Bill Neukom takes note of Cliff Lee signing

After the Phillies signed Cliff Lee on Monday, Giants owner Bill Neukom told me he called his counterpart in Philadelphia with a sarcastic message:

"Congratulations, I heard you won the 2011 World Series."

That's about all you heard this past week, as the national media tripped over itself to anoint an honest-to-goodness East Coast powerhouse as the team to beat. To summarize the chorus, signing the mercenary pitcher meant one thing: "Thank goodness those freaks from San Francisco won't win it again."

Vegas nodded in agreement, making the Giants a 15-1 longshot to repeat while the Phillies are the odds-on favorite at 3-1.

That's fine by the Giants. By all accounts, the team was downright relaxed at this year's winter meetings, shopping for a backup catcher like the rest of us browse the hardware bin at Sears.

With the rest of the NL West taking a step backward, personnel-wise, the Giants could enjoy a fairly easy trip through the regular season and find themselves in a possible rematch with the vaunted Phillies.

When asked if he'd savor a rematch with Philly, the Giants' owner hedged.

"We shall see. I think it's a redoubtable starting rotation that they have," said Neukom, as only a chap who sports a bow tie could. "I think they will be clear favorites in their division."

The owner went on to spin the Lee signing into good news for the Giants, pointing out that the superstar pitcher signed at a discount because he wanted to get back with a top-flight organization. Neukom hopes the Giants enjoy similar consideration when it comes time to re-sign the likes of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner.

"They will get expensive. And homegrown discounts are overrated," he said. "But being recognized as a team that does things right will help. It's not only attracting talent, but keeping talent."

For the record, Lincecum is signed through the end of 2011 and will make $13 million in the coming season. Cain is signed through 2012, making $7 million in 2011 and $15 million the next year. Bumgarner can expect to be paid closer to the $414,000 major-league minimum; he won't be eligible for free agency - or even arbitration - for years.

Lacob's courtside manner: Speaking of owners, it was fun to watch new Warriors owner Joe Lacob take in a victory over the Timberwolves this week.