Giants, Rangers look to play in October

Let me get this out of the way since it's eating at me.  And I promise, it is the first and only time this season I'm even going to mention steroids and PEDs...that is until the first knucklehead goes and tests positive for using them.

I've got all the respect in the world for Carlton Fisk, and always have.  I completely agree with him and others about Mark McGwire's crocodile tears and apologies at this stage of the whole mess.  But moaning and bitching about it now ain't gonna' do a thing.

Fisk and Jack Clark and other former players should've been at the forefront when the whole business of steroids and PEDs was in its heyday.  They were watching the same games, either on the field or on TV, that myself and millions of other fans were watching.  We suspected it and went right on cheering.

The former players should've been pressuring Bud Selig and Donald Fehr then, not pitching a fit now.  Where was Senator Jim Bunning in the 1990s?  And please, don't tell me he was in Washington looking out for my interests while serving in Congress.  I've been following Congress longer than Bunning's been there -- Hell, I used to go watch the man pitch -- and one thing I know is the US Congress hasn't ever been looking out for my interests while in session.

Let it go, Carlton.  Let it go, Jack Clark.  I feel your pain about how these suckers have amassed fortunes and now want us to feel sorry for them because of the mistakes they made.  I earned $640 a month once as a service hand in the oilfield, and they're all making a lot more than that now.  You don't hear me crying about it now, do you?

Let's move on to the damn game, shall we?  Here are three teams that break down into two that are looking to take that next step into the postseason this season, and the third being the Nationals in Washington in honor of Senator Bunning, baseball and all that is good about the United States Congress.  Can I get an amen on that, brothers and sisters?

San Francisco Giants 16/1
2009 record/finish: 88-74, 3rd in NL West
Departing: RHP Brad Penny, OF Randy Winn, LHP Randy Johnson, RHP Bob Howry
Arriving: UTL Aubrey Huff, UTL Mark DeRosa
2010 outlook: I really want to like this team to finish on top of the division, but I can't quite bring myself to making that decision right now.

Let's start with the presumed meat of the lineup.  DeRosa is in left batting fifth, Huff is at first batting fourth, and Sandoval is at third while batting third.  Not bad, but it's basically three guys who for the most part have proven their value by being versatile.  Bringing back Bengie Molina will help, having solid veterans like Aaron Rowand and Edgar Renteria will also be a good thing.  But if you have to start relying on Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez and Travis Ishikawa for prolonged stretches, that's where I get scared.

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Bruce Bochy surely isn't afraid with the meat of this rotation coming back, headed by Tim Lincecum and followed by Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito.  And the entire last two innings for the bullpen is back in Brian Wilson, Brandon Medders and Jeremy Affeldt.  Watch Sergio Romo in the 6th-7th innings, and wait for news on who is the best guy for the fifth starter's role.  That's key because we shouldn't expect the first four in the rotation to each make 32+ starts again this season.

Free MLB Pick: 86-76, 3rd in the NL West

Texas Rangers 20/1
2009 record/finish: 87-75, 2nd in AL West
Departing: OF Andruw Jones, OF, Marlon Byrd, RHP Kevin Millwood
Arriving: OF Vladimir Guerrero, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Chris Ray
2010 outlook: Just as I like to put a disclaimer out on the Astros when I speak of them since they're my favorite team, I need to also post one about the Texas Rangers.  It's not that I hate the Rangers, it's just that I've long had a strong distaste for anything Dallas, and the Rangers are close enough to Big D to qualify.

With that out of the way, I love just about everything there is about Nolan Ryan, and the ol' Texan is going to build this franchise into a winner.  Hide and watch.

There's still not enough pitching for my taste to put a bunch of hard-earned dough on them to win the Series, but making the playoffs might be a different story for me when I do buy some futures in the near future.  Perhaps Harden will finally have a full healthy season, but I ain't countin' on it. So it's going to be up to Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland to toe the line in the rotation.

The bullpen could be a gem if Frankie Francisco really settles into the closer's role.  There are some excellent guys fronting him in C.J. Wilson and Darren O'Day, and I'm banking on newly arrived Chris Ray rebounding in the seventh-inning role.

The offense should be just fine, as along as Chris Davis can figure out the strike zone.  I expect this team to improve from seventh in the AL in scoring all the way into the Top 4 of the league.

Free MLB Pick: 91 wins, 1st or 2nd in AL West

Washington Nationals 125/1 
2009 record/finish: 59-103, 5th in NL East
Departing: Not really anyone except their 2B late last season
Arriving: RHP Matt Caps, RHP Jason Marquis
2010 outlook: After rambling too long about Fisk, the Giants and Rangers, I've got to keep the Nats report short and sweet.  So here it is: They aren't going anywhere.  It will take the complete collapse of one of the other NL East teams for Washington to avoid another cellar season.  Not that such an event isn't possible.  But 70 wins and a fourth-place finish would be a successful season for this club. 

Marquis is the stop-gap to getting Stephen Strasburg into the mix in front of Jordan Zimmermann, Craig Stammen and John Lannan.  This could be a fun little offense to watch with Nyjer Morgan setting the table in front of Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn.

But the team is going nowhere this season.  Might as well be a bazillion to one to win the World Series.

Free MLB Pick: 65 wins, 5th in NL East