San Francisco Giants

Like the man who pushed for it, the deal simply won't go away. Every day the San Francisco Giants look more like a contender because of the July 31 giveaway Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf mandated.The Giants won five of their first seven after securing pitchers Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin for the equivalent of a dime on the dollar while Chicago's South Side continues to seethe.Not only did the White Sox snatch a pennant race from fans, but they also destroyed any vestige of trust from a fan base that must brave a dicey neighborhood, punishing weather and a white-elephant ballpark to watch a team governed by whim instead of any organizational blueprint.

Barry Bonds is back. Now, the San Francisco Giants appear to be in perfect position to reassert themselves at the top of the National League West standings, not that they were ever far away.The Giants were a respectable 25-22 while Bonds was recovering from elbow surgery and lost only two games in the standings to the healthier Arizona Diamondbacks over that period. Now that Bonds is back -- three weeks ahead of schedule -- manager Dusty Baker has to feel good about their chances of upsetting the big spenders in the National League West.

San Francisco Giants vs. Florida Marlins Starting lineup Barry Bonds is the heart and soul of the Giants' lineup, and he will be the preoccupation of every pitcher who faces the Giants in the postseason. But the fundamental nature of their lineup changed dramatically when power-hitting second baseman Jeff Kent left as a free agent last winter. The new Giants may be less potent at the heart of the lineup, yet they're far more balanced from top to bottom. Bonds missed nearly a quarter of the season for various reasons, which is reflected in a significant drop in his RBI total, but nine Giants hit at least 10 home runs, and the club won more games without Kent than in any season with him. The Marlins actually scored more runs than the Giants, but they lost big gun Mike Lowell late in the season and may not have him full time in the first round.

San Francisco Giants superstar Barry Bonds is staging the ultimate salary drive. He hit his 60th home run on Thursday and stayed on pace to challenge Mark McGwire's single-season home run record, which can only put his team in an unenviable position this winter. How would you like to be on the other side of the bargaining table after Bonds files for free agency in November? His agent is Scott Boras, whose top free agent last year - shortstop Alex Rodriguez - not only broke the record for the largest guaranteed contract in the history of professional sports, but also doubled it. The Giants want Bonds back, but club officials have to wonder just how far it would be prudent to go with a 37-year-old player who is likely to ask for the world ... and maybe a few of the other planets while he's at it. Owner Peter Magowan recently tied the magnitude of his club's effort to re-sign Bonds directly to the success of the team this season, which was a pretty wily move under the circumstances.

Now that the San Francisco Giants have swept the Los Angeles Dodgers and shocked the National League West by climbing back to the top of the standings, the only question is whether they really are good enough to stay there. No one really knows, of course, but manager Felipe Alou said he thinks that his team's quick and impressive recovery is an indication that the Giants have a legitimate chance to get back to the postseason. "If the club is good enough to get out of the hole we were in, it should be good enough to stay out," Alou said.

World Series MVP Edgar Renteria (above right) appears stung that the Giants cut him. He has told reporters in his native Colombia he would like to finish his career with the Marlins, where he started, or the Cardinals. He could be a fit for the Cardinals, who are looking to upgrade their infield, but is probably looking at an incentive-laden deal after an injury-plagued 2010. … Look for relief pitchers to be among the first free agents to start taking contracts. Kerry Wood and J.J. Putz are among those drawing interest from a lot of teams, including the Cubs.

BaseballSan Francisco Giants -- Signed free-agent P Mark Portugal to a three-year contract worth $11 million.HockeyQuebec Nordiques -- Sent D Mike McKee to AHL Cornwall.

July 13, 1993 Oriole Park at Camden YardsFive players have hit two home runs in an All-Star Game. They are the Pittsburgh Pirates' Arky Vaughan in 1941, Boston Red Sox's Ted Williams in 1946, Cleveland Indians' Al Rosen in 1954, San Francisco Giants' Willie McCovey in 1969 and Montreal Expos' Gary Carter in 1981.

Today Cleveland at Pittsburgh BROWNS: Out: QB Tim Couch (leg). STEELERS: Doubtful: CB Chad Scott (hand). Questionable: LB Kendrell Bell (ankle). Probable: RB Jerome Bettis (knee); LB James Farrior (shoulder). N.Y. Giants at San Francisco GIANTS: Questionable: WR Ron Dixon (knee). 49ERS: Out: LB Jamie Winborn (knee). Questionable: LB Saleem Rasheed (thigh); G Ron Stone (ankle); CB Jason Webster (ankle). Probable: T Derrick Deese (ankle); S JAson Moore (quadricep); DE Sean Moran (Achilles)

It's a fact The Diamondbacks last week finished the first 0-11 home stand in major league history. Milestone Jason Schmidt reached 50 victories fastest of any San Francisco Giants pitcher, in his 89th start. The number 48: dates the Angels needed to draw 2 million, a club record. Last year, they drew 3 million for the first time.