2010 Giants preview (M.C. O'Connor, Raising Matt Cain)

1. How is your team significantly different this year from last?

GM Brian Sabean spent $27M on free agents Aubrey Huff (1B), Freddy Sanchez (2B), and Mark DeRosa (LF), hoping to upgrade one of the worst offenses in the league. Long-time RF and fan-favorite Randy Winn is now a Yankee, and ex-Olympian Nate Schierholtz has the inside track on the job, with former Long Beach State star John Bowker a close second. Phenoms Buster Posey (C) and Madison Bumgarner (SP) will probably start the season in the minors, but Posey's bat is too potent to keep out of the lineup, he should get an early call-up. Bumgarner will certainly get more than the 10 IP he had last year. Lefty Dan Runzler, the Minor League Reliever of the Year in 2009, is expected to to play a bigger role out of the 'pen along with promising righty Sergio Romo.

2.   List the projected Opening Day lineup and starting rotation.

With expected no. 2 hitter Freddy Sanchez on the DL, the lineup will likely see a number of combinations to start the season. One look has CF Aaron Rowand leading off, SS Edgar Renteria batting second, 3B Pablo Sandoval hitting third, 1B Huff at cleanup, followed by LF DeRosa, C Bengie Molina, 2B Juan Uribe, and RF Schierholtz. The rotation is the team strength, with ace right-hander Tim Lincecum followed by lefty Barry Zito, righty Matt Cain, and southpaw Jonathan Sanchez. The fifth spot is up-for-grabs, with veteran Todd Wellemeyer the spring favorite, just ahead youngster Kevin Pucetas.

3.  What are two reasons for optimism for the upcoming season?

Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Giants fans are pretty excited by our pair of All-Star 25-year olds. Everyone knows about The Freak, there's no reason to think he can't go for a third straight Cy Young Award. Matt Cain doesn't get the headlines, but he's averaged 205 IP and 179 K over the last four seasons, and boasts a career 126 ERA+. That's a lot of quality innings every week, and that will keep things interesting all season. Barry Zito pitched well down the stretch, and Jonathan Sanchez threw the first Giants no-hitter in 30 years. Closer Brian Wilson anchors a good bullpen. The Giants should be among the best in the league at preventing runs.

4. What is the greatest area of concern this year for your team?

The Giants finished last in the major leagues in OPS (.699) in 2009. The new players are upgrades, but not significant ones unless they have career years. Molina, Rowand and Renteria are all a year older and a year slower. Other than Posey, there just aren't enough ML-ready bats in the system to step up and give the offense a spark. 2009's starting LF Fred Lewis may not make the club, and the Schierholtz/Bowker projections aren't spectacular. Top prospects like Thomas Neal and Brandon Crawford will be in AA and not see ML-time until the rosters expand in September.

5. What is one player we should look out for and why?

I haven't raved enough about the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval. He's only 23 and hit .330/.387/.556 in 153 games last year. He's a unique athlete, nimble and quick despite his rotund frame, with preternatural hand-eye coordination. Ryan Zimmerman and David Wright--deservedly--are the established NL stars at the hot corner, but the switch-hitting Sandoval is easily their equal and you should definitely keep an eye on him. He's the best position player on the club, and the team is counting on a lot from him. Despite his .943 OPS (7th in the NL), most of us feel we have yet to see his ceiling. The Panda's colorful personality and exuberant play have made him a big hit in San Francisco.

6. How do you rank the NL West for 2010?

A lot has to go right for the Giants to win the West. That being said, the division doesn't have a dominant team and the race is wide open. I like Colorado's balance, the Rockies look like a front-runner. Arizona is my dark horse, but a lot depends on Brandon Webb. Los Angeles has an enviable core of Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw, and Billingsley, but there hasn't been a three-peat in the West since re-alignment. I think they might miss Randy Wolf, too. San Diego played well in the second half of 2009, and they are improved, but they'll have to be content as spoilers. Like last season, the Giants arms should keep them in the hunt, but they'll need another bat alongside The Panda to finish first. The GM who makes the right mid-season acquisition could decide this race.