San Francisco Giants: 2017 MLB season preview

The three-time World Series-champion San Francisco Giants want a return to the Fall Classic and full control of the top spot in the NL West.

After losing the Division Series in 2016, the Giants are turning their focus on 2017 and the start of new traditions. The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again taken first place in the National League West, and the Giants would like to return to the top spot for the first time since the 2012 season.

Brandon Crawford returns to the team after spending spring training playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. There is a lot of momentum coming out of Spring Training, where they are in the middle of the National League standings with a 14-16 record.

The 2017 Giants look a lot like the 2016 Giants, and that’s why they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Mar 21, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) reacts during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Pitching

Madison Bumgarner has pitched 18 innings in Spring Training and has a 2.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts. This is a great start after his 15-9 season last year, with a 2.74 ERA from 226.2 innings of work. He’s also hoping to improve his batting average, because he’s Mad Bum and he can do that.

Johnny Cueto (RHP, 18-5m 2.79 ERA, 219.2 IP, 198 SO, 1.09 WHIP) will likely find a spot in the rotation along with lefty Matt Moore (2016: 13-12, 4.08 ERA, 198.1 IP, 178 SO, 1.29 WHIP).

Matt Cain (RHP, 2016: 4-8, 5.64 ERA, 89.1 IP, 72 SO, 1.51 WHIP) and Ty Blach (2016: LHP, 1-0, 1.06, 17 IP, 10 SO, 0.76 WHIP) are contenders for the other starting rotation spots.

Mar 23, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants outfielder Jarrett Parker against the Seattle Mariners during a Cactus League spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Lineup

With so much success in the lineup in 2016, there isn’t much that needed to be changed in 2017. Crawford and Buster Posey are back from the World Baseball Classic, where they both had standout outings.

Here’s a projection of what the lineup might look like for the 2017 season:

Catcher: Buster Posey (2016: .288 AVG, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 6 SB, .796 OPS)

1B: Brandon Belt (2016: .275 AVG, 17 HR, 82 RBI, 0 SB, .868 OPS)

2B: Joe Panik (2016: .239 AVG, 10 HR, 62 RBI, 5 SB, .695 OPS)

3B: Eduardo Nunez (2016: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 40 SB, .758 OPS)

SS: Brandon Crawford (2016: .275, 12 HR, 84 RBI, 7 SB, .775 OPS)

LF: Jarrett Parker (2016: .236 AVG, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, .751 OPS)

CF: Denard Span (2016: .266 AVG, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 12 SB, .712 OPS)

RF: Hunter Pence (2016: .289 AVG, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 1 SB, .808 OPS)

It’s worth noting that Jarrett Parker’s spring training numbers almost match those of his 2016 stats, with an average of .264, four home runs, and 12 RBI. With that kind of spring, the versatile left fielder will no doubt make an impact this season.

Mar 23, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Moore against the Seattle Mariners during a Cactus League spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Bullpen

Mark Melancon had 47 saves in 75 attempts last year and an ERA of 1.64. He’ll be a great choice as the Giants’ closer. RHP Derek Law (2.13, 55 IP) will join Melancon in the bullpen with Hunter Strickland, who had an ERA of 3.10 with 61 innings of work. Lefty Josh Osich is showing a lot of promise in Spring Training with 8.1 innings completed with a 5.40 and 7 punchouts.

The Giants are very happy with their bullpen, which is a lot deeper than in previous years. Will Smith, who contributed 40.1 innings for the Giants in 2016, is out for the season with a recommendation of Tommy John surgery.

Mar 23, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy against the Seattle Mariners during a Cactus League spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Manager

Bruce Bochy enters his eleventh year as the manager of the San Francisco Giants. In those eleven years he has taken his team to the postseason four times and that includes three World Series championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

2016 was supposed to signal a return to the World Series for the Giants in keeping with the even year pattern, but they lost the Division Series after posting an 87-75 record.

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Prior to his tenure with the Giants, Bochy managed the San Diego Padres. When his longtime third base coach Tim Flannery retired after the 2016 season, Bochy turned to one of his former players, Phil Nevin, to fill the job.

Mar 15, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws in the first inning during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

X-Factor

The Giants have ace Madison Bumgarner in their corner, and this season he wants to improve his batting average. We know Mad Bum wanted to play in the All Star Game but wasn’t able to due to the rotation, and he’s too valuable to risk in the home run derby, but he can hit.

If Mad Bum gets back to his 2015 numbers on the mound, he won’t have to worry about the All Star Game, he’ll be leading the team at the World Series.

Mar 21, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Young San Francisco Giants fans call to players for autographs before the game against the San Diego Padres at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction

With the Dodgers battling a slough of injuries early on, the Giants have the opportunity to come out strong and claim first place in the NL West. They are very strong this year with a seasoned roster and they will no doubt make it into the postseason once again.