Insanity

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 9, 2007 6:06 PM CST in News Comment 14 comments

Omar Vizquel got his wish to return to the San Francisco Giants.

The 11-time Gold Glove shortstop agreed Friday to a $5.3 million, one-year contract, a deal that includes a club option that could make it worth $10.2 million over two seasons.

Vizquel is 40. The Giants were 20 games under .500 last year, and are losing their best player. He hit .246/.305/.316 in 2007.

I'm flummoxed.

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"Flummoxed"

They should have thinking people proof read these decisions ...

Sideshow ... onto 800. You can do it!

by Chase Irwin on Nov 9, 2007 6:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Why?

It's not like they have any chance of competing in 08 anyway. Vizquel's defense is still above average, so you can't solely look at offensive stats.

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 9, 2007 6:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Why pay $5.3 million

when you have no chance of competing? Get a AAAA SS and pay him minimum.

"I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia" - Stephen Colbert www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Nov 10, 2007 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I'm sure Matt Kata is out there looking for a big league job.

Look out Baylor Cubbies you will be crying David Keresh after the Sooners get done with you. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Nov 10, 2007 10:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is why I contend that Brian Sabean is the worst GM in baseball. All their fans whine about having to pay for their whole stadium, blah blah blah. Bottom line - they spend their money and prospects on old guys with zero long-term potential.

by JBImaknee on Nov 9, 2007 7:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Giants and SS's

Outside of Vizquel, who would they have signed? Eckstien was a type B free agent, so you would loose a draft pick. People say Sabean needs to build the team from whithin, which would be hard to do while loosing a second round draft choice. Not only that, Eckstein made $4.5 million last season. He would be asking for a raise and a lot more than one year with an option.

Ceasar Izturis has a club option for $5.45 this year. Now Jack Wilson is under contract for the next three years, and an option for a fourth. He is more expensive than Izturis, so they might look to trade him. I heard some Wilson to Detroit rumors, but that obviously won't happen now. Until the Pirates decline the option, Izturis is not really a solution for the Giants.

There is also a Cuban player named Alexei Ramirez. He is currently living in the Dominican trying to become eligible to play in the majors. Some people have a lot of good things to say about him. He is only 26 and could play CF or SS. However, there were lots of good things said about Kendry Morales and Yuniesky Betacourt, two other highly regarded players to come from Cuba. Teams can't have their own, trusted scouts evaluate these players. It is kind of a crap shoot.

If the Giants are not going to be competitive for the next few years, the last thing they want to do would be to spend lots of money on a SS. Of the above players, none would be willing to take a one year deal. Vizquel is the only SS on the market that would allow the Giants to keep their financial commitment to a minimum. Moreover, this veteran won't cost them a draft pick. Is this the best move the Giants could have made? I am not sure, but this is far from being the worst.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Nov 10, 2007 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not talking about this year only

they have a weird history of signing old washed up guys. Ray Durham, Ryan Klesko, Bengie Molina, Vizquel, Dave Roberts. Reupping with Omar for one last year just doesn't make sense.

Really, the Giants aren't competing next year - they are looking at a last place finish behind 4 teams that are a LOT younger. Their situation is far worse than the Rangers. It makes no sense to give 6 million to anyone for one year unless there is a realistic shot of flipping him for a prospect or two at the deadline (i.e., Lofton). I don't see Vizquel as that answer.

This is any different than saying "The Rangers need a guy who hits lefties really well, lets sign Sosa again for 6 million." And Sosa is probably better than Vizquel right now. But that doesn't make it right.

Surely the Giants have some Travis Metcalf type infielder running around their AA or AAA team who can fill in for a year (every team has one of those). Save the money or spend it on someone with some long-term potential.

Also, I don't think you lose picks for type B's anymore. Could be wrong though.

by JBImaknee on Nov 10, 2007 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sabean

Here is a really good article on Sabean:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/inside-the-mind-of-brian-sabean/

Essentially, it shows there is a logic to what Sabean has done in the past (signing older players). A really interesting read. I am not defending Sabean per se, but he is not as clueless as people think. I also think Klesko was a good deal. He posted a 92 OPS+ and only cost $1.75 million.

Ivan Ochoa is the AAA SS for the Giants. He only played 47 games last year due to injury. Last season was by his best, but the limited playing time raises the question if it was just a fluke. He'll be 25 in about a month, and you have to wonder just how much he will improve. The list of minor league free agents (about which Adam previously commented) is uninspiring. I find it hard to imagine that a AA scrub would be better than Vizquel.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Nov 10, 2007 12:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fascinating 2004 THT article

One part stuck out for me.

"It's safe to say that you want to avoid the [teams in the] lower right quadrant; older, losing teams don't have much of a future. Pity the poor Dback, Rockies, Mets and Mariners fans. They're all virtually in the same boat, though some of them have better young players than others."

Pity the poor Dbacks and Rockies, Funny what a few years makes.

I hate Adam so much. <Sharky>

by WyoRanger on Nov 10, 2007 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OT...

Hey WyoRanger...just got back from the game. Granted 50-0 was great for me but I don't want to gloat. I would like to appologize for the on-side kick when the score was 43-0 in the 3rd, kinda class-less on coach Whit's part. I think Cowboy Joe's guarantee earlier this week just upset him. However I'm sure you guys won't forget that next year when we take the trip to Laramie...I'm all for another rivalry, makes teh games fun.

P.S.- could you do us a favor and take out your frustrations next week on the Y. We would really appreciate it.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 10, 2007 7:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Klesko

I understand that your implication was not that Klesko is a good player, but that he was a "good deal" on price/performance.

But a 92 OPS+ for a 1B is far from something that need be written home about.

1B and COF hitters need to be appreciably above league average in order to be considered even average, regardless of costs, in terms of their value to the team.

Ryan Garko: 117 OPS+
Kevin Millar: 106 OPS+
Conor Jackson: 110 OPS+
Kevin Youkilis: 117 OPS+
Casey Kotchman: 119 OPS+

For perspective:

Mark Teixeira: 150 OPS+
Albert Pujols: 157 OPS+

Sideshow ... onto 800. You can do it!

by Chase Irwin on Nov 10, 2007 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Type B free agents

Under the new rules, a Type B free agent doesn't cost a draft pick...the losing team gets a comp pick.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 10, 2007 1:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So

Sammy is worth 7 million, after all.

Microsoft records huge profits on superb Vista sales

by Sharky on Nov 9, 2007 9:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense...

The "Torpedo Boat" AKA Juan Uribe got $4.5MM.

Seriously, he posted an unprecedented .234/.284/.394 with an astounding 10% SB rate. I can't wait until next season when we pull off the uber hit and run -- Sorry jaded Sox fan.

by krushcuts on Nov 10, 2007 1:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs