Bengie Molina

I thought that ship had sailed? I also thought it was certain that Bengie Molina would be a New York Met in 2010. New York was dangling a two year deal, but Molina's camp wanted a third year option. Something went terribly wrong in the negotiations, and the two sides parted ways, which is good news for the Giants! It's hard to get greedy in this current market place, especially when you're an older player (who turns 36 in July), and playing a demanding position like catcher. I thought Molina might have ended-up in the American League where he could also be a DH.   Whatever happened at the end of last season (not playing hurt?), I say forget any bad blood that may have bubbled to the surface between Molina and the Giants, and welcome him back behind the plate with open arms. The pitchers love him. He's a club house presence and leader. He will be an excellent mentor to the young Buster Posey. He comes at a relative bargain for one year and $4.5-million, and can hit! Fortunately though, he won't be relied upon to bat clean-up for San Francisco this year (assuming the off-season acquisitions come through as expected). Molina should be much more comfortable further down in the order as a number-six hitter, behind a 3-4-5 combination of Sandoval, Huff, and De Rosa. Now I'm digging this line-up a lot more than I was just a couple of weeks ago.  Yorvit Torrealba? Rod Barajas? Bengie's going to be a better hitter than both of those guys. Last year, Molina struggled through some injuries, but still managed to play in 132 games and had 491 at-bats. The rest of the pertinent numbers: 130 hits, (only) 52 runs scored, 25 doubles, 20 homers, 80 RBI's, and an incredibly low 13 walks...Yikes! That's reflected in a .285 on-base percentage, but a fairly solid .265 batting average. Molina drove in 95 runs with 16 homers and 33 doubles in 2008; with a .292 average, and .322 on-base percentage. So, assuming he plays most of the season, you know roughly what kind of numbers you're going to get. But what if Posey is ready to go mid-season and gets the call-up? That remains to be seen. I would say Eli Whiteside begins the year as Molina's back-up with Posey down in Triple-A Fresno.  By-the-way: Torrealba sported a .351 on-base percentage and a .291 average in just 64 games with the Rockies last season, sharing time with Chris Ianetta. It's hard to really compare any other stats with fewer than half the number of at-bats, but Yorvit did manage to work 21 walks in just 213 at-bats. So, he would easily have more than 50 BB's with 500 A.B's. Barajas, meanwhile, had a descent season with the Blue Jays in 2008 as far as power numbers (19 and 71), but his batting average and on-base were dreadful in roughly the same number of at-bats. So, considering Bengie's familiarity with the Giants' pitching staff, and his overall better hitting, he was clearly the best choice of the three. The fourth choice, Miguel Olivo, had already signed with Colorado -- essentially replacing Torrealba.   Merkin Valdez, who was designated for assignment earlier last week, has been traded to Toronoto for cash considerations. Valdez just never realized his potential, but maintained a dominant fastball even after returning from Tommy John Surgery. The bullpen has depth, despite the departure of both Valdez and Bobby Howry. Brandon Medders, Sergio Romo, Dan Runzler, Waldis Joaquin, and even Joe Martinez can fill the void; bridging the gap to Jeremy Affeldt and closer Brian Wilson. We'll see how things shake out in spring training. There's about a half dozen other bullpen candidates, including one-time short stop Tony Pena, Jr.   So, one more time, let's view what the opening day line-up should look like (with the assumption that Aaron Rowand will lead-off): CF Rowand2B Sanchez3B Sandoval1B Huff LF De RosaC  MOLINASS RenteriaRF SchierholtzSP Lincecum  I would say pretty solid, but is there another potential right fielder out there with more experience? Is the team willing to spend any more money? I would say probably not because they still have to sign Lincecum who has asked for $13-million in salary arbitration for 2010 -- the Giants are offering only $8-million. He'll get at least ten, and probably closer to twelve. Regardless of Timmy's final number, that will boost the team payroll somewhere around 100-million-dollars, and that includes about five-million in deferred money to Barry Bonds.  So, although it would be nice to add an Eric Byrnes (Bay Area kid for probably for not much money), Xavier Nady (former Cal Bear, most recently with the Yankees), or Jermaine Dye (Sacramento kid and one-time Oakland Athletic), it just doesn't appear financially feasible. I believe it was me last season who said that Schierholtz deserves an extended look to prove himself. Now that Randy Winn is gone, it appears the time is now for Nate to play everyday in right field for the Giants. There is some young depth for the outfield as well with Andres Torres, Eugenio Velez, John Bowker, and (I would say very reluctantly) Fred Lewis.  

Continue reading ""Bengie Molina is Back in the Squat ..."

Assuming Bengie Molina doesn't return (he's been offered two years by the Mets), another bat must walk through that clubhouse door come spring training. Brad Penny walked away from the Gia

Continue reading ""Randy Johnson Officially Announces ..."

The question is: who will serve as his mentor?  Will Bengie Molina accept such a role?  What about Eli Whiteside? Probably not a good enough hitter to stick long-term -- he appears th

Continue reading ""Let's Talk About Next Year's Giants""

Once again the offense came through:  Aaron Rowand's clutch two-run single, the long ball from Bengie Molina (#18 on the year), and four RBI's from Eugenio Velez, as San Francisco pounded out 10 more hits (25 in the last two games).  That was more than enough for Lincecum and the bull pen - Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry allowed just one walk between them over the last two innings.  Juan Uribe and Travis Ishikawa carried over the good vibes from Sunday with two hits apiece Monday.

Continue reading ""Giants Close the N.L. Wildcard Gap ..."

  Hopefully for Giants' fans, Brad Penny can find his groove back in the National League.  In his three inter-league starts against national league teams this year, Penny posted a

Continue reading ""Brad Penny on the Bump for the Giants""

elied upon 8th-inning, three-run home runs to pull out victories both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Bengie Molina's pinch-hit three-run blast off Chad Qualls last night could be one of the highlights of the year to date. Watching Molina limp around the bases (quad strain) instantly reminded me of Kirk Gibson's game-winner off Eck in game one of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium - I was waiting for the under-handed fist-pump as Bengie rounded second base.  Of course the stakes weren't quite as high on a Tuesday night in August as they would be in October, but nonetheless; these games actually mean something.  The Dodgers beat the Rockies today, which means a win tonight could close the gap in the wild card race to just two games heading into the weekend showdown.

Continue reading ""Giants Go for the Sweep Over Arizona""

oval, who left Monday's game in Denver with a tight calf is expected to miss a couple of games, and Bengie Molina is dinged with an apparent quad injury.  This on top of a mentally drainin

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ut of his funk just in time, boosting that average, and picking-up the slack for Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina, who each struck out three times Tuesday.  Randy Winn may also be awakening from his deep freeze, collecting two more hits (five in the last two games), and two more RBI's. Juan Uribe, who has been hobbled by injury in recent days, smacked a home run early in the game off Homer Bailey. Bailey pitched great through five-innings, but lost it in the sixth, surrendering four more runs. San Francisco also broke through against Reds' closer Francisco Cordero, touching him up for three runs - and the loss.  Two more games against Cincinnati with Barry Zito and Matt Cain scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday.  Then, it's the big finale of the road trip with four games in Coors Field against the front-running, wild-card-leading Rockies.  

Continue reading ""Will The Hits Keep Coming for the Giants?""

l is this Eli Whiteside story?  The Giants' rookie back-up catcher, who plays sparingly behind Bengie Molina, has had some big moments in recent weeks.  After catching the Jonathan Sanchez no-hitter last month, Whiteside launched a grand slam today -- his first career home run -- helping the Giants to a 10-6 victory over the Astros.  San Francisco improves to 60-and-48, taking two of three games ON THE ROAD, and now return home to open a weekend set against Dusty Baker's Cincinnati Reds.  Thursday's off-day, by the way, is the first for the team since the all-star break in mid-July.

Continue reading ""The Giants Get it Done in Houston""

So what does that mean for fan favorite Bengie Molina? Molina is at an age where he almost assuredly would want a multi-year contract to give him and his family long-term security. But if th

Continue reading "Posey a Grizzley? Interesting..."

  We are officially halfway through the season, and I'm trying not to get too excited about these Giants.  However, if the last three games are any indication of where this team i

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Anyone who has followed the rise of the Giants Tim Lincecum knows why they call him the 'Franchise.'  Another strong performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks , his second of the week, gave hi

Continue reading "Good news continues for Giants and Lincecum"

.A 1-0 10th inning win over the San Diego Padres had them sweeping the brief two game series.  Bengie Molina knocked in Andres Torres with a ground rule double to send everyone home...Begi

Continue reading "Good news-finally-for San Francisco"

And Molina likes 'em low because that pitch was fished out of his heels.

Sandoval does his best Bengie Molina impression for a double in the gap.

Ishikawa hits it well to the same spot as Sandoval but hangs too long for out #1.

Continue reading "Brewers at Giants, Bottom of the Seventh"

Monkey off the back?...The Giants may have gotten the monkey off their backs with an 11-3 blowout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday evening...Ask anyone, that is what I have been saying that

Continue reading "BLOWOUT!!!!!"

TIM LINCECUM and BENGIE MOLINA pretty much had their respective ways with the Western Division leading Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday evening in Phoenix...LINCECUM went 7 1/3 innings, striking o

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though Brian Wilson gave up the game winning hit...Hey, dem are da rules...On another bright note, Bengie Molina went 6/7 in both games, including three doubles and a round-tripper in the firs

Continue reading "Giants Drop Two to Marlins; Vizquel Sets Record"

first win...It didn't hurt that the offense got him eight runs, there highest total of the season...Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand provided much of the muscle, clubbing back to back homera

Continue reading "Barry Zito gets 1st Win!!!!!"