The market is thinning out, yet the Giants are surely going to make another move. That’s like the setup of an "I Love Lucy" episode. All of a sudden, the Giants are stuffing low on-base percentage, no-glove goofs down their pants as more and more shoot down the assembly line.
- Adam LaRoche -- 1b -- ↑
I don’t mind the idea of Adam LaRoche on the team. He’d improve the lineup without question, so maybe it’s unfair to put him at the top spot. But the Giants already had Adam LaRoche. His name was Ryan Garko, and he would have been at least $10M cheaper. And every time LaRoche swings a bat, I’ll be reminded that the Giants are run by people who really think that 100 at-bats is a definitive sample size.
- Inconsequential Sub-Mediocre Free Agent Catcher -- C -- ↑
In theory, the Giants really should have targeted a catcher to get up to 30 or so starts this year. A guy like Gregg Zaun would have made sense, for example. The Giants can’t afford to find out that Buster Posey needs more seasoning only to have Eli Whiteside, whose offense is unacceptable even by backup catcher standards. But anyone the Giants bring in will start. Rod Barajas? 500 at-bats. Bruce Bochy will never start a 22-year-old rookie catcher. Whomever the Giants end up with will be the Opening Day starter.
- Hank Blalock -- 1B? -- ↑
I really, really wish I were reading more rumors about Blalock. People who ignore on-base percentage might think Blalock is an underrated bargain. I also wish I knew what happened to Blalock; he used to be the next George Brett. Actually, he’s probably not a bad guy to take a chance on, but not for more than a show-me, one-year deal, and almost certainly not for the Giants.
- Jermaine Dye -- OF -- (no change)
The Giants don’t seem especially interested, but there he is, hanging around the free agent market into 2010. His defense is scary, and his viability as a middle-of-the-order hitter is laughable.
- Bengie Molina -- C -- -- ↑
The Giants don’t seem especially interested, but there he is, hanging around the free agent market into 2010. His defense is scary, and his viability as a middle-of-the-order hitter is laughable.
- Miguel Tejada -- INF -- ↑
On a one-year deal, I could almost embrace Tejada at third and DeRosa in left. Tejada would get two years, though, at something close to DeRosa money. And I’m still stuck on the idea of a Tejada who doesn’t exist anymore; he’s not much of a hitter anymore, and he’s liable to renterize at any second.
- Xavier Nady -- OF -- ↑
If he weren’t such a clank-mitt, I’d almost welcome him as a fourth-outfielder, or as part of a Bowker timeshare in a corner spot. He’d be cleanup hitter, though, and he’d start in right every day he’s healthy, and on half of the days he’s not. If you’re wondering if he figured it out in Pittsburgh before going to the Yankees, note that his BABIP was .363 for the first half of 2008.
- Mike Jacobs -- 1B -- ↑
He can’t field or hit well, but he can hit for power. Now that the Royals have Podsednik, Jacobs would be an interesting move in the Royals/Giants chess match of shame.
- Johnny Damon -- OF -- (no change);
He’s still not Eugenio Velez, which is nice. The Giants would pay for dingerz, though, and dingerz isn’t what they’d get.
- Russell Branyan -- 1B -- ↑
I’m not opposed to Branyan on a cheap deal. But if the Giants picked up Branyan, that would mean that they’re ignoring batting average in favor of other factors when evaluating a hitter, and that is the fourth sign. Pablo Sandoval leading the team in walks was the third sign, and...I’ve written too much. Canned food and holy water, people. Stock up. Your loved ones will thank you.
No Podsednik. No Holliday for Zito money. No Bay for...well, I probably would have liked Bay at that contract, even if his glove is wonky. Things are looking up.