Mark Teixeira and the San Francisco Giants: Only 99.8% Ridiculous
by Grant Brisbee on Nov 3, 2008 12:20 PM PST
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PrintThe Giants can't hit. The most expensive guy on the free-agent market can hit. The Giants aren't shy about spending money. Conclusion: Here come the Mark-Teixeira-to-the-Giants?-articles. With Barry Zito only having five more years and $92M left on his contract, a Teixeira contract would basically pay for itself, so it makes a lot of sense.
The pros:
- Teixeira can hit.
- Teixeira can field.
- Teixeira is young enough (28) to justify the first few years of a long-term deal, at least.
The cons:
- OMG EXPENSIVe. Like, seven years, $126M-expensive. And that worked so well last time.
- It's hard to justify long-term deals to first basemen, as that should be the easiest position on the diamond to fill.
- It seems like there are one or two superfluous vowels in Teixeira's name, and that's always bugged me.
- The Giants aren't one hitter away from contention.
- The Giants aren't one hitter away from contention.
- The Giants aren't one hitter away from contention.
Another point that I left out: The Giants aren't one hitter away from contention. It's easy to see the Giants signing Teixeira, unfurling a "Mission Accomplished"-banner at the press conference, and moving from 640 runs scored in 2008 to 670 runs scored in 2009.
So it makes little sense for the Giants to sign Mark Teixeira as long as they have offensive black holes at second base, third base, and shortstop. But is it possible that moaning about a hopeless offense is a pre-8/14 mindset? If the Giants were to sign Teixeira, they'd almost certainly start Pablo Sandoval at third. Sandoval didn't swallow his glove during his limited trials at third, and even though I don't trust Sabean or Bochy to commit fully to youth, there is no way that Sandoval gets fewer than 400 at-bats next year.
Suddenly, John Bowker, Rich Aurilia, and Jose Castillo turn into Teixeira and Sandoval, which leads us to the first mock lineup of the offseason (collect all 1,459):
Lewis - LF
Winn - RF
Teixeira - 1B
Sandoval - 3B
Molina - C
Rowand - CF
Burriss - SS
Established Second Baseman - 2B
First Law of McCovey Chronicles Rosterbation in 2009: I'm almost okay with the Giants signing Mark Teixeira, provided that they also acquire an established second baseman. Pick your poison with the acquisition. Orlando Hudson to a Durhamesque free-agent contract? A big trade for Dan Uggla? If the Giants invest in Teixeira, they can't just cross their fingers and hope for Eugenio Velez or Kevin Frandsen to be above-average players. That'd be a good way to waste one of the more productive years of Teixeira's ridiculous contract.
Eh. Just thinking out loud more than advocating. Agree or disagree? For bonus unrealistic and optimistic silliness, plug Uggla into that lineup. Who hits seventh? It's a much better question than "Which seventh-place hitter should hit cleanup?" Just ignore that the Giants would have to give up Tim Alderson and Nate Schierholtz, at minimum, to get Uggla.
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I love Established Second Baseman! I really hope we get him.
#1 JUDY STEFFES FAN
My favorite pie is (name of pie flavor)
Bay City Ball
too old.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 3, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
For the Giants?
"You lost me at carrots, which was the first draft of 'you had me at hello'".
by giantscatcher on Nov 3, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
So you're saying we're going after Mark Grudzielanek?
To be completely honest, I wouldn’t hurl over it if the rest of the line up is as it is above…
Here are Mark Grudzielanek’s stats
Down in Front Meat!
by homerdrew415 on Nov 3, 2008 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
Speaking of Former LA Second Baseman:
I hear Jeff Kent is available.
Then again, given the team he played for the last few years, and this, he might not be so welcome in SF.
But he will go into Cooperstown with an SF on his hat.
Tim Lincecum is Baseball's Chuck Norris
Teixeira was my white whale
I think some tire kicking is in order.
by Lars The Wanderer on Nov 3, 2008 12:37 PM PST reply actions
I hear Mark Texeira hates pie.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Nov 3, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
Poor Felix
Ralph Barbieri, heal thyself.
by ThrillisGone22 on Nov 8, 2008 1:41 PM PST up reply actions
To land Teixeira, you’ll have to outbid the Yankees and Mets and probably some other teams, which can’t possibly be a good idea. So nah.
Mets picked up Delgado's option
It’s possible that they will sign Teixeira, and trade Delgado, but given their holes in the starting rotation, and bullpen, it’s pretty unlikely.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
Whoah, whoah, whoah man.
Sign Teixeira? There a lot of reasons why we shouldn’t.
1. We aren’t one hitter away from contention.
and
2. I don’t want to learn how to say and spell his name without looking or hearing it.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Tex is too costly for too long with this team and payroll.
From the smoke that Boras is putting out, Tex will accept nothing less than 8 years and $20 million per. Sorry, he’s not worth it, since as has been said many times before, we’re not just one hitter away. And besides, the Giants will be outbid by the Angels and Red Sox at a minimum for Tex.
This really isn’t a FA class that matches up well with what the Giants need, so they’ll have to fill their needs by way of trades that may cost them too much. For that reason, in the end, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sabean does zip in this offseason. At the most, we may see Sanchez, Taschner, and even Molina traded away, and if Sabean can fill either 2B or 3B with a good bat for that, then great. But I’m not holding my breath.
NO, we're not trading Matt Cain! What's that you say? We are? Armageddon is upon us!
/ Stamped Agreed
To me then prime directive for this of season is to not create the next Lugo situation. Followed by not creating the next Pierre -Roberts situation.
Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!
Let's see spread Chaos, Confusion and Anarchy here? Check. My work is complete. I’ll be moving on now.
Love the Rosterbation Tag
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. Rogers Hornsby
The best argument for making a stab at Teixeira is this: he is probably the best free agent hitter that will become available for the next several years. If you look ahead, most of the elite talents have been locked up by their teams, the free agent crop gets worse by the year as a result. Teixeira is aberrantly good for that crop, and is worth going for.
I don’t think it’s a bidding war we’d win, and I wouldn’t be heartbroken if we didn’t pursue him. But there’s a good argument for targeting him.
yeah, this, pretty much.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Nov 3, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions
And I really like that he’s a switch hitter that hits well from both sides of the plate. He’d be a threat every day no matter who’s pitching.
Zooperstars, they quack me up!
shit yeah
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Nov 3, 2008 9:34 PM PST up reply actions
Tex
The thing I like about Teixeira is that he put up monster numbers following a trade to a new team and new league. It’s not often that a big-time player avoids the adjustment slump with Tex and Manny being exceptions.
Six months ago I couldn’t fathom the Giants giving another huge contract to anyone but it’s starting to look like Sabean will at least be in back of the auction house holding his bidding number upside down for Tex and C.C. I would still be shocked if we truly became contenders but we came out of nowhere with Zito too.
That being said, I would give up Schierholtz and a pitching prospect for Uggla in a heartbeat. Love that guy and his market value should be comparatively low this offseason.
Anagram of "first baseman Mark Teixeira"
I’M SEXIST. I AM ABERRANT FREAK.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Nov 3, 2008 1:37 PM PST reply actions
too much palling around with Bobby Cox…
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Nov 3, 2008 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
How many times..
Does that take you, just kind of randomly putting things along with players names?
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I know how he would get them...
But what I mean is what does he have to go through to finally get “first baseman Mark Teixeira?”
free agent Mark Teixeira
potential Giant Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira hits
etc.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I don’t generally go through a lot of iterations of anagrammed text. The habit I got into was just to try the player’s name by itself and see what that produces. If the results are underwhelming (and names with an X often are) then I add the player’s position. Then if those results suck, I junk the idea and post nothing.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Nov 3, 2008 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
Anagram of "Stuttering John Tamargo"
A Gangster John Tit Tumor
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
tEIxEIra
Grant, you forgot the obvious point here: the Giants aren’t one hitter away from contention.
Seriously, all we are saying is (sing it with me) Give Kevin a Chance. You can take your Established Secondbaseman and stick him where the sun don’t shine – Seattle – but keep him away from the Giants. We have Frandsen for now, and Noonan for the future (and maybe even Busty Poser for the future).
Yeah, sure, IF Sabean and Bochy actually give Frandsen a chance to hit the .290 he’d hit if given that chance, and IF somehow Rowand could be shedded, and IF somehow Sabean could be convinced that Schierholtz deserves a shot at RF (and IF he hits like he should), and IF Pablo can play decent-ish 3B while hitting .300, and IF Burriss can maintain good defense while hitting northwards of .275, and IF Molina continues to be a “clutch” hitter, and IF the bullpen loses fewer of Matt Cain’s games…..then yeah, absolutely, I’d think about signing Mark Teixeira for way too much money. Problem is, we won’t know those answers until this time next year, at the earliest. It’s like I tell everybody at the tv station: timing is EVERYTHING. This just isn’t the right time.
Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.
Shedded = locked in a shed while being paid by someone else
Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.
Yes he did list that....
Oh, I see what you did there.
Oh, I see what I did there.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Busty Poser
I didn’t realize we’d drafted Lindsay Lohan.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Nov 3, 2008 2:58 PM PST up reply actions
Anybody notice the keyword in this sentence:
"It’s hard to justify long-term deals to first basemen, as that should be the easiest position on the diamond to fill. "
Don't think, it could only hurt the ballclub.
keyword..if keyword = keystone… then the middle word that’s holding the whole sentence together is THAT!
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I was going with 'should'
And after all the support I gave your penis…
Don't think, it could only hurt the ballclub.
Your going to need to sign somebody at some point
The Giants do not have a young hitter that he has shown that he will be a 300 avg, 30 home guy (Posey being a possible exception). If they want to contend within the next 5 years, they will need to make some sort of signing to bolster their lineup. To me, it would be silly not to at least take a look.
Playoffs!!??
Buster Posey will never hit 30 homeruns for the giants.
Prove me wrong Buster. Prove me wrong.
Rafael Rodriguez: He likes the way Snrub thinks!
Rosterbation?
When your daughter Mind-Googles “Grant” and “Giants” twelve years from now, she’ll find this post and go, “Ewwww, Dad. Gross.” From now on, pal, remember the children.
Disfrute Los Gigantes every day at www.leftymalo.com
2009 lineup
with the lineup suggested that means we will have the following positions filled for the next 2-5 yrs:
Lewis – LF
Teixeira – 1B
Sandoval – 3B
Rowand – CF
Burriss – SS
& assuming Shierholtz takes RF, Posey takes C
thats 7/8 positions filled with quality players with only 2B needing a true upgrade. It would also give us 6 players with 15-30 HRs potential (Burriss/2B exlcuded)…there could be worse things (3/31/08 aurilia, durham, bocock, castillo)
I’d say, at this point, that it’s more likely that Posey would be at third and Sandoval at catcher. The reasoning being that Posey would likely be the better infield defender since he’s the better athlete. Also, sometime soon (before Posey is ML-ready) Molina will leave and Sandoval will be the catcher since the Giants won’t have another option.
I do agree with your premise, though, Rowand excluded. Lewis, Tex, Sandoval, Burriss, Schierholtz and Posey is definitely an intriguing core. That team would, theoretically, be only two bats away. The Dodgers nearly made the World Series with offensive holes at 3b and SS, so it’s not unreasonable to think that that team could contend for the division (if the pitching continues to improve; big if).
Adam Dunn
If Teixiera is worth considering, then so is Dunn. They’re comparable hitters (134 OPS+ and 130 OPS+) and I doubt if Dunn were to play first, there’d be a substantial difference in defense. The big advantage is that Dunn will get less than Teixiera; I don’t know how much, but it seems like the league in general undervalues him.
Oh, and Dunn is only half a year older, and according to baseball-reference, his nickname is “Big Donkey,” which should be worth something on its own
by kingofthacove on Nov 3, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions
He’s undervalued because he strikes out a lot and has a low BA. But he walks a ton, has silly power and can even steal a couple bases. I’d have to think that he’s one of the few left-handed power hitters who would be generally unaffected by the Phone. He’ll be a lot cheaper than Tex and can theoretically play left as well as first. I’m a Dunn fan and would not mind at all if he’s the big offseason addition.
I’d have to think that he’s one of the few left-handed power hitters who would be generally unaffected by the Phone.
After the series he had here with the Diamondbacks, I don’t think I agree and I’m sure that Dunn doesn’t agree.
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
I didn’t see that series and really can’t remember how he did. I looked up his lines and he was 2-12 with 6 Ks and 1 BB in that series. He scored 1 run and drove in zero. No extra-base hits. So that’s not good and I’m sure he was very frustrated at the end of that series. And it does appear that the Phone cooled his bat. In the D-backs last game before coming to SF, he went 2-4 with a 2B and a HR in LA. Alright. On the other hand, the first pitcher he saw in San Francisco was Tim Lincecum and that’s not good for anyone’s hitting. My point is, there were multiple factors affecting why Dunn had a poor series. The pitching, the park, maybe he tweaked a muscle, maybe he got a stomach bug, who knows. Anything could have affected his mind-set at the plate. And his power is so silly, I think it will translate to this park (as opposed to Aaron Rowand’s). Three games – thirteen PAs – is not remotely close to a sufficient sample and Dunn has the well-earned reputation of putting a charge into the ball when he makes contact.
That said, I’m no scout and never saw Dunn play last year. I could certainly be wrong about this.
Oh
He hit like four balls in that one series into Mirabelli Alley that would have been homers in any other park, and died easy deaths. By the end, he had that hands-on-hips body language like “I can’t believe this park.”
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
He hit one that ended up being caught right in front
of the 420 marker that he just couldnt believe. His
body language was so easily readable.
It was hilariious, unless you hope to sign him as a FA.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
I remember Kuip saying “And there goes any chance the Giants had of signing Dunn in the off-season” It was pretty funny.
Zooperstars, they quack me up!
it’s funny cuz it’s true
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Nov 3, 2008 9:41 PM PST up reply actions
That Sucks
I did not know that. I feel for guys that have that happen to them. That alley is ridiculous and it’s so hard to hit it over the wall in right, too. And it’s not like he’s a line-drive gap hitter. He’s got legit power to left, though, and enough strength to punch the ball through the wind in right. Maybe it would take a change in approach. Still, it’s disheartening to hear about his body language in that series.
If he is that easily discouraged I don’t want him. The Giants can lose compile a 90 loss team with out that salary. What the need are guys that will help them get to 90 wins. You don’t get the later by easily daunted.
Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!
Let's see spread Chaos, Confusion and Anarchy here? Check. My work is complete. I’ll be moving on now.
Dunn
has 102 PA career at ATT. .157/.255/.303. for an OPS of .558. If he knows this, he won’t sign in SF.
Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.
Regardless if he knows this or not
My knowing this makes me not want to sign him.
by FairweatherFan on Nov 3, 2008 9:01 PM PST up reply actions
If he knows that..
And he won’t sign in SF because of that then he’s an idiot.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Can Teixeira play 3B?
I think I pulled my swagger muscle...
Actually...
I was going to cross my fingers and hope that Travis Denker would be an above-avera…oh, wait…scratch that.
Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?
Who?
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
I know we're not one hitter away from contention, but
We’ve got to start somewhere. Getting the best hitter available would be a pretty good start wouldn’t it? I don’t get the mindset that just because we aren’t going to contend for the world series next year or the year after we shouldn’t make efforts to sign the best possible players. I don’t know off the top of my head, but is there anyone better than Tex becoming a FA in the next two or three years? If not, you’re just saying we should conserve our resources to sign someone when they are going to compete. Well, first their might not be anybody better than Tex to sign and second if we don’t get better through the farm system (and we all know how good the Giants are at developing offense internally) they’re never going to be one player away from contention so following that frame of the thought they should never sign the best FAs.
I say make every effort possible to sign Tex.
I pretty much completely agree with this
no, tex isn’t good enough to singlehandedly turn an offense around
no, we aren’t one player away
no, it wouldn’t be cheap
yes, there are other teams with deep pockets who are interested
but all that said, tex is exactly the kind of cornerstone offensive player a team like the giants can build around. look at it this way, we aren’t one player away now, but if we sign tex we’ll be that much closer to actually being one or two players away. baby steps, or in this case, one big leap forward, 2-3 to go.
Another thing: this question is definitely being misinterpreted or asked the wrong way… it’s not “Do you want Teixeira” because if you’re sane, of course you do. Seeing as how the Giants don’t currently employ Albert Pujols, I think Tex would be a fine upgrade both offensively and defensively at first, and I’m positive I’m far from alone there. No, the real question is how much would you spend to get him. And while I’ll admit he’s not worth A-Rod money, I would definitely give him a lot. I think at minimum, the Giants should be willing to give Tex the same deal they were looking to give Soriano a couple of years ago— he’s a better all around player and fits into a bigger area of need for the franchise (corner IF v. corner OF).
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Nov 4, 2008 4:17 AM PST up reply actions
it’s not "Do you want Teixeira" […] No, the real question is how much would you spend to get him.
Smoke’s correct here. And the interesting thing is that it’s such a no brainer, that it comes down to not being a Sabean decision, but being a Neukom decision. His first major one and one that will be interesting to watch.
My prediction: We’ll be a major player in the Tex sweepstakes. Hopefully his wife likes SF.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
I qualify all of this with the "He won't want to come here" disclaimer, but
they should play in this sandbox with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. Sure, the 6 year/$120 million neighborhood is pricey company for the Giants, against teams that all have the money to spend $20-25 million for one position. But two of those teams also want to play in the CC or Burnett sweepstakes, and the Angels have said they will not break the bank this offseason.
For the sake of argument, if the free agent market this offseason only really allowed you the opportunity to fill one major position of need, and you could do it without trading away your pitching, why not play with the big boys for several rounds and see if you can stay in the game until it reaches the 6 year/$25 million per territory? As Smoke says, they could add one piece this offseason, and then maybe even get lucky on another at 3B or SS for Sanchez. And then Molina and perhaps Winn fall off the books next season and they can add another piece.
Stranger things have happened.
Matt Cain's drinking buddy
Beating a dead horse
I just wanted to point out the ridiculous amount of money the team would have to sign FAs this season if they’d never signed Zito. I know you were all thinking it anyway….
Oh, and the Giants should try to sign Tex as long as he doesn’t approach $175M. Even if Busty Poser (see above), Gillaspie, Bumgarner and Alderson all came up in the next few years and met expectations, and Burriss and Pablo continued their streaks from the end of this season, the Giants would still need at least one more hitter. So, why not get Tex? Is there a hitter that will reach free agency in the next few years that you’d rather see the Giants sign to a long term deal?
yeah, but
mike hampton’s also available this winter. Think about all the ridiculous amount of money this team would have to sign Mike Hampton…
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
by theghostofjasonellison on Nov 3, 2008 7:42 PM PST up reply actions
Mike Hampton
He’d probably hit 5th for this team.
Ralph Barbieri, heal thyself.
by ThrillisGone22 on Nov 4, 2008 7:19 PM PST up reply actions
other possibilities
Not sure if this was purely fan speculation or based on something, but one poster on the cubs sb nation blog mentioned that they had been wondering if the giants were a possibility for a soriano salary dump. I assume this would take cain/lincecum, so it seems highly unlikely, but just something I heard, thought I’d throw it out there.
Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
the salary dump would probably be a decent OF plus a decent, but not good/great prospect, we’d just be on the hook for the rest of soriano’s (pretty bad) contract, and possibly the contract of the OF too. That being said, all I hear are negative comments about soriano from all the surprisingly knowledgeable cubs fans around here
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
by theghostofjasonellison on Nov 3, 2008 7:44 PM PST up reply actions
If...
We do something like that, could Soriano go back to playing second?
Molina/Sandoval
Ishikawa/Sandoval
Soriano
Burriss
Free Agent/Trade/Sandoval
Lewis
Rowand
Schierholtz (assuming that Winn is the traded)
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
just for the record
I dont support it either. Just trying to get some opinions, sounds unanimously against, I guess.
Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
Absolutely
Assuming we could get him for Rowand or Zito.
Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.
Fuckit
Get him. It’s just money – right? :)
We can all complain about the consequences later.
Because
Because Mark Teixeira is young enough to still be around when the Giants get good and because top-notch free agents don’t particularly abound (with even fewer wanting to play in SF), I would have no problem if the Giants signed him.
Let’s suppose that Emmanuel Burriss has a big-league glove and a big-league bat at shortstop. Let’s assume that Pablo Sandoval can play third base and that eventually he and Buster Posey can share catcher and the hot corner. Let’s suppose that Conor Gillaspie can be ready in a year. (One Giants fan saw him play in college and believes it would be a waste for him to start next season in Connecticut, expecting Conor to instead open the season in Fresno.) Let’s suppose Conor can learn to play second base, a position he is said to be athletic enough for. (Bill Mueller played some games there himself.)
Suddenly the Giants have the catching position covered and a full infield. Maybe they could parlay Randy Winn, Bengie Molina and a pitching prospect into a stud outfield prospect — even if that stud is a couple of years away, thus keeping the mares waiting.
Let’s suppose Aaron Rowand bounces back to normal self. Let’s suppose that at least one of the trio of Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz and John Bowker plays well.
Suddenly the Giants have an outfield.
Let’s suppose that within two years Mad Bum and Timmy Two are the real deal (which could make Barry Zito and Noah Lowry the top lefty relievers :). Let’s suppose that Brian Wilson is for real as a closer and that among Alex Hinshaw, Sergio Romo, Billy Sadler, Merkin Valdez, Jack Taschner, Osiris Matos and even the much-reviled Tyler Walker the Giants can find a middle reliever and a couple of set up men.
Suddenly the Giants have a pitching staff. And in an ideal world, it would be only 2010. The Giants could possibly become a mini-version of the Rays — or at least the Diamondbacks or Dodgers. By 2011 they could be serious contenders and by 2012 real contenders to win it all.
At least one of these things is bound to fall through, you say? No problem. That’s what the #6 overall pick in the 2009 draft pick is for. :)
fyi
rowand’s 08 numbers are his normal stats
Well, the early look from the GM meetings seems to be that
nothing major will be happening. The Brewers now don’t want to move Fielder or Hardy, and the big market teams are focusing on using their cash advantage to drive up the price of the good FAs that are out there. As such, there doesn’t seem to be much Sabean can do this early in the offseason unless he wanted to get fleeced again by someone into giving up Sanchez for soemething inadequate. So he’s left with nibbling around the edges once again by signing the likes of Phelps for 1B on a low-risk minor league deal to see what happens by Spring Training.
I don’t think Tex would consider coming to the Giants even if they were competitive on the money with the other suitors. That being said, if other moves will be limited because everyone else wants to hold onto their chips, then perhaps the Giants should play aggressively in the Tex market between now and the winter meetings and see how things shake out. At this point, since so little is being dangled out there for our pitching, I’d hold onto it.
NO, we're not trading Matt Cain! What's that you say? We are? Armageddon is upon us!
Apparently, the neighborhood being set for Tex
by the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels is in the 6 years/$120 million range. If the Giants can flush 7 years and $126 million down the toilet for a pitcher on the downside of his career, then they should at least put a chip on the table with the big boys for a $20 million/year contract for a position player of great need. Of course they’ll get grossly outbid by these other teams, and of course Tex would not come here, but . . . .
NO, we're not trading Matt Cain! What's that you say? We are? Armageddon is upon us!
Insta-yes
I just wonder if it will take 8 years.
I would also go 4/$100
As for “more than 1 hitter away” – I would get Furcal, too.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN
Furcal
I know this leaves me open to inundation by a ridiculous number of stats about how great he is…
but I don’t want to see Furcal anywhere near this team
Ralph Barbieri, heal thyself.
by ThrillisGone22 on Nov 4, 2008 8:08 PM PST up reply actions
I don't entirely agree
that the Giants are not one hitter away from contention. They aren’t if it is simply a sum of the parts, but everyone knows that a bat with considerable power has an impact up, and down the lineup. Sandoval’s bat was missing for most of the 2008 season and must be factored in. It also seems that most people are assuming that the season Rowand had in 2008 is the same he will have in 2009. That may not be true, and if he bounces back, I like a heart of the order that includes Teixiera, Sandoval, Rowand, and Molina.
Also the idea that 1B is the easiest to fill is from the perspective of finding a spot for an older, defensively deficient player that can still hit. 1B is the most underrated defensive position on the field; a good defensive 1B can make the entire IF better. There is a reason why the Giants had good defensive teams when we had JT at 1B.
I can understand the reasons for not wanting to gamble on signing Tex, but I would be very happy if the Giants took that risk and did.
Greetings, Marklar! I am Marklar! This is Marklar.
Gotta love ridiculous optimism...
Anyone that watched the Giants last year knows that they’re not one hitter away from contention. Minus Sandoval and Molina, they’re basically one LINEUP away from contention.
Teixeira would be a better acquisition than Zito was for sure, but I think it’s a lot of money to spend to improve the team enough to get them to maybe 99 losses next year…
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/11083457
I’m not saying we should trade Bengie, but his value might be at its peak.
Insanity is just a state of mind.
According to the LA Times,
the Giants are pursuing both Tex and Furcal.
The White Sox want a CF with speed and want to send away both Javier Vasquez and Nick Swisher.
Rowand/Taschner anyone?
Matt Cain's drinking buddy
The second position I want is a permanently payroll increase of 25MM- 30MM for the next 7 years.
If ownership feels like permanently bumping the payroll to a bit over 100MM I can be really happy with a Tex signing. If Ownership if not willing to go on record for that then I don’t want.
Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!
Let's see spread Chaos, Confusion and Anarchy here? Check. My work is complete. I’ll be moving on now.
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