San Francisco Giants:

The San Francisco Giants have started the season off with a disappointing 36-46 record. This record puts them in 3rd place in the National League West division, but the Giants definitely need a decisive comeback to this season towards playoff contention. The Giant offense is led by outfielder Aaron Rowand and catcher Bengie Molina. Rowand has a team-leading 8 home runs and 44 RBIs, in addition to 2-time Gold Glove winner Molina's solid performance of 6 home runs and 49 RBIs early this season. On defense, pitchers Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson are league leaders in strikeouts and saves, respectively. Tim Lincecum is a 2006 Golden Spikes Award winner and rising superstar in this league, who has an amazing league-leading 114 strikeouts in only his second season in professional baseball. Ticket sales will be slow until this fun team to watch joins the pennant race once again.

The San Francisco Giants have won 17 pennants and 5 World Series. The team has had many Hall of Fame players like Ross Youngs, Carl Hubbell, Christy Mathewson, Willy Mays and more recently, arguably the greatest baseball player ever, Barry Bonds. In 2002, the Giants propelled themselves all the way to the World Series and faced off against another California team the Anaheim Angels. The Giants found themselves with a 3-2 series lead going into the 6th game. The Giants opened up a 5-0 lead and watched it melt away in the 7th and 8th innings. They went on to lose the game and game 7 nine outs away from winning the World Series. Last year the Giants finished 100-61 winning their 2nd divisional crown in four seasons. They ousted by the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins in NLDS 3-1.

During the off-season the Giants needed to get some more help in the lineup for slugger Barry Bonds. They let go of veterans like catcher Benito Santiago, shortstop Rich Aurilia, and right fielder Jose Cruz. They then went and brought in catcher A.J. Pierzynski and pitcher Brett Tomko. Their hopes were that they could bring up some of the younger players into the starting lineup.

If the Giants didn’t have future Hall of Famer Barry Bonds the team would have almost no chance of being anywhere but the cellar in the NL West. But they do have Bonds, so they are legitimate contenders for the NL West crown. At the top of the order the Giants send out second baseman Ray Durham and first baseman J.T. Snow. The two had a combined .353 on base percentage in 2003. In the 3-4-5 spots are center fielder Marquis Grissom, left fielder Barry Bonds and utility man Pedro Feliz. Bonds has hit 670 career home runs and for a .298 lifetime batting average. Behind them are catcher A.J. Pierzynski, third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and shortstop Nefi Perez.

In the 2003 season, the Giants had a 3.73 team ERA which was the second best in the National League and third in all of Major League Baseball. They starters are lead by ace right handed pitcher Jason Schmidt (17-5, 2.34 ERA). Following him in the rotation is Kurt Rueter (10-5, 4.53 ERA), Brett Tomko (13-9, 5.28 ERA), Jerome Williams (7-3, 3.30 ERA), and Dustin Hermanson (1-2, 5.46 ERA). In the bullpen are RHP Jim Brower, RHP Felix Rodriguez, and right handed closer Matt Herges. Herges is filling in for Rob Nen until he gets off of the DL.

SBC Park is where the Giants play all of their home games. It was given a 93 out of a possible 100 points, the second highest in all of the major league ballparks, by a “Page 2” column on espn.com where they rated every baseball stadium. There is a waterfront promenade where fans can walk up and watch the game for free and hope to get a hold of one of Barry Bonds’ home runs that splash down in McCovey Cove.

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