Underappreciated Giants: Volume Three
by Grant on Jan 5, 2009 1:14 PM PST
156 comments
One of my first memories: I was six, and my sister and a friend were babysitting me. I had huge, unorganized boxes of baseball cards, and my sister’s friend asked me if I had a Tom O’Malley card. I knew that I did, but I didn’t know where it was. That started a two-hour search through my boxes. Apparently, in 1983, Tom O’Malley was considered cute, and my ’83 Fleer Tom O’Malley card was evidence of this. One teenage girl can’t just describe a guy as "cute" and not provide evidence to support her claim, so the eventual archeological dig was justified. We found the card, and my sister’s reaction was "meh." I have no idea why I remember this, and it truly is one of my earliest memories.
Could that be the most useless paragraph I’ve ever written for this site? It’s up against stiff competition, but I think it comes out on top. But, heck, how else was I supposed to introduce O’Malley?
Tom O’Malley was a young third baseman who came up for the Giants when he was 21. He posted a .275/.350/.364 in 92 games, which was good enough to win the starting job in 1983. He followed up his age-21 season with a .259/.345/.339. No power, but a promising on-base percentage for a 22-year-old, and his low strikeout rate indicated that he had solid bat control. With the Giants needing to rebuild, surely the Giants could have some patience and hope for some doubles power to emerge, right?
No. He was sent down to AAA, where he hit .346/.434/.447 for the Phoenix Giants. Then he was traded to the White Sox for Mike Trujillo, who never pitched an inning for the Giants, though I think he laid down some sweet bass lines for Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. The White Sox gave O’Malley 16 at-bats before releasing him in the offseason. The Orioles, Rangers, Expos, and Mets all gave him cups of coffee in the majors after that, but the bulk of his American career was spent in AAA as a perennial minor league all-star.
O’Malley probably tired of riding buses, and he went to Japan, where he was a gaijin beast. Over six seasons, O’Malley hit .315/.422/.519 for the Hansin Tigers and Yakult Swallows, and won a Central League MVP and a Japan Series MVP.
His defense was probably pretty bad; he made a healthy amount of errors, and he was never really tried at second base, which is where his lack of power would have played better. But I can’t help but think that O’Malley was just a product of the wrong era. A 22-year-old with a league-average OBP would be sought after today, especially if teams were willing to give him away for free. Before the era of statistical awareness, teams looked at him and noticed his batting average, lack of power, and iffy defense. As such, he was labeled a AAAA-player, and he could never overcome the poor performances he gave in limited samples.
So here’s to Tom O’Malley, member of that legendary ’83-’84 Giants organization. Some of you have probably never heard of him. A lot of you probably weren’t even born yet. And a few of you stubbornly insist that he was not a baseball player, but rather 1,241 different turn-of-the-century New York City police officers. But he’s always stuck out to me – partly because he hit .265 for the Giants, and partly because he hit .500 among teenage girls. If he were a prospect today, he would probably have had a much longer MLB career.
If you don’t have anything to write about O’Malley, you can use this as a comment starter: What Giants player from the past do you think got a raw deal? Maybe it was someone who was used improperly, or maybe it was someone who just never got enough at-bats or innings.
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I didn’t say anything about your sister.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
BANG BANG
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Meh
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 1:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He ain’t selling me jeans on a billboard, is what I’m saying.
by shanghaijim on Jan 5, 2009 5:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Funny, he doesn't look Japanese
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 5, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nor do I…
I mean, sure, O’Malley is a traditional Japanese surname, but that still doesn’t explain the comment.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 9:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Japan Series MVP
Central League MVP…eh? eh? Oh well. A stretch, agreed. Ya types your comments, ya takes your shots.
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 6, 2009 7:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Love Your Sig, SF Pete
I am Spartacus Pedro Feliz
Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...
by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 5, 2009 8:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
apparently, I have card 270 from that set. well I have it in a box, in a closet , in a house, in a state on the other coast of the US. but i have it. i think.
Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.
by kennv on Jan 5, 2009 10:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Fred Lewis
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all.
by baetown415 on Jan 5, 2009 1:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
...is pretty well appreciated around here.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 1:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m just still a little pissed off that it took the Giants so long to put him into a starting role. I mean, he was ready to go before the Roberts contract…
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all.
by baetown415 on Jan 5, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
DAVE ROBERTS ONCE STOLE A VERY IMPORTANT BASE
by xanthan on Jan 5, 2009 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Roberts: Batting 1.000 with baetown415’s sister!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just don’t ask about his slugging percentage with her.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
But now I wanna know!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 3:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
SLG = 1.000
He’s a singles hitter after all….
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all.
by baetown415 on Jan 5, 2009 3:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So he only gets to first base with her?
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005.
by Lyle on Jan 6, 2009 7:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
But if he’s the only one coming up to bat, does that mean that he can hit a single and then advance to third by hitting another single?
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 6, 2009 8:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ghostrunner!
by FairweatherFan on Jan 6, 2009 9:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I would say schierholtz has been treated worse.
Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
by raisingcain on Jan 5, 2009 4:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
wasn't alive for mr. O'Malley but
Dustan Mohr. Dude put up a 115 OPS+ and was worth 3 WAR in 285 AB’s.
On the defensive side his career averages were: LF:5.6 CF:-2.3 RF:7.5 for UZR/150.
he was good on the corners and moderately bad in center. he’d be a useful RF if we didn’t have Michael Tucker takin 464 ABs of a pedestrian 97 OPS+.
Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.
by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jan 5, 2009 1:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I couldn’t believe they cut him loose after that season. However, his subsequent career makes the Giants’ judgment look better than yours or mine in this case.
Adoptive father to the All-Father. Does that make me the All-Grandfather?
by EliminateMe on Jan 5, 2009 1:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s a pretty good recent interview with Mohr.
He talks about trying to break back into the major leagues and stuff.
by xanthan on Jan 5, 2009 1:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Cool interview. I was a fan of Mohr also.
by chilibean_3 on Jan 5, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
/stumbling over the pitchers mound FTW !
The clock doesn't matter in baseball. Time stands still or moves backwards. Theoretically, one game could go on forever. Some seem to.-Herb Caen
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
by nvsfg on Jan 5, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just let that ball drop!!!!!
Hitler was a Dodgers fan.
by The Nick on Jan 6, 2009 4:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Great interview..thanks. some guys one always likes and Mohr was one of them. Hope he get’s another chance.
by daniel9 on Jan 6, 2009 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember that one game
where Mohr got injured running on the bullpen mound in foul ground during the last out of the game?
Yeah, that still makes me sad. I liked Mohr
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all.
by baetown415 on Jan 5, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember that other game
where he injured himself celebrating a teammate’s home run? My brother made fun of him when the Rockies came to SF and Mohr told my brother to go “F” himself.
Dustin Mohr: During an early April game with the Padres in 2005, Colorado Rockies’ outfielder Dustin Mohr jumped out of the dugout to celebrate a late-inning home run hit by a teammate. He hobbled back to the bench in pain. Sure enough, he strained his left calf popping out of his seat. He ended up on the 15-day disabled list later that week. The headline in the paper the next day? “Mohr Is Less in Colorado”.
by Norm Median on Jan 5, 2009 2:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
What’s infuriating was that he was there trying to make a catch to go for a play at the plate, which he shouldn’t have done in the first place. Runner scores from third, Padres win game, and the Giants are a game short of the playoffs. Sigh… I did like Mohr though.
by Natto on Jan 5, 2009 2:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I liked Mohr too
but that play made me angry. I remember yelling at the TV in my dorm room while my roommates stared at me like I was totally insane.
Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!
by j14 on Jan 5, 2009 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Mohr context please
I don’t understand the nature of this play
The 2008-2009 offseason is driving me sane!
by hairball on Jan 5, 2009 2:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
you mean you don’t understand why he should have let the ball drop?
by SFfaninNYC on Jan 5, 2009 2:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's a description of the 10th inning from retrosheet
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B09290SDN2004.htm
Tie game at the bottom of the 10th
PADRES 10TH: HERMANSON REPLACED LEDEE (PITCHING); DALLIMORE
REPLACED SNOW (PLAYING 2B); Hernandez reached on an error by
Alfonzo; ROBINSON BATTED FOR HOFFMAN; GUZMAN RAN FOR HERNANDEZ;
Robinson reached on an error by Torrealba on a sacrifice bunt
[Guzman to third, Robinson to second]; Vazquez was walked
intentionally; Payton forced Guzman (second to catcher)
[Robinson to third, Vazquez to second]; Loretta out on a
sacrifice fly to right [Robinson scored (unearned)]; 1 R (0 ER),
0 H, 2 E, 2 LOB. Giants 3, Padres 4.
Man, that inning was full of fail.
by Natto on Jan 5, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
looking up
i remember that play, too. i was screaming at the TV “let it drop! let it drop!” and then he caught it, tweaked his knee and dude scored from third for the game.
but if you watch the reply the dude is following the ball all the way and thus had no way of seeing the foul lines. you could argue a good RF should have sensed he’s crossed the lines, especially when he hit the bullpen mound, but at that point it was too late. So i give him a pass on that one.
by SFfaninNYC on Jan 5, 2009 2:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was at the Hotel Utah bar during that inning and when Mohr collapsed on the bullpen mound, everyone in the bar groaned in unison, then ordered another drink. I remember it like it was yesterday.
My plans for 2009: getting married and attending Tim Lincecum Bobblehead Day.
by Kitspool on Jan 5, 2009 3:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIM AT THE PLATE. I WILL HOLD THIS STANCE UNTIL I DIE!
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 Jan 5, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
me, too. he had a good arm.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 3:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I did a real life face-palm after the conclusion of that play.
by deuce deuce on Jan 5, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I really liked Mohr back in 2004. He hasn’t done anything since then though
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
by jponry on Jan 5, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yessh
I think I hit .005 against teenage girls.
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?
by zenbitz on Jan 5, 2009 1:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, you should try again
You’ll do much better in your prime.
by FairweatherFan on Jan 5, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
just one pepsi
and she wouldn’t give it to me.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Jan 5, 2009 1:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Thomas O'Malley Alley Cat
I remember O’Malley’s debut at Shea Stadium. He was called up during a series with the Mets and had a Will Clark 1989 LCS-esque sequence of games. Complete with power. Oooh, he was gonna be huge. And yes, I agree that he fell off the map pretty quickly. I can’t recall him being THAT bad to be suddenly considered worthless. He just up and disappeared after his mediocre ’84 season. Poof. Oh, and regardless of what people may say about the intro paragraph, the turn-of-the-century NYC cop line is gold. As Governor Blagojevich would say, “f**king gold”.
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 5, 2009 1:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Tom O’Malley’s Giants stint was just slightly before the time I remember (his last year with the Giants came when I was four), but he was a favorite of my dad, and I remember him later with, I think, the Mets.
My own nominee for this series is Mark Carreon. I really liked him as a hitter from when he first came up as a Met, and he made a fine backup outfielder for the Giants. I don’t recall much about his defense, which probably wasn’t great, but he had an OPS+ of over 120 in two of his four years with the Giants before he was traded for Jim Poole.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 1:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Nobody seems to share my Mark Carreon love. SAD.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 1:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
that was my name on the board before it changed to SB Nation
Mark carry on…
Fairley odd parent to Wendell
by WTF on Jan 5, 2009 8:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I always wish Brian Dallimore had been given more of a chance, although his numbers probably didn’t warrant it. We’ll always have that grand slam, though. Sigh.
My plans for 2009: getting married and attending Tim Lincecum Bobblehead Day.
by Kitspool on Jan 5, 2009 1:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wasn’t he also something like 85 years old at the time? (My head is telling me 31….)
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I remember being really disappointed one year when he had a really good spring but didn’t make the opening day roster. I knew it was irrational, but still, I liked the guy.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yea.
He was batting like .465/.620/1.200 for the spring or something. not that amazing, but it was an incredible spring.
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 Jan 5, 2009 3:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t even know where to begin…
by AndOnTheDrums... on Jan 5, 2009 1:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
was one goofy looking son of a gun.
by chilibean_3 on Jan 5, 2009 3:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Seeing his name now after several seasons all I can think of is his father Damon Major and his son Damon Tertius…
by shanghaijim on Jan 5, 2009 5:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i always like Jason Ellison…and the Giants never really gave him a chance (rightfully so)
by cazzuno on Jan 5, 2009 1:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I seem to remember Ellison being the starting CF for almost an entire season…
Is my memory deceiving me? Or do you not consider that “giving him a chance”?
by The Double Deuce on Jan 6, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He had about 350 at bats in 2005.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 6, 2009 11:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Rajai Davis
It's spelled "M-A-R-C-H-I-N-G-B-A-N-D."
I support inroywetrust in his support of The VD Special in his support of me supporting Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by Takimoto on Jan 5, 2009 1:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Chilli Davis
In 1988 they signed Brett Butler for C. insted of Chili, at the same money ,and fell from 1st to 4th. The Giants 200 HR in 1987 to 113 in 1988. Davis went on to a great, long career.
by daniel9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I loved Chili Davis too, but the Giants didn’t fall in the standings in 1988 because of Brett Butler. He’s still, for my money, by far the best leadoff hitter the Giants have had in my lifetime.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Butler
I agree with that, and I’m pretty sure I’m much older than you are.
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005.
by Lyle on Jan 6, 2009 7:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
When I was a kid, I absolutely loved Chili Davis. I recall one night we had the game on TV and Chili Davis came to bat and my mom (not a baseball fan) in the other room just blurted out “Who names their kid ‘Chilli’?” It was so hysterical. Yeah, he was definitely a good Giant and a personal fav.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Chili was my first favorite Giant. He was awesome and I was really bummed when he left. But I recall something about him wanting to play in a warmer climate.
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
by SF Pete on Jan 5, 2009 3:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
What I remember about Chili Davis as a Giant was I was in a Sears where he was signing autographs when I was a kid. I got it and Chili said “What do you say???” (he wanted a thank you).
I never imagined he would end up with a pretty damn good career.
A McC newcomer but not outstanding.
by SFGuy on Jan 5, 2009 6:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He hit a grandslam at my first baseball game
The Giants win a game! The Giants win a game! The Giants win a game!
by jhiat00 on Jan 5, 2009 2:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m glad Rajai got picked up by the A’s. When he first came over from Pittsburgh it seemed like he was making highlight reel catches almost everyday. His hitting was never very good, but I was still pretty surprised when the Giants released him last year.
by Norm Median on Jan 5, 2009 2:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Rajai was my favorite out of the 3 interesting outfielders (him, Lewis, and Natedog) after the 2007 season. Lewis was my least favorite. Obviously I have no eye for talent.
by Sammy Danger on Jan 5, 2009 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Read his name in one of Stark’s “Strange but True” columns, he hit a grand slam in an inning that he came in as a pinch runner. Pretty cool.
by paboperfecto on Jan 6, 2009 8:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Aldrete
I don’t know if he was really that underappreciated, but I always thought that Mike Aldrete should have played more. I know we had Will Clark, Aldrete wasn’t much of an outfielder and didn’t have a lot of power, but the guy could rake line drives all day long.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 1:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Is this the appropriate forum to admit that at the height of Chris Berman’s nicknaming of baseball players, Mike “Enough” Aldrete always made me LOL?
My plans for 2009: getting married and attending Tim Lincecum Bobblehead Day.
by Kitspool on Jan 5, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No
Berman love, or even acceptance is not tolerated now and never will be.
How could you like this jackass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXf0LmnuM-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_BWBKF9I5Q
Ya fuckhead
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
by TexasRanger on Jan 6, 2009 3:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Funny, my Berman love and acceptance has been tolerated for a good long while.
Who cares how he acts off-camera? He has a job and he’s good at it. The schtick itself might not work for everybody, but it’s entertaining.
And he’s a Niners fan. I’ll keep saying it, too.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 6, 2009 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Correction: “but it’s entertaining [to me]”
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 6, 2009 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
WHOOP
and “could…go…all…the…way…” are getting old, but I never minded the nicknaming. Of all the ESPN “personalitiies”, you could do a lot worse (Stu scott) than Berman.
by bondslegend on Jan 6, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Awwwwww… why you gotta hate on Stuart Scott?
They have some really unprofessional, crappy people over at ESPN. The Stuart Scott schtick can obviously be unbearable for some, but I credit the guy for being a consummate professional in a studio full of people who don’t care.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 6, 2009 10:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Stu is
“as cool as the other side of the pillow”. Gotta agree with Howie. There are many other personalities on ESPN worthy of your scorn.
The clock doesn't matter in baseball. Time stands still or moves backwards. Theoretically, one game could go on forever. Some seem to.-Herb Caen
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
by nvsfg on Jan 6, 2009 5:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He's just a lot full of himself,
though that’s true of everyone at ESPN, hence the reason I hate that network.
by bondslegend on Jan 6, 2009 5:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I absolutely hate his catchphrases but the nicknaming is fun, especially when he called a ravens player a maverick using a palin voice when he scored a td.
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
by TexasRanger on Jan 6, 2009 6:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
+10 million
I’m still irrationally fond of Mike Aldrete. And I still curse the Giants for trading him for goddamn useless Tracy Jones.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
w/o Tracy Jones we never would’ve had Pat Sheridan, who was just an awful baseball player and not on my underappreciated list.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Tracy Jones was awful too.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
totally true statement
which is why he was so useless.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Also, he has the same first name as one of my aunts, which doesn’t really strike fear in your opponents.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This makes me want to make a Mario / Michael / That Other Andretti joke, but I think going the Indy racing route for a pun might just be too much of a stretch.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Also, Kevin Rogers
he had that weird thing he did with his foot on his follow through that drew a squiggly line in the dirt on the mound, but the guy was an awesome reliever. I recall feeling genuinely sad when he couldn’t pitch anymore after he had numbness in his arm and they discovered a blood clot. He struggled in the minors for a couple years trying to come back but never got back to the bigs.
Alex Hinshaw reminds me of him a bit. Hopefully, with better results in the long run.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I remember liking Kevin Rogers too. I can recall, not sure how accurately, a game against the Braves back then when I hated the Braves even more than the Dodgers. Rogers came in and threw 8 or 12 straight balls in a big inning and got yanked. And I remember getting upset because some of those pitches were straight down the pipe, but the ump wouldn’t call a strike. It was the same game Darren Lewis got hit by a pitch and the ump didn’t give him first base. The game seemed totally rigged and I got really mad.
by neurofarm on Jan 5, 2009 6:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin Rogers...
…was amazing in 1993, and one big surprising reason the team did so well. A shutdown lefty reliever who seemed to come out of nowhere (well, he came from our minor league system, but that was almost the same thing then) – I had such high hopes for him. His injury problems were quite a blow.
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005.
by Lyle on Jan 6, 2009 11:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yorvit torrealba
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Jan 5, 2009 2:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
AJ
i see yorvit and all i can think is if mgmt would have appreciated him we’d have nathan/lirano no AJ. so he gets two points. and for some reason Yorvit seems to rake when he plays against the Giants, but that might just be my emotions.
by SFfaninNYC on Jan 5, 2009 3:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
I think Yorvit could have been a respectable catcher had he been given the job. But Winn was a good haul for him and Floppert.
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 Jan 5, 2009 3:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
garrelts
didn’t he have injury issues? still, he was a key part of the ’89 staff in his first year of starting and won the ERA title that year i believe. i remember sitting in the back seat of the family car on the way home from serramonte, and my dad pulling into a parking lot so he could focus on listening to the ninth inning of his 8 2/3 inning no hitter.
i hate paul o’neill.
by druncan on Jan 5, 2009 2:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
ERA
Garrelts-SFG 2.28
Hershiser-LAD 2.31
Langston-MON 2.39
Whitson-SDP 2.66
Hurst-SDP 2.69
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 2:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Beat Hersh by .03
Nice
The 2008-2009 offseason is driving me sane!
by hairball on Jan 5, 2009 2:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was at that game
I detest Paul O’Neill with a passion
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was at that game. First year as season ticket holder.
A McC newcomer but not outstanding.
by SFGuy on Jan 5, 2009 6:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Barry Zito
The Giants win a game! The Giants win a game! The Giants win a game!
by jhiat00 on Jan 5, 2009 2:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
John Johnstone
in 1997, he was on the Giants, then waived in August and picked up by the A’s, who then released him on August 31 and the Giants re-signed him the next day.
he was pretty good with the giants until 2000 when his body was taken over by aliens and he couldn’t pitch any more…but BEFORE THAT (1998 & 1999), he was great.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 2:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
as i recall he had a great sense of humor.
good giant
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Jan 5, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
O'Malley
One of my earliest games at the Schtick was this one. I was a 13 year old paperboy, and I had earned this trip with a bunch of other paperboys by selling subscriptions. Giants-Dodgers, with Valenzuela pitching and Fernandomania still pretty much in effect. He went up against Bill Laskey. Uh-oh…
Laskey totally PWNED them, going the distance with a 3-hitter. O’Malley drilled a 2-out, 3-run double off Fernando after he had intentionally walked Bob Brenly to pitch to him. He added a sac fly later on as SF won 6-1.
So, for sticking it to LA in a game I attended, I say O’Malley deserves a post.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jan 5, 2009 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Rich Rodriguez
Dude was solid in ’98 and ’99.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
by groug on Jan 5, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Chad Zerbe
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
VanLandingham and Brewington
I remember VanLaunchingpad was supposed to be the future of the Giants rotation.
by LargeFarva on Jan 5, 2009 3:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I remember Krukow once predicting those two would be the #1 and #2 starters for years to come.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Van Landingham was supposed to be the future that the rumor was back then that the Giants declined an offer from the Angels for Garret Anderson.
A McC newcomer but not outstanding.
by SFGuy on Jan 5, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 5, 2009 7:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm guessing...
…that the only reason Grant remembers Tom O’Malley is because he ended up bagging his sister’s friend.
amirite?
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
by Goofus on Jan 5, 2009 4:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
yaurite!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Jan 5, 2009 9:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Bagged
He Andrew Baggerley’ed her?
Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...
by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 6, 2009 6:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well if we're going back to childhood...
Chris Speier – the veritable John Paul Jones of the Giants and they let him go for Tim Foli and Johnny LeMaster? Ptui!
Ed Goodson – 111 OPS+ as a 25-year old in 1973 had the misfortune to be blocking the path of Kong.
Rennie Stennett – Nah, just kidding.
"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002
by achiappanza on Jan 5, 2009 4:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wow , really dating yourself there.
Allow me…Charlie Williams.
Although they tried their damnedest to get some value out of him he’ll probably be best remembered for the player they traded for him.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Jan 5, 2009 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not the same point
I don’t think Charlie was ever “underappreciated.” Nor was Sudden Sam.
"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002
by achiappanza on Jan 6, 2009 7:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Raw Deal
PITCHERS: Wasn’t crazy about how Merkin Valez was introduced to the majors…… J. Sanchez has been jerked around a bit (AAA/SF – reliever/starter…. Obviously Joe Nathan, an elite closer who was buried in middle relief.
HITTERS: Currently, I’m hoping Sandoval, Burriss, and Ishikawa all get 300 AB’s to prove themselves…. Frandsen & Schierholtz might get jobbed…..
The ultimate raw deal was given to Bill Meuller—- who could have been an all star 3B for the Giants, but was kicked to the curb
Noah Lowry?
by Kid Fresh on Jan 5, 2009 5:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
?
Given that Joe Nathan was getting kicked around in the minors before his stint as a middle reliever for the Giants, I don’t think anyone was calling him an “elite closer buried in middle relief” at the time. Especially since Robb Nen was still closing out games at that point. Of course, after he emerged as a really good reliever, the Giants threw him away, which was dumb.
And I’m really not getting where you’re coming from with Bill Mueller. He was the starting third baseman for the better part of four seasons, so it wasn’t like he never got a chance. I didn’t like trading him, but at the time his numbers had declined for two years in a row, so it didn’t come out of nowhere. And while he was a favorite of mine, if he could have been an All Star for the Giants, he presumably would’ve become one for the Cubs, Red Sox, or Dodgers – but he never did.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 5, 2009 6:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
??
Well, I’d like to think that the Giants front office knew in August of 2002 that Robb Nen’s future was undeterminable at best – particularly since they ordered the radar gun turned off whenever he took the mound, so as to not give away the shredded nature of Nen’s arm. So you go into the winter with MAJOR doubts about the health of your closer, and you’ve got this young guy with a great arm, who has been coming back from surgery, and who really seemed to put it all together during the last part of the year — and you’ve at least got to think to yourself “well, Joe Nathan might not be my closer next year, but he sure should be an integral part of the bullpen somewhere for us.” You don’t trade a valuable arm when you’re vulnerable in pitching. That trade had “stupid” written all over it. And that’s ignoring completely AJ’s people skills, or lack thereof.
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005.
by Lyle on Jan 6, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you missed my point. I wasn’t talking about the Pierzynski trade, which I ALWAYS hated. If you want, I can track down a post on the Livejournal sfgiantsfans group, wherein most of the other folks like the trade and I’m yelling and screaming about how idiotic it was.
But the original complaint was that Nathan was “an elite closer who was buried in middle relief” – it wasn’t a complaint about trading Nathan, but about how Nathan was used when he was with the Giants. When Nathan came up in 2003, I don’t think anyone thought he was an elite closer – in fact, I remember Grant being angry they were even wasting a roster spot on the guy. Obviously, he had a lot more success than some expected, but their use of him was entirely sensible – the guy was getting shelled in the minors in 2002, and started out well in the majors in 2003, so middle relief and a wait-and-see approach was pretty much the way to go while taking the time to see if he was a fluke.
I was off by a year with Nen – he last pitched in 2002, and Nathan came up as a reliever in 2003. Still, in 2003, the Giants had a fair amount of bullpen depth, with Tim Worrell having a good year, plus Scott Eyre, Felix Rodriguez, and Nathan. Hell, even Herges was really good that year.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 6, 2009 11:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll never forget how Russ Davis’ career was killed by a seven-year-old. Not that he was anything great, but still.
by shanghaijim on Jan 5, 2009 5:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Dan Ortmeier
Dude was penciled in for the starting 1B job and was never given a chance to lose it. It was like the giants sat around a table, thought about it more and more until it sounded like a bad idea to give him a chance. This year’s Dan Ortmeier: Travis Ishikawa
Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?
by Speedforthewin on Jan 5, 2009 5:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Trujillo
Never knew much about him until he joined Metallica.
by chilibean_3 on Jan 5, 2009 7:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Deion Sanders!
Dirtbag GIants: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Jeremy Affeldt Ready To Make His Father Proud
by Giant among Angels on Jan 5, 2009 7:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
What, no love for Prime Time?
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Jeremy Affeldt Ready To Make His Father Proud
by Giant among Angels on Jan 6, 2009 9:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The first season that I went to a Giants game was 1976. Coming off the field after warming up, Derrel Thomas tossed me a ball. I always liked him after that. We watched a 4 game series vs. Cincinnati. I was 9. My ears got sunburned really bad cuz they stuck out of my hat.
Fairley odd parent to Wendell
by WTF on Jan 5, 2009 9:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
aw shit, I missed the concept. poor reading skills, or too much wine?
Fairley odd parent to Wendell
by WTF on Jan 5, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The Guy who got here 8 seasons too late
Eric Davis
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all.
by baetown415 on Jan 5, 2009 10:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Radical notion
but given that most people wanted to gut him with a fish knife, I’m going to say Marvin Bernard.
Hector Sanchez: really getting tired of playing baseball in foreign countries...
by tedfordfan on Jan 6, 2009 10:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, somebody liked Chris Brown!? I had no idea.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 6, 2009 3:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
John Patterson is one of those players where I remember being on the roster for a while, but I don’t remember anything about him. I think he was black and a backup infielder, but that’s about it.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
by jcb9 on Jan 6, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
he was a second baseman, switch hitter, I think he came up when Robby got hurt one year. Anyway, they thought he was the future, too bad he couldn’t hit above .220.
by LargeFarva on Jan 6, 2009 3:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He had one really clutch HR against Atlanta.
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
by SF Pete on Jan 6, 2009 7:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Randy Elliot
We never really got to know ya. Well, we probably did, but still… that one spring was amazing.
by GORDONZOLA on Jan 6, 2009 6:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Why the Giants dumped Tom O'Malley
He may have had a good 22 season, but he started his age 23 season in 1984 at 120./.185/.120 (!) into May. The team, which had deluded itself into thinking it was a contender when it picked up over-the-hill-and-down-the-other-side Al Oliver, was almost as bad as O’Malley. One night in Montreal the game was tied in the eighth, and the Expos had a runner on third with one out. The batter hit a grounder to O’Malley at third, who looked home as the runner broke for the plate and then calmly threw to first for out No. 2. Afterward, Jim Davenport, then a coach, opined to the press that it was the stupidest fucking play he had ever seen, and O’Malley was a Firebird before the week was out.
Twenty-seven years of waiting has come to an end.
by trapper on Jan 6, 2009 11:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
sounds like the Giants
We don't really have that much pitching depth. We don't really have that much pitching depth. FOR GOD SAKE, VERUCA, DON'T GO FAKE TRADING JONATHAN SANCHEZ. We don't really have that much pitching depth
by oldjacket on Jan 7, 2009 6:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe I'm the first to mention
Jerome Williams
Hands down my favorite pitcher on the roster when he had a spot. Decent heat (kid could throw 92mph if I recall correctly) and command of his off-speed pitches, plus Mike Krukow’s favorite part – he mixed speeds all the time.
We had a league average arm prove his worth for the better part of his age-21, -22, and -23 seasons, granted they were somewhat injury-plagued, and we gave up on him because he had like, 3 bad starts to open the season. I was about ready to give up on this team when he got demoted, then of course we made the infamous LaTroilet Hawkins trade, at which point I was ready to bury Brian Sabean alive.
"... a nice Dodger blue. Yes, it's a meth lab."
by zheetos on Jan 7, 2009 9:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
good choice
. Just another casualty of Dusty Baker’s overuse of starting pitchers. I would love to see Jerome make a comeback somewhere and be successful. Good kid.
by LargeFarva on Jan 8, 2009 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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