And I just sat there...

[klaiggeb]

When Parker hit that grandslam...I just sat there, mouth hung open, brain totally numb, no words I could think of to say.

When it first when up, I thought he'd hit a routine flyball.

Didn't have the sound.

Didn't have the look.

And here it is, some 5 minutes later, and I still have no words to describe what I saw.

He broke Cha-Cha's record, and I'm glad I got to see it.

Wow.

Simply, wow....

boly

[sfgdood]

I had the same feeling when he hit that opposite field shot in SD...LOTS of legit power hitters have been relegated to warning track power in that graveyard and this kid just flipped it into the left field seats like Tony Gwynn used to flip them over the heads of shortstops. His power is kind of freakish

[klaiggeb]

That's a great word; freakish.

5 HRs in 9 at bats?

That's even better than Bowker did which "could mean" he won't fade away and fizzle as John did.


After he hit his first Major League HR, I wanted to see if he could do it again.

And he did.

After his 2nd Major League HR, I wanted to see if he could do it against a LHP.

Which he did, twice

After his 3rd and 4th, I wanted to see IF he could do it in the CLUTCH...

Which he did, via a grand slam.


I have to say, I'm impressed. He answered all 3 of my questions, and then some, taking LHP deep twice.

I hope his power and ability to put the bat on the ball isn't an illusion.

I hope this guy isn't a flash in the pan.

I hope he can stick next year.

I...hope... (Red-Shawshank Redemption)


(PS-anyone know the COMPLETE tittle of the Stephan King Novelette-peak below when you're ready)













Rith Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption


boly

[Rog]

Parker has been nothing short of amazing. But before we get TOO jacked up, there must be a reason why he has never hit more than the 23 homers he hit in the minors this season. We might also want to balance his 12 strikeouts in 27 at bats against the 6 homers.

As I say, he's been nothing short of amazing. Bruce Bochy says he might make the team next season, and it's almost hard to imagine that he WON'T. He also posted a .889 OPS in AAA this season. But let's also not forget that Todd Linden posted a .901 OPS in AA at the age of 22 and .816 in AAA at the age of 24.

Parker has been unbelievably exciting in his brief time with the Giants. But let's also keep him in perspective. He's not The Natural.

[sfgdood]

I agree that caution is good advice...I WILL say that on top of the production we have seen lately, this month he had one HR robbed of him and he hit another ball deep into triples alley that would have been a homer in every other yard. Parker's power is definitely legit. Dude has 6 bombs in 27 ABs!! And it could be 8

[klaiggeb]

I totally understand, Rog, and it's NOT likely I didn't think of the same thing.

He has power, yeah... but 23 HRs in Sacramento? Well, that ain't that big a deal.


Then again, Krukow said one very pertinent thing; the players have MORE information available at the Major League level than in the minors.


From a technical stand point, there are a number of things I like in Parker's swing.

1-Short and quick to the ball. Not long with holes

2-Simple set up.

3-A toe tap, much like Joe Panik, and NOT some crazy, head bouncing stride.

4-He's NOT, like Bowker, always in the pull mode.

Those are good things.

N ow, we'll see.

boly

[Rog]

With Byrd already going to be there, is Parker good enough for the Giants to either not re-sign (unlikely) or trade Aoki? Aoki would join Susac as a guy who has trade value.

One thing we can be pretty sure of. At this moment, Jarrett has moved ahead of Perez. And suddenly the Giants have outfield depth, something they didn't have enough of prior to the trade for Byrd.

If Parker is at least capable of being a solid backup, suddenly they've got six outfielders for five spots. And Tomlinson learning to play the outfield. And Perez as a nice fall-back guy.

What would be our opinions on Parker as a center fielder? Would the Giants be willing to eat some of Pagan's salary and let him be the one who goes?

Something I didn't mention here and probably should have -- mostly because I wasn't positive how much the option was for. Santiago Casilla vests at $6.5 million with two more games finished this week. I'm not sure if the $154 million I mentioned as already being committed, likely to occur in arbitration or going to Byrd and Aoki includes the $6.5 million. My guess is that it does, but see how the obligations are piling up?

The good news is that I think the Giants will go to at least $190 million. That should be enough to handle the acquisition of a Leake-type and another starter of higher quality.

I wish the variety of starters available as free agents were this good last season. As I mentioned, there are a handful or two of intriguing guys likely to become available. I doubt though that Zack Greinke is among them. And in a way, it might be better that he isn't. He will perhaps be overpriced, likely wouldn't wind up with the Giants, and would create another need for the big-bucks Dodgers to spend on.

In other words, the Giants might well lose out on both Greinke and another starter they otherwise would have wound up with. But, hey, that's part of what makes the off-season so exciting. I don't think anyone can say it wasn't exciting last year, if only because of what the Giants COULDN'T do.

[klaiggeb]

For me, it's this complicated and this simple;

1-We either sign a top flight starter, and/or a guy like Leake, or we have no chance to win next year. None. Zero. Zip.

2-We need Aoki. Without him, we have NO lead off guy. Pagan AIN'T a lead off guy. He flat out isn't. Anyone, and this includes Bochy who thinks he is, is deluding himself. Can't have a lead off guy with an OBP of under .345

3-Parker and Williamson have earned a shot next spring, but either would be the 5th outfielder because I see the Giants re signing Blanco as the 4th guy. Do we really want to let them rot on the bench like that? Which begs the question; what do we do with them?

4-Based upon the DEFENSIVE work of Brown, Hactor is expendable. His defense can't hold a proverbial candle to what I've seen from Brown. But Brown is still the 3rd catcher.

boly

[sfgdood]

I disagree Boly...if we sign ONLY Leake and NOT a top flight starter, we're setting ourselves up for a failed 2016. It needs to be TWO new guys added to the rotation and one of them better be one of the top FAs.

There will be competition for the backup catcher and 3rd catcher. Both the backup and the third guy are important because of all the time Posey spends at first base. I wouldn't say Brown has automatically leapfrogged both Hector AND Jackson Williams. The competition in ST will be fierce.

If I'm the GM, I bring back Aoki and Blanco and trade Byrd, since we'll otherwise be STUCK with his bad contract out of someone's lame definition of ethics. Yeah THAT was a great trade wasn't it? We missed the playoffs and now we're going to pay a 38 year old hack artist to sit the bench next year. Lovely

[klaiggeb]

Randy-I disagree Boly...if we sign ONLY Leake and NOT a top flight starter, we're setting ourselves up for a failed 2016. It needs to be TWO new guys added to the rotation and one of them better be one of the top FAs.

***boly says***
We don't disagree, Randy, we agree!

Here's what I said--1-We either sign a top flight starter, and/or a guy like Leake, or we have no chance to win next year. None. Zero. Zip.--

But I think you mis read what I meant.

1-Must sign a top tier guy. Period.

2-The SECOND guy must be no less than a guy "like" Leake, or Leake himself.


Leake AIN'T ENOUGH.

He's 2nd...3rd tier.

We MUST HAVE one of the top tier guys.

That means Price, or Zimmerman

Will we?

Frankly, I'll believe it when I see it.

boly