FIVE REASONS BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AHEAD FOR THE GIANTS

1. Tim Lincecum (left)

The Sports Illustrated cover boy known as "The Freak" is not only a Cy Young Award front-runner thanks to the filthy right-hander's 18-5 record, his big league-leading 265 strikeouts and his 2.62 ERA, which was second in the National League, but he also has become the face of the franchise a year after Barry Bonds left town following 15 oft-tumultuous seasons. A certain electricity envelops the park when Lincecum starts and he has more than backed up the hype. Not bad for a guy who just finished his first full season in the bigs.

2. Their finishing push

A 100-loss season, the second since the Giants moved from New York in 1958, seemed certain. In the midst of a franchise-shaking youth movement, the Giants actually had a better record in their first season without Bonds than in their final season with him. Granted, it was only one more victory – 72 to 71 – but it means a lot to general manager Brian Sabean. Plus, there is an excitement and energy going forward, unlike a year ago.

3. Barry Zito's closing kick

It's easy to dismiss Zito going 4-2 with a 3.76 ERA in his final eight starts because he did it with little to no pressure after failing miserably to start the season. Besides, the $126 million man closed out 2007 similarly. The point here, though, is this: at least it's something. Which is more than the soft-tossing left-hander gave fans and teammates by starting this season 0-9 and enduring the ignominy of being skipped a start for the first time in his career. Call it the power of positive, albeit, tempered thinking.

4. A burgeoning farm system

The Giants' minor league system was supposed to be an Achilles' heel. But after a franchise-record 16 rookies made their big league debuts this season, and potential studs Madison Bumgarner, Angel Villalona and Buster Posey lurk on the farm, things are brighter than expected. Guys like John Bowker, Emmanuel Burriss (left), Travis Ishikawa and Ivan Ochoa may not have "star" written on them, but they're more than simple serviceable parts. And, they get along with each other and they play well together. What more can you ask for from a rebuilding club?

5. A star is born?

Smiling Pablo Sandoval, who turned 22 on Aug. 11, has a certain lightness of being that permeates the Giants' clubhouse. From the moment he set foot in it in late July, the "Kung-Fu Panda"-loving,wake-up-and-slap-a-base-hit-from-either-side-of-the-plate, switch-hitting Sandoval has brought nothing but good vibes to the shores of McCovey Cove. Batting .345 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 41 games brings a lot of good will. Being able to play three positions – catcher, third base and first base – and play them well, that brings badly needed versatility. And hope for the future.

FIVE REASONS BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AHEAD FOR THE A'S

1. The River Cats' success

Your Triple-A affiliate's relative domination of the game at the level before the Show should herald things to come, right? After all, the River Cats not only have won the past two Pacific Coast League titles but the outright Triple-A championship each time. So how does that positively affect the A's? If you want to cultivate a culture of winning, doing it in the minors can only help. There is no guarantee of success, though, as last year's putrid A's finish showed. But it can't hurt.

2. No more shocking trades

A's fans were dealt huge blows last winter when Dan Haren, Nick Swisher, Marco Scutaro and Mark Kotsay were dealt, and again at midseason when Rich Harden (left), Chad Gaudin and Joe Blanton were shipped, leaving the faithful with a shell of their former favorite team. Now, the biggest trading chips are Huston Street and Justin Duchscherer, so the fans will not be shocked and awed by another offseason purge of marketable and recognizable players. No surprises this time. This counts as a positive in general manager Billy Beane's "Moneyball" world.

3. The Angels come back to Earth

The American League West champion's untimely, but predictable, fold job against Boston in four games in an A.L. Division Series bodes well for the rest of the division. Even as the Angels won a franchise-record 100 games and claimed the West by 21 games over second-place Texas, the fast-aging Halos are more than ripe for a Wall Street-style crash. Free-agents-to-be Francisco Rodríguez and Mark Teixeira could take their respective single-season record 62 saves and clutch bat and Gold Glove-caliber first baseman's mitt elsewhere.

4. Young pitching … again

Yes, you've heard it all before, but pitching remains the backbone of the A's, and will remain so as long as Beane and his small-market philosophies occupy the GM's chair in Oakland. Trader Billy's deals were meant to infuse the A's system with quality arms and he accomplished that in acquiring guys like left-handers Dana Eveland, Greg Smith and Gio Gonzalez and right-handers Sean Gallagher and Joey Devine. Closer Brad Ziegler, who began his big league career with a record 39 1/3 scoreless innings, made Street, the 2005 A.L. Rookie of the Year, expendable.

5. Kurt Suzuki (left)

On whose shoulders falls the weight of carrying and educating such a raw and talented group of pitchers? On those of a raw and talented catcher. Until Eric Chavez returns to pre-injury prone form, the face of the franchise is Suzuki. Part cheerleader, part clutch hitter, part massager of equally young egos on the pitching mound, Suzuki's infectious enthusiasm and trail blazing play as a Hawaiian from Maui is more than enough for A's fans to get excited about, what with his .279 batting average and throwing out a workman-like 22.5 percent of would-be base stealers.

– Paul Gutierrez