Over the years I've learned that McCovey Chronicles is a place we assemble for more than just (Giants) baseball talk. I've come to appreciate the gathered masses here more than ever, and look forward to threads with recommendations on everything from food to music to books,

So my question: Beyond the usual of a BIG hitter for our team, world peace, a better economy, yadda yadda yadda, what do you hope will be under the tree come Christmas morning?

I was a bit greedy this year and asked for a Nikon D90 for a combined Christmas/birthday gift from my wife/parents/in-laws. For a smaller gift I'd love a black Giants hat with an orange bill like the one the team recently debuted –– not the gangsta New Era style, rather the one that Grant sports in all his pics. Some books (and the time to read them), maybe a CD or two.

My mom got the family a Wii, which is noteworthy because the last video game console I owned (and still have in its original box) was an Atari 2600.

What else is out there that's cool? I'm interested to see what you all are wishing for this Christmas.

Apparently what Brian's pushing ain't enough for Crede. From SI's John Heyman:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/03/05/bc.heyman.wed.scoop/1.html

"The White Sox apparently haven't been enamored by what the Giants have to offer for third baseman Joe Crede. A Giants person conceded, "We badly need bats,'' but they aren't to the point where they'll give up any of their better pitchers to get them. One possibility could be hard-throwing reliever Jonathan Sanchez, though it appears now that Crede may not be traded until closer to this summer's deadline."

Crisis averted?

With all the negative vibes on the board recently I thought it'd be nice to have a redux of those threads that always pop up around Thanksgiving: "What are you thankful/happy for?" Get some good juju flowing.

Mine is a completely unncessary thread, of course, but I felt it might provide some spiritual and mental catharsis before the Sabean-trades-Lincecum storm that I'm afraid is coming, as well as provide some respite from all the rumors going around until something actually does happen.

Without further ado, I'm thankful for:

My Superwonderful Cain T-shirt, which arrived here in Singapore last night. My wife, who's not a Giants fan and couldn't tell Matt Cain from Barry Bonds, took one look at it and said it was one of the most superwonderful T-shirts she'd ever seen. (I think this gives me the green light to get another one of Natto's creations.) And if you haven't already done so, I'd suggest you head over to Natto's site http://natto-chan.livejournal.com/125681.html
and pick out a design you like. His art is without peer, but the shirts themselves are light and comfortable and fit wonderfully. Happiness in a T-shirt.

Thank you, Natto
 

5 years/$80 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3123200

Didn't they sign CF Gary Matthews, Jr., last year? Are they still in the Cabrera sweepstakes?

It goes without saying, but the one Web site I read most in a day is McCoveyChron. On slow days it's always nice to have others, though, and ESPN and SI just don't do it for me.

At a McChron reader's suggestion I checked out firejoemorgan.com and it quickly became my second favorite site. The guys are extremely funny, but FJM proved to be an educational site as well.

Anyway, I wanted to ask if there are any other Web sites I can add to my "go to" list along with McC, FJM, the Onion etc. I'm not looking for anything too deep, just something to help me wile away a boring day when there's no Giants baseball (or when they've already played).

Interesting is good, funny is even better.

Valentin broke his leg fouling off a pitch tonight. Despite his prolonged slump this year Durham would seemingly fit well, no?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270720119

Well, obviously SI's John Donovan is not. Here's the latest installment of his insanity.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/john_donovan/07/01/all.star.bonds.griffey/index.html

Although his entire piece is difficult to stomach, this part in particular raised my hackles. He tries to prove his case that Bonds doesn't belong by arguing that Griffey is way more deserving:

"[Griffey is] second in home runs among NL outfielders (with 21, just behind teammate Adam Dunn and just ahead of Bonds) and third in OPS (behind Bonds...)"

It would be one thing if Bonds wasn't deserving, but he's among the leaders in a number of major categories -- HR, OBP, OPS. (His BA is not too shabby either.)

At what point do I just tune out Donovan's anti-Bonds rants?

I found an interesting little nugget in this article on SI about the Blue Jays:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/john_donovan/05/16/blue.jays/1.html

"Ricciardi counters any lack of depth is due to the fact his major-league team has more homegrown talent -- 12 players on the big-league roster come from drafts that he was in charge of -- than all but two other teams, the Giants and A's."

Now, this number was padded a little in the past two weeks when The Franchise, Lewis, and Ortmeier were added, but I think it's still pretty cool, and doesn't quite jive with what we thought we knew about our aging Giants the past few years. It's great watching these kids play, and I can't wait for more to make the leap.

(Interesting to note the A's are also under .500, though like the Blue Jays I'd attribute that mostly to their horrific run of injuries so far. The Giants, sadly, can't share the same excuse...)

Apologies if this was discussed when Aurilia was signed (I was away), but did I read incorrectly or has Sabean/Bochy clearly stated that Aurilia will start at first?

Anyway, did anyone else catch this? "Rich Aurilia played alongside Barry Bonds for nine seasons, so San Francisco's new first baseman knows what to expect with No. 25..."

I hope this link works.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/12/14/sports/s175444S47.DTL

Though I have loved reading the offseason diaries so far, I'm getting a bit burned out with the "sign A to xx dollars" speculation.  So even though I celebrated Thanksgiving 16 hours ago at the American Club here in Singapore, I wanted to share right now what I'm thankful for (Giants related):

I'm thankful that I won't have to see Juan Pierre run around like a turkey with its head cut off in center field for the next five years...

I'm thankful that (for the time being, at least) I have one more year of Dreamy gobbling everything up at short...

I'm thankful that I was privileged to see Bonds knock the stuffing out of the ball for all those years...

But most of all, I'm thankful that I will be able to watch Matt Cain mature into the dominating pitcher that I am certain he will become... (Sorry, no Thanksgiving reference.)

Did anyone catch this piece over at CNNSI.com?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jonah_freedman/11/15/new.stadiums/index.html

He claims Steinbrenner (Yanks), Wilpon (Mets) and Wolff (A's) are at the head of a trend to privately fund new ballparks.

Where's the love for Magowan and gang? When it was built, wasn't PacBell the first privately funded ballpark in decades? Steinbrenner, Wilpon and Wolff didn't start the good example, they followed one.

Or am I reading the article all wrong?

I wish my first diary was more interesting than this, but a) A-Rod is topical and b) there was a snippet in here that just blew my mind.

The article is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2628823
(Sorry I can't give it a fancy clickable link.)

Best part: "...the idea of playing for Piniella, in the slightly less-pressurized Chicago market, and for a franchise that loves star power could appeal to Rodriguez."

"Slightly less-pressurized Chicago market"? A-Rod would crumble faster than my grandma's devil's food cake (pardon the bad pun). He can't produce in the postseason, that's been proven; but imagine how poorly he'd do in Chicago playing postseason ball for a franchise starved for a title...