Post by Rog on Dec 6, 2016 11:28:08 GMT -5
Let's break down the Giants' present roster and see how they rate:
Rotation -- A-. The Giants have one of the best one through four rotations in the business. They might have the best one/two punch in the game. Only the inconsistency of Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore plus the question marks regarding the #5 starter (and which team doesn't have the latter?) keep the Giants from a higher grade.
Infield/Catcher -- A-. Every Giants infielder has been an All-Star, and despite last season's slump at the plate, which catcher would you rather have then Buster Posey, whose defense still had him playing at a Hall of Fame level?
Bullpen -- B+. With the addition of Melancon, the pieces are there. If some of them weren't young and unproven, the Giants might qualify for yet another A-.
Outfield -- D. Here is the team weakness. Hunter Pence and Denard Span have had injury problems the past two seasons, and left field is entirely unproven. With Span being essentially a platoon player, it would be nice if the Giants could pick up a right-hand hitting outfielder such as Aaron Hicks.
Overall -- B. As has been the case this decade, the Giants are one again a good, not great team. If they can improve their outfield now or at the deadline, they could be a team to fear. With Melancon in place, the other pieces look very nice. The Giants still lack power, but they have excellent defense and a long lineup. The pitching appears to be deep and could be better this season than the offense.
Entering the season, I think I might like the Giants better than any other Giants team of the decade at this same time. The outfield is almost certainly going to have to be addressed though. And if they're already over the luxury tax threshold, I worry about their flexibility to do so. Let's hope Pence and Span stay healthy, and the Giants get lucky in center field.
An idea if Williamson and Parker fail to provide the needed results, as I strongly fear will be the case. Move Nunez to center field, Span to left, then platoon Gillaspie and Tomlinson at third base and Span and Williamson in left. I don't know if Nunez can be a good center fielder, but he seems to have the speed and arm to do so. And until he reached the Giants, he wasn't a good third baseman.
Rotation -- A-. The Giants have one of the best one through four rotations in the business. They might have the best one/two punch in the game. Only the inconsistency of Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore plus the question marks regarding the #5 starter (and which team doesn't have the latter?) keep the Giants from a higher grade.
Infield/Catcher -- A-. Every Giants infielder has been an All-Star, and despite last season's slump at the plate, which catcher would you rather have then Buster Posey, whose defense still had him playing at a Hall of Fame level?
Bullpen -- B+. With the addition of Melancon, the pieces are there. If some of them weren't young and unproven, the Giants might qualify for yet another A-.
Outfield -- D. Here is the team weakness. Hunter Pence and Denard Span have had injury problems the past two seasons, and left field is entirely unproven. With Span being essentially a platoon player, it would be nice if the Giants could pick up a right-hand hitting outfielder such as Aaron Hicks.
Overall -- B. As has been the case this decade, the Giants are one again a good, not great team. If they can improve their outfield now or at the deadline, they could be a team to fear. With Melancon in place, the other pieces look very nice. The Giants still lack power, but they have excellent defense and a long lineup. The pitching appears to be deep and could be better this season than the offense.
Entering the season, I think I might like the Giants better than any other Giants team of the decade at this same time. The outfield is almost certainly going to have to be addressed though. And if they're already over the luxury tax threshold, I worry about their flexibility to do so. Let's hope Pence and Span stay healthy, and the Giants get lucky in center field.
An idea if Williamson and Parker fail to provide the needed results, as I strongly fear will be the case. Move Nunez to center field, Span to left, then platoon Gillaspie and Tomlinson at third base and Span and Williamson in left. I don't know if Nunez can be a good center fielder, but he seems to have the speed and arm to do so. And until he reached the Giants, he wasn't a good third baseman.