What Did He Really Mean?
I’m still trying to translate Johnson’s comments from the other day about *somewhat trying to break even.*. Even for an out of touch owner that was an incredibly tone deaf thing to say in public. Then Buster backed him up by saying he “wholeheartedly” believes winning a World Series is a top priority for Johnson and his cohorts……
So one of three things is at play here.
- Buster has been hit in the head too many times and he’s just a dunce catcher who believes whatever anyone tells him.
- Buster is a boardroom guy now and will be towing the company line from here on out.
- Buster is speaking the truth.
Because none of us know the answer to these questions we have to search for more clues. And Bob Melvin deciding to take the manager job is a pretty good clue. Completely respected by all in baseball (other than that idiot AJ Preller) it would be odd for Melvin to take this gig if he didn’t truly believe Johnson and his group didn’t understand that winning the World Series is the top priority.
Therefore I’m willing to give Johnson a little slack, maybe he’s just a terrible public speaker who froze up and said something stupid.
Go Rangers.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Which Johnson spoke I assume at I assume Melvin’s press conference? I assume it was the kid running the team and not daddy warbucks…they all claim they took a big hit from Covid but attendance has clearly been down since coming back from Covid. Hence why many of us thought they were going to make a big splash off season to get some more fans in the stands. Besides Ohtani not sure any free agent drastically changes the attendance issue.
Can’t really say that Johnson just froze up since that is the second time that he was quoted saying that. I think each time he was talking about paying the luxury tax, so I’m hoping that he just doesn’t want to go over the cap amount and he explains that poorly.
Still, the whole time Zaidi has been with SF he has never said he is trying to build a championship team, he always says he’s trying to have a team that will be competitive late into the season.
So I wonder if Zaidi sold that idea to ownership to get the job or did ownership give him the job to run it like the A’s with a bit more financial latitude?
Ah Giants threw a lot of $$ at Judge and Correa last off season. Judge decided he wanted to be Yankee for life and Boras yanked Correa elsewhere, even blowing off Mets. I think they’d be all in on whomever they target to add to roster.
Given who is in the Series, tremendous contrast over how to build a winner, or not in case of Phils. AZ just got in at the end, 84 W team at bottom end of playoff spectrum. Texas spent ton of $$, has dynamite young slugger, and added in at deadline to get past tough competition.
Phils meanwhile choked away a chance to get back into WS. A team loaded with high priced FAs (Harper Turner Schwarber Castellanos) in lineup couldn’t make it happen in epic heimlich that will be tough to live down. Where do they go from here?
“Where do they go from here”… One of the late night hosts, Kimmell I think, showed a vid of Philly fan reactions after the loss in game 7. Funny of course, but probably serious to those fans. As if in answer to Willie’s question, one girl walked away from the interviewer saying “I’m going to go lie down in the road”. They still have a talented team but damn, they blew it, no matter how well Dbacks played.
Hey Bay Area Flappers, see my post at end of last thread about being in SF end of November. Would love to meet up if anyone’s around.
Yeah very cool post and was gonna bring that up. Enjoy your stay and it’d be great to get to see some of group.
Flavor, as to your Buster question, I think the answer lies somewhere between Door #2 and Door #3. No question Buster is a committed team player focused on winning World Series. But once you put on the suit and tie and join the ownership fraternity, revenue and the corporate bottom line become a relevant priority.
As for press conference introducing Melvin, couple takeaways from me. I was more perplexed by Johnson’s response to question about his statement in mid-September that Kapler and Zaidi were both coming back and then Kapler fired two weeks later. Reading between lines, Johnson essentially said he’ll always say manager and coaches safe while they’re wearing Giant uniform. Which means his comments are meaningless.
And I thought Farhan overplayed his cozy relationship with press. Bob Melvin’s competent manager but I still maintain success or failure of offseason lies with Farhan, Pete Putila and ownership to make substantive, not marginal, roster changes. If 2024 Giants essentially resemble 2023 version with minor tweaks, Giants will remain significant step behind Dodgers, D-backs and likely even Padres. D-backs have shown importance of speed, athleticism and defense. Giants need to improve in all three areas while strengthening everyday lineup
and bolstering pitching depth. Talk order on multiple fronts. After five years, it’s time for front office to deliver.
For now, go Boch! Since turn of century, Giants have more World Series titles than other four division rivals combined. Let’s keep it that way.
Like I said, Farhan is getting his re-do. 5 drafts in and here we are. Bailey and a whole bunch of meh. No players signed that are worth squat. Farhan is now saying the things like “short term deals aren’t working”. Gee, really? 5 years in and you figured out that signing guys to one-and-an-option deal isn’t working out?
It’s hard to rebuild your pitching staff when you need to replace them every other season. Or build an outfield that needs to be replaced every year while the scrubs liike Slater and Yaz scuffle along.
As far as Greggie goes, he can say anything he wants. It doesn’t matter. He can say the sky is yellow and the sun is blue. He either gives Farhan free reign to sign guys to big deals, or he doesn’t.
The machinations going on behind the scenes will never be known, but we sure will get the idea come springtime. I tell ya though, the grand poobahs sure seem impressed with the job Farhan has done so far.
And that’s what really worries me.
And yeah, they’ll listen to Buster. Earnestly even. But will they do anything different?
Doubtful given the amount of rope given to Farhan.
Greg has been hilariously clumsy since he first showed up as the owners “leader.” Good news: he seems to be significantly displacing smarmy, duplicitous Larry Baer.
Buster is smart and stoic. He thinks before he speaks, and he rarely says much. Fans respect him; the press respects him. It wasn’t until after he announced his retirement that Kruk n kuip talked about his long pregame sessions in the 2021 trainer’s room. He never showed pain. He may chew bullets for breakfast. Now he’s an owner, so he blows fragrant smoke. But he’s out there, in public, speaking for the owners. And at least one writer says he’s on the exec committee. Calif levies sky high taxes–on property, income, sales, and maybe most important capital gains (13.3% v GA 5.75 and FLA zip). He didn’t move his family back here to enjoy those perks. He’s getting deeply involved, I suspect. Hell, at this point, hope.
I bet Farhan’s on a leash now. Here’s the money, kid, but you clear everything big with us.
https://x.com/extrabaggs/status/1717991213570351540?s=46&t=k0FDC_rVBvlG86Y-OHTiNQ
Thanks, just read whole column in TA. Bags in Chapman’s upside as Giant, definitely.
Wel, that’s why Greggie’s statement of ‘somewhat breaking even’ is so banal. It could mean going over the lux tax a little bit, or scraping the bottom of the barrel again. And anything in between.
Will Farhan be unfettered in his requests for Soto type guys?
The Melvin signing brings a level of respect back to the Giants that seemed to bottom out with the Kap firing. And, having Posey as a spokesman gets my attention in a good way. All our drafts the past 3 years have looked good to me but there seem to be a real talent issue going on with multiple players. Maybe Melvin and Posey will at least have some input with Z. Maybe Melvin can bring some new scouting blood to the org.
Apropos of nothing, is Preller an idiot? He could have gotten, and didn’t want, compensation from the Giants to sign him. And Melvin sure seems to be in the Bruce Bochy camp of even-keeled no-nonsense managing. Did Melvin not fall in line with Preller managing the team from his living room?
From what I read, most Pads fans indeed think Preller is an idiot and wished we’d taken him off their hands instead of Melvin…
Also apropos of nothing — just saw my first self-driving car here in Phoenix. When it first appeared in my rearview mirror, I thought it was a cop; what the hell is that spinning thing on the roof? I was waiting for Murph the Robocop to pull me over. I let it pass me. So weird to see no one in it as it sped down the road. I gotta tell ya, it freaked me out a little.
LIDAR. Test cars with those rotors showed up in downtown SF six or seven years ago. I’ve seen some of the cars freeze in place when it’s ok to turn right on red and then stay put when the light changes. The bad SF Cruise accident occurred when another car committed a hit and run and the Cruise couldn’t stop in time as the victim flew into its path. To be safe, the Cruise then moved forward and over to get out of traffic. Unfortunately, the victim got dragged along underneath. Cruise tried to withhold video of the dragging.
They just halted all the Cruise cars in SF due to them hiding evidence of a crash that seriously hurt a woman a couple weeks ago. You may have seen their patch on the Giants unis late this season.
They also just shut down in the middle of busy streets a bunch of times.
That kid Garcia is the shit.
AZ is relentless though. Everyone that gets on base is a lock to steal. They create so many scoring opportunities doing that.
Wow. What a play by Berkeley boy Semien. He backhanded that grounder near SS and made a great falling away throw to first.
He was a rough fielder when the A’s made him a starter. Coach Ron Washington helped him transform.
That was a hell of a play.
Corey Seager 1 out bomb to tie it up 5-5 wow…Blown save for Sewald who’s been so good like Ginkel&Thompson..
No free runner! What a bonus.
Yeah that’s a good thing! Baseball rules committee needs to get their head out of their asses on Ghost runners and go back to real traditional baseball.They save enough time now on pitch clock which I approve along with many here I’m sure, so you don’t need it in extras imo..
Fox playing Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar licks between innings. I don’t think SRV would be pleased to follow a GW Bush ceremonial first pitch on down the line. Just a guess.
Yeah! Good baseball game.
OMG Garcia is unreal walkoff HR!!
EL loco Smoke-0
Warriors about to piss away an 18 point 4th quaerter lead