Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says when asked about easing into taking swings. Will you take dry swings or using a tee, the Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez said..
“Nah, I think I’ll just start swinging for the fences, hitting bombs.”
In reality Sanchez doesn’t anticipate picking up a bat for at least another week, perhaps two. A few days ago Sanchez status was changed to doubtful for opening day.
“I’d go with very doubtful,” Bochy said. “As much as he’s moving along, that would be rushing him. We’d have concerns about that. And besides, we’re covered. We have experienced guys to help out there.”
King of Cali thoughts: It would be nice if Sanchez was ready for opening day, but it’s not going to make or break the opening day lineup. The Giants have plenty of options. They can have Juan Uribe play second base, and that can add some pop to the lineup. They can also have Eugenio Velez start and second, and that would add some speed to the lineup.
They can really go with whoever is hot. Mark DeRosa is also capable of playing there as well. That would only happen if the Giants had some hot guys going into the start of the season to play in left and right field. I know, not very likely. Let’s just hope they give Sanchez all the time he needs to full recover, so this doesn’t turn into a nagging injury throughout the season.
Today was the day that the Giants and Tim Lincecum had their arbitration hearing. It’s been reported that they were outside and asked for a little time so they can work out a deal before going in the arbitration room. Well they got the time they needed, because they got a two-year deal worked out. Lincecum and the Giants agreed to two years at $23 million. Lincecum will get $8 million this year, and $13 million next year. Yes, I know that doesn’t add up to $23 million. The remaining $2 million is going to be paid as a signing bonus, which will be paid over the two years.
Now that Lincecum has been signed. The Giants are pretty much set to start spring training. I don’t see anymore signings happening before the season starts. There has been a lot of players that have been linked to the Giants this offseason. Below is a list that SF Giants Rumors put together of who’s in for 2010.
Key Additions
Aubrey Huff - 1B (free agent from Detroit Tigers)
The Giants are hoping Huff can return to his 2008 form with the Baltimore Orioles. Where he hit .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBI’s
2009- Huff had a down year. He batted .253 with 13 homers in Baltimore in 110 games. He was then traded to the Detroit Tigers where he hit .189 with 2 homers in 40 games.
Contract – 1 Year, $3 Million (2010)
Career – .282 AVG 203 HR’s
Mark DeRosa - IF/OF (free agent from ST. Louis Cardinals)
DeRosa will likely play left field for the Giants. The Giants are penciling him in to the 5th spot of the order where they are hoping he can turn into a RBI machine.
2009 – DeRosa started the year out with the Cleveland Indians and then was later traded to the St Louis Cardinals. DeRosa played 71 games for the Indians and batted .270 with 13 homers.
For the Cardinals he hit .228 with 10 homers in 68 games.
Contract – 2 Years, $12 Million (10-11)
Career – .275 AVG with 92 HR’s
Bengie Molina - C (re-signed by the San Francisco Giants)
The Giants shocked me with the signing of Molina. I mean if you would have asked me before if I would love Molina back for 4.5 million for 1 year. I would have have said yes in a heartbeat. I am ready for the Posey era but it can wait a bit for Molina. Pitchers love to pitch to him. Now we don’t need to replace his production of 20 homers and 80 RBI’s. The best part of it is he’s going to hit 6th in the lineup. He’s out of the cleanup spot. Molina wanted a muliti-year deal so the Giants counted themselves out of the hunt. The Mets didn’t give him what he wanted, he decided to pass the Mets $5 million offer to sign with the Giants for $4.5 million for one year.
2009 – .265 AVG with 20 HR’s and 80 RBI’s
Contract – 1 Year, $4.5 Million (2010)
Career- .276 AVG with 139 HR’s
Juan Uribe - IF (re-signed by the San Francisco Giants)
Uribe was the hottest Giants hitter towards the end of the season. He was having big hits and big homers. This Guy was a true asset to bring back because he can play multiple positions and he has some pretty good pop too. If Renteria isn’t pulling his weight. Uribe can force himself into the starting role at SS when Sanchez is back and healthy.
2009 – .289 AVG with 16 homers and 55 RBI’s in 122 games
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?
The Giants Flagship Station KNBR reported that Bruce Bochy was on the Giants Hot Stove with Jon Miller. When asked about Freddy Sanchez. Bochy said that he had shoulder surgery a month ago. Sanchez will be rehabbing most of spring training. It’s not likely that he will be in the Opening Day starting lineup.
I just hope this is the last of his injuries in a Giants uniform. Giants fans haven’t got to see how good of a hitter this guy really is. I’m just glad he at least had the surgery a month ago and didn’t wait till the season started to decide he needed it. Him not being available opening day isn’t the end of the world. That just means Juan Uribe will get the start, and we know what he can do in the lineup.
Jon Heyman of SI.com says Giants people are hurt that Adam LaRoche turned them down to take a lower offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks. It remains a mystery to them why LaRoche chose Arizona. The Giants wound up signing Aubrey Huff for $3 million instead but still wouldn’t appear to have enough offense to go with their deluxe pitching.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m glad LaRoche chose the D-Backs. Now it gives us someone to really boo hard when the D-backs come to town. I’m actually glad the Giants turned around and signed Huff. Huff has a lot of power and I’m sure he would love to prove himself by having a bounce back year. The Giants got him for a cheap deal, so this can turn out to be another steal deal for Sabean in two consecutive years. Juan Uribe was the steal deal of last year. He was signed for one year, $1 million. Why do you think LaRoche turned down a two-year $17 million contract and sign for less with the D-Backs?
Mychael Urban said (via twitter) that he still likes Miguel Tejada for the Giants.
King of Cali thoughts: I really believe the Giants may make a run at Tejada. It’s been reported that he would likely land with the Cardinals for one year, $8 million. I have received a lot of emails from Giants fans that really like Tejada and think he’s a good fit. He can play third and if Edgar Renteria doesn’t play well. Tejada can move to short and Juan Uribe to third. Giants are still lacking offense even with the Mark DeRosa and Uribe signings. Let’s hope Sabean steps up by getting us another bat. Who’s on board with a Tejada signing?
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com says the Giants officially announced on Tuesday that they have resigned Juan Uribe to a one-year contract that is reportedly worth $3.25 million.
Uribe batted .289 with 16 homers, 55 RBI’s and 26 doubles in 122 games for the Giants. From Aug. 18th until the end of the season, Uribe batted .310 with 11 homers in 42 games.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m sure most Giants fans are happy to hear that this deal is now official. Uribe was the hottest Giants hitter down the stretch. He brought much more than his versatility. He was a big part of keeping the Giants loose in the dugout. Him and Pablo Sandoval were often seen messing around, and making other players laugh. Uribe can hold down any spot in the infield in case someone is injured or just not pulling their weight. Bringing Uribe back was a very big signing for the Giants to keep this offseason going in the right direction.
Jon Heyman of SI.com said via twitter that Juan Uribe has agreed to a deal to go back to the San Francisco Giants. The signing is just pending a physical.
King of Cali thoughts: Now the ball is rolling for the Giants. First DeRosa and now Uribe. This Uribe signing is a big one to me. No he’s not a new player coming in, but he really was a force for the Giants last year. Uribe had the team having fun in the dugout and was showing his power at the plate. Uribe will be the utility player again for the Giants. The good thing about re-signing Uribe is if Edgar Renteria isn’t pulling his weight again this year. I’m sure the Bochy would have no problem turning Renteria into the utility guy and giving Uribe the everyday shortstop position. Let’s hope Sabean is still seeking another bat, so we can still add some punch to this lineup.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants have had interest in third baseman Adrian Beltre. Sabean has always liked Beltre. It’s not immediately clear how the signings of DeRosa and Juan Uribe would impact their pursuit of Beltre or an outfielder.
King of Cali thoughts: If Sabean goes forward and signs Beltre. Then he’s on the same page that I’m on. We can still add Beltre or Tejada, and get this offense moving in the right direction. One of these two guys can help add some pop to a powerless Giants lineup.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says when asked about easing into taking swings. Will you take dry swings or using a tee, the Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez said..