San Francisco Giants: Spring Training Information

By El Lefty Malo
Location: Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale AZ
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 13th
First Game: Feb. 28th
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Dave Roberts/Rajai Davis LF
2. Kevin Frandsen/Rich Aurilia 3B
3. Randy Winn RF
4. Bengie Molina C (no kidding)
5. Aaron Rowand CF
6. Ray Durham 2B
7. Dan Ortmeier 1B
8. Brian Bocock SS
   
9. Barry Zito P

Projected Rotation

1. Zito
2. Cain
3. Tim Lincecum
4. Kevin Correia
5. Jonathan Sanchez
   

Projected Bullpen

Long: Pat Misch, Keiichi Yabu or Bartolome Fortunato
Middle: Steve Kline, Brad Hennessey, Vinnie Chulk, Merkin Valdez, Erick Threets
8th Inning: Tyler Walker
Closer: Brian Wilson
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Key Battles: Much is unsettled going into the spring, but the battles aren't exactly epic. Eliezer Alfonzo or Guillermo Rodriguez for backup catcher! Fred Lewis or Nate Schierholtz for 5th outfielder! Twenty-seven-year-old Dan Ortmeier will get a shot to win the first base job. If the Giants had any warmer body than Rich Aurilia, Ortmeier would no doubt be part of the fifth-outfielder scruffle, since that's basically what his minor league numbers project him to be.

Young 2B Kevin Frandsen shows promise -- Giants fans hope he can reincarnate a bit of Robby Thompson's game from the mid-80s/early-90s -- but the immovable contract of Ray Durham means Frandsen will probably start the year at 3B, where he played in college but not since. Let's hope his defense isn't so bad that he has us pining for Pedro Feliz. The presence of Rowand in center moves Dave Roberts back to left field, where he can't do as much damage. If Bruce Bochy doesn't employ a strict platoon of Roberts and super-speedy RH-hitting Rajai Davis (nearly .800 OPS vs. LHP last year), whom the Giants acquired in the Matt Morris deadline trade last year, he should be called all sorts of ungentlemanly names.

The Rotation: Zito, Cain and Lincecum are the top three. (Whether Cain or Zito should get the opening day nod has become a mini-controversy, which I'm going to ignore.) Noah Lowry was supposed to be winter trade bait, except he was shut down in September with bone spurs in his elbow. Look for scouts aplenty at his Arizona starts in March. If he throws well, he may not be in black and orange come April. The fifth starter slot will go to Correia or Sanchez, though Correia has the inside track thanks to his solid late-season move to the rotation last year. Best-case scenario would be a trade of Lowry for an up-and-coming hitter, and both Correia and Sanchez could spend all year as starters. For depth, the Giants have lefty Pat Misch, who spent some time in the bigs last year and had a few nice outings with very average stuff.

The Bullpen: Closer is Wilson's job to lose. In his late-season audition last year, he often looked dominating, though the K rate (18 in 23 innings) doesn't scream it. Walker also looked great in his return from Tommy John surgery. His considerable weight and sweatiness make him an easy joke on the message boards, but if he stays healthy, he can be a great comeback story. The rest of the bullpen is a muddle, filled with young guys with great arms and ten-cent heads (Messenger), fading vets (Kline), and not-so-young guys with decent stuff (Hennessey, Taschner). There's also a 21-year-old Rule V guy who hasn't pitched above A ball who has to stay in the bigs or go back to the Boston organization. (I'm not a betting man, but what the hell -- $50 on the latter.) The Giants have a wave of interesting relievers who should hit the high minors this year. Perhaps we'll see them at Mays Field sooner than expected.

What To Expect: Without sacrificing the team's excellent young pitching, Brian Sabean will pull off a brilliant trade that significantly bolsters what currently looks like the worst offense in the majors. Then the ice caps will stop melting and Ron Paul will come back to win the GOP presidential nomination. More likely by October, you're going to know every variation possible of "Lincecum and Cain and pray for rain."

El Lefty Malo covers the San Francisco Giants exclusively on his blog, Lefty Malo.

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