Son of Title

I'd say Durham's bat was far more valuable than Alou'sbecause it was there.

While thats only two games, its a plus 2 games in the standings.  Do that 4 times and thats 8 games in the standings for the season. Its 24-0 vs 16-8. Do six games in a row instead of 4 out of 6 about once every 6 six weeks, and voila; same team just went from 8 games under .500 to 8 games over.  77 and 85 just became 85 and 77.  Thats just about the difference between the Padres and Giants the last couple of years-give or take.  That is a result of putting ALL (not just a favored few) of the players you have, in the best position to maximize their potential to contribute to victory, over the course of a long grueling season.

Goofus points out the definite improvements in the batting order from last year too.

Have the Giants done everything I wanted them to do?  Hell no.  But right now, I like our chances better than I did going into 05 and 06.  By a lot.

The media can make all the noise they want about Lamar, but we've all been through it, been there, done that, nothing new, move along.  

I am really excited about Matt Cain, Noah Lowry being healthy all year, Kevin Correia, Brian Wilson, Jonathan Sanchez, and having Barry healthy going into Spring Training for the first time since 2004--which btw, was the last time our guys really competed well. Timmah II will be 22. I give him a good look in Spring Training. If he is dominant and we've not added an established arm to the rotation, I give him a shot to be Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, Jonathan Papalbon.  Now how exciting would that be to have Timmah II blow some ched by Jeff Kent, Nomar and company?

Down and out about Jason Schmidt? Tough. I'll take Matt "DammitBobby" Cain, next year head to head vs Schmidt. My 330,000 vs. their 15.2 million. Who do you want? Brad Penny vs. Jonathan Sanchez, Big fat slob spoiled baby, or the Puerto Rican Cool Hand Luke? Matt Morris or Jeff Weaver?  I'll take a now healthy Morris over the refugee from Deliverance thank you very much. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Bochy is upbeat about Aurelia.  He mentioned that Richie made some major adjustments to his game last year to rejuvinate his career. I'm buying it for the time being. Cain made major adjustments, mid season and saved himself a year floundering in AAA. He's still green, and he was astounding. It would not be the first, nor the last time a veteran player has made adjustments in his game and regained form.  Richie takes very good care of himself physically.  No reason to not expect him to have a good season.

The acrimony between Barry and Magowan is about to become yesterday's news.  By New Years Day, most will have forgotten the rancor from the off-season.

One more bat. One more arm. That will help a lot. But there comes a time when the paper shuffling has to stop and flesh and bone, head and heart have to take the field.  So much of what happens is predicated upon attitude. The guys in the National League are really close in terms of physical tools. Health plays a part of course. But the tools and abilities are so close that the difference over the course of the season will be of attitude and the baseball gods.  

"Instead, just a true/false comment starter:

If the Giants were to pick up either Pat Burrell or Richie Sexson without giving up Lowry, and the team signs David Wells for a one-year deal, I believe the Giants would contend in the West.

You can mix and match the names if you'd like, but true or false?"

It doesn't mean we all believe it's going to happen, we're just answering what we think it would mean...sheesh.

Our best hope lies in our pitching staff.  Looking for a starter to round out the staff and hoping the cartload of young arms breaks thru.  Currently the Dodgers are better positioned than my beloved Giants.  Here's hoping to after 162 the Giants will be better.   Beat LA.  Did you say you are from Hollywood?

In the field, yes the Giants are older.  But the pitching staff and the bench will be much younger.

13 years Vizcaino to Frandsen
15 years Finley to Linden

Those are the main drops in age.  The whole pitching staff will be younger, losing Fassero, most probably Worrell, with a lot of youngsters coming into the pen and even the rotation.  The Giants will be younger.

And for getting "much older" at first, if you call 4 years much older, then yes.

Seriously, I'm all for someone like you to come over here and argue their opinion, but at least respect us and try to do some research.  

Dodgerfan hasn't done any of this. He's come in and said stupid shit to get us all riled up. He is not presenting debates in s constructive manner. He is acting like a classless idiot and no self-respecting Giants fan should take that shit from a Dodger fan.

I echo the "fuck off" sentiment for our little blue fiend, heartily.