I just spent every lunch this week and half-day on Wed and Friday at ST this week. Sadly, unless you're a scout, there's not much to report other than simple observations. Also, if you're looking for prospect updates, most of the minor leaguers practice on the back field, which isn't visible to the public, unless you find a peep hole.

Here are a couple items I observed:

Hitters

Having never seen Aubrey Huff in person before, dude is much thinner than I expected. He has plenty of pop in BP, but who doesn't (except most of the Giants). He seems to have a good vibe, and seemed to be joking around a lot with the guys. He has a quirky throwing motion, and his glovework needs some help. JT just picks them out of the dirt so effortlessly, and Huff looked like he hadn't done it for years, which was a little alarming.

DeRosa looks good for just coming off of wrist surgery. Mainly line drives, but the ball seemed to be coming off well.

Freddy Lewis doesn't seem to be as ahead as he was coming into spring last year. IIRC, last year he showed up early and "was in the best shape of his life". He doesn't appear to be on the same pace as last year, which is disappointing because I want him to do well to shut up Mavo on Baggs' blog.

Uribe looked like Uribe. He can definitely put them out in BP with the best of 'em.

Posey continued to impress. Not only did he hit the longest shot to left that I saw, but the guy runs everywhere he goes. So while all the vets are casually walking from the pen to the field, and the other rooks are so lost they don't even know where they're going, Posey runs in full catchers gear everywhere he's going. Man on a mission.

The final group of hitters to take BP was pretty uninspiring. Burress, Torres, Frandsen, and Rollinger (I think, maybe a Holm in there?). Like watching paint dry. I haven’t seen Bowker swing, but he’s there, just not with any of the main groups.

Pitchers

The Timmy v. Sandoval showdown was fun, but it's just too early for the hitters to have a chance against him. The Timmy v. Huff introduction was more enjoyable, as I don't believe Huff had ever seen him. It was pretty comical as Huff clearly didn't have a chance against him. Huff seemed to have a good laugh about it, especially after he swung through one of his filthy change ups. One of the coaches yelled to Huff something about how he's not gonna get any softballs, "This ain't the AL anymore!"

Steve Johnson’s stuff looked legit. He was pretty untouchable. I’m really intrigued by what he offers. Does he have a chance to make the team? Baggs mentioned Mota, who definitely looked good. I also liked what I saw from Tanner and Clark.

Romo and Wilson looked sharp. I’m getting pretty pathetic now that I can tell who’s coming in to pitch by watching their throwing motion as they warm up in the outfield pen. Even worse that I can point out the beat writers. I’m forgetting some pitchers too.

It was cool to see Affeldt running stadiums with his little boy, out amongst the fans. There are a lot of old annoying cubs fans who come out, so they probably had no clue who he was. Also, Mr. Bow Tie was out and about, but was incognito wearing a blue polo with no tie.

I’ll be out at the intersquad game on Monday for my lunch (and maybe a little longer, this game is my favorite part of the pre-spring).

I hope to make it out to a couple AFL games this season, but I need a heads up on who to look for. Here is who I have so far:

Mesa Solar Sox:

Josh Vitters 3B CHC

Mike Stanton OF FLA

Peoria Javelinas:

Josh Fields P SEA

Dustin Ackley 1B SEA

Dayan Viciedo 3B CWS

Scott Sizemore 2B DET

Peoria Saguaros:

Mike Leake P CIN

Mike Minor P ATL

Jason Castro C HOU

Yonder Alonso 1B CIN

Jason Heyward RF ATL

Phoenix Desert Dogs:

Drew Storen P WAS

Stephen Strasburg P WAS

Jemile Weeks 2B OAK

Scottsdale Scorpions:

All the Giants players

Brandon Allen 1B ARI

Cole Gillespie LF ARI

Steve Susdorf OF PHI (Fresno State)

Domonic Brown OF PHI

-The Brown v. Thomas Neal comparison is intriguing here

Suprise Rafters: 

Tanner Scheppers P TEX

Austin Romine C NYY

Ike Davis 1B NYM

Mike Moustakas 3B KC

So obviously this rumor had a lot of momentum prior to Nelly proclaiming Curry being off limits, but I'd bet on it being more posturing to try to either get more or give less for Amare. It's been rumored that the trade is being held up by some bonus that hits Biedrins on Wednesday.

For those of you following the trade rumor, what is your perception of it from the GS point of view? Here in Phoenix it seems like the fans would be thrilled with a package of Curry, Wright, Biedrins, Belineli, and/or Azuibuke. The feeling is that Amare is going to opt out after next season and doesn't want to be in Phx. It doesn't seem like anyone here would miss his lack of defense and selfishness on offense.

So do you see this trade still happening, and as a Golden State fan, do you want Amare for that haul?

Rollins hasn't been discussed in a while, and coming off a world series win there was no possible way they would've considered trading him this last off season. However, with the glamour of the world series championship wearing off, Philly finds themselves unable to create any separation in a weakened NL East and in serious need of pitching (only the Nationals have a worse team ERA).

Rollins has been off to a horrible start, and is still struggling. His line thus far is .217/.261/.338--far below his career average of .274/.329/.436. Even his stolen bases are down (10). Despite his struggles, I've yet to hear someone say that he's on the permanent decline, and he still has a very affordable contract with only $16M owed in 2010 and 2011.

With all of that, plus a capable Jason Donald in line to replace him, I'm thinking the Phillies might be willing to deal at a reasonable price. Possibly a package of Sancheese, Merkin, Crawford? (Just spitballing... I could be way off on the value of that package).

What do ya say Sabes, kick some tires?

As if we couldn't assume, the Astros will likely be one of the sellers this summer. Richard Justice blogs that the Astros will be selling on Carlos Lee and others, and even willing to pick up some of the salaries. I don't see anyone they have worth pursuing for the Giants other than Lee and Oswalt, but Lee obviously fills a greater need.

Here's some of the Pros and Cons of Lee:

Pro: Middle of the order hitter. Projects for a high .800 OPS. Averaged 20.9 replacement runs from '06-08. Averaged a dollar value of $12.66 M over '06-09. Right handed hitter, whom the Giants already had interest in.

Con:  Butcher in left field. 32 years old (33 in June), and has recent injury issues. Remaining salary of $18.5 M through 2012 (74 M over 4 years). Would likely move Freddie to the bench.

So is Carlos Lee worth pursuing? If so what would it take to get him?

Anyone know who will be pitching this weekend?

With the Giants coming to AZ this upcoming weekend, I'm hoping to catch a couple of the games. Obviously I'm hoping to avoid a Zito game, so does anyone know what the scheduled starting pitchers will be this week? Has this been announced yet?

If they follow the games scheduled, Cain and Zito would go Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving Sanchez, Lincecum, and Johnson over the weekend.

Yesterday The Dallas Morning News ran an article talking about how hot they are for starting pitching. It says that they'll be searching for top starting pitching via trade in the offseason. Considering the Giants are deepest in pitching, I took a look at the article.

The author proposes trading their top Short Stop prospect, 19 year old Elvis Andrus. With the Giants strength with pitching, gaping hole at short, and with the author's belief that Andrus may be All-star caliber, it seems like there might be a good match.

Does anyone know anything on Andrus? Should the Giants be interested in a swap? If so, what would it take to get him?

Here's a little on Andrus from the article:

Andrus: Andrus began the season as the Rangers' top-ranked prospect and has done nothing during the year to lose that title. Andrus has played the entire season at Double-A as a teenager (he turns 20 on Aug. 26). Like Beltre, his offensive numbers have shot up in the second half of the season. You look at his numbers at age 19 compared with those of Edgar Renteria at the same age and you have a pretty good idea of what Andrus may be – an athletic, All-Star caliber shortstop for more than a decade.

 

"In an attempt to bolster the Giants' offense, Bochy said he'll likely start second baseman Ray Durham on Tuesday."

Classic.

Also, I just watched There Will Be Blood and thought to myself, what would life be like if Magowan resemebled Daniel Plainview in any way, shape, or form. And would a conversation between Magowan and Sabean go like this:

Magowan: Are you an angry man, Brian?
Sabean: About what?
Magowan: Are you envious? Do you get envious?
Sabean: I don't think so. No.
Magowan: I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.
Sabean: That part of me is gone... working and not succeeding- all my failures has left me... I just don't... care.
Magowan: Well, you're fired.

I am trying to unload 4 tickets to the Giants v. Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium on 3/25, the final Cactus League game.

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Doug and Wolf on KTAR Sports 620 in Arizona raised the question for debate this morning on whether or not a team should sign Barry and if he could help a team.

Wolf claimed that Barry is a cancer and cannot help a team in any way. (I disagree)

Doug claims that Barry can help a team, but only after the perjury case is resolved. (I agree)

Who do you agree with?

If the reported trade of Eric Bedard to the Mariners were to fall through, would the Mariners then turn to Noah Lowry to help the back of their rotation?

Ken Rosenthal isn't convinced that giving up so much to get Bedard would elevate them, as it would hurt their outfield and bullpen. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7742932/Landing-Bedard-not-a-cure-all-for-Mariners

A Lowry deal to the Mariners might make more sense for them. They'd have to give up less pieces, keep their outfield in tact, and help the back-end of their rotation, which is what needs the most help anyways.

If this were to happen, what could the Giants get from the Mariners for Lowry? Beltre? Sexton + George Sherrill? Just Sexton?

Any ideas?

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7663966

"Free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron has reached preliminary agreement with the Brewers on a one-year contract with a club option for 2009, according to major-league sources."

Hopefully this gets the Bill Hall/Pete Happy ball rolling...