http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...1/25/GIANTS.TMP

 

Rich Aurilia is one of my favorite Giants of all time, so I am glad to see him back... Dave Roberts seems to be what is left over of the failed attempts at Gary Matthews and Juan Pierre. I'm not crazy about it, but he seemed to play his butt off for Bochy and did well, so I'm hoping he gives the Giants the same production.

 

Having said that, I thought the Giants were trying to go young. Both Aurilia and Roberts are 35. I'm OK with these signings as long as it means that they give guys like Todd Linden and/or Kevin Frandsen a shot. I don't know about Frandsen, because this article also makes it seem like they are close to signing Mark Loretta. If that's the case, I see an infield of Aurilia(3b), Vizquel(SS), Loretta(2b), and possibly Lance Niekro(1b). I really want to see Frandsen get the 2b job though.... And I have no idea what the Giants plans are for 1b though. I was kinda hoping Sean Casey would still be available, but that's not gonna happen.... Should be interesting.

 

Rotoworld also has the Giants talking to David Weathers and Joe Borowski. Doesn't seem like the cream of the crop as far as relief pitchers go, but a step up from what we had last year.

 

Anyways, thought I'd share....

Damnit. He was the #1 candidate on my list.

The Giants are going to be in trouble this year.

God, the Giants are so old.

God, the Giants are so old.

 

That's what has me a bit worried. After the failure the last couple of years with a bunch of old guys, the Giants front office has admitted that having a bunch of veterans isn't the way to go. When these two signings are finalized, the only starters they'll have signed through 2007 are Omar Vizquel, Randy Winn, Rich Aurilia, and Dave Roberts... They need to have Todd Linden in the outfield and Kevin Frandsen at 2b to have some sort of balance. Even if they sign Mark Loretta... First base is still very open, but I'd like to see Lance Niekro there.. or maybe give Travis Ishikawa or Chad Santos a chance there..

 

The pitching is already young with Matt Cain, Noah Lowry, and most likely Jonathan Sanchez in the rotation.

Aurilia will be a major bust in San Fran.

Aurilia will be a major bust in San Fran.

 

I don't know about that... His best years were in San Fran. If we bring Bonds back and have Richie hitting 3rd with Bonds 4th, it may work. Or maybe the Giants have another big bat they're looking at via trade, they can put behind him... Who knows. I'm just happy he's back in a Giants uni.

I might have read this wrong but did you guys say you wanted Aurilia to be our CF?

 

 

 

This signing is typical giants. this team is going nowhere fast. Atleast they only spent 3 mil a year on him.

Aurilia will be a major bust in San Fran.

 

I don't know about that... His best years were in San Fran. If we bring Bonds back and have Richie hitting 3rd with Bonds 4th, it may work. Or maybe the Giants have another big bat they're looking at via trade, they can put behind him... Who knows. I'm just happy he's back in a Giants uni.

Watch how far his numbers fall when he leaves GABP. If you expect him to bat 3rd, then it will be along year for the Giants.

Aurilia will be a major bust in San Fran.

 

I don't know about that... His best years were in San Fran. If we bring Bonds back and have Richie hitting 3rd with Bonds 4th, it may work. Or maybe the Giants have another big bat they're looking at via trade, they can put behind him... Who knows. I'm just happy he's back in a Giants uni.

Watch how far his numbers fall when he leaves GABP. If you expect him to bat 3rd, then it will be along year for the Giants.

 

It's gonna be a long year regardless. The only names I hear the Giants currently close to signing are Mark Loretta, Dave Weathers, and Gregg Zaun.. Aside from Aurilia and Roberts... I'm not expecting a championship here. I'm being realistic. But from just being a Giants fan, I'm glad Rich is back where he belongs. Batting him 3rd, with Barry behind him, may bring back some flashbacks of 2001.

I might have read this wrong but did you guys say you wanted Aurilia to be our CF?

Naw, David Roberts.

 

The Giants are headed towards a nice implosion in a couple of years.

goood to know they are still holding on strong to that "youth movement"

Giants are old, and not doing much for the future.

With the Giants "whiffing" on JP and Matthews (although, I can't believe they were ever going to pony up that kind of money for either of them anyway), the likelihod that Schmidt is a goner, and these signings....I gotta believe the Giants will 100% bring Bonds back. I know there has been a lot of discussion about Bonds leaving, but I can't see the Giants pretty much doing nothing in the off-season but add cheap stop-gaps, and then refusing to sign BBonds because he is 1) too expensive and 2) doesn't fit into their long-term plans. The Giants would never be able to explain that to their fanbase. JMHO.

With the Giants "whiffing" on JP and Matthews (although, I can't believe they were ever going to pony up that kind of money for either of them anyway), the likelihod that Schmidt is a goner, and these signings....I gotta believe the Giants will 100% bring Bonds back. I know there has been a lot of discussion about Bonds leaving, but I can't see the Giants pretty much doing nothing in the off-season but add cheap stop-gaps, and then refusing to sign BBonds because he is 1) too expensive and 2) doesn't fit into their long-term plans. The Giants would never be able to explain that to their fanbase. JMHO.

 

Yeah, I think you're 100% right. Had they signed Carlos Lee (they offered him more money than Houston apparently) or Alfonso Soriano, then maybe they could have let him go. But I'm already planning on seeing Barry in LF next season for los Gigantes... I hope the Marlins have a good season, cause it's gonna be a long one for me and my fellow Giants fans....

 

Although, I just read this.. Giants interested in Manny Ramirez??

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...1/27/GIANTS.TMP