The Official SF Giants 2013 Season Thread
- Thread starter DUTCH-F.E
- Start date
MLB Trade Deadline: Giants will 'definitely move' Javier Lopez
We all know the Giants' game by now. They want prospects, but they want to keep Hunter Pence and Tim Lincecum. They kinda think teams should just give the prospects away as a gesture of goodwill. Some day, and that day may never come, they will call upon the Giants to do a service for them. They'll have it in the bank.
But Javier Lopez isn't mentioned much in the will-they/won't-they dialogue, which is odd because he's a pending free agent, and you know the Giants would like to re-sign him. According to Joel Sherman, though, Lopez is almost certainly a goner:
The Giants will definitely move lefty reliever Javier Lopez, and the Indians have shown interest.
That tracks with the Indians scouts that Jordan Bastian saw watching the Giants recently. I'm so, so sorry, Indians scouts. No job is worth that.
While it's fun to think about prospects and such, it doesn't hurt to put things into perspective. Javier Lopez has faced 555 batters as a Giant. This is the only home run he's allowed. The Giants won that game. Goodness, I don't want this man to leave.
But I also understand the Giants' need for shiny prospects. Teams should be in on Lopez. He wins World Serieses.
We all know the Giants' game by now. They want prospects, but they want to keep Hunter Pence and Tim Lincecum. They kinda think teams should just give the prospects away as a gesture of goodwill. Some day, and that day may never come, they will call upon the Giants to do a service for them. They'll have it in the bank.
But Javier Lopez isn't mentioned much in the will-they/won't-they dialogue, which is odd because he's a pending free agent, and you know the Giants would like to re-sign him. According to Joel Sherman, though, Lopez is almost certainly a goner:
The Giants will definitely move lefty reliever Javier Lopez, and the Indians have shown interest.
That tracks with the Indians scouts that Jordan Bastian saw watching the Giants recently. I'm so, so sorry, Indians scouts. No job is worth that.
While it's fun to think about prospects and such, it doesn't hurt to put things into perspective. Javier Lopez has faced 555 batters as a Giant. This is the only home run he's allowed. The Giants won that game. Goodness, I don't want this man to leave.
But I also understand the Giants' need for shiny prospects. Teams should be in on Lopez. He wins World Serieses.
Pill, Kieschnick up; Tanaka down; Abreu DL'd
If you're a Twitter addict, you're nervous-giggling right now. If you're not a Twitter addict, this probably isn't going to sell you on the concept. But news of Brett Pill and Roger Kieschnick's promotion came before the news of the corresponding move. Who was making room on the 25-man roster?
Was Brandon Belt getting sent down?
Was Brandon Belt getting traded? Maybe even for Bud Norris?
No
Instead, the move was simple. Kensuke Tanaka makes room for Kieschnick, and Tony Abreu heads to the DL with the same left knee problem that's been bothering him since the spring. Brett Pill comes up, and while that's a recipe for easy jokes, he'll probably get more at-bats at the expense of Guillermo Quiroz than Belt. It's not like Belt was ever going to start against another lefty after his showing against Travis Wood. The Giants are basically rearranging pool furniture on the Hindenburg, as the saying doesn't go.
Still, it's hard not to be irrationally excited about Kieschnick, if only because he's new. I like new. It's not last weekend. And here's what Kieschnick has done over the past couple years:
That would be a slightly higher strikeout-percentage than Brandon Belt. Except Belt is in the majors, hitting against the best pitchers in the world, in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball. Kieschnick is in Triple-A, in a hitter's league, hitting against the Yusmeiro Petits of the world. Oh, and he's over a year older.
So if you're frustrated with Brandon Belt, you're going to love Roger Kieschnick. This is not exactly an audition for the future.
But he's new and fresh, and there's always a chance that he'll run into some sweet, sweet dingers. It'll be different, at least. Welcome, Roger Kieschnick. Enjoy your major-league debut. Hopefully, we will, too.
If you're a Twitter addict, you're nervous-giggling right now. If you're not a Twitter addict, this probably isn't going to sell you on the concept. But news of Brett Pill and Roger Kieschnick's promotion came before the news of the corresponding move. Who was making room on the 25-man roster?
Was Brandon Belt getting sent down?
Was Brandon Belt getting traded? Maybe even for Bud Norris?
No
Instead, the move was simple. Kensuke Tanaka makes room for Kieschnick, and Tony Abreu heads to the DL with the same left knee problem that's been bothering him since the spring. Brett Pill comes up, and while that's a recipe for easy jokes, he'll probably get more at-bats at the expense of Guillermo Quiroz than Belt. It's not like Belt was ever going to start against another lefty after his showing against Travis Wood. The Giants are basically rearranging pool furniture on the Hindenburg, as the saying doesn't go.
Still, it's hard not to be irrationally excited about Kieschnick, if only because he's new. I like new. It's not last weekend. And here's what Kieschnick has done over the past couple years:
That would be a slightly higher strikeout-percentage than Brandon Belt. Except Belt is in the majors, hitting against the best pitchers in the world, in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball. Kieschnick is in Triple-A, in a hitter's league, hitting against the Yusmeiro Petits of the world. Oh, and he's over a year older.
So if you're frustrated with Brandon Belt, you're going to love Roger Kieschnick. This is not exactly an audition for the future.
But he's new and fresh, and there's always a chance that he'll run into some sweet, sweet dingers. It'll be different, at least. Welcome, Roger Kieschnick. Enjoy your major-league debut. Hopefully, we will, too.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced Friday that Barry Zito has been pulled from the starting rotation.
That's been the assumption for a couple of days now, but Bochy finally acknowledged that Zito will pitch out of the bullpen while Guillermo Moscosco will start Sunday against the Rays. He's weighing the possibility of a six-man rotation later this year, so he hasn't committed to how long Zito will be in the bullpen. "For how long, I couldn't tell you," said Bochy. "It was time for a change." Zito owns a 5.09 ERA in 21 starts this season.
Moscoso will start in his place
That's been the assumption for a couple of days now, but Bochy finally acknowledged that Zito will pitch out of the bullpen while Guillermo Moscosco will start Sunday against the Rays. He's weighing the possibility of a six-man rotation later this year, so he hasn't committed to how long Zito will be in the bullpen. "For how long, I couldn't tell you," said Bochy. "It was time for a change." Zito owns a 5.09 ERA in 21 starts this season.
Moscoso will start in his place
Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports that the Giants have signed left-hander Ted Lilly to a split contract.
MLB Trade Rumors has confirmed the signing. Lilly was released by the Dodgers over the weekend after posting a 5.09 ERA and 18/10 K/BB ratio over 23 innings this season. The 37-year-old southpaw is slated to pitch for Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday night and could join the major league roster for the stretch run.
MLB Trade Rumors has confirmed the signing. Lilly was released by the Dodgers over the weekend after posting a 5.09 ERA and 18/10 K/BB ratio over 23 innings this season. The 37-year-old southpaw is slated to pitch for Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday night and could join the major league roster for the stretch run.
Angel Pagan (hamstring) is expected to return around September 1.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he's not sure when Pagan will begin a rehab assignment, but evidently his recovery from hamstring surgery has gone well to this point. It's obviously good news, though you have to wonder how much running Pagan would do when he returns. He wouldn't be much of a fantasy asset if he's not stealing bases.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he's not sure when Pagan will begin a rehab assignment, but evidently his recovery from hamstring surgery has gone well to this point. It's obviously good news, though you have to wonder how much running Pagan would do when he returns. He wouldn't be much of a fantasy asset if he's not stealing bases.
Report: Giants, Ted Lilly call off agreement
According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, the Giants have called off a deal with left-hander Ted Lilly.
Cotillo's source says the two sides "could not agree" on a designated callup date. Lilly was released by the Dodgers this weekend after posting a 5.09 ERA in 23 innings while battling chronic neck discomfort. He will presumably continue to look for a new team.