Comments on: …. Dan-dy

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:25:00 +0000

I’ve posted this before, but each glorious Barry Zito performance motivates me to post it again. Here are Brian Sabean’s last four major pitching-related transactions:

4. Traded Nathan, Liriano, and Bonser for AJ Pierzynski.
3. Sign Armando Benitez for over $20 mill.
2. Signed Matt Morris for nearly $30 mill.
1. Signed Zito for $126 mill.

Has any other GM ever had a run like this? The AJ trade and the Zito signing may be the two biggest baseball fiascos of the 21st century. The Benitez signing was an epic disaster. The Morris signing turned out badly. Basically the Giants gave up 3 good pitchers and $180 million and got nothing in return.

Now, you might think that a GM that has compiled this kind of trading record, and who has also failed to develop a single ML-caliber hitter in ten years, deserves to be fired.

And you would be right.

By: S

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:21:29 +0000

I feel terrible for Matt Cain.

By: Jay T.

Jay T. — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:03:37 +0000

Poor Matt Cain… I’m telling you, he’s going to go nuts. A no-hitter through 6 innings and the only run of support he got while actually pitching was his own home run? And he still gets a no decision? Man, that’s rough. At this rate he’ll probably finish the season with a stat line like this: 4-6 , 2.95 ERA without missing a start. I wonder what the all time record is for no decisions for a starting pitcher?

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:26:39 +0000

Thanks for the “running into fences” comment – I’d been wondering why no one had pointed that out even when he was in Phillie. No doubt in part that’s a result of the ESPN glorification of such stupidity. Running into things, playing hurt, diving and crashing are supposedly signs of being a “gamer.” Bonds more than once pointed out (when he still had his wheels) that he couldn’t help the team if he was on the DL from trying to do something spectacular but stupid. That was a rather pointed and telling poke at Griffey, the guy the media always wanted to be better than Bonds. I’m still convinced that’s where a lot of their rancor toward Barry came from. Junior was supposed to be the Second Coming, with his big grin and silly hats, but for some reason he couldn’t get through a season in one piece, while Barry just kept outdoing him year after year. Poor babies just couldn’t handle the grumpy guy coming out on top of their angel (somehow the fact that Junior was a much bigger whiner than Bonds didn’t count – except to Seattle fans, who were not particularly sorry to see him go).

I’m still stuck on Bonds, I see. I’m not alone – I saw more Bonds jerseys at the game the other night than all the others combined. Oh, and yes, there are a couple of Bonds reminders on the center field wall – not very conspicuous, but there nonetheless, so he hasn’t been purged from the stadium as Bruce Jenkins would have us believe. Pathetic as Jenkins is, he’s still better than Glen Dickey.

The other thing I noticed at the game was that the crowd was a lot more like the ones at the ‘Stick. If having a down season brings back the hardcore rowdies and drives out the corporate yuppies, it may be worth it.

By: Mark O'Connor

Mark O'Connor — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:20:15 +0000

Agree completely, +mia. I knew about a guy once who would overspend at a car dealership for a “status” ride like a Cadillac. Then he could brag to all who’d listen about how expensive his car was, and how the salesmen treated him like royalty when he whipped out his fat wad. It was idiotic, of course. Sort of like our “brain” trust.

By: grega

grega — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:16:33 +0000

After these last three games I feel for me it’s time to re-assess the definition of success. The Giants are not a playoff team. They are manager-front office challenged so the definition has to fit the situation.

I think if they find out if Sanchez and Corriea are indeed rotation guys either here or with another team then that fits my new definition. They have several position players who may get some spotty playing time but if they can make statements like below:

We have our future second baseman here.
or
We have to find a second baseman because Frandsen and Velez suck

Fred Lewis can play a major league outfield spot
or
He can’t.

Rajai Davis is fourth outfielder-pinch runner
or
He needs a new line of work

Brian Wilson is a closer
or
He’s not

If we know this by seasons end then I say its a successful season.
Doesn’t mean too much I realize but I don’t know how to make it through otherwise.

By: +mia

+mia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:57:50 +0000

Nothing will change until Sabean and Bochy and their scouts are gone. There is no leadership in the front office nor on the field. As CJ Points out they will win some games with a staff era of .33. But it won’t be very many when they are averaging 2.5 runs per game and a stellar 3.0 runs in their 3 game mini streak over two of the weaker teams in MLB.

I am completely unimpressed with Aaron Rowand. Besides his definitive SoCal, Barry Zito, Mark Prior, Brett Tomko, FP Santangelo frat-boy too-cool-for-school nightclub demeanor, he plays CF like he never saw the position in his life. He couldn’t find a cut-off guy with a search warrant. He got blinded by his girlie necklace and managed to turn a runner on second into a runner on third in Los Angeles. He makes Magellen’s Great Circle Route look like a laser beam. Jim Edmonds and even Rick Ankiel make Rowand look a Sunday Beerleaguer in comparison. Aaron Rowan is what Dave Roberts should have been, an ordinary outfielder, not a Todd Linden redux. No clue on how to play CF here. Guys with 5 year contracts should, you know…actually acclimate one’s self to their work environment. Running into fences doesn’t mean you’re good…it means you’re an idiot that has lost situational awareness.

Another fucking douchebag long term contract.

By: CJ

CJ — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:25:58 +0000

They’ll win some games if the team ERA stays below 0.33 like it has been the past 3 games. Kind of have to.

By: uncle joe mccarthy

uncle joe mccarthy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:05:08 +0000

i cant not believe that people on this board trust sabean to trade for johnson…he was dfa, not outright released

if he clears waivers, maybe they will take a flyer

and even if signed, you really think he would play?

bochy is still trotting ray and ritchie out there

ort hits a walkoff??? back to the bench my son

velez hits a triple??? back to the bench my son

the only reason that freddie will get any playing time is cuz roberts is doing what he has always been great at….spending a season on the dl

By: Jay T.

Jay T. — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:08:13 +0000

Right now they’re up on the Cardinals in the 8th with a 4-0 lead and Correia pitching great. I have to admit, maybe I took the Giants’ pitching a little for granted because of horrible Zito and that 126 million dollar contract is. Maybe they’ll be only a 90 loss team, and with that line-up that’d be pretty impressive.

The question is, if Zito doesn’t improve dramatically this season, is his 126 million dollar contract going to be the worst of all time? I know Pavano was a horrible signing for New York, but in total it was only about one third as much money.