Bitch about the Giants here.

"When Lincecum was in Egypt's land... let my Lincecum go..."

I have to revise my Beardo Morris projection: 29-1.

Lincecum does it again.

Ah yes, the established order of things wherein a team of Christians thoroughly trounce a team with an unusually high number (read: 5) of college graduates.

Lincecum is interesting to watch.

I agree, interesting up until SF's bullpen is involved.

lol @ benetiz.

at least Bochy found someone to focus the Shea wrath away from BB.

that was a good game to watch.

they had to lose it, after gaining the lead in the 12th, because that makes more sense for this year.

The Giants traded Benitez (and $$$) to the Marlins for Randy Messenger.

won't help THAT much

Addition by subtraction.

Hope you and Linden have fun in Florida, Blownitez. Throw me a postcard.

The timing is wretched, of course; should've been dealt early in the season when he was "good." <20/20 glasses>

I'd almost think that the best thing for this team would be to crash & burn so the issues @ hand (the threadbare farm system, hitter-wise; Sabean's octogenarian fetish; Russ Ortiz) could finally be addressed.

-- David R., Thursday, April 26, 2007 7:19 AM

Look at Nostradamus over here! I hope you're happy!!!

Actually, I've been pulling for a collapse for exactly the reasons stated way back when (Sabean out, R@posa in???), with an extra helping "trade overperforming vets (hi Matt Morris!) for prospects at the deadline" aka "Why did they not move Schmidt last year????"

yeah, we have finally made it to last place. only 8.0 games behind, have we won any one run games this year?

Last night because of injuries and substitutions, Feliz had to rotate to catcher, Winn to third, and NOAH LOWRY to right field. And I stopped watching after Lincecum was pulled in the fifth.

I hope we tank at this point, I don't want any BS "playoff push" moves.

Nonsense, we're still playing mathematically meaningful games!

Last night because Bochy cannot properly utilize his bench, Feliz had to rotate to catcher, Winn to third, and NOAH LOWRY to right field.

fixed

also,

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/HarpoGarza/barrys.jpg

and

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/HarpoGarza/zito.jpg

and also maybe even

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/HarpoGarza/swisher.jpg

Is Bochy still on the Padres' payroll or something? 123 pitches from Cain last night?

Cain's kinda fucked, isn't he? 2-7 with a low 3 ERA?

http://www.bbcarchive.org.uk/pmwiki/pub/localphotos/sinking_ship.jpg

I'm excited that we're finally going to be sellers. Morris coming through this year is perfect timing.

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/graphics/ocean.jpg

So, what is Lincecum's ERA up to these days?

He should pitch against the Astros more. That would help.

LOL

ouch. sorry buddy. been there, a lot.

What's happening? This all seems so new to me.

SF Giants all-time record for SBs:
1. (tie) Barry Bonds - 263
1. (tie) Bobby Bonds - 263

RETURN OF THE LINCECUM WATCH!

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070626/capt.097ac4bc49344ff0a721f66231f9b673.padres_giants_baseball_fxpb107.jpg

7 IP
3 H
0 ER
0 BB
12 K oh noes double digits throws off the alignment!!!

he is really awesome.

oh man i picked him out of desperation for extra pitching yesterday, THANK JESUS I AM SUCH A GENIUS

1 of those hits off Lincecum was Ray Durham losing a playable popfly in the sun.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070704/capt.6022df0f1fab44b9ab81572994204ce0.giants_reds_baseball_csb114.jpg

Lets all toast to Sabean's contract extension!

Sabean has new deal and new strategy

Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, July 14, 2007

The general manager stays. The philosophy of the last decade goes.

In announcing a two-year contract extension for Brian Sabean on Friday, with an option for 2010, managing general partner Peter Magowan expressed faith in Sabean to build another winner and acknowledged that the old way of getting there -- do whatever it takes to get to the playoffs now and worry about the future later -- must be changed.

Thus, the Giants say, they will rebuild by striking a balance between younger position players, who are developed through the farm system or acquired in trade, and free agents. If that means the Giants cannot get to the playoffs in 2007 or 2008, so be it.

"The hope is we can surprise ourselves with what I think the team could be, led by (our) young pitching staff," Magowan said, "but if in fact we need to develop patience so that we're in a better chance to win and sustain winning in a couple of years or so, we're prepared to do that.

"I don't want you to think we have no interest in winning in '08. We do. But it's a different philosophy, a different emphasis, where every year we have felt, possibly incorrectly, that we have a chance to get into the playoffs. ... I think the emphasis is changing."

Asked if that means he is prepared to sweat through more difficult seasons as the Giants build for the long haul, Magowan said, "If I have to, yes."

Barry Bonds' name did not surface during a conference call with reporters to announce Sabean's contract extension (in which Magowan did most of the talking). However, Bonds does not seem to fit the plan that Sabean and Magowan sketched for 2008, which also could accelerate a sell-off of veteran players this summer.

Sabean said he "cherished" the additional chance ownership has conferred upon him to execute a plan that he and Magowan have discussed over the last month. GMs who oversee two consecutive losing seasons with a third on the way usually do not get extended in midseason.

"Frankly, this is an emotional time," Sabean said. "When you're in a position where you don't want to leave an organization that has been so good to you, in a city and a place you love so much, especially with your family concerned, I'm deeply flattered. This is a great first step for ourselves and the staff to get busy, as we need to, to turn our fortunes around.

"We have fallen off the wave we've been riding for a long time. We're going to have to reinvent ourselves again and ride that wave as long as we can."

Sabean is halfway through his 11th season as general manager. Under Sabean's leadership, the Giants won three division titles, a National League wild card and a pennant between 1997 and 2003.

Sabean's record has not been as stellar since. After barely missing the playoffs in 2004, the Giants went 75-87 and 76-85 over the next two seasons and stood 38-48 at the All-Star break this year. Moreover, several of Sabean's trades and free-agent signings have backfired.

In March, Magowan said he would not decide Sabean's fate until the season ended. But he acknowledged Friday it would be difficult for Sabean to implement a rebuilding plan as a lame-duck general manager.

Magowan said Sabean developed the plan, and the owner called it something "I can get enthusiastic about."

"I'm very glad to be able to say Brian will be our GM for the next couple of years and quite possibly longer than that," Magowan said. "We've all been disappointed in our results the last 2 1/2 years, but in assessing Brian I have to be thinking about the overall record he's achieved, still one of the best in baseball. I have a good working relationship with Brian. I trust him. I believe he trusts me."

Although Sabean and his staff will stay, there could be changes in the front office. As part of their discussions, ownership asked Sabean to consider hiring other baseball executives to give the GM another set of eyes for assessing free agents, trade targets and amateur talent.

Also, Sabean has been asked to be open-minded about different philosophies, including the statistical analyses that have gained favor. Several teams have added experienced executives to seemingly full front offices. In San Diego, for example, San Diego GM Kevin Towers has former A's GM Sandy Alderson as a boss and former Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta as an underling.

Sabean said some of his discussions with Magowan focused on "examining every facet" of the front office, "to know what we've done well, to know how and why we've underachieved, see where we're spending money, see where we can spend money more wisely and all be very open-minded now."

Although Sabean and Magowan said they are not prepared to pull the plug on this year's team, Magowan said the Giants will not acquire a rent-a-player by the July 31 trade deadline and will not move their best young pitchers and pitching prospects.

Sabean said he would be open more to the type of deal that netted the Giants Livan Hernandez in 1999 and Randy Winn in 2005, which could help them now and later.

Magowan also said Sabean has gotten a bum rap for not developing position players, because the organizational philosophy had been to draft pitchers to be used later as trade bait -- a plan that worked well early in Sabean's tenure, but not so well lately, and has been altered in the last few drafts.

Sabean said he would be open more to the type of deal that netted the Giants AJ Pierzynski in 2004 and Vinnie Chulk in 2006, which could help them now and later.

The inability to acknowledge the fact that a re-build is needed is ridiculous, "re-tool" my ass.

Joe Sheehan:

Giants extend Brian Sabean’s contract. Are you kidding me? Somehow, the idea has taken hold that Brian Sabean isn’t responsible for the state of the Giants, that it’s the need to keep Barry Bonds around that has tied his hands, as if having the only guy in baseball with a .500 OBP (offer not valid at the moment) hamstrings the team and the GM. Barry Bonds is a bargain at his current price, not just for business reasons but for baseball ones. The real problem is that Sabean’s decisions outside of keeping Bonds-—especially this past winter-—are the reasons why the Giants are awful.

The Barry Zito signing has been poked and prodded enough that I’ll leave it alone here. Focus instead on the offense—despite having Bonds, the Giants have a .320 team OBP. Sabean brought in Rich Aurilia to play first base, for reasons passing understanding; he’s at .291. He signed Bengie Molina to a three-year deal; he's at .295. He gave Ray Durham, who’s 2006 screamed “late-career power fluke,” a two-year deal; .320. He signed Dave Roberts to a two-year deal; .304. He brought back Pedro Feliz, who’s just an awful player; .269.

The Giants are lousy because Brian Sabean built a team around Barry Bonds that had almost no choice but to fail. He valued service time more than he did getting on base, and for that, he has a .440 team and a new contract extension.

Ryan Klesko has been quietly having a solid season. No one seems to mention this, but I'm happy for the guy.

His home/away stats are really wonked:

Home .345/.397/.569 = .966
Away .211/.349/.311 = .660

As seen at the All-Star game, most lefties (not named Bonds) see a total power suckage at AT&T Park. Strange how it's the only place Klesko has been successful this year.

So how many of these guys are still on the team at the end of August? If they leave, where do they go?

my theory is that if Bonds manages to break Aaron's record by the trade deadline, he's going to the Angels.

I really don't think anyone will trade for him. Maybe that's naive on my part, but I just don't believe it. If he gets traded I still think Detroit would be a better option since Leyland is so high on him.

I think that pretty much every other GM in baseball knows that Sabean is a complete idiot and will be willing to take advantage of him.

SELL SELL SELL

Well, Messenger for Benitez worked out okay, at least.

Not if you think that paying Randy Messenger $8/yr. is okay.

Go Seabiscuit go!

Can someone plz teach Rick Sutcliffe how to interpret the ESPN K-Zone? If he's shown a pitch that K-Zone says is outside the box, and talks about that pitch being a strike, I'm going to bitch more on the internet.

I watched the end of that game at 2:30 am. Bengie Molina is an idiot for swinging at the 1st pitch.

Kawakami: Morris cut to the heart of it, and got cut out

By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Sports Columnist

Article Launched: 08/01/2007

LOS ANGELES - Gee, was it only 13 days ago that Matt Morris wondered aloud about the Giants' real goal?

Silly him.

He probably could have guessed back then, and Morris sure as heck realized it the shocking millisecond he was told Tuesday - trade deadline day - that he had been traded to Pittsburgh, of all places.

The Giants' No. 1 goal always has the initials B.B. and the No. 756 as the dubious end of the rainbow. No other goals come close to that one, and pity the fool (or expensive, mediocre pitcher) who assumes otherwise.

The Giants' No. 2 goal, now that they've taken two years too long to figure out the true dimensions of their own wretchedness: erase as many of their recent egregious mistakes as possible by dumping veteran salaries to a better-run franchise, such as the Pirates.

The Pirates!

Yes, Pittsburgh was in better shape to take on Morris' remaining $13.5 million and ability to eat innings than were the Giants.

That's because the Pirates don't have Barry Zito signed for seven years and $126 million, or still owe Armando Benitez many millions, or have to pay Ray Durham for another year, or Rich Aurilia for another year or . . .

If the Giants sink much deeper, I'm afraid they'll be giving up veterans to improve the playoff chances of superior clubs like the Pawtucket Red Sox or Springfield Isotopes.

Anyway, after a quick start in 2007, Morris was pitching horrendously - no shock to this
Advertisement
raging skeptic, since I suggested that the Giants should've traded him months ago - but he sure finished his Giants career in a blaze.

Tuesday, after the trade for a basic B-minus prospect, Morris told Pittsburgh reporters that he was happy to be "getting some better defense" (my translation: no more Durham-kicked groundballs!) and "some young players who are looking to play hard" (not old players who hardly play).

This is cut-to-the-heart stuff that Giants management chooses not to contemplate. La, la, la, la, we don't hear you, Matt!

But if Morris, who is held in high regard by the other pitchers, said it, you know Zito, Matt Cain, Noah Lowry and Tim Lincecum are thinking it.

The Giants are so messed up that they gave Morris, Zito, Dave Roberts, Aurilia, Ryan Klesko, Durham and several others way too much money just to fill gaping holes. And now that the season is lost, the only one they could move was Morris.

The rest, not even the Pirates would dare take.

"He was just a real warrior for us, a man of character, a guy that led the staff," Manager Bruce Bochy said of Morris. "But it's a business, part of the game."

So? "Gotta move forward," Bochy said.

Unless the Giants go backward for two or three years, which is what it's looking like.

On July 19, Morris started the commentary when, after a losing effort, he opined: "I don't know what the goal is here anymore. To win games?"

Giants owner Peter Magowan responded a few days later. "I think the only thing that bothered me about that comment would be if Matt Morris thought the organization was not as interested in winning as he is. That would not be true."

Yes, thank you, Peter. You just traded Morris to the Pirates because none of the real contenders wanted him. Nice message there.

Tuesday afternoon, when you got past the scores of us annoying media types huddled near Barry Bonds' locker, the Giants clubhouse at Dodger Stadium had the look of a damned village. The trade deadline had passed, and only Morris was gone, banished by the same men who gave him $27 million less than two years ago.

The leftover players knew how bad the team was, knew that it felt worse because of Bonds' home run chase, and knew that the current management is the same one that got the franchise into this mess.

General Manager Brian Sabean said the Morris trade was all about flexibility. But of course, he and Magowan are the ones who cluttered everything up with those horrible deals and have zero young hitters in the pipeline ready to help out any time soon.

You can bet Lowry, Cain, Zito and Lincecum are thinking it. Except for Zito, that's the only good part of this team and this franchise. Right there.

And you know that when they think of the long-term future of this team, they're hoping that someday the Giants get it together.

You know, so they can at least be as well run as the Pirates.

i posted that because it was funny also just happened. it's wrong though, the Pirates made a terrible move by picking up all that salary.

the pirates are having the last laugh!

the giants got swept at home by the pirates (incl. by Mr. Matt Morris) in the battle of the NL basement.

the fact that Sabean got resigned for all this mess is pretty boggling. the Bonds deal (the most maligned deal of the off-season) is the only one that comes close to even making sense! the Zito deal looks really sketchy. what happens to a mid-80s fastball and an unreliable curve and rarely makes it past the 5th inning. maybe he'll become a knuckler.

A knuckle ball would actually make me like Zito.

In completely other news:

One of my favorite moments of the Bonds watch was a long chat in San Diego with Vizquel and two other female reporters about fashion and shopping. When another reporter - of the male persuasion - came over to talk about baseball, Vizquel happily answered his question but noted, "That's boring."

vizquel also likes modern art. like a lot.

Is Lincecum the most in-shape pitcher ever? Whenever he finishes sprinting to first after hitting, he walks back to the base or dugout like there was no exertion whatsoever.

The trade seems pretty even so far! Slight edge to Davis, I suppose.

Rajai Davis: .405/.500/.622/1.122, 0.00 ERA
Matt Morris: .500/.500/1.250/1.750, 6.57 ERA

Who is a better hitter: MattyMo or Noah's arc.

San Francisco signs 2 first-round picks ahead of midnight deadline

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

(08-15) 18:18 PDT ATLANTA, (AP) --

The San Francisco Giants signed two more first-round draft picks Wednesday, agreeing to deals with left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner and outfielder Wendell Fairley.

Bumgarner, the 10th overall selection, got a $2 million signing bonus, according to Baseball America. Fairley, the 29th pick, agreed to a deal with a reported $1 million bonus.

The Giants had signed 45 of their 52 selections — including the first 29 — ahead of a midnight deadline to reach agreements with their 2007 draft picks. Many unsigned players could go back into next year's draft pool.

Well, at least Rajai is fun to watch.

Oh man, look at Niekro trying to pitch on the Grizzlies.

sayhey.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/clip-of-the-day-lance-niekro-is-not-quite-there-yet/

Vizquel is less than 50 games from passing Aparicio for most-ever career games at SS.

Such an arbitrary record. :\

The Braves tv guys were in "let's yammer on about every subject under the sun except for the game" mode last night, and were taking about vague rumors of A-Rod to the Giants. Possible/Likely?

Makes a certain amount of sense, though I haven't heard much A-Rod-to-SF talk aside from, "We should sign the good-looking, biracial she-male lover!"

It all comes down to Bonds, and how this time Magowan doesn't seem interested in bringing him back next year, so with both Bonds' money off the books and no more marquee attraction, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants go after A-Rod. Whether they'll manage to sign him?

Huh, maybe the Zito signing was a way to grease Boras.

T/S: Bonds at $15M/yr. vs. A-Rod at $30M/yr.

no

the talk is defiantly there but if A-Rod does become available, i just can't see him going to San Francisco. doesn't matter because he ain't leaving New York.

i also heard that the Giants paid off a big part of their debt to that ballpark. i never read this anywhere however, so can anyone confirm this?

I don't see Alex playing for a non-contender, and the Giants are a few years away from contention in my opinion.

like the Rangers lol?

the guy will pay for whoever is footing the bill, i think that's pretty established.

Unless he's like the preznit, suddenly concerned about his "legacy."

It's established because he signed one contract for the money? Not a very big sample size.

yeah i guess u r right, 10 years, 1/4 billion USDs is a small sample size. i am firmly convinced he just wants to win.

He tried to force his way out of Texas to a contender, so I think at that point he regretted that contract, and was willing to sacrifice money from it to go to the Red Sox (but Gene Orza said no, no, no).

Shane (Madison): In the next 5 years, which one of the following (if any) is most likely to win an AL/NL CY Young award: (NL) Yovani Gallardo, Homer Bailey, Tim Lincecum, or, Matt Cain (AL) Joba Chamberlain (presuming he moves from the bullpen, Phil Hughes, Clay Bucholz, or, Andrew Miller

Joe Sheehan: Tim Lincecum really stands out on that list, followed by Gallardo. In 2008, Lincecum/Cain will be the best 1-2 punch in baseball.

They might combine for a 22-35 record, however.

I've watched Lincecum at least five times this year, and while he has great raw stuff, I still think he's a year or two away from really harnessing his ability. He'll still be a very good pitcher, but I think he'll be above 3.5 ERA, above 1.2 WHIP next year, with occasional excellence.

Man, it sure is a blast watching this bullpen hit new lows daily.

could you imagine liriano, lincecum, cain, lowry & bonser with nathan closing?

oh wait, sabean's still GM never mind.

Matt Cain 2007:

GS: 32
IP: 200.0
ERA: 3.65
WHIP: 1.26
VORP: 47.7 (#8 in NL, #19 in MLB)
BAA: .235
OPSA: .675
K/BB: 163:79 = 2.06
K/9: 7.33
HR/9: 0.63

okay, ready for the punch line: 7 - 16 (.304 winning percentage)

Morbius, could you ask Rob Neyer or Will Sheehan if this is the best season in MLB history for a starting pitcher with a .304 winning percentage?

I just asked Kevin Goldstein for ya.

thx alex. are you married yet? :-D

You're familiar w/ Nolan Ryan's splendid 1987 season when he went 8-16, yes?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ryanno01.shtml

also:

rickcwik (Chicago): Is Matt Cain the unluckiest player in the MLB this season?

Marc Normandin: As far as Wins and Losses go, he's up there, but he's right where he's supposed to be as far as peripherals matching his ERA goes, and that's what really matters, right?

(also that sounds more like a Jayson Stark question)

"thx alex. are you married yet? :-D"

NOPE! Less than three weeks to go!

ah okay... just checking!

also: LOL at Benitez and Zito's eerily similar ERAs for the 07 giants...

-- Talk among Japanese media representatives is that the Giants are seriously interested in corner outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, 30. He's a free agent in the offseason and will command more than $10 million a year, having hit .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 2006 with the Chunichi Dragons. He had elbow surgery this year and his numbers dropped (.294, 13, 48). He'll be wooed by the Padres, among other teams.

Anyone know anything about this dude?

No.

How much is/was Barry asking? I mean, 10M for a 30 yo corner OF whose translated MLB stats will likely be worse than Matsui's AND coming off of elbow surgery VS. Barry Fucking Bonds no matter how old he is.

We've talked a lot about him on the Padres blogs. Fukudome is the best hitter in Japan at this point, but I think he projects to something like Mike Cuddyer/Brad Hawpe level production as a major leaguer. He's not a slugger but he has quite a bit of power. He's a good fielder, but probably not a center fielder.

I'm sure Shasta knows a lot more about him that I do.

I was sure that Fukudome was the name of a stadium

yu darvish is the tru stud in japan but the giants will not get him. :) lol u r 2 poor

Our starting rotation cares not for your Darvish, sir.

Fukudome sounds like a Japanese JD Drew. You know, without the fundie, douchebag, hyperbaric chamber bullshit.

I would totally sleep in a hyperbaric chamber, fuck the hatas.

Fukudome is the best hitter in Japan at this point

...not named Alex Cabrera...

Rowand, ehhh?