I Bleed Orange

This Just In

2011-03-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

The Barry Zito contract didn't work out. In other news, pizza tastes good.

But the infamous "sources close to the Giants" cited in Bruce Jenkins' story in the San Francisco Chronicle this week say that the Giants are "exasperated" with Zito, and might consider cutting him.

Zito has been exasperating since 2007. He's not quite as exasperating, however, without the $126 million price tag. I'd be a lot more exasperated with my crappy car if I had already paid $60 million on it and still owed another 60, but not enough to abandon it in an alley and keep making the payments for it.

To continue with the automotive analogy, the folly of cutting/abandoning Zito/the crappy car is compounded by the fact that there are no better cars available at this time.

Jeff Suppan? The engine has been pulled out and replaced by a canned ham.

Henry Sosa? No brakes, with seat belts made of piano wire.

Ryan Vogelsong? Seems to putter along, then you realize it's your rusty old tricycle from ten years ago that you traded for Jason Schmidt.

Something that the Jenkins report doesn't even consider is that Zito will be of some value to the Giants. Maybe not $126 million kind of value, but compared to other fifth starters he was average to above average in 2010. Without him, you're still paying the contract, and your 2011 fifth starter may break down before you even drive it off the lot. Kinda makes you want to deal with the all the stigma associated with one of the worst contracts in MLB history. As exasperating as it is.

Jonathan Sanchez: Number Two in the Rotation, Number One in Your Heart

2011-02-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

While scouring the Internet looking for clips of Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, or maybe even Slim Sandoval hitting the first home run of the spring (and coming up empty - why is the Internet allergic to Spring Training clips?), I thought I'd weigh in quickly on the recent announcement that Jonathan Sanchez would be the number two starter in the rotation this year.

I understand the reaction that since Matt Cain is better than Sanchez that Cain should be the second starter. Cain is more consistent, but Sanchez had an interesting 2010, and the story of that season makes me think that he will be better than some people think.

For most of '10, Sanchy was always one of those guys who could be dominant and strike out 12 in a game, or lose control and walk 12. And you usually knew early on which Sanchez you were going to get. But somewhere in September he began to work on his command and was arguably the best guy on the staff that month.

When the playoffs started, he had some standout performances, but not in a good way. He clearly ran out of gas. In the LCS and World Series he lost 2 of his three starts, and the no-decision was the infamous game where he lost control early and plunked Chase Utley. This made some fans forget how he was able to re-invent himself in September, and solidified his reputation as having command issues.

The moral of the story is that Sanchez finished the season with the lowest BAA in the majors, and his ERA and WHIP has gone down every year of his career. And we now know that he can adjust and find better command when he needs to. If Bochy wants to shuffle his lineup so that righties and southpaws alternate - which I think is kind of overrated anyway - the Giants will be more than fine, as long as they keep an eye on that WHIP.

Plus even if Sanchez is more likely to put in a short start, it will be easier on the bullpen if that short start comes in between the longer start from Lincecum and Cain.

Too Many Cooks Spoil the Left Field, and Other Awkward Mixed Metaphors

2011-02-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

The Giants website recently reported that left field is kind of a crowded area this spring training. Crowded with what? Blades of grass? If it's crowded with potential starting left fielders, like Bruce "Open Mind" Bochy seems to think it is, then some people in this crowd need to move it along.

While it does appear that there are a handful of potential starting left fielders, appearances can be deceiving. Let's take a look at the "candidates."

Pat Burrell, who made a home for himself in left field last year, though he had a dreadful World Series.

Aubrey Huff, because he may move to left if Brandon Belt wins a starting job at first.

Belt, because apparently, Huff and Belt are as interchangeable as Amy Adams and Isla Fisher, and can just be flip flopped defensively.

Mark DeRosa, who might be healthy. Might.

Oh, and Nate Scheirholtz, because he's willing play any outfield spot. So either left field, or we'll trade him. One of the two.

If Bochy isn't just playing it close to the vest, he should be more clear that Burrell is his front-runner, because it's clear he's the one who should be occupying that spot.

I would be fine with Huff in left field based solely on his ability, but he is our first baseman, and belongs there to start 2011. He would only move from there if Belt somehow has an unbelievable spring or needs to be on the starting roster because of an injury somewhere. Belt winning a job is looking increasingly unlikely, though. For one, Bochy said he would start the season in Fresno. If that wasn't definitive enough, there's the fact that they would need to make room for him to even fit on the 25-man roster should he make the squad. This would be tricky, except in my pipe dreams where Aaron Rowand and his contract are beamed into a space ship and transported to another time, like the humpback whales in Star Trek IV.

Nobody seems to know what DeRosa’s health status is right now. Everybody, however, does know that he hasn’t played in a major league game since May 2010. Seeing him hit balls off a tee is encouraging for someone whose wrist was filled with melted ice cream as of a few months ago, but it doesn’t convince me he should be starting. Unlike some more vocal local fans in the Bay Area, I don’t wish for DeRosa’s absence. It's true that he is old and is coming off of a bad injury, but so was Freddy Sanchez last year at this time. Plus his versatility means that he could cover most of the infield as well as be an outfielder. We may need him to spell Tejada, Sandoval, or Fontenot, who can’t back up all of the infield by himself. Perfect utility candidate - yes. Starting left fielder - no.

Finally, I love Scheirholtz’ defense and his willingness to play all of the outfield spots. And that’s exactly where he is valuable: as a late-inning defensive replacement. Not really any upside to his bat.

It's as simple as this: Burrell is the only candidate here who provides the offense we need and isn’t needed elsewhere. Left field party’s over. It’s late, Bochy. Pat's had a long day and he's got to go to work in the morning. Get them all out the door.

A Feud in the Making?

2011-02-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Mat Latos and his one "t" have decided to start signing "I Hate SF" on baseballs for charity, and Giants fans are upset.

Not only do I think we should not care, but we should embrace it. In fact, if you don't think this whole Mat Latos baseball graffiti stunt is absolutely delicious, you are not a good fan, don't care about the Giants and hate apple pie.

Cleveland Brown great Jim Brown said, "act like you've been here before." He's talking to us, as fans of the World Champion San Francisco Giants. While it's true that none of us have been here before, it doesn't prevent us from wearing this World Champion stuff. If we get throw a tantrum whenever a player, team, or fan base reacts to us, we just come off as bratty fans who want their trophy but don't want to pay for it.

Did you all forget that we're flying a plane with a World Championship banner over Dodgers Stadium on opening day? Being champs has consequences and living through them should just be reminders of how awesome it is to be on top.

Plus it's good for the rivalry. The NL West has been a laughingstock of the MLB for too long. A few more feuds like this and it'll become a guilty pleasure reality show.

So don't be upset. Own it!

National Holiday

2011-02-14T14:14:00.000-08:00

There was no Charlie Brown special on TV last night. I didn't stay up past bedtime and fall asleep by the chimney waiting for Bruce Bochy to come down with a sack of prospects. I didn't wake up this morning and hit dismiss - instead of snooze - on my alarm, after realizing there was no work today and could sleep another hour. I didn't look for tiny plastic baseballs filled with candy left behind by Andres Torres in the yard today, just barely catching a glimpse of him as he scampered out the gate.

Even though none of that happened today, pitchers and catchers reporting is still a national day of note. There has been no baseball for three and a half months. There has been a lot of talking about baseball and a lot of speculation. There has been plenty of Mitch Williams and Harold Reynolds on my TV, telling me what's going to happen this summer, but no ball has been thrown or bat swung that carries any meaning, in an MLB sense until today.

DeRosa's wrist? Freddy Sanchez' shoulder? Brandon Belt? The Weight Problem that Shall not be Named? The talk can finally end, and these issues can finally be resolved in the real, physical world.

And for that I celebrate.

Michael Young Doesn't Want to be Traded to Giants. So There.

2011-02-08T18:53:00.001-08:00

Texas Rangers third baseman and World Series non-winner Michael Young has been going through a tale of two off-seasons.

Young was a good soldier when the Rangers dealt for Adrian Beltre, willing to slide over to DH to accommodate Beltre. Then, after an apparent night out with his best friends eating a gallon of ice cream and listening to I Will Survive decided that he was hurt and wanted out of Texas.

So trade talks started swirling, as trade talks do. The National League West was mentioned, but Young said, emphatically, and while wearing an "Giants Suck" t-shirt, that he wants to go to any team in the division but the Giants. Ouch.

Of course, his official list included some non-NL West teams (Angels, Twins, Yankees and Cardinals). Also, technically it wasn't every other team in the division because didn't list the Diamondbacks. But that could be because the Diamondbacks are not a baseball team but a showroom provider for a local pool dealer. So maybe he didn't actually mention specifically that he didn't want to go to the Giants while he was throwing darts at a Giants World Series banner, but he might as well have, being from Southern California the way he is and all.

Do we care? Kinda. Young is a talented and versatile infielder who can play all positions, and is a good enough hitter to have contended for batting titles. He is exactly the kind of guy who would look good in a Giants uniform on the left side of the infield, which is iffy defensively right now. A great fit in San Francisco. A trade would be a no-brainer if we could wrap up Aaron Rowand, the $24 million dollars we owe him, send them to the Rangers, and get Young in return. It would be worth it to see if the Rangers ever got that desparate. Maybe in time it will happen. Like jet packs.

Spring is (Up) in the Air

2011-01-28T19:58:00.000-08:00

Spring training is but a wink of a young girl's eye away, and not many eyebrows have been raised this off-season. The Giants signed a few, jettisoned a few, and sailed through a very calm arbitration sea, without spending outrageously (or being total tightwads). Tejada signed for a year. I shrugged. Renteria felt insulted and went to Cincinnati. I clipped my fingernails. Pablo Sandoval ran into Rich Aurilia at a shopping mall in Arizona, told him that he lost 20 lbs, then promptly headed into T.G.I.Friday's for a Chocolatini. Ho hum.

Suddenly, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks, and the Giants off-season was like one of those days at the office where you're relatively productive but don't do anything dazzling, dash home right at five, and enjoy a sensible dinner before flossing and getting to bed at a reasonable hour. I would say that standing pat is typical for a World Series winning team, but this is the first one I've ever known intimately. I'll say it anyway - mostly because I like saying "World Series winning team" when referring to the Giants.

The drama is coming. Things will prove to be a bit more interesting when Spring Training starts and the position players and the lineup will solidifies. There are some locks on the team, but several spots in the infield and outfield are still up in the air.

The biggest question marks:

Brandon Belt: The happy ending to Spring Training would be for Brandon to win a starting job, then continue the Buster Posey tradition of winning Rookie of the Year and a World Series. But we've had first base prospects win starting jobs before. J.R. Phillips, anybody? Knowing Bochy, he won't want to force the issue, especially with Aubrey Huff coming back, who, like Belt, can play both first and in the outfield.

Pat Burrell: Depending on how the Belt-Huff situation affects the outfield, "The Bat" could either be starting in the outfield or riding the bench. With Uribe gone, however, Burrell's power becomes much more valuable. I think the 2011 team needs his offense.

Mark DeRosa: One of the biggest mysteries, since, because of his wrist injury, we haven't seen him since Jon Bowker was on the team.. DeRosa is probably the most versatile Giant when healthy and could end up in the outfield or the infield depending on the Giants' biggest need.

Pablo Sandoval: He needs more discipline at the plate! (Get it?) Panda's well-documented fitness drama seems to be at the center of which Pablo Sandoval we'll see in 2011. While I don't expect him to be entirely out of the order, I don't see him earning a spot any higher than sixth in the lineup, at least to start thing off.

And one lousy month of Spring Training is supposed to decide all this? I can see it deciding if DeRosa is healthy or determining if Freddy Sanchez is fully recovered from his surgery. But to decide if Panda is back or if Belt is ready for a starting job? Seems like a couple dozen meaningless games is too small a sample. Issues like these will continue to evolve after the season starts.

I know you're supposed to lead with your best foot, but the season is 162 grueling games long. It's not such a big deal if the lineup on opening day isn't the lineup on the last game - Just ask the 2010 Giants. The opening day outfield for your world champions? DeRosa, Rowand and Bowker. A distant memory. In the post season, the shuffling continued at a frenzied pace, as quick-change artist Bruce Bochy put Scheirholtz and Ishikawa in the starting lineup as the circumstance dictated. Bochy taught all us doubters that consistency isn't necessarily the best thing when it comes to baseball.

No matter what happens this spring, expect the lineup musical chairs to continue in the summer.

Ask a Dodger Fan... Off Season Edition

2011-01-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Growing up Giants, I've always viewed the Dodgers and their fans as a force of evil in the world, which, balanced against the forces of Orange and Black bring order and symmetry to the universe. However, since I've moved down to LA, I've met individual Dodger fans. To my surprise, many of these people have actually turned out to be some decent human beings.

In an effort to engage in more civil discourse, I'm beginning a regular feature called Ask a Dodger Fan, where I can get some fan perspective on the goings on of the Giants vis a vis their biggest rival. The off season moves are starting to wrap up and spring training is less than a month away. Perfect time to get a blue perspective on the off-season, and a look ahead to 2011. Also, you can consider this Q & A a thinly veiled attempt to find weaknesses in the Dodgers as we get ready for the upcoming season.

The first Dodger fan is good friend and former co-worker Jeanne Torres, a life-long fan born and raised in LA.

I Bleed Orange: The Dodgers have had a pretty busy off-season while the Giants have kind of stood pat. What move, if any, is the one that is going to put the Dodgers back at the top of the NL West?

Jeanne Torres: We still need that consistent big bat in the line-up. The Dodger's young core can't seem to do it on their own.

IBO: What is a need you wished that they would have addressed that they didn't?

JT: Ownership stability. Until thats locked in, players, personnel and fans don't know what to expect. After that, I think most Dodger fans would like to see a trade for a good power hitter.

IBO: Do you think the Giants winning the division was a case of them peaking at the right time while the Padres choked, or are they the strongest team in the division?

JT:I do think it was the Giants peaking at the right time, but that seems to be the story of recent WS winners. We can all look at the rosters, payroll and see whos got big names in their line-up and who doesn't, but that hasn't mattered in recent playoff years. (unless its the Yanks winning of course)

IBO: From the Dodgers' perspective, is there a target on the back of the Giants' in particular?

JT:There's always a target on the Giants. It just might be a little bigger this year.

IBO: Is Andre Ethier back to 100%? And when can we expect to see him luck into a walk-off home run a week like in '09?

JT: As far as I know, he should be at 100%. Hopefully his numbers will pick up from last year.

IBO: I name three players, and you tell me who's going to have bounce back years in 2011. First Jonathan Broxton.

JT: No, unless he starts taking PED's. Personally I think he's thrown out his arm. After seeing guys like Gagne, and Pappalpon lose their velocity, It's made me a big critic of having a young gun be your closer. After 3 or 4 seasons, their physical condition looked worked and all I see is "retirement" by their early 30's.

IBO: Casey Blake.
JT: Blake is getting older, so I only expect his numbers to stay the same.

IBO: Matt Kemp (With and without Rihanna)
JT: Kemp should have a bounce back year. Hopefully he's grown up a bit and has less distractions. I hope he can stay out of Ned's doghouse this year.

IBO: With resigning Ted Lilly and acquiring Jon Garland, the Dodgers look like they will have a very good starting rotation in 2011. How do you think it stacks up against the Giants rotation?
JT: I'm actually happy about our rotation, but the main focus is health. If the Dodger pitching staff stays healthy, we can compete with ANY team.

IBO: Do you think the Giants winning the World Series title heats up the rivalry a little bit, or does it not have any effect one way or the other?
JT:Absolutely! There will always be that Giant/Dodger rivalry, but it's more special when both teams play well and the wins mean more than just bragging rights. Neither wants the other to finish above them and a World Series championship tops its all. I'm sure us Dodger fans can't wait to beat the Giants this year. It would be great if both teams had big name super stars in their line-up, it's the only element I think our rivalry is missing.

Arbitration Update

2011-01-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

Quickly - The World Series Champions have reached deals with four of their six arbitration eligible players. Strikeout machine Jonathan Sanchez, bullpen gallery members Ramon Ramirez and Santiago Casilla, and Babe-Ruth-clone-but-only-in-October Cody Ross all signed one-year deals. Good, good, good and good.

Details are from the team's official site

That only leaves Andres Torres and Javier Lopez as the two arbitration eligible players yet to reach an accord with the Giants.

Both Torres and Lopez filed for about $800K more than they were offered. I fully expect them to reach resolution before a hearing, but I think Torres is clearly the priority here. He's the only speed demon in the starting lineup and one of the few excellent fielders on the team. Pay him what he wants. In $2 bills if he prefers.

The only point of hesitation is that he suspiciously had a career year at age 32 after languishing in the minors for ten years. While he may not have as good of numbers in 2011 at the plate as he did in 2010, I don't think it's a coincidence that right before enjoying his best season, he finally learned to cope with ADHD. Sometimes late bloomers do exist.

Lights! Camera! Bunting Practice!

2011-01-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

Showtime and the World Champion San Francisco Giants have announced that over a ten month period, they will be shooting a reality series with the Giants. The show will follow the team through Spring Training, and the first half of the season, going to air sometime during the second half. The series will be called Machine Thong Freak Prop 19 World Series Beard.

I only made up one of those sentences.

I read some articles and listened to some callers today, and folks are worried that all those cameras in the locker room might distract the players from... all the cameras in the locker room.

Or maybe they're actually worried about private locker room stuff getting out. Like towel snapping and other tomfoolery. Or maybe they fear that Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell will turn into Snooki and Sammi with chewing tobacco (if they don't already partake).

I shrug about that aspect of it. This is just going to be a baseball version Hard Knocks, which Showtime even said. Hard Knocks never tried to create conflict, or install a confessional hot tub in the clubhouse, etc. They just tried to get inside football stuff. Like shake weights. And the most important part is that thus far it has not hurt the Jets playoff chances.

Giants President of Baseball Operations Larry Bear is already excited about the increased coverage of his team, and so am I. Fans all over the country are going to be saying, "Oh, the Giants. Great. I'm so tired of hearing about them." and I'm finally going to be on the other side of that complaint.

Mailbag!

2010-12-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

I've been getting a TON of imaginary emails lately from a lot of you I Bleed Orange readers who I just made up, and 100% of you are demanding the same thing: to make some sense of the Giants moves (and non-moves) so far in the off-season. The real off-season, I mean. The one that is actually happening; not the imaginary one.

Thanks to everyone for your emails that didn't actually exist.

The Giants signed Aubrey Huff, which I like, but wasn't it for a bit too much (2 years/$22 mil)? I agree with ESPN's Keith Law that this is contract the biggest mistake a GM can make. I mean, what did this guy do besides put up the best offensive numbers for the World Series Champions?

-Walter,
Portland, OR

Dear Walter,

Yes, it would have been nice for the Giants to have locked down Huff for something more in the 2/18, but World Series. Critics may call this a mistake if they are so inclined. It's easy to come to that conclusion when you look at Huff's career arc, which has been consistently inconsistent. But this arc's ups and downs were forged in Baltimore and Tampa Bay (before they were good). Let's see how Huff responds to finally being a champion before we assume he's due for a downturn.

Can I boo Juan Uribe now? It will feel really good, plus casual fans already thought I was booing anyway.

- Riley
Perham, MN

Dear Riley,

I must admit I'm torn on this one. The difficulty is, how do we show him we appreciate what he's done yet at the same time voice our disapproval for his becoming a dirty Dodger? At the same time, are any of us really surprised that players don't care about the rivalries as much as the fans, and follow the money around? I'm probably going to have a hard time finding the energy to boo him, directly. I will boo the Dodger brand as I normally do and whatever boos trickle their way down to Juan, so be it.

I am hopping mad about the Miguel Tejada signing! Not only is he really old, but hits into double plays, and he's really old! $6.5 million? 1 year? We could have had 1/20 of Jayson Werth for that!

-Marty
Joplin, MO

Dear Marty,

Look, if we learned anything from last year, it's that players can be past their prime and still contribute. I'm not saying that the Giants are going to strike gold like they did last year with Huff and Burrell, but let's keep the signing in perspective: An aging double play machine is what we had at shortstop last year. This one is a lot better at getting on base, one of the most durable guys in baseball, and comes at the third of the cost. And it's only one year. And World Series. Quit complaining.

Pablo Sandoval is fat.

-Salvador
Siloam Springs, AK

Dear Salvador,

The Giants agree with your eloquent assessment that this is Panda's key issue. They've committed a lot of resources and press time to his diet and conditioning. Lose weight, and everything else will be cream cheese. I am in agreement too; I even wrote an entire blog entry about it last month. I'd like to add one more piece of evidence to this theory, and that is that weight is the key issue for anyone, including you, Salvador.

Think about it: You feel a little off, things aren't going right at work, school or personal life, you start to get a little lazy, watching too much TV, eating poorly, etc. What's the first thing you do to get back on track? Stop eating the junk food and start moving around a little more. And it usually works. Before you know it you're a star.

I'm betting the same thing can happen for Pablo.

The Unthinkable

2010-11-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

You'll hear it from the Bay Bridge to the Pacific Ocean. From Mendocino to Monterey. Within seconds of hearing the news, I heard it twice on Facebook.

"BOO!"

"Ree-bay!"

Our World Series hero (one of them, at least), with the image of his postseason heroics still fresh in our minds, has fled the glorious land of black and orange for the seedy back-alley of Dodger blue. The sting is not at fierce as it would have been had a homegrown talent who spent his whole career in San Francisco defected to the other side, but given his superhuman feats in the postseason, and this, it stings a little.

That being said, Ned Coletti is paying Uribe $21 million over three years. The Giants would have been foolish if they had given him more or even had matched that offer. The home run in Game 6 in the NLCS and his vacuum-like defense in the World Series will stay with me forever. His .248/.310/.440 line in 2010 will not. Which is a worse line than when the Giants offered him two years at $18 million in 2009. I think it shows much more savvy move to slightly overpay for Aubrey Huff, who was consistent and the Giants leading hitter over the regular season, and let Uribe - with his sparkling post-season - loose, than it would have been to have done the reverse. Bravo, Sabean.

We still do have a shortstop deficiency to address. Just please please please please please don't pursue Derek Jeter.

The Panda in the Room

2010-11-20T10:49:00.001-08:00

Before we talk about any off-season free-agent acquisitions, we need to talk about the giant Panda in the room.

The Giants have hinted that their priorities right now are keeping Huff and Uribe. If those two are retained, and I think they should be (The SS free agent class is pretty meh right now, and they need Huff's bat next year), the only thing standing in the way of the Giants having a solid infield defensively and a solid lineup appears to be 40 lbs. of flesh off of Pablo Sandoval's body.

Seriously. I can't remember another time in baseball when the future of the team so heavily depended on whether or not one guy could successfully go on a diet.

Of course, this is assuming that the weight gain was the key to his sophomore slump. There were other problems, of course, like his inability to square up on a ball, plate discipline, the off-field distractions in Venezuela, and general motivation.

But I'm betting that the Giants are banking on the theory that Pablo's weight was the initial nudge that caused his momentum into those other problems. The first thing I heard about Pablo after the World Series ended was that he was going straight to off-season conditioning in San Diego, so it looks like the Giants moving forward with this theory.

This seems to me a bit like putting Panda on NBC's The Biggest Loser. Everything is heading toward one dramatic moment where he steps on the scale sometime during spring training. And if he can't hit that magic number, he returns his chocolate sundae martini into his favorite food case, wipes a tear from his eye, and hops on a bus to Fresno. It's putting too much stock in one part of the problem.

We all love Pablo Sandoval, and based on his 2009, know that can be great. If the Giants turn out to be right about what can make him great again, we will have the infield of Huff, Sanchez, Uribe and the non-2010 Pablo to work with, with phenom Brandon Belt in line to inherit the 1B job and Brandon Crawford waiting in the wings at short. And this is an arrangement I'd be okay with.

Rookie of the Year ...and Beyond!

2010-11-18T21:50:00.000-08:00

I know it's late in coming, but before we start delving into pressing off season issues like free-agency, Pablo Sandoval's nutritionist, and the new alternate road uniforms (and we will cover all of this), my first order of business is to offer congratulations to Buster Posey for snagging Rookie of the Year honors earlier this week.

This year, for some reason, the individual awards just didn't hold as much of my attention as they have in earlier years. In the past, I might have felt that Andres Torres was robbed of a Gold Glove after a performance in the field like the one he turned in this season, but this year I couldn't care less that he didn't win it. In November of 2008 and 2009, I was locked in to Tim Lincecum and the Cy Young Award race. 2010? Not on my radar at all. And although I didn't feel like Tim deserved it this year, they could have given the 2010 Cy Young to Jonathan Broxton and it wouldn't have mattered to me. So what is the reason for this season's indifference to the individual trophies?

Oh yeah. It must be that this trophy is a lot shinier.

Buster being the ROY, though, is a little different. I holds a little more significance, because after meeting and in some cases exceeding our very high expectations for him, Buster Posey has now stepped into a future in which the San Francisco Giants are his team. We all know that Buster will be an All-Star level or possibly elite catcher for the next ten or so years. But he is poised to become the leader of the Giants for those ten years. Rookie of the year, and World Series champion. Last guy to do that? Derek Jeter. He became the face of the franchise for a very successful decade.

I can see Buster in the Jeter mold - Calm, poised, and really hated by the people who hate him. Currently, Dodger fan friends down here claim to admire him. One friend, while discussing the World Series, even shook his head, smiled, and said, "Man, I wish the Dodgers had that guy." Three seasons from now, though, especially if the Giants continue to experience success, you can bet on Buster Posey being Public Enemy no. 1 in L.A. the same way that Jeter is hated in Boston. In fact I'm looking forward to hearing the boos grow increasingly louder in Chavez Ravine next season when his name is announced.

Cheers, Buster!

Withdrawl

2010-11-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

It's been almost two weeks, and I still wish there was a baseball game on tonight. And why can't there be one? Everyone's still around. You're telling me they can't get together to play just one more game? Invite the Rangers. Heck, you can even invite Buck and McCarver. Throw in a Due Date commercial every fifteen seconds if that sweetens the deal. I don't care, as long as the Giants are there.

Disappointingly, the natural laws of the Major League Baseball season and off-season dictate that the season must end and the off season must begin. It's a necessary natural cycle, as there cannot be excitement and buildup for 2011 unless 2010 ends.

But for those who want the 2010 party to go on a little longer, there are a few measures you can take to relive the magic, and the torture:

Video and Audio Clips

The best place to go is the video archive on the Giants official website. Be sure to click on one of the "Must C" links because they not only play the clip as it is seen on FOX, but then replay it with the KNBR radio call. The best one is Dave Fleming's voice cracking during his call of Renteria's three-run homer in Game 5.

Speaking of the KNBR crew, their site is rife with podcasts, and if you want to open up the floodgates for some happy world series memories, listen to any of the Post-Game Wraps. These guys are the biggest Giants fans in the world and the wraps give them a chance to unobjectively and shamelessly gush about their team.

Also, you have to check out this tribute by San Francisco's own DJ Tom Thump. It brings us from the despair of 2002 to the glory of last weekend.

Make a Pilgrimage

Why not make a trek to the spot where all the magic happened and the home of the 2010 World Series Champions: AT&T Park? The area behind the outfield seats (where the Coke bottle, mitt, and cable car are) is open to the public, free of charge. You can also visit the nearby Giants dugout store for some gear, and don't forget to stop by City Hall where they still have the Giants banners up from the parade. I'm sure if you leave now you can still get random strangers to participate in a "Let's go Giants" chant.

Think about the Off Season

When - and only when you are absolutely sure - you have exhausted these measures, it might be time to start thinking about the moves to be made in the off season, and the Giants chances to repeat in 2011. But do so very carefully. The road from giddy fan to resentful pessimist is a steep one. If you must, don't dive right into free-agency or Panda's diet right away. You'll make yourself crazy. Ease into it by thinking about Buster Posey's Rookie of the Year chances, and how furious you'll be if Jayson Heyward wins it.

Pause... For Reflection

2010-11-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

Since last night, I've watched the clip of the Brian Wilson's last strikeout of Nelson Cruz maybe 25 times. It was a gorgeous swinging strikeout on a cutter inside, which was nice to see after the called strike three at the knees to Ryan Howard to end the NLCS, and the close call at first base to end the NLDS in Atlanta. It was a no-doubter. And it also hit the perfect dramatic note of being thrown on a 3-2 pitch. It's my favorite moving image of all time.

But I did something strange the last couple of times I watched it. I paused the clip. But not after the strikeout. Not on Wilson's gesture to the sky or Posey running out to greet him or the whole team celebrating. I hit pause on the moment right before he throws the pitch.

It's the last moment for this franchise, in this city, as a team that has never won the World Series. The last moment where a Giants fan is a long-suffering fan. The last moment where we are like the Cubs and the Indians and not like the Red Sox and the White Sox. The last moment where we can't think about 2002 or 1989 or 1962 because we don't know whether or not it will all turn out okay. The last moment where Dodger fans could email the picture of the San Francisco Giants empty trophy case to each other and laugh.

Do I just enjoy lingering on painful memories? No! Get your mind out of the gutter, sicko.

But all of the realities that that last moment represents - right before being wiped away with Nelson Cruz' swing and miss - were a huge part of the identity of the San Francisco Giants. And their identity is changed now. Our identity is changed now.

What is this the start of? Will this turn into a dynasty, or will this be a one-time thing? Does this team stay intact with a strong core of players or are we the 1997 Marlins? Will we become like Yankee fans that everyone resents? Or will we be like Royals fans still waiting for that second title 25 years later?

We're headed somewhere, and no one knows how many championships, or years without one lay ahead. So savor this one, fans. Enjoy it. There will never be one like the first one.

Speechless

2010-11-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

The Giants won the World Series. The Giants are world champions. The Giants won the World Series. The Giants are world champions. The Giants won the World Series. The Giants are world champions. The Giants won the World Series. The Giants are world champions.

Just say it over and over until you feel good.

But those are just words, and words will not do this feeling justice. More to come later.

...and what have you done with the real Giants?

2010-10-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

When the real Freddy Sanchez returns to earth, and the mashed up combination of the DNA of Ted Williams and Mango from late '90's Saturday Night Live that has been playing in his place is returned to the aliens, he will ask what happened.

When the real Cody Ross returns to earth, and the mashed up combination of the DNA of Babe Ruth and Rob Corddry that has been playing in his place is returned to the aliens, he will ask what happened.

When the real Edgar Renteria is returned to earth, and the mashed up DNA of Ozzie Smith and the Draw Me Turtle that has been playing in his place is returned to the aliens, he will ask what happened.

Looks like we might have a good story for them.

Speaking of DNA, mine prevents me from declaring this World Series a done deal. We have a travel day, Arlington, Texas, and a Jonathan Sanchez road start to get through. But, there have been 50 teams in the history of Baseball to go up 2-0 in the Fall Classic. 41 of them have won the series. The team that is currently up 2-0 looks loose, groovy and is making all the right moves. The other team alternates between looking dejected and looking like they are unraveling. And their DNA is made of pop ups.

It feels good to be in the driver's seat.

Predicting the Unpredictable

2010-10-25T21:04:00.001-07:00

As I did before the NLDS and the NLCS, I visited ESPN's website to check out what their resident experts had to say about the upcoming World Series and... Surprise! They unanimously predicted that the Texas Rangers would win the series.

The experts are going out on a limb here and reasoning that the Rangers have a better offense than the Giants. Hmm - I hadn't thought of it that way. That's some hard-hitting sports journalism. Surely, you might think, the Giants have had dominant starting pitching all season, so they have the edge there, right? Not so fast, my dear simple-minded fan. Here's another edgy insight for you: The Rangers 1-2-3 might be just as good. In fact, their number one starter is making history in the post season and might have a slight edge over Tim Lincecum. This is some real, Bob Costasy, Outside the Linesy type stuff.

I don't really disagree with this assessment of the two teams, but I am tired of hearing it. And it's not just because I'm a homer who doesn't like to hear anything bad the Giants. I know the Giants have their weaknesses. I will fully admit that, with a few exceptions, the Giants are sketchy defensively, show the patience of a kid on Christmas morning at the plate, and on the basepaths, most of them look like plumbers running to catch the van after they forgot to put on the parking brake. I would feel a lot more confident about their chances in the World Series if these things weren't true.

But the Braves series and the Phillies series didn't play out according to the conventional assessment of the teams, and I don't think this one will either. I think the national writers and experts are finally starting the realize that Bochy is a shrewd game manager, but could they - or anyone - have forseen him being able to stitch together a patchwork quilt of Affeldt, Bumgarner, Lopez, Lincecum, and Wilson for the win after Sanchez' meltdown? Two starters, two bullpen guys and your closer for seven innings of scoreless relief?

If one improbable thing can happen, then why can't they just keep happening? Here are my predictions for the World Series, which I maintain are just as probable as any other result:

- The Giants beat Cliff Lee in Game One. He's been dominant, but he's a strike thrower. He doesn't pitch out of the zone, but he should because the Giants are hacks and that's what they swing and miss at: garbage pitches out of the zone. Juan Uribe and Cody Ross, who both have good lifetime numbers on Lee, go deep.

- The Giants go 2-0 at AT & T, partly because of the advantage they have there but mostly because Matt Cain. Josh Hamilton's drives continue to die in triples alley, and in the late innings he is vexed by Javi Lopez. After two games, Hamilton is 1 for 8 with two strikeouts.

-In Texas, the homefield advantage is neutralized in the same way it was in Philly (The Giants hit four home runs in Citizens' Bank Park to the Phillies' four). They outhomer the Rangers in the three games there four to two, on their way to winning games four and five.

So, yes, I'm saying Giants in five. Improbable, but would you really be that surprised?

World Series!

2010-10-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

My heart rate - which first quickened during Sanchez' meltdown in the first inning and skyrocketed during the eighth and ninth - has finally stabilized. I've come to terms with the fact that this Giants team that I adore - a team that will probably not score more than five runs in any game for the remainder of the postseason - will in fact play in the World Series and I am not dreaming. I've liked all of my friends' Giants related stati on Facebook.

In a few days, I'll start complaining about all of the sports experts' inevitable predictions that the Rangers will prevail, and trying to fight off bad memories from 1989 and 2002. Today, I'm allowing myself only to savor this moment, and reflect on the moments and images of this NLCS:

- Jonathan Sanchez last night, glove out, not even reaching for the ball that Chase Utley casually flipped to him after getting beaned, and letting it fall to the ground.

- Pablo Sandoval at second base, clapping and waving his arms and pointing to the sky after finally coming through with his bat by blasting a two run double in Game 4, being cheered on by the San Francisco fans who wanted so desperately to see the Pablo of 2009, and finally did.

- Tim Lincecum getting out of a jam in Game 5, and telling Jimmy Rollins who had just been stranded on third, "Stay there!" on his way back to the dugout.

- Cody Ross' grin, wherever it was found.

- Juan Uribe's half flip of the bat in Game 4, outdone only by Part II: Full Flip in Game 6.

- Everything said and done by Brian Wilson. My favorite person in the universe got even favoriter.

Four more wins. Just four more.

Repositioning Frowns so that the Top Side Faces Downward

2010-10-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

Following a heartbreaker like last night's, fans of the team on the losing end hear a lot of sports cliches on radio, and read them in print and computer screens. These cliches are designed to make us feel better about our team's situation. Here is one of my (usually) least favorite:

"If someone had told you in April that the Giants would be up 3-2 following Game Six in the NLCS, you would have taken it."

Of course I would have taken it. But I've watched enough sports to know that that phrase is only said in the aftermath of something really heartbreaking happening. So I would have known that this future guy who is telling me this knows about the aforementioned heartbreak. "What happened Future Man! What horrible thing just happened to my Giants!!!"

But there are a lot of things to take from this particular cliche:

The Phillies are an awesome, awesome team. Their lineup is full of threats top to bottom. They have an amazing starting three pitchers. I knew this before the series started but after watching five games I know now that it wasn't just hype. Something I learned while watching the series is that Rollins and Werth are incredible defenders.

What's encouraging is not just that we are up 3-2 but in games the Phillies win, they are not blowing the Giants away. The fact that these Giants, with this lineup, are in the position that they are in right now, while playing their style of baseball is what is amazing.

The Giants drew the Phillies into their kind of fight. There's been one game for each team that was a decisive victory (Game Three for the Giants, Game Two for the Phillies), but besides that it has been tight games, with the team making the least amount of mistakes winning.

We have to not lose two in a row. And we won't, as long as we make the least amount of mistakes.

So what if we're going back to Philadelphia? The ballpark itself is not as much of advantage to the home team; We've hit more home runs in the two games there than they have. And the fans? I don't think fans affect the outcome of the game as much as we think they do. They can scream and yell all they want, but these guys are professionals. In all the outfield flies that have been hit by a home team in the history of baseball, how many of them have been accompanied by the fans screaming for the opposing defender to drop it? Probably all of them. What percentage of those are dropped because of the screaming? 0.01%? 0.001%? It's only annoying for us Giants fans watching Phillies fans freak out when something bad happens to the Giants, but we're not on the field.

Bruce Bochy is so even keeled he's almost dead. The players are calm and focused and they have no need to fear THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME THE PHILLIES. They played THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME THE PHILLIES five times already and they turned out to be a team that the Giants are capable of beating.

Full speed ahead, Giants. Steady as she goes.

Spoiler Alert!

2010-10-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Predictions for the homestand portion of the NLCS. These things will actually happen:

In Game Three, Aaron Rowand starts in center field and leads off, Edgar Renteria starts at short and bats second, and just to add more agony to the fan experience, Bochy puts Candy Maldonado in right.

Cole Hamels only lasts until the bottom of the fifth, when he storms off the mound, hurt that he's not getting any catcalls and whistles from the opposing fans like Tim Lincecum did.

In a first inning jam, Game Four Starter Madison Bumgarner strikes out Ryan Howard swinging with two runners in scoring position to end the inning. He then makes his first emotional display of the post season by clearing his throat and blinking.

Joe Buck and Time McCarver continue to ruffle critics by comparing Raul Ibanez' seventh inning throwing error to the dramatic twist of last week's "Human Target"

In the fourth inning of Game Five, Cody Ross hits one more home run to break slugger Jeffery Leonard's record for most in an NLCS. If that wasn't impressive enough, he also hits it with one flap down.

Sergio Romo shaves his beard in the dugout, hoping that Bruce Bochy will think he's Javier Lopez and bring him in to pitch the eighth.

In the post game press conference after Game Five, a confused Philadelphia reporter misinteprets the Giants' unofficial slogan and asks Bruce Bochy to explain why he supports torture.

Giants win two out of three in San Francisco and go back to Philly leading 3-2 in the series.

My Favorite Picture So Far This Week

2010-10-14T14:04:00.001-07:00

Starting pitchers for Saturday's NLCS Game One?

Or the graduation day scene from a tearjerker about one high school teacher's passion for Geometry, and his commitment not to just teach it to the hoodlums who ditch school for the skate park, but to touch their lives as well?

Why the Giants Will Beat the Phillies

2010-10-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

It's already been decided that the Phillies are not only going to beat the Giants in the NLCS, but absolutely steamroll them on the way to their third straight World Series. In fact, the Giants ought to be ashamed of themselves for having the gall to try to compete with the future Hall of Famers on this budding dynasty. John Kruk himself is offended at the Giants' display of hubris, but will soon reap the reward of poetic justice once the Giants slink back into their clubhouse after the eventual sweep.

We Giants fans are falling into two categories right now. Type one are those who feel that although our orange heroes are overmatched and will probably lose the series, it doesn't matter because we have far exceeded expectations. After the Braves series was over, I was firmly a type one. To borrow a term my buddy Kelly applied effectively to the sports world during the Golden State Warriors 2007 playoff run after they upset the Mavericks, I felt like we were gambling with house money. We already made it farther than I thought, so who cares what happens?

However, I now feel like I'm transforming into the second type, who sees not only why the Giants will show up and bring some fight to this series, but why they can actually win it. I could be getting overconfident, but since I'm a fan and not a player, it doesn't matter. So without further ado, here are the three reasons the Giants will eliminate the Phillies and advance to the World Series:

1. The Great Phillies Lineup Was Not-So-Great Against the Reds

A few analysts are bringing up the fact that the Giants and the Phillies both hit .212 in their respective NLDS. That alone reflects well enough on the Giants considering the superiority of Philadelphia's lineup. But I don't feel like anybody is talking about the fact the Phillies' opponent was a Reds team that got to the post season on the strength of their hitting and wasn't exactly blowing anybody away with their pitching. I expected the Phillies to explode, but they mustered just one home run and four extra base hits for the series to go along with that .212 average. Versus the Reds? In tiny ballparks? Even though the Giants bats will be quiet in this series, expect Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez to neutralize Philadelphia's offense and level the playing field.

2. Bochy is a More Tested Game Manager than Manuel

Bruce Bochy and Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel have similar formulas for victory: Get seven or eight innings out of your starters, hand it off to the reliable setup guy, hand it off to the reliable closer. In the Braves series, though, Bochy had to weather two meltdowns from the setup guy, and had to reorganize the lineup constantly to find the guy who could get the big hit while keeping reliable gloves in the field. Manuel might be able to email the lineup cards for the whole series to the umps on Friday night. Also, Phillies fans I've been chatting with have a lot of complaints about Manuel's decision-making. True, fans love to rip their managers and are not always objective. But the other side of that coin is that a lot of Bochy critics I know are starting to come around to him, which I see as a testament to his emerging shrewdness.

3. Karma

While the Phillies spent this week eating cheese steaks and getting thrown out of strip clubs, the Giants banded together to free the trapped miners in Chile. Okay, not the Giants per se. I understand some people from NASA also might have been involved. But my point stands that the Phillies not only won a World Series as recently as two years ago, they're probably already looking ahead to this year's fall classic in haste. The Giants, on the other hand, are humble and lovable and their fans are long-suffering. They would never feel entitled to victory. And for that, we should be entitled to victory (That's how karma works).

These games are going to be low-scoring, close, tense and sweaty, and are going to come down to one or two timely hits. This won't be easy. And that's exactly what the Giants are used to.

Prediction: Giants in Seven.

Victory! Giants Advance to NLCS

2010-10-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

Eight victories away from the World Series.

Between now and when that road starts on Saturday, there will be plenty of time to dissect, hope, critique, obsess, and recommend. There will be time to look toward the future and try to put some kind of frame around it.

Right now, I'm looking toward the past. To March, to be exact. Looking at a team with strong starting pitching, question marks everywhere else, and leadership in which I had minimal trust to provide answers. Since then, a lot of young players grew up, a lot of older players played like they weren't done yet, and a lot of people made decisions which - either through luck or foresight - worked out.

I don't know what's going to happen next weekend, but then again, I didn't know what was going to happen last March. The Giants exceeded my expectations. Jonathan Sanchez grew from a thrower with good stuff - who either walked a dozen or struck out a dozen - to a mature pitcher who could settle in after a rocky start. Freddy Sanchez went from a washed-up, streaky hitter to a permanent fixture as the second batter in the lineup. Bruce Bochy went from a haggard former catcher who seemed to be guessing when he filled out the lineup card to a shrewd game manager who had a penchant for putting someone like Cody Ross in the lineup at just the right time.

We're one series away from the World Series. Unbelievable. And although the Phillies are definitely a much tougher foe than the Braves, I have to believe that some yet-to-be-identified Giants will grow, transition, and become something tomorrow that they aren't today.

If enough guys do that, then we'll have an interesting series on our hands.