National League West Preview

1) San Francisco Giants: GM Brian Sabean has worked on a "win now" basis for the past several years, and it's been pretty solid. In 2002, the Giants (with an average age of 33) won the NL and came within 1 out of the whole shebang. This year, they might average 34.7 years old in the everyday rotation, but check this out --- last year, when they missed the playoffs by 2 games, could it have been because AJ Pierzynski behind the dish was only 27? They've replaced him with seasoned signal-caller Mike Matheny. That's a good thing, because the youngest part of the San Fran crew is the pitching staff. Jerome Williams and Noah Lowry could be two sons to some of the other guys, but they have good stuff. Lowry was brilliant in a call-up last year --- can he keep hitters guessing? Jason Schmidt has been getting rocked this spring, but he's a Cy Young candidate overall with a nice mix of pitches. Brett Tomko and Kirk Rueter aren't studs or workhorses, but both are consistent and capable of success in the form of double-digit wins. Now, despite the (clear and creamy) cloud hanging over the last three years of his career, Barry Bonds is arguably the best player in the history of our universe, and even at 40-41, he's going to stroke 40 homers and drive in 100 runs (while being walked 150 times). He needs to get healthy, but once he does, the sky's the limit. Don't believe the stories about him never returning. He's emotionally and physically fatigued, sure, but he's not going to permanently walk away from a game he loves and helped to define to a modern audience. He'll have more protection in the lineup with Moises "Coach's Son" Alou hitting behind him. Ray Durham, Marquis Grissom, and JT Snow will provide good OBP, decent pop, and score some runs --- same stuff they tend to do every year. The Giants have too much all-around to not be the favorite here.