Chris Haft of MLB.com gives some insight on the Giants and Prince Fielder saga. Pitching in relief last June 28th at Milwaukee, Sanchez opened up the ninth inning by plunking Fielder, who was seen loitering in the corridor near the Giants clubhouse after the game. Nothing came of that non-incident, though the Giants sought revenge for Fielder’s theatrical game-winning home run celebration last Sept. 6. Barry Zito hit Fielder with a pitch on March 4th, which settled matters according to baseball’s rough yet time-honored etiquette.
King of Cali thoughts: Jonathan Sanchez hit Fielder (yesterday’s game), and then both teams were immediately issued warnings. Umpires are aware of the feud going on between the Giants and Brewers since Fielders walk-off homer in September against the Giants. Zito was the first Giants pitcher to face Fielder since that homer/celebration. Zito plunked him on the first pitch. Fielder just picked up the ball and tossed it back to Zito. Fielder knew it was coming, and just took it. That should have ended that.
Now that Sanchez has hit Fielder again. I’m starting to have a feeling that this feud is far from over. Although Sanchez didn’t appear to hit Fielder on purpose. I’m sure there will be some retaliation coming when the Giants face the Brewers for the first time during the season on July 5th in Milwaukee. Let’s see how this turns out. That July 5th date may end up being a bench clearing brawl waiting to happen. Only time will tell…
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.
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.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle lets us know two Giants that are currently on the trading block. Schulman says the Giants have been shopping infielder Kevin Frandsen and outfielder Fred Lewis, but have not gotten a nibble on either.
Matt Downs seems to have passed Frandsen in the backup middle-infield competition, and the team likes Eugenio Velez and Andres Torres as backup outfielders, says Schulman.
King of Cali thoughts: Frandsen is a guy that I seen expendable once Freddy Sanchez came to the Giants (via trade), and then again when they signed Sanchez to a two-year contract. Frandsen does have a lot fans in the Bay Area that would love to see him in a Giants uniform. Frandsen graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and later attended San Jose State. Frandsen left San Jose State as the all-time leader in hits. His road to the Giants just took a few detours, and he may end up trying to make another big league club if he’s traded.
Lewis is someone that still shows some flashes of being a very good player, but when he got his chance last year. He didn’t do anything to win the fans and coaching staff over. I have heard fans call him stone-hands Lewis, and he seems to always strike out in clutch situations. The Giants gave him his fair shot, and he didn’t capitalize on it. Now a new start somewhere else may be what he needs to get back on track.
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants have optioned left-hander Madison Bumgarner and right-hander Joe Martinez to Triple-A Fresno. This removes Bumgarner from the number 5 starters role.
Bumgarner lacked command and a crisp fastball in his three Cactus League outings, posting a 6.43 ERA (five runs in seven innings) over three outings.
King of Cali thoughts: I honestly thought Bumgarner was going to win this fifth spot in the rotation hands down. Didn’t see anyone coming close to taking this spot from him. The good news is he’s only 20 years old. He can still go down to Triple-A Fresno and be the first guy called up if someone goes down.
The two leading candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation is Todd Wellemeyer and Kevin Pucetas. These guys are both pitching like there’s no tomorrow. Wellemeyer has a 1.20 ERA in 5 games so far this spring. Pucetas has a 0.64 ERA in 5 games as well.
It’s looking more and more like the Giants will give the fifth spot in the rotation to Wellemeyer. Although I wouldn’t mine seeing Pucetas get his shot. I just think the Giants will go with Wellemeyer, cause they like the fact that he already has big league experience. Who would you like to see as the fifth starter?
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the future Giants backstop Buster Posey is feeling comfortable at first base. He currently rates himself a 7 on a scale of 1-10. The Giants are giving Posey a longer look at first as they try to gauge what he can bring to the 25-man roster if he makes the team out of camp.
Posey went 0-4 at the plate against the Oakland A’s, but still is hitting .375 this spring.
King of Cali thoughts: The reason the Giants brought Bengie Molina back was because they felt like Posey wasn’t fully ready to handle the pitching staff. They thought he can use some work, so what I heard was they would probably send him down to triple A so he can continue to work on his catching.
Now it’s sounding more and more like they are really considering him as the backup catcher/first baseman. I really think that’s a really good idea. If they can give him enough AB’s in San Francisco then it’s a no brainer. He can catch one or two games a week. This will keep Molina fresh, and Posey can have Molina talking to him between innings about different things he’s doing right/wrong behind the plate.
There is no doubt that Posey can handle himself with the bat, so by making him the backup. They can ease him into more and more playing time. That way when he really takes over as the everyday backstop there is no surprise as to what we may get from him. Before I get the hate mail. I’m not saying he’s taking over anytime soon. Even if it’s next season. At least by then he will have big league experience under his belt. What do you think the Giants should do with Posey?
Former Giants pitcher Kirk Rueter did a phone interview with the Razor and Mr. T (Ralph & Tom on KNBR). Rueter says pitching in the Majors is all about making adjustments and trying to keep the hitter off balance. If I was a young pitcher. I would take his advice. He has a career record of 130 wins and 92 losses with a 4.27 ERA. He also retired as the winningest left-handed pitcher in San Francisco Giants history, with 105 of his 130 career wins in a Giants uniform.
He thinks Tim Lincecum is amazing and looks like an athlete. He has a ripped body. People don’t know that cause they don’t see him with his shirt off said Rueter. Lincecum has a competitive attitude. He goes out there on the mound and thinks he’s better than you.
Rueter said he pitched to contact. He wasn’t a strike out guy, but he tried to pitch away from the sweet spot of the bat.
Rueter always has the Giants over to his “Shed” when the Giants make trips to St. Louis. He has a 160 inch TV in it, so he can watch all of his sports. He said his TV can split into 4 different screens. He’s a big sports fan, and he has his shed filled with games and sports memorabilia. It’s the ultimate man cave.
Chris Haft of MLB.com told me via email. That roster spots are to close to call right now for the Giants. Guys that have impressed him are Henry Sosa, Buster Posey, and even guys like Todd Wellemeyer and Andres Torres, who have to make the team all over again. It’s going to be interesting to see how they (Giants) handle the bench spots.
King of Cali thoughts: Sosa is off to a very nice start this spring. He’s pitched in 4 games and has pitched in 4.2 innings. He has a 0.00 ERA. At the start of spring it was highly unlikely that he would make the Opening Day roster. It’s still a long shot, but if he continues to pitch the way he has. It might be hard to deny him.
Posey has a nice stroke going in Arizona. He’s hitting .429 with a homer and 7 RBI’s. That’s not what’s keeping him from being the man behind the mask this year. It’s getting him more familiar with catching and his work behind the plate. Oh and also the Giants bringing back Bengie Molina. Posey may start in triple A, but he might not stay down there long.
Wellemeyer is showing why he should be the number 5 starter. The Giants pretty much said the fifth spot in the rotation was Madison Bumgarner’s spot to lose. Bumgarner is only 20 years old, and can start in triple A. Then if starter goes down. Bumgarner is a phone call away. Wellemeyer has pitched in 3 games and has a 2.00 ERA in 9 innings pitched. The fifth spot is still up in the air. Kevin Pucetas has also thrown himself in the mix. He’s pitched in 3 games and has a 0.00 ERA in 7 innings pitched.
Torres is trying to earn himself a bench role. The Giants have a some outfielders that are trying to make the team as backups. Torres is a spark plug when he’s in the game and has some speed that the Giants need. He would be a good defense replacement in later innings. He’s played in 7 games this spring and is hitting .318 with one homer.
These are the stats that were listed for each player at the time of this post was created.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner was on with the Murph and Mac Show this morning. He was talking about life in North Carolina and life in the City. Bumgarner is only 20 years old and is fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation. He had his locker next to Randy Johnson last year (when he got called up), and met Muhammad Ali in camp this year. Murph tells him that’s not bad for a 20 year old. He will turn 21 August 1st.
Sorry ladies but Bumgarner got married this offseason.
When asked about the velocity being down from last year. Bumgarner said he doesn’t think the fans have anything to worry about. Said it could be because he threw a lot last year. He still felt good, but was throwing way to much(even between starts). Bumgarner is feeling good now, and thinks his arm strength will be coming along soon. He believes everything will be fine this year. Below is Bumgarner’s spring stats.
Pablo Sandoval has dropped 10 pounds since the start of Spring Training.
Right-hander Joe Martinez downplayed his inflamed right elbow. He hopes to get back on a mound within a day or two.
Travis Ishikawa (sprained toe) plans to play in a minor league game early next week. He’ll probably lead off every inning.
Ryan Garko knew he wouldn’t play first base for the Giants this season, but it surprised him to see Aubrey Huff there Thursday. Garko said the Giants told him they were going to sign Nick Johnson. Johnson decided to sign with the New York Yankees.
King of Cali thoughts: I did this video as a test, and figured I would put it up on the site. Just my thoughts about Pablo Sandoval and Barry Zito. Sandoval did make $401,750 last year, and Zito made $18,500,000. Nice to see what they should have made and what they actually did make. Things that make you go hmmmmm…
Chris Haft of MLB.com gives some insight on the Giants and Prince Fielder saga. Pitching in relief last June 28th at Milwaukee, Sanchez opened up the ninth inning by plunking Fielder, who was seen loitering in the corridor near the Giants clubhouse after the game. Nothing came of that non-incident, though the Giants sought revenge for Fielder’s theatrical game-winning home run celebration last Sept. 6. Barry Zito hit Fielder with a pitch on March 4th, which settled matters according to baseball’s rough yet time-honored etiquette.
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 
Former Giants pitcher 
Chris Haft of MLB.com told me via email. That roster spots are to close to call right now for the Giants. Guys that have impressed him are 
San Francisco Giants pitcher 
