View from the Couch

BY SCREAMIN' LEEMAN

So the Giants traded for Carlos Beltran.

As a Giants fan since 1958, we're not used to this.  We're not used to making trades of this caliber.  Oh, no, we're used to trading for a washed-up pitcher, an over-the-hill outfielder, or a non-hitting shortstop.   The Giants have a long history of making trades for used, worn out merchandise.

Naming them would depress me, so I'll abstain.

So as a Giants fan going on 53 years, I'd like to know:  What's up?  Are you trying to spoil us rotten?

My goodness, last year at this time, we were hovering around .500, had just gotten rid of Bengie Molina, and our prospects were dim.   We all know what transpired after that.  I seem to remember something about a World Championship!

This year, we're already 15 games over .500, in first place, with the fourth best record in all of baseball, and now we get Carlos Beltran?  Are you kidding me?  Did I die and go to Giants heaven?  Man, what a deal this is.  He will make everyone in the lineup better.

You know how that works.  ALL of the opposing pitchers know when he is coming to bat.   They are very aware of his presence in the lineup.  As he gets closer, the preceding batters get better pitches to hit because they need to get outs before facing Beltran.

Oh, man, I get a little giddy just thinking about all this.

In 2002 we had a pretty good team, we really started to take off in July, and traded for Kenny Lofton.  He was a proven winner and had played on more than one World Series team.  When we got him, I KNEW we were going, and we did!

This year, our team is infinitely better than the 2002 team, and we just traded for an infinitely better player that Kenny Lofton.   To borrow a phrase from the late Harry Carey, Holy Cow!

I have long been an advocate for team chemistry.  I mean, look at the teams who have won it all.   The '90 Reds, the '97 Marlins, the '01 D-Backs, and of course the 2010 Giants.  All of them, teams with great character.  Team chemistry, in my opinion, is paramount in the makeup of a team.   You don't want to mess with it.  So I have said all along, we don't want to trade for a big star.  Don't want to take a chance of screwing up the chemistry of the team.

I was quite happy with the Keppinger (who?) trade because of the fact that he was a nobody.  Of course he was a nobody that was hitting .307 and had only struck out seven times this year.   A perfect fit.

So, when we got Beltran, a BIG name player, I said, team chemistry?  "Why, I think he'll fit right in."

The only thing that does worry me, is that by getting a hitter of his caliber, which will make all the other hitters better, that we'll start producing offensively, and therefore our pitchers will begin to relax and start serving 'em up.  So far, with little or no offense, our pitchers have had to be spot-on in every start.   Because we average about one run per game, they can't make any mistakes.  Now, if our boys start scoring runs by the handful, they're liable to become complacent, and lose that edge.

But let's not worry about that now, okay?  "Fer crying out loud, Screamin', we have such an embarrassment of riches!"

I never thought I'd live to see the day.

No team looks forward to going up against our pitching.  Lincecum, Cain, Vogelsong, Bumgarner!  Are you kidding me?  Who, in their right mind, would want to face these guys?  When they're on, your team doesn't stand a chance.  And no hitter wants to deal with our bullpen.  Our relievers have given up two earned runs since the All-Star break.  Opposing batters are hitting a miniscule .097 against them!

Unbelievable.

In a seven game series, a five game series, or a three game series, good pitching will dominate.

Now, as you all know, anything can happen in any season, and anything can happen when we get to the playoffs, and, if I may be presumptuous, the World Series.  Nothing is guaranteed, that's why they play the games.

But I'm telling you now, I like our chances.