A Little Trick With Nick

Bonana Fanna Fo Fanna.

Can we all agree that despite all the protestations of “good chemistry” and “aggressiveness” and “speed” that the Giants’ offense is going to stink this season?

Here is the projected lineup according to Lefty, give or take one crappy player for another:

LF- Roberts/Davis
3B - Frandsen
RF - Winn
C - Molina
CF - Rowand
2B - Durham
1B - Ortmeier
SS - Vizquel
Pitcher

The rush to Momo’s after the bottom of the sixth may result in several deaths by trampelling this season.

I know all the Giant fans like various pieces, but allow me to insult you all by stating my feeling: the Giants have 2 guys in that lineup who are legitimate starting players (Rowand and Molina) and one (Winn) who is acceptable if the rest of the lineup is good. Is Molina the worst cleanup hitter in baseball? Is Winn the worst #3 hitter in baseball? As for the rest, well, everyone else is a throw away piece, or in the case of Frandsen and Ortmeier, a questionable project.

That’s my opinion, and I’m never wrong, although to paraphrase Henry Fonda in “In Harm’s Way”, I have been known to be a little short on bein’ right.

Based on reports, there is a deal to be made that can help. Washington’s best two hitters both play first base. Nick Johnson, out all of 2007 with a broken leg, appears healthy again. Meanwhile, the Nats signed his 2007 all-star replacement, 2007 NL Comeback Player of the Year Dmitri Young, to a $10 million two year extension this winter. They are scheduled to pay Johnson $5.5 million in 2008 and 2009. If Johnson is really healthy, one of them has to go.

So how about Johnson at first base for the Giants? Say for a couple of these young guys: Davis, Lewis, Ortmeier, Schierholtz, Sanchez, etc. etc. etc., come on, who cares?

First of all, the Giants can afford it, moneywise. Remember, I keep pounding on the fact that the Giants have money, real money, as a result of this huge (and hugely unreported) TV deal with Comcast in which they now own around 30% of Fox Sports Net. OK, they aren’t the Yankees, but this moves them up to around 5th or so in cash flow. The CEO of Comcast told the Giants: “I gave you all this money, and all you’ve bought so far is Aaron Rowand?”

Second, if he’s healthy, Nick Johnson can play. In the 500 at bats he had in 2006 before he was injured, he had 23 homers, 46 doubles, 77 RBIs, 100 runs and was hitting .290/.428/.520. And just for kicks, he had 10 steals. And he’s only 29 years old. Why not take the chance?

That might make the lineup, as I would order it:

LF- Roberts/Davis/et.al.
RF – Winn
CF – Rowand
1B - Johnson
C - Molina
2B - Durham
3B - Frandsen
SS - Vizquel
Pitcher

Better. We even have that L-R-L-R thing going in the middle of the lineup (ok, S-R-L-R, but close enough). Make a deal for Crede or possibly a legitimate third baseman, and maybe the crowd will stay to the eighth inning. And the crowd will buy an extra 5,000 beers at the ballpark instead of Momos, so the deal actually pays for itself.

Johnson is back. The Nats are dying to do a deal. It’s mostly a matter of money, which is the Giants’ only long suit.

Hey, their offense is still going to stink. But we can’t really go into the season without a single player who is sure to hit 15 homers. Plus Johnson is another legitimate piece, like Rowand and Molina. Come on, Sabes – make the call.

And now, back to Shirley Ellis and The Name Game. Let’s do Chuck!