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luckymann · 11-12-2020, 09:51 PM

LAST YEAR: 64-76 13 ½ GB, last / .287 / 4.20
BNN PREDICTION: 77-77 14 GB, 5th / .259 / 3.18
FARM SYSTEM: 8th
BEST PROSPECT: 3B Pete Ward (11th)
PAYROLL: 10th, $24,898
HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: P Bob Rhoads, $2,480
CASH BALANCE: $182,104
GAINS: P Ed Hughes (trade)
LOSSES: SS Terry Harmon (released); P Duane Pillette (traded); P Jack Hamilton (trade); P Kelvim Escobar (released)

OK, I am man enough to admit it: that wasn’t the greatest call of my life I made about these here Jints this time last year. To recap in paraphrase, I am beyond surprised that BNN has tipped them to go backward this year. I see it going the other way.

BNN 1, Me 0.

Yeah, yeah—that’ll be quite enough out of you thanks Mr Harry Hindsight, Monday morning QB extraordinaire. I don’t care what you say, I’m still aboard the Giants Express.

Why? For exactly the same reasons I was last year.

Neither OF John Titus (.318 / 6 HR / NL-top 81 RBI) nor catcher Bill DeLancey (.301 / league high 10 HR) did anything last season to dissuade me from my fanboy status. They still have quality – and, in some instances, numerous – options around the diamond in players such as 3B Pete Ward, RF Al Shaw and veteran OF "Gentleman" Jim Hickman.

They still have an absolute gun heading the rotation in Barney Wolfe, another who looks like he’ll be a gem in Moose Haas, and Bob Lemon still holds plenty of promise even though he’s taking his good sweet time to deliver on it. They also have one of the better bullpens in the game, not that they see much use in this era. Still, in a division as close-fought as I think the NL might be this season, those few bullpen wins and holds and saves may turn out to be crucial.

But, as the Giants’ 1903 season is testament to, all the talent in the world don’t add up to a hill of beans if you don’t use it. Wolfe and Haas can project as guns all they want, but the ERA+ south of 80 both of them posted last season is the pitching equivalent of firing blanks.

So, yes, this franchise had an annus horribilis in 1903. Hey, it happens. But I don’t see lightning striking twice, and so I’m backing the Giants to shoot the lights out this year. I feel they are right in this up to their eyeballs. The madness persists.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: OF John Titus; C Bill DeLancey; P Barney Wolfe

11-12-2020, 09:51 PM	#339
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,511	1904 New York Giants LAST YEAR: 64-76 13 ½ GB, last / .287 / 4.20 BNN PREDICTION: 77-77 14 GB, 5th / .259 / 3.18 FARM SYSTEM: 8th BEST PROSPECT: 3B Pete Ward (11th) PAYROLL: 10th, $24,898 HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: P Bob Rhoads, $2,480 CASH BALANCE: $182,104 GAINS: P Ed Hughes (trade) LOSSES: SS Terry Harmon (released); P Duane Pillette (traded); P Jack Hamilton (trade); P Kelvim Escobar (released) OK, I am man enough to admit it: that wasn’t the greatest call of my life I made about these here Jints this time last year. To recap in paraphrase, I am beyond surprised that BNN has tipped them to go backward this year. I see it going the other way. BNN 1, Me 0. Yeah, yeah—that’ll be quite enough out of you thanks Mr Harry Hindsight, Monday morning QB extraordinaire. I don’t care what you say, I’m still aboard the Giants Express. Why? For exactly the same reasons I was last year. Neither OF John Titus (.318 / 6 HR / NL-top 81 RBI) nor catcher Bill DeLancey (.301 / league high 10 HR) did anything last season to dissuade me from my fanboy status. They still have quality – and, in some instances, numerous – options around the diamond in players such as 3B Pete Ward, RF Al Shaw and veteran OF "Gentleman" Jim Hickman. They still have an absolute gun heading the rotation in Barney Wolfe, another who looks like he’ll be a gem in Moose Haas, and Bob Lemon still holds plenty of promise even though he’s taking his good sweet time to deliver on it. They also have one of the better bullpens in the game, not that they see much use in this era. Still, in a division as close-fought as I think the NL might be this season, those few bullpen wins and holds and saves may turn out to be crucial. But, as the Giants’ 1903 season is testament to, all the talent in the world don’t add up to a hill of beans if you don’t use it. Wolfe and Haas can project as guns all they want, but the ERA+ south of 80 both of them posted last season is the pitching equivalent of firing blanks. So, yes, this franchise had an annus horribilis in 1903. Hey, it happens. But I don’t see lightning striking twice, and so I’m backing the Giants to shoot the lights out this year. I feel they are right in this up to their eyeballs. The madness persists. PLAYERS TO WATCH: OF John Titus; C Bill DeLancey; P Barney Wolfe Attached Images __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE GULF LEAGUE USBA Last edited by luckymann; 11-12-2020 at 09:54 PM.