Reason for optimism: With World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 ... well, we know what's expected in 2016.
Reason for pessimism: The rotation has been fortified, but it's still fragile.
I can give you a firsthand anecdote of how ingrained the even-year phenomenon is in San Francisco residents. When Hunter Pence went down during the first spring training game last year, I wondered how to delicately broach the subject with my 8-year old daughter, a budding Giants fan. Knowing Pence was one of her favorite players, I gently told her that he was going to miss the first month of the season.