Bay Area Jelly

Okay, here’s what’s up. I am slightly jealous of the team on the other side of the bay. Granted, the Giants are the team with a higher viability to content in 2012, but if you are to look at the next five years, I think the advantage goes to our Oakland brethren, if we are to call them such.

For starters, their rotation is rather compelling. Arms like Milone and Peacock caught my eye in 2011 and certainly beg the attention of 2012 onward, if you ask me. Additionally, they already had interesting guys in Braden and McCarthy. When you add these pieces up, they have a very high upside with entirely minmal risk that would leave most front offices drooling.

Compared with the San Francisco situation, it’s absolute bliss. Why, you ask?

Lincecum has recently expressed a desire to stay in a Giants uniform without testing the market, much to the surprise of not only myself but many great and respected minds in the area. Cain has, much to the surprise of those around me, declared a purported interest in testing free agency and the vast riches available to the stellar pitcher he is — very deserving of the riches he’d gain should he do so. Bumgarner is under team control. This is the one wondrous element to the rotation that we can all take solace in, as Giants fans. Exhale, my friends, exhale. He’s an ace, and he’s here for a while yet.

And yet.

This is what we have to hang our hats on.

There is an egregious mismanagement of the position players available to the team on a major league level, and as has been illustrated by various scouts and prospect-driven lists and reports for 2012 and onward, the farm system is weak at best. That is to say, win now and draft for later, lest you be left in the wake of the strengthened NL West. Arizona is arguably the most well-rounded team in the division, though Colorado could certainly make a claim on that. San Diego has undoubtedly the best farm system in the NL West, and if you give them merely three years they will surpass all competition that is unwilling to make up ground through either drafting and development or free agent signing.

My question to this organization is such: What do you want to accomplish?

You have a fanbase that is forever loyal, and this is a given not just since the championship year but before and after as well. Those of us who are Giants fans are lifers, plain and simple. We are here to support this organization. Yes, I admit it — we will gripe when things are bullshit. We will give plaudits when things are lovely. We will give Mutombo fingers when things suck balls. So what do you want, Giants? Do you want to contend? If so, commit to offense. Do you want to plan for long-term viability? If  so, lock up the rotation long-term under the premise that you will be acquiring bats. Do you want to develop position players? If so, change things up in the front office that give satisfaction and promise for those of us who see the deficiency in position player development to date.

Here’s what’s up. Here’s where I, and where my friends stand. Let us know what is going on. Let us know the direction. We are willing and able to get behind your direction, but choose one. A’s fans can at least know what the direction is. They are willing to gamble — they have a balanced diet of position players and pitchers that give them an opportunity to contend should everything align with efficacy and chance. If I were an A’s fan, I’d be terribly optimistic and enthusiastic about 2012. However, I’m a Giants fan waiting for direction. I’m waiting too many variables. I want to know what the direction is. Let me know; let us know. We are happy to play our part, as fans.