Chris Haft of MLB.com says the status of Nate Schierholtz as the Giants Opening Day right fielder has shifted from “projected” to “likely” on Saturday. Brian Sabean endorsed Schierholtz based on his defensive prowess.
Now thatWinn has moved on and signed with the New York Yankees. Sabean said: “You always need your best fielder in right field, and the only guy who really has a chance to do that against the standard of Randy Winn is Schierholtz.”
There is still a possibility that Andres Torres and Eugenio Velez could platoon in right field. The emphasis on Schierholtz as a right fielder means that John Bowker, thought to be a candidate for that position, must concentrate on left field and first base if he’s to earn playing time.
Sabean legitimized reports that the Giants are pursuing Todd Wellemeyer and Hisanori Takahashi, saying “we’re engaged with two “free agents. “I don’t know if we’ll get one or both,” Sabean added. Wellemeyer, 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA for St. Louis in 2008, slumped to 7-10, 5.89 ERA last year.
King of Cali thoughts: Nasty Nate has proven he can hold down the right field spot defensively. Let’s just hope he can hold down the spot with his bat as well. If Schierholtz is struggling bad at the plate. I can see this turning into a platoon situation. Bruce Bochy will want to go with the hottest hitter if it gets to that point. The Giants are going to need all cylinders firing at all times to try to generate as many runs as possible. It’s your job to lose Nate!
What If…Freddy Sanchez isn’t ready for Opening day? What does it mean for the Giants lineup By Darrin Reyes
Guest Post
Freddy Sanchez had shoulder surgery in the off season and may not be ready for opening day. Based off the signing this off season the easy stand in for Freddy would be Juan Uribe. I think that putting Uribe in while Sanchez is away would be a good move but I’m not sure if it would be the best move for the Giants. All Giants fans hope that Freddy Sanchez will be ready for opening day. What if he isn’t?
Freddy Sanchez is a career .299 hitter with only 38 career home runs in 9 MLB seasons. He is not the big bat that all Giants fans are accustomed to but he serves a different role in the Giants line up. He is a great situational hitter that will help the Giants greatly when healthy. His absence will change the whole dynamic of the Giants line up.
Projected Line up with Sanchez 1. Rowand 2. Sanchez 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz The Giants have 4 players that could fill in as second baseman in Freddy’s absence. Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez, Mark DeRosa and Emmanuel Burriss.
Juan Uribe Juan Uribe was third on the team with 16 home runs last year but with the additions made this off season he becomes the player with the 5th most in 2009. Everyone knows that he is a free swinger and is the complete opposite of what Sanchez is. I think he would be a good fit but not the best for the Giants. He wouldn’t be a player you would want batting 2nd in your line up. Possible Line up with Uribe at 2B 1. Rowand 2. DeRosa 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. Molina 6. Uribe 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Eugenio Velez After being called up in July he was one of the most productive Giants in 2009. He is someone that can be put in at the top of the line up and not damage the heart of the line up that the Giants have built from the moves this off season. He had 10 stolen bases while batting in the lead off spot in 2009. Having Velez at the lead off would bring Rowand to bat 2nd. Moving Rowand to 2nd in the batting order could give him better pitches to hit because he would have Sandoval batting behind him. The other benefit of having Velez is that he is also able to play outfield. Which brings one of the other possible players that could stand in for Sanchez.
Mark DeRosa DeRosa has been a utility man for most of his career. He is projected to be the starting left fielder but he has spent 282 games of his 12 year career at second base. He only has 12 more games at third base over second. It is very possible for him to start at second base while Sanchez is away then move him back to outfield upon his return. There is no downfall to him being at second or in the outfield. I believe the most important factor would be keeping him in the heart of the line up.
Possible Line up with Velez 2B/LF and DeRosa at LF/2B 1. Velez 2. Rowand 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Emmanuel Burriss Burriss has arguably the best arm for a position player in the Giants organization. He is among the fastest on the team. He’s a switch hitter that can possibly be the table setter that the Giants need at the top of the line up. He was sent down last year and did suffer a season ending foot injury in July. In 2009 he beat out Velez, Uribe, Aurilia and Frandsen in spring training to become the opening day second baseman. If he does well this spring training he may be able to win his spot as the stand in. This is something that could happen but I don’t it happening. I think he should stay down and would be better to be the short stop of the future.
Possible Line up with Burriss 1. Burriss 2. Rowand 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Kevin Frandsen and Matt Downs are not currently at the level of even Emmanuel Burriss. One of them could have a great spring training that could earn them a spot on the opening day roster but its something I don’t see coming. Burriss won the starting second baseman job last year only to be sent down mid season. The versatility of DeRosa could change the future for a Giant in 2010 while Sanchez is away. A good spring training for Torres or Bowker could even win one of them the spot in left field and have DeRosa start the year at second base.
I think the best fit for the Giants on opening day would be Velez put in at the top of the order while Sanchez is away. Having Velez at the top would keep the new core of the giants line up intact. That would bring Rowand to second in the order and may help him improve his numbers. I think any change to the line up should be only done at the first and second place in the order. I believe that Uribe does not make the best fit for the Giants line up in Sanchez absence. Uribe may be a better replacement for Renteria but that What If has not been written yet….
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Jon Heyman of SI.com gives his eight teams that he says have been losers this offseason, at least for the months of November through February. The Giants are listed as the #4 team, so I guess that’s better than the worst team which happens to be the New York Mets.
Heyman says the Giants brought in a collection of hitters – Mark DeRosa, Aubrey Huff, Juan Uribe and Bengie Molina, but ignored the two true middle of the order threats that were available (Jason Bay and Matt Holliday) and badly needed.
King of Cali thoughts: I don’t think the Giants really are losers this offseason. No we didn’t get that one big bat that we have said we needed for the last two years. We did however upgrade our offense. No, it’s not the Yankees lineup. This team does have the potential to score more runs this year. We still are missing our ideal leadoff hitter, and we have no team speed. We do however have some decent hitters.
2010 Projected Lineup
1. Aaron Rowand CF
2. Freddy Sanchez 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Mark DeRosa LF
6. Bengie Molina C
7. Nate Schierholtz RF
8. Edgar Renteria SS
9. Tim Lincecum P
Now we all know this lineup is subject to change. If Sanchez isn’t ready for opening day. The Giants will likely start Juan Uribe and 2nd base. Which means the lineup would need some shuffling.
This was the 2009 Starting Lineup.
1. Randy Winn RF
2. Edgar Renteria SS
3. Fred Lewis LF
4. Bengie Molina C
5. Pablo Sandoval 3B
6. Travis Ishikawa 1B
7. Aaron Rowand CF
8. Emmanuel Burriss 2B
9. Tim Lincecum P
Now by the looks of that. I would say we are definitely starting off this season with a better starting lineup than last year. Would you say the Giants are losers this offseason?
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Tim Lincecum’s agent and the Giants have not engaged in significant contract negotiations. He’s convinced the two-time CY Young award winner’s arbitration case will reach the hearing stage. Lincecum’s agent said the Giants have not discussed a one-year deal and talks have been limited to “some very insignificant two-year conversations.”
Update
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says it appears the Giants and Lincecum won’t be agreeing on any long-term deal. The pitcher will have to “settle” for whatever the arbitration panel concludes. King of Cali thoughts (on the update): Let’s just give him the $13 million and move on. We don’t want any hard feelings because of the arbitration case with our Ace!
King of Cali thoughts: Lincecum is the only Giants player that is still going through the arbitration process. However this story ends. He’s going to be getting paid. We know the most he’s going to get paid this year is going to be $13 million if this goes to arbitration. I’m sure the Giants would like to lock him up to a longer term deal soon, but if they don’t. He’s still under the teams control for four more seasons. Being a pitcher and going year-to-year in arbitration can be dangerous. You never know when a pitcher can mess up his arm. If I was part of Team Lincecum. I would be trying to push for a multi-year deal, so he can have some security. If you were part of team Lincecum. What would your strategy be?
Mark DeRosa did a phone interview today with Murph & Mac on KNBR. DeRosa was on his way to the airport to fly out to San Francisco, so he can be here for Fan Fest. DeRosa was close to signing with the Giants before he signed with the Chicago Cubs three years ago. He said the Cubs made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.
DeRosa feels like the Giants are on a verge of something great. Tim Lincecum has won two Cy Young’s, Matt Cain is one of the better pitchers in the league, and Barry Zito had a strong second half of the season. He thinks if the Giants can offensively give this pitching staff some early runs. The sky is the limit.
DeRosa said Pablo Sandoval, Aubrey Huff and him sound good as 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup. He thinks the 5 hole in the lineup is a RBI spot to drive in runs. He said he really doesn’t care where he hits. He will let Bruce Bochy figure out the lineup and where he will play defensively.
DeRosa closes out the interview by saying he’s never liked the Dodgers, so now that he’s a Giants. He can hate them (was said while laughing). Are you excited to have DeRosa on board?
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Giants have signed Guillermo Mota to a minor league deal and invited him to be league camp. Mota becomes the third right-hander with big league time to ink a minor league deal with the Giants in the past 48 hours.
Baggarly says a clubs spokesperson is telling him that Byung-Hyun Kim and Horacio Ramirez will not be invited to big league camp.
King of Cali thoughts: Not sure if you guys remember, but Mota was the one that hit Prince Fielder last year. The after the game Fielder tried to rush the Dodgers clubhouse. This can be a good and bad thing. I mean I hope he doesn’t get the Giants in fights out there on the field, but he does bring some of that attitude to the mound that can give the Giants some fire out there on the field. Only time will tell if he makes the team.
Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com chat’s with fans. Urban says if he had to pick which Giants acquisition this offseason that he thinks would have a greater impact. He would have to go with Mark DeRosa. He doesn’t see Byung-Hyun Kim making the team.
When asked about Bam Bam Meulens. Urban said he likes the hire a lot. Meulens is said to have a more gentle touch, and he’s gotten along well with players everywhere he’s been. Lansford couldn’t change Bengie Molina, Edgar Renteria and Aaron Rowand’s free-swinging ways.
If Fred Lewis has a good spring. Urban thinks the Giants should keep him. He says he’s the only Velez backer in the Bay Area, it seems, and he’d like to see more of Bowker. Torres is okay in spot duty, but he’ll get exposed with extended run. This is why he wouldn’t be so quick to give up on Fred Lewis.
When asked about Emmanuel Burriss. Urban said he’ll be at camp, trying to ear a job filling in until Freddy Sanchez is ready, but you have to assume that’s Uribe’s gig to lose. At best, Burriss is a backup middle infielder this year.
Urban’s prediction on a breakout 2010 season. He says Velez, Schierholtz and Romo.
He also wouldn’t be shocked at all to see someone like Kevin Pucetas win the No. 5 spot in the rotation out of camp.
King of Cali thoughts: I love to read stuff like this, so I figured I would post some of Mychael Urban’s answers to fans questions. With Fan Fest right around the corner. I’m starting to get really excited for this season to start. The great thing about this time of the year is every team still feels like they have a shot at making the playoffs. =) Who else is feeling pumped?
Tom Singer of MLB.com reports that Jon Miller joined the legends of the booth as the 2010 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. The Ford C. Frick Award winners have their own wing in Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame. Miller will be honored as an award recipient during the Hall’s induction weekend, July 23-26 in Cooperstown.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Giants have signed Horacio Ramirez to a minor league contract. He will receive a non-roster invite to spring training. The Giants also signed Byung-Hyun Kim (mention in yesterdays SF Giants Rumors) to a minor league contact with an invitation to spring training as well.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m really happy for Jon Miller. I love to listen to him while he’s calling games. He just has that coolness in his voice, and has tons of stories to share with us.
As for Horacio Ramirez and Byung-Hyun Kim. I’m not excited about these signings, but I would say it doesn’t hurt to take a chance on these guys with minor league contracts. Who knows, maybe one of them will turn out to be a steal signing. Ramirez has a career record of 39-35 with a 4.64 ERA. Kim’s career record is 54-60 with a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com has said (via twitter) that pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim is attempting a comeback. He has agreed to a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants.
King of Cali thoughts: This signing is nothing to write home about. In 2008 Kim signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and had a disappointing spring training. He was released before the season even started. At least it’s a minor league contract, so it’s a low-risk high reward signing. If he does do good in Spring Training. The Giants may use him as a long relief guy in the bullpen. His career stats are 54 wins and 60 losses with a 4.42 ERA, 806 K’s and 86 saves. Please let me know your thoughts on this signing.
Dan Uggla – The Giants have been linked to Uggla all offseason. The Marlins wanted Jonathan Sanchez in the deal. The Giants have lost Randy Johnson (retired) and Brad Penny (Cardinals). With that said I’m sure that’s why the Giants felt like they couldn’t part with J-Sanchez.
Nick Johnson – It was reported that the Giants had an offer on the table for Johnson, but he decided to take less money to sign with the Yankees ($5.5 million). The Giants had upped their offer to Johnson to $6 million, but that wasn’t tempting enough to land him.
Johnny Damon – The Giants have been linked to Damon. This is because it’s been known that the Giants needed a outfielder and leadoff hitter. When the Giants decided Mark DeRosa was going to be in left-field. That pretty much shut the door on any Damon signing in San Francisco. Damon is still a free agent, so let’s wait and see where he lands.
Adam LaRoche – The Giants had a two year contract offer on the table for LaRoche. He declined it, and the Giants ended up signing Aubrey Huff. LaRoche signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a one year contract for less money ($4.5 million). The Giants had offered him a 2-year contract worth $17 million.
Eric Byrnes – The Giants never came out and said they were interested in signing Byrnes. KNBR the Giants Flagship station had Byrnes on the air a couple times and he made it public he wouldn’t mind playing for the Giants. Byrnes has since signed with the Seattle Mariners for the league minimum ($400,000). The Arizona Diamondbacks are paying his remaining $11 million that they owe him before they released him.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com has said (
