[Mick]

1694969877[/url]']
What will be really interesting is if Farhan Zaidi gets a raise or a pay cut. He's not in any demand by anyone, so if the Giants extend his contract  - as they say they will - and pay him more than his original deal, it will be another area with which to take umbrage with the Giants' milquetoast ownership.

The last MLB Farm Rankings in mid-August had the Giants #14, but, that's behind:

#6 Dodgers
#9 Padres
#12 D-Backs

All teams in their division who are already more talented. And, just as significantly, the Brewers (#3), Cubs (#4), Reds (#5) all likely playoff teams, plus the Nationals (#8) and Mets (#11) who have more talent, are also all ahead of them in the prospect area too, and the Mets just hired the guy who built the Brewers system to #3.

The only way to improve is by signing DIFFERENCE MAKING free agents that cost a shit ton of money, and the Giants are not willing to do this. So why should anyone pay any attention to this team? Give me one good reason that is backed by anything other than blind hope and some misguided "you are a fan, support your team" nonsense. 

Like Stanford, I'll bother to care when management shows they care.

To clarify…

Greg Johnson has stated that Zaidi’s option for 2024 has been exercised.  He is now under contract for one more year.  Kapler is also under contract through 2024. 

If we don’t see substantial progress next year, I feel comfortable in saying that Johnson will make changes before the 2025 season.  

As for farm rankings, I don’t put much credence in them.  For example, Bailey never rated at the top of prospects at any point in his minor league career.  Today, I wouldn’t trade Bailey for any young catcher in the game.  Things can changes very quickly as guys make their way to the bigs.  

Also, to suggest SF is unwilling to spend money is a fallacy.  Last off-season proved that to be total canard.  Unfortunately, this year, there is a very limited pool of premier FA’s.  It will be very interesting to see what Zaidi does.  He knows he is under the gun.

Finally, I will always pay close attention to the team.  I have since 1958 through good years and bad.  Why stop now?

Same. I've been rooting for them since the late 1960s, same with Stanford, great season or ill. And feel the same way about Bailey. Best case, he'll be (I think) a Bill Freehan style catcher, worst case Bob Brenly.

Kapler and Zaidi had better figure a way to pull a rabbit out of a hit. Yesterday's display, to me, was endemic of a season that's gone off the rails. Poor focus -- witness Doval's failure to pick up a ball for the final out. His body language around the mound is awful. I know he has talent, but I worry that he's catching/caught whatever afflicted Hunter Strickland.

Those rookies will have to take a momumental jump next year, and I think they're certainly capable of it. Schmitt is an interesting example to me, the worst WAR at -0.8 of all the rookies. Started out like his hair was on fire, then major league pitchers figured out he can't hit major-league off-speed pitching. Generally speaking, the pitchers seem very strong. I think Matos and Luciano will step up. Wade and Estrada should be strong for a while. I hope Pederson won't be back...haven't seen a major league baseball player that out of shape in a looooong time. Hope Crawford is gone or relegated to third string, though I hate to say it.

[Mick]

1694969877[/url]']
What will be really interesting is if Farhan Zaidi gets a raise or a pay cut. He's not in any demand by anyone, so if the Giants extend his contract  - as they say they will - and pay him more than his original deal, it will be another area with which to take umbrage with the Giants' milquetoast ownership.

The last MLB Farm Rankings in mid-August had the Giants #14, but, that's behind:

#6 Dodgers
#9 Padres
#12 D-Backs

All teams in their division who are already more talented. And, just as significantly, the Brewers (#3), Cubs (#4), Reds (#5) all likely playoff teams, plus the Nationals (#8) and Mets (#11) who have more talent, are also all ahead of them in the prospect area too, and the Mets just hired the guy who built the Brewers system to #3.

The only way to improve is by signing DIFFERENCE MAKING free agents that cost a shit ton of money, and the Giants are not willing to do this. So why should anyone pay any attention to this team? Give me one good reason that is backed by anything other than blind hope and some misguided "you are a fan, support your team" nonsense. 

Like Stanford, I'll bother to care when management shows they care.

To clarify…

Greg Johnson has stated that Zaidi’s option for 2024 has been exercised.  He is now under contract for one more year.  Kapler is also under contract through 2024. 

If we don’t see substantial progress next year, I feel comfortable in saying that Johnson will make changes before the 2025 season.  

As for farm rankings, I don’t put much credence in them.  For example, Bailey never rated at the top of prospects at any point in his minor league career.  Today, I wouldn’t trade Bailey for any young catcher in the game.  Things can changes very quickly as guys make their way to the bigs.  

Also, to suggest SF is unwilling to spend money is a fallacy.  Last off-season proved that to be total canard.  Unfortunately, this year, there is a very limited pool of premier FA’s.  It will be very interesting to see what Zaidi does.  He knows he is under the gun.

Finally, I will always pay close attention to the team.  I have since 1958 through good years and bad.  Why stop now?

Same. I've been rooting for them since the late 1960s, same with Stanford, great season or ill. And feel the same way about Bailey. Best case, he'll be (I think) a Bill Freehan style catcher, worst case Bob Brenly.

Kapler and Zaidi had better figure a way to pull a rabbit out of a hit. Yesterday's display, to me, was endemic of a season that's gone off the rails. Poor focus -- witness Doval's failure to pick up a ball for the final out. His body language around the mound is awful. I know he has talent, but I worry that he's catching/caught whatever afflicted Hunter Strickland.

Those rookies will have to take a momumental jump next year, and I think they're certainly capable of it. Schmitt is an interesting example to me, the worst WAR at -0.8 of all the rookies. Started out like his hair was on fire, then major league pitchers figured out he can't hit major-league off-speed pitching. Generally speaking, the pitchers seem very strong. I think Matos and Luciano will step up. Wade and Estrada should be strong for a while. I hope Pederson won't be back...haven't seen a major league baseball player that out of shape in a looooong time. Hope Crawford is gone or relegated to third string, though I hate to say it.