The 2005 season was a tremendously disappointing one for the San Francisco Giants.  Injuries and sub-par performance dogged the club everywhere from the bullpen on up to Barry Bonds, who was limited by injury to just 14 games in September. 

 

Following the season the Giants number one priority was addressing the pressing need of starting pitching and a big left handed bat.  To that end the Giants acquired former Cardinal Matt Morris to help beef up the rotation.  As for the left handed bat, the team will count on finding ways to fit Steve Finley, acquired from the Angels in return for Edgardo Alfonso, into the lineup as often as possible. 

 

The bullpen saw a bit of tinkering as lefty Scott Eyre was lost to the Cubs in free agency and LaTroy Hawkins was traded to Baltimore to obtain Eyre’s replacement, Steve Kline. 

 

Health will be a key issue for this year’s squad as 17 members of the likely 25 man roster will be 30 years of age or older by season’s end.  That includes 7 of the 8 position starters, and in fact, four players will be over 40, including outfielders Finley, Bonds and Moises Alou.  And of course the team will need to deal with the continuous and increasing scrutiny of Bonds and the steroids controversy.

 

It’s a talented team, but not without many questions.  Here is a closer look at how the team shapes up as training camp begins to wind down and the season approaches. 

 

Catcher

 

Mike Matheny returns for the second year of his three year deal as the starting catcher for the Giants.  Matheny in his first season with the team won his fourth Gold Glove.  He won’t provide a ton of offense, but he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league.  Despite hitting .242, he nevertheless produced career highs in doubles (34), home runs (13), RBI (59) and slugging % (.406) while hitting .311 w/RISP (.373/.446/.706 before the All-Star break).  He is a rock, and baring injury, will do the bulk of catching for the team. 

 

One of the few available spots on the Giants roster is that of Matheny’s backup.  There are four candidates for that position.  Among them, veteran backstop Todd Greene and rookie Justin Knoedler (pronounced Ka-naid-ler) are the primary contenders.  Last season’s backup, Yamid Haad (2 for 28, .071 following the trade of Yorvit Torrealba), is in camp on a minor league contract but is an outsider for the spot.

 

Greene is a 10 year veteran in the league whose biggest plus is his bat.  Last season with Colorado, Greene hit 7 home runs in 126 at bats.  He is said to work well with pitchers, but his biggest drawback is his throwing arm.  He has a good lifetime fielding percentage (.991), but has always had troubles throwing out runners (4 out of 30 last season).  Another minus is his relative lack of experience behind the dish.  Greene has played just 252 games at the Major League level as a catcher. 

 

That is however, 247 games (or 432 innings) more than rookie Justin Knoedler has played at the big league level.  Justin hit .272 with 4 homers in 287 at bats for triple-A Fresno last season (he was 1 for 10 at the big league level).  He is considered the top catching prospect in the organization. 

 

A dark horse candidate is 10 year minor league vet Eliezer Alfonzo.  Alfonzo (27), hit a combined 22 homeruns and drove in 79 in 386 at bats at three minor league levels last year, including .357/.410/.638 with 13 homers and 45 RBI in 196 at bats at class A San Jose.  Alfonzo though had surgery in January to clean out bone spurs in his elbow, but hopes to be ready when the games begin. 

 

First Base

 

2006 will be young Lance Niekro’s chance to show what he can do at the Major League level.  He is expected to see the bulk of playing time at the position now that long time Giant J.T. Snow is gone.  Niekro will need to avoid a tendency to get injured and learn to hit right handers if the job is to remain his. 

 

Niekro, the son of Joe and nephew of HOF’er Phil, hit just .206 with 3 HR’s and 20 RBI in 170 AB’s against righties, while he hit .324 (.361 OBP and .657 SLG) with 9 HR’s and 26 RBI in 108 AB’s against lefties.

 

He started the season strong (.297, 10 HR’s 34 RBI at the All Star break) but slumped as the season wore on.  An injured toe, suffered when he fouled a ball of his foot, slowed him as well and he finished the season at .252 with 12 HR’s and 46 RBI. 

 

At 27, Niekro is the youngest starter among position players and the only one under 30.  His youth would serve the team well if he proves he can hit both right handers as well as lefties.

 

His backup/platoon partner is former San Diego Padre Mark Sweeney, the 4^th leading pinch hitter in Major League history.  Sweeney (36) will provide the team with a left handed alternative at first base as well as play some right and left field in addition to his role of pinch hitting specialist. 

 

Sweeney is coming off a career year in which he had career highs in games played (135) and at bats (221) while hitting .294 with 8 homers and 40 RBI (tying his career best).  He played primarily against right handers last season (.303 8 HR’s 37 RBI), logging only 20 at bats against lefties so he can be expected to play often against tough right handers though the plan is for Niekro to play most often keeping Sweeney’s potent pinch hitting bat ready on the bench.

 

Second Base

 

Ray “Sugar Man” Durham returns for his fourth season as the Giants starting second baseman.  Signed to a lucrative deal following the ’02 season, Durham has struggled with leg injuries in each of his three seasons with the team, averaging just 124 games played. 

 

Last year, Durham played in 142 games though he often did not seem to be running at 100%.  He nevertheless did hit .290 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI.  His best season as a Giant came in 2004 when he hit .282 with a .484 SLG and had 17 homers and scored 95 runs in just 120 games.  As a Giant, Durham has averaged 12 homers per year after averaging nearly 17 per season the previous five.  More significant has been his drop in stolen base production. After averaging over 28 steals per year his first 8 seasons, Ray has bagged only 23 in three seasons. 

 

The Giants will be depending on Durham to remain healthy and productive.  Durham began the season as the Giants leadoff hitter but finished up hitting behind Moises Alou, first as the fifth hitter, then in the 6 hole after Bonds’ return.  He spent the offseason working out with renowned trainer Jeremy Boone, who has worked with NFL players and Olympic athletes, building up his legs and upper body.

 

Upon arriving at camp a day early, Durham was informed that he might again be the Giants leadoff hitter.  Manager Felipe Alou likes the idea of Winn, who filled that role after the team acquired him in July, hitting in the 3^rd spot ahead of Bonds, though he may yet be the leadoff guy.  Omar Vizquel could also see time at the top of the order. 

 

Shortstop

 

Omar Vizquel’s 17^th Major League season was also his first as a National Leaguer.  Vizquel won 9 Gold Gloves in the American League.  As a Giant, Vizquel won his tenth, becoming the first shortstop in San Francisco history to win a Gold Glove. 

 

The 39 year old Vizquel was perhaps the team’s most valuable player last season.  His defense steadied the pitching staff and he was surprisingly effective on the offensive side of the ball as well.  He hit .271 (.305 before the All-Star break before slumping to .229 in the second half) and stole 24 bases.  He also led the team with 20 sacrifice hits. 

 

More impressive was Vizquel’s performance in the clutch.  Vizquel hit .330 with RISP including .387 before the break and .365 against right handers.  But it was his renowned defense that won over Giant fans everywhere.  Vizquel was superb to amazing.  Virtually flawless with the routine, he seemed to perform some incredible new feat on an almost daily basis. 

 

2006 will be the second year of a three year deal Vizquel signed with the team before last season. 

 

Third Base

 

Pedro Feliz in 2005 saw action at three different positions, starting 70 games in left, 67 at third and 9 at first.  Feliz, who played those three spots as well as at short in ’04, is slated to be this season’s everyday third baseman following the off-season trade of Edgardo Alfonzo to Anaheim. 

 

The hope is that settling firmly into his natural position at third will create a comfort level Feliz has never had and lead to increased offensive production. 

 

In 2005, despite career marks in games (156) and at bats (569), Feliz saw a drop in his power numbers to 20 HRs (down from 22 the previous year) and 81 RBI (down from 84).  More worrying was his .207 average with RISP and his woeful .295 OBP. 

 

Defensively Feliz is solid at third, perhaps more so than Alfonzo.  Offensively, Feliz is a huge upgrade over Fonzi (who wouldn’t be?) but make no mistake, this year is key to Feliz’ future with the club. 

 

The Giants have waited a long time to see him reach his potential.  He will be 31 in April.  The future for Feliz is now.  He will need to produce the type of numbers the team has long expected or the ’06 season will likely be his last with the team.

 

Backup Infielder

 

The Giants this off-season signed 38-year old Jose Vizcaino to play the role of utility infielder for the team.  Vizcaino, a former Giant starting short stop, played all four infield positions last year for the NL Champion Houston Astros and will be expected to do the same for the Giants. 

 

It is quite possible, given Vizcaino’s versatility, that he would be the teams only backup at 3B, SS and 2B.  However, Angel Chavez, who backed up Vizquel last year following the trade of Deivi Cruz to Washington at the deadline could also earn a spot with the team.  This would likely depend on whether the team decides it needs a fifth outfielder (aside from Sweeney) or an extra infielder. 

 

Outfield

 

The biggest question mark entering training camp obviously is the health and status of Barry Bonds’ thrice surgically repaired right knee.  Bonds played in just 14 games last season for the Giants after missing most of the season with the injured knee and resulting staph infection.  Nevertheless, Bonds put up fairly typical numbers, smacking 5 home runs (barely missing a sixth on his first at bat back following a lengthy battle with Padres starter Adam Eaton and settling for a double) in 42 at bats while hitting .286.  He also put up a .404 OBP and slugged .667.  The Giants hope Bonds will be able to play 120 games for the team. 

 

Bonds, a 7-time MVP and 8-time Gold Glover, enters the season of course, just 6 home runs shy of Babe Ruth’s career mark of 714 and 47 shy of Hank Aaron’s All-Time mark of 755.  He will turn 42 on July 24. 

 

Randy Winn is the Giants centerfielder for the 2006 season.  GM Brian Sabean had had his eye on Winn for a while and jumped at the chance to acquire the switch hitting Winn who played his college ball at nearby Santa Clara University. 

 

After the team picked up Winn for backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba and pitching prospect Jesse Foppert, he responded by putting up astounding offensive numbers.  As a Giant, Winn hit .359/.391/.680 with 14 HRs and 39 Runs scored in 231 at bats over 58 games.  He also played a sparking defense, committing just one error on the year for the Giants and Mariners combined.  Winn also hit .447 with 51 hits and 11 home runs in the month of September to earn him NL Player of the Month honors.  Winn is durable, playing 160 games last year between San Francisco and Seattle.  He will turn 32 in June.

 

Moises Alou, who will turn 40 in July, returns for his second season as the Giants everyday right fielder.  Alou missed time in ’05 with various injuries, playing in 123 games, logging 427 at bats.  He hit .321 with 19 homers and 63 RBI.  Nice numbers but down from the season before when he hit 39 home runs and drove in 106.  He also hit just .246 with 5 HR’s w/RISP (.233 vs righties), while hitting 10 of hit 19 homers with nobody on base. 

 

He was signed to protect Bonds in the lineup but rarely had chance to do that, instead becoming the focus of the Giants lineup.  The hope is that Bonds will remain healthy and Alou will provide the type of protection Giants fans have long wished for.  At 40, Alou will likely need a significant number of days off during the season to remain fresh.  That’s where Steve Finley comes in.

 

Finley, long coveted by Sabean, was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for free agent bust Edgardo Alfonzo and will be expected to play 3 or 4 games a week filling in for Bonds in left and Alou in right and occasionally Winn perhaps in center.  Finley, slowed by a shoulder injury in ’05, hit just .222 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI after signing a lucrative two year deal (with an option for a third) with the Angels. 

 

Finley will turn 41 in March and has never been a favorite of mine.  It is highly questionable whether he can return to anywhere near his 2004 form which saw him hit 36 HRs and drive in 94 between Arizona and Los Angeles (including a Grand Slam that ended the Giants playoff hopes on the second to last day of the season).  Considering how often Finley will be expected to play, his success or failure could be a significant factor in determining the fate of the Giants. 

 

Depending on the teams decision to either keep Angel Chavez as an extra backup infielder or go with another outfielder will determine the final roster spot (among position players) for the Giants.  Should the team decide to go with another outfielder, which is more likely, the spot will be contended for by 2005 rookies Jason Ellison, Todd Linden and Dan Ortmeier. 

 

Ellison likely enters camp as the front runner for the final spot and reported to camp 15 pounds heavier than last year.  Jason at one point took over the starting centerfield role for the Giants after Marquis Grissom was let go.  Ellison hit .264 and stole 14 bases in 131 games for the team.  Injuries and the acquisition of Winn slowed Ellison late in the year (0 for 15 in Sept/Oct) but he hit .457 in April and .317 through May.  His 14 thefts were second only to Vizquel and he provides the team with much needed speed. 

 

Linden put up monster numbers at triple-A in 2005 before finishing the year in the big leagues.  In 95 games at Fresno, Linden hit 30 home runs and drove in 80 in only 340 at bats while hitting .321/.437/.682.  However, success at the Major League level escaped Todd as he hit just .216 with 4 HR’s in 171 AB’s over 60 games. 

 

A switch hitter with power and just 26 in June, Linden could provide a major spark if he is able to reach his potential but at bats could be scarce even if he makes the squad.  He may need to prove himself one final time at Fresno and wait for one last opportunity in San Francisco. 

 

Ortmeier is a player the Giants are really excited about.  He hit 20 home runs and drove in 79 for double-A Norwich (now the Connecticut Defenders) while hitting .274 with a .360 OBP and stealing 35 bases.  He likely will begin the season in Fresno but is on the team’s radar. 

 

Starting Pitching

 

The Giants enter camp with the top four spots in the rotation earmarked while 3 or 4 guys will compete for the fifth and final spot. 

 

Jason Schmidt returns as the team’s ace and number one starter.  Schmidt had Cy Young stuff for much of the 2003 and 2004 seasons, but dropped off in production considerably in 2005.  Despite feeling great in camp, Schmidt struggled out of the gate in ’05, posting a decent 3.41 ERA in April before exploding in May with a 7.78 mark.  By the end of that month, he had just two wins and a 5.08 ERA.  He also struggled with a loss of velocity and spent time on the DL with a “dead arm”. 

 

He was better in the second half including an outstanding August in which he posted a 4-0 record with a 3.13 ERA.  A hamstring injury slowed him in September and he finished that month with a 5.40 ERA. 

 

A return to health will be extremely important for the Giants.  The 2006 season is also the final year in Schmidt’s contract.  He will be paid $10 million for this season.  If the Giants fade, speculation will increase that Schmidt will be dealt. 

 

Filling the second spot in the rotation will be prized free agent acquisition Matt Morris.  Morris, who averaged nearly 17 wins per year the last five seasons, signed a three year deal worth $27 million with a club option for a fourth. 

 

Despite pitching much of the 2004 season with pain in his shoulder that required post season surgery in November of that year, Morris won 15 games and didn’t miss a start. 

 

Morris returned from the November surgery on April 19, 2005, missing just two weeks when he was expected to miss at least a month.  He began the season on a roll, beginning the season 9-1 before reaching the All-Star break 10-2 with a 3.10 ERA.  Less than a year removed from the knife, Morris’ ERA began to climb steadily (4.36 in July, 4.93 in Aug, 5.12 in Sept/Oct) as he predictably tired, yet he still made 31 starts for the Redbirds in the regular season and two more in the playoffs, winning his first round game allowing just 2 runs and 5 hits over 6 innings. 

 

As the 2006 season begins, Morris will be 18 months removed from surgery and pitching in a ball park suited to him and for a team he said was his number one choice to play for.  Matt Morris gives the Giants a lot of reason for optimism. 

 

Another reason for optimism for the Giants is third year starter Noah Lowry.  Lowry last year in his first full season, led the team in wins (13), ERA (3.78), strikeouts (172), innings pitched (204.2) and starts (33).  A lefty with a deceptive fastball and a big breaking curve, Lowry’s best weapon is what may be the best change up in Major League Baseball.  Just 25, Lowry is composed on the mound and though he struggled as well to begin the ’05 campaign, he finished strong. 

 

Through May, Noah was just 2-5 with a 5.36 ERA.  He won 3 games in June and though he won only 1 in July, his ERA for that month dropped to 3.58.  That prepped him for one of the best months by a pitcher last season.  In August Lowry, who was named pitcher of the month for his work, was 5-0 with a 0.69 ERA.  He finished the season 8-4 with a 2.43 ERA after the All-Star break. 

 

After Lowry, the Giants turn to rookie Matt Cain who will turn 22 on October 1.  Cain, the Giants highest ranked prospect, made his debut at the big league level on August 29 and pitched five solid innings against the Rockies.  He won his next start allowing just three hits over 7 innings and then in his next start he threw a complete game 2-hitter against the Chicago Cubs.  He had no-decisions in each of his final four starts but pitched at least 6 innings in each. 

 

For the season, Cain was 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA and allowed just 24 hits over 46.1 innings while holding opponents to a .151 batting average with a .240 OBP and a .239 slugging percentage.  He did struggle at times with control and walked 19 batters (3.69/9 innings) but his WHIP was still 0.93 as he allowed just 4.66 hits per 9 innings.  He was 10-5 with a 4.59 ERA, at Fresno in ’05, leading the PCL with 176 Ks which tied him for 7^th in the minor leagues.

 

Moreover, he showed a presence on the mound that belied his age.  He seemed confident and composed beyond his years from the start despite obvious nerves in his debut and showed more with each start.  He could be the key to the Giants season.  12-15 wins from him could mean a winning season.

 

One roster decision the Giants have concerns the fifth starter’s role.  There are three or four pitchers that will be vying in camp for that spot.  The lead candidate will be incumbent right hander Brad Hennessey.  Hennessey, 26, made 21 starts for the team in ’05 and 7 more in 2004.  He was 5-8 with a 4.64 ERA last year and is 7-10 with a 4.98 ERA in 28 big league starts.  He has good stuff but the pressure will be on him to perform consistently at the big league level.  His ERA in May was 4.91 while it dipped to 3.24 in July (he made just one very bad start in June).  In August, it rose to 5.61 (he was 0-3) and in September and October it dropped back down to 3.28. 

 

He began his Major League season pitching well in his first three starts.  He was shelled in his next two and found himself back at Fresno.  He returned in July and recorded three very good starts (including two 7 inning, 3 hit stints) along with one very bad start (8 ER in 4.1 inn).  He was up and down the rest of the way making three good starts and three bad ones.  He will need to show consistency to win the job. 

 

Kevin Correia is another retuning candidate for the job but his versatility and ability to perform out of the bullpen could find him more suited to that role.  He will need to impress to have a shot at that fifth starters spot.  Correia was 2-5 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 appearances (11 starts) last season. 

 

Signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to camp is veteran right hander Jamey Wright.  Wright was 8-16 with a 5.46 ERA for Colorado last year but he is a dark horse candidate for the spot.  He is a ten year veteran who has always been an innings eater.  He could be an excellent fifth/swing guy.  His career record of 61-88 is skewed by the fact that he has spent the majority of his career (all but a small part of one season) with teams that had losing records (Colorado, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Colorado with St. Louis being the lone exception when he was traded to the Redbirds at the trading deadline and made four appearances (3 starts) for them). 

 

One final candidate that could emerge for that spot could be Merkin Valdez, once the highest ranked prospect in the organization.  Valdez was acquired in the deal that sent Russ Ortiz to Atlanta.  He has pitched in just two games at the big league level (in 2004) but has electric stuff.  His problem is with his command.  At AA Norwich last year, Merkin was 5-6 with a 3.53 ERA and 96 Ks in 107 innings.  He allowed only 99 hits but walked 45.  He had a scare at the end of the season when arm pain shut him down and forced an MRI which turned up negative.  He is expected to be ready when games begin. 

 

Bullpen

 

Signed to a 3-year deal as a free agent last winter following a highly successful ’04 campaign in Florida, Armando Benitez was shaky from the get go last year, being scored upon in 4 of his 8 April appearances including an horrific blown save against the Dodgers on April 12.  Then on April 26, as he was covering first on the games final play, Benitez tore his hamstring from the bone, much the same injury that be-felled Cubs shortstop Nomar Gaciaparra.  Benitez was expected to miss a minimum of 4 months if not the rest of the season. 

 

After much diligence and hard work, he returned much sooner than expected on August 18, and was scored upon in just one of his first 8 appearances (1.17 ERA in 7.2 IP with 5 saves).  He went on to record 15 saves in 17 chances following his return giving him 19 for the season. 

 

Benitez arrived at camp 20 pounds lighter, determined to keep himself healthy.  The Giants will need him to stay that way and be a force at the back of their bullpen. 

 

Among those expected to do the set up work in front of Benitez are right handers Tim Worrell and Tyler Walker.  Lefty Steve Kline was acquired from Baltimore to replace Scott Eyre who left for the Chicago Cubs.  Worrell and Walker both have closing experience, Walker saving 23 games for the Giants last season in Benitez’ absence and Worrell having saved 38 games for the Giants in 2003 filling in for Robb Nen. 

 

Worrell left the Giants for Philadelphia that off-season and saved 19 games for them but struggled mightily in 2005 and even spent time on the DL with “personal problems.”  He was eventually released and signed with Arizona where he fared better.  He is going to be 39 this season and signed a two year deal.  The Giants will need him to have a little bit left in his tank. 

 

Walker was inconsistent in his stint as the Giants closer last year before Benitez’ return and an injury forced him to the side.  At times he was fantastic as he was against the Tigers on June 17 when he entered the game in the 9^th of a 4-0 game but with the bases loaded following three Jason Schmidt walks.  Walker struck out the next three hitters for the save (a feat previously un-equaled in MLB), but then just two days later on June 19, Walker entered the beginning of the ninth with the Giants up 3 following a Todd Linden HR in the top of the inning and blew the save. 

 

Tyler has the stuff to be a very dominating pitcher but needs to find consistency to match.  He and Worrell will be the two main right handed set up guys.

 

Steve Kline was acquired from Baltimore in the off-season in exchange for LaTroy Hawkins and he will be counted on to fill the lefty specialist role previously held by Eyre.  Kline, who spent the entire 7 previous seasons in the NL, struggled last year with the Orioles though he seemed to find his groove late in the year, posting a 1.95 ERA from August on in 23 innings. 

 

The team will likely carry at least two if not three lefties in their bullpen in ’06.  The leading candidates to fill that/those spot(s) are second year guy Jack Taschner, who was impressive in his rookie campaign, posting a nifty 1.59 ERA over 24 appearances covering 22.2 innings.  He allowed just 15 hits and struck out 19. 

 

Also battling for a spot this spring is the ageless (43 really) Jeff Fassero, who last season was 4-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 48 games, including 6 spot starts.  He was effective in his role of long reliever and spot starter and was occasionally used by Felipe Alou against tough left handers later in the game.  He is a favorite of Alou and Sabean and will get a long look this spring as 8 or 9 guys battle for just 7 spots. 

 

Also competing for spots in the Giants pen are second year guys Jeremy Accardo and Scott Munter. 

 

Accardo impressed the team with his closer type stuff and 3.94 ERA over 28 appearances.  Even more impressive was his 2.75 ERA over his final 18 games from August on and that he was un-scored upon in 9 of his final 10 appearances before giving up a run in 1/3 inning in his last game of the season on Sept. 29. 

 

Many in the Giants management feel that Accardo is a closer in waiting and will get a long look in camp.

 

Munter made his debut on May 11 and quickly impressed the Giants, allowing just one earned run in his first 11 appearances, finishing May with a 1.13 ERA.  He possesses one of the heaviest sinkers in the game and finished the season with a 2.56 ERA in 45 games over 38.2 innings.  With only 11 Ks but a 2.67 ground ball to fly ball ratio, Scott won’t blow it by hitters but if you need a ground ball, he’s your guy.  His season was cut short by injury on September 3, but is expected to be ready when games begin in March. 

 

Others who could vie for a spot in the bullpen are starting candidates Kevin Correia and Merkin Valdez as well as dark horse candidate Matt Anderson, the former Tiger. 

 

The Roster

 

Pitches (12)

 

Starters

1. Schmidt

2. Morris

3. Lowry

4. Cain

5. Hennessey, Wright or Correia

 

Relievers

Closer – Benitez

RH Set up

Walker

Worrell

LH Set up

Kline

 

Vying for 4 spots

LH Taschner

LH Fassero

RH Accardo

RH Munter

RH Anderson

RH Valdez

 

Catchers (2)

Starter – Matheny

Backup – Greene, Knoedler, Haad or Alfonzo

 

First Base (2)

Niekro

Sweeney

 

Second Base (1)

Durham

 

Short Stop (1)

Vizquel

 

Third Base (1)

Feliz

 

Backup Inf (1/2)

Vizcaino and/or Chavez

 

Outfield (4/5)

Bonds

Winn

Alou

Finley

(Sweeney)

 

Ellison, Linden or Ortmeier

 

Likely Starting Lineup

1. Winn

2. Vizquel

3. Durham/Alou

4. Bonds

5. Alou/Durham

6. Feliz

7. Niekro

8. Matheny

 

Opinion

 

The age of this club is a huge concern.  Not only are most of the starters old as far as Baseball players go, most of the bench is as well. 

 

The starting pitching should be improved, but there are concerns about both ace Jason Schmidt and number 2 starter Matt Morris.  They will also need to find a dependable number 5 starter and rookie Matt Cain must live up to the hype or it could be a long season. 

 

And of course, vital to the team’s success will be keeping embattled superstar Barry Bonds healthy and playing.  Sidelined for all but 14 games last year, his impact was immediately felt upon his return and the team nearly managed to slip into the playoffs despite his lengthy absence. 

 

The lineup has question marks such as the lack of a big left handed everyday bat to protect Bonds.  Can Ray Durham stay healthy for an entire year?  Will Lance Niekro finally reach his potential as the everyday first baseman?  Will Pedro Feliz flourish now that he now the everyday third baseman?  Can 40-somethings Moises Alou and Steve Finley stay healthy enough to make significant impacts?

 

However, the biggest question of course is can they win the National League West?  Sure they can, and they most certainly will compete.  Yet, with so much that could go wrong, it’s hard to imagine all they need to go right doing just that.