Todd Linden

by phiago on Jun 14, 2005 5:34 PM EDT

Saw he got promoted to the Giants after a whole lot of hoopla saying he'd only get promoted if he was going to have a starting job. He's hitting .326, is tied for the PCL lead in homers (19), leads all batters with 58 RBIs and boasts a .692 slugging percentage, according to MLB.com.

Questions: How long will he stay? What are his chances of taking his power with him from Fresno?

Anybody think he has a chance to start in san francisco long term?

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Todd Linden

I sure hope he sticks long term. He just mashed the ball in AA and AAA after he was drafted, but then the Giants started tinkering with his stance and swing and he was plagued by inconsistency for a couple of years. This year, he reportedly went back to his original swing and after a couple of weeks started raking again.

Linden is big, fast, athletic and is a switchhitter to boot. He's got tremendous power in his bat, especially from the right side of the plate. In Sept. 2003, he hit a HR off Kaz Ishii in Dodger Stadium that reached the Loge level down the LF line. The last guy to do that was Frank Howard. He's had other legendary shots in Spring Training and in the Minors.

Like any rookie, he could fall flat on his face, but if he lives up to his potential, I see him as a fixture in RF and hittng 3'rd, 5'th, or 6 'th. I don't think he quite projects as a #4. I'll give that to Eddy Martinez-Esteve.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 14, 2005 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

Linden

I believe Grissom has been DL'ed, so Linden can saty for at least that long. I'll bet Sabean is trying to move Tucker or Grissom to give ABs to Linden for the rest of the year. That's what I'd be doing.

by danielj on Jun 14, 2005 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Move Tucker or Grissom?

Yeah, sure but no one in their right mind will take them. Even if the Giants paid the balance of the 2 mil and 2.75 mil salaries for this season, who would take them? Let alone actually give something up for them.

A contender might want Alou, and manager's son or not, he'll get dealt if there's an offer. But he's 38, ain't cheap, and what contender doesn't already have a LF/DH type?

It was a good idea to try and deal Alfonzo during his swan song. They should have benched him if they had a deal.
They should give away Vizquel too if anyone will take his contract.

by losgigantes on Jun 14, 2005 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Move Grissom

The ominous sounds coming out of the Giants training staff yesterday sound like they could be trying to prepare Grissom for retirement. He admitted after his last DL stint in May that he thought about it, and clearly at this point his legs aren't going to get better.

by Roger on Jun 15, 2005 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions