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Projected batting order
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Ray Durham, 2B
Jose Cruz Jr., RF
Rich Aurilia, SS
Barry Bonds, LF
Edgardo Alfonzo, 3B
Marquis Grissom, CF
J.T. Snow, 1B
Benito Santiago, C
Rotation
Kirk Rueter, LHP
Jason Schmidt, RHP
Damian Moss, LHP
Ryan Jensen, RHP
Kurt Ainsworth, RHP
Bench
Marvin Benard, OF
Pedro Feliz, 3B
Neifi Perez, SS
Tony Torcato, OF
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Bullpen
Robb Nen, RHP (CL)
Felix Rodriguez, RHP
Tim Worrell, RHP
Chad Zerbe, LHP
Jason Christiansen, LHP
Complete Giants roster
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ESPN's Take |
 Q: How effective can the re-worked lineup be around Bonds?
I think it will be very successful. I saw Ray Durham play a lot late last year, and he will do very well in this lineup. I think Jose Cruz Jr. will acclimate after a while to the No. 2 spot and to the National League overall, even though I don't believe that he is a prototypical No. 2 hitter in the NL. Barry Bonds is Barry Bonds. No matter where he hits and who is hitting in front of or behind him, he will have a great season barring injury. The Giants lost a lot, with Jeff Kent and Russ Ortiz, and it will be interesting to see how they fare without those two.
-- Tony Gwynn
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How high should you draft Rich Aurilia? Well, consider that Barry Bonds wanted Aurilia to hit ahead of him in the order, and you'll know how we feel. Aurilia may not be the guy who hit 37 homers in 2001, but he's a lot better than last year. Figure on lots of fastballs, and he hits at least 25 home runs this season, possibly making him the top NL shortstop.
In leagues that include strikeouts, Kirk Rueter loses a lot of value. But if you're looking for a safe guy late in your draft to win 14 games and keep his ERA and ratio respectable, here's your guy. Rueter has averaged 14 wins the last six years, and he's the Opening Day starter this year.
-- Eric Karabell
Jesse Foppert, RHP
He had a 3.99 ERA in 14 starts after being promoted to Triple-A, with incredible 109 strikeouts in 79 innings. Possibly the best right-handed prospect in baseball, at least at the upper levels. Throws hard, has a nasty breaking ball, and improving his control.
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Catcher: Benito Santiago |
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Santiago was one of the feel-good stories of 2002. At age 38, he made the All-Star team for the first time in 10 years. From April through September, from 0-0 to 3-2, against right-handers and lefties, his swing was smooth and consistent, and his demeanor relaxed. Pitchers were wise to avoid Barry, but Santiago made them pay.
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First Base: J.T. Snow |
| Snow had a terrific postseason, batting .333 overall and .407 in the World Series, demonstrating his usual brilliance around first, and possibly saving 3-year-old Darren Baker's life. But for the second year in a row, his regular-season numbers were dismal (.246/6/53). If he continues to struggle, backup Andres Galarraga will have a good chance to get the 14 HRs he needs to join the 400 club.
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Second Base: Ray Durham |
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In 2002, the Giants' leadoff spot produced a .326 OBP; Durham came in at a combined .374 for the White Sox and A's. And it's unlikely he'll struggle in the NL after having spent the first eight years of his career in the junior circuit: In the past three seasons, Durham has put up a .398 OBP in interleague play.
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Third Base: Edgardo Alfonzo |
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The contract the Mets offered Alfonzo this winter made it clear they were concerned about the health of his back, which seriously hampered him in 2001, but his .308 BA last season (10th best in the NL) and his steady play at third base after three years at second convinced the Giants that he's sound. Batting behind Barry, Alfonzo could have a huge year.
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Shortstop: Rich Aurilia |
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Aurilia underwent surgery on his right elbow in May and finished with significantly lower totals than he enjoyed in 2001 (.257/15/61, down from .324/37/97), but he came on strong in September, knocking in 18 runs, then led his club with 17 RBIs in the postseason.
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Left Field: Barry Bonds |
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Want milestones? Try these: He needs 48 HRs to pass Godfather Mays for third place on the all-time list, 141 walks to pass Williams and Ruth for second place all-time, an MVP award to be the first to win it three years running, and -- speaking of running -- seven stolen bases to create the 500/500 club.
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Center Field: Marquis Grissom |
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Last year saw Grissom bounce back nicely from two subpar seasons, as he hit .277, his best since 1996, and posted a career-high .510 slugging average. He'll turn 36 early in the season, but he still has a solid all-around game and, having had three good years under Felipe Alou in Montreal from '92 to '94, he should continue to thrive.
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Right Field: Jose Cruz Jr. |
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Cruz was hampered by injuries in '02 and regressed from his 30/30 performance the season before. Like Ray Durham, he's changing leagues, but his interleague numbers have fallen short of those he's produced against AL opponents. Still, he's healthy, is turning just 29 and is an excellent outfielder.
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No. 1 Starter: Kirk Rueter |
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Very quietly, Rueter is compiling a pretty tidy resume. With a lifetime record of 109-68, he is 10th among active pitchers with at least 100 decisions in winning percentage (.616). Last year was his best yet, as he posted a 3.23 ERA in 203.2 IPs in the regular season and threw effectively against the Angels in the World Series.
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No. 2 Starter: Jason Schmidt |
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If he stays healthy, Schmidt should surpass 15 wins. The past two years he's lowered his ERA, given up fewer hits and walks per inning, and increased his strikeouts. If the Giants could play at home everyday, he'd surpass 20: In '02 at Pac Bell, Jason's ERA was 2.37; on the road it was 5.02.
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No. 3 Starter: Damian Moss |
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Last season Moss was 12-6 for the Braves, who traded him for Russ Ortiz. He allowed no more than two ERs in 19 of his 29 starts and compiled an overall ERA of 3.42, third-best among NL rookies. He held opposing batters to a .221 BA (fifth-best among all NL starters) while allowing only 7.03 hits per nine innings (third-best).
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No. 4 Starter: Ryan Jensen |
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Jensen had a fine rookie season, winning 13 games despite having the rotation's worst ERA (4.51). Although he was effective down the stretch, going 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in September, the Giants chose not to activate Jensen for the playoffs. The move left them a bit short in terms of long relief, especially in the World Series. But with Livan Hernandez now in Montreal, Jensen has a chance to prove he's a mainstay in the Giants' rotation.
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No. 5 Starter: Kurt Ainsworth |
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The Giants were pleased with Ainsworth's Triple-A numbers last year (8-6, 3.41 with 119 K's in 116 IPs at Fresno), but perhaps more telling is the success he enjoyed in two brief stints with the parent club (2.10 ERA in 25.2 IPs) after he'd been shelled in one major-league appearance the year before that.
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Bullpen: Felix Rodriguez, Chad Zerbe, Jason Christiansen, Tim Worrell |
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Rodriguez had a rough first half last year but was a strong as ever in August and September, when he posted a 1.87 ERA, and continued his winning ways through the first two postseason series. Though he was not the most impressive Rodriguez in the World Series, he is the NL's most dominant setup man. Of the returning lefty relievers, Zerbe led in IPs (56.1) and ERA (3.04).
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Closer: Robb Nen |
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Nen's eight blown saves last year weren't pretty, but his 2.20 ERA and 43 saves were. He finished up with a stellar postseason performance, recording an even 1.00 ERA in nine IPs and collecting seven saves, but then needed arthroscopic surgery to repair his ragged right shoulder. His spring workload was light, but he should be at full strength on Opening Day.
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-- Dave Sutter, ESPN The Magazine
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Record: 95-66 | Finish: 2nd in NL West (lost in World Series to Anaheim) | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching
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Offense (NL rank)
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Defense (NL rank)
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783 runs (3rd)
Home: 357 (9th)
Road: 426 (1st)
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616 runs allowed (2nd)
Home: 276 (1st)
Road: 340 (3rd)
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2002 Stats Leaders
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Average: Barry Bonds, .370
Runs: Bonds, 117
On-base pct: Bonds, .582
Stolen bases: Reggie Sanders, 18
Wins: Kirk Rueter/Russ Ortiz, 14
Saves: Robb Nen, 43
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Home runs: Bonds, 46
RBI: Bonds, 110
Slugging pct.: Bonds, .799
OPS: Bonds, 1.381
ERA: Rueter, 3.23
Strikeouts: Jason Schmidt, 196
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Manager: Felipe Alou
