Monday, January 13, 2020

Bad Boys

Teams rise and and teams fall. We've seen that with the Giants, have we not? Today we found out that baseball was not happy about the Astros and their sign-stealing shenanigans. The manager (AJ Hinch) and GM (Scott Lunhow) were suspended for a year without pay by MLB and were then promptly fired by the team's owner (Jim Crane). The toast of the baseball world not long ago will also be stripped of 1st- and 2nd-round draft picks for the next two years. Ouch! Oh, and a $5M fine, which I understand is the maximum. Chump change for this industry. I should note that The Athletic was given credit for breaking the story. If you read this blog regularly you know I like that site, they have a nice supply of good writers so there is usually something interesting or useful to read. The Astros still have a formidable team, talent-wise, I should note. Also there will likely be fallout in Boston as manager Alex Cora was on Hinch's staff. The Sox are facing a potential sign-stealing investigation as well. Carlos Beltran, the Mets new manager, was an active player on that 2017 championship team. I remember a story after that World Series that Beltran had picked up a tell from Yu Darvish and let all the guys on the team know, that's why they clobbered him. Seems like what really happened is that he had the job of relaying the stolen signs!

In Giants news, infielder Zack Cozart was cut loose. The Giants still owe him almost $13M. They gave the roster spot to waiver claim Jake Jewell, a 26-year old right-handed pitcher. The Giants took on Cozart and his salary presumably to obtain the #15 pick in the 2019 draft, North Carolina State 2B/SS Will Wilson. The Giants chose Arizona State OF Hunter Bishop with the #10 pick. Two chances are better than one, right?

Also, Jose Alguacil has returned to the organization and will serve as the manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA, Eastern League). He ran that club back in 2015 before managing the River Cats and then joining the Giants as first-base coach.

--M.C.

6 comments:

Zo said...

Pat the bat Burrell has apparently been named as the San Jose Giants hitting coach.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Great to know there's still a place for greybeards in this outfit.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Alex Cora was fired. Rookie manager leads them to a World Series title in 2018 but now we know that was "tainted" by his 2017 Astros connection. Not to mention the Sox are facing their own sign-stealing scandal! Best to get out in front of these things, right? I wonder who they will give the job to. That's a high-profile position. The Boston media is an Empire of Assholes who will carve up a newbie and not lose a minute's sleep over it.

Maybe the takeaway from this story is that managers aren't really that important anymore!

nomisnala said...

Just trying to figure out, as we now DFA'd Cozart, how paying 12.7 million for our new number 10 prospect is a smart financial move? That mean for his first 4 years of service it will cost us 3.175 million a year plus his salary, for those year. So during his low cost years of service it will cost almost 4 million a year. Albeit only his salary will be charged against the team 4 salary cap considerations, the actual cost seems quite high. Especially for a team who could not afford to pay a certain centerfielder approximately 8-9 million for one year of service as a stopgap measure. A player who definitely put fans into the seats. I am not against getting a guy like Will Wilson in our minor league arsenal but the economics of the decision at this time do not seem to make sense. I guess 5 million was the maximum penalty that could be levied on the Astros for their cheating. Seems like petty cash when a team like the giants is paying 12.7 million for a guy that has not even made the top 100 prospect list.

M.C. O'Connor said...

You also have to figure the cost of the roster spot. It might be better to pay a guy to go away so you can free up a spot.

Giants were supposedly interested in Wilson anyway, but grabbed Bishop because he was available. They thought he might be gone earlier and Wilson was their #2.

First-round draft picks are the most valuable. They are most likely to produce ML-value down the road.

M.C. O'Connor said...

I note that Carlos Beltran stepped down as manager of the Mets. Lots of fallout from the sign-stealing stuff!