4 Offseason Mistakes Brian Sabean Made That Are Haunting the Giants Now

Brian Sabean was heralded as the general manager of the year 2010 after his San Francisco Giants captured the World Series crown for the first time since the franchise moved from New York 52 seasons earlier.

Sabean made solid moves by dealing Bengie Molina to the team San Francisco would eventually defeat to win the championship, the Texas Ranges, and by acquiring relievers Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez to solidify the bullpen for the stretch run last season.

But after the champagne finished flowing and the ticker tape finished falling on the streets of San Francisco, Sabean had his work cut out for him in trying to engineer a repeat.

Some of Sabean's moves, and non-moves, have cost the Giants in their quest to defend the title ...

4. Not Making Enough of an Effort to Re-Sign Edgar Renteria

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Edgar Renteria #16 of the San Francisco Giants hits a 3-run homer to centerfield against starting pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers in the top of the seventh inning of Game Five of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers

The World Series MVP in last season's Fall Classic was Edgar Renteria, the veteran shortstop who, though injury plagued, was clutch in the postseason for the Giants.

After the Giants made little effort to re-sign him, Renteria departed for Cincinnati, to play shortstop for Dusty Baker.

While Renteria is not an above-average threat at the plate, he is a solid glove at shortstop who has very good range.

By letting him go, the Giants consigned their fate at the all-important shortstop position by signing Miguel Tejada, a move that has backfired in many ways for San Francisco.

3. Letting Juan Uribe Go

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 23: Juan Uribe #5 of the San Francisco Giants hits a solo home run to take a 3-2 lead in the eigth inning as Carlos Ruiz #51 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in Game Six of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Ban

The Giants have had a horrendous time this season driving in runners in scoring position. They are also suffering from limited versatility on the infield.

Juan Uribe solved both of those problems for the Giants last year.

Uribe played short and third, and he drove in runs in the clutch, including his memorable opposite-field home run to put the Giants ahead of the Phillies in last year's NLCS, propelling San Francisco to the World Series.

Brian Sabean did not match what the Dodgers had to offer Uribe in the offseason. Hindsight being 20-20, Uribe would have been worth the money given what the Giants ended up paying Miguel Tejada in exchange for a very poor contribution to the ball club so far in 2011.

2. Not Signing a Veteran Backup Catcher

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DENVER - JULY 26: Catcher Eli Whiteside #22 of the San Francisco Giants backs up the plate against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-2.. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Nobody could have foreseen the terrible season-ending injury suffered by Giants' star catcher Buster Posey. 

Not even general manager Brian Sabean.

But what Sabean might have been able to foresee was Posey getting beat-up behind the dish and needing to either give him some rest or move him to another position to keep his bat in the lineup.

Given the need for a solid backstop to handle what is arguably the best pitching staff in all of baseball, it would have behooved Sabean and the Giants to acquire a veteran backup catcher who could step in without missing a beat in the absence of Posey.

Now that the unthinkable has happened, with Posey out for the year, the Giants must depend on Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart to assume the catching duties.

Whiteside has just three years of major-league experience and has already shown uneasiness behind the plate, allowing several passed balls and several successful steal attempts.

Chris Stewart has only started 20 major-league games as a catcher, and just does not have the requisite experience needed to handle a staff like the Giants'.

Neither Whiteside or Stewart is a threat offensively.  Whiteside is hitting just .190, while Stewart is only hitting .174.

1. Signing Miguel Tejada

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PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: Miguel Tejada #10 of the San Francisco Giants reacts to a called strike during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 17, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Gia

The offseason move that has cost the Giants the most is the signing of free-agent Miguel Tejada.

Tejada, 37, has shown extremely limited range at shortstop and third base, and he has struggled offensively, hitting just .220 with one home run and 17 RBI.  His on-base percentage is a meager .251, and he's slugging a limp .288.

Tejada's deteriorating defensive skills have cost San Francisco in the win column, and his acquisition by the defending champs has now proven to be a flop.

Sabean's Offseason Mistakes Have Hurt, but Redemption Comes Around July

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 20: Brian Sabean, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the San Francisco Giants, watches batting practice before Game Four of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs between the Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T P

When you win, everyone loves you, and when you lose, it's all your fault.

Such is the life of a major league general manager.  While Brian Sabean has made offseason mistakes that have contributed to some of San Francisco's biggest problems, the Giants do still find themselves in first place in the NL West, and the trade deadline is an opportunity for Sabean to reverse the effects of some of his offseason miscues.

Time will tell, and Giants fans are watching closely.