Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 20

San Francisco Chronicle

"Tim Lincecum's live press conference just ended. Afterward, we talked to GM Brian Sabean, who said he has not contacted agents for the two big hitters on the free-agent market, Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, and does not expect to either. I'll have the direct quotes later, but Sabean essentially said he refuses to be a "stalking horse" for any player who is just using the Giants to get more money elsewhere, and that the Giants will talk only to free agents who have a genuine interest in coming to San Francisco."

Uggla trade talk "pretty hot and heavy"

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November 19

ESPN.com

columnist Jayson Stark

"We're hearing that the Marlins' Dan Uggla trade talk with the Giants and Rangers got "pretty hot and heavy" at the GM meetings, according to one baseball man. Florida has told other clubs that if it doesn't get what it wants, it will keep Uggla and deal someone else from its pool of arbitration-eligible players -- a group that includes Jorge Cantu, Cody Ross, Alfredo Amezaga and Ricky Nolasco. But Uggla still looms as the runaway winner of all Most Likely To Be An Ex-Marlin contests."

Giants' Lincecum repeats as Cy Young winner

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November 19

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"San Francisco Giants starter Tim Lincecum won the 2009 Cy Young Award, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced this afternoon, giving the righthander his second consecutive award as he edged St. Louis Cardinals starters Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Lincecum is the first pitcher to repeat as a Cy Young winner since Randy Johnson won four consecutive in the National League from 1999-2002. The voting was exceptionally close with Wainwright receiving the most first-place votes of any of the three. The vote tallies on a 5-3-1 points system with five points going to first on each ballot and one point going to No. 3 on the ballot. 1. Lincecum … 100 pts 2. Carpenter … ..."

Lincecum wins 2009 Cy Young Award

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November 19

San Francisco Chronicle

"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has won the 2009 National League Cy Young Award in a historic and close vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Lincecum becomes the first pitcher since the writers created the award in 1956 to win it in each of his first two full seasons in the majors and the first starting pitcher to win with as few as 15 wins in a nonstrike year. Lincecum went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA and 261 strikeouts in defeating Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals for the top pitching honor in baseball. Lincecum becomes the fourth National League pitcher to win consecutive Cy Youngs, joining Sandy Koufax (1965-66), Greg Maddux (1993-95) and 2009 Giants ..."

Tim Lincecum not Cy Young favorite this time

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November 18

San Jose Mercury News

"Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum improved in almost every statistical category from his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2008, but he is not the favorite to repeat when the National League winner is announced Thursday. If he does beat out St. Louis Cardinals co-aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, though, it will be one heck of an interesting conference call with members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. That's because Lincecum still hasn't commented publicly since he was slapped with two misdemeanor counts after a highway patrolman seized 3.3 grams of marijuana and a pipe during a traffic stop Oct. 30 for speeding on Interstate 5 near the Washington-Oregon border. ..."

Big Unit is last Giant to file for free agency

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November 17

MLB.com

"Randy Johnson left open the possibility of returning for a 22nd Major League season by filing for free agency Monday. This marks the second consecutive offseason in which Johnson, 46, has opted for free agency. Last December, he left the Arizona Diamondbacks to sign a one-year, $8 million contract with the Giants. Johnson's season in San Francisco was a memorable one, featuring his 300th career victory June 4 in the opener of a doubleheader at Washington. But Johnson injured his left (throwing) shoulder on July 5 against Houston in what proved to be his 17th and final start of the season. He recovered in time to make five relief appearances in September, but the 303-game winner clearly ..."

49ers end loss string

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November 13

Baltimore Sun

"Mike Singletary didn't exactly hand it to his old team. That didn't matter: Jay Cutler handed the desperate San Francisco 49ers a much-needed win. Frank Gore ran for 104 yards and a touchdown, Cutler threw a career-high five interceptions, with his last coming in the end zone on the game's final play, and San Francisco ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Bears, 10-6, on Thursday night. Niners quarterback Alex Smith won for the first time in eight starts since Week 2 in 2007, 17-16 against the St. Louis Rams - but it was interesting until the end. After Singletary decided to punt against his former team on fourth-and-6 from the Chicago 34 with 2:53 left, Cutler drove the ..."

Giants trying to bring Uribe back in '10

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November 11

Foxsports.com

"The Giants are still talking with infielder Juan Uribe about coming back to the team in 2010, sources said today. Uribe's representatives touched base with Giants general manager Brian Sabean again today as the GM meetings adjourned. The team was satisfied with Uribe's production as a part-time player this year."

Interest in Uggla ... at third base

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November 11

Foxsports.com

"The two teams showing the most interest in Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla would move him to third base. The Giants and Orioles are the clubs in strongest pursuit of Uggla, according to major-league sources. The Red Sox also have inquired, envisioning Uggla as a potential replacement for free agent Jason Bay in left field. Uggla, 29, projects to earn approximately $8 million in arbitration. But in four major-league seasons, he has averaged 30 homers and 90 RBIs. For the Giants, he would represent a more affordable addition than Bay or Matt Holliday. The Giants would play Uggla at third, Edgar Renteria at shortstop, Freddy Sanchez at second and Pablo Sandoval at first. If Uggla went to the ..."

Will Giants pay for some pop?

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November 11

Foxsports.com

"The Giants need a bat. Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are free agents. Does two plus two equal say, $100 million, for one of those players? "It's not a particularly attractive or foolproof group of people," Giants general manager Brian Sabean told reporters on Tuesday. "You know the two big names. You know how that's going to go. At the end of the day, it's going to be a high-stakes poker game. They're going to be big signings." So, is Sabean interested? "You've got to be realistic," he said. "If they really want to come to San Francisco ... we'll gauge it that way. If they are people who are sincerely interested in San Francisco, we'll be interested." Translation: Sabean does not want to be ..."

Giants GM expands on team's offensive desires

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November 11

Foxsports.com

"Giants general manager Brian Sabean was looking for offense at the trade deadline. And he's still searching for it now. "We're going to need one or two legitimate hitters who are definitive upgrades," he said. Key to the Giants' plans is that slugger Pablo Sandoval can play either first or third base. His defensive position in 2010 could be determined by where the best available upgrade is. "He's about average at both positions," Sabean said. San Francisco has previously shown interest in Florida second baseman Dan Uggla, who some believe could play third."

Aurilia files for free agency

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November 11

MLB.com

"Infielder Rich Aurilia became the sixth Giant to file for free agency, casting himself into the open market Tuesday. Aurilia knows that he won't return to the Giants, with whom he spent 11 of his 14 Major League seasons. It's also questionable whether he'll draw much interest from other teams after hitting .213 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 60 games while turning 38 last season. Having evolved into a cornerman, Aurilia started 16 games at first base and six at third in 2009."

Around the majors

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November 10

SI.com

(scroll down)

"• Andy Pettitte has indicated to teammates that he is leaning toward returning to the Yankees for one more year. If they need it for further convincing, one of the Yankees' sales points will be that 10-15 more wins will aid his Hall of Fame candidacy. • The Phillies are expected to try to lock up Cliff Lee, though with a year to go before free agency, they'll be looking at something less than nine figures. • While the Phillies declined the option on defensively adept third baseman Pedro Feliz for $5.5 million, they're interested in bringing him back at a slightly lower figure. • The Red Sox will still consider Alex Gonzalez after declining his $6 million option and also look at free agent ..."

Giants prospect Angel Villalona released from jail

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November 10

San Jose Mercury News

"Giants prospect Angel Villalona is out of jail, but his future remains in doubt. The slugging 19-year-old first baseman, who is charged with murder in the Sept. 19 barroom shooting death of a man in the Dominican Republic, was released on bail last Friday, according to an Associated Press report from the island nation. With rumors abounding of a lucrative payoff, the family of the deceased man, Mario Felix de Jesus Velete, reportedly have requested that all charges against Villalona be withdrawn. But prosecutor Jose Antonio Polanco told the AP that his office would proceed with its murder case against Villalona and a trial would begin shortly. "This is a case of public policy and we intend ..."

Giants advise Randy Winn to seek employment elsewhere

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November 9

San Jose Mercury News

"Outfielder Randy Winn filed for free agency and he isn't expected to re-sign with the Giants, his agent told me today. The Giants contacted agent Craig Landis prior to the World Series and thanked Winn for his services, but said they have a number of young outfielders and advised him to seek employment elsewhere. It was expected the Giants would part ways with Winn, 35, who was the club's everyday right fielder for most of the past four seasons. A switch-hitter, Winn slumped badly from the right side and finished with a .262 average after hitting over .300 the previous year. He also hit just two home runs — the first time he failed to record double-digit homers since 2001 — yet still ..."

Catch me if you can: Market full of backstops

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November 9

MLB.com

"The free-agent market for catchers in 2009-10 is chock full of high-profile experience, durability and veteran savvy behind the plate. Even though the catching crop's best offensive player, Victor Martinez, was taken off the table when the Red Sox, as expected, picked up his $7.7 million option, recent World Series-tested backstops such as Bengie Molina (2002), Ivan Rodriguez (2003, '06), Jason Varitek (2004, '07), Yorvit Torrealba (2007) and Rod Barajas (2001) are, or are expected to be, available. Molina, who won a World Series ring with the Angels in '02, continues a career as a highly respected defensive catcher and proceeds to develop as a run-producing hitter, spending a good portion ..."

Lincecum will plead guilty to lesser charge

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November 7

San Francisco Chronicle

"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has agreed to plead guilty to one charge related to his possession of a marijuana pipe in return for his drug charge being dropped, in a plea agreement that still must be approved by a judge in Clark County, Wash. Prosecuting attorney Grant Hansen said Friday that Lincecum's lawyer has signed off on the deal, which requires the 2008 Cy Young Award winner to pay $372 in fines. The judge could accept the deal with a signature but could also order Lincecum to appear in court at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 22. Hansen said Lincecum's celebrity had nothing to do with this disposition, which is standard for a first-time offender for misdemeanor pot possession who ..."

Prosecutor recommends drug charges be dropped against San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum

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November 7

San Jose Mercury News

"A prosecutor recommended that two misdemeanor drug charges be dropped against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who was cited Oct. 30 for marijuana possession while speeding on Interstate 5 roughly four miles north of the Washington-Oregon border. Lincecum would pay a $250 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A infraction in Washington, if his plea deal is accepted by a judge Monday. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner received no preferential treatment, said Grant Hansen, the deputy prosecuting attorney for Clark County, Wash. "This is the protocol for a first-time offender who is cooperative with police," said Hansen, adding that Lincecum would not face probation or jail time. The ..."

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum faces pot charges in Washington

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November 6

San Jose Mercury News

"Giants ace Tim Lincecum faces misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession after he turned over a small amount of the substance during a traffic stop near the Washington-Oregon border on Oct. 30, Washington State police said. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner also was cited for driving his 2006 Mercedes 74 mph along a 60 mph stretch of Interstate 5 near Hazel Dell, Wash., police said. After an officer detected the smell of marijuana, the two-time All-Star complied with a request to turn over 3.3 grams of the substance and a pipe from the car's center console. Because the officer did not judge Lincecum to be impaired, he cited him and allowed him to continue. Lincecum, 25, entered a plea of ..."

Lincecum cited for having pot in his car

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November 6

San Francisco Chronicle

"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was cited for possession of marijuana one week ago in the state of Washington. Though he faces misdemeanor charges in the state, it is unlikely he will receive any punishment from Major League Baseball. The 2008 Cy Young Award winner was stopped for speeding at 8:23 a.m. on Oct. 30 while driving on Interstate 5, 4 miles north of the Oregon state line, according to Trooper Steve Schatzel of the Washington State Patrol. Lincecum was cited for driving 74 mph in a 60-mph zone. The police report said the motorcycle officer who stopped Lincecum smelled marijuana in the car and asked him to produce any drugs that he had. Lincecum acknowledged that he did have drugs ..."

Giants batting coach Hensley "Bamm-Bamm" Meulens is more than bilingual. He speaks English, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento, the tongue of his native Curacao.

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November 3

San Francisco Chronicle

"Dutch and Japanese? Maybe if Giants re-sign Rikkert Faneyte and Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Meulens can turn them into .300 hitters. "I don't know about that," Meulens said, "but I can communicate with them." After the Giants announced Meulens' promotion from Triple-A hitting coach to the big-league job Monday, the onetime Yankee communicated this to fans weary of a popgun offense: He believes he has the know-how to get into the heads of the hitters, young and old, and teach them how to be more selective and dangerous at the plate. Meulens, 42, replaces Carney Lansford, who was fired after two seasons. In 2009, the Giants ranked 13th in the National League in runs, last in walks, last in on-base ..."

Clements demoted, then suffers broken scapula

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November 2

San Francisco Chronicle

"There was no immediate word on how long Clements would be out. Wide receiver Brandon Jones had the same injury in training camp and missed six weeks. Clements left the locker room early and was not available for comment. He was seen with a sling on his right arm. "We'll know more tomorrow (Monday)," coach Mike Singletary said. Clements was on the field for a few plays in the 49ers' nickel defense and also returned four punts for 31 yards. He made two tackles. One of the best-tackling cornerbacks in the NFL, Clements at times has been a liability in pass coverage. That's damning for a player signed to a theoretical $80 million contract in 2007, with a 2009 salary of $3.5 million. Facing ..."

Sanchez gets more than Pirates offered, but . . .

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October 31

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Count me among those who were wrong about Freddy Sanchez. I did not expect him to get more money than the $10 million over two years the Pirates offered him in July. I thought it was a fair offer and Sanchez rejected it because he didn't want to stay in Pittsburgh. Turns out, he did get more, but I'm not so sure it proves the Pirates wrong. Sanchez signed a two-year, $12 million contract Friday with the San Francisco Giants, the team to whom the Pirates traded him in July. Those terms don't make the Pirates offer look ``embarrassing,'' as many bellowed at the time the offer was made. The deal makes the Pirates' offer look realistic but a little low."

Giants sign Freddy Sanchez to two-year, $12 million deal

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October 31

San Jose Mercury News

"Freddy Sanchez feels he has something to prove to Giants fans. Now he will get two seasons to do it. The club agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the 2006 NL batting champion and three-time All-Star, who will return as their starting second baseman and likely No. 2 hitter. Sanchez, 32, will receive $6 million next year and in 2011. "I try to be a loyal person," said Sanchez, who was acquired July 29 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for well-regarded pitching prospect Tim Alderson. "And now, being part of the Giants' family, hopefully I can do what they traded for me to do." Sanchez expressed regret that he was limited to 25 games after the trade because of a strained left shoulder ..."

Freddy Sanchez signs for 2 years

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October 31

San Francisco Chronicle

"On the other side of the infield, the Giants would like to re-sign Juan Uribe, and general manager Brian Sabean has begun talks with Uribe's agent. However, a quick resolution is unlikely. "I get the sense he's going to test the free-agent market," Sabean said. In another move that was expected but might carry some emotional weight, the Giants cut ties with popular but injured pitcher Noah Lowry by declining his $6.25 million club option for 2010 and placing him on outright waivers. They also outrighted long reliever Justin Miller. Like Lowry, Miller can become a free agent. Senior vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said the Giants would not "close the door" on re-signing ..."

Giants, A's remember day that shook baseball

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October 17

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist John Shea

"Twenty years ago today, at 5:04 p.m., a half-hour before World Series Game 3 at Candlestick Park, Al Michaels told a national TV audience, "I think we're having an earth..." The Giants and A's were rendered irrelevant after the Loma Prieta quake shook the region. Amid death and destruction, the Series was pushed back 10 days. While the Giants resumed working out at the 'Stick, A's manager Tony La Russa took his team to Phoenix for two days to maintain a higher level of focus. The A's completed a four-game sweep with just two starting pitchers, Dave Stewart and Mike Moore, and an imposing offense that outscored the Giants 32-14, matching the most one-sided World Series in history. The A's ..."

Lansford couldn't work miracles

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October 16

San Jose Mercury News

"Carney Lansford has been chasing a little white baseball for four decades as a player, coach, father and fan. He said he learned two lessons about the game over the past 24 months. "Never take a job for sentimental reasons," he said over the phone, "and never take a hitting-coach job with an offensively challenged team." Lansford, a San Jose native and Wilcox High graduate, received a call from Giants manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday that he would not be invited to return for a third season as the team's hitting coach. Two hours later, Lansford buried his father-in-law. "Heck of a day," Lansford said. The 52-year-old former batting champion had other priorities Wednesday besides returning ..."

Coach says he did his best for team of free swingers

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October 16

San Francisco Chronicle

""Frankly, I don't care," Lansford said Thursday. "I wish whoever it is the best. I hope they get some players for him." Fan favorite Will Clark does not appear to be a candidate. Clark said Thursday he has not been contacted about the job. He has rebuffed other full-time job offers so he would not be away long from his autistic son, Trey, now 13. "Bill Neukom was very kind to offer me the special assistant job," Clark said of the Giants' managing general partner. "I am very comfortable in that role right now." Triple-A hitting coach Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens is the leading internal candidate for the job, although Bochy said outsiders will be considered, too. Lansford got the news Wednesday ..."

Baseball after death, and destruction

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October 15

San Francisco Chronicle

"There is no cheering in the press box, but there is weeping. I try to keep my weeping to a minimum and reserve it for important stuff, like when the popcorn machine breaks or a writer with a fat head camps in the row in front of me. Oct. 27, 1989, was different. Ten days had passed since the earthquake and the World Series was set to resume at Candlestick Park. More than 62,000 people had filled a much-despised ballpark that stood firm, like Gibraltar, when our world shook. As part of a pregame ceremony to pay respects to those who died in the quake and honor the thousands of law-enforcement heroes, the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon led the entire stadium in a sing-along rendition of the ..."

Giants don't ask hitting coach Lansford back

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October 15

San Francisco Chronicle

"The Giants did not hit, and batting coach Carney Lansford is paying the price. Manager Bruce Bochy phoned Lansford on Wednesday to tell the coach he would not be invited back for a third season. The South Bay native and 1981 American League batting champion was the only member of Bochy's staff not asked to return. "I have tremendous respect for Carney," Bochy said Wednesday night. "Carney's a friend and worked hard. We just feel at this point as we move forward it's time to go with a different voice." Bochy said Triple-A hitting coach Hensley Meulens, who was credited with Eugenio Velez's improvement this summer, likely will be a candidate to replace Lansford, although the team will search ..."

Swing and a miss: Lansford out as Giants hitting coach

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October 15

Oakland Tribune

"Carney Lansford is not a scapegoat, Bruce Bochy said. The Giants manager strenuously made that point when discussing the decision to fire his hitting coach after two seasons. "I'd say that's not fair and that's not true," Bochy said Wednesday. "We know what type of offense we could have, and we know the areas we want to improve. Sometimes you just need a different voice, and we'll see if a change can help. That's the reason. This is not finger pointing." Bochy called Lansford on Wednesday and informed the San Jose native and 1981 AL batting champion that he would not be invited to return for a third season. Lansford wasn't sure he wanted to come back, anyway. That's how frustrated he was ..."

The Sabean years

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October 14

San Francisco Chronicle

"Brian Sabean was named general manager after the Giants' last-place finish in 1996. Starting with a National League West crown the following season, the team embarked on the most successful seven-year stretch in its San Francisco history, with three division titles and a pennant. Even in the years they did not reach the postseason, the Giants contended deep into September. Then, with Barry Bonds missing most of the 2005 season with a knee injury, the Giants began a stretch of four losing seasons marked by insufficient transition plans for life after Bonds, who was not invited back after 2007. Like all general managers, Sabean also made some moves that backfired, most notably his 2003 deal ..."

Follow the money, Giants fans

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October 14

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Ray Rotto

"So Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy got their deals, as expected. And the new season begins in 172 days, and the Giants will be handed new and grander expectations because, as we know, every time a team gains 16 wins, it must by definition pick up another 16 the next year, give or take a few. And that burden will land squarely on Sabean's leonine head. Except that teams don't typically make two such leaps in successive years; in fact, most teams that actually leap forward one year tend to fall back the next. Not because it wants to, or because the players are lazy or stupid, but because the history of baseball says it will. This has been covered by sabermetric experts for years, but you could ..."

'When do you think they'll start the game?'

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October 14

San Jose Mercury News

"Tom Smith was 66 years old, and he'd never been to a World Series game. He was an avid sports fan and an accomplished sportsman. He had played pro basketball, before there was the NBA, and he had played pro baseball in the Phillies chain. He had coached high school basketball — so well, in fact, that he is in the Washington state high school hall of fame. And now, on Oct. 17, 1989, he was about to see his first World Series game. He had driven 16 hours from his Christmas tree farm in Washington. Along with his wife and daughter, he had boarded a bus in San Francisco, a party-on-wheels bound for Candlestick Park. They had settled in their seats, down the right field line when it hit. Tom ..."

Mrs. Lurie shows her grace and class

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October 14

San Jose Mercury News

"The ground had stopped shaking, but I hadn't. The 7.1 earthquake that put Game 3 of the 1989 World Series on hold rattled me like few things ever have. What I didn't know scared me. Was this the main event, or a foreshock? Was it a small quake centered nearby, or a catastrophic event centered miles away? Were the rumors true? Had cars really been pitched from the Bay Bridge into the water? Had the scoreboard at the Oakland Coliseum really crashed to the ground? I did know one thing — there would be no baseball. Candlestick Park was without power. And it was getting dark. Still, there was a job to do. I made my way to the locker rooms to interview A's and Giants players. Then it was time to ..."

Writing by the headlights of a parked car

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October 14

San Jose Mercury News

"n the aftermath of the earthquake before Game 3 of the Bay Bridge World Series, everyone pretty much banded together to lend assistance. That included members of the fourth estate. After gathering as much information as I could — Were rumors true that the Coliseum scoreboard had collapsed? — I needed place to write. I finally settled on a piece of pavement in front of the players' parking lot at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman, then covering the Giants for the Oakland Tribune and until this day a good friend, turned on the headlights of his Honda Accord so I could see. Henry was writing in front seat of his car, Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse was writing ..."

Candlestick Park was the real Series champ

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October 14

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Mark Purdy

"The crowd cheered and applauded a natural disaster. That's what so many people forget. I was in the upper deck at Candlestick Park, where they put the overflow media. I knew exactly what was happening. I looked up to my left at the enclosed 49ers press box and noticed the windows wobbling and bending and shivering. I thought, "Man, if those things pop out, we're in real trouble." Just then, the shaking stopped. And the cheering started. Lusty roars. Loud. The vibe was: "Hey, it's a Bay Area series and this is cool!" But then reports reached the ballpark about the bridge and the fire. The scoreboard flickered out. Power was gone. Things grew quiet. I hiked down to the field and interviewed ..."

Sabean, Bochy get 2 more years

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October 14

San Francisco Chronicle

"As expected, managing general partner Bill Neukom announced Tuesday with "special pleasure and delight" that ownership has signed Sabean and Bochy to two-year contract extensions with team options for 2012. The contracts include incentives but no vesting options that would guarantee the third year. Sabean, the longest-tenured current GM in the majors, will begin his 14th season at the helm in 2010. Bochy will begin his 16th as a major-league manager, his fourth in San Francisco. With a lawyer's precision, Neukom established objective benchmarks for Sabean to keep his job. Clearly, a 16-game improvement to 88 wins in 2009, the Giants' first winning season since 2004, and another good year ..."

Sabean, Bochy get two-year extensions

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October 13

San Francisco Chronicle

"As expected, the Giants have extended the contracts of general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. The deals go for two seasons with club options for 2012. More after a noon conference call. UPDATE: We just got off a conference call with Sabean, Bochy and managing general partner Bill Neukom, who said it was "a special pleasure and a delight" to announce these extensions." As we all knew, Neukom approached this with a lawyer's mindset of setting and reaching objective benchmarks. That the Giants went from 72 wins last year to 88 this year boded extremely well for Sabean and Bochy to return. "If anyone deserves credit for this year's turnaround, it's Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. ..."

Giants looking to build on 2009's successes

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October 8

San Jose Mercury News

"For two men whose contracts expire Halloween night, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy sure didn't talk like they're about to turn into pumpkins. A day after concluding an 88-74 season, the Giants' baseball architect and field boss still had not signed extensions for next season. Nor has owner Bill Neukom made them any promises. But they appeared confident during a media session Monday in which they laid out their vision for the offseason, discussed personnel changes and even talked about cranking up the pitching machine for bunt practice in spring training. "We certainly look forward to next year," said Bochy, in concluding his opening statement. Neukom and president ..."

Some power options for Sabean to mull

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October 7

San Francisco Chronicle

"There's a list somewhere in Brian Sabean's office, a list we'd all like to see. It's a rundown of power hitters potentially available to the Giants as they try to resurrect a tired, unacceptable offense. What follows is not that list, merely one writer's partial survey of the landscape. Not surprisingly, it begins with ... Prince Fielder: His left-handed power (46 homers, 141 RBIs) is immense, and he'd have no problem with the challenging dimensions of AT"

Giants must learn how to sacrifice, but not their principles

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October 6

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Gwen Knapp

"In public settings, Bruce Bochy doesn't project a lot of personality or flexibility. He says the same things - bland nothings, really - over and over again, as if speaking on autopilot. His drawling speech and big, lumbering frame don't help. When things start going in the wrong direction for the Giants, it's easy to see their manager as an ocean-liner steaming toward an iceberg, thoroughly unable to reverse course. When he expressed his opinion on bunting - "You only get 27 outs, and I hate giving up an out" - it was read as gospel. When the Giants repeatedly failed to manufacture the one or two runs per game that might have pushed the team into the playoffs and Tim Lincecum toward 20 ..."

Sabean, Bochy look ahead

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October 6

San Francisco Chronicle

"Bengie Molina still could be a valuable asset for the Giants. Freddy Sanchez is likely to be the second baseman in 2010. Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner need more seasoning in the minors. There is no rush to forge a long-term contract with Tim Lincecum. Finding power is a priority but will not be easy. These were some of the conclusions to be drawn after general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy spent an hour Monday sharing their thoughts on the Giants' 88-win season and gazing toward next year. There was an odd tilt to this annual exercise. Though it has been reported that Sabean and Bochy have been told by managing general partner Bill Neukom that they will return, neither ..."

Giants looking to build on 2009's successes

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October 6

San Jose Mercury News

"For two men whose contracts expire Halloween night, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy sure didn't talk like they're about to turn into pumpkins. A day after concluding an 88-74 season, the Giants' baseball architect and field boss still had not signed extensions for next season. Nor has owner Bill Neukom made them any promises. But they appeared confident during a media session Monday in which they laid out their vision for the offseason, discussed personnel changes and even talked about cranking up the pitching machine for bunt practice in spring training. "We certainly look forward to next year," said Bochy, in concluding his opening statement. Neukom and president ..."

McDonald relishes touchdown

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October 5

San Francisco Chronicle

"For the amount of time he's on the field as a non-starter, Ray McDonald might be the 49ers' most productive player. The third-year defensive end is listed as the backup to starter Justin Smith but he's a big part of the defensive-line rotation. On Sunday, McDonald scored the first touchdown of his career when he scooped up a fumble and chugged 11 yards into the end zone with 14 minutes left in the game for San Francisco's final score of the day. Quarterback Kyle Boller was credited with the fumble when he attempted to hand off to wide receiver Danny Amendola on an end around. Amendola was bobbling the ball when he was smacked by outside linebacker Manny Lawson. McDonald, trailing the play, ..."

Sandoval's blast in the 10th puts fitting cap on season

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October 5

San Jose Mercury News

"The Giants learned something about themselves every day in an encouraging season. In their 162nd and final game Sunday afternoon, they learned that Kung Fu Pandas don't always land on their feet. But they don't stay down for long, either. In a year that featured Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter and Randy Johnson's 300th victory, Pablo Sandoval left the Giants with two more enduring images. He flipped over the dugout rail while making a spectacular catch of a foul pop in the seventh inning, then he skipped around the bases with both arms raised after crushing a solo home run in the 10th. Sandoval's 444-foot monster shot made the difference in a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco ..."

Padresfinale to Giants, look to 2010

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October 5

San Diego Union-Tribune

"The final-day result was the same, but the difference in the Padres' end-of-season mood from 2008 to 2009 was palpable. A year ago, the Padres, relieved to have barely escaped 100 losses, were almost somber as they closed the season. Sunday, the atmosphere in the Petco Park clubhouse was celebratory despite a season-ending 4-3, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants. "I think we've come out of the transition and are into that period when you look ahead with anticipation," said second baseman David Eckstein, who closed 2009 with his second homer. "We've got something going now. When we came out of spring training, that was not the case." "There is still room for improvement in a ..."

Just sayin' hey to this kid

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October 4

San Francisco Chronicle

"Two random Pablo Sandoval snapshots: Sandoval, forced out at second, breaks up the double play with a slide that starts at the bag and finishes near the outfield grass. He's a one-man Gashouse Gang. On a single to the outfield, Sandoval takes an aggressive turn at first but opts not to stretch. Instead of the standard casual loop-back-to-first, Sandoval stops his momentum with a quick pop-up slide, turns and scurries back to the bag. I've never seen it done before."

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