The Indians fired manager Eric Wedge today. I visited Let's Go Tribe to try to get a sense for what they thought of the firing, and discovered a shocking fact: although he's been the manager for seven years, LGT has not one single Wedge Antilles joke. Some nerds they are.

I had a vaguely positive impression of Wedge, although since I don't follow the AL much it's heavy on the "vaguely". A few years ago he was considered a good developer of young talent, though ithat reputation has tarnished some as the Indians young talent has fizzled. More recently he's been knocked for playing favorites (shades of Bochy). He's also the guy who experimented with Garko in the outfield (which should make owlcroft happy). The firing seems to be more of a by-the-book "team is losing -> fire the manager" move rather than a specific indictment of Wedge.

This past offseason, the Giants signed a plethora of minor league free agents. Some of them vanished quickly (Francis Beltran, we hardly knew ye). Some of them spent most of the season injured (sorry, Josh Phelps and Dallas McPherson - lucky thing we didn't need a power hitting first baseman anyway). Some of them were Ramon Ortiz, but the less said about that the better.

But several of them made the roster and contributed more than could have been expected. Juan Uribe, Andres Torres, Brandon Medders all turned out to be excellent pickups. And so did Justin Miller, whose season is now over with an injured elbow. He walked too many and struck out not enough; but he threw a lot of innings, especially in the first half when Sanchez and Johnson had a lot of 5-inning starts, and kept the Giants in most of those games. (Being the Giants, they lost most of them anyway, but that's not Miller's fault.)

In the second half, he got a lot less work (15.2 IP after the break as compared with 41 before) and was less effective, but before his last 5 games blew it up he still had a 1.83 ERA. His first half WHIP was a mere 1.098. Even with a lousy ending, he ends his season with a 1.306 WHIP and 3.18 ERA, very respectable for a back of the bullpen guy.

With the emergence of Joaquin and Runzler, it seems like a long shot for Miller to return next season. If he doesn't, I wish him well - as long as he doesn't sign with the Dodgers - and salute him for being much better than I expected.

You thought you'd seen the last of me, didn't you? When you left me dazed and battered on the streets of San Diego, you thought that was the end. But no, here we are again...you and I.

You know, it wasn't so many years ago I never even gave a second thoughts to the likes of you. .500? Please. I may have passed you a few times, but I had higher things in mind. Playoffs, Championships...all these were within my grasp.

But then, in 2005, you began to pester me. Everywhere I turned, there was .500. A mere irritant, I thought at first, a buzzing mosquito. May 26th was the last time I saw you that year; 23-23, just like today. And then, you were gone. Somehow you'd gotten the better of me, though I could never understand how.

The next year seemed to return to normal, with you forgotten, fading into my rear view mirror. But then you tracked me down in Washington. Perhaps it was the muggy July afternoon that dulled my senses, allowing you to knock me down and steal my dreams; dreams of playoff glory and of Armando Benitez being an adequate closer.

Since then, it's been me chasing you, never quite catching up, like a man on a treadmill...with a carrot...well, anyway, never catching up. Until this year.

You thought you'd get rid of me early, with that 2-7 start, didn't you? But I caught up to you. 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13...clearly this time we were well matched. It was an epic battle, an Iliad of mediocrity. For a time I pulled ahead, then you caught me again. 18-18...19-19...and then you took the advantage, but again, not for long.

There's still a long season ahead of us, .500. You'd better get used to seeing me.

Starting the 3rd board thread, there are still two active roster members available (Uribe and just-promoted Justin Miller) and seven more members of the 40-man roster up for grabs as well.

This is not an exhaustive list of who's available! Anyone in the organization is eligible for adoption even if they're not on the list. (If they're on the list with a name next to them, then they're NOT eligible for adoption because they're already adopted.)

Official draft order and actual selection is in WalrusMan's fencepost.

40-man roster:

• Affeldt (GiantAmongAngels)
• Aurilia (wjackalope)
• Bocock (capnk)
  
• Bowker (rightcenterfielder)
  
• Burriss (BaronVonCurrentEvents)
  
• Cain (jponry)
  
• English
  
• Frandsen (WalrusMan)
  
• Gillaspie (chilibean_3)
  
• Hinshaw (The Enchanter)
  
• Holm (UnleashTheGore)
  
• Howry (CB30)
  
• Ishikawa (kennv/Andy from DC)
  
• Joaquin (GiantFan)
  
• R. Johnson (Speedforthewin)
  
• Lewis (jcb9)
  
• Lincecum (sharksrog)
  
• Lowry (Cookyman)
  
• Martinez (cornball)
  
• Matos (neurofarm)
• Medders (SloIsLonelyForTheOrange)
• Miller (stealth snail - tentative)
• Misch
  
• B. Molina (fwoty oz)
  
• Pichardo
  
• Renteria (rxmeister)
  
• Rohlinger (Scottsdale)
  
• Romo (Lyle)
  
• Rowand (lincypoo i wuv u)
  
• Sadler
  
• Sanchez (Aadik)
  
• Sandoval (bondslegend)
  
• Schierholtz (PacBellBoozer)
  
• H. Sosa (raisingcain) 
• Torres (victor frankenstein)
• Uribe
• Valdez (rotoreuter)
  
• Velez (The Gene Hackman)
  
• Wilson (hairball)
  
• Winn (oldjacket)
  
• Zito (giantscatcher)
  

Minors:

• Adrianza (obsessivegiantscompulsive)
  
• Alderson (Natto) 
• Ambort (AngelWillSaveUs)
• Barnes (boonitez)
  
• B. Bond (greg8370)
• Boyer
• J. Bucardo
• W. Bucardo (gianator)
  
• Bumgarner (multiphasic)
  
• Casilla 
• H. Correa
• Cowart
• Crawford (Azmanz)
  
• Culberson 
• D'Alessio
• Downs (nvsfg)
• Espineli
• Fairley (WTF) 
• Foppert (AndYourBirdCanSing)
• Ford (monta101)
• Guzman (Goofus) 
• Hammond
• Horwitz
• J. Izturis
• Jarvis (j14)
• Jennings
  
• S. Jordan (Little Napoleon)
  
• Kieschnick (Takimoto)
  
• Kinney
  
• A. King (baetown415)
  
• Loree (say hey nation)
  
• Maday (rhys)
  
• K. Marte
• Martinez-Esteve (malarky)
• McBryde
• McClain (Useful_Idiot)
  
• McPherson (The Thrill - tentative)
• Mooney
• Neal (nostocksjustbonds) 
• Nicholson (gore51)
• Noonan (Giant Fan in Singapore) 
• Ortiz (giants9107)
  
• Oseguera
• Palazzolo
• J.C. Perez (marcello)
  
• Peguero (haverecords)
  
• Periera
• Phelps
  
• Pill
• Posey (GiantsFanInExile)
  
• Pucetas (Sammy Danger)
• Quinowski
• Quirate
  
• Ray 
• Richardson
• R. Rodriguez (BrianBokake)
  
• Sadowski
• H. Sanchez (tedfordfan)
  
• Schoop (Viliphied)
  
• Snyder
• C. Sosa
• Surkamp (MonkeyChow)
• Tanner (walkoff baltimore chop) 
• Timpner
• Villalona (thehavenot)
  
• Wald
  
• Whiteside
  
• J. Williams (Tchli)
• Windster (EliminateMe)
• Witter
  
• Yabu
  

Management/Ownership:

• F. Alou
  
• Baer (ResDog)
  
• Bochy (cheno)
  
• S. Burns (igotnothing)
  
• Cepeda
  
• W. Clark
  
• Flannery
  
• Gardner
  
• Hayes (delorean)
  
• Kakazu (Zetsuboushita)
  
• Kelly
  
• Lansford
  
• Mays (merkin)
  
• McCovey
  
• Neukom (Gabafnerhagen)
  
• Plack (Headhunter Rollins)
  
• Righetti
  
• Sabean
  
• Sabean's Laptop (xanthan)
  
• Snow
  
• Stanley
  
• Tidrow
  
• Wotus
  

 Broadcasters:

• Flemming  (larson2042)
• Fuentes
• Higueros
• Krukow (TimLincecumIsGod)
  
• Kuiper
  
• Miller (Norm Median)
  
• Papa (grant)
  

Other:

• E. Alfonzo (tk)
• B. Bonds (Sabertooth)
• K. Krab (timmeh)
• L. Seal (can of corn)

The thread you are reading is now obsolete. This one is so much more modern.

Since the first board has fallen off the front page, I'm posting a new one. This is not an exhaustive list of who's available! Anyone in the organization is eligible for adoption even if they're not on the list. (If they're on the list with a name next to them, then they're NOT eligible for adoption because they're already adopted.)

Official draft order and actual selection is in WalrusMan's fencepost.

Also, I've moved Aurilia, Medders, Torres and Uribe to the 40-man section since they are now official. Congratulations to all their parents, you must be so proud!

40-man roster:

• Affeldt (GiantAmongAngels)
• Aurilia (wjackalope)
• Bocock
  
• Bowker (rightcenterfielder)
  
• Burriss (BaronVonCurrentEvents)
  
• Cain (jponry)
  
• English
  
• Frandsen (WalrusMan)
  
• Gillaspie (chilibean_3)
  
• Hinshaw (The Enchanter)
  
• Holm (UnleashTheGore)
  
• Howry (CB30)
  
• Ishikawa (kennv/Andy from DC)
  
• Joaquin (GiantFan)
  
• R. Johnson (Speedforthewin)
  
• Lewis (jcb9)
  
• Lincecum (sharksrog)
  
• Lowry (Cookyman)
  
• Martinez (cornball)
  
• Matos 
• Medders (SloIsLonelyForTheOrange)
• Misch
  
• B. Molina (fwoty oz)
  
• Pichardo
  
• Renteria (rxmeister)
  
• Rohlinger
  
• Romo (Lyle)
  
• Rowand (lincypoo i wuv u)
  
• Sadler
  
• Sanchez (Aadik)
  
• Sandoval (bondslegend)
  
• Schierholtz (PacBellBoozer)
  
• H. Sosa (raisingcain) 
• Torres (victor frankenstein)
• Uribe
• Valdez (rotoreuter)
  
• Velez (The Gene Hackman)
  
• Wilson (hairball)
  
• Winn (oldjacket)
  
• Zito (giantscatcher)
  

Non-Roster Invitees:

• F. Beltran
• Perdomo
  
• Phelps
  

Minors:

• Adrianza (obsessivegiantscompulsive)
  
• Alderson (Natto) 
• Ambort
• Barnes (boonitez)
  
• B. Bond
• Boyer
• J. Bucardo
• W. Bucardo
  
• Bumgarner (multiphasic)
  
• Casilla 
• H. Correa
• Cowart
• Crawford (Azmanz)
  
• Culberson 
• D'Alessio
• Downs (nvsfg)
• Espineli
• Fairley (WTF) 
• Foppert (AndYourBirdCanSing)
• Ford
• Guzman (Goofus) 
• Hammond
• Horwitz
• J. Izturis
• Jarvis (j14)
• Jennings
  
• Kieschnick (Takimoto)
  
• Kinney
  
• A. King (baetown415)
  
• Loree
  
• Maday (rhys)
  
• K. Marte
• Martinez-Esteve
• McBryde
• McClain (Useful_Idiot)
  
• Miller
  
• Mooney
• Neal (nostocksjustbonds) 
• Nicholson
• Noonan (Giant Fan in Singapore) 
• Ortiz (giants9107)
  
• Oseguera
• Palazzolo
• J.C. Perez (marcello)
  
• Peguero (haverecords)
  
• Periera
• Pill
• Posey (GiantsFanInExile)
  
• Pucetas 
• Quinowski
• Quirate
  
• Ray 
• Richardson
• R. Rodriguez (BrianBokake)
  
• Sadowski
• H. Sanchez (tedfordfan)
  
• Schoop (Viliphied)
  
• Snyder
• C. Sosa
• Tanner (walkoff baltimore chop) 
• Timpner
• Villalona (thehavenot)
  
• Wald
  
• Whiteside
  
• J. Williams 
• Windster (EliminateMe)
• Witter
  
• Yabu
  

Management/Ownership:

• Baer (ResDog)
  
• Bochy (cheno)
  
• Flannery
  
• Gardner
  
• Hayes (delorean)
  
• Kelly
  
• Lansford
  
• Neukom
  
• Righetti
  
• Sabean
  
• Sabean's Laptop (xanthan)
  
• Wotus
  

 Broadcasters:

• Flemming  (larson2042)
• Fuentes
• Higueros
• Krukow
  
• Kuiper
  
• Miller
  
• Papa (grant)
  

Other:

• E. Alfonzo (tk)
• K. Krab (timmeh)
• L. Seal (can of corn)

NEW THREAD: For the latest board updates, see the new thread.

I thought it might be helpful to have a list showing who's on and off the board. The prospect list is just a grab bag of guys I could remember or find mentioned somewhere. I'll try to keep it updated, but WalrusMan's list remains the official list of who's taken.

40-man roster:

• Affeldt (GiantAmongAngels)
• Bocock
  
• Bowker (rightcenterfielder)
  
• Burriss (BaronVonCurrentEvents)
  
• Cain (jponry)
  
• English
  
• Frandsen (WalrusMan)
  
• Gillaspie (chilibean_3)
  
• Hinshaw
  
• Holm (UnleashTheGore)
  
• Howry (CB30)
  
• Ishikawa (kennv/Andy from DC)
  
• Joaquin
  
• R. Johnson (Speedforthewin)
  
• Lewis (jcb9)
  
• Lincecum (sharksrog)
  
• Lowry (Cookyman)
  
• Martinez
  
• Matos
  
• Misch
  
• B. Molina
  
• Perdomo
  
• Pichardo
  
• Renteria (rxmeister)
  
• Rohlinger
  
• Romo (Lyle)
  
• Rowand
  
• Sadler
  
• Sanchez (Aadik)
  
• Sandoval (bondslegend)
  
• Schierholtz (PacBellBoozer)
  
• H. Sosa (raisingcain)
  
• Valdez (rotoreuter)
  
• Velez (The Gene Hackman)
  
• Wilson (hairball)
  
• Winn (oldjacket)
  
• Zito
  

Non-Roster Invitees:

• Aurilia (wjackalope)
  
• F. Beltran
  
• McClain
  
• Medders (SloIsLonelyForTheOrange)
  
• Miller
  
• Phelps
  
• Torres (victor frankenstein)
  
• Ortiz
  
• Uribe
  
• Whiteside
  

Prospects:

• Adrianza (obsessivegiantscompulsive)
  
• Alderson (Natto) 
• Ambort
• Barnes
  
• B. Bond
• Boyer
• J. Bucardo
• W. Bucardo
  
• Bumgarner (multiphasic)
  
• Casilla 
• H. Correa
• Cowart
• Crawford (Azmanz)
  
• Culberson 
• D'Alessio
• Downs (nvsfg)
• Espineli
• Fairley (WTF) 
• Ford
• Guzman (Goofus) 
• Horwitz
• J. Izturis
• Jarvis (j14)
• Jennings
  
• Kieschnick (Takimoto)
  
• A. King (baetown415)
  
• Loree
  
• Maday (rhys)
  
• K. Marte
• Martinez-Esteve
• McBryde
• Mooney
• Neal (nostocksjustbonds) 
• Nicholson
• Noonan (Giant Fan in Singapore) 
• Oseguera
• J.C. Perez (marcello)
  
• Peguero (haverecords)
  
• Periera
• Pill
• Posey (GiantsFanInExile)
  
• Pucetas 
• Quinowski
• Quirate
  
• Ray 
• Richardson
• R. Rodriguez (BrianBokake)
  
• H. Sanchez (tedfordfan)
  
• Schoop
  
• Snyder
• C. Sosa
• Tanner (walkoff baltimore chop) 
• Timpner
• Villalona (thehavenot)
  
• Wald
  
• J. Williams 
• Windster (EliminateMe)
• Witter
  

Management/Ownership:

• Baer (ResDog)
  
• Bochy
  
• Flannery
  
• Gardner
  
• Hayes (delorean)
  
• Kelly
  
• Lansford
  
• Neukom
  
• Righetti
  
• Sabean
  
• Sabean's Laptop (xanthan)
  
• Wotus
  

 Broadcasters:

• Flemming 
• Fuentes
• Higueros
• Krukow
  
• Kuiper
  
• Miller
  
• Papa (grant)
  

Other:

• E. Alfonzo (tk)
• L. Seal (can of corn)