After the Rain

Even though the Giants have signed Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry, I would love if the organziation would go after Joe Nelson, who was non-tendered by the Marlins. Nelson was exceptional last year, and he has a long track record of striking hitters out.

And, heck, if you stretch the "e" out into an "h", cross the "l", and move a couple of letters around, "Joe Nelson" becomes "Johnstone." That has to mean something.

11 months ago Grant 56 comments 0 recs |

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well...

spelling-wise he’s closer to Joe Nathan than John Johnstone, so, you know, he’s got that goin’ for him.

by ExcuseMeSwing on Dec 13, 2008 11:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Which is nice.

by cheno on Dec 13, 2008 9:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Man, John Johnstone. His 2000 was one of the few real disappointments in a mostly stellar year.

Next you’re going to mention Kevin Rogers REALLY break my heart.

And speaking of which, you know you’re a little too emotionally involved in a team when relievers from a decade or more ago can still make you wistful.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Dec 13, 2008 11:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I feel the same about Rogers.

Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.

by SF Pete on Dec 13, 2008 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Weird (sad?) ending to his career

Johnstone struggled in 2000 and never pitched again. He had a back injury that happened in a New York taxi-cab accident at the end of 1999.

At least that was the official story. It always seemed a little suspicious— the sudden rise from minor-league reject to setup stud and the just-as-fast descent to debilitating injury/career over at 32. That was the time when juice-age really took hold of the game, not just for hitters but for pitchers, esp. relievers who had the pressure of throwing every day. For his 2 years of awesomeness (98-99) Johnstone got a nice 2-year contract that culminated in earning $2,175,000 for 2001— the year he spent the whole year on the DL..

I hate having to be all “hmmmm…” about old feel-good stories, but we know too much to accept that late-90s era at face value. Now Kevin Rogers (92-94), that still feels like a genuine tragedy.

by ho-hum baby on Dec 13, 2008 4:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What I heard as a rumor somewhere

Is that the Giants training/medical staff bungled handling an injury of his, and they had to settle out of court with him over the malpractice. But your story sounds as legit.

Adoptive parental unit of Kevin " 2007's Most Spectacular Pitcher" Pucetas.

"I'm a Giant now... I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley
"I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz
"Woo hoo" - Tim "The Kid" Lincecum

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Dec 13, 2008 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How many spots on the 40-man do the Giants have left?

by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 13, 2008 12:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The 40-man roster is completely filled at the moment.

by deuce deuce on Dec 13, 2008 12:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This makes the deal tendered to Taschner worse.

/deer head
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Dec 13, 2008 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he can be traded, though. Sabean might be working with a couple of different teams, and he probably figured that tendering him a $900K contract was better than just dumping him.

by Grant on Dec 13, 2008 12:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

More Likely The $700K Vinnie Chulk Got Last Year

then something approaching the $1M Correia got last year.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I hope so. I wonder how much Taschner is valued by other teams? I was certain that with his shiny ERA at the half last year he was going to get dealt.

Sabes quote about him was pretty funny, too. Something like he needs to pitch in lower pressure situations.

/deer head
Bay City Ball

by xanthan on Dec 13, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Taschner’s going to revolutionize the relief role of “3rd-6th inning, bottom of the order lefty specialist”

by ExcuseMeSwing on Dec 13, 2008 3:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Players I would remove from the 40-man to acquire just about anyone:

Bocock
Taschner
Yabu

And I would risk losking Joaquin for the right player.

by Grant on Dec 13, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Replace Yabu With Ochoa And We Agree

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d keep Ochoa around for an emergency. If either Burriss or Renteria are injured the Giants will need another SS on the roster.

by Grant on Dec 13, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m actually of the opinion we should try to sneak ochoa through waivers and sign angel berroa as an all-glove backup to renteria, allowing Burriss to spend a season at AAA

Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?

by Speedforthewin on Dec 13, 2008 12:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

as an all what backup?

Berroa was an all-bat shortstop who stopped hitting.

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Dec 13, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

if i remember correctly, the dodgers got him for his glove.

Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?

by Speedforthewin on Dec 13, 2008 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember them saying that too. I can only imagine that the KC GM had himself a good hearty laugh after he got off the phone with Coletti.

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Dec 13, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Considering there are legit questions about how Renteria’s glove will play I realy think the back up has to be pretty good. Remember we are currently looking at a guy learning to play the hot corner as an ever day position at the MLB level. Pablo might even pull it ff but it wold be foolish to plan on his glove being league average at this point.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I Doubt If We Would Actually Lose Either Boacock Or Ochoa

I think they would both pass thru waivers and Ochoa would accept an assignment to AAA while Boacock would still have no choice in the matter.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Bocock approves of the boacock nickname.

by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 13, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

don’t GIS that one

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Dec 13, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm Is thats why Ochoa was DFA’ed then resigned?

If what you are suposing was true wouldn’t the frnt offic have left him unsigned longer?

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not worried about losing them. I’m just worried about having a viable Renteria/Burriss alternative already on the 40-man.

by Grant on Dec 13, 2008 1:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not A Big Deal To Re-Add One To The 40 Man When Needed

We will most likely have someone we can put on the 60 Man DL by then like say Lowry or Valdez.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If that one man is not already under contract to another franchise.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Try Reading Above Where I Already Addressed This

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you mean try ignoring were you avoid the fact is your assertion was true Ochoa would not have been resigned so quickly after his off season DFA?

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What The Hell Is The Matter With You?

I adressed it.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 1:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing a good Polish Dog and baseball game wouldn't help with.

Rainman you ignored it. You never said why Ochoa was resigned so quickly if you coarse of action was valid. Ignoring is a choice in life but never a solution when proposing a course of action.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 14, 2008 8:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And Before This You Never Asked

Frankly I don’t know why the Giants first DFAd Ochoa and then re-signed. I don’t know why they just didn’t keep him on the 40 Man Roster to begin with and not look so unsure about what they want to do with him by first DFAing him and they re-signing him.

What I suspect is that they felt they needed SS insurance until they added Renteria or Frucal. I suspect they were not comfortable with Burriss, Bocock, and Frandsen in an emergancy as the only SSs on the 40 Man Roster.

However, now that they have Renteria I would think they would be comfortable with Renteria, Burriss, and Bocock and Frandsen and thus no longer think they need to keep Ochoa on the 40 Man Roster.

by giantsrainman on Dec 14, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here we are back to something we agree on..

I understood, and agreed with, why Ochoa was DFAed. He is fringe player for the 25 man roster. And most years you can pick up a good glove, weak bat, utility middle infield player for reasonable cost. The move was logical and should have been done based on that presumption. However that presumption has evidently proved false because they quickly resecured him before he could hook up with anther team. That resecuring tells us just how thin the supply of Ochoa’s are right now.

Your Renteria, Burriss Frandsen idea will basically insure a year of Bench Rot™ for Burriss. So I guess the next questions are do you think Burriss is at or very near his ceiling now? Do you think his defense is steady enough to be able to sit for long periods and play well at drop of a hat? If you answer Yes to both then counting Burriss as a plan "b" at SS for the start of ’09 makes sense. If not he should be viewed as Fresno bound for at least the first months of ’09 with the likelihood as plan "B" for 2010 or even the last half of this season if he shows well.

Personally I think Burriss can be better the Ochoa is now but Burriss still needs lot of regular playing time to do it. And being counted on to fill in SS because Renteria is injured, tired or just needed to be part of a double switch is not going to do it. So there is our difference here.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 15, 2008 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ugh.

“Rich Aurilia to the white courtesy phone…Aurilia to the courtesy phone…”

as others have stated, I like Richie. Particularly in a super-utility role.
I just don’t like Richie when Bruce Bochy’s going to give him 450ABs, and the pessimist in me says there is no evidence that would suggest the contrary.

by ExcuseMeSwing on Dec 13, 2008 4:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Boy you are just trying to get my goat today? ;)

Encase you have not notice even cheap back middle infielders not in abundance these days. That said a dramatic upgrade that could back up SS half arse and I could see if.

Before you mutter Frandsen I saw him play SS in ’07. It was not even remotely good. That was when he was 2 years younger and before the injury.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Did A Fine Job At SS In The AFL This Year

He played a better defensive SS the Burriss did. Kevin would be fine as the third SS and therefore I see no need to keep either Boacock or Ochoa around.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Comparing him to Burriss? You did notice i am advocating Burriss to play in AAA partly so he can improve his glove? Also Ochoa did field SS better.

Besides Frandsen is going to be busy manning 2nd and Third. He can play all 3 spots at once.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He Would Need To Play Them All At Once

But there is no reason why he could not be the backup at all 3.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 1:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Plenty of reason he can’t back them up.

1)the Giants should e giving him a shot to win second. They need to this season to see if he MLB regular material, MLB back up or AAAA. This season needs to address that.

2)your a very bright fan. I am sure you can see what a "d" of Velez at 2nd, questionable SS, and rookie learning the position at third will not do with ground balls in play.

3)If greatly increase the odds Burriss get Bench Rot™.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It Is Not At All Unusual To Have The Starting 2B

also be a backup at SS, 3B, or both. This just ain’t a big deal or all that difficult.

by giantsrainman on Dec 13, 2008 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

if you have established players for those spots yes. Last i looked that is not the case for the ’08 Giants.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

Here comes Captain Obvious wearing his Atomic Wedgie!

by daveinexile on Dec 13, 2008 1:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

GRIT

Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.

by kennv on Dec 13, 2008 1:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d trade Bocock for a cat picture.

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Dec 13, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

(If I take the two minutes to make something, you’d better believe I get to use it twice….)

by Grant on Dec 13, 2008 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no more Bocock!

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Dec 13, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that cat is not pleased

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Dec 13, 2008 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Would you be?

If he was holding you in his arms?

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Dec 13, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If we're going after a reliever...

What about Saito? The residents of Chavez Latrine who shall not be named non-tendered him, do you think he’d come to be an 8th inning guy? I just can’t see a spot on the closer market for him, with so many free agent firemen already in the pool.

"Snow woulda had it!!!"

by beat_la_25 on Dec 13, 2008 1:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

NICE Nelson reference.

Still-proud, adoptive mama of Notgardo Alfonzo, who's back from the 50-game purgatory. He promises never to do it again. I couldn't get him to promise to hit, though. We're working on that with bribes of M&Ms, kind of like potty training.

by tk on Dec 13, 2008 6:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs