I am just glad that I don't live in an area where a lot of Giants games are telecast, because I wouldn't be able to keep myself from watching and at the same time I would be sickened by seeing how badly they are this season.
Here is hoping that we see some career best numbers.
The only reason i can see playing these older guys is to get them some value to move them at the deadline. If Ray Durham, Dave Roberts, Bengie Molina, Rich Aurilia, Randy Winn, and Omar Vizquel have a good start to the year the Giants better trade them for whatever we can get as we traded a pinch hitter for a decent prospect we should be able to get something decent for these guys. If we trade them we can put Pablo Sandoval at C, 1B Dan Ortmeier, 2B Kevin Frandsen, SS Brian Bocock, 3B Eugene Velez, LF Fred Lewis, CF Aaron Rowand, RF Nate Schierholtz. As long as we move some of these older guys out for young talet this year will be a success no matter what the record.
unfortunately I do live in an area where Giants games are televised almost daily during the season. These guys though should be interesting to watch if anything. Hopefully your idea works Central cal....nice lineup by the way!!!
Centralcal, you are dead on. I am fine w/ starting out w/ the old guys as long as we are playing them to trade them. If they struggle early, cut your loses and cut them or bench them. If they suceed early, trade them for anything, and hope you get lucky. Then guys like Lewis, Frandsen, Velez, and Schierholtz can get their shots and see if they can make it. But if midseason we still have stuggling vets in the lineup, then even I will be willing to admit we have no direction.
Rogue922 i completely agree if after the deadline we are still playing the vets we have no reason to optimistic as we have no future in sight. If Sabean can do these moves he can fully redeam himself i am still hoping that the need to win was holding him back. I am just hoping our organization really does do a complete youth movement after this year when we can get rid of these vets one way or another.
Problem is we have to put on the field a team that is conpetive,too support our strength the pitching staff.Which means the veterans.Roberts,Visquel,Durham,Winn,and too an extent Ortmier will play and have to produce for Giants to win.Its not entirely out of the realm that they could produce enough to win and Giants could be in race to a degree.Problem is even with the Vets playing to their younger stats so to say,Giants still have holes in pitching staff,Lowry is down still no proven closer no 4th or 5th starter as of yet,and i am not sold on Zito as our ace.Giants have some nice arms in minors and some have looked really good this spring, so pitching should be fine but lets face it Org. has no bats in it .I just dont see us getting any value on dumping the Vets.Durham free agent next year who would trade for him?Roberts has no value to a team in pennant race,Aurilla can be picked up next year for nothing ,Visquel is worth nothing cause there are alot of slick fielding no hit ss out there.Only guy that might show some interest in is Winn if he is having a good year.Bottom line to this is Giants will be playing the over the hill gang all year to the end like last year and only youth movement we will see will be with the younger arms that Sabean has stocked up on.Should see them as year goes on.Thats were we will have to go to get bats trade some of those younger arms!Lets hope Sabean gets young studs that can hit for them!
Some of our young guys have looked good this spring such as Brian Bocock, Travis Denker and others. Omar Vizquel was claimed last year on waivers but we pulled him back and with his contract expiring and only having a team option for next year it all comes down to contenders injuries. Look at last season the Mets traded for Luis Castillo 2B when their guy went down and expiring contracts are just about what contenders want someone just for the title run. Dave Roberts is similar to Kenny Lofton and if he comes out swinging someone might bring him in for experience instead of starting a younger CF.
Everything comes down to how well the vets are playing up to the deadline. Dave Roberts adds a vet presence to where he goes and speed. Ray Durham has a strong bat for a 2B as long as he hits especially in a contract year. Rich Aurilia could be of value as he can play every infield spot excluding catcher. Randy Winn puts a decent average and 15-20 HR per year. Bengie Molina good defensively and has decent pop in his bat for a catcher. Steve Kline veteran lefty pen man could be of value. Am i saying all these guys are gonna move absolutely not but if a couple have a good half of the year we could get a decent prospect in return not saying major league ready ain't gonna happen but decent bats to develop.
We have lots of guys with talent in the minors just that they are in A ball and are far away as last year we had 5 picks early in the draft and brought in 4 solid high school players 2 pitchers and 2 fielders. Some of these guys have looked real good just hoping they can move along and contribute in a couple years.
