San Francisco Giants

Just in case you've hibernated for the past two years, let me update you on the Giants' pitching.

Jonathan Sanchez is no longer a Giant. Ryan Vogelsong has stepped in and pitched very well. Barry Zito is playing well. Brian Wilson has a beard, Sergio Romo does too, and Javier Lopez was traded to the Giants and he has played very well.

Oh, and there's also this other guy named Madison Bumgarner, and he's pretty good.

I wish I had a dime for every article written about Tim Lincecum lately.  Needless to say, Giants Nation is in full freak-out mode and we're only one-quarter of the way through the 2012 season.  Well, I'm not writing about Timmy.  I've already made my predictions regarding Lincecum and I'm sticking to them.

The Giants have one of the youngest lineups in the National League, much to the dismay of manager Bruce Bochy.  If you don't count Aubrey Huff (and who does count Huff anymore?), then Angel Pagan at age 30 is the oldest everyday player. Most of the players are between 25 and 27 years old.

Once upon a time Tim Lincecum was one of the elite pitchers in the game…

When you say it like that it feels like ages ago, doesn’t it?  Of course, that’s far from the case.  Lincecum was one of the best pitchers in the league as recently as last season and viewed by most as a Top 5 option entering 2012.  So, when you see these types of numbers through 8 starts, you obviously have to be curious as to what is going on:

The San Francisco Giants' biggest enemy in 2012 is not the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers or any other National League opponent. 

Their biggest challenge to winning the National League West is the enemy within.

William Rhoden of the New York Times presented some interesting ideas about Barry Bonds in a column a little more than one year ago.

Jeremy Affeldt is in the final year of his contract with the San Francisco Giants. As an effective left-handed reliever who will turn 33 this year, Affeldt figures to find continue his major league career, whether it's with the Giants or another team.

The Giants have discussed permanently moving slugger Buster Posey from catcher to first base, according to MLB.com's Chris Haft. That day may not be too far away. 

Twenty games is a small sample size—we all know that.  When the season is 40 games old, we can make a better assessment of where the Giants stand and their postseason chances.  

Certainly four games back behind the Dodgers is nothing to get too nervous about.

Even though the 2012 season is young, we've seen some pretty amazing baseball already.  

Aubrey Huff texted in sick, to manager Bruce Bochy before the San Francisco Giants doubleheader with the Mets on April 23.  Apparently a "family emergency" called him urgently back to Florida.