Why the Giants don't win

Brian Sabean, the Giants GM, makes the worst trades/decisions and has horrible timing.

OK, I know that San Fran trumps Norwich. The Tim Alderson trade for Freddy Sanchez had nothing to do with the Defenders. But it was a bad deal to send one of your best prospects, whether he will ever be good or not, for a borderline all-star on the downside of his career. Could the Giants have though so little of Alderson?

Now the Defenders' pitching staff is a mess that required several position players to take the mound. What a joke! Is it worth injuring these guys over poor planning?

And what of Connecticut's rotation? Bumgarner, Maday, Broshuis, English and then who? Henry Sosa might be done for the year, Alderson is gone. Could use Scott Barnes but he, too, was traded. The Giants need to bring up Craig Clark from San Jose.

Unintentionally, the Giants find ways to put the screws to this team every year it seems.

Notes

As you might have read in the Bulletin today, Dan Otero left Sunday's game with a "twinge" in his throwing elbow. He won't pitch for a week as he's been placed on the DL -- and the team is need of a couple of arms ASAP (Can Brooks McNiven turn his plane around?). Geivy Garcia is starting tonight.

Also, Steve Decker called Brock Bond and Brad Boyer the Killer B's. They need a better name since Killer B's belongs to Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and, to a lesser extent, Lance Berkman.

Suggestions?

Injury updates

Henry Sosa threw on the side Saturday, and manager Steve Decker said the starter won't be in a game any time soon. The same can be said for Brad Boyer, who injured a hamstring Saturday night and is on the DL. He won't be playing for a while, too.

What else goes wrong?

Let's run the list here:

1. The National Anthem, both in talent and in memory
2. Cutter beating the kids in the race around the bases
3. Brandon Crawford getting hit by Jackson Williams' line drive while running to second base.

If you were curious

as to why Madison Bumgarner threw just four innings in the opener of the doubleheader against New Britain, the answer I was given from a reliable source was that Bum was on a pitch limit with the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Sunday in St. Louis. Steve Decker gave him 60 pitches and Bum used 59.

Updates

Back from the Bronx and red from the Sun...

Griffin, English and Richardson are all assigned to Extended Spring Training. This means one of several options:

1. They really could be in Arizona getting work
2. The Giants aren't sure where to send them
3. They are inactive for the time being.

No. 3 seems most likely for English as this move happened after his last start and making this "move" gave the Defenders Maday on the active roster.

Comings and goings

There have been some roster moves. Off of the roster as of late Saturday are: Jesse English and Henry Sosa (probably inactive), Dan Griffin (my guess is released) and Antoan Richardson (also, I think he's been released).

The additions: Daryl Maday (that's why English is inactive - he was the last starter), Mike Musgrave, Brad Boyer and old friend Garrett Broshius.

Hopefully I'll have some clarifications Sunday.

Where do we go from here?

The Eastern League doesn't want the verdict of Wednesday's meeting getting out, so I assume there is a gag order in place with a substantial fine attached for good measure. All indications are that the Defenders are gone after this season.

While it's not official in the press conference sense, don't hold out for anything different. It'll be a tougher pill to swallow even after everything that has gone on here.

On the flip side, I like the chances of a NYP team moving in. The Nationals' affiliate in Vermont is an outside contender, but the Jamestown Jammers (Marlins) are the front runners.

It isn't a lock, though. My understanding is that if attendance suffers at Dodd here on out, there won't be a team. That means when you go to a game, bring a friend.

Anyhow, I suspect that the EL will make some sort of announcement before month's end.