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Post by Rog on Nov 29, 2016 17:47:24 GMT -5
Since it is the commodity in least supply on the free agent market, starting pitching is the commodity most in demand this winter. If the right deal came along, would you be willing to trade Jeff Samardzija, thus freeing up a LOT of money? Such a move could help the Giants fill both closer and left field with quality players -- and perhaps put them in nice position for the better free agent class a year from now.
One factor that might augur against such a trade would be the possibility of losing Johnny Cueto a year from now when he has the option to opt out of his contract.
On the other hand, the Giants might add BOTH Melancon and Holland, giving them a very strong bullpen that could help supplement the new fourth and fifth starters. A bullpen with Melancon, Holland, Smith, Law, Strickland and a LOOGY or two might be extremely dynamic. The Giants could splice the fourth and fifth starters in between Bumgarner, Cueto and Moore, spreading out the need for extra bullpen help on a daily basis.
Anyway, not something that is very likely to happen, but an outside-the-box thought.
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Post by klaiggeb on Nov 29, 2016 21:02:15 GMT -5
I wouldn't make the deal, Rog.
Samadizja showed that WHEN he pulled his fat head out of his fanny and STOPPED trying to blow people away, he could not just be good, but very good.
When he reverted back to Jeffy the Stubborn vs the Cubs in the play offs, look what happened.
Hope HE was paying attention.
boly
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Post by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2016 8:06:18 GMT -5
I would trade Samardzija if I had a solid plan to replace him, but right now the Giants have four solid starters and will audition for a fifth between Beede, Cain and Blach. Chris Stratton is a possibility as well, as I've read he found something and is throwing as hard as he did when the Giants made him a first round draft choice. Problem is, of course, is that you might not even find one starter among that group, let alone two. Let's not weaken our strength.
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Post by klaiggeb on Nov 30, 2016 10:56:29 GMT -5
I agree, Mark. Weakening our one strength would not be wise.
boly
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Post by Rog on Nov 30, 2016 14:00:07 GMT -5
I would have to know what the deal was before deciding yea or nay. The point about not diluting one of the team's best strengths is a strong one. One thing I was thinking about is that a team can almost get by with three starters in the postseason, and even without Jeff, the Giants have three good ones.
Trading a high-paid player such as Samardzija would likely make more sense for a rebuilding team. But without knowing what the deal was and how other signings/deals could complement it, I wouldn't totally rule it out.
As I mentioned, just an outside-the-box idea. I'm not a big Samardzija fan, although he would seem to have the potential to become at least a #2 starter. I'm just not convinced that potential will be reached. The early and late-season Samardzija was excellent, but the mid-season and playoff Jeff was pretty darn bad.
I was hoping that Dave Righetti could help Jeff more than he did. Than again, perhaps Jeff should that his potential CAN be reached and that it will be over the rest of the contract.
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Post by Rog on Nov 30, 2016 14:13:42 GMT -5
Here is a question, one that I'm sure Don will jump all over. If we're blaming Samardzija for the pitches he throws, how much of that blame should go to Buster Posey? To Dave Righetti? Even to Bruce Bochy, particularly as a former catcher?
Like Don, I'd like to see Buster get on out to the mound if he doesn't agree with Jeff's pitch selection. What we don't know is whether Buster talks to him between innings. Or what game plan has been worked out prior to the game. Or exactly what Jeff's stuff and command of each pitch are on that particular day. Is he tipping a particular pitch? If there is a problem with a pitch, might he at least throw it out of the strike zone once in a while to keep it in the hitters' minds? Are there situations in which a hitter will be looking so hard for a fastball that a curve for instance is likely to be taken for a strike or swung at if it's out of the strike zone?
Another general question: Should pitchers be like Johnny and occasional throw a quick pitch to throw off the batter's timing? How about different arm angles on occasion? How about changing pitching patterns more often, for instance, pitching in reverse? How about forcing batters to back out more often, increasing their anxiousness?
These questions may be naive, and I realize the answer can vary from pitcher to pitcher, hitter to hitter and situation to situation. But I'm curious to the thoughts of others, particularly Boly.
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Post by donk33 on Nov 30, 2016 17:43:09 GMT -5
dk...the pitcher is where the buck stops....I am a huge critic over the fact that Giants pitchers shake off Posey at a high rate...I hate to see that, but it has always been that way and the manager used to express his concern about Posey being on the same page as the pitchers...but you don't hear that lately....I have never seen Posey talk to a pitcher in the dugout during a game....and he just doesn't go to the mound often enough....I get the impression that Rags needs Bochy's OK in order to go out to the mound...Rags also waits for Bochy's OK to warm up a pitcher....
That is why I question Posey's ability to call a game....one of the Giants vet pitchers laughed during an interview that Posey just puts down fingers until the pitcher sees one he likes....
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Post by Rog on Nov 30, 2016 18:41:51 GMT -5
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