Belt
I’d kinda like to see Belt’s case go to arbitration. First of all, if it does go, that will show how the team honestly feels about him. And I think that needs to finally get put out there. Next, I want to see if he wins. He’s got the peripheral stats that everyone like to jizz about. Does that influence an arbitrator? I’d be fascinated to see how that plays out.
But they’ll probably settle with him since they always do. Right? They WILL settle with him?
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
They’ll settle at the 11th hour on a one year deal. But again the Giants will force Belt and his agent and attorneys to prepare for the hearing. That sends a message. Belt earned $3.6M last season. The Crawford deal pays him $6M in 2016. (But then it jumps over $8M for 2017 and put to $15M per, through 2021. Belt’s gonna know where he stands, relatively speaking.) The Giants could easily go over $6M for one year on Belt. Or — give him two years at $6M per and trade him when it’s advantageous.
The only question about Belt being a viable trade candidate is has he truly recovered from the concussion symptoms.
His $7.5M arb demand better have good health support or he’ll lose at hearing.
Only EIGHT days until pitchers and catchers report!
Good thread Flav. I agree that I too would love to see this go to arbitration for all the same reasons you mention, ESPECIALLY “He’s got the peripheral stats that everyone like to jizz about.” LQTM…
But, I also agree with you that it probably will NOT go to arbitration.
Belt was a no-show at the Longhorns alumni baseball game on Saturday. I guess he was too busy trying to build his case…By the by Chi, did you catch the TX-OU game last night? That Shield kid is a stud.
Hield is a monster and that conference is toughest around imo along with Big East. You could take Big12 vs. field for who winds up eventual NCAA champ and not go wrong….tho Self’s seasons don’t end well.
Wilco – did not catch the game, but saw where OU won on a buzzer beater.
and hopefully afterward everyone goes and gets a beer. Like him or not while Belt often fails the eye test he is still a very good value for what he is getting paid. No he’s not hitting 30 HRs or driving in 100 (and yes there are more important stats than that) but neither is anyone on current roster, including the $100 mil guy.
I do think though that this is Belt’s last year to show Giants he can play a full season and put up whatever numbers. He’s at age where he should be romping and “coming into his own.”
If he is unable to do that and those numbers aren’t where FO likes, Giants move him and move on. And of course what you do with Posey, who has improved at 1b, is still elephant in the room.
I look at cbs site guy’s bracket and conference stuff every week for mens b-ball. He has 8 Pac12 teams in, which is couple too many. Since most aren’t that good, esp on road, they will wind up with too many losses. Even most of those that do get in will not have high seeds and could get bounced early.
And in that vein his newest bracket has AZ 6 seed and opening with…Monmouth, in Raleigh. Other group in that region includes UNC.
the thing is, Belt really doesn’t have any leverage. They can move Posey to first base at any moment. But he’ll get another year to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. That’s really what it comes down to in regards to Belt.
The thing about being C is you control the action and are involved on every single pitch. You have so much to do and think about–what does your pitcher have going, where is D set, what is ump giving you, history of the hitter, plus the regular game situation of score men on and outs. This stuff is what Cs live for and enjoy most about their position, rigors aside. Your last AB can’t be in your head because there is too much to think about.
I think Posey will resist moving for as long as possible just because he will miss all of this a lot. I hope he Cs for many more years.
I’m inclined to side with you on this even though we know he’s a better hitter at 1B. But he does so many things as C we would really probably miss that. And I think we would miss things about Belt at 1B. That’s not even arguable.
Agree. Posey will resist for as long as he can. He has said repeatedly that he loves being behind the dish.
Craig, I just clicked the “related” at the top left and read your post from 2013 about Morse. Brought a smile to my face. His homer, and his pure joy reaction to it, is top 5 for my all time Giant moments. I guess that signing for $5 mil worked out!
Susac is the key to any possibility of Belt leaving and Posey taking over 1B. Keep a close eye on him and maybe you will get some clear notion of developments.
Flav, re: your 8:58—Cards won 100 games and had best ERA in the NL last year despite Y Molina having terrible season as a hitter. From 2013 when his OPS was .836 with 12 HRs, it has dropped from .719 in 2014 (110 games) down to .660 last year when he hit 4 HRs. His back up guy Cruz in 140 ABs hit .204 with a .545 OPS.
Clearly as full time C Molina brings more things to the table than can really be measured, in terms of leadership and how you handle pitching staff and I’d say the same for Posey. Giants rotation will be way different with Samardz and Cueto as SPs and I’m betting both will be fired up to show what they can do working with Posey Rags and Giants D behind them.
Who would be last guy to win back to back rings with 2 different teams?
Jake Peavy.
“The one thing that I’m convinced of is, you can’t buy championships,” Baalke said. “You earn championships, and there’s a process to it. You build through the draft. You supplement your roster with free agency. You take care of your own guys because that creates ownership on their part.”
How would he know?
worst thing he ever did was hit on Aldon Smith. Thinks he’s the draft king ever since. And he sucks at it.
No shit. How the fuck would he know. Baalke should have been looking for a job a couple of years ago…
Put the Saran Wrap™ on standby James…..James?
Fascinating article (very long) about Lawrence Phillips last days alive, who probably did NOT commit suicide, according to friends, relatives, and his attorney. Regardless of what you think about Phillips, apparently he was just “trying to keep his head down and do his time” in prison. In any event, interesting read . . .
http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/the-final-fateful-days-of-lawrence-phillips/
He may have been the thuggiest thug in sports of all time….I think he may have been a sociopath…
Phillips ended Steve Young’s career, anyway. For that, I’ll never like him. More than that though, he’s a total prick who tried to run over teenagers with his SUV who were clowning him in a flag football game and nearly killed a coupe girlfriends.
Johnny Manzeill’s giving him a run for his money. Go Johnny go!
I have a friend from Nebraska and he says a lot was covered up there about his behavior towards numerous women. He described Phillips as a predator….
So you think he deserves to be murdered? Interesting take GH . . . Read Dirt’s response.
Thanks for the link, blade. If Phillips was murdered while in custody of the state it doesn’t matter if he was a scumbag POS, he still deserves a full and thorough investigation.
Yeah, that was my take too Dirt. I never liked the guy, but it seems that he might have been murdered in prison. The other thing I found amazing, i.e., a dichotomy of sorts, is how his former teammates, coach, friends, supported him despite his numerous run ins with the law.
Jason Castro of the Astros lost his arbitration case today. The team was offering $5m and Castro demanded $5.25m. Despite their 2015 success, the Astros ownership and front office has been labeled “cold” and has been described as treating each player as a “number in an algorithm”as opposed to a human being.
I almost wonder if Castro was asked by the players union to take his case to arb in order to get a feel for how the front office handles their negotiations? My guess is it was a “numbers don’t lie” argument that probably left Castro feeling pretty small when he walked out of that room today.
Wow, fighting over 250K. Castro’s a pretty good defensive catcher, unlike Conger.
Yeah I thought the same thing. Seems a bit dickish to quibble over that little. Relatively speaking of course.
There’s the difference of winning organizations like the Giants and losers like the Stros…
No one can prepare for and try an arbitration hearing for $125,000 and do a good job.
Shit. $6.4 mill for Belt. And give me 10% for settling it.
Fuck that. $6.4 mil for Belt. And give me FIVE PERCENT for settling it.
OK, $7 mill and 5% . . .
lol
My opinion of Pop just rose immeasurably. Sanders? Well, ok. Trump? Not ok. Where the hell is country headed? Laugh indeed.
Lulz
long game but Rockets about to give up 39 in the first Q.
and Mo from 3 (!) makes it 42. Harden really can’t guard anyone.
Tolbert just said “defense isn’t optional for the Rockets, it’s actively avoided” lulz
Oh boy. Foul-a-thon here.
Speaking of lazy D. Not getting boards either.
Haha, in ESPN contest, one of the choices is, Will Rockets lead at any point in the game? A co-worker took yes, and the Rockets just scored 5 straight to take their first lead.
The Dubs have gone cold in the third quarter. Damn. I need to get up early tomorrow. I like the blowouts at home.
On the other hand, the Dubs just pulled off the most amazing D rebound, Salem down-court pass, pass, layup sequence imaginable. Wow.
Salem? I think I typed set up.
Well, the Dubs then warmed up and got tougher, too. Great finish for them.
Watching Dwight Howard. Such a huge upper body but his legs look like a double amputee. Just a weird look.
Bird legs leap
what’s amazing about the Warriors. When top guys don’t have it one night the 4th option in Barnes drops 17 in the 4th. Sweet!