Well, at least one San Francisco team brought home the goods last year. The Giants pulled off quite a run to win their second World Series in 3 years. The 2012 Giants team looked much different than even 2011, adding Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence, Marco Scutaro and George Kontos either during the season or during the offseason. This offseason the Giants thought the best plan was to just keep everything intact: resigning Pagan and Scutaro and letting Brian Wilson and Aubrey Huff go. So, let's take a look and see whether the Giants will repeat as champs:
Starting Lineup
CF Angel Pagan
2B Marco Scutaro
C Buster Posey
3B Pablo Sandoval
RF Hunter Pence
1B Brandon Belt
LF Gregor Blanco
SS Brandon Crawford
The Giants are relying a lot on Pagan and Scutaro replicating 2012. Pagan stayed healthy (a rarity) and produced a solid season. Scutaro is 37 and got signed to a three year extension: he was a late bloomer to MLB, but a solid vet, but do not expect the same player moving forward. MVP Posey and Sandoval are two of the best in their positions. I expect Pence to bounce back after a sub-par season. Belt should finally settle in at 1B and just go out and play without worrying about demotion or being moved. Blanco and Crawford don't offer much in terms of offense but they can chase down balls: I would not be surprised if Blanco is replaced by prospect Gary Brown relatively soon. This offense has a lot of what-ifs outside of Posey and Sandoval, so be skeptical.
Starting Rotation
SP Matt Cain
SP Madison Baumgarner
SP Tim Lincecum
SP Ryan Vogelsong
SP Barry Zito
At least Zito's contract is up at the end of the year...anyway, Cain and Baumgarner are elite pitchers. No worries with them, and Vogelsong showed his 2011 is not a fluke. I am worried about Lincecum returning to form and Zito replicating his unexpected post season success. Clearly, the Giants plan was to not mess with anything: let's hope it works for three years straight.
Bullpen
CL Sergio Romo
SU Santiago Casilla
SU Jeremy Affeldt
LHS Javier Lopez
SU George Kontos
SU Jose Mijares
Another lock-down bullpen. Romo was fantastic as a closer and Casilla is a great set-up man. Affeldt, Lopez and Mijares are the best group of lefties in the game and trading for Kontos was a great move by GM Brian Sabean (and a crap one by Brian Cashman - really, Cash? Chris Stewart?)
I just have a hard time seeing this team replicate last year. I like the Diamondbacks to push forward because I think they get better and I have the Dodgers winning the division. Sorry Giants fans, its 3rd place this year.
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