San Francisco Giants
2015 Win/Loss Record:
84-78, 2nd in National League West
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2014
Last World Series
Championship: 2014
Key Arrivals: Johnny
Cueto (P), Jeff Samardzjia (P), Denard Span (OF)
Key Departures: Tim
Hudson (P), Tim Lincecum (P), Ryan Vogelsong (P)
Manager: Bruce
Bochy, 10th year, W/L 751-707 (1702-1682 in 19 seasons with Padres
and Giants)
Overall Review: It’s an even-numbered
year which means the San Francisco Giants will be contending for another World
Series Championship, having been champions in 2010, 2012 and 2014. They said
good-bye to some of the pitchers who helped them win those titles (Hudson,
Lincecum and Vogelsong) and welcome some new blood to the rotation (Cueto and
Samardzjia) to help out perennial All-Star and postseason sensation Madison
Bumgarner.
As always, the Giants’ offense
will be among the best in the league, despite not having a lot of home run
threats. The Giants rely more on timely hitting, outstanding base running and
team speed to get the job done and it has worked for them in the past. There’s
no reason to think it won’t again.
Offense: The key free agent acquisition
of offense was centre-fielder Denard Span who will provide a lead-off bat. Limited
to 61 games with Washington due to injury last year, Span still batted .301,
hit five home runs and added 22 RBIs. He also stole 11 bases. A .300 hitter
with 30 steal potential is the kind of player you want at the top of the
lineup. Catcher Buster Posey provides the power for the club. Last year, Posey
batted .318 with 19 homers and 95 RBIs. Outfielder Hunter Pence (.275, 9, 40)
was hurt most of last season and should rebound with another 20-home run season
if healthy.
Second baseman Joe Panik (.312,
8, 37), first baseman Brandon Belt (.280, 18, 68) and shortstop Brandon
Crawford (.256, 21, 84) will also continue to contribute to make the Giants’
line-up formidable. And then there’s Matt Duffy, who filled in quite nicely for
Pablo Sandoval at third base after the Panda left for the money in Boston.
Duffy hit .295 in his first full year in the bigs, while hitting 12 home runs
and adding 77 RBIs.
Pitching: The strength of the Giants is
the pitching. It has been since the team starting winning World Series
Championships at the beginning of the decade and while the names have changed,
the results haven’t. Madison Bumgarner will be the rotation's leader again.
After dominating the postseason in 2014, MadBum finished last year with an 18-9
record and a 2.93 ERA while striking out 234 batters. Last year, Johnny Cueto
won the World Series with the Royals and now joins the Giants’ staff. Combined
with the Royals and Cincinnati Reds, Cueto had a 11-13 record, 3.44 ERA and 176
strike outs. The Giants hope he regains his 2014 form when he won 20 games with
the Reds, posted a 2.25 ERA and had a NL-leading 242 strike outs. Jeff
Samardzija joins the staff from the White Sox, where he was 11-13, 4.96 ERA and
163 strike outs.
The bullpen is solid with shut
down closer Santiago Casilla leading the charge with 38 saves, a 4-2 record, a 2.79 ERA and 62 strike outs in 58 innings. Former closer, Sergio Romo,
is an ideal set-up man. In 2015 he had a not impressive 0-5 record, but
recorded two saves, had a 2.98 ERA and struck out 71 batters. George Kontos
(4-4, 2.33, 44) will also contribute.
 |
| Pitcher Madison Bumgarner |
Prediction: The Giants shouldn’t have
any trouble finishing first in the NL West. The Dodgers have fallen quite a bit
and the D-Backs aren’t quite ready to challenge for the title yet. There’s no
reason to believe the Giants can’t win another World Series when all is said
and done. The good luck of the even-numbered year aside, this team is built to
win and can do so once again.
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