Yippee: Feliz Talks Run Aground

The Chron reports that the Feliz contract talks have run aground. The Giants had set a deadline for Feliz to agree to a contract and it has passed. Unfortunately, it doesn't totally eliminate the possibility of resigning Feliz. But the closer we get to the end of the Feliz era in SF, the better.

Bay City Ball posted on this and suggests that the Giants should pursue Morgan Ensberg. I was going to post a similar sentiment when he was released, but never got around to posting it, so I put my comment up at Bay City Ball if you want to read my comments, plus further thought and analysis.

Happy if No Feliz

The more I think about this, the more I am against Feliz returning. Sure, he would have to do well if he got a one year or year with option contract from us, but I don't believe in trying to retain disgruntled players, they tend to bring their resentments to the ballpark and this will affect their play. The best players turn that into a positive and do well, but after all these years of Feliz saying that he has turned a new leaf in one way or another - and then he doesn't - I don't believe he can do it, he has cried wolf one too many times for me.

And if he returns to the Giants, after making bold statements in public about "3 year contracts" and "other cities have schools too" (a reference to his preference for 2007 season to return to the Giants last off-season because his children go to school here, apparently; I wonder if his kids get taunted by other kids because Pedro can't hit or get a walk?), he is going to have egg on his face and would feel a sense of shame, losing face in such a public way, and perhaps lose confidence, having to come back to the Giants without the 3 year contract he so publicly demanded.

In any case, I still prefer having 3B open for Kevin Frandsen to start there if he does not beat out Durham (essentially a competition between Frandsen, Durham, and Aurilia for 2B and 3B), but if the Giants have to get someone, I think I would rather have Enberg than Feliz. He is possibly nearing the end of his career, but he is a good defensive 3B (he was a top 10 in Plus/Minus in Fielding Bible), and right now we could use a hitter who can get on base well plus hit with some power. In addition, given his recent problems the past couple of seasons, we can probably sign him for half what we would have to pay Feliz to play for us in 2008. Feliz made $5.5M in 2007 and probably expects a raise - again! - for 2008, when I think he should get a pay cut, much like I thought last off-season when he got a raise again. I would also think that having a manager who believes in him would be a boost to his confidence, I would think that Garner's lack of confidence had to have affected him.