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BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2010		Giles was one of the more underappreciated players in the late '90s and early Aughties when he was putting up good numbers with bad Pirates teams, and then again with the Padres as Petco killed his numbers; he was a .298/.397/.478 on the road from 2004-2008. However, he's now at the end of the line. Knee problems have robbed him of his power and mobility, and in 2009, of the ability to hit at all. The Padres declined to pick up his option for this season, making him a free agent. Getting out of Petco might help Giles' power numbers a little bit, but at best, he is either a part-time starter or bench player at this point.
2009		Though the Padres picked up his $9 million option for 2009, Giles is in the last stages of a career in which he's shown himself to be a hitter superior to all but a very few in the history of the game—his carer OPS of 915 ranks 55th all time. Last year represented a return to form after a couple of years that seemed to indicate a permanent state of decline. Given his age and contract status, personal distractions, likely regression, shrinking range afield, as well as the Pads' disarray, the team would be wise to get Giles fitted for a DH suit as soon as a suitable trading partner reveals itself—if he'll let them. He utilized his limited no-trade clause to block a trade to Boston last August.
2008		Petco isn't helping him, of course, but Giles' power decline has more to do with his advancing age than his tough hitting environment. Combine that outage with his loss of range afield and the change in how he's being pitched now that he's shown less power, and he looks like a spare part rather than a key offensive cog.
2007		While so many other things took a turn for the better as the Padres` season unfolded, one thing lost in the shuffle was Giles` disappearing power. It wasn`t all PETCO; he slugged a still-weak .410 on the road. Making matters worse, he noticed the problem, started overswinging, and hurt his OBP in the process. Compounding those offensive issues, he`s gotten crab-like on the bases and in the outfield, and his arm is well short of the standard in right. That he hit into 21 double-plays last year suggests he`s no longer viable in the middle of the order, and with Dave Roberts` departure, the Padres might want to bat him leadoff where he can focus on getting on base rather than trying to drive the ball. It`s probably the only way the Padres are going to be able to get anything close to value for the $9 million they have to pay him in each of the next two seasons.
2005		Just a year after the big trade for Oliver Perez and Jason Bay, the Giles acquisition looks like a bust. But there are some caveats in play here—Perez's biggest fan wouldn't have figured he'd be this good, this fast. More importantly from the Padres' perspective, Giles' 2004 numbers need to be taken with a lump of salt. Sean Burroughs' lousy season kept Giles' run-cashing chances down, and Petco Park hurt his numbers. Giles' .298 Equivalent Average ranked a decent 8th among major league outfielders with 600 or more plate appearances. Still, the Padres underestimated the impact Petco's heavy air and cavernous dimensions would have on lefty hitters. Now 34, with one year left on his contract, they'd do well to let Giles walk after this season, or trade him at the deadline for an impact young bat if they're out of the race.
2004		The underrated superstar started 2003 late thanks to a small tear in his right MCL, his plant knee, and his power never really came around. It's impossible to know what Petco Park will do to his numbers, but it really doesn't matter; Giles can hit, and will be an offensive force as long as he's healthy and in the lineup. The bigger problem is that he may have to play center field after the Padres failed to land Mike Cameron or Kenny Lofton this off-season, despite strong overtures to both. Giles is 33 now-he wasn't a real good center fielder at 27.
2003		The player who single-handedly has kept the Pirates’ offense worthy of the term major league (OK, just barely, but that’s not Giles’s fault) had another outstanding season in 2002. His four seasons with Pittsburgh have been notable not only for their excellence but also for their consistency. What more could you ask from a power hitter? Many callers have tried to pry Giles away from the Pirates; but the team has so far been properly reluctant to deal the one hitter they can build around.
2002		It was a slight off-year for the Pirates’ offensive anchor, but a return to form by Kendall and another step up by Aramis Ramirez should boost Giles’s counting stats in ’02. Giles is the anti-Pirate: patient, deliberate, powerful, good. Now that John Hart is the GM in Texas, Littlefield should put his new office number in the first speed-dial slot on his phone. Joe Beimel might fetch the Pirates another star.
2001		The antithesis of a modern Pirate hitter: patient, powerful, above average for his position, and an All-Star. The best hitter on the team, Brian Giles executed in every offensive category for the second year in a row, even improving his ability to get on base. He continued to play center field due to the Pirates’ lack of faith in any of the Browns. With Derek Bell on board, Giles may stay in center field instead of moving to right field where he belongs. Giles will be a star for most of the ’00s.
2000		A Bonifay deal that worked out spectacularly, as Ricardo Rincon, whom the Pirates traded for Giles, spent much of the year hurt for Cleveland. Giles blossomed with the full-time opportunity, drawing walks as if he didn't play for Pittsburgh, while providing the Bucs with their first legitimate power threat since Barry Bonds left. He has at least four more years at this level, and could go slightly higher. He was arguably the worst defensive center fielder in the league, and he and the team will be better served if he's in right field in 2000.
1998		Finally given a full season in the majors at age 26, Giles proceeded to hit just about exactly how his minor league numbers suggested he would. Hits lefties well, deserves full-time status.
1997		With Albert Belle’s departure, Giles should be the regular left fielder for the Indians in ’97. The Indians are talking about platooning him, but that’s unnecessary: his line-drive stroke works against both lefties and righties. Not every team is in a position to replace a great player like Belle with someone like Giles. To get attention, Giles pretty much has to hit .300 every year, because he’s not a “tools” player: he’s short, slow and lacks an outstanding throwing arm. He’s got good range afield.
1996		With anybody else, he'd be a hot prospect, but the Indians have the best outfield in the game. There's a good chance that he and Perry will outplay Murray and Franco this year, which could end up pushing Belle to the DH spot. A left-handed hitter, he doesn't appear to suffer against lefties at all.

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