Giants get Rowand

by louslovechild on Dec 12, 2007 3:14 PM CST

Kenny Williams cannot catch a break. Loses out to Fukudome, cannot land Cabrera, now he will have to listen to those Pale-hose fans who still wish Rowand had never left.

Interesting signing. If they are serious about Matsui, they may compete. Lincecum needs to stay, Alex Rios is not worth giving up that arm for, and if they do get Matsui it will cost them Cain or Lowry.

Rowand may have been the only man available who could patrol that massive center field.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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was just gonna post a dairy....

Kenny Williams up to bat: Swing and miss (Hunter)... Strike 1! Swing and miss (Cabrera)... Strike 2! Swing and miss (FUKUDOME!)... Strike 3! Swing and miss (Rowand)... Strike 4?!?

Umm..... I think you're out?

by sweethomechicago on Dec 12, 2007 3:07 PM CST reply actions

oh here's the espn link...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3152201

by sweethomechicago on Dec 12, 2007 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

5 years?

They are reporting five years. Wow, I didn't think he would actually get that.

by madtown on Dec 12, 2007 3:11 PM CST reply actions

The Golden Sombrero!!!!

n/t

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 12, 2007 3:14 PM CST reply actions

5 years

I am thinking at least 70 mil

PC load letter, what the f*** does that mean?

by cubfaninSTL on Dec 12, 2007 3:14 PM CST reply actions

Williams should be used to striking out

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willike02.shtml

290 k's in 1154 career at bats.

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on Dec 12, 2007 3:14 PM CST reply actions

Yup, the Sux are screwed

I'm almost tempted to head over to some Sox blogs and enjoy the fallout.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Dec 12, 2007 3:16 PM CST reply actions

Ugh

Not a perfect signing. The last time the Giants made a good free agent signing might have been Bonds. ?

"These are terrible times, and I shouldn't joke about them." --Warren Zevon

by ExNorthsider on Dec 12, 2007 3:18 PM CST reply actions

Well, I won't gloat...

... only comment that this seems kind of pointless on the Giants' part. Even if they DO get Matsui, they will have to give up one of their prizes -- Lincecum or Cain -- to get him. That leaves a hole in the pitching staff, and their offense won't be much better than it was a year ago.

The Giants have to rebuild, and signing 30+ veterans isn't the way to do it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 12, 2007 3:19 PM CST reply actions

I would be surprised if the price for Matsui

...is that high.

Given the incredible bounty of prospects they should be able to get for either of them, I would think Matsui would be too little in return.

Now Lowry for Matsui would make more sense for both clubs. The Yanks get a league-average innings-eater for cheap, and free up the logjam in their outfield, and quite a bit of salary to boot.

by Wreckard on Dec 12, 2007 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

How does help the Giants?

They will still be near the bottom of the NL West. Can the bring back Barry?

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Dec 12, 2007 3:20 PM CST reply actions

Strike four

for the Sox.

Not really a good signing for the Giants, but the free agent cupboard of outfielders is now just about bare.

Rowand is always going to get hurt the way he plays and his power has always been a product of the ballparks that he plays in. That's going to dry up in AT&T Park. And five years is a long time.

But where are the Sox going to find another outfielder now? On the other hand, who cares?

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 3:22 PM CST reply actions

Where are the Sox going to find an outfielder?

I hear Juan Pierre might be available.
Cliff Floyd is too.
They missed out on Craig Monroe though, he just got almost $4 million from the Twins. Strike 5, Kenny Williams.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Dec 12, 2007 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

Floyd Likely to the Rays

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 12, 2007 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

Corey Patterson is available too

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Dec 12, 2007 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

They'd better

get in on the Jason Bay talks now before the Padres get him back.

Pierre sounds like the quintessential White Sox, but part of me thinks that the Dodgers should be forced to keep him as penance.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 5:14 PM CST up reply actions

Rowand

won't fare too well in the park. Unless you're a left handed 'roid monster then the random phone company ballpark isn't a good place to hit. Add in that Rowand was never a great hitter to begin with and it doesn't look like a match made in heaven. And 5 years really seems like a lot for him. Doesn't seem to me like this signing does anything for the Giants chances for 2008 or any year following unless other majors changes are made.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Dec 12, 2007 3:22 PM CST reply actions

That park

Isn't good for the home run, but if I recall Rowand's only really been a home run threat in Philly, where it's pretty easy to hit them. SF's park is spacious, and as long as he just drives the ball, he'll probably get a lot of extra base hits. And he's a good choice to play defense in that huge outfield.

That being said, their lineup is godawful, and by the time can probably even start to compete for the pennant again, he'll be 2 years and about 5 wall crashes older. Even if the Giants bite on someone like Matsui or Rios, their offense is still really bad.

With any luck, they'll at least jettison Pedro Feliz. I've never been frustrated more by a hitter in my lifetime. He's a virtual lock to ground out to third every time he bats; I've never seen anyone stick in the majors this long trying to pull absolutely every pitch. Ugh.

by JodyDavis on Dec 12, 2007 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

Jayson Stark

just said that before the Rowand signing, the Giants cleanup hitter for next year was Bengie Molina.

YIKES!

Of course, the idea of Bengie Molina hitting fifth isn't much better.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

I follow the Giants, and having watched their batting impotence last season in person, I can tell you it really was that bad. They just can't seem to produce major league hitters.

by JodyDavis on Dec 12, 2007 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

5 years $60 million

wow... I'm liking this FUKU signing more and more!

by sweethomechicago on Dec 12, 2007 4:49 PM CST reply actions

Yes

To get Fukudome for the same contract as Rowand minus one year is great.

And it does look like Piniella's relationship with all his Japanese players in Seattle played a big role.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 5:05 PM CST up reply actions

kenny williams

isnt a dumb man. the writing is on the wall. he better take a page or two oughta the twins,a's, and marlins book and start a great big fire sale and replenish his minor leagues. they are 3rd place at best in a very good al central. they could land a bevy of players with all that pitching.

GO CUBS GO!!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 12, 2007 4:49 PM CST reply actions

fear of another pa disaster....

i agree with general concept, but i'll also say that the white sox are also very afraid of another public backlash (white-flag trade)... they were just able to regain some fans back to the dark side and i don't think they want to do anything drastic that will cause them to lose that fanbase... and an extended rebuilding process might cause the attendance to continue to drop as it even did last year... especially considering the cubs are rolling right along during this offseason...

fear the cubbies~~~

FUKU!!!

by sweethomechicago on Dec 12, 2007 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

Remember

When the ChiSox won the series and there was talk about them pulling a bunch of fans away from the Cubs? Yeah...

"Look, what's important is to be in first place on the last day of the season." -Lou 8/1/07

by 26.2cubfan on Dec 12, 2007 8:01 PM CST up reply actions

Too late

The time to do this was last year at the trading deadline. The Sox could have gotten significant building blocks for Buehrle, Crede, Garland, Dye, and others (Konerko, Pierzynski, Thome). While none of these individuals could have commanded the boat of guys that Santana could, several trades could really have set the Sox up. Instead of going this route the Sox decided to resign Buehrle and Dye to deals that reduce their trade value. Garland was traded for a "contend now" piece. So with these moves, Williams was setting his agenda, which was not to rebuild but go and spend decent dollars to land a key CF and perhaps trade Crede for another key piece. This didn't happen as the Sox were caught in the middle which really doesn't help when you're going up against a good young Indians team and a Tigers team that now looks like a powerhouse. The Sox have big problems and they are banking that Gavin Floyd, Jon Denks, and Gio Gonzalez are going to be good pitchers.

Frankly the Sox are lucky that Rowand went west. He parlayed a career year into a five year contract. This was not a loss for Williams despite really wanting Rowand.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 12, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Em

Buehrle, if he were put on the market right now, would command a huge bounty in good young players.

When you compare his contract, $56M / 4 with the market rate for pitchers, it is a bargain. $14M over 4 years for very good and extremely durable pitcher is a great contract..

He's a better pitcher than Zito with a contract that is about half of Zito's in absolute terms.

If he were to hit the open market today, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get a Zambrano type contract, or something similar to that.

visiting A's fan.

by rfloh @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 13, 2007 2:28 AM CST up reply actions

Exactly.

And as bad as the Sox appear to be, they may have to trade Buehrle in the middle of this deal, presuming he doesn't have a full no-trade clause (and even those can be waived in the right circumstances).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2007 9:06 AM CST up reply actions

Rowand

I thought for sure he would wind up back in Chicago. I almost feel sorry for Sox fans...

Almost.

"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07

by RynoHoF on Dec 12, 2007 5:18 PM CST reply actions

Sox fans

Sox fans are really really down right now. I belong to a Cubs/Sox group.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Dec 12, 2007 8:45 PM CST reply actions

Sox fans

It looks like they will just go on and on talking about the fluke year - 2005. For the way things are going they may be ALREADY mathematically eliminated in 2008.

Aug 15 - Ted Lilly walked by the lineup card and said to nobody in particular "I can't believe I'm batting 9th again".

by mweil on Dec 12, 2007 9:53 PM CST reply actions

Williams "caching a break"?

He doesn't deserve one, but I think he expected that the World Series fluke, that was greatly aided by one of the most outrageous calls in baseball history, would create a life time of good feelings with the media.

Hey Sox fans, more people in Houston watched your fluke than people in Chicago. Now you all get in your Zs and crank up the Journey while you do a few laps around the Cell to acknowledge that Rowand isn't coming home.

It's going to be 1,000 years before you are back.

by DudeVf11 on Dec 13, 2007 9:05 AM CST reply actions