Lengthy Break

Yawn. My side towards journalism finally decided to re-awaken itself after meeting up with an old friend and finding out she was an english major who just recently quit her job to persue her own personal aspirations. With that said, let's just get to the post.

The title happens to work in a few ways. While it describes the inactivity that had been going on at this particular site, it's to describe what's been going on with the Giants; as in, they've decided to take a lengthy break from being in the Playoffs. Their last visit to postseason action came in 2003, when they lost to the eventual World Series Champions, Florida Marlins. Since then, the team was all about Barry Bonds and his quest for the All-Time Home Run record. Well, it's 2008 now, Barry Bonds has his record, he's no longer on the team, and another person by the name of Barry now occupies a contract of similar size to the Home Run Champion. After seeing 2/3rd's of this season fly by, with no chance of making it into the playoffs, I began to wonder, just what would it take for the Giants to crack back into the Post-Season.

As a listener of the Giants radio station, KNBR, I hear many takes from callers around the Bay Area, as to their prescription for Post-Season no-shows. Sometimes, I laugh thinking to myself, that player is how old? and he's gonna want how much? That's just not feasible. Then I almost become angry when I hear the really stupid callers that start to complain about the current state of the Giants. Look, it's pretty plain and simple. The Giants focused on Barry Bonds cause he was their meal ticket. He was their attraction and if it wasn't for him, well this rebuilding process would have started in the 2005 season, and believe me when I say this, but Barry Bonds while he may have the Home Run record, it probably wouldn't have been with the Giants.

So what pray-tell has the Giants been doing since then?! Well, hrmm let's check out the last couple of drafts. In 2004, they drafted in the 2nd round John Bowker. Hrmm, they finally think he's coming along and what's this?! He leads the Giants in HR?! Ok, not bad, let's see how he does when he plays full time, not half the time he's been playing since Bruce Bochy likes playing his vets. 2005, well, our picks there haven't really panned out quite yet, but should note that a few of the later draft picks have been making their mark. Alex Hinshaw ring a bell?! Guy has nasty stuff and looks to be a set up guy as his command improves. He could very well, be the next closer (if Brian Wilson doesn't pan out) or trade bait to get some prospects or a player we desperately need. Sergio Romo also came from this draft class, and well, he's done pretty well for himself seeing how he's also playing in the big leagues and coming in during relief situations.

Of course we get to 2006, where our most noticeable pick in Tim Lincecum happened. Boy, a lot of teams are hurting that they didn't draft this kid. He's the next Giants' ace, and will lead a team along with Matt Cain (2002), Jonathan Sanchez (2004), Noah Lowry (2001), Kevin Correia (2002), and of course Barry Zito (Thanks Oakland A's). Also, in that 2006 draft class came Emmanuel Burriss the speedy 2nd baseman who is now playing the position full time with the departure of Ray Durham.

2007, consisted of Matthew Bumgarner, and Timothy Alderson. Now, I haven't heard much about Bumgarner, but reports are starting to fly about Timothy Alderson, who's been so good in Single-A ball, that many are saying he's gonna be just like Matt Cain. For those that think ill of Matt Cain, give the guy 3 runs support and he's a nice 30-11. That just goes to show how bad his run support has been.

Now all of this sounds nice. "The Giants seemed to be well stocked on pitching, but you still need a few batters!" Well yea, you do, and that's the beauty of free agency! Because batters are more likely to fail once they reach the big leagues, it's hard to say which players are gonna be difference makers. (Exception of a few, like bonds, griffey, a rod, who in the lower leagues just blew everyone away) For that, I look to this 2009 Free Agent listing.

Addressing the positions I feel we sorely lack
3b:
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Of this list, Joe Crede, and Hank Blalock would be really nice additions for the Giants. Joe Crede is much the same type of player as Aaron Rowand, and in fact are very good friends. Nomar, as much as his name just rolls off the tongue and sounds great, that guy gets way too injured. He's like Griffey in a sense, "If he never got injured, wow, what could have been." Although in Jr-Griffey's case, he could have been the greatest player ever or one of them. (I'm talking Willie Mays legendary)

SS:
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

This list is definitely really thin. While I like Edgar Renteria, he's just not worth it. At age 33, and being paid over 10M a year, he just doesn't make enough of an impact at all to justify a bidding war against the other teams that will need a SS. The reason why it would be better to spend money on a 3b as opposed to SS is that, Burriss, Ochoa, and Velez can all play SS and it's just a matter of time before we find out who is really got the stuff.

2b:
Ray Durham (37)
Mark Ellis (32)
Marcus Giles (31)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)

We just traded away Durham, think we're gonna go after him?! I think not. Once again this falls under the same category as SS. We have 3 players right now fighting for 2 positions on the infield. Not to mention none of those 3 have played 3b.

OF:
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Bobby Kielty (32)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

I edited this list down, either cause a few players were way too old, or because they shouldn't be playing in the Majors any more. Obviously, this is where a lot of teams could potentially get a huge shot in the arm, (let's hope we're not talking balco) and become a playoff contender. Obviously, the first name that should jump off is Vlad Guerrero, who's gonna be 33 but has always posted at least 30HR's and 100 RBI's. You then have, arguably one of the best Right Handed Hitters to ever play the game in Manny Ramirez and then my personal fav. in Griffey. But honestly, do I see the Giants going after any one of these?! Vlad has already said he wouldn't consider the Giants, and he's the only one I would even consider possibly getting into a bidding war for. Yet, he's coming off seasons where he's starting to show signs of wear, and has been getting injured more and more frequently. As much as Manny would instantly improve the Giants' offense, his attitude is practically the same as Bonds; one that no manager wants to put up with due to his ability to play around and well, act as manny being manny.

So what do the Giants do? Their fans are becoming impatient, yet I don't know why? We've been removed from the playoffs for only 5 years. Our fans act like we're the KC Royals who hasn't made it probably since the years of George Brett. Other teams that haven't made it as recently as the Giants: Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, and the Texas Rangers. My opinion is to let the players we have develop. Everyone wants to give Brian Sabean a hard time, when in fact the last couple years, he's drafted really well. It's not that they may be as deep as some other farm systems, but our prospects are top prospects, as shown by lincecum, cain, sanchez, and hopefuly alderson, hinshaw, buster posey, and company. Maybe pick up a bat here or there off free agency, but give the team some time, We have #1 rotation written all over us in the coming years.