MLB: Why San Francisco Giants Fans Should Be Happy with 2011 Start

Call me a cranky old man,—my kids do, all the time—but watching the 2011 San Francisco Giants has, at times, been even more a torturous exercise for me than 2010.

Yeah, yeah, I know—things ended up OK last year.

But don't tell me you didn't feel the urge to toss something at your TV, every so often. I did.

As much as I'm endeared to Kruk and Kuip, not to mention Flem (delighted also to hear and see more of Jon Miller), I've been unable to resist walking away from the TV or shutting off the car radio in reaction to something annoying.

Annoying like a double play ground ball from Miguel Tejada.

Or a fielding miscue by Miguel Tejada.

Or anything involving Miguel Tejada.

Yet, the defending champs approach the season's first-quarter turn in first place despite the following:

• Playing 23 of their first 38 games away from AT&T Park.

• Injuries that have delayed or disrupted playing time from Pablo Sandoval, Andres Torres, Cody Ross, Mark DeRosa and Brian Wilson.

• Slow starts by several regulars and key reserves, plus a virtual face-plant by Tejada, Brian Sabean's only significant 2011 roster addition

• Generally erratic performances by Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner, and zero (not the speed of his fastball, but close) from Barry Zito prior to his foot injury

• All the post-title distractions, including what appear to be 81 obligatory pregame ceremonies; did hero-turned-turncoat Juan Uribe REALLY deserve a public ring ceremony? He's a Dodger—no way.

My innate pessimism, reinforced by all those years of disappointment, still has plenty to fuel it.

The offense still creaks. Buster hasn't found his groove, although balls keep finding his mask. There's no clear answer at shortstop, and I want to throttle J. Sanchez every time I see him. 

But considering everything that could have derailed them, the Giants are hanging in there.

I guess I will, too.