Location: San Francisco, Calif. | Ballpark: AT&T Park (41,777) | Spring Training: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Owners: William Neukom, Sue Burns | GM: Brian Sabean | Manager: Bruce Bochy | World Championships: 5
After 16 years heading up the Giants' ownership group -- a period that included the privately financed construction of AT&T Park and an NL pennant in 2002 -- Peter Magowan announced Friday that he is stepping down as the team's president and general partner.
Magowan, who was criticized in the Mitchell Report last winter, said he will retain shares in the club, but he will sell some of his stake to a group of current owners headed up by William Neukom, formerly Microsoft's top lawyer.
Magowan, 66, said he was not under pressure to resign after the Mitchell report singled out the Giants ownership and front office for failing to look into rumblings about Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use while with the team. Nor did the Giants' current lack of promise have anything to do with the decision.
"I'm sure there are a lot of people who will say there has to be other reasons, that (I'm) fed up with last place, or the Bonds investigation, the Mitchell Report or Bud Selig," Magowan said at a news conference. "I will tell you that, whether you believe it or not, it's not right. I'm leaving because I want to spend more time with my family."
With Neukom taking the reins, there are questions about GM Brian Sabean's job security. Said Neukom, "All I think I can say about that at this point is that I admire what he's done for the Giants. He's a part of us. In due course, we'll figure out how that's going to go forward."
WHITE SOX 2, GIANTS 0: San Francisco didn't lack for baserunners, with men aboard in every inning Friday, but the Giants did lack for runs, stranding nine. All the runs in the game came on Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez's first career homer off Jonathan Sanchez with two out in the seventh. Ramirez stepped to the plate with three hits in his previous 27 at-bats.
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The Gaints have been much better than I thought they would be. To all you guys that want to get rid of Molina? We should of kept Torrealba in the first place. It seems to me that the last three back up cacthers we have had are starting on other teams? Why do the gaints keep paying money for them when the farm systyem is loaded?
With the Yankees losing Posada, I would think Bengie Molina would be on their radar.
If they are interested, we should demand they take Zito and we would pay half his contract. If they are willing to take Zito, I dont care what we get in return.&nbs
MLB trade rumors reports the Giants have interest in trading for the Rangers 3rd basemen Hank Blalock. What do you guys think? Solid fielding, 30 HR pop, injured the last two years and this year but allstar before
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I know pitching is not a pressing need, but NY Yankee needs a SP badly after Wang got injured. I'm not sure if Yankee will bite, but I'd love to have this guy. Wang is currently on DL and probably will not be able to pitch until next yr. He's 28 and had won 19 games in the past 2 seasons. Our pitchers are so young, perhpas getting Wang will give us more exper
Sabean, nice job getting rid of Ray and his 7.5 million. Now we just need to dump Visquel and Roberts combined 11.5 million and we will really have something.
If we can rid ourselves of these salaries and not finish in the cellar it will be a good year.
