30 Clubs in 30 Days: No. 5 San Francisco Giants

The Giants never stopped believing in 2010, which led them to finally reversing all the torture their fans had been through and became the unexpected World Series champions. Down the stretch the Giants out-coached and out-pitched every opponent that stood in their way and it looks to be more of the same in 2011.

No. 5 San Francisco Giants

Projected Rotation

1. Tim Lincecum-RHP
   

   Tim Lincecum is still at the top of the rotation // Photo: tmicolumn.com

2. Jonathan Sanchez-LHP
3. Matt Cain-RHP
4. Madison Bumgarner-LHP
5. Barry Zito-LHP

Projected Bullpen

1. Brian Wilson-RHP
2. Jeremy Affeldt-LHP
3. Javier Lopez-LHP
4. Ramon Ramirez-RHP
5. Sergio Romo-LHP
6. Santiago Casilla-RHP
7. Dan Runzler-LHP
8. Guillermo Mota-RHP
9. Marc Kroon-RHP

Projected Lineup

1. CF Andres Torres
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez
3. 1B Aubrey Huff
4. C Buster Posey
5. SS Miguel Tejada
6. LF Pat Burrell
7. 3B Pablo Sandoval
8. RF Cody Ross

Analysis

Looking at the Giants lineup on paper it’s hard to figure out why they won the World Series. The simple answer to that is their bats came alive at the right time, their pitching was un-hittable, and Bruce Bochy proved he’s one of the best baseball men in the game. The defending champs are poised for another run at the big show but it won’t be an easy road in the ever-improving NL West.

Bochy used 126 different lineups in 162 regular season games last year and right now I don’t see any reason why that will change in 2011. Tejada will adequately replace the traitorous Uribe at short, which maintains the depth of Giant hitters. A lesser manager wouldn’t get as much as Bochy has out of this lineup, and he has almost the exact same group that won him a World Series a year ago.

At the top of the order, Torres and Sanchez are both underrated and are due for good seasons again this year. Aubrey Huff and his rally thong return to the bay and will bat third to lead into the baby-faced Posey, who could become the best catcher in baseball with the strong exception of Joe Mauer.

Tejada, Burrell, Sandoval, and Ross form one of the better bottom halves of the order in the NL. Special attention needs to be paid to Panda, who has slimmed down mightily from last year and is due for another breakout season.

Bochy gets more out of his hitters than most but don’t pencil in anything for the Giants yet, they tinker with their order and they tinker a lot. Making them one of the more intriguing teams aside from the fact that they are our defending champions.

In the off-season it’s been impossible to not pay attention to Brian Wilson. “Fear the Beard” will be back in 2011 and Wilson is poised to become the game’s best closer. He had a dynamite season a year ago, and was almost un-hittable in the playoffs. He’ll spearhead a group of relievers that will in all certainty keep the Giants in a lot of games in 2011. The unit was hugely effective all season and Bochy was sure to make no changes or let anyone get away. This is the exact same group that won a World Series so credit needs to be paid where it’s due, and the Giants pen will one again be a force to be reckoned with.

On top of that the rotation is easily the best part about the Giants. Lincecum had another great season last year (apart from the month of August), and Cain has established himself as a top tier pitcher in the game. The 21-year-old Bumgarner was magic in the playoffs and will back that up with a great 2011 season, and Jonathan Sanchez is as reliable as you can get.

For all intents and purposes the Giants will flourish once again and claim the division crown. However, it will take another magical late season run for the Giants to overtake the Phillies once again in the National League.