It has been a helluva ride the last 4 years for us diehard San Francisco Giants fans.  As disappointed as I am that my beloved professional baseball team’s season ended today, it is not without hope I look toward next year.  After all, the Giants have won 2 out of the last 3 World Series after 58 years of disappointment.   So, how can I not be optimistic about next year?  I have to write about what I think are the strengths of the team and what they need to do next year to win it all again.

Today’s walk off victory in the last game of the season will no doubt send off our boys to a happy winter looking forward to spending the next few months with family and friends and getting ready for next season.  Sadly, there just were too many games where the team didn’t play up to its capabilities and are going home early.  That fact, plus a few injuries most assuredly led to more losses than wins this year.  Next year, we’ll need better hitting with men in scoring position, fewer errors, and less injuries.

Looking toward next year, the strengths of the team are most assuredly at Catcher (Buster Posey), Center Field (Angel Pagan), Right Field (Hunter Pence), 2nd Base (Marco Scataro) and Shortstop (Brandon Crawford).  When these 5 guys are on the field, the Giants are simply an outstanding team.  Losing Pagan was arguably the biggest loss because the Giants had a winning record when he was on the field.  These 5 all hit in the clutch, play great defense, inspire their teammates with unselfish hustle and provide clutch hitting.  I would be remiss, if I didn’t also give a shout out to the bullpen.  Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt, Jean Machi and crew were mostly lights out all year.  A tip of the cap to this outstanding crew.  I’d make it even better in 2014 by adding Heath Hembree.  That kid is a gamer.

For next year, the question marks are Left Field, 3rd Base, 1st Base and the starting pitching (with the exception of Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Chad Gaudin, who at times were mostly brilliant, especially MadBum).  Gregor Blanco is at best a super sub.  He’s not a starter in my book and the team desperately needs an upgrade to a power hitter who can play left field.  If I were Brett Pill, I’d spend every single day in the off season (starting tomorrow) shagging fly balls.  If given an every day job, I think Pill can become an incredible player for the Giants.  He’s proved he can hit at all minor league levels, so I’d get him in the 2014 lineup every day as my starter in Left.  What more can be said about Pablo Sandoval and his weight?  At times brilliant (see 2012 World Series) and at times an absolute buffoon.  He’s better than the .279 hitter he was this year.  He needs to go back on a diet and see a psychologist about why he continues to swing at pitches in the dirt.  If he literally can’t get his head out of his ass, I’d look for another 3rd baseman.  He’s a loveable guy, but when he’s pushing 300 lbs. he’s an almost automatic out in the clutch.  Which brings me to the curious case of Brandon Belt.  He had a breakout campaign in 2013.  Was it a fluke or can he build on this for next year?  He’s got MVP-like talent, but he too needs his cranium removed from his butt hole.  All he needed was a new grip.  Seriously?  I think he simply shit his pants when they called Brett Pill up because he knew he’d get cut or traded if he didn’t start hitting.  Thank God he responded.  We’ll need him to stay hot next year for the whole year.  Finally, the starting pitching.  Zito and probably Timmy are gone.  Who do you backfill them with?  I’d like to see the Giants give Yusmeiro Petit a shot over a full season and see what he does with it.  Ryan Vogelsong when healthy looked average this year and hittable.  He’s got to come back stronger than ever next year or else I’d move him to the bullpen.  I think Mike Kickham has a future starting spot in my rotation for 2014.  He has a wicked slider and simply needs more big league experience to improve his confidence and contribute.  I’d make him my 5th starter.

So there you have it Giants fans.  The greatest fans in all of professional sports watching our favorite team in the greatest ballpark in all of major league baseball in the greatest city in the world.  My heart is and always will be in San Francisco.