Giants Team Report: 06/04/03

Latest Team Info
The Giants have released Ruben Rivera. His ESPN highlight baserunning gaffe only highlighted a miserable season with sporadic playing time, unable to translate a scalding spring training into regular season succes.
This leaves the Giants with only one true center fielder, Marquis Grissom. It is probable that hot prospect Jason Ellison will see time with the team often this season, as he is riipping the ball in AAA, and plays a legit CF.

In injury news, Ray Durham returned from his ankle injury and promptly ignited a 5 game winning streak (snapped last night). He will continue to bat at the top of the lineup, but Marquis Grissom's hot streak allowed him to hold onto the leadoff spot. Durham WILL be the leadoff man the majority of the season, Grissom will not stay hot all season. Durham's return also pushes Neifi Perez back to the backup role, where he will get starts at 2b, ss, and also 3b.

Jason Christiansen has also been reactivited. Note that he is NOT just a lefty specialist, he is a legit late inning arm, so he could become a prime set-up man for the GIants. He will not pitch back to back nights, and the Giants will obviously ease him back into the bullpen situation after a year without pitching.
Scott Eyre has been relatively effective lately, and also has a guaranteed contract, so don't look for him to go anywhere. Chad Zerbe is more likely to be sent down to AAA in the event that the GIants need to make room in the bullpen.

Kurt Ainsworth, the most polished of the Giants young arms, was placed on the 15 day disabled list yesterday with shoulder soreness. Jerome Williams has been called up to take his start. Jerome Williams has superior stuff quality wise than AInsworth, but far less major league experience. He is a worthwhile pick up, especially if he starts in Pac Bell Park

Local Spin
With the recent release of Matt Williams, fans may be wondering if the time is ripe for a local hero to return home. While it would be a terrfici PR move, Williams woul dhave to accept a dimished role with the Giants.
With Pedro Feliz' move to the outfield, there are now only 2 backup infielders, Neifi Perez and Andres Galarraga. Matt WIlliams would backup 3b and possible 1b in a pinch, and provide a left handed KILLER off the bench, but the problem is the Giants need a left handed bat, and already have Galaragga as a bigtime pinch hitter. With interleague play, Williams would be a terrific DH, so the possibility of Williams on the Giants isn't non-exisitent, especially with his cheap cost. In any event, he won't be getting much playing time. It would be great to see him retire as a Giant though.

Rumors
As mentioned above, Pedro Feliz has been moved to the OF despite being a 3b in the minors. This isn't going to be his last stop, however, as the feeling around the Giants is that Feliz can very well be the Giants 2004 first baseman. With JT Snow's $5 mill contract coming off the books (and others, of course), Feliz would fill a hole on the team cheaply, with a minimum contract. Being a 3rd baseman, his defense would still be above average for a 1b, and with his recent offensive surge (though limited to Coors...), it would allow money to be spent on another positional need....say, a premium outfielder named...Vladimir...

As far a trade rumors, the Giants only needs at the moment are a dominant reliever, not necessary a closer, but a top notch reliever, period, and a left handed bat. One team who could provide both is the Houston Astros, who have an abundance of ace relievers (wagner, lidge, dotel), as well as a lefty PH, Orlando Merced. They also need starting pitching, which the GIants have an abundance of starting pitching (Williams, Ainsworth, Foppert, Schmidt, Reuter, Moss, Jensen, even Brower can start).
Names such as Ugueth Urbina and Armando Benitez have also been tossed around, but they would require some financial figuring to work out.

Fantasy Add/Drop
Marquis Grissom has been lighting it up of late, hitting over .300,driving in runs, and also stealing his fair share of bags. If you want a short burst of offense, ride this guy while he's hot.

As for Jose Cruz, who's average has dropped over 60 points from the start of the season, his move to the bottom of the lineup is hurting both him AND the team. He has a remarkable inability to hit with runners on base, and NEEDS to be moved to the 2spot in front of Barry Bonds, where he will feast on fastballs once again. If Felipe ALou insists on batting him down in the lineup, he will soon prove why Toronto let him go.

If you haven't activated Ray Durham, shame on you. He's a top leadoff man and he's healthy again.

If Jerome Williams is around in your league, he is worth a roster spot, because he is mature enough to succeed on the major league level, and has a quality team behind him.