Joe Crede reports healthy!

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080216&content_id=2376058&vkey=spt200 8news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

Here's some highlights for those Ninerheads that have missed the game so far...

Gametime weather: fair, no wind.

Vikings have ugly purple colored socks.

Andy Lee is a good punter.

That is all.

BB

I think the SF Tee Totallers should try to pick up this kid.  Maybe he'll be available at #5 in the draft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9pINABSofo

BB

Not too much to say, so far, except...

- TOR not interested in Cain

-in discussing Tim L. for Rios, he suggested that they were "looking for ways to REPLACE Lincecum"...

- doesn't think can get Rios without Lincecum going.

ugh.

Tom asked: what about the people who say: keep both Tim and Cain, do what you can otherwise, see what happens in the next year, and panic some other time?

Sabean said: yes, but we want to get at least one and preferably two position players, either by trade or by free agency [Ed: no, he didn't really answer]... and then held that it's easier to get an impact pitcher immediately in the draft (cf. Lincecum).

Ralph asks: how rate Davis, Lewis, Frandsen, Schierholz?

Sabean: Frandsen will get a look at 3rd.  Schierholz looked good in fall.  Uncertain re Ortmeier because of injury in fall league.

Ralph: Davis looks very good in the field and basepaths, can't you teach him to hit?

Sabeene:  Is still learning, seemed ignored in Pitt, but unsure how well will do at top of lineup/OBP aspect.

Ralph:  What about free agents?

Brain: kicked tires on Rowand, but Guillen's K will screw that up.  No good idea at 3rd.  

Ralph ended with mock shout "Get Rios!"

Sorry for the scrambled nature... ignored much
"tire-kicking" and Brain Subbene mumbling.

BB

Just wondering... I haven't seen any quality reporting on Cha Cha Bowls or bobbleheads in a few weeks now.  

BB

Jay Witasick is in waivers from the A's and seems to be healthy.  He's owed $1.5M before he clears waivers.  I think he's worth considering, if not signing.  If he clears waivers then he could be signed for the minimum and I think that's a no-brainer.  

The Yankees are down to Josh Phelps at 1B for the next two months, or more.  Would they give anything worthwhile for Klesko?  Would they give a box of baseballs?  I don't think Klesko adds much to the Giants lineup these days, but he might be worthwhile for the Yankees'.  And that might make his value higher now than it will be at the deadline, when he's still hit only 2 HR or thrown his back out.  Or, at least, he might look viable enough to entice the Yanks to give something relatively worthwhile in return.  Bronson Sardinha?  Great name, of Portuguese descent, and the Giants can match the Phillies Hawaiian for Hawaiian.  Hopefully Sabean wouldn't take Jim Brower back from Scranton.

Rip away.

BB

PS. Hi Brian, and hope you're still reading us for helpful GM tips.  See Grant's post too, and the Dye thread.  

If you missed the last two Saturday telecasts of the greatest, most wonderfulest baseball series in the universe, be sure to find a TV immediately.  

Realignment Proposal:  Change the name of all NL teams to "New York Yankees".  Change the name of all AL teams to "Boston Red Sox" (except the current Yankees).  Then the nation wouldn't have to wait so long between baseball games, entertaining itself with local talents.

BB

If anyone else is enduring 2007 rivalry game no. 2,387 between NY and Bos, share your glorying in the most magicalest game in da uniberse. Just ask Fox announcers, 2 in the stadium and three sitting in the studio hoping nothing happens anywhere else in baseball to take them away from this holy clash.

I lived in NYC for 4 years and adopted the Yankees then (92-95, when they were lame and it wasn't fashionable), so I don't hate them but I am sick to death of seeing them playing the Red Sox.

My list therefore tilts towards the annoyances re the Sox but feel free to tilt back.  I won't protest.

The Great Ketchup Sock controversy.  Stupid then, stupid and irrelevant now.

"Big Papi".  Do we need to hyperventilate over a  DH?  Where's Ron Blomberg when we need him?  

Other overdone nicknames, particularly Dice-K, clearly vomited from the depths of some Beantown marketing firm envisioning those stupid fan signs with drawings of dice on them. One of the alleged commentators  actually said "On-deckie Matsui" when the Yankee hitter was in the on deck circle.

All the bellyaching fans, both the Sox annoyers and those Yankees cretins that fill up the Coliseum 3 times per year.  Oh for the good old days when A's fans threw cherry bombs instead of batteries, sending Rick Cerone scurrying for cover in the bullpen.

Thrilling tidbits like the fact that Dustin Pedroia played ping pong with Brady Quinn as a segway to talking about the NFL draft.  For crap's sake.

Having orgasms over Tim Wakefield's knuckleball.  I like knuckleballs, but it's not like he invented the stupid thing.  (Note to self: write letter to Sabean begging him to sign Steve Sparks).

MOST ODIOUS:  That ridiculous captain C on Mirabelli's jersey (which I actually didn't see today).  I know he's a former Giant and don't mind him, but I still wish Ray Bourque and Mark Messier would cross check him and tear that thing off, then start on those NBA poseurs that wear them.  

Pick your most odious.  I don't think I can bear it anymore.  

If I have to explain this, you should all be ashamed.

Poll

Who is the Giants MVP for 2006?

16%

Omar Vizquel

13 votes

7%

Omar Vizquel

6 votes

17%

Omar Vizquel

14 votes

3%

Edgardo Alfonzo (NOT Eliezer)

3 votes

3%

F.P. Santangelo

3 votes

35%

Ray Durham

29 votes

2%

Greg Anderson

2 votes

13%

Grant Brisbee

11 votes

81 votes | Poll has closed

This just in, to compensate for fan reaction on the road, an additional "o" will now be added to Barry Bonds' road uniform.  It was formerly found on the uniform of "Roose" Davis.

Also, court papers filed today indicate that Armando Benitez iss changing his name to "Armando Boonitez".  Mr. Boonitez would like to thank Fringers at Mays Field for so gently encouraging him to make the change.  He'll be unveiling the new moniker at a press conference near the Cody Ransoom Memorial Toilets in center field, along with his buddy Jose Vizcainoo.

BB

Scorning my previous post, the evil genius Brian Sabean failed to land this hot player, and he is now starting 2B for Toronto...

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=110135

Somewhere Cody Ransom cries. (that's the middle verse of a haiku!)

BB

Hee- you thought I would post 10! No, I want to see all this fine group's love for one of the good old slop-hackers to shine through. I'm sure you were all surprised and saddened, as I was, that poor Edgardo was swept out of NotLA. Maybe it can be a petition to Sabean to resign this great contributor, at which point he could be traded to NotLA for a player to be named later.

I'll get you started:

10.  Benitez would look like a better player in comparison.

Anyone?

This headline I just saw on Yahoo (linking to an AP article) is possibly the dumbest I have ever seen.

It would be improved dramatically by adding "on the Crapper" at the end.  Which is probably the truth.

BB

So, does anyone have experience with any of these things?  Curious to hear.  I used to get Center Ice and that was great, but I believe they carry virtually every game (I only watched the Rangers from SF, so blackouts didn't affect me at all).

I think the .TV feed would be handy as I could watch it without access to a TV (theoretically mooching wireless access via laptop, even).  And, if I throw down $80 for that I don't see why not throwing down $20 more to get the audio feeds as well, if I ever want them for some reason.

As for Extra Innings, I stopped taking Center Ice because it seemed rare that I could get to the TV often enough to justify it; more importantly I never wanted to watch any other teams play.  I am thinking Extra Innings would be different because I could theoretically watch other interesting games when they were on.  But it's almost twice the cost of the MLB stuff.... and I could download games and listen/watch whenever I wanted.

Anyway, I'm curious what experience you guys have had.  Thanks in advance...

And, the following thoughts:

1.  Is it just me, or does Alfonzo bust his a$$ to get ground balls in front of Vizquel?  It's like he thinks he can win a gold glove by getting in front of him.  At least he can move this year.
2.  The Lou Seal Show: let's cancel it.  I like his pregame/ingame schtick otherwise, and I'm sure most people there won't remember SD Chicken routines if he just copied them.  But this was just annoying.  I bet it smelled nice when he was on the dugout later after the kids had thrown water on him.  (him?  her?  I guess it is SF)
3.  I thought stuff was expensive last year, but $5 for lemonade, $4 for chocolate malts?  That's just nuts.  Makes me very glad I don't drink, as I shudder to think of beer prices...
4.  I admit that Sabean chose very, very wisely with Vizquel.  2 steals of 3B!  Of course, they were sort of sleeping at the switch, but it's still an alert play I never remember the Giants making before (regularly).  They ended up not being important, but it's always nice in my eyes to have a runner on third, just in case there's a bad throw or even a mediocre fly ball.  And, he has the all-time best fielding percentage for shortstops?  DAAAMN!
5.  Yorvit Torrealba is a good catcher.  His first AB he drew a 2-out walk to bring up Lowry.  No snap throws to first today, but seemed to call a very good pitching game.  The staff certainly looked better than when Matheny is in...
6.  Tucker's bomb was just a thing of pure beauty.  My friend had become violently ill just before the game (I think she saw "highlights" from Fri. bullpen), so I was sitting alone thinking: I wonder if we should take the splash hit sign down?  And there's only one chicken on the outfield wall?   Never did I expect Tucker of all people to jack one into the water (he never has, right?), and I was sitting in 315 so I had a perfect view of the folks on the arcade jumping up and down with their heads craned up... one of the better endings I've seen at the park (probably right behind Gagne getting tossed last year).
7.  Why do people spend $24+ per seat and then arrive at 2pm? Or leave in the 6th inning of a 1-run game?  I mean, a weeknight blowout in June where you can't see the field for the fog (especially in the bleachers) is one thing, but a beautiful spring day after a lot of rain, and a one-run game?  I am looking forward to the post-Barry giants who will surely keep some of these yokels at home.

Flame away.  Notwithstanding a great game and the flush of opening day, I wondered the following a couple of weeks ago.  What if.... we never signed Matheny and Alou?  What if Torrealba was the catcher, and somebody else was in RF (or, for now, LF?)  Matheny and Alou combined are $13M, and Beltran (for instance) is $12M for this year?  Drew is only making $4M (although I'd just as soon have Alou as him).  

That would leave a hole for a second catcher, but maybe a lefty backup could be pried away from somewhere.  Toronto could probably spare one, in exchange for Deivi Cruz or Dallimore and maybe one of the generic AAA outfielders. One of the non-Pudge guys on the Tigers? Charles Johnson ended up on waivers, so maybe he could've filled in too. (actually I don't know about Knoedler in the event Matheny goes down, so maybe he would have been worth grabbing even outside fantasyland...)

Anyhow, flame on. But I'm curious if you have any other outfield ideas that you could pursue with your $13M until 2007 in your nuclear-powered DeLorean in December 2004...

The guy has killed in spring, did a nice job in his callup last year (.279), and won the PCL batting title in 03.  In fact, his years in Fresno were:

2004. .324      .396      .447   .843
2003. .352      .427      .448      875
2002. .294      .346      .408      754

So, I realize he's just too young for the Giants since he's 31, but was he really worse than Ransom?   Was he that much worse an option than Alfonzo and his .259 in 03 and his .289 last year?  

He can play every infield position, which given the age of the other folks out there seems like a real benefit.  Doesn't somebody want Deivi Cruz?  I like Cruz, but since they threw money at Vizquel there seems little reason to keep him.  Especially with Dallimore rotting in Fresno.  And, no offense to you Grizzlies fans, he ain't the only thing rotting in Fresno.

Please, it being Easter and all, get him in the lineup or let him play somewhere else until he turns 40 and can be signed for $8 mil per year.

BB