The San Francisco Giants have one of the best pitching rotations in the game and a 1-2 punch at the back of the bullpen that should 
allow them to win their fair share of games, but the question persists as it has for a few years now: will they score enough runs? Offseason additions Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan will certainly help, but this team still needs a bopper.
Projected Lineup:
- Angel Pagan (CF)
- Freddy Sanchez (2B)
- Buster Posey (C)
- Aubrey Huff (1B)
- Pablo Sandoval (3B)
- Melky Cabrera (LF)
- Nate Schierholz (RF)
- Brandon Crawford (SS)
Projected Rotation:
- Tim Lincecum
- Matt Cain
- Madison Bumgarner
- Ryan Vogelsong
- Barry Zito
Strengths:
Pitching: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner should create the second best top 3 starters in the game today (Phillies are better). Lincecum seems poised for a Cy Young award and Matt Cain will again provide the Giants with over 200 IP, around a 3.00 ERA and about 180 Strikeouts. Throw in Madison Bumgarner who seems ready to take the next step in his maturation process and the Giants pitchers suddenly become very scary. I’m not sold on the resurgence of Ryan Vogelsong or his undeserving All Star appearance last year, but others in the baseball world might disagree with me.
Bullpen: Brian Wilson isn’t the best reliever on this team but he’s the closer and he will beard his way again to a successful season. Sergio Romo posted a 1.50 ERA last year and his .708 WHIP lead the league (minimum 40 IP). Throw in Jeremy Affeldt (2.63 ERA in 2011) and Javier Lopez and manager Bruce Bochy has the ability to breathe easy at the end of games.
Facial Hair: Look, even if this team can’t score runs, these guys can grow a beard. Brian Wilson has one of the best beards in America right now and Sergio Romo’s beard is impressive. New shortstop Brandon Crawford sports a scruffy surfer dude look and Melky Cabrera has the chinstrap that does little to hide his double-chin. Meanwhile we have Aubrey Huff’s excellently manicured goatee. I applaud the Giants’ effort with the razor.
Weaknesses:
Lineup: Aubrey Huff hit .246 with 12 home runs last year: hardly the production you want out of your cleanup hitter. I would consider Freddy Sanchez, Nate Schierholz, and Brandon Crawford nearly inept with the baseball bat and Pablo Sandoval has alot to prove despite hitting .315 with 23 homers last year (actually that may be the most underrated performance of 2011). Additionally, if you’re thinking Melky Cabrera is having a better year than last year at any point in his future, you’re delusional. These guys don’t scare me if I’m a starter.
Front Office: I’m not really sure what the long term plan is in San Fran. They have just one player in Keith Law’s top 100 prospects and that is another position player who’s more valuable for his defense than his bat. Brandon Belt and Buster Posey should be providing the middle of the order with power while maturing as hitters. Instead Belt is stuck behind a 35 year old who just finished 2011 with a .246 average and a negative WAR. Additionally, the front office guys sent pitching prospect Zack Wheeler (in most people’s top 30 prospects in the game) to the Mets for two months of Carlos Beltran. I’m not sure I like Brian Sabean, especially after last year’s public relations fiasco following the Buster Posey injury.
Storylines:
Impending Free Agents: Matt Cain is due to be a free agent at season’s end and I’m not sure why there hasn’t been more made of this nationally yet. Imagine a Giants roster minus Matt Cain and with Tim Lincecum hurt (just a possibility for 2013). Would they then be as good as the Astros? Additionally, do the Giants who are already paying Lincecum and Cain a combined $33 million this year (throw in Zito and you’ve got three guys who earn a hefty paycheck to play every five days) feel comfortable committing long term, big time money to pitchers in the wake of the Zito deal? It’s up to Sabean.
Ring around the Posey: Buster Posey is really, really good. Should he help lead this team offensively slightly moreso than we all think he will, we may be talking about a potential MVP here. Posey is primed to have a big season as he strives to bring the World Series trophy back to the bay.
Fun Fact… The Giants are paying Aaron Rowand $13 million this year to try to make the Miami Marlins roster which is interesting condisering Rowand’s facial hair would fit in nicely with the G-men. Imagine the impact a $13 million right fielder or shortstop (cough Jose Reyes) would have on their playoff chances this year.
Prediction:
88-74, 2nd Place, NL West. If it were up to me, I’d pick the Giants to win the West with pretty much that same record, but Max’s influence has the Giants in second and out of the playoffs because of their utter lack of offense.
Bold Predictions:
- Buster Posey hits fewer than 20 home runs.
- Madison Bumgarner makes the All Star game and finishes the year with 194 strikeouts
- Tim Lincecum wins the Cy Young
- Brandon Belt and Aubrey Huff combine to hit 24 Homers. 21 of them come from Belt.
- Melky Cabrera wins the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest
-Sean Morash
