The San Francisco Giants have the Los Angeles Dodgers on their minds, and for good reason.
After winning two World Series titles in three years, the Giants last season took a backseat to their rivals, who raced to the NL West championship. The Dodgers’ payroll soared to record heights since new ownership arrived, and the Giants aren’t about to try catching up monetarily.
“Look, we’re mindful of the Dodgers,” Giants president Larry Baer said. “It would be crazy and disingenuous to say that we’re not. Maybe it’s a little bit like New York and Boston a lot of those years. We’re fine with not matching them dollar for dollar because it’s an art, not a science.”
The bottom line: investing properly.
“It comes down to judgments, right?” Baer said. “If our judgments on drafting (right-hander Matt) Cain, (right-hander Tim) Lincecum, (catcher Buster) Posey, (left-hander Madison) Bumgarner, etc. in recent years weren’t the right judgments, where would we be now? Those were judgment calls, those weren’t money calls.”
While the Dodgers’ payroll will be in the $250 million range, the Giants’ will around $150 million — though that is about a $10 million spike from last season.
That is not the end of it, though. Baer said if the Giants need a financial boost to add needed players late in the season, they would make the investment.
“There’s some firepower left if warranted,” Baer said.
He added, “Nobody here has said the Giants can’t make it on the field because they don’t have enough money to spend. We want to spend it wisely and over time by locking guys up long term.”
Among the Giants re-signed since last season: right fielder Hunter Pence, Lincecum and left-handed reliever Javier Lopez.
“I think the industry is going to continue to move toward locking up your own players,” Baer said, “and we’ve been an example of that.”
NOTES, QUOTES
–LHP Madison Bumgarner was selected the Opening Day starter over RHP Matt Cain, who threw the opener last year. Bumgarner had a superior 2013 and earned the nod. Cain said he supports the decision and will help Bumgarner deal with any extra hoopla. “With the starting staff we’ve got here, being named Opening Day starter is unbelievable,” Bumgarner said. “It’s a humbling feeling. I feel blessed and thankful just to get that opportunity.”
–2B Marco Scutaro didn’t take any batting practice the first two weeks of spring training and was more involved in a back-strengthening routine. He was slowed last season by finger and back ailments, and the plan was to ease him into training camp. Scutaro, who was taking plenty of grounders, said his goal is to “get my body ready for 162 games.” He flashed a smile because he obviously won’t play every game. At 38, he will be rested frequently through the summer.
–RHP Ryan Vogelsong threw two scoreless innings in his exhibition debut, a nice sign for a pitcher coming off a down year. He was throwing as high as 90 mph, and his command was good. “I worked really hard on my delivery this offseason. I want to make my location more consistent than last year,” he said. The Giants nixed his $6.5 million option and re-signed him for $5 million.
–C Buster Posey is OK with the new rule designed to limit collisions at the plate, preventing runners from going outside their path to the plate to take out a catcher. (Catchers can’t block the plate without the ball). Posey said, “What I take away from it is, it eliminates the malicious collision, which is a good thing.” Posey missed most of the 2011 season after he was clobbered by the Marlins’ Scott Cousins.
–RHP Sergio Romo got rocked in his first outing, but it wasn’t a big deal. Why? Because he didn’t throw any sliders, his No. 1 pitch. Romo gave up six runs in his first Cactus League inning. He was working on his changeup.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’d be thrilled to be able to pitch the home opener. I’m new here. All the fans are seeing me in a Giants uniform for the first time. It’ll be an exciting time for me, and (I will) be able to have a nice introduction to the city.” — RHP Tim Hudson, who is targeted to pitch the Giants’ home opener.