It’s 2016, and every Giants fan knows exactly what to expect. Another title is on its way to San Francisco. It’s not an overstatement. That’s just what’s going to happen. The last five years have delivered three world championships to the Bay area with impeccable consistency. But in order for the Giants to continue their dynastic run of postseason success, they have to make the playoffs first, and to do that, they’ll likely need more than the 84 wins they accrued in 2015.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
+958 to win 2016 World Series
+500 to win NL Pennant
With a dynamic core in place, the Giants’ main focus of the offseason was on improving their depth. The outfield was thinned by consistent injuries to Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan, and the rotation proved to be thin behind ace Madison Bumgarner.
San Francisco said goodbye to many long time contributors, some still valuable, some beyond their prime. Improving the depth of the staff would prove to be more than a difficult task given the departure of Tim Hudson, Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum, and Mike Leake. Fortunately for Bay Area fans, Giants GM Brian Sabean had a plan.
Madison Bumgarner carried San Francisco on his back to a World Series parade in 2014, its third in five years. But no man can shoulder the full load of a 162-game season.
And once again, the odds weren’t with the Giants in 2015. They simply sustained too many injuries, beginning with the club’s second spring exhibition game when a pitch fractured iron man Pence’s forearm.
Outside of Bumgarner, who was durable as ever, the Giants’ aging rotation sputtered, and all the short and ineffective starts caught up with a talented bullpen.
The front office tried hard for Zack Greinke before ponying up $220 million to sign Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto – a rotation rebuild that they hope will better supplement a homegrown, contact-hitting lineup that led the NL in average last season. It’ll be an even year, after all.
The Giants clearly improved over the winter by replacing the 335 innings they got from Hudson, Lincecum, and Vogelsong with Cueto and Samardzija. Even if you think Cueto's days as an ace are over and Samardzija is nothing more than an average pitcher who leaves you wanting more, they're still an upgrade over who San Francisco was running out there last year.
The lineup is potentially great and the bullpen is perpetually solid. Now the rotation has some more help as well.
One area of concern for the Giants is depth. Who steps in if another starter gets hurt? What happens if an infielder gets hurt? But the Giants have the makings of a very strong team. Plus they know how to go out and make in-season moves that fit their roster. The Giants are adept at making midseason pickups.
The 2016 season marks a time to be confident for Giants fans. After three consecutive division championships for the Dodgers, they seemed to struggle to fill their own holes this past offseason. If money ever does prove to be an object in L.A. there could be tough times ahead.
The Diamondbacks pose a threat, however a fragile one, as their shot at contention is dependent on the performance of their new pitching staff. And, as always, a shot at a division crown for the Rockies and the Padres seems unlikely at best. The Giants enter 2016 as an NL West favorite, and based on their postseason success, a likely pick to win the World Series.
Key Additions: SP Jeff Samardzjia, SP Johnny Cueto, OF Denard Span.
Key Losses: SP Tim Lincecum, SP Tim Hudson, SP Ryan Vogelsong, OF Marlon Byrd, OF Nori Aoki, RP Jeremy Affeldt.
The Giants will contend for the division and are good enough for a Wild Card spot. Get in and you can win. The Giants showed that when they won the 2014 World Series as the second Wild Card team. The 2016 Giants look very much like a postseason contender. And if they get that far … well, Bochy’s squads have faced 10 postseason opponents since 2010 and beaten them all.
Prediction: 88-74
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The 2016 MLB season begins on Sunday, April 3.
