Parting Panda Thoughts
Reflecting back, why should we have expected Sandoval to stay here? For loyalty? Hogwash. Fans have a very skewed version of loyalty. First of all, this is his job. He does this primarily for money. And before you mount your high horse, we all do that. And he grew up in Venezuela, this isn’t his home. He probably liked playing here and living here 6 months out of the year (really though, 3 months of that was on the road) but we’re not talking about a guy who ever looked at San Francisco as his childhood home. This isn’t a “LeBron” thing.
Newsflash: We loved him more than he loved us. We don’t get paid to love our sports heros. That love is stronger. It’s better.
If you think I’m FOS about that, here’s what Sandoval posted on his Instagram as soon as he signed the dotted line:
Excuse me while I puke……..
Still, we aren’t saints. Our love comes with strings attached. If the Giants don’t win *3 of 5* (with Sandoval largely responsible for 2) would we give him the same love we gave Edgardo Alfonso or Pedro Feliz? So there was never any real reason, related to emotion, that should have led him to decide to stay here. The player was here for money, the fans loved him because he gave them rings. That’s not a *love* that’s based in a very healthy place.
I was wrong about David Ortiz being a thorn in this deal. He was a big part of the decision. What’s that old saying? “Bros before ‘Friscos?” Hmmmm. I don’t think that’s it. Close.
Another possible bonus for him: he’s about to get the media spotlight shined on him like a motherfucker. Maybe that’s a big deal to him. Can you blame him for wanting that? Throw the DH thing in that he’s going to slide into like a warm XXL winter coat and you find yet another reason for him to leave.
My final Panda fat joke: I feel like a big weight has been lifted off me. Now we *know* and that’s a lot better than twisting in the wind. And honestly, I’m totally fine with this. With him and Big Titty gone, the fat jokes are going to be few and far between unless you want to take aim at Hector Sanchez and that just seems like overkill……
Few things last forever. Thanks for the memories Panda, your status as a “Great Giant” will last generations. And I don’t throw that term down loosely the way Krukow whimsically tosses a baseball in the tv booth. I mean it. I’ll never forget what you did for this team. And that final out, where you fall on your back clutching the ball in your glove shaking on the ground for what seemed like as long as all the years that I’ve lived? It’s all part of the supernova, baby. As I’ve said a thousand times a thousand, that bitch burns forever……
______________________
Timmy’s public goodbye to Panda
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Well, I’ve stated before on the Flap that you never saw a lot of Sandoval jerseys worn by fans. He was beloved, but not in the same way as some of the other players. The panda hat thing was mostly a little kid thing and bandwagon-jumper-onner thing.
Great Giant, absolutely. I’m sorry he left, but I do understand the desire to try “something new”. I think he’ll do well in Boston, actually, and I hope he does. Except against the Giants in the World Series. And, just as I wanted to bask a bit longer in the 3-in-5 before the hot stove stoked up, so I want to quietly miss Pablo before thinking about who’s next. Mostly because it doesn’t matter one bit what I think about who’s next. Except that it’s one of the greatest rock albums ever. Bye, Pablo. Thanks for the Panda show, it was great while it lasted.
Someone said to me today: “It seems like he’s been here longer than Will Clark.” I thought about that and decided to look it up. Clark 8, Panda 7. And they have another thing in common: I can’t remember the last time I cared so much about a Giant free agent possibly leaving via free agency since Will Clark.
But Panda gave us so much more than Thrill did. And that’s hard for me to write, Will was and always will be my favorite baseball player. But it’s true.
I was sad for about 30 seconds. But, I totally get why he wanting a change. Maybe even needing a change. He accomplished a lot while he was here and I am damn glad that I was around to witness some of it for myself. Last week, seeing him in Boston really made me come to terms with the fact that he might actually leave. I started pondering how I view baseball players and I think my last real favorite player was #25. As I got a little older and professional sports became a lot more business-ey, Jerry Seinfeld’s rooting for laundry started to echo through my head. Loyalty is attached to zeroes these days and I’m older than just about everyone on the team except for maybe Huddy, and I just feel like a weirdo calling a 25 year old kid my favorite player. These days I am more than content to sit back and enjoy my favorite game being played and hope that the guys wearing the uniform of the team that I follow play well and make my team a competitive one.
Thanks a lot Pablo! A tip of the cap for an excellent career in San Francisco and I wish you much success in Baahstin.
great post.
In a recent post, I wanted to trade the panda hats for the goggles . . . but the Boston fans can now don these after he strikes out on a pitch 2 feet in front of home plate: http://tinyurl.com/p59s8m5
What’s most interesting to me about the photo is that Pablo clearly doesn’t see HanRam as the big time jerk and bad actor everyone makes him out to be. Although he undoubtedly meant it far more pejoratively than I interpret it, Snarkk’s doofus label seems closer to the mark. It’s a description I’d also apply to someone like Morse.
I’m not sure you could find higher or more fucked up eyes that the Panda’s in that pic…..
If I got one hundred million, you wouldn’t be able to see my eyes for months.
I’m not going to lie: I won’t begrudge Pablo having a great career, maybe even returning to Sf as McCovey did (still clinging, eh, Pawlie?), but I devoutly wish the Red Sox to do poorly as a team. For years I’ve said they have no business maligning the Yankees or anyone else as the Evil Empire. They’ve played that role to a T. Ramirez? Puke is right.
Fuckme. Start a new thread ferfecksake. I’m already tired of it. Move on. (And let’s not kid ourselves: Posey or anyone else could fly away too some day. Such is life. And business. Yawn.)
At least this opens up some interesting possibilities for bringing in new blood. Lester, Scherzer, Tomas, who knows, but a lot of dough was freed up when Panda bailed. Should make for an interesting off season.
The money was apparently pretty close. So, Panda chose to bolt for other reasons. He felt dissed by Sabes and the fat stuff, he was tired of SF, 3 rings and its time to try something new, the fans didn’t wear as many Panda hats as he wanted, he likes New England clam chowder — who knows? The point is that it was his choice, his move. He made it. Most of the fans wanted him to stay, or either were at least ambivalent at a reasonable price. I doubt if many truly wanted him gone. I didn’t. But, this is baseball in modern times. So, the Giants were in the mix monetarily, he wanted a new address. That’s cool. Thanks, Pablo, for some fantastic times. Good luck to you…
Now that the Giants won’t be plunking down about $100M on Panda, let’s get that spent on a LFer and a starter. Figure out the next 3rd baseman as you move along the hot stove season, or spring training…
Sandoval’s message posted tonight:
“To the greatest fans in San Francisco! Leaving the #SFGiants & this city I love is the most difficult decision I have ever made. I have grown up w/you, laughed & cried w/you & you have blessed me w your support, friendship & love. It has been an unforgettable @SFGiants career, a great run & 3 World Series championships in 5 yrs w/great teammates, coaches, front office & fans. I will always remember you w love & my heart will always be in #SF.”
And now he’s left to take on new challenges. He’s going to try to help the Red Sox win their first World Series since 2013. 🙂
I’m sure his agent or publicist wrote it…
Pablo makes Felipe Alou sound like James Earl Jones.
Regardless of who wrote the piece, I am sure that the decision to leave was a tough one. Bobby Evans said that when Pablo called to tell him he had made his final decision (and yes, it was Pablo and not his agent), Evans said he could hear the it in his voice re: his struggles to make this decision. Pablo will always have a special place in my heart. I wish him well until our Giants meet up with his Red Sox. Thanks for the wonderful memories, Pablo.
I’ve disliked the Red Sox for a number of years. It’s not hard for me to root against them. 🙂
The 2002 Giants got to a WS with a fairly journeyman type 3bman in David Bell. So, I can see a good glove, middle of the road hitter working there, as long as the hitting slack is picked up elsewhere — like LF. If the Giants were ready to blow $100M on Panda with his downside risks, they can blow close to that on this Yasmany Cubano guy, who is supposedly a little younger, and more pop. I’d like a guy with more pop than Panda, if they can get one. Panda’s power numbers have been down since he had the hamates removed. No guarantee Panda will hit better at Fenway. That Green Mumbler in LF might mess with his head, and so also that short RF porch. It’s pretty deep to right center. Ya never know, especially with the added pressure he’ll definitely be under. I’ve got no ill will for him, the guy has always been a positive vibe guy for the team in the dugout and the clubhouse. I hope he does well, and I expect he’ll be pretty good for a while if he doesn’t eat himself into the Michelin man…
“The 2002/Giants got to a WS with a fairly journeyman type 3bman in David Bell…”
Journeyman Bell hit 20 hrs. It also helped a little they had two guys in the middle who hit a total of 83 hrs.
I haven’t seen anything about whether Panda has a weight clause in the RSox deal, or whether that was in the deal the Giants offered. Supposedly he lives in Miami now, maybe part of it was he wanted to be on the ECoast. Plus, no state income tax in FLA, so the money may have actually been about $5 to $10 million in real dollars apart…
His agent said today that part of the appeal was the DH option in a few years.
Although, if I’m a Red Sox fan, am I concerned that Pablo is already thinking DH in a few years?
Red Sox fans are generally not happy about this signing. Pablo is our loveable Panda with all the postseason memories. To Boston, he’s “who is this fat ass and why did we just give him $100 million?”
It’s hard to believe the the majority of the Red Sox fan base feels this way. Panda is one of the more solid all-around third basemen in baseball and now the Sox have him. Reading a few comments on some message board is not indicative of the entire fan base. The Red Sox made a good move that will likely work out well for them.
Weight clauses are not allowed by the CBA.
About Fenway, it’s really not so much that the Wall will be in play for him when he bats right-handed, but rather that his slice-hits to left field when he bats lefty (which is most of the time) will likely clang off that monster a lot. Can see him hitting loads of doubles at Fenway batting lefty, and a good share of pop flies to left that barely clear the wall for HRs.
I don’t know. Pablo’s farewell seems so written, staged, PRed.
He should have hired you to write his exitaph…
See my 9:21, Pawlie?
I have no clue, but wonder if there wasn’t something to this “respect” thing. I think he got plenty of it from the team, his teammates, and in spades the fan love in SF. I can’t help thinking though, that the Giants 3 yrs for 40M offer earlier in the season was a misstep by the team. Why would they do that, and then in the end, when faced with the sure competition they knew they would get when he became a FA, they nevertheless fell in line to a deal 2 years longer and $50 million richer than offered in April? He didn’t have a fantastic season, it was pretty decent, with the usual stretches where his bat goes walkabout. So, what was it about the season that warranted the extra 2 years and $50M — was it his playoff performance? Can’t be just for that. He may have resented a low ball offer, based on what he knew the top 3bmen were getting. Well, at least they get the compensatory draft pick…
That’s certainly possible. An offer that he viewed as insulting… then saying there would be no negotiations after the All-Star break, and Giants management did not come back to them with another offer, thus perhaps indicating to Team Pablo that the team wasn’t really interested… would almost add up to Pablo nearly deciding as early as mid-summer that he wasn’t staying. Maybe winning another Series softened him a bit, causing him to say he wanted to remain a Giant, even if everything happening pointed the other way. Still would be interested to know how much his brother/agent/whoever convinced him to leave, or how much of it was Pablo’s thinking all the way…. Well, this will bring more intrigue to the off-season, that’s for sure, and that’s not a bad thing.
We matched the Red Sox offer. Pablo never had any intention of staying, he just said he wanted to stay here as leverage to squeeze more cash out of Boston.
According to a team source, the 40 was just the initial offer. They made others, up to something like $88m. That’s when talks broke off.
They should make a statement and reward Bumgarner immediately with a new deal.
AT & T will be packed with Bumgarner jerseys next year.
They’ll give #48 to someone we never heard of.
Bumgarner is already signed through 2019 with the team options.
Black and Orange – Loo knows this. He is one of a few here who feel the Giants should tear-up the existing contract and give Big Country a Big raise.
Why not bring in Mcgeeheehee?
The pride of Soquel High! I like the idea.
Do you think he intentionally rejected hitting home runs? 221 lbs, 691 plate appearances . . .
He doesn’t like to show off, James…
Pablo hit the game-winning double in the top of the 9th at the epic MacapaLooza. That’s just one of the many wonderful memories I’ll have of Pablo during his time in SF. And while he was beyond exasperating at times and never quite lived up to the promise of 2009 (regular season anyway), it’s been a joy to watch someone like Pablo who seemed to genuinely enjoy playing the game. I wish the Giants could have kept him, especially since I’m not sure where they’ll turn to fill the 3B void, but I also understand a line has to be drawn somewhere and I’m kinda glad they’re letting someone else shell out $100M. I wish him nothing but the best in Boston, especially when they play the Yanks.
You know Mac, Panik (whose career you and I jump started that day) is listed at 6’1/190. I wonder if he might have 15-20 homers (per season, not career) in him. I mentioned yesterday that a couple of much smaller second basemen (Thompson and Durham) did it pretty regularly. Durham at ATT.
Kent was 6’1″ and something like 185 or 190 (certainly under 200), and he hit his fair share of long balls at 2nd (most ever by a 2nd baseman).
All is not lost……we still have Snarkk!
I’m weighing all offers right now…
I woke up still sort of bummed about Sandoval. Then I saw the goggle eyes in the pic and was like f that guy. Page turned.
A full season of Belt, Pagan and the Morse bromance can cover the offensive side. Duffy at 3rd? Eh, not so sure. Is Scutaro doing his Pilates? Dude is done. Arias/Sanchez? hmmmm. No.
Figure out a solid defender that won’t embarrass themselves at the plate and spend the money on a SP.
Agreed on last 2 paragraphs.
What I read is Hanley and Ortiz are tight. As James posted I guess the animosity we all have for Hanley isn’t shared by other latin ballplayers. To see Sandoval hugging this guy in the dugout would be disgusting but I think Sandoval’s presence as the good teammate/clubhouse guy is also something highly valued. And he does bring 3 in 5 with him, something that does speak volumes.
I agree with the point James made. I don’t know what kind of guy H Ramirez is. I can only judge by his antics on the diamond. Seems like sort of a douche when he’s in the other clubhouse but maybe they love him. Sort of a Pierzynski type. I think there is something to the guys all wanting to play together for whatever reason.
Good thread, Flavor. I too was just ready for the whole Pablo thing to be done, regardless of how it shook-out. I look at it as not only a possibility for a new start for Pablo, but also one for the Giants. This is seriously a new chapter when you lose a player of his caliber. And with that said, Sabes, Evans and Tidrow, and their scouts can start doing what they do so well…building the next San Francisco Giant Championship team!
On the bright side gentlemen…only 87 days until pitchers and catchers report.
If Panda is living in Miami, not far from Boston’s Ft. Myers spring training site. Two and half hour drive for the most part. Maybe the thought of Arizona was going to always remind him of fat camp and he was ready to move on mentally to that South Beach lifestyle. And who knows what that rape allegation did to him. Maybe he wants a clean slate and thought that allegation was embarrassing…he will have lots of hottie Cuban women to hit on now.
I know for one thing, I will be watching some Red Sox games to keep up with the Panda…
They’re on so goddamn much it’s not lilke you have much choice.
It will be interesting to see how Panik develops over a full season. His OPS numbers from last year are right in line with Crawford and Blanco despite a much higher BA of .305. He only hit the 1 HR last year and averaged an XBH every 20 times up. Crawford had an XBH per every 12 ABs, blanco around every 15 (6 triples 5 HRs).
It would be great if Panik could muscle up every once in a while and drive slugging numbers up. Over a full season I don’t think he’s really a .300 hitter and it’s more likely the league gets better book on him. He can use the whole field and spray line drives in front of OF opposite way but might get pounded inside half. Of course, that loud foul he hit likely did spook Williams into a fatal mistake.
I just hope he plays solid D and he and Crawford develop into a deadly DP combo like Thompson and Uribe.
I think he’s already shown that his defense is well above average, if not excellent. You don’t get lucky and make the play he did in Game 7. My take on his hitting is that his approach at the plate is already that of a veteran player. I love his swing, I love how he stays back and he has great balance. He may not hit a ton of homers, but he very well may develop into a 10-15/year guy. He’s pretty solidly built. Regardless, he’s a two-hole hitter and his swing and approach are ideally suited for that spot in the lineup. He’s a baseball-savvy kid and that’s a great thing moving forward.
I’m sad he’s gone but I’m not sad we didn’t give him $95 million. Too risky. His OPS has declined every year for the last four years and fat guys usually go into accelerated decline at the other end of 30. We’re here for rings and the money is better spent on Tomas or Lester. I sincerely hope he has a good run in Boston but realistically, they’re going to end up regretting that contract
I tend to agree with you. Unless Sandoval has a significant power increase he’s never going to be the hitter the Ortiz is so I don’t really get the DH angle for the tail end of the deal. Maybe Ortiz gets him on a new ‘regimen’. Who knows?
So I guess in ST they will be checking out Duvall at third base. I’m not sure if he’s still signed with us, but if he is, maybe Mario Lisson could make the jump from AA.
I think Duvall gets a look, and I think Duffy may get a chance to show what he can do there, too.
Man Chi, that scenario just scared the shit out of me.
Well, this “if” they do not go out and get a serviceable starting 3rd baseman (along the lines of Headley, etc.). Who knows…maybe one of these young bucks turns into the Joe Panik of 3rd base. Stranger things have happened.
I don’t know, Bozo. I think Duvall has “Bowker Gang” written all over him…
That’s what Shakespeare called “damning with no praise.”
Yeah Loo, he probably is late to the Bowker Gang party, but we gotta trot out the usual suspects, don’t we?
Duffy has hit everywhere he’s been and he’s a good athlete, so learning a new position and being good at it is within the bounds of reason. He’s another guy with a good swing and approach at the plate, so I like his chances of succeeding as a hitter in the Majors. He certainly doesn’t look like the prototypical third baseman, but who knows.
Well, Bill Meuller wasn’t the prototypical 3rd sacker, either. And I agree with your synopsis on Duffy.
Regarding “respect,” it’s true the Giants were never able to fully get over their ambivalence towards a big contract for Pablo, and Pablo surely picked up on that ambivalence; whereas he could go to the team (Boston) that recruited him with a whole heart. Pablo went where he felt more loved by a team’s front office. Others have speculated it’s like a young person leaving his parents’ home for the first time and that sort of thing. Pablo spreading his wings. 3 championships in SF had already been accomplished. Others have speculated that the Ortiz, Pablo, Hanley thing was sort of their version of the Miami Heat LeBron, Wade, Bosch thing. “Let’s all go somewhere and win a championship together.”
Rosenthal on Hot Stove this morning, kind of touching on Giants ambivalence, said that the Giants front office is probably secretly relieved. Now they can use that $100 million for other needs on the team. The Giants were never comfortable with where they think Pablo will be at, physically, in a few years.
“I will be watching some Red Sox games to keep up with the Panda…”
I hear ya on that, except….I’ve been surprised at myself over the last several years how quickly I lost interest in Giants players that left the Giants championship teams to go to other teams. They just became “other guys” rather quickly, to me.
Yeah, I may check a box score now and then but otherwise I probably won’t follow Sandoval going forward. Not that I don’t wish him well I just don’t really watch other clubs.
Agreed. If I am looking at box scores, I may give him a look. I didn’t even follow Will Clark that much when he left the Giants, and like Flav, I have always been a big Will the Thrill fan.
Panda Man is a bit different to me..true Giant. Kemp was not originally a Giant and the Frandsens and Schierholtz’ were never stars…
Nice goodbye from Timmy that BF has posted on his main post. Very cool.
Not sure about any other good byes, but Timmy’s not one of the Southern straight arrows that seem to define the heart of the team culture, Pence’s Pentecostal ravings notwithstanding.
I’m going to miss Pablo, he played the game like it was still fun for him and that always made me smile. I’m not looking forward to playing him in the World Series.
Ostler, routinely the most clueless of local sportswriters, said the same things in today’s Chron and I think he’s spot on like you are. He always seemed to be upbeat and yuk it up in dugout, had a pregame ritual for teammates including bench guys, and got along with everyone, not just all his latin buddies.
Ostler? Hell no, willie. No way am I getting linked up with that guy, fuck the Panda.
Flav: You have composed many a great posting in this blog, your labor of intense and unflinching love. Wish i could express that same level of dedication. This summation of Sandoval and his meaning to Giants fans just happens to be your Summa Cum Laude as the host of this site, your best ever. Kudos and Thanks.
thanks for taking the time to read it, Stix. I appreciate the kind words.
I wish someone would insult me to the tune of $40M.
And now Flannery is stepping down.
Bummer on Flannery…
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-3b-coach-flannery-pens-heartfelt-message-steps-down
Ray Sadeki dead at 73. Bummer.
Somewhere is the thread BF talks about feeling bummed about a player leaving. Granted I like the Panda but players come and go. I get more bummed when a player has a carreer ending injury. Mostly pitchers for me. totally bummed me out when Scott Garrelts went down. Same with Rob Nen.
Both those guys are among my favorite all-time Giants.
Tim Flannery – what a fucking class act all the way. He will be missed. Happy Trails, Flan.
Agreed.
That’s a really nice letter by Flannery. Good luck with everything moving forward, Flan. You too are a great Giant.
Might wanna give it a look. Offseason Outlook headlines MLBTR site today. The begin at the top with the World Champions. Pretty much in-depth survey as to possible Post-Panda directions for the front office to consider.
Angels blog Halo Heaven suggests their team’s somewhat redundant hitter 3Baseman David Freese, a middling fielder, as a trade candidate to the Giants. Their thoughts is that the depleted LAA pitching pipeline could use a couple of that plethora of middling hurling prospects clogging up the Giants system.
Man, that’s an intense letter from Flannery. Being such good friends with Bochy that had to be a tough decision. Hope that dude is alright.
What a sincere and emotional goodbye from Flannery, and such a contrast to the PR-flak-written couple of lines from Sandoval.
Absolutely Mac!
Now you see, I am going to miss Tim more than Panda. Watching Time run down the line with his arm windmilling encouraging the runner to run faster. A great memory.
Someone just sent me a pic of Pablo at his news conference in a Boston uni. Dunkin Donuts is the wall back ground. how appropriate is that
Choosing where you work is the American way. Freedom baby and getting paid well for the privilege. Pablo is living the American dream.
I know it would not be popular with a number of Flappers, and perhaps he burned his bridgers past repair, but I think Melky would be a good addition in the OF.
Hey, the club came to ammends with Bonds…why not clear the air and take a flyer on Melky…
Okay…on three, start throwing large, heavy sharp objects my way. 😉
I don’t think it would happen because the Giants are happy to let the memory of Melky-as-a-Giant keep fading away. They see him as a tainted memory, and him returning would dredge stuff back up with the media that they don’t want to deal with. They only just now allowed Bonds to finally be part of a World Series parade.
Bonds built them a ballpark, Melky gave them an All Star caliber partial season, shurg .
bring back,
oh bring back,
oh bring back those melkmaids to me, to me
bring back,
oh bring back,
oh bring back those melkmaids to me.
I’ve had and still have no problem with Melky here…
I knew there were two camps on this one. I still believe, that if it was handled appropriately (perhaps Melky having to apologize) that it could be done, and would not be a big distraction.
Tell me that an OF of Melky in LF, Pagan in CF, and Pence in RF would not be a damned good OF.
Bring back Melky and the MelkMaids!
Good Article
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dfsAg?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-giants
Cool goodby from Timmeh. Nice. Also class goodby from Flannery. Hope he is not ill…
I wouldn’t read too much into the high intensity-level of Flannery’s message. All season long he’s posted pretty intense things on Facebook. It’s his style to lay his emotions all out there when he’s writing something.
Maybe the Giants balked at Flannery’s 5/100 extension…
Man that’s rough losing Tim Flannery, class act individual on and off the field!!!
3rd base coach is the most demanding position in baseball, split second decisions where your a hero when you make the right decision,and a “Fuck “why did you send that guy,bum when your wrong! But most of the times Flannery was the “Man” with gutsy calls!
All the best to you Tim, always a Giant for life. Enjoy your band and benefits shows, cause you deserve it!!
I said it a couple of years ago and I believe it just as true now; even if Giants reached out, which is doubtful, I don’t believe Melky would consider coming back.
So long Flan. I too hope he’s well.
You are probably right, Salt, but WTF…I would take him back in a heartbeat.
This pretty much says it all about Tim
Alex Pavlovic retweeted
John Shea@JohnSheaHey·40 mins40 minutes ago
Don’t know if I’ve covered a more fan-friendly, media-friendly, people-friendly coach. Good luck, Tim Flannery. #sfgiants #padres
I don’t think I’ve been this devastated since Peanuts Lowrey left us to coach for the expansion Montreal Expos…
LOL. at first I thought you were talking about Charlie Brown. But I know that Snoopy can relate.
This just looks wrong
http://news.yahoo.com/red-sox-finalize-agreement-sandoval-173122516–spt.html#
“Sandoval told Boston reporters he was happy in San Francisco, where he won three World Series. But he said, “I need a new challenge.””
That’s kind of funny, actually. He needs the challenge of going to a team that’s won only 3 championships in 10 years. The Red Sox, those slackers.
Throw a big log or two into the belly of the hot stove…
Lester to meet with the Giants next week…
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11938036/free-agent-left-hander-jon-lester-san-francisco-giants-meet
Lester yes, but just say “NO” to Melky
We can agree to disagree on Melk, Kevin. He had better numbers than either Pence or Panda. If they can mend bridges with Bonds, then they can do it with Melky…
Gammons has the Giants in the mix for Lester, too.
Rates their chances third behind the Cubs and Bosox…
From Chicago: Potential cost of signing Lester plus a possible replacement for Sandoval:
http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/kap-cubs-have-made-significant-offer-jon-lester
Could the Giants have “trademarked” the Panda nickname for Sandoval? Thereby not allowing other teams to benefit from its use. Snarkk?
I’m not up to snuff on TM law, wjoe. But, the studio that made the movie surely has TMd and copyrighted “Kung Fu Panda”. Who knows, the Giants may be paying the studio a bit in a licensing arrangement on the down low for selling all those Panda hats. I’m sure Disney and the Giants had a least a letter writing relationship…
Lester seems a long shot. G’s would have to give him an obscene offer, IMO.
I tried posting this earlier but don’t see it. I think if Melky showed up in spring training that Posey would shiv or skull him..I don’t want to hear any further stories of Lester or Scherzer. Spending $130 mill plus on pitchers has been shown over and over again to be monumental mistakes…McGheeeheeeejeeeee could be a reasonable option at third. I don’t recall watching him play much to know what his defense is like if anyone has any views….
My preference for the Giants is to go all-in on Yasmany Tomas. He would be the most exciting Giants position player free-agent signing since Barry Bonds, in ’93.
It would probably take 7 years/110 million or something like that. But if he turns out to be great, that would end up looking like a bargain.
Melkman should stay in Canada.
agreed.
Make it happen, Giants ownership and Sabean: 2015 opening day lineup:
Pagan, cf
Panik, 2b
Posey, c
Tomas, lf
Pence, rf
Belt, 1b
Crawford, ss
Who cares, 3b
Bumgarner, p
Zoom, I’m on board with something “replacement level or above at third base” as long as we pay that 100 mil not spent on other players. But I can’t support “Who Cares” at 3rd. That dude sucks. 🙂
There could be a new stat: BAAO: Basehits Above Automatic Out.
What the heck, the SABR people pull new stats out of their rear-ends all the time.
What would Duffy’s BAAO be? Or Duvall’s?
If we get Tomas, the new starting 3b could have a low BAAO, if he plays decently on defense. 🙂
Actually I just realized that BAAO is pretty much just batting average. Coming up with new stats is trickier than I thought….
Shouldn’t 3B be “I don’t know?”
I was just thinking that, Mac. I thought someone would’ve posted it hours ago.
You did…
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS 7m7 minutes ago
hanley gets 50K for ASG, GG and SS. 150K for MVP (125 for 2nd, 100 3rd), 50K LCS MVP, 100K WS MVP.
Again, is there something I’m not getting here? 100K for being the WS MVP? Why not make that 20 million?
A flaw with that might be that it gives incentive to the players in the World Series to swing for the fences every AB, and not be as team-oriented.
reasonable point.
But there must be a middle ground between 100K and 20 mil that makes sense. If you are the WS MVP, everyone wins.
Loo, I just caught your 9:21pm from yesterday. Love it. And I like the snarkk coinage of ‘exitaph.’ One final nonfinal Panda thought: I’m doing some book research; been browsing through “Mickey and Willie,” which seems excellent. My point is this: I get free-market capitalism and Curt Flood and all that, but THINK OF IT: a player gets $100 million and he never even had 30 homers or 100 rbi’s. Stunning. Just stunning. What would Mantle say to that? Or The Kid. Talk about disproportionate. And I don’t blame Panda for that.
Pablo just wanted a new girlfriend-city, but he’s gonna miss his first love.
At least I won’t have to repeat for the zillionth time how I saw Pablo, AS A CATCHER, and Ryan Rohlinger at a AA game in Binghamton and said to my friend Steve, ‘send ’em up.’ They did. Steve said the same about Daniel Murphy, and the Mets did. (Wait. I just did repeat the story.)
Saw that Rosenthal article, Zum; agree that SF management might never have been truly comfortable with getting involved in the Pablo sweepstakes and that they’re actually a bit relieved at this point. Personally, I’m quickly moving on from “sad Pablo is gone” to “excited to see the team’s moves” this off-season. Wondering what they’ll do: take that “saved” $100mil and plunk it down all in on one key player (Tomas, Lester?), or, spread it around a bit to cover a few holes (3rd, another starter, OFer). For me, Tomas sounds worth the pursuit, but Giants seem like a long-shot. Lester? The team does need another top starter, but that will be a HUGE contract…. Duffy/Duvall at 3rd does not thrill me, though I like them both for the bench. I cannot think of ANY instance in the Sabean era when the team had to replace a major *defection* like this one. Sabes is going to earn his money this off-season and it should be fun.
Yeah, out of sight out of mind? I don’t know. I’m bummed. For all the Grienkes and Kevin Browns out there looking for the grand wazoo and all that, the Giants had some true freakshow chemistry through these championships with the Freak, Panda, Jazz Hands, Huddy, Vogie, the Horse, the Giraffe, Pat the Bat, Undertaker, Scoots, Glasschez, Buster, the Beard and all that. Even the Melkmaids. I don;t know. it stings a little that he’s taking off, but hey . . .
It sure made the game a lot of fun to watch. especially when the travelling circus would get on a roll. They all just looked like they were kids having fun and it took me back there a little. And that is something terribly missing from about 99% of anyu team in any league.
I thought I’d say fuck Panda and I hope you crater in beantown but I can’t. He is pretty much a lightning rod of fun on the ball field, and if they rip him a new one in the Boston rags, I ain;t sure how he’ll deal, but surely he caught his middling amount of shit here on the airwaves and in the press. Yeah, multiply it by 25 in Mass . . . I’m sure he’ll sahake it off and go back out there and have fun.
Good luck and vaya con dios, Pablito. He certainly gave a lot of his blood sweat and tears to this team. Shit, he signed when he was 16 . . .
Good post unca.
Good one, Charlie.
This one IS similar to losing Willl the Thrill or Matt Williams. Mays I even understood as he was washed up, Shit, I was 12 and I got it. But Will was in his prime. As was Matty. Matt fought his ass off to get to the show and he thrived once he figured it out. Will just hit the ground kicking and screaming.
Put me down for not spending gazillions on this Lester dude. He sucked in the A’s playoff game vs. Royals. The dude never throws over to first to keep runners close. NEVER. He makes Timmeh look positively anal about keeping runners close. Spend half on a decent #3 starter, the other on a LFer or some other split. The Giants have OODLES of cash from post-season and everything else to spend now even above what they were going to pay Pablo. So, Sabes, start OODLING in a smart way…
I’m game for getting the Yasmaybe Cubano dude. Spend the dough, take a risk. WTF? You just won 3 trophies out of 5 seasons. There’s fan capital in spades to spend if he craters. Does the fanbase care that Timmeh and Cain got millions this past year for not doing much? So, If he’s a stud, it’s like trading Matt Williams again — you lose a beloved player in Panda, but gain Kent. Get a bat, then a pitcher. Try Duvall and/or the Duffman at 3rd, and if that craps out, re-adjust at halftime in the season…
Maybe Flan is leaving because Buster demanded that next year, he would refuse Flan’s waive to take home from 1b on long singles…
LOL. Yeah, Buster might be the only one glad to see Flan go… 🙂
I would like to echo Stickman’s POTD.
Big Flavor’s talent and commitment should never be taken for granted.
Anyway:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/giants-casting-wide-net-have-contacted-scherzer.html
If half of that is true, I like it.
Time for the Giants to re-tool with smart acquisitions. Improve the lineup. Take a risk with the Cuban. Invest in the international system and develop some real players — the next Pablo. Let’s get it all going. It’s not like they don’t have the money…
Tomas’ agent is Felipe Alou?
Did I read that right somewhere?
Thanks for that link, Loo. Quite a possible wish list there. Scherzer will likely be more expensive than Lester, but man, that would be sweet…. even if not likely. That’s the first I’ve heard about Justin Upton for LF. The article makes it sound like management has already decided about Morse…. Ah, let the (off-season) games begin for real now that the Pablo thing is done.
You’re welcome, Paul.
Yeah, thx Loo those were both good reads, and many interesting comments from Giants fan bloggers that echo a lot of what has been said here.
Didn’t know Liriano of Pirates is related to Casilla. Monster arms in that family.
I saw that MLBTR page, Loo. Agree with snarkk…if half of it is true, I am down with that. Notice that even Melky was mentioned as receiving interest from the Giants.
I would focus first on Tomas, and add a mid-level starter like Santana. Agree with snarkk, if you pull off these two moves, then start with possibly Duffy or Duvall at 3rd, and if you have to do something different, do so mid-year.
Here is a link from MLBTR from yesterday that says the Giants have made an offer to Tomas (along with other teams). Padres and now DBacks are the latest to show interest.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/yasmany-tomas-rumors-monday.html
And off-topic, but how about those Dubs!? They are on fire. Sure, Miami was without Wade, but Warriors have now won the last three in Miami, and six in a row. Steve Kerr was born to coach that club. They are fun to watch…