MLB Team Preview – San Francisco Giants
San Francisco is an MLB betting darkhorse in the National League West, which is more of a statement about the weakness of the division than it is about the Giants. San Francisco has a great pitching staff, but unless its finds a way to generate more run support, it could be another long season in the City by the Bay.
The Giants scored more runs than only San Diego last year, driving 640 across the plate. Catcher Bengie Molina (.292, 16 HR, 95 RBI) was the team’s “power” hitter, while center fielder Aaron Rowland (.271, 13 HR, 70 RBI) was a disappointment in his first season as a Giant. 37-year-old Rich Aurilla (.283, 10 HR, 52 RBI) doesn’t have half the power he did in his first stint with San Francisco, when he hit 37 homers in 2001, but he gets the nod at third base, though Pablo Sandoval could share time with him there.
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The Giants would have done well to try for a big bat in the offseason, particularly Manny Ramirez of the division-rival Dodgers. Instead, the Giants got 33-year-old Edgar Renteria (.270, 10 HR, 55 RBI), who didn’t exactly light it up in Detroit. Anyone still have the number for Barry Bonds?
Pitching is how the Giants will stay in most games, and the rotation has a nice blend of youth and experience. 24-year-old Tim Lincecum (18-5, 2.62) led the majors with 265 strikeouts, and the one they call “the Freak” will be under pressure to show sportsbook and fantasy players that he’s no fluke. Fellow 24-year-old Matt Cain (8-14, 3.76) had the worst run support of any National League starter and, if he reduces his number of walks, the Giants could have the best young one-two rotation duo in the league, if not the majors. 45-year-old Randy Johnson (11-10, 3.91) joined the Giants from another division rival, Arizona, and his second-half performance proved that the five-time Cy Young winner is still capable of pitching at a high level. However, has there been a bigger bust in recent memory than Barry Zito (10-17, 5.15), the 2002 Cy Young winner that has become a shell of his former self? He could end up being the No.5 starter, if Jonathon Sanchez (9-12, 5.01) can stay healthy. Brian Wilson (3-2, 4.62, 41 saves) is a better closer than his 2008 numbers indicate, but the bullpen will need Jeremy Affeldt (1-1, 3.33 with Cincinnati) and Bobby Howry (7-5, 5.35 with the Cubs) to gel quickly with their new teammates.
The Giants have MLB odds of +475 to win the National League West, but they’re a +5000 longshot to win the World Series. The San Francisco offense doesn’t have to be spectacular, but it has to be better than last year. However, unless Molina turns into a home-run machine, or Rowland and Aurilla can recall their past glory, it should be another frustrating year at the plate. As for pitching, the Giants are set, and Cain is being tipped by many for a breakout year. However, pitching means nothing if you can’t score runs and the Giants will struggle to do that. San Francisco could surprise for a third-place finish in the NL West, but don’t count on them to overcome their MLB odds for the World Series.
One reply on “MLB Predictions / Previews: San Francisco Giants”
The Giants need some things to come together as well as get some breaks along the way to have a chance in the NL West. The Dodgers, then the Diamondacks are the clear front runners in this division.