San Francisco Giants 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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They made history, winning their first World Series title since 1954. Armed with the best young rotation in the game, the Giants are primed to make another title run.

San Francisco Giants 2010 MLB Record: 92-70
San Francisco Giants 2010 MLB Home Record: 49-32
San Francisco Giants 2010 MLB Away Record: 43-38

San Francisco Giants 2011 Betting

San Francisco Giants Odds to Win the National League: +700
San Francisco Giants Odds to Win the World Series: +1500

San Francisco Giants 2011 Preview & Prediction

It still hasn’t quite sunk in: The Giants are World Series champions for the first time in their 53-year history in San Francisco. And the way they did it made it even more unbelievable. A franchise stuffed with Hall of Famers like Mays, McCovey and Marichal, not to mention the menacing power of Barry Bonds, finally took the prize with a lineup of rejects, rookies and replacements – although it really was their dominant pitching staff, from ace Tim Lincecum to closer Brian Wilson, who hoisted them to the NL West title on the last day of the season, and then past the Braves, Phillies and Rangers. That staff is under club control for several years, setting up the Giants to return as favorites to win the division.

San Francisco Giants Manager: Bruce Bochy – Fifth year (16th overall) Record: 323-325

After a long managerial career, Bochy finally won the big one. He was instrumental in making that happen, expertly mixing and matching lineups throughout the postseason.

San Francisco Giants 2011 Projected Batting Order: CF Andres Torres (S), 2B Freddy Sanchez (R), C Buster Posey (R), LF Aubrey Huff (L), SS Miguel Tejada (R), RF Cody Ross (R), 1B Brandon Belt (L), 3B Pablo Sandoval (S).

San Francisco Giants 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Tim Lincecum, RH Matt Cain, LH Jonathan Sanchez, LH Madison Bumgarner, LH Barry Zito.

San Francisco Giants 2011 Projected Closer: RH Brian Wilson

2011 San Francisco Giants Offense:

OF Andres Torres was a pleasant surprise last year, and now he’s locked into the leadoff spot. He has the on-base skills and speed to hold it down. 2B Freddy Sanchez had another minor surgery on his left shoulder. He’ll step into the NO.2 hole if he proves he’s 100 percent. 1B Aubrey Huff will continue to hit third against righties. There’s no reason to expect a drop off. C Buster Posey is a star. He’ll hit third or fourth all season. OF Pat Burrell didn’t take to DHing, but he hit well after returning to the NL. He’s a defensive liability, but his bat could overcome that. Burrell will be battling Cody Ross and Mark DeRosa (back from wrist surgery) for playing time. Top prospect Brandon Belt could also figure into the mix. Whether or not 3B Pablo Sandoval keeps his job will depend on his conditioning. He ate his way out of the lineup last year, and they have DeRosa or Mike Fontenot to replace him. SS Miguel Tejada gives them another solid middle infield bat.

2011 San Francisco Giants Rotation:

Tim Lincecum’s velocity isn’t what it once was, but he’s one of baseball’s most cerebral pitchers. He’s so good at keeping hitters offbalance with his changeup that he could probably throw amid-80s fastball and still be pretty freaking good. After a dominant postseason, Matt Cain might be ready to move into the Cy Young discussion. He pitches to contact effectively and still misses a good amount of bats. Improved run support from an upgraded offense would put 18 wins within reach. He’s still too wild to work deep into games, but Jonathan Sanchez will get the job done for six innings most nights, piling up strikeouts. Don’t go nuts for him in 2011, as Madison Bumgarner was less than dominant last year and is still just 21. Of course, his keeper league outlook is through the roof. He’s become abit of a punch line, but Barry Zito is pretty good as aveteran innings eater. He’d be a decent NO.3 starter in alot of MLB rotations, but obviously not in this one.

2011 San Francisco Giants Bullpen:

San Fran’s offensive upgrades might actually hurt closer Brian Wilson a little bit. Last year’s team was equipped to win a lot of low-scoring, one-run games. But this year they might win afew more blowouts, cutting into Wilson’s save chances. Both of Wilson’s set-up men return from last year. Sergio Romo hit a bump early in last year’s playoffs before bouncing back nicely. Jeremy Affeldt was alittle shaky last season, but be seems to have Bochy’s trust. If Wilson were to get hurt, Affeldt would probably have just as good a chance at replacing him as Romo.

2011 San Francisco Giants Middle Infield:

Some Giants fans will have a hard time booing Juan Uribe, even though he signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers. Uribe hit 24 home runs during the regular season, 11 of which tied the game or put the Giants ahead. The Giants replaced Uribe with Miguel Tejada on a one-year contract, seeing enough of the 36-year-old in San Diego to believe he can still play shortstop. The club will have almost no range on the left side, though. Freddy Sanchez had another shoulder surgery on Dec. 7, but if healthy, he’s a solid No. 2 hitter and defensive second baseman. Perhaps Sanchez’s health was the reason the Giants decided to bring back Mike Fontenot, who was acquired from the Cubs down the stretch last year. He provides insurance and depth.

2011 San Francisco Giants Corners:

Overweight third baseman Pablo Sandoval likely will reclaim his spot despite a truly wretched season in which his average fell from .330 to .268 — but only if he sheds the 25 pounds the team demanded over the winter. If not, a demotion to Triple-A Fresno is a distinct possibility. The switch-hitter was so unreliable from the right side that he had become a platoon player down the stretch. Even worse, his defensive skills deteriorated to the point he couldn’t be trusted. He only started one World Series game, at designated hitter. Aubrey Huff, the spirited king of the misfits, signed a two-year, $22 million deal to return. He led the club in homers and RBIs, but became best known for his red, rhinestone lucky thong underwear that he wore from Aug. 30 to the end of the season. Huff could play left field if the Giants promote rookie first baseman Brandon Belt.

2011 San Francisco Giants Outfield:

On a team packed with heartwarming stories, there wasn’t a better tale to be told than Andres Torres. The minor league journeyman became a full-time starter in the big leagues for the first time in May, when it became obvious that he offered more than overpriced Aaron Rowand. Torres finished among the league leaders in doubles and extra-base hits, and many scouts considered him the best defensive center fielder in the NL. The Giants claimed Cody Ross off waivers from the Marlins in August, ostensibly to block him from going to the rival Padres. The Giants hadn’t intended to keep Ross beyond the season, but they changed their minds when the NLCS MVP went unconscious in the playoffs. He’ll start in right field and back up Torres in center. Pat Burrell was another dumpster dive, signed to a minor league deal after the Rays released him in May. He added power and patience to the lineup, and despite a miserable World Series, the Giants brought him back when he offered to sign for just $1 million. Burrell has no guarantee of an everyday job, though — especially if Belt makes the club.

2011 San Francisco Giants Catching:

Buster Posey is a pure hitter with leadership abilities that have drawn comparisons to Derek Jeter. The Giants were buried in fourth place on July 1 when they traded Bengie Molina and installed Posey as the everyday catcher. The team ended up going 20–8 in July, their winningest month in a decade. And Posey carried them there, hitting .417 in July while authoring a 21-game hitting streak, the longest by an NL player all season. Posey was just as sharp behind the plate, calling the pitches for a staff that held opponents to three runs or less in 18 consecutive games in September.

2011 San Francisco Giants Bench:

Mark DeRosa’s surgically repaired tendon in his wrist ruptured again in the spring, requiring a season-ending procedure in June. He was confident he could resume his career, and could be an option at third base if Sandoval disappoints. Travis Ishikawa aspires to be more than a lefty bat off the bench, but it’s hard to see a bigger window as Belt gets closer to the big leagues. Nate Schierholtz is a valuable piece for late-inning defense, although the Giants could trade him. Eli Whiteside is a trusted and competent backup catcher, even if he doesn’t offer much in the way of hitting.

San Francisco Giants 2011 Season Predictions

Pitching, as the Giants proved last fall, wins championships. And this team is loaded with great young pitching. They don’t hit a ton, but they do seem to have guys with a knack for coming through in the clutch. As long as none of the big-name starters is injured, San Francisco has the complete package to win the NL West again and go deep into October. – We predict that the San Francisco Giants will finish 93-69 & 1st in the NL West Division.

San Francisco Giants 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 3rd NL West 76
2007: 5th NL West 71
2008: 4th NL West 72
2009: 3rd NL West 88
2010: 1st NL West 92

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