View from the Couch

BY BILL LEEMAN

As the Giants break wind, I mean camp, at Scottsdale, with the best record in the Cactus League, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: 

Are they for real? 

Can they keep up this pace into the season, and beyond? 

Will Panda lead the league in triples?

Will the Little Unit win another Cy Young?  

Will Aubrey Huff make us forget about Barry Bonds? 

Will Freddie Sanchez ever come off the DL?  

Will they be able to score enough runs to make the pitching staff happy?

Now, you could answer all of these questions with a resounding NO, but that would be too easy.   

Here are my predictions for the Giants, 2010:  They could have a terrific year, be in contention all the way, pick up a key player in the middle of August, hit their stride, go to the playoffs, and win the World Series!   Yes!  (....and monkeys could fly out of my butt).  

They did it in '02, remember?  

They were on fire all summer, and picked up Kenny Lofton late in August (that's when I knew they were going).  They beat the Braves, then the Cards in the playoffs and went to the World Series against the Angels.  Wow, that was so exciting!   The Series didn't work out for them, thanks to Levon Hernandez, and Scott Spiezio, among others.   Let us not forget Dusty Baker's bench, which included fabulous 115-pound pinch hitter Tsuyoshi Shinjo.   But this scenario could well happen again, only with a different outcome.   (...and 747's could also fly out of my butt).

Or it could go like last year.   Lots of close games, way more wins than anyone predicted, in the race until the last couple weeks, exciting baseball, great games.  Unless of course, you wanted to face the reality that there was no way they would get to the playoffs, and for good reason:  No hitting.   Well, this year we've got a couple more hitters, and if our pitching holds, and the club chemistry is there, anything could happen.  

Remember the '97 Marlins?    Well, we're not them.  Darn. 

But they, too, went all the way with a bunch of no names.   Man, that was exciting!   Playing fundamental baseball, getting on base, moving them over, scoring runs with speed.  Great pitching.   Sort of like the '90 Reds.  With the exception of Griffey, Jr, there wasn't a known player on that team either.  Ray Knight.  You kidding?   But they took the World Series from the mighty A's 'Bash Brothers' in four straight.    I remember it well:  Jose Canseco, Mark Magwire, all puffed-up from steroids, and the rest of a fearsome lineup, and great pitching staff, waltzing in to the World Series, ready to pick up the trophy.  Then the Reds played sound, fundamental baseball, and swept.   Oh, that made me so happy (because those same Bash Brothers had swept my Giants in '89).   Ahhh, sweet justice. 

But I digress.

The Giants of 2010 could go into the tank.   Fall apart at the seams.  Anything can happen.  Blow it completely.  I don't really think this will happen, but you know baseball.   Of course, the Giants picking up just five hits in a nine to nothing loss to the A's in their third-to-last exhibition game does not bode well.

So here is what it boils down to:  The Giants could have a great year, make the playoffs, and more.   Or they could stay in the middle of the pack and play lots of exciting ball.   Or, they could take the pipe.

That's my prediction, and I'm sticking to it.

But seriously, folks:  It looks like the Rockies are the class of the National League West this year.   The Giants and Dodgers will be in contention.   With each other. 

Still, this should be a fun season, if for nothing else than to see the Giants and Dodgers nipping at each others' heels. 

On the eve of opening day, let's look at the bright side, and not even mention 56 years and counting.