A Giant Rebuilding Project: 2009 San Francisco Dynasty

[CTSoxFan]

In the midst of a disappointing 2008 season, owner Peter Magowan sold the San Francisco Giants to mysterious Connecticut businessman Tom Avery. Little was known of who Avery was, except that he had owned a stake in the independent Bridgeport Bluefish since their inception.

Avery told general manager Brian Sabean to trade as many of the team's veterans as he possibly could by the deadline and give some of the Giants younger players a shot at playing time, to see what they could do. Ray Durham, Randy Winn, Dave Roberts and Tyler Walker we all traded away.

But Avery lived up to his promise that Sabean would have money to spend on free agents. In came Orlando Cabrera at short, Joe Crede at third base and Bobby Howry in the bullpen. The biggest move of the winter was a trade, as Rich Harden was acquired from Oakland.

Cabrera, Crede, Howry and Harden join a team featuring a talented young rotation and a weak offense, with Paul Konerko, acquired prior to 2008, leading the way.

Sabean has the money to spend and some talent, now he just has to turn the team around.

[CTSoxFan]

Record: 71-91, Last in NL West

Leading Hitters:

1B Paul Konerko - .262, 23 HR, 78 RBI, 30 doubles
3B Jose Castillo - .251, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 35 doubles
CF Aaron Rowand - .286, 20 HR, 70 RBI, 31 doubles, 82 runs scored
C Bengie Molina - .283, 20 HR, 81 RBI

Leading Pitchers:

Tim Lincecum - 14-9, 3.38 ERA, 208 strikeouts (second in NL)
Matt Cain - 8-11, 3.78 ERA
Barry Zito - 10-12, 4.93 ERA
Jensen Lewis - 20 G, 2.28 ERA, 4 wins, 8/9 in save opportunities

Key News:

After Barry Bonds signs a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, GM Ken Williams puts Paul Konerko on the market, deciding Jim Thome can still play at 1B. Giants GM Brian Sabean sees an opportunity to improve an offense lacking in power and trades pitcher Kevin Correia, shortstop Omar Vizquel, infielder Rich Aurilia and a set of prospects (centerfielder Francisco Peguero, catcher Nestor Rojas, and pitcher Waldis Joaquin). Mark Sweeney is signed to provide a lefty off the bench.

Second baseman Ray Durham rebounds from tough 2007 season to have a monster first half, hitting .330 with 10 home runs and 48 RBI, and represents the Giants in the All-Star game. Durham becomes an important bargaining chip for the Giants and Brian Sabean. He is traded to the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline for Jensen Lewis and outfielder John Drennen. Lewis would become the team's closer in the final two months. Durham would hit 10 home runs and finish with 60+ RBI and a .310 average, but the Indians would miss the playoffs.

Along with Durham, veterans Dave Roberts, Randy Winn and Tyler Walker are traded away. Walker, who did not make the squad out of spring training, was traded to the Yankees, who were looking for depth following a season-ending injury to Kyle Farnsworth. The Giants acquired fringe prospects Dan McCutcheon and Chris Malec. Walker never reached the majors, but remains with the Yankees for the 2009 season after posting a 2-2 record with a 3.31 ERA in Triple-A.

Roberts was traded to the Texas Rangers, who were looking to add a speedy fourth outfielder for their stretch run. Coming back to the Giants were pitchers Robinson Tejeda and Josh Rupe and 24-year-old outfielder John Mayberry Jr. Roberts hit .256 with 10 stolen bases and helped the Rangers reach the World Series and defeat the Atlanta Braves as part of a shocking, magical run by a team not expected to sniff the playoffs. Roberts hit .333 with 5 stolen bases in 14 playoff games, winning his second career ring. He will return to the Rangers in 2009 and is set to be their starting left fielder.

Winn brought back the biggest haul for the Giants. The Minnesota Twins, in a fierce battle with the Indians, sent back outfielder Joe Benson, pitcher Anthony Swarzaz and pitcher Jeff Manship. Minor league first baseman Travis Ishikawa also went to Minnesota and played sparingly at the end of the season, but did make the Twins post-season roster. Winn was the real deal for Minnesota, hitting 9 home runs and posting a .329 average, while driving in 29 runs. He hit .375 in the playoffs, but the Twins lost to the Rangers in the ALCS. Benson reached Double A for the Giants and in the off-season was traded to Oakland as part of the Rich Harden trade.

The bullpen was awful for the Giants all season long and had the worst ERA in the NL. After the break Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy decided to revamp the bullpen. Closer Brian Wilson was replaced by Jensen Lewis, while the rest of the bullpen was sent to the minors. Rookie Alex Henshaw and Billy Sadler had the best success of their replacements. Hinshaw posted a 2.75 ERA in 20 games and Sadler was nearly perfect, with a 1.55 ERA in 21 games. Merkin Valdez (2.80 ERA) and Randy Messenger (3.68 ERA) also had success.

Starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez finished the season with a 3-18 record and a 5+ ERA. Following the season the 26-year-old Sanchez, once expected to be a part of the Giants rotation for years to come, was traded to Seattle to give him a change of scenery and clear room for Rich Harden. Pitcher Anthony Varvaro and catcher Adam Moore came back to the Giants.

The Giants selected shortstop Gordon Beckham from Georgia in the first round of the draft. Fellow Bulldog Josh Fields, a closer, was their second round pick. Later round picks included centerfielder Ryan Westmoreland (3rd), pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth (4th), Austin Yount (10th, nephew of Robin), and Colby Shreve (11th, posted 5-8 record, 2.73 ERA, 25 strikeouts at rookie, short season, and single-A ball after draft).

[CTSoxFan]

[Just a note, a lot of my storytelling will be done through news articles, like the following two, but my style will change throughout to keep it fresh, sometimes it could be from a player's POV or the manager's or the owner, etc. Once the season starts, my stories will flow a little better, these next few posts will just be to set the tone after a simmed 2008 season, where all I did was make a few transactions]

Jensen Lewis Ready for Closer Role, Leads Fresh Faces in 'Pen

Entering last season Jensen Lewis was set to be an important member of the Cleveland Indians bullpen. The 25-year-old Cincinnati native had set the bar high as a rookie in 2007, making his debut at mid-season and posting a 2.15 ERA in 26 games. But a sophomore slump cost Lewis in the early season and he was eventually demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis.

With the Indians in the heat of a pennant race with Minnesota and Lewis finding success once again in the minors, he became a bargaining chip as Cleveland looked for a bat off the bench. When San Francisco came calling at the trade deadline with resurgant All-Star second baseman Ray Durham, Lewis was on his way across the country.

The Giants, who revamped almost their entire struggling bullpen in August, immediatly put the talented Lewis in a position where he had to succeed by making him closer. Lewis made a quick adjustment and finished the season with eight saves and a sub-two ERA.

"I lost a little bit of my touch on my breaking ball and it cost me early in the season," said Lewis. "But once I went down to the minors I got back on track and just needed a break. San Francisco gave that to me and I'm happy to have the opportunity to return here as closer."

A Vanderbilt grad, Lewis was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft by the Indians. He was a starter as a Commodore and did not move to the bullpen until he reached Double-A Akron in 2007, posting a 1.85 ERA en route to a major league call-up.

"I was a closer my first year in Vanderbilt," said Lewis, who had 12 saves in 2003, his freshman year. "But for three years I was a starter and that continued after college with the Indians. But I am comfortable in the bullpen, I love the adrenaline rush of a save-situation, it's what I can see myself doing full-time now. Starting is a thing of the past for me."

After arriving in San Francisco, Lewis replaced Brian Wilson, 27, who became closer at the end of 2007. But Wilson struggled throughout the first half of 2008 and manager Bruce Bochy opened up the position in late July.

"Jensen came in right at a perfect time. We were looking for a closer and he was successful in that role in the minors, so we figured we'd give him a shot at the job," Bochy said.

The Giants bullpen troubles were well-noted as they finished last in the league last season in ERA. Out are Brad Hennessey, Tyler Walker, Keichi Yabu, Pat Misch and Julio Mateo who all began last season in the pen. Wilson is the lone reliever who started last season on the opening day roster to remain.

General Manager Brian Sabean signed veteran reliever Bobby Howry and selected Georgia reliever Josh Fields in the second round of the 2008 draft. Fields impressed Sabean enough to get a spring training invitation and earned a spot on the opening day roster. Billy Sadler and rookie lefty Alex Henshaw also joined the bullpen at the same time as Lewis and found success.

"We had a lot of trouble in the pen last year and decided to make some changes mid-season, bring up guys from the minors and giving them a shot," said Sabean. "It really made a differance and those guys deserve to be on the roster now.

The final bullpen spot will be filled by a well-known face to those in the Bay Area, Mark Mulder. After injury-plagued seasons in St. Louis, Mulder signed a one-year, four million dollar deal to play for the Giants with good friend Barry Zito and former pitching coach Rick Peterson, who was hired as a pitching advisor after being fired by the Mets. Mulder will be a spot-starter and could end up being a set-up man to Lewis.

"Mark is a good person to have on this team," said Sabean, who also acquired Mulder's former A's teammate Rich Harden this off-season. "He's had to deal with a lot of arm problems the past few years, but he still has the talent to succeed. You can never have too many talented arms on your team."

Bullpen By the Numbers:
2008 statistics

Jensen Lewis: 4-0, 8 saves, 2.28 ERA, 17 hits allowed, 27 strikeouts in 27.2 IP
Bobby Howry: 4-2, 4.88 ERA, 23 BB in 70 IP (with Chicago)
Billy Sadler: 2-3, 1.55 ERA in 24 games
Josh Fields: 2-2, 14 saves, 0.84 ERA in 20 minor league games in Single A and Double A)


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Sabean Not Afraid to Take Risks

When Paul Konerko found out he had been traded from the White Sox to San Francisco last February, he grew concerned. Konerko had been pushed out by former Giant great Barry Bonds and White Sox general manager Ken Williams found a trading partner in the Giants, making it an unoffical trade of Konerko for Bonds.

Konerko immediatly became the cornerstone of a weak Giants lineup and after a horrible start to the season, he came to Sabean asking for a trade at the deadline.

"I felt the team was moving in the wrong direction," said Konerko. "All the veterans, Randy [Winn], Ray [Durham], [Dave] Roberts, were being traded. But Brian assured me that he had a plan and that new owner Tom Avery planned to spend in the off-season.

Avery gave Sabean free range to spend whatever he felt was necessary. Building around Konerko, Sabean signed third baseman Joe Crede and shortstop Orlando Cabrera and added Bobby Howry to the bullpen. He made a big splash by trading for oft-injured starter Rich Harden of the Athletics.

The result is a formidable offense that will support what could be the best rotation in the National League; ace Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Harden, all under 26 and veterans Noah Lowry and Barry Zito.

"We have a rotation that is the best around," said Sabean. "We made pitching our priority after we had some struggles last year and I think we are in a position to have success."

The line-up will featue Aaron Rowand at the top with Cabrera, Konerko, Crede and catcher Benjie Molina forming a dangerous top of the order. Jose Castillo moves back to second base from his position as a third baseman last season. While with the Pirates, Castillo made up one of the league's top double-play combos with Jack Wilson and is expected to make a smooth transition back into that role. Second-year outfielders Nate Schierholtz and John Bowker will split time in right field, while Fred Lewis returns in left.

Welcome to the Bay - Newcomers by the Numbers

3B joe Crede - .255, 19 HR, 63 RBI with Chicago in 2008, 127 career home runs
SS Orlando Cabrera - .284, 7 HR, 40 RBI in 408 at-bats in 2008
SP Rich Harden - 13-9, 4.43 ERA in 2008, 44-27, 3.82 ERA career
1B/OF Brad Wilkerson - .263, 12 HR, 44 RBI in 315 at-bats off Seattle's bench
P Mark Mulder - 3.57 ERA in 13 games after returning from injury, 107-62 career record