The Talking Giants Baseball Blog:A San Francisco Giants/Baseball Talk Forum Blog

Buster Posey Looks Good in Spring Training, Manager Bruce Bochy to Limit Catching Duties

2012-02-23T19:13:00.002-08:00

By Vince Cestone

A bit of good news for those San Francisco Giants' fans worried about the health of Buster Posey.

On KNBR radio earlier this week, avid baseball enthusiast and radio broadcaster/historian Marty Lurie said Buster Posey didn't even look like he was injured. He was throwing, hitting, and catching the ball as if he was not injured.

I always knew that Buster Posey was a resilient young player, and I had no doubt that he would get through this. When I heard Lurie say that Posey looked as if he was not injured, somehow I was not surprised.

Due to Posey's fearless attitude both at the plate and behind the dish, who's to stop him from blocking the plate again and succumbing to another season-ending surgery?

Bruce Bochy, that's who.

According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Bruce Bochy said after a workout last Sunday he did not want Buster Posey blocking the plate when runners attempt to score.

"I don't want him blocking the plate right now," Bochy told Schulman. "I've already talked to Buster about this. There are ways you can make the tag without blocking the plate."

Schulman also reported Posey wanted to catch during the Cactus League opener on March 3.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images via Bleacher Report

I understand Bochy's willingness to protect his star catcher, but what happens when the game is on the line?

Imagine this scenario...

The Giants are playing a wild game in Colorado. The Giants were down by a couple of runs heading into the top of the ninth inning, but they score two runs to tie it.

The bottom of the ninth inning comes along.

The Giants retired Dexter Fowler on a ground out. The next batter, Jonathan Herrera triples. Up comes Carlos Gonzales.

Gonzales hits a fly ball to shallow-to-medium right field. Nate Schierholtz catches the ball and fires home. The ball approaches Posey who must stand behind the plate, or somewhere outside of the baseline, as Herrera races home.

The ball hits Posey's glove when Herrera is two feet from home plate. Posey makes a lunging attempt to tag Herrera, but Herrera does a fade-away slide and gets his hand on the third-base edge of the plate before Posey can tag him.

The Rockies win the game.

Had Posey blocked the plate, and he hung on, the Giants take the game into extras.

Conservatism does not work in do-or-die plays. Posey knows that, and I think he would, in the heat of the moment, block the plate and do what is best for his team to win at that moment. He is just that kind of player.

The point is to play the game right. If you get injured, whether you are Buster Posey or Scott Cousins, that is just part of the game.

Remember, in sports, nothing is for certain--whether it's success or your health. If you play a sport in fear, then what's the point of even playing the game if you cannot play it right?

What do you guys think? Will Posey disobey Bochy's orders and let his adrenaline and desire to win take over on a do-or-die play?

Was Bochy right to discourage Posey to not block the plate, and perhaps discourage him from playing the game right? Is it fair that Eli Whiteside could block the plate, as opposed to Posey?

We will find out the answers to some of these compelling question as the season begins.

Manny Ramirez coming to the Bay Area

2012-02-20T16:44:00.002-08:00

By Vince Cestone

According to Pedro Gomez of ESPN, the Oakland Athletics have agreed to sign free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez to a minor league deal.

Photo Courtesy of NBC Bay Area

Ramirez is expected to report to spring training by the end of the week. The deal is worth about $500,000 if he makes the club out of spring training.

There is a slight catch to the deal. Ramirez must serve a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy for the second time in the last four years, making him eligible to join the A's on May 30--his 40th birthday.

Ramirez played in just five games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011 before he was suspended. He announced his retirement shortly after, but has decided to come back to baseball in 2012 with the A's.

Ramirez's last good season came with the Dodgers in 2009, where he posted a .290 batting average, with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 104 games. He was traded to the Dodgers at the 2008 trade deadline from the Boston Red Sox.

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Ramirez owns 555 career home runs (14th on all-time list), with a career .312 batting average and .411 on-base percentage in 19 big-league seasons. His Hall-of-Fame status is questionable due to the previous drug allegations.

Despite his recent struggles, Ramirez has always been an on-base machine, the type of hitter A's General Manager Billy Bean has been known for cherishing. Ramirez fits Bean's "Moneyball" formula, as he has maintained a .400+ OBP in his last three full seasons.

The A's have not reached the playoffs since 2006, where they were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 American League Championship Series. The A's hope to rebuild their offense after signing the Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes, who expressed interest in playing with Ramirez according to ESPN.

...

I think the Ramirez deal is a good signing for the A's, especially at the $500,000 price tag. It's a low-risk option for a team who was desperately looking for an offensive spark (although they signed Cespedes, the Cuban defector is a question mark until he plays in a major league game).

If Manny performs in spring training, he simply does his thing as a DH when he gets back from his suspension. If he stinks it up in the spring, you let him walk.

I was a bit surprised Ramirez took such a low-ball contract. You know, with Manny being Manny, that always means big money--and more fanfare.

I think another consequence of Manny's signing is more fans at the Coliseum. Ramirez filled up Dodger Stadium when was traded there in 2008, giving the Dodgers an extra 3,000 fans on average per game.

Only time will tell if the soon-to-be green-beanied Ramirez will help the Athletics get back to respectability in the AL West, but with Manny Ramirez, nothing is ever for certain.

Will the signing of these sluggers be enough to compete in the American League West (Albert Pujols to the Angels, etc.)? Will Manny return to form? What effect will Mannywood have on the Coliseum and A's fans? Are you excited about the deal?

One more good question to discuss. Which offense is better? The A's or the Giants'?

Curious to hear your thoughts below!

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Information from The Associated Press and ESPN were used in this report.

The Inactivity of the San Francisco Giants: Is their 2011-2012 MLB Offseason Wasted?

2012-02-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

By Vince Cestone

Add caption

Getty Images via The Bleacher Report

From the NBC Bay Area newsroom in Downtown San Jose... (yes, I am interning here)...

I know it has been so long since I talked to you, but here I am once again to provide you with my thoughts on the San Francisco Giants "and baseball in general." This new internship has ended my six-month battle with writer's block (Yay me!).

Something I heard from General Manager Brian Sabean about a month or so really bothered me, and it should bother you if you are a San Francisco Giants fan. The words Giants fans have heard countless times to the point of frustation came from this MLB.com article.

"We've pretty much gotten to the top of the budget," Sabean said in the article.

The article also says:

"In terms of player movement, the Giants' offseason has ended.
That's an exaggeration, but only a mild one.
General manager Brian Sabean said Wednesday that with guaranteed and projected salaries factored in, the
Giants have hit their $130 million player payroll limit."

It also adds that the Giants will continue scour the free agent market for potential bargain acquisitions.

Do Giants' fans really want to hear this same old story again?

The Giants have a real shot to establish themselves as the team to beat in the National League West--and perhaps the NL. They have the pitching staff to get it done, but their offense still remains sub-par in comparison to other elite teams in baseball.

Especially with much of the offensive talent leaving the league, such as Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, the Giants had a shot to become the superpower of the division--or even the National League. One power bat could have been enough (a la Carlos Beltran) with a healthy Buster Posey, but the Giants decided to fold.

Beltran signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for two-years, $26 million. Since he did not command the big multi-year deal as originally thought he would, the Giants missed out on a great opportunity to sign a steady, respected, and established bat in the middle of their order.

I think this article from a fan on Yahoo Sports is right on the mark.

Don't get me wrong. I think the Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan deals were great and necessary to improve team speed and athleticism. However, I think if the team was truly committed to winning, an extra $13 million spent on a quality player would not have hurt the team too much financially--especially in a time where it's always a party at the corner of Third and King.

Perhaps the extra star power would have paid itself off in sales if the Giants made another playoff run--or even another World Series run.

It makes me wonder one thing. If Bill Neukom were still around, would the Giants have made a stronger push for Beltran?

Did the Giants miss good opportunities this offseason? What do you guys think?

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants. Be sure to use the #talkinggiants tag when referring to my article on twitter.

Check out my YouTube page for exclusive interviews with San Francisco Giants' prospects and more.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

Don't forget to take my poll on the left of my site.

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Pablo Sandoval signs 3-year contract with Giants (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-19T00:09:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

According to a tweet from the San Francisco Giants, the club has avoided arbitration with third baseman Pablo Sandoval and signed him to a three-year contract.

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News hears that the deal is worth $17.15 million dollars plus incentives.

Baggs says Sandoval will earn $3.2 million dollars in 2012, $5.7 million dollars in 2013, and $8.25 million dollars in 2014, which eliminates all three arbitration years.

The Kung Fu Panda earned a measly $500,000 last year.

Sandoval’s signing accentuates a McFlurry of action by the Giants, who also avoided arbitration with Nate Schierholtz, Santiago Casilla, and Melky Cabrera earlier today. Angel Pagan‘s announcement was made yesterday, leaving just Sergio Romo and Tim Lincecum as the only two arbitration-eligible players left on the Giants’ original list of 11 players.

The Giants got a fantastic deal on Sandoval, who has thrived at the plate and in the field since committing himself to an off-season workout regimen the past two years.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Angel Villalona expected to be in spring training (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

Angel Villalona, the 21-year old phenom who made headlines when he was arrested on murder charges in 2009, will be in camp when the Giants begin preparing for Cactus League action in Scottsdale, Ariz. next month.

According to Bobby Evans, the Giants’ VP of baseball operations, Villalona is still working on getting his U.S. work visa approved but doesn’t anticipate any problems.

Villalona was signed by the Giants for $2.1 million when he was just 16 years old, but fell into trouble in his home land of the Dominican Republic when he was charged with the Sept. 19, 2009 murder of a bar patron in La Romana.

Those charges were dropped when the victim’s family asked the judge to drop the case. (Translation: somebody got bribed.)

Villalona lost over two years of development time because of the legal issues, but the Giants believe he still has the talent to become a major league player someday and placed him on their 40-man roster back in December.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Giants, Schierholtz avoid arbitration; Lincecum submits record bid (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

The Giants’ list of arbitration-eligible players is now down to three.

San Francisco avoided arbitration with right fielder Nate Schierholtz today as the two sides agreed on a one-year, $1.3 million dollar contract that includes a $150,000 performance-incentive bonus, per Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.

Schierholtz, who turns 28 on Feb. 15, batted .278/.326/.430 (0.756 OPS) with 9 HR and 41 RBI in 362 plate appearances last season for the G-men. He earned $433,000 in 2011.

Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and Sergio Romo still remain eligible for arbitration after all players and teams submitted their figures today.

According to Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, Lincecum submitted a record arbitration figure (for players with six or fewer years of service) of $21.5 million dollars (besting Derek Jeter‘s 2001 bid of $18.5 million dollars) and the Giants submitted a $17 million dollar contract offer. That makes the midway point $19.25 million, which is where the two sides will start to negotiate.

If an agreement can’t be reached, the case will go to arbitration. Hearings are set to begin Feb. 1st in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Santiago Casilla, Giants agree on new 1-year, $2.2MM contract (Feedcrossing.com)

2012-01-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

The list of players with whom the San Francisco Giants have avoided arbitration continues to dwindle.

According to ESPN Deporte’s Enrique Rojas, the team has come to an agreement with reliever Santiago Casilla on a one-year, $2.2 million dollar contract that includes incentive bonuses worth $200,000.

Casilla, 31, earned $1.3 million dollars last season.

In 49 games last season, he was 2-2 with a tidy 1.74 ERA and 1.123 WHIP. He struck out 7.8 batters per nine innings and walked 4.4 batters per nine.

The Giants, who also reached agreement with Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera over the weekend, now have four unsigned arbitration-eligible players: Tim Lincecum, Sergio Romo, Pablo Sandoval, and Nate Schierholtz.

Today is the day that teams and players exchange arbitration figures.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Giants avoid arbitration, sign Melky Cabrera to 1-year, $6MM deal (FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

According to a tweet by ESPN Deporte’s Enrique Rojas, the Giants have signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a one-year, $6 million dollar contract to avoid arbitration.

The switch-hitting Cabrera, 27, batted .305/.339/.470 (.809 OPS) with 18 HR, 44 doubles, 87 RBI, 201 hits, 102 runs, and 20 steals in a breakout season with the Royals last year.

Acquired in the trade that sent Jonathan Sanchez to Kansas City on Nov. 7, the Melk Man earned $1.25 million dollars last season. He is eligible to become a free agent after the 2012 season.

The Giants, who also reached agreement with Angel Pagan yesterday, now have five unsigned arbitration-eligible players: Santiago Casilla, Tim Lincecum, Sergio Romo, Pablo Sandoval, and Nate Schierholtz.

Today is the day in which teams and players exchange arbitration figures.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Brian Wilson is making progress (but I’m still worried) (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

Forget about his beard.

What Giants fans really need to be concerned about is Brian Wilson‘s elbow.

San Francisco’s closer was limited to two relief appearances over the final six weeks of the 2011 season due to a strained right elbow.

The good news is—according to Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle—Wilson has begun playing hard catch from a distance of 90 feet and is right on schedule for the start of spring training.

Schulman says that once Cactus League action begins next month (check out our handy countdown clock in the sidebar to the right, by the way), the Giants may decide to have Wilson throw a couple of bullpen sessions versus pitching in live games until they are sure his elbow is in tip-top condition. (You may remember Wilson got off to a slow start last spring, too, when he started experiencing back spasms shortly after he arrived to Scottsdale.)

2011 wasn’t exactly a watershed season for Wilson, who had Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2003 while at LSU.

He started off roughly, posting a 6.97 ERA in 11 April games. He was his bad-ass self in May (0.66 ERA) and June (1.29 ERA), before he started getting lit up again in July (3.75 ERA) and August (7.36 ERA).

Overall, Wilson went 6-4 with a 3.11 ERA, 1.473 WHIP, 36 saves, 54 strikeouts and 31 walks (none intentional) in 55 innings last year.

While the ERA was very good, the innings total was his lowest since 2007. Despite 36 saves (which was good enough for 8th place in the NL and 11th-best in all of baseball), he also blew five saves and allowed opposing hitters to bat .400 against him when he was pitching with the bases loaded.

His 5.1 BB/9 rate was his highest since his rookie year of 2006 (6.3), and his SO/9 rate of 8.8 was his lowest since he posted a 6.8 SO/9 rate in 2007.

All of these figures point to a massive red flag to me.

While it’s very uncommon for a pitcher to have ulnar collateral ligament damage in the same spot after having Tommy John surgery once before, it’s not impossible.

Doug Brocail, Al Reyes, Matt Riley, and Darren Dreifort are all major league pitchers who have had the procedure performed twice. Former Cincinnati Reds flamethrower Jose Rijo had five Tommy John surgeries!

Wilson, who turns 30 on March 16, had his elbow MRI’d back in August after it had become inflamed and he was ordered to shut it down for a few days.

Fortunately, the exam did not reveal any structural damage to his UCL.

But as someone who’s followed the game for over 40 years, I’ve seen this scene played out before, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about 2012.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Former Giants outfielder John Bowker to play in Japan (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

Just saw this on the Philadelphia Phillies website:

The Phillies have released outfielder John Bowker to allow him to pursue an opportunity with a professional team in Japan, the club announced today.

In a combined 31 major league games between the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Bowker, 28, batted .133 with two RBI. He spent the majority of the 2011 season at triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates minor league system, where he hit .306 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 106 games.

For his major league career, Bowker has hit .232 with 17 home runs and 73 RBI in 240 games between the San Francisco Giants (2008-10), Pirates (2010-11) and Phillies (2011). Bowker was originally a third round selection of the Giants in the June 2004 draft.

Seems like only yesterday when all the Brian Sabean haters were clamoring for Bowker to play every day. Looks like he’ll get his chance now in Japan.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

Showtime cameras moving to greener pastures for Season 2 of “The Franchise” (From FeedCrossing.com)

2012-01-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

By Troy Nelson

The San Francisco Giants are so 2010.

Showtime is moving on to greener pastures after following the World Champs last season in its inaugural cable television docu-series, “The Franchise.”

On Tuesday, the network said that it plans to shoot a second season of its popular series with an announcement on which team will be in the Showtime spotlight coming as early as Thursday.

According to Stuart Levine at Variety.com, the series will likely focus on a new team in 2012. That means the Showtime cameras won’t be anywhere near Brian Wilson‘s beard, Aubrey Huff‘s credit card, or Freddy Sanchez‘s kitchen-turned-tricycle-track. (Purchase the DVD set if you don’t understand that last sentence, chief.)

“The Franchise” did surprisingly well last summer, drawing about 650,000 viewers a week.

I, for one, enjoyed the series. It was cool to see a lighter side of the players who banded together for a pretty magical run in 2010.

Whether or not “The Franchise” became a distraction for the 2011 team is a topic that’s debatable.

In an interview a few weeks ago, Giants manager Bruce Bochy hinted that he was not sad to see the Showtime crew pack it up last fall.

One good thing about the series moving on to a different team is that we won’t have to hear KNBR talk show host Brian Murphy’s whiny voice anymore. Now that was a distraction.

Be sure to check out other great articles at 22Gigantes.

SF Giants: 5 Things GM Brian Sabean Should Have Done Differently This Offseason So Far

2012-01-11T01:38:00.000-08:00

General Manager Brian Sabean will most likely be busy this offseason, as his team will try to reach the playoffs in 2012.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean appeared to be a baseball ring leader in 2010, after arranging his band of misfits to a World Series title. But 2011 was not as melodic for the longest-tenured GM in baseball.

For at least one season, Giants fans seemed to forget the A.J. Pierzynski for Francisco Liriano deal or the Aaron Rowand debacle. Not to mention his failure to land a big bat, as he tried with "due diligence" to land some pop in San Francisco.

At least in 2010, Sabean's choice to see what players had left instead of what players had actually paid dividends that magical year. Sabean and the Giants decided to bring back many of the 2010 players this past year, but it had produced a torturous 2011—and not the sweet torture of 2010.

If the Giants want 2012 to replicate 2010, Sabean must go back to the drawing board to bolster their struggling offense, which ranks last in the National League in runs scored with 483. Now that Sabean appears to be done making any more moves to improve the club, it appears not much will be done to enhance the club offensively in the next three months.

Here are 10 things Sabean should have done differently this offseason if the Giants wanted to make a serious run in 2012.

1. Get an Adequate Major League Shortstop

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Giants hoped to catch lightening in a bottle in replacing Juan Uribe by signing the over-the-hill veteran and former superstar Miguel Tejada.

The Giants expected Tejada, 36 at the time, to be their starting shortstop, but it did not pan out the way the Giants hoped. In 2011, Tejada played in just 91 games due to poor performance and injury, hitting just .239 with an on-base percentage of .270.

Tejada was the least of their problems offensively at shortstop.

San Francisco tried to compensate Tejada's disappointing season by trying other options. Rookie Brandon Crawford, along with the signing of Orlando Cabrera, were attempts to patch up the position. But the lone bright spot would be Crawford's defense—but still not a lot of offense.

Giants shortstops ended 2011 by hitting .210, with seven home runs and 57 RBIs, the least offensively productive team in the National League. If the Giants want to retake the NL West Crown, and eventually win the World Series, they will need to address this position both offensively and defensively.

On the defensive, Giants shortstops were sub-par compared to last year's championship team. In 2010, Giants shortstops committed just 11 errors—first in the National League—while the 2011 team committed 25 errors.

The Giants will need to get an adequate shortstop to complement Freddy Sanchez up the middle. Free agents Jose Reyes, 2010 NL batting champion, and Jimmy Rollins were certainly viable options, but at what price?

According to MLB.com, it was a price that was obviously too high for the Giants, who have said they have maximized their $130 million payroll and are done making significant moves this offseason.

2. Sign a Potent Backup Catcher

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

A fitting name for the 2011 Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside is Mr. Automatic.

No, they are not called Mr. Automatic because they are on-base machines or skilled marksmen at throwing out would-be base stealers. They earned their title from a much-more negative quality—they make automatic outs.

The Giants cannot afford to have another catcher besides Buster Posey hit as poor as the 2011 fill-in catchers did in the absence of Posey. The two primary backups, Stewart and Whiteside, combined to hit .201, with seven home runs, 27 RBI and a .274 on-base percentage.

As Posey recovers from his season-ending injury in late May, there is no guarantee he will be able to play a full season's worth of games. For a team that was last in runs scored in 2011, an automatic out at the catcher's position could prove costly.

Since a backup catcher could take on a bit more prominent role in 2012, the Giants will need to find someone who is not a total loss at the plate. Among some of the free agent backup backstops who could have helped the Giants were Dioner Navarro, Ronny Paulino or Matt Treanor.

The Giants also have catching prospect Hector Sanchez, but it is apparent that he needs a bit more seasoning before catching in the major leagues.

If Sabean wants to avoid offensive embarrassment again in 2012, he might want to look at improving their statistically weakest link on the roster.

3. Get That Big Bat

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Since the end of the Barry Bonds era, Giants fans have kept asking the same question year after year—when is that big bat coming?

Four years later, no big bat has replaced Bonds' presence in the Giants' mostly sub-par lineups. But they were able to stay competitive through their pitching in three of those years, including a World Series championship.

If the Giants wanted to put themselves over the top and establish themselves as a dynasty, a big bat like Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols could have been the way to do it. Although signing any of these two free agent sluggers was highly unlikely, at least a middle of the order hitter, such as a Carlos Beltran, is a necessity.

The Giants may have gotten away with it with 2010's World Series victory, but San Francisco can make it much easier on themselves, and their pitchers, by putting up more runs on the board. If they cannot establish some fear in their lineup, the Giants will have to catch lightening in a bottle again to win in 2012.

The Giants' window with their extraordinary pitching staff is running thinner and thinner. Without at least an average offense, many more seasons of fabulous pitching could be all for not.

4. Avoid the Leadoff Limbo: Get a Leadoff Hitter

Jeff Curry/Getty Images

The Giants seem to be content with newly acquired Angel Pagan or Melky Cabrera as their leadoff hitter, which probably means more of the same leadoff limbo in 2012.

Last year, San Francisco's No. 1 hitters combined to hit .232 with an on-base percentage of just .292. If the Giants wish to compete without acquiring that big bat, this statistic simply must improve to respectability.

Nor Cabrera or Pagan are big prototypical leadoff on-base hitters, but they both have good speed. Cabrera had an OBP of .339 with 20 stolen bases, and Pagan had an OBP of .322 with 32 stolen bases.

While both are an improvement over Andres Torres' (now a New York Met) .312 OBP, the Giants could have benefited more from someone like Jose Reyes, who had a .384 OBP just a season ago.

Although the Giants slightly improved in the leadoff spot, fans will have to wait and see if the leadoff shuffle will continue, or hopefully, one candidate will solidify their territory in the No. 1-hole like Torres did two seasons ago.

5. Lock Up Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Giants won the World Series in 2010 largely—if not solely—because of their world-class pitching staff, and they would be well served to lock up both their franchise pitchers sooner rather than later.

San Francisco has not had anything but a mediocre offense for almost a decade, and that probably will not change for the foreseeable future. If the Giants expect to win it all again with middle-of-the-road offenses, they need to lead the league in pitching and defense—and that may not even be enough.

Another year of not signing either to long term contracts, combined with another dozen 2-1 losses for each, will probably further their desire to test the free-agent market after their contracts are up. They will likely demand even more money to stay put in San Francisco, and the Giants certainly would fold if the price for either was too high.

Losing two franchise pitchers plus a mediocre offense would brew up a formula for a 100-loss season after both pitchers' contracts expire in a couple of years. The Giants would have to rebuild from scratch or open their wallets—things the Giants do not appear to be very good at.

This article was featured on The Bleacher Report.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants.

Check out my YouTube page for exclusive interviews with San Francisco Giants' prospects and more.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

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2011-12-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

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RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA: KGO Radio: The day the 'IT' hit the fan; Bloodbath...: It was Wednesday night at KGO Radio. The last day of the month. Nothing unusual except for the fact that the news director, Paul Hosley, and...

MLB At Bat '11 Android App Connects Fans With Baseball Like Never Before

2011-10-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

Imagine watching a live baseball game right from your Android smartphone wherever you go. Propose this notion 20 years ago and people would think you were beaned with a fastball to the head one too many times.

What was once a service for keeping track of scores, live play-by-play on a virtual baseball field, or even listening to the occasional broadcast has now become a baseball entertainment center in your pocket. All it takes is a MLB.TV subscription on your computer, a flash player on your Android phone, and a MLB At Bat '11 subscription for $19.99.

Upon entry of the Android app, fans are greeted with all the live baseball scores. All it takes is a touch of that score and you will get the Gameday play-by-play interface almost as good a quality as the computer version--including notifications of live happenings, pitch locations, pitch speeds, run-scoring plays, outs, strikes, balls, whose on base, and more. All this on a virtual representation of the baseball field.

In the same menu, you can push a tab that will take you to a live box score. Click on a player, and their baseball card will pop up. The box score updates as the game happens, so you won't miss a beat if you chose to check out the game summary or scan through your favorite player's stats.

Want to hear what's going on live? Just go back to the scores menu and click on "listen to live broadcast." You not only will hear the home team's radio feed, but you will actually get to choose between the home and road feeds--yes, wouldn't Giants fans like to hear Jon Miller call a game instead of Charlie Steiner of the Dodgers?

Lastly, the feature that revolutionizes the app is the live TV option. I have yet to test the television feed myself, so I do not know how it works exactly, but with just Flash Player, you can watch one of the television feeds wherever you go--whether it be a restaurant, your cousin's wedding, or in class.

Other features include a favorite team customization, a news feature, videos, standings, and much more. If that's not enough, there is a section where you can connect with any ballpark's mobile features, allowing you to watch the replays on those close calls the JumboTron is not allowed to show.

As a big San Francisco Giants fan, I love the app and would recommend it for any die-hard fan. While the At Bat '11 app reaches its peak performance for the iPhone, the Android version still is a handy tool. If you are a casual fan who does not follow baseball, it may not be for you, but if you are the type who debates whether or not to go out and party or watch the game, this app is for you--you can do both!

The Battle of the 21st Century: Blackberry vs. Android

2011-09-23T03:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Sorry for the long hiatus, but I had a two-month battle with writer's block. Now, on Oct 26, 2011, I am back and ready to write! About Giants baseball? That will be coming up, but another interesting issue has boggled my mind.

In the past year, I have owned each of the two competing phone operating systems--Android and Blackberry. I neglect to mention the iPhone in this mobile battle because I think it is in a league of its own (R.I.P. you great innovator Steve Jobs).

Each phone has its advantages. The Android has its user-friendly, touch-free operating system, while the Blackberry is a businessperson's dream.

Let's take a look at each phone. Which phone is better? We'll let you decide, but I'll put in my two cents in the end.

The Blackberry

The Blackberry was introduced in 1999 by Research in Motion (RIM) as a two-way pager. The device has come a long way from its beeper days--it is an all-in-one phone, palm pilot, entertainment center, and mini computer.

The easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard on this mobile device stands out. This is an advantage for those who e-mail on the go or frequent texters. Since texting is becoming the dominating use for the cell phone, a good keyboard layout is invaluable to customers.

Imagine you have to send a three-paragraph, 150-word e-mail to a client. With the Blackberry, you can whip out the text almost as fast as you can type. With the touch screen phones, it could take twice as long, as you struggle to hit those small on-screen keys about half the size of your fingertip.

Another advantage of the Blackberry is that you can put multiple e-mail accounts into one app. Have two separate e-mails for work and personal use? Expecting multiple e-mails from different accounts? This is not a problem with the Blackberry. You will receive them all at once on the same application.

Despite its business-friendly interface made for easy word processing and typing or texting, the Blackberry has its flaws. The internet browser is slow and the phone crashes frequently when trying to load complex web pages not loaded with mobile sites.

For a working person looking to read PDFs, send e-mails, and easily communicate with others quickly and efficiently, this phone would more than suit a professional's needs.

The Android

After I traded in my Blackberry, I was excited to receive my new LG Optimus Android phone. Gone were the days of slow internet connections and random pocket-dialings, and here came the touch screen revolution.

My best description of the Android is it's the poor man's iPhone. It has some of the same features as Jobs' prized creation, but the iPhone is a bit faster and more user-friendly--and let's face it. The iPhone has the Apple logo so popular in today's mobile market.

The Android's touch screen environment makes the Android what it is. It is much easier than the Blackberry when it comes to navigating through menus or finding a feature or app. You just point your finger on what your look for, and the program will open at your fingertips touch.

Another cool thing about the Android is you can have multiple apps running at the same time. Want to listen to the radio on your phone and play poker at the same time? The Android will let you do that--without crashing too. The Blackberry would allow this for some apps, such as some radio apps, but if you wanted to listen to streaming media, you could not do anything else on your phone because the media player would be all that could run.

Lastly, another advantage of the Android over the Blackberry is web browsing. Don't like eBay's mobile site? Not a problem. With the Android, you can view a web site's regular online web site in addition to it's mobile companion site. This gives the consumer even more options and choices. All this happens at speeds faster than the Blackberry.

As mentioned earlier, the touch screen falls a bit short when it comes to texting or e-mailing. It is almost impossible to not mess up when typing. Too many times you would have to push the delete button because you pushed that "w" key instead of the "e." Once you get used to it, it is not that bad, but it will take a few weeks to get acclimated to the virtual keyboard.

My Verdict

I will have to choose the Android as my winner. Although I do text a lot, and I like to text fast, the faster internet browsing speed and the ability to run multiple applications (and without crashing) does it for me. The typing problem can be dealt with over time with a little practice.

Apparently, I am not alone in my decision. According to the latest Nielsen report, 29 percent of Americans are using Android phones, 27 percent are using Blackberries, and another 27% are using iPhones.

However, if I was in the working world where I relied on my phone to send e-mails or read documents, I might have a different opinion. For now, my Android will charge up as I head to sleep, ready to entertain me for a whole another day.

Brian Wilson: Do the S.F. Giants Need Him Fully Healthy to Win the NL West?

2011-09-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 28: Closing pitcher Brian Wilson #38 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 28, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Giants won 4-1. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

By Vince Cestone

Tuesday night's game might have indicated how much they miss their bearded right-handed closer.

It seemed the magic was back at AT&T Park. A sold-out crowd of 41,288 roared in excitement as the Giants rallied from a 4-0 then 5-2 deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning.

As fans might have thought for a brief moment their waterfront ballpark was Mecca again, where Giants baseball at home means spirited comebacks, and eventually, thrilling walk-off wins, the Padres brought San Francisco back to recent reality in the top of the ninth inning. Brian Wilson, their eccentric finisher who calls the top of the ninth inning home when the Giants are leading or tied, was no where in sight.

Filling in Wilson's orange shoes was the struggling Ramon Ramirez, who has limped through August with a 7.36 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP for the month. A quick double, sacrifice bunt, hit, and yet another hit later, the Giants were down 7-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Asking the Giants to come back twice in one game might be asking a bit much for a team dead last in the National League in runs scored. All Wilson could do was watch in despair as his temporary replacement was rocked around by the suddenly hot-hitting San Diego Padres.

This game could have been a preview as to why the Giants need Brian Wilson—and his 35 saves—fully healthy to win the National League West. A bullpen that was once a lock-down staff now looks rather ordinary without the fearless closer.

Wilson himself understands his importance to the team and wants to be out there as soon as possible. Although the Giants' closer did not want to speak to the media about his elbow injury, head trainer Dave Groeschner said he is optimistic Wilson will pitch again this season sooner rather than later.

"There’s nobody in the clubhouse that wants to be out there more than him,” Groeschner said to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.

Baggarly also reported that Bochy remains optimistic that Wilson will return from the disabled list when he is eligible to do so on Aug. 31.

The Giants' strong desire to have their closer back is with good reason. With set-up man Sergio Romo also on the disabled list with a sore right elbow, the remaining bullpen pitchers still standing essentially move up two notches, leaving some pitchers in unfamiliar roles.

So far, that unfamiliarity cost the Giants Tuesday night's game—and almost Game 3 of the Atlanta series, where Dan Runzler and Jeremy Affeldt turned a comfortable 7-1 lead in the ninth into another nail-biting 7-5 victory with the tying run left at the plate.

The negative consequence of the loss of Wilson and the Giants' scrambling of roles is the team lost someone who has a mind for pitching the ninth inning. The 27th out is the hardest one to get in a game and not every pitcher has the mental makeup for pitching the ninth in a save situation.

Wilson also has the experience in big-game save situations that the other pitchers do not have. Last September, Wilson had a 1.26 ERA and 10 saves in 11 opportunities.

Now that Wilson is on the disabled list, the Giants must rely on the likes of rookie Steve Edlefsen and Runzler to contribute during the stretch run. Edlefsen hardly dominated Pacific Coast League batting with his 5.66 ERA at AAA Fresno.

Runzler has not fared much better as he was lit up in his recent relief appearance against the Atlanta Braves. He has a 7.77 ERA in the big leagues this season and has pitched erratically, struggling to throw the ball over the plate.

The Giants most likely cannot win the National League West without a good, strong bullpen. Without the anchor of their bullpen, the Giants could very well see themselves on the other side of the one-run games they were winning earlier.

If the Giants are going to make the playoffs by scoring the least amount of runs in the National League, a stellar bullpen will be needed. Without Wilson and Romo, the Giants do not have as much depth to make that happen.

If Wilson's injury is temporary, the Giants have just enough depth to survive his loss for a couple of weeks. Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez or even Santiago Casilla—who all have great numbers this season—could fill in for a few games.

However, if the injury is anything more, the Giants may as well go there separate ways and start their long winter come October.

Quick Note on Giants' Android App

If you do not have it already, make sure you check out the San Francisco Giants app for the Android Phone. The app allows you to quickly access the Giants' mobile home page through the touch of the screen.

Also, you can get custom Giants' themed wallpaper for your Android home page--I personally have the big SF as the background of my home page. It is amazing what these smartphones can do now.

Check out the Android market for more information. Even if you are not a Giants fan, there are similar team-specific apps suited for your favorite club.

This article was featured on the Bleacher Report.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants.

Check out my YouTube page for exclusive interviews with San Francisco Giants' prospects and more.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

Be sure to use the #talkinggiants tag when referring to my article on twitter.

Don't forget to take my poll on the left of my site.

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MLB Free Agents: Which Impending Giants' Free Agents Will They Re-Sign?

2011-08-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

By Vince Cestone

Carlos Beltran is batting .244, with zero home runs and two RBI, in 11 games with the Giants.

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants will have nine big questions to answer once the 2011 season ends.

Nine men off their 2011 roster will hit free agency this winter, and the Giants will more than likely bid farewell to most of them—especially the aging veterans. Such company might include injury-prone players such as Mark DeRosa, Pat Burrell, and Carlos Beltran.

Beltran, essentially a two-month rental, was the Giants' answer to their offensive enigma that ranks dead last in the National League in runs scored. Unfortunately for San Francisco, Beltran has been an unfortunate enigma himself.

The slugging outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Tuesday with a wrist injury and has hit just .244, with no home runs and two RBI in 11 games with the Giants. Due to his frequent stints on the disabled list and his gargantuan upcoming contract standard of Scott Boras clients, the Giants will more than likely seek other offensive outfield options in 2012.

On the flip side, here are five impending free agents the Giants have a chance of re-signing this winter.

1. Cody Ross

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The 2010 NLCS MVP would love to rejoin San Francisco in 2012, and the Giants' feeling seems to be mutual.

According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Ross talked to Giants' officials during spring training about a possible contract extension.

While he is intrigued with testing free agency, Ross told Baggarly he would prefer to stay in San Francisco.

“I've let them know that's what I want,” Ross said. “Free agency would be cool to experience, but I know what this team is about and where it's going. We have a great thing here, and I want to stay.”

Baggarly also reported that the Giants will revisit extension talks later in the season.

Ross would be an excellent backup outfielder or possibly a starter, depending on who the Giants sign this offseason. While he is streaky at the plate, he has shown he can get a big hit, play all three outfield positions, and has a decent glove.

Plus, the Giants would probably love to keep those "Ross is Boss" shirts selling at AT&T Park.

2. Javier Lopez

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

While no recent news has indicated the Giants will resign Javier Lopez, the Giants would probably welcome the chance of bringing their crafty lefty back.

The Giants' strength for the last couple of years has been their bullpen. This year is no exception.

San Francisco leads the National League in bullpen ERA at 2.93.

Lopez has contributed to the Giants' elite bullpen staff with a 2.49 clip this season. He has struck out 37 batters in 47 innings pitched, while walking 24.

If the Giants want to be successful in an age where pitching dominates, combined with their hitting woes, they should maintain their strength and keep their dominant left-hander.

3. Guillermo Mota

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

He is big, bad, reliable, a bullpen saver, and can even hit a little bit.

While he lacks the glitz and glamor of a Brian Wilson or Tim Lincecum, Guillermo Mota has been indispensable to the Giants in 2011. The quality innings he has been able to throw at age 38 has been remarkable.

Age has not compromised Mota's snap on his pitches either—in fact, Mota has been throwing with more pop. This season, Mota has a 3.92 ERA, but has pitched 61.2 innings in 40 appearances, with 58 strikeouts and just 20 walks.

During the course of a 162-game marathon season, a solid long reliever could be invaluable to a team. Although Mota's upper-90s days are past him, he could find a role in San Francisco next season as the league's best mop-up man.

4. Orlando Cabrera

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

With the Giants looking at Brandon Crawford as their shortstop of the future, they may want a veteran right-handed backup with playoff experience off their bench.

Orlando Cabrera, while not lighting it up with his .240 batting average this season, can be a valuable asset to any club making a postseason run. Cabrera has reached the postseason six out of the last seven years, including a World Series Championship ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.

Although he is more suited for a bench role at this stage of his career, injuries and necessity have forced Cabrera into a starting position at shortstop.

While his .228 career postseason batting average seems unimpressive, Cabrera is still capable of getting a big hit off the bench. He has a .417 batting average in 12 at-bats with the bases loaded this season.

As Giants' broadcaster Mike Krukow said of Cabrera: The bigger the at-bat, the more dangerous he is.

5. Ryan Vogelsong

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Just one year ago, Ryan Vogelsong thought he would never toe the rubber on a major league mound again.
A year later, he is an All-Star and second in the National League in ERA.

The Giants did not envision Vogelsong anchoring their pitching staff which contains the likes of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. However, destiny had other plans.

Now that the Giants traded away top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler to the Mets, their pitching depth has plummeted, but Vogelsong alleviated what could have been a disastrous situation starting-pitching wise for San Francisco. Vogelsong's contributions should be highlighted even more so with the struggles of Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito.

Simply put, without Ryan Vogelsong, the Giants might not be in the position they are in now. Arguably the ace of the Giants' 2011 starting staff, his 10-2 record is a major reason why they are just 2.5 games behind Arizona in the National League West.

While there is no recent news regarding Vogelsong's status with the Giants in 2012, they may want to lock him up for next season if they want to keep a solid staff 1-5.

It also could be that with all the misfortunes plaguing the 2011 Giants, Vogelsong could be the man keeping them going, giving them hope to finish the season strong and showing them that anything is possible in baseball.

This article was featured on the Bleacher Report.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants.

Check out my YouTube page for exclusive interviews with San Francisco Giants' prospects and more.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

Be sure to use the #talkinggiants tag when referring to my article on twitter.

Don't forget to take my poll on the left of my site.

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2011 MLB Season: 6 Teams, 6 Keys to the National League Pennant

2011-08-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

The 2010 San Francisco Giants will wear their championship rings proudly for the rest of their lives.
Pool/Getty Images

By Vince Cestone

The 2010 San Francisco Giants won the National League Pennant, and then the World Series, with superb pitching, just enough hitting, and virtually error-free baseball--three keys to success for just about any winning team.

This year is no exception for National League Contenders. These canons for success, along with many more, could be a major factor in determining who will win the National League Crown--or even reach the postseason.

Deviating from playing good baseball, even for a week's stretch of games, could be the difference between achieving baseball immortality or going home hanging your head. With strong, well-rounded teams like the Philadelphia Phillis dominating the league with a 77-40 record, any contending team that slumps in any facet of the game come the NLDS or NLCS will probably suffer a disappointing fate.

With eyes on the World Series prize, here are some keys to the National League pennant for all six contending teams.

1. The San Francisco Giants: The Offense

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants may be a strong contender in the National League West, but their offensive numbers are those of cellar dwellers.

With the Giants dead last in the league in runs scored with 402, the Giants are fortunate they are just one game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks in their division. Certainly, the key to success for San Francisco is to sustain their excellent pitching staff, but more importantly, they need to improve their hitting, especially their miniscule .303 team on-base percentage.

Giants' manager Bruce Bochy offered his own explanation as to why his team is stuck in this two-week rut.

"Right now, their confidence is shaken," Bochy said to the San Jose Mercury News. "And that comes from not having success."

If the Giants want to stay in contention and ultimately win the West, the Giants better find the confidence soon.

The Giants attempted to jolt their offense by acquiring Carlos Beltran from the New York Mets in exchange for pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. However, Beltran has struggled since joining San Francisco, hitting .244, with no home runs and two RBIs in 11 games.

The 2010 World Series champion Giants were at least in the middle-of-the-pack in hitting. That fateful team finished 9th in the league in runs scored, a far cry from this year's abysmal offensive team, who ranks near the bottom in just about every offensive category.

Despite the offensive struggles, Giants' outfielder Cody Ross is confident his team will turn around their offensive woes.

"We've got a lot of baseball to play yet," Cody Ross told the San Jose Mercury News. "We've got to go out and play like champions. We're not doing it. We're kind of all in a rut."

2. The Arizona Diamondbacks: The Bullpen

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2010 Achille's heel is starting to become their strength.

A season ago, Arizona ranked dead last in the National League in bullpen ERA at 5.74. In 2011, the Diamondbacks rank 12th in that same stat at 3.83.

What makes their bullpen stats so impressive is they were third-to-last in the league in bullpen ERA as April ended (4.89). At the end of that month, they were 6.5 games out of first place and in fourth place.

Now, as their bullpen ERA has steadily shrunk as the months wore on, the Diamondbacks climbed up in the standings. The snakes currently find themselves in first place, one game ahead of the Giants.

Part of the Diamondbacks' bullpen resurgence could be attributed to the acquisition of closer J.J. Putz. In his first season with the Diamondbacks, Putz has a 2.90 ERA, with 27 saves and a 1.066 WHIP.

With their powerhouse offense that ranks first in the National League with 132 home runs, a shutdown bullpen would undoubtedly make Arizona one of the elite teams in the National League--even one that could challenge the Philadelphia Phillies.

3. The St. Louis Cardinals: Beating the Brewers

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals have a formidable foe to get past if they want to claim the National League pennant.

Even after tonight's 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals are 3-8 against their divisional rival. In their most recent series, the Cardinals were able to salvage one game of the three-game series in St. Louis, pushing them up to four games behind Milwaukee.

Despite their struggles against them in 2011, Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols said they do not see the Brewers as any different than others teams they play.

"We approach every team the same way," Pujols told Matthew Leach of MLB.com. "We have a game plan and we're going to go out there and hopefully try to execute. As a player, they pitch you different until you try to adjust. But I think, as a group, we have a good approach to go out there and take it and figure it out the first couple innings. If it doesn't work, hopefully try to make an adjustment."

If the red birds want to win the NLCS, or even get there, they must climb over their four-game hurdle against the Brewers. It starts with beating their rival head-to-head.

4. The Milwaukee Brewers: Winning on the Road

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

As the old adage says, good teams take care of business at home and play .500 on the road. Well, the Brewers got it half right--with an exclamation point.

Milwaukee boasts the best home record in baseball with a 41-15 record. As for playing .500 on the road, the Brewers have a long way to go.

Their 26-36 road record is not hurting them now, as they sit in first place four games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals, but it could have a detrimental effect come the playoffs.

If the Brewers do make the playoffs, they will have to pass through some hostile towns--Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Atlanta. This season, Milwaukee is just 3-7 against those three teams on the road.

A little road warrior spirit would go a long way towards the Brewers' march to the NL pennant.

5. The Atlanta Braves: Jason Heyward

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Jason Heyward sparked lots of excitement in Atlanta last year, and he looked like their future offensive star, but the old sophomore slump has plagued the tall outfielder.

After coming off a solid rookie season--.277, 18 homers, and 72 RBIs in 142 games played--Heyward is not enjoying much success in his second year in the big leagues. In 2011, he is hitting just .218, with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs.

Heyward was an on-base machine last year with a .393 OBP, but in 2011, that stat has fallen dramatically to .313. With the Phillies dominating the National League, and their division, the Braves will need every ounce of offense to get through a Philadelphia staff that is a bit better than their own.

With Heyward's struggles, hot-hitting rookie Jose Constanza has recently replaced Heyward in the outfield for a few games.

Although he is disappointed he is not starting as much right now, Heyward knows he will be that spark plug again.

“Now that I have a little bit more free time, I’m able to clear my head some more and get rest,” Heyward said to the Atlantic Journal Constitution. “It’s positive. Everybody sees I’m the same guy in the clubhouse. It’s not about me. I’m here for the long run, and hopefully I can get back to where I’m producing on a daily basis.”

6. The Philadelphia Phillies: Staying Healthy

Harry How/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies are an extraordinarily good team that is excellent in all facets of the game.

The biggest key for the Phillies is to ride the ship and stay healthy. At 77-40, they almost can sleepwalk to the NLDS, even stumble over the stairs a few times, and then kick it in gear to win the National League Championship Series.

The Phillies have a dominant pitching staff of aces that leads the National League in ERA at 3.09. They also lead the league in defense, making only 53 errors in 117 games.

Combine that with a team 7th in the league in hitting, especially in this pitching-dominated era, you have a juggernaut in the National League. The Phillies will be tough to beat--as long as they stay healthy.

Roy Oswalt is now 33, Roy Halladay is 34, and Cliff Lee is 32. While they are not checking into a retirement home in Miami anytime soon, the dynamic pitching trio has pitched a long time.

An injury to one key player might be able to be dealt with. If injuries start to pile up, the Phillies might see themselves eliminated after the NLDS.

Sure, even if the Philles pull out another Vance Worley out of their hat, it cannot replace the experience of Lee, Oswalt, Halladay, and Cole Hamels. You never know what could happen in baseball.

This article was featured on the Bleacher Report.

Follow me on twitter @vintalkingiants.

Questions or comments? E-mail my blog mailbag at vc4re@yahoo.com. Your questions may be answered on my blog.

Be sure to use the #talkinggiants tag when referring to my article on twitter.

Don't forget to take my poll on the left of my site.

Add me on Facebook. Click here.

Pittsburgh Pirates – San Francisco Giants Series Preview

2011-08-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

By Jimmy Morocco

Kickin’ it Old School

The Pittsburgh Pirates seem to be in a funk lately that they can’t shake. Some fans are being reminded of the failures of recent years with the recent losing streak. Matt Diaz held a team meeting on Saturday and what was discussed wasn’t known, but it had to have been centered on the team’s recent performance.

A lot of people made a mockery of Diaz being the one to call the meeting because of his “singles only” performance this year. But, the guy is a leader in the locker room. That is for sure.

It may have not sunk in on Sunday for these young Bucs as the losing continued, but whatever was said will hopefully sink in against the San Francisco Giants when the Buccos face off against the NL West leaders.

A Closer Look at the Enemy

The Giants’ offense has looked awful since losing Buster Posey to a broken ankle on May 25. They are at the bottom of the league in virtually every offensive category. Former Bucco Freddy Sanchez’s shoulder surgery didn’t help the offense much either.

Pablo Sandoval has been the lone bright spot for a depleted Giants’ lineup this year. He is hitting for a .315/.354/.516 line in 279 ABs on the year. That includes 12 home runs, 18 doubles, and a surprising triple for the massive man they call “Pablo the Panda.”

Brian Wilson is one of the most interesting personalities in baseball.

Two trade deadline acquisitions should also help to bolster the Giants’ lineup. Jeff Keppinger’s .307 BA should help the cause and he should fill in nicely for the injured Sanchez. Carlos Beltran also went to the Giants as the biggest trade chip moving at the deadline. Beltran has a .284/.378/.495 line in 398 ABs on the year.

The Giants have a ridiculously good pitching rotation this year led by the surprising Ryan Vogelsong. The Pirates won’t have to see two of the best of that rotation in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

One of the most interesting players in the game will be in the Giants’ bullpen. Brian Wilson, the Giants closer, has been having a tremendous season with a 2.77 ERA and a .231 BAA. He has only walked 28 batters in 52 IP to go along with 48 strikeouts. Wilson has collected 34 saves, which is tied for the MLB lead with Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel.

Pitching Matchups
Monday 10:15 pm- Charlie Morton (8-6) 3.80 ERA vs Ryan Vogelsong (9-1) 2.19 ERA
Tuesday 10:15 pm- James McDonald (7-5) 4.23 ERA vs Madison Bumgarner (6-11) 3.71 ERA
Wednesday 3:45 pm- Jeff Karstens (8-6) 3.05 ERA vs Jonathan Sanchez (4-6) 4.10 ERA

The Opposing Hurlers

Ryan Vogelsong

Does this name sound familiar? Ryan Vogelsong used to be in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system for five years. He was actually originally traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal deal. The Pirates also received Armando Rios.

Ryan Vogelsong is finally making a name for himself.

Vogelsong was considered a major bust with the Pirates and he was promptly released after the 2006 season. He didn’t even play in the MLB from 2007 to 2009. He had a couple short stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and then was signed by the Giants where he decided to realize his potential that was always there.

Vogelsong got his opportunity when he replaced the injured Barry Zito and hasn’t even come close to relinquishing his spot. He now owns the NL’s best ERA, sitting at 2.19. He’s also only giving up a .240 BAA on the year.

Those numbers may be skewed a little bit as he is sitting at a .274 BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play). That’s not a terrible number, but there is definitely some luck on his side.

Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner is one of the good, young players in the game today. Bumgarner just turned 22 years old this month. Last year was his first full season and he put up a 3.00 ERA over 111 innings with a 26/86 BB/K ratio.

Bumgarner still has a poor record, but don’t be fooled. Bumgarner has received virtually no run support this year from a lack-luster, Buster Posey-less offense. Bumgarner faced the Phillies last time out and gave up two homers, but that’s all. He struck out seven over six innings but still gathered a loss because of no run support whatsoever.

Jonathan Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez is a testament to how good the rotation has been this year for the Giants. Sanchez has a 4.10 ERA this year, which is the worst out of the five members of the starting rotation.

Sanchez is just now recovering from an injury. He pitched his first game since returning from being injured on Friday and he pitched three fantastic innings. In the fourth, however, his velocity took a dip and he lost his command as well. That’s not good for a pitcher coming back from an injury. So, it is yet to be seen how well Sanchez will pitch against the Pirates.

Sanchez has a career 5.17 ERA against the Pirates.

By the Numbers (National League)

San Francisco Giants
399 Runs Scored (16th)
72 Home Runs (14th)
3.18 Team ERA (2nd)
71 Home Runs Allowed (1st)

Pittsburgh Pirates
431 Runs Scored (12th)
75 Home Runs (12th)
3.73 Team ERA (5th)
108 Home Runs Allowed (t-9th)

Notes and Tid Bits

- The Pirates are 0-10 in their last ten games. They are 54-59 overall and are in fourth place in the NL Central and trail the first place Brewers by ten games.

- The Giants are 2-8 in their last ten games. They are 63-52 overall and are in first place in the NL East.

- Jose Tabata re-started his rehab assignment with AAA Indianapolis two days ago. He has gone 2-5 with two walks. He’s only struck out once.

- Chase d’Arnaud has also started his rehab assignment after going on the DL with an injured pinky finger. d’Arnaud went 1-3 with a stolen base playing for the Bradenton Marauders.

- The Buccos may be struggling, but closer Joel Hanrahan has continued to be absolutely dominant. He has only given up two earned runs since June 7. He has only walked four batters in that period. He now owns a 1.08 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP.

For more great articles, check out Slew Footers.

Carlos Beltran is out of the lineup for Giants

2011-08-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

By Dom DiFucci

According to the NY Post, Giants right fielder Carlos Beltran is out of the lineup for Monday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of an injured right hand.

Beltran came out of Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Phillies after experiencing a sharp pain in the top of his hand while striking out swinging to end the sixth inning. X-rays were negative but Beltran had a hard time gripping the bat.

Nate Schierholtz was starting in right in place of Beltran, batting fifth.

Beltran was listed as day to day. He is batting .244 with a double, two triples and two RBIs in 11 games for the Giants since being acquired in a trade from the Mets on July 28.

Quick Reaction: Giants Acquire Beltran

2011-07-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

By Chris Bissell

The most sought after player on the trading block in 2011 was Carlos Beltran, and there's no doubt about that. There were several teams in on the bidding of Beltran, according to reporters such as Ken Rosenthal and Jon Heyman, ranging from the Phillies, Braves, Rangers, Red Sox, and of course, the Giants.

If you like to keep it short and simple, here it is: the Giants have the worst offense among all playoff contenders after the loss of Buster Posey, and Brian Sabean has recognized the transformation his team has gone though in a short period.

The Giants are now reaching a rare point in a franchise that's outside of Boston and New York- They're selling out every game as the defending World Series Champions with extreme ease. They have also been overcoming injuries and "over-achieving," proclaimed by their own GM.

That statement alone was the main reason why I was no where near surprised when I woke up today, logged on to my Twitter account, and came to realize what was happening- Brian Sabean, yes Brian Sabean, accepted a deal for a rental player, trading away one of his top pitching prospects, Zack Wheeler.

Sabean doesn't prefer trading away top prospects as he's shown, though he seems to have quite a strong judgement on the players that he's moving- here's a list: Lorenzo Barcelo, Keith Foulke, Bobby Howry, Jim Stoops, Ken Vining, Jason Brester, Darin Blood, Mike Villano, Mike Pageler, Joe Fontenot, Nate Bump, Jason Grilli, Todd Ozias, Francisco Liriano, Tim Alderson (courtesy of GoldenGateGiants.com).

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2010	20	Augusta	SALL	A	SFG	3.99	21	13	58.2	47	27	26	0	38	70	1.449	0.0	5.8	10.7	1.84
2011	21	San Jose	CALL	A+	SFG	3.99	16	16	88.0	74	44	39	7	47	98	1.375	0.7	4.8	10.0	2.09
2 Seasons						3.99	37	29	146.2	121	71	65	7	85	168	1.405	0.4	5.2	10.3	1.98

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/27/2011.

As Adam Foster explains in his scouting report, Zack Wheeler looks like he has a bright future as a Major League starter, but "his upside, which he could still be 3-4 years from reaching, is as a very good No. 2 starter and maybe even an ace for stretches of time."

Beltran is hitting .289/.391/.513 with 15 home runs in 419 plate appearances with a wOBA of .392, OPS of .904, and wRC+ of 152, in what has already become his healthiest season since 2008. Beltran is sleighed to hit 3rd in front of Sandoval, and without a doubt, will become the Giants' best offensive player by any measure you look at outside of speed.

Beltran wasn't added to help in the NL West race. Their pitching alone combined with "enough"-- if you like to call it that-- offense will get them the NL West title for a second year in a row. What Beltran was added for was October-- the original reason the Mets signed him to that lengthy and expensive contract. If Beltran can have steady success in the 40-50 AB's he'll get in the playoffs with the Giants, that would make this deal a success in the minds of any Giants fan--and the front office.

The catch with Beltran that most people already understand is that he's a rental player in every aspect--free agent after this season, a Scott Boras client, and non-arbitration eligible (meaning the Giants will get no draft picks in return for Beltran--who without a doubt will be a Type-A free agent--at the end of the season).

I have to trust Sabean on this one despite how others may feel about him. He's come to terms with the current position his team is in and either a) has settled on the fact that Wheeler's ceiling is not very high, as he's done in the past or b) simply was willing to pay the price of a future front-of-the-rotation type pitcher to strengthen this team's chances this season.

While I believe that Wheeler was a bit much to pay for Beltran, if it works out the way that Brian Sabean has clearly forecasted, then the price was ultimately right. There's simply a difference between a Single-A prospect with "nasty" stuff and much improvement still to be made, than someone like Matt Moore of Tampa Bay's farm system--a Double-A prospect with filthy stuff, polished command, great numbers, and an overall MLB-ready demeanor.

I'm more on the side that Wheeler is "legit" and will be a "stud" some time in the future and despite feeling he's too high a price to pay, I have no issue with an exchange for another run at a World Series--because that's the ultimate goal.

I'll offer a simple conclusion with this: prospects are not guaranteed. That's why there's 50 rounds in the draft, scouts who get criticized to the ultimate degree, and many GM's who get questioned on a daily basis. To only a certain extent, can you project and predict.

I'm not going completely on either side with this one--I wanted a bat, but I liked Zack Wheeler. I'll probably be second guessing myself and Brian Sabean sometime in the future, but hey, that's baseball.

Lincecum bested in duel with Dodgers' Kershaw (via MLB.com)

2011-07-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

By Chris Haft

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum, who's widely regarded as the Giants' ace, has inadvertently strengthened his grip on a dual distinction: hard-luck pitcher.

The Giants have been shut out eight times in Lincecum's 21 starts this season. He endured this fate most recently Wednesday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers handed him his first career 1-0 defeat.

Click for full story.

Rumor Mill: Giants have diminishing interest in Carlos Beltran (via FeedCrossing.com)

2011-07-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

By Dom DiFucci

According to Andy Martino of the NY Daily News, the San Francisco Giants openly flirted with Carlos Beltran when the New York Mets visited San Francisco this month, and closer Brian Wilson recruited the Mets' outfielder at the All-Star Game, but the teams are experiencing difficulty matching up in a trade.

According to a person with knowledge of the Giants’ thinking, San Francisco’s current position is that it is willing to assume most or all of the $6 million owed to Beltran for the remainder of the season, but does not want to part with a high-end prospect in exchange for a half-season rental. The Mets, as we know, are holding out for talent, and are willing to pay the salary.

This is a reversal for San Francisco; earlier in the season, Giants insiders said that the team had limited in-season payroll flexibility. But due to robust attendance and other factors, the team appears more interested in spending than in diminishing its farm system, the source said Thursday.

Although the clubs’ respective positions are currently at odds, trade-season dialogue is fluid, and the source left open the possibility that the Giants could reconsider their position and ultimately send the Mets a top prospect for Beltran. At this time, however, they are opposed to that idea, according to the source.

One of many other Beltran suitors, the Phillies, are in the opposite position. Close to the luxury tax threshold, Philadelphia cannot add significant payroll, and therefore must be open to dealing a prospect to acquire Beltran. Phillies scouts have followed the Mets intermittently for at least a month.

Check out more from the Mets Chronicle.

Jose Reyes makes rehab start, on the way back to Mets tomorrow? (via FeedCrossing.com); Do the San Francisco Giants Need to Make a Splash by the Trade Deadline?

2011-07-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

By Dom DiFucci

Jose Reyes made the first stop today on what could be a very quick detour here, playing in a rehab game with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The Mets shortstop was looking to prove that his left hamstring was healthy enough for him to get the call back up to Queens. Depending on how the Mets' brass evaluates his efforts today, he could removed from the disabled list and back with the big league team as early as Tuesday.

Reyes did nothing to earn any second-guessing, playing six full innings, with only one opportunity in the field.

He did show off his wheels in the bottom of the sixth inning. Reyes sent a well-hit ball off of Lowell Spinners pitcher Luis Diaz bouncing, off of the left-centerfield wall for a double. He effortlessly made his way to second base, coming in standing up. Reyes would end up scoring after a ground ball moved him over to third base, and a shallow fly ball dropped in to bring him home.

That was his only hit of the day, as he went 1-for-3 at the plate. Reyes flied out to centerfield leading off the game for the Cyclones in his first at-bat and grounded out to second in the third inning.

Source: Star Ledger

...

Vince here. While there was speculation that the Giants might look to acquire Jose Reyes or Carlos Beltran to improve their offense, I believe they should do so with caution.

After tonight's 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants are somehow 56-41, with a team batting average of .243 and an on-base percentage of .309.

The Giants do not need to mortgage their future to win the World Series again. They just need to make their offense passable, as they are winning games and leading the division by 3 1/2 games with an abysmal offense.

If the Giants could acquire Beltran or Reyes for cash consideration, they should by all means go for it. If either one comes at the price tag of a Brandon Belt or Zack Wheeler, the Giants should be reluctant to make the deal.

The Giants are a threat even with their current roster, so why deplete the farm system when they are almost good enough as they are?