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Everybody has their breaking point.  No man is strong enough to bear repeated disappointments, failures, indignities, and abominations before eventually feeling some deep primal darkness well up from the depths of his soul, burst into angry fruition and shout "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I QUOTE MOVIES TO PROVE IT!"

For me, the final straw were a few words posted at the top of a completely innocuous box score:  Fresno 4, San Francisco 3.  Then, for added insult, that "L" next to Barry Freaking Zito's name in the pitching line.

This cannot be happening.  I can read the most horrifying of H.P. Lovecraft's fiction about how man is a completely irrelevant dot in an uncaring universe and feel hardly a frisson of dismay.  This, though...this has me ready to load the silver bullets and the crosses and the garlic fries into my knapsack, and to go looking for pods in the basement.

Many of you know me as a fairly upbeat, positive individual not given to frothing and raging.  Well, I'm passing out tar and feathers now, and lighting the pitchforks and handing out torches.

Post your most ridiculous ideas for protesting the dismal state of 100% Bonds-Free San Francisco Baseball Club.  Who's with me?  It's time to storm the Bastille!!!  RHUBARB!  RHUBARB!  RHUBARB!!

It's hitting all the news just now.  The Yankees decided to bring Joe back.  Joe decided he'd had enough of their crap.  Kudos for him, and the classy way he handled it, flying down to Tampa to tell them in person.

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_6580198?nclick_check=1

Excerpt:

"This is my livelihood and my life," he said. "This is my passion, other than my family. I don't take vacations. I don't play golf. I do this 24/7 and I'm able to do it in a setting that I love.

"And I'm really taking it personally and embarrassed that we're not better than this. And I've got nobody to blame but ourselves and myself specifically.

"I take it very personally. I've let the whole organization down."

This is why I have no problem rooting for this guy and wanting him in charge.  The key to life is not being afraid to admit when you need to change what you're doing.

Okay, it's the day game after a night game.  However, tomorrow is an off day, and OMG754!!!  I have to decide in the next couple of hours if I'm going to the company picnic or staying home to watch the game.  So post every rumor, fact, or baseless speculation you can think of here so I can plan my day.

Thanks!

Barry signed the freaking contract finally.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/15/sports/s121838S81.DTL

...or at least for a few more years.  Apparently Bonds now never wants to retire.  So expect this offseason's drama to repeat next year, I guess.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tom_verducci/02/06/bonds.giants/1.html

I, for one, think he should play as long as he wants to and is capable.  I really don't think he'll be with the Giants in 2008, though.

Everyone knew he wasn't going to play again; he was the last to figure it out, sadly.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/12/07/sports/s105859S81.DTL

Congratulations to J.T. Snow for a good and memorable career.  You had one of the best gloves I've ever seen on a first basemen.  You saved Darren Baker.  You fell on your ass, got up, and still made the catch.  You brought a whole city to life with that playoff homer against the Mets in 2000.  And you looked good doing it all, damn you.

Farewell and welcome back, J.T.  We all look forward to hearing you replace Greg Papa (please!) on the radio this summer.

According to the SF Chronicle, Brian Sabean is talking to Scott Boras about signing Barry Zito.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/05/SPGSLMQ5BG2.DTL

The numbers being discussed:  6 years, $100 million.

That's a whole lot of puddin', and no Levon anywhere to be found.

Just now hitting the news wires -- the small plane that crashed into that building in NYC was piloted by Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle.

Very shocking news; my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.  I remember Thurman Munson, and now this!

http://www.glenndickey.com/_gd.php?view_one=yes&which=348

Glenn Dickey talks some sense here, taking jabs at sportswriters, his former employers, Barry Bonds, and the entire steroid flap.

He may have some natural bitterness at the Chronicle, but I think his points are very strong.  Without Barry Bonds, the steroid flap is not nearly as prominent.  I hope somebody hits 70 homers this year, just so I can hear the national sports media tie themselves in knots trying to explain it.

I sure hope SFGate isn't screwing with us:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/12/MNG6EI83BM5.DTL

This is baseball related, and I expect full on pagan celebrations at the ballyard when the sun comes out to stay.  The field will finally get a chance to firm up, Barry's joints will feel better, and Matt Morris will finally get to make a scheduled start!

Hallelujah!!

Barry Bonds is a guest in the radio booth for the USA vs. South Africa WBC game.  He is very relaxed, having a great time talking about baseball.  Of course, they're not bringing up the dreaded S word.

Barry says everything with his knee is going well, with no setbacks.  When asked about his plans for 2007, he left everything wide open.  He reiterated that he wants to remain a Giant, but if he wants to play in 2007 and the Giants aren't interested in keeping him, he's open to going to the AL and DHing.  Too early to really think it, he says.

I have to admit that I love listening to Barry talking about baseball.  He is very knowledgeable, and he's funny too.  This is a guy who can be very likable and very charming when he wants to be.  It's a shame we don't see him like this more often--his life would be a lot easier...

(Oh, yeah--USA 14, South Africa 0 in the third...)

It's the first day of spring training, and everyone's hopes are at their very highest right now. So here's a little column from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick to stoke those hopes even higher:

Craznick Picks Giants

So is he smoking something, and if so, can we have some? Should we all be that optimistic? Note that he thinks that eight of the best ten teams in baseball are in the American League.

Sickels Giants prospects

Sickels is surprised at how good a group this is. He says the Giants farm system must be getting better. I figured this would be good news for everyone, after the hubbub about Alou daydreaming of Vizcaino playing third.

There's very little lag at the site.  Go buy yourself some tickets with your VISA card.  Don't look too hard at the prices, though...damn.  Got 7 games for the wife and myself.

Just go to www.sfgiants.com and follow the links.

Maybe it's the antihistamines.  Maybe it's the 10,000 episodes of VH1's "Best Week Ever" I've watched.  But I can't resist playing a little "upgrade/downgrade" game with the Giants 2006 roster.

The question: have we upgraded or downgraded in our important roster spots?  Let's break it down.

First base -- last year it was J.T. Snow and a painful-to-watch Lance Niekro.  This year, Niekro and Sweeney.  DOWNGRADE.

Second base -- Durham is going to be another year older, another year brittler.  DOWNGRADE.

Shortstop -- Omar, ditto.  DOWNGRADE.

Third base -- Last year it was Elfatso and a bit of Feliz.  This year, it's all Pedro, all the time.  UPGRADE!!

Left field -- Last year it was whoever they could find.  This year, Bonds.  SUPER UPGRADE!!!

Center field -- Half a year of Ellison, half a year of the mutant superhero Randy Winn.  This year it's all Winn, with some Finley thrown in.  UPGRADE!

Right field -- Revolving door last year; this year, Alou.  UPGRADE!

Catcher -- Slugger Matheny last year; Real Life Matheny this year.  DOWNGRADE.

Starting rotation -- Last year: Schmidt/Tomko/Lowry/Rueter & Cain/Hennessey & Correia.  This year: Schdmit/Morris/Lowry/Cain/Hennessey.  The whole thing rests on Schmidt's tender groin.  Um.  This is a tough call, but I'm going with a very slight UPGRADE.

Bullpen -- Eyre's performance won't be repeated, and Kline isn't as good as Hawkins.  DOWNGRADE.

Usually I'd post crap like this on my own site, but this is THE place to talk about the Giants on the web.  So tell me I'm full of crap, agree with me, or whatever.

Well, the Nedster decided to let Jeff Weaver walk.

I've been staring at his stats over on Baseball Reference through bleary, semi-caffeinated eyes.  I find myself thinking that he might be a nice pickup if we could get him.  Good peripherals except for the homers, league average ERA, good for lots of innings.

I think, right now, I'd take him over Hennessey.  I don't know what it would cost to get Weaver, and I don't care too much really.

So talk me out of this feeling?  Or tell me I'm not totally out of it.

Bad news from St. Louis.  Jack Snow is in critical condition with a nasty, nasty staph infection.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/12/30/sports/s075734S35.DTL

Here's hoping that J.T.'s dad recovers fully and quickly.  Let's all send them some good thoughts!

From Ken Rosenthal over at Fox Sports:

"The Angels are trying to move center fielder Steve Finley in a salary exchange. Among their possible targets: Padres outfielder Ryan Klesko and Giants third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo."

You know this is destined to happen, because Sabean loves Steve Finley truly, madly, and deeply.  Straight up, would you take Finley for Alfonzo, and where would you put him?

Just got this e-mail from the Giants:

"VIZQUEL AND MATHENY WIN GOLD GLOVES

Omar Vizquel and Mike Matheny added to their trophy collection
Wednesday, winning Rawlings Gold Glove Awards as the National
League's top defensive shortstop and catcher, respectively.

Vizquel, who has nine AL Gold Gloves, picked up his first NL
honor and becomes the first Giants shortstop to win a Gold
Glove. Matheny nabbed his third straight Gold Glove and fourth
overall."

I'm not sure if this makes me feel better about the season.  Vizquel was, to my untrained eyes, very deserving of the award.  Matheny?  I'm pretty ambivalent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8193273/

This is turning out to be one of the weirdest years I've ever seen.  When the Red Sox won the Series, that was the signal to stock up on bottled water and flashlight batteries.  Then we found out who Deep Throat was (and if you thought it was Linda Lovelace, you're on totally the wrong page of the newspaper).  And then Apple Computer announced a switch to Intel CPUs.

So maybe in that light, Roger Waters rejoining Pink Floyd for one concert isn't completely bonkers.

Oh who the hell am I kidding -- this is easily the biggest news of the new century.