Thursday, December 04, 2003
Snowballed
For years I could never figure out the Giants's fascination with JT Snow, the good-glove, no-hit first baseman that labored for the team. At first, I thought it had to be Dusty Baker who kept trotting JT out there until his slugging percentage hovered near the Rey Sanchez's neighborhood. However over the weekend GM Brian Sabean was outed as having unhealthy respect and admiration for JT. He signed for the 2004 season yesterday for the princely sum of $1.5m. If Snow gets 450 plate appearances next year, then a 2005 option of $2m becomes guaranteed.
However, Snow might not get anywhere close to the PAs he needs to be guaranteed. Pedro Feliz put up phenominal power numbers in his limited playing time. In 235 at bats, Feliz slugged 16 home runs, double the number that Snow produced in 100 at bats less than him. Feliz appears ticketed to take over first base duties at the beginning of the season, and if he produces like last season and Edgardo Alfonzo doesn't fall flat, he'll probably be in there five times a week. Basically Snow is the Giants $1.5m insurance policy that Feliz and Alfonzo produce. Sure, Felipe Alou will get them all plenty of at bats. But it's really Feliz that Sabean is banking on.
Meanwhile, I'm so digusted by the Giants giving up a draft pick to sign Michael Tucker, I can't even really comment on it.
Postscript: This just in: Harry Schulman says JT Snow was razzing Tucker about Pac Bell Park's hellacious impact on lefties during yesterday's conference call with the press: "Left hand hitter, you're going to love Pac Bell Park," Snow told Tucker.
For years I could never figure out the Giants's fascination with JT Snow, the good-glove, no-hit first baseman that labored for the team. At first, I thought it had to be Dusty Baker who kept trotting JT out there until his slugging percentage hovered near the Rey Sanchez's neighborhood. However over the weekend GM Brian Sabean was outed as having unhealthy respect and admiration for JT. He signed for the 2004 season yesterday for the princely sum of $1.5m. If Snow gets 450 plate appearances next year, then a 2005 option of $2m becomes guaranteed.
However, Snow might not get anywhere close to the PAs he needs to be guaranteed. Pedro Feliz put up phenominal power numbers in his limited playing time. In 235 at bats, Feliz slugged 16 home runs, double the number that Snow produced in 100 at bats less than him. Feliz appears ticketed to take over first base duties at the beginning of the season, and if he produces like last season and Edgardo Alfonzo doesn't fall flat, he'll probably be in there five times a week. Basically Snow is the Giants $1.5m insurance policy that Feliz and Alfonzo produce. Sure, Felipe Alou will get them all plenty of at bats. But it's really Feliz that Sabean is banking on.
Meanwhile, I'm so digusted by the Giants giving up a draft pick to sign Michael Tucker, I can't even really comment on it.
Postscript: This just in: Harry Schulman says JT Snow was razzing Tucker about Pac Bell Park's hellacious impact on lefties during yesterday's conference call with the press: "Left hand hitter, you're going to love Pac Bell Park," Snow told Tucker.
