Interview with Ray Rotto

Ray Rotto covers the Giants for the San Francisco Chronicle, he stopped by to answer a few questions on the Giants and their upcoming season.


Baseball-Rumors: A lot of people seem to think that Aaron Rowand's numbers in 2007 were "ballpark created" and won't translate in a pitcher's park like AT&T Park. Do you buy into that at all?

Ray Rotto: That isn't knowable until he's played out the year. The Giants play in a park with huge gaps and only one really friendly corridor for power, and that's down the left field line.

Bonds skewed the way the park played in a number of ways, but I can't say whether Rowand will find a way to benefit or be punished by it.


Baseball-Rumors: There had been rumors floating around that the Giants had been considering a trade that would have sent Tim Lincecum to Toronto for Alex Rios. Was that deal ever close to getting done?

Ray Rotto: No, the Giants balked at the mention of Lincecum throughout, according to my sources.


Baseball-Rumors: The bullpen seemed to be a big problem for the Giants last season, is that something the Giants will address internally or could they possibly make a trade during Spring Training?

Ray Rotto: They have so little to trade, I think they'll have to troll the free agent pond and develop what they already have.


Baseball-Rumors: With Zito, Cain, Lowry and Lincecum occupying the first 4 spots in the rotation, who will be battling for the 5th spot?

Ray Rotto: Kevin Correia is the leader in the clubhouse at the moment, with Jonathan Sanchez and Pat Misch the best alternatives.


Baseball-Rumors: The negotiations with Pedro Feliz, it was rumored that the Giants had actually offered more money than the Phillies. What was the breaking point in the negotiations and who do you expect the 3rd baseman to be when 2008 opens?

Ray Rotto: I think Feliz just wanted to go, and the Giants made no real effort to stop him. He was a symbol, albeit a small one, of the old failed strategies, and bringing him back suggested a status quo nobody seemed very interested in perpetuating.