Word on the Farm

Beltran, who needs him? Not the Giants

2011-12-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, the San Francisco Giants don't need Carlos Beltran.

Don't start screaming at the screen thinking I've absolutely lost it. While I might have a few marbles loose upstairs, I know what I'm talking about here.

While Beltran did hit .322 as a Giant at the end of last season, he never warmed to the crowd and was essentially a mercenary for hire.

I would have loved to see him along side Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval for a full season but, I'm sorry, $13 million per year for a 35-year-old outfielder with a history of injuries does not sound like a good deal to me.

The truth is there are no perfect fits at this moment for the Giants in free agency.

I don't know if the Giants had the money, are saving in their "rainy day" fund, or are flat out saving the dollars for Lincecum and Cain next year but whatever the case, did anyone think the Giants were going to end up with one of the big name stars?

Jose Reyes? No way.

Albert Pujols? Nada.

And don't say Michael Cuddyer. While I am a fan of the super utilityman, he is on the wrong side of 30 and got way too much on the open market.

His contract screams Edgardo Alfonso. Remember him?

But I do think people look at the Giants team and completely forget how important Posey and Freddy Sanchez were to that team in April and May.

Those two had the offense rolling while the others were still working out the kinks.

But when they went down, the offense went right along with it. The fact they stayed in the race as long as they did was amazing.

Remember, they won their first World Series since moving to San Francisco 14 months ago. Be patient.

MLB Starting 9: Best I've Ever Seen

2011-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

When anyone ever talks about the greatest players in baseball history, the seasoned reporters rattle of any combination of Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and the list goes on.

And all those guys, rightfully so, should be in the conversation but I never saw any of them actually play.

That got me thinking about who are the best players at each position that I have seen put on a uniform.

Let me clear about my criteria.

I am simply naming the best.

I don’t care about steroids or performance enhancing drugs. The fact is I want to be entertained and these guys entertained me more than any others.

For reference, we are working on a timeline from about 1990 to the present.

SP Randy Johnson
Career: 303-166, 3.29 ERA, 4875 K, 5-time Cy Young Award winner

The Big Unit was the most dominant left handed pitcher of this era and possibly ever.

Johnson struck out over 4,000 batters and won more than 300 games, possibly the last to do so, won a World Series as the co-MVP and won four straight Cy Young awards.

There was no pitcher hitters feared more than Johnson between 1995 and 2005 for three different teams.

Other candidates: Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Roger Clemens

CP Mariano Rivera

Career: 75-57, 2.21 ERA, 603 SV, 12-time All Star.
Postseason: 8-1, 0.70 ERA, 42 SV, 1999 World Series MVP

Was this ever a discussion?

Rivera is the most dominant closer in the history of the game and he has done it for 17 years with one pitch.

He has made the postseason 16 times and has won five World Series championships.

Other candidates: Trevor Hoffman

C Ivan Rodriguez

Career: .294 BA, 311 HR, 1332 RBI, 13 Gold Gloves, 13-time All-Star

No catcher during this era has ever carried his team to the heights Pudge did in 2003.

What seemed like a money grab, Rodriguez signed with the Marlins and led them to their second championship in seven years.

Outside of his one year in Miami, Rodriguez was the most feared catcher behind the plate with many comparing him to, arguably the greatest catcher ever, Johnny Bench.

He won the 1999 AL MVP and 13 Gold Gloves while leading the league in caught stealing percentage nine times.

Easy call.

Other candidates: Mike Piazza, Joe Mauer, Jorge Posada

1B Albert Pujols

Career: .328 BA, 445 HR, 1329 RBI, 1.037 OPS, 3-time NL MVP

No first baseman has been as dominant and consistent as Albert Pujols over the last 11 years.

All the man does is hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs, while hitting .300 every year. Add that to his two championships, three pennants, three MVP awards and two Gold Gloves and it is hard to argue.

Other candidates: Prince Fielder, Frank Thomas, Jeff Bagwell, Mark McGwire

2B Roberto Alomar

Career: .300 BA, 210 HR, 1134 RBI, 474 SB, 10 Gold Gloves, 12-time All Star

I have never seen anybody flash the leather at second base like Roberto Alomar could.

He’s one of those guys that you could watch all day long take ground balls because he was so smooth and creative around the bag.

He was part of, in my opinion, the best double play combination ever with himself and Omar Vizquel in 1998.

Then when you realize the guy could hit, you’d say to yourself, hands down, best I’ve seen.

Other candidates: Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Chase Utley

3B Cal Ripken, Jr.

Career: .276 BA, 431 HR, 1695 RBI, 19-time All Star, 2-time AL MVP, 2 Gold Gloves (SS), 2632 consecutive games played

The converted shortstop may not have had the numbers some of his counterparts on this list have but what Ripken did for his team went beyond the numbers.

It seemed whenever the Orioles needed the clutch hit, Ripken was there. His ability to rise at the right moment was incredible.

The night he broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record, he hit a home run. During his final All-Star Game in 2001, he hit a home run (okay, it was grooved but he still hit it).

Other candidates: Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, Matt Williams

SS Derek Jeter

Career: .313 BA, 240 HR, 1196 RBI, 339 SB, 5 Gold Gloves, 12-time All Star
Postseason: .307 BA, 20 HR, 59 RBI, 2000 World Series MVP

As much as it pains me to say, Derek Jeter is the best shortstop I have seen.

I say it pains me because if Alex Rodriguez had not moved to third base when he got to New York, this is a different conversation.

I also cannot deny what Jeter can do in the clutch, most notably in the postseason.

Other candidates: Nomar Garciaparra, Omar Vizquel, Alex Rodriguez

LF Barry Bonds

Career: .298 BA, 762 HR, 1996 RBI, 514 SB, 2558 BB, 7-time NL MVP, 8 Gold Gloves, 14-time All Star

There was nothing this man could not do on the baseball field.

Bonds was, far and away, the best baseball player I ever saw and it was not just because of the home runs.

The 14-time All Star was the first and only player to hit 400 home runs and steal 400 bases in their career. He then created another new club by getting to 500-500.

The only thing missing was a World Series ring.

Other candidates: Rickey Henderson

CF Ken Griffey, Jr.

Career: .284 BA, 630 HR, 1836 RBI, 13-time All Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 1997 AL MVP

For the bulk of the 1990s, Junior was the star in baseball and for plenty of reasons.

He has seven straight non-strike years with at least 40 home runs, four times leading the league in the category.

Nobody that I have seen had made winning 10 Gold Gloves look so easy like Griffey did.

Furthermore, Griffey may well have become the all-time home run leader had injuries not derailed him after his arrival with Cincinnati.

Other candidates: Andruw Jones, Bernie Williams, Kenny Lofton

RF Ichiro

Career: .326 BA, 2428 hits, 95 HR, 605 RBI, 423 SB, 10 Gold Gloves, 10-time All Star, 2001 AL MVP

Few have accomplished what Ichiro has in such a short amount of time.

The international star came over in 2001 and immediately made his presence felt, hitting .350 with 56 stolen bases, both league highs.

He won the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP, helping the Mariners to a record 116 wins.

But what got everybody’s attention was Ichiro’s pinpoint accuracy and strength throwing runners out from rightfield, having tallied at least 10 assists four times.

Other candidates: Vladimir Guerrero, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield

Losing Pujols blessing in disguise for St. Louis, Miami

2011-12-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

Albert Pujols is a member of the Los Angeles Angels after signing a 10-year, $254 million deal.

Angels fans should be ecstatic but you know who should be even happier?

St. Louis and Miami.

That seems crazy but it's true.

Deals of seven-plus seasons have traditionally not worked out well for the franchise.

Remember Alex Rodriguez signing for $252 million with the Rangers? How about seven years and $126 million for Barry Zito?

It can cripple a franchise but what makes this different is Pujols is 31 and he will continue to be paid $25 million into his 40s.

To think Pujols will still be as productive at age 40 is delusional.

That and that $25 million can turn into at least two solid players for either team to use. Miami has already taken advantage of that.

Now, because Pujols did not decide about Miami, the Marlins went out and got Mark Buehrle to bolster their pitching staff, which was a greater need.

They even offered CJ Wilson a deal before he eventually signed with the Angels.

They now have Josh Johnson, Buehrle, Hanley Ramirez, Heath Bell, Jose Reyes, Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez.

Miami is starting to look like a playoff contender.

As for St. Louis, the pain of losing your beloved star can last for a while but I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt as much coming off a World Series championship.

Pujols was one of the greatest Cardinals in the team's long and storied history but it's not like the team will be left for dead.

The Cardinals still have Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday to fill the middle of the order.

They have young players like David Freese and Allen Craig that carried the Cardinals in the World Series. The top of the rotation gets Adam Wainwright back to go along with Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia.

This is still an incredibly talented team capable of winning the NL Central without Pujols patrolling first base.

Fear not, Miami and St. Louis. Losing Pujols may have been a blessing in disguise.

Follow me on Twitter: @ZFarmerExaminer

VLOG: Giants injury woes, Warriors coaching changes, Cal Baseball

2011-06-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Warriors: Benefit of the doubt? Not with Jackson

2011-06-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Was Jackson the right choice or was it their only option?

Warrior fans were ecstatic when Joe Lacob and Peter Guber hired NBA legend Jerry West to be an executive consultant.

There was hope. There was legitimacy.

Then, they hired their first head coach.

It is well documented Mark Jackson has zero coaching experience and has only been part of basketball the past few years by being a color analyst for ESPN.

But when the Warriors made the move for West, many thought this is the Warriors' chance to get somebody big as the next head coach.

Jerry Sloan said "no."

Jeff Van Gundy told Lacob he'd rather stay home.

Whatever happened to Brian Shaw?

So after a slough of negative responses or unimpressive candidates, the Warriors were left with Jackson.

I'm not saying Jackson will not make a good head coach. He very well could be.

But when you bring in someone like West, with more experience than everybody in Oracle Arena combined, and the you hire someone with zero experience for the job he was hired for, an eyebrow has to be raised.

Do the owners deserve the benefit of the doubt? Not really.

Their first hire was a good one, a very good one.

This one, we'll have to wait and see but, first guess? Jackson, at best, plays out his three-year contract and walks.

When you have a young team with developing superstars, my first inclination is to get somebody with experience.

If Jackson hires some top notch assistants to be on the bench with him, then there might be more reason to believe.

That said, the person I feel the worst for is Keith Smart.

In his first year as a head coach, he took the win total from 26 to 36 and, in the latter part of the season, got the Warriors to play some defense.

Bottom line is Jackson was a bigger name than Smart. It got, at least for a time, the national media talking about the Warriors.

But, nobody was going to win more than that with the roster as it is.

Jackson can only be as good as the roster he coaches. The Warriors still lack depth and a tough inside presence which need to be addressed in the offseason.

The former All-Star point guard is highly respected, a great communicator, which all coaches should be, and will be taking on the task of taking a team with one playoff appearance in 17 years back to the promise land.

Good luck.

WOTF Vlog: Giants finally hitting, Zito, A's scuffling

2011-06-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Did Brian Sabean go to far? Absolutely

2011-06-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

Did Brian Sabean overstep on this one?

If you haven't heard, Giants general manager Brian Sabean called out Scott Cousins for his "malicious" collision with Buster Posey.

While Sabean was on the Razor and Mr. T Show on KNBR, he vilified Cousins for the hit and, goes as far as to say this moment will not be soon forgotten.

Cousins, who is a resident of San Francisco and a graduate of the University of San Francisco, has been the topic of discussion since the hit on Posey but Sabean may have gone too far.

"If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we'll all be happy...He chose to be a hero in my mind, and if that's his flash of fame, that's as good as it's going to get, pal. We'll have a long memory. Believe me, we've talked to (former catcher Mike) Matheny about how this game works. You can't be that out-and-out overly aggressive. I'll put it as politically as I can state it: There's no love lost and there shouldn't be."
- Brian Sabean on KNBR Radio

Every Giants fan understands Sabean's frustration with what happened but with the position he holds within the organization, his comments were completely uncalled for and dangerous.

According to Cousins' lawyer, the second year player started receiving death threats and what Sabean said could make matters worse.

How has this injury resulted in all of this?

It's not like collisions at home plate have not been going on for a while.

Baseball has been played the same way for over 100 years and not since Pete Rose running down Ray Fosse in an All-Star Game has there been this sort of outcry.

I leave with this and Giants fans, tell me if I'm wrong.

Would this be this big of an issue if it were anybody but Buster Posey?

The answer is no.

Giants offense not enough to win division

2011-06-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Can Pablo be the savior for the Giants lineup?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?

In August last year, I thought there was no chance the Giants were going to be able to hit enough to win the division. Then doubted they could get to the World Series with that offense.

So, there is a bit of shame for me considering the Giants success to this point of the season with a often non-existent offense.

The question now is, how good are the Giants?

Nobody knows, really, until everybody is healthy sans Buster Posey.

No sense talking "what ifs" with Posey considering he won't be returning until 2012.

Bottom line: the Giants cannot win the division without more help.

The Giants are making up all the good karma they received last year in two months. Outside of two stints by Edgar Renteria, nobody missed major time last season.

This year, well...

Currently on DL:
Barry Zito
Darren Ford
Buster Posey
Pablo Sandoval
Mark DeRosa
Mike Fontenot

Day to day:
Brandon Belt
Aaron Rowand

Has been on the DL:
Santiago Casilla
Cody Ross
Andres Torres
Brian Wilson

But let's not dwell on what has happened but rather what happens from here.

The Giants cannot last the entire season with the offense as it stands.

Despite some promising signs from Nate Schierholtz and Brandon Crawford, others have not produced as expected.

Saying Aubrey Huff and Miguel Tejada are not producing is nothing insightful and redundant.

We know this.

This gets more of a highlight because Cody Ross got a pass after starting the season on the DL and despite his 3-for-4 night on Wednesday, he is just now starting to creep up towards .270.

Pat Burrell brought his postseason success, or lack thereof, into 2011.

He leads the team in home runs, which is a sad statement considering he only has five, and strikeouts.

He has struck out 35 percent of his at bats, seven percent higher than his career average.

Before he went down, everybody starting singing the praises of Mike Fontenot. Giants fans were holding signs that read "Fonte-YES."

Did you know Fontenot was batting .207 before he went on the DL? He had clutch hits but not a lot of hits.

The big shining light through all of this is the Giants only trail the division by a half game and are in a better position than they were a year ago.

After 55 games in 2010, the Giants trailed the Padres by two games and had everybody healthy.

With a number of players on the DL, most notably Pablo Sandoval, the Giants have to feel fortunate to be in the position they are in.

Hopefully when Sandoval returns, he continues to hit as he did before the injury but, much like in 2009, he will be looked to carry the load of the offense.

With all this said, a move has to be made for a legitimate bat. Help at either a corner outfield position or at first base seem like the most logical places to find a replacement, but who?

There were early rumors swirling around about Jose Reyes but the Met that might fit the Giants' needs more is Carlos Beltran.

Beltran is no longer a centerfielder and could fit right in in leftfield. When healthy he is as dynamic a hitter as there is in baseball.

The three-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .283 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs.

The Diamondbacks look like they have become the San Diego Padres of last year and the Rockies have also scuffled the past couple of weeks with slumping players.

The Giants do enough to win now but will it be enough as they get to the 100, 150 game plateau?

Will the real Oakland A's please stand up?

2011-05-31T23:36:00.000-07:00

Is Ryan Sweeney part of the offensive solution for the A's?

Wednesday marks the 20th game in 20 days for the Oakland A's.

They started the stretch with a 19-18 record and begin Wednesday's game against the Yankees at 27-29. Oakland trailed by two games behind the Los Angeles Angels and by a half game behind the Rangers.

Now? They are two and a half back.

Not much has changed but I have to ask...

"Will the real Oakland A's stand up?"

The A's won four of the six games they played against the Angels but also lost six straight from May 18 to May 23.

Oakland scored five or more runs six times (6-0) and scored three or fewer 10 times (0-10).

So I think we know what the problem is.

The offense has been the Oakland Achilles' heel all season but key figures are starting to hit.

Josh Willingham has hit .320 with two home runs and nine RBIs in the last seven days.

Willingham also has a 1.023 OPS with runners in scoring position.

David DeJesus, in the same span, is hitting .296 with a couple of homers and five RBIs. Even Kurt Suzuki has gotten into the mix with a .292 average the past week.

The numbers do not lie. If the A's score, they can win.

They hold the league's best pitching staff but haven't come through with the clutch hit consistently.

One source could be Ryan Sweeney.

The oft-used outfielder has taken advantage of his few opportunities but hasn't gotten into the lineup often. In 79 at bats, Sweeney has an .812 OPS.

It's at least worth a shot.

The A's won four in a row before dropping the first two to New York and the offense needs to find a way to get going before they go into Boston.

Boston won five straight before dropping the last three. The Red Sox play the White Sox Wednesday.

WOTF Vlog - Posey injury, Warriors draft needs

2011-05-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is the first edition of the Word on the Farm Sports Vlog.

For more on the Posey injury, read this:

[FARMER: Hit on Posey clean; No rules need to be changed]

Add questions and comments below.

There's no crying in baseball, Hit on Posey clean

2011-05-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

I know no Giants fan wants to admit this but it's true.

The hit on Buster Posey Wednesday night was, that's right, clean.

Anybody who has played the game knows what happened to the reigning Rookie of the Year is something that happens in competition.

Injuries happen.

The only reason many people are making a big deal about it is not because of WHAT happened but rather WHO it happened to.

Any Giants fan who thinks they would be feeling the same way if Eli Whiteside was the player hit is lying.

If it was Kurt Suzuki, we're not having this conversation.

Miguel Olivo? Chris Iannetta?

We wouldn't even be talking about it.

Posey represents a new era of Giants baseball and, hence, brought a more emotional response from the fans.

The injury is unfortunate and Posey could never be the same again.

He may never play catcher again.

But how often have you ever seen a catcher get injured because of a collision at home plate before Wednesday night?

If Ray Fosse is all you can come up with, then you are starting to see the point.

More players have been injured by tripping on first base than catchers been hit at home.

More players injure themselves carrying groceries.

Changing the rules of baseball, in this instance, does not help anybody.

If you change the rules to say no catcher can be hit at home plate, then the chances of ankle injuries for other players will increase.

If you changed the rules slightly to still allow collisions, where would the line be drawn?

How would it be regulated?

It is nothing more than an overreaction and needs to be put to rest.

No rule changes, no second guessing. Just play ball.

Has interleague play run its course?

2011-05-21T23:45:00.000-07:00

Another bad thing about interleague play? This hat.

Interleague play began in 1997 in the hopes of raising interest in the baseball.

It worked, for a while, and now its time interleague play goes away.

When I'm looking for interesting matchups, the Pirates and the Orioles are not near the top of my "must-watch" list.

This is not to say there are not matchups that create interest.

A's and Giants. Yankees and Mets. Rangers and Phillies. Cubs and Red Sox.

But there are a number of games that make no sense and creates an imbalance in scheduling.
Let's take the National League West.

The Giants face Oakland, Minnesota, Detroit and Cleveland.

Combined winning percentage (entering Sunday): .488

Colorado faces the Yankees, White Sox, Indians, Tigers and Royals.

Combined winning percentage: .513

San Diego gets Seattle, Boston, Minnesota and Kansas City.

Combined winning percentage: .458

Arizona pulls six teams with Oakland, Cleveland, Kansas City, the White Sox, Detroit and Minnesota.

Combined winning percentage: .481

Lastly, the Dodgers have the White Sox, Angels, Twins and Tigers.

Combined winning percentage: .445

Teams within the same division do not end up playing the same teams, some face better teams.

The NL West was won by two games last year and the difference between playing the Yankees and Red Sox or drawing the Mariners and Royals can make or break a team's chances of being in the playoffs.

Major League Baseball has to come up with a more fair way of deciding interleague games.

Each team within a division should be playing the same teams to equal the competitive balance.

Without it, baseball will be looking at teams that lose a division because they faced a first place team in interleague play while the division winner played the last place team in the same division.

Not really fair is it?

Will Warriors draft luck change? Probably not

2011-05-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

Tuesday is a day every Warriors fans should hate but brings false hope to many.

It is the NBA Draft Lottery.

The Warriors have made the playoffs once in the past 17 seasons and many times they are not quite bad enough to get the No. 1 overall pick.

Even when they were bad enough and finally got the No. 1 pick, the hap-less Warriors took Joe Smith while passing on Antonio McDyess, Kevin Garnett, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace.

The bottom line is the Warriors are notorious for screwing up their draft picks.

Do I hear Todd Fuller, Adonal Foyle or Patrick O'Bryant?

But the question remains whether the new owners will have an impact in the draft.

Is Larry Riley a good evaluator of talent? Can the Warriors build a team from late lottery picks?

Golden State has a 0.8 percent chance to win the NBA Lottery, set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Bay Area fans: Ready for more Sharks hockey?

2011-05-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit I know very little about hockey.

I'll also admit before this NHL season, I had not watched more than three hockey games in their entirety. But as someone who downplayed the watchability of the sport, I now really like hockey.

There, I said it. I like hockey.

And the part of the Bay Area that hasn't been watching, you need to catch up and get with the program.

Watching Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals between the Sharks and Red Wings has made me want to go to a hockey game live... next season.

Have you seen the price of tickets for the Vancouver/San Jose series? And a flight to Vancouver?

Wait, they'll be back for Game 3?

Okay, nevermind, maybe I'll go. Wait, tickets are still too expensive.

Back to my point.

The speed and skill of the game is incredible.

For those sports fans out there, I'll find ways to compare it to each of your favorite sports.

Baseball: Most true baseball fans love the pitching duel. A pitching duel is much like a matchup of two top tier goalies. When goalies are hot, there is no way of getting a puck past them.

When Lincecum is on, nobody can score on him. Same goes for Antti Niemi or any other top goalie.

Football: Hard hits, fighting and nasty collisions. Enough said.

Basketball: Much like basketball, there are few stops in the action.

Soccer: It is a nonstop back and forth match with low scoring games and shootouts.

For non-soccer fans: There are no ties!

For the masochists: Hockey players skate on sharp knives, carry large sticks around with them and are, sort of, allowed to fight.

Once again, I don't know the intricacies of the game nor do I preach to being an expert of the sport.

What I do know is if you haven't given hockey a chance before, now is a good time to start.

Giants sweep of Rockies makes clear statement

2011-05-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants made a statement over the weekend.

They came home and ripped the heart out of the Colorado Rockies.

What happened? The Giants won in three different ways, all making it clear to the Rockies and the rest of the division the Giants are still the team to beat.

What made the series even more significant was three things:

1. The emergence of Ryan Vogelsong

His performance against the Rockies has made the decision of what do to with Vogelsong when Zito returns more difficult. If the 14-year pro continues to throw consistently, it will be more difficult to put Zito back in the rotation.

2. The Boss is back, sort of...

Cody Ross had three RBIs on Sunday including his first home run of the year. His swing was still in spring training mode but it was slowly making its way back to 2010 form but completely broke out Sunday against the Rockies.

3. 9th inning magic returns

The first two wins of the weekend came in the bottom of the 9th, one of which in come-from-behind fashion. The Giants have six wins in their final at bat, tied for 4th most in the majors.

It was this never say die attitude that carried them to a World Series title.

The Giants have played six games against the division-leading Rockies and have won five of them, including the sweep last weekend.

This is also without the Giants hitting well to this point.

Ross hasn't hit consistently. Aubrey Huff is still hovering around the Mendoza-line.

Tejada has not hit.

And, keep in mind, Pablo and Andres Torres are on the disabled list.

With so much having gone wrong, the defending champs are one game back of the Rockies.

Patience is a virtue and the Giants are holding down the fort until players return to form.

Follow me on Twitter: @FarmboySports

Zack Farmer is a freelance reporter who has written for the San Francisco Examiner, CSNBayArea.com, Patch.com and Bay Area News Group.

Giants becoming walking wounded

2011-04-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

What do Cody Ross, Andres Torres, Barry Zito, Santiago Casilla and Brian Wilson have in common?

They have all spent time on the disabled list in 2011.

The Giants are surviving without them and their depth at certain positions is showing. Aaron Rowand and Guillermo Mota, among others, have stepped up big.

But for this team to be a contender, these injuries cannot become a theme.

With Torres and Ross out, the Giants have played Aubrey Huff in rightfield on multiple occasions, much to the detriment of the team.

Darren Ford has also been called up to go along with Nate Schierholtz, Rowand and Pat Burrell to round out the outfield.

Can Ryan Vogelsong be the answer while Zito sits on the DL?

This question comes in the wake of Madison Bumgarner getting rocked for a second straight start.

The Giants need to get healthy for the long haul and stay that way.

Rowand making case for continued spot in lineup

2011-04-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Aaron Rowand has been a certified pariah since his first season in San Francisco.

His performance at the plate has not endeared him to the fans or management and it showed with his reduced role in the latter half of the 2010 season.

Rowand was limited to 91 at bats after the All-Star Break as the Giants outfield became overloaded. Between Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, Andres Torres and others, there simply was not room in the outfield.

It looked to be more of the same this season, that is, until Ross and Torres went down with injuries. An opportunity opened up and Rowand has capitalized on it.

He is hitting .314 going into Saturday night's game against the Diamondbacks and an early season start is not anything new for Rowand.

In April last season, he hit .304 before going on the disabled list after being hit in the head by the Dodgers' Vicente Padilla.

Rowand was not the same player after that.

If he continues to play at this pace, the question has to be raised: Does Rowand remain a starter when Torres and Ross return?

Bruce Bochy has done a masterful job of mixing and matching and, with no disrespect to the other players, Rowand has to play if he keeps up his strong play.

Pat Burrell has provided power but has not been there otherwise. His .162 average entering Saturday is the lowest of any everyday player but his team-leading four home runs have kept him in the lineup.

The bigger question is who is sent to Fresno and/or designated for assignment when Ross returns?

Rowand was on the short list but he now has value and the Giants will not eat large contract. Schierholtz could be the unfortunate odd man out without another person hitting the disabled list.

The veteran centerfielder still has much to prove but if he does not have a significant break in playing time, Rowand could be a key piece in the Giants' quest to repeat as champions.

Vegas World Series Odds Are, Well, Odd

2011-03-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

It needs to be said. What are the odds makers in Las Vegas thinking?

According to VegasInsider.com, the teams with the best chance to win the World Series are the following:

Phillies - 3:1
Red Sox - 9:2
Yankees - 5:1
Giants - 15:1
Cardinals - 20:1
Rangers - 20:1
Twins - 20:1
Rockies - 25:1
Braves - 25:1
Reds - 25:1
Rays - 25:1

Please tell me how the Phillies should have the best chances?

Won't they be without Chase Utley until July? Without Brad Lidge until May?

Not only do the Phillies have the best chance to win a World Series, they are also a 1:1 favorite to win the National League.

The Phillies are one of the oldest teams in baseball, with only one significant player younger than 30 (Cole Hamels). Injuries will be a recurring problem for Philadelphia.

I'm hoping this is Vegas' way to prey on the bandwagon jumping Phillies supporters that refuse to see the deficiencies in their team.

The Yankees should not even sniff the World Series with their pitching staff. They had to go out and sign Kevin Milwood as an insurance policy.

Sergio Mitre was supposed to compete for a rotation spot and he was shipped off to Milwaukee.

Yankees are the third favorite? Not a chance.

VCU, Butler shock as Final Four is set

2011-03-28T01:10:00.000-07:00

Virginia Commonwealth and Butler did something nobody in the nation, outside of a few brackets on ESPN, thought was possible.

Making the Final Four is nothing new for Butler. A second consecutive trip to the Final Four officially drops the mid- from mid-major.

Behind Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack, the Bulldogs have the leadership and experience that no other team remaining has.

Although, Butler will be facing one of the hottest teams in the NCAA Tournament, VCU.

The Rams have had the most improbable run in recent tournament history. This is even more impressive than the George Mason run.

VCU played in the inaugural First Four before the start of the traditional tournament. The Rams defeated teams from the Pac-10 (USC), Big East (Georgetown), Big 10 (Purdue), ACC (Florida State) and the Big 12 (Kansas).

The Rams have faced seven consecutive NCAA Tournament teams, dating back to the CAA Tournament when they defeated George Mason and fell to Old Dominion.

It has been the most unpredictable tournament in history and, along with the 2010 tournament, may be a changing of the times in college basketball. The mid-majors have had a larger presence in the second weekend than at any point in the 64-, 68-team format.

Mid-majors are fueled by senior leadership and high basketball IQs, where the major conference schools are extremely talented but do not have the time to become a real "team."

The gap is closing and it is more entertaining by the game.

Elite Eight Day 1: Two games, two incredible games

2011-03-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Butler, I love you.

I want to say for me (and my bracket), thank you Butler.

As a graduate of a mid-major school, I love seeing another small program take it to the big conference schools and prove that they can play with the big dogs.

If Butler is involved in a close game, the Bulldogs will prevail. They have more tournament experience than any team remaining.

Kansas was eliminated in the second round last season. UConn and North Carolina did not make the tournament last year.

Don't be surprised if Butler does the improbable and wins it all. If they do, expect Matt Howard to be part of the final seconds.

On another note, Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams continue to impress and, specifically for Williams, he just played his way into the talk for No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft.

Biggest snub? Saint Mary's had its chance

2011-03-14T20:29:00.001-07:00

There are plenty of people in the Bay Area that are screaming about the injustice committed on Sunday.

Saint Mary's not being chosen as one of the 37 at-large bids is sad but should not have been unexpected.

The Gaels won 25 games but lost against San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion and did not play well down the stretch.

They went 7-4 in their last 11 games, including a loss in the West Coast Conference title game last week.

Saint Mary's had it's chances.

The Gaels lost to Vanderbilt, BYU and San Diego State, all away from McKeon Pavilion and its only quality win is against St. John's way back in November.

A win against Gonzaga in the WCC title game would have clinched the automatic bid for Saint Mary's but as it stands, they will be playing in the Not Invited Tournament.

Saint Mary's has been left out of the NCAA Tournament two out of the last three years and only made it last season by taking the WCC's auto bid.

People can scram about USC or Virginia Commonwealth all they want but it does not change the fact Saint Mary's did not take care of business when it had the chance.

As it is, the Gaels will host at least one more home game (potentially three) in the NIT.

Senior guard Mickey McConnell referred to the snub as a slap in the face.

The lesson that should be learned is never let your fate be decided by the NCAA Selection Committee, especially if you are a mid major.

Good teams play their best when it matters most and the Gaels didn't.

UPDATE: Richmond in, bubble breathes easier

2011-03-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Thirty of the 31 automatic bids are gone. Penn State and Ohio State are left in the Big Ten title game.

Richmond winning the A-10 Tournament is a big sigh of relief to all the bubble teams.

ACC: Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina
Big East: Notre Dame, Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova
Big 12: Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Missouri
Big Ten: Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State (if they lose to Penn State)
Pacific 10: Arizona, UCLA
Atlantic 10: Xavier, Temple
Colonial: George Mason
Mountain West: BYU, UNLV
Southeastern: Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Florida

That is 31 of the 37 bids. This leaves six for the bubble riders:

Virginia Tech
Saint Mary's
Colorado
USC
UAB
Alabama
Boston College
Georgia

Here are the automatic qualifiers and the remaining conference title game:

Atlantic Coast (ACC): Duke
America East: Boston University
Atlantic 10: Richmond
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Kansas
Big East: Connecticut
Big Sky: Northern Colorado
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Big West: UC Santa Barbara
Colonial: Old Dominion
Conference USA: Memphis
Horizon: Bulter
Ivy: Princeton
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Saint Peter's
Mid-American: Akron
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): Hampton
Missouri Valley: Indiana State
Mountain West: San Diego State
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Pacific 10: Washington
Patriot: Bucknell
Southeastern (SEC): Kentucky
Southern: Wofford
Southland: UT-San Antonio
Southwestern Athletic (SWAC): Alabama State
Summit: Oakland
Sun Belt: UA-Little Rock
Western Athletic: Utah State
West Coast: Gonzaga

Wiggle room for the bubble is shrinking

2011-03-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

NCAA Tournament bids punched: 27
Bids left to be punched: 4

At-large bids: 37

The field is shrinking by the hour.

There are 27 tickets punched and there are only 37 at-large spots for the NCAA Tournament.

Here is a quick rundown of those who will be getting an at-large bid that have been eliminated from their respective conference tournaments:

ACC: Clemson, Florida State, Duke or North Carolina (ACC Championship)
Big East: Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Georgetown
Big 12: Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Missouri
Big Ten: Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio State (if they lose to Penn State)
Pacific 10: Arizona, UCLA
Atlantic 10: Xavier, Temple
Colonial: George Mason
Mountain West: BYU, UNLV
Southeastern: Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Kentucky or Florida (SEC Championship)

That is 27 of the 37 bids. This leaves 10 for the bubble riders:

Marquette
Virginia Tech
Saint Mary's
Harvard
Richmond (In A-10 title game vs. Dayton)
Dayton (see above)
Colorado
Michigan State
USC
Villanova
UAB
Alabama
Boston College
Georgia
UTEP
Penn State (In Big Ten title game)

Marquette, Virginia Tech and Michigan State have probably done enough in their conference tournaments to get them in.

Villanova and Boston College have to hope the committee glosses over the past month, otherwise these teams could be NIT bound.

Ohio State and Penn State face each other in the Big Ten title game and the Nittany Lions will probably need to win it to get in. If they do so, they will steal another bid away from a bubble team.

Yes, Harvard is among the teams that should be considered for at-large consideration. The Crimson have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1946 and may have their best chance this year.

Harvard has a record of 21-6 against Division I opponents and has a RPI in the 30s.

Dayton could be the one to spoil the party. The ninth seeded Flyers defeated Xavier and Saint Joseph's in the A-10 Tournament and can be the automatic bid if they beat Richmond on Sunday.

Saint Mary's is in a very precarious position. The Gaels have lost four of its last seven and lost in the WCC Finals to Gonzaga. They will need help to make their second straight NCAA Tournament.

Here are the automatic qualifiers and the remaining conference title games:

Atlantic Coast (ACC): North Carolina vs. Duke
America East: Boston University
Atlantic 10: Dayton vs. Richmond
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Kansas
Big East: Connecticut
Big Sky: Northern Colorado
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Big West: UC Santa Barbara
Colonial: Old Dominion
Conference USA: Memphis
Horizon: Bulter
Ivy: Princeton
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Saint Peter's
Mid-American: Akron
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): Hampton
Missouri Valley: Indiana State
Mountain West: San Diego State
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Pacific 10: Washington
Patriot: Bucknell
Southeastern (SEC): Kentucky vs. Florida
Southern: Wofford
Southland: UT-San Antonio
Southwestern Athletic (SWAC): Alabama State
Summit: Oakland
Sun Belt: UA-Little Rock
Western Athletic: Utah State
West Coast: Gonzaga

Three bids punched, much more to come today

2011-03-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Boston University, Memphis and Bucknell have punched their tickets today. Eleven more will be decided today. Today will change the bubble picture.

For those on the bubble, this day is huge. Any upsets could greatly affect teams like Saint Mary's and Marquette.

Stay tuned to see updates.

NCAA Tournament bids punched: 16

Atlantic Coast (ACC): March 13
America East: Boston University
Atlantic 10: March 13
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Texas vs. Kansas
Big East: Connecticut vs. Louisville
Big Sky: Northern Colorado
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: March 13
Big West: Long Beach State vs. UC Riverside
Colonial: Old Dominion
Conference USA: Memphis
Horizon: Bulter
Ivy: Princeton vs. Harvard
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Saint Peter's
Mid-American: Kent State vs. Akron
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): Morgan State vs. Hampton
Missouri Valley: Indiana State
Mountain West: San Diego State vs. BYU
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Pacific 10: Washington vs. Arizona
Patriot: Bucknell
Southeastern (SEC): March 13
Southern: Wofford
Southland: McNeese State vs. UT-San Antonio
Southwestern Athletic (SWAC): Alabama State vs. Grambling State
Summit: Oakland
Sun Belt: UA-Little Rock
Western Athletic: Utah State vs. Boise State
West Coast: Gonzaga

Conference tourneys play to scripts, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Brewers in trouble

2011-03-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

NCAA BB:
We have not seen the "upset" occur in any conference tournament as of yet, which is a good thing for the likes of Saint Mary's. Its game tomorrow against Weber State is of little consequence, unless the Gaels lose.

There is only one championship game tomorrow:

Patriot League: Lafayette vs. Bucknell

Other games concerning bubble:

Big East Tournament: Marquette vs. No. 14 Louisville
Big 12 Tournament: Colorado vs. No. 23 Kansas State
Pac-10 Tournament: Washington State vs. Washington
Cal vs. USC
Conference USA Tournament: Memphis vs. Southern Mississippi

MLB:
Zack Grienke being injured does not bode well for the Brewers. Milwaukee is hoping to challenge for the NL Central title but Grienke being on the shelf for at least the first 15 days of the regular season does not help.

How quickly he recovers could be the difference in the Brewers' playoff chances.

NBA:
After the Miami Heat lost their fifth straight game, the four-letter network asked how deep into panic mode they should be in. Most people believed it should be an almost full panic mode.

I didn't think so but that was before Chris Bosh opened his mouth about how often he touches the ball. Bosh needs to stay quiet and play big, which he has not.

They have the Lakers tonight and still have a month left to refocus but dissension within the team will split them faster than any loss.

NCAA Tournament bids punched: 13

Atlantic Coast (ACC): March 13
America East: Boston University vs. Stony Brook, March 12
Atlantic 10: March 13
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: March 12
Big East: March 12
Big Sky: Northern Colorado
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: March 13
Big West: March 12
Colonial: Old Dominion
Conference USA: March 12
Horizon: Bulter
Ivy: March 9
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Saint Peter's
Mid-American: March 12
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): March 12
Missouri Valley: Indiana State
Mountain West: March 12
Northeast: Long Island
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Pacific 10: March 12
Patriot: Lafayette vs. Bucknell, March 11
Southeastern (SEC): March 13
Southern: Wofford
Southland: March 12
Southwestern Athletic (SWAC): March 12
Summit: Oakland
Sun Belt: UA-Little Rock
Western Athletic: March 12
West Coast: Gonzaga

Gaels on bubble, Zags on roll

2011-03-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

With its loss in the WCC Championship game, Saint Mary's is now sitting square on the bubble.

The loss to Gonzaga on Monday night did not hurt the Gaels in any way but it has left some doubt about their consistency.

Saint Mary's rolled through the first three quarters of the season before losing four of the last six games, beginning with the loss at San Diego.

The Gaels have one game left on the schedule before Selection Sunday and that will be Friday when they host Weber State.

A win does not do much, if anything, for its tournament profile but a loss would all but eliminate Saint Mary's from the conversation.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, is playing its best basketball right now.

Since losing to Saint Mary's at the Kennel on January 24, the Bulldogs are 11-1.

This success has been in large part due to the development of freshmen Sam Dower and David Stockton.

The pair has given Gonzaga legitimate options on the bench.

David, son of Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton, has started to show flashes of his dad's skill and court vision. He has been Gonzaga's best point guard down the stretch.

NCAA Tournament bids punched: 11

Atlantic Coast (ACC): March 13
America East: Boston University vs. Stony Brook, March 12
Atlantic 10: March 13
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: March 12
Big East: March 12
Big Sky: Northern Colorado vs. Montana, March 9
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big Ten: March 13
Big West: March 12
Colonial: Old Dominion
Conference USA: March 12
Horizon: Bulter
Ivy: March 9
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Saint Peter's
Mid-American: March 12
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): March 12
Missouri Valley: Indiana State
Mountain West: March 12
Northeast: Long Island vs. Robert Morris, March 9
Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Pacific 10: March 12
Patriot: March 11
Southeastern (SEC): March 13
Southern: Wofford
Southland: March 12
Southwestern Athletic (SWAC): March 12
Summit: Oakland
Sun Belt: UA-Little Rock
Western Athletic: March 12
West Coast: Gonzaga

WCC Day 2: Business as usual, nothing learned

2011-03-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

The second day of the WCC Tournament went exactly to the script.

San Francisco and Santa Clara both won its matchups on Saturday night and will face Gonzaga and Saint Mary's respectively.

Longtime rivals, Saint Mary's and Santa Clara, will meet on Sunday and have not met in the WCC Tournament since 2007. The then-No. 2 Santa Clara beat Saint Mary's at the Chiles Center.

Since that time, the two programs have gone in very different directions.

In the four seasons since 2007, the Gaels have been to two NCAA Tournaments, a Sweet Sixteen and have reached the Regional Finals of the NIT.

Overall record: 104-28

Santa Clara, on the other hand, went under new management after the 2007 season. Longtime coach Dick Davey walked away and was replaced by former UCLA assistant Kerry Keating.

In Keating's four seasons with the Broncos, they have posted a 42-54 record but have reached the WCC semifinal game in three of the past four seasons.

Keating has also not fared well in the rivalry, either. The Broncos are 1-7 against the Gaels in that time.

Santa Clara's 19-13 record this season is its first winning season under Keating.

___________________________

San Francisco has beaten Gonzaga once in each of the past two seasons and may be the only team in the conference who can match the Bulldogs' size.

Gonzaga has been in the WCC Finals every year since 1998. San Francisco has not been to the title game since 1997.

WCC Day 1: Shocker in Vegas

2011-03-04T23:09:00.000-08:00

Memo to the Portland Pilots: You know LMU was the eighth seed right?

The Lions pulled off the upset of Portland in large part to the effort of forward Drew Viney.

Viney's 25 points and full court pass at the end of the game clinched the win for the Lions. His performance on Friday night was a big reason LMU was picked to finished second in the WCC.

Although, the Lions (11-20) have not played anywhere near expectations, they can still be very dangerous if they are able to put everything together this weekend.

The Lions are healthy, with the exception of Edgar Garibay, whom they played without last season when Garibay red-shirted the season.

Day 2:

No. 3 San Francisco vs. No. 6 Pepperdine

No. 4 Santa Clara vs. No. 8 Loyola Marymount

Tourney time! Who will be dancing from the WCC?

2011-03-03T09:15:00.001-08:00

The opening round of the West Coast Conference Tournament is tomorrow and so it is time to break out the crystal ball and predict the winner.

Who are the key players? Which matchups will be key?

Opening round matchups:

No. 5 Portland (20-10) vs. No. 8 Loyola Marymount (10-20)
Winner: Portland
Player to watch: Nemanja Mitrovic, F, Portland

The Pilots had a shot at being a top-4 seed, earning a first-round bye, but a loss last Saturday at Saint Mary's thwarted that effort. In any case, Portland should have no problem bouncing back against the Lions. Expect Nemanja Mitrovic to have his way on the wing.

No. 6 Pepperdine (11-20) vs. No. 7 San Diego (6-23)
Winner: San Diego
Player to watch: Ken Rancifer, G, San Diego

San Diego has shown much more grit and determination toward the end of conference play. In their win against Saint Mary's, the Toreros got to every loose ball and were able to find open shooters following those rebounds. The Waves will have their hands full on Friday.

Quarterfinals:

No. 4 Santa Clara (18-13) vs. Portland
Winner: Portland
Player to watch: Kevin Foster

It will be close. Very close. But in the end, Portland has too many weapons to use and that will be the difference against Santa Clara. The gameplan against the Broncos is to send anybody and everybody at Kevin Foster. He is the one true offensive force on that team and Santa Clara goes as he goes.

No. 3 San Francisco (16-13) vs. San Diego
Winner: San Francisco
Matchup to watch: San Francisco bigs vs. San Diego bigs

San Francisco has been the surprise of the conference and will not disappoint in the quarterfinals. The interior presence and tenaciousness of the Dons will overwhelm San Diego and push the Dons onto a semifinal matchup against Gonzaga.

Semifinals:

No. 2 Gonzaga (21-9) vs. San Francisco
Winner: Gonzaga
Player to watch: Sam Dower

Gonzaga has not lost a conference game since losing against Saint Mary's on January 27 and shows no sign of slowing down. San Francisco did defeat the Zags on January 22 but followed that up by getting blasted by 17 in Spokane. Sam Dower, coming off the bench, has been the difference for the Bulldogs.

No. 1 Saint Mary's (23-7) vs. Portland
Winner: Saint Mary's
Player to watch: Stephen Holt

Portland is hungry to reach the WCC final and it will be close but not close enough. The difference will be freshman Stephen Holt. His energy and increasing impact on offense will match that of Jorden Page last season. His speed on offense and defense is the difference between these teams.

Saint Mary's vs. Gonzaga
Winner: Saint Mary's
Player to watch: Mickey McConnell

Both teams need this win. There is absolutely no guarantee either team would gain an at-large bid this season. The game will be decided by WCC Player of the Year Mickey McConnell. When the Gaels won in Spokane, he went for 27 points, including the game-winning shot. But in the game in Moraga, McConnell went 5-for-12 from the field. McConnell was the WCC Tournament MVP in 2010 and expect him to rise to the occasion again.

Athletics could be Giants of 2011

2011-02-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

The Oakland Athletics will be the Giants of the 2011 season. Yes, the A's will make a run at a World Series.

Oakland finished 2010 similarly to the Giants in 2009, fourth in ERA and 23rd in runs scored.

A's general manager Billy Beane, then, went out and had his most active offseason in quite some time.

The A's added David DeJesus, Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui to help bolster the offense that scored 4.09 runs per game.

The bullpen was not considered an issue but Beane found a way to make it even more imposing.

Grant Balfour and Brain Fuentes were added to a group that already included Brad Ziegler, Joey Devine and Josh Outman.

This is not even including closer Andrew Bailey.

The continued progression of the starting rotation is the key for the A's. Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden will have to continue to anchor a staff that carried a 3.56 ERA throughout a tough American League season.

The teams in front of them?

The Rangers lost Cliff Lee and Vladamir Guerrero.

Can Adrian Beltre produce when he is not playing for a contract?

What will happen with Michael Young? Can Colby Lewis and CJ Wilson carry that team?

There are more questions for the Rangers than there are for the A's.

The Yankees have a struggling pitching staff and an aging lineup.

The Twins cannot stay healthy.

The Red Sox have a lineup that could nullify the A's rotation but you could make the case the 2011 Red Sox are the 2010 Phillies.

They are the favorite this year much like the Phillies were last year (and this year for that matter).

Oakland enters the 2011 season with the best pitching staff in the American League and, as we saw last year, pitching can win a championship.

Oakland Athletics, 2011 World Series Champions?

You never know.

March is upon us

2011-02-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

March is only two days away and the college basketball world has already started to heat up.

In particular, the West Coast Conference will have an interesting week ahead. The regular season is over with Saint Mary's and Gonzaga finishing in as co-champions.

Because of the tie-breaker rules, the Gaels get the top seed in Las Vegas for the conference tourney beginning on March 4.

Neither team has been overly impressive this season and probably need to win in Vegas to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Let's take a look at their resumes:

Gonzaga:

W-L: 21-9, 11-3 T-1st
RPI: 66
Best wins: Xavier (24), at Saint Mary's (49), Marquette (55)
Worst losses: at San Francisco (120), at Santa Clara (166)
Record vs Top-100 RPI: 7-7

Saint Mary's

W-L: 23-7, 11-3 T-1st
RPI: 49
Best wins: St. John's (13), Gonzaga (66)
Worst losses: at San Diego (312), at Portland (94)
Record vs Top-100 RPI: 4-6

For once, Gonzaga's RPI may actually hurt them. Not in recent memory can I remember a mid-major get an at-large bid with a RPI of 66 or higher.

They need to win the WCC Tournament.

Saint Mary's lost to San Diego.

San Diego? Really?

That single loss, in my opinion, prevents the Gaels from getting an at-large bid.

This brings us back to my point: only one WCC team will reach the Dance.

Gonzaga has not missed the tournament since 1998. The way the seeds are arranged, Gonzaga will most likely face San Francisco in the semifinals on Sunday.

Remember San Francisco defeated Gonzaga at War Memorial Gym last month. But then the Dons were massacred when they visited the Kennel last week.

Saint Mary's will most likely face either Portland or Santa Clara in its semifinal matchup. The Gaels are 3-1 against these teams.

This would seem to set up the familiar matchup of Gonzaga and Saint Mary's in the finals.

They split their games in the regular season, winning on each other's home floor. You could make the case both teams played their best games of the season against each other.

Saint Mary's has started to take the edge over the past year.

The Gaels won the WCC Tournament last season, earning a NCAA bid.

Advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

Won at Gonzaga (1st time since 1995).

Won a share of the WCC regular season title (1st since 1997).

Although, there has not been a repeat winner of the WCC Tournament since 2006-2007 (Gonzaga).

Summer of questions begins for Gaels

2009-03-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

As the Saint Mary's Gaels enter their offseason following their NIT quarterfinal loss to San Diego State, there are many questions that must be answered before next season.

1. Status of Patty Mills

The most pressing of which is whether or not Patty Mills will return to the Gaels for his junior season or jump to the NBA. Some ESPN pundits have him as high as a lottery pick but many draft boards have him in the late first round, if at all.

If he is to be a lottery pick, it will be adios Moraga and hello NYC for the NBA Draft.

If not, he will be the key to a team that could possibly win 20+ games again.

2. Replacing Diamon Simpson

Is there anything harder than replacing someone who holds six school records? Probably not.

But let's see... Simpson is the school record holder in rebounds, steals, blocks, free throws made, free throws attempted, and wins.

He is also the only player in WCC history to win two Defensive Player of the Year awards (2007-2008, 2008-2009).

Freshman Tim Williams, who red-shirted the season, will more than likely be the starting power forward next season but, of course, how will the freshman adjust? He is incredibly athletic and is more explosive on the offensive end than Simpson.

It will probably be a rotational system, possibly with four guards in the lineup at times.

3. Will Randy Bennett stay?

It is the question that always comes up every year for the successful mid-major. Will the coach stay? Virginia Commonwealth just lost their head coach to Alabama.

If the University of Arizona or Oregon come calling, whose to say Bennett won't leave?

Bennett might be a good fit at Oregon because they are looking to rebuild that program and when Bennett took over at Saint Mary's, the team was 2-27. After eight years at the helm of the Gaels, you never know.

4. Progression of role players

Wayne Hunter, Ben Allen, Clint Steindl, Mickey McConnell, Collin Chiverton, Tim Williams.

The progression of these six players will be the key to the Gaels' success. Whether or not Mills returns, the production of center Omar Samhan will not be enough to carry a team.

McConnell and Hunter made great strides this season. Many believed McConnell would be red-shirted this season but he developed into a very serviceable point guard.

McConnell's biggest problem is turnovers. This could be because this is the first season he got to play or it could be because he is not as quick as better guards in the NCAA. His ability to handle the ball and control the game could mean a difference of two-three wins.

Hunter's shot improves drastically from his freshman and sophomore years. He became a reliable three-point shooter, ending the season at 37.8 percent. He will also be a candidate for WCC Defensive Player of the Year.

Outside of Mills, he is the best at creating his own shot.

Steindl has the most fluid shot of amybody in a Gael uniform. His ability to consistently hit his shot could make the Gaels one of the best three-point shooting teams on the West Coast.

Allen's toughness down low, and the progression of freshmen Williams and Chiverton will also be crucial.

After consecutive seasons of 25 wins this mid-major is looking to continue this success and prove something in the NCAA Tournament. To say the least, this will be a crucial summer for the Gaels' program.

Curry/Mills as advertised

2009-03-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Because I had never seen Davidson guard Stephen Curry in person, I was not sure if he really was good or he was all hype. I was also not sure how Saint Mary's guard Patty Mills would react to seeing another NBA quality player.

Let me tell you, both were as good as advertised.

Early in the first half, Stephen Curry hit a three from near the half court circle... with ease.

I have never witnessed a college player hit shots with such ease, ever. Although it is no surprise to anyone around the country Curry is that good of a shooter. But after seeing him live, I did not realize how good of a defender he is.

He may stand at 6'3" but he is as long as any power forward in college basketball.

The success of Davidson is all the more impressive knowing that Curry is the only viable offensive option. If he had the supporting cast of Mills, they would be in the Sweet Sixteen this weekend.

Patty Mills never ceases to amaze.

He had one of his worst games from three-point range (1-10) but found other ways to contribute. Mills recorded his first career double-double, which included a career-high 10 assists.

Mills' ability to contribute despite a less than stellar shooting night shows his improvement as a true point guard. This also improves his stock before the NBA Draft, assuming he declares before May.

Mills and Curry did not disappoint and now they take their acts on different roads. Curry will hit the NBA trail and Mills, for now, will be in San Diego looking for a trip to Madison Square Garden.