When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

06.19.2008
To-Do List

When I get back from San Diego, I have to clean out the old paint cans from the supply closet, install Miss Monkeypants's new car seat for our upcoming road trip, and hire Rick Peterson to figure out why I've lost snap on my once-devastating Malo curveball.

The last item might be easier than expected, as it's no sure thing the Giants will hire Peterson, the recently fired Mets' pitching coach. It seems a no-brainer: Peterson is Barry Zito's guru, the Mets are paying his salary through 2009, and whatever the Giants pay him on top of that is a fine tradeoff if he can do something, anything to turn Zito around. Hell, how about turning him into a league-average pitcher? Because right now, Zito is running neck and neck with Brett Tomko for worst ERA among all major-league starters. Tomko, Tomko...I feel like I've heard that name somewhere.

So let's transfer Peterson from my to-do list to Brian Sabean's:

1) Hire Rick Peterson.

There. Done. Since I'm in a meddlesome mood, let's add a few more items:

2) Convince Bruce Bochy to play Randy Winn in center field once in a while. Aaron Rowand isn't going anywhere, and the more wear and tear he avoids, the more likely he'll excel deep into his 5-year contract. So when he's in a slump as he is currently (.219 / .265 / .313 in June), why not give him an occasional breather? The real reason for this suggestion, however, is to showcase Winn as a CF, which increases his trade value in late July. Teams know Winn can play all three OF positions -- Sabean never fails to mention it prominently when Winn comes up in conversation -- but they'll want to know how well he can play center right now.

3) Sign Buster Posey and Conor Gillaspie, their top two draft picks. Get them on board in time to play professionally this year, if just for publicity's sake. Remember how cool it was to see Lincecum strap it on as a pro a couple months after he was drafted? We need momentum for 2009, and it probably won't come from the Giants' win-loss record in the second half.

3a) Give John Barr a big wet kiss. This year's draft, which Barr oversaw, combined with last year's has restored a lot of credibility to the franchise.

4) Start moving minor leaguers up the chain. Nate Schierholtz, who continues to hit well at Fresno, can't move up until Winn is traded. But it would be nice to see how Travis Ishikawa and Eddy Martinez-Esteve, two once-promising sluggers who fell out of the spotlight because of injury and/or ineffectiveness, can fare in AAA. They're currently having decent years in AA. There's been talk of moving Pablo Sandoval, the best hitter in the California League in April, to AAA. That might be too much of a leap, but a promotion to AA Connecticut now that the weather is warm back East could be a nice boost and a positive challenge for the kid. (He turns 22 in August.) As for pitchers, fireballer Henry Sosa is just back from knee surgery and pitching well but with strict pitch counts in San Jose. He turns 23 next month; no sense in keeping him in A ball if he dominates for another month. Give him a taste of AA this year, and perhaps next year he could start in Fresno.

I'll leave "trade Durham and Aurilia" off the list, because it should go without saying. Have I left anything off the list? Hirings? Firings? A two-year contract extension for Omar Vizquel? Discuss. 
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[June 19, 2008 10:07 PM]  |  link  |  reply
I Eat Robots said

For better better or worse, or at least for nostalgia, I can't imagine Aurilia being traded. I'm just hoping to Freddie Lewis and Bowker batting against righties and lefties, full time - splits won't improve without experience, and what better time than twenty o'eight? I hope soon to be ex-mariner Sexson doesn't steal at-bats from Bowker either. And I like Winn, so I hope he goes to a "contender" that isn't stomach-churning (aka Yankees/Sox).

[June 20, 2008 12:16 AM]  |  link  |  reply
idahogiant said

Last I heard, the Braves were seriously kicking the tires on Winn - that's close to a contender...It's a tough part of the season right now. It would be great to continue the youth movement, but any hope of trading any of the vets means playing time. They need to be showcased to be moved, the sooner the better. I say, let's see how old a lineup we can field for a series or two.

[June 20, 2008 12:29 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Buchanan1 said

I'd only move Rowand to left field as I would imagine that the brick archways in right would spell certain death...

[June 20, 2008 3:07 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive replied to Buchanan1

I think ELM is talking about resting Rowand, not moving him to another OF position, i.e. give him a rest to charge up his bat.

I'll bet, however, that his bat will warm up nicely on the road...

[June 20, 2008 2:35 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Paul R. said

At what point do the Giants need to worry about extending Lincecum through his arb years? That would seem to be high on the list fairly soon.

[June 20, 2008 3:13 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive replied to Paul R.

Sabean talked early when he was working on extensions for Winn and Cain, then got them done later.

I have heard nothing on this, and after Lowry and Cain have been signed, I have to assume that Sabean at least kicked the tires with Lincecum.

I think Lincecum, while not greedy, does want every dollar he can fairly get. Based on his numbers last season, the Giants would have to take a leap of faith to offer more (I imagine that's what Sabean said to himself in his head) and Lincecum certainly cares enough to do more, which he has this season, and thus get more in his extension.

I recall seeing a quote somewhere that Lincecum is amenable to extension talks after this season, so I would see that as a to-do this coming off-season, probably in time for spring training.

[June 20, 2008 4:42 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Giants Dwarf said

So I have what may be a stupid question.

Can Zito hire Peterson on his own as a personal trainer if the Giants do not? God knows he has enough money, but are there rules in place that would keep him for doing so?

[June 20, 2008 5:26 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Disaster replied to Giants Dwarf

I think he can, but that Peterson would not be allowed into restricted club facilities (the Bonds rule).