Spring Training Really Meaningless?

by tobias on Mar 21, 2008 10:45 AM PDT

Apparently, Bruce Bochy is attaching some meaning to the goings-on in and around Scottsdale this spring. In this John Shea piece from this morning's sfgate, it's beginning to look as if the "Warrior Spirit" t-shirts aren't working as well as we had hoped.

The 2008 Giants are looking more and more like a team that is incapable of winning baseball games on any kind of consistent basis (such as, say, two games in a row). Pitching and defense, supposedly strengths of this team are looking ragged. Speed is pretty good, second in the NL in stolen bases (although they lead the NL in being caught stealing--12 times in 42 attempts). The hitting, to no one's surprise, except maybe one or two on this board, has been atrocious.

Bruce Bochy says the team isn't doing the "little things", but they aren't doing the big things either. Take hitting the ball and catching the ball. The Giants aren't doing those two things. On base percentage and slugging percentage are both next-to-last in the NL. The team ERA is 7.11, worst in MLB by far. And that's their pitching, the Giants' supposed strong suit. The team's Defensive Efficiency Rating (from ESPN--it's sort of like fielding percentage, but wonkier) is the worst in MLB by far. Again, another supposed strong suit. Sure, there are lots of players in the mix who won't be heading north with the team. But that's true of every club.

I've been upset for a long time that Brian Sabean had his contract extended. But the more I think about it, I'm almost glad that Sabean will be around this year to preside over and be held accountable for this mess.

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I've had a hard time getting worked up about the defense, but an infield with Durham and Molina isn't going to be anything special. At the end of the day, after Durham has been given due dilligence and traded for an unproven commodity, Frandsen should get the majority of the starts at 2B. If he's average, it'll be a huge upgrade, defensively, over Durham. Who plays 3B, and how well, will be the big question mark. And we need to figure out a way to get Lewis plenty of AB's while reducing his chances to screw up in left.

A "Sabean held accountable" situation could very well play itself out. If he continues to stand pat, then a new GM could come on board with much less to clean up than if Sabean had dealt for Alex Rios and Joe Crede.

Bengie Molina: stretching doubles into singles since 1998.

by jasomack on Mar 21, 2008 12:43 PM PDT reply actions

Hopefully, Magowan will begin kicking the tires on a new GM hire for next season.

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

by tobias on Mar 21, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I would prefer he kick the GM, then put a tire around his GMs neck, soak the tire in gasoline, and strike a match. Here Brian, please accept this necklace as a symbol of our profound thanks.

by E Ticket on Mar 21, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Durham's aweful defensively. You could set a bag of shit out near 2B and it would do as decent.

Matt Cain, cleanup hitter or starting pitcher?

by cain1rstballothof on Mar 21, 2008 1:59 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry, we only had 1 bag of shit, and we split it into two smaller bags to play first and third.
If we can only dig up that old Bonds urine sample, we will have a SS until Vizquel returns!

by zenbitz on Mar 21, 2008 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

OMG...

7.11? I didn't think it was THAT bad.

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Mar 21, 2008 3:50 PM PDT reply actions

I actually thought it was higher. Really.

by E Ticket on Mar 21, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Spring Training IS meaningless

I mean, consider the fact that in 10(?) days our team will be hitting off of only Major League pitchers & pitching to real major league hitters... I mean, think of how shitty we'll be then.

Don't think, it could only hurt the ballclub.

by ResDog on Mar 21, 2008 7:07 PM PDT reply actions