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

12.27.2008
Randy Johnson

The Unit is a Giant. It's a one-year contract for $8 million, plus as much as $5 million in incentives, according to reports. Until further notice, we'll call it $8 M on the handy-dandy 41-man roster salary tracker to the right. Given Johnson's general competitiveness and the added motivation of getting to 300 wins, he should be able to give the Giants their money's worth.

[Yes, you did see 41-man roster. Seems the Giants haven't dropped anyone yet as of noon Saturday. Might they lose a Bocock and gain a Johnson?]

The contract is well worth the risk, not just for Johnson's on-field potential, but also for the attendance boost and the trade flexibility. I didn't realize it, but the Giants failed to crack 3 million fans in 2008, the first time at Mays Field. Let's say Johnson makes 30 starts in 2009, half at home. That's 15 home games. Average attendance in '08 was 35,356, but without going back to look, I'll bet that number was below 35,000 when Kevin Correia or Pat Misch started. Short of predicting sellouts whenever the Unit pitches, let's at least assume he provides an uptick of a few thousand per start. That's perhaps 50,000 more fans through the turnstiles (and at the concession stands) when he pitches, and more on the days he rests if the Giants become competitive and even contend into the second half of the year. Laugh if you want: these guys, much smarter than I, think the Giants are now in the running for the division.

Don't forget the merch: it'll be easier to sell "Johnson 51" jerseys than "Correia 32" jerseys. (Side note: what uniform number do you think Noah Lowry will take? Or will he pull a Shawn Estes, who refused to give up 55 when Orel Hershiser briefly pitched for the Giants in the late 1990s?)

Better rotation (Barry Zito, Fifth Starter!), better attendance, better marketing, and last but not least, better position to make a big trade. If Lowry pitches well in spring training, the Giants will have six rotation candidates, with Kevin Pucetas waiting in the wings in Fresno. (Though I'm convinced all the Pucetas talk from the Giants as a possible contender for the rotation was to get him on as many radar screens as possible.) I don't see a big trade happening until spring training or into the first month or two of the year. Lowry has to prove himself healthy, Johnson's health is a question mark, and Pucetas probably has to show he can thrive in AAA before anyone gets serious about trading for him.

So let's drop "trade flexibility" down to fourth on the list of benefits. What's really more important at this moment is pitching depth. To preserve it, I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants try to sign Joe Crede to a cheap one-year deal. If healthy -- and that's about the biggest "if" this side of "If Rod Blagojevich can get me a job at the Chicago Tribune" -- Crede would at least help on offense, plus do wonders for the defense, as explained here. First he'll have to prove he can bend over and touch his toes 500 times in a row without grunting.

Weekend discussion: How will the Giants order their rotation to start the year? 1) Lincecum, 2) ???....  
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16 Comments

| Leave a comment
Nuschlers News | December 27, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply

Great move!

The rotation is easy, Lincecum, Johnson, Cain, Sanchez, Zito. Alternate Righty/Lefty power for four days then trick them with a Zito. This takes the pressure off Cain and Zito to be the anchors and hopefully Zito can hide behind all those K's to suprise a few teams. Hell, maybe he even gets his form back...it's OK to dream right?

Anonymous replied to comment from Nuschlers News | December 28, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply

Zito probably goes 4th, then Sanchez/Lowry in the 5-spot. Lincecum-Johnson-Cain is probably correct, though. I think Bochy said that's where Johnson would fit in the SFGate article.

HGH Positive | December 28, 2008 8:09 AM | Reply

Lincecum-Johnson-Zito-Cain-Lowry (plug in Sanchez for when Bochy pretends to demote Zito to the bullpen, Zito gets hurt, Lowry gets hurt, and Lowry gets traded)

Zito has a legendary ego and the salary to match. He'll only pitch behind other Cy Young winners.

Boof | December 28, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply

Zito is in no position to be copping any attitude. He should be 5th starter without question. Don't be counting on Lowry pitching any time soon.

bigO | December 28, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply

Rotation? That's ballsy. I can't get past the Bocock for Johnson comment.

Zo | December 28, 2008 9:55 PM | Reply

On a slightly different track, do not be surprised to see the Giants institute variable pricing next year. They already have, insofar as weekend tix are more expensive than weekday tix. If competitive (read: upping attendance) You will see Tim and Unit's starts (I guess I cannot refer to him as the Big Eunuch any more) go for a premium and, with health, make the Giants competitive in the west. Who knows, with a little punch they might take it. Two possibilities here - sign a decent corner infielder or, the creative one, figure a trade involving several players and manage to replace an outfielder with a better hitting outfielder. Don't count on it being Rowand - too much gamerism.
Rotacio: Tim, Unit, Matt, Zito, Jon.
Just to have a pleasant midwinter's dream, think of a little more run support, better luck for Matt, a tougher Zito, a blossoming Jon, all fronted by TIM and a Unit who wants to go out on a high note.

Sammy | December 29, 2008 12:47 AM | Reply

In several of the articles about the signing, you can find a quote from the Unit's agent that seems to suggest Johnson expects to go #2 : "He's looking forward to pitching between Lincecum and Cain and serving as a mentor for the young pitching staff." Between being the key word.

I'd be happy with a Lincecum-Unit-Cain-Zito-Sanchez rotation.

obsessivegiantscompulsive | December 29, 2008 1:22 AM | Reply

I think Zito's ego, if that is true, should be shrunk pretty good by now with the stinkiness of the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Still, I think a Lincecum, Unit, Zito, Cain, Sanchez rotation has merit because I want to see Cain beat lesser pitchers lower in the rotation and put up a nice W/L record. Even though we know it's not all his fault, I think it would be good for his ego to put up a nice season nonetheless.

Pato | December 29, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply

This is a good signing. The rotation is filled out now and no matter what the order, we should match up well against any other pitching staff in the NL. The obvious next move is a corner infielder either by trade or through free agency. With the rotation set and not much in the way of offers for Sanchez, it makes no sense to trade him for Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher as some articles have suggested. Why trade Sanchez now when we could sign Wigginton or Crede for relatively cheap and keep Sanchez and the rotation in place?

Frank | December 29, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply

While we could use an upgrade at the corners, one is not available. I don't think Wigginton is any better than what we have; Crede gives us, probably, one more win. that is significant since we have a bona fide shot at the division crown, but I don't think it is worth $6-8 mil. I am more than happy to go into the year with Sando/Guzman/McClain/Aurilia at 3b and TI/Phelps/McClain/Aurilia at 1b. It isn't the money as mkuch as I would like to get a good look at Sando and TI and put of their replacement until July or next Winter, if it is needed.

Pato | December 29, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply

I think you are selling Wigginton short. He could come in and hit either 4th or 5th for the Giants (doesn't say a whole lot) and provide a little more pop and consistency then the alternatives. Sandoval should be at first base anyway so no fewer at-bats for him but guys like Bowker and TI are going to struggle at times and aren't going to provide the consistency needed. Think of Wigginton as a David Bell or Mark Lewis type of player that gives the Giants 18-20 HR's a year and 80 RBI's. Who else on the Giants is capable of putting up those power numbers at this point? Rowand isn't, Bengie is one year older and could either play really well so he gets a good contract the following year or he could play really bad because he is pissed off that he might get traded, Sandoval is too early to tell, Lewis if he has a career year could do it, Winn... please. I could get excited about the Giants chances with the following lineup:

Winn
Renteria
Lewis
Wigginton
Sandoval
Molina
Rowand
whoever wins 2nd base job

Nobody stands out all that much with this lineup but you have some interchangeable parts when it comes to putting together the batting order. It also gives us decent bats from 1-7. If Lewis or Sandoval or Renteria decide to tank then we can knock em down the lineup and bump Rowand or Molina up. Bottom line, no matter what lineup is put out opening day you can guarentee that it won't be the same lineup you see after the all-star break. Changes will be made midseason and before and after but lets see how well Sandoval and Lewis do in the middle of the order and at least Wigginton won't be the slowest cleanup hitter in the league much like someone else last year whose name I won't mention...BENGIE!!!

Lyle | December 30, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply

Rotation order:

1 - Johnson
2 - Lincecum
3 - Sanchez
4 - Cain
5 - Zito

A bit different than most, but hear me out. With 3 lefties in the rotation, I'd prefer that the back-to-back situation be 5 to 1. And who better to occupy the #5 slot than the Zenmaster? Then, Johnson has priority over Sanchez for the #1 slot, and that makes Tim and Matt almost stealth starters at #2 and #4.

We still lose on the days Zito pitches, but hopefully Matt picks up a few more wins going against the other #4 pitchers in the league.

Whaddayathink?

Boof replied to comment from Lyle | December 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply

The idea is not without merit, however there is no way that the reigning Cy Young winner is not pitching on Opening Day.

Peter | December 30, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply

No way Randy Johnson is pitching ahead of Timmy Lincecum..plus I think the Giants already have plans to celebrate his Cy Young on Day Two after he opens the season.

Randy Johnson will pitch second, I think that was one the things the Giants had agreed to with his agent. That was no accident that his agent made that comment about pitching between Timmy and Cain. Putting Johnson in between Lincecum and Cain as the two righties makes the most sense. Hopefully Randy Johnson's presence pitching in front of Cain will further impart to Cain the need to go after hitters and not walk so many.

So it will be Lincecum-Johnson-Cain-Zito-Sanchez.

I dont think you completely humiliate Zito by putting him fifth, but if he does not perform well then I would seriously consider demoting him if Lowry is back and healthy...

Boof replied to comment from Peter | December 31, 2008 1:34 AM | Reply

Hasn't Zito already humiliated himself enough with the way he's pitched? If he doesn't deserve it, he shouldn't be in the 4th slot.

Peter | December 30, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply

Dont you all think Crede would be a much better option than Wigginton if Crede is healthy? I rather offer a $4-$5 million one-year deal to Crede with a couple million more in options than Wigginton, who I think is going to be awful defensively. The only way we are going to be competitive in the division with our current lineup is play lights out defensively to preserve those narrow leads. I also think Crede is a more reliable offensive threat if healthy than Wigginton.

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