California Dreamin'

Crazy Marty continues his monologue on the San Francisco Giants. He might be the Plato of plate appearances or the P.T. Barnum of base running, we can't tell. You make the call.

About a week ago, in a Critical Cloud commentary on the San Francisco Giants, I suggested that over the years, Giants ownership has not exhibited the highest level of managerial intelligence. It was premature to say that, and I apologize for the error in judgment.

Why, it took almost no time for Giants management to read Critical Cloud, take exception to that disparagement and endeavor to prove it wrong by exhibiting, beyond a doubt, that they are not somewhat slow witted, but abjectly stupid.

In this past week's amateur draft (college and high school, for the most part) the Giants selected Florida State University catcher Buster Posey in the first round. Posey has done very, very well in college (his team is, at this very moment, vying for a position in the College World Series in Omaha), but he has never seen one professional curve ball, nor has he been offered a major league contract, let alone signed one.

Yet, Giants General Manager Brian Sabean couldn't wait to denigrate and insult their current catcher, Bengie Molina, who has a year and a half left on his current contract. Sabean's comment, as quoted in the Palo Alto Daily News was, “He (Posey) is going to be a run producer with the bat...it's very, very difficult to get an all-around catcher, especially a run producer. He is on the fast track and Bengie's clock is winding down.” And why not tell Molina he's not welcome? Molina, as of this Sunday's writing, is only leading the Giants in batting average, hits and RBI's. Why wouldn't you want to publicly humiliate and alienate a critical cog with proven talent that is “very, very difficult to get...”? After all, Buster Posey is 'can't miss', right?

Is there anyone out there who remembers Clint Hartung, The Hondo Hurricane?

Crazy Marty is a Bay Area raconteur and lush who, years ago, walked away from his family's successful New York fish mongering business only to end up as a merchant of death in the tobacco trade. He enjoys counting his filthy lucre at his home in Mountain View while his lovely wife, Joy, hopes for a big fat life insurance check in the not too distant future.