San Francisco Giants Win the World Series: 5 Reasons They Could Repeat Next Year
Edgar Renteria = Babe Ruth.
Really? Um, no. But it was Renteria's supposed 'called shot' that won it for the Giants, as they can now call themselves World Series champions.
Aaron Rowand was miked when he said that Renteria had told him he was going to do it. And do it he did. His three-run homer was the difference as the Giants won 3-1, taking the series 4-1.
Cliff Lee was good, but he is 0-2 in the World Series. Meanwhile, the only mistake Tim Lincecum made was the solo home run that Nelson Cruz hit in the bottom of the seventh.
There is no reason to believe the Giants cannot do it again next year.
Look, I know the game just ended. But let's take a look at five reasons why the Giants could repeat.
1. Buster Posey
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Given that catcher is one of the most-important defensive positions on the baseball diamond, having a young stud at the position—and at an affordable price for years to come—is a recipe for long-term success.
Posey may finish second to Jason Heyward in the ROY voting, but in terms of future impact, it is likely that the Giants catcher will be more valuable to his team over the long term.
He can catch, he can throw, he can hit and he handles a pitching staff very well for a youngster.
2. Madison Bumgarner
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Twenty-one-year-old rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner handled the Texas Rangers offense like a veteran on Sunday, shutting them out over eight innings.
His fastball sits in the low 90s and he throws his curveball for strikes. And he has a lot of poise for a kid, seemingly unfazed by the pressure surrounding him.
This bodes well for the Giants future.
3. A Pair of Aces in Lincecum and Cain and a Solid No. 3 in Sanchez
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These guys have accomplished so much already—with "The Freak" Tim Lincecum winning two Cy Young awards and Matt Cain pitching like a master in the postseason—that it is easy to forget they each are only 26 years old.
There is no reason not to expect more brilliance next year for these co-masters. And both are locked in contractually with the Giants, with Cain having signed a three-year extension back in March and Lincecum signed through next season.
Likewise, lefty Jonathan Sanchez isn't going anywhere, though he is arbitration-eligible.
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4. It's the Beard!
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Closer Brian Wilson keeps getting better and better and, just as importantly, he is signed through 2012.
Lefty Jeremy Affeldt wasn't as good as in 2009, but he is still effective and is locked up as well. And Sergio Romo is young and under team control.
5. They Have Room for Offensive Improvement
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Salary room, that is.
With $76.9 million in salary committed for 2011, there should be enough for the Giants to add players if they need to, even with arbitration raises.
Aubrey Huff is a free agent and Cody Ross is arbitration eligible for the third time. But Ross' postseason performance looks better than he really is, and Huff is coming off of a career year, so the Giants may look elsewhere for some more offensive help.
But with their rotation and bullpen in good order, they can focus on adding to the offense without breaking the bank.
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