Comments on: Giants Add Garko; Lincecum Strikes Out 15

By: likejcb9butbetter

likejcb9butbetter — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:25:35 +0000

“I’m not sure how a year and a half of baseball counts as a sample size.”

I meant to say “I’m not sure how a year and a half of baseball counts as a small sample size.”

By: likejcb9butbetter

likejcb9butbetter — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:20:17 +0000

I’m not sure how a year and a half of baseball counts as a sample size.

Velez can “play” six positions in as much as he’s capable of standing on the field in those positions and occasionally catching a ball. He’s terrible at all six positions, though, which isn’t a very valuable skill to have. He’s fast, but he’s a terrible base runner – again, not very valuable. He’s never hit much in the minors except for a relatively small sample size last year – while playing in the bandboxes of the PCL and being old for the league.

I’m not crazy about overpaying for Freddy Sanchez either, but that doesn’t make Velez any good. ‘Cause it’s pretty well documented that he’s not.

By: Giantsfan4life

Giantsfan4life — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:39:07 +0000

Hey like
So who went yard in our win tonight? Since we’re apparently all about small sample sizes.
My point is not that Velez should be our starting second baseman. My real point is to express incredulity that Brock Bond doesn’t seem to appear on anyone’s prospect list, what with his .450 OBP in AA. Before trading away valued prospects for 32 year olds, lets look to our system. But like it or not, it looks like the deal’s going down, and it’s Guzman and change for Freddie Sanchez. Fine, he’ll be a handy two month upgrade. But Velez is NOT completely worthless. He’s fast, can play six positions, and can hit a little. He’ll be a useful utility player, if not stretched beyond his capabilities.

By: likejcb9butbetter

likejcb9butbetter — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:50:54 +0000

re: Velez: “he’s hit a little better this season.”

Er….what?

Velez, Major Leagues:
2008: .262 / .299 / .382 in 292 PA
2009: .205 / .244 / .231 in 43 PA

Velez, Fresno:
2008: .310 / .372 / .509 in 188 PA
2009: .297 / .340 / .451

So no, he hasn’t hit a little better this year. Also, he’s completely worthless and doesn’t do anything well or even competently.

By: Giantsfan4life

Giantsfan4life — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:47:15 +0000

What’s really strange about this deal is that the Giants also brought up Jesus Guzman, sending Bowker down. It’s hard to see how the Giants really gave Bowker much of a chance; they’ve got him pegged now as a 4A hitter, though he certainly didn’t prove them wrong, albeit in a ridiculously small sample size. But what do they do with Guzman now? Unless another trade is on the horizon involving him, it seems to me the Giants gave up an OK pitching prospect for a RH platoon 1B no better than what they already have in AAA.
And Velez? I can imagine Velez in a kind of super-sub utility role. He’s fast, he can play infield and outfield (badly); he’s hit a little better this season. But there’s got to be another deal going for a second baseman. They’ve clearly given up on Downs, and on Frandsen. Surely Juan Uribe isn’t any kind of answer. If only the Giants had a second baseman in the system with proven on-base skills. Someone putting up a .450 OBP in a good pitcher’s park in AA, say. Someone combining the best virtues of, say, Lou Brock and Barry Bonds, but an infielder. Too bad we don’t have anyone like that. . . .

By: West Coast Bias

West Coast Bias — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:37:01 +0000

I agree that it doesn’t seem like much improvement when we delve into the numbers. I’m neither angry or ecstatic about the deal. The big unknown seems to be the AL/NL factor.

Do you have any idea about what Casey Blake’s projections were when he was traded last year? That seemed like a questionable move at the time, but has paid off for LA. Of course, Blake plays a more scarce position.

I’m not saying Garko is going to do what Blake has done. I’m offering it as something that maybe the Giants are banking on or hoping for.