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Post by reedonly on Sept 9, 2022 10:40:57 GMT -5
Today, they will vote on rule changes getting rid of defensive shifts. This impacts the Giants because they are among the leaders in outs made because of the shifts and going back to more conventional defense with two infielders on each side of second will hurt them. This off-season, they need to acquire more athleticism at the infield so players who might have otherwise stayed might be discarded for younger players. Now, I'm thinking Longoria and Flores will not be here next year but they would be if they keep the shifts. Conversely, if they do away with shifts, it might give more incentive to a player like Brandon Belt to come back. I hope the team goes younger, regardless.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 12, 2022 10:29:53 GMT -5
Surprised to hear today that they extended Flores two more years. I thought with the rule changes banning the shifts that he would become more of a liability to the team. Krukow said today that his batting average is low but he brings value to the clubhouse in leadership and ability to play first, second, and third (but not well). Supposedly the contract is said not to be a big impact contract as terms are not known. He has a 2 yr/$6mm contact going now and if its close to that, its probably reasonable. The Giants probably like the fact that he will serve as a good example because of all the work he puts in but I would have preferred someone younger and faster.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 12, 2022 11:17:14 GMT -5
I don't mind resigning him because he's valuable off the bench and as a PART TIME player at 2b and 3b.
But I never want to see Mr. NO RANGE at 2B other than emergencies.
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Post by Islandboagie on Sept 12, 2022 12:03:46 GMT -5
Good move by the Giants. Flores has been our most consistent hitter this year, and arguably his entire time with us. He's not good on defense, but I don't really consider him a liability either. Not to mention with the DH in the NL now he can occupy that spot.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 13, 2022 12:25:40 GMT -5
On defense, I really do consider him a liability when hes playing 2nd base
Anywhere else, hes acceptably average.
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Post by Islandboagie on Sept 14, 2022 11:05:10 GMT -5
Second base is no doubt his weakest position, but I think his bat still makes up for his deficiency there. But you're right, at this point I'd consider him a corner infielder/DH.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 16, 2022 10:42:18 GMT -5
I don't mind resigning him because he's valuable off the bench and as a PART TIME player at 2b and 3b. But I never want to see Mr. NO RANGE at 2B other than emergencies. One poster kept making posts about last season's game 5 against the Dodgers where the Dodgers used an opener, Kapler used La Stella, then swapped him out leaving him unavailable to be used in the 9th against Scherzer. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and realizing that the current version of LaStella might be all he is capable of, I think I didn't make a difference if the last hitter was Flores or LaStella. LaStella was playing injured at the time and not capable of much anyway. Even though I don't think much of Kapler, it wasn't a genius move by the Dodgers in the first inning of game 5 to set up Scherzer vs Flores in the 9th. The Giants currently don't need both Flores and LaStella being DH types and Flores is probably more useful in the field than LaStella (which is a low bar). That is why I like the Flores signing only if they cut LaStella. Also, with talk of Longoria returning and Belt saying he feels better, it may tempt Farhan into "running it back" one more time and keeping LaStella which would be a huge mistake. This offseason might be like watching a train wreck in slow motion, I'm afraid. Taken individually, deals for Longoria, Belt, might be a "bargain" but putting all of them together and bringing back the 2022 team is unacceptable.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 16, 2022 11:55:13 GMT -5
Oh, Lord! Let's pray BFF has learned his lesson!
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Post by reedonly on Sept 16, 2022 15:31:45 GMT -5
I do not think BFF has learned his lesson. Brisbee says that the rule changes will incentivize teams the have better baserunners and better defense. From every indication, it seems that the 2023 version is going to look a lot like the 2022 team, except being one year older. Holiday is right, they need to go with more athleticism but every roster spot filled with an old vet is one less spot for a truly useful player. Boly's mantra of pitching, speed and defense becomes more important than ever. The Flores extension is good only if he's the only one who is slow and cannot play defense but I'm hearing that LaStella, Belt, Longoria will be back. If Flores is the youngest member of the Legion Of Old Slow Guys, then Farhan and Kapler should be shown the door. The other rule change, the pitch clock may be another thing that affects them. The slowest working pitcher is Doval and Brisbee thinks his velocity will be affected by having to work faster. the rest of the Giants pitchers might not be as affected but the pitch clock is still faster than their fastest pitcher (Wood).
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Post by Islandboagie on Sept 17, 2022 11:18:55 GMT -5
LaStella has been a dissapointment, I see no reason to bring him back.
Longoria takes a while to get his swing back after coming off the DL, once he starts hitting he gets injured yet again. No thanks.
If Belt wants to take a lot less money to come back I'm fine with that.
But yes, speed and defense with some timely hitting seems to be a good recipe for success. We need an everyday centerfielder, not corner outfielders playing center. We need starting pitchers that can go longer than 4 innings and a bullpen that can hold a lead.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 17, 2022 15:04:03 GMT -5
Belt supposedly is not amenable to going the minor league contract route and will be looking for a decent contract or he retires. He says he feels good now but I'm skeptical if he can play 100 games anymore. When a guy gets to a certain age, all of us know it gets harder and harder to recover from injuries or even things as simple as cuts or bruises.
Baggs' concern is that Farhan may look at each one of these guys (Longoria, Belt, etc) as good deals and in a vacuum, they are good deals but when they are put together, its a perfect storm. Flores, Crawford and one or two old slow guys at most. If its all old and slow, then its 2022 redux.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 17, 2022 15:52:09 GMT -5
If BFF does that, he would prove to me that he has no interest in actually Fielding a winner at all.
If he was to take that road, I would expect him to go out and try to sign a big name player for the sole reason of putting fannies in seats.
And the move like that should convince all of us that his heart really isn't into winning
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Post by reedonly on Sept 18, 2022 11:29:15 GMT -5
If BFF does that, he would prove to me that he has no interest in actually Fielding a winner at all. If he was to take that road, I would expect him to go out and try to sign a big name player for the sole reason of putting fannies in seats. And the move like that should convince all of us that his heart really isn't into winning Greg Johnson, the CEO gave BFF the vote of confidence (behind BFF 100%) last week and said they were open to spend whatever it takes. I don't think people realize its not just about spending because even with spending a lot, it doesn't guarantee success. Its also about acquisition and development, not just spending. Also, Kapler expressed disappointment in Ramos last week. I'm not sure if Kapler realizes he is part of the problem but its pretty clear Kapler thinks Ramos started the year out of shape and if he were in shape, he would have gotten more chances.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 18, 2022 12:59:39 GMT -5
People like Gabe never realize it when they are part of the problem. He is a millennial, and millennials always think the problem is someone else, and never themselves.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 20, 2022 10:23:11 GMT -5
People like Gabe never realize it when they are part of the problem. He is a millennial, and millennials always think the problem is someone else, and never themselves. He definitely does not like Ramos or Hjelle but they are on the 40 man roster.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 20, 2022 15:17:06 GMT -5
If BFF does that, he would prove to me that he has no interest in actually Fielding a winner at all. If he was to take that road, I would expect him to go out and try to sign a big name player for the sole reason of putting fannies in seats. And the move like that should convince all of us that his heart really isn't into winning Greg Johnson, the new CEO says that they are behind Zaidi 100% but he will have the $$$ available to make the team a contender next season. I’m not sure if Johnson doesn’t understand the situation or it’s a mandate to Zaidi to quit screwing around. Krukow feels they need to sign a free agent or two but also incorporate the kids.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 20, 2022 22:40:37 GMT -5
I hope you're right. It's time for him to stop screwing around, fishing the bottom of the barrel, and make some good moves in the off season.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 21, 2022 10:44:50 GMT -5
I think the "vote of confidence" seemed like a message to to Farhan to get off of the pot.
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 21, 2022 11:58:02 GMT -5
I think the "vote of confidence" seemed like a message to to Farhan to get off of the pot. Or perhaps they just want him to change his "fishing" hole... because the one in which he's dropping bait is fished OUT!
I mean, consider:
Yaz now looks like little more than a flash in the proverbial pan, as does Wade.
Except for Brebbia, the pond scum he picked up for the pen has imploded; Littel, Leone and so forth.
Davis, to ME, looks like a bust, as does Brinson whom I don't think will EVER hit.
And that's just a few he plucked out of the pond.
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Post by reedonly on Sept 26, 2022 10:42:47 GMT -5
Boly: Or perhaps they just want him to change his "fishing" hole... because the one in which he's dropping bait is fished OUT!
Nowadays, the internet has youtube videos so anyone who has access and can enter the name of a player and get an idea. In MLB, there's probably hundreds of people (assistants and interns) doing these internet searches so I think the chances of finding anyone decent is much slimmer than before.
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