December 2007 Archives

Here’s my nutshell free-verse Giants year in review. I’m working on the interpretive dance with help from these guys. 126 million Scott Boras fans can’t be wrong lavish me with veteran Robeskolina savvy Enchantment! Home Run Derby Vs. Party Like an...
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Thoroughly mediocre pitcher Carlos Silva just received a contract slightly above what everyone expected: 4 years, $48 million. The Mariners were the bestowers, and the deal has a couple ramifications for the Giants: * It makes the M’s less likely...
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A New Republic writer just barely into his twenties writes that the biggest blow of the Mitchell Report was reading Marvin Benard’s name. (Thanks for the link, Laz.) It’s a nostalgic look back at Marvin’s game-winning home run the night...
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Kudos to my main man Depressed Fan for finding and posting this image. DF points out that Rose thinks steroids and amphetamines aren't the same. Other former ballplayers who took speed, such as Jim Bouton of Ball Four fame, also...
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I just realized the Giants have way too many relief pitchers. Even with Atchison, Giese and Munter out of the organization, there are plenty of cuts to make. If the season started today, the rotation would be Cain, Zito, Lincecum,...
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I am here to say before this congregation of friends, family, readers and fans, to all who have placed their faith in me, that I have made a terrible mistake. When I erred in judgment four years ago I was wrong. I was...
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Lots of NL West news while I was at Babies R Us this weekend: * Billy Beane traded Dan Haren to Arizona for six prospects. Arizona loses blue-chip outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and others but gains a co-ace for Brandon Webb. If Randy Johnson can...
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Back to fun stuff: The Merc’s Andrew Baggarly moonlights for Baseball America on Giants-related stuff (and cleverly disguises himself as “Andy Baggarly”). BA has posted his organizational report. Ladies and gentlemen: The future.   For those who prefer to stay on...
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P.M. UPDATE: My estimation for Peter Gammons slipped a couple notches when I read this: Not that most owners had enough time to really understand this, which is why it's fortunate that Mitchell did not go back to the period...
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What? No! I’m shocked! Shocked! Let’s discuss the Mitchell Report in this thread, non-tenders in the other.  UPDATE: I’m reading through the report now. Download it here. There is plenty in the report about the Giants, including a long description of Stan Conte’s...
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Before we move on to a discussion of all those non-tendered players now flooding the free-agent market, please enjoy this video. I had to share. Last night several clubs cut players loose rather than offer arbitration. (The pre-free agency kind of...
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Aaron Rowand’s agent said all along he wanted five years, and dang if someone didn’t give it to him. The Giants. Five years, $60 million, which surprises me. Perhaps he took less average per year for the stability of a longer-term deal....
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12:30 PM UPDATE: Rowand, rowand, rowand your boat, gently over the falls… Punning aside, if it came down to the same contract terms for Fukudome or Rowand, I’d actually lean toward Rowand for his right-handed power and his center-field defense. He’s also...
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We might find out today where Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome will sign. San Francisco has an outside shot, though I’ve seen no concrete reports that Brian Sabean has made a strong play for him. The Giants are also contemplating a trade...
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Evening update: Martin the OGC has an interesting thought on the Giants' Rule-5 pick, a 21-year-old who hasn't pitched above A ball. In short, why choose such a longshot to stay on the roster if you're not truly going to...
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2pm UPDATE: Ah. Here’s why the Dodgers were able to sign Andruw Jones to such a favorable contract: Around the bar later, Boras gave his first public indication -- after the fact -- that Jones would go short-term, saying he...
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3pm UPDATE: This is fun. (5 pm: Billy Beane doesn't think so.) *** 11am UPDATE: Isn’t it interesting there hasn’t been a single rumor about the Giants’ overpaid vets? Is that because Sabean hasn’t even broached the subject? Or as soon as GMs...
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P.M. UPDATE: If the rumors of the past 48 hours panned out, the 2008 S.F. Giants would look something like this: OF Andruw Jones OF Shawn GreenOF Jay Bruce or Alexis Rios or Adam Jones3B Scott Rolen or Edwin Encarnacion2B Ray Durham1B...
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A bit of news that might have been drowned out in the roar of trade rumors: the Giants offered Pedro Feliz arbitration. This means the team will get draft-pick compensation if another team signs Pedro. It also means Pedro can...
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