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Travis Denker gone...

Grant_tiny by Grant on

...according to some know-nothing blogger posting from his mom's basem...

Wait, the blogger was Paul DePodesta? Dang.  And Denker is off the 40-man-roster on the Giants' site.

Genius roster move by Sabean. Second basemen with patience and power grow on trees, while no-defense, no-offense, PED-lovin' catchers are rare, special treasures that should be protected by any means necessary before free agents like Omar Vizquel file for free agency. (Edit: Eliezer Alfonzo was removed from the 40-man too, so this point is bunk....)

Maybe there's an explanation. Maybe these were "revocable" waivers. Maybe Travis Denker intentionally killed an osprey with a baseball. Maybe.

But the "Sergio Romo-Accidentally-DFA'd-OMG-WUT"-thread was just so much fun that I had to put this on the front page.

(Edit II: Something we're not thinking about is that the organization will need to protect folks from the Rule 5 draft. I'll try and work up a list of who would be eligible. Thanks to  Andrew Baggarly for pointing that out. Still, the outrage is both amusing and nourishing.)

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San Diego has fine weather

Time for Franny to step up

by wilriv21 on Oct 10, 2008 4:36 PM PDT   0 recs

I’m very unhappy with this.

There amass been plenty of articles written this spring about the stud shortstop Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum , as well as the fluid young outfielders and thirteen basemen Kevin Frandsen.
comics | cartoons | Nattowear | McFAQ

by Natto on Oct 10, 2008 4:40 PM PDT   0 recs

I guess patience and power aren’t part of “The Giant Way.”

by jc2125 on Oct 10, 2008 4:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Doesn’t someone have to answer for this like Sabean or someone?!

I'm young but i didn't fall off the truck yesterday!

by jbowl on Oct 10, 2008 4:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Crapola

I wanted Denker to succeed here for no other reason than the Dodgers essentially gave him to us.

Anagram of "Giants pitcher Matt Cain" = TRAGIC MAN, ISN'T PATHETIC

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Oct 10, 2008 4:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Terrible move

Denker was very excited to be here and was an awesome guy. One of those gritty type players who gave everything, including playing on the Cal League Championship series a day or two after bruising his ribs trying to run over the catcher.

He’ll be missed for sure, and the Padres got a steal.

by henwo on Oct 10, 2008 4:48 PM PDT   0 recs

I might be alone in this sentiment but...

whatever

Brad Hennessey: the next Kevin Correia
Kevin Correia: the next Brad Hennessey

by stealth snail on Oct 10, 2008 4:49 PM PDT   0 recs

Son of Whatever

checking in

Charlie Hayes ate my homework

by glenallen hill's waterpipe on Oct 10, 2008 5:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You guys probably aren’t alone, but you shouldn’t be apathetic about this because it is a stupid fucking move by the Giants. It makes no sense, even if you don’t like Denker. There were much less talented players the Giants could have exposed.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 5:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Guess What? - They Did!

Correia, Hennessey, Esponilli, and McClain all made it thru waivers and we outrighted to Fresno.

I would have prefered that the Giants had keep Denker and exposed Alfonzo instead but it is a move that really doesn’t matter either way and therefore fully warrents a

WHATEVER!

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 5:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It is a move that matters, Denker is probably the best 2B prospect in our system.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 5:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

wow, quite a vote of confidence for Nick Noonan there

by FluLikeSymptoms on Oct 10, 2008 5:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I’ll take the guy who can hit in AAA over the guy who can’t hit in A. I’m honestly not a believer in Noonan, but I hope I’m wrong on that.

Noonan probably has a higher upside, but Denker seems like a pretty sure bet to be at least a solid 2B in the majors.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 5:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know this is late , but...

…please to be explaining how Hennessey – ESPECIALLY the Hennessey 2.0 which arrived late in the season – can be considered “much less talented”.

"Ain't got a hope in Hell - that's my belief." - Bon Scott

by victor frankenstein on Oct 14, 2008 8:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I assume this was meant as a reply to someone else, but I’ll field it.

Hennessey’s September numbers:

24.1 IP, 25 H, 9 K, 8 BB, 6 HR

That’s awful.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 14, 2008 10:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

well, Noonan’s probably better. and Frandsen’s probably got 2B on lockdown for next season.

Adopted Giant: Aaron King

Wearing the crown by 2011. Or at least the LOOGY hat

by baetown415 on Oct 10, 2008 5:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Frandsen should certainly start the year at 2B, but there would have been no reason for him to block Denker.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 5:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If so

That’s really sad.

Proud father of Eric Surcamp!

by The Thrill on Oct 10, 2008 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh I Fogot Ochoa Too

And my appologies to Espineli for mispelling his name with Esponilli.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 5:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Esponilli?

That sounds like a yummy Italian dish. Nah
Esponolli sounds better, YUM!

Pac Bell, SBC, AT&T, 2010=???

by jt_7241 on Oct 11, 2008 1:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It matters because we probably wouldn’t have lost Alfonzo through waivers

Adopted Son: Brad Hennessey. Beloved for a stolen base much like Dave Roberts

by AndYourBirdCanSing on Oct 10, 2008 5:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

More Details
The Giants began the anticipated revamping of their pitching staff Friday, all but officially severing ties with right-handers Tyler Walker, Kevin Correia and Brad Hennessey. The trio was outrighted to Triple-A Fresno, along with catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, left-hander Geno Espineli and infielders Scott McClain and Ivan Ochoa. The Giants also activated left-hander Noah Lowry and right-hander Merkin Valdez from the 60-day disabled list and lost second baseman Travis Denker, who was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.


http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081010&content_id=3609965&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf

So the Giants didn’t keep anyone you all might think they shouldn’t have they just didn’t (for whatever reason) think Denker fit into their plans. I at least am fine with this.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 6:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, and you ignored a pretty important fucking point:

The moves left the Giants’ 40-man roster at 33 players.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 6:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Which Just Says As I Said
They just didn’t (for whatever reason) think Denker fit into their plans. I at least am fine with this.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 6:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Your blind faith severely discredits anything you say. The fact that they didn’t need to expose him makes this all the more stupid.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 6:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

/obligatory joke about CC and/or Benji and/or Sandoval requiring more than one space on the 40-man

by DividedByZero on Oct 10, 2008 6:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow, weird. So they really are just dumping the guy for no apparent reason.

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 6:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Especially considering a couple more 40-man spots will clear up shortly with folks filing for free agency.

What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC

by jcb9 on Oct 10, 2008 7:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That’s why players get traded, not released.

The Examined Life
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Oct 10, 2008 7:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

What Would Be The Point Of This?

All we could most likely get is the likes of Mark Sweeney.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 7:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Even an A-ball pitcher with a torn rotator cuff is more likely to help you out down the road then nothing at all.

The Examined Life
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Oct 10, 2008 7:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why do you have so much faith in the wisdom of this organization’s decisions?

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 7:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Because I Like The Direction Since The MaGowan Is Leaving Announcement

and therefore Sabean has regained the benifit of the doubt from me that he had previously until just after the 2002 WS.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 7:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The only direction I’ve noticed is the near-random shuffling of prospects from one level to another, which looks more like flailing than a coherent plan. And they had a great draft, but again that doesn’t indicate “direction.” What else have you seen that you like?

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 7:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

What You See As "Near-Random"

I see as a very necessary seperating of the wheat from the shaft.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 7:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bottom Line

The Giants see Denker as Shaft (not wheat) and I have no problem with this.

by giantsrainman on Oct 10, 2008 7:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Chaff, and explain to us, other than using, “Sabean said so” as a reason, why they should do this.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 7:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You’d know if you ever got wheat in your shaft.

The Examined Life
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Oct 10, 2008 7:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There’s a “sounds” joke in there somewhere…

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 7:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother—
(Shut your mouth)
But I’m talkin’ about Shaft
(Then we can dig it)

Zooperstars, they quack me up!

by Goofus on Oct 12, 2008 8:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You got wheat in my shaft. You got shaft in my wheat.

What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC

by jcb9 on Oct 10, 2008 7:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Shaft?
Wheat just got a whole lot sexier.

by chilibean_3 on Oct 10, 2008 9:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"wheat from the shaft"

Best eggcorn ever!

FYI: It’s “wheat from the chaff” for future reference.

The Examined Life
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Oct 10, 2008 7:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There’s a farmer’s daughter joke in there somewhere…

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 7:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

But as far as separating wheat from chaff … Ryan Rohlinger wasn’t ready for the majors but they promoted him anyway. Pablo Sandoval wasn’t ready for the majors but they promoted him anyway—and he had a hot streak, so now he’s penciled in as the starting first baseman. Denker wasn’t ready for the majors but hit well anyway—and now he’s gone. Velez, Bowker, Bocock … they’re giving players opportunities that they haven’t earned, and then making decisions about them based on microscopic sample sizes.

I know you have faith in their scouting prowess, but come on — this is amateur hour. Healthy franchises just don’t operate this way.

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 7:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not to mention he’s trusting the Giants scouting in regards to hitting. Yeah, they’ve been money at that and deserve our blind trust.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 7:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Somewhere this year, Baggerly mentioned that people in the organization were upset with Denker for not hustling or some kind of bad attitude they perceived in his time with the big club. Apparently that explained his lack of playing time, demotion, and ultimate banishment. In it’s own way it strikes me as the same ol’ knee-jerk Sabean kind of personal judgement. Make a face at being removed from a game or drop a ball at the wrong time and next thing you know you’re out of town.

Get the hell out the way Bengie, Pablito's hit the show!

by Roger on Oct 10, 2008 8:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

By the way, Joe Nathan says ‘hey’.

Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??

by tobias on Oct 10, 2008 10:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice comp

by rotorueter on Oct 10, 2008 10:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

/sarcasm sensor in the shop…

So, not sure if you are referring to the idea of comparing Travis Denker’s upside to Nathan’s (which is not a great comparison), or if you are referring to the idea of Sabean writing someone off in a fit of pique (which was more the comparison I was going for).

I actually liked Denker’s upside a little bit. I don’t know that I had hopes of him becoming the next Jeff Kent, but to my eyes he looked like the better hitter, in comparison to Velez, Ochoa and even Frandsen. Defensively, he seemed more in Velez’ category. Still, I thought he deserved a longer look. I was looking forward to seeing him again next spring.

Furthermore, I don’t really see anything that Sabean has personally done to earn our new found undying trust. He got rid of Jack Hiatt and Matt Nerland (at long last, and I suspect under orders). He hired John Barr (at least I think it was Sabes who hired him). He cut some checks and got all the draft picks signed. Beefed up the international scouting and signing regimen.

He gets a polite golf clap from me for all of those things. And I haven’t seen any kind of brilliant, imaginative trades or scrap-heap signings this year. That’s more the type of thing I’m looking for that would give me hope that Sabean is back on the beam he fell off some six years ago.

Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??

by tobias on Oct 10, 2008 10:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WEEEEEE, A FEW GOOD MONTHS. UNQUESTIONED LOYALTY!!!

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Oct 10, 2008 7:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Magowan. Magowan. Magowan. Magowan.

HOW HARD IS IT!?

What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC

by jcb9 on Oct 10, 2008 7:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I bet Magowan pressured Sabean into doing this!!

Wait…

by rotorueter on Oct 10, 2008 4:50 PM PDT   0 recs

Did you say Velez Gone....

uhhh, damnit. They let the wrong guy go.

My adopted son Matt Downs. Lost in the wilderness of mediocrity.

by nvsfg on Oct 10, 2008 4:51 PM PDT   0 recs

um...WHAT?

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Oct 10, 2008 4:51 PM PDT   0 recs

Alright

Who left the gate open?

by rightcenterfielder on Oct 10, 2008 4:52 PM PDT   0 recs

This is one of those times were you just have to go man these executives have to know something I don’t…they have to be smarter than me…don’t they?

by HitorMisch on Oct 10, 2008 5:05 PM PDT   0 recs

No, they don't.

"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."

by i did my job on Oct 10, 2008 6:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

at least the Dodgers are losing.

Bonds stands alone.

Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 10, 2008 5:08 PM PDT   0 recs

oh man...

just when i was starting to think sabes was making some decent moves. I guess I don’t have to look too far to remember why I don’t like him though. If Denker (and ellison for that matter – hey, he still has time to develop!) turns out good like I think he will, I will personally haunt the crap out of sabean for at least like a year. At least.

by theghostofjasonellison on Oct 10, 2008 5:10 PM PDT   0 recs

Well shit...

thats bad roster move #1 of the off-season in my book. I will try to keep a running total going.

Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!

by j14 on Oct 10, 2008 5:12 PM PDT   0 recs

weak

proud father of the newly acquired Brandon Crawford..

by Azmanz on Oct 10, 2008 5:18 PM PDT   0 recs

unforgivable

Rafael Rodriguez: More tools than Home Depot.

by BrianBokake on Oct 10, 2008 5:21 PM PDT   0 recs

saddening.... really saddening

Adopted Giant: Aaron King

Wearing the crown by 2011. Or at least the LOOGY hat

by baetown415 on Oct 10, 2008 5:21 PM PDT   0 recs

Does he have to be on their 25 man

next year? like was this a rule V draftee or what?

proud father of the newly acquired Brandon Crawford..

by Azmanz on Oct 10, 2008 5:29 PM PDT   0 recs

No, he doesn’t. This was just a waiver pick-up, so he gets put on the 40-man. And I’m also pretty sure there’s no more Rule V either.

by cornball on Oct 10, 2008 5:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There is no Rule V at all

The Rule 5 draft, however, is very much still in existence…

It will happen at the winter meetings in December.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Oct 10, 2008 11:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

V = 5

There amass been plenty of articles written this spring about the stud shortstop Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum , as well as the fluid young outfielders and thirteen basemen Kevin Frandsen.
comics | cartoons | Nattowear | McFAQ

by Natto on Oct 11, 2008 2:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not when it comes to the MLB rulebook, it doesn't...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Oct 11, 2008 9:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Perhaps, but most of the baseball media (BaseballProspectus, BaseballReference, Baseball America) uses them interchangeably.

I found this article written by a someone with ESPN who was similarly senstive to semantics, though::http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/transanctionsprimer.html

Perhaps it’s baseball’s version of Nu-cu-lur.

by rotorueter on Oct 11, 2008 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

dude.... FTW?

didn’t even give him a chance in September….

Adopted Giant: Aaron King

Wearing the crown by 2011. Or at least the LOOGY hat

by baetown415 on Oct 10, 2008 5:39 PM PDT   0 recs

I don't get it

but I don’t think it’s gonna come back to bite us.

"Forget it Donny, you're out of your element"-Walter Sobchak

by icanplaythird on Oct 10, 2008 5:49 PM PDT   0 recs

This guy did something to piss management off. Wonder what it was?

It probably won’t turn out to be a big deal. But (a) there were other players who should have been cut first, and (b) the Giants wouldn’t have needed the roster space anyway if they hadn’t kept promoting players who obviously weren’t ready.

by Evan on Oct 10, 2008 5:50 PM PDT