SB Nation User Blog: jpo

Bye Tim A

jpo — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:52:37 -0000

I'm not upset at all that the Giants gave away one of their top pitching prospects because it requires a major league talent to get a major league talent. There was no way the Giants would be able to get a player like Sanchez for a non-premium prospect. With that said I also believe that the way Tim Alderson delivers pitches will result in him experiencing some pretty serious arm problems down the road. Tim A is pretty much all arm in his delivery and just uses his length and arm speed to deliver the ball rather than using his legs more to help drive himself to the plate when delivering the ball. His mechanics are very suspect and the amount of stress he is putting on his arm as a result of these mechanics raised my eyebrows when I saw him throw in a couple games this season. Plus the Giants have a good farm system once again so we have plenty of pitching throughout the system. Besides if Alderson was such a phenom he would be in the major leagues by now.

If Johnson Goes to the DL

jpo — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:48:42 -0000

is Jonathan Sanchez pretty much a lock to take his spot? Or is it time we get to see Pucetas or Sosa? Would they bring up Bowker? Frandsen? There's so many options in this hypothetical situation. I'd prefer to see Sosa bypass Triple A and get a start just to see what he has. I'm impressed with Sanchez's work in mop up duty (even if they've been in blowouts) and actually looks like he has more potential coming out of the bullpen. He could be on the Affeldt track to bullpen success. Ah, the possibilities.

Sandoval gets the shaft.

jpo — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:56:09 -0000

Pablo deserves to be an all-star this year and he was not named to the team. I hope somebody gets injured so Sandoval could make it on the team. MLB really needs to stop with the fans selecting the starting line ups because I'm so sick of seeing undeserving players go to the game. I know the game is "meaningless" but it's still nice to see your own guys out there. He definitely deserves it even if he is in his first full season. He is carrying our team offensively and this is a huge disappointment for Giants fans.

Hey Fred Lewis!

jpo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:31:52 -0000

nice catch there in the bottom of the first. oh wait you didn't catch it. i'm done with you. but thanks for helping prove to everyone that nate schierholtz deserves playing time over you. you should go back to the minor leagues and learn the following.

a) learn that generally your first step should be back and towards the direction of the ball is going if the ball is in the air.

b) don't run after fly balls with your glove out. it slows you down and it makes you look like you don't know what you're doing (which you don't).

c) if you're in left field and a righty hits you the ball in the air it will hook. if a lefty hits a ball in the air it will slice. at either rate the ball will always travel back towards your right side.

d) catch the fucking ball!

that is all.

Trading Brian Wilson.

jpo — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:23:09 -0000

I know the Giants have been rumored to have interest in a lot of hitters and I know Sanchez has been the main guy that the Giants have been dangling out there, but I was wondering if the Giants have put any thought into trading Brian Wilson. I know it might sound crazy to some people, but Wilson does have some value and could be a good addition to a lot of bullpens that are looking for relief help (Mets, Rays, Angels, etc.) The Giants seem to have a couple of guys that can close out games just as effectively (and nerverackingly) as Wilson so is it possible that the Giants might have some interest in letting Wilson go? I don't believe that it would be a good or bad move, I was just curious to see what people thought about moving or packaging Wilson.

Why Rich Aurilia Will Return to form in 08

jpo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:42:24 -0000

Yeah right.

Rich Aurilia is terrible. It's obvious that the Giants shouldn't have signed him before last season coming off his "great" season in the Great American Small Park. Hell, I could hit thirty jacks in that place.

On another note, the word on the street is that the Giants are on the hunt for a left handed hitting first baseman. I guess the Dan Ortmeier experiment didn't pan out. But who didn't see that coming. Not too many one tool players skyrocket to Major League prominence. Orty deserves some credit for being a team guy and putting his work in at first base, but in learning a new position, Ortmeier forgot how to hit if he ever new at all. Regardless even in free agency the Giants should have picked up Sean Casey or Eric Hinske at least for a year just to have some sort of platoon that incorporates guys who might actually get a hit here or there. They were two guys that could at least play the position and keep their batting averages above the Mendoza line.

The two names that have come up in discussions are Nick Johnson and Dan Johnson. No thanks. Nick Johnson is too much of a gamble considering his problems staying healthy and Dan Johnson is a gamble considering his problem of sucking over long periods of time. A name I'd like to see in the mix is Mark Teahen of the Royals. He's blocked at third base by Alex Gordon and has been playing first base and outfield. Why not go after this guy. We have pitching to spare and he's a good, young, left handed hitter who can play both corners of the infield and outfield. Plus, he's a St. Mary's grad so he might have some interest in playing here. Granted, AT&T is a hitter's nightmare, but at least we'll have a guy that can hold us over until Angel Villalona arrives.

Just a thought.

Skip Bayless II?

jpo — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 05:47:36 -0000

No thank you. I hate that guy.

I was just trying to see if I could fend for Brian Sabean, but obviously I can't. I really don't like him. I feel like Ned Coletti might have had a little more know-how and cajones than Sabean. Sabean seems weak, and he almost cried on the Razor and Mr. T, show when Barbierri called him out on Benitez.

At any rate, I'm writing this bad boy from the airport in Japan wating to return to my native San Francsico. I caught a couple of games out here and I must say, these guys are good. I'm surprised there aren't more playing in the MLB. I understand the whole posting fee and then signing the players after that could be a task. But I feel the Giants should give this market another shot. I know Shinjo might have scared the Giants off for a while, but there are legit players here. Particularly 23 or 25 year old Norichika Aoki of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. This kid is the man. Does anyone else have any thoughts on any Japanese players?

Also, I've been hearing a lot of rumors involving Saltalamacchia. None of which involve the Giants. Has anyone heard anything about the Giants trying to obtain him. He's a switch hitting catcher with pop from both sides of the plate. He could be a nice piece in our "rebuilding process". Just a thought.

I was hoping this offseason we could make a run at A-Rod. That of course will probably remain a dream. The way I see our FA offseason going is this. Mike Lowell, Jermaine Dye, and David Eckstein/Omar Vizquel. These guys fit the mold for the Giants. Past their prime and overpriced. What do you guys think the Giants will try to do this coming offseason?

That last "diary" got a good response, I'm hoping this one will have a similar one. I'm looking forward to hearing what you kids have to say.

In Defense Of Sabean

jpo — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 10:02:28 -0000

As we all know at McCovey Chronicles, Brian Sabean's contract has been extended through 2010. This decision has left most Giants fans spinning in their graves, couches, barstools, or whatever the hell they're sitting on.

I, on the other hand, feel that this is a step in the right direction for the Giants organization. Through most of his tenure, Sabean has kept the Giants competitive. From 97 until now, the Giants have won 3 division titles, and had 4 playoff berths, while remaining in contention up until the last games in 3 seasons. He even brought a NL west title to San Francisco.

The Giants are lousy now, but wont be lousy for long. All the SBC/AT&T/PacBell park bandwagon hoppers can eat shit. The Giants have a promising pitching staff, and are a free agent signing or two away from serious contention.

A lot of you kids don't understand that it isn't easy to get players to sign with any team. Between contract negotiations, relocating their families, and other issues, it is no small task. Considering all of the free agents in the past few years that have signed elsewhere it may seem as though Sabean has been scared to pull the trigger. At any rate, playing in AT&T park does not appeal to most right handed sluggers that are to be and have been on the market. If you know anything about playing baseball, you know that the ball doesn't carry well to left field at night, and you will never hit an opposite field home run unless you really get more than all of it. Furthermore, the Giants have been very sneaky in stating a "win now" mentality, while quietly rebuilding via the last three drafts behind our backs. They know they must appease fairweather fans and idiots alike, so they say they're pursuing a championship now, when they're really not.

After reviewing Sabean's trade portfolio, I've found that with the exception of the Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano for Pierzynski debacle, he has a very solid track record. He brought in Jason Schmidt and was credited for masterminding the Kirk Reuter from Montreal deal. With the exception of the previously mentioned trade there is only one player currently playing in the Major Leagues. That player is Carlos Villanueva of the Milwaukee Brewers. Recently he shipped Armando Blownitez for Randy Messenger, who at one point last season, was being groomed to be a future closer by the Marlins.

True baseball people know that change is a process that takes time. So let's give this man a chance. This last off-season was pretty bad, but following this season Sabean will have some decent scratch to play around with. Alex Rodriguez will most likely opt-out of his contract and the Giants are in position to be big suitors in the A-Rod sweepstakes. As reported recently in a Sacramento Bee article, Rodriguez has said that he really liked the bay area and the fans, so maybe it's a slight hint that he has a shared interest in San Francisco. Also, Eric Byrnes and Jermaine Dye, two Bay Area natives will be on the market and would probably love to don the Giants black and orange.

Now I know there's a lot of people out there who hated the Giants last off-season as much as I did. But we all make mistakes. Sit tight kids. This mess will be over soon.