San Francisco Giants: Carlos Beltran Acquisition Means Aubrey Huff On Hot Seat

The San Francisco Giants got their guy, and hopes are high for a World Series repeat this season. Just looking at the new lineup, you can tell how much of a difference Beltran is to this team.

He adds sexiness to a lackluster lineup. Beltran, Sandoval, Huff and Schierholtz is a good way to go 3-6 in the lineup. It is clear to a Giants fan, at least, who is sick of the dull roster that lacked a power hitter.

As I sat in front of the television on Thursday night, I could not help but treat Beltran's at-bats like I had treated Barry Bonds' at-bats back in the day.

I could walk around and do stuff around the house for the rest of the lineup, but when Beltran came up, everything stopped and I sat down.

Not since Bonds has a Giants' hitter had such an aura around him when he walked to the plate.

However, his aura also changes some things on the roster, at least mentally.

Aubrey Huff is struggling, and although we do see sparks from him, it is a far cry from what we saw in 2010.

It is for that reason that there is growing controversy about Huff's role on this ball club.

Comcast Sportsnet's Mychael Urban recently wrote an article on the inklings that Huff may be given a short leash for the rest of the season. He also gave us the teaser that we may be seeing more of Brandon Belt in the near future of things keep up.

The Beltran trade changes everything for Huff. He went from a middle of the order power threat to a player questioned about his $22 million contract, while hitting just .239.

With Beltran in the lineup, the Giants do not need Huff's threat of a big bat, which is why he better get hitting.

Belt is a viable option to start in the playoffs at first base if Huff continues to be a non-factor in this lineup, as he has been.

While Huff has been in a continued slump, Belt seems to be more relaxed and ready for the MLB in his second call-up to San Francisco. If nothing else, Belt gives the team good at-bats. These days, Huff is a waste of one.

With Beltran, Bruce Bochy gets to be more flexible with his lineup card. Huff does not have to be a constant presence batting fourth, fifth or sixth because of the big bat he swings.

Good at-bats is what the Giants crave now that Beltran is the heart of the lineup, and Belt is a real option to attain that.

San Francisco gets a whole lot better by adding Beltran, but the lineup still continues to be one that could be so much more well-rounded by making just a few key moves.

Huff is currently on the hot seat at first base, which is why he needs to perform in the next couple weeks or we may find him playing the role of the 2011 version of Mark DeRosa in the 2010 playoffs.

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Bay Area Rundown: San Francisco Giants, Carlos Beltran, Alex Smith, Frank Gore Making Headlines

Did the last 24 hours just blow your mind? The Bay Area was on fire with rumors, hold-outs, signings and more rumors on a wild Wednesday in the sports world.

It all started late Tuesday night with the announcement that the San Francisco 49ers had re-signed QB Alex Smith in a one-year deal for $5 million.

For those waking up to eggs and bacon the next morning, how about eggs and Carlos Beltran?

The Beltran rumors were electric Wednesday morning and continued into the afternoon.

By 2 p.m., there was a tentative agreement between the Giants and Mets to exchange Beltran for San Francisco's top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

Beltran will be in Philadelphia for the Giants/Phillies series by Wednesday night.

However, not all the news was pleasant on Wednesday.

49ers' workhorse running back Frank Gore is reportedly going to hold out when training camp starts. Gore is in the last year of his deal paying him $2.9 million next season.

Compare that to Smith's contract signed Tuesday ($5 million), and I would be a little disgruntled, as well.


Quick thoughts on Wednesday's happenings:

---Alex Smith was the only option at quarterback for the 49ers, who expressed interest in QB Matt Hasselbeck and bowed out of the race for both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb quite early.

Smith is there to fill the gap for a year while they work in rookie Colin Kaepernick. Nothing more, and nothing less.

---Carlos Beltran is the biggest pick-up of the 2011 MLB Trade Deadline, and he will produce and help this ball club immediately by just his presence in the lineup.

By the way, if the numerous reports are true and the teams did just exchange Beltran for prospect Zack Wheeler, as well as the Mets sending cash the Giants' way, then GM Brian Sabean really pulled one over on New York.

My impressions, paired with reports, were that Wheeler will be nothing more than a second or third pitcher in an MLB rotation when he hits the big leagues.

---The Frank Gore situation is simple: Pay the guy the money.

This next season, he is the offense. Only paying him $2.9 million with the type of workload he inhales every Sunday is outrageous.

The 49ers are at Gore's every need on this one. Pay him.

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San Francisco 49ers Eye Matt Hasselbeck; Will Not Bid For Him

Blame Steve Young for this one. The 49er great made one comment on ESPN about a potential hook-up between free agent quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and the 49ers, and all hell broke loose.

Pure speculation, though, which is what Young should have said.

The 49ers have talked to Hasselbeck about joining their team, according to ESPN, but it all but stops there.

San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami was told by a source within the 49ers' organization that they were interested in Hasselbeck, but that they "would not get into a bidding war" for him.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, and all others drooling over a season without Alex Smith, the Tennessee Titans are ready for a bidding war.

With that said, we can end the Hasselbeck/49ers rumors now. The quote pretty much tells the story.

It seemed functional for a moment, though. Hasselbeck instead of, or including, Smith was a good idea. However, those who saw the news this afternoon and almost jumped for joy at the thought of a possible season without Smith will be sorely mistaken.

The Week 1 starter is Smith. There is zero debate over this.

If that is not enough, the one-year deal for $5 million that is being reported may be.

Smith did not organize workouts during the lockout to be a back-up or even an NFL throw-away. He is in San Francisco to fill a year before they can either go out and acquire a quarterback (unlikely), or wait for rookie Colin Kaepernick to develop.

Smith and the 49ers seem to have a mutual understanding on that.

The 49ers are who they are this next season: an inexperienced team with a rookie head coach, debatable starting quarterback and a whole lot of possible real talent to work with.

The Hasselbeck idea was pure speculation, turned into confirmed rumor, turned into debatable fiction thanks to a source within the 49ers' organization.

Hasselbeck would help San Francisco more than Smith can, but the amount the team has mentally invested in No. 11 is enough to not have them break the bank over a veteran quarterback.

This was just a small speed-bump proving the 49ers' unwavering faith in Smith in 2011.

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San Francisco Giants: The Likelihood of the Rumored Trade Bait

The now infamous "untouchables" list of Giants GM Brian Sabean took a little twist a few days ago when the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman tweeted that Sabean had told him that his "untouchables" list may be different than public perception.

What does that mean?

Public opinion says that the Giants' top prospects of Brandon Belt, Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler and Francisco Peguero are at the forefront of players that Sabean would hate to part with since they have such big futures apart of this team.

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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Alternatives to Carlos Beltran for the San Francisco Giants

One of the most exciting times of the baseball year is set to get underway this week. The MLB trade deadline is this upcoming Sunday, July 31, and the San Francisco Giants are at the center of it.

The Giants are rumored to be the front runners in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes, however there is much debate over who the New York Mets want and who Giants GM Brian Sabean is willing to give up.

The debate comes in when the Mets start demanding key players in the Giants' talented farm system. That list includes Brandon Belt, Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler and Francisco Peguero, although the noted "untouchables list" may include any and all of those players.

San Francisco is willing to take on the contract of Beltran, but it is speculated that the Mets want notable prospects in return, which is where things get difficult.

It is hard to believe that the Giants will part with players like Belt and Brown, but if Wheeler and/or Peguero are not enough, San Francisco will be looking elsewhere for a player to push them deep into the playoffs.

Here are five alternatives to Carlos Beltran if negotiations do not work out.

5. Ian Desmond

Yahoo's Jeff Passan is reporting that Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond is being shopped by the team and that the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have shown interest.

This seems almost like a last resort for the Giants if negotiations fail with the Mets and Carlos Beltran.

Desmond is a decent hitter and good fielder with a nice future in this league, but acquiring him would mean a log jam at shortstop and second base.

The 25-year-old can play both positions, but it would mean the reliable Mike Fontenot, Brandon Crawford and recently-acquired Jeff Keppinger would be battling for one starting spot every night.

Although this would be a solid pick-up for the Giants, the move just does not add up overall.

4. B.J. Upton

The B.J. Upton possibility comes into play if the Giants decide that the Mets are asking for too much in the Carlos Beltran deal.

The overall consensus around baseball is that Upton's trade value is at its peak, which is why the Rays are likely to part with the 26-year-old for a few decent prospects. Compare that to the Mets, who are looking for top-tier prospects in return for Beltran.

An asking price for Beltran may be Gary Brown and Zach Wheeler, while Upton's asking price may be Francisco Peguero and Wheeler.

Upton's athleticism would greatly improve the Giants' defense, but the concern over who he is as an overall baseball player may drive some teams to stay away. Many teams feel he is more of an athlete and less of a well-rounded baseball player.

Most likely, Upton is second on San Francisco's trade deadline list.

3. Hunter Pence

There has been no rumored connection between Pence and the Giants, however San Francisco is a major player in the trade market this year and could pursue any of the top players on the market at the trade deadline.

Pence is growing into "star" status in baseball, and his average of .308 with 62 RBI so far this season has some teams salivating at acquiring the center fielder for a deep playoff run.

The major problem is that the Astros want mega-prospects in return.

Pence is only 27-years old with a bright future in baseball, which is why if the Giants choose to pursue him, they will have to bring the entire farm system with them.

It will be worth it, though.

2. Josh Willingham

Same player, just another year.

The Giants were interested in Willingham last season for their playoff push, but negotiations seemed to fizzle out come the trade deadline.

The Giants have had a good look at the 31-year-old just across the bay, and he could be a good solution to their middle of the order problem.

Willingham has 13 home runs on the season, despite playing in just 76 games.

The only thing stopping the Giants from seriously pursuing him would be his stints on the disabled list this season.

1. Jeff Francoeur

Francoeur has had a solid year for the Kansas City Royals, and he seems to be regaining the form we saw with the Braves back in 2006 and 2007.

That formula makes for the quintessential trade deadline target, however the chatter among the rumor mill has simply not heated up for him yet.

Francoeur would fit in perfectly with the fun and friendly atmosphere of the Giants clubhouse, as well as fourth or fifth in the starting line-up.

Think of a better-hitting Nate Schierholtz with that same solid arm in right or left field. However, if Schierholtz continues to swing the bat, Sabean may lean more towards staying pat with Nate the Great.

The goal of the trade deadline is to get a player to fill the team's need. Francoeur can do that for a decent price.

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"Torture" Does Not Fit the San Francisco Giants Anymore

Manny Burriss had just stolen second base and reached third in the 11th inning of a 3-3 game in San Diego on Sunday. Catcher Chris Stewart came to the plate, got the sign and proceeded to squeeze home the sprinting Burriss for the lead and eventual win.

However, as I watched this rare and nerve-racking event unfold before my eyes, I could not help but think for a second.

I expected that to happen.

The term "torture" that was coined by the Giants' play-by-play man Duane Kuiper last season has become a phenomenon in San Francisco and even carried a life of its own nationally during the World Series last season.

Headlines following the Giants' World Series win read "Torture Never Felt So Good."

As we enter Torture 2.0 in this second half of the 2011 season, we are sure to encounter much of the same one-run games and stunning walk-offs of epic proportion that we saw towards the end of last season and continued through this season.

Is it really torture anymore, though?

We have seen so many incredible wins for the Giants between this season and last, whether they were one-run games or walk-off victories. However, at some point, we expect that, right?

In some manner or another, we are expecting San Francisco to squeeze home the eventual winning run, or we expect Brian Wilson to walk a few batters before striking out the next three.

That is what you will get out of this team, a ton of one-run games mixed with a little drama because good pitching and lackluster hitting leads to close games. It's science.

Last season, it was torture because we simply did not know what to expect.

When Wilson loaded the bases in the ninth inning of a one-run game, we were not sure if he could get out of it.

This season, if the game is tied, we expect the Giants to score that next run and win the game.

It comes with a new confidence in this team. The confidence in the Giants that they will deliver when it matters most.

We witnessed it last season, and the confidence we have this season will lead to less torture and more success in the months to come for this team.

We expect it to happen that way.

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NFL Free Agency 2011: 5 Realistic Options for the San Francisco 49ers

If there was a team hurt by the NFL Lockout the most, it would be the San Francisco 49ers. A new head coach with zero NFL coaching experience and only one quarterback signed on the roster would seem to imply trouble for the 49ers next season.

One good thing that did come from this lockout for the 49ers was the leadership of free agent QB Alex Smith.

Smith is not signed by San Francisco, yet he organized a training camp-like workout for all players on the roster this past month that seemed to signify another year of the 2005 No. 1 overall pick under center.

As if the 49ers had another option, though.

Smith and Harbaugh have seemed to hit it off this offseason, which can only be good news for the seemingly always disappointed 49er fan.

However, work still needs to be done for San Francisco this offseason, despite GM Trent Baalke refuting the idea.

The roster is by no means set, and the 49ers would be wise to be active once the lockout ends. Holes in the roster include the secondary and depth at wide receiver.

Here are five realistic options for the 49ers.

James Jones

The 49ers need another wide receiver and James Jones is a realistic free agent within San Francisco's realm of possibility.

Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal has given Jones a 20 percent chance of returning to the Green Bay Packers next season, which is good enough for teams to move in as soon as the lockout ends.

The only reason Jones is a legitimate possibility in San Francisco is because of location.

Jones has been working out and staying in NFL shape at his alma mater San Jose State University this summer. Coincidentally, the 49ers' Alex Smith-led workouts were at that same location.

Jones lives in San Jose, just minutes from the 49ers' Santa Clara headquarters, which may make it an easier transition from Super Bowl champ to NFC West chump next season.

Chris Carr

I know what you are thinking—not another Carr. The No. 1 overall disappointment that is David Carr is enough for one team.

However, the 49ers could use another cornerback regardless of his last name.

Carr has played six seasons in the NFL. You may recognize him from just across the bay in Oakland, or more notably from the shutdown defense that is the Baltimore Ravens.

The 27-year-old is an unrestricted free agent whenever the lockout ends and could help bolster a cornerback position that includes Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer.

Carr had two interceptions and 61 tackles last season in Baltimore.

Carlos Rogers

Rogers is arguably the fifth or sixth best free agent at the cornerback position this offseason, which somehow puts him right in the 49ers' wheelhouse.

The 29-year-old made $1.5 million last season and is expected to make around the same next season. If the 49ers do not want to be major players in free agency, as they say, they can at least pick up a decent cornerback for a decent price that can help bolster a weary position in San Francisco.

Rogers had two interceptions and 54 tackles last season for the Washington Redskins.

Malcom Floyd

It would take a change of heart to go after wide receiver Malcolm Floyd in free agency this offseason. He and Vincent Jackson were major forces for Phillip Rivers and the Chargers last season, which would imply a pay raise for Floyd in free agency.

The 29-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but his $3.17 million salary last season may indeed need a spike.

The only knock against Floyd is the doubt as to how well he can play without star Vincent Jackson.

Either way, Floyd is a deep threat that the 49ers could very well use if they change their mind and dig deep in free agency.

Brent Grimes

Grimes was not supposed to play in the NFL after going undrafted out of Shippensburg University.

However, his athletic ability and shear determination to want the ball more has made him the fourth or fifth best free agent in the very talented cornerback class, highlighted by Nnamdi Asomugha and Jonathan Joseph.

Grimes is a restricted free agent, but the Falcons would be wise to re-sign such a diamond in the rough. They discovered him when all had given up on him and his NFL career.

It will take a lot to acquire Grimes, but if the 49ers choose to be active in free agency, they will make a play for the 27-year-old.

In 2010, Grimes had five interceptions and 87 tackles.

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San Jose Sharks: Breaking Down the Projected Starting Lines in 2011-12

It is no secret that the San Jose Sharks have been active this offseason. The black and teal traded wingers Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley in exchange for All-Stars Brent Burns and Martin Havlat in two separate deals with the Minnesota Wild.

Why attempt to fix something that is not considered broken?

Ask Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who seems determined to put together the exact pieces for yet another Stanley Cup run next season.

San Jose has appeared in back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and still that does not seem enough for a team oozing with talent.

Given the trades this offseason, expect the Sharks to be back in 2011-12 ready to make another run through the Western Conference.

However, the starting lines do not seem as set as the confidence this team has in their ability to make another run at the Stanley Cup.

Here are the Sharks' projected starting lines next season:

Forwards

Marleau - Thornton - Pavelski

Clowe - Couture - Havlat

McGinn - Handzus - Mitchell

Desjardins - Wellwood - Ferriero

Defence

Boyle - Murray

Vlasic - Burns

Vandermeer - Demers

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'The Franchise' Is Entertaining If You Are A San Francisco Giants Fan

The Franchise: A Season With the San Francisco Giants premiered on Showtime this past Wednesday to a national audience anticipating the fun and quirky World Series champions.

Of course, the main attraction to the Showtime series was, and will forever be, Brian Wilson. His outrageous act is impossible not to give at least a wry smile at when seeing him in a spandex tuxedo on national television.

Surprisingly, Wilson was not the main character in Episode 2 this past Wednesday. They did have to sneak in some cameos from him in order to please the demanding audience, but overall it was an episode surrounding the ups and downs that the team encountered during the first half of the 2011 season so far.

Cameras followed Matt Cain and his family, Pablo Sandoval and his weight loss, Jeremy Affeldt and his family, Brandon Belt's turmoil and Buster Posey's season-ending injury, among other stories.

I am sure most had a hard time watching the Posey/Cousins collision at home plate for the gazillionth time.

Overall, Showtime showed a decent behind the scenes view of the quirky misfits both on and off the field, and it was rather interesting to see if you are a Giants fan.

However, as much as Sandoval's weight loss program and Cain and Affeldt's families were entertaining to see off the field, I had to put myself in a position where I was not a gargantuan San Francisco Giants fan.

Would the rest of the country appreciate what a group of idiots and personalities the Giants really were? Would the stories even interest an audience of average baseball fans?

The truth is that it probably does not interest them.

Every team has the trials and tribulations of Cain and Affeldt's families, and every team goes through injuries that can shake a ball club. And if you do not live in San Francisco, you either love or hate Wilson.

What intrigues Giants fans is that we saw these players grow in front of our eyes last season when they took a bunch of misfits and turned them into World Series champions.

We were there when Brian Wilson did not have a beard, and we saw Sandoval when he was incredibly overweight. Some of us even saw Posey when he was in Single-A San Jose waiting for him to erupt onto the baseball scene.

However, we never saw what it was like on the road or in the locker room for these players, and that is why we could not take our eyes off of it on Wednesday night.

Everyone got a good laugh at Aubrey Huff's club dance on the MLB Network or Zito's yoga session (although that was not supposed to be funny).

How could you not at least giggle at a guy doing yoga over the San Fernando Valley from his West Hollywood Hills home, getting payed $126 million, talking about how he is unable to be a factor on this team?

Again, we witnessed that last season.

You better believe people will keep watching, though, at least Giants fans will.

Wilson's violin orchestra interview in sepia tint to the closing credits was enough for me to come back.

"And you're f@#*ing welcome....."

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The ESPY Awards Need A Dose of Reality

We must understand that the ESPY Awards are about having fun and entertaining an audience, while bridging the gap between sports and entertainment, but let's at least keep a little bit of our sanity through it all.

For that matter, let ESPN keep some of their dignity, as well.

For those who could not tell from the revealing of the winners of every category, the ESPY Awards are based on fan voting.

Think of it as the American Idol of sports and entertainment, except the person who wins usually has the most previous television commercials and/or is signed by Nike.

If the ESPY's are going to bridge the gap from just a happy-go-lucky, semi-serious awards show into a full-fledged event that stars from every sport yearn to be nominated for, they will stop fan voting or at least limit it to the categories no one cares about.

I tuned in to the ESPY's for a total of 10 minutes, which was 10 more than I was planning on, but quickly learned about two categories that through a flag on the play, if you will, to me and all other sports fans with half an unconcussed brain to work with.

They were the categories of Best NFL Player and Best College Athlete.

Again, I understand that this was a night of fun and amusement where everyone wins, but Jimmer Fredette was the winner of Best College Athlete?!

He wasn't even the best college basketball player, let alone the best player in all of college sports.

Everyone knows that Kemba Walker was the best college player, and I hope this blog is enough recognition for him because Fredette got to rub shoulders with Justin Timberlake.

For the Best NFL Player, it happens every year. The quarterback of the Super Bowl wins the Best NFL Player category.

Turns out, the best NFL player is Aaron Rodgers (as well as Best Male Athlete). News to me...

However, I guess it would be boring if Tom Brady and Peyton Manning switched off every year.

Honestly, I watched the ESPY's for two reasons. Being that I am a San Francisco Giants fan, I watched to see a quick cameo by the bearded Brian Wilson.

The other reason was that Erin Andrews was involved.

As usual, she was there for her journalistic professionalism.

ESPN's pulls on American sports and entertainment could make this awards show into one of the better events to watch all year. However, they choose to involve the fan vote in order to intrigue the audience. That way everyone wins.

Since when has that mattered in professional sports?

This could be an awards show that players care about, but that would not be as much fun, right?

However, we have winners like Fredette defeating a Heisman Award winner and a Player of the Year in college basketball.

ESPN has the tools needed to make this is a big ordeal. But until then, the audience will be turning in to see what Erin Andrews is wearing or what ridiculous joke Brian Wilson will tickle the crowd with -- not the athletes themselves.

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San Jose Sharks Rumors: J.P. Dumont, Chris Drury Are Real Possibilities

It is hard to say what kind of an offseason the San Jose Sharks are having. Active would be a nice way to put it. However, the second word to describe it is a matter of opinion.

Is it bold? Confident? Stupid?

Has Sharks GM Doug Wilson shot his team in the foot, or is he just a genius?

The answers to these questions will come sooner than we think.

Are the Sharks done dealing, though?

Some reports have the team linked to the Washington Capitals' Alexander Semin, among many others.

However, we know San Jose will be making more moves. Maybe they are not of the significant type, but the Sharks' lines are incomplete.

David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News wrote in his Working the Corners blog that he thinks the Sharks are leaning towards the lines breaking down like this:

Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski

Clowe-Couture-Havlat

The third and fourth lines seem to be a mix-and-match at the moment, with Torrey Mitchell, Jamie McGinn and Michael Handzus headlining. But it is hard to believe that Wilson will leave it that way.

It seems to be an overall consensus that the Sharks need a veteran winger to go either on the third or fourth line, and help with the young core San Jose has.

Currently, the top five free agent forwards still available are Teemu Selanne, Vinny Prospal, Brendan Morrison, J.P. Dumont and Joe Madden.

However, three players jump out as real possibilities in San Jose.

J.P. Dumont

Dumont was bought out by his former team the Nashville Predators last month and is looking for a home with a winning franchise.

The Sharks qualify for that one, and for the right price, San Jose would appreciate Dumont.

After putting up seasons of 65 and 45 points, the 33 year-old posted just 19 points in 70 games last season.

The winger would do well in the locker room by bringing a veteran presence, as well as benefiting from players like Mitchell or Couture, who he might play with.

Although he had a down season last year, the Sharks would hope to get the 65-point Dumont that was a couple seasons ago.

Chris Drury

Drury fits every part that the Sharks need. They need a veteran forward with good ability to fit on the third or fourth lines.

Despite just five points in 24 games last season, the 35-year-old could benefit from playing with young and talented players, as well as fitting into the locker room atmosphere.

Drury was bought out by the New York Rangers after his failed season, but could be looking for a fresh start or end to his career.

This is a real possibility in San Jose.

Kyle Wellwood

It is Day 11 of NHL Free Agency and no team has taken a gamble on Kyle Wellwood yet.

The 28-year-old fit well with the Sharks after being picked up by San Jose late in the 2010-11 season. He was a very valuable piece in both the Kings and Red Wings series, and was looking to sign with a team in free agency after the Sharks let him walk.

If San Jose could re-sign him, he could fit very well on a line with Torrey Mitchell or Michael Handzus.

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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Questions to be Answered Once the Lockout is Over

As much as there has been an absence of football news since the NFL Lockout, the San Francisco 49ers have been one of those teams that have made their presence felt throughout the Bay Area despite no gameplay.

Whether that was beat writers making something out of nothing or not, it is news - some good and some bad.

The best news for the 49ers since the lockout was Alex Smith's leadership in organizing a mini-camp event at San Jose State.

The worst news was the hostility shown by wide receiver Michael Crabtree towards Smith as the 49ers' starter next season.

Oh, and do not forget San Francisco's new head coach Jim Harbaugh. It seems so long ago that he was hired for his first NFL job and he was the talk of the town.

However, as far as teams who were affected most by the NFL Lockout go, the 49ers must be at the top of that list for the sole fact that the team has a first-year head coach and two quarterbacks on the roster, none of which will be the Week 1 starter.

It is for those reasons that questions are aplenty whenever the lockout ends.

Here are a few that must be answered sooner than later.



1. Who Is the Starting Quarterback?

It seems like a pretty simple question, and yet not everyone is going to agree with it.

The answer is simple. Does this ring a bell?

"With the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select........."

Yes, he's back.

Love him or hate him, although the overall consensus is that everyone hates him, Alex Smith will be the starter in Week 1.

To make it worse, he is Jim Harbaugh's guy. The first-year head coach has fallen in love with Smith as his quarterback. The leadership Smith displayed in organizing those training camp-like workouts is not helping anyone either. Those who wanted Smith on the streets and not under center are in for a rude awakening.

Above all, Smith gives the 49ers the best chance to win. That is something you cannot say about Colin Kaepernick, not fully affiliated with an NFL offense yet, or David Carr, not an NFL starter anymore.



2. Will the Lockout Affect First-Year Coach Jim Harbaugh?

I want to say no, but I am not sure how it cannot affect him.

Being a first-year head coach is all about learning the ropes, how training camp works and evaluating players.

Harbaugh has that luxury, but not in the time span that he may want.

If the lockout does end by the July 21 approximation, training camp will start almost immediately after.

No offseason preparing with players for Harbaugh.

Fortunately, he may have already picked a starting quarterback in Alex Smith, although nothing has been signed, and the amount of talent on this team could prove to help in the panicked offseason leading up to his first head coaching job.



3. Did Lockout Help Alex Smith?

In hindsight, Smith's offseason may have been his best yet,which is saying a lot considering he currently does not have an NFL job.

However, it was Smith's leadership that really put him ahead of the competition when talking about the starting quarterback position.

Not only did he and Jim Harbaugh start a love affair this offseason, but Smith organized a workout/practice for all 49ers players looking to get in shape and ready for the regular season while the lockout is still intact.

Was he sucking up?

Probably, but this is the most we have seen out of Smith since the offseason before his first year in San Francisco.



4. Will Michael Crabtree Have a Breakout Season?

We can say this every year, but this time, it is an actuality. And this time, there are facts behind it, unlike other years where Alex Smith, Troy Smith and David Carr would blindly be under center.

However, Jim Harbaugh's west coast offense that he brings to the 49ers has one big selling point.

New 49ers wide receiver coach John Morton recently told the Sacramento Bee that he expects Crabtree to have a breakout season.

“It’s quick routes or it’s slants or shallow crosses and things where you get the ball in their hand real fast and let them use their God-given ability. I don’t think they’ve had a chance to really do that yet from what I’ve seen on tape. I don’t think I’ve seen a slant here run ever since … since Terrell Owens left.”

When it comes to getting the ball in open space and creating extra yards from the catch, Crabtree may be one of the best.



5. Can Frank Gore Handle the Workload?

In 2010, Frank Gore rushed for 853 yards on 203 carries in 11 games. Add that to the fact that he had 46 receptions, as well, and Gore is a workhorse for this team.

Can it last, though?

The 49ers depend on Gore to do a ton of work on this offense, but it is safe to say that he has been overworked these last few years, culminating with only 11 games played last season.

Can Gore handle the workload?

I'm sure, but he may not have to this season. The west coast offense promotes slants and quick passes to receivers who can create after the catch.

Gore will still be getting his 18 carries and five receptions per game, but it will be with a much more refreshing feeling, as Alex Smith will be throwing a little more than last year.



6. Will Manny Lawson Be A 49er Next Season?

This is one of those question that will be answered almost immediately following the lockout.

Free agency will begin sometime after the lockout and linebacker Manny Lawson will be looking for a job, much like Alex Smith, except that Smith is all but guaranteed to land the starting spot in San Francisco.

As for Lawson, he has said that he wants to stay with the 49ers, but San Francisco may not be as willing to re-sign him in free agency, especially if the price goes up.

It is Lawson' physical abilities that have some teams drooling about acquiring him in free agency, and that may get him paid way more than what the 49ers were thinking.

Expect him elsewhere in 2011.



7. How Much Of a Role Will Colin Kaepernick Play in 2011?

The second round pick of the 49ers has many looking to the future, dreaming of an offense not run by Alex Smith. However, the wait will only get longer, as Smith has been all but guaranteed the starting job for 2011.

Kaepernick is one of those tender rookies that has been largely affected by the lockout.

The Nevada star has been in the pistol offense while in college, and it would have benefit him had there been some offseason workouts and a complete training camp to get him well-versed in the NFL culture and ways of doing things.

Kaepernick is physically gifted, but he may not be used anymore than on trick plays or a wildcat offense-type scenario in 2011.



8. Do the San Francisco 49ers Make A Play in Free Agency?

It is hard to say whether or not the 49ers will be active in free agency, considering it has not started yet.

Alex Smith is a main target, you could say. Expect for the 49ers to sign him seconds after free agency opens.

However, it is the areas of need that have many urging San Francisco to sign players. The most notable needs are the cornerback position and depth at wide receiver.

Possibilities at cornerback are Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Carr and Carlos Rogers, while the wide receiver position targets include Sidney Rice, James Jones, and Malcolm Floyd.

Realistic options are Chris Carr or Carlos Rogers at cornerback, James Jones at wide receiver.



9. Is Michael Crabtree/Alex Smith Feud Resolved?

I am not sure if this feud will ever be solved, just because what was said was said and there is no taking it back now.

When told that Alex Smith was most likely the starting quarterback, Crabtree was not so sure saying "Who's the quarterback?"

Smith inadvertantly fueled the fire by responding to why Crabtree was not at Smith's workouts by saying "Good question. you're asking the wrong guy."

The answer was taken out of context, but only added to the 49ers feud from a media perspective, at least.

Whether the feud is over with or not, there are chemistry issues with the starting quarterback and arguably his most important target.



10. Is Vernon Davis Poised For His Biggest Season Yet?

Davis' splash onto the NFL scene cannot seem to get much higher, but anyone with insight into the 49ers' new offense would beg to differ.

“This offense is going to be pretty good for the tight end,’’ Davis said after coming off the practice field Thursday. “We don’t just have one way to go. That’s good. We’ve never had that since I’ve been here," he told Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News.

Pair that with the fact that wide receivers coach John Morton has predicted a big season for Michael Crabtree because of the run after the catch option, and San Francisco may have something this season.

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Jim Harbaugh Vs. Mark Jackson: Which Bay Area Coach Has the Brightest Future?

Two of the Bay Area's professional sports teams have jumped on the phenomenon of hiring young, hip coaches to run their teams. They did so in hopes of jumping the gun on the next big thing in coaching. In the case of these two coaches, the San Francisco 49ers and Golden State Warriors may have struck it rich.

Jim Harbaugh played 14 seasons in the NFL, most notable for the Chicago Bears, but his new chapter as a head coach may be the highlight of his NFL career.

After four years as head coach at the University of San Diego, Harbaugh was named to the same position at Stanford University, in hopes of turning their program around. He did just that, as well as make QB Andrew Luck a bonafide star.

This past offseason, he was tabbed by the San Francisco 49ers to become their next coach, only to be barred by the 2011 NFL Lockout.

In the case of Mark Jackson, he and Harbaugh have similar paths to the head coaching seat.

Jackson, like Harbaugh, played professionally. However, Jackson's NBA career spanned 17 seasons, and he finished third on the all-time assists list.

This is where these two professional head coaches differ on their paths to the hot seat, though.

While Harbaugh seemingly worked his way up the coaching ranks, Jackson talked his way up it as a game commentator. How that plays into their careers as professional head coaches, we will find out.


Harbaugh Vs. Jackson

However, even at the earliest point in both these men's coaching careers, we can speculate. In fact, we can easily see who has the brighter future between these two by simply noticing how they got to where they are today.

Both Harbaugh and Jackson have excellent futures as head coaches in their respective sports. Let's get that out of the way.

They are both smart, respected men with immense knowledge of the game they dominated during their playing days.

How does that translate to the sidelines, though?

The truth is it does a little, but great coaches do not just fall out of the NFL or NBA and straight to the head coaching spotlight and become great.

For head coaches to become successful, there needs to be a learning period away from the game, in a sense.

Both Jackson and Harbaugh have done that.

Harbaugh took the coaching job at the University of San Diego, where he was able to learn coaching at a lower level, and Jackson was an NBA analyst for ESPN and ABC, where he was able to analyze the game from the sidelines.

However, when it comes down to who has the brighter future as head coach in their respective sport, it comes down to experience.

Harbaugh has that.

While Jackson had the better professional career, Harbaugh resurrected the University of San Diego's football program, as well as Stanford University's elite Pac-10 program. More than anything, though, he developed Andrew Luck into an NFL quarterback while still in college.

Harbaugh will be a great coach in the NFL based on the fact he played in the NFL and coached an NFL game throughout his time as a head coach in college. Those two jobs prepared him to run an NFL game in the NFL, finally.

That is not to say Jackson cannot be a great NBA head coach in his own right.

However, it may take a little longer for him to adjust to the NBA head coaching scene, seeing as he has never coached basketball at any level.

While Harbaugh may be the better head coach in the future, Jackson may already be one step ahead.

The new Warriors' head coach has been blessed with an owner that has a passion for winning, at any costs. Jackson was given an immaculate staff of NBA coaches and advisers that can help him in his first season.

In that regard, Jackson is ahead of Harbaugh without either of them even coaching a professional game yet.

There is no telling where either of these coaches' careers will go, but the future is bright in the Bay Area for the first time in a long time.

The 49ers and Warriors have hopefully found head coaches that can lead their teams for a very long time, and both men have the preparation and knowledge to do so.

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NHL Rumors: Should the San Jose Sharks Continue Shopping?

It seems as though someone whispered into San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson's ear after last season and told him that back-to-back Western Conference Final losses are just not enough.

So Wilson re-tooled.

Making the biggest splash of the 2011 free agency period, Wilson and the Sharks sent young scorer Devin Setoguchi and talented sniper Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star defenceman Brent Burns and All-Star winger Martin Havlat in two separate deals just 10 days apart.

It was an accord that payed off for both team, as the Wild got their go-to scorers and the Sharks got their premiere defenceman and discount winger.

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San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson Is Doing Work This Offseason

I ran into San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson the other day. No, I do not personally know him. I am not quite that far along in my journalistic career as of yet. However, I do work at the country club that he is a member at. So, yes, we're best friends.

Of course, I tried to sneak several peaks at him.

Can you blame me or anyone with a love for the Sharks?

This was the mastermind behind the Sharks' success year in and year out. He was the man with the power to do what he pleased with this team.

It was also his biggest time of the year. NHL Free Agency 2011.

As I passed the table where he and his family were eating lunch for the third time in the previous 20 minutes, I could not help but wonder if this man had another trade up his sleeve.

What does this man know as of this moment that the public did not?

Sure enough, two hours later, my phone started buzzing.

"Heatley Shipped to Minnesota"

The man with the power in San Jose had struck again.

The occasional fan can complain about the fact that the Sharks have traded away a homegrown talent and a past 50-goal scorer in the matter of a week. However, in the grand scheme of things, San Jose is a better team today than they were a week or so ago.

In two separate deals, the Sharks traded away Devin Setoguchi and Heatley for All-Star defenceman Brent Burns and All-Star winger Martin Havlat.

There are two reasons why Setoguchi and Heatley had to go.

With the amount of heavy scoring talent on this Sharks team, Setoguchi was never able to fully obtain his scoring potential, and he never was with players like Thornton, Pavelski and Marleau on the team. With the Wild, at least he will be able to spread his wings, so to speak.

In exchange, San Jose acquires the defensive version of much the same scenario in Burns. A player with extreme potential at a position where the Sharks needed it most.

As for Heatley, he never lived up to the potential that all of San Jose envisioned.

He came aboard as the player that was set to put them over the hump for the Stanley Cup, and he left after a year in which he scored just 26 goals - a career low.

Does Wilson have another trick up his sleeve?

Absolutely.

In the Heatley/Havlat deal, Heatley is a $7.5 million cap hit and Havlat is a $5 million cap hit.

San Jose can still make more moves this offseason, such as acquiring a veteran forward.

Also, they can now fiddle with newly acquired Burns' contract, as he becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season.

The Sharks' offseason facelift continues.

Whether or not these moves will bring success to San Jose is something we will find out in October.

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