San Francisco Giants

Brian Sabean has done some good things and he's done some bad things, but one thing is for sure: He's always done controversial things.

Come on, the guy's first move was to ship off legendary Matt Williams in a trade that (luckily) brought in Jeff Kent!

If you haven't heard them before, you should definitely start to hear them now.

Sooner or later, the revisionist sharks will begin circling one of their favorite pieces of bait, San Francisco Giant general manager Brian Sabean.

My guess is that they've already started and the first bite is only a matter of time.

I really, really like Madison Bumgarner . Despite the rough Spring Training, I felt talent-wise, he was the best person to pitch in the fifth spot in the rotation over Todd Wellemeyer and Kevin Pucetas. Furthermore, I was impressed by his numbers last year in his short September call-up. Was he throwing gas?

The lineup and batting order that makes the most sense for the Giants—and why it makes sense—is of some interest as the club hits San Diego looking to move into first place in the National League West.

1. Aaron Rowand, center field

Rowand's been more productive in the leadoff spot than he has anywhere in the lineup in his two-plus seasons in San Francisco. Don't mess with a good thing...unless he goes 0-for-4 and the Padres win 2-1 in the opener.

2. Freddy Sanchez, second base

IP: 201 2/3  H: 180   ER: 81   HR: 12  BB: 88   K: 210  ERA: 3.61   WHIP: 1.33   BAA: .239

SV/OPP: 93/109  SV %: 85.3

Prior to Saturday's Giants/Astros matchup, those were Giants closer Brian Wilson's career numbers.

And while some say the 2008 All Star is an underrated closer, the reality is that the 28-year-old reliever receives more credit than he deserves.

Damn that Brian Sabean!

Bruce Bochy is ruining everything!

Geesh! How in the world could Sabean not anticipate that Mark DeRosa's surgically-repaired wrist ligament would rupture even after DeRosa was given a clean bill of health by team doctors and other physicians?

DeRosa wasn't considered that "old" when the club signed him and then got off to a fast start in April. But, hell, now it's apparent that Sabean just can't help but sign broken down old free agents—like the 35-year-old DeRosa.

When Barry Zito signed his $126 million deal with the Giants in December of 2006, everyone thought it was too much money. Zito was the third starter of the A's Three Aces, and the only one NOT to be traded away, with Tim Hudson going to the Braves and Mark Mulder to the Cardinals.

The consensus was a gross overpayment on San Francisco's part. When he didn't perform up to expectations, going 11-13 with the highest ERA of his career (4.53), critics deemed him a failure in contract negotiation by Giants brass. 

The San Francisco Giants' two biggest surprises of 2010 so far have been Barry Zito's resurgence, and Nate Schierholtz emergence.

While Zito is finally enjoying some good press in his fourth year in San Francisco, Schierholtz is hitting .381 from the eighth slot in the lineup.

With respect to Giants' Manager, Bruce Bochy's reluctance to "mess with success," by shaking up his lineup, the numbers say he'd be foolish not to.

The San Francisco Giants are off to a great start in 2010. They have the best record in the National League, and are led by perhaps the best starting rotation in all of baseball.

While the team has a stranglehold on great pitching, their offense is below the league average in most categories. They have grounded into more double plays than any NL team, and have the fewest number of walks of any team in the league other than the Houston Astros.