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Post by Rog on Feb 7, 2016 8:38:44 GMT -5
Note: I had to start a new thread in order to be able to get this to post.
The Giants a high-payroll team? Now THAT'S a new concept for our board! I could have sworn they were cheap, or so we've been told.
Here's the weird thing. The Giants had a reasonable increase in the salary budget this off-season just as they did last year and the year before that, and pretty much each of the past four seasons. The Giants'increase this off-season has actually been less than last year's. It's just that they had more expiring contracts to work with.
The Giants' payroll has been predicted rather closely each of the past two winters. Yet a year ago they were "cheap," while this year they were "big spenders."
It is usually good to view situations realistically rather than as we would LIKE to see them. We have said all along that the Giants didn't lie last winter, that we may have misinterpreted them. Randy put a key piece into the puzzle when he mentioned that a year ago they had a variable budget, based on whether they were able to land a big fish or not. If there had been something on the other end of the line, they would have spent some of what was actually this winter's money. As it turned out, they spent some of it by trading mid-season for Leake, Byrd and De Aza.
We all seem to be happy now, but in reality, the Giants increased their payroll more a winter ago than they did this time. If the Giants were "cheap" a year ago, they were REALLY cheap this winter. If they were big spenders this winter, they were even bigger spenders a year ago.
Next winter, why don't we look at the Giants' contract commitments, factor in a reasonable payroll increase, and see what they might have available to spend? It's worked well each of the past two winters in predicting how much they'll spend. If we don't go through that exercise, we run the risk of having unrealistic hopes, which can lead to a lot of frustration.
Wouldn't we agree there is a huge difference in how the Giants' success each of the past two winters has been? Yet the winter perceived as being by far the worse is actually the one in which the payroll increased the most on an annual basis.
One other factor to look at is that in terms of the actual monies spent on free agents per season, the Giants managed to have close to twice as much available this past winter, the one in which the free agent crop was viewed as easily the better. How much of that the Giants lucked into and how much was planned, we can't say. But it surely worked out well.
Even though the Giants increased their total annual payroll less this winter than last. As Mel Allen (I believe it was) used to say, you could look it up.
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 7, 2016 20:38:49 GMT -5
The Giants a high-payroll team? Now THAT'S a new concept for our board! I could have sworn they were cheap, or so we've been told.
Dood - it is very possible to be both.
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 7, 2016 20:54:44 GMT -5
Next winter, why don't we look at the Giants' contract commitments, factor in a reasonable payroll increase, and see what they might have available to spend?
Dood - and how do you propose we do that? Do you have access to the books? If not, you are working on the assumption that the Giants are telling us the truth...I do not make any such assumption.
If we don't go through that exercise, we run the risk of having unrealistic hopes, which can lead to a lot of frustration.
Dood - is it unrealistic of fans to expect their team, when it is among the highest revenue teams, to spend what it takes to make the playoffs? I certainly do not. Missing the playoffs is not acceptable...and it would be nice if ownership and management were to take responsibility for its failures vocally. Maybe then we could take them at their word on financial matters a bit more.
You stats geeks and apologists can manipulate the facts and the numbers any which way you please...the bottom line is they failed to get the necessary pitching and we missed the playoffs AGAIN in an odd year
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Post by Rog on Feb 7, 2016 23:30:24 GMT -5
Dood - is it unrealistic of fans to expect their team, when it is among the highest revenue teams, to spend what it takes to make the playoffs? Rog -- That sounds logical, but how does one know how much spending it will take? And even if a team knew how much it had to spend, would that fit within the budget? Two of the highest spending teams have been the Dodgers and Yankees. Both are cutting back on salaries. The Dodgers lost out on Zack Greinke, clearly their #1 priority, because they were unwilling to go a sixth year. The Dodgers lost him because they were unwilling to spend what it would have taken them to sign him, believing it not to be a prudent deal. The lost out on Aroldis Chapman because of character issues. The Giants reached the luxury tax threshold last season. Only the very biggest spenders do that. And this year the Giants' payroll will likely be close to $20 million higher than last season. They'll pay a significant penalty. Does it truly make sense to criticize a team for being cheap when it hits the luxury tax? Let's put it this way: If the Giants are cheap, there are 25 or more other teams that are REALLY cheap. The amounts the Giants spent this winter and last were predictable. Mark added a key point when he said he believed the Giants' budget a year ago was variable, if they could sign one of their top targets. They would have basically been spending some of this winter's available salary a year in advance. I have asked this question before and not received a satisfactory answer. If the Giants were truly cheap and truly lied to us last winter, how is it that we have been able to predict accurately how much they would spend on free agents each of the past two winters? How is it that one group can predict accurately what happens before it happens, and another group feels cheated and lied to? One last question: If the Giants were cheap last year but not this, why is it that their payroll increase was bigger a year ago then it has been this winter? Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders#ixzz3zXyfxfge
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Post by Rog on Feb 7, 2016 23:31:45 GMT -5
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Post by Rog on Feb 7, 2016 23:36:32 GMT -5
Next winter, why don't we look at the Giants' contract commitments, factor in a reasonable payroll increase, and see what they might have available to spend? Dood - and how do you propose we do that? Do you have access to the books? If not, you are working on the assumption that the Giants are telling us the truth...I do not make any such assumption. Rog -- I get the feeling you've been lied to a lot in your life, Randy. Why else would you seemingly always assume the worst? As for figuring out in advance how much the Giants might spend, I have stated how it is done (and has been done accurately each of the past two winters, which are basically the years we have been talking about it). Just assume what a reasonable increase in the budget might be, and look at the Giants' commitments and likely arbitration contracts. Subtract. It's really very simple. Any fool could do it, and obviously this fool (me) did so. I'll leave the complicated stuff to you. Thanks for that. Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders?page=1#ixzz3zY1PIPUs
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Post by Rog on Feb 7, 2016 23:41:08 GMT -5
the bottom line is they failed to get the necessary pitching and we missed the playoffs AGAIN in an odd year Rog -- A couple of points: First, if the Giants had remained healthy, there is a very reasonable chance they would have made the playoffs. Second, which team has been as successful in the postseason over the past six years as the Giants have been? Isn't it a little realistic to expect perfection -- especially when injuries strike? Instead of complaining, we should look at how well the Giants were able to overcome injuries in 2014, using lineups that included their fourth outfielder in center field and either their fifth outfielder or more often their backup first baseman in left field. Juan Perez is a player who wasn't good enough to play much in the majors last season. This winter the Giants allowed him to walk. Yet it was his hustle that prevented the Royals from tying the final game of the World Series in 2014. The Giants got help from all sorts of unexpected sources, and that is what carried the day. Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders?page=1#ixzz3zY2ZBeLx
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 8, 2016 12:54:00 GMT -5
Dood - is it unrealistic of fans to expect their team, when it is among the highest revenue teams, to spend what it takes to make the playoffs? I certainly do not.
Boagie- I agree, Randy, it's not unrealistic. But how many times have you been happy with the team prior to the start of the season in which they win the World Series? I don't remember a time prior to this season when you were happy with all the moves and expected the Giants to win it all. In 2010 just about everyone here expected the Rockies as the likely division winners. In 2012 most thought the Diamondbacks were the team to beat, in 2014 the Dodgers. I predicted the Giants to win every season, but I'm an overally optimistic fan. But I have unrealistic expectations. Hell, I even predicted Brandon Crawford to hit 20 homeruns one day...oh wait.
There's no fine line between having the pieces to win and not having them. So how can anyone here correctly measure whether the Giants have made the appropriate moves to be a playoff caliber team when we've all been consistently wrong on the outcome?
The season is played out on the field, not on paper. There are surprises, disappointments, injuries, trades, minor league call ups and demotions that all figure into the success or demise of a team throughout the season.
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 8, 2016 13:10:10 GMT -5
The Giants reached the luxury tax threshold last season. Only the very biggest spenders do that. And this year the Giants' payroll will likely be close to $20 million higher than last season. They'll pay a significant penalty.
Does it truly make sense to criticize a team for being cheap when it hits the luxury tax?
Dood - yes, and here's why. They only reached that level AFTER they realized how much of a failure their offseason had been. They lost out on the pitchers and the 3rd baseman they needed and instead settled for cheap alternatives. Later they saw that their methods sucked so they went out and got Leake to put them over the luxury tax limit. They ONLY were willing to put out the necessary money when their cheapness proved to be insufficient...but by that time it was too late and we missed the playoffs AGAIN. This is my whole problem with the FO. Instead of spending in a pro-active way to build a juggernaut, they squeeze their pennies and spend just enough (they think) to sneak into the postseason. But when the plan goes awry, ONLY THEN do they realize how flawed the model is.
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 8, 2016 13:26:34 GMT -5
Boagie- I agree, Randy, it's not unrealistic. But how many times have you been happy with the team prior to the start of the season in which they win the World Series? I don't remember a time prior to this season when you were happy with all the moves and expected the Giants to win it all. In 2010 just about everyone here expected the Rockies as the likely division winners. In 2012 most thought the Diamondbacks were the team to beat, in 2014 the Dodgers. I predicted the Giants to win every season, but I'm an overally optimistic fan. But I have unrealistic expectations. Hell, I even predicted Brandon Crawford to hit 20 homeruns one day...oh wait.
There's no fine line between having the pieces to win and not having them. So how can anyone here correctly measure whether the Giants have made the appropriate moves to be a playoff caliber team when we've all been consistently wrong on the outcome?
The season is played out on the field, not on paper. There are surprises, disappointments, injuries, trades, minor league call ups and demotions that all figure into the success or demise of a team throughout the season.
Dood - you are pretty much on the money, Boagie...and that has been part of the beauty of those magical seasons. I simply do not think it's unrealistic for fans to EXPECT to be in the playoffs given our talent, our coaching staff and especially our revenue. I don't expect to win it all each year, nor do I think it necessary to be favored to do so. I simply expect to be playing more than 162 games every year and I refuse to believe that expectation is unrealistic, given all the factors. I may have been a tad bit more annoyed this particular offseason because I'm just so sick of finishing behind LA every damn season!
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 8, 2016 15:12:06 GMT -5
Dood - you are pretty much on the money, Boagie...and that has been part of the beauty of those magical seasons. I simply do not think it's unrealistic for fans to EXPECT to be in the playoffs given our talent, our coaching staff and especially our revenue.
Boagie- Totally agree, Randy. In fact I have higher standards than that. If they don't WIN the World Series I believe it's a disappointing season because we know what they're capable of. We KNOW we have/had players who succeed on the biggest stage. My biggest worry is those players who have PROVEN to step it up in those situations are slowly dissapearing. Zito, Affeldt, Vogelsong, and Lincecum (maybe.)
I like the acquisitions the Giants made this off season, but are they players that will refuse to lay down in the postseason? I'm not sure yet, nobody is. In my opinion, if they aren't able to win it all, then they too are a disappointment. As you and I know, Randy, that kind of "ice in the veins" mentality doesn't show up on paper. So I'm less impressed with the Giants moves as most. Randy- I don't expect to win it all each year
Boagie- I do, but that doesn't mean I am frustrated if they don't. After 2010, I expect a repeat, but I'm also very happy with what we've been able to be a part of. I've called it the golden age of baseball in San Francisco, and every year seems to reiterate that. Even without a World Series title last season we still saw a rookie throw a no-hitter, which is something I didn't see by any Giants pitcher prior to Sanchez throwing his back is 2009. I was at the Garrelts almost no-hitter in '89, but like so many times before the "golden age" a Giants pitcher was on the verge of doing something amazing, and fell short.
Take for example Angel Pagan's inside the park homerun back in 2013 against the Rockies. I fully believe if that same situation had happened in 1995, Pagan would have been thrown out at the plate and the Rockies would have won it in the 10th. That's just how it went back then. I can't quite pin point the absolute reason the Giants have been successful in recent years, but I believe that motto they had a few years ago "it's magic inside" tends to be a viable explaination. Of course, Posey, Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner also are a pretty good reason.
Randy- I may have been a tad bit more annoyed this particular offseason because I'm just so sick of finishing behind LA every damn season!
Boagie- As am I. But I do like the competition level between the two teams. For the excitement level, I'd love to see a Giants-Dodgers NLCS. There's been talk about hating the Dodgers recently, for me it feels more right hating them when they're good, rather than when they aren't.
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Post by klaiggeb on Feb 8, 2016 16:59:14 GMT -5
Randy- I may have been a tad bit more annoyed this particular offseason because I'm just so sick of finishing behind LA every damn season!
Boagie- As am I. But I do like the competition level between the two teams. For the excitement level, I'd love to see a Giants-Dodgers NLCS. There's been talk about hating the Dodgers recently, for me it feels more right hating them when they're good, rather than when they aren't.
***boly says***
You heard it here, 1st.
This year, barring catastrophic injury, LA WILL finish behind us.
IF we stay healthy, this team COULD win as many as 95 games, and I don't think that's an exaggeration at all.
The addition of Span is flat out HUGE! An actual table setter who ACTUALLY GETS ON BASE!
Panik and Duffy and Crawford grew tremendously last year. Tremendously!
And this year I predict, that it will be a break out year for Belt.
We're going to score runs, and score a lot of runs.
We're going to run the bases well, and take the extra base more often than in recent history.
Other than Posey, we have no station-to-station guys in the starting line up.
Our defense with Pagan NOT in CF, and the infield as it is, is going to be outstanding.
IF everything falls into place, and this year I EXPECT it to, we WILL HAVE the top 5 starters in the game.
Period.
Other teams might be better in one or more of the 1-2-3 spots, but NO ONE, I don't believe, can match us 1 through 5...
IF, as I said, IF everything falls into place.
IF it doesn't I'm going to be stunned.
That's how positive I feel about the year.
And if you've known me long enough, you know that I'm a "glass half-empty" kind of guy.
Talk about a turn of emotions.
boly
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 8, 2016 17:06:36 GMT -5
Randy- I don't expect to win it all each year
Boagie- I do, but that doesn't mean I am frustrated if they don't.
Dood - Nor am I...the frustrating part is missing the playoffs in odd years. THAT should be a given with our resources.
After 2010, I expect a repeat, but I'm also very happy with what we've been able to be a part of. I've called it the golden age of baseball in San Francisco, and every year seems to reiterate that.
Dood - REALLY? Even 2011, 2013 and 2015? I don't see it that way. The way I see it, those failing odd years take AWAY from our legacy. It reiterates to a certain extent when worms like Rog say it's all about luck.
Even without a World Series title last season we still saw a rookie throw a no-hitter, which is something I didn't see by any Giants pitcher prior to Sanchez throwing his back is 2009. I was at the Garrelts almost no-hitter in '89, but like so many times before the "golden age" a Giants pitcher was on the verge of doing something amazing, and fell short.
Dood - lots of horrible franchises have had pitchers throw no-nos. Heck I threw one in Pony League. That's not something that would show that a franchise is a top echelon club, let alone a dynasty. There have always been cool moments throughout the Giants history in SF, even within the 52 years of playoff woe. Of course this is the golden age...it's just that the gold gets a bit more tarnished with each odd year failure.
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Post by klaiggeb on Feb 8, 2016 17:14:28 GMT -5
Randy: There have always been cool moments throughout the Giants history in SF, even within the 52 years of playoff woe. Of course this is the golden age...it's just that the gold gets a bit more tarnished with each odd year failure.
***boly says***
sorry, Randy, I can't agree with you here.
I can't.
What those failures show is exactly how HARD it is to repeat.
But for me, those odd year failures are over written and erased by what this group accomplished in the even years!
3 World Championships in 6 years?
In modern baseball, THAT is pretty much unheard of!
The Dodgers haven't, nor have any other National League or American League team in recent memory.
And those championships totally blot out everything else because WE were the ones who did it.
No one else.
Not the Yankees, not the Dodgers, not the Rockies, not anyone
Just our Giants.
And that is ONE HELL of an accomplishment, and something of which to be awfully proud!
boly
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 8, 2016 18:22:07 GMT -5
Dood - lots of horrible franchises have had pitchers throw no-nos. Heck I threw one in Pony League. That's not something that would show that a franchise is a top echelon club, let alone a dynasty. There have always been cool moments throughout the Giants history in SF, even within the 52 years of playoff woe. Of course this is the golden age...it's just that the gold gets a bit more tarnished with each odd year failure.
Boagie- I haven't been a fan since the Giants came to San Francisco, I wasn't even alive during a lot of it. But I'd imagine there haven't been the amount of no hitters in a 7 year span. I have never seen a Giants inside the park game winner, although I did see one against the Giants in '89 I believe. We haven't seen two different catchers hit game winning homeruns in back to back games. There NEVER was a perfect game until Matt Cain did it. We haven't seen a pitcher hit two grandslams in one season. We haven't seen a player hit a grandslam for his first major league hit.
Obviously these pale in comparison to winning a world series, but they're still exciting moments that had never happened before, at least during my time as a Giants fan. That tells me this "dark cloud" feeling that we can't do it, has turned into a feeling that we can. And some of those moments have probably allowed the team to believe they can do anything they set out to do, whether it's winning 3 straight games on the road in Cincinnati during the NLDS, or beating Kansas City in game 7 of the World Series.
That's not to say there haven't been great moments prior to this era. Being at the Dave Dravecky game still makes my list of greatest Giants games I've seen. But the rest of my list is probably made up of moments from this era, even if you take away the World Championships. I bet you're no different, Randy. If you had a list of top 10 moments, what would they be? And would a large amount of them be during Bruce Bochy's tenure?
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 8, 2016 19:26:51 GMT -5
You might be surprised to learn that quite a bit of my top 10 is before the recent success...and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I haven't been to as many games since the team moved and the new bandwagon fans have taken over the scene. Naturally number one is the celebration at the ballpark at Arlington after Wilson finished off Title #1 with a K and the bedlam ensued...but that is closely followed by my first trip to Candlestick as a little shaver. That was Chris Speier's ROY season in 71. There were also lots of memories of LISTENING, not watching, a broadcast back in simpler days of yore. The voice of Hank Greenwald will always be the best in my mind for calling Giants baseball and I wish his son Doug would soon supplant that Lame-o Flemming.
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 3:30:15 GMT -5
Randy- You might be surprised to learn that quite a bit of my top 10 is before the recent success...and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I haven't been to as many games since the team moved
Boagie- Makes sense, it's a little more memorable actually being there.
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 3:33:13 GMT -5
Randy- Naturally number one is the celebration at the ballpark at Arlington after Wilson finished off Title #1 with a K and the bedlam ensued
Boagie- Agreed, I think that's probably number one for many here, I'll admit, I even got emotional.
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 3:44:30 GMT -5
but that is closely followed by my first trip to Candlestick as a little shaver. That was Chris Speier's ROY season in 71
Boagie- I don't know if my first game was a top ten, but it was memorable. I wasn't a fan back in '71 (because I wasn't even born yet) but Chris Speier was one of my favorites in the 80's. I even picked up one of his broken bats from the dugout store for about $30. I swung that thing a million times. Chris used a pretty big bat for his size. Even bigger for a 12 year old kid.
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 3:59:35 GMT -5
I was going to list my top ten, but I'm starting to realize it's not as easy as it sounds. I know all the championship clinching games are the top 3 moments for me, 2010 being the first. Ishikawa's homerun, Morse's homerun, Renteria's homerun. Lincecum's LDS against the braves, Zito's NLCS game 5 against the Cardinals. Posey's grandslam off Latos, Cain's perfect game and Blanco's catch....it goes on and on and on, and most of it centers around the "golden age" and I'm not sure how to rank them.
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 12:25:07 GMT -5
Take for example Angel Pagan's inside the park homerun back in 2013 against the Rockies. I fully believe if that same situation had happened in 1995, Pagan would have been thrown out at the plate and the Rockies would have won it in the 10th. Rog -- That play pretty much ruined the 2013 season for the Giants -- as exciting as it was at the time. Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders#ixzz3zh0Hw2WV
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 13:28:43 GMT -5
Rog -- That play pretty much ruined the 2013 season for the Giants -- as exciting as it was at the time.
Boagie- Pagan only pulled his hamstring on that play, or in my opinion the celebration afterwards. What ruined the season, for Pagan at least, was not taking ample time for it to recover. He tore it completely in a minor league game while trying to come back too soon. I agree though, the after effects of that play were not as joyful.
But I think you can point to the lackluster pitching as the main culprit for 2013's demise.
As for the celebrations after late inning heroics, why must they be so violent? Do you have to body check someone 10 feet backwards to display your pleasure with what they just accomplished? I'm surprised more teams haven't regulated the celebrations. I think a hug or a slap on the helmet would suffice.
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Post by donk33 on Feb 9, 2016 14:00:55 GMT -5
Bobby Thomson's shot heard round the world....what could have been better......
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 19:05:00 GMT -5
Does it truly make sense to criticize a team for being cheap when it hits the luxury tax? Dood - yes, and here's why. They only reached that level AFTER they realized how much of a failure their offseason had been. Rog -- And that they were already within $5 million of the cap prior to making those moves meant nothing? Especially since mid-season trades are a part of their plan for the season. That's a good strategy, by the way. It enables them to identify their needs based on performance and injury, and to do so at a time when they need to pay only about a third of the player's salary. Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders#ixzz3zi1gTB3y
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 19:10:43 GMT -5
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 19:44:07 GMT -5
Bobby Thomson's shot heard round the world....what could have been better.. Rog -- I wasn't even following baseball then, but that's my favorite memory from seeing replays, hearing about it from my dad, listening to another recording of it (not the usual Russ Hodges recording) and reading several accounts. As Don says, it doesn't get better than that. Brings tears to my eyes every time. I have read that the game was the first-ever national telecast of baseball. Is that true, Don? If so, it might carry the same sort of impact for baseball that the 1958 title game did for football. I'm wondering if there was an equivalent game in terms of impact for the NBA. Maybe the game between the Lakers and Sixers in which Magic Johnson played center for the injured Kareem Jabbar. My personal NBA in-person memories would be: . The two games at the Cow Palace in the 4-0 Warriors sweep for their World Championship 40+ years ago. . The following year when they were eliminated by Phoenix (obviously not a great memory)on a mournful Sunday afternoon. . Watching Chamberlain and Russell battle in a game I knew going in I would remember forever. . The game in which Jim Barnett stole the ball, went to the hoop with only Wilt Chamberlain to challenge, pumped faked twice to no available, and finally put up a flat-footed finger roll that Chamberlain could have blocked with his elbow if he had known what was coming. Sadly I missed the game in which Barnett punted the ball into the upper deck, although I heard about it right afterward. Oh, and one other horrible memory. The game in which Phil Smith tore his Achilles. And one more positive. With two seconds left in a quarter, Nate Thurmond threw a long pass to Rick Barry on an inbounds after a made free throw. Rick knew the clock wouldn't start until he touched the ball, so he let it fly over his head so he could catch it farther down-court. He picked up the ball, rose for a jump shot (a three-pointer in today's game), then found Butch Beard in mid-air for a layup -- all within the two seconds. Sorry for the basketball diversion, but I've seen almost as many Warriors game in person as Giants games. And the Warriors' championship in 1974-75 was the first championship during my fanship from any sports team I rooted for. Back to the Giants, I just couldn't fathom that they won in 2010. My heart had been hardened by too many seasons without a championship. In 2012 I began to understand, and in 2014 I was amazed. In football, we had 49ers season tickets only one season -- but it was the year they won their first championship under Bill Walsh. Never had season tickets to the Sharks. No wonder they haven't won a World Championship! Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders?page=1#ixzz3zif3Htde
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 19:45:55 GMT -5
As for my favorite Giants games I attended, that would be every Willie Mays game I saw.
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Post by Islandboagie on Feb 9, 2016 21:19:41 GMT -5
Rog- Back to the Giants, I just couldn't fathom that they won in 2010.
Boagie- It took a while to sink in with me too, Rog. I still remember our instant message conversation during the NLCS that year, at the time I think we both knew with Timmy on our side, it was going to happen.
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 22:06:06 GMT -5
the frustrating part is missing the playoffs in odd years. THAT should be a given with our resources. Rog -- Actually, it shouldn't. No team has made the postseason each of the six seasons. In fact, no team has made them five times either. Your expectations are unrealistic, resulting in frustration. If frustration is the gap between expectations and reality, you're pretty much doomed to frustration. Those who think free agency allows only the big boys to make the postseason may be happy to know that 24 of the 30 teams have made the postseason at least once during that period. One could make an argument that the Giants have been better over the past six years than any team -- including the few who spend more than they do. Spending money doesn't guarantee the postseason. Those who think the Giants should spend enough to make them every year don't understand the vagaries of baseball. Nor economics. Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/3201/giants-big-spenders#ixzz3zjKen6O6
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Post by Rog on Feb 9, 2016 22:07:34 GMT -5
One can't be sure spending will make the playoffs any more than one can be sure it will make one happy.
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