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MLB: Key to success for all 30 teams heading into 2015

By Robby Sabo

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the 9th inning in game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the 9th inning in game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 9, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain (18) pitches during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at AT&T Park. Giants won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain (18) pitches during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at AT&T Park. Giants won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco Giants

  • 2014 Finish: 88-74, 2nd in NL West, World Series Champions
  • 2015 Key to Success: Finding that number-two guy

It’s still amazing to think what Madison Bumgarner did last season.

The kid pitched on virtually no rest while winning the San Francisco Giants their third World Series Championship in the last five seasons.

He was such an inning-eating animal that some wonder how he’ll respond in 2015.

The more important question looms after Bumgarner in the number-two spot of the rotation.

How the Giants navigated through the playoffs without a real number-two starter is still beyond me. It took timely hitting from every guy in the lineup and a bullpen that was money.

Now, with Pablo Sandoval gone, pitching will once again spike in importance.

Can Matt Cain regain the form we saw from 2012? He was once a guy who routinely struck out 175 plus batters a year who sported a sub 3 ERA. The past two years has seen an ERA north of 4 including injuries that have only limited him to 10 total starts.

Whether it’s Cain, Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum or Jake Peavy, San Francisco will need another guy to go along with the World Series hero from a year ago.

Next: Los Angeles Dodgers

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