2010 champs looking to get back into play-offs following disappointing year
The San Francisco Giants headed into the 2011 season on the back of the first World Series championship in San Francisco and with a much heralded rotation. However, things didn’t exactly go to plan.
Catcher Buster Posey suffered a broken leg, while key injuries were also suffered by ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Pablo Sandoval amongst others. Even taking all the injuries into account, the Giants offence was woefully bad. They finished bottom in the NL in runs scored, a stat given even more significance when you consider that Miguel Tejada’s 26 RBIs was fifth best on the team last year. The Boston Red Sox, to use one of many examples, had three players hit more than 26 homers, let alone RBIs.
The pitching, as was to be expected, was solid. The Giants had eleven pitchers that started either at least 30 games or relieved in at least 49 games record sub 3.90 ERAs. Yet, unfortunately for the Giants, pitching is only half the game and too often outstanding pitching performances were marred by a lack of run support that ultimately cost the Giants a post-season berth, but will it get any better this season?
IN : Brian Burres (SP – Pittsburgh), Melky Cabrera (OF – Kansas City), Eric Hacker (SP – Minnesota), Clay Hensley (SP – Miami), Ramon Ortiz (RP – Chicago Cubs), Angel Pagan (OF – N.Y. Mets), Ryan Theriot (INF – St.Louis)
OUT : Carlos Beltran (OF – St.Louis), Pat Burrell (OF), Orlando Cabrera (INF – Retired), Mark DeRosa (INF – Washington), Darren Ford (OF – Seattle), Bill Hall (INF – N.Y. Yankees), Waldis Joaquin (RP – Washington), Jeff Keppinger (INF – Tampa Bay), Ramon Ramirez (RP – N.Y. Mets), Cody Ross (OF – Boston), Aaron Rowand (OF – Miami), Jonathan Sanchez (SP – Kansas City), Miguel Tejada (INF), Andres Torres (OF – N.Y. Mets)
Catchers : Buster Posey is the elite member of a new crop of young catchers coming through in the Majors. Unfortunately broke his leg on a play at home plate last year, but is expected to come back strong this season. He had hit .305 with 18 homers the previous year and was on his way to putting up fine numbers again when injury curtailed his season. Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart filled in admirably and there is some debate as to who will win the back-up job, with the younger Stewart currently higher on the depth chart. Both struggled from an offensive standpoint last year, hitting .197 and .204 respectively, but excelled defensively. Hector Sanchez, at 22 years old, is not out of the race, batting .435 during Spring at the time of writing.
Infielders : There are no fewer than 13 infielders currently on the Giants roster, so there is a fierce competition for places. Pablo Sandoval will get the nod at third base, coming off an injury hit season. The much loved big man is probably the only player on the Giants roster with the ability to hit 20 homers or more in a season, a figure he has notched in two of his three full seasons in the big leagues. Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez and young Brandon Crawford are currently in line to make up the rest of the starting infield. Huff and Sanchez are both experienced veterans who can bring different attributes. Huff has power, although not to the extent of a few years ago, while Sanchez has speed and a terrific bat. Crawford hit just .204 in 66 games last season, but appears to be the best shortstop on the roster, although Mike Fontenot may have a say on that. Both Fontenot and Ryan Theriot are ex-Cubs that are fighting for a back-up utility role. The younger Theriot is a .284 career hitter in nearly 800 games and is fresh off a World Series ring with the Cardinals. Youngster Brandon Belt struggled somewhat last season, but was perhaps called upon too early into his career. He hit .225 in 67 games, but nine homers suggest that once he’s fully developed and settled in the big leagues, he could be a major threat. An impressive Spring Training (currently hitting .333 with two homers) could see him climb the depth chart. Brett Pill impressed in just 15 games last season, but with a crowded infield, chances will be few and far between. A slew of young prospects are lead by switch hitters Emmanuel Burris and Ehire Adrainza, but only a massive injury crisis will see them make the 25 man roster this year.
Outfielders : The outfield position is considerably less murky, with Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and Nate Scheirholtz virtually guaranteed to be the starting trio. Both Melky and Angel are experienced veterans with terrific speed and defensive abilities, but the former has bounced around the league somewhat recently. Ex-Yankee Cabrera will be playing for his third team in as many years, while Pagan leaves the Mets after a four year spell and is coming off a season in which he stole 32 bases. Scheirholtz, on the other hand, is a product of the Giants, having played five seasons mainly as a back-up. Last season he hit a career high nine homers and 41 RBIs, giving him the edge on the right field position for this coming season. Roger Kieschnick and Francisco Pegeuro are the back-up options, though both have yet to grace a big league diamond. Tyler Graham is another possible option, but yet again, has no major league experience.
Starting Pitchers : The starting rotation seems pretty set for the Giants, and why not, when three returning pitchers are coming off sub 2.90 ERA seasons. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong were all nothing short of outstanding last season, only for an anaemic offence to throw away any possibility of post-season play. The trio combined for a 2.70 ERA in 618.1 innings. While all the talk and focus may have been on the Phillies rotation, the Giants was every bit as good. Despite those numbers, the trio finished with a 38-32 record, with two time Cy Young winner Lincecum finishing with a losing record despite a 2.74 ERA and 217 innings pitched. Proof, if it were needed, that a win-loss record isn’t exactly the best indicator of a pitchers performance. Behind the front three, Madison Bumgarner went 13-13 with a 3.21 ERA, meaning that the Giants had four starters in the top 10 in NL ERA last season. A repeat of those numbers could see the Giants return to the post-season. The fifth starter, following the departure of Sanchez, will be Barry Zito, who has never really come close to replicating his Cy Young standards on the other side of the Bay. In his five years at the Giants he is yet to record a sub 4.00 ERA season, a figure he managed in six of his seven seasons at Oakland. Erik Surkamp is likely to be the next man in line, having started six games last year, going 2-2 with a 5.74 ERA, although should any long term injuries afflict their rotation, the best bet the Giants have would be to explore the waiver wires or trade market.
Relief Pitchers : As with the starting rotation, the bullpen seems pretty much set. The Giants had terrific luck with injuries last year, within the pitching staff at least, as they only used 17 pitchers the entire season. Seven of those appeared in at least 49 games out of the bullpen, with Ramon Ramirez being the only one not returning in 2012. The bearded Brian Wilson returns having recorded 36 saves despite missing some time through injury last year. Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez are a pair of veteran 6’4’’ lefties who combined to pitch in 137 games last year, both recording sub 2.75 ERAs. Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla went even better, with both having sub 1.75 ERA. Casilla also recorded six saves in the absence of Wilson. Guillermo Mota, who will turn 39 during the season, put up the worst numbers of the bullpen last year, but a 3.81 ERA in over 50 appearances is hardly a poor return. Dan Runzler and Steve Edelfsen both saw some time last year and struggled somewhat, but with such a solid bullpen corps to learn from during Spring Training, there is little doubt that they can improve when called upon this year. Ramon Ortiz is a veteran pitcher who could earn a spot as a long reliever, having had years of experience as a starter. If the bullpen stays healthy, however, it will be yet again a lethal group.
PREDICTION : I really want to say that the Giants will finish atop the NL West, but their poor offence stops me from doing so. They have one of the two or three pitching staffs in the league and they will certainly limit their opponents on the scoreboard, but I just don’t have any confidence in their offence, even with the return of Posey. Second place.
