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Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:24 pm
by droop10
If the Giants do go on a 10 game winning streak at this point, I agree it will be near impossible to sell at that point. Honestly, as weird as this sounds, I think it's the worst thing that could happen to them, as it would put them in that unenviable position, and if everything collapses shortly after the deadline, they're stuck with these guys, especially now that there's no August Waiver deadline.

I have a dynasty fantasy league, and got Cueto as a filler piece in my trade, so I'm definitely keeping an eye on him. My concern though is he'll be coming back in September, and he'll be eased in. Tommy John guys that come back mid-season rarely come in and start dealing out the gate. He'll probably struggle a bit, as he gets back to pitching in the majors for the first time in over a year.

It's certainly smart for them to hold on to those guys right now. Early on, teams will try to get in without giving up much, but as the pressure of the deadline starts to emerge, teams will definitely start upping those offers. I would expect a bidding war for Bumgarner, so I can't imagine them getting a less than great deal for him. If they don't get multiple high level prospects back, they can essentially say the compensation pick they'll potentially get for the next draft is equal in value to the return they'd get via trade, so they definitely have leverage.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:58 am
by Phalanx
Watched the 16-inning marathon tonight vs. the Mets. Thankfully the Giants won, but a few things stood out to me:

Posey really looks weak at the plate, even after sitting out yesterday. He struck out four times for the first time in his career and finally did get a little flare hit in extra innings to go 1 for 7. He is still a good defensive catcher, and by all accounts, he calls an excellent game. Probably not going to be worth the $21.4 million he is slated to make for the next 2 years though. He has basically been the heart and soul of the Giants the last decade, but no longer seems to be a feared hitter.

I don't care what anyone says, Madison Bumgarner still has it. I'm sure he upped his trade value tonight. Nine innings, one run, going toe-to-toe with Syndergaard and outlasting him. His ERA on the season is 3.65. He still gets almost no run support every time he pitches, so his win-loss record is not great, but he pitched a gem tonight even without getting the win. I saw an article saying that the Giants should re-sign him now or trade him, since waiting for the compensatory pick gums up his ability to sign a contract elsewhere. Really hope whatever the Giants do, they treat him well. He has been an amazing team guy from the time he first put on the orange and black. I wish they would re-sign him. He seems more worth the money than Posey at this stage, and the Giants definitely need starting pitching.

Overall, what I see is a team playing great defense, getting great bullpen support, and just enough hitting to win. Aside from having weaker starting pitching now, it's pretty much the same formula that won them 3 World Series rings.

A win tomorrow would give them an even record on the season. I sure didn't think that would happen so soon. What a run!

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:22 am
by Phalanx
Bumgarner wants to stay with the Giants.

Asked specifically about continued trade rumors as the Giants have won 13 of 15, Bumgarner gave a quick answer.

"I don't give a s--t," he said. "I'm here to win games for this team, and that's what we're doing."

Asked about the possibility of his time at Oracle Park winding down, Bumgarner again shook his head.

"I'm trying to win games for the Giants and we're trying to get into the postseason and we're making a push," he said. "We're coming."

Bumgarner repeatedly mentioned lofty goals, finishing up by noting that this win -- a comeback on a night when a tired lineup struggled to get going -- is the type you see from championship clubs.

"If we manage to keep this going and sneak in (the postseason), I don't think anyone will want to match up with us," he said.


https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giant ... s-walk-win

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:26 pm
by Phalanx
Reports are starting to surface that Bumgarner and Smith are not available at the moment, that the Giants have 'pulled back' in trade talks. This despite Bum's increased perceived trade value given his performance over the last month.

https://www.sny.tv/yankees/news/sources ... /309220748

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/11 ... wsrc%5Etfw

Kind of funny, given how confident Passan was only 2 days ago that the Giants were selling. It doesn't mean they won't - I think the team needs to keep winning for the next two weeks and convince management, but this is a sign that they are paying attention, and that winning DOES matter to them.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:36 am
by nogerO
Yeah they’re over .500 for the year and *only* 14 1/2 games back. :lol:

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:56 pm
by Phalanx
Passan is now retracting last week's confident statements about the Giants as sellers. There are even rumors that they might be buying. Farhan Zaidi still hedging in public, but it seems like Bumgarner will only get traded if the offer is too good to pass up. More rumors that the Giants may try to re-sign him as well. Zaidi said in a recent interview that fans are coming up to him on the street and telling him they would rather trade him and keep Bumgarner. That struck me as pretty funny. "Hey, Buddy, go trade yourself" :lol:

Giants win yet another extra-inning game vs. the Padres on a Pablo Sandoval home run, and are 53-51, 2.5 games back for BOTH wild card spots. Yes, they are 14.5 games back for the division (they were 19.5 back less than a month ago), but remember that they won the world series in 2014 from the second wild card position. Once you get to the postseason, anything can happen.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:29 am
by Phalanx
On pins and needles as the trade deadline draws to a close. The latest rumor is that they are keeping MadBum and involved in talks with Milwaukie about trading Will Smith or another reliever. I would be okay with this, especially if it means they are seriously considering re-signing Bum this winter. The Giants have, perhaps predictably, cooled significantly in terms of their hitting and are starting to drop games again. The pitching is still pretty good though, and getting a hitter or two in trade would actually help them win. Hopefully, that is what Zaidi is looking for.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:58 pm
by Phalanx
Bahaha! I made a comment above a few weeks ago that the Braves should take Mark Melancon instead of Bumgarner and Smith. Now it is being reported that that's exactly what they did. The details on that trade are not out yet, but even if the Giants get nothing back, it's a salary dump that might enable the Giants to re-sign Bumgarner, so very good news. In fairness though, Melancon has been pitching pretty well during the streak, and he will be missed in the bullpen.

Giants also trade Drew Pomeranz and a minor leaguer to the Brewers for Mauricio Dubon. It was rumored that the deal would be Will Smith for Dubon, so this is good news for fans who still think they can win this year. The Giants pick up a probable replacement for Joe Panik's awful hitting at second base, and they didn't give up much, although again, Pomeranz has been pretty good out of the pen during the streak. Zaidi doing what he needs to do, trading older pitchers for a younger hitter.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 2:05 pm
by droop10
Phalanx wrote:Bahaha! I made a comment above a few weeks ago that the Braves should take Mark Melancon instead of Bumgarner and Smith. Now it is being reported that that's exactly what they did. The details on that trade are not out yet, but even if the Giants get nothing back, it's a salary dump that might enable the Giants to re-sign Bumgarner, so very good news. In fairness though, Melancon has been pitching pretty well during the streak, and he will be missed in the bullpen.

Giants also trade Drew Pomeranz and a minor leaguer to the Brewers for Mauricio Dubon. It was rumored that the deal would be Will Smith for Dubon, so this is good news for fans who still think they can win this year. The Giants pick up a probable replacement for Joe Panik's awful hitting at second base, and they didn't give up much, although again, Pomeranz has been pretty good out of the pen during the streak. Zaidi doing what he needs to do, trading older pitchers for a younger hitter.
Braves were desperate for bullpen help. I don't mind Melancon, if he stays healthy and returns to form. He's an upgrade, and the Braves didn't give up too much for him. Giants did well getting Dubon. I still think they made a mistake not trading Bumgarner and Smith, as I still find it highly unlikely they reach the playoffs, but if they are able to resign Bumgarner, it's not a complete loss.

Re: 2019 Watch out for the Giants

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:08 pm
by Phalanx
droop10 wrote: Braves were desperate for bullpen help. I don't mind Melancon, if he stays healthy and returns to form. He's an upgrade, and the Braves didn't give up too much for him. Giants did well getting Dubon. I still think they made a mistake not trading Bumgarner and Smith, as I still find it highly unlikely they reach the playoffs, but if they are able to resign Bumgarner, it's not a complete loss.
34-year old Melancon is owed something like $18 million through next year, and it sounds like the Braves took on the whole salary. I'm glad if Atlanta fans are happy with the trade; meanwhile Giants fans are ecstatic. The fact that anything came back at all is just icing on the cake, but Tristan Beck seems like a genuine prospect.

I was surprised that Smith didn't get traded, but Zaidi appears to be walking a tightrope between winning now and stocking prospects for the future, of which he acquired several today. I agree that the likelihood of making the playoffs this year is not great, but it is possible that Dubon or Scooter Gennett could do an Alex Dickerson and replace Panik's awful production with some hot hitting. Anyway, that's what makes this year fun: they weren't supposed to be in contention at all, and yet here they are, only 2 games back for a playoff spot in August.