…. And halfway through August, we can see that Brian Sabean’s moves to upgrade the offense have been a complete bust. The Giants are 7 and 7 in August, having scored 55 runs and allowed 56, which is to say, the average score we’ve seen this month has been 4-3, or 3-4.
The Rockies, on the other hand, have allowed 64 runs and scored 99 runs in 15 games, which is, well, better.
Another trade might be possible, but I doubt it, no? We needed home runs and walks, and we got neither. We traded away good, young, pitching and received a broken Freddie Sanchez, and Ryan Garko, who has done essentially nothing (10 for 49) since he’s been here. Not for nothing, but I’m pretty sure Ishikawa can run out a 10 for 49 without too much effort. In fact, Ishikawa was 11 for 49 in April, and he was 11 for 44 in June, which is to say, Garko has performed well enough for Sabean to make a trade to replace him.
Funny, though it may be, it’s really sad. Ishikawa was actually beginning to hit when Sabean threw away the baby with the bath water. A nice .300/.329/.414 with a .743 OPS in 70 at-bats in July, after hitting 4 home runs in June…. I’m not saying he was the second coming of Will Clark or anything, but that stat line could certainly fit nicely in any one of JT Snow’s seasons. I know, I know, being happy that our first baseman hits like JT is sad, absurd, and quite unbelievable, but we’re comparing Ishikawa to trading for Garko, remember?
Sadly, there was no need to go and get Garko, a player who is only moderately more productive than Ishikawa, while being quite a bit worse with the glove. Oh, but that’s right, only hitters like Dunn need to be great with the glove. Picking up a guy with stone hands who is worth about three home runs per season more than the guy we already have is fine; but signing a guy with stone hands who is gonna finish in the top five in home runs for the sixth straight season, now that would be an outrage. There’s no room on the Giants for that guy.
And so the Giants are sinking, and still need offense, and we have two fewer pitchers in our stable of tradable commodities that Sabean has supposedly been stockpiling so that he could trade them for bats.
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OBM Gents,
Just when you thought you’ve seen pretty much every idiotic move Bochy has to offer….low and behold…he one ups himself.
Pulling Ish and putting Renteria as pinch hitter in 8th takes the cake. Not only is Renteria one of the worst hitters on team…he is not a fly ball hitter…when all you need is SF for lead…and most likely win. This move ranks as one of the worst ever I have ever seen. Not to mention taking your best glove 1b out of the game.
If I’m Ish…I’m thinking this organization has no confidense in me…and are doing everything possible in their power to eliminate any chances I might get to prove myself. Horrible mgmt all the way around. Lets give our trust-worthy veteran Renteria the shot. Wouldn’t want Ish to succeed…so as to give a reason for more playing time.
Fucking pathetic.
nate was finally allowed to play tonite
and omg…he had 2 doubles
that should earn him another week long stint on the bench
people question why we can be upset with the team winning…especially since no one expected them to
alot has to do with the orgs previous philosophy of “win now baby”
that philosophy doomed the org to 4 years of losing seasons
yes, it would be nice to get back to the playoffs…but not at the expense of the future
winn, rentewreck, rowand a fat mo should not be a part of this orgs future
Unc Joe & +mia,
Shierholtz better start from here on out…One of two best hitters on team…period. I guess Ish is buried for rest of year…so much for the platoon situation with Garko. He’s getting totally fucked…as usual.
I don’t care that Garko is 4-9 in last two games…pretty much still a singles hitter…and station to station ball. He still doesn’t bring enough to the table to make up for his poor defensive skills. I still think Garko should be playing only against lhp…period. He is just another Idiot justification. Garko is still a major downgrade from Ish. This deal will continue to go south…just stick around. Garko still is one of the softest hitters in the line-up….but they’ll continue to run him out over Ish.
Same thing is happening to Lewis…another guy who is 2-3 pinch its…and still cannot get any playing time.
Scott:
I guess Barbieri and Jon Miller got into it a little bit on the pre-game show when Mouth kept pressing Miller on the subject of Shierholtz.
Bochy said he wanted to give Sandoval a blow because he looked tired but couldn’t because after he put in Whiteside and used up Garko, he would not have had an emergency catcher if Whiteside got hurt.
Bochy said he couldn’t give Sandoval a blow tonight early in spite of his tired throws and tired swings because Sanchez sore shoulder was acting up and he had to play Uribe at 2b.
Bochy didn’t say that he foresaw this coming with Sandoval earlier in the year when Pablo was buying himself six-packs of $500.00 McDonalds gift cards.
Winn got the start and popped up on the first pitch after Bailey FUCKING WALKED BEN MOLINA
Rowand did manage to ground out weakly to ss on ball 3.
Uribe hit a homerun. His 3rd since Freddy Sanchez joined the team. Freddie does have 5 RBIs though he has no homeruns.
I saw Baker laugh his ass off at homeplate when he got the Giants lineup card.
Bochy got tossed. He must be using the motherfucker word or something, because he is about as animated as a banana slug in hibernation. What a fucking tool!
Sanchez has a home run with the Giants. He went yard b-t-b with Pablo a couple weeks ago.
You’re right. In Houston. Thanks for the correction.
Ish and Shierholtz on the bench. +mia’s statement about favoritism rings true. Garko and Winn getting ab’s is a joke. In a band box like Cinn…Ish and Shierholtz…for pure power reasons alone should be starting…besides better avg…better glove. Bochy, as dumb as he is…is not making this line-up out.
This is pure political…reaks of “the Idiot”…and Baer.
Timmy needs to shut them down.
I will say, I may have underestimated Garko’s ineptness in the field. I still believe defense should be a big factor in evaluating someone like Dunn, but maybe I didn’t realize how bad Garko was, too. Signing Dunn clearly was a better option than a midseason trade for Garko.
Agree about Garko. Ishikawa seemed to be on a fairly good developmental trajectory for next year. I like the Sanchez pickup, though, because it does give us a good-average hitter and, well, resolves the what’s-on-second problem question (for better or worse or meh).
No doubt a big bat is essential to turn this into a consistently winning team. I’m guessing that the price was too dear (Madbum) for a real impact bat now. I expect a big bat will be top priority in the off season.
This year is a building year. Nine games over .500, and break-even was all that we thought we could hope for. Yes, a wild-card slot may present itself. Great. But that’s a bonus and not worth selling part of the farm for. IMHO
WillieMaysHayes
not sure what internal scouting you are talking about, but alderson was working on a pitch, that most likely caused his velocity to drop
first game for the bucs aa team and the guy threw a no hitter for 5…with velocity
sanchez wouldve been a good offseason aquistion…not a stretch run one…the man is the walking wounded and will not make it to october
the garko trade is a joke
it is sabean again flexing his muscles and making a kneejerk trade when a more intelligent long term one was in order
kinda like the one made by the bosox for victor martinez
omg…a power hitting catcher….there’s a concept
John, thank you for continually beating the logic drum even if it is depressing. How is the bay area media not picking up and slamming Sabean for this being Hillenbrand part 2? Because of the positional adjustment a mediocre hitting 1st baseman without glove skills is just not very valuable.
However, the Sanchez trade could still turn out to be a case of good internal scouting as we’re seeing the beginnings of Tim Alderson being exposed as less than we thought lately. I can’t see any hope of Garko for Barnes proving to be a good deal as time marches on.
quite amusing, John, and good point – trading Garko straight up to get Ishikawa would probably be an upgrade.
This is not encouraging.
Not encouraging?? I just stabbed myself in the eyes with a shrimp fork
John.
My sentiments exactly. I’ve been posting all along how the Garko deal bothered me most. Got blasted by a couple on this site for it…primarily by El…who has gone incredibly quiet.
Have alwasy liked Ish’s glove…and I’ve stated on many occasions he was inproving…coming off a great July….and as you know…I am alwasy pushing for the development of our position player Kids.
Since joining the Gigantes…Garko has developed and inside out swing…trying to hit to the right side. Granted he hits a lot of hard hit one hoppers to 2b…which if men were on base would be taylor made dp’s. But, his swing looks slow…and he does not appear to be able to catch up to a NL fastball. This was not the swing he had in Cleveland. And with each passing game…the pressing will get worse.
Players react strange to being traded the first time….no real home for at least a month…living out of a suitcase day in and day out. The Idiot should’ve realized that most GM’s do not trade between leagues for a position player…just too difficult a transition to make an immediate impact. I’ve been saying this all along. He grew up in the Tribe organization…and that’s all he knew…and was comfortable with. It was just too tough a move for Garko. He may pan out next year…but, we needed help NOW.
Not trying to make excuses for Garko…it’s just that “The Idiot” should’ve taken all these factors into consideration….and realized the probability of immediate impact was low…positive impact that is. Garko in the field is sub-par….and doesn’t even get to balls that Ish would routinely make.
How you so well pointed out…he is a downgrade from Ish…in all respects. Enough said.
As disgusted as I am so far with both of these trades, in fairness I want to see how it plays out in the end. But based on what I’ve seen, (a broken down low obp, 2b in Sanchez, and Shea Hillenbrand II) there isn’t much to see here except for the absurdity of the marginal improvements that both bring. Thats how bad its been. For several years. IF one can call Garko’s 60 Plate Appearances, Zero homeruns, 4 RBIs and a .530OPS a marginal improvement over anyone who doesn’t ride a short yellow bus to the ballpark. Freddy Sanchez sub 700 OPS, broken wheels, and 5 RBIs are little better, except for the fact that it cost the Giants their 2nd best pitching prospect.
Sabean is now convinced that he got over on the Pirates because he didn’t have to throw in Madison Bumgardner and Buster Posey. Considers himself an expert in brinksmanship negotiations as a result. Probably thinks he can pick up John Smoltz from the Red Sox for just Posey now I bet.
And in the period of time it took for the idiot to bring aboard those two, the Cardinals went out and picked up a left fielder. Matt Holliday on July 24th in exchange for a nice AAA 3b prospect and a couple of relative throw-ins. And what have the Cards received back from Holliday since that time?
100 Plate Appearances in 22 games. Five Homeruns, 22 RBIS and a couple of stolen bases. While hitting at a .449 clip with an OBP of .480 and SLG .753 for a 1.233 OPS. Does it kind of remind you of a leftfielder the Giants used to have before they fed him to the IRS SS and Dept of Justice Gestapo?
The Cards were 6 games over .500 with a +27 Run Differential on July 25th, a half game in front of the Cubs.
As of August 17th, they are 16 games over .500 with a +57 Run Differential and a 6 game lead over the Cubs
Freddy Sanchez played his first game for the Giants on August 3. They were a half a game behind the Rockies in the wild card, 10 games over .500 with a run differential of +33. As of August 17th they are still 10 games over .500 a game back of the Rockies with a run differential of +36. Virtually unchanged. Virtually the same results as before. Another half-measure by Sabean again.
I don’t get how Sabean is not hauled up by his scraggly chin hair and slapped across the face for this ongoing travesty
+mia,
The worst part of the Garko deal….is the opportunity cost to Ish and the team. Garko still gets 80% of the ab’s…even against hack rhp’s…which Ish could feast on. Just another slow footed,no power,no avg., no glove veteran…that the Idiot has handed us. He has cornered the market on this.
Continuing to start him against rhp’s…hoping that he will come around…is another case of the Idiot trying to justify his moves. I’m sure the Garko deal has created dissention among the ranks…especially the pitchers…who want Ish’s glove out there. Garko’s current swing will not deliver even warning track power.
For a broken down player…Sanchez is holding his own…and is an improvement from the status quo. The jury still out on this one.
The sad thing…is the Idiot is real proud of himself on the Garko deal….and the SF media has bought into it…and contiues to cover it up….while our Third Reich Marketing machine continues to churn out bogus propaganda.
Only in SF my friends.
Maybe Shierholtz will finally get rewarded with a start for blasting one off the fence.