San Francisco Giants: Why This Team Is Different Than the Opening Day Team

The Giants are known for being a team of torture. 

This past three weeks, their fans have been given torture. But not the way they wanted it.

San Francisco has won six of their last twenty games, dropped their last six one-run games, and been held to one run or less seven times (four of those shutouts).

Wasn't this the team that went 6-1 in one-run games last postseason? The team with 28 one-run wins? The team with all the castoffs and misfits?

I can answer that question. No, it's not.

Right now, the only player playing the same position as he was on Opening Day is Pablo Sandoval, who batted eighth on Opening Day, and now bats third. 

Pablo Sandoval was the Giants weak spot on Opening Day. Now, he's their strong spot.

Sure, the Giants have Jeff Keppinger. They have Orlando Cabrera. They have Carlos Beltran. Cody Ross is back from injury.

But what about Buster Posey? Injured. Freddy Sanchez? Injured. Carlos Beltran? Injured. Pat Burrell? Injured. Andres Torres? Injured. Just about every player has been injured at some point.

Right now, Miguel Tejada, the Opening Day shortstop, and Aubrey Huff, the Opening Day right fielder, are the only other players still in the lineup.

The current shortstop, Orlando Cabrera, has not been hitting, has not been making plays in the field (letting guys reach on infield hits), and catchers Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart aren't hitting.

Jeff Keppinger is a nice replacement for Freddy Sanchez, but he doesn't bring the energy Freddy Sanchez brought. Orlando Cabrera doesn't have the ability to make plays on defense.

And Carlos Beltran, who may be a great hitter, lacks the superb throwing arm and effort of Nate Schierholtz. The new guys are good hitters, but lack the defense and energy.

This Giants team may have some of the same characters, but the chemistry is gone. The castoffs and misfits theme is gone. All of it is gone.

The Giants have talent, and there is no questioning that. But do they have the magic they had last year? The answer...

No.