San Francisco Giants
Yes, the Giants' starting outfield of Barry Bonds, Marquis Grissom and Moises Alou boast a combined 118 years of existence, nearly half a century worth of baseball seasons, almost 6,500 games all told. Venerable but venomous, long in the tooth, but with fangs still razor sharp. Plus, experience and competitive passion to the max. So be patient, Todd Linden, Jason Ellison, Tony Torcato, because your time will come. Just not yet.
San Francisco's outfielders will face a barrage of jokes -- already have -- but the old line that they'll get the last chuckle will probably hold true, for they're a fearsome offensive force and leaders of a squad that surely will contend for the National League West title in 2005.
Bonds, perhaps two years away from retirement, remains one of the game's dominant figures, with legendary slugger Babe Ruth's total of 714 career homers only 11 four-baggers away, and the San Francisco star eyeing an eighth MVP campaign. Wearing down? Some two decades of Major League ball have taken their toll, and although Barry's knees are arthritic, he has played 130 or more games in each of the last five seasons and has hit better than .300 for the last six years.
In 2004, he led the NL with a .362 batting average, paced the big leagues with a stunning .812 slugging percentage, a .603 on-base percentage and had a record 13th straight season with 30 or more home runs. Oh yeah, and he won an unprecedented fourth consecutive MVP title.
