It’s an even-numbered year and the San Francisco Giants are contenders again. What else did you expect?
In all seriousness, it isn’t numerology that’s making them great. A mixture of established talent and a couple of free agent pick-ups are fueling this club’s rise to the top of a National League West (at 31-20) that is easily for the taking.
The face of the franchise remains Buster Posey, and it’s been that way ever since his rise to stardom during the first championship by this group in 2010. He’s just as consistent at the plate as he is behind it.
But after hitting .318 and driving in 95 runs last season, that steadiness with the bat is yet to be witnessed in 2016. Perhaps Saturday was the spark for a turnaround. In that contest with the Colorado Rockies, Posey drilled a pair of three-run homers to forge a 10-5 Giants victory — their 14th win in 16 games.
While Posey continues to lead primarily with his mere presence, Hunter Pence leads the team in just about every key offensive category: batting average (.295), home runs (seven), RBIs (33) and hits (49). First baseman Brandon Belt and shortstop Brandon Crawford get on base about 40 percent of the time, while Crawford remains one of the best fielders at his position.
For everything the offense and defense contributes, it’s the pitching that’s been most crucial in San Francisco’s success. More specifically, one known face and two new ones.
It’s easy to forget Madison Bumgarner is just 26, because he’s performed way beyond his years dating back to six seasons ago — and was on a completely other level during the title run of 2014. As for this season, he’s won his last five decisions to improve to 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts.
Bumgarner’s fellow rotation-mates have included names such as Lincecum, Cain, Peavy, Vogelsong and Hudson. Now, it includes two key 0ff-season acquisitions.
Johnny Cueto, fresh from the World Series win with Kansas City, is 7-1 with three complete games, a 2.38 ERA and a 0.991 WHIP. That six-year, $130-million deal is already starting to pay off.
Jeff Samardzija’s winter deal wasn’t quite as lucrative, but it was enough to make some critics question the decision by Giants management to ink such a contract with a pitcher who posted a 4.96 ERA in 2015, the third-worst rate among qualifying starting pitchers.
Well, Samardzija, just like he did with Oakland two years back, has found the West Coast experience to his liking. Like Cueto, he also has seven wins. His ERA is at 2.54. And he’s kept walks to a minimum (16).
Since April 22nd @SFGiants are 17-1 when Bumgarner, Cueto or Samardzija on the mound. Trio has 1.72 ERA, 0.91 WHIP over that time. Yeesh.
— Steve Owens (@steveowens_here) May 24, 2016
San Francisco has plenty of solid arms — and a steady hand at manager.
Having guided the Giants to three World Championships and 781 victories in nine-plus seasons by the bay (in addition to the 951 wins and one pennant with San Diego), Bruce Bochy can already prepare that Hall of Fame speech.
He does what few managers can do: get the most out of his players. From the bullpen to veteran hitters to youngsters, their talents are maximized. The results, of course, have been glorious.
All those factors have the Giants in a familiar position — among the upper echelon of the National League.
And San Francisco’s competition within the NL West is even less daunting. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who the Giants lead by 4.5 games, are a below-.500 club whenever Clayton Kershaw isn’t on the hill. The Rockies are one-dimensional — lacking a pitching staff that can compete. Arizona doesn’t have the look of a contender with an under-performing Zack Greinke and without A.J. Pollock out of the lineup. The San Diego Padres simply can’t generate enough offense to lift them far from the cellar.
That being said, the San Francisco Giants posses the tools necessary for another trip to the postseason — just like they did in 2010, 2012 and again as a Wild Card in 2014. We all know how those three appearances turned out.
