Next season when the Giants likely lose close to 100 games you will have bigger worries on your mind than whether the smooth-fielding Omar Vizquel is at shortstop or some young guy who can't hold Omar's glove but is an actual prospect who is younger than 30.

The Giants are in desperate need of young players who can improve their roster over the next three or four years.

When Barry Bonds leaves, so does the only Giants hitter who is much above average.  That means the Giants will likely need two very good hitters merely to REPLACE Barry.  Add in the two very good hitters they probably need on top of that to be a true contender, and you've got a need for at least four plus bats.

That's pretty tough to pick up in less than three or four years.  By four plus bats, I mean really good bats.  Something approaching Ray Durham or Moises Alou of last season.

Remember, the Giants had both those bats (albeit not for the full season) PLUS Barry last season and were only average at the plate.  If you thought hitting was going to be (and is) a problem THIS season WITH Barry, think how big a problem it is likely to be WITHOUT him next season (assuming he doesn't return).

There are only a handful of hitters who could replace Barry -- and aside from Alex Rodriguez, none will be available.  Should the Giants be willing to pay Alex $30-$35 million per season to do so?

If the Giants had Alex AND Barry and improvement at say two other everyday positions, they could possibly have a chance.  But barring something like that, their prospects for next season appear rather dim.

No prospect can match Vizquel, even in a couple years of on-the-job training.

It's idle chatter to say good shortstop prospects could a) be picked from some tree, and b) produce even at Omar's level -- both defensively and offensively.

Such doods are hard to find, people.

Keep Omar another year.