Why Rich Aurilia Will Return to form in 08

by jpo on Apr 6, 2008 9:59 PM PDT Comment 21 comments

Yeah right.

Rich Aurilia is terrible. It's obvious that the Giants shouldn't have signed him before last season coming off his "great" season in the Great American Small Park. Hell, I could hit thirty jacks in that place.

On another note, the word on the street is that the Giants are on the hunt for a left handed hitting first baseman. I guess the Dan Ortmeier experiment didn't pan out. But who didn't see that coming. Not too many one tool players skyrocket to Major League prominence. Orty deserves some credit for being a team guy and putting his work in at first base, but in learning a new position, Ortmeier forgot how to hit if he ever new at all. Regardless even in free agency the Giants should have picked up Sean Casey or Eric Hinske at least for a year just to have some sort of platoon that incorporates guys who might actually get a hit here or there. They were two guys that could at least play the position and keep their batting averages above the Mendoza line.

The two names that have come up in discussions are Nick Johnson and Dan Johnson. No thanks. Nick Johnson is too much of a gamble considering his problems staying healthy and Dan Johnson is a gamble considering his problem of sucking over long periods of time. A name I'd like to see in the mix is Mark Teahen of the Royals. He's blocked at third base by Alex Gordon and has been playing first base and outfield. Why not go after this guy. We have pitching to spare and he's a good, young, left handed hitter who can play both corners of the infield and outfield. Plus, he's a St. Mary's grad so he might have some interest in playing here. Granted, AT&T is a hitter's nightmare, but at least we'll have a guy that can hold us over until Angel Villalona arrives.

Just a thought.

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Comments

You can't hit 30 homers plyaing in Great American Ballpark

If you were on the Reds and any good, Dusty would platoon you with a savvy veteran like Scott Hatteberg.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 6, 2008 10:04 PM PDT reply actions

Both Johnsons are better than Richie

I wouldn't give up that much for either one, but both would be an upgrade.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 6, 2008 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

I actually tried out for the Reds out of high school

I think it's obvious how that turned out.

J-Po: a kid with a computer and brass balls.

by jpo on Apr 6, 2008 10:09 PM PDT reply actions

I like Teahan.

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Apr 6, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Why not go after this guy.

Why would we go after him? What would you give up to get him? What's the upside?

Looks like he's on a 1-yr deal with KCR -- you'd likely have to give up prospects just to rent him for the rest of the season. Then what, Giants end up with 60 wins instead of 58? No thanks.

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

by delorean on Apr 6, 2008 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

Tim Lincecum is on a 1 year deal too.

Teahen has 2 years of service time. He's under control for the next 4 seasons. Regardless of his contract.

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

by rfloh on Apr 7, 2008 12:34 AM PDT up reply actions

if Teanhen's controllable for a few more years, then i'm all ears.

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

by delorean on Apr 7, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't believe things are so bad that it's necessary to ask this, but: what do the Giants have that the Royals would want, excepting of course Those Who Must Not Be Moved?

The Royals think they have 3 legitimate starters now with Meche, Bannister, and Greinke, and although they might agree that somebody like Sanchez might eventually be better than their current options for the #4 and #5, they sure aren't going to give up Teahen in order to find out.

In any case, franchises like the Royals absolutely have to hang onto players like Teahen as long as they can, and as they approach free agency, if it looks like they'll command top dollar, offer them up for prospect bonanzas. Now is exactly the wrong time for the Royals to move Teahen.

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Teahen is not really that good, for all the hype in Moneyball

especially now that he is a corner OF, with Gordon pushing him off 3b. As a corner OF, he really does not look like anything more than about league average. He was a pretty good hitter in 2006, not so much in 2007. He has more value as a 3b, and thus to teams that need 3bs.

It is in the interest of the Royals to try to see whether they can get a player that is more valuable to them in return for Teahen.

And Teahen, because he will be under team control for some time yet, would make more sense for the Giants than guys like Crede.

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

by rfloh on Apr 7, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure they prefer to see how if he can regain his 2006 form, now more than a year removed from shoulder surgery, before they make that assessment. And even if he's only league average as a corner outfielder, he represents a huge upgrade from anyone the Royals have had there since, I guess, Dye.

He won't be available soon.

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I can type on even-numbered days only. Strike the "how", please.

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

How about

Don Johnson?

by BaysideBaller on Apr 6, 2008 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

You can't really call the Dan Ortmeier experiment over when it has barely even started. He's only started in one game so far with a smattering of pinch hit opportunities. I don't expect he'll suddenly become Mark Texeira, but we won't know unless we try.

(But he probably won't).

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 6, 2008 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

as I said before, I don't like Ortmeier but the Giants haven't given him a fair chance to prove me or the other doubters wrong. You can't say he's your starting firstbaseman and then give up on him because he got off to a slow start in spring training. That being said, either Johnson is an upgrade, with Nick playing everyday and Dan platooning with Ort. As for the injury risk with Nick, so what?? Shouldn't this team be taking a gamble if the other team is willing to give you a better price because of the player's injury history?? Besides, a broken leg is not a chronic injury that is going to recur. Moises Alou had the worst broken leg in the history of mankind, but although he had fifty different injuries after that, he never broke the leg again.

Randy Messenger: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!!"

by rxmeister on Apr 7, 2008 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs