Let The Kids Play
June 18th, 2009
The Giants are leading the wild card! Woo-hoo!!
What’s that? Oh, okay. Not anymore.
Leading the wild card doesn’t mean crap in June. It seems that this “wild card race” is making people forget about what this season is supposed to be about. Yes, the Giants want to make the playoffs and probably believe they’re good enough to be a postseason team. I still think they have a good chance to make the playoffs.
This season, however, is about playing the young players and determining whether or not some of these guys are going to be good enough to go forward, beyond 2009. In the offseason, the Giants will sign a couple of position player free agents and that will take away a couple opportunities from younger players in the system to establish themselves. 2009 is an excellent opportunity to evaluate young position players such as Emmanuel Burriss (although he was certainly given great opportunity), Kevin Frandsen, Travis Ishikawa, Nate Schierholtz, Fred Lewis, and John Bowker (when he gets his chance). It was my understanding that the main goal of 2009 was to find out exactly what the Giants had in these players. This was the year to give them the at bats and the experience, so we can have a better evaluation before the Giants really try to make a run in 2010 and 2011.
The players above aren’t exactly top prospects, and will likely never be all-stars. In fact, they will all probably have a hard time being full-time regulars, on any team, after this season. The point is that in the old Giants Way, these players would never be given a legitimate chance. This new “Giants Way” mantra is supposed to give players like Frandsen, Ishikawa, Schierholtz, Lewis, and Bowker a shot. These guys are supposed to be getting the at bats over the likes of Rich Aurilia, Andres Torres, Juan Uribe. Why should these wild-card, playoff hopes change the line of thinking for Bruce Bochy?
The problem with the thinking of many managers, is the belief that they are giving up on the season if they play young players. When in fact, youth can often be a gateway to success. It’s better to go with youth over aging veterans or veterans who have never been regulars in their careers. An example is the 2007 Rockies. They made their incredible run for the playoffs late in the season after they were left for dead and they only made that run because they gave up on veteran starters who were killing them in their rotation. It was the young arms of Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales (plus plenty of hot bats) who helped them reach the playoffs.
The worst and best thing about youth is potential. We don’t really know exactly how good, or bad, most of these guys are. We do know their potential is better than most of the veterans who are taking away their playing time and at bats. It’s for this reason that it’s better for a team like the Giants, so desperate to find good everyday players, to let the kids play. Letting Frandsen, Ishikawa, Schierholtz, Lewis, and Bowker play is certainly better for the long-term health and goals of the franchise. And, it just might be better for the success of 2009 as well.
Tim Lincecum was ticked off after yesterday’s loss, writes Andrew Baggarly.
The Giants didn’t do the little things, writes John Shea.
Lincecum and Matt Cain can’t mask the team’s weaknesses, according to Gwen Knapp.
At Inside Baggs, Pablo Sandoval not throwing home to get Chone Figgins at the plate in the eighth inning is called into question. Obviously, I’m one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Sandoval backers. That said, he should have thrown home. For a guy who I’ve praised for having a great feel for the game and always seems to make the right decisions, he blew it on that play. Even if he doesn’t get him, it’s not the end of the world with a runner at first. (I hope this isn’t part of a WCB jinx.) Even Hall of Famers make mistakes, though.
Jonathan Sanchez could be headed to the bullpen. Tim Kawakami thinks Sanchez’s spot may be safe until the break.
The Giants don’t have many pieces to trade, as Bruce Jenkins notes.
Last night’s minor league lines include another good night for San Jose.
A’s
Giants fans had reason to enjoy having Rajai Davis in an A’s uniform as he and Jack Cust went deep in a win over LA last night.
The A’s almost dropped the ball, writes Joe Stiglich.
Michael Wuertz may need a break, because he feels physically drained.
Bob Geren is having fun with the rookie starters, writes David Ely.
In the A’s notes, Dodger Stadium brings back bad memories.
49ers
Matt Barrows on what we learned from minicamp and the OTAs. He does mention that Scott McKillop may team with Patrick Willis as a solid linebacking corps for years to come. (Something we at WCB were excited about after they drafted McKillop back in April.) McKillop has a rookie camp diary on the 49ers site.
In Kevin Lynch’s brief wrap-up, Shaun Hill is still the guy.
Alex Boone is confident he’ll catch up even though the Niners players are not allowed to take home playbooks. Talk about security paranoia. I hope somebody is monitoring that copy machine.
Raiders
JaMarcus Russell wants to set up a players-only practice with the receivers and tight ends, writes Steve Corkran.
Jerry McDonald has some extensive news and notes from OTA’s… and on the banged up top draft picks.
More OTA updates from Paul Gutierrez.
Scott Ostler was at Raiders camp.
Warriors
Adam Lauridsen has a look at past Don Nelson drafts, including some good picks Nellie made in his early Warrior days.
Colleges
Jahvid Best visited with ESPN’s Ted Miller and made clear he wants to win the Pac-10 more than the Heisman.
In his ongoing list, Rob Calonge has Kevin Riley as the fourth most valuable Golden Bear.
The Cal site has a list of all of the offseason accolades, including Phil Steele ranking the team ninth in his preview.
Santa Clara’s John Bryant may play in Europe.
Jon Wilner already has his early college hoops Top 25 and has Cal #15, and Kansas #1. Wilner on Cal: Patrick Christopher’s return, combined with personnel losses to many teams in the No. 11-25 range, propels the Bears into the rankings.
Other Items
Phil Mickelson is going to give everything he’s got, writes Ron Kroichick.
Mark Purdy is expecting a Tiger Woods victory.
NASCAR is not getting as much love from the fans, writes Mark Emmons.
Ray Ratto on the Hall of Fame debate.
Kevin Love’s twittering may get him in trouble.
Phil Jackson is not the greatest coach, writes Monte Poole.
The US is playing Brazil this morning in the Confederations Cup. In August, FC Barcelona will play Candlestick.
Game Today
A’s (Vin Mazzaro) at Dodgers (Randy Wolf) 7:10 PST
Categories: San Francisco Giants | Tags: 49ers, A's, Alex Boone, Andres Torres, Bob Geren, Cal, Don Nelson, Emmanuel Burriss, Fred Lewis, Giants, Jack Cust, Jahvid Best, JaMarcus Russell, John Bowker, John Bryant, Jonathan Sanchez, Juan Uribe, Kevin Frandsen, Kevin Love, Kevin Riley, Matt Cain, Michael Wuertz, Nate Schierholtz, Pablo Sandoval, Patrick Christopher, Patrick Willis, Phil Jackson, Phil Mickelson, Raiders, Rajai Davis, Rich Aurilia, Scott McKillop, Shaun Hill, Tiger Woods, Tim Lincecum, Travis Ishikawa, Warriors
