San Francisco Giants: With regard to Jake Peavy, “In Sabean we trust”

My colleague here at Around the Foghorn said it best: “In Sabean we trust.” There is no other mantra that quite expresses the true sentiment of Giants fans at this juncture of the offseason, as they have ushered Pablo Sandoval out of the building, and watched Yasmani Tomas, Jon Lester, Chase Headley, and several other big name free agents choose venues other than San Francisco.

Rather than focus on what would appear to be a lack of interest in playing for a three-time champ, Giants fans would be better served zeroing in on Brian Sabean’s track record as a long-time partner in the baseball business with Bruce Bochy. Between the two of them, they have formed the most successful tandem in National League history (three titles in five years) so their methodology should remain beyond reproach.

Conventional baseball wisdom demands that teams not remain “pat” because statistics indicate that to be a course of action less likely to prove successful. Whereas statistics are only indicators, more importantly, Giants fans need to recognize that there are still two looming opportunities for an infusion of new blood, third base and left field. Regardless of whether those fresh faces arrive from Triple-A Fresno, or from the rapidly-depleting ranks of available MLB-caliber players still seeking steady employment for the 2015 season, is immaterial.

For the moment the signing of Jake Peavy remains a coup that warrants further elaboration.

Unquestionably, the signing of Jake Peavy is a solid move on the part of Brian Sabean.

Specifically, by “losing out” on the Jon Lester sweepstakes, this site feels that the Giants will eventually emerge clear winners when the inexorable march of time reveals the warts in a six-year deal for a pitcher on the far side of the thirty-year-old mark.

Apr 12, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain (18) throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, the thirty-three-year-old Peavy is a native of Alabama, thus qualifying him for membership in the strong Southern contingent that comprises a goodly percentage of the Giants’ team. This cadre includes four of the starting rotation, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Tim Hudson being the other three.

Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt, and Bruce Bochy are also on this geographically-oriented roster as together they form the nucleus of the “git-er-done” modus operandi utilized by San Francisco. This unit relies upon a self-motivated, measured determination to overcome adversity, as is indicated by their number-ten seeding in the 2014 postseason tournament resulting in a world championship.

Whether or not Lester would have worked out in San Francisco will never be known, but the thought of six years and all of that loot, boded ill in terms of what is reasonable to expect from today’s free agent market. Signing Peavy for two years in light of his recent success and his two consecutive world series rings makes the kind of sense that saves a lot of cents.

Peavy may have faltered in the playoffs (1-2, 6.19 ERA) but he was stellar down the stretch, and that was huge for the Orange and Black in the just-completed season.

No, at this point in time, all Giants fans can do is take a deep breath and intone clearly into the microphone, “In Sabean we trust.”