Still Orange and Black

The Good and The Bad: Assessing the Giants' Postseason Transactions

2010-01-25T16:06:00.001-08:00

Pitchers and catchers are reporting and spring training fever is in the air. Its time to look back at the Giants offseason moves, analyzing the good and the bad to craft our assessment.

Freddy Sanchez, 2B 2 years, $12 million
The Good: If healthy, Sanchez is an average to above-average offensive second baseman (career .299/.334/.417), and should at least be an improvement on what the Giants threw out there the first half of 2009. By most estimates, he plays solid defense (career 5.8 UZR/150 at second).

The Bad: Sanchez's health is a big if, as his most recent shoulder surgery has left him questionable for opening day. His offensive value is very much tied to his batting average, as he doesn't take very many walks or hit for much power.

Verdict: If he can stay in the lineup, Sanchez should be worth the money. However, there were probably better, cheaper options (Kelly Johnson, Felipe Lopez, Orlando Hudson) available if Sabean had let the market play itself out.

Mark DeRosa, OF/IF 2 years, $12 million
The Good: Until last year, he was a reliable, above-average bat, who gets on base at a reasonable, if not spectacular rate (career .275/.343/.424). He's hit at least twenty home runs each of the last two years. The Giants plan to play him in the outfield, where he has played his best defense in the past (15.8 UZR/150).

The Bad: He's coming off his worst season in several years, which was shortened by a wrist injury.

Verdict: Let's hope he's healthy, and that his ineffectiveness last year was a result of his injury. He should be a better option than Eugenio Velez.

Juan Uribe, IF 1 year, $3.25 million
The Good: Signed on a minor league contract, Uribe came out of nowhere in 2009 to have the best year of his career. He plays second, shprt, and third adequately, which is valuable given the frailty of the Giants' middle infield.

The Bad: When something looks like a fluke, it usually is. Uribe's career line (.257/.298/.430) suggests that some regression is likely.

Verdict: The money may have been better spent elsewhere, but Uribe's versatility and power make him a solid bench option, especially given the injury to Sanchez.

Aubrey Huff, 1B 1 year, $3 million

The Good: Aside from a disastrous 2009, Huff has been an average to above-average hitter. As recently as 2008, he hit .304/.360/.552 with 32 home runs. Maybe getting out of the AL East will have a positive effect.

The Bad: The bat's no sure thing, and his defense probably negates whatever offensive value he may have.

Verdict: It's hard to believe the Giants couldn't have gotten similar, and probably more production, from Ryan Garko and Travis Ishikawa.

Bengie Molina, C 1 year, $4.5 million
The Good: He hits for a decent amount of power for a catcher. The pitchers seem to like him.

The Bad: He had the worst on-base percentage (.285) in the NL last year, while swinging at the highest percentage (43.9%) of pitches outside the zone. His lack of speed can be a rally-killer. He blocks Buster Posey, who has little left to prove in the minors, for another year.

Verdict: This signing wouldn't be so bad if the Giants needed a catcher. But Posey is at most a few months away from the majors, and there's no way he will start as long as Molina is on this team. Pitchers have to adjust to new catchers all the time, and they had no problem with Eli Whiteside last year. Most discouragingly, this move shows the front office's continued reliance on old-school conventional wisdom as opposed to reasoned analysis.

WTF?

2009-07-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

After the Giants traded Scott Barnes for Ryan Garko, I said I felt a little "meh" about the move. Today, they dealt Tim Alderson to the Pirates for Freddy Sanchez, and I have a somewhat stronger opinion. Let me put it this way: the Phillies traded four prospects today for an elite starting pitcher in Cliff Lee. None of those prospects are as good as Tim Alderson, who is worth more than a slightly above average bat. In addition, the Braves did not give up anything this good when they traded for Nate McLouth, who is in my opinion a better player than Sanchez and is under team control for more years.

No disrespect to Sanchez, who will certainly be an upgrade over what the Giants have thrown out there at second base this year. But what the Giants really needed was a guy who could hit for power or a guy who could get on base, and Sanchez does not do either particularly well. His career high in home runs is 11, and he has never walked more than 32 times in a season). I imagine when Brian Sabean looks at Sanchez, he sees a guy with batting title and three All-Star appearances. I see a guy who had a fluke season in 2006 and is lucky that every team needs to be represented in the All-Star Game.

Alderson, a top-50 prospect according to Baseball America, was having a strong season for Double-A Connecticut, going 6-1 with a 3.47 ERA. His strikeout numbers (46 in 72.2 IP) left a little to be desired, but he made up for it with outstanding command (just 14 walks) and an ability to keep the ball on the ground. He profiles as a middle to back of the rotation starter. He would be the top pitching prospect in all but a handful of organizations. I would not be surprised to see him in the Pirates' starting rotation at the beginning of next year.

The Giants have now dealt their second and third best pitching prospects for two hitters that won't push Bengie Molina out of the cleanup spot. Alderson and Barnes could have been good trade chips in a big deal for a hitter like Victor Martinez (after seeing what the Indians got for Lee, I have a hard time believing they would have scoffed at an offer built around those two). It's also hard to imagine the Giants couldn't have come up with a package for Sanchez from this group of players: Henry Sosa, Kevin Pucetas, Clayton Tanner, Conor Gillaspie, Nick Noonan, Ehire Adrianza, Fred Lewis, John Bowker, Jesus Guzman, Merkin Valdez, Osiris Matos, or Kevin Frandsen. I'll feel better if we can steal Josh Willingham or Alex Rios.

Giants Acquire Ryan Garko

2009-07-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

After months of speculation about how the Giants would improve their offense, Brian Sabean finally pulled the trigger on a trade, getting first baseman Ryan Garko from the Indians in exchange for minor-league pitcher Scott Barnes. At the moment, I'm a little "meh" on the trade. Garko should improve the offense, but only marginally, or as FanGraphs puts it, by "fractions of a win." If the Giants want to make any real difference, they will have to add another bat, like Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, or Freddy Sanchez.

Not to say that Garko doesn't have some positives. He has a career OPS of .805, which isn't great for a first baseman, but makes him something of a legend on this legend. His .355 career on-base percentage also makes him one our better hitters, and he has about 20-home run power. He hits lefties very well (.906 career OPS), righties less so (.768). Those splits lead to believe that Travis Ishikawa probably still has a place on this team, as an occasional starter against righties as well as a defensive replacement.

The Giants gave up something of value in Scott Barnes. Baseball America ranked Barnes as the ninth best prospect in the Giants' system, and his stock was rising. At San Jose, Barnes was 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 98 innings. He's been dominant lately, with a 1.48 ERA over his last eight starts. I think he has a future as at least a back of the rotation starter in the majors. I'm not against the idea of trading Barnes, but I would have preferred more in return than a player best suited to a platoon role. Let's hope Garko proves me wrong.

All-Star Game Sorely Lacking in Panda

2009-07-14T21:54:00.001-07:00

Another year, another pretty crummy All-Star Game. Of course, I'll be watching again next year, because a lame baseball game is better than no baseball at all. Some observations:

- Tim Lincecum didn't have quite the Carl Hubbell/Pedro Martinez-type outing we were anticipating, but his two innings at least weren't disastrous. He was clearly very amped up, as he missed consistently up high to the first few hitters. The AL seemed to be jumping on the first good fastball they saw, which may be the best strategy againt Timmy. He also suffered from some poor defense, as David Wright made a bad throw on a potential double play, and then Albert Pujols booted a grounder that allowed the first run to score. Tim's only strikeout came against Roy Halladay, but to be fair, he threw a pretty nasty curveball. Can MLB go ahead and just make the DH permanent in the All-Star Game? All in all, nothing spectacular, but I don't think this is the last time we'll see Timmy on the mound in one of these games.
- Barack Obama's appearance was more enjoyable than most of the game itself. I give him credit for repping his team instead of just doing the politically correct thing. Here's a fun video showing him mingling with the players before the game. I'd like to see the conversation between him and Lincecum. In another nice story, Willie Mays accompanied the POTUS on Air Force One. The "All Stars Among Us" tribute was a nice touch as well. They should do that every year.
- As for the game itself, they really wasn't a whole lot that stood out. Among the pitchers, I was most impressed by Zack Greinke, who strucked out two in a perfect inning. Carl Crawford, who took a home run away from Brad Hawpe, was probably the most deserving MVP candidate, as no one really stood out on offense.
- I have a feeling Pablo Sandoval would have done something great in this game. But I'll settle for him sticking it to the Phillies in the NLDS.

Video: Jonathan Sanchez No-Hitter (all 27 outs in 3:49)

2009-07-13T10:03:00.001-07:00

Did We Miss Anything?

2009-07-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

I've been at a loss for words for the last several hours. Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter tonight has joined the ranks of Brian Johnson's walkoff against the Dodgers in 1997, Kenny Lofton's NLCS-winning hit in 2002, and Barry Bonds's 756th home run in 2007 in my list of favorite all-time Giants' memories. I'm not usually one for sentimentality, but the stories in this case are impossible to ignore. Some observations:

- Jonathan Sanchez lost his spot in the rotation, primarily because he couldn't throw strikes. He stepped back into the rotation for an injured Randy Johnson, having never even thrown a complete game at any professional level. He struck out a career-high eleven and perhaps most impressively, did not walk a batter. He became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter with no walks since...Randy Johnson. Sanchez's father flew in from Puerto Rico to watch his son start for the first time, which made for a beautiful moment in the dugout after the game.

- Give Juan Uribe a break. His error doesn't diminish Sanchez's start in any way. In fact, when you think about it, it makes his feat more impressive. Sanchez had to face 28 hitters, and he was in a position to get all of them out.

- Don't forget Eli Whiteside. Like Sanchez, he wasn't supposed to be here either. Bengie Molina, a countryman of Sanchez's, legitimately had somewhere better to be, as his wife is scheduled to give birth very soon.

- If not for other developments, we may well have been talking about Pablo Sandoval's monstrous home run. Duane Kuiper said in the post-game wrap that even Bonds didn't go there very often. Let's hope he hits a few more like that when the Phillies come to town.

- Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter has already been described as "unlikely," and it was, partly because of the circumstances and partly because no-hitters always are. But to lump Sanchez in with the likes of Bud Smith, Jose Jimenez, and Eric Milton would be wrong. Anyone who's seen the guy at his best should have known that he had a start like this in him. But regardless of what happens the rest of this season, and the rest of his career, Jonathan Sanchez, and all of us, will always have this night. So let's savor it for now.

They Might Be Giants: June 15

2009-06-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Position Player: Thomas Neal, OF
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 23
Week Stats: .417/.481/.792, 6 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Season Stats: .346/.426/.626, 47 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 24 BB

Neal, a 37th round pick in 2005, has made a Sandoval-esque jump this season, going from merely a solid minor leaguer to a legitimate prospect. He has out-shined more highly touted prospects in San Jose, and was one of three players from that lineup named to the California League All-Star team, along with catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Roger Kieschnick. He seems to have no problem handling Single-A pitching, so a jump to Double-A could be in his future.

Pitcher: Clayton Tanner
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 20
Week Stats: 1-0, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO
Season Stats: 5-1, 51.2 IP, 45 H, 18 BB, 49 SO, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

Tanner, a third round selection in 2006, is repeating at San Jose, where he put up respectable numbers last year. He's been better this year, and his start against Modesto this week was arguably his best of the season. In a season-best seven innings, he walked none and struck out a career-high thirteen. Tanner is one of those second-tier Giants' pitching prospects, but could raise his profile if he keeps pitching like this.

The Sports Illustrated cover was ok...

2009-06-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

... but this is where it's at.
[Via Extra Baggs]

Giants Select Zack Wheeler

2009-06-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

As many expected, the Giants went with a high school pitcher, selecting right-hander Zack Wheeler with the sixth overall pick. A lot of experts had the Giants taking lefty Tyler Matzek, but in the end it looks like Brian Sabean went with the slightly more signable pitcher. That's not to say that Wheeler was a reach, as he is certainly a top ten talent. The organization obviously needs position players, but this is a pitching-heavy draft, and there just weren't any impact hitters available at our draft position. Wheeler becomes the second or third best pitching prospect in the organization, behind Madison Bumgarner and possibly ahead of Tim Alderson. Congratulations Zach, and welcome to the Giants.

They Might Be Giants: June 8

2009-06-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Position Player: Buster Posey, C
Age: 22
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 2 (14 in MLB)
Week Stats: .381/.581/.619, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 1 SB
Season Stats: .307/.403/.512, 36 R, 15 2B, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 27 BB, 5 SB

On the day before the 2009 draft, it's appropriate that we look back at last year's first round selection, who has done nothing but impress. The highlight of Posey's week was a walk-off home run against Bakersfield on June 5. But what has impressed me most about Posey so far is that he possesses something that is sorely lacking in the Giants' system: plate discipline. He seems to have a very good idea of the strike zone, as his .403 OBP is tenth in the California League. I haven't been able to judge what kind of catcher he is, but the bat is for real. The speculation is that he will skip Double-A and head straight to Fresno.

Pitcher: Henry Sosa
Age: 23
Level: Double-A, Connecticut
BA Ranking: 13
Week Stats: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR
Season Stats: 4-0, 51.0 IP, 41 H, 17 BB, 34 SO, 4 HR, 2.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP

Sosa, once ranked as highly as fifth overall in the Giants' system by Baseball America, has had trouble putting together a full, healthy season, despite flashes of dominance. So far, so good in 2009, and despite getting a no-decision, the right-hander had possibly his best start of the year against New Britain this week. He allowed a season-high four walks, but made up for it by allowing just one hit and striking out seven, both season-bests. Sosa, who is on the 40-man roster, could be due for a September callup, and is a dark horse for a roster spot in 2010.

Randy Johnson Memories

2009-06-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

Randy Johnson achieved career wins 296-300 in a Giants uniform, and we're proud he decided to share them with us. With Johnson's tenure with the Giants has been a short one, he is one opposing player we have enjoyed watching over the years. Here are a few Johnson moments that stand out in my mind.

My first memory of Randy Johnson is during the 1993 All Star game when a fastball slipped from the Unit's fingers and flew over the head of John Kruk. Kruk had a new sense of fear when stepping back into the batter's box and proceeded to strike out swinging. In 1997, Johnson faced Larry Walker in the midsummer classic - a hitter who famously sat out on days he was to face Johnson. Showing that he has a sense of humor beneath that stern exterior, Johnson let one go over Walker's head, as well.
Two Johnson moments that stand out for me both occurred in the playoffs and in relief. Johnson pitched three innings in relief on one days rest in game five of the 1995 division series against the Yankees. While he did allow a run in the top of the 11th, the Mariners scored two in the bottom half on a dramatic Edgar Martinez single. Johnson relieved Curt Schilling on zero days rest in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. He pitched the final 1 1/3 emerging the winning pitcher and sharing a co-MVP with Schilling. Said Schilling, "That relief appearance is everything you ever need to know about Randy Johnson."
When the Mariners visited Candlestick in 1997, the inagural season of interleague play, Johnson looked as though he'd never swung a bat in his life. He still looks a bit like that, though I did once see him launch a hit to the centerfield wall at the 'Stick as a member of the Diamondbacks.

Video: Randy Johnson's Postgame Press Conference

2009-06-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

Let's Play Two: Doubleheader History and Facts

2009-06-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

"Let's play two!" was a catchphrase coined by Cubs great Ernie Banks, and if Banks had his wish, he'd have been able to play a double-header everyday. Once scheduled prior to the season, double-headers are rare now except in instances of making up games that had been postponed. After yesterday's rain-out, the Giants and Nationals have a double-header scheduled for today, beginning at 1:35, with Randy Johnson on the hill going for win number 300.

I was strolling on the internet and collected some fun facts and feats from the history of double-headers:

-10 pitchers have accomplished the feat of two complete game victories and the same day. Such a feat has not been accomplished since 1926. [via Baseball Almanac]
-Not an actual double-header, but on July 2, 1933, New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell went the full 18-innings for a win over the Cardinals. [via Sporting News]
-There have three tripleheaders in baseball history, though none since 1920 as tripleheaders are not allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement. [via Wikipedia]
-On September 25, 2000, the Cleveland Indians hosted a doubleheader against two different teams. [via Wikipedia]
-Mark Whiten holds the record for most RBIs in a double header with 13. On September 20, 1993, Whiten drove in one run of the first game, and then proceeded to hit 4 homers and drive in 12 in the second. [via Sports Illustrated]

Richie

2009-06-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

How many of you felt a twinge of nostalgia which Rich Aurilia proved one of the heroes in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Cardinals. Recent roster moves had put Aurilia's roster spot in jeopardy, leading some Giants fans to wax poetic about their favorite Richie moments. Aurilia's homer - performed with the same swing and quick trot the utility man has exhibited throughout his entire career - was his first this season. Aurilia's production has been minimal this year, but he remains a hard guy not to like. Whether it be his links to better days in Giants history or just the fact that he is one of those admirable players who may not be a hall of famer but still busts his tail and occasionally achieves something great, we're hoping to see Richie stick around for a few more swings.

Henry Schulman writes today that Aurilia does not worry about his roster status. "I don't think you can have fear over something you have no control over," Aurilia said. "I still feel I can help this team now. I proved it the other day. I don't think they've lost confidence in me, and I haven't lost confidence in myself."

They Might Be Giants: June 1

2009-06-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Position Player: Angel Villalona, 1B
Age: 18
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 3 (44 in MLB)
Week Stats: .417/.417/.667, 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Season Stats: .308/.342/.470, 30 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 7 BB

Villalona continued to hold his own at San Jose, despite the fact that he would still be in high school if he had been born in the United States. He's still a pretty raw talent, and he will probably always be the kind of player who strikes out a lot and doesn't draw many walks, but he's got more power potential than any player in the Giants' system. He's the first baseman of the future, though that could be the somewhat distant future. Note: I didn't pick John Bowker because he's not a prospect anymore, but his performance this week at Fresno is worth a mention, as he hit a ridiculous .538/.586/.923 with a couple of home runs.

Pitcher: Scott Barnes
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 9
Week Stats: 1-0, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
Season Stats: 5-2, 45.1 IP, 41 H, 18 BB, 33 SO, 2 HR, 3.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

There were a few good performances by Giants' pitchers this week, but Barnes is the most legitimate prospect of the bunch. The lefthander, an eighth round draft pick in 2008, allowed a season-low two hits while striking out a season-high six against Visalia. With Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson gone, Barnes is the top pitching prospect left in San Jose. After a bit of a rough stretch in early May, he's been much better in his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA. In case you're curious, Bumgarner had a good, but not dominant start, allowing one run in five innings, walking two and striking out three.

5 Ways FOX Saturday Baseball Could Get Worse and How Nationally Televised Baseball Can Get Better

2009-05-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

I love listening to the Giants on the radio, or catching a game on TV. Jon Miller and Dave Fleming are a couple of throwbacks - classic announcers who paint a picture of what is going on. When it's Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, it's like watching a game with a couple of old friends while drinking some beers - and that is great too. But when forced to watch the Giants on a nationally televised broadcast, I prefer to tune out whatever dimwits (Miller excluded) are calling it, and turn up a little KNBR.

I have always had a particular dislike for FOX Saturday Baseball whose announcers usually sound as if they've never heard of the radio. The best television announcers coincidentally grew up on and came up through radio, thus making their television commentary vivid and insightful. The FOX team - not so much. While FOX's coverage is pretty bad, I am fairly certain, it could actually get significantly worse. If the FOX team is looking to lower the bar just a little bit more, might I offer these suggestions:

1). "Babe Cam" - No, not The Babe, babes as in girls. I'm certain they've already thought of this one already, and I think we're just about a year or two away from its implementation. What better way to make the token female commentator feel even more uncomfortable.
2). Lure Joe Morgan away from ESPN - come on, FOX, that was too easy.
3). The Bud Selig Postgame Show - no one has charisma quite like comissioner Bud Selig. Selig's postgame interviews with the day's MVP could provide insight. "Derek," Selig might say, "don't you think it's funny people blame me for the steroid era. I mean, how am I supposed to know - you were best friends with A-Rod, and you didn't know."
4). No pre-game press sheets allowed - I want as many names screwed up and stats misquoted as possible.
5). Mic a bullpen guy who will only be pitching in case of a blowout - oh the insights that could be provided by someone who is just hanging out in the bullpen. Sample interaction: "Sunflower seeds?" "Sure bro, thanks."

Thankfully, while things can get worse, they can also get better, and as a lifelong watcher of nationally televised baseball, here's what I would like to see:

-One throwback Jon Miller type calling the game, someone who has been versed in radio and preferably has another announcing gig. ie someone with a lot of practice.
-Rather than a Joe Morgan, who quantifies a player's "heart" and mangles statistics, how about a pair of in-game analysts who actually have some knowledge to spread. Baseball fans don't care about a player's heart and the game is far more interactive in 2009. Fans want to know stats that relate back to their fantasy team, and what the analysts have heard about potential transactions. Anyone watching a nationally televised game has an interest in at least one of these. Why not have a Buster Olney or Peter Gammons in the game for a start, and then add some versed in Baseball Prospectus who can speak eloquently on the stats that actually matter, like OPS.

Should Bochy, Lansford, Sabean Keep Their Jobs?

2009-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

A lot of speculation has been made for a couple of years now about the safety of Brian Sabean's job. While it seems unlikely the Giants would renew his contract at the end of the season, Glenn Dickey asks today why he still has one at all, declaring the GM "out of touch with reality." Early in his Giants career, Sabean swung some pretty sweet deals, but four straight losing seasons, a host of bad contracts, and the weak 2009 lineup is pretty unacceptable. The organization could make a statement by letting go of Sabean early, but honestly, there is not much a new GM could do this season to improve this team.

While Sabean has been on the hook for a while, little has been said of manager Bruce Bochy, although we did have quite an interesting discussion on our Twitter page last week. While Bochy has been surrounded by inadequate teams during his entire Giants tenure, he has also failed to inspire much of anything. No one seems to have much bad to say about Bochy, except for ex-Giant Matt Morris, who criticized the manager's laid-back approach upon being traded to the Pirates in 2007. Like Sabean, Bochy's contract expires at the end of the year, and it makes little sense to retain the manager. The players don't show a strong attachment and the fans haven't warmed to him the way they did too Dusty and even Felipe. Bochy's postgame comments provide little insight, and in games he seems to be overcompensating with unnecessary hit-and-runs. A younger (possibly first-time) manager will inject not only a new sense of excitement, but may also be better equipped to manage young players prone to slumps and varying levels of confidence. Possible replacements could include Ron Wotus or Steve Decker. Dave Righetti's name also came up in our Twitter chat.

Nothing against Carney Lansford as he has not been given much to work with, but when you coach hitters to the worst offense in the league, someone has to take the fall. Not only is it the Giants lack of timely hitting or homers that proves so frustrating, but their inability to be patient at the plate. It's debatable how much of this we can hold Lansford responsible for, but if we're going to infuse this team with a new manager and GM, then a new hitting coach should be in order as well. We've been seeing Will Clark's face an awful lot lately - any chance we could see "The Thrill" teaching these guys his classic swing?

They Might Be Giants: May 25

2009-05-25T17:26:00.001-07:00

"They Might Be Giants" is a weekly feature in which we highlight the best performance by a position player and a pitcher in the Giants' minor league system.'

Position Player: Buster Posey, C
Age: 22
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 2 (14 in MLB)
Week Stats: .360/.429/.800, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB
Season Stats: .298/.379/.516, 27 R, 11 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 18 BB, 4 SB

The Giants' number one draft pick from 2008 broke out of a slump in a big way this week. Most scouts project Posey as a 12-15 homer guy, but he's shown pretty good power so far in the California League, including three home runs in the last week. A promotion to Double-A or perhaps straight to Triple-A is likely this summer, and Posey appears to be on track to be the everyday catcher next year in San Francisco.

Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner
Age: 19
Level: Double-A, Connecticut
BA Ranking: 1 (9 in MLB)
Week Stats: 1-0, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 SO
Season Stats: 6-1, 42.1 IP, 30 H, 8 BB, 44 SO, 0 HR, 1.06 ERA, 0.90 WHIP

I actually made a mistake last week when I listed Bumgarner's age at 20. The fact that he's doing what he's doing at 19 makes his accomplishments even more noteworthy. Bumgarner continued to dominate since his promotion. He has a 0.50 ERA in three Double-A appearances. He has yet to allow a home run at any level this year, and his K/BB ratio is better than five to one. The promotion of David Price to the majors leaves Bumgarner as the best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, and you might have to remove the left-handed part, and maybe the pitching part.

Same Problems Plague Giants, Wilson

2009-05-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last night had all the makings of an inspiring Giants win - a rejuvenated offense with the callup of Jesus Guzman, seven strong innings from Tim Lincecum, a clutch game-tying home run from Aaron Rowand, and scratching out a run against a closer who hadn't allowed one all season. Unfortunately, the Giants leave with yet another loss, one that can be attributed to all the same problems that have plagued them over the past two weeks.

Closer Brian Wilson will take much of the heat for last night's loss - and some of that is warranted. He did enter with a 2-1 lead and, as Jon Miller put it on the radio broadcast, proceeded to hand them runners. Only the game-winning single was hard earned, as Wilson put himself in a precarious position by walking two batters and hitting another. Wilson has allowed winning runs in three of his last four appearances, calling for more than one fan to wonder why Jeremy Affeldt is not pitching the ninth innings.

Here at SO&B, we are Wilson fans but will acknowledge that he is currently in the worst patch of his young career. If the Giants were serious contenders this year, then Wilson's job may be on the line. But since this is yet another development/rebuilding year, I can't see the point in threatening Wilson's ninth inning role. Wilson clearly has issues with control that need to be worked on. It is important to remember that Wilson is only in his second full season, and he has been groomed as the closer of the future. If he is going to adopt such a role, he needs to develop his command and he needs to learn how to get out of a rut like the one he is in now.

But Wilson does not deserve all the blame. The offense continues to lack inspiration with runners in scoring position. Bruce Bochy sent Guzman up as a pinch hitter in the seventh with runners on the corner and one out - only to have Guzman hit into a double play. They managed one run in the ninth and could have added insurance but were hindered by Bengie Molina being unable to score from second on a Nate Schierholtz single. With the bases loaded and one out, Guzman struck out and Kevin Frandsen grounded out, leaving the score at 2-1.

On a positive note, Lincecum was electric as usual - 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 run, and 10 strikeouts. Additionally, Rowand was a cool 2-for-4 raising his average to .270; Randy Winn stayed hot with two hits including a clutch ninth inning single; and Affeldt pitched a perfect 2/3 of the eighth.

Giants Lose 2-1 In Re-Run Game

2009-05-21T08:54:00.001-07:00

Still need to change that banner. Sorry, Barry.

Games like last night's 2-1 loss to San Diego are painful to watch as a Giants fan. However, I see that they make my job as a Giants blogger much easier. For instance, last night was very much a rerun of the night before, and a repeat of the same problems that have plagued the Giants all season. Subsequently, I can just cut and paste what I've written from previous games and change a couple player names. For instance, here is what I wrote yesterday:

The Giants lost yesterday 2-1, basically because they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Chris Young is a pretty smart pitcher and I think he has figured out the ultimate kryptonite for the Giants lineup - put runners in scoring position and then get three easy outs.

But, rather than dwelling on the bad offense which is obviously apparent and clearly needs to be solved (more on that later), let's talk about Barry Zito.... Against San Diego, Zito gave up a pair of early runs and often found himself in stressful situations, managing to pitch around them and keeping his team in the game.

And here's what I have to say about yesterday: The Giants lost yesterday 2-1, basically because they went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Chad Gaudin is a pretty smart pitcher and I think he has figured out the ultimate kryptonite for the Giants lineup - put runners in scoring position and then get three easy outs.

But, rather than dwelling on the bad offense which is obviously apparent and clearly needs to be solved (more on that later), let's talk about Jonathan Sanchez. Against San Diego, Sanchez gave up a pair of early runs and often found himself in stressful situations, managing to pitch around them and keeping his team in the game.

Funny exercise, but it doesn't really make me feel any better.

Should We Be Happy or Sad For Zito

2009-05-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

We really need to change this banner. 1). We need to change it to something more positive, like "We'll get 'em next time!" and 2). Barry Zito should not be the face of Giants' losses. Zito is somehow 1-4 when it should be more like 4-1. Simply put, Zito has regained his Cy Young form and is pitching like an All Star.

The Giants lost yesterday 2-1, basically because they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Chris Young is a pretty smart pitcher and I think he has figured out the ultimate kryptonite for the Giants lineup - put runners in scoring position and then get three easy outs.

But, rather than dwelling on the bad offense which is obviously apparent and clearly needs to be solved (more on that later), let's talk about Zito. Last night, Zito pitched not only the Giants first complete game of the season, but also his first since 2003. Allowing just Zito 10 earned runs over his last 40.2 innings, he is looking very much like the pitcher the Giants were signing two years ago. Against San Diego, Zito gave up a pair of early runs and often found himself in stressful situations, managing to pitch around them and keeping his team in the game. Unfortunately, Zito gets the worst run support of anyone in the majors - 1.25 runs per game!

Affeldt, Rowand, and Wilson

2009-05-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

I'd really prefer not to dwell on what happened last week against the Mets. We were riding high after Pablo Sandoval's game-winning bomb, and a four-game losing streak did a lot to suck the momentum out. Heading to San Diego, we are again 6.5 games behind the Dodgers and it feels a bit like starting back at square one.

Since the 2000 playoffs, there's something about playing against the Mets that I just don't like. This series did raise some intriguing questions, like, how do you stake Tim Lincecum to a 5-1 lead and not get a win? or how'd we scratch six runs against Johan Santana and not get a win?

Three players who were up for discussion during this series were Jeremy Affeldt, Aaron Rowand, and Brian Wilson.

How about Affeldt on Thursday night? Affeldt relieved Merkin Valdez who had just given up a game tying, bases-clearing double to David Wright, who then proceded to steal third. With the leading run on third and nobody out, Affeldt struck out the side to keep the score tied. Then he went out and through a scoreless eighth. It revived my confidence in the lefty.

Affeldt could have taken home a win that night had Rowand managed to drive Randy Winn in from third with one out. Instead he hit a weak grounder, and retreated to a chorus of boos. Afterwards, he spoke with Andrew Baggarly, who wondered why we never see Rowand slamming his bat or throwing his helmet.

“If I’m going to snap, usually it’s in the tunnel,” he said. “I don’t want the guy on the mound or the other team to realize that I’m frustrated. My whole career, I’ve done it that way.”

Rowand, whose serious work ethic is well-documented, also noted that he may need to make some changes in his approach - "“I’m starting over today,” he said before Saturday's game. “I’m simplifying everything.” Against Santana, Rowand had three RBIs on three hits, including a home run. Not bad. Still, Rowand in just in the second year of a five year, $60 million contract - something he would not have received had he entered the market a year later. To trade Rowand at this point, however, would be silly. The Giants would likely have to eat much of the contract, and given that Rowand is a). the opposite of a clubhouse cancer and b). not keeping better players out of the lineup, it would serve the team best to keep him around. Besides, if he can return to form, he makes for a good number six hitter - provided the lineup around him gets better.

Also catching the ire of the fans this past weekend, was closer Brian Wilson. On Friday and Saturday, Wilson entered the ninth in a tie game and then put the game, well, a little out of reach. The challenging Mets lineup seemed at ease at the plate and on the bases, while Wilson hurt his own case with a miserable throwing error. So, what do I say? Perhaps, "he's a bum" or "replace him with Affeldt"? No. These two games were tough and probably Wilson's worst outings of the year. But, those are the breaks for a closer. Now, if this becomes a habit, we can start talking about a change. Wilson's failures are magnified by the fact that he is always in there with the game on the line, and subsequently greater scrutiny comes with that, too. At $480,000 - significantly less than Affeldt and Bobby Howry, Wilson remains a terrific value on a team with plenty of bad contracts, and continues to bounce back from struggles. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth on Sunday.

They Might Be Giants: May 18

2009-05-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

"They Might Be Giants" is a new feature in which we pick the best performance by a Giants' position player prospect and pitching prospect from the previous week.

Position Player: Roger Kieschnick, OF
Age: 22
Level: High-A, San Jose
Baseball America Ranking: 14
Week Stats: .462/.481/.769, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB
Season Stats: .345/.387/.540, 21 R, 6 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 9 BB, 3 SB

It was a close call between Kieschnick and Jesus Guzman, who put up an impressive .483/.516/.690 line at Fresno, and may be seeing the big leagues soon, but I went with Kieschnick because of the home runs. Kieschnick was a bright spot for San Jose, whose prospect-heavy lineup has gone cold the past few weeks. The Giants' system is relatively short on outfield prospects and power, so it would great if Kieschnick, a third-round pick in 2008, could keep it up.

Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner
Age: 20
Level: Double-A, Connecticut
BA Ranking: 1 (9 in MLB)
Week Stats: 2-0, 12 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR, 0.75 ERA, 0.92 WHIP
Season Stats: 5-1, 1.24 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36.1 IP, 28 H, 7 BB, 34 SO, 0 HR

I have a feeling this might need to be renamed the MadBum Award by season's end. It's said that the jump from High-A to Double-A is the toughest for a prospect, and Bumgarner handled it with ease this week. He was effective if not dominant in his first start for Connecticut May 11, allowing one earned run over six innings, but allowing seven hits and only striking out two. He was more like his old self on Sunday, throwing six shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out nine. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus may have put it best in this piece today: "Whenever I would write about the Giants having the most terrifying rotation in the game, I usually attached the arrival year of 2011 to it; that may prove to be too conservative an estimate."

Giants Get Sweet Revenge

2009-05-17T23:04:00.001-07:00

You may remember a game, almost two years ago today. The Giants were playing the Mets in a nationally televised game. Tim Lincecum made his fifth major start, allowing three runs and striking out eight in seven innings. But the game remained tied at three until the Giants scored the go-ahead run in the top of the twelfth inning. Armando Benitez came in to close it out and, well, the rest is history. A walk to Jose Reyes and a couple of balks later, the game was tied. Carlos Delgado finished it with a walk-off homer. Benitez would not pitch in a Giants uniform again, and that game remains one of the more crushing losses of the past few years.

On Sunday, the universe went a long way towards righting itself. Once again on ESPN, the Giants won 2-0, thanks entirely to a couple of well-timed balks by Mets' starter Mike Pelfrey, who never seemed very comfortable on the mound. In the first time, after Pablo Sandoval singled, Pelfrey seemed to catch his spike in the dirt and couldn't get the pitch off. Sandoval went to second, and came home on a Bengie Molina single. In the fifth inning, after Aaron Rowand led off with a single, Pelfrey started and stopped. Travis Ishikawa advanced Rowand to third with a groundout, and then Matt Cain helped himself with an RBI single, after a suicide squeeze attempt went foul. Cain continued to allow a lot of baserunners, walking five and throwing nearly 120 pitches in six innings, but he continued to work his way out of trouble. Jeremy Affeldt had another good outing. After a Carlos Beltran double put runners on second and third with nobody out in the eighth, Affeldt struck out Gary Sheffield, intentionally walked David Wright, and got pinch-hitter Angel Pagan to ground into a double play. Brian Wilson pitch a one-two-three ninth for his ninth save.

If you were watching the ESPN telecast, you might not have realized that there were actually two teams on the field. The broadcast team of Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips, egged on by Jon Miller, spent nearly the whole game talking about the Mets and their "leadership issues." Phillips at one point said that the Mets don't have that "perfect player" like Dustin Pedroia or Derek Jeter, and later suggested that they should consider trading Carlos Beltran, because despite being one of the best players in baseball, he just doesn't have that gamer/clubhouse presence that we all know is more important. Hey, if the Mets want a center fielder with those attributes, maybe we could swing a deal (he hit into another bases loaded double play today, but at least he hustled really hard!). If only Steve Phillips were still the Mets' GM. But seriously, it seems like a lot of people buy into that school of thinking. Dear Mets' fans: I would love to have David Wright's, Jose Reyes's, or Carlos Beltran's problems.

Video: Sandoval's Walk-off

2009-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this fan video. Wish I had been there...

Poll: Who is Your Favorite Panda?

2009-05-13T16:11:00.001-07:00

Pablo Sandoval?

Kung Fu Panda?

Panda Bear from the band Animal Collective?

What Will the 2010 Giants Look Like?

2009-05-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, we like to step back from the season in progress and take a look at the bigger picture. This is a topic that's been on my mind lately. Despite the Giants’ initial success this year, most people who follow the team closely have set 2010 as the year when the team will regain their status as serious contenders. However, the issue of who will actually take the field next spring is still very much up in the air. So much will depend on the performance of players on the current team, the progress of top prospects, and the free agent market. Taking these factors into account, here is a position-by-position breakdown of how the team could shape up.

C: Bengie Molina’s contract is up after 2009, creating a space for 2008 first-round pick Buster Posey, who has been as advertised so far at Class-A San Jose. Some have suggested that Molina should be kept around as a veteran mentor, but a prospect like Posey needs to be playing every day, and I’m not sure Molina would like a part-time role. If the Giants want to keep Posey in the minors for a month or two to begin the season, they might be better off going with a backup-type like Miguel Olivo or Yorvit Torrealba.

1B: This is perhaps the most wide open position on the roster. Travis Ishikawa has not inspired confidence with his performance right now, and who knows where he will be a month from now, much less 2010. The Giants are reportedly floating the idea of moving Pablo Sandoval across the diamond to first. Jesus Guzman, who opened a lot of eyes in Spring Training and has continued to hit well at Triple-A Fresno, could get a look as well. On the free agent market, options include Nick Johnson and Adam LaRoche, who could also be trade targets if the Giants remain in contention.

2B: The Giants have shown a lot of patience will Emmanuel Burriss this year, and they have been rewarded with improved performance over the past couple weeks. Burriss has excellent speed, has shown a decent ability to get on base, and has played an acceptable second base, but his complete lack of power makes him more suitable as a role player. If Brian Sabean decides he wants a more potent bat, he could go for Orlando Hudson or Felipe Lopez.

3B: Like first base, this one is up in the air. Pablo Sandoval has a future with this team, but it may not be at third. If Sandoval is moved, there are not a lot of inspiring internal options. Adrian Beltre has been linked to the Giants in trade rumors in the past, and he will probably be the best available free agent. Conor Gillaspie, currently at San Jose, is the best third base prospect in the organization, and could see big league action at some point next year.

SS: Barring injury or historically poor performance, Edgar Renteria is pretty much locked in as the starter next year, with Brandon Crawford maybe stepping up in 2011.

LF: For all the talk of a slump, Fred Lewis is still getting on base at a .390 clip. But if his power does not develop and his strikeouts continue to pile up, his role may be that of a fourth outfielder. Even though he’s only been in the league a couple years, Lewis is 28. He’s not going to develop much more as a player. There will be some big bats available this offseason, most notably Matt Holliday and Jason Bay.

CF: Like it or not, the Giants are pretty much stuck with Aaron Rowand in center field. Unless Sabean can find someone willing to take on his contract, Rowand will be out there again in 2010.

RF: Randy Winn’s tenure in right field will likely come to an end this season, and whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill. The Giants hope it will be Nate Schierholtz, but there are doubts about his ability to consistently hit big-league pitching, and he may be more suited to a bench role. If the Giants choose the free agent route, they will have a hard time finding anyone who can cover as much ground in right as Winn, as the market is full of aging, defense-averse sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Abreu, and Brian Giles. Xavier Nady has been linked to the Giants in the past, and if healthy could be an option.

SP: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, and Jonathan Sanchez will all be under contract, and if all of them return, that leaves only one spot to fill. A lot depends on the development of Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson, both of whom were recently promoted to Double-A. If the Giants feel that one or both are ready to step into the rotation, they could look to trade Sanchez or even Cain in the right deal. As good as Matt Cain can be, if the Giants were offered the kind of haul that the Orioles got for Erik Bedard or the A’s got for Dan Haren, they could be tempted. Kevin Pucetas, Joe Martinez, and Henry Sosa could also battle for a spot in Spring Training. Whatever the case, it appears unlikely the Giants will need to bring in a free agent to fill out the rotation.

RP: Trying to imagine what a bullpen will look almost a year before the season is a fruitless exercise, but here’s what we know: Brian Wilson will likely still be closing games, and he will be supported by Jeremy Affeldt in the second year of his contract. If Sergio Romo comes back and pitches like he did last year, he should be there too. Bob Howry could be brought back if he continues to pitch well. Other free agents include John Grabow, Fernando Rodney, Kevin Gregg, and Joe Beimel. Within the organization, Osiris Matos and Alex Hinshaw should still be around, while Sosa and Waldis Joaquin could be dark horse candidates.

Now back to the real world.

-C.B.

It's All About the BB (Part Two)

2009-05-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back I said, "I have three words that will be the key to the Giants' success in 2009 - base on balls. If Giants hitters can coax a few of these each game, they will put themselves in a position to score runs and win games." Last night, the Giants took that statement and ran - I mean - walked with it. The Giants pulled off an 11-7 victory against the Washington Nationals. There were three home runs in this game - all off Nationals' bats. How did the Giants win this thing? By capitalizing on mistakes and drawing walks. The Giants' lack of base on balls has been frustrating me all season, but last night, I got what I was hoping for...

Bottom of the fifth, Willingham makes an error on what should be the last out of the inning. Travis Ishikawa is intentionally walked to bring up Randy Johnson. Johnson draws a walk to load the bases. Emmanuel Burris walks to bring in a run. Then, Edgar Renteria walks to bring in a run. After a pitching change, the free swinging Pablo Sandoval walks to bring in a run. Seriously, the Giants may launch an extra base hit every now and then, but these wins they've been bringing home lately have often been courtesy of walks and sacrifices, ie "small ball." So, I have to wonder, is this moneyball in action or an example of a team doing the little things. All I know is the Giants are 16-14 with one of the least threatening lineups in baseball.

But, hey, it's not all about walks...

-Travis Ishikawa needed to get something going, and he did, with three hits, including a double and 2 RBIs. He credits this to a fresh approach.
-Osiris Matos is the best hitter on the Giants - dude is batting 1.000 and had a key ninth inning RBI single. Unfortunately, he couldn't seal the deal on the mound in the ninth and was promptly sent to Fresno. Pitching struggles aside, the Giants could use that kind of offense.
-Some dude called the Big Unit notched win number 298, but that is not a big deal.

-W.B.

Brian Wilson Upset at Casey Blake

2009-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Giants won 7-5 yesterday in 13 innings, completing a 4-3 road trip, but closer Brian Wilson was not happy after the game. After hitting a one game-tying homer of Wilson in the 12th, Dodger Casey Blake returned to the dugout and imitated the Giants closer's postgame arm gesture. Friends sent Wilson photos and after the game he was distraught and did not want to talk. He was consoled by teammates. Blake has had no comment.

Wilson does the arm gesture at the end of games. Kept a secret initially, its meaning was later revealed to Andrew Baggarly as being a tribute to his late father, his faith, and the belief that you've still got fight left in you no matter the odds. Wilson does not face opponents when doing the gesture, instead looking out towards center field. "It shows no disrespect toward anybody," he has said. "It’s all positive praise. It’s not for showboating."

Wilson seemed to perceive Blake's gesture as an affront to his faith and late father, though it is unclear whether Blake knew the meaning.

Whether or not Blake was aware, he was still showing up Wilson. Blake had just hit a game-tying homer off an All Star closer and was probably feeling pretty pumped about it (as anybody would). Returning to the dugout, as a means of celebration, Blake opted to imitate Wilson's gesture. I took it to be his way of saying, "You won't be doing this today."

The Giants did score two runs in the 13th and Wilson closed things out for the win. Winning is the best revenge, and the rivalry now has more fuel.

Somehow This Manny News is Making Me Forget About Last Night's Game

2009-05-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

I don't think the Giants won last night, but it sure feels like they did with this Manny Ramirez news. The Dodgers have been playing pretty well as of late - winning 13 straight games at home to start the season ... I mean, 13* straight games at home to start the season. The Giants are 6.5 games behind the Dodgers, who reside in first at 21-8. Bottom line - this is an opportunity the Giants have to capitalize on. They need to score some runs!

Lincecum: A Fan of Rookie of the Year

2009-05-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Much of MLB.com's coverage of yesterday's game centers on the fact that Tim Lincecum is a big fan of the 1993 film, Rookie of the Year. The film stars Thomas Ian Nicholas as Henry Rowengartner - a 12 year old who winds up pitching for the Cubs after an arm injury leaves him with the ability to throw exceptionally fast.

"I love this field," Lincecum said. "Not just for the history, but one of my favorite movies of all time was 'Rookie of the Year,' with Henry Rowengartner and all that good stuff.

"People used to call me 'Rowengartner,'" he added. "Or 'Rosinbagger.'"

The film features a cameo by then Pirate Barry Bonds in a strikeout montage that also features Bobby Bonilla and Pedro Guerrero. Thomas Ian Nicholas went on to star in three American Pie films before embarking on a music career.

Let's Hear It For the Boy and Observations from the Past Week

2009-05-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

By this point, there should be no doubt - Tim Lincecum is for real. After those two lackluster starts at the beginning of the year, he has picked up where 2008 left off. Even when he does not have his best - like he didn't against the Cubs - he is still the best. I appreciate how Lou Pinella conceded defeat before the game even began, omitting Ryan Theriot, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Milton Bradley and Geovany Soto from his lineup card. Perhaps this will become a trend when Lincecum pitches? Perhaps we should pencil in Lincecum as the starter each game?

Bengie Molina gave his pitcher all he needed with a first inning, three run homer, but the Giants decided to throw a few more runs in for good measure. Listening to The Razor and Mr. T after the game, it was asked whether Molina was the Giants best free agent signing behind Barry Bonds. There is no doubt Molina has been an offense savior during his tenure with the Giants, and it might not be a bad idea to keep a vet like him around, while nurturing young Buster Posey into the majors.

The Giants are playing .500 ball and still haven't lost a series since their disastrous first road trip. Since we have not posted in about a week, here's a few things we noticed during that time:

-Barry Zito is totally clean shaven and it suits him well. When you're as well-groomed as Zito looks these days, it's a sign that you are confident and take pride in what you are doing. Zito has been money as of late, maybe not $126 million money, but still. Most impressive about 2009's Zito as compared to 2007 and 2008's Zito is that he has cut back on his walks and gone deeper into ball games. He still doesn't have a win but deserves 2 or 3.
-While we're comparing grooming habits to performance, let's talk about Brian Wilson. That new haircut of his is pretty frickin cool, simply enhancing his overall coolness. After his one blown save, Wilson has bounced back strong, twice having to get a 4-out save, while also pitching a scoreless ninth in a 0-0 game.
-Wilson needed to get a pair of four out saves, because Jeremy Affeldt was twice unable to finish the eighth. Let's hope Affeldt can get things back on track, because Bruce Bochy is already talking about replacing Bob Howry with Merkin Valdez as the eighth inning righty. If the Giants are going to have any shot this year, the bullpen has got to be solid.
-Jonathan Sanchez is still struggling with the mental game. Though in his defense - and Dunae Kuiper raised a similar point - I've always felt that a pitcher should be able to go out and give up three runs and still win. Unfortunately, with this offense, when you fall down 3-0 early, a comeback does not appear likely. "How about the offense picking up a pitcher every now and agin," Kuiper said. Agreed.
-Randy Johnson is at 297, going for 298 tonight.
-More Nate Schierholtz please.

Some Positives Despite Sloppy Loss

2009-04-29T13:05:00.001-07:00

I know I should be really frustrated about last night's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers. The Giants committed two costly errors, threw three wild pitches, walked nine hitters, made mistakes on the bases, and struggled to get clutch hits despite numerous opportunities. However, I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed last night's game before the Dodgers finally pulled away with two runs off Bob Howry in the ninth. Perhaps that's because I wasn't really expecting to win this game, with Dodger ace and Giant-killer Chad Billingsley on the mound. I feel like the fact that the Giants were able to at least get Billingsley, as well as Jonathan Broxton, on the ropes several times is a positive. Here are some other observations:

- Jonathan Sanchez worked harder than he needed to because of a dropped fly ball by Fred Lewis and a throwing error by Juan Uribe, which led to two Dodger runs. As a result, Sanchez was close to 100 pitches after five innings.
- Lewis strikes out a lot. He leads the National League with 26, and it seems like they have all come in the last week.
- For all the talk about what a clutch hitter Bengie Molina is, it seems like he's popped up a lot of first pitches in big situations.
- Pablo Sandoval is hitting the ball with authority, and Travis Ishikawa is taking better at-bats as well.

Barry Beats LA...Zito Good Too

2009-04-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

With the all-time home run king looking on, the Giants scored the game-tying and game-winning runs on two balls that didn't leave the infield grass. I'll take it. The Giants beat the Dodgers for the first time this year and improved their home record to 7-2. With Tim Lincecum going tomorrow, the Giants now have a good chance to take the series.

Barry Zito was not quite as sharp as he was in his last outing in San Diego, as he struck out just two while walking three, but he managed to work his way out of jams through the first six innings. The Dodgers finally got to him in the seventh, and Zito was gone after a two-run homer by Casey Blake and a single by Juan Pierre. Merkin Valdez, pitching for the first time in a while, allowed a game-tying single to Orlando Hudson and go-ahead single to Manny Ramirez, but avoided further damage by getting Matt Kemp to ground into a double play. The Giants then rallied for two against Ronald Belisario in the eighth.

The story of the game might be Brian Wilson, who is now Twitter-free. A day after blowing a three-run lead in Arizona, Wilson struck out Blake, Blake DeWitt, and Rafael Furcal to close out the game. After falling behind Furcal 3-0, Wilson planted three straight knee-high fastballs for called strikes.

Of course, Barry Bonds was in the building, and I think anyone watching would agree that the man would make a great color commentator.

Who Would've Thought a 2-1 Weekend Would Be A Disappointment

2009-04-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Going into Friday's game, all I wanted was for the Giants to take two of three from Arizona, and that they did. It is a little disappointing because they came oh-so-close to leaving with a sweep, but here's a look back at a mostly positive weekend...

If you watched Friday night's game, then it was painfully clear that something is just not right with Tim Lincecum. Despite a Giants win, Lincecum in no way resembled the 2008 Cy Young award winner we know and love. He could only muster eight innings, and allowed a whopping five hits. Even worse, his strikeout total dropped from 13 in his previous start to only 12. He also increased his walk total from his previous start, allowing one. And, he allowed a 2-out RBI single to a pitcher! Miraculously, the Giants dominant offense carried them to a 5-1 victory.

Saturday's victory resembled the kind of win that only winning teams get. You know the kind where your number starter gets knocked out early, and your offense and bullpen carry you to victory. Clutch two-out hitting has been rather elusive for the Orange and Black, but all five came in such circumstances - an Edgar Renteria double, a Randy Winn homer, and a single from the oft hitting challenged Emmanuel Burris. The hitting was clutch, but I just cannot say enough good things about the bullpen's performance, especially the strong setup guys we have in Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry. A major issue the Giants have faced in their string of losing seasons has been a lack of quality setup guys to finish the job - coupled with starters who cannot go deep. Both Affeldt and Howry have handled their late-inning duties successfully (each has three holds), achieving a certain late inning confidence.

What was that about late inning confidence? Sunday's game had all the makings of an inspiring getaway win for the Giants - seven solid innings from Matt Cain (who was in line for win number three), a clutch homer from Pablo Sandoval, more great setup work from Affeldt and Howry, and a 4-1 lead with Brian Wilson on the mound. Blown saves happen - it is just a fact. I will not go into any monologues trying to diagnose Brian Wilson's strength and weaknesses. Even the best closers have a bad day. Despite the loss, there are still numerous positives to take from this game and even more from the series - the Giants have turned that dismal 2-7 into a respectable 8-9.

For Zito and the Giants, It is All About the BB

2009-04-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have three words that will be the key to the Giants' success in 2009 - base on balls. If Giants hitters can coax a few of these each game, they will put themselves in a position to score runs and win games. If Giants pitchers can avoid these, it is going to be very difficult to score runs off of these guys. I believe walks were the key to our 0-6 road trip, and subsequently the key to our 4-1 homestand.

But let's talk about Barry Zito. No article or re-cap of a Zito game fails to mention the ridiculous contract he is now in his third year of. Perhaps, Zito will never escape this, but it looks like the lefty has turned over a new leaf. Zito was electric yesterday afternoon. For a guy who typically struggles in April, struggles in the first, and struggles with walks, he put forth one of his best efforts ever as a Giant. For seven innings, Zito held the Padres scoreless, allowing just two hits. Most impressive, he allowed zero walks (but did hit one batter). He even struck out the side in the fourth, facing the heart of the Padres order.

Zito did knock his ERA down several notches, but couldn't improve on his 0-2 record, seeing as how the Giants were pretty much dominated by Chris Young, whose line was pretty much identical to zeros. Still, I felt something I have not felt in a very long time. Even though the game remained 0-0 through nine innings, there was an undeniable feeling that we would eventually win this game. The Giants have now made an entire trip through the rotation with each pitcher throwing a quality start. It has created that atmosphere where every game can be won behind strong pitching. More important, something special is also developing in the bullpen behind setup guys Bob Howry and Jeremy Affeldt and closer Brian Wilson. Those three combined for three scoreless innings, with Wilson pitching two for the win.

Strong pitching, both from starters and in relief will carry the Giants far. The key for Giants hitters is to create those opportunities to score runs. Some days, those opportunities may lead to a grand slam; others, it will simply lead to that one run needed to win.

Renteria Slams San Diego

2009-04-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

With one swing of the bat against Jake Peavy on Tuesday, Edgar Renteria put as many runs on the board as the Giants scored in the entire series against the Diamondbacks, and then did one better with an RBI single the following inning. After an unspectacular first two weeks, Renteria has gone 6-13 over his past five games. Travis Ishikawa also had a much needed good game, driving in two insurance runs and working a walk in front of Renteria's grand slam. Matt Cain pitched his third straight quality starts, allowing two runs in six innings. Cain allowed nine hits, but only one for extra bases, and he didn't walk a batter.

A minor roster move was made after the game. Alex Hinshaw, who recorded the final out, was sent down to Triple-A Fresno, and catcher Steve Holm was recalled. Holm gives the Giants a legitimate backup catcher, though I have a feeling Pablo Sandoval will still probably spell Molina most of the time. Holm was 0-18 with eight strikeouts to start the year in Fresno, but at the very least, he provides the team with some insurance in case of emergency. Hinshaw was clearly the weak link in the bullpen with five walks and just one strikeout in 5.1 innings. It will be interesting to see what happens when Sergio Romo comes off the DL. Emmanuel Burriss had another 0-4, including a double play with the bases loaded and nobody out. Burriss has barely gotten the ball out of the infield and has made numerous mental mistakes, and I think we may see Kevin Frandsen sooner rather than later. All in all, however, a very good day.

Big Unit Throws Near No-No

2009-04-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

And, finally! Giants pitchers are starting to throw just like we expected them to. Unfortunately, Giants hitters are continuing to hit just like we expected them to. In their best series of the year, the Giants took two of three from Arizona with stellar starting pitching and scoring-challenged hitting. Giants starters did not allow a run to Arizona in 21 2/3 innings.The big story of yesterday was Randy Johnson, who earned win number 296 if his career, his first as a Giant. Johnson had us on the edge of our seats carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Despite allowing a leadoff double, Johnson preserved his shutout, while Bob Howry and Brian Wilson carried the team the rest of the way. A thrilling game to watch from start to finish! The Giants mustered two runs - one on a sacrifice fly and one on a double play, both with the bases loaded. There were some positive signs for the Giants on the offensive front - there were five walks (one intentional), while Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval had multi-hit games. Unfortunately, they also struck out 11 times.

A quick bone to pick here. Following Saturday's loss, I read a blog post entitled Note to Sabean: Trade Brian Wilson, which stated, "The guy is a headcase. He’s not a competitor. His ERA is too high. He walks leadoff hitters. His trade value will never be this high again." First, Wilson has only had two real opportunities to prove himself this season and he is 2-for-2, facing the minimum in those games. While he does need to work on keeping the ERA down, the majority of his runs allowed come in non-save situations. Furthermore, when he has given up leads this season, they have been situations where he has entered with men on base, sometimes with zero margin for error. Why did the Giants lose so many games last year? The bullpen was a big part, but Wilson was a saving grace. Oh, and he comes cheap.

If the Giants plan to keep hitting like they do, pitching is going to have to be near flawless. Thankfully, today it was.

Lincecum Isn't Broken, Just the Offense

2009-04-18T17:06:00.001-07:00

After a pair of starts that did not rank amongst his best, folks jumped the gun trying to figure out what the issue might be with Tim Lincecum. "We've all seen it this week," wrote Ranier Reglos in Bleacher Report. "Tim Lincecum is not the same Giant he was last year." Is a 24-year old kid with a lifetime 25-11 record not allowed to have a couple of bad days? There is no curse surrounding Lincecum - no Sports Illustrated curse, no video game curse, and no Cy Young curse! Lincecum does not wear his emotions on his sleeve the way some pitchers do, and handles the pressure and the spotlight as well as anyone.

Those critics were silenced on Saturday afternoon, as Lincecum was absolutely money. Eight innings, thirteen strikeouts, zero runs, and zero walks. He has regained his natural form and dropped his ERA down to a respectable 3.86. Unfortunately, Lincecum has to rely on the San Francisco Giants for run support, and frankly he fell victim to a bit of Matt Cain syndrome at AT&T park. While Lincecum baffled the Diamondbacks for eight innings, Giants hitters appeared equally baffled. Emmanuel Burris and Fred Lewis each had two hits, and Edgar Renteria did walk, however the Giants could not get runners into scoring position and did not appear to know what to do with the ones they had. Oh, and Burris got caught stealing home. This is the kind of 2-0 loss that really hurts.

A quick note on the Arizona Diamondbacks: When they came to town in April of last year, I was genuinely threatened. I thought they had the best lineup in the West, and were the team to beat in the NL. As the Giants shut them out for 16 straight innings, I wondered, "When did this lineup become so unimpressive?"

Giants Win! My Joe Martinez Theory

2009-04-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have this theory. Before Joe Martinez took a line drive to the face, the Giants were riding high, en route to a 2-1 start. The event shook the Giants up pretty good - it was evident from their reactions after the fact. I think the orange and black took that with them on the road, and it showed in their play. Mental mistakes were made in the field, baserunning gaffes cost the team runs, and the pitching was not anywhere near as sharp as we expected.With the Giants returning home on Friday night, Martinez was in the building looking significantly better and I think his presence really loosened everyone up a bit. I expect better play from this team in the coming weeks. It wasn't a strong night on the offensive front - save Andres Torres' insurance homer in the eighth when he could not get around the bases fast enough. This evening was really about the pitching.

We had concerns about Jonathan Sanchez when he mentally broke down in his first start, however his line was strong against the Diamondbacks - nearly seven shutout innings of 2-hit ball. Then the trio of pitchers who blew the lead against the Dodgers last Wednesday sealed the deal this time - 1 out from Jeremy Affeldt, 2 from Bob Howry, and then 4 from Brian Wilson in his first save of the season. With strong pitching, a decent bullpen, and an un-threatening lineup, these are the kinds of games the Giants need to be winning to stay competitive.

Worst. Road Trip. Ever.

2009-04-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

I cannot say for certain that this was the worst road trip ever. I am sure if I dug deep into the most painful sections of my Giants memory, I could come up with something. I prefer to keep that in short term mode, however. Still, it is hard to think of much that could have been more demoralizing than what was witnessed over the last seven days. I suppose of Tim Lincecum demanded a trade to the Dodgers, vowing to not pitch another ball until such a demand was met, that would have been more demoralizing. (You know the Dodgers would love that, too, seeing as how they love ex-Giants so much).

Ok. So when the Giants left, they were flying high at 2-1. Now they are sinking fast at 2-7. Add on top of that several lackluster pitching performances, an ineffective bullpen, and a lineup of hitters that either couldn't get the big hit, or - as in the case of last night - could not do the basic fundamental things that bring in a run here and a run there. Oh, and the defense has been shaky too. Stir that together, and you can find precisely one game in the last seven where the Giants looked like they had a shot at winning, and losing that only added to the demoralizing feeling.

What are we left with? Well, the season still just started and I plan to reserve all judgment at least until we actually get to see Brian Wilson pitching in a save situation. Tim Lincecum pitches tomorrow and, for the moment, that remains a comforting thought.

Giants Trying to Move Rowand?

2009-04-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Joe Cowley writes in the Chicago Sun Times that, "The San Francisco Giants are looking to unload the $44 million they still owe Aaron Rowand through 2012." Cowley adds, "The one problem? The Giants would have to be willing to pick up a big chunk of the deal to even get [White Sox GM Ken] Williams on the phone."

Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors adds, "I'd venture to say the Giants would have to assume at least half of Rowand's contract to make it viable to the White Sox."

Rowand spent five seasons in Chicago and was a member of the 2005 World Championship team. He signed a five year, $60 million deal with the Giants before the 2008 season; not a bad move at the time, but looks worse in lieu of all the name players who signed for much cheaper this past offseason.

The Best Way to Get Over a Sweep From the Padres is To Beat the Dodgers

2009-04-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

The weekend series with the Padres started with so much promise - a 2-1 Giants team going up against a weak Padres team with a mentally sound Jonathon Sanchez, a rejuvenated Barry Zito, and a sure-to-do-better-than-his-last-start Tim Lincecum. Three lopsided losses later and, well, this record is starting to look a bit like the start to 2008. But before we get ahead of ourselves with the doom and gloom, some positives to take from the first week of the season:

-Despite two misplays in the same inning yesterday, Fred Lewis looks very solid at the plate. His .450 clip leads the team and he has hit safely in each game.
-Randy Winn has, too, hit safely in each game and looks solid in the leadoff role.
-Despite a slow spring, Aaron Rowand has hit well to start the season, and the number seven spot might actually suit him well.
-Bengie Molina is still the clutch, reliable Bengie Molina we love.
-If Matt Cain can pitch all season like he did last week, this staff is going to be everything that we dream it is.
-Even in a loss, the Big Unit is still a blast to watch.
-This staff is going to strike out a lot of hitters.

Also, before we write this season off, we haven't even had a chance to watch Brian Wilson pitch with a game on the line.

Sure, there are a lot of questions that remain, but if Randy Johnson could shut down the Dodgers this afternoon, I think we would all feel that same excitement we did at the start of last week.

A Day to be Optimistic

2009-04-06T10:16:00.001-07:00

The sun shines, KNBR cranks in the office, and the major league baseball season has begun. Opening Day ranks alongside my favorite days of the year - alongside All Star Monday, the first day of the playoffs, and Christmas. I love Opening Day becomes it brings with it optimism and opportunity. It will be weeks before your team is either in the hunt or dismally under .500, but on Opening Day, everyone is equal.

The last two Opening Days have been awful harbingers of doom for the Giants, however, with Barry Zito giving up first inning runs and hardly inspiring confidence. While the Giants Opening Day lineup lacks the big bat we hoped they would acquire, it does feature a lot to be optimistic about. The presence of young faces with promise has at least made the Giants a team I look forward to watching again. The best pitching staff I have ever seen in orange and black gives me hope we'll be turning a few of last year's 8-3 losses into 3-1 wins.

When the Giants Opening Day starter takes the mound tomorrow afternoon, there will be no harbingers of doom, even if first inning runs are allowed. A Cy Young winner dubbed "the freak" has given this city something to be excited about again. He has inspired a confidence our high-priced fourth starter simply cannot command. As long as there's a journey that says "Lincecum," there is hope.

It's very well possible that by June 1, the Giants will be dismally under .500, but at least today, I have a few reasons to be optimistic.

The 25th Man

2009-03-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean have both strongly hinted that the Giants will break camp with only 11 pitchers. This would create room for one more position player. I'm going to assume a bench of Steve Holm, Rich Aurillia, Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez, and Nate Schierholtz is fairly set. If Kevin Frandsen wins the second base job, Emmanuel Burriss will likely start the year in Fresno to get regular playing time. If Burriss is the starter on Opening Day, my guess is Frandsen gets the last roster spot. Here are some other candidates.

John Bowker: Bowker showed a great deal of promise during the first two months of 2008, but the league eventually caught up to him and he was sent back to Triple-A. He possesses a skill the Giants desperately need: power. But it's hard to find a place for him on this team. He's below Travis Ishikawa on the depth chart at first base because of defensive ability, and Nate Schierholtz fills the need for a left-handed hitting outfielder off the bench. Bowker will probably make the team of Schierholtz continues to be bothered by injuries, but that's probably his best chance.

Jesus Guzman: Signed as a minor league free agent out of the A's organization, the corner infielder, who dominated the Venezuelan Winter League, has continued to hit this Spring. Of his nine hits, eight have gone for extra bases (five doubles, one triple, two home runs). Defense is a big concern, and the Giants would likely prefer that he get some work in at Triple-A, where he could also get regular at-bats. But he can certainly hit, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up in a platoon at first base at some point this season.

Brian Bocock: If Emmanuel Burriss starts the year in Fresno, the Giants may want a better backup option at shortstop. Right now, that role would probably be filled by Juan Uribe. Bocock's glove is major-league ready. His bat is definitely not, but if his ceiling is no better than a backup infielder, the team may not care whether or not he plays every day.

Andres Torres: This is the guy who I think has the best chance of making the team. The 31-year old journeyman outfielder, who hasn't played in the majors since 2005, could occasionally spell Aaron Rowand in center field, and be a late-inning pinch runner. He doesn't need regular at-bats because of his age and non-prospect status, which may make him the best fit on the Opening Day roster.

Loving The WBC

2009-03-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

I watched a decent amount of the World Baseball Classic over the weekend, and I gotta say I'm into it. Last night, I was keeping an eye on the Dominican Republic-Netherlands game, figuring, like most, that the DR would bounce back from its defeat a couple days earlier. When I noticed the game was scoreless in extra innings, I thought "I should probably start watching this." I wasn't disappointed. The DR scored a run in the top of the eleventh, and with the nasty Carlos Marmol coming in to close, I thought it was over. But remarkably, the Dutch rallied for two runs, helped by a couple of errors. Some have described the WBC as having a "playoff atmosphere." I would argue that it's more like March Madness, with the potential for crazy upsets and unsung heroes, and the enthusiasm shown by the various nations' fans.

If there's one problem I still have with the WBC, it's the distance that pitchers are allowed to go. Most starters don't make it through the fourth inning, and the game is determined by a revolving door of relievers. This is often by necessity, as many pitchers have seemed to tire out and become ineffective by the third or fourth. Joe Sheehan has a good idea over at Baseball Prospectus for fixing this, or at least making it less of a problem. He recommends cutting the field to 12 teams, and pushing the tournament back to the end of March, just before the beginning of the regular season. This way starters will have built up a little more stamina over the course of Spring Training. The more closely the WBC resembles actual baseball, the more popular I believe it will be.

What?

2009-03-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

This is a Giants blog first and foremost, but occasionally I like to get my rant on about something in the wider baseball world. Today the focus is the San Francisco Chronicle's Bruce Jenkins, who wrote a column describing how Billy Beane has forsaken "Moneyball" and how this has put the A's into contention once again.

As for the A's, it's nice to see one of the most tiresome catch-terms in sports, "Moneyball," get tossed onto the shelf - forever, if we're lucky.

I'm no fan of the A's, but I will defend Billy Beane and his approach until I no longer have to. So I don't have a whole of patience for baseless attacks on sabermetrics, which are common among newspaper columnists, as well as commentators on ESPN and the new MLB Network. Jenkins criticizes how, after the A's success earlier this decade, "people have spent the ensuing years trying to package Beane's strategy in a nice little box - and they've been hopelessly wrong." He then proceeds to...package Beane's strategy in a nice little box. And he's hopelessly wrong.

Jenkins cites the trade for Matt Holliday and the free agent signings of Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra as evidence for the change in Oakland. What he doesn't realize is that these moves fit perfectly with Beane's strategy the past several years. Holliday is a rent-a-player. He will either be turned into several prospects at the deadline or a couple of draft picks in the offseason. He will make $9.5 million next year, about a third of what he's actually been worth the past two seasons, according to FanGraphs. Look at the players traded for Holliday. Carlos Gonzalez is a prospect with all the "tools" that scouts look for, but who has never had the numbers to back up that promise (.340 career minor league OBP). Huston Street is an overvalued reliever, who will be replaced by the much cheaper Joey Devine and Russ Springer. Greg Smith was moved to make room for younger and better pitchers like Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill. Holliday is just the latest in a pattern that includes Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye, and Ray Durham. If Beane were to sign him to a five-year contract, then we could start talking about a change in strategy.

The signings of Cabrera, Garciaparra, and Springer shouldn't come as any surprise either. Beane has a long history of finding undervalued players, like Scott Hatteberg, Jack Cust, and Frank Thomas. In the current market, every player is undervalued, and it's no shock that an astute GM like Beane would take advantage of this. Beane didn't sign these players because they are "quality veterans with a mural of postseason history," whatever that means. Or if he did, I've got a center fielder in San Francisco I'd like to sell him.

Here's another excerpt:

Beane was frankly disgusted as he watched his lineup perform last year, and who wasn't? Around the infield horn, each man had the lowest batting average at his position. Daric Barton, heralded as the essence of Beane's preoccupation with on-base percentage, consistently produced the most tedious at-bats in either league.

This is the one of the things that entertains me the most about critics of sabermetrics. They criticize the use of stats, but then use them if they back up their own assumptions. Jenkins cites the team's low batting average to make a (valid) point about the team's offense last year, but then mocks Beane for his "preoccupation with on-base percentage."

Did Bruce Jenkins even read Moneyball? Or do any research for this article?

Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi are two guys who go up there hacking, not looking to run a 3-1 count.

Jason Giambi: .408 career OBP, 4.30 pitches/plate appearance in 2008 (4th in MLB)
Matt Holliday: .386 career OBP, 3.88 P/PA in 2008

What many in the media don't understand is that "Moneyball" isn't the exception anymore. Every team has a department of statistical research. The Boston Red Sox were one of the first teams to catch on. They've been the most successful team of the decade.

MLB 2K9 Commericial

2009-03-05T11:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't picked up MLB 2K9 yet, but here's a pretty funny commercial featuring cover boy Tim Lincecum, with a cameo by Randy Johnson.

Starters in Midseason Form

2009-03-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

Randy Johnson showed no butterflies facing his former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, for the first time in today's exhibition game. Then again, Johnson doesn't seem to be the butterflies type. Against a lineup featuring most of Arizona's regulars, the Big Unit struck out seven of the twelve hitters he faced in three innings. 29 of his 42 pitches were strikes.

Johnson's performance was the latest in what has been a mostly positive spring so far for Giants' starters. The five pitchers expected to make up the team's opening day rotation have allowed just six runs in 17.1 innings, striking out 21 while allowing just four walks and one home run. Only Matt Cain (4 ER in 3.2 IP) has struggled, and he has been hurt by poor defense behind him. Tim Lincecum has retired 12 of the 13 hitters he has faced. Jonathan Sanchez struck out four in three innings in his only appearance before leaving to join Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic. Barry Zito struck out two and did not allow a hit over two innings in his first outing.

Yes, Spring Training numbers don't mean anything, and pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters this time of year. But at the very least, it's reassuring that we haven't seen any early meltdowns, such as we saw last year with Zito and Noah Lowry.

Notes
- The Giants beat the Diamondbacks 7-6. The offense rallied from a 5-0 deficit behind home runs from Eugenio Velez and Pablo Sandoval. After Johnson departed, almost all of the damage was done against non-roster invitee Ramon Ortiz, who had his second ugly outing, allowing five runs on seven hits in two innings. Justin Miller, Brandon Medders, and Osiris Matos each threw a scoreless inning before Luis Perdomo allowed a run in the ninth.
- Reliever Sergio Romo, who was roughed up in his only appearance this spring, was shut down for a week to 10 days with a sprained right elbow.

Breaking Manny Ramirez News!

2009-02-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

Still Orange and Black has all of the Manny Ramirez exclusives that no one else does, and right now we have some breaking news: The Giants are keeping an eye on the Dodgers' negotiations with Manny Ramirez. They have not made a formal offer but - we repeat - they are monitoring the situation. Keep it tuned to Still Orange and Black for all your Manny Ramirez updates.

UPDATE 9:02AM - The Giants are still monitoring the Manny Ramirez situation.

UPDATE 12:02PM Manny Ramirez is reportedly eating lunch. The Giants are monitoring Ramirez's eating habits.

UPDATE 1:59PM Manny Ramirez has signed with the Cincinatti Reds for one year in the $450K-$550K range. We did not see this coming.

UPDATE 2:00PM Manny Ramirez has not signed with the Reds. In fact, it was Ramon Ramirez who has signed with the Reds. Guess we got a little excited there.

UPDATE 2:20PM Manny Ramirez is reportedly reading and listening to music. The Giants are closely monitoring Ramirez's listening and reading habits.

UPDATE 3:35 Neukom doesn't rule out run at Manny Ramirez - I think this thing is really going to happen and I think this settles it!

San Jose Is Stacked

2009-02-26T16:42:00.001-08:00

Last year I had the pleasure of taking in a game in San Jose, the home of the Giants' high A affiliate. It was great fun watching the Giants edge the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. However, the highest profile prospect in the game was catcher Jackson Williams (#16 in the organization according to Baseball America). It should be a different story this year, as nearly all of the team's top prospects are scheduled to at least start the season there. Headlining the list of players bound for San Jose are pitchers Madison Bumgarner (#1) and Tim Alderson (4). It's a bit of a surprise to see Alderson, who lead the California League in ERA last year, heading back, but the team has said it wanted to keep him out of the cold weather in Connecticut. He should be Double-A by summer.

San Jose could field an opening day lineup consisting of catcher Buster Posey (2), first baseman Angel Villalona (3), second baseman Nick Noonan (5), third baseman Conor Gillaspie (7), outfielders Roger Kieshnick (14) and Thomas Neal (21). This team could look a lot like the 2012 San Francisco Giants. If this team doesn't do well, we might be in some trouble.

Notes
- Tim Lincecum got a small raise, agreeing to a $650,000 contract for 2009. This is likely the last time he'll be in the six-figure range, as he's eligible for arbitration next season. There's also still the possibility of a long-term deal.
- In the second game of the exhibition season, the Dodgers pounded the Giants 16-7. Matt Cain allowed one hit, a home run by Russell Martin, in an inning and 2/3. Pat Misch, Jeremy Affeldt, and Sergio Romo were all roughed up in their first appearance. On offense, Aaron Rowand hit a home run, while Rich Aurilia and Juan Uribe had two hits apiece.
- The Giants remain on the outskirts with Manny Ramirez. Larry Baer has had talks with Scott Boras, but nothing substantial, and the team hasn't offered him a contract.

Break Up The Giants!

2009-02-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I've ever been more antsy for baseball season to start. Maybe it's because I missed most of the last month and a half of the 2008 season. I was psyched for some games, and thrilled that the Giants' first exhibition would be televised on the new MLB Network. So imagine my reaction when I turned on the TV at noon and saw an episode of Prime 9 on the greatest hitting seasons of all time. Was this some sick joke about the Giants' offense? No, just a technical glitch which lasted through the top of the first inning. After that, I was able to watch all of a 10-7 victory over the Indians. Not even the homer Cleveland announcers could spoil the day. The game was a true Spring Training slugfest, with both teams combining for 21 hits and six home runs, with three hit batsmen. Here are some observations:

Offense: Travis Ishikawa might as well have said, "Who the fuck is Joe Crede?" The favorite for the starting first base job, who has struggled against lefties throughout his minor league career, gave the Giants an early lead with an RBI single off lefty Jeremy Sowers. Later, with the Indians up 3-1, Ishikawa hit a towering home run, off another lefty, Zach Jackson, who retired the other six Giants he faced with ease. He wasn't done, breaking a 3-3 tie in the sixth with a line-drive two-run homer off Edward Mujica. I think Ishikawa is the player most likely to out-perform his pre-season projections. I'm not saying he's going to hit 40 homers, but I don't think 25 is out of the question...Nate Schierholtz started in left and hit a two-run homer that probably would have gone for a long out in AT&T Park...Edgar Renteria was 1-3 with a double and a run scored in his Giants' debut...Pablo Sandoval hit third and was 1-2 with a single, as well the only walk by Giants' hitters...Emmanuel Burriss, Kevin Frandsen, and Eugenio Velez all had hits, with Frandsen and Velez driving in runs in a three-run eighth inning. Burriss stretched a single into a double in the fifth, and scored a run.

Pitching: Tim Lincecum threw one scoreless inning, allowing one hit. He was on a 25-pitch limit, and he threw 18. It looked like he hadn't missed a beat, striking out the first hitter he faced, Grady Sizemore, on a nasty pitch down and in...Keiichi Yabu threw two innings. He hung a breaking ball to Mark DeRosa, who planted it in the Giants' bullpen for a three-run homer...Non-roster invitee Brandon Medders threw two hitless, if unspectacular, innings...Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning...Alex Hinshaw gave up a home run and a single to the two lefties he faced. Not a great sign for a guy expected to get lefties out...Prospect Kelvin Pichardo was roughed up for three runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning...Another non-roster invitee, Francis Beltran, was wild, walking one and hitting another...Lefty Jesse English hit a batter with his first pitch, but got Matt LaPorta to fly out to end the game.

Up next it's another new member of the Cactus League, the Dodgers. Matt Cain will start, with Jeremy Affeldt, Bob Howry, and Kevin Pucetas also scheduled to pitch. Also, it's not looking very good for Noah Lowry. I won't do these write-ups for every Spring Training camp, probably just the ones I get to watch on TV. All in all, a very enjoyable game with more positives than negatives.

Sizing Up the WBC Rosters

2009-02-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

Final rosters for the second World Baseball Classic were announced today, and my initial reaction is that no team is nearly as good as it could be. Like many, I love the WBC in theory more than in practice. Nevertheless, I'll be watching intently when the tournament begins March 5. Here are my observations on some of the teams.

United States: The US obviously benefits from the deepest talent pool in the tournament, and they needed it with all the players not participating. Even without players like Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Matt Holliday, Team USA still has, in my opinion, the best lineup from top-to-bottom in the tournament. Grady Sizemore, Dustin Pedroia, David Wright, Chipper Jones, and Ryan Braun are among the big names. The starting rotation consists of Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ted Lilly. The US should have had by far the best pitching staff in the tournament, but instead of C.C. Sabathia, Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay, or Tim Lincecum (no objection from me), we get Guthrie and Lilly. Those two should be used in lower-pressure games. Because of pitch count limits, the bullpen takes on a greater importance, and the US makes up somewhat in this department. Joe Nathan, Jonathan Broxton, J.J. Putz, and Brian Fuentes provide plenty of firepower. Team USA should make it out of Pool A (with Canada, Italy, and Venezuela) fairly easily.

Dominican Republic: This could have been a devastating lineup, but Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrero will all be staying home. There's still plenty of thump, with Alex Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, and David Ortiz, but there are pretty big holes in the outfield and at catcher. It will be interesting to see what manager Felipe Alou does with Ramirez and Jose Reyes, the two best shortstops in the game, on the same team. The pitching staff of Edinson Volquez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnny Cueto, and Pedro Martinez is intriguing, and there are some live arms in the bullpen, though the loss of Carlos Marmol hurts. I don't know if the DR can compete with the US, but they're definitely the best team in Pool D (with the Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico).

Venezuela: Even without Johan Santana, Team Venezuela may have the best 1-2 punch in Carlos Zambrano and Felix Hernandez. In a short tournament, that could get them far. A trio of Tigers - Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen - highlight the offense, which also includes Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. I expect them to be the runner-up to the US in Pool C.

Puerto Rico: The only significant Giant in the tournament is Jonathan Sanchez, who will be a part of a rotation with Javier Vazquez and Ian Snell. Puerto Rico's strength is the middle of the order, consisting of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rios, and Geovany Soto. That should be enough to get them at least out of round 1.

Japan: I can't speak with too much authority on the Japanese team, but the defending champs can't be counted out. All eyes will be on Yu Darvish, who forms a formidable 1-2 punch with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Other major leaguers on the team include Ichiro Suzuki, Kosuke Fukudome, and Akinori Iwamura.

I also expect Cuba, Korea, and Mexico to make it out of the first round. Team USA is the early favorite, but not by much.

Oh, Spring Training

2009-02-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Almost a week after pitchers and catchers reported, we've heard most of the usual Spring Training stories. Player X added muscle. Player Y is in the best shape of his life. Amongst all this comes this jewel of a story from Andrew Baggarly. I can't come up with any clever quips that are funnier than the actual story, so I won't spoil the surprise.

Aurilia Signs Minor League Contract

2009-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

The Giants are starting this week off by making the no-brainer move of signing Rich Aurilla to a minor league contract. Aurilla embodies the "Giant Way" the front office has been talking about - not to mention that it makes sense to retain a guy who can play four positions and still is a decent hitter. Aurilia batted .283 last year, with ten home runs. [Via MLB Trade Rumors]

10 Questions For Spring Training

2009-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Saturday, and Still Orange & Black is back. We'll try to be a little more consistent with our posting in 2009. We begin the new year with a look at the biggest questions facing the Giants as we get ready for another season.

10. Who are the new kids?
The Giants have several young pitchers in camp for the first time, including Henry Sosa, Kevin Pucetas, Joseph Martinez, Jesse English, and Waldis Joaquin. Sosa has the biggest upside of the group, but he battled injuries last year and will need to prove himself healthy to regain his top prospect status. Pucetas and Martinez could see big-league time if any holes open up in the rotation, and it will be intriguing to see how they fare against major league hitters. Don't rule out the possibility that Brian Sabean is simply trying to showcase these pitchers as trade bait.

9. How's Fred's foot?
Fred Lewis was severely limited in the second half of last season by a bunion on his foot, yet he was still one of the team's most productive hitters. He had offseason surgery to have the bunion removed, and claims to be feeling great. The Giants plan to bat Lewis in the middle of the order, likely fifth, and expect more power from the left fielder, who hit just nine home runs last year. Will Lewis try to be more aggressive to hit more home runs? If yes, will this come at the sacrifice of one of his best attributes, his ability to get on base?

8. What will Nate Schierholtz's role be?
It's a make or break year for outfielder Schierholtz, who turns 25 on February 15 and is out of minor league options. With Randy Winn's contract up after this year, the Giants want to see if Schierholtz will be able to step in. He's expected to be at least a fourth outfielder, and could see more playing time if Fred Lewis struggles or Aaron Rowand needs more days off. Schierholtz has nothing left to prove in the minors, and nobody doubts his power, but he needs to work on his plate discipline (3 BB in 81 PA last year) if he is ever going to be an everyday major leaguer.

7. How much will we see of Buster Posey?
The 2008 first-round draft pick earned an invite to Spring Training. The question is whether he will see serious playing time or if he is simply an extra catcher to handle the extra pitchers in camp. He will start the year either in San Jose or Connecticut, but the Giants must be curious to see how advanced his bat and game-calling skills are. They would love to be able to slot him in as the Opening Day catcher in 2010.

6. What's new with Barry Zito?
Few Giants need a good spring more than Barry Zito. Last year, a disastrous spring carried over into an 0-8 start to the regular season. He doesn't need to be a Cy Young Winner, as for the first time in his career he's a back-of-the-rotation starter. If he can pitch the way he did the second half of 2008, that's good enough. In 2007 Zito showed up in Scottsdale with a new windup. Last year he showed up with a new "wrestler mentality." Let's hope that whatever he shows up with this year will make that contract a little less embarrassing. At this point, I'll settle for that.

5. Who gets the final bullpen spots?
Five pitchers appear to be locks for the bullpen: Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, Jack Taschner, and new acquisitions Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry. That likely leaves two open spots. The front runners would seem to Alex Hinshaw and Keiichi Yabu, but there is plenty of competition. Either Jonathan Sanchez or Noah Lowry could be a long reliever if both are healthy and neither is traded. Billy Sadler and Osiris Matos both spent time with the big club in 2008. Merkin Valdez was dominant last year before getting hurt, and if healthy, deserves a shot. Long shots include non-roster invitees Francis Beltran, Brandon Medders, and Justin Miller, as well as Rule-5 pick Luis Perdomo.

4. Who's on second?
The Giants have said they will let Kevin Frandsen, Eugenio Velez, and Emmanuel Burriss battle it out for the second base job. Conventional wisdom says its Frandsen's job to lose, with Burriss likely starting in Fresno to get regular playing time and Velez being used as a utility-man/pinch runner. Frandsen deserves the first shot because he has a better minor league track record and more power than the other two. But if Velez has the kind of strong Spring he did last year, or if Burriss continues to surprise like he did during the regular season, the Giants could be swayed in another direction.

3. Where's Pablo?
The Giants are committed to starting Pablo Sandoval somewhere in 2009. Right now, it looks like he will be the opening day third baseman. But nobody really seems to believe that Sandoval is defensively capable of playing the hot corner every day. The way the roster shapes up now, I see him playing a similar role to that of Pedro Feliz in 2004, when Feliz hit 22 home runs in 503 at-bats despite not being a regular at any position. Sandoval will likely get most of the at-bats at third, as well as some at first base if Travis Ishikawa stumbles, and catcher when Bengie Molina needs a day off. An alternate plan would be to sign a corner infielder, trade Molina (if possible for another infielder), and give Sandoval the majority of starts behind the plate, where his bat would be more valuable. He could be a nice bridge at the position until Buster Posey is ready to take over.

2. How are the lefties?
Noah Lowry and Jonathan Sanchez will supposedly fight for the final rotation spot. Trainer Dave Groeschner said Lowry is healthy and ready to start Spring Training. Whether or not he's ready to face big-league hitters is another matter. Sanchez showed flashes of brilliance in 2008, particularly during the month of June, when he went 5-1 with a 3.10 ERA. But he battled injuries and ineffectiveness in the second half, and his ERA ballooned to 5.01. He is leaning towards pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, which is a risk for a pitcher who may have been overworked last year, and it may put him at a disadvantage towards earning a rotation spot. If both are healthy, the Giants will face a dilemma. A trade is still possible, though Sanchez carries much more value than Lowry.

1. Is this it?
The Giants have done a lot to upgrade the team this offseason. Affeldt and Howry bolstered the bullpen, Randy Johnson adds depth to the rotation, and Edgar Renteria will almost certainly be an upgrade at shortstop. But the offense as it stands will likely be among the worst in baseball again, which begs the question "Will the Giants look the same in a month as they do now?" The team has offered a contract to third baseman Joe Crede, whose acquisition would further complicate the infield situation. And of course, the Manny Ramirez rumors have not gone away. Many have shrugged off the Giants' interest, but the team appears serious, and while the Dodgers remain the frontrunner, I would not be at all surprised if Brian Sabean jumped at the right deal.

Giants Sign Renteria, People React

2008-12-05T08:27:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, the Giants signed Edgar Renteria to a two-year deal worth $18.5MM. As expected, everyone's got an opinion.

The New York Post's Hardball blog says, "I cannot find another executive in the industry who thought Renteria deserved a contract for more than one year to re-prove himself at a fraction of the $9.25 million he will now earn annually."

ESPN's Keith Law says it was, "a wise decision."

Dave Cameron at Fan Graphs says, "For San Francisco, this isn’t a bad deal - they get a guy who should rebound and re-establish some value without any long term risk, and they fill a hole with an average player while waiting for the kids to develop."

Ray Ratto says there will be pressure on Sabean - but we could have guessed that.

Giants After Sabathia, Maybe Lowe

2008-12-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

Regarding C.C. Sabathia, MLB Trade Rumors reports that, "the Giants are considering making an offer to C.C. Sabathia. It'd be more than $100MM but far less than $140MM. I imagine the Giants are trying to determine how much money Sabathia would leave on the table to come to San Francisco."

I've been hoping for the Giants to sign Derek Lowe, and it is believed the team is one of the pitcher's many suitors. While Lowe will still command a high price, he comes cheaper than Sabathia and would be a solid addition to an already strong staff.

Jayson Stark weighed the pros and cons of signing Sabathia yesterday:

Imagine a rotation of CC, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez. Looks like potentially the best rotation in baseball, assuming Zito can just rebound to mediocrity and Sanchez more closely resembles the Sanchez of the first half (8-5, 3.97 ERA) than the second half (1-7, 7.47).

Of course, assembling a rotation like that would create its own set of problems. For one, it wouldn't address the offensive issues of a team that got outscored by every team in baseball except the Padres. Then again, CC did have the same OPS this year (.627) as Austin Kearns. So maybe it would.

But it also would create the opportunity for the Giants to soften on their refusal to deal Cain, then explore whether trading him could land a middle-of-the-order bat. And our guess is: It could.

Even more complicated, though, are the payroll reverberations of adding a $22 million-a-year pitcher to a team already weighed down with five more years and $101.5 million worth of obligations to Zito.

Renteria Announcement Coming Shortly

2008-12-04T08:17:00.001-08:00

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Giants have been the most aggressive team in a slow free-agent market and should make more news as soon as today by announcing a two-year contract with shortstop Edgar Renteria. A deal appears to be done after Renteria underwent a Giants physical Wednesday.

Tim Lincecum is a Beatles Fan

2008-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know - we are about as obsessed with music as we are with the Giants. We are always curious what sounds our favorite Giants are digging. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported back in March, Tim Lincecum has a taste for older sounds, especially the Beatles. His favorite Beatles songs are "Revolution," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." Like his pitching motion, Lincecum was introduced to the Beatles through his father. Tim's father Chris also adds, "I always pushed for Timmy and his older brother Sean to sing."

Video - "Strawberry Fields Forever," the Beatles

Another interesting Tim Lincecum musical connection - earlier this year, we reported on the striking resemblence between Lincecum and Arctic Monkey/Last Shadow Puppet Alex Turner.

Lincecum Talks Sabathia, Contract

2008-12-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

Tim Lincecum was in Novato, CA earlier this week to put in some work as the new cover boy for MLB 2K9. While he was there, he chopped it up on a number of topics, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

On C.C. Sabathia: "He's from around here, isn't he? I mean, our staff is good without him, but it would definitely not hurt to have him in our rotation. That guy's an animal. He knows what he's doing. He finishes games. He's a competitor. He's a workhorse. If that did happen, I could firsthand learn from him. It's always nice to get other people's perspective on different stuff."

On the Prospects of a Long-Term Contract: "We're trying to keep our options open and not commit to anything or do anything too drastic. If it ends up working out, I mean, you don't want to be closed off to anything now."

On Matt Cain: "He's a big part of our team, and a lot of (teammates) would say that. He doesn't have a lot to show for what he's done, but that will come in time. When you're as good as he is, things will turn around. He knows it."

Jorge Cantu?

2008-12-03T18:33:00.000-08:00

MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Giants have an interest in Jorge Cantu:

12:58 PM: According to Yahoo's Tim Brown, the Giants "believe they are closing in on signing shortstop Edgar Renteria." Brown also says the Giants have discussed trading Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu. That'd be a steal for the Marlins, who plucked Cantu off the scrap heap in January for a half-million bucks.

Renteria Speculation Continues

2008-12-03T18:27:00.001-08:00

Despite last weeks rumors that were denied, the Giants still seem to be looking at Edgar Renteria as their leading candidate for shortstop in 2009 according to ESPN:

A source told ESPN.com that Renteria is looking at a contract in the two-year, $18 million range with San Francisco. WFAN radio in New York reported 10 days ago that Renteria had agreed to a deal with the Giants. But [Renteria's agent Barry] Meister had characterized that initial report as untrue.

Giants Sign Howry

2008-12-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Giants continue bolstering the bullpen with today's singing of Bob Howry. The move had been rumored after the Cubs opted not to offer Howry arbitration. Howry will make $2.75 million. Howry's ERA in 2008 was an unimpressive 5.35, though lifetime its 3.68 in a career that began in 1998. The Giants also signed reliever Jeremy Affeldt on Nov. 17 - a move that has been widely praised.

Matt Williams on Hall of Fame Ballot

2008-12-01T11:10:00.001-08:00

Matt Williams worked the hot corner for the San Francisco Giants from 1987 through 1996. While his bat was a major factor in the strong teams of '89 and '93, it was Williams quiet, appreciative demeanor (almost the antithesis of Barry Bonds) that endeared him to the fans of San Francisco. He lead the NL in RBIs in 1990, and finished the strike-shortened 1994 season on pace to set the single-season home run record. Fans vocally criticized the team's decision to trade Williams for four players prior to the 1997 season. Injuries often kept Williams from amassing the great statistics he seemed destined for. Still, he compiled 378 home runs in his career and holds the distinction of being the only player to homer in three World Series for three different teams. He finally got his ring in 2001 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Whether or not the Hall of Fame committee will find this sufficient for induction remains to be seen. He gets our vote for sure.

Giants Linked To Edgar Renteria

2008-11-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

A report surfaced on Monday (courtesy of WFAN) that the Giants had signed Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18mm contract. This report was quickly denied, though the Giants are reportedly maintaining an interest in Renteria, as well as Rafael Furcal. Still, the Giants may want to take note from the comments section of MLB Trade Rumors:

"Dude, why. If anyone at all giants should have signed Furcal. Lose a draft pick? How could that be a good idea when rebuilding"

"It's the Giants dude. They are destined to fail."

"So the Giants decide the best way to rebuild is... by signing a terrible 33 year old SS. Brian Sabean is a complete and utter moron."

"What a ridiculous move by the Giants. Just when you thought Sabean was getting it together, he goes out and does what he's always done... throw too much money at a declining vet in order to add to a very poor ballclub. Unless they go out and land CC and another power bat, this move makes no sense at all."

Perhaps that was the plan all along - leak a false report to gage fan reaction and go from there. You know, Kanye West leaked "Love Lockdown" three times, rerecording each time based on listener feedback.

Barry Bonds Replaces Orange and Black With Cammo

2008-11-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

Will Barry Bonds have a Major League job this season? Probably not. Baseball's exhiled home run king has since found a new gig as spokesman for Christensen Arms. I first read about this in the San Francisco Chronicle, who note that Christensen is "a munitions company that specializes in high-powered hunting rifles." Apparently, Bonds and Jeff Kent have more in common than we thought:

When a federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Bonds last year on perjury and obstruction of justice charges for allegedly lying about steroids use, Bonds wasn't around - he was off hunting in Colorado.

If you're too curious not to watch this video, you can find it at You Been Blinded. I tried watching a couple minutes and it just made me want to gag. ***Rather than watching Bonds hunt deer, I'd much prefer to listen to this great band, Deerhunter, whose new album, Microcastle, is quite stunning.

Dear Dodgers and Your Fans...

2008-09-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Dodgers and Your Fans,

Wow. Here it is almost the middle of September and you look to have a real shot at winning the NL West. I expected you to have folded and crumbled at this point in time, but it appears the no-brainer pick-up of Manny Ramirez has broken that curse. We can ignore the fact that your 75-71 record would be good enough for fifth place in the NL Central - we still have to give you credit. It wasn't our intention to make your lives easier by sweeping Arizona - but we're not going to roll over just to screw you guys. Arizona is looking pretty weak right now and it is yours for the taking. There was a time when it would cause me genuine pain to see the Dodgers succeed, but frankly, I am enjoying the Giants success as of late that it doesn't bother me how well you do. If Tim Lincecum can win the Cy Young, you can go and win the World Series for all I care. If its possible for us to put a dent in your plans later this month, than I would be happy to do so. Let the rivalry continue, and I hoped we sent a message to you during this Arizona series that we are not a team to sleep on.

See you soon...

Still Orange and Black

Strong Start For Hennessey

2008-09-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

Lost in the excitement of Eugenio Velez's game-winning triple is the fact that Brad Hennessey pitched a pretty darn good game for his first start in two years. He outdueled Arizona's Dan Haren, throwing six innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out three. He left with the Giants up 2-1, but Brian Wilson allowed two runs in the ninth, giving Hennessey a no decision. Still, he certainly earned himself a second start if you ask me.

Velez Hero Again!

2008-09-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

For the second day in a row, Brian Wilson blew a save, only to have Eugenio Velez drive in the winning run a half inning later. Velez's hit was all the more exciting, considering it came with the Giants down 3-2 with two outs and an 0-2 count. Velez drove home two runners with his two-out triple, completing a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. We called Velez "a bright spot" after his great play during the first week of the season. After some struggles and a stint in Triple-A, Velez seems to have found his stroke.

Molina Upset

2008-09-10T12:25:00.001-07:00

Pablo Sandoval is giving us a number of reasons to be excited. But there is one thing Bengie Molina is not excited about - he thinks Sandoval has been assigned as Barry Zito's personal catcher:

It is a personal catcher whether they say that or not. I'm not very happy at all. I can't be happy. I came here to play. If they don't consider me a No. 1 catcher, if I can't catch the No. 1 guy on the staff, let me know. I ain't stupid. I don't think I've ever been stupid. I've been in baseball for a long time. Come to me and tell me. Of course I'm going to be mad, but there's nothing I can do about it. They're the bosses.

While Zito has performed well with Sandoval behind the plate, both Bruce Bochy and Zito insist no official change has been made.

Hennessey Starting Today

2008-09-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

With regards to the rotation - Kevin Correia is out, and Brad Hennessey is in. After spending time in the bullpen (including as a closer) in 2007 and 2008, Hennessey will be starting against Arizona today; this is his first start since September 15, 2006. After struggling earlier this season, Hennessey was sent to Triple-A Fresno and returned to starting, a move which proved successful. Whether Hennessey will start again this season is still up in the air.

Walk Off

2008-09-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Eugenio Velez just sent Giants fans home happy with a one out single in the bottom of the ninth. Brian Wilson gets the win after giving up a game-tying two-run homer in the top of the inning. Arizona is continuing to skid, while the Dodgers will hold a 2 1/2 game lead if they can hold their 6-2 advantage over San Diego.

Barry Zito started for the Giants and his line was pretty good - six innings, five hits, two runs, but most impressively, nine strikeouts. He was lifted for pinch hitter Bengie Molina in the sixth with the team down 2-1. Molina proceeded to tie the game with a single.

There's a Baseball Scene in Twilight

2008-09-09T15:45:00.001-07:00

So, maybe you've heard of the insanely popular vampire romance literary series, Twilight, that is soon to be a major motion picture. Perhaps, you are a dude and thought these books were just for girls. Well, it appears as though they've got something for the fellas as well. Apparently, there's a baseball scene - according to the MTV Movies Blog:

“Personally, I’m hoping the vampire baseball scene will be really fun to watch,” the actor [Peter Facinelli] insisted, saying that all those fastballs and leaping catches should jump off the page and onto the big screen. “I mean, you can only do so much with your imagination, when you’re thinking about vampire baseball [and reading 'Twilight']. But actually seeing that and hearing the cracking of the bat? The super-vampire speed? That should be fun to watch.”

Dodger Fans Rooting For the Giants

2008-09-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

It rarely happens - but for three days this week Dodgers fans will be cheering on the orange and black. Why? Because they need us to beat Arizona. After sweeping the Diamondbacks over the weekend, the Dodgers have found themselves in first place with a 1 1/2 game lead. As much as it pains me to see LA succeed, I am just not going to root against my team just to hurt their chances - especially when Tim Lincecum's Cy Young chances are at stake. The battle for the Cy Young is probably going down to the wire, with Lincecum and Arizona's Brandon Webb the frontrunners. Webb got shelled by the Dodgers on Saturday, while going for win number 20. By contrast, Lincecum shut down the Diamondbacks for 8 1/3, earning win number 16. It is unlikely that Lincecum will match Webb in wins, but he holds superior numbers in ERA and strikeouts.

The Diamondbacks will look to stop the skid when they face Barry Zito this evening. The Dodgers eight game winning streak ended with a loss in San Diego last night.

So, for Tuesday and Wednesday, Dodger fans can cheer on the Giants - though, come Wednesday, we can return to bitter rivals.

Molina Reaches Career High

2008-09-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

With a three run homer against Arizona on Monday night, Bengie Molina increased his RBI total to 82 - a new career high. The fact was overshadowed by Tim Lincecum's performance, but the feat should not go unnoticed.

36 Year Old Rookie A Great Story

2008-09-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

One of the best stories of September thus far for the Giants has been the success of Scott McClain. McClain is a rookie - like most of the Giants lineup these days. Only what separates McClain from the rest of the pack is that he is 36. Seeing only limited Major League time in his career, McClain has thrived at lower levels - in the minors and in Japan, he accumulated a total of 362 home runs and 1,280 RBIs. Last Wednesday in Colorado, he finally achieved his first homer in the majors. On Saturday, he added another, with a two-run homer against Pittsburgh that also gave the Giants the lead. McClain may not be a key figure in the Giants future plans, but it is still exciting to see him achieve a dream after two decades of hard work and tough breaks.

Jayson Stark Looks At Lincecum's Cy Young Chances

2008-09-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Today, Jayson Stark makes the case for Tim Lincecum, Brando Webb and C.C. Sabathia as viable Cy Young candidates. He says of Lincecum:

Tim Lincecum has been getting way too little play in this debate for way too long, anyway. But Webb's mini-funk has helped bring Lincecum back into the conversation. And it's about time.

True, Lincecum has four fewer wins (19 to 15). But how much of that is his fault? He's 15-3, with five blown saves and six CUS (Criminally Unsupported Starts - games in which he pitched at least six innings and his team scored one run or none while he was in the game). Webb has one blown save and only two CUS. So that accounts for your gap in wins, gang.

Toss wins out of the discussion, and Lincecum looks as if he has clearly outpitched Webb by most standards. Lincecum leads in ERA by more than three-quarters of a run (2.43 to 3.19), leads in strikeouts by 50 (210 to 160) and tops the league in both categories. Lincecum also leads the NL in OPS allowed (.609), quality-start percentage (22 of 27, 81 percent) and strikeout ratio (10.2 per 9 IP). And unlike Sabathia, you may have noticed that he has been in the same league, on the same team, all season.

Notes From the Luxury Suite

2008-08-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had the good fortune of watching the Giants-Rockies contest from a Club Level luxury suite. It wasn't so fortunate that the Giants lost 4-2, but other than that it was a thrilling experience. I once sat in a luxury suite at Candlestick, but this was my first time seeing how the other half lives at AT&T. I managed to give myself a pretty good stomachache with all of the food I was enjoying - a mix of Chinese, Mexican, and hot dogs. I also enjoyed lots of cracker jacks, popcorn, and cookies. The suite is filled with televisions, one which had every major league game going. Despite the comforts, I wouldn't say this is the best way to watch a baseball game. Its actually quite difficult to focus on the game with so much happening. The folks in your luxury suite will likely not be paying attention, while discussing matters that don't relate to baseball. I am not going to complain, though. It really was pretty awesome.

Giant of the Week: The Giants

2008-08-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

What a stretch it has been. After winning a season high five straight, including a sweep of the lowly San Diego Padres, I think its safe to say the 2008 Giants are fun to watch. I like seeing the young kids, the pitching remains top notch, and Rowand and Molina seem to be enjoying themselves as well. Rookie mistakes are still happening, but even with that, the team is on its way to their first winning month of the season. As the Giants easily took care of Atlanta, Florida, and then San Diego, we found it difficult to award just one player.

Here's a rundown of some players who have made an impact recently: Brian Wilson gave up three runs in the ninth, blowing a would-be win for Matt Cain. Still, he didn't give up the lead and the Giants still won. He returned the following day and pitched a scoreless tenth to earn the win. He saved the last two games against San Diego, to raise is league leading total to 35. Cain has certainly found his stride whether he earns wins or not. He's boasting a 2.14 ERA in his last ten starts.

Remember that talk of Tim Lincecum's "cover boy" curse? Didn't think so. "The Franchise" collected his 200th strikeout of the season, throwing eight shutout innings against the Padres. Pablo Sandoval has spent time at catcher, first and third. Also, five of his first nine major league games have been multi-hit games. Lastly, we can't forget Bengie Molina's five RBI day yesterday.

The Posey Era Begins

2008-08-22T21:51:00.001-07:00

Buster Posey made his debut tonight, starting at designated hitter and hitting third for the Giants' rookie affiliate in Arizona. He singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-5 in a 6-0 Giants' win.

Lincecum Goes Into Stretch, Gets Same Results

2008-08-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

With every start, it seems as though Tim Lincecum warrants a "We love this kid" post. A week after getting bruised in Houston, the Franchise was in fine form again in Atlanta. True to form, he did something quirky. In the sixth, Lincecum switched to pitching exclusively from the stretch, even though there was no one on base.

I didn't have a rhythm on the mound. I had to make an adjustment. I was more comfortable going to the stretch. It helped me out.

Seriously, whatever works. At this point, Lincecum can do no wrong, and we are not hearing any more murmurs of the "cover boy curse."

We know Brandon Webb has 18 wins, but we're still hoping our boy gets some Cy Young consideration.

Oh, and Brian Wilson has 24 consecutive saves - worth mentioning because we love Wilson almost as much as we love Lincecum.

Barry Zito Currently Throwing Shutout

2008-08-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press ... Barry Zito is pitching in the seventh inning against Atlanta with a 5-0 lead.

Giant of the Week: Randy Winn

2008-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

It was a dismal week for the Giants. After a joyful weekend against the Dodgers, the team suffered a four game sweep in Houston that could easily qualify for the worst series of the year. Really, the best things that happened this week were that some draft picks were signed and Tim Lincecum didn't get hurt too bad. But while the team flounders, one Giant is tearing it up at the plate this month. The right fielder is batting .446 for the month of August, and last night missed the cycle by a triple with a solid 4-for-4. His home run was also career dinger number 100.

Some Good News

2008-08-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

I'm going to pretend that series with the Astros didn't happen, and instead focus on the Giants' future, which looks much better now. After signing sandwich pick Conor Gillaspie last week, the team has reportedly come to terms with fourth-rounder Brandon Crawford, third-rounder Roger Kieschnick, and most importantly, first-rounder and number five overall pick Buster Posey. The front office was almost universally praised for their draft in June, so it's great to see all the major picks locked up. According to Andrew Baggarly, Brian Sabean backed up the truck to sign Posey, who will reportedly get $7.5 million, the biggest signing bonus in team history and the most of any player this year (though significantly less than the $12 million Posey was reportedly asking for on draft day). Gillaspie's already playing short-season ball in Arizona, and I expect the rest to get some playing time as well. I can't wait to go to some games in San Jose next year.

Major Roster Shakeup

2008-08-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

According to Andrew Baggarly, the Giants have made some major roster moves today. In an effort to jolt a struggling offense, John Bowker and Steve Holm were sent down to Triple-A Fresno, and Jose Castillo was designated for assignment. Replacing these three will be first baseman Travis Ishikawa, catcher Pablo Sandoval, and third baseman Ryan Rohlinger.

Despite showing some promise, Bowker has looked lost at the plate lately and will probably benefit from some minor-league at-bats. Castillo played well enough the first half of the year, but he's worn out his welcome. I guess the front office doesn't see him as a long-term solution any more. Holm was sent down simply to make room for Sandoval.

Ishikawa has hit 24 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A, and was slugging a ridiculous .737 since his call-up to Fresno. He's also a defensive upgrade. Sandoval, one of the biggest surprises of the year, has hit 20 home runs with a .972 OPS between Single-A and Double-A. I imagine he will also see some time at first base. Rohlinger doesn't have the gaudy numbers of the other two, but he held his own in Spring Training and had a respectable .811 OPS between San Jose and Connecticut. The Giants may be looking at him as the team's starting third baseman in 2009.

Lincecum Just Bruised

2008-08-13T08:26:00.001-07:00

It appears that Lincecum - who left in the fifth yesterday after taking a line drive to the knee - is ok. John Shea sums it up perfectly: "Tim Lincecum is hurt. Four words no Giants fan wanted to read or hear. Or imagine." X-rays showed only bruising, though his next start remains up in the air. Even in his short stint yesterday, Lincecum struck out seven to raise his leading total to 182. Unfortunately, the Giants again couldn't hold the lead he left with, and I'm just going to try and forget that game ever happened.

Lincecum Leaves Early

2008-08-12T21:44:00.001-07:00

Tim Lincecum was on another roll early this evening - 1 hit and seven strikeouts in the fifth - before taking a line drive to the knee. He left the game and was taken for x-rays. Bruce Bochy said:

It caught him in a good spot. It paralyzed him for a little bit. But he's walking around pretty good now. That's good news. That's the only good news we got tonight.

Final score: Astros 12, Giants 4.

D-Backs Get Dunn

2008-08-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hoping to take charge once again in the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Adam Dunn from Cincinnati, sending over a minor league pitcher and two players to be named. Dunn has 32 homers this year and will be a free agent after the season.

Video: Bonds Returns to AT&T

2008-08-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

Beat LA!

2008-08-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend's heroics probably don't rank up there with Brian Johnson and Rod Beck. They may not even rank up there with Ray Durham's three-run homer. Still, didn't it feel good to beat the Dodgers twice in walk-off fashion. The West is pathetic but the Dodgers actually have a shot at winning this thing, especially with the arrival of Manny Ramirez. Any dent we can throw it that plan is a nice saving grace for the 2008 season. The Giants will able to hurt Dodger morale a little bit with a pair of come-from-behind wins, and actually happened to improve their own team chemistry in the process. The team didn't win either game with dramatic surges of power, instead doing "the little things," while also receiving help from poor Dodger defense. The Giants have now won three consecutive series and reportedly are actually having fun. That nine game deficit in the West is a bit to much to overcome, but perhaps we can ride a little wave into 2009.

Giant of the Week: Brian Wilson

2008-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Brian Wilson is the unsung hero of the 2008 San Francisco Giants. He has presence on the mound, without any flashiness, as if he prefers to let his fastballs do all the talking. While the bullpen around him has had plenty of ups and downs, he has held leads with remarkable consistency. With only two blown saves to his name (and only one resulting in a loss), who knows what this season would look like without Wilson. Last week, Wilson racked up four saves, preserving leads after great outings from Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum. He shut the Dodgers out for an inning on Saturday, as well, helping send the game into extra innings. Wilson has only improved as the season progresses, proving that he is a closer that you could build a bullpen around.

Barry's in the House

2008-08-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days, it started to look more and more like Barry Bonds would show up for tonight's outfielder reunion. But it was still a thrill to watch him walk in from behind the left-field wall. It didn't look like he planned to say anything, but the crowd forced him to take the mic for some brief remarks. Barry made clear he is not retired. He stared into the Dodgers dugout and said, "I've beat you before and I'll beat you again." Classic.

One Year Ago Today

2008-08-07T19:03:00.001-07:00

Doesn't feel like that long ago that Barry Bonds was circling the bases...

Gwenn Knapp thinks Bonds should attend Saturday's celebration of outfielders. Will we see him back at AT&T?

Air Guitar!

2008-08-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

One of the many highlights of yesterday's Giants game (you know, besides Tim Lincecum's eight innings, Brian Wilson's 1-2-3 ninth, Aaron Rowand's homer and Randy Winn's four hits) was a half-inning air guitar performance. The national finals of the US Air Guitar Championships are taking place in San Francisco tomorrow night, and a handful of the finalists were invited to AT&T to perform. For more information on this competition, I suggest checking out the documentary Air Guitar Nation.

Live Twittering Today's Game

2008-08-06T11:50:00.001-07:00

Follow me on Twitter, as I will be sending updates from today's game.

Bonds Invited Back

2008-08-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

Who says the Giants are trying to erase the memory of Barry Bonds? Word is, number 25 was invited back to participate in a celebration of the team's best outfielders as part of the continuing 50th anniversary festivities. Maybe there will also be something special for Bonds. "We invited all the outfielders who played a certain number of games," team vice president for communications Staci Slaughter said. Well, maybe not.

Editor's note: Am I the only one who thinks this hardly qualifies as an ESPN top story?

Giant of the Week: Tim Lincecum

2008-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

We're a few days late on our Giant of the Week. Still, the unrewarded efforts Tim Lincecum put up last week are worthy of praise. The All-Star turned in two brilliant performances, both of which resulted in no-decisions. Lincecum threw seven innings of three-hit ball last Friday, and left the game with a 2-1 lead. The bullpen could not hold it for him, but the Giants still won in 10. His 11 strikeouts that night also pushed his league-leading total to 167. A week earlier, Lincecum suffered a heartbreaker - he outdueled Brandon Webb for seven innings (while striking out 13) only to have the bullpen blow a one-run lead in the eighth. Lincecum's exit after the seventh proved to be a point of criticism directed at Bruce Bochy. Still, whether we're winning or losing, this kid remains a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

No Moves For Giants, Dodgers Get Manny

2008-08-01T10:43:00.001-07:00

Post-Ray Durham, the Giants did not make any deadline deals. According to Brian Sabean, they were in a number of conversations and there is still a possibility of waiver deals. This proved to be one of the most exciting trade deadlines I can remember, with some major talent changing teams - sometimes unexpectedly. Picking up Manny seems like a no-brainer for the no-power Dodgers, considering Boston's still paying his contract and the prospects they gave up weren't top of the line. It does leave them with an over-crowded outfield, though Dodger fans can feel less frustrated about that money going to Andruw Jones. It does make the Dodgers look a bit more like contenders than they did before - though who knows what kind of attitude he will bring and how that will impact the team chemistry. Do the Dodgers have chemistry? Regardless, now the Dodgers have a fighting chance which will make their inevitable crash-and-burn more exciting.

We Love the Trade Deadline

2008-07-31T09:27:00.001-07:00

Some big names have moved already - Ken Griffey JR, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Texiera. I am going to be keeping my eyes on MLB Trade Rumors all day.