Positives and Negatives

Positives:

Tim Lincecum was named Pitcher of the Year by MLB.com. This doesn't come as much of a surprise after his winning of the Cy Young, but it is a nice addition to his growing list of accomplishments. He is gearing up for another great year but has not recieved the support needed to insure the Giants of a satisfactory season.

Negatives: 

Still nothing has happened since the move for Edgar Renteria. The Giants have half way improved there team, meaning the bullpen, but they haven't really improved there lineup at all. They really need another hitter if they want to contend at all next year.

At this point there really isn't much to say. We will have to wait and see what happens before I am able to talk anymore.

A Worthless Week

This was a disappointing week in the Giants organization. It wasn't so much that they weren't able to get C.C. Sabathia as that they said they would be fine if they weren't able to get another bat to add to their lineup. Bruce Bochy said that he and managment were okay with playing Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa on the corners at the start of the season. 

I am fine with Sandoval starting but Ishikawa is not a proven enough player, in my eyes, to be the opening day first baseman. He only has three homeruns in his 45 game career and that shows that he doesn't have much pop. A first baseman is known to hit balls out of the park. He is an above average fielder, but right now, hitting is what the Giants need. Ishikawa is not the answer. I know that the Giants are wanting to go young and I really want that to happen as well, but I don't see a future for Travis with the Giants. 

I think they need to acquire a third baseman. Sandoval will make a fine first baseman and the market looks bleak in that area anyway. Adam Dunn was the best option and he is getting old and we don't really need all the strike outs and poor fielding anyway. At third, we did lose the option of getting Casey Blake, but we can still get Joe Crede or Jorge Cantu. These guys would add some more power to the club and Crede is a solid defender as well. 

I think if the Giants want to have an even ok infield next year, there going to have to make another move before the season starts. It is unfortunate that the Giants are fine with what they have now. This just shows they don't have any real urge to win soon. One more is all it takes.

Two Moves In Two Days

This past week was a busy time for Brian Sabean. He made two aquisitions; one a pitcher and one a shortstop. Bob Howry and Edgar Renteria respectively. Both these moves were to fill holes that were needed to be filled. Sabean wants to go into the winter meetings without having to make too many moves. It is a lot harder to make moves when you have so many to make then when you only have to focus on one guy. Now he can focus on getting the big name pitcher or big name hitter in Las Vegas.

Neither of these guys particularly gets me excited, although Renteria does a little more because of all his hardware and his ability to hit in the N.L. Bob Howry is a pretty solid pitcher who has posted a 3.68ERA over his career, but he is coming off his worst season where posted a 5.35ERA. I haven't really liked either of the pitchers Sabean has gotten so far. He said he wants to make his bullpen more reliable but both of the pitchers he has acquired have been ok at best. Both pitchers have never really been big name guys and the both have had some bad seasons in the league. Right now I have more faith in the yoing guys then Affeldt and Howry. 

Edgar Renteria is coming off a poor season with the Tigers. Analysts have said he is looking past his prime. Two reason why I don't think he is are that he was in the American league last year and he is a way better National League hitter, and he was playing for a team that was terrible last year. Because the team was so bad, nobody really played at a high level. He has been to the All-Star game multiple years and has won a Golden Glove. And, if you think about it any upgrade hitting wise at the shortstop position would be an upgrade. Renteria certainly is that and more. He is a .290 lifetime hitter and hits 25-30 homeruns a year. 

In a way these moves may turn out better than people think at first look. This gives Sabean time to acquire a Sabathia or Randy Johnson instead of filling up his smaller holes. Jut think of our rotation if this happened.

1. Tim Lincecum

2. C.C. Sabathia

3. Matt Cain

4. Barry Zito

5. Noah Lowry

or

1. Tim Lincecum

2. Matt Cain

3. Randy Johnson

4. Barry Zito 

5. Noah Lowry

Those would be two unstoppable rotations. He also can make a trade to get his first/third baseman. Getting rid of Jonathon Sanchez could get him someone like Casey Blake, Joe Crede or Adam Dunn. I am looking forward to what gets done this week at the Winter Meetings. If any of things that I mentioned happen, then I think that Giants fans have a reason to hope for good things this coming season.