I agree with Sabean here. Looking back at some of the posts on Baggs’ blog, Sabean was consistently saying that it was unlikely that the Giants would go after the big name free agents like CC, Tex or Manny. But there was still a lot more buzz that CC would sign with us, when there was never an offer and never a meeting. After all that the Yanks’ negotiated against themselves and added an extra year an extra $20M.

I think that CC and his people used the media and played the Yanks, forcing them to up the ante, when they were the only ones in contention all along.

Meanwhile, a bunch of fans who hear “Giants trying to sign CC” now think he’s the one that got away and are pissed at Sabes for it, when we never even seriously trying to sign him because it would be unaffordable – we already have our $120M+ pitcher.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Sabean much, but it isn’t his fault we didn’t sign CC.

It is weird saying this, but I agree with Sabes. I dont know why everyone got this perception that we were going to be big spenders this season, it was stated repeatedly that we wouldnt be going after any of the “big guns”. On a side not, I dont see why everyone calling into KNBR and such are so angry that we arent going after Manny or Tex, do people really think that by getting Manny this team will become World Series contenders. I am amazed how some of the “fans” out there dropped their gung ho rebuilding attitude so soon.

Sabean had every right to go off.

Who were the four beat(en up) reporters in the room? The standard Giants beat?

I have to admit, Baggarly was the one who really started making me believe the GIants could sign CC, way back a couple of weeks ago. He brought up the Comcast deal and the redevelopment plan as revenue streams and I totally bought it.

Sabean is right, but Baggarly did say that what he had heard was unconfirmed.

Lesson learned, I guess.

Every single day we would read reports about how CC could soon become a Giant, and everytime Sabean spoke to the media he shot it down… And yet the rumor hounding continued.

I just hope Sabean doesn’t read the message boards on sfgiants.com. Those guys sound like 5 year olds the way they rant and moan. It makes Giants fans look bad.

I will reiterate some of the things I wrote on Baggarly’s blog:

Sabean needs to grow up. How much does Sabean earn every year? $2-$3 million? He can’t take the pressure and criticism for that much cash? The whole reason that he works in an industry that can support such exorbitant salaries for not only players but front office workers IS because fans are so fanatic. We are willing to support a field full of prima-donnas because we love the game and want to see it played at a high level. We are willing to pay ridiculous prices to see a game and buy a bunch of merchandise crap, this subsidizing his and his players way of life. He needs to be able to take the criticism and the pressure or go to grad school and get a real job.

He has no plan. Regardless of how the season pans out, he has non-prospects (I don’t believe that Sandoval was considered a high prospect until recently – and I argue that assertion is debatable) at three of the four infield positions and an overpaid and past-their-prime CF and SS. The cleanup hitter? That guys hit 16 HRs last year. Winn and Lewis are the lone bright spots on offense, but neither have much power, and Winn is 35. He has a good pitching staff, but one that is anchored by one of the largest albatrosses in professional sports (hint: he’s the one at the end of the alphabet). Oh, and he almost traded the Cy Young-to-be for a pretty-good (no better) ballplayer.

The guy just doesn’t get it, and then he rants and raves at a poor guy doing his job. One who is responsible in no insignificant part for contributing to the earnings potential and lifestyle of all the Giants by being a solid reporter. I could take Sabean being an incompetent moron because I know he isn’t the only GM out there who has no analytic abilities, but he has gone too far for me this time. His standoffishness and lack of respect is despicable, and the Giants would do better for themselves by firing him and bringing in somebody who understands the game from more than a gut level and can treat people with some courtesy – and maybe a little gratitude.

“The door’s wide open now. It’s gonna happen, whether you like it or not.”

Maybe Sabean is upset because he could not get into the Carrot Top show in Vegas.

I can see why Sabean is mad. In retrospect, it seems like there were a lot of Sabathia rumors without a whole lot of substance.

But I also think Sabean’s rather cryptic way of speaking fanned the flames a bit. He talks about swimming with sharks and boat races and tire kicking, and it all gets rather confusing.

I think Sabean is mad because with all the Giants-Sabathia talk comes the notion that the Giants’ are loaded and looking to spend big money to get back on top. Every free agent he’s talking to right now has probably doubled their price.

I have to wonder why Sabean hasn’t yet grasped that this is just the nature of the beast. There’s always going to be retarded rumormongering out there. The press publishes it even as we eyeroll at it. Just because Sabean gets mad at the perpetual bullshit doesn’t mean it’s going away.

Well, even Bagerly tacitly admits the media is at fault, when he posted a clarification a few days ago stressing the nature of his information: rumors only from sources of greater or lesser reliability.

/crackly CB Radio voice

“Lars, we’re gonna need a Veruca on this thread, nkay”

there would be fewer of these sites and they would be less fun. Part of the fun of sports—for me at least—is the anticipation of what sort of crazy stuff might happen. Despite all the times when a top player predictably signs with the Evil Empire, there are times when something unexpected happens. I don’t fault the reporters for passing along what they hear. Hell, they might have done all of us a service by driving up the price on the ridiculous Yankees. BTW… does anyone know what their payroll is going to be next year? Is $250 million out of the question?

These meetings are about gossip and gossiping about gossip and gossiping about the gossipers who are gossiping about gossip.

All the wet blankets are going to be bored in a couple weeks. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I think Sabes is mad because he had to speak to Barbieri and Tolbert.

Sabean is under a lot of stress. Sabean has a legitimate beef. Sabean goes on a mild and controlled rant without the use of profanity or personal insults. Sabean resumes not thinking about how to acquire Daniel Murphy.

As stated before believe Sabean has become frustrated. Frustrated with the slow process of free agency and trades. Sabean got off to a quick strike. He scored quickly with Affeldt. Right after the arbitration deadline with Renteria. And wants to strike quickly here at the winter meetings with a starting pitcher. RJ says it is too eary. Agents say we will get back to you. Meanwhile Sabean wants to wrap up his “To Do List”.

Be patient, Grasshopper.

I take it as someone who just lost a bit of control during a stressful situation. You surround any of us with reporters trying to catch a story then you’re going to come off as irritable every now & again too.

that’s part of his job, and he does that about as well as some of his personnel decisions

I hope Sabean gets testicular cancer, no wait…maybe some kind of flesh eating bacteria that only attacks his genitals. That’s something I’ve never wished on another man (or woman, for that matter) but he truly deserves it. I’m not saying I want him to die…I just want his testicles to rot off. That’s not so bad, right?