Aaron Rowand’s Dream Team

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on March 14, 2011

If you asked him, and he was honest, where would he say he would most prefer to play out the rest of his career? He won a World Series with the White Sox, would he enjoy a return to those glory days? He said earlier this Spring that one of the greatest moments of his life was getting a standing ovation at a Bears game when he was flipping the pre-game coin. Imagine that, Aaron Rowand getting a standing ovation….

Maybe he’d like to go back to Philly where he had his best offensive years. They freaking love that guy in Philly……

THe White Sox are pretty set at OF with Pierre, Rios and Quentin, but those corner guys could get injured any second and Rios is always good for one brutal half of baseball every year. Maybe he starts as the 4th guy and takes over when the inevitable happens?

Philly’s OF is less determined. Victorino has CF locked up but Ibanez has worn out his welcome in Philly. What about a L/R platoon with him until one of them sucks worse than the other and is demoted to the bench for good? Heck, even a trade for Ibanez makes sense—give both of them a change of scenery….

He couldn’t possibly pick the Giants as his dream team, right? How bad is it going to feel for him having Andres Torres calling him off balls all game long? And with our fans on their toes ready to give the dude the booing he deserves, wouldn’t he appreciate a fan base that is at least willing to give him a chance?

So learn how to play left field, chump. It just might make your over-paid/under-producing ass easier to move…….

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Bozo said, on March 14, 2011 at 7:07 am

I think Rowand would be happier anywhere, he’d probably be excited even to go to Cleveland. The guy let the park get into his head that first year. It seemed to defeat him, where someone like Huff, decided to play to the park Rowand didn’t.
I’m convinced that the best deal the Giants could get is to package Rowand and Zito to the A’s as part of a deal for the Giants to give up the San Jose rights. It’s almost like they have a free salary dump card with those rights and maybe now is the time to use it. Zito would probably waive his no trade to go back to Oaktown as well.
- xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:31 am
  
  San Jose would not want the A’s if they had Zito and Rowand on the team. Hell, Oakland wouldn’t want them.
  - Bozo said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:52 am
    
    xoot, by the time any ballpark gets built in San Jose, Zito and Rowand will be bowling for dollars.
  - xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:20 pm
    
    Oh, come on. The stigma would stick for decades.
stixwiz said, on March 14, 2011 at 7:49 am

Whether he stays or wherever he goes, Rowands string with the Giants and the fan-base is pretty frayed and isn’t likely to magically rewind itself.
Giant Head said, on March 14, 2011 at 7:59 am

I am with Bozo, I think the Giants get paid $100 million to give up their rights. I dont think the collective bargaining agrreement allows you to make a trade for something like territorial rights, but in essence, $100 mill pays off those salaries or eats up a good chunk of the remaining mortgage.

But the trade for Rowand for Ibanez is the best possible deal it were on the table. We eat half of Rowand’s 20912 contract and let’s call it a deal…Philly fans would love to get him back and trading Ibanez’s bloated contract this year for a year and a half of Rowand’s bloated deal would be easy for them to swallow…and Philly fans are used to swallowing…
Giant Head said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:00 am

2012 contract of course…not his Zip Code…
ewisco said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:03 am

Looking over yesterday’s post and all the cool hand luke comments i thought i would add that if you listen to the sound-track, you should recognize passages that were used for the evening news and some commercials.
- Bozo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:24 am
  
  One comment on the Cool Hand Luke thing from yesterday. Pawlie is right the Captain drops the a before saying failure to communicate. When Luke says it at the end he says “Ah what we got here is a failure to communicate”.
twinfan said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:09 am

Rowand doesn’t deserve booing, he’s always given it his all. He performed just as he should have been expected to perform.
- Unca Chuck said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:11 am
  
  Wel, that ain’t enough, to a lot of fans.
  
  “He performed just as he should have been expected to perform.” Not by Sabean. He didn’t fork out all that scratch for a backup CF.
  
  Hey, he’ll always have a small place in my heart for his catch in the 9th on Drrrty’s no-no.
  
  But . . .
  - Nipper said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm
    
    But….BLEEP it all to hell, anyway!
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:21 am

Kruk was on KNBR this morning talking up Voglesong (Spelling?). I don’t know if I put much into spring training for pitchers. He has been around for awhile and has not stuck somewhere?? Just my thoughts
twinfan said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:51 am

While it’s true that ST results have to be reviewd in context, obviously they must have some bearing on roster decisions. Otherwise there’s no point in these guys being there. Torres won his job in 2009 in ST, many others have as well. Medders and Miller in the pen. It’s up to Bochy and his staff to evaluate the results…Vogelsong? The evaluation would have to include “what’s new”? Why would he be successful now?
- Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 10:28 am
  
  Yeah I should not have generalized ST that way, but I didn’t see that much for Kruk to be talking him up.
Bozo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:53 am

I agree Twin, I wouldn’t boo the guy. He’s kinda stuck as well, went for the money (who wouldn’t) but he doesn’t fit here. Houston, Philly, a Chicago team, he’d probably get back on track or to use a Cool Hand Luke line, get his mind right.
zumarust said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:20 am

Rowand could have a better attitude about playing leftfield. I thought his comment before the game yesterday was lacking. He said something like “I guess it’s to get me some extra at-bats.” Sorry, but I guess I was hoping for something more along the lines of “I’ll do whatever they need me to do to help this team win.”
But whatever. The Giants’ organization is who has to make the tough decisions. It’s easy for me to second-guess.
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:32 am

Until now, Rohand has given no hint publicly of being unhappy, and that was cool — unlike Bengie. Now, the stories started yesterday of a chink in that. I hope he gets really pissed about being trotted out to LF, and lets everyone know it. Maybe the Gamer has had enough of SF. It’ll be easier for management to dump his crouching ass if he starts copping a bad attitude…
TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:39 am

best…bb…ever
- Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 10:29 am
  
  Best…butt…ever
  - eddacker415 said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:13 pm
    
    I think those are called hips.
xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:43 am

Yeah, a player’s trade value really rises when he adds a bad attitude to evidence of diminishing skill.
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:51 am

Rohand has little trade value now with the contract and his performance. He won’t go into Mello territory, anyway. Plus, the Giants management itself dropped the hammer on his value when they relegated him, rightfully so, to an afterthought player down the stretch last year. Lotsa players start copping ‘tudes when they want out of a bad situation for them. It’s an old, and often effective technique. GMs get that. Whatever it takes to get him outta here…
Rough Trade said, on March 14, 2011 at 10:54 am

Kevin, enlighten us. What did Kruk think was the difference in Vogelsang? New pitch? Adjustment in his delivery? Zen?
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:03 am

He just felt Vogelsong has developed into a very good journeyman, and uses all pitches very well.
- Rough Trade said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:06 am
  
  Brilliant.
Rough Trade said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:05 am

Seems for every Andres Torres, there are 20 Randy Elliott’s.

DeRosa made an interesting comment the other day after Ethier whacked a double off of Lopez, saying Maddux used to deliberately throw a guy a pitch in ST that the guy could hit, but that he wouldn’t normally throw in the reg season.
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:11 am

Vogelsong said somewhere that his changeup has really improved and is a key reason he’s better — he now gets 8 or 9 good ones out of 10 thrown, as opposed to maybe 3 before. Plus, he’s not overthrowing now when he gets into trouble –just focuses on throwing strikes in good spots. If true, why it took a decade to finally figure both of those things out, I dunno…
- Rough Trade said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:57 am
  
  Ah, yes. I also see that in Baggs column.
Macdog said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:40 am

Some of these athletes aren’t the brightest bulbs on the planet.

As for Rowand, when a team’s paying you $60M over 5 years, you damn well better do whatever the manager says without even a hint of resistance, especially when said manager just skippered a World Series champion. Either he starts doing things the Giants Way — play multiple positions, make adjustments for the home park — or rides the bench. It’s up to him.
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 11:47 am

Meanwhile, Cain going today is pretty damn important. If he comes out of it with his elbow in good shape, a sigh of relief is in order. If it gets gnarly again, the Suppan and Vogelsong storyline gets way more relevant….
dirtnrocksnreno said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Rowand and Zito to Oakland for territory right? I just don’t see that happening.

Rowand’s should just shut the fuck up and take reps in left. Make himself useful and moveable.
- Rough Trade said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:33 pm
  
  How about 20 John Bowkers then. (insert whatever)
- xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:52 pm
  
  Here’s an antitrust violation that should get some attention: The A’s agree to assume the remaining debt on the ballpark at China Basin but promise never to hire Ashkon to compose a song about the A’s; the Giants trade Zito and Rowand (but not their salaries) and agree to conspire with mlb to transfer the San Jose territory to the A’s. And just for good measure, while they’re wheeling and dealing, the A’s and Giants agree to raise the price on beer to $2 per oz. at all home games. It’s a win/win/win situation for both teams and mlb — just exactly what the antitrust exemption was intended to protect.
dirtnrocksnreno said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:09 pm

Rowand’s dream team? Probably The Machine and Huff and resembling that Pulp Fiction pawn shop basement scene. I’m not sure Torres would come back for him with the Samuri sword though.
twinfan said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:24 pm

“Seems for every Andres Torres, there are 20 Randy Elliott’s….”
Since Elliott is the only fucking name that gets mentioned, I guess not..
- snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:51 pm
  
  POTD right there…
Big Flavor said, on March 14, 2011 at 12:35 pm

There are some competitions that get sorted out in ST but the main goal at this point, and for the remainder of the ST games, is for SP’s to build up arm strength. that’s it. Most of the hitters, at this point, would tell you that they are just fiddling their brown eye’s from here until opening day….
xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 1:42 pm

Zelous Wheeler?
- snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm
  
  Anxious Hurler?…
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 1:45 pm

Cain’s #’s 15 pitches through 3 innings, 15 strikes, 3 hits.
- TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 1:57 pm
  
  15 pitches, 15 strikes?
  - Del Mar Dennis said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:08 pm
    
    Cain’s line: 3 innings, no runs, three hits, no walks, a strikeout, 43 pitches.
    
    I can neither confirm nor deny if he called Prince Fielder a fat fuck as he waddled into the box.
    
    I would have. Then I would have run for the hills.
- TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:14 pm
  
  I think with Fielder, a nice healthy trot should suffice
Nipper said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:10 pm

ST always seems too long.
- TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:15 pm
  
  Really?
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:27 pm

Yes, shorten spring training so that Baseball ends in the middle of Oct instead of November
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:40 pm

If you start the season on March 20, the midwest and east cities are still in the snow zone. You’d have to have all the games in the south and west for the first two weeks. But, I’d be up for one less week of ST, just start it one week later. Start the first week in April, as usual, but go back to 154 games, or maybe 158 at most. Gotta avoid this WS in November crap…
Giant Head said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:42 pm

Nice knowing you Jeff Suppan…
- Del Mar Dennis said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:51 pm
  
  Yeah, he certainly “reverted to form” today. 1IP, 4H, 2W and 6 earned.
- xootsuit said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:16 pm
  
  He pitched to three hitters in the 5th, also. No outs there, apparently.
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:44 pm

Snarkk, Snow in March or Snow in November?? easier to make up games during regular season. Where as if you have 2 days of snow During world series season might not end till December.
- snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:49 pm
  
  I don’t want snow at all, ever. This ain’t football. That’s why reducing the season’s games by a week to 156 or 158 would do it. Won’t happen because of the $…
Giant Head said, on March 14, 2011 at 2:53 pm

wait till they get snow in the first games this year in MN….
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:34 pm

Panda with another jack today. If he is back to even shouting distance of his rookie season at the plate, it will be huge…
- TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:46 pm
  
  Which is why I don’t understand the people (not here on the Flap, mind you) that still argue we needed to get a “big bat” in the offseason. Sondoval, when playing how we know he *can* play, *is* a big bat.
Kevin said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:35 pm

yeah I am waiting for the New York or Boston to have a world series and have a really big storm go through and dump about 6 inches of snow!! Or and I really don’t like saying this but it could happen. A star player pulls a hammy or slips on a patch of icey snow in foull territory. That would put an end to the $$$ shit. But probably not.
zumarust said, on March 14, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Brown stole his fourth base of the Spring today. Cool.
Huff 3 for 3.
snarkk said, on March 14, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Other than the old shoe Rohand and lousy bats in the backup catchers, so far I’m having trouble finding things to bitch about with this team. It’s scary…
- TedSpe said, on March 14, 2011 at 4:09 pm
  
  I know. Me too. But I’m counting on Dennis to fix that.
  - Del Mar Dennis said, on March 14, 2011 at 5:01 pm
    
    I was bitching yesterday that they were winning too many games this spring. So whatta they do today? They go out and lose. I can’t say nuttin. But if they start winning again, just watch out.
macdog said, on March 14, 2011 at 6:05 pm

Was the game on TV? Just wonderin’ if anyone saw the collision between Sandoval and Chris Dickerson on a Zelous grounder. Randy Wolf commented: “Thank God that Sandoval lost 30 pounds over the winter. Otherwise, that would have been a decapitation.”
stixwiz said, on March 14, 2011 at 6:12 pm

Yup, Dennis, you got your wish. And tag it on Soup Pan and Yourkin, neither likely to become household names around the Halloween Machine. But hey, i don’t mind the loss at all as Cainer is back and in fine fettle. Just what the doctor ordered. So we’re back to four aces and a Zoner. Edlefsen and Kroon also put in clean performances today. So far this spring in his few outings Edlefsen has quietly excelled. It will get noticed ~ but probably not at the end of the month.
Vogelsong (birdsong in English) now has the inside track on the longman position. He may be a slow learner, but looks like all those years in Japan transformed into something approaching a thinking man’s pitcher. No, we’re not talking Greg Maddox, but maybe a couple steps up from some of those braindead hurlers who have chucked them up for SF in the past.
Brewers Chris Dickerson discovered he is not an irresistible force this afternoon. Ended up with a bruised rib-cage running into the immovable object. Seems like Panda has reverted to form and that transformation of gross lipidity into solid muscle means that Prince Fielder has no immediate competition in the Michelin Man sweepstakes. Had someone run into the big guy of the Brewcrew you would have heard this loud “plooof” and instead of getting a bruised ribcage the runner might not have re-emerged in sufficient time to keep from suffocation.
14-5: Still not a bad ST record. Besides the evident return of the Panda, another piece of good news from the hitting front is the apparent midseason form again displayed by Huff the Magic Dragon.
- DJLoo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:08 pm
  
  I haven’t read the words “in fine fettle” in 30 years. Used to be a DRF standard PP capsule. Remember Otis Birdsong?
  - willied said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:37 pm
    
    yeah, on the nets with michael ray richardson and john “watch me shoot” williamson. Also Albert King, not on electric guitar. Altho Nets do seem to be born under a bad sign. Did Otis play college ball at u of houston?
  - Del Mar Dennis said, on March 14, 2011 at 9:47 pm
    
    I always liked “food for thought.”
- ewisco said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:24 pm
  
  don’t you mean “braindead caribbean hurlers chucking up slop”?
twinfan said, on March 14, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Suppan’s outing is a perfect example why you shouldn’t get caught up with ST results. Who can believe that he wouldn’t have a similar game(s) in the regular season? Vogelsong as well. But frankly, they just don’t need a “sixth starter”. Send Runzler to Fresno until he’s ready, also Tanner; then revaluate the starting 5. Mota or Kroon or Edlefson gets that last spot in the meantime.
- Flavor said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:22 pm
  
  totally agree. I’m not that on board with Runzler going down to convert but we simply don’t need a 6th starter right now. Even if Zito blew 4 straight games out of the water we’d be fine. Fresno will sort itself out over the first month of the season so that we can at least take a reasonable chance on someone down there…….
DJLoo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:17 pm

This is looking like the stand-pattest team of all time. 22 of 25 returning?
Bad karma to unload WS MVP? Ask a Met fan (Ray Knight).
- Flavor said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:25 pm
  
  yeah, Knight really tore up the league after he left the Mets. He was done-zo, they knew it, and cut him loose. THAT is more likely to happen with Renteria than some bad-karma thing to us for letting him go……
  - DJLoo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:30 pm
    
    They let him go because he wanted $ 800,000.00.
    Don’t get me wrong, Flav, I didn’t want Edgar on the team…….EVER.
Flavor said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:36 pm

well than they are cheap bastards. He made 645K in ’86, that would seem to me to be a nice little bump for being the WS MVP. He made 600K with Baltimore the next year, 525K with Detroit in his stagger-to-the-finish-line year…….
DJLoo said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:40 pm

Distant memory……..

Aaron Rowand cumulative season totals through Jun 2, 2008:

AB: 193
H: 66
2B: 16
HR: 8
RBI: 35
BA: .342
willied said, on March 14, 2011 at 8:52 pm

As to Flav original topic, I think AR has to want to play in a legit hitters park, peferably warm weather, so I’d think most teams in NL central (except low balling Pirates) would qualify.

As to yesterday post, I’m not saying Ford could start right now for SF, but I do think he could possibly add much more to the team in long run. I just don’t think Nate is ever going to amount to anything, based on numbers he’s put up over last two years. Last year he hit 3 HRs all on the road in 110 ABs (and none at home in like number of ABs), but his splits weren’t any better away from SF (10 XBH total away). He got off to a good start, and then in May when he got most ABs of the season hit .211. Two months later in July when he got second most ABs he hit .192. His OB is at mendoza line of .300, OPS under .700 last season. Couple reports I read he was complaining about having a bad shoulder last season, same stuff we heard about the year before (banged into a wall and never fully recovered). An HR in ST? Zzzzzzzz….put up or stfu. SF should just move on.