From the MLB Trade Rumors Mailbag

[Rog]

“Would Mike Leake AND Doug Fister be enough to solidify the Giants’ pitching staff in 2016?” – Bruce E.



Well, those two would certainly add some solid rotation options, so sure, they’d solidify the staff. And you could certainly argue that it’s enough — if you believe that Matt Cain and Jake Peavy can contribute full seasons and that some of the young, untested arms are really ready on standby.



But this is a team that’s trying to win the World Series after largely sitting out major spending last year (despite trying). I think that GM Bobby Evans and co. are looking for more impact than just the two pitchers you mention. That could mean adding a top-of-the-market arm and then tacking on Fister to the back of the staff, or pairing Leake with another mid-level starter.



Of course, there is one other scenario that San Francisco fans can dream about: if the team took the (relatively) modest route of signing Leake and Fister for the rotation, it might be freed to post some big bids on a new bat for left field.




Rog -- I thought the meat of the matter might be contained in paragraph two.  There aren't too many teams that can afford to spend big this off-season, but I believe the Giants are among them.

[klaiggeb]

I'll state emphatically that they are NOT enough.

Not even close, but I'd prefer the 2 of them to the crap we ran out there last year.

boly

[Islandboagie]

When you say "the crap" who are you referring to.. Tim Lincecum? Or Ryan Vogelsong.

I'll say it again, Boly. When you refer to Lincecum in such a way it really hurts your case of saying you like him.

As a Giants fan I can't fathom how anyone can't have the highest regards for Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong, both with go down as great Giants and incredible post season performers.

[Rog]

I think Boly is talking of recent times and more importantly, moving forward.

Vogelsong has said he doesn't expect to be a Giant in 2016, but Lincecum has been mentioned in a few sources. Tim is expected to put on a January show for scouts and believes his hip surgery will allow him to gain back some of his lost velocity. It seems logical that Tim would sign a one-year contract with incentives.

[klaiggeb]

boagie-When you say "the crap" who are you referring to.. Tim Lincecum? Or Ryan Vogelsong.

****boly says***

Boagie, in the 2nd half of the season I was referring to all of our starters NOT named Bumgarner or Peavy.

Heston had gone into the toilet, Cain WHEN he was out there, was a shadow of what he once was, Hudson was done, and Vogey was maybe 'hit and miss'

We only 'really' had a solid chance to win in the 2nd 1/2 when Madison or Peavy was out there.

When I say "crap" I mean we have no chance to even MAKE the playoffs with a group of flotsam like that.

Lincecum never even came to my mind.


boly

[Islandboagie]

Fair enough

[Rog]

That the Giants went only 18-26 in the second half when neither Bumgarner nor Peavy started may actually be a blessing. That means that as Boly noted, they went 20-9 when either of those guys did start. Add two good, not even great, pitchers and a healthy Matt Cain to Bumgarner and a healthy Peavy, and the Giants might have something. Especially with Heston and Blackburn for depth.

It's very impressive that the Giants went 9-5 after the break when Bumgarner pitched, but it was even more impressive and perhaps surprising that they went 11-4 with Peavy on the hill.

The stellar record of the Giants in the second half with either Bumgarner or Peavy on the mound is another indication that the Giants' bullpen was still good then. The Dodgers went 23-9 with Zack Greinke on the mound last season. That was nearly the same as Bumgarner/Peavy's 20-9 in the second half.

And Bumgarner/Peavy posted a 2.45/3.13 2nd-half ERA compared to Greinke's spectacular 1.66 on the year. Clearly the Giants' bats and bullpen in the second half with Bumgarner/Peavy on the mound supported the Giants better than the Dodgers' bats and bullpen supported Greinke.

Almost everywhere we look, we see more and more examples to show the Giants' bullpen DIDN'T implode late in the season. This is one of the primary reasons I like stats so much. Stats tell the truth, whereas what we think we see out there doesn't always do so.

It's possible even the Giants themselves didn't realize how well the bullpen actually held together. While I think it slightly overstates how well the Giants' bullpen actually pitched, Boagie came up with the fact that the Giants' bullpen did a better job of keeping inherited runners from scoring than any other bullpen in the majors.

I too would like to see the Giants fortify the bullpen. Their top relievers are likely on the down side of their careers. But the fact remains that the Giants' bullpen has been very good for a long time -- including last season.

By the way, Boagie, I don't think you answered my question as to where you found those inherited runner stats. You did an infinitely better job on that one than I did.

[sfgdood]

An "upgrade" of Fister and Leake--a very unfortunate last name for a pitcher or a goaltender--would be the epitome of what Boly and I refer to as going on the cheap. No thanks.

[Rog]

An "upgrade" of Fister and Leake--a very unfortunate last name for a pitcher or a goaltender--would be the epitome of what Boly and I refer to as going on the cheap.


Rog -- Kind of depends on what else they do, doesn't it?

Good reference of goaltender to Leake, but might not it apply even more to a defense, a fielder or a goalkeeper than a pitcher? Worst of all, of course, is a dike.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3143/mlb-trade-rumors-mailbag#ixzz3tKuQSug2

[rxmeister]

I haven't heard any rumors linking us to Doug Fister, so I'm wondering if someone read it somewhere or they're just being defeatist by mentioning probably the worst pitcher available on the market. He's a small step above Barry Zito at this point. By the way, the Giants don't need to waste money "fortifying" the bullpen, it's good already and it's deep. If you're talking about adding an elite closer, that's one thing, because that's the one thing they lack, but reliable sixth, seventh and eighth inning types are all over the team already.

[Rog]

I haven't seen anything linking the Giants and Fister for some time. Doug is from Modesto and was quite good in 2014. His career ERA is 3.42. Jon Lester's is 3.55.

[klaiggeb]

Mark, I read about Pfister in one of the SF Gate articles. At least I think it was SF Gate.

Can't remember exactly, but it came out this week.

boly