The San Francisco Giants are entering the 2013 baseball season as world champions for the second time in the past three seasons. In 2012 the Giants finished 1st in the NL West with a 94-68 record. They were able to get to the World Series thanks to their dominant pitching staff which will continue to dominate in 2013. In the playoffs they beat the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS, beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, and the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series. In 2013 the Giants look to protect their title of World Series Champions. In the off-season the team didn’t make that many moves, but they still have a young core of very talented players which definitely makes them a team to be reckoned with in 2012.
Giants Hitting
The Giants projected lineup is very similar if not the same to the lineup used in game 4 the clinching game of the World Series. The lineup consists of multiple young and talented players. World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval expects to be a big part of the offense again. The star and potential league MVP catcher Buster Posey (25 years old) is coming off a season where he batted .336 having 24 HR and 103 RBI. With another year of experience under Posey’s belt he looks to improve upon his numbers from last season. Other players in the Giants lineup are very young and bring a lefty bat; this includes Brandon Belt, Gregor Blanco, and Brandon Crawford. If all three of these lefty hitters improve upon their 2012 season, look for the Giants to have a very solid lineup this season.
Projected Lineup
1. Angel Pagan
2. Marco Scutaro
3. Pablo Sandoval
4. Buster Posey
5. Hunter Pence
6. Brandon Belt
7. Gregor Blanco
8. Brandon Crawford
9. Pitcher
Giants Pitching
The Giants won the World Series based on pitching. They have very solid starters. At the top their ace Matt Cain posted a 2.79 ERA in 2012. Matt Cain continues to dominate batters over the last couple of years. The Giants are looking at young star Madison Bumgarner to improve upon his 3.37 ERA in 2012 and become an elite pitcher in the MLB. Bumgarner is extremely young, very talented, and has the chance to become the leagues next elite pitcher. Pitchers 3 thru 5 contain very solid starters including Barry Zito, Ryan Vogelsong, and Tim Lincecum. During Tim Lincecum’s first two full years in the MLB he won the CY young award, but over the last 2 seasons he has had losing seasons. If Tim can bounce back to old form, expect the Giants to make a deep playoff push again in the 2013 season.
Starting Rotation
1. Matt Cain
2. Madison Bumgarner
3. Ryan Vogelsong
4. Barry Zito
5. Tim Lincecum
As for the Giants bullpen they lost star closer Brian Wilson, but Wilson underwent Tommy John Surgery last season, and was not a major part of their championship season. The biggest position battle of spring training comes for the final 1 -2 bullpen spots. To begin their bullpen in 2012 had the second most amounts of saves, thanks to closers Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla. The bullpen in general remains the same as last season. After the two top pitchers Romo, and Casilla, the Giants have hard throwing lefty Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, and Jose Mijares. All five of these relief pitchers are very good, and can help keep the Giants in every game.
Giants Season Schedule Break Down
The 2013 Giants schedule includes multiple tough NL West opponents including the improving and very talented Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies. Over the past few seasons the Giants have established a rivalry with the St Louis Cardinals due to the playoffs. For interleague play the Giants play the AL East which includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Soxs and Baltimore Orioles. They also play cross town rival the Oakland Athletics in a home and away 4 game series.
Key Additions
OF- Andres Torres
RHP- Chad Gaudin
C- Guillermo Quiroz
Key Departures
OF Melky Cabrera
RHP- Brian Wilson
RHP- Guillermo Mota
Predictions
The Giants will make the playoffs as 1 of 2 wild card teams. They will lose the play-in game. This Giants team is coming off a world championship its 2nd in the last 3 years. They have many young players, but this season they have more competition in their division as the Dodgers and other NL West teams improved.
San Francisco Giants Season Schedule 2013
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San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Angels (ST)
Feb. 23, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Chicago White Sox (ST)
Feb. 25, 2013
Monday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Seattle Mariners (ST)
Feb. 28, 2013
Thursday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Chicago Cubs (ST)
Mar. 2, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks (ST)
Mar. 3, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Cleveland Indians (ST)
Mar. 5, 2013
Tuesday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers (ST)
Mar. 8, 2013
Friday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Kansas City Royals (ST)
Mar. 9, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres (ST)
Mar. 12, 2013
Tuesday, 7:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs TBA (WBC) (ST)
Mar. 14, 2013
Thursday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Texas Rangers (ST)
Mar. 15, 2013
Friday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Cincinnati Reds (ST)
Mar. 16, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies (ST)
Mar. 17, 2013
Sunday, 3:15 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers (ST)
Mar. 20, 2013
Wednesday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies (ST)
Mar. 21, 2013
Thursday, 7:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs Oakland Athletics (ST)
Mar. 23, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres (ST)
Mar. 26, 2013
Tuesday, 1:05 PM
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale, AZ
San Francisco Giants
vs Oakland Athletics
Mar. 28, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Oakland Athletics
Mar. 29, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs St Louis Cardinals
Apr. 5, 2013
Friday, 1:35 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs St Louis Cardinals
Apr. 6, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs St Louis Cardinals
Apr. 7, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Apr. 8, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Apr. 9, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Apr. 10, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Apr. 19, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Apr. 20, 2013
Saturday, 6:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Apr. 21, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Apr. 22, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Apr. 23, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Apr. 24, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
May. 3, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
May. 4, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
May. 5, 2013
Sunday, 5:00 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Philadelphia Phillies
May. 6, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Philadelphia Phillies
May. 7, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Philadelphia Phillies
May. 8, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Atlanta Braves
May. 9, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Atlanta Braves
May. 10, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Atlanta Braves
May. 11, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Atlanta Braves
May. 12, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Washington Nationals
May. 20, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Washington Nationals
May. 21, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Washington Nationals
May. 22, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
May. 24, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
May. 25, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
May. 26, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Oakland Athletics
May. 29, 2013
Wednesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Oakland Athletics
May. 30, 2013
Thursday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Toronto Blue Jays
Jun. 4, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Toronto Blue Jays
Jun. 5, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Jun. 17, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Jun. 18, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Jun. 19, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Miami Marlins
Jun. 20, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Miami Marlins
Jun. 21, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Miami Marlins
Jun. 22, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Miami Marlins
Jun. 23, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Jul. 5, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Jul. 6, 2013
Saturday, 4:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Jul. 7, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs New York Mets
Jul. 8, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs New York Mets
Jul. 9, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs New York Mets
Jul. 10, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Jul. 19, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Jul. 20, 2013
Saturday, 6:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Jul. 21, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Cincinnati Reds
Jul. 22, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Cincinnati Reds
Jul. 23, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Cincinnati Reds
Jul. 24, 2013
Wednesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Chicago Cubs
Jul. 26, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Chicago Cubs
Jul. 27, 2013
Saturday, 6:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Chicago Cubs
Jul. 28, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Milwaukee Brewers
Aug. 5, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Milwaukee Brewers
Aug. 6, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Milwaukee Brewers
Aug. 7, 2013
Wednesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Milwaukee Brewers
Aug. 8, 2013
Thursday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Baltimore Orioles
Aug. 9, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Baltimore Orioles
Aug. 10, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Baltimore Orioles
Aug. 11, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Boston Red Sox
Aug. 19, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Boston Red Sox
Aug. 20, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Boston Red Sox
Aug. 21, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Aug. 22, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Aug. 23, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Aug. 24, 2013
Saturday, 6:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Aug. 25, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Sep. 5, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Sep. 6, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Sep. 7, 2013
Saturday, 6:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Sep. 8, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Sep. 9, 2013
Monday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Sep. 10, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Colorado Rockies
Sep. 11, 2013
Wednesday, 12:45 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Sep. 24, 2013
Tuesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Sep. 25, 2013
Wednesday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Sep. 26, 2013
Thursday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Sep. 27, 2013
Friday, 7:15 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Sep. 28, 2013
Saturday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants
vs San Diego Padres
Sep. 29, 2013
Sunday, 1:05 PM
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
