| Scott Miller's Take |
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Welcome to the post-Barry Bonds Era. Please wear your hard hats, fasten your seatbelts and keep your air sickness bags with you at all times. There's some good, young pitching here, but little else. The Giants are the only NL West team you can look at and pretty much eliminate from the division race on opening day. Video Outlook
Strengths
Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Noah Lowry. The Giants would like to think Barry Zito will be a strength, too, but after a rocky spring following a disappointing season, there are warning flares all over the place. Still, Zito will start on opening day in Dodger Stadium on Monday. Catcher Bengie Molina is coming off of a good year. Center fielder Aaron Rowand is a gamer and a terrific clubhouse presence, but he was hit in the knee with a pitch late in the spring and the Giants are hoping it doesn't carry over into the season.
Weaknesses
The projected starting lineup combined for only 88 home runs last season, and 27 of those were hit by Rowand, who played in hitter-friendly Philadelphia. The Giants are going to have tremendous difficulty scoring, which is why manager Bruce Bochy drilled them endlessly on hit-and-runs, bunts, driving ground balls to the right side of the infield with a runner on third and the like this spring. Add to all of this injury issues -- Kevin Frandsen ruptured an Achilles tendon and is done for the season, the Giants aren't settled on who will play third and shortstop Omar Vizquel (knee) will open on the disabled list and, ugh.
Difference Maker
Matt Cain. His 7-16 record last summer belied his impressive 3.65 ERA over 32 starts. The problem was, the Giants struggled to score on days he pitched and the concern is that a continuation of that this season could damage his psyche. Cain is a top-of-the-rotation starter who should only get better. But don't expect his numbers to improve much with this team.
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| Top Prospects |
| 1. |
Nate Schierholtz, OF |
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Aaron Rowand signing makes it possible he starts in Triple-A or on bench.
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| 2. |
John Bowker, OF |
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Made great strides with his power in Double-A and should arrive this year.
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| 3. |
Travis Denker, 2B |
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Could debut sometime in the next year but must wait behind Kevin Frandsen and Ray Durham
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| 4. |
Angel Villalona, 3B |
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This is an elite talent unlike those above, but at his age (17) do they really know?
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| 5. |
Eugenio Velez, 2B |
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Best opportunity to make the roster in '08 is as utilityman.
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Complete NL West prospects |
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Eugenio Velez could get more playing because of varoius injuries and low production from other infielders. (AP)
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| Team Info |
2007 record: 71-91 (5th in NL West)
Manager: Bruce Bochy, 2nd year (71-91)
Stadium: AT&T Park (41,777; grass)
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| Lineup |
| No. | Player | Comment |
| 1. | D. Roberts, LF | First Giant to reach 30 SB since Bonds did it in '97 |
| 2. | R. Durham, 2B | Could lose out to E. Velez if he doesn't increase production |
| 3. | R. Winn, RF | Not a power hitter but consistently produces |
| 4. | B. Molina, C | Still slowed by a quad injury this spring |
| 5. | A. Rowand, CF | Can he tally the same stats he did in Philly? |
| 6. | R. Aurilia, 3B | At 36 can he still be an everyday player? |
| 7. | D. Ortmeier, 1B | A 6-foot-4 switch-hitter converted from the OF last season |
| 8. | B. Bocock, SS | Showed good defense in the spring and steps in for O. Vizquel |
| Pitching |
| Rotation | Comment |
| 1. |
B. Zito (L) |
Underperformed last season after signing a $126 million, seven-year deal |
| 2. |
M. Cain (R) |
Went 7-16 in 2007, but with a respectable 3.65 ERA |
| 3. |
T. Lincecum (R) |
Added a new pitch this spring, a slider |
| 4. |
K. Correia (R) |
Called up in April and was mostly used in middle relief. |
| 5. |
J. Sanchez (L) |
His great spring lands him in the rotation to cover for N. Lowry |
| Closer |
Comment |
| B. Wilson (R) |
Took over the job in August |
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