RealGM

My thoughts:

Bonds is not coming back. Retiring? Maybe.

Feliz should not be resigned. Nice defense, but he's 32 and still not consistent enough.

Just say no to Vizquel. Good speed and great defense (although a lesser arm), but he's a terrible hitter.

Maybe keep Klesko and turn him into the next Mark Sweeney off the bench.

Russ Ortiz - what the hell were we thinking?

Zito, Cain, Lincecum, Lowry, #5...

Bullpen

Definitely keep Bengie around

Finally, we need to just go into a rebuild mode. It's been overdue. Lewis, Shierholtz, Ortmeier, Frandsen, Davis...Not much power, but we'd kill on the basepaths. Small-ball time.

What do you guys think?

No problem with it as long as we stick to it. None of this Frandsen at 2B, then SS, then 3B, then LF, then C crap. Lets the kids play in one spot for the entire season and see what happens.

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Who's gonna watch or go to these boring games? Not me. Bonds gone, I'm gone. i'll retire as well.

Yea i'll check the box scores from time to time, but nothing like the way i follow them now. I live on a beautiful high mountain lake just chalk full of big trout. Time maybe, to give THEM some attention.

Bring back Bonds with a trade clause, he gets his 3000 hits as a Giant, see how the season goes, if poorly, trade him near deadline for young talent to A.L. team looking to pick up a big bat for World Series chase. Bonds has always earned his pay! That's more than i can say for many.
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We're going to suck next year either way. As far as attendance goes, we don't spend much money anyway, so it's not like we're losing out in a major way there if Bonds leaves.

If Bonds comes back for less (wishful thinking), or with some kind of condition, then that's great. But if not, things will go on.

There needs to be life after Bonds, we cannot keep trying to hang on.

I'll take Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter. That would be nice.

C - Bengie
1B - Ortmeier
2B - Durham...
SS - Frandsen
3B - Aurilia...
OF - Bonds? Winn (trade him please), Lewis, Davis, Schierholtz, Jones/Hunter?

Cant see Jones or Hunter comming here. Both are getting up there in age and would like a ring. Teams like Bos, NYY, Ana, possibly even Oak or Phil or Atl could offer them good $ as well as a chance for a ring. Cant see the Giants getting any significant FA. As much as I love Bonds, he has to go as well. Sorry Backer.

bballguy50 wrote:We're going to suck next year either way. As far as attendance goes, we don't spend much money anyway, so it's not like we're losing out in a major way there if Bonds leaves.

I think your taking the paying fans for granted a bit in your statement.

What would we lose? We would not have a clean up hitter, maybe the best that has ever played the game, a "Face" of the giants, it's Icon. I agree with Zones thought that no way are not going to land a great Free Agent. Jones? pay him how much for how long? Hunter?, i don't think so. A-Rod? laughable dream at best Besides them not wanting to come here, i don't see them putting up better #'s than Barry, A-Rod's the exception. Again, Bonds pay has always been money well spent.

Do you remember when Mays went to the Mets? i do, and i remember how i felt at the time. It was like i had been kicked in the stomach or slapped in the balls. Bonds wants to play one more year and retire a Giant. I believe he has earned that much... at least, as Mays had. As you say, we are going to be crappy anyway. Why not satisfy fans like me, put more fans in the bleachers, and take advantage of his OBP, OPS, BB's and HR's at the same time and let Bonds retire a Giant. It's only one position we would still be aged and only for one more crappy season. To send Bonds away would be shameful. I just don't see that he has to go. sorry Zone.

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Getting Jones or Hunter was a bit of wishful thinking as well.

The paying fans do pay to see Bonds, but most paying fans (I hope) also are smart enough to expect Bonds to leave at some point.

What then? Not everyone, like you, is going to just up and leave with the occasional check of a box score. It does not work like that with attendance (unless you're Kansas City or Florida).

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Hey BBallguy,Good comments. I could be way off on my thinking. Maybe the Fans will still show to see a bunch of kids trying to become pro's, Maybe. Most all the other teams that draw good crowds have more than one star in the batting order. One guy leaves, no big deal, they get another. The giants have Bonds and...and...Molina? I just don't see people paying big bucks for parking, seats, bev's, and food, to see Molina.

All i'm doing here is begging for thought and some wishful thinking. I too think that Barry Bonds will be gone, that's why my Mays comments. But i also can't see any reason why he shouldn't be given his wish. People want to rebuild...fine with me, why don't we keep our best hitter one more year while we do so? He earns his money!

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When Bonds leaves, we'll be able to cherish his legacy with us. It will also give us a new era to look forward to, something new to watch. It won't be the same as when Bonds was here, but it's time for a change. The long ball is exciting, but so is small ball and speed (look at Jose Reyes). We may not be too good for a while, but in any light, this is our team.

I just hope management doesn't get any more lost than they are. We need our young guys to have a good sense of direction in their development.

Reality has no business on forums like these. So if I had a say in the offseason moves, here's my 2 cents...

I think the Giants will make a run at Hunter. If Hunter signs elsewhere, it won't be because the Giants didn't give him a big contract. Nevertheless, Hunter will be a good start.

Giants have a surplus of pitching. Other than Lincecum and Cain, they need to cash in that pitching for another quality hitter. Carl Crawford is on my wishlist but it's a pipe dream. The only untouchables in the Giants system is Lincecum, Cain, and Villalona. Package Lowry and whatever other pitching prospect/player but get Crawford.

I would bring back Omar. Like Hunter and Molina, a good locker room guy for the young guys. Stick Aurilia at third and let go of Feliz. Giants are on track to get a top 7 pick. They need to draft a position player with pop.

RF - Winn (Schierholtz will play here once he's gone)
CF - Hunter
LF - Crawford
3B - Aurilia (Can't unload him yet)
SS - Omar
2B - Durham (keeping it warm for Fransden)
1B - Ortmeier
C - Molina

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EJS99, Sounds like a pretty good plan to me, i can find no fault in it or your logic... except maybe your opening line. Reality does have everything to do in a place like this... emotions are what don't belong.

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Give me Andrew Jones instead of Torii Hunter.

If reality was a consideration, then ridiculous trade scenarios would never be posted by amateur GMs. I agree that emotions do get the best of some people.