Congratulations to the San Francisco Giant fans who proved that even with a horrible World Series hangover they could party giving Barry Zito an unforgettable thank you and the other players a tremendous send off for the fall and winter. It is really truly amazing the fan base the Giants have developed in recent years with with a very efficient marketing department and K & K on television continually showing fans having fun at the the ball park.
It is hard to determine one major thing that went wrong with the Giants plans this year since there were many but I would consider the collapse of starting pitching as one of the main reasons which led to an over worked bull pen and eventually to the collapse of the relief staff.
The following are my thoughts on what I think the Giants will do or should do. I have not read about a Giant cap for next year which will determine how much they can do this this off season..
Pitching: The starters will be anchored by Cain and Bumgarner. Gaudin and Petit have earned a shot in spring training for their work this year. The Giants do not want to sign Vogelsong for 6.5 million. If they can negotiate a new contract he will be back with a chance to earn the number 5 spot in the order. The Giants will make every effort to acquire a number 3 starter. If money was not an issue I would say resign Lincecum but it is a big issue. I just don't believe 'Timmy' is worth some 16 million. You can sign a couple very good major league players who could help the team with that type of money. The Giants have signed too many players on emotion in recent years and have paid the price.
Relief Pitching: Who is left? Romo and then who? Casilla and Affeldt will probably be back and the rookie Hembree pitched well in September to warrant a good look next spring. The Giants will lose Lopez to a team like the Dodgers or the Rangers who either need pitching or have money. Some of the remaining staff I am sure will be asked to spring training with a chance to make the team. I really don't know if the staff was lousy or just over worked so some of them should be given an opportunity in the spring.
Catcher: Giant fans I am sure were at least mildly shocked at Posey's end of the season slump. This should be warning next year to give him some breaks from catching every day. Sanchez finished strong and lets hope he learned his lesson and will report next February in shape and ready to play.
1st base: The Giants know they need another batter that hits with some authority in the lineup every day. They have surveyed the world and discovered that there are a few first basemen that might be available so Belt has already been approached about playing left field next year. Belt has finally emerged a very good consistent hitter which means he should hit in.300 range with 20 or so home runs.
2nd base: The Orange and Black have many problems and do not want to add 2nd base to the list. Scutaro is under contract for the next two years and at the age 38 will be the regular 2nd baseman although he has limited range and had a very poor year in the field. He led the team in hitting this year playing 127 with .297 average and 31 rbi's. Last year in 61 games with the Giants he hit .362 with 44 rbi's. The Giants really like Abreu's bat and he will get plenty of chances to play.
Third base: I believe Pablo Sandoval will be back next year although there are a number of 'experts' that think differently. Pablo got plenty of press for losing some 25 lbs in recent weeks although he looked like he gained most of it back. I believe Sabean will put out some feelers regarding Pablo and see what type of offers he receives.
Shortstop: Crawford had the same exact batting average .248 this year as he did last although he hit nine home runs to just four last year. He really tailed off the last part of the season which might have been due to an injury. At the start of the season we heard about Crawford being all star material but he tied other regular shortstops for the most errors with 15. Adrianza who was brought up in September has definitely impressed and if he does well in Fresno next year Crawford should not rest on his laurels.
Utility: Noonan made some nice plays in September and got a couple hits which will get him to Scottsdale next February. If Arias is signed he should start at short at least against left handed pitchers and could be another option at 2nd base and has proven to be a very good relief for Sandoval at third.
Outfield: Pence got all the money and he will be in right field for the next few years and Pagan will be leading off in center field since the Giants win more often then when he doesn't play. If Belt isn't at first base he will be the left fielder. If not, the Giant fans expect a new face in left next year. Perez certainly earned a shot playing relatively few games for the Giant but still led the outfielders with eight assists proving that he has a great arm. Will there be room for Blanco and Pill? That's what spring training is all about.
This will be the last sports related blog for the next few months.
Homer Sweeney
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Not So Surprising A's!
Jim Kosimor of Michigan State fame congratulated the Oakland A's for winning the America League West on his Yahoo Talk show the other night. He mentioned at the time that all the experts that visit his show were talking about the Angels and Rangers and no one thought the A's could do it. Wrong! Look at my blog at the start of the season and I picked the A's to win the AL West by 7 games. They cinched the other night with a 7 1/2 game lead. They win because they believe in Earl Weaver strategy of the three run homer.
I also said that the Giants would not repeat but was wrong in predicting the Padres to win the NL West. At that time I didn't realized that the Dodgers would bring up a player named Puig who set the league on fire. He even woke all those over priced Dodgers who up to that time were just going through the motions in between their trips to the stock exchange. The rest is history showing that 220 million can buy a championship. The Dodgers will be taxed $7 million this year for exceeding baseball salary cap. The Yankees will be taxed some 29 million because they are repeat offenders. With a higher tax hanging over their heads the Dodgers may not be quite so free with their money with the salary cap set at some $189 million for next year.
Have your noticed the silence? For weeks we heard how Pablo had lost 25 lbs. Now I look on television and he looks like he gained most of that weight back. If he has gained the weight back you can tell Pablo "bye 'bye baby!
Homer Sweeney
I also said that the Giants would not repeat but was wrong in predicting the Padres to win the NL West. At that time I didn't realized that the Dodgers would bring up a player named Puig who set the league on fire. He even woke all those over priced Dodgers who up to that time were just going through the motions in between their trips to the stock exchange. The rest is history showing that 220 million can buy a championship. The Dodgers will be taxed $7 million this year for exceeding baseball salary cap. The Yankees will be taxed some 29 million because they are repeat offenders. With a higher tax hanging over their heads the Dodgers may not be quite so free with their money with the salary cap set at some $189 million for next year.
Have your noticed the silence? For weeks we heard how Pablo had lost 25 lbs. Now I look on television and he looks like he gained most of that weight back. If he has gained the weight back you can tell Pablo "bye 'bye baby!
Homer Sweeney
Bochy Makes Another Stupid Move!
Why did Barry Zito pitch against the Dodgers at AT&T last night? One reason was to say good-bye to the fans. Then Bochy lifts Zito after five innings for a pinch hitter and Barry heads to the clubhouse.. This has not been a good year for the Giants and last night was another example of a stupid move. Barry was far from great for the Giants in his many years with the team except that the Giants would have never won either the National League or the World Series in 2012 without him. That makes up for a lot of sins. Hopefully Sunday the fans will start yelling Barry! Barry! so he can come out for a final curtain call that he deserves.
Homer Sweeney
Homer Sweeney
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Cain Loses Again
There were some starling comments made after the Giants 2-1 loss to the Dodgers. Manager Bruce Bochy said that the bats are cold now. It seems to me they never thawed all year. Then there was all the praise for Matt Cain in pitching the Giants to another loss. He gave up two home runs and that's the reason the orange and black lost. Cain drilled Puig and the young Cuban for the second time this season embarrassed the Giant multimillionaire by hitting a home run the next time he came to the plate and that was the difference in the game.
Homer Sweeney
Homer Sweeney
Sunday, September 22, 2013
New York New York
The rookies were heroes today as the Giants beat the Yankees 2-1 to salvage the last game of their three game series and gain a split in their six games in New York. Adrianza the switch hitting rookie shortstop hit his first home run which was the first hit of the game for the Giants off of the retiring nearly 50 year old pitcher Andy Pettitte. Abreu got a key double to put the Giants ahead and Perez threw out Cano from left field on a single to preserve the Giants lead in the eighth inning.
Juan Perez returned to his home in the Bronx and continue to open the eyes of the Giants brass. Perez was one of four Giant rookies I picked out in spring training to watch this year because he hit a home run at a game in Goodyear, AZ that just exploded off his bat. When he was called up in June he failed to hit but made sensational catches and throws in the outfield. Perez was part of the September call up and now seems to have gained some much needed confidence with the bat getting a number of hits against the Mets earlier in the week and just missing a home run by about two feet Friday night at Yankee Stadium. He certainly has made the best of his opportunity and will be a strong candidate to make the squad next February when the Giants head to Scottsdale for spring raining.
World Series Prediction -- A Silver Anniversary == 1988 repeat Oakland A's vs the Los Angeles Dodgers
The 49ers -- Like I said for the last six months, do not lose a Super Bowl game!
Homer Sweeney
Juan Perez returned to his home in the Bronx and continue to open the eyes of the Giants brass. Perez was one of four Giant rookies I picked out in spring training to watch this year because he hit a home run at a game in Goodyear, AZ that just exploded off his bat. When he was called up in June he failed to hit but made sensational catches and throws in the outfield. Perez was part of the September call up and now seems to have gained some much needed confidence with the bat getting a number of hits against the Mets earlier in the week and just missing a home run by about two feet Friday night at Yankee Stadium. He certainly has made the best of his opportunity and will be a strong candidate to make the squad next February when the Giants head to Scottsdale for spring raining.
World Series Prediction -- A Silver Anniversary == 1988 repeat Oakland A's vs the Los Angeles Dodgers
The 49ers -- Like I said for the last six months, do not lose a Super Bowl game!
Homer Sweeney
Monday, September 16, 2013
Weekend Comments
The Giants series win over the Dodgers preventing the big blue from cinching the NL West in front of the World Champions which made the Giant players very happy. Pence was the hero with five home runs bringing up the question, how much will it now take the Giants to resign him? Vogelsong was fair in his start and it was probably enough for the Giants to pickup his option since there are not many other good pitchers available at that price.
Regarding the 49ers loss to Seattle --- I will repeat what I have said for months, Do not lose the Super Bowl game! I happened to see part of Ohio State - Cal game with the Buckeyes whirl wind start. I give the Bears credit for coming back because they could easily just folded in the first quarter. Since I do not get Pac 12 Sports, I listened to most of the USC game and the greatest part of the game is the fact it was played in less then three hours compared to many college games today that approach the four hours mark.
Homer Sweeney
Regarding the 49ers loss to Seattle --- I will repeat what I have said for months, Do not lose the Super Bowl game! I happened to see part of Ohio State - Cal game with the Buckeyes whirl wind start. I give the Bears credit for coming back because they could easily just folded in the first quarter. Since I do not get Pac 12 Sports, I listened to most of the USC game and the greatest part of the game is the fact it was played in less then three hours compared to many college games today that approach the four hours mark.
Homer Sweeney
Friday, September 13, 2013
The Return of Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson returned to the Giants last night not in body but in strategy. The Giants had two on and none out in the eighth inning and Bochy had Belt the #3 hitter in the lineup bunt successfully. Then the Dodgers naturally walked #4 hitter Posey to load the basses that set up the double play. The Giants did not score since they failed to allow their two best hitters to even swing the bat. This was a Frank Robinson type strategy and the main reason I believe he is the worst manager in San Francisco Giants history.
The Giants played tonight like the 2013 Giants. In the second inning Scurato dropped another short pop fly in right field but this time was able to force the runner at second. Nobody every taught Scurado to use two hands. The next batter hit a double play ball back to Cain who threw the ball into center field which has been done many times this year by Giant pitchers. I would suggest in spring training the Giant pitchers spend twenty minutes every morning working on the pitcher to second to first double play.
Rich Aurila guest commentator on the pre game show was asked how to pitch Dodger sensation Puig. Never throw the first pitch over the plate related Rich because he is hitting .565 on first pitch hitting. So what does Cain do in the seventh inning with the leading run on second he throws the first pitch right over the plate and Puig hits a ringing double to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Cain made a mistake. That's all I have heard all year. I am getting sick and tired of a $20 million dollar a year player making one mistake after another.
To add insult to injury is the fact that ex-Giant Brian Wilson turned out to be the winning pitcher. Before the game it was mentioned how strange it will be to see Wilson in Dodger blue and white. I firmly believe that even if Wilson did not get injured he would not be with the Giants. They cannot afford to pay all of their stars gigantic salaries and he would been the odd man out. I am more upset seeing Urbie in blue and white. The Giants have been fortunate that he has been injured the last two years but this year he is doing the same thing for the Dodgers as he did in leading the Giants to 2010 World Series title.
How can a last place club like the Giants keep their best infielder Arias on the bench?
Homer Sweeney
The Giants played tonight like the 2013 Giants. In the second inning Scurato dropped another short pop fly in right field but this time was able to force the runner at second. Nobody every taught Scurado to use two hands. The next batter hit a double play ball back to Cain who threw the ball into center field which has been done many times this year by Giant pitchers. I would suggest in spring training the Giant pitchers spend twenty minutes every morning working on the pitcher to second to first double play.
Rich Aurila guest commentator on the pre game show was asked how to pitch Dodger sensation Puig. Never throw the first pitch over the plate related Rich because he is hitting .565 on first pitch hitting. So what does Cain do in the seventh inning with the leading run on second he throws the first pitch right over the plate and Puig hits a ringing double to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Cain made a mistake. That's all I have heard all year. I am getting sick and tired of a $20 million dollar a year player making one mistake after another.
To add insult to injury is the fact that ex-Giant Brian Wilson turned out to be the winning pitcher. Before the game it was mentioned how strange it will be to see Wilson in Dodger blue and white. I firmly believe that even if Wilson did not get injured he would not be with the Giants. They cannot afford to pay all of their stars gigantic salaries and he would been the odd man out. I am more upset seeing Urbie in blue and white. The Giants have been fortunate that he has been injured the last two years but this year he is doing the same thing for the Dodgers as he did in leading the Giants to 2010 World Series title.
How can a last place club like the Giants keep their best infielder Arias on the bench?
Homer Sweeney
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