2008 Mock Roster #3

There really hasn't been much going on with the Giants since they signed Aaron Rowand a few weeks ago and it doesn't look like much will happen until after the new year. Even though the off-season is starting to wind down, the Giants are nowhere near complete and Sabean is going to have to be active in the month of January in order to tune this team up. Here is my 3rd (and possibly final) installment of the 2008 mock roster postings, the first since the Aaron Rowand signing.

Trade: To St. Louis: lhp Noah Lowry, of Dave Roberts, of Fred Lewis and if Rich Aurilia - To Giants: 3b Scott Rolen, of/1b Chris Duncan and $12 million (1/3 of Rolens' remaining 3 years and $36 million)

FA Signings: 1b Tony Clark (1 yr. $3 million + incentives), Freddy Garcia (1 yr. $2 million guaranteed + incentives), Akinori Otsuka (2 years, $10 million + incentives, mutual option for 3rd year)

Lineup
RF Randy Winn
LF Nate Schierholtz/Rajai Davis
1B Chris Duncan
3B Scott Rolen
CF Aaron Rowand
C Bengie Molina
2B Ray Durham
SS Omar Vizquel

Bench
1B Tony Clark
IF Kevin Frandsen
IF-OF Eugenio Velez
C Elezier Alfonzo
OF Rajai Davis/of/1b Dan Ortmeier

Rotation
RHP Matt Cain
LHP Barry Zito
RHP Tim Lincecum
RHP Kevin Corriea
RHP Freddy Garcia/LHP Jonathon Sanchez

Bullpen
RHP Brian Wilson (closer)
RHP Akinori Otsuka
RHP Tyler Walker
RHP Brad Hennessey
LHP Jack Taschner
LHP Steve Kline
LHP Jonathon Sanchez/RHP Vinnie Chulk

The Giants were looking at free agent Kris Benson last week, which could indicate that a Lowry trade may still be in the works. If that's the case and they're looking to take on a project, I would rather see them take a flyer on Freddy Garcia, who is a legit #2 when healthy. I doubt the Cardinals are looking to part with Duncan, but they desperately want to get rid of Scott Rolen and if the Giants include Lowry, they might be able to pry Duncan away as well. They also have Colby Rasmus and Rick Ankiel who they have higher expectations for. The Cards also need infielders and could have interest in Aurilia who can play all over the diamond (also played well in the NL Central in '05-'06). Roberts would give them a capable leadoff hitter now that they've lost David Eckstein. I'm not an advocate of trading Lowry, but I think it's only a matter of time before it happens and getting a guy like Duncan in return would make it a lot less painful than getting a guy like Hideki Matsui. Duncan is only 26 and has the type of left-handed power that can hit 30+ home runs at AT&T Park. The trade of Roberts would open up a spot for Schierholtz and Davis. My proposed lineup, if healthy, would actually be a decent lineup and put up some runs. Not a ton of speed, but more athleticism than past lineups as Bengie Molina is the only guy who doesn't run well. The Giants have expressed interest in Tony Clark and in this scenario could mentor Chris Duncan at 1b. The rotation would still be a strength, even with the loss of Lowry. The bullpen would be stronger with the addition of a healthy Otsuka, but Sabean is ignoring the pen again this winter so I'm not expecting any big changes.

Previous mock rosters:
Mock #1
Mock #2

*The Giants Baseball Blog would like to wish all our readers a Happy Holidays!*

Giants Top 10 Prospects

Baseball America recently listed the Giants' top 10 prospects heading into 2008. The most surprising thing about this list is how many players it contains from the 2007 amateur draft. That just goes to show you how thin the Giants' farm system is when 4/10 of the prospects listed were in high school at this time last year. Here is a short rundown of the players who were listed and my quick take on them, as well as a few guys who didn't make the list but should be watched as well:

1. Angel Villalona, 3b- The 17 year-old is still at least 3 years away, but is the Giants' equivalent to what Miguel Cabrera was for the Marlins when he was coming up. He's playing 3rd now, but could move to first by the time he reaches the bigs. Easily the best Giants' positional prospect in the last 15 years and he's still just 17. Only Giants' prospect to make baseball's top 50 list.
2. Tim Alderson, rhp- Scouts feel the Giants' 2nd overall pick from '07 could be the first of the class to reach the majors. Has been starting, but could be a future closer because of wacky delivery and overpowering stuff.

3. Madison Bumgarner, lhp- #10 overall pick signed late and didn't pitch any professional ball this summer. Expectations will be big in '08 for the hard throwing lefty. The Giants expect him to be on a similar time frame to Matt Cain as far as reaching the bigs, which means we probably won't see him until 2010.

4. Nate Schierholtz, of- Always has hit .300, but power and patience haven't showed up at the big league level yet. He will get more ab's in 2008, but has to show improvement in those areas to be a starter at this level.

5. Henry Sosa, rhp- One of the most intriguing arms in this system. I really like the potential this kid has. The 22 year-old rightie has Francisco Liriano stuff, (2.44 era, 11 wins, 139 k's in 126 ip in A), and made the futures game in '07. He has the best fastball in the system and should be kept in the rotation.
6. Nick Noonan, 2b/ss- Another first rounder from the '07 draft had a solid season in the rookie league. Not much power, but a good contact hitter with a solid glove. Baseball America believes he's the Giants' most disciplined hitter in their system.

7. Eugenio Velez, of/2b- I'm surprised he made this list. He's a solid player and still has upside, but he's almost 26 and has moved past the prospect phase. Should bring value to the Giants as a super utility guy with premier speed in 2008.

8. Wendell Fairley, of- I really liked this pick when the Giants made it in June, I think this guy was one of the best athletes in the draft and should be a future star. He has Carl Crawford and Grady Sizemore type athleticism and potential, hopefully he can reach it.

9. John Bowker, of- 24 yr. old hit 22 home runs in AA last season and was the Giants top power hitter in the minors. Will probably start the year in Fresno and could get a shot at some point in '08 but he's got about 6-7 guys ahead of him on the depth chart right now.

10. Emmanuel Burriss, ss- The potential heir apparent to Omar Vizquel has a lot of glove and speed but has yet to show the bat to get him out of Low A ball. Had a good Fall League showing though and could be destined for a big 2008 season in AA.

Guys who didn't make it to keep an eye on:

Travis Denker, 2B- Obtained in the Mark Sweeney trade in August. He has always shown a good bat with some power and a good glove. He's been compared to Marcus Giles because of his height and power potential. Excelled with San Jose after the trade (.400, 1hr 9 rbi in 7 games). Hasn't done much yet beyond single A, but is only 22 and still has some time.

Sergio Romo, rhp- The 24 year-old rightie had about as good of season as one could have in 2007. He dominated the California League for San Jose this summer to the tune of a 6-2 record, a 1.36 era, and a k/bb ratio of 106/15 in 66 innings pitched. Then he went on to the AFL and pitched even better against tougher competition. Could see the bigs as soon as the second half of the '08 season.

Kelvin Pichardo, rhp- Another hard throwing righty who struck out over 1.5 batters per inning in the low minors last season. The 22 year-old moved up to AA late in the year and continued throwing well. Still has some control issues, but has a very live arm with huge potential.

Giants Sign Rowand

The Giants made their first big move of the offseason Wednesday, signing Aaron Rowand to a 5 year, 60 million dollar contract to be the teams new center fielder. If you've followed the Giants closely this offseason, you could see this one coming. Rowand had a career year last season (.309, 27, 89, 105) and was a major part in the Phillies winning the NL East. I thought that Rowand was set to be overpaid this winter due to the way he played last year and to the fact that he was one of the top 3 outfielders available on a weak free agent market this winter. I really didn't want to see the Giants pursue him whatsoever. However, after seeing the terms of the deal, and comparing that to what Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter got, the Giants actually got themselves a real solid player for a decent deal. In comparison, Rowand is 2 years younger than Hunter, possesses a better career average and OPS, and he's signed at 2/3 of the price. The 5 years is a little too long, but 12 million annually for an all-star, gold glove center fielder who can hit and has just entered his prime isn't a bad deal. One of Rowand's best attributes is his all-around hustle and hard-nosed approach to the game. That is something that Giants' fans are going to notice about him right off the bat, and they're going to enjoy watching him play. There are some people who are concerned that his production was a byproduct of playing 1/2 his games Citizens Bank Park, but his home/road splits where actually very similar to each other. It's not likely that he's going to hit 27 home runs a year playing at AT&T Park(probably more around 20-25) but don't expect his production to see much of a drop-off besides that.

I have done my fair share of Sabean bashing this offseason, but I can't rip him to hard for this move. He did add another center fielder to a team full of young outfield options who should get a shot to play, but it goes a little beyond that. This offseason was working itself in a direction where the Giants were beginning to put themselves in a corner. They need offense in a bad way, probably more than any other team in baseball. Aaron Rowand was the last "impact bat" on the free agent market, and if the Giants had missed out on him they would have had to part with a Cain or Lincecum to get someone of his caliber through a trade. For those reasons, Rowand had a ton of leverage in negotiations with Giants, and they still got him for a relatively good deal. This by no means is a move that will save this team or reshape this offense, but they had to start somewhere and signing Rowand is not a bad start. The Giants did already have depth in the outfield but quantity doesn't equal quality. No Giant outfielder has the credentials or the offensive ability that Rowand brings. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the logjam in the outfield break up a little with a trade or two. There is still a lot of work to do before the team breaks for camp in February, but the team is better than it was yesterday and they now get to hang onto their 2 young studs.

Lots of Talk, Little Action at the Meetings

The Winter Meetings came and went with very little action to speak of on the Giants' front. A ton of talk and rumors, but no moves materialized. The Giants did however offer Pedro Feliz arbitration and unless he gets his coveted 3 year offer from some team, it looks like he will accept arbitration and return to the Giants for yet another season. The Giants just can't seem to get rid of this guy. Now they have filled up a spot where they had a chance to improve at. Without having 3rd base as an option to acquire a bat, it also increases the chances of a Tim Lincecum/Alex Rios trade (which is still on the table) or a Noah Lowry/Hideki Matsui trade. This offseason is slowly getting worse as it moves along. At this point, Sabean should just hold onto his pieces and try his best to fix the bullpen. They're building around their starting pitching and the best way they can help that this winter is to add arms to the bullpen. Remember all those games that Matt Cain ended up losing or getting no decisions for because of the faulty bullpen? Rebuilding the offense isn't a realistic possibility this winter, but fixing the bullpen is. Why Sabean constantly continues to avoid fixing it is beyond me. There are still some decent relievers available who could come in and be upgrades. Jeremy Affeldt, Luis Vizcaino, Eric Gagne, Shawn Chacon and Ron Mahay are guys that could help this team. I'd take Affeldt and Vizcaino over Taschner and Chulk in a heartbeat.

I was just watching some extended video of Kosuke Fukudome for the first time and I wouldn't be opposed to see Sabean push hard after him. I didn't want to see the Giants dip too heavily into free agency this winter, but Fukudome is starting to make some sense. He's got lightning-quick bat speed, and although he's not real big, it's easy to see how he generates power. He's not going to be as dominant of a hitter in America that he was in Japan, but in AT&T, with his style of game, could still do well in the extra base hit department. I could see him hitting well over .300 with 20 homers and 40-50 doubles while providing gold glove caliber defense in right. He also appears to be a real patient hitter, and hits well to all fields. Some scouts say he will turn out similar to Aki Iwamura from the Devil Rays, who showed good contact but very little power in his first season in the US. He reminds me a little more of Hideki Matsui because of his bat speed, plus he's bigger and stronger than Iwamura. The Giants were said to be one of the top 3 or 4 teams in pursuit of Fukudome during the week in Nashville. If they could get him for a 3 year $35-40 million deal, it might not be that bad of a risk. It would beat trading away one of the franchises' cornerstone arms for a bat. He and Mike Lamb are the only free agent position players who I'd consider signing at this point. I'd look to Lamb only as a fallback if Feliz declines and they can't pull off a deal for a guy like Joe Crede or Edwin Encarnacion.

Winter Meetings Preview

Baseball's annual winter meetings start on Monday, and according the the Giants beat writers, the team is expected to be active. We should have a much clearer picture of what the 2008 San Francisco Giants will look like after the meetings. The Giants' main goal is to come out of the meetings with a middle of the order type young hitter without giving up Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and preferably Noah Lowry. Brian Sabean also said the team is trying to steer clear of the free agent market, so Andruw Jones (though I have a weird feeling he could be a Giant) and Aaron Rowand don't seem to be in the mix. I highly doubt they are going to deal Cain or Lincecum, even with all the Miguel Cabrera rumors flying around. Therefore, if they want to get a young and somewhat proven player, which would be ideal, the would have to part with at least Lowry. There are many of teams that would love to deal for a 27 year old, winning left-hander who is under contract for 3 more seasons. Not only that, but he was having a breakout year and was on pace to win 17+ games last season, before his injury, pitching for one of the worst teams in the league. Say what you want about his slightly high WHIP or low strikeout total, the fact is he gets people out when it counts, doesn't give up many runs and most importantly he wins. The Giants should have very high standards for Lowry, who in this market could very easily command a multi-year deal worth $12 million a year (currently due $12 million total over next 3 years).

The Giants are looking for a young 3rd basemen who can hit in one of the 3-4-5 slots. A couple 3rd basemen who I'd consider parting with Lowry for are Colorado's Garret Atkins and Cincinnati's Edwin Encarnacion. Both the Rockies and Reds are looking for starting pitching, and I'm sure they would be willing to part with either of those guys for a package that included Noah Lowry. The St. Louis Cardinals have also expressed interest in Lowry in the past and if the Giants could get Chris Duncan and another youngster (Brad Thompson, Anthony Reyes) for Lowry, than I'd also consider a deal like that. The Devil Rays have a plethora of young hitters, but after dealing Delmon Young for Matt Garza earlier this week, it's doubtful they are looking to deal another one. If the Giants aren't going to get a young player who they can control for a few years, then they should keep their rotation intact and consider letting their own players have a shot in 2008.

2008 Mock Roster #2

The Giants have been one very quiet so far this offseason and it's really tough to judge at this point exactly what direction they are headed in. Brian Sabean said at the end of the season that he would likely have to deal some young pitching in order to obtain some offense and at the pace free agents are being signed right now, it's likely they will have to do just that.

Trade 1: 2b Ray Durham and lhp Pat Misch to Seattle for 1b Richie Sexson

Trade 2: lhp Jonathon Sanchez, of Dave Roberts and cash to Chicago for 3b Joe Crede

Free Agent Signings: rhp Troy Percival (1 yr. $4.5 million plus incentives) and lhp Jeremy Affeldt (2 yr. $8 million)

Lineup:
CF Rajai Davis
RF Randy Winn
3B Joe Crede
1B Richie Sexson
C Bengie Molina
LF Nate Shierholtz
2B Kevin Frandsen
SS Omar Vizquel

Bench:
OF Freddie Lewis
IF Rich Aurilia
1B/OF Dan Ortmeier
OF/IF Eugenio Velez
C Elezier Alfonzo

Starting Rotation:
LHP Barry Zito
RHP Matt Cain
LHP Noah Lowry
RHP Tim Lincecum
RHP Kevin Corriea

Bullpen:
CL: Brian Wilson
SU: Troy Percival
ML: Brad Hennessey
ML: Tyler Walker
ML: Jeremy Affeldt
ML: Steve Kline
LR: Travis Blackley

This roster would fit the Giants budget and would also give the young players on this team a legit shot at getting some regular playing time. The two trades are not unrealistic possibilities as both Richie Sexson and Joe Crede are on the market and the trades I suggested could have benefits for both teams. The bullpen (arguably the teams biggest weakness) would be much improved with the signings of Percival and Affeldt upgrading over Vinnie Chulk and Jack Taschner. The Giants have shown interest in Percival after his resurrection with St. Louis last year and he could serve as a mentor to Brian Wilson while also providing insurance in case Wilson isn't ready to close. Most importantly, the Giants would keep their young pitching core (Cain, Lowry and Lincecum) together.

Mock Roster #1

Who's On Third?

After locking up Omar Vizquel for next season, Brian Sabean said he would now turn his attention towards finding the team's next third basemen. Alex Rodriguez is on the brink of resigning with the Yankee's so any slight possibility of louring ARod to the bay is out the window. That leaves Mike Lowell as the top 3rd basemen left on the market and even though they haven't ruled him out, I'm pretty sure the Giants will not pursue him. So if they are going to add another 3rd basemen from outside the organization this winter, it will have to be via trade. Here are some names that have been thrown around the trade market:

Miguel Cabrera: Sabean mentioned that the Giants definitely would have interest in a guy like Cabrera, as any other team in the league would, but it's hard to believe they could come up with a package to get him unless they included one of or both Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. The Giants are building around pitching, so I would rather hang onto the two young aces. Cabrera is a special talent though, and if the Giants were to deal Cain or Lincecum, this would be the type of player who they'd have to target.

Scott Rolen: Injuries have taken their toll on Rolen as 2 of his last 3 seasons have been cut short due to health issues. Plus he's going to turn 33 at the begging of the season, so it's tough to say he'll do a 180 and get back to his pre-2005 form. He still can pick it clean at third base though, and a change of scenery could be good for him. However, an aging, injury prone player doesn't quite fit into what the Giants want to do this winter.

Adrian Beltre: Still has a few years left on a big contract. Had a decent '07 season, but he hasn't come close to matching what he did during his walk year in 2004. I think a move back to the NL would do him some good but the Mariners aren't trying to deal him and it would likely take 3 solid young players to even spark their interest. Beltre is still just 28 years old and I could see him getting back to his 30-40 home run form again. Plus, he plays a very good 3rd base and would fit in well with Omar on the left side of the infield. For the right deal, he'd be second on my list behind Cabrera.

Hank Blalock: He's been very quiet ever since he hit that big home run in the all-star game a couple years back, part of that due to injury. Blalock could be on block as the Rangers have Travis Metcalf waiting in the wings. He's still young and has big offensive upside. The only problem is that his left handed bat isn't an ideal fit for AT&T Park and he'd most likely cost the Giants Noah Lowry among others. He has unreached potential and should be an all-star again soon.

Joe Crede: Missed most of last season with an injury, opening the door for Josh Fields who had a nice rookie season. Fields emergence has the White Sox looking to deal Crede for help in other areas. Crede had been improving every year until this recent set back. He'd be a gamble to trade for because of his chronic back issues, but he could be the most attainable third basemen on the market. The White Sox are looking for outfield help and the Giants have a surplus of outfielders. They could be one of the few teams that have interest in taking Dave Roberts of the Giants' hands.

Vizquel Returns

The Giants announced Wednesday that they had re-signed Omar Vizquel to a one year contract with a mutual option for a second year. I fully expected this move, but didn't expect the Giants to give Omar 5.5 million dollars in 2008. This means he's getting a pay increase after one of his worst offensive seasons in his career. This just goes to show how bare the free agent market is for infielders this winter. If the Giants had taken a chance and let Vizquel explore the open market, he would have gotten better offers. Although signing a 42-year old shortstop doesn't fit into the Giants ultimate plan of getting younger, faster and healthier, I do see the logic in bringing Vizquel back for a year and I do expect him to be better with the bat next year. His contract for 2009 will be activated if he plays in 140+ games. With the Giants most likely going through a rebuilding year in 2008, he's not going to play 140 games unless he's earning it. Most of all, this signing likely signifies the end of the Pedro Feliz era in San Francisco. It was speculated that the Giants wanted to bring back either Feliz or Vizquel, but not both. If that is indeed that case, they made the right move.

The Giants may be looking to the trade market to fill their void at third base and the top guy being mentioned as available is Miguel Cabrera. The Palm Beach Post discussed the Giants as "emerging contenders" in the Cabrera sweepstakes. Again, like the ARod and Torii Hunter linkings, you have to take these rumors with a grain of salt during this time of year. However, Cabrera would be an ideal fit with the Giants and provide the team a young star to build a team around. The only problem is that the Marlins would want 2 of the following players: Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Noah Lowry. Cabrera could very well be worth that kind of package, but I would rather see the Giants hold onto their young premier pitching. Dealing 2 of their top 3 arms would be a set-back to an up-and-coming starting rotation and I think it would hurt the teams rotation more than it would help their offense.

Free Agents File, Rumors Begin

Some of baseball's biggest names wasted no time putting themselves on the free agent market this week. Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Torii Hunter where among dozens of players to file for free agency as soon as they possibly could. This is going to be a very interesting offseason for the Giants as they will be building a team without Barry Bonds for the first time in 15 years and already the rumors are flying about a possible Bonds' replacement. The San Jose Mercury News ran an article today discussing the possibility of Alex Rodriguez joining the Giants which all the sudden has become a popular thought. The normally discrete Brian Sabean dropped a hint that he would "kick the tires" on any potential Arod deal, something he didn't even say about Barry Zito while in negotiations last winter. Even the New York papers and baseball writers seem to think the Giants have a legit shot at landing the best player in the game. However, once the negotiations start, I have a hard time believing that Brian Sabean and Peter Magowan are going to get into another bidding war like they did last year for Zito. ARod is going to get 30 million a year from somebody and the Giants aren't in a position to be that team. Yes, it's certainly an interesting thought and I would love to see ARod dawn the Orange and Black, but it's a longshot and one that wouldn't be worth taking for the Giants.

Brian Sabean also dropped some news regarding potential free-agent shortstop Omar Vizquel saying that they were close on reaching a deal that would keep Vizquel around for at least one more season. I've said all along that bringing back Vizquel for a year makes a lot of sense. The free agent shortstop class is very weak this year, and Vizquel could probably get a decent deal from someone if he hits the open market. Even at age 40, Vizquel is still a top defensive shortstop and I expect to see him bounce back offensively next season. The potential Vizquel signing also makes it less likely that Pedro Feliz (free agent) would return next season. Vizquel and Feliz make a fine left sided infield, but having both of their bat's in the same lineup can get ugly.

World Series Preview

The World Series starts tonight, and even if your team isn't a part of it, the fall classic is always something a baseball fan will tune in to. My March predictions for this year's fall classic were quite a bit off, thanks to injuries to the Tigers pitching staff and underachieving by the Mets. Here is a breakdown of a 2007 World Series that nobody in the World could have predicted.

Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox

Offense: On paper, the Rockies don't appear to measure up with the Red Sox offensively, but they have shown that they're streaky and certainly peaking right now. Recent history has shown that the team that's hot in October wins it all, and this year the Rockies are that team. Say what you want about Manny Ramirez or David Ortiz, Matt Holliday is the best player in this series. The Rockies have to get Todd Helton and Garret Atkins going. Willie Taveras also has to do a better job at the top of the order if they want to keep their streak alive. The Red Sox have the experience, and their lineup is deeper than the Rockies. Manny Ramirez and JD Drew had subpar regular seasons but have stepped it up in October. I have to give the lineup edge to the Red Sox, especially when the games are being played in Boston. EDGE: Red Sox

Starting Pitching: Again, on paper, the Red Sox have the clear advantage here. It's tough to match up with Curt Shilling, Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka. However, Schilling and Matsuzaka have both struggled a bit this postseason and could be tiring. The Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis have been the reason why the Rockies are in the position they are and even though they aren't as known as Beckett and Schilling yet, it wouldn't surprise me to see either of these keep the Red Sox bat's quiet. I still have to give the edge to the Red Sox.
Edge: Red Sox

Bullpen: Surprisingly, the Rockies bullpen is better than Boston's. Manny Corpas isn't quite Jonathon Papelbon, but he's pretty close, and the guys setting him up are all throwing the ball very well right now. The Red Sox relievers haven't been as stingy, but have still been pretty good this October with exception of Eric Gagne. This series could come down to a battle of the bullpens as we are likely going to be seeing some offense. Edge: Rockies
Defense: The Rockies have a clear advantage here and it will show when Boston has Manny Ramirez covering ground in Coors Fields' huge outfield. The Rockies defense, like the rest of the areas on the team, has been rock solid over and they aren't going to make many mistakes. Boston will make mistakes on defense, but usually has the offense and the pitching to make up for them. Edge Rockies

Overall: The Rockies have been the hottest team in baseball for the last month and that's why they're here. They haven't lost a game yet this October. On the other hand, they have been inactive for about 10 days and Boston has been playing consistently throughout the month. All in all, until someone beats the Rockies, I can't pick against them and I think they will win this series. As I said at the top of the post, a team that peaks late in the season like the Rockies did, normally succeed in the playoffs. This Rockies team reminds me a lot of the 2003 Marlins team that beat the Yankees and I think they will do the same to the Red Sox.

Series Prediction: Rockies in 6

Arizona Fall League Update

The Arizona Fall League has gotten underway and there are a few Giants' of note participating this year. Daniel Ortmeier, Nate Schierholtz and Eugenio Velez are all getting an extension to their 2007 season. Ortmeier and Schierholtz are getting the most attention as both have a shot at starting somewhere for the Giants in 2008. The Giants' longterm plan of moving Ortmeier to first base has carried over into the fall and it's looking more and more likely that the position will be his next season. He's gotten of to a hot start in the AFL, leading the league in hitting with .406 avg. through his first 6 games while playing a flawless first base. He's also been getting a lot of mentoring from J.T. Snow during the process. I am very curious to see how this experiment works out. I never had high hopes for Ortmeier, but He kept getting better and better with the more playing time he got towards the end of the season. 6 home runs, a .287 average and .819 OPS over 157 big league at-bats isn't too shabby. Still, it's tough to predict anything good for a Giant farm-hand, but I could envision Ortmeier putting up respectable numbers if given a shot to play full time next season. I don't think a .275 avg., 15 HR, 75 RBI, and .780 OPS would be too far fetched. Not standout numbers by any means, but certainly employable.

Nate Shierholtz and Eugenio Velez are also thriving in the Fall League so far. Both these guys figure to play into the outfield/utility rotation in someway next season. Schierholtz continues to hit the ball well at every stop he makes as he's hitting .333 with 5 doubles. The only thing that Schierholtz still hasn't shown is patience. He makes very good contact, but doesn't walk. If he's going to take a starting outfield spot next season, he has to get on base more and he is going to have to show a little more pop. Velez hasn't hit the ball as well as Schierholtz or Ortmeier, but he is leading the AFL in stolen bases with 7. Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy both praised Velez at the end of the season for his speed and versatility, and one of them even compared him to the Angels' all-star, Chone Figgins. I doubt the Giants have the next Chone Figgins in Velez, but he is exciting to watch and with his ability to play all over the diamond, there is a decent chance he'll get a shot.

Let the Speculation Begin

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), the Giants are one of the three most likely destinations for free agent center fielder Torii Hunter. Everything at this point is just speculation, but this seems to be right up Brian Sabean's alley as far as players he'd have interest in. I have mentioned a few times in recent posts that I would steer clear of Hunter for many reasons. His best asset is his ability to play center field and a top flight defensive center fielder is about the last thing the Giants need at this point. They already have depth at the position with Rajai Davis, who proved to very good center fielder himself, and Dave Roberts returning next season. If Hunter were an average defensive player, he'd be worth nowhere near the amount of money that he is going to get this winter. Yes, he's above average offensively, but I wouldn't say he's an offensive force by any means. A career .793 OPS isn't worth paying 17+ million dollars a year for, regardless of how good the defense is. Even though I wouldn't pursue him either, it would make more sense for the Giants to go after Andruw Jones.

The only reason I would go with Jones over Hunter is because of the power potential that Jones brings. The Giants greatest need right now is a guy who can produce runs. Jones has been one of the National Leagues most prolific power hitters over the last eight years and he's only 30. I'd be willing to bet that this years fall-off was a fluke and he will be back again next season with another 40 home run, 100 RBI season. That would be the kind of bat that would be worth spending money on. It would also be interesting to see what kind of numbers he could put up in a park like AT&T. He has played in one of the most pitcher friendly parks in baseball his whole career and while AT&T isn't a hitters paradise, right handed power hitters can succeed there and I could see Jones putting up huge numbers. Also, with his off-year this season, it's likely that his demands of 20 million a year will decrease, even with Scott Boras representing him. So if it came down to it, I'd have to take Jones over Hunter, but would rather shoot for Carl Crawford.

Free Agency Decisions On Horrizon

The Giants have made it known that one of their 4 impending free agents (Barry Bonds) will not be back with the team in 2008, but they still have 4 more decisions to make before they start exploring the free agent market in November. Ryan Klesko, Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz are set to become free agents as soon as the world series ends. The late emergence of Daniel Ortmeier as a potential first basemen probably pushes Ryan Klesko out of the mix. The two big question marks are Pedro Feliz and Omar Vizquel. The free agent market for infielders is very thin this winter so both players will have value. It's tough to find two better players that defend their positions as well as Feliz and Vizquel do, but both struggled with the bat this season and neither have much offensive upside at this point in their careers. It is very likely that the Giants will bring back one of the two, but not both. Due to the fact that the other top free agent shortstops on the market are Cesar Izturis and David Eckstein, I would rather see Omar Vizquel return for another season. I can't say the same for Feliz. While I have admired his defense for years and wouldn't oppose his return in a utility role, he's steadily been the worst offensive 3rd basemen in the league over the last 3 years and I don't want to watch him take another 600 at-bats with this team next season. 3rd base is a spot where you need to have some offense, especially with this team, and Feliz has proven he can't carry the load.

The only way I can picture Feliz returning and Vizquel not, is if the Giants were interested in acquiring a shortstop via trade. Brian Sabean has hinted that he is likely going to have to trade some young pitching for some offensive help. There are actually two guys who have been mentioned as being available, Miguel Tejada and Edgar Renteria, either of which would instantly become the Giants best offensive player if acquired. However, with the direction the Giants are heading, I don't think it would make much sense to trade away a Noah Lowry for a declining Tejada or Renteria. The only Miguel I'd trade Lowry for is Cabrera.

Evaluating '07

The negatives certainly outweighed positives for the Giants in 2007 as they finished in last place in the NL West for the first time since 1996. Here is an evaluation of the San Francisco Giants' 2007 season.

Starting Pitching: Matt Morris carried the staff early, then Noah Lowry and Tim Lincecum emerged and ended up having very good years. Lincecum, Lowry and Matt Cain give Giants fans reason to be optimistic about the future. Cain pitched well enough to win 15+ games if he had gotten proper run support and relief help. The team also got a very good contribution out of Kevin Corriea as a starter and he could be in line for the 5th spot next year. The only negative this season was Barry Zito. He pitched a lot better towards the end of the season, but the 126 million dollar man was struggling so bad at one point that Bruce Bochy used him in relief a few times to give him extra work. Regardless, the Giants starting pitching is the best thing they have going for them and will be even better next season.
Grade B+

Offense: The Giants were inconsistent with the bats from start to finish this season. I knew this wasn't going to be an offensive powerhouse, but I did expect better than this. They had one streak in May when they were scoring regularly, but other than that, I can't remember a more stagnant Giants offense than what I saw this season. Dave Roberts did not provide the leadoff spark that the Giants where hoping they'd get when they signed him last winter. Ray Durham and Rich Aurilia were counted on being major contributors to this offense after what they did in 2006 but both of them struggled badly after getting multi-year contracts. The only hitters that held their weight were Barry Bonds, the team mvp Bengie Molina, and to a certain extent, Randy Winn. Dan Ortmeier and Nate Schierholtz provided some spark in September, but the Giants offense is going to be a work in progress and is likely going to take a few years to build back up.
Grade: D

Bullpen: The bullpen was once again a mess for most of the first 4 months of the season and they were the main reason for the teams struggles this season. Brian Sabean paid no attention to it in the offseason and it really came back to hurt him during the season. Things got a little better when Brad Hennessey took over as the closer, but not much. I hope I never have to watch Vinny Chulk pitch another game with the Giants and my patience is wearing thin with Jack Tacshener. As a matter of fact, there are only 3 people from this years' bullpen who I want to see on the team next year and they are Brad Hennessey, Brian Wilson and Tyler Walker. Wilson looks like he could be the closer that the organization was hoping he'd be, but the pen still needs depth and experience.
Grade: D

Defense: The defense was solid this season. Pedro Feliz and Omar Vizquel made up one of the better left-sided infields in the national league. Vizquel played well enough to win another gold glove. Rajai Davis also made some impressive plays after being brought over from Pittsburgh and he proved to be the Giants best defensive outfielder. Barry Bonds' range wasn't great in left field, but he played a lot better out there than I thought he would. The only guy who scared me defensively with this team was Dave Roberts. He makes the most routine plays look tough and it seems like he has trouble judging fly balls, especially during afternoon games. Roberts is best suited for left field and may move there next year with Bonds out of the picture.
Grade: B

Coaching/Management: Although he didn't have much to work with, I didn't agree with some of Bruce Bochy's decisions early on in the season and wasn't too impressed by him overall. The fact that he didn't have much to work with is Brian Sabean's fault. He was the one who decided to fill the lineup out with average-below average offensive players like Pedro Feliz and Rich Aurilia. He also set Bochy up with a very unreliable bullpen. I've never been too impressed with Dave Righetti and I don't think he challenges his pitchers to be aggressive enough in the zone. Matt Cain especially. The team underachieved, but the management did not do a great job in putting them in a position to succeed.
Grade: F

The City Says Goodbye to Barry

Bonds in from Left 1 last time

If your a Giants fan, hopefully you had a chance to make it out to the ballpark on Wednesday night to give Barry Bonds one final farewell. We all knew this day would eventually come, but it sure did feel weird cheering on Bonds for the last time. Even though the Giants were once again shut down by Jake Peavy, it certainly was a special, surreal night at AT&T Park. Bonds came about 10 feet short of putting a perfect ending to his Giant career when he hit a ball out to warning track in right center in the 6th inning, his final at-bat as a Giant in San Francisco. It wasn't until after he came running back into the dugout when he stopped and gave Jake Peavy a hug and waved goodbye to the Padre bench that it sunk in; This is the last time we get to see Barry. After that at-bat, Bonds waved goodbye to the fans and that was it. I'm not sure Giants fans are fully aware of the greatness they have been able to witness firsthand over the last 15 years, but if they aren't, they will be soon. It's going to be a lot different next season when you go to the games and are watching Freddie Lewis and Randy Winn roam left field instead of #25.

Barry tips cap after last AB

The Giants payed tribute to Bonds by playing his career highlights on the big screen in-between innings as well as a final tribute video after the game. I was hoping he would come out for one last farewell tour around the ballpark after the ballgame (a la Cal Ripken Jr.), but he didn't, and the Barry Bonds era in San Francisco has officially come to an end. So, once again, thank you Barry for all the memories and inspiration. I have never seen a person as mentally tough as Bonds and to perform at the level he has through all the years of hatred and scrutiny is simply amazing. I hope like hell you find that elusive World Series ring before you hand 'em up, you deserve it.

One last curtain call

*note:The Giants Blog will be on vacation until Thursday, no updates until then*

Who Is Going to Replace Bonds?

Now that the Giants have made it official that Barry Bonds will not be with the team in 2008, the search begins for his replacement. Obviously the team isn't going to find another Bonds on the free agent market to carry them for next 15 years like they did in winter of 1992, but they are going to have to find another player outside of the organization to help build a lineup around. I don't think Brian Sabean is looking to head to spring training next season with the heart of the order consisting of Randy Winn, Ray Durham and Bengie Molina, so here are just a few options that could be available this winter:

Possible Free Agents:

Tori Hunter: Will likely be the most sought after free agent on the market this winter. His speed and exceptional defense would fit very well at AT&T Park and his right handed power bat would be more ideal for this ballpark than a lefty. He also expressed some interest in San Francisco when he was here for the All-Star game in July. The only problem with him is that he is going to get more money that I think he's worth and the Giants would be willing to go. He's been a solid offensive player but your lineup is not a very good one if Torii Hunter is your best bat.

Andruw Jones: More offensive upside than Hunter and 2 years younger, but that's about it. His defense and range has declined over the last couple years and he's struggling through his worst offensive season since he became a regular in 1998. Due to his subpar offensive year (.220, 26, 93) and declining range on defense, he will come cheaper than Hunter, but isn't as good a player. Still, he's only 30, has the potential to hit 50 home runs a season and despite his declining range, he's still an above average outfielder with a cannon.

Adam Dunn: *potential free-agent: It seems like he would make a lot of sense. He has the type of powerful bat that could actually succeed in AT&T Park's spacious right field. He strikes out a ton, but cut them down this season. He's as sure a bet to hit 40 bombs a year as anybody else in the game and gets on base at a very high rate despite not hitting for a very high average. The most intriguing thing about him though is that he's still just 28 years old and could get even better offensively which would be scary. Remember, the Giants signed Barry Bonds when he was 28 as well. The only downside on him besides the strikeouts is that he's not a great defender.

Alex Rodriguez: A long shot, yes, but what better way to keep the buzz around AT&T Park in the post Barry Bonds era? If you'd consider spending 15-17 million a year on a guy like Andruw Jones, why not go 30 a year on ARod, it would make more sense. He's the best player in the game and will likely be among the best for 7-8 more years. Like Bonds did at his age, he seems to be ascending and getting even better as he gets older. He's also a guy who could keep this ballpark packed for the foreseeable future now that the main draw is moving on. On top of it all, Rodriguez has also expressed a great deal of interest in playing in San Francisco and AT&T Park. Now this would actually be a realistic possibility had the Giants not broken the bank on Barry Zito last winter.

Kosuke Fukodome: The Japanese All-Star will be a free agent and is looking to come to play in the Major Leagues in 2008. The Giants have reportedly expressed some interest. He had his best year hitting .351 with 31 home runs and 104 RBI's in the Japanese league in 2006 and also played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. MLB Scouts project him to be a high average hitter with gap-to-gap power. In a spacious park like AT&T that could translate to 50 doubles. Will likely come cheaper annually than the other outfielders, but the Giants would need to bid on his negotiating rights. I don't think he has the power the Giants are going to need.

Trade Option:
Manny Ramirez: If the Red Sox want to make a play on ARod, they would likely need to clear some salary and the most logical move would be to deal Ramirez. The Giants explored this option last winter but nothing ever got done. ManRam would not be a likely fit in San Francisco but is not totally out of the question. I'm not sure the Giants have anything the Red Sox would want, but the option a of 3 team deal could be there. I would steer clear of the 35 year old declining Ramirez if I were Sabean but something tells me the Giants name will pop up when he becomes available. If the Giants are serious about rebuilding, they won't even discuss it.

Bonds' Final Homestand As A Giant?

The teams' final homestand of the season gets started Thursday night and it could be the final time Giants' fans get to see Barry Bonds wearing the orange and black at AT&T Park. Bonds is going to become a free agent after the world series ends and while I have a tough time picturing him in any other uniform, I don't think Bonds will be back with the Giants next year. He had his spurts at times early this season in which he carried the club with his bat, but it's clear that he no longer is the offensive catalyst he once was. Bonds currently has 28 home runs on the year and is hitting .279 which are still very good numbers for a 43 year old, but his play has dropped off significantly over the second half of the season and he just isn't worth the 18+ million dollars he's being paid this season. September has been the roughest month of the year so far for Bonds as he's gone deep just once and has battled nagging injuries. As much as I support Bonds and appreciate what he's done for the Giants over the years, I will not be upset to see the Giants part ways with him after the year. It's a move that has to be made in order for this organization to take the next step forward in rebuilding. So Giants fans, try your best to get to the ballpark during this last week because it's likely to be the last time you see the great Barry Bonds playing for the good guys.

In addition to Bonds' potential farewell homestand, I am also looking forward to getting a better look at the rookies who Bruce Bochy has pledged to play consistently over the last 2 weeks of the season. The two guys I am most intrigued with right now are Nate Schierholtz and Dan Ortmeier. Both these guys could have significant roles with this team next season and both have been getting a lot of playing time lately. Schierholtz is especially intriguing because he's only 23 and has hit .300 or better at every level in his pro career and is hitting .306 through 85 big league at-bats this season. In my opinion, he has the best shot of any of the young players on the club at eventually becoming an everyday player. The one area I would like to see Schierholtz improve on is his plate discipline. He's walked only 2 times in his 87 plate appearances with the Giants and had only 17 walks in over 400 at-bats in Fresno this year. I'd also like to see him show some pop. After hitting 16 jacks in 4 months at Fresno, he's still looking for his first major league home run.

Giants Offense Can't Help Cain

Two trends that have haunted the Giants all year continued this weekend in San Diego. While the Giants offense has looked downright horrible a lot this season, I don't think I have been more frustrated watching this team at the plate than I was watching Saturday's game vs. San Diego. The Giants' hitters were once again shut down, but it was the fact they where dominated by Brett Tomko that really magnified things. Tomko was 2-11 with an era in the high 5's coming into that start and had been released by the Dodgers just a few weeks earlier, but he looked like an ace vs. the Giants' pathetic bats. And not only was the offense embarrassed by a very hittable pitcher, they once again failed to support another quality start by Matt Cain. They couldn't even muster a run off Tomko or anyone else to get Cain off the hook for the game, so he suffered another loss in a game in which he gave up 1 base runner in 6 innings pitched. Matt Cain has to be wondering what in the world he has to do to string together some wins. His record now sits at 7-15 but in reality should be closer to 15-7.

The Giants are quietly starting to put in motion ideas for next years squad. It was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle that the Giants and Omar Vizquel are working towards a deal that would keep the shortstop in San Francisco for another season. Omar mentioned earlier this season that he's looking for a 2 year extension but will likely drop his demands after his subpar year. I think that would be a wise move if they can keep it at a 1 year extension. This years free agent class is not a deep one and it is very thin in the middle infield department. If the Giants were to let Vizquel walk they would be looking at guys like Ramon E. Martinez and Cesar Izturis as their fallback options because they have nobody in their system ready to play shortstop everyday at the ML level. I had always considered the possibility of moving Kevin Frandsen to shortstop, but he doesn't quite have the range to play the position everyday. So, while bringing back Vizquel doesn't fit into the grand scheme of getting younger, but it does make sense to keep him around for another year.

A Look Towards '08

There are still about 3 weeks left in the regular season, but with the season winding down and not much going on with the club, I figured it would be a good time to throw out some wild guesses as to who might fill out the San Francisco Giants roster in 2008. So here we go:

Trade: (Jonathon Sanchez and Kevin Frandsen to Cincinnati for Edwin Encarnacion)
FA Signings: (*Adam Dunn, Tony Clark, Scott Linebrink) *potential free agent
FA Losses: (Barry Bonds, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Klesko)

Lineup:
1. CF Dave Roberts (still under contract for 2 more seasons, will likely platoon with Davis)
2. RF Randy Winn (like Roberts, not going anywhere)
3. 3B Edwin Encarnacion (*obtained from Cinci via Jonathon Sanchez trade)
4. LF Adam Dunn (the Giants will need a big bat to replace Bonds and Dunn could be the guy)
5.C Bengie Molina (the solid backstop will be here for 2 more years)
6. 1B Dan Ortmeier (Giants are talking like Ortmeier will be starting next year)
7. 2B Ray Durham (under contract for another year and will be tough to trade)
8. SS Omar Vizquel (Brought back on a 1 year deal)

Starting Rotation:
LHP Barry Zito ( still the staff ace, even with his subpar year)
RHP Matt Cain ( way better pitcher than his career numbers show)
LHP Noah Lowry (elbow injury cut short potential breakout year for Lowry)
RHP Tim Lincecum (hopefully there is no sophmore slump with Timmy)
RHP Kevin Corriea ( has showed he's capable of taking the ball every 5th day)

Bullpen:
CP Brian Wilson ( I think he's finally ready for the job)
SU Scott Linebrink (numbers declining slightly, but Giants could use his steadiness)
RHP Brad Hennessey (most consistant Giants reliever for 2 years in a row)
RHP Tyler Walker (Dominant in his return to the bigs this year)
LHP Pat Misch (great year in Fresno in a relief role, struggled after being made a starter)
LHP Steve Kline (back for another year)
LHP Travis Blackley (outside shot, but could make team as long reliever/spot starter)

Bench:
1B Tony Clark (brought in for extra bat off bench and to help Ort at 1st)
OF Nate Shierholtz (Bochy will play him over Winn if he keeps hitting)
OF Rajai Davis (speedy center fielder could take time away from Roberts)
IF Rich Aurillia (should rebound after horrible year)
C Elezier Alfonzo (one of the better back-up catchers in the league when healthy)

Again, these are just wild guesses, but this is a roster that could be put together within the Giants budget. The lineup would be younger, although not by much and the pitching staff could stay intact. A Jonathon Sanchez for Edwin Encarncion trade is highly unlikely, but Encarnacion is being dangled and could be had.