Article:I Miss You. All of You.

Watching the San Francisco Giants start off 1-2, although I still have hope, made me miss the old days. No not in the nineties with Will Clark and Matt Williams. The times I remember are here in the 2000s, where my memory hasn't dissapeared into thin air. My heart began to throb during the rain delay of last nights Giants versus Los Angeles Dodgers game. My heart longed for old Giants from the past few years. An ace that pitched like an ace, a corner infielder who won gold gloves, a clean-up batter who actually had power, and someone who could protect that clean-up guy. There were many names that jumped out at me right away. Of course every team has some palyers that had very short lived careers with their team, such as I had with Kenny Lofton for one year. Lofton helped propell the Giants into the world series, but the missing I was having was much more deep. I missed players that I had come accustom to seeing in a Giants uniform.

LF Barry Bonds [[Image:Barry-bonds.jpg|200px|right]]

 * 15 seasons w/ the Giants
 * Average Batting Avg of .310 w/ Giants
 * Had 586 homerunes w/ Giants
 * During 1996 season had a 40-40 season w/ Giants
 * Won 5 MVPs w/ Giants (1993, 2001-2004)
 * Won 5 Gold Gloves w/ Giants (1993-1994, 1996-1998)
 * Won 9 Silver Sluggers w/ Giants (1993-1994, 1996-1997, 2000-2004)
 * 12x All-Star w/ Giants (1993-1998, 2000-2004, 2007)
 * Was part of the 2002 Giants' NL Champions Team

Wow...the greatest Giants of all-time next to Willie Mays and Christ Matthewson. I would list all the records he has broken but that would take much to space and I really don't think you want to tire your fingers by scrolling so much. Barry Bonds is (was?) the most feared batter of his generation. Everytime he stepped up to the plate the Giants fans stopped what they were doing to watch him bat. The concession stands would quiet down, the kids removed there heads from behind there big balls of cotton candy, the concession people stopped in their tracks, and the cameras began to make AT&T Park a big glare. He was a man that made time stop on his own and there was a reason, just look at the stats above. Yes there is much controversy, but you can't argue the fact that he is one of the best to every play the game. He lead the Giants to the top of the West division. When he won the MVP award from 2001-2004 the Giants record all four years combined was 375-271 (That includes a World Eries run and a 100 win season). He gave the Giants great help in the middle of the order and that will be greatly missed. Thank you Barry Bonds and I Miss You.

SP Jason Schmidt [[Image:Jss.jpg|200px|right]]

 * 6 seasons w/ the Giants
 * Average ERA of  3.39 w/ Giants
 * Had a 78-37 record w/ Giants (.678 winning pct.)
 * Had 1,065 strikeouts w/ Giants
 * 1x All-Star w/ Giants (2003)
 * Pitched a 1 hitter w/ Giants (same day as Randy Johnson's perfect game)
 * Threw 16 striekouts in one game w/ Giants
 * Was part of the 2002 Giants' NL Champions Team

I came to love Jason Schmidt over his tenure with the Giants. He was a true ace and you could always count on him to deliver for the Giants. He was also great in the post-season for the Giants (3-1 w/ a 3.06 era). The Giants acquired Schmidt from the Pirates in exchange for Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong. A steal for the Giants by far. Schmidt helped the Giants get over the hump and into the world series with a seven and two thirds innings pitched, one earned run, and eight strikeouts in the NLCS of 2002. Schmidt had a great impact on the Giants and gave them that great pitching threat they always were looking for. It's dissapointing that the Giants choice to sign Barry Zito over re-signing Schmitty, which led to him signing with the most god-awful team...the Dodgers. You get no thank you from me because you sport the Dodger Blue, but Jason Schmidt I Miss You.

SP Kirk Rueter [[Image:Kirkxx.jpg|200px|right]]

 * 10 seasons w/ the Giants
 * Has Giants' record for most wins by left handed pitcher w/ 105
 * The first pitcher to start at Pac Bell (Now AT&T Park)
 * Was part of the 2002 Giants' NL Champions Team

Kirk "Woody" Rueter was anything but a stat hog. The stats don't show him as being a the great pitcher he was. Rueter has a southpaw you relied on control and his change-up with his fastball rarely reaching the ninties. Rueter was a great leader once he established himself as a great pitcher in the Giants' rotation. Also was a very humble man. Rueter was great in the Giants playoff run of 2002 and shined brightest in the World Series. Rueter will always be remembered by his sense of humor and his ability to get it done in the middle of the rotation. Thanks Kirk Rueter and I Miss You.

1B J.T. Snow [[Image:Snowy.jpg|200px|right]]

 * 9 seasons w/ the Giants
 * The Giants' Ladies Man
 * Won 4 Gold Gloves w/ Giants (1997-2000)
 * Was part of the 2002 Giants' NL Championship Team

When Snow was announced over the PA system you could always here the women screaming louder than ever. You would ask a female Giants' fan and they always said their favorite player was Snow. So I miss him because of his good looks? Nah, I miss him because he is the best fielding first baseman I have had the privilage to see play the game. He was also a great middle of the order hitter for the Giants in the post-season (.327 15 RBIs). Snow is the one responsible for saving Dusty Baker's kid in game five of the 2002 world series, hopefully that decision won't go in vain and Dusty's kid will become a better manager...hehe. Snow was always known for his leadership in the Giants dugout and going out and giving it his all day in and day out. He showed great spirt and well...Thanks you J.T. Snow and I Miss You.

2B Jeff Kent [[Image:Kentxx.jpg|200px|right]]

 * 6 seasons w/ the Giants
 * Average Batting AVG of .297 w/ Giants
 * Hit 20+ HRs all six seasons w/ Giants (175 total)
 * Had 100+ RBIs all six seasons w/ Giants (689 total)
 * 3x All-Star w/ Giants (1999-2001)
 * 1 MVP w/ Giants (2000)
 * 3 Silver Sluggers w/ Giants (2000-2002)
 * Hit for the cycle w/ Giants (1999)
 * Was part of the 2002 Giants' NL Championship Team

One word descrbise Kent...intense. He always played with great intesity and played his butt off game after game. Kent really shined with the Giants hitting behind Barry Bonds in the line-up. Bonds would get walked and Kent would get a clutch RBI or just a clutch hit. Kent was a real consistent hitter that was really overshadowed by Bonds' great success. Kent was really a driving force int eh Giants line-up and really made them a threat for a World Series championship in 2002. It was too bad that his relationship with the Giants become so sour and he departed. From his alleged motorcycle crash, to his fued with Bonds, and finally Baker left (the only one who trusted Kent in the front office). Now where is Kent...in Dodger BLUE...You get no thank you from me since you joined the Dodger Blue, but Jeff Kent I Miss You.