On September 24 the Giants effectively fell out of the Wild Card race when Brian Wilson gave up a two-run homerun in the ninth inning, directly leading to a 3-2 Giants loss. That loss put the Giants four back of Colorado with nine to play, and ten games back of the Dodgers in the division race.
On September 25 Giants management and some of their most invested fans put that disappointment aside, turned the page to 2010, and followed through with a season ticket holder chalk talk which turned into a frank assessment of the Giants playing personnel, the team’s chances to acquire top free agents, and the organization’s plan to add offense to a pitching rich team.
Your correspondent has owned a piece of Giants season tickets since AT&T Park opened as Pacific Bell Park in 2000, but this was the first time my schedule and the Giants’ invitation matched up and allowed attendance at a chalk talk, which was remarkably frank. Here are some of the takeaways: San Ramon Valley High School product Nate Schierholtz has progressed
in the assessment of the organization, but doesn’t deliver enough power and hasn’t shown the ability to reach base often enough to be assured a regular job in 2010. Power hitting minor leaguer John Bowker, returning big money centerfielder Aaron Rowand, and the planned leadoff platoon of Eugenio Valdez and Andres Torres are all ahead of him, according to General Manager Brian Sabean.
The other San Ramon Valley High alum, Randy Winn, will become a free agent after the World Series and is unlikely to be pursued by the Giants.
The organization is ecstatic with heavyweight heavy hitter Pablo Sandoval (aka the Kung Fu Panda), but have convinced him that his current physical condition is not conducive to the grind of the 162-game season or a long career, and will put him on a closely-monitored nutrition and training program this winter.
Regarding Barry Zito and his marked improvement, Sabean said that he never believed Zito could live up to the seven year, $126 million contract the Giants lavished upon him before the 2007 season. In his first two seasons, according to Sabean, Zito was in less than top condition and was uncomfortable cast in the role of staff ace. In Oakland, Sabean noted, Zito was generally third in the rotation behind Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. Now, Zito is again a third starter as Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain have established themselves at the top of the rotation, his conditioning has improved, and Sabean says he is more comfortable in his role with the team, leading to better results.
The trade in August where the Giants acquired former batting champion Freddy Sanchez from Pittsburgh for highly-rated pitching prospect Tim Alderson was discussed in depth. In the organization’s assessment, Alderson had reached a plateau in Double A. Former big league pitcher and current Giants executive Dick Tidrow evaluated Alderson on a trip to Norwich early
this season and felt his fastball had lost a bit, the rotation on his breaking pitches was not what it had been, and he was gradually becoming less athletic as he matured. This assessment led the Giants to make him available to other organizations in an attempt to move him while his reputation was still intact. As a result, Sabean and his team feel they got a great deal in acquiring Sanchez and plan to pick up the option in his contract to return next season.
Catcher Bengie Molina is unlikely to return unless he is willing to accept a one year contract. The Giants believe that 2008 first round draft pick Buster Posey is just about ready to be a big league regular, and that he has excelled in every challenge the organization has put before him, including two months at AAA this season. The Giants might be interested in Molina as insurance, but Sabean said he expected that some other team could well offer Molina a multi-year deal, in which case the Giants would probably not match the offer.
Finally, Sabean and his team discussed how they like to acquire talent. The best way, they say, is to develop players through the draft and the minor leagues, and with Lincecum, Cain, Sandoval, Posey and Schierholtz that has been successful. Trades can be painful because, as Tidrow mentioned, you have to give up something to get something. That said, Sabean did acknowledge that to acquire the hitters the Giants need to take the next step in the NL West, they might have to bite the bullet and trade some of their pitching.
Sabean told the group that he hates the free agent process, especially the fact that the acquiring team is paying a premium for what a player has done in the past without any guarantees regarding the future. The GM also noted that the very best players are more attracted to teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels because of their recent track record, so the Giants are often faced with he prospect of overpaying premium players or settling for second tier talent.
The event showed that the Giants value their season ticket holders and are willing to give them a frank assessment of how the organization approaches its business. Those who were there should have a greater understanding of why the Giants do what they do and perhaps have more fun following the team’s moves this offseason.
OFF THE BENCH
PAUL HIRSCH