Chris Haft Says...Relaxed and Ready and Reunited

Relaxed and ready: Champion Giants reunite

By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 02/14/11 3:18 PM EST

 
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If the Giants don't repeat as World Series champions, complacency won't be a reason.
Pitchers and catchers reported to camp Monday, as scheduled. They were joined by a slew of position players -- including Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez -- intent on getting a jump-start on their workouts. Most of them, of course, already had been training for weeks. Position players are due to report Friday, with the initial full-squad workout slated for Saturday.
Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez wasn't surprised by the big turnout.
"After last year, you want to be back hanging out with the guys," said Sanchez, the pitcher of record in the 2010 regular-season finale that clinched the National League West title for the Giants before they surged through the postseason.
As always when players reunite, the atmosphere was relaxed, with a dash of hilarity. Right-hander Tim Lincecum provided some humor when he explained the absence of the wispy mustache and soul patch he sported at FanFest last week.

"My dog licked it off," Lincecum said.
As the Giants strive to become the first National League team since the 1975-76 Reds to win consecutive World Series, they face the same delicate balance that confronts all titlists in every sport.
"I think we have to, in a way, carry some of the stuff that we did last year with us, but we also have to wipe the slate clean," right-hander Matt Cain said.
The Giants will be scrutinized more closely than most defending champs. Major League Baseball Productions and the Showtime cable network are collaborating on a series that has been billed as an inside look at the team. The Giants attracted this attention not just with their success, but also with their assortment of expressive players. Closer Brian Wilson's beard acquired a life of its own. First baseman Aubrey Huff gained fame with his crimson "rally thong." Lincecum sported flowing locks that he trimmed once, maybe twice, all season.
"Everybody got to see who we were," Lincecum said. "Everybody came in doing different things: the rally thong, the beard, the hair, what have you. I think it's going to be something that we stick with."
The show's producers have assured the team that neither their privacy nor their concentration will be breached.
"We're not worried about having a couple of extra cameras around," Cain said.
That's partly because nobody will have to look far for a friendly, familiar face. Everybody from the postseason roster is back except for infielders Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria, whose three-run homer provided all of San Francisco's scoring in its World Series-clinching Game 5 triumph over the Texas Rangers. That doesn't include left-hander Barry Zito, who spent all season on the 25-man roster, or left-hander Dan Runzler and utility man Mark DeRosa, whose seasons were interrupted by injuries.
The Giants' few new faces are significant ones. Shortstop Miguel Tejada is expected to fill the void created by the departures of Uribe and Renteria. Right-hander Jeff Suppan, a 14-year veteran, hopes to provide depth. Rookie first baseman-outfielder Brandon Belt, a non-roster invitee like Suppan, will receive a chance to win a spot in the Opening Day lineup.
Health is a significant issue for only two players: DeRosa, who's eager to prove that he has recovered from left wrist surgery, and second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who believes that he'll be ready to participate in Cactus League exhibition games in early March after undergoing left shoulder surgery last December.
Lincecum, Cain and left-handers Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner will be supervised closely after the postseason forced them to exceed their career-high workloads by an average of 43 innings apiece.
Said an unruffled Cain, "I think we have a group of guys who aren't afraid to work hard and do the things we have to do to repeat."

Posey reported Monday with the rest of the Pitchers and Catchers

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Chris Haft Says...The Giants poised to Repeat

SAN FRANCISCO -- William Shakespeare wouldn't have written "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" had he foreseen the Giants' reaction to their first World Series triumph since 1954.
The Giants are anything but uneasy as they prepare to head for Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz. They and their still-delirious fans cannot be accused of taking their first San Francisco-era championship for granted. The World Series trophy has been displayed throughout California and even in New York, where the franchise was based until it moved West before the 1958 season. The team, in general, and center fielder Andres Torres, in particular, will be the subjects of documentaries. Cody Ross and Buster Posey served as grand marshals in parades thrown by their respective hometowns.
Now, it's back to work. Most of these Giants know nothing about the challenge of repeating as titlists. But they do realize that confronting stubborn, hungry opponents will be a daily occurrence.
"In a way, I kind of feel like we took everybody by surprise," right-hander Sergio Romo said. "They're going to know more about us. It's not going to be that way again."

Thus, the Giants will spend six weeks in Arizona preparing themselves, physically and mentally, for the task that awaits them.

Entering Spring Training with largely the same roster as last year, the Giants don't appear to have many moves to make. But competition for the few openings that exist promises to be spirited and should erode all lingering compacency, if any still exists. 

Pitchers and catchers report 

Feb. 14 

Full squad reports

Feb. 18
First Spring Training game
Home vs. D-backs, Feb. 25, 12:05 p.m.
Opening Day
Away vs. Dodgers, April 1, 7:10 p.m.

Triple play: Three questions that need answers
1. Will Pablo Sandoval be fit to play?
The answer seems to be an unqualified yes. Sandoval looked downright svelte in a recent photograph of him standing waist-deep in a swimming pool. He obviously was listening when management threatened to send him to Triple-A if he didn't shape up during the offseason. Since a well-conditioned Sandoval likely will be productive, the Giants ought to feel thrilled.
2. Who will play left field?
Much depends on rookie Brandon Belt, who has been billed as this year's Buster Posey. Belt can play either outfield corner, but he's better at first base. If the Giants decide to play Belt at first, Aubrey Huff almost surely would man left field, where he started 24 games last year. But Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand and Nate Schierholtz will push for playing time at this spot.
3. Can the Giants repeat?
First thing's first: Can the Giants win the National League West? There's no reason they can't, especially with their pitching. San Francisco should be tested by Colorado, which may have the most talent in the division, and the Dodgers, who find a way to be competitive more often than not.
2010 record
92-70, first in the NL West


Projected batting order
1. CF Andres Torres:
  .268 BA, .343 OBP, .479 SLG, 16 HR, 63 RBI in 2010
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez:
  .292 BA, .342 OBP, .397 SLG, 7 HR, 47 RBI in 2010
3. LF Aubrey Huff:
  .290 BA, .385 OBP, .506 SLG, 26 HR, 86 RBI in 2010
4. C Buster Posey:
  .305 BA, .357 OBP, .505 SLG, 18 HR, 67 RBI in 2010
5. 3B Pablo Sandoval:
  .268 BA, .323 OBP, .409 SLG, 13 HR, 63 RBI in 2010
6. SS Miguel Tejada:
  .269 BA, .312 OBP, .381 SLG, 15 HR, 71 RBI in 2010
7. 1B Brandon Belt:
  .352 BA, .455 OBP, .620 SLG, 23 HR, 112 RBI in Minors in 2010
8. RF Cody Ross:
  .269 BA, .322 OBP, .413 SLG, 14 HR, 65 RBI in 2010

Projected rotation
1. Tim Lincecum, 16-10, 3.43 ERA in 2010
2. Matt Cain, 13-11, 3.14 ERA in 2010
3. Jonathan Sanchez, 13-9, 3.07 ERA in 2010
4. Madison Bumgarner, 7-6, 3.00 ERA in 2010
5. Barry Zito, 9-14, 4.15 ERA in 2010

Projected bullpen
Closer: Brian Wilson, 48/53 saves, 1.81 ERA in 2010
RH setup man: Sergio Romo, 2.18 ERA in 2010
LH setup man: Jeremy Affeldt, 4.14 ERA in 2010

The new guys
SS Miguel Tejada: The 14-year veteran will turn 37 during the season, so it's fair to wonder how much he has left. But Tejada typically performs with a lot of energy, and he seemed thrilled to join the reigning World Series champs. The Giants will be overjoyed if Tejada remotely approaches his .287 career batting average and .801 lifetime slugging percentage.
RHP Jeff Suppan: The most accomplished of the Giants' non-roster invitees represents insurance in case a member of the talented starting rotation sustains an injury. Suppan has recorded a 4.95 ERA in the last four seasons, which he spent mostly in the hitter-friendly confines of Milwaukee's Miller Park. Pitching for the Giants should be less stressful.

Prospects to watch
1B-LF Brandon Belt: Scouts from opposing teams join the chorus of Giants officials, including general manager Brian Sabean, in praising Belt profusely. If they're correct, Belt definitely will crack the starting lineup; it's just a matter of when. Sabean has repeated that Belt, 22, won't open the season with San Francisco unless he's starting, which makes perfect sense.
SS Brandon Crawford: Considered San Francisco's shortstop of the future, Crawford needs at least another year of Minor League seasoning, and he'll get it due to Tejada's presence. Crawford has decent range and good speed, and the left-handed swinger has shown hints of power, which further intrigues the Giants.
CF Gary Brown: The Giants want to get a long look at Brown, last year's first-round selection in the First-Year Player Draft. Ideally, he fits a leadoff hitter's profile, but some skeptics believe that he lacks the power to drive pitches into the gaps and won't draw enough walks.
C Tommy Joseph: At 19, Joseph will be the youngest player in camp as a non-roster invitee. He played at low-Class A Augusta last season and made the South Atlantic League All-Star team while batting .236 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs. Some believe that first base will be Joseph's ultimate home.

On the rebound
LHP Barry Zito: The 2002 American League Cy Young Award winner was left off the active roster during each round of the postseason after losing 10 of his last 11 decisions. He failed to reach double figures in victories for the first time in 10 full seasons. Expect a thoroughly determined Zito to arrive in Scottsdale.
OF Aaron Rowand: While losing his everyday role to Andres Torres, Rowand hit a career-low .230 and appeared in 105 games, the third-fewest in his career. His 76 starts represented his lowest single-season total since he had 39 in 2003 with the White Sox. Primarily a center fielder, Rowand could join the left-field competition in an effort to revive his fortunes. He's also likely to be mentioned in trade rumors, though his $12 million salary makes him difficult to unload.
LHP Jeremy Affeldt: The reliever posted a 4.14 ERA last season, more than doubling his remarkable 1.73 figure from 2009. In fairness, Affeldt couldn't have been expected to duplicate what would have been a career year for almost anybody. He salvaged his 2010 campaign with two scoreless innings in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series after an injury-plagued regular season. He's fit and optimistic now.

Long gone
INF Juan Uribe: One of the Giants' most productive clutch hitters last year took a three-year, $21 million deal from the rival Dodgers. The Giants' primary shortstop in 2010, Uribe batted only .248, but his 24 homers and 85 RBIs ranked second on the club. The Giants also will miss Uribe's versatility, which enabled him to play every infield spot except first base.
SS Edgar Renteria: He'll forever be remembered in San Francisco for his three-run homer off Texas ace Cliff Lee that accounted for the Giants' scoring in Game 5 of the World Series and enabled them to win the title. Renteria spurned the Giants' one-year, $1 million offer to take a more lucrative deal from Cincinnati.
RHP Chris Ray: Acquired from Texas in the Bengie Molina trade, Ray pitched capably (3-0, one save, 4.13 ERA in 28 appearances) but was left off all postseason rosters. He signed with the Seattle Mariners, who likely will give him a more significant role.

Mark DeRosa is a huge X Factor for the 2011 Giants.  Can he replace Juan Uribe?

Chris Haft Says... Arbitration to boost payroll

Giants' payroll likely to climb after arbitration

Ross, Sanchez among six players in line for salary increases

By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 01/04/11 3:52 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO -- The expense report for the Giants' World Series triumph will soar as they enter salary arbitration season.
Significant pay increases are virtually assured for six players, whose 2010 salaries are in parentheses: Outfielders Cody Ross ($4.45 million) and Andres Torres ($426,000), left-handers Jonathan Sanchez ($2.1 million) and Javier Lopez ($775,000) and right-handers Santiago Casilla ($400,000) and Ramon Ramirez ($1.155 million).
Not only are they eligible for arbitration, a process that generated an average 107 percent raise for such players last year, but each of them also helped the Giants surge to their first Series conquest since 1954.

 

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Players may file for arbitration between Wednesday and Jan. 15. Each player and his respective club will exchange a proposed figure for a one-year contract on Jan. 18. Those unable to reach agreements will proceed to a February hearing in which an arbitrator will select either the team's or the player's proposal.

Teams can limit payroll increases by negotiating settlements. No matter how many compromises the Giants strike, their total payroll is bound to exceed $120 million, up from approximately $96 million last season. The Giants still would like to exercise as much control as possible while avoiding potentially adversarial hearings.

"Everybody wants to find common ground," Giants vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said. "I'm sure both sides will make an honest effort."

Under ordinary circumstances, the Giants probably would try to forge a multiyear agreement with Sanchez, whose salary skyrocketed from $455,000 in 2009 to $2.1 million last season, his first year of arbitration eligibility. Sanchez also earned an additional $75,000 in performance bonuses by pitching 193 1/3 innings.

Barring poor performance, Sanchez will continue to receive handsome pay hikes this year and next through arbitration. A mainstay of San Francisco's starting rotation at age 28, he finished 13-9 with a 3.07 ERA and held opponents to a .204 batting average and 6.61 hits per nine innings, both Major League lows.

But the Giants possess little spare change. They already have more than $66 million committed to five players in 2012: left-hander Barry Zito ($19 million), right-hander Matt Cain ($15.333 million), center fielder Aaron Rowand ($13.6 million), first baseman Aubrey Huff ($10 million) and closer Brian Wilson ($8.5 million). The Giants also must factor in an eight-figure wage for Tim Lincecum, who'll be arbitration-eligible after earning $14 million this year.

Salaries for arbitration-eligibles tend to be based on comparisons of wages earned by players at the same position with similar Major League service time.

Torres, whose 2010 salary barely exceeded the Major League minimum, conceivably could triple or quadruple his pay. San Francisco's starting center fielder, whose compelling personal background has prompted a documentary film company to chronicle the story of his life, hit .268 with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and 26 stolen bases a year ago.

Though the percentage of Ross' raise may not match Torres', the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series (.350, three doubles, three homers and five RBIs) should command a salary in the $7 million range, at least. Ross hit .269 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs in the 2010 regular season.

As setup or situational relievers, Casilla, Lopez and Ramirez likely won't receive exorbitant raises, though their income will climb nevertheless. Casilla (7-2, 1.95 ERA) amassed 56 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings and stranded 41 of 47 inherited baserunners, the Majors' second-best ratio; Lopez (4-2, 2.34) held left-handed batters to a .162 batting average (16-for-99); and Ramirez (1-3, 2.99) yielded only two earned runs in 27 innings after joining the Giants from Boston in a July 31 trade.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

SFGiants.com Says... Giants know they have Target on their back in '11

Giants know they'll have target on back in '11

By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 01/01/11 10:00 AM EST

 
SAN FRANCISCO -- No matter how the Giants fare next season, it won't be the same as 2010.
Every streak and slump they endure will be magnified. Should they accomplish the daunting task of repeating as World Series winners, their triumph would be regarded at least partially as inevitable, since the baseball world will have tracked their progress since Spring Training. That would contrast with last season, when many observers seemingly ignored them until October. Should the Giants struggle, the cruel word "fluke" will resound, though any professional in any sport might insist that a title won is a title earned.
Yet to a considerable degree, this year will be like any other, with pitching determining the team's success. The Giants thus should feel fortunate, since the leaders of their staff, including Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and Brian Wilson, still appear to be ascending toward their respective peaks.


Giants management hasn't lapsed into overconfidence. The franchise can't afford that luxury after capturing its first title in 56 years. But the front office is allowing itself to entertain the possibility that the club could be entering a sublime stretch similar to 1997-2004, when San Francisco averaged 92 victories per year.   To make that notion a reality, the Giants must answer the following questions effectively:

1. Can Pablo Sandoval work himself into decent physical shape?
If he does, the Giants might feel as if they've acquired a potential All-Star. They thought that highly of Sandoval after he hit .330 with 25 home runs and 90 RBIs in 2009. But last season, he couldn't resist his twin temptations -- chasing bad pitches and eating -- which resulted in a drop to .268-13-63. Even if Sandoval reports to Spring Training looking fit, he must remain disciplined through the season as he confronts postgame buffets and the stream of food offered on charter flights. Facing possible demotion to the Minors if he doesn't shape up, Sandoval is said to have been conditioning diligently in Arizona.
2. Will the shortened offseason affect the pitchers?
This is another question that might take all season to answer. Winning the Series trimmed the Giants' offseason by an entire month. Though the team welcomed working overtime in this fashion, the extra activity threatened to create havoc with the pitchers, who strive to strike a balance between exercising and resting their arms during the offseason. Manager Bruce Bochy already has said that he'll monitor his pitchers' workloads carefully. Occasionally mixing a sixth starter into the rotation to provide additional rest could be an option.
3. What will Buster Posey do for an encore?
He'll probably be named MVP of the All-Star Game, surpass Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, find a cure for cancer and lead the Giants to another World Series conquest. Just kidding -- unless you're Posey, who expects nothing less than excellence from himself. Plenty of rookie stars have endured the "sophomore jinx," but Posey's talent and work ethic suggest that he'll be immune to a prolonged slump. Remember, Posey wasn't recalled in 2010 until May 29. The prospect of having him for an entire season excites the Giants.
4. What kind of impact will Brandon Belt make?
It'll be all or nothing at the outset. General manager Brian Sabean has said that Belt, a first baseman/outfielder, won't make the Opening Day roster unless he proves he's good enough to start. Though Belt has been characterized as a left-handed-batting version of Posey, the 22-year-old will be attending his first Major League Spring Training camp. Expecting instant stardom from Belt, despite the hype surrounding him, might be a trifle unfair.
5. What can be expected from Miguel Tejada?
If you're a skeptic, not much. Tejada's coming off one of his least productive seasons in 2010 (.269, 15 homers, 71 RBIs). His .381 slugging percentage represented a 74-point drop from 2009 and his worst since his 1997 rookie season with Oakland. But Tejada always plays with a lot of energy, so joining the reigning World Series champs could motivate him toward one more big season. Just two years ago, he hit .313 with 46 doubles, 86 RBIs and a whopping 199 hits with Houston.
6. Will the Giants add another left-handed hitter?
The apparent inactivity in the Giants' player-acquisition efforts is a mere facade. Sabean knows the market. He realizes that with each passing day, the price for free agents drops a little more. Performers who seemed out of reach financially for the Giants at the Winter Meetings ultimately could become affordable. Hypothetically speaking, what would the Giants do if they suddenly had a chance to sign Johnny Damon? Remember, that's hypothetical. But pay close attention as mid-February approaches.
7. Who will win the left-field job?
That's anybody's guess. What's certain is that there will be no shortage of candidates. Mark DeRosa, last season's Opening Day left fielder, is expected to be recovered from left wrist surgery. Aaron Rowand, who has played exclusively center field, will be asked to try playing the corners. Pat Burrell will join the fray, but he'll most likely occupy a reserve role. Cody Ross, the projected right fielder, might swing around to this side if Nate Schierholtz bids for an everyday spot in right. Schierholtz and perhaps even first baseman Travis Ishikawa might join this competition. If Belt fits best as a first baseman, Aubrey Huff will move to left and most of the aforementioned will scramble for bench spots.
8. Will Freddy Sanchez be ready for Opening Day?
Yes, barring unforeseen setbacks. Sanchez, who underwent his second left shoulder surgery in slightly less than a year on Dec. 7, will still be recovering when Spring Training opens. But the Giants seem confident that the 32-year-old will be playable before the season starts. If he isn't, DeRosa or Mike Fontenot will step in. Sanchez, the 2006 National League batting champion with Pittsburgh, proved valuable down the stretch last season, hitting .330 from Aug. 23 on.
9. How will the Giants avoid complacency?
The left-field competition, which will directly or indirectly affect virtually half of the position players, should sharpen the focus of those involved. Though no apparent openings exist on the pitching staff, every spring, at least one long-shot candidate captures attention and launches a serious bid for a job. The shortened offseason could heighten the risk for injuries. So projected backups had better be ready to play.
10. Can the Giants repeat?
If the pitchers stay healthy and adept, San Francisco will remain a legitimate threat. The offense doesn't have to be overpowering. Just consistent. The Giants were 69-12 in 2010 when scoring at least four runs, and 80-24 when totaling three runs or more. They have every reason to be optimistic if Sandoval approaches his 2009 form, Posey comes close to duplicating last season, Ross remains capable of delivering big hits, DeRosa and Sanchez return strong, Tejada is merely adequate and Andres Torres and Huff remain steady at leadoff and cleanup, respectively.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.