Off the top of your head, can you name a standout moment from Belt, Scutaro, Crawford, Sandoval or Posey last year?
The Giants will return all five starters from the 2013 infield – the same one that posted a pretty darn average season compared to what this group has accomplished in previous years. While no one had a terrible season, no one really did anything memorable either.
That doesn't sound like an enthusiastic introduction, but really its a testament to how much we've come to expect from this group. They've proven to be a force to reckon with when everything is clicking, so recently a 'good' season tends to mean World Series Championship when talking about the San Francisco Giants.
And if you believe in the 'every other year' theory, then 2014 is going to be a 'good' year for the Giants – and it all starts with this infield.
Here's what we can expect to see from them this year:
Posey returns to form, finishing in the top 5 of MVP voting: Getting back to the opening point, Posey had a 'down year' in 2013.
Of course, when you're talking about a guy whose career has included a Rookie of the Year, MVP award, two World Series Championships, two All-Star Game selections, a Comeback Player award, a batting title, and a Silver Slugger all by the age of 26 you tend to feel disappointed when he doesn't win something.
By Posey's standards the dip in production is surprising, as he finished with a .294/15/72 line despite playing in the same number of games as his 2012 MVP season.
Don't worry about that too much – chalk it up to him being due for a season where he didn't do something remarkable for once.
There's not much else to say about Posey, other than that he is an elite player at arguably the game's most important position. With a lineup that will have Pagan back at the top of the order, along with guys like Pence, Belt, Sandoval and Morse protecting him, expect Posey to vault back into posting elite numbers.
I see Posey hitting a solid .310 to go along with 25 home runs, 100 RBI, 80 runs scored and a top 5 finish in MVP voting, along with another award or two to add to his trophy case.
Belt posts a .300/25/85 stat line: Belt had his best season to date in 2013, posting career-highs in home runs (17), RBI (67), batting average (.289) and doubles (39).
While guys like Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman get most of the spotlight, Belt has quietly become one of the better all-around first baseman in the National League.
Still just 25 years old, Belt should start to grab the attention of those outside of San Francisco and show them what the Giants and their fans already know – Belt is a legitimate threat at the plate.
The most encouraging part of Belt's statistical trend is that every year he has improved across the board. He has managed to decrease his strikeout rate and maintain a solid walk rate while also learning to be more aggressive at the plate.
Some of the 39 doubles he hit last year will start turning into home runs as he continues to develop power in his bat, and with the patience he displays in the box, we may be looking at a Joey Votto-lite before long.
The improvements Belt has made (especially with his grip), along with hitting in the heart of a stronger lineup points to yet another career year for him – one where he breaks .300/25/85.
Scutaro plays in less than 81 games... : It's no secret that Scutaro's health is a major concern – both now and long-term – and that the Giants face the likelihood of having to turn to someone else to fill second base.
Even if he is fully healed from last year's pinky surgery, lingering back issues remain, and at 38 years old that is especially concerning.
Scutaro is a guy who plays every facet of his game well, so I don't see his on-field production taking a huge hit, but the problem will be how often his health permits him to play in the first place. Despite efforts to give Scutaro ample rest, I don't see him making it through the season healthy.
...But Joe Panik picks up the slack: If Scutaro isn't playing, who is?
The answer to that may not be sorted out right away, as the Giants would most likely turn to a second base committee – potentially featuring Joaquin Arias, Tony Abreu and Ehire Adrianza.
Even Joe Panik may get his major league debut at some point.
And when he does, I believe Panik will be the guy to stick at second for the majority of the starts this year.
Arias is a nice player, but his value comes from being a versatile off-the-bench guy. Abreu isn't really a guy who should be making multiple starts a week, and Adrianza is most likely playing somewhere else if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.
I profiled Panik last month, and as you can see, he may not be a player ready to take the league by storm, but he fits well with what the Giants need out of their second baseman.
A good mix of glove and bat, Panik is probably the Giants' best option if Scutaro isn't healthy. If he gets a chance to show that, he may just take the job and run with it.
Check out part two of these predictions, featuring Brandon Crawford and Pablo Sandoval.
