A lot gets mentioned about the lack of a true cleanup hitter, but I haven't seen as much bitching and moaning about leadoff.  To me, it's just as glaring of a hole in the current lineup.  Aaron Rowand? Seriously?

I was curious to know how SF compared around the league last year in the leadoff spot and came across this post today.  (Here's the spreadsheet referenced in the post.)  In OBA at the leadoff position the Giants were 3rd to last in MLB in 2009; 4th to last in runs, 2nd to last in walks, and 4th in strikeouts.  The good news is they were tied for 2nd in hit batters.

With Rowand solely assuming the leadoff role this year, and hopefully without the help of Velez, the Giants project to be maybe 4th or 5th to last at the leadoff spot in MLB.  Ring-a-ding-ding!  (I'm kicking up my heels. That's the sound they make with all the bells on my shoes.)

Johnny Damon is purportedly off the table now that Molina is signed.  Eric Byrnes could be had at league minimum now that he's been released by the D-backs.  I absolutely love Byrnesy; however, his projected OBA by James/CHONE/Marcel as well as his historical OBP is lower than Rowand's. His history of hamstring problems would probably mean he'd be on the DL for half the season, and riding the bench the other half. That leaves slim to no pickings free agent-wise among outfielders.

I would have much rather seen the Giants forgo signing Molina, gone with Posey and taken a more serious stab at Damon. With the Molina signing, the Giants kissed any prospects of landing the last decent leadoff hitter goodbye.

Huff the magic 1st baseman
played by the sea
and frolicked in the summer smog
in a land called Horseshit City.

Little Brian Sabean
loved that rascal Huff
and payed 3 million for the year
which thank god was just enough.

Brian went to every game
and held his hot dog high
Every time Huff came to bat
Brian would snort and cry...

"Hit one out for me Huffy.
I passed on Garko, son.
It's coming up on mid-August, boy.
Come on... give me just one?"

Huff could never homer
The pitching was just too tough
for an aging magic 1st baseman
the renterizing was rough


...this is where I get stuck.  Anyone want to showcase their songwriting abilities?  If you're a songwriter, poet or have read The Cat in the Hat, please post your verse(s).  Maybe we'll get a record cut.  Omar Vizquel has graciously offered to come back to do background vocals and play guitar if so.  We're thinking of a 80's techno acid jazz remix.

I imagine the phone call.  It must have gone down something like this...  Ring. Ring. You: "Hello?" (You should get Caller ID.)  Agent: "Hey Nicky J! Good news! I just got off the phone with Cashman and the Yanks wanna make you their exclusive DH.  Apparently, all of the other guys are young enough that they don't need the occasional rest.  AND, they're willing to match the Giants offer!  I think we should move on this one now, Nick-O.  We all know what a reputation the Yanks have about being stingy with their money..." 

As a Giant, you could have been worshiped, revered even.  Women would have swooned, and a few men too.  The fans would have screamed your name until their throats were raw.  Tacky hand-painted poster board signs with your name and likeness would have been painstakingly made and displayed by every fan.  Renel would have announced your name like Jesus Christ, the four horsemen, and all the angels were coming to bat.  Barry Zito would have christened you with your new nickname, "Spanky".  A special section of the stadium would have been named in your honor. You could have hung with Willie Mays, and tried on Bruce Bochy's hats. 

But, no. Instead, you went back to the same team that thought you were nothing more than chopped liver when they said sayonara -- the same place where most fans don't even know you used to play for the team.  You'll be Mr. Potty Break, as half the fans will leave their seats during your at-bats because they won't want to miss jeering at A-Rod, cheering for Jeter, watching Teixiera launch one, or Granderson saunter into third.  You'll be "that guy"; the nameless DH, that's only seen once every 2-4 innings.  You'll be lucky if anyone even knows your name by the time you're looking for next year's contract. 

You should get a new agent, Nick.

Rays non-tendered Gomes today.  In 2007, Gomes petitioned the Rays to play 1st base.  The guy has pop and speed, but playing part-time - his average has been all over the place.  I say try throwing a mil or two at him, stick him at 1B in a platoon position with Phelps/Ishikawa and see what he can do.  Thoughts?