From the Windup is Matt Snyder's weekly, extended look at some aspect of America's pastime.
As I look ahead to the MLB playoffs, I'm faced with the fact that my beloved Cubbies aren't going to be competing. Being a devout baseball fan, though, there's no way I'm not watching the postseason. Without a horse in the race, I'm forced to focus instead on individuals, and there are always plenty of reasons to watch certain players. Thus, I'm going to list 10 players I'm looking forward to watching and five players I wish I could come October.
Stand the slender Lincecum next to the panda-shaped Sandoval, and they actually resemble the number 10. More than that, though, they are the perfect duo to lead the Giants because of the characterstics they share.
They succeed at their craft in a way you wouldn't teach, one with an unorthodox delivery and the other with a swing-at-everything approach. They also combine on-field success with an easygoing, just-have-fun attitude that trickles throughout the clubhouse.
"Pablo has a mindset that is contagious around here, as does Timmy on the pitchers' side," Barry Zito told FanHouse. "'I'm a superstar caliber player and I'm just having a great time doing what I love.' That's a balance that's tough to strike."
Pablo Sandoval is one of the five remaining candidates for the All-Star Game in the NL, part of a fan vote to see which players get the final roster spot in each league. Giants fans have started a particularly awesome campaign to get Sandoval voted on to the National squad, playing off the popular film Napoleon Dynamite with a "Vote for Pablo" slogan ("Vote for Pedro" was the original in the movie) along with hip and somewhat retro dance music. Well done, Giants fans. You got my vote.
A day after Sandoval and Victorino found themselves among five players competing for fan votes to sneak into the final spot on the NL All-Star team, Sandoval hit a grand slam and Victorino had four hits, four RBI and four runs in the Phillies' dismantling of the Reds.
"I don't think you could ask for a better game than that," Giants starter Matt Cain said of Sandoval, who drove in four of the runs in a 5-4 victory on Monday night. "I think everybody in the United States ought to know who is he is now."
MLB Power Rankings:Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.
It's a funny thing, sometimes, to see how Power Rankings shape up over the course of the season. Just like when we started the year, there are a number of teams from one particular division sitting atop the rankings. Of course, there are plenty of surprises -- WHERE DID THE FREAKING GIANTS AND ROCKIES COME FROM?? -- and some other interesting stuff, like the fact that the Mets and Cubs just haven't been that good, which we discussed on the inaugural BaseCast recently.
New Studs on the Block takes a look at players ready to make the leap from "possibly productive fantasy player" to "must-have fantasy stud." This is not a "you've never heard of this dude, but ... " series -- these should be names you already know.
Coming into the season, Fantasy FanHouse loved Pablo Sandoval. He was dubbed a breakout candidate and tabbed as someone who would become a stud during the season. Well, here we are. This week's New Stud on the Block is Mr. Sandoval. He should never be on the bench or waiver wire in any format. He's just too valuable a commodity.
The 22-year-old Venezuelan is currently hitting .338 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI. He's even stolen 2 bases. If he's not already eligible at catcher, keep an eye on those games. He's caught three times this season.
SAN FRANCISCO -- After the San Francisco Giants got swept by the Los Angeles Angels last week, it made it easy to dismiss their prior hot streak as the result of a soft schedule full of Nationals, Diamondbacks and Marlins.
Then they did something this weekend that just might force you to pay attention. They swept the Texas Rangers, who came to AT&T Park in first place in the AL West.
"When you look back at a series like this, beating good teams, that's when you realize that we're a real threat," said Barry Zito, who carried a no-hitter in the seventh in Sunday's 3-2 victory.
The Giants are now 37-31, leading a crowded National League wild card race.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
When you think of Chicago Cubs starting pitchers, you first think of Carlos Zambrano. Next is probably Rich Harden, especially in terms of sheer talent -- plus, the injury woes probably keep him fresh in your mind. After last season, Ryan Dempster should be hanging out in your baseball-knowledge-filled brain as well. The best Cubs' starter of 2009, though, has been Ted Lilly. After yet another quality start Sunday, the Cubs' left-hander is 7-4 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Ryan Zimmerman and the Nationals keep going in opposite directions.
On the night that Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 30 games, the longest in the big leagues in two years, the Nationals lost their third in a row, a gut-wrenching 9-7 loss to the Giants. They took a 7-6 lead into the ninth, but Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer.
If Zimmerman and the Nats keep their current trajectories, it could start to get awkward in the Washington clubhouse. For now, Zimmerman said he's more focused on the team than his own streak.
"I could care less about individual stuff," Zimmerman said after Tuesday's game. "The individual stuff is nice because I'm helping the team have a chance to win."
The Brewers ace struck out 11, only allowed two hits and provided the deciding solo homer over eight juggernaut innings against the Pirates. That outing brought his ERA for the season down to 2.86 and his record to 3-1. And with 34 K's over 34 2/3 innings, it's safe to say he's in fantasy stud territory. But Gallardo isn't the only pitcher that has transcended draft value so far.
From the Windup is Matt Snyder's weekly, extended look at some aspect of America's pastime.
SAN FRANCISCO -- 
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SAN FRANCISCO -- After the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
SAN FRANCISCO -- 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
