San Francisco Giants: 10 Reasons They'll Return to Glory in 2012

It seemed as though the perspective of San Francisco Giants fans shifted from 2011 to 2012 in August. With the World Series almost over between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, a new major league champion is only days away from being crowned.

Giants fans take heart: Here are 10 reasons why the 2012 World Championship parade will once again roll through King Street. Some are serious. Some are not. I leave it up to you to decide which are and which aren’t. 

No. 1: Buster Posey Returns

Looking back on the myriad of injuries that plagued the Giants, the loss of Buster Posey weighs heaviest. Someone close to me said, “Come on. It’s not like Buster Posey won the World Series for the Giants in 2010.”

Of course Posey did not win the World Series single-handedly. But it’s hard to believe that they would have ever gotten that far were it not for their Rookie of the Year catcher. Should he return to form, he will be a formidable and much-needed bat for the Giants. More importantly, he will be a catcher that can hit over .200 and occasionally drive in runs. 

No. 2: Arizona Will Suffer from a Hangover

I base this assumption on absolutely nothing, mind you. That being said, Kirk Gibson’s crew overperformed last year. They played exceptionally well and absolutely deserved to win the National League West. Make no mistake about it.

But are they really better than the San Francisco Giants? Playoff losses can be either motivational (see Texas this season) or debilitating (when was the last time you heard from the Cubs?).

I’m going with my gut here, and saying that Arizona will not be as good as they were this year. 

No. 3: Tim Lincecum Will Return to Cy Young Form

I don’t care what he says during press conferences. Tim Lincecum is upset about having posted a losing record this season. Granted, it certainly wasn’t all his doing. While he did have some poor games down the stretch, the Giants provided no runs of support in 11—11—of his starts.

Lincecum may or may not win the Cy Young next season. What’s important is that he will work hard this offseason, which he evidently did last offseason as well and be fully motivated to put together exceptional numbers yet again. 

No. 4: The Giants Will Sign Free Agents

Does it matter who? Of course it does. But the Giants don’t need to sign Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols to make a splash. Signings of Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Beltran, Coco Crisp, Fruity Pebbles and Captain Crunch would positively impact the Giants.

What is important is that Brian Sabean and the front office do nothing to procure an aging shortstop (Miguel Tejada) or an obnoxious center fielder (Aaron Rowand). Not participating in the Carl Crawford sweepstakes last offseason was a brilliant decision.

No. 5: Barry Zito Will Open a Hamburger Stand

In a perfect world, Barry Zito will retire. Feeling guilty about the money he has leeched from the Giants for the past five seasons, Zito will arrange a protracted payment plan ala Barry Bonds and open up a Performance Enhancing Hamburger Stand in the Giants clubhouse.

According to “The Franchise,” not only does Barry Zito cook a heck of a hamburger, he’ll strum you out some gnarly chords on his guitar while doing it. Either way, the Giants will not have to think about Barry Zito again. Until their stomach starts whistling. 

No. 6: Baby Giraffe Comes of Age

Why not? Brandon Belt has been the object of my ire for the past few months, as I maintain that he is an overhyped rookie who will never amount to anything more than a Nate Schierholtz-type player. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong, though, and Brandon Belt has the ability to do that.

Not since Barry Bonds has a left-handed Giants hitter turned on an inside pitch so beautifully. If he comes of age and has a good season, the Giants’ hopes for a championship increase exponentially. 

No. 7: Brandon Crawford Will See Zero Major League Action

If Brandon Crawford sees no major league action, there will be two consequences. First, the Giants will obviously have a defensively capable enough shortstop that there will no longer be any need for Crawford’s defensive prowess. Second, it means that the Giants will have found a shortstop—very importantwho will hit over .200.

Jamey Carroll. Jimmy Rollins. The guy from your neighbor’s beer league softball team (see: Ryan Vogelsong). The Giants will sign one of these characters and will no longer have any need for Brandon Crawford. Consider this a good thing. 

No. 8: Aubrey Huff Will Be Motivated

Aubrey Huff was out of shape in 2011. He looked tired, winded and burdened. Granted, he carried the team on his back through June. The season doesn’t end in June, though, and Huff knows it.

He also knows that there will be pressure on him from both Brandon Belt and Brett Pill for playing time. Huff will show the same resolve and leadership that he showed in 2010—even if he doesn’t post the same numbersand will contribute meaningfully to the team. He’s just that kind of guy. 

No. 9: Brian Wilson Will Lose His Beard

I predict that one day, this offseason, Brian Wilson will hang out with his family in New England. Over Christmas, while roasting chestnuts on an open fire, he will demonstrate to his family his skill at juggling chestnuts.

Unfortunately, Wilson will drop one of those chestnuts into the fire. Fearing the loss of his “lucky chestnut,” he will get perilously close to the flame. The flame will singe his beard, all but forcing Wilson to shave.

The beard, the object not the person, has negative stigma now. It no longer is a championship beard. Now that the Giants finished a distant second in their division, the beard is a joke. It is beset with irony, and it needs to vanish.

Maybe Brian Wilson can grow a new one. But first, he will lose the beard and focus on the only thing more important than his public relations schemepitching. 

No. 10: Pitching, Hitting and More

The dominant pitching staff the Giants had in 2011? Nearly all of it is coming back. The mangled veterans who played as though their last game was played on Hill 364? Almost none of them are. The kids are coming up, the fans are coming back and new talent is coming to boost ticket sales.

Make no mistake about it: Whatever the Giants liabilities were last year are sure to be addressed this offseason, and virtually all the strengths will return intact.