Sad new that ex-Giant and "Yankee Forever" Bobby Murcer passed away.
Although he did not have his best years with the Giants, in my mind is the consummate example of the huge benefit the short porch in RF @ Yankee Stadium gave to LH pull hitters.
His power numbers dropped like a rock when he had to hit in Shea Stadium for a season while Yankee Stadium was being renovated and then when he went to Candlestick to play for the Giants.
Hell, he didn't show all that much power with the Cubs, but then back to Yankee Stadium to finish his career and while the power returned somewhat, he was relegated to part-time status.
It's not his fault, it is what it is. It does demonstrate the weakness of using statistical analysis alone to make solid determinations about a ball-player.
BOBBY MURCER CAREER STATS FROM BASEBALL REFERENCE:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/murcebo01.shtml
1973 27 YRS. OLD @ Yankee Stadium 22 HR 95 RBI .304 AVG.
1974 28 YRS. OLD @ Shea Stadium 10 HR 88 RBI .274 AVG.
1975 29 YRS. OLD @ Candlestick Pk. 11 HR 91 RBI .298 AVG.
1976 30 YRS. OLD @ Candlestick Pk. 23 HR 90 RBI .259 AVG
It seemed like the negative attention that 11 HR season attracted, for a middle of the order type player, Murcer changes his swing to get the power numbers and hurts his average. Although, I would take 23-90 in the middle of this years lineup right now. I'm not sure Durham or Molina get there, but we shall see.
The Giants continue to bolster the farm system by making the Rodriguez signing official. He will team with Angel Villalona and appear on top prospect lists for the Giants for three or four more years to come.
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http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2008/266516.html
Giants Set Record For Rodriguez
Dominican outfielder gets $2.55 million bonus
By Ben Badler
July 15, 2008
After months of rumors, the deal is finally done: Rafael Rodriguez is a San Francisco Giant.
Rodriguez, an outfielder from the Bani in the Dominican Republic, signed yesterday (his 16th birthday) for a $2.55 million bonus, the largest bonus ever for a Latin American hitter, excluding Cuban defectors.
"He is one of the better position players on the international market this year," Giants scouting director John Barr said in a press release. "We scouted him extensively this season with many people on our staff evaluating him. To a man, we all agree that Rafael is the type of player that we want to bring into the Giants organization."
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What we need are for the older prospects, this years collegiate draft to come through fast. There is a gaping hole in the Giants farm system from AAA to High A. The AA Connecticut club is loaded with 25 and older suspects that need to be moved up in the organization or out of it.
The better prospects from the last two years drafts are still toiling primarily in Hi-a and Low-A ball. This is due mainly to the loss of high draft picks from signing the free-agents that would surround the B-POPE, BLB.
Some of those free-agents are still around clogging up roster spots that could be used for the few minor-leaguers who border on prospect status. Out with Vizquel, Winn, Aurilia, Durham. In with Schierholz, Martinez-Esteve, Ishakawa and whatever other borderline prospect we have down there. Maybe you find another John Bowker, maybe you don't. And if you find one it doesn't serve the organizations "we're moving on and getting younger" approach to have guys like the afore-mentioned veterans clogging up roster spots and lineup spots.
Being this close to the division leaders is a "fools gold" that is going to fool management into thinking the team is in actual contention. This will lead them to hold on to these ancient mariners past the initial trade deadline where theses guys can make the playoff and World Series roster for the tam that trades for them. This is when these guys have there highest value. If you hang onto them thinking they could get hot and with the pitching staff we have, we could be right back in this thing in a week, you're going to give them away for next to nothing by late-August or September.
Get what you can for them now, preferably some Double-A or Triple-A level players and take you chances with them down the road. The next year or two is going to be tough enough as it is until the Bumgardeners and Aldersons and Villalonas make their mark.
And that's not even thinking about the contributions Posey and Gillespie will make.
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GIANTS PROSPECTS DOWN ON THE FARM - FROM BASEBALL AMERICA:
CLASS....PLAYER,POS.........AB..R..H..RBI..AVG
LoA.....Villalona, Angel 1B..3..0..2..0....248
CLASS....PITCHER...........IP...H..R..ER..BB..K...ERA
LoA....Bumgarner,Madison...7.0..4..0..0...0...11..1.79...W (9-3)
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