Jeremy Affeldt News

General manager Brian Sabean, who signed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt shortly after open bidding in free agency began last offseason, recently said that the Giants might chart a new course by taking a "wait-and-see" approach toward players on the market.

This offseason is crucial to the future of the San Francisco Giants. While good moves and shrewd signings will undoubtedly make them viable threats in the National League West, a simple misstep or two could put them back below .500 in 2010.

Hitting? That's the bad news. That's opening up the pantry after not eating for a week and finding nothing put potted meat .

"Numbers constitute the only universal language." -- Nathanael West, Author/Screenwriter 0 : The number of right fielders who hit .300 with 30 homers and 100 RBI .

After guiding the Giants back to the doorstep of the playoffs, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy will get at least two more years to push the team over the threshold.

So Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy got their deals, as expected. And the new season begins in 172 days, and the Giants will be handed new and grander expectations because, as we know, every time a team gains 16 wins, it must by definition pick up another 16 the next year, give or take a few.

Happy birthday to Trevor Hoffman, who turned 42 on Tuesday and will become the Brewers' first 42-year-old pitcher when he steps on the mound next season.

The Giants appreciate more about Matt Cain than just his pitching. The right-hander known for his aggressive approach on the mound received the "Willie Mac" Award, given annually to the most inspirational Giant through a vote conducted among players, coaches and the training staff.

Jeremy Affeldt is about to complete a career year. Even so, Affeldt said Tuesday, it could benefit the team next year to have a second lefty, such as rookie Dan Runzler.

Nobody in the usually stout rotation, including Sanchez, could do that in the first five games of a trip that ended with some true 2009 Giants baseball - good pitching and just enough offense to win.

The victory moved the Giants within four games of idle Colorado in the NL wild-card chase with 12 games to play.

It could be said that Jeremy Affeldt has excelled at staying grounded this season.

The Giants are the inebriate at the bar who cannot recognize that you and your sweetie want to be alone.

PHOENIX The Giants are a playoff contender and the Arizona Diamondbacks are not.

LOS ANGELES The Giants must blaze through this final stretch to catch the Colorado Rockies and reach the postseason.

With 15 games left in the regular season, the Giants may have found a semblance of an everyday lineup.

The Giants made a big addition to their bullpen -- literally -- by activating left-hander Randy Johnson from the 60-day disabled list.

San Francisco fell three games behind Colorado in the National League wild-card race after the Rockies beat Cincinnati 3-1. Will Venable hit a tying solo homer in the seventh, and Kevin Kouzmanoff also connected for the Padres, who won in the Giants' waterfront ballpark for only the second time in eight games this year.

The Giants might be fading from the postseason picture, but the season's final 20 games still will have meaning for several players who are pursuing individual accomplishments.

Top pitching prospect Madison Bumgarner making his major-league debut. Either would have stood on its own as big news.