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Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/04/12/SPG2LP661H1.DTL

Um, what?  I'm starting to think that Sabean may have lost his marbles completely.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Playing first base for Your San Francisco Giants: Niekro, Sweeney, Klesko, Aurelia and Feliz.

Proves the old baseball saying, "You can never have enough marginal, slow-footed first basemen."

It's never too early to panic.

by leewhee on Apr 12, 2007 11:17 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Dammit, I knew someone else must have posted this first.  How the hell did I miss the other diary that had 20+ entries???  I wish you could delete these things.  Sorry to take up the space with this unneeded diary.  I hope it doesn't result in another plea to McCoven.

by ololo3 on Apr 12, 2007 11:17 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
you should be sent down to the Grizzlies' fan blog.
We'd be mediocre if we didn't suck so bad.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 12, 2007 11:21 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
This is probably for the best for Frandsen to get a few AB's in Fresno.  He's not really getting any playing time up here.  Still... what does Sweeney really offer this club?

by BenboC on Apr 12, 2007 11:20 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
It's better to have this new diary, since the other was getting buried, ololo. I'll just re-post my comments here:

 I can see why you might want to do this, if Bochy is only going to play Frandsen on a rare occasion. That said, I still don't like it. The regulars are not likely to remain this healthy for long, so Frandsen would have become more useful. And you have four (at least) first basemen now. I guess I was also secretly hoping that a deal for Niekro or Sweeney was in the works, but no such luck...

by BigO on Apr 12, 2007 11:30 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
While Sweeney is beyond redundant the point was raised about Franny getting zero playing time up here. It's better for him to play every day, and so be it in Fresno. He knows that. Management knows that. We know that. So who has a legit reason as to why Sweeney is still around?
Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 12, 2007 11:47 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
This "four first basemen" talking point is silly. Klesko's the first baseman and Niekro is his platoon partner and defensive replacement. Sweeney is a pinch-hitter and fifth outfielder, while Aurilia is either the starting third baseman or a super-utility infielder. That's the way I want it, anyway.

I'd like to see Frandsen starting at short for a month or two in Fresno, because he's going to have to play there occasionally as a major leaguer.

by Evan on Apr 12, 2007 11:52 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Photoshop anyone?
The Four Firstbasemen of the Apocalypse
Renel isn't much worse than those kids who butcher every single name. Cheer on Renel; Boo those childish hacks!

by the degenerate on Apr 12, 2007 11:56 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Photoshop anyone?
It does feel like the Armageddon is upon us Giant fans. Just looking for the player with 666 or 616 on his back.
Keeping a close eye on the Giants AAA players

by Andy In Fresno on Apr 12, 2007 12:31 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Photoshop anyone?
I swear one of them is David Green and another has to be Driessen.

by dangjackson on Apr 12, 2007 1:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Ok. This actually makes sense, and we were being silly. Third base against RHP is still a glaring weakness, but Franny wasn't likely to be asked to step in and change that, even if he might have. I suppose that the house of cards falls apart as soon as 2 of the infield vets are slightly banged up at any one time, but then it's not as though the house of cards is holding up anything significant right now...

by BigO on Apr 12, 2007 12:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Actually, it's five first baseman, but why quibble.

The larger point is that, cumulatively, these five still don't add up to one quality first-sacker. Beating a dead horse, I know, since that's what we're stuck with...just like last season only moreso.

The Giants have been blessed with some very good 1Bmen over the 49 years in SF. Perhaps not coincidentally, most of their crappy seasons have come when saddled with a less-than-stellar 1B.

For example, since 1958, 35 of 48 seasons had just four guys starting the lion's share of games at first base: Cepeda, McCovey, Clark and Snow. The Giants had winning seasons in 30 of these 35 years---86% of the time. In the 14 seasons when the Giants didn't have a quality 1B, they had losing seasons 13 of 14 times---93% of the time.

You might recall some of these lesser lights: Niekro, Carreon, Benzinger, Green, Scot Thompson, Evans, Smith, Cabell, Ivie, Montanez, Kingman.

Perhaps it is mere coincidence that the Giants have had winning seasons 86% of the time when fielding quality first basemen while posting losing seasons 93% of the time with mediocrities at first base.

But with a choice of Klesko, Niekro, Feliz, Sweeney or Aurelia, hard to see how this season will fit into the "quality first basemen" category.

It's never too early to panic.

by leewhee on Apr 12, 2007 1:22 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I'm extremely happy to see Snow included as a quality firts baseman here. I can't stand it when people play the "J. T. Sucked" card, because we were obviously not watching the same guy.

His power was wanting, I'll give them that. But we had power on those teams. He filled another role because we had that luxury, and boy he did it well. When I hear that commercial on KNBR where Jon Miller says "Thanks, J. T. Snow for the last 13 (?) years of being the best there ever was" I almost tear up.

Coming to you by proxy (I adopted: Dave Righetti!)

by howtheyscored on Apr 12, 2007 1:30 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
JT averaged 22 HRs a year in his first four years with the Giants, his OBP with the team was almost .370, and SF had a winning record in eight of his nine years (all but the last one.) Not to mention three Gold Gloves. Only five first baseman in baseball history had more.

Not too shabby really.

It's never too early to panic.

by leewhee on Apr 12, 2007 7:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Hang on just one dang second, Reggie Smith had a very good year for us in '82 and the team definitely wasn't a loser -- one of my favorite Giant teams ever, actually. (Oh, but yeah the rest of your point is totally valid).

by Roger on Apr 12, 2007 1:47 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Correct. That's why I said the Giants only had one winning season out of 14. That happened to be the year Smith played first.

So if you include Smith as a "quality 1B" (along with Cepeda, McCovey, Clark and Snow), it turns out the Giants have NEVER had a winning season since 1958 with a mediocrity (or an assemblage of mediocrities) at first base.

It's never too early to panic.

by leewhee on Apr 12, 2007 7:07 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
It's kind of pathological, isn't it? How can a GM sign a new center fielder every year, but never bother to find a decent first baseman? It's like he's following some goofy roto positional-scarcity strategy.

I would like to think that while he was watching Adrian Gonzalez destroy the Giants' pitching staff, Sabean was thinking, "Damn, I should try to find the next Adrian Gonzalez! Let's see ... James Loney? Kendry Morales? Wily Mo Pena?..." But he was probably just thinking, "Damn, I should try to find another veteran middle reliever."

by Evan on Apr 12, 2007 2:04 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Me likey Casy Kotchman
Don't think Sabean won't go out and sign another center fielder with the likes of Mike Cameron, Torii Hunter, and Andruw Jones on the market.  Roberts can just slide over to left once Barry is gone.

That is of course if Sabean is still in charge after this season.

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: Pack your bags son, we are going to Fresno.

by sfgreg on Apr 12, 2007 2:20 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Me likey Casy Kotchman
You're probably right. Those guys would be better options that what we have, but given how much money we have committed to the other guys, pursuing them would be dumb. Andruw and Hunter, at least, are going to cost far more than they're worth anyway.

by Evan on Apr 12, 2007 2:29 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Me likey Casy Kotchman
And the front office likes Casey Casen
Save Matt Morris. Save The Pitchers. Save The World.

by E Ticket on Apr 12, 2007 2:21 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Me likey Casy Kotchman
I am hoping for Coco Crisp to continue to stink it up for the Red Sox.  Maybe they would be interested in Dave Roberts, I think they might still have a soft spot for him after his big stolen base a couple of years ago.

But it is too early to start thinking about potential trades, isn't it?

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: Pack your bags son, we are going to Fresno.

by sfgreg on Apr 12, 2007 2:31 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Don't Forget J.R. Phillips
Dusty really tried to get J.R. to take over first base but the never succeeded.
Keeping a close eye on the Giants AAA players

by Andy In Fresno on Apr 12, 2007 2:38 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Mark Carreon
Ah, Carreon...the turkey vulture's favorite meal. I heard a while back that he was missing--really missing, as in a report was filed and everything. Anyone know how that turned out?
For just pennies a day, you too can make a difference in the life of a Giants player...like Kevin Correia.

by VidaWantsYourCar on Apr 12, 2007 8:15 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I think Frandsen is being sent down, as the player with options left, while a trade is being worked out. I just hope the trade involves Niekro.

by Sayhey on Apr 12, 2007 11:55 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
who would take him at this point? I want him traded too but I don't see it happening.
I adopted Barry Bonds

by BondsApologist on Apr 12, 2007 12:02 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
His chances of being traded just went up. If teams know that he is to become available shortly for free via the waiver wire, why would anyone trade for him? The miracle is the Giants were able to talk the Mariners into a trade for Ellison when he was facing a similar situation. Of course, none of that means folks will be lining up to talk to the Giants about Lance, but at least they have a better chance of someone listening to a proposal.

by Sayhey on Apr 12, 2007 12:21 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Niekro would have a little value for any team whose first baseman can't hit lefties or needs a defensive replacement, like maybe Pittsburgh or Baltimore or the Yankees -- or, um, us.

by Evan on Apr 12, 2007 12:28 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
You could be right but I think the likey party to be traded is Linden with an outside shot at Winn.
Here is my thinking.  Winn is on the bench so that Linden can be showcased or Winn is on the bench to persuade Winn to forgo his no trade clause.

by giantsrainman on Apr 12, 2007 3:38 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
God, I hope it's not Linden! Sweeney or Niekro make the most sense, and I like Sweeney as a "Manny Mota" type pinch hitter. I see Niekro as pretty much a waste of roster space. Hey, I see Brad Lidge is possibly available. A package of Niekro and someone worth a damn might get him.

by Sayhey on Apr 12, 2007 3:57 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I don't know, they sent him down Wednesday night, despite the fact that Sweeney's not coming off the DL until Friday before the game. In other words they had two days on their hands before there was any need to make a roster move. That seems like plenty of time to work out a minor trade if that's indeed what they're doing, without losing Frandsen for 10 days. Seems more likely to me that the move is what is seems to be.

by Roger on Apr 12, 2007 3:48 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Rumor has it...
...that Frandsy demanded he be sent to a club in playoff contention.
"Yep, I'm a Dodger hater" - Kevin Frandsen

by EliminateMe on Apr 12, 2007 12:24 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Sweeney is an old player. Sabean has a fixation for collecting such types. Frandsen and Linden need to wait 10 years and then they'll get a chance to play more for the Giants. Anyone else tired of this constant old, slow, poor OBP, and no pop lineup? And Sabean probably still wonders why they can't score. Duh.

by BarryR on Apr 12, 2007 12:26 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Kuip was on KNBR this morning and implied that Frandsen's stay in Fresno would not be a long one -- probably 15 days or so (the minimum?). He made it sound like the Giants are trying to trade either Sweeney or Niekro.
Lon Simmons' adopted dad.

by Kitspool on Apr 12, 2007 12:31 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Look for Sweeney and/or Niekro to be traded to the Sharks where they will be used for chum.
It's never too early to panic.

by leewhee on Apr 12, 2007 1:24 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I wonder if that would be better or worse than a season as the last guy on Felipe Alou's bench (Ellison style).
"Yep, I'm a Dodger hater" - Kevin Frandsen

by EliminateMe on Apr 12, 2007 1:36 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Yup.  I heard the same thing.  He also said the decision was based in lrge part that Sweeney was the only one with options left.
you can't handle the truth or Ryan Klesko!

by Goofus on Apr 12, 2007 1:37 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I'm assuming you mean Frandsen was the only one with options left. Glad to see Kuiper sees it the way I do. Mine was just a guess, but he actually may know something.

by Sayhey on Apr 12, 2007 3:09 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Yup, I meant Frandsen.  Please accept my humblest apologies for any confusion or inconvenience my egregious error may have caused.
you can't handle the truth or Ryan Klesko!

by Goofus on Apr 12, 2007 3:16 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
I think it is too late. Given the "butterfly effect" I'm sure the crash of the stock market in Japan and earthquakes in Peru are sure to follow your egregious error.

by Sayhey on Apr 12, 2007 3:36 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Frandsen sent down for Sweeney??!?!?
Are you sure Kuip didn't mean that at least one of the old-timers would be on IR within two weeks?

by NearestNorwich on Apr 12, 2007 6:39 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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