New Media Roundtable: Padres 2009 Review

As I wrote in the top, I really don't think anyone can disagree that he is by far the biggest disappointment.

Again, I have to give Sandy the benefit of the doubt when pressed by Darren Smith he said they would examine whether or not they would bring him back in 2010 or at the least look to trade him mid-year because he was essentially playing for "free" in April and May.

I think its kind of hard to avoid not saying a statement like that.

Why am I starting to feel like Sandy Alderson's PR agent?...LOL

I agree that Giles was easily the most disappointing player this year, but in order to really ding the Padres you have to agree to have made two different decisions than they did, and I don’t think anyone honestly can.

In 2005 he hit .301/.423/.483 and was considered the main reason they won the NL West. Re-signing Giles was considered a priority and in order to do that they had to give him at least a three year deal with an option for a fourth or the Dodgers or St. Louis would have taken him,and that would have been a media firestorm. Additionally, I don’t recall reading a whole lot of criticism of the signing then.

Second, San Diego was on the hook for $3 million this year whether he played or not. With Giles coming off of a .306/.398/.456 year it doesn’t seem to be an unrealistic expectation that he might have a good first half and enable them to get something for him.

Throw in the fact that they didn’t really have anyone in their minor leagues to replace him, and especially not anyone that is worth $3 million to find out, and nearly everyone would have done the same thing regardless of his moral and legal situation.

Can't disagree with those points, John...just like you can't disagree that he's still a huge disappointment this year, the biggest of 2009. I would not have, however, publicly stated in the winter that I was going to have Giles around for April & May "for free", and then would trade him in June, as Sandy did on the radio.