Giants exceeded expectations on '09

[Upton]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants' elimination from the postseason race, which became official Wednesday with Colorado's 10-5 victory over Milwaukee that left only Atlanta alive by a thread in the National League Wild Card race, did nothing to diminish the promise San Francisco showed while climbing into contention.

Most prognosticators dismissed the Giants' chances of sustaining a serious challenge. San Francisco made no dramatic offseason improvements to a team that finished 72-90 in 2008 -- the club's fourth losing season in a row -- and ranked last in the Major Leagues with 94 home runs.

Yet the Giants didn't dwell on what they couldn't do. They focused instead on maximizing their chief asset, a starting rotation that featured Cy Young Award winners Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson and Barry Zito, the budding Matt Cain and talented Jonathan Sanchez. They believed that airtight fielding, solid relief pitching and a minimum daily requirement of hitting -- enough to generate three or four runs -- would suffice to back the rotation.

The plan worked. San Francisco led the majors in ERA for much of the year while statistically ranking toward the bottom of most significant offensive categories among NL teams. Despite this imbalance, the Giants topped the .500 mark for good on June 4 -- with Johnson's 300th career victory, fittingly enough -- and occupied first or second place in the Wild Card pursuit until late last week.


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090930&content_id=7257008&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf&partnerId=rss_sf

While the Giants season didn't have the storybook ending that much of us had hoped for, all in all it can't be looked at as anything other than successful. Certainly expectations will be higher going into next season, as success will then be measured by whether or not the Giants qualify for the playoffs.

To do that, the Giants need to upgrade. Managing general partner Bill Neukom says he expects the Giants payroll to rise next year as the Giants will be involved heavily in the free agent market during the offseason. The starting pitching is in place but they need at least a couple hitters. Not necessarily big time power guys but consistent disciplined hitters that can find the gaps at AT&T Park.

2009 has signaled one thing to the rest of baseball....the Giants are back.

[Auggie]

1. A tip of the hat to the Rockies

Those were great series back in August and September.

See you next year.

[trumad]

2. Let's all do the Limbo

It's been truly wonderful to watch you lower the bar this last month as your Giant's choked out a big fur ball. It wasn't to long ago where you and Douche one were puffing your chests and shouting wild card.

Now--- you're puffing your chest crowing that the Giants are back because they won more games than last year.

WOW--- 12 games over .500 and you're back. 3rd place in your division and your back? Too funny.

Now bring on your lame smack about the Marlins and their attendance woes--- but right now a team with that low attendance and last in payroll has the same record as your beloved Giants...a team with the 14th highest payroll and wonderful attendance.

Douche

[JonLP24]

3. Hey Tru-

I was a big Marlins fan this week. It was nice to see them take two from Atlanta before the Braves series against the Nationals.

[trumad]

4. Gutsy...

Year end and year out I'm amazed at how the Marlins can play competitively with such a lousy payroll. Rankded last this year and they almost pulled off the wild card...

[JonLP24]

5. That is impressive

I was watching Mike & Mike a few hours ago and Greenberg said all the teams in the playoffs are high payroll teams(He had the Rockies and Tigers as shoe-ins the segment before that) so I looked up payrolls and I think the Rockies were 18th or in that range. Scrolled down to the bottom and saw the Marlins dead last. I was amazed that a team could operate on the lowest payroll and be a wild card contender.

[thatsrightimirish]

6. it is true

the debate going on before the season was whether or not they will make 500

[PVnRT]

7. Those goalposts must be getting heavy. You move them a lot.

[Onceuponalife]

8. third place is a great season for the midgets

The small men are one step up from mediocrity. They are back! .... (where they belong)

:rofl: