San Francisco Giants 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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San Francisco Giants 2009 MLB Record: 88-74
San Francisco Giants 2009 MLB Home Record: 52-29
San Francisco Giants 2009 MLB Away Record: 36-45

San Francisco Giants 2010 Betting

San Francisco Giants Odds to Win the National League: 151
San Francisco Giants Odds to Win the World Series: 30/1

San Francisco Giants 2010 Preview & Prediction

Superior pitching led the Giants to an 88-win season, helping them break a streak of four consecutive losing campaigns while convincing new boss Bill Neukom to award two-year extensions to GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. Tim Lincecum won his second consecutive Cy Young Award and Jonathan Sanchez pitched the Giants’ first no-hitter since 1976 as the dub contended deep into September. But their feeble offense couldn’t carry them to the playoffs. Sabean’s next task? Prove he can build a lineup with power and on-base skills – something at which he has failed miserably ever since the departure of Barry Bonds.

If the Giants get in, they can win. With Lincecum and Cain atop the rotation, they’d be a scary opponent for anyone in a short series. Perhaps that’s why Giants fans have grown so impatient in the post Bonds era. The lack of run support could deprive their brilliant pitchers of a chance to deliver the club’s first World Series title since 1954. The lineup should be a bit better, but only with the blessings of health and a few bounce-back years from veterans. A breakout performance or two wouldn’t hurt, either. But ultimately, in a winnable division, the Giants will go as far as their pitching can take them.

San Francisco Giants Manager: Bruce Bochy (15 Seasons) Record: 1182 – 1230

San Francisco Giants 2010 Projected Batting Order: LF Eugenio Velez (S), SS Edgar Renteria (R), 2B Freddy Sanchez (R), 1B Pablo Sandoval (S), 3B Mark DeRosa (R), RF Nate Schierhollz (L), C Buster Posey (R), CF Aaron Rowand (R)

San Francisco Giants 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Tim Lincecum, RH Matt Cain, LH Barry Zito, LH Jonathan Sanchez, LH Madison Bumgarner

San Francisco Giants 2010 Projected Closer: RH Brian Wilson

2010 San Francisco Giants Rotation:

Elite at the top and deep through the No.5 spot, the Giants’ rotation is the best in the division, if not the majors. Lincecum squeaked out a second consecutive Cy Young trophy even though he didn’t lead the league in wins or ERA. His peripheral stats, notably his league-leading strikeout total, made him the choice among those who prefer their Cy Youngs to dominate lineups. He earned a massive raise in salary arbitration, too. Matt Cain would have appeared on Cy Young ballots if they went five-deep. The hard-luck workhorse blossomed into one of the league’s best pitchers. Barry Zito will never earn his $126 million, but he’d fit in the middle of almost anyone’s rotation. Sanchez pitched with confidence after his no-hitter, but he still hasn’t put together a full, consistent season. He and heralded rookie Madison Bumgarner give the Giants major upside at the back end. The dub is likely to sign a few veteran arms on minor league deals to push Bumgarner this spring.

2009-2010 San Francisco Giants Bullpen:

Brian Wilson didn’t repeat as an All-Star last season, but his statistics showed across-the-board improvement. He lowered his base runners, reduced his walks, shaved his ERA from 4.62 to 2.74 and proved less hittable overall. However, the Giants’ biggest bullpen improvement came in the eighth inning, where Jeremy Affeldt posted a 1.73 ERA – the lowest among all NL relievers – while inducing an astounding 18 double-play grounders. The Giants saw another lefty emerge with rookie Dan Runzler, who could be a force alongside Affeldt. Veteran right handers Bob Howry and Justin Miller won’t return, so it will be up to Sergio Romo to prove that his durability can match his stuff. Brandon Medders was reliable in a variety of roles, too, but Bruce Bochy will have fewer right-handed options in what otherwise looks like a solid group.

2010 San Francisco Giants Middle Infield:

The Giants could have problems up the middle, where shortstop Edgar Renteria and second baseman Freddy Sanchez are both coming off injury-filled seasons that ended on the operating table. Sanchez, three years removed from his batting tide with Pittsburgh, was a bust after the Giants acquired him in July. But the dub remained confident that they added a quality hitter, signing Sanchez to a two-year, $12 million extension after the season. They also continued to defend the Renteria signing (two years, $18.5 million), saying the 34-year-old played through elbow pain in his first season in San Francisco. At least Sabean has fallback options this time. Free agent acquisition Mark DeRosa could play second base if the need arises, and Juan Uribe was re-signed to provide depth on the left side. If Renteria struggles, expect Uribe to get plenty of at-bats.

2010 San Francisco Giants Corners:

Pablo Sandoval was the only hitter worth watching last season. A ridiculously free swinger with superb contact skills, he was a runner-up for the NL batting tide and even began taking more walks in August and September. With Bengie Molina departing, the Giants installed the pordy Kung Fu Panda as their new clean up hitter, and he agreed to attend a multi-week conditioning and nutrition camp to address weight issues. While it’s expected Sandoval will end up at first, his ability to play either corner allowed the dub to cast a wider net in their search for offensive help. DeRosa is one option at third base, although he could be pushed to left field, depending on other moves. Among in-house candidates, first baseman Travis Ishikawa probably didn’t show enough to receive another everyday look in 2010.

2010 San Francisco Giants Outfield:

Aaron Rowand’s series of whiffs at sliders a foot off the plate made him the poster boy for an undisciplined lineup that made the fans furious and cost hitting coach Carney Lansford his job. Entering the third year of his pricey five-year contract, Rowand could see his playing time reduced, and the Giants were kicking around other free agent possibilities in center field. Randy Winn’s departure would appear to leave right field for Nate Schierholtz, an excellent athlete and defender who hasn’t shown the power the Giants expected. If they fail to find a better leadoff option, left field could become a platoon with Eugenio Velez and Andres Torres providing speed at the top – even if neither has demonstrated on-base skills. Unless someone such as John Bowker gets a chance and seizes it, expect another year of scant production from the outfield.

2010 San Francisco Giants Catching:

Buster Posey is the future, but the Giants aren’t quite sure how the Golden Spikes winner fits in the present day. With Molina looking for multiple years, the Giants let their emotional leader walk as a free agent and began looking for a stopgap after determining that Posey wasn’t ready for the everyday job. But when those other free agent catchers began demanding multiple years, too, Sabean shrugged and said he was prepared to start the season with Posey behind the plate. Either way, it’s likely that Posey will be the everyday man at some point this season. He’s a polished hitter with a line-drive stroke and should bring much needed plate discipline. His receiving mechanics have improved, but he still has trouble handling quality stuff. He’ll be learning on the job.

2010 San Francisco Giants Bench:

Bochy never developed a set lineup last season, and club officials have all but conceded that he’ll have to mix and match again. Only Sandoval, Sanchez and Rowand appear to have everyday spots in the field more or less locked up. So Bochy’s bench choices will fluctuate from day to day. The Giants still have a glut of un established outfielders, with Fred Lewis and Bowker among them. Torres was a nice surprise as a non-roster invitee, providing excellent outfield defense. He will be considered for a larger role. It remains to be seen how younger infielders Emmanuel Burriss and Kevin Frandsen will figure in the mix. Eli Whiteside is a good backup receiver, but his bat doesn’t add much value. Overall, the bench lacks veteran experience and power.

San Francisco Giants 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the San Francisco Giants will finish 3rd in the NL West Division .

San Francisco Giants 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 3rd NL West 88
2008: 4th NL West 72
2007: 5th NL West 71
2006: 3rd NL West 76
2005: 3rd NL West 75

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