2008 Preview: San Francisco Giants

How the almost-mighty have fallen. Barry Bonds is gone, Omar Vizquel is on the disabled list, and the San Francisco Giants have almost no chance of contending in the tough NL West. They've got a potential star pitcher in Tim Lincecum, whom the Indians drafted a few years ago but could not sign as he stayed in college -- then was a first-round pick by the Giants. He'll need help to become a winner.

General manager Brian Sabean acquired just one hitter in the offseason, CF Aaron Rowand, and says he's not considering any free agents. He's not ruling out trades before the season; he wants to improve the bullpen and find a third baseman to replace Pedro Feliz. He has his eye on White Sox 3B Joe Crede. The Giants have a promising rotation but many holes in the lineup and many questions in the relief corps.
Battles will be ongoing at first base (Daniel Ortmeier vs. Rich Aurilia), second base (Ray Durham vs. Kevin Frandsen) and third base (Aurilia vs. Frandsen). RHP Brian Wilson is the favorite to be the closer, and RHPs Brad Hennessey and Tyler Walker will try to secure setup roles. Who's replacing Barry Bonds in left field? For now, ex-Indian Dave Roberts, who could be traded by the end of spring training.
Eugenio Velez, who stole 122 bases the past two years in the minors, is the fastest Giant in camp. He got six hits in his first 14 at-bats this spring -- plus five steals -- and could push for a big-league job, especially with SS Omar Vizquel sidelined with a knee injury. Manager Bruce Bochy said third base is Velez's best position.
ARRIVALS: CF Aaron Rowand (free agent from Phillies), RHP Scott Williamson (free agent from Orioles).
DEPARTURES: LF Barry Bonds (free agent, unsigned), 3B Pedro Feliz (free agent, to Phillies), 1B Ryan Klesko (free agent, unsigned), RHP Russ Ortiz (free agent, unsigned), C Mike Matheny (retired), RHP Scott Munter (free agent, to Rays).
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. LHP Barry Zito
2. RHP Matt Cain
3. LHP Noah Lowry
4. Tim Lincecum
5. RHP Kevin Correia
Zito tossed the 2007 opener after signing a seven-year, $126 million contract, but he didn't earn the right to do it again. He went 11-13 and largely was outpitched by his younger peers, Cain and Lincecum. Nevertheless, manager Bruce Bochy announced the Opening Day nod would go to Zito. Sabean didn't do much in the offseason, and maybe his most important move (at least according to many Giants fans) was not trading Lincecum to Toronto for OF Alex Rios.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Brian Wilson (closer)
RHP Brad Hennessey
RHP Tyler Walker
RHP Vinnie Chulk
RHP Randy Messenger
LHP Steve Kline
LHP Jack Taschner
LHP Jonathan Sanchez
RHP Armando Benitez opened last season as the closer. Then it was Hennessey's turn, and Hennessey converted 14 consecutive save opportunities before struggling and losing the job to Wilson, the guy the Giants want to win the job because of his mental makeup and hard-throwing repertoire. Hennessey and Walker are present in case Wilson has another bad training camp. Still, Sabean is looking for another proven late-game reliever. Sanchez was trade bait in the offseason, but neither he nor Lowry fetched the Giants another hitter. So Sanchez is still a Giant, a swing man who could challenge Correia for the final rotation job if Correia struggles in camp.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. LF Dave Roberts
2. SS Kevin Frandsen
3. RF Randy Winn
4. C Bengie Molina
5. CF Aaron Rowand
6. 2B Ray Durham
7. 1B Daniel Ortmeier
8. 3B Rich Aurilia
This could change daily. Manager Bochy wants to play Rowand regularly and Molina (if healthy) most days. Otherwise, it's anyone's guess what the lineup will be day to day after the Giants hit .254 last year (ranked 14th in the NL) and scored 683 runs (15th). A wild card is Frandsen, a natural second baseman who's moving to shortstop now that Vizquel is shelved with a knee injury. The Giants probably don't want to see a lot of Aurilia in the lineup and have their eye on White Sox 3B Joe Crede.
PROJECTED RESERVES:
INF Eugenio Velez
OF Rajai Davis
OF Nate Schierholtz
OF Fred Lewis
C Guillermo Rodriguez
C Eliezer Alfonzo
Aurilia, whose days as an everyday player would appear over, played all four infield positions last year. He figures to be a bench mainstay again after Vizquel returns. Velez is lightning quick and could stick on the roster so long as Vizquel is out. Davis, Schierholtz and Lewis will need to battle for playing time; a spot would open if Roberts is traded. Rodriguez and Alfonzo both were solid in winter ball, and it's possible both could be backups for Bengie Molina.
TOP ROOKIES:
RF Nate Schierholtz (.305 lifetime minor league hitter) will be the top rookie in camp. Others include INF/OF Eugenio Velez (122 steals the past two seasons) and LHPs Pat Misch (2.30 ERA in 34 outings at Class AAA Fresno) and Jose Capellan (Rule 5 pick from Boston). MEDICAL WATCH: SS Omar Vizquel (arthroscopic left knee surgery on Feb. 27) will miss four to six weeks, putting his availability for Opening Day in question. … C Bengie Molina (strained left quadriceps) said he felt badly about not telling the team of his leg problem, and then he tweaked it in a baserunning drill early in spring training. He expects to return to action during the week of March 3-9. … RHP Merkin Valdez (Tommy John surgery in October 2006) missed all of the 2007 season. The once-promising prospect will come back slowly.