San Francisco Giants General Manager, Brian Sabean in a win-it-all effort before the aging future Hall of Fame inductee Barry Bonds retires, acquired talent to fill the holes in the Giants defense and bullpen that plagued them dearly last season denying them a playoff spot.
With over 30 blown saves by the Giants last season. Sabean signed Armando Benitez a top tier closer who last year had 47 saves with a 1.29 ERA.
Last season the Giants used a platoon at shortstop with the dislikes of Neifi Perez and Deivi Cruz. Perez who was solid defense, his bat lacked thereof. Cruz’s bat was respectable, but his range on defense was blatantly bad.
Enter Omar Visquel the acrobatic nine-time Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop. He makes the diving plays behind second and in the hole, leaps over runners while turning the double play and covers shallow left field like a glove.
Visquel is an ideal No. 2 hitter, who can patiently take pitches, draw a walk, lay down a sacrifice bunt and steal a base.
Although the Giants finished second in the National League in scoring last season, behind the star-studded lineup of the St. Louis Cardinals. Sabean strengthened the Giants offense and added a potent bat to protect Bonds with the signing of Right fielder Moises Alou who last season batted .293 with 39 homeruns and 106 RBI’s.
The Giants have improved drastically, and look to be the favorites in the NL West.
The Los Angelos Dodgers who look to be a NL West contender have added former MVP and San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent, but in the process lost last seasons MVP candidate Adrian Beltre to the Seattle Mariners.
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