Baseball is one of the most superstitious sports in the world. From players that refuse to touch the baselines to pre-pitch and pre-at bat routines that are on the border of OCD status, baseball is one sport where trends and numbers are treasured. One trend that has developed during this decade has revolved around the San Francisco Giants. They’ve won three World Championships since 2010. All three have been in even numbered years: 2010, 2012, and their latest triumph in 2014. In all the odd numbered years the team has fallen far from even contending for a playoff berth, even in the new expanded format. So what do we make of this bit of Bay Area voodoo from the Giants? Are they poised for another year of glory or does 2016 prove that the previous titles were just coincidental and not part of a cosmic calendarial baseball force? Let’s see what they have at their disposal to answer to potentially answer those questions.
San Francisco has hardly been an offensive juggernaut during their recent run. They’ve only scored more than 700 runs in a season once in a title year (2012). Last season was the first non-title year in which they scored more runs than they allowed. But what the Giants lack in firepower, they make up for with continuity. They return seven of eight outfield starters from 2015. The lone change is an upgrade with Denard Span coming in for Nori Aoki. A sign of a champion in sport is not making changes for change sake, but when you do make sure it is a change for the better.
Span’s addition not only helps the offense as a bonafide leadoff threat, but improves the league’s second ranked defense from a year ago. The move allows Angel Pagan to shift over to left field. The 34 year old had shown to have lost a half step in the cavernous confines of AT&T Park’s center field, but the change should preserve his weary legs. It’s looked thus far in spring to have done as much.
But while Span is a mild upgrade in the lineup, the Giants brass pulled out all the stops in their enhancement of the pitching staff. Madison Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, still sits on his throne as the king of the Giants pitchers. He has gotten quite the regal reinforcements coming in though for 2016.
Royals starter Johnny Cueto, fresh off a World Series title of his own, spurned several other suitors to join the Giants. While Jeff Samardzija didn’t win a championship in 2015, his arrival is also critical to the revamping of the staff. The dynamic duo replace 39 year old Tim Hudson, who retired, and 38 year old Ryan Vogelsong, who signed with Pittsburgh. It also allows the trio of Chris Heston, Matt Cain, and Jake Peavy to battle it out for the final two spots in the rotation, now one of the deepest in the National League.
Whoever doesn’t make the cut will join a bullpen that has its warts, but when healthy has proven time and time again to be a game shortener. Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo have traded the eighth and ninth innings several times during their collective tenures with the Giants. Their stuff compliments each other well and while Casilla is the closer for the time being, Bruce Bochy would not feel any trepidation in inserting Romo into that role at any point in 2016. Leading up to them is Hunter Strickland, who could easily be the closer in his own right, and George Kontos, one of the more underrated middle relievers in the National League. Speaking of underrated, Javier Lopez continues to soldier on as a lefty specialist. He’ll get the lion’s share of those duties with the retirement of Jeremy Affeldt.
But with anything injuries are bound to happen, even if it is to the pre-ordained even-year Giants. They may not have the deepest of farm systems, but they have plenty of MLB-ready guys ready to step in case of emergency. Along with super-sub outfielder Gregor Blanco, Mac Williamson would provide cover at both corner outfield spots as well as a big bat in pinch hit situations. Josh Osich is a perfect understudy to Lopez as a lefty reliever. He may even be used preferably when deemed necessary as he brings a bit more power to the proceedings over Lopez’s finesse and guile. But the most intriguing farmhand is top prospect Christian Arroyo. He’s torn it up in spring and while his middle infield promotion is blocked by Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford, he could very well be in play at third base or the corner outfield spots going forward.
So there you have it, your 2016 San Francisco Giants. Whether or not it is written in the stars that this is their year by divine right, they are going to be one hell of a contender for the World Series this season. As a man who is fairly superstitious sport wise, and a Dodger fan to boot, I’ve all but conceded to the fact that this year is out of all of our hands. We’ll see come October if the baseball gods are truly conspiring towards the continuation of this odd, even-numbered year dynasty.