[lex24]

ESPN analyst, former Senior Advisor to the NY Mets, Los Angeles Dodger analyst on Sunday Night Baseball Crew and former Stanford outfielder, Jessica Mendoza tells First Take that the Giants are the biggest dark horse contender in the National League.

ESPN analyst believes SF Giants are the NL's biggest sleeper - Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More

Wait, an ESPN analyst's take as reported by Sports Illustrated is news? What is sports journalism coming to? Soon, SI will be reporting that Cardboard prognosticators and Giants experts Giants predicted an 80 win season and BobbbbK predicted a 92 win campaign.

I’ve seen projections from 88 to 75.  Giants floor to ceiling gap is quite broad. My keys:

1. Manaea.  Webb and Cobb are solid 1-2. Rest is nice “depth” but i question quality. Manaea was awful last year. But at his best he’s a solid starter that can give you 150-160 innings.  If he rebounds, that’s big.

2. Catcher. A potential major problem.  Perez hasn’t played much in 3 years. If healthy, reputation is he’s excellent behind the dish.  He won’t hit much.  Bart is at a crossroads, imo.  If he doesn’t produce this year, his Giant days are  numbered. By produce, I mean be solid  behind the plate and hit for power with a decent OBP. .  He’s gonna strike out a ton and forget the average. 220. 320 OBP. 17-20 HRs.  He does that, he’s fine.  Sabol is a liability behind the plate. But has value, potentially , as utility player and no 3 catcher.  The odds of him sticking all year as a Rule 5 are relatively long. I’d give him a 35% chance.  LastbRule 5/that stuck for S.F. is Max Venable.  Catching is a big ? 

3.  Haniger/Conforto. Get 130 games with production from both.  That is what they bought.

4. Getting to Doval.  Taylor Rogers is  an under appreciated add.  The 7th and 8th was a mess second half of last year. They pitched Brebbia into the ground.  Rogers should allow them to avoid that.  Be nice to also get over 950 innings from Webb, Cobb, Manaea, Wood, DeSclafani, Junis and Hjelle.

5. Infield defense.  If Crawford stays healthy they should be ok up the middle.  I know the metrics were not good for Estrada.  But I think that’s a matter of consistency not ability.  I expect him to be better.  Corners are potentially a mess.

5. Avoid “The Churn”. Giants had 32 players at SF last year that are no longer with the organization.  That’s astonishing to me.  If the movement between Sacto and SF is largely off the current 40, as opposed to Zaidi waiver wire scours, that is a good sign organizationally.  If the number of those that play at SF and are gone in ‘24 is anywhere near the ‘22- 23 figure, it not only portends a long season, it’s a sign the prospects are not progressing.  I am optimistic that “the Churn” will be much less this year.  

Play Ball!

Edit : Just learned signed Matt Beaty put him on the 26 man roster. Bryce Johnson didn’t make it. He will be out of the organization. I hope to hell somebody signs him and he has a nice year. Zaidi is like a junkie on the Churn. He can’t help himself. Matt Beaty is another left-handed hitting outfielder first baseman with no speed. . Oh, but he has that beloved option. Man, I get tired of this.

[lex24]

ESPN analyst, former Senior Advisor to the NY Mets, Los Angeles Dodger analyst on Sunday Night Baseball Crew and former Stanford outfielder, Jessica Mendoza tells First Take that the Giants are the biggest dark horse contender in the National League.

ESPN analyst believes SF Giants are the NL's biggest sleeper - Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More

Wait, an ESPN analyst's take as reported by Sports Illustrated is news? What is sports journalism coming to? Soon, SI will be reporting that Cardboard prognosticators and Giants experts Giants predicted an 80 win season and BobbbbK predicted a 92 win campaign.

I’ve seen projections from 88 to 75.  Giants floor to ceiling gap is quite broad. My keys:

1. Manaea.  Webb and Cobb are solid 1-2. Rest is nice “depth” but i question quality. Manaea was awful last year. But at his best he’s a solid starter that can give you 150-160 innings.  If he rebounds, that’s big.

2. Catcher. A potential major problem.  Perez hasn’t played much in 3 years. If healthy, reputation is he’s excellent behind the dish.  He won’t hit much.  Bart is at a crossroads, imo.  If he doesn’t produce this year, his Giant days are  numbered. By produce, I mean be solid  behind the plate and hit for power with a decent OBP. .  He’s gonna strike out a ton and forget the average. 220. 320 OBP. 17-20 HRs.  He does that, he’s fine.  Sabol is a liability behind the plate. But has value, potentially , as utility player and no 3 catcher.  The odds of him sticking all year as a Rule 5 are relatively long. I’d give him a 35% chance.  LastbRule 5/that stuck for S.F. is Max Venable.  Catching is a big ? 

3.  Haniger/Conforto. Get 130 games with production from both.  That is what they bought.

4. Getting to Doval.  Taylor Rogers is  an under appreciated add.  The 7th and 8th was a mess second half of last year. They pitched Brebbia into the ground.  Rogers should allow them to avoid that.  Be nice to also get over 950 innings from Webb, Cobb, Manaea, Wood, DeSclafani, Junis and Hjelle.

5. Infield defense.  If Crawford stays healthy they should be ok up the middle.  I know the metrics were not good for Estrada.  But I think that’s a matter of consistency not ability.  I expect him to be better.  Corners are potentially a mess.

5. Avoid “The Churn”. Giants had 32 players at SF last year that are no longer with the organization.  That’s astonishing to me.  If the movement between Sacto and SF is largely off the current 40, as opposed to Zaidi waiver wire scours, that is a good sign organizationally.  If the number of those that play at SF and are gone in ‘24 is anywhere near the ‘22- 23 figure, it not only portends a long season, it’s a sign the prospects are not progressing.  I am optimistic that “the Churn” will be much less this year.  

Play Ball!

Edit : Just learned signed Matt Beaty put him on the 26 man roster. Bryce Johnson didn’t make it. He will be out of the organization. I hope to hell somebody signs him and he has a nice year. Zaidi is like a junkie on the Churn. He can’t help himself. Matt Beaty is another left-handed hitting outfielder first baseman with no speed. . Oh, but he has that beloved option. Man, I get tired of this.