The Giants are going for their third World Series title in five years, and in an industry in which “success breeds copycats, opposing clubs should be rushing to imitate the Giants Way,” but there has been “no raid on the Giants' braintrust,” according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Giants VP & Assistant GM Bobby Evans said that he “never has been interviewed by a club” searching for a GM. Giants P Javier Lopez tried to explain it by saying, “Maybe, because our style is not so predictable, it might turn some people off.” Shaikin wrote if “anyone could explain the Giants' plan, it would be” Senior VP & GM Brian Sabean. Asked what the Giants Way meant, Sabean said, "That's a tough question to answer. Things develop over time." Shaikin noted the Giants “keep the braintrust together over time.” Sabean, the longest-tenured GM in MLB “has been in his position” since ‘97. Evans has “been in the organization” since ’94, as has VP & Assistant GM/Player Personnel Dick Tidrow. The Giants are “not one of the industry's darlings in scouting and player development, but their entire infield is home grown.” Since “no player received” more than $20M in salary this season, the Giants “had the organization and financial depth to survive the postseason absence of four of the seven highest-paid players on their opening-day roster” (L.A. TIMES, 10/19).
POSEY-ING A GOOD QUESTION: In N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote Giants C Buster Posey should be the "face of the game" following the retirement of Derek Jeter. Sherman: "Is there anyone more ... Jeter-ian than him? Excellence at a prime position plus humility times championship should equal face of the game, right?" Posey has the "Jeter qualities that were always hard to quantify -- poise, positivity, good teammate, etc." One reason Posey might not have taken the torch from Jeter could be "simply not seeing his face at lot -- he is a catcher, after all." Sherman: "Maybe some of it is playing for San Francisco rather than New York or L.A. Though San Francisco is not exactly Des Moines. ... Maybe it is about not embracing it. Posey cooperates when asked to do off-the-field stuff, but there is a reticence there, a lack of zeal." However, it is "not as if Posey is obscure," as his No. 28 jersey was the "fourth best-selling jersey this year" (N.Y. POST, 10/19).
WHO NEEDS RETIREMENT? MLB Network’s Darryl Hamilton said the Giants' current reputation within MLB "is huge." Hamilton: "I think every player who is borderline, ‘Should I stay another year or two or call it a career?’ -- they're looking at the Giants. The fan base is huge, it's a great ballpark, awesome city and you got a chance to win. What better place to go and finish your career if you’ve got something left?” (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 10/17).
