What's funny about it is that everybody has understandably high expectations for the management of the team, considering the results of the last five years being what they are (well, except for the few of you who STILL know better and are sure that the Giants got lucky...three separate times...). Yet amidst pundits calling them this off-season's biggest losers so far, GM Brian Sabean and crew have put on a stone poker face and are holding.

They obviously made no secret of the fact that they wanted Sandoval back - PR suicide not to with a fan favorite - but when you consider the offer they gave him was only a few bucks (and no fewer years!) than Boston, it becomes clear that for whatever reason, Pablo was interested in a change of scenery, and the front office wasn't too broken up about wishing him good luck and sending him on his way. Intriguing, considering they knew how dry the free agent market was for impact third basemen.

Since that time, the only name out there Sabey has publicly chased is starting pitcher Lester, who, again, when he went another way, was met by the Giants with an aw shucks, oh well. Every pundit from Olney down to BleacherReport opined that 3B Chase Headley was a must-get, but for all the air time that prognosis got, the Giants said almost nothing about him, and I didn't even see any official reports of them offering him at all.

And they've still got the holes at third, in left, in the rotation, and at least one righty relief arm. Still, no big power plays. They could easily have gone out and thrown money around. They're fresh off yet another cash-infusing World Series win, and they've got an ownership group that can't be hurting too bad (shoot, they're all a bunch of Napa-vineyard-owning Real Estate and Tech moguls, and the Bay Area is the one part of the world those two markets sure ain't slowing down!), but Sabean's not money-bagging it, and at this point, I have to think that's intentional.

It just really makes me wonder, and more than a bit excited to find out, what they're up to. I wonder if they're just crazy enough to try to put it together with what they have, or at least, can get easy.

As far as the infield is concerned, there's a crazy lot of young potential there already, the only problem is that none of it has played 3rd on the big stage. Still, how big a problem is that, really, to a team braintrust who had the audacity to put a journeyman 1st baseman in left field, with all of three total games of crash-course training at the new position, for MOST of the postseason, and get a Bobby Thompson moment out of him to boot??? Sure, it may have been stupidity bordering on lunacy, but the pesky thing about people defying logic is that they'll keep doing it until logic catches up to them. And the Giants have made out-running logic an absolute artform the last 5 years.

So here's the web of 3rd-base-deficient youthful infield madness: Posey's behind the dish, except when he gets a blow and takes over for Belt, leaving Susac to catch. Second base got filled in a BIG way by Panik this year, but he's got help from utility guy Duffy, who can swing a heavy bat for his slight frame while backing up both 2nd and starter Crawford at short. All guys still in their 20s (mid-to-early for many of them) who are solid defenders and capable of putting up starting averages. And this doesn't even mention C Sanchez, 1 Duvall or 2 Adrianza, all of whom have gotten time but have some drawbacks compared to the others. Shoot, even the current (read: default) rostered 3rd baseman, Arias, is an impressive utility defender and saw time at literally all four infield spots this last year.

So conjecture is that Sabey & Boch are scheming to move one of the kids over to 3rd. Makes sense, but is risky.

The most concrete thing I've read about them pulling the stunt is Panik being questioned about it and giving the pad "anything for the team" answer. I cringe at this knowing the Giants have caught lightning in a bottle not once but TWICE with veteran acquisitions at second that were the difference maker in getting the first two rings, so it's really nice not to have to worry as much about a young budding star disappearing due to age-related injuries. Still, did you guys see the defensive play he made in the Series?!? Yeah, he could play the hot corner.

The other rumor is Posey. In a sick sort of way it makes sense. Solid depth at first without him and the front office is trying to get him out of the squat as much as is practical for his long-term health anyway. Still, I seriously doubt this is more than pundit guesses for a few reasons. The MASTERFUL way Buster handles a pitching staff can not be overstated. He's the Pitch Whisperer. Seriously. Life-long catcher Bochy knows that better than anyone. Especially where there will be one, maybe two new faces in the rotation alone, Buster's zen will be needed. Additionally, as good as his backups' defense has been in glimpses of them, his is better. And lastly, the other options have played more movement-similar positions, and would face fewer growing pains. Playing first, if you dive, you don't often have to be in a hurry to subsequently get anywhere, either because it went by and you're worthless to the play, or you're within flip distance of the covering pitch or 2nd. At catcher, if you dive, it means something has gone terribly wrong with the play anyway. Not saying Buster couldn't do it, saying he is better used elsewhere.

That leaves Matt Duffy. Moments of defensive brilliance so far, and potentially higher ceiling on his hitting than current 3rd base option Arias. I'm not saying I BET that's what we'll see, but it makes the most sense to me, because other options are: spending a decent chunk of money on acquisitions you'd have to teach 3rd base to ANYWAY - Washington's Desmond or Cabrera, or Korean SS Kang, get an actual 3rd but go bargain-basement on a Middlebrooks or Plouffe, OR spend boatloads and prospects on something like a Beltre. If there are already guys on the team capable of putting up starting averages, why not teach them instead of buying someone you'd have to do the same for?

As for the pitching, who knows. Regarding the right handed relief need, it would be a cute redemptive story bringing back Wilson from the dark side, but I think there's just too much personality there for a return act. With Panda and Morse gone, though, who knows. Maybe it could work...

I don't know what they're gonna do for a starter. Shields is still out there, otherwise it'll be a trading situation, which, as bare as the Giants' prospect cupboard is (shoot, they were all called up out of necessity, but contributed in the World Series win!), nobody wants to see. Vogelsong and Peavy can be brought back, but not counted on, and as BRILLIANT as Petit was in long relief and spot starts last year, I sure want him in the bullpen as a safety valve in case Lincecum's game goes to yewt as it has annually the last 3 seasons.

It's just curious, nerve-wracking, but still impressive how calm the front office is. They're not wanting for options, only for guarantees. Still, for a team that's won three rings in five on luck and bailing wire, guarantees are apparently not necessary capital in the front office. If that's not admirable, I don't know what is.