San Francisco Giants: What If There Was a Second Wild Card Spot?

The President of the San Francisco Giants, Larry Baer, came on KNBR 680 AM the other day and joked about how he hopes MLB Commissioner Bud Selig would create a second wild card spot before the current season ends.

First of all, it was weird to hear the president of a ball club pretty much publicly state that his team has close to zero chance of making the playoffs with a few weeks left. However, that is what kind of honest upper management the Giants have, and i would not have it any other way. Tell it to me straight.

What Baer was previously referring to was Selig's stance on adding another wild card spot to the playoffs. He is all for it and has been hard at work trying to get others to jump on his side, as well.

The reasons for this proposed change in the structure of baseball is the fact that next to the Tampa Bay Rays suddenly breathing down the necks of the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card, the division races are all but locked.

Selig wants competitive division races and he feels a second wild card berth for each league would achieve that.

He has a point, though.

In the AL, the Rays would be only a few games up on the Anaheim Angels for the second wild card. Also, in the NL, the Cardinals would be up on the Giants by only two games.

Selig seems pretty determined to have this new change in structure completed by next season, although he has told numerous publications that there are a slew of things standing in his way.

From a Giants' perspective, the feeling of defeat watching the Arizona Diamondbacks play the role of the 2010 Giants team and stealing the division despite everyone writing them off has to disgust them.

Due to injuries and a sudden and lengthy lapse in hitting, San Francisco sits too far out of the NL West division lead, which is the only reason we are talking about a possible second wild card spot in San Francisco.

We can talk about the new playoff structure or future moves needed. Either way, we are talking about next season for the San Francisco Giants.

They will be back better than ever though, as they will have their big hitters back from injury mixed with a few to be determined roster losses and gains. But if Selig creates this second wild card spot, then we can just about pencil in the Giants for a playoff appearance, right?

We'll make that decision down the road.

Selig's playoff expansion idea will be better for the entirety of the sport, and more notably for the Giants.

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San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith Looking Composed in Jim Harbaugh's Offense

The San Francisco 49ers' win at home against the Seattle Seahawks did not blow anyone's mind on Sunday. However, it did give fans a reason for some hope this season.

A first-year head coach, desperate quarterback and one-time disgruntled running back and wide receiver turned into a 33-17 win in Week 1 of the NFL season.

Who knew?

The biggest jolt of Week 1 was the composure of Alex Smith, who went 15 of 20 for 124 yards. The biggest stat, though, was the fact Smith had zero turnovers -- a rarity in 49er Land.

It was different from what we saw in the preseason from Smith and the offense. In the preseason, we saw a lousy offensive line lead to a quarterback running for his life almost every play.

In Week 1, we saw a tough front line lead to a sturdy Smith, who was healthy in the pocket almost the entire game.

Jim Harbaugh gets it, though.

He knows what type of a team he has and what type of plays are simply too risky to use. That is why his Week 1 play-calling ranged from conservative to extremely conservative.

The perfect example would be when the 49ers caught a lucky roughing the kicker call against Seattle, giving San Francisco first and goal on the Seahawks' one yard line.

Harbaugh then decided to call three plays for Frank Gore into the pile. None of them worked and the 49ers settled for the field goal.

Stupidity or genius on his part?

The 49ers ended up getting the field goal and a two-score separation from Seattle.

Ummm genius, although we will use it sparingly in this situation.

The truth was Harbaugh simply did not trust Smith throwing the ball in such a crucial spot in the game.

Yes, Smith is a historically great quarterback in the red zone, but why take the chance?

The 49ers have had chances just like that throughout the many years of not making the playoffs. There was simply no harm in grabbing three points and running for the locker room. Harbaugh was correct in taking the three points and the win, and getting off the field.

However, it was the first half that really gripped the fans watching at home.

Smith was crisp and clean with his passes just about the entire game. Harbaugh's play-calling instructed his quarterback to throw a moderate amount of the time and for short gains.

Quick and precise plays were the name of the game on Sunday at Candlestick Park, and the 49ers benefited from that.

The Harbaugh Era is off to a good start, although conservative play-calling can only take this team so far. He will have a mind to open the playbook up against Dallas in Week 2.

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San Francisco 49ers: Ted Ginn and the Defense Come Out To Play In Week 1 Win

It was a tale of four different quarters for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. But in whatever unorthodox way the 49ers did it, it do not matter, as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.

Like I said, it was tale of four different quarters for this team. The first quarter started with a rough first defensive drive and ended with a 49er fumble and recovery in Seattle territory.

The second quarter was centered around the third down play, which the 49ers could by no means execute. That lack of execution led to four trips to the red zone and three field goals. The last red zone visit was a sneak in by QB Alex Smith for the touchdown. The defense continued to be the story into halftime, and the 49ers led 16-0.

The second half was rude.

In typical past 49ers fashion, they made things interesting. This time, it was a lack of physicality on the defensive line that did them in. Marshawn Lynch was able to find holes on his way into 49ers' territory, and it resulted in a touchdown for Seattle.

That touchdown was soon followed by a couple three-and-outs for Alex Smith and the 49ers, and the Seahawks turned their momentum into three more points after a field goal.

It continued with six minutes to play in the game when QB Tavaris Jackson dumped the ball off to Baldwin on his way to a 55-yard TD reception.

19-17.

However, it was San Francisco who was able to finish.

Ted Ginn turned it up for back-to-back kick returns for touchdowns within a minute of each other, and the 49ers were able to pull away, 33-17.

For San Francisco, it was a great way to start the season, as they made a huge impression on both the fans and their own players.

Coach Jim Harbaugh played extremely conservative in his first game as an NFL head coach, but we got a sense that he was learning and growing at the same time.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio made quite an impression in his first game with the 49ers. The defense set the tone for the team and set the table for the offense, as they were able to lead several drives into Seattle territory from good field position.

The Seahawks did not get past the 50-yard line until early in the third quarter.



Need For Improvement

As much as Smith's 15 of 20 for 124 yards was moderately impressive, the lack of confidence Harbaugh showed in his quarterback in the red zone, and when it counted, was a little disturbing.

After they caught a huge break with the roughing the kicker penalty inside the Seattle five yard line, Harbaugh drew up three straight inside handoffs for Gore. Not a single pass was thrown, and not a single pass was even thought of from the sideline.

Too risky for Smith, evidently, and i do not see too many disagreeing with Harbaugh's decision.


Third Downs

Third down efficiency: 1 of 12.

That must change.

Like it has been said, Harbaugh played an extremely conservative game on offense in Week 1. The 49ers won with it, but could have just as easily lost with it.

The 1-12 on third downs looks bad on Smith, but it was the lack of play call from Harbaugh and others that make that stat look real ugly and disconcerning.

In the end, the 49ers win, although there is much work to be done on both sides of the ball if they want to contend with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

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San Jose Sharks: Training Camp Starts September 17; Kyle Wellwood Still On the Market

San Jose Sharks training camp starts at Sharks Ice in nine days, and yet the current roster seems incomplete. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but it still feels that the Sharks are one player away from being complete as a team.

The position that needs to be filled is a third or fourth line player, preferably a winger. Currently, San Jose will start the season with Torrey Mitchell, Michal Handzus and Jamie McGinn on the third line, and any combination of Andrew Murray, James Sheppard, Andrew Desjardins and Benn Ferriero on the fourth line.

GM Doug Wilson would love to make one more move, seeing how active he has been this offseason. However, with 49 players currently under contract out of 50 potential spots, he has a mind to make this next move one with increasing dividends.

With players like J.P. Dumont and Kyle Wellwood still available on the free agent market, Wilson is likely to make one last move before the start of training camp on September 17.

The likeliest of scenarios is the acquisition of Wellwood, although i use "likeliness" as a full supporter of signing him weeks ago.

Wellwood put up seven points in eight games during last season's playoffs with the Sharks, and seemed to find chemistry with Torrey Mitchell and Joe Pavelski.

The 28-year-old journeyman has expressed undying interest in returning to the Sharks, even going as far as to put the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets on hold while Wilson deliberates bringing him on.

That deliberation has been going on for weeks now and Wellwood still has no home.

The last time that happened, he found himself playing in the KHL.

Is Wellwood even right for this team anymore?

The Sharks have changed so much this offseason that Wellwood's style of play may not even translate into the brand of hockey San Jose will be playing this season, one that relies on the first two lines for scoring and the rest on solid defensive effort.

However, as much as many want to shut down the idea of Wellwood's finesse play being a hinderance to the progression of this new style in San Jose, all teams can use a player like him.

It is being reported that the Sharks did extend a training camp tryout invitation to him, which shows you how interested San Jose is.

Wellwood would be taking a huge risk for his career attending that tryout and dismissing the offers from the Blue Jackets and Jets.

Wellwood supplies this team with a player that has been there and done that in San Jose. He was a key part of their playoff run last season. At the least, Wilson and Co. should sign and throw him into the fourth line mix of Desjardins, Sheppard, Murray and Ferriero. The best three players of training camp will start on the fourth line, and i can only surmise that Wellwood would be one of them.

Loyalty can only take you so far in the NHL, but loyalty to a team with eyes staring straight at the Stanley Cup is a dangerous way of thinking. Hopefully the Sharks will accept that consistent loyalty and sign Wellwood before training camp begins. If for nothing else, it would give him another shot at helping this team reach their ultimate goal that he seems to be so invested in.

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Former Top Prospect Angel Villalona Rejoins San Francisco Giants' Organization

The San Francisco Giants' organization, as a whole, caught a break on Friday when they received word that talented prospect Angel Villalona would rejoin the ballclub.



Villalona had been charged with murder in his native Dominican Republic in 2009. The charges were dismissed earlier this summer.



The San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman broke the news, adding that he was surprised that Villalona plans on rejoining the Giants' organization. He had figured to be out of San Francisco's future plans after the murder charges.



The current plan, according to Schulman, is for Villalona to be reinstated into the Giants' system, barring the resolution of a $5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit. He was last in Single-A San Jose in 2009.



The 21-year-old first baseman was a key part of the Giants' future plans up until his 2009 murder charge, and was ranked by many websites as the team's top prospect.



In 2009, he had hit .267 with 42 RBI in 74 games played in Single-A San Jose.



This is clearly a huge boost to the Giants' farm system and future, if what Schulman claims is true. San Francisco gets one of their top prospects back, but in what kind of shape, i do not know.



The man is still only 21-years old and was well on his way to being promoted through the Giants' farm system in the coming year after his incident in the Dominican Republic.



By my judgment, i would say that Villalona would be playing in Triple-A Fresno right now and be in real consideration for the September 40-man roster, had everything gone according to plan.



Unfortunately, it did not.



Hopefully, Villalona could rejoin the ball club in similar shape, as that was always an issue with his 6'3", 200 lbs. pound frame. He had been held in jail for three months before bail.



I would not expect much from Villalona, although it is always great news when a former top prospect rejoins a team. I would expect the Giants to start over with him in their organization, and maybe we could see him in Triple-A Fresno or the big leagues within the next 2-3 years, if we are being optimistic.

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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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San Jose Sharks: Should Todd McLellan's Coaching Seat Be Getting Warm?

Many teams around the NHL are looking at this headline with pure amusement right now, but we'll address it nonetheless. The San Jose Sharks have been at such a high level for so long that they deserve to be called one of the elite franchises in this and any other sport, yet the ultimate prize that is the Stanley Cup has forever escaped them.

Zero Stanley Cups and zero Stanley Cup Finals appearances will lead to the coaching situation discussion getting a little hotter if San Jose does not sniff the Cup this season. As for Todd McLellan, any coach in San Jose is going to be brutally critiqued after so many winning seasons and no hardware to boast about.

A city can only go so long without scoffing at the fact that the Sharks have not been to the Stanley Cup Finals in their 20-year history. Maybe that does not sound that bad, but for how long the team has been considered front-runners for the Stanley Cup year-in and year-out, there will be some sort of uprising deep down in the competitive spirits of these fans.

McLellan has coached this Sharks team for three years now, since coming over from Detroit. In those three years, he has three Pacific division titles, three years of well over 100 points and two of three Western Conference Final appearances.

His resume speaks for itself in San Jose, but when is the time to start questioning if this man can take the team to the Stanley Cup Finals?

The answer to that is "not soon."

Does Todd McLellan deserve the coaching hot seat?

Yes, he can only go so many years with an incredible roster and nothing to show for it.

0%

No, he is the Sharks' best coaching option.

0%

Total votes: 0

What more could you want in a coach?

He is young, has tremendous knowledge of the game and can play strategy with the best coaches in the NHL.

Should McLellan's coaching seat be getting warm, though?

I don't see why not.

Has he been given one of the best rosters in the NHL? Has he hoisted the Cup in San Jose?

If we're getting picky, then yes, his seat should be getting warm. However, McLellan can continue the tradition of winning in San Jose, and, as far as I'm concerned, he is the only coach in the NHL that can get this team over the hump and into the Finals.

GM Doug Wilson has done a great job in giving every coach that has played for him a roster fully capable of going all the way. This season may be the best opportunity, though (which is what we say every year).

McLellan's seat is lukewarm right now, but the team he has in front of him this season has a "Cup or bust" type of mentality and look to it, and McLellan is at the forefront of that.

If this season is a failure, that is to say anything less than a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, expect his seat to get that much hotter heading into the following season.

Whether he deserves that burden or not is up to public opinion.

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