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Posted by MadRussky on 2008-10-07 08:49:39
Giants Team Report
Yahoo! Sports
6 hours, 27 minutes ago
Buzz Up Print
Inside Pitch
Ninety losses usually equate to a bad season, but the Giantsâ€TM youth movement, implemented in the final two months, left intriguing results.
Corner infielder/catcher Pablo Sandoval, a .345 hitter in 145 at-bats (just 14 strikeouts), and middle infielder Emmanuel Burriss figure to be in next yearâ€TMs lineup, along with left fielder Fred Lewis, who played his first full season in the majors, and maybe right fielder Nate Schierholtz if Randy Winn is traded.
Ace Tim Lincecum, a Cy Young Award candidate, and closer Brian Wilson were All-Stars all season.
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So 2008, the first year without Barry Bonds, came and went with a one-game improvement over 2007, but the bigger picture is that the Giants have more hope for the future. For years, their farm system was one of the worstâ€"Lewis is the first player since Bill Mueller who was drafted by the Giants and evolved into an everyday player.
The Giants finally went with their long-awaited youth movement beginning in early August. It came after they failed to trade their veterans (other than Ray Durham) before the July 31 trade deadline.
The results were better after the team went younger. The Giants were 44-63 before Aug. 1, 26-27 after.
But to return to contention, they need outside help, particularly in the heart of the lineup. Bengie Molina was the cleanup hitter and led the team with just 16 home runs, and top newcomer Aaron Rowand (five years, $60 million) hit .271 with 13 homers, and he had just one RBI in September.
The bullpen, except for closer Brian Wilson, was sub-par, though rookie Sergio Romo made a late splash, going 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA.
The strength is the rotation, led by Lincecum, who topped the majors with 265 strikeouts and was second in the NL with a 2.62 ERA. But Matt Cain had a second consecutive losing record (8-14) despite a 3.76 ERA, and Jonathan Sanchez struggled in the final two months. He was 8-4 before July 1, 1-8 after.
Barry Zito, in the second year of his seven-year, $126 million contract, lost his first eight games and finished 10-17 with a 5.15 ERA.
Notes, Quotes
• INF Kevin Frandsen had his only at-bat of the season and grounded out to shortstop. He had a season-long rehab from Achilles tendon surgery in spring training and is a candidate to be the Opening Day second baseman in 2009.
• INF/C Pablo Sandoval didnâ€TMt start again because of a left quadriceps injury but hit a pinch single to help the Giants beat the Dodgers. Sandoval finished his first big-league season with a .345 average, and heâ€TMs expected to be an everyday player in 2009.
• 1B J.T. Snow, 40, signed a one-day contract Saturday, and he returned to the field so he could retire as a Giant. Snow was in the lineup, in the fifth spot, took the field and threw grounders to the infielders. But he was replaced by 1B Travis Ishikawa before the first pitch and was given hugs by teammates and a big hand by Giants fans. Snowâ€TMs last previous major league action was for the Red Sox in 2006. During batting practice on Saturday, he hit a home run.
• RHP Matt Cain remains winless against the Dodgers. On Saturday, he made his 11th career start and sixth of the season against Los Angeles and gave up two earned runs in seven innings during a 2-1 loss. Against the Dodgers this year, he went 0-3 with a 2.79 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings.
• SS Omar Vizquel became the 10th playerâ€"and only full-time shortstopâ€"in history to be involved in 1,700 double plays. Ernie Banks is No. 7 on the list, but he played more games at first base than shortstop. Vizquel hit .222 this year, but he batted .328 in his last 22 starts.
By The Numbers: 2.68 millionâ€"The Giantsâ€TM season attendance, the first time since moving into their new park in 2000 that they failed to draw 3 million.
Quote To Note: â€oeI think when fans think back to this year, theyâ€TMll think back to the year Timmy had. People forget this was his first full season. I donâ€TMt know if itâ€TMs fair or not, but expectations for him will always be high.”â€"INF Rich Aurilia, on RHP Tim Lincecum.
Roster Report
More turnover is expected. Pablo Sandoval is penciled in at first base, and Emmanuel Burriss likely will play short or second. At least one rotation spot is open, along with every bullpen role except closer (Brian Wilsonâ€TMs job).
Biggest Needs: The Giants, last in the majors in homers, need more players with pop and could beef up at third base. Except for Wilson, the bullpen will be overhauledâ€"setup men Tyler Walker and Jack Taschner are eligible for arbitration. GM Brian Sabean, if he returns under new managing general partner Bill Neukom, must decide whether to trade one of his starters (RHP Matt Cain or LHP Jonathan Sanchez) to fill holes elsewhere.
Free Agents: SS Omar Vizquel, INF Rich Aurilia, RHP Keiichi Yabu
Vizquel, who hit .222 at age 41, has a 2009 option but wonâ€TMt be coming back, GM Brian Sabean said. Aurilia, 37, was a valuable corner infield fill-in, hitting .283, and Yabu, 40, was one of the most consistent relievers, sporting a 3.57 ERA in 60 games. Both Aurilia and Yabu said theyâ€TMd like to return, but the Giants are trying to get younger.
Arbitration-eligible: RHP Tyler Walker, LHP Jack Taschner, RHP Brad Hennessey, RHP Kevin Correia
It wouldnâ€TMt be surprising if all will be cut loose and not tendered contracts. Correia (3-8, 6.05 ERA) opened the season in the rotation and struggled, and Hennessey (1-2, 7.81) came out of the bullpen and took his place in the final weeks, making three quality starts in four turns.
In Limbo: RF Randy Winn, C Bengie Molina, RHP Matt Cain, LHP Jonathan Sanchez.
Winn and Molina will make $8.25 million and $6 million, respectively, next season, then theyâ€TMll be free agents. The Giants could package Winn or Molina or dangle a young starting pitcher to acquire a power hitter. But it would be tough to part with Cain, a tough-luck pitcher who had a respectable 3.69 ERA over the past two seasons but went 15-30.
Medical Watch:
LHP Noah Lowry (left forearm surgery in March 2008) missed the entire season. He was scheduled to undergo another surgery Sept. 30 to have a bone spur removed from his left elbow. The Giants consider him a possibility for the 2009 rotation.
INF Kevin Frandsen (left Achilles tendon surgery in March 2008) had one at-bat this year, a grounder to short in the finale. He hopes to be 100 percent for spring training and compete for the second base job.
LF Fred Lewis (bunion surgery, right foot) is to wear a protective boot into November and could start running in mid-December or January.
AOR
The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for
Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an
Xbox. End of story.
- MadRussky 2008-10-07 08:49:39 (149 views)