Top 5 Overall San Francisco Giants - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide 2009

With expectations already low entering 2008, the San Francisco Giants began their post-Barry Bonds years without disappointing the fans. The good news from the team was that they produced the National League Cy Young winner and they stayed out of the cellar in the National League West. They showed signs of their youth though, proving that they were a rebuilding ballclub and they'll continue along that path again in 2009

#1 Overall San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum (SP) - Fantasy Baseball 2009

2008 stats: 18 Wins and 5 Losses, 2.62 ERA, 1.172 WHIP, 265 SO

Lincecum, despite being just 24 for most of the season, put up the only season that would truly quiet the Cy Young talk surrounding C.C. Sabathia and Johan Santana in 2008. Pundits will argue that his awkward delivery and small frame may make it difficult for him to stay healthy in the long run, but there is no doubting the skill he exhibited last season. It may be too much to ask for him to put up the same win total in 2009 with the team playing behind him, but penciling him in for 10-12 wins, an ERA of 3.00, and 230 strikeouts may be within reach.

#2 Overall San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain (SP) - Fantasy Baseball 2009

2008 stats: 8 Wins and 14 Losses, 3.76 ERA, 1.364 WHIP, 186 SO

2008 was a long season for Matt Cain and those who owned him. Truthfully speaking though, he didn't produce that much below his 2007 numbers, but a lack of run support doomed him in the win column and perhaps forced him to work harder as the season wore on. Still, he's a serviceable starter, best considered as a number three or four in fantasy leagues. Playing with the Giants in 2009, you'll likely see much of the same with Cain from a fantasy perspective, with solid peripheral stats and a low win total.

#3 Overall San Francisco Giants: Aaron Roward (CF) - Fantasy Baseball 2009

2008 Stats: .271 BA, 13 HR, 37 2B, 70 RBI, 2 SB, 57 RS

The worst move Aaron Rowand made in 2008 was moving from centerfield in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to centerfield at AT&T Park in San Francisco. His numbers declined across the board, as he found it much more difficult to hit in San Francisco as a right-handed hitter and he never really adapted. He's not the best outfielder on the market in terms of fantasy value, but he is a serviceable bench option, giving adequate production during your starter's off days. Expect some improvement, maybe to the tune of .280, 18 home runs, and 85 RBI, but not much more.

#4 Overall San Francisco Giants: Fred Lewis (LF) - Fantasy Baseball 2009

2008 Stats: .282 BA, 9 HR, 25 2B, 40 RBI, 21 SB, 81 RS

I played with the idea of ranking Lewis above Rowand here, but in the end, I was just too worried about the playing time he would receive in 2009, as I'm just not convinced the Giants see him as a long term solution. Still, his numbers were solid for a player with under 500 at-bats on the season, especially if you play in expanded leagues that counter triples, where he posted a total of 11. The 21 stolen bases are also a boon and may increase if he sees full-time playing duties at the top of the order. If he gets the at-bats, expect a season of .278, 12 home runs, 45 RBI, 30 stolen bases, and 95 runs scored.

#5 Overall San Francisco Giants: Edgar Renteria (SS) - Fantasy Baseball 2009

2008 Stats: .270 BA, 10 HR, 22 2B, 55 RBI, 6 SB, 69 RS

This pick is just pure speculation. Twice Edgar Renteria has seen himself on American League teams, and twice he's failed to produce in the stronger offensive league. Owners will be hoping that the move back to the National League will play similarly to when he was shipped from Boston to Atlanta, where he put up a line of .293, 14 home runs, 70 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 100 runs scored in his first season with the Braves. While the power numbers may not be there playing in San Francisco, draft him late in hopes of a repeat of that 2006 season.

Sources

MLB Standings, MLB.com

MLB Team Stats, Hitting, MLB.com

MLB Team Stats, Pitching, MLB.com

Tim Lincecum, Baseball-Reference.com

Matt Cain, Baseball-Reference.com

Aaron Roward, Baseball-Reference.com

Fred Lewis, Baseball-Reference.com

Edgar Renteria, Baseball-Reference.com