San Francisco Giants' Mediocre Offseason Has Team Falling Behind in NL West

With the San Francisco Giants' 40-man roster all but set for the 2012 MLB season, now is the time to make judgements about the team, the offseason they had and the what the future holds for the franchise.

The immediate judgements are not kind, to say the least.

GM Brian Sabean and the Giants have had a busy offseason, and while most would take that as a sign of good moves filling voids the team had before, that is simply not the case.

Adding Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera certainly is not bad, especially if they are to virtually replace a lagging Cody Ross and injury-prone Andres Torres. But standing there watching Carlos Beltran sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, while the New York Mets claim the Giants' former best pitching prospect is absurd. The worst was when it seemed the Giants never touched the idea of re-upping with Beltran, making the trade during the 2011 regular season one with absolute zero contribution to the franchise.

But while San Francisco was wheeling and dealing for the same-old, same-old, teams in their own division were making waves. Significant ones.

Most notably, the defending NL West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks only got better this offseason, making it all that more frustrating for San Francisco to focus all attention and money on signing discontent players already a part of their 2012 team, instead of eyeing big bats via trade or free agent market.

To re-cap, the Diamondbacks added Trevor Cahill and Joe Saunders to their pitching rotation, which now rivals the Giants for best in the NL West, with Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter still comfortably hanging around.

Their offense, which turned out to be one of the more dangerous in the National League last season, got more bulk with Jason Kubel being added to the roster.

Kubel hit .273 with 12 homeruns and 58 RBI in only 99 games last season. To put that in perspective, he would bat fourth in the Giants' line-up. No question.

He will be batting fifth or sixth for the Diamondbacks on Opening Day 2012.

Arizona went $10 million over payroll this offseason, which begs the question "Why can't the Giants do that?"

The answer is simple and so very frustrating. San Francisco has money wrapped up in players that will be worthy years down the road.

They focused all their time and energy on claiming Tim Lincecum until 2015 this offseason, and they will spend whatever is left of that time and energy on making Matt Cain a staple on this pitching rotation for years to come, even if no other current pitcher will be a part of it.

Even worse, the Giants are probably already budgeting for when Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner have one tremendous season and want 8-year contracts. Oh, it's coming.

The Giants' front office is in a pickle, which is why you did not see them throwing a bid out there for Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, two of the biggest bats to come through the free agent mill in recent years. Instead, they locked up their pitching (somewhat, and not totally).

San Francisco made moves this offseason, but it did nothing to advance this team any further than it already stood. Moves like adding Cahill and Kubel to supe up an already potent pitching rotation and offensive punch do that.

The 2012 offseason for the Giants will be marked by standing pat on an entire talent pool, and leaning on locking up fan-friendly figures to please an audience. Fat chance that method pulls in wins during this regular season, at least more than the pass-happy Diamondbacks, but crazier things have happened in the NL West.

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San Francisco Giants' Baseball Is Torture, But Not the Good Kind

Losing is contagious.



You know how I know?



The defending World Series champions, and a team in the middle of a competitive playoff race, are in danger of being swept by the worst team in baseball.



Do you cringe when you watch Giants baseball these days? How about turn away from the television once the opposing team scores over three runs?



You're not alone.



The Giants can blame the ever-growing list of injuries, and so can the fans. But once San Francisco lost on Saturday afternoon in Houston to the last place Astros, who boast a vast array of 'who's who?' in their line-up, those excuses ended.



The NL West was officially a battle of 'who can limp into the playoffs best?'



This Giants' team still sports the infamous "torture" motto. Live by it, and die by it.



However, this year's team has given the term a whole different meaning.



It used to be that San Francisco was known for one-run games and walk-off wins. I even wrote an article about it earlier this season, which shows you how convinced I was.



Now, the "torture" refers to us, at home on our couches, watching these players on television.



They are not out of it yet, which is surprising considering how hot the Arizona Diamondbacks were at one point and how injury-prone the Giants still are and continue to be. Yet, Arizona cannot seem to pull away, no matter how hard the Giants try to give the division to them.



However, this last week has shown us a lot about the fate of the NL West in September. The Diamondbacks are still not a good team, as shown by the fact that they simply cannot keep up with the elites like the Braves and Phillies. Also, the Giants need to get healthy and back on track, because if they do, they will win the West.



San Francisco is the best team in their division. It is just masked by the list of jugular-seeking injuries, horrid at-bats and the fact that this team is simply down on itself.



Other than that, they're fine, right?



Yet to be seen.



September will be a month of torture. It is up to the Giants as to whether they want it to be the good kind or bad kind.

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San Francisco Giants: 5 Bold Predictions For the Rest of the Season

Another day, another man down. That seems to be the story these days for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Freddy Sanchez was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday after dislocating his right shoulder diving for a ball, and continuing the voodoo-like coincidence of the best current Giants hitter going down to injury.

We witnessed this with Pablo Sandoval earlier in the season, Buster Posey a few weeks ago and now with Sanchez.

Tread lightly, Nate Schierholtz...

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2011 NL West Season Preview & Predictions

Last season, the National League West went from one of the worst divisions in baseball to arguably one of the best.

The San Diego Padres came out of nowhere last season, only to crumble down the stretch and fall to the eventual World Series Champion San Francisco Giants who finished at 92-70.

Still, the Padres finished 2010 at 90-72, and even the Rockies, who finished third in the West, were 83-79, giving the NL West three teams over .500.

2011 may be a different story for the NL West. On paper, the division is much worse than it was last season.

The Padres lost Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Tejada, who were the big bats at the center of their line-up last season and fueled the Padres to the NL West lead for the majority of the season.

The Dodgers lost manager Joe Torre, but still have the young nucleus of James Loney, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, and also gained Juan Uribe from the Giants. In the full picture, it seems as though the Dodgers lost more with the loss of Torre than the acquisition of Uribe.

The Rockies stood fairly still in the off-season, but it is last year's road worries that still haunt them. But a healthy Troy Tulowitski and another year for Carlos Gonzalez should fix that.

The Diamondbacks did nothing to fix a disappointing 2010 season. They're hoping some young prospects could fuel their team this year.

The Giants won the World Series in 2010 and close to nothing has changed with their timely offense and nucleus of pitching.

The good thing about the NL West is that every year it is something new.

Expect the NL West to be represented well.


5. Arizona Diamondbacks
2010 Record: 65-97

Pitching

The D-Backs will be a three-horse rotation with Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Joe Saunders. It depends if Hudson can sustain his incredible 2010 if the D-Backs can thrive on their pitching.

Line-Up

No significant change has been made to this D-Backs line-up. The focus still remains on Stephen Drew and Justin Upton, and if Kelly Johnson can have another break-out season. But it will take more than those three to help this very weak line-up in 2011.

X-Factor

Justin Upton needs to decide whether he wants to be a superstar or just another moderately good baseball player.

Prediction

70-92 (5th in NL West)


4. Los Angeles Dodgers
2010 Record: 80-82

Pitching

Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley are the core of this rotation, but it will depend on what Ted Lilly, Hideki Kuroda and John Ely can do that will decide whether this rotation can match up to the others in the NL West. Kershaw and Billingsley have all the tools, it is just a matter of carrying them through an entire season.

Line-Up

The Dodger line-up is fueled once again by Loney, Kemp and Ethier, which aren't a bad three to build on. Although, they do lack a significant big bat, newly acquired Uribe can fit that role from time to time. I'm just not sure the Dodgers have enough depth in the offensive category.

X-Factor

Matt Kemp needs to improve on a fairly mediocre 2010. This needs to be the year Billingsley and Kershaw have break-out seasons if the Dodgers are to make a push for the NL West.

Prediction

78-84 (4th in the NL West)


3. San Diego Padres
2010 Record: 90-72

Pitching

The Padres will have to have another big season out of their rotation that surprised and impressed everyone last season. They even added Aaron Harang from the Reds to bolster it. Although everyone expects them to be just as good as last season, I'm not sure Mat Latos, Tim Stauffer and Clayton Richard can sustain such break-out seasons as they had in 2010.

Line-Up

The Padres lost the heart of their batting order, including powerhouse and Padre-fixture Adrian Gonzalez. Although they did add youngster Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett and Brad Hawpe, they did not replace Gonzalez as their big bat in the line-up, but not sure how you can replace him.

X-Factor

It all rests on their starting rotation. If Latos, Stauffer and Richard can even come close to the seasons they had last year, the Padres will have another chance at the NL West.

Prediction

82-80 (3rd in NL West)


2. Colorado Rockies
2010 Record: 83-79

Pitching

Ubaldo Jimenez was a stud for almost three quarters of the season and then he tapered off. But a Jimenez, De La Rosa, Chacin pitching core sounds very attractive for 2011. Can Jimenez surge through an entire season? Will Chacin get better with another season under his belt? Questions that need to be answered if the Rockies want to improve on last year.

Line-Up

2010 was a season of good and bad for the Rockies' offense. They lost Tulowitski for a good while, but saw Gonzalez bloom into a star in the making. If Gonzalez can build upon the season he had last year and Tulowitski can stay healthy, I don't see any reason why this isn't the best line-up in the NL West.

X-Factor

Two things: The Rockies will need to improve their record away from Coors Field, and Jimenez must be as dominant as he was in the first half of the season for an entire season.

Prediction

88-74 (2nd in NL West)


1. San Francisco Giants
2010 Record: 92-70

Pitching

This is where this team's bread is buttered. This may be the most solid rotation in all of baseball, and there are not many questions about any of them. Check their World Series Champion rings if you have any. If they can stay healthy, which they have a history of, then this team can run on their pitching alone.

Line-Up

GM Brian Sabean's changes to the 2010 Giants' line-up mid-season proved to be the push they needed to go all the way. With most returning, this line-up looks pretty close to the same one that won the World Series last season. But a fit Pablo Sandoval can make this line-up even better, as well as the first full season for Buster Posey.

X-Factor

The Giants' pitching rotation has shown no signs of any health problems since they have been in the MLB. That doesn't mean it can't happen. With such a dominant, young staff, the Giants better hope having the good fortune of good health these last couple of years doesn't finally come back to bite them.

Prediction

90-72 (1st in NL West)

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Giants Try To Stay Hot In Chavez Ravine

The Giants bring their hot 2nd-half start to Chavez Ravine this week. Probably one of the more important series thus far this season.

The Dodgers are coming off being swept in St. Louis, while the Giants are coming off taking 3 of 4 from the NY Mets. Seems like the perfect time for the Giants, right? Not quite, remember the last series against the Dodgers...

The Giants have not faired well against the NL West, and this is the perfect test for this team that has gotten off to a hot 2nd-half start, both with their pitching and their hitting. And they will take the heart of that into LA this week. Bumgarner, Lincecum, Zito sounds like the perfect rotation against the hated Dodgers.

This is a pivotal series for both teams. The Dodgers are treading water fast, and the Giants are making their move in the division, although they lost a 1/2 game in the division in that Mets series despite taking 3 of 4. How that happened, I have no idea.

But expect that. The Padres are for real and are not going down without a fight. Expect no different from the Rockies as well. No Tulowitzki, no problem.

The test this week for the Giants, beat an NL West team, and let's go from there, because so far that is a rarity.

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SF Giants Season Preview

It has arrived. Opening Day is on Monday and Giants fans cannot be more excited for this year's team. Is it the solid pitching staff getting these fans going? Or is it the so-called upgrade in offense? One thing is for sure, the Giants have a shot to win the NL West for the first time in a long time. Granted, it is just a "shot" at winning the division, but for a franchise that has gone through its ups-n-downs, and a fan-base that has gone with it, this season couldn't look any better.

Several story lines dominate the start of this season. Will Tim Lincecum three-peat as Cy Young winner? Will Madison Bumgarner crack the rotation this season? How will the Giants handle Buster Posey once he is done obliterating the Minor League this season? And will the upgrade in offense pay off for the stretch run? These are the questions that dominate the speculation this season, and I'm sure there are a handfull more.

But let's cover the obvious. The Giants pitching staff, although they lost Brad Penny, is still solid. They might have the best 1-2 in the League, as well as the best 4-5 in the League. What worries me is the #3 pitcher, Barry Zito. We saw glimpses of brilliance during the second-half of last season. How will that carry over into this one. By the looks of Thursday nights game, not so much. Zito is the "if." Zito is the difference.

Todd Wellemeyer and Jonathan Sanchez are going to give you a .500 season, more or less. And Lincecum and Matt Cain are going to get you 15 wins, more or less, depending on the offense. But I have no idea what to expect from Zito. This we will find out soon. My advice, the Giants are one pitcher away from making a run for this division. Whether that pitcher is already in the organization in the form of Bumgarner or a surprise with Wellemeyer, or they have to go pick one up at the trade deadline, we will find out. They may miss Brad Penny.

As for the hitting, I was pleased this offseason to find that for once in long time a Bay Area Sports team, whose name is not the Sharks, went out and upgraded the part of their team that they needed to upgrade. The Giants needed to upgrade the offense, and they brought in Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa. These aren't high-profile names by any means, but it is better than what they had last year, right? I'm still trying to convince myself. The Giants will score more runs this season than last, and if they overcome all expectations hitting-wise, then they will win the West, plain and simple.

Their pitching is moderately strong, their bullpen is just about flawless (knock on wood), and the only thing left is their offense. Which they now have, just not a lot of.

They have a good line-up...until you look at the every other line-up in the NL West.

But there is one thing that the Giants have and will need to resist this season if they want any success. Health is the key. With a pitching rotation and line-up that is as fragile as this team's, pray for good health. They have already lost Freddy Sanchez, who is starting the year on the DL, but Juan Uribe can pick up the slack while he's gone. They're lucky.

If the Giants lose someone like Pablo Sandoval, or Cain or Lincecum, during the season, you can start panicking. Because in this division, there is not much room for error. For any team.

I see good things for the Giants this season, maybe somewhere around 85 wins, more or less. Bottom line, the Dodgers will not be as good this season, and the Rockies will be better. That's all you need to know. And if the Giants can fit somewhere in between those two teams, they may find themselves with a Wildcard birth to playoffs.

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