Beginning Our 50th Season of Baseball in San Francisco

Giants baseball is back for it's 50th year in San Francisco. Is this going to be the year we finally win it all? No more hand wringing and anurisms? The prognosticators have all but buried our Gmen. Being the eternally optimistic Giants fan, I see the Giants in contention all the way to the wire. And why not? They have improved at nearly every position. So lets break it down.

OUTFIELD
Randy Winn moves over to right to make room for new addition Dave Roberts. This not only gives us a pure lead off man with speed for the first time since Kenny Lofton, but it increases the overall outfield speed to cover the deep alley in right center at Mays Field. Bonds is in left and healthier than he's been in three years. Bonds will have an MVP caliber season until the league stops pitching to him again in the second half.

INFIELD
The keystone combo of Durham and Vizquel is set and strong. At third base we stand pat, having to endure another season of watching Pedro Feliz whiffing clumsily at low and away breaking pitches. Take a pitch every once in a while Pedro! He may be a cherry picker, but he did knock in 98 runs last season. First base is definitely improved with the acquisitions of Rich Aurilia and Ryan Klesko. I'm so glad to see Richie back in a Giants uni. If Pedro falters and Klesko returns to his All-Star form, we'll see Aurilia take over third, with Klesko at first base batting fourth behind Bonds. A lot if "ifs", I know, but isn't baseball all about those "ifs"?

CATCHER
Benjie Molina replaces Elezier Alfonso behind the plate. Molina is an improvement defensively and potent on offense as long as he doesn't have to rely on his "speed". Alfonso joins Feliz on the all-time "whiff and no walk" team.

PITCHING
The acquisition of Barry Zito gives the Giants two legitimate aces, along with Matt Cain. Russ Ortiz is my early season pick for the Willie Mac award and Comeback Player of the Year. Matt Morris and Noah Lowery round out one of the best 1-5 pitching staffs in all of baseball.

BULLPEN
This is our Achilles Heel. The bullpen has been abysmal the past two seasons and will be the key as to whether we win the division or not. Fingers crossed, Pepto nearby.
Armando Benitez will start the season as closer, and says the Giants would be "stupid" to let him go. I pray he's right because there is no one else ready to jump into that position.

COACHING
Bruce Bochy is a major improvement over Felipe Alou. This man knows how to handle a staff. He also makes the best of what he has to work with. He won two divisions with the Padres weak offensive teams, and less than stellar starting pitching. He's a hands on manager, and he actually talks to his players.

FINAL THOUGHTS
The Giants have made major improvements over the off season. Offensively the only thing lacking is a true #4/5 hitter to bat behind Bonds. Klesko may fill that void as the season progresses.
The Giants finished with 76 wins last season, going 1-9 for the last 10. They ran out of gas. Bochy has a deeper bench, and more flexibility to work with this year to give his starters the days off they need. Kevin Frandsen is busting at the seams to win a spot, and the young man can play nearly any position on the infield. Todd Linden has proven he can play all the outfield positions well. Klesko can also back up Bonds in the outfield, while Aurilia can play 1st and 3rd very effectively.
The bullpen blew at least 10 games last year, while Senor Tres y Dos blew 8 games all on his own. Thats an 18 game swing right there.
So lets do the math.
76 games won last year. If the bullpen improves by, say, 50%, thats 9 more games in the win column, bringing the Giants to 85 wins. If the starting 5 win only ONE game more than last years' starting 5, they would be at 90 wins. 90 wins will win this division.

Lots of shoulda's, coulda's, woulda's and ifs. Thats the beauty and intrigue of the game. The seasons gotta be played. So now, Rogers and I will stop looking out of the window waiting for spring. The 2007 Giants Baseball season is fianlly here!!!

HUMMMMMMMMMMMM Baby!!!