The Giants --- 2008

[SLAB]

The new season of baseball is coming up, and oh Lord is it looking like a fun one for the Giants...

-This is the kind of team where we could have two 20-game losers...And their ERA's could be sub-4!

-This is the kind of team where scoring 5 runs will be an offensive explosion.

-This is the kind of team that will get shutout in more than one 4 game series.

Really outside of Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, Kevin Corriea, and Brian Wilson the only thing worth waiting for is 17 year old Angel Villalona, who is a kid in Low-A ball still some 4 or 5 years away from the show.

What Im getting at...It's going to be a long season, so lets discuss it here!

And I have some early predictions.

1: Once the owners realize that attendance is at an all-time low, Barry Bonds will be back in a Giants jersey by July... Gut feeling.

2: Barry Zito will lose 20 games...With a 5.50ERA. Second Richest Pitcher ever, baby!

3: Not one person on the team hits more than 20 home runs or has more than 90 rbi's.

4: Giants lose 110+ games, and get the number 1 pick in next years amateur draft.

With all the pessimism out, let's get on with the season! Prove me wrong, boys!

 

[SLAB]

And the Giants are off to a torrid start with the first of what promises to be a season long series of shutouts.

Here's looking forward to Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and...Umm...Uhh??? Erick Threets and Merkin Vadez? Brian Bocock? Jose Castillo? Rich Aurilia?

Ugh...the Giants are going to compete for he worst team of all time this year.

 

[SLAB]

is this thread going to be SLAB replying to SLAB all year? Hopefully some fans join in!

But Merkin Valdez looked like the stud he was always supposed to be tonight! Lets hope he keeps that up! And Timmy Lincecum was a little rough, but got a nice W for the 1st win of the season.

Enjoy, as I think they will be few and far between!

 

[nebs]

Heya Slabby.. I'm here. I haven't been able to watch a full game yet but I've seen parts of all 3 of them.

Things I like and or want to see more of...

- Timmy
- Cain
- That Japanese relief guy.. can't recall his name but I liked him.
- That SKINNY Velez sucker. Wooo I may like him the most. Quick as a mutha.
- Rowand
- And maybe a few of the other younger guys. Rajai Davis, Fred Lewis, Bocock (he seems late on all his swings that I've seen)

 

[LoungeLizard]

Love the Giants. This year will be absoloutely brutal. I have no idea how we will score this year. The defense was abysmal during spring training. However, Lincecum, Cain, and Lowry should be a nice rotation (if Lowry can get healthy) and if we can get anything from Zito our rotation is pretty good. That being said, I'm expecting 100+ losses. The only thing that might keep us under 100 losses is playing in the NL.

 

[SLAB]

Japanese relief guy is Keichi (sp?) Yabu...He's a 38 year old who was out of the league last year and was only average for the A's a few years back...Id rather see more of Threets and Valdez!

Bocock was a A ball last year. He couldnt really hit A pitching either...He's only up because of injuries and his slick defense.

And I want Velez to start EVERY game. Every single at-bat that Durham steals from him should result in a lashing for managment.

Same goes for Ortmeier and Aurilia.

If your going to lose 100 games, you may as well do it with people who have some sort of chance of emerging at some point.

 

[nebs]

Oh wow Yabu is 38? Nevermind then.

I'm aware of all the other circumstances.

 

[zip95843]

No way, unfortunately.

 

[SLAB]

Love the Giants. This year will be absoloutely brutal. I have no idea how we will score this year. The defense was abysmal during spring training. However, Lincecum, Cain, and Lowry should be a nice rotation (if Lowry can get healthy) and if we can get anything from Zito our rotation is pretty good. That being said, I'm expecting 100+ losses. The only thing that might keep us under 100 losses is playing in the NL.

I say trade Lowry at the deadline once he proves healthy and effective...I think Sanchez can easily fill his role once he gains a semblance of control, and once he figures it out he'll be talked about almost on the same level of Cain and Lincecum...His stuff is that nasty!

SP1: Matt Cain
SP2: Tim Lincecum
SP3: Barry Zito
SP4: Kevin Corriea
SP5: Jon Sanchez

I think thats a good rotation. Correia is actually turning into a competent starter, and when the other young guns master their control they will be close to a dominant 1-2-3 pnch! Then there's Zito...That's another story...

And two straight four run explosions! I think we used up our alloted offense for the next month and a half in a two-game span!



...When you're this bad you just have to laugh about it...

 

[LoungeLizard]

At this point though, the Giants may need Lowry's bat as he swings pretty well for a pitcher.

Expecting a shutout today against Ben Sheets. Who knows which Zito will show?

 

[SLAB]

Expecting a shutout today against Ben Sheets. Who knows which Zito will show?

Gee LoungeLizard? How did you guess that result?



And there's only one Barry Zito...Unless you're talking along the lines of the bad Barry Zito, or the terrible Barry Zito.

 

[LoungeLizard]

I'm guessing I can type the words "expecting a shutout today" with just about every game and probably be right 1/3 of the time this year.

Anyhow, I will enjoy this year knowing the young guys will get some run and confident the Giants will be better in the NEAR future.

 

[SLAB]

The only way to go is up.

That's always a good thing.

And a number 1 pick is also a good thing.

Lets pray for a Ryan Braun.

 

[SLAB]

Benji Molina rocks.

The only Giant position player with a hint of fantasy potential, and he's all mine!



Fun win tonight...Those will be few and far between.

 

[6th]

Will the Giants lose 100+ games on the season?

Yes, they might, but I would have to say...probably not...at least I hope not.

 

[Spike]

Option 4 -

As long as the Dodgers do better, I don't care.

My condolences to the Bay Area.

 

[SLAB]

http://mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/2008/04/sources-giants-to-acquire-johnson.html

The Giants aquire Dan Johnson?

I remember he raked for the River Cats a few years back.

Can't be worse than Aurilia and Ortmeier.

Now lets see what we gave up.

 

[SLAB]

Another walk-off fun win?



We just used up our season's worth of them in a two-game span though.

And on a little side note, Rotoworld.com makes me laugh. They keep throwing in little snide remarks about how god-awful this team is.

Giants placed outfielder Dave Roberts on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee.
Roberts was off to a 2-for-17 start, putting him squarely in the running to be the Giants' All-Star this year. Eugenio Velez, Rajai Davis and Fred Lewis will share time in left field for the next couple of weeks. Ray Durham should benefit as much as anyone, as he'll have less competition from Velez at second.

Keiichi Yabu’s status for Monday’s game is uncertain after he hurt his eyes when the elastic bands he was working out with Saturday became unhooked and snapped across his face.
The blurred vision would be a bigger problem, but it prevents him from actually having to watch his team play. Giants fans everywhere will be trying to duplicate the effects by the end of the month.

Bengie Molina's second solo homer of the game was a solo shot off Cla Meredith in the bottom of the 11th to give the Giants a 3-2 win over the Padres on Tuesday.
Perhaps not since Babe Ruth in 1920 has one man towered over his teammates in such grand fashion. Molina has three of the Giants' four homers and seven of their 17 RBI through eight games.

Astros sent catcher Humberto Quintero outright to Triple-A Round Rock.
All spring long, teams worry about losing borderline out-of-options players, and every year about this time, most of the guys who get sent down anyway end up clearing waivers. That's because every other team also likes the 25 guys it opened the year with. Even the Giants, believe it or not. Quintero has accepted the assignment and will play for Round Rock. He had the option of becoming a free agent.

You just have to laugh in times like these.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Woo-hoo.....winning streak!!

 

[BawLa]

Another walk-off fun win?



We just used up our season's worth of them in a two-game span though.

And on a little side note, Rotoworld.com makes me laugh. They keep throwing in little snide remarks about how god-awful this team is.

You just have to laugh in times like these.

Rotoworld can take their opinion and cram it out their arses. Heaven forbid they could talk about how the last 3 Giants starters have gone almost 20 innings and allowed only 1 ER.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Change my vote...

I'm starting to think the Giants starting pitching may keep them under the 100 loss line. Then again, it is only week 2, and the Giants offense is still really bad.

 

[SLAB]

So can we just save the emotional trouble and count every Matt Cain start for the rest of his Giants career as a loss?

This poor kid doesn't deserve what the Giants do to him.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Timmay!!!

 

[BawLa]

So this Bowker kid has some power eh? Let him play!!! Move him to first!!!

 

[BritishColumbia]

Actually Giants are not that bad ... sleepers ?!!? ... but we need one more good P and two more decent hitters AT LEAST.

I do not understand what is going on in there .... they have a lot of money, it is not like they are Pittsburgh ... buy some players !!! Or Zito scared them?!?

 

[LoungeLizard]

Timmay!!!

 

[SLAB]

Timmay indeed!

He is money. And is Electric. And gives us Giants fans something to cheer for.

As for electric...The Giants cut Rajai Davis and are bringing up Manny Burriss...Apparently the guy is RAW beyond belief but has huge speed. The new kid will split time with Bocock at SS, and take some plays at 2B.

 

[nebs]

Wish I could have seen the game today. Great to hear Timmay looked good.

They cut Rajai? Dang. I guess he's not really panned out but I liked his speed.

 

[SLAB]

Dear lord the Giants just can't give Cain a break...Good luck reaching 5 wins this year!



Seriously though, this will be the Giants game of the year. Everything about it was amazing. The comeback. The dramatics. Brian Wilson trying his damndest to give it away! What a game!

And I must say. The young guys may not be hearlded prospects, but they are at least fun to watch.

And with a terrible team, you really cant ask for much more!

 

[nebs]

I'm interested in what's going on with the Giants every day. I can't even recall the last time I had so much optimism about our future. Bonds should have been let go a couple years ago imo.