• First off the bat, the Giants sign Matt Cain to a 4 year deal worth 9 million dollars. This is deal is similar to the one that Lowry got last year. As I wrote earlier, Cain is a tremendous talent that could already be the best pitcher on the Giants staff. He should enter the season as the #2 starter behind Barry Zito. Here is a funny quote from Sabean in the article linked that just made me say “Well, Duh!”

“If you can sign and produce your own and keep the right guys … I think it’s a sign of the times, whether it’s with us or any other organization,” Sabean said, acknowledging that trading left-hander Francisco Liriano to Minnesota for A.J. Pierzynski in the 2003-04 offseason was a missed chance for San Francisco to follow this strategy.

• Cats sleeping with dogs, pigs are flying, basically the world is ending. Russ Ortiz threw 3 innings of shutout ball against the Cubs yesterday in the Giants spring opener. Like many other Giants fans have joked, this is probably all it took to win Ortiz the 5th spot. It is well know that Giants management is rooting for him. Ortiz also added a bases clearing double in the 9-2 win. Russ could always swing the stick, if he can still pitch is up for debate but I’ll put on my optimism hat and enjoy this first start.

• Baseball America has published it’s top 100 prospect list. Only two Giants make the list, Lincecum (#11) and Jonathan Sanchez (#59). Meanwhile, Baseball Prospectus also has a top 100 list out that includes Lincecum (#6), Sanchez (#73), and Angel Villalona (#64)

• I may have found the strangest baseball news article ever and I mean ever. It’s about the Giles brothers in San Diego. Article highlights you ask? There’s at least a hundred but here goes. I seriously couldn’t make this stuff up.

“Ah, we just like to shave in there,” Brian says, referring to their body hair, not their faces. “Chris, for some reason, thinks it’s gross.”

They filmed a series of commercials Monday night that was supposed to last no more than 30 minutes. It took nearly two hours. It began with Marcus, a second baseman, saying it was cool having makeup applied to their faces. (“I haven’t done this since I was 5,” Marcus says, “back when I wanted to be a girl.”) It ended with Brian dropping his pants and jumping on Marcus, with the two giggling uncontrollably until the cameras stopped.