San Francisco Giants

For 15 years, Giants managers were blessed with one of the easiest lineup decisions in history—putting Barry Bonds in left field. And for 15 years, it was a position that didn't need to concern fans or coaches—if you had a five-year-old making the lineups for the San Francisco Giants, they would, without fail, know who to put in left field. 

Then they had Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, Eugenio Velez, John Bowker, and Brian Horwitz. That's right, those guys.

Major League Baseball's Spring Training is already underway and that means it's officially time for the World Champion San Francisco Giants to put away the champagne (or Bud Lite), confetti and late-night talk show laurels.

The thong can stay, though (Aubrey's, not the Machine's).

Down in Arizona, the first PFP drills have been run so you know two things.

First, someone has already embarrassed himself.

Our 2011 fantasy baseball projections will be released one-by-one until the top 100 players have been revealed. These rankings consider past achievements, current performance and expected future results based on standard 5×5 H2H settings.

Yesterday, I made a bold statement that has caused an uproar from fellow fantasy baseball enthusiasts.

Last season, The San Francisco Giants took advantage of a late-season collapse by the San Diego Padres to win the National League West with a record of 92-70. San Francisco carried that momentum all the way to the World Series, where they beat the Texas Ranges.

With a top level pitching staff secured for year to come, San Francisco is no doubt a threat to not only repeat in the NL West, but to return to the World Series this year.

As defending World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants had a relatively quiet offseason. 

General Manager Brian Sabean felt little need to shake up an intriguing roster filled with castoffs, journeyman and young talents starting to reach their potential. 

Sabean let World Series MVP Edgar Renteria leave for a one-year, $3 million deal with the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.

I am a Barry Zito fan.  He is not worth his $126 million contract. He is a competent starter. Replacing him would be expensive and ineffective.

Point Proven.

Just kidding.

San Francisco Chronicle writer Bruce Jenkins has stirred up a bit of controversy over his article claiming inside sources are fed up with Barry Zito to the point of releasing him or attempting to buy out his contract prior to opening day.

The San Francisco Giants opened up their spring training schedule with a 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks last Friday.

Since then, the Giants have played in four more games, winning and losing two games apiece.

Management has been spreading out playing time between everyone on the roster, as is the norm in the beginning of spring training. Still, some players have already stood out as being in top form in the few games that have been played.

Brandon Belt has received a lot of buzz, and rightly so. The 6'5" left-handed slugger has batted for a .352 average in 136 minor league games.

In his debut in spring training yesterday, Belt drove in four RBI on two doubles and one single.

But what about Aubrey Huff and the solid job he did for the team last year? Huff is still the guy, but with each appearance by the young stud, Huff might be counting his reps.

As Barry Zito made his first Spring start on Monday and, true to form, Zito was completely off. You never know what you're going to get from Zito, and it seems to have been his persona since coming to the Giants after signing a 7 year / $128M deal.

The fans are tired of this guy, and in all respect, you can't blame them. When it comes to the extent of keeping a job, everything is serious, and is the case for Zito right now.

What baseball fan doesn't love Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants?

I know I do.

He has elite talent on the mound and seems to understand that baseball is first and foremost entertainment before anything else.

Oh and he has the BEST beard in the universe. It rivals Tom Selleck's mustache for the most famous facial hair known to man.