Yanks' new long-man delivers

Joba Chamberlain's modest performance--4 1/3 IP, 3 runs (2 earned,) 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 bounced change up-- against K.C. was hyped to headlines. The Golden Child got the attention, Dan Giese got the win. The Scranton shuttle delivered a minor league journeyman in hopes he could provide quality length out of the bullpen. Mission accomplished.

Who is this guy? The San Francisco Chronicle provides some background:


"The Giants added a former car salesman to their pitching staff, and Dan Giese swears the only dealing he wants to do these days is on the mound.
"I was selling cars for Honda, and that was the worst job," said Giese, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday along with three other players, none of whom had a story quite like Giese's. "I'm not going to knock anyone selling cars, but for me personally ... that was tough.
"I sold five or six cars in two months, so I was going to get fired anyway. I was telling people, 'This isn't a good deal at all.' I couldn't rip them off. I guess I'm just not a salesman."
Giese's time at a car dealership in Carlsbad (San Diego County) came in the summer of 2005 - after he retired from baseball. He was 28, having toiled in pro ball for six years without a call to the majors. After leaving the dealership, he took a job at an indoor pitching facility, got the itch again and returned to the Phillies' system - with his wife eight months pregnant.
Giese signed with the Giants (his fourth organization) in November and was invited to spring training as a nonroster player. At Fresno, he went 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 47 relief appearances, compiling 76 strikeouts to just 10 walks.
Now at age 30, in his ninth pro season, he's a big-leaguer for the first time."

It's ironic that while the organization was touting their high-profile blue-chip prospects to the press, the low profile guys--Giese, Rasner-- produced on the field. Could it be that the prospects--Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain (the work in progress starter) and the next big thing--would be better off if the organization took the low key approach? Good luck with that. This spring we read that a member of the front office referred to Melancon as the next Joba. Draft guru Damon Oppenheimer compared his latest #1 pick to Chamberlain. No pressure kids.

Not every player has to be a star. Low profile productive role players play a vital role to a team's success. Maybe the next time a Yankees' official is asked to project someone's future they could say something like, "We don't think he'll have to sell cars for a living." It would make for a great headline and let the prospect develop his game without the media baggage. Don't hold your breath.

Photo/Lowell Spinner Blog