SAN FRANCISCO -- Asked on Sunday morning how his time in the big leagues has impacted him, rookie Josh Osich pointed at Jeremy Affeldt's locker.
"He's helped me a lot," Osich said. "He basically groomed me for his spot. Whenever I've got a problem he helps, and if he sees something he comes right to me. That's been huge."
Affeldt has known for a while that this could be his last season, but it didn't become public -- or known to most teammates -- until Thursday. He was almost certainly not returning to the Giants next season, as Osich presents a younger and much cheaper alternative, but that didn't keep Affeldt from becoming a mentor to his fellow lefty.