Loudmouth ESPN gasbag gives Captain Obvious advice to SF Giants

The SF Giants are trying to get competitive again and they are getting advice from all corners. This includes noted ESPN gasbag Chris "Mad Dog" Russo who lent his sage advice to the Giants on KNBR recently.

You can listen to Russo's remarks here if you are in the mood for a migraine. If you want to save yourself the trouble, here is a brief summary: Russo thinks that big free agents are not coming to the Giants because they have not been competitive recently (duh), because the ballpark has a reputation for being tough on hitters (duh), and because there are more appetizing destinations like the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers

Chris Russo has familiar unoriginal advice for SF Giants

Essentially, his point is that the Giants should try to build a solid team without superstar talent so that they become a more appetizing landing spot for big free agents. This point is understandable, but it is a bit of a Catch-22. The Giants may need a superstar to help get them over the top and be competitive but they are unable to land that superstar because they are have not been competitive as of late.

Then, Russo throws out the very original idea of building from within and building up their farm system to get better without having to hand out massive contracts. If only it were that easy, Mad Dog.

That has been the plan for years. That was the plan under Zaidi: do not give out massive contracts to free agents. Instead, get guys on short term deals while the farm system gets better. That did not work to the extent they hoped it would.

Prospects and free agents are very similar in that they do not always work out. The success comes from finding that perfect mix between free agents and prospects.

I agree with a lot of what Russo says, the frustration comes from the fact that this is nothing new for the Giants. There is just a feeling that we are stuck in that same cycle of a lackluster farm system and not enough juice to land a superstar free agent. Just consider the fact that their arch rival reportedly wants to land another superstar this offseason.

Someone should tell the New Yorker that the Giants have been stuck in this rut for years. Perhaps then his words would ring a bit less hollow since it is the same thing we have been hearing for years now.