The Big Unit?
by uber on Dec 1, 2008 2:33 PM PST
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PrintLong time reader, first time poster (so please take it easy on me). Reading Crasnicks post today on ESPN. He calls out Randy Johnson as a possible Free Agent bargain, notes that Johnson would like to play in California, and only wants a one year deal. Could a Big Unit for one year be a bad thing for the Giants? Injuries are a issue and certainly we would be getting him in what would have to be his last year, but even if he pitched at the same level as he did last year in ARZ (3.91 ERA, 173 SO, 1.24 WHIP) this would be an upgrade at whatever spot in the rotation Zitos at (move him down). Certainly playing at ATT would be a bonus(in the last 3 seasons Johnson has posted a 1.66 ERA, 35K,1.28 WHIP at Mays Field).
Point is, could signing Johnson to a one year deal allow the team to focus on a longer contract for the bat they are looking for while strengthening the rotation with out much long term risk (other than having to look at him for a full season)?
Sorry: The numbers above were against the Giants, his 3 year stats at ATT are:
0.00 ERA, 9Ks, 1.25WHIP
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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That’s a really ugly idea.
My plans for 2009: getting married and attending Tim Lincecum Bobblehead Day.
literally, but not figuratively
ugly man, but i think any veteran innings eater that would sign a cheap one or two year contract would have some sort of value for the giants, que no?
im adopting "insert 37th pick's name here"
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 1, 2008 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
I have to say, I don’t really miss the days when most of the roster was Social Security eligible.
On the other hand, he could help pad the franchise record for Hall of Famers, a la Steve Carlton and Warren Spahn! Plus, the Giants seem to have a thing for tall, unattractive, hard-throwing left-handers from Livermore – witness Mark Davis and Erick Threets.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Actually, now that I check, Mark Davis wasn’t especially ugly. But the rest apply.
Also, Google Image Searching Mark Davis = not work safe. Eep!
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
if someone asks what i did today..
i sure dont want to admit i was looking for pictures of mark davis to gauge his attractiveness…im just sayin
im adopting "insert 37th pick's name here"
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 1, 2008 2:46 PM PST up reply actions
NSFW?
If Jessica Alba in a cocktail dress is NSFW, I’m never working again. Except in a garage with lots of centerfolds on the walls. Or a bar.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below.500
Your safe search must be on, because Mark Davis is a porn star and you should be seeing quite a bit more than Jessica Alba in a cocktail dress..
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 3, 2008 7:14 AM PST up reply actions
He’s still one of the better pitchers in the game. So yeah.
I don’t see why it has to be his last year, either. I suspect he could keep pitching till he’s 50 if he feels like it.
his back has been giving out, though
He’s pretty old and its starting to really show. I think he’d call it after he gets to 300 wins.
I Think There Is Zoro Chance He Would Retire Mid-Season
I do think this would be his last season (assuming as I do that he gets to 300 wins) but I don’t see any likelihood that he would quit on his new team before the season is over just because he achieves the 300 wins.
by giantsrainman on Dec 1, 2008 5:11 PM PST up reply actions
I wasn't saying he'd quit midseason...
I’m saying he wouldn’t play another year after he got to 300. Poorly worded on my part, sorry.
At Least You Didn't Spell "Zero" Zoro :-)
by giantsrainman on Dec 1, 2008 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
I think KNOW he’d call it after he gets to 300 wins
cos I’m Victradamus , THAT’S how.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 1, 2008 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
I dunno..
Is he basically just a 5 inning pitcher now? I thought last year his endurance went down and down.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Which Is Better Then Every Giants Starter Not Named Lincecum Or Cain
This indeed could be a very good signing and as I stated above I would not at all be worried that he would not give us enough innings per start.
by giantsrainman on Dec 1, 2008 3:07 PM PST up reply actions
Go for it
We’d have the Little Unit and the Big Unit. I can see the marketing possibilities already…..
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.
Lyle knows too much
My life was better before I knew the size of LeRoy’s unit.
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
Over/Under
on good/bad/ugly references if this goes down: 109 per game started.
On balance, I’m pro RJ for 2009.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
I read he was willing to take 1 year/ $4M to stay with Arizona. He’d be a steal anywhere around that price, and would give the Giants another year to see how Madbum/ Alderson/ Sosa progress.
Oh, Hell Yes!
RJ wasn’t as dominating last year, but he was pretty good in the 2nd half, showing that he can still do it. He’s only 5 wins away from 300, so he could get that in a Giants uni (I know we don’t care about wins as a stat, but the players, and it could be used as a marketing tool). I think he could pitch at least 150+ pretty good innings. he’s also a Bay Area-raised dude.
I’m definitely for it. I’d be willing to go 1year/ $6 or 7M. it’s definitely a better (and more fun) option than trading for Jason Marquis.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 1, 2008 3:03 PM PST reply actions
Lincecum, Cain and a bunch of lefties!
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 1, 2008 3:04 PM PST reply actions
I smell sitcom
Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil
by SoFa King Mike on Dec 1, 2008 3:10 PM PST up reply actions
I thought I recognized Big Ugly’s foul stench when they brought me on board.
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 1, 2008 3:23 PM PST up reply actions
The tighter you squeeze
the more free agents will slip through your fingers
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
Isn’t he pretty big for a stormtrooper?
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below.500
Sure, make it happen
But almost nothing is less convincing than a dozen innings in one park. Especially because he wouldn’t be facing the 2008 Giants offense if we were pitching for us.
Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz
And the three year stats...
…are really one year stats, since he was in the AL for 06 and didn’t face us in SF in 07/
Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz
by lyricalkiller on Dec 1, 2008 3:05 PM PST up reply actions
I think he’d be a good fit, especially if we wind up trading a young arm (read: Sanchez, because Cain is too good) for an infielder. And a staff of 3 Cy Young winners? Why, we’d be like the mid-90’s Atlanta Braves, only awesomer!
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Dec 1, 2008 3:04 PM PST reply actions
Zito=Cy Young winner
That would be a good joke, if only.
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
trade sanchez, sign CC and Randy
1. Tim Lincecum
2. CC Sabathia
3. Matt Cain
4. Barry Zito
5. Randy Johnson
Just sayin’…
"I didn't know (after seeing a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch) whether to shit or go blind." - Former Giants Outfielder Harvey Kuenn on Willie Mays
I guess this is sort of my point. Right now the discussion is do we try and sign a FA pitcher OR an FA hitter. I would like to see us sign a short commitment pitcher (ala Johnson) to boost the rotation and focus on a longer term deal with a FA hitter. Also, I like the earlier post about allowing us to dangle sanchez in a trade for a middle infielder
Zito ahead of Johnson!?
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
That's supposed to blow us away, and for a minute it does...
…but that would hardly be the best rotation ever or anything, unless everything broke right. And we’d still have no bats, now or in the next few years. Looks like a waste of Lincecum to me. Without an upgrade to the offense I don’t see how we get past even 85 wins with that team.
Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz
by lyricalkiller on Dec 1, 2008 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
I’d much prefer a one-year deal for Johnson than seven-year deal for CC.
I saw the title of this Fanpost and hoped it would be a discussion of the Walrusman cartoon.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
I agree with your first line
My new offseason plan
bullpen help- Affeldt + maybe one more (Howry?)
infield help- burrell (if can play 1b) and Renteria
starter- Johnson
Forget C.C.
This would rule. We’d be measurably better in all areas but defense, but the offense would be…
Lewis
Winn
Rowand
Burrell
Sandoval
Molina
Renteria
Burrndsen
In whatever order you like, I like that!
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
I'd be ok with this
especially if it’s on a 1 year deal. If he stays healthy a pitcher like Johnson could be pretty shiny around the deadline.
Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!
Plus, we could brag that we have the biggest Johnson in the history of the game.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
everyone loves a big shiny Johnson
Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!
by j14 on Dec 1, 2008 4:18 PM PST up reply actions
I like the idea
He’s old and an injury risk, which means he’ll be cheap and short term. But does he really want to play in a park with so many foghorns?
Heck, while we’re at it, why don’t we bring in Smoltzy, too? We’ll be practically imbeatable.
Get the hell out the way Bengie, Pablito's hit the show!
Smoltz is available?
-swoons-
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 1, 2008 8:46 PM PST up reply actions
Nice first post...
and interesting idea.
If we could get a hometown discount that would be great. I’m sure RJ wouldn’t mind earning his 300th win back in the Bay Area.
There haven’t been many more fiercely competitive players in our generation than RJ so if any of his snarly gnarliless can pass on to our young players, then all the better. I’d go for this signing.
or gnarling snarliness
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 1, 2008 4:42 PM PST up reply actions
general snarkyness?
you called!
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
Or Gnarls Barkleyness
I Don't Tolerate Intolerance!
by Giant among Angels on Dec 1, 2008 9:53 PM PST up reply actions
Great!
That was classic. I totally forgot about that. Man, did i hear Krukow say Charlie Hayes? …the memories…ahhhh
I Don't Tolerate Intolerance!
by Giant among Angels on Dec 1, 2008 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
Would the colder weather in San Fran affect him thoug? With his back being all balky you wold think that the AZ heat would be what he wants.
I can haz homerunz!
excellent point. AZ or LA
I Don't Tolerate Intolerance!
by Giant among Angels on Dec 1, 2008 9:54 PM PST up reply actions
Well, we already know what he’d look like in a Giants hat.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
Great!
That was classic. I totally forgot about that. Man, did i hear Krukow say Charlie Hayes? …the memories…ahhhh
I Don't Tolerate Intolerance!
by Giant among Angels on Dec 1, 2008 9:58 PM PST up reply actions
If we don't get CC I don't mind
Hasheem "The Dream" Thabeet or Brandon Jennings. A Warrior in 09.
With the 6th Pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the SF Giants pick Donovan Tate.
Andre Smith in Silver & Black in 2009.
Go for it
Having a surly Bonds fan around during the trial can’t hurt either — as I recall he and Barry have a bit of a mutual admiration thing. Let Randy deal with all of the what does the clubhouse think about today’s testimony interviews.
the contract is worth it
just for the extra “pitching coach” on staff. with strikeout pitchers like lincecum, cain and sanchez (and bumgarner and alderson in the wings), the experience of being around randy makes more sense than a finesse pitcher like greg maddux.
plus there’d be an insanely ugly bobblehead.
this cannot be overvalued.
I think all these are good points… Long story short, it probably wouldn’t be disastrous financially, he might even draw some crowds to see him reach these milestones, he might have something to teach our youngsters, and even if he sucks we won’t be any worse off than we were… seems like a decent short term solution for the fifth starter spot, assuming management is sold that alderson/bumgarner will be on the ML team sooner rather than later. If not, then really we should be looking for some higher upside guys where we could maybe get lucky.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Dec 1, 2008 10:59 PM PST up reply actions
This is about how I imagine "Randy Johnson, Mentor" going.
Matt Cain: “So, uh, Randy… got any great teacherly advice? I mean, better than Matt Morris gave me.”
Randy Johnson: “Yeah. Hey, where’s Lincecum? He should probably hear this stuff too.”
Tim Lincecum: “Yo!”
Randy Johnson: “Okay, so first thing’s first. You gotta be really tall. Like, freakishly tall.”
Tim Lincecum: “Uh, well…”
Randy Johnson: “I mean, you see how tall I am? This tall. Maybe taller. Definitely no shorter.”
Matt Cain: “Well, that’s kind of psychotic, Randy. But it’s still better than Morris.”
Randy Johnson: “Then, see, and here’s the real kicker, you gotta throw left-handed.”
Matt Cain: “Great. So, anything for somebody my size who throws right-handed?”
Randy Johnson: “Those physics mean nothing to me.”
Matt Cain: “Awesome.”
Randy Johnson: “Listen, you just keep working on it. Take it from me, Randy Johson.”
Tim Lincecum: “O’Doyle Rules!!!”
Tim Lincecum falls on floor laughing
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 1, 2008 11:19 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Randy Johnson doesn’t know how to pronounce his own name. Little known fact.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 1, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions
fixed.
Matt Cain: "Great. So, anything for somebody my size who throws right-handed?"
Randy JohnsonDave Righetti:"Those physics mean nothing to me."
Matt Cain: "Awesome."
Randy JohnsonDave Righetti: "Listen, you just keep working on it. Take it from me, Randy Johson If you have any ‘right-hander’ questions, Coach Gardner can teach you how to sweat like a thoroughbred racehorse while only throwing in the mid-80’s."
by ExcuseMeSwing on Dec 2, 2008 12:14 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Thanks!
Now my co-workers are staring at me while I laugh uncontrollably. You need to put a warning on stuff this funny!
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.
+1
I share an office and tried to hold it in but ended up laughing out loud anyway, then I have to explain why I’m not working…
I’m sure Dave Righetti had nothing to do with Cain’s success to date, too. It’s not like he’s the pitching coach or anything.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 2, 2008 7:09 AM PST up reply actions
If you wanted to build a case for Righetti
I wouldn’t really use Cain as an example, since he was completely dominant in the minors, and hasn’t really improved since he made the majors.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
That’s just not true. He’s been in the majors for 3 full years, and he improved significantly from his first year to his second. Years 2 to 3 have a lot of room for debate, but it’s mostly nitpicky stuff because they are pretty even any way you slice ’em.
I don’t see what’s wrong with Cain as an example.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 2, 2008 9:02 AM PST up reply actions
I really think Righetti is the changeup master
And Cain is as good an example as any of that.
At any rate, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
2006-2007
He didn’t improve significantly. His ERA definitely improved, but that’s pretty much it. His BB/9 dropped, but so did his K/9, so his K/BB remained unchanged. He became a bit more of a GB pitcher, but that’s probably just random fluctuation, and this year his GB rate was the worst it’s ever been (and 4th worst in the majors). His tRA and FIP show a minor improvement in 2007, and a decline in 2008.
He was good in his first year, slightly better in his second, and a bit worse in his third year. That’s hardly something for his pitching coach to be proud of.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
I’m not going to get myself into a “learning how to pitch versus being a thrower” argument, even though that’s where my heart is pushing me. I know there is value in that argument, but I also understand the many fallacies and flaws that I would undoubtedly walk into if I tried to pursue it, and I’m not particularly interested in walking into them right now. Needless to say, I believe that Cain has improved significantly as a pitcher in ways that don’t quite show up on a stat line, but I don’t think either of us want to go there with this discussion.
So for our purposes let’s concede that the statistics bear out that there was slight improvement from years one to two and slight regression from years two to three. Let’s say that my original point was just flat wrong. No significant improvement to speak of. In a results based system, Cain is essentially the same pitcher he was as a rookie. Etc.
Even accepting all that, I don’t see where having a young pitcher like Cain perform at the level he has performed without significant injury or regression is a fault of a pitching coach. How many pitchers in the league do what Cain’s done, at his age, for any prolonged period of time (3 years being, in this case, a “prolonged” period of time)? I don’t see what’s wrong with hanging your hat on that a little bit.
No, it’s not the same as if Cain had come to the league and gotten better and better, but I think it’s a fallacy to say “he hasn’t improved, so I can assume that his coaching during that period hasn’t played a role in his success.” As a coach, taking credit for Cain – or any pitcher – isn’t just about improvement. There’s nothing negative about simply coaching a successful pitcher. And there shouldn’t be anything taken away from that either.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 2, 2008 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
I never said that Cain’s performance is Righetti “fault”, or that because Cain didn’t improve, I can assume that Righetti didn’t do much, or anything like that. We don’t know what Righetti does, and how much of an effect he has on our pitchers. We don’t have any proof, just circumstantial evidence. But if I wanted to build a case for Righetti based on circumstantial evidence, I wouldn’t use Cain, because:
- While Cain has been very good pitcher over the last year, his numbers are pretty much you’d expect from a guy with his minor league numbers, and he was a top prospect in the minors. He’s not exactly Righetti’s creation.
- Cain was good from the moment he reached the majors. He had some rough outings, but he was pretty much a major leaguer before he even met Righetti.
- Cain hasn’t shown big improvement over the last three years, at least from a result-based point of view.
Again, I have no idea if Righetti helped Cain or not. But there’s nothing in Cain’s career path that makes you think “he must have had good coaching”. When (if?) Sanchez proves himself as an MLB starter, then you’d have a good case. We’d still have no idea if Righetti actually helped, but at least it would make sense to assume that he did.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
Ah, I think we’ve been talking from two different places altogether. It was never my intention here to use Cain as an example of why Righetti is a particularly good coach. It was my intention to use Cain as an example of why I get exasperated when people say he’s a bad coach. It was also a choice of convenience, since Cain was the object of the whole joke that sparked the debate. He was never the best example for either defense (in fact, there’s a real case to be made that even Lincecum is a better example), but he was the most present example in the current discussion, and so I used him.
I think that’s around where we got tripped up to begin with. I agree that there are better places to go to make an argument.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 2, 2008 1:56 PM PST up reply actions
Or to put it another way, I was defending the position that I had already taken against an argument that you weren’t really making, and you were arguing the rationale behind taking that position in the first place against a defense that I was making in error.
On second thought, that still seems like a kind of circumlocutive way of saying it.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 2, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
Nothing like a mental picture of Mark Gardner’s sweaty mullet to start off the morning.
Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil
by SoFa King Mike on Dec 2, 2008 8:17 AM PST up reply actions
Sanchez: Question: Is being ridiculously ugly part of being a good pitcher? Because I don’t think I can do that.
Tim Lincecum:
As indicated by my CY presser, I’m making progress!
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
Fixed again
Matt Cain: "So, uh, Randy… got any great teacherly advice? I mean, better than Matt Morris gave me."
Randy Johnson: "Get out of my face."
Matt Cain: "But, uh, Randy… I just thought you might have some advice. I’m asking nicely."
Randy Johnson: "No you’re not.."
Matt Cain: "But, uh, Randy… I’m your teammate now…"
Randy Johnson: "I don’t care who you are…don’t get in my face."
Matt Cain: "But, uh, Randy… I really don’t think I was in your face."
Randy Johnson: "Don’t get in my face and don’t talk back to me."
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
I see him as more of a golden retriever….
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005.
the big "letdown"?
i wouldn’t put it past sabean to sign an aged veteran though.
I don’t get it…
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 3, 2008 12:37 PM PST up reply actions
The Big Eunuch
bwahahahahahahahaha… ha.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below.500
how much?
What kind of price tag are we talking about for The Big Unit? Even though he’s on the decline in terms of ability, it seems like his price is going to be still quite a bit 10 Mill. Is this really the best we can do?
I still like the move the Giants pulled with bringing back Russ Ortiz. Signing an even more risky starter for league minimum type salary is kinda fun and can pay off big. Or suck. But not suck as bad as signing Johnson at $14 Mill and fall apart because he’s 45!
I still like this idea
Apparently Johnson made 10M last year (base) and offered to play again in ARZ for 4M. Sounds like hes willing to take a pay cut. I dont see a CC deal happening and would like to shore up our rotation, which really is a 2 man rotation. If we could get Johnson for a year at ~7M, I think the team would be in a much better postion to trade for or aquire the bat(s) we so despirately need.
Johnson and Burrell would be modestly priced aquisitions, yet would make us competitive in the NL West if we stopped there. (Keep in mind Lowry is #5 starter on the giants current depth chart.)
LF: Lewis
RF: Winn
SS: Renteria
1B: Burrell
C: Molina
3B: Sandoval
CF: Rowand
2B: Frandsen
Lincecum
Johnson
Cain
Sanchez
Zito
Along with the improved bullpen, I’d consider that a successful off-season and we would not have given up any of the future.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
This is the base of my thinking as well. We get solid improvements in the line up and the rotation with out serious longterm impact. Also this doesnt block our younger players and a healthy Lowry gives us the option to create a trade around Sanchez (or Lowry). The only disagreement I have here, is that I see Sandoval stronger at 1st and imagine seeing a trade or FA deal for a thrid baseman as more likely. Certainly that changes the power calculation (based on what is out there). But, if we actually sign Burrell to play first, this line up would do….
But I don’t see any Burrell-type bat options at 3B where we wouldn’t have to give up part of our future.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
what happens if...
you play Burrell at his natural spot (with Lewis as a backup) and let sandoval play 1st? We would lose some speed at the top. Your right though, unless we sign another FA to play 3rd (Blake) we will have to lose a player. Seems like they are willing to trade Sanchez tho… maybe throw Roberts and Cash into a deal. Can Lewis play right? Maybe Winn is the bait (I really like Winn but I know hes more valuable on another team)? I dont mind trading Sanchez especially given the guys we have throwing in the minors now….
I see what your doing here!
And I mostly like it. I would rather see Lewis get the playing time then Blake. The combination of moves mentioned makes this team competitive but not a contender so taking the chance to build more value in players like Lewis, Sanchez and Frandsen should be more important then having a better floor for production at third.
Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!
Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!
it'd look a little something like this...
this is based on the assumption that lewis can play right, and a trade probably involving sanchez + winn +prospect for a 3B. The line up would be (btw I am not advocating a 3B preference here just listing the names floating out there):
RF: Lewis
SS: Renteria
1B: Sandoval
LF: Burrell
C: Molina
3B: Cantu/Beltre/Encarnacion/Crede/Blake (i think the last two are actually FAs)
CF: Rowand
2B: Fransden/Burress
Lincecum
Cain
Johnson
Zito
Lowry/Sanchez
(or maybe you make zito pitch 5th)
I am not good with line ups, so Pablito in the 3 hole may be the wrong thing, perhaps teh 3B is the better spot there. I agree with your post, this would make us competetive and the offfense would be much improved over last year, but it wouldnt not make us contenders.
If the FAs are short term, tho, and dont block other players from some play time, this could be a good get us to contention team.
I think your just being a bit too bullish a bit too soon is all.
I get what your thinking here. I just think Blake ( Cantu etc) is a move to buy a better floor on the probable production the team would get in ‘09 thats it. That type of move fits a contending team not a competing team with a lot of under 30 players on it. Our out look should be a bit like the Ray’s last year. If we compete good. If we more then compete- Better! But we are looking more towards 2010- 2011.
Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!
Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!
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