I’ve been a Giants fan since 1959, when WINS in NY used to broadcast games from the coast. I’ve enjoyed the good times and suffered through the lousy ones. However, on this night, I left early because they are unwatchable.

There are approximately 3 major league position players (Molina, Rowand, Winn) on this roster. There are some good young starting pitchers (Lincecum, Sanchez, Cain) and an OK closer (Beach Boy). Zito is a back-of-the-rotation starter making top-starter $$. The manager is a hack; the GM has run the franchise into the ground. There is no likelihood that this team will be any better before 2010 at the absolute earliest.

For the last few years, I have bought Extra Innings to follow the Giants. Not this year. They’re not worth the investment. From what I see on box scores and the occasional TV clip, a lot of SF fans have come to the same conclusion.

The only question this year is whether they will lose 100 games. My money says they will.

Link to that please.

All reports at the time(s) were that that there was no interest from anywhere and that the Giants bid against themselves.

Amen to that. I bought MLB Extra 3 years ago, because I found the Gigantes style(station to station) too lethargic…excluding the excitement a Bonds ab brought to the game….when he wasn’t being intentionally walked. But, that being said, all the problems of three years ago, are front and center now. There is no Bonds to mask and cover the faults. Bonds made everyone better….and more time was spent worrying about Bonds…which equates to stress innings. Better pitches for others. Bringing in Rowand, is a band-aid approach for a deep wound. He is a role player…and the Gigantes are in desperate need of a game changing franchise player…like a Vlad. Too little…too late.

With tough ecomomic times, the Gigantes marketing organization has succeeded in getting PacBell and a day at the yard as a “family event”. Regardless of the product, families come out for a game, and spend a total vacation in one day. Never ceases to amaze me. Which I guess is why they waste so much time showing kids eating ice cream and cotton candy. The game is a side show. There will come a time, when people wake up and realize they could be in Hawaii for less. Even Vegas realized in the end…that the family approach for “sin city” wasn’t working. Now it’s back to “what happens in Vegas…stays in Vegas”. Screw the family venue.

I agree…make a decision and rebuild…show some direction with conviction. Presently, I have no idea what direction the organization is heading. But, they make tons of money…in spite of themselves. I would have Aurilia at first and bring in Beltre to play third…and yes…I would bring Bonds back…for appreciation reasons alone…but, after what’s transpired…I doubt he would do it.

The fans need to see the light first…before they can turn the switch off.

I wasn’t going to say anything about Zito’s “whatever” performance against the Mets today, but after reading that…well, it is just too much to giggle at

For the record: 5+ innings pitched 105 pitches 10 earned baserunners 6 BBs 2 Ks. 2 earnies. Of the 105 pitches 58 strikes-47 balls. And more than a couple of those strikes were fouls on pitches out of the strike zone. Having said that, the Mets are hot right now and that they scored 12 runs off of Lincecum and Sanchez and the bullpen in 16 innings prior to today’s game is indicative of that fact. So it could have been worse. At least Barry had a pretty good rhythm out there.

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Giants lineup?

Just for shits and giggles and pure entertainment?

Lewis RF
Durham 2b
Sexson 1b
Bonds LF
Rowand CF
Molina C
Aurilia 3b
Burris SS

There would be entertainment for sure.

This team has only scored more than 4 runs 29 times this year. And they lost 13 of those games. And 4 of the wins came against the Expos/Nationals.

This team simply cannot score runs. At .707, they lead only the Dodgers, Padres and Nats in OPS. 707? That’s an outdated Boeing Jetliner that debuted in the 1950s, not a damned MLB OPS unless your name is FP Santangelo. And only the even more pathetic Pads and Nats have scored fewer runs. Two of the worst teams in the history of universe. Or at least this season.

The propaganda “all-out” “gamer” “playing the way the game is supposed to be played” is that the Giants are a “small ball” team. Uhm well they rank 9th in the NL in SB% at 71% with a whopping 69 SBs in 92 games. They are next to last in BB at 276 and lead only the Astros who have 275. They have hit into 78 Double Plays-9 more than Stolen bases- and have the worst HR/AB in the NL by a ton 1 homerun for every 54 ABs. The Marlins by contrast lead the NL with 1 homerun in every 24 ABs. By comparison, every team in the National League hits at least one home run in less than 40 ABs except the Giants, Expos/Nats, and Dodgers.

Simply stated this is one of the worst Giants teams in memory. It is a team without a plan, without direction, and its players seem just about on the verge of giving up the ghost.

Except on the days that Lincecum and or Sanchez pitches, there isn’t much to look forward to.

Bland Ass baseball for the last 4-5 years. These clods need to have some fun. Controversy is fun. Do something imbecilic in addition to bringing in Sexson and Bonds. Cut loose Zito too. Bring in Brenley to manage and Robby Thompson for 3b coach. Bring in Trevor Wilson or Roger Craig back out of retirement for all I care. Pitching coaches are overrated anyway at this level. This franchise has been numbing its fanbase like an overdose of Novocain for the last several years. The fans won’t even take, much less fill-out All Star Ballots being distributed by the ushers at PacBell. And thats in the brie and whine section of Larry Baer. WTF? If that isn’t a wakeup call, I don’t know what is. I’m sick and tired of boring bland politically expedient milquetoast management styles from all the Bay Area Sport franchises, and the Giants are the biggest offender simply because they have the best facility and the most money and they have given themselves double hernias trying to be the West Coast Version of the Washington Montreal Puerto Rico Caracas Moscow Expos Nationals Mudhens Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings.

DO SOMETHING INTERESTING you jackasses. Before the last fan turns out the lights on the way out. Pathetic.

Good call on Zito and the sunglasses. Both my brothers and I were watching and said “dude, shed the shades”. I guess he thinks it’s cool….or he’s too cool. Hopefully, he continues his new found success. I refuse to even talk about Boras…he’s feeling real good about Zito and Andruw Jones…actually, he could care less.

Before we make this a mutual admiration society, I would like to take a few shots at the lack of fundamentals…and poor game mgmt. by the Gigantes. I will just point out what just happened tonight….which is all too typical. Gigantes hurting to score runs…pitch to Castro with two outs(1st and 3rd) and Santana(.130 hitter) on deck. No…let’s pitch to the Castro…3 run bomb. Sanchez is young and there’s no need to take that chance…who cares if the line-up gets flipped. Walk him…get Santana, and keep it 0-0. Typical Bochy and Rags mentality. Just don’t get it. Somebody needs to be thinking somewhere on that bench. This is not a club that can afford to get behind. I’m sure this is not lost on most fans…just to Bochy.

Too pissed to go on a rant. But, would like to hear what others think the Gigantes line-up should be.

Sorry if my tone is taken as a personal affront. It is not intended that way. I write the way I talk and I know it comes off as smartass. Hence my little dig at myself above “…my smug-ass and pedantic way ..”

I love the give and take and punching of debate about baseball. Your appreciation for my writing is only exceeded by mine for yours and others here, including the guys I take swipes at. Its all in the spirit of debate, and I hope that guys are as passionate about their ideas as I am mine.

I am not down on Zito per say. I would encourage every ballplayer to accept the best offer they can get. I would encourage every person who works for a paycheck to accept the best offer they can get in the workplace. Now having said that, sometimes the best offer is not the most money one can get. Sometimes its being smart enough to look in the mirror and realize that your true value is vastly overrated by others. And that sooner or later, your going to get found out. It takes a big person to realize that. That is what a good agent who has his clients best interest at heart will tell that ballplayer. Thats why guys like Lee Steinberg and Jeff Moorad were/are respected and liked as player agents, and guys like Scott Boras and Drew Rosenhaus are despised by so many.

Bonds routinely accepted less money to stay in S.F. The SF 49ers routinely took less money and rearranged their contracts to help management acquire the players that they all needed to remain championship contenders. Including Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Joe Montana. Hall of Famers each. (Rice as soon as he is eligible of course)

So you’re right. There is very little, if anything Zito can do to change my mind about him. Until he changes. He is who he we see out there. And until he makes a decision and acts upon that decision, he will remain a subpar performer. And he needs to lose the fucking sunglasses if he is doing interviews. He’s not good enough for affectations.

Alright, so I get your point. But, no need for a 1000 word rebuke. I realize a pitcher controls the flow, and that Vizquel has a legacy at short, and provides stability. The Gigantes lose too many one run games because of their anemic offense, and putting Burriss in there would be a plus…maybe more wins than ZIto loses. Bowker got his shot…and will never look back. I refuse to get on a witch hunt regarding Zito. If Zito rolls out three more stellar performances…it can only add value. The Gigantes have no other choice than to roll the dice and pitch him. I get the feeling there’s nothing Zito can do to ever get you off his case.

On the other hand, I find your posts entertaining…and unlike you, I do not take it personally when someone totally thinks I’m off base. That’s what makes this site what it is. Be a pretty shitty world if everyone thought the same. Even when you get completely venemous…I do not take the time to break down every point and critique your opinions. It’s cool though…your blogs make this site all the more worthwhile. I almost read it for your posts alone…John should take note.

I find your assessment of the Gigantes front office 150% spot on. I will no longer hold a season ticket because of the Bonds treatment. The Gigantes make money regardless of the product they field. That in itself is the problem. Bonds carried the load for years. It will take at least two more years before the Bonds fall-out hits their books.

In my mind, the line-up is as big an issue as Zito…for winning games. Not just “deck chairs” even though I realize you were referencing Vizquel/Burriss situation as a lower tier decision. They all count….and wins is what we’re all looking for. Little things equate to runs…and the Gigantes are in desperate need of that.

And I think comparing Vizquel’s status to Zito is unfair. Vizquel has averaged a little over 4.6 assists/putouts per game over the course of his career prior to this season. That means he handles the ball on average one time, every other inning. The pitcher on the other hand, handle the ball an average of 25 to 30 times over the course of those same 2 innings. This is just my smug-ass and pedantic way of saying a pitcher’s role is significantly more important than an infielder’s on defense.

And on defense Omar is still viable, though his range is limited compared to the Omar of 1995. Also, Vizquel is 100 years old and he readily acknowledges that fact.

Comparing a shortstop to a pitcher is like comparing a Tight End used primarily for running plays, to the QB, in terms of their relative importance to the outcome of a game. What combo would you rather have: Lincecum and Vizquel, or Zito and Burris? Swapping out shortstops on this team with Zito on the mound is the proverbial rearrangement of deck chairs on the Titantic

Insofar as his Interstate Batting Average and his 400 OPS? Yeah, he can’t hit anymore. But neither can anybody else on this roster. The 7,8 and 9 spots in the Giants order have been automatic outs since 2004 anyway. Everybody knows this is Omar’s last year. The fans are cutting Omar slack I believe, because they know this season is it for him. This is his swan song. Thanks for the memories, though all the really good ones were made in Cleveland Indians laundry; etc. etc. Yeah, Burris should be playing. Or even Bocock or the ball dudes for all the difference it makes. Vizquel is a disaster at the plate. We know that. But he plays everyday because of Bochy and Sabean and a whole lot of other issues that beset the Zoolanders in the front office. He’s gone by the end of September anyway. Yeah, it would be nice if one of the tryout kids was in there everyday for evaluation, but whatever. Hard to get excited about deck chairs.

Zito on the other hand has done little more than embarrass himself on the mound since he got here. Even terminal cancer patients have “good days” once in awhile. Zito’s presence is a roster tumor. It is a bad thing when the team you are supposed to lead to the promised land is committed to cough up 25% of player payroll forever to this guy even though he stinks more than the Harris Ranch Stockyards in the middle of August. If and when Lowry gets back, the Giants need to dfa Zito. The sooner the better. Mike Hampton, Kevin Brown and Russ Ortiz are still collecting millions. At least we don’t have to look at their sorry asses ditzing around a pitching mound taking us out of ballgames every 5th day in the process.

Your style counts…and your posts are entertaining. We all understand your feelings about Zito(as a player). There is a lot more wrong than just Zito. You’ve completely disected him on many occasions. At times, I feel your conclusions, accurate as they may be…are some what unfair. I’m a Gigantes fan first…so, if the only alternative is to pitch him, we should start judging him from what he’s doing from today on. We all agree his past performances are sub-par(they suck)…and his contract from hell will saddle the Gigantes for years to come. We can all thank Peter and Sabean for that. Worse yet, other pichers will be using Zito’s contract as a barometer for negotiating salaries.

There’s plenty more wrong than just Zito. I’ve been posting all year about Vizquel getting far too much playing time. You don’t hear too many people booing Vizquel’s .155 BA. Lucky this isn’t Philly. Burriss needs to play…and not just one game a week. I like Molina…but, he cannot continue to bat clean-up. The line-up needs to be revamped. Just how bad is the NL Worst…we’re 12 under .500…and only 6 out of first. Since we cannot win at home…most likely a last place finish.