San Francisco Giants Preview
SportingNews.com
Mar 14, 2011
Once the San Francisco Giants put Barry Bonds behind them and were able to focus on building a foundation from within -- instead of losing draft choices after signing aging free agents who fit with Bonds -- general manager Brian Sabean and his staff began to develop strong-armed talent.
The payoff came last November when the Giants won the World Series for the first time since 1954, riding a stellar pitching rotation anchored by former first-round draft picks Matt Cain (2002), Tim Lincecum (2006) and Madison Bumgarner (2007).
"When you look at those kind of arms, and to have them all develop at the same time ... well, it's special," Giants vice president of player personnel Dick Tidrow says.
San Francisco's 2011 squad won't be markedly different from the 2010 version. Then again, the Giants' opening day lineup last season hardly resembled the one that won the World Series. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval and first baseman Aubrey Huff are the only projected 2011 starters who started on opening day at Houston last year.
Huff, who settled into the cleanup spot and finished seventh in NL MVP voting, signed a multiyear deal in the offseason. A slimmed-down Sandoval will hit lower in the order this season than at the start of last season.
Andres Torres has emerged in center field, making Aaron Rowand a $12 million insurance policy. And injury-prone Freddy Sanchez will supplant second baseman Juan Uribe, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason. One of the lone additions is shortstop Miguel Tejada, who will replace Edgar Renteria.
Pat Burrell, released by the Tampa Bay Rays in May, laid claim to the left field job that opened up when Mark DeRosa had season-ending wrist surgery. They likely will share the position this season. Cody Ross, an August waiver claim, quickly earned the right field job and became a postseason hero.
Catcher Buster Posey, the team's first-round pick in 2008, made Bengie Molina expendable (he was dealt to the Texas Rangers) and earned NL rookie of the year honors.
"For Sabean to bring in these guys from the farm system and from outside, you can't ask for anyone to have done a better job," closer Brian Wilson says.
San Francisco finished 17th in runs scored last season, so there is room for improvement.
Of course, the stellar pitching staff can mask any offensive deficiencies. Last season, San Francisco led the majors with a 3.36 ERA, ranked second in bullpen ERA and was third in rotation ERA. The challenge will be keeping the arms healthy. Each of the team's starters made at least 32 starts last season (Bumgarner made 18 in the majors and 14 at Class AAA), but the Giants' rotation has youth on its side. Barry Zito, who turns 33 in May, is the only starter older than 28.
The workhorses are Lincecum and Cain, but lefthander Jonathan Sanchez took the biggest leap in 2010. Sanchez posted his first winning record (13-9) in three full major league seasons and lowered his ERA by more than a run (3.07).
Wilson led the majors with 48 saves in 2010 and added six more in the postseason. Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez provide quality lefthanded setup relief and are complemented on the right side by Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla.
-- Tracy Ringolsby, for Sporting News
PROJECTED LINEUP
1. CF Andres Torres. 36 RBIs, 15 SBs first 5 seasons; 63, 26 in 2010
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez. Has missed 51 Gs in each of past 2 seasons
3. 1B Aubrey Huff. .384 SLG with BAL, DET in '09; .506 in '10 with SF
4. C Buster Posey. 6 HRs, .723 OPS at home in '10; 12, .993 on road
5. SS Miguel Tejada. .670 OPS with BAL in '10; .730 with SD
6. 3B Pablo Sandoval. .330 AVG, 83 K's in '09; .268, 81 in '10
7. LF Mark DeRosa. Injury limited him to 26 Gs, .196 AVG in '10
8. RF Cody Ross. 3 HRs in 33 regular season Gs with SF; 5 in 15 postseason Gs
PROJECTED ROTATION
1. RHP Tim Lincecum. 0-5, 7.82 ERA in AUG; 5-1, 1.94 ERA in SEP
2. RHP Matt Cain. Career bests in 2010: 223 1/3 IP, 1.08 WHIP
3. LHP Jonathan Sanchez. 6.6 H/9 led MLB last season; so did 96 BBs
4. LHP Barry Zito. 7-2, 3.10 ERA on June 12; 2-12, 4.97 after
5. LHP Madison Bumgarner. 1.13 ERA, 32/4 K/BB in 32 IP in SEP
PROJECTED CLOSER
RHP Brian Wilson. 1.81 ERA, 48 SVs, 11.2 K/9 career highs in 2010
THREE STRIKES
Sporting News baseball writer Stan McNeal analyzes the Giants:
1. The Panda will hit like it's 2009. Pablo Sandoval will keep off most of the 38 pounds he shed in the offseason and hit his way back into the middle of the order. His numbers will more closely resemble the .330 average and 25 homers from two years ago than the .268 and 13 homers from 2010.
2. The hangover effect will hit. At least one of the four Giants' starters who reached his career high in innings last season will wear down and go on the D.L. in the second half. Matt Cain has battled a sore elbow in camp but never has missed a regular season start because of injury.
3. The Padres still will have their number. The Giants will finish ahead of the Padres in the standings, but San Diego again will win the season series. The Padres won 12 of 18 in 2010, limiting the Giants to 2.6 runs per game.
Sporting News prediction: The Giants will repeat as NL West champions but not as World Series champions, as the Phillies will sneak past them in the NLCS.
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