Leading up to the start of the 2010 Regular Season, Diamond Hoggers will preview each of MLB’s 30 teams. Today’s team is the San Francisco Giants and is written by David Chalk. You can read more stuff by David at Bugs & Cranks, 7th Inning Stache, or follow him on Twitter. Stay tuned as Diamond Hoggers will preview every team division by division until the start of the regular season. Cy refers to tiny Tim Lincecum who has taken the NL’s top pitching award the past two seasons. He also had that pot arrest this offseason and the snuggie modeling shoot, and went to the wire with arbitration before settling for a pretty good two-year contract. He’s definitely one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle as to where the Giants finish this year – they’re probably not a strong enough team to finish with a winning record if little Tim’s tiny shoulders can’t carry their usual giant load.
Panda refers to Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco biggest, fattest, most giant post-Bonds offensive weapon. The offense lost one Devil Ray legend, the ancient Randy Winn, and picked up another Devil Ray legend, noted porn enthusiast Aubrey Huff. I think the versatile Mark DeRosa is also a new addition. Benji Molina is back behind the plate, you got Edgar Renteria at short, Aaron Rowand in the outfield, and Juan Uribe as a utility infielder.
Barry Zito has been talking a good game about finally not being as crappy as he’s been since crossing the bay from the A’s, a good young pitcher in Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez who tossed a no-hitter last season. Rounding out the rotation is Madison Bumgarner, who has to pitch good to make it through life with that name. Anchoring the bullpen is everyone’s favorite beach boy, Brian Wilson.
The Giants have also started something called dynamic pricing – they constantly adjust ticket prices. It’s sunny and Lincecum is pitching against the Dodgers – prices go way up. It’s a foggy weekday matinee with Zito going against Cincinnati? We’ll pay you to come!
How will the Giants do? It’s the National League, so everybody’s got a chance. They should definitely be better than the Padres. The Diamondbacks locked up Justin Upton and picked up Edwin Jackson, but otherwise shouldn’t be as good as the Giants. The Rockies can apparently be good in brief inexplicable stretches. And then there’s the Dodgers and Manny. I’d say the Giants should be in the playoff mix all year and finish in the top two in the NL West. Of course, if the stubborn bastards would just bring back Barry Bonds, they’d be instant pennant favorites….