When It Comes to Playoff-Like Baseball, the San Francisco Giants Are the Elite

Orange rags were swinging and playoff baseball was in the air at AT&T Park on Friday night.



Maybe it was the orange jerseys, orange rags waving or the sell-out crowd living and dying with every pitch thrown, but the crowd knew and both teams knew it -- this was a game with meaning.



Suddenly, the Giants of 2011 were the Giants of 2010. Cody Ross hit a home run and made a diving catch, Aubrey Huff was playing first base, Mark DeRosa was the first one on the dugout step, a misfit like Jeff Keppinger had an RBI double and manager Bruce Bochy was making moves -- and they were working.



Life was back in these San Francisco Giants.



We found out several things about the Giants on Friday night. If they are to win the NL West, it will be with what got them there last season -- the veterans and guys that were there in 2010.



Huff is a bad place to start, but he was on the field just like last season's playoff run. Also, Ross was clutch, as he had been throughout the 2010 playoffs. Even the aora that was Pat Burrell starting in left field brought back memories of the September of 2010.



We also found out just why the Giants chose to go hard after Carlos Beltran at the trade deadline, as if his career stats were not reason enough.



One thing Beltran does is comes up big in big games. Friday night was a big game, and he came up huge. Beltran went 4 for 4 with a home run, triple and two singles, while driving in three runs.



Friday night brought back memories of 2010, and you could tell after the game when everyone on the Giants roster had a smile on their face and twinkle in their eye, as if to say "don't count us out just yet."



By no means are the Giants satisfied with that Friday night win, though. At least they shouldn't be. There is a long way to go before we talk about 2011 being anything like 2010.



First things first, San Francisco needs a sweep.



From an Arizona Diamondbacks' perspective, one win during this three-game series in San Francisco is a victory in their mind. Five games up with 22 games left is enough to feel real confident.



However, Friday night showed that the Giants want that 2010 feeling again with whatever line-up they can get it with.



Sure, it tickled everyone senseless to watch a team playing with motivation and passion, just like in 2010. And although there is a long, long way to go for this Giants team, there seems to be something hanging on to the fact that they did it last year and are capable of doing it again.



Friday night in San Francisco showed that.

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2011 MLB Grades: Evaluating the Top Teams of the MLB Trade Deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline is usually one of the more exciting times of the sports year, and this season's was no different.

Several talented, high-profile players, like Hunter Pence and Carlos Beltran, were dealt, with some teams being overwhelming sellers and other teams buying their way into contention for the World Series.

The winners and losers of the deadline are hard to make out, although some are fairly obvious.

The Houston Astros were definite sellers, trading two of their top players for promising future prospects, while the Philadelphia Phillies benefited from that and scooped up Hunter Pence at the first chance.

The MLB Trade Deadline is where good teams separate themselves from the pack and decent teams become contenders.

This year, we saw a little bit of everything.

Here are the report cards for the most active teams at the trade deadline.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates' surprising season took a mean hit the past three games as the Bucs were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, the Pirates benefited during that time by bolstering their roster with two big bats.

Approaching the MLB Trade Deadline, the Pirates did not have that significant big bat in the middle of their lineup, so it was necessary that they go out and find one.

It turns out they found two, at least potentially.

The Pirates acquired Derrek Lee from the Orioles and Ryan Ludwick from the Padres, giving the team two definite power threats to go alongside Andrew McCutchen.

It was a win for the Pirates, even while they were being swept in Philadelphia.

The team is now 4.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, and time may be running out on Pittsburgh's magical season.

However, the Lee and Ludwick acquisitions should improve their chances.

Grade: B

4. Cleveland Indians

With the Indians 2.5 games back of the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, they needed to make a move and prove that a hot start wasn't just that.

Cleveland was proactive and acquired the services of ace Ubaldo Jimenez to shore up their pitching situation.

Jimenez has had a tough season so far in Colorado, going 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA, but there is no doubt that he is one of the better pitchers in the game today.

The 27-year-old instantly makes the Indians rotation one of the best in the AL, as he joins the likes of Justin Masterson, Fausto Carmona, Josh Tomlin, and Carlos Carrasco.

Tomlin leads the team in wins with 11, and Masterson leads the team in ERA with a 2.56.

If the Indians are to make a move and finish atop the AL Central, they started in the right place picking up an ace for the top of their rotation.

Grade: B+

3. San Francisco Giants

It was pretty simple for the Giants. They needed a bat, and they needed it now.

They got it by acquiring the biggest bat available in Carlos Beltran and dealing prospect Zack Wheeler to the New York Mets.

There is a little commotion over the Giants' giving up their top pitching prospect for an aging, injury-prone Beltran, but GM Brian Sabean's strategy is clearly to win now.

Beltran is the big bat that San Francisco has longed for since Barry Bonds, and he instantly makes their offense better.

He is off to a slow start with the Giants, however, but his playoff numbers are outstanding, which is why San Francisco plans on striking it rich come playoff time.

Grade: B+

2. Atlanta Braves

With the Phillies' acquisition of Hunter Pence, the Braves had to answer. They did so by benefiting off the Astros' urge to sell, acquiring the speedy Michael Bourn.

Atlanta has wanted a leadoff hitter for some time, and they definitely got one here.

Also, with CF Nate McLouth on the 15-day DL, it made perfect sense for the Braves to land a center fielder, as well as a leadoff hitter.

The Braves needed to act at the trade deadline if they wanted to stay in contention in the NL East and wild-card races, and Bourn helps them do just that.

He is a game changer and totally alters the Braves' image and style of baseball.

Atlanta currently is six games back of the Phillies in the NL East and 3.5 games up in the wild-card standings.

Grade: A-

1. Philadelphia Phillies

Entering the 2011 baseball season, the Phillies were the favorites to be World Series champs. They had acquired Cliff Lee to add to Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, and had one of the best lineups in baseball.

However, after losing two out of three to the defending-champion Giants, it was evident that things were not so certain in Philadelphia.

That changed when they acquired Hunter Pence from the free-dealing Astros for prospects.

If they were not World Series favorites, then they are most certainly now.

Pence is added to an already talented lineup consisting of Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins, etc.

The Phillies continue to get better, and it is a testament to their front office, as Philadelphia is poised for another World Series run.

Grade: A

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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 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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