Running 2011 Baseball Thread, Vol. I: Dedicated to spnited

On-field personnel might be the least of the Giants' worries right now:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2011/08/former-san-francisco-giants-employee-accused-stealing-15m

 

I can't recall the Giants' last homegrown shortstop. Johnnie LeMaster? The left side of the infield has been a disaster area the last few years, until Panda started putting down the fork. Recall last season down the stretch it was Edgar Renteria and Juan Uribe, neither of which have been great shakes despite great postseasons.

Both Tejada and Rowand were likely gone at the end of the year anyway, why not now? The big money questions:What about Zito and J. Sanchez?

Pill had 107 RBIs in Fresno, so we'll see. There's also OF Gary Brown in San Jose, but he won't be promoted.

 

$1.5 million? Fraud? Move that decimal point two spots to the right and you have a Zito/Rowand conspiracy.

 

Maybe Zito is on his way out after all ... I would be shocked, but in a good way. From Andrew Baggarly:

Then there is Barry Zito’s contract, which is the Jupiter-like gas giant to Rowand’s Pluto. The left-hander is guaranteed $46 million in 2012 and 2013, including a $7 million buyout on an option for 2014. When asked if Zito was in the future plans, Sabean said, “I have no idea.”

Also, fuck Aaron Rowand.

But according to sources, Rowand’s complaining reached a critical level this season. “He’s doing everything possible to get out of here,” one player said earlier this week.

He only had about 20 chances to win/keep/win back a starting job that he clearly didn't deserve, and up until the very last weekend they kept putting him in pinch-hitting situations where he couldn't possibly produce. I honestly don't know what he could possibly be bitching about.

 

By all accounts, Uribe and Renteria were good teammates and had championship pedigrees.

Good to see Johnnie LeMaster get a shout on SportsJournalists.com. It's been long overdue.

 

AKA Johnnie Disaster ... who once wore "Boo" in place of his name on the back of his uniform and played on three 100-loss teams in the same season (1985, when he suited up for the Indians, Pirates and Giants).

 

I was listening to Philly sports talk for a little while ... they're banging the drum to re-acquire Rowand tonight so he might be eligible for postseason.

 

I was at that game. LeMaster was LeDisaster with the bat.

Giants actually had a pretty nice SS for a while, pretty good fielding, decent bat, Royce Clayton in the late 80's, early 90's. What I wouldn't give for him this year.

 

Those who can't, teach.

 

Re: Renteria and Uribe ... true, but Renteria was DL'ed three times last year and has mostly come off the bench for the Reds this year. Last time I looked, Uribe was in the .210s with the Dodgers. Renteria was also on the hook for an $18M opiton this season. It's easy to let sentiment get in the way, but do you really want to commit $18M to someone whos a "good teammate?"

 

Charlie Lau's lifetime OPS was .683. Walt Hriniak's was .586.

They're probably the two most-celebrated hitting coaches of all-time.

 

Early 90s draftniks might remember former Expos farmhand B.J. Wallace, who was arrested today for cooking meth:

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/08/former_olympic_ballplayer_char.html