This whole saga with Manny brings to the surface the same infuriating b.s. double-talk that we’ve seen from Sabean and the front office over the last 4-5 offseasons.

I was listening to The Razor and Mr. T on Friday, and about halfway through an interview when the conversation turns to the Manny negotations, Barbieri (whose voice is like nails on chalk, but who has some great perspectives) dropped some real knowledge.  When push comes to shove, the Giants don’t spend money.  He says:

“They don’t want to spend the money.  They pissed away that horrendous amount on Zito.  Rowand is overpaid.  Renteria is overpaid.  Roberts for $21-million for 3 years.  The problem is with the money.  Say ‘I want to win, but I want to win within certain financial parameters.’”

But the Giants don’t admit that they don’t want to spend money.  Over the last 4-5 years, the front office has pulled every slight of hand possible to dupe fans into believing that they were making every effort to field the greatest talent.  They glorify players that are so-so (i.e., Rowand being paraded around as an “All-Star candidate” last season).  They offer up platitudes about fan loyalty.  They even pretend to be involved in these Manny negotiations.  But the fact is that the Giants are a major market, high- attendance team that acts like Kansas City or Pittsburgh when it comes to pursuing talent in the offeason.  They do some superficial arm-waving about big acquisitions, misfire on the big moves, then use the payroll as the excuse for why their hands are tied.  It’s really pathetic.

Back in December, Merc reporter Andrew Baggarly talked about a session with an irate Brian Sabean, who was hypersensitive about the perception that the Giants had whiffed on picking up CC Sabathia.  Quoting Sabean from that session:

“Yeah, but you created that perception. The press created that perception. I didn’t. When did we say we were going after Sabathia? When did we say we were going to make an offer? When did we say we were going to give him $100 million or $160 million? That’s your problem. You created it. So because you created it, and it’s in my lap, now you’re right. Now I’ve got to respond to the fans. That’s what’s wrong with the process. And when I say you, (I mean) the business you’re in.”

In my view as a Giants fan, the GM of a major market team with high attendance should have his head held to the fire any time a big free agent acquisition is whiffed on, regardless of whether the Giants intended to pursue them or not.  How dare a Giants beat reporter simply voice the obvious desires of the fan base that the Giants pursue big name free agents.  Huh?

I don’t pretend to fully understand the arbitration process in MLB, but it is shocking that Lincecum signed a one-year, $650,000 contract the season after winning the Cy Young.  Meanwhile, Manny and Bor-ass continue to torment Frank McCourt and the Dodgers by spiking their latest offer.  According to the L.A. Times, in this new offer, Manny would get $25-mil in the first year (making him the second highest paid player in baseball) and $20-mil in the second year (with the option of terminating after the first year).  In the same story, Bill Plaschke pulls this quote from McCourt in the latest Dodgers press release:  “We love Manny Ramirez.  And we want Manny back, but we feel we are negotiating against ourselves.”  Part of me is disgusted by Manny’s stupidity and greed.  The other part of me is delighted that it’s happening to the Dodgers.  Nothing would make me happier than seeing L.A. further juice up that contract, then have Manny have the worst season of his career.  Unfortunately, it is more likely that Manny will have another monster year.

Even without Fred Lewis in the lineup yesterday I really enjoyed seeing how the new speed can create runs in this lineup.  In the fifth inning, Burris hit what would have been a single for 90% of other players but stretched it out into a double.  A groundout to second moved him to third, and then a groundout to first scored him.  Seeing the Giants get a run with only one hit is something that’s been foreign to fans over the last few years.  I think we’re looking at a *much* better offense this year … We know that Travis Ishikawa isn’t going to be having too many multi-homerun games in the regular season, but it was great to see the power yesterday.  I feel a lot better about having a young guy like this at 1B than dinosaurs like Klesko or Aurilia, and that swing looked sweet yesterday … Lowry’s elbow is apparently still on the skids so it looks like Sanchez has the edge on the number five spot … And somehow I missed this great New York Times article from a couple of days ago about Randy Johnson’s career and reputation.

Two bombs in first Spring Training game.  Not cheap ones either.  I know, I know – Spring Training has nothing to do with the regular season.  But nice to see that kind of power coming out of a Giants first baseman.  Hopefully a sign of things to come.

In their first game of Spring Training today (just underway), the Giants’ batting order (with top of 1st AB results in parenthesis) appears pretty close to what I’d imagine it being on opening day.  What an improvement over last season’s offense.

1. Winn – RF (popped out to shallow outfield)
2. Renteria – SS (doubled to opposite field)
3. Sandoval -3B (base hit, advancing Renteria to 3rd)
4. Molina – C (popped out to shallow outfield)
5. Ishikawa – 1B (base hit, Renteria comes in as first run of Giants Spring Training)
6. Rowand – CF (strikeout)
7. Schierholz – LF
8. Burris – 2B
9. Uribe (DH)

Schierholz, of course, will be replaced by Fred Lewis (who did not make the trip).

When I look at this year’s lineup versus last year’s …

1. Dave Roberts – LF
2. Rich Aurilia – 1B
3. Randy Winn – RF
4. Bengie Molina – C
5. Ray Durham – 2B
6. Aaron Rowand – CF
7. Luis Castillo – 3B
8. Brian Bocock – SS
9. Barry Zito – P

… there just seems to be so much more upside on these players.

I’ve participated in fantasy sports leagues for the last 10 years (football and baseball) and I usually finish in the middle of the pack or near the bottom.  Why?  Because on draft day I go with my heart instead of my brain.  I like to draft players on my teams because I know how often I’ll be watching those games.  It’s not a good formula for success – especially over the last five years, between the Giants, 49ers and Warriors.

But even I’ve been savvy enough to know that you don’t draft Giants offensive players.  I didn’t draft one last year or the year before – and I’m definitely not going to this year (except maybe Molina).  Now starting pitching, on the other hand – obviously Lincecum is a first or second round pick, and Cain (and even maybe Randy Johnson) are worth taking a look at.  I’m not a Wilson fan.  His WHIP and ERA are way too high, and despite the high save total last season he just isn’t even remotely an elite closer.

But for three seasons in a row not to have a single offensive player that’s worthy of being drafted in a 10- team league?  That’s sad!

There are a few Giants that are on my “bubble” for players I might pick up if they are still avaialble in the very latest rounds of the draft:

Fred Lewis – I like Lewis a lot, and think he has great upside.  But his power numbers (9 HR, 40 RBI) just aren’t very intriguing on a fantasy roster.

Randy Winn – Randy Winn is probably my favorite Giants hitter these days.  I think he’s the toughest out on the team, and there’s no other Giant I’d rather have up in a clutch situation.  But again, the power numbers just aren’t there (10 HR, 64 RBI).

Bengie Molina – The Mole is a middle of the road catcher in fantasy baseball.  His numbers last year were great (.292, 16 HR, 95 RBI).  If he’s still around in the late rounds, I might pick him up.

Bay City Ball ran some interesting “Wins Above Replacement” analysis on NL West pitching that shows the D’Backs starting rotation slightly edging the Giants (I think the Giants are much stronger in the #3 and #4 spots so I was surprised).  Not surprisingly, the analysis predicts the Giants bullpen finishing at the bottom … Meanwhile over at McCovey Chronicles, they’re mulling over Sergio Romo’s PECOTA comparison to Keith Foulke, John Wetteland and Jeff Reardon, so that’s another cerebral stats discussion if you are so inclined … At SF Gate, Henry Schulman reports Omar Vizquel’s criticism that Bruce Bochy was too conservative a manager for his liking (how a guy who batted .222 last season and looked like Baryshnikov at the plate can criticize a manager’s offensive moves is beyond me) … I enjoyed Bleacher Report’s “Scottsdale Spring Training:  San Francisco Giants Fan Guide” and would highly recommend it to any would-be Giants spring training vacation planner … and Andrew Baggarly at the SJ Merc recalls Bowker’s hot start that fizzled with the Giants last year and wonders if the young SS will get it back.

For the last four years the Giants have fielded a weak product.  With the exception of Lincecum, the team has been mediocre, and frankly, just not very interesting (especially offensively).  I don’t know if it’s just irrational hope, but it feels like a more competitive team taking shape.  And there’s no doubt that there are a lot more compelling storylines to follow as a fan.

Here are some of the most intriguing events / storylines that I’m looking forward to in this 2009 Giants season:

Jeremy Affeldt in.  Tyler Walker out. I’m just excited to see a new face in the bullpen.  Every time the Tyler Walker came in huffing and puffing, we’d hear Krukow’s “he’s a gamer” bravado, but that guy was just flat-out not a competitor.  Affeldt is a big lefty who had a lot more K’s than walks last year and who can chew up a lot of innings.  The bullpen was a real source of frustration last season, so it’s nice to have some fresh blood in there (and a guy who appears to have some upside).  I can’t wait to see what this guy can do.

Will this be the year that Matt Cain steps up? I keep waiting for Cain to have his big season.  He’s got potentially dominating stuff, but just hasn’t been able to put it all together.  Everybody points to his hard luck with run support, and there’s no doubt he should have racked up more wins over the last couple of years with his ERA hovering around 3.50.  But it’s just sort of surprising this guy hasn’t had 200 strikeouts any of the past three seasons, with the stuff he’s got.  And he seems to get touched up late in his starts too often.  I think / hope this is the year that something clicks in his head and he puts it all together.  He’s got awesome stuff and you can tell he’s a big time competitor.

Is Pablo Sandoval for real? How do you know what to expect from Pablo Sandoval?  A terrific showing in 145 ABs is enough to earn a starting spot the next season, but it’s anybody’s guess what this guy’s production is going to be through the full course of a season.

Barry Zito can only get better. There’s no doubt that Zito lost “it” when he came to San Francisco.  Nothing on those fastballs.  Struggling to find the strikezone.  When things get bad for Zito (which it does in most starts these days it seems), it goes really bad.  But I also felt like Zito was somewhat snakebitten last season.  Groundballs that could’ve been a foot to the right or the left and gone to a middle infielder for a double play seemed to find the outfield every single time.  Not only was Zito not pitching well, but he also wasn’t getting any breaks.  I don’t think it can get any worse for Zito.  And as much schadenfreude as there is around Zito’s suffering, I think Giants fan sentiment would turn around in an instant if he could get off to a decent start.  I’m certainly not counting on it, but it would be nice to see Zito get off to a decent start and get some confidence early in the season.

No more Omar ABs. I guess it’s sort of sacrilegious to say anything ill of Omar – the ultimate nice guy and beloved shortstop.  But watching his ABs in a Giants uniform was painful.  No matter how bad Renteria’s fielding might be by comparison, at least when he comes up in an RBI situation there is a reasonable chance he’s going to drive the ball somewhere.  Omar looked truly lost at the plate last season, and I’m just happy not to have to watch that trainwreck anymore.

Can Randy Johnson get on a roll? I can’t remember being more excited about a new Giants player.  Randy Johnson is such a freak of a nature and such a bizarre dude – he should be a constant source of entertainment.  I love seeing the guy throw.  He’s as competitive as they come, and he doesn’t put up with crap from anybody.  I heard Rex Hudler (Angels announcer) on Jim Rome the other day telling a story about Randy Johnson calling him a “puss” after he tried to lay down a bunt against the Big Unit.  The guy just has this total badass persona that’s both intimidating and hilarious.  I hope he gets win #300 at home.  If he gets on a roll it could light a real fire on this team.

No matter the outcome of the case, the Bonds story is over. I get the sense that whatever happens in this court ruling, the life has finally been sucked out of this story.  I’m feeling / hoping that it will just crawl into a hole and die in the very near future.

Lincecum! Based on last season, how nasty his stuff is and what a fierce competitor he is, it doesn’t seem absurd to imagine him becoming one of the greats.  Nothing is better than heading off to the ballpark on a night when Lincecum is throwing.

The NL West is weak, and the Giants can win it. The Dodgers by no means have any sort of foothold on that #1 spot this season.  Manny or not, their offense is more competent than the Giants offense.  And their bullpen is exceedingly better as well.  But their starting rotation doesn’t even belong in the same conversation as the Giants.  It’s even odds on a Giants / Dodgers series this season, IMO.  And nobody else in the division is looking very competitive this year.  It’s truly up for grabs.

I’m pretty disappointed that the Giants not only failed to connect with Orlando Hudson, but that he then landed with the Dodgers.  So the Dodgers fill out a solid middle infield with youth while the Giants are content to have an old guy at SS (Renteria) and a kid (Frandsen) at 2B who didn’t even see any action last season.  I’m getting off the Sabean hating pretty soon here because it’s just depressing and boring to talk about – but in a weak NL West and with the kind of starting pitching the Giants have, it could come down to the wire, and the Giants losing Hudson to the Dodgers could swing a few games.

Hopefully Frandsen will have a monster year and I’ll eat my words.

Man, how could I have forgotten / overlooked Sabean’s truly awful decision in ‘03 to trade Francisco Liriano and Joe Nathan for A.J. Pierzynski?  Maybe my subconscious shielded this horrible event from memory to protect me from the emotional trauma of reliving all these Sabean fumbles?

In any case, this one belongs somewhere in the top 3 of the list.  My apologies.

MLB Trade Rumors has some excellent analysis on the insanity of this Sabean “move.”