**The Official SF Giants 2011 Season thread**
- Thread starter DUTCH-F.E
- Start date
Worst news we've had all year. The owership group is pissed that Neukom was investing the money they were making back into the team and now it's looking like they are basically going to cut back on baseball spending. All the money that invested into drafting, scouting, signing free agents and cutting dead weight ie Tejada and Rowand now will all be cut back. HORRIBLE news. I hope these dumb motherfuckers realize that the reason they are making so much money right now is because the money was invested to find players like Timmy, Cain and Madbum who eventually carried this team to win a world championship. fuck. Perfect timing with Cain and Timmy on the verge of being free agents in the near future. FUCK.
Coincidence that they are pissed about the money management right after those 2 pieces of shit Rowand Tejada get cut? I think not. Fuck you ownership group. Bowtie did the right thing.
Coincidence that they are pissed about the money management right after those 2 pieces of shit Rowand Tejada get cut? I think not. Fuck you ownership group. Bowtie did the right thing.
Carlos Beltran says he'd consider re-signing with San Francisco Giants but only if the team makes other upgrades to weak offense
By Andrew Baggarly
[email protected]
Posted: 09/15/2011 10:00:38 PM PDT
Updated: 09/15/2011 11:12:43 PM PDT
DENVER -- Carlos Beltran already escaped one ownership mess with the New York Mets. Now the Giants, his current club, are in the midst of their second palace revolt in three seasons.
Beltran insisted the stunning ouster of managing partner Bill Neukom would have no bearing on whether he re-signs with the Giants as a free agent after the season.
But in a revealing interview with this newspaper, the All-Star outfielder said he couldn't envision returning to the Giants unless management makes one or more other significant additions to address the worst offense in the major leagues.
Beltran left no doubt: It wouldn't be enough for Giants management to pin hopes on re-signing him plus banking on and health and production from catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Freddy Sanchez.
"I would consider this organization for sure, because the pitching is unbelievable, and adding those guys back, of course you're adding more offense to the ballclub," Beltran said.
He paused, carefully considering his words.
"But I believe there should be a little bit more than that," he said.
Did the Giants gain any advantage for the two months he's spent with them?
"I believe this team has a great group of guys," Beltran said. "But we'll be talking in the offseason. I want to hear from them. I want to hear their plans. And if it works out for both of us, it could be a possibility."
It would seem to be a remote possibility unless
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the Giants add significantly to their $120 million payroll. The club already will spend close to $80 million on six players -- including Aaron Rowand, who is no longer with the organization, and Barry Zito, whose role could be marginal.
It likely would stretch the budget to re-sign Beltran to a contract similar to Aubrey Huff's two-year, $22 million deal. To add another major free-agent hitter? That would bust it wide open.
Beltran wasn't lobbying for someone such as Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols to protect him in the lineup. He'd rather see the Giants acquire a catalyst like Jose Reyes, his former Mets teammate.
"You want to be in a lineup where you are around players that will make the lineup better, you understand?" Beltran said. "Right now we have missed a leadoff batter here, and that's huge. That's something, to me, they should address that area, before me."
Beltran is on record expressing disdain for hitting in big, drafty AT&T Park, although he labeled that as a secondary factor. He would dismiss the park effect if he were confident he could be part of a potent lineup.
"At my point in my career, I just want to have the opportunity to win," he said. "I believe this team is good, you know? But like any other team there's always room to improve. I know we're missing some bats, Posey and Sanchez, but at the end of the day ... We're all expecting Posey to come back 100 percent healthy, right? But you never know what's going to happen with him. You don't know if he'll be able to catch like he did in the past. We wish he will, but at the end of the day, my decision will be based on what this organization is willing to put together."
Beltran arrived in a July 27 trade from the New York Mets, whose ownership has made more midsummer headlines than the team. Owner Fred Wilpon must sell a stake in the club to cover millions in losses as an unwitting investor in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi schemes.
Beltran said the feeling he gets from ownership is a factor in the free-agent courting period but not a major one.
"Oh, it's a little bit important, but most important is the kind of group that they have and what they're willing to do in order to improve the ballclub," Beltran said. "That's more important than being able to meet all of them and, you know, have everyone be nice."
This newspaper broke the news of Neukom's forced retirement Wednesday afternoon; players and coaches learned of it on their flight to Denver later that evening. Even manager Bruce Bochy said he had no inkling of the impending shake-up.
Bochy always knew he was in good standing with Neukom but said he didn't feel any uneasiness now that team president and chief operating officer Larry Baer would become CEO and report directly to the executive board.
"I have a good relationship with Larry," said Bochy, who called general manager Brian Sabean on Wednesday night and spoke to Baer and Neukom on Thursday. "Brian is my boss, and so we'll continue to move forward and have conversations on a normal, everyday basis."
Bochy praised Neukom, whom he'd often entreat at the batting cage.
"Bill was deeply interested in the club, the players and the game itself," Bochy said. "He loved being out there for batting practice. He wanted to know everything that was going on with the club, the injuries, how we were doing. He always had a real passion for the Giants, as you know."
Zito said the news "definitely surprised everyone" and left players to wonder the motivations and reasons.
"There's always something behind what you hear, but it's really not our job to try to figure it out," Zito said. "Definitely, you just appreciate everything he brought to the table for the team and the city of San Francisco. He was all business."
By Andrew Baggarly
[email protected]
Posted: 09/15/2011 10:00:38 PM PDT
Updated: 09/15/2011 11:12:43 PM PDT
DENVER -- Carlos Beltran already escaped one ownership mess with the New York Mets. Now the Giants, his current club, are in the midst of their second palace revolt in three seasons.
Beltran insisted the stunning ouster of managing partner Bill Neukom would have no bearing on whether he re-signs with the Giants as a free agent after the season.
But in a revealing interview with this newspaper, the All-Star outfielder said he couldn't envision returning to the Giants unless management makes one or more other significant additions to address the worst offense in the major leagues.
Beltran left no doubt: It wouldn't be enough for Giants management to pin hopes on re-signing him plus banking on and health and production from catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Freddy Sanchez.
"I would consider this organization for sure, because the pitching is unbelievable, and adding those guys back, of course you're adding more offense to the ballclub," Beltran said.
He paused, carefully considering his words.
"But I believe there should be a little bit more than that," he said.
Did the Giants gain any advantage for the two months he's spent with them?
"I believe this team has a great group of guys," Beltran said. "But we'll be talking in the offseason. I want to hear from them. I want to hear their plans. And if it works out for both of us, it could be a possibility."
It would seem to be a remote possibility unless
Advertisement
the Giants add significantly to their $120 million payroll. The club already will spend close to $80 million on six players -- including Aaron Rowand, who is no longer with the organization, and Barry Zito, whose role could be marginal.
It likely would stretch the budget to re-sign Beltran to a contract similar to Aubrey Huff's two-year, $22 million deal. To add another major free-agent hitter? That would bust it wide open.
Beltran wasn't lobbying for someone such as Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols to protect him in the lineup. He'd rather see the Giants acquire a catalyst like Jose Reyes, his former Mets teammate.
"You want to be in a lineup where you are around players that will make the lineup better, you understand?" Beltran said. "Right now we have missed a leadoff batter here, and that's huge. That's something, to me, they should address that area, before me."
Beltran is on record expressing disdain for hitting in big, drafty AT&T Park, although he labeled that as a secondary factor. He would dismiss the park effect if he were confident he could be part of a potent lineup.
"At my point in my career, I just want to have the opportunity to win," he said. "I believe this team is good, you know? But like any other team there's always room to improve. I know we're missing some bats, Posey and Sanchez, but at the end of the day ... We're all expecting Posey to come back 100 percent healthy, right? But you never know what's going to happen with him. You don't know if he'll be able to catch like he did in the past. We wish he will, but at the end of the day, my decision will be based on what this organization is willing to put together."
Beltran arrived in a July 27 trade from the New York Mets, whose ownership has made more midsummer headlines than the team. Owner Fred Wilpon must sell a stake in the club to cover millions in losses as an unwitting investor in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi schemes.
Beltran said the feeling he gets from ownership is a factor in the free-agent courting period but not a major one.
"Oh, it's a little bit important, but most important is the kind of group that they have and what they're willing to do in order to improve the ballclub," Beltran said. "That's more important than being able to meet all of them and, you know, have everyone be nice."
This newspaper broke the news of Neukom's forced retirement Wednesday afternoon; players and coaches learned of it on their flight to Denver later that evening. Even manager Bruce Bochy said he had no inkling of the impending shake-up.
Bochy always knew he was in good standing with Neukom but said he didn't feel any uneasiness now that team president and chief operating officer Larry Baer would become CEO and report directly to the executive board.
"I have a good relationship with Larry," said Bochy, who called general manager Brian Sabean on Wednesday night and spoke to Baer and Neukom on Thursday. "Brian is my boss, and so we'll continue to move forward and have conversations on a normal, everyday basis."
Bochy praised Neukom, whom he'd often entreat at the batting cage.
"Bill was deeply interested in the club, the players and the game itself," Bochy said. "He loved being out there for batting practice. He wanted to know everything that was going on with the club, the injuries, how we were doing. He always had a real passion for the Giants, as you know."
Zito said the news "definitely surprised everyone" and left players to wonder the motivations and reasons.
"There's always something behind what you hear, but it's really not our job to try to figure it out," Zito said. "Definitely, you just appreciate everything he brought to the table for the team and the city of San Francisco. He was all business."
