While all the attention this free agency was on the Giants supposed interest in Manny Ramirez, two free agents that could have truly affected the Giants ability to make it to the postseason fell through the cracks.
Adam Dunn
For what Manny Ramirez ended up with for one season, the Giants could have made Adam Dunn their everyday 1st baseman for two. While not as sound on the defensive end, there is a reason many power hitters play that position, they can be hidden there. While the Giants have prospect Angel Villalona who is gawd-awful at third and can be/will be transitioned to first, he is still 2-3 years down the line.
Adam Dunn's other drawback is that he strikes out too often ... has anyone else been watching the games so far? In 15 less at bats, Ishikawa has just as many strikeouts as Dunn.
If Dunn were on the Giants, and having similar numbers, he would lead them in homeruns, walks, on-base percentage, slugging, and then obviously OBS (a combo of the two); be third in batting average; and fourth in hits among Giants regulars.
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson signed on with the team we do not speak of on February 21. I guess by that time, the Giants had decided to go for "No Deal or No Deal" at second between Burriss, whom along with Lewis should start doing push-ups everytime they hit a pop-fly, and Frandsen, who was coming off injury.
In an incentive laden deal, where Orlando could earn about 7 million a year including base and incentives, the Dodgers were paying for performance (hmmmm ... wish there was more incentive in a certain pitcher's contract ... ) It was a one year deal, however it did cost the Dodgers this year's upcoming 1st round pick.
Hudson's OBP would put him 2nd on the Giants behind the quickly cooling Fred Lewis. The big thing he would do over either Burriss or Frandsen is solidify the top half of the line-up.
Lineup had the Giants acquired Dunn and Hudson
2B O Hudson
RF R Winn
3B P Sandoval
1B A Dunn
C B Molina
LF F Lewis
SS E Renteria
CF A Rowand
Now I'll just let you think about that. As we go thru this season, wasting the last good year in Randy Johnson's arm, and having a young nucleus of Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez waste away in the depths of a season hoping for .500, think of what could have been. If the Giants were in anyway serious about Ramirez, they could have had Dunn and Hudson to solidify the lineup we think and cringe about on a daily basis. Instead of mid 90s Braves, we are early 2000s Tigers.
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While I do agree that those would have been excellent signings, I would also have to argue that had we signed Hudson, we would not have signed Renteria and ended up with Burriss playing SS, which I believe is his preferred position.
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