Ryan Garko News

For the last couple years since the departure of Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants have been pressured and prodded in the direction of a power-hitting corner infielder.

There's that scene in "Bull Durham," when Nuke LaLoosh says, "I like winning. You know, it's better than losing..." LaLoosh, of course, was a pitcher in the Minor Leagues, where winning is nice but development is more important.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

One player you want. Cull the free agent list , and name your guy. It's a rosterbation sensation! Nick Johnson is my guy, and I know it might not be especially rational.

Sooner or later, I'll get around to writing my thoughts on the San Francisco Giants' 2009 season.

First off, Happy Birthday to Jim Kochie . jim lives in the Philadelphia area and is a huge Mets fan, which can't be easy, especially these days Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot explains why the secret to the Mets success may be in his lucky tube socks.

The day after GM Brian Sabean got a new two-year contract, it's only fitting that the two deadline deals that didn't exactly live up to the billing during the stretch drive.

Back at the trade deadline, I wrote the following: Forget Freddy Sanchez. I don't have a problem with average-dependent players, per se, but this one is hurt.

I sipped the bourbon. I watched some baseball. I skritched the cat. The Giants not making the playoffs is a bad thing, but there are some benefits.

Most Giants fans will look back on this season with a smile. What a run. And it was fun.

Scott Barnes been a pro for just over a year, but he had to admit, he was getting used to this championship thing.

I suppose we can all use a little break. Two hits. A couple of walks. No runs. Wade LeBlanc.

With this being the last year of GM Brian Sabean's contract, owner Bill Neukom is faced with a very tough decision.

Though manager Bruce Bochy has settled on a relatively set lineup against right-handed starters, opposing left-handers will still prompt him to make personnel adjustments when he tries to select his starting eight position players.

Freddy Sanchez will require surgery after the season to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, making it almost automatic that Giants will decline their $8.1 million option on the two-time All-Star second baseman.

Nineteen-year-old Giants prospect Angel Villalona, a first baseman who hit .267 for the minor-league San Jose Giants this year, is the prime suspect in a killing last night in his home country of the Dominican Republic, the Associated Press and other news organizations reported today.

For the Giants to improve at the plate in 2010, they'll need to find more help from the outside, with apologies to Freddy Sanchez , Ryan Garko and Buster Posey .

Scott Barnes gave his former organization a good look at what it traded away two months ago and helped the Akron Aeros end their recent run of futility in the Eastern League Finals.

Clubhouse confidential: Jamey Carroll wanted to know why he was charged with an at-bat Wednesday in the ninth inning against the Twins after replacing injured Asdrubal Cabrera with an 0-2 count.

Now it seems he's No. 3 on the Giants' depth chart behind Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa .