San Francisco Giants: Fare Thee Well Old Friends

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Ryan Vogelsong

Ryan Vogelsong will always be known as a competitor who played the game right. His demeanor on the field was one of focus on the task as hand, and everything else was white noise. That type of commitment was precisely what was needed to solidify a rotation in 2011 that saw Barry Zito get hurt and Jonathan Sanchez get wild.

Without Vogelsong showing that he could fill the role, the Giants may not have felt comfortable trading Sanchez to get Melky Cabrera from the Kansas City Royals. And like it or not, Cabrera was instrumental in helping the team get to the playoffs in 2012. PED’s or not.

Vogelsong will be missed and loved for his return from obscurity. His journey took him to Japan and Venezuela before his resurgence with the Giants. And having a former draftee come back and do it where it all started is icing on the cake.

Here is the tree of Ryan Vogelsong.

Drafted by the Giants in the 5th round in 1998.
Traded with Armando Rios to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal in 2001. Schmidt turns into an ace.
The team lets Schmidt go and they sign Barry Zito via free agency in 2006. Good call as Schmidt only pitched in 10 more games.
Zito is sidelined in 2011, allowing Vogelsong to take advantage of the opportunity.

And now Vogelsong will move back to Pittsburgh for another possible feel-good story.

I really hope his numbers line up with his desire to compete, because Vogey will always be a good Giant.

Next: Petit