Pic of the Week

Former Mankato Moondog Brandon Crawford has
taken over the shortstop job for the defending
World Series champions.

The San Francisco Giants celebrated their World Series triumph by bidding farewell to their two veteran free agent shortstops. Juan Uribe signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Edgar Renteria with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Jints — who prospered in 2010 by adding guys who appeared to be over-the-hill — picked up former American League MVP Miguel Tejada, who has been in decline for a while.

The old-guys approach didn't  work in this case. Tejada was awful.

Brandon Crawford was called up —not from the high levels of the Giants farm system, but from A ball — and installed at shortstop late last month, and the former Mankato Moondog has wowed Giants fans with his defensive skills.

So far, he hasn't been overmatched at the plate either.