What Will The Team Look Like in 2012?
I’m marginally behind Jenkin’s Chron article this morning. I agree we won’t be going after any of the big FA guys. Not because we don’t need them but because we’re going to start seeing that *rainy day fund* start to grow. I suspect it’s a fund that will actually be 10 mini-funds that are kept in the back pocket of each executive board member.
I’d be fine with Jimmy Rollins at SS I just don’t know if the contract years can get worked out. He’ll be 33 this November, I would think HE sees this as his last big deal. Could he get 4 or 5 years from someone? Maybe. We should only offer him 2. We have a few guys (Crawford, Panik, and Twin’s guy) who are in the plans big time and will be here in 2013 at the latest.
Cuddyer would be fine. He’s a little like Ty Wiggington only better. Bring him aboard if the money works….
All those words written by Jenkins and not a single mention of the obvious need for a back up catcher…..
And we need a center fielder. Badly. I’m not even thinking of Gary Brown until 2013……
The Flap Fantasy Baseball League Standings
(With a game to go, it looks like most of the spots are wrapped up. It would take an epic collapse on the final day for me not to take home the coveted broken-headed Rich Aurilia Bobble Head (first place). After I win him back from Blade who won him last year (though kept him with me) I will attempt to glue that goddamn head back on and hope that this time it sticks. This Winter, he can give me a furious knowing dude head nod whenever I order him to.)
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Bravo for Ferretball. Whoever finishes last is my hero.
What ever happened to her? She was nice to have around…
Congrats BF. Are you dropping everyone from your line-up today?
It looks like FH will be the last place winner. I think she tanked it so she could get the coveted Jason Schmidt signed ball and be the first to win the “Who’s a Clown Now?” award.
The Giants start their offseason planning tomorrow, hopefully these names are not part of any trade talks – Tim, Matt, Bum, Wee Willie, Romo, Belt, Panda and Posey. Sign Loogy and have at it.
Jenkins makes a host of solid points in his article, but seems to assume that the Bill Neukom approach to spending the WS profits will continue. If the Wall St. mogul who has taken control of the partnership won’t pay Neukom what he’s worth, how’s he likely to approach player payroll issues? In any event, I like Beltran, but I don’t like the standard 8-year Boras contract. Adios, pelota.
Beltran. 2 year deal with club option. If that’s a no go, siyonara. And he plays left. That guarantees he won’t come back. Good, he’s a bad fit here. WTF is this rainy day fund? Since when has this team had a financial rainy day? We’re in the middle of a near depression and they sold out the park for the season fer Kreissakes. These controlling partners are all mega millionaires — the poorest ones in the partner group are a few locals that are just in it to get good suite seats. This team annually is in the top 6 or 7 in revenues in MLB — have to be top 5 this year. 3 million butts showed up every year when the team sucked 2005 – 2008. It’s total bullshit. The ownership by committee manages this club like the Giants business is the damn Royals. Management by committee never ever is a good thing. If King Steinbrenner’s ghost owned this outfit with this revenue stream, we’d be in the damn playoffs every year…
What I feared about the Neukom removal was that it would signify that they would not be serious getting the one player they need to sign to a big deal in Jose Reyes. Jimmy Rollins is one leg stretch away from a severed hamstring for life. Would be a huge mistake to sign him. His lead-off days are long gone and he intentionally has changed his swing to try and hit homers instead of getting on base. He would be a disaster.
Crisp may be a more realistic option for leadoff. BJ Upton is a dark horse candidate.
I’d rather have Cuddyer for a decent two-year deal than throwing money after Beltran/Bozo Boras. I would only offer Beltran a deal if they had a shot to sign Reyes…but dont see that happening. Cuddyer seems a bigger clubhouse voice than Beltran has ever been in his career.
I still dangle J Sanchez for Quentin…Chris Stewart is a just fine backing up for Posey…
1) Coco the Crisp – CF
2) Fredie Sanchez – 2B
3) Pablo – 3B
4) Carlos Quentin – LF
5) Posey – C
6) Cuddyer – RF
7) Belt/Pill/Huff – 1B (Have Belt and Pill compete for the spot, whoever loses goes to the minors to stay fresh – Huff backup solely)
8) Crawford/Fontenot – SS (Mucho upgrade needed, but if they land a Crisp.Quentin, Cuddyer upgrade, I am good with Crawford)
Three swtich-hitters at the top of the lineup. I think this is a pretty solid lineup and with our pitching, should be back on top in the NL West next year. F the idea of eliminating the divisions for two 15-team leagues…
Who knows what really happened with Neukom? Maybe the new majority owner(Johnson?) took it in the shorts over some microsoft anti trust decisions and has had it out for Neukom ever since. We’ll know the financial strategy soon enough.
Wait out Ross and maybe bring him back on the cheap, Rollins for 2 years if he’ll take it and maybe Cuddyer. I think the club will focus on extending in house players, pray for full recovery for Sanchez and Posey, look for Sandoval staying fit, make some scrap heap adds and hope for the best.
Would Cuddyer convince Beltran to re-up? I would think the guy wants to win at this stage but that’s just the fan in me. He’ll go for the cash and be remembered as one of the best switch hitters to play the game and not much more.
Those damn smiley faces…so that would be the 8th spot with Crawford and Fontenot at short….
Surkamp today. I’m glad they are taking one final look at him…..
well, it is “garbage time” as they say in the NBA. Look at the Rox LU last night, and how awful they played. The SP (whose ERA is 8.42) threw consecutive wild pitches in the first inning, they threw 4 over all, made errors in the field and f-ed up the inside the park HR. Esmil Rogers, who started games for them earlier, now has an ERA of 7.05. An L today would be number 90 for them.
So am I. If this kid could get his crap together, Zito’s departure would be closer. Although Zito should be gone regardless of the #5 situation, because he’s no longer a viable MLB starter in any case…
Craig has said the kid is garbage. From his previous posts, I doubt he means what you think he does.
Well, he’s the only pitcher in the high minors with any pedigree that’s supposedly ready or close to it, so called. He’s it. He had a bad last outing. OK. But, Zito’s had a bad last Giants career, so I think we should be willing to give the kid more than three games to prove if he can get people out as a cheap #5. Pulling Cain today was one of the rarities lately – a good Bochy move…
Talk to Craig about it, he’s the one who trashed the kid.
Willingham would be a better option than Cuddyer. He gets on base more and has consistent solid .850 plus OPS years. Doing it in Oaktown mausoleum is quite an accomplishment.
I’ve seen different scenarios where almost everyone returns, including Font, de Rosa, Ross, Crawford, Torres, Nate, Huff. I think it has to be painfully obvious that isn’t going to work; it didn’t work this year, and I have even less confidence in aforementioned as everyday players going forward. Sure they can contend—hell they contended this year til the last week of the season. But if Sabes plans to bring all these guys back again without a CF, SS, leadoff or bigger bat than Posey, he’s asking for more of the same as he got this year.
Leaders in the clubhouse are fine….I want to see someone lead by example on the field and at the plate.
Surkamp will be in camp competing for a spot next spring…
Coco Crisp-? Why wouldn’t you want a guy who could at lerast APPROACH what Torres did in 2010? Cereal Boy hasn’t come close in 6 years..
Sandoval isn’t a big bat and leader by example, Willie? Then there’s no such sanimal…
Cereal Boy, I like that.
I should be Serial Boy, for my love of that comma.
I”m talking about contending for the whole enchilada, beating the likes of Philly and the Yanks. Philly has just as solid a rotation as us, with AS guys all around the IF plus Pence, Victorino and Mayberry. The guys I mentioned above are backups at every position in Philly.
Don’t foget the DBax have Drew coming back if healthy at SS, again a better player than anything SF has on current roster at that position. They are going to be a handful.
Who are you responding to and in regard to what, Willie? Are you disputing what I said about Sandoval? I haven’t even addressed the rest of it. Many of the scenarios suggested here wouild raise the payroll to hwere they arer NOT going, and others- such as trading Dirty, leaving them with just 3 sure fire starters, are just plain dumb. You are going to see a lot of the guys you mentioned back again, maybe or maybe not starting, but competing for spots. I’ve given a couple of FA possibilities, but anyone who thinks there will be some kind of mass overhaul is not dealing in reality. They will have virtuallly the entire pitching staff back, Posey and Fruckie will return, and I’ve endorsed Rollins and I’ve always liked Cuddyer. It’s that level they’d add at, not Reyes/Beltran..
Snarkk says 2 year w/club option for Carlos. Why bring it up? He’s getting 3 or probably 4 SOMEWHERE, ridicuolous to even think of two..my scenario w/the two FAs wins the West handily, doing it from within, it’s a dogfight.
BTW, the back up catcher is either Hector or maybe Stewart opens with Hector getting more seasoning in AAA for a month or two..
Herer’s the scoop, like it or not: the goal is to compete reguarly, as they did for ten years in the Bonds era. No one, except NY, Boston, and perhaps the Angels, can build a team that will realistically be a WS contender every year. Learn to live with that reality, and an 88 win season won’t make y’all leap from the Pyramid..all things considered,they’ve had a great year
I want production and care less about the stupid clubhouse. I don’t care whether they all hate each others guts.
That’s so NOT the Giants Way…
What’s the Giants’ way? Actually, based on some of the rumor that Snarkk buys into, the value of clubhouse chemistry has been validated because of the supposed lack of it this year. BTW, it’s expected that extensions for Sabean and Bochy will be done in the next couple days. Well earned, especially for Bochy, who will get 87 or 88 wins out what most here would call a AAA roster…
Ask Neukom about the Giants Way. Oh, yeah, he’s busy cleaning out his office…
Needed a little pick me up today so I just re-read Kuiper’s foreward in “A Band of MIsfits.” It turned my whole morning around……
Is that worth picking up? I was considering getting it.
Worth it. Kind of a blow by blow description of the season, with behind the scenes anecdotes weaved in…
yes. Not great but interesting.
Good to hear that. I got it for Father’s Day and will start it after I finish the interminable “The Woman in White,” by Wilkie Collins, a protege of Charles Dickens.
The Mets just pulled Reyes after he got a hit to raise his avg. a pt to .337 in hopes of winning a batting title. Talk about chickenshit.
Dennis what are you drinking today?
I don’t know, that’s pretty standard. And don’t you think Bochy pulled Beltran so he could finish at .300?
One final time. There will be no jokes, no bitching and moaning. Just wait till next year…
Christian CF, Keppinger 2B, Beltran RF, Burrell LF, Pill 1B, DeRosa 3B, Burriss SS, H. Sanchez C, Surkamp P
Q: Which of these starters for sure, without question, will be back on the 25 at some time during next season?
A: Nobody….
You don’t think Sanchez will be at “some time” next season? Surkamp and Keppinger I wouldn’t bet against either….
Snarkkles doesn’t even realize that he’s just confirmed Bonehead’s genius status..
I didn’t realize it. Nor anybody else, You’re the only. It must also confirm the genius status of Sabes for procuring such stellar talent…
No, Bochy for getting this many wins out of it. Actually, your kind are in the minority.
Today’s joke of the day. Rollins wants 5 years…
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/philadelphia_phillies/
Snarkk, I also found this line hilarious too, “Rollins’ only real competition will be Jose Reyes, who figures to get at least five years and $18MM per season.”
OK, so now we know that the Giants aren’t going after the delusional twins, Rollins and Reyes, right?
We are short 2 pieces in my opinion. Forget about an upgrade in backup catcher. A waste of money in my opinion. We have Posey coming back and Hector or Stewart will be fine. I’m not concerned about catcher because NO ONE in MLB has two good catchers, i.e., they either have a situation where there are two fair catchers, two bad catchers, one good catcher and one bad catcher, or one good catcher and one fair catcher. In short, this position is hard to fill no matter who you (team) are.
We need one upgrade in the infield and one upgrade in the outfield. Sanchez has broken down the last couple of years. That being said, you may still think of Freddy Sanchez as a former batting champ, but the most notable thing about Sanchez’s career is his consistency. Aside from one great year and one poor one — both of which appear to be statistical flukes — Sanchez has essentially turned in the same performance every season in his career. He is an aggressive hitter who makes plenty of contact and hits a fair share of slashing line drives. The result is almost always a batting average in the vicinity of .300 with a homer count just shy of double digits. They might retain Jeff Keppinger just in case Sanchez is unable to go Day 1 of next season.
Crisp when healthy, provides doubles and triples power and a decent walk rate, but Crisp’s main asset is stolen bases. He also is a better than average outfielder. However, I am apprehensive about his propensity for injury (sheesh, he broke his pinkie twice in the same season a couple of years ago). Cuddyer is a terrible outfielder and will have a hard time roaming right field. He also is long in the tooth and may have had his career year last year (e.g., DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO HIT 20 HRS AT THE PHONE PARK). If we add him to the mix, we will absolutely need a good defensive CF (Torres playing) to help him out in right field.
I don’t care for Willingham. He strikes out way too often and doesn’t hit for average (we don’t need anymore of those types of guys). Also, he is another player on the cusp of being too old for prime time.
I agree with Twin and others who are adamant about not going after Beltran and Reyes or any other free agent that is going to demand a big contract. Waste of time in my opinion (we’ll have our hands full just paying our pitching staff) and a potential monumental mistake with Beltran. There are some nice players out there that would be reasonable upgrades for this team as it’s now constituted. No need to break the bank.
So why do you think the Bat is getting a start?
That’s for all. I know why, Bruce knows why, let’s see who else knows why.
Pat gave Boch sloppy seconds numerous times this season and Boch is grateful.
It’s Pat’s swan song
per Schulman
Ted got it, but I’m sure everyone really knows that. Could be for Manny, as well. DeRosa will be gone too but he probably gets the start against the lefty anyway.
Bochy really likes Ox pelts?
To get one AB and get warmed up for his threesome appointment at 3:30 in the Marina?…
Can you decide who you’re posting as?
Name is fluid today, last game of the year, but Gravatar unchanged, “jackcrabby”…
As I noted last night in “B”, you might want to save the pages if you liked the thread. I’m going to take it down in a bit.
Good with either Cuddyer or Willingham. Rollins would be okay on a split two year contract, with the bigger bucks for year one and the second being performance-based team-option. In fact i would not mind him getting relatively overpaid for year one by two or three M.
Have looked over recent stats for both Belt and Crawford, noting that with steady playing time their performances have begun edging towards respectability. Only thing currently not tolerable, at least, for Belt is his BA. OBP and SP are moving in the positive direction. Over a full year, his current HR projection would be at 25-27. Pill and Gillaspie are also looking worthy of further consideration, particularly if their position flexibility is there.
We all know the pitching staff is gold and is the basis for future competitiveness. Some particulars: Vogelsong, Lincecum, Cain and Bumgarner are currently #’s 4, 5, 8 and 12 in ERA for the NL. That’s 16 teams and 80 starting pitchers, with the Giants sporting a full third of the best dozen starters. In BAA three of the four occupy the 3,4 and 14th positions. In strikeouts they own the #’s 4, 11 and 15 spots. Four Aces. The bullpen is a match for the starters, with Romo having become easily one of the best setup men in the game, if not THE best. Hopefully, the Brass is baseball savvy enough to keep at least one of the two F.A. loogies, Affeldt and Lopez. Lopez would be the less expensive option. If the feeling is that Runzler is not ready, perhaps the org. should bite the bullet and retain both lefties. That would cost, but the payoff is probable.
Many teams out there, including competitive ones, are weak in starting pitching. Giants should NOT aggressively shop Sanchez, but simply let it be known if the offer is sufficiently tempting. It would be nice to see perhaps Boston and New York getting into a bidding contest for his services. Sabean should not jump on the first reasonable offer, but hold his card close to the vest for a positively unreasonable trade.
Something to keep in mind is that although the Giants do play four meaningless games, they will end up with either 87 or 88 victories, not so far from their season total last year when they did get into the playoffs and ended up as World Champions. Sans the injuries, particularly the loss of Posey, they would likely again be the one team nobody wants to face in the post-season. A few adjustments and they will again be in the thick of things next year.
Crawford is all the way up to two fucking oh four. That is not edging toward respectabilty. I expect Belt to be the LFer here, I expect Crawford to be the SS. In Fresno.
Yeah, anybody hitting .220 or under should be cut….
Just those who will never hit .220 even in their fucking dreams..
Ned Colletti intimated in the LA Times that the Dodgers wouldn’t be averse for going after Pujols or the Fat Fuck this winter. If the Dodgers can make a push for one, why can’t we?
Ned’s done so well in the FA market, hasn’t he?
We know who Ned has to thank for that, he learned from the best.
Sabes learned his lesson. Coletti hasn’t, apparently.
Stay thirsty!
He didn’t learn how to build a WS winner. They don’t repeat and now the bottom feeders are already reverting to form. Heads must roll!!! Pathetic, DTD.
Link on the right to give us your 25 man roster next year. Try to be somewhat realistic.
Reyes,Pujols and Fielder will get big dollars but I don’t think many more FA will. It will be interesting to see MLB owners’ renewed attempt this off season to hold down salaries. Sabean always does his due diligence. There is a chance he makes a surprising signing but I doubt it. Since Bonds’ departure the club has been building the way it should be done; pitching and home grown prospects. With Sandoval, Posey and Belt likely starting next year, a rotation anchored by arms from the system and then a BP of Romo and Wilson with some adds you’re seeing a roster close to 50 percent or more of groomed players.
Recipe for success.
Good post.
If they haven’t already, the very first thing the Giants do is figure out definitely what is wrong with Wilson ASAP. Whether it’s having his arm/elbow scoped or whatever Baggs said they might do to figure it out needs to be done pronto. The guy is clearly not right, the last appearance pretty much showed that. If there’s even a chance that he can’t close next year, that throws the offseason into a whole new tizzy, because I don’t see a closer on this staff. Casilla, no. Romo, best as setup. Without a good closer, you’re nowhere….
You take care of that, Cuddles. You’ve made it clear that you know more than the medical staff. Get back to me STAT…
Really, pal, you think they’re not concerned with what might be going on with the MLB saves leader over the last four years?
He’s been limiting the years on the contracts, which hurt much more than the dollars. But he hasn’t won a WS in 11 whole months, can the motherfucker.
Really. Useless sack of shit
Bochy just said one of the top priorities in the offseason is improving the CF position and leadoff….
I’m sure it is. Don’t see the magic bullet out there, though. It ain’t Coco Puff- if they want better, not just different.
Pablo won game 162 in 2009 with a HR in the 10th. Nice to see him get a shot this year.
Way to be DeRosa.
We got ourselves a ballgame — finally.
Very classy move by Bochy to pull The Bat so he could receive one last standing O.
Bochy’s OK in my book.
Classy move by Bochy removing Pat . . . Equally classy of the fans to give Pat a standing ovation.
Nice ovation by the crowd for Burrell and Bowtie, sans bowtie . . .
Should it happen to be his Swan Song with the Giants, that 2 RBI single by Mark DeRosa was the mark of a true baseball player, a reliable slash hitter with ducks on the pond. In fact i very much prefer that SF hangs onto this guy with a one-year M.L. contract, contracted to the fact that his power swing may be a thing of history. DeRosa,though, exemplifies the professional hitter better than anyone else on the team, even though there be others currently gifted with a higher level of talent and potential.
So yeah, an incentive-loaded contract for 2012 for the ol RBI man who comes through when needed, even in a ‘meaningless’ game. The incentive being a M.L. team option with guaranteed AAA placement and contract for 2013.
DeRosa’s already said he’d have no qualms signing a minor league contract for 2012. He just wants to keep playing.
Gamer Redux.
Surprised that Smith got a hit . . . He usually is clueless against lefties.
Burris!
Wow. nice play by Burriss.
I will be happy to finish up one notch, 5th place, in the FL.
Just listened to Larry Baer w/ K&K.
I don’t hear him a lot, as do you folks.
i dunno, sounds like a genuine fan to me.
I hope we win this game.
I’ve only caught parts. Runzler hurt? Even before that, I was not buying K&K’s positve evaluation of him.
Yay, Flappers!
Nice day for MLB, with these WC races.
Man, I just love Torres. Giving his all, till the bittersweet end. Speaking of bittersweet ends, we know about SDG’s front, but what about her back?
Thumbnails for 20111:
Posey: slow start but irreplaceable
Whitey: defense worsened, bat stayed the same
Stew: Whitey with an arm
Huff: down year as expected, just not this down
Pill: with Crawdaddy, AAAA flavor of the day
Fruckie: missed more than I thought
Kepp- If they don’t pick someone upo, could very well be SS in 2012. At least we’d have a middle infield that can hit a little
Gillaspie- if Bochy’s right, maybe Fruckie gets dealt
Crawdaddy- see Pill
Panda- MVP, no arguments.
Fontenot- down year, but good little hitter
Burrell- wasted year in every way, thank God for the discount
Torres- terrible year for 2010 MVP, will fight for spot
Belt- showed more power than expected, less patience.
Ross- got hot too late
Beltran- see Ross
Christian- defensively, makes you appreciate Vungo Chance for 5 OFer
Nate- made strides but still, uh, still Nate-probably has RF by default
Rowand- he’s gone, OK?
DeRosa- real pro, hope he kicks wherever he lands next
Burriss-might need to find another organization
Ford-in retrospect- I want Durham back 😉
Miggy- fell just short of 20 HR
Cabrera-didn’t work out,, but given the alternatives, worth the shot. I did say he was my 19th favorite Cabrera.
HSanchez- he’ll hit up here
What’s latest on Nate and Cody?
Looking forward to your blogger grades…
Mine? On it chief 😉
Get ’em from Craig. It’s his blog.
Together We’re Finished…
you da meister of the one-liners, Brooklyn
I thought Nipper was????
All due respect to Nipper, his ripostes are often pithy but not as acerbic or as witty as Loo’s. Nipper is all Cali, while Loo is all New Yawk. And Nipper’s are often not one-liners, but one-worders: BLEEP!
Well, that’s a pretty cynical one.
Twin, you mean Loo’s one-liner above? I think it is merely self-inflicted gallows humor masking existential pain and angst, enlisting humor to exorcise the demons of despair until spring training. Just a guess. Nothing too deep or anything.
I can’t pass up this final chance…we just brought in our de facto closer in a NON-save situation.
Look on the bright side. That’ll be the last time you hear that from me this year.
No, it won’t.
“Kouz” has been dropping everything all day, and he decides to catch that one?
One final “whore-shot”
Hey, they really did cut down this year on showing babies in the crowd and people stuffing their faces…
They went with the Gamer Babes from Half Moon Bay. Bring back the rug rats.
Due to downtime via injuries Panda does not qualify with the 499 A.B.’s requisite for the batting title. But if you are willing so say ‘eff’ statistical purity for a moment, Pablo’s .314 or so B.A. is good for fourth in the N.L. Someone who is not a pitcher to build on.
In honor of our 86 wins this year…”missed it, by that much.”
I liked the on-field send-offs!
My daughter said I look exactly like Krukow “when you have that bad haircut, but you don’t sound like him.”
Then, she was so disconcerted by the eerie resemblance she walked out of the kitchen, where I was forcing her and my wife to view my laptop, clinging to the season, clinging, and giving my wife a last chance to view her hottie, Burrell.
And so it was. Lighting split the sky, thunder shook the earth, and then all was quiet. The great warriors known as the World Champion San Francisco Giants were gone for the year 2011. The people of the land gave them a hero’s funeral, the largest anyone had ever seen. They came from far and wide to say farewell to their brave and noble champions. But don’t worry, little Flappers. Whenever great deeds are remembered, your Giants will live on. For there must always, always be the Giants. And, on a beautiful spring day, when they’re needed, we will see them again… on the shoulders of their fearsome manager Bochy, riding like the wind, their bats blazing in the sun… leaping, jumping, pitching, swinging… Fighting like lions. Fighting like a tigers. Fighting like bears. Fighting like…Giants
Shit, Ted, call me sentimental or corny or gullible or whatever, but I love every tear-inducing word you wrote above. Love ya. Love ya all. What a beautiful coda to a great ride.
Please guys don’t bring love here! The BF and Twin battles are much more fun.
Zing!
Listening to the broadcast, watching the video of the call-back of Burrell, it hits you. Every fall, because you lived with the team so intimately, you die a little inside when the season ends. A well-fought season. We rest, then return to fight in the spring.
I talked about it a little in the “Therapy” thread, the baseball has been a very big part of my life the last few years. Last winter was swell because I could “bask”, as so many of you put it. This will be tougher. What is it, 130 some days or so for pitchers and catchers? I’ll take a few temazepam wake me in the Spring…
I got the hard drive Flavor, thanks. It seems packed OK. ( I sent Craig a new hard drive when he thought his had failed. Fortunately, I had them check the SATA cable before replacing the drive. That’s all it was, a 5 buck part.) So there’s a hint: always start with the easiest and cheapest solution first. 9 of 10 repair shops replace the hard drive and use the “defective” one in another system.
Is this a metaphor for my what-used-to-be-called-sex-life?
You swap out your junk, Pawlie?
How did Surkamp look? Line was ugly as usual but at least he had more k’s than bb’s. Were most of those hits he gave up legit?
Twin- glad u got the package. I didn’t insure it, just required sig and I started worrying this pm that I didn’t insure it in case it got lost or broken or something.
Most hard-hit, some bloops. He got out of trouble a few times, but was in trouble just about every inning.
Like it or not, he is or was their top rated starting prospect after Wheeler was dealt. I don’t know that they even have another one.
Well I choose not to like that.
I don’t either. But it’s why I don’t think they should be trading any starting pitching right now.
BLEEP!
CQTM
Surkamp’s start today was almost tolerably mediocre, a decent uptick from the desert storm he brought upon himself by getting all picky-picky and missing on too many marginals. Not exactly the Wildman from Borneo here, but a pitcher who is still unsure of himself in The Show and probably not yet possessed of an out pitch. Will he develop one? Will he relax into his own mind and talents and realize that he’s the Giant, not those guys he’s facing?
In Richmond this summer and spring Surkamp pretty well found himself as a pitcher at the Eastern League AA level. Hoping he decides to play Winter Ball and that the team designate a pitching savvy development guy to both monitor him and be there for advice. With an excellent K-BB ratio and a damn fine ERA, Surkamp was pretty much the dominant hurler in that pitching-rich E.L. He does not possess a killer fastball, with velocity being in the lower 90’s at best. Trading away Wheeler the team took a flyer on this young lefthander because of that Richmond record. Right now that makes Surkamp a valuable investment. Don’t know just what this guy has in terms of types of pitches he grooves well, but as a non power-pitcher he needs to work on a sinker or something which would give him a lot of groundball outs. Judging from his minor league record he already appears to have the basic command and control.
Will steps of this nature be taken by Surkamp between now and Opening Day? Don’t know, though something along those lines could get him ready for The Show by the end of S.T. That not happening, SF might be wise to hang onto Sanchez , at least till trading season going into the Break. Could be winter work + S.T. + 3.5 months riding the Fresnobus would elevate the young lefty beyond his current somewhat ready for a role as a mediocre #5 and into a pitcher who has developed a comfort zone when confronted with M.L. hitters.
Pablo admits to gaining 10 lbs! The man likes food!
Off Topic . . . Does anyone have an Apple iPad and/or HP TouchPad? If so, email me at blade3colorado@yahoo.com (i.e., I am thinking about purchasing one).
It would make no sense to trade Dirrrrty at his lowest value and hand the reigns of the #5 over to 2012 *Welly*. In fact, we don’t need to trade him for something we will be getting back for free (Franchez, Posey) or for something we can buy on the FA market (Cuddyer, Crisp, etc). Dirrrrrty stays put…..
Dude, don’t get the HP thing, they are discontinuing it (or have already done so). No tech support, no upgrades, no next-gen, no good…….
I’ve considered that. I also know that they will probably “open source” the device, so other software developers (outside HP) can provide the upgrades, etc. The price point of $99 is enticing too. That being said, I understand it’s severely underpowered/slow. I have an Apple MacPro and besides it being beautiful, it rocks as far as performance.
Kimbrel blew another save, I think that’s 7 or 8. They’ve asked a lot of the kid- 79 games is a lot for a closer- Wilson’s high is 70 and that was his third year. Somebody check with Denny- maybe they’ve used him in too many NON-SAVE situations..
idiotic management of Kimbrel. He’s a young kid who needed a break, both mental and physical. They had a guy who is basically as good (Venters) and they refused to use rest him. Dumb management. Anyone that saw Kimbrel walk off the mound the other night after that walk off could see the kid was dazed…….
I wonder what the Mariners would take for Ichiro…
Sundance Kid: You just keep thinkin’, Butch. That’s what you’re good at.
Butch Cassidy: Boy, I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals.
Ha, Tampa Bay comes from down 7-0 to tie with their last batter of the season in the 9th. What a game. Dan Johnson? Hilarious
Did you check the Yankee pitchers tonight? Girardi could at least make a pretense of taking this seriously. Who’s next? Swisher?
Yes, of course, I’m watching the game. If I’m the Red Sox I would be so fucking mad. Girardi is almost trying to lsoe this game.
Would have been more hilarious if the batter was Don Johnson (Miami Vice).
Dan Frigging Johnson ties it for Tampa with a 2 out HR in the bottom of the ninth. Exciting shit tonight.
All this last day excitement in the two Wild Card races would be non-existent if there was an extra Wild Card team in each league. But there’s no stopping that. That train has left the station.
I’ve got the Tampa and Boston games on now. What a terrible HR call on Johnson’s game tying shot. Like he’d singled to right.
I know. Pathetic.
Twin, my posts this morning weren’t directed at anyone, it’s just my opinion. If Sabes is gonna bring back almost everyone, e.g. ross torres huff nate FS font deRosa, from this season of poor run support for the PS and think they will all magically get better over the winter, he’s dreaming imo. Sando had a great season, but it wasn’t nearly enough to get the team over the hump, and i think he needs more help than Posey to do so.
It was depressing to watch the club lose back to back series to Arizona, but they won the division fair and square and beat our best pitchers straight up, something I didn’t think was possible. What hurt even more was to watch SF lose to the likes of the Astros and Cubs, at home where we used to be invincible, during awful August, and that kind of settled things for me. The offense needs a serious upgrade—if you aren’t bringing Beltran back, you need to get someone that can give you .900 OPS and be a force in the middle of the LU.
My point is that realistically most of those will be back- at least fighting for jobs. They are going to need either a couple of rebounds and/or break out years from guys like Nate… and a Belt making it. I don’t see more than two players from outside being obtained, I guess we just disagree on how much they need. Everybody makes a big deal of CF and lead off- and rightfully so- but when the only name coming up is Coco- not good…
I know most consider Brown for 2013 but he’s going to open in Richmond- if he hits there, he’ll be the CFer here before the end of 2012, IMO.I don’t see the new CFer in free agency. If they’re as hot as it seems on Brown, I let the incumbents keep his seat warm. Long shot, I guess is Peguero and he rates about Brown’s equal by many- but
FIVE walks in 285 AB?
Remember the closer melt don in the 2009 postseason? Kimbrell and now Papelbon blow ’em tonight. Batimore just beat him …
No shit. And Boston is totally assuming that the Rays will win if you read them, and their right. Rays will win, after being behind 7-0. JUST DID!!!
correction: they’re, not their.
CUH-RAZY night of baseball!!! I love my guy Joe Maddon.
The Rays just won it. Go home Sox.
Longoria with a walk off HR- Boston is out..
Evan can probably get a date w/ Eva now.
FUCK BOSTON!! YANKEE’S MINI-ME!!
Man, who carries better momentum than Tampa? If you want a hot team, it’s Tampa.
Magnus, like the inscription on top of the Comment box now!
Skankees will lose in the first round.
I do think there have to be SOME standards for how a team plays in a situattion like the NY/Tampa game. Girardi pulled nearly every regular, didn’t use Rivera to save in the 9th, used 11 fucking pitchers, starting Dellin Betances.. that’s just wrong, IMO.
contrast that shit with Charlie Manuel admirably keeping his top regulars in through extra innings…yup, there’s got to be a rule, somehow, some way
it’s gonna backfire on the Yankees; it’s never healthy to lose a game like they just did; losing is as contagious as winning
Scutaro’s stupid running ruined it for the Bosox