Thoughts on what appears to be the Giants' new lineup

I look forward to going to at least two Giants spring training games here on March 12 and March 21.

With the resigning of Bengie Molina, we can look at the lineups from last year and this year and see whether anything's improved.

Player/OPS

2009

RF Eugenio Velez .708
2b Freddy Sanchez .776
1b Pablo Sandoval .943
C Bengie Molina .727
CF Aaron Rowand .738
3b Juan Uribe .824
LF Randy Winn .671
SS Edgar Renteria .635

Avg OPS: .752

2010

CF Aaron Rowand .738
2b Freddy Sanchez .776
3b Pablo Sandoval .943
C Bengie Molina .727
1b Aubrey Huff .726
LF Mark De Rosa .799
RF Fred Lewis? .738/ Nate Schierholtz .702
SS Edgar Renteria .635

Avg OPS: 760

So maybe Huff rebounds somewhat, maybe so does Renteria, but Sandoval and Molina could easily regress. The improvement seems marginal.

The major good news is that Randy Winn is no longer producing outs at an alarming rate and that Eugenio Velez is on the bench learning that you can't steal first replaced by Fred Lewis (let's hope) and Mark De Rosa.

The problem is that the signing of Aubrey Huff means no spot for Juan Uribe, the Giants' (gulp) second most producive hitter last year, who is now in reserve. Huff is off a bad year, but could perhaps regain some of his .912 OPS from 2008. Sadly Mays field is no Camden Yards. The clear solution would be to bench Renteria and his stupid contract and play Uribe at short. With Renteria still in the line up, the team's chances to score runs look marginally improved. Replace him with Uribe and the lineup's average OPS scoots from 760 to 783!

Ok, it's Juan Uribe, but it's still more entertaining to watch him hack than watch Renteria swing a noodle. I also have a feeling that Bruce Bochy is going to start cannon arm Nate Schierholtz instead of stone hands Fred Lewis, despite the latter's greater offensive value. Unfortunately for Fred, a couple of errors on easy pop flies have made him look worse than he is, while a bunch of ridiculous throws have made Schierholtz look a lot better in the outfield than he really is.

While I happen to like Molina's resigning, I think Buster Posey probably would have been an offensve upgrade. Molina's contribution for me lies in game calling.

Avoiding flying

It appears that airport security measures are reaching new paranoid heights. Ticket prices are also climbing. I just don't feel like flying anymore. If I can drive I will. If there's a train I will take it. At this rate, ocean liners will be making a come back because I'd almost rather travel more pleasantly than be treated like cattle: searched, prodded, herded, and questioned at every turn.

I would gladly assume the risk of a suicide bombing and take an airline that doesn't subject me to this nonsense. Of course, legally that's impossible, and I can't really imagine that the insurance cost would make it worthwhile even absent government regulation. Market regulation could be just as stringent or worse.

The problem is that the risk of terrorism makes the cost of airline travel rise regardless of how it rises, through inconvenient screening and/or through higher insurance rates passed on to the consumer.

A market in security regulated by insurance rates would have the advantage of creating a large profit opportunity for providers of security technology capable of improving screening procedures and wait times and comfort at airports. I confess that I do not know whether government take over of airport/airline security blunts this monetary incentive but I suspect that it does. I suspect that if the "price" of travel were not measured in passenger time and indignities, but instead in money, the incentives for improvement would be larger. It remains to be seen whether anyone could take advantage of these incentives, but at least the opportunity would be there.