With the spring training season in full swing, the San Francisco Giants look to improve on the 2009 club that surprised many, winning 88 games and falling a scant four games shy of their first post-season appearance since 2003.
In the offseason, some roster moves were aimed at shoring up deficiencies from 2009, leaving the solid, if unspectacular, offense that they will look to field in the coming season.
Around the infield, newcomer Aubrey Huff will man first base. He’s a solid stick whose offense appeared to have started declining last season. However, barring him becoming the next Ryan Klesko, the firepower is there. My concern is that he throws right handed and has proven to field the position with skillet in hand. I’m a big Travis Ishikawa guy. He won rookie honors in 2009 at the position (Topps All-Rookie team) and brings a Hoover with him to work every day. Provided that he can overcome tearing ligaments in his toes in the offseason, he should be a solid performer if Huff’s defense becomes too egregious. He will be hampered by a short spring training. Huff’s defense has been the impetus for the team giving first base reps to John Bowker (are we still throwing that dough against the wall to see what sticks?) and future star Buster Posey this spring training. The latter might be an able-bodied first base participant this season (though the team would prefer him at catcher….more on that later) and seems to be murdering opponent pitching in Scottsdale. Jesus Guzman?…..Next. Brett Pill will be getting more time in the minors to begin 2010. He might be one worth watching, however.
At second base, the team re-upped with Freddy Sanchez for two years. He has yet to play a game in spring and might not (WON’T!!!!) be ready for opening day. Emmanuel Burriss broke another bone in his foot in spring training and won’t be ready soon. Kevin Frandsen seems to be another example of dough (see above). Eugenio Velez is being groomed more for the outfield these days. Juan Uribe is a capable option. Matt Downs has been smacking the ball around this pre-season, but I don’t see him as viable. Nick Noonan is still a year (or more) away. Ultimately, I’d like to see a healthy Freddy Sanchez for 2010.
At shortstop, it’s Edgar Renteria. One more season. Then it’s done. Brandon Crawford is in the same boat as Noonan. No reason to rush him. With Renteria, he’s fundamentally solid, over-paid, and unspectular. The only question is whether the number of balls he dives for this season will exceed the number of homeruns he hits in 2010. Stuck with him for one more season. Could be worse (I guess?!?!).
At third, it’s Panda. Pablo Sandoval is the man and does it great. He’s remarkably spry at the position and sucks up balls that Renteria doesn’t. He’s the best stick in the lineup. The only competition isn’t competition, really. I don’t know who underwhelms me more: Conor Gillaspie or Ryan Rohlinger. Either way, Pablo is, and will remain, the man at the hot corner in 2010.
Around the outfield, we see a healthy and solid Mark DeRosa in left. No bells going off there, but I hear we will be happy with the signing. I pray we are. Aaron Rowand will be collecting roughly $1 million per homerun hit in 2010 as he mans centerfield. I’d like to see that amount per go down, but that would require more homers on his part. In right, it appears that Nate Schierholtz is the man. About time, guys. We’ll see how he does with his cannon arm and smooth stick. I think he’ll do great. Pushing these starters will be Fred Lewis (probably traded before the team moves north in April), the aforementioned Velez, Andres Torres (a nice surprise last year, let’s see what he can do for an encore), and Darren Ford who, reports say, has been surprising many this spring. Wouldn’t be shocked to see him stick in some manner. It appears as if Thomas Neal will get another year seasoning in the minors, as will Roger Kieschnick. A note about the latter mention here. I had a chance to see Kieschnick in a spring training game against the Dodgers. He gunned down a runner at the plate and has an awesome bat. I’d keep that one’s name in the memory banks. Perhaps not this season, but sometime in the next few, he will be back.
Behind the plate, they brought back Bengie Molina. I hope they bat him 8. Backing him up will be Eli Whiteside (who seems to be a personal highlight reel, when he gets to play. Last year, a grand slam and caught a no-hitter….nice). Whiteside is okay, but expendable, highlights or not. Posey will probably start the year in AAA, but don’t be shocked to see him up and perhaps sending Molina to the bench before this season is done.
Now, the pitching. The starting four is awesome. Tim Lincecum is a stud and has won two straight Cy Young Awards. What more can be said? Count on more of this in 2010. Matt Cain is awesome. I’d look for more of what we saw from him in the first half (pre-line drive) of 2009. A big year? I think so. If Barry Zito can be an over-paid, but solid, number three, I’ll be happy. Now, number four. I see HUGE things from this position in 2010. I think Jonathan Sanchez is going to have a breakout season. I think he’s ‘got’ it, finally. I am calling my shot and saying 17 victories and 3.25 ERA. Put it on the board. Start of great things for him this season (and if he doesn’t…..well, there is an edit function on these posts).
The five spot in the rotation is where it gets interesting. There are, theoretically, three pitchers vying for this. The front-runner, having a great spring as yet, is veteran newcomer, Todd Wellemeyer. I can’t say this excites me, but if he pitches well, then what we can get from him is gravy. The other to keep an eye on is Kevin Pucetas, a guy who I jockeyed last season (though he never got the call). He’s been pitching likewise awesome this spring. I think he’s earned himself a job in the bullpen to start the season, at least. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the rotation, should Wellemeyer falter (though the team’s apparent love for veterans could curtail that….though that didn’t keep them from running Ryan Sadowski and Joe Martinez out there last season). The third possibility is uber-prospect Madison Bumgarner. He WILL be great, but the best place for him this year is learning his craft in AAA. No reason to rush him. Though he pitched well, I didn’t think he belonged with the club last season. He’s 19. Send him down for another season. It won’t hurt him at all.
The bullpen is helmed by closer Brian Wilson. Love him. He is great and improved in 2009. I think he will just get better in 2010. Sergio Romo is great right handed setup. Likewise Jeremy Affeldt from the left side. Second year man Dan Runzler (I guess he’s ‘officially’ a rookie this year…for whatever reason, it seemed like he was with the team most of last year) is one to watch. Likewise Waldis Joaquin. This guys’ fastball appears incredibly heavy to hit. That would not be fun to bounce off one’s bat. Brandon Medders is solid. Look for the aforementioned Pucetas to be the long man in the bullpen. For the final spot, possibilities are veteran Guillermo Mota (blech), a resurrected Alex Hinshaw (double blech), or heavily upsided rookie Henry Sosa. Guess which one I’m backing. Osiris Matos (check that dough thing from earlier) and shortstop convert Tony Pena Jr. (why did they never try this with Shawon Dunston?) round out possibilities for the final spot(s) in the bullpen.
The Giants play four games in the bay area, starting April 1. They then travel to Houston to start the season on April 5. GO GIANTS!!!!
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