Community Projection: Brian Wilson

by Grant on Mar 18, 2008 11:17 PM PDT

It ain't all doom and gloom around here. Consider:

Not one Giants player has been arrested for drunken driving in Scottsdale. In the time it took you to read this, three cast members from "Lost" were arrested, including the polar bear. A big part of Warrior Spirit and Swagger involves knowing when to say when. Calling a cab involves more swagger than you think. Stagger, too.
Brian Wilson has looked like a dominant reliever so far.

Two -- two! -- positive notes about the 2008 Giants! Ah, ah, ah! That's all I can muster, but the last point is legitimately encouraging. Wilson has been throwing well this spring, and he's responsible for one of the cooler quotes of the spring:

I threw one fastball and I knew I had it," he said. "It doesn't happen often. You throw the first pitch where you want to and it's got some zing on it. There was no point in working on something else."

He pitched off the fastball in Sunday's televised game, and he was overpowering the back of the Angels' spring roster. That quote rattled around in my little brain after every fastball he threw. Dude can chuck it.. It's odd to think that Wilson wasn't a part of the Giants' present or future until the middle of last season, when he showed up and started throwing darts.

So here's to Brian Wilson, who will have a fine season as the Giants closer. Armando Benitez would have done well for himself if he took some time in the offseason to chill out in Amsterdam, Mia Wallace-style.

Brian Wilson

ERA: 2.44

IP: 62

K: 70

BB: 29

HRA: 4

S: 35 out of 41 opportunities

GU*: 409

*Giddy-up

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Bullpen is essential to success

For the SF Giants to succeed in 2008 the bullpen must perform well. Wilson closing out wins will provide the swagger.

by wilriv21 on Mar 18, 2008 11:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Let him run wild

ERA: 3.04
IP: 75
K: 82
BB: 37
HRA: 6
S: 29 of 34

Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Mar 19, 2008 1:07 AM PDT 0 recs

He will get around

ERA: 2.66
IP: 58
K: 72
BB: 30
HRA: 6
S: 42 out of 47 opportunities
RBBSILM*: 62 (leads the league)

*references to Beach Boys songs in local media

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Mar 19, 2008 2:56 AM PDT 0 recs

Everybody here is more optimistic than I about the number of save chances this club will receive, let alone Wilson.

by paboperfecto on Mar 19, 2008 4:33 AM PDT 1 recs

Has a nice year, despite some control issues.

ERA: 3.70
IP: 60
K: 53
BB: 33
HRA: 5
S: 27 of 34

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 19, 2008 6:11 AM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 3.38
IP: 68
K: 62
BB: 31
HRA: 5
S: 24 of 30

Delaying the disappointment: I adopt Hector Sanchez because he's only 17.

by tedfordfan on Mar 19, 2008 6:29 AM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 3.38
IP: 70
K: 67
BB: 31
HRA: 5
SV/OPP: 40/45

Brian Anderson got 29 saves on a piss poor Connecticut team last season, so I guess anything's possible.

Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Mar 19, 2008 6:45 AM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 2.56
IP: 68
K: 76
BB: 29
HRA: 4
Sv: 38-41

We're digging those good vibrations.... oh, sorry. I was under the impression that all Brian Wilson posts were required to have a beach Boys quote attached to it. Best upgrade for the coming year.

Proud supporter of the Fightin' Hydrants.

by Little Napoleon on Mar 19, 2008 6:52 AM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 2.85
IP: 75
K: 80
BB: 30
HRA: 6
SV: 37-44

Matt Cain, cleanup hitter or starting pitcher?

by cain1rstballothof on Mar 19, 2008 7:28 AM PDT 0 recs

I.P. 70
K 83
B.B. 39
S 28 out of 35
HRA 8

And I will be very pleased with that being his Rookie season.

by daveinexile on Mar 19, 2008 8:42 AM PDT 0 recs

If he can get out of bed

and register 35+ saves, I think we are going to see a Giant win NL ROY

Light hitting CFs are the new black.

by camwoody on Mar 19, 2008 9:13 AM PDT 0 recs

No..

Not with players like Votto and Rasmus probably getting playing time this year. A hitter will always win over a pitcher, especially a relief pitcher.

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Mar 19, 2008 9:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

Rasmus is on my fantasy team

And he's starting the year in AAA. dunno what that means.

So are longoria and homer baily. So much for me picking up top prospects.

And Boom Goes the Dynamite

by Andy from DC on Mar 19, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is Longoria's AAA assignment official? I've been waiting to hear on that because I drafted him and I was really hoping he'd land the ML roster spot.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 19, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think people are being a little too generous about Wilson's K-rate. He's got great stuff, no doubt, but he gets a lot of ground balls rather than strikeouts. I'm still optimistic.

ERA 2.97
IP 75
K 65
W 30
HR 5
SV 35

by Dan from NM on Mar 19, 2008 9:15 AM PDT 0 recs

I don't see him striking out 1+ hitter per inning pitched either.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 19, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm a huge Wilson fan, and I think he'll have a great season. However, I have to agree that most people's strikeout numbers are a little high. I remember hearing a quote last season where he said he was focusing on getting quick outs and having short innings, rather than trying to strike everybody out.

Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.

by raisingcain on Mar 19, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Both of you and Xanthan are usually correct more often then I.

My rational was he is going to go through a stretch or two were he feels he can’t trust this defense. I probably should have bumped up my walks a bit higher though.

I am a Giants fan. Thus I enjoy my pain.

by daveinexile on Mar 19, 2008 8:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

ERA 2.72
IP 63
K 53
W 19
HR 6
SV 26

I looked up Steve Kline in the dictionary. He wasn't there. If he was, it would have said "pretty okay"

by groug on Mar 19, 2008 9:25 AM PDT 0 recs

Oh what the hell...

Since I don't see the Giants
a) winning 3 games in a row
b) winning any games by > 3 runs

ERA: 2.22
IP: 75
K: 75
W: 30
HR: 1
SV: 70, new single season record.

Giants Record: 70-92

by zenbitz on Mar 19, 2008 9:43 AM PDT 1 recs

ERA: 2.60
IP: 62
K: 60
BB: 20
HRA: 7
SV: 36 for 40

by Scottsdale on Mar 19, 2008 10:42 AM PDT 0 recs

Wilson is quickly moving into 'Cain' territory amongst my favorite Giants.

ERA 3.35
IP 65
K 60
W 25
HR 5
SV 38

by mxmob33 on Mar 19, 2008 10:56 AM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 2.73
IP: 65.2
K: 62
BB: 28
HRA: 5
SV: 39 for 42

by redseal on Mar 19, 2008 11:11 AM PDT 0 recs

I only bother with projections so I can slip in dumb jokes

ERA: 3.40
IP: 60
K: 45
BB: 25
HRA: 8
SV: 28 of 30
FFF: THDTTT-BA

2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.

by EliminateMe on Mar 19, 2008 11:45 AM PDT 0 recs

we'll be saying "WiLinceCain"

ERA: 3.65
IP: 78
K: 56
BB: 30
SV: 38/45

They'll show more patience with him than with Hennessey, because Wilson has "closer stuff."

Southern California: Water thieves and Dodgers fans.

by jasomack on Mar 19, 2008 12:41 PM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 2.93
IP: 64
K: 73
BB: 15
SV: 6/6

Gotta have games to save, people!

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on Mar 19, 2008 1:22 PM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 3.27
IP: 65.1
K: 61
BB: 24
SV: 36/41
HRA: 7

Frandsen for 3B (til July 08)

by NeifiChicken on Mar 19, 2008 2:33 PM PDT 0 recs

ERA: 3.44
IP: 62 1/3
K: 54
BB: 29
HRA: 8
SV: 39/48

I traded Cody Ransom for Khalil Greene in my PS2 EA Sports MLB'04 game because he sucked there too.

by rock n jock on Mar 19, 2008 2:48 PM PDT 0 recs

Amsterdam trip

I remember reading a similar article in the Chronicle a few months ago. One thing it mentioned was how Wilson and Braden were driving in an old, broken down car, when they came across a small hill. They realized that if they went fast, the car would go airborne. This led them to repeat the jump several times, filming it. Basically, what I'm saying is, it would be seriously cool if they posted that on the internet, and if anyone finds it, I would request they link to it on this site. That is all.

Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.

by raisingcain on Mar 19, 2008 3:29 PM PDT 0 recs

I think that was during their trip to Ireland.

Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Mar 19, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

I am afraid that Brian Wilson will pitch in more non-save situations than any full-time closer in the Majors. Lots of games just to get some work in. Perhaps 22 saves in 28 chances....ERA between 4.00 and 4.30 (most guys have at least 2 BAD outings per year and I really don't see more than 55 innings pitched)....I really do think he has the stuff and make-up of a bonafide closer. When we get better he will probably go FA.

by drysdalecousin on Mar 19, 2008 3:49 PM PDT 0 recs

Another way of thinking...

Since the Giants don't figure to blow many teams away, he'll probably need to save nearly every one of the Giant's wins this season. (Insert "all 10 of them" joke here.)

2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!

by Goofus on Mar 20, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up 0 recs