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5 Questions with Grant of McCovey Chronicles

When I want to know what's going on with the Giants, McCovey Chronicles is my first stop.  These days, there's a lot of self-abasement going on over there; the 2008 Giants look a little like the Brewers or 8 or 10 years ago, only older.

To get ready for this weekend's series at Miller Park, Grant and I traded questions.  Here's what he had to say.

Jeff: Obligatory Bonds question.  Wish you still had him?

Grant: Kinda sorta. He made every game interesting, and the current cleanup hitter is Bengie Molina. But the only place the Giants have any interesting young talent at all -- and I use the term "interesting" loosely -- is in the outfield. Considering the franchise's failures in '06 and '07, having Bonds on the '08 team wouldn't do anything positive for the long-term. In fact, Bonds not being on the team might be the difference between the first overall pick and the fifth overall pick in the '09 draft.

Jeff: Looks like we'll see Jonathan Sanchez and Kevin Correia.  I don't know much about either of these guys except that Sanchez was a highly touted prospect not too long ago.  What can we expect?

Grant: Sanchez is a lefty who throws 92-94, but whose short-arm delivery makes it seem much faster. I never thought much of his secondary pitches, but he flashed a nasty change this spring, and while his breaking ball has always been penthouse/outhouse, it looked sharp in March. As with every Giants pitching prospect since 1931, his control could use some work.

Kevin Correia is beloved throughout the land for his gift of the walk-off home run, but that's more a matter of poor timing than anything else. He seemed to have found a niche as a setup man, but was tossed into the rotation at the end of last year. I wasn't expecting it, but danged if it didn't work. He works in the low-90s, but he isn't going to overpower anyone. As far as end-of-the-rotation guys go, he's underrated.

 
Jeff: Who do you think will represent the Giants at the All-Star Game?  (If the answer is different, who *should*?)

Grant: It's got to be Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, though it isn't out of the question for Brian Wilson to have one of those sub-2.00 first halves.

Jeff: You seem to have accepted the fact that the Giants aren't going anywhere this year.  Given that they aren't going to contend, what would you consider a good season for this team?

Grant: Of the four sorta-prospects --  Fred Lewis, Rajai Davis, Eugenio Velez, and Nate Schierholtz -- if just one exceeds expectations, I'd be happy. The real success of this season will be measured in A-ball, as both the low-A and high-A teams are loaded with interesting prospects.
 
Jeff: If you were GM (a smarter and better-looking GM, to be sure) and could make one realistic move right now, what would it be?

Grant: There just *has* to be a better option for first base. Throw a dart at a map of the U.S., and call the team in the city closest to the dart and inquire about their AA or AAA first baseman. How about Joe Dillon? Alms for a unbearable franchise? Can't you just give us Joe Dillon?

But we like Joe Dillon!  Maybe when Mike Cameron's suspension is over, we can talk.  Thanks!

0 recs  |  Comment 11 comments

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Brad Nelson is a first baseman

Just because he's being platooned in AAA doesn't mean he sucks, right? :)

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Apr 3, 2008 9:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Joe Dillon

I like Above Average Joe too, but if the price were right, I'd ship him to SF and give him the opportunity to play everyday.

by KLSnow on Apr 3, 2008 10:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Gabe Kapler

Your future is calling.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Apr 3, 2008 10:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Giants

Dodger fan here, we just finished playing three games against the Giants. Their offense is god awful. If you can score four or more runs the game is yours. They have two good starting pitchers in Lincecum and Cain, I think Cain is the only one you have to worry about in this series. Cain tends to lose a lot of heart-break gams. I see no reason why the Brewers and their high powered offense can't sweep the Giants.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Apr 4, 2008 12:55 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree

But I wouldn't be surprised if some hellish circumstances lead to Brian Bocock of all people hitting a walk off home run.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Apr 4, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

good questions

an underrated skill.

Regarding Joe Dillon: no way. How about Gabe Gross? Has he ever played first?

by ol Pete on Apr 4, 2008 8:04 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No

But he has been a quarterback at Auburn.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Apr 4, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would think receivers

would be better suited for 1st base.

Or, if you go by body type, offensive linemen.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 4, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was lurking here before the blog went over to the new format. Was just too lazy to make up a name and post anything here. Now I can be lazy and use my account everywhere on SBNation!

The Brewers are my second NL team behind the Giants. Just call me an honorary Brewers fan. Date enough guys from Milwaukee, and you'll gain interest in the team too I suppose. At any rate I am looking forward to the first two games of this series. If Sanchez gets his act together and Correia is over his injury, we'll have some good games. Really looking forward to Parra's start tomorrow. I haven't seen him pitch yet.

Not looking forward to the Sunday game, but I never look forward to anything Zito does.

So anyway, hi. I hope to participate more here.

Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 4, 2008 1:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Welcome aboard

after three games with Cubs fans, it's a pleasant change. Good luck in this series!

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Apr 4, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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