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.And Richie, God bless him, has used the two straight wins over the contraction-worthy Nats as a platform for his pro-vet agenda:
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.
"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.
3 comments:
I had a feeling this would happen. That is, Giants win (or possibly sweep) the Nats, and people inevitably start the "What if?" rumblings. I am no "doomer," but I had pretty much resigned myself to what I thought was going to be the course for the rest of the year--play the young guys, find someplace for the vets to go and get at least something for them in return.
If Vizquel starts every game in the upcoming Dbacks series, goes 8-12 with 2 home runs and helps the Giants get a sweep, then I could see a change of direction. Maybe. But it's not going to happen. This team, IMO, needs new management along with its supposed focus on youth.
Great site, as always. Read it whenever I can. By the way, the Nats first baseman is 5'8"? That has to be a record.
What, no shoutout to Barry Lamar Bonds on his 44th birthday?
Molina
- Yankees: As already stated above)
- Marlins: Lots of murmuring that they want a backstop. Only problem is, would they take on Bengie's salary?
- Angels: Jeff Mathis has been a wreck offensively: .228/.304/.389. Bengie would be a huge upgrade.
Winn
- Braves: I wrote a piece discussing the Winn-to-Braves rumor floating around in June. Winn would be an upgrade over Francoeur, whose slash stats (.231/.286/.369) have dropped even lower since June. Kotsay's been hitting well, only problem, as always, has been his health. There haven't been any rumblings about a trade since then, but it's best to leave open possibilities.
- White Sox: Again, Winn would be an upgrade of Swisher, who's batting to the tune of .235/.357/.411. Swisher has more pop, but Winn is more consistent and plays a better CF.
Taschner/Walker
- He wouldn't net much, if anyone, by himself, but the Giants could package him with another vet.
Now that we have a cluster of minor league relief pitchers, I'm a bit hesitant about trading Walker and Taschner. They're the oldest guys in the bullpen now that Yabu is on the DL, and it would be better for the Giants to keep them both for "mentoring" purposes until they receive more value in return when T/W are packaged in a bigger deal.
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