R.I.P. Bill Walsh
I usually don’t go off-topic into other sports, but this is sad news for anyone who grew up in San Francisco, whether or not a Niners fan.
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P.M. UPDATE: Two relatively minor trades today underscore the Giants’ weakness as sellers. First, the Phils nabbed Cincy RHP Kyle Lohse for a double-A pitcher. Lohse is a step down from Matt Morris, but he’ll be a free agent after this year. Thanks to Morris’s month-long slide, his contract that extends through 2008 is going to be hard to move.
In the second deal, the Mets traded two minor leaguers for Twins’ second baseman Luis Castillo. Ray Durham seemed a potential fit once we learned the Mets’ Jose Valentin was out for the year, but Ray’s skills, like Morris’s, have degraded so quickly that opposing GMs have to wonder if this is the beginning of the end. If their contracts were up after this year, perhaps they’d be worth a flier, but unless they show a couple weeks’ worth of improvement soon, they’ll likely be Giants in September.
As for the blockbuster Mark Teixiera trade, the Braves are giving up a trunkful of talent. It’ll be interesting to see if Teixiera’s power numbers hold up in the pitcher-friendly Turner Field.
That's terrible news but not unexpected, he's been in pretty bad shape the past year or so.
RIP Bill, thanks for all the great memories, all the great performances, all the great everything. We will never forget you and all you did for the 49ers franchise and were blessed to have you for the time that we did.