Baseballreference.com sure has some nifty tools:

 

Tim Lincecum:

12-3 actual, 17-7 neutralized

(compare to Brandon Webb: 17-4 actual, 18-8 neutralized)

 

Matt Cain:

7-9 actual, 14-11 neutralized

(Career: 29-38 Actual, 42-31 neutralized)

 

Jonathan Sanchez:

8-8 actual, 8-11 neutralized

 

Barry Zito:

6-14 actual, 7-12 neutralized

(with SF: 17-27 actual, 17-24 neutralized)

Kevin Correia:

2-6 actual, 4-7 neutralized

(Career: 13-20 actual, 20-21 neutralized

 

What this means: well, assuming that the pitcher was placed in an "average" environment (the way they neutralize is mentioned here)...

 

• Lincecum should be a lot closer in the Cy Young rankings, thanks to more wins, although somehow, his winning % has actually benefited from the Giants not being "average".

• Matt Cain is a WAY better pitcher than his W/L shows (duh), both this year and over his career. He is definitely the most shafted pitcher in baseball.

• Jonathan Sanchez has actually done better with the Giants than he would do with an "average" team, in terms of W/L.

• Barry Zito sucks, any way you slice it, since coming to the Giants.

• Kevin Correia is actually getting a little of the Matt Cain treatment, over his career with the Gigantes.

I mean, the guy went 3 for 4 with a grand slam (!) and a stolen base in their demolishment of Canada yesterday. Read all about it here. Oh, and Canada second baseman Stubby Clapp went 1 for 3 with a walk, which should just about get me to 75 words. Oh, I guess not. Well, good thing those darn Canadians have Emerson Frostad as well (he was 1 for 4, by the way, and plays 1b/c).

Giants fan here, and this is what I'm seeing/hearing in a number of places, including fellow SBNation blogs Athletics Nation and McCovey Chronicles:

WSSP 1250 AM in Milwaukee is reporting that Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants are close to a deal that would send Milwaukee's Double A Catcher Angel Salome, Single A prospect Outfielder/speedster Darren Ford, and Triple A First Baseman Brad Nelson to the Giants for Second Baseman Ray Durham, Reliever Jack Taschner, and a PTBNL.

Here is the link to the Brewers Beat Writer Tom Haudicourt's blog at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Where he talks about the possible trade.:

link

Angel Salome sounds pretty good. You guys should be happy with Durham- he sucked last year, but in '06, he was money, and he seems to be heading that way again, but with more focus on OBP and less on SLG. Taschner is a great young lefty reliever who is still learning. The PTBNL is rumored to be Matt Downs or Travis Denker. Personally, I hope it's not Downs, because he's a young infielder who can hit- something the Giants need more of. Denker is a little less of a hitter, but is also an infielder.

[Note by battlekow, 07/20/08 1:31 AM CDT ] SI's Jon Heyman on the situation:

A deal that would send Taschner (2-1, 3.03) and veteran second baseman Ray Durham from San Francisco to Milwaukee is "in the wind,'' according to a National League executive.

It was reported in the Journal Sentinel that a Brewers' minor leaguer, Class-A Brevard outfielder Darren Ford, was removed from a game Saturday, and that paper speculated he could be dealt soon, perhaps to San Francisco. Triple-A first baseman Brad Nelson, who has 12 homers and is batting .301, could be another player who'd interest the Giants.

With young Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks playing better lately, it is believed Durham would serve as a utilityman in Milwaukee and possible second-base insurance in case Weeks went back into a hitting funk. The Brewers are being patient with Weeks since he was a No. 2 pick overall. Durham wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Weeks defensively. But as one NL scout said, "He gives you a good at-bat."

Taschner, a native of Racine, Wis. likely would be thrilled to go to his home state team. The lefthanded Taschner is known to be a huge Packers fan and even bigger Brett Favre fan.

The Wisconsin Sports Bar isn't gonna be happy about that...

[Note by battlekow, 07/20/08 2:08 PM CDT ] The latest update:

So, here's the latest word: The Brewers are just getting Giants second baseman Ray Durham, not reliever Jack Taschner.

So, apparently, its minor league outfielder Darren Ford and minor league pitcher Steve Hammond for Durham.

I completely agree with Jeff's take. I've been touting Hammond for awhile now, and he as more value than you (or Doug Melvin, apparently) think.

Srsly, who is this young punk that keeps getting all the attention? I hope this Lint Scum character can rise above his general crapitude and actually PITCH for a change today. A few strikeouts would be nice too, but I imagine that's too much to ask from this clown.

So consider this a place to vent about this slacker's total lack of focus, or whatever else. I'm off to the ballpark to do the wave...

Poll

Tim Lincecum...

11%

Meh

4 votes

40%

The meh-est

14 votes

48%

Whatever- how bout those Rays?!?!?11!!

17 votes

35 votes | Poll has closed

If you could only afford to get one, which would it be?

In my case, here are the pros and cons:

iPhone (the new one out 7/11):

Pros- Upgrades me from crappy, prehistoric Sony Ericsson. Aside from all the wonderful gimmicky features, the syncing capability of things like iCalendar, plus the internet anywhere aspect, would make it useful at home and work, plus I don't have an mp3 player at the moment.

Cons- All those gimmicky features could be a mighty big distraction, both at home and work, plus it will cost a lot each month to give me those features. Apple products are big on planned obsolence, so do I really want to board this merry-go-round? On the other hand, I'm a devoted Mac user. Hmmm

PS3:

Pros- Allows me to play the game that I love- Rock Band, which gives me a physical and mental workout, unlike most video games. Also, is good as a longterm investment because of it being the most economical BluRay player on the market. While it is more expensive than the iPhone upfront, it does not come with monthly fees.

Cons- I'm not really into video games in general, so this really would be almost entirely about Rock Band and BluRay. No work benefits (other than maybe helping me blow off steam). Doesn't help my Luddite phone/mp3 situation. Also, I don't have an HD TV, so BluRay benefits would come with the added expense of needing a new TV.

Poll

PS3 or the new iPhone?

56%

PS3

29 votes

43%

the new iPhone

22 votes

51 votes | Poll has closed