Monthly Archives: November 2011

Nov 30

Free Agent Carousel

The Giants aren’t the only ones making strides as the Winter Meetings draw near. Yesterday, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik held a conference call to outline his plans for the team this offseason.

Seattle has already committed to one trade so far, acquiring catcher John Jaso from Tampa Bay, and relinquishing RHP Josh Lueke, as well as undetermined minor league or monetary compensation.

Still, there are many gaps to be filled, and an offense that needs heating up in 2012. Prince Fielder is the big question mark on the Mariners’ list, but with $15M in extra cash, Zduriencik is understandably hesitant. As quoted by MLB.com’s Greg Johns: “There are so many factors there and no one knows where that number will end up. As much as you might have desire to go down a path, the length and dollars tie into that.”

Johns revealed that the M’s are looking at strengthening the team in many positions, building around a young—and still-developing—core. Nothing seems to be out of the question as the Mariners head into the Winter Meetings, from starting pitching to extra shortstops and third basemen.

A list of names and positions mentioned:

At this point, it’s nice to have options. I don’t expect the M’s to hook Fielder, and it may be more economical to go after a few veteran players instead. I’d rather see a team of young stars cemented by a few temporary vets than one or two big bats trying to carry the team.

Keep up with the Mariners’ moves and follow Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) on Twitter for up-to-date information as the meetings develop, December 5-8.

Nov 29

Notes on the Return of Sabean and Bochy

Sabean and Bochy are coming back.

A tweet from Amy Gutierrez confirmed that both managers have been extended through 2013, with an option for 2014. From my Twitter feed, most Giants fans appear to be mildly (or very) unhappy, but no one is surprised with the news. It’s been no secret that Larry Baer prioritized the return of Brian and Bruce from the moment he stepped into his new role as CEO.

What does this mean for the team? More veteran players, less playing time for youngsters like Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford? Probably. Here are a few notes from the conference call with Brian Sabean, as reported by John Shea and Andrew Baggarly:

- Sabean is scheduled to talk with Beltran’s people today. It’s nice to see the Giants are still interested in negotiating a contract with him, especially since…

- There is no plan to sign any big free agents, like Prince Fielder or Jose Reyes. Instead, the focus will be on affording the current pitching staff. Baggs summed it up perfectly in his blog post: “The franchise motto: It’s the pitching, stupid.”

- Sabean is impressed with the improvements Belt and Crawford made in the Dominican League and Arizona Fall League. No surprise here, though—he still hasn’t decided whether the Brandons will lock in positions at shortstop and first base/left field this spring.

- Speaking of winter ball, Pablo Sandoval is cutting his visit to Venezuela short. Apparently, this has more to do with his conditioning program than the Wilson Ramos kidnapping earlier this month.

- More uncertainties: re-signing Cody Ross, shopping for a fifth starter.

Check out Andrew Baggarly’s notes for more information on offseason developments. And, if you’re firmly in the pro-Sabean and Bochy camp, take a look at this article by Giants Nirvana, detailing the ways Boch has helped out the club in recent years.

Nov 27

My Christmas Wishlist

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about what I want for Christmas. After much deliberation, I’ve narrowed it down to my top five “must-haves” of this winter.

1. One World Championship Trophy.

2. A division title for the Mariners. After all, it’s their last chance to win a four-team division before the Astros’ big move, and I’m not so sure the Rangers can pull off a World Series visit three years in a row.

3. Carlos Beltran. Despite the surplus of center fielders on the Giants’ 40-man roster (and until Melky proves his worth beyond 2011), Carlos is the only one with a batting average over .300.

4. A real, live offense for the Giants. Start with a couple big bats, add some stolen bases, home runs, clutch hits, and the Giants might prove an offensive threat in 2012.

5. Andres Torres. I’m not going to offer justification here. I just want him back in SF.

And let’s not forget the stocking stuffers:

- Danny Hultzen’s major league debut. AFL Rising Star and Top Prospect, Hultzen already has an impressive and lengthy minor league resume from 2011 alone. If all goes well in Spring Training, I have no doubt we’ll see him on the mound at Safeco Field very soon.

- Cody Ross. Again, no justification is needed. If you doubt his value on this list (or, for that matter, the team), watch this video.

- A little extra pocket money, to be used for bats and starting pitchers. It should go without saying that both the Mariners and the Giants could use some solid offense.

Over at Around the Foghorn, Bryan Rosa reported (via Frank Russo) that the Yankees offered four players for Matt Cain, which potentially included Jesus Montero/Nick Swisher and a few minor league pitchers. The Giants immediately refused the trade, but with an ever-increasing payroll, they may not be able to afford their stars much longer.

Now, I just need to postmark this list and send it off to Santa Bud Selig. What’s on your list this year?

Nov 24

Happy Thanksgiving!

“I can’t wait to be blogging here in November 2011, telling you all again how grateful I still am for everything in MLB and beyond.”

Last Thanksgiving, I concluded a post with those words. Part of me wondered if my love for baseball was just a fling, a summertime obsession heightened by the Giants’ postseason run. A year later, I’m happy to find that my passion for this sport is only growing deeper.

It’s been an amazing year. A year of firsts: first Spring Training (where I saw the Giants and Mariners face off for the first time), first Opening Day games, first Giants game in San Francisco. A year of falling in love with minor league baseball. A year with not one, but two opportunities to apply for a job in a major league front office. A year when I accepted a staff writing position for Around the Foghorn, a great Giants blog on FanSided. A year where the Giants and Mariners did not make the playoffs, but one with some of the best baseball I’ve ever seen (Wild Card Wednesday and Game 6 of the World Series, anyone?).

Today, I’m definitely still grateful for Major League Baseball. I’m grateful for God’s blessings in my life, for the constant support of family and friends, and for the incredible community that keeps me rooted in Seattle. I’m grateful for this holiday, with its surfeit of turkey and pumpkin pie, its parades and football games. And I have no doubt that when 2012 rolls around, I’ll be here again, with an increased love for baseball—and who knows, maybe another World Championship win to give thanks for, too.

Nov 23

Moving West

Last Thursday, Houston entrepreneur Jim Crane became the new owner of the Houston Astros. Normally, this kind of event would be a blip on my radar, except this particular sale includes a major stipulation: a move from the National League to the American League. To be exact, the AL West division.

The move isn’t scheduled until the 2013 season, but it signals a pretty significant shift for the two leagues.

First, it affects the Astros. As a newly-minted American League team, they have to adjust to playing with a designated hitter. No doubt some pitchers—such as Wandy Rodriguez, who batted .180/.180/.230 in 2011—will be pleased to hear this.

Gone will be the days of struggling to top a six-team division, which includes the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, Houston will join the Rangers, Athletics, Angels, and Mariners, who make up one of the less intimidating divisions in the AL.

Justin Smoak lifts a two-run homer against Houston's Brian Moehler. Credit: Pat Sullivan/AP

Second, it affects MLB itself. At long last, the two leagues will even out with 15 teams and 3 divisions of 5 teams apiece. However, what they make up in symmetry, they will pay for with extra interleague games. According to an article by Al Yellon, the 15-18 interleague games teams already play could skyrocket to 30 in 2013.

Personally, I have no beef with the increase in interleague play, though like Al, I worry about the spread of the DH. More interleague games means more chances to see the Giants in Seattle, which makes me feel very excited and very guilty at the same time.

Third, it affects the Mariners. The AL West has been coasting along with four teams since its inception in 1969, so it will take some time to get acquainted with a new team, not to mention traveling to Texas twice as much.

In the past 10 years, the M’s and Astros have only met 9 times, with a 3-6 record between them. Two of three series were played in Houston, the most recent in June 2007. Still, the confidence appears to be high in Seattle. Last week, Greg Johns quoted first baseman Justin Smoak:

“I like the idea of playing in Houston a little more often,” Smoak said with a chuckle when reached at his home in South Carolina on Thursday. “The ball flies everywhere there, that’s all I remember. It’s the total opposite of Safeco Field.”

Finally, it affects the fans. How do you feel about the Astros’ move? Will the additional interleague games positively or negatively alter the season schedules? And if your favorite team resides in the AL West, how do you think they’ll fare in a five-team division?

Nov 17

The Center Field Dilemma

If recent trade reports can be believed, the Giants are looking at two left fielders, one right fielder, and six center fielders in 2012. Okay, five center fielders if they decline to re-sign Carlos Beltran. But you get my drift.

Yesterday morning, Matt Eddy tweeted the addition of 27-year-old center fielder Gregor Blanco to the Giants. Whether he is going straight to the 40-man roster or to Fresno for extra seasoning is yet to be announced. Either way, things aren’t looking great for the five other center fielders already crowding AT&T Park’s outfield. It almost goes without saying that things are especially uncertain for Andres Torres, whose name has not yet been mentioned in the same sentence as “leadoff hitter” or “2012 center fielder.”

The pros of keeping Blanco on the roster? Like another recent acquisition, Melky Cebrera, Gregor is flexible in right and left field as well. His OBP of .349 is respectable; his batting average of .201, not so much. Let’s see how his competition sizes up.

Note: I’m going off the players still listed on the Giants 40-man roster. Assuming no one leaves, gets injured, or switches positions from here to Opening Day 2012, this is who we have to work with.

Of course, the Giants may re-sign Beltran, keep Ford as a pinch-runner (per his role in 2011), put Melky in right field, and option Blanco and Peguero to Fresno, but I’m still racking my brains for a place to utilize Torres. Better too many to work with than too few, right?

Nov 16

Offseason Moves: Seattle Mariners

The Hot Stove won’t really heat up until the 2011 Winter Meetings this December, but rumors are surfacing around Seattle as the Mariners look to strengthen their infield and catch a few bats this offseason.

Major Moves — None yet, but word has it Seattle plans to shop Chone Figgins around the league, eying Cincinnati, Detroit, and San Francisco as possible trade targets. The Mariners are reportedly prepared to absorb a large chunk of Chone’s salary as part of the deal.

The 33-year-old third baseman saw 242 games, 210 hits, 86 runs, and 50 RBIs in two years, all while sitting on $17M. He batted .188/.241/.243, significantly lower numbers than he posted in 2010, as his WAR dipped from 1.1 to -1.2. With Bill James’ predictions (over at Fangraphs), Figgins may see 94 games, 38 runs, 22 RBIs, and a batting average of .261 in 2012.

In 2011, Chone ate 12.10% of the team’s payroll, according to BaseballPlayerSalaries.com. If you break it down by games played, he averages $111,111 per game and $28,753 per at bat. After 54 hits, 24 runs, and only 15 RBIs this season, the question bears repeating: is he worth the price? You decide.

Other trade rumors floating around the blogosphere: Jamie Moyer’s return to Seattle from Tommy John surgery; Prince Fielder a possibility, but not a must-have; M’s keeping tabs on Cuban defector and CF Yoennis Cespedes and Japanese RHP Yu Darvish.

Minor Match-ups — As mentioned in an earlier post, the Mariners have seven players in the Arizona Fall League and another 30+ in the Caribbean leagues. Big-league players look to sharpen their skills, while notable minor-league prospects include outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang, shortstop Nick Franklin, LHP Danny Hultzen, LHP Brian Moran, and RHP Forrest Snow.

Both Franklin and Hultzen made headlines in the AFL Rising Stars Game earlier this month, where Franklin went 4-for-5 with his first AFL home run, and Hultzen posted a 0.00 ERA and nabbed the win. MLB.com reporter Greg Johns speculates that Hultzen may even be a midseason call-up for the Mariners next year.

Medals of Honor — Looks like the M’s won’t be taking home any Gold Gloves or Silver Sluggers this year, but rookie pitcher Michael Pineda and infielder Dustin Ackley both received nominations and votes for American League Rookie of the Year.

Don’t worry, though–there’s still time to vote for the Mariners in the 2011 GIBBYS. Felix Hernandez is up for the Starting Pitcher of the Year, while Ackley and Pineda get another shot at Rookie(s) of the Year.

Nov 8

Offseason Moves: San Francisco Giants

There has been a lot of speculation during the start of the Giants’ offseason. Will they make a bid for Jose Reyes or Coco Crisp? Will we say goodbye to Torres and Ross as they face an increasingly crowded outfield? Will a Tim Lincecum trade attract big bats?

Finally, we have something to sink our teeth in. Over the last two weeks, the Giants have re-signed Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt for a combined $13.5 M. Yesterday, they traded No. 5 starter Jonathan Sanchez and minor league LHP Ryan Verdugo for Kansas City’s OF Melky Cabrera.

It’s not much of a surprise that the two lefty relievers will return in 2012. Sabean and Bochy have made it clear from the get-go that locking down the pitching staff was top priority this winter. Both Lopez and Affeldt posted strong numbers in 2011, even with Jeremy’s busted hand in September.

It’s also not a big shock to see Jonathan Sanchez go, though I was intrigued by Hank Schulman’s tweet earlier today: “Source tells me Verdugo was a big key to deal. Royals wanted second pitcher. They first asked for Runzler, but Giants said no.” Sanchez has clearly played a big role in his years with the Giants after tossing a no-hitter in 2009 and locking down the division win in 2010. When he’s good, he’s very, very good. And when he’s bad… well, they don’t call it torture for nothing.

This was a down year for Sanchez. Plagued by injuries, he pitched a total of 22 games and 114.3 innings. His number of bases on balls per 9 innings spiked to 5.74, the highest in his career to date. However, given time to recover and adjust to a new environment, I think Sanchez will prove a valuable addition to the Royals. And of course, adding Ryan Verdugo’s 4.35 ERA and 4.10 FIP doesn’t hurt, either.

In a way, their surplus of outfielders and the Giants’ surplus of pitchers almost makes this a balanced trade. Melky Cabrera is a 27-year-old center fielder with potential, as long as he keeps up his offseason conditioning (perhaps a workout buddy for Sandoval, unless you buy the whole “my uniform makes me look fat” spiel). His numbers are anything but stable, though he had a breakout year in 2011 batting .305/.339/.470 with 102 runs, 201 hits, and 20 stolen bases. In fact, he was even named the Royals’ “Breakout Player of the Year” by MLB.com. Perhaps the best thing about acquiring Cabrera? He becomes a free agent after 2012, so if his numbers drop significantly during the season, he won’t block prospect CF Gary Brown from advancing.

What concerns me is not the trade, but the implications that follow for Cody Ross, Andres Torres, and Eric Surkamp. About a month ago, Sabean and Bochy said they had no viable options in center field, leaving Torres on shaky ground. Now, with Melky a likely starter in the outfield (Bochy said he’s flexible in right and left field, as well as center), Torres will either be kept as a backup or simply let go.

At the time, they also dismissed the idea of Surkamp as a fifth starter, which makes me wonder whether they’ll retract that plan and make him compete with Zito for the slot, or simply shop around for a steadier arm.

As with most offseason moves, the answers we get only lead to more questions. Personally, I’m a little sad to see Sanchez go. I’d like to see Torres, Ross, and Beltran return in 2012, too, but I guess you can’t have it all.