A Look at The 2010 San Francisco Giants

It’s the day before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. I am not sure what to think about this roster for several reasons.

By acquiring utility man Mark DeRosa and first baseman Aubrey Huff, Brian Sabean has improved the line up a little. I know Huff is a major improvement over anyone the Giants have at the moment, but is DeRosa better than Eugenio Velez? I don’t think so.

Here is my Opening Day position starters as of right now:

Catcher: Bengie Molina
First Base: Aubrey Huff
Second Base: Juan Uribe
Shortstop: Edgar Renteria
Third Base: Pablo Sandoval
Left Field: Mark DeRosa
Center Field: Aaron Rowand
Right Field: Nate Schierholtz

I have to address a few issues that have come up with this list.

One, Freddy Sanchez is not going to start at second base because he will be in rehab, recovering from shoulder surgery. This is just an assumption, so don’t sue me if I’m wrong.

Two, there is no way DeRosa is going to be starting on the bench with his two year, $12 million contract. I have a hard time accepting the fact that he is better than Velez. Sabean has once again over paid for an aging player.

Three, the resigning of Bengie Molina is not a good sign. I would rather have Eli Whiteside starting every day because he can run faster.

Four, and final issue, the Giants must decide what position they want Buster Posey to play. If Posey is going to be their catcher of the future, they should have him start in AAA, so he can get as much time behind the plate as possible. Posey is not going get a lot of game time with Molina on the roster.

Moving to pitching, I am concerned in a couple spots.

My main concern is with the bullpen. I know it is good with Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Brandon Medders, and Sergio Romo. They are not in question. It’s Joe Martinez, Waldis Joaquin, and Dan Runzler that has me biting my nails. Martinez was not good when he returned from the Disabled List after taking a ball off the head. Joaquin and Runzler did not have enough innings for me to form a strong opinion.

I am also concerned about the fifth starter spot. Madison Bumgarner only started one of his four games last year. I am just wondering why he didn’t get more starts. Martinez pitched more starts and struggled. Why did Martinez get the call over Bumgarner?

In the end, I feel that the National West will be won by either the Giants or the Colorado Rockies. I don’t think Sabean has improved this team enough to get past the first round, if they get to the playoffs.

This may be a very long year.