Baseball Guru
02-15-2005, 03:12 PM
http://www.fanball.com/bb/article.cfm/id.3418
By Bo Mitchell, Managing Editor
February 5, 2005 10:00 PM ET
Spring Training Home: Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona
First Cactus League Game: March 3 vs. Angels
The Giants narrowly missed the playoffs last fall, finishing two games back of the NL West champion Dodgers. Much help has been acquired in the months since in the form of a bona fide closer, a 39-home run hitter, and two more Gold Glove defensemen. Which is all fine and dandy, but you know that every spring training report about the Giants, be it print, radio, on line, or television, will begin and end with one man, Barry Bonds. It's all about Barry. But before we follow suit and delve into the chaos and disorder that is the world of Bonds, allow us to do the unthinkable and take a look at the key moves the Giants made this offseason and what they mean for fantasy owners.
Notable offseason transactions
The Giants needed a closer, no question about it. Their committee of closers blew 11 saves last year, and as a team they screwed up a whopping 28 saves. Enter Armando Benitez, who was signed out of free agency at the beginning of December. Benitez saved 47 games for the Marlins in 2004 and posted a stellar 1.29 ERA. Big Armando failed to bring home a save just four times in 2004. His presence will allow manager Felipe Alou to use relievers Matt Herges, Scott Eyre, and Jim Brower in their more comfortable roles as setup men. More importantly, fantasy owners will feel much better this season when Alou comes to the mound to take the ball from his starting pitcher, knowing that the lead will almost always be held.
With Bonds in left and J.T. Snow at first, the Giants already had 14 Gold Gloves. They added 11 more via free agency in the form of catcher Mike Matheny and shortstop Omar Vizquel. A Gold Glove to throw to, another at short, and a great closer? Wherever you were planning to rank your Giants starting pitchers, move them up a few spots. Oh yeah, and they should have more run support this season too, thanks to the signing of new right fielder Moises Alou. The skipper is expected to bat his son cleanup, right behind Bonds.
Last year's catcher, A.J. Pierzynski cleared waivers and became a free agent, ultimately winding up back in the AL Central with the White Sox. A.J. followed another former Giant, Dustin Hermanson, to the Sox.
What to watch
Bonds will be under the Hubble microscope this spring. By now everyone knows about the BALCO scandal and of how Barry claims he was told he was using flaxseed oil and arthritis balm (a.k.a. "the cream" and "the clear") that, ahem, allegedly turned out to be designer steroids. While the BALCO details were being leaked out in a steady stream, Bonds was undergoing not one, but two, knee surgeries. The first one was performed shortly after the season, on October 12, to clean up some frayed cartilage in his left knee. The second came on January 31, when he underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up some minor arthritis in his right knee…he can't use the balm anymore, so surgery was apparently the only answer.
The word is that Bonds will miss a good chunk of spring training, possibly returning in time to play in the final two weeks of Cactus League action—or right around March 16, the date the BALCO proceedings are scheduled to convene in San Francisco. Upon his return to action, his every move will be scrutinized. Will he look less muscular? Will he hit as many home runs? Will his 40-year-old body really start slowing down sans the extra workouts because of the surgeries and the extra whatever it was he was getting from his pit crew?
For most, an offseason spent being vilified by the media, fans, and other players would be more than enough to try to overcome. Add in surgeries on both knees, however minor, and the enormous weight of history, being on the cusp of catching the Bambino and having records threatened with asterisks. One has to wonder not just whether he'll be 100 percent physically and mentally by Opening Day, but whether we're going to witness a dramatic drop-off from baseball's most feared and most-walked hitter.
The rotation is pretty much set heading into spring training. Jason Schmidt will again be the ace of the staff and for the first time in what seems like forever he has no pressing injury issues going into the season. Knock on wood. Schmidt put concerns about his elbow to rest with a 2004 season that warranted Cy Young consideration until a groin injury slowed him down the stretch. Keep knocking and hope that the injury bug doesn't resurface because when he's on, there isn't a better pitcher in the National League.
Unlike Schmidt, Noah Lowry and Brett Tomko finished last season with a flurry. Lowry won all six of his decisions in August and September, to end his rookie season undefeated, while Tomko went 5-1 with a 1.43 ERA in his final eight starts. They both fit one profile that owners should look for when trying to uncover sleeper pitchers—strong finishers from the year before.
Position battles
The closest we'll get to a position battle in Sarasota this March will be third base. Incumbent Edgardo Alfonzo is written in as the starter, but he knows as well as anyone that he can't take anything for granted as long as Pedro Feliz is lurking. Feliz's offensive skills demand that he get 500 at bats, and there won't be nearly as many as a shortstop now that Vizquel is in place. Feliz can play first and outfield as well, but he's no better than the fifth option in the outfield and the G-men don't want to remove Snow's Gold Glove from the defense if at all possible. And when Snow gets a day off, the more likely replacement is his heir apparent, Lance Neikro.
As a result, a battle for the hot corner could start simmering this spring, and if the decision is made that the team needs more pop in the lineup, Pedro could wind up with the job. He slugged twice as many dingers as Alfonzo did last year. Alfonzo is gearing up for the confrontation by whipping himself into top condition. Fonz has dropped a reported 18 pounds this offseason and even played some winter ball in his native Venezuela, batting .342 for the Magallanes Navigators.
By Bo Mitchell, Managing Editor
February 5, 2005 10:00 PM ET
Spring Training Home: Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona
First Cactus League Game: March 3 vs. Angels
The Giants narrowly missed the playoffs last fall, finishing two games back of the NL West champion Dodgers. Much help has been acquired in the months since in the form of a bona fide closer, a 39-home run hitter, and two more Gold Glove defensemen. Which is all fine and dandy, but you know that every spring training report about the Giants, be it print, radio, on line, or television, will begin and end with one man, Barry Bonds. It's all about Barry. But before we follow suit and delve into the chaos and disorder that is the world of Bonds, allow us to do the unthinkable and take a look at the key moves the Giants made this offseason and what they mean for fantasy owners.
Notable offseason transactions
The Giants needed a closer, no question about it. Their committee of closers blew 11 saves last year, and as a team they screwed up a whopping 28 saves. Enter Armando Benitez, who was signed out of free agency at the beginning of December. Benitez saved 47 games for the Marlins in 2004 and posted a stellar 1.29 ERA. Big Armando failed to bring home a save just four times in 2004. His presence will allow manager Felipe Alou to use relievers Matt Herges, Scott Eyre, and Jim Brower in their more comfortable roles as setup men. More importantly, fantasy owners will feel much better this season when Alou comes to the mound to take the ball from his starting pitcher, knowing that the lead will almost always be held.
With Bonds in left and J.T. Snow at first, the Giants already had 14 Gold Gloves. They added 11 more via free agency in the form of catcher Mike Matheny and shortstop Omar Vizquel. A Gold Glove to throw to, another at short, and a great closer? Wherever you were planning to rank your Giants starting pitchers, move them up a few spots. Oh yeah, and they should have more run support this season too, thanks to the signing of new right fielder Moises Alou. The skipper is expected to bat his son cleanup, right behind Bonds.
Last year's catcher, A.J. Pierzynski cleared waivers and became a free agent, ultimately winding up back in the AL Central with the White Sox. A.J. followed another former Giant, Dustin Hermanson, to the Sox.
What to watch
Bonds will be under the Hubble microscope this spring. By now everyone knows about the BALCO scandal and of how Barry claims he was told he was using flaxseed oil and arthritis balm (a.k.a. "the cream" and "the clear") that, ahem, allegedly turned out to be designer steroids. While the BALCO details were being leaked out in a steady stream, Bonds was undergoing not one, but two, knee surgeries. The first one was performed shortly after the season, on October 12, to clean up some frayed cartilage in his left knee. The second came on January 31, when he underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up some minor arthritis in his right knee…he can't use the balm anymore, so surgery was apparently the only answer.
The word is that Bonds will miss a good chunk of spring training, possibly returning in time to play in the final two weeks of Cactus League action—or right around March 16, the date the BALCO proceedings are scheduled to convene in San Francisco. Upon his return to action, his every move will be scrutinized. Will he look less muscular? Will he hit as many home runs? Will his 40-year-old body really start slowing down sans the extra workouts because of the surgeries and the extra whatever it was he was getting from his pit crew?
For most, an offseason spent being vilified by the media, fans, and other players would be more than enough to try to overcome. Add in surgeries on both knees, however minor, and the enormous weight of history, being on the cusp of catching the Bambino and having records threatened with asterisks. One has to wonder not just whether he'll be 100 percent physically and mentally by Opening Day, but whether we're going to witness a dramatic drop-off from baseball's most feared and most-walked hitter.
The rotation is pretty much set heading into spring training. Jason Schmidt will again be the ace of the staff and for the first time in what seems like forever he has no pressing injury issues going into the season. Knock on wood. Schmidt put concerns about his elbow to rest with a 2004 season that warranted Cy Young consideration until a groin injury slowed him down the stretch. Keep knocking and hope that the injury bug doesn't resurface because when he's on, there isn't a better pitcher in the National League.
Unlike Schmidt, Noah Lowry and Brett Tomko finished last season with a flurry. Lowry won all six of his decisions in August and September, to end his rookie season undefeated, while Tomko went 5-1 with a 1.43 ERA in his final eight starts. They both fit one profile that owners should look for when trying to uncover sleeper pitchers—strong finishers from the year before.
Position battles
The closest we'll get to a position battle in Sarasota this March will be third base. Incumbent Edgardo Alfonzo is written in as the starter, but he knows as well as anyone that he can't take anything for granted as long as Pedro Feliz is lurking. Feliz's offensive skills demand that he get 500 at bats, and there won't be nearly as many as a shortstop now that Vizquel is in place. Feliz can play first and outfield as well, but he's no better than the fifth option in the outfield and the G-men don't want to remove Snow's Gold Glove from the defense if at all possible. And when Snow gets a day off, the more likely replacement is his heir apparent, Lance Neikro.
As a result, a battle for the hot corner could start simmering this spring, and if the decision is made that the team needs more pop in the lineup, Pedro could wind up with the job. He slugged twice as many dingers as Alfonzo did last year. Alfonzo is gearing up for the confrontation by whipping himself into top condition. Fonz has dropped a reported 18 pounds this offseason and even played some winter ball in his native Venezuela, batting .342 for the Magallanes Navigators.