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

09.10.2008
Giants 5, D-Backs 4: Call the Waahmbulance

A nifty win last night, indeed. It’s always nice to spoil a division rival’s appetite, as reportedly the D-Backs couldn’t bring themselves to eat after the game.

Speaking of pouting, a couple of Giants are unhappy about their playing time. Kevin Correia is losing his turn in the rotation today to Brad Hennessey, who has toiled in Fresno most of the year after starting 2008 disguised as a batting-practice machine. He’s recovered from a digestive disorder that caused him to shed weight. I haven’t seen this mentioned in the press, but weight loss and serious digestive problems aren’t something you want to see in a guy who’s had two surgeries to remove tumors.

Correia understands that he hasn’t pitched well, but he’s not happy about losing his assignment, according to this morning’s papers. Too bad, pal. A more disturbing report of discontent, however, is that when Bengie Molina saw that Pablo Sandoval was behind the plate for Barry Zito’s start last night, he felt dissed.

"It is a personal catcher whether they say that or not," he said. "I'm not very happy at all. I can't be happy. I came here to play. If they don't consider me a No. 1 catcher, if I can't catch the No. 1 guy on the staff, let me know.

"I ain't stupid. I don't think I've ever been stupid. I've been in baseball for a long time. Come to me and tell me. Of course I'm going to be mad, but there's nothing I can do about it. They're the bosses."

On its own, Molina’s complaint is dumb. If Zito can shake off the funk by throwing to Pablo Sandoval, who has caught four of Zito’s last five starts, all good ones, then Molina should be happy for him.

But this isn’t the first time Giants management has wounded Molina’s pride. Brian Sabean infamously said Bengie’s clock was “winding down” after picking Buster Posey in the draft. Sabean backpedaled and said he meant Molina’s contract, not his skills, but it was stupid stupid stupid. Molina shouldn’t have to be the cleanup hitter, but he’s done all the Giants have asked, and more. He’s a fan favorite, a clubhouse rock, and the heart of the team.

The “clock” remark was an insult to Molina; the Sandoval-Zito situation less so. (In fact it says more about Zito than Molina.) So if indeed the Giants want Sandoval catching Zito’s starts, tell Bengie that’s life but make it clear he’s still No. 1. Maybe he’s a little sensitive, but it does no good to make the big guy unecessarily angry.  

Final note: say goodbye to FreddieLoo! for 2008: he’s having bunion surgery after today’s game and will miss the rest of the year. I’ll be there to thank him personally.   
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[September 10, 2008 3:19 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Paul R. said

Perhaps someone should tell Bengie that Zito isn't the "#1 guy on the staff."

[September 10, 2008 3:20 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris replied to Paul R.

Methinks Bengie has taken one too many foul tips off the face mask.

[September 10, 2008 3:20 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Sofa King said

This is a bit off topic but I hope you’ll indulge me anyway. It’s true that “it’s always nice to spoil a division rival’s appetite” but my appetite is ruined by watching the Giants help the Dodgers to the division crown. I’m a season ticket holder (the desert of 331) but I haven’t been able to bring myself to go to any of the games this series because, well, and it’s hard for me to say this, I want the Giants to lose. The Dodgers are now 2 ½ up on the D-Backs and the Giants are part of the reason. Am I bad person? I mean, I love the Giants so much that I can’t stand to see their most hated rivals win. I know it is, perhaps, infantile but I can’t help myself. I’ve absented myself from the games because of my shame but is it OK for me to root for the Giants to drop just a couple so that the Dodgers—the God forsaken Dodgers—don’t win the division?

And regarding yesterday’s post: I think Jeff Kent is a douche bag. I think his douchebaggery is supreme and I hope he doesn’t make it into the Hall. I feel this way out of spite as much as out of a conviction that he’s just not that great.

-Sofa King (full of hatred of the Dodgers)

P.S. Long time reader, first time poster. This is my first stop every morning. Thanks for your work.

[September 10, 2008 6:08 PM]  |  link  |  reply
david_sf replied to Sofa King

I'm right there with you Sofa King. I've been thinking the same thing all series. If these games meant something to the Giants I'd feel differently, but they may help push the Dodgers into the playoffs. That would be wretched.

7th inning and the Giants are up 2-1. Hooray?

[September 10, 2008 6:23 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Disaster replied to Sofa King

I can see why you would be spiteful, but not that great? Offensively, he has no equal at that position and defensively he's merely pretty good.

[September 10, 2008 7:52 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive replied to Johnny Disaster

Kent has benefited from the Sillyball era: http://highboskage.com/juiced-ball.shtml. That has added about 15% to stats overall.

He has also benefited by hitting in close proximity to Barry Bonds.

He has also not done this for a long time, if you look at his stats, he didn't really get started until he was 29 years old, and his peak period was from 1998 to 2002, age 30-34, basically his years with Barry.

Once he leaves Barry, he's basically back to where he was before, in terms of OPS+, though still higher, but not to the extent that he was with Barry, even though he moved from a pitchers park to a hitters park like Houston.

One could argue age, but he had his second best OPS+ year his last season with Barry.

Kent has had a very good career - offensively - but it has been boosted by playing during a juiced ball era and benefited from batting next to Barry Bonds in the batting order. If he were better defensively, I could see the writers putting him in, but they have generally been very stingy in electing 2B-men, and given his one, albeit, very good dimension, I just don't see him getting in.

[September 10, 2008 8:57 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Boof replied to Sofa King

It's never wrong to root against the Dodgers. In fact, it is our duty as Giants fans to do so.

However, I do have a hard time rooting for the Giants to lose, just to make it harder on the Dodgers. Can't quite make that step. I would rather that the Giants beat the Dodgers like a drum when they play them head-to-head and, hopefully, knock them out of the playoffs. Who can forget that homer that joe Morgan hit on the last day of the season to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs? I can get behind that, but not losing to the D-Backs just to make it harder on the Dodgers.

[September 10, 2008 6:16 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester said

Everyone knows that Barry isn't the #1 pitcher on the team except for Bengie Molina and Brian Sabean.

Molina needs to chill, some pitchers do better with backup catchers. Just ask Tim Wakefield and Doug Mirabelli.

[September 10, 2008 6:25 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

I love the title, both Correia and Molina should be ashamed.

I still don't think the previous tiff from the Posey comment should have bothered Molina. For one, from the fans viewpoint, Sabean has always been very careful about what he says about anything, so I believe that if he said he thought contract, that is what he meant. In addition, that was also my interpretation when I first read it and didn't see any dissing until after Molina cried about it.

Secondly, from his viewpoint, he shouldn't have such a reaction unless he was defensive about his production. Apparently he's ashamed of his production because he went for that interpretation of the statement. I saw afterward that if someone had a negative view of Molina's performance, then the statement was negative.

He's too old to be crying publicly. This might have helped him get to where he is today, being so hard on himself, but this lacked the professionality that he supposedly oozed.

And what is the big deal? He said that he was mentoring Sandoval, so what is the problem with that? And you would think that he would know that he's not going to start 100% of the games? He's going to miss a number of games anyhow. So what's the big deal if it happens to be the starts with Zito?

And Zito, according to the Chron's account, went to Molina to tell him that it wasn't his idea or request and Molina publicly said that he is not blaming Zito for it either, so it doesn't reflect anything on Zito.

And I had the same thought about that #1 crack. Perhaps he is stupid, because it has been obvious to anyone who has watched the Giants this season that Lincecum is the #1 starter on the staff, not Zito.

Correia should look at his stats and in the mirror, and according to the Chron's account, he does blame himself, but to publicly say after YOUR OWN PERFORMANCE COSTED YOU that "if you don't fit in, you don't fit in," implying that he'll be OK with going to another team, smacks of crybabyism and lack of gratitude that the Giants gave him a lot of opportunities, including to Bochy for getting to start.

The Giants are looking, begging, for a 5th starter who could be a competant starter. I forgot the stat, but the 5th starters have had a horrible record overall. If he doesn't fit in here, then he doesn't fit in the majors, so is he saying that he would rather be in the minors starting than relieving in the MLB?

About Lewis, you did not mention the good news about his bunion surgery, which is that Lewis is expected to be back in time for spring training. Previous news about his bunion said that he would be out a minimum of 6 months. Now, 6 months is a possibility, but he is likely to be back for the start of the season.

I'm with you Sofa King, I feel conflicted too, but it's more complicated for me because I don't want the D-backs or Rockies winning either, so basically I'm rooting for all of them to lose and whoever wins the division by default, so be it. The idea situation to me would be the Dodgers winning the division by backing into it after losing all their games against the Giants, then getting swept in the first round with Jeff Kent stinking up the joint.

P.S. Long time reader, long time poster. This is my first stop every morning (top of my RSS reader!). Thanks for your great work (and greater sense of humor). Me mucho gusto! (if I remember my Spanish correctly)

[September 10, 2008 8:23 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Paul R. said

If you're going to dock Kent for playing in the Sillyball era, then you have to do the same for Roberto Alomar and Craig Biggio, who are essentially considered shoo-ins. Kent has a higher OPS+ than both of them and the decline phase of his career was exponentially better.

Also, even though Kent had Bonds around him so did several other players (Matt Williams, Glenallen Hill, A.J. Pierzynski, etc.) who didn't equal Kent's production or even come close. I've never been a fan of judging a player's value based on his teammates.

[September 10, 2008 9:47 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris replied to Paul R.

Yeah, I think Kent gets +points for his longevity. He stayed productive until his age 39 season at a position at which most guys crash and burn at in their mid-30's.

[September 10, 2008 9:41 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris said

Shouldn't you judge a player by the era he played in? Kent didn't determine his era, but he did excel in it while being (as far as we know) clean.

It's why you wouldn't say Honus Wanger wasn't a HoF because he didn't hit more HR's, his era was a different slice of baseball. Eras define what players can do in the environment that is baseball.

[September 10, 2008 10:27 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Evan Brunell said

First of all, whaaat? Zito is No. 1? Okay...

Second of all, I do think Bengie has a right to be miffed, but only taking the 'clock' quotation into context. Aside from that, he needs to settle down.

You don't see Varitek complaining about not catching Wakefield, and it's obvious he's No. 1 for that team...

[September 11, 2008 1:33 PM]  |  link  |  reply
50andstillfly said

If eras define players, is this the "douchebag" era? Because Kent is a HOF douchebag, without question. He has been a bitterman everywhere he's played, and the whole "Redneck from SoCal" thing just doesn't play.

BTW, I haven't seen any apologies from all of those "experts" who predicted the Giants would lose 100 this year . . .