Ooo-ree-bye

Juan "Jazz Hands" Uribe will be suiting up in Dodger Blue for the next three seasons. Barring injury, we will see a lot of this fellow. The Giants weren't willing to match the $21 million that Colletti & Co. lured no. 5 to Chavez LAtrine with. I can't argue with them. Uribe was a productive and versatile  player for the Giants, and had a knack for big hits in big games. But the team is already looking at an $86 M payroll for 2011 and facing potential arbitration cases with the likes of Jonathan Sanchez, Andres Torres, and Cody Ross. The Dodgers will be Uribe's fourth team in his ten years. The Giants will be shopping for a shortstop--who do you like?

" You guys have seen the free-agent list. It's not very sexy at that position,"   Sabean said.

Brandon Crawford will not be ready to play in 2011, same with Ehire Adrianza. That leaves Manny Burriss as the only in-house solution.

--M.C.

Aubrey Huff is Coming Back!

A good move by the Giants to sign Aubrey Huff back for a 2-year stint. I presume this means Huff at 1B in 2011, with Huff fighting it out with Brandon Belt for 1B in 2012, while also getting some time in the OF. Belt is also regarded as a possible part-time OF for awhile (a la Todd Helton), so Huff may just be our guy at 1B for 2 years. We paid a lot, but I think that this was the right thing to do. Huff brought a lot to the team - on the field performance being foremost, but the other stuff counts, too. And, he really wanted to be a Giant - that's huge!

We've a lot to be thankful for

My holiday starts today. I'll be away from my keyboard for the rest of the week.

The 2010 Giants are the World Champs.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

--M.C.

More champions in the family

The Scottsdale Scorpions won the Arizona Fall League title by beating the Peoria Javelinas 3-2 on Saturday. Brandon Belt played first base for the Scorpions, walking once and striking out once, but also made an error. Charlie Culberson started at second but struck out three times and made two errors. Conor Gillaspie played third and and struck out twice but also got a hit. Joe Paterson pitched a scoreless 6th (three strikeouts) and opened the 7th with a walk, but it was still good for a hold. Dan Runzler pitched a scoreless 8th despite two hits, also earning a hold. Like I said--champions all. Scottsdale got five innings of shutout relief. Nationals prospects Bryce Harper (2010 #1 pick) and Steve Lombardozzi got 2 of the 3 RBI for the Scorpions. Pitching farmhands Ryan Verdugo, and Dan Stoffel were also on the Scorpions roster.

--M.C.

Just in case you never go to FanGraphs

Buster Posey, 2010 Rookie of the Year

We are not surprised here at RMC, we saw Buster play every day and we know that he is a special player. Like battery-mate Tim Lincecum, he has that rare "watch me" quality. Tim is freakish and electric, you watch because you can't wait to see what happens next. Buster is the opposite. Everything he does is relaxed and easy, you watch because he is so damn reassuring. "Buster's back there," I'd think, "it's going to be OK." Or "he's up next, we'll get it done now." Imagine, a Giants fan feeling secure and confident. But that's what Buster brought to this ballclub. Can you believe how poised and articulate he was after every post-season game?

We are so, so lucky to have Buster Posey. After a World Series ring, and a Rookie of the Year award, what's next? MVP? Another ring? Bring it on, Buster!

--M.C.


Jason Heyward and Jamie Garcia were both outstanding and would have been deserving winners. They just had to compete against Buster Posey, and even with a month's head start it wasn't enough. Buster is that good.

Just the name alone makes him worth a look

Brandon Belt is a much better name for a first baseman than Homer Bailey is for a pitcher. Imagine if his name was Homer Belt--that's serious All-Name Team material. Anyway, there's a buzzing down the intertubes regarding the Giants young first baseman because John Sickels at Minor League Ball rated him an "A-" prospect and said he was "totally legitimate." Not just "legitimate" but "totally" legitimate! Dudes! He's a former Texas Longhorn and was a 5th-round pick in 2009 (147th overall). Here's another piece on Belt from a scouting site.

Minor-league slash line: .352/.455/.620 (no typos--that's a 1.075 OPS).

He's also raking in the AFL to the tune of .373/.429/.613!

--M.C.