Official 2010 San Francisco Giants Season Thread (92-70) NL West Division Champions!

[dland24]

I understand the other side of the argument (your argument LJ), but how many prospects end up turning out? Very few. How many of our prospects have turned out in the past 20 years (for us or someone else)?

I agree that having your 1-5 and bullpen locked down, wont require you to have big scoring games to win. But look at the last 10 World Series Champs. How many of those teams couldnt just mash the ball? I say zero, but am willing to listen to disagreements on that. Bottom line is, in todays game you need a very good hitting lineup to win a championship. We dont have that.

And as great as our pitching is/will be, we will never reach our ultimate goal of winning a championship. And having stud pitching in the minors will do nothing for us as far as winning now, and will do nothing for us in the future unless we bring in some bats.

 

[aec23]

Originally Posted by Bruce Waynee

The drop in velocity is concerning but he is only 20 years old.  Hopefully he still works out.

   exactly, but right now i dontn htink he's ready to start in the big leagues yet. i would like to see wellemeyer as the 5th starter and maybe pucetas as the long relief man and let bummy chill in fresno and bring him up if any of the starters hit the DL.... since he's only 20 and he was only in up with the giants for a month last year, its too early to tell if he'll be a bust or if he'll pan out as a good pitcher.

 

[what up]

We'll never know what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe the scouts REALLY liked Bumgarner's stuff and deemed him untouchable. Maybe Sabean made calls and was only offered a Brandon Phillips type players when we really need a Prince Fielder.

 

[lazyj10]

Originally Posted by dland24

I understand the other side of the argument (your argument LJ), but how many prospects end up turning out? Very few. How many of our prospects have turned out in the past 20 years (for us or someone else)?

I agree that having your 1-5 and bullpen locked down, wont require you to have big scoring games to win. But look at the last 10 World Series Champs. How many of those teams couldnt just mash the ball? I say zero, but am willing to listen to disagreements on that. Bottom line is, in todays game you need a very good hitting lineup to win a championship. We dont have that.

And as great as our pitching is/will be, we will never reach our ultimate goal of winning a championship. And having stud pitching in the minors will do nothing for us as far as winning now, and will do nothing for us in the future unless we bring in some bats.

I see your point too.  My reasoning is like, as you mention, how many of said prospects turn out? Say you move 5 of them and keep 2, of those two neither are really good. Maybe a 4-5 starter on a mediocre team, good.  Then out of the 5 you moved prematurely you have a solid 1 and 2 starter on great teams...because you didn't know what you had before you moved it.

Good pitchers, even after it's been established, will still yield a good player/prospects in return. 

Obviously a simplistic example, but just my mentality.

The Giant's biggest hurdle, IMO, is passing the time it will take to clear the big contracts (ie - mistakes).   I've argued this point before, clearly the Giants are willing to spend the money, which is a good thing.  However, how they've done it has burnt them.  When the Bond years were finally coming to an end and the Giant's weren't really good but not exactly terrible, they had allowed themselves to go more so the "no future" zone.  They HAD to OVERpay someone like Rowand to show they'd spend the money (Zito too obviously) but Rowand isn't worth his contract and isn't a cornerstone 1-5 batter.  Yet, they HAD to do it, for the future when they've established themselves as a good team (good pitching, prospects, farm grown talent, etc) they can perhaps land the missing piece without over paying for it, foolishly.

If any of that makes sense at all.

 

[flasheightzero]

i'm ready to watch a lot of 2-1 games

 

[tim lincecum]

[h2]Giants, left-hander Jeremy Affeldt agree to contract extension[/h2]
Posted by Andrew Baggarly on March 24th, 2010 at 9:52 pm | Categorized as Uncategorized

The Giants and left-hander Jeremy Affeldt agreed to a restructured contract that includes a one-year, $4.5 million extension for 2011 and $5 million option for 2012, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

I can’t confirm the figures, but I’m told an announcement regarding an Affeldt extension will come Thursday.The USAT report makes it sound like Affeldt gets a two-year, $9.5 million extension. But the details don’t seem to jibe with that.

In addition to the $4.5 million in 2011, Affeldt would get a bump this season from $4 million to $4.5 million. The 2012 option includes a $500,000 buyout, too. So in terms of guaranteed stuff, we’re looking at one more year and $5.5 million.

Affeldt had a 1.73 ERA last season, the lowest among all National League relievers to appear in at least 50 games.

He celebrated today by fielding a bunt and throwing it into the stands.

 

[chris82790]

im sure nobody cares but Frandsen was sent to the Red Sox

 

[lazyj10]

I had heard yesterday on KNBR how far he fell down on the Giants Depth Chart, so the move doesn't surprise me. Details of the deal?

 

[chris82790]

i think it was a player to be named later or cash considerations i think that is what damon bruce said

 

[tim lincecum]

[h3]Giants trade Frandsen to Red Sox[/h3]Lifelong fan headed to Boston; Ford among roster cuts


By Chris Haft / MLB.com

03/26/10 6:13 PM ET

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Kevin Frandsen removed his Giants jersey by himself Friday afternoon. One might have imagined that it would have to be torn off him.

Frandsen's lifelong connection to the Giants -- at least as an active player -- ended Friday when they traded the infielder to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named or cash considerations.

The Giants also optioned outfielders Darren Ford and Francisco Peguero to Double-A and Class A, respectively, and reassigned right-hander Tony Pena and infielder-outfielder Jesus Guzman to Minor League camp. The moves trimmed San Francisco's spring roster to 39.

The Frandsen deal created much-needed room for the Giants on their 40-man roster, since non-roster pitchers Guillermo Mota and Todd Wellemeyer are likely to make the Opening Day staff.

Moreover, the Giants consider themselves well-stocked with infielders. Matt Downs and Ryan Rohlinger occupy roles similar to Frandsen's, and outfielders Mark DeRosa and Eugenio Velez can double as infielders.

But Frandsen wasn't dwelling on the minutiae of depth charts or roster management as he exchanged farewells with his suddenly former teammates. The 27-year-old from San Jose, who grew up rooting for the Giants as a youth, was absorbing the reality that his unique, unbroken and dual connection with the club -- as a fan and as a player -- had been severed.

"I'm so thankful to have been in this organization," Frandsen said, his voice husky with emotion. "Maybe the exact opportunity that I wanted wasn't there. But I got the opportunity to play in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants, and not too many Bay Area people can say that. I lived a dream for a lot of people that are Giants fans and I cherished every minute of it."

That dream began for Frandsen when the Giants drafted him in the 12th round out of San Jose State in 2004. He impressed then-manager Felipe Alou during his first visit to big league camp in 2005 and made his Giants debut in 2006. Frandsen divided his time between the Majors and Triple-A Fresno that year and the next. He ended 2007 by hitting .367 for the Giants in his final 32 games and seemed to be primed to claim an everyday role the following season. But Frandsen missed virtually the entire 2008 season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in Spring Training, then was beaten out by Emmanuel Burriss in last year's competition for the second-base job.

Citing pressure Frandsen might have faced after enduring the Achilles injury and while trying to make his hometown team, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said, "Frankly, I think Kevin is going to benefit from a change of scenery."

The Red Sox needed Frandsen for middle infield depth, particularly at shortstop, since Jed Lowrie has mononucleosis and Bill Hall's ability to handle the position is questionable. Frandsen will find at least one familiar face when he joins the Sox: second baseman Dustin Pedroia, his friend and constant offseason workout partner.

But the Giants wouldn't let Frandsen go quickly. He received a bear hug from pitching coach Dave Righetti, another San Jose native who bestowed his jersey No. 19 upon Frandsen for several years. The number had multiple sources of significance relating to Frandsen's older brother, DJ, who died of cancer in 2004.

Special assistant J.T. Snow, who played briefly for the Red Sox in 2006, asked Frandsen to tell Red Sox manager Terry Francona hello. First baseman Aubrey Huff, who has spent most of his nine-year career in the American League, informed Frandsen that if he plays well in baseball-mad Boston, he'll be deified.

"It's a great, great clubhouse," Frandsen said, expressing regret over leaving the Giants.

But he also said, "I'm going from one class organization to another class organization. I'm pretty lucky."

Among the players demoted to the Minors, the most intriguing one was Ford, who hit .500 (10-for-20) with four stolen bases in five attempts and wowed the Giants with his speed. Though Ford has never played above high-Class A, Bochy wouldn't rule out seeing the 24-year-old in a San Francisco uniform at some juncture this season.

"It's very hard to say that he surprised us, because he's a good player," Bochy said. "But he exceeded our expectations of what he can do."

 

[tim lincecum]

[h3]Wilson may get extension with Affeldt[/h3]Giants closer reportedly agrees to new contract


By Chris Haft / MLB.com

03/26/10 2:51 AM ET

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants might be poised to preserve the relief tandem of closer Brian Wilson and setup specialist Jeremy Affeldt beyond this year.

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reported Thursday that the Giants and Wilson had agreed to a contract extension that would buy out at least one of the right-hander's three remaining years of salary arbitration. Wilson avoided arbitration with the Giants this past offseason by agreeing to a one-year, $4,437,500 deal.

The Giants would not confirm the report.

After the Giants' 6-3 exhibition victory over the Oakland A's, Wilson claimed that he knew nothing about an extension. "That would be awesome," he said.

Sources familiar with the talks told MLB.com that both deals could be officially announced as soon as Friday morning.

Affeldt refused to comment on the possibility of a contract extension. Giants manager Bruce Bochy did address Affeldt's considerable impact on the club.

"There wasn't a better all-around reliever in the league, I don't think, than Jeremy [in 2009]," Bochy said. "He was instrumental in the success we had last year. He really stabilized the bullpen."

Wilson was a National League All-Star in 2008, when he amassed 41 saves, and added 38 saves last year along with a 5-6 record, a 2.74 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings spanning 68 appearances. Affeldt was 2-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 74 games while inducing a Major League-high 18 double-play grounders and tying Minnesota's Matt Guerrier for the big league lead in holds with 33.

 

[chris82790]

i think i heard on knbr that the wilson deal is 2 years 15 million

 

[paul is on tilt]

[h2]Contracts extended for Cain, 2 others[/h2]
Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, March 28, 2010
(03-2 04:00 PDT SCOTTSDALE -- , Ariz. - With three pen strokes Sunday, the Giants made a significant statement to their fans while fattening the bank statements of three of their most important pitchers.

The Giants formally announced new contracts totaling $51.75 million for starter Matt Cain, closer Brian Wilson and left-handed setup man Jeremy Affeldt. The largest of the contracts goes to Cain and ensures the team can preserve its core starting quartet of Cain, Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez at least three more years.

"It's our window," general manager Brian Sabean said in announcing deals that were discussed internally long before spring training. "We had a position-player window with (Barry) Bonds and have these guys through '12 now.

"We have cost certainty and the fans have the comfort of knowing these guys are going to be in Giants uniforms helping us win games."

The Giants reworked Cain's current four-year deal and signed him to a new three-year, $27.25 million contract that maintains his $4.25 million salary for this season. It also replaces his 2011 option with a guaranteed $7 million and gives him $15 million for 2012, which would have been his first free-agency year. Cain also gets a $1 million signing bonus payable next year.

The Giants gave Wilson a two-year, $15 million extension that guarantees him $6.5 million in 2011 and $8.5 million in 2012, buying out the middle two of his four arbitration years.

Affeldt was due to earn $4 million in 2010 in the final year of his contract. Instead, he will get $4.5 million this year and next with a $5 million club option for 2012 and a $500,000 buyout.

"Great news for all of them," manager Bruce Bochy said after a dispiriting 7-0 loss to the Padres. "I think this sends a great message from the organization."

In all, ownership agreed to shell out an $43.5 million above its previous commitments to Cain, Affeldt and Wilson. The team gains cost certainty while risking guaranteed money to pitchers who might get hurt. The pitchers enjoy that guaranteed money against the risk of leaving more dollars on the table in arbitration and free agency.

The deals were announced shortly after Cain pitched seven innings and allowed three runs in a minor-league intrasquad game. The longest-tenured Giant took a no-hitter into the sixth. Imagine how big his new contract would have been had he finished the no-no.

Cain said his extension "just shows the appreciation for some of the things I've done with the Giants. It just shows the way they run the organization. I think it's a great situation that we can do something for both sides. Me and (wife) Chelsea are more than ecstatic about doing this."

Cain also said he and his teammates want to be together well into the future.

"We really feed off each other," he said. "We feel we've got great chemistry with everybody. We love this, the fact that we'll be able to play with Wilson the next couple of years, Zito, Timmy, all these guys."

Cain compared the continuity of the Giants' rotation now to the Braves' trio of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, and the A's big three of Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder.

Wilson, whose 79 saves the last two seasons rank fourth in the majors, said, "Oh, sweet," when told all the deals were done. He pledged to work harder than ever so he can earn another contract "and try to be a Giant for the rest of my career."

 

[lazyj10]

Congrats to Matty C. One of my favorite Giants, glad to see the guy get paid.

Assuming Zeet-o can be in AVG, solid 1-4 over the next 3-4 years by the Giants.....obviously contingent on health.

 

[tim lincecum]

Love the contract extensions on all three pitchers.

Cain is finally paid.

Also, I bought 4 tickets yesterday for Sunday's game against the Mariners. Sitting behind homeplate for the first time. I hope I can see Griffey, Jr.

 

[lazyj10]

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Love the contract extensions on all three pitchers.

Cain is finally paid.

Also, I bought 4 tickets yesterday for Sunday's game against the Mariners. Sitting behind homeplate for the first time. I hope I can see Griffey, Jr.

Where about?

 

[tim lincecum]

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Love the contract extensions on all three pitchers.

Cain is finally paid.

Also, I bought 4 tickets yesterday for Sunday's game against the Mariners. Sitting behind homeplate for the first time. I hope I can see Griffey, Jr.

Where about?

Sec. 116, Row 30.

 

[lazyj10]

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

 

[tim lincecum]

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

FRANCHISE, any advice for me to try to get some autographs from the likes of Ichiro and/or Griffey?

 

[franchise 55]

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

FRANCHISE, any advice for me to try to get some autographs from the likes of Ichiro and/or Griffey?

They are both horrible horrible signers so I highly doubt you'll get either. But if you want to give it a chance, they might be dropped off in a cab by the dugout store to enter through the visitor's entrance.

 

[paul is on tilt]

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

And we still got that on our DVR. Dude was hella hyped to see himself on TV.

 

[tim lincecum]

Originally Posted by Paul Is On Tilt

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

And we still got that on our DVR.

 

[tim lincecum]

Originally Posted by FRANCHISE 55

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

FRANCHISE, any advice for me to try to get some autographs from the likes of Ichiro and/or Griffey?

They are both horrible horrible signers so I highly doubt you'll get either. But if you want to give it a chance, they might be dropped off in a cab by the dugout store to enter through the visitor's entrance.

Thanks for the info.

I'll likely want to try my luck by the visitors dugout.

 

[paul is on tilt]

Originally Posted by FRANCHISE 55

Originally Posted by Tim Lincecum

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

Nice. My mom used to have tickets in 314/315 row 1 or 2....definitely a good spot for a game. Our firm is has seats at/around 113/115/117, can't recall where as I haven't gotten the tickets in a few years.

Last time I went via Firm seats, saw dumbleavy sitting about 5-8 rows in front of me....and we weren't any further than 12 back.

Sounds sweet. I have a friend sit down there last year against the Cubs and he wound up being on TV for being there trying to catch a foul ball.

FRANCHISE, any advice for me to try to get some autographs from the likes of Ichiro and/or Griffey?

They are both horrible horrible signers so I highly doubt you'll get either. But if you want to give it a chance, they might be dropped off in a cab by the dugout store to enter through the visitor's entrance.

My dude, FRANCHISE, has scouting reports on who are good signers and how players arrive at the park.

 

[lazyj10]

Found out because of my workable hours I'll be attending the Giants Play Ball Lunch.

Anyone else going?