The best baseball movie thread got me thinking... the Indians have a movie, the White Sox have a movie, so do the Yankees, Mets (can I count Frequency?), the Twins, and even the Rays have a movie.

Taking CalTrain from SJ to SF gives me plenty of time to think about these things: If I was going to make a movie about the Giants, what would it be? There are so many stories possible, what would be the best choice? I tried to eliminate the Bonds-era, since I didn't want this to be a downer movie about steroids.

So, what do you think? If you could watch a movie about the Giants, what would be your story of choice?

P.S. If the idea is really good, I might just dust off the old playmobil and camera and make a stop action film. (Great idea for a college presentation by the way... my Org. Behavior teacher loved "How to deal with Vikings in the workplace.")

... shouldn't the Giants have brought up Schierholtz for the American League road trip? I've heard many times that Bochy and the front office don't want Schierholtz up here until he can start everyday like he does in Fresno.

Although it is a small sampling of games, to me, this is the perfect opportunity to give Schierholtz some reps (play Rowand, Winn, or Lewis at DH), and another taste of the majors. He's absolutely killing the ball right now, and I for one believe that he deserves to be in San Francisco more than the likes of Horwitz (even though I really like Horwitz).

My one reservation to that, however, is the up and down promotion-demotion might kill his confidence even more.

My last post was a fake post, this one is gonna be pretty serious. (Or, at least as serious as I can manage)

Looking at the lack of young talent in the Giant's minor league system (at least in the higher levels), and our apparent inability to trade our older players for any meaningful prospects; the only semi-successful way that the Giants have refilled their minor league system is through the draft.

However, that process can take years, and it can be an extremely cyclical process. A team, with a high pick, can take a player which they believe will be good in the future. That prospect, once ready for the major leagues, could then be traded for another prospect, since the talent surrounding the original prospect is so poor. A team may trade away a prospect if they think trading them will help them in the present, as the team thinks they have a better chance with the new players. This is nothing new to anyone here. But this, often, doesn't help a team prepare for the short term.

Take the Pirates and Royals, for example. These teams used to be powerhouses, but they have been pushed into the cellar of the MLB for years, if not decades. Granted, they don't spend much, but a team that consistently finishes last in their division (or league, for that matter) should be able to more easily build their teams through the draft.

We, as Giants fans, know that you cant build a team around one player.  So how does one high pick (followed, of course, by others), help a team advance in the league? The Giants definitely were smart with their recent choices, Lincecum and Cain were great first round selections. However, who's to say that more picks wouldn't have served the Giants better?

***Don't shoot me for that, I'm as big a Cain and Lincecum supporter as anyone***

This post has pretty much been building up to the fact that I think picks in the MLB Draft should be tradable,  as they are in the NBA and the NFL. Many people claim that the process wouldn't work, as MLB players taken in the draft don't usually pan out the way that players in other leagues do. Sure, there is risk involved in the MLB, but try telling the 49ers that Alex Smith wasn't a risky signing. Point is, every draft comes with risk.

I think it would be easier for the Giants to build a competitive team if they were able to trade players for draft picks. Randy Winn has been hard to trade for prospects, but he is a good player that plenty of teams could use. I could see a team trade a second round pick for Randy Winn rather than parting with a prospect. 

Enabling the trading of draft picks, in my estimation, could increase the amount of veteran players traded, bring more attention to the MLB draft itself, give teams the ability to rebuild faster, and give fans and teams a greater sense of ownership of their minor league players.

MCC contributors are all very savvy (veteran savvy AND normal savvy), so I'm hoping to stir up some discussion rather than laying out my master plan for improving the draft other than starting the thought process. Any thoughts?

Yes, that's right; the San Francisco Giants are for sale.

Although I am aware that many other posts have brought this rumor to our attention, none have presented us with an idea for who the next majority stakeholder should be.

I have said idea. 

I heard Eddie Debartolo mentioned. Too trendy.

Mark Cuban wanted the Cubs, would he want the Giants? Naw, he's too high strung for me.

What people are missing is the obvious answer.

It's time that we as Giants fans took a stand. No longer shall we bitch and moan about what we would do with Zito, Durham, or Roberts. We all know that we are the most rational, most intelligent, most devoted baseball experts on the planet. No one could run this team better than us. Our cries will no longer fall on deaf ears. We've put up with this for too long. It's time for change.

This is why I propose that the patrons of McCovey Chronichles should come together as one to purchase Magowan's share of the San Francisco Giants. What would be better than thousands of baseball experts co-owning a team? Nothing. Nothing would be better.

We knew that Roberts was old. We knew that the AJ trade was stupid. We knew that Armando Benitez would not, in fact, "do his job." If we owned the team. The Giants would be in the World Series. Right now. Selig would just hand over the trophy 20% of the way through the season.

You may ask me: "Matt, how will thousand of different people decide what to do with the team. We could argue until hell freezes over, or at least until Zito's contract expires."

To this I say phooey. It wouldn't be a problem, since we would keep McCovey Chronicles up and running, and settle all front office decisions with an internet poll.

Then you might ask, "Matt, how would we know that the poll is an accurate scientific representation of the McCoven's actual opinion?"

Phooey again. If someone were to vote multiple times, it would only express their desire to see something happen even more, and their persistence should be rewarded.

We wouldn't have to hire scouts either, as the MCC has members in every part of the country, all baseball experts that could relay information back to the members of the site.

Obviously, we would have to establish some sort of managing hierarchy; I propose that we keep it as it is. MCC members would be awarded management roles according to their established contributions to the site. Others could be voted in. Now, I understand that we would have to raise a significant amount of capital to make this happen. So, find all the change you can. Smash that piggy bank open with your miniature Shinjo bat (I can't be the only person who has one). Dig through your car for those grease covered pennies. A donation link should be placed on the site immediately. Instead of going to a game provided to us by the current, inferior ownership, donate that money to the cause. If every visitor donated a dime to MCC, we'd have a million dollars within the month. You do the math.

This can work. We can do this. I proposed long ago that we all donated $20 to land Vlad. Don't let another opportunity be wasted.

Comment starter: Come up with a catchy slogan for the campaign.

Jim Callis had a chat on ESPN.com today, and awnsered an uncharacteristically high number of Giants questions. I always love hearing some Villalona news, and I though it was relevant due to all the talk of his slow start.

Giants Question 1:

Todd Nizzle, SF: How important are Angel Villalona's stats for these first couple of years in the minors? Do they serve as good indicators, or should they be secondary to his overall development?

Jim Callis: Stats aren't as important in the lower minors ad they are in the upper minors, and Villalona also will get bonus points for being so young for his levels. That said, it's too easy to say a young player "held his own" against older competition to explain away lackluster stats. If Villalona is going to be the stud a lot of people think, he shouldn't spend the whole year in the SAL and hit .230 with six homers. I know he's off to a bad start, but it's still early.

Giants Question 2:

Vern (SF): ANy chance ther Giants get lucky with Alvarez slpping to #5? Seems too good to be true! If not..is G. Beckham the guy even if Tim B. is still on the board? I know the Giants want t college bat...but doesn't it make sense for them to take the best offensive player in the draft?

Jim Callis: That could happen if the first four teams decide Alvarez is too costly. We still think he's the top player in this draft, but he's not head and shoulders above everyone. Posey, Matusz, both Beckhams and Crow could go ahead of him, especially with signability factored in. I could see the Giants taking G.Beckham over T.Beckham depending on what they want. Gordon has performed very well in the Cape Cod League and against tough competition this spring.

Giants Question 3:

Andrew (Sacramento, CA): When do you see Howie Long's son going in the draft? Do you think the Giants at #5 will decide to take him?

Jim Callis: No chance to go No. 5 at all. He's really more of a third- to fifth-rounder, a big kid throwing in the high 80s who hasn't faced much in the way of competition. He's more projection than present, and I don't think he's signable in the third to fifth, so he could slide.

*Disclaimer: I didn't know the policy on pulling info from other sites, and I couldn't find it online. Hoping I don't get in trouble for this!*

We could pry Josh Willingham from the Marlins.

Hear me out. With the trade that sent Cabrera and Willis to the Tigers, the Marlins grabbed some nice position players... most specifically Cameron Maybin and Mike Rabelo. With these additions, the Marlins now have two very serviceable catchers and a glut of young talented outfielders. Where does this leave Josh Willingham?

As it sits right now, Willingham is the starting left fielder. However, the Marlins may want to make room to start Cody Ross, a 26 yr old outfielder who hit .335 with 12 home runs in only 66 games last year.

Now, I know the last thing we need is more outfielders. But Willingham plays a pretty good C, a position where we could possibly want to get younger. This would also make Molina expendable, and a proven catcher is a hot commodity in today's market.

Now, this would take some shrewd bargaining by Sabean (which means this will NEVER happen), but here's my plan...

Sanchez (and Hennessey?) to Marlins for Willingham (and other?)
Lowry and Molina to the Reds for Votto or Encarnacion and a prospect.

Now, this is all pure speculation, and feel free to rip me apart, but it seems like this could work. Let me know what you think.

I cant stop scouring the internet for new Giants news.

Interest in A-Rod? (I can see the ESPN title now, "Bay-Rod")

Lowry traded?

Cabrera to the Giants?

Lincecum walks on water, saves 1,000 kittens from drowning, and liberates Tibet?

I think it's becoming a trend for me, I focus more on off season moves and rumors than I focus on the actual season. And I watch/listen to every game. This is bordering on pathetic. My room mate, (a dirty, dirty Pirates fan) tells me that when something happens, I'll hear. I can't seem to live with that.

Is it because the Giants stink so putridly? (Haha, I thought for sure I'd get red-lined on that one)

Any one else feeling like I am? Any suggestions? I've tried a hammer to the head, and I'm reluctant to get back into crack. (Just kidding. About doing crack. Getting back into it I mean. I've never done it.)(Swear)

"The Giants would also appear to be a prime candidate to enter the bidding. They have top young starters to offer in Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Noah Lowry, and a talented young reliever in Jonathan Sanchez." - SI.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/11/07/scoop.wednesday/index.html

Continue reading this post »