FU Fine Reaction to WBC (and Jeff Passan)

In a column today, Yahoo's Jeff Passan opines that American players simply don't have as much national pride and that is why talented player after talented player is turning down Team USA manager Davey Johnson's desperate recruiting pleas.

Among those expected to decline an invitation is our own Tim Lincecum, otherwise known, quite literally, as The Franchise.

It would seem that Passan's assertion that Lincecum, Cole Hamels, Josh Beckett and other WBC party poopers are just un-American is a bit simplistic. I mean, those guys all seem decent enough, right? Guys who gave it all for championships and are pretty much beyond reproach in the effort department. They don't have a Bondsian, Cobb-esque stigma that would make it seem like they're all about themselves, others be damned.

Well, Jeff has an interesting perspective. Here's another perspective, which I'd like to dub "The Right One." If you were one of the 18 to 24 solid major league pitchers in 2005 and you pitched for your respective country during the '06 WBC, well, chances are you weren't as good in 2006. And, perhaps most importantly, many didn't recover at all.

In a completely unscientific sample, I present...

"Good Pitchers Who Were Not So Good After the 2006 WBC" (Catchy, huh?)

Jake Peavy: Which one of these seasons is not like the other? Peavy remains the poster boy for post-WBC traumatic suck syndrome. His meteoric rise into this generation's Kevin Brown (no knock on your personality, Jake) was severely curtailed by his workload for Team USA in 2006.

Although he pitched over 200 innings in 2006, his ERA shot up from 2.88 in '05 to 4.09 that year, and he pitched with shoulder discomfort the entire season. Peavy's sublime talent and overall build won the war of attrition, eventually, and he came back in 2007 to win the Cy Young. Some, however, weren't as lucky...

Chad Cordero: Cordero was coming off a stellar season as a full-time closer for the Nationals, posting a 1.82 ERA and racking up 47 saves. His 2006 saw that ERA shoot up into the 3s and his decline continued into 2007, when he battled injuries. Cordero tore a labrum in early 2008 after struggling with his velocity, and is currently a a free agent.

Bartolo Colón: Here's a good example of a patriotic foreigner who gave it all for his country. The 2005 Cy Young winner (seriously, look), Colón has been completely awful since his stint for the Dominican Republic. He's compiled a 5.50 ERA in just 194.6 innings combined over the last three seasons after throwing for 200 in seven of the eight seasons prior.

After pitching on an incentive-laden deal with the Red Sox, Colón is hoping to land another Missouri contract for 2009.

Freddy García: García had been prone to lapses in consistency, but overall, was a horse of a pitcher, amassing 200 innings pitched in five of his first six seasons through 2005, to go along with a 3.93 ERA in that timeframe, including a 3.87 in '05 with the White Sox. After? 4.79 in the 289.3 innings he's managed to pitch over the last three campaigns with three different teams while struggling with shoulder injuries.

The 33 year-old García is currently seeking work.

Dontrelle Willis: Permanent WBCitis doesn't just afflict 30 somethings negatively. Coming off a brilliant 2005 in which he finished second in Cy balloting, the 24 year-old Willis manned up for the Jeff Passans of the world and participated in the WBC. The herky-jerky lefty has never been the same.

The Bay Area native is working to get his career back on track with the Tigers after spending a bulk of the season in the minors...

A couple of pitchers from the WBC came back fine, namely Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana. But the list is no longer than those who regressed considerably from 2005, many (Estaban Loaiza, J.C. Romero, Huston Street) of whom I didn't list above.

As for the notion of mandatory pitch limits in the WBC, I'll leave you this comparison: 65 pitches in Scottsdale against the A's split-squad team in close quarters with the trainers and coaches that know you well is slightly different than the same number of heaves in a high-pressure competition. I'd hope the body of evidence above proves that.

So, sorry, Jeff, Davey Johnson can't have Timmy. And, while I'm at it, he can't have Matt Cain.

None of them, however, are unpatriotic. They're smart.

P.S. We'll gladly donate Randy Winn again.

A. U. Haynio.

In spite of a blown save by Brian "Frown" Wilson, the Giants' lineup got a walkoff in the ninth against the venomless D-Backs.

In this game, while the kids played a big role, it was actually the work of the ----- WAIT A SECOND, this isn't the same story at all.  This game was about the kids, most specifically, A-U-Haynio Valez.  Four RBI, a double, a walk-off triple (his second walkoff in as many days, although OBnB failed to note it).  He is Manny Ramirez-clutch right now, and even playing decent defense (zero errors yesterday!) as he makes a bid to be this team's everyday starting 2B in 2009.  Worse things have happened.

At the top of the order, Win, Win, Win with Randy Winn looked great again, with three knocks to move his average to .315, which would be the highest of any everyday Giants Starter if the Pablominable Snowmandoval weren't swinging a scorching stick.

And Brad Hennessey was a welcome sight, providing a quality start on 100 pitches and leaving the game with his team in the lead.  If he were pitching every fifth day for this team, he'd realize he could do a lot worse than a No-Decision given that sort of effort.  Better luck next time.

Also, don't miss Baggs today - everybody loves a little rookie hazing, and Kuip said this morning that Manny Burriss was the French Maid and "shook his toosh like he knew what to do with it".

Sabean: Burriss Likely to Replace Vizquel at Short

There must have been something in the Colorado River Compact, because Brian Sabean came back from Denver displaying a bit more chutzpah than his usual listless self in his fireside chat on KNBR last night.

Among the revelations in Sabes's brief flirtation with candor:

- Manny Burriss is penciled in to start at shortstop next year and all indications are that he will be given every opportunity to be there long-term. Omar Vizquel will not be back.

Ivan Ochoa will compete to be the primary middle infield backup, but, in a miraculous moment of clarity, Sabean now does not view him as an everyday player.

- Pablo Sandoval is likely an everyday player next year. What position that may be at is anyone's guess, although, given that he seems to be unaffected by the position carousel he's riding thus far, the current setup may continue through 2009.

- Regarding the position prospects, Sabean seemed to be strikingly emboldened by the success of the youngsters this year, and said he's not constrained by anything but the player's ability to play at the big league level to promote him.

Taking into account the past production and polish of '08 draftees Buster Posey, who was just promoted again, and Conor Gillaspie, those guys should be in San Francisco in less than two years and maybe even in one.

- With respect to 18 year old wunderkind Angel Villalona's arrival at Pac Bell: "anything's possible."

- As for offseason plans, Brian sees third base as the position most likely to be upgraded with a power bat, given the current free agent landscape, although I'm not sure what landscape he's looking at. Suffice it to say, his past flirtations with the likes of Hank Blalock and Joe Crede renders this poseur beat writer nervous.

- Sabean said he's looking to move pitching for hitting help, and his third base evaluation may make more sense if you include possible trade targets, with names like Beltre, Atkins, and Kouzmanoff potentially available.

Other names I would throw out at third would include Brandon Wood, Jorge Cantu, and Dallas McPherson.

But despite reports of Tigers owner Mike Ilitch ordering an offseason slash in payroll, my personal white whale (no pun intended) Miguel Cabrera probably isn't going anywhere.

- Other nuggets Sabean peddled: Fred Lewis and his toe may be heading to surgery given the recent leveling off of his play, giving Nate Schierholtz an extended look; absent an outside addition, Kevin Frandsen and Eugenio Velez would compete for the job at second (no mention of Travis Denker, although I hope it's an oversight); and an extension for Randy Winn will be discussed this offseason.

Comment! You can make one move this offseason: what do you do?

Giants LOB one to Rockies

Cold (or even mild, temperate) summer nights at Pac Bell are no fun unless the Giants are scoring, and these days, the faithful along with the Lunatic Fringe know: that scoring is not going to come from home runs. So when these scrappy, fast, aggresive young kids go out and get hits - EIGHT of them - we hope that some of those baserunners come around on consecutive hits, sacrifices, and seeing-eye ground balls. For one inning last night it seemed that would be the case, but then the bats - and the luck - fizzled. Despite yet another 3-for-4 performance from "Win, Win, Win, with" Randy Winn and another 2 hits from Fred Lewis in the 2 hole, the offense never came alive in a manner worthy of the word RALLY.

Matt Cain is back to his losing ways, giving up an astronomical 3 ER in 6 IP, succumbing to the ever-Giant-killing Yorvit Torrealba (2-run HR) and failing to score from third (or even cause a collision) on a fielder's choice by Aaron Rowand.

Venite Adoremus tonight, though, as The Kid looks to stop the losing. Matt Palmer, that is, looks to stop the losing, at 1 loss. Why, who did you think this blogger was referring to?

A Tale of Two Yetis

Bengie "Sas-Squat" Molina lifted a three-run blast and drove in five runs, while up-and-coming catcher/possible third base solution Pablominable Snowmandoval added two hits and one RBI to come from behind and beat the more-miserable-than-ever Padres.

Randy Winn also notched three hits and was on base four times, raising his batting average to a team-leading .306 for the season.

Kevin Correia worked a solid six innings lasting long enough to get himself and the team one more W in a nice stretch of baseball.

Having won five in a row, the Giants now seem poised to make a run at Colorado for the third spot in the NL West.  The pennant it ain't, but at least it's something to shoot for.

Walk/Run-Off Wonders; The Posey-Sandoval Question

Another walkoff win for the Little Giants, who have taken to playing at home in a way their much older predecessors did not.

In typical San Francisc (the omission of O is intentional) Giants fashion, the fateful ninth inning run was scored without a hit - praise be to Manny Burriss's batting eye and feet as well as Kevin Gregg's wayward accuracy.

And give credit to big Matt Palmer, who bounced back from a horrific debut to go 6 and 2.

Also, I've noticed I've been remiss in lauding Dandy Randy Winn for hitting in a manner so hot, Paris Hilton's thinking of suing.

Future Ruminations: While watching Pablo "Runaway Beer Truck" Sandoval motor around in one of his frequent trips to the basepaths, I thought to myself, this 22 year old could be really the future at catcher.

Then I realized we just signed him.

But, with apologies to Ivan Ochoa, our situation at shortstop is a little less rosy. However, do we already have a solution?

Many of you heard about Buster Posey playing all nine positions in a game this past season at FSU. His prowess at all nine positions was due in part to the fact that he was recruited as a shortstop, playing there his freshman year before transitioning to catching.

Now although the Giants just made a huge investment in Posey, it's not as if shortstop is a position of far less scarcity, particularly given the fact that Posey's bat would play just as well there. In addition, Posey, who's game has been compared to Craig Biggio's, might have a longer career by playing a less physically demanding position.

With his mid-90s fastball and leadership skills, heck, we may even get our own Derek Jeter out of it.

Bear in mind, my sole impetus for the idea is due to the absurdly small sample size of Sandoval's major league career, notwithstanding his sublime year in the minors. But Sandoval is producing at the major league level and looks to have a lot of potential at the position, having thrown out 44% (30 for 68) of basestealers in the minors - and he can do it with both hands, too! Sandoval, already looking like he belongs in The Show, is only seven months older than Posey.

The case that Sandoval could shift to first to make room for Posey is a little bit of a tougher pill to swallow, mostly because of the continued ease at which you can either find or develop power hitting first basemen, Brian Sabean's struggles aside. It would be a waste of Sandoval's skills behind the dish to have him at first, anyhow.

So I leave it to you: is this a terrible idea? How do you envision the 2011 infield?

Vets: "Kids Are Alright, We're Good Too"

Part of me wishes that Randy Winn and Bengie Molina spread out their surprisingly sublime nights (maybe retroactive to any game during the Houston debacle) but hey, I'll take it.

The best development? The resurgence of Matt Cain in this second half. And I'm for anything that minimizes the use of the chokepen.

DING DONG, CASTILLO'S DFA'D (And Everyone's Up)

Well, how about that for a move? (From Baggs)

Huge, huge shift today. The Giants have a whole new corner infield. John Bowker and Steve Holm were optioned to Fresno and Jose Castillo was designated for assignment. Rohlinger, a third baseman, comes from Double-A Connecticut along with Sandoval, who can catch and play first base. Ishikawa was lighting it up at Triple-A Fresno. He switches spots with Bowker, who was hitting .154 since the All-Star break.

Wow, is it me or did it just get a whole lot less suck in here?

Okay, I'm not going to go overboard, but this is a big day for the youth movement. We could conceivably see this lineup tonight:

RF Winn

2B Burriss

LF Lewis

CF Rowand

1B Ishikawa

C Sandoval

3B Rohlinger

SS Ochoa

What a difference a day makes.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go scrub OBnB of any acknowledgment of the existence of Shrekstillo. (Prances off, giggling.)

UPDATE (3:33PM): And, in typical Giants fashion, the only one of the trio to get the start is Rohlinger, who is penciled in at third and batting second tonight. Even Omar, God bless him, is playing.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

Trade Winns

Potential positive byproduct of sucking? Sabean harbors no delusions of contending and sells at the deadline, potentially infusing our system with more talent.

From today's Chronicle:

Cub talk: It could be a coincidence, but Gary Hughes, one of the Cubs' top talent evaluators, attended the A's-Giants games just after his club lost Alfonso Soriano to a broken hand. The Cubs are believed to be looking for a left-handed bat, but a source said they have not phoned the Giants about switch-hitting Randy Winn, the outfielder most likely to be shopped.

Hughes is based in the Bay Area.

The talent in the Cubs farm system has been drained as the North Siders played the part of buyer in past years, but they do have a couple of intriguing trade chips, including (in no particular order):

Josh Vitters, 3B: The 3rd pick overall in the 2007 draft, the 19 year old Cypress HS (CA) came marketed as the second coming. He has been anything but in the minors, however, struggling mightily and still searching for his first pro homer.

Still, the chances the Giants would land him in a trade for Winn range from slim to the existential nature of a ball of snow in the Inferno.

Josh Donaldson, C: Casting aside the Giants' sudden organizational depth at the position, Donaldson, a 2007 2nd rounder out of Auburn, may be what Jackson Williams was supposed to be: a polished backup catcher or utility infielder with some offensive potential.

He had some success in low-A last year before having trouble with high-A Peoria this season.

Perhaps a piece of a larger deal.

Sean Gallagher, RHP: The Cubs would have a difficult time parting with the hard-throwing 22 year old, who is having a decent debut with the big league club.

With the state of the Cubs minor league system, however, one would have to presume GM Jim Hendry would have to listen if a seller inquired about Gallagher's services.

Jeff Samardzija, RHP: Swap a two-sport star for another, perhaps? Potentially, although his 2008 season (repeating AA) hasn't been anything to write home about.

Furthermore, the Cubs would have to operate from a sunk cost philosophy to trade their $10M investment, a (sensible) management trait that front-office types tend to eschew.

If they were willing to deal him, however, he's still an intriguing guy because of his size (6'6", 215) and stuff.


There are some other middling prospects in the Cubs system, but you get the gist of it. Can't say I'm too excited about any of those guys save for Vitters and Gallagher, (and Geovany Soto, but that one simply ain't happening given his All-Star debut).

Should be an interesting trading season.

Brian WilsOwn

The Giants need to play the Nationals more often.

The boys complete the four game sweep against a pitiful Nats team that's missing virtually every one of their decent players (Zimmerman, Johnson, Perez, Cordero).

The Giants are on a nice little run, having won 12 of 18 after their first four-game winning streak of the season. They're now just 5 games back of first-place Arizona in the NL Worst.

Plenty of credit to go around in yesterday's W, including a gutsy Matt Cain, an "I still don't get where this guy came from" performance from Keiichi Yabu, and the continued excellent hitting of Randy Winn.

But let me be the first to point out that Brian Wilson, our once maligned young closer, has put together a string of outings that are impressive by any measure. Really!

In recording his first four out save of the season, a tough task especially in the sweltering DC haze, Wilson extends his absolute run of dominance.

Dating back to his 15th save in Arizona on May 27, Wilson has not allowed a hit to the last 19 batters faced (and only one runner total via a walk).

As he has much of the year, he leads the NL in saves with 18, but, more importantly, the guy is starting to develop the dominance, that certain je ne sais quoi, necessary of a big-time stopper. He always had the look, the mentality, and the fastball, but we may be witnessing the birth of the closer we've sorely missed since Robb Nen, bless his heart, pitched til his arm fell off in the year that shall not be named.

Or maybe it's just a good run against a series of bad teams.

Either way, he looked very closerly (what - that's totally a word) in getting the last four outs of the Giants best series of the season.

Post or Die: Now that we may have a badass closer, what's the nickname? "Smile" or any derivation may be DQ'd for lameness.

Brian WilsOwn is currently leading, because my vote counts as two.

Beltway Bowker Display

See the added spring in the Giants step? Haven't they looked like a different team? Like the ones we grew accustomed to for a short time in the early 2000s?

That's all me.

OBnB runs up its record to 3-0 yesterday and today with two more browbeatings of the Nationals in steamy DC.

(And special thanks to the OBnB fairy godmother for the awesome photos this weekend. The Fred Lewis action shot is classic. Check out all her great photos here.)

Evidently, there's a team in the NL that not only has an inferior offense to the Giants, but actually makes the G-Men look competent. Without Ryan Zimmerman, the Nats don't have a single hitter that scares you. A friend who is a Nats die-hard (yes, they do exist) told me he would kill for Randy Winn. Seriously.

Of course, after scoring 1 run in 18 innings, Zito spotted the Nats 3 runs (and 11 baserunners) in 5 innings of sloppy work. But, like him, I'll take his second win of the season.

Big props to Jon Sanchez for his stellar performance last night and the suddenly reliable Giants offense. Gotta say, we have a few hitters that make this lineup respectable.

If only they could play on the road all the time...

Notes from the stands:

- Nats fans (and soon everyone else) are legitimately scared of John Bowker. Awesome.

- Neglected to mention this in my Friday recap, but Manny Burriss has received a warm reception by Washingtonians - he is the first D.C. ballplayer to reach the majors in 38 years.

Got a chance to give (an obviously ecstatic) Burriss family my congrats. Pretty cool.

I can't wait to see them next season when he's starting at short. Just work with me.

- Freddy was warming up with a visibly warm Bill Hayes (the Giants bullpen catcher) before the 6th when Fred decided to throw him a curve (literally and figuratively), which he consequently missed. Fred was dying.

- The difference in velocity between Zito and every other reliever is a strategic silver lining to every one of his starts. The Nats were behind every fastball when Nolan Taschner came in in the 6th.

- In spite of his continued run of nice hitting, Ray Durham's complete lack of effort in the field (particularly when he failed to cover first in the second) stokes the passion of my playa-hatred.

Best quote: "Hey Ray, the inning's started!"

- Schedule permitting, I'll be there for Cainer's start tomorrow and will try to add a few more photos to the album.

Go to the Giants @ Nats Album!

Holy Sweep!

"Ace" Barry Zito leads the Giants to a sweep of Randy Johnson and the first-place D'Bags to cap a 6-3 road trip.

Let the record show that Orange Black and Blue takes absolute full entire credit for that. You can be sure that Warm Fuzzy Zito Feeling Email Writing Campaign (don't you like the ring of that?) will be back.

That being said, I suppose these guys helped:

Macho Man Randy Winn: Two homers, including one off a previously perfectly dominant (and record-tying) Big Unit in the fourth, and then off Chad "You're Breaking My" Qualls for the go ahead run in the ninth. His first homer from the left side this year. Off a guy who doesn't really give up homers. To the opposite field. To double his HR total for the year.

If you called that, I'm laying my Belmont bet down soon, so I'd love to get your input.

Aaron Rowand: Did you see that full extension catch? Absolutely disgustingly sick. The #4 hitter in the National League (with Big Money nipping at his heels at #5) was, dare I say, a great Sabean signing?

Brian Wilson: First pitch strikes, ridiculously unfair sliders and no BS in an 8 pitch save. I'll take that every time, Robb.

And finally...

Barry Zito: Warm fuzzy feelings = quality starts. You need any more proof?

For the record, he (or one of his minions) wrote back:

Thanks man.
Appreciate your support. Great win for our team!
Z

What were you expecting, Shakespeare? Classy, though.

- The good guys face their second legend in a row tonight. Unlike the Big Wet Rat, the Farting Professor has completely pwn3d the G's throughout his long career.

- A fluff piece with some interesting tidbits has given rise to a new OBnB stupid nickname: HinShawn Carter.

Comment THIS: Did Zito write you back? Will you ever doubt OBnB's powers again? And also, can the Giants keep up this run against the hapless Friars?

SabeanMetrics

A suddenly shaky bullpen blows the game in late innings once again as the Giants lose to Fat Elvis and the 'Stros 6-3.

Meanwhile, unclutch hitting, a constant for this team, cosst Pat Misch a chance at his first win, as hitters go 1 for 12 with RISP, including two instances in which runners were stranded at third with less than two outs.

Giants can (and will) get the split as Hold Me Closer Tiny Lincecum faces Chris "I want to talk to" Sampson in the day game.

So the Giants are on a 91 loss pace.

But don't sweat it - Brian Sabean isn't. In fact, he thinks the Giants can contend...this year.

When it comes down to it, I think I'm an optimist. Sure, I've enjoyed watching the Giants play this year, and like this team much more than the one before it and the one before that. There's some interesting (gasp! positional) prospects up looking like they belong, and the pitching, notwithstanding the bullpen's recent hiccups and Baked Zito, is very solid.

Sabean, however, is either shrewdly spinning a bad product or has really gone off the deep end. Yeah, maybe the Giants can catch lightning in a bottle and go on a little run. But statements like this make me scratch my head:

"You're seven games under .500. That's where you don't want to be, but I really feel good about the energy around the club and I feel good about some of our choices. We've now got a solution at first base. We've got a solution at third. We've gotten Omar (Vizquel) back. Freddie Lewis has come into his own and (Emmanuel) Burriss has been a real factor lately."

We've got a solution at third? Really? Is this the double-secret probation solution to which the general public is not privvy? Surely, you're not talking about Jose Castillo, right? The guy otherwise known as the bastard child of Pedro Feliz and Shrek. (Shrek's been thrown around lightly in describing ballplayers, but seriously, I think this one really does work.)

As for Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Burris: they are playing out of the sheer dumb luck (or inevitability) of Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel and Ray Durham being out with injuries. This wasn't by design - so don't claim it as if it was.

And then there's this nugget:

With that in mind, Sabean said he does not contemplate moving his most marketable experienced players before the trade deadline, as many rebuilding teams do. Catcher Bengie Molina and outfielder Randy Winn, both signed through 2009, might yield the most in return. But as of now, Sabean plans to keep them.

"Both of those guys are unique," he said. "On any team, whether you're in transition or you're a veteran team, you want a veteran catcher. You want somebody like Molina who has an upside with the bat. In Randy's case it's the same thing, somebody who is so versatile, a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions. Their relative value is going to be consistent no matter what year it is or who you have around them."

Okay, I can understand Molina, although I would trade him in a heartbeat if yielded a package that included a legitimate prospect at third base.

But you won't trade Randy Winn? THE Randy Winn, our venerable punch and judy right fielder? He can play ALL three outfield positions, you say?

However would we replace that? It's not like we have a glut of young outfielders who need playing time, correct? It wouldn't be useful to, I don't know, call Nate Schierholtz up, or play Dan Ortmeier (who's showing a decent bat in limited time) there, or even try playing Eugenio Velez at a position at which he's more comfortable and where his rocket arm would shame Randy's noodle in comparison?

But I guess Sabes has got a point, Winn is actually REALLY versatile - he can play point guard in a pinch.

Granted, it could be Sabean double-speak - but he lost OBnB's benefit of the doubt somewhere between Jason Schmidt and Neifi Perez.

Maybe the combination of another tough loss and the office downgrade from slightly crappy coffee to Kirkland Signature EconoCoffee has made me crabby.

So here's a comment-starter: do you really think the Giants can contend this year? And what will it take to do so?