Farhan Zaidi has started the Juggernaut?

 

The Farhan Zaidi Juggernaut?

Several San Francisco Giants beat writers talked about how 2022 would be the year that the Giants would start to compete again. 

The main reason behind the four year timeline was because that would be when the majority of the large contracts former general manager Bobby Evans signed would come off the books. 

Zaidi joined the Giants with many of their 25 man roster players signed to long term deals.

When Zaidi was hired, the fates of Bruce Bochy, Hunter Pence, Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria were all up in the air.

As it turned out, Bochy, Pence and Bumgarner would not be fired or traded. Instead, they were simply let go. So was Will Smith, Joe Panik and Mac Williamson.

Cueto, Posey, Belt, Crawford and Longoria still remain. All but Longoria could face the same fate as Madison Bumgarner faced when he entered free agency for the first time.

However, among the surprises since Zaidi's arrival is the improvements made by this group. The entire coaching staff has completely changed the way the roster approaches their craft. It has led to a resurgence by the veterans that makes this upcoming off-season much more intriguing.

Laying the Groundwork in 2019

But the groundwork was laid over these last 30 months far beyond simply adjusting the approach by the veterans.

Zaidi mentioned in his first press conference that one of his first goals was to improve the 40 man roster. He also talked about creating depth in the minor league system.

It was led by under the radar signings like Donovan Solano and under the radar trades like Mike Yastrzemski. 

The only significant free agent signing made by Zaidi that first off-season was bringing back Derek Holland to a one year contract. Otherwise, it was small signings like Drew Pomeranz and the additions of Solano and Yastrzemski.

Zaidi did go after the biggest free agent on the market in Bryce Harper, but lost out to the Philadelphia Phillies. It's possible this was more a push by the front office than Zaidi's decision, but nonetheless, it did show that large signings were not going to disappear in the future.

Farhan continued to preach that no move was a small move. He added minor league free agents and non roster invitees, and made several small trades as well. Giants fans saw glimpses of the ways that approach could help the Giants when they had an amazing June in 2019 that had a team designed to rebuild suddenly in the playoff race. 

When Bochy and the Giants suddenly had a shot at the playoffs, Zaidi decided not to trade pending free agents Bumgarner and Will Smith at the deadline. Despite the Giants falling short, it gave Bochy the best chance to retire on top, gave a living legend like Bumgarner a chance to say goodbye, and it showed the fans that Farhan was willing to fight for wins even in a rebuild. 

Despite holding onto Bumgarner and Smith through the season, he let both walk in free agency, providing the Giants with two additional draft picks. This was the kind of long term move that can frustrate a fan base hoping for winning seasons now.

Finding Diamonds in the Rough

Zaidi spent the next off-season adding more pieces. Kevin Gausman was added to replace Bumgarner, which seemed at the time to be almost comical. 

From 2013-2019, Gausman posted a 10.6 Wins Above Replacement. Bumgarner, in the same timeframe had a 25.5 WAR. In 191 games and 154 starts, Gausman had pitched a total of 925.2 innings with a 4.30 earned run average and a 47-63 record. Bumgarner, meanwhile, had 1312 innings pitched over 202 starts and posted an 83-62 record with a 3.10 ERA.

But, here is where Farhan was starting to show his skill set. Based off those traditional numbers, the idea of replacing Bumgarner with Gausman, no matter what the money difference was, would seem misguided at best. Gausman was 64th in WAR among starters over that timeframe while Bumgarner was 10th.

However, when you saw him pitch, Gausman was showing some signs he could be much better than his numbers.  He was showcasing a devastating pitch in his splitter and the new staff in San Francisco identified him as a potential ace because of it.

It was savvy moves like Solano, Yastrzemski and Gausman that turned a team in the beginning of a rebuild into a team fighting for the playoffs in 2020. Some moves that seemed like a misstep to some, showed the true vision of Zaidi long term. 

When the Giants traded with the Cincinnati Reds for Zack Cozart, the thought initially was that we had found a versatile infielder that could help our 25 man roster. Instead, the move had nothing to do with Cozart at all. Included in the trade was former first round pick Will Wilson. The Angels were looking for a team to send Cozart to because his contract was impacting their payroll. Zaidi gladly took on the dead money to add another top prospect to the Giants farm system. 

As far as the season went, they fell short, just like in 2019. It was clear, however, that while the potential top prospects were still years away, something was going on in San Francisco.

Zaidi had traded several pitchers at the 2019 deadline, including Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz, Sam Dyson and Ray Black. What was a place of depth for the Giants suddenly seemed barren. Then the Giants added Gausman, Drew Smyly and Trevor Cahill the following off-season, just to let Smyly and Cahill walk as well.

A rotation that could have had Bumgarner, Gausman, Cueto, Smyly and Cahill was looking thin. The Giants did re-sign Gausman to the largest contract Zaidi had handed out yet. A one year, $18 million deal. Gausman and Cueto were now essentially both on one year deals. 

Farhan Retooling Once Again

Farhan then spent the remainder of the off-season adding the rest of the rotation. First Anthony DeSclafani, followed by Alex Wood and finally Aaron Sanchez. He also gave his first three year deal to versatile infielder Tommy LaStella. It was only the second multi year deal of the Zaidi era after the two year deal given to Wilmer Flores in 2020.

As we head into the middle of May, every starting pitcher acquisition has looked brilliant from Farhan. Despite injuries to Solano, Yastrzemski and La Stella, the Giants offense has been one of the best in the game. Along with the vet from the Evans era, other small signings like Darin Ruf, Alex Dickerson and trades for LaMonte Wade Jr. and Mike Tauchman have showed that Zaidi will continue to add and build regardless of the standings or the timeline of the top prospects. 

The Giants might not be able to hold off the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers and up and coming San Diego Padres, but sitting in first place in May is always a great sign.

What's even more fascinating is the potential at the deadline if the Giants are contenders. Will they be willing to add to the 26 man roster? Will they be willing to move veterans anyway in the right deal? Will they take on a large contract if it meant prospects were included? 

Having the flexibility to do all of the above makes the remainder of this season much more interesting.

Buster Posey is Staying at Catcher

The San Francisco Giants and Buster Posey seem to go over this every year with reporters and the fanbase. The question is posed every year without fail: Will Buster Posey change positions this year?  It's not a bad question. Catchers historically change positions as they approach the end of their careers. But Posey is a historically great catcher who isn't going anywhere.

Not only do the San Francisco Giants continue to say that Buster Posey is their catcher, but he also just received the Gold Glove after being named the best catcher in the National League. Not only did he win the award, but we looked at how he has clearly established himself as the best catcher in the Senior Circuit.

Very rarely do we see a catcher continue to catch every day year after year as they approach their mid to late 30's. Yet, as Posey enters his age-29 season, we enter year six of fans asking when he will change positions.

Dear @SFGiants fans,

Our Gold Glove catcher is not changing positions in 2017. Or 2018. Or 2019. Ok thanks. — Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) November 20, 2016

Recently, FanSided looked at moving Posey to third base. It's the most recent in a yearly suggestion of where to put Posey so that his bat is possibly more effective in the middle of the Giants lineup and he is at a safer position physically.

It's understandable. The Giants have won three World Series rings, but Posey's bat has been less impactful in October. When he has to start catching every game, his bat does become less dangerous. This rationale for a position change, however, undercuts two major points that fans and experts tend to forget.

1. Buster Posey behind the plate is one of the main reasons the San Francisco Giants pitching staff is elite in September and October.
2. Elite pitching in October makes it harder on all hitters, not just catchers.

The other factor that Giants fans seem to brush aside is that the team won three World Series championships with Buster Posey catching. What he means to the pitching staff, the locker room and the lineup cannot be measured simply by his batting average as a first baseman versus playing catcher. Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Will Clark, Matt Williams and Barry Bonds combined for zero World Series trophies in San Francisco. Posey has three.

Last off-season, I looked at whether or not Buster Posey was already an all-time great catcher. The short answer at the time was not yet. The fact that he was already in the conversation after less than six full seasons says everything about how truly special Posey is.

Regardless of his success, year after year, fans and reporters continually ask if this is the year Posey finally stops catching. In 2012, Bleacher Report looked at players who needed a position change and Posey was one of their choices. This was in the off-season after he was coming off a season ending injury that ended his 2011 season on May 25. The next day, the question was posed to manager Bruce Bochy.

As of now, no plans for position change for Posey according to Bochy.

— Jaymee Sire (@jaymee) May 26, 2011

In August of 2014, Bay Area Sports Guy looked at how Buster Posey's position change could be delayed because of Hector Sanchez and his uncertain future. In 2015, Posey was asked if he had heard radio hosts talk of him changing positions.

Posey doesn't listen to talk radio conversations about position change. "I have twin 3-year-olds. I listen to nothing. I enjoy the silence."

— Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) July 12, 2015

Take the case of Johnny Cueto, the Giants free agent pitcher this past off-season. Cueto turned in a tremendous year for San Francisco, finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting, and much of his success can be attributed to the early bond he made with Buster Posey. Posey spoke in February about working with new pitchers.

"As much as anything, just have them become comfortable with me, in the clubhouse as well," Posey said of what he aims to do when pitchers first join the team. "Let them see I want to help them any way I can to be successful, because if they’re successful, there’s a good chance we’re going to win some ballgames."

Then in March, with regular season days away, Posey took a day off and worked with Cueto to make sure they were on the same page heading into the season.

Buster Posey is a unicorn among horses. Rarely do we ever see an elite catcher who can win a gold glove and a silver slugger award. When a team is blessed with a unicorn, you don't ask it to be a regular horse. What the Giants may gain in Posey at the plate they will lose putting anyone else behind the plate. The move would not make the Giants better overall. Even if Posey's bat became more dangerous, the team's defense would be hurt at two positions.

No matter how well Posey does at catcher in 2017 and beyond, fans will continue to ask and even insist he move to another place on the diamond. It is what fans do when it comes to their favorite players and their favorite team. They want to see Buster Posey get the most out of his potential. The Giants have already been blessed with more success than any franchise could possibly hope for. And I expect fans will continue to see their favorite player shine for years to come, calling games behind the plate, for the San Francisco Giants.

The San Francisco Giants are Even Year-ing Again

It is hard to explain what to make of the 2016 San Francisco Giants. They were the best team in the game at the All-Star break, as I wrote about here. They were also one of the worst in the game in the second half of the season, as I wrote about here. Yet, here we are in October, in 2016, and the Giants are back in the playoffs. Is it their pitching? Is it their defense? Is it their timely hitting? Or is it that the year on the calendar can be divided by two.

The Giants have done this before. In 2010 and 2014, they waited until the final day of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth. They won the National League West in 2010 on the final day of the season, beating the San Diego Padres in a thriller, and in 2014, they made it in as a Wild Card team, having to travel to Pittsburgh for a one game playoff. Two years later, they are back in the same spot all over again, except this time they were in New York.

After an absolute thriller that saw two titans going head to head, the Giants and another unlikely hero joined the history books of Giant lore. This time, his name was Conor Gillaspie. Meanwhile, the Paul Bunyan figure that masquerades as a starting pitcher shone brightest, and Madison Bumgarner sent the Giants to a National League Division Series match-up with the best team in baseball.

The Chicago Cubs won 103 games. The Giants won 87. On paper, this shouldn't even be a series. On paper, the Giants are severe underdogs. But, the Giants have seen this script before. There was more talent on rosters in Philadelphia, Texas, Detroit, St. Louis, Washington and Kansas City. The Giants weren't favored in any of those series, and yet somehow, someway, found a way to win.

How do the Giants keep doing this? Did they make a deal with the Baseball Gods for all the breaks to go there way in October? Do they have some secret formula no other team has quite mastered the ingredients of?

One thing is crystal clear: When the brightest of lights are on the Giants, they play their best baseball.

In the off-season, I wrote a piece on the Giants winning in 2016 because of the "Even Year Magic" and how the reason they could win the World Series this year was the "Magic Wondoo" of 2016 and more importantly, talent.

That talent shown through in the first half of the season yet seemed missing in action the second half of the season. However, the Giants are on a five game win streak that included wins over the top pitchers in all of baseball, including Clayton Kershaw and most recently Noah Syndergaard. They have been beating playoff caliber pitchers all week and they head to Chicago with more Cy Young candidates on the menu, starting with Jon Lester.

Johnny Cueto goes tonight in Game 1 on the NLDS vs the Cubs

Will the Giants have what it takes to continue to defy the odds? I wouldn't bet against them in an even year.

Why the Cubs Should be Scared of the Giants and Why They Should Not

The San Francisco Giants have had two seasons in 2016. The 1st half was borderline dominant with elite pitching, superb defense and timely hitting. The Giants finished off the first half with the best record in baseball and had me declaring they were the best team in baseball.

As the Giants headed into the second half of the season, the playoffs seemed a certainty.

Then came the second half of the season, and after being swept in San Diego, the roller coaster never seemed to stop going down. After a 26-42 record in the 2nd half, the Giants needed to win four straight to make the second wild card game. After starting the season 57-33, nobody anticipated having to scratch and claw for 30 more wins.

But the Giants are in the dance, which is what they have been preaching the entire second half. "If we can just get in, we can make some noise." That has been the mantra. But, by losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, they are now forced to face the New York Mets in New York for the right to play beyond a one game playoff.

So why should the Cubs be scared of this Giants team? Well, it always starts with pitching. Pitching and defense has been the Giants calling card since their 2010 World Series run and it is no different this year. Both Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto will get Cy Young votes and deservedly so. They have both been aces for a team that has lost multiple aces to injury and performance since 2010. With Tim Lincecum gone and Matt Cain struggling to stay healthy, the Giants have rallied around Bumgarner and free agent acquisition Cueto to lead this team. The additions of Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore have also given the Giants innings eaters with strikeout stuff to lead them into the post-season. The Giants have proven in their previous playoff runs that powerful lineups like the Cubs have can become nearly obsolete by elite pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers and others found that out in recent Octobers.

So why should the Cubs remain confident? Well it starts with the rest of the Giants pitching. The Giants blew more leads than any team in baseball and their bullpen was at the heart of their problems all season. Santiago Casilla is now their former closer after blowing nine saves himself. Former closer, Sergio Romo has returned to the ninth inning and performed well, but the majority of the Giants bullpen has struggled. Veterans Javier Lopez, Casilla and Romo have had their ups and downs and young pitchers like Derek Law, Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich have shown their inexperience at times.

Winning or losing in the National League Divisional Series will come down to pitching and who throws the ball better. Can Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta outpitch the Giants staff, and will Aroldis Chapman be the difference in the late innings? October is all about pitching and the Giants will scare any team in baseball if their pitching at a championship level.

The San Francisco Giants are the Best Team in Baseball

We are at the halfway point of the season, and heading into the All-Star break, no team in baseball has a better record than the San Francisco Giants. At 57-33, they have a better record than any of the championship teams in recent years. It is certainly starting to look like that "Even Year Magic" has some merit to it after all.

The #SFGiants are 57-33 (.633). It is their best start through 90 games played since 1993, 60-30 (.667). They finished 103-59 (.636).

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) July 11, 2016

The Giants are wining with pitching. They are led by All-Stars Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto. Bumgarner has the numbers to back up being the team's ace, but Cueto has actually been statistically better. Cueto is 13-1 with a 2.47 earned run average and 115 strikeouts. "Johnny Beisbol" might already be the best free agent signing by the Giants since Barry Bonds.

The Giants have eight complete games (Cueto has 4, Bumgarner has 3). No other NL team has more than 3. — Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 11, 2016

The Giants are winning despite only 50 games so far from Hunter Pence, who has been out with an oblique injury as well as a hamstring injury and 58 games from Angel Pagan, who has also been out with various injuries. Pence and Pagan have been a huge part of what has made the Giants offense work the last several years, and yet the Giants have had to rely on young players from their system to help fill the void. Rookies Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have been called up this season to play the outfield and their contributions have helped continue the team's winning ways.

The infield is just as unhealthy, with Joe Panik and Matt Duffy each playing only 70 games so far this season. Both are still out as the team heads to the All-Star break. "The Brandons," Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, have picked up the offensive slack, along with the team's best hitter Buster Posey. Posey, who is starting at catcher once again in the All-Star game for the National League, is expected to be the best bat in the Giants lineup. What might be more surprising is that Belt has actually had the better year so far. He leads the team in batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage. He has certainly earned his first trip to the Midsummer Classic.

The Giants bullpen has struggled mightily all season, blowing 17 leads overall. Sergio Romo, who has been one of the best relief pitchers for the Giants in their championship years, was also hurt for most of the 1st half of the season. Romo has only seven appearances, where rookies Josh Osich and Hunter Strickland have 43 and 41 respectively. Relying on young, unproven arms has made things difficult for manager Bruce Bochy in the late innings. Closer Santiago Casilla has four blown saves, but he also has converted 21 saves with a 2.86 ERA. The team is still the hottest team in baseball heading into the break.

40-15 since May 11

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 — #SFGStats (@SFG_Stats) July 11, 2016

In 2011, 2013 and 2015, injuries were one of the reasons the Giants missed the playoffs. So how do the 2016 Giants have the best record in baseball despite missing so many key players? The Giants have had dominant pitching before, but the staff has been especially good this year. Bumgarner and Cueto have led the way, but the team's other big free agent signing, Jeff Samardzija, has also been excellent. I wrote earlier this season how strong Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija has been historically in Giants history. Jake Peavy has had a roller coaster first half. Peavy's first nine starts were rough and fans were clamoring for Peavy to be sent packing and the team was wondering what to do with the veteran. His next nine starts were excellent and has re-established Peavy as one of the team's most reliable pitchers. As I noted on Twitter Sunday, Peavy has had a tale of two seasons already in 2016.

Jake Peavy in 2016: 1st 9 starts: 41.2 IP, 38 ER, an 8.21 ERA & 1.917 WHIP Next 9 starts: 52 IP, 15 ER, a 2.60 ERA & 1.096 WHIP — Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) July 11, 2016

Matt Cain has also had a rough season so far, as well as multiple trips to the disabled list. I wrote more about Peavy and Cain's early struggles in an article earlier this season. Minor league free agent Albert Suarez has stepped in during Cain's absence and really helped solidify the rotation.

That's the other huge component to this year's steady play is the contribution made by several minor league call-ups. Conor Gillaspie, Ramiro Pena, Grant Green and Ruben Tejada have stepped up and helped the Giants find ways to win. Each has been let go by other organizations and are embracing this chance to be a part of a pennant race.

Ultimately, having the best record in the game means very little in July. It will only matter if the record at the end of the season is good enough for a playoff berth. If 2016 is going to be another magical even year for the Giants, they will have to keep this momentum into the Fall. Getting healthy could be as important as any trade they could make, but don't be surprised if the Giants front office looks to address their bullpen before the trade deadline. All things considered, there isn't much to complain about when you are the best team in baseball.

The Giants Big Three are Historically Good Already

The San Francisco Giants went into the off-season with a desire to improve their starting pitching. Bobby Evans went out and signed Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto to help shore up a staff that had trouble pitching deep into games. When asked about why the team signed the two right handed pitchers, both were labeled as "innings eaters."

Cueto and Samardzija have done much more than that. Along with Madison Bumgarner, all three have an ERA under three, and are a combined 20-5 in their 30 starts. These three pitchers are the main reason the Giants are in first place and have won 12 out of their last 13 games.

Through 10 starts …

Bumgarner: 6-2, 2.17 ERA, 66 1/3 innings Cueto: 7-1, 2.38 ERA, 75 2/3 innings Samardzija: 7-2, 2.54 ERA, 71 innings — Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) May 25, 2016

If you look at a pitchers Game Score, anything over 57 is considered excellent. For more on what Game Score is, you can refer to Beyond the Box Score here. Using Game Score to look at Giants history, no pitching staff has pitched this well through 48 games since 1969. That staff included Hall of Famers Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry. Marichal, Perry and Mike McCormick combined for 18 starts of 60 or higher in 1969. The Giants top three pitchers in 2016 now have 22 starts with a Game Score of 60 or higher this season. In those starts, the staff is 17-2. In more recent history, the Giants championship staffs in 2010, 2012, and 2014 didn't have as many strong starts as this 2016 club has. The entire starting staff in 2016 so far has 25 games of 60 or more with Matt Cain pitching two and Jake Peavy pitching one. The 2010 staff had 23 games of 60 or higher to this point in the season, while the other two championship teams have less as a group than just Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija. The Giants top three pitchers are also in the top 10 in all of baseball for their total Game score.

May 25 GSc Leaderboard: 1. Kershaw 2. Arrieta 3. Sale 4. Cueto 5. Syndergaard 6. Strasburg 7. Pomeranz 8. Bumgarner 9. Samardzija 10. Nola — Pitcher Game Score (@SPGameScore) May 25, 2016

The Giants were expecting their two prized free agent signings to help take the pressure off of incumbent starters Bumgarner, Cain and Peavy. But it was also to take pressure off a bullpen that was overworked in 2015. Both Sergio Romo and George Kontos, who were used heavily last season, have already been to the disabled list this season. The team also has put added responsibility on young arms like Josh Osich and Hunter Strickland.

Regardless of the reasons the Giants brought them in, it is clear that Cueto and Samardzija have been as good as any free agent signing this season and that we are also witnessing one of the strongest staffs in San Francisco Giants history.

Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans

Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans Por Michael Saltzman

Johnny Cueto fue un fichaje sorpresa por los Gigantes de San Francisco en la temporada baja. Después de entintado Jeff Samardzija a un contrato de $ 90 millones a principios de invierno, los aficionados no estaban seguros de lo que los Gigantes ver con su otro lugar abierto en la rotación.

Iban a dar el trabajo de Chris Heston, quien lanzó un juego sin hits el año pasado en un fuerte 1ª mitad de su temporada de novato? Iban a tratar de traer de vuelta a Tim Lincecum o Ryan Vogelsong por una temporada pasada? Iban a firmar un lanzador menos proclamada sea para poner en la parte final de la rotación, con la esperanza de un rayo en una botella? En cambio, los Gigantes no hizo ninguna de esas cosas y firmaron Cueto por $ 130 millones y lo colocaron justo detrás del as Madison Bumgarner en la rotación.

La medida ha dado sus frutos a principios de como los Gigantes están 3-0 en sus aperturas y sus 21 1/3 entradas lanzadas conducir el personal. Él ha lanzado al menos 7 entradas en cada inicio, incluyendo su primera apertura contra el rival de Los Ángeles Dodgers, donde se rindió 5 carreras en la primera entrada y todavía fue otro 6 entradas.

Vencer a los Dodgers dos veces, la segunda vez en el Dodger Stadium, es la manera más rápida al corazón de cualquier fan de los Gigantes. Pero es la forma en que ha ganado y cómo él va sobre su negocio que él en una estrella en los ojos de los aficionados ha hecho. Se niega a ser convencionales en el montículo, a partir de lanzadores rápida, a shimmying antes de que él lanza, para todo tipo de otras peculiaridades antes de que él lanza. Todos estos movimientos están diseñados para interrumpir el tiempo bateadores y hacer que el bateador incómodo. Se ha estado trabajando.

Cueto es el mejor amigo de un jugador defensivo como parece odiar a tomar cualquier tiempo entre lanzamientos. Su insistencia para quitarse el sombrero al segundo se le permite después de una entrada termina se darán cuenta real rápido en AT & T. Podía ver la multitud retirar sus gorras al final de un turno como un tributo a Cueto a medida que camina de nuevo en el banquillo.

En última instancia, la producción es siempre más larga que la espectacularidad y entretenimiento. Pero esto es un juego y esto es dólar de entretenimiento de un ventilador. En este momento, si le preguntas a un fan que estarían dispuestos a pagar para ver el lanzamiento, la mayoría podría decir aún Madison Bumgarner, no sólo por su habilidad en el montículo, pero para ver a oscilar la madera en el plato también.

Cueto, por el momento, ha producido más que cualquier otro lanzador en la rotación, y si se sigue produciendo, a su pitcheo solo se convertirá en la estrella del espectáculo en 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Johnny Cueto is Already a Fan Favorite

 

Johnny Cueto was a surprise signing by the San Francisco Giants in the off-season. After inking Jeff Samardzija to a $90 million contract earlier in the winter, fans weren't sure what the Giants would do with their other open spot in the rotation.

Would they give the job to Chris Heston, who threw a no hitter last year in a strong 1st half of his rookie season? Would they try to bring back Tim Lincecum or Ryan Vogelsong for one last season? Would they sign a less heralded pitcher to put at the back end of the rotation, hoping for lightning in a bottle? Instead, the Giants did none of those things and signed Cueto for $130 million and placed him right behind ace Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

The move has paid off early on as the Giants are 3-0 in his starts and his 21 1/3 innings pitched lead the staff. He has pitched at least 7 innings in every start, including his first start against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers where he gave up 5 runs in the first inning and still went another 6 innings.

Beating the Dodgers twice, the second time at Dodger Stadium, is the fastest way to any Giants fan's heart. But it's the way he's won and how he goes about his business that has made him an instant star in the eyes of the fans. He refuses to be conventional on the mound, from quick pitching, to shimmying before he throws, to all sorts of other quirks before he pitches. All of these motions are designed to disrupt the hitters timing and make the batter uncomfortable. It's been working.



Cueto is a defensive player's best friend as he seems to hate taking any time between pitches. His insistence to remove his hat the second he is allowed to after an inning ends will catch on real quick at AT&T. I could see the crowd removing their caps at the end of an inning as a tribute to Cueto as he walks back into the dugout.

Ultimately, production is always longer lasting than showmanship and entertainment. But this is a game and this is a fan's entertainment dollar. Right now, if you asked a fan who they would pay to see pitch, most might still say Madison Bumgarner, not only for his ability on the mound, but to see him swing the lumber at the plate as well.

Cueto, at the moment, has produced more than any other pitcher in the rotation, and if he continues to produce, his pitching alone will become the star of the show at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

What the Kolten Wong Extension Means for Joe Panik

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that Kolten Wong will be signing a 5 year extension to stay with the club through 2020 with a club option for 2021.

#STLCards sign Kolten Wong to 5-year deal thru 2020 with club option for 2021 pic.twitter.com/fPs77iE7Ae

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 2, 2016

Baseball Essential writer Corey Adams (@corey_adams) wrote about the Wong extension earlier today.

So what does this mean for the San Francisco Giants homegrown second baseman Joe Panik? Panik went to his first All-Star game in 2015 and won a championship with the Giants his rookie year. A back injury limited his 2015 season to 100 games. That means Panik will be heading into his 3rd different season in the Major Leagues, but he hasn't actually played a full season yet. However, the former 1st round pick has been impressive from the day he joined the Giants during their World Series run in 2014.

Panik had a slashline in 2015 of .312/.378/.455 with an OPS of .833, an OPS+ of 131 and a Wins Above Replacement of 3.3. He also played Gold Glove level defense at second base, and had he not been injured, may have been in the running for the award.

Wong, who played in 150 games in 2015, with a slashline of .262/.321/.386 with an OPS of .707, an OPS+ of 92 and a Wins Above Replacement of 2.2. Wong had a small sample size in 2013 and played in 113 games in 2014. Wong's career WAR is 3.9, which is only slightly higher than Panik's production in only 100 games in 2015.

The Giants recently gave an extension to Panik's double play partner Brandon Crawford earlier this off-season. The Giants also have long term deals set with Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and newly acquired Jeff Samardzija. Johnny Cueto, another off-season acquisition, can opt out of his deal in two years, but could possibly be another long term fixture for the Giants.

Will Panik be the next player to get an extension? The team may also consider extensions for Brandon Belt and Matt Duffy as well. The Giants has shown a willingness to be patient with their extensions. Wong's deal certainly sets the bar for negotiations, so the question will be how much higher will the bar go for Panik?

Giants still using the same formula

The San Francisco Giants have been busy this off-season. They have extended their franchise shortstop Brandon Crawford to a new long term contract and signed two top of the rotation pitchers in Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto. They have also said goodbye to many players who had key roles in championship seasons in San Francisco.

Crawford's deal is the Giants way, giving extensions to homegrown players that are part of the nucleus of the franchise. The Giants did the same with several key pieces over the years, including Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and many others.

However, the other common thread among the previous seasons for the Giants is to re-sign players when they become free agents. Aubrey Huff, Andres Torres, Angel Pagan, Jeremy Affeldt, and others came from other teams, fit right in with the clubhouse and all contributed greatly to a championship. Then, when it was time for free agency, they were re-signed. Many of these players struggled at times to put up the numbers they had previously, but this was a part of the reason that this franchise was winning so many post-season games. The locker room felt like a family because the front office kept the family together. So when Cody Ross, Javier Lopez, Marco Scutaro or Hunter Pence were brought in during the season and only spent a few months with the franchise, it was already clear that the team would keep them around.

Going into the 2015 off-season, fans expected the Giants to bring back Mike Leake, a mid-season trade, who struggled to stay healthy, but was the type of pitcher they were looking for in the rotation behind Bumgarner.

Affeldt and Tim Hudson had announced their retirement before the season ended, so Giants fans were able to say goodbye to both pitchers, but several free agents were question marks to return to the club. This was unusual, because very few free agents ever left the team. Yet, in 2015, the Giants have already lost Ryan Vogelsong, Yusmeiro Petit, Hector Sanchez, Juan Perez, Joaquin Arias, Nori Aoki and are unlikely to bring back Lincecum. Alejandro De Aza and Marlon Byrd are both still free agents, but there isn't any indication that either will be brought back to play left field in 2016. Some fans may see this as a change from what they are used to, but we saw a glimpse of this new version last off-season.

Before the Giants brought back Jake Peavy, Sergio Romo, and Vogelsong, the Giants went after Jon Lester. Bobby Evans, the team's general manager, was trying to find a pitcher to pair with Bumgarner. He had also hoped publicly that Cain could return to form and give them the type of season they were accustomed to for Matt's first eight years with the club. With injuries to Peavy and Cain crippling the Giants starting pitching depth last year, the mission was clear this off-season: to add pitching depth to the rotation. At first, that meant going after Zack Greinke, the runner up to the Cy Young award in 2015, and an elite pitcher. When the Giants became runners up for the second straight off-season to a top pitcher, the Giants stayed the course and went after Samardzija. After signing him to a five year deal, they turned their attention to Cueto and were able to sign him as well.

But with all this money to big time free agents, are the Giants getting away from what has made them so great? The simple answer is no. The 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series Championships were won on pitching and defense. The Giants have given $295 million to three players this off-season that are their gold glove shortstop and two starting pitchers with ace potential.

The team may have gone about it differently than in past off-seasons, with the front page signings, but Crawford, Samardzija and Cueto fit everything the Giants do and have done the last six seasons. What Bobby Evans has done is no different than the money the team has given to so many other players in past seasons. They know the formula it takes to win and they have the horses now to compete again for a fourth championship this decade.