Since we have the day off today, and it is the trading deadline, I thought I would take this opportunity to show y'all just how biased ESPN really is towards Eastern teams, particularly the Red Sox and Yanks. Notice I did not say "against Western teams". Here's a prime example why:
You remember all the trading rumors I (and other Giants' bloggers) have been telling you about? Winn to the Mets? Molina to the Yanks, or the Marlins? Aurilia to the Twins? Other than that last one, ESPN has covered none of it. The MLB has mentioned them in passing, but no major network wasted time on them. Now, this is actually normal; you see, trading rumors go in and out all the time, even with the most direct of evidences (for example, Mike Jacobs' own quote about Molina). That's because trades get hung up in details, far more than those that succeed, and such is what makes a possibility a bad story.
Enter ESPN, female-dog pet of the AL East. The purse they've been carried around in this time is the Manny Ramirez trade debacle. Certain rumors start like this, and they catch like wildfire, but they don't get covered by national press because it's all speculation. But now that ESPN covered this, the "blockbuster fizzling" is the new story instead. Hmm.
Welcome to "OK! Celebrity Magazine".
-MSH
Showing posts with label Molina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Molina. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Aurilia Does Rhyme
With Minnesota. It's possible, but so was Winn to the Mets and Molina to the Yanks.
That idea for a blogging tribute to Richie feels more important with time, though.
And then there's the new rumor, from one of the players involved no less, that Mike Jacobs from Florida and Bengie are being swapped... *sigh*. Stop teasing me.
-MSH
That idea for a blogging tribute to Richie feels more important with time, though.
And then there's the new rumor, from one of the players involved no less, that Mike Jacobs from Florida and Bengie are being swapped... *sigh*. Stop teasing me.
-MSH
Monday, July 28, 2008
Reality & Promise: Team vs. Player
Zito lost again, badly, and Lewis had four hits with two steals. If this isn't the best possible microcosm for how to view our team for this year, and what we should be focusing on for next, then we may as well liquidate the franchise immediately.
In other trade news, holding my breath because of a previous post I made about the Mets and Randy Winn, the other team in N.Y. is also talking for him, and lo and behold, Bengie Molina.
I think it's reasonable, given the Yanks' problems at the catcher spot. And frankly, if they're willing to deal decently, I wouldn't mind. Molina is older, we can't expect to build around him because he probably won't last more than a few years, and Steve Holm was the one who caught Cain's CG shutout - going an amazing 2-3 as well.
A little justification for my thoughts there:
It always pays to realize that allegiance to players should never be as strong as allegiance to a team. Players come and go all the time; even the best go to other places at the end of their careers as a matter of business, and if they really benefited from the organization then they will return to be honored (like Clark and Thompson at memorial days at the park last year, or this year). This is why we honor players who refuse to go to another team, because as good as they are, they know that the team is bigger or more important than their individual performances.
But if you hang onto players as if they are the franchise themselves, then I can guarantee that you will (A) lose interest when they go, (B) won't be able to have the best interests of the team in mind while they stay, and (C) won't be "responsible" for the team's progress if the team does what is best for itself.
In other words: Future's now, boys.
Future's now.
-MSH
In other trade news, holding my breath because of a previous post I made about the Mets and Randy Winn, the other team in N.Y. is also talking for him, and lo and behold, Bengie Molina.
I think it's reasonable, given the Yanks' problems at the catcher spot. And frankly, if they're willing to deal decently, I wouldn't mind. Molina is older, we can't expect to build around him because he probably won't last more than a few years, and Steve Holm was the one who caught Cain's CG shutout - going an amazing 2-3 as well.
A little justification for my thoughts there:
It always pays to realize that allegiance to players should never be as strong as allegiance to a team. Players come and go all the time; even the best go to other places at the end of their careers as a matter of business, and if they really benefited from the organization then they will return to be honored (like Clark and Thompson at memorial days at the park last year, or this year). This is why we honor players who refuse to go to another team, because as good as they are, they know that the team is bigger or more important than their individual performances.
But if you hang onto players as if they are the franchise themselves, then I can guarantee that you will (A) lose interest when they go, (B) won't be able to have the best interests of the team in mind while they stay, and (C) won't be "responsible" for the team's progress if the team does what is best for itself.
In other words: Future's now, boys.
Future's now.
-MSH
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Winning A Series At Home
... is something the Giants seemed to have a phobia against. Until last night. Thanks to Bengie Molina (who went 3-4 with 2 doubles), Vizquel (who apparently got Bochy's hint and has finally starting heating up - he had 3 hits), and Aurilia showing his old form with a well-placed 2-run gapper in the 8th inning, S.F. came from behind to win 6-4 last night.
Granted, it was against the Nationals. But I ain't picky, this season. The last time they won back to back at home it was, I believe, April. What can I say, the kid was wearing his gear yesterday:
Wilson is single-handedly and quite literally saving our season. The man has 27 saves in 29 attempts. His ERA, once a concern, has been steadily dropping for the past [playing] month. I will say it again: Hit the deck; it's the ghost of Rod Beck.
I'm feeling a tribute-to-Richie post.
-MSH
Granted, it was against the Nationals. But I ain't picky, this season. The last time they won back to back at home it was, I believe, April. What can I say, the kid was wearing his gear yesterday:
Wilson is single-handedly and quite literally saving our season. The man has 27 saves in 29 attempts. His ERA, once a concern, has been steadily dropping for the past [playing] month. I will say it again: Hit the deck; it's the ghost of Rod Beck.
I'm feeling a tribute-to-Richie post.
-MSH
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Turnaround? [NB: The Game After Durham]
Some thoughts on last night's win as a potential turn-around, by person. Again, please note this is the first game of the first series without Sugar Ray's "I'm entitled to everything" attitude on the team:
Lewis: Went 1-4 with a leadoff HR in the first inning. He hit one of the Levi's poles in RF, preventing a splash. Kruk, Kuip, myself, and probably half the rest of the fans believe that he deserves a free pair of jeans for this.
Molina: 2 HR evening; the last time this kind of night happened for him, it was only April. Fantastic.
Zito: The crowd likes him again, and there's good reason why. He went a full six innings again, and while he allowed 3 runs he still got himself out of a few tough situations, holding on to get his fifth win of the season. Zito is now 2-0 at home, after starting the season 0-8 at home. A typical (and welcome) "second-half comeback" start for him.
Winn: Randy scored the sixth run of the game, after stealing a base and getting his first hit of the night in the eighth. However, he wasn't really what I would call a "factor" in this game. Why? Here's what the youth did prior to Winn's hit off of Washington middle relief: Ochoa 1-1 (PH); Velez 1-3 (R); Lewis 1-3 (HR). So, clearly, because Randy can still be productive without us really needing him to be, it's perfectly logical to trade him for prospects so that Nate [Schierholtz] can play.
Taschner: This is more Bochy's fault than anything. In the sixth, Bochy had Hinshaw and Espineli warming up. Taschner was put in in the seventh - without being warmed up. Taschner proceeded to get one out, then walk the next two batters after full counts before being pulled for Romo, who barely got out of the inning alive. Maybe Bochy might get the hint this time, just like the injury to Yabu has allowed him to call up Espineli. Normally, Bochy would appear perfectly calm to leave Taschner in - maybe send out Righetti. But no, Bochy went out himself, immediately.
Burriss: Put in at 2B in the ninth inning for his defense, it was clear why immediately. The first out was a sharp grounder hit to him; the second out was a Gold-Glove-caliber diving stop to catch a line out. This was done after sitting on the bench all night after warmup; he didn't even have a chance to hit. This kid is amazing.
Wilson: Got screwed on the strike zone for both of the first two hitters, so he just threw three heaters in a row to get the last out. That's called determined. That's Rod Beck. Wilson is now on pace for at least 40 saves. Hello? 40 saves.
Visquel: Sorry, pal. I love your defense, and your a historic, Hall of Fame SS; but when we're in a horrible slump, you can't be traded because you're hitting .161, and we have two fine young defensive middle IFs now, you get pulled next game.
Hooray!
-MSH
Lewis: Went 1-4 with a leadoff HR in the first inning. He hit one of the Levi's poles in RF, preventing a splash. Kruk, Kuip, myself, and probably half the rest of the fans believe that he deserves a free pair of jeans for this.
Molina: 2 HR evening; the last time this kind of night happened for him, it was only April. Fantastic.
Zito: The crowd likes him again, and there's good reason why. He went a full six innings again, and while he allowed 3 runs he still got himself out of a few tough situations, holding on to get his fifth win of the season. Zito is now 2-0 at home, after starting the season 0-8 at home. A typical (and welcome) "second-half comeback" start for him.
Winn: Randy scored the sixth run of the game, after stealing a base and getting his first hit of the night in the eighth. However, he wasn't really what I would call a "factor" in this game. Why? Here's what the youth did prior to Winn's hit off of Washington middle relief: Ochoa 1-1 (PH); Velez 1-3 (R); Lewis 1-3 (HR). So, clearly, because Randy can still be productive without us really needing him to be, it's perfectly logical to trade him for prospects so that Nate [Schierholtz] can play.
Taschner: This is more Bochy's fault than anything. In the sixth, Bochy had Hinshaw and Espineli warming up. Taschner was put in in the seventh - without being warmed up. Taschner proceeded to get one out, then walk the next two batters after full counts before being pulled for Romo, who barely got out of the inning alive. Maybe Bochy might get the hint this time, just like the injury to Yabu has allowed him to call up Espineli. Normally, Bochy would appear perfectly calm to leave Taschner in - maybe send out Righetti. But no, Bochy went out himself, immediately.
Burriss: Put in at 2B in the ninth inning for his defense, it was clear why immediately. The first out was a sharp grounder hit to him; the second out was a Gold-Glove-caliber diving stop to catch a line out. This was done after sitting on the bench all night after warmup; he didn't even have a chance to hit. This kid is amazing.
Wilson: Got screwed on the strike zone for both of the first two hitters, so he just threw three heaters in a row to get the last out. That's called determined. That's Rod Beck. Wilson is now on pace for at least 40 saves. Hello? 40 saves.
Visquel: Sorry, pal. I love your defense, and your a historic, Hall of Fame SS; but when we're in a horrible slump, you can't be traded because you're hitting .161, and we have two fine young defensive middle IFs now, you get pulled next game.
Hooray!
-MSH
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