Giants

12/4/06..
2006 Full Season Grade: C-
The Giants finished the season on a serious down note. Their final record tied them for last place in the division, so the Alou's skipped town and left it up to new manager Bruce Bochy to pick up the pieces.

Barry Bonds never really got things going as old man time works his spells on even the best of athletes. Jason Schmidt also had a down season and has decided to follow the Alou's over the Golden Gate Bridge and far away. Left in their wake is a ton of work and not much prospects to help out so what does management do? They sign more old players.. hey, whatever works, right?

Look for the Giants to be heavy players in the free agent market in order to fill in while they rebuild the farm system. With that in mind, don't expect many division titles or playoff participations for a few years.

5/10/06.. RoxHead.. Report Card
The Giants are currently going through a tough stretch. Every publication, web site and sportswriter is dogging them for being too old and slow. It is possible that they are correct this time but it is too early to count them out of it.

The Giants starting rotation is still solid once Matt Morris with his three-year, $27 million contract gets it going. Their pen is suffering but should get better once Benitez gets some arm strength. There might be a problem if they need to trade for players in July and August because they have repeatedly compromised their farm system while trying to win with Bonds by trading prospects for veterans and forfeiting draft picks by signing free agents.

Look for them to tread water until they get some players healthy. If they can hang within 5-10 games of the front runners by the Allstar break, then they should be just fine. Also, the media circus should lighten up once Bonds gets past the Ruthian holy border line.

2/1/06... Rox Head.com
The 2006 Giants will have the best starting rotation in the division with the addition of Matt Morris and a full year of Matt Cain, but their bullpen took a hit losing Scott Eyre. These moves won't matter as much as the reappearance of the big bopper, Barry Bonds. The simple fact is if Bonds plays, then the Giants will win the division and if he doesn't then they will struggle to win as many as they lose.

There, that's all you really need to know.

Actually, the Giants didn't do a lot of maneuvering this winter because they didn't have to. Bonds makes such an incredible difference in the batting order that the whole make up of the team changes from average to dangerous with just his presence. Alou is still one of the better managers in baseball and the Giants sell a lot of tickets which allows the management to spend some extra money in July if needed.

Prediction:
If Bonds is healthy, then look for the Giants to finish first in the West with a record of 90-72. If he isn't... 81-81.

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2005 Full Season Grade: D+
The Giants were all about Barry Bonds. They didn't have him for the majority of the year and they struggled because of it. Once he decided that his body was ready to play the last few weeks of the season, then the team responded by making a little run at the Padres before fading late. The depressing thing if you are a Giants fan was the fact that they had relatively few injuries except closer Armando Benitez and, of course, the big one to Bonds and yet they still finished under .500 for the season.

The front office did try to make something of the year by playing 16 rookies, with starter Matt Cain leading the way, so you can't say that it was a total waste of a season like the DBacks and the Dodgers had. Felip Alou is going to manage another year at least, so there is still strength in the coaching department.

Mid Season Grade: F

This team stinks. They are old and they stink. They have very few good things to talk about. I was completely wrong with the prediction below.

A long, long summer is in store, though Bonds could be back -- the latest guess -- by mid-August. His chase of Babe Ruth may give San Francisco fans something to cheer about. But that will be about it.

Preseason Prediction:

With Bonds and his injury, the thinking for how the Giants do this year has to be reconsidered. They still have a very good veteran team and will win the division even with Bonds playing only half the season, but it will be a bit of a struggle to hold off the Padres. Let's reduce their wins a couple and predict a 90 win season at the most.

12/6/06
There was word in the lobby Tuesday that the $18 million Barry Bonds wants for 2007 is merely a base. According to a major-league source, agent Jeff Borris wants easily reachable incentives built into the contract that would raise Bonds' salary for this season beyond $18 million and guarantee his contract for 2008 -- a package potentially worth more than $40 million. Although the Giants say they want to re-sign Bonds, pursuing so many other high-priced players seems to suggest otherwise.-- San Francisco Chronicle

12/5/06
Daily Herald: "Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he hadn�t met Monday with the San Francisco Giants. That could change. One of the more interesting whispers around the winter meetings was that the Giants may be willing to deal lefty Noah Lowry, who was 7-10 this year but is 26-23 lifetime.."

12/1/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "With Mike Matheny a longshot to overcome his post-concussion syndrome and play in 2007, major-league sources said the Giants are in serious negotiations to sign free-agent catcher Bengie Molina, a 32-year-old who played for Toronto in 2006 after seven seasons with the Angels."

11/30/06
Oakland Tribune: "The agent for third baseman Pedro Feliz met with Giants officials Tuesday and put a one-year contract on the table. It was thought the Giants were prepared to replace Feliz with free agent Rich Aurilia, whose signing is imminent. But Aurilia could shift to second base, if the Giants bring back Feliz for another year. The Giants were leaning toward ending talks with Feliz and signing second baseman Mark Loretta, who has one-year offers from other clubs but told friends he would accept a $4 million deal from San Francisco."

11/28/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "If the Giants are serious about prying left fielder Manny Ramirez from Boston, they apparently will have to engage a third team to engineer a trade. According to a source familiar with the Red Sox's thinking, the Giants do not have the players Boston wants in return for Ramirez, even though young pitching is on the list and the Giants have some to deal. Boston also is looking for a closer, presumably more of a sure bet than Armando Benitez, and a bat. "

11/25/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Infielder Rich Aurilia is on the verge of returning to San Francisco, and outfielder Dave Roberts, a 2004 postseason hero in Boston, appears ready to join him... Furthermore, sources said, the Giants are engaged in serious talks with infielder Mark Loretta and well-traveled right-hander David Weathers, who has 41 saves since 1999 and could serve as manager Bruce Bochy's setup man while providing insurance for the ninth inning if Armando Benitez cannot return to form."

11/23/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "But finishing second in free agency gets you nothing, and the Giants can tell you all about it 11 days into the 2006-07 free-agent season... Sabean wouldn't comment on available players, but the Giants are said to have turned their focus to Carlos Lee, who collected 37 homers and 116 RBIs last year for the Brewers and Rangers, even though his price tag probably increased in the wake of the Soriano signing."

11/22/06
The Giants have positive scouting reports on Hanshin Tigers left-hander Kei Igawa and are prepared to make a bid, a club source said. Clubs have until Friday to post a bid; it is expected to take at least $10 million to secure Igawa's negotiating rights.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy is hoping a few of his former players will follow him up the coast. The club is negotiating with the agents for Mark Loretta, Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia -- three players whom Bochy has managed recently in San Diego. A major-league source confirmed that there is mutual interest between the Giants and Loretta, who was an All-Star with the Boston Red Sox last season. While Loretta's primary position is second base, he can play first and third. Bochy made a personal pitch to Loretta in a phone call last week. FOXSports.com
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Sportsbook.com odds on what MLB team will Barry Bonds play for his first regular season game in 2007?
Giants 3-2
Athletics 2-1
Angels 9-2
Padres 5-1
Any other AL team 5-2
Any other NL team 8-1
Does not play a game in 2007 15-1

11/20/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Sources said the Giants were not given a chance to match Chicago's offer. The Giants, along with many of the losers in the Soriano hunt, are expected to focus on Carlos Lee, considered the best remaining hitter on the market."

11/15/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "How much money must a team pay for a prodigious singles hitter with a great set of wheels, a decent center-field glove and a weak arm? The Giants soon could learn the answer as they pursue 29-year-old center fielder Juan Pierre... The club remains in contact with Gary Matthews Jr., Dave Roberts and Jay Payton as it tries to fill what it considers a pressing need: a leadoff-hitting center fielder."

10/26/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Whispers are spreading of a possible scenario in which Barry Bonds would receive a relatively low contract offer from the Giants, prompting him to shop around but find no interest from other teams. A form of collusion, if you will, baseball's attempt to keep Henry Aaron's record intact. An MLB official denied it."

10/22/06
New York Daily News: "On other managing fronts, if, as it appears, the Giants are going to bring back Barry Bonds by offering him a greatly discounted one-year contract that he nevertheless would be inclined to accept, then Ron Wotus, who has been bench coach for the last seven years in San Francisco under Felipe Alou and Dusty Baker, becomes GM Brian Sabean's logical choice as manager, instead of someone from outside the organization"

9/11/06
Detroit News: "The owner of a popular eatery told us Monday night that word among waiters in his restaurant and others nearby had Tigers manager Jim Leyland meeting old friend Barry Bonds for dinner at Scoma's."

9/14/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "The Giants today will place Armando Benitez on the 60-day disabled list, officially ending his season. The next question is whether the closer will return in 2007. "I'm not going to answer that right now," general manager Brian Sabean said. 'He'll be under contract.'"

9/8/06
Don't look now, but Giants left-hander Mike Stanton, 39, could be pitching his way into a multi-year contract. Stanton, replacing Armando Benitez in the closer's role, has earned seven saves, his most since 1993. With 18 more appearances, Stanton would pass John Franco for the second-highest total in major-league history. He is 150 appearances short of the all-time leader, Jesse Orosco. FOXSports.com

9/6/06
New York Times: "His current streak complicates things. Bonds has not said whether he would return and the Giants have not said whether they would re-sign him, even at a cut rate from his $20 million annual salary. Two and a half weeks ago, the Giants had little reason to employ Bonds in 2007. Now, they contemplate the prospect of another lucrative home run chase."

8/11/06
SAN FRANCISCO has been desperate for catching help with the loss of Mike Matheny with a concussion, but the Giants don�t have much to give up in a trade. The concern is that Matheny�s career could be over. Rocky

8/10/06
BaseballAmerica.com: Tim Lincecum, by a landslide, is the number 1 ranked Giants prospect. We ranked him as the No. 2 prospect in the draft and the Giants were able to get him with the No. 10 pick because of concerns about his size and delivery. Despite those worries, Lincecum has been resilient and durable, and he never has had any arm problems. It's impossible to argue with his stuff, which includes a mid-90s fastball and a knockout curveball, both plus-plus pitches.

After his heavy workload at Washington this spring, San Francisco is keeping Lincecum on tight pitch counts. Though he has worked just 6 2/3 innings in three starts, he has been his usual dominant self, fanning 15 of the 28 batters he has faced. Several scouts project Lincecum as a late-inning reliever, but I still think he'll hold up as a starter. In any case, don't be surprised if he's pitching in the majors at some point in 2007.

There's no real challenger to Lincecum for top-prospect honors in the thin Giants system. Righthander Matt Cain, last season's No. 1, has graduated to San Francisco. Infielder Marcus Sanders (No. 2) continues to be hampered by shoulder problems that have contributed to a miserable season in high Class A. Outfielder Eddy Martinez-Esteve (No. 3), whose bat will have to carry him, is having just an ordinary year in Double-A. No pitcher is anywhere close to Lincecum.

8/5/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Although it is likely the Giants put in a waiver claim for Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, if only to block any other NL West team from claiming him, nobody expects Atlanta to trade him to the team awarded the waiver claim (based on inverse order of the standings)."

7/25/06
Oakland Tribune: " Rumors linking Schmidt to the White Sox won't go away. And a source said the Yankees briefly kicked around a proposal that would send Schmidt to the Bronx for a package that included Chien-Ming Wang."

7/14/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "One rumor has the Giants sending Jason Schmidt to the White Sox for 23-year-old pitcher Brandon McCarthy and 24-year-old outfielder Brian Anderson. When the Giants do call on teams seeking a hitter, particularly a younger one, the other GM almost certainly will ask for Matt Cain in return."

7/13/06
Oakland Tribune: "There are 10 free agents on the roster, and it's hard to imagine GM Brian Sabean re-signing more than two or three. The full list: Bonds, Jason Schmidt, Moises Alou, Ray Durham, Pedro Feliz, Todd Greene, Jose Vizcaino, Steve Kline, Steve Finley and Jamey Wright. (The club has options on the last two.) "

7/12/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "If Jason Schmidt were to leave the Giants, his hometown Mariners remains one of his top options. Asked if being a 'laid-back guy' precludes him from playing in a hot spot such as New York or Boston, Schmidt said, 'It doesn't mean I couldn't handle it.'"

6/27/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "General manager Brian Sabean would prefer to acquire a hitter whom the Giants can control beyond 2006 -- Craig Wilson and Miguel Cabrera fit that category -- but he said Sunday he would consider a rent-a-player. That opens the door to such players as Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, who are eligible for free agency this winter."

6/25/06.. prospect report from baseballprospectus.com
Great Leap Forward: Outfielder Fred Lewis has recovered from a disappointing 2005 to hit .276/.401/.480 at Triple-A Fresno. Lefthander Jonathan Sanchez made three dominant starts at Double-A Connecticut before moving to the bullpen and earning a promotion to the big leagues after compiling a 1.15 ERA in 31.1 innings with 46 whiffs. He's been used sparingly since moving up, but has yet to allow a hit in eight appearances.

Not What We Expected: After batting .300/.407/.400 in his full-season debut at Low Class A Augusta, infielder Marcus Sanders has pancaked at High Class A San Jose (.213/.302/.265). Slugger Eddy Martinez-Esteve had just two home runs in 92 at-bats at Connecticut before injuring his shoulder in early May. Another star from last year's excellent San Jose squad, outfielder Nate Schierholtz has also hit a wall at Double-A (.234/.298/.347).

Open Questions: Can we now assume that Merkin Valdez (4.21 ERA at Fresno) will never again be the pitcher who showed so much promise in 2003? Will first-round pick Tim Lincecum be brought to the major leagues quickly as a reliever, or be groomed as a starter with a longer ETA?

Who Will Be Number One: I can't see anyone currently in the system I'd take over Lincecum.

6/9/06
New York Post: "The Bombers recently called Tampa Bay about Damon Hollins, though. Other possible solutions are Washington's Alfonso Soriano, San Francisco's Pedro Feliz, Pittsburgh's Craig Wilson, Kansas City's Matt Stairs and Milwaukee's Carlos Lee. Ken Griffey Jr. or Adam Dunn might also be available if first-place Cincinnati falls out of contention."

5/25/06
Boston Globe: "J.T. Snow, whose agent did some shopping around to see if there were teams interested in dealing for the first baseman and his $2 million price tag, said he's content to stay with the Sox... The Giants, according to yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle, may be interested in reacquiring Snow if Lance Niekro's shoulder bursitis becomes a long-term issue."

5/21/06
Denver Post: Much has been made of the Giants' Centrum Silver lineup, but 41-year-old Steve Finley is aging gracefully. No player pays as close attention to his diet and conditioning. Finley is playing a brilliant center field - on many nights covering for the statue that is Barry Bonds - and running well. He has a league-best seven triples. That's good news because he has never hit a home run at the Giants' AT&T Park in 200 career at-bats. "Oh, I have hit home runs there," Finley said, hinting at the wind. "Just none of them have left the park."

5/13/06
Sacramento Bee: "Sabean said the club likely would look from within to replace injured Moises Alou's production in the heart of the order, but the GM added that he's 'still kicking tires.' Baltimore, desperate for bullpen help, is shopping Jeff Conine, who at age 39 definitely would fit on the Giants' seasoned roster."

5/11/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Former A's starter Ted Lilly is on the mound against his old team today, but where will the much-traveled left-hander be this time next season? One place high on Lilly's wish list: San Francisco."

5/10/06
The Giants are in about the same shape as Barry Bonds - aging, ailing and facing an uncertain future.

After averaging 92 victories from 1997 to 2004, the Giants dropped to 75 last season. The number conceivably could fall again this season, considering that the Giants' pitching staff is last in the National League in ERA and right fielder Moises Alou is unlikely to be the last significant player lost to injury. FOXSports.com

5/09/06
San Francisco Chronicle: "Jeff Fassero has not lasted 15 years in the majors without learning to think a step ahead. So he saw his departure coming a week ago, when it became clear Noah Lowry would return from the disabled list to start Monday night's game against Houston."

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