SB Nation User Blog: southcitysteve

Sabes on a Plane!

southcitysteve — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:08:28 -0000

I haven't posted here inna while but thought yall would appreciate this story.

So this past Friday I was at an SFO bar waiting for my flight to San Diego and started chatting it up with a really nice dude, Ben, that had just gotten back from Iraq.

He was telling me about his flight from SD up to the Bay and how he got moved to first class because he was late for his plane. Then he starts telling me about this older guy he sat next to in first class who said he was the General Manager of the Giants.

Of course after he said this I was like "You sat next to Brian Fking Sabean??!!!" Ben had never heard of him and had no idea he was such a big deal, but apparently our Sabes was on his way back from Alabama scouting for the upcoming draft. I tried to see if he had hinted to Ben on who he was looking at for the draft but apparently Sabes didn't want to talk to much about the GIants.

So anyway, Sabes and Ben are drinkin' up a storm and sharing stories. According to Ben, Sabes said a couple times "Fuck work! Lets drink! Its free fuck it!" (Sabean drinks cranberry and vodkas)

At the end of the flight Sabean offers Ben $200 and a bracelet blessed by the pope. Ben refused but Sabes told him to "Fuckin take it!" Ben indeed had two Benjamins and a bracelet at the bar.

It must have been nice for Sabean to talk to some young kid who had no idea who he was or what he did. But damn, $200 for good conversation, Sabes must be really lonely.

Comment starter: If you sat next to Brian Sabean on a plane, what would be the first thing you said to him?

My Answer: Free Nate!

AFL Top 20 Prospects

southcitysteve — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:38:23 -0000

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/265219.html

Aoooheyneo is the only Giant at #15. I'm really surprised Nate isn't on the list. He's younger than Velez and had a much better AFL season imo.

Arizona Instructional League Notes

southcitysteve — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 22:36:33 -0000

Here's an article from milb.com on the Giants prospects impressing in the Instructional League:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071018&content_id=311578&vkey=news _milb&fext=.jsp

Couple notes: -Mad Bum is learning a curveball for '08 and will develop a changeup in '09.

-Alderson has been pitching from the windup and appears to be further along in his development than Mad Bum.

-Noonan's been sharing time between short and second.

-The Giants IL team is 14-3-2.

MILB Giants '07 Organizational Review

southcitysteve — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:11:43 -0000

Bowker and Romo and the organizational batter and pitcher of the year. Pretty positive review of the Giants' system.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071001&content_id=308454&vkey=news _milb&fext=.jsp

Poll: Better Career? Cain or Lincecum

southcitysteve — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:34:10 -0000

Who will be the first to win a Cy Young?

Which one will lead the league in SOs for the next 5 years?

How many no-hitters/perfectos will each get?

Will one of them pitch 10 innings and record 30 Ks?

Despite everything that sucks about the Giants, I love thinking about how good these two will be. Talks of trading them really piss me off because these guys are both fuckin' studly and to have both of them is pretty damn lucky. The question is though: Who will end up having the better career?

Cain: He's an absolute horse and has the best mental makeup for a ballplayer I have ever seen. He is developing his pitches and growing as a pitcher every game, and is starting to develop a warrior-like persona. He's going to win a Cy Young someday and if the Giants start scoring some runs for him, he could be a 20-game winner.

Lincecum: He arguably has better stuff than Cain but may be more prone to injury. Will probably have a higher career strikeout rate but less IPs. Every time he takes the mound there is a chance of a no-hitter or something else spectacular happening. He may be the most enjoyable pitcher to watch.

My pick: Cain. He's got the eye of the tiger going, will be much more durable and will age better than Lincecum. Although Timmy's probably more fun to watch.

Poll

Who will have the better career?

Other Giants' pitcher

3 votes

Matt Cain

95 votes

Tim Lincecum

78 votes

176 votes | Poll has closed

Poll: Get rid of Triples/Mirabelli Alley?

southcitysteve — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:44:20 -0000

With Bonds leaving and being the only human being who is not really all that effected by the ridiculous AT&T Park dimensions (unless you count his blast last night, sigh), is it time to fill in Triples/Mirabelli Alley and make it, say, 400 ft to left-center? It would still be a good pitcher's park (not many parks are 400+ ft to left and right center), maybe even better because the RF wouldn't have to play so far off the RF line. They moved in the fences at the 'Stick and rightfully so. Would've been nice if it had been done while Mays was playing but we shouldn't make the same mistake at AT&T.

I was all for the crazy dimensions when the park first opened, but the gimmick has just gotten frustrating for me. Contrary to what Giants management believes, a triple is not the most exciting play in baseball unless its a slow-footed catcher who barely makes it to 3rd. Everyone else gets in there standing if they line it into the 421-ft canyon. Pretty much the excitement peaked when Mirabelli devirginized the Alley.

I never really argued against the alley because we had such an advantage with Bonds being one of the few lefty sluggers that could hit it out anywhere in the park. I think now its time to put some seats out there or a kid's hang out spot or something.

How do you guys feel about the Alley after 8 years of anywhere-but-here bombs? Schierholz would have a HR already. If you do think the Alley needs to go and fences moved in, what should go there? The more creative the better.

Poll

Should the Giants get rid of Triples/Mirabelli Alley?

No

118 votes

Wait a couple years

11 votes

Yes

15 votes

144 votes | Poll has closed

Pickup softball/baseball games?

southcitysteve — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:26:49 -0000

I'm assuming most people here live in the Bay Area so I was wondering if anyone here plays pickup baseball/softball games on the weekend or after work. If so, can I play? I've been dying to play an organized game for a couple years now and will play any position. I will be Pedro Feliz but with situational hitting skillz.

I live in South SF if you didn't guess that already and will travel. I know summer's over but I hope someone has some fall ball action going. I am willing to pay and if there isn't an already organized game I might be willing to organize a weekly weekend game if there's enough interest.

Let's go outside and play!!

OT: Shawne Merriman Rant

southcitysteve — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:01:38 -0000

Is anyone else sickened by all the Shawne Merriman ads? HELLLOOOO, EARTH TO AMERICA!!!!?? Unlike many of the baseball players that have been villified for allegedly taking steroids, Merriman actually FAILED A TEST FOR PEDS!!! And yet he is still appearing in ads for Nike, setting a horrific example for America's youth:

'Even if you take steroids, as long as you are a football player, Nike will still pay you to represent them.' I can't beleive people still argued that Merriman deserved Best Defensive Player of the Year. Just do it.

I've always been a baseball guy, and have watched my beloved sport blunder itself to 2nd place in the hearts of many of my peers. I just don't get it...I guess the reason I've never really been able to get as excited about football is that I wouldn't want to subject myself to that kind of punishment everyday. The tragic Kevin Everett injury last night was another example of why I will do my damndest to discourage my future children from playing such a brutal sport.

The double standard regarding steroids in the NFL and the MLB needs to change. Look at Rick Ankiel and look at Merriman. Ankiel's career will forever be in shadow, while Merriman has gotten a free pass (don't give me the bs "He served his suspension" justification...that doesn't fly). Ankiel has never failed a test and does not have the cartoon body of McGwire or Bonds and he will probably never appear in a Nike commercial even when it looked like Disney and Universal were going to go to war over his life story. And yet we see a convicted steroid user running around on our TV and pictured in our magazines.

In a league where you HAVE to get bigger just to survive, and where most of the money is not guaranteed in the contracts, the lure of PEDs must far exceed the attraction in baseball. Plus PEDs probably make you a much better football player than a baseball player (anyone is welcome to argue that). I would bet that more than 3/4 of the NFL take PEDs. I have nothing to back that up except for the fact that I sure as hell would if I have 300-lb gladiators trying to break every bone in my body.

I suspect that much of the drug use in the NFL is covered up because it is assumed no one really cares if football players juice up. It looks like that assumption may be correct and I am sickened by it. The NFL, to me, is going down a dark road and its only a matter of time before they get what is coming to them. 2nd place.

Poll

Do you care that Shawne Merriman is getting a free pass?

Yes

33 votes

No

11 votes

44 votes | Poll has closed

Poll: What has driven you the most crazy in '07?

southcitysteve — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:54:53 -0000

So many things to chose from but I've tried to narrow it down. I'm still not sure what I'll pick:

The "varsity" lineups: This category includes the inability to score, bring in a runner from 3rd with less than 2 outs and preventing the youth movement from happening.

The Matt Cain loses: Every one has been heartbreaking, and every one has made me angry at my TV.

Bochy's play calling: Does not include his insistence on using the veterans every single day, but does include rally-killing double-steals and generally uninspired and uncreative managing.

Ray Durham: 'Nuff said.

The inability to trade veterans: Would have been nice to see Klesko, Kline or Winn/Roberts go so the Giants could get the youngsters more playing time, but nope. Sabean did not do his job. Winn and Roberts should have been tradeable imo and I can't believe no one wanted Kline.

Other: Because there are so many other things to be crazy about...

I chooooooooooooossssseeeee....."varsity" lineups; because Sabes and Pete said the youth movement would start this year....wha happened?

Poll

What has driven you the most crazy in '07?

The inability to trade veterans

27 votes

The "varsity" lineups

74 votes

Other

6 votes

The Matt Cain losses

33 votes

Bochy's play calling

2 votes

Ray Durham

29 votes

171 votes | Poll has closed

Poll: Worst Offseason Acquisition?

southcitysteve — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:00:54 -0000

Hindsight is always 20/20 but I'd say that most of us predicted that a lot of the moves made in the offseason were going to blow up in Sabean's face. The only pass he gets is that there were so many holes to fill and no one wants to hit at ATT.

Bruce Bochy: He's my choice for worst signing. I've never really been one to hate on managers but he has done nothing to gain my confidence that he knows what he's doing. He had the easiest managing job in the majors with laid-back SD and it appears they let him leave for a reason. He is predictable in his play-calling, doesn't understand that this team is rebuilding and doesn't appear to be a motivater of men at all. I beleive players like him only because he stays out of their business. If Grady Little can be fired for leaving in Pedro Martinez too long, than Bochy should be fired for the worst managing year I have ever seen.

Ray Durham: He was signed because Sabean couldn't sign anyone else to protect Bonds and Durham has not only failed to do that, he has failed at every aspect of the game. I always thought he was lazy during those years he spent so much time on the DL and I had a feeling last year was a fluke. I wanted Frandsen to be the starting 2B so bad this year but sort of understood because Durham was supposed to be a 3 or 5 hitter. The biggest mistake of this signing was the 2 years. Sabean should have made Durham prove he could do it for 1 more year with an option year but I don't think anyone could have predicted he would be this bad.

Barry Zito: He still has time to turn his year around and 6 more years to prove he's worth 126 million, but his contract is the only reason why this team can't seriously go after A-Rod in the offseason. Just think of a rotation of Cain-Lowry-Lincecum-Sanchez-Misch/Correia with A-Rod as our starting SS in '08. It's wishful thinking but could have been much more likely without this ridiculous contract that he will probably never live up to unless he wins a Cy Young and wins the Wolrd Series MVP. I was happy when they signed him but 126 million?!? In the words of Jimmmy "C-c-c-c'mon."

Dave Roberts: He makes the list for one reason-our minor league system's only strength right now is in the outfield and he is blocking a lot of talent. Rajai, Fred, Nate, Dan, Brian, Clay...the bottom line is I would rather see any of these guys in CF than Roberts. He is at best a really good bench player who can steal a base when you need one. He's a pie-thrower in the outfield and news of his good defense were greatly exaggerrated. 3 years for this guy??!! Thanks but no thanks. Now what do we do with him?

Poll

Worst Offseason Acquisition?

Bruce Bochy

14 votes

Ray Durham

37 votes

Barry Zito

116 votes

Dave Roberts

36 votes

203 votes | Poll has closed