Snow long for now, J.T.
It's a bittersweet day in Giants fandom: Veteran first baseman J.T. Snow isn't being asked back by the Orange and Black.
That's the bitter news.
The sweet is that starting pitcher Brett Tomko won't return in '06 either.
Snow, who's been the Giants' first sacker since 1997, has never been the offensive gun the G-Men hoped he'd become, but he's had a decent nine years in San Francisco — especially on defense, where he's still one of the aces in the National League at age 38. Among the current Giants, only Barry Bonds has been with the team longer. Among first basemen in the team's San Francisco era, only Hall of Famer Willie McCovey equals Snow's nine consecutive Opening Day starts.
Despite his occasional ups and downs at the plate, Snow could always be depended upon for some clutch hitting down the stretch. Two seasons ago, he was the hottest batsman in the league the second half of the year. He ranks fifth all-time in San Francisco history in on-base percentage, despite being one of the slowest-running non-catchers I've seen in nearly 40 years of watching baseball. I'm a fat, middle-aged guy with short, stubby legs, and if J.T. beat me in a dash to first base, it wouldn't be by more than an eyelash.
And who will ever forget J.T. snatching then-manager Dusty Baker's son Darren out of harm's way when the little tyke, aggressively pursuing his duties as a Giants batboy, ran onto the field in mid-play during Game Five of the 2002 World Series?
As importantly as his on-field talents, J.T. was a popular guy in the clubhouse and with the fans, and always had an air of class about him. I hope he recalls his years as a Giant fondly, because that word describes how most San Francisco fans will remember J.T. Snow.
Brett Tomko, on the other hand...
Don't let the clubhouse door clip you in the butt on the way out, Brett — you and your 8-15 record and 4.48 ERA in a pitcher's ballpark. Whatever we paid you last season, it was too much.
That's the bitter news.
The sweet is that starting pitcher Brett Tomko won't return in '06 either.
Snow, who's been the Giants' first sacker since 1997, has never been the offensive gun the G-Men hoped he'd become, but he's had a decent nine years in San Francisco — especially on defense, where he's still one of the aces in the National League at age 38. Among the current Giants, only Barry Bonds has been with the team longer. Among first basemen in the team's San Francisco era, only Hall of Famer Willie McCovey equals Snow's nine consecutive Opening Day starts.
Despite his occasional ups and downs at the plate, Snow could always be depended upon for some clutch hitting down the stretch. Two seasons ago, he was the hottest batsman in the league the second half of the year. He ranks fifth all-time in San Francisco history in on-base percentage, despite being one of the slowest-running non-catchers I've seen in nearly 40 years of watching baseball. I'm a fat, middle-aged guy with short, stubby legs, and if J.T. beat me in a dash to first base, it wouldn't be by more than an eyelash.
And who will ever forget J.T. snatching then-manager Dusty Baker's son Darren out of harm's way when the little tyke, aggressively pursuing his duties as a Giants batboy, ran onto the field in mid-play during Game Five of the 2002 World Series?
As importantly as his on-field talents, J.T. was a popular guy in the clubhouse and with the fans, and always had an air of class about him. I hope he recalls his years as a Giant fondly, because that word describes how most San Francisco fans will remember J.T. Snow.
Brett Tomko, on the other hand...
Don't let the clubhouse door clip you in the butt on the way out, Brett — you and your 8-15 record and 4.48 ERA in a pitcher's ballpark. Whatever we paid you last season, it was too much.
SwanShadow was randomly pounding the keyboard at 11:27 AM
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