Buster Posey for MVP

The National League MVP used to be one of the more boring awards this year, as it was basically a one man race between Andrew McCutchen and the rest of the world.  Ryan Braun has been consistently elite in 2012 as well, and is submitting a season about equal to his MVP performance last year.  But since the All-Star break, McCutchen started to become more human, and Buster Posey began to turn into a fire-breathing baseball machine.  And he has just about earned himself the award.

Let's talk about his second half.  Because it's historic.  A .383/.455/.639 AVG/OBP/SLG line is beyond any expectations that were thrown his way.  Take a walk back to May 25, 2012, a year removed from his crushing ankle injury.  He was batting a respectable .290 and the giants were 4 games behind the Dodgers still.  People had no reason to panic, but nothing special seemed to be on the horizon.  Four months later the Giants are 10 games up and a 25-year old catcher, our catcher, has a chance to be named the best player in the NL.

In Buster Posey's second half, he's hitting .350 in 4
places outside of the strike zone.  Uhhhhhhh...wow.

The offensive arguments are there for Braun and McCutchen, as they match or exceed Buster in a number of categories.  But they play left field and center field, respectively, which are two of the most talented positions in the majors.  And while both hold their own defensively, neither players are considered highly above average according to UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating).  Posey equals each on the defensive side, and plays a much harder position.  Plus, quality catchers hardly grow on trees these days.  The difference between Posey and the average starting catcher is much greater than Ryan Braun and the average left fielder, especially offensively.  According to Bay City Ball, Buster is hitting better than any first baseman in the league. The most offensive-oriented position in the league can't hold a candle to Buster Freakin' Posey. In early September Posey had already achieved the greatest season for a Giants catcher ever. That is an enourmous value that the Giants get to take advantage of.

Honestly, it comes down to the fact that there is only one Buster Posey.  And that's what will win the voters over.  And rightfully so, because his story is incredible.  Many thought he would maybe get 400 plate appearances at the most considering how awful and career-threatening his injury was.  He has 580.  He came back stronger and with more resilience than anybody expected, leading his team in every connotation of the word.  The Giants are going to the playoffs on his shoulders, while the Brewers and Pirates are just not quite there.  When looking back at the lack of offense for the 2011 team, it is now so clear how truly valuable Posey is to this franchise.

He is the Chosen One, and he deserves to be the 2012 NL MVP.

Giants Roster Finalized

My Thoughts
By: Brian Sanchez
April 4, 2012


Opening day is just around the corner, and today the Giants announced their opening day roster.  It is a bit shocking, but not because of the decisions made.  It is more because of what the Giants didn't do.  The Giants did not necessarily start a youth movement, but they did select youth over experience at some key back up spots.  Here are my thoughts:

• It is finally Brandon Belt time (left).  Bochy said that Huff is this teams Left Fielder.  End of discussion.  Belt is finally the Giants First Basemen and it will stay that way.  Pill is Belt's back up, not Huff, Huff is a LF now. 

• Nate Schierholtz gets shoved to being the 5th outfielder now because of Huff shifting out there.  He was already on the verge of losing his job to Gregor Blanco, so Nate will start the season as the left handed bat off the bench with Pill being the right handed hitter off the bench.
• Hector Sanchez (right) will be Buster Posey's back up at Catcher.  Most people thought it would come down to the automatic outs of Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart battling for the back up role even though Hector was tearing the cover off of the ball in spring.  This was a big youth move for the Giants and it can give fans hope that they are shifting towards trusting their prospects. (especially the ones who can hit)

• Chris Stewart has been traded to the New York Yankees for relief pitcher George Kontos.  Not much to say here other than we will never have to watch another Chris Stewart at bat!  WooHoo!
• In a not very surprising move the Giants purchased the contract of Gregor Blanco (left).  He's impressed this spring with his ability to get on base and steal bags while he is there.  Angel Pagan has struggled in spring training, and should his struggles extend long in to the regular season Blanco will be there ready to take his job.  

• As mentioned before, Brett Pill (right) made the team.  He will be the right handed thunder off the bench and platoon at first with Belt.  The reports have said his first start will come in the Rockies series, most likely against old man Moyer.
• Dan Otero made the team out of camp.  The young kid had a stand out spring, and this was another move that showed the Giants will trust their own players; especially if they do well in camp.  Otero will likely be sent back to the minors when Ryan Vogelsong comes off of the DL.
• Both Ryan Theriot and Emmanuel Burriss are on the roster.  They will be competing to remain on the team when Freddy Sanchez comes off of the DL.  You would have to think whoever is playing worse will be cut as Burriss has no more minor league options left.
• Clay Hensley is another new name in the bullpen.  He makes the team mostly because the Giants feel they need 7 relievers and they haven't said why but I think we all know it's because of Zito.

Now Let's take a look at my opening day Line-up.  You will not see this one used friday:

LF Gregor Blanco

CF Angel Pagan

RF Melky Cabrera

C Buster Posey

3B Pablo Sandoval

1B Brandon Belt

SS Brandon Crawford 

2B Manny Burriss

P Tim Lincecum

Here is the line up I think Bochy will trot out there on Friday:

CF Angel Pagan

RF Melky Cabrera

3B Pablo Sandoval

C Buster Posey

LF Aubrey Huff

1B Brandon Belt

SS Brandon Crawford

2B Ryan Theriot

P Tim Lincecum

Don't forget to tune in to The Sports Report Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. only on radio.dominican.edu.  You can also follow me on Twitter @SportsReportDU and as always you should like The Sports Report FaceBook page for updates on the show.  

Matt Cain

Why He's Worth Every Cent
By: Brian Sanchez
April 2, 2012

Matt Cain is the longest tenured Giant and he was rewarded for his loyalty and outstanding performance with a 6 year $127.5 million contract.  He is the most dependable pitcher on the Giants staff.  He may not have the awards that Tim Lincecum has but that does not make him a better pitcher.  Cain is a rare combination of size, strength, accuracy, stamina, and durability.  Here is why he is worth every cent.

Matt Cain Notes

• He is younger than Lincecum.  Sure it is less than a year, but still, the more mature and steady Cain is actually younger than Lincecum.
• He is sturdy, with 203 career starts already under his belt and over 30 starts per year for the last 6 years.
• A career record of 69-73 does not matter much because we all know it would be completely different if he were playing for a team that could give him constant run support.
• He has 13 complete games in his career 4 of them being shut outs.
• He's logged 1317.1 innings in his career already and has gone at least 200 innings in the last 5 years.  the last year he did not throw 200 innings he still through 190.  
• He has never walked 100 batters in a year
• He has only given up over 200 hits once, and that was in 2008 when he gave up 206.
• He has a career ERA of 3.35 WHIP of 1.20 and Opponent Batting Average of .227
• He has only made 9 errors in 7 big league seasons
• He is a career .117 hitter with 5 HR.  Not to shabby.
• And of course, he has a World Series Ring.  The next run he gives up in the playoffs will be his first.

Matt Cain is a silent leader on this team.  He leads by example and is the perfect role model for the guy who is up next for his big extension, Madison Bumgarner.  Cain is worth every cent.  You see his career numbers and the last three years he has been getting better, and better.   There is a good outlook on this deal for Cain.  He should be healthy for most of his contract.  He should always at least be an effective pitcher.  And that is at the very worst.  I see no Zito problem with Cain.  

Make sure you listen to The Sports Report on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. on radio.dominican.edu.  You can also follow me on twitter @SportsReportDU to get all the sports information you'll ever need.  For updates on the show, like The Sports Report FaceBook Page.  

Why Ryan Braun Will Play

By: Brian Sanchez
2/24/2012

     I'll start with the obvious:  Ryan Braun, reigning NL MVP, will not be suspended for 50 games during this upcoming season.  He was given the suspension during this past off season because he tested positive for a PED (performance enhancing drug) which still has not been named.  What we do know though is he had elevated testosterone.  In fact it was the highest testosterone ratio ever recorded during Baseball's drug testing.  Almost immediately after getting handed the suspension Braun appealed.  This has never worked before, and nobody expected it to work this time.  But the whole test was hung up on a technicality.  Braun's agent and lawyer were able to find a loop hole.  The test was taken on October 1st, the day the Brewers played their first playoff game last season, but was not delivered to the FedEx station to get mailed until October 3rd.  According to Baseball's drug agreement the sample needs to be delivered on the same day that it was taken.  This is to make sure there is no tampering with the sample and that no chemical reactions can take place.  There have already been anonymous doctors who have said blood would not have developed a positive test for what Braun tested positive for.  (Since the PED can not be named both the doctors and the drug remained anonymous.)  However, the rules were not followed so the test was thrown out.  The only report as to why this happened is that the man in charge of the blood samples thought the FedEx near him was closed so he held on to it.  That is the technicality that got Ryan Braun off the hook.  I do not buy the fact that he did not test positive, I think he just got lucky to find the loop hole.

     Braun held a press conference today in front of media and his teammates at the brewers spring training facilities in Phoenix, Arizona.  Braun said about the time since the test came out  “I’ve lived this nightmare every day for the last four months.”  Braun then went deeper into what he thought about the testing process, “At the end of the day the truth prevailed,” he said. “I’m a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed in the way that it was applied to me in the case. As players, we’re held to a standard of 100 percent perfection regarding the program, and everybody else associated with that program should be held to the same standard. We’re a part of a process where you’re 100 percent guilty until proven innocent. It’s the opposite of the American judicial system."  The most frustrating part to Braun was “My (Ryan Braun) name has been dragged through the mud as everything I’ve ever worked for in my life has been called into question,”.

More will be coming on the situation.  Arbitrator Shyam Das who threw out Braun’s ban on Thursday, informed the sides of his decision but did not give them a written opinion. He has to do so within 30 days of the decision which means it should be coming soon. 

Do you think he used PED's?  Did he only get off because of a technicality?

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