2009 MLB Preview - San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants
Manager: Bruce Bochy (3rd season)
2008 Record: 72-90 (4th NL West)


Added: SS Edgar Renteria (DET), IF Juan Uribe (CHW), SP Randy Johnson (AZ), RP Bob Howry (CHC), Jeremy Affeldt (CIN)
Lost: SP Brian Hennessey (BAL)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. RF Randy Winn (.306, 84 R, 10 HR, 64 RBI, 25 SB) 2. SS Edgar Renteria (.270, 69 R, 10 HR, 55 RBI) 3. 3B Pablo Sandoval (.345, 24 R, 3 HR, 24 RBI) 4. C Bengie Molina (.292, 46 R, 16 HR, 95 RBI) 5. LF Fred Lewis (.282, 81 R, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 21 SB) 6. CF Aaron Rowand (.271, 51 R, 13 HR, 70 RBI) 7. 1B Travis Ishikawa (.274, 12 R, 3 HR, 15 RBI) 8. 2B Emmanuel Burriss (.283, 37 R, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 SB)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Tim Lincecum (18-5, 2.62 ERA, 265 K) 2. Matt Cain (8-14, 3.76 ERA, 186 K) 3. Randy Johnson (11-10, 3.91 ERA, 173 K) 4. Barry Zito (10-17, 5.15 ERA, 120 K) 5. Johnathan Sanchez (9-12, 5.01 ERA, 157 K)

Bench
IF Rich Aurilia, IF Juan Uribe, OF Nate Schiertholtz, OF Eugenio Velez

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Brian Wilson (41 SV, 62.1 IP, 62 H, 67 K, 4.62 ERA), Bob Howry, Jeremy Affeledt, Alex Hinshaw, Sergio Romo

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Fantasy Studs: SP Tim Lincecum
Fantasy Sleepers: IF Pablo Sandoval, 2B Emmanuel Burriss, SP Johnathan Sanchez

Men In The Minors: C Buster Posey, 1B Angel Villalona, 2B Nick Noonan, 3B Conor Gillaspie, SP Madison Bumgarner

Home Ballpark: AT&T Park (Grade 9/10)

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Team Outlook: The team that the Giants put on the field last year was not a good one, and the results showed. This year though, there is a bit of an infusion of young talent. The Giants have a very good farm system right now and it is slowly being showcased in the big leagues. In the lineup, the new faces include Sandoval and Burriss, who should make nice impacts with their bats and speed. Picking up Renteria is a solid pickup, giving them a nice #2 hitter behind Winn. Ishikawa is another somewhat new face and could play a big role in the lineup as well. As far as pitching, Lincecum is the ace by far. After that, it's a lot of pitchers with great stuff but also inconsistent. Cain has been great before but was not last year. Johnson is just out there to throw innings. Zito is hoping 2009 is the year he is worth his gaudy contract. Sanchez is the sleeper though. When healthy, he could be a 15-game winner as the #5 guy. Plus, this team has a good manager in Bruce Bochy to lead the way for them. They probably will not compete for a division title this season but they will be soon with the talent in the minors and some of the talent in SF right now.

Next Preview: Seattle Mariners