Thoughts and predictions about things for Giants 2012 season
4/21 edition
OUTFIELD
Pagan starting to heat up, is a positive reinforcement of Bochy's tendency to be lenient with veterans. Huff demonstrates the down side of that tendency. Hitting .207 is not going to get it done. If he isn't hitting by the end of the month we won't see huff in August.
I don't want to jinx anything with an injury bug, but we will have 1 minor injury that will open a hole for Blanco to get some serious playing time. He will struggle for 3-4 games and then go on a tear creating a heated debate whether to leave him in, or give the injured player his playing time back. Schierholtz will hit 2 splash hits and make a game saving play in the outfield that will make us freakout and text everyone we know, even if they aren't baseball fans.
INFIELD
Freddy Sanchez will be ready to go in mid-late July. The Giants will be VERY cautious with him. Burress will play just well enough at the plate that the howls will be muted enough to let him play with confidence. Crawford has been making good contact with the ball, it just seems to be finding the gloves of the defense every time he hits a line drive. We will never be in love with Theriot, but after the Tejada, Cabrerra, Whiteside/Stewart poo-poo platter at the plate last year we'll be happy enough.
PITCHING
Vogelsong will be the first pitcher to hit a home run this year. Bumgarner will hit 2 homers and see 4 plate appearances as a pitch-hitter. Zito will finish the year without going on the disabled list and have 31 starts, a 4.17 ERA and a whip of 1.31 and we will be VERY happy with it.
Clay Hensley will become a fan favorite and make us forget that um guy, whatshisname that we traded to the Mets. Otero is NOT going to be Runzler and we will feel okay with him coming out of the bullpen (but we'd still rather see anyone else).
CATCHING
Hector Sanchez will continue to improve and we will be happy with his performance, BUT there will be some plays behind the plate that cost us a game. Posey will prove to be more than capable of staying behind the plate and stop moving to first by the end of May. He will go on an offensive tear for over month and will finish the year with over 25HR.
OTHER NL WEST TEAMS
Giants will have OWNAGE over the Dodgers this year. Arizona will be hit by the injury bug but keep within striking distance of the Giants all year, making us very nervous. San Diego will make us CRAZY by stealing a few very winnable games at Petco. Colorado will do just enough to trip up the Dodgers and Diamondbacks that the Giants will win the division with 93 games, 2 over the Diamondbacks and 5 over the Dodgers.
PLAYOFFS:
Giants, Nationals, Cardinals all win their divisions
Phillies and Diamondbacks win the wild-card
Giants all-stars: Posey, Cain, Bumgarner, Sandoval, Cabrerra
