The Future's So Bright We Oughta Wear Shades

by Phil Ross

Please allow me to introduce myself : I was born Dec. 3, 1954, a white Anglo-Saxon Giants fan. Which puts me among the longest, suffering, non-championship fans alive. Early memories are of a living room in Tempe, Arizona, 1962, listening to the radio. McCovey hits a scrEEEEEEcher... and... and... "Mom, does that mean we lost?" Mom, a longtime Cubs fan, only smiled.

In 1964 my family moved to Los Angeles, where I learned to puke Dodger Blue. I've witnessed many downs and ups at the Ravine -- including a Gross no-hitter, and a memorable Jack Clark bomb.

At the 'Stick I saw The Thrill single off the Wild Thing: the greatest at-bat I ever witnessed. I was on the run behind home plate when Robby Thompson, the best-schooled baseball player I ever saw, homered to club the Cubs.

The only two games I've ever seen at Pac Bell were... the last two.

I've tasted the highs, I've lived the lows. Where do we go from here?

Allow me:

• Leadoff thoughtsÉ who is the only National League leadoff hitter to score a hundred or more runs the last two seasons? Clue: he also made one error last season, which, for some, no doubt makes him a defensive liability as well. I know, I know, but what's the rest of the NL got?

• Number-two hitter is another schooled baseball player reminiscent of Robby. This breed of player is more important than his numbers. Estespecially with some of our pitchers.

• Bonds. As the song goes: "Not of the best of men, but ours; We use him, we let him use his powers. We let him fill our needs. Now we are strong."

• Cleanup. The GM had to publicly say he was "not an idiot." I didn't believe him. Did you? Who woulda thought we'd have gotten so much for so little?

• Burks.... or Hammonds... or Gwynn. Or, preferably, all three.

• J.T. Remember J.R? Keep J.T.

• SS. Short of an AL $$, we're getting our money's worth.

• Tale of two catchers: 529 ABs, 68 runs, 123 hits, 20 home runs, 81 RBIs, 96 walks, .350 OBP... and the pitchers are happy with them.

• Pitching:
  • Hernandez, Estes, Ortiz, Reuter, Nathan.
  • You can only use five and we have five.
  • Plus an "A" in the hole.
  • We have what we need.
  • Arms young and strong.
  • Possible volatility; but probable Rags to riches.
  • Middle and long relief are uncertain, But get us to the eighth and ninth, and we're as good as anyone.

Now, some numbers:

• Team Batting Avg. 278 (to the NL's .266)

• Errors: 93. Best. (Not to mention of immeasurable importance with volatile young pitchers)

• Runs scored: 925. Third to Colorado's 968, Houston's 938.

• Runs given up: 747 ...which means we scored 178 more than we gave up.

• The starting rotation came up with a 3.48 ERA at home.

Thanks to a superior GM and manager, the team is in great hands. Let's face it -- "we" are not needed.

However...

We do need to get our money's worth.

As in, somebody needs to spend some money before this run Peters out.

We are on the doorstep, and it's pretty much understood that the time is now. We need to shrewdly spend at least $10 million this winter, and another $10 mil next summer, or whatever it will then take to fix the unforeseen.

Let's get real: We have the guns, but we don't have enough ammunition. As in, all our New York and Los Angeles opponents have over a hundred bullet$ and we only have 60. No matter how you hold it up to the light, there's really no getting around the disparity. But with a sold-out show, and with another victorious season within reach, can we not narrow the gap? Another 20 would at least bring us near-even with St. Louis.

A Christmas wish list...

• Again, some right fielders.

• Another platoon player for the top two spots of the order.

• A nasty lefty midle-reliever.

All the while, keeping in mind, that the World Series seems to be won with pitching and defense... and .230 baseball players -- like Mazeroski, Dent, Lemke, Sojo.

But... You don't get to October without a Bonds.

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