In case you missed them, here are some comments from local and national baseball writers and other members of the baseball community, about your San Francisco Giants during this 2009 season.
Sports Illustrated
In Praise of men who swing from their heels (and transform a franchise while they're at it)
Lee Jenkins
August 10, 2009
Pablo Sandoval has brought back an old-school approach to baseball not only on the field for the San Francisco Giants, but inside the clubhouse as well. The 22-year old 3rd Basemen is in the process of changing the way the Giants play on the field by swinging at every pitch thrown to him. He has also transformed the clubhouse culture, which was once described as "quiet" to now being described as a "1980's dance club." Complete Article available on Sports Illustrated.
New York Times
San Francisco Giants Take On a New Personality, and the N.L.
Billy Witz
August 2, 2009
The Giants are experiencing a change and Pablo Sandoval is a big reason for it. Throughout the 2009 season, San Francisco's pitching staff has been the most noteworthy news item. However, there's a new reason to start talking about the Giants and it's none other than a man that has been dubbed as the "Kung-Fu Panda." He has taken the city by storm and everyone is behind him. Complete article available on New York Times.
San Francisco Chronicle
Plenty to Love in Giants' August
Gwen Knapp
August 2, 2009
Not only are the Giants entertaining their fans with their wild card chase this August, the organization also knows how to entertain the masses in other ways. In just one night during the last home stand, the organization held a wedding between two fans (officiated by none other than broadcaster Mike Krukow), had over 650 dogs in attendance, and beat the defending champion Phillies by a score of 2-0 behind 2008 Cy Young award Winner Tim Lincecum. Complete article available on SFGate.
San Jose Mercury News
Giants say arms give them upper hand
February 9, 2009
"The Giants should have the upper hand (in the division) with their starting five, beginning with Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Newcomer Randy Johnson brings five more Cy Youngs, along with a quest for his 300th victory. Stalwart Matt Cain returns a year wiser, and there is reason to expect more from Barry Zito."- Andrew Baggarly
FanFest
Randy Johson
February 7, 2009
"(Living in Phoenix), I hear everybody every year talking about the (Arizona) Cardinals going to the Super Bowl. Look what happened this year. Let's go to Scottsdale and be optimistic. Maybe this is our year for the Giants. Why should that be so funny to say that?" - Randy Johson
FanFest
Randy Winn
February 7, 2009
"I believe this year is going to be a winning team. It would be a little different if I felt there was no cause for hope. As I look around at the guys in here, I think we're in a better position than we were last year to compete and win." - Randy Winn
ESPN.com
Buster Olney Blog
February 2, 2009
"The addition of Randy Johnson, Baer believes, could shore up the back end of the San Francisco rotation, which dragged down the team in 2008. The Giants struck quickly in the relief market and signed Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry, to shore up their bullpen, and they believe that shortstop Edgar Renteria will be in much better shape this year, and therefore a much better player. They've also got a full complement of outfielders, with Aaron Rowand set to be flanked by Randy Winn, Fred Lewis, Dave Roberts and others." - Buster Olney
ESPN.com
Chat Wrap with Jim Callis
February 4, 2009
Timmy L., San Francisco: Fact or Fiction? The Giants have the best top 4 prospects in baseball.
Jim Callis: Fact.
ESPN.com
Chat Wrap with Jim Callis
January 28, 2009
J.P. (Springfield, IL): After Price, who is the top pitcher in the minors in your eyes - Hanson or Feliz?
Jim Callis: Madison Bumgarner.
Baseball Prospectusm
Future Shock: Giants Top 11 prospects
By Kevin Goldstein
January 20, 2009
This is an up-and-coming system thanks to a new focus on the draft and what looks like a strong commitment to play with the big boys in the Latin American market. It's going to take some time, but all of the signs are pointing in the right direction.
BaseballAmerica.com
Chat Wrap with Jim Callis
January 16, 2009
Gary (Des Moines, Iowa): Hi, enjoy the chat. Is Madison Bumgarner the top pitching prospect in baseball? If not who is? Thank you.
Jim Callis: (1:59 PM ET ) David Price is the top pitching prospect in baseball, though he'll probably never see the minors again. If we're counting just minor leaguers, then yes, it's Bumgarner.
ESPN.com
By Jerry Crasnick
January 16, 2009
"After an improvement here and an upgrade there, the Giants are suddenly dark-horse candidates to make a run in the NL West." - Jerry Crasnick
"After years of building their club around Bonds, the Giants have cultivated a more sustainable long-term approach. Starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain give the team a young 1-2 punch worth envying, and the farm system is generating more respect now that the Giants have chosen to spend more money in the draft. The Giants have four monster prospects in first baseman Angel Villalona, catcher Buster Posey and pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson, and Baseball America rates San Francisco's minor league system as fifth-best in the game, matching the franchise's highest ranking since 1984." - Jerry Crasnick
Bay Bridge Baseball
A blog by Jeff Fletcher
January 15, 2009
"I think Cain will have a breakout year. I think Lincecum will be the same. I think Sanchez will pitch better." - Anonymous MLB Scout
ESPN.com
Jim Callis Chat
December 31, 2008
How would you rank the Top 5 Offensive Prospects for this upcoming season?
Jim Callis: The top five position-player prospects, for me, are Matt Wieters, Pedro Alvarez, Colby Rasmus, Buster Posey and Tim Beckham.
ESPN.com
Jim Callis Chat
January 7, 2009
Can you rank the 5 NL West farm systems?
Jim Callis : Sure. From best to worst: Giants, Rockies, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres. The Giants have an elite system, while all the rest are in the 20-30 range for me.
ESPN.com
Affeldt a smart signing for the Giants
By Keith Law
November 17, 2008
They (Giants) get one of the best free agent relievers on the market for a contract below the typical length for high-end relievers. Two years is nothing for a quality relief pitcher, not when most get three years and some (like Scott Linebrink last year, who isn't close to Affeldt in terms of stuff) get four. If Affeldt gets hurt, or regresses horribly, the commitment is short. It's absolute sanity.
And best of all, this signing doesn't cost the Giants a draft pick, as Affeldt was a Type B free agent. Cincinnati gets a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds, but the Giants lose nothing.
ESPN.com
Signings of Renteria a wise decision by the Giants
By Keith Law
December 4, 2009
The signing of Edgar Renteria makes the Giants more competitive in 2009 and probably 2010, but at no cost to the generally bright long-term picture in San Francisco. He doesn't cost them a draft pick and won't be blocking any major prospects. And if you believe that the Renteria of the last two months of the 2008 season, when he hit .299/.340/.493, is closer to his actual level of ability (as he showed up out of shape in spring training and wasn't really in shape until late July), then it's a minor bargain for the Giants.
GM Brian Sabean and his staff appear committed to a rebuilding project, and are working to fit short-term contention (or at least respectability) into the rebuilding plan...
ESPN.com
Big Unit will be big help to Giants
By Keith Law
December 27, 2009
With the signing of Randy Johnson to a one-year deal, the Giants made another move toward 2009 respectability, if not outright contention in a weak division, without doing any damage to their long-term rebuilding plan.
It gives the Giants one of the strongest rotations in the league, with the reigning Cy Young Award winner at the top in Tim Lincecum, a potential No. 1 starter in Matt Cain and a breakout candidate for 2009 in lefty Jonathan Sanchez.
FOXSPORTS.com
Rebuilding Giants heading in the right direction
By Dayn Perry
January 5, 2009
The San Francisco Giants are navigating treacherous shoals these days: they're trying to rebuild and contend at the same time.
Normally, this is an inadvisable tack. It's difficult to load the roster with talents ready to contribute now without trading away prospects, devoting too much of the organizational budget to the big-league club, blocking young players on the depth chart, or squandering compensatory draft picks. In the Giants' case, though, they're doing the right thing.
Thanks to the a farm system on the rise (prospects like Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval, Angel Villalona, Tim Alderson, Jose Casilla, and Conor Gillaspie are all worth watching) and an underwhelming National League West, the Giants are in just such a position. When your bar is set at, say, just 85 wins or so, then it's possible to win the flag while still tending to the future. The Giants might do just that in 2009.
The Giants' present rotation of Tim Lincecum (reigning NL Cy Young winner), Matt Cain (3.76 ERA and 186 strikeouts as a 23-year-old), Johnson, Jonathan Sanchez (tremendous potential provided his control improves, breakout candidate), and Barry Zito is potentially one of the best in baseball. And that's to say nothing of Noah Lowry, who should be healthy in 2009.
Jeremy Affeldt, the best lefty reliever on the market this winter, was another canny addition by GM Brian Sabean, and Bobby Howry has strong rebound potential in 2009. So the bullpen also figures to be improved.
MLB.com
Moves may make Giants contenders
By Chris Haft
January 5, 2009
The Giants have positioned themselves into being possible contenders in the National League West this season.
KNBR
Randy Johnson Interview
January 9, 2009
I pitched against them (San Francisco) 3 times last year and they've got a lot of talent.
The NL West has not ever been labeled one of the strongest divisions. For that reason, joining the San Francisco Giants with what they already have on the roster leads me to believe it should be an exciting year in the NL West. I don't think anybody right now can pick who's going to win based on their roster, but the Giants are as deep and have as much potential as any team.
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