Opening Day! Every team is undefeated when Opening Day dawns. Every hitter looks like a Triple Crown winner and every pitcher Cy Young to their fans. Rather than grind through a set of silly predictions that are likely either boring or wrong or both, I will pose a few Burning Questions for the Giants to answer this year:
1. Will Madison Bumgarner be a Giant on August 1?
2. Will Buster Posey be the Giants primary catcher on Fan Appreciation Day?
3. Will Giants Left Fielders produce a combined WAR greater than Hunter Pence in 2019?
4. Is Steven Duggar the Giants starting CF on Fan Appreciation Day?
5. Will Johnny Cueto be pitching in the Giants rotation in September?
6. Will Drew Pomeranz' season be more like 2017 or 2018?
7. Will Derek Holland's season be more like 2017 or 2018?
8. Will Mark Melancon be a Giant on August 1?
9. Will any Giants player hit 20 or more HR's?
10. Will DrB think Farhan Zaidi is a good GM on Fan Appreciation Day?
There, that should do it. What are your answers to DrB's Burning Questions for 2019? Do you have any Burning Questions?
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Per left field, I believe that the Giants will have a batter who steps up and hits 20 homeruns. I say either 1) mac starts the year on the DL, goes to AAA to rehab, and then comes back and mashes OR (and more likely) 2) Chris Shaw obliterates AAA pitching, is called up, and wins ROY.
ReplyDeleteAm really looking forward to a full season of Duggar. I am alright with them trading Stratton. I think either Suarez or Beede will do well in Sacramento and force their way into the major league rotation.
Looks like it could be an exciting 2019. We're undefeated right now. GO GIANTS! :)
Well, it is certainly appropriate to think positively on Opening Day.
DeleteOK..my burning question...When is fan appreciation day????
ReplyDeleteAll very valid questions!! I don't know the answers but I hope they are:
Questions 1-5: I HOPE the answers are YES
Question 6: Pomerantz 2017
Question 7: Holland 2018
Question 8: I hope not
Question 9: Yes...Longo and Belt
Question 10: I truly hope so but not holidng my breath!
Other questions that come to mind:
Will Connor Joe and Michael Reed (and the Panda) still be in SF come Fan Appreciation?
Will Joe Panik put in a healthy season and hit like during his best year(s)?
When will Brandon Crawford's hitting start to plummet? (OK, this depends on if the Giants ever bring up a decent backup SS)
When is Will Smith traded? (or WIll SMith be in San Francisco on Fan Appreciation Day)?
SteveVA
IDK. Fan Appreciation Day is generally the last or next-to-last home game of the regular season. I just thought it was a good approximation of the end of the season.
DeleteResponses to your questionsL
ReplyDelete1. No
2. No. At some point Buster Posey will be shut down for the season. He still isn't driving the ball with any authority
3. Yes, but barely
4. Yes. He might be the only bright spot on the team.
5. Yes. He will get three starts in 2019.
6. More like 2017
7. More like 2017.
8. No. He shouldn't be with the team on March 28.
9. Yes, at least one and maybe two.
10. Yes. You really can't judge him until 2021 when the process has time to mature.
My answers are based on the roster as it stands now and Farhan’s negligence to obtain at least one above average corner OF.
ReplyDelete1. No
2. Yes but now that you’ve asked the question. For the first time ever I’ve actually considered the idea of the Giants moving Buster if they have another poor season.
3. No
4. Yes
5. No
6. 2017
7. 2018
8. No
9. No
10. I think there is a possibility of yes. Based on his actions this offseason I don’t think Farhan believes in this core of offensive players. So I expect the Giants to struggle mightily on offense and have a poor 1st half and Farhan will sell at the deadline. If he is able to get a good haul of prospects in return and or dump some of our terrible contracts to create some payroll flexibility for the future. I think you could be impressed with his moves.
I’m always going to root for the Giants but I’m definitely not impressed with managements attempt at contending in 2019. Considering they’re the ones that say they want to contend and develop at the same time.
Go Giants
1. Yes of course
ReplyDelete2. Yes of course, we'll need him for the playoffs !!!
3. Well it depends if we can trade for Ozuna
4. Yes he will be the ROY !!! (Can he ?)
5. No
6. 2019 : Best year ever for Pomeranz
7. 2017
8. Yes if you mean "Yomiuri Giants"
9. Longoria
10. I think so but don't fall of your chair if it happens, doc !!!
GIP
On another note...Mac Williamson was DFA (along with Murphy and Hansen)....I'll be shocked if nobody gives him a shot..
ReplyDeleteMac did little to win a job this spring (not many Giant hitters did) but still think it's a mistake to get rid of him for Connor Joe and Michael Reed..But, out with the old and in with the new....I just hope new turns out better somehow...
SteveVA
1. What is the latest date that the Giants' wins equal or exceed their losses?
ReplyDelete2. Are the 2019 Giants better than the 2018 Giants (before McCutchen was traded and Posey lost for the season -- 68-68 on morning of September 1)?
3. Did the Padres improve enough to be better than the Giants? SD was 54-83 on the morning of September 1, 14 games behind SF.
3. Will the Giants benefit in the NL West by similar lack of significant improvement by Colorado and Arizona?
4. Could the Giants be swept on the opening road trip? What would minimally constitute a success?
5. Will Larry Baer's decking his wife or hiring of Farhan Zaidi be his most embarrassing moment of the off season?
5. Does Zaidi have a No Trade Contract?
re: question 2, Posey .. it is easy to compare Posey to Joe Mauer ... who at age 31 (Posey now) was moved to 1B full time and who never recovered to his early career form, note reduction in power and average. I don't mind if Posey is moved to another position, Bart Train arriving soon - I just hope Posey can regain his hitting productivity.
ReplyDeleteOT note on Mauer - I lived for over 8 years in St Paul, MN and many times saw the Cretin-Durham high school ballfield where Mauer and Molitor played - you may never have seen a more beautiful high school field - google the pix if you care., I recall brickwork, plantings, a scoreboard paying tribute Joe and Paul etc.. The story in SP was that Mauer struck out just one time in four years of high school ball. Legend!
For a team that actually did play well last year despite devastating injuries, that they were @ .500 at the end of August might have been Bochy's best ever year managing!
ReplyDeleteBochy's back, what changes were made:
C Kratz for Hundley. Definitely a improvement in D, not O.
IF Solarte for Hanson. Improvement except for excitement (and age)
OF
CF Duggar for Jackson and Hernandez and Blanco. Big D improvement and probably positive for O -- fingers crossed
RF Parra for McCutchen. Big D improvement, big hit on O.
LF Smorgasbord for Smorgasbord. Probably a D improvement, can hardly be worse O
SP To begin season, Bumgarner for Cueto (kinda, sorta), Pomeranz for Blach, Rodriguez for Stratton, Samardzija (healthy) for Beede, Suarez, and Samardzija (unhealthy) plus Anderson for Stratton and 3 of 2018's starters (Suarez, Blach, Beede) pitching in Sacramento, 2019 is better
RP Bergen, Moronta, Vincent, Gott plus returnees are better than 2018.
Closer Smith (or ?) for Strickland. Improvement
With better health and a little luck this is a better team. Too bad about Mac, though.
1-4 yes
ReplyDelete5 No, why bother?
6. 2017, it is a pitcher's park
7. 2017, he has never had an ERA below 5 two seasons in a row
8. He shouldn't be on it now, so he probably will be by then
9. Sure, Belt if he can find a way to be healthy
10.Yes
You want a question? Will Bart be in the bigs this season?
Highly unlikely Bart is in the majors this season.
DeleteAnd I hope to eat my words over and over, but Connor Joe and Michael Reed as your opening day starters is as sad as it can get and not a very good reflection of the work (or non-work) Farhan has done since coming aboard...The whiff on Harper didn't help things.
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
Yeah, I'm not feeling it with either Joe or Reed as the next Max Muncy.
DeleteQuestions: If a team picks up Williamson, don't they have to put him on their 25-man roster?
ReplyDeleteIf he clears waivers, does this give the Giants an option for this year only?
I think that's right.
DeleteJust saw the starting lineup. A quick question. Why is Parra not starting? Is he injured? This makes so little sense. Why would you start Joe and Reed over one of the best surprises of the spring? Also, why is Panik at 8 while Belt is 2? I'm seeing no lumber from 5-8. The mind boggles. Hope I'm wrong. Go Giants!
ReplyDeleteThis is against a LHP.
DeleteFarhan loves platoons.
Delete1. No.
ReplyDelete2. No.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. No.
6. 2017
7. 2018
8. No.
9. Yes.
10. You will cautiously say jury is still out. You are frustrated now.
My burning question is what is the MLB record for fewest runs scored in a season, and will the Giants set a new one as a sad farewell to Bochy.
ReplyDelete2 - O Pads - our team is off to a good start !
DeleteDid Mac get a fair shake this Spring?
ReplyDeleteHe was 1st in ABs & PAs slashing .237/.286/.322 in 22 games, > 1/8 of a season.
The 7 top players in game appearances were all "cut" (Henry Ramos, Hansen, Mac, Solano, Ferguson, Aramis, and Gerber).
Was that a fair chance?
Gerber in 20 games slashed .400/.407/.560 and has misfortune of batting LH.
Fair chance and, true, he didnt do much with it...but Gerber is irrelevant to that choice..Joe and Reed are not..But, they are Farhan's boy's time will tell how good his eye /gut/mind is on that..I for one am expecting nothing from both..
DeleteJust a quick reminder that spring training performance might be the single worst basis for roster decisions.
DeleteHere is a good question, is Buster Posey done? How long can his lack of power, speed, and now quality at bats go on for? Every game he plays he is lowering his trade value while crippling this teams offense. He is a shell of the player he used to be.
ReplyDeleteWow.you mean every game he played last year with a hip that should have been operated on already and the one game of this year as he comes back and trys to refind his former "zone"? Gve him a little time before you tear him completley down and blame him fo the state of the Giants..
DeleteAnd It's not like we or the Giants have any choice...becasue he is untradeable unitl if and when he shows he can approach his former self....
SteveVA
Too early to write off Buster, but his situation has to be concerning. He still doesn't look like he has much of a base under him.
Delete1-3 hope so. Doesn't seem right Madbum wants to stay, doesn't have a contract, and they chose to give big money to Samardja instead although 3 years ago.
ReplyDelete4-yes
5-no
6-2018-curt young will fix him
7-2018
8-no
9-yes, Belt,Longoria
10-depends on your expectations of Zaidi? The regime change is a big transition. You might not like that he doesn't seem to want to trade for an expensive veteran for top prospects to fix the outfield. Maybe he wants to build up the farm, which you might like. Zaidi did say that the key to the season is how well the young players that fans don't know about yet perform. I think you might find that interesting, I sure did. I've wondered if Dodger fans had a high opinion on Zaidi. Have you heard amything living in the area?
LG, I am disappointed. You are a faithful commenter who makes smart comments that contribute to the discussion, but I have never, ever said I wanted Zaidi to trade top prospects for expensive veterans.
DeleteAs for what Dodger fans think of Farhan Zaidi, since you don't seem to know any Dodger fans(you are a lucky man!), let me tell you about Dodger fans. The most knowledgeable Dodger fan I know is a friend and colleague who lives and dies with the Dodgers. He can go on about them way longer than I can talk about the Giants, if you can believe that. I bet if I asked my friend who was the Dodger's GM, he would scratch his head a second and the say, "Friedman." If I asked him what he thinks of Farhan Zaidi, he would look at me and say "Farwho?" How's that?
Here is what I did want Zaidi to do:
Delete1. Go after AJ Pollock a RH hitter with both power and speed who can play CF. I don't know if Pollock would have signed since the Dodgers offered a better chance to win a WS, but Zaidi apparently did not even try. He was expensive but would not have cost any prospects besides a 2'nd round draft pick.
2. Trade for Domingo Santana. The Mariners got him for Ben Gamel and pitching prospect nobody had ever heard of. There is no indication Zaidi even bothered to kick the tires on Santana. Domingo Santana fell a triple shy of a cycle today and drove in 4 runs.
Matt Joyce hit a pinch hit 2-run bomb today and Adam jones went 2-4 with a jack as well. Marwin Gonzalez had a game tying hit and as you mentioned Domingo Santana is looking like the legendary Domingo Ayala (youtube him if you dont know him).
DeleteThe Matt Joyce 2-run shot is just a cherry on top of this mess since he was on our roster what a week ago? The others could have easily been attainable and would be clear upgrades for very little $ over Connor Joe and Reed. Farhan is swinging and missing almost like he wants this team to fail. Either that or he is completely lost and is in waaaaaaaay over his head.
I wonder if he is losing credibility among other GM’s and even potential free agents who may be even less inclined to sign here now that spreadsheet boy is pushing buttons like a 3 year old on his first elevator. Why would you willingly play for a GM/President who you don’t respect? Veing drafted into the organization is one thing but if he is thinking he can build this thing with high draft picks he might find himself alone covered in seagull crap at Oracle for the next 5 years.
Thanks Doc, you did say Giants shouldn't trade Helliot Ramos for Mic Castellanous when I brought it up. I think you said you would be ok trading prospects outside top 10. Poor choice of words on my part. Thanks, your comment about your friend who is a Dodger fan made me chuckle! It means the transition for Zaidi to the Giants is pretty big. He really should finish completing his staff and hire a GM to help him. Don't know much about Santana, but Pollick is a very talented injury prone outfielder who is 31 years old. He would have been a great pickup, but maybe his age, losing a draft pick scared Zaidi away, I dunno.. the other drawback is Giants have a hard time signing hitters since they don't want to hit at Oracle park. They should concentrate on developing their own hitters
DeleteFarhan Zaidi may yet turn out to be the greatest GM of all time. Like someone said, we likely won't really know until sometime in 2021. While I am obviously skeptical of his skills and downright frustrated with what he has done and hasn't done so far, it is still too early to write him off.
DeleteOn the other hand, while my enthusiastic Dodger fan friend may only have a superficial knowledge of Dodgers management, I think it is quite possible that Zaidi was not the main decision maker in their hierarchy. Case in point: During Zaidi's tenure the Dodgers were known for making novel trades to pare down bad contracts, but they pulled off perhaps the biggest of those, the Matt Kemp/Yasiel Puig trade to the Reds, after Zaidi was long gone to the Giants, so obviously someone was still left in the Dodgers front office who could push the button on that trade.
1- I have a strange feeling that MadBum is going to make some people eat some words concerning his downward slide..!!!
ReplyDelete2- Watching Buster strike out that last out today, gave me a feeling something is just not right. I am just not used to watching Buster go for high pitches...
3- Somewhere in Little League are better LFers than the two on on the Giants roster. I feel real bad for Mac and Slater....
4- I would like for Duggar to make a decent showing this year that would indicate a good potential.
TBox
5-I am not very concerned with Cueto for now.. No. 6 will state why....
6- I have this feeling that Pomeranz is back to big time and there is a spot covered in that rotation due to a thank you from the Bosox... That Anderson kid is going to be a star if he gets a chance this year or next....
7-Holland needs to stay on his toes because Anderson is probably to close for comfort.
8-Somewhere in Little League there is a kid that would put Melancon to shame. May 1 is my under for him...
9-Longoria and Belt might be the 20 hrs guys, but I really don't have faith in Belt staying healthy...
10- Mr Z... I keep hearing and reading how well this ex-Dodger knows these guys that he has brought in from his days with the Dodgers. This team is NOT better than last years teams offensively...
I hope they prove me wrong on my pessimism,.. I am a Giants fan always, but sometimes the fog rolls in for awhile....
Hey TBox! Is that you? You interested in checking out Joey Bart in a Cal League game?
DeleteYes I have to check the schedules....
ReplyDelete1. Will Madison Bumgarner be a Giant on August 1? Yes, he and the Giants catch Extension Fever
ReplyDelete2. Will Buster Posey be the Giants primary catcher on Fan Appreciation Day? Yes, but during the season he gets plenty of days off and starts at 1st base.
3. Will Giants Left Fielders produce a combined WAR greater than Hunter Pence in 2019? Yes, but just barely.
4. Is Steven Duggar the Giants starting CF on Fan Appreciation Day? Yes, the Giants value his glove and Duggar won't be an offensive pit since no one else in the lineup is going to hit much either.
5. Will Johnny Cueto be pitching in the Giants rotation in September? No. Why rush him back for a lost season?
6. Will Drew Pomeranz' season be more like 2017 or 2018? Pomeranz will be one of the few bright spots on the season, and one of Zaidi's better moves.
7. Will Derek Holland's season be more like 2017 or 2018? Holland will also have a nice season and will help keep things light in a clubhouse that really needs some levity.
8. Will Mark Melancon be a Giant on August 1? Please, NOOOOOOO!
9. Will any Giants player hit 20 or more HR's? Belt will finally have his long awaited power breakthrough.
10. Will DrB think Farhan Zaidi is a good GM on Fan Appreciation Day? I think by season's end, Dr. B will finally see the "madness to his method"