Youth Movement Finally Arriving in San Francisco

From 1993 to 2004, Barry Bonds ran the San Francisco Giants.

Throughout those 12 years the Giants enjoyed an enormous amount of success, winning division titles, and going to the World Series in 2002.

But the loss to the Angels seemed to trigger the end of an era in Giants baseball. 

Unfortunately the Giants' front office didn't accept the end of the era until five years later in 2007.

Although the Giants made the playoffs in 2003 and nearly made them in 2004, it was quite obvious that the formula of surrounding Barry Bonds with has-been veterans was no longer successful.

Finally, the tide seems to be turning in San Francisco, as even though they have missed the playoffs five years straight, they finally appear to have a farm system.  It started with the emergence of the two right-handed power arms coming up through the system, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum.

There also has been the emergence of Brian Wilson and Jack Taschner in the Giants bullpen, who last year turned in solid performances in 2008. Wilson made the all-star game in his first full-season in the majors, in which he was named the closer from game one. Call-ups Sergio Romo and Alex Hinshaw provided some positives in a much maligned bullpen in 2008 with the likes of Vinny "Choke" Chulk, and Tyler Walker. 

Some of the current players in the Giants' minor league system include, Connor Gillaspie, Buster Posey, Tim Alderson, Madison Bumgarner, and Angel Villalona.

The future looks bright in San Francisco, most of us fans have deemed 2011 as the year to look forward too, but I want to delve into the present team going into 2009.

It is time to get rid of the likes of Dave Roberts, Randy Winn, and Omar Vizquel.  The Giants need to see what Nate Schierholtz can offer with everyday playing time with the big club. With Fred Lewis and Aaron Rowand taking up left and center field, respectively, I would not be surprised if Randy Winn gets traded over the winter.

The only veteran that I believe the Giants should keep that is clearly past his prime is Rich Aurilia. He put up significantly better numbers in 2008 than he did in 2007 and has tremendous value as a utility player who can play all four infield positions. 

What Giants fans should really look forward to is the healthy return of Kevin Frandsen at 2nd base, and a full season of watching Pablo Sandoval. 

I may be a tad bias with Frandsen, after all he graduated from my current high school Bellarmine College Prep. But a healthy Frandsen will provide a solid No. 2 hitter in the lineup and will play a clean defense at second base which the Giants desperatlely need as both Ray Durham and Eugenio Velez struggled last year.

Sandoval hit .345 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 41 games with the Giants last season, and almost instantly became a fan-favorite.  He was able to get a lot more playing time at first and third base with Molina being the Giants No. 1 catcher and cleanup hitter but Sandoval may be the long-time answer at catcher.  The Giants did draft Posey as a catcher, but he was originally a shortstop, and if Sandoval can prove he belongs in the Majors next season, do not be surprised if the Giants start to bring up Posey as a shortstop.

As mentioned earlier, 2011 should be the year this team makes a run, and I hope to see a defensive lineup such as this in the future:

LF Lewis

CF Rowand

RF Schierholtz

3B Gillaspie

SS Posey

2B Frandsen

1B Villalona

C Sandoval

The future looks bright in San Francisco.