Ninety losses usually equate to a bad season, but the Giants' youth movement, implemented in the final two months, left intriguing results.

Corner infielder/catcher Pablo Sandoval, a .345 hitter in 145 at-bats (just 14 strikeouts), and middle infielder Emmanuel Burriss figure to be in next year's lineup, along with left fielder Fred Lewis, who played his first full season in the majors, and maybe right fielder Nate Schierholtz if Randy Winn is traded.

Ace Tim Lincecum, a Cy Young Award candidate, and closer Brian Wilson were All-Stars all season.

So 2008, the first year without Barry Bonds, came and went with a one-game improvement over 2007, but the bigger picture is that the Giants have more hope for the future. ...More