“As long as we’ve got a chance to stay in and around third place, why not?” Sabean said as he stood along the dugout rail and watched his players take batting practice. “Why wouldn’t you want to think that way? These guys think that way.”

The odds that fifteen team planes will crash between now and October can't be great, but I guess stranger things have happened.

And you thought the Blue Jays are screwed because they have no hitting...

I hope he means "a chance to land the #1 overall pick"

Maybe Sabean means he's about to sign Frank Chance.

Things may look bad on the front line, but it's good to know that the telegrams from the Fuhrerbunker still speak of victory.

The odds that fifteen team planes will crash between now and October can't be great, but I guess stranger things have happened.

"That will never happen. Three misfortunes, that's possible. Seven misfortunates, there's an outside chance. But fifteen misfortunes? I'd like to see that!"

Okay, I really wouldn't want to see that, but the paraphrase was apt.

With that in mind, Sabean said he does not contemplate moving his most marketable experienced players before the trade deadline, as many rebuilding teams do. Catcher Bengie Molina and outfielder Randy Winn, both signed through 2009, might yield the most in return. But as of now, Sabean plans to keep them.

This worries me. Sabean really needs to move whatever he can, especially in the OF. As for really believing that the team can contend? Well, it is Sabean... maybe he believes it, maybe he just can't say "no, we suck, it's my fault, and finishing above last place would be amazing" to the Chronicle.

You wouldn't really need fifteen, as long as a few of those crashing planes happened to land on top of stadia.

"So in conclusion, I think it would be a huge benefit to the league if we replaced Gatorade as the official sports drink of Major League Baseball with this brain and nerve tonic. Thank you for your time, Mr. Selig."

The odds that fifteen team planes will crash between now and October can't be great, but I guess stranger things have happened.

A) You'd need more than 15.

B) More than 2 or 3, and it's reasonable to assume that these aren't just accidents, in which case you'd hope even Selig would step in and disqualify the Giants in the name of it being unreasonable to reward a team for murdering their opponents (assuming he found the evidence, which even his office should be able to manage).

Holding onto Molina might make sense, but why in the world would you want to keep Winn? He's due $8.5M next year, no longer has the glove to play center, and never had the bat to play a corner. He's a fine 4th outfielder, but the guy is nothing more than a spare part. If the Giants can unload the contract (let alone get anything for him), they should jump at the chance.

A) You'd need more that 15.

Indeed. I'm not sure that the 2008 Giants could beat the AAA teams of many NL franchises.

whatever happened to the guy who used the handle "Ken Griffey's Grotesquely Swollen Jaw"? I loved that.

Maybe Sabean means he's about to sign Frank Chance.

Don't be silly. Even Brian Sabean knows Frank Chance is dead. He's about to sign Dean Chance.

Sabean: What are my chances?
BTF: Not good.
Sabean: You mean not good like one out of a hundred?
BTF: I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
Sabean: So you're telling me there's a chance!

Aww...That is so adorable.

Indeed. I'm not sure that the 2008 Giants could beat the AAA teams of many NL franchises.
They would be favored to win at least 2 out of 3 vs. the 10-31 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
The 32yo Oscar Robles is on the 40 man roster, according to that page. I knew the Phils' farm system sucks, but that is the pits.

The offense has been weak. New third baseman Jose Castillo is not an upgrade over Pedro Feliz

Well he's outhitting him so far...

Seriously, their pythag is 15-27, that's with Lincecum doing a convincing god impersonation and Rowand being healthy and raking.

Even assuming Bowker is for real (capable of sustaining a 105 OPS+- And I think he is)
Even assuming Lewis is for real (capable of sustaining a 116 OPS+ in this his age 27 season- quite possible)
Even assuming Cain and LIncecum are going to continue to combine for a 2.93 ERA (ERA+ of 144)...

Even with all those assumptions this is a true 100 loss caliber team.
Yuch

The 32yo Oscar Robles is on the 40 man roster, according to that page.

The only guy under the age of 25 is RJ Swindle. Swindle was drafted by the Red Sox in '04, played in the Yankee organization after the Red Sox released him, was picked up by the Phillies a year ago after the Yankees released him, then "they" released him before this season only to resign him when injuries opened up a couple of slots in their minor league organization. He is never going to impress anyone with his stuff, but he's got outstanding control and has done nothing but get guys out at almost every level of the minors. He's a longshot to have a career in the majors, but at least the Phillies are giving him a real shot at AAA to see if it holds up.

-- MWE

Remember, kids, Bad Habit Bear says, "Paint chips are for eating, not for smoking!"

Lincecum and Cain and pray for 23 other major-league caliber players?

Even with all those assumptions this is a true 100 loss caliber team.
Yuch

SS - Brian Bocock - 77 AB - 12 OPS+
2B - Eugenio Velez - 118 AB - 51 OPS+
1B/3B - Rich Aurilia - 98 AB - 81 OPS+
RF - Randy Winn - 138 AB - 81 OPS+

This team can really make up for the good things in a hurry. They are a bad team anyway, but playing Vizquel/Durham/Bowker/Ortmeier actually improves this team quite a bit.

"Well he's outhitting him so far..."

You ever hear The Trolley Song?

That bit where it goes "clang, clang, clang went the trolley"? Castillo's glove is like that, only with a "K" instead of a "G".

“Why wouldn’t you want to think that way? These guys think that way.”

Sabean's just trying to follow Moneyball. Only problem is that the market inefficiency that he was able to find was deluded players.

I hope he means "a chance to land the #1 overall pick"

This is Sabean we're talking about. He doesn't like draft picks.

This is Sabean we're talking about. He doesn't like draft picks.

"Whaddya mean I can't lose a #1 pick as compensation?" <throws canoe>

Sure, Kenny Lofton's agent will listen if Sabean calls.

MWE, I posted a whole RJ Swindle thread a couple days ago. His K/BB ratio in the affiliated minors right now is, I believe, 186 to 18. That's being used exclusively as a reliever, but when he was a starter in the Northern League it was pretty similar.

The IronPigs looked like they would at least have a good outfield this year, but then they let Michael Restovich go to Japan, and somehow, someway, Chris Snelling got injured.

As for Robles, his presence on the team indicates that it has actually IMPROVED, since he was signed to replace Gookie Dawkins.

"Well he's outhitting him so far..."

You ever hear The Trolley Song?

That bit where it goes "clang, clang, clang went the trolley"? Castillo's glove is like that, only with a "K" instead of a "G".

Hmm, a Judy Garland reference regarding the San Francisco team. I see what you did there....

But what else is he going to say? His champion -- Magowan -- is being pushed aside, and Sabean is probably next. He probably knows it too, and is looking for a way to spin the Giants' ultimate, ugly demise this season in his favor. Assuming he's fired, look for a quote from him come October along the lines of "well, things looked promising in the Spring. If the ownership group had stayed the course and let make the moves I had in mind, maybe things would have turned out better."

But what else is he going to say? His champion -- Magowan -- is being pushed aside, and Sabean is probably next.

It depends on what you mean by "next"
some reports have him as being "next" as in next in line to take Magowan's job.

Joke all you want, but that kid from San Jose State might be worth the worst record in baseball this year. For that reason alone, I hope some AL team completely combusts down the road, to keep that pitcher out of the NL West. [I don't mean literally "combust"]

But at least they can now go bowling as a team!

Joke all you want, but that kid from San Jose State might be worth the worst record in baseball this year.

Not that I'm the biggest draft guy, but who's from San Jose State? Did you mean Brian Matusz from San Diego?

As a dedicated Giants fan* I'm really hoping they get the top pick. I'd love to see a college bat be the best player available, but I'd love it more if they just take the best player.

*I'm never sure if I'm a "Giants' fan" or a "Giants fan." Anyone know for sure?

Giants fan is correct: "Giants" is an adjective describing the noun "fan"

He's talking about Steven Strasburg from San Diego State (for 2009).

125/11 K/BB, .166 BAA, 0 HR. Wow.

Yes, I meant San Diego State. Jose, Diego, same thing. Bench players on the Mets.

Yes, I meant San Diego State. Jose, Diego, same thing. Bench players on the Mets.

I make this mistake all the time... and I live 20 minutes from San Jose.