of less importance than whether Sabean is actually pursuing every possible avenue towards filling the 3b and 1b spot, along with our other areas of weakness (ummm...everywhere else except for our #1 and #2 starters?).

If he tries to find a way to pry Blalock from the Rangers and can't make it happen, that's a bummer, but at least he tried. If he doesn't even have the imagination necessary to go after Blalock, then your irritation is well founded.

Lon Simmons' adopted dad.

by Kitspool on Dec 11, 2007 4:45 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Murton would be a decent addition. He's a right hander, so that'd fit in with our park. He also seems willing to take some walks. I don't think Sabean would be interested in such an unproven commodity.

I like Blalock, too, though he's a lefty and his power seems to be "inexplicably" waning. He's also been injured recently. I'd actually like to see him added as a 1b if he can't really throw any more. Unfortunately, Blalock is an infielder, so he wouldn't fit into Sabean's fantasy all-outfield roster.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 11, 2007 4:48 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Maybe that's why they finally removed Rusty from the outfield after eight years. They needed the extra space!

Lon Simmons' adopted dad.

by Kitspool on Dec 11, 2007 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

The strategy is pretty obvious, really. And the clue IS in the disappearance of Rusty. Sabean is going to expand the OF into the hugest OF in baseball history. Then he will wrap up nearly all the OFs - and when teams come to AT&T and find us defending with 7 OFs, they won't be able to counter - they won't have enough OFs. And if they want to play by the new rules, they'll have to trade with US. As soon as we trade away these suddenly valuable OFs, voils, Rusty makes a curtain call and we now have a great IF and the rest of the league is overstocked w/ OFs

by allfrank on Dec 11, 2007 6:04 PM PST up reply actions

Good Post

Formatting looks fine. Content is excellent. Those are two very good ideas and both ones that I can just about guarantee Sabes isn't even thinking about. Keep 'em coming!

by DrBGiantsfan on Dec 11, 2007 4:48 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Murton, Blalock, Milton Bradley, etc - these are the kind of guys worth targeting instead of the Aaron Rowand's of the world, but Sabean doesn't seem to get that. His fear of the unknown when it comes to talent is ridiculous.

Jonathan Sanchez. He's left-handed, like Barry Zito. His fastball breaks 80, unlike Zito.

by Aadik on Dec 11, 2007 5:02 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

The thing is, Hank Blalock isn't exactly an unknown talent. He was considered in greater or equal stature with Teixeira a couple years ago... if his name shows up in the Mitchell Report we might know why his star has fallen, but dude's got more in common with Jeff Kent 96 than Jack Cust 06. Lowry-for-Blalock should be the perfect Sabean deal.

you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area

by nick on Dec 11, 2007 5:29 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

I think we should stay away from Blalock for a couple of reasons. He has never been able to hit lefties (career .629 OPS) or been able to hit on the road (career .699 OPS). When you also factor in that he is left handed, it doesn't seem like a good fit.

I'd rather wait to see what the going rate for Joe Crede would be or see if Ensberg gets non-tendered before I go give up Lowry for Blalock.

Sabes can then use Lowry to get something else we need...say another outfielder ;).

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: Welcome Back!

by sfgreg on Dec 11, 2007 5:41 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Thanks for pointing out the splits, a lot of people don't seem to think of those when referring to Blalock.

He has a career .292/.354/.525 line at home and a .243/.301/.398 line away. Yeowch.

Brian Anderson: I can has spot in Fresno 'pen?

by Anticon23 on Dec 11, 2007 8:54 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

You can put me down as someone who didn't realise the differential was THAT bad, ouchie

by Mr Scruff on Dec 11, 2007 9:35 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

damn, really? Not so hot then.

He'd still be a prototypical Sabean target, probably even more so because of that.

how sad are we

you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area

by nick on Dec 11, 2007 9:57 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Nice post! I've liked Matt Murton for a long time, and would be happy to get him, even though we have so many outfielders.

by raisingcain on Dec 11, 2007 5:53 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Maybe now that Fukudome has apparently signed with the Cubs, they'll want to toss Murton loose, and we could swoop in and grab him before the Padres do.

. . . I'm just kidding myself at this point, aren't I?

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by Flapjacks McGurty on Dec 11, 2007 8:31 PM PST up reply actions

Mark Teahen

Move him back to 3rd.

by hammystyle on Dec 11, 2007 8:02 PM PST reply actions

Barry Bonds

Nattowear | comics | Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Dec 11, 2007 9:18 PM PST reply actions

Re: Barry Bonds

Really, why would you give up at least one pitcher, to get the privilege of paying Matsui, what, $14 mil, when, for the same money you could a) keep the pitcher, and b) get more production and c) get a legit #4 hitter, by signing Bonds - to a ONE YEAR contract?

by allfrank on Dec 11, 2007 10:27 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Barry Bonds

That deserves my first two official w00ts ever.

"w00t w00t!"

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 10:43 PM PST up reply actions

Validation!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/11/tech/main3607745.shtml

Nattowear | comics | Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Dec 12, 2007 8:12 AM PST up reply actions

Oh, dear lord

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

yea the matsui trade is garbage. i dont know much about murton other than that he's pretty young, was a highly touted prospect who hasnt done a whole lot in limited action in the majors. sounds like someone we SHOULD be after but will more likely end up with the old guy who's been banged up the last couple years and doesnt play very good d. start buying your matsui jerseys now.

by sam23 on Dec 11, 2007 11:49 PM PST reply actions

Re: Players I'm irritated that we're not in on

Blalock is like my opposite of a white whale, i think he's completely overrated & aren't interested in him at all.

Murton is someone i totally agree with, he's a good player who seems out of favour & would be a useful addition, although we don't have the greatest need for another outfielder.

I agree with your general post & it has similarities to a post i've just made.

by GiantFan on Dec 12, 2007 1:54 AM PST reply actions