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| SAN FRANCISCO -- Aaron Rowand peered out of an AT&T Park luxury suite toward the left-field area where the greatest Giants of all have been immortalized. "Look at those retired numbers," Rowand said. Visiting his new home ballpark for the first time since signing his five-year, $60 million contract Dec. 12, Rowand spoke freely of his appreciation for baseball's past. "I have a passion for the history of the game," the 30-year-old center fielder said Wednesday. As anybody who has watched the scrappy Rowand knows, he has a passion for baseball, period. So it was no surprise to hear Rowand speak enthusiastically about the Giants, who have been widely dismissed as the National League West's worst club. "This team is going to be very competitive this year. I guarantee it," Rowand said. "Who knows? If guys have some good years, this team can win the division." Rowand's optimism is fueled by the Giants' starting rotation, which includes Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Noah Lowry and Barry Zito. Zito's only 29, and the rest are 27 or younger, along with fifth-starter candidates Kevin Correia and Jonathan Sanchez. "Pitching is No. 1," Rowand said, recalling some of his Chicago White Sox teams that finished second despite robust hitting. "Everybody [asks], if you're all about winning, why did you go to San Francisco? I'm like, take a look! Look closer. Don't just look at the fact that they were in last place. Look at the pieces they have, the young guys who are going to be here for a long time. It makes sense to me." Rowand scrutinized the fine print on the Giants' 71-91 record in 2007, which included a 39-55 record in games decided by two or fewer runs. "If you take just half of those [defeats] and turn them into wins, you're in the playoffs," Rowand said. "This team isn't far off." Rowand hopes to contribute to a Giants turnaround with his intangibles. Helping maintain clubhouse ambience would be a start, he believes. "I'm kind of a people person, I think, because I talk too much. So I'll be all right," he said. Apparently, Rowand should relate easily to genial Giants holdovers such as Randy Winn, Rich Aurilia, Kevin Frandsen, Dave Roberts, Tyler Walker and former White Sox teammate Ray Durham. "You say, 'Let's go have a -- Coke,'" Rowand said. "Then you go and invite someone else and next thing you know, you have four or five guys hanging out together and it becomes contagious. You have to have the personalities, though. You can't make it happen. Guys who enjoy being together. If you're not having fun, you're not going to create bonds." You're not going to replace Bonds, either -- that is, Barry Bonds, the left fielder and all-time home run leader who the Giants won't re-sign after an illustrious 15-year tenure with them. Despite his career-high 27 home runs last season with Philadelphia, Rowand knows that he's not the power hitter Bonds was. Through Spring Training and the start of the regular season, Rowand's likely to draw extra attention as the Giants' primary free-agent acquisition. But he vowed not to let the fuss disrupt his focus. No matter what, Rowand will keep chasing fly balls with abandon, striving to take the extra base and running out every ground ball. "I'm going to be myself," he said. "I think as you get older, you realize what you need to worry about and what you don't need to worry about. I figured out that there's a lot of small stuff that's not worth worrying about, because it affects what you're trying to accomplish. And that [distraction] would be one of them. I'm not going to change my outlook. I'm not a savior. I'm here to be a part of this team and play my game." |