[lex24]

Most anyone can lose the ball during twilight but Gonzalez is an adventure waiting to happen. Betts is an incomparable baseball player and with apologies to Trout perhaps the most valuable to his team in all of MLB. Has anyone seen him ever make a mistake?

Injuries have caused Belt to become overmatched at the plate. Hurray for the bunt single. You can’t resign him because he can’t stay healthy.

Who called the third breaking pitch to Alberto? Fastball up and out of the zone on two strikes was to me a no brainer. Rodon needs an effective third pitch.

Joey Bart had two T Ball sliders after he swung at a slider way away. Could’t do anything with them. He is still a multi year project and they still need a catcher.

And when you get down to actually advancing in the playoffs, regardless of how bad they are in the field and in the bullpen, they need a third starter. Junis, Wood and Cobb don’t cut it.

While we wait for Luciano, Pomares, Matos, Schmidt, Vaun Brown, Roby, Bishop and others what do they do?

 Be aggressive in FA market.  As you know some prospects will make it and become regulars, some will get a cup of coffee and some will never make it.  Building depth in the farm system was and is a  Zaidi priority.  He’s done a nice job.  Now Giants have an upper tier system.  But most of the help is a couple years away.  

They have enough now to compete on the fringe.  But to continue, they need an “anchor” or two.  Stars.  Look at last night.  Dodgers top three offensive players (they have been carrying this team offensively along with Will Smith) are stars they acquired via trade and then extended (Betts) acquired in trade and probably will extend (Trea T) and acquired via FA.

Betts signed a 12 year deal. They will be paying him approx $30 mill a year from age 35-39. Freeman 6. They will be paying him27 million age 35-37. Are they going to be worth that in those  “Back-ends”.  Dodgers don’t care.  Neither should the Giants. It’s the price you pay to compete in the market. 

If Judge comes on market Giants need to be all in.  Same to a lesser extent with Trea T.  That means overpaying.  And accepting that the “back end” will not compute.  So, what.

As for the deadline - grab a lefty reliever (last year Giants had 3 good options - McGee, Alvarez, Garcia). McGee DFA’d Alvarez out for season, Garcia has command issues.  Be nice if they could also add either an OF or MIF with some athleticism.  Someone that can run and play defense.  Power optional.  High OBP would be nice.

No rentals, unless just buying a contract and giving up low level prospects.

Bullpen was strength last year, weakness this year with what started as same crew.  Bullpens are fickle by nature. With few exceptions, what a reliever does in one year doesn’t necessarily carry to the next.  Heck, even month to month.  Which is why there is enormous tinkering and turnover.  The high usage catches up to them.  The trick is figuring out when.

Sam Long is a guy I’d like to see used more in high leverage situations.  He’s got good stuff.  And he’s relatively fresh. Why not give him a shot as the high leverage lefthander? 


Love to get Soto.  But it’s not gonna happen.  Nats are going to want a haul that includes not just prospects, but guys off the 26. Dodgers could easily package Lux, Dustin May and prospects.  They will have three years of postseason ball with him pre FA.  And they know they can give him what he wants to extended.

Pads can offer Mackenzie Gore and prospects.  Put him in lineup with Tatis and Machado…. They can trade Gore cause they have Musgrove and Darvish at top.  Maybe Snell finds it.  But that’s looking more and more dubious.  Clevinger also in the mix.  If he gets close to where he was  pre injury…..

Giants?  They can offer prospects, but the only guy on the 26 that would be attractive is Webb.  And that would destroy the pitching staff.  I’d trade a slew of prospects for the next Bonds.  But I can’t include Webb.  So, they are out.

Just hoping Soto signs with Yankees or Mariners.  Particularly Yankees, as that makes it likely that Judge will hit the market.

[lex24]

Most anyone can lose the ball during twilight but Gonzalez is an adventure waiting to happen. Betts is an incomparable baseball player and with apologies to Trout perhaps the most valuable to his team in all of MLB. Has anyone seen him ever make a mistake?

Injuries have caused Belt to become overmatched at the plate. Hurray for the bunt single. You can’t resign him because he can’t stay healthy.

Who called the third breaking pitch to Alberto? Fastball up and out of the zone on two strikes was to me a no brainer. Rodon needs an effective third pitch.

Joey Bart had two T Ball sliders after he swung at a slider way away. Could’t do anything with them. He is still a multi year project and they still need a catcher.

And when you get down to actually advancing in the playoffs, regardless of how bad they are in the field and in the bullpen, they need a third starter. Junis, Wood and Cobb don’t cut it.

While we wait for Luciano, Pomares, Matos, Schmidt, Vaun Brown, Roby, Bishop and others what do they do?

 Be aggressive in FA market.  As you know some prospects will make it and become regulars, some will get a cup of coffee and some will never make it.  Building depth in the farm system was and is a  Zaidi priority.  He’s done a nice job.  Now Giants have an upper tier system.  But most of the help is a couple years away.  

They have enough now to compete on the fringe.  But to continue, they need an “anchor” or two.  Stars.  Look at last night.  Dodgers top three offensive players (they have been carrying this team offensively along with Will Smith) are stars they acquired via trade and then extended (Betts) acquired in trade and probably will extend (Trea T) and acquired via FA.

Betts signed a 12 year deal. They will be paying him approx $30 mill a year from age 35-39. Freeman 6. They will be paying him27 million age 35-37. Are they going to be worth that in those  “Back-ends”.  Dodgers don’t care.  Neither should the Giants. It’s the price you pay to compete in the market. 

If Judge comes on market Giants need to be all in.  Same to a lesser extent with Trea T.  That means overpaying.  And accepting that the “back end” will not compute.  So, what.

As for the deadline - grab a lefty reliever (last year Giants had 3 good options - McGee, Alvarez, Garcia). McGee DFA’d Alvarez out for season, Garcia has command issues.  Be nice if they could also add either an OF or MIF with some athleticism.  Someone that can run and play defense.  Power optional.  High OBP would be nice.

No rentals, unless just buying a contract and giving up low level prospects.

Bullpen was strength last year, weakness this year with what started as same crew.  Bullpens are fickle by nature. With few exceptions, what a reliever does in one year doesn’t necessarily carry to the next.  Heck, even month to month.  Which is why there is enormous tinkering and turnover.  The high usage catches up to them.  The trick is figuring out when.

Sam Long is a guy I’d like to see used more in high leverage situations.  He’s got good stuff.  And he’s relatively fresh. Why not give him a shot as the high leverage lefthander? 


Love to get Soto.  But it’s not gonna happen.  Nats are going to want a haul that includes not just prospects, but guys off the 26. Dodgers could easily package Lux, Dustin May and prospects.  They will have three years of postseason ball with him pre FA.  And they know they can give him what he wants to extended.

Pads can offer Mackenzie Gore and prospects.  Put him in lineup with Tatis and Machado…. They can trade Gore cause they have Musgrove and Darvish at top.  Maybe Snell finds it.  But that’s looking more and more dubious.  Clevinger also in the mix.  If he gets close to where he was  pre injury…..

Giants?  They can offer prospects, but the only guy on the 26 that would be attractive is Webb.  And that would destroy the pitching staff.  I’d trade a slew of prospects for the next Bonds.  But I can’t include Webb.  So, they are out.

Just hoping Soto signs with Yankees or Mariners.  Particularly Yankees, as that makes it likely that Judge will hit the market.