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2008 MLB
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2008 San Francisco Giants Predictions & Season
Preview
Jimmy
Boyd’s 2008 San Francisco
Giants predictions put
the Giants in the basement
of the NL West. Find out if
anything can save them in
this season preview.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
In 2007, Barry Zito set or
tied career worsts in ERA,
wins, innings, and starts.
That’s not what you want to
see from a guy you signed to
a $126 million deal and you
call your ace. Right hander
Matt Cain has the potential
to be a 20-game winner,
though his 7-16 record last
season hardly shows it. His
3.65 ERA was very
respectable. Get this kid
some run support and you may
just see the wins pile up.
Tim Lincecum might be the
only name creating any
positive buzz around the
Giants’ organization these
days. After starring at
Triple-A Fresno, he had a
solid rookie stint in the
bigs going 7-5 with a 4.00
ERA. The kid has great stuff
and looks like the ace of
the future for San Fran if
they can hold onto him
during the rebuilding
process. Lefty Noah Lowry is
a proven winner. He went
14-8 last season with an ERA
of 3.92. If he can quit
walking batters he could
really see some success.
Kevin Correia will get a
chance to stick on the
Giants rotation in 2007
after years of spot duty. He
was another pitcher which
suffered due to lack of run
support.
It looks like a tough year
for the Giants’ pen. Both
lefty setup men, Steve Kline
and Jack Taschner, allowed
lefties to hit over .315 off
of them last season. The pen
was the worst in the West
last season and the same
group returns. Improvement
is inevitable as I think
Brian Wilson will have a
solid year with his
upper-90’s heat and hard
slider, but overall, the pen
will likely run out of ink
again.
Batting Order
Leftfielder Dave Roberts
will likely be inked in as
the leadoff man on Opening
Day. His 31 thefts in 114
games was impressive, but
don’t be surprised if he
loses his job to younger
players as the Giants go
into rebuilding mode.
Shortstop Omar Vizquel can
still glove with the best of
them, but a down year
suggests he is losing
something at the plate.
Rightfielder Randy Winn in
the best option in the
three-slot and is coming off
a productive season. Catcher
Bengie Molina will be called
upon to provide the pop. He
had 19 homeruns and 81 RBIs
last year. Experts feel
Centerfielder Aaron Rowand’s
numbers are expected to
crash outside of Philly’s
hitter-friendly park. He had
27 bombs and 89 RBIs last
season, but if that’s what
the Giants think they are
getting, they may have
another thing coming. One
would think that Ray Durham
would be motivated in a
contract year. He really
struggled in 2007, batting
just .218. First baseman
Daniel Ortmeier packs power
from both sides of the plate
and could eventually develop
into an All-Star once he
learns some discipline.
Third baseman Kevin Frandsen
is a great contact hitter,
which makes him a solid
contributor in the eighth
spot.
San Francisco is getting
ready to experience a
post-Bonds hangover which
started when he was still
there. It is apparent that
the Giants do not have a
team capable of competing in
this division in 2008, and
they likely don’t have a
team capable of winning 70
games.
Jimmy Boyd’s premium picks
have beat the
baseball odds by a mile
each of the past seven
seasons. He has collected
two MLB handicapping titles
during that stint as well as
a runner-up finish. 2007 was
the best year of his career
on the bases, profiting
clients 5005 units. Get your
pocketbooks ready ladies and
gents because we’re going
after even more green in
2008.
Odds to win NL West:
18/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant:
40/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
100/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 23rd, 2008
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