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Giants call up Burriss, cut Davis

Danscholar_tiny by Dan from NM on

Wow. I'm surprised, but the Associated Press reports that the Giants are calling up Manny Burriss and cutting Rajai Davis.

They  must have a ton of faith in Burriss. He hasn't really done much above Augusta, and he's already in the bigs. On the one hand, I'm pleased they like what they see in the guy, but on the other, I'm skeptical that he's ready. I wonder whether he'll steal some time from Bocock.

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Manny's stats

14 games, .258/.281/.306. Two steals in four attempts. At least he doesn’t strike out much.

I just don’t about this. I mean really, he can’t be ready, can he?

by Dan from NM on Apr 19, 2008 2:31 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I agree

But at least the Giants are trying new things. I mean, it is exciting, even if it’s just teh suck in sheep’s clothing.

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on Apr 19, 2008 5:52 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

100 Percent

agreement. At least it’s some sort of activity that doesn’t look like veteran savvyness. It’s going to bad this year. There really isn’t too many things that could make it worse.

My adopted son Matt Downs. Bill Mueller without the two-flap helmet .

by nvsfg on Apr 19, 2008 6:18 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You are correct, Dan

You are correct, Dan, Manny isn’t ready - any more than Brian Bocock is. To be honest, I don’t think either is the answer in the long run, either - although they certainly can’t complain about not being given their chance early enough. :)

Actually Manny’s being able to rise from Low A Augusta to AAA Fresno is rather impressive. And he has cut his already-good strikeout rate a bit while doing so. But Manny continues to average his horrendous 1.18 bases per hit. It has actually risen to 1.19 this season, and both his extra base hits (a double and a triple) have come in the past week.

But how can a guy with blazing speed average only 1.18 bases per hits in the minor leagues? The answer, my friend, isn’t blowing in the wind—but perhaps Manny’s lack of power is. If he EVER hits the ball out of the infield, Manny should be able to average 1.18 bases per hit with that great speed of his. (Think Eugenio Velez.)

The Giants now have two shortstop prospects playing in the major leagues. That I like Sharlon Schoop (High A) and Charlie Culberson (Low A) just about as much isn’t a compliment to the latter pair but an indictment of the former two.

Hopefully they will prove me wrong, but IMO neither Bocock nor Burriss is ready now—nor will they be ready to become true starting shortstops in the future, either.

If Brian had played shortstop for the Giants the entire season, I believe he would have been the worst-hitting major league regular since the 19th century. I don’t see Burriss’s being much better.

by sharksrog on Apr 20, 2008 12:12 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Is this the first shoe to drop?

Is Sabean burning the phone lines and a possible trade is in the works?

by wilriv21 on Apr 19, 2008 2:32 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I hear this every time a player is called up or sent down on this team

And thusfar it hasn’t meant anything special. Since I just don’t know what kind of possible trade the team could have worked out this early (what, with everybody we want to trade doing SO well… durham/roberts/aurilia/lowry!).

And if it is a trade, since it almost assuredly doesn’t involve any of the players we actually WANT to see traded, I’d be afraid over who is actually involved.

A trade might not be what we want this to indicate. I’ll take “roster moves for the sake of roster moves,” I think.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 2:52 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

reason it is asked is because couldn’t Sabean just have moved Frandsen from the 15 to the 60 day DL and accomplished the same without DFA Davis?

by wilriv21 on Apr 19, 2008 2:57 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Having Frandsen on the 40 man to begin with

Flies in the face of any kind of logic. So keeping him on the 40 man doesn’t make me think that something interesting is going on behind the scenes. Just that the same degree of self-contained illogic is going on behind the scenes.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 3:04 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He couldn't have accomplished the same thing though...

David cannot be sent to the minors anyways, he is out of options.

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 Apr 19, 2008 3:05 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and really

if there’s one time to send Davis down with a low risk of him being claimed, it has to be now. If they would’ve done this at the start of the season, I’m guessing chances would’ve been huge for him being claimed

by SFGAmsterdam on Apr 19, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

With a minute earlier post, Dan from NM is the lamer!

groug quips….

If you thought the Bocock move was stupid…

Then you’ll love this: the Giants are, according to Rotoworld, completely insane.

Rajai Davis is going to be DFA’d. They are calling up Emmannuel Burris. So, not content with ruining the development of one of their fast all-glove no-hit minor league shortstops who couldn’t hit in San Jose, they’re ruining them both.

Way to go, Sabes. Your genius is a testament to the very best of what baseball Gms have to offer. Way to go.

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 Apr 19, 2008 2:33 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Rotoworld on Sabean
It’s incredible what Brian Sabean is being allowed to get away with while running the once-proud franchise.

by redseal on Apr 19, 2008 2:39 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Rotoworld having way too much fun

“Roberts was off to a 2-for-17 start, putting him squarely in the running to be the Giants’ All-Star this year.”

Yikes.

Ruben Rivera: Incompetent oaf, or mad genius?

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Apr 19, 2008 3:32 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Nooooo!!!!

Now who will play CF?

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 Apr 19, 2008 2:33 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Man

I wish 1B could be the new CF. Just once…

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I feel for Rajai

Got off to a slow start and rarely got any regular PT after producing well last year. Sure, Rajai isn’t much of a player, but he has his use

And this burris thing is stupid, but I thik it’s a sign that Omar’s health is worse than we think

Go Durham, Roberts, Aurilia, Vizquel, Winn, Lowry! The better you do, the quicker we can trade you!

by NeifiChicken on Apr 19, 2008 2:37 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

That is seriously AWFUL

Aside from the fact we are calling up another guy that has shown at best he’s NOT ready to hit at the major league level (at worst can’t hit in AAA) but Sabean is letting go of Rajai Davis, not one of the you know, the old guys who are clearly never going to be any value to this team. I’m sure Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia will turn things around, I mean they really haven’t hit their peaks yet. Plus Davis has definitely gotten the plate appearances and starts to show that he’s got nothing! If he get his hitting going in 2 or 3 starts, he’s proven that he’s WORTHLESS.

by Bill5 on Apr 19, 2008 2:39 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I really really don’t get this move.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 19, 2008 2:39 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I tried to give it to a few people

And they wouldn’t take it, so you probably shouldn’t want to get it, anyway.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 2:56 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Stupid

No – stupid and desperate. What is the point of this? What possible justification does Sabean have for doing this? Not for Davis – who really cares? There are so many guys like him in the minors. This is about Burriss, who is really being set up for failure. Unbelievable.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Apr 19, 2008 2:41 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Regarding putting up Burriss, you're completely right.

I’m not too worried about Davis, if there’s a chance that he’d slip through the designated-for-assignment thingy, this would be it since he’s like hitting less than a buck fifty. We do lose a defensive option in the outfield (can’t shake the images of Davis diving and catching flyballs on the warning track without breaking ribs) but with Bowker apparently up for a bit longer, there really wasn’t much sense of keeping Davis on the roster.

Next OF up has to be Schierholtz though…

by SFGAmsterdam on Apr 19, 2008 2:46 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Only if there's room for him to actually start

Schierholtz, I mean.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 2:57 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Davis' defense

seems to have fallen dramatically from last season. The few times I’ve seen him play this year, he’s looked awful. Friday night (I believe Adam Kennedy was up) a ball was hit into left center, and Raj sprinted in and across, before having to adjust back to the ball. I don’t know if he could’ve caught the ball, but breaking wrong on the same fly ball twice does not fill me with confidence.

by tyrannoman on Apr 21, 2008 7:27 AM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

This just makes no goddamn sense. Burriss barely even has a good year in Low-A last year, he’s still pretty damn far from being a major league player… so they start him in TRIPLE-A? And then call him up to the goddamn majors and start his clock early two weeks into the season?

What the hell is wrong with Brian Sabean?

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:09 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The only thing that makes any sense is that Sabean doesn't think any of these guys are worth crap

And he could be right – and is just trying to move some stuff around to make some sort of move in the future or patch something together now on the team.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:11 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

For a rebuilding team sorely lacking in talent

that’s a good way to piss away talent.

Just as some player’s bust, others do occasionally become better than expected.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 19, 2008 3:16 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

What the fuck...

Does DFA definitely mean he’s leaving the team? Cause if so, what the fuck? They should’ve at least sent him down to AAA. And I don’t get how it makes sense to designate him because he didn’t do very good when he didn’t get any playing time. Davis really seemed like a prospect to me. And he fit right into our ‘speed and defense’ bullshit plan. Seriously, is Sabean fucking cenile?

by boonitez on Apr 19, 2008 2:43 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Davis...

He is out of options so the only way to send him to AAA is to Designate For Assignment. He couldn’t be sent to AAA as all of his options were used up. That’s one of the reason why Nate never had a chance, Lewis and Davis had no options left whereas Nate did. Also the DFA clears him off the 40-man roster as well, which was needed to put Burriss on the 40-man roster to be on the 25-man roster.

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 Apr 19, 2008 2:46 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He'd have to pass through waivers, with the DFA,

Assuming he does, they can outright him to the minors, without his permission. He does not have enough MLB service time to reject the assignment. This is assuming he has never been outrighted to the minors before.

He can choose to accept the assignment.

Or they can release him.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 19, 2008 2:57 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Speed and defense

It was never anything more than a marketing ploy to begin with. Not even Sabean ACTUALLY wanted to see the team try it.

I think Bochy did, though. And that makes me sad.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I like the theory of the move more than its application.

Let’s be honest, Davis was nothing more than a fringey 5th outfielder. Our good feelings for him were based more on the fact that he wasn’t Matt Morris, over his special talent or potential.

And this team needed a backup shortstop. But calling up Burris instead of Ochoa is just whacko.

by Steve on Apr 19, 2008 2:44 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Yeah, but Davis had a shot at contributing to the team over the longterm as a platoon player and defensive replacement. That’s not much, but it’s more valuable than Aurilia is likely to be.

by Dan from NM on Apr 19, 2008 2:46 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Raj Davis and Dan Ortmeier

The two were in competition for the roster spot and Ortmeier wins out. Ort has all the tools Davis has plus power and a 1b glove. Ortmeier makes perfect sense as the 5th OF.

by wilriv21 on Apr 19, 2008 2:50 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Exactly. I just wish that Winn could be the 4th OFer.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Apr 19, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Or how about the LF for the Cleveland Indians? And the Indians are seeking a reliever so package Winn/RP for some of that fine Lakeside young firm talent. Then call-up Mr Schierholtz.

by wilriv21 on Apr 19, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Davis..

I don’t really think he was fringey 5th outfielder. I think he was perfect 5th outfielder material. Not a good hitter, but a great fielder in CF, corners a good fielder as well. He can pinch run for your slower players in the late innings and even steal a base if needed.

Basically also, this means we’ve got 4 OF’ers, and two half OF’ers (Ortmeier and Bowker). At least that adds up to 5 OF’ers….

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 Apr 19, 2008 2:50 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

and Velez

He was an outfielder for much of last year.

Adopted papa of a bouncing new waiver wire 27 year old. Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on Apr 19, 2008 8:15 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Burris could play SS and 2B

So that gives us 2 players that can play SS, 2B and 1B that arnt called Durham or Aurilla. Which makes them even more pointless than they already were.

Olma Rosario; liking the cut of your jib since 2008
Free Angel Joseph from US immigration!

by Mr Scruff on Apr 19, 2008 2:56 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I am surprised no one noticed this part...
The Giants recalled right-hander Keiichi Yabu from Triple-A Fresno.

Wtf? To replace Threets?

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 2:59 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I don’t think Yabu needed to be demoted in the first place.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 19, 2008 3:00 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That's what I mean

The whole damn situation doesn’t make sense.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:01 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

For who?

Yea jeez…stupid moves all around.

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 Apr 19, 2008 3:04 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Threets out with a “strained chest.” That’s a new one.

by Evan on Apr 19, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Scuse me...

Strained Intercostal Muscle.

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 Apr 19, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I read that as “Strained Interscrotal Muscle”.

Yikes.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 20, 2008 2:12 AM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Yabu up, Threets on DL

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 Apr 19, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Random roster moves! Premature promotions! Useful youngsters getting cut while over-the-hill vets play every day! Injured players who won’t go on the DL! Young pitchers being overworked and mishandled! Hilarious in-game strategery!

A bad baseball team can be a thing of beauty. The 2008 Giants are shaping up as a classic of the genre.

by Evan on Apr 19, 2008 3:00 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Jeez

Well when you put it like that, of course it sounds bad,

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 19, 2008 3:02 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

the Giants did win today, and in some extent also thanks to ‘Gamer’ Rowand..

by SFGAmsterdam on Apr 19, 2008 3:09 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Auigh!! Do not approve.

Still watching out for Notgardo in Fresno. Hope you make it back up soon. We miss you 'round The City way. How come you never call?

by tk on Apr 19, 2008 3:02 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

what the hell? this is spectacularly stupid.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:07 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Does anyone else think this has repercussions for Bocock?

i.e., Bocock getting sent down to AA/AAA? Wouldn’t that make sense?

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 19, 2008 3:11 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

not if Burriss is the replacement… he’s not as good a defender and I don’t think he’d hit any better.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:12 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

truthy...

I guess I’m giving Sabean too much credit, i.e., the only way this move makes sense is if they swap Burriss for Bocock, which they didn’t do.

Hrmmmm

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 19, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Calling Burriss up to sit on the bench would be pretty dumb.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Yes, it really would. It makes me think there is something going on here that we don't know about.

Maybe Raj has some sort of issue/injury and the giants just decided not to deal w/ it anymore.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:15 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Or maybe the Giants are just insane. :\

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:16 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Generally

Assuming people who are generally successful to be insane or stupid is a bad assumption. It’s typically much more correct to assume they have ulterior motives that you may not be privy to.

GW, for instance.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:19 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Generally successful?

pre-2005 maybe

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 19, 2008 3:20 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

or you just don’t understand/agree with the reasons they do offer

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 19, 2008 6:02 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Or that.

But we understand everything.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 6:11 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If only I'd posted a minute earlier...

Insane? That’s what I said!

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on Apr 19, 2008 8:49 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That would... kinda?

Bocock did pretty well @ the plate today. Its a little easier when you arent facing RJ or Webb, etc…

It may be that bochy told him that Bocock was getting worn down playing every day, and he needed a SS option.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:12 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

So Sabean pulled a knee jerk reaction.

Altho, with Aurilia and Castillo (and even velez) on the team, you think they could get Bocock some rest every few games.

Besides, Bocock’s 22 – he doesn’t need no stinkin rest

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Apr 19, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He is going to need a day off every now and then. Kid’s gotta be getting stressed, being overmatched at the plate every day.

Castillo’s D at third leaves much to be desired. I would be scared to see him at short. And a middle infield of Richie and Durham/Velez would have some consequences for the pitching staff beyond a simple increase in earned runs.

What I think is being overlooked here is that Ortmeier is truly the guy without a role on this team. 3rd String 1B and platoon leftfielder without any on base chops nor any particular defensive gifts? Who needs one of those?

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on Apr 19, 2008 3:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs