Sizing Up the Competition: San Francisco Giants

How will

and the rest of the Giants rotation fare? That is the biggest question mark surrounding the team heading into the 2015 season. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Negatives

Here’s where the Diamondbacks could take advantage of some weaknesses, namely with the loss of power-hitter Pablo Sandoval at third base. Not only do the Giants lose the offensive production, but they’re replacing him at the hot corner with Casey McGehee . At 32, he represents a change that could negatively affect the Giants. Let’s hope so. In 2014 he was with the Miami Marlins, where he played 160 games at third base.

While on the field of play he hit .287/.355/.357 while driving in 76 RBI’s and even collecting four home runs. FanGraphs projects his offensive production will fall to .252/.320/.353 over 130 games. Notably he did steal four bases in 2014 and is projected to swipe three this season. Fake speedster? Maybe.

The Giants also lost slugger Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners. It seems like the Giants are trending in the direction of getting on base, and making solid contact rather than hitting for a lot of power. Obviously Posey needs to have an MVP type season if the Giants want to contend.

San Francisco replaced Morse with OF Nori Aoki who signed a one year deal. He will get on base, and help the Giants score runs in unconventional ways with his agressive base-running.

The other area that the Arizona Diamondbacks could take serious advantage of the Giants is in the remainder of the starting pitching staff. With Hudson coming back from an ankle injury, Cain coming off elbow surgery and Jake Peavy looking like he’s slowing down with over 2000 innings on his aged arm, the Giants have a worn down pitching staff to back up ace Madison Bumgarner. Yusmeiro Petit had a great year last year, but can he produce similar numbers?