I realize that many of you still think Smith has a chance at panning out for the 49ers this year.  I don't, but at least humor those of us that don't for this particular discussion. 

Assuming Smith doesn't improve or end up starting this year at all, how would you feel about them trading for Brady Quinn? The Browns have an excellent QB in Derek Anderson, and have him tied up for the next three years.  They're actually more or less in a similar situation as the 49ers...paying big money for a backup QB.

I could see this playing out a couple ways, go ahead and add your thoughts if you have other ways it could work:

1) Trade Smith + other player/draft pick for Quinn.  The Browns get a decent backup QB in Smith, but aren't tied up in paying him for years to come.  If they like the way he looks, they could resign him for lesser money to be a backup (that is, assuming no one else would want to take a chance on him as a starter when he hits free agency).  The Niners get a QB for the future that works hard, and albeit may be a bit overrated, has shown to be decent in his short playing time.  He wouldn't be a TOTAL project, as a new draftee would be, but they could work him in the offense rather quickly.

2) Trade draft picks/players for Quinn, release Smith.

What are your thoughts?  I realize you're all probably tired of thinking about QBs and hearing "Hey we should get _____ to be QB of the future!!!", but this is one that I think would benefit both teams, and actually could happen.

Boy, things sure have been depressing here lately.  The Giants suck, plain and simple.  They aren't fun to watch four out of five days (as good as Cain is, it's horrific to watch his starts go to waste when they can't give him any run support and/or the 'pen gives up the lead).  The trading deadline went by and the Giants didn't make a peep, despite reported interest in Molina and Aurilia, two guys they could live without.  Then Sabean decides to give us all a heart attack by making us think he almost accidentally lost Romo.  Yes, these are truly the dog days of summer.

However, these feelings of disgust are exactly what I hope to do away with in this post.  Hold the sarcasm, bite your pessimistic tongue and wallow in the good things that have come upon us this year.  I'll kick things off with a few (by the way, I want to explicitly say to the baseball gods that this IS NOT AN OPTIMISM THREAD.  We are just enjoying the few things that we have.  Big difference!)

• The Enchanter deserves the top spot.  We all knew the guy would be in the top tier of pitchers this year, but not the best pitcher in baseball, as he is proving himself to be.  As someone else mentioned, he is responsible for 25% of the team's wins.  That is insane.  He is incredibly fun to watch, and that punchout of Pujols has got to be one of the better highlights of the season
• Ray Durham is gone, and the clusterf*ck at 2B is at least filled with young players.
• Dirty Sanchez has played well above expectations until most recently, which is expected because of his workload comparable to prior seasons.  Most of us had accepted that he'd be a 5th starter at best (to use a term that has been way overused lately), and didn't expect that, as Grant pointed out, has been better than Cain for much of the season.  Suddenly, a rotation of Enchanter, Cain, Dirty, Bumgarner, & Alderson in a few years is looking pretty sweet and actually reasonable.
• Aside from the Castle fetish, the Giants have actually played more of the young players than I personally had thought they would before the season started.  Which also leads me to my next point...
• FREDDY!  Boy, this guy is becoming a favorite of mine, which the recent WWL article certainly helped.  You can't help but pull for the guy, and he's been a pretty solid player all year.  Time will tell if he can keep it up, but it looks as if he can be slotted into LF for years to come.
• Rowand.  Yes, he's being paid a lot of money, but a leage average player at $8 million is actually pretty cheap, IMO.  He plays hard, says the right things, and doesn't blame other people for his screwups.  Plus his batting stance makes me giggle.
• Bumgarner and Alderson, previously mentioned, have dominated lower leagues.  Keep it up, guys, we look forward to seeing you in a few years, striking out Poo Holes yourselves.
• WIILLLLLSOOOOONNNN!  He makes games entertaining, to say the least.  He's an outstanding player, throws some sick heat, and again, doesn't blame others for making mistakes, which is more than can be said for this team's closer in recent years.
• Bocock, thanks for allowing us to make all the penis jokes.  It was a great way to kick off the season.
• Steve Holt!...I mean Holm!  You won us a couple games earlier, and came out of nowhere to make the team.  That always makes for a nice story.
• Last, but not least, Barry may be coming back to the park again.  I won't be able to be there, but I trust that all of you that will be will give him the biggest standing "O" since, well, 365 days ago!

Please, share your happy points of this past year.  The only rule is nothing that resembles optimism is allowed.  For everyone's sake.

I'm going to be visiting SafeCo (and Seattle) for the first time this next week.  I've got tickets for the Sox game on Monday, I think.  I was just hoping you guys could give me some suggestions/recommendations as to what to look for in the ballpark (edible and non-food items alike), as well as things to do in the city/around the stadium.

This is coming from a Giants fan...just wanted to say I do read your blog occasionally and enjoy it, keep up the good work.

I don't know how many of you live in or have been to Seattle, but I am going to SafeCo Field next week to visit that field for the first time (I GET TO SEE THE RED SAWKS!! OMG OMG!! I GET TO SEE REAL BASEBALL!!) 

Anyway, we will have some down time there and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what to do with that free time (places to see/visit/tour, etc.)?  Suggestions easier on the wallet would be much appreciated!

I would make this into a fanshot, but as wel all know, nobody reads those.

Does anyone watch this show?  My brother just gave me the first season DVD and I'm on the ledge about it.  On one hand the dry, awkward humor is remeniscent of The Office and Arrested, but on the other hand it's very difficult to watch more than one episode at once.  It's kind of mind-numbing, but it also seems brilliant at times.  Plus some of their songs are just spectacular.  What do you guys think of this show, if you've seen it?

I don't know if this has been done/decided already.  If it has, let the powers-at-be delete this fanpost.

Too many nicknames have been thrown around for Tim Lincecum.  It seems as if everyone has their own little cute nickname for him.  We all know that every elite MLB player has the one nickname they're known by.  Because of this, I believe we need to once and for all decide Lincecum's nickname that we'll use.  That means no usage of alternative names once it's been decided!  I'm including the familiar ones but if there's enough public outcry for a different one, then let's hear it and we'll go with a different one.