The Only Question Regarding Brandon Belt Is 'When?'

There is no question that Brandon Belt can play. We've seen it, and if we haven't seen it, we've heard about it. The kid is the real deal. The only question regarding the young phenom is "when?"

When will Brandon Belt play in the big leagues? To the San Francisco Giants, there are two available time slots for such an epic and much-awaited debut: Start of the season or during the season. There is no doubt, we will see Belt sometime soon, but fans just want to know when.

The Giants are notorious for seasoning their players low 'n slow in the minors. We saw it with pretty much the entire pitching staff they have now, and we saw it more recently with Buster Posey. You can't rush these things. The Giants want their players to stay in the minors where they can get regular at-bats and learn the game on a consistent playing level. Then when they're ready, they're professionals.

It's a proven method the Giants use because it works. That's why they're World Champions, because they know how to use their farm system and brew players for success.

For those impatient Giants fans, the word is 'relax.' What's the rush with Belt? He's good...yes. But is he MLB ready?

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Karma Is A Bummer

Remember when Baron Davis chose the Los Angeles Clippers over the Golden State Warriors a few years back in pursuit of the LA lifestyle? Remember how depleted Warriors fans felt seeing their one cornerstone to a playoff chance go out the window? Remember when Davis stuck his head out the sunroof of a Kia and lobbed an alley-oop to Blake Griffin? Remember when Davis was living the good life in LA with rising star Blake Griffin, and the Clippers lived happily ever after? Ummm no.

Baron Davis was traded to the NBA-worst Cleveland Cavaliers today in a swap of the two point guards Davis and Mo Williams.

The bigger story here in the Bay Area, though, is how screwed Davis' current situation is. And Warriors fans cannot be happier.

After seeing Davis walk from Oakland a few years ago, therefore draining Golden State of any chance of leadership on the court and taking with him all hopes of a playoff push, plus setting the team back several years, Warriors fans finally got even.

If you remember, Davis departed for LA, while the Warriors "scored" Corey Maggette...thus setting the team back several years.

All is now right with the world, though. Davis sits in Cleveland with the worst team in the NBA and a horrible draft class coming in. No hope.

Some have to think: Did a larger power play a role in how things turned out for Boom-Dizzle?

Yeah, it's called karma...and it sucks.

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Trade Rumors Fueling Setoguchi

So maybe that was all it took. A good kick in the pants and swirling trade rumors have Devin Setoguchi playing his best hockey of the year at a most crucial time of the year. Granted, it is only three games, but we'll take what we can get out of Setoguchi who has been quite the disappointment after being dubbed the "second-coming" just a few years ago.

Maybe Setoguchi wasn't even on the trading block to begin with, but the racing tension of actually being traded out of San Jose by February 28th may have him playing as hard as ever. And that's what we have seen over these last 3 or 4 games, Setoguchi working hard, and it has payed off in these last three games with him putting up 5 goals, including 2 when the Sharks needed them most in Detroit.

Who wouldn't want Setoguchi on their team? His massive potential is what has gotten him this far, and maybe he was hyped just a little too much. But that won't stop trade rumors from swirling, because in this league if you don't produce but have potential, other teams want you.

And why wouldn't the Sharks shop him? Although it's not clear if they are or not. He is young, has potential, just hasn't lived up to it. That makes for high trade stock, and teams will come biting.

So far, it's worked. Setoguchi has a fire lit under him since the media has dubbed him trade bait, and Sharks fans don't mind, I'm sure. 5 goals and an assist in 3 games on the road against contending teams will be accepted. Thank you.

Another factor: I doubt if Setoguchi wants out of San Jose. This is one of the hottest teams in the NHL and one of the most consistently great teams in the last several years. Why would he want out? So he is playing hard, which has been noticed by everyone and it just so happened to become fruitful in the statistical category over these last three games, when the Sharks may have needed it most.

You can pair that with the fact that Antti Niemi is still solid as a rock in net and the defense is playing ten times better in front of him, and the Sharks may have something here. The right teams get hot at the right time with the right players, and the Sharks seem to be doing that. But right now, it seems as if trade rumors are fueling at least one of the Sharks players, and the team's win total has benefitted from it at just the right time in the season.

Keep telling Setoguchi he's trade bait. It will only fuel him more.

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Warriors Learning, But Playoffs Still Long Shot

They're teasing us, sure, but the Golden State Warriors are playing good basketball. They've upped their defense, and seem more in-tune on the offensive side of the ball. But by no means are they going to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

The one good thing, I must say, to some from this season so far, is the fact that everyone on the Warriors now knows their role. Monta is the #1 guy, there is zero debate about this; Steph Curry is the side-kick; Dorell Wright is functional; David Lee is there when you need the ball in the post or a mid-range bucket; and Andris Biedrins, well, you go stand under the hoop.

It's helped, of course, but this team is still not playoff-calibur, at least in the Western Conference.

Currently, the Warriors are 4 games out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Not too shabby. But the Dubz will have to get past the likes of Utah, Memphis and Pheonix if they want in. Not likely.

Now, there's no counting them out, but it's seems rather unlikely. The Warriors will have to put together one hell of a run in this 2nd half of the season, and then some.

It doesn't mean they can't do it. The way they finished the 1st half of the season was crisp and clean, and there's no saying they can't keep it up into the 2nd half. But theres no saying the Suns or Jazz can't pull away with it either. Throw the up-start Grizzlies in there for good measure as well. Too many obstacles stand the Warriors' way, and they're not talented or coached well enough to overcome them.

The Warriors have a shot, but it's a long one. A succcessful 2nd half would be Monta, Curry, Wright, and Lee coming together as a cohesive unit and giving us hope for yet another year.

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Sharks Acquire Much-Needed Blue Line Help

You wanted a legitimate blue line defenseman? Well, you got it. The Sharks acquired defenseman Ian White from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2nd round draft pick today. The Sharks got the help they needed in the form of a wicked shot from the blue line.

Sure, it isn't the previously suggested Tomas Kaberle, who was dealt earlier today, or the young-gun Zach Bogosian that dreamer Sharks fans like myself were thinking of, but White fills the need.

FUN FACT (you're kidding me...) : This time last year, the Sharks picked up Nic Wallin for some defensive help from the Hurricanes, as well. Wallin wore #7 for the Canes. Today, White was picked up by the Sharks from the Hurricanes, and White also wore #7 for Carolina. What a small world.

The Sharks infatuation with the Hurricane's defensemen who wear #7 may have struck it rich here. White can play. His passing ability is what drew the Sharks to him, plus his shot from the blue line, something the Sharks have been missing since Rob Blake retired.

Finally a replacement, and finally some help for a run in the playoffs.

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Sharks Trade Seems Imminent

The Sharks finished up their forever-long road trip on Tuesday in Nashville against the Predators. Ya, it felt like that. After the 2-1 OT win, the Sharks now find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a four-way tie for 4th place in the Western Conference. Nice.

The Sharks will look back on this road trip as a successful one. A win put the Sharks at 5-2 on the road trip, which was more than they had hoped for, but just enough needed, as they and four other teams are just 3 points from the 9th spot.

But something still seems wrong with this team, something missing. The answer is easy and has been missing the whole season. It's been missing ever since Rob Blake retired last season.

Now, no one can replace Blake's leadership that he brought to this team in previous seasons, but the Sharks are in desperate need of a blue-line defensemen. Someone who can shoot the puck and defend a smidge to help out goalie Antti Niemi, something the team has been struggling with since the beginning of the season. With good defense comes good goaltending... that's not fair to say since good goaltending makes the defense look really good, but that's not the point!

A trade seems imminent and here is why. This late in the season, teams that are out of the playoff race are starting to mail it in. Their season is over and are looking ahead towards next year. Which means onet thing, they're looking to trade. They want new talent, specifically young talent. And guess what? The teams that are in the playoffs or looking to make the playoffs want in.

Take the Toronto Maple Leafs for example. They're 10 points out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and are one of the first this season to be proactive about shaking up their team. They are a prime example of wanting young talent to bolster their chances for next season, at the price of giving up some decent talent to teams who need it.

The Leafs have made two trades in the last week, sending defensemen Francois Beauchemin to the Anaheim Ducks, and sending Kris Versteeg to the Flyers for a handful of draft picks.

The Sharks must jump on the chance at a trade because a deep run in the playoffs will not happen with the team they have now. End of story.

Here are a few players I feel the Sharks should trade for, and a few Sharks that may be seeing the door very soon:

Zach Bogosian- Defensemen, Atlanta Thrashers
The 3rd overall pick in 2008 may not be as available as most GM's in the league are thinking, as the Thrashers' phones have been ringing off the hook for this guy. But why not? The Thrashers are looking for the right offer and the Sharks might just have it by giving up someone like Devin Setoguchi. Bogosian is a strong defensemen with an offensive mind, the epitome of what the Sharks are looking for.

Tomas Kaberle- Defensemen, Toronto Maple Leafs
I've already said the Leafs are selling. The impression left to most NHL GM's is that they are emptying shop. So they're going to pounce on this guy, who seems next in line to get the boot out of Toronto. He is another offensive defensemen that the Sharks could use. but maybe we're dreaming on this one. Again, it would take a Devin Setoguchi-type offer to woo the Leafs.

Willie Mitchell- Defensemen, Vancouver Canucks
Word is, there is no room for Mitchell on the Canucks' stacked defense. So he is available. Now, maybe the Canucks will not be willing to trade to such a viable contender in the West, but Mitchell may not play much of a role for the Canucks in the playoffs, so why not trade for someone who might? This may be the Sharks settling on this one. Mitchell does not have an offensive mind at all and will only contribute on the defensive side, but maybe that is what the Sharks need.

As for those on the Sharks' roster who could be saying their goodbye's very soon, the list is large. I won't bother you with the crazy ones just yet, but there are quite a few who can be moved without a problem.

I'll start with Devin Setoguchi who has been a disappointment this season and in seasons before. He has yet to live up to his potential and the only thing keeping him around is just that, his potential. Other teams may look at that rising potential and bet the house on it, and the Sharks can hope for a good return.

Other names include Kent Huskins, Jamal Mayers, and Scott Nichol. Huskins seems to always be a trade deadline mover no matter what team he plays on, and he is expendable right now at the defensive position. Mayers was brought in to help with the loss the Manny Malhotra, but failed, so he is on the chopping block. And with the acquisition of Kyle Wellwood, the Sharks may not have room for Nichol other than the penalty kill and just being plain annoying on the ice.
The Sharks need to act quick, but right now the team they have on the ice is not good enough. Maybe good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enought to make a run in the playoffs. As a Sharks fan, I'm just not used to that.

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Sharks' Point Streak Over, Beat At Own Game

The San Jose Sharks' 10-game point streak came to an end on Friday at the hands of the new hottest team in the NHL, the New Jersey Devils.

It was a matchup of the two hottest teams since the All-Star break in a duel of who wanted it more, as goalies Antti Niemi and Johan Hedberg had a bout in opposing nets. The Devils, once almost 30 points out of the playoffs, have been scorching since game #41 and are now just 12 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sharks also had been scorching, and it would come down a fight in New Jersey to see who would be declared the hottest in the NHL. It would take a gritty two-goal 3rd period by the Devils to snatch a victory from the Sharks.

But that was the Sharks' game throughout this point streak, keep it close and pull out a win. During this point streak, the Sharks were never going to blow anyone out. Every game was decided by one or two goals and the Sharks found a way to get the win. That was the X-factor during this streak, just finding a way. It could be a Couture goal here, a Niemi save there, the Sharks were finding ways to win. The sign of a good team, and for a good two weeks, the Sharks were the best team.

That was also the name of the game for the Devils, though. Which is why it was quite fitting for the Devils to find a way to win against a team that just barely finds ways to win, but does.

The other side of that is that the Devils need much more than a run to make the playoffs, while the Sharks are right in the thick of it. The Sharks fell to 7th in the West, while the Devils occupy the 13th position in the East. A tale of two seasons.

Maybe this was good for the Sharks. A wake-up call maybe. The games were too close and a loss had to happen at some point. No team can continually live on Antti Niemi standing on his head in net (except the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks).

There are positives to take from this point streak, other than the fact that it was a streak with a lot of points. We learned a lot. Patrick Marleau is heating up, he just needs to get a thrill out of the other two highly-paid players on that 1st line; Couture will continually give you stellar play, no flu can stop that; Niemi can stand on his head when it matters.

There's no doubt, Niemi is one of the hotter goalies in the league. Even after a 2-1 loss to the Devils, the score could have been a lot higher, and I couldn't help but think that Niemi was the only one keeping them close in that game.

So let's ride on that wave. Let's take the point streak for what it was, a much needed boost to make the playoffs. The Sharks are in the thick of it with a line-up that is giving effort for the first time all season and getting consistent play from key figures like Couture, Marleau, and Niemi. If the players that should be involved get involved (Thornton and Heatley) this team can only go up. Maybe another point streak in the works.

First things first, finish off this road trip on a high. It was successful already, but two more wins, especially one against the 4th place Nashville Predators, would put it over the top.

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Niemi Heating Up In Net

The San Jose Sharks have been on fire as of late. They have won 7 of 8 games and are riding an 8-game point streak dating back to before the All-Star break. You can attribute the success of the team to many things, maybe the spark of the recent additions of Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood, maybe the relentless play of Logan Couture, or maybe it's the recent fire that has been lit from under the defensemen of the Sharks. But I will give the credit to goalie Antti Niemi. Not because he has been incredibly unstoppable in net, because he hasn't, but because of his consistent play between the pipes. That is holding the opponent to less than 3 goals a game.

Finally some consistency!

It's been a rough year for goalies of the San Jose Sharks, production-wise that is. Before the season, the answer to the question "Who is the #1 goalie?" was the same no matter who you asked. It was simple. The Sharks have two goalies, Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi. Both are similar in talent. Both will share the load. There is no #1 goalie. Shoot me.


Sure, it satisfied the Sharks fans in the beginning. But everyone knew that as the season wore on there would be one goalie of the two that would emerge as the #1. It was a given. Wrong.

Today, with just under 30 games left in the season, the answer is still the same. The Sharks still have two #1 goalies.

Now, Niittymaki has been injured since before the All-Star break, but coach Todd McClellan still stands behind his reasoning that if Niittymaki were available to play, then he and Niemi would continue to split time. Done deal. There's no swaying him either way. But I have got to believe that when Niittymaki comes back from injury, he will be sitting #2 on the goalie depth chart. Whether McClellan says it or not.

It's obvious, this injury to Niitymaki couldn't have come at a better time. It forced the Sharks to go with one goalie, Niemi. Since then, Niemi hasn't been incredibly hot in net, but he has been consistent. Over these last few games, though, I would beg to differ that Niemi is at least simmering on the idea of getting hot, at just the right time, may I add.

He's notorious for this. Okay, maybe not notorious, but he was the reason for the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup last season. Well, that and their smoking offense mixed with a shut-down defense, but that's beside the point.

In his short career so far, Niemi has a knack for becoming hot at the right moment. Last year, he became hot in the playoffs after talk the whole season was about how the Blackhawks don't have a go-to guy in goal. He was incredible, and from a Sharks perspective...that sucks!

Now, the Sharks need a run to make the playoffs. Low and behold, Niemi seems poised for the run in net.

There's no doubt, the Sharks will go only as far as their goalie will take them, whether it is Niemi or Niittymaki once he comes back. If the Sharks were smart, they would go with who gives them the better chance, whoever is hot at the right moment. Niemi has made his point by taking the Sharks on an 8-game point streak and playing the best hockey of the year. Convinced Todd McClellan?

The Sharks will have a decision to make when Niittymaki comes back in about a week. But at this point in the season, one go-to goalie may be better than two. Niemi has proved it.

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Boston Can't Stop Surging Sharks

If the San Jose Sharks weren't regarded as one of the hottest teams in the NHL yesterday, then they will be today. The Sharks shut-out the Boston Bruins in Boston on Saturday, giving them an 8-game point streak and winners of 7 of 8.

It seems like things are finally picking up for the Sharks. After a disappointing 1st half of the season that Sharks fans hadn't seen in years, the team has turned it around in the 2nd half. San Jose just isn't used to it, and neither is the Sharks front office. Just a few games after GM Doug Wilson called out his team's effort on the ice, the Sharks have since been nearly unbeatable. They are controlling the game and have kicked up the energy on both offense and defense since the All-Star break.

The win against Boston, one of the elites in the East, on Saturday solidified the Sharks as one of the hotter teams in the league, and they are doing it on the road. Currently on a 7-game road trip, the Sharks were hoping just to stay afloat during this time and praying for a successful March in which more than most of their games are at home. Not the case now. The Sharks smell blood and have jumped from 8th place in the West to 4th in just 4 games. That can be attributed to the jam-packed Western Conference or the Sharks good play. I prefer the latter.


The success can be directed to many things, whether it be the additions of Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood on either side of ROY candidate Logan Couture, who scored in his first game back from the flu. That line has been thriving.

It could be directed toward the reuniting of Thornton, Heatley, and Marleau on the top line. They seem more in-sync than they were in the first part of the season that led to coach Todd McClellan splitting them up. For the first time in awhile, I noticed that top line flowing, meshing, whatever word you want to use to say that this line is fitting together once again, like they were when they were regarded as the best line in the NHL, although the numbers don't show it.

But I'm going to direct the success at goalie Antti Niemi. No one was sure what to expect from him after winning the Stanley Cup last season. It was evident after Chicago let him walk. And after a rough first half of the season in which Niemi saw himself moving from back-up, to splitting time, to starter, to splitting time, and now back to starter, he is currently making the most of it. It was clear on Saturday that he is incredibly hot in net by shutting out the potent Bruin offense on their home ice, and he is the reason for the recent surge of the Sharks.

The Sharks continue their road trip and carry their hot play into Washington on Tuesday.

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Reality: Ellis Not Making All-Star Team

Around this time every year, the debate is not whether or not Monta Ellis deserves to make the All-Star team, but will he actually physically make the team?

Ellis is averaging 25.1 ppg and is 6th in scoring in the NBA. That's certainly enough to get him in, right? Wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

Ellis should not make the team. As the NBA community sees it, the Western Conference All-Star team will come down to 4 players: Derron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Manu Ginobli, and Monta Ellis. Williams is arguably the best point guard in the NBA, so he's in. Ginobli is arguably the best player on the best team in the NBA, so he's in. So it comes down to Westbrook and Ellis for the final spot.

Westbrook is apart of the 'Big 3' that OKC has to offer in Durant, Green, and Westbrook. He is averaging 22 ppg,5 rpg, and 8 apg....on the Thunder, a top team in the West. Impressive, ya?

What does Ellis have to offer? 25 ppg on a team that has nearly no shot at making the playoffs. The argument here is if Westbrook was on the Warriors, wouldn't he be putting up the same numbers as Monta? Yeah, probably bigger numbers in fact.

To keep it simple, the only way Ellis will get on the All-Star roster is if Derron Williams sits out with an injury, which is very possible. We will not know this for a bit, though.

The best of luck to Ellis, but I just can't see it happening. Looks like the Warriors' All-Star hopes dangle for another year.

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