Technical Difficulties
I understand the last post did not get to many of you. I lost about 25% of my list of names, others did not receive a link and yet others got the post. If you scroll down you can read it. The title is "Bochy and Evans Out" my scoop of the year two weeks prior to the announcement about Evans. I have reviewed my list of names and if someone receives this blog that wasn't on the original list, you can join the group or email me and I will eliminate your name.
The Giants
Normally at the end of a baseball year I attempt to project what Giants management should or will do during the winter months. Since this year we do not know who will be making the decisions, I decided to play the roll as the new director of baseball operations.
The Giants want to remain competitive so they can continue to draw large crowds to AT&T. The current plan of signing and paying hugh sums of money to declining players like McCutcheon, Melancon and Longoria has not worked and most likely a major reason why the general manager was fired.
The Giants plan is to remain competitive and get young at the same time. Almost impossible! This is the reason if offered the job, I would likely turn it down by telling them the truth.
Most Giant fans know the team's weakness. They need at least two big bats in the lineup regardless of position. That's easier said than done since the previous management has tried and failed in recent years. Those who have read my posts in the past know that I have complained of the lack of power for years. I am not just talking home runs but players that can continually hit the ball hard.
This year the Giants hit 133 home runs. Compared to the major league teams that made the playoffs it is embarrassing; Atlanta 175, Cleveland 216, Oakland 227,Dodgers 235, Houston 215, Colorado 210, Boston 208, Milwaukee 218 and the Yankees 265, two for every Giant one, while breaking major league baseball record. The Orange and Black noted for their triples only beat 3 NL teams with more triples.
Another glaring challenge is the fact that the Giants have number of players who are over the hill and under performing but have no trade clauses in their contracts or make more money than they are worth making it very difficult to trade them.
Lets review how we can accomplish our goal.
1. Every player should be on the trade black except perhaps for Posey and a few young pitchers. The idea is not to get rid of them and trade them for the sake of a trade but to see if value is offered in return that can improve the club and make it younger.
2. Offer Brandon Belt in a trade. Chances are we will not get any takers besides a minor league player because of his high salary and the fact he is injury prone. He will most likely be at first next season.
3. Joe Panik. He is a major disappointment. Injuries in the past two years plus the shift has really hurt his hitting and for some reason his fielding has dropped off. Might be able to get a relief pitcher in exchange for him. Giants have a few young players such as Avelino, Gomez, and Hansen that are possible replacements.
3. Evan Longoria was a waste at third. It will be a challenge to trade him for a Class A star. Sandoval being paid by the Red Sox will still be around and I really like what I saw in Ryder Jones before he got hurt.
4. Brandon Crawford was the All Star shortstop. He batted about .400 in May and June and propelled the Giants into the pennant race. The rest of the year he is batting about .185. Now we hear it might have been his knee problem that hurt his batting. He would be very difficult to lose unless the Giants receive a can't miss promising star in return. Lets hope if he returns , he will regain his health because the Giants will need his .400 hitting and his great shortstop play.
5. Steve Duggar. Will he be the centerfielder? The Giants are promoting him as a star of the future. Sorry, I don't see it to that degree. He showed improvement at the plate until he got injured. Will start in centerfield.
6. Mac Williamson running over the bull pen in left field and crashing into the wall ruined his season. Would he had slumped anyway? Will he be cleared to play next year? His new batting approach showed promise and is worth another try in spring training.
7. Hernandez, Slater and Shaw all slumped and it is hard to visualize all three of them returning. Unless the Giants find more productive outfielders this winter, they will not be competitive. The very popular Pence who I wondered why he was on the team this year, was the teams best outfielder in September.
8. Posey will be back behind the plate and the young catcher Aramis Garcia has been the September surprise to be the back up catcher. Talk of Posey moving to first base is premature. He has to prove that he can hit more than 5 home runs in a season.
9. The Giants need to trade Bumgarner. He is really the only player that can bring some quality young outfielder in return. If they can't get what they need in the trade than he should should return as a starter.
10. The bright spot for the Giants is their starting pitching. Rodriguez, Suarez, Stratton have shown plenty of potential and Holland was a big surprise. Forget about Samardzija and Cueto. Considering the staff got very little run support, they did a very good job and most of the younger relief pitchers could return next year. The Giants scored 603 runs this year, the NL average was 709 and the Dodgers scored 804.
The Giants could be younger at second, third in the outfield and behind the plate in addition to their seven youthful pitchers that rounded out the staff this year. That fulfills one half of our goal to be younger, but the question remains will they be competitive.
I would recommend to management the following:
1. Eliminate triple valley and make it a little more feasible to hit a home run. AT&T Park will never be a home run paradise because of the heavy air that is normal for most games.
2. Move the bullpens from the foul lines before they ruin another players career. In past posts, I have suggested different locations in the outfield and if things get desperate put them on a barge out on McCovey Cove.
3. Review the scout's record. One method I would insist on would be to review the top 50 or so young players in the majors. Could the Giants have drafted them? What was the scouts report on these players. Was he accurate or just miss the boat. Those that miss the boat too often will catch the next one to Alameda.
I understand the current manager is going to return next year. That's great! Hire a new person to run the baseball show than tell him he can't choose a manager. When I am able to bring in a new manager, I would ask his philosophy of playing a regular if that player is injured. Belt and Crawford are prime examples this year. Belt's average dropped over 40 points in the last months of the season because he was injured. He hurt the team. Now he is going to have surgery. Crawford hit over .400 in May and June bolting the Giants into the pennant race. In the other months he is hitting about .185 but still batting. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the order. The players made the decision to play not the manager. I would insist it be the other way.
The 49ers
Injuries have ruined dreams for 2018 season. The loss of Jimmy Garoppolo was devastating. He made a stupid mistake to try for an additional yard when it was not needed. He is not dumb. He never saw Tom Brady make such a mistake or he wouldn't be playing at his current age that fast approaching 52. Garoppolo got emotional and caught up in the big 49er comeback. I remember when Pete Carroll coached at USC the opponents would inevitably make a drive down the field at the end the game. Every drive was assisted by a roughing penalty or pass interference. Looking at the replay in most cases one would say, what penalty? When asked about it, Pete replied officials get caught up in the emotions of the game also.
Will they be able to put an offensive lime together for Sunday against Arizona? I liked the play and effort on the part of quarterback Beathord but how long can he last?
The Warriors
The anticipation of going undefeated for 100 games was ruined in their first game. Thank goodness, the pressure is off. They call these current games exhibition games then what do they call the 82 regular season games that preview the playoff season that starts in April after the Giants 2019 season has begun?
The Sharks
Is this year for the Stanly Cup? Season begins tonight.
Baseball Playoffs
I am pulling for the A's. I do not have any feeling who will eventually end up the World Series. The Red Sox look tough in the American League while the National League is wide open.
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