Betting On The Giants?
2014 MLB Team Previews – San Francisco Giants
The Giants finished 76-86 just a year after winning the World Series, and that did not sit well with the team’s front office this offseason.
Why the team didn’t go too crazy in the free agent market, they did spend big money to keep some proven entities around. With the Dodgers around, spending is now the name of the game in the N.L. West.
The landscape of the division has greatly changed. Not long ago, the question was whether or not any team in the division would finish above .500. Now the question is, how many teams will the division send to the postseason? The Giants face an uphill climb to get to the playoffs, but don’t let last season’s performance fool you – they have what it takes to compete.
Bovada’s Odds to Win
NL West: +350
National League: +750
World Series: +1600
Key Additions
As stated above, much of the work the team did in the offseason was in locking up returning Giants, namely, Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelson, and Javier Lopez, each of whom was rewarded handsomely to stay in San Francisco.
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The team’s biggest free agent splash came when it gave out a two-year deal to veteran Tim Hudson, who will provide a reliable arm to an already strong rotation. Outfielder Michael Morse will help the team to generate some runs, something that was a major problem at times last season. He’s in on a one-year deal.
Projected Starting Lineup
1. Angel Pagan, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, 2B
3. Brandon Belt, 1B
4. Buster Posey, C
5. Hunter Pence, RF
6. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
7. Michael Morse, LF
8. Brandon Crawford, SS
Those first seven names on the team’s lineup make the Giants look like a team that can score runs, though many of those players will need to take a major step forward from what they were able to accomplish a year ago. Also, Marco Scutaro may not be around for the start of the year.
Angel Pagan doesn’t get enough respect for the work he does at the top of the order. Stat geeks are screaming their praises of Brandon Belt, who could take another step forward this season.
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Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval won’t see a lot of pitches, but they can both mash the ball. Michael Morse is the wild card, and could really pay dividends if he can adjust to spacious AT&T Park. Buster Posey returning to his MVP-caliber form would smooth over a lot of other issues.
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Madison Bumgarner
2. Matt Cain
3. Tim Lincecum
4. Tim Hudson
5. Ryan Vogelsong
Don’t be surprised to see Bumgarner atop that list. Manager Bruce Bochy has already named him the team’s opening day starter, and with the major steps backward Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum have taken in recent years, it’s been a long time coming. Vogelsong dealt with injuries a year ago, but appeared to figure things out down the stretch. Hudson is returning from a gruesome injury, though will reportedly be ready for the start of the season.
Bullpen
Closer: Sergio Romo
Setup men: Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt
The bullpen has been a strength for this team for years, though the talent is beginning to thin out. Sergio Romo’s advanced numbers are a bit concerning, though he was still able to get guys out last season. Bochy’s ability to effectively use the arms that he has will again make all the difference.
2014 San Francisco Giants Prediction
It seems unlikely that the Giants will have a second consecutive down year. Morse could surprise many with his ability to generate runs for the team. The Giants will likely finish the regular year slotted in behind the Dodgers and competing for a wild-card spot.
Many of the players on this team have played in big games, and that could make a big difference.
The Giants had plenty of trouble scoring runs a year ago, though just about everyone in the team’s lineup had a down year. A bounce back seems in order from the team, and if they live up to their potential, they could be in for another long postseason run.
