2009 San Francisco Giants Baseball Preview

If nothing else, the San Francisco Giants (72- 90) have been fairly consistent, finishing out of the money for the past seven seasons. This year, the Giants will put an improved team on the field, and although they probably won't get to the post-season, they should be in the hunt throughout most of the season.

Number one starter Tim Lincecum (18- 5 W/L, 2.62 ERA, .221 BAA) has an over-the-top delivery that can blow hitters away. His 92- 96 mph fastball offers good movement and his power curve can keep batters off balance. Matt Cain (8- 14 W/L, 3.76 ERA, .251 BAA) induces flyballs with two-seam and four-seam fastballs. His cutter is tight. Three lefties occupy the three to five spots. Fastballer Randy Johnson (11- 10 W/L, 3.91 ERA, .260 BAA) continues to play despite declining power. Barry Zito (10- 17 W/L, 5.15 ERA, .270 BAA), who is also in decline, struggles to find his good stuff. Jonathan Sanchez (9- 12 W/L, 5.01 ERA, .257 BAA) is a light at the end of the tunnel. He continues to develop as a fastball pitcher with an effective slurve and changeup. Closer Brian Wilson (4.62 ERA, 41 SV, .263 BAA) can do the job as long as he stays focused and keeps away from the homerun ball.

Randy Winn (.306 BA, 64 RBI, 10 HR, 25 SB) leads off. He's a sound line drive hitter with solid wheels. Pablo Sandoval (.345 BA, 24 RBI, 3 HR) and Bengie Molina (.292 BA, 95 RBI, 16 HR) are decent offensive forces. Sandoval is a young switch-hitter who continues to develop. Molina is a prototypical contact hitter. Prospect Travis Ishikawa may get a chance to hit. He looked good last season. Fred Lewis (.282 BA, 40 RBI, 9 HR) shows power and runs the bases well.

The infield is thin but it does have some talent. Shortstop Edgar Renteria is slowing down but he's skilled, smart and still a class act. At second, Velez is a liability, while Burriss, also at second, offers quickness and agility. At either corner, Sandoval is a good corner man. Catcher Molina calls a quality game, possesses fine skills and is baseball smart. In left, Lewis offers excellent range but a weak arm. Winn plays a fine right and Aaron Rowland is a quality center fielder.

The Giants have a new managing partner as former Microsoft lead counsel Bill Neukom comes on board. Neither GM Brian R. Sabean nor manager Bruce Bochy received a vote of confidence from Neukom. Both of their contracts run out after the 2009 season. Neukom has stated that he wants the club to finish at .500 this season, develop the farm system and start being competitive in 2009. He hasn't decided yet if Sabean and Bochy are right for the job.

The club has a fine pitching staff and a young, developing group of offensive players. They could use a veteran hitter to bolster run production. If the Giants can still be in the mix by midseason, then a trade for more pop could happen. The Giants in this year's post-season? That's highly unlikely but not impossible in a division as weak as the West.

Read more on the Giants other NL West division competitors like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies.

For more info on the Giants check out the MLB official page for San Francisco.