TD Minus 6 Hours (Now With Live Blogging!)

Let's get this out of the way first: I hope you'll excuse me for my Oedipus eyes after watching Benedict Davis throw out the first pitch out in a DODGERS JERSEY.

What's worse, though, is he could have stayed on the mound and dominated this lineup. Instead, the most talented youngster Chad Billingsley did the honors, finishing off a series victory for Captain Colletti's Band o' Men.

More importantly, we're now six hours away from the non-waiver trade deadline and all sorts of interesting things are happening:

~ Manny Ramirez may be heading to the Marlins in a three-team blockbuster, although time is working against the principals.

The rumored deal would send Ramirez to Florida, Marlins outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Pittsburgh and Pirates outfielder Jason Bay to Boston, with all other pieces still to be worked out.

~ An agreement has been reached to send Ken Griffey, Jr. to the Chicago White Sox. Now Griffey, having 10-and-5 veto rights, needs to okay the deal.

~ The Yankees decided that they're the Yankees so they went ahead and bought an overpaid mercenary to replace the injured Jorge Posada.

~ And, as you all know, stars such as Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia have already been moved.

Oh, wait, I'm sorry, you wanted Giants deadline news?

Well, I'm not in the business of fabricating, but I hear Brian Sabean is working the lines hard to rid Bill Neukom of contracts to fund a San Francisco production of No, No, Nanette.

Okay, there's one piece of gossip that has the Twins looking into acquiring Rich Aurilia. Although the Twins have been rumored to be using Boof Bonser (as in the third pitcher the Giants sent to the Twins in the...wait, seriously, you don't know this story?) as trade bait, don't really see how a Rich for Boof deal makes much sense - principally, because I don't know how Rich is worth that much.

It looks like everyone, from the Marlins to the Phillies to the Tigers to the Cardinals, have rumored interest in Jack Taschner.

And the Bengie Molina to the Marlins for Mike Jacobs talk has officially reached the players' ears:

Jacobs, who has 22 home runs, said he wouldn't be surprised if he is dealt to the Giants for catcher Bengie Molina.

It's no secret the Marlins have coveted Molina, who would solidify their catcher position.

Jacobs said he caught wind on Tuesday that he could be headed to San Francisco. So when he was removed after six innings, he wondered in the dugout if he was about to be dealt.

"It crossed my mind," Jacobs said after the Marlins edged the Mets, 7-5, on Wednesday. "Nobody said anything to me."

Jacobs's average be damned, I will never ask for anything again if Sabean pulls the trigger on that deal, pulls a rabbit out of his hat and trades Randy Winn for a Crazy Crab bobblehead and moves John Bowker to right.

But, because I just said it combined with the fact that it makes perfect sense, absolutely none of those things will happen.

Baggarly weighs in. Did you know that The Franchise is half Filipino?

Oh, and don't worry, Balloonhead Bochy ain't sweatin' it - he's going fishing with Felipe.

[9:01AM]: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is saying that Molina won't be dealt. I'm going to choose to believe that Crasnick is a damned dirty liar - at least for four hours.

[10:07AM]: Scratch the Marlins off Taschner's possible destination list - they just traded for 68 year old lefty Arthur Rhodes.

[11:18AM]: Schulman opines that nothing's brewing but has this tidbit (that I won't let myself believe):

By the way, a source told me that the Twins do want a second baseman, and the Giants and Twins have been talking. Despite denials by Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy, they might have stuck Jose Castillo at second base throughout the Dodgers series to showcase him for Minnesota. You'll know Friday when you see who's at second base agains San Diego.

[11:34AM]: There have been some rumblings of the Giants' potential interest in Adrian Beltre, but it doesn't appear talks are going anywhere.

Looks like one of those "one man's crap is another's (salary) dump" kind of things (I really need to start laying off the poop jokes).

[1:30PM]: The deadline passed a half hour ago and there seems to be nothing doing. Deals can be announced much after the fact, but that would be giving this front office the benefit of the doubt. And that's just stupid.

Comment! Open deadline thread engage!

Silver Lining-Free Zone

I'm sure you're all aware of the skeletal plot of a contrived sports movie: a team of scrappy unheralded players perseveres through a period of complete incompetence, meeting the expectations of every outsider, only to band together and prove that the sum is greater than the value of its parts, leading to a sappy and painfully predictable ending.

This Giants team is the antithesis of that. Except you have the same general disregard you did for these guys as you did for the duration of Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch.

The Giants, from the top levels of management down, demise into preseason expectations is officially complete. Let's count the ways, shall we?

The Lineup: You all remember Jason Johnson, right? Oh wait, why should you? Quick refresher: the guy was a craptastic pitcher for the Orioles in the late 90s and early 2000s before eventually pitching his way out of the MLB and onto the Seibu Lions last year.

So, obviously, he shuts the Giants down for six.

To add insult to injury, Chan Ho Park came into relieve and also proceed to do away with the lineup in a cruel and efficient manner.

Don Drysdale was up in the ninth, but I can only assume Joe Torre, classy guy that he is, spared us his wrath.

Brian Sabean: He actually sold a part in Ray Durham, so there's that. And it doesn't look like he wants to buy, which is okay.

But for Ganesha's sake, snippets like these make me want to unleash the lunatic inside:

Sabean will listen to offers for Molina and Winn, but the Giants would have to win the deal. In other words, the Giants would have to receive, for openers, a young position player who could fill a glaring need. In the Giants' case, that is power. As Sabean said on his radio show Thursday, "I personally don't see those deals out there."

I'll forgo the outrage bit and simply state this opinion: I would trade Molina and Winn (and their 2009 contracts) for Pablo Sandoval and Nate Schierholtz in a heartbeat.

If anyone's offering a the Air Bud Trilogy for the entirety of their contracts, please just do it now.

But then, to destroy my spirit even more, Schulman weighs in with this:

"I think you have to be open minded because of the division we're in," Sabean said Tuesday.

[Snip.]

[In relation to Molina] The Marlins are said to be dangling first baseman Mike Jacobs, who has 22 home runs this year. John Bowker, at 24 is three years younger and, in the Giants' eyes, could become a better hitter than Jacobs.

Meanwhile, teams are stepping up conversations about left-handed reliever Jack Taschner, but again, the Giants are reluctant to deal a commodity - namely, a left-handed setup man whom the team can control for the next three years - that would not be easily replaced.

Really? Think we're all set at first with Bowker (who I love)? Not worth taking on a 27 year old plus power corner infielder who has more than twice as many homers as anyone else on our team in an extreme pitchers park?

Oh, don't know if you forgot, but John Bowker is an OUTFIELDER!

Better get used to this bunch of clowns.

And finally...

Bruce Bochy: That's right, I've turned. Jose Castillo, after doing his best Chuck Knoblauch on Monday, was out there again last night. Bochy's defense?

"We want to take somewhat of a look at him," Bochy said.

[Snip]

"I like the way he swings the bat," Bochy said.

Schulman puts it more bluntly:

Jose Castillo started at second base for the second straight game. Manager Bruce Bochy said the Giants want to evaluate him as a potential second baseman for the future.

Translation? The 2009 Bruce Bochy-led Giants will live and die by Shrekstillo.

It is an absolute disgrace that our team has once again been hijacked by a huge headed BB. Taking a look at a repeated failure like Jose Castillo while Manny Burriss toils on the bench? Hell, I'm not the biggest Eugenio Velez booster, but at least he hasn't been released by the Pirates and the Marlins.

I almost wish that Bochy copped to showcasing Castillo rather than implying that he's a part of this team's future. The Giants picked this guy up off waivers mere days before the start of the season because, lo and behold, Sabean had done nothing to address the position after the departure of Pedro Feliz.

That's like being forced to lick a piece of dog poop by the local bully, deciding it doesn't taste as bad as you thought, and making it a part of your regular diet.

(Yeah, the 12 year old in all of you should probably check out Step Brothers if you haven't already.)

I can't even look at these guys right now.

Oh yeah, the Giants lost.

Seismic Happenings Exclude Giants Trade Front

Further proof that these aren't your parents' Giants: wins over the Dodgers are almost wholly unsettling.

The singles-fest that led to a five-run fourth was almost immediately answered to Four and Done Kevin Correia. Luckily, the bullpen largely held, and Brian "Servin' U A K" Wilson converted his 19th straight save in an epic display of triple digit MPH fastballs.

Meanwhile, on the trade front, not much way in the of new rumors.

The intrepid Andrew Baggarly has a most interesting blog post today out of LA. Besides the continued silence on the trade front, check out this passage:

So what do the Giants do? Take infield again today? Make everyone run laps? Get J.T. Snow on the first Southworst flight out of ….

Holy crap, as I’m typing this, pretty significant earthquake happening. I’m in a hotel in Pasadena. Still going. Shoud (sic) I get under a desk? Wow.

OK, totally lost my train of thought. More later.

My first thought if I was blogging in an earthquake (or, in this case, fire)?

Trade Deadline News No Match for Veriz*n Crappiness

You can pin the no-post weekend on a certain unnamed internet service provider that, quite frankly, never delivered on their said promises of a telecommunications entourage.

I'm sure the loyal crazies, er, readers of the blog were up in arms over the lack of my pontifications regarding the ghastly D'Bag sweep of the good guys. A few positives, including a Fred Lewis four-hit game against one of the best, albeit, ugliest lefties of all time and another lights-out start by The Franchise in the game that shall not be mentioned.

(On an unrelated note, in case any giant-headed managers are reading: Scott Linebrink > Akinori Otsuka > Alan Embree > Steve Reed > Jim Poole > Your Mom > Everyone > Tyler Walker)

And now, your Monday Before The Deadline Primer!

~ Randy Winn: Winn seems to be drawing tepid interest from the corner outfielder-poor Metropolitans. ESPN speculates that the Giants are amenable to sending some cash with Randy in order to facilitate getting actual talent back.

The Yanks had been scouting Winn, but it looks like they've addressed their outfield vacancy by dealing for Xavier Nady.

~ Bengie Molina: The Marlins and the Yankees have emerged as potential suitors for Molina.

Following the Yanks' emptying out of their already thin cupboard in the Nady/Damaso Marte deal, the Marlins would seem to be a preferable match for the Giants. They have a lot of depth on the farm if not top-line talent (that seems to be pretty much all with the big league club, Cameron Maybin exempted). Given the Marlins depth at the corner infield spots, there could be a match here somewhere.

~ Rich Aurilia: Looks like the Cards may be interested.

As a fungible piece in the last year of his deal, I'm sure he could get moved for a low-level prospect. But he's one guy I don't necessarily want to see get moved. He's a solid backup and a great presence on this team, the kind of guy who will mentor the youth and embody the notion that this franchise was once relevant.

~ Jack Taschner: Left-handed reliever. Available. If the Giants want to trade him, they will be able to. The Marlins are also looking for a lefty reliever, so there's a larger trade possibility here.

~ Tyler Walker: Seriously, he has come up in rumors involving his the Rays, for whom Walker moonlighted in 2006.

If Tampa is willing to cover 3% of his salary and promises not to make fun of the Giants, that's Brian Sabean's biggest win since the Jason Schmidt deal.

~ Omar Vizquel: No real news that I can find. A team could theoretically opt for him as an insurance policy. Once again, wouldn't expect anything but some salary relief.

~ Matt Cain: Included simply out of due diligence, although indications seem to be strong he's not even close to being on the block.

Then again, Brian Sabean does have a certain cloak and dagger element to his oft-questioned ways, so I would never take him at his word.

The Rangers, as I've harped on before, would be a perfect match in any potential Cain trade. But the only thing I'm seeing is that the Giants are scouting Hank Blalock.

While the writer in the above article has a point that Sabean ain't all that, I will pay the gas-cost inflated ticket price to fly to Dallas and punch him in the face if Madison Bumgarner or Tim Alderson were to be included in a package to secure Blalock.

Don't really know what to believe, but for a guy who hasn't hit very well in recent seasons in a hitter's paradise while battling back problems, I simply don't see the Giants moving anything more than a couple B-level (read: not Bumgarner, Alderson, Villalona) prospects for him.

For the record, I would still think that's too much.

Comment! Open trade possibility thread! Great opportunity for first time commenters.

Cain Too!

Matt Cain delivering a gem against the Nats is like finding gas under $4 a gallon: sure it's kind of exciting, but then you realize how low your barometer is.

Either way, the Giants sweep the entire season series from the Natsogoods, evening the record on the homestand at 3-3.

Diamondbacks next. Call me crazy, but I think the Giants will sweep and stand pat at the deadline under the auspices of being contenders.

I remember when that was a good thing.

Lowry Progresses: He threw pain-free, but no timetable exists as of yet. Which is probably good for a number of reasons, number one being getting him healthy for the long-term.

There's a Giant I'll be happy to see back.

Comment! Name the Giants starting rotation Opening Day 2009.

Straws Clutched Much?

So the Giants continue their domination of the Washington Natgonnaworkhereanymores. Rich Aurilia, Omar Vizquel, and Bengie Molina each contributed mightily to the win. And would-be Olympian Geno Espineli get his first ML W.

Now I may come off as snarky, negative, and mostly detached in my ramblings about this team, but I'll tell you what, a win's a win, and it always feels good.

Disclaimer having been declared, comments like these detract from said win (over the worst team in the league, records be damned):

Will manager Bruce Bochy really plant Vizquel on the bench in August if he keeps hitting the way he has in this series? Vizquel is 4-for-6 since he had "the talk" with Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean on Tuesday about his curtailed role after the trade deadline.

Already, Bochy is rethinking his plan to rest Vizquel and an equally hot Bengie Molina today. Finally, Vizquel said after his first three-hit game since May 15, he is starting to feel it with the stick.

And Richie, God bless him, has used the two straight wins over the contraction-worthy Nats as a platform for his pro-vet agenda:

"There's a wealth of knowledge in this clubhouse with a few guys," Aurilia said. "I hope people realize that and take advantage of it."

Hey, Sabean! Can that guy for insubordination!

But seriously, don't let the craptastic wins fool you: trade 'em all.

Sandoval Still At Large: The Yeti of hopeful Giants fanboys (and girls) remains tucked in a weird expanse of the Northeastern United States where pastels and boating shoes are the norm...for boys. For now, OBnB fave Steve Holm is back up with the parent club to replace the departed Eliezer Alfonzo.

I expect this won't be the last transaction pertaining to Giants catchers we see this season. And you just have to wonder, what with Big Money heating up and news like this coming out of the Bronx, could Sabean actually pull the trigger to deal our admirable if overmatched cleanup hitter?

Schierholtz an Olympian: Congrats to Nate! Perhaps this will prompt management to call him up and give him a good look. Not because he earned the spot, mind you, but because they're jerks.

Further Proof That Farm System Doesn't Suck: Rotoworld took a break from fantasizing about major league ballplayers in their mothers' basements to fantasizing about minor league ballplayers in their mothers' basements, releasing a Midseason Top 150 Prospects list.

Giants check in with five (it would have been six with Buster Posey signed - he would have been at #32); Madison Bumgarner leads the pack at #21.

Comment! Where are potential landing spots for Aurilia, Molina, Vizquel (yes, Omar Vizquel), Jack Taschner, Randy Winn et al? Throw out your trade package ideas.

HGHappy Birthday

Happy 44th, big guy.

Optimists Need Not Apply

Rejected slogans for the 2008 Washington Nationals:

"The Nats: Good for What Ails Ya"

"Wily Mo Pena Is, Like, Really Strong - Strongman Strong"

"We're Going to Be Good...NAT!"

Whatever it ended up being, the Giants certainly don't seem to be fazed, taking their fifth straight from the woebegone Nationals. The Big Money that we enjoyed so much through May made his triumphant return with two (trade him now) homers, and Barry Zito improved his trade value to dizzying highs in running up his record to 5-12.

Duh: In an utterly shocking development, Bruce Bochy informed Omar Vizquel that he will not be the regular starter at short. But wait, there's more: that is effective post-trade deadline. In making that bit of news public, the Giants reinforce the notion that they have not one iota of knowledge as to how to effectively manage assets.

Sandoval Soon?: The esteemed Andrew Baggarly reports that Eliezer Alfonzo has been sent back to Fresno, closing the chapter on one of the more puzzling Giant callups of the 21st century.

But here's where it gets interesting. According to Baggs, Steve Holm would appear to be the beneficiary in the interim, but there's a chance that as early as next week (pending deadline deals), Pablo Sandoval, arguably the best hitter in the Giants system right now, could get the callup. The 21 year old catcher/corner infielder has followed up a stellar high A stint with an equally impressive line in about a month of AA ball.

After shellacking the rehabbing David Ortiz-led Portland SeaDogs last night, Sandoval is hitting .343 with 6 HRs and 27 RBIs in 110 ABs, all while hitting at notorious pitcher's park Dodd Stadium.

Roberts Activated: Um...did you know he stole second base in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS?

From within that piece, the would-be heir apparent to Ray Durham looks to make an early comeback.

Espineli Up: In my euphoria of being a Giants fan these days, I somehow overlooked that the Giants brought up right handed slop thrower Geno Espineli. In a hilariously tragic twist, the callup stripped Geno of his ability to pitch in the Olympics next month - you know, the last Olympics in which baseball will be played.

That's just cold, Sabes.

More on Hammond

Ryan Topp did a prospect analysis of the Brewers last offseason and had an interesting blurb on brand new Giant Steve Hammond and his best potential future role:

#19 Steve Hammond,, LHP
6'2” 205 lbs. Born 4/30/1982

Drafted in the 6th round of the 2005 draft out of Long Beach State University

Call me stubborn, but I'm not ready to give up on this personal favorite just yet. Drafted with an eye towards making him a reliever eventually, he performed so well in 2006 between High A Brevard and AA Huntsville that the team decided to keep him in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Things didn't go well in 2007 for Hammond in AA, a change largely driven by a 2.5 hits per 9 inning increase and a resulting .26 jump in WHIP. His K rate only declined slightly and his walks actually went down, which got me to thinking about a potential move to the pen. Sure enough, his K rate steadily declines as each inning passes all the way through the 5th, which would indicate some trouble holding his stuff deep into games. He did show trouble with walks in the first inning, which would be a problem were he to move into short relief. Still, I would like to see how he reacts to a move to the pen before writing him off as a prospect. If last years struggles as a starter persist into this season, I would expect that move sooner rather than later.

This predates Hammond's AAA debacle (in a very limited sample size) this season (0-4, 7.41 ERA in 17.1 innings) but it's still interesting to note.

Perhaps the Giants picked up him up with an eye towards replacing Jack Taschner.

It also turns out the Giants did kick in about half of Ray Durham's remaining salary. Although I hated on Darren Ford yesterday, the addition of Hammond to the trade, while clearing a spot for Manny Burriss to play every day, makes this deal pretty palatable.

Oh, in case you still care, the Brewers took the Giants' dignity as well as Durham, completing the sweep in a forgettable game.

Comment! What's next? In addition to Taschner and Omar Vizquel, should the Giants start aggressively shopping Bengie Molina and Randy Winn?

Deal Done

Announcement expected after the game, but the Giants are also supposed to receive AAA lefty Steve Hammond in addition to Darren Ford, ESPN reports.

In a probable sign of things to come, Manny Burriss got the start at second.

Happy RayDay?

The rumors begin to swirl that the long-rumored Ray Durham to Milwaukee deal is close to consummation.

From Tom Haudricort at the Journal-Sentinel's Brewers Blog:

There's a lot of other names floating around. One has the Brewers dealing second baseman Rickie Weeks in an expanded trade but I don't believe that at all.

More likely, it's a minor deal involving either Durham and/or Giants reliever Jack Taschner. It appears the Brewers are sending minor league outfielder Darren Ford in whatever deal is being hashed out because he was removed from the starting lineup with Class A Brevard County today with indications he is being traded.

Rickie Weeks?  Really?  Schulman chimes in with a dose of reality at the Chronicle's Splash Blog:

UPDATE: From what I'm hearing, rumors of a blockbuster are not true, and that Durham is the main man in the deal. One reason Durham's agent might be in his office on a Saturday night, and why the deal could not be announced Saturday, is that Durham is a 10-5 guy who needs to approve any trade. That can involve negotiations with a player.

Either way, selling off Day to Day Ray for anything of value is a coup.  At least I thought it was until I read Haudricourt's downlow on the presumptive return in this deal:

Ford, 22, is one of the fastest players in the minors but plays centerfield, a position at which the Brewers are well-stocked. In 91 games with Brevard, he is batting .230 with 48 stolen bases in 59 attempts.

Perfect.  A speedy no hit centerfielder, huh?  Way to match up in a deal there, Brian Sabean.  Not like we don't have any of those, in the minors or the majors.  With the Dave Roberts deal expiring in a short 15 months, and only Wendell Fairley, Clay Timpner, Brian Horwitz, Nate Schierholtz, Eugenio Velez and a boatload of others available to replace him, I think it's perfect that he's targeted Ford. 

Not, you know, an infielder, or a relief pitcher, or any kind of low-average, middling-power guy.

I'm not expecting a Cameron Maybin for Ray Durham, but if I had to profile the one minor leaguer I would NOT want in any deal, it would be Darren Ford.

(I could be fair and say the kid's got some size at 6'1/195 and he's shown a bit of pop with 18 HRs in two and a half minor league seasons. But .230? Kid should be pretty settled in at A ball, by now, don't you think?)

Well played, Brian.  I'm climbing back into the (Sunday morning) bottle.

Save Us, Bad Reporter

Well, that just sucked.  Hope you all have good Saturday night plans to drown out that abomination of a loss.  Not sure how this team continues to bounce back.

Luckily, Don Asmussen at the Chronicle has a little diddy to cheer you fans up.  And then depress you:

Baseball Resumes, As Does Ineptitude

It's true what they say: absence does make the heart grow fonder. "They" often neglect to mention, however, that absence also makes the brain forget. Forget, for example, how much the Giants suck.

And so it goes: Matt Cain continues his underwhelming season, the offense still is horrific, and No Period Sabathia and the Brew Crew dominate the G-Men in the second half opener.

Those rumblings of buying at the deadline seem sillier with each passing day.  Considering the A's got a legitimate package for Joe Blanton, the notion of trading Cainer to a team like the Rangers, who have an absolutely stocked minor league system and a chance of making the playoffs, also seems less silly with each passing day.

Thanks to the recent stocking of the Giants minor league cupboard, losing Cain wouldn't be as painful as it might have once seemed.  Check out who makes #2 and #12 on the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet from yesterday (with compliments to EJ):

No. 2 MADISON BUMGARNER, LHP GIANTS
Team: low Class A Augusta (South Atlantic)
Age: 18
Why He's Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 SO
The Scoop: Sheer domination. There's no other way to characterize Bumgarner's last three months. Over his last 16 starts, he's allowed more than two runs only twice, and the loss he took on July 10 was his first since April 18, a span of 12 starts with out a defeat. Bumgarner, now 9-3, 1.79 for the year, has few rivals for title of best arm in the Sally League, especially since the Rockies promoted Jhoulys Chacin to high Class A Modesto. The flame-throwing Bumgarner turned in what, for him, was a pretty standard outing on Wednesday against Hagerstown, dominating the Suns for seven innings. Bumgarner had a stretch in that game in which he fanned eight hitters out of 10, and no baserunner got further than second against him. And of the four baserunners he did allow, he picked off two of them.

(Snip.)

No. 12 TIM ALDERSON, RHP GIANTS
Team: high Class A San Jose (California)
Age: 19
Why He's Here: 1-0, 1.50, 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HB, 6 SO, 1 BB
The Scoop: This is all just routine for Alderson. Week to week, it's becoming a matter of where—not if—he'll make the Hot Sheet. He's won his last three starts and hasn't been tagged with a loss since June 10 when he gave up a run in 5 2/3 innings and received zilch in run support. He's 9-3, 3.24 now and has bounced back from a slight bump a couple months ago. His ERA was 4.02 for the month of May, but he went 1-1, 2.57 in June and is 2-0, 4.09 in 11 innings in July so far.

Comment! Are you getting sick of me advocating trading Matt Cain?  I challenge you to tell me why I shouldn't.  I dare you.

Posey Wins Golden Spikes, Wants Money To Buy Golden Spikes

First, the good news: Buster Posey, the Giants first-round pick in last month's MLB Draft, won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top college player, finishing a sweep of pretty much every major award he could win.

Now the bad news: Posey and his representation seem to be dead set on parlaying his trophy case into major cash, and negotiations appear to be slow-going.  The article references comments Brian Sabean made to the Press-Democrat on July 4th regarding the Giants' policy awarding contracts to draftees:

General manager Brian Sabean said Thursday that, per organizational policy, if the Giants first-round pick isn’t signed by the All-Star break, he’ll get a 2009 contract. He does not expect Posey to sign until close to the Aug. 15 major league baseball deadline.

“It would probably be a post-dated contract if he waits that long,” Sabean said. “If you’ve laid off and don’t get out till that time, really the rest of the minor league season is an exercise in futility, to waste that protection year.”

Last time I checked, the All-Star Break is over today, and Posey isn't signed.

Stay tuned.

Yes We Cain? More speculation, this time from the Philly scribes, that Matt Cain is available for a package of young studs.  (However, given the fact that the Phillies' top prospects seem to be pitching-heavy, that may not be the team Sabean should be dealing with.)

Despite repeated denials from the Giants brass, I would hazard a guess that if the Cain could fetch a CC Sabathia like package, management's statements may prove to be doublespeak come July 31.

Comment! What is a package you would consider for Matt Cain? Those with serious prospectal knowledge very much encouraged to chime in.

When In Rome

Daddy says The Franchise is fine:

The pitcher's father filled in some of the details of his son's illness, saying, "He had major-league dehydration. It was a combination of flying in from the Chicago game, a delayed flight. He didn't land until 1 in the morning." 

Translation:

The pitcher's father filled in some of the details of his son's illness, saying, "Brian Wilson closed in on my Timmy and lured him to the New York nightclubs.  After a long night of unspeakable acts, Timmy realized that he's about a foot shorter and 200 pounds lighter than Brian, at which point those last seven limoncellos did him in."

I'm almost proud of our Freak for showing some reckless youthful behavior in what clearly was a nod to the imbibing prowess of Ruth, DiMaggio and Mantle.

Kudos, Tim.

HOLY HELL

Pray.

It's Darkest Just Before Dawn (Weather Permitting)

I eschewed posting this weekend for a little pre-All Star Break break.  The result?  Lower blood pressure and a certain Gatsby-esque blasé affect.

(Whispers, followed by murmuring.)

I guess I should have finished that book in high school.

On the baseball side, The Freak continues to be the only good thing about this team, singlehandedly deciding to stop the 6 game losing streak and ruining Ryan Dempster's perfect Wrigley season.  Now I just hope the little All-Star parlays his ambivalent attitude into sitting out the actual game.  Though it would be cool to see Timmy represent the Giants (the start's gone to Ben Sheets, presumably so Brandon Webb and Lincecum, who both pitched yesterday, can be gameday decisions) I have absolutely no interest in seeing the crown jewel of this turd crown get scuffed in an absolutely meaningless exhibition, pomp and circumstance be damned.

I would like to see fellow All-Star Brian Wilson get a chance to throw some darts at some of the anonymously evil ALers, however.

Other news of note:

~ Is Omar Vizquel going to retire during the break?  So speculates Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  Omar (currently sitting at .159), predictably, vehemently denies the report:

After the game, Vizquel categorically denied a Denver Post article that said he might retire during the All-Star break because he was embarrassed with his hitting.

"It's false," he said. "If I ever think about that, the Giants are going to be the first to know."

~ The Giants officially signed Dominican wunderkind Rafael Rodriguez on his 16th birthday this weekend.  You can find my take and some additional info on the kid known as "mini-Vlad" here.

With the All-Star break officially upon us, it will be interesting if Brian Sabean uses the time off to start working towards adding to his improving farm system by trading off his vets in the coming days.

Ivan Ochoa, Come On Down!

Travis Denker has been a fairly head-scratching call-up.  He's an intriguing young player who should be playing every day as we move towards an all-out competition for the second base job next year, one that would include Denker, Manny Burriss, a presumably healthy Kevin Frandsen and, depending on off-season moves, a host of other potential candidates.

So instead of getting regular at-bats in Norwich or Fresno, Denker's been toiling on the bench, hardly playing at all in the big leagues, not to mention the fact that Brian Sabean, in all his perverse management glory, started Denker's service time clock way earlier than he needed to.

Bringing us to today: an obviously trigger-happy Sabean has sent Denker to Fresno in exchange for infielder Ivan Ochoa, who perhaps should have been the utility infielder the Giants should have called up in the first place.  Up until this season, Ochoa has had a lackluster career in the minors.  Now, entering his ninth season, the 25 year old is putting together a nice little campaign down in Fresno, going .318/.395/445 (with 20 steals) as the team's regular shortstop.

In my completely uninformed opinion, this may be a signal that a deal to swing Ray Durham to a contender may be coming into focus.  The callup of Ochoa would allow Manny Burriss to take over duties at second in the event of a Durham trade, while Ochoa could slide into Burriss's current role as the utility man. 

I'm not entirely sure where this leaves recent returnee Eugenio Velez, but my hope is that his inferior instincts spend less time in the infield and more in the outfield, where his speed and arm are much better served.

Sheatty

Remember the climactic scene on the exchange floor in Trading Places where Valentine and Winthrope are working the Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice Markets?  And, meanwhile, the evil Dukes are using their faulty information on the Florida orange crops to manically buy before realizing they're sitting on lemons (so to speak) and sell what they can before going bankrupt?

I feel like the Dukes.

I'm flip-flopping like a politician: sell this whole freaking team as far as I'm concerned.

Looks like we may be able to get some value for Special Agent Jack (last night's performance notwithstanding), Day to Day Ray, Aurilia, and perhaps even Vizquel.  There are rumors that the Brew Crew and the Cards are among the interested parties.

I add Molina and Winn to that list.

Comment-Starter: If a team offers you a bounty for Matt Cain a la CC (No Period) Sabathia, should you listen?

At Least They Don't Dive

In an effort to make relative the ongoing struggles of the Giants offense, I give you an athlete even more pathetic than Frederick, Raymond, Randall, and Bengamin (otherwise known as the 0 for Shea Gang) combined:

Reformed bust Barry Zito (take that Kawakami) tries to be the stopper tonight.

Comment-Starter: What do you do to give this offense a shot in the arm?

Jinxecum?

It can't be, right?

I mean, sure, The Freak gave up his second most hits of the season in the start immediately following the leak of the issue, but he still got the win.

And, sure, following the issue's release this week, he lost for the first time in two and a half months and served up two gopher balls after giving up five in the three months prior.

But it's all a coincidence.  It has to be.

It's not like the Giants offense ever made the cover.

Comment-Starter:  It's just a coincidence, right?

Velez Back

Eugenio makes his triumphant return at the expense of Brian "The Rabbi" Horwitz. 

Velez seemed to take out the frustration of his May demotion on AAA pitchers, putting up a .310/.372/.509.  His 13 stolen bags would be nice if he didn't get caught a whopping 9 times, lending little credence to the notion that he has become a more polished player in the past couple of months.

Godspeed to Horwitz, who looks like he could be a nice Mark Sweeney type down the line.

Andrew Baggarly speculates that this could be a precursor to a Durham trade, God willing, but I'm going to stick with my policy of assuming it's just another case of questionable roster management by the higher-ups.

Baggarly also has a good piece on the curious merging of paths of the principal players of the White Flag Trade of 1997 and the Giants potential deadline activity.

For those of you who are not paying attention, The Freak goes against the Mets tonight.

Off-Day Fun: Mail Bomb Kawakami

In case you missed it, Tim Kawakami continues to prove he's a poor man's Skip Bayless with his latest article hating on Barry Zito's latest performance.

So, with the Giants off today, I say use the extra three hours of the day to MAILBOMB KAWAKAMI!

Here's a form letter for your convenience:

Dear Tim,

In regards to your latest abomination of a column on Barry Zito's 10 K performance, I have three words for you:

Stick to basketball.

If you'd like a further explication of my vitriol towards the poor excuse for journalism that you spew, please refer to this: http://www.orangeblackandblue.com/2008/07/open-letter-to-kawakami.html.

Best always,
(You)

UPDATE (10:36AM): JLev concocted a fantastic addendum to the above.  Sheer brilliance:

Your ugly tendency to focus on the negative, while fun to write and perhaps to read, is hackish at best and seems like the biggest cop-out you could make.

I’m no Zito apologist, but wouldn’t it be a lot more inventive and (dare I say) original if you were to do something other than bash the piñata at this birthday party?  Is it really that hard to come up with something better than a “Zito Still Sucks” article? 

Yeah he’s overpaid, yeah he underperforms, but you aren’t getting the Pulitzer for deflating a fanbase and rehashing old points.  Wait, we gave him a $126 million contract?  NO WAY!!  Now I am outraged.  Thanks for the info, Tim.

Lincecum and Wilson

Your two Giants All-Stars.

Also, Cain wets the bed against the foes that shall not be named.

Open Letter to Kawakami

Best game ever.

Now 4 games back, the boys have Cainer going in the afternoon rubber match against the worst people in the world.

Is the Zito Renaissance really happening?  (For that matter - Chan Ho Park Renaissance?  Seriously?)

Tim Kawakami doesn't think so.  I linked to him, so I'll drive up his traffic, but all of you should read his steaming pile of pseudo-journalism so you can share in my vitriol for the hack.

Here's a message for you, Tim: you were never a good basketball writer and you're a piss-poor baseball man.  I'm sure you're perfectly aware that you're from the Skip Bayless School of Writing (contrarian views based less on fact and more on, well, nothing).  So good luck to you on attaining that goal of being a second alternate mid-morning talking head on The Ocho.

Your Bayless still needs some work, though.  (Yeah, the gloves are off).

I make no bones about being a total hack myself.  But at least I believe in some of the BS I spew.  I don't have to convince anyone I've hated on Zito as much the next fan, but show some integrity there, guy.  Your failure to acknowledge Barry's recent starts as a legitimate baseball story completely undermines your ability to speak with any authority on the subject.

As far as I'm concerned, you're the Going Overboard of sportswriters.

Maybe you could pick up a thing or two to from your far superior colleague Andrew Baggarly, who reports that Tyler Walker is getting an MRI on his knee.  At least he hurt it doing the Lord's work/beaning Jeff Kent, which drew cheers from the greatest fans on earth.

Bummer

The bums ruined our country's birthday.  Welcome to the bigs, Osiris.

Flip side: the Giants continue to build well for the future, signing another Dominican teenager.

Down for Keeps

Not sure how many of you had younger siblings, but I clearly remember getting an extra piece of candy and dangling over my baby brother's head, just high enough for to him reach if he jumped to get it.  Leap he did, hand outstretched clutching for this tiny piece of concentrated happiness.  As soon as he reached the apex of his jump, the fun-size bar was magically yanked out of the range of his grasp, and he descended back to Earth empty-handed and crestfallen.

No, kids.  That douchey big brother isn't Eric Roberts, it's the Giants bullpen stealing joy from the hands of Giants fans everywhere.  Each time the boys in blue hats (not the Cubs in this case) clawed their way back into the game, our illustrious relievers seemed to wag a Dikembe-sized finger in our collective face.

In the sixth inning, with the Giants trailing 3-0, John Bowker clobbered a 2-run shot that ended up swimming in the Bay to bring the Giants within one. [JUMP]

However, in the top of the seventh, Sergio Romo and a no-throw by starting catcher Eliezer Alfonzo conspired to allow two runs to score on a Soto single.  All of a sudden, it was once again a three-run deficit. [YOINK]

Then, in an exciting turn of events, the Giants got a little two-out magic when  Ray Durham (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs) snuck a shot over the right field wall to tie the game at five apiece. [JUMP]

Unfortunately for the guys in mismatched hats, Mike Fontenot, a lefty who weighs 160 lbs soaking wet, somehow managed to muscle a Tyler Walker fastball over the green tin roof in right to put the Cubs up by one going into the bottom of the eighth. [YOINK]

The rest, as they say, is history as the Giants four, five, and six hitters went up-n-down in the bottom of the inning, quieting the good half of the crowd.  Though a glimmer of hope did shine on a two-out, pinch-hit triple by Jose "Shrek" Castillo in the bottom of nine [JUMP], Freddie Lewis snuffed it when he struck out looking to end the game [YOINK].

This has to be one of the most frustrating losses of the season.  Just ask Kevin Correia, who looked good enough to win through 6.1 innings and still took the no-decision.  Just ask Ray-Ray who wants to win and look good doing it so he can get traded to a contender.  Just ask AaRow, who has shaved 52 points off his average in the last 26 games.  Hell, ask the whole team, as they've now lost 16 of their last 20 at home.

At least when I was growing up, I was the big brother and got to enjoy this sort of torture.  Now it seems all too painful.

Do the Roster Shuffle!

Billy Sadler down, Osiris Matos up as the roster juggling continues.  Sadler had pitched better in June before his debacle in the Monday game.

The 24 year old Matos was a candidate to replace Vinnie Chulk before Sergio Romo got the call.  After a superb 2007 season at Connecticut, Matos showed he had nothing left to prove this year to the tune of a 1.23 ERA in 36.2 innings of work, allowing only 25 hits and posting a 37 to 11 K:BB ratio.

Speaking of Chulk, despite indications that he wouldn't accept a demotion, he cleared waivers and has been it appears he will accept his assignment to Fresno.

The Freak

 

Thanks a bunch, David! 

Reports of Cain's Demise Premature

It strikes me that the potential years-long battle for the title of ace will be a fun sub-plot for this franchise. On a day where the wondrous Tim Lincecum was featured in Sports Illustrated and Jon Sanchez was named NL Player of the Week, Matt Cain reminded us why he was once the lone young stud in the Giants rotation.

In what was easily his best start of the year, Cain shut down the league-leading Cubs offense (albeit without Aramis Ramirez), hurling 8 innings of 2 hit ball while racking up 10 Ks.  And, in a shocking twist, he gets the win in a 2-1 triumph by the Giants.

Jose Castillo closed out Cain's night with perhaps the best defensive play of the year (after two ugly errors in two days).  Buy MLB.TV, watch Baseball Tonight, or find a time machine and go back in time to watch his snag of a Mark DeRosa grounder - a full extension pick to his left on a high bounce, an immediate pop up to the point of no balance, and a wing and a prayer one hopper to John Bowker.

Mere amateur blogger prose could not accurately describe the poetry of that play.  Cain was shaking his head in disbelief as he walked off the field.

Brian Wilson gives up a run in a terribly sloppy save.  The 100 MPH fastballs were fun, but I'll take 95 with location and a couple of less ulcers.

Alfonzo Back, Holm Down: Evidently, Eliezer Alfonzo's PED-ban did nothing to diminish his stature among the higher-ups, as he gets called up nine days after his reinstatement to replace Steve Holm.

Love the Holm, but his defense has left something to be desired, and it will be nice to have Alfonzo's ML experience, both in calling games and with the bat, behind Big Money.  Still, I'll miss the improbable winner of the Giants backup spot out of spring training.

Happy trails, Steve.

Comment-Starter: Who do you see having the most successful career as a Giant - Cain, Lincecum or Sanchez?

Lincecum on Next Issue Of SI

From the Merc: 

Tim Lincecum has proven immune to the sophomore slump. Now we'll see how he handles the Sports Illustrated jinx. Lincecum is expected to be on the cover of the issue that comes out on Monday.

UPDATE (11:06 AM):  The article is up on SI's website.  Verducci's piece is a great read on our budding superstar.  One of many interesting snippets:

Since his May 2007 call-up Lincecum has been only slightly more challenged by major league hitters. In 40 starts through Sunday, he was 16-6 with a 3.30 ERA and 264 strikeouts in 256 innings. Only one starting pitcher in baseball history, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets in the mid-'80s, has won 70% of his decisions over his first two seasons while logging more strikeouts than innings.

Thanks to Admin for the heads-up.

Don't Mess With The Zito

Billy Sadler is a cross between Billy Madison and Adam Sandler - although you can't help but root for the goofy protagonist, his later performances have left you wanting for the simpler days when a fight between shampoo and conditioner actually seemed funny.

Though he's hardly the only one to blame for last night's shellacking, his nightmare 8th inning (3 walks and a Mark DeRosa grand slam) was the one that put me over the edge.  The offense (predictably) sucked in the home nightcap.  And I have to say, even if the gun was hot, Barry Zito consistently chucking the ball in the high 80s, touching 90 a couple of times, was a good sign, wildness be damned.

This piece concurs with that assessment, and although I can't be too enthusiastic about 4 earned in 5, I say let Zito be happy that his stuff, once thought to be lost forever, is back.

The Week That Belonged To Dirty:  Congrats to Jon Sanchez, your NL Player of the Week.  All he did was go 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings.  The guy's quickly becoming something special, folks.

Movin' On Up: A couple of days late, but Pablo Sandoval and Ben Snyder make like George and Wheezy up to AA Connecticut.  (Look out for a Travis Ishikawa update in there.)

In more minor league news, from this article in the Visalia Times-Delta (who says we only stroke major outlets here):

As far as San Jose's roster being replenished by some of San Francisco's top prospects, local Giant fans will have to wait.

For some reason or another, San Francisco decided not to move left-hander Madison Bumgarner (8-2, 1.77) from the South Atlantic League, and it still hasn't come to terms with first-round pick Buster Posey or first-round supplemental selection Conor Gillaspie. Posey and Gillaspie were considered to be two of the top pure college hitters in the Major League Baseball draft.

I am interested to know why Bumgarner continues to languish in the Sally League, but, at this point, I'm not too worried about Posey and Gillaspie, particularly because both were considered tough signability guys, which probably led to the Giants being able to select both.  Wake me up in August and we'll reassess.

Cainer (aka Sanchez pre-2008) faces Jason Marquis tonight.

Commentary Tributary: What's going on with Matt Cain?