2012 NL West Offseason Review: San Francisco Giants
by Eric Stephen on Feb 7, 2012 6:01 AM PST
in Opponents
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PrintOur offseason tour around the National League West brings us to the hated ones, a look at the San Francisco Giants. Here is a look at the offseason for the Dodgers' heated rivals.
Five Questions
| San Francisco Giants | |
| 2011 Record: | 86-76 |
| Division Finish: |
Second Place, 8 GB |
| 2012 at Dodger Stadium: |
May 7-9, Aug 20-22, Oct 1-3 |
| 2012 Dodgers at Kevin Elster Field: | Jun 25-27, Jul 27-29, Sep 7-9 |
| SB Nation coverage: | McCovey Chronicles SB Nation Bay Area |
1) Where, and how much will Brandon Belt play?
Belt was ranked the 23rd best prospect in MLB by Baseball America coming into the 2011 season, and even made the opening day roster for the Giants last season. But he didn't get a ton of playing time with the Giants, and hit .225/.306/.412 in 209 plate appearances and was optioned to Triple A three times last year.
This year, Aubrey Huff is set to make $10 million in the final year of his contract and could get a lot of time at first base. Manager Bruce Bochy said last week that his likely starting outfield would be Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Nate Schierholtz, though both Huff and Belt could see time in the outfield as well, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Belt started 18 games at first base for the Giants last year, made 16 starts in left field, and one more in right field.
2) Will Madison Bumgarner eventually get a perm and announce Braves games?
Bumgarner quietly had a pretty great season in 2011. He was 13-13 and his 3.21 ERA ranked fourth on his own team, but his peripheral numbers were outstanding. He was fourth in the National League with a 2.67 FIP and sixth in the NL with a 3.10 expected-FIP. And the southpaw was just 21 years old.
With 46 walks and 191 strikeouts, Bumgarner is one of just three pitchers since 1901 at age 21 or younger to have a strikeout-to-walk ratio of at least 4-to-1 while qualifying for the ERA title, joining Bret Saberhagen (1985) and Don Sutton (1966).
| Comforting Thought About The Giants: | |
 |
|
| Barry Zito still has $46 million remaining on his contract. |
3) Is Buster Posey fully recovered?
The Giants sure hope so.
Posey, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, tore three ankle ligaments and broke his leg in a violent home plate collision with Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins on May 25, 2011, is not yet 100% but hopes to be ready and fully healthy by opening day. To protect Posey and to keep his bat in the lineup, he might even play first base once a week or more.
"The work's been done," Giants general manager Brian Sabean told Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News last week. "(Trainer Dave) Groeschner has been pleased with where they are. But we'll be very conscious and diligent about what his schedule will be gamewise. At the finish line is to get him ready to be the opening-day catcher and then to figure from there how many games he can catch."
After Posey got hurt last year, the Giants' catching trio of Eli Whiteside, Chris Stewart, and Hector Sanchez combined to hit .199/.268/.298 with 15 doubles and six home runs in 114 games (plus one inning).
4) Did The Panda add muscle or fat?
Pablo Sandoval rebounded from a subpar 2010 by hitting .315/.357/.552 with 23 home runs in 117 games last year, and parlayed that into a three-year, $17.15 million contract that bought out his salary arbitration years and could potentially be a steal for the Giants. After losing 40 pounds before last season to show up at 240 pounds, the Panda showed up to Fan Fest last week somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 pounds.
"Manager Bruce Bochy observed at FanFest that Sandoval needed to shed a few pounds before Spring Training opens. The Giants' initial full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 24. Sandoval insisted that his weight, which is believed to hover in the 250-pound range, was the product of increased muscle, not fat," wrote Chris Haft of MLB.com. "Sabean vouched for Sandoval's diligence by saying that the 25-year-old frequently works out twice daily."
That sounds like the old stories of Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella showing up to Vero Beach and claiming the bulk around his middle was muscle, not fat. With as good a hitter as Sandoval is, it might not matter.
5) Will Tim Lincecum be appearing in any commercials for The Golden Arches anytime soon?
This seems doubtful.
"You take your first bite of a McDonald's burger and it's like, 'Why did I buy this?' " Lincecum told Gwenn Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday. "You feel instantly sick. That's what ended up happening with all these places. ... I take a bite and I'm like, 'I can't even finish this.' I'm not crushing vegetables by any means, but I'm definitely eating better."
Offseason Moves
| Giants Trades, Etc. This Winter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | Traded | Acquired |
| Royals | Jonathan Sanchez lhp Ryan Verdugo lhp |
Melky Cabrera of |
| Mets | Andres Torres of Ramon Ramirez rhp |
Angel Pagan of |
The Giants shipped an erratic left-hander to the American League Central for an outfielder coming off a career year, then swapped center fielders with the Mets.
| Giants Contracts Signed This Winter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Type | Total Contract | 2012 Salary |
| C | Eli Whiteside | FA | 1-year, $600k | $600,000 |
| RP | Clay Hensley |
FA | 1-year, $750k | $750,000 |
| RP | Jeremy Affeldt | Opt | $5m option exercise | $5,000,000 |
| SP | Tim Lincecum | Arb | 2-year, $40.5m | $18,500,000 |
| 3B | Pablo Sandoval | Arb | 3-year, $17.15m | $3,200,000 |
| OF | Melky Cabrera | Arb | 1-year, $6m | $6,000,000 |
| RP | Javier Lopez | Arb | 2-year, $8.5m | $4,250,000 |
| OF | Angel Pagan | Arb | 1-year, $4.85m | $4,850,000 |
| SP | Ryan Vogelsong | Arb | 2-year, $8.3m | $3,000,000 |
| RP | Santiago Casilla | Arb | 1-year, $2.2m | $2,200,000 |
| RP | Sergio Romo | Arb | 1-year, $1.575m | $1,575,000 |
| OF | Nate Schierholtz | Arb | 1-year, $1.3m | $1,300,000 |
| IF | Mike Fontenot | Arb | 1-year, $1.05m | $1,050,000 |
In addition, the Giants signed infielder Ryan Theriot and pitcher Guillermo Mota, among others, to minor-league contracts.
| Giants Players Lost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | New Team |
| OF | Carlos Beltran | Cardinals |
| OF | Cody Ross | Red Sox |
| IF | Jeff Keppinger | Rays |
| IF | Mark DeRosa | Nationals |
| OF | Darren Ford | Mariners* |
| IF |
Orlando Cabrera |
retirement |
| OF | Pat Burrell | retirement |
| *Minor league deal | ||
Here's my guess as to the Giants' 25-man roster, with a few assumptions mixed in:
| 2012 Giants Under Contract | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | 2012 Age* | 2012 Salary |
| C | Buster Posey | 25 | team control |
| 1B | Aubrey Huff | 35 | $10,000,000 |
| 2B | Freddy Sanchez | 34 | $6,000,000 |
| 3B | Pablo Sandoval | 25 | $3,200,000 |
| SS | Mike Fontenot | 32 | $1,050,000 |
| LF | Melky Cabrera | 27 | $6,000,000 |
| CF | Angel Pagan | 30 | $4,850,000 |
| RF | Nate Schierholtz | 28 | $1,300,000 |
| 1B/OF | Brandon Belt | 24 | team control |
| IF | Ryan Theriot | 32 |
$1,250,000^ |
| IF | Brandon Crawford | 25 | team control |
| OF |
Justin Christian |
32 | team control |
| C | Eli Whiteside | 32 | $600,000 |
| SP | Tim Lincecum | 28 | $18,500,000 |
| SP | Matt Cain | 27 | $15,000,000 |
| SP | Madison Bumgarner | 22 | team control |
| SP | Ryan Vogelsong | 34 | $3,000,000 |
| SP | Barry Zito | 34 | $19,000,000 |
| CL | Brian Wilson | 30 | $8,500,000 |
| RHP | Sergio Romo | 29 | $1,575,000 |
| LHP | Javier Lopez | 34 | $4,250,000 |
| LHP | Jeremy Affeldt | 33 | $5,000,000 |
| RHP | Santiago Casilla | 31 | $2,200,000 |
| RHP | Clay Hensley |
32 |
$750,000 |
| RHP | Guillermo Mota | 38 | $1,000,000^ |
| Totals (20 players) |
$113,025,000 | ||
| *Age as of June 30, 2012 ^minor-league deal |
|||
Dan Runzler is another option for the Mota spot in the bullpen, should the Giants choose to have three left-handed relievers. The Giants also will pay $12 million (possibly less the major league minimum salary of $480,000) to Aaron Rowand, who was released in September and signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.
Thanks to Baseball-Reference.com and Cot's Baseball Contracts. Barry Zito / Matt Kemp photo courtesy of Getty Images.
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boo those guys
Boo I say!!
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 6:49 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Bumgarner
I think he becomes the Giants best pitcher this year and if a Giants pitcher wins another CY Young in the next 5 years it will be he, not Lincecum that does so. Dude is a badass.
Total badass.
He’s going to be god for years upon years.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 7:59 AM PST up reply actions
The Giants are Dead to me.
by jim hitchcock (railway) on Feb 7, 2012 7:55 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
You should do this with the Dodgers once you are done with our competitors. This is a great way to consolidate a winters worth of work into one post that even the most ardent ADHD person could probably finish.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
i take that as a challenge, sir.
by court168627 on Feb 7, 2012 8:14 AM PST via Android app up reply actions
Clippers on the road against the Magic, lose Billups, lose a nine point fourth qtr lead, have DJordon foul out, Evans foul out, down by four after two straight 3 pointers in overtime and…………..
win and cover.
Impressive
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Clippers have to be careful, if they keep turning corners they may end up going in a circle
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Josie
Clippers still number one in road attendance in all the NBA after eight games. By almost 400 over the Lakers.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
sometimes i wish we had an equivalent of the “beat LA” chant for the giants, and then i remember how completely pathetic that chant is
by court168627 on Feb 7, 2012 8:24 AM PST via Android app reply actions
We do, it is called “Giants Suck” and yes, it is even more pathetic then “beat LA”. Kudos to our brilliant fans.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
o. i guess i never heard it in the two giants games ive been to. fans are stupid people.
by court168627 on Feb 7, 2012 8:26 AM PST via Android app up reply actions
I say “Let’s Go Blue” when that music plays.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 8:28 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
a much better chant, no doubt.
by court168627 on Feb 7, 2012 8:29 AM PST via Android app up reply actions
Yeah I'm all for a positive chant
To drown out their dumb negative one. “Let’s Go Dodgers” starts up sometimes at AT&T Park, which makes me happy (especially when there are a good number of Dodger fans there and when Dodgers are winning). Beat LA is just beyond tiresome at this point.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Craig, I love when Dodgers win in Pac Bell, and all the Dodger fans chant “Lets go Dodgers” heading to the parking lots, and completely take over that stadium, ive seen videos, looks like a ton of fun.
It is really fun.
Walking down those things, it makes me soooo happy. They even do that when the Dodgers lose, though.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 9:06 AM PST up reply actions
I’ve always gone for the good ‘ol “Here we go Dodgers”, but hey, as long as you’re proclaiming it, it’s fine with me.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 9:04 AM PST up reply actions
back then they owned the chant and owned the Lakers. If anyone was ever someone’s punching bag it was the Lakers for the Celtics until Magic showed up, which is why he’s the greatest of all the Los Angeles Sports Icons.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Feb 7, 2012 8:28 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
And he did it with style. So L.A became not only the better squad, but the cooler squad.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 8:31 AM PST up reply actions
Finals are finals, what does the number of teams have to do with anything when only two teams are left standing but only one walked away with a championship every single season?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
especially when he becomes our next owner!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
So when the dodgers get past the Phillies in the NLCS with Kemp hitting 7 home runs and Kershaw pitching two shutouts, are they on the path to being on Magic’s level?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Not even close
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Feb 7, 2012 9:41 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
1982 Western Conference Finals…in a loss.
The most impressive thing accomplished in Boston since the Revolutionary War.
Right, Detroit beat them
and they chanted BEAT LA for the Pistons
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
Really?
Wow, I’ve been thinking it was Detroit for years now.
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
It was the second straight year the 76ers had a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals over Boston. In 1981, the Celtics came back to beat Philadelphia (and beat 40-42 Houston in the Finals). In 1982, the Celtics forced Game 7 again, but the 76ers managed to get the win in Boston. When it became clear late in the fourth quarter the 76ers would move on, the Celtics fans started the chant (the Lakers already made it to the Finals).
Yeah, I figured it out but had to reread it and then I kept doubting myself on it. Did the NBA experiment with conference names in the early 80s or something. But more likely that Eric is experimenting with something this AM.
Obviously it is
West Coast Bias.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
To bad about Burrell retiring, I will have to find another whipping dog, but at least he lived up to his whipping, he did just enough in the regular season in 2010 to get significant at bats in the post season to almost ruin things for them.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Or he replacing Rowand with Burrell was the difference between the Padres and the Giants missing the playoffs :(
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
From MSTI
n a related topic, no one – Shaikin included, and he’s unquestionably the media leader as far as this story goes – seems to want to acknowledge the existence of upstart Josh Macciello. We still haven’t seen any official word that he’s made it to the second round of bidding, other than suggestions from his own Twitter feed, but it’s beginning to sound like he’s prepared to drop a ludicrous amount of money to get in the game. How much? He tweeted last night that his bid was "almost double" that of others, and then this morning Mike Szymanski in something called the Studio City Patch (where the picture at right is from) puts a number to that bid:
Sources close to the deal confirm that the bid he laid out recently is about $2.2 billion for the Dodgers and the stadium. Macciello would only confirm that, "with the money I’m bidding, I could buy three sport teams."
Is that for real? I have absolutely no idea. But I do know that if someone like him is going to have a prayer of a chance in this, he’s going to have to completely blow all of the other bids out of the water, and I can’t imagine anyone’s topping $2.2b right now.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 8:38 AM PST reply actions
You know, I kind of like this guy.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 8:38 AM PST up reply actions
to get to this stage in the process, i thought josh was already cleared by baseball. your saying mccourt choses the winner then has to present the guy to baseball for approval? i see frank sueing if the winner is turned down.
i kinda think the highest bid is good for business cuz it ups the value of the other teams, so the owners wouldn’t care.
yeah Im with you on that, sounds like a guy thats going to spend shitloads on payroll, a fan that wants to win, and isnt in this for business it seems like.
or he’s a guy who grew up in New York, is an opportunist and is saying all the right things.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 7, 2012 8:54 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
just curious, are you saying he might move team to NY? Just seems bidding 2.2 billion, if true, isnt a smart business move, which teams me he isnt in this for business, but as a hobby, to spend grips of loot on…. We shall see though, who knows.
I have no reason to believe he is a Dodger fan at all, and I think he is just going through with this charade to get publicity.
the way he's gone about it
Gives me that feeling as well
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:10 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Hmmm maybe.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
publicity for what? he’s a billionaire.
if he was a lowly millionaire actor i could see the reason for the attention. but in this case its of no use to him. he comes off as a regular joe, family guy, who loves baseball.
also theres no logic too in bringing the dodgers to NY. why take the franchise there when the city is owned by the yankees. here in LA, the dodgers are the main show.
I never said he would move to the Dodgers to NY; Chris misinterpreted that.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 7, 2012 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
a billionaire that no one had heard of before
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Well, in that case, if he wants to buy 3 sports teams, get the Lakers too, because Jimmy is messing it up, doesnt know shit, then if you can, NFL team please, thanks.
lol what man?? Im still a Laker, but I know the IT factor when I see it, and Jimmy Buss just doesnt have IT… his dad does, he doesnt…. Jerry cant live forever, and until proven otherwise, were screwed with his son.
Chris in 1961
I know the IT factor when I see it, and John Wooden just doesnt have IT. Sure he wins 70% of his games, but he never wins the big game. UCLA is screwed.
A more likely occurence
Back in 2000, USC hired the wrong guy, has no college experience and was a so so NFL coach.
From
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
I kind of feel like calling bullsh*t on him.
BS that he has that kind of money and BS that he’d spend that much money on a sports franchise, when that much money is a losing proposition… but hard not to find him interesting, too.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Jared Kushner a prospective Dodgers owner
according to LA times he’s snuck in under the radar …
The bid would be funded primarily by the Kushner family, whose net worth is not publicly available. In 2006, the Kushner Cos. bought a Manhattan office complex for $1.8 billion — at the time, the highest price paid for an office building in the United States, according to the New York Times.
$1.8 billion just for a building? my guess he can afford the team.
You buried the lede
He’s Trump’s son in law
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
Softballl Players
Will will be using ASA rules for bats. I contacted them today and told them that is what I want. I will make a post on the site later today.
.
by M.Brown on Feb 7, 2012 12:31 AM PST reply actions
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Classic
Roberto Baly uncovered a 1984 car insurance commercial with Ross Porter and Mike Marshall. It’s for FGS Insurance. I actually called the number at the end of the commercial, and it is Dashers Insurance now.
Dashers Dashers, tststststststststs, Dashers Dashers, tststststststst
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
Ha, i almost typed the exact same thing.
Apparently that’s a catchy jingle.
by Michael White on Feb 7, 2012 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
Anyone feel like Vogelsong
after his two year contract, is due to come back to earth this year? Or is he destined to prove he’s for “real”?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Yep. Hopefully it means turning back into Ryan Vogelsong and not just pitching to his peripherals.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
Yep.
He already started coming down end of last year.
I still believe a lefty can after a bit master third base
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 7, 2012 9:08 AM PST up reply actions
Who will have a better season
Vogelsong (still sounds like the name of a skinhead punk group out from Fullerton) or Harang?
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
Man that’s tough. Leaning Vogelsong but could easily be wrong.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
Really? Why so low on Vogelsong? From the sound of things, you think Harang’s terrible. Is Vogelsong that due for regression?
Was bad in Pittsburgh for four years. Banished to Japan for three more where he was average. Sent to AAA for a year where he was bad. Suddenly good in the bigs.
These kind of comeback stories come up from time to time. We don’t remember the next season where they crash back to earth.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
Joel Pinero
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:44 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I just went with a bad pitcher banished to Japan and came back good
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
OT warning for comic/video game talk (z on Xei)
So I’ve been playing Batman: Arkham Asylum. I wish I was home playing it now instead of here at work. Arkham City will most likely be the end if me.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:15 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Just a general winding down of my gaming habits. I have a ton of games I never finished, just for the simple reason I didn’t feel like playing.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:24 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
hey pal, I have a room in the second floor
I’m top shelf talent
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:30 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I know
Just giving it back :)
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:36 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Asylum is better then City
but City has so much to do you just can’t put it down.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Maybe that's the one I've got
I honestly didn’t notice
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
Games with that much to do usually have me staying away(not a GTA fan, though they are good games), but it is Batman
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:32 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Its more directed then that
I’m the same way but there is usually a reason to do the side quests, as they are usually associated with a villian doing nefarious things and you can go and stop them instead of doing the main quest. The riddler trophy stuff is too much in city though.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I'm having fun with the Riddler stuff right now
But yeah, I imagine it x1000 in City
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:34 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Whoa…looks like someone’s a bit testy this morning.
by KellyStephen on Feb 7, 2012 10:04 AM PST up reply actions
Awesome. That’s a departure from the low-tech “spring-training” feel they’d been going for the past few years.
by Michael White on Feb 7, 2012 9:57 AM PST up reply actions
It looks like Vin Scully won’t call any Dodgers spring training games in Arizona. First game with Vin is Apr 3 vs. Angels (Freeway Series)
because it’s the American League and National League, not American Conference and National Conference. Separate schedules.
In this world without interleague, freeway series is a warm up for Dodger Stadium before the season starts, with a local friendly opponent
Yeah interleague is silly. So is the Freeway series. It also ruins for the me the freshness of opening day by playing the games at the respective ML Stadiums.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:45 AM PST up reply actions
The kind of mistakes that happen when you have 20% employee turnover who have never worked a major league game before, the kind that happens when you have not done a part time job in six months and have to figure it all out again, the kind that happens when you have new procedures that never got ironed out because someone thought it would be a great idea to have an opening day without any testing done with maybe a half stadium pre season game?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don't want to Josie
………….I don’t want to………
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 9:58 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I watched an old man try to replace one for 5 minutes one time
made me miss some precious baseball.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Do you really think 2 pre season games iron out those potential problems? and are you guys saying that thats the reason for the Freeway series?
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:55 AM PST up reply actions
There are 100 reasons for a Freeway series and all of them are valid.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It must make money.
and I still hate it.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:57 AM PST up reply actions
We could play USC and charge the season ticket holders and piss them off even more
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yeah, totally sucks for Mariner fans to get to watch Matt Kemp hit a baseball. Silly shit.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
yeah I never got why people are so against interleague…. Gives people a chance to see a team play here they wouldnt normally ever see, and vice versa.
I don't like that it leads to unbalanced schedules
but if they could balance the schedules better I would have no problem with it.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
It’s a schedule thing for me too. PLus most baseball fans can watch any team on TV if they want.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:52 AM PST up reply actions
Does it, watching TV equates to watching a game in person? TV camera’s can never equate to watching the whole game unfold before you very eyes as you know the jump the fielder got, how the players shift before each pitch, …………..
or everything that makes baseball interesting.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Im talking about Live though…. We got to see Yankees play here, when was the last time that happened? early 80s? Boston fans got to see the Dodgers play at Fenway, has that ever happened before interleague? I mean, anytime in the last 50 years atleast.
LA is not the only place in existence
although sometimes I feel like it should be.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I would think interleague
would be less of a big deal in cities like LA, NY and Chitown that have teams from both leagues. Still nice to see the Dodgers/Yankees actually play each other, but they play in Anaheim twice a year.
yeah but Dodgers vs Yanks is a historical matchup, not Yankees and Angels…. Its not that im a huge interleague fan, I just dont mind it at all, its something different, whats wrong with something different? I just dont get the hate for it, but whatever.
Fifty years of playing each other isn’t historical?
by Josie Becker on Feb 7, 2012 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
Dodgers v Yankees loses some of its luster if they play often enough in the regular season. Plus our ex-Yankee manager will want to beat them so bad that he will blow out the arm of our best relief pitcher in those games.
Next time Broxton should get the three outs before throwing 100 pitches. Can’t be that hard.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
when Portland gets an NL team, this will all be moot
by Josie Becker on Feb 7, 2012 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
Okay
I love Interleague play
I hate the whining about unbalanced schedules resulting from interleague play.
I would like to see Matt Moore and Evan Longoria in Dodger Stadium and not have to drive to Anaheim.
It would be nice if they simply met in a WS but I couldn’t afford the ticket even if that happened so inter-league play works for me.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
plus I hate the Angels, and love playing them 6 times a year, even though they always kick our ass everytime. But hopefully things will return to how it should be, and we’ll own that ass, and I look forward to that. Just dont take that matchup away from me, please.
Interesting that someone
whose real memories of baseball probably consist of inter league play (around since 1997) would not like it.
I'm thinking of a word
it starts with an h and rhymes with hipster
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
So Josh, you seem a bit unusual, can you tell us about yourself?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
How long does a type A free agent have to stay on the market until a team can get him without giving up draft picks?
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
Quick someone put a picture of a smiling Todd Coffey behind it.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
Has Todd Coffey de-throned Juan Uribe?
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
the fuck is that?
If you say a sandwich, you are lying
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 10:01 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
bacon on a plate of bread with bread on top for stability
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Logan White seems to have selective memory regarding the Kershaw draft. Funny how Mr. Morris has slipped his memory. Wonder how his biomechanics graded?
I wish they had at least asked about Mike Stanton
Love the Chris Reed report.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Agree about the Chris Reed part. His enthusiasm got me amped.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
Is it? What is he going say at this point? We blew the pick and he will never amount to squat and everyone else but me was probably right that he should have stayed at 3rd base? The guy is still in the system, he can’t throw him under the bus yet.
he might believe everything he said, but ……………… I doubt it.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
White's Interviews Always Seem To Contain Some Howlers
Bringing up Halladay when cornered on the subject of Ethan Martin is rich. Halladay did very well in High A at 19 after being completely skipped past Low A, and he was pitching in Triple A at 20.
by CanuckDodger on Feb 7, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
"Not to be disrespectful to the other teams, or to those players, but Chris Reed was absolutely who we considered the best guy. When we picked, there were a number of good players we passed on, and it was because we really liked Chris Reed. I think we found a diamond in the rough out of Stanford.
I’m holding on to this quote.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
So White Wanted Reed Over Stephenson?
Didn’t we hear a great deal about the Dodgers wanting Stephenson but Stephenson wanted too much money? White can’t be trusted to tell the truth in a situation like this.
by CanuckDodger on Feb 7, 2012 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
good stuff
Interesting comment on Matt Moore
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 7, 2012 10:22 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Kershaw / Moore
Kemp / Stanton
Good God Almighty
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Mike Stanton LOOKS like he should be a Dodger.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
Sure…but after injuries and poor performance from a vet. I don’t see him handing anything to anyone.
SS Dee Gordon.
Do you realize how few people go from the minors to a starting job in the bigs?
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:33 AM PST up reply actions
Seriously name three players that just got handed a job out of Spring Training.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:45 AM PST up reply actions
They don’t even have to be good. You can put Scott Sizemore on there.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
They moved Kershaw up and to some extent Billingsley up
really fast. Some believe that jobs should be just handed to players but that is just not what happens. But Kershaw was called up in his second full-season of professional baseball and Bills came up in his third full pro season.
and Moore would have probably started over Rubby if he was in our system
so your initial premise is flawed
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Moore only got called up because of roster expansion.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:47 AM PST up reply actions
Rubby would have been ahead of him on the depth chart?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
The only reason the Rays called up Matt Moore was because the rosters went to 40 men.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:50 AM PST up reply actions
Yes, the Dodgers didn’t just happen to have 4 men in the rotation and then decide to give Kershaw the job. Assuming there’s a full roster there will always be a reason somebody is called up and handed the job. Being a AA player and being considered better than the incumbent (Loiza) counts as being handed the job.
by Michael White on Feb 7, 2012 10:47 AM PST up reply actions
How about JMac
being handed the fifth starter job out of spring training
by Michael White on Feb 7, 2012 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
You have to remember that Loaiza was incredibly bad, though. If he was productive, do you honestly think Kershaw would have replaced him?
It would have been great cause Kershaw was kinda bad in his rookie year so if Loaiza was productive we’d get another year of service time out of him.
You are arguing that it’s better for young players to play even if it makes the team worse.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
One Two Punches
ESPN radio had a short blurb on this morning about best one-two punches in sports. It started from a quote about Kobe/Shaq being one of the best one-two punches in NBA history. The guy mentioned Ruth/Gerhig as a baseball best one-two punch. I thought of Jordan/Pippen. Any thoughts on who you think the best one-two punches from any sport were and maybe who the best one-two punch in Dodgers history was/is.
Koufax/Drysdale
for Dodgers and maybe all of baseball
At their peak
Drysdale (CYA 1962) and Koufax (CYA 1963, 1965, 1966, MVP 1963) were the best one two punch in Dodger history.
best current 1-2 punch in baseball might be Fielder and Miggy. Last season it was probably Fielder and Braun, but we all know how that turned out.
also
Halladay/Lee might be a bit obvious but they’re both pretty damn nasty
Big Fed Machine
Halladay/Lee
But Kershaw/Kemp might be on top now
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
If we start adjusting for position and not just looking at dingers Pedroia/A-Gon might be hard to top.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 7, 2012 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
I loved Iztruis/Cora, and so did Vin.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:16 AM PST up reply actions
Shaq and Kobe were one of the best duos ever, maybe the best, but could have been so much more. If they got along, and Shaq had the work ethic Kobe did, who knows where they would of ended up. But I miss those days, and mostly miss Shaq’s power game. Watching Bynum and wishing he would just rise up and dunk that dam ball with 3 players on his back like Shaq did, make me miss Shaq that much more.
Shag and Kobe should been the greatest ever. SHOULD have won 6-8 titles. It’s amazing that in spite of all the bullshit they still won 3.
But since they were jerks, Jordan/Pippen stays number 1
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
The problem with Jordan / Pippen is the huge discrepancy between them. While with Magic / Kareem you did have two of the top five players in the league on the same team. Same with Kobe/Shaq.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Pip may be the best 2nd Banana ever. Gasol is another in that mold. Great players, but not top 5. THough Pippen sure was close. Top 5 defender to be certain.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, but without the titles they simply remain a great duo
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Best duo's not to win a title? (NBA edition)
Stockton/Malone
Weber/Bibby
Barkley/KJ
Payton/Kemp
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:27 AM PST up reply actions
and…
LeBron/Wade
well, at least not together. Hope their names stay on this board for years to come.
I thought about adding them, and really really want to…but you know…too soon….
my other Question is…Did Clyde the glide have a 2nd banana?
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
Jerome Kersey
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
One of those guys you were happy to see be a Laker simply because he was on good teams
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:36 AM PST up reply actions
No contest
First is West and Baylor and then Malone and Stockton. No one else can enter this debate unless James and Wade never win a title.
Run TMC if you want three.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
RUN TMC
For greatest underachievers in NBA history.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:37 AM PST up reply actions
Best duo in history
Bill Russell’s left side/ Bill Russell’s right side.
by Julio Nievas on Feb 7, 2012 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
I figured the premise was goalscorer-goalscorer. That scratches out Becks. You could go Landon Donovan-Robbie Keane, but it’s not an all time pairing. Wayne Rooney-Chicharito, now that’s a one-two punch.
by Josie Becker on Feb 7, 2012 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t follow the Spanish league too closely, I really don’t know.
by Josie Becker on Feb 7, 2012 10:38 AM PST up reply actions
Ray Lewis/Ed Reed
I wanted to say Manning/Harris but not sure that is in the same vein.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I was trying to think of best running back duos
but all I could come up with where Panthers for some reason. For football a lot of times people don’t talk about duos, but the trinity of QB/RB/WR. Emmit Aikman and Irvin for example.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
much of that is the use of one back sets, and the weakening of the fullback position.
by Josie Becker on Feb 7, 2012 10:46 AM PST up reply actions
well if you want to talk about great FB and HB duos
LT and that other guy are the most recent greats. But they never really put two HBs in the game at the same time in the past. Many teams these days use two backs, they just aren’t on the field at the same time.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Marcus and Bo without a doubt…
My fav as a kid was Okoye and Word
by Lex in Brooklyn on Feb 7, 2012 10:47 AM PST up reply actions
Jon has one Dodger player's attention
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