Saltzman Says...Giants on pace for 92 wins

2011 Season: 4-5
2010 Season vs same opponents: 4-5

2011 vs Los Angeles Dodgers on the road: 1-3 in first four
2010 vs Los Angeles Dodgers on the road: 2-2 in first four

2011 vs San Diego Padres on the road: 1-1
2010 vs San Diego Padres on the road: 0-2

2011 vs St. Louis Cardinals at home: 2-1
2010 vs St. Louis Cardinals at home: 2-1

NEXT GAMES:
Los Angeles Dodgers at home:
2010: 0-3
2011: TBD

Arizona on the road:
2010: 1-2
2011: TBD

Colorado on the road:
2010: 1-2
2011: TBD

From Left to Right: Brian Sabean, Bill Neukom, and Bruce Bochy

Saltzman Says...Ring Ceremony takes the cake

Sergio Romo shows off the 2010 Championship ring

'It's going to be my best day in professional ball,'' said Bruce Bochy, San Francisco's fifth-year skipper. ''It's going to be one of the greatest days in a lot of these players' careers to get a ring. It's going to have very special meaning.''

The very first ring went to longtime equipment manager Mike Murphy, who has been with the club since starting as a bat boy in '58. Sabean was next, followed by Bochy.

''This is one you'll want to wear,'' Bochy said. ''I'll wear it all the time. I don't wear jewelry so to speak, but I'll wear this with a lot of pride.''

The rings are primarily white gold. The top features the team's ''SF'' logo set with round diamonds encircled by a bezel of yellow gold flanked by two round diamonds. One side of the ring says 2010 with a yellow gold tower of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The other side features the recipient's name in a ribbon over the World Series trophy.

Within the top of the trophy is one mandarin orange spessartite garnet stone representing San Francisco's title with five diamonds below the trophy's base for the five Giants titles won in New York.

Saltzman Says...Neukom and McCourt issue joint statement

"This attack is unconscionable behavior that will not be tolerated in either of our ballparks or in either of our cities," the statement read. "Once apprehended, the attackers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Public safety is the top priority for all of us and even one act of random violence is unacceptable.
"Baseball is a family sport that has unified our country after times of crisis and tragedy. This senseless act of violence has no place in our society and certainly not in our national pastime. The Giants-Dodgers rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports, dating back to when the teams played across town in New York City before their moves to California. This is a great rivalry between teams competing on the field of play. That's where it must stay."

To Support Bryan Stow and his family, check out support4stow.blogspot.com for more information on how he is doing and how you can help

Donations to offset his medical costs can go to Commonwealth Central Credit Union, account No. 118881, P.O. Box 641690, San Jose CA 95164-1690

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/03/BA5H1IP8ID.DTL#ixzz1IZpKabrC

Stow was critically injured in the Dodgers parking lot

Saltzman Says..."The Giants Way" is fan friendly

The Giants Way is great for the short term and costly for the long term.  However, as long as the Giants remain financially responsible, they can avoid the pitfalls of this "Way."

Reason #1:  Not waiting to start a young player's clock.  Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey and now Brandon Belt.  Three studs, who proved in the minor leagues that the only challenge they might face in baseball is at the Major League level.  Lincecum received "Super 2" status by being called up May 9, 2007, instead of being called up after June 1.  Same with Buster Posey, who was called up May 29th, 2010.  Their respective time served clocks started a year early and therefore are going to be much more costly in the future.  Other teams, especially small market teams, have made it clear to their fan base that it doesn't make financial sense to bring up a young player early.  The Giants are proving that wins are more critical than salaries.

Reason #2:  Free Agent signing massacres have stopped.  Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand are still here, but there was Edgar Renteria, Edgardo Alfonso, Ray Durham, and Armando Benitez before them.  Big, long expensive deals can kill a franchise.  The Giants realize that Zito and Rowand have made it more expensive and more difficult to keep their own talent.  However, the Giants have decided that re-signing their own will happen no matter what the payroll restrictions have been in the past.  Fortunately, that won't happen at any cost.  They had budgeted $6 million a year for a shortstop, and when Juan Uribe took more money to sign with the Dodgers, the Giants stood firm on their 3 year offer, instead of adding a year, or adding extra millions.  Bringing in Miguel Tejada proved two things.  His one year deal gives them flexibility at SS that Uribe's contract would not have.  The Giants know they need to look long term for a SS this coming off-season.

Reason #3: No big extension yet for Cody Ross, Jonathan Sanchez, or Pablo Sandoval.  The Giants will spend on guys who have proven themselves in a Giants uniform, but they will not give extensions to everyone.  It was clear when they gave extensions to Matt Cain, Jeremy Affeldt and Brian Wilson before the 2010 season.  It was clear when they gave Aubrey Huff a two year deal with an option year this off-season.  It was also clear when they gave Freddy Sanchez an extension yesterday for an additional year.  The Giants have shown they are willing to commit to their own. However, Ross, Sanchez and Sandoval have shown that because of a small sample size in Ross' case, and inconsistency on Sanchez and Sadoval's part, there is no need to rush deals with those three.  However, if they prove they can be long term answers in 2011, they will be given an opportunity to stay with this nucleus.

Reason #4: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Brandon Belt aren't going anywhere.  If Lincecum, Cain, Wilson, etc... has shown anything is that the Giants will not let a great Giant test the free agent waters.  Just as the big waste that is the $30+ million being made by Rowand and Zito finally come to an end, the Giants will be able to use that money to give extensions to their next big three.

Lincecum and Posey aren't going anywhere

Saltzman Says...Bochy and Sabean not going anywhere

The Giants have decided to keep the duo of Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy together at least two more years.  They really had no choice.  You don't let your GM and Manager sit as lame ducks a year after winning the World Series.  Ron Wotus, Dave Righetti, Roberto Kelly and Steve Decker are all capable coaches in the system to replace Bochy, but why when all four are still with the organization.  If Kelly or Decker left to get promotions somewhere else, or if Wotus and Righetti left Bochy's bench, I could see Giants fans showing their frustration.  However, what Sabean and Bochy have done is build a wonderful staff around them and in turn made their jobs easier.  They are both experienced at dealing with the barrage of media questions, the second guessing from fans, and the stress that comes with the job.  Bill Neukom said exactly what any owner would say after winning it all last year.

“Brian and Bruce’s proven leadership and strategic moves throughout the course of their baseball careers, culminating in last year’s World Series Championship, distinguishes them as two of the best minds in all of baseball," managing general partner and CEO Bill Neukom said in a statement.

Sabean and Bochy are staying put through 2012

Saltzman Says...The World Series Trophy is Smaller in Person!!!

Yesterday, I went to Municipal Stadium, home of the back to back California League Champion San Jose Giants, to see the 2010 World Series Trophy first hand.  It was beautiful.  I was fortunate enough to have my picture taken with it alongside the man who taught me the game, my father.  It was one of the most special moments of my life.  I don't mean to overstate it, but it is truly how I feel.  For 30 years, I have loved the Giants, and it started on Fife Way with my Dad.  We have a picture that will last forever, and we have the memory of knowing that no matter what the Giants do, we will always have this championship to remember.

A huge thanks to my brother-in-law Jason for allowing my dad and I access to see the trophy early, and thank you Dad for being a part of this special moment.