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The Giants may have accomplished the unthinkable, but every dog has it's day. Teams sometimes get really, Really, REALLY lucky in every sport. The Giants are officially one of those teams. But, there are some silver linings to all this. All of those out-of the–woodwork quasi-Giants fans are probably in for a rude awakening after they buy their season tickets for the first time.  Historically, improbable winners don’t do so well the following season. Check out the following, and I assure you it will warm the cockles of your hearts.

In 2006, the 83-78 Cardinals beat the 95-67 Tigers in five games.

Next season’s record: 78-84

In 2003, the 91-71 Marlins beat the 101-61 Yankees in six games.

Next season’s record: 83-79

In 1990, the 91-71 Reds beat the 103-59 Athletics in four games.

Next season’s record:  74-88

In 1988, the 94-67 Dodgers beat the 104-58 Athletics in five games.

Next season’s record:  77-83

In 1969, the 100-62 Mets beat the 109-53 Orioles in five games.

Next season’s record: 83-79

In 1954 the 97-57 Giants swept the 111-43 Indians

Next season’s record:  80-74

Furthermore, the Giant’s pitching staff has really avoided serious injuries. While a lot of teams (particularly the A’s) deal with constant Tommy John and other surgeries, the Giants seam to be immune to this. The Law of Averages is going to catch up with them sometime. Lincecum and Cain have been putting up some serious innings, and no pitcher is immune.  Plus, Lincecum’s velocity has dipped since his first season: 2008 he averaged 94.1 mph, 2009 he averaged 92.4, and now he averages 91.2. This does not bode well for a small-framed pitcher like Lincecum.

Organizationally, outside of Posey, the Giants do not have the makings of a young up and coming team. This is no Devil Rays team with all the great and young offensive players. Nor is it like the Reds. This a team of soon to be retirees just off of the scrap heap. Outside of Posey, I just can not see how they can compete offensively to the degree where they will revisit the World Series. This is no dynasty in the making. Where the Giants hitters are old throughout the lineup, the A’s are young and talented, and they are at the beginning of their careers. For example: Carter, Taylor, Suzuki, Pennington, Green (not too distant future), Weeks (same as Green), Cardenas, Donaldson, and all the others I can not remember at this moment!  The future is bright for A’s fans.

Finally, after this Giants World Series win, it will be hard for Giants’ management to argue to MLB that the A’s can not have the rights to San Jose. Where the A’s move, as long as it is in the bay area, I don’t give a hoot. I just want them to have some payroll so they can get some players and start putting together an exciting product! Other teams must be sick of paying the A’s a luxury tax, and it is probably perplexing to them that Neukom will plead poverty while winning a World Series and also charging $1100.00 for a seat at one of the games.  The A’s now might not have to pay off the Giants to get to San Jose or whatever. It just seems twisted and sick that one team has it all on one side of the bay, and the other team is forced to be poverty stricken. Of course, John Fisher is rich and cheap, but that is besides the point.

The Red Sox had the “curse of the bambino” all those years to explain the losing. But, they finally won, and then the realization set in that they just sucked and where inept for a long time. There was no curse all that time. How about the Black Sox Curse of Shoeless Joe Jackson, but the White Sox finally won one, and that is the end of the story. I heard on the radio the other day that the Giants are like the lovable Cubs of the West with all the lack of World Series trophies. Or the one about how a statue of Giants’ Eddie Grant was stolen at the Polo Grounds and that statue was not brought to S.F., and therefore they are cursed and they lose. Huh? They are jinxed and all that bologna. Well, that theory can be put to rest once and for all. They just sucked for a really long time. Can anyone say Candy Maldonado? End of story. Plus, it is going to be a really long time before they match Oakland’s World Series record. They are in for some real harsh karma. Anyway, that is what I have been telling myself all night so that I don’t puke in my mouth while sleeping like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. 

Well, along with every other A's fan, I am looking forward to next season. In the process I have spent a little time thinking about next year's lineup and whether we have a chance to succeed with what kind of talent exists on this team.  Additionally, I am guilty of taunting Billy on this site about needing to go out and getting some power hitters. Yet, if  one looks at this lineup it appears to me that he may not trade nor sign any free agents because he has enough players as it is at every position. It is downright scary the thought of next year's lineup, and the fact they we may very well stand pat this winter and be left with..........well...............this lineup.

Catcher: Suzuki

First Base: Barton

Second Base: Patterson, Pennington

Shortstop:  Crosby

Third Base: Chavez

DH: Cust

Right field: Sweeney

Center Field: Gonzales

Left Field: Buck, Murton, Cunningham, Patterson

I put multiple players at certain positions due to the depth that exists. This depth further explains why Billy will not go out and get anyone to improve this situation; he already has enough players!  All of these players are young and have some potential, I just seriously question whether this potential compares to the scoring potential of the Rangers and the Angels.

Concerning individual players I put in the this lineup, well, no one is going to want to trade for Crosby, he is here for the duration. Ellis won't be signed because Billy has enough middle infielders who are cheaper and potentially the same type of player as Ellis with Pennington and Patterson.  (Jeez, Pennington in the field could be physically confused for Ellis! They uncannily look the same.) He has way too many outfielders with Buck, Gonzales, Sweeney, Murton, Cunningham, and on and on ad nauseum. With the exception of Gonzales, they are the same player. Cust is going no where due to his on base baloney, and Sweeney, although he has a good batting average, he is not showing me any power potential. But, he is the person replacing Nick Swisher so Billy will trot him out there regardless or not.  Barton is staying, why else would Billy not send him down to AAA with his horrendous numbers? Suzuki has been good, but does anyone really think that those 18 doubles and 7 or 8 homers are really going to make a difference on this team offensively? And finally, based on media reports about his surgery and the lack of no backup, I can see Chavez playing next year and providing some offense. If Billy were, and that is a big WERE,  going to sign anyone it would be a backup plan for Chavez. That would be Hank Blalock, good lord. 

So the question is, does anyone think that next year's lineup is going to win any more games than this year? Does anyone think that Billy will actually replace anyone in the lineup via trades or free agency? And don't get me started on the pitching staff. As of tonight, this Gallagher dude is becoming questionable. But, I said I wouldn't get started on the pitching staff. Is this 300 words yet?

While reading through my dog eared Baseball Prospectus and checking out all the VORP's, PECOTA's, MLVR's, and EQAVG's (never figured that one out), I came upon Travis Buck's PECOTA projection. They had Travis Buck as being comparable to Jeremy Giambi.  What the......?!?!   Now, I love my Baseball Prospectus, and I realize that they can not be correct all the time, but, whatever happened to good ol' intuition? It seems Baseball America uses various leaps of faith when they come up with their top ten prospects each year.  They had Trevor Cahill in the top then this year and he had barely pitched! They also had Craig Italiano, Jermaine Mitchell, Matt Sulentic, Javier Herrera, and Richie Robnett (was he on a list?) on top ten lists....and what the heck have they done? Baseball America will habitually rate someone highly and get everyone all hyped up.  For a while it seemed that people on this board were always writing about Jermaine Mitchell and his small sample size of great statistics at Vancouver.  Now look at him.  Just horrible. The same goes for Matt Sulentic and Vince Mazzaro.  And, why does it always have to be a "top ten" list of prospects? So, let me share with you my top NINE prospects...

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