San Francisco Giants
2010 Record: 92-70
723 RS, 601 RA, Pythagorean Record: 96-66
Manager: Bruce Bochy
GM: Brian Sabean
Free Agents:
Pat Burrell, OF (1, $1MM); Aubrey Huff, 1B (2, $22MM); Miguel Tejada, SS (1, $6.5MM).
Minor League FA:
Casey Daigle, P; Brad Eldred, 1B; Chris Evans, OF; Waldis Joaquin, P; Marc Kroon, P; Shane Loux, P; Adalberto Mejia, P; Simon Mercedes, P; Guillermo Mota, P; Felix Romero, P; Chris Stewart, C; Jeff Suppan, P; Tom Vessella, P; Ryan Vogelsong, P; Matthew Yourkin, P.
Rule V Pick:
None
Trades:
None
Waiver Claims:
None
Players Lost:
Michael Ambort, 1B; Denny Bautista, P; Joe Borchard, OF; Juan Ciriaco, SS; Rafael Cova, P; Geno Espineli, C; Jose Guillen, OF; Jesus Guzman, 3B; Eric Hacker, P; Steve Holm, C; Jason Jarvis, P; Matt Kinney, P; Josh Lopez, 3B; Mike MacDonald, P; Kyle Mach, 3B; Osiris Matos, P; Derin McMains, 2B; Brandon Medders, P; Jose Medina, OF; Scott Nestor, P; Nickolas Nordgren, OF; Joe Paterson, P; Tony Pena Jr, P; Carlos Quintana, 1B; Horacio Ramirez, P; Chris Ray, P; Ronnie Ray, P; Edgar Renteria, SS; Guillermo Rodriguez, C; Michael Sandoval, 1B; Audy Santana, P; Sharlon Schoop, SS; Jesse Shriner, C; Andy Sisco, P; Jake Stevens, P; Clay Timpner, OF; Juan Uribe, 3B; Eugenio Velez, SS; Todd Wellemeyer, P; Dontrelle Willis, P.
Top 15 Prospects
1. Brandon Belt, 1B
2. Zack Wheeler, RHP
3. Gary Brown, OF
4. Thomas Neal, OF
5. Francisco Peguero, OF
6. Jarrett Parker, OF
7. Tommy Joseph, C
8. Charlie Culberson, 2B
9. Ehire Adrianza, SS
10. Jorge Bucardo, RHP
11. Rafael Rodriguez, OF
12. Eric Surkamp, LHP
13. Chuckie Jones, OF
14. Brandon Crawford, OF
15. Mike Kickham, LHP
2010 was a breakout year for Brandon Belt; it was so good that he was seriously being considered for first base during spring training. Zack Wheeler looks like a top of the rotation starter. Gary Brown won’t hit for a ton of power in the corner outfield, but he can get on base and should hold value for the team. After that, a lot of the prospects become interchangeable.
2010 Review:
3 words sum up the Giants’ season: World Series Champions. The Giants were not a team that many expected to play as well as they did.
One of the main components didn’t even start the season on the roster – catching prospect Buster Posey. The team was widely criticized for not promoting him out of camp; they claimed it was for more defensive seasoning, but everyone knows it was to delay the start of his service clock. He had help from a breakout season from Andres Torres and a career year from Aubrey Huff.
The pitching continued to be stellar. Even with a “down” year from Tim Lincecum, the rotation was one of the best in the game. Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and a rejuvenated Barry Zito all made up for Lincecum’s short comings. The bullpen was just as good, with crazy closer Brian Wilson leading the way.
2011 Preview:
This team looks the same. Gone is shortstop Edgar Renteria; in his place is Miguel Tejada. Both players were/are shells of their former selves. You could expect regression from Huff and Posey, but a full season of Pat Burrell (Giants’ fans hope) should help.
On the pitching side, the only real change is Madison Bumgarner being a full time member of the rotation; he pitched well down the stretch and should settle in as a #3 starter. The bullpen is almost the same, with Jeff Suppan, Marc Kroon (who joins the team from Japan and has been unhittable in camp), and Guillermo Mota fighting for the final spot.
They will see competition from the Padres, Rockies, and Dodgers, but this is their division to lose.
From the Bloggers:
Richard Dyer, The Giants Cove: The San Francisco Giants team that won the 2010 World Series was put
together at the midway point of last season. As a result, the contrast
between Opening Day 2010 and Opening Day 2011 is dramatic– the offense and
defense has been totally revised with NL Rookie of the Year Buster Posey the
starting catcher and batting third, NLCS Most Valuable Player Cody Ross
starting the season in right field, and center fielder/lead-off hitter
Andres Torres in place on day one. The improved bullpen put up the second
best bullpen ERA in the Majors, and world class rookie Madison Bumgarner is
starting every 5th day. That’s what’s new for the 2011 Giants, and it should
make them a powerhouse in the National League for the next several years.
The Giants line-up is an extra base hitting machine that can produce more
than enough runs to support arguably the best starting staff in franchise
history: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito and Madison
Bumgarner. Closer Brian Wilson led the Majors with 48 saves. The addition of
shortstop Miguel Tejada will add more punch to the line-up, and even
Tejada’s below average 2010 range factor was better than the RFs put up by
former shortstop incumbents Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria. Giants’ minor
league slugger Brandon Belt was recently ranked 26th on MLB.com’s Top 50
Prospects, and will either make the team out of Spring Training or add his
power bat and slick defense at first base in mid-season.
The San Francisco Giants project to win 95-100 games this season, and their
outstanding pitching should once again make them dominant throughout the
playoffs. The real surprise in 2011 will be their increased run production.
Prediction:
1st Place