Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Hot Stove Update: Billy Beane Signs Billy Butler

Has a nice ring to it, no?  In fact, I am not convinced that the name alliteration is not one of the main reasons this deal happened!  After striking out when he loaded up on pitching at the trade deadline last year, Billy Beane goes back to what he knows best, which is stocking up on DH's. Billy Butler is probably an upgrade on Nate Frieman for RH side of a DH platoon, but from the price, you might think Billy Butler is being brought in to DH full time.  That's OK if you are getting the 2012 version of Country Breakfast, but Butler's numbers have declined rather steeply for 2 consecutive seasons for no obvious reason.  You certainly can't blame his paltry .702 OPS from 2014 on a low BABIP as that was .310 although I admit Butler is a guy who sustained higher BABIP's for several years.  He's just a big slow guy who hits a ton of ground balls who can't play a position.  Perfect fit for Billy Beane and the Oakland A's!

24 comments:

  1. I have been wanting to ask a question and I wasn't sure where to post it, so here goes:
    How do they decide who gets a World Series ring? Obviously, everyone on any post season roster will get one. I assume guys like Pagan and Cain who are part of the 25 man roster get one, but what about other guys who spent some time with the Giants?

    Of greatest concern: Does Dan Uggla get a WS ring?

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    1. I know Melky and Wilson both got '12 rings and Ford got one for '10. I suspect any player who made it to the 25 gets a ring.

      This year, Dan Uggla and Jerrett Parker can decorate their mantle just as robustly as Panda or Pence.

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    2. Fred Lewis got one for 2010, due to being on the DL at the beginning of the season before being released. It is near impossible to draw a fair line,so they make it all inclusive.

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  2. Here's another off topic question if that's okay. Who do you think we'll put on the 40 man roster to protect them by tomorrow's deadline?

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    1. Do you have a list for who needs to be protected?

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    2. There was a discussion about this on MCC in the Fanpost section. I'll look it up and report back. I do recall not being terribly impressed with any of the names who are Rule 5 eligible but not already on the 40 man roster.

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  3. I don't have a list. I was just curious seeing we only have 37 on the roster now.

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    1. We currently have 30 players on the 40-man roster. However, that is not taking into account non-tenders.

      If I am not mistaken, we have 7 arb-eligible players...

      Petit
      Gutierrez
      Sanchez
      Belt
      Crawford
      Blanco
      Ishikawa

      I figure we CLEARLY non-tender Gutierrez and Ishikawa, and potentially non-tender Sanchez. Although, if Sanchez is medically OK, than I think he is potentially too valuable to let walk.

      That also does not include Panda, Vogey, Morse, Romo or Peavy.

      Bochy and Quiroz were already out-righted.

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  4. The web site lists these 37 names on the 40 man:
    Pitchers
    Jeremy Affeldt Madison Bumgarner Matt Cain Santiago Casilla Erik Cordier Kendry Flores Juan Gutierrez Chris Heston Tim Hudson Mike Kickham George Kontos Tim Lincecum Javier Lopez Jean Machi Yusmeiro Petit Hunter Strickland

    Catchers
    Buster Posey Hector Sanchez Andrew Susac

    Infielders
    Ehire Adrianza Joaquin Arias Brandon Belt Brandon Crawford Matt Duffy Adam Duvall Joe Panik Marco Scutaro Angel Villalona

    Outfielders
    Gregor Blanco Gary Brown Daniel Carbonell Chris Dominguez Travis Ishikawa Angel Pagan Jarrett Parker Hunter Pence Juan Perez

    I was curious as to what others thought with regards to the Giants putting any of the minor league guys on the roster who are Rule 5 eligible this year. I'm not sure who all that list would include. I can't seem to find one anywhere.

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    1. Black, Law, Hall, and Osich--all relievers-- suggested on the relevant thread on MCC, with Ishikawa and Guttierez being dropped from the 40-man.

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    2. I might add Black and Law, probably not Hall and definitely not Osich.

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    3. Maybe someone meant Okert, who got sent to the AFL this year, and their mind wandered, so they wrote Osich. I wouldn't protect Osich either.

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    4. I don't think Okert needs protecting from Rule 5 yet.

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    5. Law and Black are musts in my eye. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Osich protected. As long as he still has his velocity, I'll bet the Giants are going to be patient with him. Cody Hall has pitched well at every level, but he doesn't seem to be real high on the organization's priority list.

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  5. Not particularly germane to this topic, but I just read this from an article that says, basically, Pablo has no interest in the Giants and a 90% chance to sign with Boston and the other 10% with Toronto:

    http://tinyurl.com/qdgbuz8

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) –The Giants need to start looking for a third baseman because Pablo Sandoval is likely not coming back to San Francisco.

    After speaking with two sources, here’s what I’ve been able to put together:

    The Giants offered Pablo the same contract given to Hunter Pence, five years at $90 million. Sandoval wanted that deal last Spring when Giants were justifiably suspicious about Pablo’s physical condition. But when that offer came after the World Series, Sandoval countered by asking for a seven year deal.

    Sandoval was in Boston yesterday where I am told there is a 90 percent chance that he will sign with the Red Sox. The other 10 percent goes to the Toronto Blue Jays.

    So what happened with the Giants? I’m told they were never his first choice, which is why he asked for seven years — a request the Giants were highly unlikely to accommodate. If the Giants want to get back in the race, they will have to up the ante, which team officials are considering.

    As for Toronto, the issue of taxes makes the Blue Jays a dark horse. But hey, at least they are in the race. I’m told the finish line is just days away.


    I am, of course, completely unsurprised. Other than that, we'll see what happens.

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    1. That story has been refuted by a few different sources since it broke this AM. Who knows if it is actually true though. Lots of BS stories out there.

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    2. 5/$90 is the absolute maximum the Giants should give Pablo and I'd be mighty uncomfortable even with that amount. If he has a better offer than that from Boston or somewhere else, more power to him. Time to move on.

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    3. Agreed. 5/90. After that, wish him (sincerely) the best.

      He should stay outta beantown though...that place will eat him alive.

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    4. I can see why Sabean wants Sandoval, as a known quantity (somewhat above average performance from a 3rd baseman--in 2014 eleventh or twelfth best production at that position), only money and not player loss involved in having his services, cost certainty, and marketing value to fans who are sentimental, excited by free swinging, and given to wearing animal paraphernalia. His prudent risk control simplifies his dizzyingly delicate job.

      From our POV as fans, the situation is different. We have good reason to trust Sabean to make things work if he has enough money to do so, and little interest in simplifying his task. Let Pablo decide to devote himself to the Green Monster and steaming platters of buttered scrod (with salsa). As I've been arguing, a full season of Panik and healthy years from Belt and Pagan will make up for most of the lost WAR from Pablo; a strong SP--Masterson? McCarthy?-- plus a healthy Cain will add in the rest; what we can get by adding outfield depth and a strong-fielding 3B, with an immediate look-see at Crawford there while Adrianza takes over at short, say, will be a bonus. This all depends on having the players healthy, but then, so did life with Pablo. If Pablo stays, OK. OK, too, if he doesn't.

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  6. If he goes to the Green Monstah, he better swing by the No-Name Restaurant for the best seafood around!

    I like your scenario of regaining WAR from the healthy & full seasons of the walking wounded we had this past year. Add in one of those SPs you mention, even better. Or Panda returns! Ok indeed.

    NWGiantsFan
    DtF!!!

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  7. So with V Mart and now Butler off the board does Moorse market heat up? Cruz is still out there, please Seattle already had him once (Moorse). Wish Melkey had mended fences before he left. Me loves the SH. I'm worried about losing too much offense because the pitching at this point is our most pressing concern. I trust Sabes to put us in a position to compete, I just hope the market doesn't get away from him. I know BB is flushing with cash, still doesn't make sense to throw it away on underperforming talent.

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    1. I'd be OK with Morse coming back as long as he doesn't cost a lot and Bochy doesn't feel obligated to start him in LF.

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  8. Billy Beane not succeeding in Oakland is one of life's many small pleasures.

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    1. I have mixed feelings about the guy. I think he has a lot of interesting ideas. As long as you look at him that way, he's OK. What really grates on me is the blind faith and adulation he gets from certain corners of the internet. While that is not entirely his fault, I do think he feeds the monster at times.

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