After four months, an unprecedented hiatus, a labor war and a "summer camp," the Giants on Thursday finally released an opening day roster. There were some slight surprises, but not huge ones.
There also is just one player -- Brandon Crawford -- who was in the opening day lineup last year. Eight of the 30 players weren't in the organization at the end of last season, and some familiar names like Andrew Suarez, Dereck Rodriguez and Billy Hamilton were left out.
There's a reason for everything, and Farhan Zaidi tried to give some answers an hour after the roster came was released .