Saltzman Says... Here is a Bay Area Reality Check

December 16, 2008.  Just two years ago.  Here was the status of our Bay Area Franchises just 730 days ago.

San Francisco Giants:  72-90

1. 4th in the NL West.   
2. Bengie Molina led the way with 16 Home Runs.
3. Matt Cain was 8-14 despite a 3.76 ERA
4. Barry Zito was 10-17 with a 5.15 ERA and 5 years and $106 million left on his contract.

Oakland A's: 75-86

1. Ryan Sweeney led the way with a .286 Batting Average
2. Jack Cust led the way with 77 RBI's (2nd on the team was Bobby Crosby with 61)
3. Justin Duchscherer led the way with 10 Wins
4. Huston Street led the way with 18 Saves

San Francisco 49ers: 7-9

1. Team Fired Mike Nolan in the middle of the season
2. Isaac Bruce led the way with 61 catches for 835 yards (2nd on the team was Bryant Johnson with 45 for 546)
3. J.T. O'Sullivan and Shaun Hill combined for 19 INT's and 55 sacks.
4. Vernon Davis only had 31 catches for 358 yards and 2 TD's.

Oakland Raiders: 5-11

1. Jamarcus Russell was the starting QB
2. The leading WR was Johnnie Lee Higgins with 22 catches for 366 yards and 4 TD's.
3. Team was 29th in scoring (263 points)
4. Team was 24th in points allowed (388 points)

Golden State Warriors:  29-53

1. Stephen Jackson was the leading scorer with 20.7 PPG
2. Corey Maggette was the 4th leading scorer.
3. Al Harrington and Jamal Crawford both complained their way out of town.
4. Monta Ellis only started 25 games because of an off-season "Moped Accident"

San Jose Sharks: 53-18-11

1. Lost in the Conference Quarter Finals to the Anaheim Ducks
2. They lost to the 8th seed, despite having the best record in hockey
3. Jonathan Cheechoo had 2 points in the post-season, Milan Michalek had 1 point
4. Evgeni Nabakov's save percentage was .890 in the postseason. (.910 in the regular season)

San Jose Earthquakes:  8-13-9

1. San Jose was awarded back their franchise after the original team moved to Houston.
2. Earthquakes finished 7th in the West and did not qualify for the playoffs.
3. The team now played at Santa Clara University
4. Landon Donovan was a distant memory, after leading the team until 2004.

San Jose Sabercats: 11-5

1. Lost Arena Bowl XXII to the Philadelphia Soul.
2. It was the last game played because the league closed up shop in 2009

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TWO YEARS LATER...

• The 2010 San Francisco Giants won the World Series.

• The Oakland A's won 81 games, 51 of which came from their 4 young pitchers which included Dallas Braden's perfect game on Mother's Day.
• The San Francisco 49ers are in the playoff race for the first time since 2002
• The Oakland Raiders are in the playoff race for the first time since 2002
• The Golden State Warriors have new ownership and a young nucleus of Stephen Curry and co.
• San Jose Sharks are coming off their 1st ever trip to the Conference Finals, losing to the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks...and now we have their goalie.
• The San Jose Earthquakes qualified for the playoffs for the 1st time since coming back and upset the #1 seed in the Conference.
• The San Jose Sabercats are back.