The Hometown Discount
So now Pat the Bat is saying he came back for the hometown discount. Actually, this now makes perfect sense—1 mil, no incentives? Who needs an agent for that. If it’s true that he didn’t contact any other teams to gauge interest my hat is off to him for this unusual good-vibe move.
Speaking of Pat, does anyone really think he’s “The Machine” as the media continues to report? Look at the arms on this guy, they look half the size of the guns The Bat carries around. Also, ballplayers in August have pretty good “farmer tans” going on, the Machine has nothing, in fact he’s dead pale across his body. I can’t imagine a ladies man like The Bat is rollin’ like that in August……
Nice to see San Diego building off their near division win last year. They promptly jettison their best player away. If I’m a San Diego season ticket holder, I quit…….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Chris Haft said yesterday that there are rumors of Rowand for Raul Ibanez in a salary swap. If that happened, I think Nate and Ishi would have to be gone (too many corner OFs and people that can play first) and a center fielder would have to be added to the mix (Ford?).
Or, if that happened could we flip Ibanez and Nate to the Nats (just lost Dunn) for Roger Bernadina and some low level players? Either keeping Ibanez or flipping him, I like that trade a lot and think it would benefit all involved.
I like the idea for which you alluded to, Bozo. It would almost force us to use Ford as our b/u CFer.
We need some speed.
Yeah Den – I like Bernadina’s speed as well. I think the Nats would be a good trade partner if they wanted to flip Ibanez. Problem with trading with the Nats is either the guy is young and good or young and (shrug shoulders).
Rowand for Ibanez and a guaranteed flip of Ibanez? OK. Otherwise, no Ibanez, please. He looked washed up in his PS appearances against the Giants. Of course he was not the only hitter in that category. But he looked deader than most. No sense in getting older and slower at this stage.
With Ad Gon gone to Boston and Bell possibly also departing, the Padres have devolved into full rebuilding mode immediately after attempting to go one bridge too far. Upshot is that the team which most troubled the Giants this past season is now almost certainly out of the race and will be running on fumes for a season or two.
Looking around the Division we find the Padres joining the Snakes in the rebuild mode; the Dodgers with 5 identifiable starters and a blown-out BP; and the Rox with 3 good starters and a couple superstars on the field. So it looks to be a two-team race, with the Giants, because of the imbalance in the West, now possibly on the verge of a hundred win season.
Why so gloomy? Look around. Unless there is a major rotation injury or something else of that nature, San Francisco pretty much dominates the West, save for a majority of games played in the Box of Rox. In the rest of the league, only St. Louis and Atlanta have decent pitching staffs. Giants post-season run once again confirmed the old adage that good pitching bests good hitting. This coming season, SF looks to have no worse and probably a tad above average hitting.
So do the math, gang. Giants are clearly the team to beat. Unless the Yankees land both Lee and Greinke, the Red Sox could up-end them. Barring the unforeseen, next October could be a classic East-West matchup.
Good post Stix.
you aren’t getting shit for Rowand, all you are doing is getting rid of Rowand. That’s the goal. I’d take Ibanez in a second for Rowand, he might find some of his long lost power, you never know. Rowand— he’s just long lost…..
The guy filling in for Baggarly, Carl Steward, indicates the team is probably done with signings other than their arb guys- NO Whitey might be staying on…
Rowand for Ibanez? Doesn’t do much for me either way. Expand it and get their back up catcher-Schneider. No great shakes, but a vet and better than Eli.
I honestly don’t see the fascination in trying to rid the Giants of NO Whitey. Having NO Whitey is a boon and benefit to each and every other member of the clubhouse. Mark my words. The day will come where NO Whitey rules the baseball world.
Whitehead got to hold the trophy. That’s the pinnacle for him . . . Vern and Edna are as happy as clams . . .
It’s Vern and Vera, Chuckles…
I’d take Schneider, I’ve always like his bat, he’s got a little bit of power—dude has trouble staying healthy, but he’s a more-than-serviceable back up…..
The Fish non-tendered Ronny Paulino. See if we can keep ’em for more than 20 mins. this time.
He only has eight games remaining on his suspension. Though I must say NO Whitey’s CERA (3.38) is exactly a full run lower than Paulino’s. We just fail to appreciate the greatness that is Vern and Vera’s only begotten son.
Probably has nothing to do with the guys throwing to them.
flav,
I posted this am on yesterdays post, but don’t know if you’ll see it…here it is again:
haven’t read the comments on this post, but…I dont agree. not the same team as all these guys didn’t play even 1/2 a season and after the rotation and bullpen had their issues and resettled; I think his is already a stronger team. and to think that we went and won the world series w/o him doing much of any is pretty remarkable!! and I think a couple of our minor league guys will be contributors this year. I like the gmens depth and talent!!
peace flav,
rd
Twin, sent you an IT question about the computer
A-Gone hit 11 home runs in San Diego in 2010 (20 on road) . . . minimally he doubles his home numbers with that short right field at Fenway.
Sheesh, being out of that cow pasture in San Diego, he could approach 50 home runs with the Sox (albeit, he’ll have to familiarize himself with American League pitching . . . with him, I don’t think that will be a problem).
I just responded. Is the fire department there yet, BTW? Stay calm.
Sabean reported Friday that Panda has now lost 15 lbs since the end of the season.
That’s great news. Cause last year they told him he needed “Plate Discipline” but they didn’t specify which plate!
Only 25 LBs to go. I hope the group working with him can instill some good eating habits over the next two months. If we hear stories again next year of the Panda seen midnite munching in the Mission, we’ll know that the Panda program is in trouble…
I’d do the Rohand for Ibanez in a heartbeat. Ibanez is signed through 2011 with $11.5M due in ’11, so they’d have to work some sort of deal for Rohand’s contract last year in 2012. Ibanez is getting old as dirt (38), but I’ll take him over Rohand, and it’s just one year, anyway. He’s LH, which Sabes says he wants. Hey, some ground outs to first would be something different over the incessant groundouts to 3rd and short…
Rather funny that of the Philly Three, Burrell was the one thought to be finished going into 2010…
If you guys haven’t spent any time on youtube watching “reaction videos”, well…good for you. There are infinitely better ways to spend your free time. But, if you’re bored, they are HILARIOUS. I decided to check out the reaction videos to the Giants winning the WS and frankly, most of them are underwhelming or over-done on purpose for the camera. But there are a lot of good ones, too. Here’s one to get you started off…..
Yer right. That was totally lame . . .
Here was my reaction to the Giants winning the World Series:
REVRET!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GIANTS. FREAKuhuhGYANTSduuuuckEGG NOGGG
WORLD CHAMPIONs uhhhhh GIANTS!!!!
REVRET!!!!
duck
ted, you doin’ that drunken Partridge in a Pair Tree thing? That was gold, btw, I sent that to like 20 people…….
How about a Dodger fan reaction to the Giants winning the WS? Luv this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLnXQnsv1rM&feature=related