When Farhan Zaidi accepted the role of president of baseball operations with the Giants, it seemed like one of the top jobs in Major League Baseball. And it still is, when one looks at the Giants’ rich history, tremendous fan support and abundance of resources. That last advantage is what’s really enticing to someone in Zaidi’s position. Whether it’s the ability to find and develop talent in the United States and abroad, the infrastructure required to attract players and help them maximize their skills, or the financial wherewithal to compete with the league’s top teams, the Giants are right there with any team in baseball.



They’ve eliminated all potential excuses, or one would think. Giants ownership has replaced old excuses — like the debt service on their ballpark, paid off in full a little over three years ago — with new ones. But unlike the days when Brian Sabean was in Zaidi’s current position, Zaidi either chooses...