Madison Bumgarner Day!
Lock him up. For a cool $12 mil. Of course, the team could exercise the buyout for $1.5 mil and then put the $10.5 mil savings towards the Mission Rock Development. That could pay for a lot of extra plants and shit.
Bum has made $33.5 million in his career, or $500,000 less than Grienke made in the 2017 season…..
Assuming they go with the option that now gives us a starting rotation of…..whatever, it’s the same guys.
The Giants need to start getting creative, real fast, with the position players.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
The rotation of
Bum
Cueto
Smarj
Moore
Blach
is servicable.
The Giants need a 3b and a cf.
We can catch those Padres!
Like OSF said, I think we’re looking at a Spring competition for 3rd base between the guys that are already here. If Duffy ever heals, he’ll be re-acquired some day.
Carlos Gomez will be signed for CF.
This is a recording…
Yes, Giants dumpster-diving is a real possibility.
Stratton could send either of the bottom two to the pen, if not further away…
Stratton started to show something at the end of the season.
And LF and RF and 3 pen guys and a backup catcher . . .
Moore = Zito
I’ve somehow already talked it into myself that the Giants are going to get off to one of those crazy good starts that usually preceded the infamous June swoon. Man, Flavor you are right about Porzingis…
The MLB Network replayed 2017 World Series games over the weekend. It was fun watching the Dodgers blow it again.
The Hot Stove show starts today. I like that show.
Maybe we should just meet for lunch, Zumiee…
Still think Moore is a waste of $9mil and Blach didn’t impress me, especially on road. Stratton deserves shot.
Saw this today on yahoo sports: “There will be major changes coming for the Giants. They can’t run back the same players coaches and front office next season.”
No, not SF but NY football Giants.
There aren’t many good, cheap SP’s available out there. Truth be told, we have the best one with Bum at 12 mil. I’d rather have Morton over Moore too but there aren’t that many “Morton’s” out there. I’m fine with the SP’s we’ve got, they’re ok. The ship has sailed tho on us building the team around rock solid pitching. We need to keep what we have and then figure out how to find guys who can drive Belt and Posey in while they’re standing on first base…….
There is possibility SPs allow fewer runs next year. 20 less each from Smardz Moore Blach/Stratton end of rotation, plus more starts from Bum and healthier improved Cueto as opposed to 25 from Cain would be a big help in getting closer to .500. Giants were minus 140 in run differential, so maybe half of it is better pitching.
But, still have to score more runs. That’s why idea of acquiring RH pop 3b like Gyorko is intriguing, plus CF like Marisnick with power. If you have to give away Belt or Arroyo to do that, and/or Strick, I’d go for it.
I just don’t want Giants to wind up with retread low budget Cameron Maybin type/Gorkys for CF. Then you can work on adding in a corner guy with RH pop and keeping the best of the kids/seeing if anyone will take Span or Pence if you throw in $$$.
Shit, I’d give Arroyo the whole year to show what he might have. Span? Pence? We need a new OF entirely. Unfortunately we have too much invested in Pence so he likely stays and they hope against hope that he hasn’t blown his wad on politically correct coffee and cutsie videos.
Span can disappear like a fart in the wind and no one would notice.
Well, maybe Sandawg would!
haha
“Maybe we should just meet for lunch, Zumiee…”
Sounds good!
I do have a major airplane phobia, though.
Span and Pence will be in the starting outfield on opening day, 2018. That can be written in stone. The front office is not going to pay those guys a lot to be on the bench. The Giants HATE to do that, regardless of how it affects wins and losses.
They will dumpster dive for Either..
Then you have a look a like in the dugout with Moore lol..
Span CANNOT be the starting CFer. Or LFer. Or even bench guy. I’d rather have Pablito on the bench.
No worries Chuck, you have the honky boys in the OF.. Slater LF,The Gorkster CF,Parker RF oh let’s not forget Mac the Knife!!
Slater is interesting given what he was doing prior to getting hurt. I suppose Parker deserves a little more time to prove himself. Gorkys can go away as far as I’m concerned. The Giants need new blood in the OF.
SF might eat Spans last year. They ate the last $12 mil year of the Gamer. They’ll wait to see what he does in ST though. Pence? Hard to eat $19 mil or whatever. Good luck finding some team to take him on even if Giants ate all but $5 mil of that…
Giants are deathly afraid of a total stripped down rebuild. Niners are doing that, and look at the Levi’s attendance. There are plenty who would still go to ATT, but fairly empty on a Tuesday night v the Phills…
Huge surprises here
Well it is alll good comments on the starters in the OF, what I want to know is when are we gong to here about the bullsh!t pen?
Same guys plus Will Smith, and go get-’em fellas.
Yeah, the Giants ate Rowand’s last year and……that was the end of Neukom, the lovable bow-tie guy. Everyone in the Giants organization learned that lesson.
Sabean/Evans are moving Span to leftfield and calling it good.
The Giants are already at the same payroll as last season, and last season the Giants felt they were at the limit.
The Giants ownership group is some kind of vague amorphous entity…..out there…..somewhere…..
Looks like Nyan Cat meets its fate.
Sandoval!
Cue up AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.”
Snarkk, attendance at the Niner game was pretty good yesterday. I will say, I got free tickets and parking so that helped. As much as they suck, I’m a little surprised at the level of don’t-give-a-shit about it from the fans there. This would have been booed mercilessly at Kezar or the Stick.
Granted this is a MUCH different fan base than the one they left behind, but the sunny side of the stadium was full on the first 2 levels, and the shady side was fairly full. The upper deck was not near as full but it was much better than last year.
Crazy thing is, the team is playing all-out. They were thin to start the year and have a shit-ton of injuries so far, but they are playing hard and not giving up. And we are down 4 O linemen, 4 DBs, 2 WRs, a TE and couple D linemen to boot. they make a shitload of mistakes but are giving their all. As bad as it is, I think the team is fairly close to being relevant. 2 more solid drafts and I think the team will be in the mix.
Panda is intriguing. I feel he is done. I felt it was all a courtesy. But WTF, how weird would it be having a Panda Redux season?
Stix update. As I mentioned last month, Stix’s sentencing hearing is next Monday morning. Today his lawyers filed one last plea for lenience. Apparently, the formal recommendation from the Court probation department falls in the 10 – 12 1/2 year range. Stix’s attorneys respond that a 6 – 7 year range is more appropriate. Stix’s lawyers also assert that under these circumstances 2 years would be just and “sufficient.” (Presumably his 14 or 15 months time served would be deducted from that 24. Hope for the best.) The entire 25-page brief is pretty complicated, but the lawyers lay out the basics in these two short introductory paragraphs:
“A final Presentence Report (PSR) was forwarded to both parties which calculates Mr. Clausen’s offense level as 32, his criminal history category as I, and suggests an advisory sentencing range of 121-151 months. Mr. Clausen objects to the automatic application of the 5-level enhancement from U.S.S.G. § 2A5.2(b)(1). Additionally, in making Its decision, Mr. Clausen respectfully asks the Court to consider the Defendant’s
memorandum of Law In Opposition To The Official Victim Enhancement filed on August 14, 2017 as ECF Document 114.
“Mr. Clausen submits that his correct offense level, without the 5-level enhancement from § 2A5.2(b)(1), should be 27 and that the correct guideline range is 70-87 months. Mr. Clausen also respectfully asks the Court to consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and the goals of federal sentencing and submits that 24 months of imprisonment is sufficient but no greater than necessary.”
I assume the govt will go after his property in forfeiture, if that hasn’t already been done?
so far all I’ve seen them take is the rifle. Here’s a paragraph in the brief that pretty much sums up Stix’s argument:
“For acting irrationally, and for using more force than authorized by law, Mr. Clausen
has pleaded guilty and has accepted responsibility for his behavior. But his mens rea is no more culpable than that. He acted out of an unreasonable fear that an unknown trespasser intended to harm him or his home. Mr. Clausen made a very poor decision to shoot in the general direction of a helicopter, which he believed was the mafia, a drug cartel, or a terrorist.”
At what point is Stix better off in prison versus being let free? It doesn’t sound like he has much if any family or friends. Assuming (best case) he was set free in a couple of years, would he really be better off living by himself on that giant farm, assuming he doesn’t lose it to creditors or the government?
I think he can live with his sister. Jail’s killing him, according to his lawyers
I don’t know how you could assume that anyone would be better off in prison than free.
Red Sox are still paying almost the entire Panda salary. He’s basically free, you keep guys like him around if they’re free.
Panda will be gone by May…
Hey, if Panda comes in to camp under 250 and hitting the ball hard, why not? It’s not like he’s old. He just lacks commitment.
Giants expected pre-tax payroll is at $187.5 mill for 2018 but drops to $114 mill for 2019.
Did Cueto opt in yet? Creative deal making I think is still possible for a Giancarlo type of deal for them to either take back some salary, Smardramajam anybody???, or Marlins paying half of the salary for a couple of years.
Very hard to also had in Cain in my mind unless he takes a below market deal up front and more later…the Melancon $20 mill is making me choke…
Otani is also a potential fit regarding salary…
Why do I see us not getting Cain nor Giancarlo but end up with Kendrick???
https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2017/11/06/san-francisco-giants-arizona-fall-league-update-week-4/
Cain retired. Cueto opted in. Cain’s dead money for 2018 is $7.5 mill.
Oh, LORENZO Cain.
Baggs’ story suggests it’s unlikely Giants will go after Cain:
Of greater concern: Signing a player such as Cain or third baseman Mike Moustakas, who received $17.4 million qualifying offers, would cost the Giants even more because of increased penalties built into the CBT (competitive balance tax) under the newest collective bargaining agreement.
The Giants would lose their second-round draft pick and also their fifth-round draft pick, in addition to having their international signing bonus pool reduced by $1 million in the next full signing period.
The penalties would be even harsher when you consider this: losing a second-round pick is almost like losing a first rounder, since the Giants will select second overall in each round.
Sabean says “focus is on upgrading CF, 3B and the bullpen.” Does that mean “moving Span to LF, working hard with Arroyo, and figuring out which kids already in the minors to bring up”?
signing Cain and moving Span to LF would jazz up this off season a bit…….
I like how in “Rain Man,” Raymond disagrees with his brother by saying: “Yeah…..no.”
I’ve never liked Stix’s defense strategy from the get-go, but what do I know?
The recent mass shootings have probably sealed his fate if it wasn’t already…
And that’s the core of my criticism. Above all else, the court wants to be sure as they can that Stix wouldn’t do it again, so they are looking for a lot of remorse from the guy, and I’m not sure he approached his defense strategy that way.
I think there would be an easy way to monitor Stix living at home with his sister by making sure he doesn’t have access to any weapons and sending a social worker out to check on him a couple of times a month. But maybe I’m just being naive….
“the Melancon $20 mill is making me choke…”
And his surgery scar is very sobering. We’re hoping it was a very successful surgery.
http://www.knbr.com/2017/09/18/mark-melancon-posts-photo-of-massive-scar-following-elbow-surgery/
that scar was incredible. In today’s age on micro incision surgery it was shocking to see them cut open half his arm to do whatever they did in there…..
Fills me with confidence…
That looks like the work of the Giants medical staff on that massive cut job/scarring!
Paging Mark Melancon you did get other medical opinions first right like Dr.James Andrews?
About 2018, yeah, I said late on the last thread agreeing with most here: rotation is fine with probably a tweak or two as they go; infield is fine, give 3B to Arroyo and let him play. ‘Pen needs an arm or two. OF needs a complete do-over, though shelving Span and Pence won’t happen, even if it should. I spoke of my dream of seeing Stanton, Martinez, and L. Cain roaming the OF. Nice dream. I still think at least 2 of those would be necessary.
sad excerpt from the doc Xoot sent me today:
Additionally, Mr. Clausen’s physical deterioration has been causing significant
mental and emotional stress. He has been lethargic, forgetful, and occasionally mentally
feeble and is experiencing difficulty in getting around the jail. To this day, he still
requires the use of a wheelchair, something he had never in his life needed until now.
Mr. Clausen respectfully asks the Court to consider that he does not need to live out the
next nine to ten years of his life in a federal prison, or alas, die there. The goals of
federal sentencing do not support such a sentence.
That’s fucked up in the extreme. If they just left the poor guy alone, no one would have come to harm.
As it is, he gets fucked by a system that basically set him up to react.
i keep meaning to send him Giants news. He said he misses anything and everything Giants. If we bombard him with stuff maybe it’ll raise his spirits some.
life can change in a minute. 7 years ago nearly to the day
stixwiz said, on November 7, 2010 at 9:08 am (Edit)
Next several days i won’t have much to offer the blog unless something dramatic and totally unexpected occurs. Reason: Winter comes soon to the Northwoods of Minnesota. In about a week weather prognosticators indicate our temps will be primarily below freezing. Got a bit of gardening wrapup to do; a small roof repair; straw-bale banking around the foundation of the old shack; general cleanup of stuff around the place not to be left outdoors over winter, etc.
It’s been one helluva season and what just a handful of us thought might occur actually happened and now Giants fans are on a buzz for the next 99 days and then anticipation and speculation take over once again. With the core six players all on the sunny side of 30, SF is set to contend for years to come and with a couple of the right decisions and breaks could dominate for the better part of a decade. Much thanx to Craig for the blog and to Michael for helping keep us on an even keel and for his generosity.
It’s a great time to be a Giants fan.
He sure could write…
Plate news:
Kerry Crowley @KO_Crowley
#SFGiants: Christian Arroyo had a new plate put in the same hand he injured this summer. Jarrett Parker had plate in his clavicle removed.
Belenger hit 1 or 2 homers in his 1st year in rookie ball. Reworked his swing with Dodger instructors and the next year hit 30. The next year 39 and NL ROY. Taylor the same. 4 to 21… Instead of spending money on new players lets go get those guys! A million a year to some minor league instructors seems like it would be worth it:)
yeah. I think bringing in Bell from Cards to oversee player development in minors a great move.
gotta wonder how much help Giants minor league hitters are getting. Even Arroyo and Slater don’t seem to have much pop, and the guys that do like Mac and Parker, flail away a lot and K a ton.
The trainer may be the real star . . .