"Is Aubrey Huff the Final Piece to the Off Season Puzzle?" posted by Michael McGauley

 Hey, we all wanted another bat, right?   I like Aubrey Huff, but I certainly like the 2008 Aubrey Huff better than the 2009 version. I was lucky enough to go to the old Yankee Stadium in July of '08, and saw the Yanks beat the Orioles on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon. Aubrey Huff was smack in the middle of a potent Baltimore Line-up with Brian Roberts at the top, Adam Jones second, Nick Markakis batting third, followed by Huff in the clean-up slot, and Melvin Mora hitting fifth. Huff was batting over .300 at the time, and drove in his 72nd RBI in that game (in July!) -- I remember, because I just looked it up; July 30th, 2008. He went on to finish the season with 108 RBI's, 32 homers, 48 doubles, 182 hits, 96 runs, a .360 on-base percentage in 598 at-bats and 154 games played. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, last year was not so good. His average dipped to .241, with 15 home runs and 85 RBI's in time split between Baltimore and Detroit; following a mid-season trade. He had far fewer at-bats though (430), and only 109 hits, so I think it's a matter if consistency and playing everyday for Huff to be successful. I would say probably not a 30 home run guy at A.T.& T. Park, but I would be thrilled with 100 RBI's and 40 doubles and maybe twenty-something home runs, especially hitting behind guys like Freddy Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval. Let's re-visit that opening line-up scenario with the addition of Huff: 2B SanchezSS Renteria3B Sandoval1B HuffLF De RosaRF Schierholtz (Byrnes???)CF RowandC   PoseySP Lincecum  O.K., who hits lead-off? I was thinking Velez would get a look, but that was before they signed Huff, and now have to move De Rosa to left field from third base. My assumption is Sanchez would be at the top, but I would prefer to see him in the number two hole, and bat Renteria seventh where he belongs. Is Buster Posey going to be the opening day catcher? Who knows? Remember, Aaron Rowand was at his best last year in the lead-off slot.   And what's the deal with Adam LaRoche? He turned down a two-year deal for more money from the Giants to accept a one-year deal with Arizona? I thought it was location (East Coast versus West Coast), but apparently, it's all about the ball park. Let's be sure to boo La Roche heartily when the D-Backs come to town. It's kind of like Colorado's Todd Helton, who openly displays his disdain for hitting in the Giants' yard (although I saw him launch a home run in S.F. last season).  To make room on the 40-man roster, Arizona released Eric Byrnes, who has suffered through two miserable, injury-riddled seasons. To me, he would be an ideal fourth outfielder. He's a local guy who grew up here, and still has a home here. In 2007 in 160 games for Arizona, Byrnes had 626 at-bats, 179 hits (.286 average), .353 on-base percentage, 21 homers, 83 RBI's and 50 stolen bases. That was the year Arizona played Colorado in the NLCS. Anyway, I don't know if his body is breaking down as a result of age (33-34ish), or if there's another explanation, but he would be a great get. Hey, Eric Byrnes at 85% is better than Fred Lewis as a fourth outfielder (sorry Fred). If the lead-off slot becomes and issue, Byrnes could (I didn't say "should") be considered an option, and play right field.  Oh, and good bye Merkin Valdez -- you freaking gas can! Great fast ball, but no control. The Giants dumped Valdez to make room on their 40-man roster for Aubrey Huff, and look; we're right back at the beginning of this conversation.  Spring training is getting closer everyday. Let's go!   
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The Big Unit hangs ‘em up posted by David

Big news from the Big Unit: 46-year-old Randy Johnson announced his retirement, concluding his career with a record of 303-166, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.  His five Cy Young Awards – one with the Mariners and four in a row with the Diamondbacks – rank him behind only Roger Clemens, and his 4,875 career strikeouts are second only to Nolan Ryan.  He was a 10-time All-Star, starting the Midsummer Classic four times – twice for each league. Johnson made history in 2004 when he became the oldest player – at 40 – to throw a perfect game.

Johnson was a crucial member of his Diamondbacks team in the 2001 playoffs: after pitching well but losing his only start in the first round, he went 2-0 with 1.12 E.R.A. in the National League Championship Series against the Braves, including a 2-0 complete game shutout against Greg Maddux.  Then in the World Series, Johnson shut down the three-time defending champions from the Bronx with absolute dominance.  He picked up three wins, including a complete game shutout in Game 1 and back-to-back victories in Games 6 and 7, to end the Yankee Dynasty.  He surrendered only nine hits and three walks in 17.1 innings for a remarkable 0.692 WHIP to go along with a 1.04 E.R.A.  For his extraordinary performance, he was named co-MVP of the Series.  A fan attraction everywhere he went, Randy Johnson will surely be missed.

How ‘bout that?

How about Matt Holliday?  Christmas came late for the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason, as Holliday was rewarded for his huge numbers (.353/.419/.604) after his arrival in St. Louis with a very big payday – $120 million over the next seven years.  Though it was painful to watch as it happened, Holliday has been forgiven for his costly error in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.  The slugging outfielder hopes to lead his team back to the playoffs in 2010, and with Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright working together, expectations will be high once again for the Cardinals.

Run production and slugging: not always hand in hand posted by David

While researching ballplayers of the nineties, I discovered that in 1993, Jeff King of the Pirates drove in 98 runs while hitting only nine home runs and slugging just .406.  I then wondered if any player has ever driven in 100 runs with fewer than 10 homers or with a slugging percentage under .400.  Upon further investigation, I found that in 1996 – the year he turned 40 during the Dog Days of August – Paul Molitor hit just nine homers but accumulated 113 RBI’s while playing for the Twins.  Thanks to his American League-leading 225 hits and batting two hitters behind leadoff man Chuck Knoblauch in the midst of his best season (.448 OBP), Molitor led the Twins in both hitting (.341) and Runs Batted In.  I have yet to find a player with a season of 100+ RBI’s despite a slugging percentage under .400 (Molitor’s was a healthy .468), but I will continue searching.

How ‘bout that?

How about Roy Halladay?  In a classy move following his trade to the Phillies, Halladay wrote an open letter to Blue Jays fans in a full-page ad in the Toronto Sun, thanking them for their “overwhelming passion and devotion.”  Halladay, the longest-tenured member of the Jays, will remain in the team record books for quite some time.  He is second to Dave Stieb in wins by a Blue Jays pitcher with 148, and during his big-league career, which began in 1998, he represented the Jays in six All-Star games, came within one out of a no-hitter in his second major league start, and set a single-season franchise record with 22 wins in 2003, when he won the Cy Young Award.  He also threw 49 Complete Games, including 15 shutouts, good for third and second, respectively, in Blue Jays history.  Halladay’s good-bye makes me feel good as a baseball fan.

Action starting to heat up in free agency, trade market posted by Joe Gunderson

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I've been absent for a few days.  There really wasn't that much to report or discuss.  However, that has changed in the last 24 or so hours as the annual Winter Meetings are underway.  First, the Twins offered pitcher Carl Pavano arbitration as I said earlier and as of last night he has accepted this offer which essentially means he will be in the Twins rotation in 2010.  To make room for Pavano on the 40 man roster, the Twins designated pitcher Boof Bonser for assignment or release which means he will either be released by the Twins and be with another club for this coming season or he will start the season in the minors. 

There's not much else currently cooking on the Twins front other than that they could possibly look to trade starter Glen Perkins now that Pavano is most assuredly back.  The reason they could do this is because one, there doesn't seem to currently be a spot for him, unless he earns it in Spring Training, and two, he is not on managements greatest side after last season when he did not come forth with the fact that he'd been pitching with an injured shoulder until he had a really rough outing.  Then, when he was ready to return, he was sent to the minors, which upset him, because it meant that he does not have enough service time to qualify for arbitration himself.  He filed a grievance against the club to try and obtain some or all of his service time back, which he did get some, but not enough to qualify for arbitration.

Also, look for the Twins to look into the market for third baseman to see if they can come up with anything.  Former Angel Chone Figgins is apparently off the market already as he has agreed to a four year contract with the Seattle Mariners, however, I'm not sure that this really affects the Twins because he was probably too expensive for the Twins likes.  However, be on the look out for names such as Adrian Beltre, Pedro Feliz or last year's starter Joe Crede, as well as prospect Danny Valencia as possibilities for the hot corner.

Lincecum wins NL Cy Young Award, free agency signing period begins tonight! posted by Joe Gunderson

Hey Everyone,

The National League Cy Young Award winner was announced today and it is Tim Lincecum of the San Fransisco Giants for the second year in a row.  He becomes the first repeat winner since Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson, who ironically was a teammate of Lincecum's this past season.

The vote was a close one with Lincecum beating out St. Louis Cardinal teammates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.  Only 10 points separated the top three vote-getters. Carpenter was second and Wainwright finished third despite getting the most first-place votes.

Lincecum received 11 first-place votes, 12 seconds and nine thirds for 100 points in balloting released by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Carpenter had nine firsts, 14 seconds and seven thirds to take second with 94.

Wainwright, who led the NL with 19 wins and 233 innings, had 12 first-place votes, five seconds and 15 thirds for 90 points. Trevor Hoffman, who finished behind Tom Glavine in 1998, is the only other player to get the most firsts and not win the award.

Personally, I feel that Wainwright should have won the award because, one he won more games, his ERA was very similar though slightly higher and his team qualified for the playoffs while Lincecum's did not so you can argue his year meant more.

Moving on, the baseball free agent signing period begins tonight at 11:01 p.m. CST.  I don't expect the Twins to make huge moves, they never really do, but hopefully we will get news that they've signed a veteran 3rd baseman, a starting pitcher who will improve the staff and have signed a certain All-Star catcher to a contract extension.  If two of those three does not happen, count me disappointed.  I must be off for now but I would love to hear what your opinions of what the Twins should do and who they should try get.  Take care.

Nobody’s perfect posted by David

Last week I saw Andy Pettitte throw six and two-thirds innings of perfect baseball at against the Orioles at Camden Yards.  With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Adam Jones hit a ground ball to third.  Alex Rodriguez was getting the night off, and his replacement at the hot corner, Jerry Hairston, booted it.  Having grown up an Orioles fan and somewhere along the way developing into a Yankee-hater, one might think I would have been rooting for the Birds to end Pettitte’s bid for perfection; however, this was not so.  As a fan of the game, I wanted to witness history.  Sure; I would have preferred seeing an Oriole pitcher throw a perfecto (though even a shutout by one of this year’s starters would have been historic), but I can’t expect miracles.

How ‘bout that?

How about Jonny Gomes?  Called up by the Reds on May 22nd after not making the team out of spring training, Gomes has crushed the ball to a tune of a .563 slugging percentage and 19 home runs in just 240 at-bats.  His former team, the Rays, could sure use his bat right about now; they’ve lost eight games in a row and have all but eliminated themselves from the Wild Card race.

How about Chris Carpenter?  The Cardinals’ righty has put together a strong case for the National League Cy Young Award: mainly a 16-3 record and a major league-leading 2.16 E.R.A.  Additionally, he’s allowed less than one baserunner per inning pitched (0.97 WHIP), he’s surrendered only seven home runs in 24 games started, and he’s thrown three complete games – which may not seem terribly impressive but he’s tied for third in the N.L.  If all goes well for him and Adam Wainwright (18-7), the duo could become the first pair of teammates to each win 20 games since 2002, when the feat was accomplished in both leagues: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling did it for the Diamondbacks, and Derek Lowe and Pedro Martinez did it for the Red Sox.

"Giants Go for the Sweep Over Arizona" posted by Michael McGauley

  This is a team the Giants should sweep!  San Francisco sends Joe Martinez (3-1) to the mound against some guy for the D-Backs who IS NOT named Webb, Haren, or Davis, and that's good.  But even against an under-manned and injury-riddled Diamondbacks squad, The Giants have relied upon 8th-inning, three-run home runs to pull out victories both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Bengie Molina's pinch-hit three-run blast off Chad Qualls last night could be one of the highlights of the year to date. Watching Molina limp around the bases (quad strain) instantly reminded me of Kirk Gibson's game-winner off Eck in game one of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium - I was waiting for the under-handed fist-pump as Bengie rounded second base.  Of course the stakes weren't quite as high on a Tuesday night in August as they would be in October, but nonetheless; these games actually mean something.  The Dodgers beat the Rockies today, which means a win tonight could close the gap in the wild card race to just two games heading into the weekend showdown.

  Travis Ishikawa's three-runner Tuesday night was just what the team needed to bounce back and grab a win, and erase that awful taste from Monday night in Denver.  Not only were the Giants short-handed themselves - playing without Freddy Sanchez (15-Day DL), Pablo Sandoval (strained calf), or Molina - they had to go up against Danny Haren, who is one of the top pitchers in the entire league.  So it was crucial to get the offensive contributions from Ishikawa and Juan Uribe, who has gone deep in each of the first two games of the series (numbers 7 and 8 on the season).  On the other side of the ledger:  Velez, Garko, Rowand, and Winn really need to get things going period.  Pablo and Bengie (and Sanchez) will all be back in the line-up soon, but it's not fair to rely on guys like Ryan Rohlinger; just called up from Fresno (0-for-3 Wednesday night), or Eli Whiteside (batting .228 after also taking an 0-for-3).

"Sandoval, Molina, and Sanchez All Out of the Starting Line Up for the Giants" posted by Michael McGauley

  News on the injury front is not good.  The Giants reportedly will be without their regular numbers two-, three-, and four-hitters tonight against Danny Haren and the Diamondbacks.  Freddy Sanchez is still out with a bad shoulder and will likely go on the disabled list.  Pablo Sandoval, who left Monday's game in Denver with a tight calf is expected to miss a couple of games, and Bengie Molina is dinged with an apparent quad injury.  This on top of a mentally draining weekend against the Rockies.  We will really find out what this team is made of in a must-win, bounce-back scenario.  Arizona is a struggling team, and may be just the right remedy for the Giants in between scheduled clashes with Colorado.   

"The Giants Have Got to Bounce Back Starting Tonight" posted by Michael McGauley

  Matt Cain must play the role of stopper for the Giants against Arizona tonight.  Not only that; he has got to go DEEP into the game, eat up some innings, and give a bewildered bullpen a break.  What can one say about Monday night's 14-inning nightmare?  There are still 37 games remaining on the schedule starting TONIGHT against the D-Backs (for three games), and then - guess who's coming to town for the weekend for three more games? - the Colorado Rockies.  Is it just me, or are the Rocks becoming almost as annoying as the Dodgers? 

  There is no time to whine, or jump off a cliff, or pout in the corner about losing three of four in Coors Field.  Only on rare occasions has Coors ever been friendly to the Giants.  Following Friday night's lone win behind Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco was actually in all three of the games they lost, and could just as easily WON three of four if not for some faulty pitching.

  Ahead 6-3 Saturday night, the Giants could not stop Colorado, who exploded for seven runs in the 6th-inning - and no, let's not blame Aaron Rowand for opening the flood gates with that ill-advised throw to third base; allowing Brad Hawpe a free 90-feet to second base.  I guess it was a moot point anyway when the very next hitter, Ian Stewart, launched a three-run homer to tie the game.  It was mostly down hill from there.  As bad as it was to see both Justin Miller and Merkin Valdez give up four earned runs apiece in relief of Joe Martinez; it was great to see Ryan Garko finally flex his muscle, and smash two homers in the same game.  Rowand, Schierholtz, and Pablo also went deep in a wild, old school night at Coors Field, that saw 25 runs on 27 hits!  Humidor, what humidor?

Slump or Chump? posted by Shaun M. Church

Okay. I understand that players go through slumps at the plate, but you can no longer consider what Chris Young is doing at the plate a "slump". He is now under the "just not very good with a bat in his hands" category. Sure, he's probably the best defending outfielder the Arizona Diamondbacks have right now, but hovering around .200 at the dish is unacceptable, especially now that we're at the end of July, and more importantly, at the price he's being paid. Yes, he had a good 2007 campaign, but he was new to the League, and pitchers just didn't know what not to throw him. Now that the word is out, he hasn't adjusted properly.

My suggestion? Move him for some immediate bullpen help, get rid of the $6 million he's owed for each of the next 4+ years, and replace him with man-child Justin Upton in center (he will get better in the field). Gerrardo Parra would play every day in left, and Alex Romero right, at least until Conor Jackson is able to return (get well soon, buddy!). You may think that sounds silly right now, but just pay attention.

There's one man in particular that the Diamondbacks front office personnel NEEDS to start sweet talking, and that, my friends, is Matt Holliday. His offensive numbers while playing in the national league are great when compared to the underachieving Young, and with a career .980 fielding percentage, there won't be a problem defensively. Imagine the top half of the lineup every day when you plug Holliday in. Stephen Drew leads off, Parra is next, then J-Up, Mark Reynolds, with Holliday in the 5-hole. With that breed of hitter behind him, Reynolds would get more fastballs, and easily hit 50+ bombs every year. By the way, did you see the one he murdered off Lidge? Wow! That kind of continuity past cleanup has been a thorn in the foot of this offense all season, among other problems they've had (for another blog). I love this team to death, but something needs to be done, and that something, unfortunately for C.Y fans, is to get rid of Chris Young.