Yeah, Haft is certainly independent, although I could not possibly be more tired of thoughtless sentences like "because of Bonds, the Giants have drafted poorly (or not at all) because they surrender compensation picks due to the free agents they have signed to surround him with complementary pieces."

Quick, name one "complementary to Bonds" piece that Sabean has ever added via free agency. In my mind, there have been two players who complemented Bonds during Sabean's tenure: Kent and Burks. If you're generous, you could include Alou and Galarraga for hitting well while healthy and in town. We didn't surrender a single compensation pick for any of these guys. Not for other Sabean-era lineup stalwarts either, such as Aurilia (not until this year, at least), Snow, Lofton, Santiago, Mueller, Benard, Sanders, Rios, Grissom, Cruz, Bell, Feliz, Klesko, etc.

In the past ten years, we have surrendered compensation picks for only one player who slugged .400 and had at least 65 RBIs in his Giants career: Ray Durham. This isn't setting the bar very high, either: Benard, Rios, Bell, Cruz, Niekro and Pierzynski all meet the .400/65 criteria.

If you want to blame someone for surrendering draft picks for the likes of Tucker, Matheny, Roberts, Worrell and the Ghost of Rich Aurilia, talk to Sabean, not Bonds.

Meanwhile, the Giants will have some money lying around and at least four offensive holes to fill (and maybe a pitcher or two to add) next season. Bonds will likely be gone, and draft picks will likely continue to be surrendered.

Frankly, I don't care if writers like Haft believe this nonsense. I just worry that the Giants front office does, and that they know even less about building a winning team than I give them credit for.

I think you're reading too much praise into the word "complementary." Think of it more as a synonym of "adjunct" or "Fill-in."

And I'm not sure Haft is *blaming* Bonds for the strategy -- from the quote you chose, it sounds like he's explaining the Giants' flawed strategy.

Last nitpick...are you sure the Giants didn't give up a draft pick for Alou?

I like Haft too, when he was with the SJ Mercury. And, yes, his approach is a refreshing change from his predecessor.

I think "Gates of Hell Park" should suffice for their stadium.

About Feliz, Haft was a bit more positive about Feliz, noting his high OBP in July (which is one of his highest ever in his career I believe) before adding the caution. In addition, Pedro's been having some bad luck in terms of BABIP in his two poor months, April and June, much below career and recent BABIP levels. So there are positives there in his stats. But yeah, the yellow caution light should flash on him until he can do this over a full season.

I think Pantalones is being very narrow with his definition of complementary players. You don't field a team of Bonds, Kent, and Burks, for one, there's no SS or 1B or catcher.

I think the point Haft was trying to make is that if Bonds wasn't around, you don't necessarily feel like you have to field a team that is as competitive as possible, within the parameters of the budget. Aurilia would have started already, instead of the insane dance he had for years competing with one vet or another. The Giants would have went with Feliz in 2003 at 3B instead of signing Alfonzo. Fans would have thought the team would be horrible with him starting, so Sabean got the best available 3B on the market, Alfonzo (who unfortunately turned out to be not so good). We might have started Mohr or Linden in RF instead of obtaining Tucker, who played very well for us his first season. We might have gone with Lewis in CF instead of signing Roberts this season. Even no Alou possibly in RF, as Linden would still be around (Mohr never did anything after us).

True, maybe a lot of fans didn't believe in the players acquired, but they were necessary in order to show that they were trying everything they could to win that season. Often he got the best available free agent available, but a lot of them didn't pan out because just because they were the best available does not mean that they are that good.

And I think that's what the Giants is moving towards, not just signing the best available guy and hope for the best. Instead, if it's not good value on the free agent market, then they might go with internal options or they might sign cheap guys to fill the spot for the season. That is, pick up the Ty Wiggingham's and Carlos Pena's of the world if there is not a good player available.

Yes, mine was a literal (and probably innacurate) meaning of complementary. And no, he isn't blaming Bonds personally, but the words "because of Bonds" are pretty clear. It means that Sabean forfeited draft picks for Tucker, Matheny, Roberts, Worrell and Aurilia "because of Bonds." And that doesn't make any sense. In fact, he forfeited draft picks for Roberts and Aurilia back when the team was doing whatever it could to sign replacements for Bonds, such as Matthews and/or Lee, each of whom would have required the forfeiting of even more draft picks.

The only way you could say Bonds hurt our draft position is to note that for most of his time here, the Giants have been a winning team that didn't pick early in the first round. And that's a pretty funky definition of "albatross".

And, yes, the Cubs declined Alou's pricey option and then declined to offer him arbitration, worried that he'd accept and end up with a contract that looked a lot like his pricey option. Then, after he left, we picked Fairly and Noonan with the compensation picks we received. Nice work by Sabean on all fronts.

"And I think that's what the Giants is moving towards, not just signing the best available guy and hope for the best. Instead, if it's not good value on the free agent market, then they might go with internal options or they might sign cheap guys to fill the spot for the season. That is, pick up the Ty Wiggingham's and Carlos Pena's of the world if there is not a good player available."

I hope you're right, Martin. I do believe that Sabean will have a different approach this offseason... I just honestly have no idea what that approach will be. I'm cautiously optimistic that the multi-year backloaded deals for againg players will come to a stop, but we won't know for sure until the winter. Regardless, I can almost guarantee you that we will forfeit at least one draft pick and probably two, and we won't have Barry to blame it on.

Thanks for clarifying, Pants.

(Clarifying Pants: good band name?)

No, great band name.

Refreshing to read your blog. Well, maybe refreshingly depressing. Or refreshingly honest albeit depressing. Being on the East Coast, and a Jints fan since 1955 (good timing), I've been watching them more because they are on TV more, because of the Barry Think. Stop keeping me up late and giving me nightmares!

I hate typos. Correct that to "Barry Thing." While you're at it, someone, please, correct the whole Giants mess.

welcome, Pawlie. Consider us the pawse that refreshes.