San Francisco Giants: Win At Any Cost
Money, Momentum and Moxie
San Francisco GIANTS : ‘WIN AT
ANY COST’
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area but let’s tell it like it is…In recent years, the Giants management has tried to win at any cost, especially now. Baer and Company are the greatest at making excuses when they’re not winning. As even the most ardent Giants fans will admit, they have made some of the worst trades and signings in baseball history (think Zeto, Rowand, Rentaria most recently). And virtually giving away a Bengie Molina , who was largely responsible for not only the pitching staff success but has been a key contributer throughout the entire season; no surprise that Molina hasn’t gotten over the unceremonious release – and is at least getting some payment , having a great post season with the Rangers.
And now, we hear from insiders that Jose Guillen was left off the team for the post season, not due to a stiff neck but steroid allegations; the league, reportedly, asked the Giants not to have him play, per Rob Neyer in Bleacher Report 10-28-10. It may be politically incorrect to say, but don’t be surprised to find our later that the oldl Bonds’ Giants of Steroids are still lurking, what with guys like Jose Uribe hitting his most ever homeruns at age 32 in a large, cold San Francisco ballpark and other old guys are also suddenly coming to life. Maybe not so surprising, in retrospect.
And , who else should suddenly show up at the park for the series but BB himself, carrying the charge to finish off what he couldn’t quite accomplish against the Angels in 2002,In trying to bring the Giants its first World Series championship in 56 years – and even pining to be the San Francisco Giants hitting coach, just months before his perjury trial begins.
Call it ‘win at any cost.’ And with a
only-in- San Francisco fan base
that looked the other way for 7 years with Bonds, they’re happy to do it again. The Giants are no World Series team. It’s been a weak year in baseball, with no standout teams and the Giants are backing into the World Series – at any cost. They probably know they may never get a change again.
The San Frnacisco Giants haven’t won a World Series since 1954 and may be a little embarrassed, but instead of showing some humility like the Chicago Cubs people, they only show cockiness. When Barry Bonds, in all his roided-out ‘brilliance’, kept the turnstyles rolling, management was right there to defend him while the rest of the country looked at them as laughing stock.
This year, GM Sabean has taken his ‘rare window of opportunity’ philosophy to the extreme, bringing in cast-offs one after the other. If you do it enough times one will stick and Burl and Ross HAVE made some contributions – afterall, they were better than what was there, and with the pitching staff they have they can get by with mediocrity . (But they are not young, and don’t be surprised to see them gone next year.) Other than Buster Posey and Bumgartner, the San Francisco Giants have virtually ignored their farm system, bringing in veteran player after player, only to throw them under the bus.
Perhaps Padres’ Mat Latos and one or two of the Philles got it right… Instead of giving players a chance , a wrong move or two and they’re gone. Poor Zeto, who has had his best year in years, is persona non grata now, left off the playoffs roster. Most of the players who began the year with the Giants are gone, or at least banished to the bench. Even now, if someone makes an error or two, expect a different lineup the next day.
Apparently, the pressure cooker is on at San Frnacisco Giants
headquarters. Sabean and Bochy and Baer have been around one team longer than all current counterparts – and without winning the big one. I will say that manager Bochy, whether under the gun or not, has come a long way as manager, truly managing, the seeming nice guy of the bunch , and mahybe should be manager of the year. But, look at the competition. Whether other managers or teams- – there’s not a truly top caliber one with both pitching and hitting in all the big leagues, except the Yankees, and they haven’t been doing all that well in the playoffs.
As for luck, the San Francisco Giants seem to have it going for them , getting that ‘torture’ run courtesy of either the other team mistakes (See Atlanta) or umpires (a would-be inning-ending right-down-the plate third strike was called a ball by Umpire Cousins, resulting in two more runs, just enough to win the first playoff game against the Phils most recently.
For the San Francisco Giants its Win Now At All Costs (we don’t say that, they do). The money’s been spen now- with one of the highest payrol. The World Series has eluded them for longer than just about any team. So, step on toes. Go boldly as it WILL probably be back to the Old Inept Giants next year. So, Giant fans, enjoy while you can. I’ll take the Padres or even the A’s ( despite having the worst manager in baseball) and their homegrown, old school philosophies.
If the Giants make it to the WS – with a current .194 average for the playoffs – it will be a travesty for baseball and the other teams. It’s pathetic how there’s not a single World Class team going – only Texas is batting over .200 among the playoff finalists and Texas is no world beater, either. Whether or not the Giants do back in to the series it’s be a dark day in this post-steroid era which has seen hitting numbers drop below the Mendoza line and a team composed basically of low-hitting cast-offs and only four very good pitchers and one good manager slide through to possibly win it all.
UPDATE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS : NEW DISTURBING FACTS
San Franciso Giants MLB Tailgate Toss (Quantity of 1)
2007 Topps Heritage Baseball Card # 37 Billy Sadler RC – Rookie Card – San Franciso Giants – Mint Condition – In Protective Display Case
Sporting News October 30 1989 Oakland A’s & San Franciso Giants – World Series Delayed by Earthquake, Andre Collins/Penn State Nittany Lions, Neal Anderson/Chicago Bears
San Francisco Giants
