Spring training site
Scottsdale, Ariz.
2007 record
71-91, fifth in NL West, 19 games behind Diamondbacks
New faces
IF Jose Casillo (free agent, Marlins); RHP Bartolome Fortunato (free agent, Mets); CF Aaron Rowand (free agent, Phillies)
Biggest offseason acquisition
Perhaps no last-place team has ever been so inactive in the free-agent season. The Giants' only pick-up of consequence was Rowand, who was one of the prizes of the free-agent season after hitting .309 with 27 homers for the NL East champion Phillies in 2007. He signed a five-year, $60 million deal to play center field and hit in the middle of the Giants' order.
Gone but not forgotten
You're expecting Ryan Klesko or Ryan Matheny in this spot, right? Home run king Barry Bonds is gone after 15 seasons in San Francisco. His bat will be missed; his presence probably won't.
Spring training battles
The Giants are looking to fill the voids left by Bonds in left field, Pedro Feliz at third base and Klesko at first base. It looks as if Dave Roberts is moving over from center field to left to replace Bonds (a little loss in power there, huh?). Rich Aurilia appears to be the third baseman breaking camp, and Daniel Ortmeier, who hit six homers in 157 at-bats last season, will likely be at first. With Omar Vizquel out after knee surgery, there's also a hole at shortstop that will be filled by rookie Brian Bocock. And with Noah Lowry (surgery on forearm) out for maybe a month, there's an opening in the starting rotation.
Projected lineup
- LF Dave Roberts
- 2B Ray Durham
- RF Randy Winn
- C Bengie Molina
- CF Aaron Rowand
- 3B Rich Aurilia
- 1B Daniel Ortmeier
- SS Brian Bocock
- Pitcher
Projected starting rotation
- LHP Barry Zito
- RHP Matt Cain
- RHP Tim Lincecum
- RHP Kevin Correia
- LHP Jonathan Sanchez
Projected bullpen
- RHP Brian Wilson (closer)
- RHP Brad Hennessey
- LHP Steve Kline
- RHP Tyler Walker
- RHP Keiichi Yabu
- LHP Jack Taschner
- RHP Merkin Valdez
Biggest strength
When Lowry returns, the Giants have a stellar starting four of Zito, Cain, Lincecum and Lowry. That should keep the Giants from being truly terrible.
Glaring weakness
This lineup had little pop with Barry Bonds. Now they have even less. Rowand is a nice player, but has never proved he can be the focal point of an offense. Benjie Molina is a cleanup hitter? The infield is a mess all the way around because of injury (and a lack of overall talent), and the Giants are likely to suffer through a rough year because of it.
