So now what would we do?

[Rog]

OK.  So the Giants have re-signed Sergio Romo.  That should leave them with close to $25 million left to spend.  What should they do now?

[Rog]

I mentioned that Sergio has the lowest WHIP of any pitcher in history who has pitched as many innings as he. I should also mention that James Shields has made at least 33 starts in each of the past seven seasons and has pitched more innings over the past three seasons than any other pitcher. He has made at least 31 starts in each of his 8 full seasons.

On the one hand, we can say mileage as well as age. On the other, we can say durable with a capital D. Shields threw a career high 249.1 innings in 2011, so I'm guessing he also leads the majors in innings pitched over the past four seasons, although that one I haven't confirmed.

[Rog]

Adding a little more about Shields' durability:

. He has been extremely consistent with his innings the past three seasons -- 227.2, 228.2, 227.0.

. We all agree that Madison Bumgarner is one heck of a durable pitcher. Shields has thrown 100 more innings than Bumgarner over the past four seasons. I think we would agree that for the first seven seasons of his career, Matt Cain was extremely durable. Shields has thrown 50 more innings the past four seasons than Matt's best four seasons of his career.

[rxmeister]

I mentioned Fister in the other thread as the Nationals have decided they can't afford to keep their terrific rotation together, but Shields won't cost anything but cash, so he's still my favorite.

[Rog]

Yeah, Fister would be very nice, and I'll bet his contract status is favorable (one more year before free agency?). But he wouldn't come cheaply, and if his contract status is as I'm surmising, he might become just a very expensive one-year rental.

The Giants will have money to spend next off-season though.

[klaiggeb]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but to get Pfister, it would have to be a trade.

Isn't the big question "what would we have to give up to get him?"

And if it's for a one year rental...Not sure I'd want to do that.


What surprised me SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much about our NOT getting Lester is, why wouldn't ANY pitcher NOT want to pitch for the Giants at AT&T?

I mean, seriously! Solid, player-friendly management, not a place where balls fly out easily, doesn't have the ridiculous wind problems of Chicago, and no humidity.

I've said this on more than one occasion: If I'm a good player, what I want to do FIRST AND FOREMOST, is win the world series.

If I'm one of the top 25% of the pitchers, I KNOW I'm going to get paid and paid well.

If I'm offered 10 million/year to pitch for a winning franchise in a pitchers park, I'm going to TAKE THAT OFFER, over 15 million to pitch for an organization that has NO history of winning; that has NO history of being player-friendly, it's a no brainer.

10 Million, 15 million... that's more money than I could ever spend.

I want to PITCH in a great place for a TEAM that not only WANTS to win but KNOWS HOW TO WIN.

He went to the Cubs, I believe, for the money.

Mistake.

boly

[Rog]

Boly -- What surprised me SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much about our NOT getting Lester is, why wouldn't ANY pitcher NOT want to pitch for the Giants at AT&T?

Rog -- I think the Cubbies' signing Lester's close buddy Rick Dempsey as a special assistant four days before Lester signed might have had something to do with it. In addition, the Cubs are an up-and-coming (quickly) team.

Pitching in AT&T is usually advantageous for pitchers, but I think it favors righties more than southpaws, since righties face more left-handed hitters.

I think too often we look at these situations with too narrow a view. I think David Ortiz had an influence on Pablo, and I think Dempsey had an influence on Lester.

Speaking of too narrow a vision, I remember a year ago when the Brewers traded Nori Aoki to the Royals, there was a cry here that the Giants should have been able to come with a package for Aoki better than lefty Will Smith. What we might have overlooked was that Smith was under team control for six seasons (made only $502K last season).

That wouldn't have mattered much, of course, if he weren't any good, but as was pointed out at the time, he was pretty good. His 3.70 ERA wasn't spectacular, but he pitched a league-leading 78 games and for the second straight season posted a strikeout rate above 11 per nine. He came to the majors as a starter, so he is also versatile.

I find it intriguing that a year ago we were wishing the Giants had traded for Aoki, and now suddenly he's dog meat. The only problem with him a year ago was that he was about to become eligible for free agency. He might wind up being a bargain this winter though.

Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2628/#ixzz3MJekYyD1

[Rog]

Boly -- He (Lester) went to the Cubs, I believe, for the money.

Rog -- How can that be, when the Giants apparently made him a similar offer and in the words of Brian Sabean, were never allowed to give their final offer? I think the culprit wasn't the money, but rather Rick Dempsey.

Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2628?page=1#ixzz3MJiptb6u

[Rog]

Pretty brilliant move by the Cubs, wouldn't you say? I can't imagine they're paying Dempsey a HUGE amount, and it could very well be that he was the deciding factor in Lester's signing with them.

[rxmeister]

Rog, you keep saying Rick Dempsey, which is confusing me. Do you mean Ryan Dempster?

[klaiggeb]

Rog, if that's what influenced him to sign with the Cubs... then I think someone needs to take Lester's temperature.

Going to a perennial loser, in an ixy-dixy pitcher's park, vs a perennial winner in a good pitcher's park.

He'd also need to have his head examined because I would submit he wasn't thinking straight.

boly