Giants Extra - An inside look at the San Francisco Giants

This is what gives the Giants whatever chance they may have at bringing in Jon Lester. Six pretty productive players, cost controlled at $13M for this year. When you add in the low cost of Panik, Susac and perhaps Duffy, you can definitely allocate more dollars to the pitching staff side of the ledger. Then hopefully the young pitching prospects come up in 2016 or 2017 and allow you to have some roll off on the pitching side that can reward Belt and Crawford.

from Giants Extra
Giants Extra - An inside look at the San Francisco Giants:

It’s non-tender day, and there were no surprises for the Giants. They tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players. Here are the projected arbitration salaries from the excellent MLB Trade Rumors. These are just projections, and you figure at some point the front office might approach the Brandons about buying out arbitration years and getting more cost control. 

Gregor Blanco – $3.5MM
Yusmeiro Petit – $1.6MM
Brandon Belt – $3.4MM
Travis Ishikawa – $800K
Brandon Crawford – $2.5MM
Hector Sanchez – $1.0MM

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"I'm from the government and I'm here to help" ... and two diverse pleas to stop

Whether it's the events in Ferguson or the most recent media fed, manufactured crisis du-jour what always seem to be lost in the "debate" is how often the problem is not about race or bigotry, but about the jack-boot of government, stomping on the faces of people of all races, creeds and colors. Parsing or comparing misery by sub-groups is counter productive, however, it is the favorite parlor game of the MSM.  Given that they are an agent or a tool of the previously mentioned government, this should not surprise.  As a result, we don't learn from history, we just keep repeating it. And then mournfully, ask ourselves "Why?....Peace. 

The Nine Most Terrifying Words

				The Nine Most Terrifying Words
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"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
- President Reagan Aug. 12, 1986

Walter E. Williams - Please Stop Helping Us

				Walter E. Williams - Please Stop Helping Us Riley points out that there has been significant achievement among the black middle class but that wide black-white gaps remain with respect to income, ...
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JULY 30, 2014

Please Stop Helping UsWalter E. Williams7/30/2014 12:01:00 AM - Walter E. Williams

While reading the first chapter of Jason Riley's new book, "Please Stop Helping Us," I thought about Will Rogers' Prohibition-era observation that "Oklahomans vote dry as long as they can stagger to the polls." Demonstrative of similar dedication, one member of Congress told Vanderbilt University political scientist Carol Swain that "one of the advantages and disadvantages of representing blacks is their shameless loyalty. ... You can almost get away with raping babies and be forgiven. You don't have any vigilance about your performance." In my opinion, there appear to be no standards of performance low enough for blacks to lose their loyalty to their black political representatives.

Riley says that between 1970 and 2001, the number of black elected officials skyrocketed from fewer than 1,500 to more than 9,000, but black poverty has remained roughly the same. Between 1940 and 1960, when black political power was virtually nonexistent, the black poverty rate fell from 87 percent to 47 percent. Riley points out that there has been significant achievement among the black middle class but that wide black-white gaps remain with respect to income, educational achievement, unemployment, labor force participation, incarceration rates and other measures. Despite political gains, there have been dramatic reversals in teen unemployment, crime, out-of-wedlock births and family stability. Political power is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for socio-economic progress.

Riley lays out the devastating deal black political leaders and civil rights leaders have made with labor unions, in his aptly named chapter "Mandating Unemployment." Black leaders of the past recognized that labor unions were hostile to the interests of ordinary blacks. Frederick Douglass, in his 1874 essay "The Folly, Tyranny, and Wickedness of Labor Unions," argued that unions were not friends of blacks. W.E.B. Du Bois called unions "the greatest enemy of the black working man." Booker T. Washington also opposed unions because of their adverse impact on blacks.

....

Riley's "Educational Freedom" chapter details the sorry story of black education. Between 1970 and today, educational spending has tripled and the school workforce has doubled, far outpacing student enrollment. Despite these massive increases in resources, black academic achievement is a national disgrace. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation's report card, black 17-year-olds score at the same level as white 13-year-olds in reading and math. White 13-year-olds score higher than black 17-year-olds in science.

A number of studies show that black students who attend private and charter schools do far better than their peers in public schools. If there were greater parental choice, through educational vouchers, black achievement would be higher. However, teachers unions see school choice as a threat to their monopoly, and virtually every black politician, including the president, backs the teachers unions.

At an 1865 gathering of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass said everybody had asked, "What should we do with the Negro?" Douglass said: "I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us." Later on, Washington explained, "It is important and right that all privileges of the law be ours, but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the exercise of these privileges." It's the abandonment of these visions that accounts for the many problems of today that Riley's book does a masterful job of explaining.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!.....this just killed my World Series buzz

I mean, didn't this team just win the World Series? And now they're trying to hook up like a desperate, loser barfly at "last call". C'mon, are you guys serious about this?

from Bleacher Report:
Melky Cabrera Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Outfielder | Bleacher Report:

The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to retain All-Star outfielder Melky Cabrera and are reportedly engaging in new contract talks with the impending free agent. However, multiple teams, most recently the San Francisco Giants, have also shown interest in acquiring Cabrera.

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Perfect Game 2015 Draft Top 5 HS Prospects

Early preview of the top HS players in the 2015 draft from Perfect Game USA. I would push the two lefty pitchers closer to the top, but it seems as if a consensus is building around the SS Brendan Rodgers as the top prep player, with Daz Cameron a close second. You can't go wrong with any of the top five or ten and all are committed to solid baseball programs. 

Rankings for years 2014, 2015, and 2016 are protected. Please sign up at the Premium level to view the rest of the list.
*Disclaimer: PG cannot 100% guarantee the accuracy of the verbal college commitments listed below.

Rank			Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	B T	High School	Hometown	St	Col.Commitment	Travel Team
1			Brendan Rodgers	SS 2B	6-1	190	R R	Lake Mary	Longwood	FL	Florida State	Orlando Scorpions Prime
			Outstanding at PG National. Very good bat-speed, Ball flies off his barrel. PG AA. Huge potential with the bat. Outstanding at WWBA and led the Orlando Scorpions to 3 rings in 2013! Outstanding defensively
2			Dazmon Cameron	OF	6-0	186	R R	Eagle`s Landing Christian Acad	McDonough	GA	Florida State	East Cobb Astros 18
			Outstanding all around talent. Potential 5 tool player. Very good at PG National and WWBA. Stood out at NUC Main Event. Can flat out hit. PG AA
3			Justin Hooper	LHP OF	6-7	230	R L	De La Salle	San Ramon	CA	UCLA
			Up to 97 at PG AA Game. Extremely high ceiling LHP. Showed dominant stuff at PG Sunshine West Showcase. FB up to 95 mph and good breaking ball to go with it
4			Kolby Allard	LHP OF	6-2	175	L L	San Clemente	San Clemente	CA	UCLA	So Cal Renegades
			Absolutely dominant at PG AA Game. Easy mid 90's FB, Commands all his pitches. Good breaking ball and change up
5			Ashe Russell	RHP	6-4	195	R R	Cathedral	Indianapolis	IN	Texas A&M	Evoshield Canes
			Arm really works well and up to 95 mph at PG National. Good breaking ball as well. MVPitcher of 17u WWBA PG AA. Up to 96 at 17u PG WS

Giants meet with free-agent lefty Lester | sfgiants.com

blog.sfgate.com

For all the reasons noted in the story, mark me down for a no on this one. The last attractive, former A's lefty we signed to a mega-deal didn't exactly turn out really well. Or did it? I'm so confused......go ahead, sign him. It's not my money, so WTFDIK?

P.S. - My preference is that all this Lester-lust is an organizational head-fake that leads the Giants to acquire James Shields or Jeff Samardzia.

from sfgiants.com
Giants meet with free-agent lefty Lester | sfgiants.com:

Though multiyear contracts are always risky, the Giants probably would gamble on Lester, who turns 31 in January. Having spent his career primarily in Boston and entirely in the American League, he owns a 15-7 record with a 3.06 ERA in 29 Interleague starts. Lester won both of his appearances at San Francisco's AT&T Park, yielding one earned run in 17 1/3 innings. 

Moreover, the Giants have established a precedent for making lucrative, long-term deals with pitchers. The seven-year, $126 million contract they gave Barry Zito before the 2007 season was the highest ever received by a Major League pitcher at the time. Cain received a six-year, $127.5 million extension in April 2012. Lincecum never has signed a contract exceeding two years but has earned $75 million in the last four seasons. 

To have a chance at signing Lester, the Giants probably would have to make him their highest-paid player, since the average annual value of the contract he ultimately receives could approach $25 million. Cain, due to earn $20.833 million in each of the next two seasons, will top San Francisco's annual payroll until catcher Buster Posey's yearly salary soars to $22.178 million in 2017."

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11 Basic Guidelines for General Health and Longevity Infographic

A healthy lifestyle is essential to achieving optimal wellbeing and longevity. This infographic, "11 Basic Guidelines for General Health and Longevity," gives you useful tips to help you live a long and healthy life.

http://www.mercola.com/infographics/general-health-guidelines.htm
Use the embed code to share on your website.

Baseball Rule 5 Draft coming up Dec 11th

The G-men protected the right guys, the middle inning relievers and potential set-up guys are the ones that seemingly garner the most attention and become the most likely to be plucked out of the organization. 

Given the Baseball America analysis, it doesn't seem as if the Giants will lose anybody since no Giants were mentioned in a rather lengthy list of prospects. 

Notable Players Available In The Rule 5 Draft - BaseballAmerica.com

				Notable Players Available In The Rule 5 Draft - Baseball... J.J. Cooper looks at some of the more notable players to keep in mind for the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 11.
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The Rule 5 draft is fascinating because of its timing and its format. Positioned right in the middle of the baseball offseason, it gives everyone a chance to scour rosters and dream on talented players with flaws.

In reality, the change of eligibility rules in 2007 that gave teams an extra year of protection before players become eligible for the Rule 5 draft reduced the importance of the Rule 5 draft significantly. That extra year has made it easier for teams to make decisions on players, and since then, fewer impact players have been nabbed.

But teams will continue to scour rosters in hopes of finding another Joakim Soria, Dan Uggla orJosh Hamilton. Or at least another Ryan Flaherty or T.J. McFarland.

Osich and Bandilla may be on the move due to the rise of Steven Okert. Okert was a 2012 draftee while the other two were drafted in 2011, so Okert has another year before he needs to be added to the 40 man roster. Lefty pitching prospects are always at a premium, but you can only protect so many of them. 

This is basically a re-shuffling of the 2011 Draft deck, a draft that is looking very good for the Giants led by Panik, Crick and Susac. 

San Francisco Giants 2011 Draft Selections

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=sf&year=2011

It also says a lot about what the Giants think of Ray Black and Derek Law, seventh and ninth rounders respectively.  Given the relative success and potential of Hunter Strickland, it goes to show you can't give up on power right-handed arms either.  

Giants Prospects protected:

Ray Black x
Derek Law x
Joan Gregorio x

Cody Hall x

Giants Prospects most likely to be drafted:

Josh Osich

Bryce Bandilla
Chuckie Jones
Ricky Oropesa
Kelby Tomlinson 

• The Rule 5 Draft is for prospects drafted out of college with 4 years of service and HS draftees and International signs with 5 years of service time can be selected by other teams in a draft order.