As 2010 dawns, a new year of hope and disappointment awaits us. Another baseball season, a Super Bowl to come, another college football season - you know the drill. But before we look ahead, let's take a look back at 2009 with a series of posts, a year featuring a hope-stirring season from the Giants, a roller coaster season from the 49ers, another playoff choke by the Sharks, and more disappointment from the Cal football team.
Zeroes:
5. The Giants offense minus Sandoval. What could've been, what should've been. If it weren't for the anemic Giants offense holding them back, the Giants would EASILY have been in the playoff race. It's almost sad seeing all the good pitching go to waste.
4. Bob Gregory - defensive coordinator of the Cal Bears. Seriously, would it kill you to stop a pass once in a freaking millenium? The Cal defense was shredded apart all year by opposing quarterbacks. Heck, at the end, even Andrew Luck almost took the Big Game away from us. If it weren't for one bad pass, Cal might've lost to Stanford. I know, you can't blame everything on the coach, but come on, when you give up over 300 yards passing to a WSU quarterback (blowout or not blowout), change has to come.
3. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov. What do they all have in common? They're all top-of-the-line starters, at the top of their positions, San Jose Sharks, and of course, playoff chokers. A President's Cup, #1 seed, and you lose to the 8th seeded Anaheim Ducks? Could you choke any harder? They've had many, many chances to succeed in the playoffs, only to fall on their faces over and over again. Time and patience are running thin - it's time to get some playoff success or overhaul this core group.
2. Brett Favre. WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP AND RETIRE ALREADY??? Seriously, this guy changes his mind more often than a 5 year-old kid and then whines and cries about it, taking up half the news stories on ESPN every offseason. Not only that, he just had to throw a last second miracle pass against the 49ers... we could've been freaking 4-0. Thanks a lot, Mr. Favre. You were a great quarterback, we know, now go retire please.
1. Kevin Riley. I don't even want to explain.
Heroes:
5. Patrick Willis. This guy has emerged as the leader of the 49ers defense. He is the banner of smashmouth football and helped 49ers emerge as one of the stronger run defenses in the league in 2009. Selected to another well-deserved Pro-Bowl, Willis was clearly the defensive MVP on the 49ers team.
4. Vernon Davis. A true zero-to-hero story. Just one year ago, he was sent to the showers for bad behavior and a dispute with new coach Mike Singletary. Ever since then, he has righted his life and amended his relationship with Singletary and it has clearly shown on the field. Davis finished with 13 touchdowns, tied for most ever for a tight-end in a single season with Antonio Gates (set in 2004), and he will be making his first Pro-Bowl appearance this year in Miami. With his best years still ahead of him, the future certainlly looks bright for this kid, and so does the 49ers offense because of him.
3. Jeremy Affeldt. An unsung hero in the bullpen. If you had been following the Giants this season, you would know how many countless jams this guy got the Giants out of. The lefty setup man easily won the TYIB award for reliever of the year (and deserved it too), leading all relievers in double plays induced and finishing with a miniscule 1.73 ERA and 33 holds. His quick fastball and devastating breaking pitches kept the Giants ahead or tied in many, many occasions and though he wasn't the closer, he certainly did save a lot of victories for the Giants.
2. Pablo Sandoval - a.k.a. "The Kung Fu Panda" Curveballs in the dirt, fastballs near his head, changeups - you name the pitch and location, he'll still hit it. Nicknamed "Kung Fu Panda" by fellow teammate Barry Zito for his resemblance to the movie character, Sandoval carried the inept Giants offense on his back - racking up 25 HRs and 90 RBIs with an outstanding .330 batting average. He was robbed of an All-Star appearance in the Final Vote, but there's no doubt that he'll be back in the mix next year.
1. Tim Lincecum Do I really need to explain? "The Freak", "The Franchise", "The Kid"... we might as well call him Jesus - he is the ray of light in the dark forest that is Bay Area sports. He gave the Giants hope in an otherwise dismal 2008 season and carried that hope into 2009, nearly leading them to the playoffs. He is the new face of the franchise and fans have begun to worship him as God. He has revitalized baseball in San Francisco, giving the Giants a new younger look that will put the Bonds days behind them. What Lincecum has done in just his first two major league seasons is practically unprecedented - two Cy Young awards and a rapid ascension to the pitching elite. Lincecum has quickly established himself as one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League and his future is as bright as it can possibly be.
And that concludes the segment "2009 in Review." Tune in next year for 2010 in review?
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