By PAUL GUTIERREZ, Sacramento Bee

Gutierrez: Giants Posey makes run at rookie of the year

SAN FRANCISCO - One guy announced his arrival to the major leagues by hitting a home run in his first at-bat.

The other was brought in more slowly, donning the tools of ignorance, taking command of one of the best pitching staffs in the big leagues and sparking a franchise to a magical summer ride with his bat.

Jason Heyward. Buster Posey.

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Gutierrez: Raiders troubles included nerves

Few observers expected the rebuilding Oakland Raiders to waltz into Nashville on Sunday and easily knock off a tough Tennessee team.

But even fewer anticipated seeing such a flat, uninspired effort by the Raiders in a disheartening 38-13 beatdown by the Titans.

Three explanatory themes have emerged from Oakland's season-opening debacle:

-- Horrid offensive-line play.

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Gutierrez: Softening schedule gives Giants hope

SAN FRANCISCO - Buster Posey crinkled his nose, squinted his eyes, shook his head and made a face that looked as if he had just taken a foul tip south of the border.

All I asked him was what the San Francisco Giants learned about themselves in their recent 3-6 skid against contenders.

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Gutierrez: Giants' fate hinges on Lincecum solving problems

SAN FRANCISCO - The most truthful baseball axiom -- and believe me, baseball is full of axioms --goes something like this: A team is only as good on a particular day as that day's starting pitcher.

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Gutierrez: Storm clouds over next year's All-Star Game

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Major League Baseball's Midsummer Classic was played with heavy hearts on a simmering Tuesday, what with the passing of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in the morning.

But more heat and heartache is on the horizon for the national pastime with next summer's All-Star Game in Arizona, where the controversial immigration law S.B. 1070 takes effect July 29.

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Gutierrez: Midseason MLB awards

What's that about the more things change the more they stay the same around Major League Baseball? Here are some midseason baseball awards, then, with appropriate statistics.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

(HALF) MVP

Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers DH

-- Key stats: .319 average, 20 HRs, 75 RBIs

-- Two to consider: New York Yankees 2B Robinson Cano

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Gutierrez: Angels test will say a lot about A's chances

OAKLAND, Calif. - It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

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Catching up on Raiders QB derby

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Take it for what it's worth, but with the Oakland Raiders concluding their mandatory three-day, five practice mini-camp Sunday, coach Tom Cable insists there is a wide-open, five-man quarterback competition under way.

"I mean, I've said that now for quite some time," Cable said. "So that's what it is, and that's how we're going to do it."

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More mature with Yankees, Swisher still has his fun

OAKLAND, Calif. - He was the centerpiece of the old "Moneyball" Oakland A's, a patient work-the-count hitter with pop who would just as soon take a walk as swing for the fence.

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Pac-10 may be one-bid league for NCAA Tournament

BERKELEY, Calif. - For the first time since the Eisenhower administration, Cal claimed a share of a league title with a thumping of Arizona on Feb. 27.

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