I have been a fan of the Atlanta Braves since 1966.The good seasons were few and far between before 1991. The past three years I have attended every Augusta Greenjacket home game and have become more interested in the Giants as the players I watch move up the ladder. We have been very fortunate to have had the best minor league full-season record the past three years.        

I have been reading the posts at Mccovey Chronicles for over a year and find it very entertaining and educational as far as learning more about the players in SF and at the upper levels. Combining my personal observances here in Augusta and what I read at MC takes me back in time to the 1989 Atlanta Braves. If memory serves me correct,they were an aging team that traded off their big slugger (Dale Murphy)at the end of the year. Their minor league system was loaded with young pitchers and a some potential hitters. Smoltz and Glavine were already in the majors,struggling at times but showing they were the future.  In 1991 the pieces all came together. Steve Avery arrived, Glavine became the ace of the team and Smoltz got it together the second half. They had brought in a few free agents to augment the team,most notably Terry Pendleton,who provided leadership along with his rejuvenated bat.(The previous year he hit less thatn .250)

I feel like the Giants are further along than the Braves of 1989.The addition of one or two of the young pitchers coming up,throw in a couple of your hitting prospects and maybe sprinkle in a free-agent or two where needed:   All the ingredients are there to get back to the top.   I am very impressed with the progress of Villalona. He has impressive power and moves well in the field.Nick Noonan may not be that far away either as he just looks like a major leaguer.Bumgarner has been insane. The past few weeks Barnes has been almost as impressive. I could name a half dozen other players who might be making a name for themselves before long that are playing here in Augusta.Heck,Ryan Rohlinger,Brian Bocock and Emmanuel Burriss were here on the Greenjackets last year. Pablo was here in 2006.

As an outsider looking in,the future looks very bright for the Giants. And the future may not be as far off as you think.