49ers: Feeling Sorry For Alex Smith

Thursday seemed to be "Feel Sorry For Alex Smith Day" not just in the Bay Area, but across the country. The prim and proper quarterback that overcame such hardships in his first few seasons finally came around once he was given a chance to succeed ......... then was replaced by the better quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.


Those feeling sorry for Smith must have missed the first five seasons of his career, coming off being the No. 1 overall pick and hitting "bust" status in no time.

The 49ers are now an elite team, and having a mediocre quarterback is simply irresponsible. Harbaugh gets it, and the team gets it (not publicly). The concussion just sped up the 49ers' natural selection process.

In honor of one of the saddest stories ever told that was bound to eventually happen but no one ever saw coming, I give you a list of literature to dry your tears on.

Alex Smith: 'I don't know what else to say' -- CSN Bay Area

For 49ers' Smith, season took cruel turn -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith: 'It sucks. I don't know what else to say' -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith wondering how he lost his job -- San Jose Mercury News

Don't feel sorry for Alex Smith.He makes 9 million dollars a year, he'll be fine.
— David Michael(@KingDavid_88) November 28, 2012

#5ThingsOnMyChristmasList An Alex Smith home jersey :) feel sorry for the guy.
— It`s Me Bruh (@MadeinusBreh) November 30, 2012

I sincerely feel sorry for Alex Smith. He looked angry, dejected, depressed and defeated talking to the press this afternoon. #49ers
— Fabio Panetta (@FabioPanetta) November 30, 2012

I do feel sorry for Alex Smith. The guy got hurt and lost his job all in less than two weeks. #rough
— Hannah H (@hannah_bean02) November 29, 2012

Why should I feel sorry for Alex Smith? An NFL QB making millions of dollars who can't throw the ball deep? STFU #49ers
— Johnny Cables (@JohnnyCables) November 29, 2012

Feel sorry for Alex Smith. Last full game he played on Monday night he went 18/19 with a perfect passer rating.
— Blake Washington (@Bee_Dot_Wash) November 28, 2012

What’s next for Alex Smith? He’s been through everything, which might be a large part of his free-agent appeal: ... bit.ly/114epeW
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 29, 2012

@mattbarrows You may have been with him longer but I have the "hot hands" of the relationship;)
— elizabeth smith (@lizbsmith11) November 29, 2012

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Report: Dodgers Are Brian Wilson's First Choice in Free Agency

The San Francisco Giants have shown no indication they would like to re-sign former closer and two-time Tommy John surgery victim Brian Wilson to a contract by the Friday deadline. It sounds like Wilson has no intention, either.

Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown tweeted Wednesday that Wilson's first choice for a new team would be with the Los Angeles Dodgers because of the team's
location near his home.

Whether Wilson actually has "choices" coming off two Tommy John surgeries is a bit suspect, but it sounds like the Giants and The Beard are parting ways for good.

Hearing Brian Wilson's first choice to pitch in 2012 -- outside of SF -- is for the Dodgers. He lives in LA during offseason.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) November 28, 2012

I'm sorry. Make that Brian Wilson's preference for 2013 -- not 2012 -- is Dodgers. #timemachineissues
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) November 28, 2012

ESPN's Buster Olney also threw this bit of speculation to the famished Twitter world Wednesday:

One very interesting possibility for the Red Sox: Brian Wilson, a N.H. native who likely will be non-tendered by the Giants later this week.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 28, 2012

Scraggly beards and the Boston Red Sox do go together. Good insight, Buster.

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Golden State Warriors: Andrew Bogut on 'Indefinite Leave'

The Andrew Bogut injury saga continues to get worse for the Golden State Warriors. On Wednesday, Bogut answered questions from the media regarding a timetable for his return, and it most definitely will not be Saturday.


A Yahoo! Sports report stated that Bogut was targeting Saturday vs. the Pacers as the day he would like to return to the team. But after he missed practice on Monday and only participated in a brief shoot-around Tuesday, the likelihood of it was glum at best.

Here is what Bogut had to say on Wednesday, per the San Jose Mercury News' Carl Steward:

"The season's five, six months before the playoffs, which we have a great chance of making," he said. "I don't think it's going to be five, six months. I hope it won't be. It would be a massive setback if it was. I'm not going to say a month or two months or three months, but I definitely think I'll be back."

...  

In speaking with team officials Wednesday, Bogut said he requested that the team say he is on "indefinite leave" until he is ready to play and added he would have no more comment about timelines for his return.

...

"Did I rush back a little bit? Maybe," he said. "But I needed to test it out to see how it responded in an NBA environment, and obviously it didn't respond well. So we're not going to set any more timelines. Right now, when it's ready, it's ready."

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Report: Bogut Will Not Return to Warriors on Saturday

Despite last week's report stating that Andrew Bogut would return to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the fact is he will not be ready by then -- this according to the man, himself.

Bogut sat out Monday's practice, but participated in a limited practice on Tuesday after rehabbing in L.A. since he was shut down by coach Mark Jackson for the now lengthened 7-10 days.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut said there is no way he's playing Saturday. There's still way too much swelling in his left ankle.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) November 27, 2012

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49ers Looking For New Kicker To Replace Akers

It did not seem like long ago that David Akers was deemed the 49ers' best offseason pick-up on their way to a NFC Championship appearance. Now, the 49ers are in the market for a new kicker to replace Akers, after his reliability took another major hit on Sunday in New Orleans with a missed field goal from 50 yards and a blocked field goal from 33 yards.


On Tuesday, the 49ers tried out two well-known kickers in the NFL -- Billy Cundiff and Nate Kaeding.

49ers tried out kickers Billy Cundiff and Nate Kaeding
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) November 28, 2012

Cundiff is best known for playing with the Ravens, and Kaeding was a young and reliable kicker with the Chargers at one point.  Cundiff has already been released this season, after getting off to a slow start with the Redskins, and Kaeding is a notoriously bad kicker in the playoffs.

Kaeding, who would be the more reliable option, was released by the Chargers in late-October in an attempt to escape the $2 million salary owed to him.

The try outs are either a wake-up call to Akers, or a serious gamble on two kickers with well-known flaws.

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Report: Brian Wilson Headed For MLB Free Agency

San Francisco Giants' former closer Brian Wilson will be headed for free agency if the teams does not tender his contract by Friday, the deadline to tender all unsigned players on the roster.

According to the SF Chronicle's Henry Schulman, the Giants and Wilson are not seeing eye-to-eye on the mandatory $6.8 million that would have to come Wilson's way.

"Friday is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to all unsigned players. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any contract offer must be at least 80 percent of what a player made the year before. Wilson earned $8.5 million, so any offer for 2013 would have to be at least $6.8 million."

"The Giants do not intend to offer Wilson a $6.8 million guarantee after he missed the 2012 season (save for two games in April) with an elbow injury that required his second Tommy John surgery. Wilson has done a lot for the organization, particularly his shutdown work in the 2010 regular season and postseason. He’s made them a lot of money in beard merchandising, too. But the Giants believe that’s a lot of money for a pitcher whose future is so clouded by health."

"If the Giants do not tender Wilson a contract by Friday he becomes a free agent. Again, that seems likely to happen. The Giants still could sign Wilson and want to sign Wilson. At that point the 80 percent rule does not apply anymore. The Giants even are willing to give Wilson a major-league contract, but at a low base salary — several million dollars below $6.8 million — with incentives that would pay him a much bigger check if he is able to pitch."

"But I’ve been told Wilson is not keen on that idea, partly because he has given so much to the organization, including the health of his arm in the pursuit of a championship, and feels he should be paid accordingly. That’s completely understandable."

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49ers' Vernon Davis: 'Alex Is Still the Man'

Clearly, the 49ers have found something in changing quarterback at 6-2-1 on the season. With Colin Kaepernick at the helm, they are now 2-0 and now among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

However, not everyone agrees. Vernon Davis told reporters this after Sunday's gritty win over the Saints on the road.

"It's difficult, but I think Alex is still the man. In my heart I strongly believe that and you'll know next week. I'm sure Harbaugh will make a nice decision who he wants to go with but right now we have two outstanding playmakers. I'm sure Alex is still our guy."

The quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco.

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49ers Injury Report: Williams, Hunter Likely Out

The 49ers lost two key supporting players on one play Sunday in New Orleans. Kendall Hunter and Kyle Williams both were injured on the same running play to the left side of the defense during the second half of the 49ers' gritty win on the road, 31-21.

The team announced that Williams injured his knee, while Hunter injured his ankle, but nothing more -- as per usual from Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.
 Harbaugh did say both would be checked out after the game, though.

Get ready for 49ers top 2 picks, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James. 49ers fear Kyle Williams tore knee ligament, Kendall Hunter hurt ankle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 26, 2012

Kendall Hunter and Kyle Williams sustain injuries in 49ers' victory. Williams' injury is "not good," source said. bit.ly/V7icrw
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 26, 2012

Downside of victory: #49ers suffer several injuries, may be without Kyle Williams for the rest of the season. sacb.ee/UmSSeT
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 26, 2012

The fear for the 49ers is that Williams may have torn some knee ligaments, which would put him out for a significant amount of time. Hunter's ankle injury is a little less serious, but he is still very much a key piece of the 49ers' running game.

On an unrelated note, Brandon Jacobs got his first carry as a 49er on Sunday -- one carry for one yard.

The injuries to Williams and Hunter are sure to put them out for some time, with Williams likely out indefinitely -- assuming he does have torn ligaments in his knee.

In that case, we should be able to see the two prized rookies, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James, get some action in their absences. Both players have yet to see an NFL during the regular season, but James did get some work in as the preparation for Darren Sproles and the Saints this week. Jenkins is said to require some work, but learning from players like Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and Michael Crabtree during practice should have him fully prepared for an NFL game in Williams' absence.

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Report: Giants, Pagan Not on Same Page in Contract Talks

Angel Pagan wants long-term commitment from a team during his free agency, and the San Francisco Giants are not sure he is worth it.

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Giants and Pagan are not on the same page whatsoever when it comes to re-signing the World Series champion.

"The San Francisco Giants have been talking with Angel Pagan, but aren't sure they want to give him as many years as he wants in his next deal ..."

Pagan was a key threat at the top of the line-up during the postseason, and with his range in the outfield and moderate power, he should see a a good amount of attention this offseason. Contract offers from teams could reach double-digit millions per year. However, it is the years that matter to Pagan, who is reportedly desiring more than three years -- something the Giants are not sure they can commit to.

One reason for the hesitation on the Giants' part is the fact they have been through this type of situation before. Like Pagan, Aubrey Huff had a breakout year with the Giants on their way to a World Series title in 2010. The team offered him a $10 million contract that offseason.

Now, with Huff's contract off the books, $10 million seems about right to re-sign Pagan.

Another reason for the Giants' hesitation is that they have speedy outfielder Gary Brown making his way up the team's minor league system, and he could be ready for the MLB within the next 1-2 years.

The Giants' contract offer to Pagan, if there is one, is likely contingent on the team's faith that Brown can be MLB-ready in the near future.

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Report: Bogut Targeting Saturday for Return to Golden State Warriors

What was supposed to be 7-10 days of rest for Andrew Bogut's ankle became almost three weeks of a much-debated set-back.

The Golden State Warriors have managed to stay afloat, record-wise, while being without their big man underneath the basket. However, there is the feeling of a stand-still with the team until he returns to the floor.


That may come earlier than the pessimists thought.

Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears is reporting that Bogut is set to return to the floor on Saturday vs. the Pacers.

Barring a setback physically from practice, a source tells Y! @warriors C Andrew Bogut (ankle) has targeted next Sat game vs Ind for return.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) November 25, 2012

Bogut will go through a week of practice with the team starting on Monday, after being in Los Angeles to rehab his ankle, which reportedly included blood-manipulation treatment. It was the same treatment Kobe Bryant went through, and a big reason for why he is back to full health.

The Saturday comeback may already be in jeopardy, as Bogut missed Monday's practice -- what was supposed to be his first day back at practice.

So, as widely reported, center Andrew Bogut was expected to return to practice on Monday. But, according to GSW...sulia.com/c/golden-state…
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) November 26, 2012

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Harbaugh, 49ers' Antics Made Kaepernick Start vs. Saints Inevitable

Wednesday's festivities at the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara made it blatantly obvious that Colin Kaepernick would be the starter against the Saints on Sunday, despite the 49ers' intentions.

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter reported Wednesday night that Jim Harbaugh has told Kaepernick that he will be the starter vs. the Saints. Even worse for the other end of the quarterback controversy -- Alex Smith -- Trotter is
reporting that the decision had nothing to do with Smith's injury status.

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.
— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

Wednesday did hold a lot of clues, though, even before Trotter's report. Alex Smith was once again wearing the black "no contact" jersey at practice, and Harbaugh unofficially declared Smith healthy to play Sunday. Kaepernick also received the first team reps at Wednesday's practice.

It will be the only real practice for the 49ers on a bit of a short week, and that very much played into Kaepernick reportedly getting the start on Sunday. Kaepernick was the only one getting first-team reps, and with Thursday being Thanksgiving, Friday being a travel day for the team and Saturday being a relatively slow preparation day before a game, it was inevitable that Kaepernick's status as the lead dog in Wednesday's practice was the final decision from Harbaugh.

Of course, that is not what Harbaugh wanted the media to think. More importantly, that is not what he wanted the Saints to think.

Harbaugh dodged the question left and right from the media on Wednesday, but he made a big mistake in concealing his hand. If Smith was starting Sunday and Kaepernick's Monday night performance was simply a back-up quarterback filling in for the definitive starter, then Harbaugh would have announced right then and there that Smith was the starter for Sunday vs. the Saints.

That was not the case.

However, Trotter's report did have some flaws in it.  What made the report so surprising was the fact that the decision was reportedly made without Smith's health being an issue.

There is still very much a quarterback controversy in San Francisco, and Kaepernick has not won the job, by any means. Smith has not been cleared to play yet, due to his concussion, although he most likely will pass the contact test prior to Sunday's game.

Smith was done in by the short week for the 49ers, and that certainly does not mean his era in San Francisco is over. Once again, Smith is not fully healthy, and the 49ers have a big game against an elite team.

- UPDATE 11-21-12, 9:37 p.m. -

Alex Smith just told @tdespn that Harbaugh told him Kaepernick would get 1st team reps but door open to start game based on practice

— Seth Markman (@tunasweasel) November 22, 2012

i have great respect for @tdespn and alex smith, and stand behind my report. harbaugh to alex: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

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49ers: Harbaugh's Teleconference Cancelled, Back to Hospital for Evaluations

Jim Harbaugh never got a chance to clear up the comments he made about his current quarterback situation after Monday night's thrashing of the Bears.

If you remember, Colin Kaepernick lit up the Bears' defense in Alex Smith's absence, and Harbaugh's postgame press conference after the game did
not shed light on who would be the quarterback vs. the Saints on Sunday, only saying he would go with the "hot hand."

The comments have since sparked a quarterback controversy in San Francisco -- advertently or inadvertently.

Tuesday's conference call with the Bay Area media was Harbaugh's time to either clear up what he meant by those comments, or stoke the fire even further, but he never got that chance.

Harbaugh's teleconference was canceled last-minute due to follow-up evaluations for his heart that caused him to make a trip to the hospital last week for an irregular heartbeat.

He is set to talk to the media Wednesday at noon in Santa Clara.

Among the questions that will be asked to Harbaugh, 99.9 percent will be about the Smith vs. Kaepernick newly developed saga.

Harbaugh will have two choices: Give fluff answers and let the media decide while keeping the Saints in the dark, or give Smith the starting quarterback status we all assume will happen in the end.

We can expect the former not just because there is a looming quarterback controversy for the 49ers, but because Harbaugh's tight-lipped ways led to a "dump-trucking" of arguably the best defense in the NFL last week.

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Harbaugh Noncommittal on 49ers' QB vs. Saints; QB Controversy Underway

According to Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers have two red-hot quarterbacks on their roster right now, and a decision will be made this week to determine who will be starting on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Colin Kaepernick blew the pregame expectations out of the water on Monday night in front of a nationally televised audience, and that will be
good enough to at least start some conversation around the water cooler as to who can lead the 49ers the rest of the way this season.

A QB controversy with a 7-2-1 team in complete control of the NFC West and Super Bowl or bust expectations on their mind?

Believe it.

"We really have two guys that have a pretty hot hand, but we will make that decision as we move forward," Harbaugh said after the game.

As expected or unexpected as his comments were after the game, Harbaugh did not commit to a quarterback on Monday night -- merely acknowledging the fact the 49ers have two hot quarterbacks on their current roster.

When a coach is as non-committal as Harbaugh was after the game, it is safe to say he has a QB controversy on his hands. It does not take much for Harbaugh to glance over a question with a blanket answer, which made the less-than-committed answer to the quarterback controversy on Monday night all the more intriguing.

Alex Smith is out with a concussion, but all indications from Harbaugh's coaching of the 49ers in the past have suggested that Smith will be the starter if healthy -- and he is sure to be healthy and cleared for contact this week.

However, can Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman ignore the amount of schemes and plays Kaepernick provides the 49ers with?

Kaepernick has the ability to run, to throw the short ball with touch and throw the deep ball with accuracy. While Smith's abilities are limited to managing the game with effectiveness, Kaepernick allows the 49ers to get elaborate with play-calls and that is how the 49ers destroyed the Bears on Monday night.

Smith is the safe play, though. He has taken the 49ers this far to where they are Super Bowl contenders. However, is it too early to give Kaeperick the keys to the castle after just one game?

Kaepernick has the hot hand after his Monday Night Football performance, but Smith has completed 25 his last 27 passes. They are equally hot and equally available to play on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Make way for the most anticipated week of 49ers practice in some time.

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Locking Up Buster Posey: How Much Is Too Much For the San Francisco Giants?

Buster Posey's historic 2012 season earned him a box full of accolades, and with the Giants looking to spend money to lock up their respective free agents, this offseason may be the best time to lock up Posey as well.

How much do the Giants pay Posey? Probably the farm and then some -- but the years will be the most significant part of one of the biggest contracts offered in the MLB.


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Buster Posey fell to the San Francisco Giants in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Posey was coming off a 2008 junior season at Florida State where he hit .463 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI, winning the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year Award, as well as the Dick Houser Trophy for best player in college and the Golden Spikes Award for the best amateur athlete in college. Yet with all those accolades, Posey fell to fifth in the MLB Draft that year, behind the Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez, the Orioles’ Brian Matusz, the Rays’ Tim Beckam and the Royals’ Eric Hosmer.

            

Baseball America’s scouting report of Posey pre-draft was spot on.

“…considered the top catching prospect, both defensively and offensively, in the country. His offensive numbers this season, including a .471 average, put him among the national leaders in several categories. His receiving, footwork and release are all advanced, and his athleticism is apparent. Posey's arm strength (he reaches 94 mph off the mound) and accuracy are pluses as well. At the plate, Posey has above-average bat speed and makes consistent contact. He has power to all fields but will probably be known more for his batting average than home runs. Drafted out of high school by the Angels in the 50th round in 2005, Posey is regarded as one of the safest picks in this year's draft. His projection as an offensive catcher with Gold Glove-caliber defense has boosted Posey's draft stock as much as anyone's over the weeks leading up to the draft.”

Four years later and three seasons into Posey’s MLB career, he is an All-Star, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year, the 2012 NL Hank Aaron Award winner, the 2012 Silver Slugger Award winner, the MLB batting champion for 2012 and on Thursday he was named the 2012 NL MVP.

All that does not include that in three seasons with the Giants, he has two World Series rings -- while many forget that 2012 was Posey’s first full season in the major leagues.

He hit .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBI this season and ran away with the NL MVP on Thursday, claiming 27 of 32 first-place votes.

And so we think ahead to what is next for the newest superstar in Major League Baseball?

For the Giants’ front office, it would be to lock this player up for the foreseeable future.  Posey’s current contract paid him just $615,000 in 2012, and he is arbitration eligible from 2013-2016.

Right off the bat, GM Brian Sabean and Co. have to be thinking big money for several seasons, and there are two contracts that stand out when paying a player like Posey and making him a part of the Giants for many, many years.

Joey Votto’s recent contract with the Reds will pay him $225 million for the next ten seasons, and one can argue those two players are nearly on the same current wavelength in baseball.  Votto’s contract is at least a topping out point.

Joe Mauer’s contract certainly is of the Giants’ interest, as Mauer has never been the same player since he signed his eight-year, $184 million contract that will be effective through 2018.  Mauer has battled injuries, playing in just 82 games in 2011, but bounced back to play 147 in 2012.

There are concerns with Posey being a catcher, but one full season under Posey’s belt and he has a batting title and an NL MVP Award?

Pay the man everything you have.

Judging by Sabean and the Giants’ history, and presumed newly developed reluctance to pay any player more than they are worth (see Barry Zito, Aaron Rowand, Dave Roberts, etc.), Posey is looking at somewhere around a six or seven-year contract -- not the ten-year contract everyone would suggest and many teams have made the norm in baseball for superstar players.

Posey is still early in his career, which is why record numbers in the salary department are not likely, by any means.  Votto’s contract pays him $22.5 million per year, while Mauer’s contract still pays him $23 million.

The last thing the Giants want to do is have a Mauer situation on their hands, especially since Posey plays one of the more taxing positions in the game. We saw the damage when a freak play including Scott Cousins occurs.  Still, Posey does nearly everything hitting-wise, while catching one of the best starting rotations in the game.

More than likely, Posey can expect a seven-year contract worth around $18 million per year.

Do you recognize that number? You should.

Barry Zito's contract with the Giants back in 2007 earned him a seven-year deal worth $126 million and it will come off San Francisco's books at the end of the 2013 season.

CSNBayArea.com’s Ray Ratto sees a similar salary coming Posey’s way.

“…and is on the cusp of becoming the highest paid catcher not named Joe Mauer. Molina signed a five-year, $75M deal that kicks in next year, but Posey’s next contract ought to shame that, at least a bit.
“And when he signs it, he will handle it in that understated yet subtly edgy way of his, as though he were too polite to say, ‘Well, what did you expect to happen?’”

There are not many sure things in sports now-and-days, but it is hard to find one thing wrong with giving Posey the keys to the castle. There are no worries with him at the plate, in the field or off the field, and his intelligence and silent leadership in the clubhouse only further cements him as a player to mold younger players on the team after.

The Giants’ franchise changed forever when the College Player of the Year out of Florida State dropped to them in the 2008 MLB Draft. Four years later, the Giants have two World Series titles and thoughts of a baseball dynasty running through their mind.

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Holliday Calls Cain's NLCS Plunking 'Less Than Tough'

Matt Holliday's controversial slide into Marco Scutaro in the NLCS is still drawing headlines, even during the offseason.

Holliday had some choice words for the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, singling out Matt Cain's retaliatory plunk job of Holliday in Game 7 of the NLCS.


Here are a few lines from Holliday's interview with ITDRoll.com's Morning After in St. Louis.

"There are some things I’d rather not say. I think [Cain] said that the ball slipped out of his hand and got away from him, that’s just part of the game. Honestly, I don’t know. It seems on purpose. I wish that if he wanted to hit me, he would’ve just done it on the first pitch in the next game he had pitched. You know, if you’re going to do it, do it, get it out of the way. But to do it, I don’t remember what the score was but it was out of hand, that’s about it. I thought the timing of it was….I don’t want to get into it. I wasn’t thrilled about it."

"If you’re going to do it, I think that is when you do it. I wouldn’t be happy about it anytime. I just thought that in the situation that it actually did happen it was less than tough."

Even from a Giants fan's perspective, you would have to concede that Cain hitting Holliday in Game 7 of the NLCS while San Francisco was up big was a bit bush league. It was obvious the plunking was in retaliation for Holliday destroying the 5'9"Scutaro earlier in the series, and pay back during a historic comeback from down 3-1 in the series seemed like the ultimate upper hand.

Credit Holliday for keeping his cool in the moment, but it was only a matter of time until he would his thoughts would boil over.

In this situation, everyone is wrong. Holliday was wrong for deliberately sliding late into Scutaro at second base, and Cain was wrong for throwing at Holliday to rub even more dirt into a 3-1 come-from-behind NLCS series defeat.

The best part: The Giants play the Cardinals on April 5, 2013 at AT&T Park.

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Selig on A's to San Jose: 'You're Not Going To Get A F%^&*#@ Answer'

Can you blame the media for wanting to know if the Oakland Athletics will be moving from Oakland to San Jose, or even anywhere for that matter?

MLB commissioner Bud Selig is, although he understands the urgent nature of the topic. On Thursday, Selig did not seem in the mood to mess around with the topic or even give a blanket answer, as has been his custom since the issue became national news.


Here is what he had to say at Thursday's press conference, as relayed by the Sports Business Journal's Eric Fisher:

I asked Selig re A's/San Jose, as usual. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't ask," he said. "You're not going to get a f#%**%} answer."
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 15, 2012

If the answer was not enough, the topic that was once on the"front burner" of Major League Baseball is nowhere near being resolved. The San Francisco Giants do not want them in San Jose, the city of Oakland does not want them in San Jose and there does not seem to be any urgency from Selig to get the matter resolved in the near future.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders continue to play in the hell hole called O.co Coliseum.

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49ers: Is Brandon Jacobs On His Way Out of San Francisco?

Brandon Jacobs has not received a carry this season, and it may all be coming to a head.

Jacobs was reportedly unhappy about the situation earlier this season, after he was declared fully healthy yet did not play a single down for the 49ers.  But he shook off the reports in favor of being ready for the team in the long run -- the playoffs.


However, Jacobs took to Twitter on Thursday with this questionable post:

Never work in a place where you hate your boss so much, you should always be happy at work.#YouLiveAndYouLearn
— Brandon Jacobs (@gatorboy45) November 15, 2012

Football is not my life people
— Brandon Jacobs (@gatorboy45) November 15, 2012

The boss would appear to be Jim Harbaugh in this situation, if he is talking about his own working environment. Coincidentally, Harbaugh spent the day in the hospital being treated for an irregular heartbeat.

It is pretty clear Jacobs will not be getting any carries in the near future, and this tweet might mean the end of an experiment that never really got off the ground.

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Mark Jackson Responds to Charles Barkley's Criticism of Golden State Warriors

TNT's Charles Barkley is not afraid to run his mouth on national television, and he directed his attention towards the Golden State Warriors as his next target this week.

Barkley went on 95.7 The Game Tuesday and talked with Brandon Tierney and Ric Bucher about the Warriors' culture.

“My question is: Is (Stephen) Curry a legitimate point guard?” Barkley asked in an interview with Ric Bucher and Brandon Tierney. “I think he’s a good player, but I don’t think he’s a point guard. That’s the first thing they have to solve.”

“I loved him as a player, but I don’t think he can ever play again,” Barkley said. “I don’t think he can ever be close to the player he used to be. He doesn’t just have injuries. He has major injuries. … His injuries were so major that he’s never going to be able to get back to where he was. I hate that, because he seems like a great kid. But I don’t ever think he can get back to that All-Star level where he was in Milwaukee.”

Critical comments, as expected from Chuck, but was he wrong?

It is pretty common knowledge that the knock on Curry is that he is an undersized two guard that the Warriors are attempting to make into a point guard -- there is no changing that philosophy, either.

On the subject of Bogut, I will stop Barkley when he is lying -- and he's not.

Mark Jackson responded to Barkley's comments with this:

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Steve Young on Rick Reilly: 'You Didn't Just Say That'

Rick Reilly's ego-driven antics on Monday Night Football created the now infamous Steve Young "death stare" that has captivated the sports world over the past 24 hours.

Young was simply doing what we all were thinking at the moment -- "Bro, really?"


If you missed it, ESPN cut to the Monday Night Football postgame show a little early than the analysts had thought, and the world witnessed columnist Rick Reilly motion to host Stuart Scott saying "Can you say i had this first on Twitter?"

What was worse than Reilly's over-anxiousness to be the first to report the news of Roethlisberger's injury was the fact he was actually not the first to to report the news at all. In fact, he was simply regurgitating other media outlet's news, as documented by Deadspin.

Young's reaction to Reilly was instant TV magic:

Young then appeared on KNBR on Wednesday for his weekly segment.

First question: What was the deal with the death stare?

"It was not a death stare. It really was a 'You didn't just that.' We didn't know we were on camera. It was more like a 'you're crazy' type thing more than i was upset about it."

Reilly has fully received the brunt of the whole debacle with numerous jabs from credentialed members of the media that have grown to become quite hilarious.

Just had some Thai food. I know this because Rick Reilly reported it first on Twitter.
— Dan Rubenstein (@DanRubenstein) November 14, 2012

Make sure I get credit for having this first: Rick Reilly hoodwinked ESPN out of $10 million and ESPN is dumb/stubborn enough to do it again
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 13, 2012

Congrats to Rick Reilly for breaking Petraeus affair, D'Antoni hiring, Marlins trade and results of my wife's ultra-sound. #that'sjournalism
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) November 14, 2012

It has also sparked a questioning of ESPN's journalistic integrity, which has significantly wained in the past couple years with programs like First Take and their constant refusal to credit other media outlets.

Reilly was more concerned with the fact he had the story first on Twitter, which shows where a brilliant journalistic mind like Reilly is at this point in his career and where ESPN's priorities currently reside.

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San Jose Sharks' Marleau Responds to Roenick's Bashing in New Book

At this point, it is pretty obvious Jeremy Roenick has a personal vendetta against San Jose Sharks' former captain Patrick Marleau.

Roenick's book "J.R.: My Life as the Most Outspoken, Fearless and Hard-Hitting Man in Hockey" took some shots at Marleau once again, after the two have shared some words in the past.

First of all, if that title does not scream "look at me," I do not know what does.  Second of all, here is what Roenick's book had to say about Marleau.

“One night I even went to his home to discuss the struggles he was going through. It was around Thanksgiving. I was with my family at home. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the team and how dominant the Sharks could be if Marleau would realize his potential. After thinking about it all day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I left my family, climbed into my car and drove to Marleau’s home. My intention wasn’t to yell at him. I wanted to inspire him, to let him know that his teammates were behind him. I went there to tell him that I believed he could be one of the league’s very best players if he just altered his game slightly. He needed to play with more of an edge. He needed to show some bigger balls when the game was on the line.

“What no one seems to understand is that I believe Marleau is a special talent ... Marleau frustrated me when I played with him because I wanted more from him. He was earning $6.9 million per season and I just didn’t believe he brought the superstar effort that you would expect from that caliber of player.

“I tried to tell him that that night, but I could tell 10 minutes into our conversation that I was wasting my time. He considered my arrival at his house an intrusion. He listened to me, but he never did anything to change the way he was.”

Strong words, as you would expect from a memoir of that title, but straight to the point nonetheless.

Here is what Patrick Marleau told the San Jose Mercury News' David Pollak on Tuesday.

“He’s got his own agenda,” the 33-year-old former Sharks captain said. “He’s saying stuff so people watch. I understand that. I don’t have to like it or agree with it, but he’s trying to get viewers like you’re trying to get people to read the paper. I don’t take it personally or anything like that.”

“I don’t know what people are expecting, but I think I show emotion – I score goals, I show emotion,” Marleau said. “If a team’s trying to get after the top players and you show that they’re getting to you, that’s one aspect of it too. There’s different ways to skin a cat.

“There’s other players that are regarded as great players for the way they handle themselves – they don’t get up too high or down too low,” he continued. “There’s going to be critics – they have to pick at something and they’ll pick at that.”

Rest assured, the exchange of words will not stop, but are either of them wrong?

It is pretty obvious Roenick is trying to sell his book through a little controversy, but he is right about Marleau showing no emotion -- something many have mentioned in the past. Roenick is not the first one to say that.

Marleau has always had the potential to be one of the best in the NHL, but if we have not seen him fully break out now we will probably never see it.

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Report: San Francisco Giants Interested in Hunter, Victorino

The San Francisco Giants are looking elsewhere to fill their void in the outfield presumably left by Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman, the Giants have shown interest in free agents Torii Hunter and Shane Victorino. The interest is presumably in response to
the team being unlikely to sign both Cabrera and Pagan this offseason.

Pagan is keeping his options open with the free agent market and is expected to receive a good amount of interest from other teams this offseason.

Cabrera's departure from the Giants late in the season is sure to make the team less likely to sign him, although his price tag seems feasible for teams (around $7 million).

Hunter visited the Tigers on Tuesday and has said that he would like to sign sooner than later, while Victorino would have a familiar face in the Giants' outfield with Hunter Pence. He is also the speedy center fielder that the Giants are looking for this offseason.

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Report: 49ers' Alex Smith Expected to Start Monday vs. Bears

Expect Alex Smith back under center for the San Francisco 49ers Monday night game against the Bears, despite the concussion he sustained in Sunday's tie vs. the Rams.

According to CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, if Smith is cleared to play he will start for the 49ers, and all indications point to Smith being cleared to play.


Jim Harbaugh had this to say about Smith's situation on Monday:

"(He's) doing much better, had a good night's sleep last night," Harbaugh said. "And symptoms are positive today. He's visiting with a neurologist later this afternoon."

"Our doctors were good," Harbaugh said. "They were very proactive on that hit. They watched it on the monitors, and Alex had no symptoms after that hit. He was cleared to play. And then it appears it was the quarterback sneak, where he comes up and had blurred vision and that's when we brought in Colin immediately.

 Judging by the way Colin Kaepernick played on Sunday, albeit under intimidating circumstances, it would not take much for the 49ers to play Smith on Monday Night Football.

However, Harbaugh and his staff have encountered quite a predicament this week.  Smith is not likely to practice the entire week, and with Kaepernick healthy it would behoove the 49ers to have a full week of practice with a definitive starting quarterback before encountering the most impressive defense the 49ers will face all season in the Bears.

As Maiocco mentioned, Harbaugh is not likely to reveal much this week, other than revealing whether or not Smith will be cleared to play on Monday night -- which should be revealed within the next couple of days.

The speculated "quarterback controversy" between Smith and Kaepernick could work in the 49ers' favor in this instance. Smith is obviously the 49ers' undoubted starter, despite a rather impressive game by Kaepernick given the circumstances.  The Bears will not know which quarterback to prepare for this week, and given Harbaugh's reluctance to reveal anything to the media, Chicago may not know until game-time on Monday.

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Report: San Francisco Giants Interested in Nick Swisher

The San Francisco Giants have reportedly shown interest in Yankees' free agent outfielder Nick Swisher, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

Swisher is considered one of the bigger targets in a very weak free agent market this offseason that includes the likes of Josh Hamilton and B.J. Upton, among others.


Heyman is reporting that the Mariners, Orioles, Phillies, Braves, Nationals and Giants have shown interest in recent weeks.

Swisher is expected to receive around $12 million per year for three to four years and has already turned down a one-year offer from the Yankees.

Swisher hit .272 with 93 RBI and 24 home runs in 2012 in the hitter-friendly new Yankee Stadium.

He played for the Oakland Athletics from 2004-2007.

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San Francisco Giants, Jeremy Affeldt Agree to Three-Year Deal

After days of rumors and speculation, the San Francisco Giants have made the deal with reliever Jeremy Affeldt official, as first reported by CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

The deal is reportedly for three years and $18 million.

Affeldt did not give up a run in 10.1 innings of relief in the entire 2012 postseason on the Giants' way to a World Series title.


Affeldt is just one of the Giants' three key free agents this offseason. Marco Scutaro and Angel Pagan are expected to be a little harder to sign than Affeldt, considering Scutaro's outstanding end to the regular season and stellar postseason. Pagan is least likely to re-sign with the Giants, as he is expected to have several teams lining up for a speedy lead-off hitter that can play center field and hit for moderate power.

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