Update 11-01-10: Obviously, I stand corrected. The Giants got it together and made me happy to admit that I was wrong. Amazing how quickly the outlook can change.

The San Francisco Giants started off the season pretty hot. They gave us fans hope that we had over come the hitting struggles of last year. They got our hopes up for a playoff berth in 2010.

Then they crushed us.

They reverted back to the San Francisco Giants of last season–perhaps worse. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the Giants. I still have hope. But I have this sinking feeling it will end much the same as least season–so close, but not quiet close enough. Upon looking at the 2010 All-Star Game roster for both the AL and NL, I think I’ve figured out our problem. We need All-Stars. Not former All-Stars like Freddy Sanchez. Not future All-Stars like Buster Posey. Current All-Star players.

But wait? Don’t the Giants have two All-Stars this year? Yes, and they are both pitchers. Everyone in baseball knows pitching isn’t the Giants problem, hitting is. Besides, Tim Lincecum, as much as I love him, wasn’t maybe quiet up to All-Star par this season, at least so far. And Brian Wilson? Well, he’s not called the “Cardiac Kid” for nothing. He’s a tough pitcher, but he’s sure tough on Giants fans too.

There was write-in campaigns for Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff, both who have been hot this season. But that’s just the thing. They’re not obvious candidates. They’re after-thoughts to the All-Star selection. They may not be after-thoughts to Giants fans. I love them both. But when they are the best hitters on our team in “must have a hit” situations, that is a problem. I think Huff should have been on the roster. I hope he keeps playing like he has been and if he does, he will be an All-Star next year. But that’s next year and we have to hope San Francisco can keep him.

Did you know that Boston and New York Yankees have six players on the All-Star team this year? The Yankees possibly have a seventh in Nick Swisher. You can bet most of those players weren’t after-thoughts.

So, San Francisco Giants fans, listen up. Until the Giants start putting current All-Stars on the field, or until our players start playing like All-Stars all season long, we won’t be seeing too deep of a playoff run, if even that. I’m not saying we should be the Red Sox or the Yankees, but both of those teams have won World Series in the recent past.

Isn’t winning a World Series the goal for a MLB team? Your loyal fans deserve a chance at that.

No related posts.

I’m currently planning my trip to some of the best places for baseball fans on the earth. Boston and Cooperstown. Fenway Park and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Green Monster and the very best baseball players who have ever lived.

Ever since I had this dream way back in July of 2007 of visiting all the ball parks over the next few years I’ve knocked out 11 stadiums. 11 isn’t a bad number, except that I visited all 11 in 2008.  Last year I decided to go to Spring Training in the Phoenix area for the first time. I also went this year, as it is likely to be a yearly event now. The point is that I’ve lagged off after that first year of excitement.

So this year I resolved to go to at least one new ball park. Since it’s higher on my priority list than say, Kansas City, I decided this was the year for Boston. I also decided since Cooperstown is relatively close, I should go there was well. If you don’t know what Cooperstown is, it is the home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of course, I’m doing some other touristy stuff while I’m there like sight-seeing Boston, spending a couple of nights in Hyannis Port, MA, and catching up with some friends.

However, let’s be honest:  This trip is about baseball. And September is the most exciting month for baseball.

No related posts.

Google Maps
Someday I’ll get there. 18 more to go after this year!

No related posts.

Home from spring training. I’m starting to become quiet fond of the Phoenix area. I’ll post a few pictures later and what I thought of the Giants and Angels.

No related posts.

The SF Giants are slowly chipping away at the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West. Down to 3 games behind.

No related posts.

A few months back I read this article, or one similar to it. It basically gives me my basis for claiming that everything is Bud Selig’s fault. The War. The economy. Job losses. Mortgage crisis. Eight years of George W. Bush.

Here is the rundown.

Back in 1994, Bud Selig, then owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, was the acting commissioner of Major League Baseball after the owners had ousted Fay Vincent in 1992. It was thought that the owners were going to find a permanent commissioner and George W. Bush, then an owner of the Texas Rangers, was a potential candidate. As reported in Sheehy’s column (2000 Vanity Fair Article), Bush wanted to be the commissioner of baseball more than anything else in his life, and when he was approached by Texas Republicans about running for governor, he initially put them off, thinking that he was in line to become the commissioner.

But alas, Bud Selig had other plans. He kept the job for himself after a six year search.

Just think how things could’ve been if not for this man. We know Bush would’ve cracked down on the steroids much sooner than Selig. He could’ve hunted them down! Al Gore might have been President, or at least anyone else that could have been better. See, I think W. would have made an excellent Baseball Commissioner. How much more likeable would he have been to the world? But no, the selfishness of one man led to the where we’re at today. And no one can say that is a good thing. Perhaps, if Selig had made Bush Baseball Commissioner, we might actually be able to afford to take our families to the Great American Pastime game.

No related posts.