When it rains it pours, and it’s definitely pouring in Giantsland. The San Francisco Giants have lost six straight games, and are looking for a heartbeat to show they are still alive in this NL West.
Tom Verducci of SI.com lists his “All-Overlooked All-Star Team”. The only Giants player to make this list is Shortstop Juan Uribe. Verducci says no other shortstop has more than Uribe’s 12 homers and 45 RBI’s.
Damon Bruce of KNBR 1050 told me (via email) it’s going to be hard to deal for a significant player without moving a pitcher (Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner or Brian Wilson). Bruce doesn’t believe the Giants would ever move one of them. He also says it’s hard to think of a big name coming in to save the season.
Giants beat writer Chris Haft also mention to me that the outfield definitely is an area where they could obtain somebody.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Brian Wilson, Giants, Giants Baseball Rumors, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, sfgiantsbaseball.net
It was a bitter-sweet moment for most Giants fans as the news dropped that the San Francisco Giants traded Big Money Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers for RHP Chris Ray and a player to be named later.
Molina really was a clutch performer for the most part of his Giants tenure and a great backstop as well. He’s a career .275 hitter with 142 homers and 692 RBI’s. Molina just wasn’t putting up the numbers this year for the Giants at the plate. The leash for Molina wasn’t long with the future backstop already on the team (Buster Posey).
One of the SF Giants Rumors swirling prior to this trade was the Giants needed to solidify the bullpen and get a relief pitcher. Well that’s exactly what they did in this trade. Ray is currently 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA, 31.2 IP and 16 K’s. He’s going to be a guy that helps get the ball to closer Brian Wilson.
This isn’t a sexy trade, but it’s one that had to be done. The Giants couldn’t continue to trot Molina out behind the plate, when it’s clear that he’s not the best catcher on the team anymore. I wish you well Big Money because you were a great Giant!
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Bengie Molina, Bengie Molina Rumors, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, Chris Ray, Giants, Giants Baseball Rumors, King of Cali, NL West, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, sfgiantsbaseball.net, Texas Rangers, Trade Deadline
I’m going to have a little fun with this blog post today. =) I attended the San Francisco Giants vs. Boston Red Sox game on Friday night with my girlfriend. We went with a group, so we sat in the upper deck and I was thinking we might have a better view of the A’s game than the Giants. We weren’t too excited to be sitting up there, cause we love being in the bleachers, however it wasn’t as bad as we had anticipated. We were surrounded by Red Sox fans which made it a unique experience and the view wasn’t bad at all. It was like having a birds-eye view of the game, and it was very cool to see the fog roll in. The only bad thing was we couldn’t see the scoreboard very well.
The Red Sox fans were very friendly and just loved talking baseball. It was just really cool to hear them talk with their Boston accents. We did however have one thing in common, we both didn’t like the New York Yankees. I met some Red Sox fans that moved to the Bay Area a while back, and there were others that flew here from Boston to follow their team and vacation in San Francisco. The energy out there was very electric! It felt like a playoff game and the Giants haven’t made the playoffs since 2003. The game was super exciting and had both Giants and Red Sox fans on the edge of their seats.
I have been to a ton of games, but this one will definitely stand out when I look back at games I have attended. The Red Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. I knew if I didn’t do something fast this game would get out of hand. My girlfriend and I knew we had to pull out the big guns if we were going to get luck back on our side. No lucky penny was going to work. We went straight to the Garlic Fries! Once we started munching on them we knew it would be a matter of time before the Giants would make it a game again. The Giants did come back and then took the lead on a Juan Uribe homer. I don’t think the Garlic Fries are really lucky at all, we just love them, so we had to have them right away.
It was a scary ending as the Red Sox loaded the bases, but closer Brian Wilson was able to prevail! I do have a video that I recorded at the game. I will upload it to the site in the next few days. It’s the Red Sox fans doing their chant (Lets Go Red Sox). The Giants took game one of the three game series. I had high hopes with Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum pitching games two and three, but the evil Red Sox showed their lineup was far superior.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Boston Red Sox, Brian Wilson, Giants Baseball Rumors, Giants vs. Red Sox, Juan Uribe, King of Cali, Madison Bumgarner, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, sfgiants, sfgiantsbaseball.net, Tim Lincecum
Posted on June 25th, 2010 by admin in
Q&A 
For those of you that have seen the website FireSabean.com. I thought I would try to give Giants fans a little more insight on the man behind the site. He’s 23 year old Eric Shackelford who was born in southern California and parents are actually Dodger fans. Eric lived down south for his first 3 years. He became a Junior Giants member and the rest is history! Eric decided to start a site online cause there is a lot of Giants fans online with opinions so it makes talking Giants a lot more fun.
Eric says “I just don’t get our front office, and that’s why I’m here. To represent an entire nation of fans who are tired of this management and I hope others choose to engage with me or continue preaching the truth!”.
King: The first question I must ask you about is your parents being Dodger fans. You must have a really bad relationship with them right?
Eric: I burned down our house when I was four years old. Hah, but seriously, I remember going through a closet one day and seeing a stuffed bear with Dodgers gear on. I took it out front and ripped it’s head off and threw it away. They are good people, just a little misdirected when it comes to sports (I was born in Ventura so I guess they felt obligated to like the pathetic Dodgers).
King: What is your favorite Giants memory?
Eric: Oh man, that’s a tough one. I’ll have to say the 1997 Giants vs. Dodgers. Giants were a game back with 9 to play. The game was so intense and back-and-forth, then Rod Beck takes the mound in the 10th inning with the bases loaded and no one out. He gets a strike out then a home-to-first double play. Then the 12th inning… Brian Johnson’s walk off. I remember running up and down the stairs screaming as loud as I could. Giants won the West that year. Good times..
King: Who’s your two favorite past & present Giants players and why?
Eric: Currently I am a huge fan of Brian Wilson. He is the carbon copy of what a closer should be. Cocky, Mohawk, tattoos, hilarious and a flame-thrower. He will be on par with Rod Beck when it’s all said and done. The attitude of this guy is amazing. I’ve always liked closers, from Beck to Rob Nen to Joe Nathan now Weez. Pretty good following.
Past – The obvious answers would be Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal etc. I am 23 years old and I grew up watching Barry Bonds. Go past the steroid drama because that was the era (as seen in the inflation of stats), you can’t take away the mystique and raw talent that man had. He transcended the team and made McCovey Cove what it is. I can’t say enough about him, I remember going to the Stick (Candlestick Park) and being in awe of every single at-bat. He is the home run champion and I was able to witness it — That’s pretty cool.
King: Do you think Barry Bonds will be voted into the Hall of Fame, or do you think he will be on the blacklist?
Eric: I don’t see it happening right now, but in about 10 years there may be a chance. Think about it, if you don’t let Bonds in you can’t let guys like Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire in either. They did the same thing and I don’t know exactly how those voters will feel in 10 years, but right now there is no chance. Pete Rose was never forgiven, and if you leave names like this off the ballot then I think baseball would have committed a huge mistake. I guarantee you at least 75% of players did it for quite some time, it’s sad, but it was part of the game. That’s just my opinion, though.
King: What was your initial reaction when you heard Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean were coming back in 2010?
Eric: I rolled my eyes. I knew it was going to happen so I wasn’t too surprised. Where Sabes is Bochy will soon follow — the two are attached at the hip. On any other team if a GM doesn’t produce a World Series title in 10 years max they are gone, yet Sabean keeps hanging around which is pretty disgusting. I think Magowan and Baer are stuck on the fact that he took the team to the Series in ‘02 (with Bonds) and that he has the ability to take them there again. They have goggles on, they have to.
King: Since you think Sabean isn’t doing a great job as the GM. If you had his job. Who would you pursue at the trading deadline, and who would you part with to make that trade happen?
Eric: Prince Fielder. This would be the smartest. Or even Adrian Gonzalez. Then Posey can catch and Huff can play the outfield. There’s a lot of talk about a bunch of different guys but I’m still stuck in Prince. Obviously, they want someone like Cain — which we cannot do. Honestly, I have no idea where we can go for Prince, maybe a Jonathan Sanchez/Madison Bumgarner. Stick with me. Prince is an everyday player, pitchers affect 1 out of 5 games a week. Wouldn’t you be willing to part with a top prospect and a good pitcher for a power hitter who’s 26 years old?
King: If and when Sabean is no longer the Giants GM. Will you keep your FireSabean.com site, start a new site or stop blogging all together?
Eric: I have thought about that before. The site has picked up pace recently and I’ve received pretty good feedback. If people are still following the blog when Sabean is fired then I’ll probably buy a new domain (not sure yet of what) and just have people who type in firesabean.com get redirected to the new blog. I love writing and want to do that for the rest of my life (not blogging, but just writing in general) so this is a lot of fun. Hopefully people like it too.
King: Is there anything you want to let Giants fans know about you that they might not know?
Eric: I may come off pessimistic a lot of the time, but that’s where I get the humor. I have been a lifelong Giants fan and those who know me know how much I love watching this team. It’s kind of a catch 22 with Sabean at the helm, if we do well this year that’s awesome but then Sabean will surely get another extension. Would I take a World Series win even if it means Sabean will get a lifelong contract? Hell yeah, that’s what our goal as a fan is: To witness the ultimate triumph — and whether it comes with him as the GM or Jon Doe, it doesn’t matter. We’re all in this together and one World Series in 14 years of torture? Maybe I’ll purchase IveAlwaysLovedSabean.com next.
King: Thank you very much Eric for taking the time to do this Q&A with SF Giants Rumors. Keep up the great work with your site. It’s always fun to read your posts. It’s nice to see that we both have the same passion for the San Francisco Giants!
~King of Cali
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The San Francisco Giants 2010 Opening Day payroll is up 19% from the 2009 Opening Day payroll. The Giants have had some pay raises and added two bats (DeRosa and Huff) to the everyday lineup.
The 2009 Opening Day payroll was $82,616,450. Some tweaks to the lineup have been made since then. One player gone from that Opening Day Lineup is Randy Winn. That did free up $9.6 million, but that money was spent on raises. You didn’t think Lincecum and company would remain cheap did you?
Tim Lincecum was making $650,000 last year, and is now making $9 million this year. There goes the money that was free when Winn wasn’t re-signed. Randy Johnson (retired) was paid $8 million last year, so that money went to Matt Cain who’s salary went up this year by $2 million (2010 salary $4,583,333). Then the other $6 million went to Giants closer Brian Wilson. Wilson made $480,000 in 2009, and his salary has skyrocketed in 2010. He’s now making $6.5 million.
The two bats that were brought in to help the Giants score more runs on a consistent basis, so far seem to be doing the job. Mark DeRosa is making $6 million this year, and Aubrey Huff is making $3 million. Huff may turn into the big steal of the winter if he can drive in 100 runs. He’s already learned that his homers may take a hit at AT&T Park, but he’s still trying to get them any way he can. He did get his first homer as a Giant. It was an inside the park home-run!
With all of these pay raises and roster changes. The Giants Opening Day payroll is $98,641,333 in 2010. It’s nice to know that the team is willing to spend money to try to put out a team that has a chance to win. Our payroll is way below the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but at least were in the upper half in the league in payroll. Just be happy you’re not a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. They have the lowest payroll ($34,943,000).
NL West 2010 Payrolls and Top Player Salary
Arizona Diamondbacks – $60,718,166 – Brandon Webb $8.5 million
Colorado Rockies – $84,227,000 – Todd Helton $17,775,000 million
Los Angeles Dodgers – $95,358,016 – Manny Ramirez $18,695,006 million
San Diego Padres – $37,799,300 – Chris Young $6,375,000
San Francisco Giants – $98,641,333 – Barry Zito $18.5 million
~King of Cali (Steven)
Technorati Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Aubrey Huff, Barry Zito, Brandon Webb, Brian Wilson, Chris Young, Colorado Rockies, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Rumors, King of Cali, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez, Mark DeRosa, Matt Cain, Randy Johnson, Randy Winn, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants 2010 Payroll, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum, Todd Helton
The Associated Press reports that the Giants have agreed to a three year deal with starting pitcher Matt Cain. It’s a $27.25 million dollar deal. Cain will receive a $1 million signing bonus, and will be paid $4.5 million this year, $7 million next, and then $15 million in 2012.
Giants closer Brian Wilson signed in January a one year deal to avoid arbitration for $4,437,500. He has since signed an extension with the Giants. He will make $6.5 million in 2011 and then $8.5 million in 2012.
Relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt also received an extension. He will receive $4.5 million this season, $4.5 next year, and has a $5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News also says (via Extra Baggs Blog) the Giants will have roughly $35 million committed to Cain and Barry Zito for the 2012 season, and they’ll have Tim Lincecum eligible for arbitration again. It’s bound to be a very, very expensive starting five.
King of Cali thoughts: My thoughts always depend on which mood I’m in. Sorry, that’s just how I roll. Today I’m thinking positive, so I’m happy that these guys have all been rewarded for their great performances. Every team in baseball would love to have Cain, Affeldt or Wilson on their team. The Giants are smart and are taking care of these guys.
Now from a business standpoint. That’s a lot of money that is locked up between Cain and Zito in 2012. If I wasn’t in such a great mood today. I would say that would definitely jeopardize the Giants being big spenders around that time on any key free agents.
However, since I’m in a great mood. I’m looking at it like this. As fans you shouldn’t get to caught up in how much these guys are making. Just hope that the owners pay these guys what it takes to keep them happy to be in San Francisco. We just need them to be committed to putting out a team every year that has a chance to do something. Let’s just be thankful we aren’t a team that brings up good players then trades them away before it’s time to pay them what they deserve.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Barry Zito, Brian Wilson, Cactus League, Free Agents, Jeremy Affeldt, King of Cali, Matt Cain, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Although the deals haven’t been officially announced by the San Francisco Giants. It’s been reported by multiple news outlets. That the Giants have reached an extension with two of their big arms in the bullpen. Wednesday USA Today reported that the Giants reached a two-year deal with Jeremy Affeldt. Thursday Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reported the Giants and Brian Wilson had agreed to a contract extension.
Side Note
Kevin Frandsen has been dealt to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash.
“I think Kevin is going to benefit from a change of scenery,” Sabean said.
King of Cali thoughts: This is good news for Giants fans. It’s nice to see that the Giants are trying to take care of their players that have performed well for them. Both of these guys has great season last year. Affeldt had a career year and was the show stopper in relief. He was able to keep the lead intact and pass the ball to Wilson in the ninth to close it out.
These extensions have not been made official yet, so more details on these signings will be coming once they’re available.
I’m sure most Giants fans knew the day was coming when the Giants would be parting ways with Frandsen. Sabean said they have other options internally that they have identified. Which is what makes Frandsen expendable.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Boston Red Sox, Brian Sabean, Brian Wilson, Cactus League, Free Agents, Giants, Jeremy Affeldt, Kevin Frandsen, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants and Brian Wilson have reached an agreement. Which means they will be avoiding arbitration. Wilson will be making nearly $4.5 million ($4,437,500).
King of Cali thoughts: This comes as no surprise since we knew the Giants and Wilson were not that far apart in arbitration numbers. Wilson has some shaky outings, but for the most part he does seem to get the job done.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Giants and Tim Lincecum need to find the right multi-year deal to 
satisfy both sides. Heyman says their is no sense risking a loss in arbitration if you’re Lincecum.
King of Cali thought: The Giants have two players that are going through the arbitration process. These players are Lincecum and Brian Wilson. Lincecum has submitted $13 million and the Giants submitted $8 million. They are $5 million apart, so I’m sure they will be able to work out a deal for around $11 million. Even if this case goes through the whole process. I still think paying Lincecum $13 million is worth it. Whatever amount he gets paid this year is going to be well deserved.
Lincecum is really in a tough spot as far as I’m concerned. Yes, he’s a great pitcher. Yes, he’s going to get a big raise every year in arbitration. The problem is what if he gets hurt and his career is over? Then he just has this one year deal worth $13 million the max. He may want to consider signing a long term deal. Yes he will get under market value, but at least he will have all that money guaranteed for however many years. Just something I would really think about if I was him. You never know when something might get tweaked, and you may never be the same.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Chris Haft of MLB.com says the Giants and Jonathan Sanchez have agreed on a one-year contract. The deal is for $2.1 million. Sanchez went 8-12 with a 4.24 ERA in 32 appearances. He did pitch San Francisco’s first no-hitter in 33 years over the San Diego Padres on July 10th.
The Giants are expected to exchange salary figures later Tuesday with their two most pricey arbitration-eligible performers: Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson.
King of Cali thoughts: We all know that all these arbitration guys are going to get raises. $2.1 million for J-Sanchez isn’t bad. I mean his win/loss and ERA is nothing to write home about, but the potential is there. He gets a lot of swings and misses. Plus he’s also got a no-hitter under his belt. I’m sure he’s going to be pitching with a lot more confidence this year.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, Giants, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
