Captain, Oh Captain….
Has there ever been a guy who’s fortune changed quicker in a year than this guy?
Eh, probably.
But what he did last year was remarkable. Love having him back on shortest deal possible but I fear they’re going to tear this up and give him 2-3 years. Whatever, I should be able to find other more important things to irritate myself with.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Shocks me that Belt couldn’t get a 2-3 year deal somewhere including SF. Verlander got more and he’s old coming off TJ surgery. Thor is always hurt too and he got more. Anyone hear if SF offered the 2 year deal craw got?
I had heard they had conversations for a multi-year deal in addition to the QO. From what I have read, the thought is Belt accepted the QO so he can prove he can stay healthy this year, and gauge where the universal DH (UGH) goes, and then would test the FA waters after the coming year.
Not just 2021 but 2020 as well. analytic stat wRC+ (fangraphs uses this one for each player on their team stats) Belt over last 2 seasons is 3rd best in all of baseball, behind only Harper and Juan Soto. OPS of .975 last year.
Losing Posey was gonna hurt–no way any giants C was gonna match what he did at plate 2021, maybe not even Posey himself. Losing another bat like Belt would have been serious blow, imo. I like Wade but him hitting 29 bombs in 97 games seemed unlikely and he isn’t that good a fielder there either.
I think Belt wants to be here. Simple as that. He won’t get more than Crawfish in years or money, so if they want to give him 2/$30 hey, why not?
Never thought I’d type those words.
Doesn’t shock me no that no teams were willing to lay down a big contract on Belt for 3 years are so,not a huge market for a player who’s constantly been hurt.He had 10 days checking out feelers on his services and the interest must of been low.
It’s ok he’s always wanted to be here probably he feels indebted to the organization for always having his back thru so many injuries, and besides,18.5 is hard to turn down.So the famous Steve Miller song “Take the Money and Run”lives on while they now work on the extension u all know is coming..
Yes. Everything I have read he wants to be here. He was trying everything possible to get back into the mix for the run at the end of the year including the dodger series…just did not work out. I think if Belt would have been available in the Bum series, it may have had a different outcome, as Ruf and Wade went 1-30 in that series. I doubt Belt would have gone 1-30.
Onto pitching–I’ll start Gausman wars. Only 4 pitchers last season threw 200 innings–Waino Buehler Alcantara and Wheeler. Neither of Cy winners did. Gausman made 33 starts and threw 192, one less than Ray.
Webb made 27 starts over 148. I’ll take Gausman back with zero reservations as 1-2 with Webb atop rotation.
Agree, and I have heard that Gausman wants to come back, so I guess it comes down to working out $$ and length of contract.
Gasman had 1/2 a great season amid 10.5 seasons of mediocrity. Pass.
Unless the spider tack checks are over.
Well, Zaidi seems to disagree with you, Charlie. He has said all along that bringing him back is a priority.
Belt’s only knock IMO is his health and inability at staying on the field. Over the past two years, there were only two players who a had a higher OPS than Belt (if my memory is correct those were Harper and Soto). Yes, he did miss games in both years, but had enough ABs to qualify. Plus, is there a better defensive 1st sacker out there?
Acuna as well iirc.
With a lockout looming, Belt probably wanted to take the QO just so he didn’t delay being signed. Also, in excepting the QO, SF can’t slap it on him next year. So if SF doesn’t come through with an extension and he plays well in however amount of games they have this year, he’d be set up for a pretty decent payday or a location that he likes. You know $18.4 mil ain’t chump change.
Cool . . .
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6352976821441962&set=gm.10158155385717854
Belt gets hurt nearly every year. He’s old now. It’s not a surprise a non-Giants team didn’t offer him a multi year deal
It’s not a question of if he’ll be on the Injured List next season, it’s how often and how long…
Last one that ended his season was getting beaned in hand, like Longoria. Pretty dang hard to hit baseball like that, and he hardly did it to himself. How many non pitchers of Giants didn’t miss time due to injury this season? Belt’s got plenty of company.
I have never really cared what the Giants or Niners paid their players. I have cared about them making foolish contracts. Zito comes to mind, paying for dead armed pitchers or hitters that have vision imparedness(not a word), slowed reaction time, or no patience at the plate. happens to every team but paying them for years after the fact does piss me off. I have a feeling Z feels the same way. I doubt we see very many foolish contracts with him in charge. We will pay them what they’re worth for the most part. The old guys played their hearts out the last couple of years and deserve to get paid. I just wouldn’t give them a long term deal.
Bobby Bo has what, 4 more years on his deal?
Yeah, what a deal.
Has Z said anything about Bryant?
That the Giants are interested in him, but that it is not a priority. I am sure they will have discussions, but doubt that Z will overpay.
Slater and GD was not a strict CF platoon but adding their 2021 numbers together for the hell of it, you get this:
AB: 542
R: 84
H: 135
2B: 26
3B: 6
HR: 20
RBI: 67
BA: .249
SB: 22
Combined OPS was about .750
Which is why we need Marte. Or someone. Conforto? He’s due a good year and he’s under 30.
No on Marte, IMO…
Time for Ramos to show up and see what all the hype has been about and if it’s been warranted. Giants need a young OFer from the system that does it all, and will grow into a stud, All Star level player. What’s it been, 40 years?…
Well, they DID draft All-Stars Reynolds and Duvall.
certainly above league average, especially for CF. GD got off to fine start then had difficulties last couple months of season. He did stay healthy and plays good CF. Don’t forget these guys cost basically nothing (vs. $20 mil for Marte) and I think there’s room for growth with year of experience behind them. Btw them both they hit lot more HRs than Marte (12) and are also way younger.
Pass…get better hitter to play corner spot.
Agree. Corner OFer with pop is more important than a CFer at this point, IMO.
The latest Brisbee Athletic article covers Belt’s injury history pretty well. He’s a grandpa now and a genuine risk to break down. But most of the DL time he’s had over his career was due to bad luck rather than being physically injury prone, which I’ve pointed out more than once. GMs probably don’t make personnel decisions based on a player’s luck profile, although it’s certainly every speculating fan’s right to do so.
If he’s hurt, he’s hurt, and he’s been injury plagued regardless of cause. I’ve liked the dude from square one, but he’s a klutz despite being great with the glove. I had a friend in high school that was nimble as could be, but had broken bones happen like I got zits — shit just happened to him. That’s Belt.
There’s no reason to project he’ll suddenly have a year full of health in 2022, particularly at his age. The Giants are clearly aware of that, and probably bake in an injury time projection for him when evaluating their personnel requirements. Belt is Belt, and that’s part of who he is…
2020 Belt played 51 games out of 60.
2019 156 games out of 162.
that he survived Covid and rash of other issues last season and played as well as he did is measure of strength, not weakness. He LED the team in HRs despite time missed.
Well, at some point you’d think his luck would change for the positive. Mono, COVID, appendicitis, broken finger, hit by errant throw, etc. Has he broken his hamate bone yet? Both of them?
Knee, yeah multiple concussions. Don’t even mention hamate…
Pablo broke both his hamate bones lol and had them removed surgically if Belt needs advice..
As James said above, Brisbee had good column in Athletic about Belt, rare enough.
Props for something else: week or so ago MCC had archived thread from Brisbee 2017 about Halloween (his b-day and he was kvetching about everyone goes all out celebrating).
There was funny pic underneath heading “Hunter and Alexis Pence”
the Rev is in black suit white shirt black hair, as Lurch
the Missus is…Cousin Itt.
Just for fun looked up this stat: Giants pitchers hit 63 batters last season. dunno where they stand league wise, but if you extended that to every team that means over 1800 hit batsmen. Given how many pitchers throw 90+, that’s gotta acount for a lot of injuries.
From most to least, Giants’ 63 HBP tied for 21st in MLB with Rox and Bums. Cubs top the list at 98. White Sox with the fewest at 51. League average was 70, total HBP was 2,112.
Giants have had some talks about Castellanos now that would be a great addition.
Of course with them talk is cheap making a statement never is..
Hey with the DH probably coming in it wouldn’t hurt as much about his defense in the outfield,DH comes into play alot..
Heard they might be interested in Canha as well Z likes those OBP guys and he knows how to take one for the team as he got nailed 27 times last year to easily lead baseball.
That does seem like a lot of hit batsmen. One thing I don’t really see much of anymore are players hitting the dirt. There were quite a few pitchers who didn’t like hitters crowding the plate and inside pitching was pretty standard when I was younger. I wonder how many hitters were hit because of that instead of a pitch that just got away. The game has changed.
MVPs:
Ohtani in AL
Harper in NL
Per baseball reference:
This year Belt played in 97 out of the 162 possible.
In the period 2012-2021, he’s played in 77% of the possible games, highest of 156 twice, and lowest 61 (for a full season) in 2014. Belt’s overall percentage equates to playing just under 125 games/year on average for a full season.
Freddie Freeman over same period:
Played in 91.4% of the games, highest was all 162 twice, lowest 117 (in a full season), played in all 60 in last year’s Covid season.
The percentage equates to playing just over 148 games on average for a full season.
So, over that period, Freeman was on average playing for about 3 1/2 weeks more games per season than Belt…
Yes, he’s missed a lot of games because of injuries that were caused by others, not because he’s a klutz.
He’s a klutz, but still a good ball player…
Yes, he’s a klutz of sorts. I remember when Scutaro hit him in the head, the suspicion was that Belt might actually be at fault. Scutaro, the immortal figure of the golden shower could not possibly be to blame. Sometimes, perception is everything.
“Buccaneers’ Antonio Brown accused of obtaining fake vaccine card”
And the pandemic rolls on.
How fucking stupid is that? Jumping Jeesus, you gotta be kidding me.
Prolly cost him a couple grand knowing him.
Stupid is as Stupid does with football players!
Before the Raiders released Defensive player Jason Arnette recently it was reported he had 4 fender benders with 4 different rental cars within a month wtf? The dude had a personal issue about rental cars?( I mean we all beat them up some as rentals but usually return them in one piece)Fortunate for him unlike his teammate Ruggs nobody was killed! Raiders sure know how to pick character players..
Captain Klutz has a nice ring to it don’t u all think?
Krispy Kratz &Captain Klutz now that’s a great battery mate combo..
This is me just venting a bit. Fucking idiots running the gov’t here. It looked like they finally realized that Covid could not be “defeated” and were moving away from zero covid to “living with the virus”. Most people in Ho Chi Minh City are fully vaxxed. Open it up, slowly. Restaurants have been allowed to open but with no alcohol sales. 2 nights ago, gov’t announced alcohol would be allowed, and finally bars could reopen. This morning, oops, they rescinded bars, spas, etc., from opening. 2 days??? No reason given other than “the infection situation is still complicated”. I knew the idiots wouldn’t be able to fully let go and “live with the virus”, knew they’d fall back on lockdowns, etc., it’s all they know. Fuck them. Bastards. Ok, sorry, rant finished. So disgusted with the whole f-ing situation….
Can’t see what you posted. Maybe gov’t censored here.. 🙂
Mind you, it’s not really even about the fact that bars, spas etc. would reopen, my extreme bar-hopping days are long gone. But I know 4 or 5 people personally who own/run bars and spas, and they called their staff who had gone home to countryside the past 6 months and asked them to come back to Saigon for the re-opening, and now, they’re back, found new rooms/apartments, and here they are, still no work. They posted stuff about hiring new staff, etc. Now they can’t open. People need to work, 6 months of no money coming in… No way to live, man.
Can you leave the country if you want?
Come home Paul!
Can, although it’s quite the hassle. Main thing is, I wouldn’t be able to come back here for who knows how long, and this is my home, have job(s), friends, etc. I have a good friend who went to Phnom Penh in February 2020 for a 2-month project, and he’s still there, can’t even come back from one country over. Unfortunately, I don’t really even have anything/anyone to go back to in the US. I’ve become a bit like Zach Mayo: “I got nowhere else to go”..
I want your DOR!!!
“No! Don’t you do it! Don’t you do it!”
Way to go Paul!
Way to go!
“Look at those bodacious set of tá-tads”
“Only 2 things come outta of Oklahoma,
Steers and queers,Which one are you boy?
I don’t see no horns!”
Uh, that saying applies to Texas…not Oklahoma (coming from someone born in Oklahoma). 😉
You, Mickey Mantle and the great Chief Jay Strongbow…
12 days until the current CBA expires. Time to shoot the other foot, MLB.
Slush had nice column in Chron explaining why she voted for Crawford for MVP, and Baggs did same. Good for them he was very deserving candidate. Also got more first place votes than Tatis Jr. did.
What does he do for an encore?
I’d be thrilled with 75% of his 2021 production…
I like that pic of Belt with the Captain hat. He’ll bring some stability and good feeling to the 2022 clubhouse vibe, per reports.
Too bad he was out for the LA post-season series.
He may have made a difference. But, Giant killer Muncy was out, too, so it could have been a wash if both were healthy…
If I’m adding up the box scores correctly, SF went 2-18 with 1 RBI from the 1B position and LA went 6-17 with 3 RBIs from 1B. Neither team had a HR from players playing 1B.
I think you’re right that Belt would have made a difference, not sure how much better Muncy would have been, although both teams probably would have gotten HRs from those guys.
Who would of thought Cody Bellinger would be the difference maker driving in the the GW after such a shit season batting .165?
For once I don’t want hear the Smoke &Mirrors approach with the Giants about a stud F/A acquisition, they’re supposedly in the hunt for Nick Castellanos who is coming off another solid season(34 Bombs) (a doubles machine as well who’s bat in the middle of the LU would be extremely needed, he’ll do would Siemien playing 2B
this would be killer upgrades and they have the money to finally make a splash imo.
One thing if they got Castellanos somehow, play him in LF, he’s shaky enough in the outfield but playing the toughest RF in baseball would not be a good play for him..
Giants could surely use Marcus Siemien as well besides his power numbers, he just won a GG at 2B,dudes an Ironman , played every game are DH’s last year(DH will even though I’m opposed to it will benefit the Giants as much as any team) could spell Crawford up to 25 games? at SS while also playing 2B along with LaStella The Left hand bat,hell maybe even 3rd as well when Longo breaks down.(Forgot to mention Castellanos came up as a 3rd baseman originally for the Tigers so he’s no stranger over there as well)U get these 2 players and do your usual dumpster diving on the Starting Pitchers, which worked out great last year..
LaStella’s contract is absurd…
3 years/$18.75M (2021-23)
21: $ 2M
22: $ 5.25M
23: $ 11.5M
Conforto ain’t getting any love and he should be cheaper than these other guys. Plug him in LF and try for Semien as well.
Do the Mets want to keep Conforto, DJ?
Don’t know, Chuck.
He had a horrific year, but the owner is under pressure to spend big bucks.
Mac probably has more insight.
I wouldn’t mind having Stroman in our rotation…
I trust in the ZMan to sign the right FA players and pitchers to be again more than competitive in the 2022 NL West. He and his crew surely have a good idea of what minor leaguers have a good shot to make the leap to the big club at the start of or during next season, as that impacts their FA targets. If only one of the minor league OFers makes an impact next season, it would be a huge boost to stabilize the lineup…
Fucking Rittenhouse acquitted. Apparently shooting people in the streets Is OK now. Let’s all go to Kenosha tonight and have a firefight.
America is a very dangerous place.
I don’t know about the rest of the country, but this city should be flushed down the fuckin’ toilet…
As long as you’re not waiting for the real rain to wash it all away.
Excellent, James!
How funny is this picture/caption combo?
Loo, I’m still lulz-ing at your 4:28am….
It was almost too easy, Paul.
I bet your students are crazy about you…
I love them… they love me…. Interestingly enough, today (officially tomorrow) is Happy Vietnam Teacher’s Day. It’s a big deal. My university students always go back to their hometowns every year to see their old high school teachers. Not so much this year, unfortunately…. Tomorrow morning I have to give an online seminar for students about how to develop a successful career. Somewhere, my Dad is snickering, “Really? You??” Haha.
I wasn’t able to live up to my father’s expectations.
And he was a garbage man…
Yankees DFA Clint Frazier..
A bunch of us were pretty hot for him not that long ago…