Our Starting Shortstop in 2012
I’m pretty much done with all the Sandusky talk. Did you know he has written a book called “Touched”. No, that’s not a joke. Here it is on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/77mbvms
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And I am leaving the Niner talk to Chuck for now though I could say something every day about this amazing team. I’m hoping Gore doesn’t play at all this week. There’s no reason for him to, heal up and get ready for the big H-Showdown on Thanksgiving….
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I was surprised to see that Sabean offered Willie Bloomquist a 2 year deal worth 4.6 million. He actually took $800,000 less to remain with Arizona. We dodged a bullet there, *Bloomy* is painfully underwhelming. Since that qualifies as going after him aggressively (and it has to right? We offered 800K more than AZ did) then I am assuming Sabean isn’t going to offer Keppinger arbitration (although that is a loose assumption). To me though, that is the thing you do. Lock him up for a year at 3.4 mil or whatever and then have him ready to back up Franchez when he hits the DL and Crawford if he proves he can’t hit mlb pitching.
Sabes could still go after one of the “underwhelmers” like Barmes or Santiago. But I hope he doesn’t do that since signing either of them would probably cost you at least a two year deal and I don’t want to have to watch either of those guys in an SF uni for 2 complete seasons. I know Kepp only hit .255 for us but he went into a deep slump after he got hurt in Houston and I think his wrist (or hand) was the thing that didn’t allow him to hit his customary *soft* .300. But our LU needs all the .300 hitter it can get and I am 93.674% positive that at least one of our middle infielders, probably for different reasons, will need to be replaced for long stretches of the 2012 season…..
Not too many other relevant hot stove items for us to kick around at this point in the season. Time for me to replace the BB………
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
BLEEP!
Well, I’m not done. Players and students are not *representing* “Pedophile State” any more than a 95 year old Catholic is *representing*, what shall we call it, what’s a catchy name to smear an entire religion? Fact is, players and students are not guilty by association, and the university would be far better served if these students and student/athletes remain and work toward seeing to it that these alleged crimes can never occur here again, or at least are never allowed to continue once an alleged perpetrator has been identified. And yes, people, you WILL continue to say “alleged” until convictions have been obtained. Considering the lynch mob mentailty, it’s fortunate that the man who appears to have *allegedly* stopped the raped of a child, had not been hanged from a tree on the *Pedophile State” campus. Now it *is* time for those who have presumed to know the facts to STFU. Look, we get it: you’re against sexual abuse of children, we all are. But as I’ve tried to nicely point out, we live in America. If you’re not satisified with our rule of law, there are plenty of countries who system of justice will please the vigilante..
Make no mistake, what McQueary is saying was not said to the greand jury, and could even aid Sandusky’s defense. But the point remains that we do not know all the facts in the case- including what I noted the other day- there could be Civil Rights violations here as well. We do know that Priscilla Q. Student and Paul Professor are not suddenly agents of evil because of their association with PSU..
shucks, did you have to use *Paul*?
In other words, the POTD is a total crock of shit as it regards the nonsense that the players are representing a
“reprehensible institution”. Those who may be guilty of the crimes and those who knew of the alleged crimes and failed to report and/or stop it would be guilty if convicted. The students, custodians, gardeners, athletes, faculty members, etc. who were unaware of thes alleged atrocities bear no responsibilty, no guilt, and are NOT to be smeared if their choice is to remain at PSU.
have him ready to back up Franchez when he hits the DL
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Not even gonna throw an “if” in there, Flav?
no, I don’t think it’s going to be an *if*, it’s a *when*.
And Twin, I the POTD is there for a reason. If someone comes up with something that is worthy of replacing it, I’ll replace it……
Craig, I am well aware that many share your idea to skip the trial altogether. I hoped you really didn’t believe that. As to replacement of the POTD, any ole Loo one-liner would be fine.
So anyway, if PSU is Pedophile State, what’s a site that promotes the violation of the basic tenet of our system of law? The Lynch Lodge? Vigilante U ?
Twin, I get and agree with your points regarding allegations vs. convictions. As I’ve noted, I served on a murder/manslaughter jury and said at one point to the Eleven: we are not getting a murder verdict. Won’t happen. (We did find guilty on manslaughter.) Some of the Eleven barely understood what I was getting at. So, I take the pillar of our system of jurisprudence seriously (and it’s different in France and Italy, and many other Western countries). But I dare say some posters are trying to address SYSTEMIC and organizational guilt, as did the Jesuit who wrote in the Washington Post [my link yesterday]. I may be wrong, but I think that’s what some are calling attention to. And yet, point taken: vigilantism is not justice. It’s a mob.
OK, I haven’t posted for awhile. I was completely stunned by the Dirty trade and couldn’t think of a thing to say (except I hope it works out well for all involved). I like the idea of keeping Kepp. I also would like to see DeRosa get an invite to camp. I know he doesn’t have any power but he was a clutch hitter coming off the bench at the end of the year and could fill a utility role.
Harbaugh – Besides everything everyone has already said, I’m impressed by how he picked good, solid assistant coaches and lets them do their jobs. Some HCs feel threatened by hiring strong talent around them and they don’t let em shine. I seem to recall this worked for Walsh as well.
Before discussing Santiago, etc. , I had posted numerous times that Kepp should be retained and if he was, would probably be the SS. That idea was ridiculed. But whatfuckingever- they need a back up to Mario Crawford- and Barmes, Santiago, Kepp- any of the three would be probably end up the SS- that’s the best out there outside of Rollins/Reyes…I guess we can’t rule out Chuck’s fave- A-Gony, if Sabean hasn’t learned as well as I do..
I never disagreed with you on the Kepp signing twin. I think it’s a smart move unless they’re going for Reyes.
With the revelations at the Citadel ( no famous coach involved, so zero public interest in sexual abuse of minors), and the fact that students there must undergo 4 years of ROTC, doesn’t that kind of make Obama the Commander in Chief of pedophiles?
I realize that the name of the sight should make be skeptical but this is what MLBTraderumors has on Lincecum
•Signing Tim Lincecum to a multiyear deal is at the top of the Giants’ agenda, reports SI’s Jon Heyman. The Giants are aiming for at least a four-year deal, which would buy out two years of free agency. Though Matt Cain is a year closer to free agency, Heyman says the focus is more on Lincecum. Heyman believes Lincecum’s agents at Beverly Hills Sports Council could file as high as $25MM in arbitration this winter, in my opinion a risky move if the Giants come in around $20MM.
Justin Verlander won the AL Cy Young.
As Crawford’s average drops…and drops…and drops…in the AFL, Panik’s climbs… the only guy really tearing up the winter leagues is Hector Sanchez, however. .388 BA .438 OBP 1.006 OPS..
As far as the POTD goes, the student-athletes are ALWAYS the ones that get the short end of the stick. When programs are busted for recruiting violations, the players are the ones banned from bowl games. Free tattoos? A cush no-show job offered by a booster? The HC selling tickets to boosters? Bingo, the team gets banned. Yes, sometimes it’s the players themselves that start the trouble, but for the most part it’s the higher-ups that cause the problems.
The POTD is not just saying that they get the short end of the stick, it is saying that they are *representatives* ( deputy – agent – delegate – proxy – spokesman – exponent) of a “reprehensible institution” if they choose to remain at “Pedophile State”. That is an ignorant, *reprehensible* statement.
No, the students, the teachers, and even some of the admimstration played no part in this. they will get caught in the fallout, though. Should that come to pass.
However, depending on how this turns out, the school could face sanctions and could be banned from Bowl game participation for, say five years.
I don’t know about California, but know a little about NY, and less about PA. Shockingly, it turns out that in NY an AD or coach is not an official who is mandated to report abuse, as is a teacher, nurse, doctor, school administrator, police, etc. That’s what I heard on the radio. Now that is cuh-razy. Reports say that law will be modified. Similarly, Gov. Corbett of PA, whom I applaud (he knew about the probe but could not comment on it, and he pushed for the trustees to fire Paterno and Spanier), is expecting the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to change its laws.
Just close down the showers to all the old dudes and coaches. They can shower at home.
I agree it’s absurd to blame or hold accountable anyone associated with PS. I’m cutting McQ slack because he did follow up and told them what he saw. He bets total immunity from me. Paterno et al…tarnished for life.
Perhaps another analogy is the rogue soldier who commits atrocities in Afghanistan and it’s covered up by his superiors. Does the entire Marine Corp bear the stain? Does no one enlist for 4-5 yrs until all those guilty are identified and sentenced?
Civil lawsuits will fly with impunity!
Unfortunately, it’s been reported that 9 out of 10 people who witness sexual abuse tell *NO ONE*..
Penn St could easily end up what happened to Smu…..Death Sentence. For their football program.
The Jesuits had some ugly pedophiliac episodes in the Pacific NW and Alaska, at Native American schools on reservations. I believe they acknowledged blame and paid huge amounts to settle those cases fairly quickly, while other “orders” in the Catholic church, and their insurance companies, battled in courts for years over paying victims. The Jesuits also shut down the storied basketball program at USF for a few years soon after the Quintin Dailey assault, without much of an investigation necessary, because it appeared likely that the program was out of control. I guess those guys were aiming for some sort of zero tolerance morality. I don’t expect anything so dramatic out of Penn St, for a lot of reasons. If it that’s right, if the program moves on without a self-suspension, I don’t think it’s fair to blame the players for sticking with the school. They’re 18-20 yr old kids caught up in an instutional melee. The outrage is messing their lives up quite a bit already.
correction: I don’t think Ak technically has “reservations.”
Twin, my comments on Kepp were only made insofar as I haven’t seen any indication from Sabes or Bochy that he was a SS candidate. I’m not questioning his value, but I think the fact that they even made an offer for the likes of Bloomquist indicates the Giants either aren’t going to tender him an offer, or don’t think he can handle the position. Sounds fishy to me.
If they figured he was open to being every day SS, then why even bother with Crawford (let alone Cabrera, who was playing 2b for the Tribe when we got him) in the first place? I thought this was a good fit for Kepps and i like him, but he never spent one inning at SS for SF the entire time he was here; it just seems odd that Sf went with Font and Cabrera there instead, when both are probably better suited at 2b. .
I never said that the Giants had discussed Kepp as the everyday SS- only that if he were re-signed (which makes total sense unless one believes that competent utility platyers are of little value), but that he could very likely end being the everyday SS if/when Mario Crawford shows he won’t hit. By default, if you must. Now months after I discussed it, Craig brings it up, and good for him. At least it’s the first sign that anyone recognizes that since they are extremely unlikely to sign Rollins/Reyes ( at 2 years, I like Rollins, but I don’t see him going for it), they can’t just throw the Mudbug out there without a Plan B. Kepp, Barmes, or Santiago are all good reserves if Craw actually makes it and at least respectable when/if called upon to replace Crawford. As to the nonsense that they’d be stealing Beltran money, SS was always identified a position for upgrade, the 5 or 6 million it would take beats the hell out the altrenative- Mudbug and nobody.
Strong reply, Twin!
Alex Gonzalez anyone?
Sorry, can’t help myself sometimes.
Nyet, Chuck.
That’s not a bleep, Chuck.
I said even during his slump that I hope they’d try to keep Kepp as a utility guy. He takes good ABs. His D is serviceable, range isn’t that good. But, he can hit under pressure, recognizes and acts on situational hitting requirements, unlike a lot of Giants. Giants need that…
Well twin, I stand by my assertions, and although I tried to explain it the other day (and probably failed), I will try again.
Any group whose membership accords privilege, has problems with predators in their midst. For instance, being a male is a pretty good deal. We get some great privileges, and I am down with that. But there is a problem: there are quite a few dudes who are rapists and abusers of women. Those dudes are a huge problem.
I have come to realize — from knowing a few women who have been victimized, and now as a father of a girl that I never want to be victimized — that the very best thing for everybody is for women to treat men AS A GROUP, as members of a class of potential rapists and abusers.
Now I don’t like this state of affairs, but there it is. I don’t like being judged that way, because I am not that way. It pisses me off. But it pisses me off in a very productive way, and makes it very unlikely that any bad dudes are going to get any cover from me. If a dude wants to degrade women in any way, he is no bro of mine.
Twin, my critique of your position is that you are too fucking soft. You act like Penn Staters are too weak to be able to handle the truth about their institution. Bullshit. They are adults, and many of them are very accomplished and capable ones, who have a whole lot to lose. I fully expect that they will not like being associated with the kind of culture that turned their institution into Pedophile State, and that they will freaking do something about it. They won’t like the stigma, and will take care of it within their ranks.
Clint Barmes – 244 12 39 47
Santiago – .260 5 30 29
A Gon – .241 15 56 59
Hey, he’s got a little more pop, and is fine defensively. Barmes is a mess defensively, he’s 33 (he will be by April anyway), Santiago? 33 as well. A Gon is 35. Ooooh. He’s minding the crypt . . .
Look, I don’t care. As long as they get someone.
I favor the NCAA stepping in after the season quickly and doing something. Allowing any scholarship players to transfer elsewhere without imposition of the one year sit-out, bullshit, transfer penalty would be an initial shot across the bow in view of the serious allegations put forward, and of the fact that the school has already disciplined people internally. It won’t happen…
Snarkk has a hard nose ……..
I don’t know how much y’all know about Sandy Alderson (wasn’t he in Oakland for years?), but, man, I read his comments about Reyes and the Mets’ pursuit of him. His remarks translate literally to this: “We wimp wimpily wimpest wimperammoed wimpestitude wimpulous wimpesky wimpingly.” Sure glad Mr. Sabean seems to speak a different language. Most of the time. Let’s hope so.
Sandy Alderson went to Dartmouth, Viet Nam as an officer, Harvard Law, and then to a tony SF law firm, where he met Roy Eisenhardt, who was married to one of the Haas family members. When the Haas family bought the A’s, Eisenhardt wanted to move from Montgomery St. to the Oakland Coliseum, but not without the brains and sheer nastiness of Sandy Alderson covering his back. So the two got into baseball in the 80s. Eisenhardt, predictably, faded into rich-guy obscurity when Haas eventually sold the A’s after Wally Haas’s death. (The family didn’t want to continue to subsidize the old man’s baseball fantasy.) Alderson, however, had found his career. He became the smartest, toughest executive in the game. He’s ruthless and utterly without loyalty. He has bounced from position to position since the 90s, always landing on his feet, on some solid new branch. If he’s mumbling or using weasel words, it’s because he doesn’t really give a fuck what you think and he’ll say something definite when he’s ready to do so. Amazingly enough, any history of mlb would have to devote a huge part of a chapter to Mr. Alderson. Meanwhile, the spirits of Bart Giamatti and (attorney) Fay Vincent (who still lives and writes on baseball occasionally) will do their best to provide counterweight to Alderson’s bad influence.
Any of you guys know of forward Mark Bell, formerly of the San Jose Sharks? I started talking with this guy w/ a Cubs hat. And with his wife. Two Canadians. Seemed like the nicest folks. Turns out he’s playing here for the Syracuse Crunch. Hanging out at Freedom of Espresso with their MacBooks. Cool. ‘Course I gave props to my Giants. He seemed to be a pretty astute baseball fan.
For a Canadian . . .
I was at the library the other day helping some kids with college applications at the little rural high school where I work when I noticed a Don Zimmer book sitting on the counter. I started flipping thru the pictures and I knew I had to read the book. Strangely, the book did not have a library code sticker on it. On top of that, I’m probably the only person on our entire campus who has heard of Zim. Anyhoo, the librarian said I was free to take it and I’ve been really enjoying it. (Can’t wait to get to the part where he says he hung out with Joe DiMaggio at the track all the time when he was a Giant coach in ’87) It mentions a lot of fringe players, but that 60’s-80’s era is my bread and butter and I know damn near everyone mentioned. Steve Mingori? Yeah, lefty reliever. Tony Taylor? Hell yeah, pinch hit specialist late in his career. Then it mentioned a guy named Clyde Mashore, who I had never heard of. Of course I googled him and found out he was from Concord and played parts of 5 years in the bigs and hit 8 homers in around 400 at bats. Then I saw he had a son Damon (the name did sound familiar) who also played in the bigs (with the A’s)—–born in Puerto Rico, but went to high school in Concord and also hit 8 homers in his career in just under 500 ab’s. For some reason, I got a big kick in the ass out of the two of them being from Concord, both playing in the bigs and hitting 8 career bombs—-and I had to share this groundbreaking info with my Flap brothers.
2 predictions:
-Matt Leinart plays great for the Texans and they make it to the Super Bowl. I’ve always liked the guy’s game and still think he has what it takes to be a star in the NFL.
-Paterno ends up getting arrested. I think this Ped State thing is going to get a whole lot uglier–especially as they investigate why the hell Sandusky went from heir-apparent-to-the-throne to suddenly retiring at 55 in the 90’s.
Finally, I’m totally down with giving 2 year 6 mil deal to Clint Barmes. I think he’d be a great addition and I have more faith in him than Kepp in filling in at short.
love your library story; it’s like one of my accost-total-stranger wearing SF hat stories
Quality stuff, as usual, my man. I disagree though, about them going after Paterno. He’s old, still an icon to some, I would think they’d need an absolute slam dunk–new info case to nail him— like he was the look out guy while Sandusky was in the showers–something along those lines.
Hey Pawlie. I remember Bell when he played with the Sharks back in 06.Good player but got in trouble with. the law the law after rear ending a pickup truck going 100mph wrapping the truck around a telephone pole.Oh btw he left the accident scene maybe cause he was wasted with a blood alcohol level at over 2.0. Now that’s tying one on!!!! After that the league suspended himand and the Sharks cut him loose.
have to admit I saw that on Wiki as I sat a yard away from the guy; what can I say? hope it’s a new path; he WAS drinking coffee or tea or something along those lines
……my thing is if it turns out that Paterno and others knew he was molesting kids in the 90’s—-and all they did was force him to retire——-covering it up to maintain the dynasty and continuing to allow him campus access, then I would think JoePa is in real deep shit and then gets arrested.
At this point, I don’t think that scenario is that far-fetched.
Regarding Zimmer, the media has always portrayed him as a buffoon with metal plates in his head. His appearance and body language have done nothing to dispel that notion, but I’m surprised to see read what a solid baseball guy he was. He scratched out a 14 year career, hit just under a 100 bombs, was teammates with Jackie Robinson, Koufax, Drysdale, won rings as a player, managed Johnny Bench in the minors when Bench was 19, and sounds like a stand-up guy who treated his players right and knows the game forward and backward.
Boots Day also mentioned in the book. What a great name. I can still picture the baseball card I had of him from the early 70’s where he is posing for the camera in a bunt stance.
Boots Day . . . being reminded of that name brought a smile, thanks.
Yeah, he hangs with Bootsy Collins . . .