2215 THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS GROUP 590 2009-05-30T19:22:42Z 196 Group false 8432504 false 0 false 2009-11-06T19:41:21Z 2 1998-12-07T00:00:00Z espn groups http://sportsnation.espn.go.com/groups 2009-03-19T22:43:49Z ESPN Groups Message Boards 2493 false 2215 false Groups 2212 Groups 2049 2009-11-07T15:56:59Z false Timmy has the opportunity to earn over 200 MILLION dollars in his career...someone needs to sit his butt down and make sure he comprehends that. This kid could also win 300 wins over the course of a long career if healthy...someone also needs to sit him down and make sure he gets it. I know it was only enough pot to fill up a thumb sized pipe...but WE ALL KNOW that is not how much he has or smokes. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-06T19:41:21Z false 2992561 0 false 2009-11-06T19:41:21Z 7545208 November, 06 2009 19:41:21 2009-07-26T00:00:00Z samHDT -18000 false High Times: Lincecum cited for marijuana possessionSan Francisco Giants star pitcher Tim Lincecum is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-06T02:03:00Z false 2990029 0 false 2009-11-06T02:03:00Z 2540330 November, 06 2009 02:03:00 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Timmy got pulled over for speeding and the cop found 3.3 grams of Marijuana in his car. He is facing misdemeanor charges. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-06T00:18:14Z false 2989503 0 false 2009-11-06T00:18:14Z 2740780 November, 06 2009 00:18:14 2008-06-12T00:00:00Z beardown3232 -18000 false Pitchers and catchers report in 103 days ........ With the Yanks winning the World Series last night, the offseason has officially started. And Feb. 15 is the usual reporting day for major league teams and the Dodgers. It is an amazing accomplishment that Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera all played on the winners in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. Here's hoping that Giants fans will be talking in the same way about Buster Posey some day. He's hit two homers in his last 3 games in the fall league. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-05T15:13:09Z false 2987459 0 false 2009-11-05T15:13:09Z 2540330 November, 05 2009 15:13:09 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Rowand for Milton Bradley? ..... MLB Trade rumors posted a list of the worst contracts in MLB recently, which sparked a bunch of speculation about swapping players with those bad deals. Paulie at Give Em Some Stankeye says it would make sense to trade Aaron Rowand for Milton Bradley: I don't know if these rumors are legitimate or if they're just the extremely optimistic ramblings of Internet chat board dwellers, but hell, I'd be for it. Despite his status as an anger management counselor's worst nightmare, I've always liked Bradley. He can still hit, last year's horror show notwithstanding. It's just a matter of staying healthy and out if the insane asylum.Most importantly of all, even if he stinks it up and proceeds to bludgeon an entire group of rafters in McCovery Cove with an oar, he's cheaper than Aaron Rowand, his contract runs out before Aaron Rowand's, and he's not as crappy as Aaron Rowand. With Andres Torres probably just as worthy of starting as Rowand is, it doesn't make much sense to keep carrying Rowand around if there's a deal that can be made, even if said deal involves bringing in a maniac. Again, this could be a total non-story, but keep an ear open nonetheless. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-04T02:43:06Z false 2976250 0 false 2009-11-04T02:43:06Z 2540330 November, 04 2009 02:43:06 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Giants to Pursue Damon? ....... Quote: The Yankees have interest in bringing back Johnny Damon -- "We need him," A-Rod said -- but could well get competition from at least the White Sox and Giants. The Cardinals, Braves and Red Sox are among other teams looking for a corner outfielder, though it's hard to imagine him going back to Boston. Before these playoffs, the Yankees were believed willing to go for two years and $16 million for Damon. But that was before his solo double steal in Game 4. -John Heyman 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-04T02:38:48Z false 2976179 0 false 2009-11-04T02:38:48Z 2540330 November, 04 2009 02:38:48 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false The Giants hire a hitting coach who couldn't hit ...... A lot of people attacked the Cardinals last week for hiring a hitting coach with nearly 600 career home runs by complaining about that coach's career .263 average. What, then, will they have to say about the Giants' new hitting coach, former Yankees can't-miss prospect Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens? Meulens career line: .220/.288/.353. I still have a vivid memory of watching Meulens on his fourth and fifth go-around with the Columbus Clippers back when I was in college and had nothing better to do than to go to ballgames. They still treated Meulens like a prospect then, but it was super apparent by that point that he was going nowhere fast. Of course, one need not have been a great hitter to be a good hitting coach. One simply need to know a thing or two about hitting and be able to communicate it effectively. The Giants think Meulens is that guy. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but given how poor their hitting has been in recent years he can't really hurt, can he? 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-03T16:24:49Z false 2971851 0 false 2009-11-03T16:24:49Z 2540330 November, 03 2009 16:24:49 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Makes absolutely no sense to me. If this is the guy who got John "Swing and miss" Bowker turned around, heaven help us. Bowker was pitiful at the plate in his call up. This guy is better than Will Clark, a proven professional hitter? There is no experienced veteran coach out there...someone like Tony Gwynn or Wade Boggs that we could toss big money at? I remember Meulens from his prospect days...he was a bust. This is a poor move on the Giant's part and concerns me about our direction, once again. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-03T03:43:46Z false 2967510 0 false 2009-11-03T03:43:46Z 7545208 November, 03 2009 03:43:46 2009-07-26T00:00:00Z samHDT -18000 false Meulens named hitting coach ..... Baggs, per order of the Giants PR staff, includes the obligatory mention of how he helped "transform" Eugenio Velez.... Giants appoint Hensley Meulens as hitting coach Posted by Andrew Baggarly on November 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens was elevated to hitting coach today, replacing Carney Lansford. Meulens was the hitting coach at Triple-A Fresno this past season — his first in the organization. This will be his first assignment on a major league coaching staff. Meulens, a former Yankees top prospect, played parts of five seasons with the club before a stint in Japan. He was credited with helping to turn around John Bowker and Eugenio Velez at Fresno last season. Lansford had spent two years in the position but wasn’t retained. The Giants averaged the fewest pitches per plate appearance in the majors and also ranked last in walks and on-base percentage. http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extraba...hitting-coach/ 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-03T03:30:51Z false 2967147 0 false 2009-11-03T03:30:51Z 2540330 November, 03 2009 03:30:51 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks the "desperate-for-pop Giants" would consider outbidding the Red Sox for Jason Bay. Jon Heyman of SI.com reported last week that the Red Sox were willing to give Bay $60 million over four years. If Bay doesn't work out for San Francisco, Shea names Garrett Atkins as a possibility. Atkins, who lost his starting job to Ian Stewart, batted just .226/.308/.342 with nine home runs and 48 RBI this season. Buster Olney of ESPN.com recently named him as a prime candidate to be non-tendered in December. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-02T14:50:24Z false 2959764 0 false 2009-11-02T14:50:24Z 2540330 November, 02 2009 14:50:24 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Noah Lowry to be released ....... Quote: In other news, I've been told that Noah Lowry, who last pitched in 2007, will become a free agent today when he is removed from the 40-man roster, not surprising given his arm saga and hard feelings over his care. Lowry's agent, Damon Lapa, said he was informed of that by the Giants today and added in an e-mail, "Noah is completely healthy throwing three days a week on his normal offseason program without any restrictions." In theory, the Giants could re-sign him. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...#ixzz0VShVfhIP 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-02T14:49:26Z false 2959758 0 false 2009-11-02T14:49:26Z 2540330 November, 02 2009 14:49:26 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false If there is a chance in hell that Noah can still pitch, I keep him. If he comes through spring training in good shape, that would allow us to move a starter or left reliever for another bat in a package deal. I love this kid and was hoping he was not Shawn Estes II. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-11-01T05:10:17Z false 2940131 0 false 2009-11-01T05:10:17Z 7545208 November, 01 2009 05:10:17 2009-07-26T00:00:00Z samHDT -18000 false Buzz: Giants to Pursue Bay ...... Henry Schulman, in a report in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, says the Giants are expected to make a run at Jason Bay. Giants General Manager Brian Sabean told Schulman that he sees a later developing market for free agents this year, and feels that this plays in his favor. Yesterday, Jon Heyman said that he believes the Red Sox will offer Bay four years at around $60 million. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-31T22:46:23Z false 2931508 0 false 2009-10-31T22:46:23Z 2540330 October, 31 2009 22:46:23 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Article: Elton Brand No Longer Fits in Philly ......... Quote: Brand, 30, is starting his 10th season in the league, but just the second year of that five-year, $80 million contract he signed as a free agent two summers ago. Although the Sixers were convinced that signing him was wise back then, they are having serious reservations now about the move. His drain on the salary cap wouldn't be bad if he were a dominating player again. But now his long-term contract makes him virtually untradeable, and he will prevent the Sixers from adding other key pieces in the coming years. "I'm going to be disappointed if I have to look back and say 'man, I didn't accomplish what I set out to do in Philadelphia,''' he said. "That would be a huge disappointment. I still think we can build a contender. I want to be a big part of that.'' After talking to Brand, you want to root for him to succeed. It just doesn't look realistic anymore. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-31T22:44:16Z false 2931466 0 false 2009-10-31T22:44:16Z 2540330 October, 31 2009 22:44:16 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Noah Lowry to be released ....... Quote: In other news, I've been told that Noah Lowry, who last pitched in 2007, will become a free agent today when he is removed from the 40-man roster, not surprising given his arm saga and hard feelings over his care. Lowry's agent, Damon Lapa, said he was informed of that by the Giants today and added in an e-mail, "Noah is completely healthy throwing three days a week on his normal offseason program without any restrictions." In theory, the Giants could re-sign him. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...#ixzz0VShVfhIP 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-31T22:43:00Z false 2931439 0 false 2009-10-31T22:43:00Z 2540330 October, 31 2009 22:43:00 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false Why Brian Sabean is a dingbat ..... He's failed by most standards to do anything resembling a good job -- even though he gets to operate near the top tier of spending. It's not as if he has his hands tied by a cheap owner as in Oakland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, San Diego or Florida. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-30T14:26:12Z false 2916921 1 false 2009-10-31T16:38:31Z 2540330 October, 30 2009 14:26:12 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false More bad news ....... Get ready for the inevitable stories about how this free agent or that wants to be a Yankee, or doesn’t want to play in PacBell, or is too expensive, or best yet, how there just aren’t any free agents available that meet the needs of the Giants after all. Get ready for the excuses, the money worries, the reasons why the Giants are signing yet another washed up, middle of his decline phase, worthless league average mediocrity. Great. Just remember, every year, baseball executives know exactly who will or won’t be available as a free agent. They know, for the most part, who will be available in 2010, 2011, etc., etc.. So, when you read about how there’s nobody that meets the Giants needs, or salary, or whatever, remember that Brian Sabean and his crack team had nothing else to do with themselves other than planning to meet this challenge. We needed home runs and walks last season, and did nothing about it. Now we need home runs and walks again, and inexpensive hitters who actually bring those things to the table are few and far between. That is because our newly renewed GM failed at his job last off-season. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-27T14:04:27Z false 2888398 1 false 2009-10-31T16:38:24Z 2540330 October, 27 2009 14:04:27 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false The Giants have officially signed Freddy Sanchez to a two year deal, apx. 6 mil per. IF this guy is healthy and can play 150 games...bat him leadoff and utilize that .299 lifetime BA and let him steal some bases. We could slide Uribe in the two slot at SS and give Rent the boot or use him with Rowand as trade bait. Oh wait, the only one who would take those two mutts in a trade is our guy Sabean...oh well... 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-31T16:38:07Z false 2926176 0 false 2009-10-31T16:38:07Z 7545208 October, 31 2009 16:38:07 2009-07-26T00:00:00Z samHDT -18000 false Barry Zito’s Contract Revisited by R.J. Anderson: A few things are held true throughout baseball fandom. One of them is Barry Zito’s contract being described as a general manager’s worst nightmare. It’s been a while since someone quantified just how horrendous it is though. In December 2006, Brian Sabean and the Giants outbid Bill Bavasi and the Mariners in order to land the overrated southpaw billed as an ace. As Nate Silver, amongst others, noted at the time, the deal was perfectly reasonable if you believed Zito could replicate his ERA. Unfortunately for the Giants, Zito’s ERA was a confluence of a spacious ballpark and a bloated amount of stranded baserunners. The contract – or, perhaps, The Contract to Giants fans – held a length of seven years (with a club option) and $126 million (given a $7M buyout for 2014 the contract is actually worth at least $133 million and has the chance to be worth more than $151 million). 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-26T22:09:10Z false 2882188 0 false 2009-10-26T22:09:10Z 2540330 October, 26 2009 22:09:10 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000 false To date, the Giants have paid Zito roughly $43M. He has posted FIP of 4.82, 4.72, and 4.31 in innings totals of 196.2, 180, and 192. After park and league adjustments that works out to WAR of 1.7, 1.4, and 2.2 or in dollar terms: $6.9M , $6.4M, and $10M; a sum of $23.3M. Quick subtraction shows the Giants losing about $20 million on the deal so far, and, as mentioned, there are still four years and $90 million left. The somewhat good news that arrives is Zito had his best season (as told by WAR) since 2005 last year. His fastball went faster, as he used it less than before, and he relied heavily on an upper-70s slider. Maybe he can at least replicate that success heading forward, although it still won’t prevent him from being a punch line. 8432504 Discussion 0 2009-10-26T22:08:35Z false 2882186 0 false 2009-10-26T22:08:35Z 2540330 October, 26 2009 22:08:35 2008-05-29T00:00:00Z DeeNyC5 -18000