Our FansEdge 30 Team MLB Preview continues with the San Francisco Giants. Look for another preview on Friday when James makes his first contribution.

Baseball by the Bay

The San Francisco Giants bask in the glow of Willie Mays and loom in the shadows of Barry Bonds and it stirs an odd feeling to see the two of them arm in arm. Mays is an iconic face, name, and the star of one of the most iconic highlights in baseball history. Bonds swept the gullible world up in a torrent of power and dominance at the plate that baseball had never seen. Then came the steroids investigations, scandals, hearings, reports, rumors, accusations, denials, etc, etc, etc and since his involuntary retirement from the game, he has been one of the most prominent faces to represent the steroid era. And so the two best players to wear a Giants uniform will go down in history with measurably different legacies.

Turning the Leaf Over

It has been two seasons since Barry Bonds last played baseball in the bay. In the last three seasons that Bonds played, the Giants were 222-273. They twice finished 3rd in the division and in his last year they finished dead last, losing 91 games.

In the two years since he left, the Giants have given themselves a face lift and emerged as a younger, more balanced, and better baseball team, finishing 88-74 in 2009, the fifth best record in the NL.

In 2007, the youngest starting position player was 32 years old. They did not have a single player under the age of 30 have more than 300 plate appearances. The top nine players with the most plate appearances had an average age of 35.67 years.

On the flip side, their pitching was young. Tim Lincecum (23) and Matt Cain (22) were locking down starting rotation spots. Noah Lowry and Barry Zito were both also under 30 and in the rotation.

After the 2007 season the Giants began a plan that they continued after the 2008 season and after last season. They let aging veteran players move on via free agency or trade and only replaced them with temporary fixes while they waited for their minor league prospects to become major league ready.

Pedro Feliz moved to the Phillies after 2007 and they replaced him with Jose Castillo who kept the seat warm for Pablo Sandoval, who had a monster breakthrough season as a 22 year old third baseman in 2009.

In 2009 they got younger at every infield position. They’ll get younger in the starting rotation in 2010. They featured three starters age 26 or under (Cain, Lincecum, and Jonathan Sanchez), Zito (31) and the now retired Randy Johnson last year in the rotation.

The Big Unit’s exit from the game possibly makes way for stud prospect Madison Bumgarner to step into the rotation. Bumgarner is 25 years or so younger then The Unit and probably about 7 years younger than Johnson’s mustache.

A Plan

In the past the Giants have been known for inking some huge contracts to players who have not delivered, most notably Barry Zito and his nine digit deal, but at least Zito pitched respectably last year.

They gave Aaron Rowand a large contract. He made $9.6 million dollars last season and hit just .261 with 15 HR and 61 RBI.

But this off season they have signed players to far less risky contracts. They signed Aubrey Huff to a one year deal for $3 million dollars. They signed Mark DeRosa to two years for $12 million. And they brought back Bengie Molina on a one year, $4.5 million deal to keep the catcher’s position warm for Buster Posey.

Key Departures for the Giants: Rich Aurilia, Randy Johnson, and Randy Winn – all 35 years old or older.

Key Arrivals for the Giants: Aubrey Huff, Mark De Rosa

What they’ll look like:
C – Bengie Molina
1B – Aubrey Huff
2B – Freddy Sanchez
SS – Edgar Renteria
3B – Pablo Sandoval
LF – Mark DeRosa
CF – Aaron Rowand
RF – Nate Schierholtz

Util – Juan Uribe
IF – Emmanuel Burriss
OF – Fred Lewis

Rotation: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner
Closer: Brian Wilson

This line-up isn’t going to score you 6-7 runs per game. But it doesn’t need to because they should get a ton of quality starts out of this rotation and late leads are in good hands with Brian Wilson in the 9th.

Predictions:

Team MVP: Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval hit .330 with 25 HR and 90 RBI in his first full season in the major as a 22 year old in 2009. Look for a .300+ average with increased power numbers this year.

X-Factor: X-Factor is a weird term. It could mean a lot of things. Here it means this: the thing you aren’t counting on to happen, but it could happen and if it does, really good things will follow. Jonathan Sanchez could be awesome. He could be 16-17 wins, 200+ K’s and be a third scary pitcher to face in this rotation. He needs to improve his consistency but he doesn’t walk a ton of guys and he strikes out more than one per inning so that’s a great place to start.

The Giants had the fifth best record in the NL last year and I expect them to improve on it this year. They are operating like an organization with a plan and that’s a good thing.

Prediction: 2nd place in the NL West and NL Wild Card winner.

You know the saying, “Save the best for last”?

What about the “Finish the worst first”?

No? While maybe not as catchy, it certainly applies to our first installment of FansEdge’ 2010 Major League Baseball Preview – and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sure, Pittsburgh didn’t have the worst record in baseball, (beating out the Washington Nationals by three less defeats) but they have been – by far – the worst team in MLB for nearly two decades. The last time the Pirates boasted a winning record I was studying simple addition and Barry Bonds hadn’t yet begun studying “the Clear”, allegedly.

A lot has changed since 1992 – see home run records – but one thing remains a constant: Pittsburgh finishing at or near the bottom of the National League Central Division.

But it’s 2010. New decade. New personnel. And a new era, right?

That’s what the Pirates front office hopes for, at least. Some would call 2009 a rebuilding season for the Pirates; I call it a season of purging.

2010 features yet another injection of youth, and this time they may have actually gotten it right.
Out: Nate McLouth, Freddy Sanchez, Nyjer Morgan and Jack Wilson. In: Lastings Milledge (24 years old), Ronny Cedeno (26), Andy LaRoche (26) and Andrew McCutchen (23).

Speed and defense.

That will be third-year manager John Russell’s calling card if his team takes the next step – and is actually acknowledged by the rest of its division.

And it starts in center field. McCutchen, Pittsburgh’s top prospect, lived up to the hype in his rookie season, finishing second among position players in the Rookie of the Year voting. Displaying tremendous speed (22 stolen bases) and modest power (12 home runs) in just over 400 at-bats, McCutchen has an opportunity to resurrect a once-proud franchise.

He is joined by a number of disappointing prospects intent on fulfilling their potential with a new team. Former cast-offs like Milledge, Cededno and LaRoche have been given another chance to resurrect their still young careers in a more relaxed environment.

Unfortunately, you’re not going anywhere in baseball without pitching…and there’s a reason I’ve waited this long to address the rotation situation. The Pirates are anchored by Zack Duke and Paul Maholm, and boast a band of young talent. Sound familiar?

But youthful exuberance rarely beats good hitting, and with 11 victories leading the staff last season, someone needs to grasp the “Ace” title for this team to have any chance of competing with the likes of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Predictions:

Team MVP: Andrew McCutchen. Who else? The Pirates’ best prospect since Barry Bonds had a tremendous rookie campaign, highlighted by a 3-HR game. With a full season ahead, I expect a similar batting average with improved power and speed numbers: .280/19 HRs/71 RBIs/29 SBs

X-Factor: Pedro Alvarez. You may not have heard of him…but you will. The only Pirate with more potential than McCutchen may be Alvarez. The 2nd pick of the 2008 MLB Draft, Alvarez packs tremendous power at the plate, hitting 27 HRs in the minors last season. Just 22, expect him to amass even greater power and anticipate a September call-up, at the latest.

Bottom Line: Pittsburgh will improve…but don’t expect to be singing “We are family” just yet. They are still 2-3 seasons away from making any real noise – assuming they can hold on to everyone.

W-L: 71-91.

Hey…there’s always Steelers offseason.

It’s been months since I’ve had a chance to write for the blog, and I’m happy to announce that we’re putting the band back together for a limited release Sold Out Tour. Sold Out probably isn’t the right analogy…let’s say By Invitation Only. So congratulations, valued reader, if you can see this, you’re seat is being held.

After my transition to the purchasing team, I’ve been spending most of my hours at the office practicing my multiplication tables again. I’m now openly searching for a math-only assistant so if anyone knows an out-of-work 4th grader looking to get a foot in the door, give me a ring.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the baseball season, we’ll be executing our three man weave to bring you previews for all 30 teams.

I know what you’re saying…Baseball?!?! In January?

Or

Who are you again?

Well, I understand the NFL is still Homecoming King of this high school, but before we know it football will pass and the nerdy A/V kid (baseball) will get his moment in the spotlight…for seven glorious months.

Personally, as of this morning, my Jets are still alive in the NFL playoff picture. Although, like the most popular man from LaGuardia to Newark, I too thought Gang Green had been eliminated mere weeks ago with their 7th loss of the season. Silly Rex.

Brent has his Vikings going full Favre ahead right now too, so for the time being, we’re both primarily concerned with football, much like the rest of you out there.

Ariel on the other hand…Well…Ariel didn’t have himself a very good weekend.

As with any division of people and goods, we held a draft last week to determine who would cover each team. With the first pick in the 2010 Baseball Preview Blog Draft, Brent selected his hometown Twins. I chose the back to back NL Pennant winning Philadelphia Phillies and Ariel was able grab his Cubbies with the 3rd (read: Last) pick.

While his Cowboys and Cubs aren’t looking so good, Ariel’s future in showbiz is as bright as ever. Check him out HERE.

So we’ll just slowly dive into it with some of the less attractive teams out there. Sorry Nationals, Padres and Diamondbacks, but someone has to be picked last.

Hopefully this will take some of the sting away from a long cold February that doesn’t offer much in the way of sports entertainment. Enjoy the previews as we push right through to Spring Training.

So I watching a recent episode of Friday Night Lights (shame on you if you’ve never seen it) and viewed a scene in which the wily Buddy Garrity talked his way into announcing East Dillon football games on an exclusively Spanish-speaking radio station. The owner of the station hardly understood a word. But “football” needed no translation. Mention of “futbol Americano” (or soccer’s ugly namesake of a cousin) upset the station owner as he threw his hands in disgust and turned away.

Apparently, this man’s been sleeping under a rock.

What has transpired in football circles recently – college and pro – borders on the absurd. In the NCAAs, we saw one of the decade’s greatest fly north to the NFL, another weasel his way west and insensitive, humiliating and criminal behavior including physical abuse and locking people in closets, allegedly. And I’m just talking about head coaches!

In the NFL, fortunately, the excitement has taken place between the goal posts. The playoffs have offered great entertainment: teams combining for 96 points, defensive linemen with a passion for spearing things, and Rex Ryan.

But let’s start in the amateur ranks, where the transgressions of several head coaches have been…well…amateur. Players accused Kansas’ Mark Mangino for making disparaging and humiliating remarks on the field. Down at South Florida, school officials concluded a report claiming Jim Leavitt grabbed a player by the throat, slapped him in the face and lied about it, was true. And at Texas Tech, receiver Craig James said that, after complaining about a possible concussion, Mike Leach forced him in – of all places – an electrical closet.

Sound doctoral advice. No?

Needless to say, all three men are currently on the unemployment line.

And then there’s USC.

A fantasy land for college football since Pete Carroll took over in 2000…until allegations involving recruiting infractions and Reggie Bush reached the surface. Next, headlines alleged running back Joe McKnight’s girlfriend received a vehicle as a gift. And just like that, Pete Carroll had had enough. Shortly after a disappointing 9-4 season, the long-sought after coach was wooed back to the NFL by the Seattle Seahawks. Must have been the weather.

But the drama was only beginning at “The Coliseum.” USC: a soap-opera for men.

The cliffhanger this time? Hiring Lane Kiffin. Yes, that Lane Kiffin. The same wunderkind fired after one season with the Oakland Raiders. The same loud-mouthed, baby-faced nuisance while at Tennessee. And now, just one year into his “tenure” at Rocky Top, he leaves recruits and Urban Meyer behind for a return to LA.

…and gets replaced at Tennessee by Derek Dooley. Come again?

Meanwhile, in the big boy league, stakes are high. We’re a Sunday away from learning the Superbowl matchup.

Vikings or Saints? Colts or Jets?

I can’t wait until Sunday to watch the final installment of a tremendous franchise, titled: Three Men and a Rookie. Starring two of the industry’s all-time greatest, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, an up-and-comer in Drew Brees, and, making his debut, Mark Sanchez – something tells me this chapter could be the best.
Give the rookie credit. He’s playing behind a spectacular defense, led by Deion…I mean, Darrelle Revis, a fantastic rushing attack and one heck of a coach – at the podium, at least. But as improbable as it seemed, Rex Ryan’s drawn-out post-season schedule – including a Superbowl parade through Times Square – is turning more and more probable each day.

Unfortunately, this week the Jets run into Indy’s relentless pass rush, led by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and Manning, the human audible. The Colts broke protocol last week and won a playoff game after resting their starters to end the season. It doesn’t really matter where Manning’s throwing the ball – I think he could even find me on a post route – but the veterans (Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark) and the newbies (Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie) are getting the job done.

Meanwhile, in the NFC, some things never change. As much as I can’t stand no. 4 after embarrassing my Cowboys last weekend, it’s hard not to be impressed with Favre’s four touchdown performance – especially touchdown no. 4 (but I won’t get into that). If Jared Allen and the defensive line replicate last week’s performance, there is no way Brees will elude collapsing pockets – or mullets.

One thing the Saints do have on their side – New Orleans. The only place louder than the Metrodome may be the Superdome, and there’s no doubt the Saints’ passionate fans - who have waited years for this moment – will let Minnesota hear it.

My prediction? Colts 20, Jets 10. Saints 27, Vikings 24.

And for you naysayers…Time to pat myself on the back for calling, while 6-3, that the Denver Broncos would finish 8-8. They did. I also predicted the purple-hot Vikings would lose late in the season to the Arizona Cardinals. They did. Fortunately, many of my other predictions haven’t made this blog.

Clearly, when it comes to making news – good or bad – football of the American variety leads the class. You could argue there’s been too much excitement recently.

And I haven’t even mentioned the Pro Bowl…