Is Brian Sabean Shopping Rich Aurilia?

I am thinking Brian might be the mystery GM and Richie might be the mystery 3B. Could Sabean be looking for a home for Richie to open up a spot for Jesus Guzman on the opening day roster?

8 months ago giantsrainman 43 comments 0 recs |

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I really doubt it

I don’t think you need to call and inform a team that Aurilia is available.

I think it was Jack Z trying to sell them Beltre

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Seattle has a decent shot at competing this year. They aren’t great, or the favorites, but they’re definitely in it.

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

by marcello on Mar 18, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's no hint it's the Giants

Kind of jumping to big conclusions, aren’t we?

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Mar 18, 2009 4:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This

GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Now with updates!

by groug on Mar 18, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Mar 18, 2009 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate it when my turns get loose.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Mar 18, 2009 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s what happens when you drink all of that prune juice.

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by Natto on Mar 18, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If all that happened, I would be pretty happy. Guzman could play first against lefties, and spell Pablo at third and whoever at second when necessary.

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

by marcello on Mar 18, 2009 4:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Even with Aurilia, it wouldn’t be that hard to find a place for Raptor Jesus. Especially if they do go with 11 pitchers. Something like:

Steve Holm C
Eugenio Velez 2B/OF
Nate Schierholtz OF
Rich Aurilia 1B/3B
Jesus Guzman 2B/1B/3B
Juan Uribe 2B/SS/3B

And if they do carry a twelfth pitcher, just drop Uribe, because, you know, he sucks.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Mar 18, 2009 6:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I Could See That Possibility

But he could be about to do what we all would see as a very un-Sabean move. He might be thinking of going with all youngsters on the bench:

Steve Holm C
Eugenio Velez 2B/OF
Nate Schierholtz OF
John Bowker 1B/OF
Jesus Guzman 1B/3B
Frandsen/Burriss 2B/SS/3B

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Am Also Getting The Feeling That The Giants See Emmanual Burriss As Leading The 2B Competition.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d be surprised if that’s the case. They’re talking a lot like it is, but really… I don’t see it happening.

Dude with options + dude with no options = I do the math.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Mar 18, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Burriss Has Been Starting Lately With The Rest Of The Projected Starting Lineup

Frandsen’s starts lately have been with just a handful of the projected starters. I am just trying to read the tea leafs.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just kind of believe that if you have Burriss on the ML roster, then you’re probably wasting both players for a while. The only thing I see that gets the most out of them is putting Burriss in AAA until you decide, for whatever reason, that he’ll be getting the majority of the ML starts.

I see no reason to put those players in a position where one has to sit on the bench half the time when Burriss has an option. It doesn’t make sense to me. Spring at bats be damned.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Mar 18, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manny HIts Best From The Left Side Against Righties

While Kevin as a righty hits lefties best. This could be a real good platoon combo.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but you’re not really expecting much offense from either one, anyway, so splitting a full season between these guys based on what are probably kind of marginal platoon splits just doesn’t strike me as worthwhile.

If we were talking about severe platoon splits, I’d be getting on board, but I just don’t know…

I really don’t like screwing with a guy’s at bats if you don’t have to. There are some guys who really do have to platoon to survive, but if you’re creating a platoon just to have two guys on the same roster when both could be getting an extra 200 or so ABs by playing at different levels, I really just don’t see the point.

And don’t get me wrong, neither of these guys are world-beaters, and screwing up the development of otherwise marginal prospects likely isn’t going to be the end of the world. I understand that. But between giving two guys the best chance to have at least one develop into a perfectly fine major league player and platooning both into oblivion, I’ll take those surprisingly important 200+ ABs that I’m quibbling over.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Mar 18, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since both a in the gray area between starter and untility infielder, platooning them makes some sense. Each day, one of them would be getting guaranteed ABs while the other would be avilable as PH/PR/defensive replacement, etc.

Since they’re both young, I like it better than one of them languishing on the bench and not developing

My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman

by Goofus on Mar 19, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be very upset if he wasted Bowker, Guzman, and Burriss with MLB bench roles, rather than playing everyday in Fresno

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Could Be Plenty Of PAs For Guzman and Burriss

Guzman could platoon with Ishikawa at 1B and Burriss could platoon with Frandsen at 2B. Bowker is the only one that would have a hard time getting ABs. But I see him as a 4/5 outfielder anyway so I really don’t see any problem here.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Take A Look A Who Was On The Bench in 1997

Benard, Mueller, and Aurilia all became starters later but filled bench roles in 1997.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bill Mueller played more games at third base in 1997 than anyone else and had over 400 plate appearances. He wasn’t a bench player. Benard was a backup in 1997, but he had been close to an every day player in 1996.

Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly

by jcb9 on Mar 18, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mueller Platooned At 3B

I am suggesting that Burriss/Frandsen and Ishikawa/Guzman might platoon at 2B and 1B respectively. If this is the case they all will get simular PAs to what Mueller got in 1997.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

completely different situations

all of those guys had reached a point in their development that more time in the minor leagues wouldn’t have done them any good. Burris, Guzman, and Bowker have played 14, 15, and 25 AAA games respectively.

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noty Really

While Bowker and Burriss many have fewer AAA ABs the Benard and Aurilia they both have significant MLB ABs and thus do not have a whole lot to prove in AAA. Guzman is another story. But if Jesus is going to platoon at 1B with Ishikawa then he will be playing plenty athe the MLB level and thus no real development value gained by keeping him in AAA. The only question is “Is Jesus Guzman ready?” I trust the Giants to make this judgement correctly.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow, that's a convoluted way to look at player development

you promote somebody to MLB before they are ready, they perform poorly (although not terribly given the circumstances) and then you say “these guys have been in MLB, clearly they don’t need anymore time in the minor leagues!”

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither Bowker Or Burriss Performed Poorly

They were not studs, but they were both above replacement level. They both proved they are ready to be MLB players. I see no reason why they can’t do the rest of their “development” at the MLB level.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bowker did not prove that he is ready to be an MLB player. Once pitchers made their initial adjustment to him, in fact, he looked completely overmatched. He showed that he could be an MLB player someday. But absolutely no way did he look MLB ready last season.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Mar 19, 2009 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what is so hard to follow about this logic?

John Bowker had 326 MLB at bats therefore John Bowker is a MLB player. MLB players do not have anything to prove in the minor leagues therefore John Bowker needs no further development in the minor leagues.

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 19, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Mar 19, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not only is it a big leap to assume it’s Sabean, even if it was there’s a chance he’s offering a different third baseman, like Uribe. There’s no way it’s Sabean. It has to be a GM looking to unload a contract. Sabean isn’t stuck with Aurilia, it’s just a minor league deal.

Brian Sabean: continuing to monitor the CC and Manny situations

by rxmeister on Mar 18, 2009 6:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Sabean’s MO would be releasing the veteran a couple weeks before the seasons starts, so that he still has time to find a spot before rosters are set. I doubt trading Aurilia would even cross his mind.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Mar 18, 2009 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Am Thinking One Of The Motives Might Be Loyalty

Brian doesn’t want to just cut Richie but rather wants to line up a major league option for Richie. Richie can’t not be traded without his approval until June (as is the case with all free agents one signs). If what I suspect is correct Sabean wants to go to Aurilia with the choice of either being traded or released.

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Either way

You’d expect the decision to be sooner rather than later. Unless the Giants are seriously considering him for a roster spot, that is.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Mar 18, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It has to be a GM looking to unload a contract.

that seems right to me, it seems like a GM that makes a call like the one described here is trying to sell a used car.

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or He Could Be Just Trying TO Find A Home For A Beloved Used Car

by giantsrainman on Mar 18, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you’re really reaching here (even by your standards)

by FluLikeSymptoms on Mar 18, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought you can’t trade a free agent until the trade deadline, whether he gives his approval or not. What exactly is the rule here, and is it different for minor league deals?

Brian Sabean: continuing to monitor the CC and Manny situations

by rxmeister on Mar 20, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks shopped.

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
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by S.F. Giangst on Mar 18, 2009 9:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

GRM IS RIGHT!

Because [inprobable scenario] is definitely going to be helped by [ridiculous situation]. Furthermore, I think that [unquestionable coinncidence] bears out this [farfetched idea].

by Lars The Wanderer on Mar 19, 2009 7:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why do you [people of a certain affinity] always [certain behavior] when it comes to [performing tasks] whenever [proper noun] is mentioned?

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.

by S.F. Giangst on Mar 19, 2009 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs