I thought team speed was Randy Winn. Is there a chance he will be resigned?

Great overview of the FLew situation!

I would add that the Giants never really said that Velez/Torres was their LF/leadoff for 2010, only that at that moment, they appear to be the best chance of that and that the Giants were not satisfied with that option.

I think the Giants didn't want to set Lewis's expectations high then dash them should the Giants be able to sign someone for the LF position, which they then filled with DeRosa. Lewis grumbles to the media, Velez is just happy to be around.

I had all this written in my head for a post, but I will just post it here first and get to my post later.

First, they have been mentioning keeping Ishikawa all off-season and even noted that they would play him in LF to give him more opportunities in 2010, so I don't think that he is on the bubble. He would have to totally stink to not make the team, I think, and with his superlative defense, I think he's pretty much a lock to make the team, as he'll be a cheap option at 1B after Huff leaves. The Giants will be better able to afford his below-average offense at 1B but superlative defense when Posey joins the team in 2011 and hopefully be another potent bat in the lineup.

To me, the reserves looks locked to be Whiteside, Uribe, and Ishikawa, leaving an UI and an BO (utility infielder and backup outfielder) spots open.

I think Rohlinger and Frandsen battles for UI with Frandsen the favorite (despite the Giants mentioning only Rohlinger and no mention of Frandsen) to win because he has no options left, and Rohlinger do have options left. Velez dark horse there.

I think Lewis, Torres, Velez, and the loser of RF between Schierholtz and Bowker will be battling for BO. I expect Schierholtz to win RF since has no options left and Bowker does, plus Bowker needs to prove he has really changed and not that 2009 was a outlier so I expect him in AAA, unless Bowker becomes Barry Bonds II during spring. If Schierholtz is the starter, Lewis should win the BO spot; if Bowker is the starter, I expect Schierholtz to be BO and Lewis would be in the spot opened up by Sanchez being out (though Velez too), if he is out (I would bet that the Giants will put him on DL in precaution to give more rest and preparation, only 2 weeks plus got Uribe there).

Overall, I expect Lewis to be our 4th OF, with Ishikawa and Frandsen pitching in occassionally in LF. He can play all three positions OK, get on base, steal a base on occassion, plus the occassional pop. Torres was really lucky in 2009, there is a reason he's been a journeyman all these years and didn't play in the majors since 2005 or 6 until with us in 2009. Velez's shortcomings are evident, but the Giants gave him multiple chances to show what he got, and he don't got much. He's OK as a 4th OF, but FLew is a better option, I think.

However, it also depends on how bad an attitude FLew got. If he is too much of a pain, a malcontent now, the Giants are probably going to hold onto him in case nobody takes RF, and if that happens, he could enter back into starting OF, maybe LF with DeRosa in RF, not sure how they might work that. Otherwise, once Schierholtz or Bowker clearly is the starter, FLew would be traded for $ or a prospect, because sometimes players just need to move on when their mind and body is not there anymore.

That applies to Frandsen too.

Don't know where either's minds are right now, but these are issues the Giants will have to account for that we outsiders know only a little of.

And to be brutally frank, what is he, a child: "... I'm just not comfortable right now. I haven't done it all spring. This is the first time. It's something (where) I guess I've got to start all over and get used to it."?

He had been leading off for the most part in the minors and majors for how long? Then switches to batting third and all that experience is lost on him? Is his mind that fragile that he can't handle switching lineup positions? I can understand switching defensive positions and having to deal with the changes that entails.

But it is just another lineup position, and all he had to do was what he was doing so greatly while batting 3rd. Does changes really bother him that much? See ball. Hit ball or get on base. Not really that hard, to me.

And to blame a lineup change for your problems. I can see maybe complaining if you are moved to batting 8th. But if you can't handle switching from 3rd to 1st when basically all you had to do was bat the same way as you were when you were batting 3rd, then what good are you as a starter?

I like FLew and have supported him in the past but last year was like watching a retard try to hump a doorknob. I would however keep him over Torres if it came down to it as Torres is not a major leaguer and I think Freddy is. Having said that, if he goes which he will I won't miss him too much and wish him luck wherever he ends up. It could just be a case of change of scenery that gets him back on track.

"So what is Fred?"

A head case.

Lewis is so tantalizing because he seems to have all the tools but he never seems to put it all together and take the final step. He's fast but can't steal bases. He has power but seems to hit like a contact hitter. He covers a lot of ground in left but can't read the ball and catch it. It seems a little late in his career for him to put it all together.

I'm actually bummed that they're putting De Rosa in left. Another journeyman player for Sabean. I would take a chance on Bowker there. The idea of Bowker in right is scary as he would be a liability there. Ishikawa's swing is too long. I woudl rather see Bowker as back-up 1B and fourth outfielder.

A few years ago, Tony La Russa came up with one of my favorite all time baseball quotes. Half of the Cardinal team went down with injuries and he said, “This is a great opportunity to see what our prospects can do.” Or words to that effect. That’s the way winners think.

The Giants? They are talking about shifting around veterans to fill the void of Sanchez’s injury. This is a great opportunity to see what the team has in the way of left fielders. Give Bowker the first thirty games out there. Word is that he fits better for left than right field. Or give Flewis another shot. I think he’s a better left fielder than DeRosa anyway. His UZR is probably correct because he is compared to other left fielders so it’s bound to be good. The word I had on Lewis, which might be myth, was that he told Boche he did not want to hit leadoff. If true, his career with the Giants should be over. If he can’t hit leadoff he can’t play. He doesn’t fit anywhere else.

And speaking of outfielders, not to be too longwinded, the Giant brass is bragging about the great winter Nate Schierholtz had in a Caribbean winter league. He had a horrible winter. He hit 324 with one homer in a hitter’s league and had a non-intentional walk rate of under 2.5%. Under 2.5%!!! I wonder if the Giant brass are trying to put a good face on it or if they just don’t understand how horribly he did. I doubt he will ever hit well enough to hold down right field, at least on any team but the Giants.

And speaking of longwinded, this is for OGC. Where a batter hits in the lineup could and should change his approach at the plate. In what I laughably call my “baseball career,” I always hit leadoff except for one season in which the competition was below my level. They hit me cleanup. I stood up straight. I dug in. I actually felt much stronger. I didn’t even look for a walk, though I would take one. I was looking for a ball to pull. Next season I was back in my crouch at leadoff and praying for a walk. Maybe that’s just me.

So going into 2009, Lewis was a potential #3 hitter. One year and 300 ABs later, he doesn't fit on the team. I guess there's a good chance he's a 4th OF, but I would much rather watch him play than Mark Derosa/Aaron Rowand.

Lewis had like 2 RBI's 3 months into the season last year. It may be an overrated stat but there is something seriously wrong with someone who can't stumble onto a couple more ribbies by accident...

One thing your article didn't mention was Lewis' RBI total. He knocked in fewer than 20 runs in over 300 PA even though he hit 3rd, 5th, 6th or 7th in the order most of the season. He does walk a lot and no other Giant is a patient hitter, but he just couldn't come through with any clutch hits. Add in his high strikeout total and you have a well below average offensive player. Since he also struggled in the outfield the Giants have better options than Freddie. I think Lewis is a perfect example of what is wrong with the Giants player development. He's a good athlete with speed and occasional power, yet after years in the system he can't steal bases, bunt and is a poor outfielder. Why a lefty hitter with speed and power to the opposite field can't bunt is beyond me.

Apparently you don't watch many Giants games Derek. Freddy at least a dozen times last year looked rediculous trying to field line drives right at him. I went to one game against the dodgers where he misjudged 2 balls that got by him and another that went off his glove and luckily Rowand was behind him and caught the carum.

Also, the reason why I believe RBI's are important is because I do believe in clutch hitting and the adjustments that both hitters and pitchers make when runners are in scoring position. Even if Lewis didn't have anyone to drive in while batting leadoff, he obviously didn't hit a significant amount of HR's or drive in runners after he was dropped down in the lineup. RBI's at the very least show you that the player has done SOMETHING at the plate whether it be hit a fly ball, a grounder deep in the infield, or even takes a walk with bases loaded. When you don't get any over the course of your first 200 or so at bats, there is something wrong with your approach at the plate.

FLew is just hard to watch.

Looks like a soused beer leaguer in LF and incapable of putting the ball in play with runners on base.

Those 2 RBI made me laugh every time I checked the team stats.

Talk about missing the point.