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BigRapidsJackass · December 31st, 2006, 02:06 PM

Roxpert, you have to look at a GM's overall performance.

There's a tendency to focus on the big mistakes. Maybe Zito will be one of them, maybe not.

Sabean drafted well for many years. That's how the Giants wound up with the young talent to trade for the ancient fill-ins Sabean so admires.

Even this year most of his moves have been good by almost anyone's measure (that's how they've moved up to a .500 projection in HF's analysis, after starting the offseason looking like a 90 loss club).

-- Dave Roberts: 3 years, $6 million average
-- Bengie Molina (addressed earlier on this board)
-- Steve Kline: about $1.75 million a year over 2, while the Orioles were spending double that for a LOOGY

And don't forget last year:

-- Matt Morris, decried as a bad signing by most last year. He proves my point about "laddering" contracts in an inflationary player salary environment. 3 years, average $7 million per. Essentially the same pitcher, Jeff Suppan, just got $10.5 million per year over the next 4 seasons. Morris is now magically transformed into a bargain.

-- Omar Vizquel, signed to a seemingly-ridiculous 3 year contract at an average of $4 million per year at the age of 39. Yes, he's lost a step defensively, but he's still better than average. And he's an absolute bargain at that price for '07.

Yeah, some are headscratchers like Pedro Feliz. And I have no problem with Zito's contract other than it's length -- I don't think the $18 million per year in this environment is at all outrageous given the fact that he's never missed a start and the going rate for Gil Meche (who's missed many, and who is also no stud) is $11 million plus. Sabean may leave next year, and unless he makes some boneheaded moves this year he'll leave the Giants in perfectly fine condition for the future. Bonds will be gone, and his $16 million will be available for other uses. The farm system still has some decent talent despite the focus on oldtimers. I think Giants fans have already seen the club's low point in '05 and '06.

And remember, that '05 and '06 low came after a long stretch of winners including a World Series appearance (and near championship). From 1997 on, the Giants won this many games each year: 90, 89, 86, 97, 90, 95, 100, 91, 75, 76. The Rockies? 83, 77, 72, 82, 73, 73, 74, 68, 67, 76.

The Giants' low point since O'Dowd's arrival as GM is roughly equivalent to the Rockies' high point in the last five years.

Again, I ask you: who is the poorer GM?

December 31st, 2006, 02:06 PM	#165 (permalink)
BigRapidsJackass Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,189	Roxpert, you have to look at a GM's overall performance. There's a tendency to focus on the big mistakes. Maybe Zito will be one of them, maybe not. Sabean drafted well for many years. That's how the Giants wound up with the young talent to trade for the ancient fill-ins Sabean so admires. Even this year most of his moves have been good by almost anyone's measure (that's how they've moved up to a .500 projection in HF's analysis, after starting the offseason looking like a 90 loss club). -- Dave Roberts: 3 years, $6 million average -- Bengie Molina (addressed earlier on this board) -- Steve Kline: about $1.75 million a year over 2, while the Orioles were spending double that for a LOOGY And don't forget last year: -- Matt Morris, decried as a bad signing by most last year. He proves my point about "laddering" contracts in an inflationary player salary environment. 3 years, average $7 million per. Essentially the same pitcher, Jeff Suppan, just got $10.5 million per year over the next 4 seasons. Morris is now magically transformed into a bargain. -- Omar Vizquel, signed to a seemingly-ridiculous 3 year contract at an average of $4 million per year at the age of 39. Yes, he's lost a step defensively, but he's still better than average. And he's an absolute bargain at that price for '07. Yeah, some are headscratchers like Pedro Feliz. And I have no problem with Zito's contract other than it's length -- I don't think the $18 million per year in this environment is at all outrageous given the fact that he's never missed a start and the going rate for Gil Meche (who's missed many, and who is also no stud) is $11 million plus. Sabean may leave next year, and unless he makes some boneheaded moves this year he'll leave the Giants in perfectly fine condition for the future. Bonds will be gone, and his $16 million will be available for other uses. The farm system still has some decent talent despite the focus on oldtimers. I think Giants fans have already seen the club's low point in '05 and '06. And remember, that '05 and '06 low came after a long stretch of winners including a World Series appearance (and near championship). From 1997 on, the Giants won this many games each year: 90, 89, 86, 97, 90, 95, 100, 91, 75, 76. The Rockies? 83, 77, 72, 82, 73, 73, 74, 68, 67, 76. The Giants' low point since O'Dowd's arrival as GM is roughly equivalent to the Rockies' high point in the last five years. Again, I ask you: who is the poorer GM?