March 2006 Archives

A source tells ESPN.com Noah Lowry will sign a 4-year, $9 million contract that will take him through 2009. The contract has an option for 2010 worth approximately $8 million that would take Lowry up to free agency. ** *UPDATE*...
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My man Elbo and I are headed down this evening to the Field of Maize for what will likely be a soggy exhibition against the A's. We won't have trouble finding it; we'll have these signs with us: You want...
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So put your hands on your face/ And cover up your eyes I can just see Bud Selig in a red flower-pot "energy dome" hat and yellow haz-mat suit, can't you? Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Selig!...
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Monday was the night my ticket partners and I have been waiting for since October: the annual season ticket draft over burgers and pitchers, though an alarming number of participants, on this, our 7th Annual Draft, ordered caesar salads. Excuse...
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According to the Oakland Trib's Andrew Baggarly, the Giants could clear one of the 40-man roster spots promised to Jamey Wright and Todd Greene by putting prospect Kelyn Acosta on the 60-day DL. The other spot, he writes, will likely...
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Official word has arrived: Jamie Wright is the Giants' fifth starter and Jason Ellison is the fifth outfielder. Todd Greene is also the backup catcher. With Wright and Greene joining the team, two players must be dropped from the 40-man...
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Is to take offense. Barry Bonds is suing to freeze the profits from Game of Shadows. Interesting manuever. *** Time for a Fifths Update, with the standard disclaimer: I know they're small sample sizes. But they count for something. Fifth...
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It's easy and fun to sit back and bemoan the Giants' lack of success in developing homegrown ballplayers. They've had fair success in bringing along pitchers, but as we all know, their track record with position players is abysmal, illustrated...
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Since the trade of Edgardo Alfonzo for Steve Finley in late December -- i.e., the successful completion of "Operation Fonzie Removal" -- all has been quiet on the Giant trade front. But the next couple weeks could bring swappage. One...
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Pundits will no doubt try to wring cosmic significance from Team USA's elimination yesterday at the hands of Equipo Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. For those suffering pundit's block, here are some handy knee-jerk column templates, provided free of...
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Time to check in on the competitors for the fifth starter and fifth outfielder spots. Fifth outfielder Jason Ellison Offense: .379 / .471 / .552 (29 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 for 1 SB) Defense:...
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Prospect guru Kevin Goldstein joined Baseball Prospectus a few weeks ago (one more reason to subscribe) and immediately dived into a division-by-division roundup of minor league systems. The NL West roundup came out today. The good news is that the...
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The Giants opening day roster is practically set except for the fifth outfielder, the fifth starting pitcher, and the last spot or two in the bullpen. If the front office and Felipe have already picked favorites, they're not saying who....
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Separated-at-births, or look-alikes. I know, it's as hackneyed as the top-ten list or the fisk or the clever but substance-free pop-culture reference, but sometimes the girl can't help it. Oops. And now for a bit more fun, because Tatianna says...
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As most baseball-lovin' people on God's green Earth probably know by now, Sports Illustrated is publishing an excerpt from the upcoming book that details Barry Bonds's illegal performance-enhancing-drug use. PEDs, we like to call 'em down at the gym. My...
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Juan Gutierrez begs to differ. This is my favorite spring-training moment so far: Houston center fielder Willy Taveras got to play for his country against his team Sunday in the Dominican Republic's 12-8 win over the Astros. Juan Gutierrez did...
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With the question whether Barry Bonds should use one of Kramer's "Bros" (or if you prefer, "Manssieres") dominating the old Dateline: Scottsdale this week, I haven't had time to think deeply and responsibly about Randy Winn's three-year contract extension. Don't...
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The fiskers of Fire Joe Morgan have finally discovered the fascinating train wreck of hyperbole, ass-licking and ill-chosen metaphor known around here as The Draper Follies. In this post, FJM takes apart Draper's latest quivering monument of toadyism erected in...
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