10 storylines entering Spring Training

Giants ‘Odd’ Chances to Repeat as World Series Champs

Some people may be afraid to take a bet on the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants repeating a champs for one main reason: it’s an odd-numbered year.  (Yes, this is really a thing.)

However, these defending champion Giants enter this odd-numbered year with a much different outlook than the last two defending championship teams.

For starters, they have a solid core with Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and Hunter Pence with support from Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Angel Pagan.

The Giants boast a strong rotation that brings back all of its starters from 2014 (Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson, and Ryan Vogelsong) and has a solid swingman in Yusmiero Petit and Matt Cain returning from injury.

The one key thing to watch will be at third base, where newly acquired Casey McGehee takes over for Pablo Sandoval, who took his talents (and size) to Boston.  McGehee is nowhere near where Pablo was at the plate (.287, 4 HR, 76 RBI in 2014 with Marlins), however he’s still a solid hitter and a solid third baseman who should make all, if not more, of the play Pablo would’ve at third.

But the one thing this team is, outside the statistics and names, is confident.  With three World Series titles in five years including playoff series where they’ve had to come from behind it would’ve been easy for this team, or any team for that matter to get in over their heads and get too excited.  Under manager Bruce Bochy, San Francisco has done a great job of stay even-keel during the highs and the lows.

The odds are stacked against the Giants entering 2015.  But this Giants team may have everyone right where they want them.

Next: Has 'next year' finally arrived?