San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean has made sure his 2012 World Series championship team will stay together for the upcoming season and beyond.

Five years ago when I was still living in sunny San Diego, I once sat in a bar watching Josh Hamilton hit like 124 home runs in the All-Star Home Run Derby. It was a pretty awesome thing to see, and it ended up keeping me around well after I finished sipping my Vanilla Coke. 

It's hard to believe that, after winning their second World Series in two years, the Giants would have much room for improvement heading into 2013.

But it could be argued that they won last season despite some of their best players struggling through the regular season. And how could anyone have predicted that the team that finished dead last in the major leagues in home runs would win it all?

But that is exactly what the Giants did, and now they're entering the new season with just about the same roster as last season, and with the potential to improve in several areas.

Kyle Crick, Clayton Blackburn and Chris Stratton, the San Francisco Giants top three prospects according to FanGraphs, have yet to pitch above A-ball. Thus, they don't have the professional experience needed to make the opening day roster.

After keeping the core of their championship team together by re-signing free agents Jeremy Affeldt, Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro, the latest rumors pertaining to the San Francisco Giants mostly surround the periphery of the roster.

Earlier this offseason, when the San Francisco Giants re-signed reliever Jeremy Affeldt to a three-year, $18 million contract, I argued that the club overpaid to retain the 33-year-old lefty.

It's October 9, and you're watching the pregame show for Game 3 of the 2012 NLDS. If you're a Giants fan, you probably don't know why you're watching.

Right? Right.

In the coming weeks, one of the most impactful and controversial classes for the Hall of Fame will have judgment passed on them—at least for their first year of eligibility. One of those on the list is all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, whose career, despite being acquitted of any wrongdoing in a court of law, will forever be tied to the steroid era.

Marc Hulet did a nice job of ranking the San Francisco Giants farm system over at FanGraphs on Tuesday.

The San Francisco Giants stand a very solid chance to win against the Cincinnati Reds tonight, and for the entire series, assuming the bullpen is ready to play.

Without question, the Giants will miss closer Brian Wilson in the later innings. But closing the game is not the most important scenario.