PAUL BOUTIN — The Bay Area's major-league ball teams are heading south, out of the cities and into Silicon Valley proper. In a few years, the San Francisco 49ers will be in Santa Clara and the Oakland A's in Fremont. They're not seeking cheaper rent. Both teams are moving closer to Valley money, just as Valley megaliths Google and Yahoo are moving into the city to retain urban hipsters on staff. Now if only we can do something about the Giants.

City people don't get why anyone would move out of SF or Oakland to the Valley, unless they were going broke or something. But local business trade mags have the sports exodus figured out: "Santa Clara County is home to more than 110 big businesses, more than both San Francisco and Alameda counties combined. Those businesses — each with annual revenue of $200 million or more — may be enticed to buy sponsorships, naming rights, luxury suites and strike other promotional deals with the teams." What, did you think the A's wanted to be closer to you?

Persistent whispers that Oakland's Raiders will also move to Fremont haven't panned out — yet. That would leave the San Francisco Giants, who play across the street from my office on the waterfront, as the last team still in SF or Oakland. My immediate reaction: Good riddance.

Friends who don't live here think working across the street from Barry Bonds must be the ultimate job perk. But when the Googlers move into their new digs at the Gap building a few blocks up the waterfront, they'll find out Game Day sucks for techies. Never mind the traffic jams — you can't even use the sidewalk unless you're heading to AT&T Park with the rest of the mob. Fans who aren't visibly drunk, rowdy or giddy over their big day at the ballpark are ... well, I haven't run into any who aren't. More accurately, they run into me.

Getting to and from work on a game day means chosing between clogged streets and overstuffed trains. Parking on my block flips from $12 to $40 for the day. Lunch spots overflow with people unclear on the concept that I've got a meeting in thirty minutes. City Hall's zoning screwup is obvious: The Giants are their own economic sector, yet none of the Internet or biotech professionals who pack the neighborhood productively go to their games.

San Francisco has built a lovely park with killer views and free Wi-Fi on the most enviable waterfront spot in the world. I'm sure the new Googlers on the block could do a lot with it, if only it weren't already booked for a bunch of sports. Please, will somebody in the Valley buy the Giants?

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