Giants sign Aubrey Huff
by Grant on Jan 11, 2010 12:40 AM PST
1530 comments
After the jump, I'll jot down what I like and don't like:
What I like:
- Sorry, I trust Aubrey Huff more than Travis Ishikawa, even accounting for the gap in defensive acumen. Ishikawa is a 26-year-old defensive stud who couldn't put up a league-average line with the BABIP of his life. His K/BB ratio was wonky, and his only calling card was that he resurrected his career in 2008 by hitting like the peak-year version of Aubrey Huff, only Ishikawa did it in AAA.
Do you have more faith in Huff bouncing back from a career-worst year, or do you have more faith in Ishikawa becoming a hitter who can sniff league average? If money isn't an issue, I take Huff every time. Now, money is an issue -- about $2.5M worth -- so I understand the argument for Ishikawa. I just see Ishikawa as a guy whose saving grace is that he'll make a nifty Giants-related punchline in about 15 years. Mike Ivie! Mark Leonard! Damon Minor! Todd Benzinger! Travis Ishikawa! - Eugenio Velez will not be a starter, and that's the best news of the offseason. It's sad that I have to grade moves on this curve. "Hey, your son is eating paste." "Well, at least he's not trying to put the cat down the garbage disposal! Because he's done that. Twice. And once with a hamster. So that's why I'm not stopping him from eating paste. Heck, I poured a bottle of ranch dressing in the paste jar because I figured he'd go right for it."
- I'm counting two below-average OPS+ seasons out of Huff's last eight. Is that track record good for a first baseman? No, not necessarily. Is that good for a Giant, regardless of position? Yes. Yes, it is. I'm not looking for a bounce back to the 2008 Huff; I'm just looking for someone who resembles a major league hitter when you squint. The Giants are woefully short of those.
- I'll never scream bloody murder when a player is signed to a one-year deal. Can't do it. Huff isn't blocking anyone, and he isn't the difference between the current roster and one with a premium free agent on it. I'm not privy to the Giants' financial discussions, so I can't say with certainty that Huff's $3M isn't going to make a difference. It might be a reason why they don't sign a premium Dominican prospect, or why they won't buy out an amateur prospect's college commitment. But I'll counter that by noting that Huff is probably $5M cheaper, at the very least, than Adam LaRoche. I'll take Huff, my chances, the 2010 free agent market, and the money over LaRoche.
What I don't like:
- Ryan Garko is a similar risk at a similar price, but his right-handed bat was more likely to play well in San Francisco. Again, this is another reminder of the silly, silly player evaluation going on in the front office. The difference between "sure, we'll trade our #3 pitching prospect for him" and "cut him loose" is a month's worth of at-bats. That's just amazing. I wasn't a huge Garko believer -- I kind of find the optimism of recent projection systems to be amusing, if not ridiculous -- but he was cheap, cheap, cheap. And with a built-in left-handed complement and defensive replacement already on the roster, Garko made a ton of sense. Huff makes, oh, a little sense, but only when you accept that Garko wasn't ever part of the plan.
- Clank.
- Huff's collapse last year, at an age when players like to cover themselves with the fragments of what used to be their career, might not be a blip on the radar. It doesn't have to be an outlier. Sometimes, players just disintegrate. And when they do, it looks a lot like Huff's 2009.
- With Huff, DeRosa, Sandoval, Uribe, and Sanchez, Bruce Bochy has a lot of guys who can play different positions. This means that Bochy is free to play games with "the hot hand" and craft lineups that are based in a player's six-at-bat history against a particular pitcher. It's going to be awful.
The Giants' offense isn't saved. The finality of this move probably stings the most. DeRosa's ability to play the infield and the outfield allowed the Giants one more substantial move, and they blew that flexibility on a commitment to Aubrey Huff? That kind of stinks. There were better players out there. But there is a little solace to be found.
The Giants' offense might not be so wretched. If Manny Burriss hits for the first time above A-ball, Travis Ishikawa hits better than his career suggests he will, and Bengie Molina can crack a .300 on-base percentage, maybe the lineup will be close to average.
The Giants' offense might not be so wretched. If Freddy Sanchez has another high-average year, Aubrey Huff hits closer to his career norms, and DeRosa can approach something similar to his past few years, maybe the lineup will be close to average. I, for one, am also going to assume that Buster Posey will .310/.390/.480 this year.
The leap of faith isn't quite the perilous drop this year that it was last year. I'm not happy about taking the leap in the first place, and there are certainly permutations of this offseason that would have led to something much better than a leap of faith, but I don't have the soul-masticating feeling of absolute dread that I did by March of last year. It's more of a soul-poking-with-a-stick feeling of absolute dread.
It's a C-minus move for a C-minus front office, which is much preferable to the F-minuses I've been conditioned to expect over the last five years, and starting Ishikawa again would have been a D-plus decision, if that. So welcome aboard, Aubrey. Do us proud. Make the cynics eat some Huff-flavored crow. Oh, and hit like you did in 2008. Thanks.
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I agree with this /groupthink
And I really do have to agree that I hate the idea of so much “flexibility” in the lineup, because I know what it’s going to lead to.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Jan 11, 2010 12:44 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Couldn’t it possibly lead to good things? Like if one of {Uribe, Huff, DeRosa, Sanchez} just really sucks next year they can take a seat on the bench, whereas last year when Renteria sucked Bork didn’t have any vets to turn to?
You’re thinking of depth, not versatility. The Giants still have no depth (in the lineup or, oddly, the rotation).
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
Well, you could say they have depth in the lineup. Depth in mediocrity is one way to put it. And many (at least a couple) of those young players who are providing the depth are guys who should be getting shots but aren’t going to be penciled into the lineup under any circumstances.
It’s really irritating how not-deep the rotation is after this amount of offseason. Though I guess Sheets and Bedard are still available (Bedard is my favorite from the beginning of this offseason). Penny was too pricey, but Harden and Duchscherer at their prices would have been nice.
Can we be sure the Giants are done this offseason? I mean they offered Laroche 2/17 and ended up signing Huff for 1/3. Is it possible they’ll go out an spend some of the money saved on another starter or catcher? Bedard won’t cost that much coming off the injury I presume. Seems like a decent idea to me. Oh and what ever happened to Calero?
Sheets might be out of our price range.
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:00 AM PST up reply actions
Uribe's $3M Along With Huff's $3M Eats $6M of The $8.5M/yr Offered To LaRoche.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:03 AM PST up reply actions
completely forgot to factor Uribe’s contract in. well that definitely changes things
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:05 AM PST up reply actions
Which means the Giants were willing to spend that $8.5 M/yr even after they signed Uribe for $3M and you only half to lop off Huff’s $3M.
will they reallocate that money though?
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:15 AM PST up reply actions
NO
No.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:07 AM PST up reply actions
You Don't Know That. It Could Of Be Rejected/Pulled Earlier And I Think It Was.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:21 AM PST up reply actions
No matter what the time line was, they still have $2.5M theoretically to spend. Don’t be surprised to see it go to a guy like Torrealba or Barrajas.
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
Here I Am Thinking You Are Right
But this may not be a bad thing if it sets up a Rockies like situation where Posey and the new guy are the catchers battling for playing time with Whiteside long gone.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
Unfortunately, it’s more likely to be one of Torrealba\Barrajas & Whiteside with Posey in the minors.
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
I haven’t looked into who I want at C yet, but I do want to keep Posey in the minors and delay his service clock…
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 9:40 AM PST up reply actions
The news was leaked after Uribe was signed.
The offer could have been made and pulled at any time. For all we know, it was the same offer the Giants were rumored to have made LaRoche at the winter meetings.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
I’m thoroughly confused
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:19 AM PST up reply actions
There's nothing to be confused about.
When an item is reported is not the same as when it occured. We know that the Giants offered LaRoche a sizeable contract and that he turned it. We don’t know when it happened, because (unlike actual signings) offers are made public by the rumor mill instead of press releases, and never officially confirmed.
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Ok I’m updated on the situation now. Thanks for the patience fellas
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:25 AM PST up reply actions
There's PLENTY to be confused about!
Did we sign Aubrey Huff…
…or did we in fact sign Fred Ward?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 6:48 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
There’s gotta be a graboid joke in there somewhere.
by troymccluresf on Jan 11, 2010 8:25 AM PST up reply actions
or Robbie Keane?
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
That one is a bit of a stretch, but I approve of any soccer reference that we can get here!
/must be a communist
"Any time I watch a game on television, I have to turn the commentators off. They say 'he's playing well' and I'm thinking 'no, he's not.' My advice to anyone is don't listen to the experts, just watch the game and gather your own opinion."
-Roy Keane
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 11, 2010 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
“I’m hittin this sonuvabitch off the light tower!”
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
“You want gamer? I’ll give you gamer: Helmets are for pussies!”
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
That’s my boy!
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Tommy Joseph: concussion man
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
/pic of David Wright with gigantic helmet
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 12, 2010 7:39 AM PST up reply actions
Is this from the Area Code Games or sumthin’?
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
I thought he looked like Billie Jean King, but I cannot find any photograph to back up my thoughts. Therefore, I am an idiot.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Jan 11, 2010 11:39 AM PST up reply actions
...or Ty Cobb?
"It kind of gives everybody else out there who is not a big person the motivation and the inspiration that they know they can do it, too."--Tim Lincecum
by Timlincecum.com on Jan 12, 2010 1:16 PM PST up reply actions
If they brought in Bedard right now, that would be a signing I would like on face value, not just because it’s good compared to the typically Sabean signing.
It would make me very happy.
This probably means it’s not going to happen. Then again, this FO has demonstrated its greatest aptitude in evaluating arms generally.
I like Calero. He is good. Sign him
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:16 AM PST up reply actions
So You Think Bowker, Schierholtz, and Ishikawa Are Just AAAA Players Inspite Of Their Shinny Projections?
Chone after all projects them to produce wOBAs of .350, .339, and .333 respectively, ZIPS projects the first two to produce OPS+s of 102 and 103 respectively, and BillJames projects the last two to produced wOBAs of .338 and .336 respectively.
Please note that I am with you if this is the case. But if you are a believer in these projection systems then you should believe that we have both depth and versatility.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:02 AM PST up reply actions
I wouldn’t go so far as AAAA, but I consider them fringe starters/ideally bench players, which is also what I consider most of Sabean’s signings. It’s not really depth if the bench players are of bench quality and the starters are too.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
Just Out Of Curiosity What Is Your WAR Expectation For A Position Player Starter?
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:23 AM PST up reply actions
2 and higher.
2 is roughly average. Which obviously means that there are legitimate starters below that, but, since the goal is to field a playoff (and ultimately championship) team, and .500 teams almost never make the postseason, you shouldn’t really be happy with a “merely” average roster, and you’re forced to aim for something higher than a 2 WAR per starter average if you want to field a good team.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
I Think We Can Get 16+ WAR Out Of Our 8 Starters And Another 3+ Out Of Our Bench
Further, I think we can get 17+ out of our rotation and another 4+ out of our Bullpen. If the pluses add up to 2 this will total 42 WAR which in the NL where replacement level is 48 Win projects to 90 wins.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:38 AM PST up reply actions
The Giants got 15.5 WAR from the top 8 positions players (by PA) last season.
So perhaps the tried and true 2 WAR = average formula is flawed, then again, the “average” average starting position player missed a fair sized number of at bats. Whatever the explanation, a .5 WAR improvement isn’t much.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
What We Are Both Leaving Out Is The WAR Impact Of NL Pitchers Having To Hit
Last year Giants pitchers combined to produce -3.8 WAR with their bats. If they do that again in 2010 that would turn my projected 90 wins into 86.
The Giants non top 8 position players last year produced just .6 WAR since Uribe, Ishikawa, and Lewis were three of the 8. This year their production will count towards the 3+ I am projecting for the bench.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 3:15 AM PST up reply actions
This Projection By The Way Would Add Up To 4 WAR Above Last Year
Last year the Giants only produced 34 WAR which projects to 6 fewer wins (82) then the 88 they actually achieved.
I am now finding myself back to where my gut was that while we have improved we just have not improved enough.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 3:26 AM PST up reply actions
I am now finding myself back to where my gut was that while we have improved we just have not improved enough.
This is probably right. One of the problems is we weren’t really an 88 win team last year (by WAR we were more of an 84 win team, I think), so the improvement has to be bigger than our record makes it seem…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:36 AM PST up reply actions
but WAR doesn't count double switching
double switching = 4 extra wins a year
by NateEveryday on Jan 11, 2010 9:03 AM PST up reply actions
OT before the thread even gets started:
Anyone else notice and question why Grant’s 5-year auto-post was posted at exactly 1 AM and not 1:09 AM?
Merry Christmas, McCoven. YOU DRINK YOUR DAMN EGGNOG
Also, I have to say that I’m somewhat impressed by Sabean’s penchant for still surprising us with things after all these years – had there been any discussion about Huff at all, all offseason? I don’t remember hearing his name linked to us once.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
One poster mentioned that he would rather sign Huff over Nick Johnson because of draft pick concerns.
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2009/11/10/1125068/free-agency-part-two-our-greatest#24205264
"meh"
If I’m looking at the right guy, he was basing that off of false premises.
Looks like I corrected him.
I think it was pulled out of his ass and nothing to do with the Giants signing him but he is the only one to mention it.
"meh"
I think the reason “he pulls it out of his ass” and the names he signs are names that are never discussed is that the media and us fans only talk about players that are good and would make us better. Therefore, we never discussed Aubrey Huff.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
Nameless player linked to Giants
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 1:52 AM PST up reply actions
This happens every year and yet the McCoven go bat shit insane if there is a rumor of being interested in someone like Posednick. That is why I have learned to take all rumors with a grain of salt and almost disregard them at first blush. Remember, it was thought that Uribe would not be back as well and then all of a sudden he’s coming in for a physical.
Not sure what to do about my screen name at this point...
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jan 11, 2010 8:19 AM PST up reply actions
I was always under the impression that the Giants would take him back, but he felt he could test the FA market. Since he signed, I took it that the grass was not greener.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
I remember seeing his name in a couple of laundry lists
here and there, but never with any explanation, either "the Giants are thought to be interested in [list] or “[three teams including the Giants]” are looking for 1B, and [list] is available. Schulman at some point? But all quite a while ago.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
+1
We should of done better but this is better then where we started.
Is it, really?
Another off season, another bunch of band aids. Now band aid singing are quite useful, valuable eve, in the right situation, but they’re pretty damning as a long-term strategy. Particularly when your team refuses to give their prospects any leash at all in the majors (and I’m not talking about obvious schlubs like Burriss or Bocock). You can’t go year to year with a bunch of 30-somethings every year and expect to get anywhere, nor can you demand that every prospect dazzle in his first 50 at bats or be permanently glued to the bench. Basically, the biggest problem with these moves is that they’re indicative of a front office without a workable plan.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Jan 11, 2010 1:50 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well at least Huff isn’t blocking any real prospects we have waiting at 1st. Bowker seems more of an outfielder and Guzman isn’t much on defense either. So at least by year, Huff is at the very least a low risk
I think its more that the front office has a plan, tried it, and then went back to doing what they always do with gamery vets
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 1:54 AM PST up reply actions
Well next year we’ll be rid of Huff and Renteria…maybe Crawford and Neal will be ready…
/takes a drink from the Kool aid
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:00 AM PST up reply actions
Thanks to the team’s extreme versatility, Huff can play 1B and still block players in the outfield. DeRosa’s going to play somewhere, and now that place is probable LF.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
When the player DeRosa blocks in the OF is Velez, I’m okay with it.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
But he also blocks one of Bowker and Schierholtz.
I don’t believe Velez would have held the job.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
Yeah, and I agree that I would rather see them in the lineup.
But, it’s a Sabean/Bochy run team. Who knows what we’d get.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Huff > Aurilia/Garko, F.Sanchez > Burriss/Frandsen, DeRosa > Winn, Posey > Molina So Where Did We Go Backwards?
It may also be reasonable to expect that 2019 Renteria > 2009 Renteria.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:11 AM PST up reply actions
No i don’t think the 2019 Renteria > 2009 Renteria, you mean 2010, yes?
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:12 AM PST up reply actions
I actually might take a shot at 2019 Renteria beating 2009 Renteria. His numbers were awful
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:14 AM PST up reply actions
a 40 something Renteria? Hmmm sounds like he’s one of them late bloomers. I recall that Bonds hit pretty well in his 40’s. You may have something here.
/strokes chin
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:15 AM PST up reply actions
Imagine how gritty he’ll be by then
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:17 AM PST up reply actions
Haha nice sig
Huff-tastic
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:17 AM PST up reply actions
too good to pass up. i’ve never been to baltimore, but if huff performs well i’ll take his word and never go there
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:18 AM PST up reply actions
The inner-harbor area, or whatever they call it, is pretty cool. We hung out there one day before walking to Camden. Camden is awesome.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
Yeah
When I was visiting Baltimore there were several cool neighborhoods and Camden is one of my favorite ballparks.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Inner harbor is nice. Camden is awesome, easily my second favorite park I’ve been to after AT&T. Unfortunately, at a Red Sox game, it was like 66% Red Sox fans…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
Inner Harbor is cool. The rest of the city: not so much.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
That’s just wrong. Fells Point and Federal Hill are both great neighborhoods with fantastic dining and music.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Must agree. I was there a few years ago, and the city is working hard to restore those neighborhoods. They purchased many of the old mansions on Federal Hill and were offering them for pennies on the dollar, financed by the city.
Matt Downs . The Kevin Frandsen of 2010 !
OT:
but this should keep you away
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/15/samurai.sword.killing/
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:20 AM PST up reply actions
i don’t know whether to be frightened or awestruck
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 2:21 AM PST up reply actions
Hard times in the city
In a hard town by the sea
Ain’t nowhere to run to
There ain’t nothin’ here for free
Hooker on the corner
Waitin’ for a train
Drunk lyin’ on the sidewalk
Sleepin’ in the rain
And they hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
‘Cause the city’s dyin’
And they don’t know why
Oh Baltimore
Man it’s hard just to live
- “Baltimore”, by Randy Newman
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:24 AM PST up reply actions
OT
Warner had more TDs than incompletions.
Maybe the Rockies have something there?
/looks for free “religion” download
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:28 AM PST up reply actions
I think the fact that one of the best crime/police/drug/school/docks tv drama ever produced was based in Bodymore speaks for itself.
I suspect the pitching will be worse.
By which I mean, the defense will be worse and the pitching will be less fortunate (in terms of health and performance). Also, the offense actually scored quite a few more runs their their component stats suggest they should have last season. The team seems to have improved their true talent level, marginally, but last seasons’ team played way over their head.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
DeRosa's Career UZR/150 In The OF Is Similar To Winn's
A full season of F.Sanchez should be an upgrade at 2B comparable to the downgrade Huff represents at 1B and most here in the McCoven seem to think that Posey will be an upgrade defensively over Molina. So where are the Giants losing this defense you project them to lose?
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:30 AM PST up reply actions
DeRosa’s outfield UZR is comparable to Winn only if you ignore sample size; his entire career play in the outfield adds up[ to only a little more than a season, 1/3 the sample at which UZR become trustworthy, and much of that was accumulated long enough ago that one has to question its relevance. Sanchez is coming off a knee injury and two injury-plagued seasons, and he’s at the age where defensive value tend towards linear decline. Rowand and Renteria are also at that age. I also strongly suspect that Schierholtz, Torres, and Ishikawa enjoyed flukey high UZR ratings which will regress as the sample size grows (even if they stay well into positive territory).
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
Not That There Is No Logic In Your Assumptions As There Is.
That said, I don’t expect the decline you assume. Sure, it could happen, but I don’t expect it.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 2:54 AM PST up reply actions
Huff has very similar offensive numbers to Garko, and is just as clanky defensively. He’s also 4 years older and left handed. How is he better than him?
I was promised lasagna.
Garko Has Never Produced Even 2 WAR Per 600 PAs
Huff has done this four times in his 8 seasons (including twice around 4 WAR) and most recently in 2008.
by giantsrainman on Jan 11, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Huff has only done it once in the last five seasons though.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
HEEZ DOO
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Why do you ignore the seasons before that????
Do you always deceive people to put them down?
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
To borrow your method
Past three years, Huff has average 1.36 WAR per 650 PA’s.
Past three years, Garko has average 1.29 War per 650 PA’s.
The difference is a staggering 0.07 WAR, AKA less than one run. Even if Garko’s line suffers when he faces more RHP, the difference is very small. And then there’s a the fact that Garko is 4 years younger’ and that Huff is a LHH dead pull hitter, while Garko is RHH.
I was promised lasagna.
And the worse and proven downside. On average, they’ve been about that same. Garko is 4 years younger and RH.
I was promised lasagna.
Garko is also gone.
I don’t understand why you guys still toss him around.
Well I do, but still…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:04 AM PST up reply actions
In theory he could still be re-signed by the Giants so it is a legit comparsion.
Of coarse in theory a right fielder that can’t hit RHP could be reduced in play time as well. So there is that.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
Therefore A Roll Of The Dice.
Probably just a little better with a shot to be a lot better at the risk of being a little worse.
by giantsrainman on Jan 12, 2010 5:45 PM PST up reply actions
Why just a little worse? His 2009 really was awful. But if you admit that they’re about the same then I’ve made my point .
I was promised lasagna.
And Ignored Mine
A 15%+ Shot At Another 4 WAR season is worth the $3M one year gamble. That said, I still don’t like what the Giants have done this off season. i did not want gambles I wanted real proven probable upgrades.
by giantsrainman on Jan 13, 2010 11:08 AM PST up reply actions
Your original clame was that we improved because Huff is better than Garko. That’s the only thing I disagreed with, because I really don’t think you know that.
In any case, it’s not a big difference. I would have preferred Phelps for $400K (or Johnson for 2/11) over either one of them, though I know you don’t agree with that.
I was promised lasagna.
Johnson Yes
Phelps is just crazy Talk. No MLB team argees with the silly projection systems that think he is a major league hitter.
by giantsrainman on Jan 13, 2010 1:21 PM PST up reply actions
I never mentioned a single projection system when talking about Phelps. Only 1,600 major league PA’s.
I was promised lasagna.
Most Long Ago - All Of 36 In The Last Two Years
by giantsrainman on Jan 13, 2010 1:49 PM PST up reply actions
220 in the past 3 years, in which he’s hit .298/.384/.466.
He had one bad year in 2004, and that doomed him. Since then, in 400 PA’s, he’s hit .284/.359/.447, 112 OPS+. Even after signing Huff, I’d rather have Phelps platoon with rather than Ishikawa back him up.
It would be one thing if you were asking me to ignore projections, because you trust GM’s more. But you’re not – you’re asking me to ignore his entire track record. Basically you’re saying that if the stats suggest someone is underrated, the stats are wrong, period.
I was promised lasagna.
How Can You Like Phelps More Then Huff?
Huff has never had the health issues Phelps has had and has been more successful more recently. There is just no reason (scouting or stats) to be in love with Phelps while hating Huff. There is reason (scouting) to believe that Phelps is no longer a major leaguer.
by giantsrainman on Jan 13, 2010 4:06 PM PST up reply actions
geez people.... please get OVER garko
for a right-hand platoon for 1st base, he would get barely a 3rd of the at bats. who’s going to tell me that guzman couldn’t produce almost garko level with the bat, with equal clank, for 1/6 the money had garko gone to arbitration ?
i’m not sure guzman can produce garko level.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Guzman’s MLE from 2009: .276 / .323 / .413
Garko’s 2010 CHONE: .268 / .343 / .438
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
But given the limited number of at-bats they’d be seeing, is the difference really that big?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:11 PM PST up reply actions
Garko’s Bill James projections are better than CHONE, by the way: .282 / .357 / .453
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I think everyone’s Bill James projections are better than their CHONE projections. Bill James is just an optimistic guy. ;)
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:26 PM PST up reply actions
ok... try this then
why should the giants pay garko 2.5 million through arbitration, when no one else in the market place (as of yet) has been willing to offer him 1 million ? if they wanted him back for a million, i doubt they’d be bidding against too many people.
Well
they’re paying Huff THREE million to not be much better than, or maybe even appreciably WORSE than, Garko.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
For young players, yeah, for older guys they seem to be about the same as CHONE from what I’ve been seeing.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
this is better then where we started
And I do agree that DeRosa and Huff made us better than we started (and Sanchez, not sure if you assume he was already part of the team or not)….it’s just the “better” is a very small “better”, and I just really don’t see the point of spending this money for such mediocre improvements….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
Also
“Better” than the worst offense in baseball isn’t really that hard to do. Nor is it something to be satisfied with.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Also also
“We’re better than last year” is exactly what defenders of the Renteria signing were saying this time last year. And that worked out so well, right!?
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
(half-answering you/half questioning myself)
Wasn’t Renteria an upgrade from SS the year before?
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
He was
He was still terrible, though, and it still wasn’t a good signing.
Also, a stick with a bucket on it would’ve been an improvement from the 2007 SS situation.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Is he still available?
this bucket/stick guy is FLEXIBLE
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
Let's see......
$9.5M for Renteria + $3.5M for Uribe + $6M for DeRosa + $3M for Huff > the amount of money given to Holliday + one of Uribe or Huff.
/facepalm
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
Yeah
but all of those contracts are over after next year, no? And half of them are over after this year. Holliday is getting that money for SEVEN YEARS. When he’s 37 he’ll be getting 18 million dollars.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
by bondslegend on Jan 11, 2010 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
And I wanted Holliday
just pointing that out, though.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
by bondslegend on Jan 11, 2010 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
not DeRosa
but yeah.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
then again
In a word: No. If we had signedGuerreroHolliday orSheffieldBay, we would have been withoutBrowerRentaria,EyreUribe,HergesSanchez,HermansonDeRosa, andTomkoHuff — obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
by Viliphied on Jan 11, 2010 10:58 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
fuck me
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Holliday is getting that money for SEVEN YEARS
Sure, down the road when Zito’s off the books, and payrolls have increased significantly, it’s going to hurt a bit. Holliday’s also produced $25-$30M worth of value the last 3 years….so we’d be getting a decent surplus of value right now, when we have the pitching staff to win it all. It really is Vlad all over again. The worst part about it is…the guys we’re giving that money to instead don’t make our team any better than the freebie young guys we already have right now. So….$25M worth of value for the first 2-3 years or so and then declining after that, or $22M to guys who might give us $5M worth of value more than the guys we already have that can do it for the minimum?
Also, those contracts expire next year, but what are we gonna do with the money then? At some point, if we want someone worthwhile, it’s going to come with a long term contract. Why not now?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
If we want someone worthwhile at the right age, we’re better off trying to draft him & lock him up because that’s what most of the teams are doing.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Yeah, unfortunately that doesn’t do us a lot of good in winning now with the pitching staff we have under control….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions
THIS
…and also, that strategy has worked so well for us under Sabean’s watch.
Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???
I’m hoping he knows what to do with Tim, Cain, Pablo & Posey when it’s time to lock them up during their primes. The first Cain contract gave me hope. But arbitration salaries have gone through the roof since then.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Yeah
I wanted Holliday too. I’m just saying, it’s not like the money issue is exactly the same, since the money going to those guys is going to be off the books in 2 years, while holliday will still be making his in 7.
That said, I would still have preferred they just fucking pay the guy. They have the money.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
And there’s always the chance we’re just signing stopgaps until we come across a guy we really want, in the right situation, and maybe Holliday just isn’t that guy. Based on everything Sabean has done, though, I just can’t make myself believe that.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:49 PM PST up reply actions
FWIW
I’m of the opinion that Holliday benefited greatly from being the only decent player in the market this year. Most people think that i guess.
If I had to choose a guy to spend 100 mil on, it ain’t holliday, even though I like him.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
He’s been averaging close to 6 WAR/yr for the last like 5 years. He’s a really freaking good player.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Yeah
but he’s 30…30 scares me. Makes me think maybe 2 more awesome years. Or maybe he’ll just be awesome for like 5 more IDK.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Gee, you'd think you'd be used to 30 by now.
/ducks flying rosterbator
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:22 AM PST up reply actions
and he’ll be somewhere other than st. louis having been dfa’d or paid to go elsewhere to clear a roster spot.
Just look at it as a 4 year contract spread over 7 years. Anything over 4 years is bonus for the Cards
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 1:30 PM PST up reply actions
Well this offseason was disappointing
I think it’s going to be very obvious very early in to the season that the Giants have no shot at the either the wild card or division. Pending injury, Rockies are just going to be too good, and the WC team is probably coming from the east/central or dodgers.
I used to think that Ian Stewart, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins and Clint Barmes were all the same person. And then I knew better. Now I’m not so sure. It’s a team of clones, I tell ya!
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 1:57 AM PST up reply actions
Bah.
The Giants will be at least as good as they were last year. There’ll be a good chance to improve on top of that.
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
No shot is putting it a bit strongly. The Giants are certainly not any worse than they were last year, and they had the 8th-best record in baseball.
Hmmm, 8th best. The Giants Way!
It’s that pesky disparity between 8th and, oh, fourth.
/reflects on the numbers of games behind the A’s that teams like Minnesota were in the 70s.
But hey, second best!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:32 AM PST up reply actions
4th? Explain.
Also, I’m by no means pleased with any of the moves Sabean has made since the beginning of last season. But he’s saying there’s no chance of a playoff appearance next year, when there clearly is.
Frankenstudios research (giggle) actually has us at 7th best.
It didn’t take much armbending to get them to lump Boston and LAA together.
We were better already!
And if we can Huff and puff (puff pass! ) our way to five more wins – and the Rox defy popular predictions and slip a little – we’re not only fourth best, WE’RE REALLY IN THIS THING!
BAD Superk!ng !!!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 4:51 AM PST up reply actions
Now, now, none of that.
Take your yawning there.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 6:56 AM PST up reply actions
8-best record
While true, this is somewhat reductive. The Giants got very lucky last year:
- they outperformed their pythagorean by 2 wins
- they were 26th in runs score but 30th in OBP and 28th in SLG
- the team FIP was 30 points higher than the team ERA (and with the addition of Huff, Sandoval at third, Renteria being a year older, and Sanchez possibly banged up again, I’m not very optimistic about our INF defense, at least, so I’d expect this to change)
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
now that I check
The Giants were also last in the majors in wOBA – by a 5-point margin. Ow.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Yeah. I saw superk1ng say the Giants had “no shot” at either the wild card or the division, and I made a lazy reply.
I know about the variation in their 3rd-order wins (Baseball Prospectus standings), and I’ve thought about its correlation to the last-place wOBA finishing and their 26th-place spot in overall runs scored.
I’ve looked at this stuff before.
I’m kind of hoping victor frankenstein sees this and realizes he’s throwing all these memes at me while presupposing a certain set of beliefs. I was saying that “no chance” of the Giants being in the playoffs is rather strong, not that the Giants’ chances of getting to the playoffs in 2010 are all that good.
In fact, I’ve been repeatedly advocating a no-multi-year contract course for this offseason, precisely because the Giants’ don’t have any realistic chances until 2011 with solidified Posey, Bumgarner, and not-Renteria, and I don’t want them to tie down payroll for the 2011 offseason.
Not that Sabean has that kind of foresight.
long shot
better? Regardless, this team is still horrible offensively, and not as great defensively. The offseason went downhill when we decided to settle with Sabean instead of growing a pair and getting a real GM.
Victor Frankenstein is full of shit.
Trust me. I know the guy pretty well.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:24 AM PST up reply actions
I like that guy
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
The Rockies are always too damn good. It was much more nerve wracking to watch them play against the Giants than watching the Dodgers play the giants
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 2:13 AM PST up reply actions
their lineup is just ridiculous
and it’s scary how good they’re potentially going to be with a full season out of Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith and Dexter Fowler.
That’s a stacked outfield, and doesn’t even include Hawpe. They have such a great young core of players.
by FireBrianSabean on Jan 11, 2010 5:23 PM PST up reply actions
Didn’t we say the same thing about the Diamondbacks last offseason?
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Ya but then Webb and Drew and Tracy got hurt.
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 5:57 PM PST up reply actions
Not to go all wcw on you
But I was saying that the Diamondbacks’ young core wasn’t as good as most people thought.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED PORCELLO!
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 7:55 PM PST up reply actions
THEY SHOULD JUST CANCEL THE SEASON
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
C minus indeed
The ceiling on Huff is that he is akin to Abreu from last year. If so, perhaps I will stop emaciating myself over the cost/value of Abreu and what that would have meant for the Giants…
The basement on Huff is that he is akin to Jason Giambi from last year. If so, perhaps I will shoot myself in the face with a flare-gun.
If you can't sign a hitter to play in China Basin, trade a pitcher for a hitter and then sign another pitcher... why is that such a difficult concept to grasp?
I like it.
Low risk, possible high reward. There were not a whole lot of options left that wouldn’t piss me off, so I count this as a win.
"Forget it Donny, you're out of your element"-Walter Sobchak
Its too bad that so many people are going to go into this season with such negative views of the team.
I, for one, and am as excited as ever for the season to start and see how well the Giants do this year after such a great surprise of a year this past season.
YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL
by heimy25 on Jan 11, 2010 1:10 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
+5
we’ve had a disappointing offseason, but we HAVE improved the team.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
+6
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
+7.
Welcome Aubrey, you just became one of the best 25 players in the game (though I have a hard time imagining me yelling, “C’mon Aubrey!”).
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
+8
I think the Giants will score AT LEAST +8 runs in 2010 as compared to 2009.
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
if the over-under is 657 i’ll take the under.
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 1:32 PM PST up reply actions
Disagree, I’m really losing interest in the thought of watching this team next season. At least Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez give me a reason to watch 60% of the time – but the rest of the team is so uninspriring it’s….disappointing. Given Sabean’s doing exactly what he always does, and we already know it doesn’t work yet he continues to keep his job….it’s becoming really frustrating to follow this franchise. If I lived in the Bay, I dunno if I’d actively try to go to any games. I might not even go to all 3 when they come out to Philly this time.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:43 AM PST up reply actions
It doesn’t work long-term, but every few years you get lucky and have a good season. Sabean was fortunate enough to have that lucky season occur just before his contract was up.
At this point it should be obvious to anyone who cares that we need to move past Brian Sabean. How someone can own the franchise, invest that much in it, and not care, is beyond me.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:46 AM PST up reply actions
heh. by getting lucky, the giants finished 3rd out of 5. Thanks, but thats not betting kind of lucky. that is buying an 8 spot keeno ticket and getting 3 numbers right.
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
I think it's also disappointing to
Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez (Rhp). I hope they think Huff and DeRosa are good choices. And I hope the offense does something more than nothing next year. Or all these savings are not going to be a ton of help in re-signing them.
I find myself within the grougthink: I don’t hate this signing but try really hard not to think of what Grant mentions above about Garko.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
You best not make Sanchez angry!
Bruce Bochy would like you to look at the career numbers and stop complaining.
Bob Howry's #1 (and only) fan!!!
The Merkin Valdez of McCovey Chronicles!!!!!!
doan worry, poplo loe he team, he wan get berry good for body to play the beisbol
by Tim LinCyYoung on Jan 11, 2010 11:51 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Destined for a very long life, this pic...
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:05 AM PST up reply actions
if somebody wants to take my idea and make it better they’re most welcome cause it’s a pretty bodge job.
doan worry, poplo loe he team, he wan get berry good for body to play the beisbol
by Tim LinCyYoung on Jan 12, 2010 1:24 PM PST up reply actions
S' wonderful.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 13, 2010 1:52 AM PST up reply actions
I’ll go to a few games, but I won’t actually buy tickets myself unless Lincecum is pitching. The offense is gonna be just as hard to watch as last year.
Living out on the East Coast….man, I have to get up for work in the morning. I honestly don’t even see myself slingboxing that many games. I’ll watch when they’re out here, maybe watch a couple innings here and there when Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez pitch…but on normal work nights, I just don’t have the interest in this bullshit franchise to get excited enough to stay up late and watch.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
funny thing
Moving to the eastern time zone will probably allow me to watch more games. On the west coast, home/NL West road night games start at 7-ish. I ended up missing most of those games because several things – dinner, kids’ bedtime, Quality Time With The Wife, and dog walks – fell during game time. Now, in the eastern time zone, those games don’t start until 10-ish. I’ll be done with all that stuff by then.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Wait till you watch Brian Wilson blow a game at 1:30 am.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
And get into bed and that’s all you can think about and you’re too angry to fall asleep. The day after is brutal.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
I was on the east coast from 2000-2004, and the central time zone from 2004-2007, so I’m familiar with this, yeah.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I do agree re: coming into the 7pm games late. When I lived out west I’d often just hurriedly slop together a few PB&Js for dinner just so I could watch the whole thing.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
the worst is when that loss is followed by an off day
so you can’t even hope for them to win that night to make you feel better.
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
completely agree
Sabean is making the offense another Sabean offense. He was lucky to get Panda, now we’re left hoping Posey works out beautifully, and Huff is good enough over the course of a full season.
For some reason, I just don’t see that middle of the order being just what the doctor ordered to compete with the Dodgers, Rockies, Phillies, or Cardinals.
I'm thinking but nothing's happening.
you should start a blog
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
…you’ll always have pie.
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
That’s not true. Lars ate all the pie.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
LARS THE INHALER!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:27 AM PST up reply actions
I'll probably be edgy the whole season
Because I think that this is probably an ~84 win team but would not be surprised if the team under/over perform by 10 games either way.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
I was pretty close to shocked that the team reached 88 wins this season
The offense sucked but managed to distribute their runs in an awesome way, plus we had an inordinately-high number of unearned runs. I’m not expecting it or anything, but I’ve already seen the highly-unexpected happen.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
by baetown415 on Jan 11, 2010 4:48 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I would f*ucking pass out from surprise if this team won 94.
Matt Downs . The Kevin Frandsen of 2010 !
Nah… by the time they won 94, you would have just seen an astounding year of pitching and by then you’d be like, dude, how can you lose with our rotation?
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 11, 2010 7:07 PM PST up reply actions
Yes...
…but will you be Newcombe29(EDGE)y?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:33 AM PST up reply actions
+5
waffles
Play hard, then rock out even harder.
by TheBigLeburnski on Jan 11, 2010 1:53 AM PST reply actions
Reply fail
didn’t see your +5 because you didn’t hit the reply option. That’s usually the thing that gets me in trouble around here.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
Why does "spit and baling wire" continually seem apropos?
.
It is, after all, completely out of our hands.
/reflects back on conversation about contacting Brasz
/thinks that with all the Net transparency and McC pub they have to be aware.
/sighs
It is, after all, completely out of our hands.
#6 Go Giants!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:16 AM PST reply actions
Huff is the type that get's RED HOT and then goes cold.
but when he’s hot he’s ON FIRE. HOT HOT RED HOT.
i really like huff, if he has a good year, we will be a really good team.
by HOLDEMUPGoldenStateOfOppression on Jan 11, 2010 3:19 AM PST reply actions
Again, this is another reminder of the silly, silly player evaluation going on in the front office. The difference between “sure, we’ll trade our #3 pitching prospect for him” and “cut him loose” is a month’s worth of at-bats. That’s just amazing
The assumption around here seems to be that Garko was cut loose because he didn’t hit so good over 120 Pas, and Sabean is, accordingly, demonstrating yet again that he is an idiot.
But I get the feeling that the reason for the cut was more that Bochy just didn’t like the Garks. I am imagining one of those ubiquitous five-or-ten-year-later baseball revelations: “Yeah, it all came to a head one night, and we got into a fistfight in the dugout runway …”
One the one hand, I am fine with that as the real reason for letting Garko go. I mean, if I a friend of mine has their own company, I consider it their prerogative to get rid of an employee if they really can’t abide said employee’s bad attitude, non-compliance, backtalk, etc.
OTOH, I think of big league sports franchises as kind of public trusts. And to get rid of a potentially cromulent playing piece, one of the few Giants projected to a .800+ OPS next season, a guy we yes gave up a valuable pitching prospect for, a guy whose multi-million dollar salary is, in a way, paid by the Bay Area community at large – Garko’s not Barry Bonds, but, I consider it generally kinda incumbent on Bochy to suck it up and find a way to get along with the guy.
I got the same feeling with FLew, that Bochy just didn’t like him. Also with Frandsen, though that might be Sabean more than Bochy. Still, I think it’s a big problem if talent isn’t what primarily determines who is in the starting lineup. Also it’s Bochy’s job to work with these players, and if there are conflicts, resolve them. Benching them and starting a less capable player means that Bochy is failing at his job.
Osiris, Lord of the Dead, and... relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants?
by neurofarm on Jan 11, 2010 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
+1
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
excellent post
Either it’s totally stupid (i.e. Grant’s description above) in baseball terms, or totally stupid in clubhouse reasons (which one would think should be mostly irrelevant).
If he accidentally cut his leg off with a sawzall in September, and secretly taped it back on and the Giants found out, or something equally freaky, ok. Or if he punched the trainer in the groin, for instance, I could see it (although that seemed to be insufficient at the time). Until we hear some story along these lines, I’ll stay irritated at that whole thing.
As for Huff, meh, LH Garko for Uribe money, so OK. But to the extent they totally give up on Bowker and Ish, that’s too bad. There’s no room for a backup 1B with an LH bat, right?
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:39 AM PST up reply actions
If he accidentally cut his leg off with a sawzall in September, and secretly taped it back on and the Giants found out, or something equally freaky, ok.
by SnowLeopard on Jan 11, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
Bowker can play OF
so maybe there’s a shot for him… hopefully anyways.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Bowker doesn’t just play the outfield. He is an outfielder.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Not a soldier though.
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
Clearly
Otherwise, why would he be afraid for his life in Venezuela?
by FireBrianSabean on Jan 11, 2010 5:28 PM PST up reply actions
Indubitably true
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
He’s a method guy, huh?
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 11, 2010 7:08 PM PST up reply actions
True
this team has poisoned my thinking of him since they stupidly played him at first.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
If it’s true they had no intention of keeping him because he was an a-hole, I wonder why they let him take part in Panda’s fat camp.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
because he was an a-hole
I’d put it more, "because Bochy thought he was an a-hole.
by SnowLeopard on Jan 11, 2010 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Didn’t the organization say Garko lost playing time because Bochy “lost confidence” in him?
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
No, It's Frandsen that Bochy doesn't like
Garko was overheard saying he thought Frandsen was a swell guy. So of course Garko had to go.
Quit making the theiving Wall Street Fat-Cat Bankers even richer.
moveyourmoney.info
by cybermaldonado on Jan 12, 2010 4:03 PM PST up reply actions
for everyone rationalizing this as a good move, I say again...
WAR:
2005: 0.3
2006: 1.2
2007: 0.8
2008: 4.2
2009: -1.1
One season in five where he hasn’t sucked. And in that season his BABIP was about 20 points above average. Hooray!
Is it a bad contract? No, because of the money and it being only one year. But Huff is not a good player. This is yet another typical Sabean signing – plug a cheap-to-moderately price but mediocre veteran into a hole every year rather than actually coming up with and sticking to a long-term plan. huzzah!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Oh, by no means it’s a good move.
It’s the sad state of things that I look upon it as a positive occurrence this offseason, because of the extremely low bar Sabean has set for himself and all of the worse things he could be doing.
Something I just learned from Wikipedia
No, it’s not the thing about his father.
It’s that his wife goes by the name “Baubi.”
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Please tell me her middle or maiden name is “Saux.”
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
Ehh
Not saying they would have accepted, but I would have rather given this kind of contract to any number of players. i.e. Delgado, Branyan, Glaus
by theimmortalbenard on Jan 11, 2010 6:00 AM PST reply actions
How about signing Garko now?
Now that you’ve signed another left handed first baseman who isn’t very good, bringing back Ryan Garko to platoon with Huff (with Ishi providing late inning defense) makes much more sense. I could also live with it if they announce that Guzman will platoon with Huff, but I’m not holding my breath for that one. The thing that bugs me about this signing is that Adam LaRoche really has no other options right now. Yes, he turned down 2 yrs 17 million, but you could have gotten him today or two weeks from now for much less. He really has nowhere else to go. He’s going to do what Huff has done here, sign a one year deal for reduced money and hope to have a big year in 2010. The difference here is that LaRoche is a better player than Huff.
Which brings me to why I can’t stand Brian Sabean. He is a horrible negotiator. To me, he gets angry and walks away from the table instead of trying to get a better deal. He makes an offer, and when it gets turned down, he walks away from the table and gets an inferior player. “You say no to 2 yrs 17 million? Fuck you, I’m signing someone else.” “You want Jonathan Sanchez for Dan Uggla? Fuck you, go trade him somewhere else.” This is why when a player is traded someone else, (like Uggla will be) it is for a C level prospect, not the A level player demanded of the Giants. This is why Sabean says that everyone always wants his best prospects. It’s because he doesn’t know how to talk them down. I remember reading a story about Sabean and how he signed Edgardo Alfonzo, and the article was filled with references to his anger and bullying tactics.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
Carrying three first basemen on the roster is slightly crazy. Of course, this is the team that started 2009 with three backup outfielders but no backup catchers.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
And, come to think of it, they had Guzman, Garko, and Ishikawa at the same time for a bit last year. Weird roster management is weird.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Huff can supposedly play third and the OF, and they are supposedly thinking of having Ishi play some OF as well. Of course they’re going to have to do something about Bowker, Nate and Lewis. It would make no sense to have Huff and Ishi playing the OF if you have the three of them on the roster as well. Lewis is pretty much a goner. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s released today, since Sabean is so inept when it comes to making trades.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
His defensive numbers at third are surprisingly non-awful considering he’s a minus defender at 1B, but they’re still bad, and he’s a lousy outfielder.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
And having Ishikawa play OF is a complete waste of his value – sort of like that year Pedro Feliz was out opening day left fielder.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Meh. I am not very high on Ishikawa. Its a one year deal. If it doesn’t work out, they will move on and sign the 2011 version of Huff.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 6:02 AM PST reply actions
saying that Huff is better than Ishi is like saying that gonnorhea is better than syphilis. It’s true, but you really wouldn’t want either one.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
meh indeed!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 10:57 AM PST up reply actions 11 recs
ALEX SMITH CAN PLAY ALL NINE POSITIONS AND BAT
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
but hez not a winnar!
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
This deserves to be green
still laughing
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
No Player Available
I do declare to know more about Mr. Player-Available in regards to his batting average, WAR, OBP, OPS, OBS, PBS, CBS, HIV and Mrs. Player-Available’s bust sizes. If he’s above FLew on the chart, he must be damn good.
Win the inning.
by Scooter Ellis on Jan 11, 2010 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
his brother
Bucket on a Stick was mentioned in another thread recently. I think they project to be similar.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
LOL
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 4:32 PM PST up reply actions
Huff's career UZR/150 numbers are a little odd
1B: -4.0
3B: – 4.4
RF: -9.8
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I would expect there to be more of a difference between 1B and 3B. Plus I was surprised RF was so much worse than 3B.
I’m not that well informed about positional differences in UZR, though, so maybe I’m off base.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
You’re not, it’s very odd for someone to be a positive at 3B and negative at 1B.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:45 AM PST up reply actions
He's not positive at third base
He’s -4.4 – it looks a little funky in my original comment because I accidentally inserted a space between the minus sign and the number.
He’s slightly worse at third base than at first; I just expected more of a difference between the two.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
The only other player I can think of off the top of my head who was a negative defender at 1B and also played 3B is Dmitri Young – he has more of a difference (1.1) between UZR/150 at 1B and 3B, but that’s a very small sample at 3B. And hey, he was an even worse outfielder than Huff (-25.8 UZR/150 in almost 4000 innings – dang!)
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Yeah, it’s not a as big a difference as you’d expect. Almost all his 3B UZR’s are from 2002-2006 (and about half are from 2002-2004), while his 1B ratings are more spread out, with about 60% of them coming from 2007-2009. So maybe it’s just because he was a better fielder 5 years ago.
I was promised lasagna.
My question is, who doesn't make the 25 man roster?
Assuming we have 12 pitchers per the norm and we already have the following players likely to start the season on the roster:
IF: Huff, Mole, Pablo, Renteria, Uribe
OF: DeRosa, Rowand
C: Posey, Whiteside (well, we’ll have two catchers… or will we?)
We need three more players out of:
Ishi
Bowker
Fred (LOL Fred)
Velez
Torres
Schierholtz
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
um 5 more players...
13 fielders and 12 pitchers right?
So you listed 7 starters and one back leaving one more starter and 4 more backups. Am I just missing my morning coffee here?
Torres, Ishi, Nate, Bowker, Frannie/Fred
co-dad w/AfDC of
Ishikawa, the Topps Rookie All Star Team's First baseman. Does he get a chance in 2010?
Hey, you're right
But do you really think there’s a chance they don’t start the season with Velez?
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I don’t like math.
4 more players. I listed 9. 7 starters & 2 backups (Uribe & Whiteside).
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Torres, Ishi, Nate, Bowker, Frannie/Fred Velez
We all know it’s true. I could also see Ishi not making the team as Bochy could always just double switch half the team to play first.
Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis. To pass the time during the offseason I decided to try my hand at blogging about photography and music.
1 starter and 4 backups indeed
THEY’RE ALL STARTERS OR THEY’RE NOT FLEXIBLE
This deal makes it look for all the world like Ish is gone, although they might make him run around in the OF in spring before they do it.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
if it were me
Torres, Nate, Bowker, Frandsen.
Unfortunately, it’s not me, it’s Sabes/Bighead, so
Ishi, Torres, Velez, Nate.
/cry
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I have a hard time seeing Ishi making this roster.
The Giants now have 3 potential 1Bmen (Huff, Sandoval, DeRosa) who all figure to get playing time over Ishikawa. With Huff a lefty and Panda a switch hitter, there isn’t even a platoon opportunity for Ishi.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, on the Curacao-SF express (via Arizona).
by EliminateMe on Jan 11, 2010 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
But neither Sandoval or DeRosa figure to play 1B much, if at all….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
First off, MEH for being back in Oxford, OH, and MEH for being back in class… But wow, Huff… not a bad pick up, i’m assuming he’ll be the starter? Or what will this mean for 1st? I still have faith in Ishikawa, but hey, if the acquisition works out then i’m ok with it, it’s a wait and see… only thing i know about him is that he was on my fantasy team last year when he was with Baltimore…
Deep question
Will the Giants ever have another first baseman as good as Will Clark J.T. Snow?
/sobs
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
The Giants will never be able to replace the Thrill, so they’ve stopped trying.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Were they ever trying? I mean, his immediate replacement was Todd Benzinger.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Sporcle answer!
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 7:25 AM PST up reply actions
JR Phillips was awesome that one week.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Apparently, I’ve blocked this out. I only remember him ever sucking.
In hindsight, it’s hard to see why he was ever considered a big prospect. He was only good in the minors once – as a 24 year old repeating the PCL.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
/tongue in cheek
That’s not true! I saw him a few years ago in the Texas League. He was having a pretty good season at the age of 34.
His best week in the majors was his first week in the majors. 93. We could totally afford to miss out on the Thrill. We’ve got Phillips!
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Phillips should be the first example taught in Why We Always Care About K/BB, Even if the Prospect is Hitting .300 and/or Has a Ton of Power 101.
I was promised lasagna.
That class name would never fit on a registration card.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 12:04 PM PST up reply actions
LOL OLD
Alternatively, it would fit on an online schedule.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD!
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
by ringleader3 on Jan 11, 2010 12:09 PM PST up reply actions
He didn’t even hit for that much power, though!
To compare him to a present-day example of such a player, J.R. didn’t outslug Roger Kieschnick’s 2009 San Jose season until, as I said, he was repeating the PCL at the age of 24.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Audrey
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 7:25 AM PST up reply actions
How the hell am I suppose to enjoy costa rica with this crap[p going on! No I will go weep on the beach.
say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan
I’m crying for you. Really, I am.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I’m crying that I’m not at the beach.
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
Of course, I'm in Sunny Florida...
…where it got down to 17 degrees last night. WHAT R U DOIN WEATHER BRASS!!!!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
You know why I’m so unhappy with how things are going? Here’s why. This is what we have now.
CF Rowand
2B Sanchez
LF DeRosa
3B Sandoval
1B Huff
SS Renteria
RF Schierholtz
C Torrealba/Whiteside/Posey
Or we could have this lineup:
RF/LF Lewis
2B Frandsen
3B Sandoval
LF/RF Holliday
1B Ishikawa/(Guzman or Garko)
CF Rowand/Schierholtz
C Posey
SS – TBD – Given we’re actually ready to compete at this stage, I would trade a prospect for them, probably Scott Barnes +
Would we end up with Holliday? I can’t be sure of that, of course. I know, I know, we wouldn’t have Sanchez, DeRosa, Huff or Renteria, the horror….and instead, we’d actually be able to make a competitive offer to Holliday. Maybe it starts a bidding war with the Cards and he ends up out of our price range. Maybe he just doesn’t want to play for us. There’s no guarantee you get him. But at least there’s a chance. There are also other options – like Jason Bay, for instance (though I’m not a fan of Bay personally, but the point is it’s an option we could actually consider). Worst is, Holliday rejects us, and we move on and use the money to sign short term stop gaps like LaRoche, and then make an offer to Carl Crawford next season. Sure our bench wouldn’t have a stud like Uribe, and we’d only have guys like Bowker and Torres instead…..but that kind of lineup is actually ready to be competitive.
The problem is we continue to make these marginal moves, and they add up. I don’t have a problem calling DeRosa an upgrade over Lewis, or even Huff an upgrade over Ishikawa or Sanchez an upgrade….so we’d be losing a little bit there, but what Sabean doesn’t understand is just how small that difference is. We continue to use our assets and our money to make these small upgrades, the team gets better in a very unnoticeable way (because the improvement is so minor)…..and we now don’t have the resources for a real upgrade. "We can’t afford Holliday", Sabean tells us. Bullshit, Brian. We can’t afford Holliday because you fucked up. We can’t afford him because of all the moves you made, Brian, that didn’t make us better in a meaningful way. As long as we continue to sign the Aubrey Huff’s of the world, we’re not going anywhere.
(Sorry, I posted this elsewhere, but I can’t tell where the discussion is going on now with 3 different threads, so I’m posting it again)
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:33 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I agree
This is why we can’t have nice things.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
And I forgot to say – worst is, we don’t land Holliday, and we’re essentially the same lineup we are right now. A little worse, but not substantially. There’s no downside risk because we’re already as bad as we can possibly be in that regard….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 8:36 AM PST up reply actions
I agree with everything you said. Early in the offseason I rosterbated to signing Matt Holliday & Nick Johnson. And that was it. If we couldn’t afford Johnson, then let Garko/Ishi work it out. Let the “kids” play and see if a few of them could turn into 1.0-2.0 WAR players. We can develop mediocrity.
But I knew that was never going to happen with Brian Sabean. It was just wishful thinking. By Sabean’s standards, this offseason hasn’t been that bad. No new big deals tying us down for the next 3-4 seasons. Marginal upgrades at positions where it was actually needed. And he’s not blocking every cheap player who has legitimate potential (I’m just jinxing myself for a Dye-signing). Heck, as of now he’s got Posey & Bumgarner getting legitimate shots to start at some point next year.
I’m being a little optimistic today, but that happens as we get closer to Spring.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
I think with the money he saved with the cheap signing of Huff, he’s going to turn around and sign someone like Yorvit Torrealba. Posey starts the year at Fresno.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
Posey should start at Fresno. We should absolutely delay his service time and arb clock.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
given Bumgarner's velocity issues last year, etc.
I really want him starting in the minors.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I see no reason to call Bumgarner up next year, and not the following year until his service clock/arb time has been properly delayed. The kid is still not ready to be an impact MLB pitcher yet – he doesn’t have the breaking stuff, and he lost velocity. We should have patience with Bumgarner. I’d rather keep him in the minors a year or two too long and get 6 good years out of him then bring him up and get 2 mediocre years while he figures things out and 4 good years.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:00 AM PST up reply actions
Yes.
But that implies the Giants have a long range plan. And I haven’t seen a successful one out of the San Francisco Baseball Company since the rezoning and ballpark initiative.
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 6:49 PM PST up reply actions
I haven’t seen a successful one out of the San Francisco Baseball Company since therezoning and ballpark initiativeGadsden Purchase..
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 7:02 PM PST up reply actions
And that’s the thing that sucks – to a degree, these moves made sense, because we really did need to fill those positions. And we’re signing these guys to short, cheap contracts, so it’s not like it’s bad from that viewpiont. It’s just added altogether, it’s money that doesn’t do much to make us better but does do a lot to prevent us from actually getting better in a substantial way. And it’s just unnecessary since we already have players that can fill most of those positions well enough. Not good. But enough…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 8:59 AM PST up reply actions
/insert quote about how if we signed Vlad we wouldn’t be able to afford half a dozen scrubs
/obviate five years’ worth of discussion on McCovey Chronicles
Hell, Vlad signed for only $5M this time…just think….
Heh, seriously, how long has it been since the Giants made a “OMFG that’s AWESOME” move? Drafting Lincecum? Even that wasn’t such a clear slam dunk at the time. Probably snagging Jason Schmidt from the Pirates for Rios, and having Rios break all his legs the very next night.
I’d just like to be able to say “woohoo!!” again after a transaction.
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
My reaction could best be described with a facepalm picture.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 9:12 AM PST up reply actions
I had blacked that out.
Okay, how long as it been since we had a “woohoo” transaction and didn’t regret it shortly thereafter?
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
that eliminates the Benitez and Alfonzo signings
I was dumb enough to be excited about both of those.
/facepalm
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Hey, you were right to woohoo Durham.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
man, Alfonzo was great with the Mets. He killed the Giants in the 2000 playoffs, and even the Braves said they would rather face Piazza with the game on the line anytime than Alfonzo. He DID have a bad year in his last year with the Mets, and the fact that the Mets let him walk should have been a loud alarm to Sabean, but you still couldn’t have anticipated it being that bad a signing.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
It was actually his next-to-last year with the Mets that was bad – he recovered somewhat in 2002, which is part of why he was such a gigantic tease.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
2001: .243 / .322 / .403
2002: .308 / .391 / .459
2003 (with us): .259 / .334 / .391
/sobs
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I would kill
for someone with a .334 OBP
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Aubrey Huff, 2010, Bill James projection:
.334 OBP.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:44 AM PST up reply actions
Maybe you should.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:49 AM PST up reply actions
sad but true
As much as we ended up hating Edgardo, his worst season with us was 20 points of OBP 17 point of SLG better than Renteria’s 2009.
/sobs again
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Alfonzo was a good signing. Sometimes a good process doesn’t work out, that’s just life…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:45 AM PST up reply actions
Alfonzo was a good signing from the fan’s point of view. Perhaps a GM, with all of his resources, should have known better.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Well, maybe, but I find it pretty implausible for a scout to sit here and say a guy who just hit .308/.391/.459 has some issues like slow bat speed or whatever to look out for…..so I still think the process was good.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:50 AM PST up reply actions
He had some known injury issues at the time we signed him if I recall correctly.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
There were rumors of back problems, but I don’t think they were really the issue while he was here to be honest.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
I don’t want to go too in depth into this, because obviously I don’t (and can’t) really know much about the specifics, but I do know he had over 500 PA’s the last two years before we signed him, 600+ the year before, and 700+ the year before that. So maybe the general downward trend should have been an indicator….I dunno. He still played in about 140 games his first two seasons with us. From everything we can see, the production indicated it was a great signing – he should have easily outproduced his contract….
You are right – I would expect Sabean to do his due diligence on issues we don’t have access to, but I don’t like to speculate on those since we can’t know….so based on what we do know, it’s a solid signing that will work out well more times than not.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:56 AM PST up reply actions
Like I said, I loved the signing at the time
And I have no idea whether Sabean could’ve known better or whatever.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I too remember feeling pretty pumped when Alfonzo was signed.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
I can’t find the the thread regarding the Zito signing on the old board I used to participate. But my comment can be paraphrased as this:
“Woot!”
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Alone this deal wouldn't be so bad
In fact alone this deal is not sooo different from keeping Garko in the first place. But adding up all these “maybe they can recreate their career average values in 2010” contracts is still keeping the team from overpaying for real above average talent.
Huff – 3M
Sanchez – 6M
Uribe – 3M
DeRosa – 6M
Vet $ 2010 = $18million
1-2 year deals don’t necessarily lock in the team to long term commitments, but Sabean hands them out so frequently they may as well be locked into the team budget.
From 2010 – Vet – $
Winn – 9M
Roberts – 6.5 M
Uribe – 1M
Vet $ from 2009 – $16M
I’m pretty sick of this versatile outfielder shlock. We can add Rents to the 1-3 year contact mix. A few contracts, a few bandaids like this, and in a proper team building scenario could be good – as Bhaakon pointed above. I’m wondering, like Missing Barry just posted above me while I type this, if this money couldn’t have been put to some better use, and average players come out of the farm system rather than the FA.
co-dad w/AfDC of
Ishikawa, the Topps Rookie All Star Team's First baseman. Does he get a chance in 2010?
by kennv on Jan 11, 2010 7:39 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
hmm. . .
Freddy Sanchez 6 millioin
Juan Uribe 3.25 million
Mark DeRosa 6 million
Aubrey Huff 3 million
“Alright I got 18.25 million dallors to spend on a team that needs to improve it’s OBP, I got just the players in mind.”
Only Sabean sees 18.25 mil and finds these particular players. Hell Huff actually makes the most sense when you look at it.
Sanchez doesn’t really bring anything to the team offensively that couldn’t have been replaced much cheaper by someone else, Hudson makes A LOT more sense, and likely would be half the price.
I’m not high on Uribe, I didn’t like the minor league deal last year, and I don’t like it now that he makes 3 times as much. DeRose is meh and Huff is pretty meh to.
I’m just surprised that we all expect these type of moves from Sabean, yet he still manages to surprise us. His lack of any real plan or direction is truly amazing
by NateEveryday on Jan 11, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
His lack of any real plan or direction is truly amazing
His job security DESPITE this is more amazing, still…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:43 AM PST up reply actions
I belong in this line.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
Stir the cauldron of mediocrity!
And see why it will be different this season!
This front office blows goats. And they would blow goats even if they weren’t being financially restrained by the chief livestock inhaler: Bowtie.
Winning is obviously secondary to this bunch of idiots. If the crap they throw against the wall season after season happens to stick and they make the playoffs: BONUS! If not, they console themselves with their CSNBA, MLB.TV, Extra Innings, seat license, concession and parking revenue and run out a new batch of “meh” next season.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 8:02 AM PST reply actions
LOOK EVERYONE, ORANGE JERSEYS!!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Signing Huff is like last years deal for Renteria…. “let’s hope he bounces back into shape.” But how often does that happen? The only difference, is that Renteria’s deal should have been for 1 season too.
SO, here’s to hoping that Renteria and Huff have bounce back years, and Uribe has another career year… which will still equal a mediocre offense, but could be used as trade bait with expiring contracts, if the Giants aren’t winning games.
There is one other HUGE difference between signing Rentria and Huff.
The Gaints had nothing in system to play SS ( more Bocock & Ochoa anyone?) where the team has replacement level options at first base and some corner outfielders that are more than replacement level and could possibly be a bit more. Between Huff & DeRosa playing for this manager that will now either not happen or they will be tapped on the shoulder sometime between July 1st and Sept 1st and told" Save us or be a bad soldier."
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
As opposed to that great apex of human civilization, Moraga
/doesn’t care about college sports anyway
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
RHEEM CENTER
it must be the center of the universe, it’s got “center” right there in the name!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
This is also the title of a porno.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
I just deleted a long post that I made because it said that basically I’m satisfied with the move. Sort of. Probably. I guess.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
to be honest, there’s very little i can say about this move. It’s not good enough for me to be happy and extoll the greatness of Huff and the front office (lolz). It’s not bad enough for me to go on a raging rager of a rage-filled tirade. It’s just meh and ugh. Meugh… your cleanup hitter for 2010.
Petey and Fresh always dunking on Spartans,
Biscuits in baskets from Heatley and Thornton,
Bam-Bam and Gore on the way to some rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
The meh adds up into a ton of meh, though, and prevents us from making real moves (“Oh, we can’t afford Holliday”). So we’re spending this money and really just not noticeably better than we would be without spending the money.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 8:37 AM PST up reply actions
I’d totally settle for a meh offense, considerably that we’ve had a arrrrgggggghgggglugggggfffffff offense the last few years. With another season of pitching like we had in ’09, a meh offense could mean playoffs.
Yes, really, I have not updated my blog in a long long time: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
Depends on the level of “meh” we’re talking about here. A bunch of DeRosa’s? Sure, that wouldn’t be horrible. A bunch of Aubrey Huff’s? No thank you. Hitting wise they’re pretty comparable, but at least guys like DeRosa add a lot of value with their glove, too, while Huff’s glove almost turns him into a replacement player. A bunch of Huff’s is pretty close to having a bunch of Kevin Frandsen’s. That’s pretty “meh”, and there’s absolutely no reason to spend money on it given how desperate we are for a real offensive upgrade.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:38 AM PST up reply actions
Lotta suck too.
TWSS
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 6:11 PM PST up reply actions
I suppose you could say that….
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 8:42 AM PST up reply actions
The reason I like this move most is it gets Velez out of the line-up and keeps Uribe as a super utility player. I’d expect that if Renteria struggles early this year, he gets benched and Uribe becomes the starter. Its easier to do that when the player will be leaving next year as oppose to last year where he still had another year and $9 mil on his contract.
Also, it makes it much more likely Posey is the opening day catcher. And while it doesn’t do much to improve the team, IMO, it keeps Sabean from damaging the future. I guess that’s a win these days.
Not sure what to do about my screen name at this point...
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jan 11, 2010 8:35 AM PST reply actions
I don’t understand the “it keeps Velez out of the lineup” thinking. Two months ago, the Giants had two openings in the outfield and a host of unimpressive candidates to fill them: Velez, Torres, Lewis, Bowker, Schierholtz, maybe Garko. Now we have one opening in the outfield and all the same candidates (except Garko). If they thought Velez deserved one of the jobs when there were two, who’s to say they don’t think he deserves the one that’s left?
Yeah
They said they’re not comfortable with Velez/Torres playing LF an leading off. They said nothing about playing RF and batting seventh, etc.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Velez isn’t capable of playing RF and I’m pretty sure the team knows this. I could be wrong in this thinking but I’m pretty sure they realize that he isn’t good enough.
Not sure what to do about my screen name at this point...
by AngelWillSaveUs on Jan 11, 2010 9:04 AM PST up reply actions
I’m pretty sure the team doesn’t know this. There’s no sign that he’s a capable MLB starter in any sense, but that didn’t stop them from starting him in LF last season.
Osiris, Lord of the Dead, and... relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants?
yeah
but bighead/sabez have these weired issues about getting a guy locked into a certain position. See – Nate as RF ONLY NO MATTER WHAT. Then again, they also have an issue with giving everyone on the roster a 1B glove, so I don’t know what to think.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
On Huff: He’s not Dye.
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
Very WTF?!
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
I think it would be awesome (albeit unlikely) if Huff has a monster year.
My rosterbation has a wold series climax fantasy. Very frustrating.
by MoreroidsforZito on Jan 11, 2010 8:57 AM PST reply actions
But just think of what our FO would do if he had a monster year. He would get signed to a gigantic contract we would all bitch about because he played out of his mind and would probably regress to his career norm. Whatever happens the McCoven will bitch and moan because that’s what we do.
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 11, 2010 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
They would be correct in bitching and moaning in that case. I find it hard to believe that anyone would disagree with that.
Unless you think signing a 33 year old player to a monster contract after a better than career year is a good idea.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
I guess our GM only gives 30 year olds (not 33) monster contract after they have a better than career year while hitting in a hitters park.
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 11, 2010 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
That’s more of a photoshopper than a true nickname.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
Someone suggested Huff the Magic Dragon; I thought that was pretty good.
I was thinking I’d call him Charlie, after Charlie Hough, but my nicknames never catch on.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
generation gap
I was born in 1980, so I think of him as an old guy pitching for the Rangers.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
alternatively
Aubrey Hepburn
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Huff the Magic Dragon: Another good photoshopper, meh nickname.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:18 AM PST up reply actions
HR Huffenstuff would make for some amusing ’shops.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I’m going with JayPorny’s “AUDREY”
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Aubrie on crackers with a little Merlot to wash it down.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:19 AM PST up reply actions
Huffy.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:54 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hahaha, that’s perfect, because it really is like Sabean just gave us a Huffy. Sweet, Brian. Thanks.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:57 AM PST up reply actions
Meugh
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 3:24 PM PST up reply actions
Aubrey Holes
Stonehands?
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 11, 2010 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
I think we have to go with “The Love Sponge.” That’s my two cents.
Petey and Fresh always dunking on Spartans,
Biscuits in baskets from Heatley and Thornton,
Bam-Bam and Gore on the way to some rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Aubrey Huff was once traded for Ben Zobrist. Might it happen again?!?!?!? Grant’s plan is nearly complete.
Saving countless runs with my defense.
What I find most amusing about this
Is that Sabean went completely off the board on Grant’s FA Mistake list.
I can just see Brian shaking his fist at a computer monitor that is displaying McC and saying “HA!! I SHOWED YOU, GRANT!”.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 9:23 AM PST reply actions
What? That Sabean was able to find a mistake that Grant didn’t list?
I don’t know. I suppose that could be a good thing. At least Grant now knows not to underestimate Sabean’s ability to find below average veteran grit.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 9:27 AM PST up reply actions
Of course, the only reason why Brian would be viewing McC is because his admin assistant brought up the page at Brian’s request.
“Excuse me, Susan. Can you change the channel on this confounded computer thingamabob to McC, please?”.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 9:25 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t know why, but “excuse me, Susan” made me laugh uncontrollably.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Yeah, it’s pretty funny to think of Brian Sabean being that polite and reasonable.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Not perfect situational image posting, but that reminds me of these:
Just imagine that instead of “called up” it says “signed.”
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:27 AM PST up reply actions
He uses them to rosterbate with.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
nice
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
Rejoice the return of penis hands!
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
I have one more on-hand, but he doesn’t use the phrase “Internet jerks” in it, so it’s not really worth it.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:38 AM PST up reply actions
there are certainly permutations of this offseason that would have led to something much better than a leap of fait
Ok, Grant, tell us, in perfect hindsight, what the “Great Grant” would have done had he been the GM this off season!
Make a great post.
Jet
Does it really take hindsight? Way back in November, he said he wanted the Giants to sign Nick Johnson. That alone would have been a far better outcome than what we’ve ended up with (the Giants might have had to offer him an extra year to get him away from the Yankees – who knows)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
LF-Lewis/Bowker
CF-Mike Cameron
RF-Rowand
C-Posey
1B-Garko/Nick Johnson
2B-Uribe
3B-Sandoval
SS-Renteria
Something like this would have been an improvement. I’m sure this could be further improved upon.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Or Kelly Johnson instead of Uribe, and then Uribe instead of Renteria.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Renteria was always going to start the year at Short, but adding Kelly Johnson to the bench does improve this roster.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Or, now that I think about it, Kelly Johnson at 2B and Hardy at SS
We’re rosterbating here; Bochy’s Renteria-love can be ignored in a fantasy scenario.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Not if you only have one shortstop and his name is Edgar Renteria.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Do those dollars work? What do you do about the fact that Johnson, apparently, wanted to play in NY?
There’s a widespread perception that we could’ve had Johnson by offering him a second year.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Perhaps, but we don’t know that either. I totally agree that I would have offered Johnson a second year. (Who is also over 30 btw) but, maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference.
OK, fine, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt with Johnson. I’d have rather had Branyan or Delgado than Huff.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
or if we had SWOOPED in instead of playing the waiting game with him
giving the Yankees a chance to get in to the bidding. I didn’t hear their name once connected with him until right before they signed him.
We aren’t paying DeRosa or Freddy Sanchez in this scenario.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
True, but sanchez is a big upgrade over Uribe. WAAAAAY more range and better hitter (not as much power of course)
Derosa is probably better offensively than the lewis/bowker platoon too.
Cameron is an upgrde over Nate.
Hard to say if Johnson would stay healthy long enough to be better than Huff. Depending on whether Huff returns to his .282 .340 .472 career averages of course.
Johnson usually stays healthy long enough to be better than Huff.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Johnson usually stays healthy long enough to be better than Huff as long as he stays healthy long enough to prove it???
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:53 AM PST up reply actions
again, WAR 2005-2009
Johnson: 13.3
Huff: 5.4
This is despite Nick Johnson missing all of 2007, mind you.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
AND Huff having a career year in 2008
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
But the beauty of Johnson/Garko is that you rest Johnson just enough to keep him going.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I know. It’s remarkably similar to something that another man might have uttered.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
The only reason why I didn’t want the Giants to Johnson was because of his history with injuries.
"When I get up in the mourning I piss excellence."-Ricky Bobby
Given that stance I am curious how happy and comfortible you are Fragile Fred?
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:38 AM PST up reply actions
Everyone needs a BJ
or Justin Upton on their team
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 9:47 AM PST up reply actions
But it's actually plausible to trade for a BJ
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:51 AM PST up reply actions
I guess it beats out buying a BJ
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 9:52 AM PST up reply actions
Justin Upton
My current white whale.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
WEll the Pirates out bid us. I mean you can’t expect to be able to compet with them for teh talent they offeered.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
It’s so off the radar that I don’t really have an opinion yet.
On one hand, you certainly can’t hate the money.
On the other I’m not at all certain that Huff is a better bet than Ishikawa after his awful 2009.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
This is basically it – it’s really not that it’s a bad signing, theoretically, it’s just that it makes no sense whatsoever for our team. We have guys who can give us basically the same level of production without spending that money…so why spend it? So many of these little moves are preventing us from making a real move. Uribe, Huff, Renteria, DeRosa, Sanchez (to a lesser extent)…..there’s your money for real moves.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:41 AM PST up reply actions
for whom.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
First, Holliday isn’t overpaid. Now, it might be fair to say we would have overpaid for him – maybe, maybe not, we don’t know. But yes, making a move like that would be smart. Holliday, by himself, will outproduce Uribe, Huff, Renteria and DeRosa this year. I’m not a fan of Bay personally, but it could be worth looking into. Hell, maybe we choose not to spend the money this year (you can do that, you know) and go after Carl Crawford next year. Long term planning, what a concept, eh? Maybe you spend a little bit of it on a bandaid like Huff once you go after your primary targets and don’t get them, but on 1 year deals so you re-enter the market next year as a player for whoever you want.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:53 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t know, the Cards fans I know think he’s overpaid.
In any case, you have to be convinced that a guy like that is going to be the heart of your offense for 6-7 years. Did youi think Matt is that kind of player?
I don’t.
I’m on your side here. I don’t regret not signing Holliday, I regret not picking good role players instead of not-so-good role players.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
So, You liked Nick and Kelly Johnson and Cameron. I guess I don’t see Cam or Nick as role players.
I would have liked Nick too. Kelly? Meh. Cameron? For the $ he got in Boston? Not really, but we’d have had to pay more than the Sox to get him to come to SF.
Well, first the nature of a long term contract like that is he overproduces in his first couple years then underproduces in his last couple, so I’m ok if he’s really only a huge hitter the first 4-5 years or so. I accept that as the cost of what he can provide now – and given we have the pitching staff to win now, that makes sense to me. Second – Holliday is a pretty comparable hitter to Teixiera, and a comparable player overall, yet he’s getting less than Teix. Another reasno to sign him. Holliday is really good, and gives us the kind of production we need. Throw in some fill ins from our farm system and you’re all of a sudden looking at a lineup that can compete given the pitching staff we have. Make another trade, giving up some prospects because we can win now….and we have a real team just like that.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
Well, if he duplicated his Coors numbers in AT^&T you might be right. I’m not convinced he’d do that.
In any case, when you pay that kind of money, you have to be convinced he’s a guy you can build your offense around as you’re tying your hands for quite awhile. That’s what they did with Bonds remember?
I guess we disagree on whether Holliday can carry a lineup.
What I can tell you about Holliday is after you park adjust his production he’s a +~40 run hitter. That’s a bonafide middle of the lineup stud. He’s also a good defensive corner outfielder. That makes s very good player overall.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
/catches ball with crotch
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
How’s he supposed to know it’s not going to work if he doesn’t try?!
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:53 AM PST up reply actions
That’s what foreskin is for.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
Holliday's contract coupled with Zito's would cost us too much-not just financially.
No way we pay both of them and still afford Timmy, Panda, and Posey when their arbs are up. Maybe there is a plan…recover from bad contracts enough to sign know quantities.
by MoreroidsforZito on Jan 11, 2010 11:05 PM PST up reply actions
Ten dollar beers!
Ante up!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:05 AM PST up reply actions
When Timmy’s arb years are up (and Panda and Posey, for that matter), Zito will not be on the books.
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 7:09 AM PST up reply actions
They’re not too risky because you expect him to produce most of his value early on…
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 7:11 AM PST up reply actions
I mean he’s being paid exactly as WAR projections say he will, free agent value to the dollar.
So there’s no discount for possible risk. It’s not a drastic overpay, but I think it is an overpay all the same.
The projections themselves should account for risk, though. For instance, let’s say Albert Pujols is projected to put up 8 WAR 80% of the time, and 0 WAR 20% of the time (injury). His projection should be 6 WAR – so the risk is accounted for, just not where you’re expecting it to be. At least I assume the projections are doing that, I don’t know much about their methodology personally but if I was doing it (and I do have some knowledge on statistical forecasting) I would definitely take the risk of injury or whatever else into account in my PT forecasts (and thus my WAR forecasts). So actually…I guess I don’t know if the risk is already accounted for, but it should be.
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 5:03 PM PST up reply actions
If it’s not then you definitely have a very good point and I would have to agree with you.
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 5:04 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t know anything about the risk factor of projections.
I was judging off of this article:
Specifically, this:
For all practical purposes, given the assumptions we’re working with (and dealing only with the guaranteed years of the contract), St. Louis gave Holliday a contract almost exactly in line with his market value…
…seven years is a long time for a corner outfielder in his thirties. Yes, the 0.5 win-a-season decline curve takes this into account to a certain extent, but when a team gives a player a contract this long, it not only guarantees their "control" over the player, but also gives him a higher degree of security through his likely decline years. For this reason, players usually give something of a "discount" for that security. The Cardinals did not get such a discount.
Let's Play a Lineup Game!
The Kids: Lewis, Posey, Sandoval, Bowker, Schierholtz, Frandsen, Ishikawa, Amezaga
Sabean's Vets: Rowand, Sanchez, DeRosa, Sandoval, Huff, Renteria, Schierholtz, Posey
The Kids' CHONE WAR projection= 12.7
Sabean's Vets' CHONE War projection= 13.5
Well, it’s a good point – I will say I don’t think that necessarily makes it an overpay from the teams perspective (as if the risk is taken into account in the forecast, they’re still getting what they pay for, on average), but it does seem to reason that the Cardinals probably could/should have gotten some sort of discount that you’re talking about, and they did not.
by Missing Barry on Jan 13, 2010 12:30 PM PST up reply actions
Branyan or Delgado would probably have more upside at this point and I doubt either would have cost more than this (if Delgado is too injured to play, strike him off, but Branyan doesn’t have many landing points at this point.)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Branyan is a bigger stone mitt with horrible splits v LHP and worse hitting numbers than Huff and he’s just as old.
I did like Delgado too, but Huff is a lower injury risk and is younger. He can also play 3b.
Branyan has positive UZR numbers at 1st base for his career.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I doubt there’s much difference between the two on D and his hitting numbers are much worse. In any case, hard to make the case that he’d be much of an upgrade over Huff.
As I (and others) proposed, when you bench Branyan against lefties and use Garko instead, you get the aggregate numbers of a pretty solid 1st baseman.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Until the late innings. And, you’d be paying more money too. Garko was figuring to get $2+ mil in arbitration if IRRC.
I meant to say in the late innings and the other manager starts flipping the RPs around on you. And, you’re assuming that Branyan would give you as much offense as huff. He hasn’t done that over his career.
Are you kidding? They have almost identical career OPS, and identical park-adjusted OPS. Branyan has just been much more consistent.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
This is the same Russell Branyan that has never been an everyday player until last year and has posted 234 .331 .491 career numbers?
Really? Maybe all of his managers for the previous 11 seasons just missed something with him.
Maybe all of his managers for the previous 11 seasons just missed something with him.
Actually, yes. As the research is beginning to show, guys with his track record do pan out often enough to deserve a shot. Just because a baseball manager has never taken a basic statistics class doesn’t mean Branyan can’t hit. He’s also hands down a better hitter than Huff. When you’re 33, what you did earlier in your career doesn’t mean a lot. “What have you done for me lately” is a much more useful way of projecting.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
Wait, I’m confused, what two are we comparing?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:08 AM PST up reply actions
Actually, Branyan is a plus defender at 1B. His UZR/150 in the outfield are better than Huff’s, too. He’s actually older than Huff, though.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
AND his career numbers at 3B are about as good as Panda’s were last year.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
And, honestly, at this point, I don’t see the downside in just standing pat and giving playing time to Bowker and Posey.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Saving the money we paid Huff, DeRosa and Uribe and using that money to sign someone worthwhile. The guys we already have can give us almost the exact same production in the positions we need to fill.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:48 AM PST up reply actions
Holliday, Johnson, Bay (I’d stay away from him, personally), Branyan, Figgins….there were options.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:04 AM PST up reply actions
Branyan isn’t better than huff. Figgins was also overpaid. He had a career year last year and isn’t a middle of the order guy getting paid middle of the order money.
You already know why we didn’t sign the other three. Bay and Holliday were long term huge dollar contracts and Johnson wanted to play in NY.
Figgins actually got a pretty reasonable contract. Defense matters, and he’s a good defensive player. His careeer year also isn’t the normal fluke year you’re looking for – his last two years have seen a significant increase in his plate discipline (went from under 10 BB% to 14% last year)…repeatable skills. His BABIP was only slightly higher than his career average, he didn’t hit any fluke HR’s…..
Branyan is better than Huff, by the way. He’s a significantly better hitter. There’s a reason Huff is projected to hit at 103 wRC+ and Branyan at 121. Branyan is also projected to add double the value of Huff in just over half the PT. He’s a much better player.
And like I said, even if we don’t make an impact this year, there’s always next year.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:12 AM PST up reply actions
To add onto this, Branyan is pretty similar offensively overall, but his career numbers are more consistent and are not propped up by huge years that happened half a decade ago. Branyan has a better glove, too.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I don’t know what kind of numbers you guys are looking at, but I look at the fact that Branyan can’t break into a lineup until last year and the complete lack of interest in him to tell me that Huff is a better player.
But, you guys are probably right and all the MLB managers, scouts and GMs are wrong.
In any case, you can’t say he’d be much of an improvement with a straight face. He dones NOTHING v LHP.
Huff’s career line is identical to Branyan’s line versus lefties! Stop making stuff up.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Looks pretty similar to me. Gimme Garko versus the lefties, and we’re in business.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
But, you guys are probably right and all the MLB managers, scouts and GMs are wrong.
I’m guessing you haven’t done enough research to find out just how often they ARE wrong, have you? When that community is made up of the likes of Dayton Moore, Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy….there’s not a whole lot of credibility there. You’d be surprised at how useful a good knowledge of statistics can be when it comes to this stuff. You’d also be surprised to learn last year Branyan was about 35 runs better than Huff with the bat. Just offensively speaking, Branyan was worth about $12M a year more than Huff.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, and that’s why projections use more than one year, and appropriately regress. Even after accounting for regression, Branyan is still worth about $7M or so a year more than Huff.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
I guess we’ll see. I guess I’d rather take a guy after a career worst year than a career best year. Branyan isn’t a spring chicken either.
Anyway, I’ve got to get back to work.
I’d rather take a guy who’s not projected to suck. :\
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t expect Branyan to get a monster deal, though. If he does, I’ll shut up.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
said it before, say it again, will keep saying it till he proves me wrong
Chone Figgins = Aaron Rowand v 2.0.
He didn’t just have a career year with the bat, his fielding numbers were completely off the charts good, and expecting him to repeat that production is folly.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Chone got 4 years/$36 million.
Rowand got 5 years/$60 million.
We STILL owe Rowand $36 million.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
+1
thats pretty key. Plus Chone is far more versatile.
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
well
if by versatile, you mean he can play a bunch of other positions poorly, then I guess.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
no, actually
in his (extremely SSS) time at LF/RF he’s been mind numbingly terrible. (-17.7/-23.2 UZR/150, respectively)
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
but again
we’re talking like 200 innings at each spot, so I’m more inclined to go with his OF UZR/150, which is about -6.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
You’re ignoring the fact that CF is much harder to play than corner OF. He’s a slightly below average CF at worst, which means he’ll be an above average corner OF.
It’s pretty much impossible for a guy as fast as Figgins to not be a good corner OF. Lewis is about as clueless as it gets out there and still posts positive UZR’s thanks to his speed. And Lewis isn’t as fast as Figgins.
I was promised lasagna.
not necessarily
Again, you’d probably expect that, but there is SOMETHING going on with his numbers there. Maybe its all fluke bad luck, but just saying “well he was only 3-4 runs below average in CF so he’ll be good in LF/RF, even though his numbers there are awful (in extreme SSS)” is assuming too much for me. Again, if he were coming here for 2/16, great. But he signed for 4/36. That’s too much to pay and just hope that his defensive #s were a fluke and that he can sustain his batting #s from last year even though he was below average in 2008.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
There’s nothing going on there. It’s 400 innings – the UZR equivalent of 120 PA’s, in terms of reliability (1,000 innings = 300 PA’s). This is like DFAing Garko because of 120 bad PA’s.
I was promised lasagna.
I'm not saying
he’s terrible, I’m saying it gives me pause.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
actually
pretty much.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
The way to properly calculate it is [CF UZR/150*CF innings + (LF UZR/150 + 10)LF innings + (RF UZR/150 + 10)RF innings] / OF innings.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:52 PM PST up reply actions
Oh, stupid formatting. Where the bold starts and stops should be a multiplication sign * .
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
Why is that “the way to properly calculate it”?
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Because, on average, fielders do 10 runs better in UZR at the corners than in CF. We don’t have the kind of samples you need to assume he’s any different than the averages, so you have to assume he follows the average. You want the biggest sample possible – so you add them all up, but first you have to make them equal so we’re adding like units…..
Er, thinking it through, I made an error. Either you subtract 10 (not add 10) from each corner OF UZR/150, and your end result is CF UZR/150, or you add 10 to the CF UZR/150, and your end result is corner OF UZR/150.
But yeah, the point is once you factor in the 10 to make them all equal you then come up with a weighted average so you’re using all the innings and getting the biggest sample possible.
[CF UZR/150*CF innings + (LF UZR/150 – 10) * LF innings + (RF UZR/150 – 10) * RF innings] / OF innings will give you CF UZR/150
[(CF UZR – 10)/150 * CF innings + LF UZR/150 * LF innings + RF UZR/150 * RF innings] / OF innings will give you COF UZR/150
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 2:08 PM PST up reply actions
I suck at typing, I did -10 when I should have done +10 in the second one.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
calculating that way
he comes out to ~+1.5/150
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
well yeah
there’s that, i really meant from a production standpoint though. I would not have been happy with a Figgins signing, unless it was for Sanchez-esque dollars.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I can get that or a shorter contract. But this team have commited $24 MM and 4 25 man roster spots to DeRosa and Fred Sanchez and compared to that Figgens looks a lot less dumb to me.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:36 AM PST up reply actions
iduno
I’d rather have Sanchez at 2nd than Figgins. I’d also rather have DeRosa in left than Figgins.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Figgins at 4/36
is taking up just as many roster spots, and, if playing those positions, would probably give about the same value, maybe 1-2 WAR more over the course of the contract. Also, the money would be off the books 2 years later.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
There’s a reason Figgins is projected to be 1 WAR better than DeRosa next year alone…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:59 AM PST up reply actions
yeah
3B defense. I wouldn’t want him to play 3B here. Thus, I’d rather have DeRosa.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Well, his 2B sample size is small enough that I don’t think we can read much into it. I’d rather have a scouting report on his skills/strengths to look into that…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
with just a quick glance
his range at 3B is way better than everywhere else (above avg at 3B, avg or below everywhere else) which sort of supports “he has trouble moving to his right”, but it could just be SSS. Again, I wouldn’t pay 4/36 to find out.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Maybe he has a good first step but isn’t particularly fast?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
possible
though his offensive speed #s are really good, so who knows.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Maybe it’s a lateral speed problem. I dunno, just speculating.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
Fair enough. I just don’t see the need for both spots being tied up .
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
Tied up in the same year I mean. I also don’t see the advantage in less injury risks in our DeRosa & Fred Sanchez combo.
But your points are valid.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:44 AM PST up reply actions
what I really would have liked to see
was Sanchez at 2nd and Schierholtz/Bowker starting at the corners, but Sabez just HAD to have his league average veteran fix, so we ended up with DeRosa.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
and Huff and …
Any ways this is not the way to try and repeat or improve on last seasons win totals.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
And I don’t disagree, I was adamantly against Figgins in the $40M range…but for what he got, it really wasn’t all that bad. Even if he’s half the player next year that he was last year, he’s worth the contract. He’s not Aaron Rowand because like I said – his batting approach has improved, and he’s a good player overall, and he didn’t get that much. Even 2008 when Figgins was below average offensively he put up 2.4 WAR.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:57 AM PST up reply actions
yes but
a lot of that value comes from his fielding ability at 3B. He hasn’t demonstrated that same ability anywhere else in the field. We already have Panda at 3B. If he signed with us, it would be a bad signing. Also, I don’t trust his fielding numbers to remain at his ’08 levels, much less ’09.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
/ nods
Here is were we disagree. I think his fielding numbers at 2nd would improve with use because of his 3rd base numbers. I turst those numbers much more then you. We will never find out whose take is correct on this though.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
well, in limited action
his 2B numbers are pretty bad. Maybe the numbers are off, maybe he’s just bad moving to his right. I really didn’t want to give him 4/36 to find out.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
As much as I hate false dilemia’s ( this or that) i would have liked that gamble better then the Sanchez & DeRosa. I realy think we took the higher injury risk and paid quietly handsomly to do so.
Idealy I would gone for Kelly Johnson or one of the crowd at 2nd basemen for arround $4 1-2 years.Jjust so you know what i would have preferred most and I am just compareing “evils” here.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
well
it isn’t really a false dilemma, it’s just weighing two options. Also, a Figgins signing wouldn’t preclude a DeRosa signing, because they wouldn’t be slated to play the same position. The thing that gets me about gambling on Figgins is that if you’re wrong, we’re stuck with him for 4 years. At least if Franchez’s injury woes continue, he’s only here for 2 years at 2/3 the cost per year.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
The positions we’d play Figgins don’t have a meaningful sample size – RF, LF, 2B. The positions we do have more meaningful samples suggest he’s a pretty good fielder at those places – only slightly below average in CF (maybe he plays CF and Rowand corner?), well above average at 3B….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
he's at -3.5 in CF
but -6.x in the OF. Something is going on there.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Yeah I dunno, this is where being a GM and having scouts is helpful.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
true
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Disagree
Rowand’s career year was the result of a fluky BABIP and a pretty sharp improvement in the power department. Both seemed likely to regress back to his career averages.
Figgins’s career year was the result of a steady improvement in the walk department that started pretty much when he made the majors. Here are his BB rates in his six years in the majors:
7.8%
9.1%
9.7%
10.3%
12%
14.1%.
In other words he went from below average to average to above average to good to great. To me that indicates that it’s a true improvement, and not a fluke, and therefore likely to be sustained. It’s also supported by the fact that he was 4th in the majors (of 154 qualifying) at not chasing balls last year. 7th in 2008.
Rowand’s 2007 looked like a fluke, but Figgins looks real.
I was promised lasagna.
not really
when you consider he had a .359 BABIP as well. I look at Figgins batting value chart, and I see Rowand’s batting value chart. He’s also a good candidate to have OBP > SLG next year (not AS bad when your OBP is around .370, but still.) I can damn near guarantee you he’s not going to reproduce his defensive numbers as well.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Figgins’s 2009 BABIP was 14 points above his career average. Rowand’s BABIP in 2007 was 24 points above his career average.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
yeah
and his UZR was double his UZR/150 at 3B. My larger point is that if you look at his value for the last 4 years, and compare them to Rowand’s value the 4 years before he was signed, they’re eerily similar.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Out of context
Figgins has a career .345 BABIP. .359 over the past three years. It should go down a bit, but nothing drastic at all.
His defensive numbers are irrelevant, because I’m positive that they had little to no effect on how much he ended up costing.
That his OBP may be higher than his SLG is irrelevant because it’s always irrelevant. Why would you compare one good thing to another? Makes no sense. It’s like complaining that someone has more 3B’s than 2B’s or something.
You completely ignored my point about his patience, which was most of my comment. Is there any reason not to think that improvement is real? Because if it is, all there is to be worried about it 12 points of BABIP, which translates to something like 10 points of AVG.
I was promised lasagna.
I don’t really care how much his D #s affected his cost, a lot of his value is derived from them. They are very likely to regress, and would be likely to even be below average if he were to play a position other than 3rd.
You have a good point about his patience, which is why I didn’t say anything about it. He is going to likely have a very good OBP next season. Still, I don’t think he’s going to provide the same value with his bat as last year, and I fully expect his defensive numbers to fall off a (relative) cliff.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
He’s ridiculously fast and the Fan Scouting Report thinks he’s one of the elite fielders in all of baseball. Why exactly is his defense going to fall off the cliff?
Because he more than doubled his career uzr/150 last year. He’ll probably lose close to a win in defensive value between last year and this year. I’d call that falling off a cliff, even if where you land is above average.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
You have more faith in UZR than I do. But regardless, his 2008 UZR was exactly the same as his 2009 UZR.
um wut
he was 7 runs better in ‘09 than ’08, and in ’08, he’s better than his career average. Players don’t traditionally improve on defense as they head into their mid-30s.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
We very well could have turned our noses up, not signed anybody in the free agent market, and signed a shitload of Latin amateur FAs with the money.
If we had done that sort of thing with the Rent money, the Rowand money, the Johnson money, the DeRosa money, the Huff money, etc. we would be hardly any worse as a team and would have much more to look forward to in the future.
Could have been worse. Should have been better.
Coincidentally, that’s the working title of the forthcoming Sabean biopic.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, on the Curacao-SF express (via Arizona).
If we only had a clue how to draft/sign and develop actual minor league position players
we wouldn’t have to keep signing the same 30+ mediocre players every year. If it weren’t for Pablo’s breakout we’d be in the market for another vet 3B right now also. Yes, we need to give our youngsters more of a chance, but if we had more guys that came up and proved themselves, this wouldn’t be as much of a problem. Sadly our farm system has been stacked with AAAA talent for the last 10 years.
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
The thing is, as undertalented as our guys like Schierholtz, Ishikawa, Frandsen are….they’re STILL basically as good as the veterans we play over them instead. That’s how bad those aging piles of crap veterans are. That’s why it’s so ridiculous. I know Schierholtz, Ishikawa and Frandsen aren’t (or at least very likely aren’t) very good, and I DON’T want them as the first option….but they’re still a much better choice than what Sabean’s done.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 9:47 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nate has a pretty good shot to start in RF
I think Frandsen should have gotten his shot last year, but Sanchez is a better player for sure.
I don’t think Ishi has the power to be a MLB 1b. I don’t agree that he’s better than Huff.
Why on earth would signing Huff be OK if he isn’t even as good as Ishikawa, then?
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Huff and Ishikawa had almost the exact same SLG last year
The question is, I guess, whether Huff’s 2009 was real.
Sadly, even if it wasn’t, he’s still probably not very good.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I’m not saying Ishikawa is better than Huff, I’d probably even agree that he’s worse. What I’m saying is he’s only worse by a tiny bit, and he’s basically free, while Huff costs $3M. Sanchez is definitely better than Frandsen…but by how much? Heck we might be best off with Sanchez AND Frandsen in our middle infield instead of Renteria and Uribe. I also hope Nate doesn’t start in RF. Bowker and Lewis are better options. Torres platooning is better than giving Nate spot starts. Probably the only way I’d let Schierholtz crack the lineup is to platoon in CF with Rowand.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:07 AM PST up reply actions
Huff career numbers: .282 .340 .472 .812
Better to have someone who was productive in the past, than someone who has never been productive.
Now, if he does what he did last year then obviously it didn’t work. That’s hindsight for you.
Huff’s projected 2010:
.263/.327/.438
When you’re 33 and coming off a terrible year, you’re very unlikely to even come close to reaching your career numbers. Also, defense matters. Ishikawa plays it. Huff doesn’t.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
The crux of the signing is that he’ll return to his norms. He’s only one year away from posting > .300 BA.
If he doesn’t, you’ve only signed hiim for one year. Not seeing the downside of this signing given the alternatives.
Look at Huff’s batted ball data for 2008. The HR/FB rate. It was clearly a fluke.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Hey, if we could go back in time and sign 2002 Aubrey Huff, I’d be all for it. He clearly isn’t that player anymore.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Thanks, Brian Sabean. What evidence do you have he’ll return to his norms? You realize 33 year olds don’t return to their career norms, right? You realize that projections systems which look at what every 30-something year old does in these situations to find out what the normal thing is project him to hit that, right, because that’s what normally happens? That’s the whole point of projections – they’re giving you the average of what actually happens to players. There’s just as good a chance that Huff does WORSE than that projection than better.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
I would be surprised to see him do worse, it was the worst year of his career by far.
True sometimes 33 year olds tank and are done and maybe that’s the case with Huff and, maybe it was an anomaly. No one knows for sure right? It’s a one year deal. A good risk. If he sucks, you “Garko” him and play Ishi like last year.
If he returns to his norms then you have a big improvement in your ability to score runs.
When I said worse, it was relative to his projections, not his year last year. It would still be an improvement, it just still wouldn’t be very good. 33 year olds don’t return to their career norms. He’s not as good as he used to be. He probably won’t be as bad as last year, but it’s very unlikely he’s a good player. He’s had one good year in the last 5.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, he hasn’t been as good as we was earlier in his career for sure. But, I still think you got him for a good price for a good number of years.
I really don’t think going the whole Season with Ishi or Uribe playing would be an upgrade over Huff. But, that’s why they play the games right?
And I’m not upset about the contract, or the move itself in a vacuum. If a contender has a need at 1B, and one option for them is Huff at 1 yr/$3M, it’s not a bad move. He’s good enough for that contract, and as you’ve said, there’s not much downside risk. And one contract like that isn’t a difference maker.
My problem is twofold – first, we have guys, that while not good, are good enough to give us at least a similar (but probably a little worse) level of production, without spending that money. We don’t need a $3M superutility Uribe – he’s not even going to play every day, so what’s the point in paying him that? It’s not like he’s that much better than Frandsen. We don’t need Huff for the same reason – Ishikawa/Guzman, for instance, are basically free and can give us almost the same production (again, probably slightly worse but not enough to be meaningful). DeRosa is a good enough player, but we already have Lewis for free who’s an average starter, and there’s a good chance Bowker can give us pretty good production, too. So even though DeRosa is a good contract in a vacuum and does give us a decent player…the question is, what does he accomplish that we can’t mostly replicate already for a lot less? Now all of a sudden we have a lot more money to spend and an only slightly worse team – not even worse in a meaningful way.
So instead of those signings we could have a comparable team AND a decent amount of money to spend. Maybe we overpay someone – heck, maybe Holliday’s overpaid. That’s fine, we’re already overpaying someone like Uribe who probably won’t get enough PT to warrant his contract – we’re already overpaying DeRosa and Huff (not in a vacuum – if we had replacement level players they were replacing, it would be fine, but we have guys who are a little to a decent amount above replacement level – so the difference between Lewis/Bowker and Ishikawa/Guzman and DeRosa/Huff makes them not worth it)….so even if we overpay Holliday, we’re still using our money just as wisely, now all of a sudden we get a legitimate upgrade, instead of a tiny one. Maybe it’s not even Holliday – maybe we overpay Johnson. Either way we still get a real upgrade instead of one that’s so small it doesn’t make a difference.
So it’s just the collection of moves that seem to scream “sign a veteran just for the sake of signing a veteran” – which is the strategy Sabean’s been employing for years. It’s a failure of a strategy. Always has been, always will be. It holds us back from anything worthwhile, it doesn’t make us better in any meaningful way…meanwhile, we have kids who should get the chance to sink or swim, who can provide real value because they’re not being paid anything, who aren’t significantly worse than these veterans….and they just don’t get a shot because they’re not “gritty” enough or whatever other stupid ass fuck phrase Sabean/Bochy use that doesn’t mean a thing to winning baseball games. So instead we continue to pay veterans for what younger, cheaper players we already have can do. That’s why I’m mad. Not because 1 yr/$3M for Huff is outrageous – but because it doesn’t make sense for the Giants, and represents a losing philosophy that our GM continues to stick through, and continues to hold on to his job for, for no reason. Meanwhile the WS is as far away as ever as we waste away some of the greatest pitching performances we’ll ever see, under cheap team control…..
Sigh.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:54 AM PST up reply actions 9 recs
rec'd
But Sabes has been doing this for years. He’ll do it next offseason too.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Well put
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 4:04 PM PST up reply actions
the only difference
is now he’s doing the same thing, for less years at a time. it’s a step in the right direction.
This is very well said. Rec’d.
Osiris, Lord of the Dead, and... relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants?
So
we continue to continue
To contend
This farce
Will never end
And our wills
Will never bend
From springtofall…
Sorry. You have to run those last ones together to keep the same rhythm as Simon and Bullwinkle..
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 5:18 AM PST up reply actions
Better to have someone who was productive in the past, than someone who has never been productive.
Here is the main difference. The Team is not getting a guarantee of past production and if you want to improve you have to have players that have not hit their peak yet so you have to take chances on guys that are yet to produce but are still young enough to improve before their body betrays them.
This entire off season as been all about not taking the chance to get better and since this team is not that good ( 2010 Giants are not a 90+ win team in talent) by refusing to take that chance on unproven players the 2010 Giants refuse to try and be good.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
right
these signings are superfluous to what we have. What I mean is that if the players we already had were better, we wouldn’t feel the need to replace them with “better” players
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I agree with this. If paying to bring in someone it shold because their current skill level is MUCH better thena what is one hand and will be on hand in the next 24 months. Not if the guy is good card playing , hunting, or fishing buddy.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 10:45 AM PST up reply actions
Posey will make a difference at some point this year and I believe at least one of the Neal/Crawford/Roger K trio will begin to play regularly in 2011. So, although the progression of our minor league position players is going slower than some would like, it is moving forward and is probably a large reason that Sabean kept his job.
by APGiantsFan on Jan 11, 2010 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
good point
it’s just too bad that the good ones are so few and far between.
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Combine this with howtheyscored's drawings
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
Looking forward to “The Aubrey Huff Show” on KNBR this season. Aubrey and Ralph can discuss just how much Baltimore’s nightlife sucks while Ralph makes allusions to episodes of “The Wire” and I drive my car off the road to stop my ears from bleeding.
"Those that drink the Kool-Aid, please leave the room."
What's wrong with eating paste?
I recall eating paste at least once many, many moons ago. It wasn’t so bad. Huff certainly won’t put up close to the power numbers he did in 2008, cause he will play half his games at Mays’ Field. He is also making an adjustment to the National League, as most of his time has been in the junior league. Hopefully, he will adjust to hitting doubles at home. I agree with those above that comment that if this keeps Velez out of the everyday lineup it is certainly an upgrade. We have more veteran, professional hitters on the team this year than last; whether it will pan out – I guess we will all find out.
It shouldn’t affect Velez, though, because without Huff, Ishikawa should play (maybe with a platoon partner).
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
This reaction to Joba is slightly redeeming.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
A picture of Camden Yards with fans in the stands who are actually cheering for the Orioles?
Must have been ’shopped.
"Those that drink the Kool-Aid, please leave the room."
I’d say half the crowd were sitting and probably a-hole Yankee fans.
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4501049
1987 opening day leadoff hitter...........Will Clark!
by dave mustaine on Jan 11, 2010 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
that video shows the angels winning the world series in related videos
not a good sign if you ask me
by panda revival on Jan 11, 2010 6:17 PM PST up reply actions
I kinda like this signing for 1yr/3mil. Could definitely be worse. No Velez everyday, and a proven MLB hitter at 1B. Plus, Pablo stays at 3B most the time. Win-win.
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Jan 11, 2010 10:28 AM PST reply actions
Could be better, too. We could use that money towards someone who improves the team in a meaningful way.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
That 3 Mil? Use it on whom?
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Jan 11, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
Nice, yes that would be quite better now wouldn’t it.
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Jan 11, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
Don’t sign Uribe. Don’t sign DeRosa. Maybe (maybe not) sign Sanchez. You’re looking at enough money to consider anyone we want.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
No, I was looking at the 1 yr/$3 mil Huff singing.
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Jan 11, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
I know, but they’re all connected. Signing Huff alone is mostly inconsequential. It doesn’t make much sense because there’s almost no difference between him and Ishikawa/platoon partner, but as you said, it’s only 1 yr/$3M. Inconsequential. Uribe, alone, is inconsequetial, too. $3+M to someone who’s not playing every day? Eh, who cares…but then you go through the list, and it’s because we continue to make a lot of shitty moves like this that we can’t do anything worthwhile. It’s the exact same as Sabean’s VLAD quote from what….7 years ago? Who gives a fuck if we don’t have Brower, or Tucker, or Hammonds, or whoever the fuck else. It was a failing strategy then, and it’s a failing strategy now. And yet, Sabean still makes the same mistakes and still keeps his job…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:57 AM PST up reply actions
Of course F.Sanchez should never have been signed, I’ve hated that guy since before he was ever in the Black & Orange.
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Jan 11, 2010 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
In Other News.....
Shingo Takatsu signs with the Hsin-Non Bulls in Taiwan
Apparently the condition of signing is he will not live in the team dorm / hotel rooms!
http://nownews.com/2010/01/11/91-2557091.htm
if you read Chinese
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
this makes him the only player that has played in 4 professional leagues : MLB, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
I wish all Taiwanese teams were as funny-sounding as the Brother Elephants.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
what, you don’t like Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions?
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Dmedia T-REX is pretty good, too.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
China probably trusts whales more than Japan does, though.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
It looks like, of the teams that currently exist, Takatsu signed with the most boring named one.
Brother Elephants
La New Bears
Sinon Bulls
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Still would like Luke Scott.
Fathaigh go mbuaimid!
Jason Stoffel, 2009 (Rookie + A-): 24IP, 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 5 S V, 25K. The heir apparent to B-Weez.
Is it me?
Or does Huff bear a more-than-passing resemblance to Sheriff Lobo?
I left my swagger in my other pants.
Wait, not Lobo...HULKA!
Sergeant Hulka!
When he hits one of his 9 HRs this season….“HULKABURGER!”
Sigh.
I left my swagger in my other pants.
Disappointing move, but not at all shocking. Would have preferred LaRoche by far. We could have afforded him- now they’ll just likely pocket the extra cash. You can pretty much pencil Huff into the 5 spot and it just doesn’t fit for me. Oh well. Uninspired – though not outright terrible – like most things Brian Sabean does.
Lincecum gonna get real paid
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
Real plaid?
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Ya. From Scotland.
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 5:09 PM PST up reply actions
Cornel F#$%%*ng Sanders!
He puuts an additive substance in his chicken.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
Eleven of them.
/licks fingers
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 10:10 AM PST up reply actions
Move your giant head!
If ya can!
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
we have a team full of guys who should be hitting 6th
Huff, DeRosa, Rowand especially come to mind.
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
DeRosa
wouldn’t be a bad 5 hitter.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
and really
neither would Huff.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Orly?
.310/.384/.694
Obviously that’s a realistic possibility, because it happened last year.
what?
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I think that’s his OBP/SLG/OPS from last year
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
ah
I think the chances of him repeating that performance are about as good as him repeating his 2008, so I don’t put a lot of weight into that.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I think 2008 and 2009 probably cancel each other out
Making him about a 100 OPS+ hitter. Joy.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
3RD BEST HITTER ON THE TEAM!
/cry
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Huff is projected to hit .263/.327/.438 next year, before accounting for the fact that he pulls all his HR’s and that just isn’t going to work in AT&T…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
that's still above average
on an average hitting team, you’d expect 1,2,4 to be above average, 3,5,6 to be about average, and 7,8,9 to be below. So yeah, 5 hitter.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Yeah, he’s projected to be ever so slightly above average. Like 3-5% or so I think…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:26 PM PST up reply actions
But again, he’s going to really struggle to hit any HR’s at home, which isn’t taken into account in these proejctions…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:27 PM PST up reply actions
what's his spray chart look like?
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Better than a team full of guys thats hould be batting 7th or 8th
co-dad w/AfDC of
Ishikawa, the Topps Rookie All Star Team's First baseman. Does he get a chance in 2010?
well actually that's the rest of the team
we have one #4 hitter (panda), three #6 hitters (rowand, derosa, huff), three #8 hitters (nate, posey, sanchez), and a AA hitter (rent)
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
I'd say
we have 1 top tier hitter (Panda)
2 average hitters (DeRosa, Huff)
3 below average hitters (Rowand, Sanchez, Rent, all at premium defensive positions, which will make their total value about average)
and 2 unknowns (Schierholtz/Bowker, Posey)
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
But if you’re going to give Sanchez and Rowand credit for being below-average hitters at premium positions and upgrade them to average overall, then don’t you have to downgrade Derosa and Huff for only being average hitters at the two easiest defensive positions?
Huff yes
DeRosa no
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
going by likely overall value
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
exactly
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
If I had to guess WAR by position
I’d say
LF – 2
CF – 2
RF – 1.5
3B – 4
SS – 1.5
2B – 2.5
1B – 1
C – 1.5
With possible improvements from RF and C.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
well
he’s projected at 1.3, with a VERY sharp decline in fielding #s, but an improvement over even his 2008 line. If he delivers his 2008 line with steady D, he’ll be about 1.3-1.5
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Like I said
Optimistic. I’ll be thrilled if Rent-a-wreck puts up his 2008 numbers. Remember last year, when we were hoping he’d bounce back to his 2007 numbers?
well yeah
but I posted a while ago that there’s pretty good reason to expect him to at least live up to his 2008 numbers.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Rent + Uribe would probably equally at least that
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
I think you guys are underestimating this team a bit
A few variables would have to go our way, but the Giants could wind up being a pretty dangerous team this year. We still have a superb rotation, which goes without saying, and a really good bullpen. We managed to finish with a respectable record last season despite the Worst Offense of All Time, which I can see improving by a surprising margin this year.
1. We already have Sandoval, who could hit in the middle of any lineup in the majors. For all our hitting woes, that is one major luxury that we won’t have to worry about fixing.
2. I know a lot of you don’t really like Freddy Sanchez, but he is a high-average hitter who will hit for a high average this season. He was never going to save this team midway through last season, but a full year of him hitting in the 2-spot will be a much bigger help for this team than most realize.
3. I really don’t expect anything out of Mark DeRosa, but he isn’t Eugenio Velez, so I rejoice.
4. Aubrey Huff is a good hitter. He isn’t great, but he is good, and I see no reason why he won’t be a help to this team. He won’t strike fear into the hearts of our opponents, but he could definitely knock in some of those runs that were laughably stranded in scoring position all through last season… Or at least hit the ball somewhere past the fucking infield.
5. I’m hoping that Buster Posey will be our day one starter going into the season, though I’m sort of afraid that Molina will get a new contract soon. It may take time, but he should be better than Bengie. He can take a walk, and he can run. So there we go. Even if he struggles mightily at first, I’m willing to give him plenty of time to realize that potential.
"Any time I watch a game on television, I have to turn the commentators off. They say 'he's playing well' and I'm thinking 'no, he's not.' My advice to anyone is don't listen to the experts, just watch the game and gather your own opinion."
-Roy Keane
Aubrey Huff is a good hitter.
OPS+:
2005: 98
2006: 108
2007: 103
2008: 137
2009: 81
In a vacuum, he’s an average hitter, not a good hitter.
For a first baseman – let alone a first baseman with bad defense – he’s a poor hitter.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
And when you’re 33 and your last year you fell off a cliff….that’s not a good sign.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
Evacuate? In our moment of triumph?
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
by jctGamer on Jan 11, 2010 10:58 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
NICE!
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
I was fearful of it being too subtle… glad some people got it lol
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
When I came on board.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 12, 2010 9:34 AM PST up reply actions
win
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
I think Brian has left this team’s thermal exhaust port unprotected.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
WOMP RATS
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
lol
Still in despair.
"Use the stencil! Do it!"
konakona:「つかさに教われと...なんか非常に負けたような気がする。」
Shun Kakazu: MOAR JAPANESE PROSPECTS PLZ
by Zetsuboushita on Jan 11, 2010 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
We also weren’t as good as we seemed last year. This team was basically an 84 win team that got lucky to win 88. The playoffs are a long ways away…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
Freddy Sanchez will hit for a high average b/c he's a high average hitter
He will also be injured b/c he’s an injury prone player.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 11, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
RE: #2
There have been 3 players signed that could play 2nd base for $6M a year this off seson.
1 ) Polanco to play 3rd base for a WIN NOW!!! Phillies.
2) Derosa.
3) Fragile Fred.
The fact that 2 of those contracts have been made by the same GM should bother you. ( Keep right on bidding against yourself there pal.) The fact our GM is useing the say method a Gm of the team with just a couple years left in there window of oppertunity when our 3 best players are several years from 30 should bother you as well. That fact both is going on at teh same time should probably realy bother you.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:09 AM PST up reply actions
I guess we could had Figgens to my little list here. Of coarse the team has to decide where to play him that brings up the fact Figgens would not be paid more then $9M in any given year and is legit top of the order bat that gets on base.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:15 AM PST up reply actions
Uribe
also available, and also signed, at half the price!
By the same GM.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t bash so much on Uribe, or the Renteria signings because the team has nothing near MLB ready for that spot since Age caught up to Dreamy and frankly Renteria, Uribe and Ceasar Izturis were the 3 best available options on the free agent market the last couple years. Sometimes one just have to pay the price for you lack of vision and SS for the last 3 years has been that place and time for us.
It is also Royals like that this front office has issue half the top end contract for a position we are weak in and in both times have brought home players with multiple flaws. Perhaps they intend to combine DeRosa & Fred Sanchez to make an almost complete player?
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
Given that Uribe isn’t penciled in to start…why should we pay him instead of Frandsen?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
Politics aside
We know Uribe can absorb at least 2/3rds of the play at SS should Renteria prematurely completes his death spiral.
Which leads back to the July trades and my wonder why they didn’t just offer up those 2 pitchers for Hardy. A round and around we go.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
Well, if people don’t think Frandsen can play SS, fair enough. If he can…is there a good reason to pay Uribe that much to spot start over a guy who’s probably almost as good and making the minimum?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
not imo.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Frandsen is not almost as good as Uribe.
Now if you were comparing him to Renteria, you might be on to something…
I don’t know about that, Frandsen is far better than his 09 suggests and Uribe is far worse. Uribe’s probably a tick better, but Frandsen isn’t that far beyond in true talent level. Power vs contact
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 2:54 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t think there’s that big of a difference, but the important concept here is playing time. Even if Uribe is 1 WAR better than Frandsen (a decent amount), if he’s only getting ~200 PA’s as a fill in, you’re only looking at a ~.4 WAR difference….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
Frandsen 2010 CHONE – .267/.324/.387/.314
Uribe 2010 CHONE – .257/.302/.421/.314
Looks pretty similar to me.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I did not mean to call Frandsen’s SS skillz , or lack of, out directly. But more in Gernal fashion. Outside of Uribe & Renteria just who inside the orgainzation would you feel good with ahndling more than 1/3 of the play time at SS on a 2010 team hopeing to contend? To me the none of them pass thta treshold yet.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
I would feel just as comfortable with Frandsen as Uribe and Renteria. If he’s worse, it won’t be by much, and it’ll cost a lot less for comparable production.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 5:53 PM PST up reply actions
More power to you but that is bus I am not buyinga ticket on any time soon. If this team was looking at loseing 85+ games i would probably sing a differnt tune.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
Really? I’m not saying Frandsen is good, mind you, just that the other options are close to as bad….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 7:07 PM PST up reply actions
Presumeing Frandsen would get a fair shake from the manger ( I know tooth fairy stuff) he still has not shown he can play almost every day with out injury or drop off. And Frankly when a guy is makeinga jump up the defensive position scale there is an aweful lot more that can go wrong than compared to just changeing position ( which has a alot that can go wrong in itself). So a team that sees itself has 85+ wins really should not be fine with takeing those kind of risks at such a key position.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
For playing every day – supposedly players, on average, actually perform better when they play every day, which makes sense because it keeps the rust off. As for your other points – definitely true, I don’t think it’s a risk a team that has a chance to contend should take, either, but when your other option is Edgar Renteria….well, given the alternatives, I don’t think it’s a bad risk in our case, specifically. Frandsen did play more games last year in AAA than any other position, too….he doesn’t have enough experience there to make me comfortable with it….just again, I really am not high on our other options, so that’s my thought process.
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 8:31 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t think we are far off. Presumeing a fair shake based on team needs I could see Frandsuribe (Uribfrands?) bandaid keep a team almost reasonible for half a season or more with out haveing force rush Cradford, Edhire etc.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
This is a good move. I’d bet between this and the DeRosa move, they’ll make the playoffs now. One of the really recent posters is overanalyzing his hitting by using the OPS and saying he sucks because it is average. Aubrey Huff hits 25 to 30 HRs a year. He is also six foot four and left handed and I’m sure will provide more than warning track power. He’ll benefit from hitting with F. Sanchez, DeRosa, and Sandoval around him instead of being in Baltimore. I’m sure he’ll be happier being in a really nice city in a pennant race instead of being 1,000 games behind the Yankees and Red Sox and living in Maryland.
-————————————————————————————————————————-
I think the point for now is to make the playoffs and see if Lincecum and Cain can get us a World Championship. The Dodgers of the sixties did this with Drysdale and Koufax. The DBacks did it with Johnson and Schilling. Besides, maybe Sandoval and Posey are offensive Hall of Famers and just need some people around them that are going to get on base, make people scared to pitch to them because of potential power, have experience enough to not look foolish, be able to occasionally hit a sacrifice fly etc…
Now that Huff can play 1st and 3rd base, the Giants can put on a defensive shift like a football team between pitches and really startle the opposing offense.
Aubrey Huff hits 25 to 30 HRs a year.
HRs per year:
2005: 22
2006: 21
2007: 15
2008: 32
2009: 15
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
avg = 21
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Those don’t count.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 11:20 AM PST up reply actions
yeah, but you purposely cut off two years before 2005 where he hit 29 and 34 homeruns! what a joke! do you always deceive people to put them down?
And if it is between 22 and 32 HRs a year instead of 25 and 35, I rounded up. It’s really similar. Some of the low years he was hurt and had fewer at bats.
by parisspleen on Jan 11, 2010 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
So at age 33 he is supposed to magically hark back to 5 or 6 years ago and put up numbers he accomplished at age 26 and 27?
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
First: in evaluating a player in his mid-30s, the last five years are a lot more relevant than their stats when they were like 26. Especially when those seasons seven years ago are radically out of line with what they’ve done since.
Second, you’ve still got the range wrong – 15 is a lot less than 22.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
One of the really recent posters is overanalyzing his hitting by using the OPS and saying he sucks because it is average. Aubrey Huff hits 25 to 30 HRs a year.
You do know those homers are already included in OPS, right? He’s an average hitter who plays first base, badly. He isn’t good, no matter how tingly he makes your dingerz gland.
Defensive shift between pitches?
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
wildcat defense!
STOP RESISTING THE NEW WAVE
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
I think the point for now is to make the playoffs and see if Lincecum and Cain can get us a World Championship. The Dodgers of the sixties did this with Drysdale and Koufax. The DBacks did it with Johnson and Schilling.
Runs scored:
Diamondbacks, 2001: 818
Giants, 2009: 657
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that DeRosa + Huff !=161 extra runs.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Posey with 150 of those runs
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
as for the Dodgers in the 60s
They scored 608 runs in 1965 and 640 in 1963.
Neither of which was that great, but still: in a pitchers’ era, they scored almost as many runs as the Giants did now, in a hitters’ era.
Point of comparison: in 1965, Maury Wills had a .660 OPS, which was good for a 93 OPS+ at the time. In 2009, Randy Winn had a .671 OPS, which was good for a 75 OPS+.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
That last paragraph but sent a shiver of fear down my spine.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
If the Dodgers of 1963 and 1965 scored similar amounts of runs as the Giants did now, I rest my case because that is much more similar than different. Plus, you are comparing the Giants without F. Sanchez, Huff, and DeRosa, and Posey to those teams and saying they scored similar amounts of runs.
by parisspleen on Jan 11, 2010 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
In 1965, the best team in the league scored 825 runs. The next two best teams score 774 and 708. In 2009, the best team scored 915 runs. Six teams scored more than 800.
Scoring about 600 runs in 1965 is much better, relative to era, than scoring about 650 in 2009.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
and in 1963
The Dodgers score 640 runs; only three teams scored more than 650. Their offense was league average. In 2009, the Giants were in the bottom 5 in the majors in runs scored, and dead last in OBP an wOBA.
There’s no comparison.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
clarification
I meant only three teams in the NL scored more than 650. There were ten such teams at the time – thus my saying they were league average.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Now if we could only beef one of our hitters with Roids to emulate the Luis Gonzalez’s career year and to stimulate our dingerz gland we would be in business
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 11, 2010 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
You do realize that there is a very high probability the 2010 Giants could be playing a lot of games without the 4 players you listed or if they are playing a lot of games 2-3 of those guys will be playing hurt and thus not as effective?
Posey might not be on the 25 man tell September.
DeRosa had a wrist injury last year and those can sink baseball careers.
Huff is covered else where here.
Fred Sanchez has had oceans of pixels this off season about his durability.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
You know lefties not named Barry Bonds can’t hit HR’s in AT&T, right? RF in AT&T is one of the absolute hardest places to hit a HR in all of baseball (at least for corner OF). Aubrey Huff isn’t going to be a very good hitter – maybe he is for the Giants, but that doesn’t make him good. He’s old. Old guys get worse. He was awful last year. It’s not looking good.
I think the point for now is to make the playoffs and see if Lincecum and Cain can get us a World Championship.
At least this is correct. Our pitching staff is scary come playoff time. Unfortunately we’re still pretty far from the playoffs right now. :(
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
Meh
How much better is he than Garko? Potentially a tad better, but we’ll see how he handles AT&T.
I mostly agree with what Grant said, I just sort of shrug my shoulders, thank god it’s not LaRoche for 9 mil per year, and walk away
I just read through this whole thread and Missing Barry has convinced me to stop following the Giants.
... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time
I’m almost convincing myself to, as well. We need someone to counterbalance me…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
Well he could have convinced you to not follow the Nationals
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 6:53 PM PST up reply actions
Projected lineup?
1) Rowand CF
2) Sanchez 2B
3) Pablo 1B?
4) Huff 3B?
5) DeRosa LF
6) Schierholtz RF?
7) Posey C
8) Renteria?
Conclusion: Is Nate Schierholtz really the starter going into next year? Oy vey
that's what Dennis O'Donnell put up on his newscast last night
except he had Rent 2nd. I suddenly lost my appetite.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 11:26 AM PST up reply actions
Bowker should be starting over Nate. I know Bowker’s not a good soldier, but I doubt Nate will be playing much by the end of the year.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 11, 2010 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
are you kidding me?
Bowker will probably go 5 for 25 in spring training and never be heard from again
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 11:30 AM PST up reply actions
because of his talent level or because Sabean/Bochy are SSS idiots?
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 11, 2010 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
some combo of both. Admittedly, if it was my choice I’d probably try and find someone else altogether, but clearly it seems to me the only way offensive prospects can get a fair shake here is they pull a Pablo and hit the crap out of the ball right out of the gate
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 11:34 AM PST up reply actions
but clearly it seems to me the only way offensive prospects can get a fair shake here is they pull a Pablo and hit the crap out of the ball right out of the gate
Urge to kill Sabes and Bochy rising…
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I realy don’t want to think much about it today but would the team be better served with Bowker playing every day in Fresno? I realy think we are going to see a lot of DeRosa, Rowand, Torres with combo of Velz/Nate. Nate did post a nice line as a pinch hitter and if he can do it a gain he becomes a useful assett on any NL team.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
I was under the impression that Bowker proved all he needed to in AAA last year.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 11, 2010 11:33 AM PST up reply actions
Not so much to “prove himself” as to keep in the swing of things. gettting 3 appearances and mmaybe 10 innings of play time in 10 days is not exactly a way to prepare a guy to start strong in my book once he gets a few straight starts.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:38 AM PST up reply actions
I still think the off-season would have been much better by trading Rowand for Bradley and giving Nick Johnson a second year to sign. Then, take the remaining money and sign a 5th pitcher, because I’m very concerned about Bumgarner starting in the majors this year.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 11, 2010 11:27 AM PST reply actions
sorry, but
trading Captain McGritty for Clubhouse Serial Killer would be too much for Sabean to comprehend. He probably offered Fred Lewis for bradley and 90% of his contract
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
Why do that when we can spend $22M (including Renteria) for 1-2 WAR of value….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
1-2 WAR more than what we can get from the players we already have, that is.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
C Posey – Early 20’s! Cheap money, have for a long time
1B Huff – Over 30, one year deal
2B Sanchez – Over 30, two year deal
3B Sandoval? – Early 20’s! Dirt cheap for however the hell long…
SS Renteria – Over 30, one more year
LF DeRosa – Over 30, two year deal
CF Rowand – Over 30, three more years
RF open competition. Whomever starts the year will be benched after an inevitable cold streak in favor of the next young guy, until Sabean finally acquires a RF who’s over 30 and has a two year deal. Or it just goes to Juan Uribe, who starts playing the outfield in spring training. Over 30, one year deal.
This is my problem with Sabean. He loves himself a collection of over 30, middle-of-the-road-to-below-average hitters on two year contracts (except for Rowand) that don’t really improve the offense enough to make the Giants a viable contender. And when the current collection of over 30 year olds one one or two year deals hit free agency (and don’t get picked up by any other teams, inexplicably), he’ll find himself a new crop of over 30, middle-of-the-road-to-below-average hitters on two year contracts that don’t really improve the offense enough to make the Giants a viable contender (and also who, when they hit free agency, won’t get picked up by any other teams, inexplicably).
I'm thinking but nothing's happening.
The Goal is to have talent come up in waves
Separated 3-4 years apart from each other.
The current wave — Neat / Posey / Kiesch / Crawford / Sandoval / MadBum are due up in 2011
The next wave — Ralph Rod, Peguero, Joseph, Wheeler are due up in 2013/2014
The goal right now is to not block any of these guys with long term free agent signings. 2011-2014 baseball in the bay area (with The A’s and the Giants) should be very exciting.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Neal not Neat
Actually, he is neat. But that’s beside the point.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
And he’s going to tell us he doesn’t have enough money to sign very good Player X, because he has to fill 1B, 2B, SS, LF, CF, and maybe RFwith old overpaid veterans, as he always does. Nevermind that these old, overpaid veterans aren’t very good and are almost as bad as our not very good young, cheap guys….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
On the lighter side...
A friend of mine works in media relations for the Padres and told me that in the final series of 2009 Burch Bochy sent out the following lineup as a goof
1) Uribe CF
2) Uribe 2B
3) Uribe SS
4) Uribe 3B
5) Uribe 1B
6) Uribe C
7) Uribe RF
8) Uribe LF
I couldn’t decide what was sadder, that our manager thought Juan Uribe was so good he’d love to field a lineup of Juan Uribe’s, or that a lineup of Uribe’s would actually be a good thing for that team
XANTHAN!!! STOP MASTURBATING RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN!!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 11:30 AM PST up reply actions
OH MY FUCKING GOD NO
Still in despair.
"Use the stencil! Do it!"
konakona:「つかさに教われと...なんか非常に負けたような気がする。」
Shun Kakazu: MOAR JAPANESE PROSPECTS PLZ
by Zetsuboushita on Jan 11, 2010 2:49 PM PST up reply actions
Also, the obligatory
I’m sure they are glad to be out of Detroit. Welcome to San Francisco, little Huff man.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
She needs fashion help with her hat selection.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 11:39 AM PST up reply actions
I like the little guy's assessment of the Giants.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 11:41 AM PST up reply actions
The posting pics of players wives is starting to give me the creeps. Especially this candid moment probably not meant for the world to see.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Actually, I was just thinking how much better this was than the glamorshotz that usually get posted… she looks like a real, nice person and not an adolescent masturbatory fantasy.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 11, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions
probably not meant for the world to see.
Jctgamer’s got more game than we thought…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 11:54 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, no offense to jct. This pic is kinda cute with the kid. But it could start to get out of hand.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
none taken. It was a random find while I searched for Huff pics. The comment on that pic where I found it was “I’m sure Mrs. Huff is thrilled to raise a family in Detroit”
I just thought I’d borrow that line from the other site. Who knows, maybe he did choose SF because of the wonderful school system!
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Yes.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Jan 11, 2010 11:56 AM PST up reply actions
It’s always creeped me out. Any kind of boys club activity usually creeps me out. But being like “I WANT TO BONE HIS WIFE” is just weird. First strip away her person. Then identify her by way of a man. Then insert your penis. Bleh.
I completely understand wanting to bone hotties, but it gets creepy sometimes.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
The interesting thing about this conversation is that no one has actually said any such thing.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Well, not specifically here. But he does say “obligatory” and it is in reference to some pretty ridiculous threads we’ve had with semi-soft-core images pasted all over the page. It’s not like I’m drawing a nonexistent connection.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Pervert.
"Career potential: situational lefty." Situation: Ragnarok, bases loaded, Odin at the plate. You know who's getting the call.
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Being a pervert is like being Pedro Feliz, though.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:31 PM PST up reply actions
The man who looks under the bed has been there.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
Hands are busy at the moment.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
This is one of the reasons why I like this site, is that it does not usually go for such things.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Agreed and I don’t mind some of it, but I feel like it’s been going on a bit more often than usual this offseason. I dunno why.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Remember the early 2008 gameday threads? For a while, people were posting pictures of scantily clad women as K pics. I’d say that was a lot more extreme than now.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
That’s true. Of course, it stopped pretty quickly.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
This is true. I think Grant may have put the kibosh on it, but I’m not sure.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I did a lot of hiding.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
I think you people are creating mountains out of molehills.
I’m pretty perved in my appreciation, and I notice crap like that.. And honestly, there just isn’t enough to raise an eyebrow.
Feel free to crusade, but I wonder if it’s really warranted.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 1:58 PM PST up reply actions
I’m not crusading, I’m just weirded out by how much discussion of players’ wives there has been lately.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
the anonymity of mob psychology. not to the degree, but similar as gawkers at a gang rape. I have no fucking use for that shit. Its not funny.
by E Ticket on Jan 11, 2010 2:03 PM PST up reply actions
To be fair, it’s not like the ladies of McC never talk about how hot Mauer or Torres are. It’s not as common, but that’s also because most of McC is male and heterosexual.
The wife picture thing is kinda creepy, though, I agree.
I was promised lasagna.
The principle also applies on a social level!
I’m oversimplifying vastly, and I’m sure get some lip for it, and that’s okay by me, but: historically in American culture men have abused the right to objectification while women have been denied it. Turnabout might not be equitable by anybody’s standards of perfect fairness, but it is, as they say, fair play.
This applies to a wide range of social questions, and the social question of images of hot chicks being posted online is probably way down at the very bottom of the list in terms of significance for anybody. But it’s still on the list.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:03 PM PST up reply actions
It’s more of a privacy issue to me.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Then guard your images well.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
I believe this is the only picture of me on the internet:
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
according to GIS, he's one of the people/dogs in this photo
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I guess I need to know whether one of those people/dogs isn't a player's wife before I comment on it.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 2:34 PM PST up reply actions
Name the next player dropped from the roster
LOL FRANDSEN!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 11:41 AM PST reply actions
/ nods
Frandsen.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
IS PASTE VEGAN?
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
tomato paste
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
That doesn’t get you high like rubber cement, though. NO VERSATILITY = NO DEAL.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Jan 11, 2010 11:57 AM PST up reply actions
I dont hate the 1 yr/ 3 mil. And im not saying Ishikawa would have been better over huff
My BIG issue with this is that there were several options out there I would have prefered. And with the market for 1B the way it is, it seems like Huff would still have been available in a month or so. Enough time to talk more with better options/time for them to lower their demands.
I just had bigger hopes than Aubrey Huff, for our last offensive signing of the offseason. Which isnt hard to believe. I voted Nay.
Its funny because fuck the dodgers
This.
I mean, really? Aubrey Huff was Sabes’ ace in the hole?
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
And even if Huff is better than Ishikawa…it’s only by a little bit. $3M for a tiny, tiny upgrade (if it’s an upgrade at all)? Really?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:11 PM PST up reply actions
Oh how , hmm how you say , “Specail”.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions
/takes off glasses.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Can someone apply AT&T & Camden Yards measurements to this graphic?
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
AHuff 2009 @ AT&T (Light Orange) and Camden (Dark Orange)
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
hmm
not as bad as expected
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
I wonder how many of those RF HRs were line-drives that would’ve clanked off our wall rather than going into the bay. Is Camden’s RF wall’s height significantly different than ours?
nope
they have a high wall as well
http://bestof162.mlblogs.com/CamdenYards.jpg
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
The problem is the balls won’t carry as far in AT&T…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 5:56 PM PST up reply actions
nature's humidor
at least until September
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 12, 2010 7:44 AM PST up reply actions
Thank you for the added image...
maybe not as bad as I thought . I do agree that the ball will not carry as well at the Phone Booth
by Angry Dwarf on Jan 12, 2010 10:44 AM PST up reply actions
Waiting...
…for a photo shopped “HR” Huffenstuff pic.
"Man, you just can't beat a good bowl of gumbo." ~ William Nuschler Clark
A lot of people here act like signing free agents is part of a video game and like the Giants can pick from everyone available and should get David Wright and Ryan Howard and like it is a big disappointment that they have to sign people from the list of players ACTUALLY available.
Wow that’s quite a strawman you’ve got there, seeing as everyone people are saying the Giants should have signed were ACTUALLY available this offseason.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Saying that they should sign Jason Bay or Holliday doesn’t count because they weren’t going to spend that much.
You’re wrong in that if you count how many posts there are that complain and are whiny and then how many suggestions for signing someone actually available, then it isn’t even close.
Complainers here act like the Giants lost a hundred games last year not like they missed the playoffs by a few.
It’s a shame that people complaining won’t feel bad when they are really happy with how the Giants actually do next year.
It’s real life and not a video game, if you want a video game go be a bandwagon jumper and root for whatver team spends the most money each offseason. I hear the Mariners could use some fans.
by parisspleen on Jan 11, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
It’s bad that people won’t feel bad when they’re feeling good!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
But they have spent that much, more or less, on the players they have signed this offseason.
Does a complaining post have to include a name in every single one? I think people have gone over the names they like on here enough – people wanted Johnson, Cameron, Duchscherer, etc.
Complainers here are operating under the assumption that the team last year was not as good as it seemed and that in order to truly become a playoff caliber team, more than just marginal upgrades were needed.
I have no clue wat this means.
Do you really think I’m a bandwagoner who wants a video game? I can happily go boot up OOTP or whatever and trade for all my favorite players, but I do understand that IRL the Giants aren’t going to get Grady Sizemore and Roy Halladay and so on. But I also understand that the Giants probably could have done better than they did and that the moves they’ve made don’t seem – to me – to be indicative of an overall longterm strategy nor one that I think will significantly improve the team to the level it needs to be improved.
NO ONE here is saying “OH GOD WHY DID WE SIGN AUBREY HUFF I WANTED RYAN HOWARD”. What people are saying is “Why did we sign Aubrey Huff? He doesn’t seem to be much better than an Ishikawa/Garko platoon.” If that makes you angry, then so be it. But I’m not going to sit here and be a Rah Rah everything the Giants do is awesome! person if I don’t think what they’re doing is awesome.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
But that’s the thing, we HAVE spent enough to sign Bay or Holliday. We just spent it on a collection of shitty veterans who aren’t much better than the young guys we have making the minimum. Don’t you see? DeRosa + Uribe + Huff alone is almost enough to buy one Holliday!
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Rowand + Zito + Rent
= 2.25 Hollidays
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 12:22 PM PST up reply actions
At least with Rowand and Zito, as ridiculous as the contracts were – they represented a clear upgrade from what we had. Even Renteria represented an upgrade because of how god awful our SS’s were the year before. Guys like Huff/Uribe just seem like pissing money down the toilet because they aren’t going to give us any meaningful additional production compared to the players we already had in their place.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
nuh-unh
Sanchez – Derosa – Huff is though
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Well, I knew it wasn’t, that’s why I said almost. I’m assuming we needed to find some sort of fill-in middle infielder, so we had to spend some money there, so that’s why I’m hesitant to include Sanchez fully…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:56 PM PST up reply actions
oh
i missed that word.
Yeah, I am as well, but I’d MUCH rather have Holliday and Frandsen than [assortment of averageish early to mid 30s hitters]
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Even if Frandsen were only replacement level (I think he could manage at least 1 WAR), him + Holliday is likely to be better than Sanchez + DeRosa + Huff.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Yeah, but I’m also thinking we have 2 middle infielder spots, and only 1 of them filled by Frandsen. :)
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
well I'm assuming Rent.
if not, get Uribe cheap.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
and then
you’d have even more $
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Honestly my thoughts would be acquire one middle infielder, start acquired infielder + Renteria, and if Renteria doesn’t bounce back quickly I’m pulling him and putting Frandsen into the lineup.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:15 PM PST up reply actions
What I would have wanted
Sign only Uribe, use that money to sign Holliday, play Frandsen at 2nd, use Uribe as utility.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Works for me, and again, if Renteria doesn’t rebound quickly, he’s out! Uribe’s in!
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:27 PM PST up reply actions
It’s a shame that people complaining won’t feel bad when they are really happy with how the Giants actually do next year.
This is funny. People who wish the Giants would make smart moves instead of dumb ones should, paradoxically, feel bad when the Giants do well (possibly because the dumb moves worked out). OK.
Complainers here act like the Giants lost a hundred games last year not like they missed the playoffs by a few.But see, that’s the problem. They missed the playoffs by a few games, and they didn’t get better in the off-season. So most likely they’re going to miss the playoffs by a few games again. Some of us find that prospect upsetting.
I think they’ve improved offensively. They could have done better though.
I don’t think anybody else in the division has improved much either.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Wow. I’m not sure they’ve improved offensively. I guess I’d say maybe they did, but even if they did, it’s still sort of unlikely that the improvement is enough to overcome the 32 runs of lucky overperformance on offense they had last season.
Posey over Molina
Mole over the second base mess last year
DeRosa over Lewis/Velez
Maybe not 32 runs but it’s close. I don’t think we’re the favorites for the division but I wouldn’t count them out already. (Expecting/hoping for a weak NL West)
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Not being as lucky as we were last year should cost us some runs, too. We shouldn’t have scored as much as we did based on our wOBA…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
We haven’t found your counterbalance for today have we?
/quits following the Giants
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Maybe there is none and he’s absolutely right …
I'm just here for the Journey singalongs and to ogle howie
I’ve been agreeing with him most of the day. I just wish I didn’t.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
And I’ve been having a pretty negative day. But I gave it some thought, and figured out the problem. All day it’s been 100% discussion about our lineup. Maybe we should have a pitching discussion tomorrow. That’s bound to brighten things up considerably.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:16 PM PST up reply actions
Sometimes the reality of Sabean takes hold. We all get it. We forget to lower our expectations & start focusing on how a smart general manager would act. I just wasted all of my rage on the Mole signing. Got it out of the way nice & early. Like I did with Renteria last year.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Simmilar boat.
For me Fred Sanchez was just sign of things to come. Now I am just hopeing SAbean doesn’t burn the house down before the authorities arive or the Ownership returns in a drunk stupor from where ever the hell they are currently hideing and enjoying thier money.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
Why can't they?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 11:56 AM PST up reply actions
FOUR GHOSTS ARE CHASING ME! GOBBLE GOBBLE!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Jan 11, 2010 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
And some think you can tap a bootn and be rid of underr performing players and that the time that roster spot has no value.
/ Chants, " Olivio, Jacobs, Podsednik" Then smacks head with a 1 X 6. This will continue tell the pain decreases and moral improves.
by daveinexile on Jan 11, 2010 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
"...tap a bootn..."
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Similarity Scores Through Age 32
Cliff Floyd (949)
Jose Guillen (938)
Geoff Jenkins (937)
Kevin McReynolds (937)
Torii Hunter (935)
Jermaine Dye (933)
Willie Horton (927)
George Hendrick (926)
Rondell White (926)
Vic Wertz (925)
DAMN YOU, MIKE DUKAKIS!!!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 12:00 PM PST reply actions
REVOLVING DOOR PRISONS DOWN THE STRETCH, NURDZ
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
nice post
but I don’t think I want to rec this picture.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 12:22 PM PST up reply actions
VROOOOOOOOOOOOM
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:09 PM PST up reply actions
I’m happy that this reminds me of Rondell White’s check scan in the Mitchell Report.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 12:14 PM PST up reply actions
Sabean's naivete?
In the early 2000s, Sabean signed (or traded for) a bunch of aging veterans, such as Galarraga, Grissom, Burks, and Santiago, and the teams in that era did very well. In fact, many of these aging veterans did very well, and some even resurrected their careers.
Also, we had Barry Bonds. He helped some.
Conclusion: Brian Sabean doesn’t realize we no longer have Barry Bonds and that the league now tests for steroids. Guys in their mid-late 30s are now seeing declines in their stats the way most guys in this age bracket did before the late 90s, yet Sabean is signing them as if they’ll age as many did in the early 2000s.
I must be crazy cause this actually makes sense.
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
If Marvin Benard can jump from three HRs to 16 in one year, why can’t Renteria jump from five to 20? Maybe even 25!
Hey there, Greg Anderson!
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
I think he's looking for a job
but you have to go to Santa Rita to work out with him.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
2000 dingerz (or, sometimes saving the children gets in the way of entertainment)
Team total: 226
Bobby Estalella: 14
JT Snow: 19
Jeff Kent: 33
Rich Aurilia: 20
Bill Mueller: 10
Barry Bonds: 49
Marvin Benard: 12
Ellis Burks: 24
Armano Rios: 10
You know, I never thought about this.
Writers always talk about how Sabean “had” to surround Bonds with proven veterans on short term deals, and that it’s why we signed so many over-30 mediocre players. I think even Sabean says that. But Bonds has been gone for two years, and Sabean has signed Renteria, Rowand, Johnson, Sanchez, DeRosa, Uribe, and Huff. So that’s five over-30 mediocre players on short term deals (and that’s a compliment for some of those guys), one over-30 mediocre player on a long term deal, and one over-40 Randy Johnson on a short term deal. But it was obviously Bonds’ fault.
I was promised lasagna.
SADDLED!!!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Granted, these guys are more readily available since they’ve all gone through free agency before, but there are others out there, such as Kelly Johnson this year…
Exactly. I wouldn’t just sign Johnson for a year – I’d give him a three year contract. He got around $2.5M for one year in Arizona, so it would take what – $6M to get him for three years? 8? The odds of him not being worth it are very small. This way, if he goes back to his career averages, which I think he is very likely to do, we have an almost free average 2B for three years.
I was promised lasagna.
Yeah, but I bet Kelly Johnson wouldn’t want that. He’s going to Arizona thinking “I’m going to have a good year and rebuild my value and get a big contract next year.” He doesn’t want this salary for three years. He doesn’t even want it for one year, really, but he’s been forced into it.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
I don’t know about that. It’s not like he’s made so much money that he can take the risk. Young players who haven’t yet reached arbitration constantly agree to less than they are worth in exchange for a guaranteed deal. I would think that someone who finished last year back in AAA would like to know he’ll be making $8M over the next 3 years, no matter what. Maybe I’m wrong, though. But I’d take him at 3/10 too, or even 3/12. I think he would still be cheaper and better than DeRosa and Sanchez.
I was promised lasagna.
I seem to remember
Aubrey Huff being a hot prospect with the original devil rays. I am just going to pretend we got that guy.
Also Grant, did you steal “C-” from my comment in the Sabean thread?
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
Is it bad
That I always read your username as “zbenitez”
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
it's OK
as long as you think in some dialect where the “z” prefix means “absolute and total negation”. Like as long as it translates to “antibenitez”, we’re cool.
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
I don't know why but
I could see an epic fail collapse from our team with DeRosa, Sanchez, Huff, Rowand, Renteria, and Uribe playing massive time.
Fortunately, this is not the most likely outcome…
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
I think at least one of those players will have a massive collapse (I think Uribe is most likely), but I doubt that all of them do.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
If they do, maybe Sabean and Bochy will be gone!
(Yeah, right)
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Root for dizzying heights or embarrassing lows. The worst case scenario is another fluky almost-but-not-quite season.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
I say they all will
Though, not at the same time
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:30 PM PST up reply actions
All of them outright collapsing would be a stretch, but Uribe at 31 will be the youngest of that group when the season starts. Therefore, all of them hurt and/or sucking for some portion of the season is perfectly plausible, so it wouldn’t be surprising to me if the Giants fielded a lineup on, say, August 15 that had none of those guys in it.
On the one hand, I want it to happen because we really need Sabean gone that badly. On the other hand, I can’t root for that, because our pitching staff is special. They deserve a team that can compete. We won’t have an opportunity like this any time soon again. We should be taking advantage of it. Unfortunately, we’re not.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
Surprise of the year
I thought he worked hard to hit those dingerz, instead of taking shots in the ass from Jose.
Win the inning.
by Scooter Ellis on Jan 11, 2010 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Did anyone watch that Jose Canseco show on Biography?
That was the saddest shit I’ve ever seen.
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
that show is awesome
my girl thought it was a movie at first, then I had to explain the backstory.
She seriously said, “WTF?”
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 12, 2010 7:47 AM PST up reply actions
I just can’t understand how we end up with Huff, while Laroche, Branyan, and Delgado are still without deals. Every year I wait for a change in the way our FO does things, and every year I am disappointed.
by AndOnTheDrums... on Jan 11, 2010 12:50 PM PST reply actions
Sabean doesn’t seem to see lack of performance as a risk. That’s why we don’t sign guys like Glaus or Delgado, who are definitely injury risks, but still have the capability to put up big numbers when healthy, while we will sign guys who are healthier but whose biggest risk factor is that Bochy might play them regularly regardless of performance.
While this signing doesn’t have any long term affects on this team, it will make the coming season unbearable to watch if Huff hits like he did last year. I believe since he is considered a proven veteran, Bork will continue to pencil him into a lineup spot (fifth) even when he isn’t hitting. Much like Molina in the cleanup spot and Renteria anywhere on a starting lineup card last year, Bochy don’t like to change his lineups too much when it comes to veterens, even when we have one of the worst offenses in history. This might actually happen especially out of the gate considering Huff has spent half a season (Astros in 06) in the National League.
I also think it is funny (sadly) that after a year where Sabean and Bochy claim they are going to play the kids, they use small sample sizes to discredit their decision (LOL Fred), get contract extensions from Bow-Tie, and as of right now get to field lineup where 2/3 of the outfield and 3/4 of the infield are so-called proven veterans.
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 11, 2010 12:58 PM PST reply actions
So....
I just made a 5$ bet with a philly-fan friend that Aubrey Huff will out-OPS+ Placido Polanco next year.
What’re my odds?
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
I DEMAND OPINIONS
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
Yes.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Hmm. You might have even odds. Although, he’s on the Giants now, so that’s an automatic 50% reduction.
I was thinking
That Polanco has declined offensively for like 3 years straight.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
HE TOOK THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN GOING ANYYYYWHEEEERE
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
SMELL OF WINE AND CHEAP PERFUME
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
A SMELL OF WINE AND CHEAP PERFUME
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
damnit
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
STOP IT
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
I don’t get what the point of these off-topic posts are. We’re already at 1000+ posts and my work browser is going slow as fuck to begin with, do we really need to add to it with this kind of nonsense?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:18 PM PST up reply actions
You do know what site you are on, right?
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
HAHAHAH. wait are you serious?
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
Yeah isn’t there another thread out there you guys can fill up with that kind of thing. Preferably one I don’t read. :)
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
shirley!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 3:39 PM PST up reply actions
Shlemozzel!
Plenty of threads to read. Try another.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 3:42 PM PST up reply actions
My point is to try to cheer myself up after reading 800 posts from you on how the Giants suck. Which apparently they do, but man. How cold is it in Philadelphia?
I'm just here for the Journey singalongs and to ogle howie
God it’s brutal. I guess it’s even below freezing all the way down to Florida, so I’m not the only one. We’re all suffering on the East Coast. It’s ok, though, I just got back from a vacation to the tropics a couple weeks ago.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 5:59 PM PST up reply actions
It's interesting to see a split in how the comments go vs. how the polls go
Most of the comments are pretty down on Huff, I’d say, but in the poll, Yay leads nay 42%-26%.
Sort of like in the community prospects list, where Dominguez keeps coming close to winning despite there being almost no comments in his favor.
I guess there’s a divide between the hardcore poster nerds and the lurkers.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
REVEAL YOURSELVES!!!
please do not reveal yourselves on BART
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
The guys not commenting, like me, are “meh” and voted as such.
This has been a very meh offseason, if considered in comparison to previous Giants offseasons.
"I never watched baseball on TV. It's slow and boring. I'm not a fan. Never was." - Jeff Kent
I’ve been voting for Dominguez in the last 4 or 5 polls.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 1:22 PM PST up reply actions
Well what can I say? I’m not as passionately for this signing as others have been passionately against. Me, I don’t really care about building lineups or rosterbation. I’m waiting for Spring Training. I’m not equipped for, nor get enjoyment from, arguing over front office decisions and this player vs. that player. I’m just here for the Journey singalongs and to ogle howie.
... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time
We do requests!
JUST A SMALL TOWN GIRL
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
`
LIVIN’ IN A LONELY WOOOORLD
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
SHE TOOK THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN GOING ANYYYYWHEEEERE
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
NOT DRUNK ENOUGH
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
YES YOU ARE
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Who isn't here to ogle Howie?!
I mean….FAILBEARD!!
What’s not to like?
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 1:45 PM PST up reply actions
You sound like you get a lot more enjoyment out of rooting for the Giants than I do…
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 5:59 PM PST up reply actions
projections
wOBA
Huff All Fans 0.332
Ishikawa All Fans 0.33
Huff Bill James 0.338
Ishikawa Bill James 0.336
Huff CHONE 0.334
Ishikawa CHONE 0.333
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
zips
projects Huff:
.260/.323./431 in Comerica (Detroit) for an OPS+ of a clean 100. Or “20% worse than Garko”). He is rated as a “fair” fielder – which is below average. That’s a wOBA fo about .332 or so (just guestimating)
On the plus side, it is significantly better than the Zips projection of Ishiwaka (89 OPS+)
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
No
They are not, because they definitely change when a player signs with a team or is traded
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
wow
In this offseason funk, I downloaded another Giants game from iTunes; this one’s an extra inning victory against the Yankees from 2007. Featuring Barry!
It’s a Fox broadcast, and they had Billy Crystal and Robin Williams announcing the lineups. For Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, Robin Williams did some pretty racist accent/language caricatures. Hooray!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Robin Williams is a trainwreck when he’s trying to be funny these days
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
A lot of his trying to be funny in the past is pretty dated these days, too. I used to love him. Now I kind of cringe when I see him doing anything. At this point, he’s got The Birdcage, Hook and I guess Good Will Hunting, Jumanji, and Aladdin in his resume of good work.
Toys gets a nostaligic vote from me, though. Joan Cusack + LL Cool J = Win.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
WTF?
Good Morning Vietnam? Mork & Mindy? Dead Poets Society?
Toys? Really?
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
I loved Toys as a kid. I didn’t say it was a good call. I admitted it was nostalgia. I actually haven’t seen Good Morning Vietnam or Mork and Mindy, so iono. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt, though. I was just writing a comment to go ahead and include Dead Poets, but you beat me to it.
To be more on topic for him trying to be funny, though, you’d have to throw out Good Will and Dead Poets. And I don’t know if all the kids movies should really count.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 1:35 PM PST up reply actions
Didn’t he have a little freedom in Aladdin? Good Morning Vietnam was his best comedic performance in a movie, imo. You should watch it. Support your celebrity Giants fans.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
But that would mean you have to watch Rob Schneider movies. Nobody wants that.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
True
But Judge Dredd is a hit in my family. For the unintentional comedy & one of my uncles dragged us all to see it.
I AM THE LAW!
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
If I want unintentional comedy
Jurassic Park 3 never fails. Just completely hilarious.
The last Star Wars movie is also good for that purpose.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 1:52 PM PST up reply actions
YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
NOOOOOOOOOooOOoooOOOOOOOOoooOoOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
You… Klingon…. Bastard you…Killed my SON YOU …
Klingon Bas….Tard you killed my…
Son…..You Kling…..On Bastard…..You killed…
My Son…
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
You were like a brother to me
now lie here and burn to death in the lava.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 11, 2010 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
LOLAVA!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
LOL CONVECTION
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
History of the world.... part II
The Lord…. has given us….these 15……..
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Oh Jesus...
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
I also like that they took one of the few stories in the bible in which the female characters are portrayed positively, then invented a new female character so they can blame most of the story on her. You see, Pharaoh actually wanted to free the Hebrews! It’s just his vindictive wife, who couldn’t get over Moses breaking up with her, who wouldn’t let him.
I was promised lasagna.
I loved JD the comic
the movie… not so much… but ironically the best scene was Schniders where he is sitting next to Dredd on the convict-space-plane and doesn’t recognize him until he holds his hand over Dredd’s eye to represent his helmet.
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
The Fisher King.
And I do believe One Hour Photo was mentioned somewhere…out there…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 7:26 PM PST up reply actions
The French version of The Birdcage is way better anyway imo
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
I didn’t know this existed. I will find it and Netflix it immediately.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 1:37 PM PST up reply actions
Oh my, and there’s a sequel with an absolutely ridiculous plot to boot!
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 1:40 PM PST up reply actions
I have not seen the sequel.
Part of the humor of the French version is that the actors are mostly known in France as playing all gangster-type roles. I mean, it’s funny on its own but I think it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to know this.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
You know not what that means.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:04 PM PST up reply actions
You not know what that means
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Yes.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
No love at all for Doubtfire?
Not even just a little? Come on!
Seasons will pass you by. I get up, I get down.
for the Giants lineup
Williams called Matt Morris a shortstop.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
oh dear
Brennaman just now: “Randy Winn grew up across the Bay in Oakland, at San Ramon Valley High School…”
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
They’re $1.99 per game. They don’t have all the games, though, just “best of.”
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
For example, if you want to see the Spillborghs walk-off grand slam, or the Benitez two-balk blown save game again…
(there are some the Giants win, too. A few of ’em.)
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
I Don't Hate This Move
While an outfielder/lead-off guy would be a much better move, this is really not a horrible move. It’s $3M for a guy who could potentially hit 20-25 dingers with slightly above average slash lines, and he plays the one spot where you can stash a defensive liability. Even if he’s somewhere between 2008 and 2009 numbers (ideally closer to the former), he’s a big improvement over Garko. I know AT&T is a better park for right-handers, but if you’re a righty who can only hit lefties, you don’t see your ideal pitcher enough to justify your existence without a platoon partner. Garko was a better hitter than his numbers showed, but his career splits versus righties weren’t enough to justify his existence when other players were already available at his position (and calls to question again why that trade was ever made). Ishikawa doesn’t have the power numbers for a 1B, and if you quote his 2009 home stats, I will slap you. Other than extreme hitting/pitching parks like Colorado and Petco, home and road splits are fairly meaningless over a single year. Would you bet $100 in Vegas that Ishikawa comes close to his ’09 home splits again? I would, if I am the casino taking your bet.
The fact is that the Giants offense found the perfect time to be needy, when the worst free agent market in years was upon them. Nobody out there was going to make this awful offense resemble upper-tier hitting. However, the lineup when healthy is definitely better than last year (assuming Pablo puts up similar numbers again). There are way too many question marks for me to bet on the Giants to win the division, but they are too many question marks within the NL West for me to put big money against them.
Eliminate that pesky Dominatrix in one easy step. Step 1: Tell her you're a Cubs fan!
Except that projections basically have Ishikawa at the same level as Huff. Not because Ishikawa is good, mind you, but because the very likely thing is Huff is pretty bad at this point. When you’re 33 and on the downward trend he is, you’re most likely not going to be very good the next year. Basically, Huff and Ishikawa are roughly equal, if you want to call Huff a little better, fine….but the point is, when we’re already paying Ishikawa the minimum….what’s the point in wasting $3M on Huff?
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
Essentially, the Giants are gambling $3M that Huff returns somewhat to form, with the hope that he plays better for an improved contract after the season. They’ve already decided that Ishikawa isn’t the guy they want, but if Huff does continue to decline, they can cut him loose or find a trade partner during the season. With the versatility of the new lineup, Ishikawa can still end up as the late-inning defensive replacement. Bochy’s lineup tinkering scares the crap out of me, though – this roster is a little too versatile.
Like my header said, I don’t hate this move. It doesn’t mean I think it’s a masterstroke, but the upside outweighs the $3M, one-year contract. At this point, the hope of a return to form by Huff is better than knowing what you’re going to get with Ishikawa.
Eliminate that pesky Dominatrix in one easy step. Step 1: Tell her you're a Cubs fan!
At this point, the hope of a return to form by Huff is better than knowing what you’re going to get with Ishikawa.
I’ve said it a few times – on the surface, there’s nothing wrong with the move. Huff is probably wortht he contract, and at least worth the risk, if our other option is a replacement player. It’s not, though, and this is the important concept. Even taking the possibility of Huff rebounding into account – that is, we ARE factoring it in, we’re left with a player (Ishikawa) who is just as productive as Huff, who doesn’t cost an extra $3M. It doesn’t make sense. If it was one move, I wouldn’t care. A one year, $3M contract hardly makes a difference one way or another. When you add up just how much money we’re wasting on pointless crappy veterans like Huff when we have options that are cheaper and just as good (or almost as good), though, you find a ton of wasted money that prevents us from doing things that actually improve the team. And that’s the problem.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
I predicted Aubrey Huff might be a Giant last August...
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/8/30/604633/lincecum-just-tip-of-the-i
Most fans seem higher on him now than back then, judging by this poll. Let’s just hope he doesn’t pull a ‘Garko’ on us.
"It kind of gives everybody else out there who is not a big person the motivation and the inspiration that they know they can do it, too."--Tim Lincecum
by Timlincecum.com on Jan 11, 2010 1:45 PM PST reply actions
OH!!!!!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
let’s hope that the Giants don’t pull a Garko on him, either (not that I was in his camp, but sheesh)
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 4:56 PM PST up reply actions
Is this it?
Are we done? Maybe we’ll still pick up Brad Ausmus and give a minor-league contract or two to some aging pitchers?
I’m about out of ideas considering we’re probably about done spending money. I might try giving Rich Hill a shot, but that’s about all I see.
Our outfield could possibly get a power boost from a 2B, and yet Sabean still has a job…
I am anti-Bumgarner in 2010
I think the Giants should target one of the FA reclamation pitchers. I originally wanted Duchschererererererer. What is out there still?
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
This
Fa’ sheezy
How they can look at Bumgarner and go, “Boom… major league ready, bitches,” while furrowing their collective brows over Posey’s catching ability is something else.
Then again, the Giants tend to get my benefit of the doubt when it comes to pitching talent.
How they can look at Bumgarner and go, "Boom… major league ready, bitches,"
Because MANNY said he was ready! MANNY didn’t say that about Buster.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
From mlbtraderumors
Brandon Backe (32)
Cha Seung Baek (30)
Miguel Batista (39)
Erik Bedard (31) – Type B, not offered arb
Kris Benson (34)
Paul Byrd (39)
Daniel Cabrera (29)
D.J. Carrasco (33)
Bartolo Colon (37)
Jose Contreras (38)
Doug Davis (34) – Type B, not offered arb
Adam Eaton (32)
Shawn Estes (37)
Josh Fogg (33)
Jon Garland (30) – Type B, not offered arb
Tom Glavine (44)
Mike Hampton (37)
Mark Hendrickson (36)
Livan Hernandez (35)
Rich Hill (30)
Shawn Hill (29)
Jason Jennings (31)
Jason Johnson (36)
Colby Lewis (30)
Braden Looper (35) – Type B, not offered arb
Noah Lowry (29)
Pedro Martinez (38)
Eric Milton (34)
Dustin Moseley (28)
Mark Mulder (32)
Vicente Padilla (32) – Type B, not offered arb
Odalis Perez (33)
Joel Pineiro (31) – Type B, offered arb
Sidney Ponson (33)
Mark Prior (28)
Horacio Ramirez (30)
Tim Redding (32)
Jason Schmidt (37)
Ben Sheets (31)
John Smoltz (43)
Brett Tomko (37)
Chien-Ming Wang (30)
Jarrod Washburn (35)
Todd Wellemeyer (31)
Kip Wells (33)
Brandon Backe!!!!
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
Bedard or Sheets would be a nice pickup.
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 2:22 PM PST up reply actions
From what I’ve read, Bedard’s injury was pretty serious, and he’ll likely miss at least a month of the season if not two or three. Sheets’ injury wasn’t supposed to be as bad, but he apparently wants over $10 million guaranteed. He won’t get it, so it’ll be a question of how low the number actually drops. I suspect we’ll be aiming lower than this…
Ben Sheets =
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
I always thought Shawn Hill had a weak arm
with only throwing up to 5 yards at a time
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 2:33 PM PST up reply actions
ESTES!
i wanna see another mound tantrum plz.
I'm just here for the Journey singalongs and to ogle howie
Josh Fogg (33)
because it’s fog(g)y in San Francisco!!! the Fogg horn will sound when he hits a HR
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
more likely
A hearty thank you to Rich Aurilia for all the good memories, and to the Niners for finally getting the uni's (mostly) right.
Name that jumps out to me
Shawn Estes.
Smoltz is the guy I’d probably like.
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 3:01 PM PST up reply actions
is Doug Davis still available?
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 2:21 PM PST up reply actions
I know you're kidding, but
Doesn’t pretty much everyone think he’s older than he’s listed as? That used to be the belief, at least.
"Why not trade Bumgarner for some banger stud?" - sfgiants.com commenter or online porn ad? You be the judge!
Adopted Giant: the probably soon to be ditched but still awesome Fred Lewis
For insurance, we’ll put a clause in his contract stating he must be able to throw at least 75% of his fastballs at least twice his age in MPH or his contract is voided…
INNINGZ EATER!!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 3:35 PM PST up reply actions
You’ve been thinking
And I’ve been drinking
We both know that it’s just not right
Now you’re pretending
That it’s not ending
You’ll say anything to avoid a fight
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
50, 000 Frankenfrancs to the NO GOOGLING DAMMIT person who can correctly name...
…the backing vocalists on the chorus of “Hip To Be Square”.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
Ronnie Lott...
Dwight Clark, Joe Montana, Riki Ellison?
I don’t think that’s exactly right, but at least I didn’t google.
Seasons will pass you by. I get up, I get down.
It's a nice feeling when you don't have to.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
Moneyball II: Electic Boogaloo
Guys, I think it’s clear that Brian Sabean is just exploiting market inefficiencies. “Guys, nobody is signing all these old players who were bad last year!”
Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar
This year without the massively overpay section. Which is nice.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
um with 8 dollar beers they can afford it (<>..<>)
by BillyMaysHere on Jan 11, 2010 2:30 PM PST up reply actions
i like the signing , it takes pressure off travis ishikawa .It gives him time to learn to hit for better average and contact meanwhile HUff has tons of power , i realy think he will be a 275 average guy and 16-18 homers for us (<>..<>)
It also gives Ishikawa time...
to plan for a different career
by NeifiChicken on Jan 11, 2010 3:01 PM PST up reply actions
Ishikawa doesn’t need the pressure taken off him. He’s been in this exact no-man’s land situation for years, now. What he needs is to not have a shitty veteran who isn’t better than him signed for millions of dollars to play instead of him. Also, AT&T destroys lefty pull hitters power. That’s exactly what Huff is. Also, Huff sucks to begin with.
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 3:25 PM PST up reply actions
ding ding ding
I still don’t believe he’ll ever be a league-average first-baseman, but at least Ishikawa is free.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Your 2010 Giants: Still better than Jermaine Dye.
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
oh you don't want to touch that shit today
trust me on this one
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
FOUL!
I have to raise an objection to the reference about touching a player’s wife, or the derogatory way in which she was referred to. Honestly, people, aren’t we all just a little more evolved than this?
Perhaps we need some revisions to the Ten McCommandments. Or somethin’.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
My sarcasm meter is off the charts right now.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:51 PM PST up reply actions
things that are not Jermaine Dye
Glue
Paste
toilet paper
Frying pan taped onto a mannequin
actually about that last one…..
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
chorizo
Kevin Mitchell has a black belt in keeping it real.
by kbsofaraway08 on Jan 11, 2010 2:56 PM PST up reply actions
This thread is totally wonky. Too many comments.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Should I make an Aubrey Huff overflow thread?
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
TWSS!
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
Nah
The Huff discussion seems to be petering. An overflow thread would have no chance at staying on topic.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
Bacon cake.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:41 PM PST up reply actions
You know who makes a mean bacon cake? Aubrey Huff’s wife!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Mmm, wi - er, BACON...
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 4:13 PM PST up reply actions
If I didn't know any better I'd think I was being deliberately baited.
And since I’m not a lambasting know – it – all I don’t know any better.
STOP BAITING ME WITH PLAYERS WIVES!
/considers
I mean THE WIVES OF PLAYERS!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
Sorry Grant, wrong again
Good teams are built on pitching and defense ( Oakland 71-74) add some hitting and you have a great team. Huff can’t run fast enough to spread his own poop.
That’s what I think of when I think of the Yankees. Defense.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
DREAMY EYES
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
well
their pitching is pretty good, but LOLDEFENSE.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
OF defense will be fine though
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
This is like people who say that good football teams are built on running and defense. When in fact very good football teams are most often the ones that are far more capable of throwing the ball than anything else.
I don’t know specifically how the balance breaks down in baseball, but the “pitching and defense” thing is too much of an adage for me to take it seriously without seeing something to back it up.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 3:40 PM PST up reply actions
It's all about pitching and defense
When offense wins, it is because there is not enough pitching and defense on the other side.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
Well to be fair, power pitching and defense do seem to be two of the only variables that correlate significantly with playoff success in baseball….
by Missing Barry on Jan 11, 2010 6:02 PM PST up reply actions
This pic makes him look like the astronaut on Northern Exposure
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 11, 2010 3:37 PM PST reply actions
He looks like a 50 year old Brad Henessey
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 11, 2010 4:50 PM PST up reply actions
HA HA HA
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
isn’t that Aurillia with his goat shaved off?
by KrazyKrabMeat on Jan 11, 2010 9:35 PM PST up reply actions
Why would Richie want a naked goat? Wait, don’t answer that question…
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 11, 2010 10:30 PM PST up reply actions
2,000 votes. Thats what MLB Trade Rumors does.
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 3:42 PM PST reply actions
And Aubrey was his name,
And yet he’s very ordinary just the same.
But who’s to blame?
For the gloves that couldn’t pick
For the scrubs that never hit a lick.
Like a silly Hillenbrand declining from his prime,
Pay him for outlying years and all you get is time.
Oh God, I miss Will Clark,
And I’d stroll the Dodgers’ parking lot past dark
Just to say
He’s half a Thrill in the Bay.
by Allied Six-Band on Jan 11, 2010 3:50 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I thought about doing something like this when I mentioned the song earlier, but then I realized that it was too much time/wok to devote to a middling player.
"El once, chico. Eleven."
I can see that. But this one’s not really about Huff, so much.
by Allied Six-Band on Jan 11, 2010 8:14 PM PST up reply actions
Nickname suggestion: Huff n Stuff
Has anyone suggested to call him Huff n Stuff?
(Someone with photoshop skills can fix this or another picture)
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 4:13 PM PST reply actions
We signed Aubrey Huff
He won’t help a little but he won’t help enough.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
This has probably already been posted, but I didn’t see it. BP had an article last week about Huff, and at the end the author speculates as to who might take the plunge. His best guess: the Royals. When you pick up a player that folks thought was one Dayton Moore would sign, you’ve obviously done well.
At least we didnt get Mike Jacobs!
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 4:22 PM PST up reply actions
Hes not versatile enough.
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 4:25 PM PST up reply actions
I also liked this comment
on tangotiger’s site: http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/sabermetric_moves_of_the_2010_pre_season/#216
Mark Klaassen is not the only who thinks that GMs sometimes have contests of unskill. Is Brian Sabean upset that Moore, Minaya, Hendry, and Wade are stealing all the "bad GM" press? The only rationale to signing Aubrey Huff is that he wants to get in on the game.
Anything else happen other than some guy i had on my fantasy team last year getting signed by the giants?
The giants are currently in talks of bringing benito santigo out of retirement. Bochy and sabeans ultimate dream is to field a 44 year old veteran for 500 AB’s next year.
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
Oh man YEAH!!!!
Baltimore: A horseshit city
by BringBackBenitoSantiago on Jan 11, 2010 5:26 PM PST up reply actions
OT: NCAA probe on USC complete
The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions will meet in mid-February to discuss what investigators uncovered, and sanctions are likely to come another 6-8 weeks afterwards.
"I never watched baseball on TV. It's slow and boring. I'm not a fan. Never was." - Jeff Kent
What the hell? All these posts were on topic?
I don’t know who you people are anymore.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
FOOD
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
PIZZA
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 5:45 PM PST up reply actions
Ive been saving this for an emergency of this caliber
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 4:38 PM PST up reply actions
what is this
i don’t even
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
o_O
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 5:11 PM PST up reply actions
smells like mediocrity
does not smell like teen spirit
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
Your 2010 Giants: Where it smells like mediocrity.
"When I get up in the mourning I piss excellence."-Ricky Bobby
perhaps the giants could pick up arnes battle for more outfield depth, your thoughts?
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
gritty
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 5:02 PM PST up reply actions
Professional something-or-other
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 5:37 PM PST up reply actions
Smells like 33 year old veteran spirit
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 5:05 PM PST up reply actions
“brian sabean is wheelin and dealin this offseason”
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
I’ma spen ever las cents I has
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 5:03 PM PST up reply actions
/shift-A
Llamas?
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 4:58 PM PST reply actions
scroll up
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 5:05 PM PST up reply actions
I wish
Rowand is due for a monster season in 2010, if you look at the pattern of his wRC+ from the past six years: 136, 96, 92, 131, 97, 96. Once every three years, Rowand blows up, and otherwise, he’s a slightly below average hitter. Get ready San Francisco, Aaron is due to make up for $19.2M you paid him the past two years.
This is tongue-in-cheek, btw. I’ve found Satchel Price typically knows what he’s talking about.
Yes!
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 5:11 PM PST up reply actions
SCOTT'S PATTERN SUCKS
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
My guess is that he’s contending Rowand provided $4.8M worth of value over the last two years, and he’s about to make up for the rest of it.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
He Is Using The Dollar Figures Used In Luxury Tax Calculations
Rowand had an $8M signing bonus all actually paid in the first two seasons at $4M each. However the Luxury Tax Formula doesn’t care when signing bonus’s are paid but rather distributes them evenly over the length of the contract and thus only applied $1.6M (8/5) each in the first two years and will continue to apply this in the next three.
However the Luxury Tax formula does care when salary is paid. Rowand’s contract paid him salaries of $8M each in the first two years and will pay him a salary of $12M in each of the last three.
Add these two up and you get $3.2M (2 × 1.6) + $16M (2 × 8) for a total of $19.2M
by giantsrainman on Jan 13, 2010 1:14 PM PST up reply actions
If rowands gonna have a career year, perhaps renteria will to? I think russ ortiz has a better chance of winning a cy young with the dodgers next season than that happening TBH.
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
Oh Rays, doing something I would've preferred Sabean doing.
Signed Dan Johnson to a $500k deal
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
I forgot he existed, but yeah, this is another guy with a solid chance to be just as good as Aubrey Huff.
Wow
His BABIP was really low in his short time in the majors, and he doesn’t really fit the profile. It was average in the minors. Aside from that he showed solid contact skills, great patience, and OK power. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he managed a .275/.365/.445 line next year.
I’m starting to think that paying anything for a not great 1B might be a waste of money. It seems like there are just soooo many decent free ones out there.
I was promised lasagna.
If the Rays are signing Dan Johnson to $500K, I’m just going to go ahead and say that was probably a smarter move than Huff for $3M.
by Missing Barry on Jan 14, 2010 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Horseshit. Why So Much Love For AAAA Players?
by giantsrainman on Jan 14, 2010 9:56 PM PST up reply actions
I happen to be irrationally biased against their bodies.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 15, 2010 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
Name your AVG/OBP/SLG projections for Huff and Dan Johnson (and Garko, while we’re at it). Then we can talk. It’s impossible to argue with you when all you do is call others silly without saying what you think is going to happen.
I was promised lasagna.
Horseshit!
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 15, 2010 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
Horseboat!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 15, 2010 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
Horshack!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 16, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
There’s not so much love. There’s appreciation of the moves a good GM makes. There’s a reason Dan Johnson got $500K – he’s not very good. I’m not arguing otherwise. The difference is while the Rays pay him half a million, we’re paying a guy who not only is not very good, but also isn’t really better than what we already have $3M. That’s why it’s a smarter move than Huff. And if you want to make one of your ridiculous “we don’t know what Sabean was thinking so we have to trust his ‘scouting’” claims, I’m just going to point to the Rays clearly superior track record and say if that’s your basis for judgment, they win.
by Missing Barry on Jan 15, 2010 9:47 AM PST up reply actions
When One Of Thes AAAA Clowns Produces A 4+ WAR Season Come Talk To Me
by giantsrainman on Jan 15, 2010 8:28 PM PST up reply actions
And I remind you that Huff cost $2.5M more, and that Johnson is a better fielder, and that they’re the same age – so if in spite of this you think it’s “horseshit” to claim that the Johnson deal was probably better, you must think Huff is going to out-hit Johnson by quite a bit.
I was promised lasagna.
Ah yes, because paying for past performance makes sense. In reality, though, past performance is only useful in what it can tell us about the future. Historically it seems that Huff’s past performance tells us he’s an unlikely bet to be good next season, which is exactly why the projections systems think Huff sucks….so yeah, the past performance aspect doesn’t actually help your case.
by Missing Barry on Jan 18, 2010 10:02 PM PST up reply actions
Huff stuff
My son and I hit Camden Yards for the first time last year — saw a Tigers-Orioles game in which Luke Scott hit two homers. Huff looked good at the plate, hitting some ropes, but stuck in mud and stiff in the field. There are going to be days when we miss Ishi.
Giants have talked to Yorvit Torrealba about their catching job, but no deal close. He’d be a good fit as bridge to Posey if he’d take 1 yr
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 5:31 PM PST reply actions
Poor Yorvit
Didn’t he turn down something like 2/$5M from the Rox at the start of the off-season? Now it looks like the Giants’ 1/$2M might be the best he can do. Well at least I hope that’s what Sabean’s offering.
Yorvit is a very good catcher
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 7:08 PM PST up reply actions
Just finish me off Sabean. Block Posey with a mediocre veteran catcher who was 1/10 the skill of Posey.
Now, now
How would you know that Buster Posey is more skilled when he has no major league experience?
If he gets some major league experience, then we’d be in a better position to judge.
Unfortunately, his lack of major league experience precludes this possibility, so we’re going to bring in someone with some actual major league experience.
/The most circular of reasoning
Just finish me off Sabean.
Excuse me, Susan…
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
SABEAN HAS MOB CONNECTIONS
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 6:01 PM PST up reply actions
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Over/under 499.5 PA’s for Yorvit if he signs for one year?
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
OT: Adoption Draft
After the conversation that happened yesterday, I searched for old adoption threads to see how the draft process worked, thinking I would possibly try to run it. But I got really confused so that didn’t work out.
Ok, it’s been an excessively negative day for me. I feel I should go out on a positive note. So here we go. We still have Tim Lincecum under team control for 4 more years. We have not traded Matt Cain. Jonathan Sanchez is already a solid pitcher, and with his strikeout stuff, has a chance to be dominant. Brian Wilson is solid. Affeldt is extremely solid. Romo is good. Runzler has talent. Buster Posey is a stud. Bumgarner still has tons of potential – with that kind of control and a lefty with a 90-something fastball + deception….yeah, good stuff. A quality farm system overall – the backbone of a winning organization. For once, it’s not just pitching, either. We’ve got a good mix of pitching and hitting down there. Pablo Sandoval, ‘nuff said. Hell, even Zito doesn’t suck these days. Out!
D
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 7:24 PM PST up reply actions
G is for...for...
…gee whiz, just couldn’t wait until tomorrow, huh?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
H
is for hamCrakalaka
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
J
is for Jermaine Dye, please don’t come to San Francisco.
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 8:08 PM PST up reply actions
O
Is for on-base percentage, which the Giants still sorely lack
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
P is for pablo, for without him many giants fans would not be living.
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
S
Is for slugging percentage, of which the Giants will not as much lack
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
Really? The alphabet?
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:01 PM PST up reply actions
fine
JUST A CITY BOY
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 9:04 PM PST up reply actions
That’s more like it.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2010 9:44 PM PST up reply actions
U
is for utility player, which the Giants have many of.
Kids in the back seat cause accidents. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
X
’s are for the eye of every Giants fan
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
W
is for wait…what happened to the w?
Kids in the back seat cause accidents. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
don't you get it?
Your 2010 SF Giants… without the the Ws!!!
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?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
V
is for “virgins” – this team will have to sacrifice nine of them for each Giants wins.
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
Gonna be hard to find that commodity in SF
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Jan 11, 2010 9:34 PM PST up reply actions
Z
is for the snoozing we’ll be doing when the Giants come to bat.
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 11:04 PM PST up reply actions
Y
Is for the youth that will never get served…
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
F!
Wait, what’s going on here?
Osiris, Lord of the Dead, and... relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants?
Æ
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Jan 11, 2010 11:27 PM PST up reply actions
Whatever happened to...
Ivan Ochoa?
I was watching the dodger game from ‘08, the day Barry came back… 10th inning 3-2 win over the dooshbags… Ochoa pinch hit … I’d forgotten he even existed.
Last I remember, he was in the Red Sox system.
Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner
by walkoff baltimore chop on Jan 11, 2010 7:24 PM PST up reply actions
correct
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Jan 12, 2010 7:56 AM PST up reply actions
I will never forget Burchoacock!
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Jan 11, 2010 7:25 PM PST up reply actions
At least we didn’t re-sign jason schmidt
"The criticism was so brutal that Sabean was forced to declare, at a press conference, "I am not an idiot." Thus, the pattern of Sabean's relationship to his critics was established."
Time has come today.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 10:12 AM PST up reply actions
I know I might get some flack for this, but...
Is it possible that AL East pitching might be better than NL West? That is to say, that Huff will get a boost via nothing more than a league/division change?
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
I wouldn't be surprised if it was close
I haven’t looked at the numbers that much though.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
But he also sucked in the AL central..
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
Would be MVP in NL.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
Hmm Finals week is coming up. Is there anyway to get temporarily banned from this site?
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 8:37 PM PST reply actions
But then I will be even more tempted to go on the computer
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
MLB.com’s Chris Haft says that with the signing of Aubrey Huff, the Giants are likely finished making improvements to their roster.
LOL. “Improvements”
Oh he’s on the shortlist of contenders. More lulz.
Health is an issue. Second baseman Freddy Sanchez (left knee, left shoulder), DeRosa (left wrist) and shortstop Edgar Renteria (both shoulders, right elbow) are striving to recover from injuries.
Additionally, several Giants must rebound from subpar seasons. Renteria hit a career-low .250. Huff also recorded his lowest batting average (.241) and hit 15 homers, less than half of what he amassed the previous season. Center fielder Aaron Rowand hit .261, his lowest average since he hit .258 in 2002, his first full Major League season. During his injury-shortened stint of 25 games with the Giants last year, Sanchez compiled on-base and slugging percentages of .295 and .324, respectively. By comparison, he owns a career on-base average of .334 and a slugging percentage of .417
Ungainly but not ugly
Two years ago I hoped for Huff. I agree with Grant: this signing doesn’t hurt. Huff is a professional hitter, a below average glove (but not as poor as Garko), and cheap. Given that the front office might have thrown quite a bit of money at LaRoche, I’ll accept our fate graciously.
PS- Keeping Panda at third is the right thing to do.
PSS- DeRosa in LF is the right thing to do (and you know why).
PSSS- I’d be PSSS if Ishi started.
Don't believe everything you think.
Can DeRosa play RF so we can keep Lewis in LF…?
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 7:15 AM PST up reply actions
There was a link to this on MLB Trade Rumors.
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 9:09 PM PST up reply actions
Yet when someone in the local media references this, it will say POLL: GIANTS FANZ LUFF HUFF!
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
The Cardigans!
Luff me luff me
Say that you luff me
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 10:57 PM PST up reply actions
actually
on this team, either he or DeRosa should bat 3rd, and the other 5th.
Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl
Hotter than July?
Hotter than Georgia asphalt?
Hotter than a Hot Pocket fresh from the Nuker and searing the roof of your mouth?
COFFEE OH SHIT THE COFFEES HOT TOO DAMMIT
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 11, 2010 10:59 PM PST up reply actions
Ive really been having an argument in head for several hours now on whether I like this signing. I keep going back and forth.
“Low risk, high upside”
“but Ishikawa is probably just as good”
“Huff could bounce back and be good”
“He sucked last year”
I cant win. Therefore I am decidedly “meh”
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2010 9:16 PM PST reply actions
The signing itself is good, if you ignore the players the Giants have.
The aggregate of all such signings (DeRosa, Uribe, Huff) combined in conjunction with the players on the roster currently makes that set of signings pretty much useless.
The one (only) reason I like this signing is it prevents us from tying up multiple years in Adam LaRoche, an underwhelming player.
And yes, I’d rather have Garko.
EAT YOUR DAMN RIBEYE
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 10:58 PM PST up reply actions
Once we sign some blob of crap to catch this year on a 1-year deal, aren’t all these paltry one-year commitment moves just Sabes’ way of pretending to do something to improve the lineup (instead of playing Ishikawa, Bowker, etc.) while simultaneously waiting for Carl Crawford in 2011 (Bochy had a mancrush on the guy when in SD) ?
Crappy catcher (2.5M) + Huff (3M) + Uribe (3.25 M) + Renteria (10M) = Crawford + some crappy veteran shortstop.
Of course, when Crawford signs elsewhere, we do this merry-go-around until we court Adrian Gonzalez in 2012… even tho Panda should be our 1B by then. And when Adrian signs with Boston, we then turn our attention to 29/30-year old injury-prone Jose Reyes in 2012. And when that doesn’t work, we kick the tires on some guy named Pujols who’s never leaving St. Louis and who’d never sign here. And then we re-visit our love of Nick Johnson… and end up with Willy Taveras… made necessary by the Giants’ trade of Thomas Neal to Washington for Cristian Guzman.
You know this in your heart to be true.
"...blob of crap to catch..."
What’s the matter with Torrealba?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
He’s a bum!
Oh, wait. Sorry. No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Torrealba other than that he’s not Posey. And he’ll be a relatively expensive option at C for a guy who probably shouldn’t get more than 300 ABs (hopefully less) before the reins are turned over to Posey. Also his being there will allow Bochy to avoid playing the rook.
Thx.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 11:22 AM PST up reply actions
Mark McGwire-- Jackass
oh, I only took a little bit (I didn’t want to look like a freak!), and if they hadn’t put them in front of me then I wouldn’t have taken them and we would be here having this conversation right now.
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
/we wouldn’t be here….
well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD! STFD!
by greatgiantfan on Jan 11, 2010 11:01 PM PST up reply actions
who cares bonds will never admit it…..
by BillyMaysHere on Jan 12, 2010 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
Bonds shouldn’t ever admit it, and if he does, it shouldn’t come with an apology. He should demand an apology from the media, and demand gratitude from the fans who he did it to entertain.
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 5:06 PM PST up reply actions
Eh
If you could take a pill that was illegal but would make you better at your job and thus get better compensation, would you do it? And if not, what if you knew that a lot of your colleagues, who you compete with for bonuses, were taking it?
I just don’t get the moral superiority people display towards steroid users in sports. Those players who didn’t use them are praiseworthy, sure, but a high percentage of ordinary Joes put in that situation would take the drugs.
i’m not pissed at him… i’m just saying, why is he blaming other things for his own actions… plus just be truthful don’t hide behind the curtain like he’s doing now… Yes he came out and said something which is great, but to say he wasn’t using them to hit home runs, obviously you’re using them to help you out, and dude, quite frankly, i’d do them if it meant getting money, fame, and helped me excel at my game.
I’d bet many of those people couldn’t convincingly argue that steroid use is unethical.
I’m not sure I could.
I think I could, but I wouldn’t care to, because it doesn’t bother me that they did it. Honestly, what bothers me is the selective moral superiority people use. Because some records were broken by guys on roids, it’s a huge deal, yet somehow the NFL gets a free pass for everything…? There are also so many parallel situations people don’t get up in arms about – not the exact same, but conceptually, pretty damn close – like college students and ADD drugs, for instance. I knew tons of people, friends even, who took the typical moral high ground against steroids while I know these same people are taking/giving out something like Riddallin (depending on if they had the prescription or someone else)…..
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 5:09 PM PST up reply actions
Cool I'll drive!
Who do you think will be playing the Yankees this year?
Or will they just buy out the NL and play with themselves?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 12, 2010 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
Giants lineup
Well the Giants tried the youth movement for 1 year, how pathetic is that. Now they are going back to the over the hill 35+ year old ball player. Just shoot me now. less wins next year than in 09
Huff is under 35.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
He's not your buddy, guy
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
EEZ NOT UR GUY, DUDE, BRO, HOMBRE, PENDEJO, SPORT, SPRITE, BRO
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire. Rescuing moribund Giants lineups since 2008
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
not your dude,bro, hombre, pendejo, sport, sprite, bro, compadre, hermano, amigo, puta, hobby, fairy,broham
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
I wish the Giants had tried a youth movement. They couldn’t even stick to that plan for a full year…
by Missing Barry on Jan 12, 2010 5:10 PM PST up reply actions
Fangraphs does not like
Angry at being left out of Matt’s post on The Contest last week, Brian Sabean’s San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year contract worth three million dollars with Aubrey Huff. Much like the Scott Podsednik contract, it looks fine in a vacuum. Huff is projected for somewhere in the 0.5 to 1.0 WAR range, meaning that Huff’s market value is probably the 2-4 million dollar range. If Aubrey Huff were indeed taking the roster spot of a replacement level player, the deal would make sense…
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/aubrey-huff-and-subtraction-by-addition/
I would have rather signed Chad Tracy
Quit making the theiving Wall Street Fat-Cat Bankers even richer.
moveyourmoney.info
I would have rather signed Dick Tracy
"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball
I would have rather signed Jim Tracy
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 12, 2010 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
I would have rather signed GrahamCrakalaka for a multi million dollar contract.
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 12, 2010 8:39 PM PST up reply actions
GrahamCrakalaka in chaps?
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 10:41 PM PST up reply actions
“Paging William Rivera…”
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 13, 2010 1:56 AM PST up reply actions
I think you mean
Stone Phillips
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Mychael Urban: Wow. Probably Dye at this point. Good outfielder, could adapt to RF at AT&T, good RBI guy.
by natteringnabob on Jan 13, 2010 6:49 AM PST up reply actions
Actually, no.
Lil’ inside joke between myself and the Los Angeleno.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 13, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
with all these marginal signings
Many of our young players will not make our 25 man roster. Some of them have no options remaining. Something has to give.
huff's earlier dood years were put up in tampa in that band box
little league field in Tampa.
Huff may bat clean up for the Giants in 2010, but he will never bat clean up in my heart.
I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
Tyler Graham is my favorite San Jose Giant because he has smart balls.
/pours out a 40
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 13, 2010 6:48 PM PST up reply actions
/drops Quarter Pounder
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
-splutter-
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 16, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Defense
yeah we’re not a hitting team, but defense and pitching win games, we lost at least 9 games last year because of defense, add those 9 games to the win column and it’s a different season. So what do we do, get Huff who can’t field, have Sandoval playing third and he’s no whiz, Edgar is only fair as is Freddy, the outfield is a mess.
Well, I guess we're just fucked then.
“In other news,…”
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Jan 16, 2010 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
9 games because of defense?
Can you verify that in some way?
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Whomever Sabean signs this off-season will make a good platoon partner with Ryan Gark-ohh... nevermind...
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