SB Nation User Blog: chacabuco

Pinch hitting for Grate Schierholtz

chacabuco — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:25:55 -0000

Bottom of the 9th vs the Fodgers on Wednesday, runners on first and second and one out. Grate Schierholtz coming to bat. The Fodgers bring in a lefty. Grate is hitting .452/.455/.742 against lefties this year (granted, only 31 ABs).

The Gyros "counter" with Rowand, hitting .223/.275/.407 vs. lefties this year and is stirring memories of Mario Mendoza since the break. Was this Bochy sending text messages from the dugout? Was this Flannery? I need to know, because:

Rowand promptly grounded into a 6-4-3. Personally, I didn't even watch it. I just sat down when the move was announced and since everyone in my section was standing, I only had to hear the collective groan of the crowd to know exactly what had happened.

I've taken the obligatory 48 hours to cool off on this issue, but I'm still furious. I think the move had to be Bochy because no manager hits for "developing" players in clutch situations more often than this guy. Did this peeve anyone else the way it peeved me? Makes no sense.

Which begs the question, how depressing will it be when he signs a 3-year extension after we just miss the playoffs this year?

Follow up question: Are the Giants winning "despite" Sabean and Bochy this year or because of them?

Frandsen playing first ?!?

chacabuco — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:51:11 -0000

Did anybody else notice that Kevin Frandsen played First Base both games of yesterday's double header?

They keep yanking this poor kid's chain. First he's playing at Short to accommodate Downs, now he's playing 1st. I'm with Grant in that I think he's getting a raw deal. And I don't see how him getting reps at 1st is going to help the team.

But, heck, with the way the team played on this homestand, I've got the glass of kool-aid ready, slipping in a couple ice cubes, and I'm getting ready to have a drink.

Why it makes no sense to let Suckbean make any trades

chacabuco — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:04:37 -0000

The guy's job is on the line and rightfully so. He can't judge a free agent better than Pedro Feliz can judge an outside curve ball and the only thing he's done well (draft) has been the primary responsibility of someone else in the organization

Now you're going to let this dude, who has to win now to keep his job, with a team that is several pieces away from making the playoffs and getting swept in the first round, determine your team's long term future?!?! Scary.

He's stated he's willing to make a trade to win now. He has stated doesn't care what position the bat comes from, they'll adjust accordingly (another outfielder, anyone?). How about a Jonathan Sanchez for Shea Hillenbrand, anyone? How about we bring in Ricky Ledee to shore up the outfield and we sit Lewis AND Schierholz? Maybe we can trade Cain and Wilson for AJ Pierzynski. It worked out so well the first time.

Why don't they do the sensical thing and can this turkey now and let somebody smart rebuild the franchise?

Hey, Sanchez, Nice start. Now grab some pine, meat.

chacabuco — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:30:30 -0000

How do you reward your young starter for his best outing of the season?

Why, skip his turn in the rotation, of course. Better yet, send his a** to the bullpen for more jacking around of his young arm.

Big Head and Suckbean strike again! These two either don't have a plan, they keep changing their plan, or they have their heads so far up their plans they can't see. It's really unbelievable if you stop to think about it.

Is Frandsen the new Dallimore?

chacabuco — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:04:57 -0000

Let's just say the Giants infield is less than settled. We have another Sabean Suckerpunch Signing playing short, we have a catcher/first baseman playing third, a shortstop playing second and a Fresno Grizzly playing first.

Enter a guy who, unlike most of the rookies on the Giants roster, has proven he can play at every level. He hit .296 in 2004 at low level A ball. Played at all three levels in 2005 while absolutely tearing it up and hitting a combined .335. Got hit in the jaw, bounced back to hit .304 in Fresno in 2006, earning a call up to the big squad in the fall.

Hit FOUR-OH-THREE (.403) for the Grizz in 2007 before being called up and having respectable numbers in the bigs for a rook. Then he tears an Achilles and suddenly the guy ceases to be a prospect.

You think Burriss is a better option at 2B because he tore it up in the spring? Ok, I can understand the logic there (although I disagree with it). So, surely you would send Frandsen to Fresno to play every day just in case Burriss continues to hit below the Mendoza line, so we won't have to resort to a has been with no future (aka Jose Castillo 2009) for the rest of the year.

Wait! You say Frandsen isn't playing every day in Fresno at 2B? They must have some killer prospect playing 2B, then. Uh, no (Matt Downs .250/.311/.350). Ok, then surely they will play him every day at 3B, where the Giants have no current viable option (Sandoval, God bless him, is not a major league 3B -- I'd love to see him at 1st, though).

Wrong again! He's not playing every day at all and when he does play, more often than not, they have him playing, uh, shortstop. So you're taking a guy one year removed from an Achilles injury and sending him down to AAA to platoon at a position that requires even more mobility than his natural position or the position he could conceivably change to (3B) to help the big league club.

AAAAaaaarrrggghh!! They're doing it to me AGAIN!!!

Is it because the collective IQ of the Giants brain trust is a negative number? I'm sure they think they've got 2B locked up for the year with Burris and friggin' JoseCastillo2009. Or have they actually written Frandsen into the "too old" category. Lord knows Sabean will only take on players over 25 if they are actually closer to 35, many years past their prime and show barely a pulse on the diamond.

Please Fire Sabean NOW. Or he will screw up the San Jose Giants, too, if you let him. The man is dangerous.

Sabean and Bochy, Nightmare combination

chacabuco — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:52:44 -0000

It's one thing to have an unimaginative GM that is unwilling to place any reliance on younger players until it's really too late (see, e.g., the Dave Roberts signing). It's another thing to combine that unimaginative GM with a boring and conservative manager. The result is that you get neither progress nor development.

Maybe having Ishikawa as our starting 1st baseman is a bit of a stretch. But how is platooning him with Rich Aurilia either helping his development or showing us whether or not the guy can surprise us and be an every day player at this level?

Maybe Manny Burriss as a major league starter is a year or two from being realistic (if ever), but how is benching the guy for a mediocre veteran with no upside going to help the team in the short, medium or long term?

Why (oh WHY) would you ever start a young, raw and talented player at a new position in his first year in the majors after the guy was only recently playing in A ball?? The dude was in San Jose last year. LAST YEAR!

After last night's golden sombrero, I am actually concerned that they might sit Fred Lewis against the next lefty. The guy hits about fifteen points lower against lefties and is under 30, quick, bench him!

If there is a God, Neukom will get rid of Sabean before the trade deadline so we can have someone else determine our fate. Bochy might not be terrible with another GM, but I wouldn't lose any sleep if he were bounced, as well.

Memory Lane '05: We could have drafted Granger

chacabuco — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:13:43 -0000

I remember it well, the Warriors were on the board, and, amazingly, the two picks I coveted for the Dubs were still there, Danny Granger and Gerald Green (ok, so he hasn't turn out so hot).

I OBVIOUSLY assumed that the Warriors would draft a small forward, trade Dunleavy or let his contract expire and we would finally be able to move on after the nightmare of the 2002 draft where, in addition to dropping down two spots, we took the biggest twinkie on the Board.

And then the name rolled across my screen. Who the *$#& is Ike Diogu?!?!

The rest is history.

Some serious eye for talent

chacabuco — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:44:41 -0000

As frustrated as I have been with the Warriors' off season moves these past two years, I do have to give credit to Nellie, Mullin or whoever is calling the shots these days, for being able to identify young players that can contribute to the team and play in the NBA.

The Warriors started three undrafted players vs. the Clip joint on Saturday, and they all contributed significantly to the win.

Azubuike - DLeaue 2006, the Warriors brought him into the We Believe season and he made some clutch contributions to the history making run.

CJ Watson - DLeague 2007, the Warriors brought him up when everybody and their mother was injured last season, and although he didn't really contribute last year, he's logging serious minutes in Monta's absence and playing very decently.

Anthony Morrow - Undrafted free agent rookie 2008. There's only two words to describe this guy's performance yesterday, dare I say -- en fuego?

So Neson and Mullin might be destroying the team from the inside out with their dysfunctional whateverness, but they have a serious eye for young talent that keeps them very entertaining.

Warriors waive Kosta

chacabuco — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:29:44 -0000

The Zero Threat Position Perovic has been waived by the Warriors as reported here.

He's been signed by a Spanish team and released from his contract with the Dubs, so it doesn't seem like they will have to eat his $1.75mm salary for this year. The Warriors also have the ability to sign him in two years.

I'm not sure why Mullin signed him to begin with. Seems like an expensive way to keep your options open. The guy never seemed to get off the ground.

Rowand hurt; Why is he even playing so much?

chacabuco — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:13:41 -0000

Let's see, we signed a center fielder to a long term (overpriced) contract who was injured earlier in the season and has the second most ABs on the team. Here's a thought: Rowand is obviously going to be on the team next year and you know what you're going to get from him, why not give him some more days off so he doesn't get... uh-oh! Too late. He left today's game with a sore back.

Why anyone on this team who is not a rookie tearing the cover off the ball should get 500+ ABs this year is beyond me. Molina? Rowen? Rest them. Frequently. Winn? If you plan to keep him, rest him. I'm not saying don't play these guys. I'm saying give them a game off per series, at least. We have plenty of guys on the team who we are either evaluating or trying to trade, so let's see what they can do.