We've been east all week and pretty much braving the world without Internet access. All week, we've been reading the occasional newspaper and gotten the occasional glance at ESPN and have searched desperately to see if there was news, any news, about the Giants as they bravely sail the free agent seas. We didn't see anything. Instead, we saw one not-so-great free agent after another get signed by teams that were definitely not the Giants. Finally, once back in somewhat civilized climes (Philly) we checked on the latest word on the Orange & Black and saw that the Giants have been busy signing free agents-- Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia (Richie!). Also supposedly on their way to San Francisco: Mark Loretta and right-hander David Weathers (no relation to Carl Weathers). In other words, wha?
Roberts has achieved God-head status in New England as the man who started the 'Sox rally during the '04 playoffs against the Yankees and gets a little love from stat-heads for his decent OBP and speed. Whatever. If he's so good, why is it he goes from team to team to team every year? We see him as just a glorified Calvin Murray and we all know how great that worked out. As for Richie, we loved the dude (he was our favorite Giant during the glory years) and he plays a multitude of positions but he doesn't exactly make our heart go pitter-patter in non-nostalgic ways. Loretta is one of those guys who puts up decent numbers and plays a decent game and could be a decent pickup except for the fact he had a crummy season last year. He is also 35.
If Loretta is signed and Richie is signed, that'll mean the end of Ray Durham and probably Pedro Feliz as Richie would play third and Loretta second. Your infield would now be Question Mark, Loretta, Omar, and Richie. That's a halfway decent D but not such a great O although Question Mark is known for being a little slow to the bag.
There seems to be two keys here-- money and speed. We would say that this is showing an unusual and strangely timed move towards thriftiness if it weren't for the fact that Giants were pretty much always the bridesmaid and never the bride for all of the big free agent signees-- Juan Pierre, Gary Matthews Jr., Carlos Lee, and Alfonso Soriano. The signing of Roberts and the others are suggesting that Sabean is looking for speed and defense to go with the team's one good strength, that being young pitching.
Of course, there's some good in there. The free agent class this year has been underwhelming. The only team changers out there are pretty much Soriano, Zito and Schmidt and it's questionable about Soriano and Schmidt. By not signing anyone for gob-loads of cash, the Giants might have improved in some ways. This might not satisfy those of us who want them to do something, anything this off season to look halfway decent next year but there's a truth to the idea of winning for losing. This is why the Giants' bloggers are okay with everything.
Still, the question is who is going to drive in the runs. Right now, this offense looks anemic to say the least. And if you're thinking bring on Barry Lamar you would be half-right. This is where things get whacky because rumors are afloat that the Giants are talking to the Red Sox about trading for Manny "Manny Being Manny" Ramirez. We don't believe a word of it (he costs too much, the Sox are asking for too much, and he's demanding too much) but it's still fun to dream about. Manny has a career average of .314 and has swatted at least 33 home runs with at least 102 RBIs in each of the last nine seasons. He's also a total flake which would make him feel right at him here. While the rumor is pretty juicy, we just think it's the ole "flirt with somebody else to make someone jealous" trick to get Barry's contract demand down.
We're just thinking this won't happen. We're just thinking it'll be Bonds and probably Sexton or Burrell and another season lolling around .500.
Bleah.
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RE: Loretta -- didn't have a "crummy" season, hit well and made the AL All Star team. Good guy to have, played some first as well. Not the greatest range and plays smart.