Jim Baker on ESPN Insider alerted me to this article on the Giants batting order:

New manager Felipe Alou said he prefers Alfonzo to bat behind Bonds and prefers Bonds to bat fourth. Alou called Cruz a likely No. 3 hitter and is tinkering with a lineup of Durham, Rich Aurilia, Cruz, Bonds, Alfonzo, Grissom, J.T. Snow and Benito Santiago.

I've always worked under the assumption that your #3 hitter should be your best all-around hitter. He can either drive in the table setters, or get on base for the big slugger in the #4 spot. Cruz has a career .330 OBA and has only slugged over .500 once (2001). At best, he's someone who should be finishing off the offense, not batting in the middle of it. It's ideas like this that make me sure that Alou is overrated as a manager.

The best way to protect Bonds is to have as many men on base in front of him as possible. That means Durham and Alfonzo batting 1 and 2, and Bonds 3rd. Cruz batting 3rd means Bonds will be leading off a lot of innings next year.