Brian Sabean, San Francisco Giants General Manager, talks about challenges in National League West
The San Francisco Giants are currently in Scottsdale, Arizona, for spring training. The club is looking forward to the season and expects to be contenders for the World Series again this year. The challenge however, won’t be easy. San Francisco General Manager,
Brian Sabean, talked about the complications that come with a repeat and he highlighted the National League West division as a very competitive division.
The race to the World Series wasn’t an easy one last season. The Colorado Rockies finished 9 wins behind the Giants. Other teams were also close behind and most are gearing up to take on the Giants.
The Rockies have a strong talent crop. Pitcher - Ubaldo Jimenez, shortstop – Troy Tulowitzki and batting champion – Carlos Gonzalez, are some of the players on Colorado’s roster. The Los Angeles Angels are back in the mix and they have a new manager on the
top of the pyramid. The club his retained most of the squad members but they’ve signed on former San Francisco player, Juan Uribe. Similarly, the San Diego Padres, are not far behind. They’ve brought in better infield players like Jason Bartlett and Orlando
Hudson.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are also upgrading their team. The club has added veterans and they’re looking to do more this season. Sabean believes the Giants have an advantage though as the club will play 22 of their 31 games on the road. They’re more focused
and that can pay off.
"In some ways, that helps you mentally and physically," Sabean said. "You're absolutely sure you're ready to start the season. You might get a little -- I don't want to say 'complacent,' but take more things for granted, if it were the other way around.
You have to have your act together and win some series right off the bat on the road, which would set a nice tone for the season.”
The club will be starting with the same squad that captured 11 wins and four losses in the playoffs. To Sabean, that is something that has to come through.
"We had a bunch of, without overstating the obvious, gamers," Sabean said. "They got themselves ready to play, they loved to play the game and especially the later we got, we had a refuse-to-lose mentality."
The Giants are all set to start their season with their first game on 1 April.
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