So... earlier tonight when I was in my '96 Camry listening to KNBR, it was some fill-in espn guy filling in for some espn guy on espn radio (all night i believe).  He wasn't very good and he was making some point that probablly wasn't very good but i wasn't listening because i cued in to when he made the point of bringing up that both benches always empty when somebody charges the mound or there's any funny business like clockwork.

What if two teams agreed NOT to step in for 22 seconds and instead let two pre selected players (pitcher and batter) duke it out.  Each team roots for their teammate to clearly win the fight and bring glory, bragging rights and morale to the team fans and city.

(ASIDE) It looks like Philly might catch Atlanta so maybe we won't be checking for PHI under the box score every day for the Wild Card and frankly i'm tired of caring about PHI and don't want to start caring about ATL.  Let's focus on NL West teams and players you strongly dislike.

Make your picks for the two Giants' matchups.

Giants Pitcher vs. (NL Team Batter)...

And (NL Team Pitcher) vs. Giants Batter.

I'll have to think about my picks and post them later in the comments, but the obvious pick to me is Wilson v. Blake.

He’s good.  He’s coming off an injury so presumably the price will be reasonable.  He’s always been able to get on base well, a career .383 OBP.  He turned 33 in 2005 and since then, during years when most players start their decline, he hit .275/.363/.523.  That includes a sub par 2007 when he hit .258/.333.448, which is still a lot better than the .271/.328/.405 line Giants 1B put up this year, which includes 97 PA of awesomeness from Pablo where he hit .385/.423/.648.  The Giants continue to have a gigantic hole in the middle of the order and at 1B.  Delgado fills both.  The man has been a legit power hitting, high OBP first baseman his entire career, without seeing much of a noticeable decline.  It’s easy to write-off Delgado because he’s coming off an injury and he’s 37.  But after what Ibanez has done this season we should think twice about writing off veterans especially if there hasn’t been a noticeable decline in performance.  No doubt the Giants would have been in the playoffs this year had we signed Ibanez, we can’t let another opportunity like that slip away.  Without being able to cite stats, it seems a lot of veterans this season but up big numbers (Ibanez, Posada, Manny).  These players, including Delgado, have performed their entire careers and continue to do so.  Yes eventually they will decline or fall off the cliff, but it really is a guessing game finding out when that will occur.  It is worth the risk for Delgado because even if it doesn’t work out we have fall back options in Sandoval, Ishikawa, Garko, Bowker.

But I’m expecting it to work out and I think Delgado has at least another .380+/.500+ season in him.  And there are other benefits to improving the offense through 1B and not the outfield.

-Sandoval can stay at 3B another season where he played average defense and his bat is more valuable.  Having legit power at both corners would be a huge plus.

-If we don’t add another outfielder to fix the offense we can finally see what we have in our young outfielders in a legit sample size and consistent playing time.  Winn is undoubtedly gone (I’ll gladly organize the riots in the streets if he comes back).  Assuming we don’t pull off Rowand for Bradley (which I’d be in favor of) we have Schierholtz, Bowker, Rowand, Torres, Lewis.  Platoon Lewis and Torres in left.  Despite all the shit Lewis has got recently (and I’ve dished it out myself) the fact remains he has a career .286/.362/.443 line against RHP.  Torres has proven to mash lefties, and that’s all that should be asked of him next year (and of course playing his usual stellar defense).  Schierholtz and Bowker can duke it out in RF, and they both can move around the outfield if necessary due to injury/ineffectiveness, so there should be enough at bats for all the outfielders.

-Another thing adding Delgado does is it allows Garko to see some time at catcher.  I read some discussion about it on this site and apparently Garko was moved to 1B not because of lack of catching skills but because he was blocked by Victor Martinez. Garko would be able to see playing time as a lefty masher off the bench (.313/.392/.495 career line against lefties) and at catcher sharing some time with Posey.  Keeping Garko would be a benefit because it affords us the luxury to sit Delgado more to keep him fresh, particularly against LHP.  Last point on Delgado:  I will forever be grateful to him for the HR he bombed against Benitez a couple years back that finally got that fat lop of shit off our team.  Delgado will forever have his place in Giants history because of that shot, and it would be awesome for him to end his brilliant career in SF to help our young, talented team make a playoff push.  Our 1-4 would be Lewis/Sanchez/Sandoval/Delgado, I think that’s legit.  In summation, Delgado would improve the offense, allow us to utilize Garko effectively to maximize his value, and finally give us a chance to see what our young outfielders can do.

Hello all, this is fanpost number two.  I promise not to call you an ass hat.  If you disagree with me (or make fun of me) thats ok.  I'm just writing this to voice my opinion at the present moment (which may or may not be drunken).

So, Randy Winn.  Yes, he could leadoff and do an admirable job for the '09 Giants.  Or he could become a member of the the White Sox, who allegedly are lusting over someone of his caliber.

"Scott Gregor writes that White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams may have addressed the team's need of a leadoff hitter via the trade market.

Earlier today, Joe Cowley had a Twitter update saying Juan Pierre could be on his way to Chicago, though it wasn't a reliable source. He debunked his own rumor shortly after, stating "Juan Pierre still a Dodger." (Griacas para mlbtraderumors.com)

Really? Juan Pierre?  The dude's expensive.  And he sucks.  Enter Randy Winn.  Sure, he's 35 (Or will be during the course of the season I dunno).  But he's the model of consistency.  He gets on base, has moderate power, and as he proved last year, can steal a base.  And I don't mean he can steal like Juan Pierre can by trying a bunch and failing, he's actually good.  25 of 27.  I personally remember a Damon Bruce interview (now THAT guy is an ass hat, and i'll argue that point to the death) where he questioned Randy before last season of his ability to steal 20+ bases in '08.  Now I do forget Randy's response, but it was a confident one. And he followed through.

So here's my point.  If the White Sox are indeed looking for a leadoff man/CF, Randy Winn is their guy much more than Juan Pierre is.  Pierre is expensive and he sucks.  AND he's on the Dodgers, let them live with that shitty contract and continue paying him to come of the bench.

In the meantime, if you are actually after what you claim, Randy Winn is your guy.  We'll take on half of the contact (We proved willing pay for past mistakes with Roberts) and you can have a .300/.350/.420 type player who plays good D and can steal a bag.

Us?  We can make do with Schierholtz/Guzman/Torres/Velez for that last starting outfield spot.  Personally I'd move Lewis to RF and Guzman to LF when Schierholtz isn't playing (tough lefties).  At this point I'd say start and leadoff Burris at 2nd to replace Winn at the 1 hole.  Lewis can leadoff as well and I bet Frandsen would be keen additionally.  Basically Aurilia you are unnecessary since hopefully Frandsen can hold down the fort as a Utility man playing 3rd against lefties and SS ocassionally.  Who knows about Uribe, we'll see.

OK my Rosterbation (as you people* call it) has reached its climax, it's time for discussion.  I'm gonna sleep now but im not ignorning ya'll, i'll be back to argue, but hopefully not offend (no promises)

*I don't mean "you people" in a derogatory way at all,  so I thought i'd add the * to make sure.