Lowry vs Zito- eerily similar numbers (thanks JoeMac for the stats):

Lowry:  13 starts, 6-5, 3.46 ERA, 83.1 IP, 76 H, 38 R, 46 K's, 39 BB

Zito:   13 starts, 6-6, 4.02 ERA, 78.1 IP, 74 H, 38 R, 46 K's, 36 BB

Poll

Which pitcher will finish 2007 with a better ERA?

33%

Noah Lowry

23 votes

66%

Barry Zito

45 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

In my estimation- barring injury or trade- 9 of the 12 slots on the SF Giants pitching staff are mortal locks:

DEFINITELY IN:

Barry Zito

Matt Cain

Noah Lowry

Matt Morris

Jonathan Sanchez

Steve Kline

Kevin Correia

Brad Hennessey

Armando Benitez

Of the 3 spots remaining...

WOULD HAVE TO PITCH THEIR WAY OUT:

Brian Wilson

Vinnie Chulk

Russ Ortiz

You just know someone from the above list of twelve pitchers won't work out, will be injured, or traded, which leaves...

TOP CANDIDATES TO PITCH THEIR WAY IN:

Billy Sadler

Jack Taschner

Patrick Misch

Scott Munter

LONG SHOTS:

David Cortes

Sun-Woo Kim

Eric Threets

Damian Moss

Justin Hedrick

Kelyn Acosta

VIRTUAL NO-SHOTS

Ryan Meaux

Scott Atchison

Daniel Giese

Carlos Hines

Matt Palmer

Mitch Wylie

POST ALL-STAR BREAK, AT EARLIEST:

Tim Linecum

Nick Pereira

Tyler Walker

Poll

Best shot to make opening day roster:

8%

Patrick Misch

8 votes

5%

Scott Munter

5 votes

3%

David Cortes

3 votes

3%

Sun-Woo Kim

3 votes

6%

Eric Threets

6 votes

3%

Damian Moss

3 votes

2%

Justin Hedrick

2 votes

1%

Kelyn Acosta

1 votes

41%

Billy Sadler

40 votes

26%

Jack Taschner

25 votes

96 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

INTRODUCTION

Do you think the Giants will finish 2007 above .500? I would put the "over-under" on the 2007 Giants (with Bonds) at 82 wins. Personally, I would take the over. I think the Giants are going to win around 86 games and take the West. Be warned: this is coming from Mr. Rainbows & Lollipops himself, who also thought the Giants had a shot the last two years. (Actually, they did- they just imploded during crucial stretches). Let's take a look at the bullpen, rotation, defence, offence, bench, and coaching.

BULLPEN: D+

The most efficient relief pitcher of 2006 (Stanton) is gone. So it seems as though the pen is doomed for suckage again, right?Sanchez, Correia, Hennessey, Chulk, Wilson, and Sadler are all young and could impress. Or not. Linecum could close. Or start. Or spend the year in the minors. At least Worrell is gone. Hard for Benitez to pitch worse- especially in his contract year. There will be some surprises, some disappointments, some injuries, and perhaps a trade or two. But right now, just can't gitve the pen a passing grade.

ROTATION: B+

2006 basic numbers:

Schmidt- 11-9 3.59 ERA
Cain- 13-12, 4.15
Morris- 10-15, 4.98
Lowry 7-10, 4.74
Wright 6-10, 5.19

I firmly believe that every single spot in the rotation will improve- higher win totals and lower ERA, top to bottom.

Does anyone want to take the over-under that Zito wins more than 11? Lowry more than 7? Cain's ERA is lower than 4.15?
Linecum, Sanchez, or Ortiz stepping up could turn this into an "A+" rotation, and the backbone of the team.

DEFENCE: B

"the defense..a shade better than last year..."

2007 vs. 2006:

Molina > Alphonszo
Aurilia > Hillendbrand
Durham = Durham
Vizquel = Vizquel
Feliz = Feliz
Winn > Alou
Roberts > Finley
Bonds = Bonds

Yes, the old guys are all "a step slower," but Winn and Bonds are coming off injuries and should actually be healthier and better.

I'm not arguing the defence will be fantastic, just slightly better than how the Giants ended 2006.

OFFENCE: C+

As for the line-up- I would describe it as "solid, not spectucular." From top to bottom:

Roberts is the most exciting and well-suited lead-off hitter the Giants have had in a long time. Bochy knows how to maximize his platoon skills.

Vizquel will probably decline, and might bounce between #2 and #7 slot.

Love Aurilia, but Richie hitting third is pathetic. Should be Durham- much faster, way better OBP = more runs.

Bonds, healthier and with everything to prove, could be much better than last year... (if he is with the Giants, that is!)

Klesko could surprise- won't do worse than Hillendbrand in terms of OPS.

Winn in the six hole could rebound nicely, off-setting any decline from Durham & Vizquel.

Molina hitting seventh is an asset, not a liability.

Feliz hitting 8th, dittto.

BENCH: A-

Bench should be much stronger than last year:

Linden > Finley
Alphonszo > Greene
Frandsden > Vizcaino
Sweeney = Sweeney (Greeney?),
Aurilia, Kelsko, or Feliz off bench = +

COACHING: C

Bochy is merely average, but Felipe was so awful at the end of last year, this looks to be an upgrade in bullpen management, tactical decisions , player development, pitching changes, and general motivation and communication. The effort put forth by the players should be much better this year.

IN CONCLUSION

For 2007, I could see the Giants finishing in 3rd again, due to better divisional competition. But in the Wild West, anything can happen, and 1st place is not out of the question. I definitely think the Giants will improve on last year's win total, to finish comfortably above .500. And hey, if someone steps up in the bullpen, if the rotation lives up to the hype, if Bonds smacks 30, if Winn and Klesko rebound, if, if, if. Hell, it's January. Hope springs eternal. If I can't be optimistic now, when?

Poll

Will the Giants finish better than .500?

75%

Yes

44 votes

24%

No

14 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

Today marks the nadir of the long baseball off-season, so let's take some time to get to know each other! Feel free to skip any questions below, or add new ones...

User Name: Kid Fresh

Real Name: Jesse Stirling

Age/Sex: 35, Male

Born: San Francisco, CA

Currently Resides: St. John's, NL, Canada

Occupation: Television executive

Favorite Current Giant: Omar Vizquel

Favorite All-time Giant: Christy Matthewson

Least Favorite Giant: Jeff Juden

Best Giant no one talks about: Scott Garrelts

Best Giants memory: Will Clark Grannie vs. Cubs

Worst Giants memory: Game six. I was hosting a party at my house at the time, so the horror was rubbed in by 50 drunken "friends." Good times.

Best experience at a game: Dave Dravecky come back game- cold shivers for 3 hours straight.

Giants fan since: My whole life, but became a "serious" fan in 1985.

Why a fan: My aunt was an usherette at the Stick. She was originally from NY, so family ties with the Giants trace back to the east coast.

What would you do to "fix" baseball: Give Portland an AL West expansion team, move Texas to the AL Central, Detroit to the AL east, and contract Tampa Bay.

Advice for Giants fans: Experience spring training baseball at least once in your life.

Anything else: Humm Baby!

"You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's a signpost up ahead: your next stop: the Twilight Zone!" -Rod Serling

The original "Twilight Zone" (1959-1964) is my favorite TV show of all time- a real cult classic. Not coincidentally, the satellite TV station I work for just secured the broadcast rights. We're going to present a four-hour, commercial free TZ Maraton. Basically time for ten episodes.

All Zone fans- your input is greatly appreciated! What are the all-time classics? What's #1?

Who would you most like to see added to the Giants coaching staff?

Poll

Who would you most like to see added to the Giants coaching staff?

0%

Brett Butler

0 votes

29%

Will Clark

18 votes

27%

Mike Matheney

17 votes

4%

Chris Speier

3 votes

32%

Robby Thompson

20 votes

1%

Dusty Baker

1 votes

3%

Bob Brenley

2 votes

61 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

Giants WHIP Leaders & Free Agent Replacements:

Poll

Assuming fair market value, what free agent pitcher would you like to see the Giants sign?

0%

R. Wolf

0 votes

1%

S. Estes

1 votes

0%

S. Kline

0 votes

21%

None of the Above

12 votes

20%

J. Schmidt

11 votes

38%

B. Zito

21 votes

1%

D. Hermanson

1 votes

1%

G. Maddux

1 votes

12%

T. Lilly

7 votes

1%

A. Pettite

1 votes

55 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

Giants OPS Leaders:

Poll

If the price was "fair,' which free agent position player would you most like to see the Giants sign?

8%

F. Catalanotto

4 votes

0%

D. Dellucci

0 votes

6%

M. Cameron

3 votes

2%

G. Matthews Jr.

1 votes

4%

R. Aurilia

2 votes

0%

D. Bell

0 votes

0%

B. Molina

0 votes

2%

G. Zaun

1 votes

69%

A. Soriano

34 votes

8%

T. Hunter

4 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

To retain, or not to retain; that is the question.

Poll

Which player would you most like to see the Giants re-sign?

6%

Ray Durham

8 votes

7%

Pedro Feliz

10 votes

9%

Shea Hillendbbrand

12 votes

32%

Jason Schmidt

42 votes

3%

Steve Kline

5 votes

2%

Mike Stanton

3 votes

37%

Barry Bonds

48 votes

0%

Moises Alou

1 votes

129 votes | Poll has closed

My take on the Giants 2007 Pay-roll / Roster:

POSITION PLAYERS--

First Base: Hillenbrand 4M (2 yrs- 4M, 5M)
Back-up: Sweeney .95M

Second Base: Durham 7M
Back-up: Frandsen .35M

Shortstop: Vizquel 4.4M

Third Base: Feliz 5M (3 yrs- 5M, 5.5M, 6M)

Catcher: Matheney 4.5M
Back-up: Alphonszo .35M

Left Field: Bonds 7M (+ 5M deferred)
Back-up: Linden .35M

CF/RF: Winn @ 7M
Back-up: Ellison .35M

CF/RF: FREE AGENT - Dye at 9M or Hunter at 11M

OR, if the Giants go cheap, Neikro or Ortemeier or Schierholtz as 25th man...

OR, if the Giants go super-cheap, no Barry, Linden starting, and another youngin on the bench

ROTATION--

Schmidt 11M (4 years- 11M, 12M, 13M, 14M)
Morris 9.5M
Lowry 1.115M
Cain .35M
Hennessey @.35M

BULLPEN--

Benitez @ 7.6M
Kline @2.5M (2 yrs, 2.5, 3)
Worrell @ 2M
Correia @.35M
Chulk @ .35M
Sanchez @ .35M

Pick One, Preferably a lefty:
Munter/Taschner/Wilson/Threets @.35

Dead Money: $11.8M

Alou 1.5M
Finley 1M
Wright .3M
Matheney (can he play?) 4M
Barry's 5M

TOTAL SALARY:

POSITION PLAYERS TOTAL SALARY: $40-$56M

(Depending on re-signing Barry + F.A. OF)

PITCHERS TOTAL SALARY: $25M-$36M

(Depending on re-signing Schmidt / Kline)

DEFERRED MONEY: $11.8M

TOTAL PAY-ROLL= $76.8M - $103.8

CONCLUSIONS:

I expect the pay-roll to regress next year from $90 millionish to $80 millionish. (After all, Magowan has been talking about this mysterious "nest egg" the Giants have been dipping into to exploit the "Barry Window.")

I don't expect any big free agent signings next year. No Soriano, no Hunter, no Dye, no Zito. Not even an Aurilia nor a Lilly.

In fact, I expect a Bondsless, Schmidtless club. The dreaded "Rebuilding" process, with the allure of the All Star game to take the focus off a lousy team... at least for one year...

If you read between the lines, the Giants P.R. machine is already gearing up for life without Bonds, Durham, Schmidt, Feliz, and the Alou boys.

It would cost nearly $80M to retain this old, .500 club anyway. Sabean- if he is still running the Giants next season- should focus on the trade route to secure a centrepiece like Vernon Wells, then go from there...

That's one fans opinion...

what does everybody else think?