The Trade Deadline is gone are the Giants a better team?

Brian Sabean worked some magic and gave up a top prospect to nab Carlos Beltran, which certainly makes the Giants a better team (thought 2 for 18 over the last 4 games isn't what we were hoping for).  However, Orlando Cabrera is a more puzzling acquisition.  Offensively his numbers are not any better than Tejada's and offensively he is a minor upgrade over Tejada and less so than Brendan Crawford (Crawford's .190 batting average is a clear indication that he just isn't adjusting to Major League pitching and may need more time in the minors).  However, Fontenot has both the offensive numbers and defensive range.  lastly, Tejada is due $6m and the Giants knew that Tejada has lost a bit of range, so if Sabean and Bochy were counting on more offence, then certainly Cabrera doesn't make much sense? Does it???

Crawford is headed down to the Minors to make room for Cabrera, Hall was designated for assignment and Burriss was sent down.  Zito has another "injury", so there is now room for Sanchez to come off of the DL and Freddie Sanchez is now "officially" out for the rest of the season.  Is the new policy to keep players on the DL when Bochy isn't sure what to do with them? Tejada is due back soon, as is Burrell, DeRosa and presumably Zito has to come off at some point.  My bet is on a DL shuffle until September 1st when the roster expands to the full 40.

Anyone know what Sabean and Bochy are thinking?  Or is this just a spend and patch until ... what?  Guys can't get out of their funk if they don't play.  A bunch of money isn't hitting, sitting on the bench or hanging  on to the DL.  Anyone???

I'm also ignoring the Cincinnati series for a few reasons 1) it gave the Reds some hope, 2) it was a worse than normal pitching performance, 3) the series was a worse than average bullpen performance and 4) no bats, even from our new right fielder.  The trade deadline is always a weird time for a team and after the Phillies series it clearly impacted the Giants (that's my explanation and I'm sticking to it).

Update:  Initially Mark DeRosa's return date was "August", however, as of this afternoon it was changed to TDB, and he was moved to the 60-day DL.

Giants will welcome Carlos Beltran to SF. Some serious roster decisions are on the horizon!

According to a Cincinnati paper, where the Mets are playing the Reds, Carlos Beltran has waived his no trade clause and is coming to San Francisco (in Philadelphia) on Thursday morning when the deal will be officially announced.  Insider info has the deal done with the Mets picking up $4m of the remaining $6.5m of Beltran's contract and the Giants handing over baseballs #2 pitching pitching prospect, , the Giants #1 pick in the 2009 draft, righty Zack Wheeler and possibly one my prospect to be named later.  Wheeler is significant in that the Giants will be giving up draft consideration for Beltran, who most likely will run in the open waters for a multi-year contract for the next few seasons, making this a rental of this hitting skills for the rest of the season.  As the current pitching staff begins to cost the Giants considerable money to keep intact in the next two season, new blood is often injected and others are allowed to seek more money elsewhere.

I recently predicted that this deal wouldn't happen because of the cost ($6.5m remaining on Beltran's contract) and the pitching that the Giants would have to give up, with a small nod to the current platoon of outfielders, especially the recent play of Nate Schierholtz in right field and the fact that Beltran has always been #15, a number belonging to skipper Bruce Bochy.

The money has largely been taken care of by the Mets sending over all but $2.5m and the pitching, by taking a top prospect and not a starter.  The outfield is still a clogged group and will become more so when DeRosa and Burrell come off of the DL.  However, in the mean time it looks like Beltran will take right field (having to learn AT&T's difficult angles, while Ross and Schierholtz will probably platoon in left.  Ross and Torres are less productive and both have seen their playing time reduced.  As for the number 15, according to Bochy, "it's nothing that a Rolex can't cure", he said with a smile.

Beltran's offensive numbers (hitting .289 with a .904 OPS, 15 homers, league leader in doubles and 66 RBI's) will be a nice change with Huff, Ross and Torres on a long term slump and Sandoval and Schierholtz leading the team with a .806 and .768 .OPS respectively.  Clearly, Beltran is going to the #3 slot in the order with Pablo moving to #4 and Huff, Ross/Schierholtz in a 5/6 slots.

Now, here comes the tricky part.  How does he fit into the roster?  The pitching staff is set and the outfield isn't going anywhere.  Whiteside and Stewart are set as are all of the veterans (since none have been mention in trade talks).  This leaves Burress, Belt and Crawford, who can be sent down to the minors.  There is further complications in the 25-man roster when Jonathan Sanchez comes off of the DL, with Vogelsong pitching better than he and Zito, someone will have to go into the bullpen and either the Giants send down another fielder to carry a fat pitching staff or do something (release or designate) someone to make room.  Additionally, August appears to be the month that Burrell, DeRosa, Hall, Tejada and possibly Freddie Sanchez will come off of the DL.  Where are they going to go and will they stay on rehab assignments until the roster expands?

One thing is for sure, the roster has a lot of moving parts, with difficult decisions to be made about the future of several players and the production of others going into the stretch.  It would be nice to see some of those rewarded with another season and some serious money, delivering in the second half.  I think Beltran is a shot over the bow for Huff, Burrell and Ross.  Hall, Rowand and Tejada all have short term opportunities to start helping this team out, as Beltran is expected to do for the next few months.  Let's hope Bochy can continue to play the roster shuffle while working his magic.  Who's in?  I am.

The Second Half

Now that the All Star Game has passed and we have had a good look at where the Giants are (record, health, pitching, etc..), it is a good time to look at the trade deadline, expansion and the dog days leading to the playoffs.

My feeling is that, while the Giants are maintaining, they are far from where they need to be to be competitive for the playoffs.  The fact that they are in first is nothing short of miraculous considering the injuries and lack of production from too many important bats.  lets recap...

Injuries
Freddie Sanchez - Gone for the season
Buster Posey - Gone for the season
Mark DeRosa - May be back before the playoffs
Johnathan Sanchez - Out for now (1st rehab start this weekend)
Bill Hall - Should be back soon

Absent Offensive Production
Aubry Huff
Chris Stewart

Emmanuel Burriss

Brandon Crawford

Eli Whiteside (much improved over the last 5 games)

Pat Burrell
Cody Ross
Andres Torres
Aaron Rowand


I would have added Miguel Tejada to the list a month ago, but lately he has been hitting well, and Mike Fontenote except he is in a  gray area having only recently being activated from the DL.

So, we have dead bats in the outfield, except for the recent run from Nate.  The only production from the infield has been from Sandoval (also, recently activated) and the pitching staff.  The only difference between this year and last is more injuries this year and more 1 run or walk-off wins.

So, solutions...  anyone..  Please do not say Carlos Beltran.  His contract just doesn't make sense unless Sabean is willing to start dropping Burrell, Huff and/or Rowand/Ross.  Are we willing to give up on those non-producers?

Torres needs to start leading off with a better OBP (.823 last year, .672 currently this year) with a .044 drop in batting average this season.

Huff was paid a pile of money and his OPS has dropped from .881 to .660 with a .052 drop in batting average this season, so far.

Burrel and Rowand aren't even playing because when they do they strike out.  Stewart and Whiteside are in the difficult position of having to suddenly catch this staff full time and produce at the plate, which Whiteside seems to be improving with a jump in his batting average of almost .050 points and the all important RBI's.

Are we ready to give up on this team and hire a gun for the stretch, parking good players who were instrumental in last years run and wins or do we hope for health for the rest of the season and for some of these guys to pick it up?

My vote is to look at a catcher for the season to compliment Whiteside and give Steward more time in the minors and then wait out Huff, Ross, Burrell & Torres.  These guys can carry us again.  The question is who would the catcher be?  Ivan Rodriguez, Jose Molina, someone else??

This will certainly keep Bochy's wheels turning.

As usual, let me know if I screwed something up, if you agree or disagree and if your interested in contributing to this site.


UPDATE: Looks like Burrell is on the DL now as well.

Don't forget to catch Showtime's new series "The Franchise: A SEASON WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS"

http://sports.sho.com/#/baseball

The hobbling Giant

Injuries plague the Giants at this point in the season.  I originally thought that the type and timing of the injuries weren't that big of a problem.  Most teams suffer some injuries and they generally come in clusters, but the recent blow to Buster Posey is huge.  Take Barry Zito, Pablo Sandavol, Mark DeRosa, Darren Ford, Santiago Casilla, Mike Fontenot, and the recent return of Andres Torres and Cody Ross; none compare to the depth of impact on the Giants of the injury to Buster Posey.  Though young, his management of the pitching staff and calling of games has been nothing short of masterful, add to that the loss of hit bat will make and the situation is dire.  Pablo's return will be key, to regain his bat and Eli Whiteside can handle the came and the pitching staff, just not like Posey can.  Plus the combination offensive/Defensive player that he is will be felt.

I hope that the call ups can prove surprising, but the loss of Posey is nothing short of a disaster.

Fun fifth win in the 11th featuring the youth.

Ford knocks a single and steals second (as if everyone didn't see that coming) leading to a Buster Posey walk to setup the force followed by a knock to right field, by Burress.  What followed was both highly entertaining (unless your a A's fan) and indicative of Giants baseball at the moment. Darren Ford turned on the after burners and from second base just beat out a throw from right filed to win the game, in the 11th inning.  This was the 13th victory at home for the Giants of 18 home games, the 11th by one run and the 7th by walk off.  The whole team has stepped up to contribute when it matters most, just not at the same time, such that the team wins comfortably.  I'm not sure if it qualifies as torture yet, but I am in.

Too soon to tell

Well Giants fans, I am watching the last game in the Giants/Dodger series and one thing is clear...this is going to a another season down to the wire.  The lack of offensive production is once again going to determine wins and losses.  The pitching staff (all hail Vogelsong for filling in brilliantly) are going to keep games close.  So, its back to the one and two run wins or losses.  The real question is, can the Giants put up the one or two runs late to nail down the game or take the lead?  Its just too soon to tell.

Zito still out for a bit, Pablo still out for a bit, DeRosa looks like he is out for a bit (when his opportunity to play third presented itself, down goes his wrist; poor bastard).

Did anyone really think paying Huff a pile of money (way more than anyone else as offering, sound familiar?) would result in more production?  I expect the same from him, but now the Giants are paying twice a much for the privilege.

Your thoughts?