[Mick]

Spring Training numbers are completely meaningless.

Almost entirely meaningless; historically there is a tiny correlation. 

One of my favorite trivia questions had to do with the only two NFL teams that went 0-16, the 2017 Cleveland Browns and the 2008 Detroit Lions.  What else did they have in common?  Both were undefeated 4-0 in preseason.

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My only request of the front office is to field a team that is competitive through the entire season.  If September games are meaningful, they have done their job. 

That my desire for the team for any season.  My desire of the ownership (I separate that from FO) is that they are financially committed all in to winning.  The best owner in Bay Area pro sports history was Eddie D.  He took a couple years. Then he brought in great minds to run the team and gave them almost unlimited funds to work with. 

Eddie D. had the luxury of operating without a salary cap all through the Montana years.  I think the salary cap was introduced the year Steve Young was made the starter.  As I recall, John McVay and Carmine Policy worked the salary cap pretty well during the Young years.

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I don’t believe for a second that Zaidi is unwilling to sign big ticket FAs because it someone hurts his master plan.  I believe they got outbid.  Over and over again. Pure and simple.  That tells me Johnson and Co aren’t “all-in”. And that’s a big concern.

I largely agree.  Bryce Harper has done very well with the Phillies; in his third year, he led the league in doubles, slugging percentage and OPS.  And when SFG was bidding for his services, I was really hoping he wouldn't sign with us.  His career OPS at Philadelphia vs. San Francisco is .999 vs .669.  In fact, Harper doesn't do great on the West Coast, three of his worst five ballparks are SF, LA and Oakland.

And we went after Giancarlo Stanton the year after he hit 59 HRs.  In the four years since, he's hit 80 HRs.  Definitely not bad, but worth the $29 million annually?  Prior to his big contract, Stanton was on the all star team four of the prior six years.  Hasn't been on it as a Yankee.  I'd rather have him than Connor Joe (who's #5 in MLB batting avg right now), but too much money.

[Mick]

Spring Training numbers are completely meaningless.

Almost entirely meaningless; historically there is a tiny correlation. 

One of my favorite trivia questions had to do with the only two NFL teams that went 0-16, the 2017 Cleveland Browns and the 2008 Detroit Lions.  What else did they have in common?  Both were undefeated 4-0 in preseason.

---

My only request of the front office is to field a team that is competitive through the entire season.  If September games are meaningful, they have done their job. 

That my desire for the team for any season.  My desire of the ownership (I separate that from FO) is that they are financially committed all in to winning.  The best owner in Bay Area pro sports history was Eddie D.  He took a couple years. Then he brought in great minds to run the team and gave them almost unlimited funds to work with. 

Eddie D. had the luxury of operating without a salary cap all through the Montana years.  I think the salary cap was introduced the year Steve Young was made the starter.  As I recall, John McVay and Carmine Policy worked the salary cap pretty well during the Young years.

---

I don’t believe for a second that Zaidi is unwilling to sign big ticket FAs because it someone hurts his master plan.  I believe they got outbid.  Over and over again. Pure and simple.  That tells me Johnson and Co aren’t “all-in”. And that’s a big concern.

I largely agree.  Bryce Harper has done very well with the Phillies; in his third year, he led the league in doubles, slugging percentage and OPS.  And when SFG was bidding for his services, I was really hoping he wouldn't sign with us.  His career OPS at Philadelphia vs. San Francisco is .999 vs .669.  In fact, Harper doesn't do great on the West Coast, three of his worst five ballparks are SF, LA and Oakland.

And we went after Giancarlo Stanton the year after he hit 59 HRs.  In the four years since, he's hit 80 HRs.  Definitely not bad, but worth the $29 million annually?  Prior to his big contract, Stanton was on the all star team four of the prior six years.  Hasn't been on it as a Yankee.  I'd rather have him than Connor Joe (who's #5 in MLB batting avg right now), but too much money.