It seems the big knock about trading for Dunn is that he is terrible defensively.  Assuming this is correct, does it even matter based on the Giants pitching staff?  Here are the GB/FB numbers of our starters, given in YTD/Career format:

Lincecum 1.44/1.33

Cain 0.67/0.79

Zito 0.83/0.90

Sanchez 0.93/0.97

Bumgarner 1.22/1.34

I also think it bares mentioning that none of these pitchers have a GB% over 50%.  

Now, I know just enough about stats to be dangerous but I am far from an expert.  But looking at those numbers, it seems that less GB opportunities = less opportunity for Dunn's defense to screw us.  This could very well be wrong, so if it is please explain why.  I'm not really making a statement of fact, just want to see if my logic is flawed.

Milton Bradley has been traded to Seattle for Carlos Silva.  This reduces again the number of teams looking for OF.  The teams looking for corner IF help has also been reducing steadily.  However, there still appears to be plenty of talent available on the FA market who could upgrade the Giants offense, in addition to the trade targets such as Uggla and Overbay.  Players from an earlier top 50 FA list still available:

-Holliday

-Bay

-Beltre

-Damon

-Hudson

-Tejada

-Byrd

-LaRoche

-Branyan

-DeRosa

-Delgado

-Nady

That's quiet a few players who could be very helpful to the Giants.  At the same time, I'm finding it hard to find fits for all these players around the league.  It seems the number of players > than the number of spots available.  IMO, Holliday will realize St. Louis is his best spot and the Mets pick up Bay because they feel they have to do something.  I'd be fine with that since those players are going to get much bigger contracts than I'd want to see the Giants give them. 

Still, if those signings do happen, there are plenty of players available that are improvements.  As always, there is the caveat that it all depends on the deal they sign.   But Sabean seems to be setting himself up to have quite a bit of leverage (especially if you include the trade options such as Uggla) to negotiate with these remaining FAs.  I'm actually hopeful of how this off-season will turn out.  My biggest fear is that Sabean will get nervous, break from the strategy it appears he's using and overpay for someone.  But if he doesn't, the Giants could very well be in the catbird seat.

Turned the channel whenever the highlights came on.  Avoided KNBR liked the plague.  Muttered a few inaudible words whenever someone brought up the Giants.  This is what I have done since yesterday afternoon.  It’s time to focus on the game today.  I hate labels, but this IS the biggest game of the year.  Get the W and the road trip is done with a 6-5 record, a success no matter how painful it has felt.  Get home to face the very bad Diamondbacks while the two teams we are chasing beat up on each other.  Three games in the standings are there for the taking, no matter who wins in Colorado.  Then the Rockies come to AT&T to face Lincecum, Zito and Cain.  No matter how down I felt yesterday, sitting back today I can see it all falling into place.  It is still within reach.  Time to turn the page on yesterday.

Open Pre-Biggest Game of the Year Thread.

First, this is not asking who should get dropped.   I think we can all agree Aurilla should have been DFA'd months ago.  We're asking who will get released/sent down.  Along with that, please post what the quote will be from the Giants brass to justify the move. 

If I had to vote, I'd probably guess Bowker.  Sending Fransden down leaves only 1 back up who can play up the middle, so I think he stays.  Everyone else would have to clear waivers I believe, so I think that makes them safe.  So I think Bowkermania will stop running wild.  If so, I hope he comes back as nWo Hulk next time he is called up.

Well, as I posted the other day, I'm in AZ so I went to check out the AZL Giants play the AZL Dodgers tonight.  Stayed for just 4 innings but have some observations.  Let me just preface this by saying I am in no way an expert in scouting, these are just my humble opinions.  Also, I haven't done any research on the players I saw tonight and won't start looking into them until after this post. 

With that being said, I have a new favorite prospect.  Edward Concepcion is NASTY.  The roster handout they have list him at 20, going to be 21 this year, from the Dominican.  Never heard of him before but he has some great stuff.  Fastball was sitting 93-94 all night and hitting 96 or 97 more than a handful of times.  Along with that, he had either a change up or slider (pretty sure it's a change) that was 85-87 and a solid curve ball that would range from 73-75.  (I was sitting behind a few radars so these numbers are as accurate as the guns).  Threw strikes all night and had all the hitters off balance.  I'd say no more than a few balls were hit hard.  More than a few guys were bailing on his curveball.  He's also a pretty big kid, so there is a chance he adds another mile or two to his fastball.  His delivery seemed fluid, came right over the top, but honestly I have no clue what is good or bad mechanics (at least not live without the help of replays).   I'm looking forward to doing some research on him to see if he's even considered a prospect or I'm just a total novice at this stuff and easily impressed.

As for the batters, don't put too much stock into how many runs were scored tonight.  Neither Dodgers pitcher threw strikes.  Sitting next to the Giants players charting the game, I overheard Frias (the starter) threw 48 strikes and 40 balls.  Handke came in in relief and he was even wilder.  He's also 6'10" but topped out at 89 or 90 during his inning and had a few pass balls.  Frias was in the 92-94 range all night but his breaking pitches were nowhere around the plate.  The roster says he's only 19 (20 in Nov) so maybe there's time for him to come around but he didn't impress.  Either way, the Giants didn't have to worry about anything off-speed, got ahead in the count and pounded fastballs when they got them.

Was excited to see RafRod.  He's a big kid and the Vlad comps make sense.  He has the same lanky frame.  Didn't get many chances to swing the bat because of the pitchers.  First at bat went full and he walked, but only took one swing.  The swing was on a slider low and away; it was not pretty.  However, didn't swing at the same pitch later in the at bat.  In his second at-bat, he walked on 4 pitches that weren't very close.  So it seems he at least has some sense of the strike zone. Came up a 3rd time with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and chopped to the SS who was drawn in.  He was impressive on the basepaths.  Scored from 1st on a double in the RF gap without a throw and stole 2nd without a throw later in the game.  He didn't get much action in LF but he did get turned around on a flyball before making the catch.  Watching him makes me realize that scouting kids his age is extremely difficult.  You could tell he has great potential while he doesn't really do anything to impress in the game, if that makes sense. SSS is obviously a factor as well.

The other player that impressed me the most was Leonardo Ochoa.  Not sure about his background but the roster shows him as being 19, turning 20 this year.  He was playing 3rd but he doesn't look like he will have the power to play there as a ML.  However, he made one very good play in the 1st and another solid one in the 4th.  He roped a ball in the first that the RF made a real solid play on; almost got it into the gap.  He's also real fast, beating out what seemed to be a somewhat easy grounder to the 3rd baseman. He also scored from 2nd on a weird play.  Bases were loaded when Jesse Shriner tattooed a ball to center that I thought was gone.  Then it looked like the CF was going to track it down but I guess he dropped it.  Ochoa also thought it was going to be caught because he was on 2nd ready to tag.  After it was dropped, he was still able to get around to score on the play.  Honestly, I think even if the CF would have caught it Ochoa could have scored from 2nd on the sac fly.  

Other quick comments:

-Sundrendy Windster didn't play but I saw him warming up and he is HUGE.  Probably slightly bigger than RafRod.

-Saw a Red Sox scout behind home plate.  Not sure who he was scouting or why (possibly for a Lugo deal?) but that was the only non-Giants or Dodger guy I saw there.  

-Forgot a camera unfortunately so no pics.

-They were playing at the Glendale complex that houses the Dodgers and White Sox during spring training.  Awesome facility.

That's about all I got.  If you have some questions let me know and I'll try my best to answer them.

Going to be leaving for AZ soon to visit the family and I'm going to try my best to get to the game Saturday night.  These games are open to the public, right?  There is very little information I can find about the league except where the stadiums are located.  I'm excited to see RafRod and am disappointed Dominguez was already promoted.  Any other prospects I should pay special attention to?  Anyone on the Dodgers I should start my hate for early?  I'd love to be able to start razzing a guy in Rookie league and then have him recognize me when he's on the big league club and I'm calling him a bum in left field.  Any other information I might need?

Since we are at the midway point of the year, I thought it'd be interesting to take the group's temperature with regards to tire-kicker extraordinaire, GM Brian Sabean. As everyone knows, he is in the final year of his contract and I'm curious to know if the group favors his return or not.  So far the team has exceed expectations (and statistical evidence) with their success, which may or may not continue. 

Sabean has a long track record with the team, but let's take a quick review of the notable moves made this past off-season:

- Signed Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year, $8MM contract: His best move by far. Affeldt has been lights out pretty much all year.
-Signed Justin Miller to a minor league contract: Very solid move. Miller has been really good when needed to eat up innings (not often, I know)
-Signed Randy Johnson to a one-year, $8MM contract: I'd say this was a good signing as well. Struggled early but seemed to find a good groove before the injury. If he can come back healthy and pitch like he was before he got hurt this will be a solid move.
-Signed Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18.5MM contract: A good idea executed horribly. Not sure if Sabean misread Renteria's remaining talent or the FA market, but either way this was a big mistake.
-Signed Bob Howry to a one-year, $2.75MM contract: So-so. Howry hasn't been the 8th inning guy that was expected but I don't think he's been as bad as some think. I think it has more to do with pretty much everyone in the bullpen being so good that Howry looks bad by comparison.
-Singed Juan Uribe to a minor league contract: This has to be viewed as a success as well. Very low risk move that has worked out. Would much rather have him as a bench guy instead of the starting 2B but don't think Frandsen will get a chance to take over the job full time. Not sure if that's on Bochy or Sabean.
-Signed Rich Aurilla to a minor league contract: He's done, unfortunately Sabean and the front office won't pull the plug. Signing wasn't bad but the fact that he made the team was and still is bad, which is Sabean's fault.
-Released Dave Roberts: A lot of us didn't think the team or Sabean would be willing to make this move but they did. Thank god.

The Giants have also had two strong draft classes (not counting this year's, too early to tell) that have helped replenish the farm system and he hasn't traded any of the prospects away for old guys (so far.  I hope I don't jinx things before the trade deadline). The other big move I think deserves some consideration is Rowand's signing. This is tough to judge since he's been their 2nd best hitter this year but when it's all said and done I'd expect to be a bad but not terrible signing. 

Caveats:
I do not blame him for Zito's contract. I will go to my grave believing that was Magowan's decision unless some evidence proves otherwise. Also, I don't think stuff such as the Michael Tucker signing should be considered. He hasn't done anything recently THAT stupid so it seems he's learned from his ways.  Everything we discuss here could greatly change if he makes a huge trade at the deadline, but from all the chatter it seems it will be a quiet deadline.

So what does the group think?  Any other factors that weren't discussed that you think should weigh in the decision?  Do your feeling on the matter depend on how the team finishes the season? 

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