4 hopes

It's easy to let the optimism train run out of control. Especially once spring training starts, and the enthusiasm stifled by the offseason boils over. Though I want every Giant to succeed, I know what an unlikely reality that is.

So, in lieu of sweeping optimism, here are a few things I would like to see come out of spring training this year. These, I believe are not unrealistic expectations. While Sabean appears to have forgotten how to build a team without an offensive cornerstone, and Bochy appears complacent, I think they genuinely want the team to win and have the savvy to make the right choices at least some of the time.

Here are four realistic, optimistic hopes for spring training.

Number 1: Bowker and Freddy land the reserve outfield spots over Torres and Velez.

I can understand why Velez saw so much playing time at the end of last year. He started out hitting when the team was desperate for some offensive momentum. Now that a new season begins and the players showcase their potential, I should think that Bowker and Lewis can exhibit the much larger potential they possess over the T&V vroomsquad. I hope the former two can find success in spring and make the team for opening day.

Number 2: Bruce Bochy learns to defer to Hensley Muelens. 

Perhaps this is the beat writer hype swimming in my head, but I think Bam Bam has the capability of reaching and inspiring many of the hitters on this team, like RJ did with the pitchers last year. If he does learn the hitters better than Bochy can, I hope that Bochy realizes this and swallows his managerial pride enough so that if Muelens suggests a certain player be in the lineup on a certain day, Bochy listens.

Number 3: Sanchez pitches with power, Zito with endurance.

This year I think Dirty can crack 200 Ks and Zito can crack 200IP. As long as Zito pitches deep into games and Sanchez shuts batters down for a few innings, I'll be happy. No one expects Zito to be lights out, but Sanchez, on the other hand, only seems to do well when he is. With such a strong bullpen, I doubt it would be too taxing to have them pick up the second half of Sanchez's games, provided Zito pitches 6+ innings consistently. I hope Zito finds the focus in spring to be unfazed by getting hit, and Sanchez gets comfortable leaving games early.

Number 4: The vets can find grace in less prominent roles.

The amount of declining veterans projected into the opening day lineup (2/3rds of it) is unnerving. That's a decent formula for a team built around an offensive legend, but not for one trying to grow its own offense. It was frustrating last year to watch aging ballplayers start the game and underperform and then, when the game was on the line, see the youth, badly in need of playing time, try to be heroes. This year I hope that the veterans, should it be shown they aren't outperforming their younger teammates in ST, can be relegated to utility roles. That's why I think DeRosa and Uribe were the best signings of the offseason. I hope that the unproven youth (read: Bowker, Schierholtz, Lewis, Posey)  establish themselves in spring as the preferred starters, and that the vets thrive in pressure situations.

Should these hopes assert themselves in spring, I think the season can get off to a good start. I'd be interested to know any other ST hopes you all have, or things you believe the organization should/shouldn't do to field the best lineup they can.

Caveat: I know there's a science to baseball, but I hardly understand it. It's the character of the player that captures me, which is why I like then number of vets on the team. I think that veteran influence, while not quantifiable, is significant. I also think it is equally significant when offered from the bench as from on the field. This is a team of young talent and old teachers, and the teachers need not give clinics every day.

I love the giants and want them to succeed against all else. Just because the odds are daunting doesn't mean I won't give up on the longshot chance. Crazier things have happened in this game.