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Bear
10-06-2008, 09:47 AM
By Andrew Baggarly
MediaNews staff
Article Last Updated: 10/04/2008

Giants' rebuilding project is starting to take shape

ADD SOME THUMP: The Giants' 94 home runs were the fewest since the 1993 expansion Florida Marlins. They'll seek to trade for a right-handed hitter with pull power — something they've lacked with consistency since Jeff Kent high-tailed it after the 2002 season.

FIND RELIEF: They'll spend free-agent dollars on proven setup men to improve a bullpen that "was not up to par talent-wise and performance wise," Sabean said. Their own arbitration-eligible arms (Tyler Walker, Kevin Correia, Jack Taschner, Brad Hennessey) are candidates to be cut loose.

RESIST TRADING CAIN: It's hard to consummate a trade when every club is focused on prying away Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. The Giants have to generate interest in their other players to swing a deal.

UNEARTH PITCHING DEPTH: There's always a veteran reclamation project or two worth exploring. Could Mark Mulder rejoin Barry Zito on the other side of the Bay?

STRIKE A BALANCE: With Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz and Dave Roberts, the Giants are awfully left-handed in the outfield. Lewis and Schierholtz are out of minor league options, and because Lewis is recovering from foot surgery, Schierholtz is the more likely trade chip.

MEET THE NEW BOSS: Brian Sabean said he's curious about how the group dynamics might change under Bill Neukom: "That's one of the reasons we've had the continuity we've had. You've got to spend time. You've got to be around your people. When you're having a cup of coffee and something comes into your mind, you can walk down to somebody's office. So I'm looking forward to seeing how all that gets settled."

If it was only this simple! :rolleyes:

SF Kid
10-06-2008, 10:32 AM
Yeah...articles like that make it look easy. As we've seen though it's not easy. Baseball in particular seems to be more difficult than other sports.

McCovey
10-06-2008, 12:11 PM
The Giants do have some pieces in place but they also have a lot of work to do. They must address their lack of power. The upcoming FA class is underwhelming to say t he least. There is only one truly elite power hitter, Mark Teixeira, and he will command a HUGE salary. I just don't see the Giants making an offer for Teixeira. So that leaves either trading for a power hitter of hoping that one of the young players develops into a 30-40 HR hitter.

Bear
10-06-2008, 12:26 PM
The Giants do have some pieces in place but they also have a lot of qwork to do. They must address their lack of power. The upcoming FE class is underwhelming to say t he least. There is only one truly elite power hitter, Mark Teixeira, and he will command a HUGE salary. I just don't see the Giants making an offer for Teixeira. So that leaves either tradi ng for a power hitter of hoping that one of the young players develops int oa 30-40 HR hitter.

I think we may have a few 20-30 HR guys but none who look like that BIG 40 HR plus guy. If anyone thinks we have that guy already I sure would like to know who he is?:rolleyes:

McCovey
10-06-2008, 12:37 PM
Sandoval looks like a 40 HR guy but he swings the bat like Tony Gwynn. :rolleyes:

Bear
10-06-2008, 12:56 PM
Sandoval looks like a 40 HR guy but he swings the bat like Tony Gwynn. :rolleyes:

This is just my opinion but I see him as a big run producer with 25 to 30 HR's every year and a high average. The ball just jumps off his bat but he has such a perfect swing with very little lift that most of his hit are low line drives that run up to the wall. He may lead the team for years with RBI's but I don't se him as a 40 HR guy. JMO

McCovey
10-06-2008, 02:43 PM
This is just my opinion but I see him as a big run producer with 25 to 30 HR's every year and a high average. The ball just jumps off his bat but he has such a perfect swing with very little lift that most of his hit are low line drives that run up to the wall. He may lead the team for years with RBI's but I don't se him as a 40 HR guy. JMO
I agree with your assessment. He has a very "flat" swing. It's just physically when I look at him I see "Cecil Fielder". :D However, if he can hit .320, 25-30 HRs, with 40+ doubles, that's a devastating offensive player.

Bear
10-06-2008, 03:50 PM
I agree with your assessment. He has a very "flat" swing. It's just physically when I look at him I see "Cecil Fielder". :D However, if he can hit .320, 25-30 HRs, with 40+ doubles, that's a devastating offensive player.

Plus I see over 100 RBI's in his future for many years to come. He also has the potential of being a league MVP. ;)

McCovey
10-06-2008, 04:03 PM
Plus I see over 100 RBI's in his future for many years to come. He also has the potential of being a league MVP. ;)
If he hits in the middle of the order 100 RBI will be a given. He should be the #3 hitter, though.

Bear
10-06-2008, 04:47 PM
If he hits in the middle of the order 100 RBI will be a given. He should be the #3 hitter, though.

I agree, third is the right spot for "Little Money"!:beerbang:

McCovey
10-06-2008, 05:00 PM
I agree, third is the right spot for "Little Money"!:beerbang:
I like "Dough Boy" better? :D

Bear
10-06-2008, 05:32 PM
I like "Dough Boy" better? :D

I am not into the term "Boy" if you get my meaning!:nono:

SF Kid
10-06-2008, 05:38 PM
Doughboy it is! He looks like the Michelin Man. :pound:

McCovey
10-06-2008, 05:51 PM
I am not into the term "Boy" if you get my meaning!:nono:
"Dough Man" just doesn't sound as good. :p

Bear
10-06-2008, 06:09 PM
"Dough Man" just doesn't sound as good. :p

Not very PC!:shakehead:

SF Kid
10-06-2008, 06:29 PM
Not very PC!:shakehead:Who gives a f&^k about that politically correct crap? Certainly no me. ;)

DoughBoy...sounds good to me.

McCovey
10-06-2008, 06:48 PM
Who gives a f&^k about that politically correct crap? Certainly no me. ;)

DoughBoy...sounds good to me.
Just an FYI. I got Dough Boy from a character in the movie Boyz in the Hood. It just popped into my mind. Hoever, it's was also a slang term that referred to American soldiers in World War I.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughboy

SF Kid
10-06-2008, 06:57 PM
Then it's politically correct after all. Oh goody!

McCovey
10-06-2008, 07:10 PM
Then it's politically correct after all. Oh goody!
:pound: