Expectations might be Giant's Biggest Weakness
Aside from their mediocre starting pitching, anaemic offense and patchy defense, the Giants are suffering above all from the weight of inflated expectations.
When GM Brian Sabean famously referred to some of his teams' critics as a "lunatic fringe" somehow, in the shuffle, the point of their complaint was missed. It is becoming clearer (despite an improving string of results) that they were at least voicing a legitimate gripe: Without the addition of a big bat, otherwise known as Vladimir Guerrero, the Giants could not realistically hope to contend during--and certainly not beyond--the regular season.
Sadly, additions were never in the pipeline, because of that perennial spanner in the works: Payroll. The Giants roster ($82m) is already among the most expensive in the majors. Yet this has little to do with talent, and more with desparation. On the heels of the heartbreaking loss to the Angels in 2002, mistakes were made.
Now the Giant's hands are well and truly tied, as they have been for a while. This is because the decisions Sabean and co. made in the fall of 2002 were predicated on the belief that the Giant's were already strong enough to contend in 2003-4 with only the addition of a few veterans to play key roles. For the most part this worked in 2003, but not without consequences.
Unfortunately, this premise was false, and the repercussions dire. It all started with the run to the World Series: timing their form to perfection, the Giants pleasantly over-achieved in 2002. The assets of this team were then dealt--out of complacency, not thrift. The club lost Jeff Kent, David Bell, Reggie Sanders and Jay Witascik among others to free agency; Traded Russ Ortiz for Damian Moss, and donated Livan Hernandez for a reliever to be named Jim Brower. After being forced to let go Ortiz because of his $5m salary, the Giants promptly offered Kirk Reuter a three year $16m extension. Still believing that they could contend in 2003 the Giants added Neifi Perez, Ray Durham and Edgardo Alfonzo at the horrendous price of $16.5 per year.
Because of this, the payroll on opening day 2003 was the same as it had been in 2002. The team was decidly worse, and only the weakest of divisions--and some promising starting pitching--allowed the weakness to go unexposed. In July 2003, at a premium, the Giants bribed Sidney Ponson temporarily from Baltimore, and in the fall the last drop of young blood was squeezed from the system (Joe Nathan et al) in the acqusition of A.J.Pierskyni.
Meanwhile, off the field the greatness of Barry Bonds has also led to inflated expectations. Most fans--especially Giants fans--don't seem to realize that it takes more than the second best player ever to win it all. They don't understand that there's a reason why teams can't win every year. But the organization has neglected the areas that need the most attention. Now, with a lack of depth in the starting rotation, the offense and the farm system, the Giants are might be in the worst shape since Bonds came here in 1992.
Adding ($18m) Insult to Injury
With Ray "How's my Hamstring?" Durham making his fourth trip to the DL in the past two seasons, the Giants now have a tidy 30% of their payroll twiddling their proverbial thumbs. The $9m man, Rob Nenn may never pitch again. J.T.Snow, of course, should never play again—-at least not outside Fresno.
One the one hand it's comforting to see the Giant's division rivals up in smoke. Take Richie Sexson for example, out for the season, and probably Arizona too. Before the season started, Arizona were considered by many as the dark horse of the division. Los Angeles' offense has been strained once again by Shawn Green's dodgy shoulder. San Diego lost their prize free agent signing--and ace--David Wells, for a month. The plaudits however must go to the Giants, for whom it will take more than a few domestic incidents with barstools to trump their collection of limping misfits.
Since the management shelled out a princely sum of $7.2m per year for his services, Ray Durham has missed more than eight times as many games (80) as he has stolen bases (9); At present, Barry Bonds leads the team with three thefts (as well as every other feasible category). When Durham returns for another spell, Felipe Alou would do well to put him in the No. 5 slot. As well as stealing only nine bases since he became a Giant, he has also been caught precisely nine times. With 30 doubles in 410 ABs last year, it's clear he'd better placed driving runs than in getting on base.
As for the lead-off role, who knows, but it's gotta be someone other than Neifi Perez with his on base percentage of 0.260. With Perez's salary ($2.75m) Brian Sabean could buy himself a whole team of Khalil Greenes.
A Dirty Job: and Pedro's gotta do it
Not only are our memories short. They are selective too. So it is that Pedro Feliz is the Giant's new pin-up, leading the team with 27 RBIs and showing decent pop with 8 HRs. He also has a team-leading three sons.
The case for the hybrid first-third baseman follows that what separates Feliz from becoming a legitimate power hitter is experience, namely 450 plus ABs in a season. Last year, with him belting 16 Home Runs in 249 Plate Appearances, the leadership resolved to give him his chance. The twist is that he has found himself batting in the No. 5 slot, behind the fellow who happens to get on base around two times out of three.
Unfortunately for the Giants and Feliz, 27 RBIs is merely average for a guy who gets as many opportunities as he does. He has appeared at the plate with runners on base around half the time (46%), and in scoring position about a third (30%). Of his 8 home runs, a grand total of one has driven in Bonds; in games where he has homered, the Giants are 3-5. For those in the jury still out, another look at the numbers might put to rest any rumor that this is THE guy for the clean-up-clean-up role.
* Feliz has grounded into a ML highest 7 double plays--4 of them
with the bases loaded.
* He is batting 0.210 (12 for 57) with Runners in Scoring Position.
* Swing Selection: Averaging just 2.86 pitches per at bat, Feliz's bat ranks
among the most hot-handed in the majors.
* Thus far this season, Feliz has two walks. Bonds averages two walks per game.
* He has struck out 34 times, a K/BB ratio of 17.
At this rate, he's on course for 130 strikeouts vs. 10 walks. Oh dear.
Contrary to popular opinion (aka Mike Krukow) Feliz is decidedly not the plug for the Giants leaky offense. Bonds needs the protection of an elite hitter, one who is able to work counts, hit the ball to all fields and above all, capitalize on pitchers mistakes. All too often Feliz's inexperience, even ineptitude, at the plate will cost the team outs, particularly against the better pitchers who will pitch to him on their own terms. They know Pedro will come out--indeed strikeout--swinging. In short, he is not displaying any sign of evolving into what the Giants need him to be: A clutch hitter with pop. For that, Felipe Alou would much have someone like his son, Moises, in the lineup.
