SF Giants: 5 Reasons the Giants Face an Uphill Battle in the NL West

Finally, 2011 is over. The San Francisco Giants’ relatively disappointing season, wherein they squandered exceptional goodwill on account of their 2010 World Series victory by fielding one of the worst offenses in franchise history, is behind them.

With spring training at hand and the 2012 season quickly upon us, questions still remain as to whether or not the Giants can reclaim their NL West title and begin chasing their second championship in three years.

Here are five of those question marks. 

1. Divisional Rivals

The San Francisco Giants made key acquisitions this offseason. Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and Ryan Theriot should pay offensive dividends. That being said, however, most teams in the National League West have either improved or are steadily improving as units.

The defending NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks retain most of their sizzle and will be forces with which to be reckoned. The Los Angeles Dodgers have not only improved, but they should be even more dangerous with Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp reaching peak levels of performance. If both of those players perform at their 2010 levels, the Dodgers' win total should be much higher this season. Even the Colorado Rockies have improved by adding several offensive spark-plugs. The San Diego Padres, however, should not present much of an issue—but every season brings a new Cinderella story.

Can the Giants keep all four of these other teams at bay? 

2. Ryan Vogelsong Is Back

Let’s get a bit more topical. Ryan Vogelsong was one of the best stories in Major League Baseball last season. Perhaps more importantly, however, he was also the San Francisco Giants’ leader in wins (tied), winning percentage and ERA. On a pitching staff featuring Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, this achievement is not insignificant.

Ryan Vogelsong will miss 10 days of spring training due to an injured back, according to MLB.com. While he maintains that this rest is precautionary, one cannot help but speculate that the injury is worse than he admits. If Vogelsong is not at peak form, the pitching staff will be (effectively) without a No. 4 and No. 5 starter, with Barry Zito almost certain to disappoint even the modest expectations of him. 

3. Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez’s Re-Acclimation

Buster Posey was the 2010 Rookie of the Year. In 2011, he justified his award. The San Francisco Giants were shadows of their championship selves without their star catcher, who was lost for the season due to the now-infamous Scott Cousins collision in May.

Freddy Sanchez was an integral part of the Giants’ World Series victory. If there is any lingering doubt among you readers, I encourage you to re-watch his spectacular performance in Game 4 of the World Series. His glove dominated the game. Sanchez, however, was lost shortly after Buster Posey.

Pablo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Nate Schierholtz, Sergio Romo, Brandon Belt and many more join the list of injured Giants in 2011, although in most of these cases, the injuries were relatively brief.

The question is: Can these players find their form again? If not, the Giants will have major holes in their lineup. Without question, the most important of these players is Buster Posey. Losing Posey last season not only cost the Giants a wonderful teammate, skilled catcher and exceptional bat, but it forced the team to "replace" him with a pair of .200 hitters. 

4. Aubrey Huff and the First Base Problem

Aubrey Huff gave the Giants a lot to cheer for in 2010. He finished seventh in MVP voting, paraded the rally thong and did something Will Clark, J.T. Snow, and even the great Willie McCovey, never did in San Francisco: won a World Series as a San Francisco Giant.

In 2011, Aubrey Huff seemed complacent, tired and uninspired. He actually performed quite well in June, although his numbers that month are bolstered by a particularly dominant game against the St. Louis Cardinals wherein he hit three home runs.

Otherwise, Huff was miserable. Therefore, his job is in jeopardy. Brandon Belt and Brett Pill proved to the Giants that they deserve a chance to compete for a job, and Huff’s lack of production last season may have jaded the Giants against him.

Alternatively, Huff might be inspired to perform at a higher level by the increased competition. If Huff returns to 2010 form, the Giants will be in a much better position. If last season was any indication, however, it will be up to one of the "youngsters"—Brett Pill or Brandon Belt—to step up. 

5. The Leadoff Hitter Issue

When the Giants won it all in 2010, Andres Torres emerged from nowhere as a dangerous and speedy leadoff hitter. He proved in 2011, however, that he may have just gotten particularly hot at the right time. His numbers waned considerably last season. The trouble, however, was not just Torres—it seemed that no matter who Bruce Bochy chose as the leadoff hitter, failed miserably.

Who will lead off for the San Francisco Giants in 2012? Angel Pagan, Melky Cabrera and singles-smasher Ryan Theriot all provide options, but will any of them "stick?" The Giants need a good table-setter for their more potent lineup this season. Solo home runs and doubles are great, but they are exponentially better when someone else is on base.