So today the Giants extended Sabean and Bochy through 2013 (with options for 2014). They've been busy this offseason, what with re-signing Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez and trading Jonathan Sanchez for Melky Cabrera and reminding fans every chance they have that they're not going to do much of anything to fix what was the worst offense in the NL last year.
That's right. This team that was coming off a 2010 World Series championship, that had its most ludicrous (and lucrative) season in its history in terms of attendance and merchandise sales in 2011, is modestly bumping the payroll from 125M to 130M. That, folks, is a pittance for a team with the success the Giants have had in 2010-2011.
At today's press conference to announce the extensions for manager and GM, the Giants made sure to repress expectations. Pujols? No. Fielder? No. Reyes? No. Rollins? No. Beltran? Probably not. Cody fricking Ross? Not sure.
Oh, but the Giants are assuring us that they're working on extensions for Cain and Lincecum. That they're talking, exchanging broad figures, and that nothing concrete is on the horizon but that they want to make something happen.
Um, did they not pay attention to 2011? Tim fricking Lincecum finished with a sub .500 record with an ERA in the 2's!!! Matt Cain has a career sub .500 record despite being one of the better pitchers in the NL for years.
Have the Giants considered that Tim and Matt may have no intention of sticking around SF if the team refuses to spend its money on guys that can actually knock in runs? You know, those things that, when added up, actually equal wins? Apparently the Giants didn't get that memo. They think (pray) that the recoveries of Posey and Sanchez and the upgrade (?) of Cabrera in the outfield will cover the warts of the woefully pathetic O.
Let's examine what must go right for the Giants to have even a decent offense next year...
1) Posey and Sanchez will have to come back and act like it's 2010 with no health setbacks.
2) Huff will have to rebound. He doesn't have to be Huff 2010 but he can't be anything close to Huff 2011.
3) Sandoval must show 2010 was his fluke year and 2009 and 2011 were the norm.
4) Cabrera must prove that 2011 was actually a turning point in his career and not just a fluke career season at age 27 in a hitters haven where there was no pressure.
5) Brandon Belt and/or Nate Schierholtz will have to hit like starting MLB outfielders.
That's a whole lot of ifs with not a whole lot of room for error(s). Now, granted, the Giants are not finished with their offseason. But here are some names they have been linked to: Barmes, Bloomquist, Hairston Jr.
Thankfully, the Pirates and Dbacks have saved Sabean from being Sabean. Hairston Jr is still out there though. It's clear the Giant are looking for a utility infielder even though they have two on their roster (Fontenot and Keppinger). Expect one or both to be traded or non-tendered however. They're starting to cost money. And the Giants aren't about spending too much of that this offseason.
The Winter Meetings start next week. Expect some big name free agents to come off the market. None will go to the Giants. No, the team with one of the best revenues in MLB, that has a World Championship fresh in its history, that has a packed park every night... will be sitting on the sidelines.
If the Giants hadn't won it all in 2010, I would be much more angry about it. As it stands, I'm still pretty pissed. I hate when rich teams try to cry poor. And while a 130M payroll is nothing to sneeze at, the product on the field needs improvement. And that costs money. Money that the Executive Committee is apparently saving for a rainy day.
That's right. This team that was coming off a 2010 World Series championship, that had its most ludicrous (and lucrative) season in its history in terms of attendance and merchandise sales in 2011, is modestly bumping the payroll from 125M to 130M. That, folks, is a pittance for a team with the success the Giants have had in 2010-2011.
At today's press conference to announce the extensions for manager and GM, the Giants made sure to repress expectations. Pujols? No. Fielder? No. Reyes? No. Rollins? No. Beltran? Probably not. Cody fricking Ross? Not sure.
Oh, but the Giants are assuring us that they're working on extensions for Cain and Lincecum. That they're talking, exchanging broad figures, and that nothing concrete is on the horizon but that they want to make something happen.
Um, did they not pay attention to 2011? Tim fricking Lincecum finished with a sub .500 record with an ERA in the 2's!!! Matt Cain has a career sub .500 record despite being one of the better pitchers in the NL for years.
Have the Giants considered that Tim and Matt may have no intention of sticking around SF if the team refuses to spend its money on guys that can actually knock in runs? You know, those things that, when added up, actually equal wins? Apparently the Giants didn't get that memo. They think (pray) that the recoveries of Posey and Sanchez and the upgrade (?) of Cabrera in the outfield will cover the warts of the woefully pathetic O.
Let's examine what must go right for the Giants to have even a decent offense next year...
1) Posey and Sanchez will have to come back and act like it's 2010 with no health setbacks.
2) Huff will have to rebound. He doesn't have to be Huff 2010 but he can't be anything close to Huff 2011.
3) Sandoval must show 2010 was his fluke year and 2009 and 2011 were the norm.
4) Cabrera must prove that 2011 was actually a turning point in his career and not just a fluke career season at age 27 in a hitters haven where there was no pressure.
5) Brandon Belt and/or Nate Schierholtz will have to hit like starting MLB outfielders.
That's a whole lot of ifs with not a whole lot of room for error(s). Now, granted, the Giants are not finished with their offseason. But here are some names they have been linked to: Barmes, Bloomquist, Hairston Jr.
Thankfully, the Pirates and Dbacks have saved Sabean from being Sabean. Hairston Jr is still out there though. It's clear the Giant are looking for a utility infielder even though they have two on their roster (Fontenot and Keppinger). Expect one or both to be traded or non-tendered however. They're starting to cost money. And the Giants aren't about spending too much of that this offseason.
The Winter Meetings start next week. Expect some big name free agents to come off the market. None will go to the Giants. No, the team with one of the best revenues in MLB, that has a World Championship fresh in its history, that has a packed park every night... will be sitting on the sidelines.
If the Giants hadn't won it all in 2010, I would be much more angry about it. As it stands, I'm still pretty pissed. I hate when rich teams try to cry poor. And while a 130M payroll is nothing to sneeze at, the product on the field needs improvement. And that costs money. Money that the Executive Committee is apparently saving for a rainy day.
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