Giants prospect Ryan Halstead keeps arm ready thanks to sister Paige

Gabe Kapler leaned on positivity in his first camp as manager of the Giants, and while talking a few weeks ago about this hiatus, he said it’s been encouraging to see how players are using family members to get creative and stay in shape. He’ll surely get a kick out of what one of the organization’s prospects is doing to keep his arm ready.

Ryan Halstead, a pitcher in the upper minors, went somewhat viral this week when he posted a video of a game of catch. The right-hander is firing rockets across a residential street and they’re easily being snagged by his sister, Paige.

She was the starting catcher at UCLA, where she won the 2019 NCAA softball championship. Paige also spent three summers playing for Team USA.

Giants’ Farhan Zaidi explains how Buster Posey, Joey Bart can play together

Ever since the Giants selected catcher Joey Bart with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, questions began about what the Giants would do with Buster Posey. Both players’ strong performances in spring training this year didn’t exactly quiet the questions.

Bart, 23, opened eyes for the second straight spring, batting .438 with a 1.401 OPS and two home runs in nine games. A healthy Posey didn’t disappoint, though.

Posey, 33, hit .455 with a 1.206 OPS and went deep once. Players and coaches alike raved about how Posey looked this spring, and a big season could have been in order before the sports world was put on hold. If you ask president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, it’s clear flexibility is king, even when it comes to these two catchers co-existing.

“The fact that Buster’s played some first base and Joey’s a guy we want to move around a little bit—when you think about building the ultimate 13-man position roster, I think it’s a disadvantage to have a starting catcher and somebody who’s just a backup,” Zaidi said Thursday on KNBR’s “Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks.” “If you have two guys who are good offensive and defensive catchers who can play different positions, it almost gives you an extra half-roster spot with which you can try to match up and make sure your guys are fully rested.”

Ladies and gentlemen, how would you resolve this puzzle?

Why Giants, A’s fans would prefer to not have teams in same division

As an A’s or Giants fan it’s hard to wrap your mind around the idea of the two teams possibly becoming division foes after so many years in opposite leagues.

But in a potential MLB realignment proposal to bring baseball back in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a new division would have Oakland and San Francisco competing against each other along with the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

The scenario took the geography of each organization’s spring training facility into account in aligning the divisions.

NBC Sports Bay Area asked fans of both teams whether they would enjoy seeing the Bay Bridge Series turn into a divisional rivalry, the result was a majority were not in favor, although the margin was slim.

Well, that makes for quite a division…..

How Giants, Farhan Zaidi might choose to use new 26th roster spot

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—As Giants veterans checked into camp last week, a couple of them referred to the 25-man roster in interviews. Like writing a new year on your checks, it’ll take a while for players to adjust to having a 26th man.

But on the second floor of the new facility at Scottsdale Stadium, there already have been plenty of conversations about it.

The front office has an extra roster spot to work with, and few executives will dig that more than Farhan Zaidi, who spent 2019 in an endless roster shuffle as he added depth and talent to the 40-man roster. Zaidi, general manager Scott Harris and manager Gabe Kapler have talked this spring of all the different ways they can go.

As the Giants go through their spring rotation for the first time, it’s far too early to project a full roster, especially in a camp where so many jobs are up for grabs. But we can take a look at how that roster will be impacted by the extra spot. The Giants will have 13 pitchers, that much we know. But what will they do with that 13th position player?

A story that will be of interest throughout the majors- wonder who will be getting these positions…..

How a rookie middle infielder could be the most interesting player in Giants camp

Mauricio Dubón has never played outfield in the minor leagues, but he could be the San Francisco Giants’ primary center fielder.
Dubón could be the Giants’ Opening Day shortstop or starting second baseman, but he might move around the diamond and play left field or first base, too.
Dubón can pinch-hit, pinch-run or enter as a defensive replacement at any number of positions, but the 25-year-old Honduras native has minor league options. Opening the season at Triple-A Sacramento remains a possibility.
The Giants don’t know where Dubón will play most often this year. They just believe Dubón should play a lot.
“I keep saying, I’m a baseball player so the more chances I have to get in the lineup, it’ll be good,” Dubón said.

Coming through the Red Sox system Dubon was credited with being a guy who really helped the Latin players integrate due to his language ability.  I’m rooting for him.

Why Giants brought in umpires for second round of bullpen sessions

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—When Andrew Suarez kicked at the dirt on the bullpen mound Saturday and looked in at his catcher, most of what he saw was similar to every other bullpen session of his life. There was one key difference, though: An umpire in full uniform crouched behind the catcher.

Suarez fired a fastball, and the umpire emphatically pointed a finger to his left, signaling a strike.

“It was different, but I liked it,” Suarez said. “You get a good feel for the plate.”

The Giants have made a lot of subtle changes to drills under manager Gabe Kapler and a 13-person coaching staff. Pitchers fielded pop-ups Sunday, an extreme rarity in a sport where the default move for a pitcher is to get out of the way and let an infielder take over. The outfield drills more closely resemble the NFL combine, with cones meticulously set up and coaches focusing on change-of-direction. But the biggest difference through a week of camp has been the addition of three real professional umpires to bullpen sessions.

Bay Bridge spanned: A’s, Giants make 1st trade since 1990

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The first baseball trade in almost 30 years between two teams separated only by a bay and a bridge happened Saturday, when the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics completed a deal.

In a move to add experience to their bullpen, the A’s got right-hander Burch Smith from the Giants for cash.

The last time Oakland and San Francisco made a trade was on Dec. 4, 1990, when the Athletics acquired outfielder Ernest Riles from the Giants for outfielder Darren Lewis and minor league pitcher Pedro Pena.

“So that broke the string, huh?” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

Not sure what is stranger- how long it has been since those two teams have made a deal, or that the last deal they made was the year after one beat the other in the World Series…..

SF Giants spring training: Logan Webb debuts new pitches in 2020

With help from new director of pitching Brian Bannister and the Giants’ coordinator of pitching science Matt Daniels, he’s added to his repertoire to make his fastballs more effective. Instead of throwing four-seam and two-seam fastballs that have similar action, he now has three hard pitches that work off of one another.

When a right-handed batter steps to the plate against Webb this season, they could see a straight four-seam fastball, a two-seamer that runs in on their hands or a cutter that breaks toward the left-handed batter’s box.

“Bannister came in and he said with my arm slot, I have the perfect arm slot for this kind of two-seam and the cutter will work right off of that,” Webb said. “So I started messing around with it on flat grounds and it’s going really well.”

Hunter Pence’s return part of series of moves for Giants

SAN FRANCISCO—Former fan favorite Hunter Pence is returning to the San Francisco Giants, signing a contract that will give the young club a veteran presence in both the outfield and the clubhouse in a season of big change ahead.

The one-year deal is worth $3 million.

....

San Francisco also announced Friday it had signed outfielder Billy Hamilton and right-hander Nick Vincent to minor league contracts with spring training invitations.

The Giants also were working to finalize a deal with versatile infielder Wilmer Flores. Zaidi said it had not been completed as of Thursday.

In certain regards, the sort of deals one has grown very familiar with seeing as a Giants fan- wonder if the results will be any different than usual…...

SF’s Nakken embraces role as first MLB female coach

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alyssa Nakken stole a quick glance out a window high above the ballpark toward McCovey Cove on a picture-perfect day and grinned.

She is honored to take on the challenge — and embrace the responsibility — of being the first female major league coach, having joined new San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler’s staff last month.

“I’m most comfortable at a baseball field,” she said.

It’s a good thing, since she will be spending countless hours over the coming eight months in this very setting. Nakken will be in uniform and helping the Giants with everything from cage work to infield practice.

Bruce Bochy has a role with the 2020 Giants

The manager has changed, but Bruce Bochy’s team loyalty has not.
He will not be leading another team in 2020 — apart from Team France in World Baseball Qualifying, of course — and will still be employed by the Giants as a special adviser.

Farhan Zaidi said Bochy would be around spring training in Scottsdale — not far from where qualifying will take place — and Bochy’s voice will continue to be heard despite his retirement tour and the hiring of Gabe Kapler.

Bochy sat in on interviews with Kapler, who was the candidate Bochy endorsed, and Bochy and the Giants appear on good terms. While it was termed as a retirement, Bochy has said he’s taking the year off and then will let his heart decide what he’ll do, with a 2021 return somewhere very much a possibility.

Well, this ends some speculation…..

SF Giants hire first woman MLB coach Alyssa Nakken

The San Francisco Giants made baseball history Thursday, hiring the first woman to an MLB coaching staff.

Alyssa Nakken will help round out a 13-person staff as a “major league assistant coach” under first-year manager Gabe Kapler.

Giants Place Zack Cozart On Release Waivers

The Giants have placed veteran infielder Zack Cozart on release waivers following his DFA earlier this week, tweets Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Cozart never seemed particularly likely to see the field with the Giants, who have veterans Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford locked in on the left side of the diamond and promising young Mauricio Dubon likely ticketed for regular reps at second base. San Francisco’s acquisition of the veteran Cozart, rather, was a pure means of buying 2019 first-round pick Will Wilson from the Angels. The Halos, eager to move the remaining $12.167MM on Cozart’s three-year contract, sent Wilson to the Giants as the Giants picked up the remaining tab on Cozart.

Giants’ submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers explains origin of delivery

The Giants’ broadcast said they “love this guy,” upon his MLB debut. A quick inning for the pitcher with the funky movement caught their attention.

Tyler Rogers’ unique submarine delivery was one thing that stood out to those watching in addition to his ability to keep the ball on the ground.

“I went to junior college in southwest Kansas at Garden City—I was struggling throwing I guess, conventionally, if that’s what you want to call it—overhand,” Rogers said on KNBR. “I was throwing with command and getting hit.”

His coach approached him and suggested he drop down his arm after Rogers maintained his velocity of 88 mph on a straight ball.

A pitcher I’ve had the luck of seeing pitch many times in the minors- never a dull moment watching him.

The All Decade Team

Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros

Hey, another six-time All-Star and a former MVP. But unlike Posey and Votto, who have faded of late, Altuve’s still a high-end performer. The diminutive 29-year-old’s fresh off his sixth straight outstanding season after beginning his career as a fairly non-threatening hitter. Between 2014-19, Altuve hit .327/.380/.497 with 114 dingers and helped his team to a championship. He ranked fourth in the majors in fWAR (32.4) and fifth in stolen bases (179) during that span.

Madison Bumgarner leaving shows Giants now in full-blown rebuild mode

During one of his media sessions at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was asked about the team being in a rebuild. Zaidi turned the question around, asking the reporter how he would define a rebuild.

This. This is a rebuild.

Madison Bumgarner reportedly agreeing to a contract with a division rival for $85 million at the end of a week where the only team he has ever known spent $12 million to buy a first-round pick and $9 million on a pitcher who has never had sustained big league success but might turn into a back-end starter and might turn into a trade chip in July. That’s a pretty good definition of a rebuild.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with this plan.

A consideration of what this signing means, with regards to the team losing the player.

Madison Bumgarner reaches 5-year, $85M deal with D-backs | ESPN

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a five-year, $85 million deal, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Giants change bullpen location, move fences in at Oracle Park

The Giants announced on Thursday that some improvements have been made to their stadium, Oracle Park, for the 2020 season. New bullpens will be located behind the center field wall. They used to be in foul territory, which was a safety risk for players, particularly with the bullpen mounds when fielders attempted to catch foul balls.

The outfield fences are also being moved in. The left-center field fence is now 399 feet from home plate, in from 404 feet. Straightaway center field is now 391 feet, eight feet shorter than it was previously. Triples Alley is now 415 feet, in from 421. Additionally, the height of the center field fence has been reduced from eight feet to seven.

Can’t exactly say that this is a good idea- recently, the players likely to benefit from moving in the fences have all been on the other team….

Taking Back the Ballparks - Giants voting thread

We have selected four potential names as a replacement for the replacement for the replacement for PacBell Park, which, as corporate names go, wasn’t half-bad. They are listed below.

Choose one of the four choices, then add in the full name you prefer. If you like Pacific, but think it should be Pacific Grounds, choose C, then write in the preferred full name.

If you’d like to continue to debate the merits of the four choices, please do so at the nominating thread. Leave this thread just for voting, if you would.

And, it should go without saying that we are restricting this to one vote per Primate. And, just so you know, I’ve got Kobach on speed dial and that SOB is just itching to dig up some irregularities.

A) China Basin
B) Golden Gate
C) Pacific
D) West Bay

Edit: BTF’s winning selection has been boldfaced. It’s China Basin, unencumbered by any park, ballpark, stadium or grounds appendage.

Orlando Cabrera To Retire From Baseball

OH NO, EXPO!

Last season, Orlando Cabrera batted .238 with the Indians and Giants, posting a 61 OPS+. The season before that, he posted a 76 OPS+. The season before that, he posted an 85 OPS+. Orlando Cabrera has been declining, and just turned 37 years old. As a free agent, Cabrera didn’t drum up much interest, which I’m guessing is why he’s intending to hang ‘em up. Enrique Rojas:

  “Orlando Cabrera to retire from baseball, he said in Colombia radio station. Thanks for memories!”

Cabrera had a long career that’ll be difficult to forget. He debuted with the Expos in 1997, and remained there until the giant Nomar Garciaparra three-way trade in 2004. That year, with the Red Sox, Cabrera won a World Series. He wound up with the Angels, earning the unfortunate nickname “The Wizard of O.C.”, and then he wound up with the White Sox, and the A’s, and the Twins, and the Reds, and the Indians, and the Giants ... He remained a shortstop to the end, and collected 2,055 hits. He will always be remembered as a pest. An absolute pest.

Giants and Pablo Sandoval agree to a three-year, $17.15 million contract

That can buy 1,715,000 Kung Fu Panda dolls

While the Giants have some work to do in order to keep Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for the long haul, they have at least locked up a key position player through his arbitration seasons.

The Giants just announced that they have agreed to a three-year contract with third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the deal is worth $17.15 million guaranteed and includes some performance-based incentives. He’ll make $3.2 million this season, $5.7 million in 2013 and $8.25 million in 2014.

Sandoval was arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after batting .315/.357/.552 with 23 home runs, 70 RBI and a .909 OPS over 117 games in 2011. The 25-year-old owns a .307/.356/.501 batting line over his first four seasons in the majors. If he can stay in shape and continue to produce similar numbers, he’ll be a tremendous bargain.

Tim Lincecum asks $21.5M in arbitration

That’s still just barely more than what Barry Zito will make.

Giants ace Tim Lincecum asked for $21.5 million in salary arbitration Tuesday and was offered $17 million by the club.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner’s request neared the record amount sought in arbitration. Houston pitcher Roger Clemens asked for $22 million in 2005.

San Francisco’s offer was the highest in arbitration history, topping the $14.25 million the New York Yankees proposed for shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001.

“I’m overall optimistic that we’ll find common ground without a hearing room,” Bobby Evans, Giants vice president of baseball operations, said before seeing Lincecum’s filing numbers. “It’s a process that begins long before today in terms of conversations about possible deals that work for both sides. That process has continued in a mutual fashion. At this point we haven’t reached a conclusion.”

Lincecum, the winning pitcher in the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, earned $13.1 million last season and completed a two-year deal worth $23.2 million.

MLB Trade Rumors: Bartolo Colon Agrees to Sign With Unknown Team

Bartolo Colon has agreed to a deal with an unknown club reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter). The right-hander wouldn’t divulge the team because he has not yet passed his physical.

Pretty sure it’s either the All-Stars or the Champs.

BN: A Proposal To Break The Territorial-Rights Logjam Between The A’s And The Giants

With a doff of the chapeau to Mr. Calcaterra, a modest proposal indeed:

All of the two-team territories but one share the same counties: the Yankees and Mets; the White Sox and Cubs; and the Dodgers and Angels. Only the Giants and A’s split the counties surrounding their home cities. The A’s territory includes Alameda and Contra Costa counties; the Giants’ territory includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Marin counties, “plus Santa Clara County with respect to another major league team.” San Jose is in Santa Clara county.

St. Louisian Don Mueller, former big-league star, dies

Don Mueller...

St. Louis native Don Mueller, who led the majors in hits in 1954 and roamed the outfield with Willie Mays of the New York Giants, died on Wednesday. He was 84.

Mueller, who played at CBC, was signed by the Giants in 1944 and made his big-league debut four years later.

At age 23, he became a starter for the Giants in right field and hit .291 in his first full season.

...A career .296 hitter, Mueller became known as “Mandrake the Magician.” He finished his career with two seasons with the White Sox in 1958 and 59.