Dominos Falling?
Interesting take about Will Smith and Tony Watson by Alex Pavlovic: With Miller now signed, Zaidi will look at trade interest for “Will-Wat”. But again, what would those guys be worth right now? Just like Bumgarner, they will be worth more at the deadline if they produce in the first half of the season. Obviously a solid offer would make trading either of them an easy decision….
Question of the Day: What do you expect out of Mac Williamson this year? He’s out of options and there are like 12 open outfield spots in our rotation. If healthy and hitting well in ST he’s got a job. Is there a scenario out there where you see him hitting 30 home runs this year? How about 30 home runs in his career?
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I think you are better off trading pen guys now if that’s the way you want to go–the market is there and as written doms are moving. Speaking of which, would Yanks trade Betances?
Mac, idk. I’d rather have proven corner OF or two and let Mac show he belongs out there. Definitely more pop than Slater, another guy who can’t stay healthy either.
Tough question. Will he hit 30 HRs in a year? Heck, he might not even get 30 ABs. Even though they are a small sample size, if you look at his stats in the bigs, he’s Bowker redux (but with a beard). His ST and April stats last year, looked like maybe he figured it out, before concussing his way to forgetting it again.
I don’t know, with so many 4th OFers in camp vying to be a starter, Mac and Cheese better have a good spring because I’d imagine his DFA rope is mighty short.
Hey, maybe Panik and Mac for Sonny Gray.
Venditte thing still seems weird.
How does he warm up in pen—both arms or only one as situational guy?
Same ? for when he comes in–8-10 pitches one arm or split them?
Say a LH is announced, V is brought in and then mgr. hits for batter with RH. V has to face him but is he allowed to throw RH or must he throw LH?
I just want to see the mitt he uses.
Here’s the rule, Willie,
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/6/5/8735407/the-pat-venditte-rule-what-happens-when-a-switch-pitcher-faces-a
Counting Pablo “Mr. 3 up 3 down” Sandoval, if they sign Venditte we would have two relief switch-pitchers.
Is his mitt good for both hands? Is it reversible?
30? I’d be thrilled with 20. 15 even. The last guy to hit 20 was Crawfish in 2015. There are 3rd string catchers with more dingers than our entire team.
I wonder when the last time a major league team went 3 seasons without a 20 home run hitter.
Is James out there? I would bet it’s before 1950…
it’s just absolutely pathetic. I get so tired of hearing about OPS. You know what pops up your OPS quickly? Bombs. We need more BOMBS.
I’m sure the Cards in the 70s had about 8.
Close enough with the Cards, Chuck:
1982: George Hendrick (19)
1983: George Hendrick (18)
1984: David Green (15)
Jack Clark ended the streak with 22 in 1985.
Not fair to count 1981 (the strike year), but Hendrick was already at 18 when they went out.
Don’t know if this was the last time it happened.
Another bet I would’ve lost…
So the Giants just signed the Venditte dude.
So maybe that eliminates another pitcher from the squad since he’s a switch pitcher saving the payroll more, Genius move!
Are he hurts both arms and turns into Cueto+2?
No idea how Zaidi is going to value Williamson – he’s had some decent OBP in the minors so maybe he can translate that to improve his value somehow. If he makes breaks camp healthy it’ll be a minor miracle. I anticipate at least Gorkys level HR output. 20-25 tops.
Mac turns 29 in July. If he was gonna make it, I think it would’ve happened by now.
He’ll probably bang his head on the mistletoe and get another concussion…
I don’t see anybody in their LU that can hit 20 bombs especially in their park..
Well, if he can just get through a season . . . or half a season . . . he might get us 18-ish. Which is monumental for this team.
Longo should be able to do it. Buuuut (there’s always a big but) he has to stay on the field.
I’m holding out a little hope that Longoria will bounce back after having a season to adjust.
A little – not a lot…
Here ya go Unca
6 finger Mordaci??
Are 5 finger discount?
That’s crazy. I thought maybe in folded inside out.
Bozo thx for this one and the rules on the V. I wondered about the glove too.
So when Boch wants to bring in Vendette will be cross both arms to cover a lefty righty move??
Can end the Puig BS, he’s just been traded to the Reds along with Kemp&Alex Wood
Only know Homer Bailey going to LA so far their will be more pawns included..
Good! We have a much better chance of getting him from the Reds than the Dodgers.
I wonder if this means Harper is Dodger-bound…
The #Reds have acquired LHP Alex Wood, OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig, IF/C Kyle Farmer and cash from the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Homer Bailey and minor leaguers IF Jeter Downs and RHP Josiah Gray.
I’m surprised the Dodgers traded Farmer. I thought they were higher on him.
Giants will sign Puig as a FA about one year from today…
It will be interesting to see what numbers Puig puts up playing everyday for the Reds, instead of playing Dodger-SABR platoon-ball.
Poor Turner Ward, new hitting coach for the Reds. Re-united with his assaulter Puig.
Dodgers cleared out salary space with that trade. Making room for Harper?
they cleared their OF surplus too.
That’s a pretty good infusion of talent for the Reds and they dumped Bailey’s contract too
Curious to hear how highly rated those prospects are.
Now the Dodgers are going to give me millions to showcase my amazing hair in beautiful LA.
So, Harper turned down 10/300 from Nats – should the Giants offer 9/300 if only to fuck with LA?
I wouldn’t.
I see a Bic Mac/Shaw platoon for half a season then a decision before trade deadline where this team is going for 2020…
Seems pretty obvious Hair Harper is SmelLA Bound….
The shampoo commercials are limitless. I just hope Harper’s numbers continue to swirl down the drain with all the product
The Dodgers have released Homer Bailey after the trade.
Subtraction by subtraction?
Yeah, I get the feeling the Giants, pre-Zaidi, would pick up Bailey and put him in their rotation.
According to Jon Heyman, the Mets signed Blanco.
And Rajai a few days ago. WTF???
Maybe they’re trying to win some golden years gloves?
I entered the NY Golden Gloves in 1974.
I knew a guy in the neighborhood who was a GG champ.
He assured me I would be killed within 15 seconds if I showed up.
I took his advice.
I’m glad you took his advice.
Thanks, Bozo.
He was so right…
Zaidi has no desire for Smarj to be on the team. Smarj’s value over the years has been as an innings-eater, and Zaidi has no use for inning-eating. He’s a strong believer that a team is better off not letting a starter go a third time through a batting order.
Giants apparently have no intention of bringing Hundley back either.
This team is fucked for at least a decade…
Maybe just a half decade…
Reading through MLBTR story on Puig etc. trade, a blogger pointed out something interesting.
Btw Puig Kemp Grandal and Machado LA lost 81 bombs off last year league leading total of 235. hmmnn.
Also the OF guys they have left (Toles Joc Bellinger Verdugo) except for Kike and Taylor all hit LH. double hmmnn
I think he started that:
heard a cool song on jazz radio on way to work this morning by vibist Joe Locke from new release Subtle Disguise.
It’s his band’s take on Dylan song Who Killed Davey Moore?
If you look for CD/MP3 on amazon a reviewer has the song and accompanying vid which is very well done and features footage from the fight itself.
he nailed it again.
Are there any “straight on” kickers now? I doubt it.
Who was the last one?
The Gogolak brothers were the first soccer style PKs, I believe…
Mark Moseley?
I remember Tex Schramm (?) getting in trouble for griping about half foot Dempsey’s steel plated kicking shoe.
Might’ve been the beginning of political correctness…
Bud Grant with Vikings was very reluctant to accept soccer style kickers. He had a guy named Rick Danmeier who I’m pretty sure was the last straight on kicker.
How I remember this, I have no idea.
Ask me about something like the Bill of Rights, and I’ll give you an answer that is about on par with what a second grader would tell you.
Was he watching Jan Stenerud on Jan. 11, 1970?
Yes. Probably also watching Christmas day 1971.
That was the day I became a Chiefs fan. It hasn’t been an easy ride.
That loss was all on Stenerud.
Lowery and Lin fuckin’ Elliot cost us playoff games to a lesser extent…
PK trippin’ me out pretty hard with this one…..
https://thelaughorist.blogspot.com/2018/12/flash-point.html?spref=tw
Is he on acid?
that’s PK’s normal homeostatic state as he walks the earth….
Puig is gonna hit 40 HR’s in Cinci. Not that i give 2 shits but the Reds made a very good trade. 2 OF and a # 3 starter for the worst pitcher in decades.
Any financial advice, Sports Dude?
PS..Keep Will Smith. he is a very good pitcher who did a decent job closing. Yes we will suck, but losing games in the 9th is just so awful. Lets be honest. We are all still going to watching / following the games.
SF .was about 500 when they traded Cutch and Lost Posey. If we can have a team that is just south of decent the waiting till we can be good again won’t be quite so bad. I repeat. keep Smith!
I’m not watching.
I’m taking next season off…
Votto and Puig as teammates should be interesting. I predict they need to be separated from going after each other in the dugout at least once before the All Star Break.
totally agree.
I think Pawlie built that whole story around the word ‘fixity.’ Hell of a word.
I thought Mosley was the last. I remember seeing Bruce Gossett, who was considered good, miss 2 extra points and made 1 of 3 FGs in a loss to the Colts back in 1969.
Mosley is basically the right answer except for one fluke kick after him…
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/european-soccer-style-kickers-started-revolution-50-years/story?id=42756874
Looked up Danmeier – gone in 1982
Bud Grant not long after…
Baseball Digest guy on the radio says Stanton could wind up in LA…
I think he has a no-trade clause.
He might be happier out there…
So that does make more sense with those lefties and Hair Harper ends up with the Yanks.
i love that you’re listening to the radio.
This is it:
Contracts of Longoria and Crawford give the Giants a built-in excuse not to pursue Machado who would otherwise be a great fit…
It’s a valid excuse in my book. If they wanna throw stupid money at someone, throw it at Harper. Longo and Craw could reasonably bounce back, but our outfield is an embarrassment.
Machado and Harper are obviously great players capable of great statistical seasons. But added one of them to our puss line up doesn’t justify the cost. We sign one of them and then we’re done cause we’re tapped out. And then teams just walk that guy every game. It looks like a good move on the surface but it doesn’t make our team much better. The better approach is to spread the remaining money around and hit on as many lower end guys as possible. I’m not talking about the Aubry Huff’s or the Pat Burrell’s. Zaidi seems to have a nack for finding younger, controllable players. At least the A’s and the Dodgers have done it, I have to assume he had a role in that or at least picked up some tips on what to do.
I’ll be shocked if we sign a big free agent money guy. Doesn’t seem like this dude’s style at all…..
LA seems concerned enough about $$$/staying under lux cap to rule out Stanton but GH makes a good point. Also read this opens up room for Pollock, RH CF. Are there more opt outs in Stanton deal?
Stanton can opt out after 2020.
thx Mac. hey um will Monmouth b-ball win more games than football? poor guys, what happened over there?
Ha, that’s a joke I’ve come up with, too. Not sure what’s happened with MU, maybe it’ll get better once conference play starts. Next is Penn on New Year’s Eve, so the first W won’t come until ’19.
Like to ask Unc Chuck about possibility floated of Raiders playing at ATT next year, which Niners would have to approve as per NFL territorial rules. Noticed this season Raiders played 2 home games in September.
this story in Chron generated a lot of comments…one guy mentioned he lived nearby in MissionBay and wondered about increased police presence.
The Raiders should play their home games at San Quentin their guaranteed in house sellouts!
Shit, if the owners are fine with dirt bike races and monster truck rallies, they’ll certainly go for football games. They already play one of the 1,200 bowl games there.
But during the baseball season? That would be fucked up for the Giants. The team had a hard enough time keeping the field with all the concerts, rugby, and soccer matches last year.
I pretty much agree with Flav’s 7:28, but I think every now and then, adding one superstar can transform an entire line-up. Barry did that for us and I’d be fine with seeing if Harper could do the same.
If we don’t go that route, I’m warming up to the idea of avoiding the Burrell and Huff types in favor of the Gerbers and Drew Fergusons.
Raiders otta come pay in San Diego. It would be funny, as they are so hated here, but they have supporters everywhere and we have an NFL stadium just sitting here.
Also, I think the Raiders in Vegas is going to be a match made in heaven. I feel badly for Oakland, but I think they will have no problem selling out games in Vegas.
They won’t have a home field advantage. All the fans will be away fans,
I agree about the Vegas situation. All sellouts. And I’m not so sure about it just being casual fans going to see a “show”. I’m not a big hockey fan but I heard the Vegas knights are huge there—super passionate about the team. Why couldn’t they be that way about the Raiders too? Especially if they get good.
I wonder how Giant season tix are selling…
About as well as the Expos..
Any chance the Giants could pry a deal with Seattle for RF Mitch Haniger? Dude has unlimited potential with power that would be sorely needed in are pathetic OF..
I just read Magnus’s (Flavor’s) post of yesterday 8:09p; Loo’s reply of 8:27p yesterday; and Magnus’s 6:27a today. Not on acid. It explains why I never was. I’m just trying to use an imagination I always felt I didn’t have, which is why I write nonfiction.
I apologize for my moronic remark…
was logical, not moronic; no problemo
I was one of those, maybe more than anyone, who felt Puig would thrive under Bochy. His antics and swagger never much bothered me. If he did that shit for us on our team, we’d love him.
No. Not me anyway.
That makes 4 here for Puig.
Brace yourself, Chuck.
If he goes 35/100 this year and doesn’t beat up any women, we’ll sign him for about 4/80 as a FA…
I thought I was going to like Farhanzie. (No, haven’t heard back from him on CHASING WILLIE MAYS. I mean, he evidently has tons of free time, right?) But it seems EVERY team is making significant moves (ok, not the White Sox, yet). It’s like all these trains are leaving the station and we’re standing inside the station reading the fecking schedule on the wall, not even at the ticket window yet. C’mon! Plus, Farhanzie’s “strategy” seems easy to figure out: get players who can do multiple things, such as play several positions, throw with either hand, jerk off with either hand, etc.
Love Loo’s radio.
Dawg, when Bonds got here we had Matt Williams, Robby Thompson, and Will Clark, among others (ET McGee, RIkkert Faneyte). We weren’t exactly hurting for talent.
As far as what we are doing, this is what I thought was going to happen. Mid-level medium interest guys that we sign a bunch of. This team isn’t one guy away from being great. We are about 3-4 guys away from being contenders.
We have Posey, Belt, Longoria, Crawford. I know they all have flaws, but there is some talent there as well.
…and Raider fans are going to flock to Vegas in droves for weekend trips. 8 weekends a year? No problem. Silver and Black will be everywhere out there.
Clark, Thompson, and Williams had 79 HRs between ’em. Throw in Bonds and you have 117.
Posey, Belt, Longo, and Crawdad? 49. Talent? Sure, but not even close to those guys.
They’d hit a helluva lot more than 49 with Bryce in the line-up with them. Plus Candlestick was a better yard to hit in.
Not really.
If they are good. Raider fans weren’t going to Oakland when they were shit. I don’t think they had a sellout the first 4 years they were back.
The Gruden thing is a ginormous risk. If that backfires, they stand to be shit for a good while. I was convinced Chucky was going to dump Carr, but now I’m not so sure. Even still, he has ruined a bad defense and destroyed a decent offense. 9 years to go is plenty of time to fix shit, though.
Seems it often happens in the off-season that other teams get off to a fast start making moves while the Giants seem stuck in neutral and we all wait somewhat grumpily for something to happen. There was one recent off-season, can’t remember exactly which one, when the Giants made some fast moves and seemed done by end of December, and seem to remember the following season being a bust. So, I’m cool with the Mighty Z taking his time on all of this. I tend to think that means he has a plan, and not just for the next season. Something Booby Evans never had, that’s for sure.
MLB story tabs Belt as most likely player Z will trade first. As a longtime Belt supporter (geez, that sounds like a product description for old people products), obviously everyone is on the table, but it raises questions. I guess the big picture plan would have to be understood, and I’m still guessing Z has one, that a Belt trade wouldn’t just be a one-off move but related to others falling into place. I’d be sad to see Belt go but as long as there’s a plan………………
Belt & Will Smith would be a nice fit for either NY team.
Let the concocting begin…
Experienced Chief fans already know the Chargers are going to win 17-16…
Great basketball game. Arizona St. defeated Kansas. Walton doing his wacky commentary. It’s all good.
Yeah, also saw the trade discussions about Smith and Watson (didn’t they found IBM?), but kind of makes me scratch my head that the ‘pen is the only somewhat strong suit of the team, why would they trade those guys? What do I know. Sure, let the concocting begin indeed.
Agree P/A,
Smith&Watson =Affeldt&Lopez
2 experienced pros both lefties that “GET OUTS” Why trade those 2?
Yeah, Kat, good comparison. Without Lopez and Affeldt, Giants most likely don’t win in 2010….
Go Devils!!! I agree with Paul. The only thing we have is a decent bullpen. Get a few more, Openers all the time, and be the west coast Rays!
Paul, If they do trade either Smith or Watson, they do have Ty Blach slotted for a lefty relief role. Also, the kid that they picked up in the Rule 5, Travis Bergen, will get a shot for that role in ST. If he’s able to match his AAA numbers, he might be an awesome (inexpensive) answer to either Smith or Watson.