1.   -- The Giants, who ended the season with Rod Beck and Roberto Hernandez in the bullpen, had been unable to sign either closer.

2.   If they had signed another closer, it would have given the team hope that things were differing.

3.   It has puzzled Stanton all winter that the Red Sox went out to sign a closer when he believes he is perfectly capable of doing the job.

4.   We could have had Darryl Hamilton and Kevin Elster back, but we may not have been able to sign the closer we did today.