Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dickey: Giants would be better off without Sabean

Some speak of the future…

The middle of the infield is another problem. Sabean jumped at Edgar Renteria and signed him to a two-year contract at $18.5 million. A scouting report in midseason noted that Renteria was the worst starting shortstop in the league at going to his left, and he isn’t any better going to his right. He’s lost bat speed, too. A lifetime .290 hitter who hit .332 as recently as two years ago, he’s hitting just .250. He’s probably a year from retirement but he’ll take advantage of Sabean’s generosity next season.

Giants fans gave Freddy Sanchez a standing ovation when he finally took the field at AT&T Park. Perhaps they thought they were getting the player who hit .344 in 2006. Nope. They were getting a player whose all-out style is causing more frequent injuries. He missed 17 games last season and has played only 107 games this season, with 16 to go. He had a club option with Pittsburgh that would be triggered only if he exceeded 600 plate appearances, which he won’t, but you can expect Sabean to exercise that anyway.

It’s Sabean’s way. And then, we can watch the further deterioration of Sanchez, along with Renteria.

And let’s not forget the other great Sabean midseason trade — Ryan Garko.

...Not pretty, but Sabean has a way of ingratiating himself with the men running the club, so, he’ll probably be back. For Brian Sabean, nothing succeeds like failure.

And failure’s no success at all…

Repoz Posted: September 20, 2009 at 01:17 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: giants

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. scareduck Posted: September 20, 2009 at 02:02 PM (#3327081)
Meh. Sabean was a genius when Barry Bonds was on the roster. He doesn't seem especially good at building from the ground up, though. On the other hand, they're getting a nice wave of pitching, which is always what you need if you're going to contend.
   2. ChuckMeehan Posted: September 20, 2009 at 02:03 PM (#3327083)
A Giants fan would have a better read on this, but being that the Giants issues with offense was obvious before the start of the seaon, they probably could have picked up Bobby Abreu on the cheap for 2009. Now, Bobby isnt a "carry the team on his shoulders" player, but with the Giants just a few games out from the wild card, his production could have made the difference.
   3. 3Com Park Posted: September 20, 2009 at 03:34 PM (#3327117)
Sabean has a history of overpaying veterans on the downside of their careers: Edgardo Alfonso, Ray Durham, Renteria, Rowand, Winn, Matheny.

He deserves some credit for the quality of recent drafts and pitcher development. The Giants seem poised to be a long-term contender, but Sabean isn't the guy to get them there.
   4. Flynn Posted: September 20, 2009 at 03:44 PM (#3327121)
There's got to be more than just Sabean responsible for pitching. That goes for hitting as well - the Giants have a bad record with hitting prospects - but I really don't see the offensive problem getting solved while Sabean is around.
   5. Tripon Posted: September 20, 2009 at 03:57 PM (#3327125)
The only person who's willing to take a walk in the Giants lineup is Freddy Lewis, and they benched him.
   6. Ginger Nut Posted: September 20, 2009 at 06:02 PM (#3327190)
For a while Sabean seemed to have an ability to identify aging vets who would perform better than others expected. Examples include Ellis Burks and Moises Alou. Both had injury histories and seemed on the "down side" of their careers, but both played very well for the Giants. There were others as well. In a way this was his "market inefficiency"--he could pick out the guys who would be good in their mid to late 30s when everyone else thought they were done. Anyway, at some point he mysteriously lost this ability. Whether it was because his previous success had merely been due to luck, or because something changed in the game, the aging vets he picks up these days seem to play even worse than one might expect.

@2: Abreu has a reputation as a "lazy" player, and Sabean likes "hard nosed" guys. I assure you he would rather have Randy Winn than Bobby Abreu.

Sabean has been around a LONG time--his premier skill as a GM might be: persuading team owners to keep him in the job.
   7. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: September 20, 2009 at 06:22 PM (#3327204)
For a while Sabean seemed to have an ability to identify aging vets who would perform better than others expected. Examples include Ellis Burks and Moises Alou.

I'll grant that Burks was a very good acquisition for the Giants.

Alou, not so much - he was one of the more frustrating signings in that he would be out for a game for a hamstring or something, and wind up being out 10 days.
   8. dregarx Posted: September 20, 2009 at 06:48 PM (#3327221)
Abreu rather than, say, Randy Johnson would have been a good move before 2009. He would have replaced Fred Lewis at the beginning of the year and Eugenio Velez right now; not an insignificant improvement.
   9. Alex_Lewis Posted: September 20, 2009 at 08:22 PM (#3327262)
Speaking of Giants and their draft picks: This was just reported.
   10. Melo's Love Handles (NJ) Posted: September 20, 2009 at 08:45 PM (#3327274)
Speaking of Giants and their draft picks: This was just reported.

If you had told me that the battle for Best IFA from Summer '06, between Angel and Jesus would end with a death...I wouldn't have believed you.
   11. The District Attorney Posted: September 20, 2009 at 08:47 PM (#3327276)
Speaking of Giants and their draft picks: This was just reported.
Umm, holy ####.
   12. Tripon Posted: September 20, 2009 at 08:51 PM (#3327279)
Technically, Angel isn't a draft pick, he was an international FA.
   13. Alex_Lewis Posted: September 20, 2009 at 09:00 PM (#3327289)
Technically, Angel isn't a draft pick, he was an international FA.


True. But we weren't talking about IFAs, so there had to be a lead in somehow.
   14. Bhaakon Posted: September 21, 2009 at 04:40 AM (#3327574)
A Giants fan would have a better read on this, but being that the Giants issues with offense was obvious before the start of the seaon, they probably could have picked up Bobby Abreu on the cheap for 2009. Now, Bobby isnt a "carry the team on his shoulders" player, but with the Giants just a few games out from the wild card, his production could have made the difference.


Speaking as a Giants fan, I don't think anyone really expected the team to be close enough to a playoffs spot for Abreu to make a difference. More than that, the incumbent corner outfielders, Fred Lewis and Randy Winn, were easily the most valuable hitters on last season's team. The fanbase probably would have given Sabean a hammering for bringing in an old one-year rental to block one of the team's only serviceable "young" hitters in Lewis, and (including defensive value) Winn was easily more valuable than Abreu in 2008.
   15. Tripon Posted: September 21, 2009 at 04:44 AM (#3327577)
I have been told that the Giants believe that Fred Lewis is their version of Matt Kemp.
   16. Ginger Nut Posted: September 21, 2009 at 02:05 PM (#3327711)
I'll grant that Burks was a very good acquisition for the Giants.

Alou, not so much - he was one of the more frustrating signings in that he would be out for a game for a hamstring or something, and wind up being out 10 days.


True, but he OPS+'d 138 and 132. At least he was good when he was in there. I mean, I'd take that over Edgar Renteria playing every day. (Alou would probably have covered more ground at SS, too.)
   17. strummer Posted: September 21, 2009 at 02:22 PM (#3327720)
(Alou would probably have covered more ground at SS, too.)


And this even when playing from his LF position!
   18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: September 21, 2009 at 02:30 PM (#3327727)
"For a while Sabean seemed to have an ability to identify aging vets who would perform better than others expected."

This was, of course, before we knew that many of the Giants' aging vets were riding the BALCO train.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
robneyer
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogHP: Baseball is leaving the human factor behind
(56 - 1:15am, May 26)
Last: The Keith Law Blog Blah Blah (battlekow)

NewsblogT.R. Sullivan: Of Frank Robinson, Milt Pappas and Jim Palmer
(8 - 12:40am, May 26)
Last: The Gurus DO NOT BourbonSamurai

NewsblogWilmoth: Nate McLouth Designated For Assignment
(12 - 12:25am, May 26)
Last: Tripon

NewsblogBoston.com: Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios lays off all staff
(118 - 12:15am, May 26)
Last: Paul D(uda)

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1973 Discussion
(15 - 12:13am, May 26)
Last: DanG

NewsblogBud Selig -- No need for more MLB replay for now - ESPN
(86 - 11:59pm, May 25)
Last: cardsfanboy

NewsblogThe Hall of Very Good: Former Cards Slugger Critical of "LaRussa's Regime"
(4 - 11:26pm, May 25)
Last: cardsfanboy

NewsblogCSN to host ‘Phillies at the Beach’ on Memorial Day
(18 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: Fielder's the first baseman, Felder is the fielder

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1972 Ballot
(28 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: lieiam

Sox TherapyA Winning Ballclub?
(20 - 11:24pm, May 25)
Last: Dan

NewsblogMatschulat: Did I Miss The "Paul Konerko Is So Overrated OMG" Bandwagon?
(27 - 11:16pm, May 25)
Last: baudib

NewsblogTBO: Nerdy Rays head north
(17 - 10:07pm, May 25)
Last: PreservedFish

NewsblogHimrich’s Top Ten Target Field Foods
(6 - 9:57pm, May 25)
Last: Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott)

NewsblogDodgers want to host NHL's Winter Classic
(22 - 9:38pm, May 25)
Last: Cris E

NewsblogGreenberg: Cubs' Ricketts decries proposal
(817 - 9:08pm, May 25)
Last: The Yankee Clapper

Buy MLB playoff tickets, plus 2011 World Series, 2011 ALCS tickets and NLCS game tickets. We also have Texas Rangers playoff schedule, tickets to Red Sox games and Yankees game tickets. Plus, buy Phillies baseball tickets, Tigers playoff tickets and the biggies like ALDS baseball tickets and 2011 NLDS tickets.

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

Page rendered in 0.1820 seconds
54 querie(s) executed