Community Projection: Aaron Rowand
by Grant Brisbee on Mar 21, 2008 12:42 PM PDT
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PrintThe Giants entered this offseason with holes at just about every position. They did have a major-league average centerfielder in Randy Winn, though. So instead of filling any of the other holes, they signed another centerfielder. The best analogy I can think of is if the Raiders spent all of their offseason money on another kicker, and then moved Sebastian Janikowski to punter. Hey, kickers are important. They can change the game, and they can determine whether or not a team gets in the playoffs. But on a to-do list 50 items long, it would be at the bottom of the list for a rebuilding football team.
Aaron Rowand is the parsley garnish for a franchise preparing to serve a gourmet meal. The Giants had a paper plate with a shapeless pile of room-temperature raccoon slurry. Now they have a piece of parsley for it. The Giants had just a fantastic offseason.
But Rowand is a good player every other year. That has to count for something. Heck, he was a pretty fantastic player last year, even accounting for his home park. He did well on the road, too. I’ll just ignore the miserable years he’s had in his career and focus on the positive:
Aaron Rowand
AVG: .286
OBP: .360
SLG: .495
HR: 22
Grit: 30 subscriptions sold – enough for the bicycle horn!
I’m looking forward to watching Rowand play, even if his acquisition makes absolutely no sense. The best-case scenario is for Rowand to emulate Steve Finley’s career path and peak in his early-to-mid 30s. That’s an unusual career path, for sure, but I’m not going to dismiss Rowand just because "logic" says I should, so I'll close with a quote:
"Logic and swagger share the same apartment, but they never see each other because their schedules are so different. And, let me tell you, logic doesn’t pay the bills or do any dishes. Also, swagger is the one who is always putting a necktie on the door, if you know what I mean." – A. Bartlett Giamatti, 4/12/85
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"Logic and swagger share the same apartment, but they never see each other because their schedules are so different. And, let me tell you, logic doesn’t pay the bills or do any dishes. Also, swagger is the one who is always putting a necktie on the door, if you know what I mean." – A. Bartlett Giamatti, 4/12/85
Hey, I said that to Bart when I dropped by to visit him at 43 Hillhouse Avenue, back in the day. Serves me right for trusting an Ariosto scholar turned administrator.
I'll go with .290/.350/.480, 23 hr.
My theory on Rowand is that he'll be an outstanding player until he gets hurt, but he will get hurt, repeatedly. By the end of the contract, he'll be Darin Erstad.
Projection
AVG: .315
OBP: .380
SLG: .530
HR: 25
Grit: One bushel
Hey, he's my guy, I have to be optimistic here.
Proud member of the Adopt-a-Giant program (Aaron Rowand)
ARow 2008
Avg...... .277.....HR....15......SLG.. .445.....OBP.... .345.................this is the best slate of offensive numbers the Giants will have in 2008. Randy Winn will be very similar but will probably waive his no-trade clause this summer. The Giants, despite not "needing" a centerfielder, will probably be able to plug in these numbers for the next 5 years from ARow. As he starts getting better talent around him (2011?), his numbers will go up. I neglected to put in RBI....77. I will be shocked if he isn't batting 3 or 4 by May 15.
Listening to and watching the airwaves since 1961.
Bobby Murcer Rowand
Horace Stoneham traded Bobby Bonds to the Yankees for Bobby Murcer just before the 1975 season. Bonds was a "problem. Bobby Bonds was "difficult". Yeah well he was difficult. And he was "washed up". And "injury prone". Yeah. He was a total mess for the next seven years
Anyway. Here's Murcer's line for the Giants in 1975.
AVG 298 .
OBP 396
SLG .432
Which is about what most are putting Rowand down for. To me, the Aaron Rowand signing (albeit via F/A instead of a trade) is just the reincarnation of the Bobby Murcer acquisition.
Two "difficult" ( difficult for MSM anyways, which meant harsh PR for the front office) Black guys who happen to be father and son, both run out of town under aspersions. Replaced by two gritty white guys who contributed "team chemistry". Al Michaels and Bill Thompson's saccharine fawning over Murcer's "leadership" on game broadcasts was nauseating. Murcer was always "getting cheated" out of homeruns down the rightfield line "just foul" Nevermind, that he lacked the talent to keep from rolling his wrists over on inside fastballs.) Giants fans were not fooled, and stayed away in droves for the next 13 seasons.
Just sayin'.
by E Ticket on Mar 21, 2008 7:12 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm going to go conservative and stick closely to Rowand's career numbers. My guess:
.290/.340./465.
The main thing I'm interested in is watching him in center field. Is he really as good as his reputation, or will he be disappointing? I'm keeping an open mind, as I honestly don't know what to expect.
I'm just hoping he busts his face on a wall in CF named Dave Roberts.
He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!
by howtheyscored on Mar 21, 2008 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Why am I optimistic on Rowand again?
AB: 558
AVG: .279
OBP: .362
SLG: .481
HR: 22
Grit: 127 severe grass stains, 23 road rashes, eyeblack and three collisions with foreign objects. Also 19 defensive highlights on Sportscenter.
Delaying the disappointment: I adopt Hector Sanchez because he's only 17.
According to MLB 08 Simulations...
AVG: .297
OBP: .349
SLG: .455
HR: .24
Grit: 3 poods!
Matt Cain's right hand beats a Royal Flush.
Oh yeah...
An old Russian proverb reads, "You never know a man (gamer) until you have eaten a pood of salt with him."
Matt Cain's right hand beats a Royal Flush.
Rowand projection
AVG: .282
OBP: .351
SLG: .455
HR: 18
Grit: my teeth every time I remember that this was Sabean's big plan for FA signings.
He'll be a perfectly decent player on a miserable team. If, however, Sabean is able to trade Winn, Roberts, & Durham for useful young players in July, then this signing won't seem quite as bad. Sadly, that is a very big "if," with very little historical precedent.
Say, has Rowand ever played 3b?
Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!
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