The Orange and Black Attack

[Giants_Repeat_2012]

San Francisco- The San Francisco Giants won their second World Series title in just three years last season, and there is plenty of optimism for the 2013 season as well.

The Giants were not without distractions on their way to the title, either. First, they dealt with the news that relief pitcher Guillermo Mota was suspended for 100 games for his second violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Then, in mid-August, the "Melk Man" left fielder Melky Cabrera was also suspended, this time for 50 games for elevated levels of testosterone.

Seemingly undaunted, the Giants marched on, capturing the NL West Division title, then storming their way through the playoffs detroying the Detroit Tigers in four straight to capture the World Series championship.


As the winter months rolled on it looked like the Giants were going to just take care of their own, re-signing top contributors from last year. Then in the middle of February Giants president Phil Nukom and GM Brian Sabean surprised everyone with a series of acquisitions. Instead of signing Andres Torres which looked likely, they signed another speed-and-defense player—to compete for playing time in left field with the speedy Gregor Blanco, Hairston who with his 20 homers has more power (and more speed and pateince), was inked.

Sabean hinted at the need to sign a free agent pitcher with starting experience to be the long reliever. A sixth starter in case of injury was a priority. A sound strategy for the Giants.

Jair Jurrjens, the best candidate for the role, was signed to a two year deal.


Just eleven days after the Jurrjens deal Sabean announced the biggest off season deal--- by ANY team.
For a team that’s hit only 22 home runs at home all season, adding a guy capable of jacking four dingers in a single game made some serious sense to the Giants front office. After losing their all star game MVP the San Francisco Giants thanks to two world series crowns, and of course all of those panda hats, 12 dollar garlic fries, posey bobble heads. and Brandon Belt Giraffe hats, were able to sign Left fielder Josh Hamilton to a sever year deal worth north of 120 million.


Buster Olney had this to say about the deal:

Quote:

After all, we all remember how in elementary school, when another kid in class got a cool toy, we wanted one too. Well, professional baseball is not kindergarten, but the Giants would certainly be embodied the “you have one, I want one” mindset when they signed Josh Hamilton to offset their rival’s acquisitions of Hansley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford this season.

So, Here's how the Giants shape up entering the 2013 season.




Key Arrivals : IF Tony Abreu - Waivers (KC); OF Scott Hairston and Josh Hamilton

Key Departures: C Eli Whiteside - Waivers (NYY); 1B/OF Xavier Nady - Free Agent (KC); OF Melky Cabrera - Free Agent (TOR).



Projected Rotation (per official site)

1. Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79 ERA, 1.040 WHIP)
2. Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37, 1.114)
3. Tim Lincecum (10-15, 5.18, 1.468)
4. Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37, 1.228)
5. Barry Zito (15-8, 4.15, 1.389)



Projected Starters

C: Posey (.336/.408/.549)

1B: Brandon Belt (.275/.360/.421)


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Second baseman Marco Scutaro returns to hopefull deliver more magic for the Giants in 2013.
2B: Scutaro (.362/.385/.473)*

3B: Pablo Sandoval (.283/.342/.447)

SS: Brandon Crawford (.248/.304/.349)

LF: Josh Hamilton (.285/43 HR/ 165 RBI's)

CF: Angel Pagan (.288/.338/.440)

RF: Hunter Pence (.219/.287/.384)*

*- Numbers with Giants.



Bullpen

Closer: Sergio Romo (R) (4-2, 14 SV, 23 HLD, 1 BLSV, 1.79 ERA, 0.85 WHIP)

Javier Lopez (L) (3-0, 7 SV, 18 HLD, 2 BLSV, 2.50, 1.42)

Jeremy Affeldt (L) (1-2, 2 SV, 16 HLD, 1 BLSV, 2.70, 1.26)

Santiago Casilla (R) (7-6, 25 SV, 12 HLD, 6 BLSV, 2.84, 1.22)

Jose Mijares (L) (1-0, 7 HLD, 2.55, 1.25)

George Kontos (R) (2-1, 5 HLD, 1 BLSV, 2.47, 1.05)

Jair Jurrjens (R)


Scouting the Starting Pitching

The Giants sported the fifth-best ERA (3.73) from their starters in the National League last season. Lincecum's sub-par season helped elevate what had been the second-best rotation in 2011.

Cain clearly stepped up and took the reins as the ace, throwing the 22nd perfect game in MLB history along the way. At just 28 years of age there's no reason to think that Cain can't continue as one of the dominant right-handers in the National League.


Bumgarner is also maturing into an elite starter, significantly lowering his H/9 rate and WHIP last year, showing solid command of his secondary pitches and getting increasingly tougher against left-handed hitters (.208 BAA last year).

And lets not forget...

Lincecum who is itching to put last year behind him and move forward in a positive direction.

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The newly acquired star outfielder Josh Hamilton sits down for his first press conference.



He took quite a bit of heat from many Bay Area sport pundits who are uneasy about the hyped fanfare and lofty expectations.

Fritz, with KNBR laid down the gauntlet, asking Hamilton if his age warrants such a lucrative deal? Hamilton, Fritz explained, will turn 32 next May and has missed at least 29 games in four of his six Major League seasons. The wear-and-tear on his body from years of physical and mental abuse goes far beyond anything that he can do to himself on the field.


Another reporter was quoted declaring the move a mistake and asking Josh if he really thought he could live up to the expectations.

Quote:

The Giants are simply spending a significant amount of money on you, and you have to agree you are a player with a significant injury history right?

Hamilton ignored that one...

Jason Swartz with the LA Times pressed the slugger about the disadvantages the ballpark poses:

Quote:

AT&T Park has one of the biggest outfields in all of baseball. How does this reality affect your mindset

Josh Hamilton responded with ease:

Quote:

I love this park. Can't wait to hit a few in the glove in Left/Center. Play a little target practice.

[Giants_Repeat_2012]

With less than two weeks before spring training takes off, one of the more interesting stories comes out of the Houston area. The story is still developing.


The Area scout for the San Francisco giants who made the discovery, Josh Barry

Mitch Mcdeer reports:

San Francisco — The Giants have evidently signed an unknown prospect by the name of Michael Johnson who is from the small town of Santa Fe Texas. Little is know about the 18 year old high school graduate. No where can we find a stat sheet on the kid, much less a scouting report. If I was crazy I'd conclude the youngster has never played organized ball.
We will bring you news as we get it. Our affilliates in the Santa fe area are at this moment seeking out any information they can get.

[Giants_Repeat_2012]

Santa Fe--
Who is This Kid?
By Mitch Mcdeer

Soft-spoken but jovial, a confessed prankster who seemingly always sports a bright smile, Johnson is not consumed by a burning desire to stick it to all of the college coaches and pro scouts who overlooked him coming out of Santa Fe's Telecommunications High a years ago.
It took the San Francisco Chronicle a flight out to Santa Fe Texas to even figure out he did in fact play high school baseball.

This isn't to downplay Johnson's drive. Since arriving at Long Island as a skinny, 140-pound freshman, he has added 54 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame. Through unwavering dedication to his own private strength and conditioning program and a rigorous long-tossing regimen with his father, the lefthander has increased his fastball velocity from the 84-88 mph range out of high school to 91-94 (with no reason to think the 19 yr old has peaked)
It wasnt until early last week that San Francisco area scout Josh Barry paid the small town kid a visit and clocked the fastball for himself.

Quote:

"I've never really experienced that before, especially the [radar] gun behind the plate," Johnson said. "That was the first time scout ever showed interest in me. It was kind of an adjustment."

The Giants scout was turned on to Michael by his high school coach Eddie D'Alessio, a key member of St. John's 1978 College World Series team. Eddie has been quoted in local papers for years predicting his young pitcher as the games next REAL hidden gem. Not a guy who went to USC, then went undrafted, and was thus declared a treasure. This kid Johnson never even received a single scholarship by even Texas colleges and universities.

Quote:

"I didn't know how good he'd wind up being, but I knew he was a special player,

"


Neither strength nor experience arrived while Johnson was in his early years in high school. He finished his Fresh, soph and junior prep career with 80 innings under his belt, including 22 as a closer, which was hampered by a fractured bone in his foot.


Not surprisingly, he went undrafted in 2012. Much more surprisingly, he went nearly unrecruited by college coaches.

Quote:

"Only Stony Brook called for a visit"

The San Francisco Giants have offered him a generous deal. The particulars coming soon. The deal is reported to get done before the Richmond Flying Squirrels enter their regular season opener in less than a week.

[Giants_Repeat_2012]

Spring Report Card


San Francisco-- The San Francisco Giants began spring training with the aim of defending their World Series crown.

Manager Bruce Bochy on what spring training is:

Quote:

Its is a time for veterans to get themselves ready for the long grind of a 162-game season. It is also a time for young players to try to impress and catch the eye of their manager. Many players are also fighting for their jobs, as they try to make the big league roster.

Spring training always results in a few surprises, both good and bad. Let's take a look at some of the biggest surprises thus far and give notice to two players outside the organization who were this Spring's biggest producers.