Mid Seanson Rant

Remember now, I’ve always been the eternal optimist with my Giants, but this season has really tested me in that respect


Going into this season, all the pundits picked our Gmen to show miserably and unfortunately our boys aren’t disappointing them. I’ve been saying all year that this team is better than last year. Based on what you ask? Based on our two major off season acquisitions, Zito and Roberts. To say they have had disappointing first halves would be an understatement. Roberts is hitting a shade higher than the Mendoza line and his OBP of .297 for a lead off hitter is flat out embarrassing. Zito has been less than average all year. A 6-9 record with an ERA just under 5.00 is not what the Giants thought they were going to get for 126 mil. If his curve isn’t working, he’s history. I’m so unimpressed with him thus far.
Lets look at the pitching staff. This is our future. Cain is sporting the best 3-9 in history. He could easily be 7-5 or 8-4 with any kind of run support. Lowry and Morris have emerged as the top starters and are have nice seasons. I don’t want to address Zito anymore. He makes me twitch. Lincecum is a rising star who’s only going to get better and better. He’s had to pay his rookie dues in a couple of starts but I’ve enjoyed watching the kid mature with each outing. Over all the staff’s team ERA of 3.93 is 4th best in the NL. The real Achilles’ heel of this staff has been the free pass. Walks…walks, walks, walks, walks!!! The Giants have given away 90 feet 334 times, second worst in the NL. Why give them rally starters? Make them earn it by putting the ball in play. Quit nibbling!!! (There… I feel better)
The bullpen started out miserably and has rebounded some. Help is still needed here. As for the closer… we don’t have one. Can you name any other contending team that doesn’t have a decent closer? Neither can I.
On offense we all know the problem. The Giants are 28th in the majors in runs scored. We can not get the run in with less than 2 out and runners in scoring position. Except Benjie. I wish the team would just tell Molina there are 2 outs every time he comes up. Barry has exceeded the projections of most everyone. His knees are healthier and he’s running better, but he has no one in the lineup that can protect him. Klesko has been a surprise coming back from shoulder surgery. He doesn’t have the pop in his bat that he used to, but has been adequate at .295/.385/.477 while also showing surprising deftness around the bag at first. Winn has been adequate as well. Durham, Vizquel, Aurilia and Fel…. urgh… (sorry, gag reflex) have all been hitting below their career averages.
As for Bochy, I think he’s doing an admirable job considering what he has to work with.
Overall first half grade C-

So what does the rest of the season look like? If we stand pat, this team can’t stay this bad. I’m not saying pennant or playoffs, or even .500, I’m just saying they won’t stay this bad. What Sabs does before the deadline will definitely define the course for this team. The chances of making the playoffs this year are slim and none. It’s time. I’m not saying fire sale, but it’s time to start building for the future. WMF is a pitchers park and we need to build a team around it. The groundwork has been set down in this direction with a wealth of talented young arms from the big team all the way down to singe A Augusta. Some of these young prospects we will undoubtedly have to part with to build an offense. It’s going to be very interesting in the next two weeks. Like Roger Craig used to say, “Don’t get your Dauber down”. Rebuilding this team to pennant contention will not take more than a year or two. The foundation that is our young staff has been laid down.

The Beginning of a Magical Era of Giants Baseball

We can all put away the pitchforks and torches. What began with a dismal 1-6 start to the season, now has Giants fan wondering how good this 2007 team really is. Everyone knew from the beginning the strength of this team would be the starting rotation. The off seaon acquisitions of manager Bruce Bochy, and Gold Glove receiver Benjie Molina, have drawn the full potential out of this staff to date. The Giants starters have had 9 consecutive quality starts, and the starters combined ERA for the year sits at 2.81. We have never seen a run like this in San Francisco Giants pitching history.
The projected starters before the season began were Zito, Cain, Morris Lowry and Sanchez, in order of anticipated strength. Rising from the ashes of a shattered career, Russ Ortiz has taken over the 5 spot,is 2-1, and looking like the Ortiz of '99 through '04 when he was one of the top pitchers in the National League. Matt Morris is looking like a Cy Young Candidate once again at 3-0. Noah Lowery is pithing extremely well despite a 1-2 record as his 2.70 ERA and 1.15 WHIP attests. The 126 million dollar man, Barry Zito, is pitching well at 2-2 save for one bad inning, and could easily be 3-1. Now comes the fun part. Matt Cain. Highly touted as being the Giants next ace, I don't think anybody really knew how truly dominating this young man could be. Every time he takes his turn on the mound the possibility of a no-hitter exists.
Since 1900, only four pitchers have held opposing hitters to a .205 batting average or lower through their first 40 career starts.
Herb Score - .199
Matt Cain - .203
Nolan Ryan - .204
Sandy Koufax - .205
That is some ridiculous company! With Cain we're watching the blossoming of what promises to be a spectacular career.
Now this is where I get as little giddy. He may not even be the best pitcher in the Giants organization! Tim Lincecum is tearing up the PCL like he's from another planet. A veritable man among children. Its almost unfair. He's 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA, 32 K's in 25 IP with an insane .113 BAA. The sky is the limit with this youngster, and for the future of the Giants starting Rotation. Sit back and enjoy my fellow Giants fans, we've never seen anything like this before.

A Giants All Star Extravaganza

Generally not moved by the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day ceremonies, the Giants yesterday staged a brilliant and emotional show that brought childhood memories flooding back and welled up deep emotions in me that I had forgotten about.
The whole show, though 45 minutes long, seemed to go by too quickly.
As each former All Star was announced, it seemed every memory I had of him came rushing back nearly making me dizzy. The next being announced all too quickly, not giving me enough time to reminisce. Some of the Old Timers were were before my time though I had read about them. As the now grey haired All Stars marched out onto the field, it reminded me just how long I have been in love with this team. Emotions ran high as Willie McCovey was introduced. This man was larger than life, a God and a living legend to me as a child. I once witnessed him hit a home run off the Longines clock in right field before the 'Stick was enclosed. To see him on crutches...
Then came the moment when I lost it. The introduction of my boyhood hero and the greatest to ever play the game, Willie Mays, being introduced with his godson and the greatest player of our time, Barry Bonds. They came out of the dugout hand in hand. At this point, my wife looked at me and said,"I knew there was something that could make you cry". Then she said, "God Bless Baseball".
I agree. God Bless Baseball and the Giants. The memories stirred up by this beautiful and touching ceremony still have not ceased.

Beginning Our 50th Season of Baseball in San Francisco

Giants baseball is back for it's 50th year in San Francisco. Is this going to be the year we finally win it all? No more hand wringing and anurisms? The prognosticators have all but buried our Gmen. Being the eternally optimistic Giants fan, I see the Giants in contention all the way to the wire. And why not? They have improved at nearly every position. So lets break it down.

OUTFIELD
Randy Winn moves over to right to make room for new addition Dave Roberts. This not only gives us a pure lead off man with speed for the first time since Kenny Lofton, but it increases the overall outfield speed to cover the deep alley in right center at Mays Field. Bonds is in left and healthier than he's been in three years. Bonds will have an MVP caliber season until the league stops pitching to him again in the second half.

INFIELD
The keystone combo of Durham and Vizquel is set and strong. At third base we stand pat, having to endure another season of watching Pedro Feliz whiffing clumsily at low and away breaking pitches. Take a pitch every once in a while Pedro! He may be a cherry picker, but he did knock in 98 runs last season. First base is definitely improved with the acquisitions of Rich Aurilia and Ryan Klesko. I'm so glad to see Richie back in a Giants uni. If Pedro falters and Klesko returns to his All-Star form, we'll see Aurilia take over third, with Klesko at first base batting fourth behind Bonds. A lot if "ifs", I know, but isn't baseball all about those "ifs"?

CATCHER
Benjie Molina replaces Elezier Alfonso behind the plate. Molina is an improvement defensively and potent on offense as long as he doesn't have to rely on his "speed". Alfonso joins Feliz on the all-time "whiff and no walk" team.

PITCHING
The acquisition of Barry Zito gives the Giants two legitimate aces, along with Matt Cain. Russ Ortiz is my early season pick for the Willie Mac award and Comeback Player of the Year. Matt Morris and Noah Lowery round out one of the best 1-5 pitching staffs in all of baseball.

BULLPEN
This is our Achilles Heel. The bullpen has been abysmal the past two seasons and will be the key as to whether we win the division or not. Fingers crossed, Pepto nearby.
Armando Benitez will start the season as closer, and says the Giants would be "stupid" to let him go. I pray he's right because there is no one else ready to jump into that position.

COACHING
Bruce Bochy is a major improvement over Felipe Alou. This man knows how to handle a staff. He also makes the best of what he has to work with. He won two divisions with the Padres weak offensive teams, and less than stellar starting pitching. He's a hands on manager, and he actually talks to his players.

FINAL THOUGHTS
The Giants have made major improvements over the off season. Offensively the only thing lacking is a true #4/5 hitter to bat behind Bonds. Klesko may fill that void as the season progresses.
The Giants finished with 76 wins last season, going 1-9 for the last 10. They ran out of gas. Bochy has a deeper bench, and more flexibility to work with this year to give his starters the days off they need. Kevin Frandsen is busting at the seams to win a spot, and the young man can play nearly any position on the infield. Todd Linden has proven he can play all the outfield positions well. Klesko can also back up Bonds in the outfield, while Aurilia can play 1st and 3rd very effectively.
The bullpen blew at least 10 games last year, while Senor Tres y Dos blew 8 games all on his own. Thats an 18 game swing right there.
So lets do the math.
76 games won last year. If the bullpen improves by, say, 50%, thats 9 more games in the win column, bringing the Giants to 85 wins. If the starting 5 win only ONE game more than last years' starting 5, they would be at 90 wins. 90 wins will win this division.

Lots of shoulda's, coulda's, woulda's and ifs. Thats the beauty and intrigue of the game. The seasons gotta be played. So now, Rogers and I will stop looking out of the window waiting for spring. The 2007 Giants Baseball season is fianlly here!!!

HUMMMMMMMMMMMM Baby!!!

LET THE WORD GAMES AND POSTURING BEGIN



Peter MaGowan made a public statement that next year "Bonds will not be the centerpiece of this team". What is this man really saying? If Bonds is on the Giants next season, he will by definition, be the centerpiece of this organization wether Magown likes it or not. Bonds puts butts in the seats. For the last 10 years, Magowan has been lining his pockets with cash BECAUSE of Barry Bonds. Bonds is Giants history, an icon, a symbol of the Giants, as is Mays, McCovey and all of the Giants legends. He IS the Giants right now, and as long as he wears the Orange and Black he will be the centerpiece.

Macgowan also sputtered out the side of his neck that if Bonds didn't return "attendance would be fine". Does fine mean "half full"? Does fine mean being able to hear crickets at night games if the Giants don't field a contender? Becauseuse that's what will happen.

I've been a Giants fan for nearly 40 years, and I'm one of those sicko's that loved Candlestick. I loved the fog creeping over the top of the left side of the stadium at night games. I loved the swirling winds that played havoc with the most talented of outfielders, often making them look inept. When I finally got a ticket to go to a game at Pac Bell, I felt like I was cheating on a girlfriend. Candlestick and I had gone through so much together. When it looked like the Giants were moving to Tampa, I was there at the last game of the season and had to be physically removed from the park, because I refused to leave.

Mr. Magown does not truly understand the mentality of Giants season ticket holders. The true die hard Giants fans are the best in baseball with reguards to class, respect,and knowledge of the Giants and the game of baseball. But, sadly, die hard Giants fans do not own the majority of season tickets. When Pac Bell opened it was all about corporations getting the bulk of the remaining season tickets. Now ATT is filled with the kind of season ticket holders I despise... Status seeking, laptop carrying, Blue Tooth and cell phone wielding, chardonnay sipping, don't know who's who on the field, night game sunglass wearing elitist snobs. These are the same fans who won't show up when it's not posh anymore, or if the Giants arent't doing well. Face it, the newness of the park is wearing off a little. When was the last time you could get tickets,same day, to the final series of the year against the Dodger no less. Not since the Jewel By The Bay opened ... until this year.

So if Mr. Magown thinks he can strip the Giants down with out Bonds to "rebuild" with out taking a brutal attendance hit, he's mistaken. The Giants won't approach 3 mil in attendance next season.

Mr. Magown needs to keep his grocery mega millionare mouth shut, stop posturing for negotiation purposes, and leave baseball matters to baseball knowledgeable people. Stienbrenner can talk because he has the money to back it up.

Put up or shut up Pete.