Fighting For Our Right to Sing: Music and the Freedom of Speech

            The Ed Sullivan Show, broadcast Sunday evenings on CBS from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, was the most significant entertainment show in the United States reaching approximately forty million viewers each week.  On September 17, 1967, the Doors were set to perform their number one single, “Light My Fire.”  However, due to censor concerns regarding drug references, producer Bob Precht asked the band to change the line “girl, we couldn’t get much higher.”  The band acquiesced and even replaced the offending word “higher” during rehearsal.  Then the Doors performed the song live, maintaining the word “higher” and going so far as to emphasize the offending word.  Precht was livid and the Doors would never again appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Musicians have long been targeted by the attempts of major institutions, and later their own government, to blame music for everything from individual massacres to influencing behavior and the debasement of society.  The Columbine High School massacre of 1999 saw various groups and reporters including Bill O’Reilly of Fox News blame violent influences in entertainment and specifically the music of Marilyn Manson for the event.  The First Amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech,” and what are lyrics but speech put to music?  However, the American government has consistently singled out and attempted to censor music and lyrics which might be considered offensive or controversial.  Despite the governments repeated attempts to exclude music and lyrics from the free speech clause of the First Amendment, it is essential that these art forms are protected under our fundamental rights.

            It is true that the earliest forms of censorship in the United States can be traced back to the times of the colonies.  As American judge Robert H. Bork points out, “From the earliest colonies on this continent over 300 years ago, and for about 175 years of our existence as a nation, we endorsed and lived with censorship.”  Bork notes that some examples of censorship during these times were actual laws, while others were more casual, singling out the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) introduction of the film rating system.  It seems, though, that in the last fifty years there has been a significant rise in the number of items which are deemed offensive.

            During the decade of the sixties, the government did not play a very significant role in censorship.  Instead, instances like the interference by The Ed Sullivan Show in the Doors’ performance took place in front of an American audience and forewarned future performers that the power of censorship was the property of the establishment and not the artists.  Sullivan showed the ability to grant or deny publicity on a national platform, while the artists had to come up with creative ways to work within the system.  80’s pop-icon Robert Palmer notes, “rock ’n’ roll has . . . been described as “dangerous” . . . to racists, demagogues and the self-appointed moral guardians of the status quo.”  For example, on May 12, 1963 Bob Dylan was set to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show to perform “Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues” and opted to walk out rather than perform a different song as instructed by the show-runners.  Defense attorney Ian Inglis writes, “[‘Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues’] satirized the extreme right-wing, anti-Communist organization, comparing its policies to those of Hitler.”  So it stands to reason that the general public, which was certainly more conservative at the time, might have been inclined to change the channel rather than watch Dylan’s performance.  In an effort to better inform consumers to an album’s potentially controversial content, retailers like Lynn Batcheck, executive Vice President of Record & Tape Outlet and CD & Tape Outlet, suggest a rating system similar to that of the MPAA.  Similar rating systems have also been suggested by other pro-censorship groups as reported by Rhoda Rabkin, an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

            One of the most significant arguments in favor of censorship is that it is beneficial in protecting our youth from hearing something that would alter or affect their behavior.  Rabkin reasons, “One should not assume that music with lyrics featuring profanity, violence, casual sex, drug use, and so on is itself the cause of negative behaviors.”  But, Rabkin continues, “On the other hand . . . some troubled teenagers focus on music with morbid, aggressive, profane, or vulgar lyrics because it seems to legitimize their impulses.”  This implies the image of the impressionable youth whose behavior may be influenced by everything he or she touches, smells, sees, or hears.  Librarian Carolyn Caywood adds, “the underlying presumption is that the teenage listener or viewer cannot think critically about the messages expressed in music and will be hypnotized by them.”  Bork goes a step further suggesting that it is not just the youth, but society as a whole that has degenerated, and that the artists of today, while reflecting today’s society, pale in comparison to pre-World War II artists in terms of their message, complexity, and musicianship.  Billboard magazine writer Bill Holland notes that several states have gone so far as to introduce legislation making the purchase or distribution of albums with “explicit sexual or violent content” a crime.  This would take the accountability of labeling these albums accordingly out of the hands of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and place it into the hands of our government.

            Bork, a noted conservative, places blame squarely on the shoulders of liberals.  “American popular culture is in a free fall, with the bottom not yet in sight.  This is what the liberal view of human nature has brought us to.”  Bork recounts a story where head of the National Political Congress of Black Women D. DeLores Tucker and former secretary of education and drug czar William Bennett visited Time Warner in protest of distribution of explicit content.  Tucker distributed lyrics to “Big Man with a Gun” by Nine Inch Nails to each executive and requested the lyrics be read aloud, but none of the executives did.  Upon reciting the lyrics, the Tucker-Bennett assembly asked if anyone considered the lyrics offensive. Bork then comments, “The discussion included such modern liberal gems from Time Warner as ‘Art is difficult to interpret,’ ‘What is art?’ and ‘Who decides what is pornography and what isn’t?’”  Bork argues that “the public acting through its designated representatives can decide [what pornography is].”  Bork also asserts that racial and misogynistic motivations in society may contribute to the uprising in explicit lyrics.  Bork argues:

It is possible to think these songs reflect a generalized rage, particularly rage against social authority . . . That may also explain the fury directed at women in this music.  In that part of the black community where men are absent from the home, women are often figures of considerable power.  White adolescents, with similar rebellious impulses, may resent the authority figures of mothers and female teachers, and the domineering whining feminists.

Bork further argues that the lack of religion contributes to the debasement of society contending, “With the decline of religious influence, the moral lessons attenuate as well."  Again, Bork suggests that morality and virtue must be legislated to the people rather than the people deciding on their own individual values by emphasizing, “We tend to think of virtue as a personal matter, each of us to choose which virtues to practice or not practice . . . But only a public morality . . . can long sustain a decent social order and hence a stable and just democratic order.”  However, we are warned that defending the freedom we hold so dear means also defending the rights of those we do not agree with.  An article in The New Republic asserts, “To defend freedom, you must also defend foulness.”

            Songs about violence have been a staple of American tradition for years.  Artists ranging from Bob Marley to Eric Clapton to Woody Guthrie to Johnny Cash have glorified violence and even murder in their songs.  Eric Clapton (covering a song written by Bob Marley) sings, “I shot the sheriff,” and no one cries out in disgust.  Woody Guthrie writes a song about 1930’s bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd killing a deputy sheriff and no one thinks twice.  Johnny Cash sings, “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die,” and is celebrated as a folk hero.  Now it is clear that the artists in question did not commit these crimes, but how are these songs any different than “Cop Killer” by Los Angeles rapper Ice-T?  Attorney David Hershey-Webb posits whether the attention given to “Cop Killer” is “another reflection of the racial bias that Ice-T and other rappers denounce in the legal system?”  Hershey-Webb suggests that “Cop Killer” is a protest song not unlike any number of protest songs from the past and is a reflection of the changing times, observing, “If the anger is more extreme than in other protest songs, it is because the wrongs that have provoked such anger are more extreme.”  There is also a precedent set by country music and the connection to politics.  Country music is by far the most popular musical style in the United States, with over 43 million people listening to country radio stations each week.  The Simmons Study of Media and Markets notes that country fans are better educated and wealthier than those listening to other styles of music, declaring, “36 percent of country music fans have a postgraduate degree . . . Forty percent of individuals with annual incomes over $40,000 listen to country music, as do a third of individuals who earn over $100,000 a year.”  Still, country music shares a common note of protest and violence with these other music styles.  Authors Jimmie N. Rogers and Stephen A. Smith point out, “Customary among recent [country music] songs which refer to the government and its actions is the theme that those who propose and enact the laws . . . are viewed with skepticism and cynicism set to music.”  Country music also writes regularly about “crimes of passion” such as the song “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks which tells a story of a woman who poisons and murders her physically abusive husband, or “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood where she sings about vandalizing the vehicle of an unfaithful significant other.  Where is the public outcry?  Where is the backlash?

            Again, the argument seems to circle back to the mental stability, race, or class affiliation of certain types of music which continually find themselves in the crosshairs of censors.  Writers Jill Leslie Rosenbaum and Loraine Prinsky observe, “Minors on probation in California are sometimes required to comply with a list of ‘Rules to De-punk or De metal.’”  Rosenbaum and Prinsky also relate a story where a researcher posing as a father called multiple mental health facilities describing a fictional teen with “no symptoms of mental illness, drug abuse, criminal behavior, or even bad grades, but who dressed like a punk, kept his room a mess, and listened to heavy metal music.”  Eighty-three percent of these facilities recommended admission of the teen.  Caywood further notes, “The idea of brainwashing has entered pop psychology to bolster the supposition that, while the older generation’s favorite music did no harm, what teens enjoy now is dangerous.”  Rolling Stone writer Anthony DeCurtis recounts a violent confrontation between rap group N.W.A. and the Los Angeles police, prompting N.W.A. to write and record their song, “Fuck tha Police.”  DeCurtis argues, “They are presumed to be too primitive to understand the distinction between words and actions, between life and art.  Their reward is organized boycotts and FBI harassment.”  DeCurtis further notes a similar parallel from the 70’s when the Nixon administration attempted to deport John Lennon due to his “activism and the political content of his music.”

            In 1985 Tipper Gore founded the Parents’ Music Resource Center (PMRC) upon discovering a lyric about masturbation in the Prince song “Darling Nikki.”  DeCurtis asserts, “Rock & roll was the first target in the war on the arts that would soon escalate.”  Rabkin argues that the PMRC’s avocation of censorship “was a straightforward issue of consumers’ rights that parents know about references to sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide, violence, and the occult in their children’s music.”  DeCurtis adds, “The drive to place warning stickers on albums was underway.”  DeCurtis argues that the two primary musical styles singled out by the PMRC were rap and heavy metal.  DeCurtis observes, “It is impossible not to see elements of racial and class prejudice in that development . . . the core audience for rap is still black and the core audience for metal still consists largely of working-class whites.”  Rabkin singles out John Denver’s testimony that his song “Rocky Mountain High,” which is a song celebrating nature, had been unjustly black-listed by radio in an effort to appeal to the anti-drug crowd.  Author Mary DesRosiers comments that a compromise was reached in 1989 between the PMRC and the RIAA to place Parental Advisory stickers on albums containing offensive content and ushered in the era of self-censorship.  Rabkin admits, “The RIAA created no guidelines or recommendations and left the use of the labels to the discretion of the individual recording companies,” but it is safe to assume that the system is working.  Hastings Books, Music & Video, based in Amarillo, Texas, has an in-house stickering policy, but at least one manager believes that the RIAA system is more than adequate and the in-house sticker is a redundancy.  Even further, artists themselves are censoring their own content in exchange for radio play and marketing advantages, just to name a few benefits.  They are working within the system, much like the artists performing on The Ed Sullivan Show.  In the case of Ice-T, DeCurtis grants, “Ice-T rescinded the song voluntarily” amidst boycotts and protests by law-enforcement groups.  Rolling Stone writer Matt Diehl reports that rapper Xzibit rerecorded an entire verse of the song “Front 2 Back” in order to have it played on the radio.  Dan Seliger, Vice President of Marketing at Rawkus Records argues, “For radio, the amount of editing depends on how much airplay you’re getting.”  Somali-born artist K’Naan, now based in New York, admits to being instructed by his team to write for his American-based audience.  K’Naan comments, “When I write from the deepest part of my heart, my advisers say, I remind people too much of Somalia . . . My audience is in America, so my songs should reflect the land where I have chosen to live and work.”  Despite the successful voluntary system in place, legislators continue to pursue stricter censorship laws.  Lawmakers in Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, Washington, and Michigan are considering bills that would make buying or selling recordings that contain “explicit sexual or violent content” a crime.  Yet as long as there are legislators willing to tread on the First Amendment, there will be groups willing to stand up and fight back.  Randy Lee Payton, founder of Rock Out Censorship, argues, “Provocative rock lyrics are in the same category as comic books and adult materials, which makes them the most vulnerable to attacks.  This is the front lines of freedom of speech in America.”  Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, argues against chains such as Wal-Mart refusing to stock CD’s with the Parental Advisory sticker.  Morello argues, “Particularly in small towns where people have limited choices about where to shop for their music, the practice of stores restricting sales of stickered product literally keeps our music away from kids who want to hear it.”

            The battle lines have been drawn.  On one side is the conservative right trying to tell listeners what they are allowed to listen to.  On the other side is the liberal left telling listeners that all lyrics, no matter how vulgar or explicit, are art.  It is a slippery slope that requires a hard stand if citizens are to protect the Freedom of Speech as well as the other freedoms afforded by the First Amendment.  DeCurtis argues that “yielding to censors is a strategy that never works in the long run.”  The RIAA and PRMC agreement should have put an end to continued legislation, but the situation has gotten worse.  If the recording industry backs down in the face of legislators, how long before the same legislators become emboldened and wage war on the press, or religion?  Rabkin acknowledges, “What cannot be achieved by the heavy hand of the law can be achieved by industry self-regulation—but this requires the cooperation of the regulated.”  The solution seems clear.  The RIAA continues to sticker albums, and if the people, as responsible consumers, don’t like it they don’t have to listen to or buy it.  Allowing the government to regulate what people are allowed to listen to pushes society further toward Fascism where citizens are told what can be said and even what can be thought.  Therefore, it is vital that artists fight for the right to free speech, for the right to free thought, and for the right to express those words and thoughts in song.  It is a battle they cannot afford to lose.

Welcome to 2017

Hello everyone.  It has been about 2 1/2 months since my last blog, and boy a lot of things have changed.  Before I get into that, however, I want to make notice of a trend I have seen on social media this last week.  It seems that a majority of people are moving away from resolutions because "we're all going to the same assholes in 2017 as we were in 2016".  I have to disagree with that sentiment.  YOU might be the same asshole, and that's great for you, but do not project your own lingering on everyone else.  There are those of us who are actively trying to better ourselves.  The point of the new year is that we have the excuse to look at the world through new eyes.  Everything is possible.  If you are a sports fan, every season begins with hope and optimism.  "This is our year" they'll say.  Don't dash that optimism before it even begins.  Nurture it, let it grow.  You have the rest of the year to be miserable.  Is it so much to ask that for one day we are allowed to believe that anything is possible?

One of the biggest changes we're going to see in 2017 is we will have a new President for the first time in 8 years.  That in itself is a HUGE change (pun intended).  Many people already feel that we are doomed.  I am trying to maintain a position of cautious optimism.  I am a little disheartened by the many voices of hate on both sides of things as this shows just how divided as a country we are.  And what is it that divides us?  Color?  Religion?  Financial status?  Which animal represents your political party?  Take your pick.  I am hopeful that some of these voices and their hateful rhetoric will tone down over the coming months and we can attempt to grow and continue moving forward.

So that's the worldly part of this.  Now for the personal part.  And here's where I truly disagree that 2017 will be the same as 2016.  I left my job in October and moved back to California.  I had been living in Colorado for 13 years and it was time to make this change which was long overdue.  I have enrolled at Shasta College for the Spring 2017 semester.  I am expecting a job offer from Shasta County.  Over Thanksgiving I got a membership at Fitness 19 and, with a few exceptions, I have gone every day for the last month and a half.  Over the last 3 weeks I have been going at 5 AM during the week in preparation for receiving the job offer and starting school.  I am going to give meal prepping a try, though I don't know how long that will last.  I have identified some very clear and specific goals for myself, and for the first time in a long time I feel I am in a good place physically, mentally, and emotionally to accomplish them.

I do not anticipate that I will change my opinions drastically.  My personality will still be the same.  My beliefs, morals, values, will likely be as resolute as they have always been.  But I do not believe that is the point of making resolutions.  The point is not to dramatically shift who you are.  The point is to continue to grow and evolve in order to be better.  Whether that's to eat better, to get into better shape, to learn a new skill, to take a relationship to the next level, it is all in the interest of self improvement.  Evolution is a marathon and most of these things take time to achieve.  I believe that in 2017 I will be able to start to be the best version of myself.  So in the spirit of goodwill, I begin 2017 with a message from Bill & Ted.  Be excellent to each other.

Even year, no championship

A Shakespearean tragedy is defined as a drama which has a noble protagonist, who is flawed in some way, placed in a stressful heightened situation and ends with a fatal conclusion.  Could there be a better a better analogy for the 2016 San Francisco Giants?  So it is with great calamity that I write this eulogy for the dearly departed.

I am still stunned about the finish to game 4 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, but we must not dwell on the past.  We must look forard to the future.  Does this mean we can now hope that the Giants will start an odd year streak?  Well, before we jump too far ahead, let's address the Giants' end-of-year press conference handled by General Manager Bobby Evans.

Before we get into the roster, let's talk about two changes on the coaching staff.  First-base coach Bill Hayes and third-base coach Roberto Kelly have been relieved of their duties.  There is a possibility that one or both could remain with the organization in different roles, but this is all that has been reported to this point.

Let's save the elephant in the room for a minute and talk about the offense.  The Giants had a terrible time scoring runs and stringing together wins in the second half.  Where can they improve?  Well the immediate target could be Left Field where both starter Angel Pagan and #4 outfielder Gregor Blanco will be free agents.  I don't see Pagan returning and while Blanco might have been a candidate to return, the emergence of Gorkys Hernandez late in the season could signal the end of Blanco's tenure with the team.  The Giants will look to Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson to top the list of potential Opening Day outfielders.  I've written about this before, but let me say again, I am not excited about this plan as I do not see either Parker or Williamson as an everyday option and I do not favor a platoon scenario for a position they will need to be a significant contributor to the offensive production.

Parker batted .236 with 5 Home Runs and 14 RBI in 127 at bats in 2016.  He also struck out 44 times (35%).  As a left-handed batter, his splits would suggest a platoon as he hit .289 against righties and only .108 against lefties.

Williamson hit .223 with 6 Home Runs and 15 RBI in 112 at bats in 2016.  His strikeout percentage was only slightly better striking out 35 times (31%).  A right-handed batter, Williamson actually fared better against righties hitting .239 while hitting only .212 against lefties.

A possible question that could be asked here is, if the Giants had any confidence in either Parker or Williamson as a starter, why didn't they win the job out of Spring Training in 2016 and why did the Giants sign Denard Span?  I think that was a more forward-thinking move.  I believe the Giants knew Pagan would not be back in 2017 and signing Span in 2016 allowed them to make a more seamless transition rather than having to replace their Center Fielder this year.  So I do not question that move as there was a more long-term plan in place.  That said, I do not believe either Parker or Williamson is the answer, but as we've touched on before, there really aren't many options on the free agent market for outfielders.

The Giants also seem committed to Eduardo Nunez being their starting third baseman for 2017.  Again, I'm not excited about this.  Nunez was a reserve/part-time player from 2010-2015, only becoming a starter for the first time in 2016.  For the season he hit .288 with 16 Home Runs, 67 RBI and 40 Stolen Bases, but as a Giant he hit only .269 with 4 Home Runs in 182 At Bats.  He also drew only 29 walks in 553 At Bats for the season, which doesn't seem to fit the mold of what the Giants hitters have been.  Patient, good plate discipline.  There are some encouraging notes though.  Nunez hit 3 of his 4 Triples for the season with San Francisco in 50 games (compared to 1 in 91 games with Minnesota).  He also had half of his walks in a Giants uniform (14 in 50 games with San Francisco compared to 15 in 91 games with Minnesota).  So there is some upside here.

Now, about that elephant.  The Giants had the best record in baseball (57-33) at the All-Star game, and then went on to record the 4th worst record in baseball (30-42) in the second half.  While there were surely multiple culprits for the Jekyll and Hyde act, a large portion of the blame has rested on the bullpen who blew a league-high 30 saves including 9 in September.  Evans said, "an overhaul (of the bullpen) would be a tremendous overstatement."  As a fan it is easy to throw your hands up, but when you look closer it actually makes a lot of sense.  First, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, and Sergio Romo are all free agents.  Lopez at 39 may retire and after his struggles and the fan outcry I don't think there's any way Casilla is back.  Romo could be a candidate to re-sign, but on a 13-man staff (5 starters, 8 relievers) let's assume he won't be re-signed.  Also, Jake Peavy will be a free agent so let's assume he also won't be back.  Who does that leave?  Derek Law, Hunter Strickland, Will Smith, and either Steven Okert or Josh Osich (one will start the year in AAA), will definitely be back.  George Kontos and Cory Gearrin are both arbitration eligible so I would expect both to be back.  That's 6 pitchers.  Matt Cain is in the last guaranteed year of his contract and will be paid $21 million in 2017.  I expect the Giants will give him every opportunity to win the #5 starter role in Spring Training, but Cain has not been an effective starter since 2012 and Ty Blach has emerged as an intriguing candidate for the starting rotation, especially after his 10/1 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers (opposite Clayton Kershaw) where Blach went 8 innings, allowed 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.  If Cain is not in the rotation, he should fill the role of long-reliever.  That leaves one open spot and I think we all know what that should be.  Say it with me now.  CLOSER!!!!!

We've talked about this before, but the potential free-agent targets at closer will include Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, Wade Davis, and Mark Melancon.  The Giants did explore trading for Davis and Melancon at the trade deadline but were unable to secure a deal.  I would expect the Giants to pursue both with Davis being the prize and Melancon being the plan B.  Fans could clamor for Jansen as it would double to not only solidify the closer role, but also to weaken the rival Dodgers.  I would expect the Dodgers to be very motivated to keep their guy and their contract offer could price Jansen out of the Giants' plans.  Chapman is an iffy prospect after Domestic Violence allegations stemming from an incident in October, 2015 and a resulting 30-game suspension to begin the 2016 season.  Yes Chapman is an elite closer with his average fastball velocity hitting 99 mph, but the Giants have seemed to make character a priority in their clubhouse and, speaking as a fan, I would hate to see them abandon that approach and replace it with a "win at all costs" attitude.

Despite the way 2016 has ended, I for one am very excited for 2017.  The offense returns mostly in tact, and there is plenty of room for improvement.  The pitching rotation is very good and, with the addition of Matt Moore, I believe can match up with any other team's 1-4 starters.  Yes the areas for improvement are pretty obvious, but they are not so many that is unreasonable to expect that the Giants front office will not be able to address them.  So we will hope for a quick Winter and look forward to Spring Training.

Giants interested in Carlos Gomez

Hey everyone.  So this is my 2nd blog in the last 24 hours.  Yes, I know I just posted the previous one, but I wrote it yesterday and just didn't upload it.  But it's interesting timing considering I was talking about what the Giants might do with their outfield in 2017 considering both Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco are scheduled to be free agents following the 2016 season.  Well, on Friday, the Houston Astros released outfielder Carlos Gomez.  And apparently the Giants might have some interest.

The quote goes "He's a name who's in play".  According to Grant Brisbee of mccoveychronicles.com, Brian Sabean says Gomez is being discussed internally, but the Giants have to find out if Gomez would fit in their outfield and would be agreeable to a possible part-time job.  So he's not currently being discussed to replace either Denard Span or Angel Pagan in the starting lineup.  More likely Gomez would displace Gregor Blanco as the #4 outfielder and allow the Giants to rest Span or Pagan as we move towards October.

So who is Carlos Gomez?  Gomez is a 2-time All Star who has spent time with the Mets, Twins, Brewers, and Astros.  In his best 2 seasons in Milwaukee, 2013 and 2014, he hit .284 each year, with 24 Home Runs and 73 RBI in 2013, and 23 Home Runs and 73 RBI in 2014.  He also stole 40 and 34 bases respectively.  Gomez has had a down year hitting only .210 and .221 overall with Houston since they acquired him in 2015.  Still, his most productive years were in the NL so it's possible his production was affected by moving to a new league.  Overall Gomez is a .256 career hitter who has averaged 15 Home Runs and 32 Stolen Bases per year over a 10 year career.

Gomez is only under contract through 2016 so this signing would amount to essentially a 2-month tryout.  Is he a better option than Blanco?  At this point I'm going to say yes.  Last night Blanco was announced as a pinch-hitter against the New York Mets, but after the Mets brought in Jerry Blevins to pitch, Blanco was called back and Ehire Adrianza pinch-hit instead.  That means that Blanco did officially enter the game, but did not bat and did not play in the field.  Is Gomez a better option than either Mac Williamson or Jarrett Parker?  Again I'm going to say yes.  Despite flashes, both Williamson and Parker seem to be overmatched at the Major League level, and Gomez has a track record that suggests that he is better than his numbers in Houston.  If the Giants do pull the trigger, I'm on board.  What do you think?  Would you like to see Carlos Gomez in a Giants uniform?

Looking forward to 2017 - San Francisco Giants edition

Well folks, the Giants won a game!!!!  And not to pat myself on the back too much, but did you see how much energy was in the stadium and the dugout following Madison Bumgarner's home run?  Yep, home runs = signature moments.  Read my last blog.  Seriously, go read it.  I'll wait.  No?  That's cool, you're an adult, you can do what you like.  What?  No, I'm not crying.  Why?

Sorry about that.  Now back to business.  So with Matt Cain being placed on the 15-day DL, I got to thinking who might the Giants be targeting in free agency in 2017.  I know 2016 isn't quite over yet, but it's never too early to look ahead, right?  Is it?  Actually I had believed that Cain's contract was coming off the books after this season, but it looks like he's under contract through 2017 (with a $21 million club option or a $7.5 million buyout for 2018).  Not that I don't appreciate the contributions he's made over the years but he is a below league average starter at this point and his $22.5 million salary is currently the highest cap hit on the team.

BREATHE!!!!!

So on the current roster, here are the contracts that will be coming off the books following the 2016 season:
LF - Angel Pagan
SP - Jake Peavy
RP - Santiago Casilla
RP - Sergio Romo
RP - Javier Lopez
OF - Gregor Blanco

That's the 3 remaining relief pitchers from the core 4 that were a part of all 3 recent championships, the starting Left Fielder and the #4 outfielder.  I wouldn't expect the Giants to re-sign Peavy as the rotation is pretty well set up (provided you have confidence in Cain as the #5 starter).  So it would seem the obvious targets would be the outfield and the bullpen.  I'm also going to throw third base into the mix because I am not 100% sold on Eduardo Nunez as the starter, and Nunez is a free agent following the 2017 season.  What about Christian Arroyo, you ask?  Well Arroyo might be the future, but he has still not played above AA ball and is still only 21, and historically the Giants have been slow to promote young position players.  Remember how long it took to promote Joe Panik in 2014?  We first had to suffer through Brandon Hicks, and then a week of Dan Uggla (!!!!!) where he didn't record a single hit in 12 plate appearances.  So yes, I'm going to include third base.

Let's start with the outfield as this is probably the one position where the Giants don't have an in-house replacement waiting in the wings.  But what about Mac Williamson or Jarrett Parker?  Fair enough.  Williamson is hitting .245 in 113 plate appearances with 27 strikeouts (24% strikeout rate).  Parker is hitting .248 in 131 plate appearances with 38 strikeouts (29% strikeout rate).  Unfortunately I don't see either of these guys as a long term option in left-field.  At best you can probably platoon them, but that takes up a spot on your bench because you're basically using 2 roster spots to create one semi-effective Major League player and the Giants bench is already pretty thin as is.

Wow, this list does not inspire a lot of optimism.  The first name that stands out is Ian Desmond.  Desmond was a shortstop with the Washington Nationals but transitioned to the outfield this year with the Texas Rangers.  He's played primarily in Center Field but has played 20 games in left.  Desmond has had something of a career resurgence this season hitting .292 (his highest average since 2012 when he was an All-Star) with 20 Home Runs and 73 RBI in 120 Games.  He's also stolen 18 bases.  The problem with Desmond that I see is a high strikeout rate.  He had a career high of 187 in 2015 and has 129 this season.  He is making $8 million this year which is comparable to the $10 million that Angel Pagan is making, but Desmond will likely be seeking a multi-year deal and a pay increase.

Dexter Fowler could be a target after being a target last offseason before ultimately re-signing with the Cubs.  Fowler would need to decline his option for 2017 to become a free agent.  Fowler is hitting better in 2016 (.279 average vs .250 in 2015) but his power numbers are down (9 vs 17) and is stealing fewer bases (8 vs 20) this year.  Fowler is making $8 million this year, so again, comparable salary to both Pagan and Desmond.

Jon Jay was whispered in trade rumors this season so we'll throw his name into the mix.  Jay doesn't really have any numbers that jump off the page, but he was a part of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series team so he has that championship pedigree.  He's hitting .296 this year which is a huge improvement from .210 in 2015.  Jay is making just under $7 million so he might be a bargain option.  One thing to note, Jay hits left-handed and the Giants line-up already boasts 4 lefties so Jay may be a lower tier option particularly if the Giants are searching for more lineup balance.
Matt Joyce would be another bargain addition, currently making $1 million with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Joyce has some power (12 Home Runs in 2016), but is a career .244 hitter.  And he's another left-handed batter.

Chris Coghlan might be worth a look as a former Rookie of the Year (2009), but has been disappointing in 2016 following 2 fairly solid seasons in Chicago, seeing his average slump to .165.

The last name I'm going to throw in, though I expect this is probably the least likely option, is Josh Reddick.  Bay Area fans will be familiar with him from his days with the Oakland A's but Reddick is another left-handed batter and hasn't played left field since 2011.  Reddick is a .253 career hitter, but hit .272 with Oakland in 2015, and has some power, hitting 20 Home Runs in 2015.  His career high in home runs came in 2012 when he hit 32.  Reddick is slumping since moving to the National League hitting only .158 in 14 games with the Dodgers.  Reddick is making $6.575 million in 2016, but figures to have multiple suitors so expect that number to go up.


The Giants typically build their bullpen from within so I wouldn't expect them to dive too deep into free agency to address this position.  They already have Will Smith under contract through 2019.  Josh Osich has Major League experience and is under club control through 2021.  With Steven Okert also on the 40-man roster, the Giants have 3 left-handed options to replace Lopez.  As for a right-hander to replace Romo in a set-up role, Cory Gearrin has already been working in the 8th inning this season and Derek Law has proven very reliable in his rookie season.  If the Giants do dive into the free agent pool for the bullpen, I would expect them to target a Closer, and there are some names out there.

Wade Davis is the first name that jumps off the page.  Davis was mentioned in trade rumors this year, and will only be available if the Royals decline his option for 2017.  But Davis has been dominant in the bullpen.  He had a 2.43 ERA with Tampa Bay in 2012, but has been absolutely lights-out with Kansas City the past 3 seasons posting ERA's of 1.00, 0.94, and 1.60 respectively.  He has 17 and 21 Saves the last 2 seasons after taking over the Closer role in 2015.  Davis would be an expensive option, however, making $8 million this year, and his option for 2017 is for $10 million.

Kenley Jansen is another exciting, albeit expensive, option.  Jansen has been the closer for the Dodgers for the past 5 seasons and is having one of his best statiscal seasons in 2016 posting a 1.80 ERA with 70 Strikeouts in 50 Innings Pitched (12.6 strikeouts per 9 innings).  Jansen is making $10.65 million this year and would no doubt warrant a pay bump.  But this signing would not only strengthen the back end of the Giants' bullpen immensely, it would also weaken a division opponent.

Mark Melancon was a trade target before being dealt from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Washington Nationals.  Melancon recorded a league best 51 Saves in 2015 and is boasting a 1.45 ERA in 2016.  Melancon does not boast high strikeout totals recording 46 in 49.2 innings.  Melancon is making $9.65 million this year, so again, an expensive option but definitely an improvement to the back end of the bullpen.


And now for my own self-indulgence, the Third Base options.....um....
So the first name is a guy the Giants were rumored to be interested in prior to the trade deadline, Yunel Escobar.  Escobar would only be avaiable if the Angels decline his $7 million option for 2017.  Escobar doesn't provide a lot of power, his season high for Home Runs is 14 in 2009, but he has been a .300+ hitter in each of the last 2 seasons (.314 in 2015, .320 in 2016).

David Freese is a veteran option who is currently hitting .283 with 11 Home Runs and 46 RBI with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Freese is playing under a reasonable $3 million contract.

Justin Turner was slumping early in the season but has found his stroke of late hitting .278 and setting a career high in Home Runs with 23 through only 113 Games.  Turner is making $5.1 million this year and signing him would weaken a division rival, so good things.

Let's also point out that Ian Desmond played Shortstop with the Washington Nationals so he could potentially move back into the infield or offer some roster flexibility shifting between the infield and the outfield.

So there you go people, some potential Free Agent targets for the 2017 season.  What do you think?  Who would you like to see in a Giants uniform next year?

The Giants probably need a power hitter

So the Giants lost again yesterday.  They are currently an MLB worst 9-21 since the All-Star break, and have completely given up the lead in the NL West that they had held since May currently sitting in 2nd place behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.  There have been so many things that have gone wrong for this team in the last month from bad starting pitching, a bullpen that can't hold a lead, and an offense that seems completely lost.  I could dedicate an entire blog entry to any one of those things.  But some of the message boards today have centered around the lack of power in the lineup.  I had suggested on an earlier post that the Giants should make a move for Ryan Braun from the Milwaukee Brewers, so I'm going to present my argument whether a power bat would fix the lineup.

Now first, let's take a look at what the lineup was supposed to look like at the beginning of the season with their 2015 statistics:

1. CF - Denard Span (.301 Batting Average, 5 Home Runs, 22 RBI, 11 Stolen Bases, 61 Games)
2. 2B - Joe Panik (.312, 8, 37)
3. 3B - Matt Duffy (.295, 12, 77)
4. C - Buster Posey (.318, 19, 85)
5. RF - Hunter Pence (.275, 9, 40, 52 Games)
6. SS - Brandon Crawford (.256, 21, 84)
7. 1B - Brandon Belt (.280, 18, 68)
8. LF - Angel Pagan (.262, 3, 37)

Looks pretty good, right?  Well, let's run down the list and see where the problems lie.  Right at the top, Span is hitting .263 in 2016 which is the lowest of his career and is more than 20 points lower than his career .285 average.  His .329 On Base Percentage and .361 Slugging Percentage are also both the 3rd lowest in his career.  Span is coming off an injury so I don't think we should have expected him to hit .300+ right away, but a .285 career average over 9 seasons gives us enough historical data to suggest that Span is performing below average expectations.

What happened to Joe Panik?  In 2014 he was a sparkplug at the top of the lineup that helped the Giants to a World Series championship.  In 2015 he was an All-Star.  2016?  Panik is sporting a .243 Batting Average and has been dropped to the lower 3rd of the batting order.  Panik has been slumping badly since returning to the lineup following a concussion suffered against the Tampa Bay Rays.  He's also grounded into 1 fewer Double Play than he had in 2014 and 2015 COMBINED.  Double Plays kill rallies, fact.

Duffy finished #2 in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2015.  And then?  Duffy slumped to a .253 average in 70 games before missing time due to an Achilles injury and was then traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Starting Pitcher Matt Moore.

Posey has been reasonably close to his career numbers with a .294 average, 12 Home Runs, and 57 RBI in 2016, but has been nursing a variety of injuries including a recent back injury.  Posey says it only affects him running and you can definitely tell, but I believe it will also affect his swing.

Pence has been an iron man in his career playing in 150+ games for 7 straight seasons.  The last 2 seasons, not so much.  Pence just recently returned after missing 2 months with a hamstring injury and has looked completely lost at the plate.  Recently he has looked better at covering the outer portion of the plate, but he is still swinging at absolutely everything.

Crawford has carried this team at times, including a 7-hit game at Miami on 8/8 that raised his average 13 points.  He has 6 hits total in the 8 games since then.  Crawford provides some power, but you can't rely on a .250 career hitter to be a consistent threat in the lineup.  His defensive contributions are obviously a huge boost, but we're talking about offense here.

Belt signed a big contract extension this year and looked to be turning the corner as a possible elite player hitting .302 before the All-Star break and being named an All-Star for the first time in his career.  The 2nd half has been a different story.  Belt's average has dropped 22 points in the 2nd half and he has been striking out at an alarming rate including 2 4-strikeout games.  In the first half Belt didn't have a single 4-strikeout game and had only 2 games where he struck out 3 times.

Pagan has seemingly been the only Giants player to improve on his 2015 numbers, hitting .297 with 8 Home Runs and 40 RBI through 88 Games.  And to think, the biggest question mark in the lineup when the season started was whether Pagan could handle being moved from Center Field to Left and from leadoff to 8th.  Seems silly now that we were worried about such things.  Pagan has been hitting #2 in the lineup recently.

We will also mention Eduardo Nunez who the Giants acquired from the Minnesota Twins and who has effectively replaced Duffy at 3rd Base.  Nunez hit .282 in 72 Games in 2015 with 4 Home Runs and 20 RBI.  He was having a career season with Minnesota before being traded hitting .296 with 12 Home Runs and 47 RBI.  Since the trade?  Nunez has hit only .200 with the Giants.

For giggles, Ryan Braun is hitting .325 with 22 Home Runs and 65 RBI with Milwaukee.  Now imagine that as the Giants' #3 hitter.


So it is safe to say that essentially the entire Giants lineup has been slumping.  It's also safe to say that the lineup doesn't have a single consistent power threat.  Now some may argue that you can win with pitching and defense and I would agree.  AT&T Park is also not a ballpark where a lot of Home Runs are hit.  Barry Bonds made it look small, sure, but a player like Barry Bonds comes along once in a lifetime.  Still, I would argue that Home Runs are not only a hugely important part of a lineup, particularly the way the game is played today, and also that in the Giants' recent run of success, the Home Run has played a major role.  A timely home run can not only set the tone for a game, but it can provide an emotional lift and swing momentum back to your team when it happens.

Consider, would the Giants have won the 2010 World Series without 2 home runs by Cody Ross in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies?  What about the 3-run home run by Edgar Renteria in the top of the 7th inning of game 5 in the World Series, which ended up being the series clinching victory for the Giants?

How about 2012, Buster Posey hitting a grand slam in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds in the series clinching game 5?  Or Pablo Sandoval hitting 3 home runs (2 off starter Justin Verlander) in game 1 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers?

What about 2014?  Brandon Crawford hitting a grand slam in the NL Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Pirates?  Brandon Belt hitting a go-ahead home run in the 18th inning of game 2 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals?  Michael Morse hitting a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the 8th inning of game 5 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals?  Or Travis Ishikawa hitting a walk-off three-run home run in the same game to clinch the pennant for the Giants?  Hunter Pence hitting a 2-run home run in game 1 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals to set the tone for that game?

Sure there are other factors in those seasons.  Dominant pitching comes to mind, including 4 straight seasons with a no-hitter and 5 since 2009, and Madison Bumgarner's performance in the 2014 World Series.  But I would argue that the home runs are iconic moments in history.  The Ishikawa home run in particular is one of those where you know exactly where you were and what you were doing when it happened.  Can you honestly look at the lineup right now and say that anyone would inspire fear into the opposing pitcher?  Or potentially provide us with another signature home run that will make us remember the 2016 season?

So in summary, I believe that a power bat is a very important piece that is missing from this lineup.  What do you think?  Do you agree?  Disagree?  This is an open discussion topic and I welcome your opinion.  Thanks for reading.

San Francisco Giants - Trade Deadline Edition

Hi everyone.  So I started writing this a few hours before the trade deadline, and updated it as news became available up to and following the trade deadline at 4 PM Eastern time.  So here's my recap.

11:56 AM EST
Well folks, here's another baseball post, which is to say this is primarily a Giants post.  We are fast approaching the Major League Baseball non-waivers trade deadline (4 PM Eastern time) and anxiously.....ANXIOUSLY.....awaiting what the Giants will do.  This team has been atrocious coming out of the All-Star break going 4-11 and entering August with only a 2 game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The primary need pretty much the entire year has been the bullpen (Giants had 18 blown saves as of July 16, most in the Majors), but the Giants have also been looking for an impact bat and a starting pitcher.  The need for a bat has been increased with Hunter Pence, Joe Panik, and Matt Duffy missing time with injuries and the struggles of the Giants hitting with runners in scoring position, especially during this recent stretch.  So on Thursday, 7/28, the Giants added.....an infielder?  The Giants acquired Eduardo Nunez from the Twins for minor league pitcher Adalberto Mejia who was the Giants' #3 overall prospect.  Sure, Nunez was an All-Star (because the Twins had to have an All-Star), and he was hitting a career best .296 with 12 Home Runs, 47 RBI, and 27 Stolen Bases at the time of the trade, but his doesn't really strike me as an impact bat, and he for sure doesn't pitch, so.....

So what have we heard?  Well, as of this writing, the Giants are reportedly making a push for Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds.  Giants fans might remember him since he just hit 4 home runs in 3 games at AT&T Park just a week ago.  So while this might be a case of short memory, I don't particularly like the fit.  Here's why.

Jay Bruce has been a Right Fielder pretty much his entire Major League career.  Right Field is where Hunter Pence plays.  So acquiring Bruce would push one of them to Left Field, with Bruce being the more likely candidate.  Bruce played 11 games in Left Field in 2008 (his first Major League year) and 0 since then.  Bruce also played 3 games at First Base in 2014, so I suppose you could slot Bruce at First and move Brandon Belt to Left Field, but that would mean one of those bats would be sitting on the bench when Buster Posey gets a start at First Base.  Of course, Posey has only played 10 games at First Base this year, which are his fewest games at the position since 2011 when he played in only 43 games.  The other issue I have is Bruce hits left-handed and the Giants are already very heavily left-handed.  Their regular lineup boasts 4 lefties (Denard Span, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford) and 1 switch-hitter (Angel Pagan).  So adding Bruce doesn't work to balance the lineup.  Looking at his current numbers (.265 batting average, 25 Home Runs, 80 RBI), this would seem like a Pat Burrell type addition, which has worked out for the Giants in previous years.  Still, I'm not sold.  Besides, MLB Trade Rumors is listing the Mets as the favorites to land Bruce, so there's that.

Let's look at the bullpen.  At the top of the list is a couple of guys from the Milwaukee Brewers.  Will Smith (wait, the guy in Suicide Squad?  No, not THAT Will Smith.) and Jeremy Jeffress.  I believe the Giants would prefer Smith as he's left-handed and the Giants have been trying to replace Jeremy Affeldt and Josh Osich has not been doing the job (also currently on the DL).  Coupled with the struggles of Javier Lopez and the Giants don't have a reliable lefty in the pen.  Smith's ERA is up (3.68) and his strikeouts are down (22 in 22 innings) from where they were in 2015, but he still averages more than a strikeout per inning for his career.  The Giants might be able to buy low based on his 2016 numbers.  Jeffress has been the Brewers' closer this year and has 27 saves, but is not really a strikeout arm with only 35 in 44.2 innings.  The Giants also already have their closer in Santiago Casilla, though I'm not sure how comfortable that makes anyone right now.  The Giants have apparently also checked in with the Angels about Huston Street.  Street is familiar to the Giants from his days with the Rockies and Padres, and while Street is not the closer he was in previous years, he is still only one year removed from a 40 save season in 2015.

So now let's look at the Starters.  The Giants are reportedly "not sold" on Jake Peavy and Matt Cain at the back end of the rotation, so if they do make a move it will be for someone who will slot in as the #4 of #5 starter.  At the top of the list is Jeremy Hellickson from the Philadelphia Phillies.  Hellickson is a former Rookie of the Year (2011) and is currently 8-7 with a 3.70 ERA with the Phillies.  The market for Hellickson may be too rich, however, which could knock the Giants out of the mix.  Another name to keep an eye on is Hellickson's former teammate with the Tampa Bay Rays, Matt Moore.  Moore was an All-Star in 2013 and owns a 7-7 record with a 4.08 ERA.  Moore has given up 20 Home Runs this year so that's a concern, but fly-ball pitchers have had success pitching at AT&T park in the past (see Matt Cain).  Other names the Giants may be considering are Erasmo Ramirez (Tampa Bay Rays) and Edinson Volquez (Kansas City Royals).  Ramirez has pitched primarily out of the bullpen this year, but was a starter in 2015 and had an 11-6 record with a 3.75 ERA.  This year he is 7-8 with a 3.96 ERA.  Volquez has been down this year, currently with an 8-9 record and a 4.70 ERA.  Still, he was an above .500 pitcher in each of the past 2 seasons (13-7 in 2014 with Pittsburgh, 13-9 in 2015 with Kansas City) an dhis ERA has been under 4 in each of those seasons.  I'm not sold this would be an upgrade, and Volquez can become a free agent after 2016 ($10 million mutual option or $3 million buyout for 2017), so this would essentially be giving up prospects for a 2-3 month rental.

So what do I think will happen?  Well, the Giants don't have an "elite" minor league system, but they do have 2 prospects in the top 100 in Phil Bickford (65) and Christian Arroyo (94).  They could also deal Major League talent in either Joe Panik or Matt Duffy (I know, I know, let me finish) which could be offset by the addition of Eduardo Nunez.  While not an ideal scenario in my opinion, adding Nunez does offer the Giants some flexibility to deal from the Major League roster.  The price for pitching has been pretty steep, so I don't know if the Giants can put together a package for Hellickson or Moore that will be attractive enough for Philadelphia or Tampa Bay to bite.  Same goes for Bruce, plus I don't think he's an ideal fit for the Giants anyway.  I think the most realistic of all these options would be Smith (again, not THAT Will Smith) or Jeffress, but Milwaukee seems to want to package either Jonathan Lucroy or Ryan Braun with a reliever and the Giants have no interest in either of those players.

So, what does it all mean, you ask.  And I answer, it would not shock me that the trade deadline comes and goes with the Giants having exactly the same roster as they did before the deadline.  While the Giants do seem to need to make a deal to stay ahead of the teams chasing them, the market seems to be overvaluing pitching and the Giants would have to give up multiple prospects which they have not been historically overeager to do.  The Giants will also not make a move simply for the sake of making a move.  I'm sure they're doing their homework and will have a plan going into the last 2 months of the season, but I do not honestly see a deal being made.

And as I write this, the Dodgers just acquired Rich Hill and Josh Reddick from the A's and the Reds are on the verge of finializing a trade for Jay Bruce.  Great.  Well thank you Oakland for screwing over your neighbors yet again!!!!!

3:28 PM EST
The Giants have acquired Will Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers for Phil Bickford and Andrew Susac.  So let's take a look at that deal.

Smith is a left-handed relief pitcher, which was definitely a need for the Giants.  Smith throws a 4-seam and 2-seam/cut fastball about 55% of the time.  He also throws a Slider (33%) and a Curve (12%).  He also has a Changeup, though per his scouting report it doesn't look like he's throwing it this year.  Average velocity on the fastball is 91.6 MPH (90.5 on the 2-seam), which is down from his career averages, though that might have something to do with a knee injury Smith suffered during Spring Training.  Get this, Smith suffered the injury while pulling off his cleats.  While not quite to the standard of Jeremy Affeldt (Affeldt injury history below), you have to wonder, what is it with the Giants and left-handed relief pitchers who injure themselves in odd, sometimes hilarious ways?

1. Cut throwing hand with knife while separating frozen hamburger patties in 2011.  Required surgery to repair nerve damage.
2. Injured knee while playing with his son in 2012.
3. Strains oblique from sneezing in 2013.
4. Injured knee from slipping on platform while jumping into Loon Lake celebrating son's birthday in 2015.

So what did the Giants give up to get Smith?  Well, first let's restate what we already said earlier, that the market price for pitching was steep.  So first we'll start with Bickford who was the Giants #1 overall prospect and #65 on the Top 100 prospects list.  Seems a pretty high price right there for a dude who's probably going to be pitching in the 7th inning.  Bickford was the Giants 1st round draft pick in 2015.  Bickford has a 4-seam fastball that can hit 98, and a low-90s 2-seam fastball with sink.  He has a plus slider if his mechanics are good, and has been developing a changeup during instructional league.  Bickford was envisioned as a starter, but some scouts prefer him in the bullpen.  He can have trouble maintaining his arm slot, but has electric stuff in short stints, which could project him as a potential closer.

Susac has spent some time in the Majors (35 games in 2014, 52 in 2015), but was blocked at Catcher by Buster Posey and had fallen behind Trevor Brown on the depth chart.  The Giants also have a catcher as their #7 overall prospect in Aramis Garcia.  So it makes sense to trade Susac while he holds some value.  Susac was batting .273 with 8 home runs and 36 RBI at AAA Sacramento and provides Milwaukee with some insurance as they attempt to trade Jonathan Lucroy.

One of the most attractive aspects of the trade is that Will Smith will not merely be a 2-3 month rental for the Giants.  He will be eligible for salary arbitration in 2017, but will not become a free agent until 2020 at the earliest.  So while this move may be to improve the bullpen this year, the Giants have a potential contributor in their bullpen for the next 3 seasons.  I'm OK with this move.

5:03 PM EST
The trade deadline came and went about an hour ago, but news of deals was still being reported, and here's where we find a potential blockbuster deal.  The Giants acquire Matt Moore from the Tampa Bay Rays for Matt Duffy, Lucius Fox, and Michael Santos.  Matt Moore is a guy who had a ton of potential when he came into the league.  Then he underwent Tommy John surgery in January, 2013 and hasn't really been the same pitcher since.  But you're paying for the potential that he'll re-find his form given new surroundings and the mastery/sorcery that is pitching coach Dave Righetti.  And Moore is under contract for another 3 seasons, so like Smith, he's not just a 2-3 month rental.  This guy could potentially be your #4 starter through the 2019 season.  I'm excited about this one, even though the Giants did give up quite a bit to get it done.

Oh, Matt Duffy.  How far we have fallen since you finished #2 in the NL Rookie of the Year voting just last season.  Duffy was batting .253 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI in 70 games and has been out since June 19 with an Achilles injury.  Coincidentally the injury occurred during a game against Tampa Bay.  Yes he was under team control through 2020.  But suddenly, doesn't that Eduardo Nunez trade suddenly make a ton more sense?  I do have to wonder though, where Duffy will play in Tampa Bay.  He's by far played his most games (205) at Third Base, but the Rays have this other dude playing Third named.....oh, I know this....Evan Longoria.  I don't see Duffy replacing him straight up.  Duffy does have a handful of games at Second (18) and Shortstop (10), but is blocked at both positions by Brad Miller and Logan Forsythe respectively.

Fox was the Giants #4 overall prospect and Santos was their #24 overall prospect.  Still, neither had played above A ball yet, so I can live with trading 2 guys who are probably 3+ years away from the Major League club, if they make it all, for a guy who can help you now, AND can potentially help you for the next 3 years while he's under contract.

So that's it.  I think the Giants improved, even if they had to sacrifice some future talent to do it.  They didn't get a bat, but this doesn't mean they won't.  The Giants have historically acquired talent after the deadline who have contributed greatly to their success in both the regular season and postseason.  Cody Ross was acquired on August 21, 2010, and would go on to be named the 2010 NLCS MVP and help the Giants win their first World Series title in San Francisco and first overall since 1954.  Marlon Byrd was acquired on August 20, 2015 and hit a home run in his first at-bat in a Giants uniform.  So don't sleep on more moves to come.  Until next time, see you at the ballpark.