San Francisco Giants Information
The ’07 San Francisco Giants season can be summed up in one name: Barry Bonds. On July 27th, Bonds hit his 754 career home run, bringing heavy media attention to the Giants. Later on in the season, playing against the Padres, Bonds hit a high fastball – tying Hank Aaron at the 755 all time home run record. This is definitely one season not to miss – with a powerful offensive and record baseball slamming, Candlestick Park definitely promises fans excitement.
It’s
no surprise to hear about all the accolades of Barry Bonds when
the San Francisco Giants come into conversation. Bonds is widely
regarded as one of the top five players of all-time, but to get
any more specific than that would spark quite a debate. As well
as Bonds has played over the last few seasons, the Giants will
need even more from him if they plan on reaching the playoffs out
of the competitive National League West.
Felipe Alou goes into his second season as skipper of the Giants, replacing the
likeable Dusty Baker, who made the jump to the Chicago Cubs. Alou had spent his
first 10 seasons in Montreal, where he was never able to take a team to the playoffs,
but in his first season with the Giants, they won 100 games, but were beaten
in the National League Divisional Series. The Giants have made two World Series
appearances since their move from New York to San Francisco, but they have found
themselves on the short end on both occasions, swept in 1989 by the Oakland Athletics,
and beaten by Anaheim in a dramatic game seven in 2002. SBC Park, located in
the heart of San Francisco, is where the Giants play their home games. The park
is asymmetrical with dead center measuring 404 feet and right center at 420 feet.
Down the right field line, it is only 307 feet, but there is a 25 foot brick
wall to compensate. Any ball hit far enough down the right field line could likely
splash into McCovey Cove, named after hall-of-famer Willie McCovey.
Bonds will definitely be the center of attention until the day he decides to hang up his spikes, but even though he’ll turn 40 this summer, he shows no signs of slowing down. He hasn’t been on the disabled list for an extended period of time in many seasons, and his off-season regiment almost guarantees he’ll be available for 130+ games each season. This season, he’ll need more help from the guys around him or it could be a long and uneventful season with all the intentional walks he’ll be receiving. A.J. Pierzynski was acquired in an off-season deal, and will replacing departing catcher Benito Santiago. Pedro Feliz and Edgardo Alfonso will look to bounce back from disappointing seasons in 2003.
Jason Schmidt is the unquestioned leader of the Giants starting rotation, and he’ll be forced to carry this team on his back for stretches of the season. Jerome Williams is only 22 years old, but looked quite promising at points of the 2003 season. Kirk Rueter and Brett Tomko will also earn spots on the staff. The biggest question mark the Giants have is at closer, where Robb Nen is still not recovered from shoulder surgery. If Nen is still unavailable, the Giants will either give the spot to another arm in the bullpen or look into the free agent market for a more experienced closer.