Fact or Fiction?
By Jerome La Torre
Nicademiks Columnist
Fact or Fiction: The Giants are better than they were?
Peter Gammons [From Espn.com]:
Fact. There are some defensive questions, especially wherever Ray Durham plays. They will miss Russ Ortiz, who allowed only four homers in two years at Pac Bell. They are trying to move Felix Rodriguez, which could be a huge hole. But they have more speed than in the past.
Durham is not only one of the best leadoff hitters in the business, but the first legitimate leadoff man they've had, Edgardo Alfonzo is a wonderful player and GM Brian Sabean and assistant GM Ned Colletti will plug what they have to plug.
The key is whether or not young pitchers Kurt Ainsworth, Jesse Foppert and/or Jerome Williams is able to comes through and be productive.
Jerome La Torre [Sports Expert at Nicademiks.com]:
Even though I think Peter Gammons is full of you know what, I have to agree with him on this one. Despite what the nay sayers are writing, I do think the Giants have an improved club this year.
While the loss of Kent is going to hurt I think the Giants have made up for it with the acquisition of those new players. The Giants are going to be playing another style of baseball next year, and Alou is definitely going to use the players speed to the team's advantage.
Perez, Durham, and Grissom are all speedsters that are going to help the team out real big. Runs are going to be earned in a manner unlike during the Baker era...the new personnel calls for this, and I think the Giants are going to have success.
As for Ortiz...he had a real good post season...but other than the post season he really was never that big of a deal...just another mediocre pitcher that will give you at least 12 wins a year... We already have pitchers that can do that...ie. Kirk Rueter...and even Livan. At least one of those rookies will earn a starting role...and with the acquisition of Moss, a very promising pitcher who has been compared to the likes of a young Tom Glavine, the Giants can have a solid, dependable rotation of the ace Schmidt, Moss, Rueter, Hernandez, and a mix of one of the young talents...whose list also includes Kurt Ainswortrh and Ryan Jensen, who both logged in major league innings last year.
Bottom line the team has improved. The outfield is already improved much more than last year...plus the dealing is not complete. Sabean has something else up his sleeve... guaranteed...and on another note...the Giants are a lot younger than last year...
2003 is shining with much promise.
- Monday, December 23, 2003
