What the San Francisco Giants Won't Do
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 19, 2009 12:30 PM PST
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PrintThere are, oh, about 40 days until spring training starts. By this time of year, the free agent market is usually set, but there are still a ton of teamless folks out there. What will the Giants do? My attempt at breaking down the possibilities:
- The Giants will do nothing; this is the roster, with the possible exception of a minor free agent like Rich Aurilia, Joe Crede, or Ty Wigginton. Deal with it.
Oh my, no. That will upset the fans. Angry KNBR listeners and internet commenters are expecting big things. BIG things. And there’s a popular belief that Sabean is just biding his time to do something akin to the David Bell or Benito Santiago moves, which were made relatively late in the offseason.
Prediction: This is not what the Giants will do.
- The Giants will make a big trade, dealing away prospects, Jonathan Sanchez, or even Matt Cain.
Oh my, no. The foundation of this team’s future is built on young pitching, so it wouldn’t make sense for Sabean to trade a top prospect like Madison Bumgarner or Tim Alderson for a quick fix, nor would it make sense to trade Jonathan Sanchez when his value is possibly down because of a misleading ERA. Maybe, just maybe, if Noah Lowry shows up on February 12th throwing 89 MPH, the Giants would consider dealing Sanchez.
Prediction: This is not what the Giants will do.
- The Giants will sign a big, power-hitting free agent.
Oh my, no. There just aren’t that many power hitters out there right now. Adam Dunn, sure, but he doesn’t want to play first, and he shouldn’t be lumbering around in the Mays Field outfield. Manny Ramirez will finally get his third guaranteed year from the Dodgers, and the Giants don’t want to commit to Manny long-term.
Prediction: This is not what the Giants will do.
So there you have it. I can definitively write that the Giants will not sign a free agent to be in the starting lineup, they will not make a substantial trade, and they will not just stand pat. It’s pretty obvious if you think about it.
Comment starter: Your obviously wrong ideas about what the Giants will or will not do before the season starts.
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Deal with it, you rosterbators
And for goodness sake, stop that!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 19, 2009 12:40 PM PST reply actions
Every time you rosterbate
A kitten gets DFA’d
I don't know about that
but I’m getting pretty tired of having to shave my palms
Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!
Clearly, The Giants Will
Switch locations with the team from Tampa Bay, making good on what could have been 16 years ago. The good team will get a good fanbase and the young and promising team will get a young and promising fanbase.
No
they don’t get Timmy.
Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...
by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 20, 2009 7:45 AM PST up reply actions
Voila
An arbitration player will become too expensive to his current team and Sabean will perform his magic.
I predict
the Giants will trade Sanchez to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick and a salary cap exemption.
Adoptive father to the All-Father. Does that make me the All-Grandfather?
aRE You dumB?
The Giants would never give up a 3rd round pick. This is just ridiculous.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 19, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions
plus intersport trading isn’t the best move. Then again, the Washington Capitals might have a good bruiser or someone who is good on powerplays. I guess if they would offer us Alex Ovechkin straight up we might be onto something. Dude has a +/- of 13. How that would translate to VORP or even OPS is beyond me.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Jan 19, 2009 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
This thread sucks. This site has really gone downhill.
Hijack -
Best comic strip ever?
Bloom County for me.
I was a huge Bloom County fan, and then it went in a wierd direction and some sort of spinoff toon was the result. I lost track at that point.
For me, it comes down to Dilbert or The Far Side.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 19, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
All those mentioned so far (even in the reply fail) plus Doonesbury (which is surprisingly hard to spell), and as someone who’s kept a number of Grate Danes, Marmaduke (which I understand is pretty lame to most of you).
The newcomer in the Chronicle that won’t get many mentions is Lio…very cool, warped sense of little kid humor. Took me a while to warm to it, but love it now.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
Far Side. Best single panel ever produced.
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."-Leroy "Satchel" Paige
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
Favorite modified comic
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jan 19, 2009 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
I love that one
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Neglectful father of David Quinowski
i love that
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
+1
I think that was the last comic I actually would read the comics in the newspaper for.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Jan 19, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions
This
I love how Watterson never made a stupid TV show or sold “calvin and hobbes”-based coffee cups or any of that crap. One of the all-time classic strips.
absolutely
I own the whole collection. Best bathroom reading ever
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 19, 2009 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
this FTW
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 19, 2009 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
It's quite a heavy collection.
How can you read that huge book? Good balance?
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Honorable mentions
Calvin & Hobbes
The Far Side
Ones I like but wouldn’t consider the best ever:
Foxtrot
Pearls Before Swine
Garfield (at one point)
I can’t stand Pearls Before Swine. I don’t like the whole, artist-interacting-with-the-characters thing
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 19, 2009 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
I love it
He uses cute animals to say horrible things about society
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
Peanuts FTW!
Plus, Charles Schultz (may he rest in peace) loved the Giants.
Can we trade someone for Joe Schlabotnik?
Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...
by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 20, 2009 7:49 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not a huge fan of this hijack.
Still, Garfield.
Tentatively adopting Dan Ortmeier. And Boom Goes the Dynamite.
by Andy from DC on Jan 19, 2009 2:58 PM PST up reply actions
Don't be too hard on yourself. It's the dog days...of...winter
It’s been a while since I’ve read the paper, but the comics I loved back when I did:
The Boondocks
Calvin & Hobbes
Sherman’s Lagoon
Non Sequitur
Web comics I read now:
Penny Arcade
Questionable Content
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Neglectful father of David Quinowski
Non-Sequitor
…used to be good, when it was actually Non-sequitors.
Now it has a cast of characters with an annoying b!tch of a little girl.
Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...
by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 20, 2009 7:48 AM PST up reply actions
Doonesbury, if I had to pick one. But I’ve also, at times religiously, followed Peanuts, Bloom County, The Far Side, and Dilbert. These days I also like xkcd.
by non sequitur on Jan 19, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
Sub-thread hijack: Worst comic strip ever
Without a doubt, 100%, no question, my vote goes to Close to Home. The jokes are stupid (it seems like he’s trying to mimic the Far Side, but fails) and the drawings are awful, and not in a good way.
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 19, 2009 4:39 PM PST up reply actions
Crankshaft
Not funny, not dramatic, Gran
torino did it better
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
Back when paid attention, I hated
Cathy
Luann
Family Circus
Marmaduke
Mallard Fillmore
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
have you ever read Marmaduke Explained? Funny stuff.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Sad, that all the best comics are no longer in production
I would vote: 1) Peanuts, 2) Far Side, 3) Calvin & Hobbes
Of those currently in production: 1) Dilbert, 2) Mr. Boffo, 3) …..hmm, I guess Bizarro, maybe Bad Reporter (is that even technically a comic?)
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??
I have a framed copy of the last Bloom County
I cut it out of the paper on that last day. Then I saved it for years and years. One day I found out Breathed was doing a signing near me for his latest book. I took the clipping and waited in line after listening to him speak.
When it was my turn I thanked him for creating one of my favorite pieces of childhood and gave it to him to sign. He was really shocked, and touched that I would save such a thing for such a long time.
by positiveuphemism on Jan 19, 2009 5:37 PM PST up reply actions
This
As far as those still in production, Pearls Before Swine is by far the best. It is one of about 4 strips (in the Sac Bee at least) that is aimed at those of us under 50. The dark and cynical characters are so contrary to most comics, and the bad puns crack me up every time.
Molina's gonna test his arm...
by Victorious Secret on Jan 20, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions
obscure but...
Super Fun Pak Comix versions of Tom the Dancing Bug.
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2009/01/15/boll/ He does these every month or too.
or
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2008/12/11/boll/
Also, anything with Lucky Ducky:
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2008/10/16/boll/
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
Gotta go with Peanuts here, Calvin and Hobbes close second.
by J. Frank Parnell on Jan 19, 2009 1:53 PM PST reply actions
I apologize
Rookie mistake, obviously meant to respond to Grant’s post. Won’t happen again.
Sorry bout that.
by J. Frank Parnell on Jan 19, 2009 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
read as lol-racism
Molina's gonna test his arm...
by Victorious Secret on Jan 20, 2009 10:09 AM PST up reply actions
me too
I just got it, now that I’ve posted saying that I don’t get it. I’m dumb.
by bondslegend on Jan 20, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
Firefly reference?
I don’t get it. What is stracism?
by bondslegend on Jan 20, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
rookie mistake is right
Obviously C&H over Peanuts, duh.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 19, 2009 4:37 PM PST up reply actions
I can see Adam Dunn becoming a more and more viable option.
Certainly as his price per year may drop below 5M.
How far will this one fly?
I disagree
He does not want to play 1B and him in our outfield would be…… comical.
by Giant Voodoo on Jan 19, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
Hmm
I guess I don’t see why he’d be so terrible in LF. Is the Mays field LF that difficult? Even Goofus can play decent D over there, so how hard can it be? Flew could move to center and Rowand could GDIAF.
Sounds bulletproof to me
Flew could move to center and Rowand could GDIAF.
How do you really feel though ?
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."-Leroy "Satchel" Paige
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
Nah
I love Lewis but he cant handle center on a regular basis. The only ones on our team that can are Rowand and Winn. Lewis already said in an interview last week that if Manny was signed for LF, he would be playing in RF mostly.
Dunn/Rowand/Winn with Lewis, Schierholtz, and Roberts? 1 has to go and we lose leverage in trades because we would need to dump someone.
If, and only if, there was a trade for Winn or Rowand or one of our younger guys could we really do it.
by Giant Voodoo on Jan 19, 2009 4:55 PM PST up reply actions
I can see a couple moves
In the infield, the only thing i can see them doing is Joe Crede on a 1 year deal. This would slide Pablo to 1B (naturally) and provide a little more power in the lineup. It’s not the big bat we need but it sure doesnt hurt except not seeing a phelps/ish platoon play more often.
In the outfield, ManRam or they stay pat. I dont see them offering 3 years unless its for 20 mil per. I really think Manny wants to stay in LA but he wants to get paid, and we’re just the best way to make it happen. I’m really fine with that situation, and I am content with our outfield set up as it is and although MAnny is an upgrade, it would take a lot of juggling to figure out what goes where.
If i had to take a stab at it, id say they pick up Crede and send phelps or ishi back to AAA. Pablo play 1B and a little C and Ishi gets to be defensive replacement. If the situation at 1B isn’t resolved, they look for a 1B bat.
At least that is what i gathered by the “wait until july and we can see what we can do”
This allows us:
- to see if Lowry has anything
- Sanchez gets more time being awesome
- See if Phelps/Ishi or Pablo/Ishi are a sweet enough set up at 1B
- Maybe even see if Rowand can build some value
I’m totally down for standing pat, but Crede wouldn’t be so bad for a year.
All of that makes too much sense
I’m hoping Sabean finds a way to pull of something unexpected
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 19, 2009 4:44 PM PST up reply actions
i know, right?
5 years 150 mil for ManRam.
by Giant Voodoo on Jan 19, 2009 4:47 PM PST up reply actions
NO
Rather than spending $20M/yr on Ramirez would rather spend $10M on Ben Sheets and pocket the rest for a rainy day.
That makes too much sense
Think devastation on a AJ Pierzynski level.
by Giant Voodoo on Jan 19, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions
THIS
I’m so excited by the possibility of Ben Sheets (which I’d somehow never even thought of) that I’m pulling a GRM and going with lots of caps in the subject line. Signing Sheets gives us ridiculous rotation depth (Mr. Zito, I’d like to introduce you to the Mr Bullpen Bench) and might – this is a serious hypothetical that I’m not really advocating [and this is a disclaimer to avoid the pitchfork wielding crowds from the end of Beauty and the Beast showing up on my doorstep] – might make trading Sanchez slightly more palatable.
/ducks
I am not even sure
Crede can out hit Phelps/Ishi.
NO 3B UNLESS MOLINA IS MOVED FROM C.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
If
If the Giants don’t make at least one more big move, the impact of their four previous signings aren’t likely to matter a whole lot in the overall scheme of things. The Giants have thus far done just enough to whet our appetites, but not enough to make themselves likely contenders to win the NL West.
True, and most importantly nothing to hamper the future.
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Don't F with the Affeldt
by Giant among Angels on Jan 19, 2009 7:48 PM PST up reply actions
Wait a minute
If they sign Ty Wigginton to a minor league deal, wouldn’t he immediately become their starting 3B and be inserted into the middle of the order? How could he not?
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
THE ONLY LOGICAL MOVE WOULD BE TO SIGN MANNY TO A FIVE YEAR DEAL WORTH $200 MILLION OF THE DOLLARS THAT AREN'T OURS ANYWAY!!!!
Or just standing pat
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
Your 2009 Opening Day starter at second base*: Eugenio Velez
*For the Fresno Grizzlies
I voted for "Tortoises"
just not here.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below.500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Your logic & the process of elimination leads to the conclusion that the Giants will ...
… just keep up with waiting, doing unsatisfying trivial tinkering, hoping the young guys will break out, and holding on to Dave Roberts …
No wait, I don’t like that. Let’s try this again.
1) The Giants won’t do nothing
2) The Giants won’t sign a big power cleanup hitter
3) The Giants won’t make a big trade
So that leaves us with … screw it, I’m not playing your game.
"Those boos really motivate me to make something happen." - Bonds
1) The Giants won’t do nothing
This means they will do something!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 20, 2009 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
Maybe they’ll do something that amounts to nothing.
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Neglectful father of David Quinowski
Maybe they’ll do nothing that amounts to something. (?)
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
Your 2009 Opening Day starter at second base*: Eugenio Velez
*For the Fresno Grizzlies
Excellent point
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Don't F with the Affeldt
by Giant among Angels on Jan 20, 2009 11:20 PM PST up reply actions
I agree. I don’t know what I meant by that though.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
Your 2009 Opening Day starter at second base*: Eugenio Velez
*For the Fresno Grizzlies
I hope they “go” for Manny, which I think they are doing, drive up the price so the Dodgers are hopefully stuck with 3 years of Manny plus….
Also, making no other major deals we could sign anyone mentioned, a utility guy of some sort.. If David Eckstein signed for 800,000 we could get a decent infielder cheap….
thoughts???
The Giants could sign a free agent at the last minute. They could save their money, because teams maybe unloading contracts at mid season. I don’t see the Giants trading their young pitching. Not much longer til the season starts and we can see how the young players do.
There's a difference between unloading contracts, and unloading players the Giants actually want.
Teams are going to call the Giants offering their Carlo Lees and Alfonzo Sorianos, not their Aramis Ramirezes and Lance Berkmen.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
Manny
It sounds like Manny is going to the Dodgers with a 2 year deal. The Giants could match or beat that offer. I don’t think they will.
Toronto still has the Rios for Lincecum trade on the table
However, the Toronto fans do not want to give up Rios that easily! To think Sabes almost pulled the trigger. Guzman will hit 300 and make 40 errors.
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