Wednesday, December 17, 2014

A Sign of Life - Romo Returns!

Apparently, acquiring Justin Maxwell & re-signing Travis Ishikawa weren't the only moves that the Giants had up their sleeves this off-season.  Sergio Romo is coming back, & I am:

- Mighty happy about the concept.

- Mighty amazed about how much money they are paying him, although, given how much various other non-Closers are getting this year, I suppose that I shouldn't be.

I think that Romo has a lot left to offer & will continue to adapt his pitching style to his shifting physical skills ... for example, what would be more goofy than the goofiest guy on the Team starting to throw a knuckle-curve?

I was worried, when LA cut The Beard loose & were supposedly shopping Brandon League, that that dreaded Romo to LA signing was imminent, but no.  Now, we need to decide whether having Wilson pitch for us, while getting overpaid by LA is something that we should interested in.  Sounds worth a shot, doesn't it?  He's another guy who is young enough to learn a new pitch & become awesome again.

I welcome the return of Romo & look forward to some more wheeling & dealing (within reason) to fill in our other needs.

Sergio is back ... more ice cream endorsements ahoy!

42 comments:

M.C. O'Connor said...

Lopez $4M
Casilla $5M
Affeldt $6M

and now

Romo $7.5M

for 2015. This is after his worst season (by FIP, ERA+ and WAR). Seems like his biggest issue was the home run, that most of his other numbers seemed OK. His strikeouts have declined but they are still good (9.2/9).

One of the things the Giants have done is keep the band together as much as is practical, and The Big Four in the 'Pen will get another go-round for 2015.

Wilson, eh? You surprise me. He might have something left, he still had good K numbers but lack of control and high BABIP killed him this year. I've a feeling, though, he burned his bridges with Baer and the FO after his rather public ring tirade in 2013.

JC Parsons said...

I'm very happy about this development. I think Romo is still a very effective reliever. He may not be able to keep it at closer level all year but I bet he could do it for a month or two if needed. I get credit for this deal because I went out and got some more of that ice cream last week. It is the little things that matter, boys.

Picking up Wilson might not be a bad idea. We need all the arms we can get. I wonder if bad feelings actually come into play, I hope not, but I guess I understand. He is a freak, isn't he?

nomisnala said...

Seems as if one way we can afford Romo's contract is if we can pick up Wilson for free. It will be 2 years after his surgery, and he should bounce back. He started off nicely for the bums when he first came back, but some of the rust was there in 2014. Under the proper pitching tutelage of Rags, he should be back to normal, or back to abnormal. His beard just did not work as well in Los Angeles.

Ron said...

I have tried to eat some Romo ice cream, but have been thwarted. They had the brand at the Safeway near my Sister's house in Oakland, but not the flavor. Even here in Portland, I can find the brand, but not the flavor. Will continue the quest with even more fervor, especially now that he is a Giant again!

Ron said...

Allen Craig or Seth Smith would round out our OF nicely.

Did anyone know that former Bear Allen Craig has never made an OF error? That's in well over 200 games. Plus, he's quite a hitter.

obsessivegiantscompulsive said...

I have been thinking about Craig too! Has nothing to do with him being a Bear either, I like him as a hitter and now as a fielder.

Wilson just had a bad start to his season. It happens with relievers and SSS. His second half appearances were pretty good. LA is going to be sorry they did not fear the beard, he will want to make them pay.

I thought of his return too, but that hubbub he caused probably nixes that. Plus, he lives down there and SD is closer plus looking to make a big splash with all their moves, where better for his ego to go?

Same with Romo, SSS and being reliever. I think he is fine, the only worry has been around for a long time, his elbow and his sliders effect on it. Giants medico must not be that worried.

Ron said...

Romo's new knuckler will save his elbow!

nomisnala said...

To me Romo's problem is usually when he loses pin point control and sometimes against that rare hitter, who is a good slider hitter, no dot, or not. Guys like Aaron Rowand cannot hit the slider, even Dale Murphy had major problems with the slider, but a guy like Manny Ramirez could make a living off of sliders. Don't get the ball up, and make sure it bites. Watch out for too many fastballs, and the back door slider. He seems to be especially effective in the post season against divisions and teams that do not see him that often. My guess is that the N.L. West probably hits him best, especially the seasoned veterans as opposed to your players.

Ron said...

And then there's today's deal ... an overpay for Peavy. What the hell? $12M on a 2-year deal? More than Volquez?

Brother Bob said...

I don't even look at the dollar amounts anymore. To me it's all about as real as angels dancing on pins.
Re: Romo, I asked myself how I would react if Romo were a hypothetical free-agent acquisition from elsewhere, and I'd think, "Holy shit, this guy has won it all 3 times. Remember when he struck out Miguel Cabrera to finish the sweep of Detroit? He's fucking great!"
Re: Peavy, I'm moderately pleased. I hope he doesn't suck. It's clearly a big plus on the "team chemistry" front. I know it will help keep The Sportsman Of The Year happy.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Overpay?

Volquez got $10M/yr, Peavy $12M (AAV). Volquez 2.5 WAR last season, Peavy 2.1 with the Giants alone. Volquez is younger, but Peavy has a better track record. It wasn't that long ago that Peavy was a 5 WAR pitcher (2012) and he threw over 200 IP last year. Volquez has never thrown 200, and has the great distinction of leading the league in hit batters (2008), walks (2012), earned runs (2013), and wild pitches (2014). He's not the flame-throwing K artist he once was. Neither is Peavy, but he can do that ground ball thing and being in the NL West will keep the HR ball down. Good fit with Boch and Rags and Giants defense.

He's a better pitcher (37 WAR in 13 years, 113 ERA+, 3.60 FIP) than Volquez (4 WAR in 10 years, 88 ERA+, 4.20 FIP) over his career. The price difference is inconsequential. I'd take Peavy over Volquez any day, and I'd have been OK with Volquez as a no. 4/5 starter.

I like the deal just fine. I know everyone else seems to hate the guy, but he did a good job filling in for Matt Cain. Giants probably miss out on the WC without him. And he beat Strasburg in the LDS!

Ron said...

I was a big Peavy supporter, until he started talking about his Free Agent future & how much he loves Jon Lester just hours before the biggest start of his life. That was a red flag for me about his commitment & focus. Of course, he then went on to have one of the worst starts in World Series history, not only getting hit, but also throwing in some clueless fielding to boot.

Now that he & Lester didn't wind up in the same place, he can hopefully focus on winning for the SF Giants. He has some good years, so I hope he has a couple of more left.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Padres are remaking their team. Kemp and now Upton and a host of other guys but mostly keeping their good pitching intact. I guess they are tired of the two-team race! They won 77 last year and the WC teams won 88 so they are not that far away. Interesting that LA won 94 and they shed some big names and remade their infield and bullpen. Giants are mostly staying pat and who can argue with the defending World Champs? Evans says the Giants are "open minded" about another starter despite adding Peavy. Shields? I wonder if his agent is looking for the big payday, or at least a 4-5 year deal. Giants won't go all-in on a 33-year old, I don't think. But he'd be a great addition and despite the workload seems like he has a lot left.

obsessivegiantscompulsive said...

I had been down previously on re-signing Peavy, because of his problems in the post-season and my expectations on what he would be asking for (he was getting $14-15M in last contract and might want 3+ years).

But at $12M AAV and only two years, I can live with his limitations, as you can't make the playoffs without winning during the regular season, and he seems to be good at doing that.

That is not an overpay to me, based on what he did for us in his brief time with us. MC makes great arguments, as well, as to why, I had not seen those stats before. I would also add that he had extreme problems pitching on the road for Boston, for whatever reasons, and hopefully it was the NL parks he grew up in that made him comfortable, as well as having his buddy Bochy around as manager, and new buddies Bumgarner and Hudson around.

The key things for me was his great DOM% and low DIS% (PQS metrics) during the last few years, his poor ERAs in spite of the good DOM% and low DIS% suggest that he suffered from a lot of bad luck in recent seasons, relative to his peripherals. People point out the luck with the Giants, but that could be regression to the mean relative to before.

And assuming Bumgarner's arm is OK and ready for another run, Cain's body is as healthy as reported and ready to return to prior goodness, and Lincecum will get the mechanical guidance from his father that will keep him from going off the reservation too often and returning him back to the straight and narrow faster when he does, One could expect the final playoff rotation spot to be a battle between Hudson and Peavy (or probably Lincecum, Hudson, Peavy battling for two spots).

For me, Peavy is fine as a back of playoff rotation starter, better than having Dirty as our 4th in 2010, better than having Zito as our 4th in 2012 (though he pitched much much better than a 4th, so good for him and for us). Maybe he'll finally put it together for us in the playoffs by being our #4 instead of #2, as he was in this year's playoffs. At worse, he's a battler in the playoffs, and won't give up much relative to other team's 3rd or 4th starters.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Somebody asked Peavy a question about his future and he answered it honestly. Do you really expect all players to go Full Vogie all the time and mumble the same old tired "I'm just focused on winning" stuff? Sheesh, the guy said something normal! You assume a direct causal relationship between two events. After all, Vogie did his usual stoic macho thing and got hammered. Maybe he should have loosened up! I think it is quite a stretch to assume a guy isn't trying hard enough or isn't professional enough because of a brief chat in a press conference. It's a baseball team, not a damn monastery.

Ron said...

Worked for you, Mark. It doesn't work for me.

Yes, I would have preferred to hear something like "Why the hell are you asking me about that right now? I'm busy trying to figure out how to get Eric Hosmer & Salvador Perez out, & you ask me that?" If you prefer a non-balls & strikes answer, then something like "You know, it's frickin' awesome be a Giant. Given how poorly I pitched earlier in the year, I am really fortunate he was to be on consecutive World Series teams." ... something relevant to the 24 hours ahead. I will always remember how baffled & disappointed I was to read that on the morning of his start.

It rubbed me the wrong way. If it didn't rub you the wrong way, that's OK.

Ron said...

Now that Joe Panik has said "Sure, I'll play 3B", I am really on the Asdrubal Cabrera bandwagon. I think that replacing Sandoval with Cabrera isn't such a bad trade-off. Their regular season records are comparable. They are both switch-hitters. I think that Cabrera as our 2B would be a good option.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Ron: OK, that's fair.

Cabrera would make a fine second baseman. Panik was a SS in the minors as well--over 200 games and 1000 chances. (So was Mike Morse, just to be contrary about it!) Duffy was a SS as well and could play second, too. I like a guy who can hit in the Eastern League.


carmot said...

Are you guys sure you'd want Asdrubal? I thought I'd read that he holds the worst batting average (his in 2014) for any MLB player to ever receive at least 300 AB in a season. And he was something like 4th worst DRS ranking among shortstops over the past 5 years combined. IIRC, Hanley, Jeter, and Lowrie were the only SS worse than him.

Granted, I thought he played some spectacular defense against us (at 2B) during the regular season series. And I'd really liked him in the past, defense not withstanding. In fact, I had thought we got him, not O Cab... When I first heard the report on KNBR that we'd "received Cabrera from CLE in a trade," back in 2011. LOL.

We're already pushing a $160M payroll. Won 3-in-5. Why can't we find a solution that doesn't require moving somebody out of position? Just my thoughts, YMMV. Cheers.

Ron said...

When McGehee's name came up, I thought 'Really?'. Then, I looked at his numbers a bit closer & thought 'Sure'! A few days later, he's a Giant. I think this is a good move. We will learn to like The Mighty Casey.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Doesn't seem like they gave up too much. Placeholder--classic Sabes veteran move. Duffy can understudy and eventually get the job.

JC Parsons said...

Calling McGehee a placeholder is kinda rude. The guy is legit and has had a couple very impressive seasons, including being last year's comeback player. There is no way you could expect Duffy, a stud but he has barely any experience, to be a better everyday contributor. Arias doesn't come close and any way his value is in being a versatile backup. The only other free agent 3bs were pricey and we have nothing to trade. So, this is what we get and I think it is very good move. Yes, he is probably not a long term dude, so in that sense he is a placeholder. But who's place?

The real reason this is a fine move is that WE STILL HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON PITCHING. If we used our budget on a position player and went with the rotation as is, I do not like our chances. However, if our offseason is getting back Romo and Peavy and picking up McGehee and Shields, then I say we are looking very good.

Re Peavy. I never heard this infamous interview, but I can appreciate how easily he can be disliked. Always been that way. It made sense when he was an awesome Padre, but I even had trouble liking him when he was a very good Giant last year. It is not really fair to hold the WS against him, he always sucks against KC ( look at his stats, he is the worst pitcher in their park EVER ) and those starts looked like losses to me going into the series. Look it up. So I guess I was prepared for his dismal failures at the very end. But for the rest of his tenure, he was basically Matt Cain!!! Exactly what we needed. I'm very happy that he is getting a nice chunk o' cash but mostly I'm glad he's a Giant.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Yeah I know McGehee's track record, and it wasn't my intention to be rude, just a recognition that the Giants are committing to him for only a year. He's 31, his best days are probably behind him, and I think the team wants to get a youngster on track for the long term. At least I hope so. (And yes I am irrationally high on Duffy.)

But for 2105 I'm happy that they have a ML-vet to man the spot, and as you say, with money left over. (The Giants could probably "afford" whoever they want but they do have shareholders to keep happy and profit streams to maintain.) He's a local boy (Santa Cruz, Fresno State) which is always nice. And it is a classic Sabes move and those often pay off with some unexpected performances, so I am cool with it. It beats a four year deal for Headley, for example.

So Shields is still out there as well as Scherzer. Can't see Boras settling early, so that means "Big Game James" which, as I said before, would be fine. He's solid and a proven performer with age as his only issue (lot of miles on that arm). I wonder if the team will be scared off by a 4 or 5 year deal which is what I imagine Shields would expect. Then again, Sabes may have another rabbit to pull out of a hat--how many of us expected McGehee?

nomisnala said...

So we made a deaf to mcgehee for morse trade and tossed in a few minor leaguers. Whai I have seen so far of Duffy, I like. I think Casey M. Hit into a ton of double plays last year. We still need a left fielder!

nomisnala said...

Trying to post from iPad is like trying to write with a drunken editor.

M.C. O'Connor said...

James Shields is asking for a contract close to the five years and $110MM remaining (if the option is picked up) on the Cole Hamels deal, one major league source who was privy to Shields’s demands told Cafardo. The Giants and Red Sox are in the picture, and the Yankees may be another suitor.

From MLBTR.

That would price the Giants out, I think, esp. when you think of the years. Hard to believe he'll get that. Hamels is better, and two years younger, and a lefty.

If the Giants do land Shields, that's an amazingly formidable rotation with MadBum, Cain, Huddy, and Peavy and that puts Lincecum in the 'pen with Petit. If they don't, which seems likely, Timmy and/or Yusmeiro is the 5th starter, and I can live with that. Like I've said all along, I think no. 55 has something left and something to prove. I expect him to do well next year. I think the ro' is fine without another starter. If you look at the last decade or so, the BEST set of starters doesn't guarantee anything. You have to allocate resources to the 'pen, defense, lineup, etc. See 2011 Phillies (Hallady, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt). You need a great ro', but mostly you need a great 1-2 and solid depth 3-4-5 with an uber-pen, the formula the Giants have had success with.

I was OK, like OGC, with Duffy and the rest manning 3B, but McGehee adds a nice dimension and depth and now Duffy and/or Adrianza can mature under less scrutiny and pressure. And you never know with Sabes' ol' vet signings. And the team didn't give up any key 'pen arms, just youngsters way down in the system.

As far a LF goes, I'm not concerned. Blanco gets a lot of flak but keeps playing and winning. So I'm fine with that. Belt can play there. So can Perez and even Ishikawa. I think OFs are all over the scrap heap if one is needed. I can't see the team expending capital to get one. They can always do that in mid-season if the need is glaring.

Ron said...

I think that the guy ready to have the breakout year is Perez. IF Pagan really is back with authority & regularity, then LF is in great hands w/ Blanco, Perez, & the occasional Belt sighting, on the days that Buster doesn't catch. Ishikawa in LF was an emergency short-term stroke of genius, but he clearly isn't a gifted OF (unlike Blanco & Perez, who are, & Belt, who could be). So, I don't think that we need a LF & will save our $ for pitching, even if it doesn't turn out to be Scherzer or Shields or Hamels.

Ron said...

Post-signing interview comments by Romo are awesome! A great & grateful Giant!!!!

obsessivegiantscompulsive said...

I have loved Romo since I saw him interviewed on CSNBA in his rookie season, and saw what a great, humble guy he is. I loved him even more when he proved to be a great reliever. I'm glad he's back, and yeah, great interview he had at his press conference.

Brother Bob said...

Trophy Tour Time!
http://aroundthefoghorn.com/2014/12/22/san-francisco-giants-world-series-trophy-tour/

M.C. O'Connor said...

That's TrophyS Tour!

M.C. O'Connor said...

Friday Jan 16th, 5-7 PM in Mt Shasta. Or so it says. However, the COS Gym is in Weed!

It was so much better in the morning. This late afternoon/eve thing is nuts. Sheesh, it's the middle of winter. The first time it was a blizzard, and the second time the place was covered in snow and ice. Hey, it's a minor quibble, I know. I guess I'll just park my ass at the Weed Brewery until they let us in.

I thought this trophy viewing thing would get old. Nope, I'm still stoked. Unfortunately I'm planning a ski trip for around the same time, so we'll see!

Ron said...

We don't have Mike Kickham to kick around anymore ... claimed by the Cubs after being exposed to a waiver claim, when Peavy was signed.

M.C. O'Connor said...

I hate to see lefties go like that. Ah well, the scouts and etc. are better at talent evaluation than I am. Kickham had a hard time in his 'cup of coffee' and he is also 26 so maybe they figured they've seen what they needed to see. I thought we might get another look at him this year. Adios, amigo. Good luck in Chi-town (except against the Giants!).

Zo said...

Article about Peavy today in the Chronic, Ron.
http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/SF-Giants-deal-with-Jake-Peavy-official-5975979.php

M.C. O'Connor said...

Don't any of you guys know how to embed a link in a comment? I've left instructions on one of the pages.
:-)


Regardless, Merry Christmas!!!

Ron said...

Peavy's comments (this article & another one that I read earlier today) not quite as warm-&-fuzzy as Romo's, but, still, good to hear the nice things that he has to say about the Giants. And, he was pivotal in August & September - I think that he could have a good season.

We probably have to come to grips with the idea that we are minus Sandoval, Morse, Vogelsong, & Flannery, but plus McGehee &, of course, Cain. I'm not anticipating any other splashy moves.

Rotation looks to be MadBum, Cain, Hudson, Peavy, & Lincecum/Petit.

nomisnala said...

The giants let Kickham go to the Cubs as a covert move to punish them for signing Lester. I would love to see Perez have a breakout season as he is approximately the same height and weight as Willie Mays, but so far he has not shown any indication that he can hit decently over any prolonged stretch in the major leagues. If he can have a breakout season it would be huge for the giants but I am certainly not counting on it.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Gregor Blanco is the Rodney Dangerfield of Giants baseball. Man, the guy has been a stud in the most critical times--two stretch runs and two post-seasons--in two different positions. I know his limitations, at best he is slightly above average as a hitter for example, but he is above average as a base stealer, has exceptional speed in the outfield and on the basepaths, and is an exemplary fielder. I mean DAMN when are we going to say "Blanco is our LF" when Pagan is healthy and "Blanco is our CF" when Pagan is hurt. He has earned our respect, so let's show it.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I think Perez makes an excellent platoon partner with both Blanco and Pagan and--gods forbid--Pence if he is ever out. Juan could man our RF with aplomb, eh? I think the Giants are fine in LF. Perez is right at the point where he can put his game together, and I think that is more likely in a fourth OF role than as a starter. He is the Blanco that Blanco is supposed to be. And Belt will get some reps out there and we know that Ishi is on the bench for those times when the fates says it has to be Ishi. The man delivered the goods in crunch time, resurrecting his game and his career. He'll have some chances in 2015 to do it again.

I liked this team last season. I like this team this coming season. Sure, losing Sandoval is a big blow. And I'm missing Vogie, I wonder if the Giants can find a way to keep him connected. Probably wind up pitching for the Astros or some shite.

We all know that Matt Cain is coming back. That has to be the most anticipated return from an injury (other than Buster) than any Giants player in a decade. I think he's a huge, huge impact player and that will be the biggest decider of the 2015 season. And Timmy, too. I just have this full-blown psychic state that tells me The Freak will make noise next year. I'm not talking about CYA stuff, but I am talking Freaky ass-kicking shit! Can I get an "Amen!" from all the brothers and sisters in this one?

So I am OK with the Giants as they stand. The 40-man roster looks good to me.


Zo said...

@ Mark - Yes, but I'm lazy.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Fair enough!

nomisnala said...

Is anyone going to have a below average year?