Don’t Look Up
Baseball begins this Thursday and I, for one, am stoked. Have you seen the tourney’s offered at draftkings that day? Exciting! The video of the seagulls flying and shitting all over the stadium last night was pretty amazing to watch (Unca Chuck, 10:31pm). It seems like they were trying to send us a message but I couldn’t quite crack the code. lqtm.
At least we get to open against San Diego. They are better than we are but they still aren’t very good. Maybe we don’t get swept? Our first 7 games are on the road. That is absolutely stupid, no team should have 2 road series to start the season. Our home opener isn’t until April 5th.
Oh well, I’ll be positive and say that gives them some time to game plan for the sea gulls…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Baer suspended (wrist slap in my opinion, i.e., if this was a player, he’d be gone for a season at least). Giants haven’t named a closer, or rotation yet. Hmm, maybe a trade in the works? Based on the games I have seen this Spring training and their stats, Posey, Craw, Hanson, Oaf, Melanoma, Madbum, Beede and Holland need more work.
actually he got 4 months. Addison Russell got 40 games for far worse.
You’re right. I thought Russell got suspended far earlier than last September.
So I saw where you wrote Draftkings messed up on MLB this season. I refunded my account 1-2 months ago, but have been busy with other things, so have only played a few basketball games. Today, you seem more excited about them. What are they doing differently in baseball?
There was some rumor of them dealing Holland…I just hope we trade him for a much needed backup catcher…lol….
Chris Stratton traded for shit.
What???? Traded for a reliever??? When we are desperate for backup catchers???? What an outrage!!!
Starting April 5 is probably lot closer to the opening days of yore when we were growing up…
New 7th inning stretch routine for this season, killing seagulls…
This is beyond weird. The ‘flurry of moves’ are all basically head-scratchers. Oh well. It’s like he just wants his AAAA guys in the team erather than Sabean’s.
We aren’t rearranging the deck chairs, we are swappping them out for different ones.
And this marks the 10 season in a row we have started on the road.
Ha, you beat me to this!
They have a hard on in this orq about starting on the road and finishing at home.But they have it all backwards,they start out stiff and end up limp..
Welcome to getting old . . .
Re opening on the road: The Giants haven’t played a season opener at home since 2009. Counting this season, this will be the sixth time since ’09 the Giants will open with two road series before playing their home opener. So Posey and MadBum have never played a season opener at home. That’s ridiculous.
I remember are pal Larry Baer insisted every year to start the season on the road.I wouldn’t think MLB and it’s scheduling would continue to let a club do that every year?
Blade– they’re just offering big tournaments on opening day. The $4/$150,000 20 team max will be my wheel house…..
Baer Suspension no surprise. He had to do some time in the current environment, particularly in SF. Political reality. Maybe off season he steps down…
I just don’t get these 98 backup catchers they’ve brought in.What was wrong with Hundley, who was quite serviceable and has some pop still at 34.Now we have a dude Krantzycreme who’s 39 didn’t even make it to the bigs till he was 30 no pop, .211 lifetime avg, shit why not bring Eli Whiteside back basically same age same stats.
Garcia is the one that should be the backup , but here’s Boch still playing the I need a vet behind the dish to help out Posey card .
These aren’t Bochy’s moves. Nor the Strat move. Makes no sense. Out of options so they get something rather than nothing if he gets sent down? Shit I don’t know. This is going to be a weird year.
And you know what they say about weird. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Bum starts opener Thursday at Padres? deGrom Sale and Verlander, all of whom are older than Bum just signed pricey extensions. Wonder how Giants play this?
Willie, it was fascinating that deGrom’s former agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, was advocating that the team either work out an extension or trade deGrom. Ironic in my opinion, that Van Wagenen became the Mets’ general manager last fall, recusing himself from direct extension talks with deGrom while the pitcher chose to remain with the same agency (CAA Baseball). That being said, I understand that Van Wagenen was on hand for the final negotiations and signing. Weird.
Chris Stratton turns 29 this season. He’s really not very good. The only reason he is anything to the Giants organization is because he was a first round pick. Last night Anderson looked better than Stratton or Beede or any other of those blown draft picks lately. Zaidi likes the potential of the lefty reliever that was obtained. You can disagree with him, and maybe it won’t work out, but maybe it will. Some are so quick to judge right now. It seems kind of ridiculous to me.
Agree with everything you posted. Additionally, he didn’t have any more options, i.e., one thing Zaidi values is flexibility.
ZMan is facing an organization with older dudes on the 25 with massive contacts on the downside of their careers. And a cupboard is mostly bare farm system where all teams last year finished last in their leagues. It’s a Cphuck situation he’s dealing with. Give him at least one season to see if there is a method to the madness…
Kind of a fun article about the worst ballparks in MLB. Unfortunately the article is done in that annoying slide-show format.
https://moneywise.com/a/ch-b/worst-ballparks-in-major-league-baseball/p-15?fbclid=IwAR0zDMad7t4dsRigeH-f3O-eFHKwk5VdN3Ve8GPLrXvjn2fhfxXzOhxdGHc
Never made it past the Big Tit.
I did note the lack of options for Strat. He pitched well at times but hey, Farhan gets the big bux for these kinds of moves.
It just seems like we have a boatload of catchers and relievers right now, and still little in the outfield.
Bringing in a guy like Kratz I simply do not understand.
On the Stratton deal, im gonna assume that the absolute best player he thought he could get back was yet another reliever. I think Z is all about ignoring need in the short run and always going for the best value.
Sort out need later.
I bet he goes after even more guys as other teams get down to their 25 man roster.
Like Zum said a few days ago…make a million moves and hope to stumble on a Muncy or Taylor every now and then.
I’m down with the sickness. Go Giants.
Hopefully some of these guys that fall out of the sky are outfielders . . .
I tweeted the other day asking if either of the puppies @brucebochy held on National Puppy Day could play the outfield.
The man,the myth,the legend
Came in out of nowhere
Rode in on his Harley,and on the back was his hoe
And everyone gave him a knowing nod
As they stared at Connor Joe
Kat the Bard!
I went to the Mets’ free so-called practice today at the Carrier Dome. It was a lame publicity stunt that worked. It got fans there and sold some tix for the new Syracuse Mets, featuring, I believe, Gregor Blanco but no Manny Burriss. It was bizarre: players playing catch, some “infield” grounders on the turf, some line-drive fungos, some throwing off makeshift mounds. No pepper. Does anyone play pepper anywhere anymore? Love pepper. Players throwing. not just lobbing, balls into the stands. Pay attention, folks! Lawsuit, anyone? Far more exciting was the NCAA women’s basketball game last night that I attended with my youngest, now nearly 22. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits beat the Orange. Otto the Orange and the Jackrabbit mascots had some fun. The game was excellent. I can get into women’s basetball. None of that showboating over the rim or hanging from it. The highlight was a breathtaking surge by the Orange, 8 to 10 points in a minute or so.
I wonder who gets traded tonight.
D-Backs outfielder Souza, Jr. tore up his knee slipping on homeplate.
Other than the Stratton trade (not listed below), this is a summary of what Zaidi has done. Give me a shout if I missed someone. lqtm
I don’t think I have ever seen a MLB GM make this many moves, never mind a Giants GM.
Major League Signings
Derek Holland, SP: One year, $7MM (includes $500K buyout of a $6.5MM club option for 2020)
Drew Pomeranz, SP: One year, $1.5MM
Pat Venditte, RP: One year, $585K
Total spend: $9.085MM
Trades And Claims
Acquired RP Trevor Gott from the Nationals for cash considerations
Acquired OF Michael Reed from the Twins for OF John Andreoli and cash considerations (Andreoli was previously claimed from the Rangers during the offseason)
Acquired C Erik Kratz from the Brewers for SS C.J. Hinojosa
Acquired IF Breyvic Valera from the Orioles for cash considerations
Acquired IF/OF Connor Joe from the Reds for minor league RHP Jordan Johnson and cash considerations (Joe is a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Dodgers)
Acquired cash considerations from the Tigers for C Cameron Rupp
Claimed C Tom Murphy from the Rockies
Claimed OF Mike Gerber from the Tigers (later outrighted)
Claimed RHP Merandy Gonzalez from the Marlins (later designated for assignment)
Claimed RHP Jose Lopez from the Reds (later designated for assignment)
Claimed RP Travis Bergen from the Blue Jays and OF Drew Ferguson from the Astros in the Rule 5 Draft (Ferguson has since been returned to Houston)
Notable Minor League Signings
Gerardo Parra, Nick Vincent, Yangervis Solarte, Stephen Vogt, Fernando Abad, Craig Gentry, Donovan Solano, Jandel Gustave, Brandon Beachy (Cameron Maybin, Rene Rivera, and Matt Joyce also signed minors deals but were released in Spring Training.)
Notable Losses
Hunter Pence, Hunter Strickland, Gorkys Hernandez, Nick Hundley, Gregor Blanco, Josh Osich
Blach to Sactown.
After last nights meltdown I’m surprised Blach didn’t end up in San Jose A ball..
http://m.mlb.com/sf/roster/
Smarj (who sucks.)
So as of now the Giants are going with 3 outfielder’s, Oaf,Duggar,and Reed?
3 catchers,Posey,Murphy&Krantz?
13 pitchers?
6 infielders with Hanson&Belt capable of some outfield play?
Jesus. Nothing but rockets off Smarglebargle.
Hmmm and now Solarte with a glove on in LF????
That was a very nice pay by Solarte. Whatever the MPH was on that ball, it was over 125.
Kuip has no idea where the balls are going.
Smargle does ^^^
Grateful that Smarg is our “innings eater.” lqtm
Eating innings has always been meaningless…
Smarj at 91 MPH should not even be considered for the roster.
James, I’m on board with that. I’m curious though . . . does it follow that any of our hitters below “fill in the blank”* OPS, should not be considered for the roster???
* What is that magic OPS number in your mind???
If below .700, bye bye Sandoval, Posey, Williamson, Crawford, Hanson . . .
Interesting question, Blade. The MPH are a little more particular to the pitcher than OPS is to the hitter. Timmy was pretty much done at 91, and Smarj was not that great at 95+ and pretty good secondary stuff (which is still a mystery, given his low walk totals — throwing strikes can’t be *that* much different from hitting your location. And at 95+, location just shouldn’t matter *that* much — see Timmy).
The difference in productivity between a 680 and 720 OPS for a part time player who offers good defense and versatility probably makes no difference to your W-L record. The more PAs you have, the more unacceptable a 680 OPS, no matter what position you play. Then again, context still matters — how good is your pitching and how many other 800+ plus starters are in the line up etc.
What’s over/under on Samardzxxx before he goes on the IL with shoulder problems? May 15?
I’m pretty done with this guy. The payroll clerk isn’t.
Cotts says $18MM + pro rated signing bonus $1.5MM = $19.5 MM for him this year AND next.
Thanks Sabes…
Yeah I’m so done with Alpobit and the season hasn’t even begun.It will be the same with Melonhead!! 2 total roster spots wasted when we could add 2 more catchers!
I know the predictions are meaningless.
So, here goes.
77 Wins this year, baby !
Giants will be better this year, yes. And, with a bunch of guys on the carousel I’ve never heard of.
I’m going optimistic over the Vegas over/under…
I’m trying not to overreact based on these practice games, but the Giants don’t have an extra-base hit in any of these A’s games so far.
This is pretty much what we are getting.
Pomeranz looks outstanding.
Yes, he’s a bright spot.
The Oaf got hit.
Their goes the start of the season for the Oafer.
X-RAYS coming hopefully not a broken wrist!
And why is he still in this meaningless game?
From Baggs: Bochy says Hanson won’t make the team, Sandoval’s status is unresolved.
That sucks. 2 of my favorite players.
Depending on Mac (under) the Knife’s broken hand.