The San Francisco Giants have activated Edgar Renteria and Dan Runzler from the DL. They have also called up the speedy outfielder Darren Ford. It’s not likely that Ford will get much playing time in the outfield but will be a speedy pinch runner when needed.
Eric Hacker of the Fresno Grizzlies has been named to the All-PCL team as the top right-handed starter in the entire league. Hacker has set a new franchise record with 16 wins this season.
Side Notes
The next 14 games are all against the NL West. There is only 29 games left in the season, and 23 of them are against the NL West.The Giants played 28 games in August and went 13-15.
The San Francisco Giants need to find a way to start winning some ball games. They should be picking up games right now while the San Diego Padres are on a 5 game losing streak. The Giants are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Ace Tim Lincecum is in a tailspin in the month of August. He’s had 5 starts and is 0-5 with a 7.82 ERA. We all knew going into this year that our pitching was going to be our strong point, and this 2nd half has been the complete opposite. We need these guys to try to step it up for the remainder of the season for the Giants to have a shot at the playoffs.
Chris Haft the Giants beat writer tells me (via email) that he thinks the team still definitely has a shot!
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says multiple teams are interested in an elite amateur pitcher, Mexican 16-year-old right-hander Luis Heredia. The San Francisco Giants are among the teams that are interested, but the Pirates are a strong favorite to land him.
The Giants twitter account says the Giants have recalled Emmanuel Burriss from Triple-A and Todd Wellemeyer has been designated for assignment.
ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets there is a perception among some GM’s that the Giants are trying to prevent third basemen from reaching the Cardinals or (more). He’s basically saying the Giants are putting claims on guys on waivers so they can’t be claimed by other teams like the Cardinals, Braves, Padres etc. Now that’s what I call helping yourself without making a trade.
The Newest Giants player is Jose Guillen. All it took was a high-five, some cash and a PTBNL (Player To Be Named Later).
The trading deadline came and no offensive help was brought in to help the San Francisco Giants. Giants GM Brian Sabean however has made a couple moves this week. Nothing major that’s going to force teams in the NL West to call it a year, but he did make the Giants a stronger team!
Mike Fontenot brings the Giants depth at second base and is going to be the utility guy. He’s batting .282 (AVG) with 20 RBI’s this season.
Guillen on the other hand brings some attitude and some pop that the Giants can definitely use. I really don’t think he’s going to bring any drama to the clubhouse. Guillen will likely be the Giants starting right fielder. Bruce Bochy can platoon Guillen as well if he’s not pulling his weight. It’s nice to have more options on a daily basis for the skipper.
Why I Like The Trade
1. Guillen will not be with the team long enough to be a cancer to the clubhouse. He’s happy to leave a losing team, and join a team that’s trying to win the division. Veteran players will keep him in line.
2. Bochy can go with the hot bat, and have options off the bench.3. If Guillen isn’t starting a game, he’s always a threat coming off the bench.
The San Francisco Giants slugging outfielder Pat (The Bat) Burrell is on fire right now. This guy has clutch written all over his face. He just knows how to work an AB and doesn’t seem to tense up when the sac fly or clutch hit is needed. This definitely isn’t his first rodeo.
In the last 10 games Burrell is hitting .344 (AVG) with 4 homers, 12 RBI’s and 6 runs scored. He’s doing his part with the bat to help these Giants stay within striking distance of the San Diego Padres. The Padres will be in town tomorrow to start a 3 game series with the Giants.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says a major league source said conversations with the Brewers about Corey Hart and Prince Fielder, were “dead in the water.”
The San Francisco Giants have asked the Nationals about Adam Dunn, but they would want Madison Bumgarner in return. Now that would make no sense to lose an up and coming star in Bumgarner for a rental in Dunn. I guess that means we can cross Dunn off the list for now.
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says Derrek Lee has been linked to the Rangers and Angels, but the Giants could be next in line after talks with the Brewers on Fielder have broke down.
I asked Chris Haft the Giants beat writer what he thought the Giants chances of landing Hart, Jose Bautista, Scott Podsednik, or rental players like Dunn, Jorge Cantu or Jose Guillen. Haft said he thinks they could have any of these guys right now if they wanted. It’s just a matter of whether they think the cost is worth it. The later they wait, the less they’ll have to give up (of course, then they run the risk of another team grabbing one of these guys).
It’s been reported by Jon Heyman of SI.com (via twitter) that if the San Francisco Giants can’t swing a deal for Milwaukee Brewers Corey Hart or Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista the Giants may want to consider renting a player such as Jose Guillen.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star said (via twitter) that the Giants are showing interest in Kansas City Royals Scott Podsednik. Podsednik isn’t the power bat that the Giants are looking for, so I really don’t see this deal happening. Bob has told me (via email) that the Giants have been linked to both Podsednik and Guillen and he knows the Royals are willing to move both players. He also says it won’t take much for the Giants to land Guillen.
It’s also been reported that the Giants are still in on Jorge Cantu. Cantu is a free agent after this year, so he does fall into the rental player category. Sabean says that’s what he doesn’t want to do, but if he gets desperate I’m sure he will take a rental player. He knows his job is still on the line.
I have been receiving a lot of emails/comments from fans that want the Giants to pull the trigger on the Hart/Sanchez deal with the Brewers. I look forward to receiving more emails/comments from fans as to which move they would like to see done before the trading deadline.
Erik Swanson and Brian Helfrich of Sports Business Daily have done it again! They share with us the results of their exclusive survey of 50 sports business execs and media personalities. This time it’s the MLB’s Most Marketable Under The Age of 25.
MLB’s Most Marketable Players Under The Age of 25
1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Evan Longoria, Rays
3. Jason Heyward, Braves
4. David Price, Rays
5. Bryce Harper, Nationals
6. Phil Hughes, Yankees
7. Ike Davis, Mets
8. Pablo Sandoval, Giants
9. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
10. Matt Wieters, Orioles
11. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
t12. Austin Jackson, Tigers
t12. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
t12. Mike Leake, Reds
t15. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
t15. Mike Stanton, Marlins
17. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
t18. Buster Posey, Giants
t18. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks
t20. Starlin Castro, Cubs
t20. Drew Storen, Nationals
The San Francisco Giants have two players on the list. The Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval) and Buster Posey. I’m sure if they do this survey again in the near future, Madison Bumgarner will be added to the list. The Giants future isn’t looking too shabby!
It was a bitter-sweet moment for most Giants fans as the news dropped that the San Francisco Giants traded Big Money Bengie Molinato 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!
The San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean has said the team is not interested in free agents/rent-a-player. Sabean says they are looking for someone that they can control (meaning next year as well). This makes sense so they don’t give up players or prospects for someone that’s going to be gone next year.
“Anybody that fits that mold, “Sabean said, “we are going to be heavy in the scouting side of it and see if it makes sense to explore.”
Jeff Fletcher Senior MLB Writer for Fanhouse says given those parameters, the best fits for the Giants are probably outfielders like Corey Hart, David DeJesus and Josh Willingham. Fletcher also says Prince Fielder would fit as well, but the Giants would have to do some shuffling to fit him since he is a first baseman.
Below is each of the players stats. DeJesus to me is doubtful, because the Giants are still searching for that middle of the lineup bat to drive in runs. DeJesus would be a nice bat at the top of the lineup though.
Prince Fielder is currently hitting .260 with 17 homers, 35 RBI’s and will not be a free agent until 2012.
Corey Hart is currently hitting .278 with 18 homers, 60 RBI’s and will not be a free agent until 2012.
David DeJesus is currently hitting .331 with 5 homers, 35 RBI’s and will not be a free agent until 2012.
Josh Willingham is currently hitting .276 14 homers, 44 RBI’s and will not be a free agent until 2012.
Would you like to see any of these players in Orange & Black?
