The defending World Champions are off to a slow 1-3 start and will face the Padres tomorrow after a day off. Here's the latest on the Giants…
- Chris Haft of MLB.com outlines some ways the Giants could create roster space for Cody Ross and Brian Wilson when they return to action. It appears that the Giants will option Dan Runzler to create space for Wilson, but creating space for Ross won't be as simple. Rookie Brandon Belt may have to return to the minor leagues.
- Haft adds that there's little to any trade rumors involving Aaron Rowand.
- Manager Bruce Bochy has earned the Giants' respect because they aren't concerned that his motives go beyond winning, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. That means Belt's transition from prospect to big leaguer has been relatively smooth.
- John Klima of the LA Times explains how Belt, a fifth rounder, beat many highly-touted prospects to the majors and has earned a roster spot on the defending World Champions.
schierholtz is a luxury that they don’t need
I think you’re wrong about this because…
Schierholtz doesn’t make much money, is an above average fielder, is willing to be a part time player and is reasonable in that role…
Not everybody can be a part time player and… If they DFA Schierholtz Do You play Belt part time ?
Or do you play Huff, or Burrell, or Ross less ???
Remember these are three of The Giants Best Major League Proven Hitters ?
Do You sit any of them to play a Rookie who is unproven ? It’s only been 4 games ?
I like The way Belt looks but as the season goes on The Pitchers will adjust and find his weakness” ???
The money factor also matters because The Giants in order to manage their payroll must keep a number of inexpensive players… While Belt is making about The same as Schierholtz, by Bringing him up now they start the clock on his Free Agency that much sooner… Remember they are going to need to pay J. Sanchez, Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner, Sandoval, Posey and Belt all within a very close amount of Time so they are likely to lose some of these players to High Offers from other teams… The more they can spread the contracts out the more they have a chance of keeping these players.
It doesn’t make sense to activate Belts arbitration clock for a one week call up and then send him down. I don’t think sending him down now makes any sense what-so-ever. Granted his average hasn’t top the charts early on but he’s had some very tough ABs while seeing a lot of pitches.
They should just release Rowand and get it over with. Huff cannot play RF anymore. Its seriously costing them runs.
Anymore? When could he play RF?
Sorry I meant like he needs to stop playing it now not that he could play in in the past.
Funny thing is that he’s played more games in RF (2,180 innings) than he has in LF (332 innings). As good as Belt might ultimately be at 1B, I’d rather see Huff there and move Belt to the OF.
I don’t see how releasing Rowand at this point helps anything ?
Releasing Rowand to make room for Belt doesn’t help with the Belt situation…
The Giants corner outfielders can’t play center except for Ross and if Ross is needed in Center then Who plays right ? I think everyone saw The Real Huff in Right Field Sunday… So Do you sit Burrell to play Huff ? Then you would be sitting on eof their two biggest HR threats for the other… That doesn’t make much sense to me ?
I’m not an Aaron rowand Fan but… What move once you release him improves The Giants ?
Whether you send him down or keep him up, the choice should be made based upon his ability to contribute and not his mlb service clock.
The decision to keep Belt must also include How his presence affects The Balance of The Roster ?
Some guys can’t and should not be gotten rid of to make room for this Rookie…
If this team was not The World Series Champs I could see the adjustment by Bringing Belt up now but…
How does keeping Belt on The Roster make The Giants a Better Team this year ?
Next year yes when Burrell, Ross and DeRosa’s contracts expire but this year ?
They can choose who they want to keep while bringing Belt up…
Ross is likely to get some very Big Offers ? They will all three be Free Agents ?
Managing Payroll has alot to do with this team competing for years to come and they have alot of young Ball Players that are going to be due alot of money in the not to distant Future ?
In 2013 Huffs contract expires…
I say play Belt at AAA in Right Field this year…
Bring him up in September when he can help with The Stretch Drive…
Next year he plays Right Field and in 2013 he moves to First Base….
He played Right Field in College and they say he is a very good outfielder…
Many Greats have started in The outfield who weren’t known as outfielders..
Willie McCovey started in The outfield, so did Yogi Berra and many other Greats who were not known as outfielders.
How do they Balance this team and Keep Belt ?
I am open for suggestions ?
Starting his Arb. Clock ?
Arbitration is calculated against service time…
Service time is measured in Days on The 25 man Roster so Belt hasn’t put much time on his Arb. Clock at all at this point…
The question is not if Belt can play or not…
The question is How having him on The squad at this time affect the Balance of The Roster…
I’d send him down when Cody is Ready to come back and I would have him play alot of right Field in Fresno so next year he could come up as a Right Fielder. He could move to First Base in 2013 when Huffs contract expires…
This also spreads his Free Agency eligability apart from Posey and Bumgarner by another year.
McCovey started in The Outfield and so did Berra as well as many other Great Major Leagers not known as outfielders.
They say Belt played outfield in College and is very good in The outfield…
Plus he could get a year of seasoning in AAA…
The Giants could bring him up if Huff got hurt or in September to help with The Stretch Run…
By having him up now they have upset the Balance of The most Balanced Team in Baseball… People will have to sit who need to play like Burrell, Ross and Huff ?
For what it’s worth, Brian Sabean has said that if Belt made the team he was going to stay on the 25 man roster, they weren’t going to call him up then send him down like they’ve done with other players (John Bowker).
It seems to me sometimes Brian Sabean would be better off not to open his mouth.
Sending Belt down now would be like optioning Lou Gehrig to make room for Wally Pipp. As an observer from “the other side”, he’s ALREADY scary.
The giants fielded their roster like they were moving to the AL with the DH.
added to the thought of how much longer are they going to pull off Tejada at short before it starts really hurting the team…
Tejada has a solid History behind him…
He played well last year and will be fine…
He played 153 games last year I believe but…
DeRosa swung a Good Bat Staurday and possibly Bochy could sit Tejada a game or two so he could re-Focus ?
hes talkin bout defense I think
Definately not sending Belt down. You can count on that. He is a very discplined hitter. He never swings at ball and walks alot.
If you don’t send Belt Down then How do you Balance this team again ?
Balance means enough players for each position…
enough Left haded bats and enough Right Handed Bats…
It also means players who only play part time and are reliable in their role and…
Players who are satisfied and relatively comfortable with their roles…
It also means putting The Best Nine players possible on The Field each game…
There are certain players who must play almost everygame and the entire game like Posey, Huff, F. Sanchez, Sandoval, Tejada, Ross…
Burrell is valuable because he is good for 2 at bats or 6 innings which ever comes first… This give The Giants a High probability for him to drive in Runs and it allows for A Better defense in the late innings when he comes out of the game… It also allows for Schierholtz to remain Sharp.
They can also keep DeRosa sharp by plaI don’t see how The Giants can improve the team with a Trade at this point ?
maybe by July a weakness may show itself but as of now ?
Playing DeRosa at 2’nd one day, SS one day, 3’rd one day and relieving Burrel in The late innings sometimes, if they need his Right handed Bat in The line-up that game…
Balance is not an easy thing to achieve…
How can you Balance this team with Belt on The 25 man Roster this year ?
I am open for suggestions ?
To make room for Ross, you’ve got to get rid of Schierholtz.
Lineup: Torres-8, Sanchez-4, Huff-7, Posey-2, Sandoval-5, Ross-9, Belt-3, Tejada-6.
Bench: Fontenot, DeRosa, Burrell, Rowand
The lineup has good balance, going S, R, L, R, S, R, L, R.
Burrell can be used to frequently spell Huff. This keeps Pat’s head in the game and his bat fresh while also giving Aubrey much needed bouts of rest.
Meanwhile, DeRosa can be a rotating replacement for Sandoval, Tejada, and Sanchez, providing those guys with frequent rest and getting a chance for a usually productive DeRosa to be in the lineup.
While you’re now left with only one left handed bat on the bench, does Nate provide you that much value as a hitter to begin with?
The decision I am desperately hoping for when Ross returns is to DFA Rowand. Nate is easily our best defensive outfielder and has one of the 5 best outfield throwing arms in the entire majors. What everyone forgets about Rowand with this 6 at bat sample size is he is made of glass. It’s not a matter of if he’ll get hurt, it’s when- and it will probably be relatively soon. Once he gets hurt he is completely useless. Nate adds a lefty bat off the bench on top of his defense. The best outfield we could trot out is huff in left, torres in center, ross in right, with burrell and schierholtz on the bench and derosa available to move out there in a pinch
To people saying send Belt down, that makes no sense. The guy made the roster for a reason he is ready for the big leagues and he proved it in LA. He is a big league hitter who unlike many giants in the past 2 years has discipline at the plate and can get on base. Any giants fans remember going through the years where the lineup was full of free-swingers and countless strikeouts. Belts defense is also why the giants have him in the bigs.
make your first base defense better to make your OF defense comical? I dont see the logic.