Juan Urbie left the Giants almost immediately after the Championship Parade up Market Street in late 2010. The Giants had lost their shortstop and 24 home runs to the hated Dodgers. I was upset at the Giants for letting him get away. I thought the Giants should have signed him after the 2009 season for more then one year but they waited until almost spring training to give him one year. I was left with the imprtession in 2010 that the Dodgers, even though they were broke, gave Urbie two years and perhaps a million more than the Giants offered. I could not understand Urbie leaving the Giants for a little extra money when he was a big hero in San Francisco even tho he struck out a couple times a game but the fans knew come the seventh and eight innings he was good for a home run, a run scoring single or sacrifice fly.
I was completely surprised yesterday to discover that Urbie really had a three year contact with the Dodgers and this year he will get $7million with another million thrown in next year for good measure. It is now easy see how the Dodgers lured him away from the Giants His time with the Dodgers have been a disaster helped along with a variety of injuries that comes with older players. Urbie hopes to make the Dodgers this year as a utility infielder who plays all four infield positions. He tied a major league record yesterday against the Giants. In the second inning he led off making an out then the Dodgers went on to score 5 runs and Urbie came up again and hit in a double play. Not many players can say they accounted for all three outs in an inning. Oh how things have changed but Giants fans will always remember Urbie for his clutch hits in 2010.
Homer Sweeney
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Big Rip Off
Some of you who read this may be too young to remember that in spring training there use to be 'A' games and 'B' games. The 'B' games usually meant rookies and minor league players would be playing and normally there was no charge.
Then baseball came up with idea of split squads. This way they could charge full price for all exhibition games. Baseball policy was that each team was to start at least four regulars in these games. This rule has always been stretched. I remember attending a game between the Ranges and the Angels two years ago in Tempe. The Rangers brought a squad of players with the number on the back ranging from 76 - 95 with no names. In fact some of the players were so small I think they picked them up from a little league game on the way to the stadium. Since I don't follow the Rangers that closely I am sure they had four players that might have played for them the previous year. However there were no starters. This has been a common spring training occurrence for years.
This year with the World Baseball Congress this 'rule' has been relaxed. The Giant announcers Miller and Kuiper didn't think that the Angels even sent four AAA players to play the Giants. Actually they made quite a joke of it many times during the game. However you don't see the teams cutting their prices at spring training do you? Oh no you pay as much for Class A has the Major Leagues. Buyer beware! Another Bud Selig rip off.
Homer Sweeney
Then baseball came up with idea of split squads. This way they could charge full price for all exhibition games. Baseball policy was that each team was to start at least four regulars in these games. This rule has always been stretched. I remember attending a game between the Ranges and the Angels two years ago in Tempe. The Rangers brought a squad of players with the number on the back ranging from 76 - 95 with no names. In fact some of the players were so small I think they picked them up from a little league game on the way to the stadium. Since I don't follow the Rangers that closely I am sure they had four players that might have played for them the previous year. However there were no starters. This has been a common spring training occurrence for years.
This year with the World Baseball Congress this 'rule' has been relaxed. The Giant announcers Miller and Kuiper didn't think that the Angels even sent four AAA players to play the Giants. Actually they made quite a joke of it many times during the game. However you don't see the teams cutting their prices at spring training do you? Oh no you pay as much for Class A has the Major Leagues. Buyer beware! Another Bud Selig rip off.
Homer Sweeney
Monday, February 18, 2013
All Star Games
Thanks to the National League wining the All Star game the Giants have had the home team advantage in their two World Series appearances Bud Selig trying to make you think the games means something threw in this ridiculous rule a few years ago. Can you imagine an NFL team playing for home team advantage in a late season game benching their starting qb and running backs in order that everyone can play. That's exactly what baseball does which makes the game a travesty. Watching the NBA All Star introductions last night I turned the television off once I saw Dwight Howard being introduced as a starter. What a joke!
Homer Sweeney
Homer Sweeney
Saturday, February 16, 2013
First Look at the 2013 Giants
I thought the lack of power would finally catchup with the Giants last year. I had no idea a guy named Scutaro would come along and drive in one run after another that more than made up for the lack of a power hitter.
I also thought the Giants spent too much money on their pitching. Yes, there are times during the season you would like to see more hits but come playoff time the Giants had the answer ---pitching
Will the Giants repeat in 2013? The baseball world was amazed that they had won the World Series two out of three years. It would really be magic if they could make it three out of four.
Spring training is seven weeks long this year because of the World Baseball Congress which effects almost every major league team. I am sure it is a money maker or Bud Selig would have never approved of it. Up to eleven Giants will be playing for a number of countries including the United States. The pitchers will be throwing harder earlier which I believe is a real danger. Can't you just see Vogelsong hitting Sandoval in the head. Ah yes, the World Baseball Congress. Thank you Bud!
A look at the team.
Pitching is their strength. Last year their five starters started 160 out of 162 games. Almost unheard of in this ultra modern age. Can they do it again? Hard to believe it is possible. Relief pitching is much stronger than last year. There will be strong competition for the last two relief spots which means strong support in Fresno when someone gets hurt. Are they still tying to sign Lyon from Toronto? (since signed with the Mets) I think Romo got too much in arbitration for this to happen but if they do sign him relief pitching will be awesome.
Infield is solid
1b - Belt will continue to have his bad stretches but I believe there will be fewer and shorter. Needs to play some left field in spring training to give Bochy flexibility. Should hit in the neighborhood of .280 with 15 home runs.
2b - Scutaro can't continue to get a hit every time there is a man on second. But he will be solid.
3b - Sandoval could probably be so much better if he was 20 pounds lighter and have a better chance of avoiding injury. When Sandoval gets hurt it takes him weeks to get his timing back. He will continue to hit regardless of weight but can be move at third?
ss - Crawford. I look for another season of solid fielding some clutch hitting and maybe close to 10 home runs. Average should be close to .250.
Reserves - I expect another solid season from Arias. I wish the Giants signed him for more than one year because there are many teams that would love to have him as their regular ss. A number of players will via to fill the last roster spot. Tony Abreu could be the Arias of 2013.
Posey and Sanchez will do the job behind the plate. Sounds as if they are going to do the same type of shifting as last year with Posey moving to first once or twice a week.
The Giants outfield has a number of questions.
Pagan had a career year last season. He got his money. Now what? .260?
Pence in right field has to start hitting. One way or another he drives in runs but he is no backup for Posey which was proven by Posey's poor batting average in the playoffs.
Blanco and Torres in left. Can't deny they hustle and can play the field. Can they hit? Blanco was a big surprise in the post season doing a great job. Torres did not hit with the Mets either although I understand he hit .280 right handed. Belt will play some left field when the team needs extra hitting. I now understand that Torres is going to play in the WBC. Big mistake. If one of the invited outfielders has a great spring he may be out of a job. Bochy would love to have a right hand hitting outfielder with some power play left field.
Many 'experts' have predicted the Giants batting order which is basically the same as the World Series. Here is my line up that may take to May to implement.
Pagan cf; Scutaro 2b; Belt 1b; Posey c; Sandoval 3b; Pence rf; Gillespie/Blanco lf; Crawford ss.
Homer Sweeney
2/12/2013
I also thought the Giants spent too much money on their pitching. Yes, there are times during the season you would like to see more hits but come playoff time the Giants had the answer ---pitching
Will the Giants repeat in 2013? The baseball world was amazed that they had won the World Series two out of three years. It would really be magic if they could make it three out of four.
Spring training is seven weeks long this year because of the World Baseball Congress which effects almost every major league team. I am sure it is a money maker or Bud Selig would have never approved of it. Up to eleven Giants will be playing for a number of countries including the United States. The pitchers will be throwing harder earlier which I believe is a real danger. Can't you just see Vogelsong hitting Sandoval in the head. Ah yes, the World Baseball Congress. Thank you Bud!
A look at the team.
Pitching is their strength. Last year their five starters started 160 out of 162 games. Almost unheard of in this ultra modern age. Can they do it again? Hard to believe it is possible. Relief pitching is much stronger than last year. There will be strong competition for the last two relief spots which means strong support in Fresno when someone gets hurt. Are they still tying to sign Lyon from Toronto? (since signed with the Mets) I think Romo got too much in arbitration for this to happen but if they do sign him relief pitching will be awesome.
Infield is solid
1b - Belt will continue to have his bad stretches but I believe there will be fewer and shorter. Needs to play some left field in spring training to give Bochy flexibility. Should hit in the neighborhood of .280 with 15 home runs.
2b - Scutaro can't continue to get a hit every time there is a man on second. But he will be solid.
3b - Sandoval could probably be so much better if he was 20 pounds lighter and have a better chance of avoiding injury. When Sandoval gets hurt it takes him weeks to get his timing back. He will continue to hit regardless of weight but can be move at third?
ss - Crawford. I look for another season of solid fielding some clutch hitting and maybe close to 10 home runs. Average should be close to .250.
Reserves - I expect another solid season from Arias. I wish the Giants signed him for more than one year because there are many teams that would love to have him as their regular ss. A number of players will via to fill the last roster spot. Tony Abreu could be the Arias of 2013.
Posey and Sanchez will do the job behind the plate. Sounds as if they are going to do the same type of shifting as last year with Posey moving to first once or twice a week.
The Giants outfield has a number of questions.
Pagan had a career year last season. He got his money. Now what? .260?
Pence in right field has to start hitting. One way or another he drives in runs but he is no backup for Posey which was proven by Posey's poor batting average in the playoffs.
Blanco and Torres in left. Can't deny they hustle and can play the field. Can they hit? Blanco was a big surprise in the post season doing a great job. Torres did not hit with the Mets either although I understand he hit .280 right handed. Belt will play some left field when the team needs extra hitting. I now understand that Torres is going to play in the WBC. Big mistake. If one of the invited outfielders has a great spring he may be out of a job. Bochy would love to have a right hand hitting outfielder with some power play left field.
Many 'experts' have predicted the Giants batting order which is basically the same as the World Series. Here is my line up that may take to May to implement.
Pagan cf; Scutaro 2b; Belt 1b; Posey c; Sandoval 3b; Pence rf; Gillespie/Blanco lf; Crawford ss.
Homer Sweeney
2/12/2013
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