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Giants showed grit, will win it all in 2012

Open field

 

The fact is, it was amazing that the San Francisco Giants were still contending for a return to the postseason as either the repeat National League West champion, or as the wild-card team, as late at last week, considering all the injury obstacles, which led to an anemic offense that lingered on until recently, when time ran out.

But despite being dethroned from their NL West reign by the surprising and solid Arizona Diamondbacks – taking an underdog chapter out of San Francisco’s astounding 2011 triumphant road to a World Series title – and unable to make the playoffs as a wild-card, it’s what kept the gritty Giants in contention that will fuel their run to the 2012 crown.

After losing one major offensive and defensive pillar after another to injury, which eventually befell its league-save-leading closer, it was its young, strong, deep and competitive pitching staff – with four all-stars and possibly two more on the horizon – along with a solid-enough defense, which included an all-star, that enabled San Francisco to stay in the playoff hunt.

Most of the talented stable of pitchers will return next year and, with a bevy of youthful, hungry and aspiring arms in the pen ready to rock, along with current and future top-tier position players bolstering the defense, all the Giants need is to stabilize and ignite their offense.

With an array of already arrived, and up-and-coming, young hitters and run producers, mixed with a few reliable veterans, including one major impact player, ready to mix into the recipe, the San Francisco Giants will not only be perennial contenders, they will be repeat, or multiple, World Series champions over the coming years.

Ciao!