Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

by CPGiant756 on Jan 27, 2008 12:25 PM PST Comment 45 comments

I was surfing the web checking out the rumor sites and found on elismlbrumors.com this sentence...

"According to sources who asked to remain anonymous, Tony Clark is closing in on a deal with the Giants, meaning the Red Sox will look for a different backup."

I'm not a fan of this signing.

Its in the article called, "Sean Casey To Boston"

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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Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

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

by jponry on Jan 27, 2008 12:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Tony Clark never!

Kitty pictures forever!

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Jan 27, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I agree with Lord Vader.

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

by Natto on Jan 27, 2008 6:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Sounds about right.

I'm embarassed to be a Giants fan. This is year four of signing other team's rejects.

Here's to Kemp, Loney, LaRoche, Hu, and Kershaw not panning out.

by Woody Wins on Jan 27, 2008 1:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

If the contract is reasonable I have no problem with this. He would not be blocking anyone. Aurilla is old and better as a utility player while Orteimer is young and has no experience at 1st. Clark has definitely lost a step but still has a decent power and would fill the 4th slot which would have been filled with Molina!
LF-Roberts/Davis
2B-Fransden
RF- Winn
1B- Clark
CF- Rowand
C- Molina
3B-???
SS- Vizquel
P....

I know it doesnt strike fear in anyone. I would just feel more confortable with Clark starting at 1st than Ort.

Zito 2008=20 wins Mark My Words 12/18/07

by ACgiant87 on Jan 27, 2008 1:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Clark would be such a waste on so many fronts. Don't forget he played in a hitters park in Arizona. 2007 away stats: .202/.288/.317, 3 HRs and 32 K's in 104 AB. Even the biggest Ortmeier skeptics should believe he can at least best that atrocious line.

by BenboC on Jan 27, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In all..

honesty, I am not sure Ortmeier can post a better line than that. I don't see any reason to believe that he is a major league hitter.

Flossing a dead horse

by kenshin1 on Jan 27, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: In all..

I do not believe in his bat, even if he played a slick right field, but certainly not at first, but that's going too far. .202/.288/.317? That's a 600 OPS. 600.

Ignore Ortmeier's miniscule major-league sample, and look just at the minors. In AAA last year, he managed 300 ABs, with an MLE probably around 700 OPS. Now 700 OPS is punk.

But 'punk' crushes 600 OPS. 600 is a disaster.

by wcw on Jan 27, 2008 4:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: In all..

If Clark is used strictly in a platoon role, it could work out okay. He can't hit lefties at all any more, but he's hit .259/.324/.561 over the last four years against right-handers.

He's still a waste of time for the Giants, but there are worse wastes of time.

by Evan on Jan 27, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

"He would not be blocking anyone."

...Except the notion of finding or trading for a first baseman that could have a future with this team.

Not that there was ever a lot of hope for that, but I'd rather hold to that foolish notion that maybe during Spring Training or by the trade deadline, we'll acquire a first baseman somehow. If Clark is signed that notion is dead for at least another year, depending on how long the contract is.

Thanks, but it's a bad signing if it comes true.

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on Jan 28, 2008 8:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

If you click on the link to the Chicago Tribune article, there is nothing about either Tony Clark or the Giants.

I'm not buying this until we see something concrete.

by KCE on Jan 27, 2008 1:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I'm not going to believe this until I either get a credited source or it actually happens. I think it's just rumorsite space filler right now.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Jan 27, 2008 1:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I don't hate Tony Clark, but what I do hate about this (if true) is that it dashes any hope I had that Sabean might make a move for another team's blocked 1B prospect. As usual, instead of a low-risk, high-reward move we get a no-risk, no-reward one--the hallmark of Brian Sabean post-Matt Williams trade.

I just don't understand why you do this. There are players like Tony Clark can be had for almost nothing even once a season begins. Either find someone who has a chance to be a long-term solution or go with Ortmeier. If Ortmeier bombs, you find someone else. Tony Clark is not the difference between contending and not contending so why not take the 0.0001% chance that Ortmeier becomes the next Matt Holliday.

Rajai Davis: fast.

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Jan 27, 2008 1:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

what he said. deal for a blocked 1b prospect.

by sam23 on Jan 27, 2008 10:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

This move would be soooooooo typical of dumbass Sabean that you have to believe/fear that it's true. You guys have already summed up what a waste of roster space it is. BTW who gets waived from the 40-man if it happens?

by BigDaddyK on Jan 27, 2008 2:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I sure hope this is an unfounded rumor. Thanks for that amazing OPS finding

adopter/sponsor of "Go, Antoan" Richardson

by foothillsfan on Jan 27, 2008 4:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

If the price is low, even a minor league deal, who cares?? If he's given a decent contract and handed the first base job this is pretty crappy, but if the unproven Ort gets a fair shot at beating him out in spring training, I have no problems with this. Which promising first base prospect is being sent to Fresno if we sign Tony Clark?? The same is true of third base if we sign someone like Morgan Ensberg or Dallas McPherson.

Hillary: Will cry for votes

by rxmeister on Jan 27, 2008 5:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Any single PA that Tony Clark

gets over Dan Ortmeier is a waste.

Tony Clark is a 35 year old, 36 next season, 1b with a career OPS+ 113. Last 5 years: 100, 95, 154, 60, 103. Throw out the flukily good year and the flukily bad year, and he is a going to be 36 old 1b with an OPS+ of around 100.

1b with an OPS+ of 100 are easy to find. Look at the fact that the Cardinals just signed Josh Phelps to a minor league contract. Russ Branyan is still an FA.

The only reason to sign a player like Tony Clark is if you are a 85-95 win team, a contender looking for guaranteed production from Clark, preferably as either a backup or a platoon player.

by rfloh on Jan 28, 2008 12:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Any single PA that Tony Clark

It is easy to find first basemen with an OPS+ of 100. Unfortunately, none of them is likely to be named Ortmeier.

by sharksrog on Jan 28, 2008 12:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Huh...Giants fans disagree.

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Jan 28, 2008 5:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but why the desire for

Tony Clark? At least give Ortmeier 300 PA or so to prove that he is crap.

The Giants are not an 85-90 win team, for whom a below average 36 year old 1b has some value as guaranteed mediocrity.

If Ortmeier is really crappy, ie he puts up an OPS+ in the 70s or worse over a sustained period, then go sign a Russ Branyan or a Josh Phelps.

by rfloh on Jan 28, 2008 6:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

Exactly, the chances of Ortmeier being a long term solution for us, is low, but still a lot higher than that of Tony Clark.

Much better for a team in our position to try for that 10% chance (or whichever percentage you choose) that Ortmeier will be a long term solution than try for a few extra wins & 0% of Clark being a long term solution!

by GiantFan on Jan 28, 2008 6:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

I'm going to point out once again that Ortmeier was probably the worst regular on his AAA team last year. Anointing him as our everyday first baseman amounts to unfurling an enormous banner outside the stadium that says WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE DOING!!!! Even Tony Clark would be less of an embarrassment.

by Evan on Jan 28, 2008 6:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

"Anointing him as our everyday first baseman amounts to unfurling an enormous banner outside the stadium that says WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE DOING!!!!

I'm not so sure, i think it's more an indication of the poor situation we find ourself in, than a bad decision by itself. Signing Tony Clark is more of a sign that we don't know what we're doing, because it serves no purpose to our organization whatsoever.

Is having Ortmeier as starting 1B good? No, it's depressing. Are there more preferable ways to fill the 1B position? Yes. Is Tony Clark one of them? Certainly not in my opinion!

by GiantFan on Jan 28, 2008 7:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Tony Clark? A 36 year old 1b who has been around a 100 OPS+ the last few years, except for one flukilly good year and one flukilly bad year, for a team that as currently constituted would be unlikely to win more than 80 games?

That sounds like what the Pirates would do, or would have done, if you believe that the new regime is better. That sounds like what the Royals would do in the past. That sounds like what the Orioles have done.

Drive for 75 !!!111!!!.

If the conclusion is that Dan Ortmeier is crap, then sign Josh Phelps. Sign Russ Branyan. Platoon them, occasionally play Branyan at 3b. At the very least, both of them are younger than Clark.

Or get one of Sabean's assistants to comb through the stats for players like Phelps / Branyan.

Or hell, play Nate Schierholtz / Freddy Lewis / Rajai Daivs at 1b. Spread the PAs around. See who can be a decent hitter.

by rfloh on Jan 28, 2008 10:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

Tony Clark has not been a full-time player since 1999. That's the last time he played more than 100 games in the field, and had 600 or more PAs. From 2002 on he hasn't even managed 400 PAs once. If Ortmeier is the "we have no idea what we're doing" option, then Clark is the "we think the problem with signing Aurilia is that he was too young and too durable" option. Sometimes, it's better to be clueless than completely 180-degrees wrong.

2008: The year the Giants begin to stop sucking.

by EliminateMe on Jan 28, 2008 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

Just to be clear, I'm not actually advocating giving the job to Tony Clark. I advocate, in order of preference:

Trading for a good prospect, like Votto or Pearce.
Trading for a cheap youngish player with some upside, like Shealy or Shelton or Kendry Morales.
Playing Schierholtz and Aurilia in a platoon, with Ortmeier replacing Aurilia if he proves himself in AAA for a couple of months.
Playing Brett Harper and Aurilia in a platoon, as above.
Sign some old lefty with a big platoon split, like Tony Clark or Shawn Green, to platoon with Aurilia.
I dunno, Will Clark? Jack Clark? David Green? Todd Benzinger? Zombie Mel Ott?
600 at-bats for Ortmeier.

by Evan on Jan 28, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yes, but why the desire for

I'm mostly in agreement, at least if you swap #5 and #7.

2008: The year the Giants begin to stop sucking.

by EliminateMe on Jan 28, 2008 12:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

According to this article on sfgiants.com, Sabean probably won't add another first baseman before spring training, meaning hopefully those Tony Clark rumors are bogus.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080125&content_id=2355759&vkey=news_mlb&fext=. jsp&c_id=mlb

Remember the Mooseman.

by ryderball55 on Jan 27, 2008 5:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

when I read that article my first impression was that Brian Sabean is totally full of crap. He says there are no better options out there than Ortmeier, yet we already know he has talked to Tony Clark, Shea Hillenbrand, Shawn Green, Dallas McPherson, etc. etc. If he didn't think these guys were better, why did he even contact them in the first place?? The answer is that he wanted them but their asking price was too high. As soon as somebody brought their price down to a reasonable level, Sabean was going to jump on it.

Hillary: Will cry for votes

by rxmeister on Jan 27, 2008 7:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

The one advantage to playing Dan Ortmeier at first base is that at the end of the season the Giants will be clear that he isn't the answer there. If he doesn't get a clear opportunity, a touch of doubt might remain.

by sharksrog on Jan 27, 2008 6:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

One ticket please!

Over the years its not the old vet , that are about of gas, acquisitions that annoy me the most. It's the dick in the dirt way that the "maybe he can, maybe he can't" young guys just sit on the fringe of the roster season, after season, after season, after season never being counted on to fail or succeed until they are in their 30's.

Rant aside say Clark some how catches Lightning in a bottle. Sabean then probably signs him to say a 3 year extension? Oh boy be still my beating hart.

by daveinexile on Jan 27, 2008 9:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I still would rather try Winn at 1B.

Is anyone working on a drug to treat RPS? (Restless Penis Syndrome)

by Goofus on Jan 27, 2008 8:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Nothing to do with this subject at all but...

Goofus has got the "Jimmy Penis"

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Jan 27, 2008 8:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

why sign clark but not claim chris shelton?

by sam23 on Jan 27, 2008 10:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Why try to inject reason into a discussion of the Giants' off season moves?

Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Jan 27, 2008 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

oh sorry i dont know what i was thinking. disregard.

by sam23 on Jan 28, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I'm not a huge fan, but it could pay off. He mashes right handed pitching (a .900 OPS against them over the past 3 years). The splits suggest the BOB helped him, but it's not the last word especially when we're talking aout a player with generally inconsistent playing time.

Platooning him and Ort/Aurilia would be smart as both of those players are superior vs lefties.

He's not a sexy option, or one that will help us down the line, but he is better than what we have and I can't imagine he got a deal worth more than 3 million. He could give us 350 at-bats of .265/.325/.475 ball rather reasonably and if Aurilia could match that against lefties, that'd be the most production we got out of 1B since Snow's 2004. I'd hardly call it a reach either.

To use an SAT analogy

Tony Clark : Bad offenses
Draino : Clogged Sinks

Sure, we need a plumber, but he'll help in the mean time

Frandsen for 3B (til July 08)

by NeifiChicken on Jan 27, 2008 11:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

friggin genius signing....do it

now, can anyone truly explain why sabean was given an extension, when a chimp could do exactly the same job?

by bacci40 on Jan 28, 2008 1:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Because the bannana budget would go through the roof!

Only 972 games until the end of Zito's contract.

by thehavenot on Jan 28, 2008 9:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

And frankly that things already way above the league average.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Jan 28, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

"now, can anyone truly explain why sabean was given an extension, when a chimp could do exactly the same job?"

Because the Chimp might throw "poo" at Colletti?

by daveinexile on Jan 28, 2008 12:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

I need to write a macro that deletes every diary with a reference to this particular rumor site. An anonymous source told me that even this guy's mother thinks he makes crap up.

by Grant on Jan 28, 2008 10:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Giants Close to Signing Tony Clark

Im all for bring back the Thrill..., Oh wait this is Tony Clark wher talking about, DoooH!!!

Your 2010 NL rookie of the year,... Andy D'alessio

by ramirez415 on Jan 28, 2008 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

For 1B or bench?

SF has 39 players on the 40-man roster so a spot is available for a player to be obtained thru trade or FA. The pitching, catching and OF seems about set so priority will be placed on the IF and bench. SF will most likely carry 12 pitchers so 13 position players will round out the 25-man roster. In guessing the the 13 position players:

Starters
1. C Molina
2. 1b Ortmeier
3. 2b Durham
4. 3b Frandsen
5. SS Vizquel
6. LF Roberts
7. CF Rowand
8. RF Winn

Bench
9. C Alfonzo
10. IF Aurilia
11. OF Davis
12. OF Lewis
13. ????

Looking at the SF Giants roster as it stands today signing Clark as a LHH power option off the bench could make some sense. If Ortmeier fails to seize the starting 1b job then Clark could be the Plan B fallback option. This would also allow Aurilia to be the back-up to 2b, 3b and SS. Clark also seems to fit into the warrior, gamer or clubhouse presence guy Bochy desires.

In the above roster it is assumed since Davis and Lewis are out of options and Schierholtz has an option available SF will send Nate to Fresno so he can play everyday rather than be a bench player in The City.

by wilriv21 on Jan 28, 2008 11:36 AM PST reply actions 0 recs