Predicting Over/Under with Each MLB Contender's Vegas Win Totals
Predicting anything in baseball is often an effort in futility, as the game is simply as unpredictable as it gets.
That's what makes it so great.
However, with the first round of Vegas odds for each MLB team's 2015 win total recently released, prediction time is here again.
What follows is a look at every potential contender's projected win total for the upcoming season, courtesy of Business Insider, and my take on whether they'll wind up over or under that projection.
Non-Contenders
1 of 23
Over
- Houston Astros (74.5)
- Minnesota Twins (70.5)
- Texas Rangers (77.5)
Under
- Arizona Diamondbacks (71.5)
- Atlanta Braves (73.5)
- Cincinnati Reds (77.5)
- Colorado Rockies (71.5)
- Philadelphia Phillies (68.5)
Baltimore Orioles: Over
2 of 23
Projected Win Total: 82.5
Why They'll Win More
After winning 96 games and the AL East title last season, the Baltimore Orioles are projected for the biggest step back of any team in 2015.
Granted they lost some significant offensive pieces in the form of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, but the returns of Matt Wieters and Manny Machado can't be understated in helping offset those losses.
Outside of losing deadline acquisition Andrew Miller, they return all the key pieces from a pitching staff that led all of baseball with a 2.88 ERA in the second half.
In fact, that group could conceivably be even better with a step forward from Kevin Gausman and a potentially healthy Dylan Bundy.
Another 96-win season seems like a long shot, but the AL East is still wide open, and they look to have as good a chance as anyone of walking away with the division crown.
Boston Red Sox: Under
3 of 23
Projected Win Total: 85.5
Why They Will Win Less
While the Baltimore Orioles are projected for the biggest step back, the Boston Red Sox are pegged for the biggest improvement in 2015 after going 71-91 last season.
Their offense should be one of the best in the league thanks to the additions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and a healthy Dustin Pedroia, who was slowed by a nagging wrist injury for the bulk of the 2014 season.
However, it's their lack of frontline starting pitching that has been the big talking point all offseason, and it's the reason an 85-win projection seems generous.
Could Rick Porcello emerge as the rotation's leader and could Clay Buchholz rebound to his 2013 form?
Sure, but at the same time, this could just as easily wind up being a pitching staff that ranks among the worst in the American League.
Aside from the rotation questions, their bullpen was not exactly lights-out last year, converting just 36 of 54 save chances. No significant changes have been made there, and 39-year-old closer Koji Uehara is another year older after pitching to a 4.35 ERA in the second half.
Too many question marks on the mound to take the over here.
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New York Yankees: Under
4 of 23
Projected Win Total: 81.5
Why They Will Win Less
An 81.5-win projection basically asks the question, will the Yankees have a winning record in 2015 or not?
No. No they won't.
Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann are all shells of the players they were during their respective primes, and counting on them to stay healthy, let alone productive, is asking a lot.
Then there's the starting rotation, where Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova all enter the season as significant question marks from a health standpoint.
Even if this team can somehow stay whole over the course of the 162-game season, the Orioles, Red Sox and Blue Jays all look to be more talented, and the Rays will be no walk in the park with one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
My honest opinion: The Yankees probably have a better chance of finishing in the AL East cellar than they do of making the playoffs in 2015.
That being said, this team finally looks to be building toward something better.
With a wealth of young talent in the minor leagues, no more significant additions made to the payroll this offseason and an end in sight on some of their bad contracts, better days are ahead.
Tampa Bay Rays: Over
5 of 23
Projected Win Total: 78.5
Why They Will Win More
The Tampa Bay Rays were a 77-win team last season, and it's hard to really say they've improved this offseason with the departures of Ben Zobrist, Wil Myers and perhaps most importantly manager Joe Maddon.
However, they spent much of last season trying to recover from a disastrous 24-42 start.
They managed to make things interesting with a 20-5 stretch that began in late June, and overall they were 10 games over .500 after the aforementioned start at 53-43 to close out the year.
Finding enough offense to protect Evan Longoria and back their fantastic pitching could be an issue, but they did make some solid under-the-radar additions in John Jaso, Rene Rivera, Asdrubal Cabrera and Steven Souza.
As for that pitching staff, it has a chance to be one of the best in baseball once Matt Moore returns from Tommy John surgery.
Alex Cobb will step into the role of staff ace, backed by the terrific young trio of Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi.
They're a dark horse to reach the postseason, but a winning record and an improvement on last season seem well within reach.
Toronto Blue Jays: Over
6 of 23
Projected Win Total: 82.5
Why They Will Win More
The Toronto Blue Jays won 83 games last season, and with the offseason additions of Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Michael Saunders they clearly look like a better team heading into 2015.
Those three join Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and an offense that already ranked fifth in the league at 4.46 runs per game last season.
The veteran duo of R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle are not exactly Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, but they are durable innings-eaters who can be counted on for consistent production if nothing else.
Behind those two veterans figures to be a trio of high-ceiling young arms in Drew Hutchison, Marcus Stroman and whoever wins the No. 5 starter job between top prospects Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris.
The biggest reason for pause is the bullpen, which ranked 25th in the league last season with a 4.09 ERA and lost more than it gained this offseason with the departure of Casey Janssen.
Still, this team looks to have as much talent as any in the AL East, and an improvement over last season's finish certainly seems within reach.
Chicago White Sox: Over
7 of 23
Projected Win Total: 81.5
Why They Will Win More
Coming off of back-to-back losing seasons and without a playoff appearance since 2008, the Chicago White Sox were as busy as any team in baseball this offseason.
The additions of Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera should help bolster the offense around breakout star Jose Abreu, while Jeff Samardzija gives the team a frontline right-hander to slot between Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.
However, the biggest additions might be in the bullpen. David Robertson gives the team a proven closer, while Zach Duke, Dan Jennings, Matt Albers and Jesse Crain were also added to the relief corps.
Last year, the bullpen was 23-32 with a 4.38 ERA while converting just 36 of 57 save chances and shuffling closers throughout the year.
Shoring up the late innings alone should make for a significant improvement over last year's team, and with the overall talent level anything short of a winning record would be a major disappointment.
Cleveland Indians: Over
8 of 23
Projected Win Total: 83.5
Why They Will Win More
The Cleveland Indians came on strong down the stretch last season, going 32-22 over the final two months to finish the season at 85-77.
That left them just a few games short of reaching the postseason for a second consecutive year, and with all of the key pieces returning, they should be in the hunt once again in 2015.
The starting rotation is boom-or-bust, but they have the potential to be one of the best in all of baseball if Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco can find some consistency behind reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber.
The offense added some pop with the acquisition of Brandon Moss, but a bounce-back season from Jason Kipnis could be the real difference-maker after he was a legitimate MVP candidate in 2013.
Alongside the breakout duo of Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes, the Indians offense has a chance to be rock solid if they can avoid injury, as overall depth is not necessarily a strength.
The Detroit Tigers enter the season working on a streak of four straight AL Central titles, but the Indians should be able to give them a serious run for their money this coming year.
Detroit Tigers: Under
9 of 23
Projected Win Total: 84.5
Why They Will Win Less
The Detroit Tigers have averaged 91.5 wins over the past four seasons, capturing the AL Central title each year, but their window seems to be closing heading into 2015.
Their offense is still as dangerous as any in the league, with sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez joined by offseason acquisition Yoenis Cespedes and last year's surprise star J.D. Martinez in the middle of the lineup.
A healthy Jose Iglesias at shortstop should also shore up what was arguably the team's biggest hole last season outside of the bullpen and improve their overall defense.
However, losing Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello and replacing them with Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene is a huge step backward for a starting rotation that was perhaps their biggest strength during their recent run of success.
Simon looks to be as drastic a regression candidate as any in baseball, while Greene was solid last season but has a short track record of success.
That means Justin Verlander will need to bounce back and Anibal Sanchez will need to stay healthy if the rotation is going to be a plus. Meanwhile, the aforementioned bullpen is still a huge question mark after a relatively quiet offseason.
With the White Sox getting better and the Indians and Royals both looking strong once again, the Tigers stranglehold on AL Central supremacy may very well come to an end in 2015.
Kansas City Royals: Over
10 of 23
Projected Win Total: 80.5
Why They Will Win More
A torrid 34-21 finish to the season led the Kansas City Royals to 89 wins and an AL wild-card berth, and they surprised more than a few people by sweeping their way to the World Series from there.
They were an unconventional success story, as a team built around defense, speed on the bases and dominant relief pitching, and those will again be the strengths of the club in 2015.
However, offensive performances by Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain also played a huge role in the team's unlikely run to the Fall Classic.
None of those three have come anywhere close to establishing themselves as reliable regular-season producers, and Cain actually looks like one of the bigger regression candidates in the league after posting a .380 batting average on balls in play (via FanGraphs).
There is also the matter of losing workhorse James Shields at the top of the rotation. Edinson Volquez was signed to help ease that loss, and hard-throwing Yordano Ventura is certainly capable of stepping into the role, but that loss will hurt nonetheless.
It's up for debate whether this is a playoff team again in 2015, with the division around them getting tougher and the AL landscape as a whole up in the air. But another winning record seems like a reasonable expectation.
Los Angeles Angels: Over
11 of 23
Projected Win Total: 88.5
Why They Will Win More
The Los Angeles Angels led all of baseball last season with 98 wins, but they were swept out of the playoffs in the division series by the upstart Kansas City Royals.
The highest-scoring team in baseball at 4.77 runs per game, they should again boast a potent offensive attack, even with second baseman Howie Kendrick shipped off the Los Angeles Dodgers this winter.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols will again lead the charge, while the offseason acquisition of Matt Joyce should help solve what could be another injury-plagued season from slugger Josh Hamilton.
A lack of starting pitching depth was perhaps the team's biggest issue last season, and that was addressed with the additions of Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano, a pair of high-upside young arms that figure to contend for the No. 5 starter spot this spring.
The big question will be how quickly ace Garrett Richards can bounce back from the knee surgery that ended his 2014 campaign, and whether he'll be the same dominant force we saw pre-injury.
The AL West might be the deepest division in baseball, but the Angels still look like the cream of the crop. They might not hit 98 wins again, but another 90-win season seems well within reach.
Oakland Athletics: Under
12 of 23
Projected Win Total: 80.5
Why They Will Win Less
The Oakland Athletics were hands down the best team in baseball for a good chunk of 2014 before stumbling to a 15-28 finish and sneaking into the postseason as the second AL wild card.
That was enough for general manager Billy Beane to go into full-blown retooling mode this winter, and heading into camp there projects to be 10 newcomers on the 25-man roster, according to Roster Resource.
All of their offseason wheeling and dealing netted them a bevy of prospects that should again set them up for future success despite their payroll limitations, but they have definitely taken a step back for 2015.
Gone from the offense are Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris and Jed Lowrie, and in their place the team will be counting on guys like Ike Davis, Brett Lawrie and Marcus Semien to play up to their potential, something they have yet to consistently do to this point.
The pitching staff is still strong at the top with the duo of Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, but behind will be some combination of Drew Pomeranz, Jesse Chavez and offseason additions Jesse Hahn, Kendall Graveman, Sean Nolin and Chris Bassitt.
Beane has proven the doubters wrong in the past, but with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros all looking ready to take a step forward in the win column, someone has to go backward.
Seattle Mariners: Over
13 of 23
Projected Win Total: 86.5
Why They Will Win More
It's not often the Seattle Mariners have been mentioned among the American League favorites this offseason, but there may not be a team in the league better built for postseason success.
The fact that they have not been to the postseason since 2001 may be reason for some to give pause, but they were just one win from claiming the second AL wild-card spot last year, and they look like a significantly better squad heading into 2015.
Adding Nelson Cruz to the middle of the lineup is obviously huge offensively, but so too will be a full season of Austin Jackson in the leadoff spot, the right-field platoon of Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano and another year of experience for catcher Mike Zunino.
Even as an 87-win team last year, the Mariners still ranked 11th in the AL in runs scored. But now for the first time since the days of John Olerud and Bret Boone their offense finally looks like a legitimate weapon.
Then there's the starting rotation, which will again be led by the veteran duo of Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma but could be significantly improved with full seasons from budding stars James Paxton and Taijuan Walker.
Throw in what was the best bullpen in baseball last season returning more or less intact, and this team looks to have all the pieces to not only snap their postseason drought, but legitimately contend for the AL West title.
Miami Marlins: Over
14 of 23
Projected Win Total: 81.5
Why They Will Win More
Legitimate wild-card contenders until stumbling to a 13-22 finish, the Miami Marlins nonetheless made a drastic turnaround from 62-100 in 2013 to 77-85 this past season.
Now after an offseason that saw them add the likes of Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Martin Prado, Michael Morse, Ichiro Suzuki, David Phelps and Aaron Crow they look ready to take the next step with their first winning season since 2009.
Even with ace Jose Fernandez expected to be sidelined until the beginning of June and Nathan Eovaldi traded to the Yankees, the starting rotation still looks strong with Latos, Henderson Alvarez and Jarred Cosart leading the way.
Offensively they should again boast one of the most productive outfields in the game with Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. Meanwhile, the infield should be significantly improved with the three newcomers alongside Adeiny Hechavarria.
With the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies checking in as non-contenders and the New York Mets perhaps still a year away from making a serious run, the Marlins look like the second-best team in the NL East here in February.
Another 15-win improvement would make them a 92-win team, but even half that would put them past their projected win total.
New York Mets: Under
15 of 23
Projected Win Total: 81.5
Why They Will Win Less
The future looks extremely bright for the New York Mets, but just how good they can be in 2015 remains to be seen.
With ace Matt Harvey returning after missing all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery, the starting rotation has the potential to be great.
Behind him, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Rafael Montero give the team perhaps the deepest crop of starters in all of baseball.
But just how good will Harvey be in his first year back? And will deGrom be able to duplicate his rookie-season dominance?
The questions don't stop at the starting rotation, either, as the offense is seemingly one big question mark outside of Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy.
Can David Wright regain his power stroke after dealing with a nagging shoulder injury and posting a .698 OPS last year? Will 35-year-old Michael Cuddyer stay healthy after playing just 49 games last year? Is Wilmer Flores the answer at shortstop?
Granted every team has questions at this point in the early stages of spring training, but the Mets seem to have more than most.
They have the upside to legitimately contend for a playoff spot, but until some questions are answered the under seems like the way to go.
Washington Nationals: Over
16 of 23
Projected Win Total: 92.5
Why They Will Win More
We've seen juggernaut starting rotations come up short in the past, with the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies immediately jumping to mind, but it's hard not to like the Washington Nationals' chances behind the rotation they've assembled.
The signing of Max Scherzer means that Tanner Roark, who went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA last season, will likely be relegated to the bullpen.
That's how good this rotation projects to be, with Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez joining the $210 million man Scherzer.
They're no slouches offensively, either, as the addition of Yunel Escobar shored up the only glaring hole at second base.
Anthony Rendon is a budding superstar and 22-year-old Bryce Harper still has as high a ceiling as any player in the game. A full-time move to first base should help keep Ryan Zimmerman on the field, and the 30-year-old is still capable of being an impact bat in the middle of the order.
Yes, they've come up short in their past two trips to the postseason, but this team looks to have legitimate 100-win potential after a 96-win season last year.
Chicago Cubs: Over
17 of 23
Projected Win Total: 82.5
Why They Will Win More
Asking the Chicago Cubs fanbase to temper expectations in 2015 won't be easy.
This is the year that has been pointed to for a while as the time when the team will finally begin to reap the rewards of their large-scale rebuilding efforts.
Landing top free-agent target Jon Lester has only added to those expectations, and the team made it clear they were ready to make a serious run at contention by also trading for Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler and signing Jason Hammel.
There will be growing pains with such a young lineup, as this team will almost certainly lead the league in strikeouts.
However, they already have two established stars in Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, and rookies Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant both have the tools to become immediate stars in their own right.
If Javier Baez can make the necessary adjustments—something he's proven capable of more than once during his climb to the big leagues—this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league.
The starting rotation looks solid with breakout star Jake Arrieta joining Lester at the top and Hammel, Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood rounding out the staff.
There is also depth behind them in the likes of Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront, Tsuyoshi Wada and Edwin Jackson should injury strike.
The pieces are here, and this team is only going to get better in the years to come. They might not reach the playoffs in 2015, but eclipsing 82 wins seems doable.
Milwaukee Brewers: Under
18 of 23
Projected Win Total: 78.5
Why They Will Win Less
The Milwaukee Brewers held at least a share of the NL Central lead from Apr. 5 all the way until Aug. 31 last season, but a 9-22 finish left them watching from home when the postseason rolled around.
In reality, a red-hot 20-7 start is why they were perched atop the standings for so long, as they were a 53-51 team between their fantastic start and disastrous finish.
Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy are solid pieces offensively, but Ryan Braun is not the player he used to be and Aramis Ramirez is another year older. The addition of Adam Lind at first base figures to be an upgrade, but he still leaves them with a platoon situation.
Gone from the starting rotation is Yovani Gallardo, which will mean it's up to the relatively inexperienced trio of Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers and Jimmy Nelson to step up alongside steady veterans Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza.
The bullpen lost Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny and only made on significant addition in Neal Cotts. Healthy seasons from Jim Henderson and Tyler Thornburg could help offset those losses, though.
The NL Central figures to be a dog fight once again, but with the Chicago Cubs set to take a step forward and the Cincinnati Reds also poised to improve some after an injury-plagued 2014, the Brewers may wind up being the team that takes a step back.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Over
19 of 23
Projected Win Total: 83.5
Why They Will Win More
After a 20-year playoff drought, the Pittsburgh Pirates have now reached the postseason in back-to-back years, and they have the horses to make it three in a row in 2015.
Losing catcher Russell Martin is a big blow, there's no question about that, but Francisco Cervelli brings many of the same qualities as his replacement and the team figures to be improved in other areas.
With Josh Harrison set to be the everyday third baseman, Pedro Alvarez will shift over to first base and platoon with newcomer Corey Hart. It's hard to imagine that duo being less productive than Ike Davis and Gaby Sanchez, and if everything breaks right they have legitimate 30 HR-100 RBI potential.
A.J. Burnett is back after a rough season in Philadelphia, and the re-signing of Francisco Liriano means he won't be asked to be anything more than a middle-of-the-rotation arm. Once Charlie Morton returns from hip surgery, the team will have some terrific depth.
Two players in particular to watch are outfielders Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco.
Marte hit .348/.408/.567 in the second half, while Polanco is capable of much more than the .235/.307/.343 line he put up in 277 at-bats as a rookie last season.
This was one of the easiest calls to make. The Pirates not only look capable of matching their 88 wins from a year ago, but they should legitimately contend for the NL Central title.
St. Louis Cardinals: Under
20 of 23
Projected Win Total: 88.5
Why They Will Win Less
The St. Louis Cardinals enter 2015 working on a 15-year stretch that has included 11 postseason appearances, four NL pennants and a pair of World Series titles.
That kind of sustained and proven success is the reason few in St. Louis were concerned with the Milwaukee Brewers' stranglehold on the NL Central for much of last season.
When the dust settled, the Cardinals were again division winners, and they have the pieces to make it three in a row this coming season.
Offensively, they should be improved with the addition of Jason Heyward and a healthy Yadier Molina. The team as a whole got off to an incredibly slow start at the plate last year, so more offensive consistency would be welcome.
It's the starting rotation, perhaps the team's biggest strength heading into 2014, that now ranks as the biggest question mark.
Ace Adam Wainwright showed signs of his heavy workload catching up to him in the second half last season, had minor offseason surgery to trim cartilage in his elbow and is currently heading to St. Louis to see a specialist about an abdominal issue, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com.
Behind him Lance Lynn has emerged as a reliable second front-line arm, but Michael Wacha was slowed by a serious shoulder issue, John Lackey is entering the homestretch of his career and Carlos Martinez is far from a sure thing.
They will likely still enter 2015 as the favorites in the NL Central, but the uncertainty surrounding the rotation is reason enough to take the under at this point.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Under
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Projected Win Total: 92.5
Why They Will Win Less
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have a different look in 2015, that much is for sure. It remains to be seen if it will be for the better, though.
Gone from the offense are Hanley Ramirez, Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp, with the new double-play combination of Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick and uber-prospect Joc Pederson set to replace them, respectively.
Losing HanRam and Kemp from the middle of the lineup means Yasiel Puig will need to step up and be a consistent producer after a roller-coaster 2014 season.
Then there's the starting rotation, which should again be a strength behind the trio of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu, but will be relying on the injury-prone duo of Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson at the back end.
If somehow everyone can stay healthy, that group has a chance to be absolutely dominant, but if injury does strike there's not much in the way of depth.
Injury has already struck in the bullpen, with All-Star closer Kenley Jansen set to open the season on the disabled list after undergoing foot surgery. A shaky relief corps was their undoing last October, and things don't look much more stable entering 2015.
With a vastly improved San Diego Padres team and an Arizona Diamondbacks team that figures to be at least competitive after losing 98 games a year ago, the NL West won't be as easy this time around.
They're still the favorites to win the division, but 90 wins might do it.
San Diego Padres: Over
22 of 23
Projected Win Total: 84.5
Why They Will Win More
There are two schools of thought regarding the 2015 San Diego Padres.
The glass-half-full crowd will point to a pitching staff that ranked fourth in ERA last season being even better with the addition of James Shields, and the vastly improved offense being enough to push the team into legitimate playoff contention.
The half-empty crowd will point out that the defense has taken a huge step backward with newcomers Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp manning the outfield at spacious Petco Park and pitch-framing expert Rene Rivera no longer behind the plate.
That could mean a big step back for that aforementioned pitching staff, and even with their additions the offense still won't be confused with the '27 Yankees with the likes of Yonder Alonso, Alexi Amarista and Jedd Gyorko penciled into starting jobs.
After winning 77 games last season, are the Padres eight wins better after the work GM A.J. Preller has done this offseason?
We'll say yes for now, but that half-empty group brings up some legitimate points.
San Francisco Giants: Under
23 of 23
Projected Win Total: 84.5
Why They Will Win Less
After their impressive run to a their third World Series title in the past five years, it's easy to forget that the San Francisco Giants won just 88 games during the regular season and reached the playoffs as the No. 2 wild card in the National League.
The easy answer here would be to simply say it's an odd-numbered year, so the Giants have no chance. Their fans said the opposite plenty last season and it wound up being true, so one would think that logic works both ways.
In all seriousness, though, the 2015 version of the Giants has several areas of concern.
Keeping guys like Brandon Belt and Angel Pagan healthy becomes much more important for the offense following the departure of Pablo Sandoval, though a full season of Joe Panik should give the lineup a boost.
The real issue is the starting rotation, or more specifically everyone not named Madison Bumgarner.
The stats surrounding their demise have been rattled off to death this offseason, so we won't go down that road again.
Instead, we'll simply say that Tim Hudson and Jake Peavy are another year older and another year removed from their respective primes. Matt Cain is no sure thing coming back from elbow and ankle surgery, while Tim Lincecum is even further removed from his prime.
The Giants got hot at the right time last season and rode that to a title, and good teams know how to do that sort of thing.
They look like the third-best team in the NL West entering the year, though, and snagging an NL wild-card spot won't be nearly as easy this time around. A .500 finish seems very possible.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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