A Farewell to Shierholtz

Nate the Great. Nasty Nate. The JuggerNate. These are the nicknames that we as Giants fans won't get to use anymore. At least until we get another dude named Nathan on the team. But Nate Schierholtz was more than just his fun nicknames. I'll miss him, and not just because he and I are body dopplegangers. Plus he gets bonus points for being a local boy.

I'll remember him hitting with no batting gloves. I'll remember him swinging over and over again at that slider on his back foot. Mostly I'll remember his defense. He made sweet sweet love to right field at AT&T Park, and it was a joy to watch. No doubt one of the best arms we've ever seen out there. I'll remember him grabbing and then losing a starting outfield job over and over again. And that, really, will be his legacy. I used to feel sorry for Nate, but the fact is, he never did truly grab the bull by the horns to become a mainstay in the line-up. People would say "just let him play for a whole year and see what he does". But that's not really how it works in baseball, especially in Bruce Bochy's dugout*. If you're one of those guys who "needs to be out there every day", then you're probably not good enough to be out there every day. Nonetheless, Nate Schierholtz was a nice 4th outfielder, and a good Giant.

And with the departure of Schierholtz also comes the end of an era for Giants baseball. With the release of Manny Burriss coming days before the Schierholtz trade, none of those "prospects" from the late '00s remain on the team. Kevin Frandsen, Freddy Lewis, Eugenio Velez, John Bowker, Travis Ishikawa, Matt Downs, Ryan Rohlinger, Brian Bocock, Dan Ortmeier, Manny Burriss, Nate Schierholtz. These names represent the utterly futile efforts of the Giants to develop hitting talent during that decade. This is one era I'm not sad to see end, even though those guys will always hold an ironically special place in my heart. Hopefully the next crop of Belt, Pill, Crawford, Gillaspie, Culberson, and some kid named Posey will do better. (To be fair, Pablo Sandoval is on the borderline, but probably should be included in that first group).

So enjoy Philadelphia, Nasty Nate. You'll no doubt see those numbers get a bump from that band box of a stadium you'll be playing in, and you'll look especially good playing next to Juan Pierre LOL! Here's to hoping you finally get that regular starting job. Good night, sweet prince.



*Unless you're Brandon Crawford.