SB Nation User Blog: hairball

It sounds like the Giants and Mets will be the main competitors for Molina's services." Ugh....

hairball — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:29:16 -0000

It sounds like the Giants and Mets will be the main competitors for Molina's services."

Ugh. Please no.

XAVIER NADY: Being a Bay Area native, I see the Giants as a legit suitor for him. The Giants would...

hairball — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:54:14 -0000

XAVIER NADY: Being a Bay Area native, I see the Giants as a legit suitor for him. The Giants would surely give him a three year deal. Sure up RF, then look to LF and 3B maybe? "

"kuyote" at mlbtraderumors

I don't like this notion at all.

Akinori Iwamura- what could have been I have to admit, I find it interesting that the Pirates may...

hairball — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:27:41 -0000

Akinori Iwamura- what could have been

I have to admit, I find it interesting that the Pirates may not have to give up much for Akinori Iwamura. The idea of Sanchez at third (where he was during his excellent 2006), Iwamura at 2nd, and Pablo at first ALMOST makes me able to stomach Renteria at short.

Iwamura trade

The Premium Price of Fixing History

hairball — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:56:55 -0000

If Brian Sabean's crack team of experts could recognize position player skills one iota, this diary would not be necessary.

In 2009, Chone Figgins became a star based on OBP and defense, not to mention the fact that the guy could steal bases. Seen by some as the "perfect leadoff hitter", Figgins put together a slash line of .298/.395/.393, aided by 42 SB and a third base UZR rating of 14.5. All of this combined to give him the highest WAR of his career, 5.9, making him worth superstar money in his walk year. Bling bling.

The same season, the younger Rajai Davis (remember him?) stole 41 bases at a higher success rate while appearing in far less games than Figgins. Davis' OBP of .360 wasn't quite as hot as Figgins', but he was still able to put up a similar wOBA (.354 to Figgins' .358) while enjoying similar success in the field (11.1 UZR). All this was good for a 3.7 WAR, despite only 390 AB to Figgins' 615.

If the Giants end up springing for Figgins this offseason, I may complain, but not too loudly. An OBP-heavy leadoff hitter who can play good defense at third will solve some issues for the Giants (including 1B, which I imagine would then belong to Pablo), and of all the free agents, Figgins may be one of the best.

Still, paying uber dollars for one season of greatness is never a sure-fire strategy for success (as Sabean should know by now), and it will burn even more knowing that we gave up a very similar player that we had essentially gotten free. Wait, we traded Morris for Davis? That's better than free. How the hell did we let him get away?

The Giants knew Lewis had skills but didn't truly know how good he was."

hairball — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:42:10 -0000

The Giants knew Lewis had skills but didn't truly know how good he was."

You HAFTa read it

If you like Bochy, defend this: "I thought as hitters that we weren’t aggressive enough in certain ...

hairball — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:38 -0000

If you like Bochy, defend this:

"I thought as hitters that we weren’t aggressive enough in certain counts, especially ahead in the count. I want these guys to let the bats go. I thought we were late a lot on fastballs in hitter’s counts. We want to work on that too. That’s a big part of the game. Power comes from being aggressive."

source

-Q: You had Bowker in the on-deck circle, for Molina’s spot, which didn’t come up in the eighth. You...

hairball — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:19:42 -0000

-Q: You had Bowker in the on-deck circle, for Molina’s spot, which didn’t come up in the eighth. You weren’t thinking of Posey there?

-BOCHY: Well, they had a right-hander up there. I had a guy on deck who got a big pinch-hit yesterday. And we couldn’t get him in. I’m looking to score more runs. If I’m going to take Bengie out and I hit Posey, I’m not going to catch him. Now I’m down to one catcher. He’s our insurance policy right now.

Link to article

If the Giants were actually playing to win...

hairball — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:32:32 -0000

I kid, I kid. But if you were the manager, and you were only able to work with the players on the roster, what do you think the best lineup could be right now, and why? I'm including Sanchez in mine, because I think he'll probably be off the DL soon enough. If you want to visualize the more immediate version, replace him with Uribe and put Renteria at SS.

Lewis LF
Sanchez 2B
Posey C
Sandoval 3B
Bowker RF
Uribe SS
Rowand CF
Ishikawa/Garko platoon 1B

This lineup accomplishes several things. First, it maximizes OBP, with Lewis, Posey and Bowker all in key roles. Second, it maximizes power, by getting Bowker and Uribe in ahead of Winn and Renteria. Third, it puts the biggest "meh" players at the bottom of the lineup. Finally, it gives you a chance to really test the kids. Make Schierholtz and Rohlinger your go-to pinch-hitters, and FORGET ABOUT PLAYING GUYS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE VETERANS OR MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

The Penny News is up at SFGIANTS.COM

hairball — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:17:43 -0000

The Penny News is up at SFGIANTS.COM

So it is official.

Rally Game 4 Thread!

hairball — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:42:09 -0000

Rally Game 4 Thread!