So the San Francisco Giants clinched the first World Series title in city history on Monday night. Although I'm living in San Fran now, I was rooting for Texas for a couple reasons: a) I wanted the series to come back here for games 6 and 7; b) I wanted Josh Hamilton to single handedly bring himself and the Rangers back from the dead. It would have been a great story, even better than the one that has unfolded over this past week.
I get it: The Giants are a bunch of good guys, although we should use that term loosely. We don't know them, they just come off that way. They don't have superstars outside of Tim Lincecum and the emergence of young, unassuming catcher Buster Posey, and the roster is littered with youth - Lincecum, Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Andres Torres to name a few - and castaways/journeymen - Cody Ross, Juan Uribe, Series' MVP Edgar Renteria, Pat "The Machine" Burrell, etc. Throw in the extraordinary personality and talent of Brian Wilson and you have quite a cast. But I don't think this team will do it again next year.
There are too many questions to be answered. First off, can Buster Posey replicate his efforts in 2011? After teams have an off-season to address video and exploit whatever weaknesses they find? And can he handle an entire season managing that staff behind the plate while still holding up his offensive numbers ala 2010?
Also, the Giants just bought out Renteria. Assuming he retires, which he should, who is their shortstop? Renteria was injury plagued and playing with a torn biceps in the World Series. It's remarkable he did what he did. Much like Cody Ross, who I bet leaves for big money in free agency, I think he just caught fire at the right time. But it's still a hole to fill.
Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff will also need to be addressed. As will The Machine. In total, the Giants have eight players heading to arbitration: Torres, Ross, Jonathan Sanchez, Javy Lopez, Santiago Casilla, Chris Ray, Ramon Ramirez and Mike Fontenot.
Bottom line, I think the Giants next season will be as competitive as any team in the league. You look at that staff with Lincecum, Matt Cain, Bumgarner, and Sanchez and you have to be confident those guys win you at least 65 games if they stay healthy. With Wilson as your closer, if they can retain guys like Lopez and Casilla, the bullpen should do its job in holding the fort. But I think the Giants will face the same problems offensively as they did this year over the course of the regular season. The offense got hot at the right in the postseason. It happens. That's why a playoff system is so intriguing, especially with Wild Cards lumped in there. Make the tournament, anyone has a chance.
But unless the Giants make a move for a consistent big bat in that lineup, especially one to protect the young Posey, they might be leaning on that staff more than they'd like. Which could lead to another arms race with the Padres which comes down the final day. Obviously the Wild Card is out there, but with teams like Cincinnati and St. Louis in the Central, and the Braves and Phillies in the East, that spot may not necessarily come out of the West.
Personally, I think the Giants should make a push for a guy like Adam Dunn or Carlos Pena. Big power with high strikeout totals and low average, sure, but they would both provide massive protection and run production in the middle of that lineup. Toss a guy like Jayson Werth into the outfield, and the 5-spot, and you have some additional athleticism that GM Brian Sabean alluded to at the press conference today. It will be interesting to see how things unfold.
In regards to the Rangers, they're screwed to a certain degree. Cliff Lee is gone, I don't care what anyone says. And without him stabilizing that rotation, they'll be good but not great. The offense will still be a nightmare to face, but that pitching staff will have questions if it'd by CJ Wilson and Tommy Hunter. I'm just not convinced. Although, playing in the AL West they could still win the division if the A's don't spend some money on a bat. I think the Angels have more holes to fill than both teams, and I won't mention the Mariners other than acknowledging they have a team.
That's all I have for now. I'll be checking in as free agency moves along with thoughts on the various moves and signings.
-Bess
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