Spring training has started and it is now time to make predictions for the upcoming baseball season. 2016 has plenty of capable teams that can win the championship, making it an exciting season to look forward to. The San Francisco Giants will win their fourth World Series since 2010. Here are five reasons why:
- Bruce Bochy
Bruce Bochy is the greatest manager of this era. He is entering his tenth year as manager of the Giants, and he has won three World Series Championships as their manager. Bochy even took the Padres to the World Series during his stint as their manager in 1998. He is very good with the strategy side of baseball and gets the most out of his players. Bochy also knows how to manage a pitching staff, which has paid off in multiple postseason games.
2. Starting Pitching
The Giants will have one of the best rotations in the history of baseball this season. Their number one starter is Madison Bumgarner, who has already proven he is one of the best pitchers in baseball, with a career ERA of 3.04. This off-season the Giants acquired Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, both of whom are top of the rotation starters. Cueto has an ERA below 3 since 2011, while pitching for a National League team, making him an ace. He did struggle after being traded to the Royals last season, but should regain his form this season. Samardzija is a former great pitcher, who will also have to regain his form. Rounding out the rotation are Jake Peavy and Matt Cain, both of whom are former aces, who have some good pitching left.
3. Buster Posey
Many players have come and gone since San Francisco’s first World Series win in 2010, but Buster Posey has been a constant. He has a career batting average of .310 and will be in the Baseball Hall of Fame when his career ends. Posey is a solid defensive catcher, but is also capable of playing first base, which gives the Giants more options during the season. Posey is just entering his prime, as he will be 29 when this season starts.
4. It is an even year
The Giants have won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014. They failed to make the playoffs in the years in between. There is really no rhyme or reason to make this a legitimate reason of why the Giants will win the World Series, but baseball is a sport in which players are superstitious and weird things happen.
5. Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence is the most unique player in all of baseball. When he played for the Houston Astros, his walk-up music was “California Girls” by Katy Perry. People hold up signs of him saying he does awkward things, like play Marv in the Home Alone movies or wear crocs. What is missed when people think about Hunter Pence is his effort and play style. He isn’t afraid to dive for balls or get pumped after getting a big hit. His energy is something that Bochy says leads the team and raises the level of play of his teammates. If that isn’t enough to convince people that Hunter Pence is a key to the Giants’ success this season, look no further than his .284 career batting average and his 729 career RBI.
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