Well, that's one more issue resolved. See ya later Randy Winn - the softest number three hitter in the history of the game! I don't even know WHY he batted third for the Giants even once this season. He hit two homers the entire year! Granted, a descent number two guy when hot (or even better: number-seven or -eight), but that just didn't seem to materialize for very long stretches this year. Everyone in the Giants' organization seemed to think (or convince themselves) that Winn would recapture that initial magic when he was first acquired at the 2005 trade deadline from Seattle. I mean the guy was raking for a month straight, and had some real cartoon-like numbers as I recall. He never got back to that level for any sustainable length of time, but was able to parlay six incredible weeks of hitting into a three year deal with San Francisco.
Thankfully, that contract has now expired.
His average dropped more than forty points from 2008 (.306 down to .262), and his on-base percentage was horrid (a very flimsy .318). That's just weak. In fact, his numbers were down across the board in 2009: 65 runs, 141 hits, 33 doubles, 51 RBI's, and 16 stolen bases. The only numbers that went up were triples (up to five) and strikeouts (93 k's).
I think Bruce Bochy was counting on more production out of Winn, and stubbornly kept trotting him out there instead of giving Nate Schierholtz a reasonable number of at-bats. If you look at some of Winn's numbers from 2008, there was reason for some optimism: 183 hits, 84 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. All very good numbers. All of which tanked this year. I don't think 35 is the end of the road, but Winn will be hard pressed to find full-time employment elsewhere. He would be an ideal fourth outfielder/late-inning defensive replacement on a really good team. I imagine the A's would be the first call on his agent's list. He is an East Bay kid, and probably wants to stay in the area. Maybe back to Seattle?
Anyway, good luck in where ever you land Randy Winn; however, it's time for us to move on, and find someone younger with more pop. I mean, duh, that's pretty obvious, but I'm wondering if Nate will be the guy. All I can say is, "take your hacks this winter kid, and work on your weaknesses." Not that he's listening to me or anything.
Next on my wish list (well, besides signing Jason Bay): parting ways with Fred Lewis, re-signing Juan Uribe and Noah Lowry. Fences need mending with Noah and his camp. Notice I mentioned Bay and not Matt Holliday?
First of all, Jason "Bay," are you kidding me? Oh, the marketing possibilities. Second, remember the shell Holliday crawled into when he played for the A's for half the season? Then, suddenly he went to St.Louis, and became Super Man? I don't know how much of that is a National League comfort level versus the heavier-coastal air of the Bay Area.
Keywords: Bruce Bochy, Fred Lewis, Jason Bay, Juan Uribe, Matt Holliday, Nate Schierholtz, Noah Lowry, Oakland A's, Randy Winn, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St.Louis Cardinals
