Hot Stove begins....

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News did some quick blogging from Brian Sabean's press conference today. Here's a full transcript. Hot stove notes:

Rich Aurilia could be re-signed, but Omar Vizquel won't be back. The Giants will buy Vizquel out for $300K.
With Pablo Sandoval penciled in at first base, the Giants may be reluctant to trade catcher Bengie Molina (my own speculation on the Molina part).
Matt Cain is said to be "untouchable" in a trade. So we'll stop with the Cain trade scenarios for now.
Possible offseason needs include bullpen help and a run-producer. The relief help could come via free agency, while the bat would probably come via trade. That bat would not be a guy with one year left on his contract (Matt Holliday comes to mind).


So I ask ya, what is wrong with my idea of signing C.C. Sabathia, who WANTS to come to the Giants which would make it easier to trade ANY of the pitchers for a bat. Any bat....except Prince Fielder and his veggie burgers. Someone needs to tell him that yes, they are healthier for you but NOT when you apparently are eating them 12 at a time. I actually watched him run the bases after hitting a dinger and I swear, his jelly was rolling. He rolled his gut around the bases. Okay, so Cain is untouchable. Deep down I can live with that. I'm just still amazed a quality player wants to come to the Giants! Stay tuned kids....
boston sucks

detoxify

J.T. Snow retiring as a Giant

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - J.T. Snow signed a one-day deal with San Francisco on Wednesday so he can retire as a member of the Giants after all.

Snow, a special assistant and broadcaster for the club who last played for Boston in 2006, will be activated for Saturday night's game against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers so the former first baseman and fan favorite can be honored for his nine seasons with the franchise from 1997-2005. He likely will take the field early and make his exit before the first pitch is even thrown, general manager Brian Sabean said.
"That's probably the most respectful way to do it," Sabean said, keeping in mind the Dodgers are still in the division race and trying to secure a playoff berth. "He's promised to take the field but he hasn't promised to leave the field."

The bonus is Snow gets a bonus: He will be paid $2,131 for the brief moment back in his No. 6 jersey, the prorated amount of the league minimum of $390,000.

"I was shocked. I was surprised," Snow said of the Giants' gesture. "I always wanted to play until I'm 40. I wanted to retire as a Giant. This is where I grew up as a player. I really appreciate it. This organization does things with a lot of class. It's a nice honor."

The 40-year-old Snow, a six-time Gold Glove winner, announced his retirement in December 2006 during the winter meetings at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a 15-year major league career.

Snow played part of 2006 for the Red Sox, who designated him for assignment on June 19 that year. He was batting .205 in only 44 at-bats when the club let him go. Sabean had a hard time seeing Snow go through that.

Last year, the GM thought of doing this but figured now was the perfect time to pull it off considering the club has spent the entire season honoring the 50th anniversary of the Giants' move west to San Francisco. He doesn't plan to make such signings a regular thing, either.

"From a personal and professional standpoint, sometimes certain things need closure," Sabean said. "I think it's a good statement of what we think of him as a person and a baseball player."

Snow owns a career batting average of .268 with 189 homers and 877 RBIs, playing 1,715 games with the Yankees, Angels, Giants and Red Sox.

A left-handed hitter with an impressive playoff track record, he thought he might catch on with a contending team for the stretch run in 2006, but it didn't happen.

Snow reached the World Series with the Giants in 2002, and they lost in seven games. During Game 5 against the wild-card Angels, the sure-handed Snow made perhaps his most alert play.

Snow had already scored on Kenny Lofton's triple and David Bell was running home when it became dangerous - Darren Baker, the 3 1/2-year-old bat boy son of manager Dusty Baker, was standing behind Angels catcher Bengie Molina, eager to grab Lofton's bat.

In a flash, Snow dashed in and scooped up the boy by the collar of his oversized jacket, pulling him from harm's way.

When the Giants parted ways with Snow after the 2005 season, Sabean, executive vice president Larry Baer and owner Peter Magowan planted the seed about Snow one day working for the club.

Snow's late father, Jack, a star receiver in the NFL, also went into broadcasting after his playing career ended.

Snow also loves his role working as an instructor with the younger players.

"This guy's so sharp in so many ways, especially the way he conducts himself, that he could branch out into anything," Sabean said.

Snow and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey are the only Giants first basemen to make nine straight starts on opening day since the team moved west to San Francisco in 1958.

"It's been a pretty good ride," Snow said.


Thanks for the memories J.T.!!!!




Please note by clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Be the first to share your thoughts about this story with other Fox Sports members.





boston sucks

detoxify

Looking forward

I've been watching the Giants play and lately I have been enjoying watching these kids play. Its given me a chance to think about what I'll say to Brian Sabean when we meet in the frozen food section at Save Mart as we awkwardly do often. I borrowed this projected lineup from McCovey Chronicles to start:

C: Molina/Sandoval
1B: Ishikawa/Sandoval
2B: Velez/Denker/Frandsen
SS: Burriss
3B: Other/Sandoval
LF: Lewis/Winn
CF: Rowand/Winn
RF: Winn/Schierholtz

The first thing that came to mind is how finding Pablo Sandoval has been a pleasant surprise. I like watching this guy play. The Giants have already given the SS job to Burriss next season so the real battle will be 2B and I think my man Frandsen will win it short term. Then I started to wonder. Is there really a need to sign a big bat this off season? This offense will never live up to past lineups but does it really have too? The Giants have something those other teams never had. A potential LETHAL starting four. I say four because C.C. Sabathia has stated his desire to come home and thats what I'll tell Sabean. Bring C.C. home baby. Sabathia, Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Zito. I know I know. Zito? Would you rather see him trotting out of left field as Matt Cain hands the ball and a 2-1 lead over to his Zuckiness? Unless we can trade him keep him at that five spot where he might outpitch other teams 5th man. Bring the bullpen up to snuff whether its Merkin Valdez, Noah Lowry, Taschner or free agency but let Tyler Walker go. Correia maybe also or put him back in the bully. I like Kevin. My point is with that four the Giants have potentially the best rotation in the big leagues. Look how they handled Arizona. The last few series have shown the Gigantes can compete as long as we have that one thing we've never had before.......a buttload of pitching.

boston sucks

detoxify